Yellow fever did not recur; one either died or survived. It came in mysterious, vicious waves, killing anywhere from 12 to 70 percent of its victims. It started with shivering, high fever, insatiable thirst, savage headaches, and severe back and leg pains. In a day or so, the restless patient would become jaundiced and turn yellow. In the terminal stages, the patient would spit up mouthfuls of dark blood, the terrifying “black vomit” (vomito negro), the body temperature would drop, the pulse fade, and the comatose patient, cold to the touch, would die in about 8 to 10 hours. So...
Fort Freeland (image from Wikipedia) In 1772, the Vincent families and others moved from Essex County, New Jersey, to current day Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. For several years, they lived peacefully near the local “Indians.” But, trouble started brewing in 1777. By 1779, about 13 families were living in a large, two-story house around which they had built a 12-foot high wall around. It enclosed a half acre and they called it Fort Freeland. Life was fairly normal at the fort. Isaac Vincent’s wife gave birth to a son, George, in February of 1779. Two other babies were also born inside...
Almost 3 years ago, I came across the obituary of Bethuel Vincent (1798-1828), my 5th great grandfather’s youngest son, posted on Find a Grave. The short, sad obituary said the following: Died – In Turbut township, on the 11th inst., Bethuel Vincent, junior, aged about 30 years. The deceased had gone to the fields to collect raspberries and while crossing a small brook was taken with convulsive fits, to which he was daily subject, fell into the water, where he was, shortly after, found lifeless. [The States Advocate, Thursday, 17 July 1828. Posted on Bethuel Vincent’s Find a Grave memorial page...
For centuries children have worked to help their families. They have helped their parents farm, run stores, and do other businesses. But, during the American Industrial Revolution, many children went to work in the mills and mines. They would often work up to twelve hours a day, seven days a week, at dangerous and even deadly jobs. In Pennsylvania, in the later 1800s, both mindsets and laws were changing to protect children. Work hours were decreased and children were required to attend school for a certain number of months a year. Minimum ages were set in place for certain types...
My great, great grandfather, Augustus L Merrill (or A. L. Merrill), was a census taker in 1900. In 1910, he was a census supervisor overseeing 4 counties and 180 enumerators in north central Pennsylvania. 1900 Census for Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania Augustus L. Merrill, Enumerator (image from Ancestry.com) What did it take to be an enumerator? A. L. Merrill Opens Office, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 16 Nov 1909, page 4, column 6, digital image newspapers.com, (http://newspapers.com), accessed 12 Feb 2015 I found a fairly lengthy article that describes the application process. These applications would be wonderful genealogy finds… if...
My great, great grandmother, Sarah Jane (Eastwood) Merrill, had evidently been ill for five years when a “marked change in her condition” took place. What was her very strange ailment? And, what occurred to make her feel better? Here’s the brief article I found: 50 Years Ago, The Express, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, 20 Jul 1967, page 1, column 4, digital image newspapers.com, (http://newspapers.com), accessed 12 Feb 2015 After five years’ illness, Mrs. A. L. Merrill was making good progress towards recovery. A marked change in her condition being after an attack of nausea, when she emitted an object which it...
My Vincent ancestors moved from Essex County, New Jersey to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania in the mid to late 1700s. During the Revolutionary War, they were at Fort Freeland when it was attacked by the British and their Indian allies in 1779. The women, children, and elderly men were set free, but the able-bodied men were marched to Canada as prisoners. In 1876, The Columbian published a series of articles titled “History of Columbia County.” The fourth part of this series was published on January 28th and told about the capture of Fort Freeland. Part of the article tells about Bethuel...
Randy Seaver posted his weekly Saturday Night Genealogy Challenge and I’m a few days late, but decided to give it a try! His challenge? Do some random genealogy research and basically report what you started with and what you learned. I like how Diane at Michigan Family Trails changed it up a bit and went with the first person in her tree and limited it to one hour. So, I’ve decided to go that route. My person? Her name is Agnes and she married Cline Quigley. What I know? She was born in about 1820 in Pennsylvania and had 3 (known)...
I’m excited to be participating in this year’s “52 Ancestor Challenge” from “No Story Too Small.” Our ancestors are more than names, dates, & places. They lived and breathed; married and had children; celebrated births and grieved deaths. For the most part, our ancestors suffered more loss than we do. Wives often died in childbirth. Children often died while still children. Life was harsher. I’ve had very few deaths which were close to me. I lost my best childhood friend when I was 17, but I hadn’t seen her in years. I lost my grandmother about 10 years ago, but...
In my research, I’ve found three situations when a surname is used as a middle name. 1. HONORING A FAMOUS PERSON (usually political) Examples from my tree: George Washington Young, Thomas Jefferson Decker, Ulysess Grant Burton & James Madison Randolph 2. HONORING SURNAMES OF THE PAST Examples from my tree: My father’s middle name is his great, great grandmother’s last name. My brother was given the same middle name. My sister-in-law gave her son our beloved grandparent’s last name (though in this instance it’s his first, not middle, name) 3. HONORING THE MOTHER OR A GRANDPARENT Examples of mothers’ surnames...
