Knowing how hard it can be to trace my ancestors who came to America from Europe, I can imagine the frustration of those who seek their history from Africa.
I ran across this announcement of a new resource for researching those with African origins who were brought to the Americas on slave boats. Perhaps, this will turn out to be helpful to those who are seeking their family history and roots from that area and timeframe.
New Website to Trace Origins of Enslaved Africans
/PRNewswire/ -- Little is known of the ancestry of Africans pulled into the trans-Atlantic slave trade. A new website, launched at Emory University this week, aims to change that. The African-Origins (http://www.african-origins.org) website provides a rare glimpse of the identities of Africans aboard early nineteenth-century slaving vessels, and through this information, the possibility of tracing the origins of millions of other Africans forcibly transported to the Americas. Public participation will be critical to piecing together this missing history.
Visitors to African-Origins can search an online database of Africans liberated from slaving vessels, with such details as gender, age, African port of departure, and, most importantly, an African name. Because names used within African languages and social groups have remained fairly consistent over the last two centuries, the thousands of names listed in this database are clues to the linguistic and ethnic origins of the Africans on board these vessels.
Scholars are now looking for help in identifying the modern counterparts of these names and the languages and ethnicities with which they are likely associated. Through the African-Origins website, those with knowledge of African languages and cultural naming practices can suggest these links. By taking a few minutes to search and listen for familiar names and contribute a modern counterpart, language, and ethnic group, members of the public can help identify the language, ethnic and geographic origins of people listed in these registers, and subsequently the likely origins of millions of other unnamed Africans enslaved during this period.
With these insights, scholars serving as editors of the database can consider the range of possible languages and groups affiliated with a name alongside historical research of peoples' locations and movements across Africa. As contributions are received and analyzed, new information will be added to the African-Origins database on the likely language and ethnicity of each individual. Visitors to the site will eventually be able to search for Africans by linguistic group and view maps of the historical locations of people pulled into the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
To find out more about the African Origins project or contact the project team, visit http://www.african-origins.org or email african-origins@emory.edu.
--
Ahh, genealogy. What trips our ancestors took!
©2011 AS Eldredge
Ahhh, genealogy. A glimpse of the past shows of what I am made.....
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Treasure Chest Thursday: 1862 "War Meeting" for the Co. D PA 149th Boys
With the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War this week, I've really thought about the families on both sides of the proverbial Mason-Dixon line and the costs the war brought to each.
History tells us of the organization of Co. D of the PA 149th Volunteers at the Hill Church in Robinson's Run on August 22, 1862. Among those who volunteered and were original members of the group were several kin and kissing kin of mine, including Captain James GLENN (1824-1901).
This seems like the perfect time to share some more tidbits about cousin James.
In the Diary of Hannah Glenn SNODGRASS (my 2g aunt), she tells us that on August 19, 1862, her sister, Maggie, and Hannah's future husband, Addison Henry SIMMONS, and Hannah all ..
(Note: spelling and punctuation are the same as found in the diary)
"went to a war meeting down to Scotts. The speakers the Reverands J Y McCartney R McPherson Mr Calhoun Capt McElwain J Snodgrass & two others
Wed the 20 we sewed & put up tomatoes
Thursday the 21 we took the ear & plumbs aft put up some plumbs and sewed & Capt J Gleen (GLENN) was here for tea
Friday 22 Capt G in the morning"....
Captain GLENN was the first cousin of Hannah, and likely came to tea as he was going to be leaving for war that night. J SNODGRASS was also the cousin of Hannah. Two of the Reverends mentioned were from the Mansfield Presbyterian Church and Mansfield UP Church.
According to Hannah's words, Reverend McCartney chose his text on the 24th as Psalm 31 verse 19 which states, "How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, Before the sons of men!". We can only imagine the good Reverend somehow used that verse for the war talk from the pulpit.
The company did leave for Harrisburg on the evening of August 22, 1862, and arrived in Washington, DC on August 31, 1862. To see a letter written by company member (and cousin of Glenn) Frank C DORRINGTON, click on 1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails written earlier this week.
The following item I placed in my genealogy files without documenting the source! How could I have done that? So, please forgive me. I acknowledge I didn't write this summary although I suspect it was a local newspaper of the time and I am still looking for the source. When I find it, it will be properly noted.
Civil War Veterans Memorial
10-1903
Memorial for Deceased Veterans
G.A.R. Men Honor Their Dead Comrades in a Service at the First Baptist Church Records and Singing on Program
The First Baptist church was filled with old soldiers and their friends, and relatives of deceased members of Captain Thomas Espy Post No. 153 Grand Army of the Republic, last Sabbath afternoon. Perhaps never before in Carnegie have there been held a more impressive service then this, the service to the memory of the twenty-one members who have passed away in the past seven years. The McKees Rocks Veterans Association was well represented. Rev. C. C. Cowgill, pastor of the First Christian church, read the Scripture lesson and Rev. J. H. Duff D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, made the opening prayer. The pulpit was draped with the American Flag, and the symbols of the mourning, and on the arrival of the Post their half-masted flags were placed upon the platform. Col. Wm J. Glenn announced the program. The choir, with Miss Ella Perrin at the organ, sang several selections. Adjutant W. H. H. Lea read the record of each of the twentyone comrades who had died, and after each one the bugle call and taps were sounded. Rev. J. A. Snodgrass, the pastor of the church and a member of Espy Post delivered an address. Rev. Snodgrass spoke of the great dept which the younger generation owes to the Union soldiers of the Civil War. In the performance of their duty they assured to us the blessings of prosperity which we now enjoy. He called attention to the act that the government pension list, which up until last year grew steadily larger, had commenced to diminish, and last year was smaller then the year pre- ceding. There is only one cause for this, said he, the old soldiers are passing from our midst. The service closed by the congregation singing the doxology. Rev. Cow- gill pronounced the benediction.
*GLENN, James Captain James Glenn, who organized Company D, was a military man before the War, having entered the State service under the old Militia Laws, as Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Blues, an independent Allegheny County Military Company. In this organization he was promoted to First Lieutenant and Captain; his Company being a good organization, and well known under the old system. He was mustered into the Volunteer Service for the Civil War as Captain of Company D, 149th Pa. Volunteers, August 22, 1862, and promoted to Major, April 22, 1864, and to Lieutenant Colonel January 08, 1865. After the Regiment joined the Army of the Potomac it was assigned to the Third Division, First Army Corps, and Captain Glenn was Provost Marshal of the Division. He served in this capacity until he was promoted to Major. Captain Glenn was placed in command of the Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg, July 01, 1863 the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being disabled by wounds - and had charge of the Regiment through the second and third days of the battle, and up to July 6th, when Major Irvin returned and took command. After the battle of Dabney's Mills, February 07, 1865, the Regiment was ordered to Elmira, N.Y., for special duty, and Lieut. Col. Glenn was there placed on detailed court martial service. He was mustered out of the service August 22, 1865. After the war Captain Glenn was elected Major in the 14th Regiment, N.G.P., September 01, 1875; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 1877, and to Colonel in January, 1882. After serving a term as Colonel he retired roll February 25, 1888. Captain Glenn was well known in the community in which he lived, had no difficulty in securing the requisite number of men to organize a Company for the Civil War, and with the assistance of his Lieutenants and First Sergeant, the Company soon became proficient in drill and discipline. During his service he became known as a fighting officer,being frequently assigned to other commands when severe fighting was expected. He was almost reckless in his bravery. It was a common remark among the boys that "the Captain didn't know when he was licked" and after his attempt to rally half a dozen members of his Company on the retreat from Seminary Hill at Gettysburg, to stop the advance of a division of Lee's Army, followed by his service in the Wilderness and other campaigns, the mention of his name was sure to recall recollection of his bravery and soldierly qualities. He served his entire term of service without sickness or wounds, and was engaged in every march, skirmish or battle in which the Regiment participated. After the war he engaged in the grain and feed business and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Robb, of Glendale, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he lived, honored and respected by the entire community and kindly remembered by the surviving members of his old company. He died August 23, 1902, and was buried by his surviving comrades in the cemetery at Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Co., Pa.
More on Captn James GLENN:
Sources:
*General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers: and Personal Sketches of the Members, compiled by John W. Nesbit. pg 52, 1908.
"Captain James Glenn's Sword and Private J. Marshall Hill's Enfield in the Fight for the Lutheran Cemetery" by Wiley Sword Gettysburg, Jan. 1, 1993, Issue No. 8.
"Hannah Glenn Snodgrass Diary 1862-1863" Transcribed by Ann S Eldredge, Theresa Paxton and John Addison Williams, Jr, Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 32:3 (2006).
Ahh, genealogy. Writing about the past brings warm hugs from beyond on a sunny day.
©2011 AS Eldredge
History tells us of the organization of Co. D of the PA 149th Volunteers at the Hill Church in Robinson's Run on August 22, 1862. Among those who volunteered and were original members of the group were several kin and kissing kin of mine, including Captain James GLENN (1824-1901).
This seems like the perfect time to share some more tidbits about cousin James.
In the Diary of Hannah Glenn SNODGRASS (my 2g aunt), she tells us that on August 19, 1862, her sister, Maggie, and Hannah's future husband, Addison Henry SIMMONS, and Hannah all ..
(Note: spelling and punctuation are the same as found in the diary)
"went to a war meeting down to Scotts. The speakers the Reverands J Y McCartney R McPherson Mr Calhoun Capt McElwain J Snodgrass & two others
Wed the 20 we sewed & put up tomatoes
Thursday the 21 we took the ear & plumbs aft put up some plumbs and sewed & Capt J Gleen (GLENN) was here for tea
Friday 22 Capt G in the morning"....
Captain GLENN was the first cousin of Hannah, and likely came to tea as he was going to be leaving for war that night. J SNODGRASS was also the cousin of Hannah. Two of the Reverends mentioned were from the Mansfield Presbyterian Church and Mansfield UP Church.
According to Hannah's words, Reverend McCartney chose his text on the 24th as Psalm 31 verse 19 which states, "How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, Before the sons of men!". We can only imagine the good Reverend somehow used that verse for the war talk from the pulpit.
The company did leave for Harrisburg on the evening of August 22, 1862, and arrived in Washington, DC on August 31, 1862. To see a letter written by company member (and cousin of Glenn) Frank C DORRINGTON, click on 1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails written earlier this week.
The following item I placed in my genealogy files without documenting the source! How could I have done that? So, please forgive me. I acknowledge I didn't write this summary although I suspect it was a local newspaper of the time and I am still looking for the source. When I find it, it will be properly noted.
Civil War Veterans Memorial
10-1903
Memorial for Deceased Veterans
G.A.R. Men Honor Their Dead Comrades in a Service at the First Baptist Church Records and Singing on Program
The First Baptist church was filled with old soldiers and their friends, and relatives of deceased members of Captain Thomas Espy Post No. 153 Grand Army of the Republic, last Sabbath afternoon. Perhaps never before in Carnegie have there been held a more impressive service then this, the service to the memory of the twenty-one members who have passed away in the past seven years. The McKees Rocks Veterans Association was well represented. Rev. C. C. Cowgill, pastor of the First Christian church, read the Scripture lesson and Rev. J. H. Duff D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, made the opening prayer. The pulpit was draped with the American Flag, and the symbols of the mourning, and on the arrival of the Post their half-masted flags were placed upon the platform. Col. Wm J. Glenn announced the program. The choir, with Miss Ella Perrin at the organ, sang several selections. Adjutant W. H. H. Lea read the record of each of the twentyone comrades who had died, and after each one the bugle call and taps were sounded. Rev. J. A. Snodgrass, the pastor of the church and a member of Espy Post delivered an address. Rev. Snodgrass spoke of the great dept which the younger generation owes to the Union soldiers of the Civil War. In the performance of their duty they assured to us the blessings of prosperity which we now enjoy. He called attention to the act that the government pension list, which up until last year grew steadily larger, had commenced to diminish, and last year was smaller then the year pre- ceding. There is only one cause for this, said he, the old soldiers are passing from our midst. The service closed by the congregation singing the doxology. Rev. Cow- gill pronounced the benediction.
*GLENN, James Captain James Glenn, who organized Company D, was a military man before the War, having entered the State service under the old Militia Laws, as Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Blues, an independent Allegheny County Military Company. In this organization he was promoted to First Lieutenant and Captain; his Company being a good organization, and well known under the old system. He was mustered into the Volunteer Service for the Civil War as Captain of Company D, 149th Pa. Volunteers, August 22, 1862, and promoted to Major, April 22, 1864, and to Lieutenant Colonel January 08, 1865. After the Regiment joined the Army of the Potomac it was assigned to the Third Division, First Army Corps, and Captain Glenn was Provost Marshal of the Division. He served in this capacity until he was promoted to Major. Captain Glenn was placed in command of the Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg, July 01, 1863 the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being disabled by wounds - and had charge of the Regiment through the second and third days of the battle, and up to July 6th, when Major Irvin returned and took command. After the battle of Dabney's Mills, February 07, 1865, the Regiment was ordered to Elmira, N.Y., for special duty, and Lieut. Col. Glenn was there placed on detailed court martial service. He was mustered out of the service August 22, 1865. After the war Captain Glenn was elected Major in the 14th Regiment, N.G.P., September 01, 1875; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 1877, and to Colonel in January, 1882. After serving a term as Colonel he retired roll February 25, 1888. Captain Glenn was well known in the community in which he lived, had no difficulty in securing the requisite number of men to organize a Company for the Civil War, and with the assistance of his Lieutenants and First Sergeant, the Company soon became proficient in drill and discipline. During his service he became known as a fighting officer,being frequently assigned to other commands when severe fighting was expected. He was almost reckless in his bravery. It was a common remark among the boys that "the Captain didn't know when he was licked" and after his attempt to rally half a dozen members of his Company on the retreat from Seminary Hill at Gettysburg, to stop the advance of a division of Lee's Army, followed by his service in the Wilderness and other campaigns, the mention of his name was sure to recall recollection of his bravery and soldierly qualities. He served his entire term of service without sickness or wounds, and was engaged in every march, skirmish or battle in which the Regiment participated. After the war he engaged in the grain and feed business and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Robb, of Glendale, Allegheny Co., Pa., where he lived, honored and respected by the entire community and kindly remembered by the surviving members of his old company. He died August 23, 1902, and was buried by his surviving comrades in the cemetery at Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny Co., Pa. More on Captn James GLENN:
Sources:
*General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers: and Personal Sketches of the Members, compiled by John W. Nesbit. pg 52, 1908.
"Captain James Glenn's Sword and Private J. Marshall Hill's Enfield in the Fight for the Lutheran Cemetery" by Wiley Sword Gettysburg, Jan. 1, 1993, Issue No. 8.
"Hannah Glenn Snodgrass Diary 1862-1863" Transcribed by Ann S Eldredge, Theresa Paxton and John Addison Williams, Jr, Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, 32:3 (2006).
Ahh, genealogy. Writing about the past brings warm hugs from beyond on a sunny day.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Campfires of The Boys of '61 in 1894
I never thought much about the sheer numbers of American men who wore either the Blue or the Grey back during the Civil War. All I thought of while researching my genealogy roots is why did they have to be injured or die. What about their poor widows? And the children they left behind as they marched off to fight for their beliefs.
It also really didn't occur to me why I couldn't find my Yanks in the GAR post near the little town in which so many lived.
Today, I stumbled across a souvenir edition of the Pittsburgh Press from September 9, 1894. The number of stories, posts, and regimental histories combined with poetry and drawings is enough to have me reading for days. The men had all come to Pittsburgh for a grand reunion from many states. There's ton of history and names in these pages.
How many of my loving names which are only a memory will I find?
How many families suffered from the war? How many hearts were broken?
I submit to you the poem "For Freedom Died" found on pg 33 with the notation it was from the New York Evening Post.
"Forward!" was the word when day
Dawned upon the armed array.
"Fallen!" was the word when night
Closed upon the field of fight.
"Hurt, my boy?" "Oh, no! Not much!"
"Only got a little touch!"
"Forward!" was the word that flashed
Homeward, when the cannon crashed.
"Missing!" was the word sent home
When the shades of night had come.
"Fallen?" "Yes; he fell, they say,
In the fiercest of the fray!"
"Died last night!" the message said,
Thus the morrow's papers read.
One young heart that heard the word,
Fluttered like a wounded bird.
One was broken! Bowed her head
"Mother! Mother! Mother's dead!"
Two green graves we'll deck to day,
Son's and mother's side by side,
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
Both for right and freedom died.
While we honor him who fell
In the fiercest of the fray,
We will honor her as well
Lying by his side today.
Let the flowers forever fair,
Bloom above our fallen braves,
While the angels guard them there,
Glory lingers o'er their graves.
Long ago one sweet soul
Entered her Gethsemane,
Death to her the greatest goal,
As it must to many be!
But life lingers Oh! so long!
And the years so weary grow!
Tears have choked her heart's sweet song,
Dimmed those eyes that used to glow!
Oh! the bleeding, broken hearts,
Living long their lingering death,
Pierced by countless cruel darts,
Smothered sobs beneath each breath.
Comrades! Call the roll again!
Write their name on glory's page!
Whose who bore the grief and pain,
Fiercer far than battle's rage!
When they lie there side by side,
Dearer to him than his life,
Mother, sister, sweetheart, bride,
Or his dear, devoted wife.
And you deck his grave again,
Write her name- but not beneath!
By her agony and pain
Crown her grave with fairest wreath!
Angels called the roll again,
Wrote her name above the stars
For her patient faith in pain,
Deeper far than battle scars.
Three green graves we deck today,
This the third, where lies his bride-
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
For these three for freedom died!
Take some time to dig through these pages. It's a tear jerker you don't want to miss.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Oh- and here's a picture of cousin William James GLENN. You can read more about him on an earlier blog: I am Simply a Survivor.
Below the drawing of GLENN is William H H LEA, the brother of my 2g-uncle, Cassius LEA.
Sources:
Pittsburgh Press
Sept 9, 1894
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Tip of the hat to cousin David for sending me to this newspaper date to find the drawing of WJ GLENN.
Ahh, genealogy. Tis grand to find the family history so intertwined with that of our great country. Tis humbling to know my kin have fought for this country since its beginning. My thoughts and prayers go to all veterans and the ones they leave behind. Thank you.
©2011 AS Eldredge
It also really didn't occur to me why I couldn't find my Yanks in the GAR post near the little town in which so many lived.
Today, I stumbled across a souvenir edition of the Pittsburgh Press from September 9, 1894. The number of stories, posts, and regimental histories combined with poetry and drawings is enough to have me reading for days. The men had all come to Pittsburgh for a grand reunion from many states. There's ton of history and names in these pages.
How many of my loving names which are only a memory will I find?
How many families suffered from the war? How many hearts were broken?
I submit to you the poem "For Freedom Died" found on pg 33 with the notation it was from the New York Evening Post.
"Forward!" was the word when day
Dawned upon the armed array.
"Fallen!" was the word when night
Closed upon the field of fight.
"Hurt, my boy?" "Oh, no! Not much!"
"Only got a little touch!"
"Forward!" was the word that flashed
Homeward, when the cannon crashed.
"Missing!" was the word sent home
When the shades of night had come.
"Fallen?" "Yes; he fell, they say,
In the fiercest of the fray!"
"Died last night!" the message said,
Thus the morrow's papers read.
One young heart that heard the word,
Fluttered like a wounded bird.
One was broken! Bowed her head
"Mother! Mother! Mother's dead!"
Two green graves we'll deck to day,
Son's and mother's side by side,
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
Both for right and freedom died.
While we honor him who fell
In the fiercest of the fray,
We will honor her as well
Lying by his side today.
Let the flowers forever fair,
Bloom above our fallen braves,
While the angels guard them there,
Glory lingers o'er their graves.
Long ago one sweet soul
Entered her Gethsemane,
Death to her the greatest goal,
As it must to many be!
But life lingers Oh! so long!
And the years so weary grow!
Tears have choked her heart's sweet song,
Dimmed those eyes that used to glow!
Oh! the bleeding, broken hearts,
Living long their lingering death,
Pierced by countless cruel darts,
Smothered sobs beneath each breath.
Comrades! Call the roll again!
Write their name on glory's page!
Whose who bore the grief and pain,
Fiercer far than battle's rage!
When they lie there side by side,
Dearer to him than his life,
Mother, sister, sweetheart, bride,
Or his dear, devoted wife.
And you deck his grave again,
Write her name- but not beneath!
By her agony and pain
Crown her grave with fairest wreath!
Angels called the roll again,
Wrote her name above the stars
For her patient faith in pain,
Deeper far than battle scars.
Three green graves we deck today,
This the third, where lies his bride-
None will dare to tell us "Nay!"
For these three for freedom died!
Take some time to dig through these pages. It's a tear jerker you don't want to miss.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Oh- and here's a picture of cousin William James GLENN. You can read more about him on an earlier blog: I am Simply a Survivor.
Below the drawing of GLENN is William H H LEA, the brother of my 2g-uncle, Cassius LEA.
Sources:
Pittsburgh Press
Sept 9, 1894
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=djft3U1LymYC&dat=18940909&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Tip of the hat to cousin David for sending me to this newspaper date to find the drawing of WJ GLENN.
Ahh, genealogy. Tis grand to find the family history so intertwined with that of our great country. Tis humbling to know my kin have fought for this country since its beginning. My thoughts and prayers go to all veterans and the ones they leave behind. Thank you.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tombstone Tuesday: What a Carolina Coward in the Civil War
Today marks the 150th anniversary of the first shots being fired at Fort Sumter and the true fighting of the Civil War. With all eyes on Charleston as the single beam over Fort Sumter split into two this morning, I find myself thinking of Lt Colonel Asbury COWARD, the man my grandfather called "Uncle Asbury".
This man who fought with Robert E Lee; the man who lost everything during the Civil War; the man who was a military man and educator; his story is fascinating. His memoirs of the Civil War bring tears to my eyes when I read it. The pain, the suffering, the glories and the final defeat. It's all there in his words.
I know Asbury was at the battle of Chickamauga. I wonder if he was there when his cousin, my 2g grandpa was gravely wounded.
In the book of his memoirs, he tells how he sat with his brother as he died after being wounded. He tells of the loss of his children. As he rides back into South Carolina after being with Lee at the surrender, he felt his spirits rise. He had come from nothing. He made something. He lost it all. He would have it again.
Yes, indeed, Asbury. You did.
Coward by name, not by nature
October 18, 2006
I was on another manhunt.
This time, I was furiously searching for those elusive Cowards on my maternal side. I had just returned home from a trip to Charleston, where I spent a full day digging and sneezing my way through their main library files. A kind older employee named Henry in the South Carolina Room took pity on my wide-eyed look of confusion as I asked where to find any information I could. He pitied me so much that he took me by the elbow and spent several hours at my side and explained some of the databases to me. By the way, I strongly encourage you to find such a kind soul the first time you really dig deep in a large library. With his assistance, I was able to locate the units of several of my kinsmen from the Civil War as well as several birth and death records from the area. This in itself is rather amazing as South Carolina was rather late in joining everyone else in requiring vital statistics. Henry was amazed when he found out that I was kin to Lt. Col. Asbury Coward.
Lt. Col. Asbury Coward lost so much during the War of Northern Aggression. He lost most of his family, several children, and all of his money. Not so uncommon for the time. What he did after the war deserves remembering. Lt. Col. Asbury Coward was born in 1834 on Quenby Plantation outside of Charleston, SC. His parents were Jesse Coward and Keziah Anne Dubois. Asbury graduated from the Citadel at the age of 19 in 1854 and was a professor by 1860. He was a cofounder along with Brigadier General Micah Jenkins of the King's Mountain Military School in the poverty stricken area of York Co, SC. General Jenkins was subsequently killed in the Civil War.
On Christmas Day in 1856, he married Eliza Corbet Larimore Blum, the youngest daughter of John A Blum. Together they had several children who died either as infants or as children.
When the disagreement between the North and South raged into war, he joined the 5th Regiment, SCV, and served under General Robert E Lee at Bull's Run. Asbury witnessed the shot that mortally wounded his younger brother, Jesse James Coward, as he was helping another fallen soldier. Asbury sat with his brother and prayed earnestly. After Jesse's death at age 25, Asbury arranged for a coffin and sent his slave, Charles, to accompany his brother's body home. Col. Coward was at Appomattox during Lee's surrender to Grant. His last commendation by General Longstreet, which is found in the book The South Carolinians, had a handwritten postscript by General Lee of "I concur in the commendation bestowed on Colonel Coward by General Longstreet. I have always considered him one of the best officers of this Army."
After the war was over, Asbury made his way back home to South Carolina. His memoirs tell us that as he crossed over into South Carolina amid all of the destruction and utter ruin, his spirits soared. He was back home, back to a new beginning, and had the faith he would triumph again. And he did. Asbury returned to his school and ran it for 20 years after the war. His former slave, Charles, elected to remain with Asbury as a cook for the school. Asbury served as SC State Superintendent for Education from 1884-1886, before becoming the Superintendent of the Citadel in 1890. His portrait hangs at the Citadel and the dining hall is named in his memory. Lt. Colonel Asbury Coward died in 1925 and is buried at Rock Hill, SC, next to his brother.Keep digging up those roots. You never know where the next clue will take you.
Lt. Colonel Asbury Coward, the man my mother called "Old Uncle", a true American giant. Asbury Coward, my cousin. The man who exemplifies the family motto- Coward by name, not by nature. Indeed.
Ahh, genealogy. April 12, a day when so many families were torn apart 150 years ago. May we honor all our heroes, past, present and future.
Photo Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11093714
©2011 AS Eldredge
Monday, April 11, 2011
1863 Civil War Letter from a Member of the PA 149th Bucktails
Francis Crawford DORRINGTON (1838-1925) was a native of Allegheny Co, PA, and distantly related to me through his aunt who married into my GLENN family.
When I was first looking for information on the family after visiting the St. Clair Cemetery and finding DORRINGTONs in the GLENN family plot, I ran across this 1863 letter.
Francis, or Frank, was the son of Joseph DORRINGTON and Eliza LONG of Allegheny Co, PA.
Frank was recruited as a member of Company D, 149th PA Volunteers in August 22, 1862. Of interest is a note that his cousin James GLENN was elected as Captain and was active in recruiting of the local men. This has also been mentioned in the 1862 diary of my great great Aunt Hannah which was first published in 2004 by two of my cousins and myself.
Frank mustered in as a 3rd Corporal. The regiment arrived in Washington, DC in late August 1862 and stayed there until February 15, 1863.
This letter, written on February 11, 1863, details daily life in the camp and mentions several relatives who had moved to DC. It was submitted some 40 years ago to a historical society in CA, but I have yet to determine how the submitter was related to Frank.
For me, it was a great find. The salutation has me suspect it was written to his brother, Joseph.
Frank was severely wounded May 8, 1863, at the Battle of Laurel Hill. His story of survival is fascinating to read and can be found in the regimental history by Nesbit.
Frank married Nancy HEWITT and had a family. After the war, he was in the Temperanceville area of Allegheny Co, and ran a feed store. Frank is buried at Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA.
Source:
General History of Company D
149th Pennsylavania Volunteers
John W Nesbit
1908
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext&cc=pitttext&idno=00hc08553m&q1=dorrington&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=1
Ahh, genealogy. Remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before.
©2011 AS Eldredge
When I was first looking for information on the family after visiting the St. Clair Cemetery and finding DORRINGTONs in the GLENN family plot, I ran across this 1863 letter.
Francis, or Frank, was the son of Joseph DORRINGTON and Eliza LONG of Allegheny Co, PA.
Frank was recruited as a member of Company D, 149th PA Volunteers in August 22, 1862. Of interest is a note that his cousin James GLENN was elected as Captain and was active in recruiting of the local men. This has also been mentioned in the 1862 diary of my great great Aunt Hannah which was first published in 2004 by two of my cousins and myself.
Frank mustered in as a 3rd Corporal. The regiment arrived in Washington, DC in late August 1862 and stayed there until February 15, 1863.
This letter, written on February 11, 1863, details daily life in the camp and mentions several relatives who had moved to DC. It was submitted some 40 years ago to a historical society in CA, but I have yet to determine how the submitter was related to Frank.
For me, it was a great find. The salutation has me suspect it was written to his brother, Joseph.
Frank was severely wounded May 8, 1863, at the Battle of Laurel Hill. His story of survival is fascinating to read and can be found in the regimental history by Nesbit.
Frank married Nancy HEWITT and had a family. After the war, he was in the Temperanceville area of Allegheny Co, and ran a feed store. Frank is buried at Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, Allegheny, PA.
Source:
General History of Company D
149th Pennsylavania Volunteers
John W Nesbit
1908
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext&cc=pitttext&idno=00hc08553m&q1=dorrington&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=1
Ahh, genealogy. Remembering the sacrifices of those who have gone before.
©2011 AS Eldredge
On the Eve of Civil War: "What is to be Done?"
How well I remember the parents of my friends finding Civil War artifacts on their farmland back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Growing up in the South and in the general area through which Sherman's men trekked their way to the sea, it was not uncommon for an old artifact to find its way to the surface.
As a young adult, I lived near a battlefield outside of Atlanta for a number of years, and it still was not uncommon to find artifacts of the War after a hard rain. Why, we even had a foxhole or two on the hill behind the house as there was a three day skirmish in the area.
Recently, I spent a few days in Charleston, the town where the first shots of the Civil War were heard. Spending some time in the city via tourist style, I saw some beautiful old homes and heard some interesting stories about the American Revolution and the early days of Charleston.
History is alive in Charleston, and a lot of talk was about the upcoming anniversary of the War of Northern Aggression. It seems so strange to think our country was so divided that states seceeded from the Union and brothers and cousins fought each other.
I have also spent some in the last week looking at the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153 in Allegheny Co, PA. I had several family members who were members of that little Civil War Veteran Group and I have found it fascinating to look online at the documentation and artifacts they have in their possession today.
Today, I heard talk of a protest in Atlanta over the lighting of a match. Lighting of a match? It would appear some groups don't think that having a plaque at or near the spot where Sherman ordered the burning of Atlanta is important. According to the group protesting the plaque, we shouldn't remember the event since it is also in the same area as another more recent movement. Their view is the plaque should be somewhere else. The burning of Atlanta did happen and Sherman's March to the Sea did have devastating effects on the South. And the order did come to burn Atlanta where the city of Atlanta was, and is. Where else should it be?
Leading up to the Civil War, there was much tension among the different groups. Sometimes, I wonder why different groups of today believe that we shouldn't remember the past. Honor your past, honor the past of others. The many trails we took as individuals have all come together to make us what we are now.
I came across some interesting articles in a northern newspaper, The Washington Reporter, from January 11, 1860.
The first is titled "Sand in Cotton Bales."
There is no doubt a very great difference between the economical relation of the North and the South, separately considered. The yankees are an ingenious people, a fact that is undisputed by either their friends of foes....It is the great relief of the disadvantages of slavery when the slave is brought intra mania--within the walls-- and made a portion of the family; and, as Horace Greely thinks, when the slaves and the whites, by co labor as mechanics or otherwise, become more intimate than can possibly be the case in field labor, there naturally arises a more sympathetic and philanthropic feeling between the parties. It would, we believe, be a happy thing for the slaves of the South should succeed in establishing their own manufactures.....
(The article is talking mostly about the sprinkling of sand in cotton bales, which increases the weight of the cotton, thus increasing the money received. According the article, the Yanks had been practicing that for years in different ways, for example, adding sand to brown sugar.)
....It cannot be supposed for a moment that the planters-- the very pinks of chivalry-- would sand the cotton themselves; no doubt that is done through the industry and ingenuity of their yankee overseers, and so far as that is concerned we hope our chivalric friends will not turn to and tar and feather the yankees on that account,....
Another article follows entitled "Emigration of Negroes from Arkansas"
In this article, the legislature of Arkansas has passed a law giving the Negroes the alternative of leaving to stay free or stay and become slaves. Of course, many left. Who wouldn't?
......What shall be done with the thousands of unfortunates who will be driven northward?-- This is a grave question, and our readers will see....that it is engaging earnestly the consideration of the leading minds of the country......
Senator Doolittle of Wiconsin said that the more important question was what to do with the free Negro as opposed to the slavery issue.
...He said the free States will not retain them; some of the Northern States enact stringent laws to prevent them from coming among them,.....
As we reflect on the Civil War and its effects on the nation and on our families, remember first that we are all Americans. As for me, I lost family members on both sides of the war. I still think of them, no matter what color uniform they wore. They all shared my blood, and my blood runs red for America.
Ahh, genealogy. Remember the past. After all, how can history teach us if we aren't willing to listen?
Source: The Washington Reporter, January 11, 1860
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=f1xuXVtw34IC&dat=18600111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
©2011 AS Eldredge
As a young adult, I lived near a battlefield outside of Atlanta for a number of years, and it still was not uncommon to find artifacts of the War after a hard rain. Why, we even had a foxhole or two on the hill behind the house as there was a three day skirmish in the area.
Recently, I spent a few days in Charleston, the town where the first shots of the Civil War were heard. Spending some time in the city via tourist style, I saw some beautiful old homes and heard some interesting stories about the American Revolution and the early days of Charleston.
History is alive in Charleston, and a lot of talk was about the upcoming anniversary of the War of Northern Aggression. It seems so strange to think our country was so divided that states seceeded from the Union and brothers and cousins fought each other.
I have also spent some in the last week looking at the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153 in Allegheny Co, PA. I had several family members who were members of that little Civil War Veteran Group and I have found it fascinating to look online at the documentation and artifacts they have in their possession today.
Today, I heard talk of a protest in Atlanta over the lighting of a match. Lighting of a match? It would appear some groups don't think that having a plaque at or near the spot where Sherman ordered the burning of Atlanta is important. According to the group protesting the plaque, we shouldn't remember the event since it is also in the same area as another more recent movement. Their view is the plaque should be somewhere else. The burning of Atlanta did happen and Sherman's March to the Sea did have devastating effects on the South. And the order did come to burn Atlanta where the city of Atlanta was, and is. Where else should it be?
Leading up to the Civil War, there was much tension among the different groups. Sometimes, I wonder why different groups of today believe that we shouldn't remember the past. Honor your past, honor the past of others. The many trails we took as individuals have all come together to make us what we are now.
I came across some interesting articles in a northern newspaper, The Washington Reporter, from January 11, 1860.
The first is titled "Sand in Cotton Bales."
There is no doubt a very great difference between the economical relation of the North and the South, separately considered. The yankees are an ingenious people, a fact that is undisputed by either their friends of foes....It is the great relief of the disadvantages of slavery when the slave is brought intra mania--within the walls-- and made a portion of the family; and, as Horace Greely thinks, when the slaves and the whites, by co labor as mechanics or otherwise, become more intimate than can possibly be the case in field labor, there naturally arises a more sympathetic and philanthropic feeling between the parties. It would, we believe, be a happy thing for the slaves of the South should succeed in establishing their own manufactures.....
(The article is talking mostly about the sprinkling of sand in cotton bales, which increases the weight of the cotton, thus increasing the money received. According the article, the Yanks had been practicing that for years in different ways, for example, adding sand to brown sugar.)
....It cannot be supposed for a moment that the planters-- the very pinks of chivalry-- would sand the cotton themselves; no doubt that is done through the industry and ingenuity of their yankee overseers, and so far as that is concerned we hope our chivalric friends will not turn to and tar and feather the yankees on that account,....
Another article follows entitled "Emigration of Negroes from Arkansas"
In this article, the legislature of Arkansas has passed a law giving the Negroes the alternative of leaving to stay free or stay and become slaves. Of course, many left. Who wouldn't?
......What shall be done with the thousands of unfortunates who will be driven northward?-- This is a grave question, and our readers will see....that it is engaging earnestly the consideration of the leading minds of the country......
Senator Doolittle of Wiconsin said that the more important question was what to do with the free Negro as opposed to the slavery issue.
...He said the free States will not retain them; some of the Northern States enact stringent laws to prevent them from coming among them,.....
As we reflect on the Civil War and its effects on the nation and on our families, remember first that we are all Americans. As for me, I lost family members on both sides of the war. I still think of them, no matter what color uniform they wore. They all shared my blood, and my blood runs red for America.
Ahh, genealogy. Remember the past. After all, how can history teach us if we aren't willing to listen?
Source: The Washington Reporter, January 11, 1860
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=f1xuXVtw34IC&dat=18600111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
©2011 AS Eldredge
Friday, April 08, 2011
New Life for Family Members of the GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153
The GAR Captain Thomas Espy Post 153 has been a place of interest for me over the last several years. I guess it is because I have several uncles, cousins and such who were members of this group in Allegheny County, PA. In addition, two of my lovely female cousins, Wanda and Virginia, have been invaluable in assisting with the donation of materials and acting as docents for the post.
Just recently, a cousin of mine who is of the blood of Colonel William James GLENN sent an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the Civil War Veterans in the post. The article gives information on the post and my cousins and asks for help in identifying the pictures of the men from their 1904 reunion photo.
I've forwarded the article to my group in Allegheny County to see if we can assist in identifying some more of the veterans in the picture. So far, one lady has responded with the possible identification of her 2g grandpa. Hopefully, more genealogy buffs are grabbing those old photos of grandpa and a magnifying lens to search the 1904 photo. The photo can easily be blown up for viewing purposes. There is also a list of the men who were members of the post.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136324-51.stm
Link to the Post information which includes manuscripts, membership forms, transfer card, deceased members, etc. http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/espycollectionmanuscripts.html
Just this afternoon, another genealogy buddy told me the post even has a Facebook page - Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153.
Recent Geni-Tales Blogs on the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153
Whirlwind of Treasure in Carnegie
Simply, I am a Survivor
Captain James GLENN who was the cousin of Colonel William James GLENN mentioned above died in 1901 was also a member of the post. He died in 1901 so he is not in the picture. His picture can be found in an earlier blog of mine:
cousin Captain James GLENN of Co D, 149th PA Volunteers
Just Didn't Know When He was Licked
Ahh, genealogy. Is it just my age or do the magnifying lenses just not get those veterans in clear focus? Must be the lenses---------
©2011 AS Eldredge
Just recently, a cousin of mine who is of the blood of Colonel William James GLENN sent an article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the Civil War Veterans in the post. The article gives information on the post and my cousins and asks for help in identifying the pictures of the men from their 1904 reunion photo.
I've forwarded the article to my group in Allegheny County to see if we can assist in identifying some more of the veterans in the picture. So far, one lady has responded with the possible identification of her 2g grandpa. Hopefully, more genealogy buffs are grabbing those old photos of grandpa and a magnifying lens to search the 1904 photo. The photo can easily be blown up for viewing purposes. There is also a list of the men who were members of the post.
Here is a link to the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11093/1136324-51.stm
Link to the Post information which includes manuscripts, membership forms, transfer card, deceased members, etc. http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/espycollectionmanuscripts.html
Just this afternoon, another genealogy buddy told me the post even has a Facebook page - Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153.
Recent Geni-Tales Blogs on the Captain Thomas Espy GAR Post 153
Whirlwind of Treasure in Carnegie
Simply, I am a Survivor
Captain James GLENN who was the cousin of Colonel William James GLENN mentioned above died in 1901 was also a member of the post. He died in 1901 so he is not in the picture. His picture can be found in an earlier blog of mine:
cousin Captain James GLENN of Co D, 149th PA Volunteers
Just Didn't Know When He was Licked
Ahh, genealogy. Is it just my age or do the magnifying lenses just not get those veterans in clear focus? Must be the lenses---------
©2011 AS Eldredge
Friday, March 25, 2011
Fearless Females: Grandma Massey Harbison, Surviving an Indian Kidnapping in 1792
Fearless and courageous are only two of the words used to describe Massey (Massa) White HARBISON. Her story still makes me catch my breath every time I read it.
Massey WHITE, a child of American Revolution patriot Edward WHITE, was born in 1770 and witnessed early American history firsthand. She is believed to have witnessed battles close to her home in Somerset County, NJ. Her father relocated the family to western Pennsylvania, and that is where her hair raising story really begins.
Massey married John HARBISON in 1787 and they became one of the first settlers on the headwaters of Chartier's Creek in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They were accustomed to making mad dashes to nearby blockhouses when the Indians attacked and killed the locals.
John fought in St. Clair's army and was wounded when St. Clair and men suffered a huge defeat against the western Indian tribes in 1791. After he had healed, he served as an Indian Scout in the Allegheny frontier.
In May of 1792, Indians attacked their home while John was away and dragged Massa and her children out of bed. One of the small boys was crying such that the Indians dashed his head on the doorstep, before stabbing and scalping him. To her horror, Massey and her remaining two children were taken hostage.
Many of her captives were known to her and could speak English.
As the band of Indians and their captives were crossing down a steep bank to the Allegheny River, Massey threw herself off the horse. The horse that carried her son fell and injured her son. The Indians then killed him. She wrote, .."When I beheld this second scend of inhuman butchery, I fell to the ground senseless, with my infant in my arms..." (1).
When she awoke, she saw the scalp of her child on the ground and was beaten yet again. They later crossed into the Indian side of the country. She thought death would be welcome at this point, and expected to die when she threw down the powder horn (not once, but three times) that the Indians forced her to carry (as she was carrying her infant.)
She passed the first night of her captivity with her arms pinioned to her back and with a savage to each side of her. The next morning, Massey bravely tried to take a tomahawk before being detected. Quick on her feet, she explained her infant was trying to play with it.
The Indians had been successful in losing the settlers and were vigilant in their lookout for pursuit. The second night, Massey was moved to another station. The next morning, some of the Indians went off again to see if the settlers could be seen. Massey faked being asleep, and her one remaining guard did fall asleep. She grabbed a pillowcase and hankerchief and made her escape. She changed courses several times during her escape in order to deceive the Indians. The Indians did search for her and came close to her hiding spot. She stuffed the cloth in her infant's mouth to keep him quiet. For over two hours, the Indian stood still and close to her hiding spot. He did not leave until his friends called for him.
She crossed the creek above Pittsburgh and found a path to follow. For a few days, she wandered trying to find help, while fearful of being detected by the Indians. She despaired that both she and her infant would die. Only the thought of her infant dying after her kept her determined to find help.
When she heard a cow bell and saw some settlers, she called out to them. They asked her name, and checked to see if it was a trap. When one of the men saw her condition, he asked her again who she was. It was one of her neighbors who knew her but did not recognize her in the week since she had been gone. Her appearance and voice had been altered.
Massey survived, although the events of the kidnapping altered her life forever. Her story was told and retold after the event in newspapers of the time. In 1825, she published a book on the ordeal.
You can call her brave. I can call her grandma. You see, her daughter, Margaret, is the third wife of my 4g grandfather. While I don't share her blood, Massey was the only grandmother my 3g and 2g grandfathers knew.
There is a park named for Massey as well as a DAR chapter in Pennsylvania.
Ahh, genealogy. Honoring the amazing women in my family history makes me so thankful for them and their sacrifices.
Sources:
(1) Flood Tides Along the Allegheny by Francis R Harbison, 1941.
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;xc=1;idno=00z836437m;g=text-all;xg=1;q1=massey%20harbison;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=7;page=root;size=s
History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1883
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pabutler/1883/83-02.htm#massy
Alle-Kiski Valley.com
http://akvalley.com/history/pioneers/massa/massa.shtml
©2011 AS Eldredge
Massey WHITE, a child of American Revolution patriot Edward WHITE, was born in 1770 and witnessed early American history firsthand. She is believed to have witnessed battles close to her home in Somerset County, NJ. Her father relocated the family to western Pennsylvania, and that is where her hair raising story really begins.
Massey married John HARBISON in 1787 and they became one of the first settlers on the headwaters of Chartier's Creek in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They were accustomed to making mad dashes to nearby blockhouses when the Indians attacked and killed the locals.
John fought in St. Clair's army and was wounded when St. Clair and men suffered a huge defeat against the western Indian tribes in 1791. After he had healed, he served as an Indian Scout in the Allegheny frontier.
In May of 1792, Indians attacked their home while John was away and dragged Massa and her children out of bed. One of the small boys was crying such that the Indians dashed his head on the doorstep, before stabbing and scalping him. To her horror, Massey and her remaining two children were taken hostage.
Many of her captives were known to her and could speak English.
As the band of Indians and their captives were crossing down a steep bank to the Allegheny River, Massey threw herself off the horse. The horse that carried her son fell and injured her son. The Indians then killed him. She wrote, .."When I beheld this second scend of inhuman butchery, I fell to the ground senseless, with my infant in my arms..." (1).
When she awoke, she saw the scalp of her child on the ground and was beaten yet again. They later crossed into the Indian side of the country. She thought death would be welcome at this point, and expected to die when she threw down the powder horn (not once, but three times) that the Indians forced her to carry (as she was carrying her infant.)
She passed the first night of her captivity with her arms pinioned to her back and with a savage to each side of her. The next morning, Massey bravely tried to take a tomahawk before being detected. Quick on her feet, she explained her infant was trying to play with it.
The Indians had been successful in losing the settlers and were vigilant in their lookout for pursuit. The second night, Massey was moved to another station. The next morning, some of the Indians went off again to see if the settlers could be seen. Massey faked being asleep, and her one remaining guard did fall asleep. She grabbed a pillowcase and hankerchief and made her escape. She changed courses several times during her escape in order to deceive the Indians. The Indians did search for her and came close to her hiding spot. She stuffed the cloth in her infant's mouth to keep him quiet. For over two hours, the Indian stood still and close to her hiding spot. He did not leave until his friends called for him.
She crossed the creek above Pittsburgh and found a path to follow. For a few days, she wandered trying to find help, while fearful of being detected by the Indians. She despaired that both she and her infant would die. Only the thought of her infant dying after her kept her determined to find help.
When she heard a cow bell and saw some settlers, she called out to them. They asked her name, and checked to see if it was a trap. When one of the men saw her condition, he asked her again who she was. It was one of her neighbors who knew her but did not recognize her in the week since she had been gone. Her appearance and voice had been altered.
Massey survived, although the events of the kidnapping altered her life forever. Her story was told and retold after the event in newspapers of the time. In 1825, she published a book on the ordeal.
You can call her brave. I can call her grandma. You see, her daughter, Margaret, is the third wife of my 4g grandfather. While I don't share her blood, Massey was the only grandmother my 3g and 2g grandfathers knew.
There is a park named for Massey as well as a DAR chapter in Pennsylvania.
Ahh, genealogy. Honoring the amazing women in my family history makes me so thankful for them and their sacrifices.
Sources:
(1) Flood Tides Along the Allegheny by Francis R Harbison, 1941.
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;xc=1;idno=00z836437m;g=text-all;xg=1;q1=massey%20harbison;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=7;page=root;size=s
History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1883
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pabutler/1883/83-02.htm#massy
Alle-Kiski Valley.com
http://akvalley.com/history/pioneers/massa/massa.shtml
©2011 AS Eldredge
Watching the Family Tree Bloom
Have you noticed the pollen counts lately? Where I live, the trees and early spring flowers are blooming their little heads off and sending those of us with (and without) pollen allergies running for our boxes of kleenex.
I so marvel at the wonder of spring as the trees awaken from their deep winter slumber and everything comes to life once more. Branches you thought were dead spring to life with new leaves, just like my genealogy trees.
A cousin just popped up as a result of reading some of my earlier posts. How fun is that? It's always interesting to be able to share the information as you know it to be with other family members who are just beginning their search for their roots. Of course, it is even more fun for me to be able to solve some mysteries of the past and verify what I think I know.
A good source to research is that of old obituaries. They can be hard to locate, but sometimes, they can really send you into screaming fits of joy.
Take, for example, the obit of Austin McClain BRENDEL. His May 1935 obit confirms the name of his wife and their two children. The surprise of the obit came in two parts: "...Mr. Brendel leaves.....and a daughter, Mrs Floyd TAYLOR of Akron, OH......." and "He was buried in the Southside Cemetery beside his mother."
Really? Another daughter? Does that mean an earlier marriage?
The obit led us on a goose chase for Mrs. Floyd TAYLOR. We found evidence of her and, then we lost her. The name was just too common and she appeared to have left the area. That was several years ago.
We've just found her daughter alive and well. Or rather, she found us with the able assistance of her son. This is so cool. Emails are flying and more tidbits of information are coming in. Now we have more leads to follow to try and nail down some of the past that we think we know. Will we have moments of "aha" waiting for us?
We knew where Austin was buried as I have been to the site and my father's cousins had told me. This had also been confirmed by the cemetery. What we didn't know was that his mother, Henrietta Renton McCLAIN BRENDEL, was also buried there. Surprise. There are no headstones for either of them.
The newly found cousin was able to supply the name of the first wife, so now it's off to see what supporting documentation will show up on her family. A local history book has identified the family names, so the search is on. A local hysterical society :) in the area has confirmed they have information on her family and I am patiently waiting for them to identify what the information is.
I have also been able to find when his first wife filed for divorce by finding it in a 1910 Pittsburgh newspaper. Now I wait for my "sweet tea" buddy to make his monthly trek to the Allegheny County courthouse to find the hard evidence for me.
Old obituaries are really great. They can provide the names of those grieving for the deceased. Those names, in turn, can sometimes be traced to a living descendant. If you are lucky enough to locate an old obituary, you can then start the hunt for a living, breathing kinsman who may be able to fill in some gaps. Even the smallest tidbit can lead you to finding a pot of gold.
You can also compare the names with some of the early censuses to see if you are following the correct family. Censuses can be difficult as they are not always accurate. The early ones were done by folks in the neighborhood who sometimes were known to make educated guesses. Just remember, a census is secondary evidence when trying to find your roots. If possible, go by the death, marriage, land, wills, probate, church, draft registration, SSDI or other records. Look for patterns and a preponderance of evidence to support your theories.
If you've got roots in the Pittsburgh area, my merry little band of 47 volunteers is still busy digging them up out of old newspapers. The list blooms each day and we strive to send a new upload to the web about once a month or so. To date, we have almost 70,000 death entries, over 16,000 (so 32,000 names) marriage entries, and 1103 divorces. The dates of the newspapers range from 1806-1997.
You can check out the dates here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njm1/Daily-Update-Submitted-Newspapers.html
And the names here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
We also have been hard at work on a military service personnel index for WWI. This information is also coming from the old Pittsburgh newspapers. We currently have almost 70,000 entires uploaded on this index and I have more waiting to go. Check it out here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
Ahh, genealogy. Sometimes, it's not the pollen that has you running for the kleenex, it's the new branches on the family tree.
©2011 AS Eldredge
I so marvel at the wonder of spring as the trees awaken from their deep winter slumber and everything comes to life once more. Branches you thought were dead spring to life with new leaves, just like my genealogy trees.
A cousin just popped up as a result of reading some of my earlier posts. How fun is that? It's always interesting to be able to share the information as you know it to be with other family members who are just beginning their search for their roots. Of course, it is even more fun for me to be able to solve some mysteries of the past and verify what I think I know.
A good source to research is that of old obituaries. They can be hard to locate, but sometimes, they can really send you into screaming fits of joy.
Take, for example, the obit of Austin McClain BRENDEL. His May 1935 obit confirms the name of his wife and their two children. The surprise of the obit came in two parts: "...Mr. Brendel leaves.....and a daughter, Mrs Floyd TAYLOR of Akron, OH......." and "He was buried in the Southside Cemetery beside his mother."
Really? Another daughter? Does that mean an earlier marriage?
The obit led us on a goose chase for Mrs. Floyd TAYLOR. We found evidence of her and, then we lost her. The name was just too common and she appeared to have left the area. That was several years ago.
We've just found her daughter alive and well. Or rather, she found us with the able assistance of her son. This is so cool. Emails are flying and more tidbits of information are coming in. Now we have more leads to follow to try and nail down some of the past that we think we know. Will we have moments of "aha" waiting for us?
We knew where Austin was buried as I have been to the site and my father's cousins had told me. This had also been confirmed by the cemetery. What we didn't know was that his mother, Henrietta Renton McCLAIN BRENDEL, was also buried there. Surprise. There are no headstones for either of them.
The newly found cousin was able to supply the name of the first wife, so now it's off to see what supporting documentation will show up on her family. A local history book has identified the family names, so the search is on. A local hysterical society :) in the area has confirmed they have information on her family and I am patiently waiting for them to identify what the information is.
I have also been able to find when his first wife filed for divorce by finding it in a 1910 Pittsburgh newspaper. Now I wait for my "sweet tea" buddy to make his monthly trek to the Allegheny County courthouse to find the hard evidence for me.
Old obituaries are really great. They can provide the names of those grieving for the deceased. Those names, in turn, can sometimes be traced to a living descendant. If you are lucky enough to locate an old obituary, you can then start the hunt for a living, breathing kinsman who may be able to fill in some gaps. Even the smallest tidbit can lead you to finding a pot of gold.
You can also compare the names with some of the early censuses to see if you are following the correct family. Censuses can be difficult as they are not always accurate. The early ones were done by folks in the neighborhood who sometimes were known to make educated guesses. Just remember, a census is secondary evidence when trying to find your roots. If possible, go by the death, marriage, land, wills, probate, church, draft registration, SSDI or other records. Look for patterns and a preponderance of evidence to support your theories.
If you've got roots in the Pittsburgh area, my merry little band of 47 volunteers is still busy digging them up out of old newspapers. The list blooms each day and we strive to send a new upload to the web about once a month or so. To date, we have almost 70,000 death entries, over 16,000 (so 32,000 names) marriage entries, and 1103 divorces. The dates of the newspapers range from 1806-1997.
You can check out the dates here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njm1/Daily-Update-Submitted-Newspapers.html
And the names here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
We also have been hard at work on a military service personnel index for WWI. This information is also coming from the old Pittsburgh newspapers. We currently have almost 70,000 entires uploaded on this index and I have more waiting to go. Check it out here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
Ahh, genealogy. Sometimes, it's not the pollen that has you running for the kleenex, it's the new branches on the family tree.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Treasure Chest Thursday: There's a New Search Engine in Genealogy Town
Recently, I've seen a couple of references to the new online genealogy research tool, mocavo.com. While I don't know much about it from personal use, its presence may help to redefine the future for those of us who have been bitten with "the bug."
After hearing about the site, I thought I'd take a look and see what all the fuss is about. After typing in several names which I am interested in, I did find some old entries of mine from Genforum and some from Find a Grave. It is nice to see just genealogical connections on the site.
I hadn't found anything of use to me when I typed in my grandmother's uncommon maiden name. Not expecting much, I was surprised to her listed with her siblings and parents. As her parents came direct from Sweden and changed names when they landed, I was intrigued to find her name. Lucky for me, I clicked on the link and it took me to the site where her name is mentioned. No new information was spotted, but the name and email address of the submitter was there.
I've jotted off an email to the submitter to see if I can determine who they are and if they share my blood. I'll let you know.
Overall, current reviews are mixed, but here is Eastman's take on the site. I suspect the reviews will become more in favor of the site as new information is uploaded on the internet. It is certainly a great place to include in the search for your elusive ancestors.
The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.
Mocavo.com - a Genealogy Search Engine
I suggest you remember this web site: Mocavo.com. I bet you are going to hear a lot about it in the next few weeks and months. In fact, I'd suggest you try it right now. I've been using the site for a while during its testing and have been very impressed. This thing actually works! Today, Mocavo.com went public and is now available to everyone.
Mocavo.com is a genealogy search engine that is available to you at no charge. It searches hundreds of thousands of genealogy web sites, looking for the words that you specify. Web sites searched include thousands of genealogy message boards, society web pages, genealogy pages uploaded by individuals, state historical societies, family societies, Find-A-Grave, the Internet Archive (mostly scanned genealogy books from the Allen County Public Library), the Library of Congress, several sites containing scanned images of old photographs, and tens of thousands of distinct sites sites that contain various transcribed records of genealogical interest.
Unlike other search engines, Mocavo.com limits its searches solely to genealogy sites. That makes a big difference to many of us who are searching for names that also are common words or corporate names. For instance, if I search for my own surname, Eastman, on most any other search engine, I receive hundreds of thousands of "hits" from photography sites and other sites that have nothing to do with genealogy. Performing a search for "Eastman" on Mocavo.com returns thousands of "hits," all of them from genealogy sites and with very few references to photography. Even the few that refer to the Eastman Kodak Company were references found on genealogy sites. A search for my own surname did return a "hit" for one page about the "Eastman Sea Rover airplane," something I had never heard of previously. Even that one "hit" was from a genealogy message board, providing information about the ancestry of the airplane's designer. Regardless of your search terms, Mocavo.com always returns information found on web sites that contain significant genealogy information.
I suspect you will always have better luck searching for your own surnames of interest on Mocavo.com than on any other search engine.
As an example of how Mocavo.com works, I'd suggest you first go to the site and perform a search for Amos Shaw who was married to Sarah Maxey. I found the couple by a search of:
"amos shaw" "sarah maxey"
(Include the quote marks.)
That search found 41 "hits," but the one that was really productive was the fifth "hit" on the first page. That fifth "hit" may change up or down in the future, but you can always return to the correct page if you go to http://www.mocavo.com/visit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.findagrave.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Ffg.cgi%3Fpage%3Dgr%26GRid%3D9525960. It is a FindAGrave result with an amazing photograph of a lady who was born in 1793 and died in 1868. You can find a photograph of her husband (who died in 1859) one click away. Those are old photos! It is rare to find a photograph of someone born in the 1700s. You will find it much more difficult to find old photographs like this using Google searches for genealogy!
Now try a few searches on Mocavo.com with your own names of interest.
Of course, searches on Mocavo.com are not limited to names. As with any other search engine, you can search for towns, states, occupations, relatives, or any other text information you think might be included with an ancestor's name. Whatever you specify, the search will be limited to pages on genealogy web sites. For instance, I have long been looking for the origins of Washington Harvey Eastman who lived his adult life in Corinth, Maine. I performed the following search on Mocavo.com:
"Washington Harvey Eastman" Corinth
This returned only two results, both referring to the specific person I have been looking for (although they only provided information I had already seen previously). Searching for the same person without his town of residence produces many more "hits," most of them for other men with the same or similar names. Adding the town of reference quickly produces focused results.
With the exception of the sites being searched, Mocavo.com operates in much the same manner as Google and most other search engines. Mocavo always displays the full URL of the web site(s) found, along with a line of text from the site that contains the words you searched for. Clicking on the URL displays the original web site. Mocavo.com never "hides" anything; the original web site is always displayed in its entirety.
According to Cliff Shaw, the creator of Mocavo.com:
“Genealogy has always had the problem of information and potential clues being spread across thousands of disparate web sites and sources. Imagine a world where you have all of the Web’s free genealogy content at your fingertips within seconds. That is Mocavo.com.
“Mocavo.com has the capacity to index every single piece of free genealogy content found anywhere on the web, and will be growing by leaps and bounds in the coming months. We expect Mocavo.com to shortly offer all of the web’s free genealogy information, searchable and accessible to all – something that has never been done before. It’s set to become the go-to search engine for every family history enthusiast.”
At this time, Mocavo.com finds mostly North American genealogy information. I suspect that will expand in the future as the site grows "by leaps and bounds every day."
Cliff Shaw has created a great genealogy search engine, the best I have seen. Try it. I suspect you'll be as pleased with Mocavo.com as I am. Go to http://www.Mocavo.com
I still plan on using other search engines for a lot for my other web searches. However, all my future genealogy searches will start on Mocavo.com. I've been using the site for a while during its testing and have been very impressed. I suspect you will always have better luck searching for your own surnames of interest on Mocavo.com than on any other search engine.
--
Ahh, genealogy. Always shaking those trees for my roots.
Update: I heard back from the submitter of my great grandparents' information. No kin here. They had just pulled something off the census. Disappointing.
©2011 AS Eldredge
After hearing about the site, I thought I'd take a look and see what all the fuss is about. After typing in several names which I am interested in, I did find some old entries of mine from Genforum and some from Find a Grave. It is nice to see just genealogical connections on the site.
I hadn't found anything of use to me when I typed in my grandmother's uncommon maiden name. Not expecting much, I was surprised to her listed with her siblings and parents. As her parents came direct from Sweden and changed names when they landed, I was intrigued to find her name. Lucky for me, I clicked on the link and it took me to the site where her name is mentioned. No new information was spotted, but the name and email address of the submitter was there.
I've jotted off an email to the submitter to see if I can determine who they are and if they share my blood. I'll let you know.
Overall, current reviews are mixed, but here is Eastman's take on the site. I suspect the reviews will become more in favor of the site as new information is uploaded on the internet. It is certainly a great place to include in the search for your elusive ancestors.
The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com.
Mocavo.com - a Genealogy Search Engine
I suggest you remember this web site: Mocavo.com. I bet you are going to hear a lot about it in the next few weeks and months. In fact, I'd suggest you try it right now. I've been using the site for a while during its testing and have been very impressed. This thing actually works! Today, Mocavo.com went public and is now available to everyone.
Mocavo.com is a genealogy search engine that is available to you at no charge. It searches hundreds of thousands of genealogy web sites, looking for the words that you specify. Web sites searched include thousands of genealogy message boards, society web pages, genealogy pages uploaded by individuals, state historical societies, family societies, Find-A-Grave, the Internet Archive (mostly scanned genealogy books from the Allen County Public Library), the Library of Congress, several sites containing scanned images of old photographs, and tens of thousands of distinct sites sites that contain various transcribed records of genealogical interest.
Unlike other search engines, Mocavo.com limits its searches solely to genealogy sites. That makes a big difference to many of us who are searching for names that also are common words or corporate names. For instance, if I search for my own surname, Eastman, on most any other search engine, I receive hundreds of thousands of "hits" from photography sites and other sites that have nothing to do with genealogy. Performing a search for "Eastman" on Mocavo.com returns thousands of "hits," all of them from genealogy sites and with very few references to photography. Even the few that refer to the Eastman Kodak Company were references found on genealogy sites. A search for my own surname did return a "hit" for one page about the "Eastman Sea Rover airplane," something I had never heard of previously. Even that one "hit" was from a genealogy message board, providing information about the ancestry of the airplane's designer. Regardless of your search terms, Mocavo.com always returns information found on web sites that contain significant genealogy information.
I suspect you will always have better luck searching for your own surnames of interest on Mocavo.com than on any other search engine.
As an example of how Mocavo.com works, I'd suggest you first go to the site and perform a search for Amos Shaw who was married to Sarah Maxey. I found the couple by a search of:
"amos shaw" "sarah maxey"
(Include the quote marks.)
That search found 41 "hits," but the one that was really productive was the fifth "hit" on the first page. That fifth "hit" may change up or down in the future, but you can always return to the correct page if you go to http://www.mocavo.com/visit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.findagrave.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Ffg.cgi%3Fpage%3Dgr%26GRid%3D9525960. It is a FindAGrave result with an amazing photograph of a lady who was born in 1793 and died in 1868. You can find a photograph of her husband (who died in 1859) one click away. Those are old photos! It is rare to find a photograph of someone born in the 1700s. You will find it much more difficult to find old photographs like this using Google searches for genealogy!
Now try a few searches on Mocavo.com with your own names of interest.
Of course, searches on Mocavo.com are not limited to names. As with any other search engine, you can search for towns, states, occupations, relatives, or any other text information you think might be included with an ancestor's name. Whatever you specify, the search will be limited to pages on genealogy web sites. For instance, I have long been looking for the origins of Washington Harvey Eastman who lived his adult life in Corinth, Maine. I performed the following search on Mocavo.com:
"Washington Harvey Eastman" Corinth
This returned only two results, both referring to the specific person I have been looking for (although they only provided information I had already seen previously). Searching for the same person without his town of residence produces many more "hits," most of them for other men with the same or similar names. Adding the town of reference quickly produces focused results.
With the exception of the sites being searched, Mocavo.com operates in much the same manner as Google and most other search engines. Mocavo always displays the full URL of the web site(s) found, along with a line of text from the site that contains the words you searched for. Clicking on the URL displays the original web site. Mocavo.com never "hides" anything; the original web site is always displayed in its entirety.
According to Cliff Shaw, the creator of Mocavo.com:
“Genealogy has always had the problem of information and potential clues being spread across thousands of disparate web sites and sources. Imagine a world where you have all of the Web’s free genealogy content at your fingertips within seconds. That is Mocavo.com.
“Mocavo.com has the capacity to index every single piece of free genealogy content found anywhere on the web, and will be growing by leaps and bounds in the coming months. We expect Mocavo.com to shortly offer all of the web’s free genealogy information, searchable and accessible to all – something that has never been done before. It’s set to become the go-to search engine for every family history enthusiast.”
At this time, Mocavo.com finds mostly North American genealogy information. I suspect that will expand in the future as the site grows "by leaps and bounds every day."
Cliff Shaw has created a great genealogy search engine, the best I have seen. Try it. I suspect you'll be as pleased with Mocavo.com as I am. Go to http://www.Mocavo.com
I still plan on using other search engines for a lot for my other web searches. However, all my future genealogy searches will start on Mocavo.com. I've been using the site for a while during its testing and have been very impressed. I suspect you will always have better luck searching for your own surnames of interest on Mocavo.com than on any other search engine.
--
Ahh, genealogy. Always shaking those trees for my roots.
Update: I heard back from the submitter of my great grandparents' information. No kin here. They had just pulled something off the census. Disappointing.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Monday, March 21, 2011
24 Visits from the Stork: A True Labor of Love
While looking around at an old Pittsburgh Press newspaper today dated December 27, 1923, I ran across this story.
While I can say with confidence that I am not related by blood to this clan, I can add that my dear spouse is distantly related to William Penn, thus to this lady as well.
What a story. What a lady.
M'Keesport Couple Bring a Family of Twenty-Four into World--Mother a Penn
France and England have decorated their sons and daughters who brought 24 children into the world. America probably does not know that in McKeesport, not so long ago, John and Sarah Tauber had a like number of visitations from the stork.
And added to this self sacrifice of the mother, she endowed each child with rightful honor of declaring a lineage in the historical family of William Penn. She, before her marriage, was Sarah Virginia Penn, a direct descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania.
There is nothing unusual in the lives of John Tauber and his wife. John Tauber was born in Germany in 1830. Alone, he came to America 15 years later. In his early days, he learned the locksmith trade and established himself in Cumberland, MD, repairing locks, clocks and guns.
It was while he was repairing the flint lock rifle that belonged to the father of Sarah Penn, he met his future wife and mother of the largest family in western Pennsylvania, if not in the entire state.
John Tauber was 26 when he was married. His wife, nine years his junior. The ceremony took place Nov 20, 1856 in Cumberland, MD.
Early in the morning of March 4, 1857, the stork made its initial visit to the Tauber home. John J Tauber, the first child to the union, was born dead. The second child, born in June 1858, a short time after the young couple moved from Cumberland to McKeesport, lived for 43 years. John Tauber II, third child lived but two weeks.
List of Children
The children, the dates on which they were born, are as follows: John J, March 4, 1857; George I, Feb 22, 1858; John A Jan 15, 1859; Harry T, Feb 18, 1860; Adam A, March 12, 1861; Conrad W, May 23, 1862; Otto, Aug 23, 1863; Morgan, Mar 11, 1865; Rebecca S, Mar 18, 1866; Anna R, April 10, 1867; Barbara N, Nov 12, 1868; Martin, Dec 21, 1870, Minella, March 8, 1871; George II, Mary 17, 1872; Clara P, April 26, 1873; Elizabeth S, May 20, 1874; Fred, Feb 26, 1873; Thomas, Nov 10, 1875; Frank, Sept 8, 1876; Mary E, July 15, 1877; Amelia, July 18, 1878, Phoebe V, June 21, 1880, James A, May 15, 1881, Susan V, May 22, 1882.......
Story on family continues with the note that only six of the children died before age 14.
It just boggles my mind to think of the 26 years this lady spent either in maternity clothes or having a newborn with diapers around the house. Can you imagine how tired she was?
And I thought my one distant family member who had 18 children was so noteworthy. But wait, there's more. I think my distant family member's children all lived to adulthood.
Ahh genealogy. Counting the labor of love, one by one.
Source: Pittsburgh Press, Dec 27, 1923 pg7
©2011 AS Eldredge
While I can say with confidence that I am not related by blood to this clan, I can add that my dear spouse is distantly related to William Penn, thus to this lady as well.
What a story. What a lady.
M'Keesport Couple Bring a Family of Twenty-Four into World--Mother a Penn
France and England have decorated their sons and daughters who brought 24 children into the world. America probably does not know that in McKeesport, not so long ago, John and Sarah Tauber had a like number of visitations from the stork.
And added to this self sacrifice of the mother, she endowed each child with rightful honor of declaring a lineage in the historical family of William Penn. She, before her marriage, was Sarah Virginia Penn, a direct descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania.
There is nothing unusual in the lives of John Tauber and his wife. John Tauber was born in Germany in 1830. Alone, he came to America 15 years later. In his early days, he learned the locksmith trade and established himself in Cumberland, MD, repairing locks, clocks and guns.
It was while he was repairing the flint lock rifle that belonged to the father of Sarah Penn, he met his future wife and mother of the largest family in western Pennsylvania, if not in the entire state.
John Tauber was 26 when he was married. His wife, nine years his junior. The ceremony took place Nov 20, 1856 in Cumberland, MD.
Early in the morning of March 4, 1857, the stork made its initial visit to the Tauber home. John J Tauber, the first child to the union, was born dead. The second child, born in June 1858, a short time after the young couple moved from Cumberland to McKeesport, lived for 43 years. John Tauber II, third child lived but two weeks.
List of Children
The children, the dates on which they were born, are as follows: John J, March 4, 1857; George I, Feb 22, 1858; John A Jan 15, 1859; Harry T, Feb 18, 1860; Adam A, March 12, 1861; Conrad W, May 23, 1862; Otto, Aug 23, 1863; Morgan, Mar 11, 1865; Rebecca S, Mar 18, 1866; Anna R, April 10, 1867; Barbara N, Nov 12, 1868; Martin, Dec 21, 1870, Minella, March 8, 1871; George II, Mary 17, 1872; Clara P, April 26, 1873; Elizabeth S, May 20, 1874; Fred, Feb 26, 1873; Thomas, Nov 10, 1875; Frank, Sept 8, 1876; Mary E, July 15, 1877; Amelia, July 18, 1878, Phoebe V, June 21, 1880, James A, May 15, 1881, Susan V, May 22, 1882.......
Story on family continues with the note that only six of the children died before age 14.
It just boggles my mind to think of the 26 years this lady spent either in maternity clothes or having a newborn with diapers around the house. Can you imagine how tired she was?
And I thought my one distant family member who had 18 children was so noteworthy. But wait, there's more. I think my distant family member's children all lived to adulthood.
Ahh genealogy. Counting the labor of love, one by one.
Source: Pittsburgh Press, Dec 27, 1923 pg7
©2011 AS Eldredge
Friday, March 18, 2011
Searching for Ancestors with Revolutionary Online Databases
The Daughters of the American Revolution have been collecting genealogy data since its 1890 beginnings. Women who have proven blood descent of American Revolution patriots have been working nonstop to digitize many of their records.
The general public can easily search DAR databases to locate names of known patriots, descendants, and documentation of over 20,000 typescript records, which have been donated by DAR members.
Begun in 1913, the collection of genealogical records consists of Bible, cemetery, county histories, and other types of genealogical records. By entering a name and state, titles of reports are displayed online. The details are available for a small fee.
In addition, volunteers are busily engaged in transcribing all DAR applications. The Analytical Card and Revolutionary War Pension indices have been digitized, thus providing a valuable resource not found elsewhere.
Growing daily with volunteer efforts, these databases can provide patriot names, descendants, land records, or other genealogical documentation useful to researchers.
The DAR is a great source to augment your genealogy research and record copies are available for purchase. Go to www.Dar.org. Click on genealogy to begin your search in their records. Who knows? You just may find revolutionary news of your own.
Ahh, genealogy. Did you know that over 2 million women have served in the defense of America since the times of the American Revolution? Do you have one in your line? I do. Perhaps it's time to honor her story.
2011 AS Eldredge
The general public can easily search DAR databases to locate names of known patriots, descendants, and documentation of over 20,000 typescript records, which have been donated by DAR members.
Begun in 1913, the collection of genealogical records consists of Bible, cemetery, county histories, and other types of genealogical records. By entering a name and state, titles of reports are displayed online. The details are available for a small fee.
In addition, volunteers are busily engaged in transcribing all DAR applications. The Analytical Card and Revolutionary War Pension indices have been digitized, thus providing a valuable resource not found elsewhere.
Growing daily with volunteer efforts, these databases can provide patriot names, descendants, land records, or other genealogical documentation useful to researchers.
The DAR is a great source to augment your genealogy research and record copies are available for purchase. Go to www.Dar.org. Click on genealogy to begin your search in their records. Who knows? You just may find revolutionary news of your own.
Ahh, genealogy. Did you know that over 2 million women have served in the defense of America since the times of the American Revolution? Do you have one in your line? I do. Perhaps it's time to honor her story.
2011 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Pittsburgh area WWI Military Index Updated
Unbelievable. The World War I Military Personnel Index that I am involved with now has almost 70,000 entries. Ok, so it's really ONLY 67,989 entries.
These entries are all marching in from old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, newspapers courtesy of my genealogy buddy, Lynn B in Arizona.
The most recent entries are coming from dates after the war ended in 1918. It's really cool to read some of the stories of the boys as they come home from the horrendous battlefields in Europe. Even the headlines of the daily newspapers provide a snapshot to the emotions and events at the end of the Great War.
I found myself just stopping my daily routine just to spend time reading some of the articles. One article which caught my eye is from the January 19, 1919, Pittsburgh Press. While the article is about one John E STANTON who was among the first Americans in German territory, names of his family members are also mentioned. What a great find for that family!
Other articles provide pictures and memories of battles in France. What great reading!
The index can be seen here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
If you are among the fortunate to see your beloved's name, you will be able to identify the date and which newspaper and page to search. Even if you don't readily find your family, the tales are fascinating.
Ahh, genealogy. While my grandfather's name hasn't been seen yet, he was exposed to mustard gas in France and ended up losing part of one leg due to being wounded.
©2011 AS Eldredge
These entries are all marching in from old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, newspapers courtesy of my genealogy buddy, Lynn B in Arizona.
The most recent entries are coming from dates after the war ended in 1918. It's really cool to read some of the stories of the boys as they come home from the horrendous battlefields in Europe. Even the headlines of the daily newspapers provide a snapshot to the emotions and events at the end of the Great War.
I found myself just stopping my daily routine just to spend time reading some of the articles. One article which caught my eye is from the January 19, 1919, Pittsburgh Press. While the article is about one John E STANTON who was among the first Americans in German territory, names of his family members are also mentioned. What a great find for that family!
Other articles provide pictures and memories of battles in France. What great reading!
The index can be seen here: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
If you are among the fortunate to see your beloved's name, you will be able to identify the date and which newspaper and page to search. Even if you don't readily find your family, the tales are fascinating.
Ahh, genealogy. While my grandfather's name hasn't been seen yet, he was exposed to mustard gas in France and ended up losing part of one leg due to being wounded.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Southern American Revolution Patriots Pension Online Transcriptions
While reading the daily EOGN which is delivered to my inbox every day, I stumbled across a post on Revolutionary War Southern Campaign Pension Application Transcriptions Online. How cool is this?
After reading the posted American Revolution pension application for one Dan Alexander, I thought I'd wander over to the site, http://southerncampaign.org/pen/ , and see if I could locate a pension file from my maternal side.
Bingo! There it was! And, I'm excited to report this one pension contains the death date and the marriage date! So here 'tis just in case you share my maternal blood.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of John Poston W26923 Rebecca fn30NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 9/17/09
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber—besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber.]
[fn p. 3 family record]
Peggy was Born the 9th day of February in the year 1782
Rebekah was born the 31st day May in the year 1783
Jenny was born the 17th day of October in the year 1785
Elizabeth was born the 30th day of January in the year 1786
Salley was born the 15 day of January in the year 1888 [sic]
Robert Postion [sic] was born the 28th of December in the year 1889 [sic]
Polley was born the 30th day of August in the year 1890 [sic]
Jno A. B. Poston was born the 7th day of November in the year 1894 [sic]
Nancy Poston was born the 9th day of April in the year 1897 [sic]
Send the Poston was born the 6th day of March in the year 1801
John Poston Senior departed this life August 22nd Day 1819
William Poston was born in the year of our Lord August 14th Day 1809
[fn p. 8] State of North Carolina Buncombe County
On this 4th day of July 1845 Personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions in and for the County aforesaid Rebecca Poston a Resident of North Carolina in the County of Buncombe aged seventy-nine years, Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the acts of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows -- That she is the widow of John Poston who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution And who entered the service of the United States as a Drafted Soldier sometime in the year 1779 or 80 in the County of Roan [sic, Rowan], North Carolina and served out 13 months tour: soon after which he again volunteered or was drafted & entered the service of the United States in which he remained as she has often heard him say, until after the surrender of Cornwallis at which time he was present and saw Cornwallis surrender his sword to (she thinks) General Lincoln, the names of the Captains under which he mustered she does not Recollect: She however recollects to have heard him say that he was commanded by Generals McDowell and Davidson. She further Recollects that he was in the Battle at the Cowpens. She further declares that she was married to the said John Poston on the 25th day of April in the year 1782. That her said Husband the aforesaid John Poston Died on the 22nd day of August 1819, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 (viz.) at the time above stated.
She further states that she has no Record proof of her said marriage, but that she has a Record of the ages of her children and of the Death of her Husband the aforesaid John Poston. That she was married to him the said John Poston at the time aforesaid in the County of Lincoln in the State of North Carolina. That she never has since been Death of her said husband again married. But that she still remains the widow of the said John Poston -- the Record of the ages of her children & of the death of her said Husband are here with remitted.
S/ Rebecca Poston, X her mark Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court on the day and date above written.
S/ N. Harrison, Clerk of the Buncombe County Court
[fn p. 11: On December 30, 1851 in Buncombe County North Carolina, Charles McFee, the administrator of the estate of Rebecca Poston filed a claim for pension due her as the widow of John Poston; in this application the affiant states that John Poston served in a company commanded by Captain John Work; that John Poston married Rebecca Balldridge in Iredell County, date unknown but prior to January one, 1794; that John Poston died August 22nd, 1819 survived by Rebecca Poston, his widow and the following children now living: Mary Davis, Jane Bryson, Rebeco [Rebecca] Bryson, Nancy Nicholas, Lusindia [Lucinda] Stines, Ruthy Smith & Robert Poston.]
[fn p.15: bond taken out by John Poston, Junior and John Poston, Senior, of Rowan County North Carolina dated April 24, 1782 to secure the marriage of John Poston to Rebecca Baldridge of Lincoln County.]
[fn p. 20: certificate dated September 30th 1851 issued by the North Carolina Comptroller's Office showing payments made to John Poston for services in the revolution including service under Captain John Work in January 1776 for 32 days in an expedition to Moore's Creek.]
My mom used to tell me that her kin had fought under General Francis Marion, and I've been itching to document that tidbit.
I looked around at some of the other surnames from my maternal side and checked them out as well. While it is possible a couple of them could be related somehow, there are others I could immediately rule out. Guess I'll keep searching for the name Marion used in conjunction with my blood kin who had migrated to that little area of South Carolina.
Ahh, genealogy. Another day, another unexpected find.
©2011 AS Eldredge
After reading the posted American Revolution pension application for one Dan Alexander, I thought I'd wander over to the site, http://southerncampaign.org/pen/ , and see if I could locate a pension file from my maternal side.
Bingo! There it was! And, I'm excited to report this one pension contains the death date and the marriage date! So here 'tis just in case you share my maternal blood.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of John Poston W26923 Rebecca fn30NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 9/17/09
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber—besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber.]
[fn p. 3 family record]
Peggy was Born the 9th day of February in the year 1782
Rebekah was born the 31st day May in the year 1783
Jenny was born the 17th day of October in the year 1785
Elizabeth was born the 30th day of January in the year 1786
Salley was born the 15 day of January in the year 1888 [sic]
Robert Postion [sic] was born the 28th of December in the year 1889 [sic]
Polley was born the 30th day of August in the year 1890 [sic]
Jno A. B. Poston was born the 7th day of November in the year 1894 [sic]
Nancy Poston was born the 9th day of April in the year 1897 [sic]
Send the Poston was born the 6th day of March in the year 1801
John Poston Senior departed this life August 22nd Day 1819
William Poston was born in the year of our Lord August 14th Day 1809
[fn p. 8] State of North Carolina Buncombe County
On this 4th day of July 1845 Personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions in and for the County aforesaid Rebecca Poston a Resident of North Carolina in the County of Buncombe aged seventy-nine years, Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the acts of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows -- That she is the widow of John Poston who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution And who entered the service of the United States as a Drafted Soldier sometime in the year 1779 or 80 in the County of Roan [sic, Rowan], North Carolina and served out 13 months tour: soon after which he again volunteered or was drafted & entered the service of the United States in which he remained as she has often heard him say, until after the surrender of Cornwallis at which time he was present and saw Cornwallis surrender his sword to (she thinks) General Lincoln, the names of the Captains under which he mustered she does not Recollect: She however recollects to have heard him say that he was commanded by Generals McDowell and Davidson. She further Recollects that he was in the Battle at the Cowpens. She further declares that she was married to the said John Poston on the 25th day of April in the year 1782. That her said Husband the aforesaid John Poston Died on the 22nd day of August 1819, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 (viz.) at the time above stated.
She further states that she has no Record proof of her said marriage, but that she has a Record of the ages of her children and of the Death of her Husband the aforesaid John Poston. That she was married to him the said John Poston at the time aforesaid in the County of Lincoln in the State of North Carolina. That she never has since been Death of her said husband again married. But that she still remains the widow of the said John Poston -- the Record of the ages of her children & of the death of her said Husband are here with remitted.
S/ Rebecca Poston, X her mark Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court on the day and date above written.
S/ N. Harrison, Clerk of the Buncombe County Court
[fn p. 11: On December 30, 1851 in Buncombe County North Carolina, Charles McFee, the administrator of the estate of Rebecca Poston filed a claim for pension due her as the widow of John Poston; in this application the affiant states that John Poston served in a company commanded by Captain John Work; that John Poston married Rebecca Balldridge in Iredell County, date unknown but prior to January one, 1794; that John Poston died August 22nd, 1819 survived by Rebecca Poston, his widow and the following children now living: Mary Davis, Jane Bryson, Rebeco [Rebecca] Bryson, Nancy Nicholas, Lusindia [Lucinda] Stines, Ruthy Smith & Robert Poston.]
[fn p.15: bond taken out by John Poston, Junior and John Poston, Senior, of Rowan County North Carolina dated April 24, 1782 to secure the marriage of John Poston to Rebecca Baldridge of Lincoln County.]
[fn p. 20: certificate dated September 30th 1851 issued by the North Carolina Comptroller's Office showing payments made to John Poston for services in the revolution including service under Captain John Work in January 1776 for 32 days in an expedition to Moore's Creek.]
My mom used to tell me that her kin had fought under General Francis Marion, and I've been itching to document that tidbit.
I looked around at some of the other surnames from my maternal side and checked them out as well. While it is possible a couple of them could be related somehow, there are others I could immediately rule out. Guess I'll keep searching for the name Marion used in conjunction with my blood kin who had migrated to that little area of South Carolina.
Ahh, genealogy. Another day, another unexpected find.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Emory Libraries to Preserve Rare African American Scrapbooks
How many hours have we sat down to chronicle our lives and the lives of our children? Scrapbooking has become so popular today, but it was also a very important part of our nation's history. Thought you'd enjoy seeing some of the preservation efforts.
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Rare African American scrapbooks at Emory’s Manuscript, Archives and Rare Books Library (MARBL) can be saved from the perils of disintegration thanks to a $170,000 three-year matching Save America’s Treasures grant.
The grant will be used to conserve African American scrapbooks and create digital surrogates to enhance access to the historical materials – the scrapbooks of artists, writers, students, vaudeville performers, preachers and former slaves. The Emory Libraries will provide the matching amount. Thirty-four scrapbooks have been selected, with dates ranging from 1883 to 1975. They include the scrapbooks of author Alice Walker, vaudeville performers “Jolly” John Larkin and Johnny Hudgins, entertainer and playwright Flourney Miller, Spelman College graduate Virginia Hannon, and former slave and author W.S. Scarborough, who became a professor of classics at Wilberforce University, and eventually its president.
“Scrapbooks have often been treated as the unwanted children or the neglected orphans of the archives. They are difficult to handle, they are often in fragile physical condition, and they are a mix of memorabilia of every description and taste,” says Randall K. Burkett, MARBL’s curator of African American collections.
“These scrapbooks give us a glimpse into how these artists and students and former slaves thought about themselves, their families, their work. The funding for this project will allow us to preserve these important memory books.”
'The scrapbooks are deteriorating rapidly'
MARBL and the Emory Libraries’ preservation department and Digital Curation Center will collaborate on the project, says Laura Carroll, manuscript archivist and principal investigator for the grant.
The scrapbooks contain items that disintegrate quickly or are easily damaged, such as folded newspaper clippings, pressed flowers and single-use paper items such as ticket stubs, napkins and telegram paper. The objects usually were attached with adhesives such as cheap tape, pastes or cement glue, also harmful to the archival materials.
The project is urgent because the scrapbooks are deteriorating rapidly, Carroll says. “We’re losing original information. People annotate their photographs.” Walker, for example, wrote original poems in her scrapbook. “The clock is ticking.”
Once the project begins, the scrapbooks first will be sent to preservation to be stabilized to prevent further damage. Digital surrogates will be created, which will be used in classrooms and MARBL’s reading room, unless researchers request the originals.
“The originals will still be available,” Carroll says. “Nothing replaces the original.” The work is expected to begin when funds arrive mid-year and will take place over the next three years.
The Save America’s Treasures grant is awarded through the Department of Interior and the National Park Service, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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Ahh, genealogy. Reading this article has me in the mood to pull out some old scrapbooks of my own.
©2011 AS Eldredge
---
Rare African American scrapbooks at Emory’s Manuscript, Archives and Rare Books Library (MARBL) can be saved from the perils of disintegration thanks to a $170,000 three-year matching Save America’s Treasures grant.
The grant will be used to conserve African American scrapbooks and create digital surrogates to enhance access to the historical materials – the scrapbooks of artists, writers, students, vaudeville performers, preachers and former slaves. The Emory Libraries will provide the matching amount. Thirty-four scrapbooks have been selected, with dates ranging from 1883 to 1975. They include the scrapbooks of author Alice Walker, vaudeville performers “Jolly” John Larkin and Johnny Hudgins, entertainer and playwright Flourney Miller, Spelman College graduate Virginia Hannon, and former slave and author W.S. Scarborough, who became a professor of classics at Wilberforce University, and eventually its president.
“Scrapbooks have often been treated as the unwanted children or the neglected orphans of the archives. They are difficult to handle, they are often in fragile physical condition, and they are a mix of memorabilia of every description and taste,” says Randall K. Burkett, MARBL’s curator of African American collections.
“These scrapbooks give us a glimpse into how these artists and students and former slaves thought about themselves, their families, their work. The funding for this project will allow us to preserve these important memory books.”
'The scrapbooks are deteriorating rapidly'
MARBL and the Emory Libraries’ preservation department and Digital Curation Center will collaborate on the project, says Laura Carroll, manuscript archivist and principal investigator for the grant.
The scrapbooks contain items that disintegrate quickly or are easily damaged, such as folded newspaper clippings, pressed flowers and single-use paper items such as ticket stubs, napkins and telegram paper. The objects usually were attached with adhesives such as cheap tape, pastes or cement glue, also harmful to the archival materials.
The project is urgent because the scrapbooks are deteriorating rapidly, Carroll says. “We’re losing original information. People annotate their photographs.” Walker, for example, wrote original poems in her scrapbook. “The clock is ticking.”
Once the project begins, the scrapbooks first will be sent to preservation to be stabilized to prevent further damage. Digital surrogates will be created, which will be used in classrooms and MARBL’s reading room, unless researchers request the originals.
“The originals will still be available,” Carroll says. “Nothing replaces the original.” The work is expected to begin when funds arrive mid-year and will take place over the next three years.
The Save America’s Treasures grant is awarded through the Department of Interior and the National Park Service, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
-----
Ahh, genealogy. Reading this article has me in the mood to pull out some old scrapbooks of my own.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Monday, February 28, 2011
Remembering Black History: Whispers in the Savannah Barracoons
Recently, I gathered my children and headed on a road trip to Savannah. After all, the weather was delightful and I was ready to escape all the dreariness of winter and cabin fever.
I wanted to be sure to talk history and show some historic places to the kids. While I didn't have the time on this trip to visit the final resting spot of my 2g-grandpa at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, I did make the time to wander River Street, and of course, the Pirate House.
I find the history of River Street and the surrounding area fascinating even if my family had no ties to Savannah. My 2g-grandpa is only laid to rest there as he was traveling home to South Carolina after having been wounded in the Civil War when he died.
River Street dates back in time to early Savannah. I can just imagine the ships arriving with new supplies, visitors and cotton being taken to market. I remember going to Savannah often as a child and my Yank dad pointing the Slave Barracoons that are right at River Street.
Looking at the barracoons, you can see the small windows each one had to allow air in and out. The doors are long gone, but evidence of them being there at one time are still visible. The barracoons were and are rather dark and dismal. It's just hard to believe that people were kept there as they were most likely jammed in tight. Up above one opening on the day we were there was a gorgeous tree who had just sported its new spring coat. What a contrast of color and hope that tree presents next to the barracoon.
Today, these temporary holding places for slaves are used as parking spots. There are no signs or plaques to indicate what these holding places were used for. I find that sad.
I struck up a conversation while I was there with two local gents who thanked me for taking the time to look at the barracoons and tell my children about them. The gents also were happy to tell me that spirits of the past can easily be felt in the lower levels of the some of the antique shops which are down on or right above River Street. I imagine the fear those poor souls felt would be something that could linger in the air.
The gents also said slaves who had been transported to Savannah from other places would be kept on Hutchinson Island until they were brought over to the Savannah port to market. Included in the lore from the gents was that slaves, their ancestors, would gather the unwanted fish thrown to the island by the fishermen boats at night. They said lobster and shrimp would have been on the menu as those sought after treats of today were not so popular with the Savannah folk back then.
The gents also regaled me with other stories about when George Washington was in Savannah, but to date, I have found no supporting documentation for their statements on slavery rules in Savannah.
Ahh, genealogy. Learning about others' roots in early America can make you sit still and listen for whispers in the wind.
I wanted to be sure to talk history and show some historic places to the kids. While I didn't have the time on this trip to visit the final resting spot of my 2g-grandpa at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, I did make the time to wander River Street, and of course, the Pirate House.
I find the history of River Street and the surrounding area fascinating even if my family had no ties to Savannah. My 2g-grandpa is only laid to rest there as he was traveling home to South Carolina after having been wounded in the Civil War when he died.
River Street dates back in time to early Savannah. I can just imagine the ships arriving with new supplies, visitors and cotton being taken to market. I remember going to Savannah often as a child and my Yank dad pointing the Slave Barracoons that are right at River Street.
Looking at the barracoons, you can see the small windows each one had to allow air in and out. The doors are long gone, but evidence of them being there at one time are still visible. The barracoons were and are rather dark and dismal. It's just hard to believe that people were kept there as they were most likely jammed in tight. Up above one opening on the day we were there was a gorgeous tree who had just sported its new spring coat. What a contrast of color and hope that tree presents next to the barracoon. Today, these temporary holding places for slaves are used as parking spots. There are no signs or plaques to indicate what these holding places were used for. I find that sad.
I struck up a conversation while I was there with two local gents who thanked me for taking the time to look at the barracoons and tell my children about them. The gents also were happy to tell me that spirits of the past can easily be felt in the lower levels of the some of the antique shops which are down on or right above River Street. I imagine the fear those poor souls felt would be something that could linger in the air.
The gents also said slaves who had been transported to Savannah from other places would be kept on Hutchinson Island until they were brought over to the Savannah port to market. Included in the lore from the gents was that slaves, their ancestors, would gather the unwanted fish thrown to the island by the fishermen boats at night. They said lobster and shrimp would have been on the menu as those sought after treats of today were not so popular with the Savannah folk back then.
The gents also regaled me with other stories about when George Washington was in Savannah, but to date, I have found no supporting documentation for their statements on slavery rules in Savannah.
Ahh, genealogy. Learning about others' roots in early America can make you sit still and listen for whispers in the wind.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Cooking in The Past
Have you ever noticed the warm comforting feeling you get when you eat your favorite foods? Have you noticed that eating certain foods can bring up some really fond memories?
Even though I never knew my great grandmother, thoughts of her come racing through my veins every time I eat her special mayo recipe that I use in a salad recipe. Yep, breaking all those eggs and taking the time to recreate her recipe just makes me hum and smile all day.
I also am fortunate enough to have a cookbook of my grandmother's. This cookbook is also the source of fond memories as I did know her sweet smile. How I smile each time I glance at her handwriting and look at the pages she turned so lovingly by hand. The handwritten notations on the pages of "grand" and "simply grand" result in her face floating in the air and me feel like I've just gotten a great big hug.
This wonderful old cookbook, Rumford Complete Cook Book, has my grandmother's handwritten notes and is dated January 21, 1926. The Rumford book was published as early as 1908 and was in production for about 40 years. I even found evidence of my mom learning to cook with this cookbook when I found her name, signature and a date.
As for me, I hope my kids will think kindly of me as they grow up and remember "Mom"s Homemade Secret Recipe for Red Velvet Cheesecake." After all, I do make each Valentine's Day.
Ahh, genealogy. How easy it is to find our roots in the food the eat!
©2011 AS Eldredge
Even though I never knew my great grandmother, thoughts of her come racing through my veins every time I eat her special mayo recipe that I use in a salad recipe. Yep, breaking all those eggs and taking the time to recreate her recipe just makes me hum and smile all day.
I also am fortunate enough to have a cookbook of my grandmother's. This cookbook is also the source of fond memories as I did know her sweet smile. How I smile each time I glance at her handwriting and look at the pages she turned so lovingly by hand. The handwritten notations on the pages of "grand" and "simply grand" result in her face floating in the air and me feel like I've just gotten a great big hug.
This wonderful old cookbook, Rumford Complete Cook Book, has my grandmother's handwritten notes and is dated January 21, 1926. The Rumford book was published as early as 1908 and was in production for about 40 years. I even found evidence of my mom learning to cook with this cookbook when I found her name, signature and a date.
As for me, I hope my kids will think kindly of me as they grow up and remember "Mom"s Homemade Secret Recipe for Red Velvet Cheesecake." After all, I do make each Valentine's Day.
Ahh, genealogy. How easy it is to find our roots in the food the eat!
©2011 AS Eldredge
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Old Pittsburgh Newspaper Marriage and Divorce Indices
The awesome all volunteer group from the Rootsweb Mailing Group that I am associated with has done it again. We've recently celebrated our one year anniversary for the death index we've been compiling from old newspapers in the Pittsburgh area. Yep, we've been combing the old newspapers from the last 200 years and the entries just keep on coming.
What would we do without the wonderful volunteers? (Did I mention these 46 super folks are fantastic in their commitment to the project?)
Just in case you missed it, our little project now has marriage and divorce sections, as well as our new military index with names from World War I.
Latest index numbers for marriages online (and available to all for free- well, maybe an occasional shout out from other researchers): 16,520
Latest index numbers for the divorce: 1083
Latest index numbers for the World War I military personnel index: 37, 324
Click here to go to the pages to see if you will shout for joy in your Pittsburgh area research:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
Ahh, genealogy. The old marriages and happy times come alive just in time for Valentine's Day. After all, we needed them for our generation.
©2011 AS Eldredge
What would we do without the wonderful volunteers? (Did I mention these 46 super folks are fantastic in their commitment to the project?)
Just in case you missed it, our little project now has marriage and divorce sections, as well as our new military index with names from World War I.
Latest index numbers for marriages online (and available to all for free- well, maybe an occasional shout out from other researchers): 16,520
Latest index numbers for the divorce: 1083
Latest index numbers for the World War I military personnel index: 37, 324
Click here to go to the pages to see if you will shout for joy in your Pittsburgh area research:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm
Ahh, genealogy. The old marriages and happy times come alive just in time for Valentine's Day. After all, we needed them for our generation.
©2011 AS Eldredge
Monday, February 07, 2011
Monday Madness: Identifying the Dead in St Mary's, Georgia
Not being able to identify the last resting place for a loved one can be downright frustrating, especially when you just know they are there.
I ran across the work done by the historians in St. Mary's, Camden, Georgia, and want to tip my hat to their hard work and dedication. Keep up the great efforts!
Historians identify unmarked graves at Ga. cemetery
ST. MARYS, Ga. — Kay Westberry knows that most of the hundreds of unmarked graves in Oak Grove Cemetery will never be identified.
Worse still, many graves will never be found.
She knows no one can pay her and the group of Camden County historians working with her for the painstaking research they do — often in vain — to fill in the blanks.
But in just a matter of months,....http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2011-02-06/historians-identify-unmarked-graves-ga-cemetery
Ahh, genealogy. Can't you just dig it?
©2011 AS Eldredge
I ran across the work done by the historians in St. Mary's, Camden, Georgia, and want to tip my hat to their hard work and dedication. Keep up the great efforts!
Historians identify unmarked graves at Ga. cemetery
ST. MARYS, Ga. — Kay Westberry knows that most of the hundreds of unmarked graves in Oak Grove Cemetery will never be identified.
Worse still, many graves will never be found.
She knows no one can pay her and the group of Camden County historians working with her for the painstaking research they do — often in vain — to fill in the blanks.
But in just a matter of months,....http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2011-02-06/historians-identify-unmarked-graves-ga-cemetery
Ahh, genealogy. Can't you just dig it?
©2011 AS Eldredge
Friday, February 04, 2011
Online South Carolina Slave Records Keep Growing
A very special kudos to my genealogy buddy, Lowcounty Africana, for her dedication and ongoing spirit as she has built many pages for the free Footnote Collections on South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872.
She has transcribed the slaves' names of many of the early plantation owners and invites other family researchers to contribute pictures and documents to the pages.
Just in case you have roots in the lowcountry, you may want to check it out.
http://www.footnote.com/page/282783107_lowcountry_africana_south_carolina/
I keep watching in the hope you'll get around to finding an estate for one of my elusive ancestors.
Ahh, genealogy. Got to remember the past in order to learn and improve our future.
©2011 AS Eldredge
She has transcribed the slaves' names of many of the early plantation owners and invites other family researchers to contribute pictures and documents to the pages.
Just in case you have roots in the lowcountry, you may want to check it out.
http://www.footnote.com/page/282783107_lowcountry_africana_south_carolina/
I keep watching in the hope you'll get around to finding an estate for one of my elusive ancestors.
Ahh, genealogy. Got to remember the past in order to learn and improve our future.
©2011 AS Eldredge
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