Some Genealogical Resolutions for the New Year

Posted on December 30, 2006 by Steve

The year 2006 is rapidly reaching its end, and with the advent of the New Year it’s a good time to evaluate my genealogical research and prepare a research plan for the next twelve months .  In no particular order, other than the order in which these thoughts come to mind, here are my genealogical resolutions for the New Year:

  • Complete the coursework for a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies / University of Toronto
  • Hire a professional genealogist in Poland to visit Dubiecko and Dylągowa parishes to help trace my Dańko and Dziurzyński ancestors there (these records have not yet been microfilmed by the Family History Library)
  • Renew my lapsed membership with the California Genealogical Society and volunteer to help with one of their projects (this group has transcribed an incredible number of records from the San Francisco Bay area)
  • Finish the transcription of Polish village names in powiat makowski for the Polish Genealogical Society of America
  • Record oral histories from my relatives, a big project that I think is best undertaken a little at a time, but one that I need to begin
  • Finish reading The Peasants by Wladysław Reymont
  • Attend a major national genealogical conference or genealogy cruise
  • Clear out “The Box” – this pile of genealogical papers has become so large that I’m convinced they’re reproducing on their own
  • Publish an updated family history for at least one of my family lines and distribute copies to my relatives
  • Begin a one-name study of the Niedziałkowski surname

Whew!  I’m exhausted just thinking about all this!  I may not accomplish all of these goals in 2007, but that’s OK, too .  A little at a time, bit by bit, record by record, the story of my ancestors unfolds.

Posted in Daily Journal | 9 Comments

The Birth of Jane A. Goodrich – A Girl Named James?

Posted on December 29, 2006 by Steve

Jane A. Goodrich was the mother of Albert Francis Blackman and the mother-in-law of my half-cousin once-removed Anastasia Rita Meleski .  Based on information in the marriage records for Albert Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski and for Charles I. Goodrich and Jane A. Goodrich, I was able to find Jane’s Birth Record on the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

However, Jane’s birth record lists her first name as James.

Birth Record for Jane A. Goodrich

The Birth Record for Jane A. Goodrich

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Jane A. Goodrich – 1883 .  The record states that:

  • The name of the child was recorded as James A Goodrich, a female child, born on 17 September 1883
  • The birth was recorded in volume 341, page 97, number 91 in the town of Everett
  • Jane was born in Everett
  • Jane’s parents were Charles I. and Helen C.
  • Jane’s father was a confectioner born in Michigan
  • Jane’s mother was born in Indianapolis

Based on Jane’s marriage record, she was born between September 1883 and September 1884, so the date is correct .  The names of the parents and the location of birth are also correct .  I could find no other record in Everett for the birth of a child between 1841 and 1910 with the surname Goodrich .  Furthermore, although the name of the child is James A. Goodrich instead of Jane A. Goodrich, the sex of the child is listed as female.

The question now is, was Jane’s name at birth really James, or did the registrar make a mistake?  The older Massachusetts town vital records were not immediately recorded in the registers, and this particular register does not show exactly when this birth was recorded .  The clerk who recorded the birth was almost certainly not present at the event and probably recorded births only once every three or six months.

I am relatively certain that this is the correct record of Jane’s birth, despite the difference in the name.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Marriage of Clifford A Blackman and Jane A Goodrich

Posted on December 28, 2006 by Steve

After finding the Marriage Record for Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski, I looked for the Birth Record for Albert .  Apparently Albert was born in 1915, so his birth record was not available at the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics or on the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) .  The only repository that holds the Massachusetts Vital Records for 1911-1915 is the Massachusetts State Archives, so I’ll have to wait for a chance to visit the archives for this record.

I then looked for the Marriage Record of Albert Blackman’s parents, Clifford A Blackman and Jane A Goodrich, since their names were on the Marriage Record of Albert and Anastasia Rita .  This record was on the website of the NEHGS, and as I mentioned in a previous article, the records on the NEHGS website are much superior to the microfilm images available through the Massachusetts State Archives.

Marriage Record for Clifford Blackman and Jane Goodrich

Marriage Register for Clifford A Blackman and Jane A Goodrich

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record for Clifford A Blackman and Jane A. Goodrich – 1907 .  The record states that:

  • Clifford A Blackman and Jane A Goodrich were married on 17 Sep 1907 in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Clifford was 25 years old, this was his first marriage, he lived at 56 Francis Street in Boston, and his occupation was as an Editor
  • Clifford was born in Boston and his parents were Allen Blackman and Abbie F Peterson
  • Jane was 23 years old, this was her first marriage, she lived at 18 Sunset Street in Boston, and her occupation was listed as “At Home”
  • Jane was born in Everett and her parents were Charles I Goodrich and Helen C Sherlock
  • The couple was married by Sinon J Grogran, a priest whose residence was at 1545 Tremont Street in Boston
  • The marriage was recorded on 18 Sep 1907 as entry number 5259

Tomorrow: A girl named James

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Marriage of Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski

Posted on December 27, 2006 by Steve

Last week, while I was on the east coast, I stopped in at the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics and searched for the marriage records for my half-first-cousin-once-removed, Anastasia Rita Meleski .  Anastasia Rita’s father, Joseph, was my grandmother’s half brother.

Anastasia Rita was married twice, once to Albert Blackman and once to Bernard Izbicki .  However, I didn’t know when either of these marriages occurred or whether the first marriage ended in death or divorce.

Anastasia Rita’s first marriage turned out to be to Albert Francis Blackman, someone about whom I previously knew precious little.

Marriage Certificate for Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski

The Marriage Certificate for Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Certificate for Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski – 1946 .  The Marriage Certificate states that:

  • Albert Francis Blackman was a 31 year old white man born and living in Boston
  • He was a journalist, and his parents were Clifford A. Blackman and Jane Goodrich
  • Anastasia Rita Meleski was a 35 year old white woman born and living in Worcester
  • She was a social worker, and her parents were Joseph Meleski and Katherine Warchol
  • Both Albert and Anastasia Rita were single at the time of marriage and this was the first marriage for both of them
  • The intention of marriage was entered at Worcester on 03 May 1946 and the certificate was issued on 04 May 1946 by Malcolm C Midgley
  • The wedding was solemnized on 08 May 1946 in St. Mary’s Church in Worcester by Ladislaus J. Radzik, a priest residing at 15 Richland Street, Worcester
  • The certificate was received by the city or town clerk, Malcolm C Midgley on 09 May 1946
  • The Registered No. was 843 and the Intention No. was 816

This marriage was recorded in the records in two places because the bride and groom lived in different places in Massachusetts . Â The marriage was recorded in the Worcester records for 1946, Volume 153, Page 158 (the record above) and also in the Boston records for 1946 (APR. 28-MAY 10), Volume 17, Page 493 .  I did not request the Boston record, since that record was a copy of the Worcester record.

Well, this record answers a lot of questions and provides me with quite a bit of information I didn’t have before .  As far as I know, Albert Francis Blackman and Anastasia Rita Meleski had no children.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Blackman, Chmielewski/Meleski | Tagged | 1 Comment

Życzę wam szczęścia i wszystkego najlepszego w nowym roku!

Posted on December 26, 2006 by Steve

I just returned from spending Christmas with family on the east coast and thought I’d say a few words before heading to bed for the night.

I received a couple of messages from Poland while I was away during Christmas and I wanted to respond to them here, so the title above, translated from the Polish, reads “I wish you happiness and all the best in the New Year!”

I opened the Christmas cards and letters that arrived while I was away (the bills will have to wait) and was particularly moved by a quote that my friend Gregory Maguire included in his holiday letter .  Some of you may recognize Greg as the author of Wicked and many other novels for adults and children .  The quote that Greg included in his letter is from the writer M. T. Anderson:

“This is what we must do as writers .  We must build our home from nothing .  We must rise every morning, and we must sing the world into existence, star by star, peak by peak, child by child .  We must begin in darkness, and end in dawn.”

Regarding this quote, Greg wrote:

“It’s about writing, but it’s appropriate, I think, to comment on all our endeavors.”

I agree.

Posted in Daily Journal | 2 Comments

Aunt Bronisława’s Monument

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Steve

On my way to visit my family for the holidays, I stopped by Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts .  I knew that the monument for my Aunt Bronisława Dańko had been set in place a few weeks ago, about six months after I ordered the stone and designed the inscription.

Bronisí…?awa's Grave - Front

Bronisława’s Monument – Front

Bronisí…?awa's Grave - Back

Bronisława’s Monument – Back

I previously posted the cemetery record for the burial of the three infants along with the birth and death records for Bronisława Dańko, John Kurpiel, and Franciszek Stoma.

The grave is in Section 3, Lot 1464, Graves 1A, 1B, and 1C .  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Map of the Notre Dame Cemetery .  Section 3 is in the old part of the cemetery, is in the upper right of the map and aerial photo below .  The grave and monument are very close to the edge of the road and the names on the monument can be seen from the road in either direction.

 Notre Dame Cemetery Map

Map of Notre Dame Cemetery

Aerial View of Notre Dame Cemetery

Aerial View of Notre Dame Cemetery

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Dańko | Tagged | 6 Comments

Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Steve

I’m off to visit family for the holidays, and I hope your holidays are happy!  I’ll be away from the computer for the next few days, so until I get a chance to write again, please enjoy these pictures I took during a snowstorm in Temple Square during my research trip to Salt Lake City in November 2004.

Assembly Hall

Assembly Hall

Tree of Lights

Diaphanous Christmas Tree

Salt Lake Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Nativity Scene

Nativity Scene

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Is this John Rawding in the 1911 Census of Canada?

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Steve

After finding the family of John Rawding in the 1901 Census of Canada, I searched for the family in the 1911 Census, but couldn’t find the family .  I did find a John Rawding in Nova Scotia in 1911, but he is in Halifax County, not Kings County, and he is listed alone as an inmate in Nova Scotia Hospital .  The rest of his family is nowhere to be found.

1911 Census Record for John Rawding - Left

1911 Census Record for John Rawding (Left Side)

1911 Census Record for John Rawding - Right

1911 Census Record for John Rawding (Right Side)

SOURCE: John Rawding, 1911 Canada Census, Schedule 1, Nova Scotia, District No. 45 – Halifax County, Sub-District No. 4 – Cole Harbour, Dwelling House 90, Family or Household 96, Page 17, Line 13, Library and Archives Canada Micropublication T-20359.

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the Canada Census Record for John Rawding – 1911 .  The record shows that:

  • John Rawding is listed as an inmate in the Nova Scotia Hospital in Cole Harbour, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
  • John is 53 years old and a widower
  • John was born in Nova Scotia, was of Scotch origin, Canadian nationality, Baptist religion, and could read and write
  • He was a lumberman by trade

Some of the information (Dwelling Number, Family Number, and Place of Habitation) are not listed on this page of the census, but are listed on page 10, where the enumeration of the residents of the Nova Scotia Hospital begins .  In addition, some of the information (Place of Birth, Racial Origin, Nationality, and Religion) are noted on line 13 by ditto marks and are inferred from the lines above John Rawdings enumeration.

The location of this John Rawding in Nova Scotia is a good sign, but he is in Halifax County, not Kings County .  He is, however, in the hospital in 1911 which may explain why he is in a different county.

John’s age is about right, and it is quite possible his wife died between 1901 and 1911, leaving him a widower .  The birthplace of Nova Scotia is correct, and his Scotch origin, Canadian nationality, Baptist religion, and ability to read and write are all consistent with what is written in other records.

His occupation, however, is listed as “lumberman” in 1911 .  In 1901 he was a farmer .  Did John change occupations?

The questions remain, is this the correct John Rawding?  Most of the information seems to match up, but the occupation is different .  And, if this is John Rawding, where are his children?

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Rawding | Tagged | 5 Comments

Not All Document Images Are Created Equal

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Steve

Yesterday I wrote about the World War I Draft Registration Card I found for Allister Rawding .  The images I presented were downloaded from the internet and were fairly difficult to read.

While filing that record, I found I had electronic images from FHL US/CAN Film 1684748 that I had saved several years ago .  To my surprise, the record I had saved from the Family History Library microfilm was of much better quality than the image I obtained from an online database .  Compare the images below with those I published yesterday and see for yourself:

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding – Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Back

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding – Back

SOURCE: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, “World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” Allister Daniel Rawding, serial no. 1044, order no. 612, Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; FHL US/CAN microfilm 1,684,748.

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Allister Daniel Rawding .  I was surprised at how much clearer these images are than the same images I had downloaded from the internet . This is especially surprising because the Family history Library microfilms and the images on Ancestry.com are reported to originate from the same microfilms held by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

Many historical documents have been microfilmed multiple times, by different agencies .  Sometimes I’ve found that the Genealogical Society of Utah (the Family History Library) has, itself, filmed the same documents multiple times, with one filming of much better quality than another.

But even the Family History Library does not necessarily have the best microfilm copies of a set of records .  Several years ago, I looked up some newspaper obituaries on microfilm at the Family History Library, but found them almost unreadable .  I found a different filming of the same newspaper at a Local Public Library that was incredibly better.

The lesson here is, if one copy of a set of documents is of poor quality, there might be a better copy available through some other facility.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Rawding | Tagged | 3 Comments

Allister Rawding Registers for the World War I Draft

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Steve

Allister Rawding, the father-in-law of my Aunt Nat, registered for the World War I Draft on 05 Jun 1917 .  In 1901, he was living with his parents and siblings in Nova Scotia, but in 1917 he was living in Norwood, Massachusetts, the United States of America.

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding – Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Back

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding – Back

SOURCE: Allister Daniel Rawding, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Micropublication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), roll MA40.

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the World War I Draft Registration for .  The document states that:

    • Allister Daniel Rawding, age 24, registered for the World War I Draft in Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts on 05 Jun 1917
    • Allister lived at 49 Prospect Ave, Norwood, Massachusetts with a wife and child
    •  He was an alien, an English subject, born on 19 May 1893 in Millville, Kings County, Nova Scotia
    •  He was married, Caucasian, and worked as a steamfitter for the Geo. H. Morrill Ink Mill in Norwood, Massachusetts
    •  Allister was tall, of medium build, had light blue eyes, dark brown hair, and no disabilities
    •  Based on this information and that in the 1901 Census, Allister emigrated to the United States, married, and had a child between 1901 and 1917

As a final note, not all copies of a record are equal .  The images shown here are from the Ancestry.com database, but the microfilm copies at the Family History Library are of much better quality, even though the films are of the same records.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

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