Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 59

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276

USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946] > Part 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Under the heading "The Local Gen- ealogist" an article was printed in the June, 1946 issue of (N. Y. State) "Town Clerk's Topics" (and reprint- ed August 2 in the St. Johnsville Enterprise and News) telling how

Saratoga County local historians were collecting and tabulating family data in their county and that over 80,000 names were in the county in- dex.

in their own countles. The following hints, based on our experience, may help to answer these requests.

Before considering the sources of material and the methods of collect-

The two women together with their children hid under the roots of an ing, let us look at the way in which upturned tree while the Indians pass- we finally record the data, to make it more readily available. ed over the creek on a log bridge nearby. They were unseen by the In- dians and Grandmother Walrod often commented on the silence of the dog during the time of their hiding.

After the Indians had gone It was necessary for the two women to ford the river and carry their children to safety at the Fort, where other wo- men were stationed during their hus- with that surname

Record Sheets Each surname which appears in the records has a sheet (or sheets tere are more than 20 individuals of that surname.) Referring to Exhibit "A" as you can see that the sur- name is put on the top line, right hand side, and that the individuals are listed by band's absence. There was one old given name opposite the numbers 1 man and a boy of about twelve years to 20. (on following sheets of the same surname the nimbers start 21 41, 61, etc.) The names of the indi- viduals are not necessarily in any order but are entered as received on lists or as they appear in books, records, etc. . of age at the Fort. The women put on men's coats to make it appear that there were. men at the garrison, loaded what guns there were and placed themselves under the com- mand of the old man. They awaited the approach of the Indians until they got very close to the Fort. When the command to fire was giv- en, the women fired, killing and wounding several. The remainder of the Indians fled leaving their dead and wounded. One Indian who feigned death was killed by the boy. (To be continued)

Each numbered space has 2 lines. The first line of this space is used for vital data, the second line for supplementary information, reference to sources, etc. When this supplemen- tary information, reference to sourc- es, etc. When the supplementary da- ta is more than can be convenient- ly put on one line an arrow at the

end of the line will indicate that: more information will be found on: the back of the sheet. Additional: sheets are sometimes required when : the data is lengthy.

Column Headings +

Given name. We put all informa -... tion down which is available at the " time of first entry and add to this as morenis received Initials ane bet; ter than nothing, but full given names leave no doubt.

Parents. If the parent or parents are known, we put the line number . of the parent in this column after the child's name. If brothers or sis- ters are known, we do the same in the next column.

Born. Birth place and date. Bap- tism date and church on the next line, usually directly under the birth date, when available.

Died. Place and date of death and place of burial with cemetery name or number. (See suggestions on num= bering under cemeteries, below.)

Married. Place and date of mar~ riage, church or clergyman reference helps. If license date only is known,, we say license.

To wife's or husband's name on first line. On second line, year of birth and death, where buried it known. If surname is known, we also enter this name on that. surname sheet, as a cross reference. If there was more than one marriage we use Roman numerals I, II, III to Indicate first, second or third spouse, putting each union under a separate line number. The I, II, III are put in the "to" column directly ahead of the nsme .. In the given name column there should be reference "see num- ber" referring to lines on which oth- er marriages are recorded. When putting in references to parents, one must be careful to give the line. number for the proper union, If this is not known we put In reference to both lines, with a question mark for further checking.

(To be continued) >

TASTE THRILLS FOR SALE

Get a million dollar taste thrill from the ale and beer millions pre- fer-Utica Club Pilsner Lager and XXX Cream Ale. They're dry .- Adv.

Addison'S. House and to her grand- daughter, L. Josephine Shaver: We quote:

"Grandmother and her family lived near Fort Plain, I think about two miles away and near the Mohawk River. There were several other fam- ilies living near them, as it seems to have been a little settlement of itself. This little settlement had always been on quite friendly terms with the Indians and many times they had stopped at Grandmother ' Walrods' door for food and were never refus- ed.

Quite often the women and child- ren of the settlement were left at home alone when the men were busy with the duties of the farm or were under arms fighting for the inde- penderice of the colonies.

One day an Indian, whom Grand- mother had befriended many times, stopped at the house and sat down on the doorstep. He was very silent and Grandmother asked the cause, as she could see that his mind was troubled. At last he spoke, first ex- acting her promise never to reveal what he was about to tell her as hav- ing come from him. This she readily agreed to and he told her that the Indians were already on the warpath and were about to raid the settle- ment and for her to flee while there was yet time. Again imploring se- crecy as to his, part in her escape, as his life would be forfeited if his tribe found out he had revealed their plans, he disappeared into the forest.

Mrs. Wendover, a neighbor, accom- panied by her two children and her dog was calling on Grandmother Walrod when the Indian gave the alarm. The two women soon gathered their children about them and start- ed to seek safety. Two children were missing but they soon found them gathering nuts nearby. As they left home they could see the smoke and flames issuing from the buildings at

Several requests have been receiv- ed for information as to how this work was done and more suggestions the other end of the settlement. The to others contemplating similar work Indians were already at work on their deadly mission, as the whole settlement was burned and the stock driven away.

VALLEY

GENEALOGY

AND HISTORY

St. Johnsville Enterprise and News, St. Johnsville. N. Y.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1946

Questions and Answers A department devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. No charge to regular subscribers. Any reader, whether subscriber or not, is invited to submit answers. Give dates, places and sources.

GOODWIN

I have a great deal of data taken from family Bibies, tomb stones, and from Filson Club Quarterly and Wil- liam and Mary College Quarterly, Historical Magazine. Voi. Oct. 7, like to buy a copy of this W. and M. Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. VI Oct. 1897 No 2 if the price is reasonable.

1897 No. 2 by John Goodwin (Judge J. S.)

Goodwins of St. Mary's Co., Mary- land and Va. Mrs Carl B. Tayior,

I am interested in the ADA MS family who married into the Good- win family, viz.

Thomas Goodwin resided in St. Mary's Co. and about 1786 sailed back to England to look after family interests, took one with him, both lost at sea, had 5 children, 1 lost at sea. 2nd John Goodwin born 1773, 3rd Charles Goodwin married Eliza- beth Dowell, 4th child, Thomas Good- win, married Virginia ? 5th child, born 1784 married Anne Carter. John Goodwin married Elizabeth Adams daughter . Gowan or Govin Adams and?

Married in 1803 at her home in or near Brentsville and Dumphries in Virginia in Frederick county. She was born in 1788. At the time of their marriage her father kept a ho- tel. Who were the parents of Eliza- beth Adams mother and what was her mother's name? Also the ances- try of Govan Adams.

John Goodwin served in the war

of 1812. Elizabeth 'Adams died in 1864 in Lafayette, Mo.

My great aunt Maria A. Goodwin Milier gave much data to the com- piier of our Goodwin family I would

600 Pine street,

Clifton Forge, Va.

SHAFFER

I would like information, partic- R. E. Failing, uiarly vital records of the following: Apartment 9D, 55 West 55th Street, New York 19, N. Y. John Shaffer, son of Adam and Mar- garet, born about 1822, came to America about 1850 and settled in Mishawaka, St. Joseph's county, In- OLD, REYNOLDS-ANSWER diana. Possibly brother of Conrad, and Sophio (Schrader) Shaffer, men- tioned in the columns of your paper, a couple of years ago. He married Margaret Krandie (various spellings of the name) and both were killed in noids in November, 1833, at Cherry a train accident Dec. 13, 1898. Child- Valley, N. Y., married as bis second ren:

1. John born Sept. 29, 1852.

2. Jacob born March 25, 1854 mar- ried Mary Bestile. 3. Peter born March 24, 1856 mar-

ried Elizabeth King. 4. Catherine married Frank My- res.

5. Theodore born March 28, 1860,

married Anna Hawley.

6. Philip born Sept. 30, 1864.

7. Philip born Sept. 28, 1867.

8. Fred born Feb. 29, 1869.

9. Maggie born Sept. 6. 1871 mar- ried Harry Ranff. Consuelo Furman,

P. O. Box 90,

Madison Square Station,

FAILING

Abraham (Abram) Falling, Sr. son . of John J. and Mary, owned a farm and a sawmill at Oppenheim, N. Y. I believe he was born about 1815, died in May, 1888 and is .bur- ied in St. Johnsville, N. Y.

Would like to know exact dates of his birth and death, maiden name of his mother and dates of his mar- riage.

Olds, P.eynolds, Richards query which appeared February, 1946 WC 25 446 reveals that Jacob Reynolds died at Chatham, N. Y. March 10, 1830. His widow Mary (Oids) Rey-

wife John: Richards. They afterwards resided for some years at Athens, Bradford Co., Penna. where he died Sept. 10, 1863. John Richards served in War of 1812 in Capt. Brown's Co., 23rd Regt., United States Infantry.

Mrs. William P. Allen,

20€ Oak street, Winsted, Conn.

Suggestions on Collecting Data

(Continued from last week)

Given Name Data

When there are more than 100 giv- en names on any surname sheet, helps to have an index to given same size as the other sheets. As make this copy the names on the sheets to slips, say 3x5 or similar, with the line numbers, arrange alpha- betically and type on a sheet the same size as the. othe sheets. As names are added later, put them in the given name index in pencil, re- typing when necessary.

Some Information Available Town or County History. If there is a local history published it prob- ably does not have an index of per- sonal names. We found one for ours that had been made some years ago, and from this entered names and da- ta in the county index, with refer- ence to page number in the history. If you can have an index made for your book, you will find it very use- ful .. Your local library will be pleased to get a copy of the index for the use of its patrons.

Gazetteer, French, , N. Y. State 1859 or 1860. Ali. names mentioned in the gazetteer in our county section were entered, including names in the

cards for any surname not in the , cieties furnishing them with informa- correct order. Lists are typed from these cards, by towns and copies are given to the county clerk for his use, to' the county historian and to the town historians. The 1850 census was the first with all names given and has age, occupation and birth place by state or nation. As time aliows we check the final copy with the state census of 1855, which shows in addition (To be continued) ' relationships and the birth place by counties, as well as the, length of tme the person had been in the town.

The 1790 Federal census gives the names of only heads of families. The number in each family is shown. It is arranged by counties or district. Some counties have copies of the 1830 Federal census, which might al- so be used as a source.

Schools. We have found in Sarato- ga and Schenectady counties, in the county clerk's office, copies of re- ports made by trustees of school dis- tricts, back in 1859, giving names of those who sent children to school in each year. In a number of these re- ports the names and ages of the children were given. These and the names of teachers and officers were copied and entered in the county in- dex.

Town Records. Consuit old minutes of town meetings, supervisors' meet-

toin which they can use and in re- turn having access to their lists and libraries.

Libraries. We consult the local ii- brary directors on their facilities and urge them to build up ther local his- tory secton, furnishing them' copies of data which their patrons may de- gire.

GENEALOGICAL WORLD

The American Association for State and Local History issued a pamphlet on "Churcch Records and History" in April which should be of interest to genealogists.

The pamphlet has articles on "The Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churcch- es", "Behold There Shall be a Re- cord Kept Among You" and "Histor- ical and Archival Activities of the Roman Catholic Church in the Unit-, ed States."

The second | article describes the ings and town account books, and iarge genealogical holdings of the tax and assessment . roils. Lists of hurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day

Suggestions on Collecting Data

(Continued from last week)

Given Name Data

When there are more than 100 giv- en names on any surname sheet, helps to have an index to given same size as the other sheets. As make this copy the names on the sheets to slips, say 3x5 or similar, with the line numbers, arrange alpha- betically and type on a sheet the same size as the, othe sheets. As names are added later, put them in the given name index in pencil, re- typing when necessary.

Gazetteer, French, ; N. Y. State 1859 or 1860. All names mentioned in the gazetteer in our county section were entered, including names in the footnotes Reference was made to source and page number.

Directories. ' Child's -Directories were published about 1871 for a large number of the counties of the state. These give names, occupations, acre- age, etc. and are arranged by towns. Consult your city business and street directories as they will be helpful in dating people and identifyng them.

Church Histories, Family Bibles, Genealogies of local families are oth- er printed sources which have a large number of names of people, of the community and are very good sources of data for the County In- dex.

Cemeteries, Saratoga county fortunate in having available a re- cord of most of the inscriptions In cemeteries as of 1874-1878. This is in a valuable manuscript by Cornel- ius E. Durkee in the State Library ir: Albany. It is being copled and the names arranged alphabetically by towns and then put in the County Index. In doing this, each cemetery is given a code number which short. ens the reference hotes. (For instance "Cem Sawil 5" means Saratoga Co Town of Wilton, fifth cemetery on the list.) .

Where possible and when time ?!- lows, inscriptions later than 187/ 1878 are being copied so that 'at scri- time all inscriptions will be in .to: records. Copies of the lists on in- scriptions are filed with the county hstorian and the Interested town his- torian

Census. We have copied and ar- ranged alphabetically by surname the 1850 Federal census in the new coun- ty clerk's office. In copying we keep the family groups together by put- ting them on 3x5 or 4x6 cards, ar- ranging the cards alphabetically and making additional cross reference

correct order. Lists are typed from these cards, by towns and copies are given to the county clerk for his use, to the county historian and to the town historians. The 1850 census was the first with all names given and has age, occupation and birth place by state or nation. As time allows we' check the final copy with the state' census of 1855, which shows in addition relationships and the birth place by counties, as well as the. length of tme the person had been in the town.

Town Records. Consult old minutes of town meetings, supervisors' meet- ings and town account books, and tax and assessment .rolls. Lists of voters 'and enrolled party members will help.

Draft Records. Some countles have books which give, by towns, the en- rollment for military duty in 1862 and 1864. Names and ages are given, but the ages apparently did not have to be sworn to, as a great number do not check with other family re- cords. If you think it necessary, put a question mark by birth dates de- rived from draft ages. -

Newspapers. Files of old newspa- pers of the community yield more da- ta of persons and families. If all births, deaths, and marriages are taken off, with dates, places, clergy names, they form valuable helps. Give the newspaper date as a refer- ence.

Church Records. Has the New York Genealogical and Biographical socie- ty copied any of the church records of your community ? If so we sug- gest that you borrow the copy from the church and put the names in the county index. If any records have not been copied, you may be able to in- terest some one in doing this, and the names 'can then -be entered.

Account books of local stores. The general store of most communities had a lot of local names on its books. Some times these "records will estab- lish when these persons were living. Entry of name can be made in the county index and reference made like "Austin store 1840-1861."

. World War II Records. You have probably helped prepare the records of service men and women for your town. or county. The form asked for considerable data of a family nature. See what you can find available in these records for the county Index.

Historical Societies. We work with local historical and genealogical so-

caras for any surname not Li the , cieties furnishing them with informa- toin which they can use' and in re- turn having access to their lists and libraries.

Libraries. We consult the local li- brary directors on their facilities and urge them to build up ther local his- tory secton, furnishing them' copies of data which their patrons may de- sire.

(To be continued) '.

GENEALOGICAL WORLD

The American Association for State and Local History issued a pamphlet on "Churcch Records and History" in April which should be of interest to genealogists.

The pamphlet has articles " on "The Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churcch- es", "Behold There Shall be a Re- cord Kept Among You" and "Histor- ical and Archival Activities of the Roman Catholic Church in the Unit- ed States."

...... The second + article describes the large genealogical holdings of the hurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon). at Salt Lake City, Utah.

Virgil Peterson, associate state ar- chivist, State of Colorado, who wrote the article says "Constituting what is, doubtless the largest single reli- gious archives in America, the Salt Lake City records are housed in two buildings equipped with some of the most up-to-date fillng and storage | facilities obtainable. There are two general divisions of the church, | namely, The Church Historian's Of- fice and Library and the Genealogical Society of Utah which Includes the Index Bureau. . . Thousands of items of original source material are ac- quired by the society each year. . . Genealogical research is encouraged throughout the church. Every ward and mission offers classes of instruc- tion to all who are interested. As a result the society receives thousands of names each year from individual researchers. All supporting informa- tion given In connection with each name is checked by experts for ge- ographical and linguistical omissions and errors, as much of this wor! comes from foreign countries. Infor mation is then checked to determin the possibility of duplication of r+ cords. Many valuable connections ar made in this way with other peopl who are working on the same line

The other two articles tell how th. church organizations keep their re. j cords ,at what places and the exten of their holdings.

The pamphlet or bulletin is sent t. all members of the American Assc ciation for State and Local Histor by Secretary Nell Hines, Box 1887 Raleigh, N. Y. The yearly member ship fee is $2.

Send in your queries.

Oct-10, 1946

LOCAL HISTORY"

WHELAN, BILLINGTON

(Continued from last week)

I have not found the date of deat !. of John Billington's first wife Lu- rania Horton, but it must have oc- curred in 1810 or before and he then marrled Mercy-, probably in Onei- da county, N. Y. The Gazetteer of New York State, publisher 1860 by R. P. Smith, page 470, mote at bto- tom of page, "Verona. Among the early settlers in the south part in

1798 were Billington, Whelan." "Jones Annals of Oneida Co." pub. in 1851, page 672, early settlers of Ve- rona, Onelda Co. "Lieut. Billington and : Peter Whelan." Peter Whelan was one of our Whelans and he went on west to Genesee Co., N. Y., the same as John Billington did and died there and his death is on record there. John Whelan of Brandon, Vt. and children: Peter, Jas, Margaret, Hannah, John, Eli and Silas. All ex- cept James and perhaps Margaret "went west." Peter and Olive Whelan signed as witnesses when John Bil- lington and Mercy his wife of Ve- rona, Oneida county, N. Y. sold land In Verona Feb. 5, 1811, to David Pratt of the same place, land on the "Late Oneida Reservation." The U. S. Census of Onelda Co., N. Y., town of Westmoreland (Verona was later taken off from Westmoreland.) In- cludes Peter Whaling, Eli Whaling, and Rufus Pratt.

. A letter from the Onelda Historical Society of Utlca, dated July 8, 1846 states "The land transfer of John Billington of Town of Rome was of property which he had evidently ac- quired in 1797 and was part of the Oneida Reservation ' which was sold then. The deed made June 7, 1798, but was not recorded until 1822, but the description looks as though was only a part of the land he had be- cause he had originally bought 175 acres of the Oneida Reservation and this sale was for 50 acres; the de- scription says 'beginning at the N. W. corner of land owned by John Billington.'. When the deed was re- corded some one swore to his signa- ture as if he did not live there in 1822."

There was a John Billington in the town of Palatine, Montgomery Co., N. Y. in the census of 1800 with one male under 10, one 16 and under 25 and one 26 and under 45, which could be our John.

In 1810 census of Oneida Co., N. Y., gives J. Billington with one male 26-45 and one female 16-26, which could be the male 16-25 in Palatine in 1800 and also the John Billington who married Amelia, widow of his brother Seth, and gave his age as (62 in the 1850 census of Scipio, La Porte Co., Indiana and died there in 1857. The female 16-25 would be the wife which I think he had before he marrled his brother's widow and who was the mother of the Elam men- tioned in his will.

Also in the 1810 census of Onelda Co., N. Y. Is another J. Bellington with two males under 10, 1 male 16- 25 and one male 45 and up, and one female under 10 and one female 26- 45. The two J. Billingtons are record- ed on the same half page with P. Whalen, E. Whalen and D. Pratt in the original census records, which means that they were living near each other. «

The 1820 census of Clarkson town- shlp Genesee Co. N. Y. gives John Billington with one male 10-16 (the

BY DONALD D. PARKER Brookings, South Dakota "LOCAL HISTORY"-HOW TO GATHER IT, WRITE IT, AND PUBLISH IT

(Continued from last week)

Community Sponsored Cooperation New York has has done as much to encourage local communities to gather and publish their history as any other state. In 1919 the state passed the following law: 1

"A local historian' shall be ap- pointed, as provided in this section, for each city, town or village, ex- cept that. In a city of over one mil- lion Inhabitants a local · historian shall be appointed for each borough therein Instead of for the city at large. ' Such historian shall serve without compensation, unless the governing board of the city, town or village for or In which he or she was appointed, shall otherwise provide. The local authorities of the city, town or village for which said his- torian is appointed, may provide the historian with sufficient space in a safe, vault or other fireproof struc- ture for the preservation of mater- laIs collected."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1945-1946], Part 59

Author: Publication date: 1942 Publisher: [1942-1949] Number of Pages: 276

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 276