Selected Genealogical Abstracts from the California Statutes - 1855

1855 California Statutes

A copy of this publication can be found HERE.

NAME CHANGES

Chapter 1, pg 1
It shall be lawful for the "South Yuba Mining and Sacramento Canal Company" to change its name to "Nevada County and Sacramento Canal Company"

Chapter 4, pg 3
It shall be lawful for the person known as Frances Sophia Bowen to change her name to Frances Sophia Burgess and that of her son Charles French Bowen to Charles French Burgess

Chapter 12, pg 7
It shall be lawful for the person known as Caroline L. Ketcham to change her name to Caroline L. Pixley

Chapter 107, pg 130
It shall be lawful for the person named Joseph Wilson to change his name to Albert Calhoun Joseph

Chapter 117, pg 144
It shall be lawful for the person named Edwin Clark Patt to change his name to Edwin Patt Clark

Chapter 193, pg 245
It shall be lawful for Joseph S. Wallis and Sarah Wallis to change the name of their infant son Talbot Howard Green to Talbot Howard Wallis

PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Chapter 19, pg 14
$50 payment to William Coates and $50 payment to Samuel R. Wood for reporting the evidence in the contested election case between E. R. Galvin and Samuel McCurdy

Chapter 52, pg 60
$144 payment to Louis Bartlett for services rendered as Journal Clerk of the 4th Session of Legislature

Chapter 62, pg 73
$4671.17 payment to Knox and Farquharson

Chapter 63, pg 74
$1100 payment to Addison Martin

Chapter 64, pg 74
$18,420 payment to Abram T. Melvin

Chapter 65, pg 75
$1000 payment to Frank Denver for services rendered in making repairs on the State Capitol

Chapter 69, pg 78
$701 payment to Preston K. Woodside for services as Clerk of the Supreme Court

Chapter 83, pg 107
$54 payment to B. wing for services as Sergeant-at-Arms to State Prison Committee
$36 payment to W. H. Williamson for services as Sergeant-at-Arms to State Marine Hospital Committee

Chapter 84, pg 107
$9979.91 payment to B. B. Redding
$7733.14 payment to George Kerr

Chapter 111, pg 133
$197 payment to H. B. Paine

Chapter 123, pg 149
$360 payment to John F. Hayes

Chapter 135, pg 163
$845.60 payment to Jesse Sawyer for transportation services

Chapter 166, pg 209
$400 payment to Mrs. Sarah Staples, teacher of the Pioneer School in Tuolumne County

Chapter 201, pg 270
$2500 payment to William S. Jewett, Esq. for the purchase of a full length portrait of Major General John Augustus Sutter

Chapter 206, pg 273
$1333.33 payment to Mrs. Annie V. R. Wells, widow of Judge Alexander Wells

MISCELLANEOUS

Chapter 22, pg 15
David N. Darlinton and Isaiah Hanscom are authorized to construct a wharf at the foot of Georgia Street in Vallejo in the County of Solano

Chapter 46, pg 50
An Act to prohibit barbarous and noisy amusements on the Christian Sabbath

Chapter 67, pg 76
An Act to suppress houses of ill-fame

Chapter 209, pg 276
John J. Ellet is authorized to construct a canal at Belmont in the County of San Francisco

Chapter 223, pg 291
Isaac E. Davis and A. P. Jordan are authorized to construct a wharf at the foot of Fremont Street in the Town of Santa Cruz, Monterey County

Selected Genealogical Abstracts from the California Statutes - 1853

1853 California Statutes

A copy of this publication can be found HERE.

NAME CHANGES

Chapter 20, pg 34
It shall be lawful for the person known as Henry Thomas Weatherwax to change his name to Henry Thomas Holmes

Chapter 118, pg 166
It shall be lawful for the person known as Alfred Morgan to change his name to Alfred Grey Morgan

MISCELLANEOUS

Chapter 14, pg 30
William Moody and Morgan Hart are authorized to build a wharf in the County of Solano near the island in the tule in Suisun Valley

Chapter 112, pg 158
The County of Sacramento is directed to pay to Albert Putnam 1/2 of any monies collected on account of the forfeited recognizance or a judgment on the same of Fanny Smith alias Seymour indicted in the County of Sacramento for shooting said Putnam

Chapter 146, pg 201
S. G. Whipple and J. F. Wendell are authorized to build a wharf at Crescent City in the County of Klamath to commence at a point on the southern terminus of B and C streets and continue alongside a reef of rocks in a southerly direction to what is known as Gull Rock

Joint Resolution 21, pg 317
California Senators are instructed to bring before Congress the claim of Felix Argenti, Esq. for property furnished to the United States Indian Commissioners in California

PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Chapter 40, pg 56
$1000 payment to J. D. Monnett, M.D. for services rendered sick emigrants

Chapter 54, pg 79
$590.50 payment to Thomas A. Hilton, M.D. for services rendered during the second El Dorado Expedition

Chapter 57, pg 81
$224.43 payment to James M. Cranston, owner of the schooner "Faccio," for moving property brought from San Francisco to Vallejo

Chapter 58, pg 81
$850.30 payment to E. G. Baker for iron and tinware furnished to the Legislature

Chapter 69, pg 97
$2500 payment to Beverly C. Sanders for expenses incurred by order of the Governor for the suppression of Indian hostilities in the County of San Diego

Chapter 94, pg 144
$2000 payment to Dr. John B. Trask for his report on the geology of the Mineral Districts

Chapter 98, pg 146
For services rendered to the State, payment is made to: Orrin Bailey $120, William Corbett $120, Arsinia Miramontes  $43, Francisco Sanchez  $39, John Cole  $24, Charles Ridout  $6.50, F. W. Sibert  $5.50, William Lampman  $6.50, John S. Lee  $16.50, Thomas Hayes  $73.50, Henry Vandewater  $60, Roman de Zaldo  $20, Thomas Fitzgerald  $40

Chapter 100, pg 148
For services rendered to the State, payment is made to: Reuben Clark  $620, William Craine  $620

Chapter 109, pg 154
For labor performed and materials furnished, payment is made to: S. C. Gray  $48, Neville & Derby  $70, Jno. J. Neff  $50, James S. Taylor  $30, 

Chapter 110, pg 154
To provide duplicate warrants in lieu of certain warrants lost to: Samuel Stephens  $209.23, Aaron D. Blanchard  $109, Martin Hughes  $88, James H. Keith  $125

Chapter 123, pg 178
$8648 payment to Major James Birney for the expenses of the Mariposa, Second El Dorado, Utah, Los Angeles, Clear Lake, Klamath and Trinity and Monterey Expeditions against the Indians

Chapter 145, pg 200
$1150 payment to John Brown, Quartermaster and Commissary to the Second El Dorado Volunteers

Chapter 177, pg 275
$50 payment to John C. Cremony for services rendered the State

Selected Genealogical Abstracts from the California Statutes - 1851

A copy of this publication can be found HERE

1851 California Statutes

NAME CHANGES

Chapter 55, pg 316
It shall be lawful for the person known as Elihu Ely, Jr. to change his name to Hubbard C. M. Ely

Chapter 56, pg 316
It shall be lawful for the person known as Edwin Sexton to change his name to Edwin Shultz Saxton

Chapter 57, pg 317
It shall be lawful for the person known as William Rufus Elliott to change his name to Elliott Aubury

Chapter 58, pg 317
It shall be lawful for the persons known as Jose Benavidas Basques and Maria Josefa Basques to change their names to Jose Benavidas Vioget and Maria Josefa Vioget

Chapter 59, pg 317
It shall be lawful for the person known as Morris A. J. Cullen to change his name to Cullen A. Johnson

Chapter 60, pg 318
It shall be lawful for the person known as John G. Almondinger, Jr. to change his name to John G. Almond

PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Chapter 46, pg 312
$2500 payment to William Smith

Chapter 47, pg 312
$1180 payment to William H. Richardson

MISCELLANEOUS

Chapter 52, pg 315
Henry A. Breed and William E. Dennis are authorized to construct a wharf at Market Street and a wharf at California Street in the City and County of San Francisco

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

1, pg 527
The Honorable Robert Hopkins, District Judge of the Judicial District is granted a 4 month leave of absence for the purpose of moving his family to this State

2, pg 527
The Honorable Charles M. Creanor, Judge of the Fifth Judicial District is granted a 4 month leave of absence

7, pg 529
California Senators in Congress are instructed to obtain an appropriation for the relief of J. J. Petrie, Captain Waldo and Charles N. Hall for money expended by them helping the destitute and suffering overland immigrants while acting under the direction of the Sacramento Relief Company

9, pg 531
California Senators in Congress are instructed to procure the passage of a law appropriating the sum of $980.75 for Nathaniel McMenafee for services and provisions given to the destitute overland immigrants

13, pg 533
The Adjutant General is hereby instructed to enter the name of John T. Smith in Muster Roll of Company A commanded by Captain W. B. Reynolds of the Gila Expedition

15, pg 533
All witnesses summoned to appear before the Select Committees of the House to testify in the cases of impeachment of Judges Levi Parsons of the 4th Judicial District and William R. Turner of the 8th Judicial District will be paid at the rate of $5 per day and 50 cents per mile traveled

16, pg 535
The following payments are to be made for supplies furnished and services rendered during the Gila Expedition under the command of General Joseph C. Morehead:
$600 to Jose Maria Lugo
$300 to Bernardo Yorba
$250 to Henry C. Matsell
$35 to Archibald Henshowould
$50 to Toler Dunn

19, pg 536
Witnesses who have appeared before the Senate Committee in the case of the Honorable A. W. Adams shall be paid $5 per day and 50 cents per miles traveled

22, pg 537
The Honorable Henry A. Tefft, Judge of the 2nd Judicial District is granted a four month leave of absence

24, pg 538
$1176 payment to Miles R. Crenshaw and $150 payment to S. D. Blackburn for services rendered during the Gila Expedition

25, pg 539
$30 payment to Mariana Lopez, $45.30 payment to Manuel Romera, $503 payment to Dr. William Jones, $47 payment to F. G. Baxter for services rendered in Los Angeles County during the Gila Expedition

One on One Research Help at RootsTech 2018 for Free!

Will you be at RootsTech this year?  If so, you have the opportunity to meet with a professional genealogist to help you with a research problem you may be having.

To sign up for a FREE 30 minute session click 

HERE

I am one of the volunteer genealogists that will be helping conference goers.  I am excited to help people discover their family history!

Unique Transcribing and Indexing Projects

Indexing for FamilySearch and Ancestry are very worthwhile projects to volunteer your time.

But if we're honest, it can get boring.

I found some other projects that need volunteers.  Unique and interesting projects. 

The Boston Public Library needs help transcribing their collection of handwritten correspondence between anti-slavery activists in the 19th century.  The Boston Public Library's Anti-Slavery collection—one of the largest and most important collections of abolitionist material in the United States—contains roughly 40,000 pieces of correspondence, broadsides, newspapers, pamphlets, books, and memorabilia from the 1830s through the 1870s.

The Parochial Archive Project 

This paper based archive, which is housed at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome, contains handwritten and typewritten transcriptions of Dutch and Flemish (plus some German) nationals who lived in Rome from the 1550s until roughly the 1700s. They are looking for help transcribing for use in a database.

The Smithsonian Digital Volunteers Transcription Center has over 40 different projects going on.  Just a couple of them:

THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU PAPERS

Using the indexed and browsed records provided by FamilySearch, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has begun a collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Transcription Center. The SI Transcription Center is a platform for digital volunteers to transcribe and review transcriptions of Smithsonian collections. With almost 2 million individual records in the collection, the Freedmen’s Bureau Transcription Project will be the largest crowdsourcing project ever sponsored by the Smithsonian. To supplement the indexing work done by FamilySearch volunteers, the Freedmen’s Bureau Transcription Project will transcribe word-for-word every document in the collection. When completed, the papers will be keyword searchable. This joint effort will help increase access to the Freedmen’s Bureau collection and help the public learn more about the United States in the Reconstruction Era.

ROUZEE FAMILY PAPERS: RECORD OF TAXES ON PROPERTY, INCLUDING ENSLAVED PERSONS, OWNED BY JOHN ROUZEE, OCTOBER 17, 1812

This collection of financial papers relate to the plantation operations of several generations of the Rouzee Family in Essex County, Virginia. The papers date from the 1790s through 1860.

Crowd Sourced Indexing

Just a few of the many ongoing projects:

1869 Hungarian Census from the shtetl of Horlyo.

Bukovina Telephone Directory for the year 1909.

New York City Marriage Indexes

Birth index from the town Herta, once Romania and currently Ukraine. These list covers the years 1928-1929.

The Newberry Library - Transcribing Modern Manuscripts

Uncover everyday life during the 19th and early 20th centuries by transcribing letters and diaries.   Transcribe letters, diaries, journals, and other material from the Newberry’s Modern Manuscripts Collections, a repository of American manuscripts from the mid-18th through the 20th centuries. The materials comprise a range of items, including letters exchanged by three generations of an immigrant family, the Everetts, and the Civil War diaries of Private Ferdinand Kilbourne, of Covington, Pennsylvania.

The Archives of Michigan - Naturalization Index Project

Is pleased to announce the launch of a digitization and indexing project to make naturalization records from nearly 70 Michigan counties freely available online. In a partnership with FamilySearch, and with the support of the Michigan Genealogical Council, the Archives of Michigan is asking you to help transcribe key genealogical information from the records. Once completed, the collection – including both the images and index – will be freely available only at Seeking Michigan.

Operation War Diary

The National Archives in England has digitised the war diaries of the units under the command of the British and Indian cavalry and infantry divisions on the Western Front. The war diaries are made up of a variety of different types of pages, including cover pages, title pages, orders, signals, maps, narrative reports and the main diary pages themselves.  They need help transcribing these diaries.

Citizen Archivists at NARA
With the help of our virtual volunteers, we are increasing online access to the historical records of the National Archives. Join us! You can help crowdsource metadata and information about our records through tagging, transcribing and adding comments in the National Archives Catalog. 

The New York Public Library needs help transcribing 19th and early 20th century real estate records from the Emigrant Savings Bank.  Emigrant Bank was founded in 1850 by members of the Irish Emigrant society to serve the needs of the Irish immigrant community in New York. In its early history, the bank grew to become the seventh largest bank in the nation, and it made major investments in the growth of New York City by underwriting loans for such important initiatives as the construction of St. Patrickís Cathedral and a public works project that ultimately became Central Park.

The Digital Maine Transcription Project
Help transcribe records and documents from the Maine State Archives and the Maine State Library.

By participating in Old Weather: Whaling, you’ll be helping to advance research in multiple fields. Data about sea ice and other weather events are useful to climate scientists, while historians value knowing the course of a voyage and the events that transpired on board. You might even discover something that takes everyone by surprise. We hope you’ll join us on this exciting dive into maritime history!

Help scientists recover the Arctic and worldwide weather observations made by United States ships since the mid-19th century by transcribing ships' logs. These transcriptions will contribute to climate model projections and will improve our knowledge of past environmental conditions. Historians will use your work to track past ship movements and tell the stories of the people on board.

Washington State Archives invites you to become "honorary archivists" through the transcription and indexing of historically important records in Washington State.

Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
This group is still looking for volunteers to transcribe ship passenger lists.


So what are you waiting for?  

Now That It's Over - My Thoughts On Being President of a Genealogical Society

Last night was my genealogy society's annual dinner.  Traditionally it's the night we give awards and recognize members for their service.  It's also the night when the new officers are installed.

I served as president of the San Joaquin Genealogical Society for four years and have termed out.  I got the position because 4 years ago the president resigned after serving for only a few months.  I was vice president at the time and so that president just dumped the whole enchilada on my lap.  

I went kicking and screaming as I was dragged into the hot seat.  I was not prepared at all for this responsibility.  I thought I would have had 3 or 4 years as vice president, working under the president, getting primed for the leadership position to come.

In a few short months, I learned how to create an agenda, how to run a meeting, how to keep people from killing each other and the hardest task of all - learning to stand up front and center and talk to a crowd of people.  I am incredibly petrified to do public speaking.  Even if I have a script in front of me so I know what to say, I am scared stupid.  But I learned to do it.  

Being president is like being a conductor of an orchestra.  He doesn't actually play any instruments during a performance, but he needs the knowledge of how each instrument should be played and have the ability to step in and play should the need arise.

While it has been "Good to be the Queen" it is time for a new leader to take the reins. The past 4 years have been challenging and interesting and I am satisfied that our society has improved and is flourishing in a number of ways. 

I had two goals I wanted to reach during my term of office:  

• Obtain 501(c)(3) non-profit status for the society.  
• Create a bright and shiny new website, one that would help bring us into the 21st century.  

I can check both items off my list.

We did some new and different things:  

• We partnered with the San Joaquin County Historical Society and created the First Families of San Joaquin County program.
• We presented our first day-long seminar with 4 speakers and over 100 attendees.
• We held a special 1/2 day seminar during the summer - special because our society goes dark for the summer.
• We set up a booth at several community events to help promote the society.
• We reached out further to the community teaching beginning genealogy classes at the junior college.
• We added 2 more libraries to our Saturday genealogy workshops.

Over the last 4 years, our society has grown in both membership and benefits - 23 NEW MEMBERS IN 2017 bringing us to over 100 members now -  and is financially healthy.

I hope that in some small way, I have inspired and encouraged the members of SJGS to grow as genealogists and to take the step and volunteer to keep the society going.

 I can't encourage you all enough to make that step - get involved.  15 minutes or 15 hours -  volunteers are a very special breed.  They step in when they see the need.  They share their skills, talents and time.  Every one of you has something to bring to the table and make a difference.  Every one of you has a voice and you need to use it.  The society exists only because of you, the members. 

You can throw money at any organization, you can throw money into any nonprofit, and feel like "you know what, I did my part, I'm good to go" but if you really want to leave a legacy and if you really want to impact lives, I think it's really important that you get your hands dirty and you get involved in the experience.  

Congratulations and Good Luck to Jacqi Stevens, new president of the San Joaquin Genealogical Society!

RootsTech 2018 - Will I See You There?

CONFERENCES!

I do love me a good genealogy conference.  Next month I will be attending RootsTech for the very first time.  National genealogy conferences usually have around 1000-1500 attendees.  I was told that around 25,000 people attend RootsTech.  The more the merrier I always say.

In the coming weeks I will be writing about how to prepare for a national conference - what to wear, what to bring, and more.

For now, have a gander at the photos below and you can see for yourself why I love me a good genealogy conference.

George and Drew

Randy Seaver and Cheryl Palmer and Peter the Parrot

Donna Pointkouski, Lisa Alzo, Sandra Benward and Me

Elizabeth Swaney-O'Neal and Me

 Ron Arons

Among all the genealogists in the room:  Caroline Marshall Pointer, Tonia Kendrick, Me, Elyse Doerflinger, Diana Ritchie, Elizabeth Swaney-O'Neal, Kathryn Doyle

Name Badge Swag

l-r: Randy Seaver, Janet Hovorka, Lisa Alzo, Amy Urman, Angela Packer McGhie and Me

Selected Genealogical Abstracts from the California Statutes 1873-74

A copy of this publication can be found HERE.

ACTS OF EQUALITY FOR WOMEN

Chapter 257, pg 356
An Act to make women eligible for educational offices

Chapter 667, pg 938
An Act to prevent discrimination against female school teachers - they shall in all cases receive the same compensation as is allowed male teachers

LEAVES OF ABSENCE

Chapter 48, pg 42
A 6 month leave of absence is granted to Henry M. Isaacs, Treasurer of Inyo County

Chapter 51, pg 46
A 4 month leave of absence is granted to J. B. Scott, Sheriff of Alpine County

Chapter 109, pg 129
A 3 month leave of absence is granted to C. Burden, Coroner and Public Administrator of Tuolumne County

Chapter 119, pg 153
A 90 day leave of absence is granted to D. B. Merry, Nevada County Surveyor

Chapter 486, pg 718
A 90 day leave of absence is granted to Whitman H. Hill County Clerk of El Dorado County

PAYMENTS MADE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Chapter 57, pg 57
$1500 payment to W. Rowland, Sheriff of Los Angeles County for services rendered in the capture of Andon Leiva and in the pursuit and dispersion of Tiburcio Vasquez, Cliovara Chavais, Romuelo Gonzales and others known as the Tres Pinos murderers and highwaymen

Chapter 58, pg 57
$3200 payment to J. H. Adams, Sheriff of Santa Clara County for services rendered in the capture of Andon Leiva and in the pursuit and dispersion of Tiburcio Vasquez, Cliovara Chavais, Romuelo Gonzales and others known as the Tres Pinos murderers and highwaymen

Chapter 89, pg 100
$300 payment to George A. Blanchard for services as Clerk of the Board of Stamp Commissioners

Chapter 98, pg 105
$250 per month for a period of 2 years payment to General John A. Sutter

Chapter 101, pg 108
$102.43 payment to Newton Benedict for copying indices for the Legislature for the 19th session

Chapter 118, pg 152
$1400 payment to B. K. Thorn, Sheriff of Calaveras County, for services rendered in the capture of Jose B. Coyado and Andreas Molino and in pursuit of Paul Thibeaux Denny and others known as the Coyado Band

Chapter 200, pg 298
$200 payment to A. A. Bennett for services rendered as architect of the State Armory and Governor's Mansion in Sacramento

Chapter 234, pg 338
$500 payment to be made by the City of Oakland, Alameda County to W. W. Foote for legal services rendered in the matter of the removal of the county seat from San Leandro to the City of Oakland

Chapter 281, pg 389
$1392 payment to Andrew Wasson, Sheriff of Monterey County for attempting to arrest Tiburcio Vasquez and his band of bandits after the commission of the Tres Pinos murder

Chapter 354, pg 517
$100 per month for 2 years payment to James W. Marshall

Chapter 358, pg 519
$2099.25 payment to John Breuner for materials furnished and labor done repairing the State Capitol
$413.25 payment to C. H. Krebs for materials furnished for repairs to the State Capitol
$2135 payment to J. T. Clark for materials furnished and labor done repairing the State Capitol
$1560.37 payment to T. C. Benteen for materials furnished and labor done repairing the State Capitol

Chapter 359, pg 520
$4000 payment to W. Coggswell for the purchase of portraits of ex-Governors P. H. Burnett, M. S. Latham, John G. Downey, F. F. Low, L. Stanford and H. H. Haight and upon completion shall deliver to the State Library

Chapter 361, pg 521
$1500 payment to Alexander Deering for legal services rendered as attorney in suits concerning the possession and control of Yosemite Valley

Chapter 398, pg 570
$200 payment to N. Fitzgerald for teaching school in the Lake City School District of Modoc County

Chapter 458, pg 690
$499.91 payment to J. N. Bailey for sidewalks on 12th Street from Fallon Street to the bridge over San Antonio Creek in the City of Oakland, Alameda County

Chapter 560, pg 793
$200 payment to Joseph Legget for services rendered as an examining teacher in the City and County of San Francisco

MISCELLANEOUS

Chapter 23, pg 22
An Act authorizing the Governor of the State of California to pay expenses and offer a reward for $15,000 for the arrest and delivery to the proper authorities the body or bodies of T. Vasquez and his associates who are charged with the murder of Davidson, Redford and others at Tres Pinos in Monterey County and various robberies in Fresno County

Chapter 52, pg 46
A duplicate soldier's bounty warrant, #6844, in the amount of $40 is issued to Morris Wolf

Chapter 166, pg 229
Isaac E. Davis and Henry Cowell are authorized to lay down water pipes in the Town of Santa Cruz for the purpose of furnishing fresh water to the inhabitants

Chapter 327, pg 474
An Act authorizing relatives or friends of all deceased persons now buried on the lands of Juan B. Castro of Monterey County to remove them

Chapter 475, pg 707
The County of Napa shall pay M. B. Pond, MD a sum as they find reasonably worth for the medical attendance upon and medicines furnished to one J. W. Dodson during his affliction with smallpox 


Chapter 513, pg 749
An Act ordering any indictment against Henry Meiggs, formerly a resident of California and now of South America, for offenses committed prior to 1 January 1855

Getting To Know You

We all know that genealogists sometimes have "other" lives.  We all do some networking (schmoozing) when we get together at seminars and conferences.  But have you taken the time to really get to know fellow genealogists?  Some of their "other" interests may surprise you.

For instance, I recently learned that one of my genealogical idols - Dr. William M. Litchman - is an accomplished square dancer and a professional square dance caller.  He even does seminars and lectures on the subject.

If you have ever participated in the NGSQ Study Group online, then you will, of course, recognize Dr. Litchman's name.  This study is based on the model set forth by Dr. William M. Litchman where each participant reads the selected article from the NGSQ several times making notes about the research techniques, evidence, and logic used in solving the genealogy problem. Members meet online for 60 to 90 minutes to discuss the methodology used in the article and take turns moderating the discussions.

I have never had the honor of meeting Dr. Litchman in person or through social media, however, knowing that there's such a fun side to the analytical side of Dr. Litchman makes me admire him even more.

Genealogical research is a passion for me but I do have other interests.  

I adore ballroom dancing.  

There is always a jigsaw puzzle in progress on my dining room table.  

I love reading fiction about vampires and witches and anything Stephen King, but will NOT watch a scary movie. And speaking of movies and TV shows, I'm a great fan of SciFi, fantasy, and musicals.  I am hoping to go see "The Greatest Showman" in the theater soon.

So what about you?  Other than genealogy, what interests do you have?  In the coming new year, make it a point to get to know each other better.

A Juicy Nugget From The California Statutes

I have been abstracting the California State Statutes, gleaning names and events of genealogical interest and posting them here on my blog.  Every so often I come across an entry that just begs for my attention.  This time a little nugget in the 1865-66 statutes.  There is an act authorizing a payment to S. F. Doane for his services as a witness in the Horace Smith case.  Who was S. F. Doane and why was he being paid for being a witness?  What was the Horace Smith case?

On January 1, 1861, at 10:30 am, Horace Smith stabbed and killed a man named Samuel T. Newell in San Francisco.  Both men lived in Auburn, Placer County.  Apparently, Samuel Newell had said some very improper things about Smith's wife.  The story is that Newell had met a rich young lady and a marriage announcement was impending.  That is until Smith's wife told the young lady that Newell was married and already had a wife.  The young lady then broke off all contact with Newell.  This infuriated Newell and he bad mouthed Smith's wife.  Not only bad mouthed her but was telling everyone that he was the father of her child and not Horace Smith.  Newell then went to San Francisco and Smith was right behind him.  Smith found Newell on Sacramento Street went right up to him and slugged him a good one.  Newell stumbled into an open clothing store, Smith followed and stabbed Newell in the neck and then in the back.  Smith then wiped the bloody knife on his coat, replaced it in its sheath and then grabbed the arm of a man standing there and walked away.

The man he grabbed was his brother-in-law Judge J. H. Hardy and together they walked to the police station where Smith turned himself in.  Judge Hardy was the presiding judge when Chief Justice David S. Terry was acquitted of the murder David Broderick, which is another story altogether.  Smith's lawyer immediately petitioned the court for a change of venue.  The judge in San Francisco denied the petition.  A group of influential friends of Horace Smith petitioned the California State Legislature and an Act was proposed which the Governor vetoed but was passed (56-16) to allow the change of venue.  The judge again refused stating it was unconstitutional.  So it was taken to the Supreme Court which ruled that the change of venue was not unconstitutional and so the trial was moved to Auburn in Placer County.

Horace Smith was acquitted.  Judge J. H. Hardy was indicted by the Grand Jury of San Francisco County for being accessory before the fact to the murder of Samuel Newell, got a change of venue to Alameda County and was acquitted because none of the witnesses examined were able to place him at the scene of the murder.

But the story doesn't end there.

On October 28, 1863, a man named W. H. Johnson shot Horace Smith in Virginia City, Nevada Territory.  Smith had been Johnson's attorney and wanted payment from Johnson.  An argument ensued and Johnson shot Smith.  In March 1864, Johnson was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years in prison. 

Just 2 months later, a petition signed by 222 people was presented to Governor Nye of the Nevada Territory asking him to pardon Johnson which he did 3 months later in August 1864.

Both Samuel T. Newell and Horace Smith were buried at Lone Mountain Cemetery in San Francisco.  The cemetery was opened in 1854, renamed Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1867 and in 1940 the entire cemetery was moved to Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma.

Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records Digital Collections
Daily Alta California, 15 July 1861
Sacramento Daily Union, October 29, 1863
Daily Alta California December 25, 1863