It's Saturday Night, time for some Genealogy Fun!!
Rev up the olde thynking cap and cue up the Mission Impossible music - your mission should you decide to accept it - keeping with the Christmas theme - is:
1) Pick out a genealogy-oriented gift for someone you know, admire, appreciate or love. It could be for a family member, someone in the genealogy community, or a friend or colleague. What would be your genealogy gift to them? [Note: you don't have to actually gift them, although it would be a nice thing to do!]
2) Tell us about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook to this post or a tweet.
Here's mine:
I would like to give the "Spirit of Genealogy" to one of my daughters and/or grandchildren. I have tried really hard to get them interested, but my daughters are really busy with family, children and careers. The grandchildren are still too young (oldest is age 6). I tell the grandchildren stories about their ancestors, including myself, in an effort to imbue them with an interest in family history. Although the research on my own family, and the research I've done on my wife's family, is incomplete, it is fairly well defined, but there are plenty of brickwall ancestors to search for. However, the genealogy of the fathers of the grandchildren may be challenging and interesting.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Surname Saturday - SMITH of Medfield and Dedham MA
It's Surname Saturday - and I'm going in Ahnentafel order for my ancestral surnames.
This week's surname is SMITH - a line that comes from the towns of Dedham and Medfield in what is now Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Here is the Ahnentafel list from me to the immigrant SMITH ancestor, Henry Smith:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick W. Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty V. Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick W. Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank W. Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie L. Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith, born before 06 September 1828 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 24 March 1884 in Leominster, Worcester, MA. She married 09 September 1851 in Walpole, Norfolk County, MA.
34. Alpheus B. Smith, born 19 May 1802 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 13 January 1840 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married30 November 1826 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA.
35. Elizabeth Horton Dill, born 19 May 1794 in Eastham, Barnstable County, MA; died 28 November 1869 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA. She was the daughter of Thomas Dill and Mary Horton. Children of Alpheus Smith and Elizabeth Dill are:
.... 17 ... i. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884); married 1851 Isaac Seaver.
............. ii. James Alpheus Smith, born 06 June 1833 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
68. Aaron Smith, born 29 May 1765 in Walpole, Norfolk County, MA; died 04 December 1841 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 06 October 1795 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
69. Mercy Plimpton, born 09 September 1772 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 13 April 1850 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Amos Plimpton and Mary Guild. Children of Aaron Smith and Mercy Plimpton are:
............. i. Susanna Smith (1795-1813).
............. ii. Patience Smith (1799-????), married 1823 Royal Blake (1800-1868).
............. iii. Mary Plimpton Smith, born 10 September 1800 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
.... 34 .. iv. Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840); married 1826 Elizabeth Horton Dill.
............. v. Lucy Smith (1804-1884); married (1) John Wardwell; married (2) 1825 James Wood.
............. vi. Elizabeth Smith (1806-????), married Jonathan Petts.
............. vii. Nancy Smith (1806-1879); married 1831 Stearns Tarbox.
............. viii. Aaron Smith (1815-1851), married 1839 Martha M. Page.
136. Moses Smith, born 02 April 1732 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 23 September 1762 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
137. Patience Hamant, born 06 April 1735 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Timothy Hamant and Hepzibah Clark. Children of Moses Smith and Patience Hamant are:
.... 68 ... i. Aaron Smith (1765-1841); married 1795 Mercy Plimpton.
............. ii. Luther Smith (1766-????)
............. iii. Calvin Smith (1768-????)
............. iv. Timothy Smith (1773-????).
272. Henry Smith, born 16 December 1680 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 14 April 1743 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 01 September 1730 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
273. Ruth Barber, born 05 March 1695/96 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Zechariah Barber and Abiel Ellis. Children of Henry Smith and Ruth Barber are:
............. i. Ruth Smith (1730-1813); married 1752 Samuel Turner (1724-1784)
.... 136 ..ii. Moses Smith (1732-????), married (1) 1756 Sarah Clark; married (2) 1762 Patience Hamant.
............. iii. Asa Smith (1740-1795)
544. Samuel Smith, born 13 August 1641 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA; died 25 October 1691 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA He married 22 February 1676/77 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
545. Sarah Clark, born 20 February 1650/51 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA; died 20 May 1704 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Joseph Clarke and Alice Fenn. Children of Samuel Smith and Sarah Clark are:
............. i. Sarah Smith (1679-1769); married (1) 1701 Mathias Evans (1670-1725); married (2) 1726 Henry Harding (1673-1764)
... 272 .. ii. Henry Smith (1680-1743); married (1) 1703 Deborah Pratt ; married (2) 1708 Mary Adams; married (3) 1730 Ruth Barber
............. iii. Daniel Smith (1682-1704).
............. iv. Nathaniel Smith (1684-1762); married (1) 1705 Mary Clark (1688-1717); married (2) 1717 Lydia Partridge (1687-1773)
............. v. Abigail Smith (1686-1725); married 1705 John Fisher (1677-1727).
............. vi. Mary Smith (1688-1774); married (1) 1706 Henry Plimpton (1684-1731); married (2) 1732 Jabez Pond; married (3) 1750 Joseph Wight (1679-????).
............. vii. Prudence Smith (1691-????); married (1) 1711 Joseph White; (2) 1739 Benoni Benson.
1088. Henry Smith, born About 1607 in Buckingham, Norfolk, ENGLAND; died 1687 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married Elizabeth before 1635 in ENGLAND.
1089. Elizabeth, born About 1603 in ENGLAND; died 12 June 1670 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. Children of Henry Smith and Elizabeth are:
............. i. Seth Smith (1635-1682); married 1660 Mary Thurston (1642-1696)
............. ii. John Smith (1637-1691)
............. iii. Daniel Smith (1639-1641)
... 544 ..iv. Samuel Smith (1641-1691); married (1) 1669 Elizabeth Turner; married (2) 1677 Sarah Clark.
............. v. Joseph Smith (1643-1661).
Does any reader connect to this particular SMITH line?
I don't have a lot of family history information for this SMITH line. I still have town, church, deeds and probate records in Suffolk County (before 1793) and Norfolk County (after 1793) to search. One more major task on my "forever" to-do lists!
This week's surname is SMITH - a line that comes from the towns of Dedham and Medfield in what is now Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Here is the Ahnentafel list from me to the immigrant SMITH ancestor, Henry Smith:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick W. Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty V. Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick W. Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank W. Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie L. Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith, born before 06 September 1828 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 24 March 1884 in Leominster, Worcester, MA. She married 09 September 1851 in Walpole, Norfolk County, MA.
34. Alpheus B. Smith, born 19 May 1802 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 13 January 1840 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married30 November 1826 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA.
35. Elizabeth Horton Dill, born 19 May 1794 in Eastham, Barnstable County, MA; died 28 November 1869 in Leominster, Worcester County, MA. She was the daughter of Thomas Dill and Mary Horton. Children of Alpheus Smith and Elizabeth Dill are:
.... 17 ... i. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1828-1884); married 1851 Isaac Seaver.
............. ii. James Alpheus Smith, born 06 June 1833 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
68. Aaron Smith, born 29 May 1765 in Walpole, Norfolk County, MA; died 04 December 1841 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 06 October 1795 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
69. Mercy Plimpton, born 09 September 1772 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 13 April 1850 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Amos Plimpton and Mary Guild. Children of Aaron Smith and Mercy Plimpton are:
............. i. Susanna Smith (1795-1813).
............. ii. Patience Smith (1799-????), married 1823 Royal Blake (1800-1868).
............. iii. Mary Plimpton Smith, born 10 September 1800 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
.... 34 .. iv. Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840); married 1826 Elizabeth Horton Dill.
............. v. Lucy Smith (1804-1884); married (1) John Wardwell; married (2) 1825 James Wood.
............. vi. Elizabeth Smith (1806-????), married Jonathan Petts.
............. vii. Nancy Smith (1806-1879); married 1831 Stearns Tarbox.
............. viii. Aaron Smith (1815-1851), married 1839 Martha M. Page.
136. Moses Smith, born 02 April 1732 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 23 September 1762 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
137. Patience Hamant, born 06 April 1735 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Timothy Hamant and Hepzibah Clark. Children of Moses Smith and Patience Hamant are:
.... 68 ... i. Aaron Smith (1765-1841); married 1795 Mercy Plimpton.
............. ii. Luther Smith (1766-????)
............. iii. Calvin Smith (1768-????)
............. iv. Timothy Smith (1773-????).
272. Henry Smith, born 16 December 1680 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA; died 14 April 1743 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married 01 September 1730 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
273. Ruth Barber, born 05 March 1695/96 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Zechariah Barber and Abiel Ellis. Children of Henry Smith and Ruth Barber are:
............. i. Ruth Smith (1730-1813); married 1752 Samuel Turner (1724-1784)
.... 136 ..ii. Moses Smith (1732-????), married (1) 1756 Sarah Clark; married (2) 1762 Patience Hamant.
............. iii. Asa Smith (1740-1795)
544. Samuel Smith, born 13 August 1641 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA; died 25 October 1691 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA He married 22 February 1676/77 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA.
545. Sarah Clark, born 20 February 1650/51 in Dedham, Norfolk County, MA; died 20 May 1704 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. She was the daughter of Joseph Clarke and Alice Fenn. Children of Samuel Smith and Sarah Clark are:
............. i. Sarah Smith (1679-1769); married (1) 1701 Mathias Evans (1670-1725); married (2) 1726 Henry Harding (1673-1764)
... 272 .. ii. Henry Smith (1680-1743); married (1) 1703 Deborah Pratt ; married (2) 1708 Mary Adams; married (3) 1730 Ruth Barber
............. iii. Daniel Smith (1682-1704).
............. iv. Nathaniel Smith (1684-1762); married (1) 1705 Mary Clark (1688-1717); married (2) 1717 Lydia Partridge (1687-1773)
............. v. Abigail Smith (1686-1725); married 1705 John Fisher (1677-1727).
............. vi. Mary Smith (1688-1774); married (1) 1706 Henry Plimpton (1684-1731); married (2) 1732 Jabez Pond; married (3) 1750 Joseph Wight (1679-????).
............. vii. Prudence Smith (1691-????); married (1) 1711 Joseph White; (2) 1739 Benoni Benson.
1088. Henry Smith, born About 1607 in Buckingham, Norfolk, ENGLAND; died 1687 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. He married Elizabeth before 1635 in ENGLAND.
1089. Elizabeth, born About 1603 in ENGLAND; died 12 June 1670 in Medfield, Norfolk County, MA. Children of Henry Smith and Elizabeth are:
............. i. Seth Smith (1635-1682); married 1660 Mary Thurston (1642-1696)
............. ii. John Smith (1637-1691)
............. iii. Daniel Smith (1639-1641)
... 544 ..iv. Samuel Smith (1641-1691); married (1) 1669 Elizabeth Turner; married (2) 1677 Sarah Clark.
............. v. Joseph Smith (1643-1661).
Does any reader connect to this particular SMITH line?
I don't have a lot of family history information for this SMITH line. I still have town, church, deeds and probate records in Suffolk County (before 1793) and Norfolk County (after 1793) to search. One more major task on my "forever" to-do lists!
Advent Calendar - Day 6: Christmas Shopping
On the 6th Day of Christmas,
My true love "ordered" me
To go out and buy some jewelry.
1) How did your family handle Christmas shopping?
When I was growing up, I think my mother did all of the Christmas shopping for all of her boys (three sons and a hubby). I hope (but I don't know!) that my father shopped for my mother - I really don't have a memory of gifts that she received. We usually had gifts made at school for mom and dad.
When I became a teenager, I went shopping with my mother to get gifts for my brothers and my father. I also shopped for my mother - but I don't remember any gifts I bought. I do remember one year, when I was probably in college, that I bought a new mailbox for mom and dad - I was so proud of this practical gift. I got some strange looks that year.
Linda now does most of the Christmas shopping for family and friends, including our daughters, their hubbies and kids. I tag along sometimes for consultation.
She spoils me with gifts - always including chocolate (for my semi-yearglass figure - fully expanded, needing suspenders, yea verily, the sands of time have not been kind), white socks, printer ink cartridges, computer things (I usually pick it out) and some clothes - necessities.
My only real shopping task is to shop for my Angel Linda. It's a big job, but someone has to do it.
I got her a spa subscription last year (she loved it!), a digital camera two years ago (she uses it occasionally, but pictures are usually fuzzy), a laptop computer three years ago (I got it early and use it - she doesn't like it), and a digital camcorder four years ago (she doesn't use it). I try to buy nice clothes for her - essentially blouses, sweaters, pants. Her favorite colors are aqua, green, blue, purple, and red. She likes fancy things, but not items that have to be dry-cleaned. She sometimes buys things for herself and hands them to me to wrap for her. Jewelry is a must each year - and sometimes she tells me what she would like - gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces (but most are not long enough or are too fragile) with angel charms or figurines are prized. It is a challenge each year to find something new and different.
2) Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?
I always finish early - at least before Christmas Day. Linda usually starts before Thanksgiving, and usually has things well in hand by a week before Christmas. I'm still shopping this year...
Linda's brother is famous for waiting until Christmas Eve to shop. There were years that he and I would go out shopping on the 24th to find gifts for his sister, his dad, his girlfriend, etc.
3) What are the highlights of shopping for you (an added question)?
The first highlight is finding a real special gift for Linda that will make her face light up and earn me a big hug and kiss, even a leer. The second highlight is watching the little kids sitting on Santa's lap in the little house on the mall walk. I stopped the other day and watched for about ten minutes while four kids talked to Santa. One cried the whole time, one was scared to death and wanted to get away, but two sat there and talked to him and hugged him at the end. Most of the kids are dressed up, and so are the moms accompanying them. I like watching the Santa helpers too...
My true love "ordered" me
To go out and buy some jewelry.
1) How did your family handle Christmas shopping?
When I was growing up, I think my mother did all of the Christmas shopping for all of her boys (three sons and a hubby). I hope (but I don't know!) that my father shopped for my mother - I really don't have a memory of gifts that she received. We usually had gifts made at school for mom and dad.
When I became a teenager, I went shopping with my mother to get gifts for my brothers and my father. I also shopped for my mother - but I don't remember any gifts I bought. I do remember one year, when I was probably in college, that I bought a new mailbox for mom and dad - I was so proud of this practical gift. I got some strange looks that year.
Linda now does most of the Christmas shopping for family and friends, including our daughters, their hubbies and kids. I tag along sometimes for consultation.
She spoils me with gifts - always including chocolate (for my semi-yearglass figure - fully expanded, needing suspenders, yea verily, the sands of time have not been kind), white socks, printer ink cartridges, computer things (I usually pick it out) and some clothes - necessities.
My only real shopping task is to shop for my Angel Linda. It's a big job, but someone has to do it.
I got her a spa subscription last year (she loved it!), a digital camera two years ago (she uses it occasionally, but pictures are usually fuzzy), a laptop computer three years ago (I got it early and use it - she doesn't like it), and a digital camcorder four years ago (she doesn't use it). I try to buy nice clothes for her - essentially blouses, sweaters, pants. Her favorite colors are aqua, green, blue, purple, and red. She likes fancy things, but not items that have to be dry-cleaned. She sometimes buys things for herself and hands them to me to wrap for her. Jewelry is a must each year - and sometimes she tells me what she would like - gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces (but most are not long enough or are too fragile) with angel charms or figurines are prized. It is a challenge each year to find something new and different.
2) Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?
I always finish early - at least before Christmas Day. Linda usually starts before Thanksgiving, and usually has things well in hand by a week before Christmas. I'm still shopping this year...
Linda's brother is famous for waiting until Christmas Eve to shop. There were years that he and I would go out shopping on the 24th to find gifts for his sister, his dad, his girlfriend, etc.
3) What are the highlights of shopping for you (an added question)?
The first highlight is finding a real special gift for Linda that will make her face light up and earn me a big hug and kiss, even a leer. The second highlight is watching the little kids sitting on Santa's lap in the little house on the mall walk. I stopped the other day and watched for about ten minutes while four kids talked to Santa. One cried the whole time, one was scared to death and wanted to get away, but two sat there and talked to him and hugged him at the end. Most of the kids are dressed up, and so are the moms accompanying them. I like watching the Santa helpers too...
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas Names in the Census Records
Here's an oldie but a goodie for my devoted readers --I was devastated when the post came out several years ago about the Christmas characters that Dan Lynch posted on his web site, http://www.1930census.com/santa_clause.php. I had worked on most of those names for two weeks and was waiting for the "season" to post them.
So, here are the rest of my "character" findings (originally posted in 2006) -
1) Ebenezer Scroggs (1850, Harrison County OH) is as close to Ebenezer Scrooge as I can get.
2) Robert Crachet (1880, Scott County AR). Another Robert Crachet flew into New York City from Paris on Air France on 2 August 1956 - maybe to perform in a play on Broadway?
3) Three Grinch brothers (Charles, John and Lenwards) came into New York City on 6 September 1875 aboard the "Egypt." There is no word if they came to steal Christmas. Obviously, if they did, they failed.
4) There is a Jasper Magi and Baldermo Magi (1930, Fairfield County CT) but no Melchior; there are Gaspar Wiseman (1930, Queens County NY) and Melvin Wiseman (1930, Muskegon county MI), but no Balthasar or similar.
5) There are 18 Harold Angel persons in the 1930 census. No Hark Angel, however.
6) Sila Knight (1870, Randolph County, AL) is the closest to Silent Night I could find. Lots of Silas Knight people.
7) There are 3 Noel Noel persons in the 1930 census.
8) Angel Angel (1930, Maricopa County AZ) is one of the repeating angels.
9) There are two Merry Christmas girls in the 1930 census (there are lots of Mary Christmas females too).
10) Holly Bush (1930, Roanoke County VA) sticks out.
11) Christ Tree (1930, LaPorte County IN) probably extended his branches
12) Jessie Manger (1930, Polk County IA) parents were not Joseph and Mary
13) Then there are Santa's reindeer: Were they:
Cupid Wiseman
Melvin Dancer
Hugo Blitzen
Chris Donder
Rudolf Dasher
Dasher Berry
Prancer Saner
Vixen Locke
Theodore Comet
Just wondering!!
You know, if Bah Morgan (1900, Stephenson IL) had married Cecil Humbug (1900, Delaware County PA) we would have had more Humbugs than we would know what to do with.
I'm wondering if Alvin Monk (1930, Schoharie County NY), Simon Monk (1930, Lonoke AR) and Theodore Monk (1930, Cotton County OK) really got together in 1958 to sing The Chipmunk Song. Maybe they weren't a figment of Ross Bagdasarian's imagination.
OK, I'm done! I hope you enjoyed this little prance down Santa Claus lane.
What other Christmas related names are there? C'mon, lay them on me.
So, here are the rest of my "character" findings (originally posted in 2006) -
1) Ebenezer Scroggs (1850, Harrison County OH) is as close to Ebenezer Scrooge as I can get.
2) Robert Crachet (1880, Scott County AR). Another Robert Crachet flew into New York City from Paris on Air France on 2 August 1956 - maybe to perform in a play on Broadway?
3) Three Grinch brothers (Charles, John and Lenwards) came into New York City on 6 September 1875 aboard the "Egypt." There is no word if they came to steal Christmas. Obviously, if they did, they failed.
4) There is a Jasper Magi and Baldermo Magi (1930, Fairfield County CT) but no Melchior; there are Gaspar Wiseman (1930, Queens County NY) and Melvin Wiseman (1930, Muskegon county MI), but no Balthasar or similar.
5) There are 18 Harold Angel persons in the 1930 census. No Hark Angel, however.
6) Sila Knight (1870, Randolph County, AL) is the closest to Silent Night I could find. Lots of Silas Knight people.
7) There are 3 Noel Noel persons in the 1930 census.
8) Angel Angel (1930, Maricopa County AZ) is one of the repeating angels.
9) There are two Merry Christmas girls in the 1930 census (there are lots of Mary Christmas females too).
10) Holly Bush (1930, Roanoke County VA) sticks out.
11) Christ Tree (1930, LaPorte County IN) probably extended his branches
12) Jessie Manger (1930, Polk County IA) parents were not Joseph and Mary
13) Then there are Santa's reindeer: Were they:
Cupid Wiseman
Melvin Dancer
Hugo Blitzen
Chris Donder
Rudolf Dasher
Dasher Berry
Prancer Saner
Vixen Locke
Theodore Comet
Just wondering!!
You know, if Bah Morgan (1900, Stephenson IL) had married Cecil Humbug (1900, Delaware County PA) we would have had more Humbugs than we would know what to do with.
I'm wondering if Alvin Monk (1930, Schoharie County NY), Simon Monk (1930, Lonoke AR) and Theodore Monk (1930, Cotton County OK) really got together in 1958 to sing The Chipmunk Song. Maybe they weren't a figment of Ross Bagdasarian's imagination.
OK, I'm done! I hope you enjoyed this little prance down Santa Claus lane.
What other Christmas related names are there? C'mon, lay them on me.
Follow Friday -- Family Matters
For Follow Friday, I want to commend the Family Matters blog, written by Denise Olson, for your reading pleasure.
Is Family Matters on your blog list? If you are interested in the topics listed above, it should be!
Denise blogs mainly about technology and how we genealogists and family historians can use the tools available to us if we only knew about them. Computer hardware, software, websites, social networks, electronic publishing, audio and video, security and much more are topics for Denise's review and analysis. Check out the subject categories on the right sidebar on the blog to see the breadth and depth of Denise's expertise. I learn more about technology from Denise's blog than anywhere else.
Is Family Matters on your blog list? If you are interested in the topics listed above, it should be!
Advent Calendar - Day 7: Christmas Stockings
On the 7th Day of Christmas,
my true love said to me
"You'd better fill that up, honey!"
1) Did you have a stocking?
Every year ... from childhood to now. Not the same one, of course.
2) Where did you hang it?
When I was a kid, my parents hung it by my grandparents chimney - probably on the firescreen.
Since we've had our own home, the stocking is hung from a nail in the beam over the fireplace.
3) What did you get in it?
When I was a kid, I received little toys, fruit, gum, candy, etc.
As a married adult, the stocking has candy (lots of candy!), socks, small gifts, and sometimes a charcoal briquette (the proverbial lump of coal in San Diego). My favorite candies are See's Peppermints, orange slices, Hershey kisses, gum drops, M&Ms, etc. All of this makes me a really "sweet-lovin'" guy. And adds several pounds each year, but hey, I'm in shape (pear is a shape, right?).
Linda sometimes gets jewelry, lipstick, nail clippers, and candy in her stocking. She used to get panty-hose (hey, a stocking in a stocking, right?) and sexy panties, but she won't let me shop for those any more.
my true love said to me
"You'd better fill that up, honey!"
1) Did you have a stocking?
Every year ... from childhood to now. Not the same one, of course.
2) Where did you hang it?
When I was a kid, my parents hung it by my grandparents chimney - probably on the firescreen.
Since we've had our own home, the stocking is hung from a nail in the beam over the fireplace.
3) What did you get in it?
When I was a kid, I received little toys, fruit, gum, candy, etc.
As a married adult, the stocking has candy (lots of candy!), socks, small gifts, and sometimes a charcoal briquette (the proverbial lump of coal in San Diego). My favorite candies are See's Peppermints, orange slices, Hershey kisses, gum drops, M&Ms, etc. All of this makes me a really "sweet-lovin'" guy. And adds several pounds each year, but hey, I'm in shape (pear is a shape, right?).
Linda sometimes gets jewelry, lipstick, nail clippers, and candy in her stocking. She used to get panty-hose (hey, a stocking in a stocking, right?) and sexy panties, but she won't let me shop for those any more.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Treasure Chest Thursday - World War I Draft Registration
It's Treasure Chest Thursday, where we display some of the family treasures that were in the boxes and albums handed down from our parents, or the treasures found in digital format from our family history research.
Here is a World War I Draft Reghistration card for my grandfather, Frederick Walton Seaver of Leominster, Massachusetts:
Here is a World War I Draft Reghistration card for my grandfather, Frederick Walton Seaver of Leominster, Massachusetts:
According to the information provided by Frederick, he was:
* Name is "Frederick Walton Seaver"
* Residence is "290 Central, Leominster, Worcester, Mass."
* age "41," born "9 October 1876"
* Race "White " is checked
* "Native born" citizenship is checked
* Occupation is "Superintendent at Paton Mfg Co."
* Employed by "Paton Mfg Co."
* Business address is "282 Central St., Leominster, Wor., Mass."
* Next of kin is "Wife, Alma B. Seaver, resides at 290 Central St., Leominster, Wor., Mass."
* Signature as "Frederick W. Seaver"
* Height is "Medium"
* Build is "Stout"
* Color of Eyes is "Blue"
* Color of Hair is "Lt. brown"
* Disabilities is "No"
* Registrar is "J. Ward Healey"
* Date of Registration is "September 12, 1918"
These World War I Draft Registration cards provide a wealth of information and a signature of your ancestor or target person. They have been very helpful in adding full names, birth dates, current residence address, citizenship, occupation and place of work, next of kin, and physical description for my one-name studies on Seaver, Carringer, Dill, Vaux, Auble and other surnames.
The World War I Draft Registration cards were required for all males born between 1874 and 1900, except those already in the Armed Forces, and were gathered in several batches in 1917 and 1918 as the need for soldiers in World War I increased. However, not every male registered, but there are over 24 million of these cards in the Ancestry.com collection, which is about 98% of the number of males between ages 18 and 46 in 1918. The form is somewhat different for each group of persons. The complete collection is on Ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com's New Database Browse Features
What do you do when you cannot find your target person or family in the US Census Records? You know, after you have used all of the name variations you can think of, used wild cards, used location, birth place and birth year (with a year range), spouse's name, first name only, no name, etc. I don't know about you, but by this time, I'm terribly frustrated. What's next? Scroll through the census one page at a time.
Back in the day, we would scroll slowly and carefully through the microfilm on the microfilm reader.
Until today, users could browse Ancestry.com's collections by specific locality (state, county and township for the census) by clicking on the state at the bottom of the web page for the specific database. I doubt that I ever used that feature because it was at the bottom of the page.
Now, Ancestry.com has made it a lot easier for us to browse through records for a specific locality (e.g., state, county and township - and Enumeration District in cities - in census records). Anne Mitchell wrote her post Improved Data Collection Search Pages to describe what they have done to help researchers browse through the census pages.
In fact, Ancestry.com says they have added this feature to all of their databases. I checked several other databases and the new "Browse This Collection" feature is there.
Here is my look at the process, with a nice little surprise at the end. From my home page, I like to click on the specific year of the census (note that I have customized my home page so that the Census Records are right up at the top of the page):
I wanted to browse through Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut, so I chose "Killingly" from the list and the first Page of the census for Killingly came up:
I can navigate this census for Killingly by clicking on the small left and right arrows on the right of the header, just above the actual census record, and to the right of the "Go" link. If I wanted to jump to a certain page, I could click in the field for the page number, type in a page number and click on the "Go" link.
Isn't that cool? There are four or five handwriting examples for each letter (two upper case, two or three lower case). Of course, it doesn't cover every enumerator's handwriting vagaries and idiosyncrasies, but it's a decent set of examples.
Back in the day, we would scroll slowly and carefully through the microfilm on the microfilm reader.
Until today, users could browse Ancestry.com's collections by specific locality (state, county and township for the census) by clicking on the state at the bottom of the web page for the specific database. I doubt that I ever used that feature because it was at the bottom of the page.
Now, Ancestry.com has made it a lot easier for us to browse through records for a specific locality (e.g., state, county and township - and Enumeration District in cities - in census records). Anne Mitchell wrote her post Improved Data Collection Search Pages to describe what they have done to help researchers browse through the census pages.
In fact, Ancestry.com says they have added this feature to all of their databases. I checked several other databases and the new "Browse This Collection" feature is there.
Here is my look at the process, with a nice little surprise at the end. From my home page, I like to click on the specific year of the census (note that I have customized my home page so that the Census Records are right up at the top of the page):
I clicked on the 1850 US Census link and saw the new census collections page (two screens below):
The large search box is on the left, just like before - note that I use the Advanced Search form where I can check or uncheck the "Exact Search" boxes).
On the right side of the screen is the new feature - the "Browse This Collection" box. There are dropdown selection boxes in this box for State, County , Township and Enumeration district (when available), as shown below for Windham County, Connecticut:
I wanted to browse through Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut, so I chose "Killingly" from the list and the first Page of the census for Killingly came up:
I can navigate this census for Killingly by clicking on the small left and right arrows on the right of the header, just above the actual census record, and to the right of the "Go" link. If I wanted to jump to a certain page, I could click in the field for the page number, type in a page number and click on the "Go" link.
In my opinion, Ancestry.com has made this as easy as possible to browse through the indexed and digitized records.
Now for the "little surprise" I mentioned (it may have been there all along...I don't recall seeing it). There is a link at the bottom of the "Browse This Collection" area for "More Help" and a link there for "View a sampling of handwriting examples", which brings up a box:
Isn't that cool? There are four or five handwriting examples for each letter (two upper case, two or three lower case). Of course, it doesn't cover every enumerator's handwriting vagaries and idiosyncrasies, but it's a decent set of examples.
Advent Calendar - Day 8: The Family Journal
On the 8th day of Christmas,
I sent to all my relatives
this year's Family Journal.
1) What helps you remember Christmases past?
My Christmas gift to my cousins, brothers and children is a 16 page (usually) family journal, called the "Seaver-Richmond Family Journal." This is my 22nd year of doing this family journal. I end up sending about 20 copies out every year to the extended family. This is my way of "connecting" to my extended family and sharing some of my family history research.
Fred Seaver and Bessie Richmond married in 1900 in Leominster MA and had seven children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood and married, five of whom had a total of 11 children. This family line is 3/4 New England colonial immigrant (Seaver, Hildreth and White), and 1/4 English immigrant (Richman/Richmond, immigrated in 1855).
The content of my family journal has changed over time. I used to print more lines of descent from famous or notable people, and more lines from immigrant ancestors to my grandparents generation. However, I ran out of these types of articles several years ago - I had covered all of the family lines with 5-generations or more.
In recent years, I've added more family photos - both of the older generations and the new generations - young families with babies and the like. I've also written more memorials as the aunts and uncles have died.
This year, the Table of Contents looks like:
* 2009 Family Search - page 1
* What's Inside? - page 1
* The Ancestry of Fred and Bessie (Richmond) Seaver Book Project - page 2
* Seaver-Richmond Ancestry on the Internet - page 2
* Seaver Y-Chromosome DNA Tests
* Seaver Family Photographs from Aunt Gerry's Collection - pages 3 and 4
* Geraldine (Seaver) Remley's Autobiography - Part 2 - pages 5-7
* Immigrant Ancestors - Giles Slocum (1623-1683) of Portsmouth RI - pages 11, 12
* Immigrant Ancestors - Simon Stone (1586-1665) of Watertown MA - pages 13, 14
* Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) of Leominster, Massachusetts - pages 8-10
* The Blanchard Cousins of California - page 11
* Immigrant Ancestors - William Carpenter (1605-1659) of Rehoboth, Mass. - pages 12-13
* Newspaper Articles - pages 14-16
* Finis - page 16
The production process is pretty simple. I use last year's MSWord document as a template - but delete the content and save it as a new document. Then I add content over a 7 to 10 day period, based on family papers and photographs, material from my blog, the Internet or my genealogy databases. When the content is completed, then I print off 25 copies (16 pages, in color, two-sided). I save it also as a PDF file to put on CDROMs to give to family members who want one.
It's funny - even though I ask the family for pictures and stories, either by snail mail, email or in person, I never receive anything from them. Maybe they are bored by it all; maybe it slips their mind or they think they don't have anything to contribute. I do get compliments in the Christmas cards I receive, so I think they appreciate the effort.
I sent the Family Journal, along with our family Christmas letter, off to the cousins last Monday. I have copies at home for my brother, my niece and my daughters and will gift them with it when we see them to celebrate Christmas. Hopefully, we will share stories and memories of our parents and grandparents.
I sent to all my relatives
this year's Family Journal.
1) What helps you remember Christmases past?
My Christmas gift to my cousins, brothers and children is a 16 page (usually) family journal, called the "Seaver-Richmond Family Journal." This is my 22nd year of doing this family journal. I end up sending about 20 copies out every year to the extended family. This is my way of "connecting" to my extended family and sharing some of my family history research.
Fred Seaver and Bessie Richmond married in 1900 in Leominster MA and had seven children, 6 of whom lived to adulthood and married, five of whom had a total of 11 children. This family line is 3/4 New England colonial immigrant (Seaver, Hildreth and White), and 1/4 English immigrant (Richman/Richmond, immigrated in 1855).
The content of my family journal has changed over time. I used to print more lines of descent from famous or notable people, and more lines from immigrant ancestors to my grandparents generation. However, I ran out of these types of articles several years ago - I had covered all of the family lines with 5-generations or more.
In recent years, I've added more family photos - both of the older generations and the new generations - young families with babies and the like. I've also written more memorials as the aunts and uncles have died.
This year, the Table of Contents looks like:
* 2009 Family Search - page 1
* What's Inside? - page 1
* The Ancestry of Fred and Bessie (Richmond) Seaver Book Project - page 2
* Seaver-Richmond Ancestry on the Internet - page 2
* Seaver Y-Chromosome DNA Tests
* Seaver Family Photographs from Aunt Gerry's Collection - pages 3 and 4
* Geraldine (Seaver) Remley's Autobiography - Part 2 - pages 5-7
* Immigrant Ancestors - Giles Slocum (1623-1683) of Portsmouth RI - pages 11, 12
* Immigrant Ancestors - Simon Stone (1586-1665) of Watertown MA - pages 13, 14
* Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) of Leominster, Massachusetts - pages 8-10
* The Blanchard Cousins of California - page 11
* Immigrant Ancestors - William Carpenter (1605-1659) of Rehoboth, Mass. - pages 12-13
* Newspaper Articles - pages 14-16
* Finis - page 16
The production process is pretty simple. I use last year's MSWord document as a template - but delete the content and save it as a new document. Then I add content over a 7 to 10 day period, based on family papers and photographs, material from my blog, the Internet or my genealogy databases. When the content is completed, then I print off 25 copies (16 pages, in color, two-sided). I save it also as a PDF file to put on CDROMs to give to family members who want one.
It's funny - even though I ask the family for pictures and stories, either by snail mail, email or in person, I never receive anything from them. Maybe they are bored by it all; maybe it slips their mind or they think they don't have anything to contribute. I do get compliments in the Christmas cards I receive, so I think they appreciate the effort.
I sent the Family Journal, along with our family Christmas letter, off to the cousins last Monday. I have copies at home for my brother, my niece and my daughters and will gift them with it when we see them to celebrate Christmas. Hopefully, we will share stories and memories of our parents and grandparents.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
CVGS Holiday Luncheon
I spent some of the day enjoying the Chula Vista Genealogical Society Holiday Luncheon at the Chula Vista South Library.
I wrote up the happenings at the meeting in CVGS Holiday Luncheon Highlights on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. You have to check out the resolutions for 2010! I will add photos from the event over the next few days. I was very pleased with my gift from the gift exchange - a 4 gb flash drive. A great genealogy gift!
Susi wrote about her experiences in Chula Vista Genealogical Society Christmas Event on the Susi's Chatty Performances About Genealogy blog.
Perhaps Ruth will show some of her photographs on her Genealogy is Ruthless Without Me blog.
It is really neat to have three members blogging on a regular basis.
I wrote up the happenings at the meeting in CVGS Holiday Luncheon Highlights on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog. You have to check out the resolutions for 2010! I will add photos from the event over the next few days. I was very pleased with my gift from the gift exchange - a 4 gb flash drive. A great genealogy gift!
Susi wrote about her experiences in Chula Vista Genealogical Society Christmas Event on the Susi's Chatty Performances About Genealogy blog.
Perhaps Ruth will show some of her photographs on her Genealogy is Ruthless Without Me blog.
It is really neat to have three members blogging on a regular basis.
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