Friday, June 29, 2012

Reunion Update & Clark Research

I'm back!

The 2012 Prall Reunion schedule is rounding into shape. I'm waiting on a quote for the Saturday bus trip. Scheduled stops at this time are the Old Stone House/Battle of Long Island site in Brooklyn, Historic Richmondtown, the Billiou House, the Watering Place and drive-bys of various places where our SI Pralls lived. [Plus a lunch break!]

I decided to get an early start on my Problem Solving project for the 2013 Salt Lake Institute. I selected my Clark family. Samuel settled in Pennsylvania, migrated to Maryland and/or Kentucky and Butler Co., Ohio. Son Isaac was born in Kentucky or Maryland. He took his clan from Butler Co., Ohio to Hendricks Co., Indiana. The main objective is to track the family migration and identify Isaac's mother. Plenty of questions to answer!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Beginning Genealogy, Research, Prall Reunion

It is great that more and more people are getting interested in genealogy. I have two speaking engagements this week - both my Genealogy for Beginners presentation, with another round in September.

I still have my road trips to Wilmington, OH, Rushville, Muncie and Anderson, IN for my Crousore - Smith research coming up. As for information on hand, it is all recorded. Whew!

The base hotel for the reunion is set: The Hampton Inn in Flemington, NJ.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Reunion News, Flag Day

Things are starting to take shape for the September Prall Reunion. The Hampton Inn in Flemington, NJ will be our "home base." We will probably visit the Old Stone House in Brooklyn near where the Maryland 400 made their stand against the British, while the rest of the Continental Army escaped Long Island. We are set to visit Historic Richmond Town and the Billiou-Perrine House. I'm working on a river cruise for Sunday.

In honor of Flag Day and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812: If you are in the Baltimore area, take time to visit Fort McHenry. That's where Francis Scott Key penned a little poem about the siege of  the fort that became our National Anthem. I visited the historic site back in 2003, I believe.The video presentation was interesting, but the finale was incredible. As the Anthem was played at the end of the video, everyone stood up and the curtain opened with a view of the replica flag. Moving doesn't do it justice!


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Crousore Research, Reunion Update, New Query

The Crousore Family research is about complete! Of course that doesn't include any new data from Clinton Co., OH, Rushville, Muncie, Anderson and Kokomo road trips that are coming up.

It's beginning to look like our base hotel for the reunion will be the Hampton in Flemington, NJ.

The PFA site received a new query about a Peter Prall who worked as a clerk for the NY Central RR in Syracuse, NY. He came from Canada [b. 1870s] and lived to be 102. If you have any info on him, let me know and I'll pass it on.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

New Prall Line, Reunion hotel update

It is really nice to see other researchers break through brick walls. The Prall Family Assn. site has a questions e-mail. One came through last night on an Elizabeth Prall. With a little maneuvering on Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, I was able to help track her down in the 1900-1940 NY censuses. Her Canadian birth record was located, her parents' marriage and her father's birth record in Kent, England. Ain't technology grand?! We now have a new Prall line out of Kent, England and Ontario, Canada.

To those Pralls planning on attending the reunion in September, Hampton Inn may be our option. I still don't have an update from Ramada New Hope.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Prall Family folk! Thinking out loud here, concerning the September 15th Staten Island bus excursion. Possible itinerary: Historic Richmond Town, Billiou House, the Watering Place Monument at Tompkinisville [where the early settlers landed and ships stopped to replenish their fresh water supply; this is the spot, or near to, where Jan, Baetje and the youngsters came ashore c.1650.] Fort Wadsworth [close to Tompkinsville], the Reformed Dutch Church at Huguenot Park [maybe just a photo stop to get the Prall & Billiou street signs], maybe a look at Prall Island and the Conference House [no Prall connection, but a nice historic stop, Adams and Franklin met there with Brits to negotiate a peace in 1776 - it failed!] That's a full day! The best part is we don't have to drive!