On this
Christmas Eve, I thought I’d share my WikiTree connection to the beloved The
Christmas Song crooner Nat King
Cole. My parents loved that big band and smooth singing of Nat, Frank and
Dean. Their songs became the background music of my childhood. Natalie Cole’s
tribute to her daddy, Unforgettable always brings a smile to my heart
and a tear to my eye.
Nathanial Adam
Coles was born 17 Mar 1919 to Perlina Adams and Edward James
Coles in Montgomery, Alabama. The Reverend Coles moved to a new church in
Chicago, IL when Nat was 3. Nat and his brothers, Ike, Eddie and Freddy, got
their music start thanks to their choir director mama. By age 14 Nat had formed
his first band. He hit the charts with his next group the King Cole Trio,
penning several of their hits. As his fame grew, he moved into a solo career
and starred in his own TV show, The Nat King Cole Show. A chain smoker,
he died of lung cancer. Posthumously he gained a new generation of fans when
daughter Natalie with the help of modern technology recorded several duets with
her father.
Missing my
daddy, I can only imagine the heartache in the Cole family that February 1965
when first Grandpa Coles passed on the 2nd only to be followed by
his famous son thirteen days later. The last of the Cole brothers, Freddy
Cole, past away a few months ago at age 88.
While playing around with FamilySearch.org I found a new toy - Relative Finder, which I suppose is their answer to the now defunct We're Related app by Ancestry. Relative Finder has found connections to 180 famous, infamous and otherwise notable people including 13 US Presidents. I was aware of distant connections to two presidents, Herbert Hoover & Richard Nixon through my own research. Today I verified my connector ancestors to George Washington.
Curious thing as I look at this chart, my patriot ancestor Bancroft Woodcock and George Washington are 6th cousins. Contemporaries, the two corresponded with at least one letter from Bancroft to the General still in existence. At one point when Wilmington, Delaware was under consideration to become the US capitol, Bancroft's beloved Bellveau set upon a hill overlooking the city was a candidate for the presidential residence.
Laundry, errands and reports beckon, more discoveries will have to wait until another day.
Today is my 2nd Great Grandpa Samuel H Burket’s 179th birthday. He was born in April 21, 1841 to John Burket and Elizabeth Ulrich Brown. He was
a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren and resident of Hopewell, PA. Samuel
followed in his father’s footsteps farming their land in Yellow Creek. Married
twice to women named Mary; with the first Mary [Weaverling, 1841-1872] with whom he had
three children – David, John & Elizabeth. The second Mary [Fluke Replogle,
1843-1912] a widow, also brought three children to the marriage.
Black Beauty by Ann Sewell
A neat find while researching Samuel - he liked to read. These blurbs were in the Everett Press back in 1894. In honor of his birthday and his liking of Black Beauty I re-read the book during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
With the 1918 Pandemic raging across the country his daughter Elizabeth died in September 7, 1918 of acute meningitis while Samuel died of a stroke on March 19, 1919 at age 77.
This photo popped up on my Facebook timeline today. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment, I reflect on what a difference the suffrage movement had on the women in this picture. My Great Grandma, Lizzie Hudson Ritts [1866-1947] was a grandmother many times over before casting her first ballot. While my Nana, Mary Ritts Burket [1893-1981] was married and had a daughter before gaining the right to vote. My Aunt Maybelle Burket Gillespie [1917-1992] age three 100 years ago was part of the first generation of women to grow up with the right to vote. #WomensVote100
Mary Ritts Burket and Lizzie Hudson Ritts
Maybelle Burket Gillespie with her parents and childern
Once again the Recorder papers have written a great article on the festival and the One Community, One Book (OCOB) initiative. Attention all book clubs: Morristown Festival of Books gearing up for second year - New Jersey Hills: Madison Eagle News: The Morristown Festival of Books’ “One Community One Book” has made its choice for summer reading leading up to this fall's festival: The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken by Laura Schenone. We hope you read the book and participate in the OCOB events on June 10, August 27 and attend the Morristown Festival of Books on October 2-3. Books can be purchased at words and The Bookworm or your local library.
We can help you. A Lineage Workshop, sponsored by the Ferro
Monte Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will be held on Saturday
April 11 from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Roxbury Library located at 103
Main St., Succasunna, NJ. This drop in workshop is for anyone interested
learning how to trace their family history. Attendees will have the opportunity
to work with the lineage research team in starting their quest or aiding in
breaking down a brick wall. We will have reference books available for your use
and the Roxbury Library has computers with access to Ancestry.com to further
your research.
Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion,
or ethnic background, who can prove lineal decent from a patriot of the
American Revolution, is eligible for membership in the Daughters of the
American Revolution. The DAR recognizes
"Patriots: as not only soldiers but also anyone who contributed to the
cause of American freedom." For those interested in membership, please
bring your records and information and receive assistance with application
papers. Current Daughters can also get
support from NJ State Registrar Diane Oliver and the lineage research team on
completing supplemental applications. If you have any questions regarding this
Workshop, please contact us at NJDARFerroMonte@aol.com for further details.
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.
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
My 5th great-grandfather was recently proven to be a Revolutionary War Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution. We currently have an application into the Sons of the American Revolution to establish the same for their organization. In prepping documentation for both organizations, I created a chart of Leonard's family that I'd like to share with any of his decendents. Children of Magdalen Kupser and Leonard Litzinger
Names
Date of Birth/Place
Spouse(s)
Source
Simon Litzinger
29 May 1767
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Mary Ann Meyers
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 32 1
Catharine Litzinger
29 Mar 1769
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Henry Kuhn
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 371
Magdalen Litzinger
05 Mar 1771
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
John Raille
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 421
John James Litzinger
29 Mar 1773
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Sarah Plott
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 491
John Litzinger
16 Mar 1775
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Appolonia Adams
Ms Pierce
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 541
John Leonard Litzinger
20 Sep 1777
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Elizabeth Miller
Elizabeth Leas
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 651
Anna Maria Litzinger
08 Sep 1779
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
John Stockton
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 721
Anthony Litzinger
03 Feb 1782
Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA
Susanah Burley
Goshenhoppen Registers pg 821
Eve Litzinger
Abt 1785
PA
John Meyers
Conewago Chapel2 and Leonard Litzinger will3
* Eve Litzinger birth year of 1785 is estimated from 1800
census. Family relocated from Berks County to York/Adams County between 1784
and 1785 according to tax records. Theories:
A) Eve’s
baptism is not recorded in Goshenhoppen Registers due to failing health of
Father Ritter’s failing health “registers kept by him during the last two years
of his life from 1785-1787 are missing.” [Goshenhoppen
Resisters pg 122]
B) The
surviving records from Conewago Chapel seem to begin in 1791, long after Eve’s
birth, hence no record of her baptism.
Sources:
1 Goshenhoppen Registers 1741-1819; Reprinted from
American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia by Clearfield Inc,
Baltimore, MD 2002
2 Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic
Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 695
The life and decendants of immigrant patriot Alexander Alexander. Alexander came from Ireland and fought in the American Revolution. He is a Patriot in the rolls of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This book was used as proof for Alexander Alexander and Bancroft Woodcock applications. Ancestry charts include my grand-father Clinton Lee Burket.
Last week I waited impatiently for the release of
Pennsylvania death certificates on Ancestry.com. This week, I am pondering a discrepancy
between one of those death certificates and a marriage license as to who is
Sarah Ann Shelly's parents. The first clue I found was Sarah's obituary which
names her parents as Abram & Hannah Shelley. While obituaries can provide
wonderful clues they can also be filled with erroneous details and family
tales. My search then took me to investigating her marriages. The wonderful History of the Woodcock Family from 1692 to September 1, 1912 which has a family tree from my grandpa Clinton
Burket back thru Patriot ancestor Bancroft Woodcock, beginning with my immigrant ancestors Rachel Bancroft and Robert Woodcock has given me many leads. Unfortunately the information on Sarah is of limited help. It states
Milton Woodcock married Sarah A. Shelley 9 Aug 1865, but does not name her
parents.
After Milton’s death, Sarah remarried in 1886 to Isaac Steele. Here on
their marriage application, Sarah’s parents are Jacob & Anna Shelly. Only husband
to be Isaac provided the information to the clerk, so did he know his wife’s
parents?
Isaac Steele and Sarah Shelly Woodcock Marriage License
Fast forwarding to last week, I found her death certificate on
Ancestry.com. The family information was filled out her son-in-law David Burket
whom she was living with at the time of her death. He declared Sarah’s parents
were Abraham Shelley and Hannah Brown. So who really was Sarah’s parents and
where should I search from here?
Sarah's Death Certificate
8 Nov 1837 – born to _____________; parent info conflicting
9 Aug 1865 – married Milton Woodcock; Source: History of the
Woodcock family pg 34; no parents mentioned
3 Apr 1867 – daughter Elizabeth Catherine born
1 Jul 1868 – daughter Virginia born
4 Jul 1870 – son John born
1870 census – 32, living with Milton and 3 children in Holmesville,
Ohio
12 Dec 1871 – son William born
6 Feb 1872 – son William died
2 Jul 1873 – daughter Susan born
10 Feb 1875 – husband Milton Woodcock died; Source: will
names Sarah as wife; Sarah’s obit
1880 census – 43, widow, 4 of her children living with her; sharing
property with Hannah Shelly in Hopewell, PA
1886 – Married Isaac Steele Source: marriage license; parents
listed as Jacob & Anna Shelly
1900 census – 65, married, living with daughter and
son-in-law (Mock), not husband
24 Sep 1904 – husband Isaac Steele died; Source: findagrave.com
1910 census – 69, widow, living with daughter and son-in-law
(Mock)
1920 census – 84, widow, living with daughter and son-in-law
(Burket)
19 Aug 1921 – died at home of daughter and son-in-law
(Burket) Source: obit & death cert; obit lists parents listed as Abram & Hannah Shelly; info provided
by son-in-law (Burket) parents Abraham
Shelley and Hannah Brown
I have recently found some old family photos and I don't know a soul. The ultimate goal of course will be to identify the people in the pictures. Unfortunately I'm not even sure what years most of the pictures were taken. So I ask for my costume and fashionista friends to enlighten me what time period these fashions were, well, in fashion.
Anne Hutchinson was a
trailblazer. As expected of anyone who carves out a new way, her life was never
easy. She was the daughter of an English minister, well versed in the Bible and
the Church of England. After her father’s death, her spiritual journey led her to
the teachings of John Cotton. Anne felt compelled to follow her preacher to the
New World. In 1634, Anne and her family arrived in Boston where she quickly
drew the ire of John Winthrop and the Puritans that governed the Massachusetts
Bay Colony. Anne began holding gatherings in her home to discuss the
individual’s intuition as a means of reaching God and salvation, rather than
the observance of institutionalized beliefs and the precepts of ministers. Winthrop
and the Puritans accused Anne and her followers of antinomianism—the view that
God’s grace has freed the Christian from the need to observe established moral
precepts. After three years of animosity with claims and counter claims by both
groups, Anne was put on trial for her offenses. She and her followers were
banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The banished which
included, the Hutchinson family, William Coddington, John Briggs and John
Clarke fled south to Rhode Island. In Rhode Island Mrs. Hutchinson and her
friends founded the towns of Portsmouth and Newport. The group signed the
Portsmouth Compact which established a new independent colony with non-sectarian
governance. It has been called the first instrument for governing as a true
democracy. Alas, true democracy is never easy. Political strife amid the
community created a rift with some of the group settling Newport. During this
time, William Coddington, the original Governor of Portsmouth, moved to
Newport. Will Hutchinson, Anne’s husband became the new Governor of Portsmouth.
Eventually, the two groups worked out their differences and reunited.
After her husband's death and
amid threats from John Winthrop of Massachusetts taking over Rhode Island, Anne
felt compelled to move totally outside the reach of Winthrop moving further
south to the lands of the Dutch. In recounting Thomas Cornell’s trek to New
York, Henry Crapo explains, "There can be no question that he was loyal to
the distinguished exile, since after the death of her husband in 1642 he and
his family went with her to Manhattan and there again attempted to start a
settlement. It was in the autumn of 1642 that Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Cornell, John
Throckmorton, and others with their families, removed to Manhattan 'neare a
place called by seamen Hell Gate,' a designation which seemed most appropriate
to the Boston divines. Governor Winthrop was evidently interested in following
their fortunes since in 1642 he notes, 'Mr. Throckmorton and Mr. Cornell,
established with buildings, etc., in neighboring plantations under the Dutch.'
The Dutch government, in
fact, granted Thomas Cornell and his associates some thirty-five families in
all, permission to settle 'within the limits of the jurisdiction of their High
Mightinesses to reside there in peace.' In 1643, Cornell and Throckmorton
procured a survey and map of the country they had taken up which was about
eleven miles from New Amsterdam.”1
Anne Hutchinson, had a friendly
relationship with the Narragansett people in Rhode Island. When settling in New
Netherland she assumed she would establish the same type of relationship with the
Siwanoy. Anne and her followers had been friendly to Siwanoy but following
their mistreatment by the Dutch, the tribe retaliated against New Netherland
colony in a series of incidents known as Kieft's War. A tribal elder visited
with the Hutchinsons and Cornell families warning them that Chief Wampage was
planning to attack them. Thomas Cornell took the warning to heed, removing his
family from the area. Anne Hutchinson maintained her belief that she had
nothing to fear from the Siwanoy and with her family remained on their farm.“The Siwanoy warriors
stampeded into the tiny settlement above Pelham Bay, prepared to burn down
every house. The Siwanoy chief, Wampage, who had sent a warning, expected to
find no settlers present. But at one house the men in animal skins encountered
several children, young men and women, and a woman past middle age. One Siwanoy
indicated that the Hutchinsons should restrain the family's dogs. Without
apparent fear, one of the family tied up the dogs. As quickly as possible, the
Siwanoy seized and scalped Francis Hutchinson, William Collins, several
servants, the two Annes (mother and daughter), and the younger
children—William, Katherine, Mary, and Zuriel.”2
Anne Hutchinson is a key
figure in the development of religious freedom in England's American colonies.
Her legacy is one of freedom of religion, the right to free assembly and
women's rights. She has been called the
most famous, or infamous, English woman in colonial American history.
[1] Henry Howland Crapo,
Certain Comeoverers, 2 Vol. (New Bedford, Mass.: 1912), 1:235, of 235-41
[2] LaPlante, Eve (2004).
American Jezebel, the Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman who Defied
the Puritans. San Francisco: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-056233-1. Pg 237
Riley'sletter to Derrick Coleman went viral, then mainstream. Riley along with her twin sister Erin and dad Jake appeared on Good Morning America this morning. Unfortunately for those of us in New Jersey, GMA was preempted due to the snowstorm. Happily the segment has now been posted online.
Old Tax Assessment and Census lists are coveted by genealogists. They are a great way to mine information about our ancestors. US Censuses from 1850 to date are pretty easy to follow, all the family is listed with information of interest to the government for that particular decade. Before 1850, the information provided takes a bit more sleuthing to decipher what was collected. This is why I'm SO excited about a website I just stumbled upon Mother Bedford's Tax Assessment Returns.
First off, Mother Bedford refers to Bedford County Pennsylvania. Bedford County was once a huge mother of a county, but as time has gone by, several other counties have be formed from towns that originally were a part of Bedford. Pretty much all of my ancestral lines spent at least some time in Mother Bedford so it is particularly helpful that this site shares such useful information.
While I have been doing my genealogy for a few years, I am in no way an expert. I knew enough to collect early american tax records when I found them, but I haven't quite figured out what all the information means. Tax Assessments include names and value of property. Individuals were listed on the early tax assessment returns
in one of four categories: Resident, Freeman, Inmate, and Non-Resident. (Women rarely own property. Upon their husband's death, his property transferred to his oldest son. Occasionally you may find a Resident listing a Widow Smith., indicating there was no male to leave the property too.)
Resident: Married man who owns property and resides on property
Freeman: Single man who owns property and resides on property
Inmate: Any man who rents property he resides on
Non-Resident: Any property owner who does not reside on said property
Thank You Mother Bedford! The definition of Freeman helped me narrow down the marriage window of my 2nd great-grandparents Mary Shoenfelt & John Ritts. Taylor Twp was formed in 1856. At that time a list was published of all land owners. John Ritts is listed as a Freeman, while his father Thomas was a Resident. John therefore was married sometime after June 1856 and before September 1857. And Mother explained the inmate code! It's nice to know my ancestor wasn't a criminal. Now if I could remember which ancestor had this notation on their tax record I'd be totally psyched. Since I don't and I don't want to forget the definition when I finally find him, I've written this blog.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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 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:
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
