Wordless Wednesday: Enlist in 1812, March Here, March There, Get Free Government Land!

Reading pension files for the Americans who volunteered for the War of 1812 can be rather boring.  That is, if they can even be found.

While looking for any pension of the "St Clair Boys" who enlisted in October 1812 in the Pittsburgh area, I find myself scratching my head.  I have found four records of pensions for these men who served under Captain James Torbett.

I only found two of them that can be searched at Fold3.  Those two are David JEWELL and Thomas M HENRY.  JEWELL's file has nothing to say, other than he was there.

Thomas M HENRY's file only gave a couple of clues to follow, but the real eye opening, mouth dropping moment was the description he gave of the service.

"Marched to Meadville, PA.  was put into Brig Gen Tunnehill's Brigade at that place. remained there for some three or four weeks and then marched to Black Rock remained there until about 18th of December 1812 when we were disbanded and returned to Pittsburgh PA. where I received my discharge in April 1813. received two Land Warrants under Act granting land of Soldiers of 1812."

Ahh, genealogy.  March a little.  Sing a little.  Get free land.  Why did only four men of the 33 listed in the roster apply?  Perhaps they didn't think marching was really soldiering?  I am wordless.

Sources:
United State War of 1812, Index to Pension Application Files, 1812-1910. Familysearch.org
Pension of Thomas M Henry, Fold3.com

©2016 ASEldredge

Tuesday Tip: Let Your Fingers Help the Brain in Searching Newspapers

For a number of years, a great group of volunteers had been indexing the deaths and marriages from the old Pittsburgh newspapers.  The extra added treat was links to the newspaper itself.

Just this week, someone had stumbled across our index and then said they couldn't search google for the old newspapers.  Had they gone to main site where we linked the newspapers to the dates the notices were published, they could have used their fingers to navigate around and find the information they were searching.  In fact, another kind soul, ok, he's a cousin of mine, easily found the link to the newspaper and sent it on to the seeker of the past.

Here is an example:

Search for the name of your dearly beloved
Click "Quick Links to Newspapers in these indexes"

Click on Submitted Dates

Find your newspaper and date
Click and spend a few minutes reading the past

Another recent incident occurred when a different person just couldn't figure out why the great grandparents weren't listed in a particular listing of deaths.  And then, the seeker noted the great grandparents died before the listing started.  Another case of smacking the hand against the head in an effort to engage the brain to understand what it sees.

Tip:  Slow down.  Read.  Comprehend.  It may make your task easier.

Ahh, genealogy.  Another day in the life of the original Tired FinFan Club.



Sources:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paallent/
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paallent/page5/page5.html
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm

Wordless Wednesday: Seeking Hidden Kin in Ohio

Searching old newspapers is a passion of mine.  At least, this activity ranks high on a rainy day or when I stumble across new evidence of a family member.

For years, I have been involved in the Pittsburgh Old Newspaper Project where a dedicated group of volunteers has been reading old newspapers for deaths, marriages, and divorces.  To date, we have indexed and placed over 100,000 deaths online.  The information can be so very useful since the Commonwealth of PA did not start requiring statewide death certs until 1906.  Even then, I have been successful in finding post 1906 death certs and then finding more information in the death notice.

Just today, I have turned my attention to the neighboring state of Ohio.  So many early residents of western PA migrated west after the land was open for American expansion all those many years ago.

Logic now says it's time to wander around Ohio with the locations I know and see what I can find in print to support what I think I know.  A great place to start is Ohio Memory.

Ohio Memory has been diligently working on getting tons of old Ohio information online.  The counties shaded in blue above indicate some digitization of the newspapers has started.  When clicking on the site, you may be directed to Chronicling America.  Chronicling America has long been a favorite place for me to spend many hours looking for those elusive kin. Spend time there as well if you have kin in the area.

Ahh, genealogy.  Gotta run and immerse myself in seeking the hidden past in Ohio.  I'll be wordless the rest of the day as I drink coffee and read and read.....

Sources:
Ohio Memory, http://www.ohiohistoryhost.org/ohiomemory/newspapers.
Chronicling America, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028745/issues/

©2016 ASEldredge

Tuesday's Tip: Spend Time Reading the Past

How many times did you watch your parents read the evening newspaper?  I know my parents liked to sit down after dinner and spend hours reading every page.  What precious memories..... of those pages rattling, of papa asking for more coffee, of mama drifting off to sweet slumber.......

You can still take hours to read the past newspapers and glean tidbits of information which will lead you down your genealogy past.

In case you haven't had the time to peruse the old Pittsburgh newspapers, a wonderful group of volunteers has been doing it for you!

We've been indexing the old Pittsburgh newspapers for deaths, marriages, and divorces.  The dates we have indexed can be seen at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paallent/ .  Links from this site will take you to the indexed names.

Ahhh, genealogy.  It's a great day for those of us with Irish roots to tip our hats while we look for some gold under the old rocks!

©2015 ASEldredge

Wordless Wednesday: Death Index and More from Old Pittsburgh Newspapers

Just a quick update of our old Pittsburgh area death notices--

Tis a group effort started some five years ago by a dedicated group of volunteers through our rootsweb mail list.  While the project has taken a long break now due to other commitments in life,  I am pleased to announce:

Death - over 106,6000 entries
Marriage- over 24,000 couples
Divorce- over 1400
Photos
WWI Military Personnel with over 73k entries
Civil War:  The men of Company E

To check to see if your loved one is on the list, please go to:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/death-index.htm

In addition, we also have 1864 Tax Returns which were published in the newspaper.  Can you imagine that happening today?

There are also WWI articles pertaining to Pittsburgh area men, House of Refuge information, Poor House articles, Veterans Schedule and other transcriptions done by loving hands, although tired ones, of our volunteers.

Take time to check it out:
Pittsburgh Old Newspaper Project Updates

Why, it's almost enough to render you speechless!  Enjoy!

Ahhh, genealogy. Gotta love it especially when you help someone you don't know find a smile.

©2015 ASEldredge