Monday, December 30, 2013

Chicken & Dumplings

How do you organize your recipes? Are you old school and keep a paper file or do you have electronic files, or do you use a website or social media site? I LOVE Pinterest for pinning recipes. I often scan the web looking for interesting dinner ideas, then pin them for future reference. Some of my friends like to use Facebook for recipes that interest them.. and their picks look yummy... but its on Facebook. As you may know Facebook won't allow Pinterest pins. While my cousin and I have similar taste I can't save the recipe or find it on the web. So I'm making a blog with the recipe and picture, just so I can save it to Pinterest for future dining. Happy eats!


Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients:
4 skinless chicken cutlets
2 tablespoons butter
2 cans condensed Cream of Chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough 

Directions

Put chicken, butter, onion, and Cream of Chicken soup in slow cooker. Add water until all ingredients are covered. Cook for 5-6 hours on High. 30 minutes before serving add torn pieces of biscuit dough to pot.


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Wednesday's Child a Mother's Story

Genealogy bloggers tend to reserve Wednesday for stories about children who past to soon.  Today I'm expanding it a bit to include a mother, Mary Burket, and her children. Life was tough in rural Pennsylvania in the late 1800s. Hopewell, Pennsylvania  was primarily a farming community. Early to bed, early to rise; few of the modern day farm conveniences existed then. Families literally lived and died with the crops.
Life expectancy at that time was only about 45 years old. Unfortunately, children dying young was not uncommon. Two of Mary's siblings (Leonard & Hannah) died before she was 10 and one, Daniel, died before she was born. In 1855, John & Elizabeth Brown Burket (my 3rd great-grandparents) welcomed their 12th child into the world. According to the census in 1870 she was the only child living at home, while going to school. That census record shows at 14, she could not write. The 1880 census does not show her inability to write. Whether the question was asked or assumed, the census taker believed Mary had learned to write. Her father had by 1870 retired and had turned the farming duties over to her brother Samuel (my 2nd great-grandpa) who had set up his own house on the farmstead. In 1871, John T Burket passed away at the ripe old age of 64 after tasking Samuel to take care of mother and 15 year old sister. 

Mary married a local boy, Walter Cessna and they set about raising a family in Hopewell as well. August 1874 brought their first child, Elizabeth. By the 1880 census, Elizabeth had a brother and sister to keep her company. Mary and Walter had two more children who lived well into adulthood; David and Earnie May. With the joy came sorrow as well. Mary gave birth to stillborn twins 1886. The Cessna's last child, Glenn, was born on April 30, 1895. It was a difficult birth for both mother and child. Mary lingered 15 days after giving birth, before passing away on May 15th at age 39. Her son Glenn didn't live to see his 3 month birthday. Unlike today with 24/7 social media it is difficult to track the happy and joyous events in an ancestors life. I'm sure Mary had many happy events, but the recorded memories are of loss and a life cut short. Mary and her young children are buried in the Cessna Piper Road Cemetery. 


Monday, December 9, 2013

Today's Google Doodle Honors a Legend


My dad has had a lot of cool jobs and worked with lots of cool people. He's even worked for a legend. Today Google is honoring a computer pioneer and my dad's old boss, Admiral Grace Hopper on what would have been her 107 birthday. As many American's did, Grace Hopper joined the Navy during World War II. Unlike most American's she remained in the Navy until 1986, when she was retired for the last time as the oldest active-duty commissioned officer.The Navy wisely assigned the newly minted officer with a Phd in mathematics to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project and the results have changed our world. Techno geeks can wax on about her contributions to the 1st computer, invention of the COBOL and more. I will remember her from the stories my dad would tell. 


The most famous computer bug
When I complained about a bug in a program, dad asked, do you know why it's called a bug? And launched into the story of how one day his boss was working on a programming problem on a computer so big you could literally walk thru it. When a glitch occurred, workers would have to visually inspect the entire computer looking for the problem. On this particular day, the culprit was a moth stuck to a component. Grace proclaimed the problem fixed and the computer "de-bugged". The term stuck. For that matter, so did the moth. It is permanently stuck in the log book and on display at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History. 

Dad says Admiral Hopper was a character. The thing that sticks out in his mind most is her habit of picking up an object and chucking it at an employee crying "let's play". The recipient of the object would sit down to chat with Grace. On one such chat with her, she encouraged dad to go back to school. He complied and earned his masters at night from UPenn's Wharton School. After watching this clip of Admiral Hopper schooling David Letterman, I can imagine her "let's play chats". 

I've met many of my dad's bosses. I wish I could have met fellow DAR sister, the dazzling daughter Grace Murray Hopper. Happy Birthday, 'mam.


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Car Help Needed!

Ok folks, I need help from those who understand cars. So far in life, I have managed to avoid doing much more than taking my car in for servicing when necessary. When they get overly cranky and needy, I buy a new car.  My current car, a 2003 Honda Accord, has served me well, but is entering the world of teenage drivers.  Since this generation has grown up with personal playlists, a way to connect an Ipod/MP3 to the car stereo system is a must. Of course my cassette player which had with an adapter and had been adequately serving this purpose for me has decided to commit suicide. There has been much talk about replacing the cassette deck or radio, adding a new radio, aux panel and adding sub-woofers. Sorry sub-woofers aren't happening. As to the rest, it just leaves my head spinning as the kids babble.  

Now my dad has gotten into the act by saying the kid needs a GPS. Well this is no surprise to me, as I have to constantly give him basic directions as well as driving instructions. Gratefully he is a much better driver than he is navigator. There is also a need for some sort of hands free phone ability, making Bluetooth and additional add on. So while watching Auburn beat Missouri I have been searching the web for GPS, AUX & Bluetooth. At halftime, I ran to PC Richards for advice, but only came away more confused. For those who know anything about this stuff, I'm sure it's no surprise there are hundreds if now thousands of choices, the majority of which I don't understand. Gratefully (I think) I stumbled upon a couple that make sense to me, at least in looks. If I'm right they might even come with rear view camera capabilities! So these are the pretty choices, one I totally get the picture, but the instructions are missing so I can't tell if all the cables & stuff are included. The other has great detail of all the cables included, but I can't figure out where to plug in my MP3, so I'm perplexed.
There's a MP3 plug in front!
Where do I plug in my MP3?
Am I on the right track? Building from scratch like PC Richards seemed to be talking about seems way to many choices for me. Is this something someone somewhat mechanically inclined (not me) can do or do I need a professional?  What is the right way to go? Oh, any recommendations on car trackers would be appreciated as well.
  

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Cookie Exchange

Tis the season to be jolly! The Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, celebrates the season with a Cookie Exchange on Saturday December 14th.  Bake your favorite cookies to share with the chapter. Don’t forget to bring containers to bring home samples made by fellow members. As a service organization, the Ferro-Monte Chapter, NSDAR believes in helping those in need; so please bring non-perishable items as we will be collecting donations for the local food pantry.

Ferro-Monte Chapter meetings are held at Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ at 10am the 2nd Saturday of the month from October - March. Prospective members are always welcome. If you have an interest in learning about your family tree, we can help you; maybe we can even find a Patriot among your leaves. For information, email: NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Brownies are Coming, The Brownies are Coming!

Today is National Cookie Day a fact that went un-noticed by many. In fact I didn't know what I was missing until a Facebook friend post alerted me at 8pm. Unfortunately, the kitchen is closed up and the dishwasher is running so it is to late now to make a quick batch to celebrate the day. The FB poster asked for an alert so as not to miss it next year. That sent me to the web and what a delicious treasure trove I discovered. So yes as mentioned Dec 4th is National Cookie Day; it turns out however certain types of cookies get their own day too so for the record, July 1st is National Gingersnap Day and July 9 is National Sugar Cookie Day. What the heck are Hermit Spice cookies? Well they've got their own day too on November 15.

I know, you're reading all about cookies and going, where are the brownies? Well National Brownie day is fast approaching on December 8th. So stock up on supplies now or order a box of brownies for a friend!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Social Media Day

Today is my learn new social media day. It's too cold to play outside, and the malls are too packed to shop, so my laptop & I are ensconced on the couch checking out a variety of social media sites. I've been using ShareThis today to promote an upcoming DAR event at my local chapter. The list of sites to share your posts via ShareThis seems to have exploded since I last paid attention. This post is to test two new sites I've joined: Tumblr and IFTTT. Apparently Tumblr and Blogger don't talk to each other directly, so it was recommended that I try IFTT which stands for If This, Then That. If then statements? I haven't used them since high school!? Luckily, they use icons and simple words to guide me through setting up the "recipe". If you have a Tumblr account or follow me on Twitter, we can see together if I remember enough of high school math to get the equation right.

Share This

This is my first try at using Share This app on Blogger and a few new social media sites.
Events > Ferro-Monte Chapter NSDAR Cookie Exchange > Succasunna, NJ > Daily record

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Ferro-Monte Chapter NSDAR celebrates Lenape Culture

The Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, hosts a NJ Council on the Humanities program by Beverly A Friend titled “Lenape Culture: An Introduction to American Indian Life in New Jersey”, on Saturday November 9th.  The Lenape Indians occupied New Jersey at the time of European exploration and colonization. Ms. Friend will present a variety of authentic artifacts, crafts and clothing used in Lenape daily life, beliefs, history and creative expression.
Illustration courtesy of
Herbert C. and John T. Kraft

Ferro-Monte Chapter meetings are held at Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ at 10am the 2nd Saturday of the month from October - April. Prospective members are always welcome. If you have an interest in learning about your family tree, we can help you; maybe we can even find a Patriot among your leaves. For information, email: NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com.


The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

What's in Your DNA

Ancestry.com released it's new DNA results! My Christmas present last year were Ancestry DNA tests for my dad & I. I've been doing research into my family history for a number of years so I was excited to see what doors would be opened using DNA.  AncestryDNA maps ethnicity going back multiple generations. My dad's original results were in line with my research. My original results were odd in they showed no Western European DNA, but a lot of Eastern European and Scandinavian. My research which goes back to 1600-1700s on most lines have 0% or the latter two regions. When Ancestry announced it was expanding it's testing and reworked it's maps based on further research advancements I eagerly awaited the results. I'm not a scientist so see them for the explanation. I'm just happy that the new results make far more sense both in terms of being my father's daughter and my own family research.













Now I have a new mystery to solve; who were my ancestors from the Iberian Peninsula and how far back am I going to have to travel to find them?

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

National Friends of the Library Week at the Roxbury Libray

October 20-26 is National Friends of the Library Week and the Friends of the Roxbury Library are celebrating in style with events all week long. I am most excited for our finale event "Yes, I Get Paid to do what I Love... Write". Writers with vastly different careers will discuss they turned their passion into a successful career. 


There are lots of ways you can help the Friends help the Roxbury Township Public Library: become a member, buy a raffle ticket for a Samsung tablet, and dine at Bensi of Roxbury, LLC Wed. October 26. Read the latest Among Friends attached here for more details.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Autumn DAR Social

The Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its Autumn Social Saturday, October 12 meeting at Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ at 10am. The Autumn Social is a wonderful time to meet new friends, catch-up with old friends and learn about our Revolutionary Patriots. If you have an interest in learning about your family tree, we can help you; maybe we can even find a Patriot among your leaves. Prospective members are always welcome. For information, email: NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com.


The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 165,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Roxbury library seeks residents’ input for future

The Strategic Planning Committee of Roxbury Library invites all Roxbury residents to participate in our planning. Two opportunities are open to all residents: the survey   https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XSCKKS2 available online now thru Oct 8 and a Town Hall Meeting Wed, Oct 9 at 6pm in the Council Chamber in Roxbury Town Hall.
Roxbury library seeks residents’ input for future - New Jersey Hills Newspaper: Roxbury Register News

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Friday, August 30, 2013

Find of the Day!

Coffeepot by Bancroft Woodcock
For fun I googled my ancestor Bancroft Woodcock (1732-1817) and found quite the assortment of information. I had already known he was a well known silversmith in Wilmington, Delaware.  As expected then many of the entries have to do with his silverware. The first entry in my search was from the State Department. This coffee pot which is on display in the John Quincy Adams Drawing Room was one of the many made by Bancroft.
That however wasn't the find of the day. Quakers Robert and Rachel Bancroft came with their young family to America in 1727. My ancestor Bancroft was born in Wilmington Delaware where the family settled. The Woodcock family was a prosperous one. They owned shipyards, the Silversmith shop and various other properties in the heart of Wilmington. Bancroft owned additional property in the Pennsylvania wilderness too. Well acquainted with the problems arising from property disputes, it makes sense he would reach out to a another planning on expanding his town. In this case, Bancroft was extending an offer to help to the future President. 





George Washington



Respected Friend
George Washington


As I understand thou art a Lover of Regularity & Order, I take the Freedom to sugjest to thee, (hopeing it will not offend) that from what a person from Allexandra told me, (on seeing his & another Street-Commissioner, laying out the Fronts of Lots, to prevent the Masons from Incroaching on the Streets or on their neighbours) I understand that they are not Building that Town with that Accuracy that we are, & which we have found by Experience to be Absolutely Necessary to prevent Contention & even Lawsuits.

Our Mode is approved & admited by Rittenhous & Lukins, in Preferrence to theirs of Philadelphia. In the year 84 we were Appointed to Run our Streets over again, which with an Instrument I Constructed & an Accromattic glass, we adjusted & Corrected the Irregularities into which the former Commissioners had Inevitablity run, for want of such Machine, we have now placed Stones from one to Four Hundred weight with a Hole in them in the Center of the Intersections of the Streets, from which all Frunts of Houses, Party Walls & Partition Fences within the Corporation are to be Adjusted & Govern’d according to an Act of Assembly. This Mode I would have Allexandra Addopt, & the sooner the better to prevent Irregularities & Disputes.


If my Assistance will be acceptable, I will bring my Instrument & assist the Street Commissioners of Allexandra, for Tenn Shillings pr Day & my Accomodations.


And my Esteem’d Friend, suffer me to Request of thee, What I have often Pourd out my Tears & put up my Supplycations to the God of my Life for thee as for my self, when I have had to Remember thee, that as the curtain of our Evening Closes, & (metaphorically) our shadows Lengthens, thou & I may Dayly Experience more or less a Well grounded Hope, that when the auful Period arrives, wh we must forever be Seperated from all Mundine enjoyments, we may be Admited to Join the Heavenly Hoste, in the full Fruition of that Joy, the foretaste of which was so Delightful to the Soul, whilst in these Houses of Clay. 


That this may be Favourably received is the Desire of thy Friend

Bancroft Woodcock *

This letter totally rates as the find of the day!


* Source: “To George Washington from Bancroft Woodcock, 11 March 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-03-02-0518, ver. 2013-08-02). Source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 3, 19 May 1785 – 31 March 1786, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 596–597.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

I Love Living in a Small Town

Tonight was a wonderful example why I love living in a small town. Our town’s kickoff to summer is the Roxbury Arts Alliance’s Annual Beach Blast. Rain delayed twice the event which is why we’re kicking off summer in the middle of July. Several community groups, local businesses, recreation and police came together to create a fun filled evening of food, music, fireworks, and friends. Residents brought their beach chairs and blankets to the only NJ park listed in the top 15 best parks in the Take it to the Park, Coca-Cola Park Contest; Horseshoe Lake Park. Lounging in the sand, we caught up on our summer activities and commiserated about this blasted heat wave while we enjoyed a local band play. As darkness approached, the excitement grew for the start of the fireworks. Local businesses stepped up a few years ago to pick up the torch after budget cuts forced the town to drop the annual fireworks display. While the fireworks weren't as splashy as Macy’s they were still wonderful. Oh did I mention it only took me 5 minutes to get home after the show?

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Arlington National Cemetery

Yesterday I attended the internment of my cousin's husband at Arlington National Cemetery. This is not the first family member who has been laid to rest on this hallowed ground. My uncle (USN) joined his wife in 2010, and there is at least one other known to me.


Dad at John Armstrong's Grave
The history of Arlington itself is interesting. The mansion was originally built by the grandson of President George Washington. It became the residence of Robert E Lee after his marriage to the grandson's daughter. Arlington House as it was known, was confiscated by the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. On June 15, 1864 Brigadier General Montgomery Meigs appropriated the property as a military cemetery. Sixteen days later Private John Armstrong died in a Washington DC hospital of gunshot wounds received in battle. He was one of the first soldiers buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Spring Cleaning Tasks

It Spring, time to enjoy the flowers and warm breezes. It's also time to clean the house to really enjoy those Spring breezes. I put together a list with the help of other blogs and am partially done with the work. I'm hoping posting it here will help motivate me to finish the tasks.
  1. Clean vacuum cleaners & filters - check
  2. Organize & purge medicine cabinet - check
  3. Organize clothes closet. Donate unused clothes. Pitch un-wearable. Organize what’s left. – Check, check, check
  4. Wipe down walls and baseboards – check
  5. Clean & polish wood furniture – check 
  6. Wash bedding – check
  7. Clean stove top – check 
  8. Clean out Dryer lint trap - check
  9. Clean your washing machine – trying this right after Home Depot run
  10. Clean your dishwasher.
  11. Clean the inside of microwave.
  12. Clean drains naturally – Home Depot run needed for snake
  13. Clean inside of oven.
  14. Clean inside of refrigerator – half done, Freezer complete.
  15. Organize Spice Cabinet – buy that in cabinet spice rack I’ve been looking at.
  16. Clean & sanitize the inside of all the garbage cans.
  17. De-clutter the tough spots: (partially done)
    • magazine clutter - check
    • foyer closet - check
    • home office – in progress   
    • utensil drawer
    • above the refrigerator 
  18. Weed out bookcases – donate books to Friends of the Library
  19. Vacuum the furniture.
  20. Vacuum under the furniture. Add fix Roomba so IT can vacuum under the furniture.

How is your Spring Cleaning coming along?


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I Choose to Focus on the Light


We wake this morning in the wake of yesterday’s events in Boston with a choice; do we focus on the dark of the situation or the light? We can focus on who the bombers were, what their motives were giving the perpetrators exactly what they want… attention. The press is certainly doing that in spades. Or do we concentrate on the victims and the heroes of the day? I choose the latter.

There are scores of heroes who stepped up yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions. The typical first responders; EMTs, Police, Fire & OEM immediately went to work clearing the area, treating the victims and, looking for evidence. Race volunteers bought bandages and wheelchairs to the victims and those treating them. The medical tents set up to aid runners at the conclusion of their races turned into triage facilities. Many of those participating in the race who couldn't reach the official finish line due to the attack, created a new finish line; the local hospitals where they donated blood for the victims. As a BU alum, I was proud to see one of our own athletic trainers, Larry Venis, who ran toward the blast area to help those in need.
And of course there are the victims; the 3 dead, 176 injured and their friends & families. Families have been forever torn apart and many lives changed. May we celebrate the bright lights now dimmed. Especially Martin Richard, the 8 year old little boy, whose last innocent acts were eating an ice cream while watching his dad run the marathon. May the injured heal quickly and find joy in their lives once again. My prayers are with you all.

Note: I wasn't at the Marathon yesterday; I don’t live in the area so I don’t have any potential information that could help the police. For what little help I can give are prayers and sharing & re-tweeting messages from police and OEM; I will. To that end here is some of the information the police put out:
  • ·         From MEMA: The FBI has set-up 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), prompt #3, for anyone who has information re: Boston Marathon explosions.
  • ·         To find family & friends involved in the Marathon call 617-635-4500
  • ·         Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is posting updates on its website: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/mema/

I’ll leave the investigating to the authorities and hope they can do so quickly and without a lot of interference.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Wednesday’s Child


Wednesday’s Child in the genealogy world is a time to recognize our ancestors who passed far too young. Given the hard life of our ancestors in the 18th and 19th and even the early20th centuries there is no surprise that life spans were far shorter than they are today. Vital records (birth/death records) weren’t officially recorded by the government in most parts of the country until sometime during the 1900s. Before 1850 the US census only listed the head of household, so it is easy to see why finding information on minor children of the time is difficult. Oftentimes the only record of their life is their headstone. So in honor of those whom much is unknown in my own family tree, let me introduce:

Emanuel Hudson – Age 2
Birth 1 Jun 1874 in Hopewell, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA
Death 1 Dec 1876 in Blair, Pennsylvania, USA
Emanuel was the youngest of 5 children born to William Alexander Hudson and Eliza Metzger. His father died a mere 10 months after Emanuel was born. He is buried in the Mennonite Cemetery in Martinsburg, PA alongside his mum.

Catherine E Ritts – Age 1
Birth 15 Oct 1906 in Antis, Blair, Pennsylvania, USA
Death 25 Jul 1907 in Antis, Blair, Pennsylvania, USA
Catherine was only the 2nd daughter born to Harry & Lizzie Ritts. The Ritts clan numbered 11 with 9 boys and my nana surviving to adulthood. Catherine's remains lie with her parents, grandpa, and a few brothers in the Antis Cemetery.

Margaret Levenia Campbell – Age 11
Birth 17 Mar 1878 in Buckner, Louisa, Virginia, USA
Death 4 Mar 1890 in Altoona, Blair, Pennsylvania, USA

Maggie C, the eleven year old daughter of Henry J and Tressie Campbell died on Tuesday morning at 20 minutes to 2:00 of pneumonia, super induced by grip and asthma combined. Her demise is a great blow to her parents, she being the youngest daughter. Stevens Mortuary, Altoona, PA 1883-1910, p 31, Campbell, Maggie d 3/4/1890 St Marys; a 11 yrs; d/o Henry & Theresa Campbell; r. 2516 Oak Ave*
* Bakers's Mansion, Altoona Tribune, March 6, 1890, Thursday

Thursday, March 7, 2013

200 Years After Sailing to America, Families Unite


Mr & Mrs James Armstrong
(Cristoph Embich & George Greiss decendants)
Christoph Embich and George Greiss sailed to the port of Philadelphia on the Nancy in September of 1752. Christoph Adam Embich was 27 when he left Germany to stake his claim in America, is my 5th great grandpa from my dad’s father’s line. Geoge Greiss (Grass) as a 12 year old refugee came to America from Switzerland. He is my 4th great grandpa from my dad’s mom’s line. Presumably during the long voyage and cramped living conditions they probably met, but once arriving in Philadelphia it seems they or their families paths did not cross again my grandparents James Armstrong and Madeline Campbell met and married shortly after high school in 1929.

Christoph Embich a carpenter by trade, Lutheran by faith, settled in Lancaster where he married and had 10 children with Mary Elizabeth Kriter. Christoph fought as a Patriot in the Revolutionary War. His descendants followed in his footsteps as carpenters and farmers, patriots serving their country in times of war in Pennsylvania for many generations.

George Greiss’s path is much less defined until he appears on the 1800 census in Cambria County with his wife and 9 children. Cambria County in the early 1800s was an untamed wilderness that the Greiss/Krise family set out tame. Active members in the Catholic Church, they participated in establishing the religion in Cambria County including building St Augustine Church.

Below is an excerpt from the "Pennsylvania Germans Pioneers” listing the men on the Nancy:
[List 186 C] At the Court House in Philadelphia, Wednesday, ye 27 September, 1752.
Present: Joshua Maddox, Esquire. The Foreigners whose Names are underwritten, Imported in the Ship Nancy, Captain John Ewing, from Rotterdam and last from Cowes, did this day take and subscribe the usual Qualifications. No. 83.

Jacob Schweude
Michael Eyroh
Jacob Schmidt
Joseph Steüdel
Jonas (X) Bastian
Johan Ludwig Seiler
Jerg Hauher
Christian Homberg
Jacob Friederik (X) Danninger
George (X) Grass
Jacob Mussgenug
Jacob Dietrich
Carl Frich Siebert
Joseph (X) Bernhart
Philipp Jacob Wunder
Joseph (X) Bernhart, Junior
David Xander
Hans (N) Kintz
Johann Michale Haas
Joseph ( ) Kintz, on board
Samuel Musse
Johannes (HIM) Herman
Johan Philipp Bietighoffer
Johanis (X) Shwitzer
Philipp Mall
Jacob Junchfer [?]
Konradt Weiss
Hans Georg Kautz
Andres Bastian
Jacob Kautz
Adam Friederich Weiss
Hans Jacob Lersch
Johann Georg Friderich Bayer
Jaque Peirot
George (+) Wenig
Jaque Molac
Jacob Bauerschmid
Frantz (X) Saltzman
Jacob Bauerschmidt
Lutwig Thüringer
Gerg Friderich Jauss
Peter (X) Heatteman
Christoph Rothbaust
Johann Martin Doser
Matheas (X) Dywel
Michael Doser
Friderich Baisch
Balthas Bauman
Jacob ( ) Basich, on board
Christoph Embich
Johan Andereas (X) Rothe
Christian Mühlheim
Christoff Kreiser
Israel Eberlin
Johann Friderich Uhlandt
Fillib Follen
Jacob (X) Armbruster
Joh. Jacob Ernst
George Michael (X) Spatz
Hans Jacob Neusterdt
Johannes Butz
Vallendin Hagner
Jacob Stützmann
Hans Jerg Heudekel [?]
Ludwig Neitz
Christoph ( ) Mast, on board
Jerg Balthas Ernst
Paul Waag
Casper Underweg
Hans Georg ( ) Krebs, on board
Mardin Fromm
Hans Paul Henrich
Andreas Jäger
Rudolph (+) Klarr
Johan Max Klopfer
Hans Stös
Johann Martin Rädelmeyer
Hans Michael (X) Weller
Abraham Birkenber[g]
Johann Georg Braun
Henry (+) Shleghter
Johannes Griess
Herman (+) Matsh
Jacob (HK) Kautz, Junior
Georg Friederich Schwartz


                 
Mailbox  Beth Bostian ©1997 Beth Bostian
Source: Strassburger & Hinke,"Pennsylvania German Pioneers", Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980, Baltimore, Volume I, p.491.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Krise Brothers and the Battle of Gaines’ Mill


In the heat of battle, heroes emerge, sometimes from the most unlikely of sources.
~ Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

Historyof Pennsylvania Volunteers: 1861-1865 v2, part 2 by Samuel Bates
Cambria County was and is a rural farming area in western Pennsylvania where my paternal grandmother’s family comes from. Her grand-uncles Daniel and Henry Krise were coopers on a local farm before the War Between the States.  Young and idealistic the brother’s joined the Union Army weeks after the firing on Fort Sumter in April of 1861. As members of the Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry they went to Virginia to fight in the Peninsular Campaign.

The Peninsular Campaign was led by Gen. George McClellan its purpose; to capture the Confederate capitol of Richmond. The largest of the Seven Day Battles, Gaines’ Mill was one of the most vicious of the war and the only obvious victory by the Confederates during the peninsula campaign. The battle began midday on June 27, 1862. At the start of the battle General Stonewall Jackson was to bring his men to back up General Lee in the battle. When Jackson didn’t arrive on time the confederates were forced to delay their assault. The tide of battle turned when General Jackson’s troops arrived. Disjointed, disorganized, and companies crushed, the battle became a desperate struggle for the Union forces. By sunset the battle raged so fierce the smoke enveloped the Colonel Gallagher’s Pennsylvania 11th Reserves and Colonel Simpson’s New Jersey 4th obliterating their view of the Union pullback until they were surrounded by the Confederates. From the report of General McCall “The situation of these two brave regiments , which so nobly maintained their ground after all had retired, was now hopeless; their retreat was entirely cut off by the increasing force of the enemy, who were still advancing, and they were forced to surrender.”  Over 600 soldiers in the Pennsylvania 11th Reserves captured among them were the Krise brother’s Henry and Daniel.

The non-commissioned soldiers captured during the Peninsular Campaign including those at Gaines Mill were sent to Belle Isle at the end of June. Like the notorious Andersonville prison, conditions were deplorable. By mid-July Belle Isle held over 10,000 prisoners of war, the prison was only meant to hold 3,000. Prisoners including Henry and Daniel were filthy, covered in vermin and starved. Gratefully for their incarceration was brief. Henry & Daniel were amongst the first wave of prisoners exchanged in August of 1862. Both continued the fight for the preservation of the Union. Daniel re-enlisted joining and died during the war in 1864. He is buried in Alexandria Cemetery. Henry was shot in the face at South Mountain and discharged. It’s believed Henry died of his wounds at home in 1867.