You Never Know What Information Will Just Fall Into Your Lap

Some very interesting information fell in to my lap about 2 weeks ago.  I don’t know why, but it still amazes me that information can fall in to our laps and that we can find information that is so out of the ordinary!  Information that no one in the family knew about.

A little background…..
In April I did a blog post to celebrate the life of my maternal grandfather James Jacob Hammond (see blog post Celebrating the Life of James Jacob Hammond).

I had learned from the 1910 US Federal Census that following the death of James’ mother, when he was 5 years old, in 1908 he and most of his siblings wound up in a Roman Catholic orphanage (St. Francis) in Dubuque, Iowa.  I got in touch with St. Francis and they were unable to find any records from that time period.  So, dead end.

I had been unable to find him in the 1920 US Federal Census and I never knew how long he had stayed at the orphanage or where he was in 1920. 

I was able to find my grandfather in the 1930 US Federal Census living with his brother Arthur in Brookings, SD.

Then a few weeks ago I was contacted through my account at Ancestry.com with some pretty amazing information!  Someone reached out to me and said that he knew that my grandfather and his youngest brother Joseph had been among the first 100 boys at ‘Boys Town’ in Omaha, Nebraska.  What???  Remember that old black and white movie with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney?  Hmmmm….My grandfather and his brother Joseph lived at ‘Boys Town’ with Father Flanagan?  Interesting but that was about all I knew about ‘Boys Town’.  What as it?  When did they get there?  Why were they there?  How long were they there? What was it like living there?  Why weren’t the other 2 brothers there?????  Lots of questions.

It turns out this year will be the 100th Anniversary of when ‘Boys Town’ was started by Father Flanagan and they are trying to determine what happened to many of those first boys and let their families know about the Anniversary Celebration.  Oh and he sent me 2 photos of a group of boys (my grandfather is supposedly among them) with Father Flanagan.  WOW! WOW!

I started asking lots of questions, doing research and oh. yea…re-watching that 1938 movie about ‘Boys Town’.  I was given the name of a historian at ‘Boys Town’.  So, I have called and they are looking to see what they can find about my grandfather, his time at ‘Boys Town’, how he came to be there, etc.  This is something I would never have suspected and how grateful I am to this gentleman for reaching out and making contact!  I will definitely keep you posted!

Oh, and now I found my grandfather in the 1920 US Federal Census ……at “Boys Town” in Omaha, Nebraska!  Guess when I was looking in the 1920 Census earlier I had only looked in Iowa…..lesson learned-if you can’t find your ancestors where you think they should be….open your options and look in a broader area.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Celebrating the Life of Edna Cornell Hammond

Edna Chloe Cornell Hammond

(click on images to enlarge)

back row from left- Earl?, Arthur ?, ?, William Cornell (husband of Nettie and father of Edna)

front row from left- Gertrude Cornell, Edna Cornell, Charlotte Bailey Cornell (grandmother), Nettie Coolbaugh Cornell (mother), Bessie Cornell

about 1920

1915 Edna was the 6th child of William Cornell and Nettie Coolbaugh Cornell

Edna was born in Philadelphia, PA

In 1920 Edna was living with her parents and siblings in Spencer, Tioga, New York

In 1925 Edna’s mother Nettie Coolbaugh Cornell passed away while the family was living in Ithaca, New York.

In 1930 Edna was living with her father and siblings in Spencer, Tioga, New York

Edna married James Jacob Hammond in Spencer, Tioga, New York on 15 March 1934 

Edna and James had 6 children and lived in Van Etten, New York

     about 1990

Edna died on 1 May 1999 in Athens, Bradford, PA

My grandmother was a good cook of simple fare from a Pennsylvania Dutch background.
She sewed and made her children’s clothing.  Later in life she would crochet blankets and she made stuffed animals for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
My grandmother took care of her home and children.  She loved to read and in the early years, and living out of town, was always looking out for the neighborhood Bookmobile.

Grandma

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

A GREAT Seminar by Thomas MacEntee

Yesterday the San Diego Genealogical Society was pleased to host Thomas MacEntee for a full day seminar.  Thomas is a professional genealogist, author, educator, blogger, social media connector and much much more.

Thomas presented information on the 4 following topics:

“The Genealogy Do-Over™: A Year of Learning from Mistakes”
Thomas talked about doing a “Genealogy Do-Over”.  The group he is starting will be working month by month to help us all become better researchers.  The program Thomas is setting up will help us look at all the not so great habits we’ve developed as researchers, like being sloppy at times when we are doing research.  By ‘starting over’ with our research and committing to doing our research in a better way we can all improve our research habits and learn more about our ancestors.  Be sure to check out Thomas’ website and join in the Genealogy Do-Over challenge. 

“Facebook: A Tool for Genealogy Research”
Many of us use Facebook on a regular basis for checking out what our friends are doing and showing off what we have been doing, etc. but have you thought about using it as a source of genealogical research, a place to look for family, a place to ask questions and get help?  Thomas gave us some valuable information on how to do more valuable searches on Facebook and how to best use Facebook Groups to find information and people.  I thought I was using Facebook but I learned there is a lot more I can be doing and will need to do to enhance my research.

“Can I Use that in My Genealogy?  What You Should Know About Copyright”
A very important topic for all of us who gather information from a variety of sources.  Since I blog I am always wondering if I am using information I have gathered from a variety of resources correctly.  Citing information and obeying Copyright laws is something I am always concerned about!  I ALWAYS want to be sure I am documenting my information correctly and giving others the credit for the work they have done.   Thomas gave us some good examples and valuable information about Copyrights.  Following Thomas’ presentation I will remember to continually ask myself ‘Is this information in the public domain’?  I want to continue to work on and improve my citations of resources and think about Copyright laws when I publish any information.

“After You’re Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research”
Most of us rarely think about what will happen to our research after we are gone.  Thomas prompted us to think about this now.  Make plans now for who will receive our years and years of research when we are no longer here.  He talked about the best ways to transfer our research to others and what we should be doing NOW.  Thomas certainly gave us a lot to think about.  I know I will be taking his advice and working on a plan now.  There was a lot I hadn’t thought about before hearing Thomas’ presentation.

Thomas is a great speaker with a lot of valuable information regardless of your level as a researcher.  Thomas is also an enjoyable speaker to listen to.  I appreciated Thomas taking the time to demonstrate how to do certain techniques he discussed when audience members had questions.  I was also very pleased that Thomas was very open about sharing things that he has created such as his Research Log Templates and encouraged all of us to do the same.

I look forward to attending sessions that Thomas will hopefully present at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in June.  I’ve been keeping a list of speakers that I would like to hear again because of the topics they speak about and/or their ability as a presenter.  Thomas is at the top of my list of great speakers.  He also does many webinars on a variety of topics-check them out if you can.

Thank-you Thomas for an enjoyable day that was packed with a lot of learning.  It was a pleasure to meet you.  I also want to thank Thomas for the opportunity on GeneaBloggers to be featured in the May I Introduce to you… on 4 April 2016 section about bloggers.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Tombstone Tuesday-Walter Franklin Terry

My Great-Great-Great Grandfather

(photo by R.E.H.)

Walter Franklin Terry

1804 – 1871

Old Bethany Cemetery

Mattituck, Suffolk County, New York

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Amanuensis Monday-Will of Walter Franklin Terry

One of my third great-grandfathers was Walter Franklin Terry.  (See post Using Census Records to Tell the Story of Walter Franklin Terry)

Walter was born on the 12th of October 1804, to Joshua Terry and Elizabeth Ruland Terry.
Walter married Eliza Ann Tooker.
Walter and Eliza had 10 children-6 boys and 4 girls; Walter, Albert, Gilbert, Edward, Elizabeth, Ira, Emily, Josephine, Amelia and Charles.
Walter died 24th of March 1871.

At the time of the writing of the will,16 March 1871 (8 days before his death):

• Walter’s first wife Eliza Tooker had passed away
• Walter married Elizabeth Ruland in 1860
• son-Walter, Jr. was married with children
• son-Albert was married with children
• son-Charles died in 1841
• son-Gilbert was married with children
• son-Edward was married with children
• daughter-Elizabeth was married with children
• son-Ira was married with children
• daughter-Emily was married with a child
• daughter-Josephine was 26 years old and married
• daughter-Amelia was 18 years old

click on image to enlarge

The transcription of the Will is:

Suffolk County : Be it known that at a Surrogate’s Court held at Riverhead in and for the County of Suffolk, August 12th 1872. Present John R. Reid, Surrogate, the last Will and Testament of Walter F. Terry late of the Town of Southold in the said County, deceased, was proved before said before John R. Reid, the said Surrogate as a valid Will of Real and Personal Estate, which Will and Proofs are as follows:                                                     WILL I, Walter F. Terry Sen. Of the town of Southold, county of Suffolk, do hereby publish and declare my last will and testament as follows- First, I give and bequeath to my daughter Amelia A. one hundred dollars, to my daughter Josephine V. fifty dollars, to my daughter Elizabeth F. twenty five dollars and to my daughter Emily A. twenty five dollars each one to receive the full amount clear of expense. 2ndly- After paying all incidental expenses, I will and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth the use of all the rest of my real and personal estate as long as she remains my widow. Upon her marriage or decease, I direct the same to be equally divided among my five sons and four daughters each son to have twice as much as each daughter. I desire also that the executors of this my last will and testament at their discretion as regards the sale of my real estate during the time my wife Elizabeth remains my widow. I also provide that my daughter Amelia have a home as long as my real estate remains unsold. Lastly, I hereby appoint my two sons Edward H. and Gilbert as the executors of this my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal this 16th day of March, one thousand, eight hundred and seventy one, in the presence of  Clark Wright   &   Theodore A. Turner                                                     W.F. Terry                         L.S.

I think it’s interesting that Walter left money to his daughters and the remainder of his estate to his wife.  Nothing was left to his sons unless his widow decided to remarry.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Using Census Records to Tell the Story of Walter Franklin Terry

One of my third great-grandfathers was Walter Franklin Terry. 
Walter was born on the 12th of October 1804, to Joshua Terry and Elizabeth Rowland Terry.
Walter married Eliza Ann Tooker.
Walter and Eliza had 10 children-6 boys and 4 girls; Walter, Albert, Gilbert, Edward, Elizabeth, Ira, Emily, Josephine, Amelia and Charles.

I thought I’d take a look at what else I could find out about Walter using Census records.

Before 1840 Walter would have only been a tally mark on his father Capt. Joshua Terry’s census records.

US Federal Census, July 1840, Town of SoutholdWalter Terry                                                                      my guesses of who is being counted in the family

• 1-Free White Persons - Males - Under 5                                         Edward (4 yo) 
• 2-Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9                                          Gilbert (8 yo) and Charles (9 yo)
• 2- Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14                                     Albert (11 yo) and Walter, Jr. (13 yo)
• 1-Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19                                      ? maybe a laborer
• 1-Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39                                       Walter, Sr. (36yo) father
• 1-Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69                                      ?  maybe Walter’s father Joshua (65 yo)
• 1-Free White Persons - Females - Under 5                                      Elizabeth (2 yo) 
• 1-Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39                                  Eliza (31 yo) mother
• 6-Persons Employed in Agriculture                                                  Walter Sr., maybe Walter Jr., Albert, ?, ?, ? (laborers)
• 1-Persons Employed in Navigation of the Ocean                              ?  Walter’s father Joshua was a seafarer and his mother died 3 years before
•                                                                                                                         this so maybe Joshua was living with the family??
• 7-Free White Persons - Under 20                                                     Walter Jr., Albert, Charles, Gilbert, Edward, Elizabeth, ? laborer
• 2-Free White Persons - 20 thru 49                                                   Walter Sr. and Eliza
• 10-Total Free White Persons                                                            (Why I don’t like the census reports before 1850…there’s a lot of guessing)
• 10-Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves                 No slaves or free colored

US Federal Census, 13 July 1850, Town of Southold, Family #153

• Walter Terry, 45 years old, Male, occupation-Farmer, $2,500 real Estate value, place of birth-New York
• Eliza A., 40 years old, Female, place of birth-New York
• Franklin, 24 years old, Male, occupation-Farmer, place of birth-New York
• Albert, 21 years old, Male, occupation-Seaman, place of birth-New York
• Gilbert, 17 years old, Male, occupation-Laborer, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year               (my great great-grandfather)
• Edward, 14 years old, Male, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year
• Eliz, 12 years old, Female, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year
• Ira B., 9 years old, Male, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year
• Emily, 7 years old, Female, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year
• Josephine, 4 years old, Female, place of birth-New York, attended school within the last year

US Federal Census, 12 July 1860, Town of Southold, Peconic Post Office, Family #782

• Walter Terry, 64 years old, Male, occupation-Miller, birthplace New York
• Emily E. Terry, 16 years old, Female, birthplace New York, attended school within the year
• Amelia Terry, 8 years old, birthplace New York, attended school within the year

Walter’s wife Eliza Ann Terry died 28 July 1959.
My great-grandmother (Walter’s granddaughter) Carrie’s middle name was Eliza.  I wonder if she was named after her grandmother Eliza Ann Terry?  (See posts -Carrie’s letters)
Walter married Elizabeth Ruland after the 1860 census but before the 1865 census.

New York, State Census, 1865-Inhabitants of Southold, 3rd Election District  Family #279

• Walter F. Terry -60 years old, Male,  born Suffolk County
• Elizabeth Terry –56 years old, Female, wife, born Suffolk County
• Amelia H. –12 years old, Female, daughter, born Suffolk County

The Terry’s were listed with Aaron & Jane Hunt and daughter Sarah J. Tuthill. –Interesting, not sure why they were with them.  Did they live with the Hunt’s for awhile?  Jane wasn’t Walter’s sister or daughter so why were they with them?

US Federal Census, 4 June 1870, Town of Southold, Mattituck Post Office, Family # 110

• Walter Terry, 65 years old, Male, married, occupation-Farmer, $2,000 real estate, birthplace- New York
• Elizabeth Terry, 61 years old, Female, married, occupation-Keeping House, birthplace- New York
• Amelia Terry, 17 years old, Female, birthplace-New York

Walter Franklin Terry passed away 9 months later on the 24th of March 1871.

I think it’s very interesting to see how the census records have changed over time. Think about the last census you responded to and the questions asked today as compared to the questions asked in 1870.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

My 2016 Genealogy Research in Review

Last year when I started blogging I learned from Diane Gould Hall (check out her post TIME FOR MY YEARLY PROGRESS REPORT ~ FAMILY STATISTICS FOR 2016–How Have I Done?) at Michigan Family Trials that it’s a good idea to take a look each year at what you have accomplished in your researching.  I use Legacy Family Tree and by clicking on the Legacy icon on the upper right hand side of the Tool Bar and then selecting General.

                                                                                             From 2015

                                                                                               From 2016

                                                                                 A review of the statistics I am most interested in:

	2015	2016	Change
Number of Individuals	624	869	+245
Number of Families	230	319	+89
Unique Surnames	165	235	+70
Citations	7	75	+68

In 2016:

I completed 55 Blog Posts with over 18,000 page views.

I’ve connected with 2 new cousins as a result of DNA.  (One cousin I still need to determine the paper connection.)

I’ve located through researching and connected with 6 new distant cousins.

I’ve met 3 new 3rd cousins.

I’ve reconnected with 2 - 2nd cousins.

Goals for next year:
I decided I would print out a new Legacy Fan Chart for 7 generations to look at how many places I have empty where I do not know the names of my ancestors.  Looks like I’m doing pretty well out to 5 generations (4 places empty) but the 6th generation has a lot of gaps (40 places empty-UGH!).  I think I would like to concentrate this year on seeing how many of the gaps I can fill in during 2017.

Along with my research this year I will continue to edit the transcribed version of Carrie’s Letters.  I’m currently working on an index of all the people Carrie mentions in her letters (to date I have about 390 people).
In summary, I think it’s been a good year for research and a great year for people connection (My favorite).  I’ve learned so much more about my ancestors then I ever thought possible.  I look forward to the new things I will find this year and the new people I will meet along the way.  I greatly appreciate those of you that read my blog and encourage my research!
Thank-you Diane for reminding us to take a look back to see our accomplishments!  Life gets so busy that this really helps us see that we have accomplished a lot more then we think we did. 
Happy New Year!!  Have a great year researching your Family Tree!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby