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
Ludwick
IRS Tax Assessment Lists–1862
The 2022 tax deadline has arrived! In past April posts, I included various Pennsylvania county property tax records. These records showed taxes on property, including land, buildings, and some livestock. Sometimes an occupation or a militia tax was conducted. This year instead of property tax records, I am highlighting the federal IRS Tax Assessment Lists, particularly 1862. Continue reading
Newspapers: Obituaries
Day of the Dead is observed annually on November 2, especially by those of Mexican heritage. This celebration remembers and honors family who have passed on. A few years ago, the animated movie Coco focused on this holiday and told the story of Miguel, a 12-year-old boy, who crossed into the land of the dead, met some of his ancestors, and discovered their stories. Continue reading
Family Reunions: Past and Present
September is Brown family reunion time. A couple of weeks ago my family gathered for our annual gathering in Indiana County PA. Despite the cool rainy start of the day, almost 40 descendants of Charles and Lucy Brown were in attendance. This marked the 24th consecutive year, excluding 2020 when it was cancelled due to Covid. Continue reading
Newspapers: Family Visits
Summer is a great time to take a break and vacation, even if it is for a quick weekend getaway to relax or visit family. Today, many people share pictures and posts of their travels on Facebook. But in the first half of the 20th century and before, the newspaper was the social media of the time informing readers of the adventures of their neighbors. Whether it was spending a week, a few days or just an evening enjoying dinner or celebrating an occasion, one might find a small blurb in a local newspaper recounting the event. Continue reading
Release of 1950 Census
The census is a wonderful tool for family research. Although it is conducted every 10 years, it takes a lifetime to view yourself in these documents. The government analyzes and shares general statistics about the population shortly after the data is collected, but the actual forms are not released to the general public for 72 years. Last month on April 1st the forms for the 1950 census were released into the public domain. Anyone who turned 72 before April 1 of this year should be able to find themselves in those census records. Continue reading
The Spanish Flu of 1918
October 1918 was one of the scariest months for many Americans. That year the United States, and the world, suffered the deadliest influenza pandemic in history. One fifth of the world population is thought to have contracted the 1918 influenza virus, also referred to as the Spanish Flu. In the U.S., deaths from complications of the disease were estimated at between 500,000 and 675,000, with most occurring in October 1918. Fatalities worldwide have been placed at between 30 and 50 million. With the proportion of the population that was infected, it is likely every family knew someone who had the flu, or even succumbed to it. I found some cousins who had the Spanish Flu, but the closest family member known to be infected with it was my grandfather’s brother Ira Rugh Ludwick. Continue reading
Savoring Summer
With the bounty of summer comes the amazing tastes of fresh produce. Sweet juicy peaches that ooze down your chin. Corn on the cob dripping with butter. Ripe red tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, radishes, the list goes on. However, there are some summer flavors, like strawberries and grapes that seem to transport me back in time. Continue reading
World War One Selective Service
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the United States entering the Great War, more commonly known as World War I, which impacted many of our ancestors. It began on June 28, 1914 when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Austrian Archduke Ferdinand; a month later Austria Hungary declared war on Serbia. A few weeks later this regional conflict had escalated into a full scale war as most European countries had entered the fray, with the larger powers of Germany, Britain and France bearing much of the burden and casualties. Over the next three years as the war raged on with no end in sight, the possibility loomed that America might be pulled into it. Continue reading
Marriage Tributes
This June marks my 5th wedding anniversary and it makes me appreciate the ancestors throughout history who have engaged in the rite of marriage—some with a church wedding, some with a civil service, and some without a formal ceremony but living under “common law”. Occasionally, an ancestor might have been born out of wedlock and his/her parents separated, such as in my case with my great grandmother, but most of my known ancestors took the plunge and made a vow to be bound in marriage. Many were fortunate to celebrate numerous years together—hopefully, happy ones. While I have information about when the marriage took place and perhaps a few statistics surrounding the event, for the most part, information about how they met or their courtship is absent. Continue reading
Relatively Speaking Blog 