Ancestors Live Here

Wordless Wednesday - Grandma Hazel and Grandpa Bill

2012-01-25T15:12:00.001-05:00

Unknown couple, Hazel & Bill Piggott

Treasure Chest Thursday - A Bowl of Nuts

2012-01-19T16:33:00.001-05:00

You may remember (or not) that I was able to escape for a week to visit the family in Idaho last November (still paying for it).

I rummaged through all of my stuff that still sits in mom's basement and fit what I could in my suitcases. I took pictures of everything else. Well not everything, just the sentimental stuff.

This nut bowl belonged to grandma Smedley. It's one of the things I was able to fit in my suitcase. Of course I had to bring it back, being so close to Christmas and everything. It used to sit on grandma's card table at Christmas time. The same card table that I used to sit at and copy pages of family group sheets by hand. With an ink pen. Did I mention by hand?

I think I remember grandpa sitting in his recliner with this bowl full of nuts on his lap just a cracking and eating. Oh but, these nuts are ~~fresh~~ only two months old.

Dad used to sit in his recliner and crack nuts too. We didn't have a fancy nut bowl though. I do now. Nut anybody?

Wordless Wednesday - Buck Family Boarding House

2012-01-18T17:41:00.000-05:00

Buck Family Boarding House in Arnold.

Wordless Wednesday - Jim Buck

2012-01-11T09:03:00.002-05:00

Elijah "Jim" Buck, my great granduncle

Wordless Wednesday - Ida Buck Smedley

2012-01-04T17:21:00.000-05:00

Ida Buck Smedley
A new found Buck cousin sent me this photo. Thanks cuz!

Blog Caroling 2011

2011-12-14T09:29:00.001-05:00

Yeah! I'm ready to go blog caroling with you fm! Got my slipper socks, sweats and coffee. I'm out of eggnog.

I've never sang this song while caroling, but when ever I hear it on the radio it makes me feel giddy and I can't help but sing along.... I only like hippopotamusses!

So I challenge you to release your inner child and sing along!

Iwant a hippopotamus for Christmas
Onlya hippopotamus will do
Don'twant a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
Iwant a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

Iwant a hippopotamus for Christmas
Idon't think SantaClaus willmind, do you?
Hewon't have to use our dirty chimney flue
Justbring him through the front door, that's the easy thing to do

Ican see me now on Christmas morning, creeping down the stairs
Ohwhat joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes
Tosee a hippo hero standing there

Iwant a hippopotamus for Christmas
Onlya hippopotamus will do
Nocrocodiles, no rhinoceroses
Ionly like hippopotamuses
Andhippopotamuses like me too

Momsays the hippo would eat me up, but then
Teachersays a hippo is a vegeterian

There'slots of room for him in our two-car garage
I'dfeed him there and wash him there and give him his massage
Ican see me now on Christmas morning, creeping down the stairs
Ohwhat joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes
Tosee a hippo hero standing there

Iwant a hippopotamus for Christmas
Onlya hippopotamus will do
Nocrocodiles or rhinoceroseses
Ionly like hippopotamuseses
Andhippopotamuses like me too!

Scrappin' Family Calendars

2011-12-13T17:36:00.003-05:00

Every year I make a family calendar for Christmas. It's something my family looks forward to. For the last couple of years, that's all they get for Christmas from me cause I is po!

For the calendar days I use Hallmark Card Studio. Unfortunately I am still using the 2007 version, but it's still the best calendar making software I have found. One of these days I will update it.

For the photo pages I have been using an old photo editing software. I'm talkin' old, like 1999! One of these days I will update that too.

This is the first year I am using brand new software, and scrapbook software at that! And it's all thanks to Caroline at Family Stories! The My Memories Suite scrapbook software is awesome!

I try to sneak a little family history in with the calendars. This is what I did this year using, of course, Mymemories:

So thank you C for making my calendar making easier and funner! And, thanks for getting me hooked on scrapping ;-)

Not So Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T13:52:00.001-05:00

This little cutie is my grandfather.

I so love it when distant cousins contact me after finding my blog! The precious photo above is my grandfather, Calvin Buck Smedley. I estimate it was taken around 1888/1889.

I thought I would never see this photo again! I remember seeing this photo in my grandma's photo album and for some reason I thought I had a copy, but I did not. I am so thankful to my new found BUCK cousin for sending me this photo.

If any other BUCK researchers are out there, please contact me. We are looking for some BUCK family history.

Wordless Wednesday - Uncle Rodney

2011-11-30T14:14:00.001-05:00

Rodney Barker Piggott

Funeral Card Friday - Charles Piggott

2011-11-25T16:51:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday - Great Grandma and Grandpa Barker

2011-11-23T09:01:00.001-05:00

Esther Eleanor Henderson & John Thompson Barker, jr

Wordless Wednesday - Great Grandma Barker

2011-11-16T08:51:00.001-05:00

Cousin Drena and Esther Eleanor Henderson Barker

My Trip To Idaho

2011-11-15T12:36:00.001-05:00

Took this picture of a plane identical to the one I was
sitting on that took me to Pocatello.

Last September hubby gave me a plane ticket for my birthday to go visit my family in Idaho. I left Nov 5, and came back last Saturday.

Like most trips it wasn't long enough (I could have handled 2 more days away from hubby; maybe). And like some trips there were bad moments as well as good.

My last day there I woke up with some cursed bug that kept me in the bathroom most of the day! My sister drives up from Las Vegas to see me and all I can do is be a miserable good for nothing! So I didn't make it to the cemetery like I wanted to.

Two days after I got home I received a text from sister...and I quote...."You suck!! Now I'm sick w/stomach flu!" Found out that I got it from my daughter. So we shared laughter, hugs, memories, and yuckiness.

Got to see all the grandkids but one. Is there a group for grandparents who are kept out of their grandchildren's lives? I need to find one.

While I was there I went through boxes of photos, newspaper clippings and other ephemera. I also scavenged around in mom's cedar chest as well as mine (I sure wish I could get that down here). I even found a box of letters that dad wrote to mom while he was in college. Who knew that he was once one of those smart ~~ass~~ alec partying college kids?

Of course I had my magic wand with me. I scanned over 100 images so I should have some good posting material. I talked ma into letting me bring the photos home though so I could scan directly to the computer. I promised I would send them back. I also ran around the house taking photos of all the family treasures. Unfortunately the only scenery picture I got was the snow in ma's backyard.

And....it looks like I missed my 2nd blogoversary. Oh well.

Wordless Wednesday - All Sauced Up

2011-11-02T14:10:00.000-04:00

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Wordless Wednesday - Autumn in Bear Lake

2011-10-26T16:35:00.000-04:00

St. Charles Canyon, St. Charles, Idaho

Amanuensis Monday - 1908 Postcard

2011-10-24T18:27:00.001-04:00

This postcard comes from grandma Hazel's box of goodies and was written to my great-great grandma & grandpa Piggott from their daughter Alice. She was my great-grandaunt.

Unfortunately I can't read the postal stamp, but the card must have been written and sent some time around Nov 1908, since their 39th anniversary was Dec 1, 1908.

It's addressed to Mr. and Mrs. W H Piggott, Bloomington, Idaho.

Dear Father & Mother,
Hearty congratulations
on the anaversary of
your 39th wedding
day. May you both
see many more &
happy ones. Hope you
are both feeling better.
Love to all Lovingly Alice

There is a little something more written up above over the green postcard print. This is my attempt to decipher it:

20 below
zero this
a.m.
now the
___ is
frozen?

Let me know if you can make it out.

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch

Sunday's Obituary - Augusta Piggott

2011-10-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

The New York Times, Aug 8, 1864, page 5

PIGGOTT-- On Saturday evening, Aug 6, AUGUSTA PIGGOTT.The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend her funeral, from the Meeting-House, Milton, Ulster County, N. Y., on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 10 o'clock A. M.

Augusta Piggott was my 3rd great-grandaunt. She never married.

Wordless Wednesday - Love Is.....

2011-10-19T09:05:00.002-04:00

Some of my artwork from the seventies

Reminiscing - Before Twitter

2011-10-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

Before there was ICQ, AIM, chatrooms, Facebook and even Twitter, there was the cb radio.

Do you ever reminisce about your childhood when you're just sitting there with your cup of coffee? Or maybe a song on the radio reminds you of something from your past. Then there are those pleasant aromas that take you back somewhere else. Or maybe you're just feeling gushy and delve into your memories. That's all me. You're probably wondering what all this has to do with cb radios. Well, I'll tell you.

I've decided to start a series called Reminiscing. Sort of installments of my personal history or my memoirs for the descendants. So when ever I am in a reminiscing mood, you will hear about it. Guess what I was reminiscing about?

I found this blog post "Does Twitter Remind You of Anything" that compares Twitter to the cb. You should check it out.

My handle was Street Singer. I met my first serious boyfriend on the cb in 1978. His handle was Caveman. "Breaker,breaker. Caveman, are you by (the radio)?" He drove a mustang. It was sweet!

Me and my best friend Jeep Freak used to spend hours in our parents vehicles talking on the cb when they would let us. And then I was caught talking on Rob & Karen's cb when I was babysitting for them. They were out with my mom and dad. Let's just say that didn't go to well.

So I have this list of all the people I used to talk with on the cb. I knew most of their real names. There were nine that I didn't know. And yes they were all boys. Except for the first 3. Those were girlfriends.

Jeep Freak
Little Shake
Barracuda
Dream Weaver
Hot Wheeler
Sky One
Destroyer
Gypsy Blue
Eagle Freedom
Egg Head
Big Biker
Beretta
Cat Fish
Doobie Brother
Critter
Gambler
Alley Oop
Tyhee Fats
Chatter Bug
Ram Rod
Quiz Master
Boy Wonder
Paper Boy
Pole Bender
Cave Man
Mercedes

What was your cb handle?

This is Street Singer KNZ22, singing off. We gone.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Teachers

2011-10-13T17:47:00.000-04:00

I had a few favorite teachers from my school days. Not because they inspired me or anything. I hated school! They were my favorite because they were cool, fun, or didn't put me to sleep. My favorite subject was choir and lunch time. I loved school lunches especially on Friday. Pizza and peanut butter squares - yum!

My first grade teacher in 1968 was Mrs. Sakalaris at Jefferson elementary. She wore one of those Beehive hairdos. At the end of each school day she would sit at the piano and play, what I call "The Goodbye Song". The whole class would sing along.... "Goodbye school, goodbye teacher, goodbye desk, (etc..), it's time to say goodbye!" It was fun. We loved it.

My second grade teacher was Mrs. Jones. I remember a day in her class around Thanksgiving time. She wrote the first sentence of a Thanksgiving story on the board and we were to write the rest of the story in our notebooks. I got an outstanding grade on mine. I will never forget when I showed it to dad. He never believed that I wrote it! I was proud of that story and daddy never believed that I wrote it on my own. Broke my heart.

I think Mrs. Wise was my most favorite teacher of all. She was my 3rd grade teacher. One day for show and tell I took my glass collection. Little pieces of glass. Brown ones, blue ones, green ones and any other color I could find. I used to wash them in the sink. For some reason mom and dad didn't like the idea of me playing with glass (really?) so they made me get rid of it. I was mad. The very next day I went to school Mrs. Wise gave me some sandpaper for my collection so I could smooth them out. I thought that was the coolest thing! Then I felt really sad cause she had gone to that trouble for me and mom and dad made me throw them all away!

Mrs. Stephenson was my 4th grade teacher. She reminded me of my grandma. I loved story time when she read Charlotte's Webb to us.

Once I got into junior high and high school I didn't have favorite teachers. But, there were teachers that I didn't like. I take that back. I did have one favorite teacher in high school. Mr. Denkers was my choir teacher. He was just a fun guy.

Well, then there was Mr. Bucholtz. He was my government teacher when I was a senior. Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to get him the first semester. I had to settle for the girl's basketball coach. I kid you not, I fell asleep in his class every day. He was a jock. Need I say more?

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

Wordless Wednesday - I love Fall!

2011-10-12T11:55:00.000-04:00

St. Charles Canyon, St. Charles, Idaho

Wedding Wednesday - Smedley Marriage Certificate

2011-10-05T17:11:00.000-04:00

Grace Ellen Poulsen & Calvin Buck Smedley

This is a copy of the marriage certificate for my paternal grandparents. Grandma sent it to me years ago when I was still a teenager (wouldn't want to do that again). She was always good at sending me stuff like this and I didn't even have to ask.
She even made sure that all three of us kids had a Book of Remembrance and it was full of Smedley and Poulsen related pedigree sheets and family histories.

This photo was taken at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1970. I will let you guess which one is me.

Friday is 91st anniversary of their wedding.

This newspaper article about their 60th wedding anniversary has been sitting in my Book of Remembrance for years. Unfortunately I don't remember how I came to have it. Did I cut it out? Did grandma send it to me, or did mom cut it out? Did it come from the Idaho State Journal? Or maybe the Paris Post?

If I have learned nothing else since my beginning years of genealogy and family history research, I have learned to NOTE WHERE THE THING CAME FROM!

Below is the napkin that I brought home from the 60th anniversary party.

Forty-five years to go for me and hubby!

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Thomas Teddeman

2011-10-03T14:13:00.000-04:00

Yea! I was able to find a brother for 8 great-grandpa Tiddeman! It was by sheer luck. I searched the National Archives UK for Tiddeman, Teddeman, etc., and found a will for Thomas Teddeman, Mariner of Dover, Kent dated 1675. I felt pretty sure he would be related somehow, but I had no idea that this Thomas was my 8th great-granduncle!

What's really sweet is that he named grandpa Edmond as his Executor. He must have died young with no issue because he mentioned no children or wife, and left everything to his nieces and nephews.

IThomas Teddeman of Dover inthe county of Kent, Mariner being sicke and weake of Body but of soundand perfect memory (Praised be God therefore I Do make andordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme following(that is to say) First I doe will and bequeath unto my sisterKatherine and her heires forever my messuage with the Garden and appurtenntsthere unto belonging scituate and being in the parish of St. James theAppostle in Dover afore said And the summe of ffifty pounds oflawfull money of England to be paid by my Executor Alsoe I doe willand give to John Taylor my said sisters sonne the summe of ffiftypounds of lawfull money of England to be paid att his age of Twentyone yeares and proffitt thereof to be paid in the meanetime to hismother Towards his maintenance and Education Alsoe I doe will andgive to Mary my said sisters daughter the summe of Tenn pounds oflike English money to be paid att her age of Twenty one yeares and Idoe appoint my Executor to put out the same And the use and proffittthereof to be paid in the meane time to her mother towards hermaintenance and Education And if either of my said sisters childrenshall dye before the age of Twenty one yeares the survivor of them tohave the portion afore men-tionedof him or her soe dying Item I doe will and bequeath unto Mary Katherineand Alice Teddeman daughters of my loving Brother Edmond Teddemanthe sume of Sixtie pounds a peice of lawfull money of England Tobe paid by my Executor Alsoe I doe will and give unto my said BrotherEdmond Teddeman and his heirs forever All my Lands andTenements att ffolkestone and Whitfeild in the said County And alltheRest and residue of my personall Estate he paying my debts legacies andffunerall Expences And of this my last will and Testament I doehereby make and ordaine my said brother Edmond Teddeman my Full andsole Executor Revoaking every former will by me in my life made Inwitnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this Thirtiethday of August Anno Dom' 1675. The mark of Tho Teddeman /Signedsealed and Published in the presence of Alyce Stratfold WilliStratfold /

Source: Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers: The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, England. Catalogue reference PROB 11/348.

Well worth the £3.50!

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Funeral Card Friday - Calvin Buck Smedley

2011-09-30T18:09:00.002-04:00

After grandpa's funeral, grandma sent me this card.

Dear Leslie and Glen
Want to thank you for comeing down the beautiful flowers and all. Most of all for your love and being here.
I miss Grandpa terrible, but know he is at peace and rest now and I am so thankful I had him home and took care of him the past year & half. Also I never had to put him in the rest home.
Hope all is well with you and you will get down again,
Let me know
All my love to you all Grandma

Wordless Wednesday - Maren Kerstin Arff

2011-09-28T18:01:00.003-04:00

Tackling the Tiddemans

2011-09-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

While I am waiting for the documents I ordered from the UK I have become fixated on eight great-grandpa Captain Edmond Tiddeman. I eat, drink, and sleep Tiddeman. Literally. The other night I was dreaming about all the different ways I have seen this name spelled: Tideman, Tiddeman,
Tiddiman, Tidyman, Tidman, Titman, Tediman,
Teddiman, Teddeman, Tyddiman, Tyddeyman, Tyddeman, Tidyman . I'm sure I forgot a few. All these different spellings flashed around in my dream and I was awakened by hubby asking, "Did you take care of all those ghosts?" So apparantly while I was seeing Tiddeman I was talking about ghosts! I think grandpa Tiddeman is haunting me!

Edmond Tiddeman was a mariner and a Quaker. He is listed as a sufferer in "A Collection of Sufferings of the People Called Quakers", by Joseph Besse. It took a lot of googling, but I finally found this book online and if you have Quakers, it is well worth a look. The following excerpt comes from page 462 of Vol I:

On the 4th of the Monthcalled March 1683, at Horslydown, theFriends, being kept out of their Meeting-house, were assembledafter their usual Manner in the Street, when the Constables came andtook away William Shewin, Anthony Tomkins, Joseph Wase,Edmund Tiddeman, Richard Post, Thomas Lurting, Joseph Rawbone, JohnBridges, John Holliday, George Bradford, Edmund Curle, and PercivalParsons, whom they carried before William Spiers, aJustice at the Bridge-house, who committed them allto the Counter in Tooly-street asRioters.

I believe the Counter he was held it was Borough Compter. I don't know how long he was held there, but he was released before April 3rd of 1683 because that's when he is found in the New Jersey Colonial Documents:

1683 April 4. Do. William WELCH of London, merchant, to Edmond TIDEMAN of Redrith, Co. of Surrey, mariner, for 1-12 of a share of the Province, to contain at least 1,600 acres.*

Thomas Teddeman by Peter Lely, 1666,
part of the Flagmen of Lowestoft series

Edmond is said to be from a distinguished Navy family and ship owners from Dover which makes me almost certain that he is related to Rear Admiral Thomas Teddeman. I just need to figure out how.

Thomas knew William Penn before he turned Quaker and Edmond traveled with him in 1672 on a religious visit through Kent.

I was able to get Captain Edmond's will, but it still leaves me with questions.

Google led me to this family tree on Rootsweb that says Edmond's parents are Thomas Tiddeman and Katherine Woodgreene, but she has no sources. I sent her an email and am awaiting a reply.

Luckily I was able to find and purchase the will for Edmund Woodgreene, a possible grandfather for the Captain, from National Archives UK (I should take stock in their company), but I would still like to find some baptism records or something.

Now it's the weekend so I am taking a Tiddeman break!

* NEW JERSEY COLONIAL RECORDS, West Jersey Records: Part 4 - Volume 21 Calendar of Records 1664-1703

Wordless Wednesday - Appalachain Trail

2011-09-21T16:52:00.000-04:00

Vacation 2011

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Edmond Tiddeman, Mariner

2011-09-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

IEdmondTiddeman ofthe parish of St. Mary Magdalen Bermondsey in the County of Surrey,Mariner being of sound and disposing mind and memory doe make andordaine this my last will and testament in manner following. ImprimisI will that my body be decently buried at the discretion of myExecutors hereafter named And as touching that worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless and I give Bequeath and dispose ofthe same as followethThatis to say I will that all my debts legacies and funerall chargeand the probate of this my Will be truely paid and performedItem I doe hereby give devise and bequeath untomySister KatherineMearlear(?)the summe of ten pounds. ItemI doe hereby give devise and bequeathunto my Cousins MaryJamesandKatherinethechildren of my said sister KatherineMearlear(?)the summe of five pounds a piece, Item I doe herebygivedevise and bequeath unto the two daughters of my brotherEdwardRandall namelyJulian Randall andAliceYemes(?)the summe of five pounds a piece Item I doe hereby give and bequeathunto the four children of my loving son SamuellJobson namelyHannahMaylin, Samuell Jobson, Michael Jobson andSarahJobson thesumme of twenty pounds. Item I dow hereby give devise and bequeathunto my loving daughter AliceHull thesumme of one hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of England.Item I give and bequeath unto my son SamuellJobson andRobertPate Senr thesumme of fifty pounds for them to dispose of as they shall thinkfitt, all with said several legacies I doe order and direct to bepaid within the space of one yeare next after my decease. I alsoegive and bequeath unto the seven children of my said daughter AliceHull namelyMary,Katherine, Tiddeman, Alice, John, Hannah andJoseph the summe of fifty pounds a piece to be paid unto them at theirrespective ages of one and twenty years And my mind will is that ifeither or any of them shall happen to dye or depart this life beforehe orsheshall attaine his or her respective age of one and twenty yearsthatthen and in such case the respective legacy or legacies of sumchildor children so deceasing shall be equally divided amongst the Survivorsor longer livers of them my said daughters children shareand share alike. But not withstanding the said legacies before givento the children of my said daughter Hull will not be due to themuntill they arrive at their respective ages of one and twenty yearesyet my mind and will is and I doe hereby order direct and appointmy Executor hereinafter named to pay the same amounting inthe whole to the summe of three hundred and fifty pounds to theirffather JohnHull ortheir Mother AliceHull fortheir use withinthe spare of one yeare next after my decease and that either oftheir receipts for the same shall be as sufficient discharge to myExecutors.Item I give unto my son-in-law JosephPatteson my twosilver cupps marked F P. Item I doe hereby give devise and bequeathunto my daughter in law HannahNorthcott mylarge silverTankard marked G. P. M. and all the linnen that is in my keepingthat was her ffathers and Mothers and marked with their oreither of their marke Item I doe hereby give devise and bequeath untomy Sister MaryWallraven oneguinea in gold and to my cousinKatherineSturgis twoguineas in gold. Item I give to theMaidservant or Maid servants of the family wherein I shall happen todye twenty shilling each. Item I give unto EdwardWarrey of Doverin the County of Kent ffellmonger the summe of five poundsItemI give untoffrances Kye als Patteson thesumme of twenty shillingsItem I doe hereby give devise and bequeath unto my GrandchildrenMary andKatherineJobson thesumme of one hundredpounds a piece of good and lawfull money of England tobepaid them respectively at their respective ages of one and twenty yearesor day of marriage which shall first and next happenAndmy mind and will is that if either of them my said grandchildrenshall happen to dye or depart this mortall life before such time asthey shall attaine to the age of one and twenty years or day of marriagethat then and in such case the legacy of such Grandchild soedeceasing shall come and be to the survivour or longer liver of them.Item I doe hereby give devise and bequeath unto the said SamuellJobson andRobertPate thesumme of fourty shillings apieceAnd I doe hereby name and appoint them to be Overseers of thismy Will Item I doe hereby give devise and bequeath unto my lovingdaughter MaryJobson thewife of the said Samuell dobsonthesumme of one hundred pounds of good and lawfull moneyof England All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate bothreal and personall I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my said DaughtersAliceHull andMary Jobson equallyto be devided between them And I doe hereby authorize and appoint myExecutor to putt and place out at interest the legacies before givento my grandchildren Maryand KatherineJobson uponsuch security as they shall think fitt for the improvement thereofbut without any hazzard to my Executors in case any loss shall happenprovided the names of my said Grandchildren be named in the securitysoe as it may thereby appearthat the monies therin mentioned was putt out for their usesI doe hereby revoke all other wills by me formerly made and doedeclare this to by my last Will and Testament and hereof constitute andappoint the said EdwardWarrey andJohnPlumley ofLondon Merchant Executors. In witness to whereof I have to this mywill contained in two sheets of paper to the first sheete sett myhand andto the last sheete subscribed my hand and offixed my seale the nineand twentyeth day of May in the yeare of our Lord One thousand sevenhundred and three: I doe hereby also give unto the saidJohnPlumley 100guineas in gold// EdmdTiddeman –Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator EdmondTiddeman tobe his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who havehereunto subscribed our names in the presence of the said testator afterthese words I doe here by give and bequeath unto my said DaughtersAliceHull and MaryJobson equallyto be divided betweenthem, were interlined and the word with struck out andthetwo guineas given to JohnPlumley,RichrdCarter atthe bunch of Grapes in Horsleydown. SusannaCarter,JohnPage Clerketo Mr.Springett inGeorge yard Lombard Streete/

Source: Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers: Name of Register: Dogg Quire Numbers: 205 - 250; The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, England.

I was able to discover a few more family members from this will, but some relationships leave me baffled because the poor Captain seemed to be confused about them himself. He calls the children of his sister Katherine his "cousins". So is "cousin" Katherine Sturgis really his niece too?

He calls his son-in-law Samuell Jobson, his "loving son" and he calls Joseph Patteson his "son-in-law", but since I found a marriage listed for Edmund Tiddeman and Mary Patteson I am assuming that Joseph is his step-son. He also mentions Hannah Northcott as a "daughter in law", so I am thinking that she must be a step daughter. And then there is "my brother" Edward Randall. He could be a half-brother or a brother-in-law.

So my Tiddeman research continues for the answers to these questions and many more. In the mean time, if any of these names sound familiar to you please let me know.

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Sunday's Obituary - Matilda Kelsey Price

2011-09-18T23:03:00.000-04:00

KELSEY. At Paris, Idaho on the 26th of May, 1879, of paralysis after an illness of 18 hours, Sister Matilda Louisa Kelsey Price, beloved wife of Robert Price. Sister Price was born on the 25th of March, 1833, in Dover, Kent, England had been identified with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from her childhood; had emigrated shortly after her marriage in 1855; and had been a diligent and faithful laborer in Zion, a kind and devoted wife and mother; and having accomplished her work has answered the summons of her Maker, leaving her husband, five children, and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. --"News"

Source: Death notices, Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol 41, page 416, 30 June 1879

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Earliest Memory

2011-09-16T06:56:00.000-04:00

I remember quite a few things from when I was a toddler. Some people say, "How can you remember that?" Doesn't everyone? I can't be the only one who recalls things from the toddler years.

This was my favorite nightgown, and my favorite baby bottle. My favorite Gerber dish was bananas (okay it still is). And I was a thumb sucker.

I remember piggy back rides and sitting on daddy's foot and going for a ride. I even remember crawling around on the hard wood floors, but I think the earliest thing I recall is teething.

I can feel it right now. Just thinking about it makes me want to get a chew toy. That's a feeling that I will never forget. My gums would throb in an itchy kind of way. Oh misery! Mommy please make it stop!

Yanking on my gums with my fat little fingers didn't always work. I spent plenty of time gnawing on the edge of the crib in search of comfort.

And about the thumb-sucking, for some reason mommy didn't want me doing that. She had to go and ruin the flavor of my thumb by wiping some cayenne pepper kinda stuff on it. Ya'll that's some nasty ~~shit~~ do do (I can see daddy laughing now)!

Now this became a ritual. Getting my thumb soaked with yuck before going to bed. One night mom forgot. And you know what I did? I stuck my thumb in the air just waiting for her to put some of that stuff on it (I must have known I needed help).

Unfortunately my oldest and youngest kids inherited the thumb-sucking gene. I didn't think they would ever quit!

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

Wordless Wednesday - Catalogue

2011-09-14T09:47:00.000-04:00

So I wonder if anyone bought item 4324? I sure would love to have it!

Wordless Wednesday - Grandma and Grandpa Colorized

2011-09-07T07:10:00.000-04:00

Blanche Theora Barker

William Madsen Piggott

Incoming Documents from the U.K.

2011-09-01T18:23:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it. I bit the bullet, emptied my piggy bank and ordered court documents from The National Archives U.K.!

With the help of fellow geneatweep @lizl_genealogy I was able to find out just how much it was going to set me back. I never know the correct key word to google for the £ sign. She sent me over to this currency converter page. They even have a currency converter widget you can put on your page or blog.

The court document is titled Parkinson v Francis, Talbot and Shove. Bill and two answers. The plaintiffs are Paul William Parkinson and another. The defendants are Robert Francis, Joseph Talbot, Elizabeth Talbot, John Talbot, John Shove and wife, William Pickett (abroad) and Elizabeth Pickett (abroad).

The plaintiff is the illegitimate son of Alderman Pickett and one of the defendants is his illegitimate daughter, and boy do I have questions about the William and Elizabeth Pickett who are abroad!

In case you are wondering (or not), I still haven't transcribed the wills that I ordered earlier. I got side tracked with the Allens. I know, I need to get on the ball with that.

I certainly hope that what these documents reveal are well worth the dough!

Wordless Wednesday - Harshaville Covered Bridge

2011-08-31T07:46:00.001-04:00

Harshaville covered bridge, West Union, Adams County, Ohio
August 2011
(Taken through car window)

Harshaville Covered Bridge
August 2011
(Not taken through car window)

Wordless Wednesday - Oconaluftee River

2011-08-24T06:34:00.000-04:00

Oconaluftee River at Kephart Prong Trail

Wordless Wednesday - The Smokey Mountains

2011-08-17T16:15:00.000-04:00

Smokey Mountains, Tennessee

Geni. - OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

2011-08-16T18:15:00.003-04:00

Last week hubby and I went on vacation. First one together since 2003. We visited friends, spent the day in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and drove through the Smokey Mountains. It was wonderful!

I totally expected that the next time I turned my computer on I would have to clean up my inbox. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect Geni to yank the rug out from under me and knock me on my ~~ass~~ butt!

When I logged on to Geni and noticed all the hub bub I thought I had better check it out myself. I discovered Geni's announcement Geni Pro just got a whole lot better. (who are they kidding?)

I also discovered that I can no longer add to my pedigree, I can't merge profiles, I can't search to see if one of my ancestors is already there. The only way to request a merge now is to ask a Pro or curator. Let's just pile up more stuff for them to do, huh?

Sure I can do that stuff if I become a Pro. Wait, you want me to pay $59.40 to continue my pedigree, to be able to search and merge, while I am trying to fit about that much in my budget to order documents to back up my genealogy research?

I loved the whole idea of Geni. I like being a part of the big tree and seeing how I connect to the rest of the world. I love the project aspect of it as well. I even started one: Lord Mayors of London.

You may have read (or not) an earlier post Madness Monday - I am a Geni Addict! Well, I am starting to feel Geni withdrawal symptoms already. Don't get me wrong, I wont be leaving you Geni, but I will certainly not make you my dealer (not at this point).

Online family trees are an important TOOL. They are not 100% factual or documented, and in my opinion should always be free. Sure, Pro members should have cool benefits that free users don't. But to take away features from free users that they have used in the beginning is just plain wrong. I can see restricting new members, but not current members.

Check out the two cents of other bloggers:

Wordless Wednesday - A Couple of Pioneers

2011-08-03T08:06:00.000-04:00

Me and grandma Smedley sporting our Pioneer costumes for the parade in Paris, Idaho abt. 1970

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Henry Allen, Clothworker

2011-08-01T17:59:00.000-04:00

Today I decided that I would share the will that I just finished transcribing for Amanuensis Monday.

The reason I ordered this will is to help prove and document that my 10th great-grandfather George Allen, immigrant ancestor who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony on 6 May 1635 from England, was not the same George Allen who married Katherine Starkes (Slarkes) November 5, 1624, at All Hallows Church in London.

There are many genealogies and postings that claim the following marriage license is that of our George:

Guildhall, All Hallows Honey Lane, Composite register: baptisms 1538 - 1697, marriages 1546 - 1656, 1664 - 1666, burials 1538 - 1666/7, 1538 - 1697, P69/ALH3/A/A/01/Ms 5022
Ancestry.com. London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line].

This George is the brother mentioned in the following will of Henry Allen, clothworker of St. Michael Parish, Queenhithe, London, England which was probated June of 1640.

Will of HenriciAllen

Memorandum that on or about the tenth day of April Anno Domini
One thousand Six Hundred forty Henry Allen of ye parish of St. Michael in
Queenehithe London clothworker beinge of perfect mind & memory though sicke in body
did make and declare his last will & testament Nuncupitive or by word of mouth in
manner & form followinge or to the like effect Item appoynted his body to be buried
in the charnell of the parish Church of St. Michael Queenehithe above said And his
worldly goods & Estate be disposed as followeth Item first he gave & bequeathed all
that his customary or coppy hold tenement & ye barnes stables Gardens banksides
& nyne Acres of Lands with the______ there unto belonginge _______ lyeing and
beinge within ye parish of Denham in ye county of Bucks holder of ye mannor of
Denham in the county of Bucks there in ye ________ compound of Thomas __________
and he the said Henry Allen bought & purchased of William Codman deceased unto ye
six children of his sister Susan Willmott ye wife of Edmund A. Willmott. Item
William, Edmund, Richard, George, Susan & Ann Willmott and to their heirs
and assigns forever and he willed and appoynted that ye said Edmund Willmott
and Susan his wife their father & mother should from ye tyme of his decease receive
ye Rents and profitte of ye said tenement & Lands to & for ye use of their said children.
And to be by them employed for theire best benefitt & advantage until they should attaine
their severall & respective ages of one & Twenty years for the better raisinge of pounds
for them. And ye said Testator then declared that he _______ (if it should please god
to permitt him) to surrender his said tenement & lands to the use of his said will to the
end ye same might owe to ye said children according to his said intente & bequest Item
he ye said testator did recind & forgive unto his brother George Allen (unto whome he
________ his said tenement and landes would come by the custome of ye mannor whereof
they are holden in case he should not live to surrender the same to the use of his said will)
All such debts and somes of mony as he should owe unto him the said testator at the tyme
of his decease by bond specialty or otherwise howsoever upon _______ only & soe as his said
brother George Allen ____ his said Tenement and land should fall unto him for want of such
surrender to be made by the said Testator as aforesaid Doe and shall surrender the same
Tenement & Lands to ye use of his said sisters children & their heirs according his
__ist bequest thereof made to them as above said and in case his said Brother upon
request to him in that behalfe made should refuse to surrender the same as aforesaid.
Then he gave and bequeathed to his said sisters children equally to be divided amongst
them all such debts & somes of money w^chhis said Brother George Allen should owe
unto him at his decease And in that case he wills his Executrix should doe her best
indeavor to recover ye said debts for ye said children by course of lawe so soone as
possible she could. Item he gave & bequeathed to his cosen Joseph Usher(?) sonne of his
late sister Joane all that his lease estate interest & terms of yeares to come of in ___
ye shopp & warehouse in Townesend Lane within ye parrish of St. Michael in
Queenhithe in London aforesaid w^chhe bough[t] of William Graves for a certaine time
of years Then & yet inducting at the Rent of a pepper corne or so upon ________ &
so as he the said Joseph should within six monthes next after decease of him the
said Testator pay unto his ye said testators brother John Allen ye some of Twenty
& six pounds of Lawfull mony of England w^chif the said Joseph shall not
accordingly pay then ye said testator willed & appoynted that ye said lease & interest
should come & be to his Executrix she paying ye said Twenty & Six pounds to his
said brother John Allen w^chif she refused to doe then he gave ye same lease and in
interest to him the said John Allen his Brother to make the best thereof for his own
benefitt & use Item ye said testator gave and bequeathed to ye poor of the parish of St.
Michael Queenehithe aforesaid ye some of Ten pounds to be paid within one month
next after his decease to be distributed unto & amongst ye same poore where most
needs should bee accordinge to ye disecions of ye Churchwardens & Sidemen of ye said parish
Item he gave to Mr. Bill Parson of ye said parish Three pounds for his serman to bee
preached at his burial & he gave to Mr. Glover Curate of ye said parish Twenty Shillings.
The rest and residue of all and singuler his leases plate moneyes debts goods chattelles
what soever after his debts and legacies aforesaid & his funerall expenses were paid & discharged
lawfully and wholly gave and bequeathed unto Susan Allen his wife whome he made and now
instituted the full & sole executrix of his said last Will and Testament and ye said Testator being
then of good and perfect memorie did give directions and instructions to have his said will
_______ ________ in all perticulers as is above expressed or to ye very like effect there beinge then
present ______ & well observinge ye ______ _______ Glover Curat _______ sancti (?)
Michaelis ad______ Reginalem (?) Alexander C______ Senr /

Source: National Archives

There will be more about the Allens in another post. If you are researching the Allens, Willmotts, or Ushers of Queenhithe, please contact me. Thanks.

Wordless Wednesday - Piggott Family Members

2011-07-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

Uncle Rod, grandma Hazel, grandpa Will, cousin Drena

The Transcription of a Will

2011-07-26T07:55:00.000-04:00

Transcribing a will can be both overwhelming and rewarding. Overwhelming because at first glance it may look a bunch of gobbledygook. Rewarding because when you are done you may have discovered valuable information.

If you are a palaeographer, transcribing a will is probably a walk in the park for you. And it helps if you are savvy with legal lingo. But, if you are anything like me, you need all the help you can get.

I transcribed my first two wills with a notebook and a pen while sprawled out on the couch. It can take up to five minutes just to figure out one word, so I prefer to be comfortable instead of staring at the computer screen. Of course I had my Blackberry nearby. The Dictionary.com app really came in handy. If it weren't for this app, I would still be stuck on the word charnell. And I would be lost without my book Genealogical Research in England and Wales, Vol. III. I still prefer a good ole page turner. This book is available through Worldcat and amazon.com.

I found this software called Transcript that I will probably use for the next will that I transcribe. That will eliminate the step of transcribing from the notebook to the computer. To work with PDF files you will also have to download Ghostscript.

This software allows you to transcribe without having to switch between your document and your word processor.

The following links will be very helpful in guiding you through the transcription of any old document.

Here is a sampling of 17th century letters:

I still have four more wills to transcribe. Wish me luck!
Good luck on your next transcription project and may it be fruitful!

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Water

2011-07-22T16:56:00.001-04:00

My favorite body of water is Bear Lake. It has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for it's turquoise-blue colors. I have seen it three different colors of blue at one time. It's the most beautiful lake I have ever seen!

It's a natural fresh water lake and lies on the border of Idaho and Utah. I remember several occasions when I pleaded with dad to drive around the lake. We didn't get to do it very often. You can bet that when I started driving to Bear Lake myself I drove around it plenty of times.

We would start on US Hwy 89 driving through St. Charles, Idaho following the highway through Fish Haven, Idaho. Then follow Utah State Hwy 30 through Garden City, Pickleville, Laketown. Then hang a left off of the Hwy to drive along the east side of the lake. We then come out at the North Beach in St. Charles, Idaho. That is the beach we always went to when we were kids.

On the east side is where there are some nice beach houses and condos. Merlin Olsen had a home on the lake. On the Idaho side there are campgrounds along the east beach. The marina and resorts are in Garden City.

Have you heard about the legend of the "Bear Lake Monster"? Yes, he has quite a reputation. I never have seen him though.

It was always a treat to go to the lake when we were visiting with the grandparents. When we were kids some of the Poulsen family reunions were held at Ted and Vilate Poulsen's summer home on the lake in Fish Haven. Ted was my first cousin once removed and grandma Smedley's nephew. Ted's descendants still spend summers there on the lake. Aunt Cloree lives in a house right across the street. There is an awesome view of the lake from her front yard.

Brother, me, cousin Kim, sister at Poulsen reunion

View of Bear Lake from aunt Cloree's house

I had some good times with my own kids as well.

In 1996 hubby and I spent our first camping trip together (before he was my hubby) at Bear Lake. We camped on the east side in Idaho at a little campground. There's nothing like sleeping out under the stars!

Have you heard of the little old lady that lived in a shoe? Well if you keep going past the campground, on your left before you get to North Beach you will see her house. Really, it's there. I have a picture.

The house that looks like a shoe.

Our last time at Bear Lake together 2002.

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Visitor

2011-07-13T12:16:00.000-04:00

"Caught" eating from the bird feeder!

Obtaining Documents From the U.K

2011-07-08T12:57:00.000-04:00

I did it! I was finally able to purchase online documents from The National Archives!

If you read Genealogy Lessons Learned the Hard Way, you probably noticed my frustration in accomplishing this goal.

And if you're anything like me, you WILL NOT purchase anything online with your bankcard. I usually use the Vanilla Visa Gift for this purpose. But guess what, it is only valid in the United States. I didn't know what to do. I really NEEDED these documents (not like I was jonesin' or anything) to help climb over a brick wall.

So I went back to the Dollar General and looked through all their gift cards and such. I was thinking about getting their re-loadable debit card, but their system was down and I couldn't have purchased it anyway. The clerk was kind enough to tell me that the Travel Centers of America up the street had cards, so off I went.

Jackpot! I found the perfect card. A Visa Gift card offered by nFinanSe, accepted anywhere in the world that takes Visa.

So I purchased a two page Will for William Pickett (the Lord Mayor's father), and an eight page Will for Ralph Prentice. I also got carried away and purchased a two page Will for a William Pratten who may or may not be the one mentioned in Ralph's Will as being his nephew.

I dare say I have a lot of transcribing to do.

Wordless Wednesday - Charles R. and Minnie L. McLain McCullough

2011-06-29T12:30:00.000-04:00

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Alderman William Pickett

2011-06-20T18:17:00.003-04:00

Today I am going to share the transcription and the Will of Alderman Pickett. The past couple of weeks I have been analyzing it carefully trying to find clues to his family life. It is turning out to be very hard because there are some parts that are very vague.

I William Pickett, one of the Alderman of London do make this my last will and testament. I appoint my friends Mr. Wm Bird of Broad Street and Mr. Caleb Talbot of Smithfield my executors and administrators to whom I leave One hundred pounds each.
I would leave my improved household estate in Essex with all the furniture, plate, live stock, carriages, pictures, books together with my furniture in the old Towry to be sold by auction on the premises, Ditchleys, at the proper season of the year. I would leave my freehold estate in old Fish street as is let to Mr. Ballinger and Co at two hundred and sixty pounds per annum subject to a rent of ten pounds to the parish and some parliamentary and parochial rate. Likewise my two freehold cottages at Pilgrims Hatch now let for a room to Mr. Crackland with two arable offices part of the Ditcheleys Estate at 19-18 per ann. Likewise the ____ shares in the _____ office to go to the purposes of my will. If there is any part of the plate, furniture which Miss Pickett _______ I would have her have full liberty to do as she thinks proper. I leave to Mrs. Shove a natural daughter forty pounds a year for her natural life to be paid half yearly. I leave forty pounds a year to each of my sons natural children for their natural lives. I leave forty pounds a year to Paul Wm Parkinson, a natural child for his natural life. I leave six pounds to a proper saint to be placed out in the world. I would leave a provision of one hundred pounds paid with living to some trade in the city of ______. I leave one hundred guineas to ___ Miss E. Bird as executor of estate(?) I leave ___ guineas to miss Sarah. I leave twenty guineas to Mr. Parkinson. I leave two hundred pounds a year to my daughter Mary Pickett for her natural life. All the annuities mentioned in this will I would have secured in the best manner so that persons mentioned viz Miss Pickett, Mrs. Shove, the two children of my sons and P. W. Parkinson so that they may want of ________ able to dispose of them but to remain a permanent security to them against the impositions which are so general in the world. All the rest of my property I leave to my daughter subject to any _____ or ____ that I shall insert on this sheet of paper. William Pickett, Nov. 25. 1796.

The freeholds I would have sold in London. The office as mentioned at Ditchleys by ____ Mr. Smith, Spurrier, Willard, or Burton.

There are some parts that I can't make out. If you can fill in some blanks, that would be awesome!

Notice how he says "each of my sons natural children for their natural lives" ? What exactly is that supposed to mean? The only son that the rest of the world knew about predeceased him. And he doesn't give a first name for his daughter Mrs. Shove.

Oh Alderman, could you be more vague?!

Genealogy Lessons Learned the Hard Way

2011-06-17T14:12:00.000-04:00

Genealogy lesson number 1: NEVER assume anything! I know, you're probably thinking, "well, duh". I guess I've just been spending too much time on trying to bust down this brick wall surrounding Alderman Pickett. I think my brain is getting scrambled, and I know my eyes are bulging from looking through several images on Ancestry.com!

You know how when you just know you are on the verge of solving something and you can't stop cause you are waiting for that 'Aha' moment? Well, that's me. That's where I am at. I bet I have virtually been to every church in London this week. I have even been dreaming about the Lord Mayor. I woke myself up the other night when I heard my own voice say "Alderman!"

You're probably wondering, "what's the point to all of this?" So I will tell you. I ran so many searches for Alderman Pickett's children with no success. So I decided to check Familysearch. Sweet success! I found his son William's baptism record which also listed his birthday. When I noticed that the baptism date was 30 years after his birth, I assumed it was an error. So naturally I wanted to find the original image. For some reason I was not able to find any information about the original document through the batch no. After a lot of googleing I discovered that the London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 were now available on Ancestry. So here I am looking through all the images for the ST MARTIN LUDGATE, LONDON, LONDON, ENGLAND baptisms. I couldn't find the entry that Familysearch indexed at all!

So I went to the Familysearch Forum and pleaded for help. Thank goodness there was a kind soul there who went to Ancestry.co.uk. and found the entry right off the bat! My folly - I never imagined that he would have been baptized as an adult and therefor never checked under the date that I thought was an error (besides that, he was indexed wrong).

So now I have the proof of his baptism, but now I have to face the possibility that since he was not baptized as an infant, the Alderman's other children weren't either; or am I assuming again?

Genealogy Lesson number 2: Read the fine print on the bottom of your Visa gift card before you try to buy something online from The National Archives!

VALID ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES

Wordless Wednesday - A Silver Piece made by William Pickett, 1769

2011-06-15T12:29:00.000-04:00

Description: GEORGE III SILVER CAKE BASKET, William Pickett, London, 1769. Oval, reticulated bowl, on pierced pedestal foot; gadrooned border, pierced swing handle - 23 oz., 2 dwt.; 3 1/2 in. x 12 1/2 in., without handle

William Pickett is my 5th great-grandfather.

The Mysterious Alderman Pickett

2011-06-14T18:10:00.002-04:00

William Pickett, Esq has been the biggest puzzle in our family history for, dare I say, centuries!

Family tradition tells us that my 4th great-grandfather George Piggot's father was the Lord Mayor of London, and was disowned by his father for marrying a quaker girl. This has been very hard to prove.

Just last week I discovered new information about him which only leads to more questions!

William, a Liveryman of "The Goldsmiths' Company" was proprietor of a shop located at No. 32 Ludgate Hill, London. The business which operated under the sign Golden salmon, was founded about 1745 by Henry Hurt, a goldsmith and toyman. In 1759 it was known as Theed and Pickett, goldsmiths and jewelers when William partnered with William Theed. After Theed's death in 1772 William Pickett took on "Phillip Rundell" as a partner and the firm became Pickett & Rundell. William eventually retired from business leaving his property under the management of Mr. Rundell.

He was elected to the office of Alderman for Cornhill Ward and served from 1782 until near his death in 1796. During this time he served as High Sheriff in 1784, and as Lord Mayor of the City in 1789. He also contested for a seat in Parliament in 1790 and 1796, but was unsuccessful.

I found several articles about his professional life, some mentioning what they thought they knew about his personal life, but boy were they clueless! He left some money to two illegitimate children in his will (We'll talk about that in the next post). Well, he was a politician. Too bad there wasn't paparazzi back then; I could have found some good stuff!

Most articles said that he had married into William Theed's family, some assuming that Mrs. Pickett was the daughter of Mr. Theed. I found his obituary in The Monthly Magazine, Volume 2 by Sir Richard Phillips and it said that he married "Miss Pratten, niece of Mr. Prentice, an opulent seedsman in Thames-Street".

The Monthly Magazine, Volume 2 by Sir Richard Phillips, pg 909

The Monthly Magazine, Volume 2 by Sir Richard Phillips, pg 910

So you know I had to go to Ancestry and do a search on Elizabeth Pratten. Low and behold I found their marriage certificate and none other than William Theed was a witness!

Guildhall, St Sepulchre Holborn, Register of marriages, 1754 - 1764, P69/SEP/A/01/Ms 7222/1

Stay tuned for the will and other discoveries.

Sources:

Silver Society Journal, Winter 1991, pages 94-96

Nineteenth-century silver, by John Culme, pages 57-58

Gentlemen's Quarterly Vol 79, 1796, page 1062

Wordless Wednesday - My Mommy : -)

2011-06-01T11:31:00.000-04:00

Dressed for a Gold and Green Ball event

Amanuensis Monday - 1955 Letter From Lizzie Bake Jones

2011-05-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

The following letter is among the second batch of grandma Hazel's ephemera goodies.

Feb 21 - 1955

Dear Cousin: -
Rec'd your letter and lovely get well card
which James was happy to receive. "Thank
you so much" for sending it.
We are having a lot of winter, not so much
snow and very light stuff. but awfully cold
all time, surely eats the coal bin. We will
be glad to see spring in hopes James' will
get to feeling better.
Yes I hear from cousin Eural Bake once
in a while but can't be very helpful to him
in genealogy which I'm sorry off.
My son's mother.in.law passed away at
Seattle Wash. this week she was 77. died
very suddenly of a heart attack, so we've
been rather shocked around here after
getting the news.
Haven't seen Mabel for nearly two weeks
they have had bad colds so she hasn't
been down, have talked to her on the phone
a couple of times. my older sister Annie
is still in very poor health. she lives at
Provo, Utah with her daughter. her grandson
is going on a mission soon as college
closes in June. Must close again as
James doctor is knocking at the door
"Love" from Lizzie.

Lizzie's husband, James Lusk Jones died a month later after writing this letter.

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Wordless Wednesday - Cumberland Island

2011-05-18T16:32:00.000-04:00

Cumberland Island, GA on the Dungeness Trail

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy - Week 19: Bedroom

2011-05-13T17:18:00.000-04:00

I have quite a few memories of times spent in my bedroom. Actually, I had 4 different bedrooms that I can remember.
I don't remember much about my first bedroom other than the crib that I slept in and the "throw the bottle on the floor" game that I used to play with mom.

Our first home was in Paris, Idaho. The crib that I slept in was brown and it had a teddy bear holding balloons on the outside of the headboard.

Mom would put me down for the dreaded nap with my favorite bottle. One day I remember dropping it on the floor and crying until she came in and picked it up for me. I love my naps today, but back then not so much. So I threw my bottle on purpose and waited for her to come back in. This went on three or four more times until she caught on.

I can still remember the feeling of teething which forced me to chew on the side of the crib. I remembered that there was a shot of the crib in some old home movies that were converted to vhs so I did a little experimenting. I recorded that section of the movie with my digital camera and then was able to make a still shot. Not the best quality, but it worked. Of course by this time sister was sleeping in the crib and we were in our next home on Mountain Dr in Pocatello, Idaho.

I didn't spend much time in that bedroom except for sleeping. It wasn't that big and by that time there was my first real bed and the crib in the same room. Therefore my naps were spent in mom and dad's room so sister could take a nap without me harassing her.

When we moved to Patsy Dr. in Pocatello I had to give my bed to brother and us girls got bunk beds. We used to throw blankets over the top bunk so they would hang down and hide the other bed turning it into a covered wagon. Someone would sit on top and drive the pretend horses and the others would be the passengers on the bottom and then someone would come in with a bandanna around their face and rob us.

Unfortunately we outgrew the bunk beds. When the Holiday Inn got rid of some of their beds we ended up with a couple of them. Mom used to work there. Sister and I had to share a bed then. I was only able to find one picture of the bedroom. It was Christmas day 1975.

As you can tell by the photo my preferred wall decor was posters of foxy guys that I got out of Tiger Beat magazine.

Let's see if I can remember them all: Donny Osmond, Tony Defranco, Shaun Cassidy, David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman, Lief Garret, Wesley Eure, Robby Bensen, and of course John Travolta.

By this time, I spent a lot of time in my room alone listening to records and singing in to a hair brush (come on, I know you've done it too). When I was heartbroken I used to sing out the window hoping that somehow the one responsible would hear me (boy, what a fantasy world).

Finally, when I was a junior in high school I got my own room.

Daddy built a room in the basement just for me. It sure was nice of brother to help paint my bedroom.

I was real excited about getting my own room, but it's kind of creepy sleeping in a room with no windows.

Wordless Wednesday - Wild Horses

2011-05-11T10:46:00.000-04:00

Wild horses at Cumberland Island.

For Mother's Day we went to Cumberland Island and hiked 3.3 miles. It was awesome!

Wordless Wednesday - Piggott Sisters

2011-05-04T11:43:00.000-04:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy - Pets

2011-04-29T17:35:00.001-04:00

My very first pet was a goldfish, actually two goldfish. I think one of them I named Spot cause he had a little white spot on him. They swam in this cool rectangular fish tank. The rim had a bubble design on it. Sure wish I still had it.

One of my babysitters overfed poor spot and his swimming buddy so that next morning they began their journey through the sewer system of Pocatello, Idaho.
We never had another fish after that. Daddy seemed to think I just couldn't take care of another one. I kept telling him it wasn't my fault, it was the babysitter's!

We wanted a cat so bad for the longest time. We were at my uncle Darrell's in Montpelier one summer day in 1972. Their cat had kittens a few weeks earlier and aunt Vella said we could have one, but it was hard to talk dad into it. The cats had the run of the place and dad said if we could catch one, we could keep it. Looking back now, he was probably thinking that we couldn't catch one. Well, sister caught one in the middle of pile of fire wood. Meet Princess:

Poor Princess didn't live too long. One day mom started the car and heard a funny noise. When she lifted the hood, out popped Princess. Not a pretty sight. I think I cried for a couple of days. I can just imagine how poor mom felt.

A couple of years later we got Jinxie:

Poor little guy had pink eye when this photo was taken. We had him for a while. We ended up having to put him to sleep, but for some reason I can't remember why.

Then we had T.J.

We named him T.J after mom and dad, Tom and Joyce.

Then came Missy.

She had a batch of kittens and we ended up keeping one of them. His name was Tony.

The first pet I had when I got married the first time was Sammy.

She was the best ferret. One day I heard noises in the kitchen and I happened to be sitting on the floor. I was crawling on my hands and knees to peek around into the kitchen and at the same time Sammy was coming around the corner. We both screamed after being startled. It was hilarious! We gave her away after the baby was born.

Then later when the kids were older each one had their own pet rat. Monster Rat, Gyro and I can't remember the other one's name. It was a night mare after we found out that one of them was a girl:

It took me a while, but I finally got rid of all the babies.

After I got divorced I had 3 pets; Ginger the ferret, a goldfish, and Snickers the dog.

Before hubby and I got married he gave me an aquarium full of fish for our first Christmas together. We had to leave them in Idaho with mom. She took care of them for a while, but they have now found their way to the Pocatello sewer system.

Our first dog named Max.

He had an accident with a car. He is buried on the hillside at grandpa Marve's in Inkom, Idaho.

In 2001 we got Missy from the animal shelter:

We almost lost her once. She escaped mom's backyard when I was at work and was run over by a car. When hubby found her she was lying on the sidewalk with a sheet over her. They said she was dead. Hubby uncovered her and started talking to her and she opened her eyes. He insisted they get her in a hospital RFN! It took two or three weeks, but she finally healed and came all the way to Florida with us.

Well there you have it, my life in pets.

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

Wordless Wednesday - Barker Home

2011-04-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

Rodney Barker Piggott in front of John T Barker Home in St. Charles, Idaho

Amanuensis Monday - 1955 Letter to Hazel Piggott

2011-04-25T18:02:00.000-04:00

This week for Amanuensis Monday I am reaching into the second batch of grandma Hazel's ephemera goodies.

She received this letter from her cousin Elizabeth Sarah Bake Jones. The letter suggests that she went by "Lizzie". There is no date on this particular letter, but it was in an envelope with another letter that was written by Lizzie in Feb of 1955.

Dear Hazel:-
Rec'd your nice letter some time ago
but have never had a minute to write.
this last couple of months. James has been
very seriously sick with heart trouble and
asthma, was in the hospital 15 days under
oxygen, then been right down since, so I
have no time for anything but to care for him
he is still very bad and I am not a bit well
myself, can hardly keep going some days.
I want to thank you for the nice hankie
you sent me, sure appreciated getting it.
Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly, but
seems the Bakes don't live to be very old, they
all seem to have weak hearts.
Uncle Dave Bake died in Mar. 1906. but I don't
know his exact birth date, but he was in his
early thirties, had never married, died of pneumonia
and I thot from the way my father always talked
that uncle Orson died with he was a boy
but maybe I got the wrong impression.
We are having a cold winter over here, a real
blizzard tonite and quite a lot of snow.
I'll be glad when spring comes again.
I must close for now. will write yo
a long letter when I can get time
Hope your family is well.
Love, Cousin Lizzie
(over)

Mabel was down today. she isn't feeling very
well since caring for her invalid boy so
many years. she does lots of crocheting
and sewing. my older sister (Annie) has
palsy and arthritis. she is nearly an invalid
I feel so sorry for her.
Lizzie

Amanuensis Monday - 1912 Postcard to Mrs. Hazel Piggott

2011-04-18T14:14:00.000-04:00

Here is yet another postcard from the collection of grandma Hazel's ephemera.

This postcard is stamped Apr 4, 1912 and is addressed to Mrs. Hazel Piggott.

Dear Sis-
What are
you going to do Easter
hope you have a nice
time. How's your old man.
Mine's fine & dandy.
had a letter from
Roie, they are all well.
with love from Iva.x

Iva makes sure to write across the top "ans soon".

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

What Do Ya Know - Hubby and I are Both Kin to Ashley Judd

2011-04-14T18:26:00.001-04:00

So did you watch Who Do You Think You Are? last week with Ashley Judd?

If you know Geni like I do, you know that they post a link to the profile of each week's star on their blog as Profile of the Day. Just for fun I like to go on over there and check it out to see if hubby or I are related. This is the path that I found:

Of course I had to double check it to make sure it was accurate. My database only went as far as Willoughby Skipwith. While doing some googling I stumbled onto this Slovak Yankee blog post and discovered that my Skipwith line goes back to royalty. Not only that, I discovered that I actually have an ancestor that was a doctor through this line. The following paragraph is from page 178 of The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London: 1518 to 1700 By Royal College of Physicians of London, William Munk, G. H. Brown. If you click on the paragraph, it will take you to the page on Google books.

Dr. Saunders is my 11th great-grandfather.

I also discovered that I am not actually related to Ashley Judd through this line. My 10th great-grandfather Willoughby Skipwith, Esq. was actually the son of Anne Portington, not Anne Hussey.

However, I did eventually find a connection to Ashley Judd. She is my actually my 12th cousin twice removed from the Brewster line.

Here is hubby's connection:

So my friends, it is well worth your time to go check out Geni Profiles of the Day. Even an error can lead you to a wealth of information.

Wordless Wednesday - Bad Hair Day?

2011-04-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday - Grandpa Smedley

2011-04-06T09:19:00.000-04:00

Calvin Buck Smedley

Amanuensis Monday - 1953 Letter from Lillie Cornia

2011-04-04T14:21:00.001-04:00

This letter was among the second batch of grandma Hazel's ephemera. It was written to grandma Hazel by Lillie Cornia. Lillie is the daughter of John Rich and Mary Elizabeth Piggott South (my great grand aunt) which makes her my first cousin twice removed.

Woodruff, Utah
April 24, 1953

Dear Aunt Hazel & Uncle Will.
We are sorry we can't
make it down to the reception.
We'd love to come but the men
are too tired when hight comes
to feel like making the trip. We
do hope you have a nice one.
We are sending our gifts down
and also the genealogy you
asked for. I am also sending
a couple of pictures, one of
Grandma (that I'm sure Uncle
Will will recognize) and the other
is her mother. I had them made
up while I was working in the
Temple and doing a little work.
in genealogy. (page 1)

We are all fine and
enjoying spring weather. This
past week has been grand.
Maynie wanted me to
come down & get the gifts
in the mail ~~tonight~~ this
afternoon, but I was a little
late (I washed) and he was
a little early so you & Rebecca
can blame me for not being
able to get them down in time
for the reception. Our mail man
doesn't make connections with the
Bear Lake mail man in the
morning. We are sorry but hope
she liked them any way.
Love
Lillie

The reception she is referring to is that of my great aunt Rebecca Piggott Gardiner, who was Hazel's daughter.

Amanuensis Monday is an ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Wordless Wednesday - My First Kitty

2011-03-30T09:38:00.000-04:00

Princess

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy - Sweets

2011-03-29T13:59:00.001-04:00

Sweets - I can see them now. Carrot Cake, Cheese Cake, and a pumpkin pie dancing in my head (no sugar plums here). You know I am going to want a piece when I am done here. Luckily, I don't have any on hand so I can easily tell them "no."

The best sweet treat of all really came from grandma Smedley's cookie jar. Her homemade chocolate chip cookies.

But the penny candies from aunt Jean's store come in a close second! Yes, I said "penny" candies. Serious, they only cost a penny (I know some of you remember).

When we were in the Bear Lake Valley visiting relatives we never went back home without a little brown paper sack full of penny candies from the Chevron station/store that aunt Jean and uncle Mike used to own. Of course my favorite was the Swedish fish.

Then there were the gummy berries.

Can't forget the Sixlets.

Then there were this yummy licorice treats stuffed with cream filling. The strawberry flavor had yellow filling and the chocolate licorice had chocolate filling. They don't make them anymore, but I found something that kind of looks like it:

Word of advice - If you have to have a jawbreaker, DON'T TRY TO CHOMP ON IT (unless you like to go to the dentist)!

And definitely can't forget about the allsorts

When I was in grade school there used to be this old mom and pop store called McMonigal's. We would go over there at lunch time and buy nickel and dime candy (I know, it sounds weird). My favorite thing to get there was; of course, the above mentioned penny candies and Bub's Daddy bubble gum ropes, Tootsie-pops, Charms sweet and sour pops, Lollies, Pixie Stix, Bottle caps, and Wacky Wafers.

If you there was an Indian chief on your wrapper, you could trade it for a free Tootsie pop.

If you are ever in the mood for some retro candy, check this site out => Old Time Candy.

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy - Movies

2011-03-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

The first movie I saw at a drive in theater was CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.

chitty chitty bang bang @ Yahoo! Video

The movie came out December of 1968. That would make me 6 years old. It was at the Starlite drive-in in Chubbuck, Idaho which is no longer standing. It is part of the mall parking lot now.

Brother, sister, and I were all decked out in our jammies in the back of the 1967 Jeepster. I'ts the only time that dad went with us to the movies (that I remember).

When I was in grade school the PTA sold bundles of discounted movie tickets. There were probably about a dozen or so tickets, one for a matinée each week. All of us friends in the neighborhood would all go together. The parents would take turns dropping us off and picking us up.

Some of the movies that I remember from those summers are CALL OF THE WILD, SOUNDER, OLD YELLER, and WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS (are you sensing a theme here?)

Last month hubby and I went to DRIVE ANGRY 3D. Got to have me some Nicolas Cage once in a while.

Thanks to Amy Coffin at We Tree for coming up with this series.

Wordless Wednesday - Young Lovers on a Picnic

2011-03-23T16:30:00.001-04:00

Cousin John and Denise

Paolo Michele Mangiafico Naturalization Papers

2011-03-22T18:26:00.001-04:00

Saturday I received the long awaited naturalization papers of hubby's grandpa. I had never seen naturalization papers before so I was excited to see what new information I would learn.

There are four forms included:

Certificate of Arrival
Declaration of Intention
Petition For Naturalization
Oath of Allegiance

Certificate of Arrival

Declaration of Intention

Petition For Naturalization

Oath of Allegiance

The Certificate of Arrival told me when, where, and how he arrived on this side of the pond. He arrived in New York under the name of Michele Mangiafico, October 4, 1920 aboard the SS Canada. No wonder I couldn't find him! I was looking for a Paolo Mangiafico!

The Declaration of Intention furnished me with his wedding date and a very handsome picture.

It also confused me a little that his daughter was listed as Bridget cause everyone knew her as Bea(trice). But, according to the Italian naming customs it makes sense that her name would be Brigida because she was the oldest daughter named after Paolo's mother.

They also spelled his name wrong - Paulo Michel Mangiofico.

I was finally able to find the ship's passenger list and discovered a cousin. He was going to Boston to join cousin Rosario Bologna.

Source Citation: Year: 1920; Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: T715_2846; Line: 7; Page Number: 153.

So these papers were very fruitful! Next item to order -- Giuseppe Bernardo's naturalization papers.

Another Lovely Blog Award

2011-03-21T18:04:00.001-04:00

Friday I was surprised to learn that this blog has received A Lovely Blog Award courtesy of Donna from Hanging From the Family Tree. Thanks Donna, I really appreciate it!

There are three simple rules for accepting this award:

Acknowledge the award by posting on your blog.
Nominate 15 other blogs that you think are lovely.
Contact each person to let them know that they have received the award.

I have been blog jumping all day and found the ones that I want to pass the award to.

These next blogs are not necessarily "genealogy" blogs, but they are packed full of wonderful photos, postcards, and other ephemera that could very well help someone in their genealogy and family history research. I know you will enjoy them are lovely!

I Wont Bite - I promise

2011-03-18T18:13:00.000-04:00

Have you ever read Amy Coffin's "Fun With Search Terms" posts over at The We Tree Genealogy Blog? If not, you should head on over there and check it out.

Like her, I tend to get a little bummed when people don't leave comments after arriving at one of my blogs after a little googleing. I have to say that the search terms that land on my blogs aren't near as interesting as the ones Amy gets.

Anyway I am just here saying that if you are one of my cousins and you land on one of my blogs, sure would be nice if you would leave a comment, or send me an email and say, "hey cuz!" I promise, I wont bite!

Maybe we have the same 9th great-grandpa, or we are 15th cousins thrice removed. We can't know if we don't communicate. I promise, I wont bite!

Even if you're not related and you Google my grandma, let's talk about her. I promise, I wont bite!

Maybe we can help each other out. I haven't posted everything yet. I may have something you are looking for. I promise, I wont bite!

And to whoever Googled my aunt from Meridian, Idaho - she is going crazy wondering who is searching for her! You know I had to tell her.

Wordless Wednesday - Lucia Bernardo Caia

2011-03-16T11:14:00.000-04:00

Lucia Caia with children Maria & Johnny

Fearless Females - Day 15

2011-03-15T13:35:00.000-04:00

In honor of Women's History Month, Lisa Alzo, The Accidental Genealogist, has brought back by demand: Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts.

March 15 — Write a six-word memoir tribute to one of your female ancestors.

Rebecca Hannah Bake Madsen

A friend to everyone she meets.

Amanuensis Monday - Enlistment Contract

2011-03-14T23:24:00.000-04:00

It was back in 2001 when I found hubby's father. Unfortunately he had passed away in 1992. Since then I have tried to find anything I can to shed some light on who he was.

This first document that I obtained was his death certificate, followed by his social security application. In 2002 I was fortunate enough to get his military personell file as well as his medical records. Within these files is a wealth of information, with a hint of family history.

I decided to transcribe some of these records Amanuensis Monday and I want to start with his first enlistment contract dated October 29, 1957.

Enlistment Contract

1. Service Number: 9028255
2. Name: MANGIAFICO, Joseph Leonard
3. Rate Abbrev.: SR
4. Years Education: 7
5. Place of Birth: Boston, Mass.
6. Date of Birth: 20 Aug 39
7. Religion: Catholic
8. Citizenship: US
9. Marital Status: Single
10. Home Address: Everett, Middlesex, Mass.
11. Social Sec. No.: xxx xx 2684
12. Date of Enlistment: 29 Oct 57
13. Enlisted/Reenlisted in U. S. Navy: First enlistment
14. Branch & Class: USN
15. Term of Enlistment: 04 years
16. Enlistment Code: 1
17. Date Mil. Obl. Incurred: 29 Oct 57
18. Mil. OBL. Designator: A
19. Name of Activity Effecting Enlistment: US NAV CRUITSTA & ONOP BOSTON, MASS
20. Accepted at: Chelsea, Mass
21. Enlisted at: Boston, Mass.
22. Entitled to reen Bonus: No
23. Selective Service Local Board Number: 103, Everett, Middlesex, Mass.
24. Selective Service Number:
Not Assigned
25. AFQT Score: #6-32%
26. Prior Mil. Service: No
32. Active Duty Base Date: 10-57
33. Date Transferred: 29 Oct 57
34. Transferred to: NTC GREAT LATKES, ILL.
36. Description-Race: Caucasion Sex: male Color Hair: brown Color Eyes: brown Height: 64 1/2 Weight: 124 Complexion; ruddy
37. Marks and Scars: VSULA;S1/2"Forehead; OPS-RLQ;S1/2"RtKnee:

Signature: Joseph Leonard Mangiafico
29th day of October 1957

Report of Medical Examination

1. Last Name-First Name-Middle Name: MANGIAFICO, Joseph Leonard

3. Identification No. 9028255

4. Home Address: 13 Timothy Ave., Everett, Mass.

5. Purpose of Examination: Enlistment USN

6. Date of Examination: 16 Apr 57

7. Sex: M

8. Race: Cau

12. Date of Birth: 20 Aug 39

13. Place of Birth: Boston, Mass.

14. Name, Relationship and Address of Next of Kin: Paul Mangiafico (F) Same as #4

15. Examining Facility or Examiner and Address: AF ES, Army Base, Boton 10, Mass.

39. Identifying body Marks,Scars, Tattoos: VS ULA S1*2" forehead APP: scar solid S1/2" rt knee TT: Eagle and Clasped Hands and "Joe" RUA

44. Remarks and Additional Dental Defects and Diseases: Acceptable

45. Urinalysis: 1.016

46. Chest x-ray: AF ES Boston 16 Apr 57 neg

47. Serology: Hinton- neg mf

51. Height: 64 1/2

52. 124

53. Color Hair: brown

54. Color Eyes: brown

55. Build: slender

56. Temp. N

57. Blood Pressure: 110/60

58. Pulse: 72

59. Distant Vision: 20/20

64. Color Vision: normal BY AOC 1940

70. Hearing: 15/15

77. Examinee: is Qualified for Enlistment in the U.S. Navy for duty at sea and for foreign service.

79. Typed or Printed Name of Physician: CARL YUNGHANS, LT (MC) USNR

Weekend Adventures in Deciphering Passenger Lists

2011-03-10T22:01:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we rode the trike down to Daytona for Bike Week. We always stay with cousin John in Palm Coast when we go down. Cousin John is actually hubby's father's first cousin which makes them first cousins once removed. When we first met him back in 2003 I was explaining to hubby how they were related and one of the sisters said, "You can't be removed from an Italian family!" I will never forget that, I thought it was funny.

Anyway, Cousin John and his wife Denise have become interested in their family history so her and I spent quite a few hours on Ancestry looking through the passenger lists. Let me tell ya, it sure makes it a lot easier muddling through Italian passenger lists when you are with someone who is familiar with Italy!

So we found a passenger list for hubby's great-grandfather, Gieseppe Bernardo. It was indexed on Ancestry like this:

Name:	Giuseppe Bernardo
Arrival Date:	9 Mar 1915
Age:	33
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1882
Gender:	Male
Ethnic Background:	Italian (South) (Italian)
Port of Departure:	Palermo, Italy
Ship Name:	Canopic
Port of Arrival:	Boston, Massachusetts
Friend's Name:	Salvatore Bernardo
Last Residence:	Sieania
Birthplace:	Biels, Satania

Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1917-1943; Microfilm Serial: T938; Microfilm Roll: 231.

First of all folks, there is no such place as Sieania, Biels or Satania in Italy. I don't know how the indexer got "Sieania" when it clearly says Siracusa on the image. It took many searches and trying to read the handwriting to figure out the birthplace. Cousin Denise finally figured out that it says Riesi.

And it was only by accident that I discovered that there was a second page to this list.

Another entry that drove us crazy trying to figure out is column 17 - Whether ever before in the United States: and if so, when and where? The entry read 909/913. We finally figured out that it meant 1909-1913. Why in the heck couldn't they put the 1 in front so we knew they were talking about years?!

So here is what we learned about great-grandpa Bernardo from line 21 of this passenger list:

1. Bernardo
2. Giuseppe
3. 33
3. male
4. married
5.Laborer
6. could not read
7. Could not write
8. Nationality - Italy
9. Race - South
10. Last permanent residence - Canicattini, Siracusa
11. Left wife Michela Lombardo back in Canicattini.
13. Final destination - Salem, Mass
14. Did not have a ticket to destination
15. Paid his own way.
16. Was in possession of $20
17. Was in U.S. before from 1909-1913 in Salem.
18. Going to join brother Bernardo Salvatore residing at 810 Mill St Salem, Mas
19. Never been in prison
20. Is not a polygamist
21. Is not an Anarchist
22. Was not coming by means of any offer or agreement
23. Good mental and physical health
24. Not deformed or crippled
25. 5'3"
26. Natural complexion
27. Chestnut hair and eyes.
28. No identifying marks
29. born in Reisi, Caltanissetta

So the new discoveries we made from this list was that he had a brother named Salvatore, and that this was not his first trip to the U.S. A couple of days ago I was finally able to find his first trip listed under Bennardo.

So for those of you who poke around on Ancesty.com and aren't familiar with passenger lists, don't forget to check the next page.

Wordless Wednesday - Mangiafico-Marmorale Wedding

2011-03-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

Beatrice Mangiafico and Edmund Marmorale 1947

Fearless Females - Continued From Day One

2011-03-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

..Continued from Day One - Favorite Female Ancestor ...
Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

I meant to do this yesterday, but things just didn't go the way I planned.

Mary Edwards White Cannon married for the third and final time, Charles Barber Taylor December 27, 1847 in St. Louis, Missouri. He then took the role of father to 2 year old Elizabeth. In 1849 they had son Charles Edwards Taylor. The family of four traveled west with the Pioneers in 1850.

It was in April of 1865 on board the ship Belle Wood on his return from a 3 year mission in England that Charles met Martha Burrows. From various accounts of this passage, these two apparently shared a whirl wind romance. Now this didn't sit too well with me when I learned of it. His wife and children have been patiently awaiting his arrival back home to Utah and what does he do? He brings another woman home and marries her in polygamy! Charles and Martha were married 1866 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I have seen other accounts of this romance somewhere, but I can't seem to find them now.

Charles filed for divorce April 30, 1885 complaining that "Mary acquired the habit of drinking intoxicating liquors about the year 1860." He stated that "the habit grew upon her so that for his own welfare and happiness he separated himself from her in the year 1866 and has not lived with her in the marrital relations since." Gee, 1866 -- that's when he took his second wife. Go figure.

There's something about this whole divorce that seems strange. Why wait 25 years to get a divorce? Why bother getting divorced at all, just stay at your other wife's house. I find it hard to believe that Mary was an "habitual drunkard".

Here is my theory: Charles Taylor had money and other assets. It is my opinion after reading several articles about second wife Martha B. Taylor and law suits regarding his estate, that he filed the divorce so Martha would be recognized as the legal wife. I believe he did so with pressure from her. Mary never contested the divorce.

Mary was a strong, loving, and happy woman. I can sense this just by looking at her photo. She was also very talented. Below is a sample of her beautiful needle work.

One of the goals I have is learning more about her ancestry, which is kind of hard since her father never spoke to her again after she joined the Mormon Church and left England.

Her tombstone reads: A Devoted Mother, A Friend to the Poor, May she rest in peace.

Fearless Females - Day 2 - Blanche Theora Barker

2011-03-02T18:01:00.000-05:00

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is my grandmother, Blanche Theora Barker. I posted it because I think it is a beautiful picture of her and she reminds me of a flapper girl from the movies. I am not sure when it was taken,but I am going to guess sometime in the late twenties.