1.1 million new records from Britain and Canada were added to the Findmypast databases
in the 14 Apr 2017 Findmypast Friday records release.
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
British Columbia Estate Files 1859-1949 Browse
OVER 783,000 RECORDS Delve through probate estate files pertaining to the judicial districts of British Columbia; the County Court and the Supreme Court. Probate estate records are valuable resources for family history research, providing vital details such as dates, names, and locations to help grow your family tree.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Missing Beneficiaries and Unclaimed Estates 1910
OVER 500 IMAGES Did your British ancestor leave behind a significant estate or inherit a fortune from a distant relative? Search Dougal’s Index Register to Next of Kin, Heirs at Law and Cases of Unclaimed Money Advertisements from 1910 to discover more.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts 1687-1901 Browse
OVER 210,000 RECORDS Browse thousands of images of original bishop’s transcripts from Norfolk Record Office and uncover details of baptisms, marriages and burials. Bishop’s transcripts are valuable resources, especially in cases where original parish registers were damaged or destroyed.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Norfolk Archdeacon's Transcripts 1600-1812 Browse
OVER 76,589 RECORDS Explore transcripts of vital records covering 32 parishes across Norfolk. Prior to 1812, all copies of parish registers were sent to the archdeacon. After 1812, the copies were sent to the bishop and became known as the bishop’s transcripts.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS:
Sussex Burials
New records: 2,324
Total records: 509,282
Covering: The parish of Northiam
Discover: Birth year, age at death, death year, burial date, location & any additional notes
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Sussex Monumental Inscriptions
New records: 2,106
Total records: 21,290
Covering: The parishes of Herstmonceux & Friston
Discover: Birth year, death year, location, memorial type, inscription, relatives’ names
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
British Newspapers
New articles: 48,135
New titles: The Shipping & Mercantile Gazette and The Rutland Echo & Leicestershire Advertiser
Covering: Leicestershire & Rutland, shipping reports and trade news
Discover: Thousands of local and regional publications across England, Wales, and Scotland
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
WORLD WAR 1 DRAFT REGISTRATION CARDS OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS
Ten years ago I discovered the World War 1 Draft cards for some of my male family
members over at Ancestry.com. I posted what information I learned from them here
on March 2, 2007 . So I thought I'd repost the information at this time in observance
of the 100th anniversary of our entrance into World War 1.
The first five are my Mom's maternal uncles, the McFarland brothers: Tommy, Frank,
Bobby, John and Mike. I don't remember ever meeting the last two brothers but we visited
Uncle Tommy and Uncle Frank many times when I was a kid. Uncle Tommy shared my
love of books and had a set of the Encylopedia Brittanica. Uncle Frank taught me how
to make tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches.
Here's what I learned about them from the cards.
Tom lists his occupation as a toolmaker at A. A. Crafts at 125 Summer St.in Boston.
For dependents he lists his father and mother who would have been in their late sixties.
His physical description is Medium height, Slender build, with Brown (or Blonde?) hair
and Brown eyes. At the time he filled out the card he was living at 950 Parker St. in Boston.
((By the 1950's he had white hair and he smoked a pipe. For some reason I remember
him wearing a shirt and tie most of the time. He was working in the jewelry business by
the time I came along and he and his wife lived in a nice little white house in Milton He
diedin 1977 at the age of 84 .))
Frank was living with his family at 50 Cotton St. in Medford. He lists his occupation
as "bottiling" at the Moxie Plant at 69 Haverhill St. in Boston. His eyes were Gray,
his hair Dark Brown; his height and build were given as Medium.
((I remember Frank with grey hai, wire-rimmed glasses and a cane. He stayed with us
at few times at the Capen St.apartment in Dorchester which was where he taught me
howto make those tomato sandwiches. He lived with his son John in Andover, Ma. and
died in 1986 at age 82.))
Robert was living with his family at 121 or 126 Paul Gore St. His occupation was
shoemaker at the Thomas J. Plant(?) Shoe Co. at what looks like the "corner of
Centre and Bickford Streets" in Boston. His height and build are Slender, his eyes
Light Brown and his hair Black.
Mike was living at 946 Parker St in Boston with his wife Mary and he was a shoe
worker at George A. Keith Company at 288 A St.in So. Boston. His height was given
as Tall, his build Medium, his hair Dark and Brown for the eye color. He was the oldest
child in the family and the only one born in Ireland.
John was working as a chaffeur for someone at 409 Columbia Rd in Boston but lived
with his wife and children at 112 Heath St in the Roxbury neighborhood of the city. He's
described as of medium height and weight and having brown hair and grey eyes.
Then there are the cards for both my grandfathers.
Short, his build Medium, his eyes Blue and his hair “D. Brown” He claimed an exemption
from the draft due to an injury to his right arm and shoulder; on the disability line he
adds “right arm weak”. But whatever the injury was it healed because Grandpa West
did get drafted a year later and was inducted(?) on 29 Apr 1918. He reached the rank
of Pvt 1st class in November of 1918 and served as part of Company K, 303 Infantry.
He never made it oversea, though because he ended at Camp Devens, Ma. during the
outbreak of the Spanish Influenza where he helped with the patients.. He was honorably
discharged on 12 Mar 1919 after contracting pneumonia.
Finally, my mother’s father, Edward F. White lists his occupationas “helper” on the
“N.Y., N.H., & H. R..R. & Co.” by which I take it to mean the New York,
New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. The business address is given as Union Station
in Harftord. He gives his home address as 41 Philbrick St in Roslindale Ma. and lists
as closest relative his mother “Lena White”. His height is Tall, build Medium. His eyes
were Blue and his hair Dark Brown. This card was a real find for me because it filled
the blanks about that part of the family. Mom never talked about her father and I
never met him.
Grandpa West is the only one out of this group that I've found to have actually
served in the military during World War I. But the McFarland brothers were all in their late
twenties or older and Grandpa White might have been exempted due to his occupation.
All the images in this post are from the "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, at FamilySearch
Friday, April 07, 2017
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY RECORDS COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 7APRIL 2017
Nearly 6 million new church records from England and Scotland are in this week's
Findmypast Fridays releases.
Wiltshire Parish Baptisms Index 1538-1917
OVER 2,136,000 RECORDS
Discover if your ancestor was born in the British county of Wiltshire in South West England. Search more than 2 million baptism registers, including some rare early parish records, to find out your ancestor’s birth date and parents’ names.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Wiltshire Parish Banns Index 1538-1933
OVER 126,000 RECORDS
Were your Wiltshire ancestors married via the ancient legal tradition of Banns? Find out where and when their intention to marry was announced, their residence and the name of their intended spouse.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS
Wiltshire Parish Burials Index 1538-1991
OVER 1,453,000 RECORDS
Find out where your Wiltshire ancestors were laid to rest and when they died. Records will also reveal their age at death and the date of their funeral.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Wiltshire Parish Marriages Index 1538-1933
OVER 944,000 RECORDS
Add another branch to your English family tree by discovering when, where and to whom your Wiltshire ancestors were married.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Congregational Records
OVER 268,000 RECORDS
Delve through a variety of congregational records including registers of confirmations and communion recipients, as well as parish lists, seat rentals, and lists of people who converted to Catholicism.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
OVER 492,000 RECORDS
Were your Scottish ancestors Catholics? Search 300 years of Sacramental registers covering all eight dioceses to find out when they were born, where they were born and the names of their parents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages
OVER 1,600 RECORDS
Did your Catholic ancestor get married in Scotland? Explore sacramental registers spanning the years 1736 to 1942 to discover the location of the ceremony, the date, spouse’s details and the names of those who witnessed the occasion.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials
OVER 1,000 RECORDS
Discover your Catholic Scottish ancestry with these Roman Catholic burial registers. The records will reveal the location of your ancestor’s final resting place, the date of their burial, and, in many cases, your ancestor’s cause of death.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Wills Of Famous Persons 1552-1849
OVER 100 RECORDS
Explore a fascinating collection of wills left by famous Britons throughout history. Read wills left by a variety of notable figures ranging from members of the British Royal Family, writers and artists to politicians, soldiers, and civil servants.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Findmypast Fridays releases.
Wiltshire Parish Baptisms Index 1538-1917
OVER 2,136,000 RECORDS
Discover if your ancestor was born in the British county of Wiltshire in South West England. Search more than 2 million baptism registers, including some rare early parish records, to find out your ancestor’s birth date and parents’ names.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Wiltshire Parish Banns Index 1538-1933
OVER 126,000 RECORDS
Were your Wiltshire ancestors married via the ancient legal tradition of Banns? Find out where and when their intention to marry was announced, their residence and the name of their intended spouse.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS
Wiltshire Parish Burials Index 1538-1991
OVER 1,453,000 RECORDS
Find out where your Wiltshire ancestors were laid to rest and when they died. Records will also reveal their age at death and the date of their funeral.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Wiltshire Parish Marriages Index 1538-1933
OVER 944,000 RECORDS
Add another branch to your English family tree by discovering when, where and to whom your Wiltshire ancestors were married.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Congregational Records
OVER 268,000 RECORDS
Delve through a variety of congregational records including registers of confirmations and communion recipients, as well as parish lists, seat rentals, and lists of people who converted to Catholicism.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
OVER 492,000 RECORDS
Were your Scottish ancestors Catholics? Search 300 years of Sacramental registers covering all eight dioceses to find out when they were born, where they were born and the names of their parents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages
OVER 1,600 RECORDS
Did your Catholic ancestor get married in Scotland? Explore sacramental registers spanning the years 1736 to 1942 to discover the location of the ceremony, the date, spouse’s details and the names of those who witnessed the occasion.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Burials
OVER 1,000 RECORDS
Discover your Catholic Scottish ancestry with these Roman Catholic burial registers. The records will reveal the location of your ancestor’s final resting place, the date of their burial, and, in many cases, your ancestor’s cause of death.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Wills Of Famous Persons 1552-1849
OVER 100 RECORDS
Explore a fascinating collection of wills left by famous Britons throughout history. Read wills left by a variety of notable figures ranging from members of the British Royal Family, writers and artists to politicians, soldiers, and civil servants.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 9: THOMAS TUCK OF BEVERLY, MA.
I haven't been able to find any records of the birth, marriage, or death of my 9x great grandfather
Thomas Tuck. What I have found for him are court records. Lots of court records. Besides the
story of his theft of a church bell from the yard of Richard More, I found these court appearances
in Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1636-1656:
:
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 31: 10: 1639. (Sep 1639)
Micha Iver v. Tho. Tuck. Slander. Wit: Jno. Cook, Mr. Clark's man, Charls Turner and Mr. Pester's man. John Webster and Thomas Oddingsall, absent witnesses.-p14
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 1 and 2: 11 : 1639. (Dec 1639)
Tho. Tuck v. Micha Iver. Slander, viz: “ y‘ he war drunck, respited a little.”Micha Iver bound in 201i. to answer Tho. Tuck at Boston concerning money that Tho. Tuck wants. “ See Jn° Cooks deposition.” Thomas Tuck bound to prosecute. [Said Iver was strongly suspected by Thomas Tuck and others of taking away certain silver.
Geo. Dill fined 40s. for “ drunkenes, & to stand att the meeting hous doar next Lecture day, wm a Clefte stick upon his Tong, & a pap[er] vpon his hatt subscribed for gross || prmeditated I. Lyinge." Mr. Humphreys’ security.
J no. Cook same as above. His master Clark to pay. Neglect to pay, to be whipped.
Tho. Tuck same as above, except the paper is to be marked simply " for Lyinge," and “ noe cleft sticks on his tong.”
Micha Ivers same as Tho. Tuck. He places as security his lot in the cove near Mr. Holgraves, by Dixies, also one-half an acre of land upon the neck toward Winter harbor that he bought of Geo Dill.-p15
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 27 : 10: 1642. (Dec 1642)
Thomas Tuck‘ fined for drunkenness and common tippling....Wit: Charles Turn[er] and Walter Knight.- p49
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 27: 10: 1643. (Dec 1643)
Walter Knight, John Leech, sr., Peter Simes and Thomas Tuck, presented for living absent from their respective wives, were discharged.-p58
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 9: 5: 1645 (July 1645)
Warrant to Salem constable, dated 29: 3: 1645, to summon Thomas Tuck, Roger Dewhurst, Edward Wilson and Robert Knights, for excessive drinking of sack, six of the company having drunk a gallon at once. Wit: Roger Dewhurst and Robert Knights.-p83
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 1: 5: 1652.(July 1652)
Thomas Tuck fined 20s. for being drunk. Wit: John Grover, Math. West and Roger Conant. The wife of John Lovet, living on Cappan sid by the highway, testified that she saw Goodman Tuefe [Tuck ?] go reeling, not able to walk in the highway, being very much overtaken with drink and accompanied by his father, Samuell Archer.-p258
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1636-1656
Essex Institute, 1911 Salem, Ma
That last entry is of special interest. Fathers in law were often referred to as "Father" in colonial documents, so I may now have a clue to the identity of Thomas Tuck's wife.
And all this in just Volume 1 of the Essex Court Files.
Thomas Tuck. What I have found for him are court records. Lots of court records. Besides the
story of his theft of a church bell from the yard of Richard More, I found these court appearances
in Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1636-1656:
:
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 31: 10: 1639. (Sep 1639)
Micha Iver v. Tho. Tuck. Slander. Wit: Jno. Cook, Mr. Clark's man, Charls Turner and Mr. Pester's man. John Webster and Thomas Oddingsall, absent witnesses.-p14
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 1 and 2: 11 : 1639. (Dec 1639)
Tho. Tuck v. Micha Iver. Slander, viz: “ y‘ he war drunck, respited a little.”Micha Iver bound in 201i. to answer Tho. Tuck at Boston concerning money that Tho. Tuck wants. “ See Jn° Cooks deposition.” Thomas Tuck bound to prosecute. [Said Iver was strongly suspected by Thomas Tuck and others of taking away certain silver.
Geo. Dill fined 40s. for “ drunkenes, & to stand att the meeting hous doar next Lecture day, wm a Clefte stick upon his Tong, & a pap[er] vpon his hatt subscribed for gross || prmeditated I. Lyinge." Mr. Humphreys’ security.
J no. Cook same as above. His master Clark to pay. Neglect to pay, to be whipped.
Tho. Tuck same as above, except the paper is to be marked simply " for Lyinge," and “ noe cleft sticks on his tong.”
Micha Ivers same as Tho. Tuck. He places as security his lot in the cove near Mr. Holgraves, by Dixies, also one-half an acre of land upon the neck toward Winter harbor that he bought of Geo Dill.-p15
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 27 : 10: 1642. (Dec 1642)
Thomas Tuck‘ fined for drunkenness and common tippling....Wit: Charles Turn[er] and Walter Knight.- p49
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 27: 10: 1643. (Dec 1643)
Walter Knight, John Leech, sr., Peter Simes and Thomas Tuck, presented for living absent from their respective wives, were discharged.-p58
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 9: 5: 1645 (July 1645)
Warrant to Salem constable, dated 29: 3: 1645, to summon Thomas Tuck, Roger Dewhurst, Edward Wilson and Robert Knights, for excessive drinking of sack, six of the company having drunk a gallon at once. Wit: Roger Dewhurst and Robert Knights.-p83
COURT HELD AT SALEM, 1: 5: 1652.(July 1652)
Thomas Tuck fined 20s. for being drunk. Wit: John Grover, Math. West and Roger Conant. The wife of John Lovet, living on Cappan sid by the highway, testified that she saw Goodman Tuefe [Tuck ?] go reeling, not able to walk in the highway, being very much overtaken with drink and accompanied by his father, Samuell Archer.-p258
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1636-1656
Essex Institute, 1911 Salem, Ma
That last entry is of special interest. Fathers in law were often referred to as "Father" in colonial documents, so I may now have a clue to the identity of Thomas Tuck's wife.
And all this in just Volume 1 of the Essex Court Files.
Thursday, April 06, 2017
FINDYMPAST LAUNCHES SIX COUNTIES IN SIX MONTHS
I received this notice this morning in an email from Alex Cox of Findmypast:
FINDYMPAST LAUNCHES SIX COUNTIES IN SIX MONTHS
Project to publish parish records from six counties in next six months
Wiltshire first county available online from April 6, 2017, includes
records of the first woman mauled by a tiger in England and the celebrated
architect Sir Christopher Wren
Birmingham, April 6, 2017: Leading family history website, Findmypast, announced today the launch of their Six Counties in Six Months project which will see the online publication of vital parish records from six counties across England over the next six months. These records expand further Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of English and Welsh parish records – the largest collection available online.
First up is Wiltshire, published today to mark the opening of Who Do You Think You Are Live! 2017. The Wiltshire parish records will be followed by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Warwickshire.
The Wiltshire collection comprises transcriptions of nearly 5 million parish records of baptisms, banns, marriages and burials dating back to 1538. They form the largest online collection of Wiltshire records and are available only at Findmypast.
They are full of fascinating details of life through the ages and will provide researchers from all over the world with the opportunity to uncover the stories of the inhabitants for the very first time. Anyone can go online and search for their Wiltshire ancestors by name, location and date.
Paul Nixon, Head of UK licensing at Findmypast, said: “What a terrific way to launch our six-in-six campaign with the announcement of close to 5 million parish records from Wiltshire. There has never been a better time to be a family historian and Findmypast continues to lead the way in releasing exciting new collections which help people connect with their ancestors.”
Famous names in the records
Hannah Twynney was the first person in England ever to be mauled by a tiger. Hannah worked as a barmaid at the local White Lion Inn. At the time of her death, there was an exhibition of wild animals in Malmesbury and she made a habit of teasing the tigers. One unfortunate day, while Hannah was enjoying herself, a tiger escaped from the cage and mauled the young woman. Our records show that she was buried at St Peter & St Paul in Malmesbury on 24 October 1703. Her gravestone in Malmesbury remembers the awful story with a poem: ‘In bloom of life, she’s snatched from hence, she had no room, to make defence, for tiger fierce, took life away, and he she lies, in a bed of clay’.
Christopher Wren, the acclaimed architect, was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire. Across London, Wren designed more than 50 churches, including the incredible St Paul’s Cathedral, after the Great Fire of London. Although, the first two designs he submitted to Parliament for the Cathedral were turned down. He is also known for designing the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, Trinity College Library at Cambridge, and the monument to the Great Fire of London.
Thynne (Thynn) family – numerous members of the Thynne family of Longleat, the Marquesses of Bath, are found in the burial records. They include the record for John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath buried at Longbridge Deverill on 29 April 1896, the great-great-grandfather of the current, colourful Lord Bath of Longleat.
William Henry Fox Talbot, the celebrated pioneer of photography who, through the use of chemicals, improved the processes of developing, fixing, and printing. The records show that he was buried at Lacock Abbey on 21 September 1877. Today, Lacock Abbey is the location of the National Trust’s Fox Talbot Museum and Village.
Benjamin Pitman famous for introducing the eponymous Pitman shorthand in the United States. He was baptised in Trowbridge, Wiltshire on 8 September 1822. Pitman immigrated to the United States in 1853 to instruct Americans to use the shorthand system developed by him and his brother Isaac. Pitman toured America and lectured on the use of the Pitman system. Later he became an official stenographer and attended the trial of the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.
FINDYMPAST LAUNCHES SIX COUNTIES IN SIX MONTHS
Project to publish parish records from six counties in next six months
Wiltshire first county available online from April 6, 2017, includes
records of the first woman mauled by a tiger in England and the celebrated
architect Sir Christopher Wren
Birmingham, April 6, 2017: Leading family history website, Findmypast, announced today the launch of their Six Counties in Six Months project which will see the online publication of vital parish records from six counties across England over the next six months. These records expand further Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of English and Welsh parish records – the largest collection available online.
First up is Wiltshire, published today to mark the opening of Who Do You Think You Are Live! 2017. The Wiltshire parish records will be followed by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Warwickshire.
The Wiltshire collection comprises transcriptions of nearly 5 million parish records of baptisms, banns, marriages and burials dating back to 1538. They form the largest online collection of Wiltshire records and are available only at Findmypast.
They are full of fascinating details of life through the ages and will provide researchers from all over the world with the opportunity to uncover the stories of the inhabitants for the very first time. Anyone can go online and search for their Wiltshire ancestors by name, location and date.
Paul Nixon, Head of UK licensing at Findmypast, said: “What a terrific way to launch our six-in-six campaign with the announcement of close to 5 million parish records from Wiltshire. There has never been a better time to be a family historian and Findmypast continues to lead the way in releasing exciting new collections which help people connect with their ancestors.”
Famous names in the records
Hannah Twynney was the first person in England ever to be mauled by a tiger. Hannah worked as a barmaid at the local White Lion Inn. At the time of her death, there was an exhibition of wild animals in Malmesbury and she made a habit of teasing the tigers. One unfortunate day, while Hannah was enjoying herself, a tiger escaped from the cage and mauled the young woman. Our records show that she was buried at St Peter & St Paul in Malmesbury on 24 October 1703. Her gravestone in Malmesbury remembers the awful story with a poem: ‘In bloom of life, she’s snatched from hence, she had no room, to make defence, for tiger fierce, took life away, and he she lies, in a bed of clay’.
Christopher Wren, the acclaimed architect, was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire. Across London, Wren designed more than 50 churches, including the incredible St Paul’s Cathedral, after the Great Fire of London. Although, the first two designs he submitted to Parliament for the Cathedral were turned down. He is also known for designing the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, Trinity College Library at Cambridge, and the monument to the Great Fire of London.
Thynne (Thynn) family – numerous members of the Thynne family of Longleat, the Marquesses of Bath, are found in the burial records. They include the record for John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath buried at Longbridge Deverill on 29 April 1896, the great-great-grandfather of the current, colourful Lord Bath of Longleat.
William Henry Fox Talbot, the celebrated pioneer of photography who, through the use of chemicals, improved the processes of developing, fixing, and printing. The records show that he was buried at Lacock Abbey on 21 September 1877. Today, Lacock Abbey is the location of the National Trust’s Fox Talbot Museum and Village.
Benjamin Pitman famous for introducing the eponymous Pitman shorthand in the United States. He was baptised in Trowbridge, Wiltshire on 8 September 1822. Pitman immigrated to the United States in 1853 to instruct Americans to use the shorthand system developed by him and his brother Isaac. Pitman toured America and lectured on the use of the Pitman system. Later he became an official stenographer and attended the trial of the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.
Friday, March 31, 2017
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY RECORDS COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 31MARCH 2017
Over 85, 000 new English, Irish, and Scottish records were added today by Findmypast
as part Findymypast Friday:
BRAND NEW RECORDS
New Zealand University Graduates 1870-1963
OVER 37,000 RECORDS Did your ancestor graduate from the University of New Zealand? Uncover details of the college they attended, any awards they received, and other vital details for your family tree.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Northamptonshire Militia Lists 1771
OVER 13,000 RECORDS
Discover if your English ancestor served in the Northamptonshire Militia in the 1700s, and find out important facts including where they lived and their occupation.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Northamptonshire Freeholders 1795-1797
OVER 4,000 RECORDS
Search more 18th century Northamptonshire records in the shape of freeholder lists. Find out your relative’s name, residence, occupation and more. .
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS
Irish Newspapers
New articles: 946,478
Total articles: 35,641,183
Covering: 5 brand new titles - Irish Society (Dublin), Irish News and Belfast
Discover: News articles, family notices, obituaries, advertisements and more
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Dorset Memorial Inscriptions
New records: 20,267
Total records: 106,135
Covering: Gravestones, tombs, monuments and even stained glass windows around the English county of Dorset
Discover: Birth year, death year, location, memorial type, inscription, relatives’ names
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Registers & Records
New records: 10,488
Total records: 25,598
Covering: 55 new publications including 7 from Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands
Discover: What life was like in historic Scotland
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
as part Findymypast Friday:
BRAND NEW RECORDS
New Zealand University Graduates 1870-1963
OVER 37,000 RECORDS Did your ancestor graduate from the University of New Zealand? Uncover details of the college they attended, any awards they received, and other vital details for your family tree.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Northamptonshire Militia Lists 1771
OVER 13,000 RECORDS
Discover if your English ancestor served in the Northamptonshire Militia in the 1700s, and find out important facts including where they lived and their occupation.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Northamptonshire Freeholders 1795-1797
OVER 4,000 RECORDS
Search more 18th century Northamptonshire records in the shape of freeholder lists. Find out your relative’s name, residence, occupation and more. .
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS
Irish Newspapers
New articles: 946,478
Total articles: 35,641,183
Covering: 5 brand new titles - Irish Society (Dublin), Irish News and Belfast
Discover: News articles, family notices, obituaries, advertisements and more
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Dorset Memorial Inscriptions
New records: 20,267
Total records: 106,135
Covering: Gravestones, tombs, monuments and even stained glass windows around the English county of Dorset
Discover: Birth year, death year, location, memorial type, inscription, relatives’ names
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Registers & Records
New records: 10,488
Total records: 25,598
Covering: 55 new publications including 7 from Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands
Discover: What life was like in historic Scotland
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
THOMAS TUCK AND THE STOLEN BELL PT3: CONCLUSION
A few thoughts about my 9x great grandfather Thomas Tuck and the stolen bell:
I was checking for names of ancestors in the Essex County Court case files last week
when I ran across this case. Thomas Tuck seems to have been a bit of a character, a
man who liked his liquor a bit too much. Most of the mentions about him have to
do with him being drunk. That's a subject for another blogpost. One case though
possibly has a connection with the stolen bell. Some years before, Richard More
had dug a well and Thomas' cow fell in and broke its neck. So that may have been
the reason why Thomas helped steal the bell and then readily admitted doing it
years later: payback.
Also, the case points up again that early Puritan New England was not so much
a shining example of Christian virtue. There was a rivalry not only between the
town of Salem and the settlers of what would later become Beverly, there was one
apparently even between the churches over bells. I've come to think of it as "belfry
envy".
Finally, something about all this sounded familiar and then I realized where I'd heard of
it before. About ten years I read a book, David Lindsay's biography of Richard More, Mayflower Bastard, in which the church bell has a certain symbolism in More's life. I lost the book
someplace along the line, but it was very good, and I recommend it.
My Tuck descent down to my grandfather:
I was checking for names of ancestors in the Essex County Court case files last week
when I ran across this case. Thomas Tuck seems to have been a bit of a character, a
man who liked his liquor a bit too much. Most of the mentions about him have to
do with him being drunk. That's a subject for another blogpost. One case though
possibly has a connection with the stolen bell. Some years before, Richard More
had dug a well and Thomas' cow fell in and broke its neck. So that may have been
the reason why Thomas helped steal the bell and then readily admitted doing it
years later: payback.
Also, the case points up again that early Puritan New England was not so much
a shining example of Christian virtue. There was a rivalry not only between the
town of Salem and the settlers of what would later become Beverly, there was one
apparently even between the churches over bells. I've come to think of it as "belfry
envy".
Finally, something about all this sounded familiar and then I realized where I'd heard of
it before. About ten years I read a book, David Lindsay's biography of Richard More, Mayflower Bastard, in which the church bell has a certain symbolism in More's life. I lost the book
someplace along the line, but it was very good, and I recommend it.
My Tuck descent down to my grandfather:
Thursday, March 30, 2017
THOMAS TUCK AND THE STOLEN BELL PT2
Continuing the testimony in the trial of my ancestor Thomas Tuck charged with stealing
a church bell from the yard of Richard More:
Capt. William Dixcy deposed that soon after the taking of the forts, Capt. Lawthrop signified by letter to them that he had procured a bell for their meeting-house and had sent it home by Capt. More. He, with others, went to Capt. More who asked if they had a bill of lading or an order from the General. They not having either, he refused to let them have it. Sworn in court.
Capt. William Dixcy, aged seventy-two years, testified that soon after the return of Major Sedgwick from St. John's and Port Royall, the latter, with Major Leverett, being in company on a journey from the eastward to Boston happened to come into deponent's house. They sat down and discoursed there a while and among other things Major Leverett asked "mee what our towns name was. I answered him that wee weer no town as yet: then sayd hee you may do well to lett Major Sedgwick haue the honor of nameing the town when it is made a town for he hath giuen Captain Lawthrop a bell for your place and this to the best of my Remembrance was before wee had any notice giuen us of it any other way." Sworn in court.
Joshua Hobart certified at Boston, Oct. 18, 1679, that he, living at Bass river when the French forts were, by Major Robert Sedgwick, reduced to English obedience, there was a bell at Capt. Richard More's of the spoils, and which in his absence was taken away, etc. Wit: Joshua Hobart* and Isaac Pepper.* Sworn, Oct. 18, 1679, before Joshua Hobart,* commissioner.
Jeremy Hobart* testified to the same, 25 :9 : 1679, before Edm. Batter,* commissioner in Salem.
John Dodge, jr., aged about forty years, and Nathaniel Hayward, aged about thirty-seven years, deposed that being in company with Capt. More about two years ago he told them that the bell which is at Beverly was for Capt. Lowtrop but, said More, "you beuerly men did steal ye bell in yt you took ye bell without order when I was not at home." Sworn in court.
Nathaniell Sharpe, aged about thirty-five years, deposed that he saw some Beverly men take the bell out of More's yard and Thomas Tuck and Thomas Pigdon were two of them. Joshua Ward affirmed the same. Sworn in court.
Georg Stanly, aged about forty-four years, testified that about the time that Salem new meeting house was built, "I being in company with Captain Lawthrop, Capt More and Capt. Joseph Gardner at Capt. Gardners hous I heard Capt. Gardner say to Captain Lawthrop I think said he wee must haue your Bell for our meeting hous is bigger than yours and your bell is bigger than ours I think wee may doe well to change bells. Captain Lawthrop Replyed hee knew no need of that our bell said hee is very well where it is, the bell was giuen to mee for the place where now it is: Captain More answered him that allthough the bell weere giuen to you yet said hee I dont know but I might haue kept the bell as well as you for I brought it home and I neuer gaue a bill of lading for it neither was I euer paid for the freight of it. Captain Lawthrop answered Captain More that hee might haue kept such and such things naming seuerall things as well as the bell for I had no more bill of lading to show for them said hee then for the Bell: Come Come said Captain Mor let us drink up our wine and say no more of it I supose wee shall neuer trouble you for none of them." Sworn in court.
Anthony Needam, aged about forty-eight years, deposed that he was a soldier under Major Sedgwick and heard Capt. Lawthrop ask for a bell for the new meeting house in the plantation where he dwelt. Deponent heard Capt. Lawthrop ask again at Port Royal when Major Sedgwick was standing in the fort and he gave him the bell in the friary, deponent and Capt. Lawthrop throwing it down to the ground. Then deponent and others took it down to Capt. Moor's ketch to ship home. Sworn in court
John Floyd testified that he was at the taking of the French forts, etc. Sworn in court.
-pp311-312
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 7 (Google eBook) 1678-1680 Salem, Ma. 1919
I'll have a few thoughts about all this in the third post in this series.
a church bell from the yard of Richard More:
Capt. William Dixcy deposed that soon after the taking of the forts, Capt. Lawthrop signified by letter to them that he had procured a bell for their meeting-house and had sent it home by Capt. More. He, with others, went to Capt. More who asked if they had a bill of lading or an order from the General. They not having either, he refused to let them have it. Sworn in court.
Capt. William Dixcy, aged seventy-two years, testified that soon after the return of Major Sedgwick from St. John's and Port Royall, the latter, with Major Leverett, being in company on a journey from the eastward to Boston happened to come into deponent's house. They sat down and discoursed there a while and among other things Major Leverett asked "mee what our towns name was. I answered him that wee weer no town as yet: then sayd hee you may do well to lett Major Sedgwick haue the honor of nameing the town when it is made a town for he hath giuen Captain Lawthrop a bell for your place and this to the best of my Remembrance was before wee had any notice giuen us of it any other way." Sworn in court.
Joshua Hobart certified at Boston, Oct. 18, 1679, that he, living at Bass river when the French forts were, by Major Robert Sedgwick, reduced to English obedience, there was a bell at Capt. Richard More's of the spoils, and which in his absence was taken away, etc. Wit: Joshua Hobart* and Isaac Pepper.* Sworn, Oct. 18, 1679, before Joshua Hobart,* commissioner.
Jeremy Hobart* testified to the same, 25 :9 : 1679, before Edm. Batter,* commissioner in Salem.
John Dodge, jr., aged about forty years, and Nathaniel Hayward, aged about thirty-seven years, deposed that being in company with Capt. More about two years ago he told them that the bell which is at Beverly was for Capt. Lowtrop but, said More, "you beuerly men did steal ye bell in yt you took ye bell without order when I was not at home." Sworn in court.
Nathaniell Sharpe, aged about thirty-five years, deposed that he saw some Beverly men take the bell out of More's yard and Thomas Tuck and Thomas Pigdon were two of them. Joshua Ward affirmed the same. Sworn in court.
Georg Stanly, aged about forty-four years, testified that about the time that Salem new meeting house was built, "I being in company with Captain Lawthrop, Capt More and Capt. Joseph Gardner at Capt. Gardners hous I heard Capt. Gardner say to Captain Lawthrop I think said he wee must haue your Bell for our meeting hous is bigger than yours and your bell is bigger than ours I think wee may doe well to change bells. Captain Lawthrop Replyed hee knew no need of that our bell said hee is very well where it is, the bell was giuen to mee for the place where now it is: Captain More answered him that allthough the bell weere giuen to you yet said hee I dont know but I might haue kept the bell as well as you for I brought it home and I neuer gaue a bill of lading for it neither was I euer paid for the freight of it. Captain Lawthrop answered Captain More that hee might haue kept such and such things naming seuerall things as well as the bell for I had no more bill of lading to show for them said hee then for the Bell: Come Come said Captain Mor let us drink up our wine and say no more of it I supose wee shall neuer trouble you for none of them." Sworn in court.
Anthony Needam, aged about forty-eight years, deposed that he was a soldier under Major Sedgwick and heard Capt. Lawthrop ask for a bell for the new meeting house in the plantation where he dwelt. Deponent heard Capt. Lawthrop ask again at Port Royal when Major Sedgwick was standing in the fort and he gave him the bell in the friary, deponent and Capt. Lawthrop throwing it down to the ground. Then deponent and others took it down to Capt. Moor's ketch to ship home. Sworn in court
John Floyd testified that he was at the taking of the French forts, etc. Sworn in court.
-pp311-312
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 7 (Google eBook) 1678-1680 Salem, Ma. 1919
I'll have a few thoughts about all this in the third post in this series.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
THOMAS TUCK AND THE STOLEN BELL PT1
((Before my 52 Ancestors entry for my 7x great grandfather Thomas Tuck, I want to
revisit my posts from 2 years ago about his legal situation over a bell.))
In 1654 the Massachusetts Bay Colony sent an expedition against French settlements
at Castine, Maine, and two locations in Canada: St. Johns, New Brunswick, and Port Royal,
Nova Scotia. The force of 300 men was led by Robert Sedgwick. In the taking of Port
Royal the Protestant colonists looted and burned a Catholic monastery, and one of the
looted items was a church bell. We probably would have never known about the bell except
that twenty five years later it was the object of contention at a session of the Essex County
Court held at Salem in November 1679. One of the people involved was my 9x great
grandfather Thomas Tuck:
Capt. Richard More v. Wm. Dodg, jr. and Tho. Tuck, sr. Verdict for plaintiff.f
fWrit: Capt. Richard More v. William Dodge, jr., and Thomas Tuck, sr.; for illegally taking away a bell from plaintiff without his consent, which bell hangs in Beverly meeting house; dated 18 : 9 : 1679; signed by Hilliard Veren, for the court and the town of Salem; and served by Henry Skerry, marshal of Salem, by attachment of the house and land of Thomas Tuck, and a table and chest of William Dodge, jr.
Richard More's bill of cost, 2li. 12s. 8d.
Henry Kenny, aged about fifty-five years, testified that he was a soldier under Major Sedgwick about twenty-five years ago, at the taking of St. John's from the French and heard Capt. Lawthrop ask the General to give him a bell, which the General promised to do. Sworn in court.
Henry Skerry, marshal, deposed that when he served the attachment, Thomas Tuck told him that he and some others took the bell out of Capt. Richard More's yard.
Mr. Jeremy Hubbard of Topsfield deposed that he had heard divers times Thom. Tuck say that he and Thomas Picton took the bell. This was when deponent was minister at Bass river, now Beverly. Sworn in court.
-p310
revisit my posts from 2 years ago about his legal situation over a bell.))
In 1654 the Massachusetts Bay Colony sent an expedition against French settlements
at Castine, Maine, and two locations in Canada: St. Johns, New Brunswick, and Port Royal,
Nova Scotia. The force of 300 men was led by Robert Sedgwick. In the taking of Port
Royal the Protestant colonists looted and burned a Catholic monastery, and one of the
looted items was a church bell. We probably would have never known about the bell except
that twenty five years later it was the object of contention at a session of the Essex County
Court held at Salem in November 1679. One of the people involved was my 9x great
grandfather Thomas Tuck:
Capt. Richard More v. Wm. Dodg, jr. and Tho. Tuck, sr. Verdict for plaintiff.f
fWrit: Capt. Richard More v. William Dodge, jr., and Thomas Tuck, sr.; for illegally taking away a bell from plaintiff without his consent, which bell hangs in Beverly meeting house; dated 18 : 9 : 1679; signed by Hilliard Veren, for the court and the town of Salem; and served by Henry Skerry, marshal of Salem, by attachment of the house and land of Thomas Tuck, and a table and chest of William Dodge, jr.
Richard More's bill of cost, 2li. 12s. 8d.
Henry Kenny, aged about fifty-five years, testified that he was a soldier under Major Sedgwick about twenty-five years ago, at the taking of St. John's from the French and heard Capt. Lawthrop ask the General to give him a bell, which the General promised to do. Sworn in court.
Henry Skerry, marshal, deposed that when he served the attachment, Thomas Tuck told him that he and some others took the bell out of Capt. Richard More's yard.
Mr. Jeremy Hubbard of Topsfield deposed that he had heard divers times Thom. Tuck say that he and Thomas Picton took the bell. This was when deponent was minister at Bass river, now Beverly. Sworn in court.
-p310
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 7 (Google eBook) 1678-1680 Salem, Ma. 1919
So Thomas freely admitted he had stolen the bell from Richard More's yard.
There's more testimony, which will be in the next post.
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 8: THOMAS ROWLANDSON JR. OF IPSWICH AND SALISBURY, MA
My 8x great grandfather Thomas Rowlandson seems to have been moderately active in the
Salisbury, Ma. community. Here's what David Webster Hoyt wrote about him in his book:
2 Thomas^ Rowlandson [or Rolenson] {Thomas^), of Ipswich and Salisbury, m. May 17, 1653[S Sm], Dorothy Portland. He was of Ip. in 1648 ; rem. to S. ab. 1652, taxed in S. that year and in 1659 ; signed petitions of 1658 and '80 ; member of S. chh. 1677 ; d. July, 1682[S] ; will July 7, Sep. 21, 1682 ; wife Dorothy ment. ; also son Joseph and four daus., without giving names. Wid. seems to be named " Dorothy Perin," in 1689 ; but " Dorothy Rowlandson " appears in 1694. Children :
6 i Elizabeth,3 b. June 7, 16.54[S]; d. July 29, 16o5[S].
7 ii Thomas,3 b. July 5, 1656rs] ; killed by Indians in the attack upon his uncle's house in Lancaster, Feb. 10, 1675-6.
8 iii Sarah,3 b. Aug. 5, 1658[S]; m. Dec. 5, 1684[S], (18) Nicholas Bond.+
9 iv Elizabeth,3 b. Feb. 26, 1660[S] ;* [m. John Ellenwood, and d. bef. 1706?].t
10 v Joseph,3 b. Feb. 18, 1663[S]; res. S.; "cordwinder" in 1689; d. bef. Sep. 28, 1694, when his mother Dorothy was ap. adm. his est.
11 vI Mary 3 b. Aug. 24, ]666[S]; m. Feb. 7, 1687-8[S], (1) Jonathan Blodgett. +
12 vii Martha,3 b. Aug. 24, 1666[S],* [twin], prob. m. bef. 1706, Ralph Ellenwood. t
13 viii John, 3 b. March 20, 1667-8[S] ; prob. d. young.
14 ix Ann 3 b. March 16, 1668-9[S] ; prob. d. young. p.307
The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1 Providence, RI. 1897
There's also an interesting footnote about his estate:
t In an agreement about the est. of Thomas Rowlandson, signed April 8, 1706, by wid. Sarah Bond and Samuel Joy, of S., (in right as purchaser of J. Blodgett and Mary his wife), " John Eleuwood and Ralph Elenwood and Martha his wife," are given as children of Thomas Rowlandson. The will of Ralph Ellenwood of Beverly, 1674, ment. wife Eleanor, and chil. : Ralph, John, Joseph, Benjamin, David, Mary, and Elizabeth. John and Benj. Ellenwood, sons of Ralph Ellenwood, deed., were living in Beverly in 1694. p.307 ibid.
I've found the original probate file at AmericanAncestors.org but haven't transcribed it as yet.
I haven't found the later agreement, though.
I've been thinking about something that occurred to me when I first read the information in
Hoyt's book. Salisbury is roughly twenty five miles north of Beverly up the Massachusetts
coastline. Today that's not that far by car but back in the mid-to late 17th century that was
quite a distance. I assume Ralph Ellingwood met Martha Rowlandson because she was his
sister in law. But how did his older brother John meet Elizabeth Rowlandson?
Salisbury, Ma. community. Here's what David Webster Hoyt wrote about him in his book:
2 Thomas^ Rowlandson [or Rolenson] {Thomas^), of Ipswich and Salisbury, m. May 17, 1653[S Sm], Dorothy Portland. He was of Ip. in 1648 ; rem. to S. ab. 1652, taxed in S. that year and in 1659 ; signed petitions of 1658 and '80 ; member of S. chh. 1677 ; d. July, 1682[S] ; will July 7, Sep. 21, 1682 ; wife Dorothy ment. ; also son Joseph and four daus., without giving names. Wid. seems to be named " Dorothy Perin," in 1689 ; but " Dorothy Rowlandson " appears in 1694. Children :
6 i Elizabeth,3 b. June 7, 16.54[S]; d. July 29, 16o5[S].
7 ii Thomas,3 b. July 5, 1656rs] ; killed by Indians in the attack upon his uncle's house in Lancaster, Feb. 10, 1675-6.
8 iii Sarah,3 b. Aug. 5, 1658[S]; m. Dec. 5, 1684[S], (18) Nicholas Bond.+
9 iv Elizabeth,3 b. Feb. 26, 1660[S] ;* [m. John Ellenwood, and d. bef. 1706?].t
10 v Joseph,3 b. Feb. 18, 1663[S]; res. S.; "cordwinder" in 1689; d. bef. Sep. 28, 1694, when his mother Dorothy was ap. adm. his est.
11 vI Mary 3 b. Aug. 24, ]666[S]; m. Feb. 7, 1687-8[S], (1) Jonathan Blodgett. +
12 vii Martha,3 b. Aug. 24, 1666[S],* [twin], prob. m. bef. 1706, Ralph Ellenwood. t
13 viii John, 3 b. March 20, 1667-8[S] ; prob. d. young.
14 ix Ann 3 b. March 16, 1668-9[S] ; prob. d. young. p.307
The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1 Providence, RI. 1897
There's also an interesting footnote about his estate:
t In an agreement about the est. of Thomas Rowlandson, signed April 8, 1706, by wid. Sarah Bond and Samuel Joy, of S., (in right as purchaser of J. Blodgett and Mary his wife), " John Eleuwood and Ralph Elenwood and Martha his wife," are given as children of Thomas Rowlandson. The will of Ralph Ellenwood of Beverly, 1674, ment. wife Eleanor, and chil. : Ralph, John, Joseph, Benjamin, David, Mary, and Elizabeth. John and Benj. Ellenwood, sons of Ralph Ellenwood, deed., were living in Beverly in 1694. p.307 ibid.
I've found the original probate file at AmericanAncestors.org but haven't transcribed it as yet.
I haven't found the later agreement, though.
I've been thinking about something that occurred to me when I first read the information in
Hoyt's book. Salisbury is roughly twenty five miles north of Beverly up the Massachusetts
coastline. Today that's not that far by car but back in the mid-to late 17th century that was
quite a distance. I assume Ralph Ellingwood met Martha Rowlandson because she was his
sister in law. But how did his older brother John meet Elizabeth Rowlandson?
Monday, March 27, 2017
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 7: THOMAS ROWLANDSON SR. OF IPSWICH, SALISBURY AND LANCASTER, MA.
My 7x great grandmother Martha (Rowlandson) Ellingwood was the granddaughter of immigrant
ancestor Thomas Rowlandson Sr..
I found the following entry for him in David Webster Hoyt's book The old families of Salisbury
and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1:
1 Thomas^ Rowlandson [Rolenson, or Rawlinson], of Ipswich and Lancaster, m. Bridget___ . He was in Ip. in 1637 ; free. 1688 ; rem. to L. in 1655 ; d. there, Nov. 17, 1657. Wid. Bridget m. May 31, 1659, William Kerley, Sen. ; she d. June 14, 1662. Children :
2 i Thomas,2 b. ; m. May 17, 1653, Dorothy Portland. +
3 ii Elizabeth.^ b. ; m. 1st, Dea. Richard Wells of S.; 2d, Oct. 24, or 27, 1677, John Harris of Rw. +
4 iii Martha,2 b. ; m. (2) John Eaton. +
5 iv Joseph,^ b. ab. 1631 ; m. 1656, Mary White. +
-pp306-307
The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1 Providence, RI. 1897
Hoyt uses the abbreviations S. for Salisbury, Ip. for Ipswich and L. for Lancaster, all in Massachusetts.
Thomas Sr. died intestate. I found the probate file with the estate inventory over on the AmericanAncestors.org website but it will take a bit to decipher it.
There's a link here with my dad's maternal Barker line through the marriage of youngest son
Joseph Rowlandson'smarriage to Mary White
ancestor Thomas Rowlandson Sr..
I found the following entry for him in David Webster Hoyt's book The old families of Salisbury
and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1:
1 Thomas^ Rowlandson [Rolenson, or Rawlinson], of Ipswich and Lancaster, m. Bridget___ . He was in Ip. in 1637 ; free. 1688 ; rem. to L. in 1655 ; d. there, Nov. 17, 1657. Wid. Bridget m. May 31, 1659, William Kerley, Sen. ; she d. June 14, 1662. Children :
2 i Thomas,2 b. ; m. May 17, 1653, Dorothy Portland. +
3 ii Elizabeth.^ b. ; m. 1st, Dea. Richard Wells of S.; 2d, Oct. 24, or 27, 1677, John Harris of Rw. +
4 iii Martha,2 b. ; m. (2) John Eaton. +
5 iv Joseph,^ b. ab. 1631 ; m. 1656, Mary White. +
-pp306-307
The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton Vol 1 Providence, RI. 1897
Hoyt uses the abbreviations S. for Salisbury, Ip. for Ipswich and L. for Lancaster, all in Massachusetts.
Thomas Sr. died intestate. I found the probate file with the estate inventory over on the AmericanAncestors.org website but it will take a bit to decipher it.
There's a link here with my dad's maternal Barker line through the marriage of youngest son
Joseph Rowlandson'smarriage to Mary White
Friday, March 24, 2017
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY RECORDS COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 24MARCH 2017
Over 700 thousand new record additions this Findmypast Friday from Canada, Australia,
and the United States:
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Manitoba probate records 1871-1930 browse
289 VOLUMES
Uncover details of your ancestor's will and explore more than 802,000 images of original
estate files, application books and indexes covering the Canadian province of Manitoba.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Register Of Prisoners Under Sentence Of Hard Labour 1847-1853
576 RECORDS
Find out if your convict ancestor was sentenced to hard labour and uncover detailed personal information including a personal history and description.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Cemeteries
146,000 ENTRIES
Explore records from five cemeteries in Victoria spanning the years 1856 to 2005, to uncover
vital details about your ancestor’s death, and next of kin.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS
United States Marriages
New records: 616,000
Total records: Over 168 million records
Covering: Virginia & Rhode Island
Discover: Birth year, marriage year, location, parents’ names, spouse's details
SEARCH THESE RECORDS
Victoria Burials & Memorials
New records: 378
Total records: 182,974
Covering: Over 170 cemeteries between 1828 and 1997
Discover: When your ancestor died and where they were laid to rest
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
and the United States:
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Manitoba probate records 1871-1930 browse
289 VOLUMES
Uncover details of your ancestor's will and explore more than 802,000 images of original
estate files, application books and indexes covering the Canadian province of Manitoba.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Register Of Prisoners Under Sentence Of Hard Labour 1847-1853
576 RECORDS
Find out if your convict ancestor was sentenced to hard labour and uncover detailed personal information including a personal history and description.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Cemeteries
146,000 ENTRIES
Explore records from five cemeteries in Victoria spanning the years 1856 to 2005, to uncover
vital details about your ancestor’s death, and next of kin.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS
United States Marriages
New records: 616,000
Total records: Over 168 million records
Covering: Virginia & Rhode Island
Discover: Birth year, marriage year, location, parents’ names, spouse's details
SEARCH THESE RECORDS
Victoria Burials & Memorials
New records: 378
Total records: 182,974
Covering: Over 170 cemeteries between 1828 and 1997
Discover: When your ancestor died and where they were laid to rest
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
THE ELLINGWOOD WIVES
Before I start posting about the Ellingwood wives,a brief overview.
Most of my Dad's colonial ancestors on his mom's side are from the counties north and west of Boston. But on his father's there are four branches from the south in Plymouth County, and two
are from Ellingwood marriages.
The first is through my 3x great grandmother Rachel Barrows who married John Ellingwood Jr.
The other is 2x great grandmother Florilla Dunham, wife of Asa Ellingwood. Florilla was an Ellingwood descendant herself, and when I try to print out a descendant chart between Asa Ellingwood and my Dad, it gives it through Florilla because she is descended from Ralph's oldest child, Mary Ellingwood,
From the other Ellingwood wives I have more connections to the north and in some cases to
families on the Barker side of the family,.
I'll be discussing the family of my 7x great grandmother Martha Rowlandson first.
Most of my Dad's colonial ancestors on his mom's side are from the counties north and west of Boston. But on his father's there are four branches from the south in Plymouth County, and two
are from Ellingwood marriages.
The first is through my 3x great grandmother Rachel Barrows who married John Ellingwood Jr.
The other is 2x great grandmother Florilla Dunham, wife of Asa Ellingwood. Florilla was an Ellingwood descendant herself, and when I try to print out a descendant chart between Asa Ellingwood and my Dad, it gives it through Florilla because she is descended from Ralph's oldest child, Mary Ellingwood,
From the other Ellingwood wives I have more connections to the north and in some cases to
families on the Barker side of the family,.
I'll be discussing the family of my 7x great grandmother Martha Rowlandson first.
Friday, March 17, 2017
FRANK MCFARLAND'S LIVING BURIAL
((In honor of St Patrick's Day and my Mom's Irish family, I'm reprinting this transcription of
the newspaper account of the death of Frank McFarland, who I believe to be my great
granduncle. Like many Irish immigrants to Boston in the 1800's, he worked at construction jobs ))
Here is my transcription of the story in the Boston Daily Globe on Saturday, August 14th,1886
with the details of the terrible accident that took my great granduncle Frank McFarland's life
on the day before which, I just now realized, was Friday the 13th! One of his two brothers mentioned
in the report was probably my great grandfather John McFarland . For some reason, the reporter
spells the family name as McFarlane:
"Dead Under Tons of Land
Frank McFarlane's Living Burial
The Caving Ditch at Brighton And The Struggle for Life
The Successful Search For The Body
Cunningham's Escape"
The body of Frank McFarlane, who yesterday morning at 10.30 was buried by
the accidental caving in of the sides of a ditch in which he was working, was
discovered last evening at 5.26. He was sent about nine days ago to brace the
sewer ditch on Waverley street, Brighton. On account of the treacherous
character of the soil, which is of a sandy, gravelly nature, a skilful man was
required. Yesterday morning Mr. Grace, who is superintending the construction
of the sewer, spoke to McFarlane about polling braces at the bottom of the
ditch, which was about fifteen feet deep. At first McFarlane thought such
precaution unnecessary, but finally decided to act upon the suggestion,
and, taking Thomas Cunningham, had begun strengthening the bottom of
the ditch when one of the men above cried:
"Come out, both of you, as quick as you can; the ditch is caving!"
Cunningham immediately ran towards the nearest exit, which was at the
westerly end, and McFarlane, after a moment, started for the opening in the
opposite direction. Cunningham succeeded in making his escape while, as
the result showed, McFarlane was overtaken about half way between the
point from which he started and the exit, and was buried alive beneath
tons of sand and gravel.
All the afternoon a gang of about sixty men, many of them without dinner,
labored hard and earnestly with the faint hope that the braces might have fallen
from both sides and prevented him from being crushed. As the afternoon
wore on and the loose soil continued caving and preventing rapid headway
this hope began to vanish, and at about 5.26, when John Coughlin cried,
"Here he is!" scarcely one of the immense crowd that had gathered expected
to see anything but a lifeless corpse.
At the moment the body was found two men rushed in from the crowd which
had been roped off by the officers, and, in spite of the detaining cries of those
in charge, made straight for the edge of the ditch, crying: "Is his name Mcfarlane?
Is he dead?" They were the two brothers of the victim, and had spent the
afternoon in a wild search among the hospitals and police stations of the city
for their brother, whom they had heard was killed.The grief of these two
strong men, both of whom sat around on the ground and wept like children,
was heartrending.
It was almost an hour after the body was discovered that it could be extricated
from the earth and timbers. When this was at length accomplished, and the
body of the unfortunate man was borne in the rough and brawny arms of his
comrades carefully and gently to the ambulance which was in waiting, sobs
and exclamations of pity arose from all sides. The hands were found to be
open with the fingers close together, like those of a man swimming, while
upon the face was a calm look, as if the victim, after a brief struggle with his
hands, had desisted and become resigned to his fate.
The body was conveyed to Station 14, whence it will be removed to 13 Coventry
street, where the unfortunate man lived, Although McFarlane was unmarried
and had no family of his own, he leaves an aged father and mother, to whose
support he was the principal contributor. "
My great grandfather John McFarland had already lost two infant children and now with
the death of his brother must have decided to purchase a family plot at St. Benedict's Cemetery.
The burial didn't take place until a week later after the children were exhumed and all three were
buried on the same day,
Of the twelve McFarland family members on the list, only the last four are on the headstone:
my great grandparents John and Ann, my grandaunt Winifred, and my grandmother Agnes.
the newspaper account of the death of Frank McFarland, who I believe to be my great
granduncle. Like many Irish immigrants to Boston in the 1800's, he worked at construction jobs ))
Here is my transcription of the story in the Boston Daily Globe on Saturday, August 14th,1886
with the details of the terrible accident that took my great granduncle Frank McFarland's life
on the day before which, I just now realized, was Friday the 13th! One of his two brothers mentioned
in the report was probably my great grandfather John McFarland . For some reason, the reporter
spells the family name as McFarlane:
"Dead Under Tons of Land
Frank McFarlane's Living Burial
The Caving Ditch at Brighton And The Struggle for Life
The Successful Search For The Body
Cunningham's Escape"
The body of Frank McFarlane, who yesterday morning at 10.30 was buried by
the accidental caving in of the sides of a ditch in which he was working, was
discovered last evening at 5.26. He was sent about nine days ago to brace the
sewer ditch on Waverley street, Brighton. On account of the treacherous
character of the soil, which is of a sandy, gravelly nature, a skilful man was
required. Yesterday morning Mr. Grace, who is superintending the construction
of the sewer, spoke to McFarlane about polling braces at the bottom of the
ditch, which was about fifteen feet deep. At first McFarlane thought such
precaution unnecessary, but finally decided to act upon the suggestion,
and, taking Thomas Cunningham, had begun strengthening the bottom of
the ditch when one of the men above cried:
"Come out, both of you, as quick as you can; the ditch is caving!"
Cunningham immediately ran towards the nearest exit, which was at the
westerly end, and McFarlane, after a moment, started for the opening in the
opposite direction. Cunningham succeeded in making his escape while, as
the result showed, McFarlane was overtaken about half way between the
point from which he started and the exit, and was buried alive beneath
tons of sand and gravel.
All the afternoon a gang of about sixty men, many of them without dinner,
labored hard and earnestly with the faint hope that the braces might have fallen
from both sides and prevented him from being crushed. As the afternoon
wore on and the loose soil continued caving and preventing rapid headway
this hope began to vanish, and at about 5.26, when John Coughlin cried,
"Here he is!" scarcely one of the immense crowd that had gathered expected
to see anything but a lifeless corpse.
At the moment the body was found two men rushed in from the crowd which
had been roped off by the officers, and, in spite of the detaining cries of those
in charge, made straight for the edge of the ditch, crying: "Is his name Mcfarlane?
Is he dead?" They were the two brothers of the victim, and had spent the
afternoon in a wild search among the hospitals and police stations of the city
for their brother, whom they had heard was killed.The grief of these two
strong men, both of whom sat around on the ground and wept like children,
was heartrending.
It was almost an hour after the body was discovered that it could be extricated
from the earth and timbers. When this was at length accomplished, and the
body of the unfortunate man was borne in the rough and brawny arms of his
comrades carefully and gently to the ambulance which was in waiting, sobs
and exclamations of pity arose from all sides. The hands were found to be
open with the fingers close together, like those of a man swimming, while
upon the face was a calm look, as if the victim, after a brief struggle with his
hands, had desisted and become resigned to his fate.
The body was conveyed to Station 14, whence it will be removed to 13 Coventry
street, where the unfortunate man lived, Although McFarlane was unmarried
and had no family of his own, he leaves an aged father and mother, to whose
support he was the principal contributor. "
My great grandfather John McFarland had already lost two infant children and now with
the death of his brother must have decided to purchase a family plot at St. Benedict's Cemetery.
The burial didn't take place until a week later after the children were exhumed and all three were
buried on the same day,
my great grandparents John and Ann, my grandaunt Winifred, and my grandmother Agnes.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
THE ST. JOHN'S CROSS OF COHASSET, MA.
((In honor of St Patrick's Day, I'm reposting this from March, 2012))
I've written before about the way some work of chance leads me to
encounters with places related to my family's history. Last month
I took some pictures in a local cemetery that I thought might make a
good St Patrick's Day post, a reminder of the perils our Irish ancestors
braved to come to America. But when I researched the story behind
a stone monument, I didn't realize that while I was not related to the
dead it commemorated, I was connected to it in another way.
A tall Celtic cross sits atop a small hill in the midst of the Central Cemetery in
Cohasset, Ma, overlooking a tidal pond. On the landward side is the
following inscription:
This Cross Was Erected And Dedicated
May 30th 1914 By The A.O.H. And The L.A.A.O.H.
Of Massachusetts To Mark The Final
Resting Place Of About Forty Five
Irish Emigrants From A Total Company
Of Ninety Nine Who Lost Their Lives
On Grampus Ledge Off Cohasset
October 7, 1849 In The Wreck Of The
Brig St.John From Galway Ireland
R.I.P.
Edwin Victor Bigelow gives the details of the wreck of the St.John in
his A Narrative History of the Town of Cohasset, Massachusetts, published
by the Cohasset Town Historical Commission in 1898:
On Sunday morning at seven o'clock, October 7, 1849, under a heavy northeast
storm, the British brig St. John, loaded with immigrants brought from Galway,
Ireland, was driven upon Grampus Ledge near Minot, and ninetynine lives
were lost. Another brig, the Kathleen, had managed to creep into the mouth
of our harbor and to anchor; but the St. John was farther out where the gale
struck furiously and made her drag anchors.
The masts were cut away, but still she dragged on. After the first heavy thump
on the Grampus Rock the old hulk rapidly tumbled to bits. Previous to the
breaking up, the jolly-boat was hanging by the tackles alongside when the
stern ringbolt broke and she fell into the waves. Captain Oliver, the second
mate, and two boys jumped into her to clear her, when about twenty-five
passengers poured into her and swamped her so that all perished but the
captain. The first mate hauled in the captain, who caught the end of a rope.
Then the longboat was loosed and the captain with the first mate and eight
of the crew and two passengers scrambled into her, reaching shore at the
Glades. Many more passengers were drowned in their desperate endeavors
to get into the longboat which saved the captain and crew. Ten others, upon
a piece of the deck which was wrenched off by the waves, were floated
safely to shore, seven men and three women.
The St. John was only an hour in tumbling to pieces under the incessant banging
of the waves upon her. Ninety-nine lives were lost and twenty-two were saved.
One of the survivors was a young woman who afterwards settled in Cohasset,
marrying a man whose name was by strange coincidence St. John. (pp463-464)
You can also read about the aftermath of the wreck by no less an author than
Henry David Thoreau who happened upon the scene the day after the storm
as bodies were being recovered and buried by the townspeople of
Cohasset. His account of the incident can be found in his book On Cape Cod.
Now we come to the coincidence:
The wreck of the St John took place while construction was being completed
of a lighthouse at nearby Minot Rock. On page 463 of Bigelow's book, just
before his recounting of the tragedy, there is this on the lighthouse:
"It was finished in the fall of 1849, and Isaac A. Dunham took charge of it,
lighting the lamp for the first time on December 13, 1849."
Isaac Dunham was the first Keeper of Minot Light. Even though it was not
in service at the time of the storm that sank the St John, he was present in
Cohasset and part of the group dealing with the aftermath. He stayed
at Minot Light only ten months, resigning in 1850 because he felt the
structure was unsafe. A year later the first Minot Lighthouse was destroyed
by a terrible storm, taking the lives of two men stationed there.
My great great grandmother was Florilla Dunham, Isaac Dunham is my 2x
cousin 7x removed, and many of his relatives qre buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery
here in Abington,
And I wouldn't have known about him except for taking these pictures in
the cemetery in Cohasset, and then using two of them for a St Patrick's
Day post!
I've written before about the way some work of chance leads me to
encounters with places related to my family's history. Last month
I took some pictures in a local cemetery that I thought might make a
good St Patrick's Day post, a reminder of the perils our Irish ancestors
braved to come to America. But when I researched the story behind
a stone monument, I didn't realize that while I was not related to the
dead it commemorated, I was connected to it in another way.
A tall Celtic cross sits atop a small hill in the midst of the Central Cemetery in
Cohasset, Ma, overlooking a tidal pond. On the landward side is the
following inscription:
This Cross Was Erected And Dedicated
May 30th 1914 By The A.O.H. And The L.A.A.O.H.
Of Massachusetts To Mark The Final
Resting Place Of About Forty Five
Irish Emigrants From A Total Company
Of Ninety Nine Who Lost Their Lives
On Grampus Ledge Off Cohasset
October 7, 1849 In The Wreck Of The
Brig St.John From Galway Ireland
R.I.P.
Edwin Victor Bigelow gives the details of the wreck of the St.John in
his A Narrative History of the Town of Cohasset, Massachusetts, published
by the Cohasset Town Historical Commission in 1898:
On Sunday morning at seven o'clock, October 7, 1849, under a heavy northeast
storm, the British brig St. John, loaded with immigrants brought from Galway,
Ireland, was driven upon Grampus Ledge near Minot, and ninetynine lives
were lost. Another brig, the Kathleen, had managed to creep into the mouth
of our harbor and to anchor; but the St. John was farther out where the gale
struck furiously and made her drag anchors.
The masts were cut away, but still she dragged on. After the first heavy thump
on the Grampus Rock the old hulk rapidly tumbled to bits. Previous to the
breaking up, the jolly-boat was hanging by the tackles alongside when the
stern ringbolt broke and she fell into the waves. Captain Oliver, the second
mate, and two boys jumped into her to clear her, when about twenty-five
passengers poured into her and swamped her so that all perished but the
captain. The first mate hauled in the captain, who caught the end of a rope.
Then the longboat was loosed and the captain with the first mate and eight
of the crew and two passengers scrambled into her, reaching shore at the
Glades. Many more passengers were drowned in their desperate endeavors
to get into the longboat which saved the captain and crew. Ten others, upon
a piece of the deck which was wrenched off by the waves, were floated
safely to shore, seven men and three women.
The St. John was only an hour in tumbling to pieces under the incessant banging
of the waves upon her. Ninety-nine lives were lost and twenty-two were saved.
One of the survivors was a young woman who afterwards settled in Cohasset,
marrying a man whose name was by strange coincidence St. John. (pp463-464)
You can also read about the aftermath of the wreck by no less an author than
Henry David Thoreau who happened upon the scene the day after the storm
as bodies were being recovered and buried by the townspeople of
Cohasset. His account of the incident can be found in his book On Cape Cod.
Now we come to the coincidence:
The wreck of the St John took place while construction was being completed
of a lighthouse at nearby Minot Rock. On page 463 of Bigelow's book, just
before his recounting of the tragedy, there is this on the lighthouse:
"It was finished in the fall of 1849, and Isaac A. Dunham took charge of it,
lighting the lamp for the first time on December 13, 1849."
Isaac Dunham was the first Keeper of Minot Light. Even though it was not
in service at the time of the storm that sank the St John, he was present in
Cohasset and part of the group dealing with the aftermath. He stayed
at Minot Light only ten months, resigning in 1850 because he felt the
structure was unsafe. A year later the first Minot Lighthouse was destroyed
by a terrible storm, taking the lives of two men stationed there.
My great great grandmother was Florilla Dunham, Isaac Dunham is my 2x
cousin 7x removed, and many of his relatives qre buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery
here in Abington,
And I wouldn't have known about him except for taking these pictures in
the cemetery in Cohasset, and then using two of them for a St Patrick's
Day post!
Monday, March 13, 2017
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY RECORDS COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 10MARCH 2017
The Findmypast Friday record releases for 10 March contain nearly 4 million new records,
mostly for Australia:
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Victoria Wills & Probate
OVER 1,364,000 RECORDS This index includes the names of deceased persons whose estates passed probate through the Supreme Court of Victoria between 1841 and 1989. Discover your ancestor’s death date, occupation, residence and details surrounding their will.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Divorce Cause Books 1861-1938
OVER 39,000 RECORDS Did your Australian ancestor get divorced? Find out when they submitted a petition for divorce at the Prothonotary’s Office of the Supreme Court and the name of their spouse.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Derbyshire, Chesterfield union workhouse death index 1838-1904
OVER 3,000 RECORDS Search this death index to see if your ancestor died in the workhouse and when. Discover their birth year, death date and home parish. Workhouse records are often useful in breaking down brick walls and locating missing ancestors.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Australian Capital Territory Marriages
OVER 1,454 RECORDS Find out whether your ancestors were married in South East Australia, who they married and uncover the information you need to obtain a copy of their marriage certificate.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
New South Wales, Tea Gardens cemetery inscriptions 1898-2008
OVER 500 RECORDS Was your ancestor buried in the Tea Gardens cemetery in New South Wales between the years 1898 to 2014? Find out when they died, the location of their burial plot and read their memorial inscription.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
New South Wales, Stroud Baptismal Register 1892-1925
OVER 200 RECORDS Explore extracts from the Stroud baptismal register and uncover details of baptisms performed in Karuah, Sawyers Point, Limeburner’s Creek, Carrington, Tahlee, and Swan Bay/Mulwee, including the names, occupations and residence of the parents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
British Army, Plovdiv Military Cemetery Burials
OVER 55 RECORDS View images of the memorial stones of British servicemen buried in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Military Cemetery. Discover their date of death, service number, rank, regiment and grave plot.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS:
British Newspapers
New articles: 2,579,524
Total titles: 13
Covering: South East England, Montgomeryshire, North Lanarkshire
Discover: News articles, obituaries, family notices, advertisements and more
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Australian Capital Territory Marriages (update)
New records: 408
Total records: 1,454
Covering: The self-governing territory in southeast Australia, enclaved by New South Wales
Discover: Marriage date, spouse’s name, registration number
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
mostly for Australia:
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Victoria Wills & Probate
OVER 1,364,000 RECORDS This index includes the names of deceased persons whose estates passed probate through the Supreme Court of Victoria between 1841 and 1989. Discover your ancestor’s death date, occupation, residence and details surrounding their will.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Victoria Divorce Cause Books 1861-1938
OVER 39,000 RECORDS Did your Australian ancestor get divorced? Find out when they submitted a petition for divorce at the Prothonotary’s Office of the Supreme Court and the name of their spouse.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Derbyshire, Chesterfield union workhouse death index 1838-1904
OVER 3,000 RECORDS Search this death index to see if your ancestor died in the workhouse and when. Discover their birth year, death date and home parish. Workhouse records are often useful in breaking down brick walls and locating missing ancestors.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Australian Capital Territory Marriages
OVER 1,454 RECORDS Find out whether your ancestors were married in South East Australia, who they married and uncover the information you need to obtain a copy of their marriage certificate.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
New South Wales, Tea Gardens cemetery inscriptions 1898-2008
OVER 500 RECORDS Was your ancestor buried in the Tea Gardens cemetery in New South Wales between the years 1898 to 2014? Find out when they died, the location of their burial plot and read their memorial inscription.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
New South Wales, Stroud Baptismal Register 1892-1925
OVER 200 RECORDS Explore extracts from the Stroud baptismal register and uncover details of baptisms performed in Karuah, Sawyers Point, Limeburner’s Creek, Carrington, Tahlee, and Swan Bay/Mulwee, including the names, occupations and residence of the parents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
British Army, Plovdiv Military Cemetery Burials
OVER 55 RECORDS View images of the memorial stones of British servicemen buried in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Military Cemetery. Discover their date of death, service number, rank, regiment and grave plot.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS:
British Newspapers
New articles: 2,579,524
Total titles: 13
Covering: South East England, Montgomeryshire, North Lanarkshire
Discover: News articles, obituaries, family notices, advertisements and more
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Australian Capital Territory Marriages (update)
New records: 408
Total records: 1,454
Covering: The self-governing territory in southeast Australia, enclaved by New South Wales
Discover: Marriage date, spouse’s name, registration number
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
FREE IRISH RECORDS FOR 5 DAYS AT FINDMYPAST
I received the following press release in my email earlier today:
FINDMYPAST GRANT FIVE DAYS OF
FREE ACCESS TO ALL IRISH
RECORDS IN CELEBRATION OF ST
PATRICK’S DAY 2017
· Findmypast makes entire collection of more than 116 million Irish
records free for five days
· All 116 records free from the 13th to the 17th March 2017
Leading family history website, Findmypast, has just announced that they will be making their entire collection of Irish records free for five days to help budding genealogists uncover their Irish heritage ahead of St Patrick’s Day 2017.
From today, Monday 13th March, until 11.59pm (GMT) Friday 17th March, all 116 million records within Findmypast’s Irish collection will be completely free to search and explore, providing family historians from around the globe with the opportunity to learn more about the lives of their Irish ancestors.
This includes free access to;
· Over 10 million Irish Catholic Parish Registers
· Over 15 million Census, Land & Substitute records including the 1901 and 1911 censuses
· Over 30 million detailed Court & Prison Records
· Over 33 million Irish newspaper articles spanning the years 1708 to 1956
· Over 7.3 million Dog Licences
· Over 24 million Irish Passenger Lists
· Over 2.4 million workhouse & poor law records
· Over1.4 million Irish Quaker records
· Over 350,000 records from World War 1, the Easter Rising & more
· Landed Estates Court records featuring details of over 500,000 tenants residing on estates all over Ireland
· The complete Griffith's Valuation
· Over 2.3 million Social History & Directory Records, including the most comprehensive online collection of national directories, dating back to 1814
· Indexes to Irish wills dating from 1270 – 1858
Free Live Webinar
On Thursday March 16th at 4pm GMT, Findmypast will be hosting a free St Patrick’s Day Webinar presented by Fiona Fitzsimons, the founder and research director of Eneclann, a Trinity College Campus Company. Fiona manages teams of expert researchers to provide Irish and British family history as well as running a successful probate genealogy service. Her talk, entitled, “Secrets to Successful Irish Family Research”, will cover strategies for online research, Irish customs & traditions and collateral records to help “bridge the gaps”.
New Records Available To Search
Thousands of additional records will be added to Findmypast’s extensive Irish collection on Friday 17th March. This will include substantial updates to their collection of Irish Society of Friends (Quaker) records, new directories, administrations, family histories, memorial inscriptions and more. Visit the dedicated Findmypast Friday page to keep up to date with the latest additions.
Learn more at: http://www.findmypast.com/
Tuesday, March 07, 2017
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 6: ASA ELLINGWOOD OF MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE
I've been stuck in a rut lately as far as trying to blog, especially with the 52 Ancestors Challenge.
The problem is that Asa Ellingwood is my next in line for the Ellingwoods and I've already written more posts about Asa (23) than any of my other Ellingwood ancestors. So I finally decided to just post this photograph:
It's the Certificate of Intent for Asa's marriage to Florilla Dunham from the Town Clerk in Paris,
Me. It's dated 22August 1850. Interestingly, the marriage record transcript at "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907," on FamilySearch gives the date of the marriage in Woodstock, Me. as 10Aug 1850.
I'll discuss the families of the Ellingwood wives next.
The problem is that Asa Ellingwood is my next in line for the Ellingwoods and I've already written more posts about Asa (23) than any of my other Ellingwood ancestors. So I finally decided to just post this photograph:
It's the Certificate of Intent for Asa's marriage to Florilla Dunham from the Town Clerk in Paris,
Me. It's dated 22August 1850. Interestingly, the marriage record transcript at "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907," on FamilySearch gives the date of the marriage in Woodstock, Me. as 10Aug 1850.
I'll discuss the families of the Ellingwood wives next.
 | |
| Asa & Florilla (Dunham) Ellingwood |
Sunday, March 05, 2017
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY RECORDS COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 3MARCH 2017
The Findmpast Friday releases for March 3rd 2017 include over 833,000 records from Canada and Great Britain:
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Scotland Post Office Directories
OVER 382,000 RECORDS Did your ancestor own a pub in Shetland, or perhaps they were the local magistrate in Aberdeen? Explore thousands of pages of directories to discover your Scottish ancestor’s occupation and residence
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Post Office Directories Image Browse
BROWSE 598 VOLUMES
An excellent source for both local and family history. Check out over five hundred different directories to uncover brief descriptions of areas, and lists of notable people and local business owners.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Lower Canada Census 1842
OVER 46,000 RECORDS
Explore the 1832 census of Lower Canada to discover your ancestor’s address, language, and occupation, or to gain an understanding of the area they lived in.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Russian Orthodox Church in London
OVER 13,000 RECORDS
Explore volumes of birth, marriage, and death records from the Russian Orthodox Church in London. The records also include correspondences, congregational records, and church documents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS:
Yorkshire Memorial Inscriptions
New records: 7,258
Total records: 103,662
Covering: 174 burial sites across the county
Discover: Age, birth year, death year, location, description and inscription
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Knights of the Realm & Commonwealth index
New records: 351
Total records: 36,084
Covering: Knighthoods from the 11th century up to the present day
Discover: Birth year, death year, award type, year of award, remarks & biography (often includes rank or position/occupation)
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902
New records: 295,204
Total records: 298,369
Covering: All ranks of British Army servicemen
Discover: Service number, rank, unit, regiment, honors & awards, casualties, memorials
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
BRAND NEW RECORDS:
Scotland Post Office Directories
OVER 382,000 RECORDS Did your ancestor own a pub in Shetland, or perhaps they were the local magistrate in Aberdeen? Explore thousands of pages of directories to discover your Scottish ancestor’s occupation and residence
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Scotland Post Office Directories Image Browse
BROWSE 598 VOLUMES
An excellent source for both local and family history. Check out over five hundred different directories to uncover brief descriptions of areas, and lists of notable people and local business owners.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Lower Canada Census 1842
OVER 46,000 RECORDS
Explore the 1832 census of Lower Canada to discover your ancestor’s address, language, and occupation, or to gain an understanding of the area they lived in.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Russian Orthodox Church in London
OVER 13,000 RECORDS
Explore volumes of birth, marriage, and death records from the Russian Orthodox Church in London. The records also include correspondences, congregational records, and church documents.
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
ADDITIONAL RECORDS FOR EXISTING SETS:
Yorkshire Memorial Inscriptions
New records: 7,258
Total records: 103,662
Covering: 174 burial sites across the county
Discover: Age, birth year, death year, location, description and inscription
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Britain, Knights of the Realm & Commonwealth index
New records: 351
Total records: 36,084
Covering: Knighthoods from the 11th century up to the present day
Discover: Birth year, death year, award type, year of award, remarks & biography (often includes rank or position/occupation)
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902
New records: 295,204
Total records: 298,369
Covering: All ranks of British Army servicemen
Discover: Service number, rank, unit, regiment, honors & awards, casualties, memorials
SEARCH THESE RECORDS »
Friday, March 03, 2017
GENEA-NONSENSE REVISITED
((I'm in a bit of a writing funk at the moment, so I looked back through past posts. I used to occasionally write some silly posts. This is one I wrote in March 2011.))
A week ago Saturday I was so wrapped up in my blogging about my
grandfather that I forgot to post these for that week's Saturday Night
Genealogy Fun Challenge from Randy Seaver. So here's my contribution
to Genealogism Dictionary:
Genea-vention: What your family might have to perform when you've spent too
much time on genealogy. "Please honey, put down the gedcom and step away
from the computer!"
Genea-Conventions :No, not gatherings of genealogists but the agreements you
make with your family on how much time you'll spend on your research and how
much with them. Failure to live up to your family Genea-Conventions could lead
to a genea-vention (see above)
Genea-pet: Remember that half a sandwich that you accidentally covered with
some folders a few weeks back on your desk ? Well, it's now a lovely shade of
green. AND IT'S ALIVE!
Geneanation: The whole genealogy community
Geneaverse: Have you heard of a man name of Randy?
With geneachallenges he's handy!
Each Saturday night,
A new one he writes
And we all think that they're dandy, Randy!
Geneapen: No, I'm using my laptop, but thank you.
A week ago Saturday I was so wrapped up in my blogging about my
grandfather that I forgot to post these for that week's Saturday Night
Genealogy Fun Challenge from Randy Seaver. So here's my contribution
to Genealogism Dictionary:
Genea-vention: What your family might have to perform when you've spent too
much time on genealogy. "Please honey, put down the gedcom and step away
from the computer!"
Genea-Conventions :No, not gatherings of genealogists but the agreements you
make with your family on how much time you'll spend on your research and how
much with them. Failure to live up to your family Genea-Conventions could lead
to a genea-vention (see above)
Genea-pet: Remember that half a sandwich that you accidentally covered with
some folders a few weeks back on your desk ? Well, it's now a lovely shade of
green. AND IT'S ALIVE!
Geneanation: The whole genealogy community
Geneaverse: Have you heard of a man name of Randy?
With geneachallenges he's handy!
Each Saturday night,
A new one he writes
And we all think that they're dandy, Randy!
Geneapen: No, I'm using my laptop, but thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)