A couple of posts back, I went into detail about Ann Hutchison, born around 1833 probably in Tealing, Forfarshire, Scotland. My 3rd great-grandmother. I could not find her death record in the Statutory Death Index on Scotlandspeople, but I knew she should be there. My next step was to not restrict my search parameters with a date. As I mentioned before, I suspected she died between 1895 and 1901, but after searching without dates, I found that she actually died in 1905! I am not sure why I was limiting the death years as I had enough specifics on Ann to limit my search in other ways so as not to get too many hits. I really thought however, that she died before 1901 as her husband is not living with her in 1901. This to me is very interesting, now that I know she was still living. Then I thought, maybe she was sick, and living in a hospital, not able to take care of herself. I searched for Ann in the 1901 census and found she was living "on her own means" with son James and daughter Susan. She seems to be living in the house she and her husband raised their family in. It was John Cox, her husband, that moved away. She was living at 40 Perth Street, district of St. Peter, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland. John was living in Blythswood area of Glasgow, Scotland. According to google maps, these two places are about 82 miles apart. Not sure why they lived separately, but very interesting.
OK, back to the reason I was looking for Ann's death record in the first place, to find my 4th great grandparents. Yay, they are listed on her death record, and it does show they are Peter Hutchison and Christian Hill. Finding Ann's death record inspired me to do some more searches in the death index, which for some reason I had ignored before. Now I have gone back even further, which means I have even more to write about in future blog entries. My next step; however, will be to find some more interesting information on the locations and history of where my Scottish ancestors lived.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
My First SS-5 application arrives
For a long time, I have been wanting to order Social Security Applications for my ancestors, but never actually did it; until a couple of months ago. I think I just did not want to wait impatiently for the mail every day until it came, so I never bothered to start the process. In early April, I ordered three applications from the SSA, from my husband's side of the family. Today I received one of them, Aldina Pereira Francisco. I have her maiden name of Pereira from the Rhode Island Marriages database on Ancestry.com. I also have her father's name of Antonio Pereira from her passenger record into Boston, MA with her brother Anibal.
I was hoping to find further evidence of her father and mother's name from the SS-5 application, as there is some confusion with last names on my husband's Portuguese side of the family. I have found numerous occasions of families switching between two different surnames. I need to look into surname traditions on the Azores for further clarification, but I believe sometimes the maternal surname was used.
I also have some research that was done from one of my husband's distant cousins who went to the Family History Library and looked up records from their parish of Our Lady of Estrela - Nossa Senhura do estrela - in Ribeira Grande on the island of St. Michael (San Miguel) Azores. According to her research, Aldina's father's name is Antonio Amaral Pereira and Aldina's mother's name is listed as Maria da Paixao Moreira Pereira. She also lists the children, including Aldina, with the last name of Amaral, not Pereira. Perhaps Antonio's mother's maiden name is Amaral?
According to the SS-5 application, Aldina's parents are Antonio Amaral Perry and Mary Moreira. Obviously these names are Americanized, but they do clarify that this family probably went by Pereira or Perry once they came to the United States, and not Amaral. Eventually when I begin looking in the parish records from the Azores I will have to look under both Amaral and Pereira.
Another interesting piece of information found on the SS-5 application is that Aldina was working at Westminster Jewelry store at 158 Pine Street in Providence, RI, which was filed November 24, 1936. She was about 52 years old.
To Do:
1. Find naming customs for Azores, Portugal
2. Search parish registers at FHL
I was hoping to find further evidence of her father and mother's name from the SS-5 application, as there is some confusion with last names on my husband's Portuguese side of the family. I have found numerous occasions of families switching between two different surnames. I need to look into surname traditions on the Azores for further clarification, but I believe sometimes the maternal surname was used.
I also have some research that was done from one of my husband's distant cousins who went to the Family History Library and looked up records from their parish of Our Lady of Estrela - Nossa Senhura do estrela - in Ribeira Grande on the island of St. Michael (San Miguel) Azores. According to her research, Aldina's father's name is Antonio Amaral Pereira and Aldina's mother's name is listed as Maria da Paixao Moreira Pereira. She also lists the children, including Aldina, with the last name of Amaral, not Pereira. Perhaps Antonio's mother's maiden name is Amaral?
According to the SS-5 application, Aldina's parents are Antonio Amaral Perry and Mary Moreira. Obviously these names are Americanized, but they do clarify that this family probably went by Pereira or Perry once they came to the United States, and not Amaral. Eventually when I begin looking in the parish records from the Azores I will have to look under both Amaral and Pereira.
Another interesting piece of information found on the SS-5 application is that Aldina was working at Westminster Jewelry store at 158 Pine Street in Providence, RI, which was filed November 24, 1936. She was about 52 years old.
To Do:
1. Find naming customs for Azores, Portugal
2. Search parish registers at FHL
Friday, May 16, 2008
Scotland Research - finding Ann's parents
Familysearch.org recently listed a new research guide on Scotland, so I thought I would read it to see if I could find some new research tips for my Scottish ancestors. They did not add much new information for me, but I did find their map with county information useful. Also, they stated naming traditions in Scotland of naming first son after the father's father, and second son after the mother's father. This goes for the girls too, with the first daughter named after the mother's mother, etc. Basically, after reading this guide, it spurred my interest in my Scottish ancestry again.
With renewed energy, I took a look at my ancestors to see if there were some gaps in my tree. Most of my Scottish heritage arises from my father's grandmother, Ann Hutchison Ferguson, who came to the US in 1920 after World War I, where; according to my father, she served as a nurse and met her future husband, Alfred Labrecque, also fighting in the War (see earlier blog entry). Ann was born 1895 in Glasgow, Scotland to James Fitchie Ferguson and Grace Stewart Cox. I have basic information on both James and Grace's parents, and even further back to the early 1800s to my 4th great grandparents for James family. Grace's line was not as easy to find, but I did get back to my 4th great grandparents on her paternal side. When I researched her maternal line, I could only find Grace Cox's mother, which is my 3rd Great Grandmother, Ann Hutchison.
The place to look for Scottish records is Scotlandspeople, which has parish registers from 1553 and census records for 1841-1901. When I searched here in the past, I could not locate Ann Hutchison's (Grace's mother) birth record; which would have given me her parents' names. I have an estimated birth date of 1833 for Ann, from her 1871 census record with her husband, John Cox and children. I decided to look in the "Old Parish Registers", from Scotlandspeople one more time for her birth record. Unfortunately; I could not find an Ann Hutchison that matched these parameters in the Old Parish Registers. The Scottish were not required to register births or other vital information until 1855, so I am not that surprised I did not find her. Next, I tried searching for any Hutchisons who had children around that time living in Tealing, Forfarshire in the 1851 census; which is where her marriage in 1852 took place (the county of Forfarshire later changed to the county of Angus). Since Ann was married in 1852, I was hoping she would be listed with her parents in the 1851 census, still in this location. I was also looking closely for any William Hutchison's, as according to naming traditions; may be her father's name as that is what John and she named their second son. I could not find a William with a daughter Ann in Tealing. My next step was to search the 1841 census in Tealing with the last name of Hutchison. Finally, I found an Ann who is 8 years old. The age seems to match my ancestor, making her born around 1833. The father's name; however, is not William as I suspected, but Peter. There is a William listed on the same census page though, which could be Peter's brother. Maybe Peter's father's name is William. Peter Hutchison is married to Christian with a son David, and two other daughters besides Ann, a Jean and an Elizabeth.
I went back to the Old Parish Registers to look for birth records of the children of Peter and Christian. I found Christian's last name is Hill. The registers account for David, Elizabeth and a Jane Hutchison as children to Peter and Christian, but still no Ann. I am fairly confident that this is her family; as I know she is from Tealing, born around 1833, and there are no other Ann Hutchisons in the 1841 census. However, I still need some more evidence to prove this family line.
My next step was to look for Ann's death record, which would also list her parents. I know Ann is still living when her daughter Grace (my 2nd Great Grandmother) marries in 1895. I also know that she has died by the 1901 census, as her husband is listed without her and living with his two sisters. I was very hopeful I would find this information, as at this point in Scottish history, her death would have to be recorded by law and should be listed in the "Statutory Death Index" at Scotlandspeople. I searched in the Death Records database between these time periods for Ann Cox, but did not find her. I will not give up searching for her death record, as I know she is in there somewhere. Soon I will have proof her parents are Peter and Christian.
To Do:
1. Find Peter Hutchison's family in the 1851 Scotland Census
2. Find Ann (Hutchison) Cox's death record. UPDATE: found death record - read entry here
3. Look for information on Tealing and other areas of Scotland where my ancestors live to get a feel for their lives. A good place to start is the FHL Research Guidance; spefically, Scotland, How to Find Information About the Place Where Your Ancestor Lived
With renewed energy, I took a look at my ancestors to see if there were some gaps in my tree. Most of my Scottish heritage arises from my father's grandmother, Ann Hutchison Ferguson, who came to the US in 1920 after World War I, where; according to my father, she served as a nurse and met her future husband, Alfred Labrecque, also fighting in the War (see earlier blog entry). Ann was born 1895 in Glasgow, Scotland to James Fitchie Ferguson and Grace Stewart Cox. I have basic information on both James and Grace's parents, and even further back to the early 1800s to my 4th great grandparents for James family. Grace's line was not as easy to find, but I did get back to my 4th great grandparents on her paternal side. When I researched her maternal line, I could only find Grace Cox's mother, which is my 3rd Great Grandmother, Ann Hutchison.
The place to look for Scottish records is Scotlandspeople, which has parish registers from 1553 and census records for 1841-1901. When I searched here in the past, I could not locate Ann Hutchison's (Grace's mother) birth record; which would have given me her parents' names. I have an estimated birth date of 1833 for Ann, from her 1871 census record with her husband, John Cox and children. I decided to look in the "Old Parish Registers", from Scotlandspeople one more time for her birth record. Unfortunately; I could not find an Ann Hutchison that matched these parameters in the Old Parish Registers. The Scottish were not required to register births or other vital information until 1855, so I am not that surprised I did not find her. Next, I tried searching for any Hutchisons who had children around that time living in Tealing, Forfarshire in the 1851 census; which is where her marriage in 1852 took place (the county of Forfarshire later changed to the county of Angus). Since Ann was married in 1852, I was hoping she would be listed with her parents in the 1851 census, still in this location. I was also looking closely for any William Hutchison's, as according to naming traditions; may be her father's name as that is what John and she named their second son. I could not find a William with a daughter Ann in Tealing. My next step was to search the 1841 census in Tealing with the last name of Hutchison. Finally, I found an Ann who is 8 years old. The age seems to match my ancestor, making her born around 1833. The father's name; however, is not William as I suspected, but Peter. There is a William listed on the same census page though, which could be Peter's brother. Maybe Peter's father's name is William. Peter Hutchison is married to Christian with a son David, and two other daughters besides Ann, a Jean and an Elizabeth.
I went back to the Old Parish Registers to look for birth records of the children of Peter and Christian. I found Christian's last name is Hill. The registers account for David, Elizabeth and a Jane Hutchison as children to Peter and Christian, but still no Ann. I am fairly confident that this is her family; as I know she is from Tealing, born around 1833, and there are no other Ann Hutchisons in the 1841 census. However, I still need some more evidence to prove this family line.
My next step was to look for Ann's death record, which would also list her parents. I know Ann is still living when her daughter Grace (my 2nd Great Grandmother) marries in 1895. I also know that she has died by the 1901 census, as her husband is listed without her and living with his two sisters. I was very hopeful I would find this information, as at this point in Scottish history, her death would have to be recorded by law and should be listed in the "Statutory Death Index" at Scotlandspeople. I searched in the Death Records database between these time periods for Ann Cox, but did not find her. I will not give up searching for her death record, as I know she is in there somewhere. Soon I will have proof her parents are Peter and Christian.
To Do:
1. Find Peter Hutchison's family in the 1851 Scotland Census
2. Find Ann (Hutchison) Cox's death record. UPDATE: found death record - read entry here
3. Look for information on Tealing and other areas of Scotland where my ancestors live to get a feel for their lives. A good place to start is the FHL Research Guidance; spefically, Scotland, How to Find Information About the Place Where Your Ancestor Lived
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Lucy
I recently read somewhere (I wish I remember where) that there is an additional schedule to the 1880 US Federal Census which would be of great interest to me. It is the Supplemental Schedules 1-7 - DDD Schedule Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent, which may list information such as type of illness, length of illness, residence, homelessness, etc. to those individuals listed as insane, idiotic, etc.
I have been looking for more information on one of my ancestors who was listed as insane beginning with the 1870 census, Lucy Ann Holbrook Torrey, my 3rd Great Grandmother. In the 1900 and 1910 census she is living at the Worcester Insane Asylum. I am not sure how to obtain her medical records, if they even still exist, but it may involve a court order. I have not obtained her death record either, as she died in 1912, past the date the NEHGS covers in their online database. She is buried in Weymouth with her husband at the Elmwood Cemetery.
Now I have some more options for obtaining information on Lucy's medical condition. I now just have to locate a copy of the 1880 DDD schedule for Massachusetts. It does not seem to be at the FHL, so I cannot order the microfilm from their library.
I also noted that their are two gaurdianship records from the Norfolk County Probate Court; one for 1869, the year before she was marked as insane on the census; and another gaurdianship record for 1898 - the year her husband died. These records for a Lucy A. Torrey most likely are hers. It will be interesting to obtain these to unravel more of Lucy's medical conditions.
To Do:
1. find a library that houses the 1880 DDD schedule for Massachusetts. UPDATE: this schedule is now on ancestry - but I realized Lucy is not living at asylum at this date and therefore not listed in the DDD. They do not have the DDD schedule for the 1900 census.
2. order norfolk probate guardianship records from court for Lucy. UPDATE: obtained these records, did not provide information on Lucy's diagnosis, just information on who had rights to her land, etc.
3. find out more about the Worcester Insane Asylum and if records are obtainable.
I have been looking for more information on one of my ancestors who was listed as insane beginning with the 1870 census, Lucy Ann Holbrook Torrey, my 3rd Great Grandmother. In the 1900 and 1910 census she is living at the Worcester Insane Asylum. I am not sure how to obtain her medical records, if they even still exist, but it may involve a court order. I have not obtained her death record either, as she died in 1912, past the date the NEHGS covers in their online database. She is buried in Weymouth with her husband at the Elmwood Cemetery.
Now I have some more options for obtaining information on Lucy's medical condition. I now just have to locate a copy of the 1880 DDD schedule for Massachusetts. It does not seem to be at the FHL, so I cannot order the microfilm from their library.
I also noted that their are two gaurdianship records from the Norfolk County Probate Court; one for 1869, the year before she was marked as insane on the census; and another gaurdianship record for 1898 - the year her husband died. These records for a Lucy A. Torrey most likely are hers. It will be interesting to obtain these to unravel more of Lucy's medical conditions.
To Do:
1. find a library that houses the 1880 DDD schedule for Massachusetts. UPDATE: this schedule is now on ancestry - but I realized Lucy is not living at asylum at this date and therefore not listed in the DDD. They do not have the DDD schedule for the 1900 census.
2. order norfolk probate guardianship records from court for Lucy. UPDATE: obtained these records, did not provide information on Lucy's diagnosis, just information on who had rights to her land, etc.
3. find out more about the Worcester Insane Asylum and if records are obtainable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)