RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine
Vol. 7, No. 15, 14 April 2004, Circulation: 840,331+
(c) 1998-2004 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/
* * *
Editor: Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Certified Genealogist
Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com
Certification: http://www.bcgcertification.org/certification/
===============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. NEWS AND NOTES.
1a. Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb
1b. Editor's Desk: "DAR Patriot Lookups"
1c. Upcoming Online Classes at Ancestry
1d. Tips from Readers: "Scanning Old B&W Negatives"
2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: "Looking Closer: Counted Twice"
3. New RootsWeb Mailing Lists
4. New Webpages at RootsWeb
5. New/Updated FreePages and HomePages
6. New User-contributed Databases
7. RootsWeb Review's Bottomless Mailbag: "Spinning Yarns";
"Fabricating Family Fables"; "Finding the Welsh;" "Embellishing
Family Legends"; "Telling Tall Tales"; "Lost Letters of the
Alphabet"; "Finding Icie"; and "Tracing a Given Name"
8. Humor/Humour: "Funny Names Dangling Upon Family Trees"
9. Reprint and Submissions Guidelines; RW Help; Advertising Contacts
========================================================================
1. NEWS AND NOTES. 1a. Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb
When you search the RootsWeb message boards http://boards.rootsweb.com/
or subscribe to a mailing list http://lists.rootsweb.com/ and receive
a welcome message providing information about the list; do you ever
wonder what makes everything tick to keep the boards and lists running
successfully?
Of course, you know there are "servers" (computers) at RootsWeb that
make these resources available for you. And, there is software running
the programs you use, plus staff members working to keep the machinery
and software purring.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg because RootsWeb runs with
the help of many volunteers -- hundreds of them who work behind the
scenes. They give freely of their time and expertise to manage the
thousands of mailing lists and message boards at RootsWeb.
Mailing list administrators maintain order on a list, manage membership
problems, such as assisting people to subscribe and unsubscribe. In
addition they process bounce notices when a list member's address goes
bad. They also steer the list discussion so that it remains focused on
the topic the list was created to serve.
Many list administrators requested the creation of lists, providing a
resource for researchers that otherwise would not be available for you
at RootsWeb. RootsWeb list administrators may be contacted by writing
to: LISTNAME-admin@rootsweb.com -- replace the generic word LISTNAME
with the actual name of the list (no -L or -D). Any and all
administrative matters pertaining to a list should be addressed to the
list administrator privately at the admin address rather than posted
publicly to the list. Not all mailing lists have a volunteer
administrator and those lists are managed by staff in the hope that a
volunteer administrator will one day come along and adopt them.
Message board administrators review new posts to their boards, keep
discussion on topic, move off-topic messages to a more appropriate one,
and remove unsuitable posts. They also edit the subject line, surname
field, and classification of posted messages so that the board can be
searched more efficiently.
Board admins may be contacted in two ways. 1). If you wish to have a
message you posted removed from a board or want to bring an
inappropriate post to an admin's attention, click on the REPORT ABUSE
option -- while viewing the post. NOTE: You must be a registered board
user (have an account), and be logged in, in order to use this board
feature. 2). You can contact a board administrator by following the
LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link on the board. The e-mail contact address for
the board administrator will be on this page.
Since not all message boards have an administrator, not all boards have
a LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link. Those boards have a BECOME AN ADMIN
link. If the board is one in which you have an active interest, you
might consider clicking the link to request to become the admin for the
board. Becoming an admin requires that you be a registered user and
that you LOGIN to make your request.
Remember when you are contacting an administrator for a RootsWeb mailing
list or message board that you are contacting a volunteer who is
maintaining a valuable resource on his or her own time and is attempting
to help you and answer your questions and concerns as best he can. The
admin may have a real job and family responsibilities and he or she
probably is not at the computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You
may not receive instant answers to your questions or concerns about
problems that develop on a list or board. Admins are scattered around
the world and may not be in the same time zone as you are.
These fine volunteers do not have a crystal ball and have no way of
knowing how to contact someone who posted to the list/board in 1998 and
whose address is now obsolete. Don't expect the administrator to help
you with your personal genealogical research. While some are experts on
the surname, locality, or topic of the resource they manage, many are
acting more in the capacity of an administrator providing a resource so
that others may carry out their research in an organized manner.
Be kind to RootsWeb's list and board administrators and remember to
thank them now and then for the fine job they do.
* * *
1b. EDITOR'S DESK. DAR Patriot Lookups
NSDAR VOLUNTEERS OFFER LOOKUPS. Do you think you might have an
ancestor who served in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
Would you like to know whether your ancestor is listed with the National
Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in the
"Patriot Index"? A helpful group of organized DAR VIS Volunteers
monitor the RootsWeb DAR Message Board every day and welcome lookup
requests.
Include your Revolutionary War-era ancestor's first and last name,
spouse's name (if known), dates of birth, death, and state of residence
when posting your lookup request. You need not be interested in joining
the NSDAR to request a lookup.
[Note: This is a 2-line URL -- copy and paste it all--carefully]
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=
topics.organizations.dar
Or go to: http://boards.rootsweb.com/
and in the FIND A MESSAGE BOARD window type in DAR. Select #2 of the
choices -- the organization and society.
* * *
1c. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASSES: Each class is only $39.95 with a 30-day
subscription including Ancestry's online census images. Instructors
cover eight lessons, two lessons a week. You can work at your own pace
on your own schedule. Prerequisite for all classes: A working knowledge
of computers (please view the Beginning Computer Genealogy course
outline to see if you know the basics). Details about all of the online
classes are here:
http://www.myfamily.com/isapi.dll?c=home&htx=gentraining&_lin=1
Special discount for Ancestry subscribers: If you currently subscribe to
any area of Ancestry.com, you are eligible for a $5 discount on each
genealogy class you sign up for.If you subscribe to all of the five
different areas on Ancestry.com, (this is U.S. Data, Census, Newspapers,
Immigration, and UK/Irish) you are eligible for a $10 discount on your
genealogy class. Please phone in your order at 1-800-262-3787 and
mention this special offer to receive your discount. Calling from
outside the USA? Use this number: 1-801-705-7625.
IRISH RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 19.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3560&sourceid=481
ENGLISH RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 19.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3567&sourceid=481
EASTERN EUROPE INTERMEDIATE RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 21.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=5043&sourceid=481
HOW TO WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY & NEWSLETTER CLASS. Starts April 22.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3559&sourceid=481
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 23.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4438&sourceid=481
* * *
1d. TIPS FROM READERS. Scanning Old B&W Negatives
By Ann Wideman pochi@yhti.net
For several years I had a stack of 200-plus black-and-white negatives
that my mother had given to me. As anyone that has tried knows, it is
almost impossible to have these developed into prints. Not having the
financial means to purchase a new scanner that has the negative mask,
and not being sure it would work on black and white negatives, I tried
several times through the years to scan and print these using my
scanner.
I had at one time managed a one-hour photo lab. I started to think about
how we handled the negatives in order to get a print. Suddenly, this
great big light bulb came on, and I had the solution.
First I took some scraps of picture framing mat board and made mask to
hold the negatives. I had to make several sizes since old black-and-
white negatives are not all 35mm size. Then I found a white plastic lid
that had no writing or ridges, it has to be flat. I set the negative,
that is now in the mask, on the scanner bed and placed the white plastic
lid over it. The lid acts as a diffuser.
Next I took my desk lamp, the clip-on type that draftsmen use, and held
it above the negative. If the negative was very dark, I held the light
four to six inches above the negative. If it was light, I would hold the
light eight to 12 inches above the negative.
I previewed scanned the negative. With the negative scanned in preview
mode I could set my scanner to only scan that area where the negative
was. Then I would again scan the negative the second time. I would save
this to my hard drive. Then I would go to the next step.
After the negatives were scanned and saved, I would go to my photo
editing program. This program must have a negative setting. This setting
allows you to turn a positive into a negative and a negative into a
positive. I would then change the negative to a positive and print the
picture.
True this isn't the sharpest image, but it isn't a bad image and you
have now saved all those family photos and can see what Great-uncle
George looked like holding his two-week-old son.
This does not work with colored negatives, or at least, I haven't gotten
this to work with color negatives--yet. This is a no-cost way, but it is
a bit time consuming.
2. Connecting Through RootsWeb. Thanks for sharing your stories.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Looking Closer: Counted Twice
By Rosie
My great-grandfather was also enumerated twice. It was RWR that told
me to look for a second listing. I found him in 1910 with his second
wife many years ago, and accepted the information as final. During my
last trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, I discovered
the divorce papers the wife had filed and in the paper work, are the
words "Has not supported me for 18 months prior."
The census was taken in July and this was the following February. I
ordered the census index CD, and voilà -- I found him again as a boarder
in a mining camp in Colorado. Thanks!
3. New Mailing Lists at RootsWeb
Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Brand-new mailing lists can be found under OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS until
moved to their proper categories. For information and an index to the
more than 28,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy
subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/
NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS
HENDSCH, HERSE, HOFERER
HAMILTON-HISTORICAL-SOCIETY-NJ -- The Hamilton surname of New Jersey
LEISTER
LEE-MS-SimpsonCo -- The LEE family in Simpson County, Mississippi
MACHARDY, MCKENNIE
MCKINNEY-DNA -- The McKINNEY DNA project
MEINERS-GER -- The MEINERS surname in or from Germany
NEW ETHNIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS
NA-ABENAKI -- Abenaki Native American
NY-CIVIL-WAR -- New York in the Civil War (1861-1865)
4. New Webpages at RootsWeb
To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------
Some of these webpages might not yet be accessible. They are created by
volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check
again in a few days or next week.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~[accountname]
Note that the ~[tilde] before the Web account name is required.
Example: The Owen County, Kentucky website can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyowen/
cobgsg -- Black Genealogical Search Group (Colorado)
flwmcsmd -- Mayflower Society, William Mullins Colony (Florida)
flwngs -- West Nassau (Florida) Genealogical Society
inbr -- Belgian Researchers, Inc. (Indiana)
ksgeary -- Geary County (Kansas)
maccarve -- City of Carver, Massachusetts
macscitu -- City of Scituate, Massachusetts
miharsen -- Harsen Island (Michigan)
mowrvhs -- White River Valley (Missouri) Historical Society
ncpasquo -- Pasquotank County (North Carolina)
nhbhs2 -- Bridgewater (New Hampshire) Historical Society
5. New/Updated Freepages, Homepages, and WorldConnect Uploads
-------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Comments and questions about any of these independently authored
webpages should be directed to their respective compilers/webmasters.
When your new, updated, or substantially revised personal pages located
at RootsWeb (they will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL) are
up and ready for visitors, please send the URL (Web address), along with
a brief description, including the major pertinent surnames and what is
available on your site, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com
BACK. Descendants of Thomas BACK located in England, Canada, and
United States; descendant charts, pictures, and data.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~thomasback/
CLAY. Eleazer CLAY Family Bible, 1744-1930; Includes bible record and
genealogical notes. Other surnames: APPERSON, ASHBROOK, GREGORY,
JOHNSON, LEE, MANN, TURPIN and WHITEHEAD. Localities: Chesterfield
County, Virginia; Danville and Richmond, Virginia; and California.
[Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
clay/bible/clayeleazerbible.html
CORELL (CORRELL) Family Bible, Montgomery County, Virginia.
[Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
corell/bible/corellbible.html
DAKIN, DACON, DEACON. Nancy DAKIN's Bible. Images of family record
inside Bible that belonged to Nancy DAKIN (DACON). [Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
dakin/bible/nancydakinbible.html
DACON. Jonathan DACON's Bible. [Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
dakin/bible/jonathandaconbible.html
GORELL. Descendants of Thomas GORELL; information about GORELL family of
Kirkby Lonsdale/Mansergh/Kendal area of Westmoreland (UK) and
descendants who immigrated to Victoria, Australia ca 1855. Includes
TOMLINSON, COTTRELL, SINGLETON, SHUGG, and WILMER families.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kenshe/t_gorell/
TANNER. Information about the TANNER family of Boldre-Beaulieu area of
Hampshire (UK) and later generations who immigrated to South Australia.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kenshe/tanner/
VERMONT. Caledonia County. Burke. Burke Meeting House,1825-1925; list of
pastors, deacons, and parishioners from four denominations that gathered
together to form this house of worship--Congregationalists, Methodists,
Universalists, and Baptists.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nekg3/files/church_burke.htm
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* * *
Buy inkjet cartridges & refill kits at MyInks.com-Save 80%
Get top-quality ink for your printer plus free stuff for MyFamily
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$40 orders. Free S/H on $50 orders (U.S. and Canada).
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6. New User-Contributed Databases at RootsWeb
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/
----------------------------------------------
The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable,
but not browseable.
U.S.A.
Book Indexes: Fraternity Affiliations Shown in "Who's Who, the Old
Dominion," by Richard Lee Morton; 155 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/bookindexes/
Professional, Society, Religious Groups: National Metal Trade
Association Banquet, 1929, Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
41 records; Dawn Dixon
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
WWI Military Record: William Shinn
1 records; Maylee Shinn
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames I
906 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames J
38 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames K
1,863 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames L
225 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/military/
ARKANSAS. Pike County. Glenwood. Glenwood High School, Graduating Class
1965; 33 records; Frank Mitchell
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
INDIANA. Fulton County. Rochester. Rochester High School, 1923;
317 records; Robert Van Lue
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
MICHIGAN. Iron County. "They Came...to Iron County, Michigan,"
edited by Marcia Bernhardt
89 records; Dale Safford
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/bookindexes/
NORTH CAROLINA. Pitt County. Greenville. East Carolina University
Graduates 1960-1961 (partial -- surnames beginning with A);
138 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
TEXAS. Bexar County. San Antonio. Kappa Kappa Gamma members, fall 1977;
124 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
TEXAS. Cooke County. County Officials 1849-1991;
475 records; Jack Ware
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
TEXAS. Wichita County.
Electra. Electra Star News obits; January 29-April 1, 2004
11 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
Wichita Falls. Midwestern State University Graduates 1946-1959;
48 records; Ann O.
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
Wichita Falls (Texas) Times Record; obits 4/24/2002
12 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
UTAH. Davis County. Davis County Clipper obituaries, March 18-30, 2004
19 records; Matt Smith -- Utah Obituaries Coordinator
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
VIRGINIA. Augusta County. Selected obituaries (from Staunton Leader) and
Funeral Cards,1913-1983; 259 records; Mary Neff
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
VIRGINIA. Fredericksburg (Independent City); Hope Fire Company, 1814;
47 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
VIRGINIA. Hopewell (Independent City). Hopewell High School Class
of 1937; 78 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
VIRGINIA. Richmond (Independent City). American Institute of Banking,
Richmond Chapter; 16 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
VIRGINIA. South Boston (Independent City). Tobacco Board of Trade, 1907
(as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch);
45 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
7. FROM ROOTSWEB REVIEW'S BOTTOMLESS MAILBAG
[Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the
authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of
RootsWeb.com].
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spinning Yarns
By Karen Rhodes
In response to Mavis Garland's recent comments regarding accuracy in
tales from the past, my great-granduncle Don Francis REED (1887-1930)
has a biography in "A History of Kansas And Kansans," compiled by
William E. Connelley (Chicago, Lewis Publishing, 1918, five volumes).
There are some inaccuracies, which could be interpreted as, in Garland's
words, ". . . certain people who take delight in padding stories or re-
telling them to suit themselves."
Uncle Don tells of his grandfather Charles REED, who, in Uncle Don's
words, "saw 3 1/2 years of active service with an Indiana regiment of
infantry in the Civil War. He was at the second battle of Bull Run,
where he was shot through the arm, and later participated in the Atlanta
campaign and was at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and other
engagements."
When I obtained Charles REED's voluminous and extremely informative
Civil War pension file from the National Archives, I found that such was
not the case at all. His original enlistment in the Civil War was 13
October 1864 -- about two years too late to have been at second Bull Run
Battle, and he was mustered out 11 July 1865. He was probably not
present at this mustering-out, however, as he had been invalided home 30
June 1865 and by the 11 July date was back in Portland, Jay County,
Indiana. Indeed he was in an Indiana regiment of infantry -- Company F,
140th Indiana Infantry. The history of the regiment states its action
took place entirely in Tennessee and North Carolina, nowhere near
Kennesaw Mountain or Atlanta (both in Georgia) or Bull Run (near
Manassas, Virginia).
Nor was he shot through the arm. In the pension file there are a number
of records of physicians' examinations of Charles REED, complete with
full body diagrams front and back, and on none of the reports and none
of the diagrams is any gunshot wound of any sort in any location
mentioned. He was treated for and eventually sent home for having
"chronic camp diarrhoea" (probably amoebic dysentery) and "breakbone
fever" (an old name for dengue fever). It was for these ailments that he
was later pensioned.
Either Uncle Don wanted to pad his resume in the biographical book or
Charles REED spun stories out of whole cloth for the family because he
did not want to admit that he had spent almost his entire military
service in hospital from such undignified ailments.
* * *
Fabricating Family Fables
By Susan Kundert in Ohio
My uncle, Lloyd SHUPE, was the family storyteller. Because he was the
eldest child of his generation, we suspect that he heard and observed
more than did his sister and cousins from his grandparents and their
friends as he was growing up. And as far as he was concerned, his
recollections were Gospel.
He was convinced that our great-grandfather, Reuben SHUPE, was one of
12 sons of a farmer-turned-banker near Lancaster, Ohio, who lost all his
money when a business deal turned sour. According to Uncle Lloyd, the
sons did not get along with each other, with the result that all but
Reuben set out for other parts. He even credited some of them with
founding the city of Lancaster, California.
Truth be told, there is very little of this fable that can be verified.
Reuben was the seventh of 13 children of a local farmer. The family was
comprised of seven daughters and six sons, nearly all of whom married
and raised families within 25 miles of their birthplace. The one
daughter who did not stay in the area married against her parents'
wishes and moved to Kansas, where she lived a long and happy life.
However, there might have been a nugget of truth in Uncle Lloyd's story
after all. One of Reuben's uncles, Henry SHUPE, did have 12 sons
who survived to adulthood (out of 15 born -- and six daughters -- to two
wives). Several of these sons did move West as young adults. Did they
get as far as California and found a city there? I rather doubt it, but
there sure are a lot of folks with the SHUPE surname living in
Lancaster, California.
* * *
Finding the Welsh
By Ava Nackman
I would love to let Mary Adams Arroyo, who submitted "On a Crooked Trail
to Wales" in a recent Rootsweb Review, know that her family is not the
only one having this misunderstanding concerning the surname WELSH.
Years ago I had a long-distance telephone conversation with an elderly
distant relative, who informed me that my 3g-grandmother was Welsh, but
he could provide no info on her maiden name. It was years later that I
stumbled upon my 3g-grandparents' marriage license and discovered that,
in fact, her maiden name was WELSH.
* * *
Embellishing Family Legends
By Lisa Hoffius
http://www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bennett1/
http://www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~storms1/
I agree that family stories passed down through the generations can
often be misleading and embellished upon. However, even if you do find
out that the story about your great-grandmother being hidden in a pot
isn't true, don't discount the idea that perhaps the story has some
truth to it. Consider that perhaps it wasn't your great-grandmother but
could this not have happened to your 3g-grandmother or a great-aunt?
Maybe she wasn't hidden in a pot, but "hid" a pot that was valuable to
them. Imagine an ancestor telling his children that their grandfather
was killed by Indians. The next generation tells their children the same
story but adds a little to it to entertain. Next generation adds or
subtracts due to fuzzy memory -- next thing you know it's the year 2004
and you have an ancestor who was killed by Sitting Bull over a bag of
tobacco!
I have tried to glean clues from several fanciful stories passed down to
me, in some cases I have found that root of the story is actually true.
These stories a part of the family history and as such should be
included, who knows a future generation may find the truth to a story
that we've discounted.
* * *
Telling Tall Tales
By Cathy Murphy of Naperville, Illinois
I believe that while some family stories are embellished or changed
completely to suit the one telling the stories, other times there is
simply faulty memory. My great-aunt enjoyed telling the family story
that one of her aunts or great-aunts had married a man named Ed
Sullivan. She said that, of course, it wasn't THE Ed SULLIVAN of U.S.
television fame, but she'd enjoyed the story.
When my research hit the probate and census records for those aunts, I
found that the aunt wasn't married to an Ed SULLIVAN, but rather to a
man named Emmett KELLY. So, apparently when someone was remembering,
they remembered the wrong "famous" name! I always got a chuckle out of
that piece of family story!
* * *
Lost Letters of the Alphabet
By Alex Dow
The correct historic pronunciation of MENZIES leads on to the
"lost letters" from the "English" alphabet. This Web page (and several
others) enlarges upon the subject:
http://www.takeourword.com/TOW142/page1.html
Menzies was generally pronounced "ming-iss" in Scotland until about the
1980s, when the news agent chain, "John Menzies" whilst expanding in
England, started to use the "menzies" version in its TV adverts. Within
about two years, this erroneous pronunciation could be heard all over
Scotland; "ming-iss" now being very rare. Another piece of Scottish
culture killed off!
* * *
Finding Icie
By Debbie Jones
My mother-in-law's name is Icie. When I first met her I thought it was
a bit unusual. However as I have researched her family's roots in
Greenbrier and Nicholas counties of West Virginia, I have run across it
multiple times. I have seen various spellings such as Icie and Icy.
It seems to have been derived from the given name of Eunice.
* * *
Tracing a Given Name
By James Liptrap http://liptrap.topcities.com/liptrap.htm
In response to David Jackson's message about an Icie LIPTRAP, the only
person by that name in my data base is Icy Belle LIPTRAP (1897-1995) who
lived in Staunton, Virginia. The youngest of 11 children, she never
married. If there is another Icie Liptrap, I would like to find out
more. Icie is a most unusual name.
The LIPTRAP name, as the Editor noted, is considered a variation of
LIPTROT, which appears in Lancashire from 1550. But LIPTRAP but seems
to have occurred first about 1600 in London, and to have been centered
more in London and Kent. The name came from London to Virginia in 1772
with Isaac LIPTRAP and from London to Ontario in 1929 with Robert George
LIPTRAP, the only known immigrants.
8. Humor/Humour: Funny Names Dangling Upon Family Trees
-------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Rosie in Oregon
My cousin sent me a series of e-mails while she was searching one day.
You could almost hear her laughing -- she had found an Icie LEGG! And,
she wondered still about a Chillie FOOTE. She also claims she once knew
a Twinkle POUGH (pronounced Puff)!
[Editor's Note: One of my favorite surnames is FATYOUWANT. For a look at
some other funny names found in the first U.S. census in 1790, see
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/1790names.htm ]
9. Submission Guidelines, Changes, Advertising Contacts, Reprint Policy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The RootsWeb Review does not publish or answer genealogical queries, and
the editor regrets that she is unable to provide any personal research
assistance or advice. Your "REPLY TO" e-mail option will not reach the
editor. See subscription change instructions at end of this newsletter.
* * *
Search and share family trees: WorldConnect: http://wc.rootsweb.com/
Learn how to find your ancestors: http://rwguide.rootsweb.com/
Post and read messages on all relevant surname, locality, and topic
Message Boards and Mailing Lists:
Message Boards: http://boards.rootsweb.com/
Mailing Lists: http://lists.rootsweb.com/
* * *
RootsWeb Review welcomes short (500 words or less) articles, humor,
stories, or letters, and reserves the right to edit all submissions. All
mail sent to the RootsWeb Review editor is considered to be for
publication -- send in PLAIN TEXT (please, no attachments) to:
Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com
Search/download past issues of RootsWeb Review:
http://e-zine.rootsweb.com/
* * *
HOW TO HANDLE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES
Do not send any subscription requests or e-mail address changes to the
editor. Please use these special e-mail addresses:
RWR-on@rootsweb.com
-- this adds you to the RWR Mailing List.
RWR-off@rootsweb.com
-- this removes you from the RWR Mailing List.
If you need assistance with any RootsWeb resources or e-mail changes,
kindly visit the HelpDesk:
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help.cgi
* * *
ROOTSWEB REVIEW ADVERTISING CONTACTS:
Ad Sales Operations Mgr. Shana Davis sdavis@myfamilyinc.com
U.S., WorldWide Sales: Sacha Yenkana syenkana@myfamilyinc.com
* * *
Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless
specifically stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is used for
non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice
appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb
Review: Vol. 7, No. 15, 14 April 2004.
* * * *
Vol. 7, No. 15, 14 April 2004, Circulation: 840,331+
(c) 1998-2004 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/
* * *
Editor: Myra Vanderpool Gormley, Certified Genealogist
Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com
Certification: http://www.bcgcertification.org/certification/
===============================================================
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. NEWS AND NOTES.
1a. Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb
1b. Editor's Desk: "DAR Patriot Lookups"
1c. Upcoming Online Classes at Ancestry
1d. Tips from Readers: "Scanning Old B&W Negatives"
2. Connecting Through RootsWeb: "Looking Closer: Counted Twice"
3. New RootsWeb Mailing Lists
4. New Webpages at RootsWeb
5. New/Updated FreePages and HomePages
6. New User-contributed Databases
7. RootsWeb Review's Bottomless Mailbag: "Spinning Yarns";
"Fabricating Family Fables"; "Finding the Welsh;" "Embellishing
Family Legends"; "Telling Tall Tales"; "Lost Letters of the
Alphabet"; "Finding Icie"; and "Tracing a Given Name"
8. Humor/Humour: "Funny Names Dangling Upon Family Trees"
9. Reprint and Submissions Guidelines; RW Help; Advertising Contacts
========================================================================
1. NEWS AND NOTES. 1a. Behind the Scenes at RootsWeb
When you search the RootsWeb message boards http://boards.rootsweb.com/
or subscribe to a mailing list http://lists.rootsweb.com/ and receive
a welcome message providing information about the list; do you ever
wonder what makes everything tick to keep the boards and lists running
successfully?
Of course, you know there are "servers" (computers) at RootsWeb that
make these resources available for you. And, there is software running
the programs you use, plus staff members working to keep the machinery
and software purring.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg because RootsWeb runs with
the help of many volunteers -- hundreds of them who work behind the
scenes. They give freely of their time and expertise to manage the
thousands of mailing lists and message boards at RootsWeb.
Mailing list administrators maintain order on a list, manage membership
problems, such as assisting people to subscribe and unsubscribe. In
addition they process bounce notices when a list member's address goes
bad. They also steer the list discussion so that it remains focused on
the topic the list was created to serve.
Many list administrators requested the creation of lists, providing a
resource for researchers that otherwise would not be available for you
at RootsWeb. RootsWeb list administrators may be contacted by writing
to: LISTNAME-admin@rootsweb.com -- replace the generic word LISTNAME
with the actual name of the list (no -L or -D). Any and all
administrative matters pertaining to a list should be addressed to the
list administrator privately at the admin address rather than posted
publicly to the list. Not all mailing lists have a volunteer
administrator and those lists are managed by staff in the hope that a
volunteer administrator will one day come along and adopt them.
Message board administrators review new posts to their boards, keep
discussion on topic, move off-topic messages to a more appropriate one,
and remove unsuitable posts. They also edit the subject line, surname
field, and classification of posted messages so that the board can be
searched more efficiently.
Board admins may be contacted in two ways. 1). If you wish to have a
message you posted removed from a board or want to bring an
inappropriate post to an admin's attention, click on the REPORT ABUSE
option -- while viewing the post. NOTE: You must be a registered board
user (have an account), and be logged in, in order to use this board
feature. 2). You can contact a board administrator by following the
LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link on the board. The e-mail contact address for
the board administrator will be on this page.
Since not all message boards have an administrator, not all boards have
a LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS link. Those boards have a BECOME AN ADMIN
link. If the board is one in which you have an active interest, you
might consider clicking the link to request to become the admin for the
board. Becoming an admin requires that you be a registered user and
that you LOGIN to make your request.
Remember when you are contacting an administrator for a RootsWeb mailing
list or message board that you are contacting a volunteer who is
maintaining a valuable resource on his or her own time and is attempting
to help you and answer your questions and concerns as best he can. The
admin may have a real job and family responsibilities and he or she
probably is not at the computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You
may not receive instant answers to your questions or concerns about
problems that develop on a list or board. Admins are scattered around
the world and may not be in the same time zone as you are.
These fine volunteers do not have a crystal ball and have no way of
knowing how to contact someone who posted to the list/board in 1998 and
whose address is now obsolete. Don't expect the administrator to help
you with your personal genealogical research. While some are experts on
the surname, locality, or topic of the resource they manage, many are
acting more in the capacity of an administrator providing a resource so
that others may carry out their research in an organized manner.
Be kind to RootsWeb's list and board administrators and remember to
thank them now and then for the fine job they do.
* * *
1b. EDITOR'S DESK. DAR Patriot Lookups
NSDAR VOLUNTEERS OFFER LOOKUPS. Do you think you might have an
ancestor who served in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
Would you like to know whether your ancestor is listed with the National
Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in the
"Patriot Index"? A helpful group of organized DAR VIS Volunteers
monitor the RootsWeb DAR Message Board every day and welcome lookup
requests.
Include your Revolutionary War-era ancestor's first and last name,
spouse's name (if known), dates of birth, death, and state of residence
when posting your lookup request. You need not be interested in joining
the NSDAR to request a lookup.
[Note: This is a 2-line URL -- copy and paste it all--carefully]
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=
topics.organizations.dar
Or go to: http://boards.rootsweb.com/
and in the FIND A MESSAGE BOARD window type in DAR. Select #2 of the
choices -- the organization and society.
* * *
1c. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASSES: Each class is only $39.95 with a 30-day
subscription including Ancestry's online census images. Instructors
cover eight lessons, two lessons a week. You can work at your own pace
on your own schedule. Prerequisite for all classes: A working knowledge
of computers (please view the Beginning Computer Genealogy course
outline to see if you know the basics). Details about all of the online
classes are here:
http://www.myfamily.com/isapi.dll?c=home&htx=gentraining&_lin=1
Special discount for Ancestry subscribers: If you currently subscribe to
any area of Ancestry.com, you are eligible for a $5 discount on each
genealogy class you sign up for.If you subscribe to all of the five
different areas on Ancestry.com, (this is U.S. Data, Census, Newspapers,
Immigration, and UK/Irish) you are eligible for a $10 discount on your
genealogy class. Please phone in your order at 1-800-262-3787 and
mention this special offer to receive your discount. Calling from
outside the USA? Use this number: 1-801-705-7625.
IRISH RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 19.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3560&sourceid=481
ENGLISH RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 19.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3567&sourceid=481
EASTERN EUROPE INTERMEDIATE RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 21.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=5043&sourceid=481
HOW TO WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY & NEWSLETTER CLASS. Starts April 22.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3559&sourceid=481
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES RESEARCH CLASS. Starts April 23.
http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4438&sourceid=481
* * *
1d. TIPS FROM READERS. Scanning Old B&W Negatives
By Ann Wideman pochi@yhti.net
For several years I had a stack of 200-plus black-and-white negatives
that my mother had given to me. As anyone that has tried knows, it is
almost impossible to have these developed into prints. Not having the
financial means to purchase a new scanner that has the negative mask,
and not being sure it would work on black and white negatives, I tried
several times through the years to scan and print these using my
scanner.
I had at one time managed a one-hour photo lab. I started to think about
how we handled the negatives in order to get a print. Suddenly, this
great big light bulb came on, and I had the solution.
First I took some scraps of picture framing mat board and made mask to
hold the negatives. I had to make several sizes since old black-and-
white negatives are not all 35mm size. Then I found a white plastic lid
that had no writing or ridges, it has to be flat. I set the negative,
that is now in the mask, on the scanner bed and placed the white plastic
lid over it. The lid acts as a diffuser.
Next I took my desk lamp, the clip-on type that draftsmen use, and held
it above the negative. If the negative was very dark, I held the light
four to six inches above the negative. If it was light, I would hold the
light eight to 12 inches above the negative.
I previewed scanned the negative. With the negative scanned in preview
mode I could set my scanner to only scan that area where the negative
was. Then I would again scan the negative the second time. I would save
this to my hard drive. Then I would go to the next step.
After the negatives were scanned and saved, I would go to my photo
editing program. This program must have a negative setting. This setting
allows you to turn a positive into a negative and a negative into a
positive. I would then change the negative to a positive and print the
picture.
True this isn't the sharpest image, but it isn't a bad image and you
have now saved all those family photos and can see what Great-uncle
George looked like holding his two-week-old son.
This does not work with colored negatives, or at least, I haven't gotten
this to work with color negatives--yet. This is a no-cost way, but it is
a bit time consuming.
2. Connecting Through RootsWeb. Thanks for sharing your stories.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Looking Closer: Counted Twice
By Rosie
My great-grandfather was also enumerated twice. It was RWR that told
me to look for a second listing. I found him in 1910 with his second
wife many years ago, and accepted the information as final. During my
last trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, I discovered
the divorce papers the wife had filed and in the paper work, are the
words "Has not supported me for 18 months prior."
The census was taken in July and this was the following February. I
ordered the census index CD, and voilà -- I found him again as a boarder
in a mining camp in Colorado. Thanks!
3. New Mailing Lists at RootsWeb
Request a New Mailing List: http://resources.rootsweb.com/adopt/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Brand-new mailing lists can be found under OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS until
moved to their proper categories. For information and an index to the
more than 28,000 RootsWeb-hosted genealogy Mailing Lists and for easy
subscribing (joining) options go to: http://lists.rootsweb.com/
NEW SURNAME MAILING LISTS
HENDSCH, HERSE, HOFERER
HAMILTON-HISTORICAL-SOCIETY-NJ -- The Hamilton surname of New Jersey
LEISTER
LEE-MS-SimpsonCo -- The LEE family in Simpson County, Mississippi
MACHARDY, MCKENNIE
MCKINNEY-DNA -- The McKINNEY DNA project
MEINERS-GER -- The MEINERS surname in or from Germany
NEW ETHNIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST MAILING LISTS
NA-ABENAKI -- Abenaki Native American
NY-CIVIL-WAR -- New York in the Civil War (1861-1865)
4. New Webpages at RootsWeb
To Request a Free Web Account: http://accounts.rootsweb.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------
Some of these webpages might not yet be accessible. They are created by
volunteers, so if one that interests you isn't up yet, please check
again in a few days or next week.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~[accountname]
Note that the ~[tilde] before the Web account name is required.
Example: The Owen County, Kentucky website can be found at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyowen/
cobgsg -- Black Genealogical Search Group (Colorado)
flwmcsmd -- Mayflower Society, William Mullins Colony (Florida)
flwngs -- West Nassau (Florida) Genealogical Society
inbr -- Belgian Researchers, Inc. (Indiana)
ksgeary -- Geary County (Kansas)
maccarve -- City of Carver, Massachusetts
macscitu -- City of Scituate, Massachusetts
miharsen -- Harsen Island (Michigan)
mowrvhs -- White River Valley (Missouri) Historical Society
ncpasquo -- Pasquotank County (North Carolina)
nhbhs2 -- Bridgewater (New Hampshire) Historical Society
5. New/Updated Freepages, Homepages, and WorldConnect Uploads
-------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Comments and questions about any of these independently authored
webpages should be directed to their respective compilers/webmasters.
When your new, updated, or substantially revised personal pages located
at RootsWeb (they will have "freepages" or "homepages" in the URL) are
up and ready for visitors, please send the URL (Web address), along with
a brief description, including the major pertinent surnames and what is
available on your site, to: Editor-RWR@rootsweb.com
BACK. Descendants of Thomas BACK located in England, Canada, and
United States; descendant charts, pictures, and data.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~thomasback/
CLAY. Eleazer CLAY Family Bible, 1744-1930; Includes bible record and
genealogical notes. Other surnames: APPERSON, ASHBROOK, GREGORY,
JOHNSON, LEE, MANN, TURPIN and WHITEHEAD. Localities: Chesterfield
County, Virginia; Danville and Richmond, Virginia; and California.
[Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
clay/bible/clayeleazerbible.html
CORELL (CORRELL) Family Bible, Montgomery County, Virginia.
[Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
corell/bible/corellbible.html
DAKIN, DACON, DEACON. Nancy DAKIN's Bible. Images of family record
inside Bible that belonged to Nancy DAKIN (DACON). [Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
dakin/bible/nancydakinbible.html
DACON. Jonathan DACON's Bible. [Note: 2-line URL]
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sassytazzy/family/surnames/
dakin/bible/jonathandaconbible.html
GORELL. Descendants of Thomas GORELL; information about GORELL family of
Kirkby Lonsdale/Mansergh/Kendal area of Westmoreland (UK) and
descendants who immigrated to Victoria, Australia ca 1855. Includes
TOMLINSON, COTTRELL, SINGLETON, SHUGG, and WILMER families.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kenshe/t_gorell/
TANNER. Information about the TANNER family of Boldre-Beaulieu area of
Hampshire (UK) and later generations who immigrated to South Australia.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kenshe/tanner/
VERMONT. Caledonia County. Burke. Burke Meeting House,1825-1925; list of
pastors, deacons, and parishioners from four denominations that gathered
together to form this house of worship--Congregationalists, Methodists,
Universalists, and Baptists.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nekg3/files/church_burke.htm
======================= Paid Advertisements ========================
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"I never thought I could obtain so much information at so little cost"--
(JB, Connecticut). Our researchers will personally visit archives
throughout England and Scotland to find your British ancestors (1813-
1950). Birth, marriage, death, church, census and other records. In most
cases we can offer a NO-FIND NO-FEE service -- we find your ancestors or
you pay nothing! For a FREE e-mail assessment, visit
http://www.britishancestors.com/rwr
* * *
Buy inkjet cartridges & refill kits at MyInks.com-Save 80%
Get top-quality ink for your printer plus free stuff for MyFamily
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off orders over $35. Free 18-kt. gold-plated JFK half-dollar coin with
$40 orders. Free S/H on $50 orders (U.S. and Canada).
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=================== End of Paid Advertisements =====================
6. New User-Contributed Databases at RootsWeb
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/submit/
----------------------------------------------
The following databases have come online recently. They are searchable,
but not browseable.
U.S.A.
Book Indexes: Fraternity Affiliations Shown in "Who's Who, the Old
Dominion," by Richard Lee Morton; 155 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/bookindexes/
Professional, Society, Religious Groups: National Metal Trade
Association Banquet, 1929, Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
41 records; Dawn Dixon
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
WWI Military Record: William Shinn
1 records; Maylee Shinn
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames I
906 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames J
38 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames K
1,863 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
WWII Asian American Service Units: Surnames L
225 records; Dianne Kiyomoto
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/military/
ARKANSAS. Pike County. Glenwood. Glenwood High School, Graduating Class
1965; 33 records; Frank Mitchell
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
INDIANA. Fulton County. Rochester. Rochester High School, 1923;
317 records; Robert Van Lue
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
MICHIGAN. Iron County. "They Came...to Iron County, Michigan,"
edited by Marcia Bernhardt
89 records; Dale Safford
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/bookindexes/
NORTH CAROLINA. Pitt County. Greenville. East Carolina University
Graduates 1960-1961 (partial -- surnames beginning with A);
138 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
TEXAS. Bexar County. San Antonio. Kappa Kappa Gamma members, fall 1977;
124 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
TEXAS. Cooke County. County Officials 1849-1991;
475 records; Jack Ware
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
TEXAS. Wichita County.
Electra. Electra Star News obits; January 29-April 1, 2004
11 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
Wichita Falls. Midwestern State University Graduates 1946-1959;
48 records; Ann O.
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
Wichita Falls (Texas) Times Record; obits 4/24/2002
12 records; Jane Engbrock
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
UTAH. Davis County. Davis County Clipper obituaries, March 18-30, 2004
19 records; Matt Smith -- Utah Obituaries Coordinator
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
VIRGINIA. Augusta County. Selected obituaries (from Staunton Leader) and
Funeral Cards,1913-1983; 259 records; Mary Neff
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/obituaries/
VIRGINIA. Fredericksburg (Independent City); Hope Fire Company, 1814;
47 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
VIRGINIA. Hopewell (Independent City). Hopewell High School Class
of 1937; 78 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/alumni/
VIRGINIA. Richmond (Independent City). American Institute of Banking,
Richmond Chapter; 16 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
VIRGINIA. South Boston (Independent City). Tobacco Board of Trade, 1907
(as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch);
45 records; Paula Lucy Delosh
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/groups/
7. FROM ROOTSWEB REVIEW'S BOTTOMLESS MAILBAG
[Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the
authors and are not necessarily those of the editor or of
RootsWeb.com].
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spinning Yarns
By Karen Rhodes
In response to Mavis Garland's recent comments regarding accuracy in
tales from the past, my great-granduncle Don Francis REED (1887-1930)
has a biography in "A History of Kansas And Kansans," compiled by
William E. Connelley (Chicago, Lewis Publishing, 1918, five volumes).
There are some inaccuracies, which could be interpreted as, in Garland's
words, ". . . certain people who take delight in padding stories or re-
telling them to suit themselves."
Uncle Don tells of his grandfather Charles REED, who, in Uncle Don's
words, "saw 3 1/2 years of active service with an Indiana regiment of
infantry in the Civil War. He was at the second battle of Bull Run,
where he was shot through the arm, and later participated in the Atlanta
campaign and was at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and other
engagements."
When I obtained Charles REED's voluminous and extremely informative
Civil War pension file from the National Archives, I found that such was
not the case at all. His original enlistment in the Civil War was 13
October 1864 -- about two years too late to have been at second Bull Run
Battle, and he was mustered out 11 July 1865. He was probably not
present at this mustering-out, however, as he had been invalided home 30
June 1865 and by the 11 July date was back in Portland, Jay County,
Indiana. Indeed he was in an Indiana regiment of infantry -- Company F,
140th Indiana Infantry. The history of the regiment states its action
took place entirely in Tennessee and North Carolina, nowhere near
Kennesaw Mountain or Atlanta (both in Georgia) or Bull Run (near
Manassas, Virginia).
Nor was he shot through the arm. In the pension file there are a number
of records of physicians' examinations of Charles REED, complete with
full body diagrams front and back, and on none of the reports and none
of the diagrams is any gunshot wound of any sort in any location
mentioned. He was treated for and eventually sent home for having
"chronic camp diarrhoea" (probably amoebic dysentery) and "breakbone
fever" (an old name for dengue fever). It was for these ailments that he
was later pensioned.
Either Uncle Don wanted to pad his resume in the biographical book or
Charles REED spun stories out of whole cloth for the family because he
did not want to admit that he had spent almost his entire military
service in hospital from such undignified ailments.
* * *
Fabricating Family Fables
By Susan Kundert in Ohio
My uncle, Lloyd SHUPE, was the family storyteller. Because he was the
eldest child of his generation, we suspect that he heard and observed
more than did his sister and cousins from his grandparents and their
friends as he was growing up. And as far as he was concerned, his
recollections were Gospel.
He was convinced that our great-grandfather, Reuben SHUPE, was one of
12 sons of a farmer-turned-banker near Lancaster, Ohio, who lost all his
money when a business deal turned sour. According to Uncle Lloyd, the
sons did not get along with each other, with the result that all but
Reuben set out for other parts. He even credited some of them with
founding the city of Lancaster, California.
Truth be told, there is very little of this fable that can be verified.
Reuben was the seventh of 13 children of a local farmer. The family was
comprised of seven daughters and six sons, nearly all of whom married
and raised families within 25 miles of their birthplace. The one
daughter who did not stay in the area married against her parents'
wishes and moved to Kansas, where she lived a long and happy life.
However, there might have been a nugget of truth in Uncle Lloyd's story
after all. One of Reuben's uncles, Henry SHUPE, did have 12 sons
who survived to adulthood (out of 15 born -- and six daughters -- to two
wives). Several of these sons did move West as young adults. Did they
get as far as California and found a city there? I rather doubt it, but
there sure are a lot of folks with the SHUPE surname living in
Lancaster, California.
* * *
Finding the Welsh
By Ava Nackman
I would love to let Mary Adams Arroyo, who submitted "On a Crooked Trail
to Wales" in a recent Rootsweb Review, know that her family is not the
only one having this misunderstanding concerning the surname WELSH.
Years ago I had a long-distance telephone conversation with an elderly
distant relative, who informed me that my 3g-grandmother was Welsh, but
he could provide no info on her maiden name. It was years later that I
stumbled upon my 3g-grandparents' marriage license and discovered that,
in fact, her maiden name was WELSH.
* * *
Embellishing Family Legends
By Lisa Hoffius
http://www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bennett1/
http://www.freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~storms1/
I agree that family stories passed down through the generations can
often be misleading and embellished upon. However, even if you do find
out that the story about your great-grandmother being hidden in a pot
isn't true, don't discount the idea that perhaps the story has some
truth to it. Consider that perhaps it wasn't your great-grandmother but
could this not have happened to your 3g-grandmother or a great-aunt?
Maybe she wasn't hidden in a pot, but "hid" a pot that was valuable to
them. Imagine an ancestor telling his children that their grandfather
was killed by Indians. The next generation tells their children the same
story but adds a little to it to entertain. Next generation adds or
subtracts due to fuzzy memory -- next thing you know it's the year 2004
and you have an ancestor who was killed by Sitting Bull over a bag of
tobacco!
I have tried to glean clues from several fanciful stories passed down to
me, in some cases I have found that root of the story is actually true.
These stories a part of the family history and as such should be
included, who knows a future generation may find the truth to a story
that we've discounted.
* * *
Telling Tall Tales
By Cathy Murphy of Naperville, Illinois
I believe that while some family stories are embellished or changed
completely to suit the one telling the stories, other times there is
simply faulty memory. My great-aunt enjoyed telling the family story
that one of her aunts or great-aunts had married a man named Ed
Sullivan. She said that, of course, it wasn't THE Ed SULLIVAN of U.S.
television fame, but she'd enjoyed the story.
When my research hit the probate and census records for those aunts, I
found that the aunt wasn't married to an Ed SULLIVAN, but rather to a
man named Emmett KELLY. So, apparently when someone was remembering,
they remembered the wrong "famous" name! I always got a chuckle out of
that piece of family story!
* * *
Lost Letters of the Alphabet
By Alex Dow
The correct historic pronunciation of MENZIES leads on to the
"lost letters" from the "English" alphabet. This Web page (and several
others) enlarges upon the subject:
http://www.takeourword.com/TOW142/page1.html
Menzies was generally pronounced "ming-iss" in Scotland until about the
1980s, when the news agent chain, "John Menzies" whilst expanding in
England, started to use the "menzies" version in its TV adverts. Within
about two years, this erroneous pronunciation could be heard all over
Scotland; "ming-iss" now being very rare. Another piece of Scottish
culture killed off!
* * *
Finding Icie
By Debbie Jones
My mother-in-law's name is Icie. When I first met her I thought it was
a bit unusual. However as I have researched her family's roots in
Greenbrier and Nicholas counties of West Virginia, I have run across it
multiple times. I have seen various spellings such as Icie and Icy.
It seems to have been derived from the given name of Eunice.
* * *
Tracing a Given Name
By James Liptrap http://liptrap.topcities.com/liptrap.htm
In response to David Jackson's message about an Icie LIPTRAP, the only
person by that name in my data base is Icy Belle LIPTRAP (1897-1995) who
lived in Staunton, Virginia. The youngest of 11 children, she never
married. If there is another Icie Liptrap, I would like to find out
more. Icie is a most unusual name.
The LIPTRAP name, as the Editor noted, is considered a variation of
LIPTROT, which appears in Lancashire from 1550. But LIPTRAP but seems
to have occurred first about 1600 in London, and to have been centered
more in London and Kent. The name came from London to Virginia in 1772
with Isaac LIPTRAP and from London to Ontario in 1929 with Robert George
LIPTRAP, the only known immigrants.
8. Humor/Humour: Funny Names Dangling Upon Family Trees
-------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Rosie in Oregon
My cousin sent me a series of e-mails while she was searching one day.
You could almost hear her laughing -- she had found an Icie LEGG! And,
she wondered still about a Chillie FOOTE. She also claims she once knew
a Twinkle POUGH (pronounced Puff)!
[Editor's Note: One of my favorite surnames is FATYOUWANT. For a look at
some other funny names found in the first U.S. census in 1790, see
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/1790names.htm ]
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Permission to reprint articles from RootsWeb Review is granted unless
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posted by Hugh W at 7:16 am
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