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While going through hundreds of slides of photos from the 1950s and 1960s, I was amazed at the beauty that appeared on my slide scanner's screen when I put these slides labeled "Estes Park" in. I couldn't wait to upload and share these! In the short slideshow video below, you can witness what I'm sure is just a tiny sampling of the magnificence of this place. Estes Park is a Statutory Town (similar to a village), in Larimer County, Colorado, just a few miles east of Rocky Mountain National Park. It was named after Joel Estes, a native of Missouri, who founded the community in 1859 and moved his family there in 1863. Estes Park sits at an elevation of 7,522 feet above sea level. The Big Thompson River runs through it and although I'm not sure which mountain is which, there are several surrounding the town. To the east is Mount Olympus, to the southeast is Kruger Rock, to the south is Prospect Mountain, to the southwest is Eagle Cliff Mountain, to the west is Deer Mountain, to the northwest is Castle Mountain and McGregor Mountain, and to the north is The Needles, Triangle Mountain, and Crosier Mountain...just to name a few. You can also tour the area virtually on Google Maps Street View: Have you been to Estes Park? Can you identify any of the locations in the photos? Do you notice any changes to the landscape? Share your observations in the comments below! Click here for thousands of free history and genealogy resources Click here for free history and genealogy resources for Colorado #colorado #photos #vintage #scenery #larimercounty

Among hundreds of vintage photos I am sorting through and sharing in the upcoming weeks, I found this picturesque scene. Two photos taken in 1965 feature the "Captree Boat Basin", on Jones Beach Island: On Google Maps, we can see that after 56 years, Captree Boat Basin still bears the same name. It is located on Jones Beach Island, near Captree Island. The bridge seen in the photo appears to be the Robert Moses Causeway, crossing the Great South Bay going back to Long Island. Captree State Park offers two large fishing piers, making it a hotspot for fisherman and picnickers. Captree Boat Basin offers the largest public fishing fleet on Long Island for those looking to do a little saltwater fishing. Sightseeing excursions are also available. You can visit their website at captreeboatbasin.com for details. (Note: MyGenealogyAddiction.com is in no way affiliated with Captree.) Stay tuned for more! See more New York history and genealogy resources here. #newyork #history #photos #vintage #captree

The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also called Stony Brook University (SBU), is a public research university located in Stony Brook, Suffolk County, New York. It is the largest public university in the state and the flagship campus of the SUNY (State University of New York) system. Stony Brook's story began in Oyster Bay, New York in 1957, when it was called the State University College on Long Island. In 1960 the State decided to form a new public university on Long Island. upon a recommendation by the Heald Report, and Ward Melville donated over 400 acres of land at Stony Brook to the State for that purpose. Two years later, in 1962, the State University College on Long Island was relocated to Stony Brook and its name was changed to State University of New York at Stony Brook. In 1963, the State took another recommendation from the Heald Report, for the creation of a Health Science Center and campus hospital to train and prepare medical professionals. Since then, Stony Brook has expanded to 1,454 acres of land with 213 buildings. These are are few of the originals, from photos taken in July of 1965: I was only able to locate one of the buildings on the campus. The first picture in the slideshow above is what is now the Sports Complex building shown here on Google Maps: Stay tuned as I share more of this collection of 1960s photos! Click here for more New York history and tons of genealogy resources! #newyork #suny #colleges #universities #stonybrook #longisland #suffolkcounty #photos

While going through an old box of slides and photo transparencies from the sixties, I found some dated July 1965, and after popping one in to my slide scanner, I was thrilled to see it was Shea Stadium. While these photos were before my time, I have been to Shea Stadium twice in the 1990s to see the New York Mets play, but it didn't look like this! The story of Shea Stadium is an interesting one. To sum it up, we need to go back to 1957, when New York had two National League baseball teams - the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. They also had the New York Yankees, but the Yankees are in the American League, East division. The New York Giants had played ball at the Polo Grounds since 1891, and The Brooklyn Dodgers played at both Washington Park and Eastern Park before using Ebbets Field, which they used for about 43 years. Both teams were in need of new stadiums. The owner of the Dodgers, Walter O'Malley, wanted to build a new stadium in Brooklyn at his own expense, but New York officials wanted the city to build the stadium and lease it out. Furthermore, the city insisted the new stadium be built at Flushing Meadow Park, so O'Malley packed up and moved to Southern California. The New York Giants baseball team also moved to California. so, the Brooklyn Dodgers became the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Giants became the San Francisco Giants, and New York was left without representation in the National League from 1958 to 1962. Finally, in 1962 a new National League team was formed. They were called the New York Mets and their colors were a combination of the two departed teams - blue from the Dodgers and orange from the Giants. The Mets played at the Polo Grounds, while the new stadium was being planned and conflicts over everything from financing to electrical work caused many challenges and setbacks. The stadium finally opened on April 17, 1964, when the Mets faced the Pittsburgh Pirates with a crowd of a little over 50,000 people in attendance. Sadly, the Mets lost 4-3. They played 82 games at Shea in 1964. Shea Stadium was located on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, Queens, New York. The first game played there was five days before the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, which was held near the stadium, so the stadium was decorated with blue and orange panels coordinating with the fair's futuristic theme. The panels remained until 1980. Shea Stadium hosted the World Series in 1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000. The Mets shared the field with the New York Jets (football team) from 1964 until 1983, converting it for use as a baseball field in the Spring and a football field in the Fall. In 1983 the Jets moved to New Jersey to share Giants Stadium with the New York Giants (football). The Mets continued to play at Shea Stadium until 2008, when it was demolished to make space for additional parking for their new home at Citi Field, which was completed in 2009. Their last game at Shea Stadium was against the Florida Marlins on September 28, 2008. The Mets lost 2-4. The photographs in the slides that got me all into this story were stamped by Kodak, "JUL 65", so I went to find out which game they were taken at. Even if we don't recognize the red and white uniforms, we can see in the scoreboard photo that the Mets were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets were losing 3-0 at the bottom of the second inning. I found a site that helped me find the roster for 1965, so I checked all the games they played against the Cardinals that year finding they played 18 games, of which they only won 5 that year. I was then able to check each game's "play by play" and found that on Sunday, July 4, 1965, the Mets played the Cardinals and at the bottom of the second inning, the score was 3-0. The final score was 6-2, with the Mets losing again. It was game #81 of the 1965 season but it was their 38th home game that year, so in these photos we see their 120th game played at Shea Stadium. The Mets' record for the season was 27-53 (W-L) when the game was over. Overall, they won 50 games that season and lost 112. These photos were sitting in storage for the past 60 years and I just thought they should be shared in memory of Shea Stadium and it's part in the changing of New York baseball, a major part of New York's culture. I hope you enjoy them! For those interested in copies of some of these rare old photos and more, check out my gallery on FineArtAmerica. Click here for more New York history and lots of genealogical resources! References: Shea Stadium [Wikipedia] Scores and Standings Sunday, July 04, 1965 [Baseball-Reference.com] Mets 1964 Schedule [Baseball-Reference.com] Mets 1965 Schedule [Baseball-Reference.com] Scores and Standings Sunday, September 28, 2008 [Baseball-Reference.com] #history #baseball #newyork #mets #photography

Over the past few weeks I have been working on better organizing the thousands of genealogy resources I've collected for reference during my years of genealogy research. Most of them are within the United States and you can browse resources by State, County, or Town, but I've also found some useful international resources along the way and organizing them has been somewhat of a challenge due to my admitted lack of knowledge of world geography. It is all very confusing to me, so I took some research to figure it all out. Let's take England for an example, where much of my family originates. England is located on the island of Great Britain, within the United Kingdom (U.K.), off the northwestern coast of the continent of Europe. The islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and more than six thousand smaller islands make up the British Isles, collectively encompassing 121,684 square miles. Besides the United Kingdom, Ireland is the only other sovereign nation in the British Isles. The Republic of Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, divided from Great Britain by the English Channel. Northern Ireland, however, belongs to the United Kingdom and although both Great Britain and Ireland are islands, they are located within the continent of Europe. As you know, Europe is one of the earth's seven continents. It is also considered part of the larger landmass called Eurasia. In this map, the continent of Europe is shown in green. As you can see, the islands of Ireland and Great Britain are shown as part of the continent of Europe, along with Iceland and thousands of other small islands. However, in terms of Continental Europe and its common definition, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland and Scandinavian (Nordic countries) are not considered European countries. It is primarily countries on the mainland that are considered to be part of Continental Europe. As of today, October 18, 2021, the population of Europe is 748,226,898 (Source). Russia's population tops the chart in both size and population, out of all the European countries, followed by Turkey, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, respectively. Following is a list of countries within the continent of Europe, located on the mainland (Continental Europe): * indicates countries that straddle both Europe and Asia. The following countries are Northern European countries, formerly part of Scandinavia, called Nordic Countries: Following are Islands which are considered part of the Continent of Europe, but generally not considered Continental European countries: After shining some light on my dark understanding of the definition of "European", I now understand why many of the early immigrants to America were called Europeans, despite some having British, Irish, Scottish, and other origins we might not typically consider to be part of Europe. Are you from England, Ireland, or Scotland? If so, do you consider yourself to be European? Please share your perspective in the chat! #european #geography #genealogy

Mary (Brown) Leonard was my 4th great-grandmother. Family tradition says she was Native American, from either the Mohawk, the Seneca, or the Cayuga Indian tribes of Central New York. Mary was born on November 12, 1838, and she married Charles Russell Leonard when she was about 16 years old, probably in 1853. Charles would have been about 22 years old. Their first child, Joseph Russell Leonard, was born April 6, 1854, in Cayuga County, New York. Charles and Mary would have at least eleven children born between 1854 and 1880. A photo of a family record Mary embroidered by hand was so graciously shared on Dryer Family Photos. In this treasured family heirloom, each person in the family was listed, along with their birth dates. At the top of the list, we see C. R. Leonard (Charles Russell Leonard), followed by herself (M.L.) and their eleven children, listed below. Children of Charles & Mary Leonard, all listed in the family record were: Joseph Russell Leonard b. April 6, 1854 in Cayuga County, New York ("Joseph" on 1855 census age 2 or 3 months; on 1865 census, age 11; on 1870 census, age 16) Susan L. Leonard b. June 5, 1856 in Cayuga County, New York ("Susan" on 1865 census, age 8) Charles L. Leonard b. Aug. 10, 1858 in Genoa, New York ("Charles" on 1865 census, age 6) Sarah G. Leonard b. Nov. 30, 1860 in Tompkins County, New York ("Sarah G" on 1865 census, age 4; "Jane" on 1870 census, age 8) Frances Jennie Leonard b. July 12, 1863* in Tompkins County, New York ("Frances" on 1865 census, age 1 year 11 months; "Frankie" on 1870 census, age 7, "Frances" on 1875 census, age 13) William H. Leonard b. July 24, 1866 in Tompkins County, New York (not in parents home in 1870 or on any census) Lewis F. Leonard b. Oct. 4, 1869 in Tompkins County, New York ("Lewis" on 1870 census, age 1) Maude M. Leonard b. Sept. 7, 1871 in Tompkins County, New York (not in parents home in 1875 or on any census) Lydia Leonard b. June 13, 1873 in Cayuga County, New York ("Lydia" on 1875 census, age 2; on 1880 census, age 7) Arthur Leonard b. May 23, 1877 in Cayuga County, New York ("Arthur" on 1880 census, age 3) Irving Eugene Leonard b. April 18, 1880 in Cayuga County, New York ("Irvin" on 1880 census, age 2 months) See the family's census records here. Also found on Dryer Family Photos is a typed genealogy, which provides the following information: [Click here to learn more about Mary "Polly" (Brown) Leonard] [Click here to learn more about my branch of the Leonard family] #marypollybrown #charlesrussellleonard #leonard #brown #familyrecord #heirlooms

Sometimes researching family history is like a roller coaster. It is exciting to find out you're related to a famous person and gratifying to find ancestors who were upstanding citizens who contributed to society in some way, but what about when you uncover a family secret or an ancestor or relative who did something shameful? When we venture into the family forest we should make sure we're ready to accept whatever we may find. We should remember our goal is to learn about our family's history and the fact is we can also learn from both their successes and their failures. Actually, it's probably easier to learn from people's failures than it is to learn the secrets of people's success. Yes, shameful deeds put a stain on the family record, but there is a positive side. The fact that these records exist is an important lesson for us all, especially for those with children. Remembering that your deeds will be recorded in newspapers, court records, people's journals, or elsewhere, might help influence people to make better decisions. After a story hits the newspapers, all your peers, neighbors, and family discover what you've done, and your name is tarnished forever. A hundred years from now your great-grandchildren might want to learn about you and search old newspapers and what would you like them to find? That you were abusive, criminal, or even a murderer? Also, knowing the shame or stigma the family suffers should also be strong motivation to resist the temptation to do shameful deeds, too. It makes the decision process simpler: If you'd be ashamed for people to read about it in the newspaper, don't do it! I have been working on adding more documents and sources to the people in my tree and I was searching newspapers at fultonhistory.com when I stumbled upon a story about Levi Sherman, with the headline "Assault With Deadly Weapon - Such is the Charge Against Levi Sherman After Shooting a Woman". I had been researching another branch of my family from the same area, but this story jumped out at me because my 4th great-grandfather was named Levi Sherman and he also lived in the same area. My ancestor, Levi Sherman, was the grandfather of Cora (Sherman) Leonard. Cora married Lewis Leonard, son of Charles Russell Leonard. Cora's father was James Sherman. I remember there was another Levi Sherman with a son named James in nearby Wayne County, mentioned in my previous blog, but this incident was in Cayuga County so it wasn't this other Levi Sherman. I also already found a story about Levi's daughter, Dora Sherman, who pistol-whipped a man in 1874, for not paying the rent he owed her, and she also stabbed a man with a pitchfork in 1878. Based on this pattern of aggression, I was pretty sure there was a connection, so I continued reading and found more articles about the incident, all shown below. The story, in short, is that Levi Sherman lived "in the woods" near Venice, New York. He had a girlfriend, Minnie Cogsdill, a married woman who had apparently separated from her husband. In November of 1907, Minnie left Levi and went to her friend Mrs. Pearl Wallace's home in Venice. Levi showed up and asked to speak with her and they went outside to talk. He asked her to marry him while brandishing his gun and she agreed, fearing he would kill her. She then said she had to go inside to get her cloak and he objected, saying she had plenty of cloaks at home. When she protested, he slapped her in the face. Then, giving up the charade, she told him she would not marry him and went back in to the Wallace home. A few minutes later, Levi appeared at the front door and began shooting at the occupants inside. Mrs. Wallace was the only one shot, receiving only a grazing, and when he ran out of bullets, he was chased away. Police found him later in a cornfield and although his gun was fully reloaded, he did not resist and was taken into custody. He was taken to prison and soon after committed to Willard Asylum in Ovid, New York. He escaped in November of 1908 but was captured after locals spotted him in Moravia. What made me realize this wasn't my ancestor, Levi Sherman, was that mine died in 1898, nine years before this incident. Also, my ancestor would have been near 90 years old if he were alive in 1907 and Minnie was only 31. I looked among Levi's children's names and found no mention of a son named Levi, so who was this "Levi Sherman", hermit of Moravia? For this answer, I looked to the census and on the 1875 New York State Census, I found the following: Here we find Levi N. Lamphere (or Lamphier) living in the home of my 4th great-grandfather, Levi Sherman, who was 63 years old at the time. Mary Lamphere, age 28, was listed as Sherman's housekeeper and it appears her two sons were in the home: Daniel Webster Lamphere, age 6, and Levi N. Lamphere, age 2 years 4 months. So Levi Lamphere (later called Levi N. Sherman) was born in January or February of 1873. Looking back on the 1870 census, we see Mary and Daniel were already in Levi Sherman's home, along with two of Levi's sons, so it is possible that Levi N. Lamphere was actually a son of Levi Sherman. Oddly enough, on the 1880 census, Mary was listed as Levi Sherman's wife. According to that census, he was 48 years her elder. Levi N. Lamphere would have been 7 years old in 1880, but I was unable to find him on that census. The next records I found him on was the 1892 New York State Census, when he was 19 years old, a laborer. His name was written "Levi N. Sherman". Following are the news articles containing the story of the shooting. Click here for Part 2 of the video. So, now we know who Levi Sherman, the eccentric hermit of Moravia was. Whether or not he had any children is unknown, but it appears he was freed by 1914 and it didn't take long for him to find someone willing to marry him. On November 17, 1914, Levi N. Sherman married Manervia Maxson (Manervia Lillie) in Sempronius. (NY Marriage Cert. 25174). Hopefully she wasn't coerced by his gun! #sherman #levisherman #crime #venice #genealogy #history

Immigration records are a treasure for family historians, providing not only evidence of our ethnicity but also personal information we probably couldn't find anywhere else. If you can find the ship manifests or passenger lists, they could yield genealogical treasures. The ship's place of origin could provide evidence of one's ethnicity, a documented connection to ancestral homelands - unless they transferred ports, of course. Some passenger lists included the age and place of birth, too, which is most helpful in distinguishing between people sharing the same name. The timing of their voyage could indicate why they emigrated. For example, my maternal 3rd great-grandfather, John Dickinson, came from Sheffield, England, in the mid to late 1800s to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What brought him here? Well, he was a "steel forgeman" back in Sheffield and in the 1870s, Pittsburgh boomed with new steel mills, making it one of the foremost steel producing cities in America at the time. (To this day, their NFL football team is called the Pittsburgh Steelers - my favorite). So, it appears the Dickinsons came to America for opportunity. On the other hand, my paternal 3rd great-grandfather, William McGinnis, came from Northern Ireland to America in 1849 or 1850. What was happening in Northern Ireland in 1850? It was about five years into the Great Irish Famine, which killed over a million people and caused over 2 million to flee the country - not just for a chance at a better life but to save their lives. My "Timeline of Events" was created to help see what major events were taking place at any given time. It is a work in process but many major events are listed and may provide some clues as to what was happening during their lives. The other passengers on ship manifests may also provide clues. For example, half of the Mayflower passengers were members of the Leiden Congregation who came from the Netherlands. You may also be able to determine who they traveled with. Perhaps their future husband or wife was on the ship with his or her parents, which would provide more clues for you to follow. Some manifests indicate how much money they were carrying, their occupation, any distinguishing marks on their bodies, their height, weight, and/or eye color. Being from the northeast, when I think of 19th and 20th century immigration to America, I think of Ellis Island, Castle Garden, and the Ports of Philadelphia and Boston. My immigrant ancestors all arrived in the northeast, and most stayed in that area, with the exception of my great-grandfather, Percy Daniels. He was born in Olympia, Washington, but his parents had gone west by land, following the Oregon Trail. As far as I know, none of my ancestors arrived on the west coast, so I had never given much thought to immigration stations in the west. It was a book called "Angel Island, the Ellis Island of the West", by Mary Bamford, that brought the Angel Island Immigration Station to my attention. As you can see on the map, the analogy is fitting. Like Ellis Island sits in the New York Harbor, Angel Island sits in the San Francisco Bay. After Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848, Angel Island was used as a military base, just as Ellis Island was formerly used by the military for decades, first as a fort (Fort Gibson) and later as a battery and naval magazine where ammunitions were stored. Castle Garden, now called Castle Clinton, located in Battery Park, New York City, was America's first immigration station. More than 8 million immigrants reported their arrival at Castle Garden between 1855 and 1890. Ellis Island didn't open until about 1892 and from then until 1954, about 12 million immigrants were processed there. Although immigrant lists were kept, there were no restrictions on immigration to America until 1882. It was then that Congress passed The Chinese Exclusion Act, restricting the immigration of Chinese laborers and they soon realized the need for a designated place on the west coast for immigrants to be processed and inspected upon arrival and Angel Island was chosen as the location. The administration building for processing immigrants at Angel Island was opened in 1910. The immigrants arriving there came primarily from Germany, Russia, India, Africa, Japan, Korea, and China. Because only skilled Chinese immigrants were allowed entry, some who didn't qualify claimed they were sons or daughters of Chinese Americans already in the country, thereby claiming they were automatically citizens. Those immigrants had to be thoroughly interrogated and detained while their claims were investigated. Witnesses had to be called and relationships had to be verified, a process that took anywhere from 3 days to 22 months. Those who were detained wrote poems in Chinese on the wooden walls at Angel Island, expressing their disdain for the process, their treatment, and unsanitary conditions in the detention center. Over a million immigrants were processed at Angel Island between 1910 and 1940 and about 80% were granted entry. Of those, it is estimated that 175,000 were Chinese and 117,000 were Japanese. In August of 1940 the main building and part of the women's quarters were destroyed by fire and the station and detainees were relocated to a facility in San Francisco. Three years later, in 1943, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. The buildings on Angel Island sat in disrepair for decades until the 1970s, when demolition was considered. A group of advocates, however, fought to preserve the site and it was made into a public park. The poems of the detained Chinese immigrants on display as a reminder of the suffering they endured in hopes of becoming American citizens. For more information about Angel Island, see the Wikipedia article found here. You might also enjoy this short video: Finally, here is the book that first peaked my interest in Angel Island. Read it free, courtesy of Archive.org: #resources #immigration #thewest #california #genealogy

You've heard of Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and Thanksgiving, but have you ever observed the Day of Public Humiliation? While such terminology is far removed from today's America, our ancestors in New England knew exactly what it was and observed it. Prior to embarking on their historic voyage, the Mayflower passengers fasted and observed a Day of Public Humiliation to "seek the Lord for direction". Fasting, according to Scriptures, is necessary in order to cast out and repel evil spirits and it also helps instill humility (having a humble spirit), which is required because God doesn't hear the prayers of the proud and the arrogant. The pilgrims certainly wanted God to hear their prayers as they ventured out onto the raging seas to found their new colony, the "city upon a hill". Although the signers of the Mayflower Compact agreed their voyage was made "for the glory of God and advancement of ye Christian faith", some were more God-fearing and devoted than others. In fact, Mayflower passenger and Compact signer John Billington was said to have murdered a man during a dispute, a violation of God's 6th commandment "Thou shall not kill". The church was the center of the community and strict rules were put in place to prevent people from giving place to sin, or the breaking of God's laws. The scriptures teach that sin leads to oppression and evil, so when liberalism and lawlessness crept in, the leaders recognized the dangers of allowing it to continue and prepared for spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting. Below is a proclamation made on September 8, 1670, declaring September 22 a Day of Public Humiliation, due to an "increase of sin and evil". Transcription: At a council held at Boston, Septemb. 8, 1670. The Council taking into the serious Consideration the low estate of the Churches of God throughout the World, and the increase of Sin and Evil amongst ourselves, Gods hand following us for the same, Do therefore Appoint the Two and twentieth of the instant September to be a Day of Publick Humiliation throughout this Jurisdiction, and do command the same to several Churches, Elders, Ministers and People, solemnly to keep it accordingly: Hereby prohibiting all servile work on that day. By the Council, Edward Rawson Secret'. [Secretary] Days of fasting and prayer were declared at different times and on different days since then. Some states implemented their own dates, but on July 20, 1775, the Second Continental Congress issued a proclamation for "a day of publick humiliation, fasting, and prayer" to be observed by the English Colonies. It was the first "national" day set aside for this purpose. Today we officially still observe this practice twice a year - in the Fall and the Spring. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a day of prayer and thanksgiving in the Fall and in 1952, President Harry Truman established the National Day of Prayer as a day of prayer and fasting in the Spring. Each year, the President is to make a statement encouraging Americans to pray on the National Day of Prayer. The law reads as follows: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. (36 U.S. Code § 119). The next Thanksgiving falls on November 25, 2021, and the next National Day of Prayer is May 5, 2022. We would be wise to take the advice of our forefathers and observe them, in hopes of restoring God's favor and blessing upon this nation and its people, but implementing these practices into our everyday lives couldn't hurt either. For more information about the days of fasting and the early establishment of holidays in America, see The Fast and Thanksgiving Days of New England, by w. DeLoss Love, 1895. UPDATE: Honest to God, at the moment I was about to post this blog, the Verse of the Day popped up on my phone and here's what it is: #massachusettsbaycolony #religion #prayer #christianity #faith #law

The Carlisle Indian School opened in 1879 as America's first federal boarding school for Native American children. It was located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was created for the purpose of helping Native Americans integrate into American culture and society. The government sent Lt. Col. Richard Henry Pratt, a Civil War veteran, on a journey to Dakota Territory first, to recruit students from the Oglala Sioux and Brule Sioux tribes. He proposed their children would be educated and taught to read and write in English and standard subjects such as arithmetic, music and physical education. The offer was well received by tribal leaders. While most undoubtedly distrusted the American government, they understood that it was important to be able to communicate with and coexist with "the white man" in order to preserve their tribes. In many ways, their decision was wise and many of the students probably have descendants living in America today who are free and happy because of these programs, but in the process of being Americanized, many of their customs and traditions were left behind. This has been going on since the beginning of time and continues to this day in America and elsewhere. When a land is overcome by foreigners, native culture, customs and even language are often lost. Various heritage groups and organizations work to keep their heritage and traditions alive but at the end of the day we are all Americans assimilating daily to new people, new challenges, and new opportunities. The Carlisle Indian School operated for about 39 years before it closed in 1918, but it was the first of many other similar schools working toward the same goal - unification in America. A fascinating collection of photographs of the students at Carlisle were printed in a book published in 1902. "A Souvenir of the Carlisle Indian School", by J. N. Choate, gives us a sneak peek into the alumni - the Sioux, Navajo, Cheyenne, Pueblo, and Apache, the Piegan chiefs visiting, portraits of other chiefs, the resident physician called "Dr. Montezuma", and even an Eskimo group. The Famous Indian Band of 1901 is quite impressive looking and the football team looks all American! Before and after photos demonstrate that within a few short years, Native Americans blended right in with the rest of America. I think it's great that these photos were taken and preserved. What a treasure! Enjoy! See more: Native American Genealogy Resources American Genealogy Resources All Genealogy Resources #nativeamerican #indians #america #photographs

In an effort to find out if Joshua Burrill was the father of my 4th great-grandmother, Sophronia Burrill, I took some time to make a timeline for a better angle. Since Joshua's will names his three oldest daughters, his son, and his youngest daughter, I wanted to find out when and where Sophronia came into the picture and if there was any evidence of her being with the family. Take a look at what I discovered! 1781 - Joshua Burrill was born in 1781 in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut. 1809 - He married Caroline Fitts in Oxford, Massachusetts, on March 9, 1809. (Oxford is abt. 10 miles north of Thompson). 1810 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Martha "Patty" Burrill was born Jan. 29, 1810 in Connecticut. 1812 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Brooksey was born Nov. 14, 1812. Her obituary states she was born in Middlebury, Massachusetts but no such place exists in Massachusetts. There is a Middlebury in New Haven County, Connecticut, abt. 84 miles southwest of Thompson, where Joshua was born. Another possibility is that she was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts. 1813 - Joshua & Caroline's son, Arba F. Burrill was born in Connecticut. 1814 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Achsah was born in Massachusetts. 1815 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Sophronia was born in Massachusetts (UNCONFIRMED BUT LIKELY) 1820 - Census of Worcester, Mass. (One male under age 10 (Arba), one male 26-44 (Joshua), three females under 10 (Brooksey, Achsah, Sophronia?), one female age 10-15 (Martha), one female age 26-44 (Caroline). 1825 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Mahaleth was born in Massachusetts. 1825 - Joshua appears on tax list in Camillus, Onondaga County, New York. 1827 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Martha "Patty" Burrill marries David Redman. 1830 - Census of Elbridge, Onondaga, New York (One male age 5-9 (???), one male age 15-19 (Arba), one male age 40-49 (Joshua), one female age 10-14 (? Mahaleth was abt. 5), one female age 15-19 (Brooksey?), and one female 40-49 (Caroline). 1830 - Joshua & Caroline's daughter Brooksey Burrill marries John King, October 1830. 1840 - Census of Pembroke, Genesee, New York (one male age 20-29 (Arba), one male age 50-59 (Joshua), one female age 20-29 (?), and one female age 50-59 (Caroline) 1848 - Caroline died in 1848 and Joshua remarried to a woman by the name of Merinda. 1864 - Joshua's will was written on April 23, 1864. 1865 - Joshua died on April 15, 1865. It was the very same day of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. His will was probated on May 22, 1865, in Genesee County, New York. See also: My Burrill DNA matches Joshua Burrill's Last Will & Testament This branch of my family #joshuaburrill #sophroniaburrill #burrill #leonard #timeline

Joshua Burrill was born in 1781 in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut. He married Caroline Fitts in Oxford, Massachusetts, on March 9, 1809. Together they had five confirmed children and I believe they were also the parents of Sophronia, my 4th great-grandmother. Caroline died in 1848 and Joshua remarried to a woman by the name of Merinda. His will was written on April 23, 1864 and he died almost one year later, on April 15, 1865. It was the very same day of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. His will was probated on May 22, 1865, in Genesee County. Transcription: "In the name of God, Amen. I, Joshua Burrill, of the Town of Pembroke in the County of Genesee and State of New York, of the age of eighty-two years and being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in the manner following that is to say: First, I give and bequeath to my three oldest daughters, Patty [Martha] Redman, Brooksey King and Achsah King the sum of two hundred dollars a piece. I direct and order to be paid out of my estate to the said respective legatees within five years after my decease. Second, I give and bequeath to my only son, Arba F. Burrill, the sum of ten dollars and to be paid within five years after my decease. Third, I give and devise to my youngest daughter, Mahaleth Sumeriski and Jacob Sumeriski , her husband, and the survivor of them all my real estate that I may own at my decease, for them to own and control forever, and I further give and bequeath to my daughter Mahaleth and Jacob Sumeriski all my personal estate goods and chattels of what nature or kind soever for them to have and to hold forever, and I do further provide that the said Mahaleth and Jacob Sumeriski shall pay or cause to be paid the above legacies within the time mentioned for payment for the same. Fourth, I do further provide that my wife is to be provided for, and taken care of so long as she shall live by the said Mahaleth and Jacob Sumeriski , and the support and maintenance of my said wife and the above mentioned legacies shall be a hire and charge upon my estate divided and bequeathed to them. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. - Joshua Burrill It is puzzling to me why no mention is made of Sophronia. Written family histories give her father's name as Joshua Burrill and my DNA even matches his descendants and relatives of his parents, as mentioned in one of my previous blogs, but so far I know of no evidence of Sophronia's birth. It seems as if he disowned her - how sad! If anyone can help, please comment below or contact me. Following is the will of Joshua Burrill of Pembroke, Genesee County, New York. Feel free to print, save, or just view it here. Stay tuned for updates! See more... Sophronia Burrill Joshua Burrill New York Genealogy Resources by County & Town Genealogy Dashboard #burrill #sophroniaburrill #joshuaburrill #leonard #brickwall #genealogy #family

Looking for a marriage that occurred in Massachusetts between 1784 and 1840? Check this resource! Four volumes of marriages at your fingertips! Free! Click here for more Massachusetts genealogy records! Click here for more Marriage Records #marriagerecords #marriages #massachusetts #resources

Here I go again, being sidetracked by an intriguing story I came across while searching Archive.org for old family history books. This one is unrelated to my family like my previous blog about The Bissinger Suicide, but equally as interesting. Before researching my family's history, I was under the impression that people in America in the 1800s were good, righteous, God-fearing people who did no wrong. Only true outlaws like Bonnie & Clyde and Billy the Kid broke the law! From my grandparents and other elders, I heard all about how up until the 1960s people could leave their doors unlocked and they could let their children play outside and roam the neighborhood all day long without worrying about them being kidnapped or murdered. They abstained from premarital relations and they never ever got divorced. This is what I heard about the good old days as I was growing up, so I'm always shocked when I read these stories. Yes, morals in America have suffered tremendous decay with each passing decade, but the people in the past were definitely not as righteous as I thought. If we all made an effort to learn from the mistakes of those who came before us, we might have achieved a Utopian society by now, but instead we prefer to make our own decisions and our own mistakes, which can cause major setbacks in life, if not our total total destruction. This book I found is called "The Pennsylvania hermit. A narrative of the extraordinary life of Amos Wilson who expired in a cave in the neighborhood of Harrisburgh (Penn.) after having therein lived in solitary retirement for the space of nineteen years in consequence of the ignominious death of his sister". It was published in 1839, author unknown. This short story is only 24 pages and gives us a personal look into the events that occurred in a small town in Pennsylvania in the late 1700s. It all started with a young woman named Harriot* Wilson. She was born in Pennsylvania, possibly in Lebanon (Dauphin County), in 1776, according to the author. Growing up she was a well-respected, virtuous young woman, that is, until she reached the age of 18. It was then that she became acquainted with a young man by the name of Smith, who lived in Philadelphia. Mr. Smith charmed and seduced young Harriot, by pledging his love and promising to marry her. She "surrendered to her vile seducer all that could render her respectable in the eyes of the world". Afterwards, she was devastated to learn that Smith was a married man with no intention of marrying her and the situation became dire when she realized she was pregnant with his child. The author reminds us of society's treatment of "tarnished" women in those days, in some ways, still do today: "The tenderness and sensibility that prevails in the minds of females, subjects them to many temptations and dangers from which men are in a manner exempt. Their weakness and dependent state places their reputation on a foundation so slender, that the smallest breath of wind will overturn, and the slightest touch indelibly tarnish. While lordly man can sin with impunity, and his most indecent deviations from modesty and virtue, set down as trifling indiscretions, and oftentimes, the more he sins the more he is caressed. He can, without any scandal to himself, seduce the innocent virgin from the paths of virtue, while the unfortunate victim of his arts is expelled from society, and doomed either to end her days in a brothel, among the most depraved, or be made a sacrifice on the altar of justice". When the child* was born, Harriot secretly laid the body in a neighboring grove. Whether it was living or not, I found no mention but she was immediately suspected of being the perpetrator and was put on trial for murder. The trial lasted 11 hours and in the end, the jury delivered a verdict of "guilty". Distinguished people sought her pardon and, her brother, Amos* Wilson, fought adamantly to prevent her execution. He was two years Harriot's elder, born in 1774* in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. On the morning of the scheduled execution, Amos went to Philadelphia and "prostrated himself at the feet of the Governor", begging for a pardon for Harriot. The Governor had mercy and issued the pardon. With no time to waste, Amos raced back home to stop the execution. On his way, however, heavy rain fell, making the Schuylkill River impassable. He had to wait for the rain to stop and the waters to calm enough for him to cross and continue his race home. As he raced to the place where the execution was to take place, pardon in hand, he witnessed the invisible departure of his sister's soul, while her lifeless body hung from the gallows. He was five minutes too late to stop the execution. He fell from his horse in shock and disappointment and was never the same again. For a time he remained at his parents home, delusional and inconsolable. Finally, he decided his perception of the world was now too tainted to participate in society. He went into the forest and found a cave near Harrisburg and there he stayed for 19 years. He rarely had visitors, except the author of the book, a friend. He would have been only about 39 years old when he died, but the illustration provided by the author, who was reportedly a personal friend of Amos, depicts an older man, in my opinion. The discrepancies were enough to entice me to search for the family in historical records, to confirm whether or not it was true. First, I tried Findagrave but found no matches for Amos Wilson (born 1774) or Harriot Wilson (born 1776). Next, I tried to find the family on the 1790 census before the murder. This, I found, to be very difficult because on the 1790 census, only the head of household was named and since the book doesn't mention their parents' names, I was unable to identify the family, even with the help of my 1790 Census Helper. There were more than a dozen Wilson (and Willson) families in Dauphin county in 1790 and none of them contained two males and two females, as described in the book. Next, I searched the web and found that both Amos and Harriot have articles on Wikipedia, which provide more information, some conflicting with the information in the book that had first brought the story to my attention. (I marked those items with an asterisk* above). Yes, I realize academia frowns upon Wikipedia, deeming it unreliable because it is user-contributed data, but when properly cited, it can be a great resource for information. At any rate, there is much information about the tragedy in the articles for Harriot and Amos, including variations of the story passed along the grapevine. First, Harriot's name was actually Elizabeth Wilson and she was not born in 1776, as stated in the book, which did not state the year of her execution. She was scheduled to be executed on December 7, 1785, but when people began to doubt her guilt, it was postponed until January 3, 1786. Since we know she was at least 18, she was born no later than 1767, but varying accounts are given for her age. Some say she was born as early as 1758. Next, her brother's name was William Wilson - not Amos - and he was not born in 1774, as stated in the book. He was born in or around 1762 and died in October of 1821. So he was about 59 when he died in the cave he lived in for 19 years. The cave was said to be near Hummelstown. Today it is a tourist attraction called Indian Echo Caverns, located about 8 miles east of Harrisburg. It is a place of natural beauty with underwater lakes, stalactites, and minerals and the temperature is a constant 52 degrees (Fahrenheit) year-round. The most shocking allegation that conflicts with the account written in the book is that it wasn't "a child" that Harriot left in the woods, it was "children" - twin boys. According to one version, she confessed that Smith met her in the woods because he wanted to see if the boys resembled him and then he ordered her to kill them. When she refused, he trampled the boys to death. Many people, including the judge and the sheriff of Chester, believed she was innocent. I believe the unnamed author of this book may have been attempting to protect the identity of the family by changing the names and omission of dates, but the fact that the book's account only mentions a child and not twins, makes me wonder if this person really knew "Amos" at all or if the author just recounted the story from local legend. It was, after all, published 53 years after her execution and 18 years after William "Amos" Wilson's death. See also: Elizabeth "Harriot" Wilson [Wikipedia] William "Amos" Wilson [Wikipedia] Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources Genealogy Dashboard #pennsylvania #history #murder #wilson #scandals #crime

Every now and then I do a search on Archive.org in hopes that new books have been uploaded, which may contain clues about some of the brick walls in my family tree. I probably haven't found all the answers yet because I usually get sidetracked, reading about families completely unrelated to me, like I did again here. I came across a book on HeritageQuest, printed in 1875, bearing a shocking title, "The Bissinger suicide history of that sad tragedy in which Mrs. Bissinger (as alleged), made desperate by neglect and ill treatment, drowned herself and three children in the Union Canal, at Reading, Penna., statement of her brother in reply to her husband". The title sums up the tragedy, but I was curious and wanted to know more. The book starts with a well known quote: One of the greatest poets that ever existed has written an adage which will be quoted as long as language lives. It is this: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!" In the book, the story of how Louisa, a young woman just 29 years old, was driven to the point of suicide and beyond, after being discarded by her husband, Philip Bissinger. He was a saloon keeper in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, who was reportedly openly having an affair with a German woman from Philadelphia, even bringing her to the family home. In a recent argument sparked by his infidelity, he ordered Louisa to leave, offering her $2,000, a hefty sum in those days, to just be gone with the two daughters, leaving him their only son. Instead, Louisa reportedly took the three children to Union Canal where she and the children, ages 9, 6, and 3, collected large rocks, putting them into a basket. She then tied the basket to her waist and jumped into the canal with her three children in her arms. This is the Union Canal in Reading. Could this be the spot she jumped from? Following are some articles I found about this tragic event: In this article, Louisa's brother, Fred Eben, writes a personal message for Philip Bissinger. He ends it with these words that should have cut like a knife at the conscience of Philip. Fred says: "...but I also know that YOU, PHILIP BISSINGER WERE THE CAUSE of all this, and in conclusion, I, as her brother, and the son of a broken-hearted mother BRAND YOU AS THE MURDERER of my sister and your four children - and I am willing that the people amongst whom we live shall judge between us. Fred. Eben." (The Daily Gazette, Sept. 10, 1875). I found Philip's memorial on Findagrave (see here). There I learned that he was a soldier of the civil war, enlisting in Company G, Pennsylvania 79th Infantry Reg. in September of 1861. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to Sergeant Major, to 1st Lieutenant, and finally to Captain of Company F in December, 1863. He resigned from his commission nine months later and mustered out Sept. 12, 1864. He was counted on the 1860 census, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was a bar tender living in the home of Augustus Schoenberger, a brewer and immigrant from Germany. Philip was 18 and a young woman named Mary "Bisinger", age 16, was also living in the home. Both were reportedly born in Germany. Was this a first wife, or a sister? (Census shown below). Because Louisa's brother's name was Fred Eben, (documented in the article at left), I was able to find Louisa on the 1860 census. She was living in the South East Ward of Reading with Gotleab (?) and Rosina Eben, presumably her parents. Her father's occupation was "Restaurant". Louisa was 14, Frederick was 12, and a younger sister, Rosa, was 9. That census was taken on June 9, 1860, so based on her age, she was born before June 9, 1846. (Census shown below). Her memorial on Findagrave contains details about the story and another sketch of Louisa. There her birth date, is given as March 21, 1836, calculated from a newspaper clipping of the funeral announcement which stated she was age 39 years, 4 months and 27 days. (Confirmed with The Time Deductor). Based on the 1860 census, though, I believe she was born in 1846 and that she was 29 years old when she committed suicide on August 17, 1875. In 1880, four years after the suicide and death of his family, Philip married Ida Sebald Rosenthal. According to Findagrave, she was born Oct. 20, 1850, in Philadelphia. I found nothing to indicate whether or not she was the mistress mentioned, but she was a younger woman from Philadelphia, so it is possible. Ida died in Reading in 1910 at the age of 59 and Philip died at the age of 84, in 1926. All of them are buried in Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. Following are the two census records from 1860 before Philip and Louisa married, mentioned above. When the 1870 census was taken, Philip and Louisa were married and living in Reading with two daughters: Mary, age 3, and Elizabeth, age 3 months. A domestic servant named Susan also lived in the home. Philip's occupation was "Saloon Keeper". He was born in Bavaria and Louisa was born in Wurttemberg. So from this, we can see that Philip married Louisa very soon after returning from the war, sometime between September, 1864 and 1867. Louisa would have just turned 18 years old when he returned and their oldest daughter, Mary, was born in April of 1867, when Louisa would have been about 21 years old (if she was born in 1846). So they were married sometime between September 1864 and July 1866. A final observation regarding the names of Philip and Louisa's daughters. On the 1870 census, the two daughters living in the home were Mary and Elizabeth. The short obituary shared on Findagrave, reports that (aside from the unborn child in her womb), the three children who died with their mother on August 17, 1875 were: Mollie C. Bissinger, age 8 years, 3 mos., 19 days - (Born April 28, 1867, "Mary", age 3 on the census taken in August 1870) Lillie Bissinger, age 5 years, 2 mos., 11 days - (Born June 6, 1870, "Elizabeth", age 3 months on the census taken in August 1870) Philip Bissinger, age 3 years, 7 mos., 5 days - (Born Jan. 12, 1872) The ages match perfectly but the names of the girls are different, as you can see. Yes, Mollie can be used as a nickname for Mary, but I wasn't aware that Lillie was a nickname for Elizabeth, unless one of them was her middle name. It just goes to show how census records, newspapers, and even gravestones and cemetery transcriptions can contain errors. Either way, four innocent children's lives were cut short at the hand of a dejected and tormented mother who saw no other way out. What should have been a flourishing family tree today, was cut down at the roots, marking the end of Mr. Bissinger's bloodline. Instead of being the beloved immigrant ancestors of a great many Bissingers, like many of our ancestors are, Philip was left with no heirs. Instead, his decisions earned him a legacy of being the unfaithful and cruel husband who drove his wife to suicide and murder. May their souls rest in peace. #miscellaneous #murder #genealogy #pennsylvania #berkscounty #readingpa #suicide

In the book I recently acquired, "Christopher Jarrett of New Plymouth", by Winona Strachan, shared in a previous post, I came across a curious term I had seen before, but never took the time to research - "the dividing of assets". I decided it was time to find out what it meant. Following is the excerpt: As you may know, or recall from my previous blogs regarding the Mayflower passengers who landed at Plymouth Colony in 1620, there were two groups of passengers on the ship - the Leyden Congregation (true "pilgrims") and associates of the Merchant Adventurers (true capitalists). With lots of work to be done in the new colony and the potential for profit, the investors financed the passage and supplied provisions for the colonists under the agreement that they would be repaid and profit from future commodities the colony would produce, such as corn, tobacco and furs. In 1626, several of the Plymouth men and five London investors bought out the Merchant Adventurers interest in the colony. The following record of "garden plots" written in William Bradford's handwriting was published in Records of the Colony of New Plymouth Vol. 1, (Deeds), page 2: Fifty-three householders joined the "company" as shareholders. The livestock and cattle became community property and it was agreed the colony's assets would be divided after seven years, giving everyone the incentive to work hard to care for and breed the livestock. In 1623, each household in the Plymouth Colony was granted one acre of land per person. The lots were drawn like a lottery. Isaac Allerton received the largest parcel - seven acres for the seven people in his family. Then in 1627 the "Division of Cattle" took place. Twelve groups would each receive a cow and two female goats. Each of these groups consisted of 13 people. The full list of groups is published in Records of the Colony of New Plymouth Vol. 1, (shown below) on pages 9-13. Almost anything you would want to know about the Division of Assets in the Plymouth Colony can be found in this volume. Other volumes of Records of the colony of New Plymouth, in New England can be found here, in my previous blog. Click here to see the Interactive Mayflower Passenger List. #plymouthcolony #plymouth #mayflower #newengland #divisionofassets

Today is a great time for researching family history with more sites and resources available online than there is time to review it all. There are excellent sites for searching databases, such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, Wikitree, MyHeritage, FindMyPast...the list goes on! Although you're likely to find some relevant matches most of the time, results are often numerous and filtering results could cause you to miss out on legitimate matches, so the process can be very time consuming. Even with hours of searching, there is still a chance that the records you seek are not available on any of these popular sites. I've found that much of the valuable information we seek about our ancestors was printed in old books, most of which are available free online. Church records with births, baptisms, marriage, deaths and burials, local histories with portraits, maps, illustrations and biographies, immigration records and passenger lists, military records, census records, statistical data, and directories can all be found among these old books. As you may have guessed from my site's name, I'm a genealogy addict and whenever I get some free time, you can find me searching for family history. When I come across books containing valuable genealogical data, I add them to my resource database, which currently contains about 20,000 resources with new items being added regularly. It is by no means complete, but a work in progress. In the past, users had the option to search or browse the titles in my database, but because people who lived prior to the 20th century certainly didn't foresee search engine capabilities when titling their books, these searches didn't produce ALL relevant matches either. As someone who uses my database quite a bit, I found it annoying and finally took action. Over the past several months I've spent countless hours categorizing them ALL by the location(s). I even recruited the help of my husband who probably pitied me for taking on such a massive challenge and decided to help me through it. (Thanks, honey!) So, in summary, now you can choose a State from the dropdown menu at the top of the page, or you can visit the Genealogy Dashboard and choose one from there. You will see all the resources I've found for that state, along with information about the State's size and year of founding. From there you can also see a list of all the Counties in the State. You can choose a County to see a map along with resources pertaining specifically to said County. From there, you can also see a list of all the Towns and Cities in said County. Select a town to see an interactive map of the town as well as resources specifically related to the town or city. Give it a try! Let us know if you find anything relevant and stay tuned for updates!

The U.S. Federal Census is a valuable tool for researching your family history, especially for those who don't know much about their ancestors beyond their grandparents or great-grandparents. Finding one of them on the census usually leads to the discovery of their parents or guardians names. A common problem with using the census is the discrepancies found. It is common to see minor variances or errors in the ages of the household members from census to census. A woman who was 30 in 1900, for example, should have been 40 in 1910, but I've seen many cases where her age was given as 37, for example, in 1910, instead of 40. Was it a mathematical error? Did someone else who wasn't quite sure give the census taker the information? Or was she skimming years to avoid revealing her true age? This is not uncommon! So we have to wonder how reliable the informant was. Knowing who the informant was, would help, but unfortunately, there was usually no indication of who the informant was, until the 1940 census. When the 1940 census was taken, a small notation was made to let us know. A circled "x" beside the name indicated who the informant was. The mark, in a way, gives us a glimpse of the scene. Given the example below, I can picture my great-grandmother giving the census taker the information, either recalling or calculating the ages of the seven children in the home. The ages happen to all be accurate. In most cases, the mother would be the most reliable source of information, having given birth to all the children. A child, of course, would be less reliable. This is just one small way to help determine whether or not the information is reliable. The United States 1940 Federal Census can be searched free of charge on FamilySearch at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2000219 For more help with finding information on census records, click here. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources. #census #1940census #genealogy #dickinson

Prior to their release by Reclaim the Records, the New Jersey birth index was only available on microfilm at the Archives. You can now access some of the indexes free of charge online. The birth index includes the name of the child, the parents, and the certificate number. Copies can be ordered using this information. Some of the pages are missing, faded, torn or damaged. The following is a sample of what you can expect to find. The names are sorted alphabetically by last name, so you will have to flip through the pages to find the names you are looking for. Use these links to find the surnames you are looking for: 1901 - Surnames [A-H] [I-L] [M-S] [T-Z] 1902 - Surnames [A-J] [K-L] [M-W] [W-Z] 1903 - Surnames [A-Z] Additional years may be added as the time limitations expire. Check for new releases here. For more birth records, visit the New Jersey Genealogy Resources page and select Vital Records from the list. From there you can also check resources for specific counties or towns, too. You can also submit a request for a search of the New Jersey's Birth Records Database, which contains births from 1848 to 1920. The search is $10-$15. Click here to see more places to find birth records nationwide. Stay tuned for more valuable genealogy finds! Subscribe for updates - it's free! #resources #newjersey #births

In his historic Inaugural Address of January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy made the famous and wise quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." Scroll down to read the entire speech or watch the video here: Norman Rockwell, captured the scene in his painting "A Time for Greatness". You can find a copy on Amazon. We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans — born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage — and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge — and more. To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom — and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge — to convert our good words into good deeds — in a new alliance for progress — to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support — to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective — to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak — and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course — both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms — and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah — to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free." And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again — not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are — but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" — a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. Click here to view my Gallery of Presidents. Click here for more nostalgic and commemorative history in art. #kennedy #president #patriotic #historicspeech #gallery #America #American #citizenship #civicduty #communityservice #meme

Those interested in Plymouth and its early settlement might be interested in this resource I came across. The Records of the Colony of New Plymouth were published "by order of the Legislature" in the 1850s, and contain much of the official business of the colony in the 1600s. I was able to find the following volumes, which you can read online at Archive.org using the corresponding links: Volume 1 Acts of the Commissioners of the United Colonies of England (1643-1651) [Link] Volume 2 Acts of the Commissioners of the United Colonies of England (1653-1679) [Link] Deeds &c. Volume 1 Book of Indian Records for their lands (1620-1651) [Link] Court Orders Volume 1 (1633-1640) [Link] Court Orders Volume 3 (1651-1661) [Link] Court Orders Volume 5 (1668-1678) [Link] Court Orders Volume 6 (1678-1691) [Link] Miscellaneous Records. (1633-1689) [Link] Judicial Acts (1636-1692) [Link] Laws (1623-1682) [Link] You might also like the Interactive Mayflower Passenger List, loaded with information, illustrations, resources and more or see even more Mayflower resources here. #mayflower #genealogy #plymouthplantation #plymouth #massachusetts

Jonas Eaton was my 10th great-grandfather and immigrant ancestor who came from Dover, Kent, England, in 1637. In my previous post, I explained how I discovered an error in one Eaton genealogy, which stated that Jonas was a brother of William Eaton. Why I didn't check WikiTree before digging, I just don't know. There the answer had been all along and Jonas is included among the immigrants in the Puritan Great Migration Project. and the facts are well documented, including a copy of his will. Click here to see his profile on Wikitree. The book The Granberry family and allied families : including the ancestry of Helen (Woodward) Granberry, by Donald L. Jacobus, 1945, provides a wealth of information about Jonas Eaton, as follows: This source also includes information about Grace's second husband, Henry Silsbee, as follows: In an attempt to find solid evidence of his birth and parentage, I searched Ancestry (World) and found only one record of Jonas Eaton, a son of John Eaton. He was baptized August 15, 1619 in Northbourne, Kent County, England, just 5-6 miles from Staple, where William Eaton lived, and 6.5 miles from Dover, where Jonas was said to have been born, according to collaborators on Wikitree. According to the parish records, John Eaton had another son named Matthew who was buried at Northbourne on September 22, 1619, when his other son, Jonas, would have been just a baby. I found no record of William Eaton as a son of John Eaton, in the collection. [The Tyler Collection, The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies; Kent, England, Tyler Index to Parish Registers, 1538-1874]. I found a record of William Eaton, baptized Sept. 26, 1607, at the Saint Mary the Virgin, Dover, Kent, England. He was a son of Peter Eaton, according to the record. [England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975]. I was unable to find any potential matches other than this baptism record. I found one possible match on FindMyPast.com in their Births & Baptisms dataset but this, too, only included the baptismal record. Therefore, I am unable to confirm whether or not this is my ancestor, Jonas Eaton, at this time. Although the record says the father's name was John, perhaps but there is a change his name was John Peter Eaton or Peter John Eaton. If anyone can help provide some documentation to solve this mystery, please comment below or contact me. The old parish church at Northbourne can be seen here: Stay tuned for updates! Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. Click here to learn more about Jonas Eaton. #eaton #jonaseaton #willeaton #leonard #burrill

While researching the ancestors of my 4th great-grandmother, Sophronia Burrill, I found an entry in the Boston Transcript's Genealogical Column, in the June 19, 1911 edition. It pertains to Sophronia's paternal grandmother, Mary Eaton's line. She was born in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, on July 28, 1748. Mary's 3rd great-grandfather was Jonas Eaton. The lineage is as follows: Sophronia Burrill > Joshua Burrill > Mary (Eaton) Burrill > Joshua Eaton > Corp. Jonas Eaton > John Eaton > Jonas Eaton. A source I had found previously claimed Jonas Eaton's father was William Eaton, which is why I was interested in this find, however, it caused me to question this claim, and rightly so. According to this source, William Eaton was born at Staple in Kent County, England, about 1605, and married in 1629 to Martha Jenkins. They came to America, settling at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1637 and in 1658 they moved to Reading (called Lynn Village until 1644), documented by "a sale from Richard Russell". William died on May 13, 1673, and Martha died Nov. 14, 1680. William & Martha's children, according to this source, were: John Eaton (1635-1691), married Elizabeth Kendall, daughter of Thomas Kendall, in 1658. Daniel Eaton, born in 1638, married and may have had a daughter who married Ebenezer Bancroft. Martha Eaton, born 1630, married 1st to Thomas Brown of Cambridge, and 2nd to Francis Moore. Abigail Eaton, born in 1631, possibly. Mary Eaton, born in 1643, married Rev. Richard Dodge in 1668. This raised an eyebrow because the source didn't list Jonas Eaton as one of their children. I had to backtrack to see what made me believe Jonas's father was William. It was the book "History, genealogical and biographical, of the Eaton families", by Nellie Zada Rice Molyneux, 1911, which had given William's genealogy on page 243 (Link) and Jonas was listed as his fourth child on page 244, as follows: No further information about Jonas is offered in Molyneux's work. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, states the following on p. 241: "EATON, Jonas (1618-1673/4) & Grace ___, m/2 Henry SILSBEE 1680; b 1643(4?); Watertown/Reading" At this point I realized if William was born about 1605 and Jonas was born in 1618, they were probably too close in age to be father and son. Digging deeper I discovered several valuable clues on Ancestry.com, shared by Gina Mikel, to whom I am thankful for shedding some light on the story. According to her findings, Jonas was NOT a son of William but a brother. According to the New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series, Volume IV, p. 2095, Jonas's biography is as follows: "(I) Jonas Eaton was son of Peter Eaton. He first settled with his brother in Watertown, and bought land there in 1643. He and his brother William were among the first settlers of Reading, Massachusetts. Jonas and his wife Grace were admitted to the church in Reading, September 29, 1648, or earlier, he was admitted a freeman in 1653, and was selectman of Reading for several years. His house and farm were on Cowdrey's Hill, in the northwest part of the town, now within the limits of Wakefield, where he died February 24, 1674. His widow married, November 18, 1680, Henry Silsbee, of Lynn. The will of Jonas Eaton was proved April 7, 1674; bequeathed to wife Grace; sons, John, James, Joshua, Jonathan, and daughter Mary. Children: Mary, born February 8, 1643-44, died 1731; John, mentioned below; Jonas, born and died September 24, 1648; Sarah, born 1650; Joseph, January 5, 1651; Joshua, December 4, 1653; Jonathan, December 6, 1655; David, September 22, 1657, died October 7, following." Although Jonas was said to have been William's brother, a list published in the New England Historical & Genealogical Register, titled "Two Early Passenger Lists 1635-1637", lists Jonas Eaton as a servant of William Eaton. In 1637, Jonas would have been about 15 years old and William would have been between about 32 years old. Perhaps he made a deal with his brother, agreeing to bring him to America in exchange for work? The list was made from the records of Sandwich, Kent, yearbooks C and D. The names were entered on 9 Jun 1637 but the sailing date and name of the ship are omitted from the record. Following are three pages from the Register: (William's group is #12) According to the NEHGR Vol 15, p. 29 the name of the ship was the "Hercules of Sandwich". A work containing the passenger list for the ship's earlier voyage of March 4, 1634, contains another part - a list of "persons who have taken passage from the town and port of Sandwich for the American Plantations since the last certificate of such passengers returned into the office of Dover Castle." It was dated June 9, 1637. The only Eaton group on the list is given as follows: Tour Staple in Kent, England, here! While DNA is said to have proven that William and Jonas were either brothers or cousins, I have yet to find evidence of Jonas's birth, proving who his father was. In my next post, I will share the few possible matches I found in U.K. records on Ancestry.com. Find genealogy resources for Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts, here. Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. #eaton #jonaseaton #willeaton #leonard #burrill

It's hard to believe how much life in America has changed in the past 220 years. I wonder what the people living in 1800 would think if they could have peeked into our world today. Surely they would have been amazed and perhaps terrified of all the unfamiliar technology. For our ancestors, however, the future lived only in their imaginations and in their hopes and dreams. They say hindsight is 20/20 but most genealogists would disagree. Looking back at our ancestors' daily lives, the view is rarely crystal clear. It's often dense with fog and darkness. Journals and diaries (like the one passed down from Emma Dickinson, my great-grandfather's sister) offer some insight, but so many of the old ways are almost completely forgotten today. This short 1969 gem of a film shown below, titled "Had You Lived Then...America Around 1800" gives us a fairly in depth look into everyday life in the 17th, 18th and 19th early century. See how they lived without running water, heat, electricity or alarm clocks. Watch how women made their own soap and butter. They also spent their days making bread, candles, and fabric. Children wrote on slate boards in one room schoolhouses. They learned words, morals, manners, history and arithmetic. Rather than being absorbed by video games, boys spent their free time hanging out at the blacksmith shop, an essential business in those days. Girls helped their mothers at home. My favorite part of films like this is the tiny tidbits that enhance our view of the past. For example, we've all heard of stagecoaches. Surely, most of our ancestors have traveled on one at least once in their lives. It was the only method of public land transportation before the railroad was built. A trip from New York to Boston took 46 hours by stagecoach, stopping two nights for rest. In this film, the narrator describes the experience: "Traveling was not easy in those days. The stage coaches were small. Three narrow benches held nine cramped passengers. Long trips were especially uncomfortable. Also, most coaches started early in the morning - very early, sometimes at 5 or even at 3 or 2 o'clock and you didn't dare be late because if you were, the coach left without you." Unsurprisingly, the film appears to have been recorded in "Upstate" New York, where the winds of change have been blowing at a slower pace than other regions. In fact, today many of the old rural towns look much like they did 200 years ago. In some places, horses and buggies can still be seen trotting along the roads as if straight out of the past. To learn more about what was happening during the lives of your ancestors, check out my Timeline of Events & Inventions. You might also be interested in my Genealogy Dashboard. #history #genealogy #video #america

When researching your family tree, it seems easier to find dates and places than it is to find personal information such as eye color, native language, or if they were denied the right to vote. Or is it? Depending on the time period they lived, it may be easier than you think. Here's a list of information you can find on the census and which ones you can find the information in - assuming the census taker collected the information. For a variety of places to find census records, click here. Birth The person's birth month and year See the 1900 Census The person's birth month if born within the past year See the 1870 & 1880 Census The person's place of birth See the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census The person's race See the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census See more places to find Vital Records here Parents Origins Whether or not the person's father and/or mother was of foreign birth See the 1870 Census Native language of the person's father and mother See the 1920 & 1930 Census Birth place of mother and father See the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930 Census See more places to find Foreign records here Immigration Whether the person was a Naturalized Citizen or an Alien See the 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census Year of Immigration See the 1910, 1920 & 1930 Census Year of Naturalization See the 1920 Census See more Immigration resources here Health/Personal Whether or not the person was deaf, dumb, blind, insane or idiotic See the 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 Census Eye Color (Men only) See the WWI Draft Registrations & WWII Draft Registrations Height & Build (Men only) See the WWI Draft Registrations & WWII Draft Registrations Education Whether or not the person spoke English See the 1920 & 1930 Census Whether or not the person could read and write See the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1920 & 1930 Census Whether or not the person attended school in the past year See the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1920 & 1930 Census Highest level of education See the 1940 Census Marriage/Marital Status The person's Marital Status See the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census Whether or not they were married in the past year See the 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 Census The person's age at first marriage See the 1930 Census Month married if within the past year See the 1870 Census Number of years married See the 1910 Census See more places to find marriage records here Employment Months employed See the 1880 Census The person's Occupation/Trade/Profession See the WWI & WWII Draft Registrations (men only) & the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1920 & 1930 Census To learn about unfamiliar occupations click here Military Whether or not they served in the military See the 1890 Veterans Census & the 1930 Census See the WWI Draft Registrations & WWII Draft Registrations More military resources can be found here Property The person's street address See the 1880, 1890 Veterans Census, 1900, 1910, 1930 & 1940 Census The declared value of the person's personal estate See the 1870 Census Whether or not the home was on a farm See the 1930 & 1940 Census Whether or not the home was owned free or mortgaged See the 1920 Census Whether the home was owned or rented See the 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census The value of the home or rent See the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1930 & 1940 Census Farm Schedules See more land records & local histories here Children The person's relationship to the head of household See the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940 Census Number of children born to mother See the 1900 & 1910 Census Number of children living See the 1900 & 1910 Census See more places to find Vital Records here Slaves Number of Slaves See the 1790-1840 Census & the 1850 & 1860 Slave Schedules Number of Slave houses See the 1850 & 1860 Slave Schedules Other Whether or not there was a radio in the home See the 1930 Census Whether or not they were denied the right to vote (men only) See the 1870 Census For more ideas on resources you should be able to find for your ancestors, depending on when they lived, try my Year Checker tool. Just enter a year (from 1600 to 1989) and see what general resources should be available for people living in that time period. It's a work in progress, but may provide you with an idea or a clue you hadn't previously considered. There are many other places to find personal information to bring your ancestors' stories to life. Local histories, newspapers, and biographies are just a few places. See my Genealogy Dashboard for tons of places to find free information about your ancestors and family. #genealogy #tips #resources #brainstorming #ideas #census #sourcefinder

The AGBI or American Genealogical-Biographical Index is an essential genealogy resource, providing an index of bibliographies for thousands of people. Here you'll learn how to access the full index free online. First, if you have a subscription to Ancestry, you can search the index on their site here. You can, however, access the first 48 volumes freely on FamilySearch (free account required). Start by finding the volume containing the surname you are researching in the list of volumes below. For example: To see what I can find about the Leonards, I choose Volume 22 from the list below. In the window that appears, select "View all pages". Then, I use the arrow keys in the bottom right corner to navigate through the pages. (You can also enter a page number there to save time). The names are listed alphabetically. I find the Leonard names begin on page 292 and continue to page 306. I am seeking information about Charles, Russell, or Joshua Leonard, so I snip the entries for their names. You could just print the page or just jot down the info. In order to decipher the results you will need to refer to the Key Title Index to find the full bibliography and title of the resource. For example, from the first Russell Leonard in the index above, what does "CantonMs ViR:195" mean? To find out, I check the Key Title Index and see it refers to "Vital Records of Canton, Ms. Edited by F. Endicott. Canton, Ms, 1896. (317p.) "Tefft Des: 108" refers to "Partial records of the descendants of John Tefft of Portsmouth, RI and John Tifft of Nassau, NY, by M.E.M. Tifft. NY. 1896. (150p)". Information about one Russell Leonard will be found on page 108 of that book. Next I found the book on archive.org and see on p. 108 the following: You can find links to many of them from my Genealogy Dashboard. For more places to find books, check out my "Historical Books" page. American Genealogical-Biographical Index Click here for the Key Title Index. You can find volumes 1-48 on FamilySearch* by using these links. Note: You must be logged in to view their materials online. Sign up is free and easy. Volume 1 - AARON to ANTHONEY [Link] Volume 2 - ANTHONY to BAROWS [Link] Volume 3 - BARR to BLAITON [Link] Volume 4 - BLAKE to BROWN, C. [Link] Volume 5 - BROWN, D. to CANEEY [Link] Volume 6 - CANFIELD to CLAGG [Link] Volume 7 - CLAGGETT to COOGAN [Link] Volume 8 - COOK to CYRUS [Link] Volume 9 - DAB to DEWARR [Link] Volume 10 - DEWARREN to DYZE [Link] Volume 11 - EABORNE to EZZERS [Link] Volume 12 - FA to FORRISTALL [Link] Volume 13 - FORRISTER to GEIES [Link] Volume 14 - GEIGER to GRAVER [Link] Volume 15 - GRAVES to HALSETT [Link] Volume 16 - HALSEY to HAWKINGS [Link] Volume 17 - HAWKINS to HILLHOUSE [Link] Volume 18 - HILLIARD to HOYSRODT [Link] Volume 19 - HOYT to JEFFREYS [Link] Volume 20 - JEFFRIES to KELSEA [Link] Volume 21 - KELSEY to LANDYS [Link] Volume 22 - LANE to LITTLEDALE [Link] Volume 23 - LITTLEFIELD to MARKELL [Link] Volume 24 - MARKER to McKEEMAN [Link] Volume 25 - McKEEN to MITCHELE [Link] Volume 26 - MITCHELL to MOWREY [Link] Volume 27 - MOWRY to NORTMAN [Link] Volume 28 - NORTON to PARDE [Link] Volume 29 - PARDEE to PENDLESTON [Link] Volume 30 - PENDLETON to PLATS [Link] Volume 31 - PLATT to RALMER [Link] Volume 32 - RALPH to RALSON [Link] Volume 33 - RICKARD to ROWLETT [Link] Volume 34 - ROWLEY to SCHMID [Link] Volume 35 - SCHMIDT to SHERLY [Link] Volume 36 - SHERMAN to SMITH, A. [Link] Volume 37 - SMITH, E. to SPRAGS [Link] Volume 38 - SPRAGUE to STODDARD [Link] Volume 39 - STODDART to TATCHER [Link] Volume 40 - TATE to TINKEY [Link] Volume 41 - TINKHAM to TYLER, D. [Link Volume 42 - TYLER, E. to WALDROM [Link] Volume 43 - WALDRON to WEBRECHT [Link] Volume 44 - WEBSTER to WHEELER, D. [Link] Volume 45 - WHEELER E. to WHITMAN, D. [Link] Volume 46 - WHITMAN, E. to WILLSMAN [Link] Volume 47 - WILLSON to WRIGHMYER [Link] Volume 48 - WRIGHT to ZYGAR [Link] The AGBI currently contains 226 volumes of valuable history. The collection is held by the Godfrey Memorial Library, which offers lookups and research services. You can do a search of the collection with a subscription to Ancestry.com. See more like this under the Free Genealogy Resources and Tools menus at the top of the page. #bibliographies #resources #biographical #america #american

Years ago, I acquired a copy of Frederick Verkus's Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, which contains thousands of genealogies, undoubtedly a very valuable tool for historians and genealogists. In the index, thousands of names are found. I pulled out my copy recently, to see what I could find out about the Dudley family in an effort to trace the origins of my Grandpa Reese's 8th great-grandfather, Francis Dudley. Francis was born in England in 1640 and arrived in New England in 1665. He married Sarah Wheeler and they lived in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In this post, I will share information about the Dudley family from this source. Dudley is found in the index of the Compendium, with 18 different Dudley men, named as follows: Following are the pages containing these Dudley entries in the book, for those researching the Dudley family. Feel free to download or print it for future reference. Ambrose Dudley, Ambrose Simeon Dudley, Benjamin William Dudley, Daniel Dudley, Edward Dudley, Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley, James Dudley, Joseph Dudley, Richard Dudley, Robert Dudley, Roger Dudley, Roy Dudley, Samuel Dudley, Stephen Dudley, Thomas Dudley, Thomas Underwood Dudley, William Dudley, and William Ambrose Dudley are named. As you can see, there are many entries for Thomas Dudley. Thomas had come to New England on the Arabella with the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, and was involved with the formation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, working closely with John Winthrop. Thomas served as governor, deputy governor, and other high ranking positions in the service of the Colony until his death in 1653. According to Dudley Genealogies, by Dean Dudley, 1848, Thomas is said to have been a relative of Francis, which may or may not be true. Thomas did have a brother born in 1583 who was named Francis, indicating the name Francis was in his family, but Thomas had left England long before my ancestor Francis was born and he died two years before Francis arrived in New England. You can learn more about Gov. Thomas Dudley on Wikipedia here and see some of Thomas Dudley's genealogy on Wikitree here. Note: Wikitree reports he had a brother named Francis who was born in 1583. Stay tuned for more as I continue to attempt to trace Francis's roots. If you have any information to contribute, please contact me privately or use the public comments section below.

One of my favorite shows to watch is Timeline World History Documentaries on YouTube. I've binge watched for hours as Tony Robinson and his team visit historical sites, mostly in the United Kingdom, and tell the stories of the people who lived there. From their discussions and research, we can often learn interesting details we might not find elsewhere. In this episode, Time Team visits the buried homestead of the Grey family and recreates the estate digitally, based on their archaeological findings. One of the many treats in this episode is their digital recreation of the homestead, shown here. Tony explains that this is what the homestead looked like until the end of the 14th century, when they decided it was time to upgrade. Watch the full episode, The Buried Homestead Of The Grey Dynasty here via YouTube [Alternate link] Lady Jane Grey married Lord Guildford Dudley, son of John Dudley. See my previous post, The Dudley Castle and other Dudley legends, for more information on the Dudley family. Tip: Search YouTube for videos of the places your ancestors lived! You never know what you might find! If you don't know where they lived, check out the Domesday Book and try a search for your family names. Stay tuned for more genealogy tips and resources! #grey #groby #england #video

William Bradford's writings have been the primary source for Mayflower history since the ship's landing in 1620, but information omitted by Bradford has subsequently been published, elaborating on the history of our Pilgrim Fathers and other "first-comers" to New England. This book, for example, contains information about where the Pilgrims came from, their occupations, and some genealogical information. Furthermore, it includes information about three ships that arrived after the Mayflower - the Fortune, the Anne, and the Little James. It was originally published in 1929 and this copy, shown here courtesy of Archive.org, was published in 1962: "The English ancestry and homes of the Pilgrim Fathers who came to Plymouth on the "Mayflower" in 1620, the "Fortune" in 1621, and the "Anne" and the "Little James" in 1623, by Banks, Charles Edward, 1854-1931, [Alternate Link] See my previous posts, "The Great Migration" and "Timeline of American Immigration" for more information on early immigration to America and Colonial times. You might also be interested in The Winthrop Fleet. Click here for my interactive Mayflower database, complete with illustrations. Click here for more Mayflower resources. Click here for my Genealogy Dashboard featuring access to thousands of other free genealogy resources. Subscribe for updates and new resources! It's free! #mayflower #colonial #newengland #immigration #pilgrims #genealogy

While researching the McGinnis family of Cortland County, New York, the name Turner is frequently seen. It can be very confusing, which is the reason I'm taking the time to summarize a few things for any fellow family researchers. First, we know that William and Catherine (Smith) McGinnis had a daughter named Catherine McGinnis (1874-1923), also known as "Rene". She married Fred Turner (1869-1927), son of Dewitt C. Turner and Louisa (Underwood) Turner (1849-1923), of Groton. Rene and Fred Turner had at least two children: Maurice Dewitt Turner (1898-1948), who married Ada Cooper (1892-1986) in 1917 and had a daughter named Eloise who married Gordon W. Sheldon in 1940. She was living in Florida abt. 1950. Hazel Turner (1896-1971) who married Homer Reynolds (1892-1984) in 1916, and had children: Robert and Gertrude Reynolds. Homer and Hazel lived in Summerhill. There is another connection between the McGinnis and Turners, however. One of William and Catherine McGinnis's sons, Charles McGinnis (1872-1934) also married a child of Dewitt & Louisa Turner. He married Anna Mae Turner (1876-1955) and had two daughters, Eleanor and Catherine McGinnis. Dewitt and Louisa Turner also had a daughter named Bertha Frances Turner (1885-1954), who married Arthur William Lanpher in 1909. They had four known children: (Daughter) Lanpher born 1911. (See Cortland Standard, Nov. 2, 1911, transcription below). Lawrence Lanpher, who was born in 1915 and died the same year. Ruth Leone Lanpher, born 1917 and died 1995, married Hatfield. Clair William Lanpher (1919-2013). Related news items found: FREETOWN. Mrs. A. W. Lanpher is at East Freetown caring for her sister, Mrs. Chas. McGinnis and infant daughter. [Cortland Standard, Nov. 2, 1911]. MCGRAWVILLE. Dec. 12 - Mrs. Louisa Turner, widow of Dewitt Turner, died Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Cortland Hospital, where she has been cared for several weeks. Her age was 74 years. The remains were brought to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles McGinnis, where funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon. Burial was in McGrawville Cemetery. Mrs. Turner leaves four children, Mrs. McGinnis, Mrs. Arthur Lanpher, Fred and Frank Turner, and 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. [Cortland Standard, Dec. 14,1923]. The Turner View The McGinnis View See more: William McGinnis Catherine Smith Mary Ellen McGinnis Rose Hollenbeck #mcginnis #hollenbeck #williammcginnis