Genea-Musings

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Christmas Names in the Ancestry.com Records

Here's an oldie but a goodie for my devoted readers --

I was devastated when, several years ago, Dan Lynch posted about Christmas characters 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 Melchior 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) Felix Navidad is in the 1930 Mexican census (thanks, Chris)

14) Joy Noelle lived in Blairsville, GA in 2000 (thanks, Chris)

15) 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!!

16) 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.

16) 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.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/christmas-names-in-ancestrycom-records.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Historical Records of an American Santa Claus

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:

* In the 1900 U.S. Census, 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), 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 in Blackwater township, Pettis County, MO (NARA T625, Roll 939, ED 125, Page 4B).

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.

* 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.

* Santa Clause has a Missouri death certificate - he died 1 April 1957 in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri (see it at http://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1957/1957_00011723.PDF) [My thanks to reader Kathy L who sent the link to me in 2013.]

* 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) - see his Find A Grave memorial here.
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 farmer in 1920, laborer in river construction in 1930, and a sewer man in 1940. He died on 1 April 1957, a retired minister, in Marshall, Missouri 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 in 2011 - see post here. In 2013, a neighbor commented - see that post here.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/historical-records-of-american-santa.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

1745 Birth Record for Hannah Colby of Amesbury, Mass. -- Treasure Chest Thursday #345

This week's treasure is the 1745 birth record of Hnnnah Colby, the daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Worthen) Colby, in Amesbury, Massachusetts:

The snippet with Hannah Colby's birth:

The transcription of this record is:

[COLBY] Hannah, d. Joseph and Abigail, Feb. 14, 1744-5

The source citation for this record is:

Town of Amesbury, Massachusetts, Vital Records of Amesbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield, Mass. : Topsfield Historical Society, 1913), Births, page 60, Hannah Colby, born 1744-5 entry.

Hannah Colby (1745-????) married John Underhill in about 1767, probably in Chester, New Hampshire, and they had at least six children, including my 4th great-grandfather, Amos Underhill (1772-1865), who married Polly Metcalf (1780-1855) in 1801.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/1745-birth-record-for-hannah-colby-of.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Blog Caroling - "Angels We Have Heard On High"

Our dear footnoteMaven is warming up the Choir of Genea-Angels for this year's sing-along of Christmas Carols. We are supposed to claim our favorite Christmas Carol. The collection of songs from genea-bloggers should lift all of our spirits as we shop until we drop.

Mine is still "Angels we Have Heard On High" - maybe because of the Latin in it? Or because I can sing it in J-sharp and no one notices because of the joy it brings everyone else? Most likely because Linda collects angels and is referred to as Angel Linda by friends. The rumor that the first angel she collected was me is untrue.
Enjoy:

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high,

Singing sweetly through the night,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their brave delight.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why these songs of happy cheer?

What great brightness did you see?

What glad tiding did you hear?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him

whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

See him in a manger laid

Whom the angels praise above;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

While we raise our hearts in love.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Amen!

Musicologists have decided that this anonymous French tune was probably created around the eighteenth century. Some legends place its origin as as early as the second century.

Traditional French Carol

Words: Traditional French carol (Les Anges dans nos Campagnes).Translated from French to English by James Chadwick (1813-1882); appeared in Crown of Jesus, 1862.

Music: “Gloria (Barnes),” French carol melody; arranged by Edward S. Barnes.

Recorded/Performed: Andy Williams - 1970

Also recorded by: Tennessee Ernie Ford; Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Tommy Greer; Clancey Brothers; Scarlet Rivera; Eric Rigler; Madeline McNeil; Sandi Patty; Nat King Cole; Lorie Line; Connie Brown; Scott Miller; Vienna Boys Choir; Percy Faith; Collin Raye; Frankie Gavin; Texas Boys Choir; Mel Weston; Donny Osmond.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/blog-caroling-angels-we-have-heard-on.html

Recent New Databases Added to AmericanAncestors.org

Each issue of the American Ancestors quarterly magazine contains information about newly added searchable record collections to the AmericanAncestors.org website (which is part of the New England Historic Genealogical Society subscription).

The Winter 2016-2017 issue (Volume 17, number 4) provides this listing of newly added databases:

* North American Cemetery Transcriptions from the NEHGS Manuscript Collections

* 1930 U.S. Federal Census

* Early New England Families 1641-1700 -- 12 new sketches

* Early Vermont Settlers to 1784 -- 12 new sketches

* Family Registers by Richard Brunton

* Hartford, CT: General Index of Land Records of the Town of Hartford, 1635-1839

* Woodbury, CT: Marriages, Deaths and Early Settlers, 1664-1784

* Marriages & Marriage Intentions in the State of Maine

* Gray, ME: Marriages and Publishments, 1778-1891

* Waterville, ME: Marriages and Intentions, 1772-1899

* Westport, ME: Marriages and Marriage Intentions, 1828-1854

* Boston, MA: Births, 1809-1849

* Easton, MA: Marriages, 1720-1802

* Hampton, NH: Vital Records to 1900

* Dover, VT: Vital Records, 1776-1891

* Jamaica, VT: Early Marriages, 1780-1821

* Pomfret, VT: Vital Records, 1778-1860

* Putney, VT: Vital Records, 1740-1832

* Westfield, VT: Vital Records, 1795-1859

* Worcester, VT: Vital Records, 1817-1858

You can access any of these databases individually and search them - but you have to use the search fields on the Database Search page (https://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search):

On the Database Search page, you can select a Database from the dropdown list. I expanded the list by clicking on the down arrow for the "Database" field:

I highlighted "The American Genealogist" database on the screen above. I could add a given name and/or a surname to the Name fields and search that specific database.

There is a wealth of digitized material on this website. I use it all the time, and it makes this subscription very worthwhile.

DISCLOSURE: I am a paid member to NEHGS since 1994, and have received no material considerations from NEHGS over that time.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/recent-new-databases-added-to.html

Visiting Old World Wisconsin - Post 1-- Post 444 of (Not So) Wordless Wednesday

During our 2011 vacation to Springfield, Illinois and surrounding states, we had one day in Eagle, Wisconsin and explored Old World Wisconsin, and Ranslow's Smith's Four-Mile Inn. I wrote about it in Day 13 on the Seaver Midwest Genealogy Tour (posted 18 September 2011).

1) That's me in the entry doorway of the Four-Mile Inn, built in 1853 by my third great-grandfather, Ranslow Smith (1805-1873):

2) The view from the corner of the house:

3) My attempt at the "My Photo" thing from the corner of the house (the vintage photo is from 1930 on the site in Rolling Prairie):

I will have more photos from inside the Four-Mile Inn next week.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/visiting-old-world-wisconsin-post-1.html

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

AncestryDNA Update - December 2016

It appears that AncestryDNA has changed their presentation of the results, but has not changed the content.

When I looked at my AncestryDNA results today, I saw a changed screen (two images below):

There are four major areas on the screens above:

1) The Ethnicity Estimates - these haven't changed for awhile - I'm still 66% Western Europe, 18% Ireland and 9% Great Britain (two images below):

I still think that these AncestryDNA Ethnicity Estimates are incorrect based on comparing them with my FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe ethnicity estimates and with my known ancestry (roughly 68% British Isles in the 1500s) based on genealogy research.

2) The AncestryDNA Matches - these are with other AncestryDNA testers:

* I have 155 with Shared Ancestry Hints (testers who have the same ancestor in their tree and, presumably, match my DNA in one or more specific chromosome segment)
* I have 165 Starred Matches (I assign the star)
* I have 333 4th cousins or closer (Ancestry's relationship estimate)
* I have about ~~5,140~~ 12,850 matches on Ancestry DNA (257 pages with 20 50 matches on each page) [UPDATED 21 December: thanks to Marietta who noticed my error!]

Unfortunately, when I made the image above, the Shared Ancestry Hints and associated information was unavailable. See the message at the top of the image. My guess is that this will be corrected today. [UPDATE 21 December: The trees are still unavailable a day later]

3) DNA Circles -- these are ancestors of mine that some of my matches share DNA with me (presumably on the same chromosome in the same segment):

These seven DNA Circles haven't changed much in the past months.

4) New Ancestor Discoveries -- these are potential ancestors or descendants of potential ancestors based on DNA segment sharing and the DNA Circles of other testers. I now have six NADs, I had 8 last week, and fewer several months ago. I have never been able to use these to find a common ancestor with the others in the NAD circles.

I continue to think that AncestryDNA really needs a chromosome browser, although many persons have downloaded their raw DNA file from all three testing services and uploaded the raw DNA data to GEDMatch, which is FREE.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/ancestrydna-update-december-2016.html

Treasure Chest Tuesday - 1870 U.S. Census Record for Frederick Schaffner Family in San Francisco County, California

This week's Tuesday treasure is the 1870 United States Census record for the Frederick Schaffner family enumerated in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California:

The Schaffner household:

The extracted data for the Schaffner household:

* Fred Schaffner - age 45, male, aa hotel cook, $10,000 in real property, $150 in personal property, born Canada, father and mother of foreign birth
* Matilda Schaffner - age 35, female, keeps house, born Ireland, father and mother of foreign birth
* Hermann Schaffner - age 18, male, Apptc book binder, born New York, father and mother of foreign birth
* Matilda Schaffner - age 14, female, born California, father and mother of foreign birth, attended school
* Frederick Schaffner - age 9, male, born California, father and mother of foreign birth, attended school
* Louis Schaffner - age 5, male, born California, father and mother of foreign birth
* Charles Schaffner - age 3, male, born California, father and mother of foreign birth

* Nellie Schaffner - age 1, female, born California, father and mother of foreign birth

The source citation for this record is:

1870 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, Population Schedule, Ward 2, Page 197 (stamped), dwelling #1024, family #1024, Fred Schaffner household, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 79.

This census record has the complete set of children by Frederick's first wife, Matilda --?--. Son Herman was born in New York, and the other five were born in California, marking the period 181-1856 for their migration across the country (or perhaps by sea from New York to San Francisco).

Frederick Schaffner (1829-1899) is my wife's second great-grandfather, with his first wife Matilda --?-- (about 1834-before 1880), through their eldest son Herman Schaffner (1851-1921), who married Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) in about 1876.

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/treasure-chest-tuesday-1870-us-census.html

Monday, December 19, 2016

RootsTech 2017 Innovator Summit Semi-Finalists Announced

I read this online (it wasn't released via a press release to bloggers - I wonder why?):

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Thank you for participating in the RootsTech Innovator Showdown. After a rigorous judging process, the semi-finalists have been selected. Congratulations to those who have made it this far! Each of the semi-finalists is invited to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, where the final round of judging will take place in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. We look forward to seeing who comes out on top!

The 2017 semi-finalists are:

* Champollion 2.0 -- Champollion 2.0 is a software that brings a helpful set of tools for any work dealing with digitized ancient manuscripts.

* CSI: Crowd Sourced Indexing -- the newest technology available to genealogy societies and special interest groups for indexing their records.

* Cuzins -- an app that will show you how you’re related to celebrities, living and dead, how celebrities are related to each other, and also how you’re related to friends, co-workers, or even spouses.

* Double Match Triangulator -- combines two different people's Chromosome Browser Results files from FamilyTreeDNA to provide Double Match and Triangulation data that can be used to help determine genealogical relationships.

* Emberall -- Capture, organize, store and share the life history of a loved one - from your smartphone in as little as 30 minutes!

* JoyFLIPS -- provides the tools to scan, curate and share the thousands of print photos in each of our families, and to pass down the stories they tell.

* Kindex -- anyone can 1) gather records into a single digital archive, 2) transcribe and tag records, and 3) search and share their archive.

* OldNews USA -- With OldNews USA, you can quickly discover interesting stories and articles in historical US newspapers, using the Library of Congress Chronicling America collection of over 11 million newspaper pages from 1789 to 1922.

* QromaTag -- an iOS application that makes it easy to put the most important parts of a story into any photo in a way that will survive for generations.

* RootsFinder -- RootsFinder meets the needs of the advanced genealogist while also making family history easy and fun for the next generation.

We want you to know how difficult the decisions were as we narrowed the field in preparation for the conference. There were so many interesting technologies and excellent solutions to choose from. We hope all of those who entered the Showdown will consider coming to RootsTech, to participate in the largest family history and technology conference in the world. To make it easier, we are offering each participant a special discount on full conference passes to RootsTech. We will send you a promo code to use for a discount on RootsTech passes in a future update.

In addition to the conference discount, we are also offering a special opportunity for you to showcase your product or service in front of the 23,000 attendees that are expected to visit the Expo Hall during the show. If you are interested, we can get you a mini-booth (5x10ft) in an area we call “Innovator Alley.” This area gets a lot of traffic, and is a very cost effective way for new innovators to make a splash at RootsTech. Submit your request at the Exhibitor page. If you have questions, feel free to use the Discussion area for RootsTech on Devpost.

See Christine Woodcock's blog post about being on the selection team here.

Jill Ball's post about being on the selection team is here.

I hope to check out each of these in the next month and perhaps comment upon them.

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DISCLOSURE: I am a RootsTech Ambassador and as such have received a complimentary RootsTech and Innovator Summit Pass.

The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/rootstech-2017-innovator-summit-semi.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Amanuensis Monday - 1773 Division of Land in Court Records for Estate of Samuel Brown (1686-1749) of Eastham, Mass.

This week's document for Amanuensis Monday is the 1773 land division in the probate court records for the estate of Samuel Brown (1686-1749) of Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts:

The transcription of this division of land is on the left-hand page of the image and starts about two-thirds down the page (transcribed line by line):

We the subscribers being appointed by the Honorable James Otis Esq

Judge of Probate for the County of Barnstable to divide a parcel of Land that

Samuel Brown of Wellfleet deceased gave to his five daughters have proceeded as follows,

Viz. We have divided said Land into five equal shares and made a Subdivision of

one amongst Thomas Dills heirs and have set them as followeth that is the first

and Nothermost lot to Benjamin Dill a Minor being bounded beginning by the pond

by David Browns in said Browns range runing easterly in said Browns range by the

way twenty three poles and seven feet to a Crocked white oak tree marked thence Southerly

nine pole and half pole to a stake and stone in the ground thence westerly to

a Maple tree marked by the pond then by the pond Notherly to the first

bound mentioned.

The Second Lot set to Thomas Dill a minor being bounded

beginning att the southwest corner of the first Lot ^by the road Running easterly in the Range of the first Lot to the south East corner bounds of Lot^ thence southwesterly

twenty one poles to a stake and stones in the ground thence West noth-

erly to a Pine tree marked by the pond thence Notherly by said Pond

to the southwest corner of the first Lott. Dated October 25 AD 1773

Rec^d Dece^r 18^th 1773 & accepted Edward Knowls

& Ordered to be Recorded Isaiah Higgins

Done James Otis Ju^d Prob. William Memch

C????? Da^d Gorham Rg

The source citation for this land division is:

"Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," indexed database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 December 2016), Barnstable County > Probate Records, Vol. 17, 1768-1775, page 156 (image 87 of 392), division of land of Samuel Brown, 1773.

Samuel Brown (1686-1749) of Eastham (apparently in the part that became Wellfleet) bequeathed real and personal property to his five daughters - see Amanuensis Monday - 1748 Will and Court Records for Estate of Samuel Brown (1686-1749) of Eastham, Mass.

Samuel Brown's wife, Ruth (Young) Brown (1688-1768) died in 1768, and the land that she was given for her life estate in the will of Samuel Brown needed to be distributed. This document provides a description of one fifth of the distribution - to the children of daughter Mehitable (Brown) Dill (1714-1758), wife of Thomas Dill (1708-1761) of Eastham.

Benjamin Dill (1763-????) is the son of Samuel Dill (1736-1766), son of Thomas and Mehitable (Brown) Dill, and great-grandson of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown. He was a minor at the time of this distribution. David Brown is mentioned in his portion of the distribution - David Brown (1726-????) is a son of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown.

Thomas Dill (1755-1839) is the minor son of Thomas and Mehitable (Brown) Dill at the time of this distribution. He was probably their youngest child, and a grandson of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown.

There is no mention of the division of the land to the other four daughters of Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown - Abigail, Ruth, Marcy and Mary. Perhaps there is another record - the land records for Barnstable County, Massachusetts were lost to a fire in 1827.

Benjamin Dill's land was described as a rectangle, 23 poles, 7 feet east-west, and 9.5 poles north-south (about 387 feet east-west, 157 feet north-south, assuming one pole = 16.5 feet). Thomas Dill's land was described as a rough trapezoid, 23 poles 7 feet east west, with a 21 pole leg to the southwest from the northeast corner of the land, then to the pond, and up to the starting point. The acreage was about the same for the two parcels.

I tried to find the location of this land in Wellfleet (the northern part of Eastham before 1766 or so). There are a number of ponds near the boundary line between Eastham and Wellfleet, but none are very large. I recall that I had identified Thomas Dill's land as being in the Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (on the west side of Wellfleet near Massachusetts Bay) from records I found in the Eastham library back in 1994. The map on the sanctuary site shows Silver Spring Pond and Goose Pond near the sanctuary center, but a Google Maps satellite view doesn't match the sanctuary map site for some reason. It may be that Goose Pond is the pond to the south of the sanctuary, and would have been west of the land divided to the two young Dill men.

Thomas Dill (1755-1839) is my 4th great-grandfather, Thomas and Mehitable (Brown) Dill are my 5th great-grandparents, and Samuel and Ruth (Young) Brown are my 6th great-grandparents.

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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/12/amanuensis-monday-1773-division-of-land.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

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Thursday, December 22, 2016

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Monday, December 19, 2016