A NEW MILESTONE ON MY BLOG ~ Thank you to everyone who reads my posts!

This is a day I am proud to share with all of you.

 My blog posts hits have reached the 500,000 mark today!

Thank you to every reader.  Thank you to all the other bloggers and readers who have recommended my blog posts to others.

I’m so proud to be a member of the genealogy blogging community.  When I wrote my first blog post in 2010, I wondered who would ever read what I wrote.  I was hit and miss on posting, with only 22 posts in the first 3 years.

In September of 2013 I got serious and realized if I was going to “do this” then I should post regularly and see what happens.  In the 5 years since then, I have written 455 posts.

Along the way I have met and made wonderful friends in the blogging community.  I have been contacted by cousins who have found my blog as they searched for their family.  It’s been a FANTASTIC experience and a wonderful journey.

I don’t plan on stopping any time soon because new discoveries within my family are being made every day.  With all the DNA testing we have even more chance of making connections.

To anyone out there who has considered writing their own blog, I highly recommend it.  It’s a wonderful way to share family stories and also research tips.

 

A BIG shoutout to my fellow bloggers/friends.  Too numerous to mention, you know who you are.

Call me “smiling in Ramona.”

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018 Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

I’M PUBLISHED–WELL….SELF PUBLISHED ANYWAY

THIS IS THE COVER OF MY 32 PAGE BOOK. MORE LIKE A BOOKLET

After reading other blogger’s comments about self publishing content from their blogs, I decided I would try it.
 
Just to experiment, I used content from the first couple of years of my blog, when I wasn’t very active.  I used a company called Blurb, which had been used by other bloggers who’s content I read.  It wasn’t very expensive (under $30) and it was easy to do.  There are many publishing companies out there.  Find the one that fits your needs.

When I decided to start a blog, back in January of 2010, I had no idea what I was doing, where it would lead, or if it would be read by anyone but me.
 
Here is my very first blog post.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Blogging about family research - Day 1

I have just created this blog as a way to try and connect with more family members. I have been researching my family, including my husband's family, for over 5 years. I've never had a blog before so this will be a learning experience. 
 
Here are some of the surnames that I am researching. This is not a complete list, but includes some of the primary names: Boggs, Bowen, Bowden, Bright, Fink, Frampton, Gillen, Goodbody, Gould, Hall, Hart, Hunter, Lindsay, Milne & Thorp.
 
I hope that this will be a way to share this incredible journey. I currently live in southern California, although I was born in Michigan. My parents and grandparents and many other family members were born in Michigan and many still live there. There are also family connections in many other states. 
 
Stay tuned and let's see how this blog thing works.
 
Til next time,
Michigan Girl
 
If you ask most bloggers, they will tell you they began with doubts.  The biggest one usually being “who is going to read what I write?”

I stopped and started several times between 2010 & 2013.  It was in October of 2013 that I decided I was just going to write regularly and see what happened.  I learned from other bloggers and got excited about sharing my experiences.

Now, I can’t imagine not writing.  Having a blog about researching my family has enriched my life and helped me in my research, along with helping others in theirs.

THANK YOU to all the readers who take time out of their day to read my posts.  I respond to all comments and appreciate every one of you.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD

I have been nominated for the “One Lovely Blog” award.  First let me say that I am honored, as I greatly respect all the other bloggers out there.  Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings nominated me and then, before I could post this, I was nominated by Dana Leeds of The Enthusiastic Genealogist and Cathy Meder Dempsey of Opening Doors in Brick Walls.  My thanks to all of you!

Here the Rules for the "One Lovely Blog Award"

1.  Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog
2.  Share Seven things about yourself
3.  Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!)
4.  Contact your bloggers to let them know that you've tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award

What a great idea!  Here goes.


1.  Thank you, Randy, for the nomination – Randy’s blog is at http://www.geneamusings.com/2014/09/one-lovely-blog-award.html

And, thank you Dana, for the nomination - Dana's blog is at

http://theenthusiasticgenealogist.blogspot.com/

2.  Seven Things about me:

• I was born in Detroit, Michigan, moved to Pompano Beach, Florida when  I was seven and then to San Diego, California when I was 15.
• I worked for the City of San Diego, beginning just after high school, working as a Jr. Typist and ended my career with them as a Police Officer.
• I went to my first hockey game at the age of 23 and have been a HUGE fan ever since.  I even play fantasy hockey.  My team has always been the Detroit Red Wings.  Time to win that Stanley Cup again.
• I have horses and used to be the assistant to a friend who was a rodeo photographer   She and I traveled around southern California and over into Arizona spending weekends at many different rodeos.  Great time in my life!
• My husband, Ron, and I met at work, only to find out we knew each other in high school in 10th grade and I had a crush on him back then.
• Because of my genealogy research, my half brother, John, was able to get in touch with me and therefore end his 40 year search for his biological family.  We welcomed him with open arms and he and our mother have a wonderful relationship.  If that’s all that ever came of my research, then it was worth it.
• I’m the grandmother of 3 girls and 1 boy.  They range in age from 9 to 22.

 3.  I have to nominate 15 bloggers whom I admire.  There are hundreds of wonderful bloggers out there that write fantastic posts every day.  It’s difficult to choose.

Here are just a few of the ones I admire, in no particular order.

Ancestoring by Michele Simmons Lewis
Olive Tree Genealogy by Lorine McGinnis Schulze
Are My Roots Showing by Jenny Lanctot
Diggin for Family by Christopher Shaw
Ginisology by Gini Webb
One Rhode Island Family by Diane MacLean Boumenot
The Armchair Genealogist by Lynn Palermo
The Photo Detective by Maureen Taylor
Black Raven Genealogy by Dara
AnceStories by Miriam J. Robbins
Genealogy Canada by Elizabeth Lapointe
Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Loretta Gillespie
Genealogy’s Star by James Tanner
Jana’s Genealogy and Family History Blog by Jana Last
Many Branches, One Tree by Linda Huesca Tully

4. Now contact the bloggers you nominated.  I’ll be doing that next.

With appreciation,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND–HENRY HART FAMILY–PART 3

MY GOAL:  CAN I PROVE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY 2ND GREAT GRANDFATHER, HENRY HART & A REPORTED FIRST WIFE? 

 

HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE MARRIED & HAD 4 CHILDREN WITH THIS WIFE, PRIOR TO MARRYING MY 2ND GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
 

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU, IN THIS POST AND UPCOMING POSTS, HOW I FOLLOW THE LEADS AND WHAT I FIND.
 

THIS IS AN ONGOING SERIES.  PLEASE REFER TO PREVIOUS POSTS, IF NECESSARY. 
 
Here are links to the first two posts:
HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND - HENRY HART FAMILY - PART 1
HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND - HENRY HART FAMILY - PART2

I HAVE RESTATED MY GOAL ABOVE AND WILL RE-STATE THAT GOAL AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH POST FOR THIS SERIES.
 
Let’s now go to the third child of Henry Hart & Sarah Sumner.  

Benjamin Tyler Hart. 

BENJMAIN T. HART & HIS WIFE MARY CAMPBELL

Here is the family group record that I received from Judy Haynes who descends from Henry Hart & Sarah Sumner

 

YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS TYPED RECORD LISTS BENJAMIN HART AS A CHILD OF HENRY HART & SARA SUMNER AND HIS DATE OF BIRTH AS 28 JUL 1820

WHAT RECORDS HAVE I ALREADY COLLECTED FOR BENJAMIN TYLER HART?

• The above family group record from a descendant, which gives his name & date of birth and states that he was a child of Henry Hart & Sarah Sumner.
• A marriage record from Westminster, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada from 20 Jun 1843 for Benjamin Tyler to Mary Campbell.
• An 1850 census record with Benjamin Hart & his wife, Mary & their two sons, William & Alonzo.   NOTE: They are living next door to Hiram Hart (brother of Benjamin) and a young girl named Clarissa, who is the right age to be the daughter of Hiram.  Where is Hiram’s wife, who is also named Clarissa? This is a question I will write down and come back to later.
• An 1870 census record with Benjamin Hart & his wife Mary and children, Isaac, Harriet, John & Charles.  There are two other people in the household named Ellen William, age 59 and James Johnson, age 20.  They are listed as a domestic servant and a laborer.
• A record of Benjamin’s death from Michigan, Death & Burials Index, 1867-1995
• A picture of Benjamin’s headstone from a FindAGrave memorial.

WHAT DO I WANT TO LOOK FOR NEXT?

• An actual copy of his death record or certificate.  I happen to know that familyseach.org now has images of the Michigan death records from 1867-1897.  In fact I wrote a post about Michigan death records and how to find them.  Here is a link to that post:  Michigan Death Records - Where can you find them?

I have located a death record for Benjamin T. Hart on familysearch.org.  He died 14 Jun 1897 in Clyde, St. Clair, Michigan.  

Male, white, married
Age 26 yrs. 10 mos. 14 days
Place of death – Clyde
Disease or cause of death – Bright’s disease
Birthplace – Canada
Occupation – Farmer
Parent’s names & residence – Henry & Sara Hart, Canada
Date of record – 29 Jun 1898

Here is the document recording his death.  He is the last one on the page.  
(Please click on any image to enlarge it)

  

Anyone see that item in red in the list above the document?  His age is listed as 26 years.  Our Benjamin was supposedly born in 1820.  He was married in 1843.  

What am I to think?  Is this the wrong person?  In my opinion, No.

First of all, if I calculate from the date of death 14 Jun 1897 and use the age 76 years and not 26 years, 10 mos. and 14 days, we have a birth date of  31 Jul 1820.  Our information from cousin Judy, says 28 Jul 1920.  Pretty close.  If you look at all of the numbers written on the death record, the writer seems to always have a curl at the bottom of his or her 2’s.  

It is my opinion that the number so easily mistaken as a 2 could easily be a 7.  

HOWEVER, I would hope to find another piece of evidence that this is the correct Benjamin Hart.  

Let’s look at the headstone for Benjamin and see what it says.



Don’t you just love it when headstones have more that just a name & year on them?  

Look at this one!  For both Benjamin T. Hart & his wife Mary C. Hart, we have exact dates of birth and death.  I know the two children Laura & Nancy are their infant daughters.

This is pretty good evidence that the death record I found was the correct one.  Can headstones be wrong?  YES!  Just like any other record we find, they too can have mistakes.

How about an obituary?  Let’s go look on genealogybank.com and see if they have something.  Darn, not a thing on that site.

One more piece of evidence that Benjamin died in 1897.  His wife Mary is listed as a widow, living with her son Isaac & his family in the 1900 census.

I am satisfied that the death record is for the correct Benjamin.  

BUT WAIT!

WHAT DID WE START OUT LOOKING FOR?  That’s right, proof that my 2nd great grandfather Henry Hart was, in fact, married to Sally “Sarah” Sumner prior to marrying my 2nd great grandmother, Olive Doten.

Doesn’t that death record for Benjamin T. Hart name his parents as Henry & Sara Hart?  YES!

Have I accomplished my mission on this date.  I would say so.  

There is one more piece of evidence that lists Henry & Sara Hart as the parents of Benjamin Hart.  It’s a Michigan, Deaths & Burials Index, 1867-1995.  Again, we have a little discrepancy.  His middle initial is listed as “J.” instead of "T".   I can’t look at the original as there is only an index on Ancestry.  This could easily be a transcription error.  Given the other information on this index, I conclude that it is the correct Benjamin Hart.



Is this definitive proof about Henry & Sara’s marriage?  I wouldn’t call it proof, but it’s a start.  At least we have their names appearing together on two different documents.  Although her maiden name is not listed.  

TIP:  Sometimes we have to come to conclusions in our research based on evidence we find that isn’t the proof we’d like.  I would like to find a marriage record for Henry Hart & Sara Sumner.  I would also like to find a death record for Sara Sumner Hart.  I'm not sure if I will be able to find either, but I'll keep looking.

For now, I'll be satisfied with what I do find.

I’m going to stop for today, or I’ll have to publish this as a book and not a blog post.  

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
Surprise! A birth record where it wasn't supposed to be
Cemetery Records - What can they tell you? How do you use them? 

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

FAMILY RECIPE FRIDAY - HOW TO MAKE SHAMPOO

FAMILY RECIPE FRIDAY

My grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne left us a spiral bound notebook, which I refer to has her journal.  The entire notebook is written in her hand.  In it she left a treasure chest of family information and wonderful clues to life back in the early 1900's. 

My Grandmother at age 18 - when she began her notebook

A recipe doesn't necessarily have to be something that is for cooking.  With that in mind I will be sharing various types of recipes, both for cooking and for other things from my grandmother's journal.  These items range from recipes for shampoo (featured today), to curling fluids for your hair to cures for blackheads or acne, chocolate fudge and how to tell if your wood-burning stove is the correct temperature.  You'll see them all here as the weeks continue.  So, please come back often.

TODAY'S FEATURED RECIPE

SHAMPOO

How to make shampoo
Please enlarge the picture above if you want to see it more clearly

Many of the items used in my grandmother's recipes aren't even available to us any more.  But, what fun it is to look at them.

Have we ever thought of our ancestor's lives without all of our modern conveniences?  Even something as common as shampoo had to be made by hand.

Can you find any old recipes from your family?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl 

Copyright ©  2013   Diane Gould Hall

SURNAME SATURDAY - BOGGS & LUNSFORD

SURNAME SATURDAY

William Allen BOGGS and Nancy Delilah LUNSFORD

 

William Allen BOGGS and Nancy Delilah LUNSFORD are my 3rd Great Grandparents.  The unexpected pictures of them came from a cousin.  One of those cousins I found through my research who has provided several good family photos and some information.  There's that cousin connection I spoke about in my earlier posts.  William & Nancy were married 11 Apr 1839 in Lawrence County, Ohio.  

This family has connections in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.  Their daughter Susan Caroline BOGGS married James Gillen HUNTER on 29 Aug 1859 in Lawrence Co., Ohio.  They had 9 children, seven girls and two boys.  The first five children were born in Ohio, in, I believe, Lawrence County.  Sadly he died in 1884, when several of their children were still living in the home. His widow, Susan, married two more times.  

If anyone reading this has any connection to the BOGGS or HUNTER family, please contact me.  I have never found out where James Gillen HUNTER died or where he is buried.  It's probable that  he died in Kentucky, since the family was living there in the 1880 census.