Looking Back - December 2010

When I posted my Top Ten Brick Walls, I should have mentioned that I realize $100 to solve a break through was a small amount. I could pay more, because I know the time and energy it would take to do it. Especially since I've spent years working on them.


Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my one year Blogiversary. If I ever want to remember what I did this past year, well that is my answer, I actually had a blog.


A follow-up on my blog about Historical Societies, this is the post now contains more photos of Historical Societies in New England. This month, I took additional pictures, they are from Massachusetts: Chelmsford Historical Society and Dracut Historical Society. From Maine is the Pejepscot Historical Society Museums in Brunswick.

This month was pretty good for picture taking. Yesterday, I shared my day in three cemeteries, they were: Mount Auburn in Cambridge, MA (2), Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, MA and West Parish Cemetery in Andover, MA. Photos from all three (in order) are below. Yes, these are from cemeteries, although they look like parks.

Sunday Obituary -- Charles M. Farmer

Obituary for Charles M. Farmer (see copy below)  Brenda Leyndyke of Journey to the Past was helping me with some research and found the following obituary at a library close to her home. Charles was my 2nd great-uncle, and son of Alexander Farmer, discussed in my Top Ten Brick Walls post.

Battle Creek Daily Journal Tuesday, June 6, 1893 page 3 column 2  Found on Microfilm #65 (Jan 7, 1893-June 30, 1893 Battle Creek Daily Journal) at Helen Warner Branch of Willard Library, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Newspaper article was dated June 6th and stated he died the evening before, June 5th.

"ANOTHER SUDDEN DEATH.

Apoplexy Claims Another Resident of Our City.

For the second time within a few days, apoplexy has claimed a victim from this community.

After supper last evening Charles M. Farmer, of No. 126 Hart street, who had been engaged at his duties in the Nichols & Shepard Co's shops all day, went into his yard to trim a couple of trees, had finished one and had taken three or four steps up the step ladder he was using to reach the branches of the second tree, when he was seen to totter backward and fall to the ground.  He was picked up in an unconscious condition and carried into the house and a physician summoned, but he was beyond human aid and died about an hour after.

The physician pronounced the case one of apoplexy, and through the fall may have hastened death, slightly, it was not the fall which caused the stroke as he was evidently stricken before falling.

The deceased leaves a wife and one son, who have the sympathy of our entire community in the sad affliction which has come upon them.

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 3 o'clock p. m., from the West Leroy church, friends meet at the residence at 12 o'clock.  The interment will occur at the Kelsey cemetery in Leroy."

Webinar -- New Family History Technology

Where can you find the best of the Internet, free websites, and unique resources? Read below.


On Wednesday evening, I attended another excellent Webinar by Legacy Family Tree, this one was New Family History Technology.  Geoff Rasmussen of  Legacy Family Tree, gave me permission to post the Webinar link (see below) for anybody who would like to view it during the next 30 days. I intend to watch it again. It is really good and perfect for anybody doing research. The best thing is, it is up-to-date with all information!


I recommend you watch and listen to: the Webinar called New Family History Technology by Paul Larsen. You will need to scroll down to "Listen to our archived Webinars" and select New Family History Technology. And as a bonus, you may listen to the others listed.


The description that got me interested in this free one hour lecture follows: "There are so many new family history tools and web sites…it’s easy to feel somewhat overwhelmed. Here’s a colorful tour of much of the new stuff to make it easier, save you hundreds of hours, and have fun connecting to your ancestors. Learn about the best of the Internet, free websites, and unique resources. Join the author of the book Crash Course in Family History, Paul Larsen, and see what you’re missing!"




 

Top Ten -- Sayings

My grandmother collected sayings, she cut them out of magazines and pasted them into a little notebook. I tend to cut them out, or write them on scraps of paper, and save them in several places. A few months ago, I believe Greta wrote some of hers in her Greta's Genealogy Bog (I can't locate the post, Greta, please give me the link), and now I have decided to do it as well. There are now more than ten below, and the list may grow.


If you like, you may write your own favorite sayings in the comments section.


"Don't let the minute spoil the hour."  Ted Joans


"Always tell the truth--it's the easiest thing to remember."  David Mamet


"Things only have the value that you give them." - Moliere


"Some things don't mean anything."  Jeffrey D. Bernhard


"Any knowledge that doesn't lead to new questions quickly dies out."  Jean-Marie Gustave de Clezio


"Our beginnings never know our ends."  Harold Pinter


"Happiness is the one thing in our lives others cannot bring." Andre Acinan


"Statistics are no substitutes for judgment."  Henry Clay


"No one can afford to assume that someone else will solve their problems."  The Dalai Lama


"The majority prove their worth by keeping busy. A busy life is the nearest thing to a purposeful life."  Eric Hoffer


"The secret of creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."  Albert Einstein (via Ivanka Trump / Twitter)


"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."  Jorge Luis Borges

Tombstone Tuesday -- WESTOVER (2 Generations) MA to Canada

Moses Westover

Photo by Barbara Poole

Born:  March 24, 1743/44, Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts
Died:  November 23, 1826, Sutton, Brome Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife, Elizabeth Holmes

Photo by Barbara Poole

Born:  August 14, 1751, Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts
Died:  November 04, 1829, Sutton, Brome Co., Quebec, Canada

They were my 5th great-grandparents.
Side-by-side at Pettes Cemetery. Sutton Junction, Brome Co., Quebec, Canada

Photo by Barbara Poole

Entrance to Cemetery.

Their son, Asa Westover was buried at

Bishop Stewart Memorial Church Cemetery (below),
Frelighsburg, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Photo by Barbara Poole

Born:  September 06, 1770, Sheffield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts

Died:  April 22, 1832, St. Armand E. (Frelighsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Asa and his wife, Mary Currie were my 4th great-grandparents.

Photo by Barbara Poole

Tombstone Tuesday -- JAQUAYS (Poss. RI or CT to Quebec, Canada)

William Cross Jaquays / Jackways / Jacquay and his wife Lydia Johnson are both "Brick Walls"

They were my 3rd great grandparents.

Born:  October 18, 1819, Probably Vermont or Connecticut
Died:  December 17, 1865, St. Armand East (Frelighsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife, Lydia Johnson

Born:  Abt. 1822, Vermont

Died: March 22, 1858, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

They were buried at Pigeon Hill Cemetery,
Pigeon Hill, Missisquoi, Co., Quebec, Canada

Top Ten -- Hints

Use the same notebook for all your genealogy conference, seminar or lecture notes. (It is fun to go back several years and be reminded of what you were taught.)  Be sure to date it, and write the name of the lecture and speaker's name. Unfortunately, I didn't do that, otherwise, I would have given this person credit. The below 10 Hints were from my notebook.


As I find more hints, from my notes, I will add them to this list.

1. "Genealogy without sources is called junk."


2.  Spinsters can be married; it doesn't mean single, unmarried or an old maid. She is responsible for herself.* Please see Martin Hollick's message in the comments section below.


3.  The word, Consort, can be male or female, husband or wife. It is a companion or partner.


4.  About 25% of men left a will, and 60% had their estate probated.


5.  Newspapers are an excellent source for marriages, especially if a courthouse burned.


6.  A lot of widows remarried with one year.


7.  Wills can be in deed books.


8.  Many public records have wrong spelling.


9.  The settlement of an estate is the most valuable record, because of the names.


10.  Almost all the records in the United States were for men.

Tombstone Tuesday -- WILCOX (2 Generations) Genesee Co., New York

Wilcox Monument, with husband and wife listed on the sides.

Joseph Wilcox
Born:  February 28, 1798, Hamilton, New York
Died:  May 10, 1869, Oswego Co., New York
Joseph and his wife, Melissa are my 1st cousins, 5 times removed.


His wife, Melissa Abbott

Born:  September 07, 1802

Died:  December 07, 1853, Oswego Co., New York

Wilcox Monument and stones of children, Abbott and Eunice.

Joseph and Melissa Abbott Wilcox's son, Joseph Yates Wilcox below.

Joseph Yates Wilcox
Born:  November 11, 1832, Palermo, Oswego Co., New York
Died: March 07, 1902, New York


His wife, Grace Adams (my 2nd great-grandaunt)
Born:   May 23, 1832, New York
Died:  After 1900, New York

Palermo Cemetery, Palermo, Oswego Co., New York


(Photos taken by my cousin, Claire and used with permission.)

Amanuensis Monday -- Will of Delight Adams Benham of Batavia, NY

A copy of the Will and many legal documents were sent to me several weeks ago by my cousin.  Delight was my 2nd great-aunt. Two pages from the packet are below; the Will and a list of people who received distribution, and a copy of her obituary.


"I Mrs. Delight Benham of Batavia Genesee County, N.Y. being by the blessing of Almighty God of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make public and declare this to be my last will and testament. Namely--

First. I will and direct that my just debts and funeral and customary expenses be paid out of my property.

Second. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Jennie Adams of Batavia, N.Y. my parlor cook stove.

Third. I give and bequeath to the First Baptist Church of Batavia N.Y. formerly situated on Jackson Street and now situated on Main Street, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars.

Fourth. I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my property to my sister Grace Wilcox of Clifford, Oswego County, New York and my niece Lettie A. Adams of Battle Creek, Michigan to be equally divided between them, share and share alike.

I hereby nominate and appoint my friend W. Harris Day of Batavia New York to be the executor of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of August, 1890.

Mrs. Delight Benham

Names listed are: Jennie Adams, Grace Wilcox, Lettie A. Adams, First Baptist Church, Edgar J. Adams, John A. Adams, and Yates A. Adams.

The obituary of Delight Adams Benham is below.

Batavia Daily News

5 July 1898

Mrs. Delight Benham of Batavia

Mrs. Delight Benham, a lifelong resident of Genesee county, died at her home, No. 19 Evans Street, at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, aged 79 years. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Grace Wilcox of Clifford; one niece Miss Lettie Fuller of Grand Rapids, Mich., and four nephews,  Edgar J. Adams of Batavia, Ebbott Y. Wilcox of Newark Valley, John A. Adams of Albion, Mich., and Yates A. Adams of Battle Creek, Mich.

The funeral will be held from the house at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Follow Friday -- One year Blogiversary

I debated whether I would even mention my Blogiversary, then when I saw I’ve written 302 posts in one year, I decided it might be worth mentioning. Especially, since I never thought I would make it through the first month!

My first post, dated Oct. 15, 2009, was a guest posts for blogger Stephen Danko, but it was actually something written for him on September 3, 2006. Even after seven early guest posts, it took another few years before I got my courage to begin the writing.

Now, I’ve decided to make a few changes to the blog, as some of you may know, it looks the same since day one…and it will still look the same. I just want to fix the labels and check links.  For the next few months, I plan on posting mainly on Saturday and Tuesday, and perhaps a few other things, as time permits. My main goal now is to work on my brick walls.

Thank you to each of you who have followed me, left comments and / or encouraged me. Without you, I wouldn't have made it.