09 August 2017

Selected Genealogical Abstracts From The California Statutes - 1859


There is a digital copy of this publication located at Internet Archive.


IMPORTANT ACTS PASSED

chapter 109, pg 102
An Act to provide for the Registration of Marriages, Births, Divorces and Deaths in California

chapter 317, pg 352

An Act to provide for the licensing of Auctioneers and to define their duties and liabilities

NAME CHANGES

chapter 84, pg 65
It shall be lawful for the person known as Walter Scott Tarbox to change his name to Walter Scott

chapter 111, pg 106

It shall be lawful for the persons known as Dr. John Frederick Hillerscheidt of Nevada County and of his wife Hortense, his son Frederick and his daughters Anna, Bertha and Ida to be changed to John Frederick Hiller, Hortense Hiller, Frederick Hiller, Anna Hiller, Bertha Hiller and Ida Hiller

chapter 112, pg 106

It shall be lawful for the person known as John August Stromdohl to change his name to August William Stromdohl

chapter 166, pg 164

It shall be lawful for the person known as Jacob Schlechwey to be changed to Jacob Robinson

chapter 235, pg 240

It shall be lawful for the person known as Frederick Ferdinand Seidenbinder to change his name to Ferdinand Seiden

chapter 260, pg 263

It shall be lawful for the person known as John Henry Kounse to change his name to John Lee Cambridge

chapter 261, pg 263

It shall be lawful for the person known as Julien Neuschwander to change his name to Neuschwander Julien



ESTATES, GUARDIANSHIPS AND PROBATES

chapter 17, pg 14
Eben L. Childs, Frederic H. Larkin and Rachael Larkin, executors and executrix of the last will and testament of Thomas O, Larkin, deceased, late of the City and County of San Francisco are authorized to sell personal property of the testator at a private sale

chapter 18, pg 14

Henry Hare Hartley, trustee for Augusta H. Dean is authorized to sell all real estate conveyed to him as such Trustee by Humphrey Griffith of Yolo County

chapter 54, pg 38

Carmen Castro de Soto, executrix and Bernardino Soto, executor of the last will and testament of Joaquin Soto, deceased, late of Monterey County are authorized to sell real estate of which the said Joaquin Soto died seized in the State of California

chapter 71, pg 65

John McDougal, administrator of the estate of George McDougal, late of the City and County of San Francisco,  is authorized to sell at a private sale all the real property of said George McDougal

chapter 76, pg 58

It shall be lawful for Berthold Hoen, guardian of Juan West, Juliana West, Maria Del Carmel West, Carlos West and Genavieve West, infants and minor heirs of William Mark West, deceased, late of Sonoma County, to sell in whole or any portion of the land known as Rancho San Miguel in said County

chapter 87, pg 70

Mariano Malarin, guardian for the minor heirs of the estate of Juan Malarin, deceased, late of the County of Monterey, to wit:  Josefa, Cristina and Ygnacio Malarin is authorized to sell real estate belonging to said Juan Malarin

chapter 90, pg 72

I shall be lawful for William B. Atterbery, administrator of the estate of Martin E. Cook, deceased, to execute good and sufficient deeds of conveyance to the purchasers of the lands of said estate, sold by F.G. Hahman, late Public Administrator of Sonoma County

chapter 125, pg 121

Nicholas Pacheco, Ines Pacheco and Lorenzo Pacheco, children of Lorenzo Pacheco, deceased, and of Rafaela Soto de Pacheco, his wife, being minors, between the ages of 15 and 21 years are enabled to partition or sell real estate

chapter 126, pg 122

The executor of the estate of Joshua W. Redman, deceased, is authorized to sell the real estate of said deceased in Santa Clara County

chapter 142, pg 137

The legally appointed guardian of Jose Antonio Baca, Juan Baca, Miguel Baca, Dolores Pena and Jose Pena, minor heirs of the estate of the late Manuel Baca of Solano County, deceased, is authorized to sell real estate of said deceased

chapter 170, pg 176

The guardian of Memecio Berreyessa, a minor and the guardians of the minor heirs of Francisco Berreyessa, deceased - of Ignacio Berreyessa, deceased - of Encarnacion Berreyessa, deceased - and of Lorenzo Pineda, deceased - are authorized to sell any land within the State of California EXCEPT land whereupon the mine of New Almaden, in the County of Santa Clara, is situated.

chapter 174, pg 178

H.W. Bragg, guardian of the minor heirs of David Martin and Anne Martin, deceased is authorized to sell real estate of said minors

chapter 279, pg 305

It is hereby lawful for William Evans of the County of Butte, only surviving heir of Charles Evans, deceased to take possession of the property and effects of said Charles Evans without the process of administration



MISC

chapter 78, pg 59
It is hereby lawful for Michael Massett to disinter and remove the remains of all deceased persons, together with all monuments, etc. from the old burial place in the Town of Bidwell's Bar on the court house hill in the County of Butte and inter the same in the new burial place within a quarter of a mile on the south side of said town on the high ridge now occupied for that purpose

chapter 169, pg 175

Solon S. Simonds is authorized to construct a canal in the Town of Alviso in Santa Clara County commencing at the head of Steamboat Slough in a direct line to the Guadalupe River a length of 150 yards and 10 feet wide

chapter 189, pg 189

Charles B. Ryder is authorized to construct a wharf at Trinidad Bay in Klamath County commencing at a point known as Chesapeake Bay and running along Trinidad Head 150 feet in length

chapter 197, pg 209

George H. Ensign is authorized to lay down water pipes in the public streets in the City and County of San Francisco

chapter 227, pg 234

An act to authorize the courts of record of this state to admit Adolphus Daniel Grimwood as an Attorney and Counselor at Law

chapter 307, pg 335

An act to authorize the courts of record of this state to admit E.G. Browne to practice as an attorney and counselor at law



PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

chapter 8, pg 6
$1000 payment to Moses Scott, Jr. for services rendered as Assistant Chief Clerk to the Board of Examiners.

chapter 16, pg 13

$500 payment to Henry L. Davis for services rendered as Assistant Clerk to the Board of Examiners.

chapter 28, pg 19

Payments of $1752. $2580 and $2942 to H. M. Willis for services rendered as Prosecuting Attorney of Police Court of City and County of San Francisco

chapter 56, pg 40

$300 payment to D. R. Dale for services as a witness in the case of The People of the State of California against Thomas W. Browder

chapter 135, pg 150

$375 payment to Sands W. Forman for services as Secretary of the State Board of Forestry 

chapter 143, pg 139

$2000 payment to H. Toler Booraem for volume 8 of the Reports of the Supreme Court of the State of California

chapter 160, pg 158

$23 payment to O.D. Avaline for publishing proclamations of the governor of the state
$20 payment to Woodworth Johnson for work done at the Insane Asylum

chapter 161, pg 158

$1344.31 payment to Adam Schuppert for printing and translating in the German language the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

chapter 164, pg 163

$6000 payment to Michael Fennel for loss sustained on contract for the creation of the north wing of the Insane Asylum

chapter 165, pg 164

$270 payment to Chas. Forman and Alfred H. Estill for writing up the Senate Journals, 9th Session of the Legislature

chapter 167, pg 164

$200 payment to F. E. Corcoran for services rendered as Superintendent and Architect of the west wing of the Insane Asylum
$562 payment to William V. Fisher for milk supplied to the Insane Asylum
$250 payment to William Gravatt for services as Steward at the Insane Asylum
$481.91 payment to Luschinger & Hubbard for furniture, bedding, etc. furnished to the Insane Asylum
$134 payment to D.J. Oullahan for stove wood furnished to the Insane Asylum
$2869.98 payment to William Ward for meat supplied to the Insane Asylum
$170.95 payment to L. C. Van Allen for books and stationery supplied to the Insane Asylum
$268.64 payment to D. Cohen for clothing, vegetables, and supplies furnished to the Insane Asylum
$30 payment to Joseph Ware for services as Messenger to the Insane Asylum
$75 payment to J. W. Boucher for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$75 payment to E. M. Botts for services as Clerk at the Insane Asylum
$60 payment to William Weeks for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$60 payment to James A. Rogers for services as Watchman at the Insane Asylum
$82.50 payment to Mr. Smith for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$368.35 payment to Nash & Beamis for boots and shoes supplied to the Insane Asylum
$495.07 payment to Mills & doll for hardware and tinware furnished to the Insane Asylum
$921.96 payment to Gray & Hickman for supplies furnished to the Insane Asylum
$75 payment to Mr. Welch for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$40 payment to Mrs. Welch for services as Washer at the Insane Asylum
$58 payment to William Weeks for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$601.56 payment to Timothy Paige for lumber supplied to the Insane Asylum
$78 payment to Mary Roberts for services as Housemaid at the Insane Asylum
$75 payment to John Boyd for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$75 payment to S. I. Szaroarah for services as Cook at the Insane Asylum
$60 payment to William Teeter for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$150 payment to Bridget Kelsey for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$175 payment to Jacob Melbourne for services as Cook at the Insane Asylum
$120 payment to James Trainer for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$225 payment to Jacob McNutt for services as Carpenter at the Insane Asylum
$150 payment to Delia Gilloney for services as Cook at the Insane Asylum
$225 payment to William Teresa for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$45 payment to Mary McCarthy for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$50 payment to Joseph Wan for services as Messenger at the Insane Asylum
$240 payment to William Duke for services as Gardener at the Insane Asylum
$250 payment to M. Healey for services as Matron at the Insane Asylum
$30 payment to Henry Wood for services as Waiter at the Insane Asylum
$60 payment to James H. Rogers for services as Watchman at the Insane Asylum
$60 payment to Jesse Atwill for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$51.32 payment to Sanders & Hickman for hardware supplied to the Insane Asylum
$34.14 payment to L. Vihae for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$76.05 payment to F. Depois for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$46.70 payment to H. M. North for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$1051.36 payment to C. R. Bowen for groceries supplied to the Insane Asylum
$133.75 payment to M. L. Bird for plows, harness, saddlery, etc furnished to the Insane Asylum
$42.71 payment to Simpson & Gray for lumber furnished to the Insane Asylum
$50.93 payment to Hall & Higgins for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$163.82 payment to J.B. Houche for groceries supplied to the Insane Asylum
$112.83 payment to R. W. Noble for butter and eggs supplied to the Insane Asylum
$2976.86 payment to John Gross for bread supplied to the Insane Asylum
$100 payment to S.P. Christy for services as Hospital Steward at the Insane Asylum
$435.01 payment to Eldridge & Bros.  for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$32.92 payment to S. Selig & Bro for tobacco supplied to the Insane Asylum
$124.33 payment to Stockwell & Underhill for dry goods furnished to the Insane Asylum
$135 payment to Charles Benjamin and wife for services as Keepers of the Male and Female Wards at the Insane Asylum
$574.30 payment to H. T. Compton for groceries supplied to the Insane Asylum
$125 payment to P.E. Gordon for services as Steward at the Insane Asylum
$23.33 payment to Isabella Hayes for services as Female Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$20 payment to Bartholomew Hayes for services as Assistant Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$296.35 payment to Hale & Wheeler for vegetables supplied to the Insane Asylum
$173 payment to Fox & O'Connor for liquor supplied to the Insane Asylum
$71 payment to Bisayne Bros. for merchandise supplied to the Insane Asylum
$67.10 payment to Rolland & McCahill for dry goods furnished to the Insane Asylum
$257.95 payment to Chas. P. Greenley for hardware furnished to the Insane Asylum
$227.86 payment to E.O. Langley for medicines supplied to the Insane Asylum
$46 payment to Kierski & Bro for paper and stationery supplied to the Insane Asylum
$124.47 payment to W. Hart for blacksmithing to the Insane Asylum
$106.91 payment to W. W. Webster for merchandise supplied to the Insane Asylum
$53.44 payment to Luchsinger & Hubbard for mattresses supplied to the Insane Asylum
$78 payment to Volney Cushing for castings supplied to the Insane Asylum
$40.30 payment to G.V. Fisher for work done at the Insane Asylum
$10 payment to George H. Sanderson for crockery supplied to the Insane Asylum
$10 payment to Charles S. Morris for rubber boots and pants supplied to the Insane Asylum
$45.92 payment to O.C. Gage for paints, oil, etc, supplied to the Insane Asylum
$33.75 payment to A.S. Gage for paint furnished to the Insane Asylum

chapter 206, pg 215

$5388.42 payment to Joseph Nougues for labor done and materials furnished for construction of the State Capitol in the City of Sacramento

chapter 207, pg 216

$270 payment to John S. Lee for services as Journal Clerk to the Senate
$50 payment to John C. Boggs for arresting an escaped convict Thomas Lawrence
$17.50 payment to Martin Clark for services as a Waiter at the Insane Asylum
$22 payment to Henry Lewis for services as an Assistant Cook at the Insane Asylum

chapter 208, pg 216

$97.77 payment to Marks & Brothers for groceries provided at the Insane Asylum
$173.25 payment to Cohn & Co. for blankets furnished at the Insane Asylum
$700 payment to H.M. Fanning for removing main frame building at the Insane Asylum
$23.75 payment to J.J. Ames for publishing proclamation of the Governor in the San Diego Herald
$137.25 payment to J. Sarles for milk furnished at the Insane Asylum

chapter 213, pg 221

$103.58 payment to Richard Savage for services rendered as Journal Clerk of the Assembly of the 9th Session
$330 payment to J.T. Ewing for services as Assistant Secretary of State
$103.58 payment to Cyril Hawkins for completing Assembly Journals of the 9th Session
$673.52 payment to F.S. McKenzie for services as State Prison Director
$376.52 payment to Alexander Bell for services as State Prison Director
$360 payment to Thos N. Cazneau for services as Secretary of the Senate
$138.11 payment to J. W. Scobey for services as Chief Clerk of the Assembly
$126.60 payment to J.N. Bingay for services as Assistant Clerk of the Assembly
$104 payment to J.S. Gillan for services as Warrant Clerk to Controller
$280 payment to H.H. Whitman for services as Clerk to the Controller
$45.51 payment to Chas. D. Cushing for services rendered to the Legislature of the 9th Session
$8.50 payment to E.G. Moreto for furnishing the Eco del Pacifico to Senators at the 8th Session
$29 payment to Augustus Miller for services as Cook at the Insane Asylum
$198.30 payment to Austin E. Smith for temporary state loan bond no. 645
$27 payment to William H. Crowell for clerk fees in the County of Sonoma in the suit The People of the State vs. W.A. Buster, William Spron and John Headley
$896 payment to R.P. Lee for examination of the books of the Treasurer

chapter 224, pg 337

$300 payment to Allen Kelly for his salary while acting as Executive Officer for the State Board of Forestry 

chapter 225, pg 338

$25,000 payment is authorized to erect a monument over the grave of ex-Governor William Irwin.

chapter 231, pg 344

$800 payment for the care and maintenance and preservation of trees, tools, and teams belonging to the State at Chico and Santa Monica - N. Southmayd $200, Ira H. Locey $200, Henry Locey $100, Wm. S. Lyon $300

chapter 232, pg 237

$1000 payment to Edward Potter for arresting the murderers of Frank Lane
$400 payment to M.G. King for services as Draughtsman in State Land Office
$400 payment to Wilson Halsey for services as Draughtsman in State Land Office
$500 payment to N.A.H. Ball for services as Clerk to the Select Committee of the Assembly for investigating the books, accounts, etc. in suits of the People vs. The Pacific Express Company and Henry Bates
$50 payment to C.W. Robinson for conveying insane convict to the Insane Asylum
$65 payment to Dr. A.W. Taliaferro for conveying 2 insane convicts to the Insane Asylum
$508.09 payment to C.T. Meader for groceries purchased for the Insane Asylum

chapter 243, pg 535

$1000 payment to Cyrus Lyon for the capture of Anastacio Garcia in 1855

chapter 257, pg 262

$500 payment to F. Castro for arresting a murderer named Pio Leneares

chapter 273, pg 299

$1000 payment to Wm H. Peterson for arresting a murderer by the name of Anastacia Garcia indicted for the murder of Isaac B. Wall and Thomas Williamson in the County of Los Angeles
$504.37 payment to T.R. Eldredge for translating the reports of the State Treasurer and Controller in the French language

chapter 286, pg 308

$146 payment to Thomas K. Monk for services as Clerk to the Select Committee of the Assembly

chapter 316, pg 351

$217.25 payment to Thomas Hoffy for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$205.50 payment to John Senour for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$698.33 payment to T.J. Arnold for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$485 payment to C.P. Edson for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$485 payment to Roger S. Day for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$495 payment to Loren Oviatt for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$291 payment to Wm Milligan for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$210 payment to Thomas Hill for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$69 payment to James Green for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$72 payment to Richard Yarnell for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$357 payment to F.A. Bishop for services on wagon road survey across the Sierra Nevada
$78.34 payment to Albert W. Bee for provisions delivered to Sherman Day for the wagon road surveying party across the Sierra Nevada

chapter 318, pg 355

In the City and County of San Francisco
$720 payment to Samuel R. Gerry for medical services rendered in trying cases of insanity
$1500 payment to Philip Martin for services rendered in cleaning and watching the Hall of Records
$250 payment each to John McQuade and William Fell for services rendered as Copying Clerks in the Recorder's Office
$2151 payment to E.B. Vreeland as assignee of J.H. Kent for services rendered by Kent as Coroner
$150 payment to John C. Griswold for services rendered as Clerk in the office of the Superintendent of Streets and Highways

chapter 319, pg 357

$75 payment to Charles Smith for services as Keeper at the Insane Asylum
$30 payment to Henry Lewis for services as Cook  at the Insane Asylum

chapter 320, pg 358

$125 payment to M. Healy services as Matron at the Insane Asylum

chapter 329, pg 373


$5388.42 payment to Joseph Nougues for work done and material furnished for the State Capitol

07 August 2017

Selected Genealogical Abstracts From the California Statutes 1854

This post is the first of a series of selected genealogical abstracts from the California State Statutes.  I read through each year of statutes and gleaned those I found that might be of use to those with ancestors in California.  The following abstracts are from the year 1854.




NAME CHANGES

chapter 21, pg 147
It shall be lawful for the person known as Henry St. Clair to change his name to that of Henry St. Clair Lott. 

chapter 34, pg 152
It shall be lawful for the person bearing the name of Mary Elizabeth McGreece to change her name to Mary Elizabeth Hastings. 

chapter 59, pg 176
It shall be lawful for the person known as William Alexander Smith to change his name to Amor de Cosmos. 

chapter 70, pg 182
It shall be lawful for the person known as Charles Turner Kelly to change his name to Charles Turner Kelly Tracy. 

chapter 76, pg 189
It shall be lawful for the person known as William Myer, residing in the city of San Francisco, to change his name to William Myer Elton. 


PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA


chapter 29, pg 150
$1350 payment to H. Gomez Mauriz for services rendered by him in translating into Spanish the Governor's Annual Message, Comptroller's Report, Governor's Inaugural Address, Treasurer's Report and Surveyor General's Report. 

chapter 35, pg 154
$1641 payment to Cornelius Cole for services rendered as agent of the State for the arrest of Edgar Haight.

chapter 49, pg 170
$5000 payment to Capt. Harry Love for expenses incurred in the capture of the notorious robber Joaquin. 

chapter 51, pg 171
$500 payment to Powell Weaver for animals and provisions furnished to the friendly Indians in San Bernardino County in the year 1851 who were engaged in taking prisoner Antonio Garra and four other Indian chiefs. 

chapter 74, pg 188
$150 payment to James McMahon for removing the picture of Washington from San Francisco to the Senate chamber in Sacramento. 


MISC

chapter 27, pg 149
Authorizing Joseph R. Beals to construct and maintain a toll bridge and toll house across Pajaro River where the only stage road leading from San Francisco via San Jose to Los Angeles crosses aforesaid river. 

chapter 31, pg 151
Authorizing Stephen K. Nurse to build a wharf in the Suisun Valley in the County of Solano: the NE quarter of section 6 twp 4 north range 1 east of Monte Diablo and it shall consist of a strip of land 200 feet wide. 

chapter 36, pg 154
Authorizing John Carothers to build and construct a turnpike or gravel road from the City of Stockton to the towns of Sonora and Columbia in Tuolumne County by way of Central Ferry on the Stanislaus River.  Commencing at the eastern extremity of Main Street in Stockton.  There shall be but one toll gate erected on the line of said road at any point between the City of Stockton and the Stanislaus River. 

chapter 37, pg 155
B.C. Whitman of Solano County is hereby appointed a Commissioner to ascertain the amount of indebtedness of the County of Alameda to the County of Contra Costa.

chapter 44, pg 164   
James Golden is authorized to collect tolls upon a certain road leading from Goodyear's Bar to Downieville in Sierra County and crossing a bridge over the Yuba River known as Golden's Bridge.

chapter 52, pg 172
Pardon of Timothy Donovan.  At the last term of the Court of Sessions, Timothy Donovan was convicted of the crime of perjury in El Dorado County and facts have since come to the knowledge of the court and jury and citizens that show conclusively the innocence of said Donovan. 

chapter 62, pg 178
The release of John G. Bircham and his sureties in El Dorado County from liability for the appearance of said Bircham before said court on a charge of manslaughter. 

14 July 2017

The Slave Name Roll Project





About the project - from their website:

During Black History Month in 2015 a Facebook group of Genealogy Bloggers began the Slave Name Roll Project with five contributions. The project objective is to record information about named slaves whenever and where ever they may be found so that African-American genealogists and family historians may break through the wall that is the 1870 census. Documents such as wills and other probate records, bills of sale, court cases and newspaper advertisements for run away slaves are often rich sources of information.

They ask when submitting a contribution you follow these guidelines:

Please include the following information:
  1. Name of the enslaved (usually only a given name)
  2. Name of the slave owner
  3. Source of the information (will, estate inventory, court case, deed, etc.)
  4. Date and location of the source information

Currently, they have over 500 submissions from 25 states including Washington, DC and from four countries:  Bahama Islands, Great Britain, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

I came across a probate record from Shelby County, Tennessee that named 47 slaves.  Not only did it name them, it also gave their ages and grouped them as families in the probate inventory.  I sent it to their website and hopefully it will be published soon.

I also have created a new page here on my site that is full of links to research your African American family history.  All of the links will take you to records or educate you on how to find the records.

Look for the tab at the top of this page "African American Research."

Have a great weekend!








13 July 2017

Treat Yourself To Fun For Under $20



While browsing at the Library of Congress and the NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) websites, my eye caught sight of their "STORE" tab.  

So I took a few minutes to see what I could see.  Well ok, I took more than a few minutes but it was for research for this blog post.

While each website has a multitude of really neat things to buy, there were a few I thought were fun and in some weird way maybe could help with the work I do every day.





Looks like a block of wood.  It could be helpful when you have writer's block.   Just looking at it would make me think "OK, you have really resorted to this?  Get writing!"


What a cute old library card catalog box.  Useful to me because believe it or not I use index cards ALL THE TIME.  In fact I need to write a blog post on how and why I use them. See - this gift to myself is already working and I haven't even bought it yet!



Just because.  And it is on sale.





Do you lend out books from your genealogical collection?  This personal library kit can help you keep track of where your books are and annoy the person who borrowed the book all at the same time.











Coloring books and such for adults is all the rage now, why not a poster size map of the United States?






11 July 2017

Genealogical Vocabulary Words and Phrases


This past month, client projects and researching my own family history had me looking up words and phrases I wasn't familiar with.  I thought I'd share a few of the more interesting ones with you.


Dilling - a baby born to older parents.

Recital - a general term used most frequently in deeds to describe the reason that a contract is being drawn.  It may indicate a relationship between the parties involved or a relationship with a previous owner.

Willow Bench - a share of a husband's estate enjoyed by his widow, besides that which was held jointly.

Purchased Court - a session not on a regular court schedule.  The costs of this session were paid for by either the plaintiff or defendant rather than the government.

Writ of Inquiry - an order to the sheriff which directs him to determine, with the help of a jury, damages which cannot have a dollar and cents value placed on them.

Eaton Code - in 1657,  this practical interpretation of biblical law was published in London.  Each household in New Haven, Connecticut was required to own a copy.

Writ of Venditioni Exponas -  an order to a sheriff to sell goods of a person who owes the court money.

Cohabitation Record - usually found in a county office which states the legal married status of emancipated slaves.  These records were made at the end of the Civil War.

Window Peeper -  the district tax assessor.

Nugging House - brothel.

Witness Corner or Witness Tree  -  a surveyor's mark.  A tree or rock on which is carved a reference plus the initials "w.c." to the corner of a tract of land.

Court of Errors - this was the highest court in the state of New York from 1784-1846, when it was abolished.  Its records are held by the New York State Archives.

Timber Right - to own the trees, but not the land upon which they grow.

Sufferer's Land -  land in Erie County and Hudson County, Ohio given to citizens of several Connecticut coastal towns whose property was burned by the enemy, with the assistance of Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War.  

Woods Colt  -  a child born out of wedlock.

Cordon Bleus - children of a relationship between a black woman and a Frenchman.  These children were usually wealthy enough to have been educated in France, but were not accepted by either black or white society.

In Terrorem Clause - the statement in a will which says that a person may or may not do a certain thing or he will be disinherited.

Every day I learn something new.  Have you come across words or phrases in your genealogical research that had you scrambling for a dictionary?

10 July 2017

California Statutes - A Lesson Learned From Judy Russell


Judy Russell, "The Legal Genealogist", tells us over and over again about state statutes and the gold mine of genealogical information they may hold.  You can read about a few of her finds HERE, HERE and HERE.

Well,  I was hooked immediately and started a new project - abstracting genealogical information from the California Statute Books.

In the 1883 Statutes of California, I found only one item of interest:

Chapter 68, page 294

$25,000 payment to James Saultry, ex-Guard at the State Prison at San Quentin for personal injuries namely the loss of both arms while in the discharge of his duties under the orders of his superior officer.

I had to know more about this man and his horrible accident.  What happened?  Was there a prison riot and he was maimed?

Checking the newspapers I found that in 1883, James Saultry had fired a cannon for the 4th of July festivities at San Quentin Prison, the cannon backfired and he had both of his arms blown off!

Another newspaper article I came across was his obituary from the Saulsalito News, 17 August 1888:

DEATH OF JAMES SAULTRY
Town Trustee James Saultry died at his residence last Monday.  For many years Mr. Saultry has been identified with the interests of this Coast, being an active and energetic man.  In 1883, while employed at San Quentin, he had the misfortune to have both his arms blown off while firing a national salute on July 4th.  In March of the same year, the Legislature passed a relief bill, granting him a pension for the remainder of his lifetime.  Some $25,000 was invested in 6 per cent bonds and he has since drawn the interest on that investment.  He leaves a widow and three children, the eldest being 8 years and the youngest 14 months.  Mr. Saultry was highly respected by all who knew him.  Flags throughout San Rafael were lowered as a mark of respect to his memory.

Again from the Sausalito News, 29 March 1889:

The widow of the late James Saultry has been allowed the interest on $20,000 during  her lifetime.

Not able to let the story go quite yet, I searched California probate records and census records and learned the names of his wife and children.  

Wife:  Margaret Hayes born 1840 in Ireland
Step-daughter: Catherine Maria Tietgen born 1877 in California
daughter: Mary Josephine Saultry born 1881 in California
son:  James Henry George Saultry born 1883 in California
son:  John Joseph Saultry born 1887 in California
son:  Atwell Robert Saultry born 1889 in California

I was able to reconstruct and entire family from just one man's name in an obscure old book that recorded California statutes.  I absolutely love genealogical research.  Thank you Judy!


11 May 2017

NGS Conference - Happy, Happy, Happy!

I am so happy I made the decision to attend the National Genealogical Society Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Not only are the classes wonderful but seeing old friends and meeting new ones has been just the kick I needed to get my genealogy mojo back.


Left to right:  Leslie Carney, Cheryl Hudson Passey, Amy Johnson Crow, Amy Urman and me.  Thanks to J. Paul Hawthorne for taking the photo!


Jay and I share Wilson and Faulconer ancestors from Bourbon County, Kentucky.  We are on a mission to get them straightened out!


I met some new friends:  Ari Wilkins, Claudia Breland, Luana Darby, Shelley Bishop.

Ari is a library associate at the Dallas Public Library which is where Lloyd Bockstruck worked for many, many years.  I adore that man!

I hope to see more old friends tonight at the ProGen Meetup and the APG Meetup:  Annette Burke Lyttle, Angela McGhie, Barry Kline, Roger Moffat, Michael Hait.

Speaking of Progen, I was told today that they have formed the class of ProGen 33!  I am so proud to be an alumni of the very first ProGen class back in 2008.  If you have not completed this course, run as fast as you can to their website and sign yourself up.  It is an 18 month long commitment, but you will be glad you did it!


01 May 2017

North Carolina Here I Come!




Next week at this time I will be in Raleigh, North Carolina to attend the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference.



It's been some time since I attended a national conference and I am so excited to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones.

What I am really looking forward to is boosting my genealogy mojo.  Doing research for clients is pretty much a solitary venture.  By the time I realize what a vacuum I've been in, my genealogy mojo is in a very sad state indeed.  I am sure that a week of immersion into all thing genealogy will do the trick. 

Most all of my ancestors came from North Carolina.  Surry and Wilkes counties in the north and Lincoln, Gaston and Cleveland counties in the south.  I am hoping to spend some time in the North Carolina State Archives and State Library.

Hope to see you at the conference!

30 January 2017

Proof Summary - GPS Study Group Homework

Genealogy Proof Standard Study Group
Homework Chapter Five - Writing It Up
Sheri Fenley

Reference: Christine Rose, Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case 4th Edition Revised, (San Jose, California: CR Publications) 2014.


For this last assignment, we were asked to write a proof statement, a proof summary or a proof argument.  I chose to write a proof summary.

Who were the parents of Nancy A. McGee who was born 6 January 1846, married Remalih A. Brisendine 27 September 1863 in Putnam County, Missouri and died 18 January 1911 in Webster County, Missouri?

R. A. Brisendine, Nancy's husband, was the informant on her death certificate.  He named her father as Andrew J. McGee but did not know where he was born nor did he know the name of her mother.



Nancy's death certificate stated that she was born 6 January 1846 so the 1850 census would be the first one she should appear in.  She was found living in the household of her parents, Jackson and Phebe McGee, and siblings William (18), Thomas (17), Reuben (14), John (9), Jackson (7), George (5), and Sarah (2).  All of the children were listed as being born in Indiana.



In 1860 Nancy (14) is living in the household of her older brother William McGee (27) and siblings George McGee (16) and Sarah McGee (12).  Nancy and her siblings are all born in Indiana.



A marriage record was found for Jackson McGee and Phebe Carmichael who were married 10 May 1832 in Monroe County, Indiana.



A probate record was found for Sterling Carmichael in Monroe County, Indiana, which names as one of his heirs "Phebe McGee, late Phebe Carmichael who intermarried with And McGee."



Death certificates were found for Jackson McGee, Jr., John McGee and William McGee (siblings of Nancy).  All name their parents as Jackson McGee and Phebe Carmichael.



The parents of Nancy A. McGee Brisendine were Andrew Jackson McGee and Phebe Carmichael.

SOURCES
Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate no. 5046, Nancy A. Brisendine (1911); Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jefferson City.
1850 U.S. census, Effingham County, Illinois, pg 11 (penned), dwelling and family 48, Jackson McGee household.
1860 U.S. census, Chariton Mills, Liberty Township, Putnam County, Missouri, pg 12 (penned), dwelling 88, family 70, Wm McGee household.
Ancestry.com. Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Works Progress Administration, comp. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration.
Ancestry.com. Indiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, Monroe County, Order Boof D-F 1847-1852, pg 422.
Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate no. 22120, Andrew Jackson McGee (1911); Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jefferson City.
Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate no. 29907-a, John R. McGee (1917); Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jefferson City.
Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate no. 15166, William Alexander McGee (1923); Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jefferson City.