Tuesday's Tip: Digging for Gold in Coal Mine Country

Lineage societies are a great place to look for family fun facts of the past.  While a member of several societies, I am most fond of the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society.  I reckon it's because my kin removed to the area from Ireland and Eastern Pennsylvania back before the colonies declared independence from across the pond.

I've been a member of WPGS for over ten years now.  This is not something I can say for all the societies I've joined from time to time.  What brings me back?  I really enjoy reading their magazine which is published on a quarterly basis.  I diligently search each issue for familiar names and have been rewarded several times.

In fact, I joined in with a couple of cousins and, in 2006, published a diary from the 1861 timeframe.  How has so much time passed?

Back to the present.

The WPGS covers the 26 counties in western PA.  They also have some free databases on their website.  For members, there are more databases dating back to 1974 to lose yourself while reading.

It's a great tip.  If you've got old family from those hills that were chock full of coal, spend some time there digging for your family gold nuggets.

Ahhh, genealogy.  Love finding those nuggets.  Love it more when it leads to more fabulous finds and not the proverbial "fool's gold."

©2015 ASEldredge

Friend of Friends Friday: Finding the Negro in Allegheny County

For those who are searching in western Pennsylvania for their family roots, consider checking the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.  The only known copy of a paper first written in 1931 by Schenkel which was taken from early court documents can be seen at the Heinz History Center.

Slavery was prohibited in Pennsylvania in 1780.  However, the masters had to register their slaves by Nov 1780 or the slaves would be free.  There were some other rules, but in general, the slaves would become servants until the age of 28.  At that time, they would be freed.

In 2002, the Western PA Genealogical Society published the names of the negroes and mulattos which had been registered with the courts in Allegheny County from 1783-1813. 

Ahhh, genealogy.  Digging up the past one court document at a time can lead to some interesting discoveries.  And, then there are the other questions raised......

Source:
Western Pa Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol 29, No. 1, ppg 33-43.

©2015 ASEldredge