Monday Musings

Happy Monday to everyone!  Hope your weekend was great.  The snow is melting here and temps are on the rise. Maybe winter is on the way out!  One can hope eh?

Spent much of this past week working on linking and naming images.  Seems as though that is a never ending process.  I use it not just for genealogy but for recipes as well.   Once I type them in to my recipe data base I link the scanned images to the recipes.  Works great!

On the genealogy front,  I'm cleaning up my digital files and image folders.  Somehow, there's always a duplicate or two.  So I'm getting rid of some, recropping some and some just linking.

Going to work on some genealogy this morning.  Have more digital images that I want to take care of.  Its nice not having tons of papers laying all over, but the number of images can at times be overwhelming.  In the long run it will all be worth it when I am done.

The next major project is going thru every photo and making sure they are linked as they should be.  I don't anticipate this taking more  than 2 years or so, working an hour or two every day.  But it will be worth it.  Going to start with all the cemetery & headstone images first.

Oh well,  keeps me out of trouble for the most part, and I know when I'm done it will be an awesome thing.   I'm doing a wee bit of research here and there, mainly figuring out the "unknown's" in my file.  I keep a file of the unknown's with the surnames I am working on.  Basically in the area's where I know our lines are, I come across a headstone or a death certificate or obit and I try to figure them out and add them to my regular file.  Love the challenge of figuring those out.

Maybe the luck of the Irish will be with me today while I work on some of those...  one can only hope eh?

Happy Researching!
Karen

Military Monday - Confederate William A. Manser

In my many years of research I've always enjoyed military records.  I know many people shy away from them or are intimidated by them.  Whenever I see anyone young enough to be "in the service" of their country and die during the time frame a military action was taking place, I head right out to search for some indication of how they might have died.   I have a subscription to Fold3 and I use it ALOT!  

Such was the case with William Augustus Manser, son of Miles Manser (1798-1873) and his wife, Catherine "Caty" Morris (1797-1887).   William was the fourth of five children born to the couple - Edna, Eunice, Miles Jr., Wm. A. and Virginia.   

Catherine Morris, mother of William was the daughter of Benjamin Morris (1770-1829) and his wife, Nancy Jarrett (1769-1832).  Benjamin & Nancy are direct line for Mark, being his 6th great grandparents.


When I found the death date for William I immediately went to Fold3 and was not surprised when I found several muster roll entries and then this....

Doesn't get much better than finding something like this, confirming my suspicions.  Now I have the rest of the story.

Happy Researching!

Tombstone Tuesday

Fanny Hurst nee Nunn, was born ca 1789 probably in Virginia.  I do not know who her parents were.  She married William Hurst, son of John "Mill Creek" Hurst and his wife, Elizabeth Breedwell, ca 1815 probably in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  They were the parents of at least six children -
- Jackson Columbus Hurst, Jefferson Hurst, Levi Hurst, Malinda Hurst, Claiborne Hurst aned Washington Hurst. 

She died 20 APR 1873 and is buried next to her husband in Deer Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana. 

Work on this family is on going, so if you have more information on this family I'd love to hear from you. 

Amanuensis Monday - The Will of John Early (1854)

                                                                 Will of John Early

  In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I John Earley of Miami Township in the County of Montgomery and State of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament.

  Item 1st  I give and beqeath to my beloved wife Magdalena Early, all the property of any kind that I may be posessed of at the time of my decease, to use and possess as long she does remain a widow, out of which she shall pay all my just debts, and in case she should again remarry, then what shall remain of said property after deducting her lawful share of the same to be equally divided amongst my seven children with this exception that my said wife shall pay to my son Isaac Early forty dollars on his arriving to the age of twenty one years. Which is intended to make him equal with his brothers each of them having recieved a horse from me heretofore.

  Item 2nd  I do nominate and appoint my said wife, Magdalena and my son, John Early Excutor of this my last will and testament.

  In testimoney whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Fifty.     /s /John Early

  Signed and Acknowledged by said John Early as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence.

 /s/ Daniel Askins

/s/  William Gowdy

 [Will typed exactly as shown in original, no corrections in spelling or grammar have been made.]

John Early was born 7 Jul 1776 in Pennsylvania and died 15 JUL 1854 in Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio.  He was married 1 Aug 1820 Rockingham County, Virginia to Magdalena Byerly.  They were the parents of 7 children - John T., David, Lydia, Joseph, Sarah, Jacob and Isaac Early.  

John & Magdalena were my fourth great grandparents.

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?

Tombstone Tuesday

Permelia Frances Phillips was my third great grandmother, married to Robert Phillips - they were the parents of 6 children, four of which lived to adulthood.  Children were Margaret, Sarah, Emma, William, Charles and Euphremia. 


*Headstone Photo by Mark & Karen Krugman
**Obituary - Franklin Chronicle, 9 MAY 1916, Pg. 6
***Death Certificate - "Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8NQ-99M : accessed 05 JAN 2010), Permelia Frances Phillips, 1916.

Wedding Wednesday - The Gov. Marries!

Thomas Watkins Ligon was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia on 10 MAY 1810 and died 12 JAN 1881 in Howard County, Maryland.  He was a representative in the 29th & 30th Congress and was the Governor of Maryland from 1854-1858.  He was married twice, to sisters, the first above was to Mary T. Dorsey and after her death, he remarried to her sister, Sally Dorsey. 

There were a total of five children from the two marriages, three survived him at his death. 

Are You Serious? Really?

I'm always leery when I go poking around on Ancestry.  It's been so long since I've found anything there worth really considering even noting in my files. 

Its a love hate relationship.  I'd love to be hopeful that someone there has original work but I hate the fact that if there is original work there I haven't yet found it.

Late yesterday I went looking for a family there just to see what I could find.  There were four trees that matched the family I wanted.  Interesting - four sources.  Okay we'll look at this one.  Hmmmmmpppphhhhh  four sources, all census, didn't really tell me anything I didn't know.  So this person has images of wills but the stuff in the wills doesn't match what is on the charts.  Numerous questions with no answers posted - ok maybe it was in a private conversation. 

BUT if you can source with a census why not tell us where you got the birth date and your statement that he was born in Scotland?   How can you show his will but have the wife dying in 1856, but she's very clearly named BY NAME in the will as being very much alive (1865) at that time?   Why are ALL your dates 01 JAN XXXX ...   I know that's a default for most genealogy software, but even when you are estimating on the death you still have a birth date with 01 JAN.  

While we're discussing the things on this entry, lets talk about the marriage that you have in Indiana in 1741, you know, when Indiana wasn't even a place yet?  I doubt this couple even ever left West Virginia or Virginia but marrying in Indiana?  REALLY? 

I used to think that if I could find a tree that had some sources maybe there was hope.  This one made me truly doubt that.  I left questions in the comments, lots of questions.  I guess the real question is will this person even try to answer?   Seriously?  Really? 

Tombstone Tuesday - HURST

   John Marion Hurst was born 25 JAN 1832 in Washington County, Virginia and died 18 FEB 1910 in Mount Vernon, Rockcastle County, Kentucky.  He & his wife, Louisa are both buried in Popular Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Rockcastle County, Kentucky.   He was married to Louisa Evans.  Together they were the parents of 10 children --

• Amanda Hurst (1858-1916), marr John McKinney
• Margaret Hurst (1861-1920), marr James Logan Hasty
• William M. Hurst (1863-1949), marr Martha J. Denney
• Mollie Hurst (1865-1908), marr Harm N. Denney
• Sarah E. Hurst (1870- ?), marr William M. Denney
• Belle Hurst
• Maude Hurst
• John T. Hurst (1874-1946), marr Martha E. Cummings
• Elizabeth Hurst
• Dr. James H. Hurst (1878-1950) marr Elizabeth J. 

 If you have any information on this family please contact me or leave a comment.  I'd love to exchange with anyone who might be descended or have further information.  

Tragedy Thursday

Gospel Messenger, 07 JUN 1941, Pg. 41 

 

Crist, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Sallie Garber Early, was born at Broadway, Va., July 24, 1872, and died Jan. 15, 1941.  While at the home of her daughter in Washington, caring for her three grandchildren in the absence of their parents, she was burned to death.   She was married to Joseph F. Crist on Jan. 10, 1900.  Surviving are her husband, two sons, one daughter and five grandchildren.  She became a member of the Church of the Brethren when she was a girl.  She was a woman of kindly disposition and was active in the work of the church.  The body was brought to her home in Bridgewater for burial.  The pastor, C.G. Hesse, assisted by O.S. Miller, conducted the service.   –Mrs. Stuart Miller, Bridgewater, Va.

*Gospel Messenger found at the Brethren Heritage Center, Brookville, Ohio

Wedding Wednesday

Gospel Messenger,  20 JAN 1934, Pg. 27

Eichhorn – Early  - Dec. 28, 1933, at the Bride’s home, the home of the undersigned, Gaylord Eichhorn of Troy, Ohio and Genevieve Early.
 --S.P. Early, Roaring Spring, Pa

  The week between Christmas & New Years Mr. Brown Eyes always takes me away for a few days of research.  This year we spent some time researching in three different locales in the area of Dayton, Ohio.  

  Thursday we spent at the Dayton Public Library getting obituaries using their obituary index for some of my "wants", others we had to search for.  Friday we worked at the Montgomery County Records & Archive Center.  Saturday we spent at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville.

I enjoy using all of these places to research the families I have in the Montgomery County area.  Today's wedding entry I found in the Brethren Heritage Center.  The Heritage center has a very large collection of Brethren periodicals, mainly newspapers.  They are indexed and the staff there is very knowledgeable regarding the indexes and the collection in general.  I had about 48-50 items on my to do list and the only items I didn't get were items that were in three issues that they did not have of The Gospel Messenger.  

Most of the entries that day were obituaries I was seeking on the Early family out of Rockingham County, Virginia.  While looking for the obituary of one of that family I just happened to notice the above under "Matrimonial".  I couldn't leave it there. 

 Genevieve Early is the daughter of Simon P. Early (1874-1948) and his wife, Emma Wine.  

 You'll be seeing more of the Early family in weeks to come as I have plenty of items I want to share.  They were in Rockingham County, Virginia and then migrated thru Pennsylvania (where some remained) into parts of southwestern Ohio and then into Illinois and Missouri.  

Happy Researching!

Military Monday - Authority Issues?

 16 FEB 1863 -   "...must ascertain by what authority Col. Hurst is  ........ and why he is thus destroying property."

16 APR 1863  - ".. for the purpose of destroying property has ordered the furniture removed from some of the houses and threatens to burn them."  "..I don't know by what authority he destroys the property."

After his military service he was appointed to the position of Judge - and even there his behavior continued to cause outrage.

   From The Daily Memphis Avalanche, 5 APR 1867, pg. 2 --

  The radical convention of McNairy County have recommended that miserable pretender Fielding Hurst for Congress in this district.  The resolution says, "that, as the emphatic choice for Congressional honors, we earnestly recommend the name of our galiant, patriotic and tried fellow citizen, the Hon. Fielding Hurst, and do hereby instruct our delegates to do all in their power to secure his nomination."

   Memphis Daily Appeal, 20 Jan 1870 --

     Hurst, Judge Fielding, has been appointed U.S. Revenue Collector of Middle Tennessee, and he is being sued by Dr. Wood of Hrdeman County, whom he forced to pay $1000 to prevent the burning of his house. (Memphis Daily Appeal - 18 Jan 1870).  In the winter of 1863, Hurst and his 7th Tennessee came to Bolivar and demanded of Dr. George Wood $1600 in gold or they would burn the housses of George Wood, Robert H. Wood, J.H. Billis, R.P. Neely and J.J. Neely. Hurst pocketed the money.


Fielding Hurst who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1810 and died in McNairy County, Tennessee 03 APR 1882, was one of the most hated men in Tennessee during the Civil war.  His reputation for his brutal attacks and his ruthless destruction of property made him much feared.  On 04 MAR 1830 he was married to Milocky Huddleston (1809-1892), daughter of John Huddleston (1780-1833) and Rachel McBee (1786-1862).

Fielding was the son of Elijah Hurst (1785-1850) and his wife, Margaret Breeding. 

 For more information on Fielding Hurst, see Sons of Confederate Veterans Magazine, March-April 1902, Pg. 20, HURST!  by W. Clay Crook.

I have much information on the HURST family and would be happy to share with anyone willing to do same.  Contact me for more information.

Wedding Wednesday - Ligon & Massie

Married

On Tuesday, the 16th of October by the Rev. B.M. Wailes, Mr. Joseph R. Ligon, to Miss Virginia, daughter of Wm. Massie, Esq., of Nelson.

**Alexandria Gazette, 06 NOV 1855, Pg. 3

Joseph Fleetwood Ligon, was the son of Dr. Littleberry N. Ligon and his wife, Elizabeth Kimbrough.

Wedding Wednesday - Ligon & Hardgrove (1853)

MARRIED

At the First Baptist Church, by the Rev. B. Manly, Jr., on Wednesday, April 27th, 1853, Mr. Wm. H. Hardgrove, to Miss Sallie E. Ligon, all of this city.

 

**Richmond Whig, 29 APR 1853, Pg. 2 (via Genealogybank)

 

Sarah (Sallie) Eudocia Ligon was the daughter of John Leigh Ligon and his wife, Mary Anne Puryear Ligon.

Obituary - John L. Ligon (1867)

Died

Ligon - At Bristol, Tennessee, on Saturday, the 16th instant, Mr. John L. Ligon, formerly of this city, in the sixty sixth year of his age.

**Richmond Whig, 19 NOV 1867, Pg. 4 (Via Genealogybank)

John Leigh Ligon was the son of William Ligon (1765-1829) and his wife, Sarah Leigh Ligon (no dates).  He was born 12 FEB 1802 in Prince Edward County, Virginia.  He married 8 OCT 1828 in Henrico County, Virginia to Mary Anne Puryear, daughter of Hezekiah Puryear and his wife, Eudocia.

Obituary - Littleberry N. Ligon (1859)

Died

At his residence, in Nelson County, on the 18th day of February, Dr. Littleberry N. Ligon, in the 65th year of his age.

**Richmond Whig, Richmond, Virginia, 22 MAR 1859, Pg. 3
 
Dr. Littleberry N. Ligon was one of five children born to Joseph Ligon (1759-1797) and his wife, Frances Netherland Ligon (1763-1838).  He married 15 JUL 1819 to Elizabeth Kimbrough.  Nothing is known about Elizabeth as of this writing.

Obituary - Mrs. Judith Ligon & Infant Daughter Sarah (1832)

Departed this life, on the 7th of August last, of pulmonary consumption, Mrs. Juditha Ligon, consort of James Ligon, and daughter of the late Col. W. Bentley - and on the 2nd day afterwards, her infant daughter, Sarah, leaving a discolate husband and four little daughters to be moan their irreperable loss. At the time of Mrs. Ligon's death, a second daughter was expected every moment to breathe her last, and preparation was made to buy her with her mother; but it has pleased God to spare her, and she is now just recovering from her tedious indisposition.
Powhattan, Oct. 3
 
 
**Enquirer, 23 OCT 1832, Pg. 3 (via GenealogyBank)
 
Judith Ligon was the wife of James Ligon, son of John Ligon & Sally Saunders.  Together they were the parents of five daughters, Lucy, Pauline, Martha, Elizabeth and Sarah.  Sarah died a few days after her mother and is named in the above obituary.
 

Obituary - Martha Elizabeth Ligon (1833)

Deaths

On the 17th instant, after a lingering illness, Martha Elizabeth Ligon, second daughter of John L. and Mary A. Ligon; aged 2 years, 2 months and 7 days. Happy infant! Thy change was from mortality to glory. An unpolluted flower; an early and sweet sacrifice to Heaven.

"As the sweet flower that scents the mourn,

But withers in the rising day;

Thus lovely was this infant's dawn,

Thus swiftly fled its life away."

 

 

**Enquirer, 22 MAR 1833, Pg. 3 (Via GenealogyBank)

 

Martha Elizabeth was the daughter of John Leigh Ligon and his wife, Mary Anne Puryear. 

 

Obituary - James Ligon (1858)

Obituary

We are also called upon to record the death of James Ligon, esq., which occurred on the 12 instant, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. David McGavock, in Pulaski County, Va. Deceased until recently was a highly esteemed member of the community and filled the post of Treasurer of the Petersburg Railroad, for a long series of years, with a fidelity and efficiency, which commanded the approval of all. Mr. Ligon had obtained to a ripe old age, being in his 70 year at the time of his death. --Petersburg Express

**Alexandria Gazette, 21 APR 1858, Pg. 3 (Via GenealogyBank)

James Ligon was the son of John Ligon and his wife, Sally Saunders.  He was married 31 JAN 1825 in Powhatan County, Virginia. They were the parents of at least five daughters, Lucy, Pauline, Martha, Elizabeth and Sarah. 

More information available on the daughters, leave a comment with your email so I can contact you. 

Obituary - Judith Ligon (1841)

Died

Of pulmonary consumption at her residence in Amelia County on the 7th inst, Mrs. Judith Ligon, consort of Mr. Robert Ligon and second daughter of Mr. Edward Green. She bore her severe and protraced ilness with much patience and resignation -- sustained by that Savior whose sufferings and death redeemed her, and by whose prevalent interceptsions above she hoped to be accepted at last. As she drew near the grave, she expressed her entire willingness, nay, even anxiety to be with him, whom, not having seen, she loved. She left an attached husband, an only child and many friends and relatives to mourn her loss. She was aimable and kind in all the relations of life, as a wife, a neighbor, a friend; and her family and the circle in which she moved, will long cherish the recollection of her many virtues.

-- The Richmond Christian Advocate and Religious Herald will please copy.
 
**Richmond Whig, 13 AUG 1841, Pg. 4 (via GenealogyBank)