Philadelphia Saturday Courier 17 January 1835 Deaths

Finding long forgotten children in a family can be tough, especially when no one remembers them being alive.  Sometimes, it is only the chance finding the name in a death notice or the name in a family plot. I know, because this is how I have found several children who died as infants or small children in my own bloodlines.

Look at today's transcriptions and notice the number of young deaths.  It was winter in 1835. Was it a particularly cold winter?  Were the children born "sickly"? Or was it just one of those times in history?

Photo by Andrew Hoffmann

BRADFORD		Joseph B				32d yr
MOSER		Philip				64y
PEECHIN		Christiana				88th yr
MORGAN		Caotn Thomas				66 y
BEALE		Benjamin H		s/o Matthias/Margaret		6m6d
ALBRIGHT		Samuel McFate		s/o Peter/Elizabeth Albright
STARK		BOLLING				26th yr
DYKE		John Sr				70 yr
JENKINS		Hannah L		w/o Joshua C d/o T Wilson Moore		21st yr
GIBSON		Edward		s/o John		9th yr
PETERS		Sarah Ann		w/o Joseph		19th yr
CROSBY		John D		s/o Robert P		22nd yr
HENDERSON		Martha
POULSON		Daniel C		s/o Wm/Martha		8m23d
KIRK		Hyman G				30th yr
ESENWEIN		Emma Louise		d/o Charles		infant
THUM		Ellen		d/o Charles/Sarah		infant
MOODY		David P		s/o Paul		20 mo
VANHOLT		Valentine
WATSON		Mercey		w/o Marmaduke
PARKE		Dr Thomas				86th yr
SHEPHERD		Hannah				69th yr
BRINCKLE		Dr John				71st yr
BOYER		James				68th yr
MASON		Mary		w/o Joseph		43 y5m
DRAKE		Jane Cunningham		d/o Dr Alfred		19 mo
CARTER		Mary Ann

Ahh, genealogy.  Seeing and feeling the heartbreaks of young lives lost.

©2020  AS Eldredge

Philadelphia Saturday Courier 25 May 1839 Deaths

Glancing at old death notices can entice one to earn more about American history.  Take, for instance, the find in today's transcription from the 25 May 1839 issue of the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.  

Just the name Cadwallader R Colden sounds interesting.  I mean, have you ever known anyone with that name?  I haven't, and I have never heard of the "Whip."

Just doing a quick search, revelations on the good Cadwallader can be told.  He was indeed a writer in New York on horse racing and pedigree horses.  In fact, he was considered quite good at it.  He had lived in England and loved to write about English racing. However, his outspoken ways led to troubles in the publication.  Shortly before his death, he was the editor of the "The Whip", although he only lived long enough for one issue to be released.

Photo by Andrew Hoffmann

STORY		Elizabeth A		d/0 Geo P
PATTERSON		Josephus				23rd yr
SMITH		Rev John
WILLIAMS		Mary				60th yr
PILKINGTON		George				26th yr
FEHAN		Ann				48th yr
PATTERSON		Roxanna		w/o A H
HORNER		John				70th yr
CARBIN		Augustine				63rd year
VAUGHAN		Charles		b/o John		80th year
COLDEN		Cadwallader R				64 years
STRONG		Sarah Bowers		d/o Prof T		16y 7m
MESSCHERT		Elizabeth A		w/o H		29y
McGINNES		Margaret				50y
RIMBY		Jacob				43d year
CUMMING		Martha				84th yr
MURPHY		Samuel				74th yr
TEISSEIRE		Magadalen				20y
CLIFTON		Amy		w/o William		67y

Ahh genealogy.  It's another grand day for a race to find the past.

Source:

https://books.google.com/books?id=CD05AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA11&lpg=RA2-PA11&dq=The+Whip+editor+colden+new+york&source=bl&ots=j6NU2RM46r&sig=ACfU3U0aY_08zoazIqDaZOxKrFu2C5I3Iw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLpoz7g__pAhVnSDABHYrbAfEQ6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=The%20Whip%20editor%20colden%20new%20york&f=false

©2020  AS Eldredge

It's Memorial Day and the First Time I Found My Grandfather Online

Over the years, digging for the family has yielded many, many stories and pictures.  While I have shared the story of my grandfather who served in World War I on past Veterans Days, this year I have another new found reason to share him today.

For today, I have found his name etched on a Honor Roll Memorial for those who fought in World War I.  Tis the first time I have ever seen his name online on a Facebook entry.  So, thanks to the Facebook group of Washington, PA/ Monongahela River History for posting the Honor Roll Memorial pictures in East Bethlehem Township.

According to the American Legion, this monument was erected in 1920.  An interesting tidbit to add is that its location is just two blocks from the home of my great aunt.  How is it that I never remember seeing this monument on my handful of trips to see my great aunt, oh so many years ago?

The following is a repost from 2007. Tis fitting that I share this genealogy tidbit again today, on Memorial Day. Again I say, "Thanks Charlie."

Again, the tears flow.

Veterans Day is almost here. It's time to remember America's heroes. It's time to honor Charlie of Co. C.

Charlie of Co. C was my grandfather, Charles Edward Simmons. Born in Dec. 1888 in Washington Co, PA, he was descended from those men who fought for the beginning of America, the War of 1812 and the War of the Recent Unpleasantness. As was true to the family line, he fulfilled his patriotic service in the Infantry. Charlie's draft registration card tells us he signed up in June 1917. The 11th Infantry men were shipped overseas in June 1918 to face an opponent who was skilled in chemical warfare. America was unprepared for this type of war, and her soldiers suffered the consequences. Charlie was one of the many who suffered from the effect of mustard gas exposure.

The United States joined the war to end all wars in 1917. In reading more about the time while Charlie was in France, I learned that in mid-July 1917, over 12,000 doughboys were within 30 miles of the front, all without gas masks or training in chemical warfare¹. The 11th Infantry saw 43 days of combat with casualties of 386. Of these, 348 were wounded in action. The unit returned to US soil in June 1919.

Poor Charlie. Not only did he suffer the effects of mustard gas while in France, he was also wounded. A picture I have in my possession shows his bandage on his left leg right below the knee. In this picture, he is sitting on a bench outside of what appears to be Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. He wears his uniform and his crutches and my grandmother are at his side. On another picture of Charlie proudly wearing his doughboy uniform, my father had written the following on the back: "He was exposed to mustard gas in WWI and injured in the leg. One inch of bone had to be removed from his left leg."

I have written to the Army to try and find Charlie's records. All I received was the confirmation he was in the Army in the unit I thought. Apparently, his records were in the big fire they had way back when.

Mustard gas. The weapon of choice in World War I which still produces shivers down my spine. It was extremely caustic and penetrated everything- even clothing. While I do not know the extent of Charlie's short term exposure, I have heard family lore of the long term effects. The exposure was said to have changed him. He did marry, he did have three sons, and he died young. The death certificate suggests he had renal failure and sepsis. His widow and small children were left to carry on. Unfortunately, they had to leave their home on Bosses Alley in Crucible, PA. Yes, Bosses Alley was the street on the hill above the Crucible Mine. The housing was company owned and was for the managers. Charlie was the chief clerk for the mine. I've heard from others that Charlie and his brother-in-law who owned the bank walked around town surrounded by coal and iron policemen-- especially on pay day. Charlie was also the local mine baseball team manager and was a member of the school board which had a new high school built. This high school was dedicated in June 1929.

So Charlie - with tears in my eyes, thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your life. Thank you for your smile. Thank you for my dad.

Thank you for protecting your unborn grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We remember you - everyday.
_______________
¹http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/chemical/chem_pt3.pdf


Ahhh genealogy, remembering those today who never got out of their uniform, or who got out of the uniform but never got out of the war due to injuries and PTSD.  Thank you to all who have served our nation to protect our freedoms.


©2020  AS Eldredge

Remembering Some American Revolution Soldiers of Smith Township

Earlier this week, we, as a nation, took time to remember our fallen.  While Memorial Day gained its popularity after the Civil War as the women of the South remembered their men who had fought dying for what they believed, today, we Americans remember all of our sons and daughters who fought and died during their time of service in whichever timeframe they fought--  from the American Revolution up to today.

Here is a partial list of those men who bravely risked everything so we, as Americans, can have the freedoms we enjoy.   This list of American Revolution men were residents of Smith Township in Washington County, PA, at the time of their deaths.  I wonder where they were during the Revolution?

Name		Age	Implied Birth	Died		Buried
Capt James Boggs		65	1745	1810		Cross Creek
William Harvey		67	1754	1821		Burgettstown
James Leech		83	1740	1823		Burgettstown
Thomas Hays		83	1745	1828		Cross Creek
James Cooke		78	1762	1830		Cross Creek
Joseph Phillips		79	1752	1831		Burgettstown
Joseph Aiken		75	1751	1836		Burgettstown
Moses Hays		80	1757	1837		Cross Creek
Alexander McCready		89	1756	1845		Burgettstown
Cap Samuel Fulton						Florence
John Coventry		94	1751	1845		Burgettstown

Ahh genealogy.  I'm guessing the two surnames I recognize from my family who lived very close to Smith Township in the late 1700s need to be investigated further.  The old folks weren't kidding when they said we had kin in Cross Creek!

Source:  The Daily Evening Reporter, Oct 14, 1878

©2019  AS Eldredge

Cross Creek Presbyterian Baptisms, Part 8

Today's installment
1841-1848
added in a new1834 and a new 1838
Surnames:  SMITH, PATTERSON, SIMMONS

Baptism Date		DOB	Person Baptised		Parent
April 1838		12/28/1837	Sarah Lavina Smith		d/0 Ebenezer/Susanna
Aug 29, 1841		4/9/1840	William Marquis Smith		s/o Ebenezer/Susanna
1834		2/8/1834	Ambrose Patterson		s/o James/Eliza
Apr 18, 1843		10/27/1841	Emily Ann Patterson		d/o James/Eliza
Apr 3, 1848		7/7/47	Cornelia Ann Simmons		d/o Cornelius/Martha

Ahh, genealogy.  Sometimes, extra finds are in between the lines.

©2019  AS Eldredge

Cross Creek Presbyterian Baptisms, Part 7

Today's Installment
1829-1840
Surnames:  SMITH, PATTERSON, McMILLAN

Baptism Date		DOB	Person Baptised		Parent
Aug 15, 1829		6/1/1829	Ebenezer Smith		s/0 James/Martha
Aug 15, 1829		6/1/1829	Joseph Smith		s/0 James/Martha
Nov 22, 1829		7/15/1829	William Findley Smith		s/o Ebenzer/Mary
Oct 7, 1832		6/11/1832	John Smith		s/o James/Martha
Dec 26, 1836		9/22/1836	James Patterson		s/o James /Eliza (Walker)
Mar 11, 1840		6/23/1839	William McMillan		s/o Saml//Isabelle
Mar 11, 1840		10/10/1839	David Finley Patterson		s/o James/Eliza

Ahh, genealogy.  Hey, look!  Twins!  Wonder if they both lived to adulthood?  

©2019  AS Eldredge

Cross Creek Presbyterian Baptisms, Part 6

New!  Dates of birth!

Today's installment
1827-1828
Surnames SMITH, PATTERSON, WALKER

Baptism Date		DOB	Person Baptised		Parent
Aug 12, 1827		4/14/1827	Sarah Smith		d/o James/Martha
Feb 17, 1828		11/2/1822	Eliza Jane Smith		d/o Ebenzer/Mary
Feb 17, 1828		5/7/1825	Thomas Patterson Smith		s/o Ebenzer/Mary
Feb 17, 1828		3/25/1827	James Smith		s/o Ebenzer/Mary
Mar 22, 1828		5/4/1823	Elizabeth Patterson		d/o James/Eliza(Walker)
Mar 22, 1828		2/3/1825	Mary Amanda Patterson		d/o James/Eliza(Walker)
Mar 22, 1828		3/2/1827	Thomas McCall Patterson		s/o James/Eliza(Walker)

Ahh, genealogy.  It still amazes me at how often children were born in any given family.

©2019  AS Eldredge

Cross Creek Early Baptisms, Part 5

Today's installment
1818-1822
Surnames:  SMITH and PATTERSON

Baptism Date	DOB	Person Baptised		Parent
May 24, 1818		Robert Lyle Smith		s/o Wiliam
May 24, 1818		Eliza Patterson		d/o Robert
Oct 24, 1819		Martha Ann Smith		d/o James
Sept 10, 1820		Sarah Smith Patterson		d/o Robert
July 15, 1821		James Smith		s/o Benjamin
Mar 24, 1822		William Smith, Jr		s/o William
June 9, 1822		Jedidiah Smith		s/o James

Ahh, genealogy.  Maybe I have solved one mystery in Burgettstown!

©2019  AS Eldredge

Cross Creek Presbyterian Early Baptisms, Part 4

Today's installment
1814-1817
Surnames:  SMITH and PATTERSON

Baptism Date	DOB	Person Baptised		Parent
Feb 20, 1814		Josiah Patterson Smith		s/0 James Jr
Apr 3, 1814		Nancy Smith		d/o Thomas
Dec 15, 1814		Maria Smith		d/o Ebenezer
Oct 1, 1815		Mary Smith		d/o James
Mar 20, 1816		Jane Patterson		d/o Robert
Feb 9, 1817		Jane Smith		d/o Thomas
June 1, 1817		Eliza Smith		d/o James

Ahh, genealogy.  Guess I really need to figure out these SMITH lines in Burgettstown.  Any takers?

©2019  AS Eldredge