September 2013 Scanfest

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Surname Saturday: HEWITT

My children's surname, HEWITT, has a variety of origins. In the British Isles, it is a spelling variant of the medieval personal name, Huet. It is a long-established surname in Ireland. Finally, it was a topographic name for someone who lived in a newly-made clearing in a wood; from the Middle English hewett and the Old English hiewet, derivatives of heawan, meaning to "to chop or hew."

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel #62 - Thomas HEWITT (c. 1793 - bet. 1850-1860) - little is known about this individual, other than he was born and married in Pennsylvania. His wife, Hannah MILLER (c. 1803 - bet. 1860-1870), was also born in that state. They had five known children. Their middle daughter was married in Dane Co., Wisconsin; it's not clear if her parents lived there or remained in Pennsylvania.

Ahnentafel #32 - Rebecca HEWITT (1836 - 1911) - family records state she was born in Lead, Pennsylvania, but that location has not been found on any map, atlas, or gazetteer. In 1851, she married Isaac LUKE (1831 - 1920) in Sun Prairie, Dane Co., Wisconsin. They had 14 children; their first child was born in Sauk Co., Wisconsin, but they removed to Juneau Co., Wisconsin, where they lived for over 20 years. Isaac served as a private in Company U, 16th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. They eventually settled in Avon, Bon Homme Co., South Dakota while it was still Dakota Territory. Rebecca died in Brookings Co., South Dakota, probably while on a visit. She is buried in the Hitt Cemetery in Avon.

Ahnentafel #15 - Angelia Rebecca LUKE (1866 - 1941) - born in Summit Twp., Juneau Co., Wisconsin, she married John Franklin MARTIN in 1883 in Avon, Bon Homme Co., South Dakota: 12 children. John worked for the railroad for much of his life, which may have been the reason why they lived all over the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. After John's death in 1928, Angelia apparently moved to California to live with one of her two daughters that lived in the area. She died in Berkeley, Alameda Co., California and is buried with John in Forest View Cemetery, Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon.

Ahnentafel #7 - Leona Mary MARTIN (1906 - 1993) - youngest of 12 children and a twin, she was my husband's maternal grandmother. Her fantastic cooking provided for her family during the Depression through a diner she and her husband, Forrest Lyton CHAPLIN, owned.

Ahnentafel #3 - my mother-in-law, living

Ahnentafel #1 - my children's father, living

More About the HEWITT Family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): HEWITT ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Posts about HEWITT ancestors and relatives on this blog

The HEWITT Immigration Trail:

Pennsylvania > Dane Co., WI > Sauk Co., WI > Juneau Co., WI > Bon Homme Co., DT (now SD) > Ransom Co., ND > LaMoure Co., ND > Kootenai (now Boundary) Co., ID > Franklin Co., WA > Multnomah Co., OR > Washington Co., OR > Clark Co., WA > Yakima Co., WA > Pierce Co., WA > Clark Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA

Scanfest is Coming!

The September 2013 Scanfest will take place here at AnceStories this coming Sunday, September 29th, from 11 AM to 2 PM, Pacific Daylight Time.
 
What is Scanfest? It's a time when geneabloggers, family historians, and family archivists meet online here at this blog to chat while they scan their precious family document and photos. Why? Because, quite honestly, scanning is time-consuming and boring!

Scanfest is a great time to "meet" other genealogists, ask questions about scanning and preservation, and get the kick in the pants we all need on starting those massive scanning projects that just seem too overwhelming to begin.

To get started, you need to know the basics about scanning:

1. Don't use commercial glass cleaners (i.e. Windex) or paper towels to clean your scanner's glass plate. Use a soft, clean cloth, preferably microfiber. If you must use a liquid, use water sprayed directly onto the cloth  and make sure to let the plate dry thoroughly before placing photos or documents on it.

2. Wear cotton gloves (available at many art and/or photography supply shops) when handling photos and old documents.

3. Don't slide the photos around on the glass plate. Place them exactly where you want them. Photos should NEVER be scanned by a scanner that feeds the document through the machine, but ALWAYS on a flat-bed scanner.

4. Set your scanner to scan at no smaller than 300 dpi (dots per inch). Many experts recommend 600 dpi for photographs.

5. Photographs should ALWAYS be scanned and saved as .tif files. Use "Save As" to reformat the .tif file to a .jpg file for restoration and touchups, emailing, or uploading to an online photo album. ALWAYS retain the original scan as a .tif file.

6. Documents can be scanned as .pdf files or .tif files.

7. When you are done scanning your photos, don't put them back in those nasty "magnetic" photo albums. Place them in archival safe albums or boxes found at websites such as Archival Products or Archival Suppliers. Do NOT store any newsprint (articles, obituaries, etc.) with the photos. The acid from the newspaper will eventually destroy the photograph.

Now about the chatting part of Scanfest:

We will be using Blyve, a live blogging platform that you access right here at AnceStories. On Sunday at 11 AM, PDT, come right here to AnceStories and you'll see the Blyve live blog/forum in the top post. It's not really a "chat room," per se, it's more like a live forum and anyone visiting this site can read and see what is happening in the forum.

You will not need to download any software.

We look forward to having you participate with us!

Surname Saturday: WRIGHT

The surname WRIGHT has its origins in the Old English wryhta, a derivative of wyrcan, which means "to work or make." The name came to mean "craftsman," particularly a craftsman who created machinery made of wood, such as windmills or watermills.

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel #124 - Peter or David WRIGHT - very little information is known about this man, other than he probably was born about 1800  in New York State. His wife's name was Mary CLARKE, who was born about 1800 in Orange Co., New York. They married by 1828, probably in Orange County when the first of their three known children was born. In 1850, they are found in Minisink, Orange Co., New York, where he is listed as David WRIGHT. By 1860, their older son, William Parker WRIGHT was living in the Town of Newark, Tioga Co., New York, and in 1870, Mary is listed as a widow, living with her younger son and daughter-in-law, Samuel Youngs WRIGHT and Emily "Emma" LEONARD. William's father's name is given as Peter WRIGHT on his (William's) death certificate; his daughter was the informant.

Ahnentafel #62 - William Parker WRIGHT (1830 - 1915) - born in Minisink, Orange Co., New York, he first married Ann Elizabeth ROCKWELL (1829 - 1860). They had four children. According to our family records, he married three other times; one of his wives was Lucy A. [--?--], whom he married by 1880. He had many trades: mason, carriage maker, and wagon wheel maker. His granddaughter recorded that he was a choir master and a Methodist, so perhaps he led the choir at the Methodist church. By 1860, he had moved to the Town of Newark., Tioga Co., New York, and in 1870, he was living in the Town of Tioga of the same county. In 1880, he was living in the village of Tioga Center. He is still found in that town in 1900, but by 1910, he was living in Hart, Oceana Co., Michigan, probably to be near his youngest daughter, Mary, who lived in various communities in Western Michigan with her husband and children. William died in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, a widower. Although his obituary states he was buried in the White Cloud Cemetery in White Cloud, Newaygo Co., New York, the Upper Fairfield Cemetery in Tioga Co., New York confirmed he was buried there.

Ahnentafel #31 - Mary Lucy WRIGHT (1859 - 1946) - born in Tioga Co., New York, she married Charles Frisbe STRONG (1852 - 1921) in 1873. They had 10 children, seven of whom survived childhood. Her husband's itchy foot caused them to move back and forth between Tioga Co., NY and Western Michigan (Newaygo, Kent, Ottawa Counties) several times. They finally headed west, spending time in Fiske, Saskatechewan and then in Clapsop and Marion Counties, Oregon settling in Hubbard in the last county. After Charles' death, Mary lived with her son Frank in Marion County, and later her daughter, Ethel, in Stanwood, Snohomish Co., Washington, where she died. Charles and Mary are buried in Belle Passi Cemetery, Woodburn, Marion Co., Oregon.

Ahnentafel #15 - Lillian Fern STRONG (1897 - 1967) - read her AnceStory here.

Ahnentafel #7 - Ruth Lillian HOEKSTRA (1919 - 2001) - my maternal grandmother; read her AnceStory here.

Ahnentafel #3 - my mother (living)


Ahnentafel #1 - myself

More About the WRIGHT Family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): WRIGHT ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Some WRIGHT obituaries

3. Posts about WRIGHT ancestors and relatives on this blog

4. Some scanned WRIGHT photos

My WRIGHT Immigration Trail:

Orange Co., NY > Tioga Co., NY > Newaygo Co., MI > Tioga Co., NY > Kent Co., MI > Ottawa Co., MI > Kent Co., MI > Saskatchewan > Clapsop Co., OR > Marion Co., OR > Kent Co., MI > AK > Stevens Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA

Surname Saturday: HUBBY

Since I missed posting my Surname Saturday post last week, I am posting two today.

From the Dictionary of American Family Names, we learn that my children's ancestral surname, HUBBY, is apparently a variant of Huby, a location name from either of two places in North Yorkshire. The Huby near Easingwold is named from the Old English hoh and the Old Scandinavian bý, meaning "settlement," while the Huby near Stainburn is named with the Old French personal name Hu(gh)e and the Old Scandinavian bý. Another possibility is that it is a variation of the German Hubbe, which is a short form of Hubert. Since I am at this time unable to trace back very far on this surname, it is not clear where my children's HUBBY originates, although it is more likely to be English, as the earliest ancestor we trace comes from Canada, and possibly, Scotland.

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel #58 - John HUBBY, Sr. (1797 - 1880) - born in either Ontario, Canada or in Scotland, he married Hannah JONES (1812 - 1879) by 1832 in Ontario. They had 14 children. One of their sons was born in 1840 in Kent Co., Ontario. In 1844 they were living in Shirland, Winnebago Co., Illinois. By 1852, they were in Lind Co., Iowa and between 1854 and 1856, they were in Jones Co., Iowa. By 1858, they were living in Boone Co., Iowa, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Ahnentafel #29 - Rachel HUBBY (1832 - 1892) - Rachel was born in Canada. By 1848, she had married an immigrant from Strasbourg, Alsace, France, Francois Joseph MARTIN (1828 - 1887). After farming for some time in Lind and Jones Counties in Iowa, they removed to Bon Homme County in Dakota Territory (now South Dakota).

Ahnentafel #14 - John Franklin MARTIN (1854 - 1928) - John worked for the railroad for much of his life, which may have been the reason why he lived all over the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. He and his wife, Angelia Rebecca LUKE, had 12 children, including a set of twins (a genetic trait carried from Angelia's family).

Ahnentafel #7 - Leona Mary MARTIN (1906 - 1993) - youngest of 12 children and a twin. Her fantastic cooking provided for her family during the Depression through a diner she and her husband, Forrest Lyton CHAPLIN, owned.

Ahnentafel #3 - my children's paternal grandmother (living)

Ahnentafel #1 - my children's father (living)

More About the HUBBY Family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): HUBBY ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Posts about HUBBY ancestors and relatives on this blog

3. Some scanned HUBBY photos

4. Some scanned HUBBY documents

My children's HUBBY Immigration Trail:

Scotland or Ontario, Canada > Kent Co., Ontario, Canada > Winnebago Co., IL > Lind Co., IA > Jones Co., IA > Bon Homme Co., DT (now SD) > Ransom Co., ND > LaMoure Co., ND > Kootenai (now Boundary) Co., ID > Franklin Co., WA > Multnomah Co., OR > Washington Co., OR > Clark Co., WA > Yakima Co., WA > Pierce Co., WA > Clark Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA

Surname Saturday: TON

Since I missed posting my Surname Saturday post last week, I am posting two today.

The Dutch word ton can be translated as "barrel" or "buoy." It is possible that this was an occupational surname for someone who was a barrel-maker or buoy-maker. If so, TON would be similar to the English occupational name, Cooper, although the Dutch kuiper is a more common surname related to that. Another possibility is that TON was a descriptive surname, indicating an individual who was barrel-chested, or very large. My TON ancestors were using this surname over 30 years before Napoleon required the Dutch citizens under his rule to choose and register a surname with the local officials, so the origins of why they chose it are lost at this time. The early users that I've been able to trace simply listed "laborer" as their occupations, so it's not known for certain if TON was an occupational surname.

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel #232 - Geert TON (c. 1746 - 1812) - born in Heerewaarden, Gelderland, the Nethelands, Geert left his hometown in 1770, at the age of 24, probably to live in the neighboring province of Zeeland. Ten years later, he married Adriaantje KNOKAERT (c. 1753 - 1817) in Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland (her surname is found in some records as KLOKAERT). Geert's occupation was listed as a laborer at the time of one of his sons' births, but as a journalier (journeyman) by the time of his death in 1812 in Nieuwerkerk. Geert was originally my brick wall on this line. However, my recent discovery of the whereabouts of his birth gives me hope that records in Gelderland will allow me to trace back more generations.

Ahnentafel #116 - Adrian TON (1792 - 1860) - born in Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland, the Netherlands, he was christened at six days old "during the service of Reverend F. van Gogh" (no apparent relation to the famed artist). He spent his entire life in Nieuwerkerk, and his occupation was always listed as a laborer. His first wife was Jacomijntje LOGMANS (c. 1799 - 1820), whom he married in 1817. They had one son, who did not survive infancy. Two years after her death, he married my ancestor, Neltje POOT (c. 1793 - 1850), with whom he had nine children. Unfortunately, only two of these children, Pieter and Suzanna, survived childhood, and both immigrated to the United States with their spouses after their parents' deaths.

Ahnentafel #58 - Pieter Adriaanse TON (1823 - 1874) - born in Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland, the Netherlands. He married Maria Marina van KLINKEN (1827 - 1878) in Nieuwerkerk in 1856. They apparently had a daughter in 1851, Cornelia. Her father's name was not listed on her birth record where she is listed with her mother's surname, but her surname is shown as TON when she immigrated with Pieter and Maria in 1857. Having children before marriage was not uncommon in the nineteenth century in the Netherlands, especially amongst the poor, as the state-run church required a hefty marriage fee. Often a couple began their household and had several children before they could afford to be officially married.
     Our Family Record book authored by Pieter and Maria's grandson and his wife state that they had four sons (one named Louis) and four daughters, Kate, Nell, Mary, and Jennie. One son has been identified in Zeeland vital records as Adriaan, who was born and died the same year and shortly before the family immigrated. Nell is not the same person as Cornelia, as her birth was in 1860. Kate is the only daughter for whom no record can be found; whether or not she is the same individual as Cornelia remains to be seen. No death record has been found for Cornelia and she disappears after her immigration in 1857. The lack of records can be attributed to the fact that Cincinnati, Ohio where the family first settled after arriving in the United States, did not keep vital records until 1865. These early records appear to have gaps, as well.
     From city directories, we can determine that Pieter worked in Cincinnati at several factories where he was exposed to toxic chemicals such as sulfuric acid. When the family relocated around 1872 to Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, he continued his factory work. It's no wonder that he died at the young age of 51 from consumption. Likely he was buried in the paupers' section of Valley City (now Oakhill) Cemetery, where Maria was interred four years later.

Ahnentafel #29 - Jana "Jennie" TON (1867 - 1943) - born in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, she was youngest of three daughters that survived childhood. Her parents and siblings relocated to Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan around 1872. After her father's death in 1874, her mother remarried to another widowed Dutch immigrant, Dirk BIJL, who had two children. When her mother died in 1878, Jennie was orphaned at the tender age of 11. Her step-father remarried yet another Dutch widow, and Jennie went to live with her maternal uncle and aunt, Johannes "John" van KLINKEN and Barendina LENDERINK. With only a third-grade education behind her, Jennie joined her older sisters as hired-out maids. She eventually worked as a laundress and likely met her future husband, Martin HOEKSTRA (1868 - 1944), who drove the laundry wagon for the American Steam Laundry company. They married in 1886 in Martin's hometown of Holland, Ottawa Co., Michigan, but set up their home in Grand Rapids, where they had four children. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, they moved to Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan, where Jennie died.

Ahnentafel #14 - John Martin HOEKSTRA (1892 - 1975) - I have a few faint memories of my great-grandfather, whom I last saw when I was five. They have been recorded in my AnceStory of him here.

Ahnentafel #7 - Ruth Lillian HOEKSTRA - (1919 - 2001) - my dear maternal grandmother. You can read her AnceStory here.

Ahnentafel #3 - my mother (living)

Ahnentafel #1 - myself

More About the TON Family:

1. Online database (I update this at least once a month): TON ancestors and relatives (no info on living persons available)

2. Some TON obituaries

3. Posts about TON ancestors and relatives on this blog

4. Some scanned TON documents


My TON Immigration Trail:

Heerewaarden, Gelderland, the Nethelands > Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland, the Netherlands > Hamilton Co., OH > Kent Co., MI > Pierce Co., WA > Kent Co., MI > AK > Stevens Co., WA > Spokane Co., WA

Labor Day Special from Genealogy Tip of the Day

Genealogist Michael John Neill, is offering two Labor Day specials today on his webinars and newsletter, Casefile Clues.

The first is $10 off any order of $20 or more, by using the coupon code labor.

The second special is a $4 Download Special of three of his most popular webinars: Seeing Patterns; Charts, Charts, and More Charts; and Creating Research Plans.This special is available here only.

I've had the pleasure of hearing Michael's presentations in person, when he came to the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society's October 2006 workshop. If you don't have an opportunity to hear him live, his webinars are the next best thing! Also, I have done a review of Casefile Clues here.

The list of other webinars for sale (not included with the $4 Download Specials) is available here. Scroll down to the bottom of that post to see the link for ordering the Casefile Clues newsletter.

This offer is good today only, September 2, 2013, and expires at 11:59 PM, PDT.