Friday, August 19, 2016

Oops I Goofed With My Irish Ancestors!

In 2010 I posted about my Irish ancestors. I listed them as:

* William Massey from Delgany, Wicklow Ireland arrived Quebec before 1843. 3rd g grandpa.

* William Montgomery (4th g grpa) from Co Fermanagh left Ireland during War of 1812 with his parents Thomas Montgomery and Mary Johnson (5th g grandparents). They were captured by British off coast of Newfoundland and held prisoners until 1816 then sent to Quebec. Later Thomas and Mary left for Oneida Co. New York but William remained in Quebec and married Jane Graham from Ireland.

* Jane Graham 4th g grandma.

* Cornelius Kennedy born Killarney and his wife Elizabeth Clifford (4th greats) born Co. Derry came to Ontario circa 1847 during Irish Famine. Their daughter Catherine Kennedy (3rd great) also born Ireland.

* Mary Jackson nee McKanor (4th g gramma) and son William Jackson (3rd g grandpa) from Tipperary sailed on Sir Robert Peel to New York in Oct. 1857. Came on to Ontario a few years later.

* James Hogan and wife Ann Hayden came to Ontario from Ireland ca 1843 4th g grandparents.

* James Holden, wife Frances Hamilton (4th g grandparents), son Sinclair Holden (3rd g grandpa) came from Co. Tyrone, Ireland between 1822 and 1826 to Whitby Ontario.

But guess what? I was WRONG about a few of them!

* Cornelius Kennedy born Killarney and his wife Elizabeth Clifford (4th greats) born Co. Derry came to Ontario circa 1847 during Irish Famine. Their daughter Catherine Kennedy (3rd great) also born Ireland.

UPDATE: Wrong family! Further research revealed that their daughter Catherine Kennedy married John Kean, not my ancestor Thomas Walker Elgie. My Catherine Kennedy was the daughter of Peter and Mary Kennedy from Kerry, Ireland.

* Mary Jackson nee McKanor (4th g gramma) and son William Jackson (3rd g grandpa) from Tipperary sailed on Sir Robert Peel to New York in Oct. 1857. Came on to Ontario a few years later.

UPDATE:  Research has found her maiden name is Moynahan/Minahan. I've since found her marriage to my 4th great grandfather Michael Jackson and many other records for this family.

* James Holden, wife Frances Hamilton (4th g grandparents), son Sinclair Holden (3rd g grandpa) came from Co. Tyrone, Ireland between 1822 and 1826 to Whitby Ontario.

UPDATE:  Wrong family!  DNA testing proved that I am not a Holden. That's right. My great-grandfather Bristol Holden was not my biological great-grandfather. What a shock! See the article DNA Gave My Husband a Completely Different Great Grandfather
for the details on what DNA showed, and how we proved the connection to an entirely new great-grandfather, Gordon Alfred Cooper.

 If you haven't had your DNA test done yet, see  Ancestry DNA Kit for USA  or Ancestry DNA for Canada

For other ideas on reviewing past research, see

Everyone Makes Mistakes: Why You Should Review Your Research Notes


Friday, January 08, 2016

Find Pennsylvania Ancestors in Store Ledger Books Part 3

Find Pennsylvania Ancestors in Store Ledger Books Part 3
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Pennsylvania

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Muncy, Lycoming County, PA 1831 to 1865 Docket Ledger of General William A Petrikin. OVER 250 NAMES.
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Lebanon County, PA 1887 Heilman Dale Creamery Milk Book.
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Hopewell Township, York County, PA 1890 Tax Collectors Book. (OVER 500 NAMES)
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Schuykill, Pennsylvania Tax Collection Ledger 1913-1922 PDF files available for download Part 1, Part 2, Miscellaneous Papers

Friday, January 01, 2016

Find Pennsylvania Ancestors in Store Ledger Books Part 2

Find Pennsylvania Ancestors in Store Ledger Books Part 2
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Pennsylvania

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Mill Creek Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania 1885 to 1890 Mountain Spring Mills Ledger. Over 800 entries with names. PDF file available for download
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Elk Creek Township, Erie County 1876 to 1878 General Store Ledger. Over 4000 entries with names.
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County 1874 to 1903 Farm Ledger of John W Gaul. Many Local Names.
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest New Hanover Township, Montgomery County 1858 to 1904 Farm Ledger. Also includes some names from Berks County and Bucks County.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Find Your Pennsylvania Ancestors in Ledger Books

Find Your Pennsylvania Ancestors in Ledger Books
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Pennsylvania

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest 1858 Bucks County Ledger PDF files available for download
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Bernville, Berks County, Pennsylvania 1867 to 1877 Haag, Kline & Co Ledger. Over 1000 names.
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Bernville, Berks County, Pennsylvania 1863 to 1870 Haag, Kline & Co Ledger. Over 300 names. PDF file available for download

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Find Virginia Ancestors in Store Ledger Books

Find Virginia Ancestors in Store Ledger Books
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Virginia

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest S. R. Turley Ledger Book, Culpeper Virginia. 1896 PDF files available for download Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia Court Records Ledger. ALL PAGES ONLINE
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest History Of Tazewell County Virginia Book Sales Ledger. ALL PAGES ONLINE 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Oswego County New York Saw Mill Ledger Book online

Oswego County New York Saw Mill Ledger Book online
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for New York

 Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Oswego, Oswego County, New York 1858 ~ 1859 Samuel Stevenson Saw Mill Ledger Book. PDF file available for download
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Oswego, Oswego County, New York 1875 Samuel Stevenson Saw Mill Ledger Book Money Owed . PDF file available for download
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Oswego, Oswego County, New York Samuel Stevenson Saw Mill Ledger Book List of Electors . PDF file available for download

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Look for New York Ancestors in Ledger Books Online

West WInfield Academy Cash Book
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for New York

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Rushford and area, Allegany County, New York 1868 ~ 1872 Stacy And Kyes Ledger Book. FULL INDEX ONLINE.

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest West Winfield, Herkimer County, New York 1865 ~ 1866 West Winfield Academy Cash Book. OVER 400 NAMES
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Richfield, Otsego County, New York Auction sale 1880 ~ 1890. Found in the West Winfield Academy Cash Book. OVER 200 NAMES


Monday, October 12, 2015

Ancestry is Looking for Folks to Star in their Next TV Commercial

Have you ever wanted to be on TV? Now's your chance! Submit a video sharing how you started using Ancestry.com, and you might be the one chosen to star in their next commercial.

Here's how to do it:


Answer the following questions about your experience. Just three minutes or less on a smartphone to share your story.
  • How did you get started and what steps led to your first discovery?
  • Was it easier or faster than you thought it would be? Why?
  • What did you learn? Did it make you feel differently about yourself or your family?
Submit your video file  by October 13, 2015, along with a few more details about yourself. To be eligible, you’ll need to be available for a day of filming sometime between October 26th and 28th.


Monday, September 21, 2015

Missouri Store Ledger Books Online

Missouri Store Ledger Books Online
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Missouri

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Wheeling, Livingston County, Missouri 1879 to 1889 Ledger Book Of Edward Moore. OVER 300 LOCAL NAMES PDF files available for download
Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Fillmore Village, Andrews County, Missouri. Town Council Minutes 1900-1913 PDF file available for download

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Store Ledger Books Online for Massachusetts

Store Ledger Books Online for Massachusetts
AncestorsAtRest has the following store ledgers online for Massachusetts:

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Salem and area Essex County, Massachusetts 1772 to 1780 Student Work Book And Store Ledger. MANY LOCAL NAMES 

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Townsend Middlesex County Massachusetts 1868 General Store Ledger. OVER 3850 NAMES

Find Death Records on Ancestors at Rest Massachusetts Boston Environs Ledger 1892-1894. PDF Files available for download Start p. 2, Start p. 20, Start p. 39, Start p. 63, Start p. 89, Start p. 109, Start p. 129, Start p. 151, Start p. 177, Start p. 200