The Luck of The Irish

Today, is March 17th, 2012.. St Patrick's Day.  It seemed only fitting to do a little research on my Irish Ancestor, Oney Frane.

Oney was born 12th December 1829 in County Mayo, Ireland.  This information was from her obituary in 1899.  Her parents are not listed.
She came to Canada in 1847 locating in Scarboro Township in Ontario.  There she married Frank Foote in 1858.  They lived in the Amherstburg Township since 1860.
She had 8 children that are known:  Martin Thomas, Wellington John, Sarah Jane, Henry Franklin, George Edward, Albert James, Alenira, and one child name unknown.
Oney died on 5 Mar 1899 in Colchester South, Ontario, Canada after an illness that lasted two years.

That is most of what I know about Oney.  But who were her parents?  Did she come to Canada alone? Where was she from in County Mayo?

Well here's hoping that the Luck of the Irish will be with me today.  Let the search begin!

Started at one of my most used websites...Ancestry.  Would you believe it there was a leaf beside Oney's name!  I took that as a sign I was doing what I should be doing.  Though the lead was for a piece of information (1881 Canadian Census) which I already had.  It reminded me of Oney's religion.  She was listed as  Catholic.  Not find much in a general search for Oney.

 I decided to switch websites.... why not a different religion.... Mormon.So I went to FamilySearch.org.  On the main screen, the word "Trees" stuck out to me.  I realized I had not narrowed my Ancestry search to look only at other public member trees.  Would a search there provide any links? I saw several family trees that basically were stuck at the same place as I was.  Time to head back to FamilySearch. org for a true search.

Decided on just a general record search for Oney Frane 1829-1899.  One record which did relate to Oney  was her son's, Martin, Marriage Register Entry.  Which led to two marriage records for her son, Martin.  It would appear he was married twice to two different women with the same name.  Each marriage record indicates that the wife's parents were different.  But as he is a collateral line, I will leave that for another day.

FamilySearch website has turned up nothing to help me.  Canadian Archives??  From the Library and Archives Canada main website, I choose "Ancestors Search."  A search on Oney Frane turns up nothing.  Nothing for Oney Foote either.  I'll try dropping the "e" at end of Foote.  That got two hits.  Unfortunately, both the 1881 and 1891 Canadian Census which I already had documented.

Thus far the luck of the Irish has not been with me.  Tried to do a random Google search.  But the only entries link back to myself.

Dear 2nd Great Grandmother Oney,  This lass needs your help to find out more about you and your family.  I would appreciate any help.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Planning for Our 2012 Thompson Reunion

This is the 3rd year of our Thompson Reunion in the 21st Century.  I have been trying to find inexpensive but nice giveaway items.  I would like to give each family group something to take away from the reunion.

Question is do I want to go with something generic that I know will be used like a pen or something.  Or do I want to give it the genealogy spin?

Do I want to make it an activity of some sort?  There is a website dazzle.com that will take a picture and make it into a puzzle.

What could I keep the younger generation entertained with?  Something that they could take home with them to remember those hot Illinois reunion days in the future.  This is a challenge with children ranging from newborns to teenagers.

I was thinking about what I have that reminds me of the reunions of the past century.  All we really have are photos and our memories...which tend to fade.  So how do I find something more lasting.

Checking out a website called gifts.com.  I remembered the guess how many in a jar game when I saw customized M&Ms.  I could have the M&Ms printed with the family name and place a counted amount in a jar.  Give everyone a chance to guess.  Give the adult closest a family related giveaway item and the youth closest the jar of M&Ms.  Taking a picture for posterity of course!

So many options with the Internet!  The search continues!

My Genealogy Book Christmas List

I love books.  There is nothing better to me than genealogy related books.  So I decided to put together a list of books that I would like for Christmas.

For Fun:

Steve Luxenberg, “Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret”

Why: Lisa Louise Cooke of the Genealogy Gems podcast spoke to the author on her podcast.  It seemed like a real engrossing storyline.

Anne Bradshaw, “True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil”

Why:  I loved the “Psychic Roots” series by Henry Z Jones.  This book seems to contain similar stores.  There is already a sequel!

Laverne Galeener-Moore, “Collecting Dead Relatives:  An irreverent Romp Through the Field of Genealogy”

Why:  It looks to be a funny commentary on genealogy while trying to possibly learn a few things as well.

For Education:

Judy Jacobson, “History for Genealogists: Using Chronological Time Lines to Find and Understand Your Ancestors”

Why:  I think it would be great to have a book with historical time lines at my fingertips.  I wish the publisher had authorized Amazon to allow you to preview some of the pages.

Andrea McNichol, “Handwriting Analysis: Putting It to Work for You”

Why: Lisa Louise Cooke had a handwriting analyst on her podcast.  It was really interesting the information that the analyst was able to interpret just from the signature of an ancestor.  I would like to learn more about the technique.

Marsha Hoffman Rising and Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, “The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried and True Tactics for Tracing the Elusive Ancestors”

Why:   This book’s title really caught my eye.  I have several problems that I am stuck on…..brick walls….. hoping this book  can help me find direction to break them down!

For Specific Location:

Coleman Phillipson, “Alsace-Lorraine, past, present, and future, with four maps”

Why: This book might help me to learn more about my ancestors who lived in the area.  My Peter Family emigrated from that area in the early 1800s.

Rachel Bellerby, “Tracing Your Yorkshire Ancestors”

Why: Several branches of my family tree come from Yorkshire England.  This book would be a possible start to learning more about research in the area.

Marian Press,  “Education and Ontario Family History: A Guide to the Resources for Genealogists and Historians”

Why: Two of my family lines go to Ontario Canada for a couple of generations before immigrating to the United States.  This would be a good guide to understanding the resources in the area .

Must Have Book for Christmas:

Bertram Hawthorne Groene,  “Tracing our Civil War Ancestor”

Why:  With this time frame being the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War, it seems appropriate to researching ancestors who served during the war. 

My Genealogical Christmas List

Santa, 
What do I want for Christmas?  Let me think...... I would like the answers to all the following brick walls. ....or at least a few!


1) Where did Maude Coonrod and Gaston Foote marry?  
      - My grandparents were married Dec 1 1923 according to the family bible.  But the big question is where?  Several times I have made attempts to locate the marriage license.  My grandmother was a schoolteacher and was not allowed to be married.  They got married on the sly.  I have checked many counties in Illinois and Missouri with no luck.  I found a comment online that said they married in Beardstown, IL according to Edmund West, Comp Family Data Collection.  I have checked the county seat for Beardstown (Viriginia, Cass County, IL) but no record.  Where or where can it be??


2) Did John Johnson really use Abraham Lincoln as an attorney and for what purpose?
     - Okay maybe that's two questions but I would like answers to both.  In John's wife's obituary (Rosanna Adkins Johnson) in the Chandlerville Times, June 1898, it is stated " They located on a farm in Menard Co., known then as White Point, but known now as Fields Prairie.  They resided here until about 1842, when he entered government land, now the old home place, and in after years in proving up the claim, he went to Springfield on horse back, and employed Abe Lincoln as his attorney, and they rode from Old Salem together.  This is the only time in his life Mr Johnson every employed a lawyer."  I would love to know if this statement is true and see the proof of it!


3) Where is Robert McIntosh buried?
     - A few years ago a cousin gave me the death date and place for Robert McIntosh as Apr 1888 Mason County, Illinois.  I checked the county clerk's office did not have a death record for him.  I checked the newspapers for area and did not find an obituary.  Unfortunately, my cousin did not provide documentation to support the claim.  So is that information correct?  I also don't know where his wife died.  I know they were in Kansas in 1885.  Did they really die there?  


4) Were William Flaharty and Joshua Flaharty brothers?
    - William's obituary provides only his date of death information.  There is no information about any family ... not his children... not his wife.... and nothing about his siblings if any.  Joshua Flaharty lived in Mason County, Illinois.  In his obituary, it gives his mother and father's names and states that he moved to Illinois with his mother and family.  It gives the name of one sister who survived him Anna Minner.  I have a lot of circumstantial evidence that links the two men that I can say it is highly likely that they were brothers.  I however want the proof!


5) Where did Frank Foote (my 2nd great grandfather) come from in Dorset County, England? 
    - Pretty simple and straight forward.  His parents are Thomas Foote and Arundel Mary Roberts.  Probably just need to settle down and review the church records of Dorset England.  Maybe more research on FamilySearch.org.


6)  Were Dorothy Thornley McIntosh and James Thornley brother and sister?
    - In an biographical record entry for Dorothy's son-in-law, William Abbott, it states that she was the daughter of Thomas Thornley of England.  Two family genealogists list James as the son of Thomas Thornley but again I have no documentation to support it.


7) Where in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France did John Peter come from and was Stephen Peter and  Josephine Bordeau his parents? 
   - As I read more documents, I am not sure he was from Alsace-Lorraine.  According to the censuses and his death certificate, he was born in France.  Where Alsace-Lorraine comes from is Stephen Peter and Josephine Boreau.  But are they his parents?  There is a statement I obtain from somewhere that says only one child survived of Stephen and Josephine a child named Stephen Jr.  But my research shows four other children who survived to adulthood.  


8) Who were Oney Frane's parents?  
   - She was born 12 Dec 1829 in County Mayo, Ireland.  Her obituary gives no indication to her parents.  She came to Canada in 1847 at the age of 18.  In 1858, she married Frank Foote.  Did her parents immigrate with her or did she come alone?


9) Where did Margaret Burbank Coonrod Davis die and when?
   - Her brother, Daniel Burbank, kept a record which stated Margaret died sometime between 1855-1865.  It may have been before 1855 as in the 1850 census her son Henry was living with David Van Gundy, his uncle.


10) Was Tom and Amanda Bell the parents of Mary Jane Bell?
  - A distant cousin told me that Mary Jane's parents were Tom and Amanda Bell.  But I have no documentation to support it.  Mary Jane's obituary does not give her parents name.  But does state that she came to Illinois with her parents as an only child.  Currently I have no records on Tom or his wife.  




So dear Santa I understand if I can't have all of them answered but a few would be wonderful.  


Janna

My Thankful Genealogy List

It's Thanksgiving.  Time to give thanks for the many blessings in my life.  I thought I would put together a list of some of the things I am thankful for from a genealogical perspective.

The Internet which has brought billions of records to my fingertips.

Social Networks which gives me closer contact to cousins all over the world.

The Mormons for having a belief that calls them to rescue genealogical documents.

The Government officials that required us to document certain facts about our lives.

Developers of the Camera who gave us the ability to see likeness of our ancestors.

Computer which allows me to store, review, edit and present to others copies of our family tree.

Makers of Family Tree Maker who created my favorite genealogy program.

Newspaper Writers, Editors, & Publishers for sharing the stories of our lives.

Genealogy Podcasts which keep me inspired to  continue my genealogical research.

All the Libraries and their staff who provide access to an abundance of information.

My Ancestors that left a lot of documentation about their lives because of them I feel I am making a lot of progress.

My Ancestors that left little documentation and led me to a brick wall because of them I am challenged to break it down.

My husband who loves genealogy as much as I do.

My late mother who handed me her work and started me on this adventure.


And thank you to everyone who has glanced at my blog!

How to do my "To Do" list

Like many genealogists out there, I have a long list of genealogical "To Do" items that if I don't keep them somewhere, I forget them.  A list of them is a necessity.  But now that I have switched from PC to Mac, where should I create this list?

I used to be able to keep them in my Outlook Task List.  When I changed to Mac, the Microsoft Office package I purchased did not include Outlook.

This is a fresh start for the To Do List so what options do I need to fulfill?
*Do I want it to be portable?  If so, how do I want it to be portable?  -              Computer, iPhone, or old school paper?
*Inside of my Genealogy program or outside?
*Will it be related to a specific person or broader?

I would like to look at the last two questions first.  In the past, I have kept person specific lists in my genealogy program (Family Tree Maker for PC).  As I transitioned my files, those person specific to do list transferred over int o Family Tree Maker for Mac.  However, I have other genealogy To Dos that don't fit in.  So it would appear, I need some time of non-genealogy program list.

Now the question of portability comes into play.  I could do this the old fashion way and make a list on paper.  Very portable...but not very efficient.  Unless I plan to do them in the exact order they are listed, you end up with several pages of items with varying number of outstanding items.  Then you spent time condensing them into a new list.  As I said, not very efficient and a waste of valuable genealogy time in my opinion.  So I am definitely looking for an electronic method.

Currently, I do not have an easy method of inputting my extensive "To Do" lists on to my iPhone.  So until I find an app that I transfer between my computer and iPhone easily, I will stick with a computer version.  I am sure there is probably an app out there that would allow me to do this.  However, I am still trying to get a handle on the Mac World and am not sure I would choose the best product at this time.

My old standby for To Do lists has been Excel.  I can build a table of different types of items to be done and even keep notes on the status of the item.  I guess for the time being this is the solution I will peruse.  Unless someone has a better idea?

The Hairstylist and the Genealogist

I often talk to my hairstylist about genealogy while she is styling my hair.  She always seems interested in what I have learned new about my family history.  She is a good listener and asks great questions.  Questions that often challenge me to think in different ways.

The other night, she quietly said "I've been thinking about doing some research."  She seemed a little tentative so I asked what she was wanting to research.  There is a picture she has of her paternal great grandfather and great grandmother.  "No one talks about what happened to him."  But she has learned he was in an asylum.

She supplied me with details about the picture.... black and white.... on cardboard stock.  I told her i thought the time frame would be from the last 1800s to the early 1900s.  All she knew was that her grandfather was young when her great grandfather died.

We had talked before about her grandfather who served in World War II and was in his 90s.  But this was not the grandfather.  This grandfather she didn't know his exact age but he was in his late 70s or early 90s.  I started to calculate his age when she added that her father was born in 1956 and her grandfather was 21 years old when he was born.  Okay....so your grandfather was born in 1935. 

"What should I look for?  What do I do first?"  I told her when you start genealogy, you start with yourself and work you way back in time documenting each piece of information along the way.  "But I already know about me."  For her great grandfather the first piece of information we would be looking for would be his death information.

She then recalled her great grandfather's name.  The first name was Ezra.  The last name was not common.  I asked where he died.... Illinois.  I asked if she knew when he died.... No.  I decided to see if by any chance he turned up in the Social Security Death Index.  There was an Ezra born Aug 1895 and died Feb 1944.  "That can't be him.  He died when my grandfather was young".  This man would have died when her grandfather was 9 years old. 

Since his son was not born until 1935, the 1930 Census would be of no use....or would it.  "My grandfather was the second youngest of seven children."  He would be in the 1930 Census with his other children and wife.  Did a search and there he was Ezra, his wife Beulah and four children.  His birth year according to the Census, was 1896.  So Ezra in the SSDI was him.

My hairstylist was amazed.  I found all of this while she styled my hair in 30 minutes or less.  And to be truthfully honest, I was too.  Guess twenty years or so of doing this has paid off!  Now the only question is "Has she caught the bug?"