Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Introducing the 2015 '52 ..., er 32, Ancestors'

As I prepare my list of ancestors I wish to study in the coming year I realize there are many I know little about! That's good for this project. Sure I have my share of Patriots, pioneers and Mayflower passengers, but I have decided to focus mostly on brick walls and women. I have decided to leave 20 slots open (for now) in hopes of filling in with new ancestors as this project progresses. I may use the topic guide or I may not, depending on the ancestor and the information. I am squeaky-clean new at this, so it will be an interesting adventure. That I have chosen to share with you. May we all learn from it and have some fun along the way!

My Ancestors (in no particular order) are:
Jennie M Whitford 1835 - 1888 OH/MI
Martha McBride 1789 - 1845 NY/MI
Samuel Faulkner 1740 - 1811 NY
James O'Connell 1799 - 1877 IRE/NY
Mary Dempsey 1815 - 1899 IRE/MN
Agnes Irons 1902 - 1950 IL
Jesse Thomas Sr 1786 - 1842 PA/OH
Ella Burt 1850 -1902 OH/IA
Cornelia Curtis 1798 - 1885 CT/NY
Ann Sammon 1853 - 1910 CAN/IL
Frederick Colyer 1847 - 1928 ENG/IL
David Burt 1824 - ? NJ
Hackaliah Vredenburg(h) 1790 - 1869 NY/WI
Jennett Smith 1780 - 1827 MA/OH
Sarah Kniffin 1792 - 1870 NY/IL
Anna Merriman 1807 - 1877 MD/OH
Margaret Roberts 1803 - 1883 KY/IA
N.W. Bass 1775 - ? VA
Mathias Wisner 1728 - 1821 GRM/MD
Elizabeth Phillips 1762 - 1843
L. L. Faulkner 1902 - 1992 MN/IL
James Irons 1827 - 1877 Scot/IL
Harrison Faulkner 1825 - 1905 NY/MN
R. W. Thomas 1904 - 1955 IA/IL
Elizabeth Twining Potwin 1904 - 1985 IA/CA
Annie Beach 1790 - 1863 NY/IA
Samuel Beach
Hannah Loveland 1760 - ?
Sarah Williams 1745 - 1820 VA/MD
Thomas Sammon 1825 - 1873 CAN/IL
James Chalmers 1777 - 1830 Scot
William Faulkner 1700 - 1784 Scot/NY

Let the stories begin!!!
 



Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New Year's Eve Plans

Tomorrow I will be sequestered in the old Genealogy Cave to prepare for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge AND the Genealogy Do-Over! I'm so excited! 2015 is going to be an EPIC year! I may never come out of the cave ......

Thursday, December 25, 2014

2015 A BIG Year!

I have decided to take on TWO genealogy challenges in 2015!

The first is the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. You can read about it here: http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/posts/announcing-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-2015-edition/

What better way to really get to know an ancestor than to focus on ONE person per week? I'm not sure I will always follow the optional themes, but I will be charting my progress here so you can come along for the ride!

Here's to a very exciting and busy 2015!

And The Second Challenge Is .... Genealogy Do-Over!

 Genealogy Do-Over!! Yes! I'm IN! This is going to be great! I am so loving this idea!! I threatened to do the very same thing last year. I Talked about it. Asked advice from other genealogy peeps on how to go about it. I got overwhelmed. And scared of hitting "delete" on all my "family", even though much of it was added with gusto from other people's trees with not a lick of proof. Ah, the newbie years!

My material grandmother was a HUGE genealogy nut - president of her Society in CA - did tons of research. I have all of her papers and notations. My first attempt at genealogy was in the 1980's with her research. I built a little (paper) tree, played with it now and then, mostly left it alone.

When my dad died in 2007 and I inherited his research (there really wasn't much) I wanted to dig deeper and learn more about my paternal side. I spent the next 7 years hand building that line. Did it mostly right, corrected mistakes as soon as they were discovered and I feel really good about the work. Busted a few brick walls, found some new cousins and started a One-Name study. My mother's side is another story entirely.

Today I am getting a DNA sample from my mom and will craft my Do Over starting with her, using the DNA results, my grandmother's notes and my now more seasoned research knowledge. Still not ready to "delete" the old work, but I will store it with a different name and remove it from my main working tree.

Can't wait to get started!!

You can read about the Do Over here:
http://www.geneabloggers.com/announcing-genealogy-doover/

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Hackaliah Vredenburg: Brick Wall Ancestor



I've decided to finally undertake my grandmother's biggest Brick Wall, my 4th great grandfather the Reverend Hackaliah Vredenburg. Here is all I have found so far:

 Memoirs. Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburg. 

 "Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburgh was born in Westchester county, N. Y., May 10, 1790, and died at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev. Rowley, in Wisconsin, January 23, 1869.

 In 1817 he settled at Terre Haute, Ind. In 1830 he united with the Missouri Conference. His first appointment was Okaw Circuit. In 1821 the Illinois Conference was formed, Bro. Vredenburg being one of the original thirty-two members, of who two only are now left, the venerable Peter Cartwright, of Illinois, and Aaron Wood, of Indiana. He was returned the second year to Vermillion: in 1825 his appointment was Crawfordsville, and the next fall he was granted a location. In 1831 he was re-admitted into the Illinois Conference and appointed to Logansport mission. The next year the Indiana Conference was formed, and his field of labor being within its bounds, he became a member of it, and continued identified with the conferences of Indiana until his death. In 1832 he was appointed to Washington Circuit, 1833 to Lafayette, 1834 and 5, to Pine Creek, 1836 to Monticello Mission, 1837 to Dayton, 1838 and 9 to Greencastle. In 1840 he received a superannuated relation, which he retained until death with the exception of one year, 1851, when he traveled in Prairieville Circuit.

 Most of Bro. Vredenburg’s itinerant life was spent in the Valley of the Wabash. From its mouth almost to its source he preached, organizing new societies and circuits, carrying the Gospel messages to the scattering settlements, and enduring all the exposures and privations of pioneer life. In one of his charges no house could be had to shelter his wife and children while he traveled his circuit of three or four hundred miles round. Rather than leave his work, he took possession of a deserted log stable, and fitting it up with his own hands made that the parsonage for the year. At other times he was compelled on his rest days to cultivate a small piece of ground to supply his family with food, the pittance received from the people being barely sufficient to furnish them with clothing. But amid all these privations and dangers this faithful minister was always at his post, rarely missing an appointment and never deserting his trust.

 He was much attached to Vermillion county. One of the first, if not the very first to carry the Gospel there, for he preached at Butler’s Point as early as 1823, when failing health hoping there to spend the remainder of his days. But as age and increasing infirmities came upon him he was compelled to break up housekeeping and spend his time with his children. His sight had become dim and his body exceedingly feeble, yet his mind was clear and strong, and the memory of the incidents and labors of his itinerant life unimpaired. On the day before he died he was attacked with a severe pain in the chest which continued about thirty-six hours, when death released him from his sufferings. When told by his physician that he could live but a little while and that he had better prepare to die, he replied. “I have been doing so all my life.” His aged companion, who shared with him the privations and toils of the itinerancy for near fifty years, still survives."

 Source: Memoirs. Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburg. Methodist Episcopal Church. Minutes. North Western Indiana Conference. 1869. 18th. P. 32.

 This should be an interesting ride!


©2014 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved


Friday, September 12, 2014