tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56709398701789199902024-02-20T07:08:04.398-06:00Genealogy GuruGenealogy news and tidbits and research help.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-47675515597596637592017-03-08T16:05:00.002-07:002017-03-08T16:05:36.154-07:00Finally able to log in!!!Hi everyone. Its been a while. Apparently when Google took over blog spot they changed my access. But after 4 hours I have figured it out. Obviously it has been a while since I have visited. Life has gotten in the way but keep watch here, I have some really interesting info to share.<br />
<br />
Thanks for visiting.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-55987387018439571612012-08-06T09:30:00.001-06:002012-08-06T09:30:10.782-06:00Genealogists, particularly professional genealogists, need to advocate for<br />
records. We speak often about preservation, but we have to be just as<br />
diligent about access. It is an important responsibility for all of us to<br />
learn about the issues and to keep up-to-date on them.<br />
<br />
A few months ago, we were able to view Capitol Hill subcommittee hearings<br />
online to learn about efforts to end tax fraud. The bills to support those<br />
efforts included language to close the SSDI (called the Death Master File by<br />
the bureaucrats).<br />
<br />
Those subcommittees called for an audit of the IRS to reveal the extent of<br />
the fraud. The results are in and they don't look good. Because of this and<br />
of the suggestions from the audit, the various bills were rewritten. The new<br />
bills will probably move forward without delay.<br />
<br />
The language in the original bills would have closed the SSDI permanently.<br />
The new bills permit close it to genealogists for two years. During those<br />
two years, only people involved in detecting fraud will have access. Of all<br />
the options available in the original bills, this one provides for the least<br />
closure.<br />
<br />
Genealogists were shut out of the hearings that took place this spring.<br />
Melinde Lutz Byrne, President of the American Society of Genealogists, was<br />
present at one hearing but not allowed to testify.<br />
<br />
MGC has blogged about this issue over the last few months. I'd like to call<br />
your attention to our newest blog postings on the topic. The two postings<br />
are:<br />
<br />
"New Legislation Would Close the SSDI for 2 Years"<br />
<a href="http://www.massgencouncil.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog" target="_blank">http://www.massgencouncil.com/<wbr></wbr>index.php?option=com_easyblog</a><br />
<<a href="http://www.massgencouncil.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=24&Itemid=127" target="_blank">http://www.massgencouncil.<wbr></wbr>com/index.php?option=com_<wbr></wbr>easyblog&view=entry&id=2<br />
4&Itemid=127</a>> &view=entry&id=24&Itemid=127<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
"The Bottom Line on Tax Fraud? $5 Billion per Year"<br />
<a href="http://www.massgencouncil.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog" target="_blank">http://www.massgencouncil.com/<wbr></wbr>index.php?option=com_easyblog</a><br />
<<a href="http://www.massgencouncil.com/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=25&Itemid=127" target="_blank">http://www.massgencouncil.<wbr></wbr>com/index.php?option=com_<wbr></wbr>easyblog&view=entry&id=2<br />
5&Itemid=127</a>> &view=entry&id=25&Itemid=127<br />
<br />
The second blog posting contains a little information about whom you should<br />
contact.<br />
<br />
<br />
Those genealogists whose livelihoods or volunteer work depend on access to<br />
the SSDI should consider communicating with their own Congressmen and<br />
Senators. Work of this type includes those who work to return the remains of<br />
Missing or Killed in Action servicemen, those who seek the next-of-kin for<br />
Unclaimed Persons, and others in similar compassionate roles.<br />
<br />
Explain why access to the Death Master File is critical to your work and ask<br />
your legislator to contact the House and Senate subcommittee chairs with the<br />
message to add investigative genealogists to the list of credentialed<br />
people. The current bills open the records only to those stopping fraud. Our<br />
compassionate work needs to be recognized. We were denied the opportunity to<br />
testify at any of the subcommittee hearings. Our own legislators are now our<br />
only path to having our voices heard.<br />Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-30167073755919171532012-07-27T15:56:00.003-06:002012-07-27T15:56:21.734-06:00You can catch more flies with honey!Again, as I was cruising through message boards I found this interesting series of posts. When people post their genealogy posts they are looking for research not lectures, see the follow posts:<br />
<br />
This is the first post looking for information: <br />
<br />
<i>looking for any references to Richard Branham... dates of birth and
death are sketchy. He lived in Richmond, VA, where he married Alice,
and had four sons. John T. Branham, b. 3-5-1712, Richard Branham Jr. b
11-28-1714, William Branham, b. 3-29-1716, and Benjamin Branham, b.
12-01-1728. Any decendents that would like to contact me, please do
so... I have had some luck tracing down through his son John, but the
others are in the dark...<br />Thanks alot. </i><br />
<br />
This is Kathy's response, well isn't she a know it all:<br />
<br />
<i>Excuse me but there was NO Richmond, VA in the late 1600's. The place
you are referring to is RICHMOND COUNTY, which is quite different from
Richmond, Va. Before it was Richmond County it was called Rappahannock
County, now called Old Rappahannock County because it is extinct. In the
late 1600's, Rappahannock was split into Richmond on one side of the
Rappahannock and Essex on the other.</i><br />
<i>If you are looking for records
for the Branhams in the 1600's, start with York and work your way up the
Rappahannock River as the counties can into being. Everyone followed
the big river ports to make a living. Tappahannock in Essex, Naylors in
Richmond, Port Royal in Caroline and then into Orange/Culpeper/Madison
and from there into Kentucky.</i><br />
<i>If you're going to do Virginia genealogy research, you have to have a map. Everybody traveled by RIVER. </i><br />
<br />
Now, I was just wondering after reading this post about when exactly Richmond was founded, after a quick Google search this is what I found:<br />
<br />
<b>"The site of Richmond, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_line" title="Fall line">fall line</a> of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_River_%28Virginia%29" title="James River (Virginia)">James River</a>, had been an important village of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powhatan_Confederacy" title="Powhatan Confederacy">Powhatan Confederacy</a>, and was briefly settled by English colonists from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown,_Virginia" title="Jamestown, Virginia">Jamestown</a> in 1609, and in 1610–1611. The present city of Richmond was founded in 1737. It became the capital of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_and_Dominion_of_Virginia" title="Colony and Dominion of Virginia">Colony and Dominion of Virginia</a> in 1780.(Wikipedia "The Free Encyclopedia"; Richmond, VA)"</b><br />
<br />
And more on Richmond:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>In 1607, after 10 days of travel up Powhatan’s River (later known as
the James River), Captain John Smith and 120 men from Jamestown,
Virginia, settled at the river's highest navigable location. Theirs was
the first attempt to settle at the Falls of the James. </b><br />
<b>Four years
later in 1611, the governor of the new Jamestown colony organized an
expedition to sail up the James and settled below the falls in a place
they called Henricus. The first hospital in North America was located
there, serving also as the home of <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h520.html">Pocahontas</a>.</b><br />
<b>Struggles
with the indigenous peoples began to simmer and then boil over after
the death of Pocahontas in 1617, and her father Chief Powhatan the
following year. Widespread <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1008.html">Indian attacks</a> during the <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1155.html">Powhatan</a> uprising of 1622 destroyed every English settlement along the James River except Jamestown. </b><br />
<b>Led
by the more aggressive Chief Opechancanough, the tribe massacred nearly
400 white settlers during a surprise attack in 1644. Two years later,
the tribe was forced to sign a treaty that granted the English
possession of the land below the Falls of the James. </b><br />
<b>The
neighborhoods of Shockoe Bottom, Shockoe Slip, and Church Hill, where
St. John's Church had been built the prior year, coalesced into one
entity when Richmond was chartered as a town, in 1742. They were
governed by the Virginia <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1151.html">House of Burgesses</a>, located in Jamestown.(US History Website"Richmond, VA).</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Well, I guess Kathy's response was partially true, the town where Richmond stands was not named Richmond but there was a town there. But it is very upsetting when someone who is posting a simple query gets such a rude response. This will turn people off of message board all together. Why would someone post a message when they are going to receive this sort of response.<br />
<br />
A good response would have been, "the city now named Richmond was not established under that name until (state date), at the date you have mentioned it was actually called(name here). I am wondering if you mean Richmond County? I know that places are very confusing and to help in my research I have purchased a map of Virginia made by (company name here), it has helped me a bunch." <br />
<br />
Place names can be very difficult, especially in areas where towns change names regularly. When I run across this issue in my research I list the name at the time of the event but note the new name of the place.<br />
What do you do in this situation?<br />
<br />
<br />Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-10641002365237442042012-07-05T10:18:00.003-06:002012-07-05T10:18:25.486-06:00I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. Every year on 4th of July I start thinking about my ancestors that served in the military, I makes me very proud that they dedicated their lives so we could live our lives as the countries founding fathers envisioned. On that note I am reposting an email I received with tips on how to research you Revolutionary War Ancestor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestor<br />
by Kimberly Powell, About.com Guide<br />
<a href="http://genealogy.about.com/od/revolution/a/revolutionary.htm" target="_blank">http://genealogy.about.com/od/<wbr></wbr>revolution/a/revolutionary.htm</a><br />
<br />
The Revolutionary War lasted for eight long years, beginning with the
battle between British troops and local Massachusetts militia at
Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on 19<br />
April 1775, and ending with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
If your family tree in America stretches back to this time period, it is
likely you can claim descendency from at least one ancestor who had
some type of service related to the Revolutionary War effort.<br />
<br />
<br />
Did my Ancestor Serve in the American Revolution?<br />
Boys as young as 16 were allowed to serve, so any male ancestors who were between the ages of 16 and 50 between<br />
1776 and 1783 are potential candidates. Those who didn't serve directly
in a military capacity may have helped in other ways - by providing
goods, supplies or non-military service to the cause. Women also
participated in the American Revolution, some even accompanying their
husbands to battle.<br />
<br />
If you have an ancestor you believe may have served in the American
Revolution in a military capacity, then an easy way to start is by
checking the following indexes to major Revolutionary War record groups:<br />
* DAR Patriot Index- Compiled by the National Society Daughters of
the American Revolution, the DAR Patriot Index contains data for both
men and women who provided service to the patriot's cause between 1774
and 1783. Because this index was created from lineages identified and
verified by DAR, it does not include every individual who served. The
index generally provides birth and death data for each individual, as
well as information on spouse, rank, area of service, and the state
where the patriot lived or served. For those who did not serve in a
military capacity, the type of civil or patriotic service is indicated.
Soldiers who received a revolutionary war pension will be noted with the
abbreviation "PNSR" ("CPNS" if the soldier's children received the
pension or "WPNS" if the soldier's widow received the pension). The
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution provides a free
DAR Patriot Index Lookup Service.<br />
<br />
* Index to Revolutionary War Service Records- This four volume set
[Waynesboro, TN: National Historical Publishing Co., 1995] by Virgil
White includes abstracts of military service records from National
Archives group 93, including each soldier's name, unit and rank. A
simliar index was created by Ancestry, Inc. in 1999 and is available
online to subscribers - U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783<br />
<br />
* American Genealogical-Biographical Index(AGBI)- This large index,
sometimes referred to as the Rider Index after its original creator,
Fremont Rider, includes the names of people who have appeared in more
than 800 published volumes of family histories and other genealogical
works. This includes several volumes of published Revolutionary War
Records, such as Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution,
Soldiers, Sailors, 1775-1783 and Muster and Payrolls of the
Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 from the collection of the New York
Historical Society. Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, Connecticut,
pubishes this index and will answer AGBI search requests for a small
fee. The AGBI is also available as an online database at subscription
site, Ancestry.com.<br />
<br />
* Pierce's Register- Originally produced as a government document in
1915 and later published by Genealogical Publishing Company in 1973,
this work provides an index to Revolutionary War claim records,
including the veteran's name, certificate number, military unit and the
amount of the claim.<br />
<br />
* Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots- The U.S. government
places tombstones on the graves of identified Revolutionary War
soldiers, and this book by Patricia Law Hatcher [Dallas: Pioneer
Heritage Press, 1987-88] provides an alphabetical list of these
Revolutionary War soldiers, along with the name and location of the
cemetery where they are buried or memorialized.<br />
<br />
Where Can I Find the Records?<br />
Records related to the American Revolution are available in many different locations, including repositories at<br />
the national, state, county and town-level. The National Archives in
Washington D.C. is the largest repository, with compiled military
service records, pension records and bounty land records. State archives
or the state's Office of the<br />
Adjutant General may include records for individuals who served with the
state militia, rather than the continental army, as well as records for
bounty land issued by the state.<br />
<br />
A fire in the War Department in November 1800 destroyed most of the
earliest service and pension records. A fire in August 1814 in the
Treasury Department destroyed more records. Over the years, many of
these records have been reconstructed.<br />
<br />
Libraries with a genealogical or historical section will often have
numerous published works on the American Revolution, including military
unit histories and county histories. A good<br />
place to learn about available Revolutionary War records is James
Neagles' U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and State Sources,
Colonial America to the Present [Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, Inc.,
1994].<br />
<br />
Sally Rolls Pavia<br />
<a href="mailto:sallypavia2001@yahoo.com">sallypavia2001@yahoo.com</a><br />
List Owner: <a href="mailto:GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com">GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-<wbr></wbr>request@rootsweb.com</a><br />
Archives: <a href="http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES" target="_blank">http://archiver.rootsweb.com/<wbr></wbr>th/index/<wbr></wbr>GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES</a><br />
“To live in the hearts of those left behind, is never to have<br />
died.” <br />Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-92189776408345616992012-07-01T19:01:00.002-06:002012-07-01T19:01:33.569-06:00For all people who are researching the DeBusk and/or Related Families I have now updated my family website on tribal pages. the website is:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://debuskfamily.tribalpages.com/" target="_blank">http://debuskfamily.tribalpages.com</a><br />
<br />
The site is password protected, only because of the large amount of personal information included there.<br />
<br />
So, if you are related, visit the site, check the surname index, and if you family is there, click the contact link and send me your name, email and the family members you are researching. As long as everything matches up I will send you a password.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-88779870113260049952012-06-27T12:32:00.001-06:002012-06-27T12:32:44.335-06:00So, here is one of my long standing brick walls.<br />
<br />
It is my great-great grandmother Agnes Branham (nee Nelson), she married Thomas Branham and had the following children, Thomas Larkin Branham (my great-grandfather), Agnes Branham, and Dulcie Branham (born 2 Feb., 1893 died 26 Feb. 1914), there might have been other children but I have not found them at this time.<br />
The family story is that Thomas Larkin ran away from home at a young age because after years of his father abusing the family Thomas got upset while his father was beating his mother and attacked his father with a board or piece of wood. He thought he killed his father so he ran away.<br />
No one still living could remember any family information besides this story. I was able with the help of a cousin to find out that Thomas Larkin died in California so I got his death certificate from California but the parents' names were not included on it, luckily I was able to get his social security number from the death certificate.<br />
I used the social security number to get a copy of his social security card application which listed Thomas Branham and Agnes Nelson as his parents.<br />
I have been able to get the death certificate for Agnes Branham from the Missouri Death Index. But I am unable to attach the actual document here but if you would like to see it here is the link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/Results.asp?type=basic&tLName=branham&tFName=AGNES&sCounty=all&tYear=#null" target="_blank">http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/Results.asp?type=basic&tLName=branham&tFName=AGNES&sCounty=all&tYear=#null</a><br />
<br />
It stated that her parents are Thomas Nelson and her mother is Elizabeth Quisenbury/Quesenbury who was born in possibly KY (Kentucky). I can not make out where Thomas Nelson was born maybe Ireland or Virginia, I just can't tell.<br />
So, there is a lot of information available on the web regarding the Quisenbury/Quesenbery family but I have been unable to link this up and I have been unable to find anything to work with on my Thomas Nelson.<br />
<br />
<br />Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-15440159930832617442012-06-22T13:31:00.001-06:002012-06-22T13:31:49.384-06:00So, lets try something new. I have had many brick walls on my tree, some I have busted through and some are still standing. So, lets have people start posting their brick walls (use comment section on this post). It doesn't matter what family you are researching lets just get these brick walls out in the open.<br />
When posting please try to include any info you have and you might want to include what you have done in your research. Lets see if we can help each other out.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-47563546890135638742012-06-22T13:25:00.002-06:002012-06-22T13:25:38.883-06:00Hello again,<br />
<br />
Well, it been a long while since a post, everyday life has gotten in the way of blogging. <br />
Now that its summer time and bumping 110 degrees here I will now be spending more time on genealogy, time to reorganize my stuff. I will try to find some interesting items related to genealogy to post here. If you see anything interesting please let me know by either emailing me or using the comment section to post the info.<br />
Happy Hunting!Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-36564658030867465322011-01-03T11:45:00.002-07:002011-01-03T11:49:20.324-07:00Favorite Search MethodHappy New Year Everyone. With this being the first entry for the new year I have a request from everyone. I am trying to take a little "unofficial" poll to determine what search methods people prefer to use.<br />This started after a heated debate with a fellow genealogist over the weekend so I would like to know what search method you prefer and why. Examples are Ancestry, Rootsweb, Google or whatever source you use. So if you could drop me a line with you favorite search method and why I would really appreciate it.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-65240078593051287282010-12-16T14:55:00.002-07:002010-12-16T14:57:39.613-07:00Back To WorkWell, for the first time in 4 years I have taken a freelance assignment. I am very excited. I haven't found anything in a long time that seemed like a challenge, but I think that this one will stimulate me. I will keep everyone posted.<br />In the meantime I hope everyone has a Happy, Healthy and Safe Holiday Season.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-79087293201148302802010-06-14T15:57:00.002-06:002010-06-14T16:02:45.392-06:00Vital Check NetworkHas anyone had any recent contact with Vital Check, the company that provides copies of birth and death certificates? I used to use them when I first began doing genealogy research but haven't dealt with them in a while. I recently requested a copy of my own birth certificate and I have had nothing but problems with them. It has been 4 weeks and I still don't have my birth certificate, at this rate I could have requested it in the mail from my state vital records and already had it but I choose to go with Vital Check because it was supposed to be faster. Does anyone know how to get someone to respond to an email or phone call???Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-65132383755573421242010-05-11T15:24:00.001-06:002010-05-11T15:27:01.960-06:00Cemetery in Eastern Tennessee BulldozedThis came to me from a mailing list, very sad, hopefully they will get this taken care of.<br /><br />Dorothy Lingar couldn't believe what she saw - a bulldozer shoving familygraves, both marked and unmarked, over a hill.Lingar and other family members were upset last week when the bulldozer,contracted to Vinland Energy of London, Ky., plowed through a familycemetery near Fourmile, in southeastern Kentucky. "We have never wentthrough anything like this. We're shocked," said Lingar, as she recalledwalking through the family cemetery as a child. "That's our history, ourflesh and blood, and we are upset. These were good people and they don'tdeserve to be treated this way."The incident happened Wednesday, as the bulldozer cleared land for a Vinland project in the area. Vinland Energy Vice President of Operations ScottGilbert told the Middlesboro Daily News the company is aware of whathappened at the cemetery."We're sorry that we disturbed it," Gilbert said. "We're going to do what wecan."You can read more about this crime in an article in the WKYT web site at <a href="http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/93239714.html" target="_blank">www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/93239714.html</a>Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-42143777865151775772010-05-06T11:06:00.003-06:002010-05-06T11:29:19.991-06:00Changing of NamesAfter just cruising through some message boards I came across a post that irritated me somewhat so I would like to review the changing of family names after immigrating to America.<br />We will use the last name of DeBusk as an example. The DeBusk family is of French orgin, emmigrating to America a little bit before the Revolutionary War. DeBusk is the American version of the name, obviously DeBusk is not actually French. As stated before the variations of the DeBusk name are DuBosc, DuBois, DeBois, and DeBose, which are all obviously French.<br />The specific post that I read was in response to someone asking where the DeBusk family was from and the response was that De means from and Busk is a town in France. The De part is correct, it does mean from but with a simple Google search you can see that there is no town in France called Busk, and why would there be, that is an Americanization of the original name.<br />So, remember when you are requesting information, the information you receive always needs to be researched, even if the person giving the information states that they have been researching for years. People are only human and many mistakes are made when you have been sitting in front of the computer or in front of a pile of papers for hours and hours.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-74930244088292582062010-05-05T10:15:00.001-06:002010-05-05T10:17:00.979-06:00Fabricated GenealogyGRAFTING FAMILY TREES<br />by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG<br /><br />Not even your family histories are safe from those who want to make a quick buck at your expense. Moreover, you might have been hoodwinked with a fabricated genealogy and your relatives might have been victims of estate frauds -- an old con game, and you might not even realize it.<br />Early in the 20th century, about 200 fabricated genealogies were produced by Gustav Anjou (1863-1942), a Staten Island, New York forger of genealogical records. Anjou developed a profitable business in mail-order ancestors for wealthy clients willing to pay about $9,000 for a family history. More than 100 genealogies compiled by Anjou have been located. They are widely accessible in most large libraries and have been reprinted many times, and probably are being used today by genealogists who are not aware that the pedigrees are false. Anjou, and others like him, simply grafted noble and royal ancestors onto their client's trees, sometimes by using invented European parishes and forged wills and vital records.<br />Not only did Anjou falsify many genealogies, evidently he fabricated his own pedigree and credentials, according to Gordon L. Remington, Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association and editor of GENEALOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE UTAH GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION, in an article that appeared in Volume 19, Nos. 1 & 2 (1991) of that periodical. In the same issue also appears an excellent article on estate frauds by Helen Hinchliff, and one by Robert Charles Anderson on the Anjou pedigrees.<br />According to Anderson, a certified genealogist and Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, a typical Anjou pedigree displays four recognizable (at least to the more experienced researcher) features:<br />-- A dazzling range of connections among dozens of immigrants (mostly to New England).<br />-- Many wild geographical leaps, outside the normal range of migration patterns.<br />-- An overwhelming number of citations to documents that actually exist, and include what Anjou says they include.<br />-- Here and there an "invented" document, without citation, which appears to support the many connections.<br />Among the genealogies compiled by Anjou are those for: BEACH, BELL, CALDWELL, DENT, FREEMAN, GRANT, HENDERSON, HOUSTON, MARSHALL, McCORMICK, NOWELL/NOELL, ORMOND, ROCKWELL, SEAMAN, TER BUSH, WELLING, and WHEELER. For an extensive listing along with the call numbers of the Anjou genealogies available at the Family History Library, see <a href="http://www.linkline.com/personal/xymox/fraud/fraud223.htm" target="_blank">FRAUDULENT LINEAGES</a>: http://www.linkline.com/personal/xymox/fraud/fraud223.htm http://www.linkline.com/personal/xymox/fraud/fraud224.htm<br />See also "<a href="http://www.genealogymagazine.com/watoutforfak.html" target="_blank">Watch Out for Fake Family Trees</a>," by James Pylant, editor of AMERICAN GENEALOGY MAGAZINE: http://www.genealogymagazine.com/watoutforfak.html<br />Estate frauds touched hundreds of thousands of American families. If you uncover references to a fortune or estate that some of your relatives tried to obtain years ago, be wary. Also, you may encounter family members who will not admit that they or their parents were defrauded and who still believe there is a lost family fortune out there somewhere.<br />The bulk of estate frauds has been associated with common surnames. These scams -- many of which occurred about 75 to 100 years ago -- worked like this. Confidence men sought "missing heirs" by placing advertisements in the personal ads or legal notices of newspapers. Then they planted stories in newspapers about huge estates that were soon to be awarded to rightful heirs. Naturally many people responded. Then these "heirs" -- at the urging of the swindlers -- would form associations as estate claimants, incorporate under the laws of their state and write letters to their cousins encouraging them to join the association, and pay the membership dues and special assessments for legal fees to fight for their "estates."<br />Newspaper wire services picked up dozens of such items about meetings of these various "heirs groups" in small towns. Eventually these stories began to appear in major newspapers such as THE NEW YORK TIMES. Naturally, appearance in prestigious newspapers gave credence to the stories of the estates. Among the well-known estate frauds are those for these surnames: BAKER, DRAKE, EDWARDS, EDWARDS-HALL, FISHER, HARPER, HYDE, JANS, KOHLER, MERCER, SPRINGER, and VAN HORN.<br />Read more about the "Baker Land Hoax," "Buchanan Estate Scams," "Halberts' Clone," "False and Faked Mayflower Genealogy," "Faked Seminoles in the Confederate Army," and "Hoax of the Century," by following the links from the <a href="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~blksheep/shame/index.htm" target="_blank">International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists' Genealogy Hall of Shame</a>: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~blksheep/shame/index.htm<br />See also: Baronage's "<a href="http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/caveat02.html" target="_blank">Caveat Emptor</a>" http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/caveat02.html in re name histories and family crests; <a href="http://www.cyndislist.com/myths.htm" target="_blank">Cyndi's List: Myths, Hoaxes & Scams</a>: http://www.cyndislist.com/myths.htm ; and <a href="http://www.ancestordetective.com/watchdog.htm" target="_blank">Genealogical Web Site Watchdog</a>, which lists many Web sites that provide misleading or inaccurate genealogical information: http://www.ancestordetective.com/watchdog.htm<br />You might want to take a closer look at your family tree to see if some illustrious or phony ancestors have been grafted onto it and, if so, by whom. Before you brag to your grandchildren about those noble or royal lines, or those famous connections, be sure you are not perpetuating a myth, passing along a hoax, or barking up the wrong tree.<br />* * * * *<br />Written by <a href="mailto:RWR-Editors@rootsweb.com">Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG</a>; RWR-Editors@rootsweb.com. Previously published by RootsWeb.com, Inc., RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Genealogy News, Vol. 3, No. 17, 26 April 2000. <a href="http://rootsweb.com/" target="_blank">RootsWeb</a>: http://www.rootsweb.com/<br />* * * * *<br />PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from ROOTSWEB REVIEW is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Written by [author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given]. Previously published by RootsWeb.com, Inc., RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Genealogy News, Vol. 3, No. 17, 26 April 2000. RootsWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-42431734358883199652010-04-19T15:27:00.001-06:002010-04-19T15:28:52.182-06:00New WebsitesI have a few comments that people sent with new websites to try out. Please be patient if you sent me the link, I prefer to check out each website before I post it. I will be checking them out and if they seem like they would be helpful then I will post them.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-58587209840478446072010-04-19T14:59:00.002-06:002010-04-19T15:26:33.912-06:00Forest Park Cemetery, Joplin, MOI have received a few comments from people asking if I know how they can get photos of headstones at this cemetery. I do not believe that there is an actual on-line inventory of graves with photos, I haven't even been able a complete list of all the graves online. Having an on-line photo database is nearly impossible when you see the size of the cemetery.<br />There are a couple of ways to get photos of your families headstones. First of course is visit there, which for most people doesn't work. Another way is to find someone who is willing to take photos for you. There is a website called "Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness" which is a bunch of volunteers that are willing to go and get info or photos for people in the area where they live.<br />You will need to sign up as a volunteer and offer to do some volunterring of your own but it is worth it.<br />For information and photos of Forest Park specifically, you will need to contact the cemetery and get the location or section your family member is buried in. This can be done by sending a letter with a self-addressed, stamped evelope enclosed. Be sure to include your family members complete name, do not ask for them to look up everyone with a specific last name. If possible also include dates. This is how I originally found my family members in the cemetery.<br />Once you get that information back from the cemetery then visit "Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness" at <a href="http://www.roagk.org/">www.roagk.org</a>.<br />Once you are on their home page scroll down about halfway to the place where it says "Guidelines for making a request", click that link. This will take you to a page that lists all the rules for requesting a lookup, once you read those rules and you are at the bottom of the page you will see a box with "Let's Go Find a Volunteer" click on that.<br />Then you can enter the city and state you are looking for and it will give you a list of volunteers and what they are willing to do, for different cities, ect. Please remember that these people are volunteers, don't be greedy, impatient or rude. Also, return the favor and volunteer yourself. I used to make 2 trips a month to my local library to do newspaper lookups and I got a warm fuzzy feeling known that I was helping someone find something they probably wouldn't have gotten elsewhere.<br />Happy Hunting.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-5853545290742097282008-12-02T10:34:00.000-07:002008-12-02T10:35:15.036-07:00Today in History<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt><tt>1777 : Philadelphia nurse overhears British plans to attack Washington<br /><br />Legend has it that on the night of December 2, 1777, Philadelphia housewife<br />and nurse Lydia Darragh single-handedly saves the lives of General George<br />Washington and his Continental Army when she overhears the British planning<br />a surprise attack on Washington’s army for the following day.<br /><br />During the occupation of Philadelphia, British General William Howe<br />stationed his headquarters across the street from the Darragh home, and when<br />Howe’s headquarters proved too small to hold meetings, he commandeered a<br />large upstairs room in the Darraghs’ house. Although uncorroborated, family<br />legend holds that Mrs. Darragh would eavesdrop and take notes on the British<br />meetings from an adjoining room and would conceal the notes by sewing them<br />into her coat before passing them onto American troops stationed outside the<br />city.<br /><br />On the evening of December 2, 1777, Darragh overheard the British commanders<br />planning a surprise attack on Washington’s army at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania,<br />for December 4 and 5. Using a cover story that she needed to buy flour from<br />a nearby mill just outside the British line, Darragh passed the information<br />to American Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Craig the following day.<br /><br />The British marched towards Whitemarsh on the evening of December 4, 1777,<br />and were surprised to find General Washington and the Continental Army<br />waiting for them. After three inconclusive days of skirmishing, General Howe<br />chose to return his troops to Philadelphia.<br /><br />It is said that members of the Central Intelligence Agency still tell the<br />story of Lydia Darragh, one of the first spies in American history. </tt></tt></pre>Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-12966282181965375872008-11-17T13:02:00.000-07:002008-11-17T13:04:05.319-07:00Today in History<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt><tt>1777 : ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION SUBMITTED TO THE STATES<br />On this day in 1777, Congress submits the Articles of Confederation to the<br />states for ratification.<br /><br />The Articles had been signed by Congress two days earlier, after 16 months<br />of debate. Bickering over land claims between Virginia and Maryland delayed<br />final ratification for almost four more years. Maryland became the last<br />state to approve the Articles on March 1, 1781, affirming them as the<br />outline of the official government of the United States. The nation was<br />guided by the document until the implementation of the current U.S.<br />Constitution in 1789.<br /><br />The critical distinction between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S.<br />Constitution--the primacy of the states under the Articles--is best<br />understood by comparing the following lines.<br /><br />The Articles of Confederation begin:<br />"To all to whom these Present shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of<br />the States…"<br /><br />By contrast, the Constitution begins:<br />"We the People of the United States…do ordain and establish this<br />Constitution for the United States of America."<br />The predominance of the states under the Articles of Confederation is made<br />even more explicit by the claims of Article II:<br />"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every<br />power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly<br /><br />delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."<br /><br />Less than five years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation<br /><br />enough leading Americans decided that the system was inadequate to the task<br />of governance that they peacefully overthrew their second government in just<br /><br />over 20 years. The difference between a collection of sovereign states<br />forming a confederation and a federal government created by a sovereign<br />people lay at the heart of the debate as the new American people decided<br />what form their government would take.<br /><br />Between 1776 and 1787, Americans went from living under a sovereign king, to<br /><br />living in sovereign states, to becoming a sovereign people. That<br />transformation defined the American Revolution.<br /><br /><br />1863 : SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, BEGINS<br />Confederate General James Longstreet places the city of Knoxville, Tennessee<br /><br />under siege. After two weeks and one failed attack, he abandoned the siege<br />and rejoined General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.<br /><br />The Knoxville campaign began in November when Longstreet took 17,000 troops<br />from Chattanooga and moved to secure eastern Tennessee for the Confederates.<br /><br />Longstreet's corps was normally part of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern<br />Virginia, but after the Battle of Gettysburg in July, Longstreet took two of<br /><br />his divisions to shore up the Confederate effort in the West. He and his<br />troops participated in the victory at Chickamauga in September and the siege<br /><br />of Chattanooga in October and November. Longstreet quarreled with Braxton<br />Bragg, the Confederate commander in the West, and he was given independent<br />command of the Department of East Tennessee.<br /><br />Longstreet took his 17,000 troops and moved toward Knoxville. Facing him was<br /><br />General Ambrose Burnside and 5,000 Yankees. Burnside fought a delaying<br />action at Campbell Station on November 16 before retreating into the<br />Knoxville defenses. The next day, Longstreet pulled into position around the<br /><br />north side of the city, but he could not cut off supplies to the Union<br />troops. Longstreet waited for reinforcements to arrive, which they did on<br />November 28. He attacked, but was repulsed with heavy loses. Longstreet<br />continued the siege in order to draw troops away from Chattanooga. The ruse<br />worked, and 25,000 Union troops were dispatched from Chattanooga to chase<br />Longstreet's force away.<br /><br />Ultimately, Longstreet retreated back to Virginia. His Knoxville campaign<br />was disappointing for the Confederates, who had hoped to secure eastern<br />Tennessee. Longstreet rejoined Lee in the spring after his disappointing<br />turn as head of an independent command.<br /><br /><br />1914 : GERMANS MAKE LAST STAB AT YPRES<br />On November 17, 1914, the German 15th Corps makes a final, desperate attempt<br /><br />to advance against Allied positions in the Ypres Salient, the much-contested<br /><br />region in Flanders, Belgium.<br /><br />After advancing relatively quickly through Belgium and eastern France during<br /><br />the first weeks of World War I, the Germans were defeated by the Allies in<br />late September 1914 in the Battle of the Marne. The two enemies then began<br />the so-called "Race to the Sea," moving northwards at a hectic pace in order<br /><br />to establish positions with access to the English Channel and the North Sea<br />beyond. On October 19, the Germans launched an offensive aimed at seizing<br />control of Ypres--the fortress city blocking the ports of the English<br />Channel in Flanders--from the British, French and Belgian forces guarding it<br /><br /><br />For their part, the Allies held fast in their resistance, knowing a defeat<br />would mean the loss of a crucial advantage.<br /><br />On the last day of October, German cavalry units began a more concentrated<br />attack, kicking the First Battle of Ypres into high gear. Over the next<br />three weeks, the chaotic nature of the fighting only increased its bloody<br />nature, with casualty figures on both sides mounting as the weather grew<br />colder and more blustery. The attempt by the 15th Corps on November<br />17--which Allied forces repulsed--marked the last movement of the battle, as<br /><br />the Germans thereafter confined themselves to intermittent cannon blasts<br />against the Allied lines. Five days later, amid high winds and blizzards,<br />fighting was suspended completely, and the First Battle of Ypres came to an<br />end after taking the lives of more than 5,000 British and 5,000 German<br />soldiers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></tt></tt></pre>Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-14826946465131745152008-11-10T14:23:00.001-07:002008-11-10T14:23:54.268-07:00Today in History<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt><tt>November 10, 1775 .. Birth of the U.S. Marine Corps<br /><br />During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passes a resolution<br />stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing<br />forces for the recently formed Continental Navy. The resolution, drafted by<br />future U.S. President John Adams and adopted in Philadelphia, created the<br />Continental Marines and is now observed as the birth date of the United<br />States Marine Corps.<br /><br />Serving on land and at sea, the original U.S. Marines distinguished<br />themselves in a number of important operations during the Revolutionary War.<br />The first Marine landing on a hostile shore occurred when a force of Marines<br />under Captain Samuel Nicholas captured New Province Island in the Bahamas<br />from the British in March 1776. Nicholas was the first commissioned officer<br />in the Continental Marines and is celebrated as the first Marine commandant.<br />After American independence was achieved in 1783, the Continental Navy was<br />demobilized and its Marines disbanded.<br /><br />In the next decade, however, increasing conflict at sea with Revolutionary<br />France led the U.S. Congress to establish formally the U.S. Navy in May 1798<br />Two months later, on July 11, President John Adams signed the bill<br />establishing the U.S. Marine Corps as a permanent military force under the<br />jurisdiction of the Department of Navy. U.S. Marines saw action in the<br />so-called Quasi-War with France and then fought against the Barbary pirates<br />of North Africa during the first years of the 19th century. Since then,<br />Marines have participated in all the wars of the United States and in most<br />cases were the first soldiers to fight. In all, Marines have executed more<br />than 300 landings on foreign shores.<br /><br />Today, there are more than 200,000 active-duty and reserve Marines, divided<br />into three divisions stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp<br />Pendleton, California; and Okinawa, Japan. Each division has one or more<br />expeditionary units, ready to launch major operations anywhere in the world<br />on two weeks' notice. Marines expeditionary units are self-sufficient, with<br />their own tanks, artillery, and air forces. The motto of the service is<br />Semper Fidelis, meaning "Always Faithful" in Latin.<br /><br />Sally Rolls Pavia </tt></tt></pre>Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-22908600061964647602008-10-21T16:00:00.002-06:002008-10-21T16:07:06.380-06:00Nothing new to Rave AboutWell, it has been a while since I've posted anything, I just haven't been able to find any good websites worth sharing with you. So, if someone knows of one not already mentioned then please send me a message.<br />Anyway, until I find something worth talking about I thought we could us this down-time to try and help each other out with our research. So, if you have any brick walls or genealogy questions in general please send me a message and I will post it so others who read this blog might be able to help you or give you ideas. Please do not post your email address in you message unless you want it posted for the whole world to see. I figure that I will post the first help blog to get the ball rolling so here goes:<br /><br />I am hoping that someone might have pictures of the headstones in the Spring Hill Cemetery that is located on the Cullers Family property south of Stella, MO. It is a small cemetery with maybe 15 graves. I have found the list of all the people buried there but I have been unable to find anyone who has photographs of the cemetery. Thanks in advance for any help.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-54589837431303431052008-08-07T21:05:00.002-06:002008-08-07T21:33:28.409-06:00Keep in touch with your familyI have a story to tell everyone that might end up being long and rambling but there is a point at the end of this story, or should I say a new website for you to check out, so here goes.<br />The first thing to remember is that I have a very, very large family and when I first started doing genealogy research everyone wanted information from me and thought that I would be a good "messenger" between different branches of the family who hadn't kept in touch but I was. So I spent months looking around for a website that I could set up for family members to keep in touch and keep family information posted for everyone to read. I was looking for something where only family members could access keeping everyone's information secure from all the eyes on the internet. I eventually found a website, I can't even remember the name now, but it was such a pain to set up and then after I got it partially set up I realized that I could only have 5 other people sign on, if I wanted to add someone new I had to kick someone off. Not a good situation if you are trying to promote family communication, can you imagine, "I'm sorry Aunt Gertie but I have to kick you off of our family site so Uncle George can log on". Obviously, I just quit posting on that site.<br />But then yesterday I received an email about a website called Geni.com, I checked out the site and I fell in love. This is the site I was looking for all those years ago. I got so excited that I started entering all of my personal information so I can get my family member added right away.<br />This site is such a nice site, even if you aren't really thinking about sharing with family members right now, start your page and keep it updated so you can eventually start inviting family members when you are ready. The amount of information that you can post here is amazing.<br />There is a very expanded profile that you can fill out only the parts you want to. There is a section for family news, photos and tons of other stuff, you can also upload your family tree. Then you can invite your friends and family members to log on and keep in touch. There is one part that made me laugh on the profile and I added to my own, you can specify if you want you family members to be notified of your birthday, "well, of course", maybe I will generate some cards that way.<br />So, here's what you should do, go to <a href="http://www.geni.com/">www.geni.com</a> and enter your name and email. That will open your account. Once the home page comes up click on Update profile on the left and get to work.<br />Check out this site and let me know what you think, I think that everyone will love it as much as I do.<br />I'm sorry if this post seems a little giddy but I get that way when I have an excellent find.<br />Good luck and happy hunting.<br /><br />P.S. If anyone finds my other family sharing site can you let me know where I left it???Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-35605498403661756342008-08-01T10:56:00.002-06:002008-08-01T11:06:07.601-06:00Jewish Genealogy ResearchFor those of you researching you Jewish roots I have a few websites that might be worth checking out. These sites were actually listed on the "Family Tree Magazine" annual list of the "101 Best Genealogy Sites for 2008", under the category "Best for Jewish Researchers".<br />I haven't checked them out yet, I know of no Jewish ancestors in my tree but check them out and let me know what you think about these sites so I can let everyone know. The websites are:<br />Avotaynu <a href="http://www.avotaynu.com/" target="_blank" __removedlink__846527392__href="http://www.avotaynu.com/">http://www.avotaynu.com</a><br /> a publisher of products for Jewish genealogy<br /><br />JewishGen: The Home of Jewish Genealogy <a href="http://www.jewishgen.org/" target="_blank" __removedlink__846527392__href="http://www.jewishgen.org/">http://www.jewishgen.org</a><br /><br />Schelly Talalay Dardashti's "Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog" <a href="http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" __removedlink__846527392__href="http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/">http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com</a><br />created in August 2006 under theJewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) umbrella and now independent.<br />Good Luck.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-23663348849985180052008-07-18T13:04:00.001-06:002008-07-18T13:16:29.114-06:00Claiborne County, TNI have been using a new site for research and thought I would like to sharewith those of you doing research in Claiborne County, Tennessee.<br />The site is called Claiborne County Pioneer Project (CCPP). They have a wonderful database of Claiborne County Pioneer families. With birthdates, death dates and spouses.<br />The people who run the site are very friendly and helpful. Yoou can send an email and they will get right back to you. Check it out and let me know what you think.<br /><a href="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ccpp/pioneer/index.htm" target="_blank">http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ccpp/pioneer/index.htm</a>Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-47659434579171665092008-07-17T16:36:00.002-06:002008-07-17T16:41:50.322-06:00Sandusky Library ArchivesI received an email tell me about the Archives of the Sandusky Library blog, what an interesting site, definately worth taking a look at and spending some time looking around.<br />I was so excited that I plan one digging out my mom's family tree and doing a little research using the information in this blog. The site is very easy to navigate, which is nice because I hate websites that are complicated. Take a look and let me know what you think. I think you are going to find it a very useful site for your Ohio research.<br />This is the url of the blog <a href="http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Thanks for the information Dorene, it's very much appreciated.Genealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5670939870178919990.post-66314170699568215542008-07-11T09:36:00.003-06:002008-07-11T10:00:44.569-06:00Train Wrecks, Fires, Explosions and Other DisastersI received an email from a genealogy message board and thought some of you might be interested. I gives us an idea of what was going on during our ancestors' lifetimes.<br />It is very interesting reading.<br /><br />Train Wrecks, Fires, Explosions and other disaster <a href="http://www.gendisasters.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gendisasters.com</a><br />Events That Touched Our Ancestors' Lives --<br />Aladdin, MO Train Wreck, Jan 1892<br />Aliceville, AL Cotton Warehouse Fire, May 1908<br />Allings Siding, CT Train Wreck, Sept 1907<br />Andover, OH Restaurant Explosion Kills 21, Aug 1955<br />Aspen, CO Delta S Mine Accident, Sept 1894<br />Augusta, KY Tornado Ravages Town, Apr 1857<br />Barrington Hills, IL Air Balloon Crash Kills Five, Aug 1981<br />Battle Creek, MI Train Wreck, Oct 1893<br />Berne, IN Fatal Train - Buggy Wreck, Jul 1896<br />Birmingham, MO Train Wreck, Sept 1902<br />Blacksburg, SC Depot Fire, Jun 1905<br />Blakely, PA Trolley Accident, Mar 1904<br />Bluff Point, NY Hotel Champlain Fire, May 1910<br />Bridgeport, CT Train - Auto Wreck, Jun 1923<br />Brownwood, TX Drownings, May 1908<br />Brownwood, TX Train Wreck, May 1908<br />Buffalo, KS Stock Train And Work Trains Collide, Apr 1903<br />Camden, NJ Disastrous Factory Fire, July 1940<br />Carbondale, IL Train Wreck, Apr 1909<br />Champaign, IL Devastating Downtown Fire, Mar 1915<br />Chicago, IL Fire In Transient Hotel, Mar 1981<br />Chicago, IL Hydroplane Wreck, Aug 1915<br />Chillicothe, MO Train Accident, May 1909<br />Chunchula, AL Train Wreck, Nov 1901<br />Connellsville, PA Elderly Boarding Home Fire, Apr 1979<br />Conway, MO Train Wreck, Oct 1892<br />Cornwall, ON Rossmore Hotel Fire, Apr 1910<br />Dallas, TX Explosion At Baker Hotel, June 1946<br />Death Valley, CA Earthquake Hits Mojave Area, Jan 1961<br />Des Plaines, IL Train Wreck, May 1899<br />Dongola, IL Train Wreck, Feb 1896<br />Dothan, AL PT19 Plane Crash, Mar 1952<br />Dubuque, IA Devastating Fire At Hotel Canfield, June 1946<br />Duluth, MN Bunnell Building Fire, Jun 1893<br />Duluth, MN St Louis Hotel Fire, Jan 1893<br />Durham, NC Hotel Carolina Fire, May 1907<br />Eagle Grove, IA Explosion In Downtown, Feb 1973<br />Earlville, IL Train Wreck, Sept 1917<br />El Reno, OK train wreck, Jan 1912<br />Elgin, IL Interurban Wreck, Jul 1902<br />Elgin, IL Streetcar Wreck, Aug 1902<br />Elkins, WV Box Co Plant Fire, Nov 1918<br />Excelsior, Lake Minnetonka, MN Fire, Dec 1894<br />Farmington, MO Nursing Home Blaze Kills 26, Apr 1979<br />Ferndale, CA Cannon Explosion, May 1908<br />Floriston, CA Forest Fires Rage In California, July 1924<br />Fonda, NY Hotel Roy Fire, Jan 1909<br />Forestville, CT Train Wreck, Mar 1896<br />Fort Wayne, IN Fell From a Street Car, Aug 1896<br />Fort Wayne, IN Street Car - Buggy Accident, May 1895<br />Fort Wayne, IN Struck by Nickle Plate Engine, Apr 1896<br />Fort Wayne, IN Train - Wagon Accident, Dec 1896<br />Fullerton, ND Depot Fire, Dec 1915<br />Gadsden, AL Buggy Accident, Nov 1901<br />Gasconade, MO Train Wreck, Nov 1855<br />Geneseo, IL Train Wreck, Jun 1899<br />Georgetown, MO Train Wreck, Aug 1902<br />Gloversville, NY Keystone Hotel Fire, Dec 1909<br />Granite, IL Train Wreck, May 1881<br />Groesbeck, TX High School Fire, Feb 1910<br />Halifax, NS Fire Destroys Poor Asylum Building, Nov 1882<br />Hamlet, NC Train Wreck, Jul 1906<br />Hamlet, NC Train Wreck, Jul 1911<br />Harrisons Landing, CT Train Wreck, Oct 1892<br />Hartford, CT Flood, Mar 1936<br />Hartland, WI Tornado in Waukesha 1853<br />Herrin, IL Muddy Coal & Iron Co Mine Explosion, May 1904<br />Hibbard, IN Fell Under the Wheels of the Train, Sept 1896<br />Hinsdale, IL Train Wreck, Jul 1912<br />Homewood, IL Train Wreck, Oct 1891<br />Hopwood, PA Fatal Auto Accident, 1937<br />Horseshoe, NY Hotel Fire, Mar 1910<br />Hot Springs, VA hotel fire, Aug 1910<br />Huntersville, NC Train Wreck, Jul 1917<br />Jefferson City, MO Train Wreck, Dec 1913<br />Johnson's Switch, MO Trolley Wreck, Dec 1911<br />Kalamazoo, MI Fire Destroys Part Of City, Dec 1909<br />Kalamazoo, MI Y. M. C. A. Fire, Jan 1911<br />Kansas City, MO Street Car Wreck, Aug 1902<br />Kewanee, IL Trolley Accident, Sept 1909<br />Keytesville, MO Train Wreck, Sept 1897<br />Kingman, AZ Tank Car Explodes In Town, July 1973<br />Kouts, IN Killed by Train's Mailsack, Sept 1896<br />Kusa, OK Wind Storm, Sept 1915<br />Lake George, NY Fort William Henry Hotel Fire, Jun 1909<br />Lake Placid, NY Hotel Ruisseaumont Fire, Jul 1909<br />Lamont, AB Train And School Bus Accident, Nov 1960<br />Lebanon, IL Train Wreck, Apr 1902<br />Lenzburg, IL Train Wreck, Jul 1899<br />Lincoln, NE heating plant explosion, Jan 1912<br />Litchfield, CT United States Hotel Fire, Apr 1910<br />Litchfield, IL Train Wreck, Feb 1902<br />Livingston, IL Train Wreck, Feb 1929<br />Long Island, NY Auto Wreck, Jul 1908<br />Long Island, NY Schooner Carrie A Lane Runs Ashore, Sept 1911<br />Long Island, NY Shelter Island Manhanset Hotel Fire, Aug 1896<br />Long Island, NY Shelter Island New Prospect House Hotel Fire, Jun 1942<br />Lorenzo, IL Train Wreck, Apr 1889<br />Los Angeles, CA Belmont Hotel Fire, Dec 1887<br />Louisville, NE Small Hotel Burns, Nov 1910<br />Loveland, CO Devastating Canyon Flooding, Aug 1976<br />Lumberton, NC Airplane Crash, Dec 1943<br />Lumberton, NC Train Wreck, Dec 1943<br />Lyndhurst, WI Train Wreck Kills Seven, Sep 1912<br />Madison, IL Train Accident, Feb 1929<br />Madison, IL Train Accident, Jan 1909<br />Mays Landing, NJ Forest Fire, May 1896<br />Melby, MN Train Wreck, Sept 1895<br />Mertens, TX Lightning Destroys Church, May 1908<br />Mexia, TX Cafe & Opera House Fire, May 1908<br />Milbank, SD Fire, Jan 1912<br />Milwaukee, WI Flames Destroy Orphanage, May 1930<br />Minneapolis, MN Brunswick Hotel Fire, Dec 1910<br />Minneapolis, MN carbon monoxide poisoning, Jan 1912<br />Minneapolis, MN Mill Fire, Dec 1881<br />Minneapolis, MN Security Company Warehouse Fire, Jul 1890<br />Mobile, AL Ferry Boat Ocean Wave Explosion, Aug 1871<br />Montreal, QB Tank Plunges Through Herald Building, June 1910<br />Moro, IL Train Accident, Jul 1892<br />Mount Summit, IN Fell Under the Train, Nov 1896<br />Mt. Hood, OR Hikers Fall Into 40 Foot Crevasse, July 1956<br />Muskegon, MI fire May 1891<br />Narragansett, RI Massasoit House Hotel Fire, Jul 1910<br />New Haven, CT Fire Destroys Four-Story Loft, Jan 1957<br />New Haven, CT Jail Fire Claims Six Firemen, Apr 1910<br />New Haven, CT Train Wreck, Sept 1913<br />New Rochelle, NY Lake View Hotel Stable Fire, Nov 1910<br />New York City, NY Deadly Fire On Ward's Island Asylum, Feb 1923<br />New York, NY Park Avenue Hotel Fire, Feb 1902<br />New York, NY Pearl Street Explosion and Fire, Nov 1882<br />New York, NY Truck - Cab Wreck, Sept 1899<br />New York, NY Vesey Street Wine Cellar Explosion and Fire, Sept 1898<br />Newark, OH Stove Company Destroyed By Fire, May 1909<br />Norwalk, CT Train Wreck, May 1853<br />Odessa, MN Train Wreck, Dec 1911<br />Odessa, MO Train Wreck, May 1909<br />Off Quonset Naval Air Station, RI Disaster Hits U.S.S. BENNINGTON, May 1954<br />Ottawa, IL Train Wreck, Aug 1870<br />Palatine, IL Train Wreck & Water Tank Collapse, Apr 1887<br />Pembroke, NC Hunt Hatchery Fire, Dec 1943<br />Philadelphia, PA "Pennsylvania Hall" Burns, May 1838<br />Pittsburgh, PA Excursion Steamer ISLAND QUEEN Explodes, Sep 1947<br />Portland, OR Sleet Storm, Jan 1912Portsmouth, NH Explosion, Nov 1878<br />Pulaski, IL Train Wreck, Jan 1903<br />Quebec, QB St. Charles Orphanage Fire Disaster, Dec 1927<br />Revere, MO Train Wreck, May 1892<br />Rib Mountain, WI tornado, Sept 1984<br />Ricohoc, LA Railroad Collision In Fog, Mar 1925<br />Rockford, IL Fire, Mar 1908<br />Salisbury, NC Train Wreck, Aug 1884<br />Salvia, NV Freight Trains Collide, Nov 1893<br />San Francisco, CA Cliff House Famous Landmark Burns, Sep 1907<br />Sand Bank, OH Train Wreck, May 1908<br />Seneca Falls, NY Seneca House Hotel Fire, Jun 1910<br />South Chicago, IL Theatre Train - Street Car Wreck, Feb 1906<br />St Paul, MN Mackubin's Block Fire, Apr 1868<br />St. John's, NF Terrible Catastrophe At Recreation Hall, Dec 1942<br />St. Louis, MO Glider Crash Kills Ten, Aug 1943<br />St. Louis, MO Missouri Athletic Club Fire, Mar 1914<br />Staples, MN Fire, May 1899<br />Stillman Valley, IL Train Wreck, Jun 1894<br />Stonington, IL Mine Accident, Jan 1908<br />Thompson Station, MN Train Wreck, Oct 1891<br />Tillamook, OR schooner damaged, Jan 1912<br />Tofte, MN Forest Fire, May 1910<br />Toronto, ON Airliner Crashes On Landing, July 1970<br />Town of Quincy, WI tornado Jul 1984<br />Underwood, MN Train Wreck, Feb 1906<br />Union Springs, AL Depot Fire, Nov 1915<br />Valparaiso, IN Train Accident, Apr 1896<br />Vivian, Byron & Wilton, MN Fire, Oct 1871<br />Wann, IL Train Wreck & Oil Tank Explosion "The Wann Disaster", Jan 1893<br />Waseca, MN Clear Lake House Fire, Jan 1868<br />Waseca, MN Depot Fire, Jan 1869<br />Waseca, MN Western House Hotel Fire, Apr 1872<br />Washington, DC Hotel Harris Fire, Feb 1910<br />Waterbury, CT Train Wreck, Mar 1907<br />Waterbury, CT Train Wreck, Oct 1895<br />Waterloo, IN Collision Kills One And Injures Several, Mar 1917<br />Waterloo, SC Fire, Jun 1905<br />Waukegan, IL Sukes Automotive Railway Equipment Co Explosion, Jul 1923<br />Westport - Saugatuck, CT Train Wreck, Oct 1912<br />White Horse, YT Fire Destroys Two Blocks, May 1905<br />Wilpin, MN powder plant explosion, Jan 1912<br />Wilton, MN Fire, Apr 1869<br />Winchester, TX Train Wreck, Dec 1893<br />Winnfield, LA Winn Parish Court House Fire, Jan 1917<br />Winnipeg, MN Theatre Fire Destroyed, Feb 1952<br />Winona, MN Flood, Jun 1899Yuma, AZ Rowboat Overturns, Woman Rescued, Jan 1912<br />Various States, NC, PA, NY, CT, VA, RI, NJ, MA Hurricane DIANE, Aug 1955Various Towns, IA, NE, IL Tornado Damage, May 1899<br /><br />To view any of these articles, visit <a href="http://www.gendisasters.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gendisasters.com</a>and click on "Browse by State" or "Browse by Disaster" in the leftside bar,to navigate to the article - or just type the information into the searchbox, also located near the top of the left sidebarGenealogy Guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16231870277867435654noreply@blogger.com1