BLOG POST 110A

HI CUZ Blog 110

Copyright 1990 et seq, Donald Rowe

Reminder, your acceptance of this newsletter signifies that you will not use its contents to alter, and thus disrespect in any form or way, the historical religious beliefs, no matter what they were – or were not – of family members mentioned herein. This reminder specifically refers to performing LDS ordinances using any of the data in this or other HICUZ newsletters or blog posts.

 

RESEARCH OBSTACLES - In research it is helpful to ask the same question of different sources. Expect to receive widely different answers. This can be equated to getting the Google Street map view, looking as it were down one street for an answer, or a critical piece of family documentation, then looking from the other end of the block. At numerous points in research I came to a One Way street sign, and I was going against the flow of traffic. The way to the needed data, or the whole story, was blocked.

The street sign in one particular case which obscured the facts was actually a government letter which said the record needed was “confidential” and “cannot be disclosed.” This particular “confidential” was not related to army troop movements, ship deployments, or missile system frequencies. The exclusion was apparently based on the possible emotional, fraudulent, deceitful, or conflicting nature of what was in the records. It was not a question of the fax being wrong (a pun on fax for the holidays – courtesy laughter appreciated), as the facts were in a controlled legal document or documents. I didn’t and couldn’t know what was there, in black and white. Why was it so controversial, revolting, disturbing or inflammatory that it could not “be disclosed?”

But, for you researchers out there, a look from another direction, down a different street, can and often does give a second opinion, or the truth of the matter. It is often this way in family research, with one sibling denying the existence or parentage of a sibling.  I caution you to expect that sort of things; it will almost certainly happen the deeper you dig. Name misspellings, or phonetic variations also can ruin your research day. Press on! Expect such things, and look for the second street view. I’ve found siblings who deny each other – in one case one provided a birth certificate.

I can’t breech the Valley of Death defense on what I’m talking about in this case, and so I’m being evasive. The sensitivities of family in the broadest sense require that I beat about the bush. With a few selected cuzzes the facts will be shared, with you the broader audience of devoted family researchers (that is a joke) I recognize the volatile nature of these “cannot be disclosed” facts, and how deeply they may shake the family tree. So I’ll let the tree be untouched. Those few who scream to know will be informed.

So as you do your research, ask family on both sides of feuds and somewhere between Side A and Side B the truth will emerge. AND … when you find a family tree on ANCESTRY.COM be very, very, very cautious in accepting them at face values. Verify their sources, the BMD (birth, marriage and death) documents, census reports, draft records, et cetera. Distrust those with no sources identified. Continually ask yourself if the data makes sense – a recent census report I checked had noted a 40 year old daughter, older than either parent. In looking at the original data she was clearly a 10 year old.

Do some family research, enjoy and share the stories you find. Merry Christmas!

I renewed membership in the Manchester Lancashire Family History Society (MLFHS). As a member I’ve subscribed in the Interests Section to family data on the Wroe and Shanaghan surnames. No feedback as yet, but I remain hopeful.

I re-subscribed to RootsWeb list for Wroes. This can be done by sending SUBSCRIBE as the email subject to  WROE-L-request@rootsweb.com . Hopefully this will provide data on Wroe ancestors, or provide sources to pursue. No feedback as yet, but I remain hopeful.

MLFHS members can send mailing list submissions to  forum@list.mlfhs.org.uk

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
    http://list.mlfhs.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/forum_list.mlfhs.org.uk
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to    forum-request@list.mlfhs.org.uk

You can reach the person managing the list at  forum-owner@list.mlfhs.org.uk

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of MLFHS digest..."

Typical research topics:
  1.  Great Aunts and Uncles
  2. Re:  Great Aunts and Uncles
  3. Re:  ROBINSON Baptism Lookup Please
  4. Re:  HILTON Marriages at Christ Church AUL please
  5. Re:  Great Aunts and Uncles
  6.  Parish register look up please.
  7. Re:  Parish register look up please.

  8. Re:  Parish register look up please.
  9. Re:  Butter beans.
  10. Re:  HILTON Marriages at Christ Church AUL -
  11. Re:  ROBINSON Baptism Lookup-Thanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 09:05:39 +0100

MLFHS: Great Aunts and Uncles

I've always called sisters and brothers of my grandparents Great Aunty Emily and Great Uncle Hans but in the Family Tree Maker it shows them as Grand Aunt and Grand Uncle. I thought the 'Great' might then follow on to the next generation but not so FTM shows this as Gt Grand Aunt and Gt Grand Uncle.  I can't seem to find anything on Google to confirm if this is correct does anyone know where to find this sort of information?
------------------------------

MLFHS: Great Aunts and Uncles

I did exactly the same as you did with my grandmother's sisters and their husbands but I really like the idea of using grand aunt/uncle as it ties that generation in with grandmother/father. Then the next generation becomes great grand as you have said.  When people, not into family history, pick me up on my use of saying I'm a grand aunt rather than a great aunt I usually endeavour to explain why I use that terminology, not always successfully, but most can see the point.
I would be interested to know what others think too and if this is a common practice in other places

Subject: MLFHS: misinformation in a user submitted resource file

Some twenty years ago a distant relative asked for a copy of a shared family tree. By chance I have discovered that the data I sent has been uploaded to familysearch.org. It was a very early draft containing significant mistakes such as a wrong spouse and speculation including A.N. Other? and Fred's twin? I have no contact details for my relative now but is there anything I can do to correct the misinformation or to have my early efforts at genealogy removed from the website?  MLFHS member

Re: MLFHS: misinformation in a user submitted resource file

I am sure that somewhere on their site is a message board, where you can join in a discussion about a particular person. and entry. I am sure one that I went to enter carried a warning! that it was in dispute.  I have looked now and cant find the entry on the site. but they do have a blog page, which might be helpful.

Re: MLFHS: misinformation in a user submitted resource file

Been on "Help" on their site and you can either telephone customer  service 00-800-1830-1830 I suspect you drop the first zero.... Or the link below lets you send an email message. I seem to remember it was another MLFHS member who contacted them over something and they responded in a helpful manner - I would think this is your best bet...

https://familysearch.org/ask/help#sendMessage

Kind Regards  MLFHS member

Re: MLFHS: misinformation in a user submitted resource file

I have remembered! Firstly you have to have entered your tree on Family search site.

Then you select your tree, and the person in question, this brings up a window on which there are 3 options 1 Sources, 2, Discussions, & 3 Memories.

There is a side window too which gives other options.

There was a heated discussion on one of mine a John Massey Born In Rostherne in 1698 his father and his son, both called Richard, along with 3 others born in that parish within 10 years of  each other. Obviously this led to some difficulty in identification. --Unless you had a
copy of the marriage license.

MLFHS member

Here is the, or certainly a rough Fraser family tree, my search spurred by first cousin once removed Greg Fraser. Much of the results are from Ancestry.com, augmented by US Census records, residence and death records. Thanks Cuz Greg.

                        Parents of Cecile Auguste Fraser

Hubert Fraser, b 13 July 1803 Cap St Ignace, Quebec; d 17 Sep 1871 Lislet Sur Mer, Quebec

            Married Marie Louise Bosse, b 25 Dec 1805 Cap St Ignace, Quebec, d 26 Mar 1861 Cap St

Ignace, Quebec. She the dau of Charles Bosse and Marie Louise Richard. They married 10 August 1824 Cap St Ignace, Quebec.

                                    Siblings of Cecile Auguste Fraser –

                                                Louise Odile Fraser – d 1852

                                                Hubert Ovide Fraser – 1825 – 1825

                                                Charles Hubert Fraser – 1826 – 1826

                                                Lucine Eloise Fraser – 1825 –

                                                Anselme Fraser – 1829 – 1830

                                                Delphine Fraser – 1830 – 1830

                                                Florine Fraser – 1831 – 1831

                                                Eulalie Fraser – 1832 – 1837

                                                Marie Delphine Fraser – 1833 – 1833

                                                Zoe Fraser – 1835 – 1873

                                                Eugenie Dalvina Fraser – 1836 – 1836

                                                Hermine Elisabeth Fraser – 1838 -

                                                Eliza Dalvina Fraser – 1839 –

                                                Marie Emma Fraser – 1841 –

                                                Hubert Fraser – 1842 –

                                                Marie Artemise Fraser – 1843 – 1843

                                                Charles Augustin Fraser – 1844 - 1844

                                                Euphrase Fraser – 1847 - 1847

                        Parents of Joseph Fraser

Cecile Auguste Fraser, b 1846, d 1912.

            Married Marie Luce Eugenia Tetu, b 1843 in Quebec, d 1882 in Quebec.

                        Parents of Emile Fraser

Joseph Fraser b 14 September 1870 Cap St Ignace, Quebec, d 14 Dec 1936 Rumford, Oxford, ME.

            Married Florella  Plourde, born 1874 in Canada; d 1964.

                                    Siblings of Emile Fraser –

                                                Arthur Ferdinand Fraser – 1898 - 1998

                                                Eugene Fraser – 1903 -

                                                Antoinette Fraser – b 1904, d 1992

                                                Elizabeth Fraser – 1906 -

                                                Cecile Fraser – 1908 -

                                                Gerard Fraser – fourteen years younger

                                                Marie Louise Fraser – 1910 - 1987

                                   

Parents of James E. Fraser

Emile Fraser, born NH 1901, died 1 Oct 1983 Mexico, ME. Social Security # 005-07-0878.

            Married Marie Curran (per 1940 US Census). Marie’s father Patrick born in Ireland.

Marie had a sister Nora born in ME (six years younger)

Knowing the SSAN allows you to write the Social Security administration to ask for employment records.

James E. Fraser, b 15 March 1928. Died 28 August 2008.

            Married Sally Rowe 29 August 1953. Sally born 21 Feb 1929 to

William Rowe, MD and Marion Littlefield.

Siblings of Sally Rowe –

Elizabeth Rowe m Norman “Bud” French

William Rowe m Hazel Newell

Barbara Rowe m Lawrence Gillis

Linwood Rowe MD m Jane Gordon

Catherine Rowe m Daniel Marshall

John Rowe m Geraldine Sassi

                                    Siblings of James E. Fraser – (per 1940 US Census)

                                                Robert Fraser – two years younger

                                                William Fraser – three years younger

                                                Thomas Fraser – six years younger

McDonald research - Anticipating a vacation to Canada’s Nova Scotia Province, and hopefully finding McDonald ancestral dwellings I did a search on Ancestry.com at our local library. Here’s what I found, and didn’t –

            FOUND –

            Canadian 1881 Census – McDonald family, Anselm, Margaret and John Angus (age 2)

                        living in Morristown district of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. Family –

                        Catholic, Anselm age 55, a farmer. Margaret age 40. Family # 149.

Canadian 1891 Census - McDonald family – Catholic; Anselm age 60, a seaman;

            Margaret age 52 born PEI; John Angus (age 11), sister Mary (age 8) living in

            Antigonish Village, Nova Scotia. Family # 105.

McAlpine’s Nova Scotia Directory 1896 – Anselm McDonald – a farmer living Glace

 Bay (Cape Breton Island)

NOT FOUND – Any data showing McDonald homes and families in Nova Scotia since 1896.

John McKinnon born Inverness County, Scotland

            Married Eunice McLeod born Inverness County Scotland. Eunice (Una) was the

daughter of Neil MacLeod and Mary Campbell. John and Una first settled in

Pictou County, Nova Scotia, then moved to Parrsboro there. Neil was from Eigg

Island, Scotland.

Lachlan McKinnon born 1736, Inverness County, Scotland. (prob Eigg Island)

            Married Marjory McDonald born 1739, Inverness County, Scotland. (prob Eigg Island)

            Children: John McKinnon b 1758; Malcolm McKinnon b 1763

Many ancestors emigrated from Eigg, Inverness County to Canada in summer of 1790 on The British Queen.

Angus “Bahn” McDonald born 1817 Scotland; died abt 1870 Canada.

            Married Anne MacInnis born 1786 Inverness County, Scotland. (prob Eigg Island)

Gabriel McDonald, born 1817 Prince Edward Island, Canada; other siblings: Agnes (never married) and Peggy, who married, was widowed and moved in with Anselm.

Anselm McDonald, born 1824 Scotland, died 1905 Nova Scotia, Canada.

            Married Margaret McKinnon, born 1811 Inverness County, Scotland on

            31 March 1878 @ St Ninian’s Cathedral, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Mary “May” McDonald, married Archie E. Taylor in Boston on 27 March, 1903.

John Angus McDonald – born 29 June 1879 Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Died 20 May 1962 Portsmouth, VA. He was baptized 30 June 1879 at St. Ninian's Cathedral. The sponsors at the baptism were Alexander and Eunice MacKinnon, probably John Angus' maternal grandparents.

            M (1) Cassie W. Pratt (previously married, with dau. Vivian and Lillianfrom prev.

 marr). Cassie died 21 August 1919 in Hingham, MA. Her parents were:

Mr. and Mrs. William Hayes Pratt of Southville, Mass.

            M (2) Marjorie May MacKenzie – 9 October 1920 in NYC. Her parents were: William

                        Augustus and Addie (Russell) MacKenzie.

Barbara McDonald born

            M (1) Thomas Malone, LT USN – killed in WWII

            M (2) Harry E. Gerhard, Jr.

McDonald research - We briefly visited St. Ninian’s Cathedral – in Antigonish, NS, the site of the baptism of John Angus McDonald. It borders St Francis Xavier University, where new freshmen coeds were just getting settled in. A bit of history of St Ninian’s is appropriate to share. “Catholics from Scotland had begun to come to the territory of the present Diocese of Antigonish in 1791 and from Ireland (via Newfoundland) after the rebellion of 1798.” This quote came from a church brochure we picked up.  Of the first five Bishops of the Cathedral – William Fraser, Colin Francis MacKinnon, John Cameron, James Morrison, and John Roderick MacDonald – four bear family names linked to the line of Nancy’s grandfather John Angus McDonald.

Gerhard research - I’ve had a lingering suspicion over many years that some time ago I stated in a newsletter that when I tried to get a copy of court records of the divorce of Estella Dech from Harry Edgar Gerhard Sr. I was told the records were sealed. I found no records in previous HICUZ newsletters of the records being sealed, but looked further, thinking my recollection must have been a bad dream. I just found that document, dated 22 March 1995; it stated that the record “is confidential and cannot be disclosed.”

The divorce record of Estella Dech from Harry Edgar Gerhard (Sr.) is recorded in Continuance Docket # 69, page 202.  Harry was cited as the defendant.  The record reflects: Filed 31 December 1917. The records are in the Lehigh County, PA court system.

The divorce occurred in 1920, a time before women even had the right to vote, and the request for divorce was filed by Estella. That family had seven children, four surviving at the divorce:

                        Dorothy Estella Gerhard b 15 Nov 1900

                        Ruth Kathryn Gerhard b 6 Mar 1902

                        Infant son Gerhard b 1903 - died in infancy

                        Grace E. Gerhard (and twin Jonas A. Gerhard) b 11 Sep 1909 Allentown, PA

                                    Grace died of appendicitis at age 18.

                        Jonas Albert Gerhard m Ruth ??? . Ruth d after 1994 he d 2 Aug 1953

1. Joan Gerhard m Harold “Reds” Stelicha. They are Nancy’s first cousins and reside in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Harold d April 2014. Harold and Joan had two sons.

A 1996 letter from Joan indicated that Dr George Gerhard, Nancy's grandfather's brother, had a daughter named Geraldine (Jerry).

                        Katie Anna Gerhard b 24 June1912 Allentown, PA

                        Edgar Harry Gerhard b 5 May 1914 d 6 Feb 1989 m Margaret B. Derby

                                    1. Regina Margaret Gerhard is Nancy’s first cousin

Gerhard research during 15, 17 and 19 Dec 2015 CRRL research.

1)  George W. Gerhard, MD – date and place of death, obit, SSAN, burial site

            a.  1900 US Census – Living in Macungie with parents, Jonas W. and Emma M. (Shimer)

                        Gerhard. His age was 5 at the time. His birth year was given as June 1894.

            b.  1920 US Census -  He was living in Philadelphia’s Ward 37 on 13^th Street. His wife

                        was given as Bertha P. Gerhard, she born in Ireland. His occupation was given as

 a salesman of food products. His age was given as 25; his wife’s as 23.

c.  1930 US Census – the most significant difference was that his wife’s birthplace

            showed as North Ireland.

d.  1940 US Census – age given as 53. Living with wife Bertha P., age 53, and daughter

            Jeraldine W. Gerhard, age 10 on Wyoming Avenue. They had lived in this home

            since 1935. Jeraldine stated as in fifth grade.

e.  WWII Draft Registration Card, 1942 – gives his birth day as 23 February 1894, in

            Lehigh County, PA. His residence in 1942 reflected as Philadelphia, PA.

2)  Harry E Gerhard Sr. - place of death, obit, SSAN, burial site

            a.  1910 US Census – Harry E Gerhard, age in 1910 – 29; married to Stella E. Gerhard;

                        Estella’s age in 1910 given as 31. Children living with parents: Dorothy E.

                        Gerhard, age 9; Grace E. Gerhard, age 1 (1 6/12); Jonas Albert Gerhard, age 0

                        (7/12).

            b.  WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918. City of Allentown, County of Lehigh, birth

                        date: 30 June 1880. Born Macungie, Lehigh County, PA.

            c.  1910 US Census – Harry E. Gerhard, age 29, born abt 1881. Married to Stella E.

Gerhard, age 31. Children living with parents: Dorothy E. Gerhard, age 9; Grace E. Gerhard, age 1 (1 and 6/12); Jonas Albert Gerhard, age 0 (7/12).

            d.  1930 US Census – Harry E. Gerhard, age 49. Wife Frances Gerhard, age 37. Children

                        living with parents: Edgar Gerhard, age 15; Harry E. Gerhard, age 4 (4 6/12);

 Doris J. Gerhard, age 3 (3 6/12)

            e.  1940 US Census – Harry E. Gerhard, age 59 (b abt 1881); house number 1410 in

                        Ocean City, Cape May County, NJ. Children living with parents: Harry Gerhard,

                        age 14; Donald J. Gerhard, age 13 (must have meant Doris J)

            f.  US Find a Grave Index – Harry Edgar Gerhard, born 30 June 1880, Lehigh County,

                        PA. Died 22 Feb 1942. Buried:  Solomons United Church of Christ, Macungie,

                        Lehigh, PA. Father given as Jonas W. Gerhard.

3)  Estella Dech Gerhard – date and place of death, obit, SSAN, burial site

            a.  1910 US Census – Harry E Gerhard, age in 1910 – 29; married to Stella E. Gerhard;

                        Estella’s age in 1910 given as 31. Children living with parents: Dorothy E.

                        Gerhard, age 9; Grace E. Gerhard, age 1 (1 6/12); Jonas Albert Gerhard, age 0

                        (7/12).

            b.  1928 – US City Directories, 1821-1989 – Estella E Gerhard, 238 N 5^th Street,

                        Allentown, PA. Occupation given as clerk. Harry Gerhard is listed as spouse,

            c.  1940 US Census – Estella A Gerhard, birth stated as abt 1878, widowed. Listed as

                        lodger in Allentown, PA at 1505 ½ Chew Street, with occupation listed as

                        seamstress. Education given as second year of college. Worked 39 weeks in 1939.

                        Was unemployed for 208 days previously. Age given as 61. Lived in same house

 in 1939.

            d.  1942 - US City Directories, 1821-1989 – Mrs. Estella Gerhard, 1505 Chew Street,

                        Allentown, PA. Occupation seamstress.

            e.  SSDI – Social Security Death Index – SSAN 183-18-1030. Last residence given as

                        10573 Chester, Westchester, NY. DOB given as 28 July 1878; DOD given as

                        March 1977 in PA.

            f.  US Find A Grave Index – Estella E. Gerhard (Estella E. Dech) Birth – 1878; death

                        1977. Cemetery given as Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church Cemetery,

                        Allentown, PA. No BIO available. Photo of gravesite showed “Mother Estella E.

 nee Dech Gerhard, 1878 – 1977”  buried next to “Daughter Grace E. Gerhard,

1908 – 1927.”

      4.  Edgar Harry Gerhard –

a.  1920 US Census – age 5 living on Main Street, Macungie, Lehigh County, PA with

            grandfather – Jonas W. Gerhard, age 64. Also living there was brother Jonas

            Albert Gerhard, age 10 and Katie Shimer, age 51. .

b.  1940 US Census – age 25, living in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA on Henaver

            (?Hanover) Aves. Wife, Margaret Gerhard, age 24, and daughter Regina age 2

also living at address. Residence in 1935 given as Ocean City, NJ. His occupation

given as taxi driver.

            c.  US Public Records Index, Volume 2 – birth date given as 5 May 1915. Address given

                        as 1411 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA.

            d.  Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards – birth date given as 5 May 1915; date of death

                        given as 6 Feb 1989. Burial location given as Grandview Cemetery, Allentown,

 PA.

            e.  SSDI – Social Security Death Index – SSAN 150-09-5701. State where SSA Card

 issued – NJ, before 1951.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Blog Post 109

HI CUZ Blog 109

Copyright 1990 et seq, Donald Rowe

Reminder, your acceptance of this newsletter signifies that you will not use its contents to alter, and thus disrespect in any form or way, the historical religious beliefs, no matter what they were – or were not – of family members mentioned herein. This reminder specifically refers to performing LDS ordinances using any of the data in this or other HICUZ newsletters or blog posts.

I want to note again for any who might have recently started following the blog that I have recently focused any efforts on my Wroe roots in the Lancaster County England area, as well as any data assisting with Irish research leading to identifying the origins of my Shanaghan roots.

MLFHS: Parish Maps on Family Search Org Site
http://maps.familysearch.org/  This is quite an interesting site for people looking for parishes and
districts. It also has a peg man facility. A list of churches and finds them on a map.

MLFHS: Talbot Library
An update about the Talbot Library, Preston.  I have just received the following note -

Press Release from the Catholic Diocese of Lancaster
  15 May 2014- Statement begins:

The highly acclaimed collection of some 50,000 books comprising the Talbot Library in Preston has been given a new lease of life following the announcement today by the Bishop of Lancaster,  The Rt Rev Michael Campbell, that an agreement had been reached between the Lancaster Diocesan Trustees and Liverpool Hope University, whose Council is chaired by Monsignor John Devine, whereby the Talbot Library will be transferred on permanent loan to 
the University. The library will be preserved there on permanent loan alongside three other excellent collections of theological works, making this the leading collection of Catholic literature in the northwest. 

Following the closure of the Talbot Library in December 2013 a number of parties expressed interest in acquiring the library and were given access to the contents which include an extensive collection of early printed books (1500 ? 1800), a collection by G K Chesterton and a complete collection on John Henry Newman. Following an independent appraisal by Sotheby?s who 
identified a number of books of historic and cultural importance it was recommended that the Diocese ensures that the Library be kept intact.

The Bishop of Lancaster and Trustees of the Diocese are delighted that as a result of the acceptance of the offer from Liverpool Hope University, the Talbot Library will retain its identity within the North West of England in temperature-controlled, British Museum standards conditions, which the University has established for its other valuable works. These conditions 
are ideal for the long-term preservation of the books. It also provides easy access for its users and especially students of religious studies based at Liverpool Hope University and throughout the North West. Liverpool Hope University with its highly rated Theology Department is especially committed to encouraging scholars and others in the North West, especially those with long- standing links to the Talbot Library or are interested Catholic history and theology, to have access to these rich resources.

A separate Trust Fund will also be established between the Diocese and the University for the long-term preservation of the Talbot Library. Statement ends.

Further information is available from: Mr Stephen Moore, Trustee, Diocese of Lancaster email: 
stephenmoorebh@aol.com . Professor Fr. Peter McGrail, Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Liverpool Hope University - MCGRAIP@hope.ac.uk [end quote]

This is probably the most satisfactory solution to the problem as Hope University Library already houses the Gradwell Library that was in the Seminary at Upholland.

Rcvd from a MLFHS member

MLFHS: Microfilm Copies

Not been following the thread. This may be of help: "The biggest attraction is the microfilm collection. Since 1938, the Genealogical Society of Utah and its successor organization, the LDS Church Family History Department, have been preserving copies of original documents on microfilm. In 1990 the library sponsored approximately 200 microfilming projects in various parts of the world. These efforts have added microfilmed copies of more than 5 million manuscripts to the library's collections. The microfilms show the original records of births, marriages, and deaths; military records; censuses; wills; notaries' records; cemetery records; and
other kinds of documents that describe people and families from the past. Other resources include compiled genealogies, local histories, old maps, city directories, and name indexes. The largest collections are from countries in North America and Europe, with substantial collections from Latin America. The library has also acquired written and oral materials from Asia, Africa, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific Ocean."

Fourth paragraph: http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Family_History_Library 
Best regards - MLFHS member

Subject: Re: MLFHS: Microfilm Copies

Thanks to Chris, Lesley and June for their responses. M/c catalogues may indeed be helpful - the LDS catalogue does not seem to show an acquisition date, at least online. My own memory fits with Lesley's that films might have been made available late 1970s. I certainly recall that the 1891 census was the first released on fiche (in 1992). June's comment on parish register films from 1952 offers an earlier date than I would have thought. Parishes were not required to deposit registers in record offices until 1978 but some would have been deposited before this so it is not out of the question. The technology certainly was around - I recall buying car spares from Ford in the 1960s and the details being held on fiche - indeed, when family historians were looking for fiche readers, garages were a source of supply as they were giving up this medium.

Original message from: MLFHS member

I would have thought that the LDS catalog [sic] wd show when they generated their version (which may not have been the earliest. I failed to work the catalog for this.

According to Michael Foster (Comedy of Errors I p140), there is evidence that the LDS filming is later than the inferior GRO filming. The GRO is the negative image. The LDS is positive and exhibits a wide gutter between the facing pages (filmed almost flat). At least some of the film is from the Southport copies, though there are images that are from well worn books which seem to have been used at the search rooms in London.

Is there an accession record for the copies at M/c library? I would think that would be earlyish.

MLFHS: Microfilm Copies
Can anyone tell me when microfilm copies of the GRO indexes and Census Returns first became available? I have some books from the late 1970s in which there is reference to films of the census while in Pine's Genealogist's Encyclopedia of 1969 film is not mentioned (but this is not necessarily confirmation that it did not exist).
Early 1970s therefore seems a possibility. Any suggestions welcomed.

MLFHS: Microfilm Copies

Further to Phil's note, in 1941/42 when it had become obvious that Lancashire would be a target for German bombing, Bishop Marshall, the Bishop of Salford, asked the parish priests to have their sacramental registers filmed.  This was so that there was a copy if the church was bombed and the originals were destroyed.  As with many such requests with cost implications, there was no funding attached.  The parishes had to bear the cost.  The parishes that considered they were at risk and could afford the process had their registers filmed.  To minimise the cost, the registers filmed were usually from the foundation of the parish or from about 1807, whichever was later.  This was because the parish clergy thought a 70 year period was sufficient for church purposes.

The films were originally stored at Wardley Hall (the residence of the Bishop of Salford) and later (ca 1970??) were deposited with the Lancashire Record Office.  In recent years the film material used for these copies was found to have deteriorated and to be dangerous.  The films were destroyed. Fortunately for us, most of the local authorities had obtained copies of the 
films for use in their libraries.

I did not respond initially to John Marsden's note because I thought he was interested in films of material held in the Public Record Office / The National Archives such as the GRO Indexes and Census material,

Subject: MLFHS: List of Locations & Churches prior to 1800 - Cheshire
In an attempt to track down an elusive burial, I have been listing the church records of a certain period, then those on line and  that are available.

It occurred to be that this is such a basic task - someone must have done it before me!

I know that the Lancashire Victorian 'green PR transcript books would cover what I want, but is there anything like that for Cheshire.....

What I am looking for is a list of Churches open in say 1650 in the Cheshire parishes, that are not yet indexed, and on line.

Taking into account there must have been hundreds - some long gone- what happened to the records, and where are they now?

I think there are about 300 Cheshire churches currently, some not yet indexed? some not scanned? So how can I find out more on them? especially the earlier ones.

I hope this query is not too vague, and someone has the answer.
Thank you MLFHS member

MLFHS: List of Locations & Churches prior to 1800 - Cheshire
Sorry, I can't help you with Cheshire particularly, however I bought a book years ago (c1995) entitled:  A Genealogical Gazetteer of England - An Alphabetical Dictionary of Places, With Their Location, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Population, and the Date of the Earliest Entry in the Registers of Every Ancient Parish in England $49.00

I think I paid about A$20 for it at the time. I have just checked and it's still available from:
http://www.genealogical.com a company in the US, although I bought mine locally in Australia.
It's produced and printed by the same company in Baltimore, USA.

I have always found it very useful when trying to locate little parishes and places I'd never heard of until research led me to an area. There's a wealth of information in it in surprisingly few words. I have not, so far, found anywhere not in the Gazetteer.

As I said, not exactly what you're looking for!!

MLFHS: List of Location of Cheshire Parishes – Phillimore Atlas
Just to expand mine is the " New Edition" dated 1995. There are two maps:-
                1.  All the Towns and Villages no parishes.
                2.  The second all the parishes and boundaries.

Turning to the Index.  For each parish:-
                Column 1        deposited original records Start and end date.
                Column 2        IGI dates included.
                Column 3        local marriage indexes range of years.
                Column 4        copies of Registers at Society of  Genealogists  ( SG ) range of years.
                Column 5        Boyd's Marriage index. Range of years included.
                Column 6        Copiesof Registers not at SG. Range of years.
                Column 7        Pallot's marriage index.  Range of years included.
                Column 8        Non conformist Records at Kew.  Range of years.
                Column 9        Grid Reference to Parish Map.

This is for every county in England and Regions in Wales and Scotland.

MLFHS: Ahnentafel Numbering (of family tree members)

The parents of 2 are 4 and 5; of 3 they are 6 and 7; of 4 they are 8 and 9; of 5 they are 10 and 11; and so on.  So for a general number n, the father is 2n and the mother (2n+1).  Each person has a unique number (or numbers if there have been cousin marriages).

Siblings can be indicated in various ways, such as by a number after a decimal point, or by a letter as Stanley Riley suggests: e.g., the siblings of 2 could be 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc.  But these could be put in chronological order only when that order has been found - which may take time!  A
newly-found sibling could be given a provisional number such 2x until its position in the sequence is known.  I have not found any great need to give numbers to siblings - perhaps I will some time!

Stanley's method of indicating generation by prefix letters gets rid of any need to calculate generation number.

Other uses for the ahnentafel system I have since remembered are:

1.  A newly-discovered forebear gets a number automatically even when un-named - as with the mother of a child whose baptismal record includes only the father's name.
2.  A forebear's number does not change even if the name does, for whatever reason - e.g., getting married, or taking on a step-father's surname.
3.  The numbers can be used to distinguish father and son with the same name (e.g., 258 JOE BLOGGS son of 516 JOE BLOGGS) where information gathered does not (yet) clearly distinguish between them (e.g., among the information for 516 could be included something like 'could be son 258') , or even from another JOE BLOGGS of unknown relationship (by means of a distinctive suffix).
4.  For an illegitimate forebear (e.g., 87 JOAN BLOGGS, daughter of 175 ELIZABETH BLOGGS, father unknown), the system still applies, but the surname has of course descended from the mother's side.

And don't forget to prefix your numbers with sufficient zeros to make up 6 digits if you want to sort your (potentially a million or so!) forebears in numerical order.  (I have omitted them in my examples above for simplicity.)

It would be valuable to hear about the experience of other listers with this system.

Another MLFHS member offered an alternate scheme –

MLFHS: Ahnentafel numbers.
Ahnentafel numbering system. For siblings I use lower case letters: 2a; 2b; 2c; etc.

I use capital letters to show different generations: A1; B2, B3; C4, C5, C6, C7; D8 ? D15, etc.

Regards, Another MLFHS member offered an alternate scheme –

MLFHS: Ahnentafel Numbering System

I have read through several time the method that Graham has used and I have become a little confused. It is probably me and I am trying to work it in the wrong way but in the example shown it records Page 1 with great gr/father at 4 -1/4. Then goes on with a second example of 12/15 with the page being 15 and the person being 12, which  I see is the reverse of the 1st example. Have I got it wrong?

Another MLFHS member offered a source –

MLFHS: Ahnentafel Numbering System

Cannot help re Society article but see  www.saintclair.org/numbers/ for a description of a host of numbering systems including Ahnentafel.

I can see its use on paper based recording systems which were common pre pc's but it can be a bit cumbersome in my experience. I now just number everybody by the pc produced pedigree page no. and their number on that page, thus  1/4 is my great grandfather on page 1 where no. 1 is my father and 12/15 is person no. 12 on pedigree page 15. All the paper records are filed under that same number thus totally avoiding any confusion with multiple generations use of the same name.

MLFHS: Irish Genealogy.

Welcome to Irish Genealogy News …

Irish genealogy research is famous for being difficult, if not impossible. This reputation isn't entirely deserved, although there can be some fundamental difficulties in discovering your Irish ancestry, particularly if you don't know where your ancestors lived. That's why I launched my website, Irish Genealogy Toolkit. It's a free online guide to Irish family history research, and it's designed to help you to find your heritage.
- See more at: http://irish-genealogy-news.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/end-of-may-update-from-igp-archives.html#sthash.qQRPAvc8.dpuf 

http://irish-genealogy-news.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/end-of-may-update-from-igp-archives.html

Colonial Canada militias - In Canada before 1850 it was obligatory for a man between 16 and 50 (or 60) to join the Militia. They also had to attend training at least once a year for which they were paid a small amount of money. Militia Captains could read and write, were well respected, and served under the Intendant, who was like the colonial judge and finance minister in one. They also settled disputes within their community, and got the best pew in their church. Search community histories, and the Pistard at the Banq website for your ancestors that were in the Militia.  

Source: http://genealogybeyondthebmd.blogspot.com/2014/06/soldiers-and-militia-new-france.html?spref=fb  

also see http://www.cmhg.gc.ca/cmh/page-211-eng.asp for data on the Canadian Military History Gateway.

My ancestors in British, and earlier French Canada (Portneuf County, Quebec and elsewhere) undoubtedly served in Canadian militias.

100 years of McGill University yearbooks digitized 

Source – Facebook’s Quebec List Group –

If you have an ancestor who graduated from Montreal’s McGill University or think you may, take a look the digitized collection of Old McGill Yearbooks from 1898 to 2000 that the university has produced. Also available are the yearbooks for McGill’s Macdonald College for the years 1933 to 1960. This collection is described on the website as a “rich resource for family researchers and historians alike, this slice of McGill’s history provides a unique view of student life, learning and research.”

http://genealogyalacarte.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/more-than-100-years-of-mcgill-university-yearbooks-digitized-and-available-online/ 

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MLFHS: old burial grounds

That's very interesting. I have been looking for a burial between 1768 and 1835, of a man who lived in the Knutsford area of Cheshire for years and whose wife and children are buried at St Johns, I wondered if he might have been a member of a 'sect' who had their own burial grounds or even a private burial somewhere. I know that not all records are on line anyway but also that there were some more obscure places and wondered if these alternatives were listed.

regards MLFHS member

MLFHS: old burial grounds
MLFHS member response - The MLFHS publication A Guide to the Burial Grounds of Manchester and Salford' by Geoff Edge is currently out of print, but Geoff is working on an online version of this. It tries to list all the grounds with details of where registers and MI lists can be found.

Although it does not cover outside Manchester, and does not specifically address the survival of records, my own recent book 'Forgotten Fields' does identify the burial grounds which existed in Manchester township and explains what became of them. This can be obtained from the MLFHS online bookshop at
 http://www.bookshop.mlfhs.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_12&products_id=1553

 Records of some sort survive for most of them, though notable exceptions are St. Patrick's RC and the Peter St Swedenborgian burial ground where burial registers have been lost. Survival of MI transcripts is also patchy and in some cases, where the memorials still exist, such as Philips Park  and Southern Cemetery, they have not been recorded. For most, the memorials themselves are long gone.

MLFHS member – See following helpful research links -
www.lancashirebmd.org.uk  www.cumbriabmd.org.uk
www.1851-unfilmed.org.uk  www.mlfhs.org.uk