FRIDAY FINDS ~ Family Search Full Text Search

 

I have always loved to learn new skills, or a new way to do things.

I attended my very first Mayflower Historian meeting this week.  I hope to soon learn what I need to in order to review Mayflower Society applications for the state of Montana. 

In the course of this meeting, we had a speaker. Shellie Karol-Chik.

Her subject was Advanced Searches on Family Search.

As most of you know, I’ve been researching for over 20 years. I’ve attended many a class, webinar, seminar and conference.  There are some things that you feel confident about.  Perhaps you are very good at searching on a particular website or using one of the genealogy software programs.

One of the sites I feel confident on is Family Search. BUT, just when you think “what will I learn today that I don’t already know?”  SURPRISE!!!

I learned about a semi-new area of the website called FULL TEXT AI SEARCH. ("This is an experimental Labs product and not guaranteed to always be available. You may also encounter errors and limited data")

GAME CHANGER

I began using this new skill the very next day and have located many documents I had never seen before.

Once you get to the site they have good explanations for Advanced Search Tips and how to use this new tool.  It would be superfluous for me to repeat those tips here.

What I will tell you is that the “quotations marks” make all the difference.

So, let me share some examples with you.

My thought was, why not enter the name of my biggest and longest brick wall.  My paternal 2^nd great grandfather John C. Gould – whose parents are still unknown to me after 20 years.

I did add the years 1830-1930 but you don't have to.  Play around with it a little and see what works best for you.

This is the result page that came up with my search. 11,983,158 results.  That’s obviously too many to view.  BUT, right away I see promising results in those first two records.  And what is that record in Dodge, Minnesota?  He never lived there?  Did he?  But, that record mentions a wife, Sarah M. Gould (which is the correct and only wife for John).  Of course I will look at the record. 

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE TRANSCRIPTION OF THESE RECORDS IS BEING DONE BY AI AND IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU REVIEW THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT YOURSELF.  NOTE: The names you've entered in your search will be highlighted in yellow.

The first record, although John C. Gould’s name was listed in the brief description of the image, it actually reads John C. Fitzgerald. That isn’t my ancestor. A good example of why you must view the actual record.

Now to the second record St. Clair, Michigan Deeds 1866-1868.  What I see in the description is a mention of Sara M. Gould who IS John’s wife.

St. Clair, Michigan, Deeds 1866-1868

I see there is the sale of land to Lyman C. Hart who happens to be John C. Gould’s brother-in-law.  I will work on transcribing this image at a later date.

Now let’s take a look at that entry for Dodge Deeds 1863-1864 in, of all places, Minnesota.  Not a place I have ever connected with my John C. Gould or his wife Sarah.

Dodge, Minnesota, Deed 1863-1864

This appears to be a sale of land from John C. Gould & his wife Sarah M. Gould to Darwin Keller, in the County of Dodge in the state of Minnesota.

How did my ancestor come to own land in Minnesota?

This is a question I will explore.  I have no record of he or his wife ever being in Minnesota, I have only a handful of ancestors who have a Minnesota location at one time or another, but not from my Gould line.

I’m grateful to have located these bits of information about John C. Gould. Since I have yet to find evidence that proves who his parents were, any new information is welcome.

I’ve run several other ancestor names in this full text search and found a marriage record I didn’t have and other land records…..so far.

I hope many of you will try this feature on Family Search.  It has certainly yielded a few nuggets for me.  Let me know what your finds are. 

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ The Last Will & Testament of Cornelius Fisher 1699 Massachusetts

 

A FOLLOW UP TO A BLOG POST I WROTE 3 JAN 2017 – You may read it here 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS–Week #1–Cornelius FISHER, Sr. (1629-1698/99) of Wrentham, Massachusetts

Cornelius Fisher, Sr is my husband, Ron’s, 7^th great grandfather. 

When I wrote that blog post in 2017, I promised to transcribe it and blog about it. How time flies.

If words are spelled “incorrectly” or differently than we would spell them today, I left them as is. 

I've highlighted family names in yellow so they are easy to locate.

Here is an image of the beginning of the will.

The Probate of the Will of Cornelius Fisher late of

Wrentham deced and Administration granted thereon

Unto his Sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher

Executo^rs in the same Will names

Cornelius Fisher Probate

2523

William Stoughton Esq duely appointed and comissionated to be Judge of the Probate of Wills, and for granting Letters of Admin

On the Estates of person deceased having Goods, Chattel, Rights or Credits in the County of Suffolke within his Ma^tys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.  To all unto whom these pyents shall come, Greeting.  Know ye that on the Fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord on thousand Six hundred ninety nine Before me at Dorchester in the County afors^d The Will of Cornelius Fisher Sen. Late of Wrentham in the County husbandman deced to these present annexed was proved, approved and allowed.  Who having while he lived and at the time of his death Goods, Chattels, Rights or Credits in the County afors^d And the Probate of these Will and power of committing – Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights & Credits of the deceased and also the hearing examining and allowing the ____ of the same, by virthue thereof, of right appertaining unto me The Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits the deceased and his Will in any manner concerning was committed unto his two sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher 

Executors in the Will named.  Well and faithfully to administer same, and to dispose thereof according to the Will. And to make a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of the deced. And to exhibit the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County afors^d at or before the Fifteenth day of December next ensuing.  Also to render a plain and true ___ of theirs Administration upon Oath in Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and the Seal of the Court of Probate Dated at Dorchester afors^d the day and year first above written.

In the name of God amen.  In the year of our Lord one thousand six ninety and nine, the third day of February.  I Cornelius Fisher Sen in the Town of Wrentham in the County of Suffolke in New England Husbandman being aged and _____ in body but sound in my understanding, condiering my mortalitie desire to set my house in order Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all forms Wills Improvis I commit my Soul into the hands of Jesus Christ my only mediator and my body to the Grave to be decently buried by my Executors hereafter named.  Item I do give to my dear and wel beloved Wife Sarah Fisher my best bed and furniture sufficient for it for her use during her natural life.  Item I do give to my eldest Son Cornelius Fisher my homestead to wit, my home Lott, pasture and Orchards and Buildings and one halfe of my meadow at pine plain, and all my meadow near the Sawmill and three cow common right in the Common Sand in Wrentham aforesaid  On this condition that he take this for his portion and maintain his mother in Law the whole term of her natural life with what she shall stand in need of for Food, Cloathing and Physick, and what else may be needful, suitable and convenient for an aged person or else pay or cause to be paid to her or her order six pound a year __wit Forty Shillings in money and four pound insuch currant pay as The shall have need of during her life and other ___ to wit, at the choice of my wife Sarah Fisher, and also pay to the rest of my children twenty five pound, Vis To my son Eleazer Fisher five pound; To my Daughter Leah five pound; To my daughter Experience five pound: To my daughter Anna five pound; and To my daughter Sarah five pound, and all this within one year after my Wife decease. Item I give to my Son Eleazer Fisher one halfe of my meadow at pine plaine the prive of it to be discounted in his portion  Item I give to my Son in Law Benjamin Hall my meadow Land at Stoney brooke the price of it alike to be discounted in his portion Further my mind and my Will is that all the rest of my Estate both in Sands and moveables Goods and Chattels be equally divided amongst my children First Eleazer and Sarah and Experience and Anna & Sarah they each of them reckoning or accounting of what they have received in part of their respective portions, First Eleazer Eight pound beside the meadow above named; Anna six pounds, Leah six pounds Experience three pounds, Sarah Seven pounds.  Finally my mind and my Will is that my children agree in love as to the premises and to that end do order, and my mind and Will is that if any of the he or she that unjustly make disturbance or not sit downe in quiet by this my will shall loose the one halfe of his or her part above mentioned and to be divided among the rest  I do nominate and appoint my two sons Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher to be sole executors and In Confirmation hereof I have set to my hand and seal Cornelius Fisher and a Seal In presence of Jn Ware Robert Ware John Maccal.

In Inventory of the housing and lands, goods & chattels of Cornelius Fisher, Sen. dec’d in Wrentham taken June the 20^th 1699.

This is a rough transcription of his inventory.  Many words I am unable to read.  The total came to £242,,19,,8

His wearing cloaths 4^th his armes & ammunition

His homestead, housing and land, pasture & orchards

His outlands and meadows and common rights

Brass and pewter, linnon, books

Ironware, earthenware and glasses

Spinning wheels and cards  wooden ware

Linnen yarne and flax  Joyner ware

Chairs and cushions ___a remnant of cloth

4 meal sacks 8 grain caprenters tools

Husbandry tools & tacklin   a pigeon net

A barrel of cyder   a cyder mill and press

Cash  Coppers ware  Lumber

Cattle  Bovine

An old pillion

Appraised by John Fairbank, Sam’l Fisher, John Ware

By the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq. Judge of the probate __Cornelius Fisher and Eleazer Fisher sons and executors of the last will and testament of Cornelius Fisher late of Wrentham husbandman deed exhinited the above written, and made oath that it contains a just and true inventory of the estate of the deceased so far as hath come to their knowledge and that if more hereafter appears they will cause it to be added.

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl
Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM ~ she was born 100 years ago

 
Today would have been my Mom’s 100^th birthday
 

I’ve written several posts about my Mom and Dad.  Her mother, Florence Bowden Milne was the genealogist in the family before me.  She, my grandma, left me many wonderful pieces of family information and photographs.

 

Here is a very brief bio of my Mom:

 

Patricia Anne Milne, born 3 Oct 1924, in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. Her parents were Joseph Albert Milne and Florence Lenora Bowden.  Pat was the fourth and last child born to her parents.  Her siblings were Dorothy Irene Milne (1907-1920), Robert Andrew Milne (1909-1969) and Joan Esther Milne (1915-1985).  All born in Detroit.

 

Being much younger than her siblings and having never met her sister, Dorothy, who died before my Mom was born, Pat grew up spending quite a bit of time to herself.  She inherited a love of books from her mother and spent a lot of time reading.  I’m thankful that gene was passed down to me as well. She and I would pass books back & forth after reading them.  We both love mysteries and history.

 

Pat always loved animals and passed that love to us as well.  

 

My Mom was married twice.  First to Harry Norman Gould 9 Apr 1949 and second to Joseph Edward Cornelius 12 Feb 1971.

She had 3 children – her oldest, John Whitney Zimmerman, then me, then my brother Harry Norman Gould, II.

 
We lost Mom on 12 Mar 2016, at age 91.
 
HAPPY HEAVENLY
BIRTHDAY MOM!
 
 
Her are some pictures of our Mom through the years.

Patricia as a baby, as a 2 yr old in 1926 with her sister, Joan and their mother and on the bench as a 2 yr old 

Left is Pat with her Mom - the other picture has Pat being shy with the camera, standing are Florence Hunter Bowden (her maternal grandmother), Joan, her sister, Susan Gillespie Milne, (her paternal grandmother), and her brother Robert

With her paternal grandmother Susan Gillespie Milne and the smaller girl is her first cousin Betty - the pic on the right standing, her mother, Florence, her maternal grandmother also Florence, here sister Joan and Pat in the front

Pat as a teenager - 14-15 yrs old

School pic on the left about age 14, photo booth photo in the middle and on the right is a picture of Pat when she was about 20 yrs old

1956 celebration of the 50th anniversary of Pat's parents
Left to right - Joseph Milne, Robert Milne, Florence Milne and Pat

3 generation photo - my Mom on the left, me and my grandmother Florence - about 1976

Pat - circa late 1970s

Christmas 2005 in Ramona, CA
L-R - Pat, Myriah, Norm & Joshua Gould, me and Melinda Davies Gould

Here we are, her 3 children, John, me and Norm - this is in 2006 when our half brother John W. Zimmerman came to meet us for the first time.  He had searched for his biological parents for 40 yrs. and finally located me via an old genealogy website.  We had always known he was out there somewhere and were thrilled to meet him.  He had a 10 yr relationship with our Mom before she passed away.

Here's Pat on her 90th birthday - 2014

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY ~ Gordon Charles Hall (1917-1966)

 

This is the front of the funeral card for Gordon

As I continue to go through my office after our move to Montana, I keep running across ancestor items I haven’t seen before.  That’s a good thing because now I can save them and hopefully pass them down to descendants.

My recent finds were 2 funeral cards from Ron’s side of the family. 

Today I will share his father’s card.

I can never bring myself to share a funeral card or other death record without sharing something about the person who died.

Here is a short biography:

Gordon Charles Hall was born 29 Jul 1917 in San Diego, San Diego Co., California.  He was the youngest of 3 children born to Charles Schuyler Hall and Daisy Fern Bright.  He was also the only child born in California.  His older siblings, Dorothy Louise Hall, born 1905 and Robert Walton Hall, born 1907, were both born in Pennsylvania.  In 1913 Charles moved with his wife and 2 children to San Diego. Gordon came along four years later. 

Gordon attended San Diego High School and San Diego State College. As a young man Gordon worked at a gas station.  This would have been in the 1940’s when they still pumped our gas.

In May 1945 Gordon enlisted in the Army and was honorably discharged in Nov 1946. 

On 22 Aug 1948 he married Dorothy Beatrice Fink in Lynwood, Los Angeles, California.  By 1950, according to the census Gordon was working as a Field Representative for Pacific Finance Corp. and living at 4339 35^th St. in San Diego, with his wife and infant son.

Gordon was very proud of his son, an only child. He participated in his son’s school and extracurricular activities. 

Sadly, on 12 Jan 1966, Gordon died suddenly while at work.  The cause of death was listed as a massive heart attack. He was only 48 yrs. old.

This left his wife, Dorothy a widow with a 15 yr old son. They managed with the help of family and friends. Dorothy worked at the old Sears on Cleveland Ave. in San Diego, at the candy counter.

Gordon is fondly remembered by his son and many other family members.

Here are some other posts I’ve written about this family that may be of interest:

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ Gordon Hall & Dorothy Fink Brown

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Gordon Charles Hall – my father-in-law, makes news in high school – San Diego, CA-1935

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

ON THIS DATE IN OUR FAMILY - August 20th

TODAY IS AUGUST 20^th

Today is the birthday of my good friend, Pam. I thought in honor of that I would see who in my family tree was born, married or died on this date.

I use my Legacy software to create a list. Find>Detailed Search and then enter the parameters.

Let’s see what we have.  The list contains 18 individuals from our family tree which contains both mine and my husband’s family.

BIRTHS

ANKER, Martha A. - my husband’s maternal great granduncle’s wife - born 20 Aug 1890 in Germany, married Andrew Ludwig on 7 Apr 1921 in Buffalo, Erie, New York.

FORSYTH, Bradley J. - my maternal 2^nd cousin once removed - born 20 Aug 1935 in Michigan – Married Lindsay Weber 30 Oct 1987.

GOULD, Cyrus – born 20 Aug 1841 in Michigan – he is a person of interest in my search for the parents of my paternal 2^nd great grandfather, John C. Gould.

KIMBALL, Ann Eliza – maternal 3^rd great granduncle’s wife’s 1st cousin – born 20 Aug 1845 in Ohio, died 29 Mar 1916 in Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio

PRITCHARD, Thomas Alexander – my paternal 3^rd cousin’s husband’s father – born 20 Aug 1923 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, died 20 Aug 1992 on his 69^th birthday. Married Audrey Hilda Mauer.

MARRIAGES

CLARK, Henry Bryan – my 3^rd cousin 3 times removed – born 14 Jul 1888 in Nebraska and died before 1957.  Married Goldie M. Sackett on 20 Aug 1911 in Berrien County, Michigan.

FINK, Elwood Reynolds – my husband’s maternal Uncle – born 5 Nov 1912 in Ebenezer, Erie, New York, died 29 Oct 1997 in San Diego, San Diego Co., California. Married Esther May Shurgour on 20 Aug 1937 in San Diego, California.

GOULD, Theda E. – another person of interest in my search for my paternal 2^nd great grandfather John C. Gould’s parents.  She was born 16 Jan 1840 in New York and died 1 Oct 1918 in Oxford, Oakland, Michigan – she married as her 2^nd husband, Jesse G. Hosner on 20 Aug 1903 in Oxford, Oakland, Michigan.

KRAWEC, Dr. Charles – is a match to me via the DNA of his descendants.  I haven’t figured out where we connect just yet.  He was born 19 Mar 1931 in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania and married Alicia Hedwig Slasinski on 20 Aug 1952 in Dearnborn, Wayne, Michigan.

DEATHS

BOGGS, Andrew Elliot – my maternal 4^th great grandfather, born in 1768 in Pennsylvania and died 20 Aug 1840 in Perry Township, Gallia, Ohio.  He married Hannah Jane Bowen on 6 Jan 1794 in Greenbrier Co., Virginia

CALLAHAN, Wanda Mae – my maternal 3^rd cousin twice removed.  She was born 13 Nov 1925 in Independence, Montgomery, Kansas and died 20 Aug 2014 in Bayou Vista, Galveston, Texas. She married David Walton in about 1944.

CONNORS, Leo Arthur – my maternal grandaunt’s husband’s son.  He was born 1 Jun 1907 in Michigan and sadly died 20 Aug 1907 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan at only 2 months and 19 days old.

DOTY, James – my paternal 5^th great grandfather and one of my Mayflower ancestors.  He is the 2^nd great grandson of Mayflower passenger, Edward Doty.  James was born 22 Jan 1736/37 in Plymouth, Colonial Massachusetts and died 20 Aug 1817 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts.  He married in about 1764 Elisabeth Kempton.  They had 5 know children, one of whom was Issac, my 4^th great grandfather.

The earliest birth in this group is Cyrus Gould born in 1841.

The earliest marriage is Theda Gould in 1903.

The earliest death is James Doty in 1817.

SOME OF THE WELL KNOWN PEOPLE BORN ON AUGUST 20^th

Jacqueline Susann – 1918-1974 – author of Valley of the Dolls

Don King – American boxing promoter

Isaac Hayes – 1942-2008 – soul musician, singer-songwriter

Graig Nettles – 1944 – MLB 3^rd baseman

Connie Chung  - 1946 – American news anchor

Robert Plant – 1948 – British rock vocalist – Led Zeppelin

Al Roker – 1954 – American weatherman

Brad Avery – 1971 – Christian rock guitarist with the band Third Day

Demi Lovato – 1992 – actress

For a complete list you can click here https://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays.php

HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY

• 1737 First public admittance to the Salon de Paris art exhibition at the Louvre in Paris.
• 1838 United States Exploring Expedition headed by Charles Wilkes departs for the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica.
• 1919 Anti-Cigarette League of America forms in Chicago, Illinois

I’ve highlighted the surnames included in this post.  If you find any of them are connected to you, please get in touch.  Particularly if it involves my Gould line, an ongoing brick wall for over 20 years now.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION