My mother-in-law, Jane Warren collected cards, letters, invitations and many other items over the years. I scanned most and will post here.
Oct 29
William Warren, ca 1802-ca 1850 Sea Journal
This is a transcription of a sea journal kept by William Warren, who was born about 1802 and passed away before the 1850 census, when his two children, Isaac and Catherine were living with their aunt and uncle, Isaac and Catharine Warren. William Warren married by banns first, Eliza Eats, in Kent, London, England on 18 July 1833. Eliza was the mother of Isaac, his oldest child. Isaac was born in 1838 and died in 1922. Eliza must have died before William married his second wife, Mary Knolls, who also disappeared before 1850. She was the mother of Catharine, 1840-1923. William was a taxable resident from 1841-1842 in Shenango Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and in 1847 in Patterson Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He was naturalized in 1840 in Beaver County. The parentage of the children was determined from their death certificates, and from the will of their aunt, Catharine (?) Warren.
My thanks to Papa’s cousin, Susan, who scanned the pages of the journal and emailed them to me.
The punctuation or lack of it, and the weird capitalization and spelling are copied exactly from the pages. There are quite a few pages that I had trouble figuring out the words, you will see question marks.
A Google map with the locations mentioned in the journal is located here.
Page 1 scan
Directions
Willm Clegg 3 Cuts New England
Steven Roalf Mr Hobbs Seven Oaks Kent
Saturday June 29 embarked on Board the ship Electra for Philadelphia at 8 E weighd from Graves end 10 anchord in the h?
30 m 4 weighd wind SW ? a long shore noon past by Margate 3 put back from off Broadstairs and anchor’d in Margate Road E 8 weigh ‘d wind NW 11 past through The Downs
1 July m 6 of Syd Light House 10 wind W brisk passengers sick
2nd m 6 off’ Beachy Head 10 wind SW 3
3rd m 6 Ile of Wight in sight, 3 past by ???head E8 Anchord at Cowes .
4th E 10 weigh’d for the Needles.
5th m 10 9 miles from Cowes Weighd anchor from Lymington Passed through the needles at 3 E 11 wind N
6 M 7 wind N E 4 saw the coast of Dorsetshire .
7 M5 wind N
8 wind north fine
9 M 6 wind W
10th Wind West light
11 M 6 Wind W. and is gusty? Noon Wind NNW a strong gale
12th Wind NNW brisk gale people sick E3 Wind W.
13 M 6 wind W. Noon spoke To Ship Hope of Outend from Trieste Bound to Amsterdam 3 Weeks Out E3 wind NW fine Written above: Saw a grau? (refers to a large fish)14
14th Sunday M6 Wind WNW and light. Noon a calm lower’d a Hemmisrical lead Bottle with 120 fathams of line and drew it up again for the empty?, for the Philosophical Society. E2 saw several Bonettas jumping out of the sea appeared about 3 or 4 feet long colored like a Mackerel with two small fins about a foot long projecting from each side [drawing of fish]. 15th This day we saw neither ship nor barge all day.
15th M M 6 wind NW and light
left side blank. Right side:
Receipt for getting grese out of woollen
Dissolve a piece of pearl ash about the size of a ? in half a tea ? full of warm water pour some of in on the grease rub it with a clean brush or woollen ? ???
Noon saw a Brig bearing NW distance 6 or 7 miles
16th wind S and light. Noon a strong gale 8 knots an hour E 8 wind N.W the man at the helm was thrown Over ½ past 8 N and less than a hour ship wheel it blew a ?
17th M6 wind NW blowing hard all day.
18th M 2 a heavy gale M 6 have Moderate a heavy swale M 10 wind a N but little Canvas set on account of the Heavy swell. 11 wind NW a stiff breeze.
19th M 6 Wind NNW and fine Weather
20th Wind N and Weather fine.
21st M6 (Sunday) Wind W. weather fine.
22 M 6 Wind W E3 wind NW fine Weather
23 M 6 Calm Noon Wind NW fine Weather
24th M wind N Course WNW 6 Knots the Brig that has been in sight this far ?? ?? ? on us this Morning This is the first vessel that has been able to keep up with us out of about 80 weather fine
25th M 6 Clam M 10 Wind WNW and light made but little way
26th Wind W and again by noon wind NW E for ? a flying fish 16 inches long flew on board and was sold by the carpenters to one of the passengers for ½ a Dollar who skin ? and ?
27th M 6 Wind NW and fine. M 11 saw a turtle asleep floating on the starboard side of the ship about 80 yards distant lowered the boat and sent and took it on board weighed it 13 ¼ lb saw several dolphins but could not ratch any and ? ? flying fish 28 lbs ? Wind N by W a fine Breeze Latitude 39 at Noon Longitude 33.1.5W several flying Fish skyming along and dipping and Rising they fly about 5 or 6 feet above the water Sunday NB the turtle was off the western Iles
29 M 6 Wind NE and Nearly Calm M 10 a ship under Portuguese Colours Forcd a Shot at us and demanded where we came from E10 wind shifted Southward
30th M 6 wind WSW a steady Breeze all Day at 3 O’Clock a Brigg past by under all sail about a Mile distant
31st M6 Wind S.S.W and Squally with past by a ? Heavy sea.
Augst 1 M6 Wind NW a heavy Sea 10 saw a Ship steering E, weather fine.
2nd M6 Wind N by E course NW by W and fine weather Latitude 40.49 at noon Longitude 45.1 S #7 Saw a Brigg Mogn Eileford? at ¾ ? in the NW.
3rd quite Calm still Noon the Brigg we saw yesterday bearing NE Wind SSE and very firce EC Saw a Vast Number of Grampuses going to the N.E they appeard to go in a line and to extend 8 or 9 miles and to be 20 or 30 feet in length.
4th M6 Wind SSE 8 wind Shifted to WSW and Nearly Calm. We ? from 12 o’clock yesterday till 8 this Morning 130 Miles and greatest part of the time the Ship was still as if we had been in the Thames M 10 I ? after m d ceti? Whale ? close to the ship A?? to be about 10 or 11 feet from the Back fin to the nose and Nearly white and scaled hog. E4EH saw several Whales Sunday.
Day hours Min? Observations
Course WNW wind S?
5th M6 3 Saw Several gramssusscs? at a distance WNW
8 8 Distance saw some bonetas? Wind S?
12 5 Latitude 42 Longitude 51,8
E4 4 on the south of Newfoundland
6 5 Bank a fine day Wind SW by S
6th M6 7 Squally ? WNW
8 8 latitude 42. Longitude 53 1/3
12 8 Afternoon fine
6 9 Do saw a Ship and Brig
7th 6 2 Weather fine wind SW by S WNW
12 2 The Ship and Brigg we past in the night Latitude 42 longitude 55
Afternoon fine
8 6 5 Saw a saw a sail ? weather fine
12 4 Saw several gulls and flying Long?
6 4 ½ fi? Wind SW and fine Breeze 58? the sail as leven? diving on us
9th 6 61/2 Wind W by S a fine Breeze Longitude 6.14 a Brigg past to leeward N
10 6 5 Wind NE and light ? Tail in sight W
12 5 Wind S Lat 42. Longitude WSW
11 6 3 ½ Wind NW fine Weather
12 Calm
12 6 Do SW? Noon then ESE and light 5 Sales in sight
13 6 Wind SSW a fine Breeze NNW
13 Augst
11 5 ? an American Vessel bound to the Couno?vy? les 3 days from Boston Wind SW Lat WNW Longitude 63 a find day WNW
14 6 8 Wind N a fine Breeze all day WSW
Vast number of porpoises swimming round the ship thick as ? round the ware stumfrd?
15 6 2 Wind S. saw several granssur?
12 4 at a distance Longitude WSW
4 6 find day and light wind
16 6 5 Wind N fine weather and fair WSW
12 7 Two ships past by Longitude
4 7 69.40 Latitude
17 6 3 Wind W fine weather and smooth SSW
N 4 Sea wind S.W Latitude ? Lan NW
18 6 A dead Calm full moon then a light wind W Sunday
19 6 5 Wind N ? by E a find Breeze WSW
12 6 ? of Porpoises along side
2 8 saw a Thermicide? Wale pass
6 9 quite close all in health
9 8 and spirits in ? of seeing
10 8 Land
20 6 7 got a bilot? on Board Wind SWWNW
E 4 3 saw land for the first time since I left England the Capes on Each side
20 4 The Delaware it is very low and full of trees being over flowd in some places ? on about 9 Mile from the Lighthouse and Cast Anchor
21 6 Made sail with tide and got about 11 Mile anchord, at 2 the wind shifted to SE made sail up the Bay of Delaware it is about 18 mile wide and 60 long ubo? more up the River to Philadelphia and shores of the Bay are Beautifully interspersed with woods and gently rise up grounds and look Delightful though a good ? run up the Bay and got 4 mile within the River and got aground at low water ? off and cast anchor at 12 A at night.
22 weighd with the flood wind foul first by Penn harbour and fort at 2E came in tight of New Castles at 3 Very pretty place and many Delightful farms ? and Cottages Every one appearing to have a field of Indian corn and fruit trees in it. E7 at anchor 2 miles from Newcastle the Land on the western side of the Delaware is here much bolder than on the East rises
In gentle slopes of hill and vale to about 150 to 220 feet about 2 or 3 miles distant, Newcastle is Very Piguereske, and today was very fine. From 200 to 300 houses in newcassle.
23 Weighd Anchor about 3 this Morning and went about 8 miles passed by Wilmington came to an anchor abreast of sand resembling the Ile of Wright but not so high and bigger timber with gentlemans seats cottages orchards woods we came alongside a boat with 120 bushes of Peaches bought 3 bushel of picked fruit 1 Dollar each Bl. & came alongside a Boat with Melons Mussk & Water as big as a half anchor 8 cents Views Delightful 2E Past by Marguis (Marcus) Hook 20 houses on a point of land 18 M from Philladelphia could see with a glass orchard upon Orchard loaded with fruit vast quantities of Indian Corn in small inclosures 4 came in sight of the Lagarette and cast anchor was visited by ? ? and then Proceeded on about 3 miles and Cast anchor for the Night.
24 M8 got
(next page)
Into the steam Boat and reached the city about Noon just 8 weeks after I Embarked at Gravesend in good health and spirits.
Directions for Mr. Kellett at the Signs of the Dog Pitsburg
Feb 22
Fixed
I finally got through all the broken links on this blog. I fixed most of them, but those which were linked to out of date news articles and websites were removed. There are over 400 redirects, but those seem to be working.
Onward!
Aug 21
FGS Day One
I wanted to share a little with you about my first day at the Federation of Genealogical Society’s annual conference. I was so happy to be able to make the short drive to Ft. Wayne and attend this year!
I arrived at noon and spent several hours in the library before registration. A day in the Allen County Library is always a good day. I was scheduled for a consultation during the afternoon, so I grabbed by “stuff” and headed of for that. A couple of real good suggestions from a volunteer. I need to work a little harder on my mystery man, who happens to also be my great-grandfather.
I attended the FamilySearch Blogger dinner. I guess that was enough to help me realize how much I miss blogging. Great to meet several bloggers I follow, and am friends with, but had never met in person. Among them: Becky Wisemen, Polly Kimmitt, and Julie Cahill Tarr. I even got a glimpse of The Ancestry Insider! At the FamilySearch Blogger dinner, I also got my very first Blogger Beads! Thanks to Thomas for sending them, and to the lady who handed them out.
Diane C. Loosle, the new director spoke about some changes at the Family History Library. The concept being rolled out is about collaborative areas in the library where staff and researchers share experiences and research. The library is bringing the staff out from behind the desk and setting up areas with film readers, computers and tables where researchers and staff collaborate during research. According to Loosle, a trial area for Nordic research on B1 has been very successful.
The other concept presented in detail was the, “Family History Discovery Center”. Three to five of these Centers will open worldwide during the next twelve months. These will have the traditional research equipment, film readers, computers and so on, but also offer multimedia experience and other resources. These services appear to be outreach to younger and those less likely to have experienced traditional research.
The concept that most interested me was the “Oral History Recording Studio” concept which will be a part of the discovery centers. For an eight dollar fee, you may interview a relative or other person of interest and take away a one-hour high definition video of the interview. I wish I had one of my grandmother, or even mother!
The general focus of most of the new FamilySearch initiatives becomes evident in their expression “Not Charts, but Hearts”. Watch for a lot more on that general concept. Some researchers wonder about underemphasis of actual research techniques; it will be interesting to see if this approach draws more people into serious research.
Thank you FamilySearch for the great meal, and for spilling the beans on your direction.
Mar 21
William Henry Yearnd (1883-1948)
William was my grandfather. I originally posted this short biography on my old website, more than ten years ago. I am finally getting around to adding it here.
William H. Yearnd. Michigansian, U of M yearbook, 1905
Birth and parents
William Henry Yearnd was born ca 1883 in Howell Michigan. I have found no birth or baptism record. His birth and parentage is supported by other several records.
The first, his marriage record, # 54 of the year 1908 in Wexford County, Michigan recorded 9 April 1908, and stating he married Winnie Kaiser, daughter Wm Kaiser and Jane Johnston on 8 April 1908, and listing his parents as Chas Yearnd and Lena Detman.
Upon the death of Charles Yearnd (sometimes Yournd) of Howell, MI on 20 July 1911, there was no will, however William Yearnd appears on the determination of heirs for the estate. The heirs are listed as: Lena Yearnd, widow; Fred Yearnd, son; Augusta Yearnd; daughter, Frank Yearnd, son; William Yearnd, son. William Yearnd was the attorney who filed the case in probate court.
A clipping of an obituary for William, which is not identified as to date or paper it is from, states he was born in Howell, Michigan on 28 June 1883, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yearnd.
William, of Cadillac is listed as a survivor in the obituary of Charles Yournd.
Several biographies and articles were printed in newspapers between 1908 and 1948 which note that William Yearnd was born in Howell, MI. William’s wife, Winnie, kept a scrapbook which preserved many articles, but does not always identify the paper or the date. The public cannot access the archives of the local paper in Cadillac, and there is no microfilm.
Early life
Howell, Michigan is located in Southeastern Lower Michigan, northwest of Detroit. It was a small town, typical of many in the Midwest. There was, for a time a condensed milk factory, which provided employment. The majority of the residents were farm families or laborers.
William Yearnd attended the University of Michigan. On particular article stated that he shoveled coal to put himself through school. According to the University, they maintain some files of graduates in the Bentley Library, and William Yearnd is among those with a file. I will post what I find when I am able to look at the file. William received an LLB in 1905, and upon the recommendation, and with references from of a school counselor joined a law firm in Cadillac, MI.
William Yearnd, probably during his time as prosecuting attorney, Cadillac, Michigan
Adult life
On 8 April, 1908, as previously noted, he married Winnie Alice Kaiser, a local girl who was employed as a clerk in the Wexford County Court House. It is natural that they should meet, since a local lawyer would frequent that place.
In the minutes of the Clam Lake Township board of November 30, 1910 it is noted that Fred Wetmore and William Yearnd were appointed to defend the Township in a recently filed lawsuit.
There were 5 children in the Yearnd Family, Margaret Jane born in 1910, Marion Augusta born in 1912, Helen Elizabeth, born in 1914, William Henry born in 1917, and James Austin, born in 1927.
Although no one knows, it appears that the children were named for relatives. Margaret and Jane were Winnie’s Aunt and Mother respectively, Augusta was the name of William Yearnd’s sister, Elizabeth was the name of Winnie’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Long Kaiser, William Henry was obviously named for his father. My father, James Austin, was likely was named for two uncles of Winnie, James Johnston her Mother’s brother; and Austin Kaiser, her Father’s brother.
The family home was at 703 E. Division Street in Cadillac. The house is a short 2 block walk to the courthouse and William walked to work there often, according to local accounts.
The Yearnd Family were members of the First Congregational Church in Cadillac. That church is an active congregation today.
In August 1918 William Yearnd was appointed the City Attorney of Cadillac. He resigned that position in 1939, stating a need to spend more time on his law practice. He was also Wexford County Prosecutor for twenty years.
William Yearnd was appointed Probate Judge for Wexford County, taking office January 1, 1923.
William Yearnd is listed under the heading “Lawyers” in the 1930 Polk City Directory of Cadillac, Michigan.
William was elected circuit judge in 1947, the campaign brochure which I found in my grandmother’s scrapbook speaks volumes about the difference in politics then and now. You can read the brochure front and back, and the brochure inside.
William Yearnd was a golfer, he had 3 holes in one to his credit. A undated clipping shows describes his accomplishments. He played golf at the Cadillac County Club.
William Henry Yearnd died on 10 September 1948 of a heart attack, and the age of 65 years, and is buried on the family lot in Maple Hill Cemetery, Cadillac, Michigan
Feb 21
The Incredible Shrinking Task – and Another Correction
I am down to 575 items to enter into my database. I have not worked on that task much since I last reported in. I did make a trip up to my hometown of Cadillac, Michigan, and looked through a large collection of yearbooks that the high school librarian there has archived. The earliest one was 1918, and I wished they had started just a little earlier. I did enjoy them, and they helped me sort out which family pictures were from which year in high school. I have been side-tracked working on a genealogy society project. We are also sliding down hill to my husband’s retirement.
I recently wrote about affidavits files to correct or change information on the birth records of Eliza J. Murray, and Ina Belle Murray, her sister. The Lamunion bible transcription also listed Etta Murray born March 29, 1883 died July 20, 1964. Etta was the last child listed for this family, and was born after the 1880 census. Two children were born between Ina and Etta. Arthur was born 29 June 1879 and died 8 November 1879, and George was born 16 June 1881 and died 21 August 1881.
I searched for Etta’s birth record and found this:
Etta’s birth record, #1269, recorded on Page 39 of the birth returns of Allegan County, Michigan has a correction, too! The date is changed from March 30, 1883 to March 29, 1883, and her name is changed from Etta M. To Etta May. Her parent’s name’s are also corrected, the H in her father’s name changed to Henry, his last name changed from Murry to Murray, and her mother’s name changed from Mary A Murry to Mary Ann Lemunyon. Etta filed for the correction on the same day as her sister Ina’s, “5-29-1941”.
I really don’t have any conclusions about this. It does make me wish I had known the three sisters, who were obviously interested in having these records mirror the bible record.
Feb 01
More on the Murrays
I left off with the saga of Eliza J. Murray’s name, or names as the case may be. In earlier days before a birth certificate or some other legal ID was required for everything, there are many cases of names being changed, or people using a different variation of their name on every record we find. I have found several cases of men who have reversed the order of their middle and first names on different records.
As I moved on in the Murray family, the next document I had to enter was the birth record for Ina Belle Murray, shown below (click to enlarge).
Surprise, surprise. She was listed as Belle I. on the 1880 census, and she also filed an affidavit to change her name, on 29 May 1941. Bell is crossed off on the record, and “Ina Belle” written in. John Murray’s name has a middle name of Henry added in, and Mary’s maiden name is added below a crossed off Murray. The Lamunion Bible transcription lists “Innia Bell Murray”, born March 19, 1875.
Ever curious, I dropped my data entry project and searched for a birth record for Mary Ann and John Murray’s first child. For this firstborn, the bible transcriptions says, “William H. Murray born May 11, 1875”. The 1880 census says, “Murray, Wm. H.” age 5.”
The biggest surprise here is that “Wm T Murray’s” father is listed as Geo. H. The fact is, I would have never found this birth record if I had searched using “William”. I found it my searching for “Murray” in the father’s name, and using the year, 1875.
There’s more to learn, stay tuned.
One victory at a time, I am down to 690 items to enter into my genealogy database. When I started cleaning up and entering, the number stood at 1419. Moving right along, I hope to finish in 2 weeks or so. Maybe, if I don’t get side tracked looking for more records.
Jan 30
Mary Ann Lamunion
I’ve been entering data into my genealogy program. These are files which I had collected in a folder on my computer. I started with 1419 on January 19th, and worked my way down to 1440 1140 on January 23rd. Today I am happy to report that I have 837 items left to deal with.
To be absolutely fair, I have found that some of the data had been dealt with, kind of. That means that perhaps an obituary was transcribed, but the reference wasn’t entered, or the files weren’t linked. And, some of these files were simply gravestone photos to be linked, not a heavy-duty job. But, others were wills to transcribe, and I am holding off on a group that will take some heavy duty transcription. Anyway, it does look good to see my tally list down to 837, meaning I have completed 582.
What does that have to do with Mary Ann Lamunion? I ran across her in the pile. Mary Ann was the second of eight known children of Rescum Lamunion/Lamunyon and his wife Miranda Jones, an older sister of Papa’s great-grandmother, Belle Lamunion. Mary Ann and John Henry Murray were married 4 January 1874, according to a transcription of the Rescum Lamunion family bible. The marriage probably took place in Allegan county, where the family appeared in the 1880 census:
Year: 1880; Census Place: Wayland, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: 569; Family History Film: 1254569; Page: 223A; Enumeration District: 012; Image: 0449 at Ancestry.com:
dwelling 5, family 5,
Murry, John, white, male, 33, head, married, farmer, unemployed 3 months, born Ohio, father born Ireland, mother born Germany.
Mary A., white, female, wife, married, keeping house, born New York, both parents born New York.
La Munyan, Rescum, 73, father-in-law, widower, farmer, born New York, both parents born Rhode Island.
Murry, Wm H., 5, son, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.
Louisa J., 3, daughter, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.
Belle I., 2, daughter, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.
Later, John and Mary Ann had three more children.
I was entering birth records for the children, when I ran across this (click to enlarge):
From the Michigan birth returns at familysearch.org, returns of births in the county of Allegan for 1876, page 55, #784. The record has been corrected by an affidavit filed on 29 May 1944. The name changed from Louisa to Eliza J, the date of birth changed from October 30 to October 31, and John Murray’s name has “Henry” added.
I went scrambling back for the bible transcription. the transcription was done by two descendents of another Lamunion line, in 1975. At that time the bible was in the possession of Hulda Aurilla Carter Terwilliger of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Mrs. Terwilliger (1897-1977) was a granddaughter of Rescum through his daughter Emily, who married Andrew Jackson Carter. It said, “Eliza J. Murray, born Oct 31nd 1876.” Eliza can be a nickname for Louisa, or Elizabeth, or a name on it’s own.
So the census in 1880 said Louisa J., and the bible said Eliza J. The cards sent by the Murray family to Belle were signed, Eliza, so I know that is who Eliza thought she was. I wonder if there is any significance of the date of the correction to the birth record? Eliza would have been 68 years old in 1944. I wonder if she was applying for Social Security and needed a birth record to match the bible record? According to the Social Security website, “Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940.”
Next: Another correction.
Jan 24
Those Crazy Tipped Images With Black Edges
Some images I have saved look a little crazy, like this:
This is the death registration for Joseph Kaiser [Grey, Huron, Ontario].
I guess picky, fussy, or whatever, but I don’t like the look. I open these in Photoshop and make a few adjustments, then I attach the result to my database. It is not any easer to read, but if removes what I hate, the tip, and the black edges. If you use photo editing software to do this type of thing, be sure you don’t crop off important information, like the page number.
Grey, Huron, Ontario Deaths, 1876, p289.
Joseph Kiser, died on 7 Febry 1876, male, 18, farmer, born Tp of Vaughan, Ont; cause: Typhoid fever, 2? 3? weeks ill, physician: Dr. Homebrook, informant: Wm Kiser farmer of Grey, registered 14th Feby 1876, religion Lutheran, registrar illegible, # 005172.
Jan 23
Progress
I am happy to report that I have entered data from 279 of my collected files, meaning that I have 1140 left to do. I have entered data 12 separate sittings in the 5 days since I posted about the problem.
The most interesting thing I have entered is a transcription from pages of my grandmother’s family bible. I do not have the bible, but a cousin was kind enough to scan the pages and send them to me. It is partly written in German, and partly in English. After I consulted with a friend who can read the German part, I realized that the English was mainly a translation of the German writing, probably done for me, or people like me that can’t read the German.
William Kaiser (1837-1909) and Elizabeth Long (1834-1921) of Huron County, Ontario, and Cadillac, Michigan were my 2nd great-grandparents. When I first constructed a family tree, more than 40 years ago, I knew of seven children in the family:
Mary Ann, 1860-1939
William, 1862-1940 my great-grandfather
Elizabeth 1864-1938
Annie, 1871-1941
Austin, 1872-1962
Lucy, 1876-1914
Amelia “Millie” 1878-1963
About ten years ago, I threw a tent in my car trunk and headed off to Canada to find out more about my Kaiser and Johnston families that resided in Huron County. It was not that simple, I did a little investigation in advance. What kind of investigation? I took every photo out of my grandmother’ photo album and wrote down the city and photographer. The photographers names didn’t help me as much as I had hoped, but putting marks on a map on all the cities told me that I needed to go to Huron County. I didn’t know that before I looked at the photos closely.
The handy dandy internet told me what libraries and archives were located in my area of interest and off I went. Careful investigation in the library and archives sent me on a journey to several cemeteries. At the Knox Presbyterian Church Cemetery, I added children to the Kaiser family:
Joseph, 1857-1876
Cecelia, 1867-1867
Sarah, 1870-1871
Sadly, I was able to find death registrations for all three when I returned to the library. Now, William and Elizabeth had 10 children.
When I received the pages to the bible, I had another surprise, the page clearly listed Maud, born 28 April 1877 and died 28 August 1877. Hmmm. If you have ever looked at the Ontario vital records, either on film or on Ancestry.com, you know the records are scrambled and hard to find. I finally found Maud’s birth, registration # 11196 / No. 39, born 1 May 1877 Maude, female, father Wm Keser, farmer, Grey, mother Elizabeth Long, name of accoucheur: none, recorded 4th June 1877, signature of registrar: illegible. I have not been able to find a death registration for Maud/Maude yet, and I have not found her burial place.
Now my family, with birth years, looks like this:
1857 Joseph
1860 Mary Ann
1862 William
1864 Elizabeth
1867 Cecelia
1870 Sarah
1871 Annie
1872 Austin
1876 Lucy
1877 Maud
1878 Millie
I see a large gap between Joseph and Mary Ann, and another between Elizabeth and Cecelia. I believe that Joseph, Mary Ann, William and Elizabeth may have been born in Vaughan township, York County before the Kaisers moved west to Huron County. More investigation is required to determine if I have really found all the children.
First, I am working to whittle down the unentered data.
