St Clair Cemetery, Mt Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA

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Thursday, April 26, 2007

No Such Luck

Fairy tales. Isn't that the definition for genealogy without
documentation? Sometimes, you can't prove a line conclusively, but you
can show overwhelming evidence to support what you think is true. I'm
starting on a new journey into one of my lines. It will be a difficult
task and will take time. So, I've come to the brilliant conclusion to
include you in my search for the facts.

I have the death certificate for my greatgrandmother on which her
mother's maiden name is listed. I have made contact with a distant
cousin who is descended from one of the mother's siblings. Now to
prove what we think is right.

My cousin has graciously supplied me with some wills and old pages in
the handwriting of his ancestors. This information is great and will
lead me to the correct areas to search for more clues. Together, we
have documented the family in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Federal Census.
The first hurdle which I have yet to overcome is the death date of the
mother. She is living with her widowed mother in 1850, marries before
1860, is listed in 1860, and is absent in 1870. Did she die? Could
she have died in childbirth as the youngest child was born just before
the census? The rest of the family is listed with her husband. Hmmmm..
Ok-- maybe she died.

Another day, another puzzling discovery. I have in my possession a
letter from 1898 in which the author tells my above mentioned
greatgrandmother that she, the author, had "promised your mama I would
write to you." Hmmm. Your mama? Since I know her father did not
remarry, is it possible she was still alive? But where? The family is
all there in the Pittsburgh area.

I have searched high and low for years now for proof of her death, or
even proof she could have been alive in 1898. No such luck. I have
tried to check the local TB sanitariums to see if she was an inmate
there. Either the lists are unavailable or incomplete. No help there.
I have looked in the local newspapers for an obit. No such luck. I
have checked the church which the majority of the family attended. No
such luck. I have tried the cemetery where her descendants and
siblings are buried. No luck there. I haven't found any burial site
for her husband, who died in an 1849 cholera outbreak. So many people
died so quickly that there may have been no marked grave.

I have even found a picture of her sister-in-law and her brother in our
family Bible. I know the names are right--- the census backs me
up,but where is she?

Right now, I am at a loss. I keep looking. Perhaps, one day, you will
hear me shout joyfully as I say, "Told you so."

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Titanic Passenger List

Just thought I'd pass this on--

Right now, the passenger list for the RMS Titanic is digitized and
online!! There is no charge to view this list for a very limited time.

Go to:

www.findmypast.com to view the list.

Enjoy!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

An Interesting Site to See

A genie friend of mine just sent a site that is currently offering some
war casualty databases at no cost for a limited time. I thought this
could be of value to some of you. Keep in mind the free offer is only
good for about another week.

www.worldvitalrecords.com

Included in this offer are:
Army Casualties 1956-2003
US Korean Casualties 1950-1957
Vietnam Casualties 1956-1998
WWII Prisoners of War 1941-1946

Just passing it on.

Monday, April 09, 2007

The Morning Routine

The morning routine. Don't you just love it? Part of my morning
routine includes going online and checking my email. I have to admit I
do have the tendency to check the postings from one of the genealogy
sites to which I subscribe before I check the daily chatter from
friends and family.

The other morning as I sat drinking my morning caffeine, I saw the
daily obituary posting on one of these sites. Before we get morbid,
let me explain that these postings are the work of a very dedicated
lady in the Pittsburgh area who has access to a local paper from the
1890-1930ish time frame. Everyday, she painstakingly transcribes
articles of genealogical interest. Over time, Victoria has posted
tidbits, which reach out and grab my attention.

Just last week, her post was from Nov. 1, 1907. The part that caught
my eye read "Mrs. Joseph REED and Mrs. Jennie SMALL attended the
funeral of Mrs. GLENN in Carnegie." WOW!! That one small sentence
started me on a mission, which in the space of a few days has led me to
identify someone else's collateral line, which collides with my own.

I am related to the GLENN family from Carnegie. I knew who Mrs. GLENN
was who died in 1907. She was the wife of William James GLENN
(1839-1908), my 2nd cousin 3 times removed. So, now I had to look for
the identities of the other two ladies. I contacted Victoria who sent
me yet another obituary- this time for Jennie SMALL. By using this
obituary and the census records, I found her!! Jennie SMALL
(1857-1927) was the daughter of Robert SMALL and Nancy CUBBAGE. Nancy
CUBBAGE was the aunt of Mrs. Martha E DOOLITTLE GLENN, through Martha's
mother, who was a CUBBAGE. Confusing, isn't it. But wait, there's
more to this story.

I let Victoria know I had nailed down the identity of Jennie SMALL.
Upon doing so, another researcher contacted me and asked if I knew who
her Mary CUBBAGE's parents were. By checking the probate records and
the earlier research posted at the St. Clair Cemetery site, I was able
to deduce that Mary CUBBAGE's parents were most likely James
CUBBAGE(1777-1854) and Jane GILFILLAN(1784-1861). I passed along the
information I had—and-- bingo--- another successful hit!! Now this
other researcher has a whole new bloodline to search. The bonus is that
it collides with my own bloodline.

This morning as I drank my morning caffeine, Victoria made yet another
posting. This time it was from February 1907 and it mentioned that the
daughter of the deceased was a Mrs. John CUBBAGE. More time spent
digging in the census records led me to determine that this John
CUBBAGE was indeed the great-grandson of George CUBBAGE and Nancy
CALDWELL. Oh yes, the same George CUBBAGE and Nancy CALDWELL that were
the parents of Nancy CUBBAGE SMALL and of Sarah CUBBAGE DOOLITTLE.

The clues are there. Just take the time to absorb them and let them
lead you to other finds. The morning routine sometimes just isn't so
routine after all.