Amanuensis Monday: 1848 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Marriages
While searching for family names in the San Donato Val di Comino records, I thought the San Donatese diaspora might appreciate having an accessible transcription of some of the historic civil registration indexes for the town. Awhile ago I transcribed the 1849 Births. Today I have transcribed the 49 marriages recorded during the year 1848. 1848 Marriages Tavola alfabetica annual de matrimonj per l’anno mille ottocento quarantotto Alphabetical table of annual marriages in the year one thousand eight hundred forty-eight No. d’ord. Page # Cognomi e Nomi de sposi Names and Surnames of Spouses Patria Home Cognomi e nomi de genitori Name and … Continue reading Amanuensis Monday: 1848 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Marriages
Matrilineal Monday: My Father’s Matrilineal Line Featured On Who Do You Think You Are?
I was a researcher for several seasons of the American version of Who Do You Think You Are? It was an absolute blast performing the research, and then very interesting to see how the findings were later used for the filming itself. The focus of WDYTYA? and other genealogy programs tends to focus on celebrities discovering their past (although some shows now have started to feature segments on “everyday” folks who have interesting ancestors too), although I always thought it would be fun to see some of my ancestors featured in a similar way. So imagine my surprise when I … Continue reading Matrilineal Monday: My Father’s Matrilineal Line Featured On Who Do You Think You Are?
Tuesday’s Tip: Top Ten Tips for Visiting the Family History Library
Last year I took a brief weekend trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and copied a wonderful selection of records – then couldn’t believe how quickly the time passed, and how many more records I still wanted to copy or locate! So this year I planned a week-long visit. After having a very successful trip, I thought I would share my top ten tips for making the most out of your research trip to the Family History Library! 1. Research, research, research. Research in order to research? YES! Novice, intermediate and advanced genealogists can greatly benefit … Continue reading Tuesday’s Tip: Top Ten Tips for Visiting the Family History Library
Amanuensis Monday: 1849 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Births
While searching for family names in the San Donato Val di Comino records, I thought the San Donatese diaspora might appreciate having an accessible transcription of some of the historic civil registration indexes for the town. 121 births were recorded during the year 1849 (although 2 births were from the previous year of 1848). There were four illegitimate births which listed the name of the child’s mother and stated “padre incerto” – father uncertain. The most common surnames were Quintiliani/Quintiliano (8), Rufo (7), Tempesta (7), Bona (6), Cardarelli (6), Cellucci (6), Antonellis (4), Lanno (4), Mazzola (4), Roffo (4). 1849 … Continue reading Amanuensis Monday: 1849 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Births
Treasure Chest Thursday: Framing the Past: Identifying Crapo Family Ambrotypes
I recently had an article published in American Ancestors (published by NEHGS) which explored my journey of identifying a mysterious set of ambrotypes which were found in my grandfather’s workshop. These were the ambrotypes that were discovered tucked away in my grandfather’s desk, placed out of sight for years, which had never been seen by my grandmother: Click on the image below to read the full article and discover how this mystery was solved! As I stated in the article, Henry Emerson Crapo and Isabella Frances Lannigan’s daughter Ada Marion (Crapo) Howland had three children. So if any cousins have labeled duplicates of these ambrotypes … Continue reading Treasure Chest Thursday: Framing the Past: Identifying Crapo Family Ambrotypes
Sibling Saturday: 1860 Letter from Ellen J. Bonney of Hanson, Mass. to her brother Otis L. Bonney of Boston, Mass.
Below are scanned images, a transcription, and explanatory footnotes of a letter written on 18 March 1860 by fifteen-year old Ellen Josephine Bonney (b. 22 Feb. 1845) of Bonney Hill, South Hanson, Mass. to her older brother, twenty-one year old Otis Lafayette Bonney (b. 2 Dec. 1838) who at the time was working for Daniel Allen & Co. in Boston, Mass. They were both the children of Ezekiel Bonney and Angeline White of Hanson, Mass. Three years after writing this letter, Ellen J. Bonney married Noah A. Ford at East Bridgewater in 1863. In addition to reporting local news relating … Continue reading Sibling Saturday: 1860 Letter from Ellen J. Bonney of Hanson, Mass. to her brother Otis L. Bonney of Boston, Mass.
Tombstone Tuesday: Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington
Incorporated on October 16, 1872 as the Seattle Masonic Cemetery, it later changed its name to Lake View Cemetery in 1890. The cemetery is located on the top of Capitol Hill with stunning views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, and Lake Union and Lake Washington. Although the cemetery was incorporated in 1872, it soon became the home of several reburial projects from smaller earlier cemeteries throughout the city. One of the earliest stones located here is the following curious marker: Members of the Denny Party had moved from Alki Beach [today’s West Seattle] to the western shore of … Continue reading Tombstone Tuesday: Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington
Travel Tuesday: Saxon Cross in Follifoot, Yorkshire, England
Several years ago, while visiting family in Knaresborough, we briefly stayed in the small and beautiful village of Follifoot. Follifoot is believed to derive from a Norse phrase meaning “Place of a Horse Fight” which was popular in the medieval era. The village is believed to have been a place where horses were trained and fights were staged. The village was not listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086. The earliest written record of Follifoot referred to it as “Pholifet” in the twelfth century. According to a conservation appraisal of the town, several Saxon remains have been unearthed in Rudding Park and in 1964 … Continue reading Travel Tuesday: Saxon Cross in Follifoot, Yorkshire, England
Military Monday: 2nd Lieutenant Roy Edwards of the Rifle Brigade, 10th Battalion
After writing a post the other week about Sydney Henry Payne’s service in World War I, I found myself wondering what happened to Syd’s commander, 2nd Lt. Roy Edwards [no relation to Syd’s brother in law, William James Stephen Edwards, the husband of Syd’s sister Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards, who also served in WWI]. You may recall that he sent Syd’s mother, Edith Jane (Scarrott) Payne Burns Hart the following letter, assuring her of Syd’s safety: “Oct. 26 1917. Dear Mrs. Payne, No doubt your son has told you he is servant to me in France and as I have … Continue reading Military Monday: 2nd Lieutenant Roy Edwards of the Rifle Brigade, 10th Battalion
Tombstone Tuesday: “Chief Seattle’s Grave” and Suquamish Cemetery, Suquamish, Wa.
We recently visited Suquamish Cemetery beside St. Peter’s Catholic Mission in Suquamish, Kitsap County, Washington on a cold and rainy day. The cemetery is well-known as the burial site of “Chief Seattle” [so-called by Midwestern settlers who founded the city of Seattle and named it in his honor in the 1850s, the title “Chief” was an American title, he was named si?al in Lushootseed]. It is also the burial site of numerous Catholic Suquamish tribe members and related families. In the early 19th century, Catholic French Canadian trappers were working along the waters and forests of Puget Sound, and several … Continue reading Tombstone Tuesday: “Chief Seattle’s Grave” and Suquamish Cemetery, Suquamish, Wa.
Tombstone Tuesday: WWI Rifleman Sidney Henry Payne
Sidney Henry PAYNE was born on 21 July 1898 in 125 Blackfriars Rd., Southwark, London, England, the son of Thomas Samuel Henry Payne and Edith Jane Scarrott. His name was also spelled as “Sydney”. He was the brother of Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards and the half-brother of Lucy Lilian Burns. He was baptized on 16 December 1900 in St. Mary’s, Lambeth, London, England. At the age of 18, he enlisted for World War I at Southwark on 7 September 1916, and was assigned service number S/25413. From then until August 1917, he was stationed at Minster West, North Sheerness, where … Continue reading Tombstone Tuesday: WWI Rifleman Sidney Henry Payne
Treasure Chest Thursday: The Hidden Sword Blade Guard in a Secret Compartment of Grace McClellan’s Sideboard
In 1969, after the passing of Nana Grace (Hanson) McClellan, a large wooden sideboard from her house was moved next door to her granddaughter Edna’s home, where it has sat by the kitchen table for 43 years. This month, Edna gave the sideboard to her daughter Debbie, and a small group of family members gathered to help maneuver the heavy piece of furniture. As they cleared out the sideboard of possessions that had accumulated over the years, they uncovered a false back in one of the drawers, which was moved to reveal a small hidden compartment. Neither Edna nor anyone … Continue reading Treasure Chest Thursday: The Hidden Sword Blade Guard in a Secret Compartment of Grace McClellan’s Sideboard