LESSON LEARNED: Changing the spelling makes a difference! For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on the family of Thaddeus Koechle who immigrated from Germany to America in the summer of 1851 with his wife and 5 children. But, there was something odd about the oldest child, Maria or Mary. She appeared to have been born about 2 years before Thaddeus and his wife, Katharina Kern, were married. Thada Koechle, passenger #281, 05 July 1851, Ship Monmouth, Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 (Maria, age 17, is 3rd on this...
Summer is basically over as school is back in session this week. I had a wonderful summer with lots of travel, but it’s nice to be home now and getting back to a more regular schedule. Unfortunately, with all of the craziness of summer, I haven’t been blogging much! So, I hope to rectify that and blog regularly. One of my trips this summer was to Pennsylvania where I spent a week at GRIP: the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. In this post, I’ll share about my dorm room experience. In later posts, I’ll share about other aspects of my...
While at GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh) last week, the news at dinner one night was that Ancestry had released a new database. It was called “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007” and offered more information than the “Social Security Death Index.” But, we were told, do your homework first! (Yes, classes at GRIP have homework in the evenings!) (image from Wikipedia) I didn’t access the new index until a couple of nights ago. I decided to work with one of my more unusual surnames: Kaechle. And, I found a lot of new information! If you don’t know...
On Saturday, I returned from my second summer at the week-long genealogy institute in Pittsburgh known as GRIP: Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. This year, I enjoyed a course taught by Michael D. Lacopo, DVM and Sharon Cook MacInnes, PhD titled Pennsylvania: Research in the Keystone State. While trying to decide which course to take, I recognized Dr. Lacopo’s name from his blog, Hoosier Daddy? I wondered how this Indiana native could be an expert on Pennsylvania research. I was pleasantly surprised! Michael, a former veterinarian, now works full time as a genealogy researcher, writer, blogger, and lecturer. He has graciously allowed...
This week I had a breakthrough on my Snavely ancestors. I knew my 4x great grandfather, Jacob Coppenbarger (1769-1841) married Catherine Ann Snavely. But, Catherine Ann was the only Snavely I had found. My great aunt’s files had Catherine Ann’s father as “John Snavely” and said in the notes: His Will, proved 14 Mar 1826 in Smyth Co, VA (signed with a mark X). A lot of the info on his data and children was taken from his Will. Book 3: 186-187. Though I thought my great aunt was probably correct, I’d never seen a copy of the will. And,...
For the past two years, I’ve bought the video recordings offered by the NGS convention as I haven’t been able to attend in person. This year, they offered two tracks: “The Immigration & Naturalization Process” and “Methodology Techniques.” Both options include five lectures presented by some top genealogy speakers. I believe they are still available for purchase and viewing until August 16th. I’ve now finished watching the 5 “methodology” lectures and wanted to share some things I’ve learned from each: The Time of Cholera: A Case Study about Historical Context by Alison Hare A fascinating story about the lecturer’s ancestor who died...
While trying to piece together the Correy family puzzle, I came across a book titled Reports of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Which have Been Omitted from the Regular Reports, Volume 3 by Lewis B. Walker, Esq. A chapter titled “Boyd’s Appeal” deals with the will of a George Correy. Robert Correy, William K Correy and Mary (Correy) Boyd are the three other names mentioned and I’ve come across them already as I’ve been researching the Correy’s. George Correy’s will, dated June 13, 1781, made his wishes about a certain piece of property known as follows: “I leave...
My newly discovered Correy family of Chester County and nearby Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is potentially the most interesting branch I’ve yet uncovered. I’m anxious to share these incredible stories. But, first I have to prove that all of these “Correy’s” are my family! I have a huge job ahead! Thankfully, there are lots of documents. I’ve found more than a dozen wills, over 50 other documents, and at least 50 names. But I’m struggling to put these family members together. And, it is quite possible that all of these individuals do NOT belong to the same family: my family! So, until...
John Vincent, a veteran of the War of 1812, was declared by the Court to be a “habitual drunkard” in 1840. He was about 48 years old and, according to the 1840 census, had 8 children living at home including four under the age of 10. His wife, Maria, must have had a tough time with so many children and a husband who was often drunk. John’s father-in-law, David Watson, was appointed trustee of John’s property which was worth about $25,000 with debts of $5,000. By 1843, however, John Vincent was thankfully better and he regained possession of his property....
Sarah Jane (Watson) Stewart, was only 27 years old when she died in 1853. She’d been married to John Q Stewart for a little over four years and given birth to two sons. Her oldest, George, would’ve been 3 years old, but it is possible he preceded his mother in death. The youngest, Alexander, was only 22 months old. Sarah Jane’s mother, Betsy, had died 7 years earlier while Sarah Jane was probably still living at home. Betsy was buried alongside other family members at Warrior Run Church Cemetery in Delaware Run, Pennsylvania. Five years later, Sarah Jane’s older brother,...
