Saturday, December 17, 2022

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Your Santa Claus Memories

  Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!


(Photo courtesy of our precious footnoteMaven)

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 comment on this post, or in a Facebook 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, especially secret gifts. I've had a beard for 44 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. five years ago, one little boy 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.  I even had an offer four years ago to be a "store Santa" - a guy in line at the Padres game invited me to join them!  Then there's my 8-year old grandson, Charlie, who calls me "Grandpa Ho-Ho-Ho."

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! they just did again).

Santa was always good to us, probably because, in retrospect, we were usually pretty 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. Brother Stan and I wanted bicycles in 1956. We found the bicycles in the garage before Christmas, 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, now we knew, but being rather smart astronauts we didn’t tell the folks – why kill the golden goose?

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


Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

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Added and Updated FamilySearch.org Record Collections - Week of 10 to 16 December 2022

  I am keeping track of the new and updated historical record collections at FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 16 December 2022, there are 3,167 historical record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of from last week):

The new and updated collections this week from FamilySearch are:

--- Collections Added   ---

*  Austria, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2007     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000002); 2,481,872 indexed records with 2,481,872 record images, ADDED 09-Dec-2022

*  Belgium, Antwerp, Civil Registration and Church Records, 1803-1890      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496124); 126,709 indexed records with 126,709 record images, ADDED 09-Dec-2022

--- Collections Updated ---

Argentina, Catamarca, Catholic Church Records, 1724-1971        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974178); 133,572 indexed records with 102,718 record images (was 130,809 records with 102,718 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Argentina, Chaco, Civil Registration, 1889-1946 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4450393); 81,181 indexed records with 80,952 record images (was 81,099 records with 80,870 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Argentina, Corrientes, Catholic Church Records, 1734-1977       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974183); 428,424 indexed records with 207,943 record images (was 427,255 records with 207,943 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Argentina, Jujuy, Catholic Church Records, 1662-1975    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974186); 114,970 indexed records with 69,981 record images (was 114,291 records with 69,981 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Argentina, San Juan, Catholic Church Records, 1655-1975 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1974194); 173,820 indexed records with 83,087 record images (was 170,367 records with 83,087 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

Belarus, Grodno Church Books, 1649-1915 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4166194); 1,264,045 indexed records with 321,357 record images (was 509,919 records with 123,843 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Bolivia Catholic Church Records, 1566-1996      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1922463); 9,209,696 indexed records with 1,649,601 record images (was 9,197,133 records with 1,649,601 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1879-1949     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3479702); 813,609 indexed records with 339,590 record images (was 811,734 records with 338,801 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Brazil, ParanĂ¡, Civil Registration, 1852-1996   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016194); 2,631,536 indexed records with 1,689,031 record images (was 2,626,141 records with 1,689,031 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Brazil, ParĂ¡, Civil Registration, 1815-1995     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4473609); 30,703 indexed records with 10,406 record images (was 29,375 records with 9,816 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Civil Registration, 1860-2006        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3741255); 1,614,726 indexed records with 824,558 record images (was 1,611,095 records with 823,284 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration, 1829-2012   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1582573); 6,646,148 indexed records with 5,100,470 record images (was 6,644,170 records with 5,100,470 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Brazil, Santa Catarina, Civil Registration, 1850-1999   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2016197); 623,387 indexed records with 1,037,638 record images (was 622,274 records with 1,037,638 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2001287); 6,495,974 indexed records with 2,841,076 record images (was 6,495,839 records with 2,841,076 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
California, Oakland, Coroner Records, 1926-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/5000030); 32,864 indexed records with 32,775 record images (was 32,836 records with 32,748 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022

Chile, Catholic Church Records, 1633-2015       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3405096); 7,394,533 indexed records with 920,821 record images (was 7,386,367 records with 919,791 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Chile, Cemetery Records, 1821-2015      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1428897); 1,807,962 indexed records with 3,675,058 record images (was 1,804,748 records with 3,675,058 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Chile, Civil Registration, 1885-1932    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1630787); 4,596,733 indexed records with 1,623,199 record images (was 4,596,688 records with 1,623,199 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1726975); 25,624,153 indexed records with 12,659,776 record images (was 25,583,292 records with 12,659,776 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Colombia, Civil Registration, 1553-2021 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4469480); 480,323 indexed records with 566,238 record images (was 209,376 records with 224,149 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022

Costa Rica, Catholic Church Records, 1595-1992  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1460016); 4,092,021 indexed records with 962,203 record images (was 4,087,175 records with 962,203 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Costa Rica, Civil Registration, 1823-1975       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1925429); 6,127,472 indexed records with 404,718 record images (was 6,125,276 records with 404,718 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2040054); 2,984,179 indexed records with 1,421,761 record images (was 2,984,174 records with 1,421,761 images), UPDATED 11-Dec-2022
Dominican Republic Civil Registration, 1801-2010        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1619814); 2,348,040 indexed records with 3,416,801 record images (was 2,337,301 records with 3,416,801 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1975  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1918910); 2,261,548 indexed records with 238,265 record images (was 2,261,490 records with 238,265 images), UPDATED 14-Dec-2022

Ecuador, Catholic Church Records, 1565-2011     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1923402); 6,025,288 indexed records with 1,454,787 record images (was 6,020,303 records with 1,454,787 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
El Salvador Catholic Church Records, 1655-1977  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1919582); 2,252,365 indexed records with 592,191 record images (was 2,251,637 records with 592,191 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Find A Grave Index      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2221801); 222,808,642 indexed records with 222,808,642 record images (was 222,040,402 records with 222,040,402 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Florida Deaths, 1877-1939       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1595003); 488,843 indexed records with 471,267 record images (was 488,135 records with 482,058 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Alta Verapaz, Civil Registration, 1877-1994  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2102016); 1,043,955 indexed records with 17,770 record images (was 1,043,073 records with 17,770 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022

Guatemala, Baja Verapaz, Civil Registration, 1877-1994  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2106095); 318,122 indexed records with 24,503 record images (was 318,013 records with 24,503 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Chimaltenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2114423); 813,306 indexed records with 3,075 record images (was 812,769 records with 3,075 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Chiquimula, Civil Registration, 1877-2008    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790265); 436,933 indexed records with 345,104 record images (was 436,170 records with 344,341 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Guatemala, El Progreso, Civil Registration, 1877-1994   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451040); 240,418 indexed records with 103,502 record images (was 240,369 records with 103,502 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Escuintla, Civil Registration, 1877-1994     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2392700); 705,612 indexed records with 2,355 record images (was 704,898 records with 2,355 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022

Guatemala, Guatemala, Civil Registration, 1877-2006     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2075150); 4,481,691 indexed records with 1,486 record images (was 4,470,687 records with 1,486 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451045); 977,282 indexed records with 17,993 record images (was 976,772 records with 17,993 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Izabal, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2443319); 403,943 indexed records with 9,848 record images (was 403,026 records with 9,848 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Jalapa, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2426084); 302,012 indexed records with 42,552 record images (was 301,858 records with 42,552 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Jutiapa, Civil Registration, 1877-1994       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274798); 561,852 indexed records with 36,732 record images (was 561,665 records with 36,732 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022

Guatemala, Petén, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274797); 298,150 indexed records with 713 record images (was 298,080 records with 713 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274796); 1,226,355 indexed records with 41,022 record images (was 1,224,554 records with 41,022 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, QuichĂ©, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274794); 1,055,006 indexed records with 70,397 record images (was 1,050,594 records with 70,397 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Retalhuleu, Civil Registration, 1877-1994    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2422976); 442,352 indexed records with 550 record images (was 442,091 records with 550 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Guatemala, SacatepĂ©quez, Civil Registration, 1877-1994  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274791); 352,442 indexed records with 63 record images (was 352,406 records with 63 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022

Guatemala, San Marcos, Civil Registration, 1877-1994    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274790); 1,126,730 indexed records with 16,730 record images (was 1,125,776 records with 16,730 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Santa Rosa, Civil Registration, 1877-1994    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274788); 453,565 indexed records with 97,101 record images (was 453,512 records with 97,101 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, SololĂ¡, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2444805); 491,447 indexed records with 70,746 record images (was 491,043 records with 70,746 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Suchitepéquez, Civil Registration, 1877-1994 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2274785); 693,649 indexed records with 1,312 record images (was 692,637 records with 1,312 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Guatemala, Zacapa, Civil Registration, 1877-1994        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2284386); 283,499 indexed records with 18,271 record images (was 283,392 records with 18,271 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022

Honduras, Civil Registration, 1841-1968 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2135627); 537,769 indexed records with 337,976 record images (was 537,720 records with 337,976 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Hungary Civil Registration, 1895-1980   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1452460); 10,335,063 indexed records with 5,864,285 record images (was 10,078,586 records with 5,864,285 images), UPDATED 14-Dec-2022
Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1463145); Index only (1,764,089 records), no images (was 1,764,089 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1740-1900   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2820100); 1,611,343 indexed records with 50,879 record images (was 1,593,197 records with 53,784 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Italy, Ravenna, Ravenna, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1866-1929      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947700); 11,111 indexed records with 1,759,182 record images (was 10,856 records with 1,759,182 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022

Italy, Sassari, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1803-1942       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4464417); 14,756 indexed records with 4,801 record images (was 14,131 records with 4,589 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Italy, Treviso, Treviso, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1871-1941      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1947831); 1,733 indexed records with 427,232 record images (was 1,242 records with 427,232 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1463156); 761,592 indexed records with 830,893 record images (was 2,010,611 records with 830,893 images), UPDATED 14-Dec-2022
Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1469062); 5,597 indexed records with 108,296 record images (was 62,527 records with 108,296 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1928860); 10,436,596 indexed records with 742,594 record images (was 8,014,945 records with 742,594 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

Massachusetts, Boston Tax Records, 1822-1918    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2125599); 25,327,315 indexed records with 586,834 record images (was 23,327,267 records with 586,834 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Mexico, Puebla, Catholic Church Records, 1545-1977      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837906); 7,995,266 indexed records with 6,124,553 record images (was 7,961,537 records with 6,124,553 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Mexico, QuerĂ©taro, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1970   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1881200); 2,948,774 indexed records with 1,380,077 record images (was 2,942,694 records with 1,380,077 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Minnesota, Veterans Grave Registration Reports, 1930-1975       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4489446); 63,669 indexed records with 62,315 record images (was 59,743 records with 58,394 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Nicaragua Civil Registration, 1809-2013 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1601210); 2,568,916 indexed records with 2,591,542 record images (was 2,568,913 records with 2,591,542 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

Nicaragua, Catholic Church Records, 1740-1960   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1494432); 821,665 indexed records with 86,119 record images (was 820,762 records with 86,119 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Palau, Church Records, 1921-1940        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4491580); 2,658 indexed records with 241 record images (was 2,565 records with 236 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Panama, Catholic Church Records, 1707-1973      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1913397); 938,535 indexed records with 240,799 record images (was 938,533 records with 240,799 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Peru, Catholic Church Records, 1603-1992        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1877097); 21,941,677 indexed records with 4,192,353 record images (was 21,915,663 records with 4,192,353 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Peru, Cemetery Records, 1912-2013       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3163400); 204,460 indexed records with 6,281 record images (was 204,377 records with 6,278 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022

Peru, HuĂ¡nuco, Catholic Church Records, 1660-2020       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4439346); 54,649 indexed records with 29,871 record images (was 54,610 records with 29,857 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Poland, Church Books, 1568-1990 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4135958); 9,582,978 indexed records with 777,129 record images (was 412,701 records with 33,421 images), UPDATED 10-Dec-2022
Portugal, SetĂºbal, Catholic Church Records, 1555-1911   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1935451); 1,072,970 indexed records with 829,309 record images (was 1,072,665 records with 829,309 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645-1969 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807092); 3,325,969 indexed records with 191,547 record images (was 3,324,723 records with 191,547 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Russia, Samara Church Books 1748-1934   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1807365); 6,405,362 indexed records with 1,909,956 record images (was 2,474,176 records with 1,909,956 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022

Russia, Tver Confession Lists, 1728-1913        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1929531); 46,053 indexed records with 954,651 record images (was 34,452 records with 954,651 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1478678); 1,222,691 indexed records with 45,728 record images (was 1,153,051 records with 45,728 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Spain Baptisms, 1502-1940       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500692); Index only (8,173,079 records), no images (was 8,173,100 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Spain Marriages, 1565-1950      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1500693); Index only (2,269,515 records), no images (was 2,269,515 records with 0 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022
Spain, Catholic Church Records, 1307-1985       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1784529); 18,556,349 indexed records with 3,008,340 record images (was 18,556,349 records with 3,008,340 images), UPDATED 12-Dec-2022

Sweden, Jönköping Church Records, 1581-1935; index 1633-1860    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1930273); 80,598 indexed records with 721,027 record images (was 70,889 records with 721,027 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Sweden, Ă–rebro Church Records, 1613-1918; index 1635-1860       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1647578); 799,477 indexed records with 647,469 record images (was 787,800 records with 647,469 images), UPDATED 14-Dec-2022
United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2074276); 2,200,074 indexed records with 942,374 record images (was 1,555,047 records with 942,374 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Uruguay Civil Registration, 1879-1930   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1837849); Index only (531,265 records), no images (was 522,196 records with 0 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Venezuela Civil Registration, 1873-2003 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823609); 974,902 indexed records with 586,312 record images (was 974,736 records with 586,312 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

Venezuela, Archdiocese of Caracas, Catholic Church Records, 1638-2020   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4465438); 29,616 indexed records with 16,135 record images (was 25,054 records with 14,331 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1949  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4496127); 351 indexed records with 351 record images (was 171 records with 171 images), UPDATED 15-Dec-2022
Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4149585); 1,636,681 indexed records with 89,151 record images (was 1,519,779 records with 81,649 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022
Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2046887); 1,530,259 indexed records with 1,135,393 record images (was 1,022,846 records with 1,135,393 images), UPDATED 13-Dec-2022
Zimbabwe, Archdiocese of Harare, Church Records, 1897-2021      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4475014); 386,338 indexed records with 42,935 record images (was 325,345 records with 37,450 images), UPDATED 16-Dec-2022

--- Collections with new images ---

Australia, South Australia, Will and Probate Records    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3007557); 48,404 indexed records with 47,189 record images (was 48,404 records with 47,179 images), last updated 24-Aug-2020
Germany, Rhineland, Diocese of Trier, Catholic Church Records, 1704-1957        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790268); 2,967,130 indexed records with 307,298 record images (was 2,967,130 records with 290,104 images), last updated 03-Nov-2020
New York, Church Records, 1660-1954     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2787817); 127,105 indexed records with 6,354 record images (was 127,105 records with 1,213 images), last updated 07-Apr-2021
Scandinavia, Mission Emigration Records, 1852-1920      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3288472); 27,406 indexed records with 384 record images (was 27,406 records with 81 images), last updated 11-Jul-2019
Uruguay, Passenger Lists, 1888-1980     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2691993); 3,641,119 indexed records with 153,569 record images (was 3,641,119 records with 145,633 images), last updated 19-Nov-2020

--- Collections with images removed ---

California, customs passenger lists of vessels arriving at San Francisco, 1903-1918     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3477658); 346,693 indexed records with 1,826 record images (was 346,693 records with 11,721 images), last updated 13-Nov-2020
Germany, Baden, Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Catholic Church Records, 1678-1930 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790181); 11,346,687 indexed records with 1,709,621 record images (was 11,346,687 records with 1,709,697 images), last updated 02-Apr-2020
Hungary, Church Books, 1624-1950        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/4133831); 7,603,730 indexed records with 866,757 record images (was 7,603,730 records with 867,076 images), last updated 10-Oct-2022
Illinois, Church Records, 1837-1995     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2787821); 16,710 indexed records with 1,116 record images (was 16,710 records with 1,183 images), last updated 13-Jan-2021
Louisiana, New Orleans, Slave Manifests of Coastwise Vessels, 1807-1860 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2822773); 115,467 indexed records with 14,627 record images (was 115,467 records with 14,746 images), last updated 26-Sep-2020

Maryland, Baltimore Passenger Lists Index, 1897-1952    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/3398454); 653,829 indexed records with 652,803 record images (was 653,829 records with 652,840 images), last updated 15-Apr-2020
South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Marriages, 1870-1930     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2727134); 267,269 indexed records with 253,680 record images (was 267,269 records with 265,201 images), last updated 10-Aug-2022

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My friend and SDGS colleague, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED, and to alphabetize the entries in each category.  Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to   https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

Each one of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link). It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/12/added-and-updated-familysearchorg_0296807378.html

Copyright (c) 2022, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Friday, December 16, 2022

Added and Updated Ancestry.com Record Collections - Week of 10 to 16 December 2022

  The following genealogy record collections were listed on the Recently Added and Updated Collections  on Ancestry.com during the period from  10 to 16 December 2022: 

The Updated and ADDED collections include:

Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/16/2022

1861 England Census; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/16/2022

U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/16/2022

Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/16/2022

Sweden, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Norway, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

UK and Ireland, Find a Grave Index, 1300s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Berlin, Germany, Marriages, 1874-1936; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Berlin, Germany, Deaths, 1874-1955; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Mexico, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Italy, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Brazil, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Berlin, Germany, Births, 1874-1911; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Wyoming, U.S., Marriage Records, 1869-1971; indexed records with record images, Updated 12/15/2022

1916 Denmark Census; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/15/2022

Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Germany, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/15/2022

Charlotte County, Virginia, U.S., Births, 1883-1896; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/14/2022

Charente, France Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1791-1912; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/14/2022

Estonia, Lutheran Parish Registers, 1877-1912; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/14/2022

  Connecticut, U.S., Excise Tax Lists, 1865-1874; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/14/2022

Estonia, Soul List Registers, 1826-1916; indexed records with record images, ADDED    12/14/2022

UK and Ireland, Obituary Index, 2004-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/13/2022

Australia and New Zealand, Obituary Index, 2004-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/13/2022

U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/13/2022

Canada, Obituary Collection, 1898-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/13/2022

U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current; indexed records without record images, Updated 12/13/2022

Fernandina, Florida, US, Death and Burial Records, 1896-1916; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/12/2022

East Sussex, England, Electoral Registers, 1705-1963; indexed records with record images, ADDED 12/12/2022

Web: Scotland, Sheriff Court Paternity Processes or Case Papers, 1752-1921; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/12/2022

* West Sussex, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1963; indexed records without record images, ADDED 12/12/2022

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The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at   https://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count, there were 9 NEW collections ADDED this past week, per the list above.  There are now 33,254 collections available as of 16 December, an increase of 9 from last week. 

Note the right-hand column on the image above, they have replaced the coming soon list with tweets by Ancestry. 

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

Disclosure: I receive a complimentary all-access subscription from Ancestry.com, for which I am thankful. Ancestry.com has provided material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/12/added-and-updated-ancestrycom-record_16.html

Copyright (c) 2022, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 459: #730 Thomas Chase (1654-1734) of Newbury, Massachusetts

 Thomas Chase is #730 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandfather, who married #731  Rebecca Follansbee (a1658-1711) in 1677 in Newbury, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter #365 Mary Chase (1695-1734)  who married #364 John Horton (1696-1796), in 1719.
*  their son, #182 Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819), who married #183 Sarah Pray (1734-1820) in 1753.
*  their daughter,  #91 Phebe Horton (1772-a1820), who married #90 Simon Wade (1767-1857) in about 1790.
*  their daughter #45 Miranda Wade (1804-1850), who married #44 Jonathan White (1803-1850) in 1824.
*  their son #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) who married #23 Amy Oatley (1826-1864) in 1844.
*  their daughter #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913) who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868.
*  their daughter #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) who married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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

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

*  Name:                      Thomas Chase[1–9]

*  Sex:                          Male

*  Father:                     Aquila Chase 1619-1670
*  Mother:                   Ann Wheeler 1621-1687

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

*  Birth:                       25 July 1654, Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]

*  Distribution:            28 March 1671 (age 16), father's will proved; Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[4]

*  Death:                      before 25 February 1734 (before age 79) Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1,8-9]
*  Probate:                   25 February 1733/4 (age 78), will proved; Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1,8-9]

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                 Rebecca Follansbee 1658-1711
*  Marriage 1:              22 November 1677 (age 23), Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1,5-6]

*  Child 1:                   Thomas Chase 1680-1756
*  Child 2:                   Jonathan Chase 1683-1749
*  Child 3:                   James Chase 1685-1753
*  Child 1:                   Aquila Chase 1688-1713
*  Child 1:                   Ruth Chase 1691-1758
*  Child 6:                   Mary Chase 1694-1733
*  Child 7:                   Josiah Chase 1697-1723
*  Child 8:                   Rebecca Chase 1700-1769
*  Child 9:                   Nathan Chase 1702-1784
*  Child 10:                 Judith Chase 1704-1746

*  Spouse 2.                 Elizabeth Woodhead 1674-1734
*  Marriage 2:              2 August 1714 (age 60), Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1,7]

*  Child 11:                 Elizabeth Chase 1715-1808

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

Thomas Chase was born in Newbury, Massachusetts Bay on 25 July 1654, the son of Aquila and Ann (Wheeler) Chase[1-3].  

He married (1) on 22 November 1677 to Rebecca Follansbee (a1658-1711) in Newbury[1,5-6].  They had ten children, all born and recorded in Newbury town records:

*  Thomas Chase (1680-1756), married 1699 Sarah Stevens (1679-1760).
*  Jonathan Chase (1683-1749), married 1702 Joanna Palmer (1680-1756).
*  James Chase (1685-1753), married 1707 Martha Rolfe (1687-1739).
*  Aquila Chase (1688-1713), married 1712 Mary Smith (1694-1785).
*  Ruth Chase (1691-1758), married 1716 Nathaniel Miller (1696-1763).
*  Mary Chase (1695-1734), married John Horton (1696-1796).
*  Josiah Chase (1697-1723), married 1718 Sarah Porter (1699-1728).
*  Rebecca Chase (1700-1769), married 1721 Stephen Moulton (1697-1786).
*  Nathan Chase (1702-1784), married 1723 Judeth Sawyer (1701-1740).
*  Judith Chase (1704-1747), married 1722 David Horton (1701-????).

Thomas Chase married (2) on 2 August 1713 in Newbury to Elizabeth (Woodhead) Moers (1674-after 1734) on 2 August 1713[7].  They had one child:

*  Elizabeth Chase (1715-1808), married 1732 Benjamin Rogers (1713-????).

Aquila Chase, the father of Thomas, died testate, having written a will dated 10 December 1670, which was proved 28 March 1671[4]. In his will, he bequeathed to Thomas:
"Also I will that my wife give unto my sonn Thomas Chase at the age of one and twenty Tenn pounds in corne or neate cattle, provided the sayd Thomas doe abyde and serve with his mother to the sd age, And if his mother and hee the sd Thomas see cause, that hee should seve for a trade with any other man soe that hee have ye benifitt of a trade, then his mother my well beloved wife, is to pay unto the sayd Thomas but six pounds in the like pay before mentioned, ..."
The  book Seven Generations of the Descendants of Aquila and Thomas Chase provides this information about the life of Thomas Chase (1654-1734)[1]:
"Thomas Chase learned the carpenter's trade.  He was in the military service in King Philip's War on 27 March 1675 in Capt. Samuel Appleton's Company and was credited £3: 18s for his service in December 1675.  He was in the Narragansett campaign and in January 1701/2 petitioned for a grant of land for his services in 1675 and 1676.  In 1678 at the age of 24 he was one of the male inhabitants of Newbury to take the oath of allegiance.  In 1679 his family was under the inspection of Abraham Merrill, tithingman.  In 1688 he paid a tax on one head, one house, eight acres of plowland, one acre of meadow, one horse, three cows, two two-year-olds, one yearling, eight sheep and three hogs.

"He settled near Amesbury Ferry about thirty rods north of the intersection of the Ferry road with the road leading by the old cemetery at Sawyer's hill at Curzon's tide mill on the Artichoke river.  His first purchase was fourteen acres from Nicholas Woodman 'Bounded with the country highway to Amesbury Ferry,' 2 June 1677.  His homestead was in what is now Newburyport. It passed to his son, Nathan.

"Thomas Follansbee of Newbury, joiner, for £56 sold his homestead in Newbury 'upon ye plaine' to his son-in-law Thomas Chase 2 November 1711 and Thomas Chase, house carpenter, 'for love' sold the same property to his son, Aquila Chase, 2 April 1713."
Thomas Chase died testate before 25 March 1734, having written a will on 3 August 1732, and proved on 25 March 1734 in Essex County Probate Court[1,8-9].  It reads:
"In the Name of God Amen, I Thomas Chase of Newbury in the County of Essex in his majesties Province of the Massachussetts Bay in New England being sensible of my Frailty and mortality, but as yet of perfect mind and memory Thanks be to God, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.  First of all I commend my Soul to God ect. and as touching ye worldly Goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give demise and dispose of in the following manner and Form.

"1.  I give and bequeath unto my loving and well beloved wife Elizabeth Chase ye use and Improvement of one third Part of my real estate during her natural Life, and one third Part of my personal Estate forever to be at her dispose except my Utensils of Husbandry, Carpenters Tools & wearing Apparel & I give my Horse to my said Wife during her remaining my Widow, and at her marriage or Decease, I give my said Home to my son Nathan Chase.

"2.  I give to my son Thomas Chase his Heirs and assigns forever four acres of my Island of Salt meadow at that End next the Gut as Called, having paid him his Portion already.

"3.  I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan Chase ten Pounds in Bills of Credit or in other Species equivalent to Bills to be paid by my Executor within, One Year after my decease and one Quarter Part of my wearing apparel besides what I have given him already.

"4.  I give and bequeath unto my Son James Chase ten Pounds in Bills of Credit or other Species equivalent to Bills of Credit (besides what I have already given to him) to be paid by my Executor within two years after my decease & I Give my Son one Quarter Part of my Wearing Apparel.

"5.  I give to my Grandson Edward Chase ten pounds in Bills of Credit or in Other Species equivalent to Bills of Credit to be paid by my Executor when my said Grandson shall arrive to the Age of twenty one years.

"6.  I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Miller fifteen pounds in Bills of Credit or in other Species equivalent to Bills of Creditto be paid by my Executor within four years after my Decease.

"7.  I give to my daughter Mary Horton five pounds in Bills of Credit or in other species equivalent to Bills of Credit to be paid by my Executor within five years after my Decease.

"8.  I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Moulton five Pounds in Bills of Credit or in other Species equivalent to Bills of Credit to be paid by my Executor within six yearas after my Decease.

"9.  I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Judith Horton five Pounds in Bills of Credit or other Species equivalent to Bills of Credit to be paid by my Executor within seven years after my decease.

"10.. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Eliza Chase thirty Pounds in Bills of Credit or in other species equivalent to Bills of Credit within one year after my decease to be paid by my Executor and I give my said Daughter Eliza two thirds of my Household Goods and one Cow & my great Bible, after my Wifes decease, and my will is that If my Daughter Eliza depart this Life and leave no Child, then what is herein given to her shall be paid to my four Daughters abovenamed in equal Shares viz: in Case my said Daughter depart this Life, before she receive her Portion herein given to her and leave no Child then her Sisters shall receive ect. & I give to my daughter Eliiiiza One half of my Sheep, and I give to my aforementioned Wife the other half of my Sheep, & what I Have at my decease I give to my Wife & sd daughter Eliza.  I give and bequeath unto my Son Nathan Chase and to his Heirs and assigns forever all my real Estate consisting in Housings and Lands, meadows ect. whatsoever and wheresoever it may be and also all my personal Estate not before disposed of in this my Will and I do constitute and appoint my Son Nathan Chase to be Executor to this my Will to receive all my Debts and to pay all my just Debts Legacies and funeral Charges and my Will is that all my Legacies shall be paid in Newbury and I do revoke and make void all former Wills by me made and ratifie and Confirm this to be my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof I set to my Hand & Seal this third day of August Anno Domini 1732.

"Signed, sealed and published & declared by the abovenamed Thomas Chase to be his last Will and Testament in Presence of us --

"Joseph Coffin                          his
William Goodridge   Thomas   T  Chase  (seal)
Nathaniel Coffin."                  mark
The will was accepted by the Court at Ipswich on 25 February 1733/4, with Nathaniel Coffin and William Goodridge attesting that Thomas Chase signed, sealed published and declared the abovewritten will in their presence[8-9].


5.  SOURCES

1. John Carroll Chase and George Walter Chamberlain (compilers), Seven Generations of the Descendants of Aquila and Thomas Chase (Haverhill, Mass.: Record Publishing Company, 1918).

2. "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Newbury Births, Marriages, Deaths," page 8 (image 324 of 2384), Thomas Chase birth entry, 25 July 1654.

3. The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, 2 Volumes (Salem, Mass. : The Essex Institute, 1911), Volume 1, page 96, Thomas Chase birth entry, 25 July 1654.

4. Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, 1665-1674 (Salem, Mass. : The Essex Institute, 1918), pages 217-219, will transcript of Aquila Chase of Newbury, 1671.

5. Massachusetts, U.S., Town Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com, "Newbury Births, Marriages, Deaths," no page number (image 622 of 2384), Thomas Chase and Rebecca Follansbee marriage entry.

6. The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, 2 Volumes, Volume 2, Page 179, Rebecca Follinsby and Thomas Chase entry, 22 November 1677.

7. The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, 2 Volumes, Volume 2, page 96, Marriage of Thomas Chase and Elizabeth Moers, 2 August 1714.

8. Essex County, Massachusetts, Probate Records and Indexes 1638-1916, Family History Library (Salt Lake City, Utah), on 280 FHL microfilm reels, Essex County Probate Records, Volume 321, pages 055-056, on FHLMicrofilm 0,875,131.

9. Essex County, Massachusetts, probate records and indexes 1638-1916, Volume 321, pages 055-056, Thomas Chase will, FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,875,131.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 
 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog in 2014.  I have extended this theme in 2022 to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks.


Copyright (c) 2022, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.