Currently, I am taking some time away from writing this blog, but please enjoy some of the many past posts about genealogy.
Vital Records: PA Marriages
For a genealogist, vital records, such as marriage documents, hold great significant for research and for adding details about a relative’s life. An application for a marriage license can provide information about the couple, including ages or birth dates, occupation, and the couple’s parents, which can extend the family line back an additional generation. Until the 19th century, Pennsylvania kept no official records of marriages. Continue reading
Remembering Helen
One might call my Aunt Helen a character. She was part of the Brown family after all. Like many of her siblings, Aunt Helen and her husband Uncle June would often joke around and make others laugh. They seemed made for each other. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Susanna Allen George
Susanna Allen, a paternal grand aunt, was the half-sister to my grandfather Charles Brown. When speaking to my aunts about Susanna, they referred to her as Aunt Anna. This was probably a nickname, rather than a middle name. The small number of documents I found listed her with either name, though more often with Susanna. These provided me with a glance into her life. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Cora Mae Swank Watts
Cora Mae Swank was my great grand aunt and a sister to my great-grandfather Charles Swank. She was the youngest of nine children born to Henry and Matilda Swisher Swank on April 20, 1874, in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, PA. She spent her entire life in the vicinity of North Mountain PA. Wanting to know more about my ancestor’s sister, I used census and other documents to glean information about her life. Continue reading
Michael Rugh: Westmoreland County Settler
This year marks the semi-quincentennial anniversary of Westmoreland County PA’s formation. Formed from Bedford County, Westmoreland was the parent county of Fayette, Greene, Washington and parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver and Indiana counties in southwestern PA. There are many historical places in this region and some of my maternal ancestors, like Michael Rugh Sr., participated in the early history of these counties. Having grown up in Westmoreland County, I traveled around many of the same places that my ancestors had decades before. Continue reading
The Will of Jacob Ludwick
The will of Jacob Ludwick, my 4th great grandfather, was entered into probate in Allegheny County, PA, on September 23, 1800, suggesting he died shortly before. Unlike other ancestors of mine, various anecdotes about Jacob exist. However, some have conflicting information, which requires deciphering these tales to determine what may or may not be accurate. Continue reading
The Tastes of Summer
As schools are starting up, and the summer season is winding down, my thoughts turn to memories of past summers when I was growing up. These include roaming through the woods with friends, swimming at a neighbor’s pool, playing with visiting cousins in the backyard of my aunts’ house, and an occasional sleep over in a friend’s tree house. My family celebrated the summer holidays of Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day with cook outs. We also shared good times on non-holidays. In addition to the company, the food we had made these times special. Continue reading
Census through the Years: Thomas Downing Swank
Thomas Downing Swank was the brother of my great grandfather, and thus one of my great uncles. He lived most of his life between the three counties of Lycoming, Sullivan and Columbia. Except for his obituary and a mention of when he was called to be a juror in 1910, he did not appear in any newspaper articles. To learn a little about his life, I looked at the census and other documents I could find. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Jonas Swank
I never knew my great uncle Jonas Swank as he died before I was born. I was curious what I might be able to find out about him. I turned to the census and a few other documents to glean details about Jonas’ life. Continue reading
Relatively Speaking Blog 