Carnival of Genealogy: 2012 Swimsuit Edition

The 119th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is a return to the "Swimsuit Issue"

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be: The 5th Annual Swimsuit Edition! Yes folks, it's that time again. It's time to think of summer and lazy days spent at the pool or beach. Dig out those wonderful swimsuit pictures of days gone by and share them with us!

Here's my 2008 2009 and 2011 contributions to this theme.

Below are my grandparents, Melvin and Sissie (Feinstein) Newmark - 75 years ago - celebrating their honeymoon in 1937. As far as their family was aware, they were married in January of 1937.  However, they were actually married in May of 1936.  I'm not exactly certain when their honeymoon took place, but it was after the second ceremony.

Thoughts on July 1 and July 4

As July 1st (Canadian Independence Day) and July 4th (US Independence Day) approaches, I once again find myself thinking about my Colonial ancestry.

I have several maternal ancestors who arrived on this continent prior to the American Revolution.

[I indicate my web-based sources for the information below, though for most I am relying on the poorly cited research of others.]

1) The Betts and the Stoughtons

My eighth great grandparents, Richard Betts and Joanna Chamberlain were married in Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony - in 1648. It is thought Joanna arrived by 1635, and Richard mid-1640s. [source source]. Joanna Chamberlain was the daughter of Elizabeth Stoughton and Richard Chamberlain, and the granddaughter of Rev Thomas and Katherine Stoughton.

2) Hortons and Langtons

9th great grandparents, Barnabas Horton and Mary Langton are said to have immigrated c. 1630 on the ship "Swallow." [source] - Living in Massachusetts and Connecticut prior to settling in Southold, Long Island.

3) Hallocks

Barnabas Horton's son, Caleb, married Abigail Hallock. Abigail's father, William Hallock, likely arrived in Southold, Long Island ca. 1640. [source]

4) Van Everys

Brothers Myndert and Carsten Frederickse (sons of Frederick Van Iveren) likely immigrated to New Amsterdam in the 1640s or 1650s, with Myndert marrying Catharina Burger (Burghart) in New Amsterdam in 1656. [source]. Most of the descendants of Myndert and Carsten took the surname of either Van Every or Van Avery. Myndert was my 8th great grandfather.

5) Swayzes and Kinges

John Sweezey [Swayze], another eighth great grandfather, immigrated prior to 1650. [source]. He married Catherine Kinge in 1650 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. He settled in Suffolk, Long Island.

Catherine emigrated with her father, William, prior to 1635

They settled at Salem, Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman there May 25, 1636. He had grants of land of forty acres on Jeffrey's Creek, now Manchester-by-the-Sea; thirty acres at Royal-side at the head of Bass river, now Beverly, and he located his homestead there. He was a grand juror in 1637. He was a member of the First church at Salem, but in 1637 joined the Antinomians and came under the ban of the Salem authorities. He was requested to sever his connection with the new church or have his arms taken away from him. He remained with the new faith and gave up his gun to Lieutenant Danforth. Later he was banished for a time for sheltering the persecuted Quakers. [source]

6) Rosenbergers and Fretzes

Henry Rosenberger (1685-1745) left Germany and arrived in Franconia, Pennsylvania prior to 1729.

Hans (Weaver John) Fretz (1704-1772) left Alsace, Germany and arrived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania approximately 1720.

Their children, Mark Fretz and Elizabeth Rosenberger, were married on May 11, 1773. [source]

[The above list revised from a post I wrote last year]

***

As for ancestors alive between 1775-1789, the Swayzes and Van Everys ended up Loyalists, and fled to Canada afterwards. The Fretzes and Rosenbergers were Pennsylvania Mennonites, and I've found no evidence that they violated their commitment to peace and took either side.

I still had some Denyer ancestors living in England at the time, though I'm unsure if any were Redcoats.

My paternal ancestors, and half my maternal ancestors were all situated in Eastern and Central Europe (Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Transylvania) and were likely mostly oblivious to the war. Of course, the Polish general, Casimir Pulaski, 'Father of the American Cavalry,' came from Warka, Poland, as did my Newmark ancestors.

I have one branch I haven't yet researched far enough to ascertain where they were in the 18th century, and that is the ancestors of my maternal great great granmother, Sarah (Hartley) Denyer.  So there is still some hope I may someday find a truly Patriotic ancestor.

***

Poem: A Toast to the First and the Fourth of July

Gamer's Guide to Genealogy (repeat)

A repeat of a post from 2009
You may be familiar with just the traditional 6-sided die. And when someone says "dice" that is the image that comes to mind. However, those who play Role Playing Games (RPGs) such as Dungeons and Dragons are familiar with a number of other variations:


The common shorthand for each is dX where X is the number of sides, so the traditional 6-sided die becomes known as a d6.

It occurred to me that when I reach a point where I am not sure what to do next in my genealogy research, letting the dice decide might be appropriate, or at least fun. So I came up with a system using a d20, and two rolls. (A d6 doesn't have nearly enough choices.)

First Roll - Selecting an Individual

To come up with 20 options, I started with the 16 Great-Great Grandparents, numbers 16-31 ahnentafel. So if 1 through 16 are rolled I allow myself to choose the ancestor listed, collateral descendants, or one of their ancestors.

I've listed mine below, along with their Ahnentafel numbers (binary and decimal)

1 Samuel Newmark (10000 – 16)
2 Rose Cantkert Newmark (10001 – 17)
3 Moshe Leyb Cruvant (10010 – 18)
4 Minnie Mojsabovski Cruvant (10011 – 19)
5 Selig (Dudelsack) Feinstein (10100 – 20)
6 Annie Perlik Feinstein (10101 – 21)
7 Morris Blatt (10110 - 22)
8 Beila Wyman Blatt (10111 - 23)
9 Abraham Deutsch (11000 – 24)
10 Sarah Weiss Deutsch (11001 – 25)
11 Israel Lichtman (11010 – 26)
12 Betty Adler Lichtman (11011 – 27)
13 Samuel Van Every (11100 – 28)
14 Abigail Stuart Van Every (11101 - 29)
15 Ebenezer Denyer (11110 - 30)
16 Sarah Hartley Denyer (11111 – 31)

I rounded out the 20 with four remaining categories:

17 Paternal Grandparents
18 Maternal Grandparents
19 Parents
20 Myself

Roll 2: Action

(I came up with ten actions, so I repeated each one. But a d10 could be used. Or maybe you can come up with ten more.)

1. Google Search (google.com ; books.google.com; news.google.com; groups.google.com)
2. Subscriber Site Search (e.g. Ancestry, Footnote, GenealogyBank)
3. Search for online databases in related locales that are new, or you may have missed.
4. Check Source Citations (Verify all data on individual in your database has a cited source.)
5. Interview someone about the individual (or write down your own recollections)
6. Write to a cousin descended from the individual
7. Transcribe a letter/document from, to, or about individual
8. Research the time/place the individual lived.
9. Scan photos/documents related to individual
10. Blog about the individual
11. Google Search (google.com ; books.google.com; news.google.com; groups.google.com)
12. Subscriber Site Search (e.g. Ancestry, Footnote, GenealogyBank)
13. Search for online databases in related locales that are new, or you may have missed.
14. Check Source Citations (Verify all data on individual in your database has a cited source.)
15. Interview someone about the individual (or write down your own recollections)
16. Write to a cousin descended from the individual
17. Transcribe a letter/document from, to, or about individual
18. Research the time/place the individual lived.
19. Scan photos/documents related to individual
20. Blog about the individual

Naturally, if you roll a combination that results in an impossible task (e.g. You don't have any letters to transcribe relating to X) roll again.

If you don't know where the closest store is where you can find a set of dice, you can find them online. Gamer's dice are usually sold in sets of 7: a d4, d6, d8, 2 d10s, a d12 and a d20. (the 2 d10s are numbered 1-10 and 10-100). You may be able to find many uses for these die for things in your life you are willing to randomize a bit.

Example, with a d6:

1) Do laundry
2) Clean bathroom
3) Feed dog
4) Feed kids
5) Check Email
6) Hit the snooze bar

If you feel 20 choices isn't enough, they do sell d100s.

What to expect if... (repeat)

A repeated, and slightly revised post from 2007
What to expect when your favorite genealogical conference merges with a local SF convention.

1) Possible panel/seminar topics:
a. Homer Simpson’s Family Tree
b. Genealogy references in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: from Nature's Nobility to graveyard visits.
c. Did your great grandparents read science fiction? An introduction to First Fandom for Young Adults.
d. Did your ancestors get eaten by Grendel? Where would they be buried if they were?
e. Making whoopee in the 17th century, were there any differences? (midnight panel)
f. Podcasting for the Genea-blogger.
g. Heraldry – What your local branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism has to offer your local genealogy society – and vice versa. With a potentially lively discussion on their 'accuracy.'
h. The 1891 and 1901 England Census are online? Is HG Wells listed? (Yes - ancestry.co.uk, image)
i. Which cancellation resulted in a greater loss to television: Who Do You Think You Are (US) or Firefly?

2) Genealogy Guest of Honor: (live via time machine) Alex Haley. Huge line for autographs, but a smaller subset of attendees will turn their nose up, claim the writer was a hack, and refuse to get in line, even if they’ve read all his books.
3) Media Guest of Honor: LeVar Burton - (Geordie LaForge on ST:TNG; Kunta Kinte on Alex Haley's Roots)
4) There will be a masquerade. A chance to dress up like your ancestors – or your future descendents! Prizes will be awarded.
5) Art Show will have new categories for Coats of Arms and family photographs.
6) Free alcohol in the room parties after hours will lead to genealogists logging on to OneWorldTree and adding entries to prove they are descended from Isaac Newton or Beowulf.

Surname Saturday: Cantkert

Discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research.

Cantkert is a surname for which I am uncertain of its origin. I believe it to be the maiden name of my great-great grandmother, Rose.  She married Samuel Newmark in Poland in the late 19th century. The last Polish town of record I have for the Newmark family is Warka, Poland, and JewishGen lists Cantkert in their Warka Surname List.  However, my great great grandmother's surname has appeared differently in several documents. The names of her parents are known only through her death certificate.

I am uncertain if there is any relationship to Ida Cantkert, or her siblings, memorialized in Serge Klarsfeld's French Children of the Holocaust.

The numbering below follows the d'Aboville system. The first digit represents the order surnames make their first appearance on my ahnentafel.  The information in the first two generations is based on some records I have found online and some assumptions noted below.

I've emboldened my direct ancestors.

9. Szmul Cantkert (? - 1894)

9.1 Hirsch Cantkert (?-?) married Bryn __
9.2 Manas Cantkert
9.3 Szmerek Cantkert

9.1.1 Rose Cantkert (1865-1943) married Samuel Newmark (1862-1940)

Follow the descent of Rose and Samuel at 1.1.

My number is 9.1.1.2.1.1.3


Research Notes

In the 1907 Warka voter lists (available on both JewishGen and Ancestry) there were three apparent Cantkert brothers: Hersz, Manas, and Szmerek - all listed with the father Szmul.  The first two generations above are based on the good possibility that Hersz was the father of my great great grandmother, though it is not certain.  It appears to be an uncommon surname, and a small village, so the matching given name is a good indicator.

Records in the JewishGen databases for which I have recently contacted the Polish State Archives seeking copies:

• 1894 death record from Warka for a Szmul Josek Cantkert
• 1893 marriage record for a Manas Cantkert to a Brandla Siniawer
• 1860 birth record for a Szmerek Cantkert
• 1887 marriage record for a Szmerka Cantkert to an Ajdla Wortman

A New Surname List

Below are the ancestral surnames for my wife, Jen, alphabetized, and organized by generational distance.  Similar to how I organized my ancestral surnames in a 2008 post.

1-4 Generations

Baldwin, Bauer, Blackman, Dexheimer, Fulkerson, Gober, Harrison, Mouldon, Olson, Schrock, Sheer, Taylor, Volk, Wallace

5-8 Generations

Abernathy, Armstead, Boyd, Bradley, Campbell, Cowsert, Davenport, Findley, Floyd, Hargrave, Jackson, Jernigan, Langenstein, McGinnis, Matheny, Meekin, Miller, Rolliston, Ruffert, Volckertson, Wentz, Whittmer, Wilkinson

9-12 Generations

DeWitt, Goode, Van Lieuvin, Massingale, Norgraves, Routt, Sharp, Shuttleworth, Wentworth

***

If you share one of these surnames, especially some of the rarer ones, we'd be interested in hearing from you.  The more surnames you share, naturally, the closer you are likely to be related.

For the first four generations, the geographical location is mostly Missouri.  Then it starts to disperse, ultimately arriving in French Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, and England.

Surname Saturday: Denyer

It's been a year since the last installment, but I return with the Surname Saturday blogging meme.

Discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research.

Denyer is considered by many a nickname for a poor or insignificant man, from the name of a very small medieval coin (Middle English/Old French: Denier).  My Denyer ancestors immigrated to America from England in the 1800s.


The numbering below follows the d'Aboville system, slightly modified to account for multiple spouses.
The first digit represents the order surnames make their first appearance on my ahnentafel.  With this installment, I conclude the 8 surnames of my great grandparents.

I've emboldened my direct ancestors, and __s indicate living, or potentially living, relatives. I've added some italicized geographical notes for my direct ancestors.

8. William DENYER (1770- ) Farlington, Hampshire, England married Jane GOLDFINCH (1770- ) Portsea, Hampshire, England

Marriage Allegation: Denyer, William, of Farlington, lime-burner, 21, b., & Jane Goldfinch, of Portsea, 21, sp., at P., 22 Oct., 1791.

8.1 Georgiana DENYER (1793- ) Hampshire, England
8.2 William DENYER (1794-1848) Hampshire England married Elizabeth SLIVER (1798-1840) New Britain Twp, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania
8.3 John Henry DENYER (1795- ) Hampshire England
8.4 James DENYER (1798- ) Hampshire England
8.5 Barnard Goldfinch DENYER (1800- ) Hampshire England
8.6 Charles DENYER (1802- ) Hampshire England
8.7 Jane DENYER (1804- ) Hampshire England
8.8 George DENYER (1807- ) Hampshire England

William Denyer was baptized July 15, 1795 in Farlington, Hampshire, England. Family histories say he was born in November of 1794. According to the same family histories, William and Elizabeth were married in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 31, 1821.

8.2.1 Samuel Jennings Sliver DENYER (1822-1861) Baltimore, Maryland married Zerelda Ann SINGLETON (-1867)
8.2.2 Elizabeth Ann Sliver DENYER (1825- ) Bucks, PA, married John PRATT (1806-1871)
8.2.3 Ebenezer Opham DENYER (1828-1872) Bucks, PA, married Sarah Ann HARTLEY (1836-1898)
8.2.4 Jane Goldfinch DENYER (1831- ) Bucks, PA, married Henry JOHNSON
8.2.5 William Sliver DENYER (1834- ) Bucks, PA, married (a) Dilly Susanna CORLEY (-1863) and (b)Nancy Emeline RHODES
8.2.6 Leonidas Ross DENYER (1837-1837) New Albany, Indiana

Ebenezer and Sarah were married in Gonzales County, Texas on May 14, 1854

8.2.1.1 Herminie Aurelia DENYER (1850-1866)
8.2.1.2 Amanda Jane DENYER (1853-1936) married Walter Thomas BRANNON (1852-1930)
8.2.1.3 Robert C.H. DENYER (1854-) married M. Jennie WILDMAN (1860-)
8.2.1.4 Albert Sherwood DENYER, (1856-)
8.2.1.5 Ida Elizabeth Sammie DENYER, (1859-1899) married Lewis Lamar GREEN
8.2.2.1 Minerva PRATT (1846- ) married Joseph McAfee COULTER (1846- )
8.2.2.2 Emily PRAT (1848-1853)
8.2.2.3 Maria Denyer PRATT (1852-)
8.2.3.1 Mary Susan DENYER (1860-1860)
8.2.3.2 Samuel Wiliam DENYER (1866-1928) married Alice C. GOLLIHAR
8.2.3.3 Margaret Jane McAlpin Monteroy DENYER (1868-1923) married Melvin Elijah VAN EVERY (1863-1929)
8.2.3.4 Ezekiel DENYER (1870-1870)
8.2.5b.1 Andre J DENYER, (1865-) married (a) Sophronia GARDNER and (b) Mary __

According to family records, Margaret was born in Kyle, Hays, Texas. She and Melvin were married in Buda, Hays, Texas, Aug 29, 1883.

8.2.1.2.1 Geneva Ella BRANNON (1875-1962) married Howell PERKINS
8.2.1.2.2 John Samuel BRANNON (1877-1970) married Carrie GIRLINGHOUSE
8.2.1.2.3 George Rely BRANNON (1879-1888)
8.2.1.2.4 Lauretta Ann BRANNON (1882- )
8.2.1.2.5 James Archibald BRANNON (1884-1983) married Henrietta CLIFTON (1888-1973)
8.2.1.2.6 Walter Clifford BRANNON (1886-1906)
8.2.1.2.7 Irving Cornelius BRANNON, (1889-1967)
8.2.1.2.8 Henry Luther BRANNON, (1891-1941) married Irene Maude DROST (1889-1970)
8.2.1.3.1 Lulu Lee DENYER (1882- ) married I. E. KNIGHT
8.2.1.3.2 Minnie May DENYER (1884- )
8.2.1.3.3 Samuel Arthur DENYER (1886- )
8.2.1.3.4 Thomas Hilliard DENYER (1888- )
8.2.1.3.5 Elsie DENYER
8.2.1.3.6 Myrtle DENYER
8.2.1.4.1 Jessie DENYER, (1883-)
8.2.1.4.2 Charles DENYER
8.2.1.5.1 Ida GREEN (1884-)
8.2.1.5.2 Lewis Lamar JR GREEN (1886-)
8.2.1.5.3 Ola GREEN (1887-)
8.2.1.5.4 Gussie Denyer GREEN (1894-1996) married Percival Clayton WOOD
8.2.2.1.1 Emma COULTER (1869-1873)
8.2.2.1.2 Mary Mazilla COULTER (1871-)
8.2.2.1.3 Joseph McAfee COULTER (1874-)
8.2.2.1.4 Morrison John Scott COULTER (1877-)
8.2.2.1.5 Iola May COULTER (1880-)
8.2.2.1.6 Minerva Ann COULTER (1883-)
8.2.2.1.7 Arrena Elizabeth COULTER (1886-)
8.2.3.2.1 William Ebenezer DENYER (1885-1889)
8.2.3.2.2 Alfred DENYER (1886-1946) married Dollie CRAWL (1890-1922)
8.2.3.2.3 Arthur Luther DENYER (1888-1946)
8.2.3.2.4 Addie E DENYER (1890- )
8.2.3.4.5 Zenovie DENYER (1891- )
8.2.3.2.6 Lee C DENYER (1894-1943) married Ida Mae WANECK
8.2.3.2.7 Samuel Drake DENYER (1896-1964) married Georgina ANDERSON
8.2.3.2.8 William George DENYER (1898-1972) married Thresia Jane OLIVER (1909-2005)
8.2.3.2.9 Melvin Edwin DENYER (1900-1956) married Inez HALLIBURTON (1907-1985)
8.2.3.3.1 Minnie Ray VAN EVERY, (1884-1969) married August Albert BENOLD (1883-1942)
8.2.3.3.2 Samuel Ophan VAN EVERY (1886-1933) married (a) Esther Othillia DAHLIN (1886-1968) and (b) Amy C Johnston (1898- )
8.2.3.3.3 Abigail VAN EVERY (1888-1888)
8.2.3.3.4 Willa Ann VAN EVERY (1890-1916) married Lexington ROBERTS
8.2.3.3.5 Delbert VAN EVERY (1890-1890)
8.2.3.3.6 Evelyn Syvela VAN EVERY (1892-1982) married (a) William CAMPBELL ( -1925) and (b) I.T. HERRIN and (c) W.J. CRABTREE
8.2.3.3.7 Melvin Theodore VAN EVERY (1898-1899)
8.2.3.3.8 Myrtle Ethel VAN EVERY (1900-1951) married (a) Jack and (b) Alfred H. CONNEVEY and (c) Dale Bowlby RIDGELY and (d) Martin Joel DEUTSCH (1907-1991)
8.2.5b.1b.1 Floyd F DENYER (1899- )
8.2.5b.1b.2 Daisy DENYER, (1910- )
8.2.5b.1b.3 Pearl DENYER, (1912- )
8.2.5b.1b.4 Earl Thomas DENYER (1914-1984) married Helena Amoret NEBLOCK (1923- )
8.2.5b.1b.5 Silas DENYER (1917- )

According to family records, Myrtle was born in Maxwell, Caldwell, Texas. She and Martin were married in Springfield, Illinois, December 31, 1936.  They were living in St. Louis, Missouri.

8.2.3.2.2.1 William Lee DENYER (1915-1967)
8.2.3.2.9.1 Melvin Edwin JR DENYER (1927-1996) married Gladys Marion POHLER (1934-1995)
8.2.3.3.1.1 Marguerite BENOLD (1906-1998) married Roswell SPEAR (1905-1974) and Robert E SPENCER
8.2.3.3.1.2 Shirley Ruth BENOLD (1908-2000) married Virgil RIDDELL(1899-1969) and Leonard Lafay GRIFFITH (1907-1940)
8.2.3.3.1.3 August Wilson BENOLD (1911-1977) married Eva Etta REILEY
8.2.3.3.1.4 Charles BENOLD (1913-1913)
8.2.3.3.1.5 Elsa Louise BENOLD (1913-2002) married Marcus Lester WALTERMIRE (1910-2006)
8.2.3.3.1.6 Ruby BENOLD (1916-2006) married LEWIS
8.2.3.3.1.7 Evelyn BENOLD (1918-1938) married John Ellis LANIER (1914-1938)
8.2.3.3.1.8 Frances Lucille BENOLD (1922-1996) married Harley Hugh SEARCY (1917-1986)
8.2.3.3.2a.1 Everett Clarence VAN EVERY (1906-1924)
8.2.3.3.4.1 Agnes Lee ROBERTS (1910-1987) married Phil GATES (1907-1986)
8.2.3.3.6a.1 Elizabeth Dribel CAMPBELL (1914-1996)
8.2.3.3.6a.2 William Venable CAMPBELL (1916-2004) married ______

My number is 8.2.3.3.8d.1.3

On Memorial Day

The above image comes from the Memorial Day page at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, explaining that Memorial Day is a day for remembering those who died in the service of their country.  [Read the full text of the poem.]

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. [source]

[More on the history of Memorial Day]


Unnamed Remains the Bravest Soldier - by Walt Whitman (From 'Specimen Days')

OF scenes like these, I say, who writes—whoe’er can write the story? Of many a score—aye, thousands, north and south, of unwrit heroes, unknown heroisms, incredible, impromptu, first-class desperations—who tells? No history ever—no poem sings, no music sounds, those bravest men of all—those deeds. No formal general’s report, nor book in the library, nor column in the paper, embalms the bravest, north or south, east or west. Unnamed, unknown, remain, and still remain, the bravest soldiers. Our manliest—our boys—our hardy darlings; no picture gives them. Likely, the typic one of them (standing, no doubt, for hundreds, thousands,) crawls aside to some bush-clump, or ferny tuft, on receiving his death-shot—there sheltering a little while, soaking roots, grass and soil, with red blood—the battle advances, retreats, flits from the scene, sweeps by—and there, haply with pain and suffering (yet less, far less, than is supposed,) the last lethargy winds like a serpent round him—the eyes glaze in death—none recks—perhaps the burial-squads, in truce, a week afterwards, search not the secluded spot—and there, at last, the Bravest Soldier crumbles in mother earth, unburied and unknown.

The cartoon above is by John T. McCutcheon - published circa 1900

NBC Cancels the US adaptation of WDYTYA

NBC has chosen not to renew the television series: Who Do You Think You Are? after it's third season.

From Ancestry.com:

We want to thank NBC for their support of this terrific series, which over the last three years has inspired many viewers to follow their passion to learn more about who they are and where they come from," said Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of Ancestry.com. "We have a great partnership with the show's producers, Is or Isn't Entertainment and Shed Media, and we look forward to exploring other avenues of distribution.

It's important to note that Ancestry implies they as well as the show's producers are interested in finding another  "avenue of distribution," - that is, another network willing to air the show.  So this might not be the end of WDYTYA in America.  Of course, it definitely isn't the end of WDYTYA. The original British show, and the Australian adaptation both seem to be active, if not other adaptations as well.

Amanuensis Monday: Incorporation of Famous Laundry Company by Selig Feinstein

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project three years ago, back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

***
This week I transcribe a series of news briefs that appeared in an issue of the journal, Iron Age, in 1912. My second great grandfather is mentioned in one, which I have emphasized. I discuss where and how I found this journal article in the notes.

Blog Update

In the list of top ten visited pages on my blog consistently over the past few years has been a handful of blog posts where I have listed and linked to indexes for obituaries from various St. Louis area newspapers.  The indexes, to the benefit of all researchers, keep growing so I have written several posts updating the information.

Instead of creating a new post, I have created what Blogger calls a 'page': St. Louis Area Obituaries

You will find a permanent link to this page at the top of my blog, along with links to several other pages I have created in the past.

Wedding Traditions: Silver Sixpences

One of the reasons that I fell headlong into the genealogy obsession is that at its root, it feeds a larger obsession of mine - research.  Who appeared in a certain film? What is the etymology of a word, or phrase? Ask me these questions, and my first instinct is to go online and search for the answers.

During our preparations for our wedding, I decided to research the origins of the wedding rhyme:

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a (silver/lucky) sixpence in her shoe.

Wikipedia doesn't have much on the origin, besides dating it back to at least 1883.  However, the sources used to back this up all are post-1980.  There is supposedly an English newspaper article from 1883 that contained the rhyme and attributed it to Lancashire.

The Phrase Finder says:

The rhyme was certainly in use by the late Victorian period and was printed in an 1894 edition of the Pennsylvania newspaper The Warren Ledger, where it was listed as a 'Puritan Marriage Custom'.

So I went to Google Books

There I found several references in sources from the 1890s to the rhyme without the 'sixpence in her shoe' ending, making me wonder if the newspaper articles from 1883 and 1894 referenced in the above sources contained the whole quote or not.

So I thought to myself "British Newspaper Article... I should check The British Newspaper Archive!" where I had found some newspaper articles mentioning some possible relatives back in March.

I found a reference in an 1881 edition of The Lancaster Times - once again, without the silver sixpence, and attributed as 'an old saying' from Allegra in Life.  Since it predates the current source for Wikipedia, someone could theoretically update the entry and cite this blog post. Ideally, they would cite The Lancaster Times, but Wikipedia editors seem to be fine with citing sources that cite earlier sources.

Where does "Silver Sixpence in her Shoe" come from? There are many old references to silver sixpences bringing luck - at all times of one's life, regardless of where one found the coin.  Several works of short fiction played on the theme:

• The Lucky Sixpence, dated 1845
• The Silver Sixpence, dated 1832
• The Old Dame and her Silver Sixpence, dated 1850

I suspect at some point the luckiness of the sixpence got tied to the wedding rhyme, and it was placed in the shoe for poetic purposes. (Shoe rhymes with Blue and New.) This shouldn't detract from the custom, even if it wasn't originally part of the wedding rhyme, since sixpences have long been considered lucky. But unless someone can find a 19th century source for the entire rhyme, I suspect the melding occurred at some point in the 20th century, and possibly in America.  Emily Post in 1922 is the earliest definite citation I can find containing both halves.

Did Ancestry Shut Its Doors on All Professionals and all Bloggers?

Marian at Roots and Rambles has an intriguing post. It appears Ancestry.com has changed its Terms of Service.

From the comments to the post:

Old TOS (October 6, 2010)
You are licensed to use the Content only for personal or professional family history research, and may download Content only as search results relevant to that research.  

New TOS (March 24, 2012)
You may access the Website, use the graphics, information, data, editorial and other Content only for personal family history research.

The entire current Limited Use License (with some of the language emboldened for emphasis)

You may access the Website, use the graphics, information, data, editorial and other Content only for personal family history research. Republication or resale of any of the Content or other protected data is prohibited. The Content may be downloaded onto mobile devices or desktop through the use of authorized Ancestry software. When downloaded, the Content remains subject to the limited use license contained in this Agreement. You may use the software provided on the Website only while online and may not download, copy, reuse or distribute that software, except where it is clearly stated that such software is made available for offline use. Ancestry and its licensors retain title, ownership and all other rights and interests in and to all information and Content on the Website. Bots, crawlers, spiders, data miners, scraping and any other automatic access tool are expressly prohibited. Violation of this limited use license may result in immediate termination of your membership and may result in legal action against you.

The entire Limited Use License from the old TOS

You are licensed to use the Content only for personal or professional family history research, and may download Content only as search results relevant to that research. The download of the whole or significant portions of any work or database is prohibited. Resale of a work or database or portion thereof, except as specific results relevant to specific research for an individual, is prohibited. Online or other republication of Content is prohibited except as unique data elements that are part of a unique family history or genealogy. Violation of this License may result in immediate termination of your membership and may result in legal action for injunction, damages or both. You may use access software provided on the Service only while on line and may not download, copy, reuse or distribute that software, except where it is clearly stated in connection with software that it is made available for offline use and a license for that use is provided in connection with that software.

 The old TOS specifically mentioned professionals, so the absence of professionals in the new TOS can't be an oversight.  It seems Ancestry is saying if you are a professional genealogist and you access their website for your business, you are violating their Terms of Service, and if they find out, they are likely to terminate your subscription.

And since "Republication or resale of any of the content or other protected data is prohibited" - this implies if a personal family historian has a blog, and "republishes" the content on their blog, they are in violation of the TOS as well. Even if the blog isn't commercial, since it's 'republication or resale' and not just 'resale.' [Note that the old TOS allowed resale and republication of content 'relevant to specific research for an individual.'] 

This seems to be in direct conflict with the email Heather Wilkinson Rojo of NutfieldGenealogy received from Ancestry Legal regarding Pinterest.  But maybe Ancestry Legal was responding with the old TOS in mind, and not the new TOS.

I think Ancestry.com needs to clarify this for all professional genealogist and all bloggers.  And if the above interpretation is accurate, they need to offer subscription refunds for those professional genealogists and bloggers who are no longer allowed to access their website for the purpose they originally subscribed.


Update: It appears that Ancestry updated their TOS today, April 26, but the limited use license paragraph is the same in the newest version.


Update 2: 
I believe Ancestry updated their TOS twice today, though it is possible I misread the update earlier.  Anyway, the language in the Limited Use License has changed. It now reads:

You may access the Website, use the graphics, information, data, editorial and other Content only for personal or professional family history research, and download Content only as search results relevant to that research. The Content may be downloaded onto mobile devices or desktop through the use of authorized Ancestry software. When downloaded, the Content remains subject to the limited use license contained in this Agreement. You may use the software provided on the Website only while online and may not download, copy, reuse or distribute that software, except where it is clearly stated that such software is made available for offline use. Ancestry and its licensors retain title, ownership and all other rights and interests in and to all information and Content on the Website. Bots, crawlers, spiders, data miners, scraping and any other automatic access tool are expressly prohibited. Violation of this limited use license may result in immediate termination of your membership and may result in legal action against you.

The line about resale or republication appears to have been removed, suggesting bloggers are within the TOS once again.

Hat/tip to The Legal Genealogist for this second update.

Just Married!

This post is to announce that the blogger ... (b'lil ayin hara) .. is now a married man.

Naturally, there are no photos to share yet.  As a placeholder...Here's a photograph of my great grandparents' Barney Newmark and Bertha Cruvant on their wedding day.

This post has been previously written and scheduled - hence the Hebrew phrase at the top. This blogger is not the type to spend his wedding day writing a blog post.

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday: The Sunken Gardens - From 1904 to Today

The St. Louis Public Library has an online exhibit concerning the 1904 World's Fair (aka The Louisiana Purchase Exposition)  In this exhibit are some photographs of what was known then as The Sunken Gardens.

I have several great grandparents who were living in St. Louis at the time and would have likely enjoyed all the sights of the exposition. What remains today?

I don't believe any of the buildings in the photographs above remain, but some of the gardens. It appears in 1912, the St. Louis Public Library was built on the grounds of the buildings on the right in the upper photograph.  If you compare a 1914 postcard (source), which references both the library and The Sunken Gardens, you can see how the pathways match up.

Here's a photograph from the 1960s (Source: Lucas Park in St. Louis Facebook Page)

Google Images provides a satellite image of what it looks like today.  

The Gardens are now known as Lucas Park.  I work down the street and walk by the park often on my way to lunch. There is no indication of its historical past. If it weren't for the 1914 postcard above I wouldn't have made the connection, and I'm not sure I would have believed it.

Update: I was wrong. Those Sunken Gardens aren't these Sunken Gardens

Other photographs
1920 - Missouri History Museum
2011 - UrbanReviewSTL

Amanuensis Monday: Barnard Goldfinch and the Siege of Winchester

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project three years ago, back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

***
Last week I mentioned that I had found two news articles of interest at British Newspaper Archive. This week I am sharing the second.

The below was found on page 7 of the Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday February 6, 1854. It describes the discovery of a tombstone corroborating a local legend.

Happy 126th Birthday to my Great Grandfather

Happy 126th Birthday 
 to my great grandfather
 Barney Newmark

(He was born in Warka, Poland, but often claimed to have been born in Ireland on March 17th. The latter part could be truth, or blarney.)


 The Wearing of The Green
version by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)

1. Oh! Paddy, dear, and did you hear
The news that's going round,
The shamrock is forbid by law
To grow on Irish ground.
Saint Patrick's Day no more we'll keep
His color can't be seen
For there's a bloody law agin'
The wearing of the green.

I met with Napper Tandy
And he took me by the hand
And he said "How's poor old Ireland?
And how does she stand?"
She's the most distressful country
That ever you have seen,
They're hanging men and women there
For wearing of the green.



2. Then since the color we must wear
Is England's cruel red
Sure Ireland's sons will n'er forget
The blood that they have shed.
You may take the shamrock from your hat
And cast it on the sod,
But 'twill take root and flourish still
Tho' underfoot 'tis trod.

When the law can stop the blades of grass
From growing as they grow,
And when the leaves in summer time
Their verdure dare not show,
Then I will change the color
I wear in my caubeen,
But till that day I'll stick for aye
To wearing of the green.



3. But if at last our color should
Be torn from Ireland's heart,
Her sons with shame and sorrow
From the dear old sod will part.
I've heard a whisper of a country
That lies beyond the sea,
Where rich and poor stand equal
In the light of freedom's day.

Oh, Erin! Must we leave you,
Driven by the tyrant's hand?
Must we ask a mother's welcome
From a strange but happy land?
Where the cruel cross of England's thralldom
Never shall be seen
And where in peace we'll live and die
A-wearing of the green.

Past St. Patrick's Day posts
March 17, 2011 Happy St. Patrick's Day
March 17, 2010 Barney's Birthday and Birthplace
March 17, 2009 On St. Patrick's Day Everyone is Irish
March 17, 2008 My 'Irish' Great Grandfather
March 15, 2007 Corned Beef and Cabbage on Rye

Creating a Time Capsule

Blogger Bill West at West in New England asks how other genealogists would go about creating a time capsule to be opened in 100 years.

1 Make a list of what you would put in a time capsule and why you'd chooseeach item.
2, What would you use for the time capsule? Where would you have it kept? 

First: I would not put in any CDs, DVDs, or Flash Drives.

Doing a little spring cleaning recently I came across some 3.5 inch diskettes and wondered what was on them. I remembered I had a USB floppy drive - somewhere.  I was able to find it, however, I last  used that drive a few years ago.  We're talking 100 years?

Sure.  I could put a new computer in the time capsule, and assume it would operate in 100 years.  But would there be any way to transfer the documents from the computer to whatever devices are being used at that time?  And no batteries will last that long -- how certain are we that electronic devices will be plugged into wall sockets in the exact same way as they are today?  What kind of wall sockets were in use in 1912?  (Answer: The two-pin socket was invented in 1904. The grounded socket was invented in 1915.)

So I would eschew storing any data on any electronic storage medium for this time capsule.

1) I would store photographs, clearly labeled with names, places, and dates.
2) I would store printed copies of genealogy registers
3) I would get family members to write down any stories of their own lives they'd like to share with the future, and I would do the same.

I would store these in an air-tight container.  But where would I place it?

I would be hesitant to bury the container...where would it be buried where the family might have access to un-bury it in a 100 years?  Community Time Capsules have an easy answer burying it on government property, private families do not.

I would be hesitant to use a safety deposit box...why burden future generations with paying for that safety deposit box?  I suspect a future generation might decide to open it beforehand rather than letting it sit for additional decade(s)

I'm not really sure the best answer to this question.

Amanuensis Monday: Baume De Vie - 1794

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project three years ago, back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

***
I was informed that the British Newspaper Archive was providing 30 free credits for new registrants. Their database is free to register, and to search, but to view the newspaper pages one must spend 5, 10 or 15 credits depending upon the age of the newspaper, and whether it was a black and white, or color scan.  I found two newspaper articles with information on potential relatives, and spent 15 of the 30 credits. They have a range of subscription packages for when the 30 credits run out.  (The cheapest is a 2-day 500 credit package that costs £7 or approximately $10.  The most expensive is a 12-month unlimited credit package for £80 or approximately $120.) I'm not likely to purchase more than a 2-day package, as I don't think there's going to be much there for me right now.

The below was found on the front page of the Hereford Journal - Wednesday September 17, 1794. I believe it was an advertisement in the form of a testimonial letter for a 'miracle cure.'

Amanuensis Monday: Local reaction to 1908 report on local tenements by St. Louis Civic League

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project three years ago, back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

***
In July and October of 2008 I wrote two blog posts concerning the 1908 conditions of tenements in St. Louis as found in an 84 page report published by the Civic League of St. Louis. Several of my paternal ancestors lived in the vicinity around that time period.

It occurred to me recently to ask, "What was the reaction to this report in 1908?"  Through my local library card I have access to ProQuest's Historical Database for the St. Louis Post Dispatch (1879-1922), so I conducted a search and found the below two news articles which provide a nice summary of the report as well as some of the ideas the League had for correcting the situation.