The Search For My Irish Roots, Part 1

The Beginning

My personal search for my Irish ancestors has taken over 30 years of digging, scrounging, reading, learning, traveling, and taking wild leaps of faith. I have talked to dozens or relatives, hundreds of people, and traveled from one coast to the other. I have spent hundreds of hours in little dark rooms with my head buried in microfilm machines. I have seen more libraries than I can remember, and have looked through (and yes in some cases read) so many books that I could not begin to count them. I have spent hundreds of hours online and hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars in my never-ending quest. And best of all, I even managed to find a wife along the way. But that is another story.

My search started as a young boy listening to stories about the family told by my grandparents. They were not stories of brave deeds or fantastic exploits. They were just what I call the stories of life. I will not bore you with the details of my family stories, suffice it to say that if you changed the names and dates they could be any family's stories.

Now the stories told by my grandparents may not have been worthy of a Hollywood Blockbuster but as a child I was hooked. I could not get enough. I always wanted more. So being the strange kid that I was, I set off for the local museum.

I was fortunate as a budding genealogist that my family had lived in the same small town of St Marys Ontario, since about 1859. This made the search a little easer for a beginner as the museum had lots of newspapers and cemetery records to keep me happy, at least for a while. It was at the local Museum that I received my first of what would be many genealogical surprises. There in the 1861 census was my GGG Grandfather William Massey, a native of Ireland. Ireland? My family was Irish?

To be continued.........

Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984 now online

Wisconsin Divorce Index, 1965-1984 is now online and can be searched at Ancestry.com

This database contains an index to divorces granted in Wisconsin between 1965 and 1984. Information listed includes names of husband and wife, ages of husband and wife, divorce date, and divorce county

Florida State Census, 1867-1945

Florida State Census, 1867-1945 Florida State Censuses are available for 1867, 1875, 1885, 1935, and 1945. Information listed may include: name, age, gender, race, relationship to head of household, birthplace, birth date, marital status, and parents' birthplaces.

Delaware Marriage Records, 1744-1912 online

Delaware Marriage Records, 1744-1912 are online. Ancestry.com has this new database for genealogists.

Information listed may include: names of bride and groom, ages of bride and groom, marriage date, and marriage place.

Quebec City Passenger Lists Index 1865-1900

A new database for Quebec City Passenger Lists Index 1865-1900 in online at Library and Archives Canada.

Library and Archives Canada

Coffin Plate of John Salladin 1822 ~ 1877

I have added the Coffin Plate of John Salladin 1822 ~ 1877

http://www.ancestorsatrest.com/coffin_plates/john_salladin_coffin_plate_1877.shtml

This Could Be Your Ancestor

In what one expert called "a real freak of preservation." British archaeologists have unearthed an 2,000 year old skull carrying a surprise — an unusually well-preserved brain. The skull was found in a muddy pit during a dig at the University of York in northern England this fall.

Archaeologists do not know if they will be able to extract DNA from the brain. If they do, someone may find they have a very interesting story for their family tree.

Cabinet of Curiousities: A Bowl Full Of Goodies

This bowl is very special to me as it was a present to my great grandparents William Elgie and Mary Louise Facey on their Wedding Day in 1904. The poor old thing may not look like much, the flowers are faded and worn, the rim has a large chunk that was broken and then glued back (with not too much success) by my Great-Grandfather. It has no monetary value whatsoever. But to me it is priceless.

Each year just before Christmas, I dig it out of the back of the china cabinet, (I keep it at the back so you can't see the repair) and fill it with Christmas goodies. Some years I put nuts in it but this year I went for something a little sweeter. You can see what is in it this year.

I am sure that whoever gave the bowl to my ancestors William & Mary Elgie would never have imagined that it would still be in use by their descendants over 100 years later.

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifs Part 6

Cross

Cross - there are many different types of crosses. It is an Emblem of faith.

The crucifix, a Christian symbol, is a Latin cross with an image of Christ nailed to it and depicts the sacrifice Jesus made for human salvation

The shepherd's cross has a crooked apex and represents both the Christian faith and Jesus' role in guiding people through life and saving lost souls.

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Xmas in World War 2

I do not have a lot of family Xmas photos from days gone by but this one has to be my favorite. It is a photo of my grandfather Art Conn at a Xmas party during World War 2. I do not know the year of the photo, my best guess is 1943~44 but I do know it was taken in England.

Art was an aircraft mechanic working on the big bombers. I have other photos of him with smashed up and damaged aircraft but this one has to be my favorite. The Santa is a real work of art and I can only imagine what kind of drunken Xmas hijinks's they most likely got up to that night.

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifs Part 5

Lamb

The Lamb indicates Purity, Innocence, Gentleness, Sacrifice. In Christianity it represents the sacrificial crucifixion of Christ for the sins of the world.

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

More Frederick, Miami County, Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger

I have added a few more pages from the Frederick, Miami County, Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger. This is a great old ledger from the 1860s that I think people with ancestors in the Frederick, Miami County, Ohio area may find interesting. I now have pages 1 to 25 online as graphics so you can see the original pages. I have also transcribed the pages so you do not have to go through all the images.

if you want to have a look for one of your ancestors go to Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger.

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifes Part 4

Willow Tree and clasped hands

Trees represent Life. Willows are found in a variety of styles. This symbol is of German origin and usually represents sorrow

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifs Part 3

Hand with pointing finger

Hand with Finger Pointing represents Gone Home, Look to God, Direction. The pointing finger represents direction, whether physical, spiritual or psychological.

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Carnival of Genealogy: My Famous Canadian Ancestor, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space

Well he is not a ancestor but my most famous Canadian relative is astronaut Chris Austin Hadfield (born August 29, 1959) who was the first Canadian to walk in space. I have never met Chris and I dont expect I ever will, but he is my fourth cousin. We share 3rd great-grandparents Edmund Facey (1813-1899) and his wife Mary Little (1814-1883)

Chris was born in Sarnia Ontario, was a Wolf Cub and later joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets' 820 Blue Thunder Squadron. In 2005, the squadron was renamed 820 Chris Hadfield Squadron in his honour.

Chris trained as a pilot in the Canadian Forces and was top graduate in his jet training class in 1983. He flew CF-18 fighter jets on NORAD missions for three years.

In 1992, he successfully competed with more than 5300 applicants to join Canada's space program, and was assigned to NASA's Johnson Space Center

For his first shuttle mission in 1995, Hadfield was Mission Specialist #1 on Atlantis, operating the Canadarm for NASA's second space shuttle mission to rendezvous with the Russian Space Station Mir. On his next mission, as Mission Specialist on Endeavour in 2001, Hadfield spent 14 hours, 54 minutes outside the craft on two spacewalks, including the first by a Canadian.

Read more about Chris on Wikipedia or in "A History of the Facey Family of St. Winnow Parish, Cornwall" compiled by Jean Spearin. 1995

Interactive WW2 Records online at Footnote.com

Footnote.com and NARA held a press conference on on Friday, Dec. 5 to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day with the launch of a new interactive online collection of World War II records from the holdings of the National Archives.

The WW2 records include the first-ever interactive version of the USS Arizona Memorial, WWII Hero Pages, and millions of WWII photos and documents previously unavailable on the internet.

Search the WW2 Records


You can Upload photos, view timelines and maps, add your stories to the HERO pages. You can search the Arizona Memorial Wall for names you know. Leave a tribute, a story or photo for any USS Arizona casualty.

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifs Part 2

Hand Holding an Anchor

The Anchor was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to represent hope or the deceased's seafaring profession. The hand, with its five fingers, takes on the meaning of the number five - love, health and humanity.

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 Now Online

The U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 ore now on line on Ancestry.com

In the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census, names were recorded for individuals who died that year. These mortality death records usually have the name of the person who died, their age, sex, race, occupation, month of death, cause of death and often other details.

U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880

Tombstone Tales: Gravestone Motifs Part 1

There are many motifs found on Tombstones. Here are some gravestone images that might help you in your search for ancestors


Two hands joined typically signify union.

Also see Graven Images: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings

Harrison Eaton, Gracie A Gould and Charles G Torri

Coffin plates for Harrison Eaton, Gracie A Gould and Charles G Torri are now online on Ancestorsatrest.com

Coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to the coffin that contain free genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased.

If you would like to have a look at the coffin plate index go to
Coffin Plates

Coffin Plate of Joseph L Seavey 1799 ~ 1860

The Coffin Plate of Joseph L Seavey 1799 ~ 1860 is now online on AncestorsAtRest.com Joseph L Seavey

Today On Ancestors At Rest, Lusitania Passenger Lists

Hi All

I have added a list of Lusitania Passengers from the Pitsburgh Gazette Times. The Cunard Liner Lusitania, which sailed out of New York with more than 2,000 aboard. Was sunk off the Irish Coast by a German submarine in 1915.

If you want to take a look go to

Lusitania Passengers

Coffin Plates For Bolton, Darling and Stickney

I have added coffin plates for William A Bolton, Jane Darling and Charles A Stickney to AncestorsAtRest.com. I now have over 400 coffin plates on line.

Coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to the coffin that contain free genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased.

If you would like to take a look at the index to over 400 coffin plates go to Ancestorsatrest.com Coffin Plates

Stone-Age 'Nuclear Family' Unearthed

Researchers used DNA analysis and other techniques to determine that a 4,600-year-old grave in Germany contained the remains of two adults and their children. This research provides the earliest evidence that even prehistoric tribes attached importance to the family unit, researchers said on Monday.Read More

The Cenotaph for Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Hi All

I have added some photos of the Cenotaph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A cenotaph is a monument in honour of a person (or persons) who is buried elsewhere.

The following is a list of Cenotaph Records that I have gathered in my travels around Ontario, Canada. There are over 1300 of these Monuments in Canada, and most were constructed in the 1920s just after World War 1. In most cases the Cenotaphs were updated after World War 2 and Korea and I expect that a few will have to be updated again with the names of the men who died in Afghanistan.

Guelph Cenotaph, Wellington County, Ontario.
Meaford Cenotaph, Grey County, Ontario.
Port McNicoll Cenotaph, Simcoe County, Ontario.
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Kingston Ontario.
Twenty First Canadian Infantry Battalion Kingston Ontario.
Elmvale Cenotaph Simcoe County, Ontario.
Saugeen Indian Reserve, Bruce County, Ontario.
Waverley, Simcoe County, Ontario, For the townships of Medonte, Tay, Tiny and Floss.
St. Marys, Perth County, Ontario
Cookstown, Ontario
Nichol Township, Salem Ontario.
Midland, Simcoe County Ontario.
Penetanguishene, Simcoe County Ontario.

If you want to take a look go to
Cenotaph Records

Frederick, Miami County, Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger

I have started to put the Frederick, Miami County, Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger online. I only have about the first 25 pages online so far. A few of the names in the ledger I have listed below



Francis Beck Mar 2 1869, page 12
George Beck Mar 2 1869, page 12
Henry Belston Feb 15 1869, page 10
D W Bowman Jan 12 1869, page 4
D W Bowman Feb 9 1869, page 9
D W Bowman Mar 2 1869, page 12
J Bowman Jan 28 1869, page 7
J Bowman Jan 28 1869, page 7
Jos Bowman Feb 23 1869, page 11
Jos Bowman Mar 3 1869, page 12
John Cassle Feb 4 1869, page 8
John Cassle Feb 9 1869, page 9
Cassle & Moat Feb 10 1869, page 9
Cassle & Moat Feb 13 1869, page 10
Jacob H Cincle? Feb 10 1869, page 9
David Craven Jan 11 1869, page 3
David Craven Jan 21 1869, page 5
David Craven Jan 25 1869, page 6
David Craven Feb 4 1869, page 8
David Craven Feb 13 1869, page 10
David Craven Feb 13 1869, page 10
David Craven Feb 19 1869, page 11
David Craven Feb 22 1869, page 11
Jacob Cress Jan 21 1869, page 5
Jacob Criss Feb 10 1869, page 9
Jacob Curtis Feb 19 1869, page 11
Noah Curtis Mar 2 1869, page 12
Geo Elliot Jan 25 1869, page 6
William Elliott Mar 1 1869, page 12
Wm Elliott Feb 4 1869, page 8
A Fenner Jan 12 1869, page 4
A Fenner Feb 8 1869, page 8
A. Fenner Jan 11 1869, page 3
A. Fenner Jan 12 1869, page 4
A. Fenner Jan 25 1869, page 6
Agustus Fenner Mar 1 1869, page 11
John Fenner Jan 11 1869, page 3
John Fenner Jan 12 1869, page 4
John Fenner Jan 25 1869, page 6
John Fenner Jan 25 1869, page 6
Lyda Fenner Jan 21 1869, page 5
Samuel Fenner Jan 25 1869, page 6
Henry Fissle Jan 25 1869, page 6
Henry Fissle Feb 9 1869, page 9
Henry Fissle Feb 27 1869, page 11
Henry Fissler Jan 12 1869, page 4
Henry Fissler Feb 10 1869, page 9
John G Fritz Jan 12 1869, page 4
A Furnas Feb 18 1869, page 10
Aaron Furnas Jan 11 1869, page 3
Aaron Furnas Jan 21 1869, page 5
Aaron Furnas Jan 28 1869, page 7
Aaron Furnas Feb 27 1869, page 11
Aaron Furnas Mar 2 1869, page 12
Aaron Furnas Jan 12 1869, page 4
Davis Furnas Jan 12 1869, page 4
Davis Furnas Jan 28 1869, page 7
Davis Furnas Feb 8 1869, page 9
Davis Furnas Feb 9 1869, page 9
Davis Furnas Feb 10 1869, page 9
Davis Furnas Feb 15 1869, page 10
Davis Furnas Mar 2 1869, page 12
Lida Furnas Feb 4 1869, page 8
Robert Furnas Feb 4 1869, page 8
Sam Furnas Jan 28 1869, page 7
Samuel Furnas Jan 11 1869, page 3
Samuel Furnas Jan 12 1869, page 4
Samuel Furnas Feb 13 1869, page 10
Samuel Furnas Feb 15 1869, page 10
Samuel Furnas Feb 15 1869, page 10
Samuel Furnas Mar 3 1869, page 12
Alex Helenick Jan 25 1869, page 6
Alex Helmick Feb 19 1869, page 11
John Hendrickson Feb 13 1869, page 10
Albert Kindle Feb 25 1869, page 11
Francis Krick Feb 4 1869, page 8
Frank Krick Jan 25 1869, page 6
John Leckman Mar 2 1869, page 12
John Leckrone Mar 3 1869, page 12
John Lecksone Jan 28 1869, page 7
John Lecksone Feb 4 1869, page 8
Geo Leopard Jan 11 1869, page 3
Geo Leopard Jan 25 1869, page 6
Geo Leopard Jan 28 1869, page 7
Geo Leopard Feb 19 1869, page 11
Geo Leopard Feb 23 1869, page 11
Geo Leopard Feb 27 1869, page 11
Geo Leopard Mar 1 1869, page 11
George Leopard Jan 21 1869, page 5
Eli Link/Sink Jan 11 1869, page 3
Eli Links/Sinks Jan 11 1869, page 3
Henry Lissle Jan 28 1869, page 7
Enoch Macy Jan 11 1869, page 3
Enoch Macy Jan 11 1869, page 3
Enoch Macy Jan 21 1869, page 5
Moses Macy Jan 28 1869, page 7
Thomas Macy Jan 11 1869, page 3
Thomas Macy Mar 1 1869, page 12
Thomas J Macy Jan 11 1869, page 3
Thomas J Macy Jan 12 1869, page 4
Thomas Macy Sr Jan 11 1869, page 3
Thomas Macy Sr Jan 12 1869, page 4
James Mahaffey Feb 17 1869, page 10
James Mahaffey Mar 2 1869, page 12
S P & D Miller Jan 12 1869, page 4
S P & D Miller Jan 25 1869, page 6
S P & D Miller Jan 21 1869, page 5
William A Moat Feb 13 1869, page 10
Henry Neal Feb 15 1869, page 10
Robert Pearson Jan 11 1869, page 3
Robert Pearson Feb 4 1869, page 8
Robert Pearson Feb 4 1869, page 8
Robert Pearson Feb 25 1869, page 11
Levi Prill Jan 12 1869, page 4
Levi Prill Feb 4 1869, page 8
Sam Reed Jan 11 1869, page 3
Sam Reed Jan 12 1869, page 4
Sam Reed Jan 12 1869, page 4
Sam Reed Jan 21 1869, page 5
Sam Reed Jan 25 1869, page 6
Sam Reed Jan 25 1869, page 6
Sam Reed Jan 28 1869, page 7
Samuel Reed Jan 11 1869, page 3
Samuel Reed Jan 21 1869, page 5
Samuel Reed Jan 28 1869, page 7
Samuel Reed Feb 4 1869, page 8
Samuel Reed Feb 8 1869, page 9
Samuel Reed Feb 9 1869, page 9
Samuel Reed Feb 11 1869, page 9
Samuel Reed Feb 15 1869, page 10
Samuel Reed Mar 1 1869, page 12
Samuel Reed Mar 2 1869, page 12
John Right Jan 21 1869, page 5
John Right Jan 25 1869, page 6
Michael Roderick Feb 4 1869, page 8
Michael Roderick Feb 17 1869, page 10
Michael Roderick Mar 1 1869, page 12
Eli Sinks Jan 21 1869, page 5
Eli Sinks Jan 28 1869, page 7
Eli Sinks Feb 4 1869, page 8
Samuel Snell Feb 4 1869, page 8
Samuel Snell Feb 18 1869, page 10
John Sticklager Jan 25 1869, page 6
John Stocklager Jan 12 1869, page 4
John Stocklager Jan 21 1869, page 5
John Stocklager Jan 28 1869, page 7
John Stocklager Feb 4 1869, page 8
John Stocklager Feb 9 1869, page 9
John Stocklager Feb 11 1869, page 10
John Stocklager Feb 11 1869, page 10
John Stocklager Mar 1 1869, page 12
John H? Stocklager Jan 28 1869, page 7
John Stoglager Jan 11 1869, page 3
John Stoglager Jan 21 1869, page 5
Jacob Stoner Jan 28 1869, page 7
Jacob Stoner Feb 11 1869, page 9
Jacob Stoner Feb 22 1869, page 11
Alex? Vore (Von?) Jan 28 1869, page 7
Thomas Werts Jan 11 1869, page 3
Thomas Werts Jan 21 1869, page 5
Charley Wolverton Jan 21 1869, page 5
Charly Wolverton Feb 24 1869, page 11
Eli Yount Jan 28 1869, page 7
Fred Yount Jan 25 1869, page 6
Frederick Yount Jan 25 1869, page 6
Eli Yourt Jan 12 1869, page 4

If you want to take a peek at the Frederick, Miami County, Ohio, Blacksmiths Ledger try
Frederick, Miami County, Ohio

McKee Cemetery, East Garafraxa Township, Duffern County, Ontario, Now Online

I now have photos of some of the grave markers in McKee Cemetery, East Garafraxa Township, Duffern County, Ontario. I took the tombstone photos in October 2008. McKee Cemetery, East Garafraxa Township, Duffern County, Ontario is located between Orangeville Ontario and Fergus Ontario.

Grave Photo # 1 - Quarrie
Grave Photo # 2 - McGregor
Grave Photo # 3 - Graham
Grave Photo # 4 - Hutchinson
Grave Photo # 5 - Hutchinson
Grave Photo # 6 - ???
Grave Photo # 7 - Edwards
Grave Photo # 8 - ???
Grave Photo # 9 - Platt
Grave Photo # 10 - Edwards
Grave Photo # 11 - ???
Grave Photo # 12 - ???
Grave Photo # 13 - ???
Grave Photo # 14 - ???
Grave Photo # 15 - Taylor
Grave Photo # 16 - ???
Grave Photo # 17 - Mc Cracken
Grave Photo # 18 - Clulo
Grave Photo # 19 - Thomas
Grave Photo # 20 - Ivers
Grave Photo # 21 - Ritchie
Grave Photo # 22 - ???
Grave Photo # 23 - Alexander
Grave Photo # 24 - Qurrie
Grave Photo # 25 - Smith
Grave Photo # 26 - ???
Grave Photo # 27 - Young
Grave Photo # 28 - Young
Grave Photo # 29 - Loree
Grave Photo # 30 - ???

To take a look go to
McKee Cemetery

Case of home believed to be built over a cemetery

Seventeen years ago, James and Linda Rhee bought the two-story home with the stately white columns in the Brighton Pines subdivision. They raised two children there. But 13 years later, they learned they might have been living their own version of the horror film Poltergeist all along.

In 2004, they say, a man called out of the blue with a frightening claim: Your backyard is home to a cemetery nearly 300 years old.

More

Frederick Ohio 1869

Hi all

I just found a great old ledger book from a blacksmiths shop in Frederick Ohio. The ledger starts in Jan 1869 and ends in 1879. It has about 4500 names in it, so I think it will be a great data base when I get it online.

The first person listed in the ledger is Eli Sinks. On Jan 11 1869 Eli purchased 3 large bolts for 50 cents.

It will take me some time to get this ledger on line but I will try and do it as fast as possible.

Man wins prize for building his own coffin

Grady Hunter age 75, will take his prize-winning entry in the N.C. State Fair to the grave. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Hunter won a blue ribbon in this year's crafts and hobbies competition by making his own coffin.


'I'm tickled to death with it," Hunter told the newspaper.


Hunter, installed three inches of foam at the thinnest point, rising to 12 inches at the head to place his body on an incline. The case has hard-rock maple and Brazilian cherry. He also routed his signature into the wood.


On the inside of the lid, Hunter plans to pin pictures of his son, daughter and grandchildren, so he can take those with him.


Hunter has even lined up pallbearers for his funeral, and he's writing his own eulogy.

Civil War Document George Morris

I found this original Civil War document on Ebay. At the top it says, "Certificate To Be Given To Volunteers At The Time Of Their Discharge To Enable Them To Receive Their Pay, &c." Right below it says that George Morris of the 177th New York Regiment born in Hudson, New York aged 27 years old, 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches, with light complexion, blue eyes, light hair, by occupation a book binder having served honestly and faithfully with his Company in capacity of Private, "...to the date, of his death the Sixteenth day of August 1863."

It further says he was last paid by the Paymaster Maj. Vedder and has pay due him from that time to the date of his death.

This document is up for sale on Ebay. If George Morris is one of your ancestors you might want to have a look.

Made Some Changes To New Hampshire Pages

Hi all

I have updated my New Hampshire pages on Ancestorsatrest.com

New Hampshire Genealogy

Lincoln County Maine, Samuel Hinds Ledger

Hi all

I have started to put the Samuel Hinds Ledger online. The old ledger book was the property of Samuel Hinds, of Lincoln County Maine. The ledger starts in 1832 and has 169 pages containing hundreds of local Lincoln County Maine names. The people named in the ledger are living in places like Bristol, Bremen, Dresden, St George. I have scanned all the pages from the ledger and am getting them online. I am at page 110 and should have the rest online soon.

Samuel Hinds Ledger

I do not have a index to the names so you will have to look at each page. If some one would like to volunteer to create an index I will gladly put it on line.

New WWI cemetery to be announced

Details about a new cemetery for 400 Australian and British World War I soldiers found in a mass grave in France are set to be unveiled later this week.

The soldiers found in eight large pit graves on the outskirts of Fromelles in May will be individually reburied with full military honours.

A new cemetery would be built nearby so the 170 Australians and 300 British troops who were originally buried by German soldiers after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 could be reinterred
Military Death Records on Ancestors At Rest.

The Canadian Military Heritage Project

Lost Cemetery

People lose car keys all the time, and eyeglasses. Some even lose wallets. But on the West Side of Stanislaus County, a cemetery was lost, and a group of intrepid people is determined to find it.

The cemetery in question dates to 1870, and is small, perhaps 25 graves. It was near here and local historians believe it became part of the Crows Landing Naval Air Station during World War II, about 65 years ago.

Read More

Woman pleads guilty to stealing cemetery vases

Des Moines County Sheriff's detectives on June 24 received a report of the thievery of 50 bronze vases from Memorial Park Cemetery in rural Des Moines County.

Brenda Sue Mutchler, the woman accused of acting in concert with a Burlington man in stealing thousands of dollars worth of bronze vases from grave sites pleaded guilty.

How low can you get.

Added More Coffin Plates

Hi All
I have added more coffin plates today. Lydia M Tyler, Abraham Wheelock, Ella M Osier, Felix Drombrowski and Mary Wolcott.

If you want to have a look just click on Coffin Plates

Community celebrates Willow Grove cemetery's historical designation

Beneath the headstones that dot the Willow Grove Community Cemetery lie some of Central Texas’ most recognizable names.

McLennan. Brown. Hamilton.

But the vast majority who have been interred over the last century carry names that aren’t as well-known.

Some stones have no name at all.

Read More

Who will you find on Footnote Pages?

Footnote announced the addition of Footnote Pages at the TechCrunch50 Conference in San Francisco, California.

"We've been encouraging people to upload their personal shoeboxes of mementos to Footnote.com," explains Footnote CEO, Russ Wilding. "Now with Footnote Pages, friends and family come together to share those stories and memories about the people they care about and are able to create a more colorful and rich picture of the past."

To kick-off this project, Footnote today released over 80 million Footnote Pages created from data contained in the Social Security Death Index. The Footnote Pages also include timelines, maps, and other features. This greatly increases the chances of finding a page already started for someone you know.

Use a Free Trial on Footnote to search for ancestors

Funeral Cards

Funeral cards were to be distributed to family members, friends, and the surrounding community to alert family and friends re the date and time of a funeral.

Recipients of a funeral card were expected to attend the funeral or risk offending family members. Funeral cards were often saved, tossed in a drawer, tucked in the pages of a bible or photo album.

Ancestors At Rest has a large collection of funeral cards online. You can search these genealogy treasures for free. Each card contains the name of the deceased, birth and death dates and a poem. Sometimes more information is included.

The funeral card of David Cowan is a nice example. The inscription reads "David L. Cowen who died on April 25, 1891 at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 14 days." The card is black, bordered in gold, with a verse and logo. Sometimes funeral cards include a photo of the deceased.

If you are lucky you may find a photograph of the deceased tucked into a family bible or photo album, along with the funeral card. Such is the case with the Funeral Card & Photo of Lydia A. Blesh

Coffin Plates aka Casket Plaques

What are Coffin Plates? How are they useful in genealogy research? These questions and more are answered at Ancestors At Rest

The history of Coffin Plates or casket plates is a long but not very well documented one. Coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to a coffin that contain genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased. In Victorian Times (and earlier) the coffin plate was removed and presented to the family as a memento of the dearly departed.

With almost 500 coffin plates now online, AncestorsAtRest.com is the largest repository of these wonderful genealogical treasures. Each coffin plate has the name of the deceased plus date of death, and usually date of birth. Images of the plates are provided. You can search these coffin plates for free - who knows, you might find an ancestor or two!

More Berks County Pennsylvania Genealogy Data

Hi folks

I have added more Berks County Pennsylvania data to Ancestors At Rest today. It is another ledger book from the 1860s that belonged to Haag, Kline & Co in Bernville, Berks County. This ledger is a great genealogical find as it is full of hundreds of local names.

Some of the Berks County names you will find in the Haag, Kline ledger are Adams, Becker, Burkhard, Bright, Bressler, Baus, Bickel, Boyer, Bassler, Brossman, Bentz, Bean, Bear, Berger, Conrad, Cummings, Derr, Daniel, Ernst, Fisher, Fox, Groff, Haag, Hix, Kalbach, Kauffman, Miller, Reed, Shutz, Shade, Snyder, Taylor, Weaver to name just a few.

The ledger is in my genealogy lookups section but I have put the entire ledger on line for you to look at so you dont need me to do it for you.

Haag, Kline & Co Ledger

This is one of 2 Haag, Kline & Co ledgers that I have online the other is not yet all on line but it will be soon.

Good Luck
Brian

Hunters discover hidden cemetery, work to save it

Stumbling across an old graveyard is not that unusual in Georgia. Developers in the ever-expanding suburbs of Atlanta have been doing it for decades.

But when Glenn Ridge and his son Austin came across one in the McGraw Ford Wildlife Management Area of Cherokee County while hunting there earlier this month, they were surprised enough to put down their bows and arrows and pick up their rakes and weed cutters.

Amid heavy brush, trees and briers, they spotted not the white-tail deer they were scouting, but an unnamed cemetery with about 30 decades-old marked graves.

“It was pretty well overgrown,” said Ridge, of Cumming. “It looked like it hadn’t been touched in five years.”

Continue reading....

Ontario Cemetery Records

I have added a few Ontario cemetery records for

Case United Cemetery in Glanford Township, Wentworth Co. Ontario, Canada.

South Easthope Cemetery, Perth County Ontario.

Ontario Cemetery Records

Roman sarcophagi discovered in Newcastle, 1,800 years after they were sealed

I thought this was interesting.

Archaeologists have found the remains of a middle-aged adult who lived during the end of Britain\'s Roman occupation when they opened a 1,700-year-old sarcophagus yesterday.Read More

Mt. Sinai Memorial Cemetery Damaged in Propane Explosion, Toronto Ontario

A historic Jewish cemetery was badly battered by Sunday's propane explosion, with toppled graves, singed grass, and chapel windows blown out.

"It looks like a battlefield," Mount Sinai Memorial Park's manager, Phil Grenfell, said yesterday, from inside the chapel. "Part of the propane tanker truck is still on site, and some monuments have been damaged ... some worse than others."

Continue reading Cemetery suffers heavy damage

History is found on tombstones of Carson City's cemeteries

Called the father of Carson City, Abe Curry was born in New York in 1815 and spent the last days of his life in 1873 in the city he helped to create.

Buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery, Curry is one of a number of Carson City notables who were laid to rest in Nevada's Capital City.

Lone Mountain Cemetery today encompasses sections for the Masons, Oddfellows, Catholics, two Babyland areas, Hebrew, Grand Army of the Republic, veterans, and a city cemetery section that dates back to the territorial days.

Other cemeteries in Carson City include Old Pioneer Cemetery, Stewart Indian School Cemetery, Empire Cemetery and Ormsby County Poor Farm

Continue reading ...tombstones of Carson City's cemeteries

Dating Ancestor Photographs

Photography arrived in the United States circa 1839 thanks to the newly invented daguerreotype process. A daguerreotype has no negative so if you find a daguerreotype you know you have a one-of-a-kind image. They look like a mirror and the images jump out at you, appearing very 3 dimensional.

Continue reading Dating Ancestor Photographs

Stacy & Kyes Store in Rushford, Allegany County New York

This great old ledger book is from the Stacy & Kyes store in Rushford, Allegany County New York. Stacy and Kyes sold drugs, paints, books, groceries and just about everything else you can think of. The ledger starts in 1868 and ends in 1872. I had a look in the 1860 United States Federal Census and found that the folks that are listed in this ledger are not just from Rushford. Many people travelled for many miles to shop at the Stacy and Kyes store. I found people from Centerville and New Hudson, New York as well as other communities. The entries for each person are in many cases quite fascinating. A ledger like this gives a great look into the day to day lives of our ancestors in the years just after the Civil War. I have scanned the index pages from the ledger and put them online.
Stacy & Kyes Store

Funeral Card Sarah Woodward

In memory of Sarah Elizabeth Woodward who died Oct. 29, 1865

Funeral Card Lily Woodward 1916

 

Funeral Card Lily Woodward died 23 May 1916. Interred at Derby Cemetery

I have added more coffin plates today

Coffin Plates added today. William Brown, Jane Brown, Mary Jane Brown,Daniel Fawdrey, John Francis Ross, Lydia L Farr.

Coffin Plate Index

Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia Court Records Ledger

I have added a old Court ledger book belonged to William C Pendleton. William C. Pendleton was born in Marion, Virginia, in 1847 and served in the 8th Virginia Cavalry in Tazewell County. After the Civil War he studied law and practiced in Richmond, Virginia. He was the author of the History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia 1748-1920. This volume has long been recognized as the definitive history of Tazewell County Virginia.
This court ledger book is full of entries starting in 1883 and ending in 1937. From 1883 to 1897 the book contains a record of what appear to be court cases in the Court of Appeals at Wytheville. The second part of the ledger is a list of several hundred people who purchased his book History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia 1748-1920.

At the top of the first page of court records we read Wm [William] C. Pendleton, Clerk Court of Appeals at Wytheville, The Commonwealth Of Virginia. I did some looking and found that Wytheville is a town in Wythe County, Virginia. Wythe County is next to Tazewell County, the subject of Mr Pendleton book.

I have put this Wythe County, Virginia court records ledger in my genealogy lookups section but I have decided to put this great Virginia genealogy resource online for free. I have put the first 10 pages of Court records on line and the first 10 pages of people who purchased a copy of Mr Pendletons book A History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia 1748-1920. I will be getting the rest of the book online as soon as I can.

Wythe County, Virginia Court Records Ledger

W Surnames Coffin Plate Death Records

W Surnames Coffin Plate Death Records

Lydia J Wallace 1843~1901 Ontario Canada
Hannah M. Ward 1847~1879
John Watson 1836~1904 Found in Ontario Canada
George WarnerAnna Wayman 1869~1924 Found in U.S.A.LL Weber Found in U.S.A.
Stephen Welch 1840~1860 Found in U.S.A.
Henry Wesp 1875~1904Henry C Wesp 1875~1904Owen Wickes 1805~1890 Found in Texas
Deacon Harris Wight 1794~1869 Norwich and Buckland, MassMary Jane Wilde 1867~1873 Found in MassMary Ann Wood Found in PA.Martha D Wolfe 1847~1892 Found in New MampshireAbbie E Wood Found in Vermont. May be from MassJotham E Wood 1835~1854 Found in Vermont. May be from Mass.William Wright 1854~1859 Found in MaineEliza Woodman 1803~1882 From Maine. Eliza J Woodman 1842~1861 From Maine.Eliza M Woodman 1847~1884 From Maine.Joshua Woodman 1807~1876 From Maine.Nathan L Woodman 1875~1876 From Maine.Arthur Edward Wright Found in New York.

T, V Surnames Coffin Plate Death Records

T Surnames Coffin Plate Death Records

Vincenzo Tatta died 1913 Found in U.S.A.
William Tankard 1835~1894 Found in Maine.
Electa Terry 1851~1902 Found in U.S.A.
Godfrey Thibideau 1863~1918 Nova Scotia, Cumberland, Springhill, Canada
Rose Thibodean 1901~1923 Nova Scotia, Cumberland, Springhill, Canada
Eliza Thompson 1812~1852 Found in Massachusetts.
William Thompson 1822~1874 Found in Ohio.
William Townsend 1804~1888 Found in Quebec, Canada
William Tull 1857~1934 Found in Berlin, Pa
William C Turner 1828~1892

V Surnames Coffin Plate Death Records

Rebecca G Varnhum 1829 ~ 1856 Found in Chichester, New Hampshire
Martin Vickers 1824 ~ 1902 Found in Canada
Martha L Vining 1800~1879 Found in Maine
Caleb Vinten
Elezabeth Vinten 1842~1895
Caroline Voegtle 1841~1881 Born in Preston, Ontario. Died in Linwood, Ontario.
Herbert Voegtle 1881~1896 Born in Wellesley Township, Ontario. Died in Linwood. Ont.
Joseph C Vonce