Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thrifty Thursday: Michigan Collections on FamilySearch


Are you just getting started with your family research?  Not really sure if you are ready to be a "full time" researcher, no mater how easy those fun Ancestry.com Christmas tv commercials make it look?  Worried that if you sign up for one of the many WONDERFUL genealogy websites, you might not have enough time to devote to actual research to make up for the cost of your membership?  Then this blog post is for you.

Today's Thrifty Thursday tip is .... Don't overlook the the state collections at FamilySearch.org.  I have found so many helpful documents in the Michigan collections, that I would be remiss in sharing this valuable information with my many readers..

IMAGE: This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons.
Information from its 
description page there is shown Below.
As of November 27, 2012, FamilySearch offers eleven different Michigan collections available for FREE online, of which six collections include the digital images.
Michigan, Births and Christenings, 1775-1995
1,612,291
10 Mar 2012
Michigan, Births, 1867-1902 (with images)
1,409,988
3 Jun 2011
Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1935 (with images)
371,310
4 Jan 2012
Michigan, Death Index, 1971-1996
2,052,472
17 Dec 2011
Michigan, Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995
1,372,536
5 Oct 2012
Michigan, Deaths, 1867-1897 (with images)
507,342
5 May 2010
Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954 (with images)
845,964
27 Nov 2012
Michigan, Marriages, 1822-1995
1,908,148
5 Mar 2012
Michigan, Marriages, 1868-1925 (with images)
1,533,863
5 May 2010
Michigan, Probate Records, 1797-1973 (with images)
28 Jun 2012
Michigan, State Census, 1894
92,831
8 Jul 2011

And don't forget to check out the FREE 1940 Census - Michigan on FamilySearch, complete with images.

Thanks to volunteer indexers, new collections and indexes are being added regularly. Remember that many hands make light work, so if you would like to help index Michigan records, please go to https://familysearch.org/volunteer/indexing and sign up TODAY!

Current Michigan Indexing Projects:
Be sure to stop by FamilySearch today, and see what hidden gems are available for you too.

Love & Aloha,
CuznAmy

Monday, July 30, 2012

Maritime Monday - The Jane Wood Boat

The Jane Wood, built by the James Wood Boat Co. in Mt. Clemens, MI in 1909
(L to R - Robert Wood, Herbert Wood, Caroline Wood, Jane Wood and Nelson Wood),
with the John Updagrove fish house in the background.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Who was Phoebe Ann Lymburner?

In addition to researching how historical facts of the past relate to and affected my ancestors, I am equally fascinated by the science behind familial relationships.  Whether it be a study on "nature vs nurture" (especially when it comes to "talents" and other gifts of the spirit), or the recent developments of DNA research and its effects on our genetics, I find a deeper connection to my heritage.

When I first learned about mitochondrial DNA, I was so excited.  To think that a part of my DNA structure has been passed down from mother to daughter for generations with minimal changes (if any) amazes me.  That "mitochondrial Eve" for my own personal family tree would be a woman I only know as "Phoebe Ann Smith Lymburner".  She passed her mtDNA on to her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lymburner, who then passed the same mtDNA to her daughter, Mabel Ellen Ogle, who then passed the same code on to my grandmother, Elsie Marie Roberts, then on to my mother and myself. And now I have passed the same to my own daughters, and consequently on to my granddaughters.  And this tiny little code buried deep in our cells binds us to each other.

Which brings me to the reason for today's post.  I don't really know much about my 3rd great grandmother.  I am able to take my "Lymburner" lines back further, but Pheobe Ann Smith Lymburner is a bit of a brickwall to me.  So I am going  to devote some effort over the rest of this year to see of I can f ind out more about her.  In the meantime ...

What I currently know:

Phoebe Ann Smith was born in Sep 1826 in Caistorville, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada. When she was 18, she married William Lymburner (son of John Lymburner Jr. and Margaret Swick), about 1845 in Caistorville, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada.  They had nine children: John Milton Lymburner; Culver R Lymburner, Alfred Kirk Lymburner; Alexander Lymburner, George Hamilton Lymburner, Patrick Lymburner, Fralick Lymburner, Mary Elizabeth Lymburner and Rosanah Lymburner.  She died on 02 Oct 1884, and is buried in Dochstader Cemetery at Caistor Township, Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada.


(WARNING:  The above information was gathered from various sources a long time ago, and unfortunately I did not do so well in keeping a record of those sources.  So if you copy any of this information, please be sure to validate my information with your own research.  I sure wouldn't want to pass along incorrect information.)

What I don't know:

1) Who were Phoebe Ann Smith's parents?
2) Was "Smith" her correct maiden name?
3) Does her family have anything to do with "Smithville", the community next to Caistorville?

What documents do I have:

Record of Death: 

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1938. MS 935, reels 1-615. Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada / Phoebe Ann Lymburner, Reel:  37. (18 July 2012)



Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Aloha,
~Cuzn Amy

Friday, March 30, 2012

1940 US Census - Who I am looking for ...



Photo courtesy the NARA website.
I have been busy the last week getting ready for the release of the 1940 US Census.  Here is the list of direct ancestors that I plan to look for starting April 2, 2012.

Lucky for me, the majority of my family was living in Harbor Beach, Huron, Michigan ... a small city with a population of just under 2200 within the city limits in 1940.

My maternal grandparents, Fred Aaron Arntz and Elsie Marie (Roberts) Arntz were married with one child and I believe living on Bartlett Street in Harbor Beach.  Living nearby Fred and Elsie were Fred's parents, William Edward Arntz (1882-1943) and Betsy Lurene (French) Arntz (1882-1948), as well as Elsie's parents Alfred C Roberts (1881-1946) and Mabel Ellen (Ogle) Roberts (1884-1958).

My paternal grandparents, Emerson Harley Wood and Ruth M (Volz) Wood were married with one child and I believe living on First or Second Avenue in Harbor Beach.  Living nearby Emerson and Ruth were Em's parents Robert Harold Wood (1893-1961) and Lottie Belle (Minard) Wood (1893-1977). 

Ruth's family came from the Village of Minden, in Sanilac County, Michigan ... which was an even smaller community.  Ruth's parents were William Charles Volz (1881-1966) and Jennie Violet (Clark) Volz (1886-1948).  The Volz family still runs a dairy farm just outside of Minden, and at one time I believe the owned the IGA grocery store in town.

But I think the most fun relatives to search for will be my two oldest living family members.  I had two great great grandmothers still living on April 1, 1940, Elizabeth (Binder) Volz who was born in 1853 and Caroline Elizabeth (Sterling) Wood who was born in 1868.

And of course I can't forget to look for my "bonus" (aka step) grandfather, B. Blake Soule (1915-1995).  Blake and Elsie were married in 1973, and I was fortunate to spend time at their home in Ubly during several summer vacation trips to Michigan when I was young.  In 1940 Blake was married to Olive Pearl Stoken and living somewhere in either Sanilac or Huron county.  I don't believe I ever met her or her children but I know they had a couple children, so this part of their story will be new to me.  :) B. Blake Soule was a retired Huron County Magistrate and I remember he liked to listen to the police scanner.  I thought that was really cool. :)

If you are interested in finding out how to access the 1940 US Census for your family, be sure to visit Stephen Morse's One Step website at http://stevemorse.org/census/quiz.php.  Don't let the word "quiz" confuse you, the website functions more like a tutorial helping you narrow down which "tool" to use to find the enumeration district your family is likely to be found in.

If you are researching Harbor Beach, Huron, Michigan you will want to start from this One Step page ... http://bit.ly/HyXIyG

If you are researching in the Village of Minden City, Sanilac, Michigan you can start from this One Step page ... http://bit.ly/H4EXX0

I can't believe we are down to three days. :)  I'm ready, are you???

Love & Aloha,
~Cuzn Amy

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jane Thrower French


This weeks family history project is to find out as much as I can about Jane Thrower, the second wife of my great great grandfather Aaron French.

What I currently know:

Jane Thrower was born in August of 1870 in Canada.  She married Aaron French in 1896, and they had several children.  My notes indicate they had three children, but my current family group sheet lists five sons (Charles E, Thomas J, Edward, Aaron Dewey, and Lawrence).  They lived in Sanilac county, Michigan.  I don't know when she died or where she is buried. Additionally, I think I may have some photographs of her in my French family file that I need to go through.

My research goals are as follows:

1. Find out were in Canada Jane Thrower was born. 
2. Find out who Jane Thrower's parents were.
3. Find out when in 1896 that Jane Thrower and Aaron French were married.
4. Find out when and where Jane Thrower French died.
5. Find out where Jane Thrower French is buried.
6. Locate any photographs of Jane Thrower French that I can.

Some resources I will check out:

1. FamilySearch.com - marriage records for Michigan, and any census records.
2. Ancestry.com - public family trees and census records for 1880 and 1900 to start with.
3. SeekingMichigan.org - any death certificates for Thrower or French in Sanilac County.
4. My personal French family file in my Footsteps in Time binder.
5. FindAGrave.com - for any French family buried in Sanilac County, Michigan.

Wish me luck.

Love and Aloha,
~Cuzn Amy

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tuesday's Tip - Helpful Research Websites for Northern New York Counties

While helping a friend of mine do some research on her family lines from Franklin County, New York, I came across a wonderful FREE resource of historical newspapers.  We found a motherlode of information, and I thought I better share this website with anyone else who might be doing research in the northern counties of New York  (specifically Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson and Oswego counties).


The Northern New York Historical Newspapers can be found at http://news.nnyln.net/index.html.  The website contains more than 2,284,000 pages from fifty-two newspapers from the region.  They were scanned, processed by an optical character recognition program (OCR) and then converted to PDF files.  The PDF files were then indexed and uploaded to the website, so you can search through the images.

Once you find an image, you can then quickly search inside the image by right clicking on the image and selecting FIND or by using the search shortcut feature Ctrl+F.

In addition to this website which contain only newspaper images, there are additional historical photos and other materials from various archives and special collections for several of these counties at the New York Heritage website. 

Here's hoping you find that missing piece in your research soon. 

Love and Aloha,
Cuzn Amy

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Murray City, Utah Prepares For The 1940 US Census

The Census is coming!! The Census is coming!! Only 26 days left before the 1940 US Census images are released to the public for viewing.  Are you ready??


Photo:  Process 1940, US Census Bureau


I don’t know much about the 1940s except what I learned in school, which was mostly centered on the effects of the Great Depression and World War II.  Neither of my parents was born before the 1940s census, but their parents were.  Emerson and Ruth (Volz) Wood and Fred and Elsie (Roberts) Arntz were newly married and raising their young families in Harbor Beach, Michigan in the 1940s.  Neither of my grandfathers served in World War II, and we never really talked about the effects of the Great Depression on them personally in much detail.  Since they have all passed away, I am hoping that the 1940 US Census will give me a better snapshot of their earlier lives that I no longer can ask them about. 

http://media.nara.gov/census-1940/A3378/MI/m-a3378-00029-00518.jpg
I have been enumerated in five censuses myself.  Though I don’t remember much about them, I do know there was a lot of hoopla surrounding each event, to get everyone educated and excited to participate in the process.  So I decided to do some research on my own in my local newspapers, to see how they presented the 1940s census to the population.  I wish Michigan newspapers were available online, but so far I've had very little luck finding a good FREE resource, so for this article I've used the GREAT collection of Utah newspapers gathered by the University of Utah (Go Utes!!)
The University of Utah has an amazing collection of digitized newspapers, holding over 1,000,000 pages of historic Utah newspapers.  The Utah Digital Newspapers (UDN) collection can be found at http://digitalnewspapers.org/. There are 12 newspapers at the Utah Digital Newspapers Collection that cover the 1940s: Park Record, Vernal Express, Davis County Clipper, Manti Messenger, Times Independent, Eureka Reporter, Morgan County News, Garfield County News, San Juan Record, Piute County News, Murray Eagle, and the Kane County Standard.  There are also eight newspapers that carry editions from various dates in the 1940s, such as: Rich County News, Richfield Reaper, Roosevelt Standard, Millard County Chronicle, Parowan Times, Iron County Record, Topaz Times and the Tooele County Chronicle.
My husband's family have been long time residents of Murray City, Utah.  The Murray Eagle images covers the time period 1927 to 1960.  If you have ancestors who were living in Murray City during this time period, this is a wonderful FREE resource of local history. 
In an effort to get the local populace ready for the 1940s census enumerators, the Murray Eagle ran several articles about various aspects of the census including a historical piece, editorial commentary about various questions, and instructions on how to prepare in advance for the farm schedules. 
Photo: 1940 US Census Part A, US Census Bureau
The first article that I found was written by Elmo Scott Watson and released by the Western Newspaper Union entitled “Uncle Sam Prepares to Count His Children – and How His Family Has Grown Since First Census in 1790!” on December 21, 1939.
The article was well written with a history of how the census came to be, the population predictions of President John Adams and President John Tyler, and a fear among the deeply religious early settlers that the 1790 census would bring about a destruction, similar to the time in the Bible when David numbered Israel and the Lord sent pestilence to smote them.
“Officials of the census bureau regard the 1940 US Census as probably the most important and far reaching since that first one 150 years ago. For this one will be much more than a mere counting of noses.”   In addition to the usual questions of population, industry, and farming and manufacturing production … the census will also focus on the “new social and economic situations which have arisen in the last few years, bringing with them problems that are yet unsolved”.   The 1940 US Census included questions about unemployment and migration from one state to another.  And the health questions were intended to help the government anticipate how many men would be incapacitated for military service.
On February 1, 1940 there was an article on Page 2 entitled “Range of Family” explaining how “family” and “dwelling” would be defined in the 1940 US Census. 
On March 14, 1940 there was an article in the Farm News on Page 7 entitled “U.S. Bureau of Census Requests Cooperation in 1940 Inquiry” informing farmers that they can help increase the speed and accuracy of the Census by filling out a sample farm census schedule created by the US Department of Commerce.
On March 21, 1940 there was an Editorial about two questions objected to by many.  Question 33 asks about income over $50 from sources other than wages or salary.  Question 48 asks if a person has been married more than once.    
By August 1, 1940 the Murray Eagle headlines declared “Census Shows 468 Population Gain. Murray Falls Short of Fifth Largest City By Three Babies  With 5,640 Tally”. Would be interesting to see if we could find out who the next three babies born after April 1st in Murray were? ;o)  Bet their mother's would have been glad to deliver early, especially if they were at that horrible last month waiting stage. 
http://media.nara.gov/census-1940/A3378/UT/m-a3378-00066-00483.jpg

If you are looking for some additional help to get you prepared to research the 1940 Census, be sure to stop by the Legacy Family Tree website.  They hosted a free webinar today with over 1,000 attendees called “Navigating the 1940 US Census”.  Luckily the webinar was recorded, and you can access the recording for free ... but only until March 19, 2012.  So don't procrastinate.
If you are fortunate enough to have someone in your life who remembers the 1940s, be sure to interview them.  The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook by Emily Anne Croom has some wonderful interview questions related to the 1940s and WWII that can help you get started.  You should be able to find her workbook at most public libraries, or purchase your own copy through Amazon

And don't forget, there is still time to register to help index the 1940 US Census.  Just go to the 1940 US Census Community Project and download the indexing software (found under Downloads in the Quick Links section).  
Let the countdown continue ... :)
Love and Aloha,
~Amy

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tuesday’s Tip - What's the Big Deal about Census Records?

WOW! Can you believe there are only 41 days left until the 1940 census is released.

I bet some of you are wondering what all this hulabaloo is about.  How can census records help in your research?  Perhaps some of you have even found the census records for your family lines but didn't really know how to extract all the information that was provided, focusing only on age and place of birth and the names of spouses and their children.  Or worse yet, you haven't seen the actual census page, but have taken your information directly from the volunteer index. Which is how I started out with my own personl research umpteen years ago, since the idea of threading the microfilm machine was too scary a prospect for me. ;o)

Census records are not that complicated, and fortunately for us we can now view them online through free services like FamilySearch.org or Heritage Quest (through your local library) or through subscription sites like Ancestry.com.  Censuses can provide you with so much more information if you know what you are looking at and how to interpret what you are reading. 

Ancestry recently did a webinar called "Census: Beyond Names and Dates". (http://livestre.am/1ix3P) that helps you understand 1) what types of information you can find in various census forms, 2) where to find blank forms to extract this information on your family, and most importantly 3) what to do with the information when you find it. :)


Watch live streaming video from ancestry at livestream.com

You can find FREE blank census forms in pdf format on Ancestry's website, under the Learning Center tab (Go to Learning Center, then First Steps, then Paper and Pencil).  And best of all, you do not need to have a Ancestry.com membership in order to access these great resources.

US Census forms from 1790 to 1940: http://www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/census.aspx

Canadian Census forms for 1851, 1901, 1906 and 1911: http://www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/canadacensus.aspx

UK Census forms from 1841 to 1911: http://www.ancestry.com/trees/charts/ukcensus.aspx

Meanwhile, if you want to get a head start on what information you will be able to glean from the 1940 census, be sure to download Part 1 and Part 2 of the 1940 census form and familiarize yourself to the 34 questions that were asked by the census takers.

Thanks for stoping by.

Love and Aloha,
Cuzn Amy

PS  ... I just registered to be a 1940 Census Blog Ambassador to help spread the word about this amazing volunteer program.  Won't you join with me and volunteer to help index the 1940 census and be a part of this national service project to preserve and share the census records of the “Greatest Generation.”

Friday, January 27, 2012

Where's James Parker?

On October 6, 1857 in Lawrence County, Missouri, Mary Catherine (Burton) Parker and her father Samuel M Burton and her brother E(benezer) D(ale) Burton initiated the probate process for the estate of James Parker, deceased.  (Below are copies of the documents I received from the probate file out of Lawrence County, Missouri.)

Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate any additional information regarding James' death or location of his burial.  With only his marriage and probate records to go on, I have no information regarding his age at the time of his marriage or his death from which to calculate a birth date.

I recently have found a family tree submitted to FamilySearch by a Bette Vermillion that speculated that James may have been born about 1830 in Smith County, TN, but I have no contact information to reach her for further information.  And another researcher that I've communicated with about ten years ago (Jan Lopez, who was researching the Vermillion family -- who married Catherine after James death) posted a query in 2008 in the Springfield Missouri "Leader" newspaper which indicated James Parker was "killed in about 1857 supposedly by bushwackers". Unfortunatley I've not been able to reach her by any of the email addresses I have currently to find what her source for this information may have been (though I speculate it was "family lore"). ;o)

After 20+ years of research ... my Parker line has hit the proverbial BRICKWALL I'm afraid.  Lawrence County, Missouri was formed in 1845 but did not keep any death records until about 1883, so I have given up hope of finding a death record in the county records.  I have not been able to locate a grave listing on any online database so far, and I have not been able to find a listing for any newspaper publication at the Missouri State Archives that would have been published in or near Lawrence County in 1856 or 1857 that might list a news article or notice of death.

At this point, I think I need to seriously consider participating in a DNA surname study and see if we connect with any of the Parker lines already in the study.  Hopefully we will connect with a Parker line that can trace its roots back further and then I can try to backtrack down the line of descendants.

Probate File for James Parker
Lawrence County, Missouri
Filed October 6, 1857



Transcribed:  
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS That Mary Catherine Parker as principal and Samuel M Burton and ED Burton securities are held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri in the sum of three hundred dollars which sum well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, firmly, jointly and severally by these presents, signed with our hands and sealed with our seals, and dated this 6th day of October 1857.

The condition of the above bond is, that if Mary Catherine Parker administratix of the estate of James Parker, deceased, shall faithfully administer said estate, account for, pay and deliver all money and property of said estate, and perform all other things touching said administration required by law, or the order or decree of any said court having jurisdiction, then the above bond to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.

Signed sealed and acknowledged  and approved by me in vocation this 6th day of October 1857. 

Wm W Gay, Clerk

Mary Catherine (X -- her mark) Parker  {SEAL}
Samuel M Burton {SEAL}
E.D. Burton {SEAL}

Transcribed:

State of Missouri      )
County of Lawrence )

In the matter of James Parker's estate

Mary Catherine Parker says that, to the best of her knowledge and belief the names of the heirs of the said James Parker, deceased and their places of residence, are respectively as follows.  Samuel M Parker, Sarah Elizabeth Parker and Goodman Brown Parker.  All of whom reside in the County of Lawrence in the STate of Missouri, that the said James Parker died without a will, that she will make a perfect inventory of and faithfully administer all the estate of the deceased, and pay the debts as far as the assets will extend and the law direct, and account for and pay all assets which shall come to her possession or knowledge.

Mary Catharine (X - her mark) Parker

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of October 1857.
Wm W Gay, Clerk



I'm not going to transcribe these next documents at this time, but they relate to the inventory of assets declared by Mary Catherine Parker, and the last two are certificates showing the appraised value of the assets, totaling $132.25 in 1857 (which would be equal to a little over $3000 in assets as of 2010). 



I have not found any record of land being purchased by James Parker in Lawrence County, MO.  And since his father-in-law and brother-in-law are listed in his probate file (rather than any Parker relative), I am of the belief that James and Catherine likely lived with her parents after marriage, and also when they moved to Missouri.  Chances are none of his Parker relatives moved with him to Lawrence County, MO (meaning if he had sibilings they likely remained in Tennessee).  I'm beginning to think James was an orphan ... and had no relationship with his parents or siblings (if any) at the time he met and married Mary Catherine Burton.  I guess only time will tell if I can successfully break down this brickwall.

Until then ...


Love and Aloha,
Cuzn Amy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

James Parker and Catherine Burton 04 January 1852

Source Information:  Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.  Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

James Parker and Catherine Burton were married 04 January 1852 in DeKalb County, Tennessee by the Justice of the Peace.  Currently, I do not know when James was born, nor the names of his parents.  Catherine was 16 years old at the time of her marriage to James.  The above marriage record does not state any information regarding parental consent, so I need to find out what was the legal age to marry without consent in Tennessee in 1852.

Transcribed: 
James Parker and Catherine Burton
Issued 2nd January 1852
By virtue of the above License, I have this day solemnized the rites of Matrimony between the parties therein named in presence of respectable witnesses given under my hand this 4th day of January 1852. John B Scott, J.P. for DeKalb County
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