The 10th President of the United States has a Grandson Still Living in 2020!

Cool Historical Fact Learned Today

10th US President John Tyler

The 10^th President of the United States has a grandson still living in 2020! President John Tyler [1790-1862] served as President from 1841-1845. Vice President John Tyler became President after William Henry Harrison’s death only one month into his presidency. While President, John married for the second time at age 54 to twenty four year old Julia Gardiner. President Tyler only served on term then moved he and Julia moved back to Virginia.¹ John and Julia had seven children:

David Gardiner Tyler [12 Jul 1846 - 5 Sep 1927]
John Alexander Tyler Jr [7 Apr 1848 - 1 Sep 1883]
Julia Tyler [25 Dec 1849 - 8 May 1871]
Lachlan Tyler [2 Dec 1851 - 26 Jan 1902]
Lyon Gardiner Tyler [24 Aug 1853 -12 Feb 1935]
Robert Fitzwalter Tyler [12 Mar 1856 - 31 Dec 1927]
Margaret Pearl Tyler [20 Jun 1860 -30 Jun 1947]²

President Tyler died in 1862 when Lyon was only eight. Like his father Lyon married twice. First to Anne Tucker, then at age 70, to Sue Ruffin. Lyon and Sue had three children:

Lyon Gardiner Jr. [3 Jan 1925 – 26 Sep 2020]
Harrison Ruffin Tyler [ 1928 - ]
Henry Tyler [18 Jan 1930 - 26 Jan 1930]³

Little Harrison was only seven when his father Lyon Sr died, his mother passed away when he was 25. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Harrison graduated from William and Mary in 1949 with an engineering degree. Cool side note, Harrison’s great-grandfather Virginia Governor John Tyler⁴ was college roommates with Thomas Jefferson. Father, Lyon Sr did not attend William and Mary however was the college’s President for 34 years from 1888 to1919. Back to current day, Harrison’s brother Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr recently passed away in September 2020⁵, leaving Harrison, at age 91, the last of President Tyler’s grandchildren still living.

Sources:

1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-tyler/ 

2] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tyler-150

3] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tyler-149

4] https://www.wm.edu/as/history/news/news-archive/2001-2005_archive/harrison-ruffin-tyler-49-pledges-5-million-to-lyon-gardiner-tyler-department-of-history.php

5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/lyon-g-tyler-jr-grandson-of-president-john-tyler-dies-at-95/2020/10/10/6c5825c8-0a60-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html

Relative Finder Says I'm Related to George Washington!

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. 

New Friends and Old Getting Together to Celebrate their Revolutionary Ancestors

Is there a Patriot waiting to be discovered in your family tree?

Our October meeting is a wonderful time to meet new friends, catch-up with old friends and learn about our Revolutionary Patriot Ancestors. 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.

The Ferro-Monte Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will hold its New Member Social Saturday, October 10 at Roxbury Township Free Public Library 103 Main St, Succasunna, NJ at 10:15am. 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.

Trace Your Family History

Inspired by her family’s Christmas ravioli tradition, author Laura Schenone traces her family’s roots from Italy to New Jersey in The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken. During her search to find the original recipe she discovers much more about herself, her family and the place they used to call home. Like Ms Schenone, you can discover much about your family’s history with a bit of research. 

The Roxbury Library provides free access to historical records, censuses and family histories online from Ancestry.com. The Library will be holding class for Roxbury cardholders on July 28, 6pm. During which you will be shown how to find your records so that you can begin to create your family history story. Patrons will be provided with a blank family tree which should be completed and brought to the class.

The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken by Laura Schenone is this year’s One Community, One Book selection by the Morristown Festival of Books. Ms Schenone will be appearing at the 2015 Morristown Festival of Books on October 2. For more information about the One Community, One Book initiative and the Morristown Festival of Books like the Facebook page and follow the Twitter feed.

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. 

Are you curious who is in your family tree?

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.

Today two of my great grandmas celebrate birthdays. Well they would if they were still with us or the keep track of that sort of thing in heaven.

My 2nd Great Grandma Mary A Shoenfelt Ritts was born 181 years ago in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. She married John Ritts and had six children including my great-grandpa Harry.  Mary's life was tragically cut down when the trolley she was riding went off the bridge and plunged into the Juniata River. In the subsequent trial, her husband was awarded $1200. Family Tree of Mary A Ritts

Harriet Slyder lived her life in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Married to Jacob Embich in 1838, Widowed in 1854 at age 37 Harriet was left with six children; John age 13, William 11, Mary 10, Emma 8, Jacob 3 and 2 month old Harriet. The young family survived off of Jacob estate until after the Civil War marched it's way through Chambersburg as part of the Battle of Gettysburg. To defend family and home, son John took up arms joining the Union Army. After the war Harriet took up jobs housekeeping and sewing to support her family. My 3rd great-grandma at age 68 was buried in the First Lutheran Church Cemetery, Chambersburg. Family Tree of Harriet Embich

Happy Birthday Grandmas!

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

Revolutionary Ancestor Leonard Litzinger Family

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

³ Leonard Litzinger will; PA Archives PA-31-2-223

History of the Woodcock Family from 1692 to Sept. 1, 1912

History of the Woodcock family from 1692 to Sept. 1 by William L Woodcock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Resource used to prove silversmith Bancroft Woodcock a Patriot in the American Revolution. Ancestry tree from Robert Bancoft to Clinton Lee Burket.

View all my reviews

Sketch of Alexander Alexander, Who Emigrated from County Down, Ireland, in the Year 1770 and Settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: Together with ... Chart and Record of His Descendants by Walter Scott Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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.

View all my reviews

Conflicting Sources

Sarah Shelly Obit

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

Tax Assessment Genealogy Style

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.

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. 

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?

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.

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