What's Up With That?

I try really hard not to complain about the online research services.  With the ratio of good stuff found to errors found, their track record really is pretty good. But this time I have to complain.  I'll make it short & sweet.

When you have a surname like Ligon/Lygon etc and they are ALL OVER the records for both Virginia & South Carolina from the beginning of time - and I ask you _______ (insert name of research database) for a marriage record for Ligon/Lygon and both come back NO RECORDS FOUND -  I have to ask myself, Really?  What's up with that? 

I log out of the program, sign back in and suddenly there's a multitude of hits on that surname? 

Really?  What's up with that?

Wedding Wednesday - Ansley & Hardy

Marriage Record - James Franklin Ansley & Ursula Temperance Hardy

  James F. Ansley & Ursula T. Hardy were married 28 FEB 1845 in Dallas County, Alabama.  James, the son of Samuel Ansley (1774-1842) and his wife Celia Watts Ansley (1783-1849), was born ca1817 in Greene County, Georgia and died in 1894 in Shreveport, Louisianna.  Ursula's parents are currently unknown to the compiler.  She was born 1818 in Edgefield County, South Carolina and died in 1900 in Caddo Parish, Louisianna.  The final resting place for the couple is unknown.

 They were the parents of at least three children - William J., Samuel H., and Alice V. Ansley.  If you have more information on this family I'd love to hear from you.

In The Fight For Independance

Jacob Kesler 14 JUL 1757 - 12 AUG 1843 Buried - Cosby Cemetery, Lauramie Twp., Tippecanoe County, Indiana Jacob's military record is well documented, primarily through his own affidavit in applying for a pension.  As a result he received an amount equivilant to $33.33 per year from 4 MAR 1831 for service in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina.   *****       State of Ohio Preble County:  On this 21st day of September AD 1832 Personally appeared in open Court Before the Honorable Judges of this Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for the county of Preble State of Ohio  Jacob Kesler a resident of Harrison Township Preble County State of Ohio, aged 75 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benfit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.     That he entered the service at the county of York in the state of Pennsylvania where he then resided under Captain George Deal in Col. Michael Swoops Batalion of Pennsylvania Militia some time in the year of 1775 or 1776.  This was a draft for a two month tour of duty. Marched to Elizabethtown in the state of New York aforesaid for a three month tour under Captain John McArnold in said Col. M. Swoops Regt or Batalion  of Pennsylvania Militia.  Remained in the neighborhood of Elizabethtown  most part of this tour, during this time commenced building Fort Lee nearsaid Elizabethtown where he was discharged at the expiration of his tour of duty.  Served three months this tour and got no written discharge.  And that he shortly afterward entered the Service as a volunteer in Captain Nicholas Galwicks Co. Pennsylvania Militia.  Marched under Col. Albright in an expedition against the Indians to Fort Roberts in what was called Sinking Valley. Served a Tour of duty of two months.  This tour thinks was performed in 1778.     And that he afterwards entered the Service as a substitute for one Jacob Finger in Lincoln County, North Carolina in the N. Carolina Militia for a three months tour.  Does not recollect the name of his company officer.  Marched to Charlestown South Carolina Was under Col Henright and served a tour of duty of three months most part of the time in Charlestown S. Carolina  Does not recollect the time he entered the Service but knows he was discharged the 7th day of May and on the 12th day of the same month, five days after he was discharged the British took the town of Charleston. And desponent does further declare that he did serve the several tours of duty aforesaid during the Revolutionary War making aggragately ten months service.  And that he has no documentary evidence, he had written discharge which he had lost and that he knows of no persons whose testimony he can procure who cantestify to all his said service.  He herwith transmits the affidavit of Henry Horn who served a tour of duty with him.  He herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.  he further states that he has a Record of his age which he believes was taken from _______ made by his father by which it appears he born in July AD 1757 in the County of Burks in the State of Pennsylvania and that at the time he was called in to service he lived in York County, Pennsylvania.  nd that he served in the Militia of that state except the last tour he served in North Carolina. And that since the Revolutionary war he resided in Rockingham and Greenbrier Countys of the state of Virginia and from that place he came to Preble County in the state of Ohio where he now resides and has resided for the space of 19 years last part past.  And that he is known to William Leas and Daniel Leas and others who resides in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for Varacity and their belief to his service as a soldier of the Revolutionary War.    Sworn and Subscribed this day and eyar aforesssaid.  J.C. Hawkins, Clerk   /s/ Jacob Kesler   We Jacob F. Miller and Frederick Miller of the County of Preble and State of Ohio do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Kesler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is believed anbd reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we fully concur in the opinion and we believe no doubts have arisen on this subject sworn to and subscribed the day and years aforesaid. /s/ J.C. Hawkins, Clerk /s/J.F. Miller /s/Frederick Miller

Military Monday - Elizabeth Ligon

Pension papers for Elizabeth Townes Ligon, widow of Blackmon Ligon.  Blackmon born 1757 in Virginia, died 3 May 1831 in Greenville, South Carolina.  He married Elizabeth Townes on 17 JUN 1782 in Halifax County, Virginia.  She was born 28 APR 1753 probably in Amelia County, Virginia, and she dies 15 OCT 1842 in Greenville, South Carolina.  

[The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research SCMAR, Volume IV Number 3, Summer, 1976 Marriage and Death Notices from the Greenville Mountaineer (Continued from Vol. 4, p.78.)]

 Vol. IV, Summer 1976, No. 3, p.177 -
 
 Died - In this District on the ____ October last, Mrs. Elizabeth Ligon, widow of Blackmon Ligon, deceased, in the 89th year of her age. The deceased was, with her family, among the earliest (settlers) of the District from Virginia… She was for many years, prior to her death a member of the Baptist Church.
 
Together they were the parents of 8 children - Mary, Nancy, John T., Elizabeth, Blackman, William B., Joe, and Batts.  
Nancy married a Mr. Moon, John T. married Frances E. Young, Blackman married Nancy Moon, William B., married Eliza Lawn.  Those not mentioned I have nothing more on. 
 
Do you have connections to this LIGON line?  I'd love to hear from you. I have more on the ancestry and descendantts and I'd be happy share!
 
Leave a comment on the blog or drop me a line at karen AT miprofgenie DOT com...
 
Happy Researching!
Karen

Military Monday - Blackmon Ligon (Rev. War)

Muster Roll for Cap't William Moseley (1778)

Clicking on image will open in new window, use browsers back button to return to Genealogy Frame of Mind.

Blackmon Ligon, shown here in the left column #1, was the son of Joseph Ligon & his wife, Judith Blackmon. He was born 1757 in Virginia and died 3 MAY 1831 in Greenville, South Carolina.

On 17 JUN 1782 in Halifax, Virginia he was married to Miss Elizabeth Townes (1753-1842).

They were the parents of 7 children: Mary, Nancy T., John T., Elizabeth, Blackmon, William B., and Joseph.

Sources:
- Selected Record From Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives, Washington, D.C. [Microfilmed records of Revolutionary War soldiers pension and bounty land files. Includes copies of applications, letters, and misc. documention to provide proof for claim. Alphabetized first by surname then given name. Not pagenated. Microfilm located at the Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan]
- William Daniel LIGON, Jr., The Ligon Family and Connections (Printed in the U. S. A. by The Bond Press, Inc., Hartford, Connecticutt, 1947 Binding by The H. R. Huntting Co., Springfield, Mass.), Pg. 493

Happy Researching!
 Karen

Everything I Needed to Know I Found On Ancestry...

At least that is what some people think... In my travels over the past few years I've come to realize that most people really believe that everything they need to know about researching (and finding) their family history is on Ancestry. Its as though the whole internet boils down to this one website.

I find it disappointing that people really believe that this is the only way to find anything on their family history. It's a shame actually, because there is so much more to the internet & genealogy besides Ancestry.

It's almost like people are afraid to jump out of the comfort of their "nest" and try flying errr searching on their own. With search engines there's so much more to find, and the best part? There's no cost. Try Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Bing to name a few.

Try this: Print off ONE group sheet for a family you would like to focus on. Just one. Now sit down at your computer and spend a few hours with each of the search engines. Playing with surnames, playing with places named on that group sheet. Try searching for place names & vital records. Try searches like "South Carolina Archives" or "Missouri Death Certificates". Stay away from the commercial sites. Try using " __", try using + and - with words, don't forget ( and ) with your words as well. Be creative with your searches. Try searching for your ancestors names, with and without dates, with & without locations. How about searching for your ancestors name with & without a religion attached? Ever thought about looking for newspaper archives or obituaries without using Ancestry? It can be done.

I'm not knocking Ancestry but there really is alot more to the internet than just Ancestry. Have you looked at FamilySearchLabs? How about Cindi's List? Expand your horizons a bit and try searching using your search engines. It just might surprise you what you can find.

Happy Researching!
Karen

Wordless Wednesday (sort of) Some People Have All The Luck

[Springwood Cemetery, Greenville, South Carolina]

(Relationship calculator shows 4th cousin twice removed to husband Mark!)