Weekly Roundup 22 Jul 2011

After attending the Legacy Webinar "The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships" I decided to try to find a living female descendant that would carry my Great Grandmother, Mary R. Hontoon/Huntoon's mtDNA. I have identified a few women that are descended from Mary's daughter, Bertha Bell Porter Lybarger. While doing this research I found that I had a lot of to-do's still open for this family, so I sent a few requests to the Knox County Records Center. Most items were found, but will have to look elsewhere for a few marriage records. I sent my SASE and fee today to the Records Center; hope to have those items next week.

I was contacted by a descendant of my half great-great uncle, William Lee Porter, who had seen my blog. I was happy to share the Mexican & Civil War pension files. Again, by revisiting his pension files I realized that I did not have his Compiled Service Record for his Mexican War service, so I requested that from NARA. (Already have the CSR for his Civil War service).

A couple weeks ago I had filled in the request for military service records for my brother, Patrick Porter. He served in the Navy, and did one tour of Vietnam. His records should have survived the 1970s fire. Received a letter late last week requesting a death certificate, or something similar that would show that he was dead, i.e. obituary. I then sent a request for Pat's death certificate to the Columbus Public Health Department. Surprisingly I have already received it.

While I was requesting Pat's death certificate, I decided to also request my Grandmother, Rose Linn Porter Milter's death certificate, which I also received.

Weekly Roundup 15 Jul 2011

I received an email from a paternal cousin who asked me to look into another cousin of ours named Marilyn. She stated that she and her husband had been talking about this cousin, and was hoping to see if she was still with us as she was wanting to contact her. This gave me the opportunity to visit this family again as it had been awhile since I last worked on them. I found that the husband of our cousin Marilyn had passed away in 2002 at the age of 67 years. His obituary lists his occupation as Master Carpenter; however, I was told that he also worked as a bus driver in his later years. Next I verified that our cousin is still alive and is living in Grove City, Franklin, Ohio. Marilyn is one of at least 3 children of my father's brother, Leslie Andrew "Andy" Porter, who passed away in 1944 at the age of 36.

I received the mapping software, AniMap. I have not had a chance yet to work with it.

I received the obituaries that I had requested from the Wood County (OH) Genealogical Society. They were for the following: Mrs. V. R. [Jennie Minor] Porter (2), John Porter, J. W. Porter, David Porter, Miss Porter (daughter of Calvin Porter), Mrs. Francis Porter, Mrs. J. H. Porter, Mrs. Kirby [Laura Porter] Shuman (2), Calvin Porter, Mrs. [William] Rose Porter, and four year old son of James Porter. This is the Truman Porter family that I'm hoping to find a link to my William Porter family. Unfortunately, none of these obits helped me do that.

Participated in the Legacy Family Tree Webinar "The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships" by Dr. Ugo A. Perego. At first I wasn't sure if this was going to contain new information, but was pleasantly surprised at all the new things I did learn. Definitely glad that I didn't miss this one. During this Webinar, Geoff Rasmussen announced that with the latest version of Legacy Family Tree you can enter additional DNA information into the database. I think the current version accepts Y-DNA only from a handful of vendors. I think the current version also does not allow you to enter the results from GeneTree, but the new version does. Dr. Perego is associated with GeneTree, and parts of the Webinar appeared to be a major commercial for their products. However, it was acceptable due to all the new information I learned.

I scanned a few more documents and photos. So many more to do! Also worked on a new backup system using Windows 7 Libraries.

Weekly Roundup 08 Jul 2011

Really haven't had a lot of time for research this week.

I found that I can via interlibrary loan checkout microfilms of New York newspapers from the New York State Archives. I'll be putting together a list soon.

In an effort to find my 3rd Great Grandparents I did start analyzing the Porter families living in the Southern Tier of New York, from 1810 onward. First county (and only county so far) that I've looked at is Steuben County, New York.

I thought at first that a Robert Porter who was born in Hartford County, Connecticut and migrated to Prattsburgh, Steuben, New York sometime in the early 1800s was a good candidate, but further research showed that his family unit probably included a son named William who was born about 10 years after my William. I think I want to still look for a will of this Robert, just to make sure of my current conclusion.

I also looked at a John Porter and Joseph Porter living in Reading, Steuben County, New York in 1820. It appears that John is the father of Joseph Porter. They both disappear after the 1820 census.

Mathew Porter and David C Porter are found in Dansville, Steuben County (later Dansville, Livingston County) in several census records. Further research shows that they are brothers, and descend from Nathaniel Porter (1743-1797) and Charity Lane (1747-1813). Both were born in New Jersey so I have discounted this family at this time.

I also looked at Moses Porter in Cohocton, Steuben County; however, he is too young to be a father to my William but of the age to be a brother. Further research is needed on this male Porter.

I hope to continue to work through each Southern NY county, analyzing each Porter family. It is my opinion at this time that William's father and mother were most likely born in Connecticut, but moved to New York, either before William's birth or shortly after. I probably should also look at migration patterns used by settlers from Connecticut across Southern New York.

Weekly Roundup 1 Jul 2011

I submitted to the National Archives Personnel Record Center a request for my brother, Pat's separation papers from his service in the Navy. Then I sent the required 'signature' page.

I sent a request to the Wood County (OH) Genealogical Society for several Truman Porter relatives' obituaries.

I spent some time searching the SAR database at Ancestry for any male Porter who was born in Connecticut. Will do the same with male Porters born in New York. When I'm done searching this database I expect to have some names that will need further research.

I started scanning documents in my possession. In an effort to be more organized I also have created folders for items that I've scanned and for those that need to-be scanned. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with these items after they are all scanned.

Weekly Roundup 10 Jun 2011

I have to admit I have not been doing much research lately. It's that time of year when I follow another passion of mine - gardening! This year is even busier as I'm redoing one of my large flower beds. Then there's always the veggie garden.

I did do some work on Truman Porter, whom I'm trying to establish any relationship to my 2nd Great Grandpa William Porter. I received 3 obituaries that I had requested from the Wood County (OH) Genealogical Society, but they did not tell me much. Now I have about 10 more I need to request.

I'm still waiting on the Complete Service Record for Albert Porter. I don't know what's taking so long. I received a pension file for another man a couple weeks ago. I had requested both of them at the same time. Maybe they are having a hard time finding his records?

Weekly Roundup 13 May 2011

Being that it's gardening season and we have had the most wonderful weather this past week, not much was done in my family history research. But that's OK...just gives me more incentive to write more about what I did do!

I did receive two pension files. One was for my GG Grandma Catherine Porter, who filed on the service of one of her sons, William H. H. Davis. I blogged about one of the supporting documents included with the pension application earlier this week. From what I've found so far, Catherine had 4 sons with her first husband. Two of those were the famous dwarfs, Hiram and Barney Davis, otherwise known as "The Wild Men of Borneo". The other two, Esquire and William H. H. Davis, died in the Civil War. This William H. H. Davis was basically unknown to me until I found what appeared to be Catherine's name listed in the book "Index to Ohio pensioners of 1883" by W. Louis Phillips, which I obtained via interlibrary loan from The Ohio Genealogical Society. This listing stated that she had filed as a mother of a soldier. I already had the pension file for her son, Esquire Davis, so I knew that it wasn't that one. I then did a search of the pension file index on Ancestry and found one that appeared to be a match: Catherine Porter, mother of William H. H. Davis. William H. H. Davis is apparently the child living with William and Catherine in both the 1850 and 1860 federal censuses. In 1850 he is listed as David M. H. H. Porter, age 9, born in Ohio. In 1860 he is listed as Henry H. Porter, age 16, born in Ohio. All of the Davis boys were listed with the surname Porter in the census records in which they appeared. It's my feeling that William H. H. Davis was born about 1841, probably just before or after his father died. Maybe he took on the name William later as William Porter was the only father he had known? The other thing that was unexpected was the name of Catherine's first husband, the father of six of her children. In all documentation to date I had seen that his name was David Davis. In this pension application his name is given as Harrison Davis. Good to know when starting my research into the date and place of Catherine and his marriage. When mentioning Catherine's recently deceased husband, GG Grandpa William, it states in a couple places in the pension files that his name was William Lee Porter. So is the William Lee Porter, born 1821 in New York a Junior? Quite possibly, but more research is required for this.

The other pension file I received was for William Lee Porter, William Porter's 1st born son. I have not had a chance to look at this pension file so will blog about it next week.

I spent some time researching Truman Porter, a possible relative of GG Grandpa William. He appears to be found in the 1840 federal census living in Jefferson Township, Knox County, Ohio. But he disappears from Knox County after that. I found one Truman Porter living in Wood County, Ohio. I have sent for copies of obituaries for a Truman Porter, Sarah Porter, and Nelson Porter from the Wood County Genealogical Society. Hopefully that will help to determine if this is my Truman Porter.

Using the Newbury Library's "Atlas of Historical County Boundaries" which I found by reading Randy Seaver's post dated 10 May 2011, I printed out maps of New York counties for the years 1794, 1800, 1810, 1820, and 1830. I also started a couple spreadsheets to keep track of my research into GG Grandpa William Porter's place of birth. I've only used the census records for 1790, 1800, and 1810 so far, and am using a select portion of NY counties during my first sweep through the census records. What I'm tracking are families with surname Porter and who have a male child of the age of William. I'm not being too picky in this first sweep, but also am not using every family I come across with a child in the correct age range. Gut feeling tells me William is not the oldest male child so most families that have no other male children other than the one in William's age range have not been included at this stage in the research.

Edited 6/16/2011: Changed relationship of Truman Porter to possible relative, not son of William Porter.

Weekly Roundup 6 May 2011

Completed monthly backup of all important data.

I ordered the pension file for James Babcock. He is Phebe Rosella Munson Babcock's husband. Phebe had applied for a widow's pension. I'm hoping I will obtain the date of their marriage and the names of their children.

I also ordered the compiled service record for an Alfred Porter, who is a person of interest. This file should confirm whether this is my Alfred Porter, a son of William Porter.

I received a photo of the Joseph R. Porter family from another researcher of this family. It was taken at a family reunion during the early 1920s. Identification was included so this was a very nice gift. Also received a gedcom for the Nancy Porter Pratt family from blogger Tom Pratt. Haven't had a chance to really look at the information, but is on my To-Do list for the upcoming week.

Transcribed William Porter's 1850 deed, and entered it as an event in my database for William.

I started adding source citation to the metadata of each saved census file image. (I'll be doing this for all images I collect). I also started a new naming convention for census records. In the past I had stored all census images in one large folder, sorted by a File ID. I now will be storing them within the 'Surname' folders. The File ID will no longer be a part of the filename, and will be entered now only in the Tag metadata. The filename will still reflect the year and place of the census, but will now also include the name of the primary person included. Primary person is identified as one that is blood-related to me. In the future I will be moving all census images to the appropriate 'Surname' folders.

I read an article by Steve Morse on DNA which appeared in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, March 2009. From this article I was able to determine that if my Great Grandmother, Mary Hontoon, was Native American, an autosomal DNA test should return 12.5% Native American for me.

I had a dream last night where I had my research plan mapped out for finding William Porter's place of birth and parents. The dream was very detailed and upon analyzing it I think it is a valid plan. Weird but I like it!

Weekly Roundup 29 Apr 2011

Not a lot of stuff to report this week. I have been studying the documents sent to me by the Knox County OH researcher. I haven't had a lot of time to sort it all out. I think I know what I'm seeing, but want to create a spreadsheet or something like that to put everything into a usable time frame.

I entered into my Legacy Family Tree database as much as I could find on the newly-found children of 2nd Great Grandpa William Porter. I will have to obtain some primary sources before publishing what I have found. Most of what I've found I am confident to be fact, but need those sources!

I feel I'm ready to move my research to New York, the goal being to find the birth place of William Porter. I've spent some time this week studying the Holland Land Company's history. I'm hoping that it's records will yield more information on my Chautauqua County NY Porter family. I've also spent more time at the American Ancestors website, exploring New York records, etc. Many more options are available to me as I start this new phase of research. My plans also are to work with Tom, writer of the Gen Journal blog on this research as we both descend from William Porter.

Weekly Roundup 22 Apr 2011

I finished browsing the microfilmed newspapers that I had borrowed from the Ohio Historical Society via Interlibrary Loan. The only thing I found was a date of death for a 2-year-old, Daisy Pinkley.

I again listened to Geneablogger Radio. The topic was Family History and the Civil War. Though it was again a very good show, I didn't make it to the very end as the show is between 10pm and midnight for me. Sleep does sometime win out.

I hired a Knox County researcher to do some of the research that I cannot do at this time. He has already been able to give me very good results. I'm waiting until I have the actual paperwork before I post a blog on his findings.

I continued to look for other children of my 2nd Great Grandfather, William Porter. Since it has been written that he originally stopped in Coshocton County before settling in Knox County, I looked for any Porters who were born in New York during a time frame of 1820-1836. I did find one man, Lorenzo Porter, who looks promising. In 1850 he is living in New Castle Township, Coshocton, Ohio with a David Sharpless family. He is 21 years old so that makes him born about 1829.

I finally found a reference in legal documents to my Great Grandmother's maiden name. It's the one that I've heard growing up - Hontoon. I blogged about it in an earlier post titled Surname Saturday - HONTOON.

It's been a good week. I'm hoping this continues until I find my 2nd Great Grandfather's parents!

Weekly Roundup 15 Apr 2011

This is my first Weekly Roundup, where I will keep track of what I've done the past week or so.

Ordered the complete pension files for William Lee Porter, invalid, and Catherine Porter, mother of deceased soldier. I already have the compiled service records for William Lee Porter. I'm hoping the pension files will give me his relationship to Orrin Clinton Porter. I'm fairly certain they are brothers, but would be nice to have it written in an official document! I'm extremely interested in receiving the one for Catherine Porter. The name of the soldier, William H H Davis, on the pension card is unknown to me. So did Catherine have another son who died in the Civil War? I've already discovered her son, Esquire Davis, who died 12 Mar 1862 in Lake Providence, East Carroll, Louisiana from accidental drowning due to being delirious with typhoid fever. There are a couple names associated with Catherine that are a puzzle. One is David M H H Davis (is this the above William H H Davis?), and the other is Henry H Davis (is this the H H part of the names?). David M H H Davis appears in the 1850 federal census as David H H Porter, living with William and Catherine Porter. He is 9 years old and born in Ohio. He is listed below his brothers, Hiram and Barney Davis, in the census. Hiram and Barney are also listed with surname Porter so I'm assuming since that was a mistake that David's entry was also a mistake. The two children born to William and Catherine, Leander and Catherine Francis, are listed before Hiram, Barney, and David. In the 1860 federal census Henry H Porter is listed with the family. He is 16 years old and born in Ohio. Though the ages do not match I cannot help but feel that these two children are the same person.

I was contacted by what most likely is a half 'nth' cousin who had seen my post on Joseph Rollin Porter's tombstone. I have replied and hope to hear what he has to say about his great great grandfather, William Lee Porter.

I spent about 10 hours browsing the Mount Vernon Republican newspaper that I have on loan from the Ohio Historical Society. I have about 3 more hours of browse time and I should be finished with this microfilm. I identified several more microfilms that I will be requesting via interlibrary loan from OHS in the upcoming weeks/months.

I contacted tpratt at his blog Gen Journey about a couple posts he has made about a Nancy Porter, who supposedly was born and married in Chautauqua County, NY. We have exchanged a few emails and will keep each other posted on any finds we have made relating to this Nancy Porter. I personally feel she is a daughter of my William Porter, but of course have absolutely no proof at this time. Definitely a person of interest!

For the first time I listened to GeneabloggersRadio. Episode #11 was on Colonial Period Genealogy and I found it to be very informative. I'll be listening again tonight - topic will be Family History and the Civil War. The times are:
10pm - 12am Eastern US
9-11pm Central US
8-10pm Mountain US
7-9pm Pacific US
2am London UK
3pm Sydney AUS

I've been working on how I keep track of my research. I've kept a running diary/research log since I began in 2007. The information is there (if I remembered to write it!), but is easily forgotten. So I've been experimenting with different ways of keeping the information available to each person on whom the research has been done. I use Legacy Family Tree and it does have a "Research Notes" tab, so I've started to use it. I can make a report of an individual's research notes also. But inputting research into an individual's record presents two problems: 1) it's no different than keeping a running diary in that it's hard to find what I've done after the log grows, and 2) I don't have a central place where I can keep track of everything I've done for the past week/month. To solve problem #1 I have setup bolded "Titles" within the Research Notes, for example, "Newspaper Research", "Death Record Research", etc. This way I can easily browse to the type of research by Title and thus limit the amount of time looking for previous research efforts. To solve problem #2 I have started this weekly blog post!