Charting My Migration Pedigree

The 2nd biggest hobby in America latest craze that is popping up all over Facebook, is migration pedigrees. What the heck is that? It's a different way to view your family tree; rather than seeing mom, dad and grandpa, it charts of where family came from. 

My chart is pretty boring; as I've said in my classes, my family, most prior to my 2nd great grands, came into the port of Philadelphia migrated to "western" Pennsylvania and never left. Wanting a some more color, I decided to chart my mom and dad.

Well mom's chart doesn't add much color but at least there is a new state. Her 2nd great grandpa (my 3rd gg) was born in Maryland.

Dad's chart on the other hand not only adds color but surprises and mystery. Dad's Campbell family immigrated to Pennsylvania. The family spent a few years in Virginia after the Civil War where dad's grandpa ACJC was born, before moving back to Pennsylvania. 

I was told by my parents that our heritage was English, Scotch, Dutch and Welsh. England is accounted for up there on my chart with my 2nd great grandfather Hudson. Check off Welsh, there is 2nd great grandma Woodward from Monmouthshire on dad's chart. Ireland, at first glance that doesn't fit into the family "story". Upon closer inspection the "Irish" were Forbes hence really Scots-Irish. Next up German, hmm nothing in the family story from my parents; in fact grandma seemed to forget about her German grandma's lineage when dad was applying to the Naval Academy. Grandma's sister Great Aunt Betty revealer of family secrets clued me into the German connection during a European vacation. Oh, so for the "Dutch" we have to go back to a crazy story from mm's side of the family in the 1600s. 

Lastly is my brick wall, the Armstrongs. While ultimately I know the line goes back to Scotland as all Armstrongs trace back to a warrior in the 1200s. For now however, I'm stuck in Pennsylvania searching for the correct John Armstrong circa 1830s who could be from PA, NJ or England.

Have some fun and create your own migration pedigree chart. 

Designing on Zazzle

Prepping for finally moving to a smartphone, I've designed a wallet case.  http://www.zazzle.com/armstrong_plaid-256916443101056168?

Clan Armstrong

I've created a line of Clan Armstrong products for all ages via Zazzle. Show your Armstrong spirit with these customizable designs. Invictus Maneo

Baby Bib

Flask

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. 

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 5^th 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 4^th 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.

This week is National Scottish Week

My family name originated in Scotland. Our original family name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Armstrong by an ancient King of Scotland following battle. As the story goes, the king had his horse killed under him in battle.  Fairbairn, his armor-bearer, lifted the king on his own horse with one arm. For this timely assistance the king rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to immortalize so important a service gave him the name of Armstrong. Tis the week to break out my Scottish plaids.

Surname Saturday: Armstrong & Burket

Armstrong: a name given for strength in battle.  The original family name was Fairbairn, which was changed to Armstrong by an ancient King of Scotland following a battle. As the  story goes, the king had his horse killed under him in battle.  Fairbairn, his armor-bearer, mounted the king on his own horse. For this timely assistance the king rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well as the manner in which it was performed gave him the name of Armstrong.

Burket has a less exciting origin. Burket (Burkett) originated during the Anglo-Saxon reign in Britian. The family seat was near Birkenhead in Cheshire on the Birket River.

I am currently looking for information on Michael Armstrong born 1856 Pennsylvania – died 1935 Shamokin, Pennsylvania.

The Burket line is confusing, far too many David, John & Samuel. I’m looking for documentation on the parents of John W Burket (born Dec 20, 1806 Hopewell, Pennsylvania – died Dec 11, 1871 Hopewell, Pennsylvania). I have information that his parents are Abraham Lewis Burger and Elizabeth Whetstone.

Obits aren’t Free Anymore

One of the bizarre, but interesting and useful bits of information I picked up during the process of my mother’s passing is regarding obituaries. While once considered news, in the tightening financial crunch newspapers have been facing for many years, obituaries are now considered classified ads. As such, the length of the record of your loved ones passing is counted by word and charged accordingly. Since it is now considered an ad, the rates fluctuate wildly region to region as well as the size and scope of the publication. 


We live in suburbia, our town’s weekly paper charges a couple hundred while the local daily rates are just under $400. The wider the reaching papers such as our state wide paper not only charges for the print ad, but an additional fee to publish it online as well. One story I recently heard was that the obituary in the New York Times for a stockbroker cost $12,000. That was more than the cost of his cremation and memorial combined. Obviously, obituary costs are now something you seriously need to consider when planning your loved ones final arrangements.

I want to thank my BFF Cathy McGuckin for helping our family write mom’s obit. For the record (and one that is still free), this is my mom’s obituary:

MT. ARLINGTON, NJ—Joyce D. Armstrong died on Friday, November 27, 2009, at Morristown Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was 77.

Born in Wilkensburg, PA, to the late Clinton and Mary (Ritts) Burket on October 23, 1932, she was a 34-year resident of Mendham until moving to Mt. Arlington in June, 2006.

Joyce graduated then worked at the Business Training College in Pittsburgh, PA, where she met her husband Joseph Armstrong. Joyce and Joe married on June 6, 1955, at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. She would fondly remember their ‘two-year honeymoon’ in Hawaii, while Joe served with the U.S. Marine Corps. Prior to their honeymoon, Joyce enjoyed working for Radio personality Mark Evans in Washington, DC.

Joyce was a member of the Newcomers’ Group of Mendham for more than 20 years and enjoyed playing in the bridge club. She also enjoyed traveling and the Naval Academy. Joyce will be remembered by friends and neighbors for her deep love of her family, her beautiful Mendham home—especially her porch swing, her Christmas Eve and Army-Navy Game parties, and her kindness.

She was predeceased by her brother Clinton (1993) and her sister Maybelle Gillespie (1992). Survivors include her husband of 54 years Joseph, her daughter Kimberly of Succasunna, her son Scott of Wilmington, NC, and her beloved grandson Colin of Rockaway.

A memorial service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at the Bailey Funeral Home on Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 1:00 PM. A reception will be held at the Elks Club in Gladstone. Entombment will take place at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Joyce’s name to Cancer Center for Education and Patient Support Fund, Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, PO Box 1956, Morristown, N.J. 07962.

Arrangements are by the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ, 07945—(973)543-4720, www.baileyfuneralhomes.com.