Saturday, December 27, 2014

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun (SNGF) - What did Genea-Santa Bring You?

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) What gift that you received for Christmas is your favorite for genealogy purposes? Book, magazine, hardware, software, website subscription, research time, DNA test - what was it, and how will it affect your genealogy research?

2) Tell us about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook or Google+ in response to this post.

3)  
 Come on, spill!  And it's OK to respond to this in the days after Saturday too!


My response:


My favorite genea-gift is probably the book, Genealogy and the Law, A Guide to Legal Sources for the Family Historian, by Kay Haviland Freilich and William B. Freilich.


This soft cover book can be ordered from the National Genealogical Society - see http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/genealogy_and_the_law.

Hopefully, the book will provide help for my research when I find legal issues and records.  It might provide more resources to help me research my elusive ancestors.

The URL for this post is:

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Surname Saturday - JEWETT (England to colonial Massachusetts)

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


I am in the 8th great-grandmothers and I'm up to Ancestor #1073 who is Deborah JEWETT (!664-1743) 
[Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 8th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through three generations in this JEWETT family line is:


1. Randall J. Seaver

2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)

4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)

8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)

16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)

32. Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
33. Abigail Gates (1797-1869)


66.  Nathan Gates (1767-1830)
67.  Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855)

134.  Jeremiah Knowlton (1745-1785)
135.  Abigail Pierce (1750-1776)

268.  Jeremiah Knowlton (1713-1752)
269.  Sarah Allen (1717-1796)

536.  Nathaniel Knowlton (1683-1760)
537.  Mary Bennett (1686-1717)

1072.  Nathaniel Knowlton, born 29 January 1658 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 18 September 1726 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 2144. John Knowlton and 2145. Deborah Grant.  He married  03 May 1682 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.
1073.  Deborah Jewett, born 03 December 1664 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died 25 April 1743 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  

Children of Nathaniel Knowlton and Deborah Jewett are:
*  Nathaniel Knowlton (1683-1760), married (1) 1703) Mary Bennett (1686-1717); (2) 1717 Reform Trescott (1690-????).
*  John Knowlton (1685-1760), married 1714 Susannah Hutton (1674-1728).
*  Joseph Knowlton (1687-????).
*  Thomas Knowlton (1692-1718), married 1716 Ruth Lord (1695-????).
*  Abraham Knowlton (1699-1751), married 1722 Mary Smith (1696-????).
*  Elizabeth Knowlton (1702-1776), married 1721 Thomas Hart (1699-????).
*  David Knowlton (1707-1737), married 1731 Esther Howard (1714-1780).

2146.  Abraham Jewett, born before 14 September 1634 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England; died before 30 April 1694 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 4292. William Jewett and 4293. Ann Field.  He married 02 April 1661 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.
2147.  Ann Allen, born 08 October 1643 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died 09 February 1721 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  She was the daughter of 4294. Bozoune Allen and 4295. Anne Alby.

Children of Abraham Jewett and Ann Allen are:
*  Deborah Jewett (1664-1743), married 1682 Nathaniel Knowlton (1658-1726).
*  Ann Jewett (1667-1715), married 1690 Francis Palmer (1657-1733).
*  William Jewett (1669-????).
*  Mary Jewett (1671-1722), married 1698 Ebenezer Browne (1658-1733).
*  Bozoune Jewett (1673-1673).
*  Abraham Jewett (1674-1722), married 1703 Sarah Dorman (1676-1737).
*  Priscilla Jewett (1679-????).
*  Elizabeth Jewett (1683-1756), married 1729 Thomas Perrin.

Information for this Jewett family was obtained from:

*  Frederic Clarke Jewett, MD, The History and Genealogy of the Jewetts of America (Rowley, Mass. :  Jewett Family of America, 1995)

*  Tracy Elliot Hazen, "Two Founders of Rowley, Mass.," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 94, number 2 (April 1940), pp. 99-107,

*  Various Massachusetts town vital record books.

The URL for this post is:

Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Friday, December 26, 2014

FREE Ancestry.com Access - December 26-29, 2014

Ancestry.com announced today that they are offering FREE access to over 1 billion records this weekend, from Friday, 26 December through Monday, 29 December.  The records are from the new databases added during 2014.


There is more information at http://www.ancestry.com/cs/lookback2014.

You can see a list of the FREE databases at http://search.ancestry.com/search/group/global_new_year

Users will have to register for a free account if they don't already have an account.

Enjoy!!!

The URL for this post is:

Copyright(c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver




52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 52: #59, Sarah (Cutter) Knapp (1785-1878)

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

Sarah (Cutter) Knapp is #59 on my Ahnentafel list, my third great-grandmother.  She married in 1804  to #58 William Knapp (1775-1856).

Sarah Knapp (1785-1878) gravestone, Newton, N.J., 
(c) Russ Worthington (used by permission)

I am descended through:

*  their daughter, 
#29 Sarah Knapp (1818-1????), who married #28, David Auble (1817-1894), in 1844.
*  their son, #14 Charles Auble (1849-1916) who married #15 Georgianna Kemp (1868-1952) in 1898.
*  their daughter, #7 Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977) married, #6 Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976)in 1918. 
* their daughter, #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002), who married Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) in 1942.
*  their son, #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

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

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

 
*  Name:                             Sarah Cutter[1–2]
*  Alternate Name:           Sarah Knapp[3]    
*  Alternate Name:           Sarah C. Knapp[4]
*  Sex:                                 Female   

*  Father:                           Stephen Cutter (1745-1823)   
*  Mother:                         Tabitha Randolph (1752-1841)   
  
2)  EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Birth:                              6 November 1785, Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States[1]    
*  Census:                         1 June 1850 (age 64); Newton, Sussex, New Jersey, United States[3]
*  Census:                         1 June 1860 (age 74), New Barbados, Bergen, New Jersey, United States[4]
*  Death:                          6 March 1878 (age 92), Newton, Sussex, New Jersey, United States[2]
*  Burial:                         after 6 March 1878 (after age 92), Old Newton Burial Ground, Newton, Sussex, New Jersey, United States[2,5]
  
3)  MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Spouse 1:                    William Knapp (1775-1856)   
*  Marriage 1:                 about 1804 (about age 19), probably Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States[1]

*  Child 1:                        Joseph C. Knapp (1805-    )   
*  Child 2:                        Samuel C. Knapp (1806-1852)   
*  Child 3:                        Cyrus C. Knapp (1809-1872)   
*  Child 4:                        Catharine Knapp (1810-1894)   
*  Child 5:                        Benjamin Knapp (1811-1857)   
*  Child 6:                        Charles C. Knapp (1813-1888)   
*  Child 7:                        Hannah Maria Knapp (1816-1903)   
*  Child 8:                        Sarah G. Knapp (1818-1900)   
*  Child 9:                        William Knapp (1823-1860)   
*  Child 10:                      Manning M. Knapp (1825-1892)   
*  Child 11:                       Elsie M. Knapp (1831-1903)   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

Sarah Cutter was born 6 November 1785 in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, the daughter of Stephen Cutter and Tabitha Randolph.  The entry in the book History of the Cutter Family of New England on page 97 says:

"vii.  Sarah [Cutter], b. Nov. 6, 1785 ; m. William Knapp.  Mrs. Knapp is living with her son Manning, at Hackensack, N.J."  A list of her children follows. 

Her marriage to William Knapp was probably in 1804 in Woodbridge, New Jersey[1] are assumptions based on the approximate birth year of the oldest child (1805) and the birthplace and residence of Sarah Cutter, and the birthplace of the first child, Joseph C. Knapp.  They had 11 children,  born between 1805 and 1831, all of whom reached adulthood, and all but one married.  

In the 1850 US Census, this family resided in Newton township, Sussex County, New Jersey.[3]  The household included:

*  William Knapp -- age 75, male, a shoemaker, $800 in real property, born NY
*  Sarah Knapp, age 66, female, born NJ
*  Catherine Knapp, age 40, female, born NJ
*  Elsey Knapp, age 19, female, born NJ

In the 1860 US Census, Sarah Knapp resided with the Manning Knapp family in New Barbadoes township, Bergen County, New Jersey.[4]  The household included:

*  Manning M. Knapp -- age 34, male, lawyer, $7000 in real property, $4000 in personal property, born NJ
*  Anna M. Knapp - age 31, female, wife, born NJ
*  Anna M. Knapp - age 7, female, born PA, attended school
*  Sarah C. Knapp - age 78, female, lady, born NJ
*  Joseph Madison -- age 3, male, born NJ
*  Margaret M. Mann -- age 28, female, domestic, born Ballyhanna, Ireland

There is no known entry in the 1870 U.S. Census for Sarah Knapp.  Presumably, she was still living with her son Manning Knapp in the Hackensack, New Jersey area.

Sarah (Cutter) Knapp is buried in Old Newton Burial Ground in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey next to her husband.[2]  A burial record, most likely taken from the gravestone in 1989 during a gravestone survey, is available with the name "Sarah Cutter Knapp,"[5] with a birth date of Nov. 6 1787 and a death date of Mar. 6 1878, wife of William Knapp.

The gravestone inscription says:

SARAH CUTTER
wife of WILLIAM KNAPP
Born Nov. 6, 1787
Died Mar. 6, 1878

There are no probate records for Sarah (Cutter) Knapp in the Sussex County, New Jersey Estate Index, 1804-1974 (accessed on FamilySearch.org).

5)  SOURCES
 
1. Dr. Benjamin Cutter, The History of the Cutter Family of New England  (Boston, Mass. : 1871), page 97, Sarah Cutter sketch.

2. Jim Tipton, indexed database, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), Old Newton Burial Ground, Newton, N.J., Sarah Cutter Knapp memorial #14259590.

3. 1850 United States Federal Census, Sussex County, New Jersey, population schedule, Newton township, page 137, dwelling #454, family #486, William Knapp household; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 464.

4. 1860 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Bergen County, New Jersey, New Barbadoes township, page 412, dwelling #191, family #216, Manning McKnapp household; online database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Series M653, Roll 683.

5. A Record of the Inscriptions on the Stones in the Old Cemetery - Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, typescript (Newton, NJ : n.p., n.d., on shelf at Sussex County Library), Sarah Cutter Knapp entry, unnumbered page.

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

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Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas To All!





There is a reason for the season! Thank you, God, for your Gift to the Earth. 

Merry Christmas to all of my Christian readers and friends. I hope that this day finds you healthy, happy, with family and friends, and that Santa brings you everything you desire.

We visited the home of our daughter, son-in-law, two granddaughters and baby grandson last Sunday.  Now we are at the home of our daughter and two grandsons today, enjoying seeing the boys with their gifts, telling family stories, and eating wonderful stuff.  We are off on Friday to the Russian River for three nights with Linda's brother's family, and we'll be home on 29 December.


The URL for this post is:  


Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

'Twas the Night Before a Genealogist's Christmas

I received this parody of Clement Moore's masterpiece via email back in the mid-1990's, the author is unknown to me. Kimberly Powell at the About Genealogy page also has it on her site.

'Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my spouse.

The dining room table with clutter was spread
With pedigree charts and with letters which said...
"Too bad about the data for which you wrote;
Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."

Stacks of old copies of wills and such
Were proof that my work had become too much.
Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

And I at my table was ready to drop
From work on my album with photos to crop.
Christmas was here, and such was my lot
That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot.

Had I not been busy with grandparents' wills,
I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills,
While others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheers,
I'd spent time researching those birth dates and years.

While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash.

When what with my wondering eyes should appear,
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.
Up to the house top the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and 'ole Santa Claus, too.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.
As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa--KER-RASH!

"Dear" Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good 'ole Santa could see
I had no Christmas spirit you'd have to agree.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who'd brought us such gladness and joy:
When I'd been too busy for even one toy.

He spied my research on the table all spread
"A genealogist!" He cried! (My face was all red!)
"Tonight I've met many like you," Santa grinned,
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.

I gazed with amusement--the cover it read
Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead.
"I know what it's like as a genealogy bug."He said
as he gave me a great Santa hug.

"While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folk who can't find a thing."

"Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I'll clean up the house from this genealogy mess."
As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who'd brought much to me.

While settling in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle,
To his team, which then rose like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
"Family History is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!"

--Author Unknown

To all, I wish a very Merry Christmas, and I hope Santa brings you a special gift for your family history.


The URL for this post is:

Twelve Days of a Genealogy Christmas - Randy's Version

A genealogy oriented version of the Twelve Days of Christmas is available on the Internet - see Kimberly Powell's site at http://genealogy.about.com/library/blchristmas-twelve.htm.

Several years ago, I decided I would do my own based on using computer genealogy, my own needs and my own research:

On the 12th day of Christmas,


My true love gave to me --

Twelve Revolutionary War pension files with the Family Bible -pages included (12)

Eleven passenger lists clearly written (22)

Ten WorldConnect entries of elusive ancestors (30)

Nine message board postings from distant cousins (36)

Eight probate files (40)

Seven census pages (42)

Six deed abstracts (42)

Five newspaper obituaries (40)

Four marriage records (36)

Three family Bibles (30)

Two draft registration images (22)

And a new name in my family tree. (12)

I've put the total number in parenthesis of each item - if you sing the song all the way through, going one number at a time.

My true love is a busy girl, isn't she?

But, but, but ... that would take all the fun out of the ancestor search, wouldn't it?


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Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver

Randy Visits Santa Claus -- Post 339 of (Not So) Wordless Wednesday

I'm posting family photographs from my collection on Wednesdays, but they aren't Wordless Wednesday posts like others do - I simply am incapable of having a wordless post.

Here is a photograph from the Seaver/Carringer family collection handed down by my mother in the 1988 to 2002 time period:




This photograph was probably taken at Marston's Department Store in downtown San Diego where my grandfather worked for 55 years. This photo was probably taken in the 1947 to 1950 time frame. My guess is that my grandfather, Lyle Carringer, took this picture, although my mother may have taken it.

It looks like Santa has a good hold on me - an arm around my waist and a hand holding down my left arm. I was never scared of Santa Claus, so my smile is genuine and anticipatory. Either that, or someone made a funny face at me when the picture was snapped.


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Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas Names in the Ancestry.com Records

Here's an oldie but a goodie for my devoted readers --

I was devastated when, several years ago, Dan Lynch posted 
about Christmas characters on his web site, http://www.1930census.com/santa_clause.php. I had worked on most of those names for two weeks and was waiting for the "season" to post them.

So, here are the rest of my "character" findings (originally posted in 2006) with some recent additions:

1) Ebenezer Scroggs (1850, Harrison County OH) is as close to Ebenezer Scrooge as I can get.

2) Robert Crachet (1880, Scott County AR). Another Robert Crachet flew into New York City from Paris on Air France on 2 August 1956 - maybe to perform in a play on Broadway?

3) Three Grinch brothers (Charles, John and Lenwards) came into New York City on 6 September 1875 aboard the "Egypt." There is no word if they came to steal Christmas. Obviously, if they did, they failed.

4) There is a Jasper Magi and Baldermo Magi (1930, Fairfield County CT) but no Melchior; there are Gaspar Wiseman (1930, Queens County NY) and Melvin Wiseman (1930, Muskegon county MI), but no Balthasar or similar.

5) There are 18 Harold Angel persons in the 1930 census. No Hark Angel, however.

6) Sila Knight (1870, Randolph County, AL) is the closest to Silent Night I could find. Lots of Silas Knight people.

7) There are 3 Noel Noel persons in the 1930 census.

8) Angel Angel (1930, Maricopa County AZ) is one of the repeating angels.

9) There are two Merry Christmas girls in the 1930 census (there are lots of Mary Christmas females too).

10) Holly Bush (1930, Roanoke County VA) sticks out.

11) Christ Tree (1930, LaPorte County IN) probably extended his branches

12) Jessie Manger (1930, Polk County IA) - parents were not Joseph and Mary

13) Then there are Santa's reindeer: Were they:

* Cupid Wiseman
* Melvin Dancer
* Hugo Blitzen
* Chris Donder
* Rudolf Dasher
* Dasher Berry
* Prancer Saner
* Vixen Locke
* Theodore Comet

Just wondering!!

14) You know, if Bah Morgan (1900, Stephenson IL) had married Cecil Humbug (1900, Delaware County PA) we would have had more Humbugs than we would know what to do with.

15) I'm wondering if Alvin Monk (1930, Schoharie County NY), Simon Monk (1930, Lonoke AR) and Theodore Monk (1930, Cotton County OK) really got together in 1958 to sing The Chipmunk Song. Maybe they weren't a figment of Ross Bagdasarian's imagination!

OK, I'm done! I hope you enjoyed this little prance down Santa Claus Lane.

What other Christmas related names are there? C'mon, lay them on me.


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Copyright (c) 2014, Randall J. Seaver



Historical Records of an American Santa Claus

There was at least one man who used the name Santa Claus in U.S. history, and there are quite a few records for him:

*  In the 1900 U.S. Census, a person named "Santa Clause" (born April 1887 in MO) was the son of William Clause (born Feb 1857 in MO) and Henrietta Clause (born May 1861 in MO), with siblings Emma B. Clause (born Jan 1881 in MO), William E. Clause (born Nov 1882 in MO), Earler (?) Clause (born Dec 1885 in MO), Nellie Claus (born Nov 1889) and Earl Clause (born Dec 1894 in MO). The family resided in Liberty township, Saline County, MO (NARA T623, Roll 902, ED 129, Page 3A).

*  In the 1910 census, "Sante Claus" was age 23, single, a farm laborer, living as a hired man in the household of David Fleshman in Liberty township, Saline County, MO (NARA T624, Roll 823, ED 172, Page 4A).

*  In the 1920 census, "Santy Clause" (age 31, single, a boarder) resided with his brother Earl Clause in Blackwater township, Pettis County, MO (NARA T625, Roll 939, ED 125, Page 4B).


I was unable to find Mabel Claus or the two children, William and Raymond, in the 1920 census - perhaps someone else would like to try! My best guess is that they may be in Colorado then, or back in Saline County MO.

*  In the 1930 census, "Santa Claus" (age 42, married, first at age 24, born in MO, a laborer, works in river construction) resided in Marshall township, Saline County, MO with his wife Mabel Claus (age 36, married, first at age 18 in MO), son William Claus (age 15, born MO), son Raymond Claus (age 12, born CO), son Fred Claus (age 9, born MO), son Joseph Claus (age 6, born MO), son James Claus (age 3, born MO) and daughter Dorthy Claus (age 0, born MO) (NARA T626, Roll 1246, ED 20, Page 12A).

Notice that son Raymond Claus was born in Colorado, not Missouri. And also note that Santa was in Missouri in the 1920 census listed as single, but he obviously had a wife and children in 1920 if the 1930 census records are correct.


*  In the 1940 U.S. census, "Santa Claus" (age 52, married, born in Missouri, completed 4th grade, a sewer man) resided in Marshall, Saline county, Missouri with his wife Minnie Mabel Claus (age 46, married, born Missouri, completed 6th grade); son William Owen Claus (age 24, single, born Missouri, completed 7th grade); son Raymond Elbert Claus (age 22, single, born Colorado, completed 8th grade, a yard man); Fred Claus (age 19, single, born Missouri, completed 7th grade);  son Joseph Claus (age 16, single, born Missouri, completed 1st year of high school, a new worker); son James Claus (age 13, single, born Missouri, completed 6th grade); daughter Amy Ruth Claus (age 9, single, born Missouri, completed 3rd grade); daughter Edna May Claus (age 3, single, born Missouri).

There is more:

*  Santy Clause married Minnie Mabel Hill on 9 June 1912 in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri. Their marriage record is in the Missouri Marriage License database on Ancestry.com, but it only says that he was from Marshall and over age 21, and she was from Marshall and over age 18.

*  "Santy Clause" registered for the World War I draft on 5 June 1917 in Prowers County, Colorado. He was age 29, born 4 April 1888 in Marshall MO, a natural born US citizen, Caucasian, married with two children. He was a farmer, and resided in Lamar, Route A, Prowers County, Colorado. He was medium height, medium build, blue eyes, light brown hair, and no disabilities, and had no previous military service.

*  Santa Clause has a Missouri dea
th certificate - he died 1 April 1957 in Marshall, saline County, Missouri (see it at 
http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1957/1957_00011723.PDF) [My thansk to reader Kathy L who sent the link to me last year.]




*  Members of the Clause family are buried in Blue Lick Union Church Cemetery in Saline County, Missouri. The list includes:

Donna Clause (died 3 Oct 1942, age 0-4-24)
Earl Clause (1894-1940)
Helen F. Clause (1919-1955)
Henrietta S. Clause (18__-1915)
Minnie Mabel Clause ("Mother," 1894-1944)
Raymond E. Clause (1917-1971)
Santa Clause ("Father," 1888-1957) - see his Find A Grave memorial here.
Silvina Clause (1877-1964)
William Clause (1856-1917)

So, to summarize:

"Santa Claus" was born 4 April 1887 or 1888 in Marshall, Saline County, MO, the son of William and Henrietta (--?--) Claus. He married Minnie Mabel Hill in 1912 and they had at least 6 children.  He was a farmer in 1920, laborer in river construction in 1930, and a sewer man in 1940. He died on 1 April 1957, a retired minister,  in Marshall, Missouri and is buried in Saline County, Missouri.

This Santa Claus is, unfortunately, not coming to town soon - he's dead and buried in Missouri. It doesn't appear that he could possibly be the jolly purveyor of toys and good cheer with a big belly and long white beard who lives with his unnamed wife and elves and 9 reindeer at the North Pole, does it? 

Don't tell the kids.

Isn't it amazing what you can find on the Internet with lots of spare time on your hands?

I posted this originally on 27 November 2006 and had two comments from granddaughters of Santa Claus, one from a cousin several times removed, and one from a lady whose parents were married by Santa Claus.  I had another comment from a probable relative in 2011 - see post here.  Last year, a neighbor commented - see that post here.


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Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver