Genealogy and History Fan

About two years into the American Revolutionary War, the British captured Philadelphia. The humiliated members of The Continental Congress had to flee the city to save their lives.

General George Washington led his army of 12,000 to a place called Valley Forge which was about 20 miles from Philadelphia. It was December with snow and a harsh wind blowing. There were no buildings to use as barracks. They pitched tents for some shelter while they built small huts of sticks and logs held together with mud plaster. Over 1,000 dirt floored drafty log huts were constructed by the army. Their clothes were little more than rags and some of the men had no shoes! These terrible conditions were made worse by few supplies (blankets, medicine etc.) and scant amounts of poor quality food.

Although no military battles were fought at Valley Forge, many lost their lives while camped there for six months. Typhus, typhoid, dysentery, and pneumonia were the predominant killers - downing about 2,000 men. Also hundreds of horses starved to death.

General Washington stayed with his army throughout the winter (1777-1778). The men who did survive became stronger and more confident. By spring there was plenty of food and the men received proper clothing.

Their German born skilled drill sergeant Baron von Steuben, began rigorously training the army in much needed military tactics. They left Valley Forge with renewed energy, high spirits, greater abilities and a firm will to win the fight for independence.

I have two fifth great grandfathers with the last name of Miller from Pennsylvania. I have written about both of them in previous articles. They were soldiers in the Revolution. Frederick survived the War but Peter did not.

According to family records, Peter fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill and also took part in the Boston Tea Party. Sadly Peter lost his life at Valley Forge where he is buried. He left behind his wife and five young children.

May our Country ever remain “the land of the free and the home of the brave”.

Happy Birthday America!

June 17, 1775 was the date of the first major battle between the “Brits” and the Colonial troops. This fighting occurred in Boston and was known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, even though the actual location was on Breed’s Hill.

As 2000 British soldiers marched up the hill, the Americans were given the orders not to fire until they saw “the whites of their eyes.” The Americans held off the British in two separate attacks in quick succession. About 30 minutes later the British attacked a third time. The Colonists soon ran out of ammunition and were left only with bayonets to defend themselves. The British won this fight but lost over half their troops. The Americans lost about 400 men.

On July 6, 1775 The Continental Congress presented a declaration of the “Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms.” The proclamation listed the Colonists reason for fighting Great Britain. It also stated in no uncertain terms, that America was “resolved to die free men rather than live as slaves”.

In November the American Navy was established by Congress. Right before Christmas, British King George III issued a royal edict to close off the Colonies to all commerce and trade.

In June 1776 a huge British war fleet docked in New York Harbor. This fleet consisted of 30 battleships with 1200 cannons, 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 Navy men, and 300 supply ships.

On June 7th Virginia Congressman Richard H. Lee presented a formal resolution to Congress that called for America to declare it’s independence from England. A few days later Congress appointed a committee to compose a declaration of independence. Committee members were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Livingston and Roger Sherman. Jefferson, who was chosen to write the document was able to complete the first draft in only one day! Jefferson presented his paper to Congress on June 28th. A few changes were made by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. On July 2nd, twelve of the colonial delegations (New York abstained) voted to support and adopt Lee’s resolution for independence.

On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress formally endorsed Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Copies of the document were prepared and delivered to all of the Colonies. The actual signing did not occur until August 2nd. All 55 members of the Congress signed their names to that now famous and revered document. The war continued for nearly seven more years which will be topics for future articles.

My German born fifth great grandfather Frederick Miller, lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1776. He was eighteen when he became a soldier in the Revolution. He survived the war, went on to marry and was the father of seven children. I salute all the brave men who fought to make this a free and independent country.

“These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country: but he that stands… deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny… is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
Thomas Paine (written December 1776)

Have a happy and safe 4th of July celebration!

When the Civil War began on April 12, 1861 firearms for both the Union army and the Confederates were in short supply. Many of the early volunteers were given old weapons that were very ineffective.

Eventually about 2 million single shot, muzzle-loading muskets were made at the U.S. Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts and at a few other locations. The troops referred to these rifles as “Springfields”. The Springfield’s barrel was 39 inches long and could hit targets 500 yards away. It’s large bullets were actually capable of reaching 1500 yards!

These large bullets were called minnie balls and were developed in 1849 by Captain Claude Minie for the French Army. This bullet was made of soft medal which expanded under pressure, then tended to deform upon firing and disintegrate upon striking the target. It is believed that about 90% of all battle wounds in the Civil War were caused by minnie balls. (The Enfield, a less popular rifle used in the war also fired minnie balls.)

At it’s first introduction, generals on both sides of the war saw the Springfield as a revolutionary piece of equipment that would change the way the war was being fought. Nevertheless, massive frontal attacks, cavalry charges and front line placement of cannons continued throughout the war.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction… The chain reaction of evil, hate begetting hate, and wars producing more wars must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

A family tree is another name for a pedigree chart. Filling out a pedigree chart is a good way to begin doing genealogy or also known as family history.

The first ( free and easy) step is to go to http://www.familysearch.org/ and download the PAF program. The Personal Ancestral File (PAF) genealogy program is user friendly and free! Go through the tutorial if you need some help getting started.

The second step is to pull-up a pedigree chart. Your full name goes on line #1. Line #2 is for your father’s name. Go to line #3 to record your mother’s first, middle and maiden name. Below each name is space to record dates and places of birth, marriage and death. Now you are linked to your parents on your pedigree chart. Then you continue on linking your parents with their parents. This pattern repeats itself for every generation. The father’s names on your chart have even numbers and the mother’s have odd numbers. Hopefully you will be able to fill out the info for your parents and grandparents from your own knowledge.

It is best to write out the months, years and place names. The usual format for writing a date is the day, month then year 26 March 1852. For place of birth, marriage or death record the city or township, county and the state Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. If you don’t know the city put , Marion, Indiana or ,, Indiana if you only know the state.

Once you have filled out all you can on your own, you will want to contact your extended family members to see what help they can give you. Also go once again to http://www.familysearch.org/for a free search of over 2 billions names of deceased persons. You may hit gold on your first search!

After you have filled out your pedigree chart as much as you can, it’s time to start on the family group charts using your PAF program. You will want to make a family group chart for each person on your pedigree chart. If the husband or wife has been married more than once, a family group record needs to be created for each marriage. The family group chart lists the names of the children associated with each couple. As on the pedigree chart, there are spaces for each birth, marriage and death record.

For more genealogy know how, read my articles in this blog under the category genealogy tips.

Genealogy begins as an interest,

Becomes a hobby,

Continues as an avocation,

Takes over as an obsession,

And in its last stages,

Is an incurable disease!

Author unknown

Read this article to learn about the two types of resources that every genealogist will need to become familiar with.

Tracing your Family History - A primer on resources, research methods, problems and solutions

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Yakel]Joseph Yakel

People who decide to trace their family histories seem to fall into of two groups: A) they know next to nothing about their family, and need to begin researching from scratch, or B) they already have a wealth of knowledge about their family, but need to document it properly and fill in some blanks. In both situations, the records review will be the same, albeit it more intense for people in situation A.

Researchers rely on numerous public and private resources and records to confirm family connections. I fit these into a couple of categories as well: Primary and Secondary, or Supplementary resources. Both categories of resources are important and fulfill their own purposes in developing the family history. In fact, they share a mutually complimentary effect with one another that should not be overlooked by the diligent researcher, and will be explained hereafter.

Primary sources are the biggies, such as civil and church records describing births, baptisms, confirmations, marriage, and deaths, census data, naturalization records, newspaper articles, family bibles, and grave markers. All of these records contain hard facts, with names, dates and family relationship landmarks, and serve as the foundation and structure for the family members you are researching.

The Secondary or Supplementary resources provide filler information. You may think of these resources as the ones that add details to bind and hold the structure and foundation together. In other words, they round out the histories of the family members you are discovering. These resources include city directories, tax rolls, voter registrations, property indentures, letters, local history books, photographs, and oral history. Don’t discount these resources! They provide excellent details and can be crucial as you progress through your research work.

If you are starting your research from scratch, the best way to begin tracing your family history is to start with yourself and work your way backward. Consider the important facts, events and dates related to your own life, and what you know about any siblings, and your parents. It’s best to keep a notebook handy to jot things down as you begin your investigation. I also recommend using a genealogy software program to input your research data and notes. After recording details about your parents, move back to your grandparents, being careful to document your reference sources as you regress.

I liken the research process to that of an ebb tide. It is a back and forth flow of information, with highs and lows related to the amount of information available during particular periods in our history. You may actually find it harder to research family history in the 20th century than it is in the 19th century. Why? Well, one reason is the federal census. Census information can only be released to the public after 72 years. The 1930 Federal census was released in 2002. Access to other recent public records, such as birth certificates, can also be much more difficult to come by. I have found that records from the mid-to-late 1800’s through the early 1900’s seem to be most plentiful. As one regresses in time prior to the mid-1800’s, public records become increasingly more difficult to find.

Consequently, one of the major problems with regressive research is that it becomes increasingly difficult to verify family ties. Older records may be missing first names, surnames, list only initials, or be so poorly written that they lack sufficient or specific details to bind a connection (such as linking a child to parents in a birth record, or linking a woman to her parents in a marriage record). Another ‘show stopper’ problem is that, eventually, the researcher will ‘hit the wall’ with the regressive research, and reach a point where there simply aren’t any written records left to review. Generally, as one regresses further and further in time, the more difficult it becomes to verify family relations.

These problems are more often the rule, rather than the exception, for ‘common folk’. Researching families of stature or royalty is often less onerous (up to a point), because these people have well documented historical references. With an abundance of additional documentation and history to rely on, royals and families of status can be traced back, in some cases, hundreds of years further than common stock families. Rest assured, however, that one will eventually hit the wall no matter who is being researched. For common people, the wall is usually reached sooner, which translates into the verified lineage with a smaller number of generations than that of royalty.

However, all is not lost if royal blood does not course through your veins and leaves of stature do not fill the branches of your family tree. It may be possible to extend your reach, and bridge ‘the wall’ for a period of time. For starters, your research must be exceedingly thorough and balanced in approach. If it is, and the conditions are right, you may be able to use a deductive reasoning technique in your research processes to bridge the wall.

What do I mean by this? First let me tell you what deductive reason is not. It is no guessing game, a stab in the dark, or a linkage of names simply because you have found someone else with a family tree with the same surnames as yours.

Deductive reasoning involves using a foundation of known information, and analyzing it in such a way as to make valid, objective, educated arguments for a family ancestral connection. Making such a case requires multiple pieces of information, oftentimes with supplementary resources, that logically tie personal circumstances together, consider facts that would otherwise exclude or negate the relationships in question from being established (in other words, it would take into account known details that would clearly contradict the relationship that the researcher merely ‘wants’ to make), and at the same time, having met those prior conditions, methodically and logically seems to ‘fit’ in with the known family history. The more pieces of complimentary facts and information that can be considered, obviously, the stronger the case becomes. Depending upon the particulars, there may not be enough additional supplementary resources to make a deductive reasoning insofar as establishing an additional family tie.

In my own case, I was able to apply the deductive reasoning approach with great success. My family lineage stopped six generations back. However, I had strong suspicions of linkage between my 6th generation ancestor and those who I believed were his 7th generation parents. No single piece of information explicitly showed this relationship. Partial names on birth certificates, marriage records, etc., prevented a definitive family tie from being established. However, additional details, like birth dates, Godparents names on baptismal records, names of marriage witnesses, references to known siblings, and other supplementary details were enough to bridge this wall, and conclude that a direct family tie existed between the 6th generation male and the 7th generation parents.

Once I made this connection, I was able to follow the 7th generation father back another two generations. So, it was the deductive reasoning technique that bridged the research wall, and gave me three full generations of lineage to claim as my own. I hit the next wall when I determined the 9th generation father. This wall was reached when my research records ran out. This time frame was about the 1600’s, when the first written church records began in the Rhine area where my ancestors once lived. With no earlier records to review, I do not have enough secondary resources to deduce further ties earlier than the 9th generation family. However, I continue to research, and if I come across additional resources, I may, yet again, be able to bridge the genealogy wall.

Reviewing my case, I was reasonably sure that the family tie I deduced, based upon all of the evidence I had collected, validated and objectively compared, and not being contradictory to anything already relevant to my known ancestors, was enough to confirm this 6th-7th generation relationship.

As it so happens, about a year after I had used my deductive reasoning technique to determine this linkage, a friend from Germany sent me some very old records he had obtained. Included therein was proof positive that the father-son link I had deduced was, in fact, correct. Obviously this proof pleased me, but it went further, confirming my own objective, meticulous genealogical research processes. That confirmation was quite satisfying.

Deductive reasoning is not a technique that can be applied by everyone, but it is a possible solution to consider when you’ve hit the genealogy wall, and are looking for a way to break through it.

Best of luck as you trace your history!

Joseph Yakel is a freelance writer and author. His articles have appeared in publications such as Communications Technology, The Pipeline, and Army Reserve Magazine, and have been highlighted on USAWOA Online, USAR Online, and other Internet websites. For great humor, or genealogy and family history resources, visit his bookstore at http://www.lulu.com/yakel

Joe offers free chapter previews of his books, and welcomes reviews and comments. His books are available in paperback, or downloadable format. For previews and purchasing information, visit Lulu Publishing at: http://www.lulu.com/yakel

Joseph Yakel is available for interviews, and accepts e-mail correspondence at [mailto:armeuv1@yahoo.com]armeuv1@yahoo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Yakel http://EzineArticles.com/?Tracing-your-Family-History—A-primer-on-resources,-research-methods,-problems-and-solutions&id=31155

Doing genealogy is my favorite kind of mystery! In my opinion, no mystery novel can be as exciting as one’s own family history.

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance!”

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

The American Civil War took over 600,00 lives and led to over 1,000,000 casualties. The war officially began on April 12, 1861. It lasted four long years where father fought son, brother fought brother and neighbor fought neighbor.

My second great-uncle, James Anthony Brown of Jackson County Indiana enlisted August 11, 1862 in Captain Ralph Applewhite’s K Company. This was the 67^th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry. From September 14 -17 1862, the regiment was at the battle of Mumfordville, Kentucky. The regiment was captured on September 17^th but was paroled and sent to Indianapolis to reorganize. The 67^th went on to fight battles in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The 67^th lost one officer and 52 enlistees to wounds. Two officers and 194 men died from disease. Sadly James Anthony Brown died March 25, 1862 of a staph infection at the Washington Military Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Back in Indiana, James’ wife Jemima Johnson Brown waited at home with their four month old son and five other children. According to family stories, when word came of James’ death, Jemima “took to her bed” to die also. While in this depressed state, their house caught on fire. She was carried from the house in her bed sheets. It was reported that she sat on a nearby hillside and watched her house burn to the ground. Jemima did recover and raised her children on the government pension she received of $16.00 a month. Jemima remained in Jackson County where she died at the age of 81.

James and Jemima’s story is just one example of why the Civil War has been called the bloodiest and saddest war in American history.

“We here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that the government by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ( portion of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address given November 19, 1863.)

Read the following article to find out what makes up a family history.

Getting Started With Genealogy
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andrea_H._Burke]Andrea H. Burke

The word genealogy brings to mind a Bible page, mementos or an
obituary, especially when a close relative passes away. A
dictionary definition reads: A record of the ancestry and
descent of a person.

Today, it’s family history, instead of just genealogy. Family
history is about people who lived, worshipped, and toiled to
make our world better than theirs.

These things are what make up a “Family History”, a complete
accounting of their lives, their times and their ways; things
which make each of us unique, and individual. Taken together,
they create the ‘glue’ which holds us together in family ties.

So they are no longer “just” the donors of our unique DNA, or
the building blocks of our biology, they are part of us in a way
that no other small group of people could be- even adopted
children become a real part of our family by taking on family
characteristics.

Begin now to write your own unique history, including you, your
parents and grandparents. Ask questions, find names in Bibles,
legal papers or journals; keep dated news clips and certificates
too.

A local Family History Library can help you get started with a
free computer program; this will help you by grouping fathers,
mothers and children together. It will have a place for notes,
sources, and other important information, like maiden names.

Generally the next step is to search census records as they
list every member in each household. Keeping notes and filing
is important, especially when you get large amounts of
information.

A good way is to use a small tape recorder and record
conversations with grandparents and older family members; it can
be transcribed later and printed. Military records are online
and are great sources of information, and it’s all free at your
local Family History Library (just look in the telephone book).

Next, write your history. It’s a good idea to present the
family information in story form, following the generations as
they move from place to place. Your computer will store
information and pictures of family members along with the
written history and charts. The genealogy programs available
today have places for pictures of each individual. Or you can
print, copy or have them professionally published.

However you decide to do it, your history will be cherished by
your children and grandchildren; they’ll know who they are,
they’ll develop pride and self-confidence as they read about the
accomplishments of their own predecessors.

Andrea Holycross Burke, genealogist/consultant with the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. Affiliate with the website Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness [http://www.raogk.org]www.raogk.org; submitter to [http://www.findagrave.com]www.findagrave.com and [http://www.Rootsweb.com]www.Rootsweb.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_H._Burke http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-Started-With-Genealogy&id=301909

Take steps now to insure that your family knows “from whence they came.”

“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness.” Alex Haley 1921-1992

A very talented and remarkable woman, Julia Ward Howe, is largely responsible for Mothers having a special day and also for writing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  Julia Ward was born into a wealthy New York family on May 27, 1819. Her mother died when Julia was only five. Her education included literature, science, and math as well as French, Italian, German, Latin and Greek. She began writing professionally at the age of twenty.

Shortly before her twenty-fourth birthday Julia married the philanthropist and reformist Dr. Samuel G. Howe. Howe was the head of the famed Perkins Institute for the Blind. They were the parents of six children. Besides being an accomplished poet and playwright, Julia assisted her husband with his anti-slavery journal, the Boston Commonwealth.

In 1861, the Howes went to Washington to view a Union army parade. On their way back to Boston their group sang patriotic songs. After singing “John Brown’s Body”, a member of the group suggested that Julia should consider writing better lyrics for that tune. Later that evening Julia wrote the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Julia was paid $5.00 when the song was published in February 1862. The song became an inspiration for the Union soldiers fighting against slavery. I wonder if Julia could have imagined how beloved those words would become for countless people?

After the war Julia became interested in women’s rights and world peace. For eighteen years Julia served as president of the New England Women Suffrage Association. In 1870 she wrote a powerful article entitled Mother’s Day Proclamation. She translated this article into several languages and had it widely distributed. She successfully campaigned for an official holiday and celebration of Mother’s Day. (Mother and daughter Ann and Anna Jarvis also contributed to this crusade.)

Julia Ward Howe died on October 17, 1910. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day.

Julia Ward Howe was a grand lady and a great American!

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on. (Chorus)

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;

The have built Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,

His day is marching on. (Chorus)

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.

Oh, be swift, my soul to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on. (Chorus)

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on. (Chorus)

Chorus:

Glory, glory hallelujah! Glory, glory hallelujah!

Glory, glory hallelujah! His truth is marching on.