Treasure Chest Thursday: The Power of the Written Word

Finding old written words is exciting.  Finding the scan of the original words online is breathtaking.  Here is just one example of the power of words.

JSBuchanan 1883 letter, received 2013 by email

Written by the Rev. Joseph Smith BUCHANAN in 1883 is a summary of his family.  What strikes me as I reread this great document is the way he starts by mentioning  his (and my)grandpa came from Scotland.  He then quickly moves to the names of his brothers and the role the family played in early Lancaster Co, PA, with the Covenenter Church.  He mentions the services being performed in the house and in the barn......

Of particular interest is he then goes to explain how many of his peer aged kin were elders in the church which later evolved in to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Of course, cousin Joseph was a minister as many, many of his kin have chosen.  He states his grandfather's descendants are like the tribe of Levi with their devotion to God.

Of more genealogical interest on this particular day is his first wife, Jane WADDLE.  She was born in VA around 1813.  She married Joseph in 1841 in Wheeling, WV.  In 1850, they are living in Donegal, Washington, PA, near many, many kin.  She is gone by 1857, when Joseph remarries Ellen CLELAND.

Death Notice of JS Buchanan, found online

I suspect Jane's brother was most likely the Rev. Benjamin WADDLE (1802-1879), who was, yet another, Presbyterian minister and the President of Muskingum College in Ohio.

Why this interest in finding out?  Well, I have more than one connection to the BUCHANAN family as well as the WADDLE family as they keep marrying my kin.  Oh wait, they are my kin, too.  So....

Ahh, genealogy.  More fish to fry as I waddle through the ponds looking for the just the right species.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Sources:

1850 Census, Donegal, Washington, PA

Kohler, Minnie.  A 20th Century History of Hardin Co, OH, Vol 2, page 622.

Buchanan, Rev JS.  Letter in possession of a descendant.  

The Moffitt Book of Obituaries, Vol 5, Warren Co, Ill

Wordless Wednesday: Eating with the President

Looking at old family info which was researched some years ago and then looking again now can provide more tidbits to follow.  The increased genealogy documents online can cause one to almost drop the morning coffee!  Almost.

There are several new finds which connect my bloodline of John SIMMONS (d.1795) the innkeeper to his descendants.  Just yesterday, a new family seeker wondered if I had the right man.  My answer to that is absolutely.  Why?  Because I like following the land and the wills.  Legal documentation is a strong first degree of evidence when researching the past.

Sometimes, though, the legal documentation just isn't there.  Sometimes, one can find more secondary evidence in census records and in history books of the times.

Samuel FRAUNCES (b. c 1722 d. 1795) is most certainly an interesting case to follow.  I plan to spend more time this February to see what else I can dig up on him.  For a teaser, he was the owner of Fraunces Tavern in New York during the time of the American Revolution.  In fact, his tavern was the site of George WASHINGTON's farewell speech.  Much has been written on that subject.  FRAUNCES goes on to work directly for WASHINGTON after the American Revolution as the steward in his household.  Again, nothing new here.

What is new about FRAUNCES since the last time I looked at him?  While the location of his unmarked grave at St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia is still unknown, he now has an obelisk in the churchyard.  On June 26, 2010, the legacy of Samuel FRAUNCES was honored with the church erecting an obelisk for him.

Samuel Fraunces, St Peter's Church, Philadelphia, PA, erected 2010

I also found it really interesting to see the handout given at the dedication of the obelisk for Samuel.  Of course, I have to wonder.  Where is his wife?

Handout given at the dedication in 2010

If I remember correctly in some of my early readings on him, oh, so many years ago, that he was put in an unmarked grave intentionally.

There has been much debate over the years as to his race.  Was he born of both black and white parents?  I don't know.  Was he mulatto?  The 1790 census lists him as white.  Some of his kids are listed in later census as black, white, and mulatto.  So, I expect he was of mixed blood.  I do know that the current line of thought does identify Samuel as black.  I was told some years ago by another researcher that free blacks were considered rather exotic back in colonial New York and it would not have been unusual for interracial marriages.  From what I have researched, there were laws banning these marriages in nine of the original 13 colonies as the colonies transitioned in to an America free from British rule.  I have seen in early Massachusetts, for instance, that the race of the child was defined by the race of the mother.  But, I haven't found this particular law in colonial New York.

What I do know is that his wife, Elizabeth DALLY, was the sister of Catherine DALLY SALTER SIMMONS, my grandma.  What I do know is Elizabeth is mentioned only briefly in what I have read.  I hope to find more on her.

What I do know is that the brothers in law, FRAUNCES and SIMMONS were both tavern owners in New York City before and after the American Revolution.   What I do know is that their taverns are about four blocks apart.  The FRAUNCES Tavern was at Pearl St and the corner of Broad,  while the SIMMONS Tavern, was at the corner of Wall St and Broad.  What I do know is that there is a written history of the times of WASHINGTON eating at both places.

Ahh, genealogy.  Knowing my kin cooked and served early America is just cool.  Knowing that they knew and mingled with George Washington, before and after he became our first President, well, that leaves me wordless.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Sources:
https://alchetron.com/Samuel-Fraunces-1087609-W
http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/history/frauncesobelisk.php
Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895.  Edited by Paul Finkelman

Sympathy Saturday for the Challenger and My Heart

Today.  Remember how sunny it was 28 January 1986?  Remember the excitement of the upcoming Challenger flight to carry just an ordinary teacher (wait--  are teachers ordinary?) in to the wonder of space?  Remember sitting and watching the liftoff?  Remember the horror of the explosion just 74 seconds later?

I remember it well.  For, you see, I was sitting with my dad and his oncologist in a hospital room watching the event.  For, you see, the news regarding the return of my father's cancer was not good.  For, you see, the oncologist sat on the bed as the shuttle exploded and tears ran down his face.  For, you see, it was one of the best buddies of the oncologist on that flight.

We cried.  All of America cried. And then my family cried more.  This story I will tell my children about today in much more detail will break my heart once more.  For the loss of the Challenger and the soon loss of my dad still has its effect on the space program and my family.

Ahh, genealogy.  Just hearing of a past event that our nation witnessed with such loss of life and hope also brings tears to my eyes as I remember my own gentle giant of a hero.  Rest gently.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Abolition Whig? Politics in the Family Tree

Looking through old brown envelopes with xerox pages of really old journals has caught me by storm today.  I pulled out an envelope with the journal of Harvey N REED that a kind cousin sent to me years ago--  like maybe 12 or so?

Cousin Harvey kept this journal from about 1895 to 1898 while he was living at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Ohio.  He was from the Pittsburgh area and most certainly a cousin of mine by marriage, if not by blood.

In this awesome journal of old are his musings, his thoughts, and most importantly, memories of his family members.  Also found in this journal are many mentions of his family that are also my blood kin.  What a treat to just sit and read again!

What caught my eye today are the descriptions he provided of many of the family.  Many entries have their approximate height, weight, hair and eye color, complexion,  dates of birth, death, how long they were ill, occupation, religious beliefs and their political leanings.

How many times does one find a mention of an Abolition Whig?  So what was that?  From my reading, the Whig party was started around 1834 as an opposition to Andrew Jackson.  I found it amusing to learn the Whig party won the popular vote in the mid 1800s in presidential elections, while the Democrat VAN BUREN won the electoral majority.  Sounds like a page out of our recent election--  just change the party, and well, you know......

It appears the family was rather equally divided between the political parties of the times they lived.  Robert appears to have been the only Abolition Whig.

In the journal is also a mention of a marriage that took place in November 1840.  What I found of interest is the added note that the marriage took place on the day W H HARRISON was elected.  HARRISON is remembered for his two hour inaugural address in cold, damp weather.  He caught a cold, and then developed pneumonia and passed away on month later.

Ahh, genealogy. Let me sit and count my family members who have been in office--  from City Council, Mayor, Senator, to, oh yes, a President.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Sources:
http://www.history.com/topics/whig-party
http://millercenter.org/president/biography/harrison-death-of-the-president

Treasure Chest Thursday: Living in a 1913 Wedding

Oh, the horror of it all!  My hard drive crashed and I was devastated.  Over 20 years of genealogy finds were there.  Why, I couldn't think!  What to do?

Joyfully, I had a great backup and was able to recover all the information after the hard drive was replaced.  To thank the wonderful sibling who volunteered to help me during this crisis, I am now going back and looking through the many, many boxes of papers I have gathered over the years.  What this long term exercise is doing is forcing me to reevaluate what I think I know as I look at papers not seen in probably 10 years or so.

In addition to all my boxes of paper I am going through and trying to scan in, I am finding some really cool treasures.  Take, for instance, the wedding book of my spouse's grandparents.  They were married in August 1913.  Opening the pages of the book this morning revealed many exciting treasures for me.  The announcement, the newspaper write-ups, the guests, the gifts, the honeymoon details, and the death of the groom.  While the newspapers don't contain the name of the newspaper or the date, I can use the information I know to locate them.

Aug 27, 1913 Wedding of Hazel and Ralph

These fragile and yellowed pieces of paper link me to the joy of the young couple that have been gone now for 40 years or more.  I never knew them, but I get a sense of them through stories and pictures.  Perhaps, I should take a closer look around my house to see if any of the gifts survived and made their way here?

Ahh genealogy, cherish the beloved hands that took the time to document the times of their lives.  For today, their treasure chest of happiness provides inspiration for me to continue looking in the past to find the future.

©2017  AS Eldredge

Wordless Wednesday: Frank's Civil War Diary

I've been writing off and on about cousin Frank C DORRINGTON from Allegheny Co, PA.  His picture taken in Washington, DC, just before his regiment moved out after protecting our Nation's Capital during a time of great strife, inspired a mini-series of blogs.  Check out the You, 149th PA Bucktail You tidbits posted previously on Frank and his messmates.  They eventually made their way as they served the Union to a small town in PA called Gettysburg.

Today, I was looking around and found mention of his Civil War Diary.  His diary!  Now comes the hard part.

It was donated to Penn State in 1968 by an Ernest FREY of Pittsburgh.  Hmmm, who is he and why did he have the diary?

As far as I know, old Frank had only the three daughters born after the Civil War and all who died before 1907.  I have also found grandchildren.  But so far, no connection to FREY.  The Ernest FREY I have located did reside close by, but I see no connection yet.  Hmmm, what is that connection?

FREY was an attorney.  Hmmm, what is that connection to the diary?  Looking at his immediate family offers no clues.

I contacted the Penn State Library to see if I could access the diary from far away.  Suffice it to say, no.

I won't give up.  I will find a way to access that diary.  Who knows what tidbits of information I can glean from it?

Ahh, genealogy.  With a rebel yell, I cry more, more, more.  Even if I am wordless on this diary.  It's calling to me and I must answer.

Read more of cousin Frank and his friends:

Part 1 of the series:  Frank?  Is That You?  You 149th Bucktail You
Part 2 of the series:  Ustick?  Is That You?  You, PA 149th You
Part 3 of the series:  Dave? Is That You? You, PA 149th You
Part 4 of the series:   Boy? Is That You? You, 149th PA Bucktail You

Sources:
https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/viewFile/2979/2810

©2017 ASEldredge

Gumbert School for Delinquent Girls

I just added some transcriptions from newspapers ranging from 1925-1961 on the Gumbert School for Delinquent Girls to my wonderful Pittsburgh Old Newspaper Project.  This site is only possible through the many hours of volunteer work contributed so we genealogy buffs can learn more about out past and our beloved little steel city, Pittsburgh in Allegheny Co, PA.

Reading the articles can be quite entertaining.  Funny how I never considered a girls' school dedicated to the purpose of housing females inmates fresh from juvenile court to be "living a luxurious life" as one of the articles reports.

Enjoy.

Ahh, genealogy.   Another side trip in to past with the written word.  How interesting the last article in 1961 asks "Is rehabilitation worth the cost?"

A special thanks to Lynne B for all her hard work!

©2017 ASEldredge