Genealogical Gems

Everyone sets New Year Resolutions or Goals. I personally prefer goals. I set health goals (like I would like to loose 40 pounds this year), and I have financial goals (pay off cards, improve credit score, build savings, improve business revenue). I also set Genealogical Goals each year. My genealogical goals are really five areas I want to focus on. This year, they are: Matys line. ... nothing specific I just felt called to focus on that line this year. Walsh/Welsh descendants ... where are my Uncle Leo's kids and Uncle Gerry's kids? What happened to my great grandfather's siblings and their kids? Where is Michael Walsh? ... what happened to him? where is he buried? Anna Keating ... how did she get from Ireland to Ringtown? What happened to her siblings? How did she get from Ringtown to Shenandoah? O'Flaherty line ... How did they get here? When? Where in Ireland did they come from exactly? Who are Dennis' parents? Any siblings? What are your goals -...

My great great grandfather, Michael Walsh, got lost in the coal strike. The United Mine Workers of America demanded higher wages, shorter workdays, and union recognition in eastern Pennsylvania. On 12 May 1902, the coal miners laid down their pickaxes, hammers, chisels, and pans. At this time most homes in America were heated with anthracite, that is hard coal. It lasted through October that year. In the end, the miners' demands were met. It was also the first time in American history that the federal government stepped in as an arbitrator to negotiate. Most important to me personally is that it was due to this strike that I lost my Michael Walsh. Public Domain Image of miners in Hazelton, PA in 1900. Now, to clarify, when I say I lost him to the strike, I do not mean that he died in the mines. I do not mean that there was an argument on the streets and he died. No, I mean I lost track of him at that point. It was reported by Commissioner of Labor Carrol D. Wright, at tha...

Today's Genealogy Photo A Day Challenge is "Siblings". This photo is of two of my grandmother and her siblings and their mother!  My cousin gave me a copy of this, which is believed to be the only photo of all of them together.  From left to right then:  Uncle Joe, my grandmother Mary, Uncle Gerry looking awesome in his uniform, Uncle Reds (given name was Raymond), my great grandmother Catherine O'Flaherty Welsh, Aunt Loretta, and Uncle Leo. The photo was taken at Uncle Leo's wedding in 1937. Tomorrow's prompt is "Cousins". (c) Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2017

Today is one of "those days". It is my parent's anniversary. They were married in 1967. When I was in sixth grade, I made my Confirmation. I was Roman Catholic at the time. My sponsor was my Aunt Neva (my mom's sister-in-law). When I was in eight grade, my dog died. Troubles had been with the family longer than me. She was a great dog. It is also the day my maternal grandmother passed away today. I remember waking up that morning feeling a heaviness in my chest and feeling very sad. I managed to roll over and go back to sleep but then a few hours later, I heard the phone ring. Daddy came in my room (I was home from college) and asked if I was awake. I remember telling him Mums had passed and about what time she had passed. Mary Rose (Welsh) Still d. 20 May 1989 May Her Memory Be Eternal That day is a bit of a blur but some random things stand out. For instance, my grandparents had a party-line. In all the years they lived there, none of us could ever recall...

My search for potential Durkin relatives continues. On 31 January 1871, the Evening Telegraph, based out of Philadelphia , announced the wedding of Ellen Durkin. The announcement – as transcribed: Duffy – Durkin. – At Pottstville, January 28 th , 1871, by the Rev. J. Walsh, Mr. John Duffy, of Ashland , to Miss Ellen Durkin, of Pottsville . The marriage announcement appeared on page five of the Evening Telegraph, a Philadelphia paper. A John and Ellen Duffy appear in the 1880 Census as living in Butler , Schuylkill County . John, a miner, was 35; Ellen was 30. They had five children: Bernard, Thomas, John, Mary and Sarah. The 1900 Census confirms their marriage year as 1871. By then the couple had nine children, all living.   Wedding Wednesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Mary Rose Still is my maternal grandmother. Born 26 July 1911, she is the oldest child of Martin Welsh and Catherine O’Flaherty. She passed away 20 May 1989. Her funeral service was arranged by Albert F Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square , Chester County. She is buried with my grandfather, her husband, at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett. The images on the front of her cards are mostly Marian images, although I do have one of St. Therese the Little Flower. The back, as can be seen here, is a quote of Cardinal Newman. This indicates, as I already knew, that she is Roman Catholic. Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Michael Joseph Welsh is my great great uncle. Specifically he is my maternal grandmother’s uncle. Born 31 March 1893, he was the son of Michael Walsh and Anna Keating of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County . He died 16 December 1968, at 75 years old. His funeral service was held at Worrall & Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square , Chester County. He is buried St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square . Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Joseph M Welsh is my great uncle. Specifically he is my maternal grandmother’s brother. Born 28 August 1912, he was the son of Martin Welsh and Catherine O’Flaherty of Phoenixville. He was died 6 December 1993, just shy of his 81 st birthday. Funeral Card for Joseph M Welsh, my great uncle. His funeral service was held at Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home in Royersford, Montgomery County . The Rev. Dennis H. Warner, Pastor of the Church of the Epiphany, officiated. He was buried at the Fernwood Cemetery in Royersford. Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Some of the greatest discoveries come when you are not even looking for them! I was searching for information on my Uncle Gerry the other day and came across his sister’s (my grandmother) wedding announcement. 23 October 1939 Pottstown Mercury The announcement – as transcribed: Miss Mary Rose Welsh, daughter of Katherine Welsh, 413 Vanderslice Street , Phoenixville, and Lloyd Pierson Still, son of Pierson Still, Steamboat Still, Colo. , were united in marriage in St. Mary’s rectory, Phoenixville, with the Rev. William Geary officiating Saturday morning at 10 o’clock. Attendants were Morgan Clark, Unionville, and Miss Laretta Welsh, sister of the bride. A reception followed in the home of the bride. After returning from a honeymoon trip to Canada , the couple will reside temporarily with the bride’s mother and later at Unionville. The bride is an employe of Schuykill Valley mills, Spring City . Still is employed by Logan Still, Unionville, as a painter and paper ha...

Working on genealogy goals for the New Year. Thinking of concentrating efforts on my immigrants and ancestral homelands. There are a few (on Mom's side) that I am still not certain of yet. Daddy's side was actually easier, probably since I am only third generation American on his side so I only have four direct immigrants (my great grandparents). Mom's however ... Frances & John Kurenda My known immigrants are: Daddy's side: Panko Hruszczak - from Prusy, Sambor, Galicia Bessie Matys - from Fraga, Rohatya, Galicia John Kurenda - from Tatary, Sambor, Galicia, Poland Frances Skrabalak - from Temeszow, Poland Mom's Irish lines: Mary Kilpatrick - my great grandmother Michael Walsh - my 2x great grandfather Anna Keating - my 2x great grandmother Dennis O'Flaherty - my 2x great grandfather Martha Durkin - my 2x great grandmother I got my AncestryDNA results back earlier and would also like to confirm which of my lines is my European Jewi...

Even naturalization officers found themselves in trouble, it seems. On This Day in 1880, a warrant application was made for the arrest of William Hilt, Jr. The alleged cause was larceny of naturalization certificates from John Walsh. Judge Blatchford did not grant the warrant but did return the paper in question to the inspector of election. Blatchford heard a second case this same day concerning the seizure of 1868 naturalization papers. The motion, made by E. Ellery Anderson, also argued that Chief Supervisor Davenport should not be removed from office.   Source Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 9 October 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.      On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Several people in my family were born in October. My cousin Janet Webster  Sammons will celebrate her 84 th birthday this year and God love her she is still going strong! Another cousin, Lorraine Welsh Webb, will celebrate her birthday too. There are many a few others but, in my humble and of course unbiased opinion, none that stand out as much as my babies!   My twins – Anna and Zorina – will be 17 on Wednesday, the 7 th .   They were a month early, which is not unusual for twins. They were born on a Wednesday.    That week I went into work – drove myself – for our advertising staff meeting. At the time I was selling ads and writing for the (now defunct) Ledger Newspapers in Quarryville. I announced I would be working from home thereafter and made arrangements with the one of the other salespersons (her name was Dee, a real sweetheart but for the life of me, I cannot recall her last name) for her to stop by and pick up my ad copy. Tuesday morning, ...

Last Sunday I had a great time at the PA Renaissance Faire dancing with the band Tartanic (pictured below for no other reason than the drummers are hot!). After their set, I had a chance to chat with them – one in particular - about tartans. I still had a few questions about them, like which one can I wear if I have several Irish lines.    The Scottish Register of Tartans states a restriction of one of my ancestral tartans is that it may only be worn by those with that surname. Does this mean that since my maiden name is (clearly not Irish) Ruczhak, that I can not wear my ancestral tartans?       My grandfather’s mother was a KILPATRICK, born in Ireland . My grandmother was full Irish. Her grandparents – our immigrants – were WALSH, O’FLAHERTY, KEATING, and DURKIN. My DNA results from Ancestry.com show that I am 35% Eastern Europe, 29% Great Britain and 17% Ireland . I also have 14% Scandinavia, 3% Western Europe , 1% Italy/Greece and a tra...

My Walsh/Welsh family were coal miners up Shenandoah, in Schuylkill County . I can only imagine what a tough life that must have been. One of the new databases on Ancestry.com is “ Pennsylvania , Coal Employment Records, 1900-1954.” I was so excited when I saw this!   How to find this database: Go to Ancestry.com Click on “Search” Using the drop down menu, select “Card Catalog.” Type “ Pennsylvania coal” in the “Title” field and click “Search”. On the right side, click on the database. While a few Walsh men are included, my Walsh/Welsh family members are not. It is still a great resource that I wanted to share. The database contains records for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (LCNC). Some cards include very little while some are a goldmine of information.   Not everyone in the database worked down in the mines. William H. Walsh was a bankman living in Tamaqua.    Joseph Walsh has two records. The first record, dat...

I believe this photo to be that of my Aunt Helen, my grandmother, and my Aunt Jennie. Aunt Helen (Helen Still Webster) and Aunt Jennie (Jeannette Still) are sisters of my great grandfather Pierson G Still. Their brother Lloyd P Still married my grandmother (seated in the middle), Mary Welsh Still. Aunt Helen passed in 1995, at the age of 91. Aunt Jennie passed in 1982, at the age of 94. Yesterday, 20 May, was the anniversary of my grandmother's passing. She passed in 1989, at age 79. May their Memory Be Eternal.

Twenty-two years ago today my maternal grandfather, Lloyd Pierson Still, passed away. May His Memory Be Eternal. My grandfather was born on 24 March 1914 to Pierson George and Mary Kilpatrick Still. His mom immigrated from Ireland . His father came from a long line of Chester County farmers and land owners. In fact, I have not yet found my Still immigrant. His mother died in childbirth when he was just three, leaving his father to raise two boys on his own. A housekeeper was brought in by name of Edith Maltby. I know little else of her. The family lived in East Marlborough, Chester County . I have no clue how my grandparents actually met. I’ve asked several cousins and am hoping one of them heard a story or recalls something. On 21 October 1939 he married my grandmother, Mary Rose Welsh of Phoenixville. They had three children: Aunt Kitty (Mary Kathleen), my mom (Barbara Lorraine), and my Uncle Tom (Thomas Garrett).   In 1940, according to the Census, he was ...

  My mom’s parents were both of Irish descent so naturally today – St Patrick’s Day – it just seemed like a no-brainer to feature them. My grandfather was Lloyd Pierson Still (1914 – 1993). His mother Mary Kilpatrick immigrated, with her siblings.    Mary Rose Welsh (1911 – 1989) was my grandmother. She was about as tall as a leprechaun herself! She was so proud of her Irish heritage. All four of her grandparents came directly from Ireland . Her paternal grandfather, Michael Walsh, is said to have been born in Dublin . His wife, Anna Keating, was from County Mayo , according to my grandmother. Her maternal grandparents were Dennis O’Flaherty and Martha Dukrin. Martha is believed to have also come from County Mayo ,   My grandparents were laid to rest together at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Kennett Square , Chester County.       Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne ...

Oh, Danny Boy … sleep in peace   Today’s Fearless Females prompt was to write a six-word memoir   tribute to one of your female ancestors. My grandmother (Mary Welsh Still) loved this song. She played it all the time.    For years growing up I thought this was an “ Old County ” song. I was probably in my teens before I realized it was not. It was written in 1910 by an Englishman no less! It was written by Frederic Weatherly. The song goes: Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side. The summer's gone, and all the roses falling, 'Tis you, 'Tis you must go and I must bide. But come ye back when summer's in the meadow, Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow, 'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,— Oh, Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so! But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying, If I am dead, as dead I well may be, Ye'll come and find the place where I a...

My maternal grandmother always boasted that she was 100% Irish since all four of her grandparents were born in Ireland . My DNA shows I am only 17% Irish. I am also 29% Great Britain and 14 % Scandinavian. In addition I am 35% Eastern Europe (Daddy’s grandparents came from Poland/Ukraine).   Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small , challenges fellow GeneaBloggers each week with her 52 Ancestors Challenge. This week’s prompt is:  Do you have an ancestor who seemed particularly lucky? Do you have a favorite Irish ancestor? This is their week   Today however, being the month – not just the week or the day – of the Irish, I’d like to talk about my maternal grandmother’s Irish lines. The prompt asks if I have a favorite Irish ancestor. Favorite is a relative (no pun intended) term. I love them all! I would also like to use this post to (try to) answer a cousin’s recent question about immigration.   Approximately four million people left their homes in I...

Michael Walsh has gone in hiding. Well, at least it seems that way. I have managed to narrow down his death year but I know so little about him.   Walsh is an extremely common Irish surname. My 2 nd great grandparents are Michael J and Anna Keating Walsh. I know little of her and even less of him. My grandmother had told me once that Michael was born in Dublin . She was not sure when he immigrated. Anna, she said, left Ireland as a child with her siblings. They met up near Shenandoah, married and had several children.   Their children (that I know of) are: John Katherine (1875-1939) Daniel James (1877-1957) Margaret Mary (1881-1926) Martin Joseph (1884-1923) ß my great grandfather Michael Joseph (1893-1968)   The Walsh family lived at 306½ Lloyd Street in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County . By 1910 Michael Walsh, the father, was already passed. This I know since Anna’s marital status is widow on the 1910 US Federal Census. The Census shows jus...