Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on May 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

This Mother’s Day post is in memory of two wonderful mothers.

My mother, Marguerite “Mickey” Noble Furlani, born 21 May 1918, Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; died 25 May 1985, Ridley Park, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Happy Mother’s Day! mom4a 300x300

Mickey Furlani c1979

 

My husband’s mother, Hilda Lombard Souza, born 19 Jul 1923, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts; died 09 Mar 2007, Pikesville, Baltimore County, Maryland.

Happy Mother’s Day! hilda souza

Hilda Souza c2003

 

You both will always be with us in our hearts and our memories.

 

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Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – This Week’s Genealogy Highlight

Posted on May 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

Randy Seaver of GeneaMusings has given us this Saturday Night Genealogy Fun assignment:

1) What genealogy fun have you had this week? What is your genealogy highlight of the week? It could be attending the NGS conference, it could be finding a new ancestor, or it could be reading a new genealogy book, or anything else that you have enjoyed.

2) Tell us about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a comment to this post, or in a Google Plus or Facebook post.

The highlight of my week is the information I received on Thursday and Friday on my Meisberger family from Roland Geiger, St. Wendel, Saarland, Germany. This information knocked down several brick walls; but, first, some background is needed

My 2nd great-grandfather, Theobald [Theobold] Meisberger was born in Prussia about 1837. In the 1860 US census, he is married and in his own household in Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Another Meisberger family headed by Michael Meisberger [Sr.] lives in the same township not too far away.

Michael Meisberger, [Sr.] was naturalized in 1858 and he arrived here in 1853 from Prussia. His papers do not specify a departing location or exact arrival date. His Declaration of Intent was filed in 1855 and you needed to be here for two years to file that document and a total of five years to final petition.

Theobald Meisberger emigrated from Prussia departing the Havre and arriving in New York on 23 June 1854. Michael Meisberger, [Jr.] emigrated from Prussia departing the Havre and arriving in New York on 4 September 1854. Theobald and Michael, [Jr.] were both naturalized on the same day in August 1860. Michael Meisberger, [Sr.] was their witness.  All signatures were original.

On FOLD3, I found that Michael Meisberger, [Jr.] served in the US Civil War. When I attended NIGR this past summer, I obtained his pension file. One of the documents states that he was born 3 miles north of and baptized in Ottweiler, Rhenish Prussia, which today would be Ottweiler, Saarland, Germany. I looked up Ottweiler on a map and saw that it was very near St. Wendel. I remembered that Roland, who is an APG member and participates on our mailing list, lives in St. Wendel; so I engaged him to do some research for me on this family.

Thursday, I received my first email, which contained a complete family group sheet on Michael Meisberger, [Sr.] and his entire family. It also included civil birth registration images for each of his children. What a genea-moment!

This information proves that Theobold Meisberger is the eldest son of Michael Meisberger and Margarethe Bettinger as I had suspected; that his sister, Effee’s first name is either Elizabeth or Eva (I now have an extra sister to figure out) and that all the children were born in Steinbach, now a suburb of Ottweiler. So I now have an official birth date and place of birth for my 2nd great-grandfather, Theobold.

Friday, I received another email that contained the civil marriage record for Michael Meisberger and Margarethe Bettinger in 1837. I also received a descendants report from the oldest known Meisberger (abt.1680) forward. OMG, I didn’t have anyone in my database earlier than 1818 before this. It will take me a long time to enter all this data. Now I have to learn to read Old German to transcribe these records.

I wish to thank Roland for giving me my family. Oh, and I gained a cousin as it turns out that Roland and I are 7th cousins. It really is a small world.

 

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Society Saturday – CCGS May 20, 2013 Meeting

Posted on May 11, 2013 in Local Societies

Society Saturday – CCGS May 20, 2013 Meeting CCGSLogo The Carroll County Genealogical Society’s upcoming meeting on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 7:30 PM features Catherine E. Baty, who is Curator of Collections at the Historical Society of Carroll County (HSCC).

She will be speaking to us on the status of the digitizing of the Dr. Arthur G. Tracey Papers, a unique collection of research materials including file cards, drawings, surveyors’ books and maps of early land patents and settlement patterns in Western Maryland (Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick and Washington counties). Carroll County has been completed and will soon be available on a computer at HSCC. Hopefully, she will address how to use the Tracey Papers in this new environment.

Meetings of the Carroll County Genealogical Society (CCGS) are held the third Monday of each month, March through May and September through November, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Room, Westminster Library at 50 East Main Street, Westminster. The meetings are free and open to the public. An annual dinner is held each June and a holiday party each December. These are for members and their guests, with reservations made in advance.

Please come to our meeting and bring a friend. You will meet other folks interested in family research and genealogy and enjoy delightful talks that may help you in your own research. I look forward to seeing new faces!

You can also come early and take advantage of our large collection of books and other materials housed at the Westminster Branch of the CCPL. Of course, this collection is available to all anytime the library is open.

 

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Society Saturday – CCGS April 15, 2013 Meeting

Posted on April 13, 2013 in Local Societies

Society Saturday – CCGS April 15, 2013 Meeting CCGSLogo The Carroll County Genealogical Society’s upcoming meeting on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 7:30 PM features Mike Dixon, an historian and writer whose research focuses on the mid-Atlantic’s regional and local history. For over three decades, he worked to encourage public interest and participation in the preservation of the past and to create understandings between earlier eras and the present. Addressing his areas of scholarship, he appeared on the Today Show, Maryland Public TV and broadcast news programs, as well as in National Geographic, Southern Living, and Chesapeake Life.

His topic will be “Tales the Tombstones Whisper.”  This presentation traces the evolution of graveyards in the state, explores some fascinating tales tombstones whisper, considers interesting epitaphs, and discusses changing practices and customs.  The program concludes with suggestions for using a visit to an old burial ground to understand and trace local and family history.

Meetings of the Carroll County Genealogical Society (CCGS) are held the third Monday of each month, March through May and September through November, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Room, Westminster Library at 50 East Main Street, Westminster.  The meetings are free and open to the public.  An annual dinner is held each June and a holiday party each December.  These are for members and guests, with reservations made in advance.

Please come and bring a friend.  You will meet other folks interested in family research and genealogy and enjoy delightful talks that may help you in your quest.  I look forward to seeing some new faces!

You can also come early and take advantage of our large collection of books and other materials housed at the Westminster Branch of the CCPL.  Of course, this collection is available to all anytime the library is open.

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Family Recipe Friday – Grammie Noble’s Potato Salad

Posted on April 12, 2013 in Family Recipes

The following recipe was taught to me by my Mom (and came from her Mom), but it was never written down until I entered it into my cookbook software to preserve it for the next generation.

A tangy dressing makes this potato salad better than deli salad. It seems to be a big hit at all our family barbeques.

Grammie Noble’s Potato Salad

Family Recipe Friday – Grammie Noble’s Potato Salad potato salad 300x168

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

2 pounds potatoes — peeled (8 medium)
1 1/2 cups Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup onion — chopped (1 medium)
2 tablespoons Celery Seed
2 cups hard-cooked eggs — chopped (4 extra large)

Directions

Heat 1-inch of water (salted if desired) to boiling in a 3-quart saucepan. Add potatoes. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cook 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Cool slightly; cut into cubes.

Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, celery seed. salt and pepper in large glass or plastic bowl. Add potatoes and onion; toss. Stir in eggs. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours until chilled.

 Tips

A cup of chopped celery can be substituted for the celery seed. Add celery with potatoes and onion.

If you put each potato in a bowl of cold water as you peel them, the peeled potatoes won’t turn brown while you’re peeling the remainder.

This dish can be made the day before and refrigerated until ready to use.

© 2013 Eileen A. Souza

 

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Peter Bianchi – A Dilemma

Posted on April 4, 2013 in Family History, Family Photos, Interesting Finds

I sent away for some Pennsylvania death certificates, under the new law, in November 2012. I received most of the certificates on 29 March 2013. The length of time was not a surprise since I had read that the death certificates were backlogged for months.

My surprise came when I reviewed the death certificate for Peter Bianchi. In fact it was a real shocker. First some background…

Peter Bianchi – A Dilemma Peter Bianchi 1882 1922 270x300

Peter Bianchi, 1882 – 1922

Peter Bianchi is the eldest son of Bonaventura (aka Victor) and Maria [Bunt] Bianchi. His parents were born in Italy and Bohemia, respectively, but both were usually listed as having been born in Austria.

Bonaventura and Maria Bianchi immigrated to the US on 1 Dec 1888 with their young family. They came to the US on the ship SS Noordland out of Antwerp, Belgium with four children-one an infant. They had been living in Dudelingen, Belgium. Peter’s age on the passenger list is 5. After the birth of another child in New York, the family came to Hazelton, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; and from there, they moved to Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, where they remained.

The 1900 US Federal census has Peter, born June 1882 in Prussia, living with his parents in Mt. Carmel, Northumberland County, PA. In the 1910 and 1920 US Federal censuses, Peter, born in Germany, is married and living in his own home in Mt. Carmel.

His Pennsylvania marriage license and registration shows that Peter Bianchi married Katie Gower on 25 July 1908 in Shamokin, Northumberland County, PA. His parents are listed as Victor and Mary Bianchi of Mt. Carmel. Her parents are listed as Earnest and Kate Gower of Shamokin.

Peter’s WWI draft registration card states his name as Peter Paul Bianchi, born 24 June 1882, married to Catherine, working at the P&R Coal Co. as a miner and living at 528 123rd St., Mt. Carmel, Northumberland County, PA.

In the 1930 US Federal census, Katherine is listed as a widow.

Peter Bianchi – A Dilemma Death Certificate Peter Bianchi 1922 small 300x266

Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate 7859 (1922), Peter Bianchi; Division of Vital Records, New Castle.

The death certificate I received listed his parents as Peter and Julia Bianchi born in Austria. Peter was listed as having died on 5 January 1922 in Mt. Carmel, Northumberland County, PA. His birthdate and birthplace were listed as 1 May 1883 and Pennsylvania (I think it states Penna but it is difficult to read.). The person supplying the information is listed as Chas Bianchi of Mt. Carmel, who has to be his brother. Why wouldn’t his brother know who their parents are? There is no other Peter Bianchi in Mt. Carmel or in Northumberland County.

I would be interested in knowing what my next step should be. Should I just disregard it as an anomaly? What might I do to reconcile these statements with all the other evidence I have collected.

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Some Thoughts on Genealogy

Posted on March 27, 2013 in Family History, Genealogical Technology, Genealogy Databases
Some Thoughts on Genealogy AnnaBianchi1a

My grandmother, Anna Bianchi of Mount Carmel, Northumberland Co., PA, born 1896, died 1973

I recently completed my course of study, started in 2008, at the National Institute of Genealogical Studies, specializing in American Records. I can now proudly use the postnomials P.L.G.G.S. (Program Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies) after my name.

Years ago, in my ignorance, I thought I could just search for an ancestor, copy their vital statistics into my database and there you go.

Now many years later, older and wiser, I have had to learn history, geography, 19th century fashion, military history, legal terminology, advanced search techniques, paleography, some Latin, Italian and German, archival techniques, photography, mapping and platting, writing research plans and reports, formatting source citations, anthropology, all the various record types and what they contain, all the repositories of these record types and where they are located, religious history, archaic occupations and diseases and the list goes on and on. All this to find one ancestor, prove that they are my ancestor, and learn a little about what their life may have been like.

Add to this the technical knowledge required to access and search various online databases, transcribe the data, record and maintain the information, organize collected documents, perform analysis on the data, and maintain research logs and journals of the sources.

I can’t think of any other area of study or practice that encompasses such widely divergent areas of knowledge.

 

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Society Saturday – CCGS March 18, 2013 Meeting

Posted on March 16, 2013 in Local Societies

Society Saturday – CCGS March 18, 2013 Meeting CCGSLogo The Carroll County Genealogical Society’s upcoming meeting on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 7:30 PM features Barbara A. Israel, an archaeology technician who is working on a Native American camp site in Manchester, Carroll County, Maryland. Her topic will be “The Two Story Log House Mystery: An Early 19th Century Farm House in Carroll County, Maryland.” Learn more about the history of this Samuel Owings built log house and the mystery of its location.

In 2010, the speaker was approached by a landowner about a two-story log house advertised in the Westminster, Maryland, Democrat Advocate in 1871 and 1881, regarding his property. The log house was built between 1789 and 1793 by Baltimore County’s surveyor and land developer, Samuel Owings. The walk-over and STP field survey of the property did not reveal a foundation or concentration of Pre-Civil War artifacts. Twelve Pre-Civil War artifacts were found. The majority of the artifacts came from the Post-Civil War era. The question remains, where did the log house stand? Did Henry Dice raze the log house in 1882/1883 and build his new two story dwelling in 1884 on top of the log house foot print or build onto and expand the log house while residing in Manchester, or build his new house while residing in the log house located nearby or outside the present 2 ½ acre property.

Meetings of the Carroll County Genealogical Society (CCGS) are held the third Monday of each month, March through May and September through November, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dixon Room, Westminster Library at 50 East Main Street, Westminster. The meetings are free and open to the public. An annual dinner is held each June and a holiday party each December. These are for members and guests, with reservations made in advance.

Please come and bring a friend. You will meet other folks interested in family research and genealogy and enjoy delightful talks that may help you in your quest. I look forward to seeing some new faces!

You can also come early and take advantage of our large collection of books and other materials housed at the Westminster Branch of the CCPL. Of course, this collection is available to all anytime the library is open.

Society Saturday – CCGS March 18, 2013 Meeting CCGS Genealogy Section 5 24 2012

CCGS Genealogical Section at the Westminster Branch Library. Photo copyright by Eileen Souza

 

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Wordless Wednesday – Marguerite Noble Furlani

Posted on March 6, 2013 in Family Photos

For me, this theme will be used to share my family photos and to post my mystery photos in hopes that someday I’ll be able to solve them.

Wordless Wednesday – Marguerite Noble Furlani MickieFurlanic1941

This is a photo of my mother, Marguerite Noble, age 23, taken in 1941—right before she married my father, William Furlani. The original photo is in what we now call greyscale. When she died in 1985, I asked my dad the color of her dress. I then had an excellent photographic artist produce an oil-based copy and gave it to my dad for Christmas. He treasured it until he died in 1989, when it returned to me.

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Sunday’s Obituary – Mary Bianchi

Posted on March 3, 2013 in Family History, Interesting Finds
Sunday’s Obituary – Mary Bianchi Mary Bianchi Obit 108x300

The obituary of Mary Bianchi extracted from the Mount Carmel Item, Vol. LVII, No. 129, dated 01 Apr 1944. Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania

Mary [Maria] Bianchi is one of my paternal great-grandmothers. Her maiden has been listed variously as Bunt, Bont, Bant, Bonn, Bion, Pond, Bond and, possibly, Bundt. She was born in Bohemia on 8 December 1865. She married Bonaventura Bianchi c. 1881, location unknown and she bore thirteen children, of which ten lived. Maria and Bonaventura were featured in my post “Tombstone Tuesday – Bonaventura Bianchi and Mary Bunt.” According to her death certificate, Mary died 01 Apr 1944 at the age of 80.

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