Genealogy Update

June 22, 2006

Deciphering Handwriting - Part 1

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 12:11 pm

While struggling to decipher handwriting in the 1850 Lawrence County, MS census I have repeatedly came across the same first name, which I cannot accurately decipher. Ancestry's index lists the given name as Linsey and Lenicy. Here's how they view on the census itself:

 

The image above clearly shows the i as the second letter. MyFamily's transcribers have interpreted this as Linsey... but the letter before the y has consistently been written as a c through out the census. So "Linsey" is cleary incorrect. The image above is the mother of the name written below, one would think the child is carrying on the mothers name:

Note in this image though that the i is clearly the 4th letter, and there is no dot above the second letter. For "precise" record keeping I have recorded mom as "Linecy" and daughter as "Lenicy" but would personally like to solve this puzzle.

My initial assumption is that BOTH of these names are Lucy. The enumerator is notorious for appearing to add letters where no letter should be... a slight of the hand, shall we say? But I have nothing to buttress my belief. A look into One World Tree and Ancestry's World Tree only reminds me of why you should never use the data there for anything but speculation. The same interpretations for the above images by online users genealogy research shows as "Tracey" "Timsey" and even "Jincy." The image below should put to rest those theories... this is the script for "Lucretia." The L is as clear as can be in all three of these images. So rest assured the name starts with an L.

 

 

This brings us back to the two ladies in the Robbins family. By the 1860 census, either mom or the daughter is residing with Jethro and the other children. Mom "Linecy" must have died during this time, while the child "Lenicy" married. A search of marriage records proves fruitless. I do know that the Robbins family moved during the 1850's from Lawrence County, MS to Marion County, MS. They end up on the 1860 census living next door to Pleasant Bryant and his family, who also moved from Lawrence County to Marion County. What's up with that???

Until records come to light that can prove these are Lucy and a slip of the hand by the enumerator, they will remain Linecy and Lenicy in my official transcription.

UPDATE: With help from the MSCHAT mailing list, I believe we were able to correctly identify the name of the ladies as Levicy. There were more then 100 people in the 1850 census with that name.

June 21, 2006

The Enumerator and Dyslexia

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 10:11 pm
I've done many a census transcription in my times, and am amazed by this enumerators ability to mess things up. In the latest case, I find a hint of dyslexia in Deputy Marshall, John A. Reegan, enumerator of Lawrence County, MS.

 

In the 1850 Lawrence County, Mississippi census appears the name of Live Speights (Line 24, page 411.)

Now one would consider Live to be an unusual name, if one weren't familiar with John Reegan's dyslexia. When I came across this name, I initially felt it may have been a name given due to a troubled child-birth... perhaps the parents were overjoyed when the child was born live. There was NO doubt that this was how John enumerated it, regardless that Ancestry's index shows the name as Line. But my normal curiosity for the name got the better of me, and I stopped my transcription to look more into this name.

A look of the 1860 census quickly dispelled my initial thoughts. In the census appearing in the house of John and Elisa Speights was a Levi Speights. So, once again, dyslexia got the better of John.

1000 People - 1850 Lawrence County, Mississippi

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 4:08 pm
I have completed my first grand in transcribing people from the 1850 Lawrence County, Mississippi census. This occured on the 24th page, 34th Line of the Lawrence County Census, household #177. Looking at it in numerical perspective that puts the average household size in Lawrence County as 5.67 people. This number may be somewhat off kilter, considering that one of the "households" transcribed was a hotel.

 

The 1000'th person enumerated in Lawrence County was David Davis. In 1850, the Davis household consisted of 5 people. By the age of the eldest child, 21, it is likely that this is a child of David, making him a widow. I know from early marriage records that David was married 23 Dec 1828, in Lawrence County, MS to a Mary Oglesby. By the 1850 census, it appears that David was widowed and left raising 4 children. The youngest child being 10 in 1850, provides some insight that Mary died 1840-1850.

Of interest to me, considering my fascination with uncommon baby names is the eldest child's name: Cansada. Cansada in Spanish means "tired, weary" and while I can find no further reference to this used as a name, it is plausible that David and Mary called their first child by that name. Both the Ancestry transcription, and my own, have come up with the same interpretation for the handwriting.

The full family of David Davis in 1850 is:

David Davis, age 43, male, white, farmer, $300 in real/property value, b. in Georgia. Cansada Davis, age 21, female, white, b. in Mississippi. Nathan Davis, age 11, male, white, b. in Mississippi. Ann Davis, age 10, female, white, b. in Mississippi. Adaline Davis, age 16, female, white, b. in Mississippi.

Pleasant Bryant of Lawrence County, Misssissippi

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 2:25 pm
While conducting genealogy research one of the most aggravating problems encountered by genealogists are name changes through records. Whether the name change is deliberate or accidental, it makes the research of the person/family much more difficult. Case in point, Pleasant Bryant of Lawrence County, Mississippi.

 

Pleasant first appears on the 1840 Lawrence County, Mississippi census as a head of household. He would be about 21/22 years of age. He is listed there with his wife, and two male children less then 5 years of age. This is an accurate portrayal of Pleasant and Jane's family at the time:

 

Pleasant, Jane, C., and Jasper N. I have not yet identified the full name of the male child C., as he is listed in 1850 as only C., and not residing in the house by 1860. It was common practice in this 1850 census for families to identify given names only with initials.

 

Pleasant then appears on the 1850 census as Pleasant Blanton. The indices online are correct in the spelling of the name as it appears on the census. Without a doubt, Pleasant's family was identified as Blanton, instead of Bryant, by the enumerator. Was this an accidental mispelling, or a deliberate name change? I believe because he was enumerated properly in 1840, that this was the enumerator's mistake in spelling the name from the pronounciation given at the time. This is not the only surname consistently mispelled by this enumerator.

Further credence to the mistake being made in the spelling is that Pleasant was enumerated in 1860 in Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi, as Pleasant Bryant.

So when you are searching the census records, you may often come across widely mispelled names... while this may portend that your ancestor switched names, more often then not, it is only the case of bad spelling.

Genealogy Research

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 1:39 pm
This blog will be used for posting of items while I perform genealogical research. I am an active webmaster online of various genealogy websites, and extensively conduct research. While doing this, I often need a place for the keeping of genealogy research that can't be placed with the content online.

 

I am presently transcribing the 1850 Lawrence County, Mississippi Census for placement on Mississippi Genealogy. This census transcription is my effort to continue adding content to the Lawrence County, Mississippi USGenWeb site, which I've now assumed the roll of county coordinator.

April 18, 2006

Waukegan Historical Society, Waukegan, Illinois

Filed under: Societies — Administrator @ 8:02 pm

Researchers of the Waukegan County, Illinois area have a great amount of research material available if they’ll contact the Waukegan Historical Society. The Waukegan Historical Society operates the John L. Raymond Research Library, located amidst the gentle rolling landscape of Bowen Park in far northeastern Illinois. The Society’s extensive research collections contain thousands of photos and documents on all aspects of Waukegan’s history. The library is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00am to 2:30pm.

The following resources are available at the library:

Atlases
1861, 1873, 1885, 1907, 1913, 1926, 1935, 1936, 1944, 1963, 1976, & 1977

Books and Directories
Early Death Notices of Lake County, IL 1845-1879
First Land Purchases of Lake County-Mogg
List of Illinois Place Names-I.S.H.S.
Migration, Emigration, Immigration Vol. I & II-Miller
Newspapers in the Illinois State Historical Library
Peterson Funeral Home Records 1865-1945-L.C.G.S.
Tobin Funeral Home Records 1876-1934
Treasures From Northern Illinois-Mogg
(only a partial listing of collection)
City directories
Telephone directories

Census Records
Waukegan & Lake County
1810, 1818, 1820, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900

Family Histories
Converse, Coulson, Darnall, Drew, Hazen, Jack, Knoll, Lush, Niblack, Sheldon, Strang, Tiernan, Wait, Walsh, White, and Whyte

Files
People File (many obituaries included)
Waukegan Historic District Homes
Proper Name and Subject Files

Histories
Waukegan & Lake County
Bridge to the Past-Wadsworth
A History of Lake County-Halsey
History of Lake County-Partridge
History of Slovenian Community 1893-1952
History of Waukegan-Holmes & Darrow
History of Warren Township-Lawson
Historical Sketches of Lake County-Haines
Historical Highlights of the Waukegan Area-Osling
How It All Began-Meads
Illinois of Today and It’s Progressive Cities
Immaculate Conception Parish 1841-1949
Lake County, Illinois-Virginia Mullery
Lake County Roots-News-Sun 1997
Makers of Illinois
Meehan’s Settlement (Irish in Shields Township)
Men of Illinois-Halliday 1902
Old Waukegan Days-Dunn 1929
The Past and Present of Lake County-Le Baron
Portrait and Biographical Album of Lake County-1891
St. Patrick’s Church-Wadsworth 1849-1949
South Side Memories-Osling
Waukegan, It’s Past & Present-League of Womens Voters
Waukegan’s Legacy, Our Landmarks Revealed-1976
Waukegan Scenes, Past & Present-Gregory 1977
The Best Ever-Waukegan Theatres 1865-1919 -J. Neal

Journal Of The Illinois State Historical Society
Includes early issues (not complete) and indexes

Maps
Sanborn Insurance Maps 1912 and 1917, 1929
Sanborn Insurance Maps 1885-1949 (microfilm)

Military Histories
Several volumes including
Adjutant General’s Report of Illinois (Civil War)
Index to 1862 Military Census of Lake County-L.C.G.S.
Roll of Honor, Record of Burial Places in Illinois 1929 (2 vol.)
Wright’s Official History of the Spanish-American War

Photographs
approximately 7,000

Scrapbooks
Large collection includes
Dahl 1885-1930, Yard 1875-1894, D.A.R., Military Personnel Photo & Scrapbook 1942-1948, Waukegan Women’s Club, West School

Yearbooks
Waukegan High School 1898-1990
Holy Child High School

Miscellaneous Sources
Diaries, Post Cards, etc.

Raymond Library: Bowen Park, 1911 North Sheridan Rd., Waukegan, IL 60087 (847) 360-4772

Enjoy your visit!

April 14, 2006

Genealogy Books

Filed under: General — Administrator @ 12:55 pm

Most genealogists eventually buy a genealogy book. Whether that book be a reference resource or a tried and true family genealogy, eventually the call of some book will garnish enough interest for the genealogist to open the pages. A new website online now provides a method for you to purchase almost 75,000 genealogy books, whether it be a best seller, or a rare manuscript. When purchasing, part of your purchase price will go towards supporting free genealogy websites online!

March 30, 2006

Lloydminster Times Vital Statistics 1905-1945

Filed under: News — Administrator @ 1:55 pm

A new manuscript for Saskatchewan Genealogy enthusiasts has been printed. Written by Janet Newman, a resident of Lloydminster, the manuscript is a comprehensive collection of extractions taken from the Lloydminster Times. The Times was founded in April 1905 by Joseph George Willard. It’s first edition was published on the 25th of April, and the manuscript collects the genealogical data from that first edition through 1945.

The data collected from the manuscript includes names of settlers as they arrived in the budding frontier town, as well as births, marriages, deaths, and soldier records from Lloydminster.

This manuscript becomes the first published collection dealing with the lives of local residents for the 40 years between 1905 and 1945.

Additional resources for Lloydminster genealogists:

March 25, 2006

Citing sources key to credibility

Filed under: General, News — Administrator @ 5:48 pm

Online citation resources:

No matter how good these guides and models are, for genealogists there is always something lacking. We use books and Internet sites, but we also use censuses, deeds, probates, tombstones, interviews, e-mails, and hundreds of other nonstandard references. Seldom do we find examples of how to cite those in guides written for the public. For genealogical writing, my money is still on Mills’ “Evidence!” book and the “QuickSheet.” - Quote from Connie Lenzen in her Genealogy Today column.

Genealogical Citation Resources:

Good luck in your genealogy research!

Genealogy Research at the Library of Michigan

Filed under: Archives — Administrator @ 5:45 pm

Library of Michigan sponsors several genealogy-related events for those interested in researching family roots:

• April 1: Free seminar on Internet research and online resources, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. To register in advance, call 373-1300 or e-mail librarian@michigan.gov.

• April 8: Third annual free spring genealogy seminar, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m., Sunfield District Library, 112 Main St., Sunfield. Box lunch available for $6, and handout materials packets available for $5. Advance registration forms available at the library, by calling the library at 566-8065 or online at www.rootsweb.com/~mieaton/eatontoc.htm.

• May 13: Sixth annual Lansing Family History Center Genealogy Seminar, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 431 E. Saginaw St., East Lansing. Seminar free, $15 charge for syllabus. To register, call 332-2932.

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