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The U.S. Social Security Death Index contains over 94 million records of people who died between 1935 and 2014. The file may include the first and last name, social security number, state issued, birth date, death date, and last residence. With a subscription to Ancestry.com, you can access these records. If not, you can visit FamilySearch to access the index free of charge. Search the SSDI for free at FamilySearch! Click here! Tip: If you know the person's social security number, you can determine what state it was issued in just by looking at the number. Click here for more free genealogy resources and tips! #resources #genealogy #freegenealogyresources #socialsecurity #ssdi

Shown here is the Church of St Andrew and St Mary, an ancient church still standing today, in Pitminster (Diocese of Bath and Wells, Church of England), County of Somerset, England. Ceremonies performed here marked life's major milestones for at least two or three generations of my ancestry. The present church shown below, was built on the site of an old Saxon church more than seven centuries ago. While parts have since been rebuilt and added, the tower and part of the nave are over 700 years old. The effigy tombs of the Colles family, lords of the manor in the 1500s and 1600s, are still displayed inside. In this church, my 10th great-grandmother, Susanna (Treat) Webster, was baptized on October 8, 1629. Susanna came to America with her parents about 1637 and married Robert Webster, son of Gov. John Webster, on Nov. 10, 1653. Susanna's father, Richard Treat, was baptized at Pitminster, too, on August 28, 1584. He was also married to Alice Gaylord there, on April 27, 1615. Alice, too, had been baptized here, on May 10, 1594. Furthermore, Richard's father, Robert Treat, was born in Pitminster, and may have been baptized here as well. There may have even been other ancestors who were baptized, married, or buried here as well. Stay tuned for future updates or share your own discoveries about people and records associated with this church and town in the comments below! (Keep scrolling for a tour!) Have a look around the Churchyard and Cemetery with this interactive Google image: Side view: Or take a walk around the village! Click or tap the white arrows to navigate. Sources: Pitminster church history [Link] Church of St. Andrew and St. Mary, Historic England [Link] The Treat family: a genealogy of Trott, Tratt, and Treat for fifteen generations, and four hundred and fifty years in England and America, containing more than fifteen hundred families in America, by John Harvey Treat, 1893. [Link] My family's line of descent from Richard Treat is as follows: Richard Treat (1584-1670) - Susanna (Treat) Webster (1629-1705) - Elizabeth (Webster) Seymour (1673-1754) - John Seymour III (1694-1758) - Lucretia (Seymour) Ensign (1730-1814) married Datus Ensign Sr (1729-1787) - Datus Ensign Jr (1752-1832) - Royal Ensign (1792-1868) - Esther A. (Ensign) Shirley (1826-1861) - Royal J. Shirley (1851-1928) - Gertrude (Shirley) Harvey (1878-1937) - Mary E. (Harvey) Reese (1910-1930) - Click here to learn more about this branch of my family tree. Click here for 20,000* free genealogy resources!

Learn all about the life and times of Gov. John Webster of Connecticut, my 11th great-grandfather in this three-volume work titled "History and genealogy of the Gov John Webster family of Connecticut", by William H. Webster, 1915. Volume 1 - Volume 2 - Volume 3 #johnwebster #governor #connecticut #harvey

Rather than honoring and celebrating the early settlers of America, in today's "politically correct" - but literally incorrect world, we often hear of "white man" coming to America and stealing the land from the Indians. Like most propaganda, this is a stereotype, not always true. However, the truth has a way of resurfacing, especially when you're a genealogist digging through old historical documents and books . First of all, Native Americans didn't believe in the individual's right to own land. They believed all land belonged to the "Great Spirit". They were peaceful and often friendly to the settlers upon arrival and some maintained good relationships with their new white neighbors. Yes, conflicts arose, as they do with all people, but there is more to the story than most people know. In my research, I have found evidence of several sales between the whites and the Indians. One great example was William Penn. He was granted the land of Pennsylvania by King Charles II of England, for money owed to his father. Still, Penn and his sons paid the Indians for the land, possibly to avoid conflict or maybe just out of the goodness of his heart. The Indians traded for things they didn't have, such as a wheelbarrow. This may seem like an unfair trade but the logic behind it was simple. The Indians knew there was much more land to be had in America. The white men had no idea at that time and the Indians were glad to have a new wheelbarrow! In another documented example, a deed of sale between Roger Ludlow and the "Norwalke Indians", shows that Norwalk was purchased in exchange for eight fathoms of wampum*, six coats, ten hatchets, ten hoes, ten knives, ten scissors, ten jewse-harpes*, ten fathoms of tobacco, three kettles, and ten looking glasses (mirrors). * Click the bold links to find out what these items were. From "Norwalk", by Charles Melbourne Selleck, 1896. [Link] #connecticut #rogerludlow #nativeamerican #indians #newengland #settlement #norwalk #land

In the book "A history of the Seymour family: descendants of Richard Seymour of Hartford, Connecticut, for six generations", by Donald L. Jacobus, George D. Seymour, Mary K. Talcott, and Tyler S. Morris, 1939, much information is given about our line of the Seymour family. John Seymour II was my 9th great-grandfather, a son of John Seymour and Mary Watson. Click here to learn more about John and his family. John's tombstone at the Ancient Burying Grounds in Hartford represents typical Puritan burial practices. In accordance with the Scriptures forbidding graven images, Puritans did not use religious symbols such as crosses or figures on their tombstones. The carving shown here on John Seymour's headstone is the "death's head" which was the first imagery used on headstones. The skull and wings and/or crossed bones were used to represent spiritual regeneration and prompt the living to ponder their eternal destination. Source: A history of the Seymour family : descendants of Richard Seymour of Hartford, Connecticut, for six generations; with extensive amplification of the lines deriving from his son John Seymour of Hartford, by Jacobus, Donald Lines, 1887-1970; Seymour, George Dudley, 1859-1945; Talcott, Mary Kingsbury, 1847-1917; Morris, Tyler Seymour, 1863-1921. [Link] #JohnSeymourII #seymour #hartford #connecticut #cemetery #burial #grave

James Ensign was an early settler of Hartford, Connecticut. His name is memorialized on the "First Settlers Monument" in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, shown here in this Google image: This image is from Record of the descendants of James Ensign and his wife Sarah Elson, 1634-1939, by Martha Ensign Nelson, 1939. (Click here to read the book at Archive.org for free). Click here to see more Ensign family memorabilia. #JamesEnsign #Hartford #Connecticut #Ensign #ensign #harvey #Harvey

Samuel Stowell was born in England in 1625 and came to America by 1635. In my previous blog, details about his home were discussed. It was located less than a quarter mile (about 875 feet) from Fort Hill Cemetery in Hingham, Massachusetts, but no record or evidence of his burial has been found. In light of two important facts, this does not rule out Fort Hill as Samuel's burial place, however. First, early church records were destroyed by fire in 1770, leaving no record of early town burials. Second, the God-fearing Puritans used simple rough hewn stones to mark their burial places. They did not advocate engravings or carvings of symbols or marks, in accordance with Exodus 20:4, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth". Their markers were not elaborate memorials like those used later after the settlers were more established. The date above the cemetery's gate says "1895", but the cemetery is obviously much older. The oldest gravestones in the cemetery date back to the 1750s. According to the family tradition, however, Samuel Stowell does rest at Fort Hill. Mention of it was made at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Stowell Family Association in 1926. The following statement[1] pertaining to Fort Hill Cemetery was made by Luther Stowell Conger: "There are a great many historic things to be seen in the cemetery. Peter Hobart is laid away there, and a great many close connections of those who are here today are laid away there. We will also see the spot where Samuel Stowell is supposed to be buried." As mentioned in my previous post, Peter Hobart, was one of the original settlers of Hingham. Samuel Stowell came to Hingham with his party. Therefore, it seems highly probably Samuel was indeed laid to rest in the same place. The monument at the end of the path is a memorial "TO THE FIRST SETTLERS OF HINGHAM". Use this interactive map to browse the area. [1] Annual Meeting, Stowell Family, p. 6, by the Stowell Family Association, 1925. [Link] [2] Cemetery Transcription at US GenWeb [Link] Click here to see more of my ancestors in my Virtual Family Cemetery. Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. #stowell #harvey #forthillcemetery #hingham #massachusetts #burial #cemetery #samuelstowell

Located in County Somerset, six miles from the Bristol Channel, lies the village and civil parish of Cothelstone. It is situated in the Quantock Hills, six miles north of Taunton in the Taunton Deane District. The village was the home of my Stowell ancestors since the time of the Norman Invasion of 1066. “During the English Civil War, Sir John Stawell of Cothelstone had raised a small force at his own expense to defend the King. When Taunton fell to parliamentary troops and was held by Robert Blake he attacked Stawell at Bishops Lydeard and imprisoned him. After the restoration, Charles II conferred the title of Baron Stawell on Sir John's son, Ralph.” (Source: Cothelstone page at Wikipedia.org). Cothelstone Church, Quantock, England – “The church is quite near the Manor House and was always a part of it and the livings and advowsons* belonged to the Stowell family. It is of great antiquity and contains old medallions of ancient stained glass and monuments and tombs of the Stowell family dating back to 1300. Members of the Stowell family have worshipped here since 1066.” [Stowell Genealogy] *An advowson is the right to nominate a person to be parish priest (subject to episcopal approval), and such right was often originally held by the lord of the manor of the principal manor within the parish. Source: Saul, Nigel (2000). A Companion to Medieval England 1066–1485. Stroud: Tempus. p. 11. Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. Click here to learn about Samuel Stowell. #stowell #england #church #photos

From "Stowell Genealogy", this photo of Stowell House in Quantock, England, was taken. For details about this branch of the family, click here. The estate dates back to a Saxon King and Queen who settled there abt. 600 A.D. At the Norman Conquest of 1066, the manor was given to Sir Adam de Coveston by William the Conqueror "for his support at the time of the Norman Conquest". Adam's descendants remained there until 1792. Today the Stowell house is called "Cotherlstone Manor". Today it is a bed and breakfast and is available for weddings and other events. It is one of Somerset's most historic houses. Visit their website for more details. The manor is located in Taunton, County Somerset, England, "six miles from the Bristol Channel". The Google map below shows the location. The following is an excerpt from “Stowell Genealogy”, by W.H. Harrison, regarding Samuel Stowell: It is reasonably certain he belongs to the Stowell or Stawell family that settled in County Somerset, England, over eight hundred years ago.” The founder of the family was the Norman knight Adam, who came over with William the Conqueror in 1066 and his services were rewarded by giving him the manor called "de Coveston or de Cothelstone" and the manor of "de Stawelle" in Moorlinch, County Somerset. Gerard in 1633 wrote: "The Manor of Cothelstone dates back to long before the Conquest of 1066, when a Saxon King and Queen are said to have been its founders. They secluded themselves within its walls in fulfilment of a vow taken at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. It has more the appearance of a cloister than a knightly castle such as the warrior, Sir Adam, might have desired." "Cothelstone is a very remarkable place on account of its great antiquity, being one of the oldest homes in England, situated six miles from the Bristol Channel, in Quantock, County Somerset. It came into the possession of the Stawell family in 1066. At that time the manor consisted of a beautiful and extensive mansion with many buildings belonging to it and immediately clustered around it, including the Church, eleven farm houses and fifty-four cottages. This manor has been retained in the Stawell family in an unbroken line, from oldest son to oldest son, from 1066 down to the present time. On the summit is a round tower, nothing whatever being known of its builder or the date of its erection. From it a magnificent view is obtained, said to be the most extensive in England. The manor of "de Stawelle" also dates back to old Saxon times when it was known as "Estawella" or Eastern Spring. Originally these Norman knights were known only by their Christian names, but gradually they adopted for purposes of identification, as their surname, the name of the manor or estate where they lived. Thus Sir Adam became Sir Adam de Coveston. This was very soon changed to Sir Adam de Cothelstone and later on to Sir Adam de Stawelle. The titled branch inherited by the eldest son was very influential in the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries and in the time of the Civil Wars was the most prominent family in South Western England, as they had acquired by marriage or purchase some twenty-six additional manors or estates with the church livings and advowsons that accompanied them. They built one of the largest mansion houses in England. They were royalists and staunch supporters of the Stuarts. When the Parliamentary Party and Cromwell came into power their estates were confiscated and their mansion house and the church badly damaged and Sir John Stawell was imprisoned for several years in the Tower of London, living in poverty with his health completely broken down. Under Charles II a restoration was made of such property as remained and his son Ralph as recompense was created on the fifteenth of January, 1683, a Baron under the title of "Lord Stawell of Somerton," named after one of the other manors. Later, when the title of Baron lapsed owing to the failure of male issue it was continued by special Act of Parliament upon the daughter Mary as Baroness Stawell, 21 May 1760, with the right of inheritance by her male descendants, but after a few generations the title of Baron again became extinct owing to the lack of male issue. Some of the younger sons were created Knights in their own right through their ability and prominence and thus acquired the title of Sir and served as members of Parliament and in other high offices. The church at Hingham, Mass., which was organized in 1635 and attended by Samuel Stowell, the immigrant, has had Stowell worshippers continuously from 1649 to the present day. While not the oldest church society or organization, the church building itself, erected in 1680, is the oldest meeting house in America that has been continuously used for public worship, hence the church at Cothelstone and the church at Hingham have between them had Stowell worshippers from 1066 to the present time. Samuel was not a common name in the family in the early days. In Col. George D. Stawell's History of the Stawell family, the name of Samuel does not appear in a single instance until recorded in the Registers of Bath and Chudleigh in 1562. Forty Stowells are mentioned therein; thirty-five of these are spelled Stowell and five are spelled Stawell. The name of Samuel appears in the Bath Abbey Register which gives the birth of a Samuel Stowell on the 5th of January 1581 and the Chudleigh Parish Register gives the death of a Samuel Stowell, 7th of December 1628, probably the same Samuel. He may have married and had children though I find no record either of his marriage or of any children. Possibly our immigrant Samuel may have been a son of his. We know the date of death of our Samuel to be in 1683, but as we do not know his age at time of death, we cannot definitely fix upon the date of his birth, but indications point to about 1625. As far as dates are concerned this would fit in with his being the son of the above Samuel who died in 1628. Although there were a few scattered families there prior to that date, the real settlement of Hingham, Mass., occurred in 1635 when a large colony from Hingham, England, came over with the Rev. Peter Hobart among them as their pastor and organized the town naming it Hingham after their old English home. This would make Samuel about ten years old at that time. He may have been brought over by some relative on his mother's side, or by some friend of the family or as an orphan apprenticed to one of the immigrants. This was probably the case for his name does not appear on any of the ship's registers or in any of the Hingham records until his marriage in 1649 to Mary Farrow is recorded in Hobart's Diary. #stowell #harvey #reese #Reese

Archelaus Stowell was the 2nd great-grandfather of Mary (Harvey) Reese., via her paternal grandmother, Betsy A. (Stowell) Harvey. Archelaus' biography can be found on page 180 of "Stowell Genealogy". He was born on April 4, 1764, in Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut. Archelaus married Olive Bugbee, daughter of Timothy Bugbee and Hannah Wood, on November 4, 1791, in Ashford, Connecticut, and their union was blessed with six known children: Alpheus, Amasa, Alladuran, Mary, John and Nathan. Archelaus died at the age of 87, on July 22, 1851, in Virgil, Cortland County, New York. He rests at Forest Hill Cemetery in Blodgett Mills, Cortland County. You can read Stowell Genealogy free online by clicking here or for a hard copy you can find it on Amazon.com or ebay.com. Click here to see more about this family. See also "Reese Family Record 2014". See also The Stowell House. #stowell #harvey #reese #Reese

This hundred-year old class photo from New Milford School, New York, shows Delaphina "Mary" Decker attending "New Milford School", New York, school with her class in 1909. Delaphina is the girl with the check mark over her head in the back row. She was born in January of 1897 and was the daughter of Charles Decker (1862-1909) and Lydia Mayo. After she married W. H. Dickinson, she went by the name Mary Dickinson. This photo was from 1909, around the time her father, Charles Decker, died. (Photo from the collection of James H. Dickinson). See more on the Decker page. It appears this school house was located on Covered Bridge Road in New Milford (Town of Warwick). #delaphinadecker #dickinson #decker #warwick #school #class #photo #newmilford #newyork #orangecounty

It was the year 1624 when the first Dutch settlers began to arrive in New York, settling along the Hudson River. They established what they called "The Colony of New Amsterdam" on Manhattan Island in 1626, but in 1664 the English seized control of the colony and changed the name to New York. Counties were established in 1683, of which Albany County was the largest. It wasn't until 1788, twelve years after America won it's independence from Great Britain, that New York was officially established as a U.S. State. The County Seat is Albany. Albany County originally encompassed most of central and western New York. The following counties were formed from Albany County and most were later sub-divided: Washington County (1772) part of Montgomery County (1772) Charlotte County (1772, renamed Washington in 1784) Tryon County (1772, renamed Montgomery in 1784) Columbia County (1786) Rensselaer County (1791) Saratoga County (1791) part of Schoharie County (1795) Schenectady County (1809) The Annals of Albany by Joel Munsell contains a wealth of information about Albany County, New York. Church records, historic events, illustrations, portraits, and much more! Choose a volume to read or search for free at Archive.org: Volume 1 [Link] Volume 6 [Link] Volume 2 [Link] Volume 7 [Link] Volume 3 [Link] Volume 8 [Link] Volume 4 [Link] Volume 9 [Link] Volume 5 [Link] Volume 10 [Link] Click here for more genealogy resources. Click here for more New York genealogy resources. Click here for more Albany County resources including a list of towns. #albanycounty #albany #newyork #resources #genealogy

Sophronia, mother of Charles Russell Leonard, is supposed to have been born about 1815 in either Broome or Chenango County. (On the 1855 census "Chenango" is given under the column for the county of her birth. On the 1875 census, however, "Broome" is given as her county of birth. Note that the boundaries of these counties were already in place by 1810, so they were fairly well established by 1815, when she was supposedly born. There is a town called Chenango in Broome County. Was this the place she was referring to? See notes at bottom). Sophronia's eldest son, Charles, was supposedly born in Union Springs in 1830, although at the time it was Springport. The village of Union Springs was not incorporated until Nov. 1848, from part of Springport. The first solid mention of Sophronia, wife of Russell Leonard, is in 1834 when she published a missing persons ad in the newspaper. She asked for any information to be given to the postmaster at Port Byron. Whether or not she ever found out what happened to Russel remains a mystery. We are told that her maiden name was Sophronia Burrill (or Burlet) and that she remarried to Thomas Knapp. This may be a mixup. Her true maiden name has yet to be confirmed. On Sept. 11, 1837, Thomas H. Knapp and Sophronia (Leonard) were married, in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York. He was born about 1810-1811 in Fort Ann, Connecticut. According to his 1863 enlistment card, he was 5 feet 8.5 inches tall and had blue eyes, light hair, and light complexion. In 1840 we find Thomas "Napp" living in Scipio, Cayuga, New York and his household contained two boys under 5 years old (their son Joseph Knapp was age 3 and Thomas Knapp Jr. was age 2), one man age 20-30 (Thomas Knapp was 29), one girl age 5-10 (Jenette Leonard was 7), and one woman age 20-30 (Sophronia was 25). Based on this information, her son Charles R. Leonard, who would have been about 9-10 in 1840, either did not live with his mother, or this is not the correct household of his mother. In 1850 Thomas Knapp's family appears in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York. Her son, Charles would have been 19-20, but is, again, not found in the Knapp home. Charles' location in 1850 has yet to be found. The census was taken on Sept. 24, 1850: Thomas Knapp (age 39) Saphronia Knapp (age 35) est. 1815 Joseph Knapp (age 13) Thomas Knapp (age 12) Mariah Knapp (age 9) Sophia Knapp (age 7) Lydia Knapp (age 4) Dewey Knapp (age 2) William Knapp (age 6 mos) In 1850 they lived next door or near to Sophronia's daughter, Jenette (Leonard) and Nelson Reynolds and their baby daughter, Virginia: Nelson Reynolds (age 22) Genette Reynolds (age 17) Virginia Reynolds (age 3 months) Nelson and Jenette were also counted on the census of Lansing, that same year. Lansing is 15 miles south of Genoa. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCTG-K87 : 12 April 2016), Saphronia Knapp in household of Thomas Knapp, Genoa, Cayuga, New York, United States; citing family 217, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Note: In 1850, the only Charles Leonard age 19 in all of New York was one in Marshall, Oneida County. He was a farmer residing on the farm of John & Mahitable Green. John Green was 71 and born in Massachusetts and Mahitable was 63 and born in Wales. In 1855 the family was living in Locke, Cayuga County, New York. The census was taken on June 28th and they report living in the town only two months*. In the home was: Thomas Knapp (age 44, born Connecticut), Laborer Saphrona Knapp (age 43, wife, born Chenango**) Joseph Knapp (age 17, son, born Cayuga) Thomas H. Knapp, Jr.*** (age 15, son, born Cayuga) Mariah Knapp (age 14, daughter, born Cayuga) Sophia Knapp (age 12, daughter, born Cayuga) Lydia A. Knapp (age 9, daughter, born Cayuga) Dewey Knapp (age 6, son, born Cayuga) William Knapp (age 6, son, born Cayuga) Saphrona Knapp (age 2, daughter, born Cayuga) Arnold Knapp (age 6 mos.,, son, born Cayuga) *On the same census, Charles and Mary Leonard were living in nearby Genoa with their first son, Joseph R. Leonard, who was 1 year old. Charles was 23 and Mary was 17. It is interesting to note that they, too, report living in the town only two months. Did they move into Sophronia's house? **"Otsiningo or Chenango, an important Indian town abandoned and destroyed by Indians in the winter of 1778-9, located four miles north of Binghamton in the present town of Chenango, Broome County" [Source: The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh] ***The 1855 census reveals the name of Thomas and Sophronia's son was Thomas H. Knapp, Jr., indicating that Thomas Sr.'s middle name began with an "H" as well. "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K67R-YWB : 19 November 2014), William Knapp in household of Thomas Knapp, Locke, Cayuga, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 1,435,218. Note: There were at least 112 people with the Knapp name living in Cayuga County in 1855. In 1860, "Sofronia" was 45 years old, living in Springport, New York, with her 49-year old husband, Thomas, the following people, all born in New York: Maria Knapp (age 19) Thomas Knapp (age 20) - born in Venice, Cayuga Co., NY as per muster roll abstracts Sophia J. Knapp (age 17) Lydia A. Knapp (age 15) Dewey Knapp (age 12) William Knapp (age 9) Arnold Knapp (age 5) Sophronia Knapp (age 7) Oscar Thompson (age 21) Abner Thomson (age 19) John Hix (age 26) Source: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCW9-J1V : 26 July 2017), Sophronia Knap in entry for Thomas Knap, 1860 Thomas Knapp, Sr., enlisted in the 16th Regiment, Third New York Heavy Artillery*, Company K, on Nov. 12, 1861. He mustered in the same day and mustered out on June 2, 1863. (*Formerly 19th Infantry). Another enlistment dated Oct. 26, 1863 was also found. He mustered in as a Private in 16th Artillery, Company D, on Dec. 1, 1863 and mustered out on Aug. 9, 1865. His son, Thomas Knapp, Jr., also enlisted and served at least three times. Source: "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSM9-J29 : 4 December 2014), Thomas Knapp, Private, Company D, 16th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M551 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 78; FHL microfilm 882,134. In 1865, Sophronia was 50 years old, and was head of her household in the village of Union Springs. Birthplace: "Can't tell". She reported having 11 children and two marriages. She reports being "now married" instead of widowed. Her neighbors appear to be the same as in 1860 so it was probably still the same house. In 1865 it was specified as a "Stone" house with the following people living in it: Saphrona Knapp (age 50) Sophia Thompson (age 22), her daughter Albert Thompson (age 28), her son-in-law, husband of Sophia Sarah Thompson (age 2), her granddaughter Lydia A. Hicks (age 18), her daughter Anna V. Hicks (age 3), her granddaughter William Knapp (age 16), her son Ella Knapp (age 15), her daughter in law (Luella?) Saphrona Knapp (age 13), her daughter Edward Thompson (age 23), her nephew (?), born in Cayuga County, "Army" Laura Thompson (age 19), her niece (?), born in North Carolina Source: "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-CXKX : accessed 25 December 2016), Saphrona Knapp, , Union Springs, Cayuga, New York, United States; citing source p. 10, line 15, household ID 69, county clerk, board of supervisors and surrogate court offices from various counties. Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York; FHL microfilm 853,201. On that 1865 Union Springs Census their possible neighbors are: Mary Schoby (wood house) Hiram Finch (wood house) Nathan Howland (wood) Lucinda Reeves (wood) Laura McCossens (brick) James Everitt (wood) Charles Adams (wood) Deborah Moore (wood) Charles Day (wood) John Hoff (wood) Sophronia Knapp (stone) Alvin Coburn (wood) Sarah Griffing (brick) Edward Eldredge (wood) John Vickery (wood) Thomas Knapp reportedly died May 10, 1869. In 1870, Sophronia appears to have been missing from the census. There are two blank entries between the Hoff and Coburn homes, indicating the homes were vacant or did not participate. Source: "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6Q19-KTD?cc=1438024&wc=92K4-G5S%3A518819101%2C519929201%2C519935501 : 22 May 2014), New York > Cayuga > Spring Port > image 40 of 58; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Anna Hicks and Sophia Thompson were living in Springport with Loren and Lilian Thompson, ages 27 and 24, respectively. A baby, Derel Thompson, age 2 ("female"?), appears to have been Sophia's child. Two other children appear to have been Loren and Lillian's: Joseph Thompson (age 3) and Charles Thompson (age 2). Source: "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6Q19-V2S?cc=1438024&wc=92K4-G5S%3A518819101%2C519929201%2C519935501 : 22 May 2014), New York > Cayuga > Spring Port > image 25 of 58; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). In 1875, Sophronia was living alone in Springport. She was widowed. Her age was given as 57 and her county of birth, Broome. The census was taken June 25, 1875. Source: "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95MB-9Q9P?cc=1918735&wc=M6LY-R29%3A209415601%2C209591801 : 21 May 2014), Cayuga > Springport > image 18 of 41; State Library, Albany. In 1880, Sophronia was living in Summerhill, Cayuga County, New York, with her son-in-law, Benjamin Wilson (age 37), and his wife, Nellie S. Wilson (age 26). They had two children: Ada Wilson (age 10) and Calvin W. Wilson (age 8). Source: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZZ4-ZKR : 20 August 2017), Benjamin Wilson, Summer Hill, Cayuga, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 40, sheet 377B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0814; FHL microfilm 1,254,814 Sophronia died in Moravia, December 3, 1883, at the age of 69. Her burial may have been in Union Springs. Her death was announced in the December 6th edition of the Union Springs Adverstiser. Other Notes For interesting reading about Union Springs see The Indian and the Pioneer. Chenango County towns: Afton Bainbridge Columbus Coventry Earlville (village) German Greene Guildford - Formed from Oxford and called Eastern from 1813-1817 Holmesville (hamlet) Lincklaen - Formed from German in 1823 McDonough - Formed from Preston n 1816 Mount Upton (hamlet) New Berlin - Formed from Norwich in 1807. Name was changed to Lancaster briefly from 1821-1822. North Norwich Norwich - Settled by people from Norwich, Connecticut Otselic - Formed from German in 1817. Oxford Pharsalia Pitcher - Formed from German and Lincklaen in 1827. Plymouth Preston Rockdale (hamlet) Sherburne - John Burrel (1820) four people in the home Smithville - Israel Burrell (1820) 7 people in the home Smyrna A look at Burrills and Leonards in Chenango County and Broome County in the census: 1810: Asa Leonard (10 people in the home) in Berkshire, Broome, NY Samuel Burwell (9 people in the home) in New Berlin, Chenango, NY (No Leonards in Chenango County. No Burrills in Broome County.) 1820: Arnold Burrell (9 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Aurora Burrell (5 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Israel Burrell (6 people in the home) in Smithville, Chenango, NY John Burrel (3 people in the home) in Sherburne, Chenango, NY Ainga Leonard (10 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Joseph Leonard (5 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Seth Leonard (7 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Solomon Leonard (11 people in the home) in Berkshire, Broome, NY Asa Leonard (7 people in the home) in Berkshire, Broome, NY Stephen B Leonard (9 people in the home) in Owego, Broome, NY Betativer Leonard (3 people in the home) in Guilford, Chenango, NY Elexes Leonard (3 people in the home) in Otselic, Chenango, NY Heman Leonard (9 people in the home) in Columbus, Chenango, NY Isaac Leonard (3 people in the home) in Green, Chenango, NY James Leonard (3 people in the home) in Green, Chenango, NY Jonas Leonard (7 people in the home) in German, Chenango, NY Joseph B. Leonard (6 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY Thadeus Leonard (4 people in the home) in Otselic, Chenango, NY Timothy Leonard (6 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY 1830: Aurora Burrell (9 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Isaac Burwell (5 people in the home) in Union, Broome, NY Anson Burrel (5 people in the home) in Norwich, Chenango, NY Hannah Burrel (3 people in the home) in New Berlin, Chenango, NY Joseph Leonard (10 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Seth Leonard (11 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Joseph Leonard (7 people in the home) in Lisle, Broome, NY Zenas Leonard (3 people in the home) in Union, Broome, NY Alexer Leonard (8 people in the home) in Otselic, Chenango, NY Hane Leonard (8 people in the home) in Oxford, Chenango, NY Hernan Leonard (4 people in the home) in Columbus, Chenango, NY Jonas Leonard (5 people in the home) in German, Chenango, NY Joseph B. Leonard (6 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY Joshua Leonard (3 people in the home) in Lincklaen, Chenango, NY Noah Leonard (3 people in the home) in Coventry, Chenango, NY Pettyre Leonard (6 people in the home) in Guilford, Chenango, NY Stephen A. Leonard (8 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY1840: Awra Burrell (7 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Giles Burnill (7 people in the home) in Oxford, Chenango, NY Amasa Leonard (7 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Jos. Leonard ( 4 people in the home) in Chenango, Broome, NY Z. Leonard (6 people in the home) in Union, Broome, NY George W. Leonard (5 people in the home) in Bainbridge, Chenango, NY Isaac Leonard (8 people in the home) in Oxford, Chenango, NY Joseph B. Leonard (2 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY Letitia Leonard (5 people in the home) in New Berlin, Chenango, NY Rufus Leonard (5 people in the home) in Smyrna, Chenango, NY Sabina Leonard (3 people in the home) in Oxford, Chenango, NY Other notes: Checked "Reminiscences, anecdotes and statistics of the early settlers and the olden time in the town of Sherburne, Chenango County, N.Y.". No Burrells or Leonards found. Checked "Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York", by Biographical Publishing Company, 1898. Checked "History of Chenango county, containing the divisions of the county and sketches of the towns; Indian tribes and title", by Hiram C. Clark, 1850, and found no mention of Burrell or Burrill. The Annals of Binghamton says this: "The same year (1809) Arnold Burrell, a wagon-maker, and the father of Arora Burrell, built upon the south west corner, and opposite Mr. Brownson. The house is a part of the present dwelling of Mr. Myron Merrill. (South-west corner of Main and Front Streets)" *Note: One of Sophronia's sons was named Arnold. Broome County reports on p. 85 the first newspapers pubished in Binghamton stating, "In 1818 the Republican Herald was started by Abraham Burrell". The book The Knapp Family in America reveals no clues but there is a strikingly similar occurrence on p. 40 under Hiram Knapp, born 1804 who married in 1835 to Sophronia, daughter of Edward B Brown and his wife Lucy Risley. Sophronia was born in Hanover, N.H., on Feb. 10, 1815. If you have any information or comments to contribute, please feel free to comment below. We would like to find proof of her name and her parentage. Was she Native American? Click here for my genealogy tips and resources Click here for more about the Leonard family #sophronia #leonard #Leonard #burrill #ChenangoCounty #BroomeCounty #timeline #sophroniaburrill #sophroniaknapp #sophronialeonard

Quote by Henry David Thoreau: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined. Photo by the late Rev. James I. Dickinson (1927-2003) Click here to see more! #famousquotes #quotes #motivation #inspirational #JIDPhotos

#happynewyear #oldprint #newspaper

A Prayer for Our Country Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with humble industry, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and many tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be peace and justice at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - George Washington #GeorgeWashington #America #patriotic #quotes #prayer #blessing

The Star Spangled Banner was gigantic flag measuring 30-feet by 42-feet. It was ordered by Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. Armistead wanted a flag so large, the British would be able to see it from afar. It was delivered on August 19, 1813. In September of 1814, Francis Scott Key, a young American lawyer, boarded a British flagship to persuade the British to release a friend they had recently captured. While he was there, on September 13, he watched the barrage of gunfire and rockets the British released on Fort McHenry. The bombardment lasted 25 hours and Key was convinced it was an American defeat. But as the smoke cleared and the sun rose, he looked and saw the giant flag, the Star Spangled Banner, flying high over the Fort. It was declaring an American victory! It was a fateful moment in the annals of American history, forever memorialized in Key's song. [Image: Star Spangled Banner, NMAH, Smithsonian Institution Archives]. Listen to Renald Werrenrath sing it here: (click play) The Star Spangled Banner O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! #military #patriotic #folksong #song #americanrevolution #lyrics #quotes #warof1812

Philip Shaner was a son of Jacob Shaner, Sr., and brother of my ancestor, Jacob Shaner, Jr. His complete biography can be found in “The Biographical Record of Henry County, Illinois”, by S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901, p. 377-379, from which the following excerpt is taken: “PHILIP SHANER, The subject of this review is one of the oldest and most honored citizens of Henry county, his home being on section 27, Wethersfield township. Years of quiet usefulness and a life in which the old fashioned virtues of sobriety, industry and integrity are exemplified have a simple beauty that no words can portray. Youth has its charms, but an honorable and honored old age, to which the lengthening years have added dignity and sweetness, has a brighter radiance, as if some ray from the life beyond already rested upon it. Mr. Shaner was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1814, and is a son of Jacob Shaner, a native of Germany, who came to America with his parents when a young man of nineteen years and settled in Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was married near Philadelphia, and reared his family upon a farm. On leaving the old homestead at the age of seventeen years, Philip Shaner went to Cattaraugus county, New York, where he worked upon a farm for a few years, and while there he was married January 18, 1835, the lady of his choice being Miss Melinda Jackson.” The biography continues to explain that Philip moved west in 1838, “by team, the journey occupying about a month. He located in what is now Stark County, Illinois”, and had ten children. Click here to read more. Philip's name was found in another source as well. In the book "Sketches of Wethersfield township, 1836-1925", by Frank H. Craig, 1926, pages 65-66, the following excerpt is copied: Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. #reese #shaner #petershaner #genealogy #shanerfamily #illinois #pennsylvania

Datus Ensign's bravery during the American Revolution was recalled in The Saratogian newspaper on February 18, 1966. From the article, we learn of a book called "The sexagenary: or, Reminiscences of the American revolution", by John P. Becker (1765-1837) and Simeon D. Bloodgood (1799-1866), published in 1866. On page 109, the story is told: A similar article had been printed in 1952. Click here to learn more about Datus Ensign, Jr. and his family. #datusensign #americanrevolution #revolutionarywar #harvey

This antique rolling pin was given to me by my great-aunt, Mary Ruth. It belonged to my 2nd great-grandmother, Ada (Temple) Reese, the wife of Maynard Reese and mother of ten. I can imagine there must have been a lot of baking going on in their home! While I never had a chance to meet her, I have seen photos and heard stories and she seems to have been the portrait of an all-American grandma. Together with this photo of her wearing her apron, I can almost smell an apple pie baking in the oven. Photo before 1947, courtesy of Sandy Jackson: See the Reese page for more about their families. #reese #temple #Reese

Percy Henry Daniels was said to have been born in 1880 in Olympia, Washington. (Click here to see more about his life and family). In 1892, the following census was recorded in Kamilche, Mason County, Washington. I believe this to be Percy Henry Daniels. He was living with his father or grandfather, perhaps - or even an uncle - William Daniels, age 51, a logger, born in Missouri (illegible?). Percy H. Daniels, age 6, born in Finland. If Percy was 6, he was born in 1885-1886. If you have information about this family, please comment or contact me! #Daniels #Washington #daniels #PercyDaniels

The following are news clippings pertaining to Mary Ellen McGinnis, wife of Jasper Hollenbeck. Top left: Marathon Independent 9-23-1885 Top right: Cortland Daily Journal 8-18-1892 Bottom left: Cortland Daily Journal 8-25-1892 Bottom right: Cortland Standard 7-15-1897 See the Hollenbeck page for more information about this family. #Hollenbeck #jasperhollenbeck #maryellenmcginnis #mcginnis #teacher #occupation

Another great old photo courtesy of Marge Quick. The fifth person from the left in the back row is John Dickinson, son of Harry & Annie Dickinson. He lived from 1904 to 1989. In 1919 the family was living in Newark, New Jersey, so it seems likely this class picture was taken at a Newark school. John's mother, Annie, had died six years earlier, in 1913, at the age of 42. The names (or autographs?) of John's classmates are written on the back. Some of the names in the first column: ___ Housemann(?), Flora (?) Adams, Anne Achenback, Gertrude Hamilton, Mignon A. ___, Janyne Kitchin, Lorena B. Fritz, Elizabeth M. S___, Helen, Nina Branard (?), Emma Bond, Mae Fitzpatrick, Charlotte Barton, Alberta Lyon, Florence Lydia Phillips...(feel free to transcribe some names in the comments!) For more on the Dickinson family, see the Dickinson page. #dickinson #newark #newjersey #classphoto #school

Lucy Ellen Dickinson was a daughter of Harry Dickinson and his wife, Annie (Robinson). Lucy was born on April 29, 1909 in New Jersey - on her brother, William's 7th birthday. Tragically, their mother died in May of 1913, when Lucy was just four years old. Then, three years later, on August 12, 1916, Lucy joined her mother in Fairmount Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey, just a few blocks from their home on South Seventh Street. Her remains are in Youth Section 3. She was only seven years old. Lucy's sister, Emma, remembers her in her journal entry for April 29, 1919. "Today is William and Lucy's birthday. While we have a vacant chair, yet we still have her memory and we had the candle on the cake for Lucy and William for she is always like a little candle burning in the night." (Emma's entire 1919 journal is available here). The entrance to Fairmount Cemetery is shown here. Fairmount is an exceedingly beautiful cemetery, a fine resting place for a sweet little angel like Lucy, and her mother, Annie. In the cemetery's burial register, Lucy's name was mistakenly written "Dickerson", stating that she was buried on August 13, 1916. Her entry is the sixth below her mother's in the register, shown here: Her death date is confirmed in the Dickinson family Bible, which states she died on August 12, 1916. Rest in peace, Lucy Ellen Dickinson. Click here to see more about the Dickinson family. #dickinson #harrydickinson

My ancestor, Newman Harvey, was born about 1777 and arrived in central New York between 1820 and 1821. He was most likely born in Rhode Island, but he was in Massachusetts as early as 1812. He is believed to have left Massachusetts in 1820 or 1821 and moved to Central New York. Click here to learn more about Newman. There were other Harvey families in the Cortland County area, prior to Newman's arrival. These are listed here for researchers trying to sort through these families. Note: Harvey was the 266th most common surname in the United States in 2010, so there were probably many! Listed among the early settlers of Cortland are several Harvey’s including Benjamin, Bethuel, Elder, Isaac, John, and a “Mr. Harvey”. According to the 1820 Census of Cortland, New York, Allen Harvey lived in Truxton. Amasa Harvey, Bethuel Harvey, and Walter Harvey lived in Solon, Cortland County, in 1820. A man by the name of Thomas Harvey lived near Freetown as early as 1832. He married Sarah (Cameron) Livingston in 1875. His parents were William Harvey and Sarah Starkey, natives of England who arrived in Freetown about 1832 with their six children. William died in 1862, age 72, and Sarah died in 1852. The following is his obituary found on page 8 of the Cortland Standard, Wednesday, 7 May 1902: “Cincinnatus, May 5 - Mr. Thomas Harvey passed away Sunday morning at about 7 o'clock. Some years ago he was thrown from a load of grain and about a year later he was thrown from a reaper and since that time he has been in poor health and for the past five months he has been in bed most of the time and his faithful wife was his steady attendant caring for him night and day. Mr. Harvey was born in Bedworth, Norwichshire, England. He came to America seventy years ago when but 8 years old with his mother, three brothers and two sisters, his father having come to America the year before to prepare for his family, taking up their residence on the farm which is now owned by Ira Wavle in this place. In England his father's occupation was that of a cooper and his mother was a ribbon weaver. Mr. Thomas Harvey was a carpenter by trade besides being a thrifty farmer. He learned the carpenter's trade when quite young, it then took seven years to accomplish the trade which he has followed more or less all his life. He owns a beautiful farm of 244 acres with good buildings, stock, etc., all fruit of his own hands. He was married to Sarah Jane Cameron of Newark Valley on the 15th day of December 1872, by Rev. Thomas Angell. Mr. Thomas Harvey is the last one of the Wm. Harvey family that came from England.” There is also a William L. HARVEY (1823-1901) and his wife, Amy A. MOON (1829-1903), buried at Lower Cincinnatus Cemetery in Cincinnatus. If you can contribute any knowledge about the Harveys of Cortland County, please comment below! See more: Harvey Genealogy Newman Harvey Free Genealogy Resources Cortland County Genealogy #newmanharvey #cortlandcounty #lapeer #cortland #newyork

Mary J. Brooks was a daughter of Ira and Amy Brooks. She was born in April of 1858 and married Royal John Shirley. (Click here to learn more about Mary). The following are newspaper clippings pertaining to Mary Shirley, wife of R.J. Shirley: Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. #marybrooks #maryjbrooks #maryshirley #shirley #brooks #news #obituary

Gertrude Harvey was the daughter of Royal J. Shirley and his wife, Mary, whose maiden name has yet to be discovered. See the Harvey and Shirley pages for more information about the families. Gertrude was born on the 4th of August, 1878. She married Newman A. Harvey on the 9th of January, 1904. They raised three daughters and were active in the church. Gertie was a member of the Red Cross and a minister of the gospel. Her mother, Mary Shirley died in February of 1937, and Gertrude followed her on the 9th of October, 1937, and was buried in Willow Glen Cemetery in Dryden, New York. She was 59. She was joined later by her husband, Newman, who died on the 29th of September, 1963, in Groton, and was buried with his wife (Lot 15-05). Another obituary was printed in the Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 15, 1937, on page 8, as follows: Click here for free genealogy tips and resources! #obituary #gertrudeshirley #harvey #Harvey #shirley #gertrudeharvey #cortlanddemocrat

Mary Esther (Harvey) Reese-Gaul, the daughter of Newman A. Harvey & Gertrude E. Shirley. She married first to Lloyd "John" Reese and second to William H. Gaul. She was a loving mother to Lloyd, Harold, and MaryRuth Reese. Mary was a faithful Christian, known for her generosity, honesty, compassion, righteousness and love her entire life until she departed at the age of 78 on September 22, 1988. She was buried with her second husband, Bill Gaul, who predeceased her by 8 years, at Willow Glen Cemetery in Dryden, New York. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Jackson). From The Cortland Standard, Thursday, 22 Sep 1988: “Mrs. Mary E. Reese Gaul, 78, of 260 Main St., Extension, Freeville, N.Y., died Sept. 22, 1988 at Cortland (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital. She was born March 16, 1910 in Newark Valley, the daughter of Newman and Gertrude Shirley Harvey and was a long time area resident. Mrs. Gaul had been employed as a housekeeper at Cornell University. Surviving are two sons, Harold Reese of McLean and Lloyd Reese of Lakewood, N.J., a daughter Maryruth Reese Teeter of Locke; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, with the Rev. Robert Richardson of the Groton Assembly of God officiating. Interment will be in Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden. Friends may call Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Freeville Fire Dept. Rescue Squad, Freeville, N.Y. 13068.” Mary's second husband, Bill Gaul, had died eight years prior, in 1980 in Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York. His obituary, provided by Sandy (Teeter) Jackson, reads: “William Gaul Sr. FREEVILLE - William H. Gaul Sr., 83 of 260 Main St. Extension, Freeville, died Wednesday at the Lakeside Nursing Home, Ithaca, following a long illness. Mr. Gaul was born Nov. 24, 1897, in Bloomsburg, Pa., the son of Luke and Effie May Vanderburg Gaul. He was employed as a custodian in the maintenance department at Cornell University for 21 years, retiring in 1962. He was a former resident of Caroline and was a member of Caroline Lodge No. 681, F&AM. Surviving are his widow, Mary Harvey Reese Gaul of Freeville; a son, William Gaul Jr., also of Freeville; a daughter, Mrs. Mae Sofas of Cortland; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Lloyd Reese of Lakewood, N.J., and Harold Reese of McLean; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Maryruth Teeter of Locke; 10 step-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Loretta Hunt of Lakeside Nursing Home, Ithaca. Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, with Rev. William Foster, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church of Ithaca officiating. Interment will be in Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden. Friends may call tonight from 7-9 at the funeral home. Members of Caroline Masonic Lodge will conduct services at 8 tonight at the funeral home.” More details about Mary's family can be found on the Harvey page and the Reese page. For a compilation of records, photos, and data about Mary's ancestry going back 14 generations, see "Reese Family Record". #reese #harvey #grave #cemetery #maryestherharvey #maryreese #obituary

Ira Brooks was a soldier of the famous 76th New York Infantry during the Civil War. He was counted on the census in Cortlandville from 1850 through 1865. On the 1855 census, he indicates he lived in Cortlandville for 14 years. The town of Cortlandville is commonly called Cortland. On both the 1855 and 1865 censuses, Herkimer County is given as his birthplace. Herkimer County was created in 1791 and was originally much larger, prior to it's division. In 1794, Onondaga County was split off from Herkimer County and in 1808, Cortland County was split off from Onondaga County. (Read more about the formation of Cortland County here). As for his birth year, based on these four censuses shown below, he was born sometime between 1814 and 1818. In 1870 his family was counted on the census in Cortlandville without him. He had filed a pension as an invalid in April of 1863 and his wife, Amy, filed a claim in 1878. In 1875, Amy was living in the home of Clark & Mary Creque in Cortland. Saratoga County is given as her birthplace. (View on FamilySearch). When did Ira Brooks die? Where is he buried? For these answers, I'll keep digging! Stay tuned! Anyone with information about Ira, please comment below! See more: More about Ira Brooks More of my military ancestors More about this branch of my family Census Tools and Resources Cortland County Genealogy Resources New York Genealogy Resources 20,000+ Free Genealogy Resources Places to find Military Records #irabrooks #cortland #cortlandny #civilwar #census #maryjbrooks #shirley #harvey #reese

Getrude E. Shirley of Harford Mills married Newman A. Harvey of Harford on January 9, 1904, in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York. This Marriage Certificate was provided by Sandy (Teeter) Jackson. The certificate was signed at "Varna, NY". Varna is a hamlet located near the western edge of the Town of Dryden, on Dryden Road (Route 366). The marriage was witnessed by George E. Overacker and Mae E. Shirley. See the couple's portrait here. See more: More about Gertrude Shirley More about Newman Harvey More about the Harvey and Shirley Families Free Genealogy Resources #gertrudeshirley #newmanharvey #marriagerecord #marriage #dryden #varna #newyork