Searching the Detroit Free Press Archives Online
via Before My Time blog
Chicago eagle -Chronicling America
via The Library of Congress
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Picture
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Finds – 06/25/10
Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.
Women and the Naturalization Process – A great article from Jen at Family History Research Tips.
Ancestry.ca Completes Collection of Canadian City and Area Directories, 1819-1906 – Miriam posted some good news at her Online Historical Directories blog. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything for one of my brick walls, but I have plenty more to search for when I get some time.
Land Ownership Maps – Ancestry has indexed over 7 million names in this map collection. I haven’t had a chance to play around with it, but would love to hear if you have explored it and what your experience was.
Oakland County, Michigan Deeds – Two films came in this week so I will be busy transcribing more deeds. This batch of films contains a lot of relevant records, so I will be up to my ears in deeds for a week or so. I plan to write a post about a missing BLM land patent, yet there is a reference to the purchase from the US in a deed between the original land owner and the new owner.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Genealogy As a Profession? I Need Some Advice!
For this month’s ProGen Study Group assignment, we are to design our business plan. Since starting this study group several months ago, I’ve been trying to figure out what exactly I want to be “when I grow up.” I have lots of ideas rolling around in my head, but I feel very limited in my knowledge at this point, so it’s hard to make any decisions.
Back when we worked on our education plans for ProGen, I decided I could focus more on the writing aspect, considering corporate communications is my primary profession and I love it. I figured it would require the least amount of “education,” since I know how to write and follow guidelines. Plus I’ve read several types of genealogy articles, papers, and books and I feel comfortable with that aspect of genealogy. But my main concern is: Is there a market for this type of work? It seems like many of the genealogists I know love not only the research, but the writing aspect as well. I would think that there are others who simply like the hunt, but dread putting it all together in some usable fashion (i.e., a book, paper, article, website, etc.). At any rate, my educational goals at the moment focus on general genealogy (learning about various record types) and writing.
But in the back of my mind, I still want to help people with their research (I love the hunt and learning all I can about the people I research!!). The problem is, I am not necessarily well-versed in a specific record type or a specific area or region. Right now, I know a little bit about many things/areas, but not really anything that I could specialize in. On the flipside, I don’t know enough about “everything” to be a generalist. Again, my educational goals are structured to fill this void, but it’s going to take some time (years I imagine) before I would feel comfortable taking on paying clients. Sure, I can find just about anyone in the censuses using online databases, but there is so much more to genealogy than census records.
So there’s my dilemma, or maybe not. Perhaps I’m just too close to the situation and my insecurities to find my mojo.
What do you think? Is there a market out there for simply the writing aspect that I should pursue? What about the research side of things? Should I think about focusing on a specific record type (or set of record types) and/or a specific region? To all the professionals out there, how did you decide which direction to go, and did you stick with or evolve over time? I’d certainly love for everyone to weigh in…I’m sure there are plenty of others with the same types of questions.
Questions About Guardianship & Custody of Minors
It’s my understanding that a guardian is a person appointed to act on behalf of a minor child (or incompetent adult) during the probate process. My questions revolve around minors who have lost both parents, and what happens to them. Let me set the stage…
I one family, the mother died in 1889; the father, sometime between 1885-1889. There is a probate case file for the mother, indicating her husband predeceased her and there are “no adult children.” Furthermore, there was no land. From what I can tell, the reason for probate was to try and settle debts against the deceased.
So my first question is this: Given that there was no land or significant personal property to distribute, would there have been any reason to appoint a guardian for the minor children? If yes, what would the reason be?
Moving beyond this factor, my second question is: Would there be some type of record (custody?) that would indicate what happened to the minor children (i.e., who was responsible for them until they came of age)? If so, what type of record and where would it likely be found? Does it depend on the time period?
There are at least three instances in my direct lines where both parents had died leaving minor children. I would appreciate any help on this subject as I would like to learn more about the process and what happened to the children. Any other ideas are also welcome.
Thanks in advance for helping me out with this :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A Game of Hide & Seek
![GYRBadge%5B1%5D%5B4%5D%5B1%5D[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_udfzp1vLXt0/TB6USwabppI/AAAAAAAAFmc/metXTp8nQpo/GYRBadge%5B1%5D%5B4%5D%5B1%5D%5B1%5D%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800 "GYRBadge%5B1%5D%5B4%5D%5B1%5D[1]")
The topic for the upcoming edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival is Scavenger Hunt.
Like a traditional scavenger hunt, the object is to find as many items as you can from the list below. In our case, those “items” are to be found in the cemetery, giving us a chance to explore it with a different set of eyes. Then share what you found and where you found it on your blog. Happy hunting!
We were to seek out each of the following 15 items:
- Cross
- Heart
- Fraternal symbol
- Monument
- Flower
- Hand
- Angel
- Bird
- Tree
- Star
- Obelisk
- Four-legged animal
- Photo
- Military gravestone
- Mausoleum
I liked Stephanie’s post so much, that I decided to find multiples of each item and create a collage image. To save space, I converted my collage images into one PDF file and uploaded it to Scribd, which is embedded below. (Note: If it doesn't load, refresh the browser.)
These photos were taken at various times (many of them yesterday) and at various cemeteries in Illinois. Fortunately, I was able to find all of the items on the list.
Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Christening Bonnet
I am writing this post in response to a query about an unidentified piece of material that Michelle Goodrum found. You can read her post, Sorting Saturday-Time Capsule-Help! Do You Know What This Is?, for more information and a photo of the object.
I posted a comment to her post earlier today, thinking it may be something similar to what I have, hence the reason for this post.
When I was baptized, I had a Christening gown and bonnet. The bonnet is an heirloom bonnet, with the idea that it will be used when the baby girl marries and be passed down to her
daughter(s). Below is a transcription of the card that came with the bonnet (and yes, I still have the original box).
Dear Little Girl,
This bonnet was made for you
To wear on your little head.
Years from now remove the ribbons,
Cut the knot and pull the thread
You will have a handkerchief filled
With memories to carry the day you wed.When you have your own baby
To this handkerchief return the ribbons
And the thread then you’ll have a
Bonnet for your baby made from
The handkerchief you carried the day
You were wed that was made
From this bonnet for your little head.
The photo above is what the bonnet looks like as a handkerchief. I did as the card instructed and carried it on my wedding day.
The photo below is what it looks like as a bonnet. It was taken on 12 June 1977 when I was baptized.
So, what do you think? Could Michelle’s mysterious fabric be a bonnet/handkerchief?
Saturday in the Attic – 06/19/10
My mom gave her dad this card on Father’s Day. Given the handwriting, she was probably pretty young.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)
Cabinet Cards - Steps for Identifying and Dating an Old Cabinet Card Photograph
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut 1665-1678
With the Journal of the Council of War 1675-1678
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut for the Year 1782
With the Journal of the Council of Safety January 17, 1782 to December 16, 1782
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut May 1793 to October 1796
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1775 to June 1776
With the Journal of the Council of Safety from June 7, 1775 to October 2, 1776
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1772 to April 1775
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1768 to May 1772
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1762 to October 1767
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1735 to October 1743
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1726 to May 1735
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut August 1689 to May 1706
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut Prior to the Union With New Haven Colony May 1665
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1717 to October 1725
With the Council Journal From May 1771 to April 1726
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1744 to November 1750
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1751 to February 1757
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1706 to October 1716
With the Council Journal from October 1710 to February 1717
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1757 to March 1762
The Public Records of the colony of Connecticut May 1678 to June 1689
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut October 1776 to February 1778
With the Journal of the Council of Safety from October 11, 1776 to May 6, 1778
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut May 1778 to April 1780
With the Journal of the Council of Safety from May 18, 1778 to April 28, 1780
Oaths of allegiance in colonial New England
via GoogleBooks
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday Finds – 06/11/10
Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.
Researching my World War I Ancestor’s Records and Story – Jen posted this great article on her Chicago Family History blog. If you have any family members who served in WWI, you really need to read this!
Personal Past Meditations – A Genealogical Blog – This is a new-to-me blog that’s been around for almost a year, authored by Daniel Hubbard.
The Public Record of the Colony [State] of Connecticut – This is a series of books containing transcriptions of various public records. The link is to my blog post about the series containing examples and a list of books available online.
Dating a Cabinet Card – Kimberly Powell posted a brief article about dating cabinet cards. There is a link in the article to a lengthier discussion of clues to use in order to date a cabinet card.
Connecticut Public Record Resources
There is a series of books, The Public Record of the Colony [State] of Connecticut. These books contain transcriptions of various public records. Many of the volumes can be found as digital files online; a listing is included at the end of this post. Following are four examples of what can be found in these books.
Example 1
This is a (partial) list of Assembly members that took the Oath of Fidelity in August 1777, taken from the book, The Public Records of the State of Connecticut From October 1776 to February 1778 (p. 378; the rest of the list is on page 379).
Example 2
This excerpt related to the will of Lieutenant Robert Webster in May 1677, taken from the book, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut From 1665-1678 (p. 310).
Example 3
This is a list of Freemen on the “South side of Hartford, 1669, Octo.,” , taken from the book, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut From 1665-1678 (p. 518).
Example 4
This excerpt has to do with the dividing line between Preston and New London in May 1702, , taken from the book, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut From August 1689 to May 1706 (p. 384).
Online Availability
I was able to find many of the volumes online through either Internet Archive or Google Books. Following is a list of those I was able to find, with a link to the book. They are also available at Ancestry here.
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut Prior to the Union With New Haven Colony May 1665
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut 1665-1678
The Public Records of the colony of Connecticut May 1678 to June 1689
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut August 1689 to May 1706
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1706 to October 1716
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1717 to October 1725
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1726 to May 1735
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1735 to October 1743
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1744 to November 1750
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1751 to February 1757
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1757 to March 1762
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1762 to October 1767
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1768 to May 1772
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut October 1772 to April 1775
The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut May 1775 to June 1776
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut October 1776 to February 1778
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut May 1778 to April 1780
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut for the Year 1782
The Public Records of the State of Connecticut May 1793 to October 1796
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Saturday in the Attic – 06/05/10
I found this business card among my family papers. My mom thought her mom had acquired it somewhere along the line, but….
Oddly enough, a few weeks before I found this, I had been working on my Parks family, so R H PARKS, to me read, Robert Hall PARKS. I thought it was a long shot. Robert Hall PARKS was born in Michigan and lived in Illinois and at some point, Iowa. What I didn’t know at the time was that he did actually live in New York. I remembered that his daughter Isabel was supposedly married in New York. I did confirm that through her marriage record. But having this business card made me wonder if this was actually my Robert Hall PARKS,as he was tied to New York if only through his daughter’s marriage.
I started to dig around and found the marriage announcement of Isbael to Samuel Brewster in the New York Herald. I then started to go through the New York City directories on Footnote and consistently found listing for Robert H Parks from 1880 to 1894. What tipped me off that this was possibly my Robert, was the entry in the 1880 directory:
Although it lists him as a broker working at 5 New, his residence is indicated as Ill. I found him, his wife, and his daughter in the 1880 census living in a hotel in NYC. At this point, I had at least placed the him in New York, and it was apparent he had just moved around the time of the census. As I made my way through each directory, I found the following listing in 1893; it’s the only one that has this business address (there were several other business addresses throughout the years).
Who knew this hunch would lead to anything. All I had was this card (with initials only, albeit) and a dead-end for him in Lake County, Illinois in the 1870 census. The information about his daughter’s marriage was initially vague and unsourced. But once I confirmed that, I thought, maybe they all moved to New York and that’s why I can’t find any of them in Illinois. All of this was confirmed when I found his obituary, which stated at the end “Chicago papers please copy.” That right there tied him back to Illinois. And because of this one little card, I was able to figure out when and where Robert and his wife died (both in 1894 in New York) and learn more about his daughter’s family.
Now whether my maternal grandmother actually found this or not is still a mystery, as Robert Hall PARKS is my first cousin five times removed on my dad’s side!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday Finds – 06/03/10
Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.
Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford – This organization’s main purpose is to preserve the history of Hartford, Connecticut. It’s membership is made up of those who descend from any of the 164 founders of Hartford. What’s really nice is that there are short biographies on each of the 164 founders.
1901 Ireland Census – The 1901 Ireland census is now available online, in addition to the 1911 census previously available, via the National Archives of Ireland.
Family of John Webster – This 30-page book, written by Noah Webster, was recently added to the Internet Archives collection. To keep track of what’s been added to Internet Archive courtesy of the Allen County Public Library, you can add their feed to your RSS reader.
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