Saturday, July 19, 2014

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Where Were They 100 Years Ago?

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



Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible! music) is to:

1)  Determine where your ancestral families were on 19 July 1914 - 100 years ago.

2)  List them, their family members, their birth years, and their residence location (as close as possible).  Do you have a photograph of their residence from about that time, and does the residence still exist?

3)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a Facebook Status or Google+ Stream post.

Here's mine:

*  My grandparents Frederick W. Seaver (born 1876) and Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver  (born 1882) resided at 290 Central Street in Leominster, Massachusetts with their children:  Marion (born 1901), Evelyn (born 1903), Ruth (born 1907), Frederick W (born 1911, my father), and Edward R. (born 1913).  I have recent pictures of this residence, which still stands in Leominster.

*  My great-grandparents Frank W. Seaver (born 1852) and Hattie (Hildreth) (born 1857) Seaver resided at 149 Lancaster Street in Leominster, Massachusetts with my great-great-grandmother Sophia (Newton) Hildreth (born 1834).  I have a 1910 picture of this house, plus recent photographs, which still stands in Leominster.

*  My great-grandfather Thomas Richmond (born 1848)  resided in Putnam, Connecticut, perhaps at 6 Church Street.  I don't have a picture of that residence.

*  My great-grandparents Henry Austin Carringer (born 1853) and Della (Smith) Carringer (born 1862) resided at 2105 30th Street in San Diego, California with their son, my grandfather Lyle L. Carringer (born 1891).  Della's mother, Abbie A. (Vaux) Smith (born 1844), lived with them.  I have many pictures of this residence, which now stands at 2115 30th Street..

*  My great-grandparents Charles Auble (born 1849) and Georgianna (Kemp) Auble (born 1868) resided at 767 14th Street in San Diego, California with their daughter, my grandmother Emily Kemp Auble (born 1899).  I have one picture of this residence, which was demolished many years ago.

So I have 14 direct ancestors living at this time, 100 years ago.


The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/07/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-where-were.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Surname Saturday - LNU (New Jersey > 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 #1021 who is Hester LNU (1720-1798)
 [Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through only 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)

254.  Mulford Martin (1763-????)
255.  Betsey Rolfe (1766-????)


510.  Ephraim Rolfe (1743-1818)
511.  Sarah Campbell (1746-1838)

1020.  Jonathan Rolph, born before 30 August 1714 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 08 July 1791 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.  He was the son of 2040. Moses Rolfe and 2041. Mary Hale.  He married about 1737 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
1021 Hester LNU, born about 1720; died 29 September 1798 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.

Children of Jonathan Rolph and Hester are:

i. Esther Rolph, born about 1738 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died about 1740 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
ii. Isabell Rolph, born about 1740 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 1740 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
iii. Ephraim Rolfe, born 1743 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 27 May 1818 in Ithaca, Tompkins, New York, United States; married Sarah Campbell about 1762 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
iv. Martha Rolph, born about 1746 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
v. Elizabeth Rolph, born about 1752 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States.
vi. Jonathan Rolfe, born 1754 in probably Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 13 February 1830 in Steuben, New York, United States; married (1) Patience Coon 13 May 1776 in Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; born about 1756 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died about 1789 in Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; married (2) Elsie Coon 11 January 1790 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; born 1769 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 29 May 1848 in Steuben, New York, United States.
vii. Moses Rolfe, born 1756 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; died 05 October 1832 in Alabama, Genesee, New York, United States; married Jane about 1776 in New Jersey, United States; born Abt. 1759 in New Jersey, United States; died 04 January 1837 in Alabama, Genesee, New York, United States.

There may be other children in this family. 

Hester may not be them other of all of the children above - some online trees list a 1728 birth in France, and a 1746 marriage to Jonathan Rolph, for her.

I have no clue what the maiden surname of Hester (or Esther) LNU is.  Apaprently, no one else does either - at least on Ancestry Member Trees, FamilySearch Family Tree, Geni World Tree, or MyHeritage trees.  

The information for this Rolfe family was obtained from:

Frederick G. Rolfe, The Early Rolfe Settlers of New England, Volume I, (Baltimore, Md. : Gateway Press, Inc., 1995), accessed on FamilySearch Books (https://books.familysearch.org/).

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/07/surname-saturday-lnu-new-jersey-new-york.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Friday, July 18, 2014

Seavers in the News - Post 6: Almost Finding James T. Seaver's Parents

While searching for interesting tidbits in Mocavo.com databases about Seaver persons, I ran across an article concerning James T. Seaver, Acting Master of the U.S. Steamer Philippi in the Civil War.  There were two reports - the first is the letter to the Secretary of War by Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut, which is transcribed in Seavers in the News - James T. Seaver, Master of a Civil War Vessel - Post 1, and the second was the report of James T. Seaver about this incident, shown in Post 2.  I found an article in a book about the court-martial of James and wrote about it in Seavers in the News -- James T. Seaver, Master of a Civil War Vessel - Post 3.  

The court-martial ended the Naval career of James T. Seaver.  Then I wondered if he had a family, and who his parents were.  The answers first came in the U.S. Census - see Seavers in the News - Post 4: Finding James T. Seaver in the U.S. Census.  There were more answers in Vital Records - see Seavers in the News - Post 5: Finding James T. Seaver in Massachusetts Vital Records.  Finally, I wondered who his parents were.  I had a clue in the previous post from James T. Seaver's marriage and death records.  Can I find birth, marriage and death records, and census records, and parent's names for his parents?

1)  My first search for James H. Seaver (or James N. Seaver?) and/or wife Rachel (or Racheal) B. Seaver was in the 1850 U.S. Census.  I found who I think is Rachael B. Seaver in the 1850 U.S. Census living in Gloucester, Massachusetts:


Rachael B. Seaver is residing with the Samuel Sayward family.  She is age 43, born in Massachusetts.  She may be boarding with this family, or may be related to either Samuel Sayward or his wife Caroline C. Sayward, age 41.  

Note that there is no spouse listed for Rachael B.  Seaver. Had he died by 1850?  Was he a mariner not in the United States at this time?  Were they separated or divorced?  A search for many possible names using first name, middle initials, and Seaver surname variants showed no candidates that I did not already have in my database with a family in another location.

2)  At least I knew that Rachael B. Seaver was alive in 1850, so there may be a death record in Massachusetts vital records for her.  There were "Suggested Hints" on Ancestry.com for these records.  I easily found what I think is the correct record:


The extracted information from this record for Rachel B. Seaver in Boston vital records is:

*  Rachel B. Seaver, died 8 July 1857, age 50 years, 4 months.  She was a widow, and died of cancer.  Her parents were Adna and Rachel Bates.

The age at death implies a birth in March 1807.  I searched Ancestry.com for a birth record, but did not find one.  A search on AmericanAncestors.org resulted in a baptism in the Cohasset Vital Records book for Rachel Briggs Bates on 14 June 1807, daughter of Adna Bates Jr.


4)  I looked in the two "External Databases" on AmericanAncestors.org for matches with both Rachel and James Seaver, and found a genealogy gem in the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers collection - an obituary:


Note that it says that she was the widow of James N. Seaver, so N. is probably the correct middle initial for her husband.

I did not find any article in these two newspaper databases for James N. Seaver in Boston or Massachusetts. 

5)  I struggled to find a birth, marriage or death record for the father of James T. Seaver - James N. Seaver.  I estimated that the father James N. Seaver was born in the 1790 to 1810 time period (based on James T. Seaver's birth in 1832, and Rachel's birth in about 1807), perhaps in Boston, Massachusetts.  I found none.

6)  I looked in my database for James Seaver/Sever candidates, and found one - a James Seaver, born about 1804, probably in Boston, to Nathaniel and Hannah (Loker) Seaver.  I had no spouse for this James Seaver, and no death date.  The William Blake Trask article in NEHGR Volume 26, and the Jesse Montgomery Seaver typescript, names him as their oldest son, and notes that he died unmarried.  The book says this about the father, Nathaniel Seaver (1753-1827):

"...resided in Boston and was in shipping business for many years; merchant; joined First Church at Roxbury, 9/19/1799, owner of pew No. 74, lower floor, Fifth Meeting House."

I found three baptism records for children of Nathaniel and Hannah (Loker) Seaver in the Boston Church Records book, available on AmericanAncestors.org, but James was not included. 

One of the sons of Nathaniel and Hannah (Loker) Seaver was Horace Seaver (1810-1889), who was the longtime editor of The Investigator newspaper in Boston (the Rachel Seaver obituary noted above was in The Investigator).  If James N. Seaver was the son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Loker) Seaver, and the brother of Horace Seaver, then the obituary is for Horace's sister-in-law.  That's pretty thin evidence, isn't it?

7)  There are many resources that I have not investigated yet, but most of them are inaccessible to me, being either in manuscript form in Boston or another repository, or on Family History Library microfilm.  

In summary, I have not conclusively identified parents of James N. Seaver, husband of Rachael B. (Bates) Seaver and father of James Thomas Seaver, the former acting Master of the U.S.S. Philippi. I do have this one lead...

I think that I will keep James N. Seaver, the husband of Rachel Bates and father of James T. Seaver, separate from James Seaver, the son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Loker) Seaver, for the time being.  


Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



Contribute to the "Why Join a Society?" Survey

Gail Dever, on her Genealogy a la Carte blog, has created a "Why Join a Society?" survey.  She notes:

What are the most important factors that make you decide to join a genealogy society? Do you join for the lectures? To meet other genealogists? To have access to resources? Member discounts? Webinars? Volunteer opportunities?

Please take this survey about why you join a genealogy society. It should take only a couple of minutes. Results will be posted soon after the survey closes Sunday, July 20.


Please visit her blog to click on the link to the survey:  http://genealogyalacarte.ca/?p=3937
You can click on any number of about 40 different reasons to join a genealogy society.  I selected 10 of them.
Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 29: #36, Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857)

Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" in her blog post Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  Here is my ancestor biography for week #29:

Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857) is #36 on my Ahnentafel List, and is my 3rd great-grandfather. He married Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810.


I am descended through:

*  their son, #18 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899)who married #19, Sophia Newton (1834-1923) in 1852.

*  their daughter, #9 Harriet Louisa Hildreth (1857-1920) who married #8 Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922) 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):
*  Name:                  Zachariah Hildreth [1–12]   
*  Sex:                     Male   
*  Father:                 Zachariah Hildreth (1754-1828)   
*  Mother:                Elizabeth Keyes (1759-1793)   
  

*  Alternate Name:    Zacheus Hildreth [13]

2)  INDIVIDUAL FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                    10 April 1783, Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [1-3]
*  Census:                 1 June 1820 (age 37), Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [13]
*  Census:                 1 June 1830 (age 47), Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [5]   
*  Census:                 1 June 1840 (age 57), Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [6]   
*  Census:                 1 June 1850 (age 67), Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [7]   
*  Occupation:           1 June 1850 (age 67), farmer; Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [14]
*  Census:                 1 June 1855 (age 72) Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [8]   
*  Occupation:           22 January 1857 (age 73), cooper; Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [10]
*  Death:                   22 January 1857 (age 73), of consumption; Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [9-10]
*  Burial:                   after 22 January 1857 (after age 73), New Cemetery, Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [11]
*  Probate:                17 February 1857 (age 73), Administration granted; Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States [12]
   
3)  MARRIAGES/CHILDREN (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
      
*  Spouse 1:               Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857)   
*  Marriage:               21 October 1810 (age 27), Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States [4, 14-15]

*  Child 1:                 Aaron Hildreth (1811-1884)   
*  Child 2:                 Clarissa Hildreth (1814-1819)    
*  Child 3:                 James Hildreth (1817-1892)    
*  Child 4:                 Clarissa Hildreth (1820-1852)    
*  Child 5:                 Elizabeth Hildreth (1822-1910)    
*  Child 6:                 Milo Hildreth (1824-1893)    
*  Child 7:                 Moses Hildreth (1828-1893)   
*  Child 8:                 Edward Hildreth (1831-1899)   
*  Child 9:                 Harriet Augusta Hildreth (1835-1850)   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

Zachariah Hildreth was born in Townsend, Massachusetts,[1-3] the fourth child of Zachariah and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Keyes) Hildreth, who were married on 1 September 1777 in Townsend.  The Townsend, Massachusetts town record book includes the birth of Zachariah Hildreth[2]:

"Aaron son of Zachariah and Elizabeth Hildreth born Oct 30th 1778
...
Zachariah Son of Do born April 10th 1783."

The Townsend town vital record book provides the marriage intention record for Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtell as[14]:

"1810 Sept. 5th rec'd of Mr. Zachriah Hildreth Jr. and Miss Hannah Sartell of this Town, with their intention of Marriage"

The Townsend town vital office record book also provides the marriage record for Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtell as[15]:

"Return of Marriages of Rev'd David Palmer and as follows:
...
October 21 [1810] Zachariah Hildreth Jnr to Hannah Sartell"

A list of the family of Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtell was found in a Bible owned by the Northborough Historical Society.[4] The "Milo Hildreth Family Bible Records"  shows the following:

Zachariah Hildreth married Hannah Sawtelle  Oct-21-1810

Zachariah Hildreth born April 10th-1783     died Jan 22d 1857  Agd 73-9-12
Hannah Sawtelle         Nov 6-1789               Jan 13th 1857  " 67-2-7

The list of children includes:

*  Aaron Hildreth        March 11th 1811   died June 11th 1884  Agd 73-3
*  Clarissa Hildreth     Aug 18th 1814       "  Sept 16th 1819   Agd 5-0-29
*  James Hildreth        May 3d 1817         "  April 13th 1892   - 74-11-10
*  Clarissa Hildreth     Jan 24th 1820       "  July 24th 1852  agd 32-6-0
*  Elizabeth Hildreth    April 26 1822
*  Milo Hildreth         Aug 17th 1824
*  Moses Hildreth        Dec 27th 1828
*  Edward Hildreth       April 30th 1831
*  Harriet Augusta Hildreth  July 25th 1835  " July 7th 1850  Agd 14-4-1

In the 1820 U.S. Census, the Zacheus Hildreth Jr. family resided in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[13]  The household included:

*  two males under age 10
*  one male aged 26 to 45
*  one female under age 10
*  one female aged 26 to 45.

In the 1830 U.S. Census, the Zachariah Hildreth family resided in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[5]  The household included:

*  one male under age 5
*  one male age 5 to 9
*  one male age 10 to 14
*  one male age 15 to 19
*  one male age 20 to 29
*  one male age 40 to 49
*  one female age 5 to 9
*  one female age 10 to 14
*  one female age 40 to 49.

In the 1840 U.S. Census, the Zachariah Hildreth family resided in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[6]  The household included:

*   one male age 5-9
*  one male age 10-14
*  one male age 20-29
*  one male age 50-59
*  one female under age 5
*  one female age 15-19
*  one female age 20-29
*  one female age 40-49.

In the 1850 U.S. Census, the Zachariah Hildreth family resided in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[7]  The family included:

*  Zachariah Hildreth, age 61, male, a farmer, $1000 in real property, born Massachusetts
*  Hannah Hildreth, age 57, female, born New Hampshire
*  Harriet A. Hildreth, age 14, female, born Massachusetts, attended school.

The death record for Zachariah Hildreth states that he was a cooper, aged 73, and a widower when he died of consumption in Townsend MA on 22 January 1857.[10]  He was born in Townsend Massachusetts, the son of Zachariah and Betsy Hildreth.

The Townsend Vital Records book contains a burial record of Zachariah Hildreth in New Cemetery.  The record says for the family group[11]:

Hildreth, Clarissa, d. Zachariah & Hannah, Sept. 16, 1820,a. 5y. 29d.
Hildreth, Harriet A., July 7, 1850, a. 14y. 11m., 12d.
Hildreth, Hannah, w. Zachariah, Jan. 13, 1857, a. 67y.
Hildreth, Zachariah, Jan. 22, 1857, a. 73y.

Milo Hildreth was appointed administrator of the estate of Zachariah Hildreth of Townsend Massachusetts.[12]  A court of probate was held at Charlestown on 17 February 1857 at which the following memorial was read:

The Memorial of "Milo Hildreth" of "Northborough" in said county "Worcester", Respectfully represents That "Zachariah Hildreth" who last dwelt in "Townsend" in said county of Middlesex within "two" months last died intestate, possessed of goods and estate remaining to be administered, leaving "no" widow and "6" children, "a child of a deceased that undersigned being his heirs-at-law desiring that your Memorialist should be appointed administrator of the estate of said deceased."

That no creditor is willing to administer on said estate.  That the said Memorialist is ready to give Bond, with sufficient sureties, for the due performance of said trust.  Wherefore your Memorialist prays that he may be appointed Administrator on the estate of said deceased, in manner and form as the law in such case provides.

/signed/  "Milo Hildreth"

The undersigned being all the Parties interested in the foregoing Petition, desire the same may be granted.

/signed/  "Aaron Hildreth"        "Joseph Chaffin"     "Elizabeth Chaffin"
"Moses H. Hildreth"   "Edward Hildreth"

The estate of Zachariah Hildreth was appraised by Joel Emery, Daniel Spaulding, and Ralph Ball on 10 February 1857 to be $65.24.

5)  SOURCES
 
1. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Townsend Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 98 (penned, image 163 of 1351), Zachariah Hildreth entry.

2. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts (Boston, Mass. :  New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), page 276, Zachariah Hildreth birth entry.

3. Townsend, Massachusetts, Certificate of Birth, Zachariah Hildreth, 10 April 1783; Town Clerk's Office, Townsend, Mass. (certificate dated 12 January 1995).

4. Richard C. Fipphen, "Bible Records - Northborough Historical Society," The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 35, No. 2 (July 1985), page 157, Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtelle entry.

5. 1830 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Townsend town, page 265, Zachariah Hildreth household; indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M19, Roll 67.

6. 1840 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Townsend; Page 204, Zachariah Hildreth household, indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, Roll 190.

7. 1850 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, population schedule; Townsend town, Page 312, Zachariah Hildreth household, indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 796.

8. "Massachusetts State Census, 1855,"  indexed database and digital image, FamilySearch.org  (https://www.familysearch.org), Middlesex County, Townsend, image 16 of 31, dwelling #1, family #1, Zachariah Hildreth household.

9. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Townsend Births, Marriages and Deaths," Page 98, on image 163, Zachariah Hildreth's birth entry.

10. "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1915," indexed database and digital images,  New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (http://www.AmericanAncestors.org), Deaths: Volume 112, Page 173, Townsend, 1857; Zachariah Hildreth death entry.

11. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts, page 355, New Cemetery, Townsend, Mass., Zachariah Hildreth burial entry.

12. "Probate Records 1648-1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts),"  886 FHL US/CAN Microfilms, Zachariah Hildreth of Townsend, Probate Packet 34,181, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,481,276.

13. 1820 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Townsend, Page 569, Zacheus Hildreth household; indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M33, Roll 51.

14. Henry C. Hallowell (editor), Vital Records of Townsend, Massachusetts, page 62, Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtell marriage intention entry.

15. Townsend, Massachusetts, Certificate of Marriage, Zachariah Hildreth and Hannah Sawtell, 21 October 1810; Town Clerk's Office, Townsend, Mass. (certificate dated 12 January 1995).

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

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/07/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-29-36.html

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Thursday, July 17, 2014

FamilySearch Worldwide Indexing Event is July 20-21

FamilySearch recently announced a 24-hour Worldwide Indexing Event in Join the Worldwide Indexing Event to be held Sunday July 20 to Monday, July 21, beginning at 6 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Pacific, midnight CUT on 21 July).


The goal is to have 50,000 indexers and arbitrators submit at least one batch of indexed records in the 24-hour period.

In addition, DearMYRTLE is hosting a Google+ Hangout On Air called a GeneaSleepOver in order to support this event.  See DearMYRTLE's GeneaSleepOver: woirldwide Indexing Project.


Read DearMYRTLE's blog post that describes it.  Prepare for it by reading DearMYRTLE's Prepping for the GeneaSleepOver post also.

To participate in the Indexing Project and the GeneaSleepOver, DearMYRTLE suggests:


  • Register with FamilySearch Indexing at: https://familysearch.org/indexing/ 
  • Commit to submitting at least one batch during the 24-hour period of the event.
  • JOIN the panel, VIEW and COMMENT during DearMYRTLE's GeneaSleepover.

  • There are directions to participate in, or just view, the GeneaSleepOver on DearMYRTLE's blog.

    I look forward to participating in the Indexing, but may not be able to participate in the Hangout On Air because my granddaughters are visiting us on these days.


    Copyyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



    Seavers in the News - Post 5: Finding James T. Seaver in Massachusetts Vital Records

    While searching for interesting tidbits in Mocavo.com databases about Seaver persons, I ran across an article concerning James T. Seaver, Acting Master of the U.S. Steamer Philippi in the Civil War.  There were two reports - the first is the letter to the Secretary of War by Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut, which is transcribed in Seavers in the News - James T. Seaver, Master of a Civil War Vessel - Post 1, and the second was the report of James T. Seaver about this incident, shown in Post 2.  I found an article in a book about the court-martial of James and wrote about it in Seavers in the News -- James T. Seaver, Master of a Civil War Vessel - Post 3.

    The court-martial apparently ended the Naval career of James T. Seaver.  Now I wondered if he had a family, and who his parents were.  The answers first came in the U.S. Census - see 
    Seavers in the News - Post 4: Finding James T. Seaver in the U.S. Census.

    From the census records, James T. Seaver was born in about 1832 in Massachusetts, and was married to Elizabeth D., born about 1830 in Massachusetts.  They had at least one child, James H. Seaver, born about 1859.

    I went searching for birth, marriage and death records for James T. Seaver in Massachusetts records on Ancestry.com:

    1)  I found no birth record for a James T. Seaver born about 1832.  This is not an unusual finding, only a certain percentage, perhaps 40 to 60%, of births in Massachusetts were recorded in town records in the 1830s.  State Registration was started in 1841.

    2)  A marriage record for James T. Seaver and Elizabeth D. Smith was found in the Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1840-1915 database on Ancestry.com:



    James G. Seaver and Elizabeth D. Smith were married on 30 December 1857 in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts by Rev. E.M. Bacon, pastor of First Church of Essex.  The extracted information for them includes:

    *  James G. Seaver - resident of Gloucester, age 26, a mariner, born in Boston, Mass., parents James N. and Racheal B. Seaver, first marriage
    *  Elizabeth D. Smith - resident of Gloucester, age 28, born in Waltham, parents are Isaac and Elizabeth D. Smith, first marriage

    3)  There is a death record for James T. Seaver in the Massachusetts Death Records, 1840-1915 on Ancestry.com:


    James T. Seaver died on 8 April 1895 in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts.  The information extracted from this record includes:

    *  James T. Seaver - male, married, age at death is 63 years, 1 month, 6 days, cause of death was paralysis and a severe cold, residence Gloucester, occupation Retired, place of birth Boston, parents names James H. and Racheal B. Bates, parents birthplace Boston.

    From this record, a calculated birth date can be obtained as 2 March 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts.

    4)  I found Elizabeth D. (Smith) Seaver's death record in the same database:



    Elizabeth D. (m.n. Smith) Seaver died 9 May 1899 in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.  The extracted information includes:

    *  Elizabeth D. (m.n. Smith) Seaver - female, widow, age at death 70 years, 7 months, cause of death was Heart and Kidney disease, resides and is buried in Gloucester, died in Rowley, occupation housekeeper, born in Waltham, parents names were Isaac and Elizabeth Davis, both born in Gloucester.

    So Elizabeth D. Smith, daughter of Isaac A. Smith and Elizabeth Davis, was born about 9 October 1828 in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  

    5)  There is a birth record for the son of James T. Seaver and Elizabeth D. Smith in the Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915 on Ancestry.com:



    James Hovey Seaver was born 15 May 1859 in Chelsea, Massachusetts.  The extracted information from this record is:

    *  James Hovey Seaver - parents names Jas. Thos. and Elizabeth D., father's occupation Mariner, father's birthplace Boston, mother's birthplace Waltham.

    This record provides the father's middle name - Thomas.  There is also a potential clue for his ancestry - Hovey is the child's middle name, and may be a surname of one of his grandparents or great-grandparents, or perhaps a family friend.

    I also checked for other Seaver births, with parents James and Elizabeth, born in Massachusetts, to see if perhaps James and Elizabeth had another child, who perhaps was born between, and died between, census enumerations.  I found none.

    6)  Now I know that mariner James T. Seaver's parents were James H. Seaver (I think, perhaps James N.) and Racheal B. (Bates) Seaver.  i will search for records of them in the next post.  My goal is, of course, to connect James T. Seaver to my Seaver surname database and determine if he is related to me.

    The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/07/seavers-in-news-post-5-finding-james-t.html

    Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


    Treasure Chest Thursday - Post 223: 1881 Census of Canada for Alexander Sovereen Household

    It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

    The treasure today is the 1881 Canada Census record for my 3rd great-grandparents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Putman) Sovereen in Windham township, Norfolk County, Ontario:


    The Alexander Sovereen household is number 224, and family #225 on the page:


    The extracted information about each person in the household is:

    *  Alexander Sovereen - male, age 67, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German, occupation Farmer, married.
    *  Elizabeth Sovereen - female, age 60, born in U.S., religion Baptist, origin German, married
    *  Hetti Sovereen - female, age 22, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German
    *  Adison B. Sovereen - male, age 17, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German, occupation Farmer
    *  Melvina M. Kemp - female, age 15, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German
    *  Wilbert Sovereen - male, age 13, born O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German

    The source citation for this census record is:

    Census of Canada, 1881, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule #1, District 158, Norfolk North, subdistrict C, Township of Windham, page 46, Dwelling #204, Family #225, Alexander Sovereen household ; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/index-e.html : accessed 5 March 2013); citing Library and Archives of Canada Microfilm C-13263.

    The interesting member of the household is Melvina M. Kemp, age 15.  She is the daughter of James Abram and Mary Jane (Sovereen) Kemp; Mary Jane (Sovereen) Kemp is the oldest daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Putman) Sovereen, and she died in 1874.  James Abram Kemp married again 1876, and by 1881 it appears that Melvina was residing with her maternal grandparents.  


    Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


    Wednesday, July 16, 2014

    Review: Genealogy at a Glance - Scots-Irish Genealogy Research

    The Genealogical Publishing Company in Baltimore has published another in its series of "Genealogy at a Glance" laminated research guides - this time for Scots-Irish Genealogy Research by Brian Mitchell.


    This "Genealogy at a Glance" booklet has four laminated pages on one 11" x 17" paper (folded). It is designed to give the user the basic elements of genealogy research in the allotted space. They provide an overview of the facts a researcher needs to know in order to begin and proceed successfully with research in the subject.

    The description of the Scots-Irish Genealogy Research booklet includes:

    The term Scots-Irish refers to people who originated in Scotland and settled in the 17th century in Ireland in the nine northern counties of Ulster. Claiming economic hardship, 250,000 Scots-Irish immigrated to North America between 1717 and 1776, principally to the port of Philadelphia, then west into the Appalachian region where they became the intrepid woodsmen and pioneers of American legend. The important thing to take away here is that this guide is intended as an aid to researchers who are attempting to trace Irish ancestors who arrived in North America prior to 1800.  

    Rounding out the guide there are lists of books for further reading, lists of online research sources, and a list of the major repositories with Scots-Irish material. The well-known Northern-Irish author, Brian Mitchell, also wrote the GAAG on Irish genealogy research, and is perhaps best known for his book A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland.

    The booklet has these subjects:

    *  Contents
    *  Quick Facts 
    *  What is Scots-Irish
    *  Historical Background

    *  18th Century Passenger Lists
    *  Place of Origin
    *  Family Names as Evidence
    *  Record Sources

    ** Church Registers
    **Census Substitutes
    ** Estate Records

    *  Record Repositories

    This booklet is designed primarily for the person who is not an expert, or has little experience, on finding Scots-Irish ancestors.  It provides guidance and excellent ideas to help researchers to find records for their Scots-Irish ancestors in Northern Ireland in published books, online resources, and in repositories and archives.

    For someone like me that teaches and talks about genealogy a bit, it is invaluable because I can pull it out and provide some guidance to my student or colleague interested in the subject.

    The beauty of these "Genealogy at a Glance" booklets is that they are very light and portable in a briefcase or laptop case. They are fixtures in my research case.

    This four-page laminated booklet costs $8.95,  plus postage and handling. You can order it through the Genealogical Store, or use the link for the Scots-Irish Genealogy Research booklet and click on the "Add to Cart" link.  I recommend buying these at seminars and conferences where they are offered in order to avoid the shipping costs.

    I have reviewed several similar works in recent years:

    *  Genealogy at a Glance: Old Southwest Genealogy Research

    The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/07/review-genealogy-at-glance-scots-irish.html

    Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2014.

    Disclosure: Genealogical.com contacted me recently and asked me to provide a review of this booklet. They mailed me a review copy for my personal use as remuneration for this review.