Saturday, December 24, 2016

'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.



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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/twas-night-before-genealogists-christmas.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver


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Saturday Night Genealogy Fun-- My Santa Claus Memories

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 
 It's Saturday Night again - 
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  Answer these questions:

a) Did you ever send a letter to Santa Claus?
b) Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?"
c) Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
d) When did you find out "the truth" about Santa Claus?

2)  Tell us your answers in a blog post of your own, in a Facebook post or Google+ post.  Be sure to leave a comment on this post with a link to your answers.

Here's mine:

a) Did you ever send a letter to Santa Claus?

I don't think I ever did send a letter.

b) Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?"

We visited Santa Claus every year down at the Marston's Department Store in downtown San Diego where my grandfather worked for 55 years. I think we "made a list" sometimes, especially as we got older and the wanted gifts became more complex. My recollection of visiting Santa is one of awe - this really big fat person in a red suit with a long white beard, who flies around the world in a sleigh pulled by reindeer,who goes down chimneys to leave gifts for children, all in one night - I knew the story and didn't question it for a long time (being a pretty smart kid, I guess).

c) Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

They say that in the first part of your life, you BELIEVE IN Santa Claus. In the second part of your life, you DON'T BELIEVE IN in Santa Claus. In the third part of your life, you ARE Santa Claus, and in the last part of your life, you LOOK LIKE Santa Claus. In my case, I have all four of these attributes ... still.

The magic of Santa Claus in a child's eyes is priceless. Everybody eventually FIGURES OUT that SC is a figment of imagination - why do we fool our children like that? I love giving gifts to my wife, children and grandchildren. I've had a beard for 38 years, been practicing my "ho-ho-ho's" forever, but am working on reducing the belly. I still believe ... irrational, isn't it? I love going to the shopping center, and sitting on a bench near Santa's little hut and watching the little ones go up and talk to Santa. He waved at me on the escalator the other day - he knew! I've thought about being a "store Santa," but doubt if I ever will.


d) When did you find out "the truth" about Santa Claus?

We lived on the second story of a two-story house at 2119 30th Street in San Diego from the time I was 4 until I left home in 1968 at age 24. The house did not have a fireplace, so my brother Stan and I could never figure out how Santa Claus could bring the presents under the tree. Did he come in the window? Did dad leave a key or leave the door unlocked?

My maternal grandparents, Lyle and Emily Carringer (“Gram and Gramps”), built a beautiful home on Point Loma in 1951, and Christmas Eves were spent there for many years – and it had a fireplace! Our stockings were hung there in hopes that Saint Nick would fill them to the brim. Before bedtime, my grandmother would lead us in Christmas carols while we lay in bed – it was a wonderful way to fall asleep, and is one of my most cherished memories of her (my eyes tear up every time I think of this!).

Santa was always good to us, probably because, in retrospect, we were usually good boys – mischievous but not criminal, loud but not abusive, whirlwinds but not destructive. We usually received toys that were all the rage of the day, plus the usual boring clothes, and fruit, candy and small toys in our stockings. The most memorable gifts were the "good" toys, of course. BB guns and Davy Crockett coonskin caps in 1954, Flexible Flyers (sleds on wheels) and a baby brother in 1955, bicycles in 1956.

Of course, Santa Claus isn’t mysterious forever. The Point Loma house had a two car garage that my grandparents had filled with generations of stuff – it was a wonderful place to hide, explore and search. We found the bicycles in the garage before Christmas in 1956, but didn’t tell anybody else. Sure enough, on Christmas morning they appeared by the fireplace and Christmas tree marked “from Santa Claus.” Aha! So, we knew, but being rather smart astronauts we didn’t tell the folks – why kill the golden goose?



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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-my-santa.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 -- GARDE (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 #1505, who is Ulalia GARDE (1633-1657) 
[Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 8th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].

My ancestral line back through two generations of this GARDE 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)

94.  Joseph Champlin (1758-1850)
95.  Nancy Kenyon (1765-????)

188.  Elijah Champlin (1730-1779)
189.  Phoebe Card (1730-1787)

376.  William Champlin (1687-1778)
377.  Joanna LNU (1700-????)

752.  Christopher Champlin (1756-1732)
753.  FNU LNU

1504.  Jeffrey Champlin, born about 1618 in probably Bideford, Devon, England; died before 06 December 1695 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.  He married about 1650 in Rhode Island, United States.
1505.  Ulalia Garde, born before 05 February 1633 in Bideford, Devon, England; died about 1657 in probably Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.  

Children of Jeffrey Champlin and Ulalia Garde are:
*  Jeffrey Champlin (1650-1717), married 1672 Hannah LNU (1654-1711).
*  William Champlin (1654-1715), married 1674 Mary Babcock (1648-1747).
*  Christopher Champlin (1656-1732), married (1) 1682 FNU LNU; (2) 1721 Elizabeth Davol.

3110.  John Garde, born about 1605 in Devon, England; died 07 August 1665 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.  He was the son of 6220. John Garde and 6221. Mary Suthcott.  He married 27 September 1629 in Bideford, Devon, England.
3111.  Rebecca Copp, born about 1606 in Devon, England; died 16 February 1660 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States.

Children of John Garde and Rebecca Copp are:
*  Abraham Garde (1631-????)
*  Ulalia Garde (1633-1657), married 1650 Jeffrey Champlin (1618-1695).

Information about this Garde family was obtained from:

*  G. Andrews Moriarty, "The Gardes and the Champlins," The American Genealogist, Volume XX, Number 2 (October 1943), pages 106-109.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/surname-saturday-garde-england-to.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

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Friday, December 23, 2016

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 Social Security Application and Claims records (30)

Nine Facebook postings from distant cousins (36)

Eight probate files (40)

Seven census pages (42)

Six land deeds (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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The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/twelve-days-of-genealogy-christmas.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.

This Week's We're Related Relationships, 23 December 2016

I received 8 new cousin relationships on the We're Related mobile app this week, which is based on Ancestry Member Trees.  The new relationships, and my initial evaluation of them, are:

1)  Linda Robbins -- Facebook friend, 8th cousin, common ancestor is Moses Barber (1652-1733).

My line from Moses Barber is through Anna (Barber) Kenyon, and Linda's is through Samuel Barber, who is in my database.  My judgment is that this relationship is Very Likely.

2)  Pam Schaffner -- Facebook friend, 8th cousin 2x removed, common ancestor is Nathaniel Eastman (1643-1709).

My line from Nathaniel Eastman is through Sarah (Eastman) Amborse, and Pam's is through Mary (Eastman) Eastman.  My judgment is that this relationship is Very Likely.

3)  Halle Berry -- Actress, 8th cousin 1x removed, common ancestor is Samuel Fletcher (1657-1744).



My line to Samuel Fletcher is through son John Fletcher, while Halle's is through son Timothy Fletcher.  I can't trace Halle's line any further in my database, but there are several trees that have this line down to her mother.  My judgment is that this relationship is Likely.

4)  John Wayne -- Actor, 8th cousin 1x removed, common ancestor is Johannes Rau (1645-1691).



I don't know about the Duke's line, but I know that I don't have the first four generations in my database, since I don't know the parents of my Philip Row (1753-1817).  My judgment is that this relationship is Unlikely.

5)  Julia Child -- Author, 8th cousin 2x removed, common ancestor is George Soule (1593-1680).



My two lines from George Soule are through son Nathaniel and through daughter Susanna (Soule) West, while Julia's line is through son John.   My judgment is that this relationship is Likely.

6)  Sandra Rumble -- Facebook friend, 6th cousin 3x removed, common ancestor is Johann Balthasar Spengler (1706-1770).

My line from Johann Balthasar Spengler is through son Rudolf Spangler, and Sandra's line is through son Michael Spangler.  I haven't researched Sandra's line past Michael.  My judgment is that this relationship is Likely.

7)  Lori Pilla -- Facebook friend, 8th cousin 1x removed, common ancestor Mehitable Fish (1647-1697).

My line from Mehitable Fish is through daughter Mary (Tripp) Waite, and Lori's line is through son Abiel Tripp.  My judgment is that this relationship is Very Likely.

My count is up to 97 famous or Facebook cousins provided by the app.  This week, my judgment is that six of the 7 cousin relationships are Likely or better.

I will say it again:  My biggest problem with this We're Related app is that it thinks it knows my ancestral lines better than I do, and adds one to five generations to some of my end-of-line ancestors.  They may be right -- I don't know -- and can't really find out because they provide no source material to back up their assertions.  If there was authoritative information for my end-of-line ancestors, I would add it.  None of the "Doubtful" or "Wrong" relationships have been convincing to me yet.



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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, 23 December 2016

I received this information from Findmypast today:

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New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday

Over 56,000 new records are available to search this Findmypast Friday, including;



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Each record will list the apprentices chosen trade, residence, the name of their father, the name of their master, the name of their master’s wife, the length of their term and the amount they were paid at the end of their training.



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The new records date all the way back to 1538 and cover the parishes of Wrotham, Stansted, Wouldham, Southfleet, and Leybourne.



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Each record includes a transcript of an original document held by National Records of Scotland that will allow you to discover your ancestors’, birth place, birth date, former residence the institution they were sent to and the date of their admission.



Search over 17,000 transcripts of prison registers to find out if your ancestors spent time in jail between 1828 and 1884.

Each record will list your ancestors’ age, birth year, birth place, occupation, former residence, offence and place of imprisonment.

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Disclosure:  I am a Findmypast Ambassador, and receive a complimentary subscription to 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 156: #221 Hannah (Colby) Underhill (1745-????) of New Hampshire

Here is my 52 Ancestors biography for week #156:

Hannah Colby (1745-????) is #221 on my Ahnentafel List, my 5th great-grandmother, who married #220 John Underhill (1745-1816)  in 1767.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #110 Amos Underhill (1772-1865), who married #111 Mary "Polly" Metcalf (1780-1855) in 1801.
*  their daughter #55 Mary Ann Underhill (1815-1883) who married #54 Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) in 1839.
*  their daughter, #27 Abigail A. Vaux (1844-1931), who married #26 Devier J. Smith (1839-1894) in 1861.
*  their daughter, #13 Abbie Ardell Smith (1862-1944), who married #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946), who married  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:                       Hannah Colby[1–3]   
* Sex:                           Female   

*  Father:                     Joseph Colby (1707-1768)   
*  Mother:                   Abigail Worthen (1714-    )   
  
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

*  Birth:                      14 February 1744/5, Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1,3]   
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
  
*  Spouse 1:               Sgt. John Underhill (1745-1816)   
*  Marriage:               1767 (about age 22), Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[2]   

*  Child 1:                  Joseph Underhill (1770-1843)   
*  Child 2:                  Amos Underhill (1772-1865)   
*  Child 3:                  Nancy Underhill (1774-    )   
*  Child 4:                  John Underhill (1776-1858)   
*  Child 5:                  Susan Underhill (1778-    )   
*  Child 6:                  Jonathan Underhill (1779-1875)   
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   

Hannah Colby was born 14 February 1744/5 in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the fourth child (of five) of Joseph and Abigail (Worthen) Colby[1,3].

The Joseph Colby family moved from Amesbury to Chester, New Hampshire by 1760[2].

John Underhill and Hannah Colby married in about 1767 and had seven children between 1770 and 1785, all born in Chester, New Hampshire[2].

Joseph Colby, of Chester, N. H., resided on Lot No. 40, located on the Long Meadow road and near the old brick school house. On March 2, 1774, his daughter Hannah and her husband, John Underhill, purchased this place and lived there until they removed to Plainfield. They sold it in 1801 to Mary Brown but previous to its purchase they lived in Candia[2]

There is no record for the death and burial of Hannah (Colby) Underhill.  
 
5)  SOURCES

1. David Webster Hoyt, The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton (Providence, R.I., Snow & Farnham, printers, 1897-1917).

2. Josephine C Frost, Underhill Genealogy, Volume 4 (N.p.: Myron C. Taylor, in the interests of the Underhill Society of America, 1932), page 29.

3. Town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, Vital Records of Amesbury, Massachusetts  to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield, Mass. : Topsfield Historical Society, 1913), Births, page 60, Hannah Colby entry.

NOTE:  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.  I have extended this theme in 2016 to 156 Ancestors in 156 Weeks.

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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.