Thursday, October 7, 2010
Current Red Star Collections on FamilySearch Record Search
Like many other researchers, I have struggled to determine what New or Updated Collections are added to FamilySearch Record Search every month.
FamilySearch sends out helpful emails to me from time to time, and they have long lists of collections that are being indexed or are completed, but the lists don't always match what shows up on the Record Search list of collections each month. It's nice to know what's in the pipeline, but I really want to know what is now available for me to use.
So, as an occasional service to all of my readers, I'm going to go through the FamilySearch Record Search list every so often and list the collections with the Red Star that denotes a new or updated collection. Then, all of us can compare the lists from time to time and determine what has been recently added. Unfortunately, the FamilySearch Beta collection list does not indicate newly added or updated collections, only the number of records available.
On 21 September, there were 457 collections on the FamilySearch Record Search list.
On 7 October, there are 448 collections on the FamilySearch Record Search list. The new and updated collections, as denoted by a Red Star, are:
* California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1931 (last updated 15 September 2010)
* Civil War Pension Cards (90% complete, last updated 18 September 2010)
* New York, King's County Estate Files, 1866-1923 (last updated 10 September 2010)
* Rhode Island State Census, 1925 (last updated 10 September 2010)
* South Carolina, Civil War Confederate Service Records, 1861-1865 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* United States Census, 1910 (61% complete, last updated 12 September 2010)
* United States, Navy Widow's Certificates, 1861-1910 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* United States, Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775-1783 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* Czech Republic, Northern Moravia, Opava Archive Record Books, 1571-1905 (browse images only)
* Czech Republic, Southern Bohemia, Trebon Archive Church Books, 1650-1900 (browse images only)
* Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1810-1869 (2% complete, last updated 16 September 2010)
* Spain, Municipal Records (browse images only)
* Central America, Colonial Census Records (browse images only)
* Brazil, Catholic Church Records (browse images only)
* Jamaica, Civil Birth Registration (18% complete, last updated 15 September 2010)
* Chinese Genealogies (browse images only)
There are 16 Red Star collections on the list today, all added or updated since 10 September 2010. However, all of these were on my list from 21 September, so nothing new has been added since then.
Therefore, it is apparent that, if the number of collections is correct, that 9 record collections were deleted from the Record Search Pilot list and no new collections have been added since 21 September. Presumably, those collections deleted from Record Search Pilot site are available on the FamilySearch Beta collections list.
There are 470 collections listed today on the FamilySearch Beta collections list, so there are at least 22 collections only on FamilySearch Beta.
Are the 16 collections noted above with a Red Star on the FamilySearch Beta site? YES, they are! However, it is impossible to tell if the most recently added collections are exactly the same on the two sites.
FamilySearch's last press release about the newly added databases on FamilySearch Beta is posted here from Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter blog. I checked that list against what's on the FamilySearch Beta list and they were all there, although(some databases on the FamilySearch press release list are combined in the FamilySearch Beta collections list. The list of newly added databases indicates if images or indexes were added during the reporting period.
The bottom line here, for me, is that researchers need to use the FamilySearch Beta site to ensure finding all records available, since the Record Search Pilot site is gradually losing databases.
FamilySearch sends out helpful emails to me from time to time, and they have long lists of collections that are being indexed or are completed, but the lists don't always match what shows up on the Record Search list of collections each month. It's nice to know what's in the pipeline, but I really want to know what is now available for me to use.
So, as an occasional service to all of my readers, I'm going to go through the FamilySearch Record Search list every so often and list the collections with the Red Star that denotes a new or updated collection. Then, all of us can compare the lists from time to time and determine what has been recently added. Unfortunately, the FamilySearch Beta collection list does not indicate newly added or updated collections, only the number of records available.
On 21 September, there were 457 collections on the FamilySearch Record Search list.
On 7 October, there are 448 collections on the FamilySearch Record Search list. The new and updated collections, as denoted by a Red Star, are:
* California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1931 (last updated 15 September 2010)
* Civil War Pension Cards (90% complete, last updated 18 September 2010)
* New York, King's County Estate Files, 1866-1923 (last updated 10 September 2010)
* Rhode Island State Census, 1925 (last updated 10 September 2010)
* South Carolina, Civil War Confederate Service Records, 1861-1865 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* United States Census, 1910 (61% complete, last updated 12 September 2010)
* United States, Navy Widow's Certificates, 1861-1910 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* United States, Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775-1783 (last updated 16 September 2010)
* Czech Republic, Northern Moravia, Opava Archive Record Books, 1571-1905 (browse images only)
* Czech Republic, Southern Bohemia, Trebon Archive Church Books, 1650-1900 (browse images only)
* Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1810-1869 (2% complete, last updated 16 September 2010)
* Spain, Municipal Records (browse images only)
* Central America, Colonial Census Records (browse images only)
* Brazil, Catholic Church Records (browse images only)
* Jamaica, Civil Birth Registration (18% complete, last updated 15 September 2010)
* Chinese Genealogies (browse images only)
There are 16 Red Star collections on the list today, all added or updated since 10 September 2010. However, all of these were on my list from 21 September, so nothing new has been added since then.
Therefore, it is apparent that, if the number of collections is correct, that 9 record collections were deleted from the Record Search Pilot list and no new collections have been added since 21 September. Presumably, those collections deleted from Record Search Pilot site are available on the FamilySearch Beta collections list.
There are 470 collections listed today on the FamilySearch Beta collections list, so there are at least 22 collections only on FamilySearch Beta.
Are the 16 collections noted above with a Red Star on the FamilySearch Beta site? YES, they are! However, it is impossible to tell if the most recently added collections are exactly the same on the two sites.
FamilySearch's last press release about the newly added databases on FamilySearch Beta is posted here from Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter blog. I checked that list against what's on the FamilySearch Beta list and they were all there, although(some databases on the FamilySearch press release list are combined in the FamilySearch Beta collections list. The list of newly added databases indicates if images or indexes were added during the reporting period.
The bottom line here, for me, is that researchers need to use the FamilySearch Beta site to ensure finding all records available, since the Record Search Pilot site is gradually losing databases.
Labels: FamilySearch, Online resources
"Memento Mori" Issue of Shades, the Magazine
The Memento Mori - 2010 issue of the Shades of the Departed Magazine is available for reading online at footnoteMaven's Shades of the Departed blog.
Wow. What a beautiful work of digital publication, filled with historic pictures lovingly displayed and captioned, in 110 pages.
The Table Of Contents includes:
Columns:
* The Year Was - The Year Was 1871, by Sheri Fenley
* Appealing Subjects - Death Upon The Record, The Death of the Printed Obituary? by Craig Manson
* The Future of Memories - At The Cabin: A Photo Album right in My Lap, by Denise Olson
* Captured Moments - Record and Share: A Simply Charming Way to Capture Your Collection, by Jasia
* Saving Face - Professional Development: Learning Necessary Skills, by Rebecca Fenning
* Penelope Dreadful - A Dreadful Coincidence, by Denise Levenick
* In2Genealogy - The Evidence Of Life: A Cautionary Tale, by Caroline Pointer
Features:
* A Revolutionary Pursuit, by Maureen Taylor
* Celebrating Dead Fred, by Joe Bott
* In The Gloom & The Gleam - Photographs In The Cemetery, by footnoteMaven
* Photography & Mourning, by footnoteMaven
* Behind The Camera - Post-Mortem Photography, by footnoteMaven
* Moíses Rojo of Sinovas, Spain, by Heather Wilkinson Rojo
The photographs are beautiful - what a wonderful collection of photographs about death and mourning. The articles are all excellent and on-point. I am partial to Penelope Dreadful - I love how Denise takes a photograph and writes a story around it.
By far the most useful article for researchers is Caroline Pointer's column about finding and using family records. Printing a specific article is difficult - you can choose up to two pages at a time.
footnoteMaven has submitted the Shades of the Departed Magazine to the Digital Magazine Award judges for consideration. I vote YES!!!!!!
Wow. What a beautiful work of digital publication, filled with historic pictures lovingly displayed and captioned, in 110 pages.
The Table Of Contents includes:
Columns:
* The Year Was - The Year Was 1871, by Sheri Fenley
* Appealing Subjects - Death Upon The Record, The Death of the Printed Obituary? by Craig Manson
* The Future of Memories - At The Cabin: A Photo Album right in My Lap, by Denise Olson
* Captured Moments - Record and Share: A Simply Charming Way to Capture Your Collection, by Jasia
* Saving Face - Professional Development: Learning Necessary Skills, by Rebecca Fenning
* Penelope Dreadful - A Dreadful Coincidence, by Denise Levenick
* In2Genealogy - The Evidence Of Life: A Cautionary Tale, by Caroline Pointer
Features:
* A Revolutionary Pursuit, by Maureen Taylor
* Celebrating Dead Fred, by Joe Bott
* In The Gloom & The Gleam - Photographs In The Cemetery, by footnoteMaven
* Photography & Mourning, by footnoteMaven
* Behind The Camera - Post-Mortem Photography, by footnoteMaven
* Moíses Rojo of Sinovas, Spain, by Heather Wilkinson Rojo
The photographs are beautiful - what a wonderful collection of photographs about death and mourning. The articles are all excellent and on-point. I am partial to Penelope Dreadful - I love how Denise takes a photograph and writes a story around it.
By far the most useful article for researchers is Caroline Pointer's column about finding and using family records. Printing a specific article is difficult - you can choose up to two pages at a time.
footnoteMaven has submitted the Shades of the Departed Magazine to the Digital Magazine Award judges for consideration. I vote YES!!!!!!
Labels: Cemetery records, Digital Technology, magazine articles, periodical indexes, photographs
Treasure Chest Thursday - Frederick W. Seaver's 1911 Birth Record
It's Thursday, time to open the Treasure Chest of family artifacts and documents collected by my parents and handed down in boxes and folders in the 1988 to 2002 time period.
I found my father's birth record in the notebook hiding in my bookcase two weeks ago, and scanned it during Scanfest on 26 September 2010.
The information on this birth record includes:
* Date of record: December 26, 1940
* Name recorded at birth: Frederick Walton Seaver, Jr.
* Date of birth: October 15, 1911
* Name of Child: Frederick Walton Seaver, Jr.
* Color: White; Sex: Male
* Place of Birth: 116 Lawrence Street, Fitchburg, Mass.
* Name of Father: Frederick W. Seaver
* Maiden Name of Mother: Alma Bessie Richmond
* Residence of Parents: 116 Lawrence St., Fitchburg, Mass.
* Occupation of Father: Comb Manufacturer
* Birthplace of Father: Leominster, Mass.
* Birthplace of Mother: Killingly, Conn.
* Informant: John W. Stimpson, MD.
* Date of Record: May 1912
* Vol. C - 8. Folio 321
The birth record has a raised blue seal of the City of Fitchburg and the signature of the City Clerk of Fitchburg certifying the accuracy of this document.
A question for my readers: Is this an original document or a derivative document? Is it primary or secondary information? Is it direct or indirect evidence?
I found my father's birth record in the notebook hiding in my bookcase two weeks ago, and scanned it during Scanfest on 26 September 2010.
The information on this birth record includes:
* Date of record: December 26, 1940
* Name recorded at birth: Frederick Walton Seaver, Jr.
* Date of birth: October 15, 1911
* Name of Child: Frederick Walton Seaver, Jr.
* Color: White; Sex: Male
* Place of Birth: 116 Lawrence Street, Fitchburg, Mass.
* Name of Father: Frederick W. Seaver
* Maiden Name of Mother: Alma Bessie Richmond
* Residence of Parents: 116 Lawrence St., Fitchburg, Mass.
* Occupation of Father: Comb Manufacturer
* Birthplace of Father: Leominster, Mass.
* Birthplace of Mother: Killingly, Conn.
* Informant: John W. Stimpson, MD.
* Date of Record: May 1912
* Vol. C - 8. Folio 321
The birth record has a raised blue seal of the City of Fitchburg and the signature of the City Clerk of Fitchburg certifying the accuracy of this document.
A question for my readers: Is this an original document or a derivative document? Is it primary or secondary information? Is it direct or indirect evidence?
Labels: My genealogy research, Seaver Research, Treasure Chest Thursday, Vital Records
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Whittle Children Deaths in Australia
I posted Whittle Birth Records in Australia after finding records for five children born to Alexander and Rachel (Morley) Whittle in the FamilySearch Pilot site also has an Australian Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981 collection. I also looked in the FamilySearch Pilot Australian Death and Burials, 1816-1980 collection and did not find any of the three children who do not appear in the 1852 California State Census.
Fortunately, reader Cheryl Bailey in Australia knew that there were other death records available online (an index at http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/) and offline. She knew that the actual records were on microfilm at a Queensland State Archives and was going there in the near future, so she volunteered to look up the death records that might pertain to the Whittle children.
She found records for two of the deceased children, William and Margaret, but not the other child, John.
A record from St. Laurence church in Sydney shows:
* William Alfred Whittle, died 23 December 1852, buried 25 December 1852, aged 10 months, resided on Parranall Street [?, in Sydney?]. His father's occupation was a sawyer.
A record from Cainfordoron [? I can't read it clearly] parish shows:
* Margaret Whittley, died 3 June 1850, buried 5 June 1850, aged 10 months, resided on Sussex Street [in Sydney].
Both age at death dates line up well with the birth dates in the birth records. I also know that the Whittle's resided on Sussex Street in Sydney.
Here are the images for Margaret Whittle's record obtained from Cheryl - she split up the images to show the top and the bottom of the page:
There are lessons to be learned here (I mean re-learned, of course!), including:
* Not ALL records are in online databases. Cheryl knew, from experience, that there was a death records index online, and that the records were on microfilm and where to access them.
* Even if there are record collections online, the online collection may be incomplete. There is an Australian death and burial database online at FamilySearch, but it did not have these records.
* Posting research details, and problems, on message boards, mailing lists, forums, websites, blogs and other social media may result in readers or searchers finding the information, and the readers may offer advice or do research in an act of kindness.
* The online genealogy world is a wonderful community of researchers, educators, writers and readers.
My thanks to Cheryl for performing this intentional act of genealogical kindness. I love my blog readers!
Fortunately, reader Cheryl Bailey in Australia knew that there were other death records available online (an index at http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/) and offline. She knew that the actual records were on microfilm at a Queensland State Archives and was going there in the near future, so she volunteered to look up the death records that might pertain to the Whittle children.
She found records for two of the deceased children, William and Margaret, but not the other child, John.
A record from St. Laurence church in Sydney shows:
* William Alfred Whittle, died 23 December 1852, buried 25 December 1852, aged 10 months, resided on Parranall Street [?, in Sydney?]. His father's occupation was a sawyer.
A record from Cainfordoron [? I can't read it clearly] parish shows:
* Margaret Whittley, died 3 June 1850, buried 5 June 1850, aged 10 months, resided on Sussex Street [in Sydney].
Both age at death dates line up well with the birth dates in the birth records. I also know that the Whittle's resided on Sussex Street in Sydney.
Here are the images for Margaret Whittle's record obtained from Cheryl - she split up the images to show the top and the bottom of the page:
There are lessons to be learned here (I mean re-learned, of course!), including:
* Not ALL records are in online databases. Cheryl knew, from experience, that there was a death records index online, and that the records were on microfilm and where to access them.
* Even if there are record collections online, the online collection may be incomplete. There is an Australian death and burial database online at FamilySearch, but it did not have these records.
* Posting research details, and problems, on message boards, mailing lists, forums, websites, blogs and other social media may result in readers or searchers finding the information, and the readers may offer advice or do research in an act of kindness.
* The online genealogy world is a wonderful community of researchers, educators, writers and readers.
My thanks to Cheryl for performing this intentional act of genealogical kindness. I love my blog readers!
Labels: Australia/NZ Records, genealogy resources, Leland/McKnew Research
(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Post 123: George and Emily (Richmond) Taylor
I'm posting family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they won't be wordless Wednesday posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.
Here is a photograph from the Seaver//Richmond family collection handed down by my mother in the 1988 to 2002 time period:
This photograph is of George Russell Taylor (1865-1945) and Emily White (Richmond) Taylor (1879-1966), who resided in San Diego after their marriage in 1901 in Leominster, Massachusetts. I don't know the exact date of this photograph, but I'm guessing that it was taken in the 1920s or 1930s, based on the apparent age of George and Emily.
Emily White (Richmond) Taylor was the sister of my grandmother, Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver (1882-1962). They were daughters of Thomas and Julia (White) Richmond of Killingly CT and Leominster MA.
Aunt Emily, her daughter Dorothy (Taylor) Chamberlain, and Dorothy's daughter Marcia Chamberlain were the only known extended family in the San Diego area, and our families often got together on holidays - especially the Fourth of July and Christmas. I never knew George Taylor, but adored Aunt Emily, who acted like a grandmother to my brothers and me.
Here is a photograph from the Seaver//Richmond family collection handed down by my mother in the 1988 to 2002 time period:
This photograph is of George Russell Taylor (1865-1945) and Emily White (Richmond) Taylor (1879-1966), who resided in San Diego after their marriage in 1901 in Leominster, Massachusetts. I don't know the exact date of this photograph, but I'm guessing that it was taken in the 1920s or 1930s, based on the apparent age of George and Emily.
Emily White (Richmond) Taylor was the sister of my grandmother, Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver (1882-1962). They were daughters of Thomas and Julia (White) Richmond of Killingly CT and Leominster MA.
Aunt Emily, her daughter Dorothy (Taylor) Chamberlain, and Dorothy's daughter Marcia Chamberlain were the only known extended family in the San Diego area, and our families often got together on holidays - especially the Fourth of July and Christmas. I never knew George Taylor, but adored Aunt Emily, who acted like a grandmother to my brothers and me.
Labels: photographs, Richmond/White Research, Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
New Jersey State Library Digital Collections
Diane Haddad, on The Genealogy Insider blog, points us to the Family Tree Magazine article by David Fryxell titled 2010 Best State Websites. The article is free to read (I saved it as a Favorite).
I went looking for information about New Jersey, in the New Jersey State Archives Digital Collection online at http://www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/.
The categories in this collection include:
I went looking for information about New Jersey, in the New Jersey State Archives Digital Collection online at http://www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/.
The categories in this collection include:
- Afro-Americans in New Jersey
- Annual Report of the Inspector of Factories and Workshops, 1883-1904
- Battles and Skirmishes of the American Revolution in New Jersey
- Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries of New Jersey Annual Reports, 1878-1917
- Corporations of New Jersey:List of Certificates to December 31, 1911
- Forums Institute for Public Policy Issue Briefs
- History of the New Jersey A.M.E. Church
- Modern Forms of Municipal Governments
- Morgan's History of the New Jersey Conference
- Municipalities in New Jersey by County
- New Jersey City Directories at the New Jersey State Library
- New Jersey Constitutional Convention Proceedings 1947
- New Jersey in the American Revolution 1763-1783: A Chronology
- New Jersey in the American Revolution 1763-1783: A Documentary History
- New Jersey Legislature 2000-2001
- New Jersey Legislature 2002-2003
- New Jersey's Revolutionary Experience
- Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War
- Report of the Attorney General's Task Force on Sovereign Immunity
- Report to the Governor on the Subject of Tort Reform
- Record of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War, 1861-1865
- Report of the Study Commission on Parole
- The Governors of New Jersey 1664-1974: Biographical Essays
- The New Jersey African American History Curriculum
- The Origin of New Jersey Place Names
- Trenton Illustrated
Each one of those topics has one or more articles, in PDF format, available to read online (and save to your hard drive if you wish). Unfortunately, the articles are not searchable - they seem to be created from images of the original printed pages and the PDF search feature doesn't work on them. Too bad!
Still, these articles provide a significant body of work about the history of the state of New Jersey. I enjoyed reading about Revolutionary War Loyalists (seeking information about William Hutchinson, one of my Loyalist ancestors) and about the Fortunes of War and Women during the Revolutionary War. Someone interested in colonial history could spend hours reading material in the Revolutionary War collection alone.
Check out the Family Tree Magazine article and see if there are digitized articles or data available for your ancestral families.
Labels: Genealogy/History, Online resources, State Archives
Tuesday's Tip - Check Local Library Online Databases
Today's Tuesday's Tip is to check the external databases that your local, or nearby, public libraries have available either inside the library or using access from the comfort of your home.
I have four library cards from San Diego County libraries. These libraries offer a wide range of databases available from home. For instance:
1) Carlsbad Public Library
* In the library:
** Ancestry Library Edition
** Footnote.com
** New England Ancestors
* In library plus home access (using a Carlsbad library card)
** Biography and Genealogy Master Index (from Gale)
** HeritageQuestOnline
** NewspaperARCHIVE
** ProQuest Newspapers
2) San Diego County Library
* In library branches
** Ancestry Library Edition
* In library and home access (with SDCL card number)
** America's Obituaries and Death Notices from NewsBank
** America's Newspapers from NewsBank
3) San Diego Public Library
* In library branches
** Ancestry Library Edition
* In library and home access (with SDPL card number)
** Biography and Genealogy Master Index (from Gale)
** Custom Newspapers Collection (from Gale)
** Los Angeles Times newspaper, 1985-present (from ProQuest)
** New York Times Historical, 1851-2006 (from ProQuest)
** Newspapers, National and Regional (from ProQuest)
** San Diego Union, 1983-1992; San Diego Tribune, 1983-1992; San Diego Union-Tribune, 1992 to present (from ProQuest)
** Sanborn Maps (573 California cities), 1867-1970 (from ProQuest)
4) Chula Vista Public Library
* In library and home access (with CVPL card number)
** San Diego Union, 1983-1992; San Diego Tribune, 1983-1992; San Diego Union-Tribune, 1992 to present (from ProQuest)
** A to Z Maps Online
In every case, a library card from these libraries is free to obtain. There are some excellent databases available from these libraries with home access.
I spent an enjoyable two hours last night finding obituaries in the NewsBank Obituaries and Death Notices collection for recently deceased persons with the Seaver surname. They were already transcribed, so all I had to do was copy and paste the text into the notes in my database for each person. I learned the names of several spouses and many children of these Seaver persons. I also found that my collection of Seaver people after 1930 is pretty sparse!
What does your local or regional library offer for in-library and at-home access? Do you know? You may be able to access much more information than you realize just by having a library card.
I have four library cards from San Diego County libraries. These libraries offer a wide range of databases available from home. For instance:
1) Carlsbad Public Library
* In the library:
** Ancestry Library Edition
** Footnote.com
** New England Ancestors
* In library plus home access (using a Carlsbad library card)
** Biography and Genealogy Master Index (from Gale)
** HeritageQuestOnline
** NewspaperARCHIVE
** ProQuest Newspapers
2) San Diego County Library
* In library branches
** Ancestry Library Edition
* In library and home access (with SDCL card number)
** America's Obituaries and Death Notices from NewsBank
** America's Newspapers from NewsBank
3) San Diego Public Library
* In library branches
** Ancestry Library Edition
* In library and home access (with SDPL card number)
** Biography and Genealogy Master Index (from Gale)
** Custom Newspapers Collection (from Gale)
** Los Angeles Times newspaper, 1985-present (from ProQuest)
** New York Times Historical, 1851-2006 (from ProQuest)
** Newspapers, National and Regional (from ProQuest)
** San Diego Union, 1983-1992; San Diego Tribune, 1983-1992; San Diego Union-Tribune, 1992 to present (from ProQuest)
** Sanborn Maps (573 California cities), 1867-1970 (from ProQuest)
4) Chula Vista Public Library
* In library and home access (with CVPL card number)
** San Diego Union, 1983-1992; San Diego Tribune, 1983-1992; San Diego Union-Tribune, 1992 to present (from ProQuest)
** A to Z Maps Online
In every case, a library card from these libraries is free to obtain. There are some excellent databases available from these libraries with home access.
I spent an enjoyable two hours last night finding obituaries in the NewsBank Obituaries and Death Notices collection for recently deceased persons with the Seaver surname. They were already transcribed, so all I had to do was copy and paste the text into the notes in my database for each person. I learned the names of several spouses and many children of these Seaver persons. I also found that my collection of Seaver people after 1930 is pretty sparse!
What does your local or regional library offer for in-library and at-home access? Do you know? You may be able to access much more information than you realize just by having a library card.
Labels: library catalogs, Newspaper/Obituary listings, Oldtime newspapers, Online resources, San Diego area
Monday, October 4, 2010
Internet Genealogy Magazine Table of Contents - October/November 2010 Issue
The October/November 2010 issue of Internet Genealogy magazine was in my email inbox this morning, and this issue is chock full of interesting and useful articles.
The Table of Contents includes:
* page 6 -- NET NOTES
* page 8 -- CHELSEA AND GREENWICH PENSION RECORDS; David A. Norris looks at websites that will help you find your relatives in the British Army
* page 10 -- TRACING YOUR NORWEGIAN ANCESTRY; Liv Marit Haakenstad discusses Norwegian resources available to you, both online and offline
* page 13 -- A FARM BY ANY OTHER NAME; David A. Norris looks at how pieces of land can be unique genealogical identifiers
* page 17 -- TOP 30 WEBSITES FOR FAMILY RESEARCH; Diane L. Richard lists her favorite websites for researching genealogy
* page 22 - RECORD/WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY; Lisa A. Alzo looks at the top online resources for preserving your family tree
* page 26 -- FIVE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH KIN; Lisa A. Alzo discusses how to increase your chances of finding your long-lost relatives
* page 28 -- WHAT’S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH.ORG; Tony Bandy looks at recent improvements at the popular genealogy website
* page 31 -- IN MOTION: THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MIGRATION EXPERIENCE; Diane L. Richard explores a great online resource
* page 32 -- DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POTENTIAL OF NEWSPAPERS;
Shannon Gillette gets the scoop on an often underutilized genealogical resource
* page 34 -- 15 SITES TO TRACE FEMALE ANCESTORS; Lisa A. Alzo looks at the top sites for researching the women in your family tree
* page 36 -- UNCOVERING THE PAST OF TWO SISTERS; Ruby Coleman looks at how an old photo led to the discovery of the family history of two sisters
* page 39 -- EASYNETSITES; Donna Potter Phillips sings the praises of a new resource
* page 41 -- GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ANCESTORS; Tony Bandy discovers a great resource for early American history
* page 42 -- THE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH LIBRARY; Tony Bandy looks at a relatively new online resource
* page 44 -- WEST VIRGINIA VITAL RECORDS ONLINE! Tony Bandy looks at an easy-to-use website that will help you locate West Virginian ancestors
* page 46 -- GOING ONLINE WITH GENOOM! Tony Bandy looks at the future of online research
* page 49 -- ULSTER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION; Diane L. Richard looks at the wealth of info you can gather from this Irish website
* page 52 -- SHIPINDEX.ORG; Donna Potter Phillips examines a great immigration
website
* page 54 -- FACEBOOK FOR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES; According to Bill Puller, social networking sites can revolutionize your society
More details about Internet Genealogy magazine can be found on their website, http://internet-genealogy.com/.
The Table of Contents includes:
* page 6 -- NET NOTES
* page 8 -- CHELSEA AND GREENWICH PENSION RECORDS; David A. Norris looks at websites that will help you find your relatives in the British Army
* page 10 -- TRACING YOUR NORWEGIAN ANCESTRY; Liv Marit Haakenstad discusses Norwegian resources available to you, both online and offline
* page 13 -- A FARM BY ANY OTHER NAME; David A. Norris looks at how pieces of land can be unique genealogical identifiers
* page 17 -- TOP 30 WEBSITES FOR FAMILY RESEARCH; Diane L. Richard lists her favorite websites for researching genealogy
* page 22 - RECORD/WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY; Lisa A. Alzo looks at the top online resources for preserving your family tree
* page 26 -- FIVE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH KIN; Lisa A. Alzo discusses how to increase your chances of finding your long-lost relatives
* page 28 -- WHAT’S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH.ORG; Tony Bandy looks at recent improvements at the popular genealogy website
* page 31 -- IN MOTION: THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MIGRATION EXPERIENCE; Diane L. Richard explores a great online resource
* page 32 -- DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POTENTIAL OF NEWSPAPERS;
Shannon Gillette gets the scoop on an often underutilized genealogical resource
* page 34 -- 15 SITES TO TRACE FEMALE ANCESTORS; Lisa A. Alzo looks at the top sites for researching the women in your family tree
* page 36 -- UNCOVERING THE PAST OF TWO SISTERS; Ruby Coleman looks at how an old photo led to the discovery of the family history of two sisters
* page 39 -- EASYNETSITES; Donna Potter Phillips sings the praises of a new resource
* page 41 -- GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ANCESTORS; Tony Bandy discovers a great resource for early American history
* page 42 -- THE GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH LIBRARY; Tony Bandy looks at a relatively new online resource
* page 44 -- WEST VIRGINIA VITAL RECORDS ONLINE! Tony Bandy looks at an easy-to-use website that will help you locate West Virginian ancestors
* page 46 -- GOING ONLINE WITH GENOOM! Tony Bandy looks at the future of online research
* page 49 -- ULSTER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION; Diane L. Richard looks at the wealth of info you can gather from this Irish website
* page 52 -- SHIPINDEX.ORG; Donna Potter Phillips examines a great immigration
website
* page 54 -- FACEBOOK FOR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES; According to Bill Puller, social networking sites can revolutionize your society
More details about Internet Genealogy magazine can be found on their website, http://internet-genealogy.com/.
Labels: genealogy education, magazine articles, periodical indexes
The Children of Alexander and Rachel (Morley) Whittle - Jane
Alexander and Rachel (Morley) Whittle brought three children to California from Australia.
The youngest surviving daughter, Jane Whittle, was born in Sydney, Australia on 2 August 1847.
She married Elijah Pickrell McKnew (1836-1912) on 4 August 1865, probably in Tuolumne County, California, according to McKnew family papers. They had 11 children, all of whom reached adulthood and married, and most had children.
The U.S. census records document them from 1870 to 1920 (except for 1880!):
In the 1870 United States Census, this family was enumerated in Township 2, Tuolumne County, California. The household included (1870 U.S. Census, Tuolumne County, California, Population Schedule, Township #2, Page 354 (penned), dwelling #1352, family #607, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series M593, Roll 93):
* E. A. McNew - age 34, male, white, a miner, $1000 in real property, $100 in personal property, born Maryland, eligible to vote
* Jane McNew - age 23, female, white, keeping house, born Australia, parents of foreign birth.
* A.J. McNew - age 3, male, white, at home, born California, mother of foreign birth
* A.R. McNew - age 2, female, white, born California, mother of foreign birth
A concerted effort to find the Elijah McKnew family in the 1880 census in California was fruitless on http://www.ancestry.com/. The given names of Eli*, E, Jan*, J, Alf*, Hen*, Ali*, etc., and the surnames of Mcn*, Mck*, Mackn*, MacN*, and combinations with the birthplace and birth years of Elijah and Jane were fruitless. Searches in San Francisco County for children with their known birth years was fruitless. The conclusion was reached that this family was not enumerated in the 1880 US Census in California.
In the 1900 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4131 19th Street in Assembly District 36, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1900 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly district 34, Enumeration District 104, Page 8A, Dwelling #133, Family #175, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Roll 103):
* Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, white, male, born Mar 1837, age 63, married, for 35 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, no occupation, owns home with a mortgage
* Jane McKnew - wife, white, female, born Aug 1847, age 52, married, for 35 years, 11 children born, 11 living, born Australia, parents born England/England, immigrated in 1850, resident of US for 50 years
* Bell A. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Feb 1882, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
* Edna C. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Mar 1884, age 16, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, milliner
* May J. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born May 1886, age 14, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
* Leland J. McKnew - son, white, male, born June 1889, age 10, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school
* Gladys H. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Aug 1891, age 8, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school
In the 1910 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4103 19th Street in Assembly District 34, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1910 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly district 34, Enumeration District 128, Page 7A, Dwelling #150, Family #158, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T624, Roll 98):
* Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, male, white, age 74, first marriage, married 44 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, has own income, owns home free of mortgage
* Jane McKnew - wife, female, white, age 62, first marriage, married 44 years, 12 children born, 11 living, born Ata English, parents born Ata English/English Ata
* Gladys McKnew - daughter, female, white, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Maryland, stenographer, works in office
* Robert J. McKnew - lodger, male, white, age 24, single, born North Carolina, parents born NC/NC, superintendent, works at food company
I believe that the "Ata" above for the birthplaces means Australia (looks like At'a to me in some places). This census also lists 12 children born, 11 living for Jane, so there may be a child that died young between census records. The most likely year is about 1874 for a child that died young.
In the 1920 United States Census, Jane McKnew was enumerated at 4137 19th Street in Assembly District 26, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1920 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly District 26, Enumeration District 116, Page 10A, Dwelling #62, Family #93, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Roll 135):
* Jane McKnew - head of household, owns home with mortgage, female, white, age 72, widow, unknown immigration, born Australia, parents born England/England, no occupation
A death notice for Elijah P. McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, dated 5 April 1912, on page 17 (accessed on http://www.footnote.com/). It reads:
"McKNEW -- In this city, April 4, Elijah P., dearly beloved husband of Jane McKnew, and devoted father of Alfred H., Henry L., George M., Leland J., and Gladys Hazel McKnew, Mrs. A. Runnels, Mrs. P.D. Hayes, Lily Olsen, Mrs. G.F. Samwell, Mrs. P.F. Schaffner and Mrs. W.C. Kenealy, a native of Baltimore, Md., aged 76 years and 6 days (Tuolumne county papers please copy)."
A death notice for Jane McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper dated 9 February 1921, page 6 (accessed on http://www.footnote.com/). It reads:
"McKNEW--In this city February 7, 1921, Jane, beloved wife of the late E.P. McKNEW and loving mother of Alfred R., Henry L., George M. and Leland J. McKNEW, Allethia J. RUNNELS, Mrs. P.D. HAYES, Mrs. C.A. GARDINER, Mrs. G.F. ROSE and the late Mrs. W. C. KENEALY, a native of Australia, aged 73 years, 6 months 5 days. Friends are invited to attend the funeral services Wednesday, at 2 o'clock p.m. from her late residence, 4137 19th St., Interment, Cypress Lawn Cemetary, private."
Here is the summary for this family:
Jane5 Whittle (Alexander4, Alexander3, John2, James1) was born 02 August 1847 in Sydney, New South Wales, Austrialia, and died 07 February 1921 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Elijah Pickrell McKnew 04 April 1865 in Tuolumne County, CA, son of Jeremiah McKnew and Frances Allethia Pickrell. He was born 29 March 1836 in Prince Georges County, MD, and died 04 April 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.
Children of Jane Whittle and Elijah McKnew are:
i. Allethia Jane6 McKnew, born November 1867 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 21 April 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married (1) John William Runnels before 1888 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born about 1858 in St Joseph, MO; died 05 January 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. She married (2) John F. Harper after 1912 in probably. San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 29 August 1862 in KS; died 04 December 1946 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (CA death index).
ii. Alfred Henry McKnew, born 23 February 1869 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 23 November 1943 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. He married Alice G. McCann before 1890 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; born June 1872 in CA; died 16 January 1936 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.
iii. Henry Lee McKnew, born December 1870 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 01 August 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. He married Anna Marie Goff before 1901, probably in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 21 April 1872 in California; died 27 March 1958 in Alameda County, CA.
iv. Alice Louise McKnew, born 24 December 1872 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 01 June 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Phineas D. Hayes; born October 1860 in ENGLAND; died 14 February 1929 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
v. Lilly M. McKnew, born 15 August 1876 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 22 May 1958 in Burlingame, San Mateo County, CA. She married (1) George Olson before 1897 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. She married (2) Charles Gardiner before 1958 in CA.
vi. George Morgan McKnew, born 02 January 1879 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 15 April 1944 in Kern County, CA.
vii. Belle A. McKnew, born 17 February 1882 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 15 December 1974 in Union City, Alameda County, CA. She married (1) George Frederick Samwell about 1905 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 04 August 1878 in CANADA; died 15 May 1958 in Alameda County, CA. She married (2) Paul Ewald 23 April 1928 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 1877; died 21 December 1952 in Sonoma County, CA.
viii. Edna Catherine McKnew, born 07 March 1884 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 11 November 1974 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Paul Frederick Schaffner 24 June 1906 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born August 1879 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; died 29 May 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
ix. May Jane McKnew, born May 1886 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 10 November 1918 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married William C. Kenealy 19 February 1908 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born about 1882 in CA; died 21 November 1932 in Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
x. Leland J. McKnew, born June 1889 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 28 November 1933 in Sacramento County, CA. He married Agnes Matilda Hansen about 1909 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 10 June 1889 in CA; died 03 February 1970 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
xi. Gladys Hazel McKnew, born 22 August 1892 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 01 June 1955 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Harry Rose; born 05 March 1882 in Germany; died 26 August 1965 in Santa Clara County, CA.
Jane (Whittle) McKnew had 11 children, Joseph Whittle had at least nine children, and Elizabeth (Whittle) (Ray) Swerer had at least 13 children. That's 33 children carrying the genes of Alexander Whittle and Rachel Morley onto the next generations. Jane's 11 children had at least 19 children between them, and there are many more in the next three generations alive today.
My wife's grandmother was Edna Catherine McKnew, the 8th child in the list above.
The Elijah and Jane (Whittle) McKnew family is in the picture outside their home at 4135 19th Street in San Francisco after the 18 April 1906 San Francisco earthquake - shown in my post 18 April 1906 - San Francisco - They Were There!
The youngest surviving daughter, Jane Whittle, was born in Sydney, Australia on 2 August 1847.
She married Elijah Pickrell McKnew (1836-1912) on 4 August 1865, probably in Tuolumne County, California, according to McKnew family papers. They had 11 children, all of whom reached adulthood and married, and most had children.
The U.S. census records document them from 1870 to 1920 (except for 1880!):
In the 1870 United States Census, this family was enumerated in Township 2, Tuolumne County, California. The household included (1870 U.S. Census, Tuolumne County, California, Population Schedule, Township #2, Page 354 (penned), dwelling #1352, family #607, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series M593, Roll 93):
* E. A. McNew - age 34, male, white, a miner, $1000 in real property, $100 in personal property, born Maryland, eligible to vote
* Jane McNew - age 23, female, white, keeping house, born Australia, parents of foreign birth.
* A.J. McNew - age 3, male, white, at home, born California, mother of foreign birth
* A.R. McNew - age 2, female, white, born California, mother of foreign birth
A concerted effort to find the Elijah McKnew family in the 1880 census in California was fruitless on http://www.ancestry.com/. The given names of Eli*, E, Jan*, J, Alf*, Hen*, Ali*, etc., and the surnames of Mcn*, Mck*, Mackn*, MacN*, and combinations with the birthplace and birth years of Elijah and Jane were fruitless. Searches in San Francisco County for children with their known birth years was fruitless. The conclusion was reached that this family was not enumerated in the 1880 US Census in California.
In the 1900 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4131 19th Street in Assembly District 36, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1900 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly district 34, Enumeration District 104, Page 8A, Dwelling #133, Family #175, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T623, Roll 103):
* Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, white, male, born Mar 1837, age 63, married, for 35 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, no occupation, owns home with a mortgage
* Jane McKnew - wife, white, female, born Aug 1847, age 52, married, for 35 years, 11 children born, 11 living, born Australia, parents born England/England, immigrated in 1850, resident of US for 50 years
* Bell A. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Feb 1882, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
* Edna C. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Mar 1884, age 16, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, milliner
* May J. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born May 1886, age 14, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
* Leland J. McKnew - son, white, male, born June 1889, age 10, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school
* Gladys H. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Aug 1891, age 8, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school
In the 1910 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4103 19th Street in Assembly District 34, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1910 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly district 34, Enumeration District 128, Page 7A, Dwelling #150, Family #158, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T624, Roll 98):
* Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, male, white, age 74, first marriage, married 44 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, has own income, owns home free of mortgage
* Jane McKnew - wife, female, white, age 62, first marriage, married 44 years, 12 children born, 11 living, born Ata English, parents born Ata English/English Ata
* Gladys McKnew - daughter, female, white, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Maryland, stenographer, works in office
* Robert J. McKnew - lodger, male, white, age 24, single, born North Carolina, parents born NC/NC, superintendent, works at food company
I believe that the "Ata" above for the birthplaces means Australia (looks like At'a to me in some places). This census also lists 12 children born, 11 living for Jane, so there may be a child that died young between census records. The most likely year is about 1874 for a child that died young.
In the 1920 United States Census, Jane McKnew was enumerated at 4137 19th Street in Assembly District 26, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included (1920 United States Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Assembly District 26, Enumeration District 116, Page 10A, Dwelling #62, Family #93, accessed on http://www.ancestry.com/, citing National Archives Microfilm Series T625, Roll 135):
* Jane McKnew - head of household, owns home with mortgage, female, white, age 72, widow, unknown immigration, born Australia, parents born England/England, no occupation
A death notice for Elijah P. McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, dated 5 April 1912, on page 17 (accessed on http://www.footnote.com/). It reads:
"McKNEW -- In this city, April 4, Elijah P., dearly beloved husband of Jane McKnew, and devoted father of Alfred H., Henry L., George M., Leland J., and Gladys Hazel McKnew, Mrs. A. Runnels, Mrs. P.D. Hayes, Lily Olsen, Mrs. G.F. Samwell, Mrs. P.F. Schaffner and Mrs. W.C. Kenealy, a native of Baltimore, Md., aged 76 years and 6 days (Tuolumne county papers please copy)."
A death notice for Jane McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper dated 9 February 1921, page 6 (accessed on http://www.footnote.com/). It reads:
"McKNEW--In this city February 7, 1921, Jane, beloved wife of the late E.P. McKNEW and loving mother of Alfred R., Henry L., George M. and Leland J. McKNEW, Allethia J. RUNNELS, Mrs. P.D. HAYES, Mrs. C.A. GARDINER, Mrs. G.F. ROSE and the late Mrs. W. C. KENEALY, a native of Australia, aged 73 years, 6 months 5 days. Friends are invited to attend the funeral services Wednesday, at 2 o'clock p.m. from her late residence, 4137 19th St., Interment, Cypress Lawn Cemetary, private."
Here is the summary for this family:
Jane5 Whittle (Alexander4, Alexander3, John2, James1) was born 02 August 1847 in Sydney, New South Wales, Austrialia, and died 07 February 1921 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Elijah Pickrell McKnew 04 April 1865 in Tuolumne County, CA, son of Jeremiah McKnew and Frances Allethia Pickrell. He was born 29 March 1836 in Prince Georges County, MD, and died 04 April 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.
Children of Jane Whittle and Elijah McKnew are:
i. Allethia Jane6 McKnew, born November 1867 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 21 April 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married (1) John William Runnels before 1888 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born about 1858 in St Joseph, MO; died 05 January 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. She married (2) John F. Harper after 1912 in probably. San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 29 August 1862 in KS; died 04 December 1946 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (CA death index).
ii. Alfred Henry McKnew, born 23 February 1869 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 23 November 1943 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. He married Alice G. McCann before 1890 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; born June 1872 in CA; died 16 January 1936 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA.
iii. Henry Lee McKnew, born December 1870 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 01 August 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. He married Anna Marie Goff before 1901, probably in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 21 April 1872 in California; died 27 March 1958 in Alameda County, CA.
iv. Alice Louise McKnew, born 24 December 1872 in Tuolumne County, CA; died 01 June 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Phineas D. Hayes; born October 1860 in ENGLAND; died 14 February 1929 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
v. Lilly M. McKnew, born 15 August 1876 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 22 May 1958 in Burlingame, San Mateo County, CA. She married (1) George Olson before 1897 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. She married (2) Charles Gardiner before 1958 in CA.
vi. George Morgan McKnew, born 02 January 1879 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 15 April 1944 in Kern County, CA.
vii. Belle A. McKnew, born 17 February 1882 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 15 December 1974 in Union City, Alameda County, CA. She married (1) George Frederick Samwell about 1905 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 04 August 1878 in CANADA; died 15 May 1958 in Alameda County, CA. She married (2) Paul Ewald 23 April 1928 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 1877; died 21 December 1952 in Sonoma County, CA.
viii. Edna Catherine McKnew, born 07 March 1884 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 11 November 1974 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Paul Frederick Schaffner 24 June 1906 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born August 1879 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; died 29 May 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
ix. May Jane McKnew, born May 1886 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 10 November 1918 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married William C. Kenealy 19 February 1908 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born about 1882 in CA; died 21 November 1932 in Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
x. Leland J. McKnew, born June 1889 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 28 November 1933 in Sacramento County, CA. He married Agnes Matilda Hansen about 1909 in probably San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; born 10 June 1889 in CA; died 03 February 1970 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
xi. Gladys Hazel McKnew, born 22 August 1892 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; died 01 June 1955 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA. She married Harry Rose; born 05 March 1882 in Germany; died 26 August 1965 in Santa Clara County, CA.
Jane (Whittle) McKnew had 11 children, Joseph Whittle had at least nine children, and Elizabeth (Whittle) (Ray) Swerer had at least 13 children. That's 33 children carrying the genes of Alexander Whittle and Rachel Morley onto the next generations. Jane's 11 children had at least 19 children between them, and there are many more in the next three generations alive today.
My wife's grandmother was Edna Catherine McKnew, the 8th child in the list above.
The Elijah and Jane (Whittle) McKnew family is in the picture outside their home at 4135 19th Street in San Francisco after the 18 April 1906 San Francisco earthquake - shown in my post 18 April 1906 - San Francisco - They Were There!
Labels: California resources, Leland/McKnew Research, My genealogy research
Amanuensis Monday - Probate Papers of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781)
Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the probate file of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781) of Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, one of my 5th great-grandfathers.
Jonathan Keyes died testate, and his extensive probate papers are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #13,192 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,416,784). He wrote his last will and testament on 21 July 1777. I posted the transcript of the will and related papers last week in Amanuensis Monday - Will of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781).
Here is the transcription or summary of the rest of the probate file:
On 19 September 1781, the Judge of the Probate Court ordered that the will be set aside and declared it null and void, and that the estate be settled in every respect according to law as an intestate estate, as if the will had not been written.
Timothy Prescott was appointed Administrator of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford, yeoman on 19 September 1781. Timothy Prescott, yeoman of Westford as principal, Nathaniel Boyneton, gentleman of Westford, Joseph Keyes, clothier of Westford, posted bond of 50,000 pounds.
Nathaniel Boynton, Thomas Read and Timothy Spaulding, gentlemen of Westford, were appointed and empowered to take an inventory on 19 September 1781 of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford.
In a separate document, these three were also named to be the Commissioners to divide the estate according to the heirs agreement and the Court's order.
An extensive inventory of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford, was taken by Nathaniel Boynton, Thomas Read and Timothy Spaulding on 1 October 1781. The personal estate was apprized to be 147 pounds, 13 shillings, 3 pence. The real estate was appraised on 5 October 1781 by the three appraisers. The real estate inventory totalled 797 pounds, and included:
* 85 acres of mowing, pasturing, orcharding, tillage and wood land lying in the northerly part of Westford at Long Sortfor (so-called), with a dwelling house and barn (306 pounds)
* 2 acres of pine land lying on Barns. Plains (12 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of wood land at Burgn Swamp (2 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of wood land on Flushing Hill (2 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 20 acres of wood land lying by Flushing Pond (20 pounds)
* 12 acres of tillage land on north side of Nabemist Pond (15 pounds)
* 10 acres of wood land called Butterfield lot lying near Dunstable Line (6 pounds, 10 shillings)
* Farm lying on Francis Hill by Chelmsford line, with dwelling house (63 pounds), barn (10 pounds), cider mill (4 pounds) and corn house (6 pounds)
* 12 acres of orchard, pasturing, tillage and wood land on south side of the town road to Chelmsford (59 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 10 acres of mowing, orchard and tillage land on north side of the town road to Chelmsford (75 pounds)
* 2 acres of mowing land by the east end of the dwelling house (14 pounds)
* 4 acres of pasture land (called Hill pasture) on the south side of the road and west of Chelmsford line (20 pounds)
* 3-1/2 acres of pasture land (called Gideon pasture) north of Hill pasture (14 pounds)
* 5 acres of mowing land adjoining Gideon pasture (30 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of pasture and orchard adjoining Richardson's land (15 pounds)
* 2 acres of pasture on west side of road leading to Chandlers Mill (9 pounds)
* 2 acres of mowing land (called the Gate Pine) adjoining Richardson's land (12 pounds)
* 1-1/2 acres of mowing, tillage and orchard land (called Robbin pine) (10 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 3 acres of pasture land (called Chandler's pasture) (21 pounds)
* 1 acre of orchard land (called Wheat pine) lying near the back side of the dwelling house (7 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 4 acres of pasture land near the barn and the lane to Chandler's Mill (16 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 6 acres of tillage land lying west of the farm near Nehemiah Fletcher's land (36 pounds)
* Pew in the meeting house (10 pounds)
The commissioners then set off some of the land parcels to Betty Keyes, with a value of 265 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence. This land included one half of the Francis Hill farm, barn, cider mill and corn house, one third of the meeting house pew, and several other land parcels.
Another inventory of the remaining real estate was made on 19 February 1782. This totalled 521 pounds, 3 shillings, 4 pence. The Commissioners then set off the "Long Sought For" property and two small parcels (appraised at 315 pounds, 10 shillings) to the eldest son, Joseph Keys. Jonathan Keyes received the other half of the Francis Hill property and several other pieces (apprised at 295 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence). Joseph Keyes indicated that he had received the sum of 148 pounds during his father's lifetime, Zechariah Hildreth said he had received 30 pounds from his father-in-law, and Joanna Keyes said she had received 4 pounds. This was recorded by the Court on 13 March 1782.
Each portion of the remaining real estate was valued at 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence (1/11th of 521 pounds, 3 shillings, 4 pence). Since Joseph and Jonathan Keyes received amounts greater than their agreed shares, Joseph Keyes was ordered to pay 33 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to Elizabeth Hildreth; 59 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to Joanna Adams; 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to his sisters Hannah, Lydia and Lucy Keyes; and 50 pounds, 7-3/11 pence to Miriam Keyes. Jonathan Keyes was ordered to pay 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to his sisters Patty and Frances Grant Keyes; and 13 pounds, 17 shillings, 10-6/11 pence to his sister Miriam Keyes. This was approved by the Court on 14 March 1782.
The Administrator of the estate made an Account dated 14 April 1785, listing the account balance of 147 pounds, 13 shillings, 3 pence. The debts owed to Jonathan Keyes were 84 pounds, 4 shillings. The Administrators charges, fees and debts owed by Jonathan Keyes were listed. The balance remaining in the Administrators hands was 170 pounds, 15 shillings, 5 pence. The heirs (Joseph Keyes, Jonathan Keyes, Isaac Patten, and Timothy Adams) approved of the account on 16 May 1785, and recommended that the remainder be given to their honoured mother. This account was accepted by the Court on 18 May 1785.
Additional administrator's efforts resulted in a balance in his hands of 207 pounds on 20 September 1785, which was accepted by the Court.
In two separate Probate Packets (#13,193 and 13,194), Zaccheus Wright was allowed to be Guardian to the two children under age 14 (Patty and Frances Grant Keyes), and the four children over age 14 (Jonathan, Lydia, Lucy and Miriam Keyes) selected Zaccheus Wright to be their guardian.
There are so many details in the discarded will and the probate proceedings that it is difficult to summarize this probate file. The will was very complicated and was judged to be unable to be fulfilled, so it was set aside with the approval of all of the heirs. The heirs agreed to split up the property between the widow and the two living sons. The rest of the children, from Jonathan Keyes two marriages, received money from the two sons who received the property. The real value of all of these probate papers is that they name the living children, and the husbands of the married daughters.
The widow, "Betty" - Elizabeth (Hartwell) (Read) Keyes - married again on 15 October 1782 to Pelatiah Fletcher. This Pelatiah Fletcher is probably the one who had married Dorothy Hildreth (who died 14 June 1782 in Westford) in 1757, and was the father of the Pelatiah Fletcher who married Patty Keyes in 1785, daughter of Jonathan and his second wife, Elizabeth (Hartwell) (Read) Keyes.
Who was Zaccheus Wright, who became the guardian of the six minor children? Was he a relative of Jonathan Keyes or Elizabeth Hartwell? He may have been an uncle or close cousin of one of them, and lived in the area. It is possible that the minor children did not live with him, but were only represented by him in the probate proceedings. Their mother survived until 1826 and the children may have lived with her until they married and left home.
In these types of probate cases, if the widow remarries, the real property usually reverts to the children. Betty received one half of the Francis Hill property. Was there another probate record or land record that directed the transfer of the real property to the children? There may be a probate record for Pelatiah Fletcher and/or Betty (Hartwell) (Read) (Keyes) Fletcher.
It is apparent that the older children of Jonathan Keyes loved and respected Betty - they agreed on the real property after Jonathan's death, and they gave her the remaining money in the administrator's account in 1785.
"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."
The subject today is the probate file of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781) of Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, one of my 5th great-grandfathers.
Jonathan Keyes died testate, and his extensive probate papers are in Middlesex County Probate Records, Packet #13,192 (accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,416,784). He wrote his last will and testament on 21 July 1777. I posted the transcript of the will and related papers last week in Amanuensis Monday - Will of Jonathan Keyes (1722-1781).
Here is the transcription or summary of the rest of the probate file:
On 19 September 1781, the Judge of the Probate Court ordered that the will be set aside and declared it null and void, and that the estate be settled in every respect according to law as an intestate estate, as if the will had not been written.
Timothy Prescott was appointed Administrator of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford, yeoman on 19 September 1781. Timothy Prescott, yeoman of Westford as principal, Nathaniel Boyneton, gentleman of Westford, Joseph Keyes, clothier of Westford, posted bond of 50,000 pounds.
Nathaniel Boynton, Thomas Read and Timothy Spaulding, gentlemen of Westford, were appointed and empowered to take an inventory on 19 September 1781 of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford.
In a separate document, these three were also named to be the Commissioners to divide the estate according to the heirs agreement and the Court's order.
An extensive inventory of the estate of Jonathan Keyes, late of Westford, was taken by Nathaniel Boynton, Thomas Read and Timothy Spaulding on 1 October 1781. The personal estate was apprized to be 147 pounds, 13 shillings, 3 pence. The real estate was appraised on 5 October 1781 by the three appraisers. The real estate inventory totalled 797 pounds, and included:
* 85 acres of mowing, pasturing, orcharding, tillage and wood land lying in the northerly part of Westford at Long Sortfor (so-called), with a dwelling house and barn (306 pounds)
* 2 acres of pine land lying on Barns. Plains (12 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of wood land at Burgn Swamp (2 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of wood land on Flushing Hill (2 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 20 acres of wood land lying by Flushing Pond (20 pounds)
* 12 acres of tillage land on north side of Nabemist Pond (15 pounds)
* 10 acres of wood land called Butterfield lot lying near Dunstable Line (6 pounds, 10 shillings)
* Farm lying on Francis Hill by Chelmsford line, with dwelling house (63 pounds), barn (10 pounds), cider mill (4 pounds) and corn house (6 pounds)
* 12 acres of orchard, pasturing, tillage and wood land on south side of the town road to Chelmsford (59 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 10 acres of mowing, orchard and tillage land on north side of the town road to Chelmsford (75 pounds)
* 2 acres of mowing land by the east end of the dwelling house (14 pounds)
* 4 acres of pasture land (called Hill pasture) on the south side of the road and west of Chelmsford line (20 pounds)
* 3-1/2 acres of pasture land (called Gideon pasture) north of Hill pasture (14 pounds)
* 5 acres of mowing land adjoining Gideon pasture (30 pounds)
* 2-1/2 acres of pasture and orchard adjoining Richardson's land (15 pounds)
* 2 acres of pasture on west side of road leading to Chandlers Mill (9 pounds)
* 2 acres of mowing land (called the Gate Pine) adjoining Richardson's land (12 pounds)
* 1-1/2 acres of mowing, tillage and orchard land (called Robbin pine) (10 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 3 acres of pasture land (called Chandler's pasture) (21 pounds)
* 1 acre of orchard land (called Wheat pine) lying near the back side of the dwelling house (7 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 4 acres of pasture land near the barn and the lane to Chandler's Mill (16 pounds, 10 shillings)
* 6 acres of tillage land lying west of the farm near Nehemiah Fletcher's land (36 pounds)
* Pew in the meeting house (10 pounds)
The commissioners then set off some of the land parcels to Betty Keyes, with a value of 265 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence. This land included one half of the Francis Hill farm, barn, cider mill and corn house, one third of the meeting house pew, and several other land parcels.
Another inventory of the remaining real estate was made on 19 February 1782. This totalled 521 pounds, 3 shillings, 4 pence. The Commissioners then set off the "Long Sought For" property and two small parcels (appraised at 315 pounds, 10 shillings) to the eldest son, Joseph Keys. Jonathan Keyes received the other half of the Francis Hill property and several other pieces (apprised at 295 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence). Joseph Keyes indicated that he had received the sum of 148 pounds during his father's lifetime, Zechariah Hildreth said he had received 30 pounds from his father-in-law, and Joanna Keyes said she had received 4 pounds. This was recorded by the Court on 13 March 1782.
Each portion of the remaining real estate was valued at 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence (1/11th of 521 pounds, 3 shillings, 4 pence). Since Joseph and Jonathan Keyes received amounts greater than their agreed shares, Joseph Keyes was ordered to pay 33 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to Elizabeth Hildreth; 59 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to Joanna Adams; 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to his sisters Hannah, Lydia and Lucy Keyes; and 50 pounds, 7-3/11 pence to Miriam Keyes. Jonathan Keyes was ordered to pay 63 pounds, 18 shillings, 5-9/11 pence to his sisters Patty and Frances Grant Keyes; and 13 pounds, 17 shillings, 10-6/11 pence to his sister Miriam Keyes. This was approved by the Court on 14 March 1782.
The Administrator of the estate made an Account dated 14 April 1785, listing the account balance of 147 pounds, 13 shillings, 3 pence. The debts owed to Jonathan Keyes were 84 pounds, 4 shillings. The Administrators charges, fees and debts owed by Jonathan Keyes were listed. The balance remaining in the Administrators hands was 170 pounds, 15 shillings, 5 pence. The heirs (Joseph Keyes, Jonathan Keyes, Isaac Patten, and Timothy Adams) approved of the account on 16 May 1785, and recommended that the remainder be given to their honoured mother. This account was accepted by the Court on 18 May 1785.
Additional administrator's efforts resulted in a balance in his hands of 207 pounds on 20 September 1785, which was accepted by the Court.
In two separate Probate Packets (#13,193 and 13,194), Zaccheus Wright was allowed to be Guardian to the two children under age 14 (Patty and Frances Grant Keyes), and the four children over age 14 (Jonathan, Lydia, Lucy and Miriam Keyes) selected Zaccheus Wright to be their guardian.
There are so many details in the discarded will and the probate proceedings that it is difficult to summarize this probate file. The will was very complicated and was judged to be unable to be fulfilled, so it was set aside with the approval of all of the heirs. The heirs agreed to split up the property between the widow and the two living sons. The rest of the children, from Jonathan Keyes two marriages, received money from the two sons who received the property. The real value of all of these probate papers is that they name the living children, and the husbands of the married daughters.
The widow, "Betty" - Elizabeth (Hartwell) (Read) Keyes - married again on 15 October 1782 to Pelatiah Fletcher. This Pelatiah Fletcher is probably the one who had married Dorothy Hildreth (who died 14 June 1782 in Westford) in 1757, and was the father of the Pelatiah Fletcher who married Patty Keyes in 1785, daughter of Jonathan and his second wife, Elizabeth (Hartwell) (Read) Keyes.
Who was Zaccheus Wright, who became the guardian of the six minor children? Was he a relative of Jonathan Keyes or Elizabeth Hartwell? He may have been an uncle or close cousin of one of them, and lived in the area. It is possible that the minor children did not live with him, but were only represented by him in the probate proceedings. Their mother survived until 1826 and the children may have lived with her until they married and left home.
In these types of probate cases, if the widow remarries, the real property usually reverts to the children. Betty received one half of the Francis Hill property. Was there another probate record or land record that directed the transfer of the real property to the children? There may be a probate record for Pelatiah Fletcher and/or Betty (Hartwell) (Read) (Keyes) Fletcher.
It is apparent that the older children of Jonathan Keyes loved and respected Betty - they agreed on the real property after Jonathan's death, and they gave her the remaining money in the administrator's account in 1785.
Labels: Amanuensis Monday, My genealogy research, Probate Records
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 26 September to 2 October 2010
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* Where does genealogy end and history begin? by Marian Pierre-Louis on the Roots and Rambles blog. Definitions, comparisons, questions - Marian gets some help from readers too.
* When is large, too large? Another look at Ancestry.com by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James has an interesting comment from a reader, and discusses the issue further.
* Israel: 'One Family, Many Faces Festival,' Day 1, Tel Aviv: Family Festival - Day 2 and Tel Aviv: Family Festival, Day 3 by Schelly Talalay Dardashti on Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog. Schelly shares stories and pictures about the festival in Tel Aviv. The best line by a parent was "We just want them to know their history." Amen!
* The Best Genealogy Advice I Ever Got Was by Leah on The Internet Genealogist blog. Leah shared her best advice in three categories, have you provided yours yet?
* Six reasons why postcard collecting is like family history research by John Gasson on The Wandering Genealogist blog. These six reasons are excellent for family history...I don't know much about postcard collecting!
* Sharing Genealogy: Part 2 by JL on the JLog blog. JL has great ideas for getting relatives to listen...you have to be sneaky sometimes!
* Relative Finder, Ancestry.com Style by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI finds GIGO almost every family tree he climbs...at least he can hear the crickets.
* Genealogy Research Bag - a Lifesaver! by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog. Lorine has wonderful ideas about getting everything you need in one place to go off to the library or cemetery at a moment's notice. Her readers provide many more ideas in comments.
* Stepping away by the writer of the Nolichucky Roots blog. I think we all understand this problem with genealogy software... but I'm not brave or patient enough to do this!
* Connecting with Long Lost Relatives by Tessa on The Keough Corner blog. An issue we all deal with - Tessa has some excellent ideas about the subject (yes, I know it was the week before, but it was worthy!).
* The Top 10 Places to Find Old Photos of Your House by Marian Pierre-Louis on The New England House Historian blog. Outstanding ideas for finding historical home pictures.
* Genealogy Software Must Change! and Genealogy Software Must Change! PT2 by George Geder on the Geder Genealogy blog. George has some good ideas, as do his readers, about adding diversity and other features to genealogy software.
* Building a Genealogical House: The Internet and Genealogy by Chris Staats on the Staats Place blog. Chris uses a great analogy to characterize the role of the Internet in pursuing genealogy research.
* 12 Step Program for Genealogists by Laura on the It's All Relative blog. Funniest post of the week, and great ideas for passing it on to the next generation. Yeas, verily, I too am a geneaholic! [Yes, I know it was posted today, but I didn't want to wait a week to share it!]
Other weekly "Best of..." genealogy blog posts include:
* Follow Friday: 1 October 2010 by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog. Greta's weekly reader picks are often different from mine and John's.
* Weekly Genealogy Picks by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog. John highlights blog posts, carnivals, press releases and more, plus he links to several other weekly pick posts.
I encourage you to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blog to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 680 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* Where does genealogy end and history begin? by Marian Pierre-Louis on the Roots and Rambles blog. Definitions, comparisons, questions - Marian gets some help from readers too.
* When is large, too large? Another look at Ancestry.com by James Tanner on the Genealogy's Star blog. James has an interesting comment from a reader, and discusses the issue further.
* Israel: 'One Family, Many Faces Festival,' Day 1, Tel Aviv: Family Festival - Day 2 and Tel Aviv: Family Festival, Day 3 by Schelly Talalay Dardashti on Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog. Schelly shares stories and pictures about the festival in Tel Aviv. The best line by a parent was "We just want them to know their history." Amen!
* The Best Genealogy Advice I Ever Got Was by Leah on The Internet Genealogist blog. Leah shared her best advice in three categories, have you provided yours yet?
* Six reasons why postcard collecting is like family history research by John Gasson on The Wandering Genealogist blog. These six reasons are excellent for family history...I don't know much about postcard collecting!
* Sharing Genealogy: Part 2 by JL on the JLog blog. JL has great ideas for getting relatives to listen...you have to be sneaky sometimes!
* Relative Finder, Ancestry.com Style by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog. Mr. AI finds GIGO almost every family tree he climbs...at least he can hear the crickets.
* Genealogy Research Bag - a Lifesaver! by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog. Lorine has wonderful ideas about getting everything you need in one place to go off to the library or cemetery at a moment's notice. Her readers provide many more ideas in comments.
* Stepping away by the writer of the Nolichucky Roots blog. I think we all understand this problem with genealogy software... but I'm not brave or patient enough to do this!
* Connecting with Long Lost Relatives by Tessa on The Keough Corner blog. An issue we all deal with - Tessa has some excellent ideas about the subject (yes, I know it was the week before, but it was worthy!).
* The Top 10 Places to Find Old Photos of Your House by Marian Pierre-Louis on The New England House Historian blog. Outstanding ideas for finding historical home pictures.
* Genealogy Software Must Change! and Genealogy Software Must Change! PT2 by George Geder on the Geder Genealogy blog. George has some good ideas, as do his readers, about adding diversity and other features to genealogy software.
* Building a Genealogical House: The Internet and Genealogy by Chris Staats on the Staats Place blog. Chris uses a great analogy to characterize the role of the Internet in pursuing genealogy research.
* 12 Step Program for Genealogists by Laura on the It's All Relative blog. Funniest post of the week, and great ideas for passing it on to the next generation. Yeas, verily, I too am a geneaholic! [Yes, I know it was posted today, but I didn't want to wait a week to share it!]
Other weekly "Best of..." genealogy blog posts include:
* Follow Friday: 1 October 2010 by Greta Koehl on the Greta's Genealogy Bog blog. Greta's weekly reader picks are often different from mine and John's.
* Weekly Genealogy Picks by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog. John highlights blog posts, carnivals, press releases and more, plus he links to several other weekly pick posts.
I encourage you to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blog to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 680 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
Labels: BestofGeneaBlogs, genealogy blogs
Saturday, October 2, 2010
CVGS Seminar Featured Jean Wilcox Hibben and Alfredo I. Pena
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society Fall Seminar titled "Where Do We Go From Here?" (a sequel to "Who Do You Think You Are?") was today at Norman Park Senior Center in Chula Vista. There were about 50 in attendance. See CVGS Seminar -- Where Do We Go From Here? for the program schedule.
The speakers, the titles and brief summaries of their talks are in Jean Wilcox Hibben is Featured Speaker at CVGS Fall Seminar on 2 October and Alfredo Pena to Speak at CVGS Fall Seminar on 2 October.
Jean's first presentation was "Graveyard Gumshoe: Lessons Written in Stone" which had the audience in stitches as she regaled us with examples of her taphophilia. Did you know that on her honeymoon they visited graveyards from the California Gold Country to Tombstone, Arizona (fitting, eh?). She managed to show us many ancestral gravestones and the stories that went with them, plus provide advice on searching for them. At the end, she sang an original song of hers about gravestones of young children in one of her families.
Gary Brock provided a short summary of what the Chula Vista Genealogical Society offers to members - monthly Wednesday programs, monthly weekend programs, a research group, a computer group, a newsletter, website and blog, plus a group of enthusiastic and helpful genealogists.
Jean's second talk was "This is Not Your Grandma's Genealogy: Making the Move from Paper to Electronic Record Keeping." This presentation covered decisions to be made, equipment to consider, and approximate cost estimates. A list of pros and cons about using a computer to organize your genealogical records was provided. Equipment discussed included computer systems (desktop, laptop or netbook) with pros and cons, Printers (inkjet or laser), Scanners (flatbed, handheld, or all-in-one), Storage media (external drive, USB drive), GPS systems, Digital Cameras and Mobile devices (PDAs, Camera phone, smart phone, etc.).
Lunch was provided by Jimmy's by the Park, a local restaurant, which served club sandwiches, Mexican pizza, spicy meatballs and cheesy bread, with a peach cobbler dessert.
Jean's third presentation was "Deliveries in the Rear! Getting Family History through the Back Door." She explained that her grandfather always said that "The best things come through the back door." She described searching for information to fill missing events in the lives of five ancestors - and finding data in newspaper articles, in military pension records, on eBay, in family letters, in wills and probate records, in local history books, in census records, in cemetery records, and many more. Often, the key to finding the records was the siblings, neighbors or associates of her ancestors. Jean sang an original song about the lives of some of these ancestors.
After a break, Alfredo I. Pena presented "Coming to the New World After the Conquest, 1600-1900" about Spanish and Mexican genealogical resources. Resources discussed included the Gary Felix Genealogy Page (http://garyfelix.tripod.com/~GaryFelix/index1.htm), the http://www.familysearch.org/ websites for databases and microfilm access, and the Portal de Archivos Espanoles (PARES, http://pares.mcu.es/) website for Spanish records.
Throughout the day, there were opportunity drawings for research services, books and genealogical supplies. The Door Prize was a one-year subscription to Footnote.com.
Jean Hibben's music CDs, CVGS books, genealogical forms, Chula Vista library information, and a computer table for research consultations were available at breaks throughout the day in an adjacent room. Several students from Chula Vista High School helped with the sales and information tables.
It was a major effort by CVGS to produce this seminar - the first held offsite in about ten years. The efforts of many CVGS volunteers were coordinated by Susi Pentico, the Seminar chairperson.
The speakers, the titles and brief summaries of their talks are in Jean Wilcox Hibben is Featured Speaker at CVGS Fall Seminar on 2 October and Alfredo Pena to Speak at CVGS Fall Seminar on 2 October.
Jean's first presentation was "Graveyard Gumshoe: Lessons Written in Stone" which had the audience in stitches as she regaled us with examples of her taphophilia. Did you know that on her honeymoon they visited graveyards from the California Gold Country to Tombstone, Arizona (fitting, eh?). She managed to show us many ancestral gravestones and the stories that went with them, plus provide advice on searching for them. At the end, she sang an original song of hers about gravestones of young children in one of her families.
Gary Brock provided a short summary of what the Chula Vista Genealogical Society offers to members - monthly Wednesday programs, monthly weekend programs, a research group, a computer group, a newsletter, website and blog, plus a group of enthusiastic and helpful genealogists.
Jean's second talk was "This is Not Your Grandma's Genealogy: Making the Move from Paper to Electronic Record Keeping." This presentation covered decisions to be made, equipment to consider, and approximate cost estimates. A list of pros and cons about using a computer to organize your genealogical records was provided. Equipment discussed included computer systems (desktop, laptop or netbook) with pros and cons, Printers (inkjet or laser), Scanners (flatbed, handheld, or all-in-one), Storage media (external drive, USB drive), GPS systems, Digital Cameras and Mobile devices (PDAs, Camera phone, smart phone, etc.).
Lunch was provided by Jimmy's by the Park, a local restaurant, which served club sandwiches, Mexican pizza, spicy meatballs and cheesy bread, with a peach cobbler dessert.
Jean's third presentation was "Deliveries in the Rear! Getting Family History through the Back Door." She explained that her grandfather always said that "The best things come through the back door." She described searching for information to fill missing events in the lives of five ancestors - and finding data in newspaper articles, in military pension records, on eBay, in family letters, in wills and probate records, in local history books, in census records, in cemetery records, and many more. Often, the key to finding the records was the siblings, neighbors or associates of her ancestors. Jean sang an original song about the lives of some of these ancestors.
After a break, Alfredo I. Pena presented "Coming to the New World After the Conquest, 1600-1900" about Spanish and Mexican genealogical resources. Resources discussed included the Gary Felix Genealogy Page (http://garyfelix.tripod.com/~GaryFelix/index1.htm), the http://www.familysearch.org/ websites for databases and microfilm access, and the Portal de Archivos Espanoles (PARES, http://pares.mcu.es/) website for Spanish records.
Throughout the day, there were opportunity drawings for research services, books and genealogical supplies. The Door Prize was a one-year subscription to Footnote.com.
Jean Hibben's music CDs, CVGS books, genealogical forms, Chula Vista library information, and a computer table for research consultations were available at breaks throughout the day in an adjacent room. Several students from Chula Vista High School helped with the sales and information tables.
It was a major effort by CVGS to produce this seminar - the first held offsite in about ten years. The efforts of many CVGS volunteers were coordinated by Susi Pentico, the Seminar chairperson.
Labels: Cemetery records, Conferences/Seminars, CVGS, Digital Technology, Hispanic Research, Research techniques, Research tips
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Best Genealogy Advice
Calling all Genea-Musings readers - it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!!
Are you ready? Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Leah over at The Internet Genealogist blog, wrote The Best Genealogy Advice I Ever Got Was earlier this week. I thought that it would be a good challenge for SNGF.
2) Tell us what genealogy advice you received that helped you improve your understanding, knowledge and skills in genealogy research.
3) Write it up in your own blog post, in a comment to Leah's blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook.
Here's mine:
Early in my genealogical research, a wise San Diego Family History Center volunteer named Ray Dawley told me to use the Family History Library Catalog to find land records and probate records for my ancestors because they provide excellent original source material to prove relationships - especially for married daughters.
I have tried very hard to do this for all of my ancestral families and have crashed through several brick walls doing so. Of course, not everybody left these records, and that's why I still have quite a few brick wall ancestors.
Are you ready? Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Leah over at The Internet Genealogist blog, wrote The Best Genealogy Advice I Ever Got Was earlier this week. I thought that it would be a good challenge for SNGF.
2) Tell us what genealogy advice you received that helped you improve your understanding, knowledge and skills in genealogy research.
3) Write it up in your own blog post, in a comment to Leah's blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook.
Here's mine:
Early in my genealogical research, a wise San Diego Family History Center volunteer named Ray Dawley told me to use the Family History Library Catalog to find land records and probate records for my ancestors because they provide excellent original source material to prove relationships - especially for married daughters.
I have tried very hard to do this for all of my ancestral families and have crashed through several brick walls doing so. Of course, not everybody left these records, and that's why I still have quite a few brick wall ancestors.
Labels: Research tips, SNGF
Surname Saturday - SMITH (NJ)
It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week. I am up to number 115 - Maria Smith (1753 - ca 1842), one of my 4th-great-grandparents.
My ancestral line back through one generation of New Jersey SMITH families is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
6. Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976)
7. Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977)
14. Charles Auble (1849-1916)
15. Georgianna Kemp (1868-1952)
28. David Auble (1817-1894)
29. Sarah Knapp (1818-ca1900)
56. Johannes Auble (1780-1831?)
57. Anna Row (1787-1860)
114. Philip Jacob Row, born about December 1752 in prob. NJ; died 09 January 1817 in Tewksbury, Hunterdon County, NJ. He married July 1772 in probably Hunterdon County, NJ.
115. Maria Smith, born About November 1753 in probably NJ; died about 1842 in Hunterdon County, NJ.
Children of Philip Row and Maria Smith are:
.....i. Mary Row, born 19 July 1773 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married John Hubert March 1794 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....ii. Elisabetha Row, born 13 January 1776 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Jacob Apgar.
.....iii. John Jacob Row, born 07 April 1779 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Rebecca Vesselus 19 April 1823 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....iv. Peter Row, born about 1782 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Catherine Case 12 March 1808 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
+... v. Anna Row, born about 1787 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; died 12 June 1860 in Stillwater, Sussex County, NJ; married Johannes Auble 15 July 1804 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....vi. Phillip Johannes Row, born 11 October 1791 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; died 30 September 1858 in Des Moines County, IA; married Sophia Gray 06 February 1833 in Morris County, NJ; born 15 March 1815 in Morris, NJ; died 27 August 1879 in IA.
.....vii. Johannes Row, born about January 1795 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ.
The only record I have of Maria's maiden name, marriage date and approximate birth date is her affidavit taken in 1840 from the Revolutionary War Pension File for her husband, Philip Jacob Row. It does not provide the parents names for either person.
It is very likely that both Philip Jacob Row and Maria Smith were of German heritage, and therefore Maria's maiden name might be Schmidt.
If any researcher has more on Maria's ancestry, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you at rjseaver@cox.net.
My ancestral line back through one generation of New Jersey SMITH families is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
6. Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976)
7. Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977)
14. Charles Auble (1849-1916)
15. Georgianna Kemp (1868-1952)
28. David Auble (1817-1894)
29. Sarah Knapp (1818-ca1900)
56. Johannes Auble (1780-1831?)
57. Anna Row (1787-1860)
114. Philip Jacob Row, born about December 1752 in prob. NJ; died 09 January 1817 in Tewksbury, Hunterdon County, NJ. He married July 1772 in probably Hunterdon County, NJ.
115. Maria Smith, born About November 1753 in probably NJ; died about 1842 in Hunterdon County, NJ.
Children of Philip Row and Maria Smith are:
.....i. Mary Row, born 19 July 1773 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married John Hubert March 1794 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....ii. Elisabetha Row, born 13 January 1776 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Jacob Apgar.
.....iii. John Jacob Row, born 07 April 1779 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Rebecca Vesselus 19 April 1823 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....iv. Peter Row, born about 1782 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; married Catherine Case 12 March 1808 in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, NJ.
+... v. Anna Row, born about 1787 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; died 12 June 1860 in Stillwater, Sussex County, NJ; married Johannes Auble 15 July 1804 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ.
.....vi. Phillip Johannes Row, born 11 October 1791 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ; died 30 September 1858 in Des Moines County, IA; married Sophia Gray 06 February 1833 in Morris County, NJ; born 15 March 1815 in Morris, NJ; died 27 August 1879 in IA.
.....vii. Johannes Row, born about January 1795 in New Germantown, Hunterdon County, NJ.
The only record I have of Maria's maiden name, marriage date and approximate birth date is her affidavit taken in 1840 from the Revolutionary War Pension File for her husband, Philip Jacob Row. It does not provide the parents names for either person.
It is very likely that both Philip Jacob Row and Maria Smith were of German heritage, and therefore Maria's maiden name might be Schmidt.
If any researcher has more on Maria's ancestry, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you at rjseaver@cox.net.
Labels: Auble Family, My genealogy research, Surname Saturday
Friday, October 1, 2010
CVGS Program Review - "What Was Great-Grandpa Really Like?"
Paula A. Sassi, a Master Certified Graphologist, dazzled the audience of 50 at the 29 September program meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society with her presentation of "What Was Great-Grandpa Really Like?" You can read the description of Paula's program and her curriculum vitae here.
Paula said that a master graphologist can "see into the souls of your ancestors" - and can find clues to the intellect, personality, education, physical and emotional control, self-image and ego, and social tendencies of a person, based on their signature and their writings by hand.
Her presentation including different handwriting styles from the 17th century to the present, detailing colonial writing, copperplate and English round writing, Spencerian writing, Copybook and Palmer method handwriting styles. Examples of famous people from each time period were shown, with comments about what their writings reveal. The signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington (from youth to elder), Abraham Lincoln, Jesse James and others were some of the examples discussed. She said that signatures reveal a public self-image, but writings often reveal much more than a signature does.
Baseline slope (up indicates optimistic, down indicates pessimistic), letter slant (to the right indicates future-oriented and concern for others, to the left indicates past-oriented and concern for self), relative size of ascending or descending parts of letters, form control (consistency in writing), letter size, connectivity and shape, writing pressure (light or heavy), g and y descender details, loops in lower case d's and t's, shape of capital I's, and several more indicators tell the graphologist about the person. Paula has some free handwriting insights on her website at http://www.handwritinginsights.com/TransAP.html. She also sells a kit called Handwriting Insights - 64 connected, illustrated cards that teaches handwriting analysis as you use it.
After the formal presentation, Paula analyzed about 15 writing examples submitted by the audience. Gary scanned them into his computer, and then projected them on the screen while Paula analyzed each one. This was fascinating! Some attendees brought whole pages of writing, others had only signatures or entries in a vital or church record.
For instance, I presented a page from a family Bible that had the writing and signature of Devier J. Smith, his second great-grandfather. Based on the writing, Paula said that Devier was down-to-earth, logical, analytical, enthusiastic for ideas, opinionated and controlled.
Paula is an excellent presenter, an expert in her field, and her presentation and analysis of the writings was a big hit with the attendees.
Paula said that a master graphologist can "see into the souls of your ancestors" - and can find clues to the intellect, personality, education, physical and emotional control, self-image and ego, and social tendencies of a person, based on their signature and their writings by hand.
Her presentation including different handwriting styles from the 17th century to the present, detailing colonial writing, copperplate and English round writing, Spencerian writing, Copybook and Palmer method handwriting styles. Examples of famous people from each time period were shown, with comments about what their writings reveal. The signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington (from youth to elder), Abraham Lincoln, Jesse James and others were some of the examples discussed. She said that signatures reveal a public self-image, but writings often reveal much more than a signature does.
Baseline slope (up indicates optimistic, down indicates pessimistic), letter slant (to the right indicates future-oriented and concern for others, to the left indicates past-oriented and concern for self), relative size of ascending or descending parts of letters, form control (consistency in writing), letter size, connectivity and shape, writing pressure (light or heavy), g and y descender details, loops in lower case d's and t's, shape of capital I's, and several more indicators tell the graphologist about the person. Paula has some free handwriting insights on her website at http://www.handwritinginsights.com/TransAP.html. She also sells a kit called Handwriting Insights - 64 connected, illustrated cards that teaches handwriting analysis as you use it.
After the formal presentation, Paula analyzed about 15 writing examples submitted by the audience. Gary scanned them into his computer, and then projected them on the screen while Paula analyzed each one. This was fascinating! Some attendees brought whole pages of writing, others had only signatures or entries in a vital or church record.
For instance, I presented a page from a family Bible that had the writing and signature of Devier J. Smith, his second great-grandfather. Based on the writing, Paula said that Devier was down-to-earth, logical, analytical, enthusiastic for ideas, opinionated and controlled.
Paula is an excellent presenter, an expert in her field, and her presentation and analysis of the writings was a big hit with the attendees.
Labels: CVGS, Family Stories, genealogy societies, Research techniques
UVPAFUG Presentations
The Utah Valley PAF User's Group (UVPAFUG) has monthly meetings in Provo, Utah, and has an archive of some of the presentation handouts and some of the PowerPoint presentations in PDF format.
The Presentations page is at http://www.uvpafug.org/old.htm and is up-to-date. Some of the more interesting (to me!) presentations in 2010 have been:
Not every presentation has a handout or presentation provided. However, most of the programs listed since 2007 have a DVD available for a small cost to LDS church members here.
Some of the presentations available concern LDS church activities related to genealogy and family history, but the more general presentations are interesting and useful to researchers like me that are curious about FamilySearch projects and genealogy research in general.
The Presentations page is at http://www.uvpafug.org/old.htm and is up-to-date. Some of the more interesting (to me!) presentations in 2010 have been:
- January - Janet Hovorka: Comparing new FamilySearch Certified Software. Handout in pdf & Presentation in pdf
- March - Barry J. Ewell: How to Effectively Conduct Genealogy Research on the Internet. Presentation in pdf
- July - Bret Petersen: Are You My Mother? - Finding Maiden Names In Your Tree. Handout in pdf
Not every presentation has a handout or presentation provided. However, most of the programs listed since 2007 have a DVD available for a small cost to LDS church members here.
Some of the presentations available concern LDS church activities related to genealogy and family history, but the more general presentations are interesting and useful to researchers like me that are curious about FamilySearch projects and genealogy research in general.
Labels: FamilySearch, genealogy education, Research techniques, Research tips
"Information, Please" article about NewsBank operations
My distant cousin, Tom Kemp, passed along the article "Information, Please" written by Ken Picard, which appeared in the 29 September 2010 issue of the 7 Days online newspaper, published in Vermont.
The article highlights the operations of NewsBank in Chester, Vermont, which is the largest and oldest of their sites. The behind-the-scenes look at how the company operates is interesting and useful to understand.
The article notes:
As many readers know, Tom Kemp is the Director of GenealogyBank, which is one of the companies owned by NewsBank, Inc.
Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to http://www.genealogybank.com/, but have not been otherwise remunerated by NewsBank or anybody else to write this post.
The article highlights the operations of NewsBank in Chester, Vermont, which is the largest and oldest of their sites. The behind-the-scenes look at how the company operates is interesting and useful to understand.
The article notes:
NewsBank Inc. is the nation’s largest digital archiving service for the newspaper industry. Its on-site computers store 350 terabytes of information — that’s more than double the amount of data housed at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.and:
Each day, it archives the printed and online content of more than 2000 newspapers, magazines, wire services, business journals and other publications from around the globe — adding 1.2 million new articles to its database each month.The article describes how NewsBank has adapted over the years in order to stay in business, and highlights some of the technologies that are used to convert printed material to digital images that can be searched online.
As many readers know, Tom Kemp is the Director of GenealogyBank, which is one of the companies owned by NewsBank, Inc.
Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to http://www.genealogybank.com/, but have not been otherwise remunerated by NewsBank or anybody else to write this post.
Labels: GenealogyBank, Newspaper/Obituary listings, Oldtime newspapers, Online resources
