Upcoming and ongoing research projects

One of these days I will get back to researching my own family history again.  Probably not until this summer though, and it is killing me.  All those questions, half told stories, and loose ends just sitting there.  On the bright side I am finishing my two presentations (DNA and lineage societies) for the FRGS in May, still researching new tech gadgets and societies, and also helping a few friends get started with their family history search.

Mills family home in Alberta, Canada abt 1920.
The family is selling their wheat harvest in this picture.

This morning I realized I need to learn a bit more about Canadian Research and African American research.  The research would not only be for my family projects but for a few friends as well.  These are two subjects that I am not well versed in and if I am going to help people need to learn more about them.

My husband’s grandfather and his family went to Canada from New York as a boy before settling in Washington State.  According to my mother-in-law they almost starved to death there.  She, and I, would like to know more about the time they spent there.  On the other hand I have a friend who is from Detroit and had family going back and forth across the border frequently.  He is looking for help in tracking down the parts of the family who stayed just across the river in and around Windsor.  Should be easy, right?

Next I want to look into African American research for a close friend of mine who I have given the genealogy bug to.  It was evil of me to pass on this addictive hobby, huh?  His family is from Baltimore, MD and he has no information from before his grandparents.  He also has no idea of his history before them so this will be a fascinating project that will test my small genealogy toolbox.  I wonder what we will find.

If you have any suggestions for resources on these areas I would love to hear from you.  A recommendation from a fellow family history person goes further than me reading dust jackets trying to decide if the book is worth it or not.  Not that I don't like perusing the stacks of amazon, but hints are always helpful.

Finally I am in the process of negotiating my attendance at FGS with my husband.  I think I am winning the battle, but we will see.  If I get to go, and you are there too, I hope we run into each other and chat!

Off to write more and research more…

Finds in the 1940 Census: the next family tree firsts post!

My next post at Family Tree Firsts is up, and you can read it here.

It was been a real hoot at times reading through all the answers on the 1940 US Census concerning my family.  To see where they were living, what they were doing, and who was in their community.  I knew many of the people who are listed, which makes it even that much more... awesome.

Unfortunately, it also  makes me miss those that I have lost that much more.  What I wouldn't give to talk to them about this census.  All those questions about who their neighbors were, what it was like then, and so much more. 

It is killing me that I have to wait 20 years to do this and see my mom.  20 years after that I and my husband will be in the Census results.  30 years after that my kids.  Wow... I guess I better start passing the torch now.  I would be over 100 to see my kids.  Possible, yes.  Likely, not so much.

Back of the image shown above

The family in the picture is my mother-in-laws grandmother and her siblings.  Elizabeth Pittard Mills is the oldest, and picture in the middle with the black dress and white collar.  She was born in Martock, Sommerset, England, on the border of Wales.  she grew up in Llwynypia, Glamorgan, Wales where her father worked in the coal mines. In 1882 she immigrated to the US with her father, step-mother (who was also her aunt), full sister, and 2 half siblings.  The rest of the 10 children were born in New York. 

Crabb Family

This is my husband’s maternal grandmother’s line.  They start in Indiana and end up in Washington State. 

Lineage:

My husband
His Mom
Elsie Crabb married Howard Mills
John Jeremiah Crabb and Frances Maude Greely
Stephen Crabb and Margaret Brundage
John Crabb and Jane Swan

Stephan Crabb was born in Indiana in 1838 and Margaret Brundage was born in Illinois in 1852.

As of the 1880 census their family and Stephen’s mother Jane were all living in Vancouver City, Clark County, Washington.  According to the census, Jane was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania, her mother was from Virginia and her father was from Maryland.  In the handwritten family history I was given it says that Jane Swan Crabb was born in Cole County Illinois.  However, on every census record she lists her place of birth as Pennsylvania and that her parents are from Virginia and Maryland.

Jane's Husband, according to family history, floated rafts down the Mississipi from Indiana to New Orleans with his brother.  He died from a fall on the docks in New Orleans the same day thier last child was born 27 December 1835.  I would love to be able to prove this...

Margaret was Stephan’s 2^nd wife.  In the 1870 census he is listed living with his mother Jane and Frances Crabb who was 6.  According to the 1880 census the next child was born when she was 9.

The 1860 census has Stephan (aged 22) and Jane living in Ashmore Township, Coles County Illinois.
The 1850 census has Jane (aged 46) living in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, Indiana with 2 daughters. Mary aged 19 and Zantippe aged 14. 

Found John Jeremiah’s Spanish American war enlistment records:

From the Register of Enlistments US Army
Crabb, John J
Enlisted: Aug 12, 1896; Vancouver; by Lt. McCain; for 3 years
Born: Pioneer Washington
Age: 21
Occupation: Barber
Eyes: Brown
Hair: D. Brown
Complexion: dark
Height: 5'10"
Regiment: 14 Inf Company E
Discharged: Aug 11, 1899

Also found his WWI draft card.  It states he was tall with a medium build, brown eyes and hair.  Occupation Farmer, and Married To Maude F Crabb. (Just love how people changed their names on a whim back then.  First to middle, middle to first, spellings….argh).

Bit of family trivia for you:  John Jeremiah’s older brother William enlisted in the army the same time he did.  They both were stationed in Manila together and unfortunately while they were there William died from an illness.  William was originally to marry Frances Maude, but John Jeremiah did instead upon his return.

Daniel Chamberlin and Juliette Hubbell

This family group is a mystery to my mother-in-law that has been an ongoing puzzle to work out.  While I think I have figured out most of it…there are still numerous unknown pieces.  Their son William Holmes Chamberlin Mills is my mother in laws paternal grandfather.  He was adopted by the Mills family in Clarendon NY because is parents died of illness (typhoid?).

Below is the transcription of their marriage certificate (I have a photocopy of the original that my mother in law mailed to me):

This certifies, that I have this day, in accordance with the laws of this state united in marriage Daniel B Chamberlin of New York City, and Juliette Hubbell of Rochester, New York.

 Witness my hand

and seal at Lockport
New York, Apr 4, 1857
Joel Kennedy

Witnesses

Jane E Risner
DB Chamberlin
Juliette Chamberlin

I found the whole family on the 1870 Census from Rochester New York: Daniel (50), Juliette (written as Suliette) (39), Ella (12), Frank (8), and Holmes (4).  It gave me a birth date of 1820 for Daniel. This means that they died sometime between the Census of 1870.

The NY State census for Orleans County in 1875 William Holmes Chamberlin listed with his adoptive parents, the Mills:  William Chamberlin (10) living with Marvin (47) and Anna (42) Mills who is listed as a framer. It lists him as adopted.

My big question is who was Ella and what happened to her?  My mother in laws father said Frank lived in San Antonio, but I have not been able to locate him.

This site has the lineage of Daniel B Chamberlin, father to William Holmes Chamberlin Mills.  Between my verification and a cousin on my mother in law’s side providing verification I am pretty confident in the findings and source material cited.

You need to search to Daniel B Chamberlin.  Then click to the right of the bio for a PDF of each person.  Some are brief, some are extensive.  Of course I have not finished doing all of the verification for my self yet.