Brick Wall Ancestor | #1 Sarah Kniffin Vredenburgh

We all have them! Those stubborn ancestors that refuse to come out of hiding. No matter how much coaxing we do! Well, I think it's time to bring them out of the shadows - put their redacted story out there - another piece of the puzzle could be lurking just around the (cyber) corner, in someone's basement, or closet, or sitting in a box on a book shelf ...... You never, ever know where that loose chink will manifest, the one that allows you to push out one brick, then the next. Food for thought. So without further ado....

Brick Wall Ancestor #1 Sarah Kniffin Vredenburgh

Sarah Kniffin (or Sniffen, Niffin, etc) was born in Westchester County, New York in July of 1792. This we know from the date on her headstone. She died September 16th 1870, aged 78y 1m 28d. That would put her birth about July 19th or 20th 1792. IF the numbers and dates are correct. Who supplied the information for the gravestone?

As to her maiden name? Well, my grandmother recorded it as 'Niffin' saying her family was from Holland. In the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois (see Hackaliah Vredenburgh) it is reported that her maiden name was 'Kniffin'.

Sarah married Hackaliah Vredenburgh (another brick wall and winner of best ancestor name) from Westchester County, New York sometime around 1810/11. Her first child was born Novemeber 16th 1812 in New York.

Scouring the census records for 1800/1810 in Westchester County NY brings little result. Searching for 'Kniffin' and it's variations returns 20 likely candidates with females in the household of the appropriate age. Well shoot. The returns for 'Vredenburgh' are slightly better - 9 households with males in the appropriate age range. None of the couple's children bear names similar to any of the men on the census.

An odd mention in The New York Genealogical And Biographical Record vol 37, issue 1, pg 6, pub date 1906, in an article titled: Vital Records Of Christ's Church At Rye, Westchester County, New York shows widow Sniffen's 9 children were being baptized. The whole thing is very coincidental. The entry says this Sarah was an adult, but look at the date! July 22, 1792. This particular entry has puzzled me for some time.

Sarah Kniffin Vredenburgh was a preacher's wife, and as such was called upon to travel. After her second child was born the young family uprooted and headed for the wilderness of the Indiana Territory where Hackaliah was assigned as an itinerant Methodist minister. From one memoir written of that time: "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." Wow.

In all Sarah would give birth to 3 daughters and 5 sons. In the wilderness. In a log stable. Dang.

The children were:

• Mary b. 1812 New York
• Caleb b. 1815 New York
• Rhoda Ann b. 1818 Indiana
• Samuel Hamilton b. 1829 Indiana
• Lucy Jane b. 1823 Indiana
• Jesse D b. 1832 Indiana
• John C b. 1835 Indiana
• Unnamed Male b. UNK

Between 1850 and 1860 Sarah and Hackaliah removed to Danville, Illinois. Hackaliah died in 1869, Sarah followed a year later. The couple's final resting place is the Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville. 

Happily (maybe) I am a direct female descendant of Sarah. Which means my mtDNA is her mtDNA. I took the test in January. My haplogroup is U2e1d. Which means Sarah's haplogroup is U2e1d. Which means maybe, just maybe, we can start to chink away at this wall .....

 

...........to be continued...........

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Book Of The Week: Encyclopedia of the History of St Louis

Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis: A Compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference, Volume 3, Part 2

William Hyde, Howard Louis Conard

Southern History Company, 1899 - Saint Louis (Mo.)

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Fearless Females 2017 :: Week 1

Favorite female ancestor:
Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

I have many favorite ancestors, the women seem harder to follow because there are so few records for them. So many have just one name, their maiden surnames lost to time. Right now I am stuck on my 2nd great grandmother, Jennie (Jane) Whitford. Twice divorced, I recently discovered a half brother to my great grandfather that no one knew about (on either side of the family). Her burial location remains a mystery. I'd like to learn more of her life prior to her marriage to my 2nd great grandfather. Who her parents were, why she divorced two times and where she is buried. She was last alive in St Paul, MN in 1887.

Photo:
Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is a photo of my paternal grandmother (far right) with who I think are her three girlfriends. The back of the photo just says Butte Aug 15,1922. My grandmother must have taken a train trip with her friends. This was a month before her 20th birthday. She lived in Chicago all her life. I love this photo for many reasons. One, I never knew this woman, she died when my dad was just 16, so all I have of her are a few photos. And two, it looks like they are having fun - I have always wanted to take a train trip across the US myself.

Name:
Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

I do!! I am named for my paternal great grandmother Anna Elizabeth O'Connell Faulkner. My middle name, Elizabeth, is a traditional name used in my family. On both sides. Both my grandmother's, my mother, and a maternal great grandmother all share Elizabeth.

Marriage Records:
Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

No photos. I have some marriage records - the ones I was able to find on Ancestry and FamilySearch. Oddly, no family stories either. My paternal grandparents wedding was always, always a mystery. As I said above, my paternal grandmother died a month before my dad's (an only) 16th birthday. My paternal grandfather never spoke of her after that. My dad really didn't know much - he knew they were married before he was born, guessing sometime between 1926 and 1930.  Last year, 9 years after my dad's passing, I decided to relook at this mystery. You can read about my discovery here - long story short they were married in Chicago on Oct 2nd 1928. I plan to visit the church sometime this summer.

How did your grandparents meet?
How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

My parents met in college at the University of Illinois. A frat party I believe. My maternal grandparents were High School sweethearts. My grandmother's parents were also school sweethearts, maintaining a long distance relationship for two years while my great grandfather was away at University.

Heirloom:
 Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

I do have several pieces of jewelry that belonged to my maternal grandmother, the wedding china that belonged to my paternal grandmother and my mother's wedding dress, but my absolute favorite heirloom is this painting, painted by my grandmother's mother Carrie Elizabeth Twining Potwin (see there, Elizabeth!) It has passed from woman to woman in my family and the cool part? Every owner was an Elizabeth! I love that story!

Favorite Recipe:
Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.

Oh lord no! I do not come from a line of good cooks. My step-step-step (yes, three steps) grandmother was an amazing baker, but direct line cooks? Not so much. My aunt's 'famous' desert was vanilla ice cream smothered in Creme De Menthe! For everyone! We did have some memorable Thanksgivings when I was a young child .....

Letter Collection:
Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.

I have a few letters that my grandmother wrote to her mother when she was living in Canada in the late 1930's. My grandfather had been relocated for his job so the entire family made the move from Iowa to New Brunswick. My mother was born in Canada. This is an excerpt from a letter my grandmother wrote to her mother after my mom was born:

"Thursday afternoon October first. Dearest Mother and all, you won't mind pencil I know. I'm back in bed having been up twice today (for the first) Of course I was a bit giddy at first but felt alright the second time. Wish you might see our little girl, she is very wee - today she weighs five pounds and thirteen ounces. She may tomorrow have her birth weight back. I have a very good nurse and we've gotten along fine. She will stay until Saturday or possibly Sunday. I am to go downstairs on Sat." ..... 

My mother was born on September 21st. It sounds to me as if my grandmother had not been out of bed until this day, the first of October! Oh my, how the times have changed!

....................until next week................

©Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Video Of The Week: GEDMatch Basics

We watch a lot of videos in the Cave. Webinars, instructional videos, continuing education videos, you name it! If it helps with our genealogical pursuit we are all over it!

Each week we thought we'd share one we've enjoyed.

Hope you enjoy it too!





©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Frasers Of Fife: Generation Four | Gilbert Fraser and Mary Cargill

37. Gilbert Fraser (John - 11, William - 3, Duncan - 1) born December 15th 1829


married November 21st 1856 Arbroath, Scotland


Mary Cargill born February 4th 1834



children of this union: (all born Arbroath, Scotland)


i. John Cargill Fraser b. October 18th 1857

ii. Gilbert Fraser b. September 24th 1859

iii. William S Fraser b. March 24th 1861

iv. Mary C Fraser b.  August 3rd 1862 d. November 16th 1863

v. James Winton Fraser b.  March 9th 1864

vi. Charles Fraser b. November 7th 1865

vii. Reginold Fraser b. December 20th 1868

viii. Ann Simpson Fraser b. December 7th 1870


Gilbert Fraser died March 31st 1871. Mary Cargill Fraser's death is unrecorded.

note: Generation Four was (mostly) still living when the Original Tree was created.

~ all information provided here has been taken directly from the John Fraser family tree compiled in 1880 and as such is the only source for these writings - the objective being to record his work for further study and documentation ~ 

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net

©1880 John Fraser - Scotland

All Rights Reserved