Ancestry for Free

At least it is free for six months... if you enter and win the Geneblogger contest. Oh how I'd love to win since the email in my inbox right after the contest announcement, was Ancestry.com announcing it is time for my subscription renewal. So if not me, why not you? Deadline to enter is May Day. 

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?

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. 

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 18^th and 19^th and even the early20^th 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, USAEmanuel 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

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 11^th Reserves and Colonel Simpson’s New Jersey 4^th 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 11^th 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.   

Source:  History ofPennsylvania Volunteers: 1861-1865 v2, part 2 by Samuel Bates pg 222-245

My Favorite Childhood Restaurant Memory

In my search for tips on researching my family history I found an interesting group, GeneaBloggers. Among the advice offered is a challenge to record our own memories for future descendants. I am intrigued by their 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History by Amy Coffin which is a series of weekly blogging ideas. This week’s prompt is RESTAURANTS.

I immediately thought of Burger King. As a treat a couple times a year, my mom would pack my brother & my best friend’s family into the car for the trip to Burger King. Car rides with the two families always meant something fun was in store.  This BK was the first fast food restaurant in the area, so it was a novel experience for us kids. We would each get to step up to the counter and order what we wanted. This alone was huge! I realize the current generation expects that mom to fix different meals for each kid, but with the moms my friends & I grew up with, we ate what they made that night… and we ate it all, end of discussion. Our choice was the amount of fuss we put up before eating the brussel sprouts, too much fuss & no dessert. After we all ordered and gotten our crowns, we’d get our bag of food & head back home to eat. I don’t ever remember eating at the restaurant; instead all us kids would eat out on the porch back at home.

We moved from Blue Bell when I was still in elementary school, so my geographical memory is that of a child. I can give you directions from my house to: school, church, and Burger King. A few years ago we were passing through Blue Bell and there was a need for a bathroom break. Without having been in the area for decades I was able to direct the driver right to this Burger King. My aunt has moved to the area and lives a bit passed the BK, so now when I drive by, I smile.
What is was your favorite restaurant as a kid?