Birth records provide an abundance of information for a family researcher. Besides verifying when and where an individual was born, these records contain details about the parents. In addition to the parent’s names, the father’s occupation, the parent’s residence and sometimes their ages are examples of data that might be included. Birth records though are not readily available and with valid reason. Continue reading
The Gift of Family
While considering what to write for this month’s blog, I thought about holiday traditions past. Some basic customs include putting up a tree, decorating the house, sending cards, baking cookies and exchanging gifts. The length of time these have been in practice might vary, but they all focus on celebrating and sharing with others. That started me thinking about family. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: John Brown
In 1890 a special census for veterans that collected details about service of veterans accompanied the main enumeration for that year. This special enumeration contained my great grandfather, John Brown, who was listed as a private in Company F, 84 PA Infantry during the Civil War. He was mustered into service on Aug 18, 1862 and released on Sept 26, 1863, serving 1 year 1 month 8 days. Any ailments or injuries from serving in the war were also reported; John indicated he suffered from disease of lungs and kidneys, which from other accounts I learned was from scarlet fever he contracted while in the army. Additionally, postal address was collected, and John’s was North Mountain situated in Franklin Township, Lycoming County, PA. Continue reading
Honoring Departed Ancestors
Last winter I had the pleasure to watch the animated movie Coco about a young Mexican boy Miguel who learns about his ancestors during the celebration of Día de Muertos, more commonly known in the United States as Day of the Dead. The practice was observed by the Aztecs in Central America centuries ago with the tradition now practiced in Mexico. Continue reading
In Memoriam: Marjorie Fowler Ludwick
Today, September 17, marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of my grandmother, Marjorie Fowler Ludwick. When I was young my grandma came to live with us. I would visit her in her sitting room. Sometimes I just sat there as she read to keep her company. As I got older and more interested in genealogy I did my best to get her to tell stories about her family. Some I remember, while others are faint images. Continue reading
Calculating Cousin Connections
During the month of August I have been rehearsing at the American Legion in Delmont where I stroll through the New Salem Presbyterian Church cemetery to get there. I have visited this cemetery before as some maternal distant cousins are buried there. As I pass by the headstones of Sarah Ludwick Black and some of her family, I quietly observe the shared connections we have. Sarah is my first cousin four times removed as well as my second cousin four times removed. But what does that really mean? Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Charles Walter Fowler
When I first began researching my ancestors, the 1900 census was one of the first enumerations I examined. For that census I easily located my great grandfather, Charles Walter Fowler, in Fayette County, PA, where he spent much of his life and was employed as a carpenter. He was counted in Smithfield, a small town where other Fowler relatives also lived. Charles was listed with Eliza, his wife of 23 years and 6 of his 7 daughters. His oldest daughter Molly had married the previous year; his youngest was my grandmother Marjorie who told me some stories about Charles. Continue reading
Census Through the Years: Mary Ann Swank
Mary Ann Swank, the oldest sister to my 2nd great grandfather Henry Swank, was born to Jonas and Sarah Swank about 1827, presumably in the Lycoming County area. The will of their mother Sarah was one source that supported Mary Ann and Henry were siblings. Sarah’s will also identified Mary Ann was married to Christian Swank who could possibly be a cousin. Few online documents for Christian and Mary Ann have been located. Several census enumerations helped create a rough framework for their lives and indicated Mary Ann and Christian resided entirely in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, PA. Continue reading
Vital Records: PA Register of Births
Recently I decided to search Pennsylvania birth records for my maternal grandparents Marjorie and Bill Ludwick, who were born in 1894 and 1895, respectively. Finding documents related to births in Pennsylvania before the 20th century can be challenging. Between 1893 and 1905 reporting births was under the county jurisdiction, and compliance was inconsistent. These records, located in the Orphan’s Court Division of the county courthouse, are usually referred to as the county Register of Births. Continue reading
Misc. Tax Rolls—Greene County, PA
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” wrote Benjamin Franklin in 1789. So for tax month, I am including some extractions of county tax rolls from around this time period. On the surface tax lists might appear to be non-essential information that only provides what a person owned for a particular year, in a particular place. However, these documents, if they have survived, can supplement other genealogical research. In addition to verifying a relative’s residency or if he owned property, these records can offer a time frame of when a person moved into an area or left it, either by relocation to another county or that other certainty—death. Continue reading
Relatively Speaking Blog 