2016: Problem Solving was placed on hiatus. I signed up for Josh Taylor's class on New England Research. It was a very rewarding week, but I guess I've gotten used to a two hour class and all-day research. The biggest drawback - not having sufficient time at the Family History Library.
Problem Solving offers a unique opportunity. Daily consultations on research progress is the big draw. You are "forced" to focus on one research topic for a week. You have the chance to work with record groups [deeds, church records, etc.] with which you have had limited experience.
You may not solve your problem, but there's a good chance that you will make inroads toward a solution. As demonstrated with my SLIG posts, I have managed to solve several problems during the week. With others some progress was made and a solution came weeks, even years later. Then there's those few that remain unsolved. Whatever the success, the week is highly rewarding and worth the expense.
Here is the UGA/SLIG web page url: http://infouga.org/ Check it out and sign up! At least five classes are sold out, possibly a couple of others. The rest have available space.
SLIG will be held January 11-15, 2016.
I would like to thank Judi Hansen for all of the time and effort she put in as Problem Solving coordinator for the past several years. Also many thanks to the consultants who have been in charge of the research groups. There have been 18: George Ott [5] leads the list. I have had the pleasure of working with 5 others twice. A special mention to one of my first consultants - Jimmy Parker, who passed away a few years ago. SLIG offers a scholarship in his memory.
Now, which problem am I going to submit.............................
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
2014: Dutch or Welsh? That was the Question
2014: The goal was to determine the ancestral heritage of immigrant Mathias St. John. An article had appeared in the April NEHGS Register documenting the ancestry of Mathias St. John/Sension as being Dutch [or Belgian], with the surname being Santken. A website under development proclaimed that Mathias was Welsh. [consultants: Claire Brisson-Banks & John Kitzmiller]
This was my first venture into strictly non-U.S. research at Salt Lake. The material documented in the Santken article was easy to locate. The material, primarily from the Dutch Reformed Church records of London and St. Olave's Silver Street, supported the author's idea that Mathias St. John was the son of Christian/Christopher and the grandson of Mathias. Likewise, the bulk of the material presented supporting the Welsh lineage was accessible. The St. Olave's records were key here as well.
Both lines hinged on the baptismal record of Mathias, the immigrant, at St. Olave's, Silver Street in 1601.
It became clear that two lines were being researched. (1) The Dutch Satken line of Mathias, Chritopher and Mathias. (2) Mathias, Christopher, Thomas and Christopher. The two Christophers had different birth dates, Dutch - about 1575 and Welsh - about 1581.
The key documents missing were probate files for Christopher [Welsh] and the any of the Dutch line.
Also key was the definition of Stranger in London during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Santkens were identified as Strangers in several records. Were the Welsh considered Strangers? Unification had made the Welsh citizens, but it was agued that Christopher considered himself a Norman, thus qualified. The Dutch were clearly Strangers.
My inclination at the end of the week was in support of the Santken article. However, further evidence could sway me to the Welsh.
It was a worthwhile experience, but brutal! :)-
This was my first venture into strictly non-U.S. research at Salt Lake. The material documented in the Santken article was easy to locate. The material, primarily from the Dutch Reformed Church records of London and St. Olave's Silver Street, supported the author's idea that Mathias St. John was the son of Christian/Christopher and the grandson of Mathias. Likewise, the bulk of the material presented supporting the Welsh lineage was accessible. The St. Olave's records were key here as well.
Both lines hinged on the baptismal record of Mathias, the immigrant, at St. Olave's, Silver Street in 1601.
It became clear that two lines were being researched. (1) The Dutch Satken line of Mathias, Chritopher and Mathias. (2) Mathias, Christopher, Thomas and Christopher. The two Christophers had different birth dates, Dutch - about 1575 and Welsh - about 1581.
The key documents missing were probate files for Christopher [Welsh] and the any of the Dutch line.
Also key was the definition of Stranger in London during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Santkens were identified as Strangers in several records. Were the Welsh considered Strangers? Unification had made the Welsh citizens, but it was agued that Christopher considered himself a Norman, thus qualified. The Dutch were clearly Strangers.
My inclination at the end of the week was in support of the Santken article. However, further evidence could sway me to the Welsh.
It was a worthwhile experience, but brutal! :)-
Sunday, June 28, 2015
2013 SLIG: Close, but no cigar!
2013: The goal - to locate information on Samuel Clark, believed to be the son of Isaac Clark [1792-1874] . [consultants: George Ott & Kory Meyerink] Isaac Clark was believed to have been born in Kentucky and resided in Ohio and Indiana. His father, Samuel, was probably born in Pennsylvania, but little else was known, including the name of his wife.
About the middle of the week, I thought I had achieved my goal. However, the wife of one Samuel Clark signed her name on documents, the other didn't. At least I disproved a new line before accepting it! Always check the signatures on the deeds. I was able to find a few bits and pieces on Samuel.
About the middle of the week, I thought I had achieved my goal. However, the wife of one Samuel Clark signed her name on documents, the other didn't. At least I disproved a new line before accepting it! Always check the signatures on the deeds. I was able to find a few bits and pieces on Samuel.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
SLIG 2012: I Have a Smith Family!!
2012: The goal was to determine the maiden name of "Anny," the wife of Jacob Crousore and where the couple lived before settling in Indiana. [consultants: George Ott & Paul Graham]: "Anny's" surname has appeared as Ice is numerous family trees. No Anny/Annie Ice could be found for the early 1800s. Who was this gal?
The plan for the first day of the Institute was simple. I had not been able to locate Jacob Crousore in the 1820 online census indexes for Ohio. I was convinced the family had moved there and he probably married there. The Crousore surname also suffered the spelling variation disease. The FHL had the 1820 Ohio census index in book form.
In Clinton Co. under Crouser I located John, Jacob and Christian. Father, son, brother.
Next, check Clinton Co. marriages. Success! Jacob Crouser married Jemima Smith in 1822. [There was a note that the county archives records had more information, but the FHL did not have those records.]
Step 3: Dig into land records. Voila! A Delaware CO., IN deed named Jacob 'Crowsaw' and his wife, Ama Jemima. Wait a minute! Ama Jemima? My great-grandmother was Ama Jemima Simmons. Now I knew who she was named for!
The rest of the week was spent tracking the Crousore/Smith family and trying to piece together the Crousores back in Pennsylvania.
By Wednesday that note about the Clinton Co. Archives got to me. I called to ask about the marriage record. The wonderful lady on staff pulled the book and read the info to me. The record confirmed that Jacob was John's son. Jemima's brother was also named - John Smith. [A copy of the entry was mailed to me.]
A reexamination of the 1850-1870 censuses explained how Ama became Anna, etc. The 'm' had been written so that it was mistaken for a double 'n.' Ama became Annie, Anny, and Annie I.
That opened up new avenues of research. Ama had more brothers and the families traveled together.
The main question left unanswered was "when and where did Jacob and Amy die?" Only two of their children survived into the 1870s. Edith and William. Edith died in Indiana, William went west.
William took his parents along when he moved to McPherson Co. Kansas. They died there during the late 1870s.
Note: Follow-up research included contacting McPherson Co., KS to get local records on Jacob and Amy. I also went to Clinton Co., OH to dig more into the families there. Amy's brother John had married Jacob's sister Elizabeth. John's parents were William and Elizabeth [Reel] Smith. The Crousores, Smiths, Reels and Reeders [also marrying Crousores in PA] traveled to Indiana together. Revolutionary War records identified William's father as Henry Smith.
The plan for the first day of the Institute was simple. I had not been able to locate Jacob Crousore in the 1820 online census indexes for Ohio. I was convinced the family had moved there and he probably married there. The Crousore surname also suffered the spelling variation disease. The FHL had the 1820 Ohio census index in book form.
In Clinton Co. under Crouser I located John, Jacob and Christian. Father, son, brother.
Next, check Clinton Co. marriages. Success! Jacob Crouser married Jemima Smith in 1822. [There was a note that the county archives records had more information, but the FHL did not have those records.]
Step 3: Dig into land records. Voila! A Delaware CO., IN deed named Jacob 'Crowsaw' and his wife, Ama Jemima. Wait a minute! Ama Jemima? My great-grandmother was Ama Jemima Simmons. Now I knew who she was named for!
The rest of the week was spent tracking the Crousore/Smith family and trying to piece together the Crousores back in Pennsylvania.
By Wednesday that note about the Clinton Co. Archives got to me. I called to ask about the marriage record. The wonderful lady on staff pulled the book and read the info to me. The record confirmed that Jacob was John's son. Jemima's brother was also named - John Smith. [A copy of the entry was mailed to me.]
A reexamination of the 1850-1870 censuses explained how Ama became Anna, etc. The 'm' had been written so that it was mistaken for a double 'n.' Ama became Annie, Anny, and Annie I.
That opened up new avenues of research. Ama had more brothers and the families traveled together.
The main question left unanswered was "when and where did Jacob and Amy die?" Only two of their children survived into the 1870s. Edith and William. Edith died in Indiana, William went west.
William took his parents along when he moved to McPherson Co. Kansas. They died there during the late 1870s.
Note: Follow-up research included contacting McPherson Co., KS to get local records on Jacob and Amy. I also went to Clinton Co., OH to dig more into the families there. Amy's brother John had married Jacob's sister Elizabeth. John's parents were William and Elizabeth [Reel] Smith. The Crousores, Smiths, Reels and Reeders [also marrying Crousores in PA] traveled to Indiana together. Revolutionary War records identified William's father as Henry Smith.
Friday, June 26, 2015
2011 SLIG: The Great Crail Mystery
2011: The goal was to locate James B. Crail, Jr. [birth - death unknown] and tie him to the family of James B. Crail, Sr. [consultants: Jim Petty & Craig Scott]: James B. Crail, was the father of Sylvester, John and Aaron Crail. He married Mary A. Jones. The births of the three boys were given in their Civil War service records. Their marriages and deaths are recorded. The same cannot be said for James.
This family has been the topics of several posts. James and/or Mary appear in three records. She bought two town lots in Marietta, Shelby, IN in 1851 and 1853. Together they sell the lots in 1854. That's it until Mary appears as a widow residing with son John in the Indy city directory in 1875.
I searched Hamilton Co., Ohio [where Sylvester and John were born], Marion Co., Ohio [where Aaron was born], Shelby, Marion, Johnson and Hamilton Counties in Indiana, where the family was known to reside. Two references in church records stood out in Hamilton Co., Ohio. James Sr. had already moved on, suggesting James Jr. could be the James Crail mentioned. The same could be said for a handful of tax records for the same county. James Sr. was in Indiana. There were possible cousins and brothers also taxed. All of the records were within a year or two of births of Sylvester and John. That was it for the week.
Note: Bull-headedness figures into the Crail research. I have been in touch with a couple of descendants of George Berry Crail. His parents are given as James B. Crail and Mary A. Jones on his death certificate. The information [siblings, children] given on George had been shaky. I cannot tie him to my three Crail brothers in any record. The best that can be said is that he does not appear in census records until 1880, missing 1850, 1860 and 1870 - the same three as James and Mary.
This family has been the topics of several posts. James and/or Mary appear in three records. She bought two town lots in Marietta, Shelby, IN in 1851 and 1853. Together they sell the lots in 1854. That's it until Mary appears as a widow residing with son John in the Indy city directory in 1875.
I searched Hamilton Co., Ohio [where Sylvester and John were born], Marion Co., Ohio [where Aaron was born], Shelby, Marion, Johnson and Hamilton Counties in Indiana, where the family was known to reside. Two references in church records stood out in Hamilton Co., Ohio. James Sr. had already moved on, suggesting James Jr. could be the James Crail mentioned. The same could be said for a handful of tax records for the same county. James Sr. was in Indiana. There were possible cousins and brothers also taxed. All of the records were within a year or two of births of Sylvester and John. That was it for the week.
Note: Bull-headedness figures into the Crail research. I have been in touch with a couple of descendants of George Berry Crail. His parents are given as James B. Crail and Mary A. Jones on his death certificate. The information [siblings, children] given on George had been shaky. I cannot tie him to my three Crail brothers in any record. The best that can be said is that he does not appear in census records until 1880, missing 1850, 1860 and 1870 - the same three as James and Mary.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
2010 SLIG: The Big Breakthrough!
2010: The goal was to prove the ancestral link between James Morris Simmons [1804 NY - 1883 IN] and John Simmons [c1730 ENG - 1795 NYC] [consultants: George Ott & Wade Hone] This one was almost magical! I had located a series of online pedigree charts on a Simmons family that included my 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents from my Simmons line. The charts took the family back about five generations to New York City and another three generations to Hampshire, England. A great find, but it had to be proved. There were numerous references to the research done on this family on the GenForum message boards. A RootsWeb World Connect site was also in development on the family of "Wall Street John" Simmons, a tavern keeper in New York City.
One of the GenForum posts gave the mother of "Morris J. Simmons" as Dolly Jennison. "Morris" had died in Carroll Co., IN, but was buried in Kokomo, Howard, IN. I drove up to Dephi and requested a copy of the death certificate. The information provided: J.M. Simmons, died 25 May 1883 [78y 7m 2d] in Camden, Carroll, IN;widowed; father: John Simmons; mother: Dolly Simmons.
The Carroll Co. Historical Society had cards on James M. Simmons' kids, which added new data to the mix.
Armed with this assortment of information and pedigree charts, I aimed to trace the family and prove that "Dolly Simmons" was indeed "Dolly Jennison." The FHL had a book on the Jennison family in the stacks.
After our Monday morning Problem Solving group meeting, I made a bee line for the Jennison Family History at the FHL. I pulled the book and found Dolly in the index. Included was a transcript of a letter from Dolly to one of her sisters written in 1860. Dolly wrote about several of her children, including Morris. There is was! The proof that Dolly Simmons was Dolly Jennison and the mother of James Morris Simmons.
I spent a good chunk of the day reading through the Jennison book, putting together Dolly ancestors and making copies. I also looked through a handful of books written on the Simmons family.
My P.S. group had mixed emotions on Tuesday. They were thrilled that I had found the link so quickly and wanted to string me up because I had found the link so quickly. :)- From there it was verifying the family info on the pedigree charts and confirming the details in the Jennison book.
I knew from the GenForum posts that the firm that did the research for the pedigree charts was based in Salt Lake. I scheduled an appointment to request the list of sources, if possible, used in the research. I wanted to do my own digging. The heirs of the gentleman who had contracted the research would only permit me to have a copy of the pedigree chart for James M. Simmons.
So, I went to work on New York deeds, Pennsylvania deeds and English parish registers sorting out details on the Simmons clan. I gathered a lot of new material and added some 20 lines to my maternal side of the family.
Note: I continued the research after returning home. I searched for data that would verify or disprove what I had on the new ancestors. There were errors corrected and new details added.
One of the GenForum posts gave the mother of "Morris J. Simmons" as Dolly Jennison. "Morris" had died in Carroll Co., IN, but was buried in Kokomo, Howard, IN. I drove up to Dephi and requested a copy of the death certificate. The information provided: J.M. Simmons, died 25 May 1883 [78y 7m 2d] in Camden, Carroll, IN;widowed; father: John Simmons; mother: Dolly Simmons.
The Carroll Co. Historical Society had cards on James M. Simmons' kids, which added new data to the mix.
Armed with this assortment of information and pedigree charts, I aimed to trace the family and prove that "Dolly Simmons" was indeed "Dolly Jennison." The FHL had a book on the Jennison family in the stacks.
After our Monday morning Problem Solving group meeting, I made a bee line for the Jennison Family History at the FHL. I pulled the book and found Dolly in the index. Included was a transcript of a letter from Dolly to one of her sisters written in 1860. Dolly wrote about several of her children, including Morris. There is was! The proof that Dolly Simmons was Dolly Jennison and the mother of James Morris Simmons.
I spent a good chunk of the day reading through the Jennison book, putting together Dolly ancestors and making copies. I also looked through a handful of books written on the Simmons family.
My P.S. group had mixed emotions on Tuesday. They were thrilled that I had found the link so quickly and wanted to string me up because I had found the link so quickly. :)- From there it was verifying the family info on the pedigree charts and confirming the details in the Jennison book.
I knew from the GenForum posts that the firm that did the research for the pedigree charts was based in Salt Lake. I scheduled an appointment to request the list of sources, if possible, used in the research. I wanted to do my own digging. The heirs of the gentleman who had contracted the research would only permit me to have a copy of the pedigree chart for James M. Simmons.
So, I went to work on New York deeds, Pennsylvania deeds and English parish registers sorting out details on the Simmons clan. I gathered a lot of new material and added some 20 lines to my maternal side of the family.
Note: I continued the research after returning home. I searched for data that would verify or disprove what I had on the new ancestors. There were errors corrected and new details added.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
2009 SLIG: The Hubbard Mystery Continues
2009: The goal was to find out the name of Levin Hubbard's second wife. [consultants: George Ott & Stan Lindaas] My great-grandmother, Margaret Jane Wolary Prall was the granddaughter of Levin Hubbard and his 2nd wife. I had been trying to locate her off-and-on for several years.
Not even George Ott's expertise could bail me out on this one. Searching Hubbard records from Maryland, Delaware, Ohio and Indiana provided no clues to the elusive lady's name. I was able to flesh out the children of all three marriages a bit, but nothing on wife #2.
Note: One ray of hope remained after the Institute. Elizabeth Hubbard Johnson, the only child of Levin's 2nd marriage to survive until Indiana deaths were officially recorded, died in Grant Co., Indiana in 1903. I drove up to Marion after I got home to check on the death registration. Her father's name was misspelled and her mother's name "unknown." The mystery continues.
Next up: The Big Breakthrogh of 2010!
Not even George Ott's expertise could bail me out on this one. Searching Hubbard records from Maryland, Delaware, Ohio and Indiana provided no clues to the elusive lady's name. I was able to flesh out the children of all three marriages a bit, but nothing on wife #2.
Note: One ray of hope remained after the Institute. Elizabeth Hubbard Johnson, the only child of Levin's 2nd marriage to survive until Indiana deaths were officially recorded, died in Grant Co., Indiana in 1903. I drove up to Marion after I got home to check on the death registration. Her father's name was misspelled and her mother's name "unknown." The mystery continues.
Next up: The Big Breakthrogh of 2010!
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