Family Milestones: April 18th

My maternal 2nd-great grandparents, Charles Wilson LAMBERTSON and Pearl May BEALS, were married on this date in 1897 in Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Charles was born January 25, 1872 in Preble County, Ohio, the son of Carey W. and Clara E. (COOK) LAMBERTSON.  Pearl was born May 11, 1878 in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana, the daughter of Nathan Thomas and Elizabeth Caroline (POE) BEALS. After their marriage, they lived in the Cicero area before moving to Elwood, Madison County, Indiana circa 1913.  They later lived in Greentwon, Howard County, Indiana and Summitville, Madison County, Indiana.  Charles was a painter and carpenter by trade.  They had 8 children.  Charles died May 24, 1958 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  Pearl died August 3, 1970 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Cicero Cemetery, Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana.

My paternal 7th-great grandparents, Francis WORCESTER and Abigail CARLTON, were married on this date in 1720.  Francis was born June 7, 1698 in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts, the son of Francis and Mary (CHENEY) WORCESTER.  I do not have the dates of birth or death, nor parentage for Abigail.  They had at least one son.  Nothing further is known at this time.


My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Nathaniel Derby CHEW, married on this date in 1867 to Margaret H. HEISTAND.  Nathaniel was the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW, and the older brother of my Mary Keziah CHEW.  Margaret's parentage is unknown.  Nathaniel was born April 17, 1845 in New Jersey.  Margaret was born May 1845 in Ohio.  They had 7 children, and lived in Darke County, Ohio, Cass County, Indiana and Lenawee County, Michigan.  Nathaniel was a teacher.  He served in the 133rd Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.  I do not have death information for them.  The last record I have is the 1930 census of Lenawee County, Michigan.

My maternal great-granduncle, Edward E. PIERCE, was born on this date in 1900 in Madison County, Indiana.  Edward was the son of William Francis and Clara (PENISTEN) PIERCE, and the younger brother of my Edna Muriel PIERCE.  Edward died December 23, 1900 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.


My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, Edward E. WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1875 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Edward was the son of Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my John William WRIGHT.  Edward married December 25, 1899 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana to Martha Jane STARR, daughter of Mark and Mary (CHITWOOD) STAR.  Martha was born May 24, 1878 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  They had 3 daughters.  Edward was a motorman on the interurban and a postal custodian. For many years they lived in Whitley County, Indiana.  Martha died March 29, 1948 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana. Edward died June 7, 1960 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.


My paternal 6th-great grandfather, Samuel WOOLSTON, was born on this date in 1719 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Samuel was the son of Samuel and Susanna (BUDD) WOOLSTON.  Samuel married December 25, 1749 in St. Mary's Church, Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey to Cyllania WOOLSTON, daughter of John and Sarah (POWELL) WOOLSTON.  Cyllania was born December 13, 1728.  They had 5 children.  Cyllania died December 30, 1772 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Samuel died August 4, 1773.
 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 17th

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Samuel Pangburn WRIGHT, married on this date in 1845 in Highland County, Ohio to Rebecca Ruth HALL.  Samuel was the son of George and Elizabeth (ROBINS) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my John WRIGHT.  Samuel was born September 22, 1816 in Adams County, Ohio.  Rebecca was born circa 1825 in Ohio.  I do not have her parentage.  They raised a family of 6 children in Brown County, Ohio.  Samuel died February 1860 in Brown County, Ohio.  I do not have Rebecca's date of death.

My maternal 6th-great grandparents, Seth PIERCE and Bethiah FIELD, were married on this date in 1767.  Seth was the son of Seth and Elizabeth (NYE) PIERCE.  Bethiah was the daughter of Bennett and Elizabeth (SPOFFORD) FIELD.  Seth was born September 12, 1744 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Bethiah was born April 8, 1746 in Stafford, Windham County, Connecticut.  They had 12 children.  Bethiah died September 18, 1807.  Seth died 1835 in Homer, Cortland County, New York.

My paternal 6th-great grandaunt, Elizabeth DAVIS, was born on this date in 1717.  Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (MAXSON) DAVIS, and the older sister of my Thomas William DAVIS.  Elizabeth married to William BRAND.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for William.  They had 6 children.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal great-granduncle, Henry Leonard WEHRLY, was born on this date in 1875 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Henry was the son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY, and the younger brother of my Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.  Henry married August 23, 1896 to Mamie M. SALISBURY.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for Mamie.  Henry died July 13, 1924.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Nathaniel Derby CHEW, was born on this date in 1845 in New Jersey.  Nathaniel was the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW, and the older brother of my Mary Keziah CHEW.  Nathaniel married April 18, 1867 to Margaret H. HEISTAND.  Margaret was born May 1845 in Ohio.  I do not have her parentage.  They had 7 children.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Rebecca West CHEW, was born on this date in 1814.  Rebecca was the daughter of Rev. Nathaniel and Mary (WEST) CHEW, and the older sister of my Ezekiel Cooper CHEW.  Rebecca married December 29, 1831 to Charles LOCK.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for Charles.  Rebecca died April 10, 1893.  Nothing further is known at this time. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 16th

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Henrietta KING, was born on this date in 1851 in Madison County, Indiana.  Henrietta was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHAW) KING, and the older sister of my Ellen KING.  Henrietta died May 3, 1851 in Madison County, Indiana.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Jacob LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1845 in Port Jefferson, Shelby County, Ohio.  Jacob was the son of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the younger brother of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Jacob married December 26, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana to Sarah Ann HALFHILL.  Sarah was born November 26, 1844 in Gallia County, Ohio, the daughter of John and Nancy (DARST) HALFHILL.  They moved from Jay County, Indiana to Ord, Valley County, Nebraska and raised 10 children.  Jacob was a teacher and farmer.  Sarah died June 18, 1920 in Ord, Valley County, Nebraska.  Jacob died December 15, 1922 in Ord, Valley County, Nebraska.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Phebe Jane LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1847 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Phebe was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the younger sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Phebe married November 13, 1873 in Jay County, Indiana to William R. WILSON.  William was born circa 1847.  Nothing further is known at this time.

  © 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 15th

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Lola May LAMBERTSON, married on this date in 1905 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Omer A. WHISLER.  Lola was the daughter of Carey W. and Clara E. (COOK) LAMBERTSON, and the younger sister of my Charles Wilson LAMBERTSON.  Lola was born June 28, 1883 in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Omer was born February 13, 1869 in Atlanta, Hamilton County, Indiana, the son of Joseph W. and Mary Francis (PAUL) WHISLER.  They had 2 children.  Omer died May 22, 1946.  Lola died November 26, 1964 in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana.

My paternal 4th-great grandaunt, Esther YOUNG, was born on this date in 1800 in Berkeley County, Virginia.  Esther was the daughter of Charles and Catherine Elizabeth (KINT) YOUNG, and the younger sister of my Phillip YOUNG.  Esther married George MILLER.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage of George.  Esther died August 18, 1879 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Nothing further is known at this time. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Serendipity

I had no idea that helping my mother-in-law with her computer could lead to finding a cousin, but that's what happened the other day.  While helping her with her computer, I noticed that she had an email from a 'Frank WEHRLY'.  When I asked her about it, she told me that he was a classmate of hers who now lived in Florida and they were correspondending about reunion information.

Having a surname like WEHRLY and being from Marion, I wondered if there was a connection to my Jay County branch.  There couldn't be that many WEHRLYs in east-central Indiana that weren't related, so I went home and searched in my database for a Frank WEHRLY.

I found one, a first cousin of my grandfather, who would have been about the right age to be this Frank's father.  Using Ancestry.com's directory searches, I found the family listed in a Marion, Indiana directory in the 1950s, and emailed my mother-in-law, stating that if her classmate had grown up on Harmon street, etc., then I was sure we were related.

Bingo!  It wasn't too long before my inbox had an email from my newly found cousin, Frank, telling me that he would like to meet when he comes back from Florida for the class reunion, and discuss genealogy, etc.  Turns out he would be my dad's second cousin, though they've never met, and his mother had previously done some genealogy work.  Can't wait to sit down and see what information we can share on this line. 

You just never know where you may find a new cousin....

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Wordless Wednesday: Fly/In Cruise/In (2004)

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 13th

My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Bela PIERCE, was born on this date in 1792.  Bela was the daughter of Seth and Bethiah (FIELD) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Gordon PIERCE.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 6th-great grandfather, John WRIGHT, was baptized on this date in 1755 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  John was the son of Deacon John and Hannah (FESSENDEN) WRIGHT.  John married before 1780 to Sarah FLEMING.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for Sarah.  They had 9 children and lived in Pennsylvania before moving to Clermont County, Ohio.  John died October 15, 1810 in Clermont County, Ohio.

My paternal 4th-great granduncle, Reuben MOULTON, was born on this date in 1804.  Reuben was the son of John and Avis (HURLBUT) MOULTON, and the younger sister of my Selah MOULTON.  Nothing further is known at this time.
 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Tombstone Tuesday: Barbara Lee LeMaster

Barbara Lee (JONES) LeMASTER is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara was the wife of my 1st cousin once removed, Francis Duane "Bud" LeMASTER.

Barbara was born December 28, 1948 in Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of Lawrence and Hazel (MEAD) JONES.  

Francis and Barbara had two children.  Barbara was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Barbara Lee LeMaster marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Enumerated

Mailed back my 2010 census form today.  Since we don't have home delivery, and only have a post office box, the census bureau dropped off forms at the town hall for us to fill out and mail in.  Those who don't mail them back within about the next week or so will be scheduled for a personal visit.

With this short form, I wasn't too impressed genealogically from the information it asked.  I was surprised to see them ask for the complete birthdate, I would have expected more a month-year type of question like the 1900 census.  Nothing about occupation or education level on this short form, either.

The 2010 census seems overly concerned about whether or not we are Hispanic, for some reason.  Then there is the concern about race.  Always about race in this country.  

I made a copy of the form and filed it with my records, also scanned a copy.  I did the same thing with the 2000 census, though right now I can't seem to lay my hands on it.

This year they wanted college students to be counted where they are going to school.  My stepdaughter told me that no one had visited or sent forms to her school yet.  I didn't include her in my count, so I hope that she gets counted.  Otherwise, she'll end up being one of those mysteries when her descendants can't find her in 72 years.

I can remember filling out the 2000 census, living in Madison County, Indiana at the time.  In the 1990 census, I was a college student in Delaware County, Indiana, living off campus.  I remember my roommate and I receiving and filling out the form.  I was married that May, and I distinctly remember a census worker visiting our home, so I was probably counted twice.  Possibly even a third time, if my parents in Madison County still listed me on their form that year.  

This year, it was Grant County, Indiana.  In a thirty year period, I've managed to be counted in 3 counties in close proximity, yet someone researching my life 72 years from now would be missing a lot of information if all they went by was where I was on census day.  Which makes me realize that for many of my ancestors, it is possible that there is much more to discover between enumerations.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 12th

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Amanda GROENENDYKE, married on this date in 1857 in Madison County, Indiana to Edwin Clark Anthony SNYDER.  Amanda was the daughter of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE, and the older sister of my Catherine GROENENDYKE.  Amanda was born circa 1839.  Edwin was born December 10, 1835 in Centre Township, Delaware County, Indiana, the son of John T. and Cynthia S. (GUSTIN) SNYDER.  They had 1 son.  Amanda died August 20, 1859 in Madison County, Indiana.  Edwin died in 1900.

My paternal 5th-great grandaunt, Rachel HAINES, married on this date in 1804 in Burlington County, New Jersey to Japeth BISHOP.  Rachel was the daughter of Robert and Rachel (VENICOMB) HAINES, and the younger sister of my Hannah HAINES.  Rachel was born November 20, 1779 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Japeth was born September 18, 1780 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  I do not have his parentage.  They had at least 1 child.  Japeth died July 18, 1825 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rachel died October 31, 1849 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Bennett FIELD, was born on this date in 1752 in Mansfield, Connecticut.  Bennett was the son of Bennett and Elizabeth (SPOFFORD) FIELD, and the younger brother of my Bethiah FIELD.  Bennett married Elizabeth PIERCE, daughter of Seth and Elizabeth (NYE) PIERCE.  Elizabeth was born June 2, 1748.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Jane WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1782.  Jane was the daughter of John and Sarah (FLEMING) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my George WRIGHT.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal grandmother, Ruth Pauline HALEY, was born on this date in 1911 in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Ruth was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY.  Ruth married February 28, 1932 in Jay County, Indiana to Ord Wehrly LeMASTER.  Ord was born September 30, 1906 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS.  They had 6 children.  Ord died October 30, 1971 in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana.  Ruth died February 1, 1990 in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

A Lot Can Happen Between The Census

In the 1900 census, my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Carey W. LAMBERTSON was living in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana.  By the time the 1910 census rolled around, the family was living in the 2nd ward of the city of Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  

I'm not sure why they moved to Elwood, although it could be the fact that two of his older sisters, Sarah LYST (husband John) and Mary SNIVELY (husband Sam) were already living in the area.

I was hoping that city directories could help nail down a more precise date for the arrival of the Carey LAMBERTSON family to Elwood.  The Elwood Public Library had a city directory for the year 1907, but no Lambertson entries.  The earliest city directory I was able to find that lists Carey LAMBERTSON was the 1916 R.L. Polk & Co. city directory, living at 1906 North F Street in Elwood.

1906 North F Street in 2010

Through readings of the city directories of Elwood, I was able to track Carey LAMBERTSON living in this house on North F Street up until his death in 1918.  The library had the 1916 directory, which listed the family living there.  In addition, I was able to locate newspaper articles stating this was the family residence.

After Carey's death, his grandson, Clemon Beals LAMBERTSON somehow came to posses the home on F Street.  I need to research deed records and mortgage records in Madison County, Indiana to find out all of the details.  City directories for 1924, 1925, and 1929 list Clemon and his family living at 1906 North F Street.  His daughter, my grandmother Bonnie, told my mother about growing up at the F Street house.  The house was right behind the city pool where she learned to be a lifeguard.  Clemon and family were living in the residence at the time of the 1930 census.  City directories for Elwood in 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1938 show Clemon and family at the residence.

Sometime between 1938 and 1940, the family moved to Greentown, Howard County, Indiana.  During this time, Clemon was still listed in the city directory of Elwood as being employed by the Sellers cabinet company, but residing in Greentown. Clemon's parents, Charles and Pearl (BEALS) LAMBERTSON, were living in the Greentown area at that time as well.  It is assumed that the house on F street was sold out of the family during this time.

Clemon and family came back into Elwood at the close of the war, and the 1945 Elwood city directory lists them at 221 North 12th Street.

 221 North 12th Street in 2010

Clemon and family only stayed at this home for a year or so, for by the 1947/48 city directory, the family was living at 717 South A Street.  The family appears at 717 South A Street in 1949 and 1952, the last year Clemon was recorded in Elwood.  My great-grandmother June had died in 1951, and by 1952 he was remarried to Helen (DUNCAN) FISHER.  After that he lived in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.

717 South A Street in 2010

Clemon's son, Harold LAMBERTSON begins to show up in the city directories in 1941, where he was living at 1303 South D Street.  In the 1945 directory, he is shown living at 902 1/2 South Anderson Street, but is listed as being away in the Army (actually, he was in the Navy).  Harold is back at 1303 South D Street in the 1947/48, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1972 directories for Elwood.  I hadn't continued into searching the phone directories, but I know he lived there for many more years.

 1303 South D Street in 2010

There was a previous house that stood in front of where the house in this photograph stands.  I remember helping haul away some of the bricks from the old house that once stood there.  

Clemon's other son, Floyd LAMBERTSON, shows up in the Elwood city directory in 1947/48 and 1949 at 902 South B Street.  From 1950 on, he was listed living in nearby Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana at 618 West Adams.

I have since visited the Elwood library many times over the past few weeks, trying to track the members of my LAMBERTSON family down and watching with interest as they change jobs and residences through the years.  Ancestry.com also has recently placed many U.S. directories online which can help fill in the gap between the census years.

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Sentimental Sunday: More Easter Memories

Last week, I posted about my mother's recollections of Easter.  This week, I had the opportunity to ask my dad to share some of his memories.

How did your family celebrate Easter?

I remember having Easter egg hunts around the house.  The eggs had candy in them.

We would have Easter dinner out at Vera's house. [Clarence & Vera (Haley) Stuber]

Usually we got new clothes for Sunday School.

Where did you go to church?

I remember going to church at Collett, and then later at the People's Mission in Portland on Main Street.

Easter was the time of year to get new shoes, etc. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 11th

My paternal 5th-great grandaunt, Catherine SHIRK, was married on this date in 1779 to Joseph BAER.  Catherine was the daughter of Ulrich and Anna (SWARR) SCHERCH, and the older sister of my David SHIRK.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Catherine. I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for Joseph.  Nothing further known at this time.

My maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Joseph W. WRIGHT, married on this date in 1891 in Madison County, Indiana to Dorothy PALMER.  Joseph's first wife, Rebecca HEATON, had died in 1890.  Dorothy was born June 1837 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of George and Mary (________) PALMER.  Joseph was born April 1838 in Brown County, Ohio, the son of John and Anna (WARDLOW) WRIGHT.  They lived in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Joseph died September 16, 1919 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Dorothy died March 4, 1926 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 6th-great grandaunt, Abigail OSBORNE, married on this date in 1776 in Guilford County, North Carolina to William WAY.  Abigail was the daughter of Matthew and Mary (REYNOLDS) OSBORNE, and the older sister of my Lydia OSBORNE.  Abigail's birth was recorded in 1756, 9th month, 26th day at New Garden Monthly Meeting, Guilford County, North Carolina.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage for William.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Caroline Bishop CHEW, was born on this date in 1854 in Delisle, Ohio.  Caroline was the daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW, and the younger sister of my Mary Keziah CHEW.  Caroline married Frederic E. WHITACRE.  Fred was born circa 1850 in Ohio.  They had 5 children and lived in Darke County, Ohio.  Caroline died October 1, 1920.

My paternal 6th-great grandfather, Jacob ERB, was born on this date in 1724 in Surrey Canton, Bern, Switzerland.  Jacob was the son of Nicholas and Catherine (________) ERB.  Jacob married Magdalene SCHRANTZ.  Magdalene was born in 1731. I do not have her parentage.  They had 7 children and lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Magdalene died in 1809.  Jacob died December 20, 1810 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Both are buried in the Erb Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

My New Avatar

I had no idea that my new avatar would garner such a positive response.  I was getting tired of the same old photograph on my blog, my Facebook and Twitter pages, and decided to do something different. . On Twitter, @maineroots and @A_CAIN were quick to comment on my new avatar, including the nice mutton chops!

The photograph is of my paternal 3rd-great grandfather, Dr. Ezekiel Cooper CHEW (1822-1888), one of my more intriguing ancestors.  A medical doctor, he also practiced law and lived in Darke County, Ohio and Jay and St. Joseph County, Indiana.  He managed to have three wives and 16 children, which I'm still working on tracking down. I like this photograph because he looks a bit like my dad.


The avatar was taken from a photograph that currently hangs at the Marshall County Historical Society Museum in Plymouth, Indiana.  A fellow researcher was nice enough to snap a picture for me several years ago.  One of my goals is to make a trip there to see what other CHEW family information they might have.

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Surname Saturday: Roof

The ROOF surname is in Eileen's maternal line. The origins of the surname are not yet known.

Stories and history:

Ahnentafel # 49: Frances ROOF (unk-1840). Frances is believed to have been born in Botetourt County, Virginia.  She married before 1823 in Botetourt County, Virginia to Solomon PEFLEY (1798-1879).  Solomon was born January 10, 1798 in Botetourt County, Virginia, the son of Henry and Susan (BORNDRAGAR) PEFLEY. They had 7 children together.  Frances died 1840 in Preble County, Ohio.  Solomon remarried to Hannah HOOVER and moved to Wabash County, Indiana, where he died June 9, 1879.

The information on Frances comes from  "The Peffley, Peffly, Pefley Families in America, A historical and genealogical record of the Peffley, Peffly and Pefley families from 1729-1938", published in 1938, By May Miller Frost and Clarence Earl Frost.

This is another line that has much to be researched and discovered.

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 10th

My maternal 6th-great grandaunt, Frances HAINES, married on this date in 1776 in Burlington County, New Jersey to John HILLIER.  Frances was the daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (BONNELL) HAINES, and the younger sister of my Robert HAINES.  Frances was born October 10, 1746 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  John was born April 19, 1744, the son of Edward and Sarah (HAINES) HILLIER. They had 6 children.  John died November 11, 1790.  Frances died August 22, 1822 in Burlington County, New Jersey. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 9th

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, William OSBORNE, was married on this date in 1788 in Guilford County, North Carolina to Anna MACY.  William was the son of Matthew and Mary (REYNOLDS) OSBORNE, and the older brother of my Lydia OSBORNE.  William's birth was recorded in 1764, 11th month, 27th day at New Garden Monthly Meeting, Guilford County, North Carolina.  I do not have dates of birth or death, nor parentage of Anna.  They had 11 children.  William died February 23, 1850 in Guilford County, North Carolina.  

My paternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Catherine PETRY, was born on this date in 1790 in York York County, Pennsylvania.  Catherine was the daughter of George and Maria Catharina (KALTREIDER) PETRY, and the older sister of my Barbara PETRY.  Catherine married March 27, 1810 to George MILLER.  George was born March 30, 1786 in Mannheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania.  They had 7 children.  George died August 29, 1825 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Catherine died August 9, 1881 in Preble County, Ohio. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 8th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Sarah JACOBS, married on this date in 1830 in Brown County, Ohio to James JOHNSTON.  Sarah was the daughter of James Thomas and Isabella (FEILY) JACOBS, and the older sister of my Elizabeth JACOBS.  Sarah was born April 2, 1810 in Adams County, Ohio.  I do not have dates of birth or death for James, nor his parentage.  Sarah died July 30, 1870 in Brown County, Ohio.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Abraham GROENENDYKE, was born on this date in 1785 in Kingston, Middlesex County, New Jersey.  Abraham was the son of Johannes and Sarah Ann (LAKE) GROENENDYKE, and the younger brother of my Nicholas GROENENDYKE.  Abraham married Hannah COLEMAN.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Hannah, nor her parentage.  They had at least 1 son.  Abraham died after 1785.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 6th-great grandmother, Bethiah FIELD, was born on this date in Stafford, Windham County, Connecticut.  Bethiah was the daughter of Bennett and Elizabeth (SPOFFORD) FIELD.  Bethiah married April 17, 1767 to Seth PIERCE.  Seth was the son of Seth and Elizabeth (NYE) PIERCE.  Seth was born September 12, 1744 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  They raised a family of 12 children.  Seth died in 1835 in Homer, Cortland County, New York.  Bethiah died September 18, 1807.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Vincentius ANTONIDES, was born on this date in 1722.  Vincentius was the son of Johannis and Johanna (KOUWENHOVEN) ANTONIDES, and the older brother of my Pieter ANTONIDES.  Vincentius married October 25, 1745 to Antje BENNUM.  I do not have a birth date for Antje, nor her parentage.  They had 6 children.  Antje died October 1, 1783.  Vincentius died in 1802.  Nothing further is known at this time.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Location Errors

 I'm always grateful when someone sees my database and contacts me, even if it is to make a correction.  Jack Howell contacted me about the death location I had at Rootsweb for David McPheeters, which I had placed as 1784 in Botetourt County, Kentucky.


Obviously, there is no such place as Botetourt County, Kentucky.  If he died in Botetourt County, then it had to be in Virginia.  If he really died in Kentucky in 1784, the death must have taken place in one of the 3 counties formed in 1780 out of Kentucky County, Virginia : Fayette, Jefferson, or Lincoln.


My source for his death date was a genealogy compiled by Helen Rice McPheeters.  Unfortunately, I don't have access right now to this book to look and see where the error lies.Either I wrote the information down incorrectly from the book, or it is cited incorrectly in the book.  Right now I'm leaning towards my error!


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Ancestor Approved

I'm honored to have been awarded the 'Ancestor Approved' award by Theresa at Tangled Trees and Julie at GenBlog. Now I have to pass it on to others in the geneablogger community, as well as list 10 things that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me through my genealogical research.

Surprised:

1. By how much there still is to learn about my family, even after all these years of working on my genealogy.


2. To find out that I'm my own cousin several times over - I'm a victim of pedigree collapse.


3.  That so many 'skeletons' aren't so bad when seen in the light of today.  People are people, the really interesting ones make the newspapers!

Humbled:

4. By the courage of my ancestors who made the decision to journey to a new world - whether to escape persecution, seek fortune or simply start anew.


5. To find that so many others are willing to help share their research expertise and go the 'extra mile' to help out a fellow genealogist.


6. The sacrifices made by those who served in times of war to protect our freedoms or to ensure that others had the same chances.

Enlightened: 

7. To find out that I had a Mayflower ancestor - Stephen Hopkins (still need to 'prove' it)


8. With a desire to gain knowledge of the history of the times my ancestors lived, whether it be colonial days or Civil War

9. To find that I'm not the only one out there - there is a great community of geneabloggers on the Internet, each with their own story to tell.


10. By the fact that no piece of evidence should be overlooked, and that the case is never closed on a genealogical conclusion!

10 Geneablogs Who Do Their Ancestors Proud:

Before My Time

Life From The Roots

Hearts And Bones 

Debby's Indiana Genealogy

Betty's Boneyard Genealogy Blog

Granite In My Blood

John Brown Kin

Relative Musings

The Roots of it All

Adventures in the Family Tree

   

There are so many good geneablogs out there, with new ones added all the time.  Check out Geneabloggers for a complete list.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com