Harry Russell Brown was an older brother to my grandfather, Charles. Because Harry died when my aunts and uncles were young, their memories of him were vague, and they had few stories to tell. Turning to the census and other documents, tiny glimpses into Harry’s life were revealed. Continue reading
Surnames
Christmas Letters: Lydia Fowler
It’s that time of year again when friends and families come together to celebrate the holidays. Some travel back home for gatherings, or in our digital age, those who are miles apart can visit in real time during a group video call. Still, there are those, like me, who send greetings to loved ones the “old fashioned” way—with cards and letters via the postal service. For those with whom I do not communicate as often as I would like, I find this a perfect time to let people know I am thinking about them. Continue reading
Edith Ludwick Hutchinson: Census Through the Years
When my mother told me about her aunts and uncles, she recounted one summer, perhaps during World War II, that she visited her aunt and uncle, Edith and John Hutchinson. John, who was called Beany, had a farm, and during the few days my mother was there, she assisted with the daily farm chores. My mother mentioned that she got a compliment from her uncle about what a good worker she was. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Martha Jane Allen
When I began researching my paternal line, I asked my aunts and uncles about Jane and got the typically reply that they “did not know much about her.” Jane was mentioned as a sibling to my grandfather Charles Brown, though it was uncertain whether she was his full sibling. Jane lived in North Central PA and a few times an aunt or uncle paid her a short visit while passing through, such as the time my Aunt Mazie went up to Lock Haven to get married. They did not see Aunt Jane much, so aside from the names of her children, my aunts and uncles gave little detail about Jane. One vague comment I recall was one of her houses had a dirt floor in the kitchen, which suggested Jane lived a simple life with modest means. With little information to start, I turned to the census and other documents to solve some of the ambiguity surrounding Jane. Continue reading
New Castle County DE Tax Rolls for James Blackston
One of my goals this year is to confirm the parents of my 4th great grandfather, James Blackston. According to family, James was a widower with a large family when he came to Westmoreland County PA from either Maryland or Delaware. After his arrival, James married Elizabeth West. A bill of sale in that county in December 1819 revealed James sold a mare, a horse and a cow harness. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Mary Clara Allen Walter
When I first started exploring my paternal family history, my Aunt Silveretta told me what she knew about her aunts and uncles. Silveretta knew that her father’s parents, John and Margaret, had children from previous marriages, but she was uncertain who the parents were for each of her father’s siblings. She mentioned several names, such as Jane, Claire, George, Francis, Dell, but knew few details about these paternal aunts and uncles. Silveretta had met most of them only once or twice when she was young and had no memories of them. Continue reading
75th Anniversary of Ray and Kay
This month marks the 75th anniversary of the marriage of my parents, Ray and Kay. When I think about my parents and their marriage, many thoughts come to mind. The overwhelming one is the respect they gave each other. In all my years of growing up I never saw my parents fight. They might disagree, but they never raised their voice to one another. They were true companions, and over the years they stood by their vows through the good and the bad. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Zachariah Adam Deemer
Sarah Best was my second cousin three times removed on my Ludwick line. During the 1830s our mutual Ludwick ancestors, Abraham and Mary, moved to Jefferson County PA for almost 20 years before they returned to Allegheny County. Many of their children who grew up in Jefferson County chose to remain there and raise their families. Sarah, great granddaughter of Abraham and Mary, was born in 1837 and spent her entire life in Jefferson County. Continue reading
Remembering Raymond
Not only was my father part of the greatest generation, in my eyes he was a great dad. This month marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of my father Raymond S. Brown, who was a patient, kind, and loving person. He rarely raised his voice, and the few times he did, it was a clear sign to be quiet and not to aggravate him. He was a sportsman and enjoyed the outdoors. My father was many things, but most of all, he knew how to enjoy life. Continue reading
Cemetery Citings: Brush Creek
Cemeteries are the resting place of the dead, and for a genealogist they are teeming with information. Gravestone inscriptions are a short bio about the deceased, often supplying name, birth and death information, relationships and sometimes even an epitaph. When relatives are in the same cemetery, the grave markers can reveal a family narrative. Perhaps it’s this richness that fascinates me when I walk through a graveyard reading the stories of the standing stones. Continue reading
Relatively Speaking Blog 