Saturday, October 29, 2016

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Title This Book!

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

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



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

1)  Look at this image:




What is a funny and/or serious Title for this book, if it is a genealogy book (yours, or someone else's)?


2)  Share your response in a comment on this blog post, in your own blog post (and provide a link in a comment on this post), or on Facebook or Google+.

Here's mine:

a)  Funny:  The Big Book of Smith Families Through Ten Generations

b)  Funny but accurate:  Ten Years of Genea-Musings, 2006-2015

c)  Serious:  Randy Seaver's Genealogy and Family History through 20 Generations, with Links to the English Kings and European Royalty; including Descendants of Robert Seaver of Roxbury, Massachusetts.



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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/10/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-title-this.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday - BROWNELL (England to colonial New England)

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 #149, who is Mary BROWNELL (1639-1740) 
[Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 8th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through two generations of this BROWNELL 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)


10.  Thomas Richmond (1848-1917)
11.  Julia E. White (1848-1913)

22.  Henry Arnold White (1824-1885)
23.  Amy Frances Oatley (1826-1864)

46.  Jonathan Oatley (1790-1872)
47.  Amy Champlin (1798-1865)

92.  Joseph Oatley (1756-1815)
93.  Mary Hazard (1765-1857)

186.  Stephen Hazard (1730-1804)
187.  Elizabeth Carpenter (1741-????)

372.  Thomas Hazard (1707-1745)
373.  Hannah Slocum (1710-1737)

744.  Stephen Hazard (1665-1727)
745.  Elizabeth Helme (1677-1727)

1488.  Robert Hazard, born about 1628 in England; died 1710 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.   He married about 1659 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
1489.  Mary Brownell, born April 1639 in probably Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 12 January 1740 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.

Children of Robert Hazard and Mary Brownell are:
*  Thomas Hazard (1660-1746), married 1682 Susannah Nichols (1662-1746).
*  George Hazard (1663-1743), married 1689 Penelope Arnold (1669-1742).
*  Stephen Hazard (1665-1727), married 1695 Elizabeth Helme (1677-1727).
*  Mary Hazard (1666-1698), married 1685 Edward Wilcox (1662-1715).
*  Martha Hazard (1668-1753), married 1686 Thomas Wilcox (1664-1728).
*  Robert Hazard (1671-1718), married 1697 Amey Champlin (1679-1718).
*  Jeremiah Hazard (1675-1768), married 1698 Sarah Smith (1678-1765).
*  Hannah Hazard (1677-1713), married 1708 Jeffrey Champlin (1672-1718).

2978.  Thomas Brownell, born before 05 June 1608 in Rawmarsh, Yorkshire, England; died 24 September 1665 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.  He was the son of 5956. Robert Brownell and 5957. Mary Wilson.  He married 20 March 1637 in St. Benet, London, England.
2979.  Ann Bourne, born before 15 February 1607 in St. Michael Cornhill, London, England; died 24 October 1668 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.  She was the daughter of 5958. Richard Bourne and 5959. Judith Cowper.

Children of Thomas Brownell and Ann Bourne are:
*  Mary Brownell (1639-1740), married 1659 Robert Hazard (1628-1710).
*  Sarah Brownell (1641-1676), married 1658 Gideon Freeborne (1635-1718).
*  Martha Brownell (1643-1744), married (1) 1665 Jeremiah Waite (1646-1675), (2) 1691 Charles Dyer (1650-1709).
*  George Brownell (1646-1718), married 1673 Susannah Pearce (1652-1743).
*  Robert Brownell (1648-1728), married 1675 Mary Ladd (1654-1728).
*  William Brownell (1650-1715), married 1673 Sarah Smiton (1654-1714).
*  Thomas Brownell (1652-1732), married 1678 Mary Pearce (1654-1736).
*  Ann Brownell (1654-1747), married 1693 Joseph Wilbour (1656-1729).
*  Susannah Brownell (1655-????).

Information about these Brownell families was obtained from:

*  Carl Boyer 3rd, Ancestral Lines, Third Edition (Santa Clarita, Calif. : the author, 1998).

*  William R. Brownell, A History of the Brownell Family (Hastings, Neb.: the author,  1975).

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/10/surname-saturday-brownell-england-to.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Friday, October 28, 2016

More Thoughts on Ancestry.com's Mobile App, We're Related

I've been watching the We're Related app - every day it gives me one more famous ancestor to check out.  

1)  Since my last post, the following have been added to my list:

*  Brad Pitt - actor, 7th cousin 2x removed, common ancestor is Henry Smith (1680-1743).

*  Carrie Underwood - musician, 9th cousin, common ancestor is Joseph Collins (1643-1724).

*  Luke Bryan - musician, 8th cousin 1x removed, common ancestor is Samuel Smith (1641-1691)

*  Winston Churchill - politician, 7th cousin 2x removed, common ancestor is Sarah Wing (1658-1720).


*  Melinda Baker - Facebook friend, 7th cousin 3x removed, common ancestor is William White (1708-1780)

Almost all of my common ancestors with the famous cousins are from New England.

2)  I wonder why the common ancestor information doesn't include the spouse of the claimed common ancestor.  Some common ancestors provided are male and some are female.  Most of them are couples who had the two children that started the lineages to me and to the famous person.  Is it just for convenience, or is there another reason?

3)  Many commenters on Facebook assume that Ancestry's intent is to enable young persons, who are mobile oriented, to find out that they are related to famous persons, especially the actors and entertainers, and perhaps become interested in genealogy and family history.

The problem is that almost all of those potential We're Related users don't have an Ancestry Member Tree and have no interest in starting one, let alone to go back 8-15 generations so that We're Related can find a common ancestor.  It took me about 10 years to get my tree information to that point, and I'm still working on it after 28 years.

It's possible that some (many?) of these young people who might be interested in the mobile app are in a relative's Ancestry Member Tree. Perhaps those trees go back far enough to find the common ancestors.  But these young folks need to find their relative with the big Ancestry Member Tree.  If they find them, they will need to be invited into the relative's tree, then identify themselves in the tree in the We're Related mobile app, and then see the famous cousins.

4)  For instance, I could invite my wife, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews and cousins into my Ancestry Member Tree and help them find themselves in my tree when they load the We're Related mobile app.

I think that may work, but not if they have to do a lot of work to get the app to work and find famous relatives.  Or worse, they the the app to work but find no famous relatives!

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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday, 28 October 2016

I received this information via email from Findmypast today:

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The publication is a summary of the population of Castlecomer in the 1901. It begins with an introduction and then lists the names, ages, and occupations of the all the inhabitants. On image number 204 is the beginning of an index of all the names found in the publication.



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Disclosure:  I receive a complimentary subscription to Findmypast.com as a Findmypast Ambassador.  I appreciate the subscription, but it does not affect my objective reporting about Findmypast.


Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 148: #201 Maria Magdalena (Ritter) Spengler (1706-1784)

Here is my 52 Ancestors biography for week #148:

Maria Magdalena Ritter (1706-1784) is #201 on my Ahnentafel list, my 5th great-grandmother, who married #200 Johann Balthazar Spengler (1706-1770) in 1732.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #100 Rudolf Spengler (1738-1811), who married #101 Maria Dorothea Dinkel (1748-1835) in 1767.
*  their son, #50 Daniel Spangler (1781-1851), who married #51 Elizabeth King (1796-1863) in 1815.
*  their daughter, #25 Rebecca Spangler (1832-1901), who married #24 David Jackson Carringer (1828-102) in 1851.
*  their son, #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946), who married Abbie Ardell Smith (1862-1944) in 1887.
*  their son, #6 Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), who married #7 Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977) in 1918.
* their daughter #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002), who married #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983), in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall J. Seaver (1943-....)

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

*  Name:                       Maria Magdalena Ritter[1]    

*  Alt. Name:                Maria Magdalena Spangler[3]

*  Sex:                          Female        
   
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
   
*  Birth:                        1706, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany[1]    
*  Distribution:             3 December 1770 (about age 64), will of husband; York, York, Pennsylvania, United States[2]    
*  Death:                      before 9 November 1784 (before age 78), York, York, Pennsylvania, United States[3]    
*  Probate:                   9 November 1784 (age 78), account filed; York, York, Pennsylvania, United States[3]    
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
   
*  Spouse 1:                Johann Balthazar "Blatzer" Spengler (1706-1770)    
*  Marriage:                29 April 1732 (age 25), Weiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany[1]
*  Child 1:                   George Spengler (1732-1810)    
*  Child 1:                   Maria Juliana Spengler (1734-1770)    
*  Child 1:                   Johann Baltzer Spengler (1735-1798)    
*  Child 1:                   Michael Spengler (1737-1793)    
*  Child 1:                   Rudolf Spengler (1738-1811)    
*  Child 1:                   Elizabeth Spengler (1740-1825)    
*  Child 1:                   Daniel Spengler (1742-1777)    
*  Child 1:                   John Spengler (1747-1796)    
   
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

Most of the information about the Spangler family below is from the book by Edward W. Spangler, The Annals of the Families of Caspar, Henry, Baltzer and George Spengler, published in York Pennsylvania in 1896[1].  

The parents and siblings of Maria Magdalena Ritter are not known.

Baltzer Spengler married Maria Magdalena Ritter on 29 April 1732 in Weiler in Rheinland-Pfalz.  They had eight children, six males and two females, between 1732 and 1747, the first in Germany and the rest in Pennsylvania[1].

When her husband died in 1770, she was bequeathed[2]:

" I Give and Bequeath unto my dearly Beloved Wife Magdalena Spangler the Cloaths press and all the Linnen and Sheeting and Ready money in the house at the time of my decease together with two feather Beds and furniture as they now Stand a tea kettle and tea furniture two pewter Basons two pewter dishes six pewter plates one pewter porringer one pewter Quart Measure One dozen pewter spoons, one small Walnut Oval Table, four Chairs, two delf Bowls two small Iron potts one Iron Ladle one Iron Shimmer one Large Copper Ladle for dipping Water one Iron pott Rack, the Copper kettle and Spinning wheel and Reel the Clock and Cease, one Looking Glass one small Walnut Box, the Close Stool Chair a Large Iron pan with feet one small Washing tub one Bucket one pail one Brass-Bucket one Glass Lantern, two Quart Bottles a Psalm Book and two prayer Book, one Grid Iron, one Garden hoe, two Cows of Her own Choice, the Big Roan Mare Saddle and Bridle the Negro Man Jacob and the Negro Woman Tammer her Choice of four sheep and of two Beehives and of two hogs. My will is that my said dearly Beloved Wife shall have the produce of my dwelling Plantation and all that thereon is for one full year after my decease and that She Shall also have the Kitchen Cupboard."

Maria Magdalena (Ritter) Spangler died before 9 November 1784.  She wrote her will on 26 May 1783 and proved on 9 November 1784 in York County, Pennsylvania.  The will and other probate documents read[3]:

In the Name of God Amen I Mary Magdalen Spangler being Old and Weak in body but thanks be to God of sound Understanding and Judgement think it my Duty to make my last Will and Testament Concerning my Temporal Estate and Goods which I now Posses how they shall be disposed of after my Death. 

Imprimus I Bequeath my Soul unto the hand of that God who hath Created and Redeemed me and my Body to the Earth to be Buried after a Christian and Decent Manner and Will that all my funeral Charges shall be properly paid. Further it is my Will that all my Children namely Georg Spangler, Balser Spangler. Michael Spangler, Rudy Spangler, Daniel  Spangler's Children and the Children that Francis Bikel had with my Daughter Juliana named Magdalena, Hanna, John, and Elizabet Bikel, Elisabeth Spangler Married to Francis Kuntz and John Spangler shall all and each of them draw equal Shares of my remaining Estate. Item I bequeath all my Wearing apparel and Shirts to my Daughter Elizabet the Wife of Francis Kuntz and Hannah Bikel, the Daughter of Francis Bikel to be equally Shared among them.

 Item I Will my Daughter Elizabet wife to Francis Kuntz shall take 6 Yds of linen a Sheet and a Table Cloth a feather Covering to a Bed and a Bed Case and two Billows of my Bed. Item I Will and further bequeath to Hannah Bikel the Daughter of my Daughter Julianna with Francis Bikel two Pewter Plates a Small Dish a Pan two Spoons a Smothing Iron a Smal Iron pot the Bed that She Commonly Sleeps in with it appurtenances and a Tabe Cloth. Item I Will that all that I Bequeath to my Daughter Elizabet the Wife of Francis Kuntz and her whole Share shall be put and remain under the Care and Management of my Son John Spangler who shall give it to her by Parcels time after time as often as she shold find Pressing necesity for it should my Daughter Elisabet die before her whole share was given to her according to the above Restrictions the remaining part of it shall from Time to Time be distributed among her Children. Item my son John Spangler is Debtor to me by Bond given the 14th of June 1773 ₤ 65 lawful Money of Pennsylvania of which Bond he has paid five Pounds and some Intress now it is my Will that my son John pay of the whole remaining only fourthy Pounds and the rest shall be Cancelled and the Intresses these forthy Pounds he shall pay four weeks after my Death but at the same Time Share on it with the Rest of my above named Children. I herewith Cancell and Make Void the Bond and the Debt & the Intress excepting the above Mentioned fourthy Pounds 

Lastly I appoint my Son John Spangler for my sole and only Executor of this my last Will & Testament and herewith annull revoke and make void all former Wills & Test and acknowledge these presents to be my only and last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Mary Magdalen have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Twenty sixth day of May A.D. one thousand seven hundred & eighty three.

 Signed Sealed Pronounced & Published as my }    Magdalen   her 
last Will & Testament in the Presence of          }             Mary^ M  Spangler  
                                                                                                   mark
Christopher Lauman                                                                            
 Jacob Shoffer

York County Ss.
Before me Archibald McLean Esquire Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of York in the state of Pennsylvania Personally Came Christopher Lauman and Jacob Shoffer the two Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of writing and on their Solemn Oath Respectively do severally say that they were Personally present and saw and heard the afore named Mary Magdalena Spangler make her mark unto and seal and Publish the foregoing Instrument of writing as and for her last Will and Testament and that at the Time of the Doing thereof she the said Mary Magdalena Spangler was of sound disposing Mind Memory and Understanding to the best of their Knowledge and Belief and that they subscribed their names thereto as Witnesses in the Presence of the said Testatrix and at her Request and also in the presence of each other at the same Time. 

Sworn & Subscribed at York the ninth day } Christopher Lauman
 of November 1784 Before                          }  Jacob Shoffer
Arch^d McLean Register                             }
 A true copy Compared with the Original
                                                                       Arch^d McLean Register

Memorandum That Letters Testamentary in Common form were granted to John Spangler of the Estate of Mary Magdalena Spangler late of York County Widow Deceased Inventory to be Exhibited into the Registers Office at York on or before the Ninth day of December next ensuing And an Accompt or Reckoning on it before the Ninth day of November for the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five. Given under my hand and the seal of said Office at York the 9th Day of November 1784.
                                                                      Arch^d McLean Registers

Memorandum That Letters of Administration in Common form were granted to Barbara Spangler and George Kann of the Estate of Rudolph Spangler late of York County Yeoman Deceased Inventory to be exhibited into the Registers Office at York on or before the Ninth Day of December next ensuing And an Accompt or Reckoning on or before the Ninth day of November In the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight five Given under my hand and the Seal of said Office at York the 9th day of November 1784.
                                                                       Arch^d McLean Registers

Maria Magdalena Spangler was buried with her husband, according to the Spangler book, in the German Reformed churchyard, and their remains were moved to Prospect Hill Cemetery in York.

5)  SOURCES
 
1. Edward W. Spangler, The Annals of the Families of Caspar, Henry, Baltzer and George Spengler Who Settled in York County Respectively in 1729, 1732, 1732 and 1751, with Biographical and Historical Sketches, and Memorabilia of Contemporaneous Local Events (York, Penn. : n.p., 1896), pages 138-149, Baltzer Spangler sketch.

2. "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org), York County > “Wills, 1749-1783, Vol. A-D,” Book C, pages 9-13 (images 331 to 333 of 647), Baltzer Spangler will and codicils, written 9 October and 17 October 1770, registered 3 December 1770.

3. "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org), Mary Magdalen Spangler will, written 9 May 1783, registered 9 November 1784; accessed in York County, “Wills, 1779-1789, Vol. E-G,” Book F, pages 304-306, images 378-379 of 649.

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Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.