ancestry and Genealogy
ancestors, ancestry, ancestry research, family, family history, family lineage, genealogy, genealogy research, names Kelly Deeny
3:48 pm
What’s in a middle name? In the world of genealogy research, the name some refuse to utter can actually be quite helpful.
Let’s examine…
• MAIDEN NAME: I’ve encountered many instances where the children’s middle names are in fact the maiden name of their mother. This helps solidify that I have the correct person in the death or veteran records searched. If I knew that John Smith and Mary Miller had a son name George, how can I confirm that the George Smith on the death certificate I locate was the son of John and Mary? Well, when I see that his full name lists George Miller Smith, I have more confidence that I’ve made the correct family connection.
• IN TRIBUTE: Many times, children’s middle names were chosen in honor or tribute of a beloved family member (grandparent, aunt, sibling who passed). For example, my great-grandfather, Roy Leon, was likely named in honor of two relatives: his paternal grandmother’s family name of ROY and his maternal grandmother’s middle name of LEONE. This is only a guess, but it helps make connections where previous ones had not existed in my search.
• JUNIORS AND SENIORS: Middle names can help distinguish John Smith, the elder from John Smith, Jr. In those cases, the middle name would be identical. However, how do you figure out who is who when they show up in search results as adults? For instance, what if John E Smith and John E Smith are both listed in the 1901 Philly city directory at different addresses? You’d have to do further research to confirm who lived at which residence. It can be tricky, indeed. On the other hand, if the father is John E. Smith and his son is John P. Smith, then the puzzle pieces fit together much easier.
• MIDDLE NAME PREFERRED: I’ve discovered that plenty of my Irish ancestors used their middle names as their preferred name. Three generations of Michael Francis all went by Frank. This usage does lead to genealogical confusion sometimes. I know that my 3 times great-grandfather was known as Thomas, but was that the first name on his birth certificate or did he go by his middle name? Would that explain why I have yet to locate him in marriage records or on ship manifests?
This is not to say that every middle name has meaning. Perhaps the parents simply couldn’t agree on a first name so they used both. Why is my great-grandmother’s middle name Violeta when I can’t find any connections to a Violet in my research? Maybe they just liked purple.
There are plenty of us in this day and age who adamantly dislike, or outright despise, our middle names. Before you start cursing your parents for choosing an unusual or embarrassing middle name, just know that future family historians will be quite grateful for the specificity.
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ancestry and Genealogy and St Patrick's Day
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, ancestry research, Celtic, family history, genealogy, Ireland, Irish, St Patrick's Day, St Patty's Day Kelly Deeny
9:48 am
A view from atop Blarney Castle
The Irish blood flows through my veins though I’ve never visited the actual villages or hometowns of my ancestors. I traveled to Southern Ireland about ten years ago, but at the time, I hadn’t started my genealogy research. As such, I didn’t know that my Deenys originated from the Donegal/Derry counties of Northern Ireland. That just gives me one more reason to return to the stunning Isle and walk the paths that my great-great grandparents did.
Though there were Deenys (and Deeneys) aplenty in Philadelphia and Boston during the time of my great-grandparents immigration, I have yet to find a direct link to the ones who were here before my relatives arrived. Many of us remained in England and Ireland and some Deenys made Iowa their home. *Sidenote: I haven’t connected the Philly area Deenys to the Iowa Deenys as of yet.*
I love the language, land, and mystic history of the Celtic people though I must admit that my taste buds were the last to adjust during my trip. I grew up with a solid pride for my Irish heritage even though I knew quite little of the country my ancestors once called home.
As Americans celebrate “St. Patrick’s Day” I join in by wearing green, listening to my favorite Celtic music, and adorning myself with a flashy shamrock necklace. The celebration doesn’t end there, because my journey to find my Irish roots continues. I’ve lived over thirty years as a proud descendant of Irish immigrants and know that my pride will only grow the moment I understand the ones who came before.
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ancestry and Genealogy
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, ancestry research, family history, family history research, family tree, genealogy, genealogy research, Michigan, Native American, Native American lineage Kelly Deeny
9:12 am
Photo taken in Dublin, Ireland – circa 2004
My genealogy search stalled once again due to employment necessity, or a lack thereof. Given the fact that I cannot quickly look something up without it turning into a few hours of family history research, I pushed it aside until I had ample time to focus on this project.
DOORS
If you’ve read some of my earlier blog posts entry, you know that I’ve encountered one locked door after another with the Smith side of my family tree. I have yet to find substantial proof of our rumored Native American lineage and the numerous marriages/remarriages of my great-grandfather and his father leave me searching for months on end.
OBITUARIES
So, you can imagine my elation when I found an “unlocked door”! Thanks to new documents available on FamilySearch, I found numerous obituaries for some of my Smith relatives in Michigan; my great-grandmother and her mother-in-law being two of the findings. I have not found my great-grandfather’s obit nor that of his father, but my search continues with renewed hope and focus that with a little determination, patience, and refocus, I’ll find those whom I seek.
Have you encountered similar struggles? If so, how did you overcome them?
Happy searching from one family detective to another!
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ancestry and Family and Genealogy
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, ancestry research, family history, family history research, family history searching, genealogist, genealogists, genealogy Kelly Deeny
7:58 pm
Overwhelmed with the amount of information in front of you and which branch of your family tree to focus on first? You’re not alone!
Before you stop the search altogether, take a breather and try the following:
- NARROW YOUR SEARCH: Starting broad can lead to an overload of information. Pick one branch and keep the search focused on that individual and their immediate relations. Try alternate spellings of the last name and re-examine the records you already found for them. You might just find a new connection in a census record that you overlooked the first time through.
- BE NEIGHBORLY: When you hit a roadblock in your search for a common surname (talking to you Smiths and Millers), step back and research a neighbor listed on a census record. They could likely have been an in-law, cousin, or friend. For example, it turns out the witness on my great-great grandfather’s Naturalization record was a neighbor. In searching the name of the witness I found new details on my direct ancestor.
- CHANGE IT UP: Don’t use only one website or genealogy software program. When you rely too heavily on one, sometimes you can get frustrated at seeing the same records again and again. Move over to a different site, like one with more specific type records. For example, search a cemetery records/grave listing website or one that stores a collection of newspapers. I’ve found this tip very helpful in my own searching. I found an obituary listing in a 1899 newspaper that contained my ancestor’s address and listed him as a member of a fraternal organization – the former a confirmation and the latter information to me.
In summary, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with information overload. Instead of getting frustrated, try a different tactic. You just might create a crack in that roadblock!
HAPPY SEARCHING!!
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ancestry and Travel
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, Deeney, Deeny, Dhuibhne, Duibhne, emigration, family history, family research, heritage, immigration, Ireland, Irish heritage, lineage Kelly Deeny
3:05 pm
A ride through Killarney
When I found out my paternal grandmother’s maiden name was Smith, I laughed and prepared for an uphill challenge in this ancestry detective work. A 3rd great-grandfather named John Smith, that threw me for a loop but only momentarily. I got on that genealogy “train” and headed straight for Michigan, in computer land that is. However, I never expected to find so many of my own surname living in close proximity.
Growing up, the only people I knew with the surname of Deeny were related to me. In all my schooling I never once met anyone else with the same last name. I felt unique and special in knowing that my name was different. Not that it was easy to spell or pronounce apparently. We frequently got “Denny” or “Deeney”, so I picked up the habit of spelling it out for the ease of both parties. Since starting along the family history path, I’ve since learned that the Deeny name has had many spelling origins. My great-great-grandfather, Thomas, spelled it “Deeney” – and he was the one who immigrated from Ireland sometime prior to 1886. However, turns out the Deeny/Deeney name traces much, much further back in Ireland. From research done by distant cousins a few generations older than me, I learned that Deeny is linked back to Dhuibhne. I am in the midst of learning more about that connection and added Northern Ireland to my list of must-visit places.
Turns out there were many Deenys and Deeneys living in Philadelphia around the same time that my 2nd great-grandparents called Philly home. However, connecting those Deenys with MY Deenys has proved unsuccessful. Whether they were cousins or of no relation, I just don’t know. In doing further research of present day Deenys, there are many of us not only in the States but a great number back across the ocean, in Ireland and England. Thanks to the wonders of social media, I’ve found some international Deeny relations and hope one day to return back to the land my ancestors emigrated from so many years ago.
In the meantime, I’m busy tracing the lines and connecting the dots of just which Deenys are branches or leaves on my family tree!
Happy searching,
Kelly
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ancestry and Family
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, families, family, family history, family tree, genealogy, hazleton, heritage, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Kelly Deeny
8:00 pm
I was not born nor raised in the Hazleton area, but I spent so much time there during my childhood that I consider it a home away from home.
It was the place my mother grew up, and her parents and grandparents before her. In fact, generations of her family called the Hazleton area (or West Hazleton, Sugarloaf, and Conyngham to be specific) home. Most of my ancestral relatives on this branch of my family tree were coal miners or truck drivers. They made an honest living out of grueling work that kept them away from their wives and children for long periods of time. Not only was it time-consuming but dangerous.
My 2nd great-grandfather, Elmer Karchner, died in a coal mining accident at the age of 32. He left behind a wife and numerous young children. This was a man who seven years prior listed his occupation as Musician on his marriage license. What heartbreak! How many of those young men and boys lost their lives not only on the job but developed illnesses as a result of their treacherous working conditions? The very notion of such tragedy leaves an imprint on my spirit to know so many suffered so much.
My maternal grandfather died when my mother was just fifteen years of age. Ten years prior, he suffered an accident on the job. While fixing an issue on his tractor-trailer, the rear wheels rolled over both of his legs. As a result, my grandmother went to work to help support the family and a hospital bed placed in the family’s dining room. My mom tells the story of how a tree was planted in the empty lot near the house, allowing my grandfather to watch from the window as the tree grew. My grandfather eventually regained use of his legs and returned to work, albeit not every day. He eventually died of a ruptured colon, likely caused by the accident a decade earlier.
Though the employment options were not the safest, it was home. There were open spaces. Relatives lived near one another. You walked down the main street and knew the local shop owners. One of my great-grand uncle’s even ran a furniture store, employing some of his brothers. Though my parents moved down to Bucks County once married, we frequently returned to Hazleton to visit my grandmother and other relatives in the area. I recall those times as some of the most vivid and memorable of my childhood. Here are just some of the memories that have stuck with me:
- MOM-MOM’S HOUSE: My grandmother’s house in Hazleton would not be considered large by standards of the time or now, but it was the perfect size. This was a home that welcomed family and friends. She had 3 bedrooms upstairs, ideal for her young grandchildren to spend the night. Downstairs you’d find the living room that melted into the dining area, a place filled with guests during the holidays or celebrations. The kitchen was small yet adequate. The backyard included room for a garden and had a sandbox for the kids to play. I have so many vivid memories of staying at MomMom’s house. I can visualize my uncle lifting us up to hang on the push-up bar in the kitchen entryway. I remember playing with my grandmother’s shoes and costume jewelry in her bedroom. I recall extended family seated around the dining room table during a Thanksgiving meal. I loved my grandmother, and I adored the house she called home.
- FAMILY AND FRIENDS: My mom had the luxury of growing up near so many cousins. They were her playmates, her confidantes and friends. When we went to Hazleton, many of her cousins still remained in town. As such, their children became our playmates. I think of them not as my second cousins or first cousins once removed but I simply call them my cousins. Now that we’ve all grown, I am so very thankful to have had them as part of my childhood.
- AUNTS AND UNCLES: Once my grandmother passed, we continued to visit family members in the Hazleton area. My Uncle Lenny and Aunt Betty had the BEST house I’d ever seen: hidden passageways (storage area), an indoor pool (watch out for the sliding glass door), and a split-level. My uncle would take us for drive around the yard and quiet street in his golf cart. I have so many fond memories of not only the house but my time with my aunt, uncle and cousins.
Though times have changed and residents found new places to call home, the Hazleton area will always hold a very special place in the hearts of many!!
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ancestry and Family and Travel
ancestry, Austria, Canada, Czech, families, family, family history, genealogy, genealogy research, Ireland, Travel, traveling, vacation Kelly Deeny
9:54 pm
My parents had a motor home when their four girls were young. We went to Disney World numerous times, drove out to Texas to visit family (I even got to see the South Fork Ranch), and went up to New Hampshire to visit family friends. I loved traveling in the motor home. It was fun. Sleeping on the top bunk, turning the dining room table into a bed at night, and watching my sisters argue. Such fun memories! Well, for most of us.
You guessed it…my parents didn’t find it as enjoyable of an experience as we did. There was the time my sister rolled off the top bunk while sleeping and nearly fell on my grandmother. Or, the time my older sister and I walked through the Disney campground and nearly got run over by another motor home driver who wasn’t paying attention. Close quarters with four high-spirited and unique girls can rile anyone’s nerves so once we got a little older, my mom gave us a choice: get an above-ground pool in the backyard or keep the motor home. We chose the pool, and I’m sure they got some relief.
Twenty some years later, my mom and I are discussing a family trip to visit some of the places I’ve been researching in my genealogy detective work. Taking the entire family would be quite interesting and difficult to schedule since two of my sisters are married with families of their own. I can just picture it – traveling through Czechoslovakia with 4 kids under the age of 10. Though, it would definitely bring us full circle. Then again, maybe we’d be better suited to go somewhere kid friendly, instead.
In the meantime, I continue with my research, jotting down the locations of interest and organizing them in order of visiting priority. Austrian, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Michigan, Trenton…okay, maybe not the last one.
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ancestry and Family and History
American history, ancestors, ancestry, civil war, Confederacy, family history, genealogy, historical, history, Slavery, Union, War, Wars Kelly Deeny
6:45 pm
Without reservation, I admit to being proud none of my ancestors fought on the side of the Confederacy.
For those of you familiar with my blog posts, you’ll know that I don’t have a firm grasp on history. I don’t care much about locations, dates, and people involved. Mostly because it didn’t directly affect me. Call it closed-minded or self-involved, but learning about dates and facts bored me to tears. How would knowing what date Columbus “found” America teach me about the journey I was on at the time?
Despite my apathetic concern for historical facts, the Civil War intrigued me more than any other event in American history. To this day, I love reading books about that time period or watching films that depict the struggles. Deep down I had immense pride in the fact that my parents’ families originated in the North, the likelihood being my ancestors would have fought on the Union side. Thankfully, that assumption turned out to be correct.
Regardless of the uniform color, these were young men and boys taking up arms against one another. They had mothers, fathers, siblings, wives, and children that loved them. Their loved ones wept at their funerals, cried tears of joy at their safe return, and felt pride at their bravery. Passing swift judgement against another is counter-intuitive to who I am and what I strive to achieve. I’ve struggled within the past few years to be more understanding and open-minded in regards to the Confederate soldiers.
I allowed myself to admit that the Confederacy wasn’t necessarily fighting in support of slavery so much as wanting to have the CHOICE to decide for themselves. I understand wanting control over your life and circumstances. To feel threatened when others make decisions for you. You feel voiceless, powerless and filled with anger and resentment. However, the governing officials and landowners were not the only ones dealing with those issues – so too were those who fed them, cleaned house, and helped raised their children.
All of that said, I’d be saddened and disappointed if I found out one of my ancestors fought for the Confederacy. I acknowledge it and accept it. For as much as I can understand and sympathize with the desire to fight against what restrictions are placed on you, I’m more concerned with righting injustices. The freedom of men, women, and children matters more to me than pride. I would not want to live in a nation where others were deemed subservient, inferior, or devalued due to their skin color or gender.
Did every Union soldier believe wholeheartedly in civil rights? Probably not. Can I assume all Confederacy soldiers opposed the abolishment of slavery? No. But knowing that my third great-grandfather fought in support of his oppressed brothers and sisters…that makes me proud to be an American.
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ancestry and Family and Travel
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, Bedford County, families, family, family history, Foor, Foor ancestry, Foor genealogy, Foors, genealogy, genealogy research, Noah Foor, Pennsylvania, Stella Craft Kelly Deeny
7:01 pm
While I knew my paternal relatives lived in Philadelphia and her suburbs, I thought only my mother’s side of the family had roots in upstate PA. Turns out, my paternal third great-grandfather was born in Bedford County, PA. Who knew? Not me!
Apparently, the Foor’s have a rich history in Bedford – and many still call it home. Noah Foor was no exception. Sometime between 1860 and 1870, Noah’s family moved from Bedford County, Pennsylvania to Lenawee County, Michigan and that’s where my lineage knowledge strengthens. Michigan became home for Noah’s daughter, Nina, her daughter, Margaret and ultimately my grandmother. Then off to Bucks County, PA my grandmother went, returning to her hometown at different points throughout her life.
Noah R. Foor was never a name I heard growing up, but it’s one that greatly intrigues me now. I still don’t have much information on Noah, other than residence and census data. I know the name of his wife, Estella Emma Craft/Kraft, and his children. I know that he was a farmer as of 1900 then a teamster in 1910 and 1920 and only a hint of what industry he specialized in. The 1920 census record lists Noah as head of household and 8 lodgers living in his home, all laborers for a cement company. That detail leads me to assume that Noah worked in the cement industry or involved in the railroad system, but I’ve learned not to assume anything when researching my lineage.
What happened between 1900 and 1910 that took Noah from being a farmer to skilled labor? Why did he move his family? Was it a positive achievement or could he no longer afford to sustain a livelihood on the farm? So many questions that I don’t know will/can ever be truly answered. However, that doesn’t hinder my desire to ask. If anything, my interest is piqued all the more!
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ancestry and Family and Travel and Writing
ancestor, ancestors, ancestry, ancestry writing, families, family, family history research, genealogical research, genealogy Kelly Deeny
4:01 pm
I consider myself a family history detective, finding enjoyment and excitement by piecing together the puzzles in my genealogy. Sometimes it’s highly frustrating hitting a roadblock but most times I’m challenged to keep digging. Recently, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the cost of ancestry research.
MONEY: There is absolutely a financial cost associated with genealogy research. There are plenty of helpful family history sites online that do not charge you to search their collection of records. One I find extremely beneficial is http://www.familysearch.org. The range of records available includes marriage, birth, and census documents. I have found a great many marriage records that helped connect the branches of my tree, especially when those records include the mother and father’s names. I found half-siblings of my great-father that I never knew about and was able to verify the connection through other sources, on other ancestry search sites. The other sites I primarily use in my search charge a fee. However, the value outweighs the cut to my budget.
TIME: I spend A LOT of time researching my family tree, more than I anticipated I would when I started. It’s so easy to sit down at the computer and find one hint that leads you to another and another…before you know it, 3 hours have gone by and you’re so close to putting the piece in place! As much fulfillment as I get from genealogy research, I have a twinge of guilt when I think about the other projects I have in the works – my Young Adult fantasy novel, for instance. Why am I not spending all of my free time to get my book done and published?! That’s where my focus should be. Shouldn’t it? Do I spend a few hours learning about those who lived before me or use that time to write about an entirely fictional character?
SCANDAL: Am I being selfish by asking the questions that makes family members uneasy to talk about? What is the point of pushing for questions when the truth may reveal a path that you never intended to walk down? Scandal, mysteries, long-buried truths – you’re likely to find any of the above if you go back far enough. The question is…What do you do with the information once you have it? Do you stuff it down until the subjects of said scandal have passed on? Do you approach them with the knowledge and gently ask for their recollection of the events? What is it that you seek to gain from prodding for the ‘truth’? I haven’t encountered any jaw-dropping secrets so far in my search; that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Perhaps, some of what I found out (like remarriages and half-siblings) were considered significant drama and scandal to those who lived it at the time period.
One of my goals with this ancestry journey is to actually take a journey. To visit the key places in my lineage and write about them. Document what it means to me to be present in a place that once held meaning to my ancestors. For a brief time, to stand where they stood. Of course, in order to take that trip I need both time and money. Who knows what kind of scandal I might find!
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Branches and Leaves 