I keep telling you that I'm back and then disappear for weeks on end: Not good. The problem, as I see it, is I've been suffering through a period of depression. Why am I depressed? I haven't a clue. But depressed I have been and still am. I've decided to fight it every way I know how and preparing and writing this blog is one of the avenues I intend to pursue in that fight.
To me, knowledge of, and about, our ancestral families helps us understand, not only where we came from, but why we are as we are. It provides clues to the sources of our various strengths and weaknesses. It isn't easy to discover what their individual accompolishments were, but as we trace the succeeding families over time and place them in their historical context, we begin to get clues as to why we, and they, as individuals, are what we are. I find these discoveries about my ancestors and myself fascinating.
Now that I've got the gobble de goop out of my system, I'll get my next blog addition written and published here within the next few days. I hope you stay with me.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, October 3, 2011
***Gr Grandfather Davis is a Boyd!!!!***
IMPORTANT DAVIS FAMILY UPDATE
As many of you know, especially any of you who have been doing Joseph Davis family genealogical research, no one, up to now, has had any luck determining whom Great Grandfather, Joseph's father was. It was known that his mother, Irish immigrant, Agnus (Agnes) Leman?), was born in Ireland in 1820 and arrived in America before 1841 because that is the year her son, Joseph, was born in Pennsylvania.
The very earliest record I have been able to find for Agnus Leman, 30 years old, an Irish immigrant, is in the 1850 Middlesex Twp., Butler County, Pennsylvania census living with a Samuel Davis 50, Head of household, born in Pennsylvania. Also living with Samuel but not shown as his wife, was a Marguetta Davis 64, born in Ireland. Joseph, Agnus ' son, who would have been 9 or 10 years old, was living with an aunt. Samuel and Agnus were married in 1850. They had children who were enumerated in the1860 and 1870 censuses. Interestingly, during those two censuses her name is shown as Nancy and Joseph is never shown living with them.
By the time of the 1880 census they had moved and were living in East Deer Twp. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and she is again listed as Agnus. Living next door during that census is Joseph Davis, an invalid, with his wife and children which included my grandfather, Herbert, and several of his sisters. In 1884, a two year old child named Rebeca Leman is buried in Samuel Davis's cemetery plot.Two weeks later, a J. L. Leman is buried along side of her. There are no other citing's of either a Joseph Davis or Joseph Leman in the records there. And to complicate matters a bit more, neither my Grandfather or Grandmother Davis ever mentioned the child Rebeca.
No researcher, that I'm aware of, ever knew what Joseph's true surname was, up until now. In 2009, my first cousin, Frank Davis, a direct, male, lineal descendant of Joseph's had his DNA done and the name Boyd was a 37 marker exact match to Frank's DNA. And just within the last month or so the niece of the Boyd donner, who is the family researcher, contacted me. Her ancestor was a James Boyd, b15 Aug. 1815, in County Antrim, Ireland. He arrived at the Port of New York in 1840. James and his pregnant wife immediately migrated to Nebraska where there son was born in 1840. This implies that either Agnes immigrated at the same time as James and his pregnant wife did and she and James got together on board a very small, crowded with immigrants, ship. Or, she had a relationship with a very close Boyd relative of James who would have arrived in America earlier. That seems more logical to me. My problem is, I don't know when or what port Agnes arrived in when she came to America. If any of you out there know when she arrived, I would really appreciate that information. We're getting close. But this is a big step forward.
As many of you know, especially any of you who have been doing Joseph Davis family genealogical research, no one, up to now, has had any luck determining whom Great Grandfather, Joseph's father was. It was known that his mother, Irish immigrant, Agnus (Agnes) Leman?), was born in Ireland in 1820 and arrived in America before 1841 because that is the year her son, Joseph, was born in Pennsylvania.
The very earliest record I have been able to find for Agnus Leman, 30 years old, an Irish immigrant, is in the 1850 Middlesex Twp., Butler County, Pennsylvania census living with a Samuel Davis 50, Head of household, born in Pennsylvania. Also living with Samuel but not shown as his wife, was a Marguetta Davis 64, born in Ireland. Joseph, Agnus ' son, who would have been 9 or 10 years old, was living with an aunt. Samuel and Agnus were married in 1850. They had children who were enumerated in the1860 and 1870 censuses. Interestingly, during those two censuses her name is shown as Nancy and Joseph is never shown living with them.
By the time of the 1880 census they had moved and were living in East Deer Twp. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and she is again listed as Agnus. Living next door during that census is Joseph Davis, an invalid, with his wife and children which included my grandfather, Herbert, and several of his sisters. In 1884, a two year old child named Rebeca Leman is buried in Samuel Davis's cemetery plot.Two weeks later, a J. L. Leman is buried along side of her. There are no other citing's of either a Joseph Davis or Joseph Leman in the records there. And to complicate matters a bit more, neither my Grandfather or Grandmother Davis ever mentioned the child Rebeca.
No researcher, that I'm aware of, ever knew what Joseph's true surname was, up until now. In 2009, my first cousin, Frank Davis, a direct, male, lineal descendant of Joseph's had his DNA done and the name Boyd was a 37 marker exact match to Frank's DNA. And just within the last month or so the niece of the Boyd donner, who is the family researcher, contacted me. Her ancestor was a James Boyd, b15 Aug. 1815, in County Antrim, Ireland. He arrived at the Port of New York in 1840. James and his pregnant wife immediately migrated to Nebraska where there son was born in 1840. This implies that either Agnes immigrated at the same time as James and his pregnant wife did and she and James got together on board a very small, crowded with immigrants, ship. Or, she had a relationship with a very close Boyd relative of James who would have arrived in America earlier. That seems more logical to me. My problem is, I don't know when or what port Agnes arrived in when she came to America. If any of you out there know when she arrived, I would really appreciate that information. We're getting close. But this is a big step forward.
Monday, September 12, 2011
DNA Importance in Genealogical Research
DNA IN GENEALOGY
It would be difficult to over estimate the importance of DNA in confirming and or assisting in one's genealogical research. I make this statement from a positive experience in two of my four primary descendant lines, Holt, my father, and Davis, my mother.
Ten or twelve years ago, Mott Holt, from Hawaii, a direct lineal descendant of John Holt, son of Thomas Holt, the only proven direct lineal descendant of the immigrant, Henry Holt, and I compared our Holt line records research. I descended from Thomas, the youngest son of Thomas Sr. He descended through John, the oldest son of Thomas Holt Sr. We had both, unbeknownst to each other, worked our way back along our individual lines and ended up with Thomas, Henry's son as our common ancestor.
Five or six years later, we each, again, unbeknownst to the other, had gotten our individual DNA done. When we again got in contact and compared results, it was a perfect 37 marker match, absolutely confirming our individual record's research.
For at least 35 years I have been researching my Davis ancestry and for 35 years I have had an absolutely, impregnable stone wall. My great Grandfather, Joseph Davis, seemed to have appeared out of the mist. I knew his mother's name, Agnes Leman, but that is all I knew. I knew she was born in 1820 in Ireland and that Joseph was born in 1840 in Pennsylvania. Who was his father? I had absolutely no clue.
My cousin, Frank Davis, is a direct line male descendant of Joseph so we had his DNA done. The result floored us both. Joseph's true biological father's surname was Boyd and it was a perfect 37 marker match. No ifs, ands or buts, Joseph's father's surname was Boyd. What Boyd family? We don't know yet but we think he was a member of one of the three or four Boyd families living in Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. Pa. in 1840. We believe Agnes was living there in 1840. Unfortunately, women were only counted and listed in age groups in a family and not named in the 1840 census. We are in touch with the Boyd match person but have not completed our research on his family's whereabouts in 1840.
It would be difficult to over estimate the importance of DNA in confirming and or assisting in one's genealogical research. I make this statement from a positive experience in two of my four primary descendant lines, Holt, my father, and Davis, my mother.
Ten or twelve years ago, Mott Holt, from Hawaii, a direct lineal descendant of John Holt, son of Thomas Holt, the only proven direct lineal descendant of the immigrant, Henry Holt, and I compared our Holt line records research. I descended from Thomas, the youngest son of Thomas Sr. He descended through John, the oldest son of Thomas Holt Sr. We had both, unbeknownst to each other, worked our way back along our individual lines and ended up with Thomas, Henry's son as our common ancestor.
Five or six years later, we each, again, unbeknownst to the other, had gotten our individual DNA done. When we again got in contact and compared results, it was a perfect 37 marker match, absolutely confirming our individual record's research.
For at least 35 years I have been researching my Davis ancestry and for 35 years I have had an absolutely, impregnable stone wall. My great Grandfather, Joseph Davis, seemed to have appeared out of the mist. I knew his mother's name, Agnes Leman, but that is all I knew. I knew she was born in 1820 in Ireland and that Joseph was born in 1840 in Pennsylvania. Who was his father? I had absolutely no clue.
My cousin, Frank Davis, is a direct line male descendant of Joseph so we had his DNA done. The result floored us both. Joseph's true biological father's surname was Boyd and it was a perfect 37 marker match. No ifs, ands or buts, Joseph's father's surname was Boyd. What Boyd family? We don't know yet but we think he was a member of one of the three or four Boyd families living in Middlesex Twp., Butler Co. Pa. in 1840. We believe Agnes was living there in 1840. Unfortunately, women were only counted and listed in age groups in a family and not named in the 1840 census. We are in touch with the Boyd match person but have not completed our research on his family's whereabouts in 1840.
Friday, September 9, 2011
I'm back----I think
Finally, for the first time in over a week, I am able to get back on my blog--I think. Who the heck ever runs the show on blogs has made changes that an old bird like me has found difficult to impossible to cope with. Why in the h--- they don't just leave things alone is beyond me. This won't be a long one, I'm just trying to find out how to use this new format.
Everything is familiar to me, its just as though I were working on my memoirs in Word which, incidentally, was a big change from my preferred Word Perfect. Why did I change? After fifteen years of using WordPerfect, my last version was the 2005 one, it crashed and I almost lost the 200 page memoir that I've been working on for ten or more years. Aha, now you know, I'm a mite slow in getting things done. Hmmm, everything looks OK and could make a little difference, maybe. So, I'll give it a try and see if I can publish this thing. I may have to wait until my wife, Genie, gets home so she can lead me through the how to's.
What would we guys do without our women folk?
Everything is familiar to me, its just as though I were working on my memoirs in Word which, incidentally, was a big change from my preferred Word Perfect. Why did I change? After fifteen years of using WordPerfect, my last version was the 2005 one, it crashed and I almost lost the 200 page memoir that I've been working on for ten or more years. Aha, now you know, I'm a mite slow in getting things done. Hmmm, everything looks OK and could make a little difference, maybe. So, I'll give it a try and see if I can publish this thing. I may have to wait until my wife, Genie, gets home so she can lead me through the how to's.
What would we guys do without our women folk?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Very Tough Assignment---Keep the Blog Interesting---Really Tough to do!
I've been blowing it big time lately on keeping the blog interesting and moving along. At first I published articles on various, older families. Then I awakened to the fact that even if I went back only three generations---in some families I have them back eight to as many as twelve generations---and picked a family to write about, only 1/16th of the visitors to my site would be interested in that particular family. Not a good way to keep readers interested in visiting the blog. As to my genealogy, it is already public and there is a link in this blog to take you to it.
What will I write about? Well, because I have found interesting things about certain individuals in my genealogical lines their stories will be told. But mostly I intend to write about topics other than family that I find of interest to me that I hope will be of interest to you. Also, and I want to emphasize this, I would really appreciate in-put from my readers.
What will I write about? Well, because I have found interesting things about certain individuals in my genealogical lines their stories will be told. But mostly I intend to write about topics other than family that I find of interest to me that I hope will be of interest to you. Also, and I want to emphasize this, I would really appreciate in-put from my readers.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Peripheral Neuropathy---Inherited---I have it---Do any of You?
I was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy in my early seventies. My sister Virginia, who is 14 months younger than I, followed right on time, one year later. There is very strong evidence that ours is the inherited variety. I don't know whether our two younger brothers, Rodney nee Frank, or Lee had it. Both died in their early seventies so it may not have been far enough advanced for them to have noticed it or had it diagnosed.
Peripheral Neuropathy? What is it? I don't know whether it is a disease or an affliction but it has to do with the ends or periphery of your nerves literally dying. You lose a great deal of the physical ability to feel things with the surface of your body. In my case, my feet became numb which in turn caused me to lose my balance. At first you don't notice it because you compensate with your vision. Your balance is a combination of feeling--sensing through your feet--and seeing. As long as there is a light source somewhere within your vision you're okay. But if it's very dark and there isn't a light source, even a tiny one, you will quickly lose your balance. There is no known cure or even a modestly effective treatment for it yet. Research is in high gear to find both but as of now, nothing.
I don't know which family line it came down through. That is why I'm asking all of you related to me whether you or any member of your family, past or present, may have, or do have it. My personal knowledge of the affliction came when I was diagnosed with it fifteen years ago. I'd never heard of it before.
Your response would be greatly appreciated. I will pass along to you the results of this request just in case it might be of some help to you or a member of your family.
Peripheral Neuropathy? What is it? I don't know whether it is a disease or an affliction but it has to do with the ends or periphery of your nerves literally dying. You lose a great deal of the physical ability to feel things with the surface of your body. In my case, my feet became numb which in turn caused me to lose my balance. At first you don't notice it because you compensate with your vision. Your balance is a combination of feeling--sensing through your feet--and seeing. As long as there is a light source somewhere within your vision you're okay. But if it's very dark and there isn't a light source, even a tiny one, you will quickly lose your balance. There is no known cure or even a modestly effective treatment for it yet. Research is in high gear to find both but as of now, nothing.
I don't know which family line it came down through. That is why I'm asking all of you related to me whether you or any member of your family, past or present, may have, or do have it. My personal knowledge of the affliction came when I was diagnosed with it fifteen years ago. I'd never heard of it before.
Your response would be greatly appreciated. I will pass along to you the results of this request just in case it might be of some help to you or a member of your family.
Monday, August 15, 2011
ECOFF--.A Long Line of Distinguished Warriors
A few years back, 2007 I believe, after I had started work on my memoir, I got in touch with one of my relatives who had served as a pilot in WW ll, David W. Ecoff. Dave had a twin brother, Daniel, who had also served in WW ll and was also a pilot but in the Navy. I finally reached Dave and had a wonderful old-home-week conversation with him. Dave and Dan born July 10, 1920, which made them almost exactly six years older than I so I didn't really know them at all.
Dave was sworn in as an aviation cadet on the 25 of February, 1942 and soloed on June 19th of that same year. and was discharged October15, 1945. That same year, he enlisted in the Air force reserve and served until 1980 when, at age 60, he received an honorable discharge.
In 2007 I contacted Dave to help me with the genealogy of that side of the family. During our conversation I became aware of the long line of Ecoff men and relatives who had served our Country from the war of 1812, actually the Revolution, through WW ll. He had collected copies of pictures of most of them including pictures of the12 Ecoffs who served in WW ll, one of whom was an Olaf G. Beestrum, who I believe was the husband of an Ecoff female. He very kindly sent me a copy of his collection of Ecoff warriors and several years later, a copy of a book covering his years in WWll which will be the subject of an upcoming blog. For now, though, I want to show you his colledtion of the Ecoff Warriors:
Dave was sworn in as an aviation cadet on the 25 of February, 1942 and soloed on June 19th of that same year. and was discharged October15, 1945. That same year, he enlisted in the Air force reserve and served until 1980 when, at age 60, he received an honorable discharge.
In 2007 I contacted Dave to help me with the genealogy of that side of the family. During our conversation I became aware of the long line of Ecoff men and relatives who had served our Country from the war of 1812, actually the Revolution, through WW ll. He had collected copies of pictures of most of them including pictures of the12 Ecoffs who served in WW ll, one of whom was an Olaf G. Beestrum, who I believe was the husband of an Ecoff female. He very kindly sent me a copy of his collection of Ecoff warriors and several years later, a copy of a book covering his years in WWll which will be the subject of an upcoming blog. For now, though, I want to show you his colledtion of the Ecoff Warriors:
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