Saturday, June 28, 2014

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Summer Vacation as a Kid

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!



Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1) It's summertime in the Northern hemisphere, and time for summer vacations for many people.  


2)  Tell us about a memorable summer vacation when you were a child.  What are your memories of summer vacations with your family?  Did you travel?  How?  Did you visit extended family?  Who?

3)  Share your memories in your own blog post, or in a Facebook or Google+ post.

Here's mine:

The first summer vacation my family took was in July of 1954.  I was 10, my brother Stan was 7, and  my brother Scott was just a gleam.  My father drove up Highway 101 to Los Angeles and then onto Highway 99 over the Grapevine, into the hot San Joaquin Valley to Fresno, and then up Highway 41 to the turn off to Bass Lake, just south of Yosemite National Park.  We had never driven much further than 30 miles before, it seemed.  What a long day, but we were on an adventure, some place new, and we would be staying for a week at a campground.  

I don't know what the name of the camp was, but we were in a rustic cabin, I think with a kitchen, and there was a store nearby.  I think my mother cooked dinners, and made sandwiches for lunch, and we probably had cereal and milk for breakfast.  All of the mundane household things didn't matter - we were at a lake with boats and fishing and, oh my, it was going to be fun.

Stan and I learned to swim in Bass Lake.  We used inner tubes for awhile, but soon we were cruising around the shallow waters on our own.  We went fishing from a boat, putting worms on hooks and catching, as I recall, some small fish and a good sunburn.  Then there was the hiking on the trails and in the brush and trees around the cabin.  We went up to the store and bought candy and baseball cards.  They had most of the cards we didn't have for the 1954 series of cards.  I think we bought them out so we could trade with our buddies back home.

One day, we drove into Yosemite National Park, stopped in the big Sequoia trees (the car tunnel one) and took pictures, then to Yosemite Valley and went to several waterfalls.  We got wet and it was cooling for us because it was hot, and lots of fun.  We had never seen these places before, and it was like a new world for two little San Diego boys.  

All too soon, we headed home in the 1954 blue Mercury that my dad had bought earlier in the year.  Two-door, no seat belts, no air conditioning, stick shift, etc.  We had fun on the roads (no freeways then) too, counting trucks, looking for license plates, counting train cars, and singing camp songs.  

That was the best vacation we took as a family.  My brother Scott came along the next year and we went off on trips to the state bowling tournament for five years or so during the summer, and stayed in motels, but this was the only real vacation we had at a fun place.  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/06/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-summer.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



Surname Saturday - LNU (colonial New York?)

It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.  


I am in the 7th great-grandmothers and I'm up to Ancestor #1009, who is Helena LNU (????-????)
 [Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through one generation in this LNU family line is:

1.  Randall J. Seaver (1943-living)

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)

30.  James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902)

31.  Mary Jane Sovereen (1841-1874)

62.  Alexander Sovereign (1814-1907)
63.  Elizabeth Putman (1820-1895)


126.  John Putman (1785-1863)
127.  Sarah Martin (1792-1860)

252.  Peter Victorse Putman (1760-1835)
253.  Sarah Mary Kinnan (1761-1841)

504.  Victor Davidse Putman (1721-1765)
505.  Margriet Weiser (1726-????)

1008.  David Janse Putman, born November 1684 in Schenectady, Schenectady, New York, United States; died 28 October 1761 in Pluckemin, Somerset, New Jersey, United States.  He was the son of 2016. Jan Victorse Pootman and 2017. Cornelia Arentse Bradt.  He married about 1710 in probably Monmouth, New Jersey, United States.
1009.  Helena LNU

Children of David Putman and Helena are:
i. Cornelia Davidse Putman, born before 29 April 1711 in Marlboro, Cumberland, New Jersey, United States; died 06 September 1800 in Albany, Albany, New York, United States; married (1) Roeloff Hendrikse Traphagen about 1728 in New Jersey, United States; born 05 August 1702 in Kingston, Ulster, New York, United States; died before 1742 in New Jersey, United States; married (2) John Voght April 1749 in Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States; born 24 February 1714 in Raritan, Somerset, New Jersey, United States; died 21 June 1809 in Duanesburg, Schenectady, New York, United States.
ii. Fykje Davidse Putman, born before 22 February 1712 in Marlboro, Cumberland, New Jersey, United States; married Thomas Auten; born about 1710 in New York, United States.
iii. Johannes Davidse Putman, born before 24 October 1714 in Marlboro, Cumberland, New Jersey, United States.

iv. Victor Davidse Putman, born before 09 April 1721 in Monmouth, New Jersey, United States; died 1765 in Morris, New Jersey, United States; married Margriet Wieser about 1745 in New Jersey, United States.  She was born about 1726 in New York.

I know nothing more about Helena, who was David's first wife (I don't know if there was another).  I don't have a birth date or a death date).  

I have seen speculation that she was Helena Van Gelder (daughter of Evert Hendrickse Van Gelder and Fykje Brower).  Mark Putman discusses David Putman/Potman and his wives (?) in  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~putman/Family/David%20Janse%20Pottman.pdf.  An online Van Gelder work is at  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rclarke/page1/vgelde-h.htm.  There is osme biographical material on Evert Van Gelder at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kings-highway&id=I45407.  However, a daughter Helena is never mentioned.

The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/06/surname-saturday-lnu-colonial-new-york.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver




Friday, June 27, 2014

WikiTree Populates the Unified Family Tree With My Y-DNA and mtDNA Results

WikiTree recently announced their DNA Confirmation Aid - see WikiTree Announces DNA Ancestor Confirmation Aid.  I wrote about it in WikiTree DNA Confirmation Aid Results yesterday, and added my Y-chromosome DNA test and my mitochondrial DNA test haplogroups, with links to my test results on ySearch and mitoSearch, respectively..

However, the WikiTree (a "unified" Family Tree, not a lot of separate trees) did not add my results to all of my patrilineal line ancestors (my father, his father, his father, etc.) or all of my matrilineal line ancestors (mo mother, her mother, her mother, etc.).  That happened overnight when WikiTree updated their database.

So what do the results look like, and how can I use them?  Here's what I figured out:

1)  On my Profile page, the "DNA Tested section is on the right-hand side of the page:



There is information about DNA testing, and then links for my name for both the Y-DNA test And mtDNA test.  For the Y-DNA test (in the red box), there are links to WikiTree profiles for my "Other yDNA" test, a list of other persons in WikiTree that share my Y-DNA markers, and al ink to my YSearch.org profile.

2)  Here is the list of other Y-DNA test connections I received by clicking on the "Other yDNA" link (note that if I had tested with, say, FamilyTreeDNA, it would say "Family Tree DNA yDNA" instead):



Further down this list is a link for Robert Seaver (1608-1683), my earliest known Seaver ancestor in my patrilineal line.

3)  If I click on the link next to his name to by clicking on the link to "View carriers of Robert's Y-chromosome in descendant chart form," I can see all of his "DNA Descendants" in the WikiTree database:


These are either my ancestors, uncles, or cousins, since they all should share my Y-DNA markers and haplogroup (assuming the genealogy work has been done correctly and entered into WikiTree correctly, and that there are no non-paternal events in the lines involved):

4)  I also clicked on the "Family Tree DNA mtDNA" link on the first screen above, and saw all of my mitochondrial DNA test connections:


As you can see, Sarah Campbell (1746-1838) is my "Earliest known maternal ancestor."

5)  I can view all of Sarah Campbell's descendants in WikiTree by clicking on the link to "View carriers of Sarah's mitochondrial DNA in descendant chart form:"


Again, all of the persons on the list above are my ancestors, aunts, or cousins because we share the same mtDNA markers.

6)  So how can all of this help me?  Well, all of the persons on that list are related to me.  Perhaps other WikiTreers have connected to the persons I added to WikiTree, and have added more generations than I know about from my own research.

I've already identified several families from the descendants lists above that extend descendant lines past what I have in my family tree database.  I could add those persons to my database, and I could contact the person who is the profile manager to determine how they are related.

7)  I think that these capabilities to link Y-DNA and mtDNA markers to specific people is a good thing.  They may help other researchers find distant family members, add to their family tree information, and perhaps inspire them to take a DNA test.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/06/wikitree-populates-unified-family-tree.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 13: Testimony Ends, Closing Arguments, and Judge's Charge

I am transcribing a series of newspaper articles concerning the 1858 murder trial of Mortimer Seaver published in the Flint, Michigan Wolverine Citizen newspaper.  The series to date:

*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 1: Benjamin Phillips Testimony (10 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 2: Jeremiah Slack's Testimony (11 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 3: Testimony of 4 More Witnesses (12 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 4: Testimony of 10 More Witnesses (13 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 5: Testimony of the Victim's Wife (16 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 6: More Testimony of Sarah Seaver (17 June 2014)

*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 7: Testimony From 11 Witnesses (18 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 8: Prosecution Rests, Defense Starts (19 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 9: Defense Testimony About Rifles and Balls (20 June 2013)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 10: More Defense Testimony (23 June 2014)



The article starts in the right-hand column of Page 1 above, continues on to most of Page 2, and then finishes in the 30 January 1858 edition of the newspaper on pages 1 and 2.  The first page of the 30 January 1858 issue is at http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=9AjqDp0R1qcC.

I am transcribing the articles in a series of blog posts - who knows how long this will take.  I hope my readers enjoy it.  Note that this is a reporter's summary of the trial, not the trial court transcript.

===============================================
[from page 2, column 3, 30 January 1858, Wolverine Citizen [Flint, Mich.] newspaper]
[continued]

Defence Resumed

JEREMIAH R. SMITH, RECALLED

Heard the conversation which took place with Mrs. Seaver on Friday night; she said she took her work in the kitchen to watch some cooking, and took up a newspaper and her knitting; did not hear her say she had done a stitch of knitting; she said she saw Mortimer coming a few minutes after she sat down.  Witness knows Mrs. Seaver a great many years; is acquainted with her general reputation for truth and veracity in the neighborhood in which she resides thinks it good -- never heard it called in question.  Knows Alvah Kennedy; does not think his reputation for truth and veracity is very good; his neighbors do not believe him to be a person of veracity.

EBENEZER BISHOP, RECALLED

Knows Alvah Kennedy; lives within three miles of him; is acquainted with his general reputation for truth and veracity; it is bad.  Heard Mrs. Seaver tell of her taking her knitting, and newspaper, and watching her apples cooking, just before she saw Mortimer running up crying.

Cross-examined -- Thinks he is acquainted with Kennedy's reputation; had occasion to enquire into it; witness had a note sent to him of Kennedy's which was outlawed; had a law suit and trial on it, and beat him; has no feeling against him.

SILAS D. HALSEY

Testifies to the reputation of Mrs. Seaver for truth and veracity; it is good.  Knows the general reputation for truth and veracity of Alvah Kennedy; it is not very good; Knows him twenty years; lives half a mile from him; thinks he would believe him under oath; would believe Mrs. Seaver.

Defence here rested.

Witnesses to character, called at the request of Mr. Kennedy.

T.J. MC WAIN

Is not acquainted with the general reputation of Alvah Kennedy for truth and veracity in the neighborhood in which he resides.

JOHN BURRINGTON

Knows Alvah Kennedy a number of years; is acquainted with his general reputation for truth and veracity; it is not very good.

PORTER MC WAIN

Knows Alvah Kennedy about six years; lives one mile and a quarter from him; could not say what is his general reputation for truth and veracity.

All the testimony here closed, and the Court took a recess for an hour.

---------------------

We did not hear Mr. Wisner's address to the jury on behalf of his client; but are informed that it was a masterful and powerful appeal, working upon the feelings of his hearers even to tears; and affecting his prisoner, for the first and only time during the trial, so as to make it necessary for the Sheriff to assist him out of the Court Room.  Indeed, the entire defence, from first to last, was conducted with consummate ability.

?Mr. Davis spoke to evidence in a strong, candid argument.  His object seemed to be (as that of every public prosecutor ought to be on every occasion) not so much to procure a conviction, right or wrong, as to have justice done -- he was laboring, not to get a verdict whether the defendant be guilty or innocent, but to punish the criminal.

It is generally conceded that he has performed the duty which devolved upon him as Prosecuting Attorney in this case, with uncommon skill, industry and care; jealously guarding and asserting the rights of the People as prosecutors, without pertinacity upon points that might be doubtful.

The charge of Judge Turner occupied about twenty minutes, and exhibited the accustomed calm, impartial, concise, and admirable clearness, or instruction, which characterizes his Honor's manner of giving a case to the jury.

=====================================

Well - we have a murder (?) of a respected man, Aaron Seaver,  in Grand Blanc, Genesee County, Michigan.

The Defense rebuttal testimony was all about the truth and veracity of the accuser of Mortimer Seaver - Alvah Kennedy.  Not one witness sang his praises, but did think Mrs. Seaver had a reputation for truth and veracity.  It's unfortunate that the reporter missed the defense closing - it would have been interesting to hear how he summed up the case.  

Aaron Seaver (1793-1857) is a second cousin, six times removed to me.  Our common ancestors are my 7th great-grandparents, Joseph Seaver (1672-1754) and Mary Read (1680-????).

Stay tuned!!  The verdict of the jury is next!  We're almost done!

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 26: #33 Abigail (Gates) Seaver (1797-1867)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post Challenge:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  Here is my ancestor biography for week #26:

Abigail (Gates) Seaver (1797-1867) is #33 on my Ahnentafel List, and is my 3rd great-grandmother. She married (1) Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825) in 1817, and (2) Isaac Seaver (1802-1870) in 1832.


I am descended through:

*  their son, #16, Isaac Seaver III (1823-1901), who married #17 Lucretia T. Smith (1828-1884) in 1851.
*  their son, #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922), who married #9 Hattie Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920), in 1874.
*  their son, #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942), who married #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) in 1900.* their son, #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002), in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

 =====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):



*  Birth Name:                Abigail Gates [1-4]
*  Sex:                           Female   
*  Father:                     Nathan Gates (1767-1830)   
*  Mother:                     Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855)   
  
*  Alternate Name:         Abigail Seaver [5–13]

2) INDIVIDUAL FACTS  (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
   
*  Birth:                        24 February 1797, Gardner, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [1-2]
*  Administration:          8 June 1825 (age 28), petition of widow for administration of estate of Benjamin Seaver; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [5]    
*  Guardianship:            1 April 1826 (age 29), petition for guardianship of minor children; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [5]   
*  Census:                    1 June 1850 (age 53), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [6]
*  Census:                    1 June 1860 (age 63), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [7]
*  Census:                   1 June 1865 (age 68), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [8]
*  Death:                     4 January 1867 (age 69), cancer; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [9]
*  Burial:                     after 4 January 1867 (after age 69), Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [10]
*  Probate:                  1 February 1867 (age 69), letter of administration granted; Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [11]
       
3)  MARRIAGES/CHILDREN (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                 Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)    
*  Marriage 1:              2 March 1817 (age 20), published; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [3-4]
*  Child 1:                   Abigail Seaver (1817-1899)   
*  Child 2:                   Lucinda Seaver (1821-1899)    
*  Child 3:                   Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)    
*  Child 4:                   Benjamin Seaver (1825-1836)

*  Spouse 2:                Isaac Seaver (1802-1870)    
*  Marriage 2:             13 November 1832 (age 35), published; Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States [12-13]
*  Child 5:                   Lyman Seaver (1834-1888)   
*  Child 6:                   Loring B. Seaver (1837-1884)    
 
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):


 Abigail Gates was born 24 Februaruy 1797 in Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts[1-2] to Nathan and Abigail (Knowlton) Gates, their sixth child of fifteen.  The Gardner, Mass. Town Record that recorded the births of the children of "Nathan Gates and Abagail his wife" included:

"Abigail Born Feb. 24th 1797"

Abigail Gates married Benjamin Sever on 15 February 1817 in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts.[3-4]  The marriage record in the Westminster, Mass. Town Records says:

"Feb^y 15 1817; Mr. Benjamin Sever and Miss Abigail Gates both of Westminster March 2;  published for marriage as the law directs."

Abigail and Benjamin had four children recorded in the Westminster town records - Abigail, Lucinda, Isaac and Benjamin.  

Benjamin Seaver died in 1825, and Abigail requested the Probate Court to appoint Edward Jackson to be administrator.[5]  The estate was inventoried, Abigail's dower rights were set off to her, and the estate was declared insolvent.  The property was sold at auction, and Abigail was left with $29 in early 1827.  She requested appointment as guardian of her four children on 1 april 1826, and it was granted, with Isaac Seaver, Nathan Wetherbee and Henry Collidge, Jr posting $5000 bond as sureties.

Abigail Seaver married Isaac Seaver on 13 November 1832 in Westminster, her first husband's younger brother, as her second husband.[12-13]   The Westminster, Mass. Town Record for the marriage of Abigail (Gates) Seaver to her second husband, Isaac Seaver, says:

"Feb 13 1832:  Mr. Isaac Seaver and Mrs. Abigail Seaver both of Westminster
29th:  published for marriage as the law directs"

Abigail and Isaac Seaver had two children, Lyman and Loring, soon after their marriage.  Her son, Benjamin died in 1836.

In the 1850 US census, the Isaac Seaver family resided in Westminster, Worcester County, MA.[6]  The household included:

*   Isaac Seaver -age 47, farmer, $1,200 in real property, born MA
*  Abigail Seaver - age 53, born MA
*  Leyman Seaver - age 16, farmer, born MA
*  Loring Seaver - age 13, born MA

In the 1860 US census, the Isaac Seaver family resided in Westminster, Worcester County, Mass.[7]   The household included:

*  Isaac Seaver - age 57, born Mass., farmer, #1,200 in real property, $300 in personal property
*  Abigail Seaver age 63, born Mass.
*  Emma Seaver - age 1, born Mass.

In the 1865 Massachusetts State Census, the Isaac Seaver household in Westminster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, contained:[8]

*  Isaac Seaver - age 62, male, born Westminster, Mass., married, a farmer, ratable poll checked, legal voter checked
*  Abigail Seaver - age 68, female, born Gardner, Mass., married, a housekeeper
*  Cynthia Ray - age 53, female, born Westminster, Mass., single, a domestic

The death record for Abigail Seaver (maiden name Gates) in the Gardner, Mass. list of deaths in 1867, from the Massachusetts Vital Records books, `1841-1915, includes this information:[9]

*  Date of death:  January 4 1867
*  Name and surname of the Deceased:  Abigail Seaver, M.N. Gates
*  Sex:  Female
*  Condition:  Married
*  Age:  69 years, 10 months, 20 days
*  Disease or Cause of Death:  Cancer
*  Residence and Place of Death:  Gardner
*  Occupation:  -----
*  Place of Birth:  Gardner
*  Name and Birthplace of Parents:
       Father:  Nathan Gates, Gardner
       Mother Abigail, Lexington

The gravestone inscription for Benjamin and Abigail Seaver in Whitmanville Cemetery in Westminster, Massachusetts says:[10]

"Benjamin Seaver
died
 May 25 1825
AE. 33
Abigail 
wife of
Isaac Seaver
formerly wife of
Benj. Seaver
died Jan. 4 1867
AE. 69."

Abigail Seaver of Westminster died intestate.  Her husband Isaac Seaver was named administrator of her estate, on 1 February 1867.  Bond was signed by Isaac Seaver, Samuel A. Munroe, Abigail Munroe and John Edgell on 9 February 1867.[11]

In the probate records are a list of relations:

Isaac Seavers (husband, of Westminster)
Abigail Munroe (Daughter of Gordon)             
Samuel A. Munroe (son-in-law of Gordon),
Lucinda Bruce (daughter of Westminster),
James A. Bruce (son-in-law of Westminster),
Isaac Seavers (son of Westminster)
Lyman Seavers (son of Westminster)
Loren B. Seavers (son of Austin, Nevada)

SOURCES:
 
1. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Gardner Births, page 33 (stamped): Abigail Gates entry.

2. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Gardner, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1949 (Worcester, Mass. :  Franklin P. Rice,1907), Births, page 27.

3. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Westminster Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 299 (penned), image 379, Marriage of Benjamin Sever and Abigail Gates.

4. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Worcester, Mass.: F.P. Rice, 1908), Marriages, page 186: Benjamin Sever and Abigail Gates entry.

5. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records" (Worcester County Probate Courthouse, Worcester, Mass.),  Probate Packet 52,866, Benjamin Seaver (1825) estate, widow's petition for administration.

6. 1850 United States Federal Census, Worcester County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Westminster town; Page 63A, Isaac Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 340.

7. 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Westminster; Page 17, dwelling # 128, family #136, Isaac Seaver household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives publication M653, Roll 531.

8. "Massachusetts, State Census, 1865", Worcester County, Westminster, Page 36 (penned), Dwelling #320, family #362, Isaac Seaver household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org).

9. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," indexed database and digital images,  New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Deaths: Volume 204, Page 222.

10. Whitmanville Cemetery (Westminster, Massachusetts), Grave Markers, Abigail Seaver gravestone.

11. "Worcester County, Massachusetts Probate Court Records"  (Worcester County Probate Courthouse, Worcester, Mass.), Probate Packet 52,857, Abigail (Gates) (Seaver) Seaver, 1867; letter of administration granted.

12. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Westminster, Births, Marriages, and Deaths," page 326 (image 393), Isaac Seaver and Mrs. Abigail Seaver entry.

13. Systematic History Fund, Vital Records of Westminster, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, Marriages, page 186: Isaac Seaver and Abigail Seaver entry.

=======================================


Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Thursday, June 26, 2014

WikiTree DNA Confirmation Aid Results

WikiTree announced their DNA Confirmation Aid yesterday - see WikiTree Announces DNA Ancestor Confirmation Aid.  The operative paragraphs from the press release:

"The combination of DNA testing and a collaborative worldwide family tree is enabling something that most genealogists never expected: scientificconfirmation of their genealogy.

"Today WikiTree is announcing the DNA Ancestor Confirmation Aid, a tool to help genealogists confirm their ancestry. Because of the broad-based collaboration on WikiTree and the fact that the Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA is passed down relatively unchanged for many generations in known inheritance patterns, a DNA test taken by one genealogist can aid the research of many distant cousins. In turn, the research of one genealogist can dramatically expand the utility of other people’s DNA tests."


I wanted to try it out, since I have done Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA tests done, and know my haplogroups.  Here is the very simple process on WikiTree:

1)  On my private profile on WikiTree, I clicked on the "DNA" button at the top right of the profile:



2)  That opened the "DNA Tests..." page and I could enter information about my Y-DNA test (two screens below):



Since I had my Y-DNA test done by Genebase a long time ago, I entered "Other yDNA" in the box for "Add this test for randy Seaver."

The initial test on Genebase was only 20 markers, and said that I was haplogroup R1b1b.  I also received results from Sorenson/GeneTree with 43 markers, which also indicated haplogroup R1b1b.  Subsequently, my 23andMe test said my Y-DNA haplogroup was R1b1b2a1a.  I decided to use R1b1b2a1a.  I entered my markers in Y-Search some time ago - I am profile D5XXM.  I entered all of that information into the form above - that's all it wants!

I don't know what would happen if I did not have a profile on Y-Search.

3)  I clicked on the dark green button to "Add Test for Randy Seaver."  The information was accepted by WikiTree, and I saw:



This summarized what I had input.

I went to my Private Profile and saw:


Under the "DNA Tested" section on the right, it noted that "Randy Seaver's DNA has been tested for genealogical purposes."  

4)  I expected that my father, grandfather and other persons in my known paternal surname line would also indicate this.  But they don't.  Here is my grandfather's profile:


In his "DNA" section, it says "No know carriers of Frederick Walton's Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA have taken yDNA or myDNA tests and no close relatives have taken a 23andMe, AncestryDNA or Family Tree DNA "Family Finder" test."

I was concerned about that - why didn't my grandfather's profile reflect my Y-DNA test results?  I emailed WikiTree, and quickly received this information from Chris Whitten:

"We only rebuild the DNA test connections once a day, at night. So, tomorrow morning you will see notices on http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Seaver-27 and http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Seaver-30 etc. etc., all the way up to the last known ancestor in the direct male line, and then --  significantly -- all the way down all the direct male lines, not just the one you're on. It's this latter part that has the real power. It's the dynamite possibility from all being connected on the same tree."

My thanks to Chris for clarifying that - I'll come back tomorrow and see if all of that happened overnight!  I expect my brothers, and my uncle, and many more Seaver males in WikiTree to show that a Y-DNA test result has been added to WikiTree.  And I'll write about it one way or another!

5)  WikiTree was, I think, really smart to use the Y-Search site as an entry because it is free and is across-the-board on Y-DNA tests - information from any test company can be added to Y-Search and perhaps matches can be found across test companies.  

Likewise, I think WikiTree leveraged the power of a "unified" family tree to enable and expand users' knowledge about their Y-DNA and mtDNA characteristics.  The other "unified" trees (Geni, FamilySearchFamily Tree, WeRelate, OneGreatFamily, are there others?) don't have this feature to date (I think...).  

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/06/wikitree-dna-confirmation-aid-results.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver





The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 12: The Defense Testimony Ends, and the Prosecution Rebuttal Testimony

am transcribing a series of newspaper articles concerning the 1858 murder trial of Mortimer Seaver published in the Flint, Michigan Wolverine Citizen newspaper.  The series to date:

*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 1: Benjamin Phillips Testimony (10 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 2: Jeremiah Slack's Testimony (11 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 3: Testimony of 4 More Witnesses (12 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 4: Testimony of 10 More Witnesses (13 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 5: Testimony of the Victim's Wife (16 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 6: More Testimony of Sarah Seaver (17 June 2014)

*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 7: Testimony From 11 Witnesses (18 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 8: Prosecution Rests, Defense Starts (19 June 2014)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 9: Defense Testimony About Rifles and Balls (20 June 2013)
*  The 1858 Murder Trial of Mortimer Seaver - Post 10: More Defense Testimony (23 June 2014)

The article starts in the right-hand column of Page 1 above, continues on to most of Page 2, and then finishes in the 30 January 1858 edition of the newspaper on pages 1 and 2.  The first page of the 30 January 1858 issue is at http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=9AjqDp0R1qcC.

I am transcribing the articles in a series of blog posts - who knows how long this will take.  I hope my readers enjoy it.  Note that this is a reporter's summary of the trial, not the trial court transcript.

===============================================
[from page 2, columns 2-3, 30 January 1858, Wolverine Citizen [Flint, Mich.] newspaper]
[continued]

EBENEZER BISHOP, RECALLED

Witness picks out Luther's gun; has repaired this gun; has known gun eight or ten years.

On his cross-examination, witness stated he was a farmer, but could repair guns, and had fixed other guns.

CHARLES SEAVER, RECALLED

Thinks the guns are just in the same condition as when he gave them to Mr. Johnson.  Heard guns the forenoon of the day his father was killed, through the woods in that neighborhood - south, south west, and south east; some were rifles and some were shot guns.

Cross-examined -- Was at work that forenoon, within four rods of his own house; thinks it was not far from sundown, when Mortimer and witness started for Grand Blanc.

The Court here adjourned till 8-1/2 o-clock next morning.

Saturday, January 23d.

CHARLES SEAVER, RECALLED

Witness produced the scythe used by his father, at the time the body was found dead; his father was five feet ten inches in height; witness thinks he examined the scythe soon after the body was found; the scythe had the appearance of being partially whetted.

TESTIMONY OF SILAS MAINE

Witness examined the scythe soon after the body was found; it was about one o'clock P.M.; the scythe had the appearance of being whetted about two-thirds of the way down from the heel to the point.

TESTIMONY OF ORVILLE OWEN

The scythe had the appearance of having just been whetted when witness examined it.

ELIJAH STANTON, RECALLED

Witness thinks that the bullet found in Mr. Seaver's body has the appearance of having struck something before entering the body. [Witness here weighs in a pair of scales the ball found in the body, with balls cast for rifles owned by the prisoner, and Luther Seaver.] They do not correspond in weight; the bruised ball is 2 dwts. heavier than a perfect ball cast in the mod belonging to prisoner's rifle, and 5 dwts. and 6 grains than a ball cast in Luther's.  Witness does not think that a ball loses much of any weight in being shot, even when it enters wood.

TESTIMONY OF GUSTAVUS CHAPPEL

The pistol belongs to witness; heard Mr. slack's testimony; witness examined the stump where Mr. Slack thought a rifle had been put down; saw a wagon track there; witness let prisoner have the pistol twice.

The defence here closed their testimony.

REBUTTING EVIDENCE ON THE PART OF THE PROSECUTION

By stipulation of Counsel, Mr. Davis read the following statement in writing from Dr. King, whose presence in Court was prevented by sickness:

"GRAND BLANC, January 23, 1858.

At the time of the post mortem, I had conversation with Mortimer Seaver, in which he told me that he came to the house to get some water, and then returned to the field, where he found his father lying as if asleep; and without touching him, he returned to the house and told his mother that his father was shot.  I asked him what made him think his father was shot.  He replied that he did not known, but that he did think he was shot.
                                              J.W. KING."

TESTIMONY OF CYRUS SILSER (??)

Lives in the town of Grand Blanc; has hunted considerable. [Witness exhibited a number of balls -- all one kind of bullet, cast in the same mold -- to show the effect produced on them by shooting.  Showed one which had been fired at five rods distance in to seasoned oak; another shot at 17 rods distance into seasoned hickory; a third, which after striking oak had glanced upward and lodged in a board.]

Witness had proved by experiments in several States, that a ball loses weight in being shot; there is more or less loss caused in the weight of balls by striking against a hard substance. [To prove this, witness exhibits two balls cast in the same mold, one having been shot into wood and cut out -- the other not having been used.  The balls were put in scales, and the weight varied considerably.]

Cross-examined -- It is customary with hunters to put down the square end of the ball first, in the gun; witness always does so.  

Witness was not acquainted with Mr. Seaver; has a rifle; does not know how many cuts in it -- it may have six; witness was cutting corn on the 25th of September; lent his rifle to Henry Pettengill in July; got it

[page 2, column 4]

back from him in October; saw it in the mean time; saw it two weeks before the 25th of September, and the Sunday after, in the town of Flint; could not say positively where it was on the 25th of September.

BENNAGER TUPPER, RECALLED

Has been in this country, a number of years, and shot a good many deer, but never paid attention to the effect produced on balls shot into trees.  Was at the house, and one of the jury, on the 25th of September; heard Mrs. Seaver say that the guns stood in the wood-house until Mortimer took the rifle and hung it up.

Cross-examined -- Mr. Bishop was present, and Mr. Kennedy, and perhaps Judge Smith; there were a number of others.

SALLY SEAVER, RECALLED

Witness did not state to Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Tupper, that she heard the report of that heavy gun, she was knitting and reading a newspaper, and had been sitting there half an hour.

Cross-examined -- Witness had got ready to knit, but did not knit a stitch that day.

ALVAH KENNEDY, RECALLED

Mrs. Seaver did tell witness that she was knitting and reading a newspaper, and had been sitting there half an hour.

Cross-examined -- When she said so, it might have been 9 o'clock at night, or later; there was not a crowd present.

ORVILLE OWEN, RECALLED

When witness went out to see the ground where the prisoner had been mowing, and hung the scythe on the fence, Mr. Maine said something about cattle on the other side hurting themselves, which caused witness to take it down again; and witness thinks he put it on the ground, with the blade under the fence.  Has had some experience as a hunter; has always seen hunter put the neck of the ball in first, when loading; thinks the concavity often seen in bullets is caused by their striking a hard substance.

BENJAMIN PHILLIPS, RECALLED

Was dragging wheat about half a mile west of where Mr. Seaver was shot that forenoon; heard shots south west of where he worked; pigeons were then plenty.

PORTER MC WAIN, RECALLED

Was plowing the forenoon of the day Mr. Seaver was shot, about a half mile south east; the wind was in the south west; could not remember hearing any shots ion the direction of Seaver's.  Gunners would not be likely to be hunting deer at that season; pigeons were plenty.

Cross-examined -- Heard guns to the south, early in the morning.

JAMES RICE, RECALLED

That forenoon, witness was cutting up corn, a little less than half a mile north east of where Mr. Seaver was at work, did not hear any reports.

T.J. MC WAIN, RECALLED

Was plowing that forenoon, half a mile south east from where Mr. Seaver was shot; has no recollection of hearing any guns except early in the morning.  Pigeons were plenty.

JEREMIAH SLACK, RECALLED

Was at work that forenoon half a mile off in a north east direction; heard no guns that forenoon; pigeons were very plenty.

BENJAMIN PHILLIPS

Cross-examined -- Heard of a deer being killed right north of witness house within a week; heard of Charles Seaver killing a 'possum last fall.

Counsel for the People have closed the evidence for the prosecution.

=====================================

Well - we have a murder (?) of a respected man, Aaron Seaver,  in Grand Blanc, Genesee County, Michigan.

This part of the trial has the end of direct testimony by defense witnesses, and the rebuttal witnesses for the prosecution.  The emphasis in this portion seems to be on the damage to a ball when fired into something, who heard gunshots in the forenoon and where they were located, and if pigeons were plentiful.

Aaron Seaver (1793-1857) is a second cousin, six times removed to me.  Our common ancestors are my 7th great-grandparents, Joseph Seaver (1672-1754) and Mary Read (1680-????).

Stay tuned!!  The defense rebuttal testimony is next, followed by closing arguments.  We're almost done!

The URL for this post is:  
http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/06/the-1858-murder-trial-of-mortimer_26.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver