I was going through FamilySearch today, reviewing all the databases they've added lately and I stumbled upon some new Czech Republic databases. None of them related to my family, but it got me thinking about the previous database that DOES relate to my family. I have found most of everything that I possibly can with what's available, so I was reviewing some of the records I had previously found. I thought I'd share one of those records and show how thorough the Bohemian's were with their records! There are three generations listed in this single baptism record: the child, the parents and the grandparents.. maiden names and all! :)
Extract:
Born & Baptized: 29 Nov 1827, Graber
House Number: 64
Name: Joseph
Religion: Catholic
Gender: blank
Legitimate or Illegitimate: Legitimate
Father: Franz Weishaupt schneidermeister, son of Franz Weishaupt händler from Graber No. 64 and Dorothea born Tieze from Graber No. 84
Mother: Anna Maria, daughter of Joseph Müller händler from Johnsdorf No. 28 and Anna Maria born Grundmann from Johnsdorf No. 38.
Sponsor: Joseph Müller, schumacher aus Johnsdorf
Sponsor: Benedikt Weishaupt, schneider from Graber
Sponsor: Theresia Müller, häusler's daughter from Graber
Sponsor: Rosalia Lehmann, häusler's daughter from Hermsdorf
Performer of Baptism: Ignatius Münzberg, Decanus
This blog documents various aspects of my genealogy research. I'm well versed in German, Hungarian and Chicagoland research.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
My Connection To President Andrew Jackson
With the addition of today's new database on FamilySearch called "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927", I've been scouring through the counties and records trying to find documents for my ancestors. I struck gold tonight! In the documents listing the sale of the personal estate of my 6th-great-grandfather, Samuel Hays, it lists that the future president Andrew Jackson had been made the legal guardian for Samuel Hays' children! How cool is that?
After reading through the entire document though, I found it a bit strange that the children were sent to live with Andrew Jackson and the entire personal estate of Samuel Hays sold... when his wife was still alive. Very weird. It makes no mentions of the sale of real estate, so I assume Samuel Hays' widow, Elizabeth, remained on the property. Did she remarry and when was the land sold?
Here is the extract of the typed record:
Monday, June 20, 2011
If I Could Speak To My Ancestors...
Earlier today, I was analyzing all the information in my family tree (no surprise there!). I was looking at my dead-ends and trying to figure out which records I needed to persue to crack the brick-walls. I then, again, began to dream and wish that I had some way to communicate with my ancestors and ask them questions. Thinking about it all more and more, I thought if it WERE a possibility, what three questions would I ask to any of my ancestors?
Rules:
1. You may ask any three questions to any ancestors from any period in time.
2. Not all questions have to be directed to one specific ancestor, you can have a single question for three different ancestors.
3. You can't repeat a question, they have to be three unique questions. Asking three different ancestors what their mother's surname was is far too easy!
4. Before each question, you must identify which ancestor you're asking the question to.
5. After identifying the answer and the question, give a little information about this ancestor that's related to your question. You never know who will stumble upon this information and contact you!
My Three Questions:
#1 Ancestor: Hiram Howell (b. about 1790, SC; d. 1853, Tippah Co, MS)
#1 Question: What complications lead to your murder?
Fact: Hiram Howell was murdered in 1853 (exact date unknown) by Lindsey Slaughter, his probable son-in-law. I believe that Lindsey Slaughter's wife, Bathsheba, is the daughter of Hiram Howell. Lindsey and Bathsheba Slaughter had a daughter named Temperance, a name extremely unique to the Howell family (the name of Hiram's daughter whom I descend from, and the name of Hiram's sister-in-law).
#2 Ancestor: Eszter Tóth (b. 1874, Tiszadob, Hungary; d. 1950, Lore City, OH)
#2 Question: What was the family information in the paperwork that you brought with you, when you immigrated to America?
Fact: Family stories from cousins all recollect that my great-great-grandmother had brought with her when she immigrated, papers about her family tree and ancestors. My cousin in Arizona (whom inherited the papers, yet won't share a single piece of information) has stated she DOES have these papers and it has a full family tree and also includes information about a King that we supposedly descend from. Hearing of this claim years ago, I knew it was at least more plausible than family stories of others.. Eszter was of nobility! A noblewoman is more likely to descend from a King than a peasant. Just in the past two years, I have researched enough to the point that I have proven that we DO descend from a King of Hungary. To be precise, we descend from the early "true" Magyar Kings of Hungary from the Árpád Dynasty. I just want those documents my great-great-grandma brought over from Hungary!!
#3 Ancestor: Martha A. Miller (b. 1836, AL?; d. 1877, Holmes or Yazoo Co, MS)
#3 Question: Who are your parents?!
Fact: According to a family bible (that no one seems to know where it is, or who had it), Martha A. Miller was born on 18 Nov 1836, married to James Andrew J. Costilow on 25 Jul 1855 and died 19 Dec 1877. No places for any of these dates were provided in this supposed family bible. There have also been claims that Martha has Native American roots. Martha truly is a brick-wall. I haven't been able to locate her in the 1850 census anywhere. Any possible matches have been disproven, so I always end up right at the brick-wall again.
What are your questions? :)
Rules:
1. You may ask any three questions to any ancestors from any period in time.
2. Not all questions have to be directed to one specific ancestor, you can have a single question for three different ancestors.
3. You can't repeat a question, they have to be three unique questions. Asking three different ancestors what their mother's surname was is far too easy!
4. Before each question, you must identify which ancestor you're asking the question to.
5. After identifying the answer and the question, give a little information about this ancestor that's related to your question. You never know who will stumble upon this information and contact you!
My Three Questions:
#1 Ancestor: Hiram Howell (b. about 1790, SC; d. 1853, Tippah Co, MS)
#1 Question: What complications lead to your murder?
Fact: Hiram Howell was murdered in 1853 (exact date unknown) by Lindsey Slaughter, his probable son-in-law. I believe that Lindsey Slaughter's wife, Bathsheba, is the daughter of Hiram Howell. Lindsey and Bathsheba Slaughter had a daughter named Temperance, a name extremely unique to the Howell family (the name of Hiram's daughter whom I descend from, and the name of Hiram's sister-in-law).
#2 Ancestor: Eszter Tóth (b. 1874, Tiszadob, Hungary; d. 1950, Lore City, OH)
#2 Question: What was the family information in the paperwork that you brought with you, when you immigrated to America?
Fact: Family stories from cousins all recollect that my great-great-grandmother had brought with her when she immigrated, papers about her family tree and ancestors. My cousin in Arizona (whom inherited the papers, yet won't share a single piece of information) has stated she DOES have these papers and it has a full family tree and also includes information about a King that we supposedly descend from. Hearing of this claim years ago, I knew it was at least more plausible than family stories of others.. Eszter was of nobility! A noblewoman is more likely to descend from a King than a peasant. Just in the past two years, I have researched enough to the point that I have proven that we DO descend from a King of Hungary. To be precise, we descend from the early "true" Magyar Kings of Hungary from the Árpád Dynasty. I just want those documents my great-great-grandma brought over from Hungary!!
#3 Ancestor: Martha A. Miller (b. 1836, AL?; d. 1877, Holmes or Yazoo Co, MS)
#3 Question: Who are your parents?!
Fact: According to a family bible (that no one seems to know where it is, or who had it), Martha A. Miller was born on 18 Nov 1836, married to James Andrew J. Costilow on 25 Jul 1855 and died 19 Dec 1877. No places for any of these dates were provided in this supposed family bible. There have also been claims that Martha has Native American roots. Martha truly is a brick-wall. I haven't been able to locate her in the 1850 census anywhere. Any possible matches have been disproven, so I always end up right at the brick-wall again.
What are your questions? :)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Two Truths & A Lie
It's Saturday again, and it's time for some genealogy fun! I really like this week's theme!
1) Play "two truths and a lie." Tell us three facts about your family history -- two have to be true and one has to be a lie.
2) Put them on your own blog post, in a Facebook status or in a comment on this blog. Ask readers to guess which one is a lie.
3) After one day, be sure to put the right answer as a comment to your blog. or Facebook status.
Here are mine:
* My 5th-great-grandfather was murdered.
* I have an ancestor with a mixed-racial background: White, Native American and African American.
* King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary is my 2nd cousin.
Which one do you think is a lie? Please comment!
1) Play "two truths and a lie." Tell us three facts about your family history -- two have to be true and one has to be a lie.
2) Put them on your own blog post, in a Facebook status or in a comment on this blog. Ask readers to guess which one is a lie.
3) After one day, be sure to put the right answer as a comment to your blog. or Facebook status.
Here are mine:
* My 5th-great-grandfather was murdered.
* I have an ancestor with a mixed-racial background: White, Native American and African American.
* King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary is my 2nd cousin.
Which one do you think is a lie? Please comment!
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
My Wish List For FamilySearch
With the massive undertaking of the digitization project by FamilySearch, researchers have been able to conduct more and more research at home with less need for the "big-box" genealogy websites, such as Ancestry.com. It was only back in March of last year that FamilySearch really began adding substantial amounts of new databases to their new website.. and a lot of them having indexes, as well.
FamilySearch has been adding new databases almost daily, and I'm constantly checking back (almost daily!) to see what new databases they have uploaded. I thought it would be fun to create a post containing my wish list of what records I would like to appear on FamilySearch. I know in due time that (most of) these records will appear online, whether it be days, months or even years from now.. but it's still fun to talk and think about.
Doing this wish list Genie style (you only get three wishes!), here is my wish list of records I'm hoping for on FamilySearch!
*1. Hungarian Church records
FamilySearch has done an amazing job with uploading two seperate databases for Slovakian Church records (areas that had previous belonged to Hungary, prior to the Treaty of Trianon). I was told by FamilySearch that they eventually plan on combining these two databases after they fix a few bugs. Although I haven't been able to find anything for my direct line in these records, I have actually found information pertaining to distant cousins.
*2. Polish Church records
Looking at my family tree, I'm mostly Polish. My father being 3/4 Polish! I have high hopes for this database, very very high hopes. They're high hopes, because nearly half of the areas that my Polish ancestors came from, do not have church records preserved on microfilm. I doubt these records will be preserved on microfilm or digitized and put online at FamilySearch.. but I can hope! The priests at these towns are very notorious for being extremely uncooperative with researchers. Even researchers who come in person.
*3. Land Deeds
It would be fantastic for the land deeds we all need for research, to become available online in one location. These records are what we use to track down where our family lived and moved to. They're essential to our research!
What kind of databases or specific records are on your Wish List for FamilySearch? And remember.. only three! Make sure to leave a comment on this post with a link to yours, I'd love to see what your Wish List contains!
FamilySearch has been adding new databases almost daily, and I'm constantly checking back (almost daily!) to see what new databases they have uploaded. I thought it would be fun to create a post containing my wish list of what records I would like to appear on FamilySearch. I know in due time that (most of) these records will appear online, whether it be days, months or even years from now.. but it's still fun to talk and think about.
Doing this wish list Genie style (you only get three wishes!), here is my wish list of records I'm hoping for on FamilySearch!
*1. Hungarian Church records
FamilySearch has done an amazing job with uploading two seperate databases for Slovakian Church records (areas that had previous belonged to Hungary, prior to the Treaty of Trianon). I was told by FamilySearch that they eventually plan on combining these two databases after they fix a few bugs. Although I haven't been able to find anything for my direct line in these records, I have actually found information pertaining to distant cousins.
*2. Polish Church records
Looking at my family tree, I'm mostly Polish. My father being 3/4 Polish! I have high hopes for this database, very very high hopes. They're high hopes, because nearly half of the areas that my Polish ancestors came from, do not have church records preserved on microfilm. I doubt these records will be preserved on microfilm or digitized and put online at FamilySearch.. but I can hope! The priests at these towns are very notorious for being extremely uncooperative with researchers. Even researchers who come in person.
*3. Land Deeds
It would be fantastic for the land deeds we all need for research, to become available online in one location. These records are what we use to track down where our family lived and moved to. They're essential to our research!
What kind of databases or specific records are on your Wish List for FamilySearch? And remember.. only three! Make sure to leave a comment on this post with a link to yours, I'd love to see what your Wish List contains!
What If Your House Was On Fire?
Today, I saw that Kerry Scott of Clue Wagon had made a post called Your House Is On Fire. In her post, she wrote about a treasured family heirloom that was passed down to her as a wedding gift. She said that if she had time to grab only one thing in the house, if the house was on fire and the family was safe, this clock would be it. At the end of the post she asks: What do you grab? Why?
I've thought about this very topic many, many times. I couldn't even count on my hands how many times I've worried about this. While living at my old home, I stressed about knowing what I would take and being ready. But since moving into my apartment in December this past winter, I've been even more on edge about it. Just the fact that a single person burning a candle or smoking a cigarette, could destroy six homes in one building.. and very easily, at that. It's very scary and unnerving!
Since moving into my apartment, I've unpacked most of my things.. for the most part. Some things I have kept in their taped-shut cardboard boxes simply because I don't have the room for the stuff. It's much easier to store them in the few boxes in my closets. One such box is very valuable to me. This box contains ALL the old photographs I have ever owned, with the exception of 5 large oval portrait photographs in wooden frames (roughly 2 feet by 3 feet), which I safely have stored at my aunt's house fifteen minutes away from where I live now.
The first thing I would think of grabbing, is this box full of old photographs. The second thing, is my laptop and it's external hard drive. My life's work is stored on these two things.. If I lost them, everything I've ever worked on, would be lost. I should really consider an online storage website.. :-\
What would you grab, if your house was on fire?
I've thought about this very topic many, many times. I couldn't even count on my hands how many times I've worried about this. While living at my old home, I stressed about knowing what I would take and being ready. But since moving into my apartment in December this past winter, I've been even more on edge about it. Just the fact that a single person burning a candle or smoking a cigarette, could destroy six homes in one building.. and very easily, at that. It's very scary and unnerving!
Since moving into my apartment, I've unpacked most of my things.. for the most part. Some things I have kept in their taped-shut cardboard boxes simply because I don't have the room for the stuff. It's much easier to store them in the few boxes in my closets. One such box is very valuable to me. This box contains ALL the old photographs I have ever owned, with the exception of 5 large oval portrait photographs in wooden frames (roughly 2 feet by 3 feet), which I safely have stored at my aunt's house fifteen minutes away from where I live now.
The first thing I would think of grabbing, is this box full of old photographs. The second thing, is my laptop and it's external hard drive. My life's work is stored on these two things.. If I lost them, everything I've ever worked on, would be lost. I should really consider an online storage website.. :-\
What would you grab, if your house was on fire?
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Help Restore Waisner-Rickard Cemetery!
Waisner-Rickard Cemetery is a long desecrated, overlooked and ignored pioneer burial ground that needs help! It was developed on in 1989 and now that the house has burned, Miami County, Indiana is going to let it be built on again.
Waisner-Rickard Cemetery was a pioneer Cemetery in Deer Creek Township, Miami County, Indiana and founded circa 1845 by Thomas Martindale, a pioneer on his farm. The cemetery served as a community burial ground circa 1845-1860 where any pioneer in the area was buried, especially those associated with the "New Light" Christian Church Community. Upwards of 50+ pioneers were buried on the site, with a Native American Miami Tribe burial ground to the north of the site across the ravine of Deer Creek.
The site was neglected for decades and became merely a “lost cemetery” mentioned in write-ups of 1926, 1943 and 1984. Today, Miami County, Indiana says its MERE EXISTENCE was "hearsay". In 1971, Country Development, Inc. purchased the old Martindale property and developed Deer Creek Estates. Although informed of the cemetery’s vicinity, the development company proceeded to develop the site in 1989 as Lot 78!
On April 4th, the home built on the site burned to the ground. Since that time, the State of Indiana and Miami County refuse to do anything to restore, preserve or even determine exactly where Waisner-Rickard Cemetery was – only acknowledging it existed within a “2.5 acre area”. The present property owners have shown interest in selling the property to the county or state. The county or state could then designate it a cemetery or nature preserve, yet still they have not attempted to make a deal. The Miami County Commissioners have merely decided to begin issuing initial rebuild permits stating that the cemetery’s existence is “merely hearsay” and perhaps if the cemetery was not disturbed underground the first time, it would be better to just develop it back AGAIN and take their chances.
How would you like a septic system draining on your ancestors? Or a home on top of them with no acknowledgement of their ever human existence or the lives they lived? STATE OF INDIANA and MIAMI COUNTY - This is the 21st Century – there are right and wrong ways to do things – do ground-penetrating radar, archaeology, whatever means necessary to FIND the exact parameters of Waisner-Rickard Cemetery and its pioneers. Then proceed from there – whether that be purchasing and restoring a “nature preserve” cemetery site, removal of graves for development, etc BUT DO THE MORAL and RIGHTEOUS THING!
Seeking support of genealogists, descendants and people who care!
Waisner-Rickard Cemetery was a pioneer Cemetery in Deer Creek Township, Miami County, Indiana and founded circa 1845 by Thomas Martindale, a pioneer on his farm. The cemetery served as a community burial ground circa 1845-1860 where any pioneer in the area was buried, especially those associated with the "New Light" Christian Church Community. Upwards of 50+ pioneers were buried on the site, with a Native American Miami Tribe burial ground to the north of the site across the ravine of Deer Creek.
The site was neglected for decades and became merely a “lost cemetery” mentioned in write-ups of 1926, 1943 and 1984. Today, Miami County, Indiana says its MERE EXISTENCE was "hearsay". In 1971, Country Development, Inc. purchased the old Martindale property and developed Deer Creek Estates. Although informed of the cemetery’s vicinity, the development company proceeded to develop the site in 1989 as Lot 78!
On April 4th, the home built on the site burned to the ground. Since that time, the State of Indiana and Miami County refuse to do anything to restore, preserve or even determine exactly where Waisner-Rickard Cemetery was – only acknowledging it existed within a “2.5 acre area”. The present property owners have shown interest in selling the property to the county or state. The county or state could then designate it a cemetery or nature preserve, yet still they have not attempted to make a deal. The Miami County Commissioners have merely decided to begin issuing initial rebuild permits stating that the cemetery’s existence is “merely hearsay” and perhaps if the cemetery was not disturbed underground the first time, it would be better to just develop it back AGAIN and take their chances.
How would you like a septic system draining on your ancestors? Or a home on top of them with no acknowledgement of their ever human existence or the lives they lived? STATE OF INDIANA and MIAMI COUNTY - This is the 21st Century – there are right and wrong ways to do things – do ground-penetrating radar, archaeology, whatever means necessary to FIND the exact parameters of Waisner-Rickard Cemetery and its pioneers. Then proceed from there – whether that be purchasing and restoring a “nature preserve” cemetery site, removal of graves for development, etc BUT DO THE MORAL and RIGHTEOUS THING!
Seeking support of genealogists, descendants and people who care!
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