Today was almost "all genealogy."
I read my email in the morning, and wrote the first two blog posts for the day. I left at 9:45 to attend the book fair at the library - but bought nothing.
Then it was off to the Family History Center for an hour. I finished up the South Kingstown (RI) probate records I have been downloading to my flash drive - only one guy today, Elijah Champlin who died in 1778. I checked the card catalog and found that the FHC does not have any more town probate records. So I need to start ordering films from SLC - ordered two today at $6.20 each (maybe I should consider going to SLC more often).
I went to the San Diego Genealogical Society meeting at noon. Penny Feike, a local professional genealogist, was the speaker. Her topic was "The Conjoined Twins - Land and Court Records." Her main point is that you need to work land and court records together - and you will likely be rewarded with information that proves relationships. Her strategy is to order the land and probate indexes on film at the FHC, then go read the actual records at SLC in order to save money. She said that on her last trip she read 350 films, based on the indexes she had prepared before she went. An excellent tip!
At the meeting, a couple came up to me and thanked me for my November presentation about the census - my information had helped them find census records for their families.
When I got home, I watched some of the Pro Bowl, but fell asleep and had a nice nap. The game was boring, so I came into the computer and tried to use the free GenealogyBank web site. They had no more info on Benjamin Franklin Seaver - that was about the only thing I checked. It was very slow - probably overloaded with all the freebies. I will try it later at night!
We went out to a nice place for dinner - Filet mignon and rack of lamb, topped off with a 31 Flavors two-scoop sundae on the way home.
I got back on the computer and read Craig Manson's blog post about his "First Geneablogie Challenge - Find this relation and win" contest. I can't resist doing this...I spent two hours trying to solve his puzzle but did not succeed on the first try. I'll think a bit more. I did find two census records that he didn't tell us about in his post - maybe they are new for him. I hope so.
I realized that I hadn't posted anything since this morning, so you get this prolix stream of consciousness day summary (my daughters always wonder what I do all day, heh heh) to ponder over your midnight snack or maybe your morning pancakes. See you tomorrow, when it wil be another holy genealogy day here at the Genea-Cave.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The Adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver - Part 4
This is the fourth post of a series concerning the adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver (1780-1814), who was a mariner, captured by the Moors in Morocco in 1806.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2, which introduced a series of seven letters published in the "Connecticut Herald" newspaper (published in New Haven CT, dated 20 January 1807 (Volume IV, Issue 169, Page 1), and posted the first letter, is here.
Part 3, which includes the second letter, is here.
I accessed the images of these newspaper pages on the "America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1876" (provided by NewsBank) on the New England Historic Genealogical Society website, www.newenglandancestors.org.
Here is the third letter:
-------------------------------------------------------
Headline: No. III. Captain Seaver to Messrs. Courts.
Text:
Wednow, (Africa), June 9, 1806.
Messrs. Wm. Court & Co.
Gentlemen,
I wrote you last, the 28th of April, and did expect the pleasure of a letter from you. The treatment I have received since, has been the most inhuman and brutal, possible for the civilized world to conceive. I have been beat most unmercifully, and spit at, whenever the vile passion of these contemptible barbarians has dictated; with my legs in fetters for these three weeks past, and closely confined in a small place, with a short allowance of coarse barley meal and water, made into Cous Cusk, as they call it in their dialect. The reason they assign for this conduct towards me is, they say I have wrote to the Consul, not to send any money for the redemption of any one but myself and Berrit: what this arose from I know not. It happened on the same day, they began this treatment towards me, that a dispute had taken place between Berrit and one of the Association's crew. The latter to be revenged on Berrit, told his master that he was making with me arrangements to escape towards Mogadore. This report gave fresh vigor to their savage dispositions: and if there was a latent spark of passion undiscovered, it then came forth with all the ferocity characteristic to the untutored breast. Berrit's legs were then put in chains, his shoes were taken away, with a pair of Moorish slippers the Jew Haron had given me the day before: and threatened to send us farther southward to be keepers of Camels.
Such is our personal treatment: I have endeavored to make some agreement with the man who is my master, but he does not seem to be inclined, alledging if he lets me go, my people will not be any more thought of and he shall loose his price for them. If you could treat for my liberty with Minahin, who I understand is the correspondent of Jew Haron, and consequently empowered to act in affairs which concern the crew of the Indefatigable, I am pretty well persuaded they would take from 3 to 400 dollars for my liberty if not less, were they clearly made to understand it would not be any hindrance for their getting a ransom for my people ultimately. If it is not possible to treat with Minahin for my liberty, be pleased to ask him to write to Haron about this scandalous behaviour of the Moors towards me, and whether it would be possible for him to take me to his house to live, while I remain in confinement. In case I should have the good fortune for you to purchase my liberty by treating with Minahin, you may depend on the most prompt payment of the bills I may give you, which will be on my relative Mr. Samuel Gore of boston, who is well known, independent of any funds I may have in his hands, to be a man of staunch property.
Praying you will succeed in treating for my liberty with Minahin. I am, in misery,
..........Your obedient
..............humble servant,
....................BENJAMIN F. SEAVER.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Things have gotten worse for Benjamin in the six weeks since his last letter. He is frustrated because his earlier letters have not brought results. By this time, it probably seemed almost hopeless to him. And it is now summer on the West Coast of Africa.
Stay tuned for Part 5 - the fourth letter published by the Connecticut Herald newspaper.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2, which introduced a series of seven letters published in the "Connecticut Herald" newspaper (published in New Haven CT, dated 20 January 1807 (Volume IV, Issue 169, Page 1), and posted the first letter, is here.
Part 3, which includes the second letter, is here.
I accessed the images of these newspaper pages on the "America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1876" (provided by NewsBank) on the New England Historic Genealogical Society website, www.newenglandancestors.org.
Here is the third letter:
-------------------------------------------------------
Headline: No. III. Captain Seaver to Messrs. Courts.
Text:
Wednow, (Africa), June 9, 1806.
Messrs. Wm. Court & Co.
Gentlemen,
I wrote you last, the 28th of April, and did expect the pleasure of a letter from you. The treatment I have received since, has been the most inhuman and brutal, possible for the civilized world to conceive. I have been beat most unmercifully, and spit at, whenever the vile passion of these contemptible barbarians has dictated; with my legs in fetters for these three weeks past, and closely confined in a small place, with a short allowance of coarse barley meal and water, made into Cous Cusk, as they call it in their dialect. The reason they assign for this conduct towards me is, they say I have wrote to the Consul, not to send any money for the redemption of any one but myself and Berrit: what this arose from I know not. It happened on the same day, they began this treatment towards me, that a dispute had taken place between Berrit and one of the Association's crew. The latter to be revenged on Berrit, told his master that he was making with me arrangements to escape towards Mogadore. This report gave fresh vigor to their savage dispositions: and if there was a latent spark of passion undiscovered, it then came forth with all the ferocity characteristic to the untutored breast. Berrit's legs were then put in chains, his shoes were taken away, with a pair of Moorish slippers the Jew Haron had given me the day before: and threatened to send us farther southward to be keepers of Camels.
Such is our personal treatment: I have endeavored to make some agreement with the man who is my master, but he does not seem to be inclined, alledging if he lets me go, my people will not be any more thought of and he shall loose his price for them. If you could treat for my liberty with Minahin, who I understand is the correspondent of Jew Haron, and consequently empowered to act in affairs which concern the crew of the Indefatigable, I am pretty well persuaded they would take from 3 to 400 dollars for my liberty if not less, were they clearly made to understand it would not be any hindrance for their getting a ransom for my people ultimately. If it is not possible to treat with Minahin for my liberty, be pleased to ask him to write to Haron about this scandalous behaviour of the Moors towards me, and whether it would be possible for him to take me to his house to live, while I remain in confinement. In case I should have the good fortune for you to purchase my liberty by treating with Minahin, you may depend on the most prompt payment of the bills I may give you, which will be on my relative Mr. Samuel Gore of boston, who is well known, independent of any funds I may have in his hands, to be a man of staunch property.
Praying you will succeed in treating for my liberty with Minahin. I am, in misery,
..........Your obedient
..............humble servant,
....................BENJAMIN F. SEAVER.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Things have gotten worse for Benjamin in the six weeks since his last letter. He is frustrated because his earlier letters have not brought results. By this time, it probably seemed almost hopeless to him. And it is now summer on the West Coast of Africa.
Stay tuned for Part 5 - the fourth letter published by the Connecticut Herald newspaper.
Try GenealogyBank FREE until 13 February
A FREE trial of GenealogyBank until February 13th was announced at the St. George, Utah Genealogy Jamboree yesterday. Here are the directions (thanks to Dick Hillenbrand's post on a mailing list):
Go to http://www.GenealogyBank.com
Click on the "login " button
Email: promotion@genealogybank.com
Password: GenBank4U
For those who are not familiar with the GenealogyBank.com resources,there are several usage and case study downloads from our Januarytelconference series at http://ancestralmanor.com/?tabid=126
GenealogyBank has a ton of resources:
* More than 1,300 newspapers 1690 to 1977 ... digital copies of every issue,all 50 states,
* Obits 1977-present ... more than 23 milllion obits
* Books - 1801-1900 ... search these digital books
* American State Papers (earliest government reports) & the Serial Set(1789-1980) packed with pension requests; personal bills; military lists; casualty lists etc.
Go give it a try. I will, and report back on it.
Go to http://www.GenealogyBank.com
Click on the "login " button
Email: promotion@genealogybank.com
Password: GenBank4U
For those who are not familiar with the GenealogyBank.com resources,there are several usage and case study downloads from our Januarytelconference series at http://ancestralmanor.com/?tabid=126
GenealogyBank has a ton of resources:
* More than 1,300 newspapers 1690 to 1977 ... digital copies of every issue,all 50 states,
* Obits 1977-present ... more than 23 milllion obits
* Books - 1801-1900 ... search these digital books
* American State Papers (earliest government reports) & the Serial Set(1789-1980) packed with pension requests; personal bills; military lists; casualty lists etc.
Go give it a try. I will, and report back on it.
Friday, February 9, 2007
APG Skillbuilding Articles
I have a great respect for the genealogy professionals who write articles and books to help all of us understand the finer points of genealogy research, evidence evaluation, source citation and documentation.
Some of the very best articles are on the BCG Skillbuilders site - http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/.
They have added Work Samples to the site in order to help researchers who are considering pursuing certification - essentially providing examples of quality work to help folks understand the requirements better. The Work samples are at http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/worksamples.html.
I read several of them tonight - just pure excellent work. The newest example is Connie Lenzen's Narrative Lineage article - at http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/worksamples.html.
If you are considering certification, then you should read through these articles and examples.
I considered pursuing certification, but put it off until I was fully retired and needed something interesting to do. I'm there now, but then blogging came along, and that has been interesting and addictive...
Some of the very best articles are on the BCG Skillbuilders site - http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/.
They have added Work Samples to the site in order to help researchers who are considering pursuing certification - essentially providing examples of quality work to help folks understand the requirements better. The Work samples are at http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/worksamples.html.
I read several of them tonight - just pure excellent work. The newest example is Connie Lenzen's Narrative Lineage article - at http://www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/worksamples.html.
If you are considering certification, then you should read through these articles and examples.
I considered pursuing certification, but put it off until I was fully retired and needed something interesting to do. I'm there now, but then blogging came along, and that has been interesting and addictive...
The Leaf
I got this in email today and had to share it:
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages.
Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.
"What have you got there, dear?"
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."
Children say the funniest things...free, yet priceless.
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages.
Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.
"What have you got there, dear?"
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."
Children say the funniest things...free, yet priceless.
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
Other genea-bloggers have mentioned the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness web site at www.raogk.com, so I thought I would check it out.
I used RAOGK recently for the first time. I needed information about who to contact in Houston, Texas for my Joseph Carr research problem (discussed briefly here). I was after an obituary, some city directory lookups, and a Negro Baseball League Museum contact. Initially, I didn't want any documents - just guidance on where to search for the information I wanted.
At the RAOGK web site, I noted that:
In order to find a volunteer, you have to read the Frequently Asked Questions page to get an idea of what the volunteer will do and what they won't do.
I clicked on the "Let's Go Find A Volunteer" button at the end of the FAQs, and clicked on the Texas link. Volunteers for each county are listed in County-Alpha order. Harris County had a number of researchers listed, each with a description of the "acts of kindness" they will perform. I picked one whose name I recognized from the APG list, and because her "act of kindness" included "Will answer general research questions pertaining to Harris County research, records and repositories, etc." That sounded like what I needed.
I clicked on the researcher's name, and sent an email to her asking for inofrmation on who to contact to do the lookups I had in mind. She responded the next day with contact email addresses at the Houston Public Library, plus some info about Joseph Carr's entry in the Texas Birth Index (1903-2000). We exchanged several emails discussing the birth records and census records.
As a result of this RAOGK, I contacted the Houston Public Library by email and had a response within two days answering my questions. They had looked in the Houston City directories for me, but found nothing cxonclusive (too many Joseph Carr's without a spouse name). They looked for information about the Museum, but could come up with only a phone number, plus some links to a Negro Baseball League web site. They promised to search for the obituary but I haven't heard from them yet.
All in all, it was a very satisfying experience using RAOGK. The volunteer I contacted was extremely helpful and responsive. She could have searched for and provided a number of documents for me if I had requested them, but at some cost (document costs, plus travel expenses). The Library was also very helpful and responsive.
Have you used RAOGK? If you are stuck on a brick wall ancestor, please consider using www.raogk.com to get some help on the ground where your elusive ancestor lived. I will be using them more often, I think, for those research problems concerning vital records, obituaries, cemeteries, etc.
Check out the volunteers for your county, and if you feel that you could add to the capabilities at RAOGK, then volunteer your services.
I used RAOGK recently for the first time. I needed information about who to contact in Houston, Texas for my Joseph Carr research problem (discussed briefly here). I was after an obituary, some city directory lookups, and a Negro Baseball League Museum contact. Initially, I didn't want any documents - just guidance on where to search for the information I wanted.
At the RAOGK web site, I noted that:
Successful genealogical research is based upon people
helping people. The volunteers of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) have agreed at least once per month to do a research task in their local area as an act of kindness. The cost to you would be reimbursing the volunteer for his/her expenses in fulfilling your request (video tape, copy fees, etc.). This is not a FREE service.
In order to find a volunteer, you have to read the Frequently Asked Questions page to get an idea of what the volunteer will do and what they won't do.
I clicked on the "Let's Go Find A Volunteer" button at the end of the FAQs, and clicked on the Texas link. Volunteers for each county are listed in County-Alpha order. Harris County had a number of researchers listed, each with a description of the "acts of kindness" they will perform. I picked one whose name I recognized from the APG list, and because her "act of kindness" included "Will answer general research questions pertaining to Harris County research, records and repositories, etc." That sounded like what I needed.
I clicked on the researcher's name, and sent an email to her asking for inofrmation on who to contact to do the lookups I had in mind. She responded the next day with contact email addresses at the Houston Public Library, plus some info about Joseph Carr's entry in the Texas Birth Index (1903-2000). We exchanged several emails discussing the birth records and census records.
As a result of this RAOGK, I contacted the Houston Public Library by email and had a response within two days answering my questions. They had looked in the Houston City directories for me, but found nothing cxonclusive (too many Joseph Carr's without a spouse name). They looked for information about the Museum, but could come up with only a phone number, plus some links to a Negro Baseball League web site. They promised to search for the obituary but I haven't heard from them yet.
All in all, it was a very satisfying experience using RAOGK. The volunteer I contacted was extremely helpful and responsive. She could have searched for and provided a number of documents for me if I had requested them, but at some cost (document costs, plus travel expenses). The Library was also very helpful and responsive.
Have you used RAOGK? If you are stuck on a brick wall ancestor, please consider using www.raogk.com to get some help on the ground where your elusive ancestor lived. I will be using them more often, I think, for those research problems concerning vital records, obituaries, cemeteries, etc.
Check out the volunteers for your county, and if you feel that you could add to the capabilities at RAOGK, then volunteer your services.
SDGS Meeting Tomorrow
The San Diego Genealogical Society program meeting is Saturday, 10 February, at 12 noon at St. Andrews Lutheran Church (8350 Lake Murray Blvd (at Jackson Drive) in the San Carlos neighborhood of San Duego.
The program will be "Land and Court Records: The Co-Joined Twins" presented by Penny Feike, a San Diego professional genealogist.
Penny has been researching for over 40 years, and has taught and worked at the San Diego Family History Center where she has helped many researchers over the years.
I am one of those that she has helped, especially with my Norwegian research. She can read the language, and the parish records. When I was working in the Voss parish registers, she was able to help me decipher names and places several times.
I look forward to hearing Penny's program on Saturday - I missed it last year at CVGS.
If you are a San Diego area researcher - this is one that you should not miss!
The program will be "Land and Court Records: The Co-Joined Twins" presented by Penny Feike, a San Diego professional genealogist.
Penny has been researching for over 40 years, and has taught and worked at the San Diego Family History Center where she has helped many researchers over the years.
I am one of those that she has helped, especially with my Norwegian research. She can read the language, and the parish records. When I was working in the Voss parish registers, she was able to help me decipher names and places several times.
I look forward to hearing Penny's program on Saturday - I missed it last year at CVGS.
If you are a San Diego area researcher - this is one that you should not miss!
The Adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver - Part 3
This is the third post of a series concerning the adventures of Benjamin Franklin Seaver (1780-1814), who was a mariner.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2, which introduced a series of seven letters published in the "Connecticut Herald" newspaper (published in New Haven CT, dated 20 January 1807 (Volume IV, Issue 169, Page 1), and posted the first letter, is here.
I accessed the images of these newspaper pages on the "America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1876" (provided by NewsBank) on the New England Historic Genealogical Society website, www.newenglandancestors.org.
Here is the second letter:
-------------------------------------------------------
Headline: No. II. Captain Seaver to Messrs. Courts
Text:
Wednow, (Africa), April 28, 1806.
Messrs. Wm. Court & Co.
Gentlemen,
Your esteemed favor of the 5th ult. I received yesterday, and I beg you to accept my sincere thanks for your kind offers of hospitality, as well as your advice and plan for my liberty. The exhorbitant demand for my ransom of 1000 dollars, prevents my making any offer or proposal, until I receive the Consul General's letter from Tangiers, when, if not favorable, I shall do as you advised, but it will be necessary for them to have the money before they will allow me to leave them. -- I am inclined to think that it will be impossible for me to get my liberty, under a sum from three to four hundred dollars, as they are at this place by some means or other, deeply impressed with my being worth property.
You mention, you expected Captain Baker at your port. If he has, or may arrive while I am at this place, I beg you will present my respects to him, as I am intimately acquainted with him, and no doubt he will write me. -- Should he be shortly bound to Boston, be pleased to ask him to wait on my friends, and inform them of my unpleasant situation. I shall decline writing them until I get my liberty, as they will without doubt hear of my misfortune through other channels. Should I be able to treat for my ransom, any gentleman who would advance the money at Mogadore, I would give my bills for the same on my connexions in Boston, who has, independent of what may be underwrote on the Indefatigable, sufficient funds to meet the same. Mr. Berrit, my passenger, would willingly treat for his liberty also, had he any one to advance the money for him: his acquaintances in Philadelphia are respectable, and for any amount that my property would allow, I would indorse his bills, would my name be taken.
I live in hopes soon to have the happiness of seeing you -- while
..................I remain with sincere
.........................Respect and gratitude,
.............................Your very obliged servant,
..................................BENJAMIN F. SEAVER.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Our Benjamin received at least one letter from Court and Company, but it is not published by the newspaper - it was probably lost over time. We don't know how these letters came to the newspaper - they were probably obtained from Benjamin Franklin Seaver himself after he was released.
Stay tuned for Part 4 - the third letter published by the Connecticut Herald newspaper.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2, which introduced a series of seven letters published in the "Connecticut Herald" newspaper (published in New Haven CT, dated 20 January 1807 (Volume IV, Issue 169, Page 1), and posted the first letter, is here.
I accessed the images of these newspaper pages on the "America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1876" (provided by NewsBank) on the New England Historic Genealogical Society website, www.newenglandancestors.org.
Here is the second letter:
-------------------------------------------------------
Headline: No. II. Captain Seaver to Messrs. Courts
Text:
Wednow, (Africa), April 28, 1806.
Messrs. Wm. Court & Co.
Gentlemen,
Your esteemed favor of the 5th ult. I received yesterday, and I beg you to accept my sincere thanks for your kind offers of hospitality, as well as your advice and plan for my liberty. The exhorbitant demand for my ransom of 1000 dollars, prevents my making any offer or proposal, until I receive the Consul General's letter from Tangiers, when, if not favorable, I shall do as you advised, but it will be necessary for them to have the money before they will allow me to leave them. -- I am inclined to think that it will be impossible for me to get my liberty, under a sum from three to four hundred dollars, as they are at this place by some means or other, deeply impressed with my being worth property.
You mention, you expected Captain Baker at your port. If he has, or may arrive while I am at this place, I beg you will present my respects to him, as I am intimately acquainted with him, and no doubt he will write me. -- Should he be shortly bound to Boston, be pleased to ask him to wait on my friends, and inform them of my unpleasant situation. I shall decline writing them until I get my liberty, as they will without doubt hear of my misfortune through other channels. Should I be able to treat for my ransom, any gentleman who would advance the money at Mogadore, I would give my bills for the same on my connexions in Boston, who has, independent of what may be underwrote on the Indefatigable, sufficient funds to meet the same. Mr. Berrit, my passenger, would willingly treat for his liberty also, had he any one to advance the money for him: his acquaintances in Philadelphia are respectable, and for any amount that my property would allow, I would indorse his bills, would my name be taken.
I live in hopes soon to have the happiness of seeing you -- while
..................I remain with sincere
.........................Respect and gratitude,
.............................Your very obliged servant,
..................................BENJAMIN F. SEAVER.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Our Benjamin received at least one letter from Court and Company, but it is not published by the newspaper - it was probably lost over time. We don't know how these letters came to the newspaper - they were probably obtained from Benjamin Franklin Seaver himself after he was released.
Stay tuned for Part 4 - the third letter published by the Connecticut Herald newspaper.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Valentine Censuswhacking
There are quite a few names associated with Valentine's Day reflecting our traditions and habits. I checked the 1920 census for some of them, and found:
SURNAMES
* Valentine - 17,911 people
* Valentino - 1,287 people
* Lover - 762 people
* Lovejoy - 4,192 people
* Loveland - 3,168 people
* Loveless - 3,524 people
* Sweet - 15,671 people
* Kiss - 1,458 people
* Cupid - 28 people
* Sweetheart - 1 person
GIVEN NAMES
* Valentine - 16,632 people
* Rose - 439,241 people
* Candy - 638 people
* Cupid - 78 people
* Romeo - 3,666 people
* Juliet - 8,008 people
COMBINATION NAMES
* Lovey Valentine - in Newark NJ
* Romeo Valentine - in Norristown PA
* Julie Valentine - in Hempstead NY
* Valentine Love - in Brooklyn NY
* Valentine Hart - in South Williamsport PA
* Valentine Rose - in Detroit MI
* Valentine Kiss - in Dubuque IA
* Valentine Flowers - in Blairsville PA
* Valentine Valentine - in Philadelphia PA
* Honey Lover - in Loves, GA
* Love Lovejoy - in Lawrence KS
* Cupid Luvie - in Liberty County TX
* Cande Hart - in Upshur County TX
* Rose Flowers - 26 of them!
* Rose Rose - 295 of them
* Juliet Romeo - in Brooklyn NY
Now if my sweet honey loving valentine will give me See's peppermint patties and molasses chips, I'll be a happy guy. Oh, I want a Sexy Genealogist T-shirt too!
Aren't name combinations great? What were their parents thinking? I could do this all night, but I restrained myself so I could go watch CSI and ER.
SURNAMES
* Valentine - 17,911 people
* Valentino - 1,287 people
* Lover - 762 people
* Lovejoy - 4,192 people
* Loveland - 3,168 people
* Loveless - 3,524 people
* Sweet - 15,671 people
* Kiss - 1,458 people
* Cupid - 28 people
* Sweetheart - 1 person
GIVEN NAMES
* Valentine - 16,632 people
* Rose - 439,241 people
* Candy - 638 people
* Cupid - 78 people
* Romeo - 3,666 people
* Juliet - 8,008 people
COMBINATION NAMES
* Lovey Valentine - in Newark NJ
* Romeo Valentine - in Norristown PA
* Julie Valentine - in Hempstead NY
* Valentine Love - in Brooklyn NY
* Valentine Hart - in South Williamsport PA
* Valentine Rose - in Detroit MI
* Valentine Kiss - in Dubuque IA
* Valentine Flowers - in Blairsville PA
* Valentine Valentine - in Philadelphia PA
* Honey Lover - in Loves, GA
* Love Lovejoy - in Lawrence KS
* Cupid Luvie - in Liberty County TX
* Cande Hart - in Upshur County TX
* Rose Flowers - 26 of them!
* Rose Rose - 295 of them
* Juliet Romeo - in Brooklyn NY
Now if my sweet honey loving valentine will give me See's peppermint patties and molasses chips, I'll be a happy guy. Oh, I want a Sexy Genealogist T-shirt too!
Aren't name combinations great? What were their parents thinking? I could do this all night, but I restrained myself so I could go watch CSI and ER.
The Valentine's Day Story
After reading Dick Eastman's post about St. Valentine, I went looking for more information about my favorite holiday (I proposed on Valentine's Day).
As a service to my fellow romantic genealogists, here is a web site with more of the story - http://wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm. The story starts out:
February 14 is Valentine's Day. Although it is celebrated as a lovers' holiday today, with the giving of candy, flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.
For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The celebration featured a lottery in which young men would draw the names of teenage girls from a box. The girl assigned to each young man in that manner would be his sexual companion during the remaining year.
In an effort to do away with the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius ordered a slight change in the lottery. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Both men and women were allowed to draw from the box, and the game was to emulate the ways of the saint they drew during the rest of the year.
Needless to say, many of the young Roman men were not too pleased with the rule changes.
The page ends with:
During the days that Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her, and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used on his day ever since.
Although the lottery for women had been banned by the church, the mid-February holiday in commemoration of St. Valentine was still used by Roman men to seek the affection of women. It became a tradition for the men to give the ones they admired handwritten messages of affection, containing Valentine's name.
The first Valentine card grew out of this practice. The first true Valentine card was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time.
Ah, how romantic! There are several interesting stories on the page, aren't there?
I wonder who St. Valentine's parents were? There - see, this wasn't a genealogy-free post.
As a service to my fellow romantic genealogists, here is a web site with more of the story - http://wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm. The story starts out:
February 14 is Valentine's Day. Although it is celebrated as a lovers' holiday today, with the giving of candy, flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.
For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The celebration featured a lottery in which young men would draw the names of teenage girls from a box. The girl assigned to each young man in that manner would be his sexual companion during the remaining year.
In an effort to do away with the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius ordered a slight change in the lottery. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Both men and women were allowed to draw from the box, and the game was to emulate the ways of the saint they drew during the rest of the year.
Needless to say, many of the young Roman men were not too pleased with the rule changes.
The page ends with:
During the days that Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her, and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used on his day ever since.
Although the lottery for women had been banned by the church, the mid-February holiday in commemoration of St. Valentine was still used by Roman men to seek the affection of women. It became a tradition for the men to give the ones they admired handwritten messages of affection, containing Valentine's name.
The first Valentine card grew out of this practice. The first true Valentine card was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time.
Ah, how romantic! There are several interesting stories on the page, aren't there?
I wonder who St. Valentine's parents were? There - see, this wasn't a genealogy-free post.
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