My Maternal Line and Mitochondrial DNA

I was thinking lately about who to research next on my maternal line and I was wondering about the DNA testing I have done.  Most people who do DNA testing are looking at their ethnic makeup.  How much Irish or English or Scandinavian am I?  I wanted to take a look beyond that to look at what Mitochondrial and Y-DNA testing can also tell me.   I have been fortunate enough to have been able to do DNA testing on both of my parents.  Mitochondrial DNA will help me determine how far back my maternal line goes.  I have tested at Family Tree DNA and 23 and Me and obtained the same results. 

So, I wondered what the Mitochondrial DNA (from mother to mother to mother to mother, etc.) testing will tell me about the genes that have been passed down all these generations to me?  I learned I am in Mitochondrial Haplogroup J1c3c.  This haplogroup traces back to a woman who lived about 4,000 years ago or 160 generations back.  WOW, that’s pretty over whelming to think about.  I have genes in the mitochondria of my cells that I share with a woman who lived 4, 000 years ago. 

Next, I thought I would look at how far back on paper I have my maternal to maternal to maternal line:

Turns out, not very far on paper compared to the woman who lived about 160 generations ago.  To date I have researched and posted blogs about the women in generations 3 (Edna), 4 (Nettie), and 5 (Hattie).  I know that Amanda was Hattie’s mother but that’s all I have.  I guess it’s time to do some research on Amanda Johnson Browning.  What can I find out about her?  Can I determine who her parents were and maybe even go back further?  Now, I seriously doubt I can get back even a total of 10 generations on paper but it’s pretty amazing to think of that unknown woman who’s genes I carry and what life must have been like for her 4,000 years ago. 

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Some trivia, King Richard III and I share a common female ancestor from 13,000 years ago.  Pretty amazing to even know that.

Sunday Obituary & Death Certificate for Nettie Emily Coolbaugh Cornell

In a previous post entitled Searching for Nettie Emily Coolbaugh Cornell I researched the life of my maternal great grandmother Nettie.  At the time I had a year of death but no location of her death or a cause of her death at the age of 42.  When I initially searched I had thought she died in Spencer, NY where the family had lived. 

I found the family living in Spencer in 1920 in the US Federal Census and then in the 1925 NY State Census I found the family living in Ithaca without Nettie.  Many Public Member Trees on Ancestry listed Spencer, NY as Nettie’s place of death but I believed otherwise since the 1925 State Census was taken the same year of Nettie’s believed death.  After writing to both Tompkins County (Ithaca) and Tioga County (Spencer) New York and requesting Nettie’s death certificate I was finally successful!  Ithaca is where the family was living when Nettie passed away.




From Nettie’s death certificate I now know that she died at the Ithaca City Hospital (1).  I know the family lived on Floral Avenue (2).  I am guessing that the original handwritten record, most likely a ledger, must have been difficult to read because Nettie’s father is listed as “Fordyce M.” and his name was Portis M.  I know the informant was her husband William Cornell (14).  I know she is buried at Inlet Valley Cemetery (17).  This probably explains why her husband William, who would marry 2 more times, was also buried at Inlet Valley when he was living at the time of his death in Spencer, New York.  Did William buy 2 cemetery plots at the time of Nettie’s death? 

I was perplexed by not finding a ‘Cause of Death’ but rather a ‘Manner of Death-Natural’ (14).  I haven’t seen that before on a death certificate.  OK, so, she died of ‘Natural’ causes but what was her cause of death at 42 years of age?  After further correspondence with Tompkins County Vital Records I was able to determine that Nettie’s cause of death was Acute Nephritis.  Now, I have verified her location and cause of death!

While searching newspapers for Ithaca, New York on Newspapers.com I found Nettie’s obituary:

The Ithaca Journal 21 February 1925, page 5

Transcription:                                                        "Death and Funerals
                                                                                 Mrs. Netta E. Cornell   
Mrs. Netta E. Cornell died last night at 6:15 o’clock and funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the residence, 219 Floral Avenue.  Rev. W. H. Powers will officiate and internment will be in the Inlet Valley Cemetery.

She leaves her husband, William M. Cornell: three daughters-Mrs. Gertrude White of this city, Mrs. Bessie Williams of Interlaken, and Miss Edna Cornell of this city, besides three sons, Harold and Ernest of Ithaca, and Arthur who is in the Untied States Army.  She also leaves her mother, Mrs. Harriet Coolbaugh of Ludlowville and two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Cooper of Ludlowville and Mrs. Flora Burch of Towanda, Pa., besides two brothers, Lewis Coolbaugh of Philadelphia, Pa., and Charles Coolbaugh of Bedford, Ohio."

Remember when searching for obituaries that the name you are searching for may not always come up with a simple ‘search’.  I was searching for “Nettie” and she is listed in the newspaper as “Netta”.  When I just used “Cornell” I received anything in the newspapers connected with Cornell University which is also in Ithaca.  It took me searching through the individual pages of the newspaper starting with the date of Nettie’s death to find this obituary.  But what a fabulous find!  I now have the married names of her aunts, sisters and locations of family members at the time of Nettie’s death.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Gap filled profile of Isaac Cornell

As we try to fill in the pieces of our ancestors’ lives there are frequently gaps and brick walls.  It’s not so neat and tidy as we get back to the early 1800s and late 1700s, especially if your ancestors moved around and there are several people you find with the same name.  This is definitely the case as I try to research my maternal 3rd great grandfather Isaac Cornell.  UGH but then no one ever said it would be easy.  And for me it’s the pursuit of finding the answers, no matter how difficult the journey, that keeps me going.



I have profiled the life of my maternal 2nd great grandfather Joseph Cornell in posts entitled Civil War-Certificate of Disability for Discharge and Organizing Information Joseph Cornell.  With the information I have on Joseph I thought I would look for information on his father Isaac/Isaiah.  I also enlisted the help of my cousin Wendy because I hadn’t previously found much.  Wendy and I have shared information before and I so enjoy working with her.  We’re good at brainstorming together and we each often find information in different places that the other person hasn’t found.  I think we’re really stumped on this one.

In the mid 1990s while driving from Elmira, NY to Long Island, New York with my mother and son we decided to make a quick stop in Laceyville, Pennsylvania to see what I could find in the cemetery there.  I knew several ancestors had lived there and hoped we could find the cemetery and some additional information.  I decided to stop at the local Post Office and ask for directions to the cemetery.  As I walked up to the Post Office there was a mail carrier named Ellen, heading in to the building.  I asked if she could give me directions to the Lacey St. Cemetery and she said she could.  She asked what name I was looking for.  She said she was interested in genealogy as well and while she worked as a mail carrier she frequently would go through local cemeteries and look for her family and her husband’s family tombstones.  I told her I was looking for the Coolbaugh Family and for Isaac Cornell.  She laughed and said her husband’s great-grandfather was Cyrus S. Cornell (I think I am remembering this correctly) the brother of my Joseph Cornell.  She had no idea where their brother Isaac was buried or who their parents were.  She said her father-in-law had a family bible but she hadn’t been able to get much access to it. I must try to find her again.

Here is what I do know, so far:

1810 Isaac (Jr.) is born in Pennsylvania and his father’s name is Isaac (Sr.) as well.
Isaac (Jr.) married Sally before 1837.  I have Sally listed as Sarah Ranght but not sure where this is from.

Isaac and Sally had 4 sons:  Joseph in 1835, Isaac in 1837, Benjamin in 1839 and Cyrus in 1845.

1850 US Federal Census Isaac 40, Farmer, couldn't read/write; Sally 35; Joseph 15, attends school; Isaac 13, attends school; Benj 11, attends school; Cyrus 5; Isaac 70, no occupation; all born in PA. 

The Isaac that is the head of the household is my 3rd great grandfather and the father of Joseph Cornell, my 2nd great grandfather.  There is an Isaac living with them which I believe is Isaac’s father.  Since Isaac is listed as 40 in 1850 that would make his year of birth as 1810 and Sally as his wife.

23 Aug 1863-“Isaiah Cornell was alive when his son, Joseph Cornell, provided answers to fill out an 'Individual Record of Personal History of Officers and Soldiers Belonging to Regiments from NY In the Service of the United States' form at Carver Hospital on 23 Aug 1863.  Joseph Cornell described his parents' nationality as German on a form he provided information for on 23 Aug 1863.”  I have this note in my records, unfortunately, it was before I knew the importance of citing my sources and cannot locate the original source to see if there is additional information.


Sometimes you just can’t find anything.  Sure wish I had cited my sources early on.  We’ll just have to keep working on this.

A reminder…you never know where that next lead or family connection will come from.  It could be at the local Post Office.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Silas Bailey

Silas Bailey was my 3x Great-Grandfather.  I seem to know very little about Silas.
I believe he was born in New Jersey about 1795 or 6.  His parents are probably Eunice Buckbee and Nathaniel Bailey.

He moved to Tompkins County New York in the early 1800s where he met and married a local girl named Sarah Cornell.

They had the following children:

• Septor,  born in 1820 in Tompkins County, New York
• Sarah Catherine, born in 1830 in Chemung County, New York
• Silas K.,  born in 1835 in Catherine, Schulyer County, New York
• Charlotte R., born in 1840 in Chemung County, New York (my 2x Great-Grandmother-see blog post What Can I Learn About Charlotte R. Bailey Cornell)
• Frederick L.,  born in 1846 in Chemung County, New York

Where Silas lived according to the records I have been able to locate:

• 1830 US Federal Census – Veteran, Tioga County, New York
• 1840 US Federal Census – Dryden, Tompkins County, New York
• 1840 New York Index – Catherine, Chemung County
• 1850 US Federal Census -  ?  Where were they??  I cannot find a record of the family...yet…
• 1860 US Federal Census – Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
• 1870 US Federal Census, Mortality Schedule – Dec. 1869 Catherine, Schuyler County, NY

Silas died, according to the US Federal Census, Mortality Schedule in December 1869 of Dropsy of the Heart at the age of 74.  The record confirms his birth in New Jersey and parents are not reported to be of foreign birth and he was listed as a Farm Laborer.  (Thanks to Causes of Death in the Late 19th Century mentioned in the Register of Deaths, 1893-1907 by Karin L. Flippin  that Dropsy was considered to be an unnatural accumulation of serous fluid around an organ such as the heart.)

Chemung Co-Tompkins County-Schuyler County 

(I always need a map as a reference.  Click on images to enlarge,)

I wonder if since Silas was a Farm Laborer they moved around following his getting work?  He stayed in Upstate NY but seemed to moved within and around several counties.

Thanks to my cousins Wendy and Madeline for knowing who Silas’ parents were.  This work definitely takes a village to piece together especially when we get back this far.

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

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

It’s Official! I Proved it!

Last September I submitted my maternal family synopsis form to the Alden Kindred of America in order to certify my Alden lineage and become a member of the Alden Kindred of America.   (See post Which Historical Societies Will You Join? ).  Since then I have worked to obtain the documentation necessary to prove that I am truly a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden.  I worked with the Alden Historian to determine the generations I needed to provide documentation on. 

As you go back farther and farther you wind up in a time period when towns were not yet required to maintain birth, death and marriage records.  Some records are difficult to find and alternative sources are needed.  Portis’ and Nettie’s death records were hard to find as I had conflicting information on where they had died.  Another interesting outcome was that I realized I didn’t have copies of my immediate family’s, including my own, important vital records.  As we search for the records on our illusive ancestors we often forget about our own records.

And here’s the proof that I succeeded:

My lineage:

John and Priscilla Alden

John

Rev. Noah

Israel

Timothy

Louisa

Marvin M.

Portis M.

Nettie

Edna

Marcella

Me

I am so very honored to be descended from John and Priscilla and all they fought for and accomplished in this amazing new world. 

I’m also looking forward to meeting many of my newly found cousins.   YEA!!!!

Next on my Genealogy ‘To Do’ List…..  join the Mayflower Society, the DAR…..

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Sunday’s Obituary–William Marshall Cornell

I had believed my maternal great-grandfather William Cornell (see post Can Census Records Add to What I Know About William Marshall Cornell?) who lived in Spencer, New York had also died there.  But as frequently happens I was unable to find his death certificate through the Spencer Town Clerk.  Recently I found the following Obituary for William:

from the newspaper Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York) dated January 28, 1962 and found on Newspapers.com

I notice in the above obituary that there is a son Nathan listed, however, there was no son Nathan and son Earl is not listed. 

Research lesson learned...always look for an Obituary before you spend the time… finding the contact information for the Town where you believe your ancestor died, sending the required fee and personal information ...only to find out...your ancestor died elsewhere…ugh!  Now I know where to find his death certificate.

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

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Can Census Records Add to What I Know About William Marshall Cornell?

I thought I’d take a look at how much information I can learn about my maternal great-grandfather William Marshall Cornell from the Census records I can find.

photos of William Cornell

William was born on 28 September 1879 in Alpine, Schuyler County, New York to Joseph Cornell and Charlotte Bailey Cornell.

William married Nettie Emily Coolbaugh (see post) my maternal great grandmother, on 11 February 1900.  They had 6 children-3 boys and 3 girls: Earl, Earnest, Gertrude, Arthur, Bessie and Edna (my grandmother).

1900 US Federal Census- 1 June 1900 in Hector Township, Schuyler County, New York.  William (19 years old) and Nettie (18 years old) were living with a Boarder named Guy Williams who I believe is William’s brother.  William’s occupation was Day Laborer.  He is listed as being unemployed for 3 months.  He and Nettie were listed as married for a year.  William and his parents were listed as having been born in New York.  Nettie and her parents are listed as being born in Pennsylvania.  No children.  All are listed as being able to read, write and speak English.  William is Renting a House.

1910 US Federal Census- 20 April 1910 in Genoa Town, Cayuga County, New York.  William M. (29 years old), Nettie E. (27 years old), son Earl J. (9 years old), son Earnest G. (7 years old), daughter Gertrude B. (6 years old), son Arthur B. (4 years old), daughter Bessie (2 years old), Father-in-Law Portis M. Coolbaugh (65 years old), Mother-in-Law Harriet H. Coolbaugh (60 years old).  William and Nettie married 10 years.  Portis and Harriet married 35 years.  William and Portis’ occupations were listed as Laborers on a farm.  At the time of the census William was working but Portis wasn’t (had been out of work for 4 weeks).  All can read and write English.  William rented a house.  Portis was a Veteran of the Civil War.  Nettie had 5 children alive at the time of the census and 5 children born.  Harriett had 4 children alive and 5 born.

From a newspaper dated 29 January 1920 “Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cornell have received a letter from their son Earl, who is in the American Army in Germany…”
William’s wife Nettie died in 19 February 1925 while they were living in Ithaca, New York.

1925 New York State Census- 1 June, 1925 in Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York.  William (44 years old), occupation- Carpenter, son Earnest (age 23 years old), occupation-Chauffeur; daughter Edna (10 years old), at school; son (Census says Fred J.?) Earl J. (24 years old), occupation-Chauffeur; daughter (Census says Calise E.?) must mean Bessie E. (Census says 32 years old but Bessie was 17 years old then), occupation-Housekeeper; son Arthur B. (19 years old), occupation-Hawaii B. Battery D: 8th Artillery).  sister Gertrude was listed with her family right before William’s listing so they must have lived next door to each other.

William married Edith R. married about 1928 and they lived in Spencer, New York.

1930 US Federal Census-  22 April 1930 in Newark Valley Township, Tioga County, New York.  William (49 years old), age at first marriage 20. wife-Edith R. (43 years old), age at first marriage 24 years old, daughter Edna C. (15 years old), Arthur B. (24 years old), daughter-in-law- Genevieve A. (19 years old), (Genevieve and parents born in Idaho), step-daughter Hilda N. Kilstrom (13 years old), Hilda & mother born NY and father born in Sweden.  William’s occupation was Farmer on a General Farm, Citizen of US, currently employed and not a Veteran.

William’s wife Edith Rea Cornell died in Spencer, NY on 24 June 1933 at the age of 46.

From a newspaper dated 8 March 1934 “ William Cornell announces the engagement of his daughter, Miss Edna C. Cornell, to James J. Hammond of Brookings, South Dakota.  Date of marriage not set.”

1940 US Federal Census- 10 April 1940 in Spencer, Tioga County, New York.  William (60 years old) and Housekeeper Elizabeth Mead (48 years old), divorced.  Highest grade of school completed-William 8th, Elizabeth 5, live in same place, William’s occupation- Delivery Man, Industry- Coal. 

I was able to find some additional information about William’s life from newspaper clippings dated -

• 22 June 1944 – “William Cornell visited his daughter, Mrs. Andrew White, in Ithaca, Sunday.”
• 6 July 1944 – “Mrs. Iva Curkendall of Newark Valley visited her brother, William Cornell, last week.”
• 22 November 1945- “Mr. and Mrs. Earl Cornell of California are here for a few weeks, visiting his father, William Cornell.”
• 
  

William died on 27 January 1962, Waverly, Schuyler, New York.

Places William lived

Summary:

• I always find it amazing to see what I can learn from census records when I transcribe them.  It’s amazing to see the jobs William had, who was living with him and the places he lived.  It looks like in each census he was living in a different place.
• A map of the areas that my ancestors lived always helps me understand where they lived.
• I was also able to find some newspaper clippings that add to the story.
• I wonder where and how William and Nettie Cornell met?
• William lived his life within the boundaries of a relatively small area of Upstate New York.

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

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Wedding Anniversary of James Hammond and Edna Cornell Hammond

My maternal Grandparents-Edna Chloe Cornell and James Jacob Hammond were married 83 years ago today.





Most of the guests were relatives and friends of my Grandmother who grew up and lived in the area of Spencer, New York.  (See blog post- Celebrating the Life of Edna Chloe Cornell).  My Grandfather was born and raised in Iowa.  (see blog post- Celebrating the Life of James Jacob Hammond).  I find it interesting that in 1928 my grandfather’s sister –Mrs. Frank Shove (Margaret Hammond Shove) came all the way from Cherokee, Iowa to attend her brother’s wedding. (see blog post- Tombstone Tuesday-Margaret (Hamman) Hammond Shove)
I wish I had a picture of my grandparents together.  Maybe one day I will find a picture.

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

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

What can I learn about Charlotte R. Bailey Cornell?

What can I possibly learn about my maternal 2x great-grandmother Charlotte R. Bailey Cornell who lived in Upstate New York?

Charlotte is circled in red and this is the only picture I have of her.  Her son William, my great-grandfather is standing behind Charlotte and my grandmother, Edna Cornell Hammond, is the youngest child and to the left of Charlotte in the picture.

What I already knew about Charlotte:

• she was born in upstate New York in October 1841 to Silas and Sarah Bailey
• she married Joseph Cornell on 1 Jan 1858 in the ‘Johnson Settlement’
• Joseph and Charlotte had 9 children-5 sons and 4 daughters.
• she died 15 Jul 1928 in Spencer, Tioga, New York, USA

What I learned about Charlotte:     (from US Federal Census records, newspaper articles, city directories, land deeds, etc.)

• August 1860 Charlotte lived with her husband Joseph and son Edmund in Catherine, Shuyler County, New York.  (US Federal Census)
• July 1865 Charlotte lived with her husband Joseph and children Edmund and Sarah J in Catherine, Shuyler County, New York.  (NY State census)
• July 1870 Charlotte lived with her husband Joseph and children Edmund, Sarah J and Josephine in Catherine, Shuyler County, New York.  (US Federal Census)
• June 1875 Charlotte lived with her husband Joseph and children Edmund, Sarah J, Iva, Isaac, and Mary in Catherine, Shuyler County, New York.  (NY State census)
• June 1880 Charlotte lived with her husband Joseph and children Edmund, Sarah J, Iva, Isaac, Mary, Nathan, Guy and William in Catherine, Shuyler County, New York.  (US Federal Census)
• 20 October 1904 “ Mrs. C. R. Cornell observed her 64th birthday, Oct. 11th, by the homecoming of a number of her children and grandchildren.  Those present from a distance were Mr. & Mrs. W[illiam] Cornell and three children, Mrs. E[d] Bagley and son, of Ithaca; Mrs. E. Cornell and two children, of Alpine.”  (newspaper clipping)
• 13 January 1905 there was the listing of a deed filled A. J. Card to Charlotte Cornell, Spencer, NY for $400. (from Newspapers.com)
• 9 October 1915 land deed for the transfer of a piece of land from Charlotte to her daughter Sarah Jane Cornell Bagley for $1.00.  (land deed)
• 26 December 1917 at 77 years old Charlotte tripped over a rug in her home and fractured her right hip. (from Newspapers .com)
• 1917 According to the Farm Journal Illustrated  Rural Directory of Tioga County New York Charlotte was listed as “ Cornell, Mrs. C. 0 Academy Street, Spencer (NY).” and “Cornell, Wm. (Netta) laborer 0 Academy St., Spencer. (NY)”  (city directory)
• 17 January 1918 “Mrs. Charlotte Cornell, who was taken to the Packer Hospital at Sayre two weeks ago for treatment to a fractured hip as the result of a fall, has sufficiently recovered to be brought home.”  (form another newspaper clipping)
• January 1920 Charlotte lived alone in Spencer, Tioga County, New York.  (US Federal Census)
• 1923 Ithaca City Directory  “Cornell Charlotte,  wid Joseph, b 701 W Green  (city directory)
• June 1925 Charlotte was living with her daughter Sarah Jane Cornell Bagley, her son-in-law Edwin Bagley and Edwin’s brother Frank Bagley in Enfield, Tompkins County, New York.  (NY State census)
• 19 July 1928 “Mrs. Charlotte Cornell died at her home in this village, Sunday, July 15, aged 88 years.  Her funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock.  Burial in Evergreen cemetery.  H.L. Palmer funeral director in charge.  Mrs. Cornell has been in feeble health for several years.”  (newspaper clipping)

from The Ithaca Journal published 16 July 1928 and available on Newspapers.com

I think it’s interesting that my great-grandfather, and Charlotte’s son,  William Cornell was not listed in the obituary as he was also still alive at the time of her death.  Charlotte outlived 5 of her children and her husband Joseph.  (see post Civil War-Certificate of Disability for Discharge)

Thank goodness for small local newspapers who kept records of the minor comings and goings of their inhabitants. 

Now I would like to get a copy of Charlotte death certificate.  I wonder what happened to Josephine who must have died before the 1875 census?  I wish I could find more pictures or Bible entries.

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