ASHES RETURNED TO FAMILY 18 YEARS AFTER DEATH–Welcome back Harriet!

Left to right - J. Fred Pickard, Ellen Lindsay Pickard, Harry W. Gould and Marie Lindsay - Is the little girl in the front Fred & Ellen's daughter, Harriet?  We think so, but we don't know for sure.

I certainly didn’t have to wonder what I was going to write about in my blog today.  Thanks to online trees, FindAGrave and Facebook, we have located a family member’s ashes, 18 years after her death.
Yesterday I sat down at my computer and opened up Ancestry.com.  I saw the little envelope icon at the top had a 1 next to it, indicating I had a message.  When I opened the message here is what I read:

Re: Harriet M. “Lynn” Pickard Dowdell
“Hi,
How did you know this lady?? I was just asked by a person I went to school with to look up Lynn’s husband and find where he was buried..well it was so easy since you had it on here..He has her ashes and her wishes were to spread them over her husbands grave. Now that I looked here and than found him listed in FAG, he will now carry out her wishes.”

What?  Someone has Harriet’s ashes?  Seriously?  After all these years?
 

Who was Harriet “Lynn” Pickard Cramer Dowdell?

She was my 1st cousin once removed.  That makes her my grandmother’s niece and a first cousin to my Dad.  Harriet and my father, Harry Norman Gould were only a few years apart.  Since neither of them had siblings they grew up close.

I remember hearing about Harriet when I was a little girl in Michigan, but don’t remember meeting her back then.  We left Michigan when I was 7 yrs. old.
 
Harriet was the only child of James Frederick Pickard (1884-1964) and Ellen W. Lindsay (1887-1927) who married 17 Jan 1906 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.
 
As to Harriet’s date of birth.  That is a good question. I haven’t been able to locate a birth record.  I can only go by census records, the SSDI and her death certificate.  It seems that she liked to change that to suit her needs.  That is something I remember my Dad and my grandmother talking about.  Not only that, but she went by the name Lynn, not Harriet.  Oh, those ancestors, they do love to confuse us.

Harriet married first Howard C. Cramer on 26 Jan 1929 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  No children were born to this couple.  They filed for divorce five years later in 1934 in Palm Beach Co., Florida. Volume No. 52, Number 1961

She later married James Alexander Dowdell.  He died 19 Mar 1987 in Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan.
 
Just a couple of months after James Dowdell’s death, my father moved back to Michigan, from California to live with Harriet.  My Dad was 74 years old then and in poor health.  He and Harriet thought they would be better off together and could help one another. 

I went back to Michigan from my home in California, in November 1990 to visit my Dad.  Sadly, I didn’t take the time to talk to Harriet while I had the chance.  I wasn’t yet researching my family.  Isn’t this a familiar story to all of us?
 
My Dad died a few months later and I never saw Harriet again.

Fast forward to 2003 when I began doing family research.  I was soon in contact with my 2nd cousin, Paula, and got her interested in family research too.  Eventually, we tried to locate Harriet’s death record or evidence of her still being alive, which would be slim.
In 2013 I located a Public Records Index which I was pretty certain was her.  The address listed in this record in Wixom, Michigan is where she and my father lived.

U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
Name:  Lynn P Dowdell       
Birth Date:  30 Jul 1911       
Phone Number:  669-1281       
Address: 2550 Woodrow Wilson 1, Keego Harbor, MI, 48320 [118 Canal St, Milford, MI, 48381-1904 (1994)]  [23175 W Le Bost, Novi, MI, 48375-3410 (1995)] [48210 Pontiac Trail # 1, Wixom, MI, 48393-2503 (1987)]  [PO Box 851059, Westland, MI, 48185-6159]

Next I was able to locate her SSDI
United States Social Security Death Index
Given Name: Lynn
Middle Name: P
Surname: Dowdell
Name Suffix:    
Birth Date: 30 July 1911
Social Security Number: 214-22-7583
State: Maryland
Last Place of Residence: Oakland, Michigan
Previous Residence Postal Code: 48375
Event Date: 16 March 1997
Age: 86

Cousin Paula sent for a copy of Harriet aka Lynn’s death certificate based on the information we had gathered from those indexes.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT) 


As you can see this record lists the correct parent’s names.  The informant was Cecile Vanderhaeghen, who was unknown to us.  Her remains were cremated.

My cousin Paula contacted the United Memorial Gardens who handled her cremation.  They indicated the remains were given to RG & GR Harris Funeral Home.   The funeral home wasn’t very helpful (they wouldn’t look in their archives to see what became of the ashes), but said they “probably” went to the informant if no next of kin claimed them.  Further research by Paula revealed that the informant, Cecile Vanderhaeghen had died in March 2013.

That seemed to be the end of the story.  Right?

We thought so, until I received that message on Ancestry yesterday morning.  What a surprise!

I responded to the message immediately.  My cousin, Paula, had also gotten a message from the same person.  Within an hour I was talking to the person who sent the message and within another hour I was speaking with the person who actually has Harriet’s remains.  Turns out this family had kept them because they couldn’t locate next of kin and didn’t want to be disrespectful.
 
HOW AMAZING IS THAT?

The person, James, who has Harriet’s ashes lives in Michigan. Paula and I are in California.  One of our other cousins, Debbie, as it turns out, only lives a mile away from James.  She went over there today and got Harriet’s ashes.  I’m sure it was a relief for those wonderful, kind people who had kept them all those years.  And, let’s not forget Marilyn who did a favor for a friend and got in touch with me on Ancestry.  We can’t thank them enough.

Harriet had no children and died without family around her.  But, apparently she was well liked by the people at the home where she lived her last few years.  That’s good to know.

None of this would have been possible without having family information on Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.  With that information it was possible to get in touch with both me and Paula and find out who we were in relation to Harriet.  A very happy ending for all.

Do you have any similar stories?  I’d love to hear them.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
DID I FIND OUT WHO JULIA AUSTIN'S PARENTS WERE?  Or not?
IS THAT INDEX CORRECT?  Here's why we need to look at the actual document

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

MILITARY MONDAY–Killed in Action–A Tribute to George Briggs Fitzcharles 1886-1918

George Briggs Fitzcharles is my 1st cousin twice removed.  That makes him a nephew to my great grandmother, Elizabeth “Bessie” Fitzcharles.

First let me tell you how excited I am to be able to write anything about the Fitzcharles family.  My great grandmother’s parents remained a mystery aka brick wall to me, until 3 years ago.  Now I take the time to learn everything I can about this Scottish family.

BACKGROUND ON GEORGE BRIGGS FITZCHARLES
George was the son of Michael Fitzcharles and Euphemia Anderson who were married on 14 Feb 1879 in St. Clement, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  To this couple were born the following children:
John born 9 Sep 1879
Robert Nicholas born 1 May 1881
William born 1 Dec 1883
George Briggs born 26 Apr 1886
Ernest born 24 Oct 1888
Maggie or Margaret (the only girl) born 1 Jun 1891
David born 6 Jun 1896

George married Isabella Jane Hutton on 2 Aug 1909 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

MARRIAGE RECORD - GEORGE B. FITZCHARLES & ISABELLA J. C. HUTTON

They had their first child, a daughter, Euphemia, born 12 Feb 1910. 

George was working as a Brakeman for the railroad in the 1911 census, living in Grangemouth, Stirling, Scotland.

1911 CENSUS OF SCOTLAND - GEORGE FITZCHARLES, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER

A son, George, was born to this couple on 5 Jan 1913.

Historical events effect our lives today as they did back then.  In 1914 the “Great War” or World War I began.  You can watch a short video about it here 
.
In 1915 George was working as a furniture salesman in his father’s business.  On 4 Jun 1915 he enlisted in the 1st Royal Scots.  Here are his attestation and descriptive papers upon enlistment
.

Just a little over a month after his enlistment, George was admitted to the hospital for “Intesinal disorder” and what I read to be ptomaine ? (could it be ptomaine poisoning?)  He appears to have been admitted on July 7, 1915 and discharged on August 7, 1915.  And then transferred to Cramour House Convalescent Hospital from August 7, 1915 to August 28, 1915.

On September 13, 1915,  George was admitted to the hospital a second time for a concussion of his spine.  He stayed in the Kitchener Hospital in Brighton for 5 days.  Upon which he was transferred to a military convalescent hospital.



According to the book Roll of Honour, Arbroath and District 1914-1919, page 167, printed and published by T. Buncle & Co, Market Place, Arbroath, Scotland in 1921.

 Private George Fitzcharles was killed in action on March 27, 1918.  He was 31 years old.

“Private George Fitzcharles, 3rd Royal Scots, 33 Park Street, Arbroath, was the son of Michael Fitzcharles, Guthrie Port. He was thirty-two years of age, had married Isabella Hutton and left a son and a daughter. He was a furniture dealer with his father when he joined the army in July 1915. He went to France in October, and was invalided home the following year suffering from shell shock and wounds. In 1917 he returned to France, was slightly wounded several times, and was killed in action on the 27th of March 1918. His platoon officer wrote of him : - ' ' He was a good soldier.  We feel his loss very much."
 


I have located several references to George having been killed in action during his service, including pension papers, references in books and on war memorials and correspondence with his widow, Isabella.

He is honored on the Grangemouth War Memorial in Zetland Park, situated in the center of Grangemouth.  Here is George’s name on the memorial:

GRANGEMOUTH WAR MEMORIAL

He is also honored on the Pozieres Memorial in France.  Here is an index page for that memorial, showing his name.


George was a young man with his whole life ahead of him.  He left behind a wife and two young children.
  
I located a death certificate for his widow, Isabella, and it appears she never remarried.  She is still using the surname Fitzcharles and is listed as the “widow of Private George Fitzcharles.”  She died on February 14, 1955, age 68.

Here is the post I wrote about breaking down the Fitzcharles brick wall.  Click here. 

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

WHY DIDN'T I SEE THAT?  When the Obvious Escapes Us

SCOTLAND - Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

OCTOBER IS FAMILY HISTORY MONTH–What do you know about your ancestors?

                                                                   

What a great month to begin or continue your own family history.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR ANCESTORS?

• Who were they?
• Where did they come from?
• What did they do for a living?
• How many children did each family have?
• How many times did they move?
• Did they come from another country?
• What were the historical events that shaped their lives?
• What were some of the happy moments?
• What were the saddest moments?
• Did any of them go to college?
• Did any of them leave you photos or letters or other heirlooms?

Have you asked yourself these questions?
Do you know where to look to find the answers?
Do you know where to begin?

Learning about your family can be exciting, heart warming, sometimes frustrating or sad, many times revealing.
There are SO many resources out there for family researchers that I couldn’t possibly list them all here.

TIP: My suggestion to new genealogists (and a reminder to those more experienced researchers) is to interview your living family members NOW.  We really cannot wait on this because we know that age isn’t the determining factor as to whether we lose a family member now or in the coming years.  They are all important and they all have memories to share.

Here are some steps to take to begin your research
.
1.  Google “How to begin genealogy research.”  I did this and had 881,000 results!  WOW!  Some of those ought to give you a good start.

2.  Talk to other family members who are either currently or have in the past, done research on your family.  Find out what they already know, what they’ve already done.  TIP:  Don’t take their word for anything unless they have well documented sources for the information (and I’m not talking about other online trees).  Use their information as a lead for your own research.

3.  Read some of the incredibly well written blogs that you can find online.  Many of the bloggers (and there are over 3,000 of us) offer tips and research strategies on a regular basis.  Most bloggers will give you a list of other bloggers they follow.  One blog will lead to another.  PLEASE SEE THE TAB AT THE TOP OF MY PAGE FOR THE BLOGS I FOLLOW.

4.  Join a local genealogical society and start attending meetings.  Whether it’s a very small group or a large one, you will find other like minded people who love nothing better than to talk about family research.  You’ll hear lots of ideas.  Take the best ones or the ones that fit you best and work from those.
 
Here’s are two posts I wrote about societies and why they will assist you in your research - SEMINARS, WEBINARS, SOCIETIES - Will they help your research?

HISTORICAL & FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES - Great Resources for Your Research

5.  Read some books.  I learned an incredible amount from the books I bought and read when I began this journey over 12 years ago.  You can either buy paper copies, download books to your e-reader, check them out from your local library or borrow them from other genealogists.  NOTE:  Our local society the San Diego Genealogical Society, has monthly meetings.  At each of those meetings there are used books for sale.
 
Please see the tab at the top of my blog for Books I Own.  Maybe some of them would be helpful to you?

6.  Join Facebook Groups.  There are a LOT of Facebook groups devoted to genealogy.  Whether it’s research tips, organizing tips, technology tips, location specific groups or whatever you might be looking for, you can probably find it on Facebook.  Here is a list (Click here) with over 5,500 links to Facebook groups from all over the world.  Thanks to Katherine R. Willson who created and updates this list.  
Here’s a post I wrote about how useful Facebook can be FACEBOOK - How it can be very useful in your research

I hope some of these suggestions have given you an idea where to begin your research.  Or maybe given you some new ideas to think about and explore.

I know I haven’t even begun to cover everything.

I’d love to hear about your successes and any other ideas you may have.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

AMANUENSIS MONDAY–Eberhard Martin– died 1784 - Last Will & Testament

What does Amanuensis mean anyway?


To put it simply, it means a “person employed to write what another dictates or copy what has been written by another.”
 
I’m particularly excited to present this transcription today.  It is the recently obtained probate record of my 6th great grandfather, Johann Eberhard Martin, born Jan 1718 in Willington, Notzingen Donau, Wurttemberg, Germany, died  February 1784 in Derry, Cumberland, Pennsylvania.
 
Johann apparently went by the name Everhard or Eberhard in most records and documents once he came to the United States.  However, his baptismal record from Germany does give his first name as Johann.
 
Johann Eberhard Martin married Jacobina Elizabeth Wunderlich on 16 Feb 1745 in Notzingen, Teck Donau, Wurttemberg, Germany.  They had 5 known children: Mary, Rachel, Christopher, Anna Barbara and Elizabeth.
 
Yesterday while looking at Pennsylvania probate records on Ancestry.com I located Eberhard’s probate record.  I was very excited to find this document.  This record gives proof of relationships and further documents this family.
 

Here is the actual document:

 

PROBATE RECORD PAGE ONE

 

PROBATE RECORD PAGE TWO

Here is my transcription of this probate record.  Where a word or words were not readable I inserted an underline.

Eberhard Martin Last   }              

  Will & Testament      }

      No. 132                  }

            

In the name of God Amen. 

I Everhard Martin of Derry Township Cumberland County and the State of Pennsylvania, being very sick and weak in Body But of perfect mind and memory, thank be given unto God calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body donate and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in the manner following:  I recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God, that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors, And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give divise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.  First I give and bequeath to Jacobina Elizabeth my dearly beloved Wife, all my Household Furniture Belonging to the house and five Pounds in Good a Lawful Money of Pennsylvania, and Thirty Bushel of wheat a fat Hog yearly and every year during her natural life and to have the third of the money made out of the __ables after the debt is paid and the keeping of one Cow and two Sheep during her Life.  Also I give and bequeath to my well Beloved Son Christopher all my land in the __ survey to him his heirs and assigns forever.  Also said Christopher is to find his mother a Bed Room and Stove in it, the stove is to be Bought out the money arising from the Effects.  The Plantation which my son Christopher now lives on adjoining William Frampton and William Corbes is to be sold to pay the debts, and to deed the other Land with.  Also to my Daughter Barbara Fifty Acres of land during her life and to her Husband if he become Baptized and after her Decease to go to heirs.   To my Daughter Mary Fifty Acres of Land where she now lives on, To my Daughter Elizabeth Fifty Acres of Land one Cow one Sheep one Chest a Spinning Wheel a Bed and Bedding.  The Land left to the Girls is to be taken out of the new Survey where Gilbert now lives on and is to them and their heirs forever  Also I give to my Daughter Rachel Twenty five pounds Lawfull money of Pennsylvania to be Raised and Levied out of my Estate, Likewise I Constitute make and ordain my son Christopher the sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament And I do hereby wholy disallow and Revoke all former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors, Ratifying and Conforming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In ____ whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four

Signed Sealed published pronounced

And declared by the said Everhard Martin

As his Last Will and Testament in the presence

of us John Pomber John Vought _______

Be it Remembered that on the Twentyeth Day of February A.D. 1784 the last Will and Testament of Eberhard Martin Deceased was Leagly proved of which the foregoing Record is a true copy and Letters Testamentary issued in Common form to Christopher Martin Executor therein named on the said Twentyeth Day of February A.D. 1784  Inventory and ____ to be Exhibted into the Registers Office the time appointed by Law

       Witness my hand William Lyon Reg

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.

 I cannot wait to share other probate records with you.  Stay tuned.

Happy hunting,

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FRIDAY FINDS–Death certificates for my husband’s grandparents

Henry & Freada Fink in the early 1950's

I have been going through my own “Do Over” and trying to make sure I have as many vital records as possible for each person in my tree.  No easy task to be sure.  But, slow and steady is the key and a little work each day will get the job done.

I was working on my husband’s side of the family and noticed that I didn’t have death certificates for his grandparents.  They both died right here in San Diego, where I live.  Several cousins also live here in the area.  Maybe one of them have the death certificates?

NOTE:  Sometimes it is the family closest to us for whom we don’t have complete records.  Like my siblings marriage records (still need to obtain those), these death records for Ron’s grandparents etc.  How about our own birth certificate or school records?  Have you recorded and scanned those?

I did contact the cousin who has provided me with all of the records I have for Ron’s family and she directed me to her daughter.  I made the request yesterday and this morning there they were, in my email.



Genie happy dance for sure.  Now I have a cause of death, more evidence of parent’s names etc.




Now instead of a blank space under “death cause” on my family view in Legacy, I have this:



Another find today was a probate record for Ron’s great grandfather.  More on that in another post.

Suffice to say, it’s been a great morning here in the genealogy cave.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

SURNAME SATURDAY – Fink

MICHIGAN DEATH RECORDS ONLINE - Where can you find them?

Happy hunting,

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

WEDDING WEDNESDAY–What is the earliest recorded marriage in my tree?

I decided that today I would look in my Legacy database for the earliest recorded marriage.
 
Using the “Search” feature in Legacy I found the following:

Marriages before 1800 = 197

Since that list was so large I narrowed it down.

Marriages before 1750 = 84

Let’s narrow that down even more.

Marriages before 1700 = 47

I’m a little surprised to find so many before 1700.  There are only small portions of mine and my husband’s family that I’ve traced back to the 1600’s.
 
Narrowing it down a bit more.

Marriages before 1650 = 10

Let’s take a look at those 10 individuals (5 couples)

about 1588 – Francis HALL to Elizabeth LNU – My husband’s 9th great grandparents. 
Source: None

3 Feb 1606 – Francis HALL to Margaret LEWIS – My husband’s 8th great grandparents.

Source: Familysearch.org (I last modified this couple on 20 Apr 2009)  This means I need to go back and find that source and properly record it.

Before 1611 – Samuel MORSE to Elizabeth JASPER – My husband’s 9th great grandparents.

Source: None

1638 in Dedham, Massachusetts – Joseph MORSE to Hannah “Anne” PHILLIPS – My husband’s 8th great grandparents.

Source: Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700, page 1063

1641 in England – Joseph CLARK to Alice PEPPER – My husband’s 8th great grandparents.

Source: U.S. & International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 and Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700, page 324

UPDATE:  Thank you to Michele Simmons Lewis (who is tech support for Legacy) for pointing out another very quick way to find the earliest marriage in your database.

In your Legacy 8 file to go the Tools tab, then select Statistics.

This will bring up a list of everything in your family, from who lived the longest, births by era, how many males & females and MANY more interesting items.  Among them are the Marriage Statistics shown here:

As you can see this shows me 1 marriage between 1500 & 1599.  

Next, on the right hand side of the screen select "Create Search List."  This will take you directly to a screen like this:

There you have the exact marriage that occurred between those dates.

That's much easier than the method I originally used.  Thank you Michele for reminding how much information is at our fingertips via the Statistics List.

 
As you can see, these couples are all from my husband’s line.  I’ve had a lot more luck tracing his family back before 1700, than my own.  Looks like I need to go and hunt down the sources for the two I have “none” for and verify the one I found on familysearch.org.

What is the earliest marriage you have recorded?  How are they related to you?  Please let me know in a comment or on your own blog post.

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.
 

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

WEDDING WEDNESDAY - Things are not always what they seem or what they say

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY–Civil War Soldier Headstones

In keeping with last week’s post about finding our ancestors who served during military conflicts, I am posting some headstones of Civil War veterans from our family.

In total, at this point, I have 34 men who served during the Civil War.  I expect to have quite a few more once I am finished going through the lists I created in my post titled TUESDAY’S TIP – How to Determine Which War Your Ancestor May Have Participated In

Here are 6 headstones indicating their military service during the Civil War.

George B. SURDAM - Private, Co. H,  29th NY Infantry

Elijah F. GILLEN - Lieutenant, Co. S, 2nd Cavalry, West VA

Isaac GILLEN - Sergeant, Co. B, 135th Illinois Infantry

Rodney G. FLOWER - Private, Co. L, 4th Regiment, Michigan Cavalry

William W. FRAMPTON - Private, Co. I, 12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry

William D. THOMPSON - Private, Co. B, 63rd PA Volunteer Infantry

Thank you to all of my ancestors who fought during this very horrible time in our nation’s history.  I sometimes try to think what it must have been like to live in the northern, midwest and southern states during this war.  I know it even affected those out west.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
THE CIVIL WAR - How Our Country Dealt With The Aftermath
MYSTERY MONDAY - Where is the Wreck of this Civil War Era Paddle Steamer?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION