Genealogy and History Fan

Have you ever read a historical article, novel or old death certificate and come across a strange sounding ailment or disease? The following are some of the more common diseases or sicknesses and what they were called in “bygone days”.

Pneumonia might be called Lung Fever or Winter Fever. Tuberculosis was commonly called Consumption, but might also be described as African Consumption, Galloping Consumption or Lung Sickness. Influenza was La Grippe or Grippe.

The common cold might be called Coryza. General terms for infection were Corruption of Mortification. Anemia was Green Sickness. Skin infections were sometimes called St. Anthony’s Fire. A boil was called a Whitlow.

Tonsillitis was known as Quinsey. Other names for Malaria were Congestive Fever or Remitting Fever. Ague was the persistent recurring chills and fever of Malaria. If a person suffered a stroke it was called Apoplexy.

Small pox was also known or Black Pox. A concussion might be listed as a Commotion. Whooping Cough was called Chin Cough. A sun stroke was known as Brain Fever. Various types of mental illnesses were called Bethlehemite.

I recently saw a number of these diseases listed as cause of death on an 1870 Mortality Schedule. Hope this list helps you identify some “strange” sicknesses that really aren’t so strange after all.

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

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.)

Genealogy tip:  If your immigrant ancestor served in the Civil War he automatically became a U.S. citizen without going through the naturalization process.

As  tax day, April 15^th draws near taxes are on many people’s minds. Did you know that the average person works 2 ½ hours everyday just to pay that day’s share of taxes? Taxes have no doubt been a “sore point” for ages.

The theme “no taxation without representation”, had been heard in Boston as early as 1753. But it took 23 more frustrating years for things to begin to change. Was the high tax on the Colonist’s beloved tea “the straw that broke the camel’s back”? Actually, the tax was on all British imports, but the main point was that the colonies had no representatives in Parliament. Something had to be done, so a relatively small group of men took action and dumped a huge shipment of tea.

There are some events that took place during the historic time when America was declaring its independence from England that are so historic, so iconic that they have taken on the status of myth and legend as much as history. And certainly the Boston Tea Party fits that description. .

But the events of December 16, 1776 were not fable or myth but real and important parts of the development of the American Revolution that was crucial to the early foundation of this country. The situation of taxation that was being imposed by England on goods that were coming into the colonies was one of serious stress on the colonists because they had no control over those taxes.

Finally, it was time for the colonists to make a statement that this unethical and immoral use of taxes on tea was for all intents and purposes an act of war and they were going to treat it as such. Badly disguised as Indians, the brave colonists boarded the HMS Dartmouth and her sister ships, the HMS Beaver and the HMS Eleanor and skillfully and efficiently dumped the entire delivery of tea into Boston harbor. All totaled, over forty five tons of tea went into the water that night.

This event was pivotal in pushing the hostilities between England and the colonies past the “nuisance” stage and setting forces in motion for war. But more than that, it was such a bold statement of defiance that many colonists were inspired to join the increasing chorus calling for war and independence.

For loyal Britains, the idea of separating and forming their own country was hard to grasp. But the leadership of the men who planned and executed the Boston Tea Party demonstrated a new independent spirit. This was the kind of backbone, the sense of pride and independence that was to come to define the American spirit in years ahead. But it took the courage and boldness of this little band of men to demonstrate that being trod on by a foreign tyrant was not something we had to put up with.

It made a statement to England and showed the colonists that revolution was possible and they really could think of themselves as free people who would bow to no king. From that time forward the independence of America was inevitable. These visionary leaders showed us an America that gave power to its people, not to kings or governments. The result in how America works and how our lives are lived is the direct outcome of bold protests such as the Boston Tea Party.

My 5^th great grandfather, Peter Miller, according to family stories was one of the 300 members of the Boston Tea Party. He was a coppersmith in Boston before joining the fight for independence.

How grateful I am for men (and women) who have stood up and made a positive difference for all of us. May we remember and honor their lives and accomplishments.

PPPPP 727

From the following article we learn some of the reasons why people trace their family history. Ready this for some interesting ideas.

What is Genealogy?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Javier_Colayco]Javier Colayco

Genealogy, generally defined, is the study of one’s ancestry. However, in actuality, genealogy is much more involved and interesting than its general definition lets on.

When you begin studying genealogy, you realize just how much interesting information your family history can reveal. Genealogy can shed light on where your ancestors came from, where they lived, what they did for a living, who they married and what property they owned.

Almost everyone, whether they realize it or not, has participated in some form of genealogy activity. In grade school, did you ever make a family tree? That’s genealogy! Genealogy can be as simple as making a record of your family tree from you to your great grandparents or as complex as tracing your entire lineage back to ancient times.

The history of genealogy dates back to the Old Testament of The Bible. In the very first book, the Book of Genesis, we see a family’s bloodline narrated and the importance of genealogy. The New Testament would later also reflect the importance of genealogy in religion and society. Both the Books of Matthew and Luke outline the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth.

But The Bible is not the only written record that lends credence to the importance of genealogy. Throughout history we find records of disputes, murders and even wars where genealogy played a part in the story. Ties to royalty, rights to inheritances and eligibility for rulership are all tied to a person’s heritage, and genealogy provides the map that illustrates who has right to what claims.

There are a number of instances throughout history in which genealogy played an important role as certain dramas unfolded before humanity. From something as significant as the lineage of Jesus of Nazareth to something as modernly-trivial as the true father of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, genealogy has oftentimes been at the forefront as history played itself out.

Genealogy also played a large role in England’s historical claim to the throne of France. King Edward III was a Norman-French descendant. When his uncle, Charles IV of France, passed away Edward tried to lay claim to the French throne.

He tried convincing the powers that be that even though his mother could not lay claim to the throne because she was a woman, she could pass on the bloodline’s right to the throne, making him the rightful ruler of France. Of course, the descendants of the male side of the bloodline didn’t agree and the argument eventually led to the Hundred Year’s War.

England and France aren’t the only countries to have disputes over who would be the rightful heir of a throne because of genealogy. Rowena’s, Byzantium, Portugal, and even ancient Egypt all have histories that are rich in bloodline disputes.

Genealogy finds aren’t all ancient history. Modern genealogy issues have hit the media recently. Al Sharpton’s recent discovery is proof of the ironies that genealogy may uncover. Mr. Sharpton, who earlier this year stated that he might run for president in 2008, recently discovered through genealogy research that his great-grandfather was a slave owned by none other than Senator Strom Thurman’s great-great-grandfather. In fact, the two may be related by blood.

Then, of course, there are the less-significant genealogy disputes that don’t have nearly as much importance as some of these historical and political events, but they get enough media coverage to make them world famous. The true family tree of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter is just one instance. Perhaps this dispute over lineage wasn’t historically significant, but it appears that many found it to be a topic of intense interest.

There are a number of reasons why people pursue genealogy. From something as simple as a mild interest in one’s family history to something as significant as trying to find the parts of a broken family and piece them back together, the reasons for studying genealogy are numerous.

Genealogy can help a person get in touch with who they really are. You can find out who your ancestors were, what they did, where they lived, and more. By tracing your roots, you not only learn about those in your bloodline who have gone before you, but you can research and gain an understanding of these members of your family that you never had the chance to meet.

While genealogy doesn’t always dig up buried treasure, it is indeed a possibility. Did you have a rich great uncle who died without any heirs? One you never knew about? If you did, genealogy could help you uncover the details that would help you claim what was rightfully yours.

There have been times throughout history when extreme circumstances split families apart. World War II, for instance, tore brother from sister and mother from child. Genealogy is a tool that can help piece broken families back together and thousands of people have done just that.

Sometimes genealogy is just plain fun. Wouldn’t it be exciting to find out you were a distant cousin of a famous celebrity, or that your great-great-great-great grandfather was a king? Many times genealogy can uncover interesting and exciting facts about a person’s family tree.

Genealogy, while always important, didn’t experience such a widespread explosion in popularity until the advent of the Internet. Gone are the days when researching your family tree meant running from one public records facility to the next, hoping you could find missing pieces to the puzzle by mailing away for information that might never arrive.

With more and more public records being made available online, priceless genealogy information is just a mouse click away and easier than ever to create a fluid family tree. Its no wonder millions of Internet users have started tracing their family lines on the Web. What used to take years to accomplish can now be done in a matter of days or weeks.

With genealogy becoming more and more popular and advanced genealogy tools now so readily available, there really hasn’t been a better time to get involved. Whether you only want to trace your family history back a few generations or you want to see just how far back you can climb up your family tree, the genealogy tools now available will make the process faster, more efficient and much more enjoyable.

Javier Colayco is the founder of TribalJunction.com ( http://www.tribaljunction.com), a site that makes it easy to create a family tree and find distant relatives. With additional features like group email, customizable user profiles and more, Tribal Junction also helps families keep in touch.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Javier_Colayco http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Genealogy?&id=839230

Recently we learned that Barack Obama is distantly related to six presidents and to Brad Pitt. Hillary Clinton is distantly related to Angelina Jolie, Camilla Parker-Boles and Madonna. John McCain is a 6^th cousin of first lady Laura Bush. In my own genealogy, I have a President (Harry Truman) and an outlaw (Jesse James) from the same family line. You never know who might turn up in your family!

“Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

In recent months leading up to the Primary elections, we heard much about Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the controversial retired minister of the church that Barack Obama had attended for 20 years. Some say it doesn’t really matter what Rev. Wright speaks from the pulpit. Could Wright’s views really have little or no influence on his parishioners? This current story reminds me of a very old family story that shows the great influence that one minister had on his congregation.

Rev. Peter Muhlenberg, a Lutheran Minister in Shenandoah County, Virginia was chosen to head a “Committee of Safety” on January 10, 1775. He began to enlist Germans and others in the Valley for what many called the “inevitable conflict”.

In the early morning of April 19, 1775 some 70 armed militiamen from Massachusetts fixed upon British guardsmen. This unordered attack which is known as “the shot heard around the world” was what officially began the American Revolution.

A few days later on April 23rd, Congress ordered 13,600 American soldiers to be mobilized. On May 15th, Congress placed the country in a “state of defense.” One month later George Washington was appointed by a unanimous vote to become the General and Commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.

Meanwhile down in Virginia, Rev. Muhlenberg, preached his final sermon to his parishioners. He resigned as their minister and then threw off his robes. Underneath his robes was the uniform of a Colonel in the Continental Army (blue coat with yellow buttons worn over white breeches). He marched out of the church with the male members of the congregation following him to the recruiting office! We believe that one of our relatives, William Clevenger, was one of those men who was persuaded by his pastor, to sign up for the “cause of independence”.

I can imagine that the good Reverent on that day may have quoted Psalm 31:24 “Be ye of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Col. Muhlenberg and his regiment served with Washington at Morristown, New Jersey where Muhlenberg was promoted to Brigadier-General. It has been reported that William Clevenger was also there at Morristown. William was later wounded at the battle of Monmouth.

Do you believe that some ministers of today are over-stepping their bounds? Do you believe they should espouse their political and “non-traditional” views from the pulpit? Has worshipping God, loving our neighbor and serving mankind been put on the back burner for some in this political year? Tell me what you think.

As the Civil War came to an end, it was important to take the accomplishments that had been made and transition them into the law of the land. This needed to be done before any ground was lost, and as reconstruction returned the nation to one country rather than two warring parties. The upheaval of society that the abolition of slavery represented and the massive surge forward for black history was so important that it had to be made permanent with amendments to the constitution.

The work to change a nation from one of slavery to one of equality started with three important amendments to the constitution. The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery forever and the fourteenth amendment reversed the negative effects of the Dred Scott decision providing equal protection under the law for all citizens of this country regardless of race, color or creed.

Next came the fifteenth amendment which went further than just establishing the basic human rights of the African American community. It made a change so fundamental to how America works that its ramifications were sweeping and far reaching down to this day. The text of the amendment is direct and elegant…

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.This was a tremendous leap forward for the black community when this amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870. It finally meant that the African American population in this country could stand up and be counted and start making a mark on politics.But like so many other great advances in black history, earning the right to vote didn’t automatically make it easy to vote. There was staunch resistance to actually allowing blacks to go to the polling booth in many communities across the country. The Klu Klux Klan engaged in intimidation tactics to try to keep African Americans home from the polls. In Louisiana, the mob attempts to stop the institutions of a legally elected and integrated local government had to be broken up by federal troops sent in by Ulysses S. Grant.

Probably the most serious threat to the actual workability of the fifteenth amendment was the introduction of the poll tax and other registration tricks that were used such as literacy tests and voter qualification tests. This practice became such a problem that it instigated the passage of the twenty fourth amendment which outlawed poll taxes which were only designed to usurp the rights of African Americans to vote.

But these desperate attempts could not stop the march of justice and democracy to assure that voting rights were available to all Americans. Before long blacks were occupying positions of influence and decision making in state legislatures and at the federal level. It’s been a long struggle but even in the last few decades we have seen positions of high honor and influence held by African Americans such as Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. And if Barack Obama wins the democratic nomination, that will be yet another break through for a proud man and a proud people.

“If liberty and equality are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be attained when all persons share in government to the utmost.”

Aristotle (384-323 B.C.)

May we all exercise our right to vote so we can all be a part of the governing process. But we should also care enough to learn about the candidates and issues and vote for who we think would be the best for our country.

“Every voter ought not merely to vote, but to vote under the inspiration of the high purpose to serve a nation.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)

The Freedman Savings and Trust Company was established in 1865 as a bank for freed slaves and former soldiers who were African American. It began in Washington D.C., but had 37 branches in the south and also in New York and Pennsylvania. This bank with it’s branches had about 72,000 clients. It is believed that 8 - 10 million African Americans living today have ancestors on these records.

The records contain the applications forms that were filled out to open accounts at the bank. Some of the questions asked were of course the name of the applicant, also age, place of birth , where they were raised, occupation, employer, names of spouse, children, parents and siblings, military service etc. What a wealth of information! The problem was they were not in alphabetical order so they were very difficult to search.

Several years ago The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with the aid of prisoners from the Utah State Prison, worked to extract and organize these records.
These records contain 480,000 names in alphabetical order, and are on an easy to use CD-Rom. The cost is $6.50 - yes six dollars and fifty cents and that includes shipping! If you have African American ancestors, there is an excellent chance you will find them in this database.

The Freedman Bank records were said to be the main records that Alex Haley used to find his ancestors for his famous book “Roots”. Speaking of family history and Alex Haley - he once said “My fondest hope is that “Roots” may start black, white, brown, red and yellow people digging back for their own roots. Man, that would make me feel 90 feet tall!” If Haley were alive today, I’m sure he would be standing tall for his sparking a desire in millions of people to search for their family history.

To order the Freedman Bank records go to http://www.familysearch.org/ and click on order/download products (upper right hand corner)