Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War is an amazing collection of data in 17 volumes arranged alphabetically by last name. You can find these online at Archive.org (free). Use these links to make it easy. Simply select the book the surname you are researching falls between. VOL 1 - A to Ber VOL 2 - Bes to Byx VOL 3 - C to Cor VOL 4 - Cos to Dr VOL 5 - Du to Fo VOL 6 - Fr to Gy VOL 7 - Ha to Hi VOL 8 - Hm to Jy VOL 9 - Ka to Ls VOL 10 - Lu to Mop (alternate link) VOL 11 - Mor to Paz (alternate link) VOL 12 - Pe to Ra VOL 13 - Re to Se VOL 14 - Sh to Sth VOL 15 - Sti to Toz VOL 16 - Tra to Whe VOL 17 - Whi to Zyr (alternate link) Click here to see more resources for Military Records. Click here for more free genealogy resources. #americanrevolution #links #resources #military #veterans #Massachusetts #newengland #resources

When I look at the vital records of Woburn, all I can think is "Why OH WHY can't every town have records as good as these?!" Edward Johnson (1856-1922) and William Cutler (1847-1918) have done a great service to the descendants of Woburnians! Truly, it is a phenomenal work. Virtually every birth, marriage and death that occurred in Woburn between 1640 and 1900 is recorded in these ten volumes and you can access right now for free using the links provided, courtesy of archive.org.   Parts 1-3 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1640-1873 in one [ Link ] Parts 4-6 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1873-1890 in one [ Link ] Parts 7-9 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1891-1900 in one [ Link ] Individual Volumes Part 1 - Births 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 2 - Deaths 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 3 - Marriages 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 4 - Births 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 5- Deaths 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 6 - Marriages 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 7 - Births 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 8 - Deaths 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 9 - Marriages 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 10 - Marriage Intentions 1699-1890 [ Link ] Photo of Soldiers Monument from "Woburn: an historical and descriptive sketch of the town, with an outline of its industrial interests" by Woburn Board of Trade [ Link ] Click here for more free Woburn history and genealogy resources Click here for more free Middlesex County, Massachusetts history and genealogy resources Click here for more free Massachusetts history and genealogy resources Check out the Genealogy Dashboard for more free tools and resources #woburn #massachusetts #resources #vitalrecords #births #marriages #deaths

Reflecting on my paternal ancestry feels akin to observing a faraway object without the help of binoculars or a telescope. Nearby objects are seen with sharp clarity, while distant objects appear indistinct and indistinguishable. In fact, regarding my Leonard lineage, I can see absolutely nothing beyond Charles Russell Leonard, my 3rd great-grandfather. What we do know, is that in May of 1834, his mother, Mrs. Sophronia Leonard placed a missing persons ad in The Cayuga Republican, asking for assistance in locating her husband, Russel Leonard, who left to buy land in Michigan Territory the previous November (1833). Anyone with information was to direct it to the post master at Port Byron, New York. This leads me to believe that Sophronia was living in Port Byron in 1834. Is this a fair supposition? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. I have thoroughly researched the Leonards who lived in Port Byron and haven't found any other trace of Russel or Sophronia there. The 1830 census only listed the head of each household but that year, there were about 610 households counted on the census in Mentz. Three of them were Leonards - James, Henry, and Manassah Leonard, who had purchased land on Lot 4 in Throop in 1796. They were blacksmiths and, if I remember correctly, they were descendants of James or Henry Leonard, the Iron Masters. At any rate, those three Leonard households in Mentz contained a total of 35 people, many of whom were probably Leonards. One of them may have been my 4th great-grandfather, the elusive Russel Leonard, father of Charles Russell Leonard. Unfortunately, I've found nothing to identify him. For anyone researching people who lived in Port Byron in the late 1700s, you need to know a few things. First, regarding Cayuga County: Today, Port Byron is a village in the middle of the town of Mentz, in Cayuga County, New York. From 1784 to 1791, the locale was considered part of Montgomery County, formed from part of Tryon County. From 1791 to 1794, the locale was considered part of Herkimer County, formed from part of Montgomery County. From 1794-1799, the locale was considered part of Onondaga County, formed from part of Herkimer County. Since 1799, the locale has been considered part of Cayuga County, formed from part of Onondaga County. Regarding Port Byron: The town of Mentz was incorporated as Jefferson in 1802. It was much larger than it is today. The town's name was changed from Jefferson to Mentz in 1806 (or 1808). Ira was formed from part of Mentz in 1821, Montezuma was formed from part of Mentz in 1859 and Throop was formed from part of Mentz, Aurelius and Sennett the same year (1859). Port Byron is a village in the center of the town of Mentz. The village was called Bucksville until about 1825, when the name was changed to Port Byron. The name change was made soon after the Erie Canal was built through the village (1820), making it a "port". Today it is the Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex, a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Port Byron is located on an important route used by westward travelers from New England. The New York Central Railroad, constructed in 1853, went through Mentz, north of the village of Port Byron. The old Montezuma Turnpike (Route 31) passes through the center of Port Byron and the New York State Thruway also runs through Port Byron, virtually parallel to the former route of the Erie Canal, which was rerouted to the Seneca River about 1917. Port Byron has been home to several men who made a mark on the world. Isaac Singer, founder of the largest sewing machine company in the world, "was a mechanic who had a shop in a saw mill located near the present dam", and Henry Wells, of the world famous Wells Fargo, "had a shop at the corner of Rochester and Main Streets in the rear of the store which Samuel Thomas now occupies. He started the first express company of this great globe." (Source: History of Port Byron and Mentz : from Indian tribes to nineteen twenty-two, by E. H Kerns, p. 6) About 1823, Brigham Young arrived in Port Byron. (Remember, at the time, Port Byron was, called Bucksville). Young was born in Vermont in 1801, but had lived in Chenango County and in Tyrone, Genoa, and Auburn, before moving to Port Byron, where he sought employment opportunities brought by the newly built Erie Canal. It is said that it was in Port Byron that he converted to the newly established Mormon religion and where he also met a young woman named Miriam A. Works in Port Byron. They were married in Aurelius in Autumn of 1824. In Port Byron, Young worked odd jobs painting the canal boats, repairing furniture, construction, or whatever he could do., until he was hired full time by Charles Parks, producing furniture, pails, and buckets. He was there two years, until 1825, when he moved to Oswego. (Brigham Young : a concise biography of the Mormon Moses, by Ed Breslin, 2013). The above newspaper clippings I found while browsing through an old scrapbook shows a photo of Brigham Young's home, and states that it was on Utica Street in Port Byron. The 1939 article states: "In 1844, at the death of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion, Young was made president of the church, and in 1847, with hundreds of followers, Young moved westward from state to state until he and his clan reached Utah. Here they started the organization of a prosperous community. Young died on Aug. 28, 1877." Joseph Smith's death was an assassination, which occurred during his presidential campaign. While being held in jail in Illinois on the charge of treason, an armed mob stormed the jail and Smith was killed. Brigham Young's first wife, Miriam, died at the age of 26 on Sept. 8, 1832, in Mendon, Monroe County, New York, the same place where Brigham was baptized in the Mormon faith. He remarried in 1834 and in 1842 began taking additional wives, as is the practice in the Mormon religion. He was married a total of 56 times and had 57 children. Eight of his wives were Joseph Smith's widows. (Source: Wikipedia) The Mormon Church, also referred to as LDS, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the organization behind FamilySearch.org. Their website offers genealogists access to important records and resources, as well as a platform to build their family tree online, all at no cost. Just think! If Brigham Young hadn't kept the Mormon church alive after Smith's assassination, the site and library would have never existed! At the corner of Utica Street (Route 31) and Main Street in Port Byron is a historical marker that reads: "Brigham Young the Mormon prophet lived in the house 100 yards east of here in 1831. He was baptized a Mormon at Mendon, N.Y." Looking east from this marker, it appears the home he lived in can be seen here from Google Street view, behind this parking lot. Can you spot it from the backside of the house? (Zoom in!) Another historical marker located on Utica Street in Port Byron states the following: "Abraham Lincoln April 27, 1865. Train carrying Pres. Lincoln's casket stopped at Port Byron Station 1.3 mi. north of here. Station draped with mourning and flags." President Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C., and his body arrived in Springfield, Illinois, on May 3, 1865. His coffin was moved 17 times between 1865 and 1901 "due to construction and fears for the safety of the president's remains. There was actually a plot in 1876 to steal the body and hold it for ransom." (Source) See a full list of historical markers in Port Byron at hmdb.com. It's been interesting learning about Port Byron's history, but to me, it's a place that holds a daunting mystery. If time travel is ever invented, I'd go back to Port Byron on November 1, 1833, to find my 4th great-grandfather, Russel Leonard. Then I'd follow him on his journey to buy land in Michigan to see what happened to him. I'd sit next to him on the canal boat if I could, and ask him all about his parents and grandparents. (I've seen "Back to the Future", so I know enough to not interfere, but I'd just really like some answers!) Afterwards, I'd time travel to May 2, 1834 and meet Sophronia at the Cayuga Republican newspaper's office on Genesee Street in Auburn and of course I'd take a lot of pictures and videos of her, Charles, and baby Jenette! I'd ask all about her parents, too. I'd definitely like to stay a while and bring back some answers! For more information, see: Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard Knapp Russel Leonard Charles Russell Leonard My Leonard branch Blogs about the Leonards Russel Leonard missing Port Byron history and genealogy resources Cayuga County history and genealogy resources New York history and genealogy resources All genealogy resources My ancestors #leonard #russelleonard #sophroniaburrill #portbyron #mentz #cayugacounty #newyork

H. W. Leonard, of the Port Byron foundry, has quite a contract for the manufacture of iron wheels for wheelbarrow use. - Evening Auburnian 1-8-1878 There was a Henry Leonard who lived in Mentz from 1810-1830. According to Storke's "History of Cayuga County", 1879, p. 310, his partner was "George Anable". The location of the Leonard foundry in Port Byron is shown here on this 1875 map. A search of Cayuga County's 1870 and 1880 census provide only the following close match for Henry Leonard, which proves to not be the same Henry W. Leonard of the Port Byron Foundry: In 1870 when the census was taken, there was a Henry Leonard (age 21), employed as a "clerk in store" in Auburn, Cayuga, New York. He and one George* W. Leonard II (age 30), a machinist, both born in New York, were living in perhaps a boarding house, with 24 other people (no other Leonards). At the time of the 1880 census, Henry M. Leonard (age 30), was still living in Auburn and working as a "clerk in store" and was married to Alice J. Leonard. They had two daughters, Emily B. Leonard (age 6), and Leonara J. Leonard, age 4, and son named George W. Leonard, (age 1). They lived on Lewis Street and appear to have shared a home with Diana and Josephine Howard, hairdressers. *It seems likely that the photo at right (front and back shown) is the same George W. Leonard II, mentioned above. Meanwhile, we find Henry W. Leonard on the 1880 census in the First Ward of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, living in the home of his "brother-in-law", and business partner, "George G. Annable", age 38. "Machinist" was given as both Henry and George's occupations. Henry's father, (Annable's "father-in-law"), also lived in the home. His name was Joseph N. Leonard, age 75, born in New York. Connecticut was given as the birthplace of both of Joseph's parents. Sadly, Henry was a widow, age 45, and it appears he had no children living in the home. A look further back, to the 1870 census of Onondaga, Onondaga County, New York, finds the following, which explains that George Annabel was married to Esther, presumably the daughter of Joseph N. & Wealthy Leonard, whose birthplace was given as Massachusetts, like her mother, Wealthy. Joseph was a farmer and like on the 1880 census, his birthplace was given as New York. In 1875, they were counted in Mentz, Cayuga County, as follows: (Notice, in 1875, Esther's birthplace was reported as Onondaga County instead of Massachusetts). "Emma Lou Leonard" married first to a Mr. Chapin, who died before 1920, and she married second at the age of 46, to Frederick James Nichols in Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, in August of 1920. Frederick was a divorcee born in Bridgeport, New York, the son of John Wesley Nichols and Elizabeth Buller. On the marriage license application her birthplace is given as Port Byron, New York. Her parents names are given as George Annabel and Esther M. Leonard. Esther was born in 1846 and died in 1919, according to "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3MMM-93P), entry for George G /Annable/. A look back, yet further, to the 1860 census reveals J. M. Leonard (age 55) and wife, Wealthy (age 48) with two children in the home: Esther M. Leonard (age 14) and James D. Leonard (age 12), living in Onondaga. Henry would have been 25 and his place of residence in 1860 has yet to be found. This family may be related to Russel Leonard, father of Charles Russell Leonard (1830-1908), who went missing in 1834. #otherleonards #iron #portbyron #henryleonard #ironworker

About 24 years ago, I visited the Cayuga County Historical Society for the first time without much knowledge about my family beyond my great-grandparents. My main focus was to gather information about my Leonard family. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they had organized file folders for different families in the county. One particular find was a fascinating book titled "Descendants of Solomon Leonard," a connection I hadn't realized existed back then. My husband and I decided to photocopy the entire book, convinced that many of the local Leonards were linked to Solomon. Indeed, years later, my DNA results confirmed that I am a descendant of Solomon Leonard! Today you can find the Leonard book and many others like it online. In fact, the Cayuga County Historical Society has published volumes of the county's history. You can access and read all 12 Volumes of "Collections of Cayuga County Historical Society" online. Scroll down to view the contents of each volume and use the "Link" to access the book at Archive.org. (Tip: Use the site's search feature to quickly search inside each book or just flip through the pages). Volume 1 [Link] Volume 2 [Link] Volume 3 [Link] Volume 4 [Link] Volume 5 [Link] Volume 6 [Link] Volume 7 [Link] Volume 8 [Link] Volume 9 [Link] Volume 10 [Link] Volume 11 [Link] Volume 12 [Link] Click here for more Cayuga County genealogy and history resources Click here for more New York genealogy and history resources Click here for everywhere else! #cayugacounty #newyork #resources

Leonardsville is a hamlet in the Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York. The book "Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York", gives the following account: "The first merchant in Leonardsville and in this town was Reuben Leonard, from which family the village took its name; be began trading in 1801 and long conducted a large business for the time. He also kept a tavern in early years, managed a distillery, a tannery, and a large ashery; he was also the first postmaster. He failed about 1820." Update 6/29/2024: In an attempt to learn more about the Leonards of Leonardville, I searched Findagrave and found that there are no Leonards indexed in Leonardsville Cemetery. Only 94% of the burials are indexed on Findagrave, so an actual cemetery index might reveal some Leonard burials, though. In Madison County's Military Rolls 1806-1853 (found here), the following Leonards are listed: J.D. Leonard, Lieutenant, 1816 Joshua Leonard, Chaplain, 1809 Reuben Leonard, Major, 1809 Reuben Leonard, Colonel, 1811 (143rd infantry) L. H. Denison of Rochester shared some memories of Leonardsville in a letter printed in The Brookfield Courier in April, 1902, provides us with some information about the location of the Leonard store. "The old Leonard store built by Reuben Leonard, who gave the place its name was moved from the original site to the south-east corner, opposite the Hardin store. On the south-west corner were the remains of the old pot ashery. The Leonard store was used as a dwelling, general store, cabinet shop and tailoring establishment, the latter being on the third floor." "It has just been learned that the old store building and the shop adjoining, also the tenant house on South street, all owned by Mrs. L. D. Brand, are to be extensively repaired next spring. The Brand store is the oldest structure in the village. Its builder and first owner was Reuben Leonard, after whom the place is named, and it originally stood near the present location of H. D. Babcock's house, but was moved across the street the the place where it now stands nearly a century ago." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 10, 1909) "Newton Leonard, who died at his home in Washington Mills, Nov. 18th, was known to many people here and in his younger days was frequently a resident of this vicinity and had been pleasantly associated with many of our citizens. He was, we believe, a relative of Reuben Leonard, from whom this village takes its name. Mr. Leonard had an enviable record in the Civil war a a member of Company B, of the 14 New York Regiment, raised in Oneida Co. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fredericksburg and was paroled. At the expiration of his parole he was transferred to the 67th Regiment and served with it until the regiment was mustered out in Albany. ... He leaves behind him the record of a brave soldier and a good citizen. Mr. Leonard was a brother of Mrs. Mills D. Clark, wife if a former townsman, who visited him not long ago, and his brother, Franklin Leonard, formerly resided here." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 23, 1910) E. P. Clarke also recollects Leonardsville as follows: "The old yellow stone building stood just north and a little east of the house in which we lived. It was built by my maternal uncle, Reuben Leonard, and occupied by him until his failure and removal to Rochester." (Brookfield Courier, October 14, 1971) The church meeting house in Leonardsville was completed on October 7, 1802, but burned exactly 47 years later, on October 7, 1849, undoubtedly destroying important records. (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 2, 1972) In searching the U.S. Federal Census for Reuben Leonard, it is noted that there was one in Dutchess County on the census in 1800 and 1810. Reuben Leonard of Leonardsville was counted on the census in Brookfield in 1820. In 1830, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York according to the census. He was in Rochester. In 1840, again, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York and he was living in New York City with a large household of ten. *Brookfield was considered part of Chenango County in 1800. Madison County was formed from part of Chenango County in 1806. Click here for more Madison County Genealogy Resources. Sources: Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, by John E. Smith, 1899, p. 42, 357, 362-363. [Link] Madison County Archival Records [Link] Madison County Participants in the War of 1812 [Link] #Leonard #NewYork #leonard #madisoncounty #resources #history

Charles Russell Leonard was born November 25, 1830, in Union Springs, Cayuga County, New York. He was the son of Russel (or Russell) and Sophronia Leonard. Russel was last seen in 1833 when he went west to Michigan Territory to buy land and never returned, leaving Sophronia with two children that we know of - Charles and Jenette. She married Thomas J. Knapp on September 11, 1837, in Genoa, Cayuga County, with whom she had several more children. A list of the census records Charles has been identified in are shown below. This page will be updated if and when the missing records are found. 1840 Census - Not found Charles's mother, Sophronia, was remarried to Thomas Knapp and living in Scipio, Cayuga, New York. (Details) Charles may have lived in the household of Joshua Leonard, Jr., who also lived in Scipio. Joshua had a brother named Russel Leonard, who may have been Charles' father. See more about this theory in my previous article here. 1850 Census - Not found In 1850, his mother, Sophronia Knapp (age 35) was living in Genoa with her new husband, Thomas Knapp (39) and seven children: Joseph (13), Thomas (12), Mariah (9), Sophia (7), Lydia (4), Dewey (2), and William (0). They were family #217 counted on page 28 of 60. (Details) Note: The same year (1850), his soon-to-be wife, Polly Brown (age 12) was living with who I believe was her mother and stepfather, Peter and Lydia Shaver, also in Genoa. They were family #381 counted on page 49 of 60. The only other Leonard in Genoa in 1850 was George Leonard, who lived in the home of Otis Carson (age 48) and Polly Carson (age 45) and their children. George was age 50. No sign of Charles. 1855 Genoa, Cayuga County, New York (See full census here) Charles (23), Mary (17), Joseph (1) - They had been living there only two months *Notice the middle initial. It is transcribed as Charles B. Leonard. 1860 Census - Not found 1865 Groton, Tompkins County, New York Charles Leonard and Mary with children: Joseph, Susan, Charles, Sarah g., and Frances Leonard. 1870 Groton, Tompkins County, New York Charles Leonard and Mary with children: Joseph, Jane, Frankie, and Lewis Leonard. 1875 Locke, Cayuga County, New York Charles Leonard with wife, Sarah (Mary Polly Brown?) and children: Frances, Lewis & Lydia. 1880 Locke, Cayuga County, New York Chas. R. Leonard with wife Mary and children: Lewis, Lydia, Arthur and Irvin. 1892 Rose, Wayne, New York Charles Leonard with his second "wife" Luella and her children fathered by William Knapp. 1900 Lyons, Wayne, New York Charles Leonard with his second wife, Luella and her mother, Betsy Lumbert, and Malvina Leonard, a daughter, presumably a Knapp as shown above on the 1892 census. Charles's birthdate is given as December 1834 but his first wife's embroidered Family Record says he was born Nov. 23 (or 25?), 1830 (or 1831?). We know he was born before 1833 when his father left for Michigan to buy land, so his birth info here is incorrect. 1905 Groton, Tompkins, New York Charles Leonard and his wife, Luella. At the age of 72, he was still working as a "Day Laborer". Photo from Dryer Family Photos is labeled Charles Russell Leonard and Luella Schriver Knapp Wilson Leonard. Click here to learn more about Charles and this branch of my family. #leonard #charlesrussellleonard #charlesleonard #census #timeline

Cortland County is located smack dab in the center of New York State. It sits at an elevation of 1,100-2,100 feet above sea level, which results in cooler temperatures than it's southern neighbors. You can usually feel a dramatic drop in temperature the further north you travel. Precipitation from the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes, combined with the colder temperatures from the high elevation, result in feet of snow being dumped on the many mountains and valleys of the region every winter. The snow plows are busy all winter moving the snow off the roads and by late winter, the piles of plowed snow along the sides of the roads are 8-feet tall or more and packed solid. When Spring finally arrives and all the snow and ice start to melt - the "Spring thaw", the soil is muddy for weeks, but the runoff fills the streams, lakes, and wells with fresh water, rejuvenates the trees, plants, grass, and flowers, and everything comes back to life. Cortland County was part of the Military Tract, land awarded to soldiers of the American Revolution, in the early 1800s, and prior to that it was home to various Native American tribes. For thousands of years, their trails and camps were the only sign of human life in what we now call "Upstate" New York. As you can see, from this terrain map, courtesy of Google Maps, Cortland County is southeast of the Finger Lakes. Some of the many hills are over 2,100 feet above sea level, while the valleys are level and as low as 1,000 feet above sea level. According to the intriguing account found in the old book "Stories of Cortland County," the geological history of the region is a tale of dramatic transformation. It describes a time when the hills stood tall and sharp, a stark contrast to the landscape we see today. This narrative delves into the concept of an ice age, a period of prolonged freezing that reshaped the terrain in profound ways. As the chilling temperatures gripped the land, massive sheets of ice and snow traveled from the distant northern regions, exerting immense pressure as they advanced southwards. Picture the relentless force of these icy behemoths as they gradually flattened the once imposing mountains, leaving in their wake a landscape altered beyond recognition. The journey of the ice sheets was not a gentle one; they carried along enormous boulders, shattering them into scattered remnants along their path. The valleys, once deep and rugged, bore the brunt of this glacial onslaught, being filled with layers of gravel that now lie buried beneath the surface, some reaching depths of over 200 feet. This geological upheaval shaped Cortland County, leaving fertile pastures, lush forests, and beautiful, rolling hills in every direction. Fossils found in Cortland County are from the Devonian period, while the oldest fossils in neighboring Chenango County date back to the Silurian period. The Silurian is a geologic period and system spanning 24.6 million years from the end of the Ordovician Period, at 443.8 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Devonian Period, 419.2 Mya. The Silurian is the shortest period of the Paleozoic Era. As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the exact dates are uncertain by a few million years. The base of the Silurian is set at a series of major Ordovician–Silurian extinction events when up to 60% of marine genera were wiped out. [Source: Wikipedia] The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic era during the Phanerozoic eon, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the preceding Silurian period at 419.2 million years ago (Ma), to the beginning of the succeeding Carboniferous period at 358.9 Ma. It is named after Devon, South West England, where rocks from this period were first studied. [Source: Wikipedia] Much of Cortland County and Chenango County rest on the Ithaca Formation, Upper and Lower Division, part of the Genesee Group, dating back to the Devonian period. For more information on the geology of Cortland and Chenango Counties and the central New York area, these sites are helpful: https://earthathome.org/finger-lakes-geology/geology-finger-lakes/ https://paleontological.s3.amazonaws.com/PDF/SpecialPublications-OutOfPrint/Linsley_1994.pdf Click here to learn more about Cortland County. #cortlandcounty #cortland #centralnewyork #geology #newyork

A great resource for learning about ancestors from Central New York is this 3-volume set called "History of Central New York: embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties", by Harry R. Melone, 1932. Links to all three volumes are provided below. Volume 1 is dedicated to the places and early settlers of Central New York, including many old photographs. Sit back and enjoy this slideshow of the images! If your ancestors lived in Central New York, in the 19th-20th centuries, you're being given a peek into their world! The Table of Contents for Volume 1 is shown here. Volumes 2 and 3 contain biographies of prominent citizens of central New York, including many portraits. All three volumes are available free online! Use the links below to jump to the resource at archive.org's site. VOLUME 1 [Link] VOLUME 2 [Link] VOLUME 3 [Link] Volumes 2 and 3 contain hundreds of biographies and some portraits of the prominent citizens of central New York. There is no Table of Contents or Index in these, so you'll have to use the search feature. Use the magnifying glass on the left side of the window to search within each book, as shown here: Click here to see more New York genealogy resources! #genealogy #historical #records #resources #photos #historicphotos

When I first caught the genealogy bug in the year 2000 and started researching my Leonard roots, my grandfather, Robert Leonard was already deceased nearly two decades. No one could recall what his father's name was, since his parents had split up when he was a small child. The only clue was that he married a woman named Valentine. A visit to the town clerk's office in Willet produced my grandfather's birth certificate, though, and on it was his father's name: Albert Leonard. Immediately I began researching men named Albert Leonard in New York and there were several. How was I ever going to find out which one was my great-grandfather? That was in the early days of the internet and I tried a search on AOL and I came across a cemetery index containing the name of a man named Albert Leonard with a wife named Valentine, buried in Rose Cemetery in North Rose, Wayne County, New York. It was a 90-mile drive from where I was living at the time, so we took a trip to see what we could find! (You can see the photos and documents we found that day in my previous blog, here). We visited the Cayuga County Historical Society and found a book there, called "Memorial, genealogical, historical, and biographical, of Solomon Leonard, 1637, of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and some of his descendants", by Manning Leonard, 1896. I was certain this must be my family, even though it contained no familiar names! Now you can find it online, free. Through genealogy message boards, I got in touch with a few people researching Leonards in the area and with their help and clues provided in Dryer Family Photos, I learned that Albert's father was Lewis Leonard and Lewis' father was Charles Russell Leonard. Charles was believed to have been given his father's name and his mother was Sophronia Burrill (or Burlet, according to his death certificate). I checked Manning Leonard's book, but Charles was not found. Although many people had been searching for years, we could find no information about Charles' father. Finally, a few years ago I found a newspaper clipping from 1834, which indicated his name was Russell, and he left to buy land in Michigan Territory on November 1, 1833, and hadn't been heard from since. Sophronia and her children were "suffering" and it was requested that anyone with information contact the postmaster at Port Byron, New York. Nothing further has been found and Sophronia was remarried to Thomas Knapp by 1840. A search of Russell Leonards living in Michigan on subsequent censuses revealed a man by the name of Russell Leonard, born May 18, 1808, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. He married to (Lydia) Leonard Forbes on November 19, 1833, in Townsend Township, Ontario, Canada - 200 miles west of Port Byron. Could he have deserted his wife and children to elope with another woman? The other strong potential match is Russell, son of Joshua Leonard and Hannah Sylvester, also of Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The family lived in the same towns as Charles and his mother. See my previous blog for the many reasons I suspect this is my line. My father's haplogroup seems to indicate he is a descendant of Solomon Leonard of Duxbury. Both of these Russells were 4th great-grandsons of Solomon Leonard. They were 3rd cousins to each other! This explains why my father's DNA matches BOTH Russell of Burtchville and of Chesterfield. (It appears he has fewer results with the Michigan line, but additional comparisons will need to be made to make a positive determination). In conclusion, after researching for the past nineteen years, and still having no definitive proof of either relationship, creating the chart shown above helped me see that Solomon Leonard is my 10th great-grandfather either way! Yes, there are some blurry links in between - my line is the green and either the blue or the pink, but Samuel Leonard (grandson of Solomon) was the 2nd great-grandfather of both of the Russells I have spent years researching! My initial hunch (and hope) was true! Note: Brad Leonard is publishing an updated version of the Descendants of Solomon Leonard (1610-1671). Last I knew, it was 640 pages with the index! Stay tuned for more on that! BONUS News! In light of this recent discovery, descendants of Solomon may be interested to know that his wife, Sarah Chandler, was the daughter of Roger Chandler and Isabella Chilton. Isabella was a daughter of James Chilton, Mayflower passenger! Click here to learn more! Are you a descendant of James Chilton? Commemorate his life and memory with your very own certificate! You can find them on Ebay or Amazon! If you have any information to contribute, please comment below or contact me! If you are in this family and have had your DNA tested, please upload the raw data to GedMatch and add your test info to WikiTree so we can compare! Note: WikiTree is a collaborative tree, where each person is allowed only one profile. No duplicates! We work together on each person's profile, adding information. Sources are required and changes are tracked. Join me in reconstructing the Leonard tree there! Find your place in the tree from Charles Russell Leonard (click here). #leonard #solomonleonard #genealogy #mayflower #mayflowerdescendant #pilgrims #newengland

Due to the lack of information about the mother of Charles Russell Leonard, and my theory that there may be some confusion about the identity of "Sophronia Burrill", the reported mother of Charles Russell Leonard. Her name appears to be first hand knowledge given by someone, as no record to confirm this has been found. A woman by the name of Sophronia Burrill was living in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York as early as 1850 until her death in 1883. Her name was Sophronia Campbell, wife of Nelson Burrill. See "The Burritt family in America : descendants of William Burritt of Stratford, Connectucut, 1635-1940", p. 63. The similarities between Sophronia, wife of Thomas Knapp, and Sophronia, wife of Nelson Burrill are astounding, leading me to believe the two could easily have been confused. Aside from their names, these two woman appear to have been born around the same year and they both died in 1883. Furthermore, the Burrills lived 11-12 miles east of Port Byron, where Sophronia Leonard reported her husband missing in 1833. Was Sophronia Campbell married to Russel Leonard before she married Nelson Burrill? No record of either Sophronia's marriages can be found and no conclusive evidence has been found. The only evidence I found which may prove that Sophronia Campbell was NOT married to Russel Leonard is on the 1865 New York State Census, where "Number of times married" is asked and the answer for Sophronia was "1". (Note: Sophronia Knapp indicated she was married two times). People didn't always answer census questions honestly, however. A marriage record would still help positively prove or disprove my theory. Following are copies of Nelson and Sophronia Burrill on the census beginning in 1840. From these we learn she was probably born in Onondaga County, New York, and her parents were born in Massachusetts. Notice, in 1840, Charles Russell Leonard, would have been 10 years old. No children in the home match this age. He doesn't appear to have lived in Sophronia Knapp's home either that year, though. Sophronia Burrill's death was announced in The Cayuga Chief, Weedsport, April 21, 1883, as follows: An attempt to locate Sophronia Campbell's parents yield only one result so far. In Chester, Massachusetts, a daughter named "Sophrona", was born to Alvan and Polly Campbell on October 15, 1814. She appears to have had a brother named Nelson, born May 1, 1811. On p. 146 of the same book, the marriage between Polly Goodwill and Alvan Campbell, is recorded. They were married Jan. 3, 1811. Click here to learn more about Sophronia Burrill, mother of Charles Russell Leonard. #sophroniaburrill #census #elbridge #jordan #onondagacounty #nelsonburrill #burrill

The search along the trails left behind by my Leonard family, have led me squarely to a place commonly found by genealogists - a brick wall. The earliest Leonard that has been identified in my line is Charles Russell Leonard who was born in 1830, possibly in Union Springs or Springport, Cayuga County, New York. He had a sister named Jenette who was born in 1833. Others in the family researching this line give his mother's name as Sophronia, reportedly Sophronia Burrill. An extensive search of newspapers published in the area during that period produced this very interesting find: Who was this "Russel Leonard", husband of Sophronia Leonard, who left Lock Port on November 1, 1833, never to be heard from again? Watch this video, which explains my theory: It seems most likely to me that Sophronia's husband, Russell, was a son of Joshua & Hannah Leonard of Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. He was born June 27, 1808, in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, according to Massachusetts Town Vital Records. His birth record is shown here beside his brother, Joshua Leonard, Jr.'s in Chesterfield Vital Records. Their father, Joshua, was born on Nov. 8, 1773, in neighboring Worthington. [Vital records of Worthington, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, p. 44]. He lived in Chesterfield in 1810. Joshua Sr's father was Amos Leonard. ( Possible match here ). Joshua Leonard, Jr., was living in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, in 1820. In his home there was a young man born between 1805 and 1810, which could very well have been his younger brother, Russell. It couldn't have been either of his other two brothers, as the ages don't match. In 1830, Joshua Sr., was counted on the census in Venice, Cayuga County, New York. Venice was formed from Scipio in 1823, so perhaps he didn't move, but rather the location of his home fell in the portion of Scipio that became Venice. He was counted on the census in Venice again in 1840, at which time we find Thomas Knapp, and presumably Sophronia, living nearby in Scipio. It does not appear that her son, Charles Russell Leonard, was living in the home, however. Charles would have been 9 years old at the time and may have been the boy age 5-9 who was counted on the census in Joshua Leonard's home in 1840. Joshua was between 60-69 years old. What ever happened to Russell, the son of Joshua Leonard, who was born in 1808? Was he the husband of Sophronia who went missing in 1833? I had previously researched another Russell Leonard who was born in 1808 in Hampshire County, Massachusetts and died on October 22, 1874 in Grant, St. Clair, Michigan. His death record states his parents were Elisha Leonard and Elizabeth Brown who were married in Washington, Massachusetts, on March 23, 1802. This Russell, however, was actually named Elisha Russell Leonard, Jr. , born March 19, 1808, in Massachusetts. He married Lydia Almina Forbes and I believe there may be some confusion between her and Lydia Ann Leonard. Her memorial on findagrave (memorial #134570823) says she was Lydia Ann Leonard, the daughter of Benjamin Leonard of Massachusetts and Eva Burgett. It says Lydia was born April 11, 1811, in Chautauqua, New York, and married first to a Mr. Forbes. the problem is, her name was given as "Almina Forbes" when she married Russell, "Elisha R. Leonard" - not Lydia or Ann. They were married in Townsend, London District*, Ontario, Canada on November 19, 1833. Sophronia's missing person's notice, published in May of 1834, says he left from Lockport, New York, on the first day of November last, meaning November 1, 1833, to buy land in Michigan. Could he have made it to Townsend, Ontario, Canada, by November 19th to marry Lydia? Yes, he could have. Lockport is only 89 miles from Townsend. By 1850, this "Russel Leonard", age 42, was working as a Shingle maker and living in Burtchville, Michigan, with his wife, Lydia, and five children: Almina, Wellington, Alice, Abigail, and George Leonard. According to a very informative post by Marla Gearhart on the message boards in the Leonard Family Genealogy Forum on genealogy.com, Elisha Leonard (1751-1832) did have a son named Elisha and a grandson named Elisha Russell Leonard. Elisha Leonard, Jr. moved from Massachusetts about. 1815 and lived in Madison County, New York, and then in Oneida County before moving to Ontario, Canada, about 1825. She claims his son, (Elisha) Russell settled in Michigan abt. 1847, which may explain why he is found there in 1850 but not in 1840, but he did marry in 1833. While the dates line up, and the places are close - they are not close enough. These Michigan Leonards show no connection to Port Byron or Union Springs. They also show no other known males named Charles in the line. Furthermore, if Russell's father was already in Canada in 1825, then it seems likely that his son was also there with him. For these reasons, I do believe the Russell who was the son of Joshua Leonard is more likely a paternal match for our Charles Russell Leonard. I hope to confirm this eventually. Someone please tell me he didn't leave poor Sophronia in upstate New York alone with two small children just as winter was approaching, only to run off and marry another woman! Please?! There may have been a connection between Joshua and Elisha's families, since they were both from Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The fact that they both used the Russell name, however, seems to be coincidental. Joshua's son, Russell, appears to have been named after his mother's brother, Russell Sylvester, while Elisha Russell Leonard was named after his father. Deeper investigation into the lines will prove to be more confusing since there was another Joshua Leonard b. 1797 living in Cazenovia in the mid-1800s. He was a Reverend. In another post I will share my research on that line. Update 6/27/24: Both Russel Leonard, son of Joshua, and Russel Leonard, son of Elisha, were 2nd great-grandsons of Samuel Leonard, a grandson of Solomon Leonard. In fact, these two Russels were 3rd cousins. Soon I'll share an analysis of my DNA results compared to descendants of these Russels. Stay tuned! Your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome! Please share! #Leonard #leonard #CharlesRussellLeonard #RusselLeonard #missing #Michigan #missinglink #ElishaLeonard #JoshuaLeonard

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). The marriage intention was filed January 21, 1809, at Oxford. 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 Auburn, Worcester, Mass. (One male under age 10 (Arba), one male 26-44 (Joshua), three females under age 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. Joshua's will was probated on May 22, 1865, in Genesee County, New York, and names all his children except for Sophronia. Why? We don't know, but the omission of her name has led many to believe Sophronia wasn't his daughter. Arba had a daughter he named Sophronia and there was a tradition in the family to name children after siblings. In fact, Arba, was named after his mother's brother, Arba Fitts. Also, my DNA matches several of Joshua's other children's descendants, so it's nearly proven that Sophronia was related, but no documentation can be found. Hopefully this census sheds some light on the family during the time when Sophronia would have been about 5-9 years old. Note also, the spelling of the family name on this census, "Burrell". If you have any information or insight to offer about Sophronia's relationship to this family, please let me know! See also: My Burrill DNA matches Joshua Burrill's Last Will & Testament This branch of my family #joshuaburrill #sophroniaburrill #burrill #leonard #timeline

If you've ever done a search on popular genealogy sites, you may have seen records from the source "Biography and Genealogy Master Index". This source indexes millions of genealogical tidbits found in various biographical and genealogical resources. It's worth checking for your family names, to see if you could have missed an important source. Various editions and volumes were published and below you can find the ones I've located and indexed for you, with links to access the books for free on Archive.org. In each volume you will find the names sorted alphabetically, with codes following the name. The key to the codes is found in the beginning of the book, indicating which source provided the information. Vol 1, 2nd Edition, 1980 A-B [Link] Vol 2, 2nd Edition, 1980 C-E [Link] Vol 3, 2nd Edition, 1980 F-H [Link] Vol 4, 2nd Edition, 1980 I-L [Link] Vol 5, 2nd Edition, 1980 M-O [Link] Vol 6, 2nd Edition, 1980 P-R [Link] Vol 7, 2nd Edition, 1980 S-T [Link] Vol 8, 2nd Edition, 1980 U-Z [Link] 1981-85 Cumulation Vol 1 A-C [Link] 1981-85 Cumulation Vol 2 D-G [Link] 1981-85 Cumulation Vol 3 H-L [Link] 1981-85 Cumulation Vol 4 M-R [Link] 1981-85 Cumulation Vol 5 S-Z [Link] 1986-90 Cumulation Vol 1 A-G [Link] 1986-90 Cumulation Vol 2 H-O [Link] 1986-90 Cumulation Vol 3 P-Z [Link] 1990 A-Z [Link] 1995 A-Z [Link] 1999 A-Z [Link] 2000 A-Z [Link] 2001 A-Z [Link] 2014 A-Z [Link] 2016 A-Z [Link] Click here for more free genealogy resources!

A man named William R. Daniel submitted a claim for 160 acres of bounty land in Missouri on January 4, 1819, for his service during the War of 1812. He was a Private in Captain J. Rothrock's Company, 38th Reg't of Infantry. The claim was settled January 4, 1819. According to the land map, the property was located here, in De Witt, Carroll County, Missouri. It was 160 acres of land between Route 230 and Route 240. The property's edge is 1.28 miles from the banks of the Missouri River to it's east. You can have a look around with this interactive Google map but there's not much to see there: William Daniel may not have ever lived on this land. He may have sold it upon receiving it. There were only two men named William Daniel counted on the census in Missouri in 1830. They were: William Daniel living in Mississippi, Scott, Missouri, in a household of 4. He was age 40-49 (born bet. 1781-1790) and the woman of the house was age 50-59 (born bet. 1771-1780). There was a young man age 15-19 (born bet. 1811-1815) and a young woman age 10-14 (born bet. 1816-1820). William Daniel living in Lincoln, Missouri, in a household of 6 including himself, age 30-39 (born bet. 1791-1800), and a woman the same age, presumably his wife. There were 2 boys under age 5 (born between 1825-1830), and one boy age 5-9 (born bet. 1821-1825). There was one young girl, age 10-14 (born bet. 1816-1820). Note: There were three Daniel households listed consecutively. William was listed between Nancy Daniel and George M. Daniel: George M. Daniel's home had four occupants including himself, age 20-29 (born bet. 1801-1810), a boy under age 5 (born bet. 1825-1830), a young girl age 10-14 (born bet. 1816-1820), a young woman age 15-19 (born bet. 1811-1815). Nancy's home had nine people including herself, age 50-59 (born bet. 1771-1780), and a young woman age 15-19 (born bet. 1811-1815), as well as seven slaves - a female age 24-35 and six children under the age of 10. In a book called "The New Stars", by Manie K. Morgan, she explains that "Slavery was less fundamental an interest in Missouri than lower south. It was like slavery in northern Kentucky - much more a domestic than a commercial institution. Slaves were mostly family servants and held in small numbers." Nancy was mentioned in History of Lincoln County, Missouri. On page 234, it states that Nancy Daniels was a daughter of John Riffle, who settled in Lincoln County in 1804. They were at Fort Howard during the War of 1812. On page 249, it states she was born in 1804, which doesn't align with the census. I found no mention of Mr. Daniels (or Daniel). At this point, I'm not sure if William R. Daniels was the father of Austin Miles Daniels, who married Mary Ellen Wilkinson somewhere in Morgan County, Missouri, in 1836/37, but there is a possibility. In 1843, Austin bought land in Florence or Richland Township, a mere 57 miles from William's land in De Witt, by today's boundaries. From there, he moved his family to Holt County, and they left Missouri by 1851, going to Oregon by ox cart. While searching for more information about this William Daniel, I found this abstract on fold3.com: This is interesting because the William I am looking for named his son Austin. Did he name them after his commanding officers, Col. A. Austin? And I know it's a stretch, but Austin named one of his sons Johnson. Could it be that William also named a son Johnson and Austin later named his son after that uncle? These are just my theories. We'll have to keep looking for more information. If anyone can help prove or disprove who Austin's actual father was, please comment below or contact me. To follow my research on William Daniels, see his profile here. More useful links: Bounty Land Warrants for the War of 1812 can be searched on FamilySearch here Search the Bureau of Land Management's records here Find thousands of free genealogy resources here #daniels #williamdaniels #austindaniels #missouri #warof1812

Looking into the past can be like peeking into a darkened room. Every little clue we find sheds a little bit of light on its contents. Sometimes we're lucky enough to have photos of our ancestors, and it's great to see what they looked like, but what other information can an old photo provide? Ideally, someone wrote the names, dates, and places the photos were taken, but not always. Sometimes the photographer's name and the city may be imprinted on the border or backside, which could provide some clues. One of the portraits of my 3rd great-grandfather, Charles Russell Leonard, for example, doesn't have a date to tell us when it was taken, but Charles was born in 1830 and he appears to be about 60 years old in this photo, so we can estimate it was taken around 1890, but if we wanted to be sure, doing some research on the photographer could help verify the approximate date of the portrait. Charles R. Leonard's photograph is marked "GEHRING", the name of the photographer, along with the place, which is crossed out, but appears to be "Lyons, NY". A search of area newspapers for the words "Gehring" and "Photographer" helps shine some light on the photographer's career. The photographer's name was Tobias D. Gehring. From these clues, along with census records, the following is a partial timeline of his life: 1857/58 - Tobias D. Gehring born at sea in April, to parents emigrating from Switzerland. 1860 - His family of eight people was counted on the census in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1880 - At the age of 23, Tobias was counted on the 1880 census, boarding in the home of William Clayson in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York. He was single. 1882 - Tobias married Charlotte Hamilton. 1887 - He had a photography studio located at 18 East Genesee Street in Syracuse (1887-1888 Syracuse Directory). He also had a studio on Locust Street at one time. 1892 - Tobias and his wife, Charlotte, lived in Syracuse with four children: Grace, Charlotte, Ralph and Hazel Gehring. He was employed as a crucible maker. (1892 NY State Census) 1893 - Moved to Lyons, 45 miles west of Syracuse. 1894 - Gehring had a studio in the Nellis Block on Williams Street in Lyons. 1898 - Gehring had a studio in Herkimer, New York, in 1898, which he sold that year and returned to Lyons, supposedly "his former home". Lyons is about 100 miles west of Herkimer. This time, he didn't remain in Lyons long, however. 1900 - When the 1900 census was taken, he lived in Syracuse, about 45 miles east of Lyons. They had five children in their home in 1900. They were: Grace Gehring, Charlotte E. Gehring, Ralph Gehring, Hazel O. Gehring, and Harold R. Gehring. Hazel married Henry F. Loeb in Macomb County, Michigan, in 1915. Tobias Gehring died on Sept. 21, 1906, in Syracuse. Given the long distances between the places Gehring lived, one might wonder if it is the same person, but an intriguing story published in the Rochester Democrat in 1894, ties it all together, explaining that in 1894, Gehring had a photographic studio in the Nellis Block in Lyons. It also states that he had been in Lyons for a year and that he had previously operated a studio on Locust Street in Syracuse for 15 years. So, from these references, we can see that Gehring had a studio in Lyons between 1893 and 1900, which makes sense, because we know that Charles Leonard, who spent most of his life in Cayuga and Tompkins Counties, lived in Wayne County briefly. He was counted on the census in Rose, Wayne County, New York, in 1892, and in Lyons in 1900. (See his census timeline here). The village of Rose is just a few miles from Lyons. In summary, the portrait of Charles Russell Leonard was taken in Lyons, probably between 1893 and 1900. Charles would have been between 63 and 70 years old. The Nellis Block in Lyons, is shown here: Click here to learn more about Charles Russell Leonard. Click here to learn more about this branch of my family. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources to help in your research! #leonard #charlesleonard #charlesrussellleonard #lyons #waynecounty #photograph #portrait #photo

Elma Leonard was the sister of my great-grandfather, Albert Jay Leonard. She was born Oct. 23, 1887, in Summer Hill, Cayuga County, New York. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/45183885/person/371002365854/facts Elma married first to Bert Delos Wilkins. They were married on May 17, 1902, at Trumansburg, Tompkins County, New York. He was born Nov. 12, 1882, and lived in Cayuga County most of his life. Elma and Bert had one known child, a son named Howard L. Wilkins. Howard was born in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, on August 20, 1903. The family was counted on the census in Genoa, Cayuga County, in 1905 and 1910. On the 1910 census, the couple reported that Howard was still their only child. Elma underwent an operation to have her appendix removed in April of 1913 and her son was ill with typhoid fever the following year, in October of 1914. Remember, Elma's father. Lewis Leonard, had died from Typhoid fever when she was a little girl, just a week before her 10th birthday, so her son being diagnosed with it must have been a terrifying ordeal. Notice, the news reported his name as Harold, which was either an error, or perhaps another son who was born between 1910 and 1914. I failed to find the family on the 1915 census, but I believe they were still in Genoa. Large sections of the 1915 census of Genoa are too faded to read. A search for more articles about the Stickles and Wilkins produced an interesting find. Apparently, in December of 1907, John Stickles and Bert Wilkins went into business together, operating the Central Street restaurant in Moravia. It appears that Bert and Elma split up sometime between 1918 and 1920. On September 12, 1918, Bert registered for the World War I military draft at Auburn, he was living in Moravia and listed his wife, "Alma M. Wilkins" as his next of kin. He was described as being medium height and medium build, with light blue eyes and red hair. When the 1920 census was taken, Elma and Howard were no longer in Bert's home. Elma was living in Willet, Cortland County, a "boarder" in the home of Louis and Dorothy (Sternburgh) Osborn. Louis's brother, Lee Osborn, was also living in the home, but Elma's 16 year old son, Howard, was not. Howard was living in the home of an Englishman, Edwin Redman, in Moravia. He was a "hired man". When Howard registered for the draft in 1942, he listed his mother, Mrs. Lee Osborne, as next of kin. Howard was 5' 8" and weighed 157 lbs. with light skin, brown hair, and blue eyes. On Aug. 24, 1922, Howard married Leona A. Devine, in Moravia, Cayuga, New York. She was born July 6, 1906, in Moravia, and was a daughter of Arthur and Clara Devine. Three known children of Howard and Leona are: Irene R. Wilkins (1923-2014) was married Joseph Ventafido and had David F. Ventafido (1943-2007), Donna Lee (Ventafido) Curry (1946-2016), and Margaret (Ventafido) Woodcock (1948- ). Donna had two children. Irene later married Henry N. Kimari and is buried in Throop. Marion Ione Wilkins (1924-1999) who was born in Auburn and married Walter W. Dyson (1922-2004). Three known children of Marion and Walter are: Barbara (Dyson) Dixon (1945- ), Nancy J. (Dyson) Ryan (1947-2014), and Charles Dyson. Marion is also buried in Throop. Howard L. Wilkins Jr (1931- ) married Marcia Isabel Taylor (1937- ) on Aug. 29, 1959, in Springfield, Illinois. Howard was living in Auburn in 1925, and was a Teamster, living with his wife, Leona, and two daughters - Irene and Marian. Howard and Leona were divorced on March 15, 1933, and he married Genevieve "Jean" Maricle on Jan. 27, 1934 at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. In 1960, he and Jean were living on North Greenbush Street, in Cortland. He was employed by S. D. Wilcox & Son, Inc. Elma and Lee T. Osborne were finally married on October 9, 1936, by N. H. Wilmarth, in New Milford, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Howard died Dec. 7, 1971, and is buried in Cortland Rural Cemetery. His father, Bert, died August 21, 1937, in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York. Elma and Lee never had any children as far as I know. Lee Osborne died in January, 1963, and Elma died in March of 1978, at the age of 90. They are buried in Willet Cemetery, where I recorded a video a couple years ago because some of my Hollenbeck family is buried there, too. Elma and Lee Osborne share a grave, which can be seen on Findagrave, here. Click here to learn more about Elma's family. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources to help with your research! #leonard #lewisleonard #corasherman #elmaleonard #wilkins #osborne

My great-grandfather, Albert Jay Leonard, was born in Osceola, Pennsylvania, on December 15th according to all accounts, but half of the records give his birth year as 1894 and the other half, 1895. When Albert registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, his age was reportedly 22 and his birth date was given as December 15, 1894. The dates on Albert's tombstone suggest he lived from 1894 to 1957, and his obituary boldly states that he was 62 years old when he died on October 10, 1957. To avoid doing the math, I used my handy dandy Date Estimator, which confirmed that his obituary is basing his age off his birth being December 15, 1894. On the 1900 census, though, his mother reported that Albert was 4 years old, born "Dec 1895". Then, in April of 1910, his brother, James, was head of the household and the informant who gave the information to the census taker. He reported that Albert was 14, which, once again, would mean he was born in 1895. Then, in April of 1930, his age was given as 35, which would mean he was born in 1894. So which year was he born in? 1894? Or 1895? I've stated, in the past, that when conflicting birthdates are given for a person, I find that the earliest census record is usually most reliable, and that is for a few simple reasons - it's easier to do the math when a person is a child, and many people in olden times were not highly skilled at math. It's also easier to remember the ages of children without doing the math. We also know that a person's parents are usually more knowledgeable about birth dates than a wife or other informant years down the road. So, did both Albert's mother and brother mix up his birth date when he was a child, or did his birth year get mixed up somewhere along the line? After finding his birth record in the Tioga County Birth Index and Register, we finally have the answer! In the Index, we see that his birth is recorded in Book 1, Page 55. From the Index, we go to page 55 and see Albert's birth recorded. Entries span two pages, both shown here: So, once again it is proven, mother knows best! Albert was born December 15, 1895, and, for the record, he was 21 when he registered for the draft and he died at the age of 61. His tombstone should read 1895-1957. To be exact, Albert lived 61 years, 9 months, and 26 days. Don't forget to use this free handy tool next time you need to calculate an exact age or time span. (The Time Calculator) Also, having confirmed his date of birth, we can know see clearly that Albert was only a year and ten months old when his father, Lewis, died on October 16, 1897. It was two months before Albert's 2nd birthday, making it highly unlikely that Albert had any remembrance of him. He missed out on any fatherly advice and guidance Lewis had to offer as well any family history Lewis possessed in his memory bank. It's just another demonstration of how easily family history can be lost when people die if the knowledge they have isn't documented. Even if you're not a hardcore family history seeker, it would be wise to collect whatever information you can still salvage from the memories of the elders in your family. There are books that make it easy! (Show now!) Click here to learn more about Albert J. Leonard Click here to learn more about the Leonard family Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources and tips #albertjayleonard #leonard #albertleonard #birth

Lewis Leonard was my 2nd great-grandfather. He was born in Locke, Cayuga County, New York, on October 4, 1869, and was married in 1886 to Cora Sherman. Nine years later, he died at the young age of 28, from Typhoid Fever and I finally found the evidence to prove it! The record of Lewis's death is on file at the Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Clerk of the Orphans' Court, as follows: Transcription: Typhoid fever is caused by bacteria growing in intestines, liver, gallbladder, blood, causing fever, sweating, weakness, abdominal pain, headaches, vomiting, weight loss, constipation, and sometimes a skin rash. Severe infections can result in confusion, which was probably the case with Lewis. The Typhi bacteria is spread by consuming food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. This indicates that Lewis was exposed to poor sanitation or had limited access to clean drinking water. A search of Tioga County newspapers printed in 1897 reveals there were many deaths caused by Typhoid Fever in the area that year. Because he was the only one in the household who was infected, perhaps he was exposed to the bacteria at work. Symptoms of typhoid fever can begin between 6 and 30 days after exposure, although some people carry the bacterium and are not affected by it. They can, however, be carriers, passing it on to others. (Source) Although it is tragic beyond words that four young children lost their father, we should all be thankful that the children and Cora weren't infected. Those children have many descendants today! Click here to learn more about Lewis Leonard. Click here to learn more about the Leonard family. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources to help with your searches. #lewisleonard #leonard #death #typhoid

Arthur Russell Leonard was born May 25, 1876, in Locke, Cayuga County, New York. He was a son of Charles Russell Leonard and Mary (Brown) Leonard. He appears to have grown up in Locke, as he was counted on the census in Locke in 1880 and in 1892. He was a young man of 21 years when his brother, Lewis Leonard, died in 1897. Lewis was my 2nd great-grandfather, which makes Arthur my 2nd great-granduncle. Our relationship has been confirmed through DNA matches with several of his descendants. After Lewis died, Cora (Sherman) Leonard, Lewis's widow, married a man named Arthur Leonard in 1898, but after reviewing the evidence, I don't believe it was Arthur Russell Leonard who she married. Arthur married to Alveretta Sincerbeaux on December 24, 1903, at Auburn, Cayuga County, New York. By 1910, the couple was living in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, and had already had four children, two of whom died young. Four year old Bertha and baby Harold were their two living children in 1910. Arthur was working as a farm laborer. In 1915, they were counted on the census in Lansing, Tompkins County, with a new addition to the family, Dorothy. By 1920, they were in Locke, with Bertha, Harold, and Dorothy, along with a four year old daughter, Alice, and 14 month old son, William Leonard. Arthur was still a farm laborer. In 1925, they were back in Lansing, and Arthur was working as a "Wood & Iron Worker". Only Bertha was missing from the home. She had married Fred Boyer in 1924, and the newlyweds lived in Genoa in 1925. Arthur and Alveretta had five known children, in addition to the two who died before 1910. From census records and other paper trails, following is what I've learned about them. If you have any corrections or additions, please comment below or contact me to let me know. Bertha M. Leonard (1905-2004), born July 4, 1905. She married first to Fred Boyer on April 2, 1924, in Tompkins County, New York, and they lived in Lansing in 1930. Bertha married second to John Mitnik (1897-1958), an immigrant miner born in Trheviste, Austria, Hungary. He had married first to a Hungarian woman named Bertha, and had a son named John born in Czechoslovakia in 1921. John's obituary says he was survived by a stepdaughter, Mrs. Betty Perkins of Genoa, two stepsons, Robert and Charles Boyer of Selma, Alabama, and five grandchildren. After John died, Bertha married her third husband, Herman Schmidtman, at the age of 56. They were married in 1962 and lived in Ithaca. She died at the age of 99, on July 2, 2004. Bertha and Fred Boyer had three known children: Robert Francis Boyer (1926-2002) of Selma, Alabama. Betty Boyer (1925-2013), wife of Francis Perkins and later Hilliard. Charles Boyer (1928- ) of Selma, Alabama. Harold Augustus Leonard (1910-1994), born April 4, 1910, in Cayuga County. He married first to Margaret Chilson on August 19, 1931, in Richford, New York. They reportedly had two children: a. Robert Leonard (1932-2009) b. Vena Leonard (1933-1991) He married second to Lola F. Barnes after 1938 and they lived in East Pompey, Onondaga County, in 1940. They reported that he had lived in Marathon, Cortland County, in 1935, while she had lived in Homer. She may have also lived in Cincinnatus at some point. They lived in East Homer in 1963, when his mother died. Margaret died in 1992 and Harold died two years later, on March 25, 1994. Lola died Jan. 17, 2007, in Cortland. Harold and Lola rest in East Homer Cemetery in Homer. They had seven known children: Harold A. Leonard (1944-2019) Richard Leonard Robert Wesley Leonard Nancy Ann (Leonard) Smith, Elsie (Leonard) Ferro (1942-2017) Carolyn (Leonard) Aldrich Beverly (Leonard) Sprouse Dorothy Jane Leonard (1913-2008), born Sept. 1, 1913, in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York. She lived with her married sister, Bertha Boyer, in Lansing, in 1930. She married Warren M. Mastin (1903-1977) very soon after, on Nov. 15, 1930, in North Lansing and they lived in Lansing in 1940. They lived in Genoa in 1959 and were still there wen her mother died in 1963. Dorothy died at the age of 94, on April 26, 2008, in Ithaca. Dorothy and Warren Mastin had five known children: Gertrude (Mastin) Bosworth (1931-2022), who married Ray S. Bosworth (1929-2018) and had five known children including John Edward Bosworth (1959-1973), and Cynthia (Bosworth) Fishburn (1955-2021). Warren Mastin, Jr. (1932-1969), born Nov. 18, 1932, in Genoa, and was still there in 1950. He married Phyllis J. Mancuso in 1958 and died Jan. 27, 1969, in Rochester. Esther I. Mastin (1934-1993), born Dec. 8, 1934, in Genoa, and was still there in 1950. She married Ernest LaVerne Stedge (1932-2002) and lived in Waverly, Tioga County, New York. Donald G. Mastin, of Genoa, Cayuga, New York. Gerald Mastin, who married Marjorie A. Lanpher in 1963. Alice Mildred Leonard, born March 9, 1916, in Lansing. She married Charles Monroe Dingy (1917-1988), in Venice, New York, on Nov. 22, 1936. Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 25, 1945, and was discharged four months later, on Oct. 19, 1945, about six weeks after the end of World War II. They lived in Preble, Cortland County, in 1950, and in Wolcott in 1963. Charles and Alice had seven known children: Shirley (Dingy) Sincerbeaux Emma Jean (Dingy) Guthrie Francis Dingy Rosalie (Dingy) Snyder Marjorie L. (Dingy) Griffin William Charles Dingy Kenneth Dingy William Robert Leonard, born Oct. 22, 1918, in Ithaca, married Myleta Irene Perry on Dec. 11, 1938, in Genoa. They lived in Moravia when he registered for the draft in 1940. He was 6-feet tall, 173 lbs., had brown eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. He lived in Cortland when his mother died in 1963. William and Myleta lived in Preble, Cortland County, in 1950. Myleta died Dec. 16, 1980, in Harnando, Florida. William and Myleta had five children at the time: William Daniel Leonard (1939-2001) James Eugene Leonard (1944-1989) Mary I. (Leonard) Rogers Howard A. Leonard Dorothy M. Leonard Arthur died on October 12, 1961, and is buried in Bird Cemetery, in Locke. His obituary says he was 84, but if he was born May 25, 1876, he lived 85 years. Alveretta died June 15, 1963, at the age of 82. According to her obituary, in addition to her five children, she was survived by 28 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Arthur and Alveretta can be seen here in this portrait, along with their obituaries: Arthur's obituary, printed in the Cortland Standard, Fri., Oct. 13, 1961: "ARTHUR LEONARD, 84, LOCKE, DIES. LOCKE - Arthur Leonard, 84, a long time area resident, died Thursday at Cortland Memorial Hospital where he was a medical patient for two days. Mr. Leonard worked as a blacksmith for many years and did general farming. He is survived by his wife, Alberetta Sincerbeaux Leonard, and five children, Mrs. Bertha Mitnik of Ithaca, Harold Leonard of East Homer, Mrs. Dorothy Mastin of Genoa; Mrs. Alice Dingy of Wolcott, and William Leonard of Cortland. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2 at the Booth Co. Funeral Home in Groton, Rev. Duane Bell, pastor of the Milan Baptist Church of Locke, officiating. Interment in Bird Cemetery, Locke. Friends may call at the funeral home this evening from 7-9." It's amazing how many descendants can result from one marriage over the course of a hundred years. It brings to mind a poem on a coffee mug I bought over twenty years ago for my oldest child's first school fund raiser: Hats off to Arthur and Alveretta Leonard and their many descendants! Stay tuned for more! Click here to learn more about the Leonard family. #arthurleonard #leonard #alverettasincerbeaux #sincerbeaux

James H. Leonard was the older brother of my great-grandfather, Albert Jay Leonard. They were both sons of Lewis Leonard and Cora (Sherman) Leonard. James was probably named after Cora's father, James Sherman, and Albert may have been named after Cora's brother, Adelbert Sherman, but that's just speculation, of course. James was born April 21, 1890. There is conflicting information about where he was born - New York or Pennsylvania. I believe he was born in Cayuga County, New York, because his parents were married in Moravia, Cayuga County, in 1886, and were counted on the 1892 census in neighboring Summerhill, Cayuga Count, so it seems logical that if James was born in 1890, he was probably born in either Moravia or Summerhill, New York, but again, that's just my theory. Following is some documentation I was able to find about James Leonard. First, James was the young boy in the family photo. Here he is shown with his parents and sister, Ethel May. This photo must have been taken about 1894: Soon after the 1892 census was taken, the family moved to Pennsylvania. James was only about two years old. There, James' younger brother, Albert Jay Leonard, my great-grandfather, was born on December 15, 1895, in Osceola, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Tragedy struck the family two years later, on October 16, 1897, when Lewis died from typhoid fever, in nearby Westfield, same county. After the death of Lewis, Cora took the family back to New York, and they were living in Lodi, Seneca County, when the census was taken in 1900. In 1905, they were living in Venice, Cayuga County, and in 1910, they were in Moravia: A few months after the 1910 census was taken, James married Miss Zaida Brown on Sunday, Nov. 20, 1910, in Moravia, although their marriage license was issued in Lansing. They were married by Rev. Walter B. Jorris, pastor of the Congregational Church on Church Street in Moravia. He was pastor there from 1909 to 1913, and from there he was transferred to Rochester. James and Zaida had at least one child, a son named Charles Lewis Leonard, born Sept. 8, 1912, in Moravia, Cayuga, New York. Charles, better known as "Louis", married Lillian Louise Snover but they appear to have had no children. He remained in Venice and Moravia all his life, working as a farmer, according to the census. He worked as an auto mechanic when the 1950 census was taken and he died on July 1, 1991, in Moravia. James' mother, Cora, died in 1914, and her obituary stated that James was living in Moravia at the time. I was unable to locate James and his family on the 1915 New York State census, but on June 5, 1917, when James registered for the draft, he was described as being medium height and having a stout build. He had blue eyes and brown hair. His marital status was still "married", but he indicated that he had a child solely dependent on him for support. Nevertheless, James was selected for the draft and was inducted at Auburn, Sept. 29, 1917, into Battery F 309 First Artillery. He was later a Wagoner in the 30th Supply Co., 78th Division. He served overseas during World War I, from May 25, 1918, to Sept. 21, 1919, and was honorably discharged Sept. 27, 1919. When the census was taken in 1920, James and his 7-year old son, "Lewis", were boarding in the home of Charles Wallace in Venice, and Zaida was no where to be found. In next week's post, I'll share what I've learned about the Zaida story. You'll be able to find it here. Two years later, on April 25, 1922, James married Charles Wallace's daughter, Edna Wallace, in Moravia. James and Edna had three known children together: James Leonard, Jr. (1925-1987), born June 8, 1925, in Moravia. He had brown hair and hazel eyes, stood 6-feet tall and weighed 150 lbs. when he registered for the draft in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Mar. 14, 1946, and was discharged Feb. 11, 1947. James married Shirley M. Hughes on Nov. 18, 1956 in Scipio, and they had at least two sons: Michael Leonard, who lived in College Station, Texas, in 1987, and Rodney Leonard, who lived in Genoa, New York, in 1987. James died at the age of 62, on Dec. 27, 1987, in Auburn, Cayuga, New York. Linford C. Leonard (1931-1981), was born Jan. 10, 1931, in Genoa, Cayuga, New York. He served in the Marines during the Korean conflict. He married Luella Zirbel in 1954 and had at least one child, a son named Allen Leonard. Linford died April 2, 1981, at the age of 50. Wallace Eugene Leonard (1933-1975), was born Mar. 31, 1933, in Venice, Cayuga, New York. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and within months of his return, he married June M. Hughes in Moravia. They were married on July 27, 1955, and they had at least one child, a daughter named Della Leonard. Wallace died Dec. 5, 1975, at Auburn, Cayuga, New York, at the age of 42. In 1940, James and Edna lived in Venice, with James Jr, Linford and Wallace, while his son, Louis, and his wife Lillian, lived next door. They were both farmers. When the 1950 census was take, James and Edna still lived in Venice, with their son, Wallace, age 17, being the only child left in the home. The census was taken in April and the Korean War began two months later, on June 25, 1950. On Feb. 20, 1952, Linford enlisted in the Marines and on Feb. 12, 1953, Wallace enlisted in the Army. The war ended five months later, on July 27, 1953. Linford was discharged Feb. 11, 1954, and Wallace was discharged on Jan. 18, 1955. Following are the obituaries of James Leonard, Jr., and his brother, Wallace. I have yet to find the obituaries of Linford or Charles Lewis Leonard. James Henry Leonard died on September 2, 1969, at Auburn, Cayuga, New York. At the time of his death, he had twelve grandchildren. He is buried in East Venice Cemetery in Venice, New York. His wife, Edna, died at the age of 92, on Nov. 30, 1991. She outlived her husband by 22 years and she outlived all three of her sons, too. Even her stepson, Charles "Lewis" Leonard, died just four months before she died, at the age of 78. Stay tuned for more and don't forget to see my Leonard page for more information about James and his family. In the meantime, can you help update the profiles of James and his descendants on Wikitree? #leonard #jamesleonard #summerhill #moravia #cayugacounty #newyork

Lewis F. Leonard and Cora (Sherman) Leonard were my 2nd great-grandparents, shown in the photo below. In 1892, they were living in Summerhill, Cayuga County, New York. They had three children at the time, Alma, James and Ethel May Leonard. This family portrait must have been taken about 1893 or 1894, before their youngest son, Albert, was born, but why Alma is missing from the photo is a mystery. If anyone knows, please comment below! Lewis's mother, Mary (Brown) Leonard, was living just a few miles away in Locke with his brothers, Arthur and Irving Leonard, in 1892. Soon after the 1892 census was taken, Lewis moved his family moved to Tioga County, Pennsylvania, about 92 miles southwest of Summerhill, just across the Pennsylvania border. I'm assuming it was for employment that they moved there, but if anyone knows for sure, please let us know. Were the other Leonards in Tioga County related? Maybe someday we'll find those answers, but for now it's a mystery. Lewis and Cora's son, Albert Jay Leonard, was born in Osceola, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 15, 1895. This map shows the distance between Summer Hill and Osceola. The state border is highlighted in yellow. Sadly, Lewis died before Albert turned two years old. He died on Oct. 16, 1897, in Westfield, Pennsylvania, just a few miles west of Osceola. He was only 28 years old and the cause of death was Typhoid Fever. Cora was left with four young, fatherless children, but we find her and three of her children, James, Ethel, and Albert living in Lodi, Seneca, New York, when the census was taken in 1900. Her daughter, Alma, was 12 years old and living as a "Boarder" in the home of James & Polly Robinson in Summerhill. Cora and the children were living with a man named Arthur Leonard, and she was listed as his wife. Originally, upon seeing this years ago, I'd assumed Lewis's brother, Arthur, had taken them in and that they weren't really married, but in a recent search for more information, I found a brief notice of a marriage between "Arthur Leonard of Locke" and "Miss Cora Leonard of Owasco". The marriage occurred July 26, 1898, in Aurora, Cayuga, New York. The newspaper clipping is shown below. The marriage announcement called her "Miss" Cora Leonard, but the children in Arthur's home on the 1900 census (shown below) confirm this was, in fact, Mrs. Cora (Sherman) Leonard, the widow of Lewis Leonard. Note also that it was indicated on the 1900 census that this was both Arthur and Cora's first marriage, which clearly wasn't true, as Lewis and Cora were confirmed to have been married in 1886 (Certificate #17385). But was this actually Arthur Russell Leonard? Did Cora marry her husband's brother nine months after he died? Well, since the marriage notice identified the groom as "Arthur Leonard of Locke", and we know Lewis's brother, Arthur, was living in Locke in 1892 (census shown at top), it seems probable. There were no other men named Arthur Leonard in all of Cayuga County in 1892. There were three other men named Arthur Leonard, born in the 1870s, who were counted on the 1892 New York State Census. They were: Arthur Leonard of Pompey, Onondaga County; Arthur Leonard of Newfane, Niagara County; and Arthur Leonard of Milton, Saratoga County. According to the 1900 census, Cora's husband, Arthur, was born in June 1873 and he worked as a Day Laborer. Arthur Russell Leonard was born May 25, 1876, but I can't find him anywhere on the census in 1900. He may have been excluded from that census, which wasn't unheard, especially in the case of unmarried young men and women, who often boarded with other families temporarily and not reported. At any rate, the marriage between Arthur and Cora didn't last long, and in May of 1904, Cora filed for divorce. It was published in The Genoa Tribune for several days as follows: A critical piece of this puzzle is in the next fact we find. The New York Marriage Index for 1903 proves that Arthur Russell Leonard married Alveretta Sincerbeaux on December 24, 1903, at Auburn, Cayuga County, New York. This is what tells us that Cora's second husband, Arthur, couldn't have been the same Arthur who married Alveretta. He and Alveretta were legally married four months before Cora filed for divorce. In 1905, Cora was living in Venice, Cayuga County, with no husband. She lived with her two brothers, Bert and Elias Sherman, and two of her children, Albert and Ethel May Leonard. Her son, James, was counted in the home of the neighbor, Joseph Skuder. By 1910, Cora was living in nearby Moravia with her two sons, James Leonard and Albert J. Leonard, her daughter, Ethel, and Ethel's husband, William Bross. Ethel and William had just been married on October 20, 1909, in nearby Venice, and later that year, on Nov. 19, 1910, James married Zaida K. Brown, daughter of Clay Brown and Alice (Underwood) Brown, which is a story for next week's post, which you'll be able to find here (next week). Cora died on December 22, 1914, in Moravia. Her obituary can be found here. It is said that her son, Albert's hair turned white right after she died, which is astounding, if true, because he was only 19 years old at the time. She was said to have been buried in Indian Mound Cemetery. Click here to learn more about Cora E. (Sherman) Leonard, her parents, and her children. Click here to learn more about the Leonard and Sherman families. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources! #corasherman #leonard #sherman #albertjayleonard #jameshenryleonard #lewisleonard

My 2nd great-grandfather, Charles Decker, was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, between 1862 and 1864. Searching the 1870 census of Carbondale, revealed an interesting result on page 7: Sarah (Decker) Griggs lived with husband Orin Griggs, a house carpenter born in Connecticut. Living with them in the home, they had a son named Theodore Griggs who was 17 years old, a son named Norman Griggs who was 14 years old, and a son named Andrew Griggs who was 5 years old. Sarah's mother, Phoebe Decker also lived in the home. She was 67 and her birth place was given as New York, as was Sarah's. Lewis Decker, age 29, also lived in the home. He was born in Pennsylvania, as were Sarah and Orin's children. Sarah's parents were Cornelius and Phebe Decker, who moved to Carbondale in 1829. They had fourteen children, of which only five were still living in 1900 when Phebe died. Cornelius died abt. 1850. (See Phebe's obituary, shown here). What is interesting about Cornelius and Phebe's daughter, Sarah, and her husband Orin Griggs, had a son named "Norman Griggs" and another named Theodore. Charles Decker named two of his sons Norman Griggs Decker and Theodore Decker. So, not only did this family live in Carbondale, where Charles Decker was born, but the naming patterns are significantly similar. My suspicion is that one of Cornelius and Sarah's 14 children was a son who was the father of Charles? Anyone with information, please join the Decker Genealogy Forum and share! See the Decker page for more information and family photos. UPDATE: 12/27/2021 Ancestry DNA shows a match between me and a descendant of Hiram Decker, son of Phoebe & Cornelius. Additional proof is needed, but there could be a connection! #otherdeckers #Decker #decker #carbondale #griggs #pennsylvania

John Dickinson was my 3rd great-grandfather, who came to America from Sheffield, England. He brought two sons, William Henry Dickinson and Harry Dickinson, and a daughter, Mary Ann Dickinson. (See the family's portrait here). Many photos of the Dickinson family have been preserved and shared by various descendants, which has been very helpful in piecing together what we know about the family. One of these photos is a tintype photograph (shown below) of young Harry Dickinson (seated), with an unknown young man standing at his side. There is no indication of who the young man was. Was he a friend? A relative? An employer or employee? Could he have been a servant? Based on the gentleman's facial characteristics, it doesn't appear that he was a relative, but I'm not convinced this companion of Harry's was a servant either. The family never had servants listed in their homes on the census and other similar photos from this batch show Harry with other men including his brother, William, and a man named Ben Allinton. We may never know who Harry's unidentified companion was, but we know Harry was born in 1863 and it appears this photo was taken in his late teenage years, about 1879. This was around time Harry and his family left England for America. This period was referred to as the Gilded age, "a time of extravagance spawned from the profits of unrestricted capitalism". Slavery had been abolished in Britain and its territories in 1807 and many entered the workforce as domestic workers - servants, maids, butlers, coachmen, or nannies. In Victorian England, it was wealth that divided classes more than race or gender. The poor, lower classes people served the middle and upper classes. Upper class households had several servants and middle class households usually had at least one or two. While servitude probably wasn't their first career choice, I'm sure they were glad to have employment and money to feed their families. But was it customary to take professional portraits with servants? I did some digging and found that it was! Great measures were taken to exude affluence in portraits. They wore their best clothes and fancy props, but nothing proclaimed affluence more than employing servants. They were often shown standing, ready to serve, which may or may not have been genuine loyalty. Harry and his father were steelworkers, which may have paid a decent wage, but I'm not sure the Dickinsons were affluent enough to employ servants. Harry's mother, Elizabeth (Reynolds) Dickinson, had worked as a servant in her youth, and his daughter, Emma, was later a housekeeper. By all accounts, they seem to have been in the middle, working class people. What do you think? Share your thoughts below! These documentaries on YouTube shed some light on the topic: "A Message From Our Ancestors (Britain's Slave Trade Documentary) Timeline" "The Old Corruption (Britain's Slave Trade Documentary) Timeline" Regarding the lives of servants, see "The footman's directory, and butler's remembrancer", by Thomas Cosnett. You can read it for free on Archive.org. #harrydickinson #dickinson #photos

After reviewing the baptisms of children of John Dickinson of Middlewood, we can see that John must have married sometime before 1763, because his son, Thomas, was baptized August 14, 1863. There was a wedding between John Dickinson and Martha Beaumond in the same church, July 18, 1762. This marriage was 13 months before John's first child was baptized at the same church. I cannot confirm that this was John Dickinson, my 6th great-grandfather, but it is the closest match and seems likely. If anyone has information about John Dickinson, please contact me or comment below. Click here to see the Baptisms of John Dickinson's children. Click here to learn more about this branch of my family tree. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources. These Dickinson finds wouldn't be possible without the help of FindMyPast! Try a search for one of your brick walls, especially if they're in England! We may receive a small commission for purchases made and we thank you for your support, but the recommendation is made because FindMyPast is a great resource! Give it a try! #johndickinson #dickinson #sheffield #marriage #marthabeaumond

Tracing my family's history has been very interesting, to say the least. I knew almost nothing beyond my grandparents when I started researching my family's history a little over 20 years ago, but now I've got more information and memorabilia than I know what to do with! Along the way, as I learn about the places connected to my ancestors, I like to take a virtual tour of the place on Google Maps Street View. I also look for old photographs of the place to see it "first hand". Books dedicated to town, county, and state histories often have lots of photos and illustrations perfect for snipping copies of for the family album. Gazetteers, atlases, yearbooks, newspapers, and postcards are also a good place to find images of places of the past. I've bought several old postcards and photos online to add to my family albums in an attempt to fill the gaps of missing details for posterity's sake. In this case, though, my father provided me with several antique postcards containing photographs of Marathon, in Cortland County, New York. Several of my ancestors lived in Marathon. My 3rd great-grandmother, Lucy Ann (Shevalier) Hollenbeck was born in Marathon in 1828, my 5th great-grandfather, Williams Huntley, died in Marathon in 1842, and my 4th great-grandfather Peter Shevalier was murdered in Marathon by two drunk men in 1850. Six of my ancestors are buried in Marathon Village Cemetery, including Peter Shevalier's parents, Jeremiah Shevalier and Catherine (Rohrbacker) Shevalier, my great-grandmother, Rose (Hollenbeck) Leonard, along with her parents, Jasper Hollenbeck and Mary Ellen (McGinnis) Hollenbeck, and my grandfather. Others in the immediate family are buried in nearby Willet. The first postcard I'll share is a rare old photo of East Main Street in Marathon. It was taken at the turn of the 20th century, about 1900. Beyond the Brown's Hotel is the old Baptist Church, followed by and Milo T. Wooster's Drug Store. Mr. Wooster died in 1915. If you follow this road straight and go up the hill, Leonard Road is about four miles away. To purchase a copy of this photograph, click here! Compare the past with the present with this interactive Google Map: A brief sketch of Marathon's businesses and public places was published in the Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 14, 1899, around the time this photograph was taken. From it, we learn that Brown's Hotel (now Reilly's Cafe) was built around 1885, by Cornelius Brown. Mr. Brown was severely injured on July 23, 1884, "when Barnum's circus tent was struck by a cyclone in Cortland". The tent was filled with about 10,000 people and many were injured. The story of Barnum's circus tragedy was recalled in the Cortland Democrat in 1900, for those interested in that story. Next we have three more old photos of Marathon: Top left: Marathon High School - The school my grandfather attended, which has long since been rebuilt. Top right: St. Stephen's Church - This Roman Catholic Church is located on Academy Street in Marathon. The corner stone was laid in 1896, and construction began in June of 1897. The crucifix was imported from Munich, Germany, according to The Cortland Democrat, June 4, 1897, edition (front page). Bottom: Birds Eye View of Marathon, New York - This photograph was taken sometime before October of 1909, the date the postcard was postmarked. For copies of these photos, choose a link: Marathon High School ~ St. Stephen's Church Birds Eye View of Marathon ~ East Main Street Stay tuned for more area photos! Click here for genealogy and history resources for Marathon, Cortland County, New York Click here for genealogy and history resources for Cortland County, New York Click here for genealogy and history resources for New York Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources #marathon #cortlandcounty #newyork #hollenbeck #shevalier #mcginnis #photo

After finding what I believe to be the record of my 5th great-grandfather, William Dickinson's 1768 baptism, I set out to find other children of "John Dickinson of Middlewood", baptized at the same church - Sheffield, St Nicholas, Bradfield, in the mid to late 1700s. This baptism took place at Sheffield, St Nicholas, Bradfield, Yorkshire (West Riding), England, shown here: From the Parish Baptismal Records of Sheffield, St Nicholas, Bradfield, the children born to "John Dickinson of Middlewood" were: Children born to John Dickinson of Middlewood, baptized at Sheffield, St Nicholas, Bradfield: Thomas Dickinson, baptized Aug. 14, 1763 John Dickinson, baptized May 11, 1765 William Dickinson, baptized Dec. 25, 1767 Jonathan Dickinson, baptized July 15, 1770 Mary Dickinson, baptized July 15, 1770 Martha Dickinson, baptized Aug. 3, 1777, died in 1779, buried Oct. 12, 1779 at St. Nicholas, Bradfield. Hannah Dickinson, baptized Sept. 16, 1780 Click here to learn more about this branch of my family tree. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources! These Dickinson finds wouldn't be possible without the help of FindMyPast! Try a search for one of your brick walls, especially if they're in England! We may receive a small commission for purchases made and we thank you for your support, but the recommendation is made because FindMyPast is a great resource! Give it a try! #dickinson #williamdickinson #johndickinson #yorkshire #england #baptisms

Elizabeth Reynolds was my 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, in July of 1833, a daughter of a Thomas Reynolds and Ann (Park) Reynolds. Her father was a plasterer by trade and the family was counted on the U.K. Census of 1841 and 1851, living in Wakefield. Elizabeth married John Dickinson on February 10, 1856, and had four children. They came to America in 1880 and John died in 1889. When the 1900 census was taken, Elizabeth was living in the home of her son, William H. Dickinson, at 318 Gross Street. Her other son, Harry, lived nearby at 310 Gross Street. His family was listed on the previous census page. Elizabeth died from pneumonia on February 7, 1905, probably at her son's home. She lived 71 years and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery. Click here to learn more about the Dickinson and Reynolds families. #dickinson #elizabethreynolds #reynolds

Have you come across any old photos or postcards like the one show above among your family albums or papers? The old photo postcard, shown above, was given to me by a collector of Civil War memorabilia. It was stored away for years until I came across it recently, prompting me to do a little research to learn more about it. Clearly, the men in the photo were veterans of the Civil War, and probably members of the GAR. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization for veterans of the Union Army (the U.S. Army), the Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marine Corps who fought and served in the Civil War. The GAR was similar to the American Legion or VFW of today. "Almost every prominent veteran was enrolled, including five presidents: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley." [Library of Congress] The Grand Army of the Republic was founded by Benjamin F. Stephenson, in 1866 and had over 409,000 members in over 7,000 posts across the country at its peak, in 1890. Members from around the country gathered for a camp meeting, or "National Encampment", every year from 1866 to 1949, with the exception of 1867. No official membership records were kept until 1878. The GAR was "a de facto political arm of the Republican Party during the heated political contests of the Reconstruction Era". Linking men through their experience of the war, the G.A.R. became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black veterans, promoting patriotic education, helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday, lobbying Congress to establish regular veterans' pensions, and supporting Republican political candidates. [Wikipedia] The organization was dissolved on August 2, 1956, when the last surviving member, Henry Albert Woolson, died at the age of 106. The GAR's appointed heir and successor is the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who work to preserve the legacy of our Civil War veterans. GAR National Encampments (1866-1949) Following is a list of National Encampments held by the GAR, with some links I've found to images of the Encampment: 1st National Encampment, November 20, 1866, Indianapolis, Indiana 2nd National Encampment, January 15, 1868, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3rd National Encampment, May 12-13, 1869, Cincinnati, Ohio 4th National Encampment, May 11-12, 1870, Washington, DC 5th National Encampment, May 10-11, 1871, Boston, Massachusetts 6th National Encampment, May 8-9, 1872, Cleveland, Ohio 7th National Encampment, May 14-15, 1873, New Haven, Connecticut 8th National Encampment, May 13, 1874, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 9th National Encampment, May 12-13, 1875, Chicago, Illinois 10th National Encampment, June 30, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 11th National Encampment, June 26-27, 1877, Providence, Rhode Island 12th National Encampment, June 4, 1878, Springfield, Massachusetts (31,016 Members) 13th National Encampment, June 17-18, 1879, Albany, New York 14th National Encampment, June 8-9, 1880, Dayton, Ohio (60,634 Members) 15th National Encampment, June 15-16, 1881, Indianapolis, Indiana (85,856 Members) 16th National Encampment, June 21-23, 1882, Baltimore, Maryland (134,701 Members) 17th National Encampment, June 25-26, 1883, Denver, Colorado 18th National Encampment, June 23-25, 1884, Minneapolis, Minnesota - Illustration 19th National Encampment, June 24-25, 1885, Portland, Maine (294,787 Members) - Photo 20th National Encampment, August 4-6, 1886, San Francisco, California (323,571 Members) 21st National Encampment, September 28-30, 1887, St. Louis, Missouri (355,916 Members) 22nd National Encampment, September 12-14, 1888, Columbus, Ohio (372,960 Members) 23rd National Encampment, August 28-30, 1889, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (397,974 Members) - Photo 24th National Encampment, August 13-14, 1890, Boston, Massachusetts (409,489 Members) 25th National Encampment, August 5-7, 1891, Detroit, Michigan (407,781 Members) 26th National Encampment, September 21-22, 1892, Washington, DC (399,880 Members) - Map 27th National Encampment, September 6-7, 1893, Indianapolis, Indiana (397,223 Members) - Photo 28th National Encampment, September 12-13, 1894, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (396,083 Members) 29th National Encampment, September 11-13, 1895, Louisville, Kentucky (357,639 Members) - Photo 30th National Encampment, September 3-4, 1896, St. Paul, Minnesota (340,610 Members) 31st National Encampment, August 25-27, 1897, Buffalo, New York (319,456 Members) 32nd National Encampment, September 5-6, 1898, Cincinnati, Ohio (305,603 Members) 33rd National Encampment, September 6-7, 1899, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (287,918 Members) - Photo 34th National Encampment, August 29-30, 1900, Chicago, Illinois (276,612 Members) 35th National Encampment, September 12-13, 1901, Cleveland, Ohio (269,507 Members) 36th National Encampment, October 9-10, 1902, Washington, DC (263,745 Members) - Photo 37th National Encampment, August 20-21, 1903, San Francisco, California (256,510 Members) 38th National Encampment, August 17-18, 1904, Boston, Massachusetts (247,340 Members) 39th National Encampment, September 7-8, 1905, Denver, Colorado (232,455 Members) 40th National Encampment, August 16-17, 1906, Minneapolis, Minnesota (235,823 Members) 41st National Encampment, September 12-13, 1907, Saratoga Springs, New York (229,932 Members) 42nd National Encampment, September 3-4, 1908, Toledo, Ohio (225,157 Members) 43rd National Encampment, August 12-13, 1909, Salt Lake City, Utah (220,600 Members) 44th National Encampment, September 22-23, 1910, Atlantic City, New Jersey (213,901 Members) - Postcard 45th National Encampment, August 24-25, 1911, Rochester, New York (203,410 Members) 46th National Encampment, September 9-14, 1912, Los Angeles, California (191,346 Members) 47th National Encampment, September 18-19, 1913, Chattanooga, Tennessee (180,227 Members) 48th National Encampment, September 3-4, 1914, Detroit, Michigan (171,335 Members) - Photo 49th National Encampment, September 30-October 1, 1915, Washington, DC (159,853 Members) - Photo 50th National Encampment, August 28-September 2, 1916, Kansas City, Missouri (140,074 Members) 51st National Encampment, August 20-25, 1917, Boston, Massachusetts (135,931 Members) 52nd National Encampment, August 18-24, 1918, Portland, Oregon (120,916 Members) 53rd National Encampment, September 7-13, 1919, Columbus, Ohio (110,357 Members) 54th National Encampment, September 19-25, 1920, Indianapolis, Indiana (103,258 Members) 55th National Encampment, September 25-29, 1921, Indianapolis, Indiana (93,171 Members) 56th National Encampment, September 24-29, 1922, Des Moines, Iowa (85,621 Members) 57th National Encampment, September 2-8, 1923, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (76,126 Members) 58th National Encampment, August 10-15, 1924, Boston, Massachusetts (65,382 Members) 59th National Encampment, August 30 to September 5, 1925, Grand Rapids, Michigan (55,817 Members) 60th National Encampment, September 19-25, 1926, Des Moines, Iowa (47,179 Members) 61st National Encampment, September 11-16, 1927, Grand Rapids, Michigan (38,801 Members) 62nd National Encampment, September 16-21, 1928, Denver, Colorado (32,614 Members) 63rd National Encampment, September 8-13, 1929, Portland, Maine (26,219 Members) 64th National Encampment, August 24-28, 1930, Cincinnati, Ohio (21,080 Members) 65th National Encampment, September 13-18, 1931, Des Moines, Iowa (16,587 Members) 66th National Encampment, September 18-24, 1932, Springfield, Illinois (13,066 Members) 67th National Encampment, September 17-22, 1933, St. Paul, Minnesota (10,138 Members) 68th National Encampment, August 12-18, 1934, Rochester, New York (7,807 Members) 69th National Encampment, September 8-14, 1935, Grand Rapids, Michigan (6,244 Members) 70th National Encampment, September 20-26, 1936, Washington, DC (4,391 Members) 71st National Encampment, September 5-10, 1937, Madison, Wisconsin (3,325 Members) 72nd National Encampment, September 4-9, 1938, Des Moines, Iowa (2,443 Members) 73rd National Encampment, August 27 to September 1, 1939, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1,701 Members) 74th National Encampment, September 8-13, 1940, Springfield, Illinois (1,039 Members) 75th National Encampment, September 14-19, 1941, Columbus, Ohio (763 Members) 76th National Encampment, September 13-18, 1942, Indianapolis, Indiana (518 Members) 77th National Encampment, September 19-24, 1943, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (393 Members) 78th National Encampment, September 10-15, 1944, Des Moines, Iowa (249 Members) 79th National Encampment, September 30 to October 4, 1945, Columbus, Ohio (163 Members) 80th National Encampment, August 25-30, 1946, Indianapolis, Indiana (103 Members) 81st National Encampment, August 10-14, 1947, Cleveland, Ohio (66 Members) 82nd National Encampment, September 28-30, 1948, Grand Rapids, Michigan (28 Members) 83rd National Encampment, August 28 to September 1, 1949, Indianapolis, Indiana (16 Members) Summary of Encampments By State California - 1886, 1903, 1912 Colorado - 1883, 1905, 1928 Connecticut - 1873 District of Columbia - 1870, 1892, 1902, 1915, 1936 Iowa - 1922, 1926, 1931, 1938, 1944 Illinois - 1875, 1900, 1932, 1940 Indiana - 1866, 1881, 1893, 1920, 1921, 1942, 1946, 1949 Kentucky - 1895 Massachusetts - 1871, 1878, 1890, 1904, 1917, 1924 Maryland - 1882 Maine - 1885, 1929 Michigan - 1891, 1914, 1925, 1927, 1935, 1948 Minnesota - 1884, 1896, 1906, 1933 Missouri - 1887, 1916 New Jersey - 1910 New York - 1879, 1897, 1907, 1911, 1934 Ohio - 1869, 1872, 1880, 1888, 1898, 1901, 1908, 1919, 1930, 1941, 1945, 1947 Oregon - 1918 Pennsylvania - 1868, 1874, 1876, 1894, 1899, 1939 Rhode Island - 1877 Tennessee - 1913 Utah - 1909 Wisconsin - 1889, 1923, 1937, 1943 Other private encampments were also held, such as the Battle of Gettysburg's 50th Reunion, held at the site in 1913. It appears the group photo from my postcard was likely taken there. The tents and water basins seen in the photo (below) match the scene in another photo held by the Library of Congress. Click here to see if copies are available on ebay! See also National Encampments. Click here to check out my list of resources for researching your military ancestors and family. Click here for thousands of free genealogy resources. #military #gar #grandarmyoftherepublic #republican

Looking for the record of a marriage that took place in Connecticut before 1800? This week I added over 100 lists of Connecticut marriages prior to 1800 to the Connecticut Genealogy Resources. The new records can be found on each town's resource page, as follows: From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 1: New Haven from 1758, Woodstock 1690, Ashford 1719, Brooklyn 1737, North Stonington 1733, Redding 1734, Pomfret 1753, East Haddam 1748, Washington 1749, Guilford-Madison 1757, Saybrook-Chester 1759, Norfolk 1762, Haddam, 1756, (New London) Montville 1724, East Windsor 1761. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 2: Lebanon, Thompson, Plainfield, West Hartford, East Hartford, Cromwell, Branford from 1651, New London 1697, Lebanon and Canterbury 1712, Saybrook 1726, West Hartford 1727, Thompson 1730, Middletown-Cromwell 1738, Newtown 1743, Mansfield 1744, Plainfield 1748, East Hartford 1783. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 3: Wethersfield from 1739, Colchester 1732, New Hartford 1743, Lyme 1731, Cheshire 1734, Voluntown 1729, Wilton 1750, Ridgefield 1769, Killingworth 1739, Middle Haddam 1740, Fairfield-Westport 1742, Scotland 1735, New Milford 1717, Hebron 1732, Middletown-Chatham 1740. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 4: Farmington-Berlin 1756, Norwich-Franklin 1719, Farmington-Avon 1750, Greenwich 1728, Stamford-New Canaan 1742, Chatham-Portland, 1769, Preston-Griswold 1720, Wallingford-Meriden 1729, Wallingford 1759, Windsor-Bloomfield 1738, Windham-Hampton 1734, Bolton 1738. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 5: Milford (First & Second Church), Killingly 1715, Lebanon (Goshen) 1730, North Branford 1750, Norwich (Lisbon) 1724, Union 1759, Milford 1747, Hartland 1768, North Canaan 1770, Cornwall 1756, Norwich (Bozrah) 1740, Fairfield (Easton) 1765, Bethlehem 1740, Somers 1727, Kent, 1741, Washington 1770, Fairfield (Weston) 1757, Stratford 1733, Glastonbury 1769. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 6: North Haven, East Haven, Fairfield 1726, Stamford 1747, Darien 1744, New Haven 1751, East Haven 1755, East Haddam 1751, Middletown 1762, North Haven 1760, Killingworth 1764, Norwich (Hanover) 1769, Wethersfield (Rocky Hill) 1766, Ashford (Westford) 1766, Litchfield (Morris) 1787. From Early Connecticut Marriages Book 7: Stratford, Stamford, New Haven, Brooklyn, Fairfield, Preston, New Haven, Saybrook, Coventry, Torrington, Canaan, Lebanon, Windham, Barkhamsted, Enfield, Stratford, Glastonbury, Colchester. This task took up several days of my spare time, but I'm sure it will come in handy! Stay tuned for more! Click here for more Connecticut genealogy and history resources Click here to choose another State #connecticut #resources #marriages #records #colonial