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!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Why Am I Here?
In yesterday's post Amanuensis Monday, I transcribed the initial land record that was found for 2nd Great Grandfather, William Porter. It was only after his death, and because of this purchase of land that I was able to put together a more-complete view of his family. Seven children became know to me, two more were confirmed as his children.
This initial purchase of land most likely came about due to receiving money from Lyman Warner, who had approached William and Catherine about taking Catherine's two sons, Hiram and Barney Davis, on the dime museum circuit. He supposedly offered money which was accepted by the Porters. All documentation points to a time period of 1850 for this to have happened. This is when William bought the land.
For some reason this again brings me back to the thoughts of what had to have happened in my ancestors lives for me to be here today. I put together this Wordle which includes some of the words that occur to me when thinking of this ...
Grandpa William for some reason moved to Chautauqua County, New York sometime before 1820. He either was already married, or married while there, and had at least nine children. None of these children were my ancestors. My story would have been a non-story if William had not moved from Chautauqua County to Coshocton County, Ohio sometime between 1836 and 1840. Somehow because of his arrival in Coshocton County, Ohio he met and married the widow Catherine Davis who had migrated with her family from Long Island, New York to Coshocton County, Ohio. William had already moved to Knox County, Ohio by the time he and Catherine married, and it is unknown whether he had met her prior to his move to Knox County, or if she moved to Knox County after the death of her first husband. Nonetheless they met and were able to marry due to Catherine being a widow, and to William either being a widower or divorced. There's a story behind why Catherine and her first husband moved from New York to Ohio also. Their move and William's move had to have happened for my story to begin.
What prompted William to move from Chautauqua County NY? Did he even own the land on which he lived for 20 or more years? I do know that in the area in which he lived a large amount of land had been purchased from the Holland Land Company by the Prendergast family. It's possible that he leased the land from them. A search of deeds in Chautauqua County is needed to determine if William owned land there. The Holland Land Company played a prominent part in the settling of Chautauqua County NY. It wasn't always a happy relationship between the Company and the settlers. In 1830 the settlers even burned the local agent's building in Mayville, NY. The Company eventually sold its remaining lands to local real estate groups. Was it somehow a result of this unrest that William decided to pack his belongings and head to Ohio? Did his decision only rest on the issue of land? Or was it more domestic? Did his wife die, leaving him with many young children, and the desire to start a new life?
Most likely William was not born in Chautauqua County, NY. What prompted him to move from his place of birth? During this time period a male usually moved to another location because he was a younger male child in a family and would not inherit land. Moving to a place where land was readily available and possibly cheaper was a very good option.
Though not in the scope of this blog, my paternal grandmother's grandparents, Matthew and Jane Carlin, immigrated from Ireland during the potato famine. If they had not done that, again my story could not have been told. Going further back it's possible that some of my ancestors came to America for religious reasons.
My own father had been married before his marriage to my mother. If they had not divorced I would not be here.
All these variables and each one is why I am here to write this story.
This initial purchase of land most likely came about due to receiving money from Lyman Warner, who had approached William and Catherine about taking Catherine's two sons, Hiram and Barney Davis, on the dime museum circuit. He supposedly offered money which was accepted by the Porters. All documentation points to a time period of 1850 for this to have happened. This is when William bought the land.
For some reason this again brings me back to the thoughts of what had to have happened in my ancestors lives for me to be here today. I put together this Wordle which includes some of the words that occur to me when thinking of this ...
Grandpa William for some reason moved to Chautauqua County, New York sometime before 1820. He either was already married, or married while there, and had at least nine children. None of these children were my ancestors. My story would have been a non-story if William had not moved from Chautauqua County to Coshocton County, Ohio sometime between 1836 and 1840. Somehow because of his arrival in Coshocton County, Ohio he met and married the widow Catherine Davis who had migrated with her family from Long Island, New York to Coshocton County, Ohio. William had already moved to Knox County, Ohio by the time he and Catherine married, and it is unknown whether he had met her prior to his move to Knox County, or if she moved to Knox County after the death of her first husband. Nonetheless they met and were able to marry due to Catherine being a widow, and to William either being a widower or divorced. There's a story behind why Catherine and her first husband moved from New York to Ohio also. Their move and William's move had to have happened for my story to begin.
What prompted William to move from Chautauqua County NY? Did he even own the land on which he lived for 20 or more years? I do know that in the area in which he lived a large amount of land had been purchased from the Holland Land Company by the Prendergast family. It's possible that he leased the land from them. A search of deeds in Chautauqua County is needed to determine if William owned land there. The Holland Land Company played a prominent part in the settling of Chautauqua County NY. It wasn't always a happy relationship between the Company and the settlers. In 1830 the settlers even burned the local agent's building in Mayville, NY. The Company eventually sold its remaining lands to local real estate groups. Was it somehow a result of this unrest that William decided to pack his belongings and head to Ohio? Did his decision only rest on the issue of land? Or was it more domestic? Did his wife die, leaving him with many young children, and the desire to start a new life?
Most likely William was not born in Chautauqua County, NY. What prompted him to move from his place of birth? During this time period a male usually moved to another location because he was a younger male child in a family and would not inherit land. Moving to a place where land was readily available and possibly cheaper was a very good option.
Though not in the scope of this blog, my paternal grandmother's grandparents, Matthew and Jane Carlin, immigrated from Ireland during the potato famine. If they had not done that, again my story could not have been told. Going further back it's possible that some of my ancestors came to America for religious reasons.
My own father had been married before his marriage to my mother. If they had not divorced I would not be here.
All these variables and each one is why I am here to write this story.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Amanuensis Monday
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.
John Newmark on his blog TransylvanianDutch has a weekly series each Monday called Amanuensis Monday. We are asked to post transcriptions of documents with the purpose of preserving their contents.
The following is the deed that was issued when my 2nd great grandfather, William Porter, bought 30 acres in Knox County:
Nelson M. Pond
DEED ----- to
William Porter
Recd Oct 28, 1851.
This indenture made this 18th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the first part, & William Porter of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the second part, witnesseth, that the said first party for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to them in hand well and truly paid by the said second party the receipt wherof is hereby acknowledged do by these presents give grant bargain sell alien convey and confirm to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever all that lot or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Knox and state of Ohio, and more particularly described as follows, to wit; part of the second quarter of the sixth township and twelfth range, beginning at the corner of the Robb and Evans tracts are the east line of said quarter running thence north are the said east line of said quarter forty eight rods, to the corner of the 20 acre tract heretofore sold & conveyed to Robert Crawford thence westward parallel with the south boundary of said Robb tract, which is the north boundary of the said Evans tract one hundred rods thence south parallel with the said east line of said second quarter forty eight rods to the said south boundary of said Robb tract: thence eastward on said Robb & Evans boundary one hundred rods to the place of beginning, containing thirty acres, to have and to hold the premises hereby conveyed with all the privileges and appurtenances therewito belonging unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever, and the said Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife heirs executors and administrators do covenant to and with the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns that they are well seized of the premises hereby granted and have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner[?] and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear of all incumbrances, except a mortgage to B. C. Hurd, Trustee of A. B. Norton to secure the payment of two hundred dollars, and that they will forever warrant and defend the said premises with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims or demands of all persons whomsoever except the mortgage aforesaid, In witness whereof the said party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.
signed sealed acknowledged [signed] Nelson M. Pond [initials] J.S.
and delivered in the presence of [signed] Hannah B. Pond [initials] J.S.
Wm Sanderson; J. S. Davis,
State of Ohio Knox county ? on the 18th day of March A. D. 1850 before the undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for said county personally appeared the above named grantors who signed & sealed the foregoing deed, and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof to be his voluntary act and deed, and the said Hannah B. Pond wife of the said Nelson M. Pond being by me examined separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said deed being fully made known to her according to law, did declare that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same, and that she is still satisfied therewith, Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid [signed] J. S. Davis, J.P.
John Newmark on his blog TransylvanianDutch has a weekly series each Monday called Amanuensis Monday. We are asked to post transcriptions of documents with the purpose of preserving their contents.
The following is the deed that was issued when my 2nd great grandfather, William Porter, bought 30 acres in Knox County:
Nelson M. Pond
DEED ----- to
William Porter
Recd Oct 28, 1851.
This indenture made this 18th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the first part, & William Porter of the county of Knox and state of Ohio of the second part, witnesseth, that the said first party for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars to them in hand well and truly paid by the said second party the receipt wherof is hereby acknowledged do by these presents give grant bargain sell alien convey and confirm to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever all that lot or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Knox and state of Ohio, and more particularly described as follows, to wit; part of the second quarter of the sixth township and twelfth range, beginning at the corner of the Robb and Evans tracts are the east line of said quarter running thence north are the said east line of said quarter forty eight rods, to the corner of the 20 acre tract heretofore sold & conveyed to Robert Crawford thence westward parallel with the south boundary of said Robb tract, which is the north boundary of the said Evans tract one hundred rods thence south parallel with the said east line of said second quarter forty eight rods to the said south boundary of said Robb tract: thence eastward on said Robb & Evans boundary one hundred rods to the place of beginning, containing thirty acres, to have and to hold the premises hereby conveyed with all the privileges and appurtenances therewito belonging unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever, and the said Nelson M. Pond & Hannah B. Pond his wife heirs executors and administrators do covenant to and with the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns that they are well seized of the premises hereby granted and have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner[?] and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear of all incumbrances, except a mortgage to B. C. Hurd, Trustee of A. B. Norton to secure the payment of two hundred dollars, and that they will forever warrant and defend the said premises with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims or demands of all persons whomsoever except the mortgage aforesaid, In witness whereof the said party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.
signed sealed acknowledged [signed] Nelson M. Pond [initials] J.S.
and delivered in the presence of [signed] Hannah B. Pond [initials] J.S.
Wm Sanderson; J. S. Davis,
State of Ohio Knox county ? on the 18th day of March A. D. 1850 before the undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for said county personally appeared the above named grantors who signed & sealed the foregoing deed, and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof to be his voluntary act and deed, and the said Hannah B. Pond wife of the said Nelson M. Pond being by me examined separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said deed being fully made known to her according to law, did declare that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same, and that she is still satisfied therewith, Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid [signed] J. S. Davis, J.P.
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