There was at least one man who used the name Santa Claus in U.S. history, and there are quite a few records for him:
A person named "Santa Clause" (born April 1887 in MO) was the son of William Clause (born Feb 1857 in MO) and Henrietta Clause (born May 1861 in MO) in the 1900 census, with siblings Emma B. Clause (born Jan 1881 in MO), William E. Clause (born Nov 1882 in MO), Earler (?) Clause (born Dec 1885 in MO), Nellie Claus (born Nov 1889) and Earl Clause (born Dec 1894 in MO). The family resided in Liberty township, Saline County, MO (NARA T623, Roll 902, ED 129, Page 3A).
In the 1910 census, "Sante Claus" was age 23, single, a farm laborer, living as a hired man in the household of David Fleshman in Liberty township, Saline County, MO (NARA T624, Roll 823, ED 172, Page 4A).
In the 1920 census, "Santy Clause" (age 31, single, a boarder) resided with his brother Earl Clause inBlackwater township, Pettis County, MO (NARA T625, Roll 939, ED 125, Page 4B).
In the 1930 census, "Santa Claus" (age 42, married, first at age 24, born in MO, a laborer, works in river construction) resided in Marshall township, Saline County, MO with his wife Mabel Claus (age 36, married, first at age 18 in MO), son William Claus (age 15, born MO), son Raymond Claus (age 12, born CO), son Fred Claus (age 9, born MO), son Joseph Claus (age 6, born MO), son James Claus (age 3, born MO) and daughter Dorthy Claus (age 0, born MO) (NARA T626, Roll 1246, ED 20, Page 12A).
Notice that son Raymond Claus was born in Colorado, not Missouri. And also note that Santa was in Missouri in the 1920 census listed as single, but he obviously had a wife and children in 1920 if the 1930 census records are correct.
In the 1940 U.S. census, "Santa Claus" (age 52, married, born in Missouri, completed 4th grade, a sewer man) resided in Marshall, Saline county, Missouri with his wife Minnie Mabel Claus (age 46, married, born Missouri, completed 6th grade); son William Owen Claus (age 24, single, born Missouri, completed 7th grade); son Raymond Elbert Claus (age 22, single, born Colorado, completed 8th grade, a yard man); Fred Claus (age 19, single, born Missouri, completed 7th grade); son Joseph Claus (age 16, single, born Missouri, completed 1st year of high school, a new worker); son James Claus (age 13, single, born Missouri, completed 6th grade); daughter Amy Ruth Claus (age 9, single, born Missouri, completed 3rd grade); daughter Edna May Claus (age 3, single, born Missouri).
There is more:
Santy Clause married Minnie Mabel Hill on 9 June 1912 in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri. Their marriage record is in the Missouri Marriage License database on Ancestry.com, but it only says that he was from Marshall and over age 21, and she was from Marshall and over age 18.
"Santy Clause" registered for the World War I draft on 5 June 1917 in Prowers County, Colorado. He was age 29, born 4 April 1888 in Marshall MO, a natural born US citizen, Caucasian, married with two children. He was a farmer, and resided in Lamar, Route A, Prowers County, Colorado. He was medium height, medium build, blue eyes, light brown hair, and no disabilities, and had no previous military service.
I was unable to find Mabel Claus or the two children, William and Raymond, in the 1920 census - perhaps someone else would like to try! My best guess is that they may be in Colorado then, or back in Saline County MO.
One last bit of data: Members of the Clause family are buried in Blue Lick Union Church Cemetery in Saline County, Missouri. The list includes:
Donna Clause (died 3 Oct 1942, age 0-4-24)
Earl Clause (1894-1940)
Helen F. Clause (1919-1955)
Henrietta S. Clause (18__-1915)
Minnie Mabel Clause ("mother," 1894-1944)
Raymond E. Clause (1917-1971)
Santa Clause ("Father," 1888-1957)
Silvina Clause (1877-1964)
William Clause (1856-1917)
So, to summarize:
"Santa Claus" was born 4 April 1887 or 1888 in Marshall, Saline County, MO, the son of William and Henrietta (--?--) Claus. He married Minnie Mabel Hill in 1912 and they had at least 6 children. He was a laborer in river construction in 1930. He died in 1957 and is buried in Saline County, Missouri.
This Santa Claus is, unfortunately, not coming to town soon - he's dead and buried in Missouri. It doesn't appear that he could possibly be the jolly purveyor of toys and good cheer with a big belly and long white beard who lives with his unnamed wife and elves and 9 reindeer at the North Pole, does it?
Don't tell the kids.
Isn't it amazing what you can find on the Internet with lots of spare time on your hands?
I posted this originally on 27 November 2006 and had two comments from granddaughters of Santa Claus, one from a cousin several times removed, and one from a lady whose parents were married by Santa Claus. I had another comment from a probable relative last year - see post here.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/historical-records-of-real-santa-claus.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Christmas Names in the Ancestry 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) with some recent additions:
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.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/christmas-names-in-ancestry-records.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
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) with some recent additions:
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.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/christmas-names-in-ancestry-records.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 16 to 22 December 2012
Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.
My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for the genealogy carnivals, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* December DNA Doings by Judy G. Russell on The Legal Genealogist blog. Judy discusses recent changes at 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA.
* Deck the Halls - Christmas Geneameme Responses by Cassmob on the Family Histories Across the Seas blog. Pauleen links to responses to her Christmas geneameme.
* New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists by Michele Simmons Lewis on the Ancestoring's Ask A Genealogist blog. Michele provides an excellent example...
* Tuesday's Tip - Turn the Page by dmsbr549 on the My Genealogical Quest blog. How many times do we miss something by forgetting to check the next digital image?
* Comparing Admixture Test Results Across Companies (otherwise known as "ethnic" breakdowns): FTDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe and Geno 2.0 - My Review by CeCe Moore on the Your Genetic Genealogist blog. CeCe compares the results from her four autosomal DNA tests.
* The Most Important Thing You Can Ever Prove by Michael Hait on the Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession blog. Excellent post - Michael discusses identity issues with examples.
* Why We Don't Write, and How We Can by Harold Henderson on the Archives.com Experts series page. Boy, did I need to read this! Now I need to apply it.
* Do You Hear What I Hear? by footnoteMaven on the footnoteMaven blog. This is the Blog Christmas Caroling collection! Enjoy.
* Too Many Birth Dates - A Trial of Evidentia Software by Bart Brenner on the Brenner Genealogy blog. Bart used Evidentia software (uses the Genealogical Proof Standard to evaluate evidence) and lived to tell about his experiences.
* Follow Up to "Tracing the Trails of Your Ancestors Using Deed Records" by Bill Dollarhide on Leland Meitzler's GenealogyBlog blog. Bill answers questions, and in the process explains who research was done in the 1970s (and 1980s).
* Can I Use the 1958 Kile Genealogy and Unbecoming Genealogical Conduct by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. Michael describes the challenges to using a published book for his research, and the ethical approach to doing so.
* Dear Genea-Santa by Bill West on the West in New England blog. Bill has some ideas for genealogy tools that he wants to receive this year or next.
These genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Monday Recap for December 17, 2012 by Amanda on the Geni Blog.
* Weekly Genealogy Picks, Dec. 16-19 by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog.
* Follow Friday - Fab Finds for December 21, 2012 by Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.
* Genealogy News Corral - Dec 17-21 by Beth on the Genealogy Insider blog.
* Follow Friday - Favorites by Heather Kuhn Roelker on the Leaves for Trees blog.
* Colonial Christmas, How To Tips and More Straight Talk - Follow Friday by Anne Gillespie Mitchell on the Finding Forgotten Stories blog.
* Friday Finds - 12/21/12 by Julie Cahill Tarr on the GenBlog blog.
* From the Blogs, December 21 by Michael Leclerc on the Mocavo Genealogy Blog.
* Notable Genealogy Posts, 23 December 2012 by Michael Hait on the Planting the Seeds blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 1300 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
NOTE: There will not be a Best of the Genea-Blogs post next week for blog posts of that week. We are on our annual Christmas drive around California to see daughters, grandchildren and in-laws, and I will not have time or resources to do the job well. I will, however, post something to sum up the year in Best of the Genea-Blogs Land!
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/best-of-genea-blogs-16-to-22-december.html
Copyright(c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:
* December DNA Doings by Judy G. Russell on The Legal Genealogist blog. Judy discusses recent changes at 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA.
* Deck the Halls - Christmas Geneameme Responses by Cassmob on the Family Histories Across the Seas blog. Pauleen links to responses to her Christmas geneameme.
* New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists by Michele Simmons Lewis on the Ancestoring's Ask A Genealogist blog. Michele provides an excellent example...
* Tuesday's Tip - Turn the Page by dmsbr549 on the My Genealogical Quest blog. How many times do we miss something by forgetting to check the next digital image?
* Comparing Admixture Test Results Across Companies (otherwise known as "ethnic" breakdowns): FTDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe and Geno 2.0 - My Review by CeCe Moore on the Your Genetic Genealogist blog. CeCe compares the results from her four autosomal DNA tests.
* The Most Important Thing You Can Ever Prove by Michael Hait on the Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession blog. Excellent post - Michael discusses identity issues with examples.
* Why We Don't Write, and How We Can by Harold Henderson on the Archives.com Experts series page. Boy, did I need to read this! Now I need to apply it.
* Do You Hear What I Hear? by footnoteMaven on the footnoteMaven blog. This is the Blog Christmas Caroling collection! Enjoy.
* Too Many Birth Dates - A Trial of Evidentia Software by Bart Brenner on the Brenner Genealogy blog. Bart used Evidentia software (uses the Genealogical Proof Standard to evaluate evidence) and lived to tell about his experiences.
* Follow Up to "Tracing the Trails of Your Ancestors Using Deed Records" by Bill Dollarhide on Leland Meitzler's GenealogyBlog blog. Bill answers questions, and in the process explains who research was done in the 1970s (and 1980s).
* Can I Use the 1958 Kile Genealogy and Unbecoming Genealogical Conduct by Michael John Neill on the Rootdig.com blog. Michael describes the challenges to using a published book for his research, and the ethical approach to doing so.
* Dear Genea-Santa by Bill West on the West in New England blog. Bill has some ideas for genealogy tools that he wants to receive this year or next.
These genea-bloggers wrote weekly pick posts and news summary posts this week:
* Monday Morning Mentions by Lynn Palermo on The Armchair Genealogist blog.
* Monday Recap for December 17, 2012 by Amanda on the Geni Blog.
* Weekly Genealogy Picks, Dec. 16-19 by John Newmark on the TransylvanianDutch blog.
* Follow Friday - Fab Finds for December 21, 2012 by Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.
* Genealogy News Corral - Dec 17-21 by Beth on the Genealogy Insider blog.
* Follow Friday - Favorites by Heather Kuhn Roelker on the Leaves for Trees blog.
* Colonial Christmas, How To Tips and More Straight Talk - Follow Friday by Anne Gillespie Mitchell on the Finding Forgotten Stories blog.
* Friday Finds - 12/21/12 by Julie Cahill Tarr on the GenBlog blog.
* From the Blogs, December 21 by Michael Leclerc on the Mocavo Genealogy Blog.
* Notable Genealogy Posts, 23 December 2012 by Michael Hait on the Planting the Seeds blog.
I encourage readers to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Google Reader, RSS feed or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 1300 genealogy bloggers using Google Reader, but I still miss quite a few it seems.
Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.
NOTE: There will not be a Best of the Genea-Blogs post next week for blog posts of that week. We are on our annual Christmas drive around California to see daughters, grandchildren and in-laws, and I will not have time or resources to do the job well. I will, however, post something to sum up the year in Best of the Genea-Blogs Land!
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/best-of-genea-blogs-16-to-22-december.html
Copyright(c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Being Santa Claus
It's Saturday Night -
time for more Genealogy Fun!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Tell us your favorite memory of "being Santa Claus." Have you ever put on the red suit? Were you Santa Claus to your children or grandchildren? Did you bring gifts to people out of the love in your heart?
2) Tell us in a comment to this blog post, in your own blog post, in a Facebook status or a Google Plus stream post.
Here's mine:
Ho Ho Ho!!! I've been acting like Santa Claus for 43 years - ever since Linda and I were married.
The best years were when our daughters were young, from age 2 to about age 10, and they still believed in the wonder and mystery of Santa Claus. I have fond (?) memories of putting hot wheels, tricycles, bicycles, toy stoves, and the like together on Christmas Eve after they had gone to bed with sugar plums dancing in their heads (well, they were excited). Some of these sessions lasted until 1 or 2 a.m. out in the cold garage. And then being awakened early on Christmas morning by scampering feet, excited whispers and then shouts and kids jumping on my bed all excited about what Santa Claus had brought them. It was always worth it!
I'm enjoying seeing the same thing with my four grandchildren. My grandkids' parents are doing a great job of being Santa Claus.
My latest attempt at "being Santa Claus" happened last year before Christmas. The phone rang, and my daughter said (without any warning!), "Hi Santa. Lauren has been very naughty, and I want you to talk to her about what she wants for Christmas."
I practiced a "Ho Ho Ho" and said: "OK, let me speak with Lauren."
My daughter said "Lauren, Santa Claus wants to speak to you."
Lauren came on the phone with a very tentative "Hi Santa."
Santa said: "Lauren, I want you to have a wonderful Christmas. Your mommy told me that you have been naughty. You know that naughty girls don't get nice gifts like a new bicycle for Christmas from Santa, they get lumps of coal in their stockings and that's all. If you promise mommy and Santa that you'll be a good girl, Santa will be happy to bring you some nice gifts. Will you promise mommy and Santa to be a good girl?"
A very timid Lauren: "Yes, yes, I will promise."
Santa: "Well, I need to go feed my reindeer and check on the elves and make sure they have your gifts on the list, Please leave the cookies and milk out for me by your tree. Bye Lauren - Ho Ho Ho."
I didn't even have to disguise my voice (which I couldn't if I tried). My daughter said that she was so wide-eyed and concerned that she was a different girl for, oh, the next hour or two.
I love being Santa Claus. I've been working on my beard and my belly!
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-being.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Surname Saturday - CLARK (England to colonial Massachusetts)
It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.
I am in the 7th great-grandmothers, up to number 549: Melatiah CLARK (1674-1747). [Note: the 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].
My ancestral line back through three American generations of this CLARK family is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)
34. Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)
35. Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)
68. Aaron Smith (1765-1841)
69. Mercy Plimpton (1772-1850)
136. Moses Smith (1732-1806)
137. Patience Hamant (1735-1780)
274. Timothy Hamant (1699-1774)
275. Hepzibah Clark (1699-1791)
448. Timothy Hamant, born 01 November 1667 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 1718 in Arrowsic, Sagadahoc, Maine, United States. He was the son of 996. Francis Hamant and 997. Sarah. He married 19 January 1695/96 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
449. Melatiah Clark, born 04 August 1674 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 23 November 1747 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Timothy Hamant and Melatiah Clark are: Timothy Hamant (1699-1774); Samuel Hamant (1701-1755); Melatiah Hamant (1704-1751); Mehitable Hamant (1706-1727); Abiel Hamant (1708-1783).
998. Ephraim Clark, born 04 February 1645/46 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died Abt. 1699 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. He married 06 March 1668/69 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
999. Mary Bullen, born 20 July 1642 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 31 December 1726 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 1998. Samuel Bullen and 1999. Mary Morse.
Children of Ephraim Clark and Mary Bullen are: Elizabeth Clark (1670-????); Mary Clark (1671-1704); Ephraim Clark (1673-????); Melatiah Clark (1674-1747); Mehitable Clark (1676-1743); Samuel Clark (1679-1769); Noah Clark (1680-1704); Ezra Clark (1683-1739); Jeremiah Clark (1687-1748).
1996. Joseph Clark, born before 11 April 1613 in Banham, Norfolk, England; died 06 January 1683/84 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of 3992. Thomas Clarke and 3993. Mary Canne. He married 15 April 1640 in Banham, Norfolk, England.
1997. Alice Fenn, born about 1619 in England; died 17 March 1709/10 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Joseph Clarke and Alice Fenn are: Joseph Clark (1642-1702); Benjamin Clark (1644-1724); Ephraim Clark (1646-1699); Daniel Clark (1647-1676); Mary Clark (1649-1732); Sarah Clark (1651-1704); John Clark (1652-1720); Nathaniel Clark (1658-1753); Rebecca Clark (1660-1740).
The English ancestry of this Clark family line was discussed in:
Christopher Gleason Clark,"The English Ancestry of Joseph Clark (1613-1683) of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts" New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 152, Number 1, Whole Number 605, January 1998, pages 3-23.
Birth, marriage and death records for many of the children of these Clark families are in the Dedham and Medfield vital records book.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/surname-saturday-clark-england-to.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
I am in the 7th great-grandmothers, up to number 549: Melatiah CLARK (1674-1747). [Note: the 7th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts].
My ancestral line back through three American generations of this CLARK family is:
1. Randall J. Seaver
2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)
8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)
16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)
34. Alpheus B. Smith (1802-1840)
35. Elizabeth Horton Dill (1791-1869)
68. Aaron Smith (1765-1841)
69. Mercy Plimpton (1772-1850)
136. Moses Smith (1732-1806)
137. Patience Hamant (1735-1780)
274. Timothy Hamant (1699-1774)
275. Hepzibah Clark (1699-1791)
448. Timothy Hamant, born 01 November 1667 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 1718 in Arrowsic, Sagadahoc, Maine, United States. He was the son of 996. Francis Hamant and 997. Sarah. He married 19 January 1695/96 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States.
449. Melatiah Clark, born 04 August 1674 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 23 November 1747 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Timothy Hamant and Melatiah Clark are: Timothy Hamant (1699-1774); Samuel Hamant (1701-1755); Melatiah Hamant (1704-1751); Mehitable Hamant (1706-1727); Abiel Hamant (1708-1783).
998. Ephraim Clark, born 04 February 1645/46 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died Abt. 1699 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. He married 06 March 1668/69 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
999. Mary Bullen, born 20 July 1642 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; died 31 December 1726 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. She was the daughter of 1998. Samuel Bullen and 1999. Mary Morse.
Children of Ephraim Clark and Mary Bullen are: Elizabeth Clark (1670-????); Mary Clark (1671-1704); Ephraim Clark (1673-????); Melatiah Clark (1674-1747); Mehitable Clark (1676-1743); Samuel Clark (1679-1769); Noah Clark (1680-1704); Ezra Clark (1683-1739); Jeremiah Clark (1687-1748).
1996. Joseph Clark, born before 11 April 1613 in Banham, Norfolk, England; died 06 January 1683/84 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of 3992. Thomas Clarke and 3993. Mary Canne. He married 15 April 1640 in Banham, Norfolk, England.
1997. Alice Fenn, born about 1619 in England; died 17 March 1709/10 in Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.
Children of Joseph Clarke and Alice Fenn are: Joseph Clark (1642-1702); Benjamin Clark (1644-1724); Ephraim Clark (1646-1699); Daniel Clark (1647-1676); Mary Clark (1649-1732); Sarah Clark (1651-1704); John Clark (1652-1720); Nathaniel Clark (1658-1753); Rebecca Clark (1660-1740).
The English ancestry of this Clark family line was discussed in:
Christopher Gleason Clark,"The English Ancestry of Joseph Clark (1613-1683) of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts" New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 152, Number 1, Whole Number 605, January 1998, pages 3-23.
Birth, marriage and death records for many of the children of these Clark families are in the Dedham and Medfield vital records book.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/surname-saturday-clark-england-to.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Friday, December 21, 2012
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Days 15 to 21
I posted my Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories posts every year since since 2007 (I think). I also made up a bit of doggerel for each day. Rather than post them again every day, I'm posting one week's worth of links (plus the doggerel), and my readers can pick and choose what they want to read.
Here is the third week of Christmas Memories (December 15 to 21) - the post titles are links:
* Advent Calendar - December 15: Holiday Happenings
* Advent Calendar - December 16: Christmas at School
* Advent Calendar - December 17: The Family Journal
Here is the third week of Christmas Memories (December 15 to 21) - the post titles are links:
* Advent Calendar - December 15: Holiday Happenings
On the 10th Day before Christmas,
my true love inquired to say
Did any ancestors marry on Christmas day?"
my true love inquired to say
Did any ancestors marry on Christmas day?"
On the 9th day before Christmas,
I got dressed up as a tree
for the school play pageantry.
I got dressed up as a tree
for the school play pageantry.
On the 8th day before Christmas,
I sent to all my relatives
this year's Family Journal.
I sent to all my relatives
this year's Family Journal.
On the 7th Day before Christmas,
my true love said to me
"You'd better fill that up, honey!"
my true love said to me
"You'd better fill that up, honey!"
On the 6th Day of Christmas,
My true love "ordered" me
To go out and buy some jewelry.
My true love "ordered" me
To go out and buy some jewelry.
On the 5th Day before Christmas,
my true love reminded me
Of the reason for the season.
my true love reminded me
Of the reason for the season.
On the 4th Day before Christmas
My true love sang to me,
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
My true love sang to me,
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
3 more days to come!
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/advent-calendar-of-christmas-memories_21.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/advent-calendar-of-christmas-memories_21.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Follow-Up Friday - Interesting and Helpful Reader Comments
It's Friday, time to follow up on reader comments about Genea-Musings posts. Here is this week's selection:
1) On Watch Out for Early Dates in Ancestry's "Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988" Collection (13 December 2012):
* Geolover commented: "... those who wish for re-indexing by Ancestry.com should be very careful what they wish for.
"Since June they have been reworking the Drouin Collection indexes, in the process mangling place/parish names, putting places in the wrong groups (the rare and valuable 1750s Fort DuQuesne records now placed in "Acadia" where it decidedly was not), and not co-ordinating this reworking at all with the drop-down menu of place-names in the search form. Records are now much, much harder to find.
"A much more minor recent reworking has deleted a lot of information from the Ancestry.com extracts from the wrongly titled (in the original) _Calendar of Sussex County, Delaware Wills_. This volume abstracts loose papers from estate files as separated and refiled by the Delaware Archives. They include Administrators' Bonds, Inventories, Accounts and other items in addition to wills. But the reworking now calls each document a will, which is very confusing in addition to just plain wrong in the majority of entries."
"This [Ancestry collection] was based on a microfiche collection. I've used the fiche which clearly are marked and organized by volume. When I access them on Ancestry, I get 'image 2431 of 5861' or similar. I can still find the early images with the overview of the volumes in each town. I just can't figure out where volumes start and end on Ancestry.
"Where this gets irritating is in towns that have transcriptions of earlier volumes. I found a town in which the modern transcripts were indexed but I couldn't find the corresponding "hit" in the original volume.
"Accessing them on Ancestry is easier than driving to Boston Public Library's Microtext Department. I just find my hands tied in that part of my job which is to know what I'm using."
"For older records, go down to the basement, there is an office down there that has books where you can look up the docket number of the case that you are interested in. Make a note of the docket number. You will then need to go upstairs to the Probate Court Clerk's office and fill out a request form for the file and give it to one of the clerks.
"Once the Clerk's office receives the file from offsite, they will contact you. When you go in to view your file, DO NOT BRING A CAMERA OR CELL PHONE (security will not allow it). I have been able to use a hand-held scanner there. Obviously, the clerks will ask you if you want them to make copies. I don't remember the cost."
"Nightly backups to the cloud and to other external media is the answer. We only have to pound on the same thumb once or twice to get the message and start doing what we knew we should have been doing from the start."
"You did bring my attention to the fact that I really should stop being so d*** efficient about emptying my Recycle Bin."
1) On Watch Out for Early Dates in Ancestry's "Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988" Collection (13 December 2012):
* Geolover commented: "... those who wish for re-indexing by Ancestry.com should be very careful what they wish for.
"Since June they have been reworking the Drouin Collection indexes, in the process mangling place/parish names, putting places in the wrong groups (the rare and valuable 1750s Fort DuQuesne records now placed in "Acadia" where it decidedly was not), and not co-ordinating this reworking at all with the drop-down menu of place-names in the search form. Records are now much, much harder to find.
"A much more minor recent reworking has deleted a lot of information from the Ancestry.com extracts from the wrongly titled (in the original) _Calendar of Sussex County, Delaware Wills_. This volume abstracts loose papers from estate files as separated and refiled by the Delaware Archives. They include Administrators' Bonds, Inventories, Accounts and other items in addition to wills. But the reworking now calls each document a will, which is very confusing in addition to just plain wrong in the majority of entries."
* Barbara J. Mathews, CG, noted: "My pet peeve is that most towns have several volumes of records, but that Ancestry's presentation doesn't permit the user to figure out which volume the image is in.
"This [Ancestry collection] was based on a microfiche collection. I've used the fiche which clearly are marked and organized by volume. When I access them on Ancestry, I get 'image 2431 of 5861' or similar. I can still find the early images with the overview of the volumes in each town. I just can't figure out where volumes start and end on Ancestry.
"Where this gets irritating is in towns that have transcriptions of earlier volumes. I found a town in which the modern transcripts were indexed but I couldn't find the corresponding "hit" in the original volume.
"Accessing them on Ancestry is easier than driving to Boston Public Library's Microtext Department. I just find my hands tied in that part of my job which is to know what I'm using."
My comments: So we've graduated, in many cases, from well-defined volumes of unindexed records in books and microfilm/fiche to indexed records in poorly defined volumes. In other cases, the records are in digital image form without indexes (i.e., basically digital microfilm) that we can access at home, in many cases for free. Is this a case of the "perfect" being the enemy of the "good?"
My practice, still being honed as we type, is to use the collection title, the volume title (found above the image), the handwritten or stamped page number in the volume, and the image number of the image in the collection, in my source citation.
2) On How Can I Obtain Massachusetts Probate Records? (17 December 2012):
* Anonymous said: "My comments are specific to Worcester County records. When you go to the Courthouse, there is a parking garage a couple of blocks behind the courthouse on Major Taylor Drive.
"For older records, go down to the basement, there is an office down there that has books where you can look up the docket number of the case that you are interested in. Make a note of the docket number. You will then need to go upstairs to the Probate Court Clerk's office and fill out a request form for the file and give it to one of the clerks.
"Once the Clerk's office receives the file from offsite, they will contact you. When you go in to view your file, DO NOT BRING A CAMERA OR CELL PHONE (security will not allow it). I have been able to use a hand-held scanner there. Obviously, the clerks will ask you if you want them to make copies. I don't remember the cost."
* Diane B commented: "Randy, people should be aware that older packets are not stored in the Middlesex County Courthouse in East Cambridge, and it takes a couple weeks to retrieve them after you request them. All in all, ordering the microfilms through the Family History Center would probably be easier, if that's close by. Also, because it's a courthouse, no cameras are allowed although I did get away with bringing my iphone in. The photocopier was available for public use, I forget the cost."
My comments: Thank you both for adding to the information in my blog post. I haven't been to either of these places in the last 15 years, and the rules change. For Middlesex, the FHL microfilms are certainly the better choice because they filmed all of the papers in the probate packet. For Worcester, and most of the other Massachusetts counties, the FHL microfilms are the probate court clerk's copies and not the original papers filed in the probate packets. So, it makes sense to go to the courthouse and work through the procedures required to access the records.
When I was last at Worcester courthouse, the docket books were easily available and I filled out a paper and gave it to a clerk who brought the probate packets to me within 15 minutes. I had to request photocopies of the papers and there was often a long wait. I recall that they wouldn't copy documents before 1800, so I extracted the information in many of the ones I wanted. I sat in the waiting area there to do that with all of the hubbub going on around me. I then later used the FHL microfilms of the clerk's copies to do transcriptions of wills and other probate papers. It's good practice to visit the website, or telephone them, the repository to determine what's available, how to obtain them, and the access rules.
Of course, many researchers are unaware that these records even exist, or don't want to go through the challenge of actually visiting the repository and working through the rules to find the records.
3) On Whew, Multi-tasking Sometimes Creates Problems (18 December 2012):
* LineageKeeper said: "No. No one else has ever done something like that Randy. You were lucky this time. Like you, I've allowed my attention to slip from time to time, once resulting in disaster (for all of the reasons you mentions sans the 'save' in the trash can).
"Nightly backups to the cloud and to other external media is the answer. We only have to pound on the same thumb once or twice to get the message and start doing what we knew we should have been doing from the start."
* David Adams noted: "I don't recall doing exactly what you did, but I once got a corrupted PAF database. So I went through my backups, all 7 of them. Fortunately the oldest was not corrupted (but the more recent 6 were)!"
* Les said: "Must have been a strange force field because about that time here on the east coast while listening to roots magic tape on RM6 I deleted my main gedcom. Had it backed up though."
* JL Beeken commented: "Every day, Randy. Every single day.
http://www.jgen.ws/jlog/how-to-back-up-your-computer-files/"You did bring my attention to the fact that I really should stop being so d*** efficient about emptying my Recycle Bin."
My comments: Thanks for the commiseration. Is that why my thumb hurts? I'm also thankful that I've forgotten to empty the Recycle Bin regularly! This post calls to mind the axiom that "there's no such thing as a useless blog post - it can always be used as a bad example." The comments are typical of what happens to busy, computer-savvy researchers - things happen in a second that take awhile to correct.
4) On Ancestry Member Tree Hints and Images (7 December 2012):
* bgwiehle commented: "I just made some corrections that I think will be of interest to someone I've communicated with in the past and who has a public tree. Corrections show up as MemberConnect messages within a day or two for those who have already attached or downloaded the record. However, it can take a while for corrections to show on the record itself and to be searchable. How quickly does a corrected record appear as a 'shaky leaf'?"
My comment: At least corrections show up in the MemberConnect message...if folks read and understand them. I don't know how long it takes for a corrected record to appear as a "shaky leaf." It takes several weeks for an index addition to appear in the record index. If you've accepted or ignored the Hint, you may not get a new shaky leaf for that record.
5) On Finished Using MyHeritage Record Matching for SSDI Matches (20 December 2012):
* Smadar Belkind Gerson commented: "Thanks for the extensive review of the service. I've been on the fence about paying for the extra search option on MyHeritage. I've been a member for a long time and have a large tree (not any where as large as yours). Their search services used to be free but never worked on my Mac. I was very excited when they decided to expand their search options but was disappointed that there was going to be an additional charge. Since I've been doing my research for so long in other sites, I was glad to be able to see the matches MyHeritage provides. I have to say, in my experience they were mostly unhelpful. Most of the Find-A-Grave matches were ones I've created myself or have already located. The Social Security death records are available on Ancestry. The other vital statistics are fairly limited and it didn't find anything new for me. With the exception of the Newspaper articles, which looks like it does a better job matching than ancestry, everything the system identified, I already had. I therefore decided not to spend the additional money. It's true that it's a lot cheaper than Ancestry, but it's a much smaller database. I find that I'm constantly finding new things on Ancestry. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MYHERITAGE. I just feel that they should have comped their members especially Premium ones like me, with the search option for a while if they wanted me to get hooked."
My comments: Thanks for the excellent summary of your experiences, which pretty much mirror mine. Since I had a WorldVitalRecords subscription, and a comped MyHeritage subscription, already, I was able to take advantage of the Record Match service, and I appreciate what it does. I hope that MyHeritage adds more records to their collection - they still need many of the basic U.S. records like vital records, census, immigration, and military records. They have some, but not to the level that Ancestry or FamilySearch have.
6) Thank you to all of my readers for their interesting, helpful and sometimes humorous comments (I love those!).
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/follow-up-friday-interesting-and_21.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Thursday, December 20, 2012
FamilySearch "Books" - More than Old Books!
I realized that I had not looked recently at the "Books" link on the FamilySearch home page. So I had a free moment, and clicked on it. It has changed considerably from the recent past, and it's probably much better. There are certainly more resources there than there were a year ago.
Here's the home page screen:
The "Books" link is below the larger word "Family" on the screen above.
The "Family History Books" page has a search field (and a link for "Advanced Search" plus a description of the collection:
The description says:
I entered the term "seaver" in the search field on the screen above, and clicked on "Search"
There were 713 matches for my search term. In the left sidebar, under the term "Refine My Results," there are links for Books (484), Other (184), and Periodicals/Serials (45).
I clicked on the title of the first title, and saw the first page of the book selected (I scrolled down to see the title):
There is a menu line that has icons for save the file, printing the file, zooming, advancing pages, etc. On the right, there is a list of Bookmarks for each page.
I was curious about the Other and Periodicals/Serials collections noted, and think that they include both unpublished manuscripts and printed town reports, but have not categorized or checked all of them.
This particular book is about one line of Seaver families in Massachusetts. I had not read it before, but it has content that is of interest to me as a "collector of Seaver people."
The lesson learned here is that the "Books" collection on FamilySearch has over 40,000 tomes, and that they are well worth looking through. My sense is that there are many works ion this collection that are not available on other online Book archives. For instance, the Seaver book above was published in 1996.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/familysearch-books-more-than-books.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Update: Just before I was going to publish this, I had a BSOD event (that's Blue Screen of Death") that is the first one I've had on this desktop computer. I was paging through the Seaver book above and have no clue what happened! That's why you may have read one or two paragraphs of this post.
Here's the home page screen:
The "Books" link is below the larger word "Family" on the screen above.
The "Family History Books" page has a search field (and a link for "Advanced Search" plus a description of the collection:
The description says:
Family History Books is a collection of more than 40,000 digitized genealogy and family history publications from the archives of some of the most important family history libraries in the world. The collection includes family histories, county and local histories, genealogy magazines and how-to books, gazetteers, and medieval histories and pedigrees. The valuable resources included in Family History Books come from the following partner institutions:
- Allen County Public Library
- Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library
- Brigham Young University Hawaii Joseph F. Smith Library
- Church History Library
- Family History Library
- Houston Public Library - Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
- Mid-Continent Public Library - Midwest Genealogy Center
I entered the term "seaver" in the search field on the screen above, and clicked on "Search"
There were 713 matches for my search term. In the left sidebar, under the term "Refine My Results," there are links for Books (484), Other (184), and Periodicals/Serials (45).
I clicked on the title of the first title, and saw the first page of the book selected (I scrolled down to see the title):
There is a menu line that has icons for save the file, printing the file, zooming, advancing pages, etc. On the right, there is a list of Bookmarks for each page.
I was curious about the Other and Periodicals/Serials collections noted, and think that they include both unpublished manuscripts and printed town reports, but have not categorized or checked all of them.
This particular book is about one line of Seaver families in Massachusetts. I had not read it before, but it has content that is of interest to me as a "collector of Seaver people."
The lesson learned here is that the "Books" collection on FamilySearch has over 40,000 tomes, and that they are well worth looking through. My sense is that there are many works ion this collection that are not available on other online Book archives. For instance, the Seaver book above was published in 1996.
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Update: Just before I was going to publish this, I had a BSOD event (that's Blue Screen of Death") that is the first one I've had on this desktop computer. I was paging through the Seaver book above and have no clue what happened! That's why you may have read one or two paragraphs of this post.
Finished Using MyHeritage Record Matching for SSDI Matches
I wrote several posts in September about the Record Matching technology on MyHeritage, for instance:
* MyHeritage Releases Record Matching Technology (19 September 2012)
* First Look at Record Matches on MyHeritage (19 September 2012)
* Using MyHeritage Record Matches to Find Find-A-Grave Entries (20 September 2012)
* NewspaperARCHIVES Records in MyHeritage Record Matches (26 September 2012)
Since then, I have been methodically going through the matches found my the MyHeritage search engine, one block at a time for several of the record collections available, and adding content and source citations to my genealogy database in RootsMagic.
The way the Record Match system works in MyHeritage, I can either Confirm, Reject or not decide if the Match offered pertains to the matching person in my database (out of almost 40,000 persons). Each match is rated with a number of stars depending on how many items (names, dates, places, relationships) match the record item with the matching person.
Here is the current status for the largest number of pending matches by collection:
WikiTree is number 1 on the Pending record match list. Because I have many entries on WikiTree, I figure that many of the matches in WikiTree are for my own entries. also, since I didn't put all 40,000 persons in my database on WikiTree, I figure that most of the other matches on the Record Match list are for persons already in my MyHeritage tree.
Over the past three months, I have concentrated on three databases available for matching:
* Social Security Death Index (I have 774 matches identified). I have confirmed or rejected all 774 potential matches - with only 17 rejections (all rated less than a one star match).
* Find A Grave (I have 1345 matches identified). I have confirmed 445 entries, and rejected 2 entries, leaving 898 entries pending.
* NewspaperARCHIVE (I have 982 matches identified) I have confirmed 125 entries, rejected 253 entries, leaving 602 entries pending.
While the SSDI and Find A Grave are derivative sources with secondary information, they are very useful as "finding aids" for information about persons, especially 20th century persons, many of whom are in my database without a death date or death place. Most of the persons in my database who lived in the 20th century are in my one-name (surname) studies for Seaver, Carringer, Auble, Dill, Buck, Vaux, etc. Having this information in my database should help persons searching for their ancestry in my online family trees or on my web pages. Consequently, using SSDI and Find A Grave makes a lot of sense. I don't have the time, interest or money to send for birth, marriage and death certificates for all of these persons, but these two databases have decent accuracy for birth and death dates and places.
I have done a batch of 20 or 40 SSDI entries almost every night since September, and have now exhausted the list. In the process, I think that I added death dates for about 50% of the persons on the list. I already had the death date for the other 50% on the Record Match list.
I have also tried to do about 10 Find A Grave matches almost every night, and have added quite a few death dates, and more burial events, to my database. Usually, the Record Match for one person leads to other persons on Find A Grave, so the effective rate of matches may be 30 to 40 per night.
Why am I using the MyHeritage Record Matching technology? The simple answer is that it provides one-stop "matching" - a list of the persons in my database and the information in the database that might apply to the persons in my database. Here is a screen shot of the top of my Pending Find A Grave match list:
As you can see, there are 20th century persons, and many colonial persons, on this record matching list. I can click on the blue "Review match" button and see a better comparison of my database person with the potential record match:
I can click on the Source link for Find A Grave, and the actual Find A Grave record opens in another browser tab (which I really appreciate):
When I'm done in the Find A Grave window, I close that tab and I'm back to the MyHeritage record match list and I can mark the record match Confirm or Reject.
All of the historical record collection services have a record search feature that permit you to search for all records for a person or group of persons, or to search in a specific collection for a person or group of persons. In other words, the user "pulls" the records from the record collections.
This MyHeritage Record Match is, to my knowledge, the only record matching system that "pushes" the data in a record collection to the user without having to identify the person of interest.
The Ancestry Hints - the green shaky leaves - are another "push" system for persons showing on your Ancestry Member Tree (and on the Ancestry App). That works great, but requires the user to identify a person on their tree. However, I haven't found an easy way to get a list of all of the persons with a green shaky leaf for a specific database on Ancestry.com.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/finished-using-myheritage-record.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to both MyHeritage.com and WorldVitalRecords.com courtesy of MyHeritage, for which I am grateful. However, this does not influence my objective opinions in reviews of these websites and their products.
* MyHeritage Releases Record Matching Technology (19 September 2012)
* First Look at Record Matches on MyHeritage (19 September 2012)
* Using MyHeritage Record Matches to Find Find-A-Grave Entries (20 September 2012)
* NewspaperARCHIVES Records in MyHeritage Record Matches (26 September 2012)
Since then, I have been methodically going through the matches found my the MyHeritage search engine, one block at a time for several of the record collections available, and adding content and source citations to my genealogy database in RootsMagic.
The way the Record Match system works in MyHeritage, I can either Confirm, Reject or not decide if the Match offered pertains to the matching person in my database (out of almost 40,000 persons). Each match is rated with a number of stars depending on how many items (names, dates, places, relationships) match the record item with the matching person.
Here is the current status for the largest number of pending matches by collection:
WikiTree is number 1 on the Pending record match list. Because I have many entries on WikiTree, I figure that many of the matches in WikiTree are for my own entries. also, since I didn't put all 40,000 persons in my database on WikiTree, I figure that most of the other matches on the Record Match list are for persons already in my MyHeritage tree.
Over the past three months, I have concentrated on three databases available for matching:
* Social Security Death Index (I have 774 matches identified). I have confirmed or rejected all 774 potential matches - with only 17 rejections (all rated less than a one star match).
* Find A Grave (I have 1345 matches identified). I have confirmed 445 entries, and rejected 2 entries, leaving 898 entries pending.
* NewspaperARCHIVE (I have 982 matches identified) I have confirmed 125 entries, rejected 253 entries, leaving 602 entries pending.
While the SSDI and Find A Grave are derivative sources with secondary information, they are very useful as "finding aids" for information about persons, especially 20th century persons, many of whom are in my database without a death date or death place. Most of the persons in my database who lived in the 20th century are in my one-name (surname) studies for Seaver, Carringer, Auble, Dill, Buck, Vaux, etc. Having this information in my database should help persons searching for their ancestry in my online family trees or on my web pages. Consequently, using SSDI and Find A Grave makes a lot of sense. I don't have the time, interest or money to send for birth, marriage and death certificates for all of these persons, but these two databases have decent accuracy for birth and death dates and places.
I have done a batch of 20 or 40 SSDI entries almost every night since September, and have now exhausted the list. In the process, I think that I added death dates for about 50% of the persons on the list. I already had the death date for the other 50% on the Record Match list.
I have also tried to do about 10 Find A Grave matches almost every night, and have added quite a few death dates, and more burial events, to my database. Usually, the Record Match for one person leads to other persons on Find A Grave, so the effective rate of matches may be 30 to 40 per night.
Why am I using the MyHeritage Record Matching technology? The simple answer is that it provides one-stop "matching" - a list of the persons in my database and the information in the database that might apply to the persons in my database. Here is a screen shot of the top of my Pending Find A Grave match list:
As you can see, there are 20th century persons, and many colonial persons, on this record matching list. I can click on the blue "Review match" button and see a better comparison of my database person with the potential record match:
I can click on the Source link for Find A Grave, and the actual Find A Grave record opens in another browser tab (which I really appreciate):
When I'm done in the Find A Grave window, I close that tab and I'm back to the MyHeritage record match list and I can mark the record match Confirm or Reject.
All of the historical record collection services have a record search feature that permit you to search for all records for a person or group of persons, or to search in a specific collection for a person or group of persons. In other words, the user "pulls" the records from the record collections.
This MyHeritage Record Match is, to my knowledge, the only record matching system that "pushes" the data in a record collection to the user without having to identify the person of interest.
The Ancestry Hints - the green shaky leaves - are another "push" system for persons showing on your Ancestry Member Tree (and on the Ancestry App). That works great, but requires the user to identify a person on their tree. However, I haven't found an easy way to get a list of all of the persons with a green shaky leaf for a specific database on Ancestry.com.
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/finished-using-myheritage-record.html
Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
Disclosure: I have a complimentary subscription to both MyHeritage.com and WorldVitalRecords.com courtesy of MyHeritage, for which I am grateful. However, this does not influence my objective opinions in reviews of these websites and their products.
Treasure Chest Thursday - 1900 U.S. Census Record for Charles Auble Family
It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.
The treasure today is the 1900 United States Census record for my Auble great-grandparents and their family in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois:
The entry for the Charles Auble family is:
The extracted information for the family, residing at 515 West Adams Street in the 11th Ward of Chicago, taken on 8 June 1900, is:
* Charles Auble -- head of household, white, male, born Oct 1864, age 35, married 2 years, born New Jersey, parents born New Jersey, 0 months not employed, a decorator (house), can read, write and speak English, resides in a house [no indication if renting or owns]
* Georgia Auble -- wife, white, female, born Aug 1868, age 31, married 2 years, 1 child born, 1 living, born English Canada, parents born English Canada, immigrated in 1889, resident of US for 11 years, can read, write and speak English
* Emily K. Auble -- daughter, white, female, born Aug 1899, age 10 months, single, born IL, father born New Jersey, mother born English Canada
* Franklin Kemp -- Brother-in-law, white, male, born Feb 1880, age 20, single, born English Canada, parents born English Canada, can read, write and speak English
The source citation for this record is:
1900 United States Census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago 11th Ward, ED 376, Sheet 8B, dwelling #75, family #112, Charles Auble household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 October 2011), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 257
The errors or discrepancies I see in this entry include:
* Charles Auble age is listed as 35 with a birth month of October 1864. He was actually born in October 1849, and lied about his age throughout his married life, even unto death.
* Georgia (actually Georgianna, but she went by Georgia) (Kemp) Auble's immigration date is given as 1889, which is similar to several other dates on other documents.
* This is the first record I've found for my grandmother, Emily Kemp Auble, and it lists her correct birth month of August 1899. I have been unable to find a birth record or certificate for her in Chicago.
* If I hadn't already known that Georgianna's maiden name was Kemp, the presence of brother-in-law Franklin Kemp in this household would be a solid clue. His birth name, according to Ontario records, is Alfred Francis Edward Kemp, however. I wonder why there is no notation in his immigration field on the census form?
If the street address of 515 West Adams Street in Chicago is correct, then Union Station now occupies the space where this residence (an apartment house?) was located. I know that there was a house numbering system change after 1900, so it may be that the residence still exists. See the Comments to Tuesday's Tip - Find Ancestral Homes using Google Maps.
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Copyright (c) 2012, Randall J. Seaver
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