Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. - said by the King to the White Rabbit, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
I've been tempted with my new birthday present - a subscription to Ancestry.com - to do the "shotgun" approach to my genealogy, grabbing something here, something there, until I lose myself in the euphoria of discovery. So far, just within the first 24 hours, I've been plugging in the names of my brickwalls and finding bits and pieces for further research.
I need to refocus not only my research but this blog as well. Who is my audience? Hopefully, other researchers who share my surnames. Maybe someday my kids will be interested and these postings will get them started. Perhaps some far-flung cousin will stumble across these pages and find a new connection.
My new resolution - it's never too early or late to start one - is to stay more focused on my research by beginning with what I know and working backwards on just a few lines at a time. I intend to participate more in the daily blogging memes and blog carnivals. Already I've created some future posts for Surname Saturday and Tombstone Tuesday in order to get me going. I need to stay focused and try to write a bit every day on this blog.
The continued success of my research will depend on my ability to stay focused and organized. I have a great software program, Rootsmagic, that offers me the ability to make 'to do' lists. I have not used those to the fullest, and have spent too much time re-discovering information that I already have! I have a research trip planned in a couple of weeks that I need to prepare for as well.
I say all of this with great intentions....only time will tell how well I do. Stay tuned.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Chews of Ohio and Indiana
Andrew CHEW was my maternal 6th great grandfather. I have him born circa 1770 in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, the son of Major James and Mary (CALDWELL) CHEW. My database has his death in 1827 in Highland County, Ohio, but does not have a source.
I have nothing on his wife, Anna, and find that this post gives an interesting clue - stating that she was living with a sister-in-law in Hamilton County, Indiana at age 83. Hamilton County, Indiana is where some of Andrew's children ended up settling.
Found her in the 1860 census of Hamilton County, Indiana, aged 83 on Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com/image/
Marriage: Lawrence Spence to Jessie Pennisten
From my research at the Madison County, Indiana clerk's office, I was able to obtain a copy of the marriage license application for my maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Jessie PENNISTEN and her husband, Lawrence SPENCE. Both were spinsters - he was 55 and she was 50 when they were married - first marriages for both. Lawrence had been a career military man.
APPLICATION IS HEREBY MADE FOR A LICENSE FOR THE MARRIAGE OF Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston upon the following statement of facts relative to said parties:
MALE
1. The full christian and surname of the man is Lawrence Spence
2. Color White
3. Where born Monroe Twp., Mad. Co.
4. When born Jan 18 - 65
5. Present residence Anderson, Ind.
6. Present occupation Retired soldier
8. Is the male contracting party of nearer blood kin to the female contracting party than second cousin? No
9. Full christian and surname of father Thomas Spence
10. His color White
11. His birthplace Deleware [sic]
12. His occupation Deceased
13. His residence Deceased
14. Full christian and surname of mother Susan Berry
15. Her color White
16. Her occupation Deceased
17. Her birthplace Don't know
18. Her residence Deceased
19. Has the male contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
21. Is this his first marriage? Yes
26. Is the male contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious and transmissible disease? No
27. Is he an imbecile, feeble minded, idiotic or insane, or is he under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of application Lawrence Spence
State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Lawrence Spence deposes and says that he has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that they and each of them are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept. 1920.
Geo. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court
FEMALE
1. The full christian and surname of the woman is Jessie Penniston
2. Color White
3. Where born Anderson, Mad. Co.
4. When born Sep. 9 - 70.
5. Present residence Alexandria Ind.
6. Present occupation House Keeper
7. Full christian and surname of father John Penniston
8. His color White
9. His birthplace Indiana
10. His occupation Deceased
11. His residence Deceased
12. Full christian and maiden name of mother Jane Ann Alderman
13. Her color White
14. Her occupation Deceased
15. Her birthplace Mad. Co.
16. Her residence Deceased
17. Has the female contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
18. Is this her first marriage? Yes
22. Is the female contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious or transmissible disease? No
23. Is she an imbecile, feeble-minded, idiotic or insane, or is she under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of applicant Jesie Pennisten
State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Jessie Penniston depose and says that she has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that each of them are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept 1920
Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court
Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston;
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, the following Marriage License was issued, to wit:
INDIANA, TO WIT: MADISON COUNTY, SS:
To Any Person Empowered By Law To Solemnize Marriages In The County Of Madison, Greeting:
You are hereby authorized to join together as HUSBAND AND WIFE, Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston and of your Certificate of Marriage make the return withing three months, according to the laws of the State of Indiana.
Witness, Geo. W. Winfrey Clerk of our Madison Circuit Court, and the seal thereof, affixed at the Clerk's office in Anderson, this 24 day of Sept 1920.
Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk of Madison Circuit Court
And afterwards, to wit: On the 24 day of Sept 1920, the following Certificate of Marriage was returned to the Clerk's office, to wit:
Geo W. Winfrey, hereby certify that on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, duly joined in marriage Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston by authority of law and of license from the Clerk of Madison Circuit Court.
Given under my hand, this 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920.
Geo. W. Winfrey.
APPLICATION IS HEREBY MADE FOR A LICENSE FOR THE MARRIAGE OF Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston upon the following statement of facts relative to said parties:
MALE
1. The full christian and surname of the man is Lawrence Spence
2. Color White
3. Where born Monroe Twp., Mad. Co.
4. When born Jan 18 - 65
5. Present residence Anderson, Ind.
6. Present occupation Retired soldier
8. Is the male contracting party of nearer blood kin to the female contracting party than second cousin? No
9. Full christian and surname of father Thomas Spence
10. His color White
11. His birthplace Deleware [sic]
12. His occupation Deceased
13. His residence Deceased
14. Full christian and surname of mother Susan Berry
15. Her color White
16. Her occupation Deceased
17. Her birthplace Don't know
18. Her residence Deceased
19. Has the male contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
21. Is this his first marriage? Yes
26. Is the male contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious and transmissible disease? No
27. Is he an imbecile, feeble minded, idiotic or insane, or is he under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of application Lawrence Spence
State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Lawrence Spence deposes and says that he has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that they and each of them are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept. 1920.
Geo. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court
FEMALE
1. The full christian and surname of the woman is Jessie Penniston
2. Color White
3. Where born Anderson, Mad. Co.
4. When born Sep. 9 - 70.
5. Present residence Alexandria Ind.
6. Present occupation House Keeper
7. Full christian and surname of father John Penniston
8. His color White
9. His birthplace Indiana
10. His occupation Deceased
11. His residence Deceased
12. Full christian and maiden name of mother Jane Ann Alderman
13. Her color White
14. Her occupation Deceased
15. Her birthplace Mad. Co.
16. Her residence Deceased
17. Has the female contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
18. Is this her first marriage? Yes
22. Is the female contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious or transmissible disease? No
23. Is she an imbecile, feeble-minded, idiotic or insane, or is she under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of applicant Jesie Pennisten
State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Jessie Penniston depose and says that she has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that each of them are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept 1920
Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court
Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston;
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, the following Marriage License was issued, to wit:
INDIANA, TO WIT: MADISON COUNTY, SS:
To Any Person Empowered By Law To Solemnize Marriages In The County Of Madison, Greeting:
You are hereby authorized to join together as HUSBAND AND WIFE, Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston and of your Certificate of Marriage make the return withing three months, according to the laws of the State of Indiana.
Witness, Geo. W. Winfrey Clerk of our Madison Circuit Court, and the seal thereof, affixed at the Clerk's office in Anderson, this 24 day of Sept 1920.
Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk of Madison Circuit Court
And afterwards, to wit: On the 24 day of Sept 1920, the following Certificate of Marriage was returned to the Clerk's office, to wit:
Geo W. Winfrey, hereby certify that on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, duly joined in marriage Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston by authority of law and of license from the Clerk of Madison Circuit Court.
Given under my hand, this 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920.
Geo. W. Winfrey.
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