A Civil War Soldier: Sgt. Daniel J. MacARTHUR (1827 - 1919)

How Related: My 3rd-great-grandfather

Born: 7 June 1827 in Glengarry Co., Ontario, Canada

Parents: Donald MacARTHUR (d. bef. 1842) and Catherine Anne "Nancy" MUNRO (dates unknown)

Siblings: Arthur "Duncan" (b. 1818), and sister Jesse D. MacARTHUR (1822 - c. 1903)

Source: MacArthur, Daniel J. and Martha Johnson. Photograph. C. 1863. Original photograph believed to be in the possession of Nancy Masten Peugh, Manton, Michigan. 1999.

Married: 27 February 1863 to Martha JOHNSON (1844 - 1897), probably in Montcalm Co., Michigan

Children: Henry A. (1865 - 1944), Daniel Thomas (1867 - 1945), Catherine A. "Kate" (1869 - 1956), George Clinton "Clint" (1871 - 1936), my ancestor Mary E. "Mae" (1875 - 1959), William Edward "Will" (1880 -1873), and Arlie Mae (1884 - 1971)

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Enlisted: 17 December 1861 at Evergreen, Michigan in Co. I, 1st Sharpshooter's (Bergan's) Regiment, U.S. Volunteers; private. Charge of desertion. Enlisted again in same company on 4 March 1862.

Side served: Union

Discharged: see biographical information, below

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Source: Four generations of M(a)cArthurs. Photograph. C. 1917. Original photograph believed to be in the possession of Nancy Masten Peugh, Manton, Michigan. 1999.

Biography or Information of Interest: In the photograph above, Daniel is seated with his great-granddaughter, believed to be Katherine L. YORK. Her father, Daniel's grandson, Ernest Lee YORK is standing on the left. Ernest's mother, Daniel's daughter, Mary E. "Mae" (McARTHUR) YORK RANDELL is standing in the back. Mae is also my 2nd-great-grandmother. See my Wordless Wednesday follow-up post about Daniel here for more information about his life and military experience.

Died: 10 March 1919 in Oxford Twp., Oakland Co., Michigan

Buried: Hill (Danley) Cemetery, Fulton Twp., Gratiot Co., Michigan

Images of Mother Love

As I reviewed the photos and scanned digital images in my personal collection to find something to reflect the love of mothers towards their children for footnoteMaven's new carnival, I Smile for the Camera, I realized it was not an easy task! Most of the photos in my collection either show complete families, or babies by themselves. Here were a couple I thought worth sharing.

The first is of the sisters of my Great-grandfather William VALK. Older sister Jennie James (VALK) HEIDEMA is shown on the left with her second-born, Gerritt John HEIDEMA, Jr., about two years old (firstborn child John James HEIDEMA died as an infant). On the right is younger sister Geertje "Gertrude" James (VALK) YSSELDYKE with firstborn child Jacob YSSELDYKE, Jr. Pride and joy are reflected in these mothers' eyes. At a time when infant mortality was still quite high, children (and mothers) who survived childbirth and infancy were fortunate.

Source: Sisters Jennie Valk Heidema and Gertrude Valk Ysseldyke with their sons Gerrit Heidema and Jacob Ysseldyke. Photocopy of photograph taken 1921. Original in the possession of John Heidema, Little Silver, New Jersey. 2000.

Mother love doesn't end when a child becomes an adult. Here we see my 2nd-great-grandmother, Mary Lucy (STRONG) WRIGHT with her daughter, Ethel Melissa (STRONG) HASTIE. Their love for each other is so evident in their postures and expressions. Ethel and her husband cared for Mary in the Pacific Northwest in her elder years after she was widowed.

Source: Strong, Mary Wright and daughter Melissa Strong Hastie. Reprint of photograph taken c. early 1940s. Original photograph in the possession of Avis Strong Russell, Italy, Texas. 2008.

Written for the 1st I Smile for the Camera Carnival, "Love of Mother/A Mother's Love".

"School Years: Part II" by Faith L. Robbins

Written by guest blogger, Faith L. (Valk) Robbins (my mother) for the 48th Carnival of Genealogy, "Mom, How'd You Get So Smart?":

Source: Valk, Faith, age 12 in her 6th grade graduation dress in front of the DeVries Home at 505 Shamrock, NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photograph. 1952. Original in the possession of Faith Valk Robbins, Colville, Washington. 2008.

As sixth grade drew to a close, our family discovered that we needed to move because our house [505 Shamrock] was in the way of a highway project. We moved to north Grand Rapids where my friend Beth had moved a year earlier. We were ecstatic when we found we would be at the same junior high school.

Source: Riverside Junior High, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photograph. C. 1956. Original in the possession of Faith Valk Robbins, Colville, Washington. 2008.

Riverside Junior High produced new friends including dates with some boys in my class and activities such as hayrides, ice- and roller skating. Elvis and Pat Boone were the then-current teenage musical idols.

My first date was with a red head named Norm AND his buddy Bill. He asked me where I wanted to go and I had an answer all ready for him. We spent our evening at a local church watching a movie about five missionaries murdered in Equador. He never asked me out again!

Faith's Parents

Source: DeVries, Adriaen "Ed" and Ruth Lillian (Hoekstra). Photograph. 1953. Original in the possession of Faith Valk Robbins, Colville, Washington. 2008.

At one point, Beth and I thought up the idea of going to the local skating rink to look for boys. It was her idea and I wasn't sure about convincing my folks. Sure enough, my stepfather found out what we were up to and sternly forbade it. Sooner than we could imagine, we were graduating from ninth grade and getting ready for high school.

School Years: Part I
School Years: Part III

A Civil War Soldier: Sgt. Henry LYTON (a.k.a. George TURK) (1836 - 1874)

How Related: My husband's 2nd-great-grandfather

Born: George TURK, 1836, Ontario, Canada (possibly in Ottawa, Carleton County)

Parents: Samuel TURK (b. 1806) and Lydia GILLETT (b. 1808)

Siblings: George/Henry was the third of eleven children:

• Reuben, a.k.a. Henry GILLETT (c. 1832 - 1893)
• John (1835 - 1904)
• Rice (b. 1837)
• Jane (1840 - 1910)
• William Wellington (1842 - 1917)
• Washington (b. 1843)
• Cinderella (b. 1845)
• Avery (b. 1846)
• Clarissa (b. 1848)
• Almira (b. 1849)
  

Married: Mariah Emily DAILEY (1849 - 1935) in August 1868 in Thurman, Fremont Co., Iowa

Children: Charles Sanford (1870 - 1871), Agnes (1872 - 1898), and my husband's great-grandmother, Emma Alice LYTON (1874 - 1959)

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Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of George Turk, a.k.a Henry Lyton. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 9 October 1861 at Marshall, Michigan in Co. A, 1st Michigan Engineers; promoted to Full Corporal on 19 March 1864; promoted to Full Sergeant on 1 November 1864. Distinguished Service.

Side served: Union

Mustered Out: 22 September 1865, Nashville, Tennessee

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Biography or Information of Interest: For many years, Henry LYTON was an enigma. About a year-and-a-half ago, my husband's sister-in-law found information online that uncovered the fact that LYTON was a pseudonym. I have no idea why George TURK changed his name to Henry LYTON; curiously, his older brother Rueben TURK changed his name to Henry GILLETT. The Gillett surname is understandable, given that this was their mother's maiden name. But why LYTON? We may never know, just as I do not know why my step-ancestor Washington Foster JUDD changed his name to Charles F. KING.

George/Henry died just about a month before his youngest daughter Emma was born. His widow Mariah applied for a minor's pension in Emma's name in 1888, even though she had remarried. Since I don't have a copy of the application, I don't know if it was approved or denied. Mysteries, enigmas, puzzles...!

Died: February 1874, Thurman, Fremont Co., Iowa

Buried: probably in the Thurman Cemetery, Thurman, Fremont Co., Iowa

"School Years: Part I" by Faith L. Robbins

Written by guest blogger, Faith L. (Valk) Robbins (my mother) for the 48th Carnival of Genealogy, "Mom, How'd You Get So Smart?":

Source: Kindergarten Portrait of Faith Valk. Photograph. 1949. Original in the possession of Faith Valk Robbins, Colville, Washington. 2008.

My school years began in 1949 at Porter School in the suburb of Wyoming Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was five years old and already knew how to write my name. My kindergarten teacher was a Mrs. Beamer who was both jolly and strict. We had a band in our class and it was my task to play the drum when I really longed to hold the triangle. I had a playmate named Jackie Hall who lived on the next street and who was also in my kindergarten class. I began to tell my mother who was very much interested in finding out how school was going for me about his and my activities. She learned, for instance, that both Jackie and I were disciplined by Mrs. Beamer's purple hairbrush but that he received far more spankings than I did. When my mother picked me up at the last day of school, she mentioned the situation to Mrs. Beamer and told her that I needed the discipline at times. Instantly, I went and hid in the cloakroom while my teacher burst out laughing. She explained in between chuckles to my startled parent that she had no purple hairbrush. It was a mortified soon-to-be first grader who walked the mile home that afternoon with my mother.

First grade brought the delights of reading to which I took as a duck does to water. I also loved music. In second grade, the traveling music teacher decided to compose a class song in which six of the outstanding students were named. Although I stood on my tiptoes, I was forever famous for being the shortest in the class!

Source: Hall Street Elementary School, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photograph. C. 1956. Original photograph in the possession of Faith Valk Robbins, Colville, Washington. 2008.

In April 1952 our family bought and moved to a larger house in south Grand Rapids. I attended Hall School where my step-grandfather [George DeVries] planted the trees as a young immigrant boy at the front of the building. It was there I met my best friend, Beth Runnels and where for three years we were inseparable.

At the age of nine, I attended Camp O'Malley, a place sponsored by the Grand Rapids police force. One day at the pool, a life guard told all of us campers gathered there a story of a boy who did not have a buddy when he went swimming in a local gravel pit and who drowned. The boy's name was Jackie Hall. I cried with grief and still today remember with fondness the bright-eyed boy I played with.

School Years: Part II
School Years: Part III

Mom, How'd You Get So Smart?

"Mom, How'd You Get So Smart?" is the topic of the 48th Carnival of Genealogy, coming soon! In this carnival, bloggers share the history of their mothers' educations, whether formal, self-taught, or via the school of life. I know quite a bit about my mother's educational life, through her stories, letters, and the wonderful scrapbooks she created in junior high and high school. I had a sudden inspiration to go directly to the source and ask Mom to write her memories of school life, herself. She has always been a wonderful writer, as the hundreds of weekly letters she wrote to her parents from Alaska to Michigan during my childhood years can attest. If only I had had more forethought, I might have asked earlier to borrow some of the scrapbooks and photo albums and scan some of her school pictures and snapshots of her schools (we live two hours away from each other). Perhaps at a later date I will add those to the posts to illustrate them. Lucky me! I found a few photographs that I had scanned last summer to illustrate these posts!

Therefore, it is my great pleasure and privilege to introduce you to a very special guest blogger, Faith Valk Robbins, who will be composing memories of her school days to share with us. Please welcome her!

School Years: Part I
School Years: Part II
School Years: Part III

I'm Back

I'm back from my blogging break. I wasn't very ill on Tuesday, just a bit under the weather, although both my children were sick (especially my daughter). However, I did need to take a break from blogging for a few days, as I've been burning the candle at both ends lately with many activities and responsibilities. Life always tends to get rather chaotic the last six weeks of the school year. I want to thank all those who left kind messages for me. Our geneablogging community is so supportive!

I will be continuing my Civil War Soldier and Sailor posts, and will be doubling up on them for a bit until I get caught up. Many of them are mostly written, but need some tweaking and detailing before being posted. Thank goodness for Blogger's post scheduling!

A Civil War Soldier: Pvt. Isaac LUKE (1831 - 1920)

How Related: My husband's 2nd-great-grandfather

Born: 1 April 1831 in Mount Vernon, Wayne Co., Ohio

Parents: Azel Isak LUKE (1791 - 1874) and Annabel MITCHELL (1793 - c. 1850)

Siblings: William (1818 - 1894), Lydia (1821 - 1913), John (1823 - 1864), Margaret (b. c. 1825), Mary (b. 1827), and Charlotte LUKE (1833 - 1910)

Married: first on 20 February 1851 to Rebecca HEWITT (1836 - 1911) in Sun Prairie, Dane Co., Wisconsin; after Rebecca's death, he married three other women, outliving at least two of them: Florence SUMMERS, Eliza HURD, and Maryann (BEST) SPERB

Children: Isaac and Rebecca (nice Biblical names!) had 14 children!:

• William Alonzo (1852 - 1919)
• Robert Thomas (1853 - 1932)
• Orville Isaac (1855 - 1943)
• Mollisia Rachel (1856 - c. 1937)
• Lydia J. (c. 1859 - c. 1877)
• Orin Azel (1860 - 1932)
• Julia Elizabeth (1862 - 1916)
• Simeon Wesley (1863 - 1947)
• Angelia Rebecca (1866 - 1941) - my husband's ancestor
• Mary Amanda "Mandy" (1868 - 1938)
• Clara (c. 1870 - 1877)
• Lucy (c. 1872 - 1875)
• Eunice Rebecca (1874 - 1918)
• Alice Viola (1878 - 1955)
  

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Drafted: 26 September 1864 in Co. U, 16th Wisconsin Infantry; private

Side served: Union

Mustered Out: 13 May 1865

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Biography or Information of Interest: Isaac has been difficult to research; the 16th Wisconsin Infantry's Civil War Pension Index Cards have not yet been uploaded to Footnote, and I don't find one for him at Ancestry, so I'm not sure if he collected a pension. Other than many names, dates, and locations that have been passed on by other Luke researchers for this family, I haven't found any detailed information that gives me a flesh-and-blood portrait of the man. I did find a message at Genforum from a descendant who has a photograph of Isaac and Rebecca's family, but the e-mail address I wrote to is no longer valid. One item of note: it appears his brother John was also a Civil War soldier who died at Memphis, Tennessee. This is the second time since starting this series that I've discovered new information on a brother of an ancestor that also served.

Died: 18 January 1920 in Avon, Bon Homme Co., South Dakota

Buried: Grave 6, Lot 15, Block 3, Section 3 of Hitt Cemetery, Avon, Bon Homme Co., South Dakota

A Civil War Soldier: Pvt. John Wallace LEWIS (1839 - 1908)

Source: Lewis, John W. Photograph. Date unknown. Original photograph in the possession of Jeanne Holst Robbins, Fulton, Texas. 2008.

How Related: My 3rd-great-grandfather

Born: 8 July 1839 in New York, probably in Amboy Township, Oswego County

Parents: George Washington LEWIS, Sr. (1800 - 1879) and Sarah M. "Sally" BASSETT (1801 - 1873)

Siblings: George Washington, Jr. (b. c. 1825), Henry (b. c. 1831), Phidelia (b. c. 1833), Alonzo N. (b. c. 1835 - bef. 1880), Lawrence Harrison (1840 - 1920) and Emmet (b. c. 1844).

Married: first to Esther [--?--] (c. 1840 - bef. 1867) before 1858, probably in Amboy Twp. Secondly to my ancestor, Elenor L. "Nellie" VREELAND (1835 - 1912) on 20 April 1867 in Washtenaw Co., Michigan

Children: With his wife Esther, he had two children: Clarence (b. c. 1858) and Clara (b. c. 1860). With Nellie, he had seven children: George Emmett (1868 - 1964) - my ancestor; John Wallace, Jr. (1870 - 1908), Esther Mary "Ette" (1874 - 1930), Ethel (b. c. 1875), Hartman (1876 - 1938), Ida May (1879 - 1970), and Willie LEWIS (b. c. 1879).

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Enlisted: date and place unknown; served with the 101st Regiment, New York Volunteers, Co. A

Side served: Union

Discharged: date and place unknown

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Biography or Information of Interest: The more I look into this family, the more surprises I find. The first was that John had been married before he married my ancestor, Nellie VREELAND. He is found with his wife Esther and their two children on the 1860 Federal Census, living in Amboy Twp., Oswego Co., New York. By 1870, he has moved to York Twp., Washtenaw Co., Michigan, is married to Nellie, with one son, George, (my ancestor), and another one (John, Jr.) being born that year. Son Clarence is living with John's parents back in New York, and there is no sign of Cora or Esther. I can only presume they have died.

The second surprise was discovering that there were two more children of John and Nellie that no one seemed to know about. They don't appear in the written Lewis Family History. They do show up on the 1880 Federal Census: Ethel, born about 1875, and Willie, born about 1879 (was he Ida's twin?). They don't appear in Muskegon County birth or death records; cemetery records for Oakhurst, where most of the Lewis family members were buried, weren't kept until the early 1900s, and early records rely mostly on tombstone transcriptions.

Another surprise showed up in his obituary. He is always listed as John Wallace Lewis, Sr. in the family history, with a son, John Wallace, Jr., and a grandson John "Wallace" (through son Hartman). However, his obituary lists John, Sr. as John Wesley Lewis. Official records always show John W. Lewis, typical for that time, so no help there. What was his middle name?

Did he serve, or didn't he? In the 1890 Veterans Census, John W. Lewis is listed as serving with the 101st New York Infantry. However, the enumerator noted that he (or some other family member) refused to answer questions about his enlistment and discharge dates. I haven't been able to find him listed in any roster of the 101st New York Infantry online; thus, I can't order a pension record for him to determine if he actually served.

Died: 13 February 1908 in Whitehall Village, Whitehall Twp., Muskegon Co., Michigan

Source: Tombstone of John W. Lewis, Oakhurst Cemetery, Whitehall Twp., Michigan. Photograph taken at the request of Miriam Robbins Midkiff by Toni Falcon, volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. 2005.

Buried: Lot 415-8, Oakhurst Cemetery, Whitehall Twp., Muskegon Co., Michigan

A Civil War Soldier: Pvt. William R. KIMBALL (1837 - 1924)

How Related: Brother of my 3rd-great-grandfather, Benjamin Henry KIMBALL

Born: 8 April 1837 in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio

Parents: William KIMBALL (c. 1806 - 1879) and Amanda WESTBROOK (1816 - c. 1882)

Siblings: William was second of eleven children and one of three brothers who served in the Union Army:

• John E. (1835 - 1910)
• Fanny C. (c. 1838 - bef. 1853)
• George Washington (1841 - 1918)
• Mary Jane (c. 1844 - 1925)
• Benjamin Henry (1845 - 1924) - my ancestor
• David P. (c. 1848 - 1903)
• Fanny Charlotte (b. c. 1853)
• Ella A. (b. c. 1858)
• Lydia P. (b. c. 1862)
• Lucinda May (b. c. 1866)

Married: Sarah Isabel HATHLEY (1839 - 1919) on 14 September 1856 in Newaygo Village, Brooks Twp., Newaygo Co., Michigan

Children:

• Martha Amanda (1857 - 1875)
• Edward (dates unknown)
• Ida Jane (b. 1859)
• Alice M. (b. 1862)
• Ruey (b. 1865)
• Sarah L. (b. 1869)
• Jesse Malvina (b. 1871)
• Edwin "Eddie" (b. c. 1878)
  

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Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of William Kimbell. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Drafted: 20 September 1864 at Newaygo Co., Michigan into Co. A, 13th Michigan Infantry; private

Side served: Union

Discharged: 8 June 1865 in Washington, D. C.

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Biography or Information of Interest: From Portrait and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Michigan, pp. 259 - 269:

William Kimbell, Sheriff of Newaygo County, resident at Newaygo, was born in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., O., April 8. 1837. He is a son of William and Amanda (Westbrook) Kimbell, and was reared on a farm, obtaining his education at winter terms of school. From the age of 15 years he was variously engaged until he settled in Newaygo in 1853. In 1843 his parents transferred their family to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where his father was a farmer. On coming to Newaygo, Mr. Kimbell interested himself in the pursuit which in some of its varied branches was that of nearly all men in active life in this portion of Michigan, namely, lumbering. Soon afterward he began taking contracts, engaging first with the Newaygo Lumber Company and successively with Kelly, Wood & Co., of Chicago, and Lyman T. Kinney of Grand Rapids. He commonly employed a working force of about 50 men.

In 1864 Mr. Kimbell was drafted and assigned to Co. A, 13th Reg't. Mich. Vol. Inf. He served nine months and participated in the battle of Bentonville, besides doing duty in a number of skirmishes. On receiving his discharge he returned to Newaygo and resumed lumbering. He continued his operations in that pursuit until February, 1881, when he rented the White Cloud House at White Cloud. The hotel was under his management until December, 1881, when he was elected to his present official position and transferred his residence to Newaygo.

Mr. Kimbell was married in Newaygo, Sept. 3, 1856, to Sarah B., daughter of John and Matilda Hathley, a native of Canada, born April 12, 1839. Of eight children born to them six are living: Ida J., Alice M., Ruey, Sarah, Jessie and Eddie. Martha A., eldest daughter, and Edward are deceased.

Mr. Kimbell came to Newaygo in its pioneer days and has been a witness to its varied steps of progress. Two or three shanties constituted its municipality and the adjacent woods were the delight of hunters and trappers. Mr. Kimbell was one to whom the abundance of wild game was a great source of satisfaction, and his exploits as one of the Nimrods of this reason are full of interest. Deer and bears abounded, and one of Mr. K's accounts records the slaughter, on one occasion, of four of the latter in the evening after supper!

Died: 1 December 1924 in Ladysmith, Iowa

Buried: Maple Grove Cemetery, Fremont, Dayton Twp., Newaygo Co., Michigan

A Civil War Soldier: Pvt. David Parker KIMBALL (1848 - 1903)

UPDATE: We have since learned that David's middle name was Parker, and so this post has been updated to reflect that information.

How Related: Brother of my 3rd-great-grandfather, Benjamin Henry KIMBALL

Born: c. 1848 in Michigan, probably in Pavilion Township, Kalamazoo County

Parents: William KIMBALL (c. 1806 - 1879) and Amanda WESTBROOK (1816 - c. 1882)

Siblings: David was seventh of eleven children and one of three brothers who served in the Union Army:

• John E. (1835 - 1910)
• William R. (1837 - 1924)
• Fanny C. (c. 1838 - bef. 1853)
• George Washington (1841 - 1918)
• Mary Jane (c. 1844 - 1925)
• Benjamin Henry (1845 - 1924) - my ancestor
• Fanny Charlotte (b. c. 1853)
• Ella A. (b. c. 1858)
• Lydia P. (b. c. 1862)
• Lucinda May (b. c. 1866)
  

Married: first to Edna H. NORTHRUP (c. 1848 - bef. 1871) on 24 September 1865, Newaygo Co., Michigan; second to her probable sister, Mary A. (or E.) NORTHRUP (b. c. 1852) ON 2 March 1871 in Du Page Co., Illinois

Children: David had three children with Edna: Della A. (b. c. 1868), Oscar Alonzo (b. 1869), and Alfonso (c. 1871 - 1877). With Mary, he had Edith (b. c. 1876), Bessie (b. c. 1878), James W. (b. 1881), Alma (b. 1883), and Julian (b. 1884).

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Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of David P. Kimbell. National Archives and Records Administration. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line at http://www.ancestry.com]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288.

Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of David P. Kimbell. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 19 April 1864 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan; private. Enlisted 29 April 1864 in Co. D, 27th Michigan Infantry.

Side served: Union

Mustered out: 8 August 1865 at Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan

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Biography or Information of Interest: From the Newaygo County Civil War Veterans website:

The Muskegon Valley Soldiers and Sailors Association was born in September 1883. It originated in the furtile [sic] brain of two or three of the Comrades residing in this village and its first encampment was held that year on the court house square and consisted of four tents and a Corporals Guard of old Veterans who for one day and night enjoyed its campfire and lived over again the scenes of other days.

At this meeting the Newaygo County Soldiers and Sailors Association was formed with S.D. Thompson as its first president. This event having proved so enjoyable it was decided to hold another reunion in this village in September 1884.

In the summer of that year our enterprising townsman John H. Simmons, being then owner of what is now known as Riverside Park, but at that time a bramble bush consisting of oak grubs, briars and decayed timber, very generously set to work with teams and men and at his own expense cleared a portion of it and donated its use to the Comrades for their encampment that year, which was a success, both socially an in point of numbers. Mr. Thompson was reelected president, and another encampment was voted for the following year, 1885, at the same place, which was in every way successful, the attendance being nearly doubled over previous years, Mr. Thompson being again elected its president.

At this encampment it was voted to take it to Hesperia for the year 1886, which was held in a beautiful grove one-half mile east of Hesperia village, and there are none of those who attended the encampment but what carry pleasant memories of the occasion and the good will of the Hesperia people.

At this encampment H. Lever was elected president and it was voted to Fremont for the year 1887. This year was also a success both socially and in point of numbers, and the crowd was handsomly [sic] entertained by the Fremont people. It having been learned that the National Encampment was to be held in Columbus, Ohio, for the year 1888, and as many of the members desired to attend, no officers were elected and no encampment was to be had unless a petition signed by twenty-five members was presented, in which case a meeting should be called, officers elected and a time and place fixed to hold it. This petition was obtained by David Kimbell then a resident of Garfield Township, and a meeting was called at the court house in this village July 28 , 1888, at which Mr. Kimbell was elected president and L.D. Spooner of Fremont, secretary, and it was also voted at this meeting to hold a reunion in the year 1888. The reunion was held at the close of which Rev. C.W. Gardner was elected president, and ha s held the office continuously ever since.

The name of the association was changed at this encampment on suggestion of Dr. D.W. Flora to The Muskegon Valley Soldiers and Sailors Association which has become familiar to every household in this county and wide spread in the state. Since the year 1888 an encampment has been held every year in Simmons' Grove, now Riverside Park. It is one of the most beautiful groves in the county and peculiarly adapted to the purpose for which it is used. It was purchased from Mr. Simmons by a syndicate of Newaygo people who have spared no pains in fitting it up and have donated its use to this association as did Mr. Simmons while he was the owner. It is situated on the north bank of Muskegon River, within a few rods of Newaygo Village, is a romantic spot where the old soldier can pitch his tent, build his campfire and surrounded by his family and Comrades, enjoy a week of pleasure.

This association has grown from a Corporals Guard, to now the largest in the state. It requires three hundred tents to accommodate the Comrades and friends who come to stay the week. Each year has been an improvement over the proceeding year, both in numbers and arrangement of grounds until they have reached an epoch, wherein they support a daily paper, a valuable adjunct to an encampment of this magnitude.

Great credit is due to the officers through whose management it has attained its success, and it is the earnest wish of the writer that of the few years allotted to the Grand Army before they answer the last bugle call a few days of each year may be spent on this Muskegon River hillside in social reunion with those who side by side fought the battles and won the victory for "Old Glory" which floats so proudly over them.

Seth S. Watrous has acted as secretary of the association since its organization (save one year) and to his clerical ability, energy and good judgment much of the success of the organization depends. That he shall continue at the helm f or years to come is the sentiment of every old soldier on the ground.

Died: 1 April 1903 at Marquette, Marquette Co., Michigan (see the story of how I found his death location after many years of searching, here)

Buried: Maple Grove Cemetery, Fremont, Dayton Twp., Newaygo Co., Michigan

Light Blogging

The flu bug seems to have hit our household (although we all got our flu shots...maybe it's the norovirus that's going around town). Anyway, I'm taking a break until we all get to feeling better.

A Civil War Soldier: Pvt. Benjamin Henry KIMBALL (1845 - 1924)

How Related: My 3rd-great-grandfather

Born: March 1845 in Michigan, probably in Pavilion Township, Kalamazoo County

Parents: William KIMBALL (c. 1806 - 1879) and Amanda WESTBROOK (1816 - c. 1882)

Siblings: Benjamin was sixth of eleven children and one of three brothers who served in the Union Army:

• John E. (1835 - 1910)
• William R. (1837 - 1924)
• Fanny C. (c. 1838 - bef. 1853)
• George Washington (1841 - 1918)
• Mary Jane (c. 1844 - 1925)
• David P. (c. 1848 - 1903)
  
• Fanny Charlotte (b. c. 1853)
• Ella A. (b. c. 1858)
• Lydia P. (b. c. 1862)
• Lucinda May (b. c. 1866)

Married: first, my ancestor, Lucy May DICKINSON (c. 1842 - 1873) on 5 September 1863 in Newaygo Co., Michigan. Second, Lydia L. (DAVID) DORWIN (1835 - 1906) on 3 July 1873 in Newaygo Co., Michigan

Children: With Lucy, Benjamin had four children: William Arthur (b. c. 1866), George Ezra (b. 1868), Leota Nellie (b. 1870), and my ancestor, Mary May KIMBALL (1873 - 1950). Benjamin did not have any known children with Lydia, but she had three children in their teens from her first husband at the time of her marriage to him, and he may have been responsible for their support until they married or became independent adults: Loarie (b. c. 1856; a daughter), Ernest W. (b. c. 1857), and Mary Jane DORWIN (b. 1859).

---

Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of Benjamin H. Kimball. National Archives and Records Administration. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line at http://www.ancestry.com]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288.

Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of Benjamin H. Kimball. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 29 March 1864 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan in Co. D, 27th Michigan Infantry; private

Side served: Union

Mustered out: 26 July 1865 at Delaney House, Washington, D. C.

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Biography or Information of Interest:

Henry and David Kimball and Orson David
By A.L. Spooner

In the spring of 1864, 3 young men from Fremont [Newaygo Co., Michigan] went to Grand Rapids [Kent Co., Michigan] to look for employment. They were Henry and David Kimball and Orson David. Not finding work, they decided to enlist in the army. In a few days they were sent to St. Johns [Clinton Co., Michigan] for training and then were assigned to Company D, 27th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry.

The 27th Regiment took part in several of the hardest fought battles of the Civil War beginning with Vicksburg and ended with the capture of Petersburg, Virginia, April 3, 1865.

It has often been said that there were more casualties in the Civil War than the combined casualties of all the wars since. Some idea of the losses sustained by the 27th Regiment hen be gained from the following letter written by Orson David dated at Petersburg, Virgina, August 8, 1864 and addressed to: "Dear Brother and Sister," which reads as follows:

"I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you. We had a big fight here on the 30th of last month (Battle of the Crater) but did not accomplish much. My company went into the charge with 34 men and when we came outt, we had 14 left. We lost a great many officers. The ground is black with knapsacks and guns. The talk now is that the whole regiment is coming to Michigan this fad because there are only 84 men in the regiment fit for duty out of 6 companies that came out with me. When our regiment started out last spring, there were 1,180 men and now we have got only 84. I have not got much to write this time, only if there were ever a fellow that wanted to see home and friends, it is myself."

Source: David, Orson Otis. Photograph. C. 1864 or earlier. Original photograph in the possession of Archives of Michigan Digital Collection [http://haldigitalcollections.cdmhost.com/]. 2008.

Orson David never made it home. He was captured at the Battle of Weldon Railroad and confined to Andersonville Prison and later transferred to Wilmington Prison at Wilmington, North Carolina.

General Sherman reached Wilmington with its fort and prison in January, 1865. The records of the 27th Regiment show that Orson died March 3, 1865 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Wilmington.

After the war, Benjamin married my ancestor, Lucy May DICKINSON. She was the daughter and sister of Civil War soldiers Ezra, Philip Reuben and Wallace William DICKINSON. Together they had four children. At or shortly after the birth of their youngest child, Mary, Lucy died. Mary was raised by Lucy's sister and brother-in-law, Mary (DICKINSON) and Philip WEAVER. Within four months, Benjamin married Lydia L. (DAVID) DORWIN, widow of Amos DORWIN, and mother of three teens. Lydia was the sister of Benjamin's friend, Orson. Another David sibling, Able Artemus DAVID, married Benjamin's sister, Mary Jane KIMBALL. It was only natural that with the Kimball and David families so entwined that Benjamin would marry Lydia, both needing each other for economic support and the raising of young children.

Benjamin was one of two great-grandfathers of my paternal grandfather, Robert Lewis ROBBINS, who had served during the Civil War and were alive during his childhood. Although my grandfather met one of these great-grandfathers (Charles H. ROBBINS) and even attended Grand Army of the Republic reunions with him, he never remembers meeting Benjamin.

Died: 28 January 1924 in Alba, Antrim Co., Michigan (see the story of how I found his death location after many years of searching, here)

Source: Tombstone of Benjamin H. and Lydia L. Kimbell, Plot M-02-02A-026-02-1, Maple Grove Cemetery, Fremont, Michigan. Photograph taken at the request of Miriam Robbins Midkiff by Find A Grave volunteer Jason Felton. Digital copy in the possession of Miriam Robbins Midkiff, Spokane, Washington. 2008.

Buried: Maple Grove Cemetery, Fremont, Dayton Twp., Newaygo Co., Michigan. Lydia shares his monumental tombstone, which is marked "KIMBELL." Another alternate spelling is "Kimble."

A Civil War Sailor: Boatswain's Mate Washington Foster JUDD (c. 1832 - 1896)

Signature of William Foster Judd, a.k.a. Charles F. King, from Civil War Veteran's Widow Pension Application of Cornelia (McClellan) Fredenburg Judd Crawford.

How Related: Second husband of my 3rd-great-grandmother, Cornelia McCLELLAN

Born: c. 1832 in New York (probably in Madison County)

Parents: Franklin Foster JUDD (c. 1797 - aft. 1880) and Julia BURLINGUETTE (c. 1797 - 1878/80)

Siblings: known siblings include John (b. c. 1835), Charity (b. c. 1839), and Abigail JUDD (b. c. 1841), and possibly a sister named Harriet (b. c. 1821)

Married: Celis RABAR (d. aft. 1873) in February 1854 at a Catholic Church in Chatham, Kent Co., Ontario, Canada. He divorced her 11 December 1873 in Lapeer, Lapeer Co., Michigan on the grounds of desertion. Married widow Cornelia (McCLELLAN) FREDENBURG (my ancestor) on 18 May 1893 in Lapeer.

Children: With his first wife, Washington had two daughters: Elvira C. (b. 1854) and Rosa JUDD (b. 1857).

---

Source: Navy Survivors' Certificate of Washington F. Judd, alias Charles F. King. Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans (Navy Survivors' Certificates), 1861-1910. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication M1469. Certificate Number 16826. Pages 1 - 3. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 15 September 1861 at Buffalo, Erie Co., New York

Side served: Union

Ship: U.S.S. Signal

Discharged: 29 July 1863 at Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee

---



Source: U.S.S. Signal on the Western Rivers, 1863-64. Digital image found at Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Signal_%281862%29]. Photo in the public domain. Photo number NH49977.

Biography or Information of Interest: Before I obtained the pension record of my 3rd-great-grandfather, Sylvester FREDENBURG, I did not know that his wife, my ancestor, Cornelia McCLELLAN, married twice after his death. Thus, I had not known about Washington Foster JUDD. Sylvester's and Washington's pension applications were combined, as both were applied for by Cornelia after their respective deaths. While there were not many documents about Washington, what existed has given me great details of the events in his life. For instance, I learned that he was 5' 8" tall, with light hair and complexion, and blue eyes. There was no hint, however, of why he used an alias during the war, although he was not the only one between my husband's and my families to do so. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Signal, which, as a gunboat, served as a convoy escort. On 12 December 1862, the U.S.S. Cairo encountered a mine while attempting to clear the river of these dangers (the Signal and another ship had already discovered these mines while patrolling), and sank in 12 minutes. While assisting the crew of the Cairo to safety (all survived), Washington slipped and fell, rupturing his right side. He was treated by the surgeon of the flag ship of the convoy. By 1890, at age 58, his physician testified that he was still suffering from the rupture, as well as from chronic diarrhea, heart disease, and lumbago. Like many who survived the war only to suffer for years afterward, he died of the dehydrating effects of diarrhea. Washington was fortunate that he was discharged when he was; his ship was later burned by the Confederates and the crew held as prisoners of war at Camp Ford near Tyler, Smith Co., Texas.

Died: of chronic diarrhea on 23 May 1896 in Arcadia, Lapeer Co., Michigan

Buried: unknown, possibly in Arcadia Township Cemetery, Lapeer Co., Michigan?

Carnivals Galore!

This past week has seen the publication of four of my favorite carnivals. I've been--sadly--too busy to submit any posts to these, but I sure have enjoyed reading them as I snatch little moments here and there!

On Sunday, April 27th, the Cabinet of Curiosities #6 was posted by Jessica Palmer of bioephemera. You'll recognize one of our prominent geneabloggers, Janice of Cow Hampshire, as one of the submitters. Not necessarily a genealogy carnival, many geneabloggers submit their unusual finds they come across while researching their family trees.

Jessica of Jessica's Genejournal posted the 6th Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy on Monday, April 28th, which had a carousel (pick your own) theme.

Wednesday, April 30th, Lisa of A light that shines again posted the 5th Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture with the topic of "Irish Gaelic Names and Words."

And Jasia of Creative Gene just posted the 47th Carnival of Genealogy with the topic "A Place Called Home". This ties in nicely with the National Historic Preservation Month's theme of "This Place Matters"!

Happy Reading!

Remembering Another Holocaust

I read Kimbooktu's blog for two reasons: she is a book lover (the emphasis of her blog is to highlight fun and creative book accessories and the books themselves), and she is Dutch.

Today, she published a post explaining how May 4th is a day in the Netherlands to commemorate the people who died in World War II. Tomorrow, May 5th, the Dutch celebrate the anniversary of the end of the war. Kim reminds us that besides the immense loss of life that occurred during the war, there was also a loss of literacy and culture. She quotes Jonathan Rose, director of the graduate program in book history at Dew University: “The story of the six million is also the story of the one hundred million…the mass slaughter of Jews was accompanied by the most devastating literary holocaust of all time.”

Her post is well worth reading.

A Civil War Soldier: 2nd Lt. Merrick JACKSON (1822 - 1908)

Source: Jackson, Merrick. "Out of the Attic." Potter-Leader Enterprise (Coudersport, Pennsylvania), undated clipping, c. 2000s. Original privately held by Joyce Jackson Bailey, address unknown. 2004.

How Related: Brother of my 2nd-great-grandmother, Lura Ann JACKSON

Born: 26 April 1822 in Pennsylvania

Parents: Joshua JACKSON (c. 1780 - c. 1828) and Elsie ROUNDS (1790 - 1869)

Siblings: older paternal half-sister, Asenath "Cena" JACKSON (c. 1800 - 1875); Lucina (1810 - 1882), Joshua T. (1814 - 1883), Prudence (b. 1820), Harriet A. (1820 - 1891), Jane Cordelia (b. 1824), Lura Ann (1826 - bef. 1900; my ancestor), and Noble Victor JACKSON (1827 - 1906).

Married: Sally WEIMER (1827 - 1897) before 1848, probably in Potter Co., Pennsylvania. Sally was probably the sister of Kate WEIMER who married Merrick's brother Noble.

Children: Adelaide (b. c. 1848), Elsie (b. c. 1851), Lura Ann (b. c. 1853 - named for his sister/my ancestor), William B. (b. 1858), and Orlando Joshua JACKSON (1860 - 1929).

---

Source: Civil War Pension Index Card of Merrick Jackson. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital image purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 13 September 1861 in Co. H, 46th Pennsylvania Infantry; private. Promoted to Full Sergeant on 30 October 1862. Promoted to full 2nd Lieutenant on 17 June 1863.

Side served: Union

Dismissed: 2 May 1864

---

Biography or Information of Interest: Since Merrick was a soldier who worked his way up the ranks from a private to a second lieutenant, I was surprised not to find information on him beyond his military service, or even a photo online. His namesake was my great-great-grandfather, Angelo Merrick ROBBINS, his grandnephew. I find it curious that Merrick's Civil War Pension Index Card lists his "late rank" as private, and not second lieutenant.

Died: 3 April 1908

Buried: Watson Cemetery, Borie, Summit Twp., Potter Co., Pennsylvania

A Civil War Soldier: Cpl. John HUBBY, Jr. (1840 - 1922)

How Related: Brother of my husband's 2nd-great-grandmother, Rachel HUBBY

Born: 6 May 1840 in Kent Co., Ontario, Canada

Parents: John HUBBY, Sr. (1797 - 1880) and Hannah JONES (1812 - 1879)

Siblings: John was the fifth of 14 children, and one of two brothers who served in the Union Army:

• Rachel (1832 - 1892) - my husband's ancestor
• Lois (b. 1835)
• Sarah (b. 1836)
• Eliza (b. 1838)
• Edwin (b. 1842)
• Meredy W. (1844 - 1900)
  
• Mary J. (b. 1848)
• Ellen (b. 1850)
• Hannah (b. 1851)
• Elizabeth (b. 1852)
• Harriet (1854 - 1934)
• George (1858 - 1934)
• Clara Josephine (b. 1859)
  

Married: Mary WHEELER (1850 - 1919) on 6 June 1867 in Polk Co., Iowa

Children: Nettie Jane, Charles Edward (1873 - 1944), Gertrude, Mary Maude, Pierre Frank, and one unknown child who died before 1912.

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Source: Civil War Pension Index Cards of John Hubby. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. National Archives and Records Administration. Publication T289. Digital images purchased at Footnote [http://www.footnote.com/].

Enlisted: 13 August 1862 in Co. C, 44th Iowa Infantry; private. Enlisted 3 September 1862 in Co. G, 24th Iowa Infantry.

Side served: Union

Discharged: 23 August 1863 due to disability.

---

Biography or Information of Interest: John's biography can be found on page 422 of the Compendium of History, Reminisce and Biography of Nebraska here. It contains interesting reading about his family life as well as his military experiences! He was also a member of Grand Army of the Republic posts 356 and 251 of Nebraska.

Died: 17 March 1922 in Lynch, Holt Co., Nebraska

Buried: South half of Lot 27, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Lynch, Boyd Co., Nebraska

FamilySearch Teams with FindMyPast.com

News Release from FamilySearch:

FamilySearch Teams with Findmypast.com to Increase Online Access to British Historical Records

Retired servicemen and merchant seamen records are first projects

SALT LAKE CITY-FamilySearch announced today it is working with the UK family history Web site www.findmypast.com and The National Archives of the United Kingdom to increase access to select British historical records. The first major projects will provide access to millions of names of deceased British soldiers and seamen from eighteenth to twentieth century.

Findmypast.com and FamilySearch were recently awarded licenses by The National Archives to digitize and make available both the Chelsea Pensioners retired soldiers records between 1760 and 1914, and the Merchant Seamen's collection of records dating from 1835 to 1941.

Chelsea Pensioners and Militia Records

The three-year project will digitize and index nine million images from the War Office's Royal Hospital Chelsea Soldiers' Service documents dating from 1760 and Militia Attestation Papers documents from 1870, through to 1913.

The records truly bring to life the comings and goings of pensioners (patients) in the Royal Hospital Chelsea, including each ex-serviceman's name, age, birthplace and service history, as well as details of physical appearance, conduct sheet, previous occupation, and in some cases the reason for discharge. After 1883, details of marriages and children may also appear.

Merchant Seamen Records

The Board of Trade's merchant seamen records from the periods 1835 to 1844 and 1918 to 1941 will also be digitized and indexed. When the project is complete, the public will be able to easily search online for the names and date and place of birth of ancestors who served as merchant seamen.

Many of the twentieth century records include portrait photographs of the sailors as well as personal details and summaries of their voyages. The records include people of many nationalities and women's service records.

Nearly a third of UK families have ancestors who served as a merchant seaman, and many Americans have British roots, making this series of records extremely important to genealogists and family historians.

Digitization partnership

FamilySearch will digitize the records on site at The National Archives, and Findmypast.com will create indexes and transcriptions to enable online patrons to easily search the records and images at both www.findmypast.com and www.familysearch.org.

Elaine Collins, Commercial Director at Findmypast.com said, "This is great news for anyone who has hit a brick wall in their family history research. Servicemen and merchant seamen played a hugely important role in the United Kingdom's military, economic and social history. The details included in these two sets of records will open up a wealth of new information about their lives to family history enthusiasts and military historians alike."

Ransom Love, director of Strategic Relationships for FamilySearch, added, "FamilySearch is working with cultural institutions like The National Archives [of the United Kingdom] and genealogy-related companies like FindMyPast.com to preserve and provide access to genealogical records faster, more effectively, and more efficiently. We are excited to begin the Chelsea and Merchant Seaman projects with FindMyPast.com and The National Archives and look forward to more exciting initiatives together in the near future."

Dan Jones, Head of Business Development at The National Archives, said, "Being able to add these popular records to the growing list of The National Archives' resources available digitally is yet more evidence of the importance and effectiveness of forming partnerships across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. We are very pleased to be able to announce the start of these two exciting projects and the continuation of The National Archives' strong relationship with Findmypast.com and FamilySearch."

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

About Findmypast.com

Leading UK family history website Findmypast.com (formerly 1837online.com) was the first company to make the complete birth, marriage and death indexes for England and Wales available online in April 2003.

Following the transcription, scanning and indexing of over two million images, the company launched the first website to allow the public easy and fast access to the complete indexes, which until then had only been available on microfiche in specialist archives and libraries. The launch was instrumental in creating the widespread and growing interest in genealogy seen in the UK today.

Findmypast has subsequently digitised many more family history records and now offers access to over 500 million records dating as far back as 1538. This allows family historians and novice genealogists to search for their ancestors among comprehensive collections of military records, census, migration, occupation directories, and current electoral roll data, as well as the original comprehensive birth, marriage, and death records.

In November 2006, Findmypast launched the Ancestorsonboard.com microsite in association with The National Archives to publish outbound passenger lists for long-distance voyages departing all British ports between 1890 and 1960.

As well as providing access to historical records, Findmypast is also developing a range of online tools to help people discover and share their family history more easily, beginning with the launch of Family Tree Explorer in July 2007.

Over 1.7 million people in the UK have researched their family trees, and Findmypast.com has over 800,000 active registered users, revealing the mass appeal of genealogy and Findmypast.com's position as the leading family history Web site based in the UK.

In April 2007, Findmypast's then parent company Title Research Group received the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2007 in recognition of their achievement.

Findmypast.com was acquired in December 2007, by Scotland Online, the company who were awarded the The National Archives' tender to publish online the 1911 census.

About The National Archives

The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk, is a government department; and also an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The National Archives brings together the Public Record Office, Historical Manuscripts Commission, the Office of Public Sector Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office. See also www.opsi.gov.uk.

The National Archives is at the heart of information policy-setting standards and supporting innovation in information and records management across the UK, and providing a practical framework of best practice for opening up and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. This work helps inform today's decisions and ensure that they become tomorrow's permanent record.

The National Archives is also the UK government's official archive, containing 900 years of history from Domesday Book to the present, with records ranging from parchment and paper scrolls through to recently-created digital files and archived websites. Increasingly, these records are being put online, making them universally accessible.

The vision of The National Archives is to:

* Lead and transform information management
* Guarantee the survival of today's information for tomorrow
* Bring history to life for everyone

New Genealogy Guides for England and Scotland

News Release from FamilySearch:

SALT LAKE CITY-FamilySearch announced today the release of two new free research tools that will help those with British and Scottish roots to find their ancestors. The research guides, Finding Records of Your Ancestors, England, and Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Scotland feature easy-to-follow instructions, colorful graphics, and removable worksheets. Free copies can be viewed, downloaded, or printed online at FamilySearch.org.

The guides will help take the guesswork out of British and Scottish genealogical research by simplifying the process and giving users a specific, proven strategy to use. In an inviting workbook style, the guides show users which records to search, what to look for, and what tools to use. The steps and tools needed to navigate British and Scottish historical records to find ancestors are colorfully outlined.

Finding Records of Your Ancestors, England and Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Scotland, are the latest additions to the popular series of free online publications. The guides are designed for those who have already gathered some family history information about their British or Scottish ancestors and are ready to search public and private records-they are must-have reference tools for researchers of British or Scottish genealogy.

The guides explain different types of records in England and Scotland and instruct the user when and how to use specific records. Real-life case studies allow readers to see for themselves how the research process works. Expert search tips, including tips on how to use the Family History Library Catalog, are included. Also included are maps, key dates in British and Scottish histories, and guides for reading respective genealogical records.

Other guides in the Finding Records of Your Ancestors series include African American, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Jewish, Mexico, Norway, and Sweden.

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.