Coffin Plate for William Roughsedge 1830~1884

The coffin plate for William Roughsedge 1830~1884 is now online on AncestorsAtRest.com

Or William Roughsedge Coffin Plate

Making a Genealogy Time Capsule

My post about the Roman grave goods found in London started me thinking about how great it is to find a physical connection to our ancestors. It is so fantastic to be able to touch something that belonged to one of our ancestors. I am fortunate to be in possession of many items that belonged to my ancestors. But what will future generations have that belonged to me? Only time will tell.

If you are interested in sending a little bit of yourself into the future you may be interested in a series of articles on the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog called Making a Genealogy Time Capsule.

Just think how fantastic it would be if a hundred or perhaps a thousand years from now archaeologists were to find a time capsule full of information about you and your family.

Woodlawn Cemetery Guelph Ontario

Adding some photos I took in Woodlawn Cemetery Guelph Ontario. Woodlawn Cemetery

Unique Roman glass dish found at London grave site

LONDON, Apr. 29, 2009 (Reuters) — Archaeologists have unearthed a Roman glass bowl, thought to be a unique find in the Western Roman Empire, at an ancient cemetery beyond the walls of the old city of London.

The "millefiori" dish (a thousand flowers), believed to date from around the 2nd to 3rd century A.D., is a mosaic of hundreds of indented blue petals with white bordering.

"For it to have survived intact is amazing. In fact, it is unprecedented in the western Roman world," said Jenny Hall, curator of the Roman collection at the Museum of London.

(edited)

The artifact was found 2.5 to 3 meters (yards) down at a sprawling ancient cemetery in Aldgate, east London, just beyond the old city walls. Romans were required by law to bury their dead outside the city gates.

It formed part of a cache of grave goods found close to a wooden container holding the ashes of a probably wealthy Roman citizen from the ancient imperial outpost of Londinium, now mostly hidden beneath modern-day London.

Continue reading Unique Roman glass dish found at London grave site

Roman York Skeleton Could Be Early TB Victim

ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2008) — The skeleton of a man discovered by archaeologists in a shallow grave on the site of the University of York’s campus expansion could be that of one of Britain’s earliest victims of tuberculosis.

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the man died in the fourth century. He was interred in a shallow scoop in a flexed position, on his left side.

The man, aged 26–35 years, suffered from iron deficiency anaemia during childhood and at 162 centimetres (5ft 4in), was a shorter height than average for Roman males.

The first known case of TB in Britain is from the Iron Age (300 BC) but cases in the Roman period are fairly rare, and largely confined to the southern half of England. TB is most frequent from the 12th century AD in England when people were living in urban environments. So the skeleton may provide crucial evidence for the origin and development of the disease in this country.

Continue Reading Roman York Skeleton Could Be Early TB Victim

ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/09/080916101038.htm

More Obits From The Wichita Eagle, Sedgwick County Kansas

I have added more obits from the Wichita Eagle, Sedgwick County Kansas. Wichita Eagle

Coffin Plate of Millicent McLean 1888~1905

The Coffin Plate of Millicent McLean 1888~1905 is now online. It looks like Millicent was from Cicero in Cook County, Illinois. Her parents may have been John and Martha. If you want to have a look at the Coffin Plate of Millicent McLean 1888~1905 or have a look at the index to coffin plates go to the Coffin Plate Index

Egyptians hope to find Cleopatra's tomb

Cleopatra and Mark Antony were immortalised as two of history’s greatest lovers, but their final resting place has always been a mystery. Now archaeologists in Egypt are about to start excavating a site that they believe could conceal their tombs.

Read More

CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project Updates

CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project Update
http://cemetery.canadagenweb.org

Photos are now online for:

MANITOBA
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery, Ethelbert

SASKATCHEWAN
- Riverview Cemetery, Kamsack

ONTARIO
Elgin County:
- Light Cemetery
- Old Richmond Cemetery

Essex County:
- Fairview Cemetery

Kent County:
- Sherman Cemetery
- Wallace Cemetery

Lambton County:
- Delmage / Little Methodist Cemetery

Leeds County:
- Herald Angel Anglican Church Cemetery

Lincoln County:
- Lakeshore Cemetery

Middlesex County:
- Littlewood Cemetery
- Melrose United Cemetery
- Mount Pleasant Cemetery Sections D & S
- St Peter's Cemetery

Norfolk County:
- Johnson Cemetery
- Port Dover
- St John's Anglican Church Cemetery
- Windham Centre Cemetery
- Woodhouse United / Old Methodist Cemetery

Wentworth County:
- Free Methodist Church Cemetery
- Hamilton Cemetery Section T
- St George's Anglican Cemetery

Saving Shanghai’s Jewish past, headstone by headstone

In Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, Western philanthropists
and volunteers are restoring dozens of historic Jewish cemeteries.

But in Shanghai, there are none to restore.

The four cemeteries that once served this city's small but prosperous
Jewish community disappeared in the late 1960s during China's Cultural
Revolution. The sites were paved over to build a factory, park, hotel
and Muslim cemetery, their history forgotten.

Israeli photojournalist Dvir Bar-Gal is trying to change that.

While the cemeteries may be gone, since 2001 Bar-Gal has made it his
mission to track down as many of the original headstones as possible.
He has located 85 and hopes to use them in a memorial to Shanghai's
Jewish past.

Continue reading at
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/04/13/1004154/saving-shanghais-jewish-past-headstone-by-headstone

Interment records of St. Joseph's Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario

I have added some Interment records for St. Joseph's Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario.
St.Joseph's Cemetery

Coffin Plate of Abigail Edson 1803 ~ 1866

Coffin Plate of Abigail Edson 1803 ~ 1866 is now online.
Abigail Edson

More Sedgwick County Kansas Obits Online

I have added 100 more Sedgwick County Kansas obits on Ancestorsatrest.com
The latest batch of 100 obits can be found at Sedgwick County Kansas obits

To see all my obits try the Obit Records Page

Coffin Plate of Mary Taylor Brigham 1828 ~ 1912

The Coffin Plate of Mary Taylor Brigham 1828 ~ 1912 is now online. This coffin plate is interesting as I also have the receipt for the funeral. Mary Taylor Brigham 1828 ~ 1912

A new King Family Genealogy Book

Lorine from the Olive Tree Genealogy has a new book out. From England to Arkell. It is the story of two pioneer settlers, Lewis & Thomas King who left Suffolk England for the Wilds of Upper Canada in 1831.

Lewis and Thomas King were brothers born in Wenhaston Suffolk England to parents James King and Hannah Blanden aka Blanding. In October 1830 when Lewis was 37 and Thomas was 34, the brothers joined a group of men and sailed from England to New York. According to written histories, the men arrived in November 1830.


Read More About From England to Arkell

More Kansas Death Records

I have updated my Kansas page on AncestorsAtRest.com I have added 100 more obits and updated some links. A lot of the new obits are from the Wichita area.

Kansas Death Records

Mass Grave For 19th-century Irish Immigrants

Researchers may have discovered a mass grave for nearly five dozen 19th-century Irish immigrants who died of cholera weeks after traveling to Pennsylvania to build a railroad. Historians at Immaculata University have known for years about the 57 immigrants who died in August 1832 but could not find the grave.
Read More

Coffin Plate of Adam Wilkin Now Online

The Coffin Plate of Adam Wilkin is online. Adam died in 1869 and with a little hunting I found him living in Wallkill, Orange County, New York in 1860.

See the coffin plate of Adam Wilkin

Reburied After 700 Years

More than 200 people have attended the funeral and burial in north Kent of an unknown teenage girl who was decapitated about 700 years ago. Read More

No Photos Of Tombstones Allowed

The church board of Old Union Christian Church Cemetery in Lexington Kentucky is up in arms about a man taking photos of graves and posting them on a web site.

Read More

Coffin Plate of Pamelia A Grovesteen

The Coffin Plate of Pamelia or Permelia A Grovesteen is now online on Ancestorsatrest.com Permelia may have lived in Union Vale, Dutchess County, New York.

Permelia A Grovesteen Coffin Plate

Vampire Unearthed In Venice

I thought this was an interesting story as it tells us a little about the burial customs and beliefs of our ancestors back in the 1500s. Who knows some one reading this story may be descended from the woman in the grave.

An archaeological dig near Venice has unearthed the 16th-century remains of a woman with a brick stuck between her jaws - evidence, experts say, that she was believed to be a vampire.

Read More About The Vampire Of Venice

Coffin Plate of Samuel Allen 1799 ~ 1874

The Coffin Plate of Samuel Allen 1799 ~ 1874 is now online at Samuel Allen 1799

Or take a look at the coffin plate index atCoffin Plate Index

Simcoe County Ontario Pages

I am working on my Simcoe County Ontario pages on AncestorsAtRest.com today. AncestorsAtRest.com Simcoe County

Coffin Plate of Howard M Caryl

The Coffin Plate of Howard M Caryl is now online on AncestorsAtRest.com
Howard M Caryl

St Ann's Cemetery in Penetanguishene Simcoe County Ontario

I was in Penetanguishene the other day and had some time on my hands so I took some photos of graves in St Ann's Cemetery. I already had a handful of graves from St Ann's online but this new batch gives me about 150. I now have about 75% of the old pre 1900 graves. St Ann's cemetery is still in use but I do not have many photos of the more recent burials.

I am still geting the new grave photos on line and it will most likely take me the rest of the day to finish.

You can see what I have online so far at St Ann's cemetery

Paddington Cemetery Sinking

Mourners at a section of graves in Paddington Cemetery in Willesden Lane, Kilburn, have to negotiate filthy marshland in section 3B of the graveyard after unseasonal weather turned the site into a quagmire. Graves are sinking and becoming a boggy mess after foul weather played havoc with the ground.


Read More

Coffin Plate of Hannah Herbert 1850 ~ 1861

The Coffin Plate of Hannah Herbert 1850 ~ 1861 is now online. I had a look for Hannah in the 1860 United States Federal Census. I found a Hanna Herbert living in Georgetown Ward 1, Washington, DC, She was born about 1850 in the District of Columbia. I also found a Hannah Herbert living in New York, Ward 17 District 4, New York. She was born about about 1848 in France.

You can see the Coffin Plate of
Hannah Herbert on Ancestors At Rest.com

Coffin Plate of Mary L Durfee 1856 ~ 1864

The Coffin Plate of Mary L Durfee 1856 ~ 1864 is online on Ancestors At Rest.com Mary L Durfee

I dont know who this Mary was but she may have been from North Providence, Providence, Rhode Island.

Graveyard Rabbits Carnival, Manly Family Coffin Plates

The topic for the premier edition of the Graveyard Rabbits carnival is "exceptional finds. So I thought I would share my 3 favorite coffin plates from my collection. I started my collection of coffin plates after my mother gave me one that had been handed down in our family for over 100 years.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the subject. Coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to the coffin that contain genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased. Generally made of a soft metal like lead, pewter, silver, brass, copper, zinc or tin. The different metals reflect the different functions of the plates, or the status and wealth of the deceased.

In North America in the 1840s the practice of removing the plates from the coffin before burial as mementos started to become common. This practice was particularly popular in the North Eastern United States, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The farther you get from the Northeastern U.S. the less common the practice becomes. This practice peaked in the late 19th century (1880~1899) and by the 1920s it had all but stopped.

I have many coffin plates in my collection, several hundred in fact, but my 3 favorite plates are rare as the come from England. The English never went in for the North American practice of removing the plates before burial. They preferred to leave the plates attached to the coffin when it was buried so as you can imagine the English coffin plates are a little hard to get.

English coffin plates were also different from North American plates in that the English plates were often much larger. In north America most coffin plates are only about 4 to 6in wide. However in England they often used much larger plates called breast plates. Breast plates can be as much as 12in wide and 18in tall and are often shaped like a shield.

This set of three brass coffin depositum plates are all from the Manly family. These items were removed with the family's permission upon the deconsecration of the church and clearing of crypts etc. The two from 1875 are in classic Gothic shield style are professionally manufactured by Ingali Parson whilst the 1893 piece is heavily influenced by Arts & Crafts movement but has no makers mark. All three plates are brass with hand engraved lettering.

The plates read
William Manly Died Oct 25 1893 Aged 84 years.
Martha Manly Wife of William Manly Died April 26th 1875 Aged 62 years.
George Frederick Manly Died April 8th 1875 Aged 28 years.

Many people are a little surprised when they first see my collection of coffin plates. A lot of them ask me why I collect something that to them is kind of creepy or morbid. To me they are works of art. The beautiful engraving was all done by hand in the days before machines took over that job. The designs of the plates themselves reflect the styles of the period in which they were made. They also represent the growing industrial skill of the metalworking industry. And of course as a genealogist I love the way they connect me to the past. When I read the names on the plates I think about who the person was, what their life was like. I often try to do a little research on the family to see if I can learn any thing about them. I feel in some small way like I am keeping the memory of that person alive. I may not be related to that person but in many cases I am probably the only person who ever thinks about them, or in some cases is even aware they ever existed. And I think everyone deserves to be remembered.

William Massey Paid A Heavy Price

When I found out that the next topic for the Canadian Genealogy Carnival is Black Sheep Canadian Ancestors I thought to myself, "This is a Genealogy Carnival that I can take part in" For if there is one thing that I seem to have an abundance of it's Black Sheep Ancestors. The only hard part about participating in this Blog Carnival is deciding what ancestor to talk about. There is my great grandfather the hard drinking Sunday school teacher who wrote racist poetry as a hobby. Also my ancestor the railway worker who was arrested for stealing Winchester rifles from a boxcar. My bigamist ancestor. The Gambler. The rum runner and his wife who ended up in a penetentiary. And of course we can't forget my ancestors who were mixed up in the massacre of the Donnelly family. Canada's notorious family, the Black Donnellys, were massacred February 4th, 1880 by a vigilante committee.

However my favourite Black Sheep Ancestor is William Massey. William was my 4th Great Grandfather and he lived in the small town of St.Marys Ontario. The details are sketchy but it seams William worked for the Wells Fargo company in the early 1860s as a stage coach driver. One of the things that Wells Fargo did was transport money from place to place. One day for reasons we will never know William decided to help himself to over $888 dollars. This may not seem like much money to us today but back in 1863 it was a lot of cash.

Well I guess William was not the smartest criminal who ever lived as he soon found himself in front of the local magistrate on an indictment of larceny. I do not know much about the workings of the Canadian Justice system in the 1860s but it seems that this Court appearance was some kind of preliminary hearing to see if charges were warranted. Sort of like a Grand Jury in the United States. One interesting little side note is that one of the jurors was Timothy Eaton. Mr Eaton went on to found the Eaton department store chain. For you Americans out there, Eatons was Canada's equivalent of Sears.

Anyhow it would seem that the jury thought there was enough evidence to warrant charges so William was sent home to await his trial. However old William did not want to take his chances in court. He decided to get the heck out of Dodge and head south for the border, and a few weeks later he was in Massachusetts where he enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Civil War.

Now it appears William being the crafty criminal mastermind that he was may have enlisted under the alias of John Smith. However William, or John Smith, did not much care for Army life for he soon deserted and made his way back to St.Marys just before his death in November 1865. It is hard to say what William's reasons for going back to St.Marys might have been. One can only speculate. His daughter claimed that he was so broken in body and spirt after the war that he died soon after returning. Whatever the reason it would seem he paid a heavy price for that $888.00 in stolen Wells Fargo money.

Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Records

Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Book. I have started to add scans of each page of the Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Book. This book is a fantastic one-of-a-kind genealogy resource for Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania as it helps to replace the missing 1890 census. The book contains a complete list of every person in Hopewell Township that paid land tax in 1890. The book contains 4 columns that the tax collector could fill in, Name, County Tax, State Tax, and Remarks. I have transcribed only the names of the individuals found in the book and they are online. Now I have started to add a scan of each page so you can see the records for your self. I am only up to the letter C at this time but I will keep scanning.

Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Book

More Coffin Plates

John Becker died 1898, John Becker died 1902, John Williams Lee died 1883, James Nolan died 1862, Josiah Rockwood died 1853, Mary Tobin died 1886, Walter Shillabe died 1803, I have added a few more coffin plates in the last week or two.



Coffin Plates

Edward Haskell and Judith Haskell Coffin Plates

Edward Haskell and Judith Haskell coffin plates are now online on Ancestors At Rest. Edward H Haskell Died Sept 6 1880 Aged 62 years 5 ms and Judith Haskell Died June 6 1854 age 13 years.


Coffin Plates

Coffin Plate of Josiah Rockwood 1851 ~ 1853

The Coffin Plate of Josiah Rockwood 1851 ~ 1853 is now online. Josiah Rockwood Coffin Plate

Hats Off To You Girls

The 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera is Costume so with that in mind I thought this photo might be appropriate. The photo is of the sisters of my Great Great Grandmother, Harriet Purdue. The girls were all milliners, that is to say they made hats for a living. They also were accomplished seamstresses and made their own clothing. The photo was taken in St.Marys Ontario around 1895~1900.

Mixup in Burial North Carolina 1897

Denver County Inheritance Tax Records 1909 -1912 Colorado Archives

The Denver County Inheritance Tax Records 1909 -1912 at the Colorado Archives are online. I did not know about this neet little database until today so I have added a link to it on my Colorado death records page. Colorado Death Records It is not a large database but if you have Denver County ancestors you might want to take a quick peek.

1911: Workmen Dig Up Coffin with Coffin Plate in Philadelphia

July 1911 Philadelphia

Workmen digging foundations for 11th Street Opera House unearthed a small coffin with a brass plate. The inscription on the coffin plate read

Samuel Ford
died February 8 1826
age 6 years 5 months 6 days

The Opera House site was formerly a church and cemetery. In 1850 the bodies were moved but sadly it seems little Samuel was left behind.

See AncestorsAtRest.com for more coffin plates, funeral cards and death records

Man pawns wife's coffin plate in 1882

Dec 23, 1882 Altoona Pennsylvania

Philip Gabriel tries to pawn the coffin plate from his wife's coffin.

Her coffin plate inscription:

Mrs. Philip Gabriel
died Nov. 29, 1882
Age 50 years 9 months 3 days

Mr. Gabriel was said to ask 25 cents for the silver coffin plate so that he could purchase whiskey.

To see if your ancestor's coffin plate is online visit the largest collection of coffin plates online (over 500!) at AncestorsAtRest.com

A Hairy Situation

This rather strange photo came to me in a box of family photos. I unfortunately don't know the name of this person but the other photos in the box are all my Elgie and Facey relatives so this person probably is as well. The Elgie and Facey families lived in Ontario, just south of a place called St.Marys. I would think it has to be some kind of gag photo as no one in my family has had hair like that (not even in the 70s). I think the photo was taken about 1900.

'Walking In A Winter Wonderland" A Cold Day For A Wedding

This is the only photo taken of my Massey Grandparents on their wedding day, Dec 31st 1939. The wedding was a small affair as it was the depression and they did not have a lot of money. My Grandfather was employed a delivery man for a bake shop at the time and my Grandmother was a bar maid in a local hotel. I don't know how much money they were making but I am sure it was not much.
They had only been married a few minutes when my Grandmothers father suggested that they should get a picture. And as cameras did not have a built in flash back in the days of yore, you had no choice but to go out side no mater how cold it was. And as it happened it was a typical freezing cold Canadian Winter day. My grandmother not having a coat on hand grabbed a old ratty sweater off the back of the door and out they went. I think the sweater actually belonged to my Great Grandfather.

So that is the story of my Grandparents only wedding photo. They may not have had a lot of money but the marriage lasted 50 years so I guess they had what matters.

John Becker 1871 ~ 1898 and John Becker 1827 ~ 1902

The coffin plates of John Becker 1871 ~ 1898 and John Becker 1827 ~ 1902 are now on my coffin plate index on Ancestorsatrest.com. I cant say for sure but I think they may be a father and son or perhaps a Grandfather and Grandson.

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

Coffin plates are an overlooked free genealogical resource. They often contain the Birth Record and Death Record and can be used as a substitute for vital records.

Now You Can Ask Olive Tree Genealogy a Question

Do you need help finding an ancestor? Now you can ask Lorine of the Olive Tree Genealogy web site. Lorine has started a new Blog, Ask Olive Tree. Send your query about your ancestors to Lorine. Every day she will choose one question to answer.

http://askolivetree.blogspot.com/

The Search For My Irish Roots, Part 5

The kindness of strangers.

The quest to find my Masseys would not have been possible without the kindness of strangers. Jenny had done all the work of getting me the records from Delgany and it should be remembered that this info was of no value to her, she is not a Massey, she did it for no return. And now Annie would do something equally nice. She got her fathers D.N.A. tested for me. I say she got it tested for me because there was little she could learn from the test. You have to rember that Annie already new her lines were from Delgany. If her father and I were a match it would only tell her she had a few more distant cousins out there, that’s it. But for me it had the potential to finally prove once and for all the question that I had been working on for so many years.

I am a Delgany Massey

So as you may have guessed Annie and I are a D.N.A. match. Not a perfect match as I had hoped but close enough to prove what I had suspected all these years - that Annie and I are related and that my William Massey was almost certainly born in the Parish of Delgany. As you can imagine I was ecstatic. To finally have the answer to a question that had plagued me for so long was a great feeling. I was so happy. For about 10 minutes. Then like a true genealogist I started to think about what I still did not know, and I realized my search will never be over. Because for me it is not just about the answer, it’s about the search itself.

The Search For My Irish Roots, Part 4

Sometimes you don’t find the next clue, it finds you.

I was contacted by a man who was researching the family of William Massey’s wife Ellen. I had never been able to find anything on Ellen, I did not even know her last name. As it turns out I probably would never have found her as I was looking in the wrong country. Anyway he had found a letter that Ellen’s father William had written to his brother Thomas in Etobicoke about 1860. The letter is now in a museum. The letter states among other things that William Massey was from a place just a few miles south of Dublin Ireland. And what is just a few miles south of Dublin. You guessed it, Delgany.

So I was now convinced that my Masseys were from Delgany but I of course had no real proof of this and I had run out of places that I could think of to look. Then again out of the blue another piece of the very circumstantial puzzle fell from the sky and landed in my lap. I made contact with a man by the name of Ron Mahone who was researching a Massey family that lived just a few miles from my Massey family in St. Marys Ontario back in the 1860s. The story handed down in Ron's family was that they were from a place called Redford or Redfoord. So I did a little diging and was able to confirm that they were indeed from Redfoord. And where is Redfoord? You guessed right again, Delgany. Now I had no proof that this new Massey family was connected in any way to mine but there were not a lot of Irish Massey’s in Ontario in the 1860s and knowing that the Irish would often settle in family groups I felt this was yet another small arrow pointing me to Delgany.

Then last year Jenny Selfe came to my aid again, albeit in a round about kind of way. She had received a letter from an Annie Massey about the Massey family. Jenny had put all the Delgany Massey data that she had on her website. Not having any more info than what was on her website she put Annie in touch with me. Now for Annie their was no question that she was a Delgany Massey. She had her lines well documented, for her there was no doubt about it. And with a little digging she was able to prove that she was related to the Massey family that had lived just a few miles from my Massey family in St. Marys Ontario. So everything kept pointing me to Delgany, it was like the place was calling me but I could not get that last little piece of the puzzle. The proof was always just out of reach. What to do?

The kindness of strangers.

To be continued.......

The Search For My Irish Roots, Part 3

Then I got lucky

Meanwhile back in Canada I had searched for many years with out finding that magic little record that would tell me what Irish County my William Massey was from. Then one day in a most unexpected place, I found it. In a Cemetery record of all places. I had seen my William's tombstone many times and had searched for an obit to no avail, but then at the Archives of Ontario I found the interment records of the cemetery on microfilm and there it was. Wicklow Ireland. The strangest part was that my William was not even originally buried in that cemetery. His body had been moved after the original cemetery he was buried in was closed. So it was just blind luck that someone had recorded his place of birth.

Now you would think I would be happy with this new found info, lots of people never find this much, and I was happy, for about 10 minutes. Then like most genealogists I started thinking about what I still did not know. Where in County Wicklow was he from? Did they mean the town of Wicklow? How will I know where to start looking? So it was at this point that my one name study of Irish Masseys started to pay off. For one of those little pockets of Masseys was located in County Wicklow. In a little place called Delgany Parish.

Now I know what you are thinking, that it is hardly proof that my William Massey was from Delgany. And you are right, it was totally circumstantial. But I just had a feeling that I was on the right track. So I made a big leap of faith and started to concentrate my efforts on Delgany.
So I started to learn everything I could on Delgany. What records were available, the history of the parish, the geography. I read everything. I even spent hours looking at the place on Google Earth. It was during this search to learn everything I could about Delgany that I came across a lady by the name of Jenny Self. Jenny was an Australian living in England, who had done some research on her own lines in Delgany. Now Jenny and I are not related so she had no Massey info, but I found her work so interesting that I dropped her a quick email just to thank her for taking the time to put all her hard work online. Well to make a long story short this led to a correspondence and Jenny offered to do some looking in the Delgany Parish records on her next trip to Ireland.

I was very excited at the prospect of Jenny taking a look in the Parish Records as these records are only available in Ireland. But you can imagine how happy I was when a few months later Jenny sent me all the Massey Births, Marriages, Deaths and Burials for over 200 years. It was a fantastic windfall and I am still grateful for the hours of work that she put in to help someone who was basically a stranger. But to my disappointment William was not there. Of course at this point some people would have moved on but I still felt that Delgany was the place. And I would soon find more evidence to keep me looking in Delgany.

Sometimes you don’t find the next clue, it finds you.

To be continued.......

The Search For My Irish Roots, Part 2

We're Irish???

Now don't get me wrong, there is no anti-Irish sentiment in my family that I am aware of but some how this little tidbit of information had gotten lost or perhaps hidden somewhere along the way. My grandfather had told me we were English. There was no talk of Ireland in the family stories, no Irish names, no tombstones in the local cemetery with the words, Native Of County Blah Blah Ireland, Nothing. Thus began my quest for my new found Irish roots.

Now what???

I quickly learned that to do any meaningful genealogy in Ireland you need to have some idea of what County your Irish ancestors came from. Without this you are just flailing around in the dark.

The 1861 census had told me my GGG Grandfather William Massey was a native of Ireland. Where in Ireland I had no idea. So I did what any new genealogist would do, I started flailing around. However in my case my flailing around would one day pay off. It would just take about 30 years.

Fortunately for me Massey is not a common name in Ireland (this makes hunting a little easer) so I began to collect even the smallest mention of the Massey name anywhere in Ireland. Sort of like a one name study of Irish Masseys. At the same time I continued to research my Masseys in North America in the more conventional organized way, working on my direct lines. It was these 2 styles of research that would one day give me some of the answers I was looking for.
My somewhat haphazard one name study of Irish Massey’s soon began to paint an interesting picture. It told me that almost all the Masseys in Ireland are descended from a few men, most likely just 3 of 4 who came to Ireland in the 1600s. It also told me that the descendants of these men tended to stay in the same locations as their original immigrant ancestor. This has the effect of producing little pockets of Masseys located at a few different places in Ireland. This info was interesting but of course it did not tell me what little pocket of Masseys I belonged to.

Then I got lucky......

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