Question on Passenger Lists

This may seem like a dumb question, but I don’t have much experience with passenger lists.  So before I make an assumption, I’m hoping someone can steer me to the correct answer.

I’ve been working on my step-father’s family, who came from Italy after 1900, making them much easier to find in ship records than my Germans in the 1880s.  Anyway, I found his grandfather, Giuseppe, who came over alone (although married with at least one child at the time) in 1906.  I know this is the correct person because the date of arrival matches that of his naturalization index card (the card has the same address of his known residence). 

Knowing the wife and daughter did not come over in 1906 with Giuseppe, I targeted my search to after 6 September 1906 to April 1910 (when they were both enumerated in the census).  I first found them on a list with an arrival date of 26 September 1907.  However, their names had been crossed out.

I am assuming (here’s the assumption and ultimately the question) that they did not actually leave Italy as indicated on the list because their names were crossed out.  So I continued to see if there was another list; I found two more.  The second one (in date order) was for an arrival of 16 April 1909, and again, their names were crossed out.  The third was for an arrival date of 7 May 1909, and finally, their names were not crossed out.  Unfortunately, none of the lists ask the question (found on other lists) as to whether they had been to the U.S. before.

So, does this mean that they did not actually leave Italy in the first two instances, and they finally did in the last?  Below are the images so you can visually see what I am talking about.  If this is the case, any ideas as to why?

Also, I find it interesting that the wife, indicating that she is married, used her maiden name on all three lists, while her child was listed with the correct surname.  Any ideas?

Passenger Ship List #1 – Dated 26 September 1907

Passenger Ship List #2 – Dated 16 April 1909

Passenger Ship List #3 – Dated 7 May 1909

Finding a Better Copy

I’ve had this little tip in the back of my mind for quite sometime, but I can never seem to find a good example.  Just moments ago, I found the perfect example.

While working on my Parks family in Michigan, I came across the 1870 census for one of the family members.  Below is a partial copy of the image found on Ancestry.

Boy, sure can’t read that faded handwriting, can you?

Wondering if it was the image itself, I headed over to HeritageQuest (through my library subscription) and found the exact same document, however a more readable version (below).

That’s much better, don’t you think?

The point is, some records exist in several formats/media and if the reproduced image is poor, try finding it somewhere else.  This is also relevant to indexes.  When I can’t find what I am looking for on Ancestry (my primary census source), I head over to HeritageQuest hoping their index is slightly different helping me to find what I am looking for.  In the case of censuses, there are now two additional sources with indexes to use (FamilySearch and Footnote; completeness varies).

GenBlog Turns Two!

Today is GenBlog’s second birthday!  Thanks to all my readers for continuing to follow this blog and giving advice when needed.  And thanks to all geneabloggers who make genealogy blogging a fun and worthwhile endeavor.

The Online Family Tree Conundrum & A Lesson in Genealogy Research: A Two-for-One Special

As I started to compile my Friday Finds list for the week, I realized that this find required an explanation well beyond the confines of a simple blurb about the find.  Be forewarned, this is a “bare-it-all” post.

The Armchair Genealogist encourages us to think about how we share our online family tree with a list of pros and cons for both public and private trees in the article Online Family Trees, Public vs. Private.  I generally agree with all of the pros and cons provided, but thought I’d share with you my rationale for why I choose to have my online family tree private.

I must say that before I added my tree to Ancestry, I gave it a lot of thought, as The Armchair Genealogist suggested, pretty much weighing the same pros and cons presented in the article.  My 3-year-old decision to go with a private tree was primarily based on my experience level at the time, but other factors figured in as well.

Poor Data

Oddly enough, this ties into another blog post I was going to include in my Friday Finds post for the week, but am including it here instead.  As much as it pains me to say this, I have to admit that when I first started exploring my roots, I played the Genealogy Video Game as James Tanner discusses over at his blog Genealogy’s Star.  At the time, I was really only interested in finding out if the family stories were true, that we were somehow related to Noah Webster.  I had a family genealogy in my possession (unsourced of course), which only provided the direct ancestors of my paternal grandmother…no Noah Webster was found.  Not knowing any better, I started to review all of the “published” information in online family trees and such, including FamilySearch (Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource File, and International Genealogical Index) and Ancestry (Public Member Trees, OneWorld Tree, and World Tree Project).

Determining that Noah was somewhere in my own tree (albeit determined via poor sources of compiled data), I downloaded PAF to manage what I had found in order to figure out the relationship, inputting the data acquired from the sources noted above.  (Wow, it really hurts to be admitting all of this, but live and learn!!).  It is through this experience that I realized how interesting these people (albeit “assumed” to be my relatives) were and thus began my genealogical journey into all the branches of my family, not just the ones tied to the Websters.  At the same time, being a researcher by nature, I wanted to know how on earth these people “knew” the information to be true.  I began to realize that the “sources” I had come to rely on weren’t really sources at all, thus leading to my quest for sound genealogical research.

Okay, so this was a long-winded explanation to the point about poor data and online family trees.  But the story does illustrate the point of my own poor data, and my not wanting to “publically” share my tree online.  Much of the one family line is poorly researched, AT THIS TIME.  I am working to correct that, using the information I acquired originally to serve as clues to assist in sound research.  It is because of this that I don’t want to share my tree for others to duplicate what could be (and likely is in some cases) incorrect information.

Control

With the above said, a private tree allows me to be found by other researchers and at the same time allows me to choose what I want to share with those who contact me.  In cases related to the above, I can direct researchers to the compiled tree(s) I originally used if I have not done any of my own research yet.  This way, I am not sharing all of the information that I initially “borrowed” from others.  Instead, I am directing them to and crediting the trees I used.

In cases where I have done only some of my own research, I make the researcher aware that some of the information came from online trees (which are noted and sourced as such) and that some of the information is a result of my own research and that these particular conclusions are based on “real” sources, adhere to the Genealogical Proof Standard, and are sourced accordingly.

Another aspect to of control relates to living relatives.  Depending on the researcher and their connection to the family, I can choose what information I am comfortable sharing about any living relatives.  While I am not one to air my living relatives’ vital statistics to the whole world, there are some people I feel comfortable sharing certain information with, particularly more immediate family.

Additionally, the online family tree is not my primary database.  I do research almost daily and record all of my findings in Legacy on my PC.  Therefore, the online version is not a current version of my research progress.  By forcing people to contact me, it allows me to provide them with my most up-to-date research findings.

Prevents the “Stealing” of Information

While I illustrated above that I myself was at one time guilty of this crime, I did learn from my mistakes.  Having transitioned from a below-amateur to a beyond-intermediate genealogist, I do understand how much time, effort, and money goes into sound research.  That said, when I do consult a compiled genealogy (online or offline) I make sure to give credit where credit is due and only use the information as clues to conduct my own sound research.

Having a private online tree makes it hard for others to simply steal my hard work (and in some cases, as already indicated in my story above, the hard work of still others).  They can’t simply download the information and import it into their own tree.  And in fact, when I do share information, I am a bit of a scrooge and provide a PDF genealogy of the portion requested (with sources)—not a GEDCOM file that they can save, import and move on.  This forces the researcher to actually (I would hope) analyze the information and draw their own conclusions before manually inputting the data into their own database.  I realize this may seem hypocritical, since I admitted to being guilty of “borrowing” information myself.  And in a way, it is, but as I’ve already stated, I have corrected my research practices with regard to compiled genealogies.

Final Thoughts

Whew!  This was a hard post to write (not because of the migraine I have, or the fact that I should be working on a journal article that is due in a few days), but because it was hard to admit some of my former bad practices.  What started out as an interesting “find” for the week, turned into a “baring-it-all” blog post.  But I am one to admit when I’m wrong, and if it helps just one person not make the same rookie mistakes I made, then it was worth it to share.

Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)

• Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild

• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - UT Library Online

  tags: maps

• In Search of Your Canadian Past: The Canadian County Atlas Digital Project

  tags: Canada maps

• BYUI - Special Collections

• Massachusetts Archives

  tags: massachusetts archives

• Illinois Digital Archives

  tags: archives illinois

• The Stories of My Ancestors: 52 Weeks of Online American Digital Archives and Databases: Michigan

  via AnceStories blog

  tags: michigan

• OurTimeLines.com

• DePaul University Library Digital Collections

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Friday Finds – 07/23/10

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

52 Weeks of Online American Digital Archives and Databases: Michigan – This is the one I’ve been waiting for!  Miriam has managed to find a variety of sources that I have yet to come across while working on my Michigan folks.  Can’t wait to test-drive some of these resources!!

Michigan Library genealogy records should stay put, board says – Lansing State Journal reports an update to the Library of Michigan dilemma.

Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)

• Copyright Fundamentals for Genealogists

  via Genea-Musings blog

• German Genealogical Word List

  via FamilySearch

• State of New York

• 52 Weeks of Online American Digital Archives and Databases: Massachusetts

  via AnceStories blog

  tags: Massachusetts

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

SNGF – I Write Like…

I haven’t participated in Randy’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun at Genea-Musings for quite awhile, not because I don’t want to, but time has not been in excess lately.  At any rate, tonight’s challenge is to visit the website I Write Like and share our results.  I’m participating for two reasons, first because I have a few minutes to do so, and second because I’m curious to see what it says.

Let’s take a look!

I chose to analyze four different pieces of writing.

The first piece is a blog post I wrote about my search for my great-great-grandfather Emil Miller, which also includes a research plan of sorts.  The result was H.P. Lovecraft.  Howard Phillips Lovecraft was a fiction writer, best known for “weird fiction.”  I’m not sure how my research finds and research plan became “weird fiction.”

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

The second piece is a blog post I wrote about the genealogy of my great-great-grandfather James Manly Garrison.  The result was James Joyce, the author of Ulysses.  Again, I’m not sure how this particular post figures into novel writing, but I like that I supposedly write like one of the “most influential writers of the 20th century.” [1]

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

The third piece is an article I wrote about a year ago for the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly.  The article was about the Stevenson-Ives Library and Archives in McLean County, Illinois.  The result was David Foster Wallace, yet another fiction writer.  I’m beginning to wonder if there are an non-fiction writers among the authors this website uses to do its analysis.  But again, I can’t complain being compared to another influential writer.

I write like
David Foster Wallace

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

The last piece is an article that was published in the Summer 2010 issue of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly.  The article was about using Facebook for genealogy.  The result was Dan Brown, a best-selling author know for The Da Vinci Code.  Another novelist, but again, not complaining, he’s a great writer!

I write like
Dan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

All-in-all I’d say I run with the best of ‘em, despite the fact that each of the authors is best known for fiction writing and I am a non-fiction, business, and technical writer (with no interest in writing fiction).  Maybe some day I can aspire to be an influential genealogy writer :)

Sources

1.  Wikipedia, James Joyce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Joyce : accessed 17 July 2010.

Friday Finds – 07/16/10

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

52 Weeks of Online American Digital Archives and Databases: Massachusetts – Another great guide from Miriam over at AnceStories.

Exploring Newberry's Atlas of Historical County Boundaries – Randy over at Genea-Musings shares some tips for using the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries developed by the Newberry Library in Chicago.  I' haven’t explored it too much myself, but hope to use Randy’s tips in the near future (time is certainly not permitting these days).

First up, Illinois land grant records at NARA Chicago – This post from Blog of a Genealogist In Training contains a list of Illinois land grant records available at the NARA Great Lakes Region in Chicago.

Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)

• The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library

  tags: genealogy

• Philatelic Genealogy

  Postal history meets genealogy.

  tags: philatelic genealogy

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Upcoming Genealogy Events in Illinois

There are several genealogy events coming up in the Land of Lincoln.  Here is a listing of just some of those events.

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~~FEATURED EVENT~~

Illinois State Genealogical Society Fall Conference
When:  October 23, 2010
Where:  Peoria
Details:  Attend this year’s conference to hear wonderful presentation on a variety of genealogy topics, network with other genealogists, and visit an array of exhibits.  Featured guest speaker is Curt B. Witcher, of FGS and the Allen County Public Library.  This year’s conference will also feature a Youth Workshop for children 12 to 15 years of age.  Refer to the conference flyer/registration form for more information.

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Lake County Genealogical Society – Developing a Sixth Census:  Finding More in Census Records Than Meets the Eye
When:  July 13, 2010
Where:  Mundelein
Details:  Daniel Hubbard, PhD., will be the speaker.  Visit the LCGS website for more information.

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Tazewell County Genealogical Society – Shenanigans of the 1790 Census for Children & Adults
When:  July 13, 2010
Where:  Pekin
Details:  Connie Perkins will be the speaker.  Visit the TCGS website for more information.

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McLean County Genealogical Society – Annual Picnic & Cemetery Visit
When:  July 20, 2010
Where:  Bloomington
Details:  This year MCGS will visit the Rhodes-Woodlawn Cemetery; Ben Rhodes will be the speaker.  Visit the MCGS website for more information.

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Kane County Genealogical Society – The History of the Geneva Girls School 
When:  July 22, 2010
Where:  Geneva
Details:  Dr. John Laukaitis will be the speaker.  Visit the KCGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Researching Civil War Ancestors
When:  August 3, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Jerry Allen will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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Lake County Genealogical Society – Tools to Dig Deeper: Probate and Inquest Records
When:  August 10, 2010
Where:  Mundelein
Details:  Grace DuMelle will be the speaker.  Visit the LCGS website for more information.

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Tazewell County Genealogical Society
When:  August 10, 2010
Where:  Pekin
Details:  Lance Zedric, author of The Silent Warriors of World War II: The Alamo Scouts behind Japanese Lines, will be the speaker.  Visit the TCGS website for more information.

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South Suburban (Chicago) Genealogical Society – Family Search Pilot
When:  August 14, 2010
Where:  Hazel Crest
Details:  Shirley Koelling will be the speaker.  Visit the SSGS website for more information.

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Kane County Genealogical Society – When to Hire a Researcher
When:  August 26, 2010
Where:  Geneva
Details:  Linda Bloom-DeGroot will be the speaker.  Visit the KCGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Probate Records
When:  September 7, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Sara Anderson will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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Chicago Genealogical Society – Tour of the Shackley Genealogy Room/Family History Center at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
When:  September 11, 2010
Where:  Arlington Heights
Details:  Mike Mulholland will be the speaker.  Visit the CGS website for more information.

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Lake County Genealogical Society – Mining the National Archives
When:  September 14, 2010
Where:  Mundelein
Details:  Ginger Frere will be the speaker.  Visit the LCGS website for more information.

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Tazewell County Genealogical Society – How Lt. Campbell Lost His Flagship
When:  September 14, 2010
Where:  Pekin
Details:  Dale Kuntz will be the speaker.  Visit the TCGS website for more information.

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DuPage County Genealogical Society – Ellis Island Experience
When:  September 15, 2010
Where:  Wheaton
Details:  Marian Schuetz will be the speaker.  Visit the DCGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Immigration From Germany
When:  September 16, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Uraula C. Krause will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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South Suburban (Chicago) Genealogical Society – German Genealogy
When:  September 18, 2010
Where:  Hazel Crest
Details:  Uraula C. Krause will be the speaker.  Visit the SSGS website for more information.

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Kane County Genealogical Society – Genealogy Organization:  Comparison of Styles
When:  September 23, 2010
Where:  Geneva
Details:  Linda Farroh Eder and Susan Lye will be the speakers.  Visit the KCGS website for more information.

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Fox Valley Genealogical Society Fall Conference – Ancestor Research:  A Fresh Look at Classic Techniques
When:  September 25, 2010
Where:  Naperville
Details:  D. Joshua Taylor, of NEHGS, is the featured speaker for the 17th annual conference. Topics include:  Finding the Roots of Your Family Legends, On and Off the Net, Successful Searching Online, and Vanity Sketches: Sources and Truths Behind Mugbook Entries.  Visit the FVGS website for more information.

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Chicago Genealogical Society – City Cemetery Walking Tour
When:  October 2, 2010
Where:  ?
Details:  Pamela Bannos will be the speaker.  Visit the CGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – DNA
When:  October 5, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Karen Fugate will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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South Suburban (Chicago) Genealogical Society – Footnote.com
When:  October 9, 2010
Where:  Hazel Crest
Details:  Caron Primas Brennan will be the speaker.  Visit the SSGS website for more information.

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DuPage County Genealogical Society – American Geographical Society Maps
When:  October 20, 2010
Where:  Wheaton
Details:  Jovanka Ristic will be the speaker.  Visit the DCGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Footnote.com
When:  October 21, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Caron Primas Brennan will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Researching Scottish Ancestors
When:  November 2, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Maureen Brady will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

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Chicago Genealogical Society – Before You Croak
When:  November 6, 2010
Where:  Chicago
Details:  Ted Bartlett  will be the speaker.  Visit the CGS website for more information.

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South Suburban (Chicago) Genealogical Society – History of St. James Church, Sauk Village
When:  November 13, 2010
Where:  Hazel Crest
Details:  Fr. Conde will be the speaker.  Visit the SSGS website for more information.

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Elgin Genealogical Society – Census
When:  November 18, 2010
Where:  Elgin
Details:  Ann L. Wells will be the speaker.  Visit the EGS website for more information.

Friday Finds – 07/09/10

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

Only one thing this week to share, as I have been super busy since before the holiday (but I won’t bore you with the details).

“The Grandmothers” of Aurora – This article was written by Michael R. Fichtel and appears in the Summer 2010 issue of the Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly.  The article is essentially a transcription of a booklet the author found at the Aurora Historical Society entitled Reminiscences Prepared From Written and Verbal Recitals of the Personal Experience of “The Grandmothers” of Aurora in Early Pioneer Life in Illinois Compiled For a Benefit Called “The Grandmother’s Rally, which was published in 1892.  There are nearly 50 biographical sketches, all from Aurora women.  While none of these fabulous women belong to my Aurora families, it was quite an interesting read.  I found the information on pioneer life in Aurora fascinating.  What’s more, many of them women talked about their lives before relocating to Aurora.  From this, you can see what life was like in other places beside Aurora (in fact, some of the places mentioned were where my own ancestors lived at one time).  This booklet is one of those gems where you can learn about Aurora history, pioneer life, and nineteenth century life in the East from the personal experiences of these wonderful “grandmothers.”

Diigo Bookmarks (weekly)

• Strong Family Association of America

  tags: no_tag

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

My Revolutionary War Patriots

In honor of Independence Day, I thought I’d write a post about my ancestors who are Revolutionary War patriots.

Robert Parks

Robert PARKS is the patriot I went in under for membership to National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).  His service is listed as a private serving under Captain Benager Leffingwell.  Below is a muster roll from 1777; it is the only one I have found for him.

Robert is my sixth great-grandfather.  He was born 4 December 1737 in Voluntown, Connecticut and died in 1810 in Windham, Connecticut.  Following is my direct line to him (in bold):

1. Me
2. Joseph CAHILL (1945-1989), m. Jean MILLER (living)
3. Joan Garrison McMAHON (1927-1980), m. John Francis CAHILL (1922-1984)
4. Emma Jane GARRISON (1901-1970), m. John Ward McMAHON (1902-1962)
5. Sarah Jane MULLIGAN (1870-1947), m. James Manly GARRISON (1861-1909)
6. Sarah Norton WEBSTER (1828-1894), m. James MULLIGAN (1812-1879)
7. Betsey PARKS (1801-1856), m. Calvin Price WEBSTER (1802-1856)
8. Robert PARKS (1776-1863), m. Mary “Polly” Wheeler SMITH (1781-1844)
9. Robert PARKS (1737-1810), m. Elizabeth HALL (?-?)

Jonathan Webster

Jonathan WEBSTER took the Oath of Fidelity in October 1777 at Glastonbury, Connecticut.  Jonathan in my seventh great-grandfather.  He was born 5 October 1705 in Hartford, Connecticut and died 14 November 1781 in Glastonbury.  Following is my direct line to him (in bold):

1. Me
2. Joseph CAHILL (1945-1989), m. Jean MILLER (living)
3. Joan Garrison McMAHON (1927-1980), m. John Francis CAHILL (1922-1984)
4. Emma Jane GARRISON (1901-1970), m. John Ward McMAHON (1902-1962)
5. Sarah Jane MULLIGAN (1870-1947), m. James Manly GARRISON (1861-1909)
6. Sarah Norton WEBSTER (1828-1894), m. James MULLIGAN (1812-1879)
7. Calvin Price WEBSTER (1802-1856), m. Betsey PARKS (1801-1856)
8. Aaron WEBSTER (1775-1823), m. Sarah NORTON (1780-1823)
9. Ashbel WEBSTER (1733-1801), m. Rachel PRICE (1737-1813)
10. Jonathan WEBSTER (1705-1781), m. Mabel RISLEY (1718-1871)

Solomon Norton

Solomon NORTON is apparently my sixth great-grandfather, although I have not been able to prove this through actual records.  According to NSDAR, he is a patriot, having served as a private under Captain Bostwick in New York.  There are three members listed that have gone in under his supposed daughter Sarah, but again, I have not proven this connection through any records.  By all accounts, Solomon was born 12 May 1751 in Farmington, Connecticut and died after 1837 probably in Villanova, New York.  Following is my direct line to him (in bold), assuming Sarah is his daughter:

1. Me
2. Joseph CAHILL (1945-1989), m. Jean MILLER (living)
3. Joan Garrison McMAHON (1927-1980), m. John Francis CAHILL (1922-1984)
4. Emma Jane GARRISON (1901-1970), m. John Ward McMAHON (1902-1962)
5. Sarah Jane MULLIGAN (1870-1947), m. James Manly GARRISON (1861-1909)
6. Sarah Norton WEBSTER (1828-1894), m. James MULLIGAN (1812-1879)
7. Calvin Price WEBSTER (1802-1856), m. Betsey PARKS (1801-1856)
8. Sarah NORTON (1780-1823), m. Aaron WEBSTER (1775-1823)
9. Solomon NORTON (1751-after 1837), m. Sarah REXFORD (1757-?)

A big salute to all those who have served or are currently serving our country.

Also, a reminder that anyone can access the NSDAR’s Genealogical Research System to search for patriots.   Celebrate the 4th of July by doing a little research on your Revolutionary War patriots.

Friday Finds – 07/02/10

Weekly column sharing genealogy-related things that I’ve learned or found.

“Learn from Experts” Articles on Archives.com – Randy Seaver over at Genea-Musings found a set of free articles written by genealogy experts available at Archives.com.

Surname Saturday: STRONG – Miriam over at AnceStories writes about her Strong line.  I supposedly descend from George Strong (b. 1556) through his son Thomas (b. 1584), then through Thomas’ daughter Jane (b. 1610).  While I’m fairly confident about Jane and her marriage to John Hopkins, I have not done any of my own research on her family to know if Thomas is her father and George is her grandfather.  If it is correct, then Miriam and I are officially cousins!