Friday, February 29, 2008
Genealogy Research shines today
The big genealogy news story today was published in the Boston Globe newspaper - titled "Author admits making up memoir of surviving the Holocaust" by David Mehegan. Genealogist Sharon Sergeant, a professional genealogist residing in Waltham MA, and her team played a central role in bringing the truth to light by finding and correlating original source material in Belgian repositories.
DearMYRTLE has an article today about Sharon's efforts, and interviewed Sharon on her 26 February podcast here.
Sharon's web site http://www.ancestralmanor.com/ has a link to Jane Daniel's BESTSELLER! blog (Jane was the publisher of the book) which discusses this case in much detail.
Sharon posted some additional information about this project on the APG mailing list here. Sharon's conclusion reads:
"For everyone, there are the lessons of success with genealogy methodology, as well as the real history we learn when we do genealogy - even when it touches on very difficult subjects. As the rest of the story unfolds, there will be more food for thought no matter what type of genealogical problem we face.
"I often think of my 7th grade science teacher Mr Hopkins and the basics of the 'scientific method' - postulate a theory, plan a test, test the theory, analyze the results, modify the theory and tests, then retest until you have test results that are consistent with the theory."
Read the Globe article, Myrt's blog post, Sharon's web site, her APG post and listen to the podcast. You will be proud of the profession of genealogy as practiced by Sharon Sergeant and her team in this project.
Bravo!!! Extremely well done!! Thank you, Sharon and team! Genealogy research shines today.
DearMYRTLE has an article today about Sharon's efforts, and interviewed Sharon on her 26 February podcast here.
Sharon's web site http://www.ancestralmanor.com/ has a link to Jane Daniel's BESTSELLER! blog (Jane was the publisher of the book) which discusses this case in much detail.
Sharon posted some additional information about this project on the APG mailing list here. Sharon's conclusion reads:
"For everyone, there are the lessons of success with genealogy methodology, as well as the real history we learn when we do genealogy - even when it touches on very difficult subjects. As the rest of the story unfolds, there will be more food for thought no matter what type of genealogical problem we face.
"I often think of my 7th grade science teacher Mr Hopkins and the basics of the 'scientific method' - postulate a theory, plan a test, test the theory, analyze the results, modify the theory and tests, then retest until you have test results that are consistent with the theory."
Read the Globe article, Myrt's blog post, Sharon's web site, her APG post and listen to the podcast. You will be proud of the profession of genealogy as practiced by Sharon Sergeant and her team in this project.
Bravo!!! Extremely well done!! Thank you, Sharon and team! Genealogy research shines today.
Labels: current newspaper articles, Genealogy proof standard, Genealogy/History, Research techniques
"Researching Slaves in the Family" Presentation at CVGS
Margaret Lewis, the President of the San Diego African-American Genealogy Research Group (SDAAGRG), gave a wonderful presentation on "Researching Slaves in the Family" at the Chula Vista Genealogical Society meeting on Wednesday, 27 February, at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library. There were about 45 attendees, including at least 13 guests and visitors.
Margaret's talk centered on two things - the resources that should be considered in a search for slave ancestors and their masters, and examples of some of the records found in her own search for three sets of slave ancestors. The resources included Bible, church, newspapers, court, census, narratives, homestead, Freedman's bureau, Southern claims, military and pension, etc. She told many stories about her ancestral search, some funny, some sad, and one very unique - a slave's recounting of the meeting between General Grant and General Lee under an apple tree the day before the formal surrender at Appomattox courthouse in 1865.
Margaret provided a six page handout that provided significant information content to her presentation.
Listening to her story of searching for records, stories and contacts, it struck me that:
1) Not all of these records are available on the Internet. The census records, Southern Claims and Freedman's Bureau records are available, and many historical newspapers are online. However, many of the documents she showed were obtained through personal contacts, from repositories, or the National Archives.
2) Other than the specific slave records, the record types and repositories are essentially the same that most researchers of any American family would investigate for the 1850 to 1950 time period.
This was a fascinating hour, and it went by quickly due to Margaret's enthusiasm and knowledge about her subject. She answered many questions from the audience about records, social views, slave activities, etc.
My impression was that the attendees came away from this talk knowing more about, and better appreciation of, the difficulties of researching slave ancestry, and admiration for the effort that Margaret has made to find her ancestry in the available documents and records.
Margaret's talk centered on two things - the resources that should be considered in a search for slave ancestors and their masters, and examples of some of the records found in her own search for three sets of slave ancestors. The resources included Bible, church, newspapers, court, census, narratives, homestead, Freedman's bureau, Southern claims, military and pension, etc. She told many stories about her ancestral search, some funny, some sad, and one very unique - a slave's recounting of the meeting between General Grant and General Lee under an apple tree the day before the formal surrender at Appomattox courthouse in 1865.
Margaret provided a six page handout that provided significant information content to her presentation.
Listening to her story of searching for records, stories and contacts, it struck me that:
1) Not all of these records are available on the Internet. The census records, Southern Claims and Freedman's Bureau records are available, and many historical newspapers are online. However, many of the documents she showed were obtained through personal contacts, from repositories, or the National Archives.
2) Other than the specific slave records, the record types and repositories are essentially the same that most researchers of any American family would investigate for the 1850 to 1950 time period.
This was a fascinating hour, and it went by quickly due to Margaret's enthusiasm and knowledge about her subject. She answered many questions from the audience about records, social views, slave activities, etc.
My impression was that the attendees came away from this talk knowing more about, and better appreciation of, the difficulties of researching slave ancestry, and admiration for the effort that Margaret has made to find her ancestry in the available documents and records.
Labels: CVGS, genealogy societies, San Diego area
Descendants of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux - Post 2
This is the second in a series of posts that define what I know about the descendants of my 3rd-great-grandparents, Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. Samuel Vaux emigrated from England and settled in Aurora, Erie County, New York in the 1835-1840 time frame.
--------------------------------------
Descendants of Mary A. Vaux
Generation No. 1
1. Mary A. Vaux (Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born About 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married James Woodward Bef. 1863 in WI. He was born About 1837 in VT.
Children of Mary Vaux and James Woodward are:
+ ... 2 ... i. Orpha Woodward, born May 1864 in Dodge County, WI.
+ ... 3 ... ii. Mary Woodward, born 09 November 1866 in Dodge County, WI (CA DI); died 11 December 1945 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 4 ... iii. Ada Woodward, born About 1868 in Dodge County, WI; died young.
Generation No. 2
2. Orpha Woodward (Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born May 1864 in Dodge County, WI. She married Whitfield Needham About 1882 in NE. He was born November 1853 in OH, and died 04 February 1931 in Bloomfield, NE (obituary).
Children of Orpha Woodward and Whitfield Needham are:
......5 ... i. Ada Needham, born July 1885 in NE.
......6 ... ii. Lyndia Needham, born March 1892 in NE.
3. Mary Woodward (Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 09 November 1866 in Dodge County, WI (CA DI), and died 11 December 1945 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Herbert/Bert Gail Dyar 20 November 1884 in NE. He was born 23 May 1858 in WI (CA DI), and died 18 April 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
Children of Mary Woodward and Herbert/Bert Dyar are:
+ ... 7 ... i. Verdie Almeda Dyar, born 18 October 1886 in Boone County, NE.
+ ... 8 ... ii. Roy Herbert Dyar, born 11 December 1888 in Boone County, NE; died 24 September 1974 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA (SSDI).
...... 9 ... iii. Chester Gale Dyar, born 18 January 1891 in Boone County, NE; died 29 December 1959 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). He married Cophine Elizabeth Jones About 1916; born 1893 in IA.
...... 10 ... iv. Vern Roland Dyar, born 01 December 1895 in Boone County, NE (CADI); died 06 July 1958 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 11 ... v. Cecil W. Dyar, born 27 August 1901 in Boone County, NE; died 06 October 1964 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 12 ... vi. Beulah Woodward Dyar, born 27 March 1907 in Boone County, NE; died June 1979 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Jack C. Ruffin.
Generation No. 3
7. Verdie Almeda Dyar (Mary9 Woodward, Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 18 October 1886 in Boone County, NE. She married David Robertson Bef. 1915 in NE. He was born 1875 in NY.
Child of Verdie Dyar and David Robertson is:
...... 13 ... i. Neil Alfred Robertson, born August 1915 in NE.
8. Roy Herbert Dyar (Mary9 Woodward, Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 11 December 1888 in Boone County, NE, and died 24 September 1974 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA (SSDI). He married (1) Ursula About 1912 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She was born 1893 in IL. He married (2) Jessie F. Bowman Bef. 1930 in prob. Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She was born About 1886, and died 22 March 1965 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE (newspaper).
Children of Roy Dyar and Ursula are:
...... 14 ... i. Kenneth Dyar, born 1913 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE.
...... 15 ... ii. Dorothy Dyar, born 1916 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She married Walter Stolle 14 February 1939 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE (newspaper).
...... 16 ... iii. Charles E. Dyar, born 1923 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. He married JoAnn Waltman 23 August 1946 in Washington, KS (Lincoln newspaper).
------------------------------------------
My intent is to publish three generation descendants reports for each of the children of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. That will bring information about these families into the 20th century but will not include information on possibly living people (if I can help it). While I have some biographical material gleaned from various sources, including personal correspondence, for many of these families, I'm only going to publish the "bare bones" information about these families.
My purpose in putting these family summaries on this blog is to make my information about these families available for other researchers and distant relatives to find, with the hope that they will contact me and provide even more family information about the families.
If anybody reading this has information on these families, please contact me via email at rjseaverATcox.net and we can correspond and exchange information. If anybody has additions or corrections to my information, I would appreciate hearing from you!
--------------------------------------
Descendants of Mary A. Vaux
Generation No. 1
1. Mary A. Vaux (Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born About 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married James Woodward Bef. 1863 in WI. He was born About 1837 in VT.
Children of Mary Vaux and James Woodward are:
+ ... 2 ... i. Orpha Woodward, born May 1864 in Dodge County, WI.
+ ... 3 ... ii. Mary Woodward, born 09 November 1866 in Dodge County, WI (CA DI); died 11 December 1945 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 4 ... iii. Ada Woodward, born About 1868 in Dodge County, WI; died young.
Generation No. 2
2. Orpha Woodward (Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born May 1864 in Dodge County, WI. She married Whitfield Needham About 1882 in NE. He was born November 1853 in OH, and died 04 February 1931 in Bloomfield, NE (obituary).
Children of Orpha Woodward and Whitfield Needham are:
......5 ... i. Ada Needham, born July 1885 in NE.
......6 ... ii. Lyndia Needham, born March 1892 in NE.
3. Mary Woodward (Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 09 November 1866 in Dodge County, WI (CA DI), and died 11 December 1945 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Herbert/Bert Gail Dyar 20 November 1884 in NE. He was born 23 May 1858 in WI (CA DI), and died 18 April 1949 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
Children of Mary Woodward and Herbert/Bert Dyar are:
+ ... 7 ... i. Verdie Almeda Dyar, born 18 October 1886 in Boone County, NE.
+ ... 8 ... ii. Roy Herbert Dyar, born 11 December 1888 in Boone County, NE; died 24 September 1974 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA (SSDI).
...... 9 ... iii. Chester Gale Dyar, born 18 January 1891 in Boone County, NE; died 29 December 1959 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). He married Cophine Elizabeth Jones About 1916; born 1893 in IA.
...... 10 ... iv. Vern Roland Dyar, born 01 December 1895 in Boone County, NE (CADI); died 06 July 1958 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 11 ... v. Cecil W. Dyar, born 27 August 1901 in Boone County, NE; died 06 October 1964 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI).
...... 12 ... vi. Beulah Woodward Dyar, born 27 March 1907 in Boone County, NE; died June 1979 in Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Jack C. Ruffin.
Generation No. 3
7. Verdie Almeda Dyar (Mary9 Woodward, Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 18 October 1886 in Boone County, NE. She married David Robertson Bef. 1915 in NE. He was born 1875 in NY.
Child of Verdie Dyar and David Robertson is:
...... 13 ... i. Neil Alfred Robertson, born August 1915 in NE.
8. Roy Herbert Dyar (Mary9 Woodward, Mary A.8 Vaux, Samuel7, James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born 11 December 1888 in Boone County, NE, and died 24 September 1974 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA (SSDI). He married (1) Ursula About 1912 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She was born 1893 in IL. He married (2) Jessie F. Bowman Bef. 1930 in prob. Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She was born About 1886, and died 22 March 1965 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE (newspaper).
Children of Roy Dyar and Ursula are:
...... 14 ... i. Kenneth Dyar, born 1913 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE.
...... 15 ... ii. Dorothy Dyar, born 1916 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. She married Walter Stolle 14 February 1939 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE (newspaper).
...... 16 ... iii. Charles E. Dyar, born 1923 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, NE. He married JoAnn Waltman 23 August 1946 in Washington, KS (Lincoln newspaper).
------------------------------------------
My intent is to publish three generation descendants reports for each of the children of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. That will bring information about these families into the 20th century but will not include information on possibly living people (if I can help it). While I have some biographical material gleaned from various sources, including personal correspondence, for many of these families, I'm only going to publish the "bare bones" information about these families.
My purpose in putting these family summaries on this blog is to make my information about these families available for other researchers and distant relatives to find, with the hope that they will contact me and provide even more family information about the families.
If anybody reading this has information on these families, please contact me via email at rjseaverATcox.net and we can correspond and exchange information. If anybody has additions or corrections to my information, I would appreciate hearing from you!
Labels: My genealogy research
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Genealogy web site traffic
There are several services that track web site traffic - how many people visit a specific web site in a fixed period of time. I've used www.alexa.com before and have recently used www.quantcast.com to get relative counts of "reach" - the average number of unique visitors in a month, averaged over 6 months.
I input many of my favorite web sites into the Quantcast search box and found the following for US reach (many sites have only US, not world, reach listed):
* www.rootsweb.com - 3,270,147 (#474 in the entire web)
* www.ancestry.com - 2,661,872 (#628 in the entire web)
* www.genealogy.com - 1,200,691
* www.findagrave.com - 987,942
* www.newspaperarchive.com - 956,510
* www.footnote.com - 929,872
* www.familysearch.org - 927,884
* www.ancestorhunt.com - 527,705
* www.worldvitalrecords.com - 445,433
* http://genealogy.about.com - 412,770
* www.onegreatfamily.com - 411,873
* www.genealogytoday.com - 384,784
* www.interment.net - 368,618
* www.accessgenealogy.com - 328,733
* www.distantcousins.com - 278,655
* www.usgennet.org - 272,149
* www.cousinconnect.com - 247,500
* www.cyndislist.com - 238,665
* www.kindredkonnections.com - 211,402
* www.ellisisland.org - 188,262
* www.familytreemaker.com - 159,010
* www.deathindexes.com - 155,347
* www.linkpendium.com - 149,542
* www.census-online.com - 146,666
* www.genealogyinc.com - 145,983
* www.UScensus.org - 145,703
* www.genealogytrails.com - 142,698
* www.longlostpeople.com - 123,136
* www.genealogybank.com - 119,949
* www.jewishgen.org - 112,292
* www.heritagequestonline.com - 102,999
* www.usgenweb.com - 103,187
* www.usgenweb.org - 88,484
* www.familytreedna.com - 82,272
* www.gencircles.com - 76,962
* www.mycinnamontoast.com - 74,535
* www.ancestry.co.uk - 72,033
Based on what I've read on the Quantcast site, the sub-domains are included in these numbers (e.g., Rootsweb has a http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com sub-domain that had a reach of 384,745 - those are included in Rootsweb's numbers above). I did not include these sites which have an audience larger than the genealogy audience:
* www.legacy.com - 4,566,823
* www.loc.gov - 1,855,494
* www.newsbank.com - 1,416,699
* www.archives.gov - 1,127,637
I may have missed some popular genealgoy web sites - tell me which ones you think should be on this list. There are notable absences here - genealogy societies, genealogy libraries, genealogy software, social networking sites, publishers, bloggers, etc. One problem with bloggers is that Quantcast won't provide information for web sites with a slash (/) after the main web site name.
www.alexa.com has a numbered list of genealogy web sites here. It lists sub-domains and is probably based on worldwide reach.
This was fun. One reason to do this exercise occasionally is to find genealogy-oriented web sites that I don't visit so that I can see if I'm missing something.
I input many of my favorite web sites into the Quantcast search box and found the following for US reach (many sites have only US, not world, reach listed):
* www.rootsweb.com - 3,270,147 (#474 in the entire web)
* www.ancestry.com - 2,661,872 (#628 in the entire web)
* www.genealogy.com - 1,200,691
* www.findagrave.com - 987,942
* www.newspaperarchive.com - 956,510
* www.footnote.com - 929,872
* www.familysearch.org - 927,884
* www.ancestorhunt.com - 527,705
* www.worldvitalrecords.com - 445,433
* http://genealogy.about.com - 412,770
* www.onegreatfamily.com - 411,873
* www.genealogytoday.com - 384,784
* www.interment.net - 368,618
* www.accessgenealogy.com - 328,733
* www.distantcousins.com - 278,655
* www.usgennet.org - 272,149
* www.cousinconnect.com - 247,500
* www.cyndislist.com - 238,665
* www.kindredkonnections.com - 211,402
* www.ellisisland.org - 188,262
* www.familytreemaker.com - 159,010
* www.deathindexes.com - 155,347
* www.linkpendium.com - 149,542
* www.census-online.com - 146,666
* www.genealogyinc.com - 145,983
* www.UScensus.org - 145,703
* www.genealogytrails.com - 142,698
* www.longlostpeople.com - 123,136
* www.genealogybank.com - 119,949
* www.jewishgen.org - 112,292
* www.heritagequestonline.com - 102,999
* www.usgenweb.com - 103,187
* www.usgenweb.org - 88,484
* www.familytreedna.com - 82,272
* www.gencircles.com - 76,962
* www.mycinnamontoast.com - 74,535
* www.ancestry.co.uk - 72,033
Based on what I've read on the Quantcast site, the sub-domains are included in these numbers (e.g., Rootsweb has a http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com sub-domain that had a reach of 384,745 - those are included in Rootsweb's numbers above). I did not include these sites which have an audience larger than the genealogy audience:
* www.legacy.com - 4,566,823
* www.loc.gov - 1,855,494
* www.newsbank.com - 1,416,699
* www.archives.gov - 1,127,637
I may have missed some popular genealgoy web sites - tell me which ones you think should be on this list. There are notable absences here - genealogy societies, genealogy libraries, genealogy software, social networking sites, publishers, bloggers, etc. One problem with bloggers is that Quantcast won't provide information for web sites with a slash (/) after the main web site name.
www.alexa.com has a numbered list of genealogy web sites here. It lists sub-domains and is probably based on worldwide reach.
This was fun. One reason to do this exercise occasionally is to find genealogy-oriented web sites that I don't visit so that I can see if I'm missing something.
Labels: Commercial genealogy, Genealogy/History, Online resources
Ancestry's New Look and Search Capabilities
Kendall Hulet on the Ancestry.com Blog has provided some insights in "Something exciting is in the works" into potential changes coming to the http://www.ancestry.com/ user interface and search capabilities. There is a link in his article to a quick tour of the potential changes and some example screens at http://search.ancestry.com/search/SignUp.aspx. This page notes
"We'll soon be bringing you several enhancements that will make searching on Ancestry a whole lot easier - and more efficient. That means fewer clicks between you and your ancestors. It also means better search results."
They are highlighting Type-ahead tools, Image snapshots, Site-wide search and Contextual research tips. There is also a list of future ideas, including
* Combined record page and image viewer, allowing you to see all of the information at once
* The capability to submit corrections on transcription errors of dates, locations and more
* Search engine enhancements that will return more relevant results and reduce inaccuracies
* Results about the locations and time periods you are searching
* Results that indicate which content you’ve already viewed or saved to your tree
I was invited to have the opportunity to preview these potential changes, test them and to provide feedback about the changes. I'm still doing evaluations based on my own search style and interests. I don't want to comment here about my observations to date, but I am actively sharing them with Kendall Hulet via email and their feedback form.
I applaud Ancestry's effort to obtain feedback from users on improvements and/or enhancements to the web site, data presentation and search capabilities.
I encourage all researchers to take their quick tour (two screens with an example for Abraham Lincoln) and see the changes being considered.
I really like and am very familiar with the search box options, data presentation, layout, search efficiency and speed of the current http://www.ancestry.com/ web site. It appeals to my "engineer's critical eye" for ease of use, minimal mouse clicks, and ordered searching. I usually use the "Exact Search" options rather than "Ranked Searches." I prefer having all matches from each database in one list - I don't like having results mixed together - a census record followed by a military record followed by a birth record, for instance. That's just my search style and preference.
Change is difficult to adapt to for some people. I welcome changes that measurably improve search accuracy, easy-to-understand data presentation, search speed, and that enhance my effectiveness in using a web site.
It may be that http://www.ancestry.com/ will utilize more than one user-interface for searches in order to accommodate users that are comfortable with and appreciate the current web site layout and presentation.
"We'll soon be bringing you several enhancements that will make searching on Ancestry a whole lot easier - and more efficient. That means fewer clicks between you and your ancestors. It also means better search results."
They are highlighting Type-ahead tools, Image snapshots, Site-wide search and Contextual research tips. There is also a list of future ideas, including
* Combined record page and image viewer, allowing you to see all of the information at once
* The capability to submit corrections on transcription errors of dates, locations and more
* Search engine enhancements that will return more relevant results and reduce inaccuracies
* Results about the locations and time periods you are searching
* Results that indicate which content you’ve already viewed or saved to your tree
I was invited to have the opportunity to preview these potential changes, test them and to provide feedback about the changes. I'm still doing evaluations based on my own search style and interests. I don't want to comment here about my observations to date, but I am actively sharing them with Kendall Hulet via email and their feedback form.
I applaud Ancestry's effort to obtain feedback from users on improvements and/or enhancements to the web site, data presentation and search capabilities.
I encourage all researchers to take their quick tour (two screens with an example for Abraham Lincoln) and see the changes being considered.
I really like and am very familiar with the search box options, data presentation, layout, search efficiency and speed of the current http://www.ancestry.com/ web site. It appeals to my "engineer's critical eye" for ease of use, minimal mouse clicks, and ordered searching. I usually use the "Exact Search" options rather than "Ranked Searches." I prefer having all matches from each database in one list - I don't like having results mixed together - a census record followed by a military record followed by a birth record, for instance. That's just my search style and preference.
Change is difficult to adapt to for some people. I welcome changes that measurably improve search accuracy, easy-to-understand data presentation, search speed, and that enhance my effectiveness in using a web site.
It may be that http://www.ancestry.com/ will utilize more than one user-interface for searches in order to accommodate users that are comfortable with and appreciate the current web site layout and presentation.
Labels: Ancestry.com, Commercial genealogy, Online resources
Descendants of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux - Post 1
I'm starting a series of posts that define what I know about the descendants of my 3rd-great-grandparents, Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. Samuel Vaux emigrated from England and settled in Aurora, Erie county, New York in the 1835-1840 time frame.
The English Vaux families have been well-defined by research conducted collaboratively by Hanna Nicholas and Liz James in England and Sarah Vaux in the United States. They have an online book manuscript available for Vaux researchers here. Hanna has submitted a Vaux database to the Rootsweb WorldConnect database here. I contributed information gleaned from census and other online information several years ago, and am working on adding more data from more recent online searches.
------------------------------------
1. Samuel Vaux (James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born before 11 February 1816 in South Petherton, Somerset, ENGLAND (christening), son of James Vaux and Mary Palmer, and died after 1880 in perhaps Marshall County, KS. He married Mary Ann Underhill before 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY, daughter of Amos Underhill and Mary/Polly Metcalf. She was born about 1815 in Aurora, Erie County, NY, and died after 1880 in perhaps Marshall County, KS.
Children of Samuel Vaux and Mary Underhill are:
2.... i. Mary A. Vaux, born about 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married James Woodward before 1863 in WI; born about 1837 in VT.
3... ii. Celia Ann Vaux, born May 1842 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married (1) Milo Redfield 08 January 1861 in Burnett, Dodge County, WI; born about 1836 in probably Jefferson County, NY. She married (2) Francis N. Munger about 1872 in probably MO; born July 1845 in WI.
4... iii. Abigail A. Vaux, born 28 October 1844 in Aurora, Erie County, NY (Bible); died 11 September 1931 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA (CA DI). She married Devier James Smith 04 April 1861 in Rolling Prairie, Dodge County, WI (Bible); born 07 May 1839 in Henderson, Jefferson County, NY (Bible); died 01 May 1894 in McCook, Red Willow County, NE (Bible).
5... iv. James P. Vaux, born about 1847 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 29 December 1902 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. He married Mary Alice Patrick before 1879 in KS; born about 1856 in OH; died 19 April 1904 in DeKalb, IL.
6 ... v. Elizabeth B. Vaux, born about 1851 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 10 May 1931 in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Samuel Crouch 19 October 1871 in Andrew County, MO (IGI); born 1841 in ENGLAND; died 18 May 1931 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA (CA DI).
7... vi. Amos S. Vaux, born about 1854 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 23 August 1876 in Nodaway, Andrew County, MO.
---------------------------------------
My intent is to publish three generation descendants reports for each of the children of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. That will bring information about these families into the 20th century but will not include information on possibly living people. While I have some biographical material gleaned from various sources, including personal correspondence, for many of these families, I'm only going to publish the "bare bones" information about these families.
My purpose in putting these family summaries on this blog is to make my information about these families available for other researchers and distant relatives to find, with the hope that they will contact me and provide even more family information about the families.
If anybody reading this has information on these families, please contact me via email at rjseaverATcox.net and we can correspond and exchange information. If anybody has additions or corrections to my information, I would appreciate hearing from you!
The English Vaux families have been well-defined by research conducted collaboratively by Hanna Nicholas and Liz James in England and Sarah Vaux in the United States. They have an online book manuscript available for Vaux researchers here. Hanna has submitted a Vaux database to the Rootsweb WorldConnect database here. I contributed information gleaned from census and other online information several years ago, and am working on adding more data from more recent online searches.
------------------------------------
1. Samuel Vaux (James6, John5, James4, William3, John2, Thomas1 Vax) was born before 11 February 1816 in South Petherton, Somerset, ENGLAND (christening), son of James Vaux and Mary Palmer, and died after 1880 in perhaps Marshall County, KS. He married Mary Ann Underhill before 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY, daughter of Amos Underhill and Mary/Polly Metcalf. She was born about 1815 in Aurora, Erie County, NY, and died after 1880 in perhaps Marshall County, KS.
Children of Samuel Vaux and Mary Underhill are:
2.... i. Mary A. Vaux, born about 1839 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married James Woodward before 1863 in WI; born about 1837 in VT.
3... ii. Celia Ann Vaux, born May 1842 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She married (1) Milo Redfield 08 January 1861 in Burnett, Dodge County, WI; born about 1836 in probably Jefferson County, NY. She married (2) Francis N. Munger about 1872 in probably MO; born July 1845 in WI.
4... iii. Abigail A. Vaux, born 28 October 1844 in Aurora, Erie County, NY (Bible); died 11 September 1931 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA (CA DI). She married Devier James Smith 04 April 1861 in Rolling Prairie, Dodge County, WI (Bible); born 07 May 1839 in Henderson, Jefferson County, NY (Bible); died 01 May 1894 in McCook, Red Willow County, NE (Bible).
5... iv. James P. Vaux, born about 1847 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 29 December 1902 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. He married Mary Alice Patrick before 1879 in KS; born about 1856 in OH; died 19 April 1904 in DeKalb, IL.
6 ... v. Elizabeth B. Vaux, born about 1851 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 10 May 1931 in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA (CA DI). She married Samuel Crouch 19 October 1871 in Andrew County, MO (IGI); born 1841 in ENGLAND; died 18 May 1931 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA (CA DI).
7... vi. Amos S. Vaux, born about 1854 in Aurora, Erie County, NY; died 23 August 1876 in Nodaway, Andrew County, MO.
---------------------------------------
My intent is to publish three generation descendants reports for each of the children of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. That will bring information about these families into the 20th century but will not include information on possibly living people. While I have some biographical material gleaned from various sources, including personal correspondence, for many of these families, I'm only going to publish the "bare bones" information about these families.
My purpose in putting these family summaries on this blog is to make my information about these families available for other researchers and distant relatives to find, with the hope that they will contact me and provide even more family information about the families.
If anybody reading this has information on these families, please contact me via email at rjseaverATcox.net and we can correspond and exchange information. If anybody has additions or corrections to my information, I would appreciate hearing from you!
Labels: My genealogy research
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Technology - Hardware, software, web site
The 43rd Carnival of Genealogy topic is Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research? Resist the urge to dilute the impact of your 3 choices by mentioning several others you use and appreciate as well. This is an exercise in appraising the technology you use/recommend the most.
1) Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer)
The most useful hardware for my genealogy research, over the 20 years I've pursued elusive ancestors, is the microfilm reader/scanner/printer at the LDS Family History Center. This hardware has morphed over the years from separate machines for the reader and printer, that produced slicky pages that faded over time, to a slick reader/scanner/printer that I can use (and frequently do!) to obtain digital images of original source documents like deeds, probate records, etc. My FHC has a Canon Microfilm Scanner MS-300 hooked to a computer loaded with software that captures the document images.
2) Select one piece of software (besides your Internet browser)
In recent years, the software that I've relied on most has been OpenOffice 2. This FREE software is a suite of programs - a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation program, a database program, and a drawing program. I use the word processor and presentation program all the time, and the spreadsheet occasionally. The beauty of this program suite is that it emulates Microsoft Office products, reads MS Office files and permits saving in MS Office formats.
3) Select one web site/blog (besides your own) that are indispensable to you.
This is the most difficult because there are so many great web sites with genealogy data. I'm going to select the LDS www.FamilySearch.org web site because of the existing databases (Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index, Pedigree Resource File, 1880 US Census, 1881 Canada census, 1881 UK census, and the new ones on the Records Search site) and the site's future offerings. In the future (say, 5 years from now) the New FamilySearch will be indispensable because it will have original records in digital format (digitized from over 2 million microforms) that no other web site will have.
It's unclear if the question encourages citing a web site and a blog - just in case, I'll say that the indispensable blog for me is Dick Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter. Dick's news and technology coverage is the best available, and he has enough readers to take the pulse of the genealogy community on controversial issues.
1) Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer)
The most useful hardware for my genealogy research, over the 20 years I've pursued elusive ancestors, is the microfilm reader/scanner/printer at the LDS Family History Center. This hardware has morphed over the years from separate machines for the reader and printer, that produced slicky pages that faded over time, to a slick reader/scanner/printer that I can use (and frequently do!) to obtain digital images of original source documents like deeds, probate records, etc. My FHC has a Canon Microfilm Scanner MS-300 hooked to a computer loaded with software that captures the document images.
2) Select one piece of software (besides your Internet browser)
In recent years, the software that I've relied on most has been OpenOffice 2. This FREE software is a suite of programs - a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation program, a database program, and a drawing program. I use the word processor and presentation program all the time, and the spreadsheet occasionally. The beauty of this program suite is that it emulates Microsoft Office products, reads MS Office files and permits saving in MS Office formats.
3) Select one web site/blog (besides your own) that are indispensable to you.
This is the most difficult because there are so many great web sites with genealogy data. I'm going to select the LDS www.FamilySearch.org web site because of the existing databases (Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index, Pedigree Resource File, 1880 US Census, 1881 Canada census, 1881 UK census, and the new ones on the Records Search site) and the site's future offerings. In the future (say, 5 years from now) the New FamilySearch will be indispensable because it will have original records in digital format (digitized from over 2 million microforms) that no other web site will have.
It's unclear if the question encourages citing a web site and a blog - just in case, I'll say that the indispensable blog for me is Dick Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter. Dick's news and technology coverage is the best available, and he has enough readers to take the pulse of the genealogy community on controversial issues.
Labels: Carnivals, My genealogy research
Six word memoirs
Several other genealogy bloggers have noted the recently published book titled "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure" edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith.
Lisa A. Alzo on The Accidental Genealogist blog provides her own six-word memoir and then wrote several more as tributes to some of her ancestors. That's a great idea!
I, being the "joiner" that I seem to be, did this back in December 2006 with "Six-word memoir contest." My own six-word memoir is
"Descendant of obscure American colonial ancestors." - Randy Seaver
Naturally, I sent that in, and it is on page 208 right below the obscure Kate Evans ("Loved a man, then a woman") and above the obscure Jennifer Johnson ("Brainy widowed sexpot raises hell, kids"). Hmm, I guess I'm in good company - Jen sounds like fun, eh? I wonder how many of the more than 1,000 entries used the word "obscure?"
I also posted one on Chris' Genealogue blog --
"Son, husband, father, carpenter, soldier, citizen." - Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Westminster MA, my 5th great-grandfather.
Taking Lisa's idea, here are some tributes to some of my ancestors:
* "Patience, love, grace, beauty, devotion personified." - for Betty (Carringer) Seaver (1919-2002), my mother.
* "Loving family man, clerk, philatelist, adventurer" - for Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), my grandfather.
* "Bastard son, Revolutionary matross, crippled hero" - for Isaac Buck (1757-1846), my 4th great-grandfather.
* "Innkeeper, inventor, snake oil salesman, speculator" - Devier J. Smith (1839-1894), my 2nd great-grandfather.
How about you - any six-word memoirs to describe yourself or your ancestors? Try it, it's fun. Either put them in your own blog post or in Comments here.
Lisa A. Alzo on The Accidental Genealogist blog provides her own six-word memoir and then wrote several more as tributes to some of her ancestors. That's a great idea!
I, being the "joiner" that I seem to be, did this back in December 2006 with "Six-word memoir contest." My own six-word memoir is
"Descendant of obscure American colonial ancestors." - Randy Seaver
Naturally, I sent that in, and it is on page 208 right below the obscure Kate Evans ("Loved a man, then a woman") and above the obscure Jennifer Johnson ("Brainy widowed sexpot raises hell, kids"). Hmm, I guess I'm in good company - Jen sounds like fun, eh? I wonder how many of the more than 1,000 entries used the word "obscure?"
I also posted one on Chris' Genealogue blog --
"Son, husband, father, carpenter, soldier, citizen." - Norman Seaver (1734-1787) of Westminster MA, my 5th great-grandfather.
Taking Lisa's idea, here are some tributes to some of my ancestors:
* "Patience, love, grace, beauty, devotion personified." - for Betty (Carringer) Seaver (1919-2002), my mother.
* "Loving family man, clerk, philatelist, adventurer" - for Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), my grandfather.
* "Bastard son, Revolutionary matross, crippled hero" - for Isaac Buck (1757-1846), my 4th great-grandfather.
* "Innkeeper, inventor, snake oil salesman, speculator" - Devier J. Smith (1839-1894), my 2nd great-grandfather.
How about you - any six-word memoirs to describe yourself or your ancestors? Try it, it's fun. Either put them in your own blog post or in Comments here.
Labels: musings, strange or funny
TOC for New England Ancestors - Winter 2008 issue
The Table of Contents for the Winter 2008 issue (Volume 9, Number 1) of New England Ancestors, the member's magazine published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, includes:
FEATURES
* New England Missionaries Abroad: The Allen and Wheeler Families in the Ottoman Empire by Jonathan Conant Page - page 21.
* Lucy Thurston, Missionary Wife by Betty Fallard-Leo - page 26
* Onward Christian Soldiers: Researching New England Missionary Ancestors by Rhonda R. McClure - page 29
* By Faith Alone by Bill Griffeth - page 32
* Zebina the Privateer: Pirate or Patriot? by Barbara Sears McRae - page 35
* "That Merciless Element": Introducing Perished in the Flames: Victims of Deadly Fires in New England Newspapers & Diaries 1675-1830 by Christopher Benedetto - page 38
* An Irish Family Story by Thomas R. Wilcox, Jr. - page 41
COLUMNS
* Computer Genealogist: Google Books and Google Scholar by Michael J. Leclerc - page 43
* Computer Genealogist Spotlight: Immigration Source Online from Harvard University by Connie Reik - page 45
* Genetics & Genealogy: DNA Q&A by Curtis Rogers - page 46
* Manuscripts at NEHGS: Preserving a Family's Legacy: The Thaxter Parks Spencer Collection by Judith Lucey - page 49
* Diaries at NEHGS: The Diary of Martha Ann Kuhn by Robert Shaw - page 51
* Bible Records at NEHGS: The Jesse Ives Bible Record by Robert Shaw - page 55
* Tales From the Courthouse: Drinking with the Drummer by Diane Rapaport - page 57
There are some fascinating missionary tales in this issue, not to mention the Zebina the Privateer article.
I wish I lived in the Boston area. The list of programs at NEHGS is fantastic - more than one per week it seems. And maybe I would make more progress on my elusive New England ancestors!
FEATURES
* New England Missionaries Abroad: The Allen and Wheeler Families in the Ottoman Empire by Jonathan Conant Page - page 21.
* Lucy Thurston, Missionary Wife by Betty Fallard-Leo - page 26
* Onward Christian Soldiers: Researching New England Missionary Ancestors by Rhonda R. McClure - page 29
* By Faith Alone by Bill Griffeth - page 32
* Zebina the Privateer: Pirate or Patriot? by Barbara Sears McRae - page 35
* "That Merciless Element": Introducing Perished in the Flames: Victims of Deadly Fires in New England Newspapers & Diaries 1675-1830 by Christopher Benedetto - page 38
* An Irish Family Story by Thomas R. Wilcox, Jr. - page 41
COLUMNS
* Computer Genealogist: Google Books and Google Scholar by Michael J. Leclerc - page 43
* Computer Genealogist Spotlight: Immigration Source Online from Harvard University by Connie Reik - page 45
* Genetics & Genealogy: DNA Q&A by Curtis Rogers - page 46
* Manuscripts at NEHGS: Preserving a Family's Legacy: The Thaxter Parks Spencer Collection by Judith Lucey - page 49
* Diaries at NEHGS: The Diary of Martha Ann Kuhn by Robert Shaw - page 51
* Bible Records at NEHGS: The Jesse Ives Bible Record by Robert Shaw - page 55
* Tales From the Courthouse: Drinking with the Drummer by Diane Rapaport - page 57
There are some fascinating missionary tales in this issue, not to mention the Zebina the Privateer article.
I wish I lived in the Boston area. The list of programs at NEHGS is fantastic - more than one per week it seems. And maybe I would make more progress on my elusive New England ancestors!
Labels: genealogy education, magazine articles, periodical indexes
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
"Virginia Gazette" Index and Text online
On one of the message boards, someone provided a link to the Virginia Gazette. It is online at the Colonial Williamsburg web site. The description of this newspaper is:
"One of the Library's most important digital collections is the Virginia Gazette, published weekly in Williamsburg, 1736-1780; the news covered all Virginia and included some information for other colonies, Scotland, England etc. Not all the issues survived, and some have surfaced since they were first reproduced on microfilm in the mid-twentieth century that is the basis for the digital version.
"The earliest Virginia Gazette was printed successively by William Parks, William Hunter, Joseph Royle, Alexander Purdie, Purdie & John Dixon, Dixon & William Hunter Jr., and Dixon & Thomas Nicolson, from August 6(?), 1736, through April 8, 1780, when the paper was moved to Richmond. On May 16, 1766, William Rind established a competing paper under the same title which was printed successively by Rind, Clementina Rind (his widow), and John Pinkney, until February 3, 1778. A third Virginia Gazette was inaugurated by Alexander Purdie on February 3, 1775. After Purdie's death, the paper was printed by John Clarkson & Augustine Davis until December 9, 1780, the last issue located. "
There is a searchable index for topics and surnames to the Virginia Gazette online here. The individual pages can be saved as .JPG files.
The Colonial Williamsburg site also has a Genealogical Research web page here.
What a great resource for colonial Virginia research in the Williamsburg area.
"One of the Library's most important digital collections is the Virginia Gazette, published weekly in Williamsburg, 1736-1780; the news covered all Virginia and included some information for other colonies, Scotland, England etc. Not all the issues survived, and some have surfaced since they were first reproduced on microfilm in the mid-twentieth century that is the basis for the digital version.
"The earliest Virginia Gazette was printed successively by William Parks, William Hunter, Joseph Royle, Alexander Purdie, Purdie & John Dixon, Dixon & William Hunter Jr., and Dixon & Thomas Nicolson, from August 6(?), 1736, through April 8, 1780, when the paper was moved to Richmond. On May 16, 1766, William Rind established a competing paper under the same title which was printed successively by Rind, Clementina Rind (his widow), and John Pinkney, until February 3, 1778. A third Virginia Gazette was inaugurated by Alexander Purdie on February 3, 1775. After Purdie's death, the paper was printed by John Clarkson & Augustine Davis until December 9, 1780, the last issue located. "
There is a searchable index for topics and surnames to the Virginia Gazette online here. The individual pages can be saved as .JPG files.
The Colonial Williamsburg site also has a Genealogical Research web page here.
What a great resource for colonial Virginia research in the Williamsburg area.
Labels: Genealogy/History, Oldtime newspapers, Online resources
Googling for Mölster data
Nope, I didn't misspell Molster (I did there - it should have the two dots over the o since it is Norwegian) - note that Google asked me "did you mean to search for: Molester family?" Because I posted a note on Genea-Musings back in April 2006 about the Mölster farm near Voss in Norway, I got an email the other day from a fellow in Ohio.
He wrote:
"Steve Shaffer here - an historian from Southern Ohio. I am writing you in regards to the Portsmouth (Ohio) Indian's Head Rock - a historic boulder recovered from the Ohio River late last summer, which is inscribed with many names of pioneer families from Portsmouth. One prominent name on the rock is "C. Molster." The rock is the center of a dispute between Ohio and Kentucky, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. The city of Portsmouth wants to keep and display the rock, while some in Kentucky insist it is their property and should be returned to the river. This thinking I will not even try to explain. All of the Molsters are gone from Portsmouth, but I am trying to locate some of the ancestors, as they should have a voice in saving the rock from being returned to oblivion. I'm a historian, not a genealogist, so I thought you might be able to provide some advice in tracking these people down. Any pearls of wisdom you can drop will be most appreciated. We're fighting hard to keep this piece of local history out of the river. Thanks in advance."
The New York Times article is here. My correspondent, Steve Shaffer, is quoted quite a bit and there is video of him and the Rock.
I was going outta town the next day, but I invested about 30 minutes trying to find out something about "C. Molster." Here is what I found in my short search:
"What an interesting problem. Unfortunately, I'm leaving town early on Sunday and I can't pursue it in any depth. I was able to go on www.ancestry.com and find a few things. First, I found that there was a Cornelius Molster, age 19, in Portsmouth Ohio in the 1860 census. Then I used Cornelius and Molster to search books and newspapers and I found several items. I have attached three pages (they are graphics .png files):
1) Page 281 of a Scioto County, Ohio history book - the biography of Cornelius Molster is at the bottom of the page in the RH column.
2) Page 282 - the continuation of Cornelius' biography.
3) A newspaper page from the Portsmouth Times in 1894 that lists the pioneers of the town. Cornelius and Henry Molster are listed.
You should be able to find the book at a local library if you want more information about the pioneers other than Corny Molster. I didn't find any mention of the Rock, but I'm sure if I look further I would!
So tell me - how in the world did you pick me to do this exercise? Was it that I mentioned Molster in Norway in a blog post? Or on my genealogy web site? Inquiring minds want to know!!"
I'm not sure they were the requested "pearls of wisdom," but Steve wrote back the next day, saying:
"Sincere thanks for your interest and the information you passed along. I found that five of the surnames carved on the rock were listed as members of the Scioto Co. Pioneer Association. I'm going to contact the Scioto Co. Genealogical Society (just discovered their existence today) to see if I might get that group involved. How I found you - I was surfing and first found the Molsters in Norway blog, which led me to your site. You are welcome to do a posting and I recommend you use the New York Times Tues. Feb. 11th article as your source."
Steve kindly permitted me to use this correspondence as blog information.
Steve is a local historian, and because I took a little time to be curious and helpful he learned something about genealogy and historical resources both online and in repositories.
I learned something about some local history. You know, each community has stories like this one that stirs local, and even national, interest in years past and preservation of artifacts. Some of these stories, and organizations dedicated to preservation or history and artifacts, might make excellent programs at a local genealogical society meeting.
There is a good lesson here - if you blog about something concerning a surname or a place name there is a good chance that someone will contact you out of the blue on a peripheral issue due to a Google match.
So now I'm curious if Cornelius Molster was descended from Norwegian immigrants from the Mölster farm that sits just above Voss in western Norway. My post about our 1999 "Genealogy Vacation in Norway" describes the farm - it's nowe a "living history museum" and one of Linda's ancestral families emigrated from that farm in 1855. I wonder what else I can find out about Corny Molster?
UPDATED 6 PM: Thanks to John Newmark for providing a link to the HTML codes for letters with diacritical marks! Excellent. ö is now in the name of Mölster!
He wrote:
"Steve Shaffer here - an historian from Southern Ohio. I am writing you in regards to the Portsmouth (Ohio) Indian's Head Rock - a historic boulder recovered from the Ohio River late last summer, which is inscribed with many names of pioneer families from Portsmouth. One prominent name on the rock is "C. Molster." The rock is the center of a dispute between Ohio and Kentucky, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. The city of Portsmouth wants to keep and display the rock, while some in Kentucky insist it is their property and should be returned to the river. This thinking I will not even try to explain. All of the Molsters are gone from Portsmouth, but I am trying to locate some of the ancestors, as they should have a voice in saving the rock from being returned to oblivion. I'm a historian, not a genealogist, so I thought you might be able to provide some advice in tracking these people down. Any pearls of wisdom you can drop will be most appreciated. We're fighting hard to keep this piece of local history out of the river. Thanks in advance."
The New York Times article is here. My correspondent, Steve Shaffer, is quoted quite a bit and there is video of him and the Rock.
I was going outta town the next day, but I invested about 30 minutes trying to find out something about "C. Molster." Here is what I found in my short search:
"What an interesting problem. Unfortunately, I'm leaving town early on Sunday and I can't pursue it in any depth. I was able to go on www.ancestry.com and find a few things. First, I found that there was a Cornelius Molster, age 19, in Portsmouth Ohio in the 1860 census. Then I used Cornelius and Molster to search books and newspapers and I found several items. I have attached three pages (they are graphics .png files):
1) Page 281 of a Scioto County, Ohio history book - the biography of Cornelius Molster is at the bottom of the page in the RH column.
2) Page 282 - the continuation of Cornelius' biography.
3) A newspaper page from the Portsmouth Times in 1894 that lists the pioneers of the town. Cornelius and Henry Molster are listed.
You should be able to find the book at a local library if you want more information about the pioneers other than Corny Molster. I didn't find any mention of the Rock, but I'm sure if I look further I would!
So tell me - how in the world did you pick me to do this exercise? Was it that I mentioned Molster in Norway in a blog post? Or on my genealogy web site? Inquiring minds want to know!!"
I'm not sure they were the requested "pearls of wisdom," but Steve wrote back the next day, saying:
"Sincere thanks for your interest and the information you passed along. I found that five of the surnames carved on the rock were listed as members of the Scioto Co. Pioneer Association. I'm going to contact the Scioto Co. Genealogical Society (just discovered their existence today) to see if I might get that group involved. How I found you - I was surfing and first found the Molsters in Norway blog, which led me to your site. You are welcome to do a posting and I recommend you use the New York Times Tues. Feb. 11th article as your source."
Steve kindly permitted me to use this correspondence as blog information.
Steve is a local historian, and because I took a little time to be curious and helpful he learned something about genealogy and historical resources both online and in repositories.
I learned something about some local history. You know, each community has stories like this one that stirs local, and even national, interest in years past and preservation of artifacts. Some of these stories, and organizations dedicated to preservation or history and artifacts, might make excellent programs at a local genealogical society meeting.
There is a good lesson here - if you blog about something concerning a surname or a place name there is a good chance that someone will contact you out of the blue on a peripheral issue due to a Google match.
So now I'm curious if Cornelius Molster was descended from Norwegian immigrants from the Mölster farm that sits just above Voss in western Norway. My post about our 1999 "Genealogy Vacation in Norway" describes the farm - it's nowe a "living history museum" and one of Linda's ancestral families emigrated from that farm in 1855. I wonder what else I can find out about Corny Molster?
UPDATED 6 PM: Thanks to John Newmark for providing a link to the HTML codes for letters with diacritical marks! Excellent. ö is now in the name of Mölster!
Labels: Commercial genealogy, Genealogy/History, Online resources, Research techniques
Timeline for African-American Lives 2
One of my CVGS colleagues passed the link for a Timeline for the persons whose ancestry was featured in the PBS program African-American Lives 2. The time line is at http://www.pbs.org:80/wnet/aalives/timeline/index.html
This timeline intersperses historical events with the events covered in the PBS series. I found it interesting and useful to see more details about the ancestry of those featured on the series. There are more links to
* The profiles of the featured persons at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/profiles/index.html. You can see what the researchers found out about each person's ancestry.
* Analyzing the evidence pages are at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/evidence/index.html.
* Short videos for the featured persons can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/videos/index.html
This timeline intersperses historical events with the events covered in the PBS series. I found it interesting and useful to see more details about the ancestry of those featured on the series. There are more links to
* The profiles of the featured persons at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/profiles/index.html. You can see what the researchers found out about each person's ancestry.
* Analyzing the evidence pages are at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/evidence/index.html.
* Short videos for the featured persons can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/videos/index.html
Labels: genealogy education, Genealogy Video, Genealogy/History
NGS NewsMagazine Table of Contents - Jan-Mar 2008 Issue
The Table of Contents of the January-March 2008 issue (Volume 34, Number 1) of the NGS NewsMagazine, published by the National Genealogical Society, includes the following:
COLUMNS
* Beginning Genealogy: Membership has its benefits: joining a genealogical society by Gary M. Smith and Diana Crisman Smith - page 50.
* Software Review: Ancestral Quest 12 by Barbara Schenck - page 56
* Technology: Virtual push pins by Drew Smith, MLS - page 59. This is about online message boards.
* Writing Family History: Doctoral dissertations - a neglected source by Harold E. Hinds, Jr., PhD - page 62
FEATURES
* On the horizon ... Kansas City by Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL - page 10
* The DaVinci code and your genealogy: multiple streams of evidence by Arlene H. Eakle, PhD - page 12
* Finding wives' and daughters' names by Wendy Bebout Elliott, PhD, FUGA - page 17
* Using family possessions to add interest to genealogical research by Charles S. Mason, Jr. - page 22
* The WPA era: a genealogist's bonanza by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG - page 26
* Newspapers, technology, and what they mean to a genealogist by Joan Shurtleff, CG
* Extracting details from Italian civil vital records by June C. DeLallo, CG - page 36
* Welcome home! Witajcie w domu! You are four steps from your Polish village by Cecile Wendt Jensen, CG - page 41
* Homestead records: Cancelled, contested, and relinquished entries by Roberta King - page 46.
There is something for everybody in this issue of the NGS NewsMagazine. I really appreciated the column on joining a genealogical society - lots of good ideas here! The Eakle, Elliott and King articles provide discussion of research techniques and resources. The Stuart-Warren and Shurtleff articles are historical, and interesting.
COLUMNS
* Beginning Genealogy: Membership has its benefits: joining a genealogical society by Gary M. Smith and Diana Crisman Smith - page 50.
* Software Review: Ancestral Quest 12 by Barbara Schenck - page 56
* Technology: Virtual push pins by Drew Smith, MLS - page 59. This is about online message boards.
* Writing Family History: Doctoral dissertations - a neglected source by Harold E. Hinds, Jr., PhD - page 62
FEATURES
* On the horizon ... Kansas City by Ann Carter Fleming, CG, CGL - page 10
* The DaVinci code and your genealogy: multiple streams of evidence by Arlene H. Eakle, PhD - page 12
* Finding wives' and daughters' names by Wendy Bebout Elliott, PhD, FUGA - page 17
* Using family possessions to add interest to genealogical research by Charles S. Mason, Jr. - page 22
* The WPA era: a genealogist's bonanza by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG - page 26
* Newspapers, technology, and what they mean to a genealogist by Joan Shurtleff, CG
* Extracting details from Italian civil vital records by June C. DeLallo, CG - page 36
* Welcome home! Witajcie w domu! You are four steps from your Polish village by Cecile Wendt Jensen, CG - page 41
* Homestead records: Cancelled, contested, and relinquished entries by Roberta King - page 46.
There is something for everybody in this issue of the NGS NewsMagazine. I really appreciated the column on joining a genealogical society - lots of good ideas here! The Eakle, Elliott and King articles provide discussion of research techniques and resources. The Stuart-Warren and Shurtleff articles are historical, and interesting.
Labels: genealogy education, periodical indexes
Monday, February 25, 2008
"Researching Slaves in the Family" at CVGS on 27 February
Hey San Diego area readers -
The next General Meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society will be on Wednesday, 27 February at 12 noon in the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library auditorium (365 F Street, Chula Vista). There will be a short business meeting, with the 2007 Annual Report presented and discussed.
As many of you know, this is Black History Month, and CVGS has arranged for our program speaker to be Margaret Lewis - her topic will be "Researching Slaves in the Family." The synopsis of the talk is:
"Due to the lack of written records, African-American families relied on oral tradition when researching the slaves in their family. While oral history cannot take the place of documented sources, it can provide invaluable clues to family histories, names, relationships, and locations. Slaves were prohibited from participating in any activities that generated records on which genealogical research is based.
"Therefore, oral history can be a curial start to your research. While some ancestral lines can be traced back several generations with relatively little effort, researching slaves in the family can only be discovered after painstaking research. The objective of this presentation is to share slave records, and documented sources to use in your research. I would also like to stress the importance of researching the slave-owners and their families. The information you obtain in researching the slave-owners can help provide invaluable information that will assist in helping research the slaves in your family"
Margaret's CV includes:
"Margaret Lewis is the President, and a founding member of the San Diego African American Genealogy Research Group in San Diego, California. She started her “Ancestral Pursuit” in July of 1995 and her research quickly turned into an exciting journey that has taken her through an historical timeline of some of the most significant events in American History. What’s more important is that her ancestors participated in these events.
"Marti’s love for genealogy is expressed through her many published articles: “A Soldier’s Story”, “My Family Link”, “Time Will Tell” which was revised August 2005, to “He Touched Me”, and “Ancestral Roll Call” a poem summarizing her family heritage. She is also organizing her research materials to publish in a Family History Book to be titled, “Ancestral Pursuit.”
"Marti is currently working with the Daughters of the Union “Nancy Hanks Lincoln Tent #5” Editorial Committee to publish a Heritage Book which will feature their Civil War ancestors’ war stories. She has submitted a revised version, of “A Soldier’s Story” and has added a personal narrative which provides a vivid “on the scene” memoir of her great great grandfather’s life story from 1840 -1922.
"Marti is a compelling and influential voice in the genealogy community and she advocates for the study of Family History. She is known for her boundless enthusiasm, and has provided genealogical presentations, workshops and displays at many San Diego City Schools and conferences throughout the State of California, Nevada and Arizona."
This should be an excellent program. If you can attend this meeting, I'm sure that you will learn a lot about African-American research problems and successes.
The next General Meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society will be on Wednesday, 27 February at 12 noon in the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library auditorium (365 F Street, Chula Vista). There will be a short business meeting, with the 2007 Annual Report presented and discussed.
As many of you know, this is Black History Month, and CVGS has arranged for our program speaker to be Margaret Lewis - her topic will be "Researching Slaves in the Family." The synopsis of the talk is:
"Due to the lack of written records, African-American families relied on oral tradition when researching the slaves in their family. While oral history cannot take the place of documented sources, it can provide invaluable clues to family histories, names, relationships, and locations. Slaves were prohibited from participating in any activities that generated records on which genealogical research is based.
"Therefore, oral history can be a curial start to your research. While some ancestral lines can be traced back several generations with relatively little effort, researching slaves in the family can only be discovered after painstaking research. The objective of this presentation is to share slave records, and documented sources to use in your research. I would also like to stress the importance of researching the slave-owners and their families. The information you obtain in researching the slave-owners can help provide invaluable information that will assist in helping research the slaves in your family"
Margaret's CV includes:
"Margaret Lewis is the President, and a founding member of the San Diego African American Genealogy Research Group in San Diego, California. She started her “Ancestral Pursuit” in July of 1995 and her research quickly turned into an exciting journey that has taken her through an historical timeline of some of the most significant events in American History. What’s more important is that her ancestors participated in these events.
"Marti’s love for genealogy is expressed through her many published articles: “A Soldier’s Story”, “My Family Link”, “Time Will Tell” which was revised August 2005, to “He Touched Me”, and “Ancestral Roll Call” a poem summarizing her family heritage. She is also organizing her research materials to publish in a Family History Book to be titled, “Ancestral Pursuit.”
"Marti is currently working with the Daughters of the Union “Nancy Hanks Lincoln Tent #5” Editorial Committee to publish a Heritage Book which will feature their Civil War ancestors’ war stories. She has submitted a revised version, of “A Soldier’s Story” and has added a personal narrative which provides a vivid “on the scene” memoir of her great great grandfather’s life story from 1840 -1922.
"Marti is a compelling and influential voice in the genealogy community and she advocates for the study of Family History. She is known for her boundless enthusiasm, and has provided genealogical presentations, workshops and displays at many San Diego City Schools and conferences throughout the State of California, Nevada and Arizona."
This should be an excellent program. If you can attend this meeting, I'm sure that you will learn a lot about African-American research problems and successes.
Labels: CVGS, genealogy education, genealogy resources, Genealogy/History
Devier David Carringer (1889-1890)
David Devier Carringer was born 19 August 1889, in National City, California to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer. He was named for his grandfathers - Devier James Smith and David Jackson Carringer.
The San Diego Union announced in the August 24, 1889 edition that:
"Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Carringer rejoice in the arrival of a bright faced boy, who tips the scales at nine pounds."
This picture shows baby Devier at two months of age.
The joy turned to sorrow when Devier suddenly died on May 10, 1890. A remembrance card with gold lettering on a black background is shown below.
The card reads:
"One less at home,
The charmed circle broken -- a dear face missed
day by day from its usual place.
But cleansed, saved, perfected by grace,
One more in heaven.
"One less on earth,
its pain, its sorrow, and its toil to share.
One less the pilgrim's daily cross to bear.
One more the crown of the blessed to wear,
At home in heaven."
The family archives include several letters from the extended Smith family in Kansas and the extended Carringer family in Pennsylvania that try to reassure the family that it was God's will. The death of baby Devier apparently caused Austin Carringer to renounce his Christian faith.
The San Diego Union announced in the August 24, 1889 edition that:
"Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Carringer rejoice in the arrival of a bright faced boy, who tips the scales at nine pounds."
This picture shows baby Devier at two months of age.
The joy turned to sorrow when Devier suddenly died on May 10, 1890. A remembrance card with gold lettering on a black background is shown below.
The card reads:"One less at home,
The charmed circle broken -- a dear face missed
day by day from its usual place.
But cleansed, saved, perfected by grace,
One more in heaven.
"One less on earth,
its pain, its sorrow, and its toil to share.
One less the pilgrim's daily cross to bear.
One more the crown of the blessed to wear,
At home in heaven."
The family archives include several letters from the extended Smith family in Kansas and the extended Carringer family in Pennsylvania that try to reassure the family that it was God's will. The death of baby Devier apparently caused Austin Carringer to renounce his Christian faith.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Sunday, February 24, 2008
We're off to Disneyland!
I first went to Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1955 as an 11-year old with my grandparents. There were the five lands and several rides in each land, but the place is much bigger and more popular 53 years later.
We are driving up on Sunday morning (probably in the rain) and will meet our daughter and her family, including Lolo, who will celebrate her third birthday at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney on Sunday night. We will "do" Disneyland on Sunday and Monday, and will love sharing the experience with a darling little girl.
We are staying two nights at a boutique hotel, which advertises wireless Internet so I should be able to post each day and at least read my email and Bloglines. We'll be back home on Tuesday afternoon and I will resume my heavy regular blogging schedule then. Or not, who knows!
Have a good time while I'm gone - visit the blogs on my blogroll and the posts in the "Best of the Genea-Blogs" post! Or rest - your choice. Come on, you know you can't do without your blogreading fix!
We are driving up on Sunday morning (probably in the rain) and will meet our daughter and her family, including Lolo, who will celebrate her third birthday at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney on Sunday night. We will "do" Disneyland on Sunday and Monday, and will love sharing the experience with a darling little girl.
We are staying two nights at a boutique hotel, which advertises wireless Internet so I should be able to post each day and at least read my email and Bloglines. We'll be back home on Tuesday afternoon and I will resume my heavy regular blogging schedule then. Or not, who knows!
Have a good time while I'm gone - visit the blogs on my blogroll and the posts in the "Best of the Genea-Blogs" post! Or rest - your choice. Come on, you know you can't do without your blogreading fix!
Labels: Family Stories, genealogy blogs, musings
Best of the Genea-Blogs - February 17-23, 2008
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week.
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Anthology of Blogger Poems: 2008 Challenge" by Terry Thornton, editor, on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry captured ALL of the poems (mostly limericks) writeen by and for genealogy bloggers. Excellent!!!
* "Copyright Issues: Photographs" by Craig Manson on the Geneablogie blog. Craig uses his legal mind to assess the issues with using photographs in blogs, articles, books, etc.
* "My Top 15 - Well, Really - Top 16 - Canadian Genealogy Websites, February 2008" by M. Diane Rogers on the Canada Genealogy, or "Jane's Your Aunt" blog. Diane provides a superb list that I have bookmarked for future use and reference.
* "Land Records: What are Metes and Bounds?" by Diane Haddad on the Now What? blog. Diane provides a great summary of this esoteric and difficult, but vital, research topic.
* "Source Centric Prototype" by Dan Lawyer on the Taking Genealogy to the Common Person blog. Dan describes, and shows examples, of how New FamilySearch will be source-centric when displaying information from the LDS databases.
* "Honoring Our Presidents" by Miriam Midkiff on the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam discusses her life experiences with this holiday, and expresses her opinion that the schools should have special programs for this holiday. I agree!
* "A New Way to Share Genealogy?" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori investigates Scribd, describes her findings, and has some recommendations for using it.
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Anthology of Blogger Poems: 2008 Challenge" by Terry Thornton, editor, on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry captured ALL of the poems (mostly limericks) writeen by and for genealogy bloggers. Excellent!!!
* "Copyright Issues: Photographs" by Craig Manson on the Geneablogie blog. Craig uses his legal mind to assess the issues with using photographs in blogs, articles, books, etc.
* "My Top 15 - Well, Really - Top 16 - Canadian Genealogy Websites, February 2008" by M. Diane Rogers on the Canada Genealogy, or "Jane's Your Aunt" blog. Diane provides a superb list that I have bookmarked for future use and reference.
* "Land Records: What are Metes and Bounds?" by Diane Haddad on the Now What? blog. Diane provides a great summary of this esoteric and difficult, but vital, research topic.
* "Source Centric Prototype" by Dan Lawyer on the Taking Genealogy to the Common Person blog. Dan describes, and shows examples, of how New FamilySearch will be source-centric when displaying information from the LDS databases.
* "Honoring Our Presidents" by Miriam Midkiff on the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam discusses her life experiences with this holiday, and expresses her opinion that the schools should have special programs for this holiday. I agree!
* "A New Way to Share Genealogy?" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori investigates Scribd, describes her findings, and has some recommendations for using it.
* What is Blogging? Why would I want to do it?" by Becky Wiseman on the Kinexxions blog. Becky gave a talk on blogging - this is her narrative for the talk. Excellent!
* "Not Without My Car" by Chery Kinnick on the Nordic Blue blog. Chery describes her fascination with automobiles and describes her "car" family history.
* "Dead Ancestors Soap Opera, Part I" and "Part 2" by Cat on the Genealogy-Digging Up Dirt blog. Cat is transcribing the Civil War Pension File for George Washington Oakley. You get a good idea of the complexity of some of these files from these posts, and how they dealt with multiple wives and widows pensions. Cat is not done - there are more parts coming.
* "On Fried Mush, 'Hommeny,' Grits and Cornbread, Part I" by Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry reveals the secrets of Southern corn-based food. Interesting (and appalling?) to this Southern (California) lad. I'm looking forward to Part II, though!
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, Family Stories, genealogy blogs, Online resources, Research tips
Letters from home - Post 19
This is the eighteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from Della (Smith) Carringer to her cousins (unspecified). Undated, although it is probably October 1903. No envelope. The letter is on “Greetings from Southern California” letterhead, with three pictures, copyright 1901 by Edw. H. Mitchell S.F.
San Diego
510 Watkins Ave.
Dear Cousins,
Your good letter recived and I was so surprised to hear of two more boys in the family but I know George is proud now the men always are when it is a boy. I always wanted a girl I think they are just as nice don’t you? Wish I could have had my two boys to raise together. Hope you all can keep yours they are so much company one for the other. But I am thankfull for my one boy. He will be twelve next month. He is doing nicely in school now.
If it is not to much trouble when you write next time give me the childrens ages for I want to set down all of the cousins children and see how big a tree we will be in fifty years from now. Davie was fourty the 15th of this month so that makes the fourth to enter the four tens if Orpha & Nellie had lived. 1 I am the oldest. 2 Orpha next then 3 Nellie & 4 Davie. 5 (Ada dead). 6 Mary Dyar. 7 Matie Smith. 8 (Aggie Smith dead). Then 10 George 9 Myrtle Crouch. 11 Amy. 12 Willie C. 13 Lutie S. (dead). 14 Louie. Bert Vaux 15 (Ralph Crouch dead), 16 Bert Vaux. 17 Guy Vaux dead 19 Callie. I think 18 Gean Woodward was older than Callie but I do not know for shure. You know from there down Myrtle is older than George for I can remember her saying Monkey for Munger when he was a baby. You know from there down this younger generation of cousins.
20 Ada Woodward. 21 Verdie Dyar. 22 Roy Dyar. 24 Nellie Woodward. 23 Devier Carringer. 26. Chester Dyar. 27 Lyle Carringer. 25 Eva Smith. 28 Vern Dyar. 29 Ellen Doctor. 30 Lezzie Doctor. 31 Grace Doctor. 32 Mable Smith. 33 34 Will Cruchs 2 girls. 35 36 37 Amy 2 boys 1 girl. 38 39 40 Geo 2 girls 1 boy. 41 Orpha 1 girl. 18 Grand chil, 23 G Grand chil.
[no further information]
----------------------------------------
This is the last letter to and from the descendants of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. I will provide a descendants list in a future post so that relationships of all of these people can be shown.
This sheet of paper was probably a rough draft that Della saved after making a copy and sending it to her cousins. Della is wondering about their posterity - she wants to see how big a tree they will have 50 years from now.
510 Watkins Ave. was the first address given to the house that Austin and Della built. Watkins Avenue became Hawthorn Street later, and the house eventually had the address of 2105 30th Street, and after it was moved to them iddle of the block the address became 2115 30th Street.
=========================
Letter from Della (Smith) Carringer to her cousins (unspecified). Undated, although it is probably October 1903. No envelope. The letter is on “Greetings from Southern California” letterhead, with three pictures, copyright 1901 by Edw. H. Mitchell S.F.
San Diego
510 Watkins Ave.
Dear Cousins,
Your good letter recived and I was so surprised to hear of two more boys in the family but I know George is proud now the men always are when it is a boy. I always wanted a girl I think they are just as nice don’t you? Wish I could have had my two boys to raise together. Hope you all can keep yours they are so much company one for the other. But I am thankfull for my one boy. He will be twelve next month. He is doing nicely in school now.
If it is not to much trouble when you write next time give me the childrens ages for I want to set down all of the cousins children and see how big a tree we will be in fifty years from now. Davie was fourty the 15th of this month so that makes the fourth to enter the four tens if Orpha & Nellie had lived. 1 I am the oldest. 2 Orpha next then 3 Nellie & 4 Davie. 5 (Ada dead). 6 Mary Dyar. 7 Matie Smith. 8 (Aggie Smith dead). Then 10 George 9 Myrtle Crouch. 11 Amy. 12 Willie C. 13 Lutie S. (dead). 14 Louie. Bert Vaux 15 (Ralph Crouch dead), 16 Bert Vaux. 17 Guy Vaux dead 19 Callie. I think 18 Gean Woodward was older than Callie but I do not know for shure. You know from there down Myrtle is older than George for I can remember her saying Monkey for Munger when he was a baby. You know from there down this younger generation of cousins.
20 Ada Woodward. 21 Verdie Dyar. 22 Roy Dyar. 24 Nellie Woodward. 23 Devier Carringer. 26. Chester Dyar. 27 Lyle Carringer. 25 Eva Smith. 28 Vern Dyar. 29 Ellen Doctor. 30 Lezzie Doctor. 31 Grace Doctor. 32 Mable Smith. 33 34 Will Cruchs 2 girls. 35 36 37 Amy 2 boys 1 girl. 38 39 40 Geo 2 girls 1 boy. 41 Orpha 1 girl. 18 Grand chil, 23 G Grand chil.
[no further information]
----------------------------------------
This is the last letter to and from the descendants of Samuel and Mary Ann (Underhill) Vaux. I will provide a descendants list in a future post so that relationships of all of these people can be shown.
This sheet of paper was probably a rough draft that Della saved after making a copy and sending it to her cousins. Della is wondering about their posterity - she wants to see how big a tree they will have 50 years from now.
510 Watkins Ave. was the first address given to the house that Austin and Della built. Watkins Avenue became Hawthorn Street later, and the house eventually had the address of 2105 30th Street, and after it was moved to them iddle of the block the address became 2115 30th Street.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Names for your grandparents
On the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) mailing list, Carolyn E. Billingsley asked "what names were used for grandparents by their grandchildren?" She got a lot of responses!
I posted my answers on the APG list, saying (order revised below):
* Nana - my mother called her maternal grandmother this (San Diego CA)
* Nana - my children and my niece called my mother this (she requested it) (San Diego CA)
* Nana - my wife and her brother called their paternal grandmother this (San Francisco CA area)
* Nana Seaver - my brothers and I called our paternal grandmother this because she lived in Massachusetts. My Massachusetts cousins called her Nana also.
* Gram - my brothers and I called my maternal grandmother this (San Diego CA)
* Gramma - my 4-year old grandson calls my wife this now (San Diego CA)
* Mamma - my 3-year old granddaughter calls my wife this, but is working on Gramma (San Diego CA)
* Oo-hoo - my wife and her brother called their maternal grandmother this (San Francisco CA). The story here is that whenever they went to visit thier grandmother, their mother would open the front door and shout "Yoo-hoo." Their grandmother would always answer "Yoo-hoo" and come quickly. The kids figured her name was "Yoo-hoo" but could say only "Oo-hoo." What a dear!
* Papa Lee and Mama Lee - my children called their maternal grandparents these names. His name was Lee Leland, so that's how it came about (San Francisco CA)
* GigiPa and GigiMa - my grandsons call their father's maternal grandparents this because they are Great-Grandparents - G-G-Pa or G-G-Ma - get it? Pretty smart, actually. Unique and accurate. They love it!
* Gramp - my brothers and I called my maternal grandfather this (San Diego CA)
* Grampa - my 4-year old grandson calls me this now (San Diego CA)
* Baba - my 3-year old granddaughter calls me this now (San Diego CA) but is working on Grampa.
* Pop-pop - my children and my niece called my father this (San Diego area) - this kind of goes with Nana, eh? The story here is that when I married Linda, my Massachusetts born father called her Linder. So Linder called him Popper and my mother Mommer (they got used to it). It was a short jump to Pop-pop for the grandkids, but my mother wanted to be called Nana.
* GrandStan - my brother's grandson calls him this (San Diego CA). His given name is Stanley. The name fits... I've resisted being called GrandRand!
What did you call your grandparents? What did your children call their grandparents? What do your grandchildren call you? Please list where they all lived too - Carolyn is trying to figure out regional trends.
Either post about it on your own blog, or add a comment here. i'll pass them on to Carolyn if we get a nice list.
UPDATED: 7:40 pm. - added GigiMa and GigiPa to thel ist after I remembered it.
I posted my answers on the APG list, saying (order revised below):
* Nana - my mother called her maternal grandmother this (San Diego CA)
* Nana - my children and my niece called my mother this (she requested it) (San Diego CA)
* Nana - my wife and her brother called their paternal grandmother this (San Francisco CA area)
* Nana Seaver - my brothers and I called our paternal grandmother this because she lived in Massachusetts. My Massachusetts cousins called her Nana also.
* Gram - my brothers and I called my maternal grandmother this (San Diego CA)
* Gramma - my 4-year old grandson calls my wife this now (San Diego CA)
* Mamma - my 3-year old granddaughter calls my wife this, but is working on Gramma (San Diego CA)
* Oo-hoo - my wife and her brother called their maternal grandmother this (San Francisco CA). The story here is that whenever they went to visit thier grandmother, their mother would open the front door and shout "Yoo-hoo." Their grandmother would always answer "Yoo-hoo" and come quickly. The kids figured her name was "Yoo-hoo" but could say only "Oo-hoo." What a dear!
* Papa Lee and Mama Lee - my children called their maternal grandparents these names. His name was Lee Leland, so that's how it came about (San Francisco CA)
* GigiPa and GigiMa - my grandsons call their father's maternal grandparents this because they are Great-Grandparents - G-G-Pa or G-G-Ma - get it? Pretty smart, actually. Unique and accurate. They love it!
* Gramp - my brothers and I called my maternal grandfather this (San Diego CA)
* Grampa - my 4-year old grandson calls me this now (San Diego CA)
* Baba - my 3-year old granddaughter calls me this now (San Diego CA) but is working on Grampa.
* Pop-pop - my children and my niece called my father this (San Diego area) - this kind of goes with Nana, eh? The story here is that when I married Linda, my Massachusetts born father called her Linder. So Linder called him Popper and my mother Mommer (they got used to it). It was a short jump to Pop-pop for the grandkids, but my mother wanted to be called Nana.
* GrandStan - my brother's grandson calls him this (San Diego CA). His given name is Stanley. The name fits... I've resisted being called GrandRand!
What did you call your grandparents? What did your children call their grandparents? What do your grandchildren call you? Please list where they all lived too - Carolyn is trying to figure out regional trends.
Either post about it on your own blog, or add a comment here. i'll pass them on to Carolyn if we get a nice list.
UPDATED: 7:40 pm. - added GigiMa and GigiPa to thel ist after I remembered it.
Labels: Family Stories, musings
Letters from home - Post 18
This is the seventeenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith (in Glendale near Los Angeles) to grandson Lyle Carringer (in San Diego). Envelope showing Commercial House, McCook Neb., addressed to Lyle L. Carringer, cor of 28th St and Logan Ave, San Diego, Cal., care of H.A. Carringer, postmarked McCook Nebr 23 Feb 1898?, postmarked on back San Diego Cal Feb 27 1898?.
Dear Lyle,
This letter is just for you only, excuse me for not writing before because I was writeing several letters one to Amy one to Sarah Linney one to cousin Mida, and one to Mr. Sillman and wrote the puzzles down and tried some of the answers and if it had not been for my tablet I keep account of who and when I write to people I should have thought I answered you and MaMas good nice letters. I guess Grand Ma must be getting forgetful in her old age. Well if you live long enough you will know how it is, I cannot guess the conundrums or puzzles as you call them so after this send the answers right along too. That is a very good proverb at the heading of your last letter. I believe in having a good time now and all the time through life but about being a long time dead, I cannot believe that, as the Bible teaches us that we never die, and that the better purer lives we lead while our Spirits inhabit this Body the better it will be for us when our Breath leaves the Body, some think the way we will have to pay for lying, cheating and any other mean thing we do we will have to comence and live our lives all over again. I think that would be pretty bad, for instance, suppose your teacher now in School should say to you Lyle you have made such slow poor progress in your studies I shall have to put you into the first grade where you can study it all over again before you can go into the higher grades. I think you would feel pretty much discouraged
2/ so you would, let us so live that we will not look back with sorrowful hearts over our past lives and feel that we have made a failure of everything. I have a few papers Mr. Sanford gave me to read and then pass on to some one else so will send you a few if you do not have time to read them now save them for future reference, when you do have time. You will learn what it takes to make a succesful business man of yourself. I was pleased to hear you say you had saved your money instead of going to the Dog Show because it is not what it was at first now it has so much circus performances attached to it, if you remember the last time I went with you, the horses, dogs and in fact the seals did not perform nicely at all. I used to think what a wonderful thing it was just to watch those seals balance those fire balls on their nose and keep them tossing up in the air, and in fact all they did sing and shoot off a gun.
Cousin Mida's little grans son is 8 years old he has been a couple of times and he prefered a new cap this time. I thought, well they are bringing their boy up like Lyle. The little girl is 7 years old, and she is in 4th B grade I believe if I remember right. They are very nice children just like you are. Sometimes I expect they feel the lessons their Grand Ma gives them is pretty hard to have to listen to too. She lives in the same house with them the same as I do with you, only she cooks and does all of her worke separate. These Grand Mas have some old fashioned notions about the care of children. But - I can see when I go into a family where there is one the children are better behaved and smarter that is old of their age, Ma Ma and Papa can explain to you.
3/ Now I mean if you read this to them. I am glad you are getting along nicely with your music. I suppose you do not take any more lessons do you (or do you). I thought that lady told me when you were through with the 18 lessons you could learn the rest yourself.
Do you ever go down on Saturday and visit your Uncle Davie and little Mable. He would show you how he manages things when the fire bells ring. When I was there he showed me how it would be when it was finished. It all worked like clock worke. I expect he has to train his Horses every day. If you were there on Saturday some time you could see him practice with them. I would like to see them. I never saw a team even drive out of the barn yet during a fire call. I have seen them on the street. But I mean to see them take their places under their harness ... [line missing]
Horse here in Los Angeles that used to be on the Fire department for years and wherever it is when the fire bells rings it starts right off on the run and the man cannot hold it just like it was running away he has to let it go to the fire. He runs a Vegetable Waggon, ain't that funny. I would like to see it Lyle I am glad for your sake San Diego is not a big city. My Oh, your parents would not feel like letting you out of their sight even to go to school there are so many accidents. Children are never safe the streets are just jammed with people cars and every kind of loaded teames pleasure teams and wheels of all kinds. My Oh, no wonder so many people are buying outside property for homes. It is to keep their children out of the crowded city. You can go down on Spring Street and stand there and you can
4/ be an eye witness to well let me give you a specimen of what I saw. First - a policeman conducting a mother with several children acrost the street, with his club in his hand swinging it to the right and left he got them safe acrost - then he would grab an old man just in time to keep the car from running over him, and stop teams that were just ready to pass in front of a street car, and Mida and I just had to hang to each other and dodge this way and that to get acrost safe. I would not try it again that is on Spring Street where so many cars centre, it seems so nice and quiet out here in Glendale, just like out where you live Lyle. Nothing to fear, too far back from the Railroad for tramps to care to come &c. Well I get quite homesick to see you Lyle. You know you seem like my own boy, but we cannot always be together, I do not know when I will come back as Cousin Sadie just has to have someone to live with her and she likes to have me with her the best of any one that ever lived with her, so that makes me feel perfectly at home, and we just have a nice time. We worke or play just as we feel like doing it is too good to last, isn't it. But - I guess not, as Ma Ma says don't worry and look for trouble in the line of sickness and it will not come, so I am trying the thought all the time, now all is well. Let me see Mrs. Breckinridge said to you in her letter (God is life, in that life we safely dwell, it is above beneath and within us, all is well and I am well) so I am repeating that every day and think all my folks at home are well too, well good morning, the mail man is coming, I guess you can read this.
with lots of love,
[cutoff, definitely Abigail (Vaux) Smith, Lyle's grandmother]
Please forward to Matie Callie's and Bert's letters when Mama writes again.
------------------------------------
Perhaps we have another case of a letter in the wrong envelope. It is obvious that Abby is in Glendale, California from the letter, but the envelope is postmarked McCook, Nebraska. The letter must be from after 1897, since she is writing directly to Lyle and telling him stories that she hopes he will read to his mother (he was born in 1891, so he might have learned to read by age 6 or 7). It is possible that this letter was written after 1900. I may be able to tell if I can find out who Cousin Mida's grandson was!
We get some idea of what it's like in the "big city" - Los Angeles on Spring Street with lots of traffic and confusion.
I'm not sure yet who this Cousin Mida or Cousin Sadie is - I think it's one of Abby's Vaux cousins. There was a Sadie who was a daughter of George Vaux, one of Abby's first cousins. I should look in Glendale, I think!
This is the first mention of Abby's son, David Smith and his daughter Mable - they are in San Diego at the time of this letter.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith (in Glendale near Los Angeles) to grandson Lyle Carringer (in San Diego). Envelope showing Commercial House, McCook Neb., addressed to Lyle L. Carringer, cor of 28th St and Logan Ave, San Diego, Cal., care of H.A. Carringer, postmarked McCook Nebr 23 Feb 1898?, postmarked on back San Diego Cal Feb 27 1898?.
Dear Lyle,
This letter is just for you only, excuse me for not writing before because I was writeing several letters one to Amy one to Sarah Linney one to cousin Mida, and one to Mr. Sillman and wrote the puzzles down and tried some of the answers and if it had not been for my tablet I keep account of who and when I write to people I should have thought I answered you and MaMas good nice letters. I guess Grand Ma must be getting forgetful in her old age. Well if you live long enough you will know how it is, I cannot guess the conundrums or puzzles as you call them so after this send the answers right along too. That is a very good proverb at the heading of your last letter. I believe in having a good time now and all the time through life but about being a long time dead, I cannot believe that, as the Bible teaches us that we never die, and that the better purer lives we lead while our Spirits inhabit this Body the better it will be for us when our Breath leaves the Body, some think the way we will have to pay for lying, cheating and any other mean thing we do we will have to comence and live our lives all over again. I think that would be pretty bad, for instance, suppose your teacher now in School should say to you Lyle you have made such slow poor progress in your studies I shall have to put you into the first grade where you can study it all over again before you can go into the higher grades. I think you would feel pretty much discouraged
2/ so you would, let us so live that we will not look back with sorrowful hearts over our past lives and feel that we have made a failure of everything. I have a few papers Mr. Sanford gave me to read and then pass on to some one else so will send you a few if you do not have time to read them now save them for future reference, when you do have time. You will learn what it takes to make a succesful business man of yourself. I was pleased to hear you say you had saved your money instead of going to the Dog Show because it is not what it was at first now it has so much circus performances attached to it, if you remember the last time I went with you, the horses, dogs and in fact the seals did not perform nicely at all. I used to think what a wonderful thing it was just to watch those seals balance those fire balls on their nose and keep them tossing up in the air, and in fact all they did sing and shoot off a gun.
Cousin Mida's little grans son is 8 years old he has been a couple of times and he prefered a new cap this time. I thought, well they are bringing their boy up like Lyle. The little girl is 7 years old, and she is in 4th B grade I believe if I remember right. They are very nice children just like you are. Sometimes I expect they feel the lessons their Grand Ma gives them is pretty hard to have to listen to too. She lives in the same house with them the same as I do with you, only she cooks and does all of her worke separate. These Grand Mas have some old fashioned notions about the care of children. But - I can see when I go into a family where there is one the children are better behaved and smarter that is old of their age, Ma Ma and Papa can explain to you.
3/ Now I mean if you read this to them. I am glad you are getting along nicely with your music. I suppose you do not take any more lessons do you (or do you). I thought that lady told me when you were through with the 18 lessons you could learn the rest yourself.
Do you ever go down on Saturday and visit your Uncle Davie and little Mable. He would show you how he manages things when the fire bells ring. When I was there he showed me how it would be when it was finished. It all worked like clock worke. I expect he has to train his Horses every day. If you were there on Saturday some time you could see him practice with them. I would like to see them. I never saw a team even drive out of the barn yet during a fire call. I have seen them on the street. But I mean to see them take their places under their harness ... [line missing]
Horse here in Los Angeles that used to be on the Fire department for years and wherever it is when the fire bells rings it starts right off on the run and the man cannot hold it just like it was running away he has to let it go to the fire. He runs a Vegetable Waggon, ain't that funny. I would like to see it Lyle I am glad for your sake San Diego is not a big city. My Oh, your parents would not feel like letting you out of their sight even to go to school there are so many accidents. Children are never safe the streets are just jammed with people cars and every kind of loaded teames pleasure teams and wheels of all kinds. My Oh, no wonder so many people are buying outside property for homes. It is to keep their children out of the crowded city. You can go down on Spring Street and stand there and you can
4/ be an eye witness to well let me give you a specimen of what I saw. First - a policeman conducting a mother with several children acrost the street, with his club in his hand swinging it to the right and left he got them safe acrost - then he would grab an old man just in time to keep the car from running over him, and stop teams that were just ready to pass in front of a street car, and Mida and I just had to hang to each other and dodge this way and that to get acrost safe. I would not try it again that is on Spring Street where so many cars centre, it seems so nice and quiet out here in Glendale, just like out where you live Lyle. Nothing to fear, too far back from the Railroad for tramps to care to come &c. Well I get quite homesick to see you Lyle. You know you seem like my own boy, but we cannot always be together, I do not know when I will come back as Cousin Sadie just has to have someone to live with her and she likes to have me with her the best of any one that ever lived with her, so that makes me feel perfectly at home, and we just have a nice time. We worke or play just as we feel like doing it is too good to last, isn't it. But - I guess not, as Ma Ma says don't worry and look for trouble in the line of sickness and it will not come, so I am trying the thought all the time, now all is well. Let me see Mrs. Breckinridge said to you in her letter (God is life, in that life we safely dwell, it is above beneath and within us, all is well and I am well) so I am repeating that every day and think all my folks at home are well too, well good morning, the mail man is coming, I guess you can read this.
with lots of love,
[cutoff, definitely Abigail (Vaux) Smith, Lyle's grandmother]
Please forward to Matie Callie's and Bert's letters when Mama writes again.
------------------------------------
Perhaps we have another case of a letter in the wrong envelope. It is obvious that Abby is in Glendale, California from the letter, but the envelope is postmarked McCook, Nebraska. The letter must be from after 1897, since she is writing directly to Lyle and telling him stories that she hopes he will read to his mother (he was born in 1891, so he might have learned to read by age 6 or 7). It is possible that this letter was written after 1900. I may be able to tell if I can find out who Cousin Mida's grandson was!
We get some idea of what it's like in the "big city" - Los Angeles on Spring Street with lots of traffic and confusion.
I'm not sure yet who this Cousin Mida or Cousin Sadie is - I think it's one of Abby's Vaux cousins. There was a Sadie who was a daughter of George Vaux, one of Abby's first cousins. I should look in Glendale, I think!
This is the first mention of Abby's son, David Smith and his daughter Mable - they are in San Diego at the time of this letter.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Friday, February 22, 2008
RootsTelevision Videos from St. George
I couldn't attend the St. George, Utah Family History Expo on February 8-9, but I can watch some of the highlights on Roots Television. It's not the same as being there, experiencing the exhibit hall, attending the presentations, being wined and dined by the vendors, meeting fans of genea-bloggers, but it's fun to see the faces and hear the voices of some of my favorite people.
http://www.rootstelevision.com/ has posted a number of videos made at the Expo, including --
* Family History Expo Overview by Family Tree Magazine
* FamilySearch interviewed by Tracey Long
* Genealogy Gems with Lisa Louise Cooke
* DearMYRTLE/Pat Richley with Dick Eastman
* Ken McGinnis on Legacy Family Tree with Dick Eastman
* Holly Hansen of MyAncestorsFound with Dick Eastman
* Allison Stacy of Family Tree Magazine with Dick Eastman
* Paul Larsen author of Crash Course in Genealogy with Tracey Long
* Jon Shupe of Passage Express Software
* Floyd Nordine of Forever Family Embroidery
I hope I got them all. These are all fairly short interviews and are informative and fun - for me at least!
Oh - last thing - The Genealogy Guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, have a great 12 minute video called Down Under:Florida about cemetery research. Be sure to watch this one - you get to see George and Drew in their element!
You will have to endure several 30 second commercials if you stay long at this site. An alternative is to click on the static ads on the right hand side of the web site - check out those Russian beauty girls too ...
If you have a free hour, go visit http://www.rootstelevision.com/ and see what genealogy videos excite you. This time is often the most fun hour of my genealogy week!
http://www.rootstelevision.com/ has posted a number of videos made at the Expo, including --
* Family History Expo Overview by Family Tree Magazine
* FamilySearch interviewed by Tracey Long
* Genealogy Gems with Lisa Louise Cooke
* DearMYRTLE/Pat Richley with Dick Eastman
* Ken McGinnis on Legacy Family Tree with Dick Eastman
* Holly Hansen of MyAncestorsFound with Dick Eastman
* Allison Stacy of Family Tree Magazine with Dick Eastman
* Paul Larsen author of Crash Course in Genealogy with Tracey Long
* Jon Shupe of Passage Express Software
* Floyd Nordine of Forever Family Embroidery
I hope I got them all. These are all fairly short interviews and are informative and fun - for me at least!
Oh - last thing - The Genealogy Guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, have a great 12 minute video called Down Under:Florida about cemetery research. Be sure to watch this one - you get to see George and Drew in their element!
You will have to endure several 30 second commercials if you stay long at this site. An alternative is to click on the static ads on the right hand side of the web site - check out those Russian beauty girls too ...
If you have a free hour, go visit http://www.rootstelevision.com/ and see what genealogy videos excite you. This time is often the most fun hour of my genealogy week!
Labels: genealogy education, Genealogy Video
Writing narratives in genealogy software
There has been an extensive civil discussion on the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) mailing list concerning writing narrative text, all or part of a person's life story, for genealogy reports, magazine articles or books. The critical post that set off the discussion was Elizabeth Shown Mills post here. Her preference is to write narratives in a word processor so that the author has full control over the result without "software-created" sentences.
In response, Bob Velke of Wholly Genes (which produces The Master Genealogist (TMG) software) claimed that his software could do exactly what Elizabeth said shouldn't be done. Terry Reigel chimed in with a link to an article he wrote that demonstrates the range of flexibility in adapting TMG capabilities to different facts and the use of end notes in creating "flowing narratives." My observation is that "it seems to take a lot of effort" to do it.
The need for writing "flowing narratives" is vital for client reports and publication in genealogy periodicals or books. One of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) requirements is to submit a Narrative Report as a requirement for certification. The certification submission requirements are here. A sample work product of a narrative genealogy is provided here. Reviewing all of the sample work products are an excellent way to understand the BCG requirements and application process.
The issue is "can TMG, or any other software program, create this type of a report, complete with note callouts, footnotes with text, headings, bullet points, etc." Bob Velke and Terry Reigel think that TMG can do it, albeit with substantial custom text writing, as Terry's web site example demonstrates.
I have not written a report similar to the narrative example. But I think that I could use FamilyTreeMaker 16 to generate all of the text, and footnotes, using the Facts, Sources and Notes capabilities of the software. I would then have to edit the result in a Word Processor to superscript the footnote numbers, to put the right footnotes with the right number at the bottom of each page, to modify the source citations as required (short forms for second and later citation of the same source), to indent, change font size, bold or italicize when necessary, etc. Other software, like TMG, may allow the user to do all or many of these tasks.
However, the folks who don't want software to "write" their narrative do all of that in their Word Processor document when they write their reports or narratives.
I think the issue is really "how many times do you write a narrative?" The ideal number is "once." It shouldn't matter if it is in your word processor or in a software program. The goal is to document your work in a clear and complete manner. The second issue is "how many times do you edit a narrative?"
My current preference is to write my narratives for an individual in the Notes section of FTM16, and include my source citations in the text body (either as cited, or numbered with a list at the end). Either method can be used to generate a genealogy report that can be edited. IMHO, the key is that I've typed it in only once, I have it saved in a place I can find it, and I can edit it if necessary. Once I put it into a word processor, then I may have to edit it to put it in a preferred format. At that point, the information in my word document and in my database are different.
Whether it is in a word processed document or in a database-generated report, the work product of my narrative will be generated by me using my so-called creative writing skills. If I submit it for publication, I expect it to be edited, polished as required, and submitted again. Whether I started in a word processor or my database really shouldn't matter.
What think you? Do you use a word processor to write client reports, magazine articles, book chapters, or do you use your genealogy software? Or some combination of the two? Tell us about it - I'm willing to learn best practices!
In response, Bob Velke of Wholly Genes (which produces The Master Genealogist (TMG) software) claimed that his software could do exactly what Elizabeth said shouldn't be done. Terry Reigel chimed in with a link to an article he wrote that demonstrates the range of flexibility in adapting TMG capabilities to different facts and the use of end notes in creating "flowing narratives." My observation is that "it seems to take a lot of effort" to do it.
The need for writing "flowing narratives" is vital for client reports and publication in genealogy periodicals or books. One of the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) requirements is to submit a Narrative Report as a requirement for certification. The certification submission requirements are here. A sample work product of a narrative genealogy is provided here. Reviewing all of the sample work products are an excellent way to understand the BCG requirements and application process.
The issue is "can TMG, or any other software program, create this type of a report, complete with note callouts, footnotes with text, headings, bullet points, etc." Bob Velke and Terry Reigel think that TMG can do it, albeit with substantial custom text writing, as Terry's web site example demonstrates.
I have not written a report similar to the narrative example. But I think that I could use FamilyTreeMaker 16 to generate all of the text, and footnotes, using the Facts, Sources and Notes capabilities of the software. I would then have to edit the result in a Word Processor to superscript the footnote numbers, to put the right footnotes with the right number at the bottom of each page, to modify the source citations as required (short forms for second and later citation of the same source), to indent, change font size, bold or italicize when necessary, etc. Other software, like TMG, may allow the user to do all or many of these tasks.
However, the folks who don't want software to "write" their narrative do all of that in their Word Processor document when they write their reports or narratives.
I think the issue is really "how many times do you write a narrative?" The ideal number is "once." It shouldn't matter if it is in your word processor or in a software program. The goal is to document your work in a clear and complete manner. The second issue is "how many times do you edit a narrative?"
My current preference is to write my narratives for an individual in the Notes section of FTM16, and include my source citations in the text body (either as cited, or numbered with a list at the end). Either method can be used to generate a genealogy report that can be edited. IMHO, the key is that I've typed it in only once, I have it saved in a place I can find it, and I can edit it if necessary. Once I put it into a word processor, then I may have to edit it to put it in a preferred format. At that point, the information in my word document and in my database are different.
Whether it is in a word processed document or in a database-generated report, the work product of my narrative will be generated by me using my so-called creative writing skills. If I submit it for publication, I expect it to be edited, polished as required, and submitted again. Whether I started in a word processor or my database really shouldn't matter.
What think you? Do you use a word processor to write client reports, magazine articles, book chapters, or do you use your genealogy software? Or some combination of the two? Tell us about it - I'm willing to learn best practices!
Labels: genealogy education, genealogy software, professional genealogy
Letters from home - Post 17
This is the sixteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from D.J. Smith in McCook Neb. to his grandson Lyle Carringer in San Diego CA. No envelope.
McCook Neb., 2nd 5th 93
Dear little grandson,
Good evening, this is Sunday evening and 3 minutes past 8 and I expect you are abed and asleep, sweet dreams to you my little Gran. I am alone in my Office and did not feel like going to bed but let my man go home early as it was cold and no work today only one bug without team, one Doller. My man has a family and lives croxt the block near the stable. He has 3 little girls and the youngest one is a fatt little chub and she runs off to see Smiff and she has a little puppy that I let them take and she ses no Smiffs won't take the puppy.
Wal now, old chum, I will just tell you Bess is in her bed asleep and she is a good one to snore you bett and another thing I can tell you I have 2 white catts and they run all over my sholders and up my arms while I am riting to you and one on the paper. I keep them on the table and have a baskett for them to sleep in one is on top of my head now, and then playing with my hair. Would you like a pr Old Boy. Last Friday I was halling straw and saw a big flock of wild geese and a farmer up there told me yesterday that the flock had been here all winter. I rember of seeing a flock 20 years ago in Feb in Iowa, and your Granma saw them to. My catts are jolley felows and chases the other. It is fun to see them.
Tell your mother that I can
[Note - ends abruptly, perhaps the final pages were lost]
-------------------------------------
I doubt that Devier J. Smith has seen his grandson yet - he's in McCook, Nebraska and Lyle is in San Diego. But he writes this letter as if he's sitting right next ot him telling him stories about the dog and cats. The "Smiff" is, of course, DJ himself - the little girl calls him Smiff.
=========================
Letter from D.J. Smith in McCook Neb. to his grandson Lyle Carringer in San Diego CA. No envelope.
McCook Neb., 2nd 5th 93
Dear little grandson,
Good evening, this is Sunday evening and 3 minutes past 8 and I expect you are abed and asleep, sweet dreams to you my little Gran. I am alone in my Office and did not feel like going to bed but let my man go home early as it was cold and no work today only one bug without team, one Doller. My man has a family and lives croxt the block near the stable. He has 3 little girls and the youngest one is a fatt little chub and she runs off to see Smiff and she has a little puppy that I let them take and she ses no Smiffs won't take the puppy.
Wal now, old chum, I will just tell you Bess is in her bed asleep and she is a good one to snore you bett and another thing I can tell you I have 2 white catts and they run all over my sholders and up my arms while I am riting to you and one on the paper. I keep them on the table and have a baskett for them to sleep in one is on top of my head now, and then playing with my hair. Would you like a pr Old Boy. Last Friday I was halling straw and saw a big flock of wild geese and a farmer up there told me yesterday that the flock had been here all winter. I rember of seeing a flock 20 years ago in Feb in Iowa, and your Granma saw them to. My catts are jolley felows and chases the other. It is fun to see them.
Tell your mother that I can
[Note - ends abruptly, perhaps the final pages were lost]
-------------------------------------
I doubt that Devier J. Smith has seen his grandson yet - he's in McCook, Nebraska and Lyle is in San Diego. But he writes this letter as if he's sitting right next ot him telling him stories about the dog and cats. The "Smiff" is, of course, DJ himself - the little girl calls him Smiff.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New England Historical and Genealogical Register - January 2008 Issue Table of Contents
The January 2008 issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Volume 162, Number 1, Whole Number 645) Table of Contents includes:
* Editorial - page 3
* "Identification of the Unnamed Daughter of John1 and Elizabeth (Thomson) Cogswell Who Remained in England" by Priscilla Colstad Greenlees - page 5
* "The Probable English Origins of Thomas Betterley" by Lawrence McGrath, Esther Whitney Mott, and Phylicia Salisbury - page 8
* "Mary Hemenway, Wife of George2 Lawrence of Watertown, Massachusetts" by Michael J. Leclerc - page 15
* "Jeremiah1 Rogers of Dorchester and Lancaster, Massachusetts" by Henry B. Hoff, Michael J. Leclerc, and Helen Schauvet Ullmann - page 18
* "Dorcas (_____) Lippitt of Providence, Rhode Island, and Her Descendants" by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg - page 23
* "Wolston Brockway of Lyme, Connecticut, With Further Analysis of His Associations" by Gale Ion Harris - page 37
* "A Jordan-Silvester Connection Revealed" by Ernest Hyde Helliwell III - page 47
* "Joseph5 and Phoebe (MIUllington) Rounds of Clarendon and Monkton, Vermont" by John Bradley Arthaud and Marcia (Yannizze) Melnyk - page 54
* "Ancestry of Bennet Eliot of Nazeing, Essex, Father of Seven Great Migration Immigrants to Massachusetts" by William Wyman Fiske (continued from 161:259) - page 63
* Review of Books and CD-ROMs - page 73
The most intriguing in this list is the Wolston Brockway (about 1638-1718) article - there are 10 pages of narrative here, to be continued, about his life events, including a discussion of the probable identities of his three wives. The richness of the colonial resources is amazing - probably due to his litigious nature!
The Bennet Eliot article s also continued - I keep hoping that they will identify one of my "given-name only" females as an Eliot, because there is a lot of English ancestry in this multi-part article.
The Jordan-Silvester article untangles a Jordan family, finding a surname for the first wife of John Jordan (????-1729) of Milton MA. However, the author can't determine if the wife was Esther or Naomi Silvester.
In almost every article, the panoply of record types is broad - and virtually none of them are online or on CDROM, which is typical of early colonial records in New England (with the exception of NEHGR and town VR images).
If you have colonial New England ancestry, there is much to be learned from the NEHGR and the information on www.newenglandancestors.org (the web site of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
* Editorial - page 3
* "Identification of the Unnamed Daughter of John1 and Elizabeth (Thomson) Cogswell Who Remained in England" by Priscilla Colstad Greenlees - page 5
* "The Probable English Origins of Thomas Betterley" by Lawrence McGrath, Esther Whitney Mott, and Phylicia Salisbury - page 8
* "Mary Hemenway, Wife of George2 Lawrence of Watertown, Massachusetts" by Michael J. Leclerc - page 15
* "Jeremiah1 Rogers of Dorchester and Lancaster, Massachusetts" by Henry B. Hoff, Michael J. Leclerc, and Helen Schauvet Ullmann - page 18
* "Dorcas (_____) Lippitt of Providence, Rhode Island, and Her Descendants" by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg - page 23
* "Wolston Brockway of Lyme, Connecticut, With Further Analysis of His Associations" by Gale Ion Harris - page 37
* "A Jordan-Silvester Connection Revealed" by Ernest Hyde Helliwell III - page 47
* "Joseph5 and Phoebe (MIUllington) Rounds of Clarendon and Monkton, Vermont" by John Bradley Arthaud and Marcia (Yannizze) Melnyk - page 54
* "Ancestry of Bennet Eliot of Nazeing, Essex, Father of Seven Great Migration Immigrants to Massachusetts" by William Wyman Fiske (continued from 161:259) - page 63
* Review of Books and CD-ROMs - page 73
The most intriguing in this list is the Wolston Brockway (about 1638-1718) article - there are 10 pages of narrative here, to be continued, about his life events, including a discussion of the probable identities of his three wives. The richness of the colonial resources is amazing - probably due to his litigious nature!
The Bennet Eliot article s also continued - I keep hoping that they will identify one of my "given-name only" females as an Eliot, because there is a lot of English ancestry in this multi-part article.
The Jordan-Silvester article untangles a Jordan family, finding a surname for the first wife of John Jordan (????-1729) of Milton MA. However, the author can't determine if the wife was Esther or Naomi Silvester.
In almost every article, the panoply of record types is broad - and virtually none of them are online or on CDROM, which is typical of early colonial records in New England (with the exception of NEHGR and town VR images).
If you have colonial New England ancestry, there is much to be learned from the NEHGR and the information on www.newenglandancestors.org (the web site of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Labels: genealogy education, periodical indexes
Letters from home - Post 16
This is the fifteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter written by Abby (Vaux) Smith, no addressee or date, no envelope. Perhaps it was written to Austin Carringer in colorado, Lyle's father. It was probably written around late 1892 as it refers to Lyle as a baby.
Thursday, 11 A.M.
Just mailed your letter. I want to tell you about little Lyle then must go to sewing. He is asleep now. Last night when I got supper I made graham mush, we have not had any Della thinks for about a week, but I hardly think that long the little dear he seemed to know what it was and could hardly wait until supper was ready. I was so surprised how did he know what it was he flaped his hands and squealed like he does when anything pleases him. I always noticed he liked it and when we fry it for breakfast he eats so hearty of it. I tell Della he shall never go a day without it until he gets tired of it. He is tired of bread soaked in milk will spit it out as fast as he can. Will eat bread and butter, also crackers will eat oyster soup codfish gravey and beef. I do not know how much he would eat if we dare give him all he wants. Any kinds of fresh fruits sets his bowels to running off as boiled potatoes or give him baked potatoes sometimes we could aford chicken, he has never tasted one yet. We intend to get one just for him soon, a young one.
Friday, Della took Lyle up for a treatment as he got so he would throw his head back and bump it against things as though it felt bad also has quite a fever. Kept us up until 11 o'clock two nights seemed to have ear ache we thought it might be fleas biteing him and a hot cloth on his bowels they seem to trouble him a good deal. He feels better since his treatment. Olive said he needed one said his eyeteeth have started what makes him so nervous and wakeful. Della got him some kid shoes as he has outgrown these he has and the chamois wear out as fast as we can make them now almost (Mrs.. Morril made him a pr for his birthday we had them cut out).
(Saturday) Della has gone down to give Mrs. Beck and Gracie their painting lessons will stay to the parade and speaking. Well, she has come home 10 P.M. Baby and I had a big time while she was gone. I baked bread. Baked some apples and washed some, gave him a roll of newspapers to play with and he carpeted the kitchen floor with them then strew clothes pins diapers his oil stove sit near enough the edge of the table he got that and his box is half full of playthings and he pulled them all out and I just had to wade through knee deep I told him. He would not keep still another way, then after supper I put him to sleep he woke up twice once with ear ache and I had to sit and hold him. I did a two weeks ironing had just finished and looked at the watch as Della came was surprised to see it was so late. She went to Mrs. Case's to supper and they went to the Plaza together said it was all verry interesting to her as she goes and hears so few speeches. Could not endorse all that was said of course. Mrs. C is quite a Democrat.
(Sunday) Lyle had his bath this morning he does enjoy them so it feeling better his hands are feet are a little cold but has not got as much fever. Olive told Della to give him a little acconite once in awhile and she did. He walks better with shoes to strengthen his ankles went clear from the kitchen into the parlor without falling once today pushes his buggy then walks backwards and pulls it and hangs on his feet just a slideing it goes too fast for him but he hangs on until it hits against something to stop it then gathers himself up sometimes he cannot do it and he yells for help right away.
[Abruptly ends - perhaps following pages are lost]
-----------------------------------
This letter is almost all about her grandson one-year old Lyle - he's walking a bit, loves to eat graham mush, plays and makes a mess on the floor, and has earaches. Pretty typical, eh?
I wonder what kinds of "treatments" Lyle was getting? For fever, earaches, diarrhea? Sounds like he had an ear infection, doesn't it?
I haven't found the final page(s) - too bad!
=========================
Letter written by Abby (Vaux) Smith, no addressee or date, no envelope. Perhaps it was written to Austin Carringer in colorado, Lyle's father. It was probably written around late 1892 as it refers to Lyle as a baby.
Thursday, 11 A.M.
Just mailed your letter. I want to tell you about little Lyle then must go to sewing. He is asleep now. Last night when I got supper I made graham mush, we have not had any Della thinks for about a week, but I hardly think that long the little dear he seemed to know what it was and could hardly wait until supper was ready. I was so surprised how did he know what it was he flaped his hands and squealed like he does when anything pleases him. I always noticed he liked it and when we fry it for breakfast he eats so hearty of it. I tell Della he shall never go a day without it until he gets tired of it. He is tired of bread soaked in milk will spit it out as fast as he can. Will eat bread and butter, also crackers will eat oyster soup codfish gravey and beef. I do not know how much he would eat if we dare give him all he wants. Any kinds of fresh fruits sets his bowels to running off as boiled potatoes or give him baked potatoes sometimes we could aford chicken, he has never tasted one yet. We intend to get one just for him soon, a young one.
Friday, Della took Lyle up for a treatment as he got so he would throw his head back and bump it against things as though it felt bad also has quite a fever. Kept us up until 11 o'clock two nights seemed to have ear ache we thought it might be fleas biteing him and a hot cloth on his bowels they seem to trouble him a good deal. He feels better since his treatment. Olive said he needed one said his eyeteeth have started what makes him so nervous and wakeful. Della got him some kid shoes as he has outgrown these he has and the chamois wear out as fast as we can make them now almost (Mrs.. Morril made him a pr for his birthday we had them cut out).
(Saturday) Della has gone down to give Mrs. Beck and Gracie their painting lessons will stay to the parade and speaking. Well, she has come home 10 P.M. Baby and I had a big time while she was gone. I baked bread. Baked some apples and washed some, gave him a roll of newspapers to play with and he carpeted the kitchen floor with them then strew clothes pins diapers his oil stove sit near enough the edge of the table he got that and his box is half full of playthings and he pulled them all out and I just had to wade through knee deep I told him. He would not keep still another way, then after supper I put him to sleep he woke up twice once with ear ache and I had to sit and hold him. I did a two weeks ironing had just finished and looked at the watch as Della came was surprised to see it was so late. She went to Mrs. Case's to supper and they went to the Plaza together said it was all verry interesting to her as she goes and hears so few speeches. Could not endorse all that was said of course. Mrs. C is quite a Democrat.
(Sunday) Lyle had his bath this morning he does enjoy them so it feeling better his hands are feet are a little cold but has not got as much fever. Olive told Della to give him a little acconite once in awhile and she did. He walks better with shoes to strengthen his ankles went clear from the kitchen into the parlor without falling once today pushes his buggy then walks backwards and pulls it and hangs on his feet just a slideing it goes too fast for him but he hangs on until it hits against something to stop it then gathers himself up sometimes he cannot do it and he yells for help right away.
[Abruptly ends - perhaps following pages are lost]
-----------------------------------
This letter is almost all about her grandson one-year old Lyle - he's walking a bit, loves to eat graham mush, plays and makes a mess on the floor, and has earaches. Pretty typical, eh?
I wonder what kinds of "treatments" Lyle was getting? For fever, earaches, diarrhea? Sounds like he had an ear infection, doesn't it?
I haven't found the final page(s) - too bad!
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Working with Beginning Genealogists
One of the major benefits of any newspaper publicity is the influx of phone calls from people in the community asking for information about "how to find my ancestry." This was the case with the recent newspaper articles about CVGS that I wrote about here.
We had five phone calls in the last week to CVGS members asking for information and about joining the society. Four of them came to our Computer Group meeting today. Two of them have done no genealogy research, other than gathering family papers. One of them had drawn a rough ancestral chart with three generations on his father's side and two on his mother's side, which was an excellent start.
Rather than work on the computers today, John, Dearl and I took the two neophytes into the conference room and discussed the basics of genealogy research -- family papers and stories, obtaining vital records, obtaining other records, filling out pedigree charts and family group sheets, what resources are online and what are not, etc. They both asked great questions and we tried to answer them as best we could. We gave them the "homework assignment" of filling out the pedigree chart and family group sheets for each known family.
I have passed them a pedigree chart, family group sheet, and my Online Genealogy syllabus via email. I will pass them several other documents tonight, including the Research Process and my matrix of Record Types and where to find them.
They were intrigued by the thought of genealogy software, and how the software can make charts and reports. We recommended www.NothingButSoftware.com for discounted software to get started.
After the meeting, we took them over to the library computers with Ancestry Library Edition and found several census records for one fellow's family. He was pretty excited.
It was a good day for all of us - hopefully they learned something, and we helped two potential new members get started on their genealogy adventure. I realized that I need to carry more of a "beginning genealogist" kit in my briefcase for situations like this. CVGS holds a beginners class every year, but often times the need for help is immediate and we have to reel in these potential new members before they wriggle off the hook.
What ahould I include in my "beginning genealogist" kit? I have the pedigree, group sheet and record type charts, a list of online genealogy tutorials, examples of the charts and a genealogy report, etc. What else should I have?
We had five phone calls in the last week to CVGS members asking for information and about joining the society. Four of them came to our Computer Group meeting today. Two of them have done no genealogy research, other than gathering family papers. One of them had drawn a rough ancestral chart with three generations on his father's side and two on his mother's side, which was an excellent start.
Rather than work on the computers today, John, Dearl and I took the two neophytes into the conference room and discussed the basics of genealogy research -- family papers and stories, obtaining vital records, obtaining other records, filling out pedigree charts and family group sheets, what resources are online and what are not, etc. They both asked great questions and we tried to answer them as best we could. We gave them the "homework assignment" of filling out the pedigree chart and family group sheets for each known family.
I have passed them a pedigree chart, family group sheet, and my Online Genealogy syllabus via email. I will pass them several other documents tonight, including the Research Process and my matrix of Record Types and where to find them.
They were intrigued by the thought of genealogy software, and how the software can make charts and reports. We recommended www.NothingButSoftware.com for discounted software to get started.
After the meeting, we took them over to the library computers with Ancestry Library Edition and found several census records for one fellow's family. He was pretty excited.
It was a good day for all of us - hopefully they learned something, and we helped two potential new members get started on their genealogy adventure. I realized that I need to carry more of a "beginning genealogist" kit in my briefcase for situations like this. CVGS holds a beginners class every year, but often times the need for help is immediate and we have to reel in these potential new members before they wriggle off the hook.
What ahould I include in my "beginning genealogist" kit? I have the pedigree, group sheet and record type charts, a list of online genealogy tutorials, examples of the charts and a genealogy report, etc. What else should I have?
Labels: CVGS, genealogy education, Research techniques
The Non-fiction book meme
Bill West on the West in New England blog and Colleen on the Orations of OMcHodoy blog, and perhaps others that I've missed, tagged me for the ongoing non-fiction meme. I'll play for a bit. The questions and my answers are:
What issues/topic interests you most--non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, there are infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?
Genealogy, biography, history and current political affairs are the topics that I read most often. I am presently reading the Peter Morton Coan book on Ellis Island Interviews. I have James Mann's Rise of the Vulcans and Mona Charen's Do-Gooders on my hope chest for vacation reading.
I really like historical fiction - where fictional characters are put into historical situations and are witnesses to history. James Michener, Edward Rutherfurd, William Martin and Jeff Shaara's books are great examples.
Would you like to review books concerning those?
Not really - too much work for no reward.
Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.
Not really. I have blogging to do!
Would you recommend those to your friends and how?
Recommend what? The books I haven't yet read? How could I? Stupid question.
If you have already done something like this, link it to your post.
I did review Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick here, and have reviewed several of the Schaara books in the past - see here.
I'm not going to list 10 more bloggers to respond to the meme. It would be a waste of my time and theirs, I think. What did anyone learn from this?
I hate to be a grinch here, but memes like this do not advance the cause of genealogy. In my judgment, they are a time waster.
What issues/topic interests you most--non-fiction, i.e, cooking, knitting, stitching, there are infinite topics that has nothing to do with novels?
Genealogy, biography, history and current political affairs are the topics that I read most often. I am presently reading the Peter Morton Coan book on Ellis Island Interviews. I have James Mann's Rise of the Vulcans and Mona Charen's Do-Gooders on my hope chest for vacation reading.
I really like historical fiction - where fictional characters are put into historical situations and are witnesses to history. James Michener, Edward Rutherfurd, William Martin and Jeff Shaara's books are great examples.
Would you like to review books concerning those?
Not really - too much work for no reward.
Would you like to be paid or do it as interest or hobby? Tell reasons for what ever you choose.
Not really. I have blogging to do!
Would you recommend those to your friends and how?
Recommend what? The books I haven't yet read? How could I? Stupid question.
If you have already done something like this, link it to your post.
I did review Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick here, and have reviewed several of the Schaara books in the past - see here.
I'm not going to list 10 more bloggers to respond to the meme. It would be a waste of my time and theirs, I think. What did anyone learn from this?
I hate to be a grinch here, but memes like this do not advance the cause of genealogy. In my judgment, they are a time waster.
Labels: musings
Dream On!
I can hardly wait to go to sleep tonight... no, silly, Angel Linda didn't get a new sexy nightgown, hmm... good idea, our anniversary is approaching. Oops, got off my train of thought. sorry.
I finally had what I think was an "ancestor dream" last night. The scene was my grandparents house at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego, where they lived from 1920 until 1951. Lyle and Emily (Kemp) Carringer built it in 1920, and my mother grew up in this house until she married, and Emily's mother lived here throughout this time. It was on the same block as the house inhabited by Austin and Della Carringer at 2115 30th Street, and the upstairs flat I "remember as home " at 2119 30th Street. In the dream, I recognized the front yard and the front door of the house, which faces the driveway.
I recognized my grandfather, who was outside and invited me in. A little girl was in the background when the door opened. I immediately sat down at a long table with my grandfather at the far end, the little girl and an older wizened man with a mustache, and a little boy sat on the other side of the table, and my grandmother sat at the near end of the table right next to me. Her facial features and voice were unmistakable, but her body was distorted.
My grandmother started praying (I don't know if she ever did this at the dinner table) out loud and went on for awhile in a preachy strident voice. I opened my eyes (in the dream) while she prayed and looked around at the windows, counters, furniture, artwork and knickknacks in the room.
Then I woke up all excited that I had finally had an "ancestor dream." I don't remember recognizing any of the scenes inside the house, or the household "stuff," after I woke up.
I lived in this house from mid-1944 until late 1945 (approximately age 9 months to 25 months) with my mother and my grandparents when my father was in the US Navy in World War II. I have no clue now how the rooms inside were laid out, or what household "stuff" they had at that time, although I imagine that most of what was in their house in 1977 after they died was there, especially the books, china and counter knickknacks.
I remember very few dreams - usually they are the ones that result in stark terror and an instant wakeup and sigh that I'm still there in bed breathing, sometimes heavily. I guess that is good, eh?
I have hoped and wished to have "ancestor dreams" for 20 years. I can't remember a dream about my parents or grandparents in the last 20 years, let along a more distant ancestor. Maybe I shouldn't wish for something like this?
Were they trying to tell me something? Who were the girl, boy and mustache man? Too many questions - no answers yet!
How about you? Have you had meaningful "ancestor dreams?" Were they realistic? Scary? Tell us about them!
I finally had what I think was an "ancestor dream" last night. The scene was my grandparents house at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego, where they lived from 1920 until 1951. Lyle and Emily (Kemp) Carringer built it in 1920, and my mother grew up in this house until she married, and Emily's mother lived here throughout this time. It was on the same block as the house inhabited by Austin and Della Carringer at 2115 30th Street, and the upstairs flat I "remember as home " at 2119 30th Street. In the dream, I recognized the front yard and the front door of the house, which faces the driveway.
I recognized my grandfather, who was outside and invited me in. A little girl was in the background when the door opened. I immediately sat down at a long table with my grandfather at the far end, the little girl and an older wizened man with a mustache, and a little boy sat on the other side of the table, and my grandmother sat at the near end of the table right next to me. Her facial features and voice were unmistakable, but her body was distorted.
My grandmother started praying (I don't know if she ever did this at the dinner table) out loud and went on for awhile in a preachy strident voice. I opened my eyes (in the dream) while she prayed and looked around at the windows, counters, furniture, artwork and knickknacks in the room.
Then I woke up all excited that I had finally had an "ancestor dream." I don't remember recognizing any of the scenes inside the house, or the household "stuff," after I woke up.
I lived in this house from mid-1944 until late 1945 (approximately age 9 months to 25 months) with my mother and my grandparents when my father was in the US Navy in World War II. I have no clue now how the rooms inside were laid out, or what household "stuff" they had at that time, although I imagine that most of what was in their house in 1977 after they died was there, especially the books, china and counter knickknacks.
I remember very few dreams - usually they are the ones that result in stark terror and an instant wakeup and sigh that I'm still there in bed breathing, sometimes heavily. I guess that is good, eh?
I have hoped and wished to have "ancestor dreams" for 20 years. I can't remember a dream about my parents or grandparents in the last 20 years, let along a more distant ancestor. Maybe I shouldn't wish for something like this?
Were they trying to tell me something? Who were the girl, boy and mustache man? Too many questions - no answers yet!
How about you? Have you had meaningful "ancestor dreams?" Were they realistic? Scary? Tell us about them!
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Letters from home - Post 15
This is the fourteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the letter from Abby to Austin:
Wed. 4 P.M.
Well, Della took the boy up for a visit - Olive says his teeth are coming right along, says he is a nice healthy boy only a weak stomache will out grow that in time with care about his diet. Says she could see a letter right here that spoke of a change said if you did not change your mind you might be home before Feb said times were surely going to be better very soon, you will see by the papers the trial of Indian Joe and quite a little about the young woman that suicided at the Coronado Hotel. It seems to be a mystery yet who she is, no relatives seem to claim her yet. I tell you Johnson is making money there are two of them a cousin in company the day Mrs. Abbey was burried a young boy was at the same time. Mr. Abbey said they only charged him 60 dollars for the whole thing did pretty well.
Better prices for their land dont it look that way. Olive still says times are going to be better verry soon now, well time will tell. I think Lyle thinks you are comeing he twists his tongue in all manner of shapes trying to talk sometimes he repeats things after us that sound as plain as we say it, but of course we think it just happened so. He got his chair today and tried to bring it to the table then at another time he pushed a kitchen chair up to me and tried to climb up into it, then tonight he let us know he wanted his milk and wanted one to undress him, dear little fellow when he does get so he can tell us things by talking his tongue will just fly.
Della got a letter from your folks today with 10 dollars some stamps so she will not have to use mine now. Elmer Green is gone, the altitude was too high there for him perhaps if he had remained here he might have lived several years. His folks must feel pretty bad. Austin I imagine your mother thinks her only hope of seeing Della and the baby there in the spring is to keep you. But tell her she could go back just the same if you were here of course it would be nicer to be there at the same time. But health is better than wealth.
Mrs. Wood came and brought Della three dollars 25 cts her 25 cts on the dollar had to be counted out left 2.25. She has sold a few articles that she expects pay for Sat so we are taking in a little again. Della had a young lady this afternoon taking a lesson on the plush mill come again tomorrow their mail for the third one next week.
I bronzed three little rolling pins three potatoe mashers and three little deep dishes will put ribbons on them in the morning and hooks for shoe buttoners to hang on the dishes of wood I just plush in the center and they sell for ring holders as any kind of jewelry, all 10 cts apiece. I fixed a lot of shells for card baskets and made some thimble cases ready for Della to paint, also made some mass cards.
Jessie took care of Lyle he went to sleep before she brought him in just wheeled him from here to Bemis's Barn before she came. He kept me busy I tell you. Della is going to take him up for a treatment in the morning. It does Lyle so much good to have a treat. He has played around by himself so much more today.
??rone had to go over on the beach to treat a lady that had her hip broke made it so late for her she got so little sleep poor woman. There seems to be no rest for her at all. How much good she is doing if Elmer Green understood this phenomina he might possibly come and inspire Della with his gift of painting, too bad if he had not finished his picture for the World's Fair.
Della is goeing to write this eve and wrap up some more papers. She has stoped it and ordered the weekly Union so you will have time to read that and so will we. What was it that did not have postage enough or was it a roll of papers containing 4 instead of three at a time., I thought it was no bigger than one of the San Francisco papers would make. Well good-bye from Mother.
--------------------------------
Abby gives us even more news about their piece work - both of them are making things and bringing in some money to live on.
Little Lyle is working his tongue and trying to talk - he sounds so cute!
They apparently have been sending newspapers to Austin with their letters, but one came back for postage due.
Elmer, who died in Colorado and lived in San Diego for awhile, is apparently Elmer Green, who is not in my database. He must be a family friend in San Diego or Boulder. Austin lived with his brother and parents there from about 1873 to 1887.
Abby comments about the young woman who committed suicide at the Hotel del coronado. She may be the ghost rumored to reside in one of the rooms there even today.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the letter from Abby to Austin:
Wed. 4 P.M.
Well, Della took the boy up for a visit - Olive says his teeth are coming right along, says he is a nice healthy boy only a weak stomache will out grow that in time with care about his diet. Says she could see a letter right here that spoke of a change said if you did not change your mind you might be home before Feb said times were surely going to be better very soon, you will see by the papers the trial of Indian Joe and quite a little about the young woman that suicided at the Coronado Hotel. It seems to be a mystery yet who she is, no relatives seem to claim her yet. I tell you Johnson is making money there are two of them a cousin in company the day Mrs. Abbey was burried a young boy was at the same time. Mr. Abbey said they only charged him 60 dollars for the whole thing did pretty well.
Better prices for their land dont it look that way. Olive still says times are going to be better verry soon now, well time will tell. I think Lyle thinks you are comeing he twists his tongue in all manner of shapes trying to talk sometimes he repeats things after us that sound as plain as we say it, but of course we think it just happened so. He got his chair today and tried to bring it to the table then at another time he pushed a kitchen chair up to me and tried to climb up into it, then tonight he let us know he wanted his milk and wanted one to undress him, dear little fellow when he does get so he can tell us things by talking his tongue will just fly.
Della got a letter from your folks today with 10 dollars some stamps so she will not have to use mine now. Elmer Green is gone, the altitude was too high there for him perhaps if he had remained here he might have lived several years. His folks must feel pretty bad. Austin I imagine your mother thinks her only hope of seeing Della and the baby there in the spring is to keep you. But tell her she could go back just the same if you were here of course it would be nicer to be there at the same time. But health is better than wealth.
Mrs. Wood came and brought Della three dollars 25 cts her 25 cts on the dollar had to be counted out left 2.25. She has sold a few articles that she expects pay for Sat so we are taking in a little again. Della had a young lady this afternoon taking a lesson on the plush mill come again tomorrow their mail for the third one next week.
I bronzed three little rolling pins three potatoe mashers and three little deep dishes will put ribbons on them in the morning and hooks for shoe buttoners to hang on the dishes of wood I just plush in the center and they sell for ring holders as any kind of jewelry, all 10 cts apiece. I fixed a lot of shells for card baskets and made some thimble cases ready for Della to paint, also made some mass cards.
Jessie took care of Lyle he went to sleep before she brought him in just wheeled him from here to Bemis's Barn before she came. He kept me busy I tell you. Della is going to take him up for a treatment in the morning. It does Lyle so much good to have a treat. He has played around by himself so much more today.
??rone had to go over on the beach to treat a lady that had her hip broke made it so late for her she got so little sleep poor woman. There seems to be no rest for her at all. How much good she is doing if Elmer Green understood this phenomina he might possibly come and inspire Della with his gift of painting, too bad if he had not finished his picture for the World's Fair.
Della is goeing to write this eve and wrap up some more papers. She has stoped it and ordered the weekly Union so you will have time to read that and so will we. What was it that did not have postage enough or was it a roll of papers containing 4 instead of three at a time., I thought it was no bigger than one of the San Francisco papers would make. Well good-bye from Mother.
--------------------------------
Abby gives us even more news about their piece work - both of them are making things and bringing in some money to live on.
Little Lyle is working his tongue and trying to talk - he sounds so cute!
They apparently have been sending newspapers to Austin with their letters, but one came back for postage due.
Elmer, who died in Colorado and lived in San Diego for awhile, is apparently Elmer Green, who is not in my database. He must be a family friend in San Diego or Boulder. Austin lived with his brother and parents there from about 1873 to 1887.
Abby comments about the young woman who committed suicide at the Hotel del coronado. She may be the ghost rumored to reside in one of the rooms there even today.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Another WVR Survey
I get emails occasionally from www.WorldVitalRecords.com occasionally asking me to takje a survey as part of their Customer Input Panel program. I appreciate the effort on their part to survey their current and potential customers.
Here's the survey:
1) What company are you currently a member of below? (Choose all that apply)
* WorldVitalRecords.com
* Ancestry.com (my selection)
* Both
* Neither
2) Which of the following collections do you currently own on Ancestry.com?
* US (my selection)
* World
3) How long have you been a member of Ancestry.com?
* Less than one year
* 1-2 Years (my selection)
* 3-5 years
* More than 5 years
4) Have you purchased any of the other products or services offered by Ancestry .com? (Choose all that apply)
* Books (my selection)
* CDs
* Print
* DNA
* Other
* None
5) Which of the following databases are/were the most useful in doing your research on Ancestry.com? (Choose all that apply)
* Family Trees (8)
* Census and Voter Lists (1)
* Birth, Marriage and Death (2)
* Immigration and Emigration (6)
* Military (5)
* Directories and Member Lists (7)
* Court, Wills, Land and Financial (10)
* Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Reference (11)
* Newspapers and Periodicals (3)
* Stories, Memories and Histories (4)
* Pictures (12)
* Maps, Atlases and Gazetteers (9)
* None of the Above
* Other (specify)
NOTE: I put them in order of importance above - the survey didn't allow that, but it should have IMHO! I selected the top 9.
Since I didn't say that I subscribed to WVR, I didn't get to answer any questions about their databases. Too bad, because I do look at them on occasion at home, and I do use their databases down at the Family History Center.
Looks like they're doing a little competitor research, doesn't it?
Here's the survey:
1) What company are you currently a member of below? (Choose all that apply)
* WorldVitalRecords.com
* Ancestry.com (my selection)
* Both
* Neither
2) Which of the following collections do you currently own on Ancestry.com?
* US (my selection)
* World
3) How long have you been a member of Ancestry.com?
* Less than one year
* 1-2 Years (my selection)
* 3-5 years
* More than 5 years
4) Have you purchased any of the other products or services offered by Ancestry .com? (Choose all that apply)
* Books (my selection)
* CDs
* DNA
* Other
* None
5) Which of the following databases are/were the most useful in doing your research on Ancestry.com? (Choose all that apply)
* Family Trees (8)
* Census and Voter Lists (1)
* Birth, Marriage and Death (2)
* Immigration and Emigration (6)
* Military (5)
* Directories and Member Lists (7)
* Court, Wills, Land and Financial (10)
* Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Reference (11)
* Newspapers and Periodicals (3)
* Stories, Memories and Histories (4)
* Pictures (12)
* Maps, Atlases and Gazetteers (9)
* None of the Above
* Other (specify)
NOTE: I put them in order of importance above - the survey didn't allow that, but it should have IMHO! I selected the top 9.
Since I didn't say that I subscribed to WVR, I didn't get to answer any questions about their databases. Too bad, because I do look at them on occasion at home, and I do use their databases down at the Family History Center.
Looks like they're doing a little competitor research, doesn't it?
Labels: Ancestry.com, Commercial genealogy, WorldVitalRecords
"Discovering Family History" magazine debuts with FREE issue
I'm a bit late with this announcement...
Halvoor Moorshead edits and publishes two genealogy-oriented magazines - Family Chronicle magazine and Internet Genealogy magazine. He has a new publication, titled Discovering Family History, which targets the beginning genealogy market.
You can read more about the magazine itself, and download a FREE issue (56 pages), at the web site http://www.discoveringfamilyhistory.com/. The magazine is a 1.6 mb PDF file - you will need Adobe Reader Version 5 or later on your computer in order to read it.
They are offering an introductory price of $20 for one year, 6 issues, an $8 discount from the retail price.
I downloaded the magazine and have read several articles. While they are fairly basic, they are comprehensive in nature and are very worthwhile for experienced researchers. Many of the articles refer to online genealogy web sites.
Here is the Table of Contents for the FREE issue:
* First Things First, Genealogy News You Can Use - page 4
* A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites by David A. Norris - page 7
* Let Obituaries Speak to You by George G. Morgan - page 11
* What's Coming in Discovering Family History - page 13
* The Ultimate Guide to Subscription Services by Rick Crume - page 14
* Who Else is Researching Your Name? by George G. Morgan - page 20
* What is a Vital Record? by Mary Clement Douglass - page 23
* Citing Sources by Rachel Newcombe - page 26
* Case Study: Getting to Know Pap by Lisa A. Alzo - page 28
* Computing Basics by Bill Puller - page 33
* 10 First Steps by Lisa A. Alzo - page 36
* It's All About Parents by Janice Nickerson - page 40
* Genealogy Societies by Donna J. Pointkouski - page 42
* Web 2.0 by Marian Press - page 47
* Making Sense of the US Census by Beverly Smith Vorpahl - page 51
* It's Only Words by Donna Murray - page 54.
Many of these writers also write for the other Halvor Moorshead magazines, and they do a fine job!
I look forward to future issues of this magazine.
Halvoor Moorshead edits and publishes two genealogy-oriented magazines - Family Chronicle magazine and Internet Genealogy magazine. He has a new publication, titled Discovering Family History, which targets the beginning genealogy market.
You can read more about the magazine itself, and download a FREE issue (56 pages), at the web site http://www.discoveringfamilyhistory.com/. The magazine is a 1.6 mb PDF file - you will need Adobe Reader Version 5 or later on your computer in order to read it.
They are offering an introductory price of $20 for one year, 6 issues, an $8 discount from the retail price.
I downloaded the magazine and have read several articles. While they are fairly basic, they are comprehensive in nature and are very worthwhile for experienced researchers. Many of the articles refer to online genealogy web sites.
Here is the Table of Contents for the FREE issue:
* First Things First, Genealogy News You Can Use - page 4
* A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites by David A. Norris - page 7
* Let Obituaries Speak to You by George G. Morgan - page 11
* What's Coming in Discovering Family History - page 13
* The Ultimate Guide to Subscription Services by Rick Crume - page 14
* Who Else is Researching Your Name? by George G. Morgan - page 20
* What is a Vital Record? by Mary Clement Douglass - page 23
* Citing Sources by Rachel Newcombe - page 26
* Case Study: Getting to Know Pap by Lisa A. Alzo - page 28
* Computing Basics by Bill Puller - page 33
* 10 First Steps by Lisa A. Alzo - page 36
* It's All About Parents by Janice Nickerson - page 40
* Genealogy Societies by Donna J. Pointkouski - page 42
* Web 2.0 by Marian Press - page 47
* Making Sense of the US Census by Beverly Smith Vorpahl - page 51
* It's Only Words by Donna Murray - page 54.
Many of these writers also write for the other Halvor Moorshead magazines, and they do a fine job!
I look forward to future issues of this magazine.
Labels: genealogy education, genealogy resources, magazine articles, Online resources, Research techniques, Research tips
Letters from home - Post 14
This is the thirteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the second letter from Della to Austin:
Wed eve,
Dear Husband, it is a little cooler last night and tonight. Do as you think best Austin and it is all right with me, but I am glad your mother does not want you to go with Ed. I could get a World's Fair ticket next spring I expect but would have to go to Chicago to have it stamped and I would not want to do that. Well a few months will tell. I hear of carpenters out of work as well as there that have just got work. So that is the way it is here. But I did not want you to feel as if you had to stay in the waiter just for the money. When your health is what we think of most. But if you are with your brother and have good work that is not as bad as you are situated now. Of course we would like you at home and would do all we could to help but you know how you feel and can judge better than we can for you. I am so glad you have gained. I know the change has done you good. But do not want you to stay a minute if you feel you could not stand the weather.
We will do the best we can untill you come either way it may be. --- Mrs. Morrill is coming over Monday to help on my red silk we are making over to pay for the work we did on her tea-gown. I am going over to their fair the 16th. I have earned a 1.00 this week and will 50 cts more tomorrow so I feel rich.
I told your Mother not to get any Christmas present for us as I thought your staying there so long was a big Christmas present. I want to send them each a ??? fraim and Ed. I have to have a pr of shoes and that with getting my dresses fixed up is enough for my Christmas present, and if we send you a small package from home you must remember you are away from home, and send us money all the time. Of course we would prefer your company to any other but will have to wait untill you come. To bad Elmer had to go before the World's Fair, but we can not be the judge. When you see them give them our sympathy in their sorrow, Good night love and kisses from your loving wife.
Della.
Lyle is in bed, he can run his tongue out farther than I. He had a big time before he went to sleep.
---------------------------------------
Della must have received a letter from Austin describing his employment options - he could stay in Boulder or go some place (perhaps Grand Junction CO) with his brother, Edgar Carringer.
Austin must have been sick in months past - health is always a big concern!
Della's thinking about Christmas coming - she is very practical, isn't she? She's pinching pennies too.
I wonder who Elmer was? A Carringer cousin, perhaps? I'll have to search for him in my database.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the second letter from Della to Austin:
Wed eve,
Dear Husband, it is a little cooler last night and tonight. Do as you think best Austin and it is all right with me, but I am glad your mother does not want you to go with Ed. I could get a World's Fair ticket next spring I expect but would have to go to Chicago to have it stamped and I would not want to do that. Well a few months will tell. I hear of carpenters out of work as well as there that have just got work. So that is the way it is here. But I did not want you to feel as if you had to stay in the waiter just for the money. When your health is what we think of most. But if you are with your brother and have good work that is not as bad as you are situated now. Of course we would like you at home and would do all we could to help but you know how you feel and can judge better than we can for you. I am so glad you have gained. I know the change has done you good. But do not want you to stay a minute if you feel you could not stand the weather.
We will do the best we can untill you come either way it may be. --- Mrs. Morrill is coming over Monday to help on my red silk we are making over to pay for the work we did on her tea-gown. I am going over to their fair the 16th. I have earned a 1.00 this week and will 50 cts more tomorrow so I feel rich.
I told your Mother not to get any Christmas present for us as I thought your staying there so long was a big Christmas present. I want to send them each a ??? fraim and Ed. I have to have a pr of shoes and that with getting my dresses fixed up is enough for my Christmas present, and if we send you a small package from home you must remember you are away from home, and send us money all the time. Of course we would prefer your company to any other but will have to wait untill you come. To bad Elmer had to go before the World's Fair, but we can not be the judge. When you see them give them our sympathy in their sorrow, Good night love and kisses from your loving wife.
Della.
Lyle is in bed, he can run his tongue out farther than I. He had a big time before he went to sleep.
---------------------------------------
Della must have received a letter from Austin describing his employment options - he could stay in Boulder or go some place (perhaps Grand Junction CO) with his brother, Edgar Carringer.
Austin must have been sick in months past - health is always a big concern!
Della's thinking about Christmas coming - she is very practical, isn't she? She's pinching pennies too.
I wonder who Elmer was? A Carringer cousin, perhaps? I'll have to search for him in my database.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Monday, February 18, 2008
The iGene Awards - Carnival of Genealogy #42 is Up
The 42nd Carnival of Genealogy has been posted by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog - read it at "Carnival of Genealogy, 42nd Edition." The theme for this Carnival was the iGene Awards for 2007 - the Best of the Best.
There are 23 submissions to this Carnival, each listing five posts selected by the individual blogger for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, Best Biography and Best Comedy. Needless to say, these are the Best of 2007 by the founding members of the Academy of Genealogy and Family History.
I haven't read all of them yet, because my grandsons are still here. But I will! My own submission was "It's Academy Awards Time - the AGFH of Course!"
The next Carnival of Genealogy theme will be Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research?
* Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer),
* Select one piece of software (besides your internet browser),
* Select one web site/blog (besides your own)
that are indispensable to you. Resist the urge to dilute the impact of your 3 choices by mentioning several others you use and appreciate as well. This is an exercise in appraising the technology you use/recommend the most. The deadline for submissions is March 1st.
There are 23 submissions to this Carnival, each listing five posts selected by the individual blogger for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, Best Biography and Best Comedy. Needless to say, these are the Best of 2007 by the founding members of the Academy of Genealogy and Family History.
I haven't read all of them yet, because my grandsons are still here. But I will! My own submission was "It's Academy Awards Time - the AGFH of Course!"
The next Carnival of Genealogy theme will be Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research?
* Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer),
* Select one piece of software (besides your internet browser),
* Select one web site/blog (besides your own)
that are indispensable to you. Resist the urge to dilute the impact of your 3 choices by mentioning several others you use and appreciate as well. This is an exercise in appraising the technology you use/recommend the most. The deadline for submissions is March 1st.
Labels: Carnivals, genealogy blogs
Some welcome publicity for CVGS
Every genealogy society hopes to get publicity in local newspapers once in awhile. The Chula Vista Genealogical Society, of which I am currently President, sends notices of society programs to the daily San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper each month for a Calendar section, requesting it be published the weekend before our monthly program.
I sent the notice on Sunday, 10 February, and received a phone call from David Berlin, a reporter, on Monday. David writes in the "Our South County" section that appears three times each week in the area south of Highway 94 in San Diego. He asked me some questions about CVGS and our speaker on 27 February, and asked if I had a phone number for the speaker. I gave it to him. Then he asked if I would be willing to do a phone interview with him, and we set up Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the interview.
On Wednesday, he called and we talked for about 30 minutes. He asked some specific questions and essentially let me ramble on.
David wrote an article about our 27 February speaker and CVGS, with one of her family pictures, that appeared on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section on Thursday, 14 February. The text is transcribed here.
David also wrote a Question and Answer article about me and CVGS, with a head shot picture, that appeared on Saturday, 16 February, on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section. The text is transcribed here.
You will note that he got my name wrong in the latter article (Richard Seaver is printed) - but I just tell people that it's my evil twin brother who was interviewed (that way if I said something wrong in the interview, it won't be attributable to me).
Any publicity is good for CVGS, and I'm grateful to David Berlin for taking the time to contact me and write these two articles. I've already had three phone calls from people interested in attending our program, and several people at church told me their "family stories" at church on Sunday.
I sent the notice on Sunday, 10 February, and received a phone call from David Berlin, a reporter, on Monday. David writes in the "Our South County" section that appears three times each week in the area south of Highway 94 in San Diego. He asked me some questions about CVGS and our speaker on 27 February, and asked if I had a phone number for the speaker. I gave it to him. Then he asked if I would be willing to do a phone interview with him, and we set up Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the interview.
On Wednesday, he called and we talked for about 30 minutes. He asked some specific questions and essentially let me ramble on.
David wrote an article about our 27 February speaker and CVGS, with one of her family pictures, that appeared on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section on Thursday, 14 February. The text is transcribed here.
David also wrote a Question and Answer article about me and CVGS, with a head shot picture, that appeared on Saturday, 16 February, on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section. The text is transcribed here.
You will note that he got my name wrong in the latter article (Richard Seaver is printed) - but I just tell people that it's my evil twin brother who was interviewed (that way if I said something wrong in the interview, it won't be attributable to me).
Any publicity is good for CVGS, and I'm grateful to David Berlin for taking the time to contact me and write these two articles. I've already had three phone calls from people interested in attending our program, and several people at church told me their "family stories" at church on Sunday.
Labels: current newspaper articles, CVGS, San Diego area
Letters from home - Post 13
This is the twelfth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the first letter from Della to Austin:
San Diego Nov 13th 1892
Dear Husband,
Well the eventfull week is past and we are left, but hope it will not be as bad as we thought it might be. I was so sorry I did not get to write in the week letter and I told you last Sunday I would write oftener. That is all we know about it. I sewed Tuesday Wed and Thur for Mrs. Shaw. A friend of hers Mrs. Lorring's sister is to be married this week Tuesday and she did not have time to finish her sewing so I took two outing flannel night dresses to make at home so we worked in their Fri and Sat forenoon then I went and give my lessons at Mrs. Bicks will deliver the dresses Monday. I got $1.00 a day at Mrs. Shaw's and we get 1.25 for the two N dresses. Baby dress 50 cts we made Monday so we have earned $4.75 and I will have to use it until you send some. I got the baby a pr of kid shoes for 50 cts at the Chicago shoe store. He thinks they are fine. I want to get a few things before the white house closes out, and would use out of our $10. If I knew you would send so I would not need it for living. I paid the rent out of what I had saved. The $10 ought to do my trading with will have to get qts tickets again in a day or two. If it will be a week or two yet before you go back why can't your father colect your wages due with an order from you and then get a check and send me first the earnings if you were there.
Lyle just woke up and I had to turn him over and rock him. His teeth bother him so this week, you ought to see him walk alone in front of the house he will not let me take his hand. Sweet little fellow. It has been warm this week as warm as when you went away. I am quite well. I think you felt it when I had my cold. My piles keep just the same and so I feel weak sometimes but I do not feel very bad and when I get a few days work away it does me good. They will have to hurry if all the building is to be of brick or the freezing will hurt the moisture won't it. Do they expect you to pay your board and wait several days at a time for the brick layers. I should not think they would.
Will send papers too, Bowers got it, you can read about the parade. I have not space as Ma's letter goes in this too. Am glad you went to see Gillpatrick. I know it must have seemed funny to have read my letter as though you were in Grand Junction. I could not go to Nat. City today as I have to go down town tomorrow.
When it is warm I feel it so I have sweat nearly all day. Was out with Lyle this A.M. I want to lie down and read a little. Hope the Journals will come tomorrow. I think of you so much and wish I could walk in Sundays at least am glad you have better food and I do hope they will shake those chicken feathers up. Am glad you feel so well. Love to Mother and Father.
From your loving wife and baby, with love and kisses. Lyle is up have just fixed his milk and kissed him for his Papa. Bye bye D.
---------------------------------
Austin is apparently in Boulder, Colorado staying with his parents, DJ and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer. San Diego was experiencing an economic downturn and Austin needed to work, so he went to Boulder. We are fortunate to have these letters from wife to husband. Recall from Della's Journal that she was the "banker" in the family, and we see her making money and suggesting ways for Austin to send money to her.
The "eventfull week" mentioned was the election in 1892 that resulted in Grover Cleveland's election.
She talks quite a bit about baby Lyle and his antics - Abby's letter described him even better.
It's too bad we don't have Austin's letters too!
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the first letter from Della to Austin:
San Diego Nov 13th 1892
Dear Husband,
Well the eventfull week is past and we are left, but hope it will not be as bad as we thought it might be. I was so sorry I did not get to write in the week letter and I told you last Sunday I would write oftener. That is all we know about it. I sewed Tuesday Wed and Thur for Mrs. Shaw. A friend of hers Mrs. Lorring's sister is to be married this week Tuesday and she did not have time to finish her sewing so I took two outing flannel night dresses to make at home so we worked in their Fri and Sat forenoon then I went and give my lessons at Mrs. Bicks will deliver the dresses Monday. I got $1.00 a day at Mrs. Shaw's and we get 1.25 for the two N dresses. Baby dress 50 cts we made Monday so we have earned $4.75 and I will have to use it until you send some. I got the baby a pr of kid shoes for 50 cts at the Chicago shoe store. He thinks they are fine. I want to get a few things before the white house closes out, and would use out of our $10. If I knew you would send so I would not need it for living. I paid the rent out of what I had saved. The $10 ought to do my trading with will have to get qts tickets again in a day or two. If it will be a week or two yet before you go back why can't your father colect your wages due with an order from you and then get a check and send me first the earnings if you were there.
Lyle just woke up and I had to turn him over and rock him. His teeth bother him so this week, you ought to see him walk alone in front of the house he will not let me take his hand. Sweet little fellow. It has been warm this week as warm as when you went away. I am quite well. I think you felt it when I had my cold. My piles keep just the same and so I feel weak sometimes but I do not feel very bad and when I get a few days work away it does me good. They will have to hurry if all the building is to be of brick or the freezing will hurt the moisture won't it. Do they expect you to pay your board and wait several days at a time for the brick layers. I should not think they would.
Will send papers too, Bowers got it, you can read about the parade. I have not space as Ma's letter goes in this too. Am glad you went to see Gillpatrick. I know it must have seemed funny to have read my letter as though you were in Grand Junction. I could not go to Nat. City today as I have to go down town tomorrow.
When it is warm I feel it so I have sweat nearly all day. Was out with Lyle this A.M. I want to lie down and read a little. Hope the Journals will come tomorrow. I think of you so much and wish I could walk in Sundays at least am glad you have better food and I do hope they will shake those chicken feathers up. Am glad you feel so well. Love to Mother and Father.
From your loving wife and baby, with love and kisses. Lyle is up have just fixed his milk and kissed him for his Papa. Bye bye D.
---------------------------------
Austin is apparently in Boulder, Colorado staying with his parents, DJ and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer. San Diego was experiencing an economic downturn and Austin needed to work, so he went to Boulder. We are fortunate to have these letters from wife to husband. Recall from Della's Journal that she was the "banker" in the family, and we see her making money and suggesting ways for Austin to send money to her.
The "eventfull week" mentioned was the election in 1892 that resulted in Grover Cleveland's election.
She talks quite a bit about baby Lyle and his antics - Abby's letter described him even better.
It's too bad we don't have Austin's letters too!
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 10-16 February 2008
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week.
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Carlisle Family Papers: University of Michigan" by Charlotte at the Apple's Tree blog. Apple has found a treasure trove sitting in an archive in Ann Arbor and can hardly wait to see what family history secrets it holds. She asked for advice about going to the Bentley research library in April, and got lots of good advice - be sure to read all of this post!
* "It's Not Too Early" by Lee Drew on the FamHist blog. Lee has some suggestions for family history oriented Christmas presents. Don't wait, start now!
* "FWOOM: How Do You Handle a Blast of Family History?" by Larry Lehmer on the Passing It On blog. Larry wonders how to handle the "fire hose effect" of Internet genealogy - can you advise him? He makes some great observations too!
* "Famous DNA Review, Part IV: Jesse James" by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the mitochrondrial DNA results for the outlaw Jesse James and gives an excllent example of how mtDNA can be used to determine relationships thorugh a female line.
* "Google Views Ancestry & FamilySearch Streets" by ???? on The Ancestry Insider blog. The Insider shows some Salt Lake City sights, including TGN and the FHL, then provides many more views of the area, including a place that one of his/her ancestor's lived in 1850. S/he challenges readers to figure out who s/he is from the clues given in this and earlier posts.
* " 'American' ethnic identity in the United States" by Ruby on The Radical Genealogist blog. Ruby shows some interesting maps about "American" ethnic identity. See the links for more information. The 2000 census map data is intriguing!
* "The American Winston Churchill: 1871-1947" by Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog. Did you know that there was an author named Winston Churchill buried in New Hampshire? Janice found out, and told us about this interesting man, along with a genealogical record.
* "Mortality Schedules" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori checks out 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules, and tells us about some of them ore "interesting" causes of death.
* "Random Acts of Kindness Week" by Miriam Midkiff at the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam has a series of posts this week about Join a Lookup Service, Be a Sponsor, Volunteer for a Society, Share Your Data, Transcribe or Translate, Give a Hand, and Be Grateful and Generous. There are many useful ideas here - give back to genealogy!
* "US Suggestions for Newbies," "News Sources for Newbies" and "Software Suggestions for Newbies" by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE blog. Pat has three excellent lists designed to help beginning genealogists get up to speed in a hurry.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Carlisle Family Papers: University of Michigan" by Charlotte at the Apple's Tree blog. Apple has found a treasure trove sitting in an archive in Ann Arbor and can hardly wait to see what family history secrets it holds. She asked for advice about going to the Bentley research library in April, and got lots of good advice - be sure to read all of this post!
* "It's Not Too Early" by Lee Drew on the FamHist blog. Lee has some suggestions for family history oriented Christmas presents. Don't wait, start now!
* "FWOOM: How Do You Handle a Blast of Family History?" by Larry Lehmer on the Passing It On blog. Larry wonders how to handle the "fire hose effect" of Internet genealogy - can you advise him? He makes some great observations too!
* "Famous DNA Review, Part IV: Jesse James" by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the mitochrondrial DNA results for the outlaw Jesse James and gives an excllent example of how mtDNA can be used to determine relationships thorugh a female line.
* "Google Views Ancestry & FamilySearch Streets" by ???? on The Ancestry Insider blog. The Insider shows some Salt Lake City sights, including TGN and the FHL, then provides many more views of the area, including a place that one of his/her ancestor's lived in 1850. S/he challenges readers to figure out who s/he is from the clues given in this and earlier posts.
* " 'American' ethnic identity in the United States" by Ruby on The Radical Genealogist blog. Ruby shows some interesting maps about "American" ethnic identity. See the links for more information. The 2000 census map data is intriguing!
* "The American Winston Churchill: 1871-1947" by Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog. Did you know that there was an author named Winston Churchill buried in New Hampshire? Janice found out, and told us about this interesting man, along with a genealogical record.
* "Mortality Schedules" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori checks out 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules, and tells us about some of them ore "interesting" causes of death.
* "Random Acts of Kindness Week" by Miriam Midkiff at the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam has a series of posts this week about Join a Lookup Service, Be a Sponsor, Volunteer for a Society, Share Your Data, Transcribe or Translate, Give a Hand, and Be Grateful and Generous. There are many useful ideas here - give back to genealogy!
* "US Suggestions for Newbies," "News Sources for Newbies" and "Software Suggestions for Newbies" by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE blog. Pat has three excellent lists designed to help beginning genealogists get up to speed in a hurry.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs, Research tips
Letters from Home - Post 12
This is the eleventh letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith in San Diego to son Davie Smith probably in McCook Neb. No envelope.
San Diego Monday Nov 7th 1892
Dear Son. I thought I would try and write again this week. Della thinks if there is not any particular news it will help you pass away a little time reading it. We got up at 6, Lyle cut a tooth through and he has felt cross all day. Did him lots of good about 2 o'clock Mr. Lewis came and changed the steps and nailed them up good he stood at the screen door nearly all the time then Mrs. Blankford of Nat[ional] City her little red headed girl too came to wait for the motor staid to supper so he had a fine time. Della says he is like her when he feels bad if any one comes in they forget all about it. It took me an hour since supper to get him to sleep and his head is wet with cold sweat he will be all right but his teeth come hard. We cut and made that babies dress to day charged 15 cts. It was all wool good, red we put silk fancy stitches on it looks nice.
Your letter came this morning made me shiver thinking of the snow Tuesday. Della got two days sewing to do downtown on 10th Street a lady Mrs. Loring recommended to her as she is going to have a baby and Della did so well for her she tries to get others to have her. She is cutting and fitting a dress for the lady Mrs. Shaw by name after today the lady will finish it herself then next week wants her to bring her little patterns and cut and baste a few days. She gets 1.00 a day this week and car fare paid. Will get 15 cts on babies clothes .
Lyle feels a little better today but chews everything he can get hold of. I tell him I know he will throw paper wads in school. He has filled my lap full of his playthings then makes believe hand me something. It is so cute it seems we were all of the same mind by your letter. Wonder what little angel inspired us alike about giving Lyle a Dollar apiece. But it seems he has missed the one Phila gave him. Della says she is glad you had it sent before you got her letter. Della came home this evening feeling well did not get verry tired. Had a nice visit with the lady. It seems her husband clerks at Hamilton only been married a year. Mrs. Loring has an 8 lb girl. She was verry sick is doeing well now.
Wednesday, 11 A.M. Della had to get her own breakfast this morning as Lyle woke me at 4 cried a long time with colic and I was sound asleep at getting up time. She wanted to get to work at half past 8 as it gets dark almost at 5 and she had to have a light last evening. Will go to Mrs. Bicks this evening to get my dress and try on her own if it is ready. She expects a Mr. Patten to come for a lesson in plush painting tomorrow. His parents are well pleased with his landscape picture. Lyle clung to my dress skirts all this morning wanted to go every place I did until I thought I would never get the work done up when I scrubbed the kitchen floor. I laid down a chair in the dining room door and kept him in here and he thought he was terribly abused as soon as I took him and gave him his milk he went in to sleep. Yesterday I could not get him to sleep until after three o'clock. The weather is just lovely.
Thursday 9 AM Della expected to get time this morning to write in this but she had to sew again today so it hurried her to get ready she just got this read and approved when it was time to start so she says Ma you tell him how it is and I will write Sunday so I will send this when the mail man comes. Lyle is feeling pretty well this morning. Hope you have not frosted your feet. I pity you so there in the cold. I suppose we are to hurrah for Cleveland.
Bye lots of love Mother and all.
=========================
Here is the first letter we have from the people in San Diego to the folks back in McCook, Nebraska.
Abby gives us some insight into the antics of her one year old grandson Lyle Carringer. He is cutting teeth and having a hard time, wakes during the night, brigs things for grandma to hold, and clings to her skirts. We forget that our ancestors were babies and children, and acted like most babies and children.
Della is trying to earn money by sewing and teaching painting, so Grandma Abby gets to take care of her grandson and loves the time she spends with him, although it taxes her.
The election is just over, and Grover Cleveland has just defeated Benjamin Harrison. The economic Panic of 1893 is just around the corner, but they don't know it. It sounds like, from the letters so far, the economic times have been challenging.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith in San Diego to son Davie Smith probably in McCook Neb. No envelope.
San Diego Monday Nov 7th 1892
Dear Son. I thought I would try and write again this week. Della thinks if there is not any particular news it will help you pass away a little time reading it. We got up at 6, Lyle cut a tooth through and he has felt cross all day. Did him lots of good about 2 o'clock Mr. Lewis came and changed the steps and nailed them up good he stood at the screen door nearly all the time then Mrs. Blankford of Nat[ional] City her little red headed girl too came to wait for the motor staid to supper so he had a fine time. Della says he is like her when he feels bad if any one comes in they forget all about it. It took me an hour since supper to get him to sleep and his head is wet with cold sweat he will be all right but his teeth come hard. We cut and made that babies dress to day charged 15 cts. It was all wool good, red we put silk fancy stitches on it looks nice.
Your letter came this morning made me shiver thinking of the snow Tuesday. Della got two days sewing to do downtown on 10th Street a lady Mrs. Loring recommended to her as she is going to have a baby and Della did so well for her she tries to get others to have her. She is cutting and fitting a dress for the lady Mrs. Shaw by name after today the lady will finish it herself then next week wants her to bring her little patterns and cut and baste a few days. She gets 1.00 a day this week and car fare paid. Will get 15 cts on babies clothes .
Lyle feels a little better today but chews everything he can get hold of. I tell him I know he will throw paper wads in school. He has filled my lap full of his playthings then makes believe hand me something. It is so cute it seems we were all of the same mind by your letter. Wonder what little angel inspired us alike about giving Lyle a Dollar apiece. But it seems he has missed the one Phila gave him. Della says she is glad you had it sent before you got her letter. Della came home this evening feeling well did not get verry tired. Had a nice visit with the lady. It seems her husband clerks at Hamilton only been married a year. Mrs. Loring has an 8 lb girl. She was verry sick is doeing well now.
Wednesday, 11 A.M. Della had to get her own breakfast this morning as Lyle woke me at 4 cried a long time with colic and I was sound asleep at getting up time. She wanted to get to work at half past 8 as it gets dark almost at 5 and she had to have a light last evening. Will go to Mrs. Bicks this evening to get my dress and try on her own if it is ready. She expects a Mr. Patten to come for a lesson in plush painting tomorrow. His parents are well pleased with his landscape picture. Lyle clung to my dress skirts all this morning wanted to go every place I did until I thought I would never get the work done up when I scrubbed the kitchen floor. I laid down a chair in the dining room door and kept him in here and he thought he was terribly abused as soon as I took him and gave him his milk he went in to sleep. Yesterday I could not get him to sleep until after three o'clock. The weather is just lovely.
Thursday 9 AM Della expected to get time this morning to write in this but she had to sew again today so it hurried her to get ready she just got this read and approved when it was time to start so she says Ma you tell him how it is and I will write Sunday so I will send this when the mail man comes. Lyle is feeling pretty well this morning. Hope you have not frosted your feet. I pity you so there in the cold. I suppose we are to hurrah for Cleveland.
Bye lots of love Mother and all.
=========================
Here is the first letter we have from the people in San Diego to the folks back in McCook, Nebraska.
Abby gives us some insight into the antics of her one year old grandson Lyle Carringer. He is cutting teeth and having a hard time, wakes during the night, brigs things for grandma to hold, and clings to her skirts. We forget that our ancestors were babies and children, and acted like most babies and children.
Della is trying to earn money by sewing and teaching painting, so Grandma Abby gets to take care of her grandson and loves the time she spends with him, although it taxes her.
The election is just over, and Grover Cleveland has just defeated Benjamin Harrison. The economic Panic of 1893 is just around the corner, but they don't know it. It sounds like, from the letters so far, the economic times have been challenging.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Genea-Musings limericks - mine
Terry Thornton over at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi has challenged all of the genea-bloggers to write limericks about their blogs or blogging in general for a contest, or carnival, with a due date of 18 February. He insists on an A-A-A-B-B-A rhyming scheme, and wants up to three examples of a blogger's poetic skills.
Genea-Musings did this once before here, but they were limericks with the A-A-B-B-A scheme of things.
Here are my three --
Genea-Musings did this once before here, but they were limericks with the A-A-B-B-A scheme of things.
Here are my three --
Randy's Genea-Musings are fair,
But he's a Geneaholic aware
And the CV Genealogy Cafe is rare.
All his blog posts are dandy,
They sound just like Randy,
Prolix and without compare.
(c) Randy Seaver, 2008.
------------------------------------
Ancestors, stories and biography,
Telling all about the family,
Make for a fine genealogy.
Unless ancestors are elusive
Then it's not conclusive,
But that's family history.
(c) Randy Seaver, 2008.
-----------------------------------
There was a blogger in the sun,
Always researching on the run,
But, alas, his genealogy was never done.
He wrote stories about San Diego
With people from a long time ago,
That made his work really fun.
(c) Randy Seaver, 2008.
-----------------------------------
Thank you to all of my genea-blogging limericists who contributed limericks about Genea-Musings, and me, here.
Labels: Family Stories, genealogy blogs, musings, strange or funny
Letters from Home - Post 11
This is the tenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
========================
Letter from D.J. Smith to daughter Della (Smith) Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mrs. H.A. Carringer, No. 558 - 16th Street, corner of H, San Diego California, return address of McEntee House, McCook Neb, postmarked McCook Nebr ?? Nov 1891, no stamp, postmarked on back San Diego Cal Nov 21 1891 2 PM.
On stationary of M.H. Bacon, General Broker,
McCook Neb, Nov 15th 1891
Dear Children,
Good evening how do you do tonight, Delley why don't you rite a line and let me know how you and the boy are getting along. I got a line from Austin stating that the babey was born and that it was a boy, but that was dated the 3d and I have not heard nothing more. Last Sunday I rote you a letter, and mailed it, and Monday morning I got Austin's few lines and then in the evening I rote you and the babey but have not had a letter since.
You know I worry about you children at such times, of corse I need not, as I know you have the best of cair and do have the best of judgement yourself, how to take cair of yourself and the babey boy. I trust you and him both are doing well and he may be a good boy to his mother and father. May his path be strait and he ... a model boy. This is my wish as yours.
Now Delley I got him a present and would have sent it before but have ben waiting for Mati to get something ready for you and your Ma for a Christmas present. She sed it would not be of much value but more of a keepsake. I helped her to get a present for the babey. I may as well tell you what I got for the old boy, it is a Babey Case squair with box for powder to you know what when they chafe or scald and little comb to comb his head and ring ... so Mati has a nice dress for him and a little bonett for Christmas. I have them in my room and will send them by Express as soon as Mati is ready with yours and her mothers.
Now I will close by saying good night to you all and hope to have a letter tomorrow from you. By By with Love a kiss, a fat hug to the boy boy. Yours, D.J. Smith.
========================
There's been another blessed event in San Diego - the birth of Lyle Lawrence Carringer to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer on 2 November 1891. After the loss of baby Devier David Carringer, Austin and Della will treat this one very gently and watch him very carefully.
DJ is a proud grandpa again (he has Davie's little girl, Eva Etta Smith by now in McCook), and he has fatherly advice for Della and Austin. Mati is going to send a gift - I often wonder what it was. DJ's tells us what his gift is.
DJ is staying at the McEntee House, which on the 1889 Sanborn Map for McCook, Nebraska is right across the alley from the D.D. Smith Livery near the railroad tracks.
========================
Letter from D.J. Smith to daughter Della (Smith) Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mrs. H.A. Carringer, No. 558 - 16th Street, corner of H, San Diego California, return address of McEntee House, McCook Neb, postmarked McCook Nebr ?? Nov 1891, no stamp, postmarked on back San Diego Cal Nov 21 1891 2 PM.
On stationary of M.H. Bacon, General Broker,
McCook Neb, Nov 15th 1891
Dear Children,
Good evening how do you do tonight, Delley why don't you rite a line and let me know how you and the boy are getting along. I got a line from Austin stating that the babey was born and that it was a boy, but that was dated the 3d and I have not heard nothing more. Last Sunday I rote you a letter, and mailed it, and Monday morning I got Austin's few lines and then in the evening I rote you and the babey but have not had a letter since.
You know I worry about you children at such times, of corse I need not, as I know you have the best of cair and do have the best of judgement yourself, how to take cair of yourself and the babey boy. I trust you and him both are doing well and he may be a good boy to his mother and father. May his path be strait and he ... a model boy. This is my wish as yours.
Now Delley I got him a present and would have sent it before but have ben waiting for Mati to get something ready for you and your Ma for a Christmas present. She sed it would not be of much value but more of a keepsake. I helped her to get a present for the babey. I may as well tell you what I got for the old boy, it is a Babey Case squair with box for powder to you know what when they chafe or scald and little comb to comb his head and ring ... so Mati has a nice dress for him and a little bonett for Christmas. I have them in my room and will send them by Express as soon as Mati is ready with yours and her mothers.
Now I will close by saying good night to you all and hope to have a letter tomorrow from you. By By with Love a kiss, a fat hug to the boy boy. Yours, D.J. Smith.
========================
There's been another blessed event in San Diego - the birth of Lyle Lawrence Carringer to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer on 2 November 1891. After the loss of baby Devier David Carringer, Austin and Della will treat this one very gently and watch him very carefully.
DJ is a proud grandpa again (he has Davie's little girl, Eva Etta Smith by now in McCook), and he has fatherly advice for Della and Austin. Mati is going to send a gift - I often wonder what it was. DJ's tells us what his gift is.
DJ is staying at the McEntee House, which on the 1889 Sanborn Map for McCook, Nebraska is right across the alley from the D.D. Smith Livery near the railroad tracks.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Friday, February 15, 2008
It's Academy Awards time - the AGFH of course!
I knew there was method to my forgetfulness - I posted my candidates for my best posts on Genea-Musings for 2007 here, then neglected to pick one! Well, Jasia has stirred me to pick five ... in five different categories, and award them the, hmmm, let's call it the "Randy" - a beautiful small trophy of Rodin's The Thinker.
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is The Best of The Best! It's Academy Awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and Family History aka AGFH (an esteemed organization that all genea-historian bloggers who participate in this edition of the COG will become founding members of) to honor their best blog posts of 2007 in the following 5 categories:
1) Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2007. Tell us which you liked best and why.
And the "Randy" goes to .... big fanfare ... The Train Station
The picture of my grandmother Bess Seaver, Aunt Geraldine Seaver, my future parents Betty Carringer and Fred Seaver, my aunt Emily Taylor and her daughter, Dorothy Chamberlain, and my grandparents Lyle and Emily Carringer - the occasion was Bess and Gerry arriving at the Union Station in downtown San Diego, looking like fashion plates, to attend my parents wedding in July, 1942.
2) Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2007 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?
And the "Randy" goes to -- The Adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver
This was a series of 10 posts obtained from historical newspaper articles about one mariner in the early 1800's who was captured by the Barbary Pirates and ransomed - he survives and dies off the coast of Argentina in 1814 - see here. It would make a great movie, I think. Who would star in it? Obviously, Russell Crowe as Benjamin Franklin Seaver!
3) Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to -- Dear Genea-Man - What is "Proof?"
This was the most difficult selection of the bunch - I was going to pick my Della's Journal series but that wasn't original writing on my part, just transcribing.
4) Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to --- Today Is "Gramp's" 116th Birthday
This was about my maternal grandfather, Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), who was a wonderful man!
5) Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to --- My Censuswhacking Index
The award is given for the "body of work" - meaning that I'm honoring myself for all the time I've spent searching the census records for strange, curious, raunchy, and funny names. Not all of them were in 2007, of course!
So that's my list of Academy of Genealogy and Family History Awards winners.
I still feel that I have to give a "Randy" for the Best Post of 2007 on Genea-Musings ---
And the "Randy" is awarded to --- A Challenging Moral Dilemma
This post was about my semi-fruitless search for a possible step-sibling of mine, and my anticipation of a phone call out of the blue saying "Hi, I'm your brother (or sister), tell me about my father."
This last one was a highly competitive award - I listed 28 posts on my Best of Genea-Musings for 2007.
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is The Best of The Best! It's Academy Awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and Family History aka AGFH (an esteemed organization that all genea-historian bloggers who participate in this edition of the COG will become founding members of) to honor their best blog posts of 2007 in the following 5 categories:
1) Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2007. Tell us which you liked best and why.
And the "Randy" goes to .... big fanfare ... The Train Station
The picture of my grandmother Bess Seaver, Aunt Geraldine Seaver, my future parents Betty Carringer and Fred Seaver, my aunt Emily Taylor and her daughter, Dorothy Chamberlain, and my grandparents Lyle and Emily Carringer - the occasion was Bess and Gerry arriving at the Union Station in downtown San Diego, looking like fashion plates, to attend my parents wedding in July, 1942.
2) Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2007 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?
And the "Randy" goes to -- The Adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver
This was a series of 10 posts obtained from historical newspaper articles about one mariner in the early 1800's who was captured by the Barbary Pirates and ransomed - he survives and dies off the coast of Argentina in 1814 - see here. It would make a great movie, I think. Who would star in it? Obviously, Russell Crowe as Benjamin Franklin Seaver!
3) Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to -- Dear Genea-Man - What is "Proof?"
This was the most difficult selection of the bunch - I was going to pick my Della's Journal series but that wasn't original writing on my part, just transcribing.
4) Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to --- Today Is "Gramp's" 116th Birthday
This was about my maternal grandfather, Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), who was a wonderful man!
5) Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2007?
And the "Randy" goes to --- My Censuswhacking Index
The award is given for the "body of work" - meaning that I'm honoring myself for all the time I've spent searching the census records for strange, curious, raunchy, and funny names. Not all of them were in 2007, of course!
So that's my list of Academy of Genealogy and Family History Awards winners.
I still feel that I have to give a "Randy" for the Best Post of 2007 on Genea-Musings ---
And the "Randy" is awarded to --- A Challenging Moral Dilemma
This post was about my semi-fruitless search for a possible step-sibling of mine, and my anticipation of a phone call out of the blue saying "Hi, I'm your brother (or sister), tell me about my father."
This last one was a highly competitive award - I listed 28 posts on my Best of Genea-Musings for 2007.
Labels: genealogy blogs, musings, My genealogy research
Letters from Home - Post 10
This is the ninth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
======================
Letter from Ella in Clay Center Kansas to Austin and Della Carringer in San Diego. No envelope.
Clay Center Kan.,
Sabbath, May 25 1890
My dear friends,
In sorrow we read the notice of your sweet little one's death, it fell so sudden on us. We write in sending our sympathy and love to you in this your bereavement, but may we all truly say that's best, which God sends. 'Twas his will - it is mine. It is very hard to think that sometimes there is no reason, howsoe'er defended - but has one vacant chair. But every human path leads on to God. He holds a myriad finer threads than gold and strong as holy wishes, drawing us upward to himself. Behind the clouds the sunshine lurks, through showers the sunbeams fall. And God, who loveth all his works, hath left his hopes for all.
I thank you very much for the little one's picture. Sweet little one's just lent to us for a short time to love and then taken to himself - to be in Glory.
Gene took down sick last Friday with pneumonia. He is not able to sit up yet, but is improving and I think by tomorrow he will be able to get up. The rest of us are well. Cousin Homer's are well and ask to be remembered to you in your sorrow.
I expect to go back to Colorado soon. I don't have as good health here as in Col.
My love to all - Mother and aunt sends their love to you both. Please write to them. Yours with love, Ella.
======================
This letter is from Ella Stanton, who is a second cousin of Austin Carringer. She lived with her family in Boulder, Colorado but wrote this letter from Clay Center, Kansas. Again, we see a traveler - people used the train and coach trails to travel to visit family, conduct business, etc.
Health is a big concern for many of the people in these letters - they get sick and need to change the "air." Lowlanders go to a higher place, and vice versa. Temperature and humidity at both extremes can cause respiratory problems and discomfort. I think Gene is her husband, but I don't know for sure.
======================
Letter from Ella in Clay Center Kansas to Austin and Della Carringer in San Diego. No envelope.
Clay Center Kan.,
Sabbath, May 25 1890
My dear friends,
In sorrow we read the notice of your sweet little one's death, it fell so sudden on us. We write in sending our sympathy and love to you in this your bereavement, but may we all truly say that's best, which God sends. 'Twas his will - it is mine. It is very hard to think that sometimes there is no reason, howsoe'er defended - but has one vacant chair. But every human path leads on to God. He holds a myriad finer threads than gold and strong as holy wishes, drawing us upward to himself. Behind the clouds the sunshine lurks, through showers the sunbeams fall. And God, who loveth all his works, hath left his hopes for all.
I thank you very much for the little one's picture. Sweet little one's just lent to us for a short time to love and then taken to himself - to be in Glory.
Gene took down sick last Friday with pneumonia. He is not able to sit up yet, but is improving and I think by tomorrow he will be able to get up. The rest of us are well. Cousin Homer's are well and ask to be remembered to you in your sorrow.
I expect to go back to Colorado soon. I don't have as good health here as in Col.
My love to all - Mother and aunt sends their love to you both. Please write to them. Yours with love, Ella.
======================
This letter is from Ella Stanton, who is a second cousin of Austin Carringer. She lived with her family in Boulder, Colorado but wrote this letter from Clay Center, Kansas. Again, we see a traveler - people used the train and coach trails to travel to visit family, conduct business, etc.
Health is a big concern for many of the people in these letters - they get sick and need to change the "air." Lowlanders go to a higher place, and vice versa. Temperature and humidity at both extremes can cause respiratory problems and discomfort. I think Gene is her husband, but I don't know for sure.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A Valentine's Day Gift
Happy Valentine's Day to all genea-lovers ... here's my virtual bouquet for you (nothing but the best, I say!).
Miriam at the Ancestories2: Stories about Me for my Descendants blog has a prompt for St. Valentine's Day memories. I want to address only one of them here -
"What is the nicest card or gift you have ever received for Valentine's Day? Who sent it to you?"
Isn't she beautiful? After 38 years, we're a bit older, grayer and heavier, but this is my Valentine girl forever.
Now I need to go to the store and get some flowers and a card, and present them to her today. I tried to think of an appropriate gift for her from her genealogy addicted hubby - what do you think I should give her?
* A picture collage of me as I've aged?
* A 25 page genealogy report of the descendants of Torger Olsen (her 3rd great-grandfather from Norway)
* A large framed 10 generation pedigree chart done in calligraphy suitable for hanging on the wall opposite my pedigree chart?
* A visit from her daughter and two grandsons for the weekend!
Hey, I'm the Romantic Engineer and Family Historian.
As you might guess, she's getting the last one. It's Logan's 2nd birthday tomorrow and we're going to have some fun (and excitement, confusion, and not much sleep).
As a bonus - here are three of my favorite love songs --
* "I Love How You Love Me" by the Paris Sisters (1961)
* "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers (1965)
* "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers (1958)
Miriam at the Ancestories2: Stories about Me for my Descendants blog has a prompt for St. Valentine's Day memories. I want to address only one of them here -"What is the nicest card or gift you have ever received for Valentine's Day? Who sent it to you?"
Oh boy, this is easy! Flash back to 14 February 1970 - it's a Saturday night. I've been dating Linda seriously for about 6 months and we know that we are "in love." We've had a lot of fun, met each other's families, talked about the future, what we want from a marriage, and know each other pretty well.
We were invited to a Valentine's Day party at Linda's cousin's house in Ocean Beach. I've met them before, and Sue's husband, Bill, is a funny and raunchy guy - as I thought I was. We go, and meet many of their friends, and I'm introduced as "Linda's good friend, Randy." One of the ladies (Sue's age then - maybe 40ish) corners me and says "How good a friend are you?" giving me a wink and raised eyebrow.
Without a blink, I blurt out "well, I'm proposing to her tonight, but don't tell anybody!" She says "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret" and gave me knowing glances the rest of the night. After we leave the party, she went to Sue and said "Guess what Randy told me" and tells Sue the secret (there's a lesson learned here, eh?).
We don't go directly home, as I still have to fortify my courage a bit more. We stopped at our favorite bar, King Luis Inn, for a drink and some bar singing (we loved doing this while dating). None of the regulars were there, so I can't blurt out the secret to them. I had talked to my Catholic priest friend, Father Jack, who was visiting SD, and had suggested that we meet at the bar, so he is there when we get there. When Linda goes to the ladies room, I tell Father Jack my secret.
Now well fortified and well committed, I carefully drive us to Linda's apartment and we have an appropriate amorous interlude. It's time to exchange Valentine's Day cards and gifts, and I only have a card. She opens my card and inside I've written "Will you be my Valentine ... forever?" She looks at me, now down on my knees, and says "does this mean your proposing to me" and I said "Will you marry me?"
Now - to answer Miriam's prompt - the absolute BEST gift I ever received on Valentine's Day was Linda's answer - "YES!!!!!"
Of course, another appropriate amorous interlude occurred, and I went to my apartment an hour later. We went to church on Sunday and talked to the pastor, and asked him if he would marry us on 21 March 1970. He said he would, and we set off on the whirlwind five weeks of preparation and planning, that culminated in a 7-day honeymoon in Acapulco, but that's another story.
Wasn't that a great gift? Of course, Sue called Linda that Sunday and said coyly "Did you two have a good time last night?"
Isn't she beautiful? After 38 years, we're a bit older, grayer and heavier, but this is my Valentine girl forever.
Now I need to go to the store and get some flowers and a card, and present them to her today. I tried to think of an appropriate gift for her from her genealogy addicted hubby - what do you think I should give her?
* A picture collage of me as I've aged?
* A 25 page genealogy report of the descendants of Torger Olsen (her 3rd great-grandfather from Norway)
* A large framed 10 generation pedigree chart done in calligraphy suitable for hanging on the wall opposite my pedigree chart?
* A visit from her daughter and two grandsons for the weekend!
Hey, I'm the Romantic Engineer and Family Historian.
As you might guess, she's getting the last one. It's Logan's 2nd birthday tomorrow and we're going to have some fun (and excitement, confusion, and not much sleep).
As a bonus - here are three of my favorite love songs --
* "I Love How You Love Me" by the Paris Sisters (1961)
* "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers (1965)
* "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers (1958)
Labels: Family Stories, musings, San Diego area
Letters from Home - Post 9
This is the eighth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
======================
Letter from Davie Smith to Austin Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mr. Austin Carringer, Box 513, National City, San Diego Co, Cal. return address D.D. Smith, proprietor of Blue Front Livery Stable, McCook, Nebraska, 2 cent stamp postmarked May ?? 1890.
Letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Livery, Feed and Sale Stable,
McCook Neb May 27, 1890
Dear Brother and All,
Your sad letter recieved and was very sorry to learn that you had to give up your little boy but such is life. We will all have to suffer such loss more or less. I know it is very hard to give them up but then we cannot help it when they are called on we can only make the best of it.
Well, Pa has gone to Hastings to see a doctor to treat his eyes if there is any chance to save them I am afraid that he will go blind if he does not have some help for them soon. Well he sold the ranch but will not have any money left when he pays up what he owes but I tell him it is better than to live the way he has been waring his life away over things up their. After he made the trade I had to go up their and turn over the town a little to get the stuff he traded for as he came away with out it and they would not shipp things but they found out that they weren't dealing with DJ. When I got their and came to time they would beat him out of everything if I had not went up he came home almost crazy and you bet I was hot and I read the right act to them and they were all very nice after that.
I shall move the stock down near McCook ... where so that I can look after them for him. I shall sell one the first chance I get so as to move and enclose you Draft for $85.00 dollars $10.00 Pa sent to Mother and the balance for yourselfe. Money is terrable close here and I had to borrow it but you have been very easy on me but you will never loose a dollar of it as I will sell out one of these days and then it will come in a bunch and do some good. Pa has 320 acres left yet.
Love to all, Bye Bye all well, Dave.
==========================
Here is the first letter reacting to the family tragedy - baby Devier David Carringer, the first son of Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer died on 10 May 1890. I will post a picture of Devier and the Death Card for Devier in a later post.
We get another look at the problems that Devier J. Smith has - he is going blind and everybody took advantage of him when he sold the Ranch in St. Francis, Kansas. Davie has to go and gather the stuff DJ rightfully owns. What a dutiful son - and he threatens to use force if necessary - probably typical for a 27 year old man on the frontier, but he has a wife and child.
======================
Letter from Davie Smith to Austin Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mr. Austin Carringer, Box 513, National City, San Diego Co, Cal. return address D.D. Smith, proprietor of Blue Front Livery Stable, McCook, Nebraska, 2 cent stamp postmarked May ?? 1890.
Letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Livery, Feed and Sale Stable,
McCook Neb May 27, 1890
Dear Brother and All,
Your sad letter recieved and was very sorry to learn that you had to give up your little boy but such is life. We will all have to suffer such loss more or less. I know it is very hard to give them up but then we cannot help it when they are called on we can only make the best of it.
Well, Pa has gone to Hastings to see a doctor to treat his eyes if there is any chance to save them I am afraid that he will go blind if he does not have some help for them soon. Well he sold the ranch but will not have any money left when he pays up what he owes but I tell him it is better than to live the way he has been waring his life away over things up their. After he made the trade I had to go up their and turn over the town a little to get the stuff he traded for as he came away with out it and they would not shipp things but they found out that they weren't dealing with DJ. When I got their and came to time they would beat him out of everything if I had not went up he came home almost crazy and you bet I was hot and I read the right act to them and they were all very nice after that.
I shall move the stock down near McCook ... where so that I can look after them for him. I shall sell one the first chance I get so as to move and enclose you Draft for $85.00 dollars $10.00 Pa sent to Mother and the balance for yourselfe. Money is terrable close here and I had to borrow it but you have been very easy on me but you will never loose a dollar of it as I will sell out one of these days and then it will come in a bunch and do some good. Pa has 320 acres left yet.
Love to all, Bye Bye all well, Dave.
==========================
Here is the first letter reacting to the family tragedy - baby Devier David Carringer, the first son of Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer died on 10 May 1890. I will post a picture of Devier and the Death Card for Devier in a later post.
We get another look at the problems that Devier J. Smith has - he is going blind and everybody took advantage of him when he sold the Ranch in St. Francis, Kansas. Davie has to go and gather the stuff DJ rightfully owns. What a dutiful son - and he threatens to use force if necessary - probably typical for a 27 year old man on the frontier, but he has a wife and child.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
CVGS Research Group meeting notes - 2/13/08
The monthly CVGS Research Group meeting was held in the Library Conference Room today with 10 attendees.
After Randy reviewed the monthly Genealogy News, we discussed research problems of three of the attendees.John is doing research for Norma, an email contact, who is searching for her Sandoval and Verdugo ancestry in northern Mexico. She has names, birth dates and birth places for three of her grandparents, and names for one set of great-grandparents, but can find no more information. They settled in Cochise County, Arizona in the 1890 to 1915 time frame. The problem statement was "how can Norma find records of these people in Mexico?" John searched the 1900 to 1930 census data, the World War I Draft Registrations, the US/Mexico Border Crossing Cards, and the LDS FamilySearch IGI, and found corroborative information, but could find no additional information about the families. The group suggested researching Arizona birth and death records online; if there is a Social Security number then obtain the SSA; check local newspapers for obituaries and articles; search the FHL Catalog for microfilms of the churches in Mexico where they were from, and order the films and read them; scan online databases, message boards and mailing lists for the surnames and the localities to find other researchers who might have more information; identify siblings (from the Arizona records) and obtain their records also - they may identify parents names or birth locations.
Ann brought an old Bible, which had been badly damaged by exposure to water, heat and dirt in an attic or basement. The Bible dates to the 1830's and is in poor condition. Pasted on the inside of the front cover is a poem written in 1839 to commemorate a 22 year old wife who died, one of Ann's ancestors. There are two obituaries pasted on the inside of the back cover, and there is some handwriting on the inside back cover. Ann wanted to know how to save the family information, and how to preserve the Bible itself. The group recommended taking digital pictures without a flash of the pages for which she wants to capture the information. We recommended that she consult with an archivist or book preservation company to preserve the Bible.
Phyllis told us an interesting story. Her father had three wives and families, but she didn't know that until her step-sister Kay contacted her several years ago. They have been trying to find information on Kay's mother, Rosa, and have found quite a bit. Rosa was adopted, married, had two children, and left the family when Kay was 8 years old. They think they know her birth date in 1916. There is a family rumor that she committed suicide in Nebraska in the early 1950's. They have reviewed the local newspapers for the death, and the county vital records, with no luck. They contacted the state adoption people, and they require a death certificate for Rosa before they will provide any information. The group suggested looking for death records in nearby counties in Nebraska and Kansas. It is possible that Rosa didn't die then but married again and left records somewhere else. If that happened, there should be a divorce record from her first husband that might provide more information. This is one of the most diffcult 20th century challenges - multiple wives, mysterious death, adoption, etc.
Dick noted that http://www.findagrave.com/ had excellent records of cemetery records - he's found quite a few of his relatives there. The group pointed out that http://www.interment.net/ and the USGenWeb County web sites have lots of cemetery records also.
Randy passed around examples of the California Voter Records for some of his ancestors to show the information provided. He also passed around the results of his search in the Oneida County NY will abstracts and grantor/grantee deed indexes. These were obtained from FHL microfilms of the records and saved to his flash drive at the FHC, then printed at home from the saved images.
This was a fun and informative meeting with lots of interaction among the attendees. Having more eyes reading and brains working on difficult research problems can yield good results.
After Randy reviewed the monthly Genealogy News, we discussed research problems of three of the attendees.John is doing research for Norma, an email contact, who is searching for her Sandoval and Verdugo ancestry in northern Mexico. She has names, birth dates and birth places for three of her grandparents, and names for one set of great-grandparents, but can find no more information. They settled in Cochise County, Arizona in the 1890 to 1915 time frame. The problem statement was "how can Norma find records of these people in Mexico?" John searched the 1900 to 1930 census data, the World War I Draft Registrations, the US/Mexico Border Crossing Cards, and the LDS FamilySearch IGI, and found corroborative information, but could find no additional information about the families. The group suggested researching Arizona birth and death records online; if there is a Social Security number then obtain the SSA; check local newspapers for obituaries and articles; search the FHL Catalog for microfilms of the churches in Mexico where they were from, and order the films and read them; scan online databases, message boards and mailing lists for the surnames and the localities to find other researchers who might have more information; identify siblings (from the Arizona records) and obtain their records also - they may identify parents names or birth locations.
Ann brought an old Bible, which had been badly damaged by exposure to water, heat and dirt in an attic or basement. The Bible dates to the 1830's and is in poor condition. Pasted on the inside of the front cover is a poem written in 1839 to commemorate a 22 year old wife who died, one of Ann's ancestors. There are two obituaries pasted on the inside of the back cover, and there is some handwriting on the inside back cover. Ann wanted to know how to save the family information, and how to preserve the Bible itself. The group recommended taking digital pictures without a flash of the pages for which she wants to capture the information. We recommended that she consult with an archivist or book preservation company to preserve the Bible.
Phyllis told us an interesting story. Her father had three wives and families, but she didn't know that until her step-sister Kay contacted her several years ago. They have been trying to find information on Kay's mother, Rosa, and have found quite a bit. Rosa was adopted, married, had two children, and left the family when Kay was 8 years old. They think they know her birth date in 1916. There is a family rumor that she committed suicide in Nebraska in the early 1950's. They have reviewed the local newspapers for the death, and the county vital records, with no luck. They contacted the state adoption people, and they require a death certificate for Rosa before they will provide any information. The group suggested looking for death records in nearby counties in Nebraska and Kansas. It is possible that Rosa didn't die then but married again and left records somewhere else. If that happened, there should be a divorce record from her first husband that might provide more information. This is one of the most diffcult 20th century challenges - multiple wives, mysterious death, adoption, etc.
Dick noted that http://www.findagrave.com/ had excellent records of cemetery records - he's found quite a few of his relatives there. The group pointed out that http://www.interment.net/ and the USGenWeb County web sites have lots of cemetery records also.
Randy passed around examples of the California Voter Records for some of his ancestors to show the information provided. He also passed around the results of his search in the Oneida County NY will abstracts and grantor/grantee deed indexes. These were obtained from FHL microfilms of the records and saved to his flash drive at the FHC, then printed at home from the saved images.
This was a fun and informative meeting with lots of interaction among the attendees. Having more eyes reading and brains working on difficult research problems can yield good results.
Labels: CVGS, Elusive ancestors, genealogy resources, Online resources, Research tips
Colleen Fitzpatrick at CGSSD on Saturday, 2/16
Linda Hervig sent this notice along about the Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego meeting on Saturday, February 16, 2008 from 9:00 am to noon.
9:00 - User groups for Legacy and RootsMagic
10:15 - A break and refreshments
10:30 - Announcements followed by Program
"Database Detective - Extracting Meaningful Information from the Internet and Your Own Files" -- Colleen Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Colleen Fitzpatrick comes to CGSSD for the first time to discuss Forensic Genealogy.
Compiling facts is not good enough. It is more important to extract information from these facts by finding patterns that appear among names, dates, addresses and events. Also one needs to be alert for patterns that are interrupted, or anticipated patterns that are not followed. What is missing from your data can be just as revealing as what actually appears. What patterns lurk in city directories that could reveal the living conditions of a family? How can you use a city directory to determine approximate birth dates of the children? What can a collection of birth records tell you about the weather conditions during the period your ancestors lived? Innovative ways to use conventional materials will be discussed, as well as unusual resources that might help fill in the gaps of your family story.
We meet at the Robinson Auditorium complex on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus in La Jolla. From North Torrey Pine Road turn at Pangea Drive into UCSD. Free parking is available in the parking garage on the left; use any A, B, or S space. Signs will mark directions to our meeting room. Please refer to our website http://www.cgssd.org/; or the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies website http://irps.ucsd.edu/about/how-to-find-us.htm for driving directions and a map/
My thanks to Linda for her faithful notice about the CGSSD programs.
I hope to attend Colleen's talk, but I'm subject to car availability as my daughter and grandsons are here this weekend.
9:00 - User groups for Legacy and RootsMagic
10:15 - A break and refreshments
10:30 - Announcements followed by Program
"Database Detective - Extracting Meaningful Information from the Internet and Your Own Files" -- Colleen Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Colleen Fitzpatrick comes to CGSSD for the first time to discuss Forensic Genealogy.
Compiling facts is not good enough. It is more important to extract information from these facts by finding patterns that appear among names, dates, addresses and events. Also one needs to be alert for patterns that are interrupted, or anticipated patterns that are not followed. What is missing from your data can be just as revealing as what actually appears. What patterns lurk in city directories that could reveal the living conditions of a family? How can you use a city directory to determine approximate birth dates of the children? What can a collection of birth records tell you about the weather conditions during the period your ancestors lived? Innovative ways to use conventional materials will be discussed, as well as unusual resources that might help fill in the gaps of your family story.
We meet at the Robinson Auditorium complex on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus in La Jolla. From North Torrey Pine Road turn at Pangea Drive into UCSD. Free parking is available in the parking garage on the left; use any A, B, or S space. Signs will mark directions to our meeting room. Please refer to our website http://www.cgssd.org/; or the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies website http://irps.ucsd.edu/about/how-to-find-us.htm for driving directions and a map/
My thanks to Linda for her faithful notice about the CGSSD programs.
I hope to attend Colleen's talk, but I'm subject to car availability as my daughter and grandsons are here this weekend.
Labels: CGSSD, genealogy education, San Diego area
Letters from Home - Post 8
This is the seventh letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from Josephine Vaux to cousin Della (Smith) Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mrs. H.A. Carringer, Box 513, National City, San Diego Co, Cal., postmarked on back National City Cal Mar 2 1890.
Colorado Springs, Feb 23rd /90
Cousin Dell,
We received your photos the night before I left for Neb. hadn't time to even write an acknowledgement. I think the pictures are very natural indeed and the baby is good I know. It must make quite an addition to your work also the pleasure to have a baby in your house. How nice they are and how proud we feel of our first-born. The next and next seem to be first as nice, there never being any to spare.
My visit to Neb. was not for pleasure entirely although I had a very pleasant time wherever I went.
I have been sick most of the time since last May. I had a severe sickness with nervous prostration last spring not being able to do anything until this winter. Soon as I was able to travel Nellie, Sadie & I went to Salt Lake City for the change of altitude. I gained but returned too soon and had a run of fever after reaching home. I failed until I went to Neb. and stayed four weeks. I gained there wonderfully and have kept going since.
Geo went to Neb. with me and bought 21 fine livery horses all young and raised like pets. They seem to be inclined to be a little afraid of city life, but do not act as if they would run away. Nellie & I ride every pleasant day. My brother-in-law has been here all winter & he drives for us.
Glad to hear your mother is going so well. We saw all the folks in McCook all seemed happy as clams in high water. I stayed all night with Mati - I made C sleep on the lounge, ha ha. Your father talks of coming there soon as Dave can sell to take him and family with him. Geo. bought his horses at Bellville but I didn't go as I intended because Geo must ride all night & I could not do that. I remained at Aurora Neb. visiting old friends returned via B&M RR. Stayed another week in McCook. Your mother won't take care of Mati's grandchildren just yet awhile I know for the coast is clear there yet.
Nellie worked in an uptown express office all last year at $50.00 per mo as cashier and will go back May 1st and take the same position. She is now taking short hand & type writing also singing lessons, she is right busy. Every body had La Grippe but are all over now & nothing heard of it any more. Glad you like Cal. so well & it has done you all so much good. We haven't had but very little snow this winter. I wrote to Mati today. Nellie is playing on her piano & I can hardly keep my feet still to write. I keep a hired girl now right along.
Tell cousin Abby we would be glad to hear from her. Tom & Sadie are doing well in school. Tom is in the 7th grade Sadie the 4th. Weather is beautiful now. Geo sold half interest last Sept. to an Ohio man (nice man).
Love to all, write soon.
Joe.
=============================
Joe is Josephine (Searl) Vaux, wife of George P. Vaux and mother to Tom, Sadie and Nellie Vaux; this family resided in Colorado Springs. George Vaux is a first cousin once removed to Della (Smith) Carringer.
Della and Austin apparently sent pictures of their baby, Devier David Carringer, to this Vaux family.
These people sure get around - Salt Lake City, Belleville KS, Aurora NE, McCook NE and who knows where else.
I'm wondering who "C" is that she made "sleep on the lounge." I think it was probably George Chenery, Matie (Della's sister) first husband. He may have children, since she mention's Matie's grandchildren - but there may be some "social problem" with the family. Wouldn't it be great to be a "fly on the wall" in the houses of these folks? Not in the voyeurism sense, but for the clarity of relationships and personalities, etc. Well, maybe the voyeurism too!
=========================
Letter from Josephine Vaux to cousin Della (Smith) Carringer. Envelope addressed to Mrs. H.A. Carringer, Box 513, National City, San Diego Co, Cal., postmarked on back National City Cal Mar 2 1890.
Colorado Springs, Feb 23rd /90
Cousin Dell,
We received your photos the night before I left for Neb. hadn't time to even write an acknowledgement. I think the pictures are very natural indeed and the baby is good I know. It must make quite an addition to your work also the pleasure to have a baby in your house. How nice they are and how proud we feel of our first-born. The next and next seem to be first as nice, there never being any to spare.
My visit to Neb. was not for pleasure entirely although I had a very pleasant time wherever I went.
I have been sick most of the time since last May. I had a severe sickness with nervous prostration last spring not being able to do anything until this winter. Soon as I was able to travel Nellie, Sadie & I went to Salt Lake City for the change of altitude. I gained but returned too soon and had a run of fever after reaching home. I failed until I went to Neb. and stayed four weeks. I gained there wonderfully and have kept going since.
Geo went to Neb. with me and bought 21 fine livery horses all young and raised like pets. They seem to be inclined to be a little afraid of city life, but do not act as if they would run away. Nellie & I ride every pleasant day. My brother-in-law has been here all winter & he drives for us.
Glad to hear your mother is going so well. We saw all the folks in McCook all seemed happy as clams in high water. I stayed all night with Mati - I made C sleep on the lounge, ha ha. Your father talks of coming there soon as Dave can sell to take him and family with him. Geo. bought his horses at Bellville but I didn't go as I intended because Geo must ride all night & I could not do that. I remained at Aurora Neb. visiting old friends returned via B&M RR. Stayed another week in McCook. Your mother won't take care of Mati's grandchildren just yet awhile I know for the coast is clear there yet.
Nellie worked in an uptown express office all last year at $50.00 per mo as cashier and will go back May 1st and take the same position. She is now taking short hand & type writing also singing lessons, she is right busy. Every body had La Grippe but are all over now & nothing heard of it any more. Glad you like Cal. so well & it has done you all so much good. We haven't had but very little snow this winter. I wrote to Mati today. Nellie is playing on her piano & I can hardly keep my feet still to write. I keep a hired girl now right along.
Tell cousin Abby we would be glad to hear from her. Tom & Sadie are doing well in school. Tom is in the 7th grade Sadie the 4th. Weather is beautiful now. Geo sold half interest last Sept. to an Ohio man (nice man).
Love to all, write soon.
Joe.
=============================
Joe is Josephine (Searl) Vaux, wife of George P. Vaux and mother to Tom, Sadie and Nellie Vaux; this family resided in Colorado Springs. George Vaux is a first cousin once removed to Della (Smith) Carringer.
Della and Austin apparently sent pictures of their baby, Devier David Carringer, to this Vaux family.
These people sure get around - Salt Lake City, Belleville KS, Aurora NE, McCook NE and who knows where else.
I'm wondering who "C" is that she made "sleep on the lounge." I think it was probably George Chenery, Matie (Della's sister) first husband. He may have children, since she mention's Matie's grandchildren - but there may be some "social problem" with the family. Wouldn't it be great to be a "fly on the wall" in the houses of these folks? Not in the voyeurism sense, but for the clarity of relationships and personalities, etc. Well, maybe the voyeurism too!
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Genea-Musings Limericks - not mine!
Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog challenged the genealogy bloggers to write limericks about genealogy and blogging in his post titled Blog/Blogger/Blogging/Poem/Poets.
Great idea, but alas... I've tried for several hours to come up with something funny and rhyming, but have a poetic block or something. But others have done a good job of it, for which I'm grateful.
Thomas MacEntee at the Destination: Austin Family blog has created limericks and haikus for a number of genealogy bloggers - see his post Genea-Poetry: Limericks, Haikus but no Quatrains. Thomas' creations about Genea-Musings are:
Limerick:
There once was a young man from SD
blogged of musings about the genea
but what oft takes his heart
not a family chart
but grandchildren of which he has three
Haiku:
"Warm climes," said Randy
only cold I can locate
is "trail" whilst searching.
(c) by Thomas MacEntee, 2008
----------------------------------------
Lori Thornton of the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog posted a limerick about Genea-Musings as a Comment on one of my posts:
Near the organ in Balboa Park,
Lived a blogger who's right on the mark,
When it comes to his picks
He has a great mix
That will leave no great post in the dark.
(c) Lori Thornton, 2008.
-------------------------------------
Terry Thornton, who writes the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog, has posted three limericks about Genea-Musings as a comment to this post:
Seaver blogs daily from Chula Vista
And mentions his sweetie, Angel Linda,
In posts and articles that are nifty.
a mention by Randy
makes hits just dandy
A Seaver blog avalanche fiesta!
Seaver is one of the kings
of bloggingdom things.
He dances and sings ---this aerospace guy
who loves to eat pie ---
But hasn't any wings.
There is a blogger named Seaver
Who posts and posts most eager
And when we all need a dealer
of help and advice
both naughtly and nice
We turn to Randy leader beaver.
all (c) Terry Thornton, 2008.
---------------------------------
And Bill West of the West in New England blog contributed this one in Comments also (note that a Boston accent is required here):
An ace genealogy mister
Who lives out in old Chula Vista
Climbs family trees
With greatest of ease
Without even raising a blister!
(c) Bill West, 2008
----------------------------------
GreenmanTim from the Walking the Berkshires blog contributes this limerick in Comments to this post:
For Randy, who's Genea-musing
Illuminates posts of his choosing,
Conducive to eager perusing,
So now let us praise,
His most generous ways,
It is he we should all be enthusing!
(c) Tim Abbott, 2008
--------------------------------------
Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog has penned this limerick about your humble scribe --
Randy is dandy no matter what topic
Without glasses his focus is purely myopic
And his "elevator speech" is quite gyroscopic.
Prolific is one word that oft comes to mind
When viewing his hundreds of musings combined
Residing he does near the Cancer of Tropic.
(c) Janice Brown, 2008.
----------------------------
Thank you to Thomas, Lori, Terry,Bill, Tim and Janice for their creativity!!!
If anybody else puts one together about Genea-Musings, I will post it here also. I really appreciate the good humor and creativity of my genea-blogger friends.
I need to get with the flow here and put some limericks together. Now what rhymes with Chula or Vista? Or San Diego (away we go? ho-ho-ho? dough) ? Seaver (beaver, cleaver, fever, conceiver, deceiver, ...)? Randy (candy, dandy, handy, sandy)?
UPDATED: 2/12, 7:30 PM: Added Terry's and Bill's fine contributions.
UPDATED 2/13, 4 PM: Added Tim's excellent limerick.
UPDATED 2/16, 9 PM: Added Janice's wonderful work.
Pressure's really on now - my bar is really high!
Great idea, but alas... I've tried for several hours to come up with something funny and rhyming, but have a poetic block or something. But others have done a good job of it, for which I'm grateful.
Thomas MacEntee at the Destination: Austin Family blog has created limericks and haikus for a number of genealogy bloggers - see his post Genea-Poetry: Limericks, Haikus but no Quatrains. Thomas' creations about Genea-Musings are:
Limerick:
There once was a young man from SD
blogged of musings about the genea
but what oft takes his heart
not a family chart
but grandchildren of which he has three
Haiku:
"Warm climes," said Randy
only cold I can locate
is "trail" whilst searching.
(c) by Thomas MacEntee, 2008
----------------------------------------
Lori Thornton of the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog posted a limerick about Genea-Musings as a Comment on one of my posts:
Near the organ in Balboa Park,
Lived a blogger who's right on the mark,
When it comes to his picks
He has a great mix
That will leave no great post in the dark.
(c) Lori Thornton, 2008.
-------------------------------------
Terry Thornton, who writes the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog, has posted three limericks about Genea-Musings as a comment to this post:
Seaver blogs daily from Chula Vista
And mentions his sweetie, Angel Linda,
In posts and articles that are nifty.
a mention by Randy
makes hits just dandy
A Seaver blog avalanche fiesta!
Seaver is one of the kings
of bloggingdom things.
He dances and sings ---this aerospace guy
who loves to eat pie ---
But hasn't any wings.
There is a blogger named Seaver
Who posts and posts most eager
And when we all need a dealer
of help and advice
both naughtly and nice
We turn to Randy leader beaver.
all (c) Terry Thornton, 2008.
---------------------------------
And Bill West of the West in New England blog contributed this one in Comments also (note that a Boston accent is required here):
An ace genealogy mister
Who lives out in old Chula Vista
Climbs family trees
With greatest of ease
Without even raising a blister!
(c) Bill West, 2008
----------------------------------
GreenmanTim from the Walking the Berkshires blog contributes this limerick in Comments to this post:
For Randy, who's Genea-musing
Illuminates posts of his choosing,
Conducive to eager perusing,
So now let us praise,
His most generous ways,
It is he we should all be enthusing!
(c) Tim Abbott, 2008
--------------------------------------
Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog has penned this limerick about your humble scribe --
Randy is dandy no matter what topic
Without glasses his focus is purely myopic
And his "elevator speech" is quite gyroscopic.
Prolific is one word that oft comes to mind
When viewing his hundreds of musings combined
Residing he does near the Cancer of Tropic.
(c) Janice Brown, 2008.
----------------------------
Thank you to Thomas, Lori, Terry,Bill, Tim and Janice for their creativity!!!
If anybody else puts one together about Genea-Musings, I will post it here also. I really appreciate the good humor and creativity of my genea-blogger friends.
I need to get with the flow here and put some limericks together. Now what rhymes with Chula or Vista? Or San Diego (away we go? ho-ho-ho? dough) ? Seaver (beaver, cleaver, fever, conceiver, deceiver, ...)? Randy (candy, dandy, handy, sandy)?
UPDATED: 2/12, 7:30 PM: Added Terry's and Bill's fine contributions.
UPDATED 2/13, 4 PM: Added Tim's excellent limerick.
UPDATED 2/16, 9 PM: Added Janice's wonderful work.
Pressure's really on now - my bar is really high!
Labels: genealogy blogs, musings
"Genealogy in the 'Information Age': History's New Frontier?"
Mary Petty posted recently about the history of genealogy on the Transitional-Genealogists-Forum mailing list. Elizabeth Shown Mills responded to Mary's post by noting that
"...May I add that, if any are interested in pursuing the past vs. present vs. future of genealogy a bit further, they might be interested in the NGSQ paper, "Genealogy in the Information Age: History's New Frontier?" posted at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/articles/NGSQVol91Pg260-77-Genealogy&History.pdf . This originated as NGS's centennial address, but grew before NGSQ published it."
I heartily recommend this article to every genealogy researcher and family historian. ESM essentially tells us how genealogy research has related to historical research over several centuries, and demonstrates that the relationship has not been wonderful over time (but seems better now).
My reply to Elizabeth's post included
"...we need to know our history so that we don't make the same mistakes in whatever we do - our own research, writing and publishing, doing client research and in our societies.
"Even though it [the article] was written in 2003, I found it interesting that there was scarce mention of the use of the Internet to socially network with other researchers, bring self-publishing to anybody with a keyboard, and open access to original source material to everybody online with a checkbook. The times have changed, haven't they?
"Many of us self-identify ourselves as 'Family Historians;' this article suggests 'Generational Historians'" would be a better definition and makes an excellent case for the designation."
I really appreciate that Elizabeth provided a link to this article and I encourage all genealogy researchers and fmaily historians to read it, understand it and learn from it. It should be "must reading" for all of us.
"...May I add that, if any are interested in pursuing the past vs. present vs. future of genealogy a bit further, they might be interested in the NGSQ paper, "Genealogy in the Information Age: History's New Frontier?" posted at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/articles/NGSQVol91Pg260-77-Genealogy&History.pdf . This originated as NGS's centennial address, but grew before NGSQ published it."
I heartily recommend this article to every genealogy researcher and family historian. ESM essentially tells us how genealogy research has related to historical research over several centuries, and demonstrates that the relationship has not been wonderful over time (but seems better now).
My reply to Elizabeth's post included
"...we need to know our history so that we don't make the same mistakes in whatever we do - our own research, writing and publishing, doing client research and in our societies.
"Even though it [the article] was written in 2003, I found it interesting that there was scarce mention of the use of the Internet to socially network with other researchers, bring self-publishing to anybody with a keyboard, and open access to original source material to everybody online with a checkbook. The times have changed, haven't they?
"Many of us self-identify ourselves as 'Family Historians;' this article suggests 'Generational Historians'" would be a better definition and makes an excellent case for the designation."
I really appreciate that Elizabeth provided a link to this article and I encourage all genealogy researchers and fmaily historians to read it, understand it and learn from it. It should be "must reading" for all of us.
Labels: genealogy education, Genealogy/History
Letters from home - Post 7
This is the sixth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
==========================
Letter from D.J. Smith in Kansas to wife Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego California. No envelope.
Spring Ranch, Aug 29/89
Dear Granma,
Yours at hand yesterday, two of them, but I opened the one you rote last first so you see I got the news first. Wal, I am so glad that it is over and Delley and boy are doing so nicely. Yes Delley will get along all right and you be shure and not let her get up to soon, but keep her bed untill she gets her strenth then she will be strong after she gets up. Matey goes home Saturday. You need not worry about me I can get along some way to pull through in time, but it seems long to me. But we hafto bear with patience. It may be a year before I can sell, but I will sell the first chance. Ma, I can't think of throwing away our hard earnings for a little sum when we need it in our old ages. Am I right, I am shure we can sell another season if we can't this fall. Love to all and kiss the boy babey for Granpa, me you know. By By yours.
Spring Ranch Aug 29/1889
Young husband - Delley, the papers say the bustle must go. Mrs. young wife - yes Austin, but when the bustle goes the woman will go with the bustle.
Spring Ranch Aug 27/89
Granma, marriage is the cure for love. There now your joking ceases. For well you know the remedy is worse than the disease.
Yours D.J.S.
=============================
This is the first letter from DJ after the birth of his grandson, Devier David Carringer. He seems happy! And he has advice for everybody, per usual.
DJ is struggling with the financial situation - he doesn't want to sell the Ranch for too little because then he and Abby will have nothing left to live on in their old age.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Monday, February 11, 2008
Essays about Homestead History
The Public Broadcasting System had a television series called The Frontier House in 2002. In the process of completing research, they have pieced together diaries, letters, newspaper articles, and official documents to give them a window into the day-to-day lives of settlers who actually lived on the American frontier. Their stories of adventure, endurance, humor, and determination are the basis of a series of essays posted at
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/frontierlife/index.html
The titles of the essays include (with links):
* Uncle Sam Is Rich Enough to Give Us All a Farm: Homesteaders, the Frontier and Hopscotching Across America
* Getting Started: Packing and Preparing for a New Life
* "Hardship and Glory": Life on the Trail
* "The Little Old Sod Shanty on the Claim": Creating a Home on the Frontier Part I
* "It is Very Aristocratic to Have a Bed at All": Creating a Home on the Frontier, Part II
* "Without Peas and Things Put Into It": Food on the Frontier
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/frontierlife/index.html
The titles of the essays include (with links):
* Uncle Sam Is Rich Enough to Give Us All a Farm: Homesteaders, the Frontier and Hopscotching Across America
* Getting Started: Packing and Preparing for a New Life
* "Hardship and Glory": Life on the Trail
* "The Little Old Sod Shanty on the Claim": Creating a Home on the Frontier Part I
* "It is Very Aristocratic to Have a Bed at All": Creating a Home on the Frontier, Part II
* "Without Peas and Things Put Into It": Food on the Frontier
* "There is No Country Like the Crow Country": The Crow Indians and Montana Settlers
* "The Descent of Civilization: The Extermination of the American Buffalo
* How the West Was Fun: Recreation and Leisure Time on the Frontier
These 3 to 4 page essays are all written by Christopher W. Czajka and are very well done. I enjoyed reading four of them, and will revisit the list in the days ahead. Now I want to see the videos - I missed them when they were on TV.
The Bibliography listing the resources used to write the essays and develop the videos are at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/resources/bibliography.html.
My SMITH, VAUX and CARRINGER families were the ones who hopscotched across the country from New York and Pennsylvania in the 1840's to San Diego by the 1890's. I have daydreamed about the places they lived, their experiences traveling and settling and the hardships they endured, but have not really studied the "life and times" of my frontier ancestors.
What other resources for Western Life education and research are there? Tell me!
PS. PBS also showed Texas Ranch House in 2006 with Lisa Cooke (Genealogy Gems blogger and podcaster) family as the "stars." I missed that too, unfortunately!
Labels: Genealogy/History, My genealogy research
Letters from home - Post 6
This is the fifth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family situation is here.
==========================
Letter from Devier D Smith in McCook, Nebraska to his mother Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego. Envelope with return address of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Blue Front Livery Stable, McCook Nebraska. Addressed to Mrs. D.J. Smith, National City Cal, c/o Austin Carringer. Postmark unreadable.
On letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Livery, Feed and Sale Stable,
McCook Neb June 9 1889
Dear Mother and all,
I have not heard from any of you folkes for over two months. Have written two letters in that time and now will try my luck again.
Business is terable quiet this year. Making a living and that is about all. Money is terable close. I have got every thing in good shape and I will send Austin some money by the first of the month if nothing happens. I wrote him in refereance to it but have not recieved any answer. I will get the back interest for him by that time I think any way. I have 12 head of horses now and are all fat. Also have been painting all of my buggies the last month and have not scarcely taken time to eat at meal time.
We had a large fire here a short time ago. Burnt all of the frame stores on the east of Mane St. Now they have commenced to rebuild them of brick 5 in number.
Bye the way, I suppose you will all be surprised of you know I was married. Never the less it be true! I was married on the 20th of May, and would have let you known before but looked for a letter from you folkes any day and kept putting it off. I told the girls to write but they have been so busy all of the time. I sent you her picture last summer and name. Her folkes live in Jefferson Colo about 80 miles from Denver. We are all getting along fine.
I tell you it beats a "Batchelor's" all to the ---- I think we are elected to live in McCook for a while yet as any one cannot sell out for a good price: in fact could not get my money out now and the girles are satisfied now so it will have to be.
There is lots of new houses going up but no sale for property at all.
I think Matie will get married before long from all appearances. I have been buying under clothes for her and now have got to spent a silk one. She does not know just the time yet and so I don't know as she will say a thing to you folkes or not so don't tell her that I said any thing about it, but will let you know before hand.
D.J. is coming down before long he wrote me the other day.
Well I am not much of a hand to write much you know and will close for this time. Hoping this will find you all well as it leaves us. Leava sends her love and a big "hug".
===============================
Here is the first real news in these letters - Davie got married to a woman named Leava Gibson. This is the only record I've found of the marriage date and location. It sounds like he is enjoying the marital benefits. I wish I had Leava's picture (of course, maybe I do and don't know it!).
The other big news is that Matie (Davie and Della's sister) is about to marry for the first time.
The ongoing news is that Davie's livery business is thriving but economic times are hard.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Sunday, February 10, 2008
At the local mortuary
I went to a local large mortuary on Friday on my way home from the library, and talked to one of the "counselors" who sells caskets and services to the survivors. He had worked there for several years, but it was obvious that he had never met a genealogist before in that setting! Earlier in his life, he had been a pastor back in Lancaster PA.
He listened to my request to "determine if there were any records pertaining to the disposition of Bertha and Clarence (I explained that Bertha's remains had been shipped in from elsewhere) in June 1958 by H*** mortuary" and he was curious enough to go ask the secretary to the mortuary director, who had been at the place for many years and would know where the records might be kept, if she could answer my questions.
He was gone only five minutes and came back with all of the answers.
* This mortuary had taken over the earlier H*** mortuary.
* Records for the last year are kept in a storage area at the mortuary, and older records are stored offsite in some sort of records retention system.
* They didn't know how far back the records go, or if the records from H*** Mortuary were included.
* A search could be made for specific records if there was a specific month and year known. A search would cost $75.
* He didn't think that the records would include a death certificate or an obituary, but he didn't know for sure about 50 years ago.
* The records that he is familiar with are essentially business records - the order forms for services, payment history, release of remains to a cemetery, etc.
It was an interesting experience - he was very nice and helpful and I didn't take too much of his time, and I learned something about this particular mortuary. He learned a bit about genealogy research too - he asked several questions about how we find vital records, cemetery records, etc. He was surprised that there were local genealogy societies that answered queries and had meetings with speakers.
He was impressed that CVGS had published the burial records of Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita and that we were working on La Vista Memorial Park in National City. His mortuary works with both of those cemeteries on a regular basis.
I went there in hopes of finding a death certificate in a file so that we didn't have to pay for one at the County Clerk's office. Now I'll go to the Clerk's office and get one for $13 - not a problem, and a much better deal than paying $75 for a search that may be fruitless and time consuming.
He listened to my request to "determine if there were any records pertaining to the disposition of Bertha and Clarence (I explained that Bertha's remains had been shipped in from elsewhere) in June 1958 by H*** mortuary" and he was curious enough to go ask the secretary to the mortuary director, who had been at the place for many years and would know where the records might be kept, if she could answer my questions.
He was gone only five minutes and came back with all of the answers.
* This mortuary had taken over the earlier H*** mortuary.
* Records for the last year are kept in a storage area at the mortuary, and older records are stored offsite in some sort of records retention system.
* They didn't know how far back the records go, or if the records from H*** Mortuary were included.
* A search could be made for specific records if there was a specific month and year known. A search would cost $75.
* He didn't think that the records would include a death certificate or an obituary, but he didn't know for sure about 50 years ago.
* The records that he is familiar with are essentially business records - the order forms for services, payment history, release of remains to a cemetery, etc.
It was an interesting experience - he was very nice and helpful and I didn't take too much of his time, and I learned something about this particular mortuary. He learned a bit about genealogy research too - he asked several questions about how we find vital records, cemetery records, etc. He was surprised that there were local genealogy societies that answered queries and had meetings with speakers.
He was impressed that CVGS had published the burial records of Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita and that we were working on La Vista Memorial Park in National City. His mortuary works with both of those cemeteries on a regular basis.
I went there in hopes of finding a death certificate in a file so that we didn't have to pay for one at the County Clerk's office. Now I'll go to the Clerk's office and get one for $13 - not a problem, and a much better deal than paying $75 for a search that may be fruitless and time consuming.
Labels: Cemetery records, genealogy resources
Best of the Genea-Blogs - February 3-9, 2008
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week. My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* BEST of the Internet for Genealogists Award 3 Feb 2008 by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE Blog. Ole Myrt has ten awards to deserving genealogists - check them out.
* Where Our Ancestors Were in 1808 by Donna J. Pointkouski on the What's Past Is Prologue blog. Donna provides a summary post for this meme theme, which attracted 12 posts. What amazes me is the diversity of our ancestry!
* Genealogists on Parade by Bill West on the West In New England blog. Bill provides his summary of the Genealogist Parade entries and the awards given toi each participant. The parade featured one band unit, two automobiles and 13 floats. Well done, Bill!
* County Courthouse Records - A Vital Step in Researching Your Family History by Kathy Jones-Kristof on the Genealogy Helps and Hints blog. Kathy has some wise words for researchers, and some hints on reading the records found in Courthouses.
* A New Mystery by Apple on the Apple's Tree blog. I love mysteries and Apple has a good one with her Carlisle civil War veterans. We'll be waiting to see how this turns out.
* The Family Tree of Blue-Eyed Individuals by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine explains the DNA research and the claims about a mutation 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. I may have more cousins than I think!
* What Is a Loyalist? by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog. Lorine defines the term and provides some links to Canadian Loyalist records. I have several of these guys, and some of the links were new to me.
* Talking to Myself Through a Rift in the Space-Time Continuum by John Newmark on the Translyvanian Dutch blog. John has an interesting discussion with his younger persona in this post - funny too. This opens up another genre of blogging, doesn't it?
* Using Facial Recognition Software in Photo Identification by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog. I love it when someone uses technology to advance family knowledge. Jasia gets creative in her research and uses the www.MyHeritage.com software to try to determine relationships in old family photographs. This set off several other bloggers doing the same thing. I hope Jasia runs a summary of them.
* Hill Country Games: Spin the Bottle by Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry had an interesting childhood - and he still remembers it somehow. He wrote about Pitching Washers, Checkers and Pop the Whip also this past week.
* Life on the Battle Plantations by Taneya on the Taneya's Genealogy Blog. Taneya tells a fascinating story about a slave narrative and a court case about a slave probably known by one of her slave ancestors.
* The Tally Sheet of Shame by Tim Abbott on the Walking the Berkshires blog. Tim examines the instances of slave holding in his own ancestry in New England and New Jersey, and provides contextual articles along with it, plus his own experience teaching in Africa.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogger to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* BEST of the Internet for Genealogists Award 3 Feb 2008 by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE Blog. Ole Myrt has ten awards to deserving genealogists - check them out.
* Where Our Ancestors Were in 1808 by Donna J. Pointkouski on the What's Past Is Prologue blog. Donna provides a summary post for this meme theme, which attracted 12 posts. What amazes me is the diversity of our ancestry!
* Genealogists on Parade by Bill West on the West In New England blog. Bill provides his summary of the Genealogist Parade entries and the awards given toi each participant. The parade featured one band unit, two automobiles and 13 floats. Well done, Bill!
* County Courthouse Records - A Vital Step in Researching Your Family History by Kathy Jones-Kristof on the Genealogy Helps and Hints blog. Kathy has some wise words for researchers, and some hints on reading the records found in Courthouses.
* A New Mystery by Apple on the Apple's Tree blog. I love mysteries and Apple has a good one with her Carlisle civil War veterans. We'll be waiting to see how this turns out.
* The Family Tree of Blue-Eyed Individuals by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine explains the DNA research and the claims about a mutation 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. I may have more cousins than I think!
* What Is a Loyalist? by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog. Lorine defines the term and provides some links to Canadian Loyalist records. I have several of these guys, and some of the links were new to me.
* Talking to Myself Through a Rift in the Space-Time Continuum by John Newmark on the Translyvanian Dutch blog. John has an interesting discussion with his younger persona in this post - funny too. This opens up another genre of blogging, doesn't it?
* Using Facial Recognition Software in Photo Identification by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog. I love it when someone uses technology to advance family knowledge. Jasia gets creative in her research and uses the www.MyHeritage.com software to try to determine relationships in old family photographs. This set off several other bloggers doing the same thing. I hope Jasia runs a summary of them.
* Hill Country Games: Spin the Bottle by Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry had an interesting childhood - and he still remembers it somehow. He wrote about Pitching Washers, Checkers and Pop the Whip also this past week.
* Life on the Battle Plantations by Taneya on the Taneya's Genealogy Blog. Taneya tells a fascinating story about a slave narrative and a court case about a slave probably known by one of her slave ancestors.
* The Tally Sheet of Shame by Tim Abbott on the Walking the Berkshires blog. Tim examines the instances of slave holding in his own ancestry in New England and New Jersey, and provides contextual articles along with it, plus his own experience teaching in Africa.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogger to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs
Letters from home - post 5
This is the fourth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in San Diego, California after 1887. An explanation of the family situation is here.
============================
Letter from Davie Smith in McCook Neb to his mother Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego Cal. No envelope. Letter on letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor, Livery, Feed and Sale Stable.
McCook Neb, Oct 24 1888
Dear Mother and all,
It has been some time since I have written to you and hope I will try to make up for lost time.
I send you a package today for a birthday present did not know what else to get you or if their is enough or not 7 yds double width and over yard to hem it with. Think it will make you a nice rapper.
I have been waiting. Was about to sell my stock and wanted to surprise but guess I will not sell out now as times are so hard but he may come yet this month. Don't know he lives in Illinois.
Well I got the $300.00 all OK Oct 13th and send Austin draft for one month's intrest of $4.50. Matie has a birthday present to send you but it is not quite ready but will send it shortly. We are all well and hope this will find you all the same. Mrs. Pinder wanted to hear from you so I gave her your address.
Love to all By By Davie
===========================
Davie Smith (Della's brother) talks more business, and sends his 1.5% for the month to Austin for the loan of the $300 obtained from selling the timber claims. Apparently, the potential buyer of his livery stable lives in Illinois.
How I wish I had the other "half" of this correspondence! Oh well.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Saturday, February 9, 2008
"Finding Your Ancestor's Home in England" with Beth McCarty
The second hour at the San Diego Genealogical Society meeting today was Beth McCarty's talk on "Finding Your Ancestor's Home in England." Beth's curriculum vitae and talk summary was posted here.
Being the naive sort of genealogist I am, I thought that this talk would be about finding the actual "home" of my ancestors, rather than a great review of all of the records that can be used to find the place they lived, the church they attended, and who their family members were. There was no mention of actual houses or domiciles.
Beth's review of the available British genealogy resources included --
* Nationwide Civil Registration Indexes for 1837 to the present. She highlighted the http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ web site which has the birth, marriage and death indexes from 1837 to 1980, but are incomplete. These indexes are complete on microfilm at many regional FHCs, including San Diego. In her handout, she also listed http://www.1837online.com/ as a subscription site with the same records (of course, the site is now http://www.findmypast.com/). She offered the web site http://www.certificates.fsnet.co.uk/certificates.htm as a place to obtain the actual registration forms using a credit card (rather than sending a check in pounds sterling) with 5 day service and the lowest cost around.
* The LDS International Genealogical Index (IGI) has many pre-1837 church records in their database. You can check the LDS Parish and Vital Records Index and the Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers for the records available for each parish and if they are on the IGI or on FHL microfilm. She mentioned non-cornformist church records, which are listed in the Parish and vital Records Index.
* British and Irish biographies of prominent persons (doctors, judges, lawyers, gentlemen, members of Parliament, etc.) or those who worked for the foreign service, are available in a set of 101 sets of microfiche, all under FHL Microfiche number 6,342,001. There are 255 sources in this collection.
* Probate indexes and wills are in two sets - pre-1858 and post-1858. The British govenrnment controls the post-1858 records, and there is a Calendar of Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Principal Probate Registry, which is available on FHL microfilm under ENGLAND-PROBATE RECORDS-INDEX. Before 1858, the probate records were controlled by the Anglican Church Prerogative Courts of Canterbury (PCC) or York. The jurisdictions are very complex, to say the least! There are separate indexes for up to 1700, 1701-1749, 1750-1800, which are on microfiche but not at the FHL. The FHL does hold microfiche of the 1801-1836 manuscript indexes. There are many books that summarize or index English estates of American colonists.
* Beth mentioned English Court Records, Emigration and Origins, Occupational Records and Military Records in passing because she ran out of time.
Beth is a recognized expert in researching British records and it surely was evident when she discussed the intricacies of parish records, Civil Registration and probate records. She provided a four page handout with all of the reference books and web sites mentioned in the talk, plus more bibliography. She mentioned at the end of her talk the book Ancestral Trails. The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History by Mark D. Herber as a veritable Bible of how to do research in Britain.
Frankly, I wish that Beth had been able to do two full hours of the British genealogy talk so that she could have provided more detail in the subjects she had to skim over, plus the chance to hear some questions and answers. She is very knowledgeable and an excellent speaker and obviously loves this subject!
Being the naive sort of genealogist I am, I thought that this talk would be about finding the actual "home" of my ancestors, rather than a great review of all of the records that can be used to find the place they lived, the church they attended, and who their family members were. There was no mention of actual houses or domiciles.
Beth's review of the available British genealogy resources included --
* Nationwide Civil Registration Indexes for 1837 to the present. She highlighted the http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ web site which has the birth, marriage and death indexes from 1837 to 1980, but are incomplete. These indexes are complete on microfilm at many regional FHCs, including San Diego. In her handout, she also listed http://www.1837online.com/ as a subscription site with the same records (of course, the site is now http://www.findmypast.com/). She offered the web site http://www.certificates.fsnet.co.uk/certificates.htm as a place to obtain the actual registration forms using a credit card (rather than sending a check in pounds sterling) with 5 day service and the lowest cost around.
* The LDS International Genealogical Index (IGI) has many pre-1837 church records in their database. You can check the LDS Parish and Vital Records Index and the Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers for the records available for each parish and if they are on the IGI or on FHL microfilm. She mentioned non-cornformist church records, which are listed in the Parish and vital Records Index.
* British and Irish biographies of prominent persons (doctors, judges, lawyers, gentlemen, members of Parliament, etc.) or those who worked for the foreign service, are available in a set of 101 sets of microfiche, all under FHL Microfiche number 6,342,001. There are 255 sources in this collection.
* Probate indexes and wills are in two sets - pre-1858 and post-1858. The British govenrnment controls the post-1858 records, and there is a Calendar of Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Principal Probate Registry, which is available on FHL microfilm under ENGLAND-PROBATE RECORDS-INDEX. Before 1858, the probate records were controlled by the Anglican Church Prerogative Courts of Canterbury (PCC) or York. The jurisdictions are very complex, to say the least! There are separate indexes for up to 1700, 1701-1749, 1750-1800, which are on microfiche but not at the FHL. The FHL does hold microfiche of the 1801-1836 manuscript indexes. There are many books that summarize or index English estates of American colonists.
* Beth mentioned English Court Records, Emigration and Origins, Occupational Records and Military Records in passing because she ran out of time.
Beth is a recognized expert in researching British records and it surely was evident when she discussed the intricacies of parish records, Civil Registration and probate records. She provided a four page handout with all of the reference books and web sites mentioned in the talk, plus more bibliography. She mentioned at the end of her talk the book Ancestral Trails. The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History by Mark D. Herber as a veritable Bible of how to do research in Britain.
Frankly, I wish that Beth had been able to do two full hours of the British genealogy talk so that she could have provided more detail in the subjects she had to skim over, plus the chance to hear some questions and answers. She is very knowledgeable and an excellent speaker and obviously loves this subject!
Labels: genealogy resources, Online resources, Research techniques, Research tips, UK/Ireland Resources
"Effective Use of LDS FHCs" with Beth McCarty
Beth McCarty from Orange, California was the featured speaker at the San Diego Genealogical Society meeting today. She had two subjects - the first was "Effective Use of LDS Family History Centers" in the first hour of the 2.5 hour meeting. Beth's curriculum vitae and talk summary was posted here.
As the Director of the Orange County Regional FHC, Beth has a wealth of knowledge about the resources offered at FHCs, and she shared them with the audience of about 90 attendees. She used overhead slides to show examples of the genealogy databases, books and microforms available at the FHCs and online at www.familysearch.org.
In this talk, Beth described the Ancestral File (AF), Pedigree Resource File (PRF), International Genealogical Index (IGI), Vital Records Index, Family History Library Catalog (FHLC), Research Outlines, Census Indexes, etc. She showed examples of the databases, how to find the submitters, and how to evaluate the quality of the information.
I learned a few new things from this talk, including
* You can see the full database submitted to the Pedigree Resource File on CDs at the FHC.
* Persons can still submit GEDCOMs to the Pedigree Resource File.
* The DAR Lineage Books are on microfiche and microfilm at the FHC.
* There is an Asian Microfilm Card Catalog for records in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.
Beth didn't talk a lot about the rental of microfilms at FHCs for some reason - to me, the access to original source records from earlier times is one of the most useful resources for me in pursuing my family history. Other than going to each locality or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, being able to access probate, vital, tax, town, military and other records on microfilm at the FHC is absolutely necessary to my genealogy work.
She mentioned the New FamilySearch web site only in passing, and didn't mention the new databases at the Record Search web site or even FamilySearch Indexing. She did mention the digitization project and that perhaps 30% of the "owners" of the content on the microforms would not approve of the digitization of their content. That is unfortunate! She mentioned access to Ancestry.com on the FHC computers, but not access to Footnote, WoldVitalRecords, godfrey Library, HeritageQuestOnline, etc.
During her talk, Beth asked for raising of hands if the audience had accessed the databases or resources she was discussing. I was surprised that more people in the audience don't access www.FamilySearch.org on a regular basis, haven't explored the FHLC for resources, and haven't ordered and reviewed microfilms at the FHC.
All in all, this was an excellent talk for a beginner to intermediate level researcher, although advanced researchers received useful information. Beth is a knowledgeable researcher and an excellent speaker. Hopefully, her talks will encourage some of the audience to get back into the FHCs to do research in original source records.
As the Director of the Orange County Regional FHC, Beth has a wealth of knowledge about the resources offered at FHCs, and she shared them with the audience of about 90 attendees. She used overhead slides to show examples of the genealogy databases, books and microforms available at the FHCs and online at www.familysearch.org.
In this talk, Beth described the Ancestral File (AF), Pedigree Resource File (PRF), International Genealogical Index (IGI), Vital Records Index, Family History Library Catalog (FHLC), Research Outlines, Census Indexes, etc. She showed examples of the databases, how to find the submitters, and how to evaluate the quality of the information.
I learned a few new things from this talk, including
* You can see the full database submitted to the Pedigree Resource File on CDs at the FHC.
* Persons can still submit GEDCOMs to the Pedigree Resource File.
* The DAR Lineage Books are on microfiche and microfilm at the FHC.
* There is an Asian Microfilm Card Catalog for records in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.
Beth didn't talk a lot about the rental of microfilms at FHCs for some reason - to me, the access to original source records from earlier times is one of the most useful resources for me in pursuing my family history. Other than going to each locality or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, being able to access probate, vital, tax, town, military and other records on microfilm at the FHC is absolutely necessary to my genealogy work.
She mentioned the New FamilySearch web site only in passing, and didn't mention the new databases at the Record Search web site or even FamilySearch Indexing. She did mention the digitization project and that perhaps 30% of the "owners" of the content on the microforms would not approve of the digitization of their content. That is unfortunate! She mentioned access to Ancestry.com on the FHC computers, but not access to Footnote, WoldVitalRecords, godfrey Library, HeritageQuestOnline, etc.
During her talk, Beth asked for raising of hands if the audience had accessed the databases or resources she was discussing. I was surprised that more people in the audience don't access www.FamilySearch.org on a regular basis, haven't explored the FHLC for resources, and haven't ordered and reviewed microfilms at the FHC.
All in all, this was an excellent talk for a beginner to intermediate level researcher, although advanced researchers received useful information. Beth is a knowledgeable researcher and an excellent speaker. Hopefully, her talks will encourage some of the audience to get back into the FHCs to do research in original source records.
Labels: genealogy resources, LDS Resources, Online resources, Research techniques, Research tips, SDGS
Letters from home - Post 4
This is the third letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in San Diego, California after 1887. An explanation of the family situation is here.
==========================
From D.J. Smith in Wano, Kansas to wife Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego California. No envelope available.
Spring Ranch Oct 15th 1888
Dear Wife. Here I am tonight after dark and do not feel much like writing at all, not that I do not wish nor that I am sick, but I feel tired, I tell you. I put in a very buisey week every day last weak Monday I sliped of and did not let the folks here know, but I was lectionering and would be in town every night but Charley's folks. Went to Cedar Bluffs met Dave and Cammell that bang. Delleys claims delayed me on the Papers, so we went to McCook that night, got there at 9 AM. Mati was playing on the piano when I got to the door then she hollered PaPa and sed that she was so happily surprised we talked and visited until after midnight.
Then went to bed but did not sleep much, she is well and looks well, after Dinner Dave and myself went to Cedar Bluffs got Cammell papers all right and drove after dark to Oberlin do up the business next forenoon, saw Mrs. Linder she is in the store yet, she wanted your address Davey had given it all but the number of the box so I gave that and she sed she was going to write you, oh yes I saw Em Patrick she was there to Ed Beckwith's. She is looking fine. Her face is as smooth as any ladeys, we took an early Dinner had Hairpin drove 12 miles to Cedar Bluffs in one hour and a quarter, we was so buisy talking that we was there before we knew it.
Then Dave went home and I had to stay there until 10 next morning but then I went down the creek and gathered a good lot of box elder and ash seed before dark, got home Thursday noon all OK, but Cammells did not pay my expenses as they should as I spent my time and saved them going and I suposed as they talked that they would. Expenses was 10.75 I sent Dave the 300 and have not got but 85 of the balance of them yet but will try and get the balance this week and then will send Austin the draft. They are sick of the deal as they paid that other claim ...... at 100 and down to 75 cash price, but that does not matter they had ought to be willing to pay my expenses for I saved them twice the amount by doing the business for them. I gave Matie a Denver paper that Mr. Binkleman's sister gave me last Sunday with Mrs. Killpatrick's death in they took her remains east, perhaps Rufe and Betty may stop at McCook when they return if they came on the B&M. Well, Ma, as I said before I got home Thursday noon all OK.
I picked some corn next day and yesterday afternoon sold horses for Mr. Buck sold 20 odd and one week from next Sat I will sell as many more for him. I will send you one of the bills in this. I took a little cold Friday night the first I have had since I left California but am better of it tonight. I am working to get my work all up this month but will not make it out but I have got clear off the Gray Backs you better bett, how is that for high and I got your papers day before yesterday but have not had time to read them but will take it this weak and got a good letter from Austin and Delly Monday before I left for Oberlin and one from you to and let the children read them.
Ma I am feeling better Davey thinks he will sell the stock and rent the barn and then he will come here with me. Ma the way money is I am afraid that there would be money lost in running a car load of butter and eggs and chickens out there but I want Austin to talk with difrent tones and see and write me and to see if a fine matched team waying 12 or 1300 lbs each would sell for. Oh how I would like to come but I am afraid I can't match the samtifee to see if the 10 dollars excus comes off as want to for you will hear it long before I would. Oh if Dave only sells as he thinks he may and then I will have company.
I am so lonesome and no one here I have had a hard time since July. I expect to serve notice on these people tomorrow to vacate in 30 days. I will tell you all when I see you but do not worry for I will take cair of no one they shan't beat nor steel no more from me if I can help it. Now sweet dreams and 100,000 kisses and as many hugs By By yours,
DJ Smith
==========================
DJ Smith is a lonely man down in northwestern Kansas with winter coming on, and can hardly wait to see any of his relatives. The business part of the letter is complex - I have no idea what he's doing except he's working for the Cammells and thinks he should be paid for his work. I didn't know that DJ had come to California - it must have been after Austin and Della married in September 1887.
So many questions, so few answers, and not much hope of finding more answers.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Friday, February 8, 2008
Is the LNU family in your database?
A post on the Advanced Research mailing list linked to a Rootsweb Review article from 2003. The article is is priceless... Here it is:
"In Search of the Wild LNUs
"A long time ago in a kingdom far away there lived a fair maiden by the name of Fnu MNU. She married a handsome young knight named Sir Arthur LNU and thus she became Fnu (MNU) LNU. Wait! Stop! Does this sound a bit like a page out of YOUR family tree?
"Are you spending sleepless nights prowling the Web in search of your elusive MNU and LNU ancestors? Or perhaps you've encountered them in someone's GEDCOM file on WorldConnect at RootsWeb, and after doing more searches have come to the conclusion that there are many researchers out there hunting those wild and crazy LNUs.
"Well, it's time to let you in on one of genealogy's best kept secrets: LNU, MNU, and FNU are not real names. They are acronyms. (Acronyms are combinations of the first letters/syllables in a group of words to form a new grouping of letters that can be pronounced as a word.) They are:
"First Name Unknown (FNU),
Maiden Name Unknown (MNU), and
Last NameUnknown (LNU).
"They are first cousins to the mysterious UNK ancestors that you might have spent time tracking down until you realized that UNK was short for "unknown."
"Researchers have used these acronyms and other symbols and abbreviations for years, with little or no uniformity from file to file, to indicate the unknown or missing names. The meaning of these acronyms is often unclear and can be mistaken for actual names by new -- and not so new -- genealogists. After all, we all have a few oddly spelled names in our trees, so what's a MNU or two?
"On another note, be careful should you encounter any DITTO ancestors in your line. DITTO is an actual surname, but it is frequently mistaken as a surname by those reading an enumerator's "ditto" entry to denote that the name is the same as the one listed above it. (DITTO and DITTOE are Anglicized forms of a Huguenot name of unexplained etymology. The names are found in North America by 1700. Ditto also is a short form of the Italian personal name Benedetto.)
"All of this name confusion serves to reinforce the notion that while user-compiled genealogies are a valuable tool in research, you need to examine original records to verify or refute what the compiled records indicate. When possible examine the records for yourself.
"What can you do to make your files clear as to the abbreviation or acronyms you use to indicate any unknown given names, maiden names, or surnames? There are no perfect solutions or worldwide standards. Some compilers, especially those who use genealogy software, put a question mark to indicate that a name is not known, but this is not recommended as some creative family historians use one question mark, while others use two or three, and a ? for a name might mean one thing to you and something else to another researcher
"A recent unscientific search at WorldConnect http://wc.rootsweb.com/ revealed the following are being used as names:
"Unknown-- 2,742,761
LNU/Lnu -- 14,134
UNK/Unk -- 39,332
FNU -- 139
MNU/Mnu -- 3,357
?? -- 78,201
?,? -- 605,694
??? -- 140,665
___ (underscores of variable lengths) -- 6,244
- (one hyphen) -- 6,491
MRS/Mrs (as a given name) -- 555,699
[--?--] -- 3,125
"Obviously there is no standard for indicating that a name is not known-- hence the confusion. The search even turned up an ancestor by the name of Unk FNU -- with FNU probably used as an acronym for Family Name Unknown. Not surprisingly there was no birth date or place for her and one wonders why such information is even included. It serves no purpose.
"Unknown maiden names should be indicated by using square brackets with a single em dash (or two hyphens, if the software, typesetting or word-processing programs will not accept or use em dashes), or use a question mark amid the em dashes -- e.g. Catherine [--] or Catherine [--?--].
"The same format can be used when the given name is unknown or in doubt. The latter happens sometimes when you learn your female ancestor married someone whose surname is known, but not his given name. Such references can be recorded as [--?--] Smith. Some of the popular genealogy software has to be forced to use this format.
"In formal genealogical writing, the English tradition of putting a woman's maiden name in parentheses -- Elizabeth (Smith) Jones -- is commonly used by many genealogists. Therefore nicknames should not be put in parentheses, but rather enclosed in quotation marks. Example: Catherine "Cathy" [--?--] Jones.
Again, your genealogy software program may or may not handle nicknames in this format or might require some tweaking. For those female ancestors with middle names that might be (or mistaken for) surnames, such as Mary Morgan Kirby, it is important to indicate that Kirby is her maiden name. If her nickname was Polly, and she married a Smith her name should be recorded so that in a family history publication it appears as: Mary "Polly" Morgan (Kirby) Smith.
"Remember you do not have to fill in every field in your genealogy software. If you do not know the given or maiden name of a woman, either leave the field blank or use [--?--]. Her given name is not MRS, and certainly not Mrs. King William of England.
"Using acronyms or various symbols when names are unknown is not a good idea because you want to make it clear that the name is unknown so as not to send others and generations of future researchers on an endless and futile search for the wild LNU. Don't put your cousins in the position of having to ask 'What's MNU? Or who is Unk FNU?' "
The above was previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 6, No. 35, 27 August 2003. Rootsweb Review permits publication of articles not otherwise expressly prohibited by the author or editor.
Seriously, how unknown names are entered into a database is important. I'm in the process of changing all of my UNKNOWN names into the recommended --?-- when I find them. I'm not putting them in brackets though - maybe I should. More work...
"In Search of the Wild LNUs
"A long time ago in a kingdom far away there lived a fair maiden by the name of Fnu MNU. She married a handsome young knight named Sir Arthur LNU and thus she became Fnu (MNU) LNU. Wait! Stop! Does this sound a bit like a page out of YOUR family tree?
"Are you spending sleepless nights prowling the Web in search of your elusive MNU and LNU ancestors? Or perhaps you've encountered them in someone's GEDCOM file on WorldConnect at RootsWeb, and after doing more searches have come to the conclusion that there are many researchers out there hunting those wild and crazy LNUs.
"Well, it's time to let you in on one of genealogy's best kept secrets: LNU, MNU, and FNU are not real names. They are acronyms. (Acronyms are combinations of the first letters/syllables in a group of words to form a new grouping of letters that can be pronounced as a word.) They are:
"First Name Unknown (FNU),
Maiden Name Unknown (MNU), and
Last NameUnknown (LNU).
"They are first cousins to the mysterious UNK ancestors that you might have spent time tracking down until you realized that UNK was short for "unknown."
"Researchers have used these acronyms and other symbols and abbreviations for years, with little or no uniformity from file to file, to indicate the unknown or missing names. The meaning of these acronyms is often unclear and can be mistaken for actual names by new -- and not so new -- genealogists. After all, we all have a few oddly spelled names in our trees, so what's a MNU or two?
"On another note, be careful should you encounter any DITTO ancestors in your line. DITTO is an actual surname, but it is frequently mistaken as a surname by those reading an enumerator's "ditto" entry to denote that the name is the same as the one listed above it. (DITTO and DITTOE are Anglicized forms of a Huguenot name of unexplained etymology. The names are found in North America by 1700. Ditto also is a short form of the Italian personal name Benedetto.)
"All of this name confusion serves to reinforce the notion that while user-compiled genealogies are a valuable tool in research, you need to examine original records to verify or refute what the compiled records indicate. When possible examine the records for yourself.
"What can you do to make your files clear as to the abbreviation or acronyms you use to indicate any unknown given names, maiden names, or surnames? There are no perfect solutions or worldwide standards. Some compilers, especially those who use genealogy software, put a question mark to indicate that a name is not known, but this is not recommended as some creative family historians use one question mark, while others use two or three, and a ? for a name might mean one thing to you and something else to another researcher
"A recent unscientific search at WorldConnect http://wc.rootsweb.com/ revealed the following are being used as names:
"Unknown-- 2,742,761
LNU/Lnu -- 14,134
UNK/Unk -- 39,332
FNU -- 139
MNU/Mnu -- 3,357
?? -- 78,201
?,? -- 605,694
??? -- 140,665
___ (underscores of variable lengths) -- 6,244
- (one hyphen) -- 6,491
MRS/Mrs (as a given name) -- 555,699
[--?--] -- 3,125
"Obviously there is no standard for indicating that a name is not known-- hence the confusion. The search even turned up an ancestor by the name of Unk FNU -- with FNU probably used as an acronym for Family Name Unknown. Not surprisingly there was no birth date or place for her and one wonders why such information is even included. It serves no purpose.
"Unknown maiden names should be indicated by using square brackets with a single em dash (or two hyphens, if the software, typesetting or word-processing programs will not accept or use em dashes), or use a question mark amid the em dashes -- e.g. Catherine [--] or Catherine [--?--].
"The same format can be used when the given name is unknown or in doubt. The latter happens sometimes when you learn your female ancestor married someone whose surname is known, but not his given name. Such references can be recorded as [--?--] Smith. Some of the popular genealogy software has to be forced to use this format.
"In formal genealogical writing, the English tradition of putting a woman's maiden name in parentheses -- Elizabeth (Smith) Jones -- is commonly used by many genealogists. Therefore nicknames should not be put in parentheses, but rather enclosed in quotation marks. Example: Catherine "Cathy" [--?--] Jones.
Again, your genealogy software program may or may not handle nicknames in this format or might require some tweaking. For those female ancestors with middle names that might be (or mistaken for) surnames, such as Mary Morgan Kirby, it is important to indicate that Kirby is her maiden name. If her nickname was Polly, and she married a Smith her name should be recorded so that in a family history publication it appears as: Mary "Polly" Morgan (Kirby) Smith.
"Remember you do not have to fill in every field in your genealogy software. If you do not know the given or maiden name of a woman, either leave the field blank or use [--?--]. Her given name is not MRS, and certainly not Mrs. King William of England.
"Using acronyms or various symbols when names are unknown is not a good idea because you want to make it clear that the name is unknown so as not to send others and generations of future researchers on an endless and futile search for the wild LNU. Don't put your cousins in the position of having to ask 'What's MNU? Or who is Unk FNU?' "
The above was previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 6, No. 35, 27 August 2003. Rootsweb Review permits publication of articles not otherwise expressly prohibited by the author or editor.
Seriously, how unknown names are entered into a database is important. I'm in the process of changing all of my UNKNOWN names into the recommended --?-- when I find them. I'm not putting them in brackets though - maybe I should. More work...
Labels: genealogy software, My genealogy research, Research techniques, Research tips, strange or funny
Ada Woodward - isn't she beautiful?
I posted this picture back in October 2006 here. Then, I didn't have the actual picture in my hands. I just found it today while digging through my box of Carringer treasures. The writing on the back solves a mystery - who were her parents?
The writing on the back of the picture says:
"Ada Woodward, 13 years old, Nov 1898.
"Nellie Woodward's girl, her father Charlie Woodward played organ at our wedding in Wano Kan 1887, Sep. 11th. Her brother Gene was a little older, after they went away from there he died of Dyptheria."
In the 1900 census, she was age 15, and resided in Belleville, Republic County, Kansas with her grandparents, Frank and Celia Munger, along with her sister Nellie, age 10.
I don't know what happened to beautiful Ada Woodward. I hope that she had a wonderful life and passed on the genetic makeup that her Redfield and Vaux ancestors passed to her.
One of the pictures in the family collection is of Ada Woodward, age 13, taken in November 1898 - according to the handwriting on the back of the picture.
The writing on the back of the picture says:
"Ada Woodward, 13 years old, Nov 1898.
"Nellie Woodward's girl, her father Charlie Woodward played organ at our wedding in Wano Kan 1887, Sep. 11th. Her brother Gene was a little older, after they went away from there he died of Dyptheria."
In the 1900 census, she was age 15, and resided in Belleville, Republic County, Kansas with her grandparents, Frank and Celia Munger, along with her sister Nellie, age 10.
So now I know the names of Ada's parents - and now I wonder what happened to them. Nellie (Redfield) Woodward was a daughter of Celia (Vaux) (Redfield) Munger, as was her sister Ada Redfield. Charles Woodward is a total mystery - he may have been a son of James and Mary (Vaux) Woodward - Mary was Celia's sister. But there is a Frank Woodward in Belleville, Kansas on the same census page as the Munger family - Charles may be their son. If they died in Belleville, then there may be a newspaper clipping or a cemetery plot there.
I don't know what happened to beautiful Ada Woodward. I hope that she had a wonderful life and passed on the genetic makeup that her Redfield and Vaux ancestors passed to her.
I keep learning this lesson - "write down everything you find in a permanent place so that you don't have to keep looking for it!" The problem is, of course, once you write it down then you have to remember where you put it. I try to put everything I can into the notes in my database, but I am not 100% successful in this effort!
Labels: Elusive ancestors, Family Stories, My genealogy research
Letters from home - Post 3
This is the second letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in San Diego, California in 1889. An explanation of the family situation is here.
=========================
From D.J. Smith in St Francis KS to wife Abby (Vaux) Smith in National City CA. Envelope has return address of Lock Box 202, addressed to Mrs. D.J. Smith, National City, San Diego Co, California. Postmark on front is St Francis KS dated Oct 15 1888, postmark on back National City Cal Oct. __ 1888. 2 cent stamp. Note on back of envelope: Sent Davie the $300.
Spring Ranch, Sunday Sept 1st 1889
Abbey,
Size doesn't always count. An elephant is bigger than you but give me you. Devier.
When fortune knocks, you want to be where you can open the door yourself.
Many self-made men have for wives and daughters Taylor-made women. Your father was a Taylor and you a Taylor's daughter.
Let me kiss him for his mother is proper to kiss a man for his ma. You will only stick to the plan. It oftener happens that some how or other Mother gets kissed for the man, how is that Dad.
Dad. Devier David where did I lay down my speckatels. Just under your nose Dad. Don't be so indiferent my son. You shouldn't trifle with the Old Man.
A chip off the old block. Austin how much does little Devier David love his father - hear Little D D one hundred percent. No discount. Fast collars with exchange on Spring Ranch. Austin, oh my father's own granson, say that again.
How is that for Austin. Delley, how much does he way, Austin I mean. I know what the boy ways from Pa and Gran Pa. By by to all and I will hitch up Hairpin and go and mail these. Kisses to all.
========================
DJ Smith seems to write letters with a stream of thought method, and much of it makes little sense to me. He seems to "talk" to each person and has a little joke in each sentence.
I'm confused by the dates. When I transcribed this several years ago, the letter said 1889 but the envelope clearly said 1888. I just looked at the letter again, same thing! But he is speaking about his grandson, Devier David Carringer, who was born in August 1889 to Austin and Della Carringer. There is no other Devier David that I know of. The logical explanation is that someone put the letter in the wrong envelope at some time. Hairpin is, of course, DJ's horse.
=========================
From D.J. Smith in St Francis KS to wife Abby (Vaux) Smith in National City CA. Envelope has return address of Lock Box 202, addressed to Mrs. D.J. Smith, National City, San Diego Co, California. Postmark on front is St Francis KS dated Oct 15 1888, postmark on back National City Cal Oct. __ 1888. 2 cent stamp. Note on back of envelope: Sent Davie the $300.
Spring Ranch, Sunday Sept 1st 1889
Abbey,
Size doesn't always count. An elephant is bigger than you but give me you. Devier.
When fortune knocks, you want to be where you can open the door yourself.
Many self-made men have for wives and daughters Taylor-made women. Your father was a Taylor and you a Taylor's daughter.
Let me kiss him for his mother is proper to kiss a man for his ma. You will only stick to the plan. It oftener happens that some how or other Mother gets kissed for the man, how is that Dad.
Dad. Devier David where did I lay down my speckatels. Just under your nose Dad. Don't be so indiferent my son. You shouldn't trifle with the Old Man.
A chip off the old block. Austin how much does little Devier David love his father - hear Little D D one hundred percent. No discount. Fast collars with exchange on Spring Ranch. Austin, oh my father's own granson, say that again.
How is that for Austin. Delley, how much does he way, Austin I mean. I know what the boy ways from Pa and Gran Pa. By by to all and I will hitch up Hairpin and go and mail these. Kisses to all.
========================
DJ Smith seems to write letters with a stream of thought method, and much of it makes little sense to me. He seems to "talk" to each person and has a little joke in each sentence.
I'm confused by the dates. When I transcribed this several years ago, the letter said 1889 but the envelope clearly said 1888. I just looked at the letter again, same thing! But he is speaking about his grandson, Devier David Carringer, who was born in August 1889 to Austin and Della Carringer. There is no other Devier David that I know of. The logical explanation is that someone put the letter in the wrong envelope at some time. Hairpin is, of course, DJ's horse.
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research, San Diego area
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Want to have lots of children? Marry a third cousin!
Science Daily has an intriguing article dated 8 February 2008 - titled "Third Cousins Have Greatest Number of Offspring, Data from Iceland Shows." It summarizes a paper titled "An association between the kinship and fertility of human couples" that was published in the journal Science February 8, 2008.
The statistics show:
"For example, for women born between 1800 and 1824, those with a mate related at the level of a third cousin had an average of 4.04 children and 9.17 grandchildren, while those related to their mates as eighth cousins or more distantly had 3.34 children and 7.31 grandchildren. For women born in the period 1925-1949 with mates related at the degree of third cousins, the average number of children and grandchildren were 3.27 and 6.64, compared to 2.45 and 4.86 for those with mates who were eighth cousins or more distantly related.
"The findings hold for every 25-year interval studied, beginning with those born in the year 1800 up to the present day. Because of the strength and consistency of the association, even between couples with very subtle differences in kinship, the authors conclude that the effect very likely has a biological basis, one which has yet to be elucidated."
Isn't that interesting? The average number of children born to a union went down between 1824 and 1949, but the comparison held. Read the whole article.
Iceland has wonderful and nearly complete records and was pretty much a genetically closed society for a long time, so this is really a useful study to geneticists and demographers.
Now do you see why I'm looking for distant living cousins? I don't have any in Iceland, unfortunately!
The statistics show:
"For example, for women born between 1800 and 1824, those with a mate related at the level of a third cousin had an average of 4.04 children and 9.17 grandchildren, while those related to their mates as eighth cousins or more distantly had 3.34 children and 7.31 grandchildren. For women born in the period 1925-1949 with mates related at the degree of third cousins, the average number of children and grandchildren were 3.27 and 6.64, compared to 2.45 and 4.86 for those with mates who were eighth cousins or more distantly related.
"The findings hold for every 25-year interval studied, beginning with those born in the year 1800 up to the present day. Because of the strength and consistency of the association, even between couples with very subtle differences in kinship, the authors conclude that the effect very likely has a biological basis, one which has yet to be elucidated."
Isn't that interesting? The average number of children born to a union went down between 1824 and 1949, but the comparison held. Read the whole article.
Iceland has wonderful and nearly complete records and was pretty much a genetically closed society for a long time, so this is really a useful study to geneticists and demographers.
Now do you see why I'm looking for distant living cousins? I don't have any in Iceland, unfortunately!
Labels: current newspaper articles, genetics
Music from before our time
I found a wonderful web site recently, thanks to the latest Internet Genealogy magazine.
The "Popular Songs in American History" web site at http://www.contemplator.com/america/ has a wealth of songs through the ages - not just American written or sung. Some are sentimental, some are romantic, some are raunchy, some have a twist, some are silly. Before electricity, playing music and singing songs in a family or in a group was the prime entertainment in homes, churches and public places. Except in Puritan colonial New England, I guess.
What I really like is that you can hear the tune (without singing), see the lyrics, read some information about the song and its background, have some some related links that connect to the history of the area or time, and see the source of the lyrics and music.
There are about 200 songs at this site, separated into historical time frames. There are also links to English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh songs.
This is a wonderful web site! I've only listened to about 20 songs, but I really like The Deceived Girl, Sally in Our Alley, Free America, Rosalie the Prairie Flower, and Grandfather's Clock.
Do you have a favorite? Tell me...I don't want to miss anything.
The "Popular Songs in American History" web site at http://www.contemplator.com/america/ has a wealth of songs through the ages - not just American written or sung. Some are sentimental, some are romantic, some are raunchy, some have a twist, some are silly. Before electricity, playing music and singing songs in a family or in a group was the prime entertainment in homes, churches and public places. Except in Puritan colonial New England, I guess.
What I really like is that you can hear the tune (without singing), see the lyrics, read some information about the song and its background, have some some related links that connect to the history of the area or time, and see the source of the lyrics and music.
There are about 200 songs at this site, separated into historical time frames. There are also links to English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh songs.
This is a wonderful web site! I've only listened to about 20 songs, but I really like The Deceived Girl, Sally in Our Alley, Free America, Rosalie the Prairie Flower, and Grandfather's Clock.
Do you have a favorite? Tell me...I don't want to miss anything.
Labels: Online resources
Letters from home - Post 2
This is the first letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in San Diego, California in 1888. An explanation of the family situation is here.
========================
From Davie Smith in McCook, Nebraska to mother Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego. Envelope with return address of Blue Front Livery Stable, D.D. Smith proprietor, McCook Nebraska. Addressed to Mr. Austin Carringer, National City Cala. 2 cent stamp. postmark on front dated Aug 31 1888, McCook Neb, postmark on back dated Sep 5 1888, National City, Calif.
Letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Livery, Feed and Sale Stable,
McCook Neb Aug 31st 1888
Dear Mother and all,
Your letters received some time ago and found us all well.
I received the BB Bal all OK and think it is fine. Every one that seen it thought it was elegant.
Well I got a letter from DJ several days ago and he thought he had sold your timber claims for you for cash. Now if you folkes don't want to use the money for any thing this winter I will take it off you and pay 1-1/2 per cents a month and send out to you each month if it suits you folks. Write me at once and let me know. I will buy up grain while it is cheap for a years use. Now if I get it of you can get it for you any time in the spring by 30 days notice ahead when you need it.
Buck tells me that DJ cropps are not extra this year as his corn was not taken care of. Matie seems to be satisfied here but as soon as I can ... will visit that country.
Love to all, Davie.
=============================
This letter is all about business. This family had an abiding interest in business, making money, saving money, being responsible, planning ahead, etc. You can see it throughout these letters, and throughout Della's Journal that I've published during 2007 in weekly installments.
DJ Smith must have been down at the ranch in St. Francis. I don't know where the timber claims were - perhaps in St. Francis or in McCook. Davie offers 1.5% a month to use their money - a pretty good deal!
"Matie" is Mary Ann Smith, Della's and Davie's sister, daughter of DJ and Abby (Vaux) Smith, who also lives in McCook.
More to come!
========================
From Davie Smith in McCook, Nebraska to mother Abby (Vaux) Smith in San Diego. Envelope with return address of Blue Front Livery Stable, D.D. Smith proprietor, McCook Nebraska. Addressed to Mr. Austin Carringer, National City Cala. 2 cent stamp. postmark on front dated Aug 31 1888, McCook Neb, postmark on back dated Sep 5 1888, National City, Calif.
Letterhead of D.D. Smith, proprietor of Livery, Feed and Sale Stable,
McCook Neb Aug 31st 1888
Dear Mother and all,
Your letters received some time ago and found us all well.
I received the BB Bal all OK and think it is fine. Every one that seen it thought it was elegant.
Well I got a letter from DJ several days ago and he thought he had sold your timber claims for you for cash. Now if you folkes don't want to use the money for any thing this winter I will take it off you and pay 1-1/2 per cents a month and send out to you each month if it suits you folks. Write me at once and let me know. I will buy up grain while it is cheap for a years use. Now if I get it of you can get it for you any time in the spring by 30 days notice ahead when you need it.
Buck tells me that DJ cropps are not extra this year as his corn was not taken care of. Matie seems to be satisfied here but as soon as I can ... will visit that country.
Love to all, Davie.
=============================
This letter is all about business. This family had an abiding interest in business, making money, saving money, being responsible, planning ahead, etc. You can see it throughout these letters, and throughout Della's Journal that I've published during 2007 in weekly installments.
DJ Smith must have been down at the ranch in St. Francis. I don't know where the timber claims were - perhaps in St. Francis or in McCook. Davie offers 1.5% a month to use their money - a pretty good deal!
"Matie" is Mary Ann Smith, Della's and Davie's sister, daughter of DJ and Abby (Vaux) Smith, who also lives in McCook.
More to come!
Labels: Family Stories, photographs, San Diego area
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Genealogy Parade is here!
Bill West asked his fellow intrepid and creative genea-bloggers to submit entries to a Genealogy Parade, and about 15 of us took him up on it.
The "Genealogy on Parade" post is on Bill's West in New England blog, and it has a fine display of floats, marching bands, a grand marshal and the like. Flutaphones played a large part in this parade, but that's another story.
Please go "watch" the parade and read all of the fine posts displaying imagination and honoring our ancestors.
Thank you, Bill, for a fun time! Wasn't it cold out there on the street? Inquiring minds want to know how many people lined the sidewalks of your town to witness this dazzling display of flutaphone wizardry and float creation?
The "Genealogy on Parade" post is on Bill's West in New England blog, and it has a fine display of floats, marching bands, a grand marshal and the like. Flutaphones played a large part in this parade, but that's another story.
Please go "watch" the parade and read all of the fine posts displaying imagination and honoring our ancestors.
Thank you, Bill, for a fun time! Wasn't it cold out there on the street? Inquiring minds want to know how many people lined the sidewalks of your town to witness this dazzling display of flutaphone wizardry and float creation?
Labels: Carnivals, genealogy blogs, My genealogy research
Letters from home - snapshots in time - Post 1
I'm going to post the letters that were in the Carringer and Smith treasure chest of family papers that were handed down by four generations to my mother and then to me. These letters are from the period of 1888 to 1898, and are to and from Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, Della's mother, Abigail (Vaux) Smith, her father Devier James (D.J.) Smith, Della's brother David Devier Smith, and several other Smith and Carringer cousins.
Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer came to San Diego in 1887 on their honeymoon and settled here. Devier David Carringer (named after his two grandfathers, Devier J. Smith and David J. Carringer), the first son of Austin and Della Carringer, was born in August 1889 and died in May 1890. Lyle Lawrence Carringer (not named after anybody as far as I can tell!) was born 2 November 1891.
The available letters start after the married couple settled down, and Della's mother, Abigail (Vaux) Smith lived with them for some time, perhaps to help with the babies. In the mean time, Devier J. Smith and David Devier Smith are in McCook, Nebraska or on their Spring Ranch near St. Francis, Kansas (in Cheyenne County, Kansas), up the Republican River a ways from McCook.
These letters are only glimpses of the daily life of these people - their concerns, their interests, their lives. I am sure there were many more letters exchanged during these years, but these are the only ones which have survived.
I feel fortunate to have the letters that I have - these people, like many others, would pass letters from their relatives to other relatives as a way to keep everybody in the family informed. Most of the letters I have are from another place to the family in San Diego, but there are several letters from Della and Abby to Austin while he was in Colorado in the early 1890's - he must have saved them and brought them home.
Writing letters is how people stayed in touch when the distances were too great to visit on a regular basis. We forget that telephones were not common in these years, and the cost was probably too high for most people to afford it. Many families lived on farms or in town with no electricity - writing was the best, and cheapest, way to communicate with distant family and friends.
One of the reasons to search for distant living cousins is to find out if they have letters or other records written by my ancestral families and sent to a distant place.
Each of these letters is precious to me, and some of them are priceless. You'll see what I mean!
Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer came to San Diego in 1887 on their honeymoon and settled here. Devier David Carringer (named after his two grandfathers, Devier J. Smith and David J. Carringer), the first son of Austin and Della Carringer, was born in August 1889 and died in May 1890. Lyle Lawrence Carringer (not named after anybody as far as I can tell!) was born 2 November 1891.
The available letters start after the married couple settled down, and Della's mother, Abigail (Vaux) Smith lived with them for some time, perhaps to help with the babies. In the mean time, Devier J. Smith and David Devier Smith are in McCook, Nebraska or on their Spring Ranch near St. Francis, Kansas (in Cheyenne County, Kansas), up the Republican River a ways from McCook.
These letters are only glimpses of the daily life of these people - their concerns, their interests, their lives. I am sure there were many more letters exchanged during these years, but these are the only ones which have survived.
I feel fortunate to have the letters that I have - these people, like many others, would pass letters from their relatives to other relatives as a way to keep everybody in the family informed. Most of the letters I have are from another place to the family in San Diego, but there are several letters from Della and Abby to Austin while he was in Colorado in the early 1890's - he must have saved them and brought them home.
Writing letters is how people stayed in touch when the distances were too great to visit on a regular basis. We forget that telephones were not common in these years, and the cost was probably too high for most people to afford it. Many families lived on farms or in town with no electricity - writing was the best, and cheapest, way to communicate with distant family and friends.
One of the reasons to search for distant living cousins is to find out if they have letters or other records written by my ancestral families and sent to a distant place.
Each of these letters is precious to me, and some of them are priceless. You'll see what I mean!
Labels: Family Stories, My genealogy research
Beth McCarty at SDGS Meeting on Saturday 2/9
The monthly meeting of the San Diego Genealogical Society is this Saturday 9 February at 12 noon at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in San diego (8350 Lake Murray Blvd, at Jackson Drive) in San Diego.
The program will be two talks by Beth J. McCarty --
1) At noon, "How to Effectively Use The Family History Center." Are you getting them ost out of the FHC? Learn how to effectively use their special indexes and databases and other resources as well as FamilySearch.
2) At 1 PM, "Finding Your Ancestors Home in England." Do you have English ancestors? Learn which sources and strategies to use to find your ancestors in England even if you don't know the county or parish. Some nationwide indexes will be examined as well.
Beth's curriculum vitae includes (courtesy of the February 2008 issue of the SDGS Newsletter)--
"Beth J. McCarty, a native Californian, holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from California State University at Long Beach and a California teaxhing credential. She has been doing genealogical research for over 35 years, and has taught genealogy for over 25 years. For more than 20 years she has been researching English records.
"Beth is President of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has served as Director of a Family History Center for 20 years and is currently Director of the Orange County Regional Family History Center. She and her husband Bill live in Orange, California."
San Diego genealogy buffs are fortunate to have several excellent genealogy society programs to attend each month. You can find out what programs are scheduled by checking the http://www.cgssd.org/events.php web page regularly.
The program will be two talks by Beth J. McCarty --
1) At noon, "How to Effectively Use The Family History Center." Are you getting them ost out of the FHC? Learn how to effectively use their special indexes and databases and other resources as well as FamilySearch.
2) At 1 PM, "Finding Your Ancestors Home in England." Do you have English ancestors? Learn which sources and strategies to use to find your ancestors in England even if you don't know the county or parish. Some nationwide indexes will be examined as well.
Beth's curriculum vitae includes (courtesy of the February 2008 issue of the SDGS Newsletter)--
"Beth J. McCarty, a native Californian, holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from California State University at Long Beach and a California teaxhing credential. She has been doing genealogical research for over 35 years, and has taught genealogy for over 25 years. For more than 20 years she has been researching English records.
"Beth is President of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has served as Director of a Family History Center for 20 years and is currently Director of the Orange County Regional Family History Center. She and her husband Bill live in Orange, California."
San Diego genealogy buffs are fortunate to have several excellent genealogy society programs to attend each month. You can find out what programs are scheduled by checking the http://www.cgssd.org/events.php web page regularly.
Labels: genealogy societies, San Diego area, SDGS
The Elusive Russell Smith - Post 6
In my last post about my search for records concerning Russell Smith and his purported father, David Smith, in Oneida County NY, I noted that I had ordered microfilms at the FHC for Will Abstracts and Deed Indexes of early Oneida County.
The films came in last week, and I spent two days reviewing them, with the following results:
1) Abstracts of Wills of Oneida County NY, 1798-1848. Volumes 1 and 2 (1798-1832) were on FHL US/CAN Film 0,851,122, Item 3. There were indexes for both Volumes 1 and 2 (I was confused because the index for Volume 2 was before the Volume 1 abstracts, and the index for Volume 1 was before the Volume 2 abstracts). Right now I am only searching for Smith, but the indexes helped identify persons named Smith mentioned in the will abstracts, and witnesses named Smith. Unfortunately, there were no David Smith or Russell Smith entries in the indexes. I copied all of the Smith entries onto my flash drive as JPGs using the microfilm scanner/computer system.
A typical will abstract looks like this:
p.338. JAMES SMITH of Remsen, Oneida Co.
Dated Feb. 8, 1811, Probated Aug. 17, 1812.
Mentions: wife Elizabeth, son: Seth, James, Joab, Oliver, Bohan; children of my dau Hannah Rogers, decd.
Executors: wife; son Bohan
Witnesses: Ezra Green, Enoch Rogers, Seth Smith
Signed: James Smith.
2) Deeds, 1791-1901, Oneida County NY. The Grantee Index for names Sm-V, 1791-1884 was on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,854, and the Grantor Index for names Q-S, 1791-1884 was on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,846. For reference purposes, the Grantee is the person who BUYS the property, and the Grantor is the person who SELLS the property.
These books have columns of information listed by year, including the first name(s), last name, other party, liber, page and date recorded.
The Grantee (Buyer) index had only two entries for a David Smith or a Russell Smith:
* Liber 12, Page 204 and 205; 1805, Sep 30; Grantee: David & Wait Smith &al; Grantor: John Murray.
* Liber 12, Page 607: 1087, May 23; Grantee Russell Smith; Grantor John Lansing Jr..
The Grantor Index (Seller) had quite a few entries for a David Smith or a Russell Smith:
* Liber 9, page 77: 1801, Sep 1; Grantor David Smith; Grantee Prosper Rudel.
* Liber 11, Page 158: 1803, May 14; Grantor David and Wait Smith &al; Grantee Ambrose Curtis.
* Liber 12, Page 418-420; 1806, Nov 4; Grantor David and Wait Smith &al; Grantee Samuel Potter.
* Liber 13, Page 521; 1806, Jan 21; Grantor David Smith &al; Grantee Orremon Tuttle.
* Liber 21, Page 561: 1812, Jun 10; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Henry Smith.
* Liber 23, Page 21: 1813, Jan 12; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Chas Leffingwell.
* Liber 27, Page 47: 1817, Apr 11; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Nehemiah Muscoll.
* Liber 27, Page 366: 1817, Sep 5; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Benjamin Rudol.
* Liber 30, Page 196: 1818, May 7; Grantor David Smith; Grantee Jos. Northrop &al.
* Liber 34, Page 372: 1822, Jun 8: Grantor David Smith by exrs; Grantee James Butter.
* Liber 35, Page 150: 1821, Sep 27; Grantor Ruth, widow of David Smith; Grantee James Barrow.
* Liber 36, Page 20: 1822, Jun 8; Grantor David Smith by exrs; Grantee James Butter.
* Liber 44, Page 489: 1827, Nov 12; Grantor Esther & James C. Smith; Grantee Wm Dayton.
The actual Deeds are on many microfilms (there are two volumes per microfilm for these years). I have ordered Volumes 11-12 on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,861 because there are two deeds with David Smith as a party and one with Russell Smith as a party, including the only instances of them as Grantees (buying or receiving land). I'll order more next time. They cost $6.20 each now at the FHC for a 6 week rental.
There are several intriguing deed references here:
* Several deeds list David and Wait Smith - was Wait a brother, sister or wife of David Smith? Who are the &al? That usually means other family members are a party to the deed - perhaps this is a deed from David's wife's family.
* Several deeds list Russell and Esther Smith. This is the only original record I've found so far of a wife's name for Russell Smith, and it matches the name given in the obituaries for two of their sons. There is also the possibility that, since Esther Smith is mentioned by name as a Grantor (that means she signed the deed and perhaps released her dower rights) that the deed may be for land passed to Esther (and Russell?) by one of her family members.
This research process is long and slow because of the need to order microfilms from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. They are coming within 10 to 14 days, so I can use my time "waiting" by doing other research tasks. When I can read, copy and transcribe the deeds, I will get only several at a time, and I'll have to order more microfilms, wait awhile, and recycle the process over and over. This is, of course, how genealogy research was done before the Internet for every type of genealogy record! There is something to be said for having time to think about what research opportunity should be pursued next. The problem is that you get distracted and don't complete the task in a reasonable time.
There are three alternatives to doing this research by renting FHL microfilms and reading them in San Diego -
* Go to Oneida County NY and try to find and copy the records at the courthouse or other repository. Right now, it's too cold in Oneida County for me to do that! The airline and hotel costs would be high, but it would be fun (hi Apple!).
* Go to Salt Lake City and visit all of the microfilms in the Family History Library. This is by far the quickest way to get the answers, but there is a cost associated with this option also. This would be fun, too!
* Hire someone in either Oneida County or Salt Lake City to do the research in these records. My guess is that this task would take about 4 hours to complete, which would be cheaper than going to either place (say $200 in SLC, $100 in Oneida County). But that would take all the fun out of the search, wouldn't it? I'd rather do it myself, perform the happy dance at the FHC if I'm successful, or berate the genealogy gods if I fail.
Stay tuned!
The films came in last week, and I spent two days reviewing them, with the following results:
1) Abstracts of Wills of Oneida County NY, 1798-1848. Volumes 1 and 2 (1798-1832) were on FHL US/CAN Film 0,851,122, Item 3. There were indexes for both Volumes 1 and 2 (I was confused because the index for Volume 2 was before the Volume 1 abstracts, and the index for Volume 1 was before the Volume 2 abstracts). Right now I am only searching for Smith, but the indexes helped identify persons named Smith mentioned in the will abstracts, and witnesses named Smith. Unfortunately, there were no David Smith or Russell Smith entries in the indexes. I copied all of the Smith entries onto my flash drive as JPGs using the microfilm scanner/computer system.
A typical will abstract looks like this:
p.338. JAMES SMITH of Remsen, Oneida Co.
Dated Feb. 8, 1811, Probated Aug. 17, 1812.
Mentions: wife Elizabeth, son: Seth, James, Joab, Oliver, Bohan; children of my dau Hannah Rogers, decd.
Executors: wife; son Bohan
Witnesses: Ezra Green, Enoch Rogers, Seth Smith
Signed: James Smith.
2) Deeds, 1791-1901, Oneida County NY. The Grantee Index for names Sm-V, 1791-1884 was on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,854, and the Grantor Index for names Q-S, 1791-1884 was on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,846. For reference purposes, the Grantee is the person who BUYS the property, and the Grantor is the person who SELLS the property.
These books have columns of information listed by year, including the first name(s), last name, other party, liber, page and date recorded.
The Grantee (Buyer) index had only two entries for a David Smith or a Russell Smith:
* Liber 12, Page 204 and 205; 1805, Sep 30; Grantee: David & Wait Smith &al; Grantor: John Murray.
* Liber 12, Page 607: 1087, May 23; Grantee Russell Smith; Grantor John Lansing Jr..
The Grantor Index (Seller) had quite a few entries for a David Smith or a Russell Smith:
* Liber 9, page 77: 1801, Sep 1; Grantor David Smith; Grantee Prosper Rudel.
* Liber 11, Page 158: 1803, May 14; Grantor David and Wait Smith &al; Grantee Ambrose Curtis.
* Liber 12, Page 418-420; 1806, Nov 4; Grantor David and Wait Smith &al; Grantee Samuel Potter.
* Liber 13, Page 521; 1806, Jan 21; Grantor David Smith &al; Grantee Orremon Tuttle.
* Liber 21, Page 561: 1812, Jun 10; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Henry Smith.
* Liber 23, Page 21: 1813, Jan 12; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Chas Leffingwell.
* Liber 27, Page 47: 1817, Apr 11; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Nehemiah Muscoll.
* Liber 27, Page 366: 1817, Sep 5; Grantor Esther & Russell Smith; Grantee Benjamin Rudol.
* Liber 30, Page 196: 1818, May 7; Grantor David Smith; Grantee Jos. Northrop &al.
* Liber 34, Page 372: 1822, Jun 8: Grantor David Smith by exrs; Grantee James Butter.
* Liber 35, Page 150: 1821, Sep 27; Grantor Ruth, widow of David Smith; Grantee James Barrow.
* Liber 36, Page 20: 1822, Jun 8; Grantor David Smith by exrs; Grantee James Butter.
* Liber 44, Page 489: 1827, Nov 12; Grantor Esther & James C. Smith; Grantee Wm Dayton.
The actual Deeds are on many microfilms (there are two volumes per microfilm for these years). I have ordered Volumes 11-12 on FHL US/CAN Film 0,364,861 because there are two deeds with David Smith as a party and one with Russell Smith as a party, including the only instances of them as Grantees (buying or receiving land). I'll order more next time. They cost $6.20 each now at the FHC for a 6 week rental.
There are several intriguing deed references here:
* Several deeds list David and Wait Smith - was Wait a brother, sister or wife of David Smith? Who are the &al? That usually means other family members are a party to the deed - perhaps this is a deed from David's wife's family.
* Several deeds list Russell and Esther Smith. This is the only original record I've found so far of a wife's name for Russell Smith, and it matches the name given in the obituaries for two of their sons. There is also the possibility that, since Esther Smith is mentioned by name as a Grantor (that means she signed the deed and perhaps released her dower rights) that the deed may be for land passed to Esther (and Russell?) by one of her family members.
This research process is long and slow because of the need to order microfilms from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. They are coming within 10 to 14 days, so I can use my time "waiting" by doing other research tasks. When I can read, copy and transcribe the deeds, I will get only several at a time, and I'll have to order more microfilms, wait awhile, and recycle the process over and over. This is, of course, how genealogy research was done before the Internet for every type of genealogy record! There is something to be said for having time to think about what research opportunity should be pursued next. The problem is that you get distracted and don't complete the task in a reasonable time.
There are three alternatives to doing this research by renting FHL microfilms and reading them in San Diego -
* Go to Oneida County NY and try to find and copy the records at the courthouse or other repository. Right now, it's too cold in Oneida County for me to do that! The airline and hotel costs would be high, but it would be fun (hi Apple!).
* Go to Salt Lake City and visit all of the microfilms in the Family History Library. This is by far the quickest way to get the answers, but there is a cost associated with this option also. This would be fun, too!
* Hire someone in either Oneida County or Salt Lake City to do the research in these records. My guess is that this task would take about 4 hours to complete, which would be cheaper than going to either place (say $200 in SLC, $100 in Oneida County). But that would take all the fun out of the search, wouldn't it? I'd rather do it myself, perform the happy dance at the FHC if I'm successful, or berate the genealogy gods if I fail.
Stay tuned!
Labels: Elusive ancestors, My genealogy research, Research techniques
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Searching for Distant Living Cousins is Hard
I'm sure that all of you know this, but I'm just finding out how hard it is to search for "Distant Living Cousins." These are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. cousins who share a set of 3rd, 4th or 5th great-grandparents with you. In general, you don't know who they are or where they live.
My observation is that most people know the names and often the locations of their first cousins, but relatively few know anything about or are in contact with their second cousins, and it is rare to find people in contact with their third or more distant cousins (well, except for genealogists, of course - we tend to find very distant cousins). Many families are spread all over the country and the world, and many families have complex relationships, and therefore have less contact with their aunts, uncles and cousins.
Why should we, as genealogists and family historians, search for these folks? I have two major responses:
* These people may have family pictures, family Bibles, family letters and other records that relate to your ancestral families. Did your family send letters to people? Where might they be? If they sent them to a cousin, then the cousin, or their descendants, may have them. Certainly, your ancestor doesn't have them, unless they were returned or they made a rough draft of their letters.
* Some of these family lines may be able to help with genetic genealogy issues - a patrilineal line back to a common ancestor may be very helpful in proving ancestry in that surname by providing a Y-DNA match to other people with the surname.
Of course, if you are able to find these distant cousins, and are able to make contact with them, you still have the problem of convincing them to send copies of their ephemera, photos and Bibles to you. But you can't contact them if you can't find them, right? So we have to try.
How can you find these distant cousins? It is a lot easier now than it used to be before the Internet. The process I'm using is to:
* Use online resources to define the families of distant cousins into the 1930s or 1940s - using the vital records, census records, military records, newspaper records (e.g., historical newspapers), cemetery records, Social Security Death Index, City Directories, town and county history books, the USGenWeb county sites, the WorldConnect, Ancestry and FamilySearch tree databases, Google and other search engines, etc.
* To find people after the 1930s and 1940s, I search the Social Security Death Index, City directories, online current newspapers, online obituary sites, cemetery records, etc.
* To find people living in the last 10 years, I use the Ancestry People Finder databases, online telephone books at www.411.com and www.pipl.com, public records sites (probates, deeds, etc.), Google their names and locations, and use Classmates.com and detective sites like Intelius.com, etc.
* Search the surname and locality message boards and mailing lists for other researchers who might have information about my distant families, or might be willing to search for them in specific localities.
* Enter the families you find into my genealogy database, along with facts found, research notes and source notes. I usually make a descendants genealogy report to define the families.
Ancestry has an article by Kip Sperry about finding living people here. Kimberly Powell at the About:Genealogy site has an article here.
The census records are by far the most useful records for defining families, but they run out in 1930, which is several generations ago. It is not unusual for small children in the families in 1930 to be living, but finding them is a challenge, and finding their progeny is a bigger challenge.
It is a lot easier to do these searches in states that have vital records available online - like California and Texas. Doing research in states without online vital records - like Pennsylvania and New York - is really hard, especially for common surnames. Sometimes you get a break by finding an older distant cousin in the SSDI, and then find an obituary that lists living relatives, and you can then try to contact those people.
The problem is, of course, you are trying to work forward in time, instead of backward in time. Without the memories or papers of our parents and grandparents, this is a much more difficult task.
I'm going to post genealogy reports with some of my searches for distant cousins in the next few weeks - my hope is that there will be somebody on the Internet who is Googling their name, their parents names or their grandparents names and are motivated to make contact with me via email. I'm going to try to not list living people in my posts for privacy reasons, and I'm only going to use publicly available records in my searches.
Have you searched for these distant cousins? What resources or methodologies have you used?
My observation is that most people know the names and often the locations of their first cousins, but relatively few know anything about or are in contact with their second cousins, and it is rare to find people in contact with their third or more distant cousins (well, except for genealogists, of course - we tend to find very distant cousins). Many families are spread all over the country and the world, and many families have complex relationships, and therefore have less contact with their aunts, uncles and cousins.
Why should we, as genealogists and family historians, search for these folks? I have two major responses:
* These people may have family pictures, family Bibles, family letters and other records that relate to your ancestral families. Did your family send letters to people? Where might they be? If they sent them to a cousin, then the cousin, or their descendants, may have them. Certainly, your ancestor doesn't have them, unless they were returned or they made a rough draft of their letters.
* Some of these family lines may be able to help with genetic genealogy issues - a patrilineal line back to a common ancestor may be very helpful in proving ancestry in that surname by providing a Y-DNA match to other people with the surname.
Of course, if you are able to find these distant cousins, and are able to make contact with them, you still have the problem of convincing them to send copies of their ephemera, photos and Bibles to you. But you can't contact them if you can't find them, right? So we have to try.
How can you find these distant cousins? It is a lot easier now than it used to be before the Internet. The process I'm using is to:
* Use online resources to define the families of distant cousins into the 1930s or 1940s - using the vital records, census records, military records, newspaper records (e.g., historical newspapers), cemetery records, Social Security Death Index, City Directories, town and county history books, the USGenWeb county sites, the WorldConnect, Ancestry and FamilySearch tree databases, Google and other search engines, etc.
* To find people after the 1930s and 1940s, I search the Social Security Death Index, City directories, online current newspapers, online obituary sites, cemetery records, etc.
* To find people living in the last 10 years, I use the Ancestry People Finder databases, online telephone books at www.411.com and www.pipl.com, public records sites (probates, deeds, etc.), Google their names and locations, and use Classmates.com and detective sites like Intelius.com, etc.
* Search the surname and locality message boards and mailing lists for other researchers who might have information about my distant families, or might be willing to search for them in specific localities.
* Enter the families you find into my genealogy database, along with facts found, research notes and source notes. I usually make a descendants genealogy report to define the families.
Ancestry has an article by Kip Sperry about finding living people here. Kimberly Powell at the About:Genealogy site has an article here.
The census records are by far the most useful records for defining families, but they run out in 1930, which is several generations ago. It is not unusual for small children in the families in 1930 to be living, but finding them is a challenge, and finding their progeny is a bigger challenge.
It is a lot easier to do these searches in states that have vital records available online - like California and Texas. Doing research in states without online vital records - like Pennsylvania and New York - is really hard, especially for common surnames. Sometimes you get a break by finding an older distant cousin in the SSDI, and then find an obituary that lists living relatives, and you can then try to contact those people.
The problem is, of course, you are trying to work forward in time, instead of backward in time. Without the memories or papers of our parents and grandparents, this is a much more difficult task.
I'm going to post genealogy reports with some of my searches for distant cousins in the next few weeks - my hope is that there will be somebody on the Internet who is Googling their name, their parents names or their grandparents names and are motivated to make contact with me via email. I'm going to try to not list living people in my posts for privacy reasons, and I'm only going to use publicly available records in my searches.
Have you searched for these distant cousins? What resources or methodologies have you used?
Labels: genealogy resources, My genealogy research, Research techniques, Research tips
41st Carnival of Genealogy - It's the Best Yet!
The topic for the 41st Carnival of Genealogy was "If you could have dinner with four of your ancestors who would they be and why?" Jasia has posted the Carnival on her Creative Gene blog at http://creativegene.blogspot.com/2008/02/carnival-of-genealogy-41st-edition.html.
There are 31 wonderful, intriguing and often humorous stories in this Carnival - the biggest ever. And the best Carnival ever, in my opinion. Jasia does a great job in capturing the essence of each post. Please go and read the Carnival, and read the posts from these 31 bloggers. They deserve your time, and you will enjoy their work.
The really neat thing about the Carnival is that there are often new genealogy bloggers on the list and visiting their blogs opens new opportunities for learning about their families and ancestral homes.
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: The Best of The Best! It's Academy awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and Family History aka AGFH (an esteemed organization that all genea-historian bloggers who participate in this next edition of the COG will become founding members of) to honor their best blog posts of 2007 in the following 5 categories:
Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2007. Tell us which you liked best and why.
Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2007 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?
Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2007?
Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2007?
Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2007?
Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
There are 31 wonderful, intriguing and often humorous stories in this Carnival - the biggest ever. And the best Carnival ever, in my opinion. Jasia does a great job in capturing the essence of each post. Please go and read the Carnival, and read the posts from these 31 bloggers. They deserve your time, and you will enjoy their work.
The really neat thing about the Carnival is that there are often new genealogy bloggers on the list and visiting their blogs opens new opportunities for learning about their families and ancestral homes.
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: The Best of The Best! It's Academy awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and Family History aka AGFH (an esteemed organization that all genea-historian bloggers who participate in this next edition of the COG will become founding members of) to honor their best blog posts of 2007 in the following 5 categories:
Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2007. Tell us which you liked best and why.
Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2007 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?
Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2007?
Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2007?
Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2007?
Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Labels: Carnivals, genealogy blogs
Monday, February 4, 2008
My Genealogy "Elevator Speech"
The marketing types say that you should have a 15 to 30 second "elevator speech" prepared to deliver the minute someone says "What do you do?" in an elevator or other closed environment. The theory is that this short presentation may result in sales for yourself or your company.
How do you answer the question, "What do you do?" Here's my answer:
"I do genealogy and family history research. I go to libraries and surf the Internet to find information. I attend genealogy society meetings, and write genealogy articles. I'm a retired aerospace engineer, and I do this full-time. I don't take paying clients, but I enjoy helping others with their search.
"In the process, I learn a lot about history and interesting places. I enjoy meeting cousins and researchers and sharing data. I feel like I honor the lives of my ancestors by telling their stories. I really enjoy the inteelectual challenge of being a detective searching for my roots. I have a lot of fun."
What do you think? Too long? Too much information? It's about 30 seconds - I can't memorize any more than that! Does it give you some idea of my work and my life? Does it lead a person to ask more questions?
A more extended discussion might go into more detail about researching, repositories, society work, speaking, writing, etc. It might lead to the inevitable questions like "How far back have you gone?" and "Are you related to anyone famous?" Heh heh. Like an insect caught in a spider's web! I always tell people "I can bore you for hours if you let me."
Do you have an "elevator speech?" If not, should you? Try to write one, and tell us about it (either on your own blog or in Comments below).
If you already have one, tell us if it has helped you focus your genealogy efforts. Has it gained you clients or new friends?
How do you answer the question, "What do you do?" Here's my answer:
"I do genealogy and family history research. I go to libraries and surf the Internet to find information. I attend genealogy society meetings, and write genealogy articles. I'm a retired aerospace engineer, and I do this full-time. I don't take paying clients, but I enjoy helping others with their search.
"In the process, I learn a lot about history and interesting places. I enjoy meeting cousins and researchers and sharing data. I feel like I honor the lives of my ancestors by telling their stories. I really enjoy the inteelectual challenge of being a detective searching for my roots. I have a lot of fun."
What do you think? Too long? Too much information? It's about 30 seconds - I can't memorize any more than that! Does it give you some idea of my work and my life? Does it lead a person to ask more questions?
A more extended discussion might go into more detail about researching, repositories, society work, speaking, writing, etc. It might lead to the inevitable questions like "How far back have you gone?" and "Are you related to anyone famous?" Heh heh. Like an insect caught in a spider's web! I always tell people "I can bore you for hours if you let me."
Do you have an "elevator speech?" If not, should you? Try to write one, and tell us about it (either on your own blog or in Comments below).
If you already have one, tell us if it has helped you focus your genealogy efforts. Has it gained you clients or new friends?
Labels: musings, My genealogy research
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 27 January - 2 February 2008
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week. My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* " 'What God Hath Joined Let No Man Sunder:' Divorce and Spiritualism in the Family Tree" by Tim Abbott on the Walking the Berkshires blog. Tim obtained additional information about an ancestor that was, well, difficult to understand. There are often two or more sides to a story, as Tim finds out.
* "Family by Choice, not Genes" by Donna Pointkouski on the What's Past is Prologue blog. Donna tells us about Father George who was a special person in her life.
* "Genealogical Evidence Is Where You Find It: Locating Births, Deaths and Marriages" by Arlene H. Eakle on the Arlene H. Eakle's Genealogy Blog. In addition to a good summary of web sites, Arlene's advice about what sources you use should be must reading for every researcher.
* "The Pajama Game: Can a Romance Blossom Between Genealogy Societies and Stay-at-Home Genealogists?" by Thomas MacEntee on the Destination: Austin Family blog. Thomas compares the attitudes of entrenched genealogy societies and truculent Internet researchers to the characters in the play, The Pajama Game. Then he shows each side how much they are alike, and how they really need each other. Brilliant!
* "Bob Andy Pie" by Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry's wife sure knows how to make some good eating stuff - and Terry can tell stories about them, with recipes too! I seem to add a pound or two just reading about Terry's eats.
* "Milo Morgan and the Amazing Palpitating Bosom" by Lidian on The Virtual Dime Store Museum blog. Lidian does a bit of research on the subject matter and uncovers a dastardly deed about a titillating subject. (Thanks to Janice Brown for the link to Lidian's blog!).
* "3rd Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy" by Jessica Oswalt on the Jessica's GeneJournal blog. Jessica is trying to build this Carnival - if you have Central or Eastern European ancestors, please blog about them and submit the article to her Carnival.
* "A Million Dollars for Your Research" by Schelly Talalay Dardashti on the Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog. Schelly answers the question posed by Robert Ragan in part - and asks for more suggestions.
* "A Million Dollars? Just for Genealogy Research?" by Becky Wiseman on the Kinexxions blog. Becky ponders the Robert Ragan question, and thinks she would wisely put her affairs in order and go have fun in ancestral and family localities. She needs to find the rich uncle first, though!
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogger to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* " 'What God Hath Joined Let No Man Sunder:' Divorce and Spiritualism in the Family Tree" by Tim Abbott on the Walking the Berkshires blog. Tim obtained additional information about an ancestor that was, well, difficult to understand. There are often two or more sides to a story, as Tim finds out.
* "Family by Choice, not Genes" by Donna Pointkouski on the What's Past is Prologue blog. Donna tells us about Father George who was a special person in her life.
* "Genealogical Evidence Is Where You Find It: Locating Births, Deaths and Marriages" by Arlene H. Eakle on the Arlene H. Eakle's Genealogy Blog. In addition to a good summary of web sites, Arlene's advice about what sources you use should be must reading for every researcher.
* "The Pajama Game: Can a Romance Blossom Between Genealogy Societies and Stay-at-Home Genealogists?" by Thomas MacEntee on the Destination: Austin Family blog. Thomas compares the attitudes of entrenched genealogy societies and truculent Internet researchers to the characters in the play, The Pajama Game. Then he shows each side how much they are alike, and how they really need each other. Brilliant!
* "Bob Andy Pie" by Terry Thornton on the Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi blog. Terry's wife sure knows how to make some good eating stuff - and Terry can tell stories about them, with recipes too! I seem to add a pound or two just reading about Terry's eats.
* "Milo Morgan and the Amazing Palpitating Bosom" by Lidian on The Virtual Dime Store Museum blog. Lidian does a bit of research on the subject matter and uncovers a dastardly deed about a titillating subject. (Thanks to Janice Brown for the link to Lidian's blog!).
* "3rd Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy" by Jessica Oswalt on the Jessica's GeneJournal blog. Jessica is trying to build this Carnival - if you have Central or Eastern European ancestors, please blog about them and submit the article to her Carnival.
* "A Million Dollars for Your Research" by Schelly Talalay Dardashti on the Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog. Schelly answers the question posed by Robert Ragan in part - and asks for more suggestions.
* "A Million Dollars? Just for Genealogy Research?" by Becky Wiseman on the Kinexxions blog. Becky ponders the Robert Ragan question, and thinks she would wisely put her affairs in order and go have fun in ancestral and family localities. She needs to find the rich uncle first, though!
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blogger to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Super Bowl of Genealogy
Most American residents are focussed on today's Super Bowl XLII to decide the championship of the National Football League. After 20 weeks of play, the New England Patriots (18-0) are favored by 12 points over the New York Giants (13-6) in the game to be played in Phoenix, Arizona in an indoor stadium on real grass, starting at 3:30 p.m. (PST). The pre-game hype, er, programs, started at 7 a.m. this morning on Fox TV. My prediction, based on my own biases and yearlong futility at picking winners of all the NFL games, is Patriots 27-20 in a good game.
What if there was a Super Bowl of Genealogy? Where would it be played? What teams would play? Who would be the head coaches? Who would be the stars of the game? Who would win? What would be the score? Who are the cheerleaders?
1) Where would it be played? The obvious answer is Salt Lake City at the Family History Library!
2) What teams would play? The obvious answer, in early 2008, is The Generations Network (Ancestry) on one side and the LDS FamilySearch on the other.
3) Who would be the head coaches? Perhaps Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak on the TGN side (Chief Family Historian) and David Rencher (Director of Records and Information for FamilySearch) on the FS side.
4) Who would be the stars of the game? This is more difficult because we don't know the names of many of the players on either team. We only know the names of some of the leaders, and some of the publicity people. Thousands of people toil in anonymity in order to bring new databases and web sites online for all of us to use and learn from.
5) Who would win? The game is still being played, obviously. TGN and FS have gone head-to-head several times over this last year, and have cooperated some also. Their game plans are very different - one team puts information online for a fee (but offers free access at selected places) while the other does it for free.
6) What would be the score? The game is still being played. In my mind, the two teams are tied right now. FamilySearch had the lead for several years (with free access to old databases, and indexes for certain census records), but TGN caught up and passed them (offering more databases with a superior search capability). FamilySearch is aggressively digitizing and indexing records from public sources and their vast microform collection, and they have, in my mind, tied Ancestry at half-time.
7) Who are the cheerleaders? You and me, of course! All genealogy researchers.
Are there other players? Of course - FamilyLink (nee WorldVitalRecords), Footnote, New England Historic Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, GenealogyBank, FindMyPast, Godfrey Library, MyHeritage and others are playing in the Genealogy All-Star league. They are all winners, in my book.
Competition between companies and societies are a good thing - they bring out the best for everybody, as long as there is cooperation and collaboration. I think that we've seen a lot of competition and collaboration over the last year in genealogy, and I hope that they continue in the coming years.
There are many individuals in the wide world of genealogy that make things happen that are not affiliated with companies - bloggers, researchers, speakers, society leaders, writers, editors, and the like - all working to make genealogy research better, and challenging all of us to learn more, perform better research and help others along the path to genealogy research excellence.
The real winners of the "genealogy playoffs" and the "super bowl of genealogy" are the users of genealogy resources and databases - the millions of researchers rooting for all of the teams to play and succeed with their game plans.
We all dream of playing in big games. My dream is to be a wide receiver in the Super Bowl of Genealogy - running down the field in a zig-zag pattern and catching a big database chock full of information about my ancestors. I'd love to score touchdowns in Dodge County WI, Oneida County NY, Windham County CT, Louisa County IA, Oxford County ME, Barnstable County MA, Norfolk County ON and in Wiltshire in England. In a stadium full of my relatives and ancestors cheering me on ... maybe they'd hold a dinner or a parade in my honor. Wait, those are earlier posts!
What if there was a Super Bowl of Genealogy? Where would it be played? What teams would play? Who would be the head coaches? Who would be the stars of the game? Who would win? What would be the score? Who are the cheerleaders?
1) Where would it be played? The obvious answer is Salt Lake City at the Family History Library!
2) What teams would play? The obvious answer, in early 2008, is The Generations Network (Ancestry) on one side and the LDS FamilySearch on the other.
3) Who would be the head coaches? Perhaps Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak on the TGN side (Chief Family Historian) and David Rencher (Director of Records and Information for FamilySearch) on the FS side.
4) Who would be the stars of the game? This is more difficult because we don't know the names of many of the players on either team. We only know the names of some of the leaders, and some of the publicity people. Thousands of people toil in anonymity in order to bring new databases and web sites online for all of us to use and learn from.
5) Who would win? The game is still being played, obviously. TGN and FS have gone head-to-head several times over this last year, and have cooperated some also. Their game plans are very different - one team puts information online for a fee (but offers free access at selected places) while the other does it for free.
6) What would be the score? The game is still being played. In my mind, the two teams are tied right now. FamilySearch had the lead for several years (with free access to old databases, and indexes for certain census records), but TGN caught up and passed them (offering more databases with a superior search capability). FamilySearch is aggressively digitizing and indexing records from public sources and their vast microform collection, and they have, in my mind, tied Ancestry at half-time.
7) Who are the cheerleaders? You and me, of course! All genealogy researchers.
Are there other players? Of course - FamilyLink (nee WorldVitalRecords), Footnote, New England Historic Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, GenealogyBank, FindMyPast, Godfrey Library, MyHeritage and others are playing in the Genealogy All-Star league. They are all winners, in my book.
Competition between companies and societies are a good thing - they bring out the best for everybody, as long as there is cooperation and collaboration. I think that we've seen a lot of competition and collaboration over the last year in genealogy, and I hope that they continue in the coming years.
There are many individuals in the wide world of genealogy that make things happen that are not affiliated with companies - bloggers, researchers, speakers, society leaders, writers, editors, and the like - all working to make genealogy research better, and challenging all of us to learn more, perform better research and help others along the path to genealogy research excellence.
The real winners of the "genealogy playoffs" and the "super bowl of genealogy" are the users of genealogy resources and databases - the millions of researchers rooting for all of the teams to play and succeed with their game plans.
We all dream of playing in big games. My dream is to be a wide receiver in the Super Bowl of Genealogy - running down the field in a zig-zag pattern and catching a big database chock full of information about my ancestors. I'd love to score touchdowns in Dodge County WI, Oneida County NY, Windham County CT, Louisa County IA, Oxford County ME, Barnstable County MA, Norfolk County ON and in Wiltshire in England. In a stadium full of my relatives and ancestors cheering me on ... maybe they'd hold a dinner or a parade in my honor. Wait, those are earlier posts!
Labels: Commercial genealogy, genealogy education, musings
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Genealogy Fun on Saturday Night
Tim Agazio found the Blog Addiction test and "made" many of us take the test (heck, who can resist?) at http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/blog_addiction
I got an 80% but can't figure out how to make the graphic show up on this post. I managed to get most of it on my blogger page by sticking the HTML in the Template (I'm stlll working on the old blogger where it isn't easy to put stuff on your blog).
The highest score I've seen so far is Miriam at 82%.
Then Janice Brown at Cow Hampshire stuck a dancing video in her "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" post starring three nefarious genea-bloggers - you can see the video here (click on Replay if it doesn't work when you hit Play). Thanks, Janice (I think!)! My Angel Linda loved this - and wished that I was still that thin and agile - it's been about 35 years, I fear. If I tried that now, the earth would shake and grown women would laugh themselves silly - not to mention my grandchildren. I might even strain something or two.
Let me add some "What were their parents thinking?" names from the 1930 census here just to liven up this Saturday night at the old genea-bloggers hangout:
* Devil Cochran (age 16, Jackson county, AR)
* Satan Scott (age 5, Malheur County OR)
* Scare Gartley (age 38, Butte County SD)
* Godly Gengenbach (age 37, Dawson county NE)
* Godlift Horasta (age 48, San Bernardino County CA)
* True Lover Smart (age 3, Mecklenburg County NC)
* Happy Day (age 5, Letcher County KY)
* Peerless Love (age 6, Wilkes County NC)
* Unique Glass (age 27, Oklahoma County OK)
* Kindness Price (age 29, Jefferson County AL)
* Funny Price (age 37, Harris county TX)
* Humble Mister (age 11, Upshur County TX)
* Playfair Plybon (age 26, Wayne County WV)
* Lovely Kidd (age 37, Jefferson County AL)
* Hater Perks (age 44, Hanover county VA)
* Evil Mink (age 8, Bristol VA)
* Fonzie Outlaw (age 9, Dale county AL)
* Dynamite Partee (age 30, Forsyth NC)
* Super Williams (age 5, Mercer County WV)
That's enough for now - isn't it amazing the names that people gave their children?
I got an 80% but can't figure out how to make the graphic show up on this post. I managed to get most of it on my blogger page by sticking the HTML in the Template (I'm stlll working on the old blogger where it isn't easy to put stuff on your blog).
The highest score I've seen so far is Miriam at 82%.
Then Janice Brown at Cow Hampshire stuck a dancing video in her "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" post starring three nefarious genea-bloggers - you can see the video here (click on Replay if it doesn't work when you hit Play). Thanks, Janice (I think!)! My Angel Linda loved this - and wished that I was still that thin and agile - it's been about 35 years, I fear. If I tried that now, the earth would shake and grown women would laugh themselves silly - not to mention my grandchildren. I might even strain something or two.
Let me add some "What were their parents thinking?" names from the 1930 census here just to liven up this Saturday night at the old genea-bloggers hangout:
* Devil Cochran (age 16, Jackson county, AR)
* Satan Scott (age 5, Malheur County OR)
* Scare Gartley (age 38, Butte County SD)
* Godly Gengenbach (age 37, Dawson county NE)
* Godlift Horasta (age 48, San Bernardino County CA)
* True Lover Smart (age 3, Mecklenburg County NC)
* Happy Day (age 5, Letcher County KY)
* Peerless Love (age 6, Wilkes County NC)
* Unique Glass (age 27, Oklahoma County OK)
* Kindness Price (age 29, Jefferson County AL)
* Funny Price (age 37, Harris county TX)
* Humble Mister (age 11, Upshur County TX)
* Playfair Plybon (age 26, Wayne County WV)
* Lovely Kidd (age 37, Jefferson County AL)
* Hater Perks (age 44, Hanover county VA)
* Evil Mink (age 8, Bristol VA)
* Fonzie Outlaw (age 9, Dale county AL)
* Dynamite Partee (age 30, Forsyth NC)
* Super Williams (age 5, Mercer County WV)
That's enough for now - isn't it amazing the names that people gave their children?
Labels: Census Records, genealogy blogs, strange or funny
Visit to San Diego Public Library today
We changed our CVGS Research Trip plans and visited the San Diego Public Library (SDPL) genealogy collection today, because the FHC was closed. This library is in downtown San Diego and is difficult to access during the week, but on Saturday there is free parking nearby and smaller crowds in the library.
SDPL has local and California history resources in the California Room, and a small genealogy book collection in the Genealogy Room nearby. The book collection was donated to the library by a local DAR chapter years ago, but they have added new resources over time; however, the collection is space constrained and a number of books and periodicals are stored in closed stacks, which are accessible using call slips.
In the California Room, the library has:
* Nearly complete collection of San Diego City Directories from 1887 to 1980
* Complete Haines County Directory (by street addresses, with names and phone numbers) from 1970 up to 2006.
* Microfiche index for the San Diego Union newspaper for 1851-1915, 1930-1975, 1976-1980 and 1981-1983. The complete San Diego Union (and Tribune) newspaper archives are available on microfilm in the nearby newspaper reading room (the only complete collection in San Diego County).
* Microfiche file for the San Francisco Newspaper Index (1904-1949) and the San Francisco Chronicle 1950-1980.
* Vertical files of newspaper clippings by subject and name.
In the Genealogy Room, there are several unique (to San Diego County) genealogy resources, including --
* New England Genealogical and Historical Register (NEHGR - 1847 to present)
* American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI - complete set)
* Periodical Source Index (PERSI, 17 volumes, and 1986-1997 supplements)
* Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index (1982-2008)
* Filby and Glazier's Germans to America series (65 volumes)
* Filby and Glazier's Italians to America series (12 volumes)
* Domesday Books
* Pennsylvania Archives
* DAR Lineage Books (166 volumes, to 1921).
* Boston Transcript genealogy columns on microfiche (index in AGBI).
* Vertical files of donated periodicals and family papers.
They have two computers reserved for genealogy users with the library databases, including Ancestry Library Edition, plus a CD collection.
There were only four of us today, and we worked from about 10 AM to 1 PM. I checked the AGBI for Russell Smith and several other names, and checked the NEHGR Index for Russell Smith. It's handy to have all of the books there to flip open and check a page. I used the Haines directories a bit also. I spent some time taking the resource inventory above, working on Ancestry for specific names, and talking to the staff about genealogy in general and library resources in particular.
San Diego is supposed to build a new main library in the near future, but it's tied up by local politics. If a new library is built, I hope it will not be in downtown San Diego where it will be more expensive to build and constrained by traffic and homeless issues. We would love to have a dedicatedx Genealogy and Local History area with a world-class collection, but that would take a lot of time and money.
We hope to take our next CVGS Research Trip to the San Diego Family History Center next month and try out all of the online databases on the computers there. These trips are useful for our new members because many of them have only done Internet research. Some of our senior members can't drive to these repositories so it gets them out and researching also. We carpool from downtown Chula Vista and have a great time talking genealogy on our excursions.
SDPL has local and California history resources in the California Room, and a small genealogy book collection in the Genealogy Room nearby. The book collection was donated to the library by a local DAR chapter years ago, but they have added new resources over time; however, the collection is space constrained and a number of books and periodicals are stored in closed stacks, which are accessible using call slips.
In the California Room, the library has:
* Nearly complete collection of San Diego City Directories from 1887 to 1980
* Complete Haines County Directory (by street addresses, with names and phone numbers) from 1970 up to 2006.
* Microfiche index for the San Diego Union newspaper for 1851-1915, 1930-1975, 1976-1980 and 1981-1983. The complete San Diego Union (and Tribune) newspaper archives are available on microfilm in the nearby newspaper reading room (the only complete collection in San Diego County).
* Microfiche file for the San Francisco Newspaper Index (1904-1949) and the San Francisco Chronicle 1950-1980.
* Vertical files of newspaper clippings by subject and name.
In the Genealogy Room, there are several unique (to San Diego County) genealogy resources, including --
* New England Genealogical and Historical Register (NEHGR - 1847 to present)
* American Genealogical Biographical Index (AGBI - complete set)
* Periodical Source Index (PERSI, 17 volumes, and 1986-1997 supplements)
* Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index (1982-2008)
* Filby and Glazier's Germans to America series (65 volumes)
* Filby and Glazier's Italians to America series (12 volumes)
* Domesday Books
* Pennsylvania Archives
* DAR Lineage Books (166 volumes, to 1921).
* Boston Transcript genealogy columns on microfiche (index in AGBI).
* Vertical files of donated periodicals and family papers.
They have two computers reserved for genealogy users with the library databases, including Ancestry Library Edition, plus a CD collection.
There were only four of us today, and we worked from about 10 AM to 1 PM. I checked the AGBI for Russell Smith and several other names, and checked the NEHGR Index for Russell Smith. It's handy to have all of the books there to flip open and check a page. I used the Haines directories a bit also. I spent some time taking the resource inventory above, working on Ancestry for specific names, and talking to the staff about genealogy in general and library resources in particular.
San Diego is supposed to build a new main library in the near future, but it's tied up by local politics. If a new library is built, I hope it will not be in downtown San Diego where it will be more expensive to build and constrained by traffic and homeless issues. We would love to have a dedicatedx Genealogy and Local History area with a world-class collection, but that would take a lot of time and money.
We hope to take our next CVGS Research Trip to the San Diego Family History Center next month and try out all of the online databases on the computers there. These trips are useful for our new members because many of them have only done Internet research. Some of our senior members can't drive to these repositories so it gets them out and researching also. We carpool from downtown Chula Vista and have a great time talking genealogy on our excursions.
Labels: CVGS, genealogy resources, San Diego area
Friday, February 1, 2008
Genealogy video workshop survey
I just participated in a Family Tree Magazine survey about Genealogy Video Workshops. The questions asked (and my responses) were:
1. Have you ever taken a genealogy class via online video? If yes, what type of class and how was it offered? I put "Yes" and entered "a) The FTM 2008 and AncestryPress videos offered by Ancestry.com - watch the presentation, hear the voices, communicate by email. b) Many videos at Roots Television of classes - but not participating in the class."
2. What topics would be of interest to you in a genealogy class via online video? (Please rate all that apply). Choices were Very Interesting, Somewhat Interesting and Not Interesting.
* Internet research - "Very"
* Identifying and preserving family photographs - "Somewhat"
* Cemetery research - "Very"
* Foreign/ethnic research, such as German, British or American Indian genealogy - "Very"
* Civil War or Revolutionary War research - "Very"
* Finding and using basic records such as censuses, vital records, wills -'Very"
* Genealogy in specific US states or regions - "Very"
* Oral history - "Somewhat"
* Genetic genealogy - "Somewhat"
* Getting organized - "Somewhat"
* Other (please specify) - I listed "Newspapers, Immigration and Naturalization."
3. What skill level best describes you? Choices were Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Professional. I put "Advanced"
4. What would be most helpful to see in an online genealogy video? (Please rate all that apply). Choices were Very Helpful, Somewhat Helpful, Not Helpful.
* Advice from an expert in the class topic - "Very"
* Step-by-step demonstrations of computer or Internet techniques - "Very"
* How to use a particular Web site or software program - "Very"
* Virtual tours of libraries, archives and research repositories - Somewhat"
* Explanations of research methods/techniques - Very"
* Range of the above - "somewhat"
* Other (please specify)
5. What would interest you most: paying for video workshops on a per-class basis or buying a package that gives you access to multiple videos for a year? I put "Pay per class."
6. What would influence your decision to purchase a specific online video? Choices were Very Important, somewhat Important and Not Important.
* The featured expert - "Somewhat"
* The topic or focus of the video - "Very"
* The format (demonstrations vs. lecture-style) - "Very"
* The price - "Somewhat"
7. How much would you expect to pay for one 45-minute class? Choices were $5-10, $11-15, $16-20, $21-25. I put "$5 to 10" (naturally)
8. How much would you expect to pay for a package of five videos? Choices were $20, $30, $40 and $50. I chose $30 (cheap guy, eh? Hey, I'm retired).
Isn't that interesting? I'm wondering if Family Tree Magazine is planning on offering Online Video classes with special deals for those with a subscription? Or offering a subscription to the magazine if someone signs up for a number of video workshops?
There is probably a market for relatively cheap online video workshops if they are "on-demand" - essentially a lecture/demonstration format with no instant interaction (perhaps an email contact). Being able to select 10 or 20 videos from a national conference and see what you missed, for a price, is really attractive to me. Of course, that could lead to a virtual conference, I guess, where groups in different locations could sit together and watch a presentation from afar (which is already being done by some presenters for some societies, I understand); or where a number of presentations are made on video and individuals can watch them at their leisure at home.
There may not be as much of a market for an interactive "connect at this specific time" format due to personal scheduling issues. Perhaps a blend would work, like what Ancestry did with their FTM2008 and AncestryPress tutorials - offer the tutorial live with interaction, then archive it and make it available for others to view/hear without interaction. Of course, Ancestry was selling a specific product each time and was using the video as a sales promotion.
Just my opinions, for which I hope I don't become logophagous (look it up).
1. Have you ever taken a genealogy class via online video? If yes, what type of class and how was it offered? I put "Yes" and entered "a) The FTM 2008 and AncestryPress videos offered by Ancestry.com - watch the presentation, hear the voices, communicate by email. b) Many videos at Roots Television of classes - but not participating in the class."
2. What topics would be of interest to you in a genealogy class via online video? (Please rate all that apply). Choices were Very Interesting, Somewhat Interesting and Not Interesting.
* Internet research - "Very"
* Identifying and preserving family photographs - "Somewhat"
* Cemetery research - "Very"
* Foreign/ethnic research, such as German, British or American Indian genealogy - "Very"
* Civil War or Revolutionary War research - "Very"
* Finding and using basic records such as censuses, vital records, wills -'Very"
* Genealogy in specific US states or regions - "Very"
* Oral history - "Somewhat"
* Genetic genealogy - "Somewhat"
* Getting organized - "Somewhat"
* Other (please specify) - I listed "Newspapers, Immigration and Naturalization."
3. What skill level best describes you? Choices were Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Professional. I put "Advanced"
4. What would be most helpful to see in an online genealogy video? (Please rate all that apply). Choices were Very Helpful, Somewhat Helpful, Not Helpful.
* Advice from an expert in the class topic - "Very"
* Step-by-step demonstrations of computer or Internet techniques - "Very"
* How to use a particular Web site or software program - "Very"
* Virtual tours of libraries, archives and research repositories - Somewhat"
* Explanations of research methods/techniques - Very"
* Range of the above - "somewhat"
* Other (please specify)
5. What would interest you most: paying for video workshops on a per-class basis or buying a package that gives you access to multiple videos for a year? I put "Pay per class."
6. What would influence your decision to purchase a specific online video? Choices were Very Important, somewhat Important and Not Important.
* The featured expert - "Somewhat"
* The topic or focus of the video - "Very"
* The format (demonstrations vs. lecture-style) - "Very"
* The price - "Somewhat"
7. How much would you expect to pay for one 45-minute class? Choices were $5-10, $11-15, $16-20, $21-25. I put "$5 to 10" (naturally)
8. How much would you expect to pay for a package of five videos? Choices were $20, $30, $40 and $50. I chose $30 (cheap guy, eh? Hey, I'm retired).
Isn't that interesting? I'm wondering if Family Tree Magazine is planning on offering Online Video classes with special deals for those with a subscription? Or offering a subscription to the magazine if someone signs up for a number of video workshops?
There is probably a market for relatively cheap online video workshops if they are "on-demand" - essentially a lecture/demonstration format with no instant interaction (perhaps an email contact). Being able to select 10 or 20 videos from a national conference and see what you missed, for a price, is really attractive to me. Of course, that could lead to a virtual conference, I guess, where groups in different locations could sit together and watch a presentation from afar (which is already being done by some presenters for some societies, I understand); or where a number of presentations are made on video and individuals can watch them at their leisure at home.
There may not be as much of a market for an interactive "connect at this specific time" format due to personal scheduling issues. Perhaps a blend would work, like what Ancestry did with their FTM2008 and AncestryPress tutorials - offer the tutorial live with interaction, then archive it and make it available for others to view/hear without interaction. Of course, Ancestry was selling a specific product each time and was using the video as a sales promotion.
Just my opinions, for which I hope I don't become logophagous (look it up).
Labels: genealogy education, Genealogy Video
Tracing Immigrant Origins
With so much colonial American ancestry migrating from England (75% of my father's side, 40% of my mother's side) before 1700, and then another 25% of my father's side, and 12% of my mother's side, emigrating from England in the mid-19th century, I have not done a lot of research in European resources. All of my German and Dutch ancestry came to America before 1775 as far as I can tell.
The only other European research that I've pursued extensively was in Norway, which is 25% of my wife's ancestry. That turned out very well, and I am eager to try more European research, especially in Germany.
I went looking for some online articles and tutorials about researching immigrant ancestors, and found an excellent FREE series of articles at Genealogy.com - http://www.genealogy.com/uni-immi.html.
This site has
* Introduction to Tracing Immigrant Origins - 12 lessons
* Post Civil War Immigrant Sources - 6 Lessons
* Sources Between 1820 to 1865 - 6 Lessons
* Pre-1820 Immigration - 7 Lessons
* European Sources - 9 Lessons.
These all-text lessons were developed by Genealogy Research Associates (http://www.genealogy.com/university.html#gra) and are very easy to use either one at a time or in a series. After completing one lesson, you will have to go back to the main GRA page and select the next lesson in the series.
I've learned quite a bit just paging through many of the lessons. If you want to hone your knowledge of immigrant origins and how to trace them, consider using this FREE resource.
I no sooner post the above and I see that Michael John Neill has a European Origins Online summary at http://www.rootdig.com/european2.html. This serves as a nice complement to the GRA lessons, which don't deal with online resources.
I welcome any other suggestions to help me with my search for European immigrant resources.
The only other European research that I've pursued extensively was in Norway, which is 25% of my wife's ancestry. That turned out very well, and I am eager to try more European research, especially in Germany.
I went looking for some online articles and tutorials about researching immigrant ancestors, and found an excellent FREE series of articles at Genealogy.com - http://www.genealogy.com/uni-immi.html.
This site has
* Introduction to Tracing Immigrant Origins - 12 lessons
* Post Civil War Immigrant Sources - 6 Lessons
* Sources Between 1820 to 1865 - 6 Lessons
* Pre-1820 Immigration - 7 Lessons
* European Sources - 9 Lessons.
These all-text lessons were developed by Genealogy Research Associates (http://www.genealogy.com/university.html#gra) and are very easy to use either one at a time or in a series. After completing one lesson, you will have to go back to the main GRA page and select the next lesson in the series.
I've learned quite a bit just paging through many of the lessons. If you want to hone your knowledge of immigrant origins and how to trace them, consider using this FREE resource.
I no sooner post the above and I see that Michael John Neill has a European Origins Online summary at http://www.rootdig.com/european2.html. This serves as a nice complement to the GRA lessons, which don't deal with online resources.
I welcome any other suggestions to help me with my search for European immigrant resources.
Labels: genealogy education, Immigration records
FHCs may be closed on Saturday 2 February
Many, or all, LDS Family History Centers will be closed on Saturday, 2 February, in honor of their deceased President, Gordon Hinckley.
I called the San Diego FHC on Wednesday and they said that they would be closed on Saturday.
If you were planning on going to an FHC on Saturday, I recommend that you call them today and see if they will be open on Saturday.
My CVGS Research group had planned an excursion to the FHC on Saturday, so we've changed plans and will visit the San Diego Public Library genealogy collection in downtown San Diego instead!
I called the San Diego FHC on Wednesday and they said that they would be closed on Saturday.
If you were planning on going to an FHC on Saturday, I recommend that you call them today and see if they will be open on Saturday.
My CVGS Research group had planned an excursion to the FHC on Saturday, so we've changed plans and will visit the San Diego Public Library genealogy collection in downtown San Diego instead!
Labels: LDS Resources
