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#52Ancestors 2020 Post Seven ‘Favorite Discovery’

Photo by JF Martin on Unsplash

My favorite discovery was found slogging through various circuit and county court orders from Christian County, Kentucky.

Online family trees and an absence of one of my ancestors in 1850 Census implied that this person may have died prior to 1850. No death or cemetery record has been located to verify the death of this individual. An appraisement for his estate was written in January 6, 1845. There were other court recordings between 1842 and 1844, that would put his year of death to 1844.

Persistent exhaustive research

I went through indices of Will Books, Court Records, and Deeds, looking for his surname, surnames of other relatives and known neighbors. I made a list of all the mentions and the corresponding page numbers. Then read through each entry.

Prior to my research, my ancestor appeared in three readily available records, his 1825 marriage record, the 1830 and 1840 censuses. The court records contained a much more detailed account of his life. His role and status in the community. You cannot always go for the ‘low hanging fruit.’ Delving deep into microfilms may provide a better glimpse of your ancestors.

When the court came back from the winter session break in 1845, my ancestor’s death was mentioned in the court report. As the death wasn’t recorded in the December entries. I believe my ancestor died unexpectantly in December 1844.

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52Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2020 – Post 6 – “Are My Parents Related”

This week’s prompt of the 52 Ancestors Challenge is, “Same Name.”

Both my maternal and paternal lines have the surname “White.”  My direct maternal line descends from Elizabeth White, daughter of John White and Ann Garner. Elizabeth and her parents sailed on the Earl of Donegal to South Carolina in 1767. The ship sailed from Belfast, Ireland to Charleston, South Carolina. It has been alleged that the family may have been from Brougshane, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

My third great grandfather on my father’s maternal line was John “Chauncey” White. With no confirmed documentation, he may have come from Mollington, Oxfordshire, England. Chauncy and his family are listed on the 1851 Canada West Census in Metcalfe Township, Middlesex County, Ontario. By 1860, the family resides in Sanilac County, Michigan. Two of his sons served in the Civil War. One son, Edward White, loses his life at Jonesboro, Georgia, on July 4, 1864.

Are they two White families connected? Before genome mapping, it would have been the tedious research of records to check if the families branches where intertwined. Today, GedMatch.com can quickly determine if your parents are related to each other. In a few seconds after entering my gedmatch kit number, I quickly learn my parents are not related.

Disclaimer:

Not directly affiliated with, nor sponsored by Gedmatch.

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#52Ancestors – Favorite Photo and Most Dreaded Photo

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2018 Edition Challenge – Post 2

To blog more consistently in 2018, I am undertaking the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge again. The #52Ancestors Challenge is where a group of us blog about our ancestors, collateral relatives, discoveries, etc., for each week of the year.  To learn more about the challenge or if you are interesting in joining, visit Amy Johnson Crow’s site at Amy’s website.

Favorite Photo

Author as a young toddler

Oh my! Doesn’t this little tyke exude confidence.  I love her happy expression. She does not shy away from the camera.

As I grew older, I preferred to be behind the camera so I would not get my picture taken.  Why was she happy, who is taking the photo? One of my parents probably took the photo.

The photo is of me as a toddler taken at one of the many camping trips my family took in the 60’s.  Decades later, nature or nurture of those early camping trips, has played a role that my retirement plan includes getting an RV to travel the United States and Canada.

 

 

Most Dreaded Photo

The photos must go!

Why do I dread this photo? It’s a tote filled with the physical photos in my possession, thousands of photos. This 40 pound, 62-quart tote is an albatross around my neck. I have no desire to preserve them.  I do not have the interest, energy and the time to scan, label, and disseminate to whoever will take the photos. What! But, you are a genealogist, the family historian. Yes, and I have lost interest in being the Keeper of Photos. 

The photos have to go! There is no room in the future motor home. I will scan, label, and find a home for the old black and white photos with family members. Photos showing pastoral scenes go to the trash heap. Photos of my trips to Europe, Australia and New Zealand, trash. Google Earth ™ displays a much better image then the photo I originally took anyways. The rest of the photos will be categorized by family grouping. Then sent to some niece or nephew who may be so inclined to save for posterity.

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Too many interests – Not enough time

There is no excuse in not keeping up this blog. I have one competing interest with genealogy that I allow to consume my free time. Dreaming about RV’s. Getting an RV.  Looking at RV’s for sale. Building my own RV. I spend more nights reading RV blogs and viewing YouTube videos. I still have a few years of working if I want a modest retirement. However, the lure of getting an RV and being a professional genealogist on the road is very tempting. When I am not obsessing over RV’s, I am expanding my genealogy skills.

Continuing Genealogy Education

This year (2017) I attended three genealogical institutes and one seminar. Future plans include a Certification Discussion group in the fall. My goal is to be a certified genealogist.

  • Writing and Publishing for Genealogists with Dr. Thomas W. Jones, CG – July 2017 (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research – IGHR)
  • Practical Genetic Genealogy with Blaine Bettinger, CG – July 2017 (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh)
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar featuring “The Legal Genealogist”, Judy G. Russell.
  • You be the Judge: A Practicum Using Standards to Evaluate Genealogical Work, Jeanne Larzalere Bloom, CG – January 2017 (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy – Salt Lake City)

In 2016, I completed the 19-month ProGen Study course. Plus attended “Confusion to Conclusion” with Harold Henderson and Kimberly Powell – July 2016, at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh.

While in Pittsburgh last year, I wanted to explore the neighborhood my great-grand parents lived. My next post will have my write-up and photos I took of my visit.

Caroll

 

 

 

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Hiatus Ending Soon

I will be back to blogging on a regular basis in February.  I just haven’t’ had the energy lately to blog. Between the full-time job, long Seattle commutes, my genealogy study group assignments, a chronic cold/sinus infection, a wedding, and a funeral, there just wasn’t extra time to spare for writing on the blog.

I need to finish the 2015 genealogy goals and set 2016 genealogy objectives. A goal without a plan, is just a wish.  So it’s more about doing this year, instead of wasting tomorrows.

 

 

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