Genealogical Gems

(from the Village Record 13 March 1860) In East Fallowfield, on the 24th ult, Mrs. Agnes Still, wife of David Still, aged 41 years and 1 month. That's it - short and simple. However, one can still gleam a great deal of knowledge from this announcement. 1. "In East Fallowfield" -- Obviously, her location. East Fallowfield is a township in Chester County, PA. 2. "on the 24th ult" -- she actually passed on February 24th. 3. "Mrs. Agnes Still, wife of David Still" -- wife not widow so therefore David is still living, presumably in East Fallowfield. 4. "aged 41 years and 1 month" -- she was born January of 1819.

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The Chester County Historical Society has a row of file cabinets just for news clippings. The files are organized by subject (Still, C. -- for example) alphabetically and many contain copy of newspapers no longer in existence. Often valuable finds are discovered here. Sometimes mistakes are too. I discovered one of those mistakes on Wednesday. An article dated 29 December 1900 from the Local is titled "An Old Copy Book." It reads: Catharine Shimer, of Birchrunville, Chester County, has an old German copy book which belonged to her grandmother. It is well preserved and bears the date of 1795. It contains this memorandum: // Catharine Sheldrake, daughter of David and Mary Ann (Laubaugh) Sheldrake, born July 21, 1784, married 10th December 1800 to Charles Still, who was born September 6th, 1779, son of Charles and Margaret (Rhoads) Still. Charles Still, Jr., served his country during the Revolutionary War, the son Charles being born while he was in service. David and Mary...

In my glory at the chester county historical society!

My own ... that sounds kind of morbid I realize but as often as we go visit cemeteries, have you ever stopped to consider what YOU want YOUR tombstone to look like and what info to include? Otche spoke the other Sunday about last wishes (his actual talk was to remind everyone that if we did not include him on the visitation list and the "allowed to speak to" list then the doctors and medical staff might not make him - or any other priest - aware of any grave illnesses). It got me thinking. While my family has all been told what I want, I have not put my wishes in writing. As for my tombstone ... I would like simply my name and stats. I would like my name to include my maiden name so therefore it should read: Jeanne nee Ruczhak Eckman or maybe just hypenate it. I really - even after seeing and visiting as many tombs as I have - have NO clue what kind of stone I would like for myself. My great grandparents have a rather simple stone: The only decoration - for lack of a b...

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NARAtions » Are You Preparing for the 1940 Census? We are! Mark your calendars -- April 2, 2012 the 1940 US Census will be available! According to the National Archives it will be available FREE ONLINE!

Wednesday I am dropping my girls off in Coatesville to head for the UOL/JUOL Annual Convention and then afterwards, my husband and I are headed to either the Chester County Histrocial Society or the Chester County Courthouse or both for some more hands on research. Last time we were at the Courthouse Archives we found the Inquest records for Margaret Still against David Phipps. The charge was fornication which beget a male bastard child. That charge was in April 1827. Her second son David was born in 1823 so that could explain him. However, my great-great-great-grandfather George David Still was born in 1808. Was David Phipps his father as well? I did also confirm that the boys - George and David - were both born in Uwchlan Township. In 1829 Margaret purchased three lots of lands from the Sherriff of Chester County over in East Fallowfield. She later divided the land between the two sons - not evenly - and resided with the younger. My search on Wednesday will hopefu...

Mary Welsh Still was my maternal grandmother.

LONDON , ( PRNewswire/) -- Findmypast.co.uk, the leading family history website, has published the records of over half a million men who served in the British militia, the precursor to the UK's Territorial Army. The Militia Attestation Papers, covering 1806 to 1915, were made available online for the first time to coincide with British Armed Forces Day on 25 June 2011 . The records colourfully portray what the British militia looked like, detailing the height, weight, chest size, complexion, eye colour, hair colour and distinctive marks of each recruit. Arthur Wilson's distinguishing marks included an acrobat and dots tattooed on his left forearm. Similarly, Albert Smith , born in India , was recorded as having teeth that were 'defective but enough for mastication'. Debra Chatfield , marketing manager at findmypast.co.uk, commented: "These records provide rich insight into our past and show how the everyday man, such as your local shopkeeper, found himself ...

Today's tidbit - in 1833 george king got $2 to dig a grave according to the will of Charles Still.

Providence Township was formed out of Martic Township in 1853 however the area had been settled as early as the 1720s. Several sources indicate early settlers were mostly German-Swiss descent. During its hayday, Providence was home to such industries as Martic Furnace and a Woolen Mill as well as many grist mills. It was also home to many saw mills, a natural progression since the land was full of hardwoods. Farming was another popular profession although many farmers - like Henry Eckman who settled here in 1817 - supplemented income with other related businesses. Many farmers quite naturally doubled as butchers and blacksmiths. Providence Township was home to many one room schoolhouses during the 1800s. Many of the old schoolhouses do not have datestones and records were poorly kept over the years. Schools included Fairview, New Providence, Harmony, Pleasant Valley, Mt. Airy, Hickory Grove, Rising Sun and Clearfield. Today elementary students attend Providence Elementary School, ...

I have to begin by thanking Sylvia Hasenkopf and everyone who have provided this information. Sylvia does a great deal with a Greene County Mailing List and it was through that list that I stumbled upon this site which lists the graves in the Deyoe Family Cemetery. Included on this list is John W. and Mary Schermerhorn Deyoe. They are the parents of Daniel G. Deyoe who fathered Morgan G. Deyoe - my husband's maternal grandfather. In small fenced area: John Deyoe, d. June 20, 1880, age 86y8m7d. In small fenced area: Mary Schermerhorn, wife of John Deyoe, d. June 15, 1881, age 87y. While the site did not offer much new information, it did reiterate some information and help to paint a better family picture.

1 Adam Draucher Eckman            b: 05 May 1856 in Lancaster County, PA       d: 04 November 1946 in Hull, IL        +Mary Robbins       b: 11 December 1854 in IL       d: 03 May 1900 ......2        Daniel Robbins Eckman            b: 21 May 1881 in Kinderhook, IL d: 07 January 1957 in Hannibal, Marion, IL ..........       +Lettie Elizabeth Brooks       b: 30 December 1882 in Hazen Pike, IL       d: 11 June 1975 in Hannibal, Marion, IL ...........3        Fay Brooks Eckman            b: 02 July 1907 in Hann...

I realize there is no perfect anything in life but I'd like to fins a near-perfect web host for a small budgeted growing genealogy business. My husband used to actually host websites but got out of the business a few years ago due to health concerns. I was reading an article at python hosting and I realized there are so many more choices out there now then when I was doing web sites before. So I thought I would throw our my question for your opinions! Did you design your own site or is the host part of a package? -- I intend on doing my own design and upkeep. How do you update your site? Is it relatively painless? Does your host require a long term contract? What does your host charge? Are you happy with your host? Who do you use? Thank you in advance to all who respond - either on here specifically or by email ( jeanne.eckman@comcast.net ).

Many farmers supplemented their livelihood with other professions. Henry Eckman did just that. In 1817 Henry was a farmer, a butcher and a plasterer in Smithville. (Source: Hollinger, Paul R. "Now and Then in Providence Township" Lancaster, 1976)

Last wish of John Thompson of Schuylkill County - a CW vet - to die in his CW uniform sitting on his front porch. (Lanc News 6 July 1917)

Thanks to Ancestry.com I found my husband's great grandfather's brother in the Civil War! According to: New York State Archives, Albany, New York;  Town Clerks´ Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865 ; Collection Number: (N-Ar)13774 ; Box Number: 64 ; Roll Number: 35 ... James Deyoe was the son of John Deyoe and Mary Schermerhorn (putting him brother to our Daniel). James was born on 8 July 1822 in Lexington, Greene County. He enlisted on 8 August 1862 in Shandaken, Ulster, NY. He was a Provate in the 120th Infantry with Company B. I also confirmed he was married at the time. I found several other Deyoes - most from Saratoga - but no mention of a Daniel yet.