Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Hatfield Ledger Book 1858~1904

I have added scans of the pages from the Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Hatfield Ledger Book 1858~1904. This great old farm ledger came from New Hanover Township in Montgomery County Pennsylvania. The original owner of the book did not sign his full name (he just put Hatfield at the top of each page) however there is a loose paper from 1878 in the book that belonged to James G Hatfield. The Hatfield ledger is a great genealogy find for this area of Pennsylvania as it contains a large number of local names starting in 1858. I had a hunt for a few of the names found in this ledger in the 1860 United States Federal Census and found many of them in Montgomery County, Berks County and Bucks County.

If you want to take a look go to

Hatfield Ledger Book 1858~1904

Who Was Marie Olsen?

Do you know Marie Olsen? Her gravestone was found recently in St. Paul, Minnesota. The only clue are the dates inscribed on the stone  1879-1932

See Geneanet's Genealogy Blog for more information.

Updating My Cemetery Page

I spent an hr or or so updating my cemetery page at http://www.ancestorsatrest.com/cemetery_records/

Jennie M Sprague

I found this interesting memorial photo in an antique shop in Cambridge Ontario. It is for Jennie M Sprague 1857 ~ 1895. I have not found out who she was yet but I will keep hunting.

Cemetery Walks on Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel

Join Olive Tree Genealogy and Ancestors At Rest on Cemetery Walks.

Videos of Cemetery Tombstones in North America are online at the Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel.


You can also search for more death records at Archives.com

Toronto Cemeteries on FamilySearch

Family Search Labs has added the following cemetery records today

Canada, Ontario, Toronto Trust Cemeteries, 1826-1935

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://hr-search-api:8080/searchapi/search/collection/1627831

It includes the following records:

Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Necropolis Cemetery
Potters' Field Cemetery
Prospect Cemetery

The Leatherman Gets a New Burial

The Leatherman was given a new burial this week.

In 1889 this mysterious man who I've talked about on AncestorsAtRest in an earlier blog post, died and was buried at the side of the road. For years he had wandered the country from New York to Connecticut. Earlier this week his remains were dug up and what was found was reburied in a plain pine coffin in a suburban New York cemetery.

No bones remained but some earth and nails from his old coffin were put in his new pine coffin and buried with him in his new resting place.

No one knows the Leatherman's real name; he remains a mysterious figure who begged for food and slept outdoors from the 1850s to his death in 1889.

Death Records on Archives.com

This may be a new site for some of you to explore. I'm exploring it now! I hope to find an ancestor or two.

Congratulations To The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog

Congratulations to my wife. The Olive Tree Genealogy blog has been chosen as one of "11 Essential Genealogy Blogs" on Indian Country Today Media Network. Way to go Lorine.

Go Take A Look

The Grave Of Mona Lisa

Art historians are hunting for the grave of Mona Lisa.

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Where oh Where Has my Invitation Gone??

Where can it be? Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married tomorrow in London England. And I'll be gob-smacked - my invite has not arrived!

But my family tree clearly indicates that I, Brian Massey, am the 28th cousin, 4 times removed, of Wills. So what's up with not inviting me and my spouse to the wedding of the century!! I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and say maybe it was a space issue but I just found out that the Palace revoked the invitation previously sent to the Syrian ambassador.  So... that means there's a couple of empty spots at supper!

Here's the direct royal line down to Elizabeth from William I. It's a bit confusing but here's how it works - King Henry II's mother Matilda, was the sister of my direct ancestor David, 1st King of Scotland. That's right - I've got royal blood. My family always told me I was special...

At least, I've got royal blood if the online family trees can be trusted... but if they're online, they can't be wrong can they?

The line from my 26th great-grandparent David King of Scotland, comes down several generations to Bryan Stapleton who died in 1394. My Stapleton family carried on in the male line and ended up leaving England in the early 1800s for Canada.

So there we have it. If the online royalty trees are correct, I'm Will's cousin. And I really don't get why he didn't have all this figured out. I mean the guy can afford to hire a genealogist for cripe's sake! Or if he hasn't got the money what with marrying Kate, all he has to do is ask Grandma to pony up some Euros.

My wife says I should take him off the Christmas Card list.

Disclaimer: My tongue was tucked so far into my cheek it went numb. I won't be able to lick the stamp for Will's Christmas or Birthday card at this rate!

Bedlam Bodies Found

Opened in 1247, London’s St Bethlehem Hospital was the world’s first institution dedicated to mental illness. An abbreviation of its name produced the modern word “bedlam”.

Archaeologists have now discovered as many as 1,000 bodies at the hospital’s former burial site near London’s Liverpool Street station, as part of the capital’s Crossrail development. While some of the remains will ultimately go on display in the Museum of London, Government regulations demand the bodies are ultimately reburied locally – though indecision still surrounds the exact location.

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'Pay $10,000 to keep old family graves'

As someone who appreciates the importance of preserving cemeteries I could not believe this next story. It  seems this area in England wants to dig up the older graves so they can sell them again. Relatives could be asked to pay between £1,000 and £5,000 (that's approximately $2,000 to $10,000) to keep a plot that's more than 75 years old. Remains that were removed could be placed in an unmarked common grave.

Massacre at the hillfort

Archaeologists at the site in Derbyshire found four babies, a two-year-old, a teenage boy and three adults.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1378190/Iron-Age-mass-grave-reveals-slaughter-women-children-challenges-theory-pre-Roman-peaceful-life.html#ixzz1JuZ7mb1H

Bones of Leper Warrior Found in Medieval Cemetery

The bones of a soldier with leprosy who may have died in battle have been found in a medieval Italian cemetery, along with skeletons of men who survived blows to the head with battle-axes and maces.

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Cemetery Love

OK so its not the kind of thing I normally blog about but this story is making the rounds and I just thought it was cute. And it is taking place in a cemetery so its sort of on topic.

A deer has been standing watch for several days over a female goose nesting in a Buffalo city cemetery. For at least four days, the buck has stood guard near the nest of a Canada goose as she sits on her eggs inside a large urn at Forest Lawn cemetery, home to the remains of rock icon Rick James and President Millard Fillmore.

Read More

Free Access to Civil War Records on Ancestry!

Ancestry is giving away free access to their Civil War Records.Civil War Records

Death Registration Years in Canada

Registration of Deaths in Canada is the responsibility of each province or territory. Even after Civil Registration of Vital Statistics began, many people did not comply with the law as they were suspicious as to why the Government wanted this information.

Genealogists will find that the information provided on a death registration varied over time. For example in Ontario, parents' names of the deceased individual were not required before the early 1900s.

Following is a list of provinces and territories of Canada and the official year of the start of mandatory Death Registrations:

Alberta 1870
British Columbia 1872
Manitoba 1882
New Brunswick 1888
Newfoundland & Labrador 1892
Northwest Territories 1925
Nova Scotia 1864
Nunavut before 1999 see NorthWest Territories
Ontario 1869
Prince Edward Island 1906
Quebec registered in church from the early 17th century
Saskatchewan 1905
Yukon 1898

For other death records see http://ancestorsatrest.com

Roman graves uncovered in Canterbury

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient burial ground in Kent where around a hundred people were laid to rest.



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Ancient graves threatened by climate change

Archaeological treasures that have been frozen for millennia are being destroyed because of climate change, according to Edinburgh researchers.

Remains in some of the coldest places on earth are being exposed as warmer temperatures cause ice and hardened ground to thaw.

Edinburgh University experts said the materials at risk included ancient tombs, artefacts and human remains.

Read More

Man Tries to Save Cemetery From Being Washed Away

A man in Dorchester County is trying to save a historic cemetery that is on the verge of being swept into the Chesapeake Bay.

Donald Willey has been working for eight years to save the Anchor of Hope Cemetery on Hooper's Island. He has cleared away the trees and brush that have covered the cemetery for years.

"It needs to be taken care of and I knew if I didn't do it nobody else would," Willey said.

Willey says so far he has uncovered some 150 graves. The oldest graves dates back to 1805.

Read More

Coffin Plate of Thomas R Davis 1833 ~ 1889

Just added the Coffin Plate of Thomas R Davis 1833 ~ 1889

Thomas R Davis 1833~1889

Archeologists are set to begin exhuming human remains from an unmarked Eastern State Hospital cemetery in Lexington KY

Archeologists are set to begin exhuming human remains from the 1840 - 60s in an unmarked Eastern State Hospital cemetery in Lexington KY

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/02/23/1645570/crews-to-begin-exhuming-remains.html##ixzz1Eph2C27K

Coffin Plate of Ester G Webster 1827 ~ 1865

I have just added the coffin plate of Ester G Webster 1827 ~ 1865. It looks like Ester was from Rockingham, New Hampshire.Ester G Webster 1827 ~ 1865

Grave of 'Nosferatu' discovered

The grave of the German actor Max Schreck has been found near Berlin. Schreck set the standard for movie vampires with his now legendary 1922 portrayal of Nosferatu.

Read More

Ancestry Offers USA 1910 Census Index for Free

Search the enhanced indexes for free through February 21, 2011

The 1910 U.S. Census on Ancestry.com is offering the 1910 census indexes for free through Feb. 21st.

Enhancements include:

* Clearer, crisper images

* Improved indexes with two new fields: mother's and father's birthplace

* Millions of alternate names to help you with hard-to-find relatives

Sounds like a good plan! Search 93 million improved records from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, plus U.S. Military and Naval Forces — free through February 21.

In Salt Lake City For Rootstech

Well I am in Salt Lake City for Rootstech 2011. But before it starts I hope to spend a day doing a little genealogy research at the Family History Library.

Coffin Plate of Robert H Thayer 1872 ~ 1873

I have just added the Coffin Plate of Robert H Thayer 1872 ~ 1873

Robert H Thayer 1872 ~ 1873

The Broken Stone

The mystery of how a centuries-old tombstone from North Haven wound up in the basement of the former Clinton Police Department remains. But through modern-day communication and some old-fashioned research, the burial plot where the stone belongs has been identified.

Members of Clinton's highway department were working at 48 E. Main St. — the building that housed the police department from 1971 to 2005 — when they found the 214-year-old relic on Jan. 4. The headstone, which is in three pieces, is gray slate inscribed with "In Memory of Mrs. Ruth Sackitt wife of Mr. Solomon Sackitt who died March 27, 1796 in the 41st year of her age." And at the bottom: "Death is a debt to nature due that I have paid and so must you."

Sgt. Joe Flynn keeps track of property and evidence that comes through the police department, now at 170 E. Main St. He said he checked with Clinton's town clerk to determine whether Ruth Sackitt's name was listed in the town's records.


http://articles.courant.com/2011-01-12/community/hc-clinton-tombstone-0113-20110112_1_headstone-burial-plot-death

The Leather Man

Leather Man' to be exhumed from Ossining

The obscurity behind a 19th-century, leather-clad wanderer who traversed Westchester County and Connecticut for more than 30 years may soon be unearthed.

A recent state Supreme Court ruling will allow a team of scientists to exhume the body of the "Leather Man," a legendary figure who was buried at Ossining's Sparta Cemetery in 1889 and whose true identity continues to stir intense speculation.

"He is one of this country's major historical mysteries," said Ossining Historical Society President Norman MacDonald. "Not only can we give this man a more dignified resting place, but we hope to find out a lot more about him."

The Ossining Historical Society, as owners of Sparta Cemetery, sought the court order so forensic testing could be conducted on the Leather Man's remains and also to rebury him elsewhere on the 2-acre site, MacDonald said.

Presently, the Leather Man is buried in a "pauper's grave," mere steps from busy Route 9 and, as such, a safety hazard. The second-hand headstone — another man's name is etched on the back — sits alone, removed from other plots, at the cemetery's entrance and is easily missed.


http://www.lohud.com/article/20110120/NEWS02/101200398/Famed-Leather-Man-to-be-exhumed-from-Ossining-grave

Bog Bodies

Scholars have long tried to make sense out of one of the oddities of the archaeological world —bodies pulled from ignominious burials in cold water bogs everywhere from Ireland to Russia.


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2011-01-16-bog-bodies_N.htm?csp=obnetwork

Work stops on excavation at old cemetery in Los Angeles

Officials have halted some excavation on the site of a planned Mexican American cultural center after complaints about the removal of skeletal remains that have been unearthed there.


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Roadwork in Poland unearth German WWII mass grave

Construction workers in Poland have reportedly disturbed a mass grave of German soldiers from World War II.

Polish police say human bones, scraps of military uniforms, belts, gas masks and bullets have been found scattered along a road under construction.

Read More

Bones beneath Derry church may be mass grave from siege

A mass grave dating back to the 17th century and the Siege of Derry has been unearthed under a Presbyterian Church in Londonderry. It is thought the site is the final resting place of “a huge number” of Presbyterians who died during the siege.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bones-beneath-derry-church-may-be-mass-grave-from-siege-15053958.html#ixzz1B7EjKrgi

Not so odd for grave markers to go astray

Think the holiday discovery of a 123-year-old tombstone in the fireplace of an Ingersoll, Ont., home was a one-of-a-kind occurrence? Not at all.

Tombstones have been known to turn up in unlikely and unsettling places. Like in someone's yard. It happens from time to time, even right here in Brantford.

Read More

Grave marker mystery solved

The mystery of the forlorn tombstones in Mitchell has been solved.
The strange tale of the two granite markers, engraved with the names Blanche and Jody, dates back decades.

Read More

Coffen Plate For Lawrence Cotter

I have just added the coffin plate for Lawrence Cotter. Lawerence was 52 years old.

Lawrence Cotter

2,600-year-old Celtic tomb discovered in Germany

Archaeologists have unveiled the treasures of a 2,600-year-old Celtic tomb containing a wealth of art in Germany.

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Discovery of tombstone has descendants 'thrilled to death'

A tombstone found by Ingersoll homeowners who were recently renovating their fireplace is that of a pioneer with connections to Brant and Oxford counties, who was also a veteran of the War of 1812.

The pristine limestone grave marker of Comfort Sage, who died on April 5, 1887, at the age of 90 years and 10 months, was found by Russell and Heidi Watson. The couple had turned over a large rectangular hearthstone in their home only to discover that it was actually a tombstone.



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Who is really buried in John Wilkes Booth's grave?

Just who is really buried in the grave of Abraham Lincoln's killer?

Rumors have swirled for decades that John Wilkes Booth's Baltimore grave is occupied by someone else, and the presidential assassin survived his reported death.

Now descendants want to test the DNA of his brother and uncover the truth once and for all.

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After 100 Years County Pioneer's Family Gets Cemetery

The 11 descendant families of pioneer John Wells have great cause to celebrate. The deed to the family's cemetery is finally in their hands after 100 years spent trying to acquire it.

Read More

25% to 30% Sale On Ancestry.com

I was reading the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog and found out that Ancestry.com has a huge sale on. If you want to save on a subscription to Ancestry this is the time.

Old Tombstone Found in Fireplace Hearth

Imagine finding an old tombstone in your fireplace! It happened recently in Ontario Canada.

A tombstone found by Ingersoll homeowners who were recently renovating their fireplace is that of a pioneer with connections to Brant and Oxford counties, who was also a veteran of the War of 1812.

The pristine limestone grave marker of Comfort Sage, who died on April 5, 1887, at the age of 90 years and 10 months, was found by Russell and Heidi Watson. The couple had turned over a large rectangular hearthstone in their home only to discover that it was actually a tombstone

Source: The Expositor. "Discovery of Tombstone Has Descendants Thrilled to Death" by Heather Ibbotson

Continue reading this fascinating story and see a photo of Comfort Sage

Neanderthal family found cannibalised in cave in Spain

Archaeologists in Spain have unearthed the remains of a possible family of 12 Neanderthals who were killed 49,000 years ago.

Markings on the bones show the unmistakeable signs of cannibal activity, say the researchers, with the group having probably been killed by their peers.



Read More

Coffin Plate: Ezra Holmes

The featured coffin plate today is for Ezra Holmes 1847~1899


View over 500 Coffin Plates at Ancestors At Rest Coffin Plate Collection

Neanderthal genes 'survive in us'

Many people alive today possess some Neanderthal ancestry. Between 1% and 4% of the Eurasian human genome seems to come from Neanderthals according to a landmark DNA study.



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Ancient Muslim cemetery demolished by military regime

A 124 year-old Muslim cemetery was demolished by the Burmese military regime’s Engineers’ Corps from Pegu Division on December 16, 2010, according to a statement issued by the Burmese Muslim Association.

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French Scientists Identify the Head of King Henry IV

With no DNA to help them, a team of French scientists has nevertheless identified this mummified head as that of one of the most popular monarchs to reign over France.

Henry IV was murdered 400 years ago and was buried. But his head was lost during the French revolution at the end of the 17th century when royal graves near Paris were ransacked.

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Coffin Plate: ARMAND in Massachusetts

The featured coffin plate today is for Lauuelina Jane Armand 1841~1866 Massachusetts.

View over 500 Coffin Plates at Ancestors At Rest Coffin Plate Collection

Coffin Plate: George W Abbott

The featured coffin plate today is for Geo W Abbott 1860~1879 Found in U.S.A.

Radar probes for submerged graves

The sloping pasture land near Weyers Cave in northern Augusta County contains centuries-old family mysteries that could be fully explained by a technology developed during the Vietnam War.

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Coffin Plate of Livonia Hodsdon 1807~1868

I have just added the Coffin Plate of Livonia Hodsdon 1807~1868. I had a look in the 1850 United States Federal Census on Ancestry.com. I did not find a Livonia Hodsdon but I did find a Livonia Hodgdon.

1850 United States Federal Census

Livonia Hodgdon
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1815
Home in 1850 (City,County,State):
Tremont, Hancock, Maine
Household Members:
Name, Age

Enoch Hodgdon 37
Livonia Hodgdon 35
Enoch Hodgdon 9
John W Hodgdon 8
Thomas Hodgdon 5
Cordelia H Mayo 16
Livonia Ann Mayo 17
Joshua C Mayo 13
Warren H Hodgdon 1

Not sure if this is the Livonia we are looking for. It will take a little more reasearch.

Tombstone Tuesday - Hugh Archer

Well its Tombstone Tuesday again so today its the grave of Hugh Archer in THE PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY WYEBRIDGE, SIMCOE COUNTY, ONTARIO.

ARCHER

HUGH ARCHER

Died

Sep 11 1889-Aged 52 Yrs

JANE ADAMS - His Wife

Died Mar 14 1905 Aged 57 yrs

Featured Coffin Plate: Lydia J. Wallace died 1901

AnotherCanadian Coffin Plate. The featured coffin plate today is for Lydia J Wallace 1843~1901 Ontario Canada

Featured Coffin Plate: Mary Ann Wood

The featured coffin plate today is for Mary Ann Wood Found in Pennsylvania

Cemetery in Haverhill Massachusetts missing thousands of records

The Hilldale Cemetery, which was founded in 1859, is missing deeds for almost a third of the cemetery’s 4,816 graves.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20101117thousand_of_records_missing_at_haverhill_cemetery/

Tombstone Tuesday, Metal Tombstones

Tombstone Tuesday. Well I was out taking some cemetery photos and this one caught my eye. At first glance one would not think that their is much different about this grave marker. From a distance it looks quite normal. But in fact the entire grave stone is metal. Metal grave markers of this type are rare in my area. And they are getting rarer all the time as they really don't stand up to the weather as well as granite and they are much more susceptible to damage by vandals. You can see cracks starting to form in this one and I would guess its days are numbered.

Geo Catlin

Died

Feby 16 1880

Aged 80 Years

At Rest

Featured Coffin Plate: Martha D. Wolfe 1847-1892

The featured coffin plate today is for Martha D Wolfe 1847~1892 Found in New Hampshire

I Wonder who they are.

I thought perhaps I should do something in honer of Remembrance Day today. So I started looking through my family photographs and I came across this interesting one. My grandfather was a airplane mechanic in WW2 and he brought back a few photos and other items. Some of the photos are of him but this one would seem to be the crew of a bomber. It looks to me like a Lancaster bomber but I am no expert. Did they make it back. I guess I will never know. Gramps died a long time ago and he did not talk much about the war any way. They look like nice young men and I can only hope they survived. Being in a bomber in WW2 was a dangerous job and I really don't know how they found the courage to keep going.

How Much For That Tombstone In The Window

How Much For That Tombstone In The Window. Over the years I have spent a lot of time in cemeteries. And while wandering about looking at all the grave markers I have often wondered about how much they must have cost. Many are quite large and beautiful and it must have been a fair burden for some of the families to pay for. Times were hard in The Good Old Days. People did not always have a lot of extra cash. But it was very important to them to have a nice memorial for their loved ones. So to that end I have done a little digging and one of the first things I found was a 1902 Sears and Roebuck catalogue. When I think of shopping at Sears tombstones are not the first thing I think of. But back then Sears sold just about everything you could think of.

The prices in 1902 would seem to start around $6 dollars for a small stone and go right up to almost $30 for a big 4ft tall stone. This would appear quite cheap to us. But when you think about how little people made back then. You realize just how costly they were and how hard it must have been to pay for. For example the 1901 Canadian Census tells us that back then a good wage for a man was about $1.50 to $1.75 per day. So you're looking at a week to a month's pay just for a tombstone. Not an easy burden. Then when you add the cost of the funeral and the fact that the person being buried was in many cases the main source of income for the family. One can really start to get a feeling of just how important it must have been to the family to have a nice marker.

Featured Coffin Plate: Joshua woodman 1807-1876

The featured coffin plate today is for Joshua Woodman 1807~1876 from Maine.

OLD PROTESTANT CEMETERY IN ST.MARYS, PERTH COUNTY, ONTARIO

Well I missed Tombstone Tuesday as I was out taking pictures of tombstones. So how about Grave marker Wednesday this week. This week it is the grave marker of Wm Barron. William lived with his family in Blanchard Township in Perth County. He was buried in the OLD PROTESTANT CEMETERY IN ST.MARYS, PERTH COUNTY, ONTARIO in 1858.

http://www.ancestorsatrest.com/perth_county_ontario/old_st.marys_protestant_cemetery_good.shtml

Expenses In Death 1733

Death Records come in many different forms. This is an interesting record from 1733.

Halloween Gallagher 1892~1953

Believe it or not, some children born on Oct. 31st are given the first name HALLOWEEN by their parents.

Found in the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) for Georgia:

Halloween Venable b. OCt 31, 1892 d Sept 1974

Halloween Kea 1916-1992

Haloween Russell 1921-1981.

But my personal fav is Halloween Gallagher born in Penetanguishene
Ontario 31 Oct 1892 to parents William and Agnes. Why is she my fav?
Because Penetang (as it's called) is not far from where I live!

Halloween went on to marry John Thomas Codnere from Toronto. In 1951
Halloween Codnere is found in the Border Crossing Records going from
Canada to Ashville North Carolina to join her husband, Dr. J. T. Codnere. She died in Sept. 1953 in Skyland, Buncombe North Carolina,
and her death certificate is online. I haven't found her tombstone but
I'd sure like to see a photo of it!

Featured Coffin Plate: Sophronia Clark 1823-1878

Featured Coffin Plate today is for Sophronia Clark 1823~1878 Found in Maine

1858 River Bend Cemetery Co. Alvah Taylor Rhode Island

1858 River Bend Cemetery Co. Deed #43 Alvah Taylor Rhode Island.

Bid on this Item

Featured Coffin Plate: Betsey A. Cheney 1824-1872

Featured Coffin Plate: Betsey A Cheney 1824~1872 Found in Vermont

Ontario Cenotaph Records on Ancestors At Rest

In my travels around Ontario I often take photos of Cenotaphs. If you have a WW1 or WW2 Ontario ancestor. It might be worth a look.

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 Cenotaph 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.

Ontario Cenotaph Records

Tombstone Tuesday: Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls Ontario

Well its Tombstone Tuesday again.  This week I have decided to feature a grave marker in Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls Ontario. Drummond Hill Cemetery named in honour of General Drummond, is a nationally recognized heritage site. It's known as the battleground of the "Battle of Lundy’s Lane", as well as the burial site of Laura Secord.

In 1799 Christopher Buchner purchased 400 acres of land from his father-in-law, James Forsythe. Christopher used the top of the hill as a burial ground. It later became the site of a fierce battle between the British and the Americans in 1814.

The gravestone is for Rheumanah Muisiners [Misener] who died in 1836. This is an early tombstone for Ontario. Many of the early settlers did not have the luxury of a fancy grave marker.

Rheumanah (nee Lanton) was the wife of Peter Misener from New Jersey. He was a soldier in Butler's Rangers and a Loyalist.

Movie Monday: 2 Cemetery Walks in Ontario Canada

It's Movie Monday again and this week Lorine has added two Cemetery Walk Videos for you on the Olive Tree Genealogy YouTube Channel.

Farnham Cemetery and St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery

Featured Coffin Plate: Alexander Cameron 1806-1889

Alexander Cameron 1806~1889 is the featured Coffin Plate for today

Ida Chase's Grave Robbed - Police Look for Grave Robbers & Descendants

Harwich police are searching for someone who broke into an imposing mausoleum, smashed through marble and slate walls, and opened the coffin of a woman who died a century ago, reports the Cape Cod Times.

Ida Chase died in 1913. She was put to rest in a grand mausoleum in Mount Pleasant Cemetery on South Street, along with her husband, a baby and two other female family members. The police suspect the grave robbers believed the mausoleum contained the remains of a wealthy woman buried with her valuable jewelry, and that's what they were after.

Continue reading...

No living relatives have been found. No doubt the police could use a genealogist or two on staff! Police are looking for more information and I wonder if they'd appreciate some genealogists having a hunt for Ida and any living descendants.

UPDATE: Okay I confess. I'm curious beyond belief! I watched an online video where Police took viewers into the actual mauseleum. By pausing the video I was able to read the inscription on Ida's tomb

Ida M. Chase

wife of George M. Chase

Born Sept. 2 1855

Died May 8 1913

A search of Ancestry.com found the couple living in Boston Ward 1, Suffolk, Massachusetts in 1910. Both were born in Massachusetts. According to the census, they had one child, but none were living

Tombstone Tuesday John Bell 1825~1904

Well its Tombstone Tuesday again and I thought I would post the tombstone of John Bell. John is buried in Batteau Hill Cemetery near Duntroon in Simcoe County Ontario. He is buried with his wife Mary and his son Malcom and daughter Catharine. It is interesting that Catharine and Malcom never married.

You can see the rest of Batteau Hill Cemetery at
Ancestors At Rest

Featured Coffin Plate: Thomas Christie, Ontario Canada

Featured coffin plate is a Canadian one for Thomas Christie of Hasting County Ontario

Tombstone Tuesday: Sisters die 4 days apart

This is a very sad tombstone for the little daughters of Thomas and Mary King in Arkell Ontario.

Little Catherine died first at the age of 5, on Dec. 9, 1870. Four days later her one year old sister Mary Ann died. Their mother had died previously in childbirth with Mary Ann.

"Mary Ann d. Dec 13, 1870 age 1 yr, 2 mos, 2 days


Catherine d. Dec. 9 1870 age 5 yrs, 7 mos, 16 days


Children of Thomas W. & Mary A. King"

A search for their death records shows that both little girls died of diptheria.

Featured Coffin Plate: Mark Burgess 1825-1886

Featured coffin plate: Mark Burgess 1825~1886 Found in Maine

Muslim community told cemetery is illegal, asked to move the dead

Members of a small Muslim community in rural upstate New York say the uproar over a planned mosque near ground zero is behind attempts by local officials to shut down the community’s graveyard and remove the two bodies buried there.

Hans Hass of the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani community, 210 kilometres northwest of New York City, said Tuesday that anti-Islamic bigotry motivated the Sidney Town Board’s vote in August to pursue legal action to shut down the Sufi community’s cemetery.

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Tombstone Tuesday

For this weeks Tombstone Tuesday I have decided to feature the tombstone of Margaret Hogg. Poor Margaret died at the young age of 36 in 1884. I dont know any thing about Margaret but in my mind I see her as a sweet pretty young woman who died way too young. I can not even begin to emagen the pain her husband Samuel must of felt at her passing.

Gone but not forgotten
IN
MEMORY OF
MARGARET
Beloved Wife Of
SAMUEL HOGG
DIED
Dec 18. 1884
AGED
36 YEARS

Margaret is burried in
ALLENFORD CEMETERY IN ALLENFORD, BRUCE COUNTY, ONTARIO

Featured Coffin Plate: Lyman P. Bradley died 1875

Today's featured coffin plate is for Lyman P Bradley 1815~1875

Tombstone Tuesday, A Lost Ship And A Battlefield Far From Home

Well in honour of Tombstone Tuesday I will blog a little about a grave stone in my local cemetery. The grave stone is located in Lakeview Cemetery in Midland, Simcoe County Ontario. It always surprises me the connections to history I find in my cemetery photos. The tombstone in question is not really remarkable in its self. Its just a typical late 19th century grave marker. Just like millions of others in cemeteries all over North America. But the inscription on this stone is what caught my attention. For it brings us into contact with two events right out of the history books. A mysterious lost ship and a great WW1 battle.

The first event would be well known to anyone with an interest in Great Lakes history. The mysterious disappearance of the ship Bannockburn.

The Bannockburn was a 245 foot long, 1,620-ton steel steamer built in 1893 at Middlesborough, Scotland, by Sir Raylton Dix and Company. On November 21st, 1902, the Bannockburn left the Canadian Northern elevator at Port Arthur bound for Midland Ontario on her last trip of the season. She was loaded to the gills with 85,000 bushels of wheat. The ship was sighted on the evening of the 21st steamer Algonquin. She was never seen again. The Bannockburn and her crew of 20 including George Stephens, had vanished.

The second event recorded on this stone is the death of Richard Stephens at the Battle of Cambrai in Oct 1918. Between 26 September and 11 October, Canadian troops advanced twenty-three miles through the heart of the German defences in some of the worst fighting of WW1.

See More Graves In Lakeview Cemetery in Midland

Featured Coffin Plate: Philander Bodwell of Massachusetts

Today we feature the coffin plate of Philander Bodwell 1818~1863 Philander was born in Vermont or New Hampshire and died in Massachusetts

Featured Coffin Plate: Mary Etta Barker of Ohio

The featured coffin plate today is for Mary Etta Barker 1851~1898 This coffin plate was found in Ohio.

Coffin Plate of Mary Luce 1801 ~ 1874

I have added the Coffin Plate of Mary Luce 1801 ~ 1874. I did a little looking and Mary may be from Massachusetts but that is just a guess. It would take a little more digging.

Mary Luce Coffin Plate

Immigration Collection free through Labor Day

Ancestry announced today it has launched a collection of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. This is the first time this collection of recordings has been available online. To celebrate the new addition, Ancestry is making its entire U.S. Immigration Collection free through Labor Day.

Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants between 1892 and 1954. The oral histories were captured by the National Park Service starting in the 1970s, and contain uniquely inspiring first-hand accounts recalling the lives these immigrants left behind, their reasons for leaving and their incredible and often-trying journeys to America. These recordings are housed at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and until now could be heard only by visitors to the Island itself. In addition to oral histories from immigrants, the collection also includes recordings from military personnel who were stationed on Ellis Island and former Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty workers.

Featured Coffin Plate: Edward Bailey

The featured coffin plate for today is for Edward Bailey 1792~1871

Featured Coffin Plate: Sarah E. Bailey of Connecticut

Today's Featured Coffin Plate is for Sarah E Bailey 1833~1889 It was found in Connecticut.

A Genealogy Gift

My genealogy and family history is really an important part of my life. I take great pride and derive great pleasure from my family history. One of the the things that I love the most is seeing or touching things that were part of my ancestors life. Buildings they worked in or lived in. Furniture they sat on or books the read. It makes them come alive for me and seem like real people. Not just names in a book. Well just this weekend I was fortunate to be given a very special gift. I went to visit my uncle Mac and he presented me with a direct link to my Great Great Grandfather Samuel Sandercock. His moustache cup. Samuel had a big moustache his entire adult life. And i guess it would get a little wet when he had his tea. So as was common at the time he had a moustache cup. Its not a valuable thing. At an antique store it would probably only fetch $50 or so but to me it is priceless.

Featured Coffin Plate: Robert Andrews

Today's featured coffin plate is for Robert Andrews 1786~1870

I wish I knew more about Robert but it's a rather common name! I also have the coffin plate for Lucy Andrews 1790 ~ 1869 and think it quite possible that they were husband and wife.

Ancestor Death Record Finder

Can't find your ancestor in death records?


Most genealogists search death records such as Cemetery records, Obituaries and Vital Stats (Death Registrations or Certificates). If we don't find our ancestor in one of those death records, we're stuck! Where to search next? The free ADF (Ancestor Death Finder) can help.

What happens when a loved one dies? What events take place around the death of a family member? What kind of death record paper trail is created on the death of an individual? The answers to these questions will lead you to other sources of death records and hopefully end that brick-wall.


When an ancestor dies, many records of that death might be created. Let's talk about records kept before an ancestor death and those created after a death.

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Funeral homes subsidizing services for the poor

We can't afford to bury the poor, undertakers say

Local funeral homes say they can no longer afford to spend millions a year subsidizing dignified farewells for the poorest Torontonians.

Under Ontario’s Funeral, Burial and Cremations Act, municipalities have the discretion to pay for services for people who received Ontario Works benefits or were on the Ontario Disability Support Program. Most get pickup, embalming, a particleboard casket covered by grey cloth with white rayon interior, a service, clergy honorarium, a hearse, “lead car” and limo for family, and burial or cremation.

Read more by clicking on undertakers

COPS BUST GRAVE SITE ROBBER

Twenty bronze vases from grave sites were found when police stopped a vehicle in Montgomery County. At least 13 were found to be stolen from Conroe Memorial Park. Read the rest of this article at http://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/?p=9158

Hundreds Of Bodies Misplaced at Arlington National Cemetery

A seven-month long Army investigation has revealed a disturbing degree of mismanagement at Arlington National Cemetery including misplaced remains, mislabeled graves and one case of bodies buried on top of one another.

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The Coffin Plate of Silas Hanchet 1780 ~ 1848

I have just added the Coffin Plate of Silas Hanchet 1780 ~ 1848 on AncestorsAtRest.com This plate for old Silas is kind of interesting and rare. The date of 1848 makes it is an early plate. In fact this style of coffin plate is perhaps the first industrial manufactured plate. Up to this time most coffin plates had been manufactured locally by craftsmen. It is also interesting in that the inscription tells us Silas was a Mason. The date of death is written using the Masonic Calendar.

The Coffin Plate of Susie Pink 1865 ~ 1897

I have just added the Coffin Plate of Susie Pink 1865 ~ 1897.

Revised Edition Van Slyke Family in America NOW AVAILABLE!

The Van Slyke Family in America: A Genealogy of Cornelise Antonissen Van Slyke, 1604-1676 and his Mohawk Wife Ots-Toch, including the story of Jacques Hertel, 1603-1651,
Father of Ots-Toch and Interpreter to Samuel de Champlain REVISED EDITION by Lorine McGinnis Schulze is now available for purchase.

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Irish Famine Migration to New Brunswick, 1845-1852

I spoted this on the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog Weekly Featured Database. In the Wake of Dark Passage: Irish Famine Migration to New Brunswick, 1845-1852 is a fantastic new database that is worth a look.

* Saint John Almshouse Records
* Brenan Funeral Home Records: Traces of Ireland
* Fitzwilliam Estate Emigration Books 1847-1856
* RS555 Provincial Secretary: Immigration Administration Records
* Immigrant Letters
* Newspapers
* Passenger Lists
* Teachers Petition Database
* Irish Immigrants in the New Brunswick Census of 1851 and 1861

Help Find a WW2 Soldier from Illinois

The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog has another interesting little puzzle. Jill in Australia found another Dog Tag belonging to an American WW2 soldier. This military identification tag belonged to Randall E. Packard. His next of kin was Margaret [L.?] Packard of 406 Ash Street in Carbondale Illinois. Can you help with this?

More Coffin Plates Added

I have added a few more coffin plates to the database today. Julia M Morrison, Alice Burke, Celia Connelly, Thomas Kelly and Mary Foley. You can search the index to coffin plates at Coffin Plates

Coal miners' grave sites tell a little-known story

The Newcastle Historic Coal Miner's Cemetery is the kind of place familiar to a few local kids and invisible to most everyone else. It's tucked up on a hill and secured by a locked gate. The closest most visitors get is a sign that says "King County Historical Site."

But a couple of years ago, some curious genealogists from the Seattle Genealogical Society were drawn to the 2-acre site where tall trees shade crumbling headstones. They don't have ancestors of their own buried there, but they wanted to document the cemetery, which hadn't been mapped since the 1960s. The city of Newcastle granted them access.

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Over 300 Million New Names Added Online

There were over 150 new collections added or enhanced this week at
FamilySearch.org. FamilySearch volunteers indexed over 120 million
records—over 300 million new names—from original source documents to
accomplish this great feat. The massive release was announced this
past week at the National Genealogical Society annual conference in
Salt Lake City, Utah.

The records can be found at FamilySearch’s Record Search pilot
http://pilot.familysearch.org/ (FamilySearch.org, click Search
Records, and then click Record Search pilot) or Beta.FamilySearch.org.
http://beta.familysearch.org/Be sure to share the good news with
family and friends.

Collection Name
Records Indexed

Argentina Baptisms , 1645—1930
4,209,653

Argentina Marriages , 1722—1911
150,895

Australia Deaths and Burials , 1816—1980
106,767

Austria Births and Baptisms , 1651—1940
88,885

Austria Burials , 1768 – 1918
31,756

Austria Marriages , 1722 — 1898
25,383

Bahamas Births , 1550—1891
53,476

Barbados Baptisms , 1739—1891
222,010

Barbados Burials , 1854—1885
92,226

Barbados Marriages , 1854—1879
15,666

Belgium Births and Baptisms , 1560—1890
354,038

Belgium Deaths and Burials , 1564—1900
67,182

Brazil Baptisms , 1688—1935
3,597,609

Brazil Deaths , 1750—1890
43,931

Brazil Marriages , 1730—1955
475,107

Canada Births and Baptisms , 1661—1959
2,160,243

Canada Deaths and Burials , 1664—1955
101,189

Canada Marriages , 1661—1949
262,982

British Columbia Death Registrations , 1872—1986
928,851

British Columbia Marriage Registrations , 1859—1932
124,593

New Brunswick Births , 1819—1899
25,414

Nova Scotia Births , 1702—1896
125,791

Nova Scotia Marriages , 1711—1909
32,245

Ontario Births , 1779—1899
455,469

Ontario Marriages , 1800—1910
28,574

Quebec Births , 1662—1898
27,212

Caribbean Births , 1590—1928
438,073

Caribbean Deaths , 1790—1906
13,088

Caribbean Marriages , 1591—1905
88,186

Costa Rica Baptisms , 1700—1915
176,574

Costa Rica Deaths , 1787—1900
31,505

Costa Rica Marriages , 1750—1920
57,849

Czech Republic Births , 1637—1889
33,062

Czech Republic Marriages , 1654—1889
12,698

Dominican Republic Baptisms , 1726—1924
114,209

Dominican Republic Deaths , 1666—1862
14,636

Dominican Republic Marriages , 1743—1929
31,992

Ecuador Baptisms , 1680—1930
593,710

Ecuador Deaths , 1800—1920
43,852

Ecuador Marriages , 1680—1930
271,061

El Salvador Baptisms , 1750—1940
218,500

El Salvador Marriages , 1810—1930
28,162

France Deaths and Burials , 1546—1960
347,368

France Marriages , 1546—1924
1,397,204

Germany Births and Baptisms , 1558—1898
33,749,332

Gibraltar Marriages , 1879—1918
2,201

Gibralter Births and Baptisms , 1704—1876
30,515

Great Britain Deaths and Burials , 1778—1988
69,278

Great Britain Marriages , 1797—1988
22,036

Channel Islands Births and Baptisms , 1820—1907
41,647

Isle of Man Births and Baptisms , 1821—1911
224,489

Isle of Man Deaths and Burials , 1844—1911
42,389

Isle of Man Marriages , 1849—1911
42,662

Wales, Births and Baptisms , 1586—1907
773,392

Wales, Deaths and Burials, 1586—1885
15,109

Wales, Marriages, 1541—1900
39,630

Grenada Births and Baptisms , 1866—1891
33,239

Guatemala Baptisms , 1730—1917
466,223

Guatemala Deaths , 1760—1880
20,921

Guatemala Marriages , 1750—1930
112,610

Hondurus Baptisms , 1730—1930
220,317

Hondurus Marriages , 1800—1910
31,686

Hungary Baptisms , 1734—1895
14,210

Iceland Marriages , 1770—1920
42,954

India Births and Baptisms , 1800—1945
887,579

India Deaths and Burials , 1800—1945
566,529

India Marriages , 1800—1945
203,970

Ireland Deaths , 1864—1870
51,249

Italy Births and Baptisms , 1806—1900
1,940,693

Italy Deaths and Burials , 1809—1900
438,494

Jamaica Births and Baptisms , 1752—1920
331,497

Luxembourg Births , 1662—1840
7,835

Luxembourg Deaths , 1702—1798
1,554

Luxembourg Marriages , 1700—1810
1471

Mexico Deaths , 1680—1940
362,067

Mexico Marriages , 1570—1950
6,232,176

Panama Baptisms , 1750—1938
269,054

Panama Deaths , 1840—1930
21,463

Panama Marriages , 1800—1950
39,839

Paraguay Baptisms , 1800—1930
101,337

Paraguay Marriages , 1800—1900
14,400

Peru Baptisms , 1556—1930
4,013,461

Peru Deaths , 1750—1930
101,257

Peru Marriages , 1600—1940
443,248

Philippines Births and Baptisms , 1642—1994
334,139

Philippines Deaths and Burials , 1726—1957
5,128,622

Philippines Marriages , 1723—1957
2,247,381

Portugal Baptisms , 1570—1910
424,354

Portugal Deaths , 1640—1910
100,234

Portugal Marriages , 1670—1910
59,735

Russia Births and Baptisms , 1755—1917
170,844

Russia Deaths and Burials , 1815—1917
100,647

Russia Marriages , 1793—1919
33,559

Samoa Baptisms , 1863—1940
28,013

Samoa Burials , 1895—1970
42,061

Spain Deaths , 1600—1920
186,259

Sweden Baptisms, 1611—1920
9,280,828

Sweden Burials, 1649-1920
1,207,501

Sweden Marriages, 1630-1920
2,243,064

Switzerland Baptisms , 1491-1940
1,001,685

Switzerland Burials , 1613-1875
138,011

Switzerland Marriages , 1532-1910
268,739

Switzerland, Basel City Church Books, 1380-1917
Images Only

Switzerland, Schaffhausen Genealogies and City Directories, 1460-1952
Images Only

Ukraine, Births and Baptisms
14,166

Uruguay Marriages , 1840—1900
19,810

United States 1910 Federal Census (AZ, CA, DE, FL)
4,078,117

United States Births , 1867—1931
20,946

United States Deaths , 1867—1961
3,705

United States Marriages , 1733—1990
7,176

Arizona Births and Christenings , 1909—1917
27,483

Arizona Deaths , 1910—1911; 1993—1994
10,168

Arizona Marriages , 1888—1908
75,094

Arkansas Births and Christenings , 1880—1893
11,724

Arkansas Deaths and Burials, 1882—1929; 1945—1963
38,956

Arkansas Marriages , 1837—1944
1,005,608

Delaware Births and Christenings , 1710—1896
30,298

Delaware Deaths and Burials , 1815—1955
209,592

Delaware Marriages , 1713—1953
70,024

District of Columbia Births and Christenings , 1830—1955
121,224

District of Columbia Deaths and Burials , 1840—1964
372,173

District of Columbia Marriages , 1830—1921
242,760

Florida Births and Christenings , 1880—1935
28,301

Florida Deaths and Burials , 1900—1921
24,800

Florida Marriages , 1837—1974
860,110

Hawaii Births and Christenings , 1852—1933
150,992

Hawaii Deaths and Burials , 1862—1919
105,519

Hawaii Marriages , 1826—1922
103,871

Idaho Births and Christenings , 1856—1965
75,881

Idaho Deaths and Burials , 1907—1965
31,253

Idaho Marriages , 1878—1898/1903—1942
88,588

Kansas Births and Christenings , 1818—1936
59,392

Kansas Deaths and Burials , 1885—1930
39,907

Kansas Marriages , 1840—1935
378,903

Kentucky Births and Christenings , 1839—1960
547,119

Kentucky Deaths and Burials , 1843—1970
1,971,681

Kentucky Marriages , 1785—1979
1,532,718

Louisiana Births, Christenings , 1811—1830; 1854—1934
16,890

Louisiana Marriages , 1816—1906
129,641

Maine Births and Christenings , 1739—1900
940,882

Maine Deaths and Burials , 1841—1910
172,879

Maine Marriages , 1771—1907
597,508

Maryland Births and Christenings , 1650—1995
206,288

Maryland Deaths and Burials , 1877—1992
11,686

Maryland Marriages , 1666—1970
253,727

Montana Marriages , 1889—1947
197,930

New Mexico Births and Christenings , 1726—1918
435,411

New Mexico Deaths , 1788—1798; 1838—1955
9,627

New Mexico Marriages , 1751—1918
93,387

New York Births and Christenings , 1640—1962
1,351,166

New York Deaths and Burials , 1795—1952
701,396

New York Marriages , 1686—1980
859,927

North Carolina Births and Christenings , 1866—1964
156,156

North Carolina Deaths and Burials , 1898—1994
2,742,609

North Carolina Marriages , 1759—1979
2,128,391

Ohio Deaths and Burials , 1854—1997
2,535,557

Oregon Births and Christenings , 1868—1929
70,253

Oregon Deaths and Burials , 1903—1947
29,035

Oregon Marriages , 1853—1935
57,523

South Dakota State Census+B21 , 1935
673,322

Tennessee County Marriages, 1790—1950
10,145

Utah Births and Christenings , 1892—1941
48,049

Utah Deaths , 1888—1946
148,933

Utah Marriages , 1887—1966
308,854

Vermont Births and Christenings , 1765—1908
402,329

Vermont Deaths , 1871—1965
235,415

Vermont Marriages , 1791—1974
185,433

Virginia Deaths and Burials , 1853—1912
785,241

West Virginia Births and Christenings , 1853—1928
544,589

West Virginia Deaths and Burials , 1854—1932
56,688

West Virginia Marriages , 1854—1932
203,378

Wyoming Marriages , 1877—1920
14,070

World Misc Births , 1534—1983
616,742

World Misc Deaths , 1767—1950
15269

World Misc Marriages , 1662—1945
28668