One of the best websites for family history researchers is Find A Grave. For those of you not familiar with the site, it contains information on people interred in thousands of cemeteries around the world. In some cases, burial places are unknown, but biographical information is given anyway. Links are provided to spouses, parents and children. An asterisk notes "calculated relationships" among family members.
Birth and death dates and places are given. A bio is also included. It may be a sentence or two, a published obituary, or several paragraphs about the subject. Photos of the person, the cemetery where he/she is buried or tombstone [if available] may be included. Documents [birth or death certificate, marriage record, etc.] may also be included.
The name of the person contributing the biographical info and the photos or documents is also given.
Find A Grave is beta-testing a new/updated site, which you can access from each page.
Entries will turn up on search engines or you can go to the site and enter what you know: name, birth, death, location [country, state/province, county/shire/parish, cemetery info and so forth].
You are at the mercy of the information provided, however. The contributor may have access to inaccurate details on the subjects. You will need to verify the vital statistics and biographical information, as well as conforming the spouses, parents and children. It's always a good idea to have multiple sources for a date or event, anyway.
Find A Grave has provided me with pictures of gravestones of ancestors and relatives. Clues to where to look for additional information have been frequent. All in all, it is a great site - treated with proper precaution.
I'll offer a few cautionary tales in the next post.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Thomas Crail Jr. & Elizabeth Berry
Thomas is fairly grounded in documentation. His will was recorded in Pendleton Co., KY in 1809. Thomas appears on the Campbell Co., KY tax lists beginning in 1795. He owned 150 acres on the North Licking River. All of these items can be verified.
Thomas' will named his wife, Elizabeth and sons, Wilson, Absalom, James and John. Also named were his son-in-law Edward Downing and grandchildren: Eliza, Sally, Elizabeth and Polly. Marriage records give us the name of his daughter, Elizabeth. One of the witnesses, Joel Berry, leads us to Elizabeth Crail's parentage. [Spoiler alert! Elizabeth and Joel were siblings.]
The exact date of Elizabeth's death is not known. It is estimated to be about 1840. Both Thomas and Elizabeth were interred in the Thrasher Farm Cemetery at Grassy Creek in Pendleton Co.
As Thomas Crail's will states, the couple had five children:
(1) John: c1775
(2) Wilson: c1777
(3) Absalom: c1779
(4) James: 24 Dec 1783 [cousin, James, born exactly one year earlier]
(5) Elizabeth: 1780-82
Thomas' will named his wife, Elizabeth and sons, Wilson, Absalom, James and John. Also named were his son-in-law Edward Downing and grandchildren: Eliza, Sally, Elizabeth and Polly. Marriage records give us the name of his daughter, Elizabeth. One of the witnesses, Joel Berry, leads us to Elizabeth Crail's parentage. [Spoiler alert! Elizabeth and Joel were siblings.]
The exact date of Elizabeth's death is not known. It is estimated to be about 1840. Both Thomas and Elizabeth were interred in the Thrasher Farm Cemetery at Grassy Creek in Pendleton Co.
As Thomas Crail's will states, the couple had five children:
(1) John: c1775
(2) Wilson: c1777
(3) Absalom: c1779
(4) James: 24 Dec 1783 [cousin, James, born exactly one year earlier]
(5) Elizabeth: 1780-82
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Elizabeth Ann Jane Wilson, wife of Thomas Crail Sr.
I discussed the wife of Thomas Crail a couple of days ago. I decided to offer a little more depth today. Some family trees have her listed as Elizabeth Ann Wilson, others as Jane Wilson, Elizabeth Ann "Jane" Wilson, or Jane Elizabeth Wilson.
Four options are given for her father: Nathaniel Michael Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, James Wilson or unknown Wilson.
Nathaniel Michael Wilson was born in Massachusetts in 1653 and died there in 1721. There is no evidence that he left home for Pennsylvania to have a daughter there. Considering most sources, all undocumented, give Mrs. Crail's birth year as 1724, Nathaniel Michael is ruled out by being deceased at the time.
Nathaniel Michael did have a son, James, by his 2nd wife. James was born in 1696. He was of the right age to have a daughter in 1724, but, again, nothing suggests he migrated to Pennsylvania.
A few trees show this James as being born in New Jersey in 1697. That would be close enough to Chester or Delaware Co., PA to be the father.
Some of the trees offer an alternative father, James Wilson, b. c1700, with no further details.
In several of the Nathaniel trees, his mother and grandmother have the same name, Hannah Craft or Crafts. Possible, but unlikely!
Lacking any documentation that suggests a Wilson from MA moved to PA and fathered a daughter named Elizabeth, Jane, etc., I believe the Nathaniel Wilson line can be removed from Mrs. Crail.
Based on the migratory patterns of the late 17th & early 18th centuries, I would tend to think Wilson was a native of Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania. Some New England families did move to NY, NJ & PA, but that tended to include a move farther West [western PA or OH.]
Now what was Mrs. Crail's given name? Elizabeth Ann, Jane, Jane Elizabeth? Jane was not a common nickname for Elizabeth or Ann to the best of my knowledge. I figure "Jane" was added to Elizabeth Ann to cover bases.
Since no evidence has yet to surface identifying Mrs. Crail's name, it is all conjecture at this point.
For now, I'm reasonably comfortably with Jane, daughter of James Wilson, marrying Thomas Crail.
Four options are given for her father: Nathaniel Michael Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, James Wilson or unknown Wilson.
Nathaniel Michael Wilson was born in Massachusetts in 1653 and died there in 1721. There is no evidence that he left home for Pennsylvania to have a daughter there. Considering most sources, all undocumented, give Mrs. Crail's birth year as 1724, Nathaniel Michael is ruled out by being deceased at the time.
Nathaniel Michael did have a son, James, by his 2nd wife. James was born in 1696. He was of the right age to have a daughter in 1724, but, again, nothing suggests he migrated to Pennsylvania.
A few trees show this James as being born in New Jersey in 1697. That would be close enough to Chester or Delaware Co., PA to be the father.
Some of the trees offer an alternative father, James Wilson, b. c1700, with no further details.
In several of the Nathaniel trees, his mother and grandmother have the same name, Hannah Craft or Crafts. Possible, but unlikely!
Lacking any documentation that suggests a Wilson from MA moved to PA and fathered a daughter named Elizabeth, Jane, etc., I believe the Nathaniel Wilson line can be removed from Mrs. Crail.
Based on the migratory patterns of the late 17th & early 18th centuries, I would tend to think Wilson was a native of Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania. Some New England families did move to NY, NJ & PA, but that tended to include a move farther West [western PA or OH.]
Now what was Mrs. Crail's given name? Elizabeth Ann, Jane, Jane Elizabeth? Jane was not a common nickname for Elizabeth or Ann to the best of my knowledge. I figure "Jane" was added to Elizabeth Ann to cover bases.
Since no evidence has yet to surface identifying Mrs. Crail's name, it is all conjecture at this point.
For now, I'm reasonably comfortably with Jane, daughter of James Wilson, marrying Thomas Crail.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Children of Thomas and Jane [Wilson] Crail
The various family group records for Thomas and Jane show a mix of children. They also show an incorrect place of birth, at least for the time the kids were born - Harford Co., MD. Harford was not formed until 1774, when most of the Crail issue had reached adulthood. Prior to that the area was part of Baltimore Co. [The county appears as Hartford in some cases. Hartford is in Connecticut.]
Several of the Crail kids stayed in Harford. It appears that some of the boys ended up in western Pennsylvania, as well. Little, or no, information exists for several of the children, especially the girls.
Here are the "possible children" of Thomas and Jane.
1) Thomas Jr. = c1743 Frederick Co., MD - 23 Apr 1809 Pendleton Co., KY
m. Elizabeth Berry
10 Apr 1809 will names wife Elizabeth, sons Wilson, Absalom, James, John & children of daughter Elizabeth Downing, dec'd.
On muster roll of Capt. Charles Reed's 4th Battalion Washington Co., PA Militia 1781
1790 Census - That part of Washington Co. that became Allegheny Co., PA
He was in Campbell Co., KY by 1795 [tax list]
14 Apr 1797, purchased 150 acres in Grant's Lick from John Grant, in what became Pendleton Co.
On Pendleton Co. tax list 1801-1808.
One of earliest settlers in area.
2) John Boggs = 3 May 1745 MD* - 3 Apr 1839 Raccoon Twp., Beaver Co., PA
m. Althea Body
Served 2 yrs. with Capt. Waggoner's Co., 12th VA Regt., enlisted at Fort Pitt.
Rec'd pension 28 Aug 1829.
Acquired land in Washington Co., PA on 15 Dec 1778.
1790 Census - That part of Wash. Co. that became Allegheny Co.
3) Mary = c1749 MD* - ???
m. 16 Nov 1778 Frederick Co., MD
4) Phillip = c1750 MD* - 1 Oct 1793 Harford Co., MD
m. Margaret Hill Spencer
Deer Creek Hundred tax list 1775-76.
In Annapolis, MD 1785.
Pvt. in Capt. Alexander Ribon's Co. #12, Harford militia.
Schoolmaster.
Died from bite of a copperhead snake.
5) Richard = c1751 MD* - 1824 or 1827 Hardin Co., KY [birth also given as 1765]
m. Ann Brashear - c1785; Nancy Brownfield - 1796
Buried South Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, LaRue Co., KY [Hardin Co. at time of death].
Signed Oath of Fidelity in Frederick Co., MD.
Served in Washington Co., PA Militia.
Crail farm about 2.5 miles from Hodgenville, KY [now LaRue Co.]
Thomas Lincoln was supposed to have rented land from the Crails.
6) Jane = c1751 MD* - ????
7) Alice = c1752 MD* - ????
8) Elizabeth = c1753 MD* - ????
9) William = c1755 MD* - ????
m. Mary Lewis - 13 Jun 1785 Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, Frederick Co., MD
Served with Maryland troops 1776-1783.
Rec'd 100 acre land grant.
10) James = c1760 MD* - 1790 KY
m. Elizabeth Bennington
11) Peter = 175? MD - ????
Signed Oath of Fidelity in Frederick Co., MD 1777
Served in Frederick Co. militia 1775-76.
1790 Frederick Co. census.
I don't know for sure if he fits the family, although Peter appears on a couple of Trees.
*All but Thomas were supposed to have been born in what became Harford Co. Several of the children maintained connections with Frederick Co.
Several of the Crail kids stayed in Harford. It appears that some of the boys ended up in western Pennsylvania, as well. Little, or no, information exists for several of the children, especially the girls.
Here are the "possible children" of Thomas and Jane.
1) Thomas Jr. = c1743 Frederick Co., MD - 23 Apr 1809 Pendleton Co., KY
m. Elizabeth Berry
10 Apr 1809 will names wife Elizabeth, sons Wilson, Absalom, James, John & children of daughter Elizabeth Downing, dec'd.
On muster roll of Capt. Charles Reed's 4th Battalion Washington Co., PA Militia 1781
1790 Census - That part of Washington Co. that became Allegheny Co., PA
He was in Campbell Co., KY by 1795 [tax list]
14 Apr 1797, purchased 150 acres in Grant's Lick from John Grant, in what became Pendleton Co.
On Pendleton Co. tax list 1801-1808.
One of earliest settlers in area.
2) John Boggs = 3 May 1745 MD* - 3 Apr 1839 Raccoon Twp., Beaver Co., PA
m. Althea Body
Served 2 yrs. with Capt. Waggoner's Co., 12th VA Regt., enlisted at Fort Pitt.
Rec'd pension 28 Aug 1829.
Acquired land in Washington Co., PA on 15 Dec 1778.
1790 Census - That part of Wash. Co. that became Allegheny Co.
3) Mary = c1749 MD* - ???
m. 16 Nov 1778 Frederick Co., MD
4) Phillip = c1750 MD* - 1 Oct 1793 Harford Co., MD
m. Margaret Hill Spencer
Deer Creek Hundred tax list 1775-76.
In Annapolis, MD 1785.
Pvt. in Capt. Alexander Ribon's Co. #12, Harford militia.
Schoolmaster.
Died from bite of a copperhead snake.
5) Richard = c1751 MD* - 1824 or 1827 Hardin Co., KY [birth also given as 1765]
m. Ann Brashear - c1785; Nancy Brownfield - 1796
Buried South Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, LaRue Co., KY [Hardin Co. at time of death].
Signed Oath of Fidelity in Frederick Co., MD.
Served in Washington Co., PA Militia.
Crail farm about 2.5 miles from Hodgenville, KY [now LaRue Co.]
Thomas Lincoln was supposed to have rented land from the Crails.
6) Jane = c1751 MD* - ????
7) Alice = c1752 MD* - ????
8) Elizabeth = c1753 MD* - ????
9) William = c1755 MD* - ????
m. Mary Lewis - 13 Jun 1785 Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, Frederick Co., MD
Served with Maryland troops 1776-1783.
Rec'd 100 acre land grant.
10) James = c1760 MD* - 1790 KY
m. Elizabeth Bennington
11) Peter = 175? MD - ????
Signed Oath of Fidelity in Frederick Co., MD 1777
Served in Frederick Co. militia 1775-76.
1790 Frederick Co. census.
I don't know for sure if he fits the family, although Peter appears on a couple of Trees.
*All but Thomas were supposed to have been born in what became Harford Co. Several of the children maintained connections with Frederick Co.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
The Origins of Thomas Crail Sr.
I am going to begin the Crail line with Thomas Sr. because the details on the various men who have been named as his father are sketchy, at best. A John Creal has been one of the most common "fathers" of Thomas. He was born in 1656, married Ann _____ by 1676 and fathered his only son, Thomas in 1720. John was from England, emigrated to either Scotland or Virginia before 1685. His son was born in Scotland. Thomas Creel/Creal and Hannah Kenner of Scotland are also commonly appear as parents. At least their births are reasonable, about 1695 and 1700, in Scotland, England or Ireland.
(1)Thomas Crail Sr. is regularly reported as 1720. One report has his birth as 1685 and another as 1726.Virginia, Westmoreland Co., VA, Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Mann appear as places of birth; however, Scotland is the most common origin given. Nearly every report has Thomas' death as about 1790 in Harford Co., MD.
In all likelihood, Thomas Crail was born in Scotland about 1720 and died about 1790 in Harford Co., MD.
(2) Elizabeth Ann Wilson, Elizabeth Ann "Jane" Wilson and Jane Wilson are names given for Thomas' wife. She is consistently shown as born in Pennsylvania, generally Chester Co., in 1724. Her death appears as early as 1741, but generally 1770. The location is given as Richmond, Chesterfield, VA or Raccoon Creek, Beaver Co., PA. If Thomas survived Jane, it is moe likely that she died in Maryland. Many reports give her father as Nathaniel Wilson, James Nathaniel Wilson or James Wilson. In examining the information given on Nathaniel Wilson, it appears that this Wilson line was based in Massachusetts and never made it as far south as Pennsylvania. Nathaniel seems to be a convenient add-on for Mrs. Crail's father. Jame Nathaniel? Somebody realized Nathaniel didn't fit and mixed Nathaniel and James into one person. I also think that Elizabeth Ann "Jane" is a similar convenience.
The wife of Thomas Crail was probably Jane Wilson, born c1724 in Pennsylvania [probably Chester Co.] and died about 1770, possibly in Raccoon Creek, Beaver Co., PA. Jane's father was James Wilson.
(3) Children: In various combinations, the Crail children were Thomas [c1743], John Boggs [c1745], Mary [c1749], Phillip [c1750], Jane [c1751?], Richard [1751?], Alice [c1752], Elizabeth [c1753], William [c1755] and James [c1760]. All were reportedly born in Maryland; either Frederick or Harford County.
Dealing in the shadowy region of speculation, Thomas arrived in Pennsylvania or Maryland before 1740. He probably came from Scotland with his family, some reports claim he came over with a brother named Samuel. Thomas met and married Jane Wilson by about 1741. The couple seems to have settled in Harford Co., MD by the mid-1740s and spent the remainder of their lives there.
I could be wrong!
(1)Thomas Crail Sr. is regularly reported as 1720. One report has his birth as 1685 and another as 1726.Virginia, Westmoreland Co., VA, Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Mann appear as places of birth; however, Scotland is the most common origin given. Nearly every report has Thomas' death as about 1790 in Harford Co., MD.
In all likelihood, Thomas Crail was born in Scotland about 1720 and died about 1790 in Harford Co., MD.
(2) Elizabeth Ann Wilson, Elizabeth Ann "Jane" Wilson and Jane Wilson are names given for Thomas' wife. She is consistently shown as born in Pennsylvania, generally Chester Co., in 1724. Her death appears as early as 1741, but generally 1770. The location is given as Richmond, Chesterfield, VA or Raccoon Creek, Beaver Co., PA. If Thomas survived Jane, it is moe likely that she died in Maryland. Many reports give her father as Nathaniel Wilson, James Nathaniel Wilson or James Wilson. In examining the information given on Nathaniel Wilson, it appears that this Wilson line was based in Massachusetts and never made it as far south as Pennsylvania. Nathaniel seems to be a convenient add-on for Mrs. Crail's father. Jame Nathaniel? Somebody realized Nathaniel didn't fit and mixed Nathaniel and James into one person. I also think that Elizabeth Ann "Jane" is a similar convenience.
The wife of Thomas Crail was probably Jane Wilson, born c1724 in Pennsylvania [probably Chester Co.] and died about 1770, possibly in Raccoon Creek, Beaver Co., PA. Jane's father was James Wilson.
(3) Children: In various combinations, the Crail children were Thomas [c1743], John Boggs [c1745], Mary [c1749], Phillip [c1750], Jane [c1751?], Richard [1751?], Alice [c1752], Elizabeth [c1753], William [c1755] and James [c1760]. All were reportedly born in Maryland; either Frederick or Harford County.
Dealing in the shadowy region of speculation, Thomas arrived in Pennsylvania or Maryland before 1740. He probably came from Scotland with his family, some reports claim he came over with a brother named Samuel. Thomas met and married Jane Wilson by about 1741. The couple seems to have settled in Harford Co., MD by the mid-1740s and spent the remainder of their lives there.
I could be wrong!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Determining Place of Birth
Census records [1850-1940] can be a big help in identifying where family members were born, provided they [or the person providing the data] gave the correct place. I have seen two or three different birthplaces given for an individual in the census. The goal then becomes finding a record that verifies the correct birthplace.
Trying to locate records for earlier ancestors, those who died before 1850, can be a challenge. 1880-1930 censuses can help, if the enumerator gets the accurate information. Parents' birthplaces are given for those censuses. The same fallacy can occur as with 1850-1870. What if John Williams doesn't know for sure where his parents were born? Foreign born locations can be specific or general.
My ancestors born in Baden also gave Germany as place of birth.
Look for records [deeds, wills, taxes, etc.] that place a family member in a certain place at a certain time. If you have a family with 5 children born between 1770 and 1780, deeds and other records can narrow the kids' birthplaces.
John Williams buys land in Bucks Co., PA in 1769, 1772 and 1773. He sells the land in 1774. He then buys land in Frederick Co, VA in 1776. John's will is recorded there in 1788. Williams has the following children: John Jr. [b. 1768], Sarah [b. 1770], Ann [b. 1772], Samuel [b. 1775], Mary [b. 1777] and Joseph [b. 1779].
Deeds show him in Bucks Co. from 1769-1774 and Frederick Co. from 1776-1788. Sarah and Ann were probably born in Bucks Co.; while Mary and Joseph were born in Frederick Co. The 1769 deed may tell where John had lived prior to 1769, giving you John Jr.'s birthplace. As for Samuel? He may have been born in Bucks Co. or on the trip to Virginia. Keep digging!
Trying to locate records for earlier ancestors, those who died before 1850, can be a challenge. 1880-1930 censuses can help, if the enumerator gets the accurate information. Parents' birthplaces are given for those censuses. The same fallacy can occur as with 1850-1870. What if John Williams doesn't know for sure where his parents were born? Foreign born locations can be specific or general.
My ancestors born in Baden also gave Germany as place of birth.
Look for records [deeds, wills, taxes, etc.] that place a family member in a certain place at a certain time. If you have a family with 5 children born between 1770 and 1780, deeds and other records can narrow the kids' birthplaces.
John Williams buys land in Bucks Co., PA in 1769, 1772 and 1773. He sells the land in 1774. He then buys land in Frederick Co, VA in 1776. John's will is recorded there in 1788. Williams has the following children: John Jr. [b. 1768], Sarah [b. 1770], Ann [b. 1772], Samuel [b. 1775], Mary [b. 1777] and Joseph [b. 1779].
Deeds show him in Bucks Co. from 1769-1774 and Frederick Co. from 1776-1788. Sarah and Ann were probably born in Bucks Co.; while Mary and Joseph were born in Frederick Co. The 1769 deed may tell where John had lived prior to 1769, giving you John Jr.'s birthplace. As for Samuel? He may have been born in Bucks Co. or on the trip to Virginia. Keep digging!
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Family Tracking Census Charts
In yesterday's post, I had a variation of a family tracking chart to use with census records. I first ran into the charts at a genealogy conference a few years ago. It is easy to make up your own. Here are a couple of ideas.
(1) 1790 - 1840 chart #1: list the names of family members and their years of birth down the left side. Across the top, make a column for each census. Under each census list the age groups given for each year.You can mark each space for your family members.
(2) 1790 - 1840 chart #2: list names and births down the left. Across the top, list the census year. In each column write the age of the family member for that census. Mark the space for that person as they are located. [this was used in the post]
(3) 1850 -1940 chart: you can extend the charts above to include the later censuses or make new ones in the same format.
Beware of mistakes in the census records! Individuals or families may be missed or duplicated. The 1800-1840 census enumerators used "tick marks" or numbers under each age group. It was not uncommon for them to put a mark in the wrong column!
(1) 1790 - 1840 chart #1: list the names of family members and their years of birth down the left side. Across the top, make a column for each census. Under each census list the age groups given for each year.You can mark each space for your family members.
(2) 1790 - 1840 chart #2: list names and births down the left. Across the top, list the census year. In each column write the age of the family member for that census. Mark the space for that person as they are located. [this was used in the post]
(3) 1850 -1940 chart: you can extend the charts above to include the later censuses or make new ones in the same format.
Beware of mistakes in the census records! Individuals or families may be missed or duplicated. The 1800-1840 census enumerators used "tick marks" or numbers under each age group. It was not uncommon for them to put a mark in the wrong column!
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