Genealogists Cannot Depend on Obituaries Alone
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
3M ago
Every genealogist loves a good obituary. The contents of an obituary can vary greatly, depending on the time period and other factors. Some of the information that can be found in an obituary includes: Birth date Marriage date Date of death Burial location Names of parents Names and residences of surviving siblings and/or children Occupational data Religion Organizational membership Military service However, they can also underscore the importance of finding original records and corroborating evidence whenever possible. Here’s four examples of obituaries I’ve found with mistakes, and how I u ..read more
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Who Was Margaretha’s Mother? How A German Ancestor’s Tombstone Unlocked Another’s Identity
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
10M ago
Tombstones dating back to the 19th century or earlier can be rich sources of information about our ancestors. They can be used as substitutes when there are no government-issued vital records. These older tombstones sometimes give additional details that may not be recorded on any other surviving records. In this example, a tombstone from 1885 included an important clue which helped to break down a brick wall involving my German ancestors. Margaretha Weber Kasper (1856-1899) My third great-grandmother Margaretha Weber Kasper was born in Germany in 1856. The 1880 census shows Margaretha and her ..read more
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A Day Trip to NYC
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
1y ago
During a 1-day trip to New York City, I visited: Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace Titanic: The Exhibition Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace Formal room in Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace. Tucked away on a quiet street in Manhattan is the birthplace of Teddy Roosevelt. The home is a reconstruction that was opened in 1923, but it includes many original pieces, like Teddy’s crib. Tours of the house are free! On the ground floor is a gallery and a small gift shop. There’s artifacts, portraits, and a small theater playing a film in the gallery. In the gift shop you’ll find: Books, including childre ..read more
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How I Found 7 Diseases Suffered by My Ancestors
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
1y ago
Tuberculosis (TB) At one time, tuberculosis was rampant. According to American Experience on PBS, “by the dawn of the 19th century, tuberculosis…had killed one in seven of all people that had ever lived.” In my family tree the disease was prevalent in ancestors living in cities, but I’ve found no evidence of it in my relatives who lived in rural areas. My grandfather was from the city of Chester, Pennsylvania in Delaware County. It’s in his line where several of my ancestors contracted tuberculosis, also commonly called consumption. My grandfather had written that his paternal grandmother, M ..read more
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Disproving Online Family Trees to Find my 4th Great-Grandmother
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
1y ago
Online family trees identify the wife of my ancestor Stephen Romain/Romayne (1819-1893) as Mary Eleanor Hillborn (1828-1910). Records, however, reveal the identity of another woman. Beware of Online Family Trees I often caution other genealogists against believing what they find in online family trees that do not cite reliable sources. Online researchers often incorrectly assume a person’s identity, add that wrong person to their family tree, and this mistake is picked up by other users who share that ancestor. My 4th great-grandmother, the wife of Stephen Romain, is such an example. About Ste ..read more
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The True Story Behind a Civil War Ancestor’s War Wounds
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
2y ago
Two different sources provided the same misleading information about a Civil War veteran ancestor’s war wounds. While looking for additional details, I discovered the truth buried in an offline source. My 4th great grandfather, Hiram Riffle of Lindley, Steuben County, New York, was a veteran of the Civil War, who served as a private in Company F of the 86th New York Infantry. He enlisted early in the war on 14 September 1861 and was discharged 10 June 1864. I found the following 4 records that revealed his military service, most of which were available on Ancestry: 1. 1890 Veterans Sched ..read more
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A Visit to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
2y ago
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is an ideal half-day excursion for history-lovers visiting Tennessee. A Few Items to Note: The Hermitage is located about 15 miles from downtown Nashville Address is 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage, Tennessee Cost of 1 adult mansion tour equals $26.50 after taxes and fees Operating hours are Thursday – Monday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tours of the mansion leave every 15 minutes during operating hours Last tour of the day starts at 4:45 p.m. For a full list of the available tours, click here. The VIP Tour, priced at $50, unfortunately did not fit into my schedule. Unlike the ge ..read more
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Finding a Maiden Name & Parents for Catherine Morgan of Chester, PA
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
2y ago
My third great-grandmother, Catherine Morgan was born in Delaware about 1832. Sometime around 1854 she married James Morgan and they settled in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania and raised a large family. Catherine died in 1904, and was buried in Chester Rural Cemetery. This information about Catherine was readily available online when I began researching her, but her maiden name and the identity of her parents were initially a mystery. The answers lay in a combination of records, including a child’s death certificate, a newspaper item, and census records. A son’s death certificate reveal ..read more
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A Family History Surprise on TV: The Story of Cousin Andy
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
2y ago
As a kid, I recall my relatives occasionally mentioning Cousin Andy, my grandmother’s cousin who spent much of his life in prison for committing various crimes. He had even broken into my grandparents’ house and stolen a few items, an offense for which he promptly turned himself in to authorities. Besides these details, I didn’t know much more about him, and he had mostly faded from my memory. Then, in 2020, a phone call with my dad sparked a renewed interest in Cousin Andy. My dad had seen a documentary about Attica Prison, which mentioned the prison’s first inmate to escape. They even showed ..read more
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18 Ideas for Sharing Your Family History
Lindsey's Histories
by LindseyHarner
2y ago
Whether you want to share photos, newspaper clippings, marriage certificates, recipes, clothing, and more, below are some ideas for sharing your family history. But remember, DO NOT keep original records on display for long periods of time! Only display copies! Exposure to light will damage the documents. Keep them stored properly, and only take them out on rare occasions. 1. Display Table Set up a table to display heirlooms and/or copies of records for relatives to peruse at an upcoming family gathering. Customize the theme of the display to the event. For example, a display at a wedding coul ..read more
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