Saturday, September 15, 2007

Family Tree Legends software - first impressions

I finally got around to downloading and testing the FamilyTreeLegends genealogy software that is now FREE to download and use as a full-fledged software package. This software was developed by Pearl Street Software, which was recently acquired by MyHeritage.com.

The FamilyTreeLegends software can be downloaded from http://www.familytreelegends.com/downloads - just click on the FREE DOWNLOAD link.

The download and installation went quickly. I opened the program to run it, and uploaded a large GEDCOM file. The loading took several minutes (9 mb, 20,000 individuals, 6,000 families) but it looks like everything is there - vitals, facts, sources, notes, etc. I don't have any photos or documents in that particular file.

I clicked on all of the different menu items - File, Edit, View, Charts, Reports, Scrapbook, Books, Internet, Bookmarks, Options and Help.

I also clicked on the icon links for Back, Forward, Home, Navigate, Index, Search, Charts, Reports, Books, Records, SmartMatches, Learn, Print and Help.

In the Family View, there are sections for the father, mother and children. The Father and Mother items include birth date and place, death date and place, and marriage date and place. In the Children list, only the name and birth date are shown. You can navigate to a specific Child's page by clicking on the house icon next to the Child's name. There are icons next to the Father and Mother names for SmartMatches, Spouses, Parents and sources. On the right margin, there are icons for Home, Facts, sources, Notes/To-Do, Addresses, Names and Scrapbook.

The Charts offered include Ancestor, Descendant, Hourglass and Bow Tie. The Ancestor and Descendant charts can be Fan, Standard or Vertical.

The Reports offered are Ancestor Report, Pedigree, Descendant Report, Indented Descendant Summary Report, Individual Timeline, Family Group Sheet, and Kinship Report.

I haven't fully investigated the SmartMatches, Facts, Sources and Notes sections.

The data input process for names, births, deaths, marriages, notes, facts, and sources seems to be similar to FTM 2005. There is a template for a new source, and a line for defining the confidence in the source.

All in all, this looks like a pretty useful software package. I like the look and feel of it - navigating from generation to generation is fairly intuitive once you figure out the icons. Going from Family View to Charts or Reports is easy using the icons.

The major drawbacks I see with using this program for my own research and reporting purposes are:

1) The Ancestor Report can provide an Ahnentafel list, but it doesn't include the "end" ancestor in a particular line. That is, if the father of Henry Carringer is Martin Carringer, and there are no known parents of Martin Carringer, it doesn't list Martin Carringer in the Ahnentafel report. That is not comprehensible to me - why didn't it put this person on the list?

2) The Ancestor Report does not provide the names of the children of each family. It provides the father and the mother, but doesn't list the children and their primary information. Again - that is incomprehensible to me!

I won't use this program as my primary genealogy program, due to the report deficiencies. However, I will recommend it to new researchers who want to try out genealogy software or need a free software package that does all of the necessary tasks.

Using Ancestry's BGMI

www.Ancestry.com has the Biography and Genealogical Master Index in the Reference and Finding Aids section of its Historical Records collection.

The database description on Ancestry says:

"This database is a compiled index to millions of Americans who have been profiled in collective biography volumes such as Who's Who in America, Women of Science, Who's Who of American Women, National Cyclopedia to American Biography, Directory of American Scholars, and American Black Writers. It includes information first published in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In addition to providing the individual's name, birth, and death dates (where available), the reference to the source document is included."

Obviously, this could be an important resource for finding 20th century persons, especially those who might have been in professional occupations or were notable in the arts, sciences, sports, entertainment, etc..

Here is an example of an entry in the BGMI (I was surprised to see this!):

Name: Seaver, Randall J.
Source Citation:
American Men & Women of Science. A biographical directory of today's leaders in physical, biological and related sciences. 21st edition. Eight volumes. Detroit: Gale Group, 2003. (AmMWSc 21)


So how do I find this particular entry in a copyright protected book? I could go to the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Online Union Catalog - called WorldCat (http://worldcat.org) . When I do this, and input the title into the search box, I get a list of 42 libraries that have this work, listed by distance from my zip code.

Unfortunately, the closest libraries with this particular volume are the Santa Monica Public Library in Santa Monica CA (128 miles away) and the UCLA library in Los Angeles (also 128 miles away).

So how can I obtain this entry in the book? The possibilities include:

* drive to the Los Angeles area and visit the repositories.
* Go to my local library and see if they can obtain the volume by Inter-Library Loan (ILL).
* Contact the distant library by mail or email and see if they could make a photocopy of the article for me.
* Enlist a local genealogist society member to obtain the item for me
* Enlist a volunteer from the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness site (www.raogk.org) to obtain the item for me.

I checked the Chula Vista Public Library online catalog for their holdings of "Who's Who ..." books available. They have a fair collection, but by no means a complete collection that covers the volumes and years that are mentioned in the BGMI for some persons.

Frankly, I don't remember submitting my biography to be published, but I imagine that I did submit it several years ago. I hope it is useful to my descendants! If they can find it - in Los Angeles, Malibu CA, Casper WY, Oklahoma City OK, or any of the other repositories that hold that particular volume.

Patriot Soldier, Isaac Buck

One of my favorite ancestors is Isaac Buck (1757-1846).

His service in the Revolutionary War in both the Massachusetts Line and the Continental Line is summarized by this:

"During the Revolutionary War in 1775, young Isaac Buck was in Captain Benjamin Hastings company of Bolton, Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment. He was matross in Captain James Swan's company, Colonel James Craft's regiment, in 1776. A "matross" was a private in the army who aided the artillery gunners to load, fire and sponge the guns. He was also in Captain Philip Marett's company in 1776-1777. He was in the Continental Army in Captain John Houghton's company, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment in 1778, and was in Captain Redding's company, Colonel Gamaliel Bradford's regiment in 1777. In 1780 and 1781, he was in Captain Thomas Jackson's company, Colonel John Crane's Third Artillery regiment."

Another significant record of his life accomplishments is in his application for a Revolutionary War Pension. The Pension file (S34136) for Isaac Buck contains affidavits attesting to his war service and the circumstances of Isaac Buck life. He applied for a Pension in April 1818, and received it in 1820. It includes:

"I, Isaac Buck, a citizen of the United States, now resident at Sterling in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare that in the War of the Revolution in the month of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, I entered and engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the end of the war as a private against the common enemy without any interruption or absence, that I belonged to Captain Jackson's company of Artillery in Colonel Crane's Regiment under the command of General Knox, and that I left the service in the month of June 1783 at West Point when the Army was disbanded, and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country and support being now of the age of sixty years - and I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States if any may be or hath been allowed. My discharge was lost from my pocket many years since and is not in existence." /signed/ Isaac Buck.

A schedule of the property belonging to Isaac Buck of Sterling as of May 1 1820 included:

"one cow - one clock - one table - one looking glass - one chest - one shovel - one tongs - crockery - glass stemware - one old axe - one hoe - one old plough - one old wagon - one pot - one kettle - one pair of dogs - three old chairs - six knives and forks - $30.25"

The schedule also says, apparently written for Isaac Buck:

"The said applicant is a farmer, but wholly unable to labour the present season on account of a wound in his shoulder in May last - and never expects to perform much labour hereafter. His wife named Patty Buck is aged 60 years - is barely able to do the work of her house. I have but one child at home named Isaac Buck aged 14 years and performs as much labour as other farmer's boys at his age, but does nothing toward my support. This is the whole of my family." /signed/ Isaac Buck.

For his service, he was awarded a pension by the United States of $8 per month commencing 8 April 1818.

Isaac Buck participated in many of the historic campaigns of the Revolutionary War. He probably helped Henry Knox move the artillery from Ticonderoga to Boston in the winter of 1776, and probably was with Knox and Washington from then until the end of the War - fighting the British in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Isn't it amazing what records you can find for your ancestors?

I thank God for all of the Isaac Bucks who have served their country so well for so many years at the risk of life. They have kept, and are keeping, our country free and thriving.

Friday, September 14, 2007

An Interesting Research Problem

Here is an email query that we recently received at our CVGS query box:

"I have tenants who are moving out due to paranormal incidents. They claim that the house is haunted and that mirrors have had "get out" written on them in strange writing and several other scary unexplained things have happened. I never heard of anyone dying or being murdered there but can't seem to find info for that [property at xxx Center St Chula Vista CA 91910]. Please guide me in the right direction for this particular info, hopefully free, cause I am broke now more than ever due to the tenants moving out hastily."

NOTE: I have edited this a bit and taken out identifying information.

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My response was:

"Newspaper articles are probably the only way to find out what you are asking - and probably the twice-weekly Chula Vista Star-News is better than the daily San Diego Union. Unfortunately, the Star-News is not indexed, at least at the Chula Vista library. There is a card file index of sorts at the National City library in the Local History Room, but I'm not sure that it will have murder stories indexed. It's worth a try.

"Another thing that could be done is to search the city directories to determine the residents of xxx Center St from 1900 to about 1975 (the approximate time that directories are available). Both the CV and NC libraries have collections of city directories. Those residents could then be checked in the CA death index (available 1905 to 1997) for a death date, and then an obituary could be sought that might shed light on your problem.

"Census records for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 might provide some information on the residents.

"Property records might also be checked down at the County Assessor/Recorder office - the last 20 years or so are available online. Since you are the owner of the property, do you have a Title search in your papers? There may have been one done when you purchased the property - it may be in the escrow files available at a realtor or Title company. A call to a Title company might help you determine if records like that are kept for a long time. The County Assessor/Recorder may also have something like that - you might go down there (3rd & I St in CV). You could at least ask them about it.

"How old is the house? Do you know when it was built? How long have you owned it? The problem is, of course, if it has always been a rental then there may have been hundreds of residents over the life of the house. There is no guarantee that the apparition was an owner - it could be a spouse or child or visitor in the house"

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What else would you recommend for this correspondent? Does anyone have expertise in something like this? Would a newspaper "morgue" (if one still exists) catalog items by address or even by city?

Genealogue Challenge #30 - I finally got one

Chris Dunham's series of Genealogue Challenges has been interesting and fun, but I usually don't see them until they've been solved due to my older retired guy schedule and being on the West Coast.

Last night, I noticed that there were no responses yet to #30, so I decided to go for it.

The challenge was:

"I have an old bottle on my shelf labeled 'F. W. KINSMAN DRUGGIST AUGUSTA ME.'

"What was the full name of F. W. Kinsman's son-in-law's eldest son?"

My response to Chris was:

"Frank Woodman Kinsman Kidder, born 1 Sep 1886, died 1 Aug 1956 in Los Angeles CA. He was the son of Albert A. Kidder and Hattie Lee Kinsman, who married 13 Nov 1882 in Kennebec County ME.

"The process [note I'm truncating some of it for clarity]:

"1) 1870 Census - Frank W. Kinsman family is in Augusta, Kennebec, ME with daughter Etta L.

"2) 1880 Census - F W Kingsman family is in Augusta, Kennebec, ME, with daughter Hatie age 22, born ME

"3) Ancestry One World Tree database for Frank W. Kinsman family lists Hattie Lee Kinsman, born 19 Sep 1856 as only daughter who survived childhood.

"4) LDS FamilySearch listed two marriages for a Hattie Lee Kinsman in Kennebec County ME - 1st on 10 Jul 1877 to Henry Parcher, 2nd on 13 Nov 1882 to Albert A. Kidder.

"5) 1900 Census for Springfield Ward 8, Hampden County MA has Albert A. Kidder family with wife Hattie L Kidder born Sep 1857 in ME, married 16 years, 4 children born, 4 living. Eldest son is Frank M. K. Kidder, born Sep 1886 in NM.

"6) Ancestry search for Frank Kidder results in CA Death Index entry for Frank Woodmank Kidder born 1 Sep 1886 in CT, died 1 Aug 1956 in Los Angeles County CA.

"7) BGMI on Ancestry shows him as Frank Woodman Kinsman Kidder, 1886-1956.

"I'm willing to bet that F W Kinsman's middle name was Woodman! That might have been even more difficult to determine!

"I wonder what happened to poor Henry Parcher? I couldn't find him in ME in the 1880 census. Did he die after marrying Hattie?"

Chris apparently saves all of the responses and posts them when he can - that way the challenge isn't spoiled by someone staying up all night! Mine was the first entry (at 2:31 PM EDT). Other solvers didn't get the second middle name, Kinsman.

These challenges are excellent examples of doing online genealogy. It is possible to solve puzzles like this in an hour of effort online, whereas just five years ago it would have taken several weeks or months.

Chris must work awfully hard to create these puzzles, often taking persons from the daily headlines, researching them a bit to find a research "hook," and then asking a question that almost forces researchers to go try to solve it. In the process, the folks who try to solve it learn something, hone their skills, and have fun doing it, thereby reinforcing their geneaholic addiction (well, at least it works that way for me!).

I look forward to more of these, even if they keep me up at night!

Family Tree Magazine - November 2007 Issue

The November 2007 issue of Family Tree Magazine came this week, and it is an excellent issue. I always find new information in each issue of this magazine, but this is one of the best.

The Table of Contents is here (this page changes when a new issue is published) - Family Tree Magazine is one of the magazines that has a good web presence. They even have a page for the links in each issue of the magazine - this issue's links are here.

The Feature Articles in this issue were helpful and informative:

* "Over There" by David A. Fryxell. "WW1 records are an essential source for every US genealogist - whether or not your ancestor served." Learn why in our research guide. Here were the answers to my questions from yesterday! There is a World War I Resource Toolkit here - nice work!

* "Little Secrets" by Rick Crume. "Ancestry.com isn't the only place to spend your online genealogy dollar. These 10 worthwhile subscription Web sites may have the data you seek." This was a nice list, although I disagree on several of them. The article had a box with 5 more sites, and another box with a list of free sites with the same databases as the pay sites (for selected databases).

* "Save the Dates" by Nick D'Alto. "Don't let your research fall behind the times: Use these 19 tools to convert dates, calculate birthdays and solve other calendar conundrums."

* "Trace Your African-American Roots" by Bijan C. Bayne. "From slave-era documents to DNA, get expert advice for finding your black ancestors." This article had a great box called "The Name Game" discussing how surnames were selected by former slaves after emancipation. There is an African-American Resource Toolkit here.

* "The Tree Doctor" by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. "No one's research is immune to bad dates, faulty facts and even downright lies. Don't let these errors infect your family tree - follow our diagnostician's prescription for curing five common genealogical ills." This article was both informative and funny. She identified the five "common genealogical ills" as "genealogist's chorea," "dateitis," "lineagaires disease," "acute faulty logic syndrome," and "inflammatory biography disease." She gives examples for each, and has a box to "Test Your Diagnostic Skills" for three "ailing family histories." You'll have to read the entire article - perhaps the best genealogy article I've read recently.

Of course, there are also the usual columns and departments from Allison Stacy, Diane Haddad, David Fryxell, Maureen Taylor and several others. The State Research Guides are for New York and Wyoming.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read last night while watching the Padres drop another game - I admit that I concentrated more on the magazine than on the game!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Leroy Thompson's Army Discharge Record

The second document obtained from my love-in-law Deb was her grandfather's "Honorable Discharge from the United States Army" form No. 525.


The form includes (handwritten items in red):

To All Whom It May Concern:

This is to Certify, That Leroy Thompson
(1305254) Private Co. "A" 113th M G Bn
The United States Army, as a testimonial of honest and faithful
service, is hereby Honorably Discharged from the military service of the
United States by reason of E.T.S. per U.S. Circular 103 Dec 3 1918
Said Leroy Thompson 1305254 was born
in Huntland, in the State of Tennessee.
When enlisted he was 31 years age and by occupation a Barber.
He had Blue eyes, Brown hair, Fair complexion, and
was 5 feet 8 inches in height.
Given under my hand at Fort Oglethorpe Ga this
12 day of April, one thousand nine hundred and Nineteen.

Signed: W. H. Hyder (?)
Major 113th M G Bn.
Commanding.

This is probably the earliest document available that lists Leroy's birthplace. The age given is 31 at time of enlistment in 1916, which translates to about 1885. His death certificate and Social Security Death Index entries say he was born in 1880.
UPDATED 9/16: The ETS line, per suggestion by John Syverson in comments. Thanks, John!

Leroy Thompson's Army Enlistment record

While I was in the Bay area visiting my brother-in-law and love-in-law, Deb provided a copy of the Enlistment Record for her grandfather, Leroy Thompson. It is an interesting document full of useful facts:


The content of this document includes (handwritten entries in red):
* Name: Leroy Thompson
* Grade: Private
* Enlisted: July 1st 1916 at Memphis, Tenn.
* Serving in First enlistment period at date of discharge.
* Prior service: None
* Noncommissioned officer: no
* Marksmanship: Qual as sharpshooter 1916
* Horsemanship: Not mounted
* Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions: Ypris Belgium Aug. 2nd to 9th 1918; St. Quentin Canal France Sept. 29th 1918; St. Martin Lev. (?) France Oct 17th 1918.
* Knowledge of any vocation: Barber
* Wounds received in service: Gassed
* Physical condition when discharged: Very Good
* Typhoid prophylaxis completed: July 28th 1916
* Paratyphoid prophylaxis completed: Sept. 3rd 1917
* Married or single: Married
* Character: Excellent
* Remarks: No A.W.O.L. or absence under G.O. 45-14 or 31-12, served in Belgium and France. Left U.S. May 19th 1918 arrived in U.S. Apr. 2nd 1919, Co. "B" 1st Tenn. Inf. Sept 15th 1918, Co. "A" 113th M & Bn until date of discharge.
* Signature of soldier: Leroy Thompson
* Signed by: H.F. Roraker, Capt. Cav. USA
* Commanding: Co. "A" 113th M G Bn
A stamp next to the commanding officer's signature says: Paid in full $111 including $60 bonus as provided in Sec. 406, Revenue Act of 1918. approved Feb. 24th, 1919, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Apr 12 1919, Geo. H. Chase [rest unclear].
This is Form 3-3164.
It appears that this document was filled out at the time of discharge, since it summarizes the soldier's service and condition.
By the way, someone (probaby a child) made some extraneous marks on this page - luckily it didn't obscure any useful data.
I posted this because it is the first time I have seen a document like this.
I wonder where I could find similar documents for my ancestors. From the National Archives? Directly from the military services? Will these records be available from FamilySearch or Footnote or another commercial service sometime in the future? I guess I should find out, so that I can order my father's and my grandfather's enlistment records.
UPDATED 9/16: I wondered about the cryptic initials M G Bn and found out they probably mean "Machine Gun Battalion." Makes sense to me. There are lots of references to MG Bn in the First World War records found on Google, but not before.

New England Ancestors - Fall 2007 Issue

The Fall 2007 issue (Volume 8, Number 4) of New England Ancestors, the magazine of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, arrived this week. It is chock full of interesting articles and features.

The Table of Contents for this issue includes:

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FEATURES:

* Page 19 - "Evictions and Forced Emigration: Landlord-Assisted Passage from Ireland" by Marie E. Daly

* Page 25 - "Three Brick Walls Solved!" by Margaret Horton Weiler, Betty Lou Morris and Betty Vadner Haas.

* Page 30 - "Dutch Naming Practices in Colonial New York" by Marian S. Henry

* Page 33 - "The Ancestry of Diana, Princess of Wales" by Richard K. Evans

* Page 35 - "Keeping Up to Date with NewEnglandAncestors.org" by Sam Sturgis and Susan Rosefsky

* Page 38 - "You Won't Be the First Member of Your Family in the Poor-House! Introducing The Eighteenth Century Records of the Boston Overseers of the Poor" by John W. Tyler.

* Page 40 - "Salem Poor (1743/44-1802): A Forgotten Hero of Bunker Hill Rediscovered" by David Allen Lambert

* Page 42 - "The Corpse in the Cellar" by Marilynne K. Roach

COLUMNS:

* Page 46 - "Computer Genealogist: Microsoft Word for Genealogists - An Improvement" by Alvy Ray Smith

* Page 48 - "Computer Genealogist Spotlight: Using the National Park Service Websites for Genealogy and Family History" by Connie Reik

* Page 49 - "Genetics & Genealogy: My 'Marginal' Mega mtDNA Match" by Ann Powers Turner, MD

* Page 52 - "Manuscripts at NEHGS: The Louise Bartlett Carruth Baxter Family Papers" by Timothy G.X. Salls

* Page 54 - "Bible Records at NEHGS: The Bush and Loomis Bible" by Robert Shaw

* Page 55 - "Tales From the Courthouse: The Case of the Terrible Tenants" by Diane Rapaport

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

This issue was chock full of interesting and useful information. I really enjoyed the three articles about solving specific brick wall problems. The most useful article for me was the one about Dutch Naming Practices - it applies directly to my Cornelia Bresee research problem and related families. The article about Diana's ancestry dropped a lot of names, but I was hoping to see an ahnentafel that would help me understand the relationships (and I'm still searching for a common ancestor, I can't help it!). The "Keeping Up to Date" articles include a summary of new features at www.NewEnglandAncestors.org and an article about the process of preparing records to put on the web site.

Do you subscribe to the free weekly newsletter of NEHGS, eNews? To subscribe or view back issues of eNews, please visit http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/NEXUS_eNews/enews_homepage.asp.

CGSSD Meeting on Saturday, 15 September

Linda Hervig passed the following information to me:

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The Computer Genealogy Society of San Diego (CGSSD) meets on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 9:00 am to noon. The schedule is:

9:00 - User groups for Legacy, Mac, and RootsMagic

10:15 - A break and refreshments

10:30 - Announcements followed by Program: "Digital Imaging - A Review and Look Ahead" by Gene Powell


As the technology advances it is good to look back as well as ahead to see where we are. Advances in digital camera technology allow us to do more with the camera and the image. Photo editing can be an art form or performed automatically in the camera. In previous workshops we've discussed some of the features of Photoshop Elements. In this review we'll take a look at more of the ways in which Photoshop Elements can be used to further your use of digital images. New image formats may allow us to preserve our images in digital form for longer periods of time. In this session we'll discuss these and other aspects of the Digital Imaging process.

Gene Powell is a retired naval officer with many years of computer and photographic experience. He is currently retired and describes himself as a "Senior Computer Geek," spending time building and repairing desktop computers. He also reviews and tests various new software offerings for compatibility with different operating systems. He currently has software running on Windows XP 64 bit, Windows Vista, Windows XP Pro on a laptop and Linspire, a Debian Linux variant, running on another desktop computer. He has presented programs to CGSSD on the subject of digital imaging and has run hands-on sessions with flatbed and slide scanners. He has also presented a program on computer security. He is a member of the Legacy users group and is webmaster for the www.powellancestors.com website.

CGSSD meets at the Robinson Auditorium complex on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus in La Jolla. From North Torrey Pine Road turn at Pangea Drive into UCSD. Free parking is available in the parking garage on the left; use any A, B, or S space. Signs will mark directions to our meeting room. Please refer to our website www.cgssd.org; or the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies website http://irps.ucsd.edu/about/how-to-find-us.htm for driving directions and a map (If you need information on handicap parking spaces, please contact me.)

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I look forward to this meeting. I don't have PhotoShop Elements, so I'm interested to see what it can do and how it can be used to enhance my photographs. Of course, that assumes the photographer can be trained to take decent pictures.

This is another opportunity for San Diego area genealogists to attend genealogy software discussion groups. I'm going to look in on the Legacy group this time, I think.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

A cousin found again

We lost track of my second cousin Marcia (my father and her mother were first cousins, their mothers were sisters) two Christmases ago when our Christmas card and my family newsletter were returned by the Post Office. A phone call to the number we had was unproductive. Another letter was returned. Where did she go? I checked the San Jose area newspapers for obituaries, but I figured that her friend would have let us know if she had died.

Out of the blue, we received a letter this week from Marcia's friend, Peggy, who said that Marcia had been moved again to an assisted care facility. She gave us an address and phone number for Marcia, and for herself. So my cousin is still alive, although having memory loss. Peggy's letter mentioned a package of papers that Marcia wanted me to have.

The packet came today with about 10 personal letters and ephemera from my Seaver family aunts and uncles, a newspaper clipping about Marcia's mother's dress designing, plus a few things relating to my brothers. The most interesting item was the Episcopal marriage booklet for Marcia's parents with the names written in, and the signatures of the participants. I will share the letters from my aunt and uncle with their two children, and my brother's high school graduation announcement and thank you note with my brother.

Now I need to write a note to Peggy and Marcia telling them of our family news since 2005 - two new grandchildren, the passing of Aunt Geraldine, and more. Hopefully, the next time we visit the Bay area we can drop in to see Marcia at her new digs.

A cousin re-found! I am thankful.

This experience showed me that it is very difficult to find living people if they don't communicate with you where they are. Without engaging a private detective to research court records, state records, city records and the like, it is almost impossible to find someone in this sort of situation. Does anyone have ideas on how to pursue this type of issue?

Della's Journal - Week 37 (September 10-16, 1929)

This is Installment 37 of the Journal of Della (Smith) Carringer, my great-grandmother, who resided at 2115 30th Street in San Diego in 1929.

The "players" and "setting" are described here. Pictures of some of the players are here. Last week's Journal entry is here.

Here is Week 37:

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

Tuesday, September 10 (nice weather): Ma & I worked out in yard. I trimmed roses & Night blooming Jassamine. Put 3 sacks cow manure on roses. Letter from Aunt L[izzie]. Margie has come back, her brother's boy came with her, he got work in Glendale.

Wednesday, September 11 (pleasant): Our 42 wedding anniversary. Emily wanted me to have my hair cut & a permanent took 3 hours & 15 min. $5 hair cut 50c. I did not do much work today. Got lawn mower sharpened $1.50.

Thursday, September 12 (pleasant): Trimmed vine on front of 2114 Fern. Ma dug & watered roses. Ironed in afternoon. I sewed a little, washed my yellow dress. Got cord to floor lamps 50c.

Friday, September 13 (Foggy at N[ight]: I picked & sold $1.82 figs. Went to the Fair in afternoon, met Augie, Mrs. Watson & Margie French (?), also the Putnum's boy. I enjoyed the exhibits. Mr. Van Bieber took bed couch out to Ma's & rod $1.

Saturday, September 14: Ma finished painting chair & step ladder yesterday. Florence Tarvin will come to see us some day next week. Ed did not come over. Miss Thoren paid rent. A[ustin]'s shoes half soled $1.75. Letter from Mrs. Schmidt. Eva Walker and friend Edith C. Knight over to spend evening. Mr & Mrs Tarvin did not come, expected grandaughter to come so had to go home. Girls had their Radio put up.

Sunday, September 15: Ed over. Trimmed edge of west lawn. Lyle's stayed home, they set fence back for sweet peas. Ed brought a few grapes, gave him 50c for tokens.

Monday, September 16 (hot wind in afternoon): We washed, gave Ma her bath. Fire in back country.

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

Some more new names - I don't know anything about the Augie, Mrs. Watson, the Putnums, the Tarvins, Mrs. Schmidt, Eva Walker, Edith Knight, or Margie French. Maybe there will be more information in later weeks.

Best of the Genea-Blogs - Week of 2 September

I'm latew with my "regular" review of articles found on the genealogy blogs - I will be back on track next Sunday.

Here are my subjective selections of the best - informative, helpful, humorous, poignant - articles by genealogy bloggers for the week of September 2-8, 2007 - in no particular order:

* Tip: Easy Citations at WorldCat - from Denise Olson at Family Matters. I can never get citations right, it seems, in my notes, even with ESMs QuickSheet and book. This tip really helps!

* Michigan State Fair - Were Your Ancestors There? -- from Jasia at Creative Gene. This is a wonderful story about imagining what your ancestors experienced at earlier fairs.

* Olden Days of Computers -- from DearMYRTLE at the DearMYRTLE blog. The links to the APG mailing list archives are useful - lots of memories and experience here!

* Rules of Posting Genealogy Data Online - from Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. These are useful and helpful rules from an expert.

* Did Ancestry Violate Copyright Law? ... Prologue - from Craig Manson at Geneablogie. This is the first of at least four posts about the hot issue of late August. It is also a good summary of the issues that all bloggers need to understand.

* Genealogue Challenge #21 -- from Chris Dunham's The Genealogue. This series of genealogy challenges are wonderful and informative. Take some time and read them all. Unfortunately, by the time I read them, they've usually been solved by the East Coast readers.

* What is at HistoryKat? -- from Michael John Neill's Rootdig.com. This list of resources available at Matt Helm's subscription site is helpful.

* Genealogy Limericks -- from John Newmark at Transylvania Dutch. John accepted my challenge and created several limericks. He had other posts with Genealogy Haiku/Senryu and Genealogy Jenny. Good work!

* WorldVitalRecords & RootsMagic News -- Renee Zamora at Renee's Genealogy Blog provides the news that you can receive a free copy of RootsMagic software if you subscribe for 2 years to WVR for $49.95 before 17 September (when the WVR prices may increase). That is a pretty good deal!

That's it until next week. Please go read these posts, and the blogs, especially if you missed the posts when they were first written.

More comments on FamilyTreeMaker 2008

Some of the more complete posts cataloguing what is NEW on FTM 2008, what was REMOVED from FTM 16 in 2008, and NEW PROBLEMS found in FTM 2008 were made by Fred (Krauss ?) on the NYDUTCHE mailing list (Dutchess County NY). Here are links to his posts:

1) What is NEW - http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NYDUTCHE/2007-09/1189489813-02

2) What was REMOVED -- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NYDUTCHE/2007-09/1189489813-01

3) What are NEW PROBLEMS -- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NYDUTCHE/2007-09/1189489813

Fred has done a lot of work putting these lists together, and he apparently had some help form others to identify the new items, the removed items and the new problems. I really appreciate his effort.

Researchers thinking about buying or upgrading FTM 2008 should review these comments and those of other users before making the purchase. I'm sticking with FTM 2005 for now.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

NARA Digitization Plans

I know I'm late with this notice, but it is important. NARA has announced:

"The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is seeking public comment on its draft Plan for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access, 2007-2016. This draft plan outlines our planned strategies to digitize and make more accessible the historic holdings from the National Archives of the United States.

You may link to the plan at http://www.archives.gov/comment/digitizing-plan.html

Comments due: November 9, 2007
Send comments to: Vision@nara.gov or by fax to 301-837-0319
Posted by: Jenny Heaps, NARA. "

At the comment web site, you can use the link http://www.archives.gov/comment/nara-digitizing-plan.pdf to see a PDF of the plan.

There are six sections to this 24 page document:

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
II. OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
III. NARA MATERIALS TO BE "HARVESTED" AND MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE
IV. LIST OF FORMAL NARA PARTNERSHIPS TO DIGITIZE ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
V. NARA-LED DIGITIZING PROJECTS
Appendix A: NARA PRINCIPLES FOR PARTNERSHIPS TO DIGITIZE ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
Appendix B: RELEVANT NARA GUIDANCE

Section II lists some typical government documents directly related to genealogy research, including:

* the US Federal Population Census records 1790-1930
* Ship's passenger arrival lists and naturalization documents
* Freedman's Bureau materials
* Case files documenting more than ten million land entries
* Patent applications

The paper provides criteria for partnering and for NARA-led projects:

"For partnered projects:

• A viable partner is interested in digitizing material, according to our established principles (Appendix A), in a manner that will support preservation and improve public access to a substantial body of records, at a significant cost savings to the government.

For internal efforts:


• The digitizing of the materials in question meets a demonstrated need of one or more of our major customer groups. NARA serves a broad spectrum of American society, as well as researchers worldwide, including:
* genealogists and family historians
* academic, business, occupational, and historical researchers
* students and educators (K-16)
* publication and broadcast journalists
* Congress, the White House, the Courts, and other public officials
* Federal Government agencies and the individuals they serve
* state and local government personnel
* professional organizations and their members
* supporters' groups, foundations, and donors of historical materials
* veterans, current and former Federal employees, their families, and authorized representatives
* general public, including museum visitors

• The material is not currently readily available in other formats (such as microfilm).

• Digitizing the materials in question meets a demonstrated and high priority preservation need for the agency consistent with the proper performance of agency function.

• Funding is available or likely to be available and sustainable for the project."

Section III lists records by Archive or Library location.

Section V is not available yet.

NARA particularly wants comments relevant to Sections 2, 3, 5 and Appendix A. You really need to read the whole document to make any intelligent comment.

In summary, this looks like an ambitious plan to digitize the NARA holdings using partnerships and their own resources.

The sobering part of it is that the goal is to achieve digitization of 1% of the Archives holdings by 2012. But, but, but ... we want 100%, and we want it now!

Remembering 9/11 - and looking ahead

Miriam Midkiff at Ancestories2 has posted a prompt for journaling about where you were on 11 September 2001 and your reactions to it. She has also posted her own thoughts from 12 September 2001 which are interesting.

The list of questions and my answers, with 20/20 hindsight, include:

1) How did you hear about the attacks of 9/11?

I watched them happen. I woke up at about 5:45 AM and turned the radio on to hear that the first tower was hit, jumped up and went in the family room, turned the TV on and watched in horror as the first tower burned, the second tower was hit and burned, the Pentagon was hit, Flight 93 went down, the second tower fell, and finally the first tower fell. My fear was that tens of thousands of people died.

2) What did you do that day? Did you go to work or school, or stay home?

I did go to work, arriving late, and doing a slow burn because I knew who did it. My first comment to someone was "someone will pay - it's either us or them - no mercy, we need to wipe out the terrorists." That may sound like I copied it from what W said soon after - but those were my thoughts and words.

Nobody could get any work done. Everybody was on the Internet and sharing information. We gathered in groups to talk about what happened. Some of our younger engineers are Iranian and Arab, and several came to me wondering what would happen. They asked what they should do now - they feared for their safety. My counsel was that they needed to keep cool, not inflame anybody's anger, gather together for safety, and sit tight until the original anger blows over. I said that there will be retribution against the terrorists, and that the people of this country respect the rights of everyone to assemble, worship, and speak. I asked them their opinion about what happened, and they said they were surprised at the audacity of the acts, and that they enjoyed living and working in America - kind of the best of both worlds.

3) What were your feelings?

My feelings have not changed over 6 years. I am still angry and sad, terribly so. Once we figured out that it was Al Qaeda, I knew that we had to take out their bases in Afghanistan, replace the Taliban, and go after other terrorist-supporting regimes in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, North Korea, Iran and wherever else they were.

4) How has what happened that day changed your life in some way?

My life has changed in several ways. I have a lot of anger over the lack of progress toward more security. I have fear for what might happen to my family members.

I went through the airport security system today in San Jose - and accepted the patdown and wanding without complaint. It also happens in many public buildings. Good. I watch more carefully what happens in public area - alert for suspicious people and actions.

The President and the FBI, CIA and NSA are collecting overseas phone calls to and from certain countries - I haven't called anyone there so the surveillance program hasn't touched me at all. I fully support it.

I know that the President and his administration are dedicated to protecting us from more terrorist acts. However, they haven't done enough yet - they haven't secured the borders, secured the ports, or found Osama Bin Laden and his fellow cave-dwellers. There should be nuclear and bomb detection equipment at every port-of-entry. I fully support a tamper-proof ID card for all citizens and non-citizens, including a biometric and fingerprint database for non-citizens, and the revised passport rules. The persons without proper records need to go back to their home countries voluntarily or by deportation and criminals need to be found and deported immediately. I support a time-limited probationary visa for illegals already in the country after IDing them, a guest-worker program with time limits and a path to citizenship only for those who go through proper application channels.

Several of these ideas were anathema to me before 9/11 - I said "live and let live." We can't do that now - if we are going to prevent terrorist acts we need those tools to prevent them. The inconvenience to law-abiding citizens is minimal.

Every day, I think "they want to destroy our way of life, and kill everyone who doesn't agree with them - we need to prevent that from happening." I support my President and every politician who has a realistic attitude toward this subject. I don't care if the terrorists are killed by us, by their home countries, or by other terrorists - the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. We live in the 21st century, and they want all of us to live by their 8th century rules.

5) What are your hopes for the future, in connection with this tragedy?

I hope that the Islamic countries will come to their senses, realize that they cannot win a war with Western civilization, and educate and control their people in such a way that everyone can live and prosper together. If they can't, there will be a war of attrition until someone loses. The USA and Western countries cannot afford to lose any battle in this war. I doubt that we will pursue another ground war - the rest of them will be done from the air, sea and space. It may end up "us vs. them" - the problem will be who will Russia and China side with.

I hope that there will not be another mass casualty act of terrorism in this country - whether by nuclear device, large explosions, etc. We have stopped several of them, but our borders are still not protected.

I hope that the war in Iraq ends when the Al Qaeda terrorists and the Iranian infiltrators are killed off, and the people of Iraq realize that the USA is there to help them, not take their land, oil or freedoms. This will require a major mind change among them, especially the Shi'a who support Muqtada al-Sadr. It may take a partitioning of the country into three states with defensible borders and a split of the oil reserves.

We need to WIN the War on Terror. I hope that the American people realize that this is a "win it or lose it" war. A draw in Iraq or another country is a loss. Withdrawing from Iraq and leaving their people to a genocide is not honorable - it would be a loss to American prestige and reliability - we promised the Iraqis - again - that we would succeed. You cannot be "for America" if you are trying to please Osama Bin Laden and his supporters. I believe that a Republican administration will do a better job of WINNING the War on Terror than a Democratic administration. IMHO, some Defeatocrats would like nothing better than to withdraw to fortress America - with peace for all in a utopian world. Unfortunately, the only deterrent to force against us is force itself.

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

Well, those are my feelings, thoughts and opinions. They have not changed since 9/11 and they never will. 9/11 is still raw for me, and I do have a personal stake in the War in Iraq.

Needless to say, genealogy research and family history sleuthing has been an oasis away from the real world of terrorism, Iraq, etc. I read a lot less about politics and world events - but I still read what I deem reliable sources - and do a lot more pleasure reading.

And now back to genealogy! After dinner and the ball game. Go Padres!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Making Family History

As many of you know, I've been on vacation in Northern California "making family history" with my wife's brother and then with our daughter and grandsons.

I was able to post fairly often from Paul's house using my laptop, but since we got to my daughter's house in Santa Cruz on Saturday afternoon, my computer time has been limited by family fun. Lucas' 4th birthday party was Sunday with several families with little ones and it was a lot of fun. Today was his first day at a new school, so we went down to Santa Cruz and drove around before coming back for shopping and lunch near our hotel. Then it was off to the swimming pool for the boys' lessons, out to dinner at a pizza parlor, to Baskin-Robbins for an ice cream cone (the boys sampled everybody's!), and then home for baths, games and books before their bedtimes.

I prepared the three posts about the probate records of Mary Slocum before we left, and the NGS NewsMagazine Table of Contents post, just in case I didn't have any time to post during the trip.

We will be home on Tuesday afternoon, and I should be able to post several items on Tuesday night and should be back in the blogging saddle by Wednesday.

Probate Records of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI - Part I

This is the summary of the probate records of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI. The will was posted in Part 2, and the codicil, inventory summary and other records in Part 3.

One of the very best records that can be used to prove relationships between parents and their children, especially female children, are wills and other probate records. There are probate records for women in some locations - usually when they outlive their husbands and have a significant personal estate, or when they own land. The latter is fairly common in colonial New England.

Mary (Thurston) Slocum was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Mott) Thurston. She married Ebenezer Slocum (1650-1715) in about 1676 in RI, and they had children Elizabeth, Mary, Johanna, Rebecca, Mercy, Samuel, Ebenezer, Desire, Deliverance, Giles, Joseph and Abigail.

The will of Mary (Thurston) Slocum identifies her children and grandchildren living in 1729. It is an amazing list:

Children listed:

* Son Samuel Slocum
* Daughter Desire Dyre
* Son Giles Slocum
* Son Joseph Slocum
* Daughter Abigail Thomas
* son Ebenezer Slocum
* daughter Elizabeth Green
* daughter Frances Rogers (I don't have her on my list - I wonder if this is "Deliverance" who married a Rogers?)

Grandchildren mentioned are:

* Patience Carr, daughter of Caleb Carr
* Caleb Carr, son of Caleb Carr
* Joseph Carr, son of Caleb Carr
* William Carr, son of Caleb Carr
* David Green, son of David Green
* Elizabeth Green, son of daughter Elizabeth Green
* Thomas Green, son of daughter Elizabeth Green
* Susanah Green, daughter of daughter Elizabeth Green
* Ebenezer Slocum, son of son Samuel Slocum
* Mary Slocum, daughter of son Samuel Slocum
* Desire Slocum, daughter of son Giles Slocum
* Mary Slocum, daughter of Giles Slocum
* Ebenezer Slocum, son of Giles Slocum
* Ruth Slocum, daughter of son Ebenezer Slocum
* Thomas Rogers, son of Frances Rogers
* William Burling, son of William Burling
* Rebeca Burling, daughter of William Burling
* Benjamin Burling, son of William Burling
* Hannah Burling, daughter of William Burling
* Sarah Burling, daughter of William Burling
* Ebenezer Burling, son of William Burling
* Amy Burling, daughter of William Burling
* Mary Carr, daughter of daughter Elizabeth Green
* Marcy Thomas, daughter of George Thomas

Niece listed:

* Susanah Thurston, daughter of brother Jonathan Thurston.

From the way the will is worded, it is apparent that several daughters have died:

* Mary, who married David Green
* Johanna, who married Caleb Carr
* Rebecca, who married William Burling

What a boon to descendants of Ebenezer and Mary (Thurston) Slocum.

Note that the will even provides Mary's maiden name since she called Jonathan Thurston her brother.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Eastman's Rules for Genealogy Data

Dick Eastman on his Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter has posted an excellent list of "rules" or guidelines for posting data on the Internet. The post is here. Be sure to read the comments to Dick's post.

I agree, in general terms, with Dick's rules about posting information online. However, my opinion is that when Ancestry cached and then showed the cached pages of information, and put it behind the subscription firewall, they crossed the line. They should have asked the specific web sites and data providers for approval of adding them to the collection, and they should have linked only to the web site - not to the cached page.

As it was, the data on the web pages was not stolen or hijacked like some people claimed - it was still on the original pages. It was copied and cached, then indexed, just like Google does. A Google search would have found them. And an Ancestry search would have found them (as a cached page).

Note also that Craig Manson has started his series on the Legality of what Ancestry did - see his first post here.

Back to the birthday party!

Probate Records of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI - Part 2

This is Part 2 of my series on the Probate records of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI:

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

Mary Slocum, widow of Jamestown, died testate, having written a will dated 5 November 1729, with a codicil dated 7 November 1732, which was proved 22 November 1732. The will reads (a clerk's copy, transcribed from Jamestown (RI) Land Evidence Records, 1680-1899, Volume 2, Page 137-149, on FHL Microfilm 0,946,901):

"The Last Will and Testament of Mary Slocom of Jamestown in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence plantations in Newengland Widow who being in good health of body and also of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be given to God for it and caling to mind the mortality of my body Do make and ordain this my last will and Testament first and principally I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in decent manner at the discression of my Executor and as touching Such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I Give devise and bequeath the same in the manner and form following that is to Say

"Imps That all Such Just and lawful debts which I owe to any person or persons together with my funeral Charges and disbursements be answered paid and fully discharged out of my movable Estate within convenient time after my decease by my Executor herein afternamed.

"Item I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Slocom the Sum of five shillings.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Desire Dyre and to be entirely at her own particular disposing to witt one large Silver Tankard three Silver poringers one Silver Cordial Cup and my best Coverlid.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my son Giles Slocom two Silver Spoons the highland lestick and the Chest that is called mine.

"Item I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Slocom two Silver Spoons one Silkgrass bed bolster and two Pillows one pair of blankets two Coverlids a Suit of Curtains a bedsted one Chest two Cows Twenty Sheep my draft mare one breeding Sow and all my Carts Ploughs Chains anyhow and all the rest of my Utensils belonging to husbandry work and also my Negro man called Fortin and my Great Bible.

"Item I devise and bequeath to my Daughter Abigail Thomas twenty pounds in household goods or beding at her discression two Silver Spoons my Sidesaddle a Pillion a wheel and a red Tub.

"Item I Give and bequeath all my apparel both linnen and woollen to be equally divided between my two Daughters Desire Dyre and Abigail Thomas.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Patience Carr Daughter of Caleb Carr a Silver Spoon also I give and bequeath to my Grand Children Caleb Carr Joseph Carr and William Carr the sons of the said Caleb Carr the sum of twenty shillings to each of them.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandson David Green son of David Green a Silver Spoon.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandson Ebenezer Slocom son of my son Samuel a Silver Dram Cup.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Mary Slocom Daughter of my son Samuel Slocom a Silver Spoon.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughters Desire Slocom and Mary Slocom Daughters of my son Giles Slocom the sum of twenty shillings to each of them.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandson Ebenezer Slocom son of my son Giles Slocom one Silver Spoon.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Mary Slocom Daughter of my son Giles Slocom one Silver Spoon.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my beloved Grandaughter Ruth Slocom daughter of my son Ebenezer Slocom deceased one Silver Spoon.

"Item I give and bequeath to my Grandson Thomas Rogers son of Frances Rogers the sum of twenty pounds to be paid by my Executor when he shall arive to the age of twenty one years but if he shall die before he arive to that age then I give and bequeath the said sum of twenty pounds to my son Joseph Slocom.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grand Children William Burling Rebeca Burling Benjamin Burling Hannah Burling Sarah Burling Ebenezer Burling and Amy Burling the Children of William Burling the sum of Twenty shillings to each of them.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Mary Carr the Daughter of my Daughter Elizabeth Green the Sum of Twenty Shillings.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Marcy Thomas the Daughter of George Thomas the Sum of Ten Shillings.

"Item I give and bequeath to Susanah Thurston the Daughter of my brother Jonathan Thurston the Sum of five pounds.

"Item I will that my Negro woman named Kate Shall be sold or disposed of by my Executor and that she shall have the full liberty and privilidge of Choosing her Master or Mistress.

"Item I Give and bequeath to my Son in law Samuel Dyre the Sum of three pounds for his trouble in executing this my last will and Testament.

"Item I will that all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate of what Nature kind sort or denomination whatsoever or wheresoever shall be equally divided into two parts the one half part thereof I give and bequeath to my daughter Desire Dyre and to be entirely at her own proper and particular disposition and Improvment and the remaining half part thereof shall be lodged in the hands of my Executors to be delivered our unto my Grand Children Elizabeth Green Thomas Green and Susanah Green the Children of my Daughter Elizabeth Green or to either or any of them for their Support in such quantities from Time to Time as my Executor shall think proper and useful for the Supplying the necessities of them or any or either of them.

"Finally and lastly I do hereby Nominate appoint Constitute and ordain my Trusty and faithful Soninlaw Samuel Dyre to be the Sole and only Executor of this my last will and Testament desiring him to see the same performed fulfiled and accomplished in every respect according to the true intent and meaning hereof and in Testimony that this is my last will and Testament I have hereunto Subscribed my hand and affixed my seal this fifth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Twenty nine and in the third year of the Reign of George the Second King of Great Brittain &c.
.............................................. the mark of
............................................. Mary + Slocom

"Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the
said Mary Slocom as being the last will and
Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers
Daniel Goddard
Peter Taylor
John Hammett."
==========================================

The next post will present the codicil to the will.

Probate Records of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI - Part 3

Here is the codicil to the will and a summary of the inventory of the personal estate of Mary Slocum (1657-1732) of Jamestown RI.

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

A codicil was written dated 7 November 1732. It reads:

"Be it known unto all men by these presents that I Mary Slocom of Jamestown in the County of Newport and Colony of Rhode Island being weak of body but of a perfect mind and memory and upon good and solid consideration upon the death of my son Joseph Slocom do add this small Codicil unto my last will and Testament made the fifth day of November one thousand seven hundred and Twenty Nine viz. My will is that all that part of my Estate given by my beforesaid will unto my son Joseph Slocom deceased be disposed of in manner and form as followeth viz.

"Item my will is that my Son Samuel Slocom shall have my great Bible.
"Item my will is that my Daughter Abigail Thomas shall have one score of sheep.
"Item My will is that my Grandson Thomas Rogers one Silver Spoon.
"Item my will is that the Child which my daughter inlaw Mary Slocom now goes with who is widow to my son Joseph Slocom if in case it should come of Age shall have one Cow and a Silver Spoon to lodged in the hand of my Executor.
"Item my will further is that my Grandaughter Desire Slocom daughter of my son Giles Slocom shall have one bed and beding thereunto belonging.
"Item I Give and bequeath all the rest and Residue of the aforesaid Legacy given unto my said son Joseph Slocom in my last will as aforesaid unto my son Giles Slocom and in Confirmation of the abovewritten I the said Mary Slocom in presence of the underwritten witnesses do pronounce and declare this addition a Codicil to my last will to be my real mind and will as witness my hand this seventh day of November One Thousand Seven hundred and thirty two.

.......................................... her
.................................. Mary + Slocom (seal)
....................................... mark

T. Hull
Amy Gibbs"

The will and codicil were presented to the Jamestown Council and approved on 22 November 1732:

"The within written last will and Testament of Mary Slocom was Exhibited in Council and Daniel Goddard and John Hammett two of the witnesses to the said will being in Council and Engaged according to Law Testifieth that they Saw Mary Slocom the Testator sign and seal the said will and declared the same to be her last will and Testament and that they then in her presence set their hands and seals thereunto as witnesses and also that they saw Peter Taylor sign thereunto as a witness at the same time and that at the Time of the Signing thereof she was in her perfect mind and understanding. And also Tiddman Hull and Amy Gibbs being witnesses to the Codicil annexed to the said will appeared in Council and being engaged according to Law Testified that they saw the said Mary Slocom sign and seal the said Codicil and that she then declared the same to be part and parcel of her said will and that she was at the time of the doing the same in her perfect memory and understanding and that at the same time they in her presence signed thereunto as witnessed whereupon the said will and Codicil was approved of and proved in Council attested by John Hammet Clerk of the County

Jamestown the 22 of November AD 1732."

An inventory of the personal estate of Mary Slocom late of Jamestown was taken on the 21st day of the 9th month of 1732 by the subscribers, Daniel Weeden and John Hammett. The four-page inventory totalled 674 pounds, 2 shillings, 6 pence. The largest items in the inventory were:

* her wearing apparel -- 30 pounds
* Cash -- 32 pounds
* Plate -- 81 pounds, 16 shillings
* Bond from Samuel Slocom -- 60 pounds
* Bond from David Green Junr -- 21 pounds
* bond from Joseph Clark -- 64 pounds
* bond from Edward (?) Thurston -- 52 pounds
* Bond from Samuel Harcord (?) -- 105 pounds.

The inventory was presented to the Council by the subscribers on 22 November 1732 and it was approved and recorded.

On 26 November 1732, the administration of the estate of Mary Slocom was granted to Samuel Dyre.


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

This concludes the probate records for Mary Slocum.