April Ruminations

About this time last year, my cousin Mary Lee was putting the finishing touches on a family book she'd conceived two years before. She'd been gathering information for several years with that goal in mind, and her plan was to finish and distribute copies of the book at the family reunion. She made it.

The book, called Trees, Branches, and Twigs of the John and Gertie Krentz Family, is more than 800 pages solidly packed with stories, photos, documents and family history research. Picture a ream of paper and you'll have it about right in your mind. It's an astounding volume of family information, beautifully organized and very entertaining to read.

I am completely in awe of the focus and determination it takes to accomplish such an undertaking. I think most people would be. But it really points up to me how Attention Deficit Disorder manifests itself in the way I do things. While Mary compiles huge family books (this was the fourth one she's done since she started researching family history in the late 1990s), I opted for writing a four-page family history newsletter on an unscheduled basis. I published The Krenz Intermittent, 22 issues, from January 1997 until March 2004. (I fell short of my goal by two or three issues, but I don't rule out the possibility that I may do them at some point.)

Even blogging is a challenge for me. It's not that I can't sit still at the computer--I can and do; I lack the hyperactivity component of ADD. But it's a struggle for me to stay focused and complete things. Right now, though, I'm making great progress with my Surnames project, and have managed a daily post for two full months in a row. Three factors have contributed to this success:

1. The goal is finite and doable: a lineage post for every surname in my direct lines.
2. The format of each post is the same. It's a relatively simple matter to plug in the facts.
   
3. I'm working about a week ahead, so an occasional unfocused day doesn't leave me without a post. In fact, if I'm feeling unable to focus, I choose a surname with a simpler lineage and push through it, and sometimes I ride the crest of that little success and complete a second simple post, or just get a draft started for the next one.

These little details really aren't important to anyone but me. I make note of them here as a reminder to myself of something that seems to be working for me. I have enough surnames remaining to assure myself of a daily post through the month of May with an occasional post on a different topic. As I continue this project, though, I hope to make some plans for June to keep the momentum going.

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My favorite blogospheric activity this month happened between Heather, of Nutfield Genealogy, and Leah, of The Internet Genealogist. Read Heather's Cousins Collaborate on a Genealogy Story first. There you'll find links to the relevant posts at Leah's blog, where she's transcribing an excellent memoir. Heather followed up later with Cousins Collaborate (and more relations appear!) to share some cool repercussions. That was some fun reading all the way around, and the synergy was pretty thrilling, if you ask me. Don't miss it!

If you haven't been travelling with Becky Wiseman yet, you must free up an hour or three and click on over to Kinexxions for the trip of a lifetime. Becky is an amazing photographer, and she's shooting one spectacular photo after another. She's having great adventures, and has met a number of our fellow geneabloggers in her travels. Her blog is the next-best thing to being there!

Stop by at Two Sides of the Ocean too. Cheryl has been hard at work this month on The Family Kolberg/Colberg, a series chronicling her adventures in researching that line. It's a good read, full of great memories and useful ideas.

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April Accomplishments

• Daily posts two months in a row! Wow!
• The Surnames project is more than two-thirds finished!
  
• As a result of the Surnames posts, several of my fellow geneabloggers have let me know that we are related through one ancestral line or another. To keep track of all my new cousins I've added a special page, Cousins in Cyberspace, to Before My Time. There I've listed my cousins along with links to their blogs and a short explanation of how we're related. The page has been well-received, and several people expressed a wish to do something similar at their own blogs. I'd love to see that happen. I think it's a great way to increase awareness not only of kinship, but also that we're a family history network.
  
• As a result of verifying a date for one of my surname posts, I came upon some information that seems to have resulted in locating the proper Prussian place-name to search for records pertaining to my Buss ancestors. The microfilms are on the way!
  
• I finally did my taxes! Myself! And got them all done (two states this year) with two days to spare. Pshew!
  

And in the other column . . .

My Legacy database has languished this month. Not only have I not added any sourcing, I've even neglected to add new ancestors I've found. Now that's sloth!

Treasure Chest Thursday: Evelyn Kerr, Family Historian

That Evelyn! If I could time-travel, I'd go back to about 1920 and take her a 3" binder full of blank family group sheets and pedigree charts. She would have loved that! Instead, to keep track of family history, she used stray bits of paper and whatever little blank books came her way--address books, pocket datebooks, memo pads... and I've come upon yet another one.

This time it's a little 1943 organizer with all three functions--weekly pages for appointments, a memoranda section, and some address pages. In the back there are maps and handy informational charts, and at the front, several pages give details about General Electric--addresses of their warehouses and offices, sales graphs and such--as this little book bears the GE logo on the front and was surely something the company gave to its employees. It measures slightly over 3" x 4 " and is about three-eighths of an inch thick.

I don't know when or how the book came into my grandma's hands--I don't know that she ever worked for GE--but it doesn't surprise me that she ultimately converted it to her own purpose. And, as it turns out, mine!

At the front of the book, she Scotch-Taped death notices clipped from Detroit newspapers. The images below are high-resolution. If you wish to print an image or read a clipping directly, first click on it to enlarge it, then right-click and select View Image, then click it again to really enlarge it. I'll also transcribe the clippings and add notes in brackets following each transcription.

1. Mr. and Mrs. George Corneilson, of 116 Townsend avenue, announce the engagement of their daughter, Evelyn E. Hauer, to Rosmer P. Kerr, the marriage to take place at the bride's home, June 12. [Evelyn noted the year below the clipping, 1916.]

2. IN MEMORY of Baby Mary June Kerr, who died three years ago today. She lived only two days on earth when Jesus called her home again, but we can't forget her. --Her Mother and Father, Evelyn and Rosmer Kerr. [Evelyn's note: Born Mar 21 - 1918.]

3. HAUER, FELIX--In loving remembrance of our dear husband and father, who died 24 years ago, May 19, 1897. You are gone, dear Felix, but not forgotten, by your loving wife and daughter, Evelyn Kerr. [This memorial notice would have been published in 1921. Evelyn's note: Born Jan 5 - 1866. His tombstone, however, gives 1867 as his birth year. I believe the tombstone is correct, as his age at the time of his death was 30 years, 4 months, 14 days, according to the death certificate.]

4. CORNEILSON--Feb. 10, Elizabeth, aged 40 years, beloved wife of George Corneilson, better known as George Nelson. Notice of funeral later from residence, 116 Townsend ave. Deceased was a member of Mary C. Lodge, No. 59, Degree of Honor, A. O. U. W. [Evelyn's note: His first wife -. George Corneilson's second wife, Evelyn's mother, was also named Elizabeth. The house at 116 Townsend Avenue is the one where my Auntie Marceline was born and where she lived for her entire life.]

5. SCHULTE--Oct. 16, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. George Corneilson, 534 Townsend, age 78 years, Joseph, beloved father of Rudolph M. and Theodore M. Schulte, Mrs. George Corneilson (nee Elizabeth), Mrs. Ida Gregory. Funeral Wednesday 2 o'clock from residence. [Evelyn's note: Died 1921 Born 1843.]

6. [This is a duplicate of no. 3 above. However, this time Evelyn has noted the correct birth date, Jan. 5, 1867.]

7. HAUER--Anthony, April 2, age 49 years, beloved husband of Hattie and dear father of Arthur, Mrs. Theo. Green and Joseph, Harvey and Norville. Funeral from late residence, 488 Orleans st., Thursday, 2 p.m. Interment German Lutheran cemetery, via La Bell funeral [Anthony Hauer was a brother of Felix. I believe he was born in March 1869. If that's correct, this notice would have been published in 1918. His wife was Hattie Shields. Their daughter's name was Lillie. ]

8. CORNEILSON--July 9, 1906, at the residence of his son-in-law, John T. Persman, 528 Bellevue ave., Theodore Corneilson, age 64 years. Funeral Thursday at 8:15 a.m. from house, and at 9 a.m. in Our Lady of Sorrows church. [Evelyn's note: Born 1842. According to the 1900 census, where his first name was listed as Thomas, he was born in December 1841.]

9. IN MEMORIAM. In loving remembrance of Theodore Corneilson, who departed this life three years ago, the 9th of July, 1906. Gone but not forgotten. His geloved [sic] son and family. GEORGE T. CORNEILSON.

10. SCHULTE--On Monday, Jan. 14, 1:45 a.m., at her residence, 952 Concord, Julia A. Schulte, aged 37 years (nee Feucht), dearly beloved wife of Rudolph M. Schulte and dear mother of Elmer, sister of Elizabeth Pospishl, Rose Feucht, Mrs. Stahl, Mrs. Engel and Charles, George and John Feucht. Funeral Wednesday at 1:30 from residence to St. Mark's Lutheran church, corner St. Aubin and Maple. [Evelyn's note: Born 1866, Died 1903. A quick check at Two Sides of the Ocean, where Cheryl Schulte has written about her great-grandmother Julia, confirmed my suspicion. Evelyn was off by four years. Julia was actually born in 1870 and died in 1907.]

11. SCHULTE--Aurelia Evelyn, beloved child of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Schulte. Funeral from residence, 1220 Bellevue ave., Wednesday, 2 p.m. [Evelyn's note: 9 months old. I don't know the date. However, Theodore Schulte and Bertha Emig were married in 1908 and their first child Gerald was born 19 May 1909. Aurelia was doubtless named after Bertha's sister.]

12. MAYER--At her mother's residence, 341 Brady st., April 23, 1907, 10:30 a.m., Mary Mayer, wife of the late Jacob Mayer, daughter of Mrs. F. Haner ad dear mother of Arthur and Irene Mayer, aged 36 years. Funeral Friday at 8 a.m. from house and 8:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart church. [Evelyn's note: Born in 1871. April 17th, according to my records. The death notice is incorrect. Mary's mother was Theresa Hauer, not Mrs. F. Haner. Mary was a sister of Felix Hauer.]

13. ROSS--At residence, 1115 Hamilton ave., Evelyn, aged 5 years, beloved daughter of William and Irene Ross; dear sister of Eleanor and Lorain. [Evelyn's note: Born 1915. She also dated the clipping Dec 19 - 20; that is, 19 December 1920. Irene Ross was the daughter of Mary Mayer, above.]

14. CONRAD--Jan. 4, 1921, at his late residence, 8305 Harper ave. (old number 1651), Adam, beloved husband of Johana and dear father of Mrs. Charles Schweitzer, Mrs. Walter Genso, Oscar, Irving, Edward and Virginia Conrad, William, Viola, Mildred, Leona and Dorothy Lawrence. Funeral Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from residence, and to Calvary Lutheran Church, Holcomb and Chapin aves., at 2 o'clock. Interment at German Lutheran Cemetery. [I believe Mr. Conrad was related to the husband of a Hauer descendant. Someday I may try to figure out how!]

15. GREGORI--March 9, Elizabeth, beloved daughter of Frank and of the late Ida Gregori, dear sister of Mrs. Minnie Tracy, Josephine and Marco. Funeral from residence, 2169 Alfred st., Saturday at 8:30, and at San Francesco's Church, 9 a.m. Interment at Mt. Elliott Cemetery. [Evelyn's note: Died 1926 - Born 1910. These dates may be wrong. Elizabeth may have been born as early as 1908 and died in 1925. I'll need to research this. In addition, the death notice contains an error. Mrs. Tracy's name was Mamie, not Minnie.]

16. KRAEMER--April 27, 1927, at her residence, 8621 Harper ave., Josephine (nee Hauer), loving wife of Peter, loving mother of Mrs. L. Schweizer, Mrs. W. Genso, Ervin, Oscar, Edward, Harold, Antonette and Dorothy. Funeral Monday from above residence at 9:30 o'clock; St. Thomas church at 10 o'clock. Interment, Mt. Olivet cemetery. [Josephine was a sister of Felix Hauer.]

17. MELCHER--Nov. 20, 1928, Catherine, beloved wife of Joseph, dear mother of Frank, Walter, Marie, Catherine and Charles, sister of Sophia Pietz. Funeral from residence, 3978 St. Clair ave., Friday at 8:30 a.m., St. Bernard Church at 9. Please omit flowers. [Catherine was the youngest sister of Felix Hauer, and Sophia Pietz was the eldest.]

18. SCHWEIZER--March 22, 1921, at Providence Hospital, Harold, beloved and darling son of Charles and Lillian Schweizer and dear brother of Mildred. Funeral Thursday morning at 9:30 from the residence of his uncle, 3645 Farnsworth ave. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. [Again, I am not sure about the relationships here. See no. 14 and no. 16 and you will understand why.]

There were a couple more death notices but I'll save them for a later post.

The next several pages in this little book are devoted to names of various relatives with their dates of birth and/or death. I believe Evelyn may have written these from memory--there were three errors on the first page alone, so I won't include the images here. Next comes a section of unused pages with one or two name-and-date pages in the middle somewhere.

On the last few pages before the maps, Evelyn wrote a chronology of the houses she'd lived in. We'll look at those in a later post also. It's a good little timeline, and it answers some questions I've had.

Surname: Chandler

The Chandler surname is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. His eighth great-grandfather is thought to be:

• Edmund Chandler, of Duxbury and Scituate. If correct, Edmund and his wife were my tenth great-grandparents. Apparently there is no proof, however, and some think that Roger Chandler, not Edmund, may have been the father of...
  
• Lydia Chandler, wife of Richard Higgins. They were married late in 1634. Lydia died before 1650, leaving two sons. Lydia and Richard were my ninth great-grandparents.

Higgins, Mrs. Katharine Elizabeth Chapin. Richard Higgins, A Resident and Pioneer Settler at Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts, and at Piscataway, New Jersey, and His Descendants. 1918.

Robert M. Sherman F.A.S.G., editor, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, V. 2 (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1978), p. 153-217.

See also Chandler Surname Origin.

Surname: Cocke

The Cocke surname is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. His ninth great-grandfather was:

• Thomas Cocke, who was probably born in the latter half of the 1500s. Thomas and his wife, whose name I don't know, were my eleventh great-grandparents.
• Naomi Cocke, who married James Hubbard, probably about 1603. Their ten children were all born in England before the family emigrated to New England. Naomi and James were my tenth great-grandparents.

I haven't researched this line. My knowledge of the Cockes comes only from mentions of them in Hubbard genealogical references. Reader, if you have more information, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

See also Cocke Surname Origin.

Surname: Voar (also Vore)

The Voar surname comes to me via my grandpa Rosmer Kerr. His eighth great-grandfather was:

• Richard Voar of Windsor, Connecticut. Richard was born in England before 1630. He was a member of Rev. John Warham's church and was one of the founders of Windsor. He died 22 November 1683, and his wife Ann died fifteen days later, on 7 December. They had four daughters. Richard and Ann were my tenth great-grandparents.
• Mary Voar, who married Alexander Alvord on 29 October 1646 in Windsor, Connecticut.

I have no additional information on this line. Reader, if you do, I'd enjoy hearing from you. 

Savage, James, John Farmer, and O. P. Dexter. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1860:

VORE, or VOAR, RICHARD, Windsor, bef. 1640, had been at Dorchester 1635, where he came, perhaps with Warham, in 1630, brot. from Eng. a fam. tho. neither their number, nor the ship, nor yr. in wh. they came, is kn. but of four ds. m. at W. two and prob. three at W. must have been b. bef. he arr.  Mary m. 29 Oct. 1649, Alexander Alford; Lydia m. 29 June 1649, Nathaniel Cook; Sarah m. 1653, Benjamin Parsons; and Abigail, wh. was prob. b. at W. m. 27 Mar. 1662, Timothy Buckland.  He d. 22 Nov. 1683, hav. been in 1660, excus. from watch and ward, was in the freemen's list 1669; and his wid. d. 15 days aft. him.  This name was mistak. by Dr. Harris as Vose.

William Montgomery Clemens, American Marriage Records Before 1699. Pompton Lakes, New Jersey: Biblio Company, 1926, p. 23.


Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial; A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co, 1913. (Vol. 4, p. 2171, col. 2.) 

Surname: Buss

The Buss surname is the heritage of my paternal grandma, Gertie (Margreta) Buss. Her grandfather was:

• August Buss, born in October 1822 in Prussia. He and his wife, Wilhelmina Egert, brought their family to the U. S. in 1873. They lived first at Rollingstone, Winona County, Minnesota. About 1881, they moved on to Ransom County. August died there in March 1901 and was buried at the Anselm cemetery. August and Wilhelmina were my great-great-grandparents.
  
• Ferdinand Buss, born 18 January 1853 in Prussia. He married Louise Hinz 11 April 1881 in Fargo, North Dakota. Louise already had one daughter, and together they had five more daughters and a son. Ferdinand died 12 November 1937 at Sheldon, North Dakota, and was buried there two days later. Ferdinand and Louise were my great-grandparents.
  
• Margreta Tjode Hedwig Buss, the youngest of the seven Buss children. She was born 13 April 1896 in Shenford Township, Ransom County, North Dakota, and christened May 25th. She married John S. Krentz on 11 February 1914 at Moorhead, Minnesota. Together they had nine children, seven of whom grew to adulthood. She died 17 April 1979 in Lisbon, North Dakota, and was buried in the Anselm cemetery.

I hope I don't jinx my research by saying that I believe I've found the correct hometown of the Buss family, and am awaiting delivery of microfilm that will confirm it. I hope to post more about the Buss family in the near future!

Update: A search of the aforementioned microfilms did not turn up a single Buss. Bone dry, it was! :-(

Surname: Hinz

Detail from the death certificate of Louise Hinz Buss

born 1854, died 1932

The Hinz surname comes to me via my grandma Gertie (Margreta Tjode Hedwig) Buss. Her grandfather was:

• Ludwig Hinz. Well, maybe that was his name. We'll study that in a minute. His wife's name is not known, nor are the dates of his birth or death. For now, let's just say that he was my great-great grandfather, and move on.
• Louise Hinz, who was born 17 March 1854 in Poland. A secondary source gives the place name Ladoest, but my cousin Mary and I have been unable to find a place by that name. We've considered the possibility that it may have been Lodz, but we haven't pursued that yet. Louise married Ferdinand Buss on 11 April 1881 in Fargo, North Dakota. They were my great-grandparents. I never met Louise--she died 11 April 1932 and was buried at the Protestant cemetery one mile west of Sheldon, North Dakota, three days later.

Now, about Ludwig, or what's-his-name. He had three daughters who emigrated separately to the U.S. In the detail from daughter Louise's death certificate, above, her birthplace is given as Poland and her father "Ludvig Hinst" is said to have been born in Germany. The informant was Edward Buss, Louise's son.

But let's look at her sisters' death certificates:

Detail from the death certificate of Eva Heinz Schmidtke Froemke

born 1850, died 1941

The informant on daughter Eva's death certificate was Mrs. Albert Froemke, Eva's daughter-in-law, who gave Germany as Eva's birthplace, and Poland as the birthplace of Eva's parents. In addition, she's named Eva's father Mike instead of Ludwig.

Detail from the death certificate of Amelia Hinz Kuehn

born 1879, died 1945

The informant on daughter Amelia's death certificate was Amelia's husband Ludwig Kuehn. He gave Russia as the birthplace of Amelia and both her parents, and he didn't know her father's first name.

Reader, let's not even get into the 29-year gap between the oldest sister and the youngest, except to say this: Louise, Eva and Amelia are sisters, according to family tradition, but it's possible that Amelia is actually a half-sister.

My cousin Mary has worked on this line quite a bit, and I'll share her findings with you in a later post. But to date we still don't have the records we need to answer our questions. Reader, if you recognize these names and can help us in our search, we'd be most happy to hear from you.

Surname: Egert

The Egert surname comes to me through the lineage of my grandmother Margreta (Gertie) Buss. Her maternal great-grandfather was:

• Christian Egert of Pommern. I have no further information about Christian, except that he married Wilhelmina Lensa of Pommern. I believe Christian and Wilhelmina lived out their lives in Pommern. They were probably married before 1831, and so were probably born before or about 1810. Christian Egert was my third great-grandfather. Christian and Wilhelmina were named on the death certificate of their daughter Wilhelmina.
• Wilhelmina Egert, who emigrated to the United States in 1873 with her husband, August Buss. She was born in Pommern 8 October 1831 and was married 15 October 1851. She died 24 May 1917 in Shenford Township, Ransom County, North Dakota and was buried at the Anselm cemetery.
  

At this point, I know nothing more about the Egert line.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Lizzie Schulte's Autograph Book, 1887-1890

I must say, I never imagined that I'd be writing a third* autograph book post, but here it is. My sister discovered a hidey-hole that I'd missed in all previous treasure-hunting forays into the wilds of my dad's basement--a wooden cupboard that once belonged to my grandparents Kerr. It's not that I'd never opened those cupboard doors before--I had. But the contents appeared to be really boring stuff--my mom's old dress patterns, Avon junk, some old Woman's Day magazines--nothing to stir up my passion for you-know-what. But my sister lifted up some of the boring stuff and... voilà!... a plastic bag with some of my grandma Evelyn's treasures in it!

More properly, I should say that this particular treasure belonged to Evelyn's mother, Elizabeth Schulte (not to be confused with the other Lizzie Schulte, the cousin who married Fred Hebert).

The book measures 3.25" x 5.5" and has padded red velvet covers which are now separated from the pages. The pages are in two sections, one with five sheets and the other with four, each folded with a large staple to bind them, and there's a single page that's not attached to either section, meaning there's at least one page missing. It wouldn't surprise me if there was another whole section of pages missing--the cover binding is wide enough to have accommodated another one.

With the book was a little leather snap-case holding a pencil sharpener. The ball-point pen wasn't invented until the 20th century, you know, and a pencil sharpener would have been an essential tool before that. This one is brass, quite heavy for its small size. A U.S. quarter, laid on top of it, hangs over the sides just a wee bit. The manufacturer's information is engraved on the back: "A.W. FABER, TUTIOR JUWEL, 4020, Patent, Bavaria." It still works. (Was there any doubt?)

Look all you may,
Write all you please,
But for pittysake donot
tare the leaves.

My best guess is that Lizzie herself wrote the page above. It's the first page inside the cover.

The book was given to Lizzie by her friend Mary Carl as a Christmas gift in 1887. Lizzie was 15 years old at the time. Mary also signed another page further back in the book.

Not every page has been used. Mary's pages are the only ones dated 1887. Other dated pages were signed in 1888 and 1890.

Detorit, Feb. 13, 1890
Dear Lissie,
I rite here not for bueaty, I rite
here not for farm, I rite to
be remberd and its here I
rite my name.
S Lulu Maddin

At least I think that says Lulu! You can thank me for adding punctuation to the transcription. And I'm guessing she never won a spelling bee, huh? Undaunted, however, she wrote two more pages, signing them with her initials only, S. L. M.

Detroit Mich Feb 13 1890
Lizzie Schulte is my Name
Single is My Station happy
is the Man that Makes
the Altration.
S. L. M.

Choose not your friends from outward show
The feather floats
But the pearl lies low
Your friend
Louise Gertow
Detroit July 7, 1888

Dear Lizzie
Beef Stake when your
hungry Lagger Beer when
your Dry Green Backs
when your hard up
and Heven when you die
S L M.

Dear Lizzie
Ha Ha Ha you make
Me laugh to write
My Name in your Augtograph
Your Friend
Miss Jose Hauer
Detroit, March 12th, 1890

Reader, this is where the book made me sit up and take notice. Miss Jose Hauer is actually Josephina Hauer, a younger sister of Felix Hauer, who would become Lizzie's husband in 1893. And she was not the only Hauer sister to sign the book.

Dear Lizzie,
When the evening hours is hushed
When the sky is no longer flushed
When alone you bend your knee
Will you sometimes pray for me.
Your friend,
Mamie Hauer
March 9th, 1890

Mamie was Mary Hauer, born 17 April 1871 in Detroit, also a younger sister of Felix. She wrote on the facing page as well:

Dear Lizzie
Compliments
of
Mamie Hauer
March 9th, 1890

Dear Lizzie
Friendship has between us [sprung?]
I hope it has been true.
And may this Friendship ever,
Last between my self and you.
Your Friend,
Hattie Hart
Detroit, June 29th, 1888

Dear Lizzie
I thought of a mond in the sweet.
Alborn. Where a little head-stone
stood. How the flakes were folding
it gently as did robbins the
[babes?] in the woods.
EVELYN Hauer

Reader, my eyes popped out when I saw that one! Evelyn Hauer? That would someday be the name of the daughter Lizzie and Felix would have... but not until 1894. Although this page is not dated, I am discounting the possibility that Lizzie's daughter Evelyn wrote in the book at some point many years after 1890. First of all, it just seems unlikely. And second, would she address her mother as Dear Lizzie? So let's consider who else this might be.

Felix had two other sisters. Sophia, born about 1865, was the oldest of the Hauer children, nine years older than Lizzie. Katharine, born in September 1875, was the youngest, three years younger than Lizzie. I don't know middle names for either of them, but it seems more likely to me that, if this was written by one of them, it was probably Katharine.

In any case, suddenly it appears that my grandma may have been named after someone. I guess it's about time for me to go hunting for Detroit's Catholic churchbooks!

To Lizzie
Forget me not forget me never
Till yonder sun shall set forever
And in the future as you stray
Think of Ida when far away
Your Friend
Ida [Lun? Law?]
Detroit, June 6th, 1888

Dear Lizzie
Some love one,
Some love two,
I love one,
And that is you
Your friend
Mary Carl.
Detroit, Dec. 22th, 1887.
forget me not.

Dear Lizzie
May this day be only known
As one of sunniest cheer.
May Gladness claim it as its own
And bless it every year.
Your friend -
Lizzie Finucan
Detroit, July 10th, 1888

Dear Lizzie
May your joys be as deep
As the ocean, and your sorrows,
As light as the foam.
Your Friend,
Mamie Heinsman
Detroit, July 2sd, 1888

------------

*Previous autograph book posts:

• Milton E. Kerr (1863-1895) at Chautauqua, 1879
• Mary Kerr's 1936 Autograph Book
  

Surname: Strong

The Strong surname comes to me via my grandpa, Rosmer P. Kerr. His seventh great-grandfather was:

• Elder John Strong, who was born in the early 1600s in England. He had two children with his first wife, Margery Deane. She died soon after the family arrived in New England on the Mary and John in 1630, and their infant died soon after. John married Abigail Ford in December 1630, and with her he had sixteen more children. He was 94 at the time of his death, 14 April 1699, and had at least 160 descendants. John and Abigail were my ninth great-grandparents.
  
• Jedediah Strong, born 7 May 1637 in Massachusetts. He was christened at Dorchester on 14 April 1639. He married Freedom Woodward on 18 November 1662. He died in Coventry, Connecticut on 22 May 1733 at the age of 96, another long-lived Strong man. Jedediah and Freedom were my eighth great-grandparents.
  
• Thankful Strong, born 15 April 1672 in Northampton, Massachusetts. She married Thomas Root on 4 March 1691. They had thirteen children, but five died in infancy. She died 16 April 1742 in Coventry, Connecticut. Thankful and Thomas were my seventh great-grandparents.
  

The first two books listed below give the ancestry of Elder John Strong, but they disagree. Dwight seems quite sure that John's father was Richard Strong, born in Caernarvon, Wales, in 1561, to a long-lived Roman Catholic man originally from Shropshire, England. Richard is said to have moved to Taunton, Somersetshire, England in 1590. For more on this, use the link below to see Volume 1, p. 15.

Spear, on the other hand, cites The Strongs of Strongsville by Albert Strong, 1931:

"...There is no evidence of a Richard Strong in Taunton, Somerset. He [Albert Strong] suggests an explanation to this apparently mistake tradition. In 1777, one of John Strong's descendants, Caleb Strong, Governor of Massachusetts, gave an account, stating the Elder John's father was Richard Strong. Albert Strong suggests the name of John's native place, as shown in some ancient writing was mistaken for his father's name. The final syllable of the name "Richard" is "Chard". Possibly a blurred or ilegibly written account of "John Strong of S:chard" was read as "John Strong of Richard", instead of "John Strong of South Chard", where he apparently originated. The tradition that he came from "Taunton" may be that the name of that town was mentioned in the early families because it was the largest town near South Chard, about 12 miles away. Also, when John Strong came in 1635, on possibly his second crossing, he lived in Taunton Mass.

Spear gives this "provisional ancestry:"

• George Strong, whose will, dated 1627 and proved 1635 in Chard, Somerset, mentions a grandson named John.
• John Strong, Sr., who was married at Chard in 1609. He died in 1613 at Chard, long before the death of his father. John's will mentions a son named John and an as-yet-unborn child.
• Elder John Strong, whose sister Eleanor is said to have emigrated with him. Spear suggests that Eleanor may have been the as-yet-unborn child in the will mentioned above.
  

I don't know whether any additional research has been done on this question. Reader, if you know more than I do, I'd be happy to hear from you.

Dwight, Benjamin W. The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass. Albany, N.Y.: Joel Munsell, 1871.

Spear, Burton W. Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630. Toledo, Ohio (5602 305th St., Toledo 43611): B.W. Spear, 1985 and 1987.

Messier, Betty Brook, and Janet Sutherland Aronson. The Roots of Coventry, Connecticut. Coventry, Conn. (1712 Main St., Coventry 06238): 275th Anniversary Committee, 1987.

Update:
My Strong cousin Miriam, of Ancestories, advises me that Dwight's theory has been disproven and George Strong is believed to be the correct ancestor. In addition, she's shared a link to The Strong Family Association of America. Thanks, Miriam!

Surname: Hagen

Detail from Brandt-Hagen marriage record

The Hagen surname is part of John Samuel Krentz's heritage. His great-grandfather was:

• Christian Ludwig Hagen of Sückau, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. Christian and his wife, whose name I don't know, were my third great-grandparents.
• Catharina Dorothea Elisabeth Hagen, born 29 April 1819 in Sückau. She married Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Brandt on 4 November 1842 in Dammeretz, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Together they had eight children, five of whom lived to adulthood. Catharina died on 20 March 1891 in Monticello, White County, Indiana. She was buried the next day in the Lutheran cemetery at Reynolds. Catharina and Johann were my great-great-grandparents.

I haven't yet done any additional research on the Hagen line, although I hope to find out more at some point.

The marriage record above comes from the Evangelical Lutheran records of Vellahn parish. They are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (film no. 069632, 069633 and 069634). These films are also on permanent loan at the LDS stake at 17140 SW Bany Road, Beaverton, Oregon.

Surname: Luhr

The Luhr surname comes to me via my grandpa John Samuel Krentz. His third great-grandfather was:

• Johan Luhr of Dammeretz, Germany. His wife's name is unknown to me. He was my fifth great-grandfather.
  
• Catharine Dorothea Luhr, born in Dammeretz and christened there on 28 September 1745. She married Jurgen Hinrich Brandt. She died 4 March 1814 in Banzin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany.

German records for the Brandt and Luhr families come from the Evangelical Lutheran records of Vellahn parish. They are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (film no. 069632, 069633 and 069634). These films are also on permanent loan at the LDS stake at 17140 SW Bany Road, Beaverton, Oregon.

Surname: Brandt

The Brandt surname is part of John Samuel Krentz's maternal heritage. His fourth great-grandfather was:

• Jochim Brandt of Dammeretz (now Dammereez), Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. Jochim and his wife, whose name I don't know, were my sixth great-grandparents.
• Hans Hinrich Brandt, who was christened in Dammeretz on 6 February 1714. He and his wife, whose name is also unknown to me, were my fifth great-grandparents.
• Jurgen Hinrich Brandt, born in Dammeretz and christened 25 June 1746. He married Catharine Dorothea Luhr, with whom he had at least five children. He died 8 August 1794 and was buried two days later in Dammeretz. Jurgen and Catharine were my fourth great-grandparents.
• Hans Hinrich Brandt, born in Dammeretz and christened 2 September 1781. He married Catharine Margaretha Maria Behm on 6 November 1807 in Dammeretz. Hans died of Lungenentzundung (pneumonia) on 15 April 1853 in Dammeretz, just three weeks after Catharine died of the same thing. They were my third great-grandparents.
• Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Brandt, born 29 April 1816 in Dammeretz and christened the next day. He married Catharine Dorothea Elisabeth Hagen on 4 November 1842 in Dammeretz. They emigrated, and arrived in the U.S. in October 1874. Johann died 29 December 1896 in Monticello, Indiana and was buried two days later at the Lutheran cemetery of Reynolds, Indiana. Johann and Catharine were my great-great-grandparents.
• Christine Friederike Dorothea Brandt, born 8 May 1849 in Dammeretz and christened two days later. She married Johann Michael Krenz on 24 April 1875 in Reynolds, Indiana. Together they had eight children, the first of whom died in infancy; the last was my grandfather. Christine (who was actually called Dora) died 27 August 1903 in Reynolds and was buried at the Lutheran cemetery there two days later. She and Johann (who was called Michael) were my great grandparents.

But wait! There's more! We are not finished with the Brandt ancestors yet. Let's start again with:

• Jochim Brandt of Dammeretz (listed above). Jochim and his wife, whose name I still don't know, were my sixth great-grandparents, not once but twice.
• Hans Hinrich Brandt (listed above),who was christened in Dammeretz on 6 February 1714. He and his wife, whose name is also still unknown to me, were my fifth great-grandparents twice.
• Catharina Elisabeth Brandt, a sister of Jurgen Hinrich Brandt (listed above), born in Dammeretz and christened on 6 June 1760. She married Peter Hinrich Behm on 17 November 1786 in Dammeretz. She died there on 13 June 1805. Catharina and Peter were my fourth great-grandparents.
  

German records for the Brandt, Luhr and Behm families come from the Evangelical Lutheran records of Vellahn parish. They are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (film no. 069632, 069633 and 069634). These films are also on permanent loan at the LDS stake at 17140 SW Bany Road, Beaverton, Oregon.

Records pertaining to the Brandt and Krenz families in Reynolds, Indiana, are from St. James Lutheran Church. To my knowledge, these records have not been microfilmed.

Surname: Behm

The Behm surname comes to me via my grandfather John Samuel Krentz. His maternal lineage includes this third great-grandfather:

• Hinrich Immanuel Behm, born about 1725 in Germany. He died 8 February 1801 in Dammeretz (now spelled Dammereez), Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, and was buried there two days later. I don't know his wife's name. He was my fifth great-grandfather.
  
• Peter Hinrich Behm, born and christened 16 February 1756 in Dammeretz. He married Catharina Elisabeth Brandt on 17 November 1786 in Dammeretz. Together they had eight children. Peter died 30 January 1808 and was buried February 2nd in Dammeretz. Peter and Catharina were my fourth great-grandparents.
  
• Catharine Margaretha Maria Behm, born 27 September 1787 and christened two days later in Dammeretz. She was married 6 November 1807 in Dammeretz to Hans Hinrich Brandt. They had four children that I know of, two of whom died in childhood. Catharine died of Lungenentzundung (pneumonia) on 23 March 1853 and was buried three days later in Dammeretz. Catharine and Hans were my third great-grandparents.

Records for the Behm and Brandt families come from the Evangelical Lutheran records of Vellahn parish. They are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (film no. 069632, 069633 and 069634). These films are also on permanent loan at the LDS stake at 17140 SW Bany Road, Beaverton, Oregon.

Surname: Howe

The Howe surname comes to me via Rosmer Pettis Kerr's eighth great-grandmother:

• Elizabeth Howe, who married William Sedgwick on 10 April 1604 in Woburn, Bedfordshire, England. She's thought to have been born about 1583, and died after 1638. Elizabeth and William were my tenth great-grandparents.

I know little else about Elizabeth. Reader, if you've researched this line and can provide any further information, I'd be most happy to hear from you.

See also Howe Surname Origin.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Katherine Efner's Bible

Other than the identification inside the front cover, there's nothing written in this Bible. I suspect my great-great grandmother may have written at least her name on the first page when she got the Bible, which I'm guessing would have been about 1850. But the first several pages are missing now. I'm so grateful to my grandma Evelyn for thinking to write some identification in the front cover.

The book is not much bigger than an iPhone. It's about an inch thick and contains the Old and New Testaments. The print is so tiny I can barely read it. However, if you click on the image above, the wonder of technology will enable you to see that the first remaining page starts right out with our favorite subject, family history!

------------

Descendants of Katherine Efner, the two images above are suitable to add to your family history slide show. Simply click on each image to enlarge it, then right-click and Save Image to the folder of your choice.

Surname: Long

The Long surname is, at present, a short twig on my family tree. It is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. His fourth great-grandmother was:

• Mary Long, who married Benjamin Badcock on 10 February 1730 in Coventry, Connecticut. Mary and Benjamin were my sixth great-grandparents.

I know nothing of Mary Long's roots. Reader, if you have had better luck researching this line, I'd love to hear from you.

Dimock, Susan (Whitney). Births, Marriages, Baptisms and Deaths, from the Records of the Town and Churches in Coventry, Connecticut, 1711-1844. New York: Baker & Taylor Co, 1897.

Messier, Betty Brook, and Janet Sutherland Aronson. The Roots of Coventry, Connecticut. Coventry, Conn. (1712 Main St., Coventry 06238): 275th Anniversary Committee, 1987.

Surname: Badcock

The Badcock surname is part of Rosmer Pettis Kerr's heritage. His fourth great-grandfather was:

• Benjamin Badcock, whose marriage to Mary Long on 10 February 1729/30 was recorded in the town of Coventry, Connecticut. Benjamin and Mary were my sixth great-grandparents.
  
• Sarah Badcock, born 7 may 1734. She married Samuel Parker II on 1 March 1753 in Coventry. Samuel and Sarah were my fifth great-grandparents.

There doesn't seem to be much in print about this line. I know little besides what appears here. Reader, if you have more information, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

See also Badcock Surname Origin.

Messier, Betty Brook, and Janet Sutherland Aronson. The Roots of Coventry, Connecticut. Coventry, Conn. (1712 Main St., Coventry 06238): 275th Anniversary Committee, 1987.

Dimock, Susan (Whitney). Births, Marriages, Baptisms and Deaths, from the Records of the Town and Churches in Coventry, Connecticut, 1711-1844. New York: Baker & Taylor Co, 1897.

Surname: Cardee

The Cardee surname is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. His fifth great-grandmother was:

• Mary Cardee, born about 1684. She married Captain Samuel Parker about 1704. Mary and Samuel were my seventh great-grandparents.

Reader, I know nothing more about Mary. If you have any information about her ancestry, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Surname: Parker

The Parker surname comes to me via Rosmer P. Kerr. His fifth great-grandfather was:

• Captain Samuel Parker, born 22 September 1682 in Groton, Massachusetts. Together with his wife Mary Cardee, he had seven children. He died 30 October 1775 in Coventry, Connecticut. Samuel and Mary were my seventh great-grandparents.
  
• Samuel Parker, Jr., born 6 March 1705 in Boston. On 24 March 1726 he married Experience Root in Coventry. They were my sixth great-grandparents.
  
• Samuel Parker II, born in Coventry. He married Sarah Badcock on 1 March 1753 in Coventry, and with her had 11 children. He died 1 May 1814 in Peru, Massachusetts. Samuel and Sarah were my fifth great-grandparents.
  
• Tryphena Parker, born 14 December 1769 in Coventry, the ninth child of Samuel and Sarah. On 22 November 1795 she married Elijah Sedgwick in Peru. They had seven children. She died on 4 January 1842 in Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York. Tryphena and Elijah were my fourth great-grandparents.
  

See also Parker Surname Origin.

Messier, Betty Brook, and Janet Sutherland Aronson. The Roots of Coventry, Connecticut. Coventry, Conn. (1712 Main St., Coventry 06238): 275th Anniversary Committee, 1987.

Surname: Sedgwick

The Sedgwick surname is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. His ninth great-grandfather was:

• William Sedgwick of Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, born about 1556. His wife's name is not known. William was my eleventh great-grandfather.
• William Sedgwick, born about 1579 in England. He married Elizabeth Howe on 10 April 1604 at Woburn, Bedfordshire. William died in Woburn and was buried there on 25 June 1632. He and Elizabeth were my tenth great-grandparents.
• Major General Robert Sedgwick, christened in Woburn, Bedfordshire on 6 May 1613. He married Joanna Blake on 6 January 1636 at Andover, Hampshire, England. While serving under Cromwell, he was sent to Jamaica where he died 24 May 1656. Robert and Joanna were my ninth great-grandparents.
• William Sedgwick, born 1643 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Stone in 1665 at Hartford, Connecticut. He died in 1674, also in Jamaica. William and Elizabeth were my eighth great-grandparents.
• Captain Samuel Sedgwick, born in 1667, married Mary Hopkins in 1689. They had eleven children. Samuel died in Hartford on 24 March 1735. He and Mary were my seventh great-grandparents.
• Joseph Sedgwick, born 16 May 1697 in Hartford. He married Ruth Smith on 24 January 1723 at Hartford. They had seven children. Joseph died in 1765. He and Ruth were my sixth great-grandparents.
• Samuel Sedgwick, born 11 April 1725 Hartford and christened a week later. He married Deborah Higgins. He died at Kinderhook Landing, New York, in 1793. Samuel and Deborah were my fifth great-grandparents.
• Elijah Sedgwick, born 13 December 1769 in Westfield, Massachusetts. He married Tryphena Parker on 22 November 1795 in Peru, Massachusetts. He died on 16 December 1861 in Bloomingdale, Illinois and was buried there. Elijah and Tryphena were my fourth great-grandparents.
• Tryphena Sedgwick, born 6 October 1803 in Stephentown, New York. On 11 November 1830, she married Micajah Petit Pettis in Gainsville, New York. She died 8 February 1842, four days after her mother, in Westmoreland, New York, where both are buried. Tryphena and Micajah were my third great-grandparents.

Sedgwick information is not hard to find. The best place to begin is Sedgwick Genealogy Worldwide.

See also Sedgwick Surname Origin.

Surname: Cooper

The Cooper surname comes to me via my grandpa, Rosmer P. Kerr. His seventh great-grandmother was:

• Tacy Cooper (also spelled Tase or Tasy), born in England February 1608 or 1609. I don't know who her parents were, or whether anyone has tried to research this line. Tacy married Samuel Hubbard in Windsor, Connecticut on 4 January 1636. She died after 1697. She was my ninth great-grandmother.

Here's an interesting comment about her:

So far as can be learned from the earliest records, the first person upon this continent to begin the observance of the Bible Sabbath, March 11, 1671, was a woman, Tacy Hubbard, wife of Samuel Hubbard, who commenced its observance a little later. The two became prominent members of the first Seventh-day Baptist Church of Newport, but before their separation from the First-day Baptist Church, when they, with several others, were called to account for absenting themselves from the "breaking of bread," it was Tacy Hubbard, who, before the stern assemblage, "gave in the grounds," numbered consecutively 1, 2 and 3, with great clearness and force. Among the forefathers of our people, men of sterling worth, intellectually and spiritually, eminently fitted to stand shoulder to shoulder, as they did, with Roger Williams, in the maintenance of religious liberty, let this pre-eminent foremother retain her first place—ever first, down through the generations of loyal successors, in reverence and affection.

Seventh Day Baptist General Conference. Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America: A Series of Historical Papers Written in Commemoration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Organization of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, Celebrated at Ashaway, Rhode Island, August 20-25, 1902. Plainfield, N.J.: Printed for the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference by the American Sabbath Tract Society, 1910.

Surname: Hubbard

The Hubbard surname comes to me via Rosmer P. Kerr. His ?th great-grandfather was:

• Thomas Hubbard who, it is said, died 26 May 1555 in Essex, England, burned at the stake for refusing to recant his Protestantism. He is said to have been my ?th great-grandfather.
• _____________ Apparently there's a missing ancestor who belongs in this slot. If Thomas (above) is a correct ancestor, as many sources claim, he could not have fathered a son in 1584, twenty-nine years after his death!
  
• James Hubbard, born about 1584 in Mendelsham, Suffolk County, England. He married Naomi Cocke. James and Naomi were my tenth great-grandparents.
  
• Samuel Hubbard, born 10 May 1610 in Mendelsham, Suffolk County, England. He married Tacy Cooper in Windsor, Connecticut on 4 January 1636. Samuel and Tacy were my ninth great-grandparents.
  
• Ruth Hubbard, born 11 January 1640 in Agawam (Springfield), Massachusetts. She married Robert Burdick on 2 November 1655 at Newport, Rhode Island. She died in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1691. Ruth and Robert Hubbard were my eighth great-grandparents.

Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial; A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co, 1913. From p. 460-461:

[Samuel Hubbard] was born in Mendelsham, county Suffolk, England, in 1610, son of James and Naomi (Cocke) Hubbard. James Hubbard's father was declared by Samuel Hubbard to be the Thomas Hubbard* mentioned in Fox's "Book of Martyrs". Naomi Cocke was a daughter of Thomas Cocke, of Ipswich, England. In 1675 Samuel Hubbard wrote in his diary: "I have a Testament of my grandfather Cocke's, printed in 1549, which he hid in his bed-straw, lest it should be found and burned in Queen Mary's days." This Testament was given by Samuel Hubbard to his granddaughter, Naomi Burdick, who married Jonathan Rogers, and it is said that this Testament is now in the library of Alfred University, and known as the Rogers Bible. Samuel Hubbard came from England to Salem, Massachusetts, in October, 1633, and was in Watertown the next year. He was admitted a freeman, March 4, 1634, and joined the church about the same time. He removed to Windsor, where he married, January 4, 1636, Tacy Cooper. Hubbard removed to Springfield, May 10, 1639, and was one of the founders of the church and became a prominent citizen. He and his wife became Baptists and being threatened with imprisonment for their views while at Fairfield, Connecticut, they removed, October 2, 1648, to Rhode Island, arriving October 12, as recorded in Samuel's diary. He joined the Baptist church in Newport, November 3, 1648. Ruth Hubbard was "the first child on record at Springfield." Children of Robert and Ruth (Hubhard) Burdick: Robert, married Dorcas Lewis; Hubbard, married Hannah Maxson; Thomas; Naomi, married Jonathan Rogers; Ruth, married John Phillips; Benjamin, married and had eight children; Samuel, married Mary Bliven; Tacy, married Joseph Maxson; Deborah, married Joseph Crandall.

*The story of Thomas Higbed is told in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. This Thomas Higbed is said to be Thomas Hubbard, Samuel Hubbard's ancestor. See p. 652-653.

Click on The Martyrdom of Thomas Causton and Thomas Higbed to download a PDF of the two pages mentioned above from The Vertical File.

See also Hubbard Surname Origin.

Surname: Smith

The Smith surname is part of the heritage of Rosmer P. Kerr. His sixth great-grandfather was:

• William Smith of Wethersfield and later Farmington, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Standley on 16 August 1644; they had nine children. He died in 1670. William and Elizabeth were my eighth great-grandparents.
  
• Joseph Smith of Farmington, born 25 August 1655. He appears to have had five children with his first wife, Lydia, the first being born about 1681. He married Joanna Loomis on 20 November 1691* and fathered eight more children. Based on these dates, it appears Joseph and Joanna were my seventh great-grandparents.
  
• Ruth Smith, christened 9 December 1694 in Farmington, Connecticut. She married Joseph Sedgwick on 24 January 1723 at Hartford, Connecticut. Joseph and Ruth were my sixth great-grandparents.

Smith is one of my many New England surnames that I haven't yet sought documentation for. To be honest, it's not high on my list of priorities at this point, because I have plenty left to do among more recent generations. Still, I hope at some point to learn more about this line, especially concerning the question of whether Ruth Smith was the daughter of Joanna Loomis, as seems likely based on dates from the Loomis genealogy, or whether she was actually the daughter of Joseph Smith's first wife Lydia, as Savage suggests. See below.

James Savage on the Smith Family:

SMITH, William, Wethersfield 1644, br. of Christopher of Northampton, where prob. he did not seat hims. till ten or a dozen yrs. later, but must have been here at W. with William, or at Hartford with the other brs. Joseph, and Simon, and sis. Mary Partridge; m. 16 Aug. 1644, Eliz. Standley, perhaps d. of Timothy, made elk. of the milit. comp. next yr. perhaps was of Middletown 1649, for there are rec. b. of his first six ch. tho. prob. the first two were b. at W. viz. Jonathan, 20 Jan. 1647; Jobanah, 2 Jan. 1649; Susanna, 20 Mar. 1651; Eliz. and Mehitable, tw. 20 May 1653 ; and Joseph, 25 Aug. 1655; rem. to Farmington soon aft. join. the ch. and brot. Joseph to bapt. 15 Mar. 1657, and there had Benjamin, bapt. prob. 11 (not 14, as in Geneal. Reg. XI. 325) Apr. 1658; William, b. Apr. 1661; and Samuel, May 1664; was in the list of freem. 1669, and d. early next yr. His wid. Eliz. d. 1678, and three of the nine ch. d. in the interval, viz. Eliz. William, and Jobanah, wh. was a soldier in Capt. Newberry's comp. in Philip's war, k. by the Ind. Three of his s. Jonathan, Joseph, and Samuel, liv. at F. but nothing is kn. of their condit. [p. 136]

SMITH, Joseph, Farmington, s. of William, by first w. Lydia had Joseph, b. a. 1681; Lydia; both bapt. prob. 17 Aug. 1684, tho. the rec. as giv. in Geneal. Reg. XII. 147, says 18, wh. was Monday ; Jobanna, 12 Apr. 1685; Mary, 30 Jan. 1687; Eliz. 16 Feb. 1690; Joanna, b. 15, bapt . 16 Oct. 1692 ; Ruth, bapt. 1 Dec. 1694; Susanna, b. 20 Apr. 1698; Thankful, 4 Nov. 1700; Mercy, 6 Aug. 1702; Esther, 30 Oct. 1705; Experience, bapt. prob. 11 July 1708; and Zephaniah, b. 16 Feb. 1710, d. young; but prob. the last two were b. by a sec. w. Joanna Loomis. [p. 125]

Savage, James, John Farmer, and O. P. Dexter. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1860.

Starr, Frank Farnsworth, and James Junius Goodwin. Various Ancestral Lines of James Goodwin and Lucy (Morgan) Goodwin of Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford, Conn.: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press, 1915. [See excerpt The Family of William Smith at My Ancestors in Books, or download a PDF of the Smith article from The Vertical File.]

New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register and Antiquarian Journal. Boston: S.G. Drake, 1853. [See Church Records of Farmington, Conn., Vol. 12, p. 147.]

*Loomis, Elias. The Descendants of Joseph Loomis: Who Came from Braintree, England, in the Year 1638, and Settled in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1639. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor, 1870. Republished Rutland, Vt: Tuttle Antiquarian Books, 1990.

Surname: Loomis

The Loomis surname comes to me via my grandpa, Rosmer P. Kerr. His tenth great-grandfather is said to have been:

• Thomas Lummyus, who died in 1551 in England. Thomas was my twelfth great-grandfather.
  
• John Lummys, whose will was dated 1567. He was married to Kyrsten Pasfield (or Jackson). John Sr. and Kyrsten were my eleventh great-grandparents.
  
• John Lummys, who was christened in 1562 and died in 1619. His wife was Agnes. John Jr. and Agnes were my tenth great-grandparents.
  
• Joseph Loomis, born about 1590 in England. He was a woolen-draper in Braintree, Essex before sailing from London on 11 April 1638 aboard the ship Susan & Ellen. He and his family arrived at Boston on 17 July 1638 and went to Windsor, Connecticut soon after. His wife, whose name is not known, died 23 August 1652. Joseph died 25 November 1658. He was my ninth great-grandfather.
  
• Samuel Loomis, thought to be the youngest of Joseph's eight children. Samuel was born in England. He married Elizabeth Judd on 27 December 1653. He died 1 October 1689, possibly at his home in Westfield, Massachusetts. Samuel and Elizabeth were my eighth great-grandparents.
  
• Joanna Loomis, born 22 October 1665. She married Joseph Smith on 20 November 1691. Joanna and Joseph Smith were my seventh great-grandparents.
  

All three of the Loomis genealogies mentioned below are posted at My Ancestors in Books.

Loomis, Elias. The Descendants of Joseph Loomis. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor, 1870. Republished Rutland, Vt: Tuttle Antiquarian Books, 1990.

Loomis, Elias. The Descendants of Joseph Loomis: Who Came from Braintree, England, in the Year 1638, and Settled in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1639. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor, 1870. Republished Rutland, Vt: Tuttle Antiquarian Books, 1990.

Loomis, Elias, Elisha S. Loomis, and Charles Arthur Hoppin. Descendants of Joseph Loomis in America And His Antecedents in the Old World. 1909.

You'll find some Loomis resources in 400 New England Ancestors at My Ancestors in Books.

See also Loomis Surname Origin.

Savage: Another Point of View

According to A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Joanna Loomis may not have been the mother of Ruth Smith, my connection to this line. Here is what Savage has to say on the subject:

SMITH, Joseph, Farmington, s. of William, by first w. Lydia had Joseph, b. a. 1681; Lydia; both bapt. prob. 17 Aug. 1684, tho. the rec. as giv. in Geneal. Reg. XII. 147, says 18, wh. was Monday ; Jobanna, 12 Apr. 1685; Mary, 30 Jan. 1687; Eliz. 16 Feb. 1690; Joanna, b. 15, bapt . 16 Oct. 1692 ; Ruth, bapt. 1 Dec. 1694; Susanna, b. 20 Apr. 1698; Thankful, 4 Nov. 1700; Mercy, 6 Aug. 1702; Esther, 30 Oct. 1705; Experience, bapt. prob. 11 July 1708; and Zephaniah, b. 16 Feb. 1710, d. young; but prob. the last two were b. by a sec. w. Joanna Loomis.

Reader, if you've researched this question and have been able to document it one way or the other, I'd appreciate knowing what you've found!

Savage, James, John Farmer, and O. P. Dexter. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1860.

Surname: Bronson

None of the Bronsons pictured here are my direct-line ancestors.
Click anyway to enlarge and get a good eyeful of
what the Bronson genes look like in action.

The Bronson surname is part of Rosmer P. Kerr's heritage. Rosmer's eighth great-grandfather may have been:

• Richard Bronson, thought to be the father of John Bronson. If correct, he's my tenth great-grandfather.
  
• John Bronson of Hartford and Farmington, born probably before or about 1620. With his wife, whose name is shrouded in mystery, he had seven children. John John died at Farmington 28 November 1680. He was my ninth great-grandfather.
  
• Dorcas Bronson, whose birthdate isn't known. Some of her siblings were born 1641-1647. She is listed as the sixth of seven children, but if that's the case, she would have been quite a bit younger than her husband, Stephen Hopkins of Hartford, who was born 1634. Dorcas did outlive him by more than seven years, dying 13 May 1697. Dorcas and Stephen were my eighth great-grandparents.
  

Bronson, Henry. The History of Waterbury, Connecticut; The Original Township Embracing Present Watertown and Plymouth, and Parts of Oxford, Wolcott, Middlebury, Prospect and Naugatuck. Waterbury: Bronson Bros, 1858. My direct-line ancestors didn't live in Waterbury, but some of their children did. As a result, you'll find some Bronson genealogy (beginning on p. 137), some Hopkins genealogy (p. 151), and some Judd genealogy (p. 155) in this book. Images for The Bronson Look came from this book also.

Hinman, R. R. A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut, With the Time of Their Arrival in the Country and Colony, Their Standing in Society, Place of Residence, Condition in Life, Where from, Business, &C., As Far As Is Found on Record. Hartford: Case, Tiffany, 1852. Hinman's Bronson genealogy begins at the bottom of p. 341.

Most Hilarious History Book Ever!

If you know me at all, you know I have never been a big fan of history as a subject of study. It was my worst subject in school, by far. I hated the huge, heavy textbook and every boring word in it. Did I ever actually complete any of the assigned reading? I can't imagine that I did. I can clearly remember, though, the agony of trying to force myself through line after line of mind-numbing text... well, never mind. There's no point wallowing in the memory of that misery, is there!

Knowing that one had ancestors aboard a famous boat, however, or bumping knuckles with Cromwell or whatever... that does tend to pique one's curiosity a little. And since I started looking up my ancestors at Google Books, I've read quite a bit more history than I ever did in all my school years combined.

It might have been a different story, those miserable school years, if the history books had been more like the one in which I recently found my ancestor, Rev. Samuel Stone. He's in quite a few history books, actually, but none more entertaining than Hartford in the Olden Times: Its First Thirty Years. In fact, he's almost incidental in this book, and yet I had to keep laughing... um, I mean reading. Click to enlarge the image below... it's sort of an appetizer...

I've left Hartford in the Olden Times on the table for you at my library blog, My Ancestors in Books, where you will not be shushed for laughing out loud.

Surname: Whelden (also Whelding, Wheldon)

The Whelden surname comes to me via Rosmer Pettis Kerr. One of his eighth great-grandfathers may have been:

• Gabriel Whelden, born in England, probably in the late 1500s. He may have been from Nottinghamshire. His first wife's name is unknown. His second wife's name was Margaret. He died in January, 1654. Gabriel and his first wife may have been my tenth great-grandparents.
• Catharine Whelden, born about 1615 in England. The Whelden family was at Plymouth Colony by 1638. On 9 October 1639 at Plymouth, Catharine married Giles Hopkins. They were my ninth great-grandparents.

In Early Wheldens of Yarmouth (p. 732-733, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, No. 43, pub. 1914), author James W. Hawes says:

Gabriel Whelden, b. in England, was in the Plymouth Colony in 1638. The date of his arrival in America and the place of his landing are not known. He probably came from Nottinghamshire. His children were no doubt born in England and were probably by a first wife. When he died in 1654 his wife was Margaret, who, it seems clear, was his second wife and not the mother of his children....
...Children, order uncertain:
Ralph, probably; m.
Henry, m.
John, m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Folland, Sr.
Catharine, probably; m. Giles Hopkins Oct. 9, 1639.
Ruth, m. Richard Taylor after Oct. 27, 1646.

Well, that sounds fairly noncommittal, eh?

It doesn't appear that a lot has been written about this line, although my discovery of this twig in my family tree is fresh and my searching has been limited to Google Books and Internet Archive. If anyone knows of additional Whelden research that's been done, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

See also "HOPKINS" in Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs (p. 296+ and particularly p. 297, col. 1: "(II) Giles, son of Stephen Hopkins... "

Surname: Hopkins

There are two separate Hopkins branches in my family tree, both of them coming to me via my grandpa Rosmer Kerr. We'll start with an eighth great-grandfather:

• Stephen Hopkins, born about 1582. He arrived at Plymouth aboard the Mayflower. He and his first wife, whose name is not known, were my tenth great-grandparents.
  
• Giles Hopkins, born 30 January 1608 in Hursley, Hampshire, England. He married Catherine Whelden on 9 October 1639 at Plymouth Colony. He died about 1690. Giles and Catherine were my ninth great-grandparents.
  
• Deborah Hopkins, born June 1648 in Eastham, Massachusetts. Deborah married Josiah Cooke, Jr. on 27 July 1668 in Eastham. Deborah and Josiah were my eighth great-grandparents.
  

The second Hopkins branch begins with Rosmer's seventh great-grandfather:

• John Hopkins, born before or about 1614. His wife's name was Jane. John died in 1654, and Jane next married Nathaniel Ward of Hadley, Massachusetts. John and Jane were my ninth great-grandparents.
  
• Stephen Hopkins, born in 1634. He married Dorcas Bronson, and together they had six children. Stephen died in October 1689. He and Dorcas were my eighth great-grandparents.
  
• Mary Hopkins, born about 1671. She married Samuel Sedgwick in 1689. They were my seventh great-grandparents.

For a couple of published genealogies, see Two Hopkins Lines at My Ancestors in Books.

To my knowledge, these two lines have not been proven to be connected. However, one researcher presented a pretty interesting case for just that:

Haxtun, Annie Arnoux. Signers of the Mayflower Compact. New York: Reprinted from The Mail and Express, 1896. Click on STEPHEN HOPKINS, Fourteenth Signer to read what she wrote as it appeared when published by The Mail and Express. You'll need your glasses. Or you can read or download a nice, legible transcription of the Haxtun article at The Vertical File.

I don't know whether Haxtun's theory has ever been proven or disproven. As always, I welcome additional information from anyone who knows more about this topic.

See also

• Stephen Hopkins in the Records of the 17th Century at Pilgrim Hall Museum.
• Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society
  
• Hopkins Surname Origin.