Popular Science & Genealogy - Who'd have thought?

  
On this Follow Friday I want to share an article that I just read in my son's Popular Science Magazine that is also posted on PopSci.com titled: 

Why scan when you can snap?

The Lexmark Genesis is a scanner that behaves more like a digital camera making the whole process much quicker by replacing the bar with a retooled camera sensor.  This scanner can capture an image in three seconds while traditional scanners take upward of 10 seconds.  Read the whole article here on PopSci: 

Lexmark's Scanner Borrows the Brains of a Camera for Instant Imagery

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Casteel / Hensley 1808 Marriage Bond

          
Again, not much is there but it is still pretty cool seeing it in writing:

Abednego Casteel 

(son of Abednego & Sarah Casteel)

married 26 April 1808 in Knox Co., Tennessee

Agnes Hensley

(daughter of Larkin & Sarah Hensley)

Daniel Casteel was bondsman

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Truman Casteel of Sullivan, Illinois

The Decatur Review

Monday, May 16, 1910

 

Truman Casteel - b. Sept. 1889

was the son of Robert E. & Irena (Dundon) Casteel

Died 4 May 1910 at the age of 20 of tuberculosis.

He is buried in Charity Cemetery, Macoupin Co., Illinois 

(newspaperarchive.com)

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Solving the Robillard Puzzle

   
I am getting closer to solving the question of:
"Who were Pierre Robillard and Philomene Ducharme?"
(see  two previous posts).
With the help of ACS researcher, Muriel, a probable 1860 census record has been located:

 We find this family residing in Alexandria, Jefferson, New York - on the border with Ontario and within easy river or possibly train travel from Quebec.

Looking at this record we can easily match the First names Peter and his two oldest children Mary Jean and Charles.  The wife's name is different from what we know. Two possible reasons: Philanese/ Philomene is not her baptismal name or the census taker had some communication problems.  It is noted in Peter's column that he could not read or write.  They were from Quebec and spoke French which might have also posed a problem with this census taker.

Peter's occupation as is correct as I found him in later census records with an occupation of Carriage maker.

The ages of the 2 children match known birth dates for Mary Jane and Charles, and later census and other records indicate that the three oldest children were born in New York.  This lines up - especially since we see Charles listed as 1 month old (even though NY was not noted by the census taker).

The next step is to try to locate the baptism records for these two children to validate the names and surname spelling and ensure we have the correct family. To do so we have ordered a microfilm of St.Patricks church records. I am hopeful that this same microfilm might also contain the elusive marriage record of Peter Robillard and Philanese.
Now, in two or three weeks I may finally have some answers to so long running questions (fingers crossed).

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Acts of Genealogical Kindness:Transcription of Baptism Record

  
Below is a transcription of the baptism record from the parish of Lavaltrie, Quebec, of Pierre Robillard seen in the previous post.

Bonjour Theresa,

Yes, the act is about twins. Here is the translation :
Margin: B(aptims) Pierre and Marie Robillard.

Act : On January 30th one thousand eight hundreds and thirty, by we priest "curé" undersigned have been baptized Pierre and Marie born today from the legitimate marriage of Jacques Robillard, farmer in this parish (in this parish is written in the margin), and Marie Payet. Godfather of Pierre was Pierre Harnois and the godmother Charlotte Robillard. Godfather for Marie was Laurent Robillard and the godmother was Thérèse Hénault, whom with the father could not sign.
(signed: H. Gagnon ?)

A very special "Thank You" to Pierre - my 'go to' person for French translations!
It is so kind of you to take time out of your day to assist in my genealogy related queries. It is very much appreciated.

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Seeking French Canadian Research assistance

Identifying Pierre Robillard

For a while now I have been trying to determine the parentage of Pierre Robillard.  We have a birth date from his death certificate (son, Charles, was informant) of 27 Jan 1830 - place of birth: Canada; parents: Unknown
We also have from census records that he was born March 1831, Canada.
A daughter has in her 1891 census record that her father was born in Quebec.

Pierre (aka Peter/Petre) married Philanese/Philomene Ducharme (b. Nov 1836)- c.1856 place unknown.
I have not been able to locate a marriage record...yet.
To date, finding more information on these two ancestors has been frustrating.
Today, though, I located a baptism record that might be a match for our Pierre. 

The baptistm record is dated 30 January 1830 which would fall in line for a 27 January birth.  I am excited...this could be the break I have been searching for, but again, I think more information is needed to confirm it as belonging to our Pierre.   
Any thoughts, hints, or suggestions?

Below are the known children of Pierre (Peter) and Philomene (Ducharme) Robillard:

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The Welcheck Children c.1900

Pictured below are the children of Stephen & Margaret (Busch) Welchek (Welcheck) taken c.1900 in Barberton, Ohio.

John J.  b: 21 MAR 1890 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio

 Mary Ann  b: 22 SEP 1892 in Cleveland, Ohio

Robert J.  b: 21 MAR 1895 in Cleveland, Ohio

 Rose Treasa  b: 18 JUL 1897 in Barberton, Summit Co, Ohio

 Catherine  b: 17 JUL 1900 in Ohio

 Not yet born:
Joseph F.  b: 09 AUG 1904
Christopher L.  b: 07 MAR 1907

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Inspiration for Rosie the Riveter - Geraldine Doyle

   

Geraldine Doyle, 86, who as a 17-year-old factory worker was the inspiration for a popular World War II recruitment poster  "We Can Do It!," died Dec. 26 in Lansing, Michigan.


Read her complete story here: 
Geraldine Doyle, 86, dies; one-time factory worker inspired Rosie the Riveter and 'We Can Do It!' poster  by T. Rees Shapiro Washington Post Staff Writer  

Wishing You A Happy New Year

Let this New Year of 2011 begin with blessings and best wishes to all!

Happy New Year! 

from Tangled Trees.

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Ringing in the New Year

   
On New Years Eve is tradition to share the night with friends and family to see the old year out. Its exit is usually noisy and used to be customary to ring out the old year at midnight on New Year's Eve by tolling the church bells followed by ringing in the new year with a cheerful peal, as the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson refers to here in his 1850 poem:

"Ring Out, Wild Bells"

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

 

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

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For more poems by Alfred Tennyson see:

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beauties of Tennyson

Locating Gravesites Long Neglected

The Office of Historic Alexandria, VA, procured a grant to locate grave sites in historic Fort Ward Park, one of 68 earthen forts that were built in the defense of Washington, D.C., during the Civil War.

 
By using ground-penetrating radar, an archaeological technique unlikely to disturb graves, archaeologists have worked for about a year with Fort Ward and the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery toward righting what descendents and neighbors have viewed as disrespectful neglect.

Read the full article here:   

After Decades, Atonement for Neglecting Graves 

You may also read more about this at:  Historic Wanderings

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Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!

  
Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed,

God Bless Us, Every One!

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