A few weeks ago I wrote A Look at Time Management and Social Media Strategy. For the past couple of days, I’ve been giving my website a refresher. I searched for “how to rejuvenate a website” and “how to refresh the content of a website” and learned a lot about improving user experience and getting more traffic to my blog.
I have also been more engaged with my fellow family historians and genealogists on their websites, social media accounts, and other websites where others ask questions about their own ancestry and where or how to find something. It still amazes me how many people do not know about their families, even one generation back, or how tracking ancestry works. The number of people jumping to buy DNA tests, thinking they will give all the answers, is mind-boggling. One woman gave a review that her DNA test was terrible because it didn’t tell her who her father was. What?
However, another suggestion to improve my website traffic will have to be put on the back burner for now. It was suggesting a YouTube channel for my business. Not only am I not comfortable doing videos right now, but I just worked on my time management and do not want to add anything else to my plate. Did you know that according to SimilarWeb, YouTube is the 2nd most popular website on the planet? I actually have a YouTube channel. It has two videos on it from when I was teaching children about ancestry.
When visiting my website, you’ll notice a couple of new features. One is a sharing feature to the left of each page.
So, if you are reading something you think a friend or family member would be interested in, click on the icon on the left of your favorite share feature (email, Facebook, messenger, text, and others.) and share the content. Easy peasy!
Second, I have added a “Question or Comment” button. Here, you can quickly email me with questions about a particular blog post (this feature will only be on new blog posts) or a page on the website. You may even have a question about your ancestry. Every blog post currently has a comment feature already, but this box is highlighted on each page, so you can click on it whenever you think of something or see something not quite right about something I posted. Feel free to leave me some kudos, too!
Finally, I added an easy “Subscribe” button to each page. You will already be a subscriber if you receive this post in your email. However, if you are reading this post because you found me through a Google search, please Subscribe so you receive new posts as I publish them. Subscribers also get free access to my Free Resources page.
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As I continue to refine my website and explore new strategies for enhancing user experience, I’m excited to share these updates with you. From repurposing older content to engaging more deeply with the genealogical community, these changes are all part of my ongoing journey to provide valuable and accessible content for fellow family historians. While some suggestions, like creating a YouTube channel, will have to wait, I’m thrilled about the new features that make it easier for you to connect, share, and stay informed. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to my blog, I hope these updates make your experience even more enjoyable. Don’t forget to subscribe to stay in the loop, and feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback. Here’s to discovering the past together!
I want to emphasize that all the research mentioned below was conducted by other individuals, and I simply discovered their work. Fortunately, our relatives were very supportive and willing to share their findings with me.
James E. Kunkle, a retired US Navy officer who resided in Colorado, passed away in 2017 at the age of 90. I had been corresponding with him since 2012. He and Wallace M. Kunkel (also deceased) have compiled the following history of the Kunkel families, which is available at the Family History Library, among other works authored by James, and at the Library of Congress. I have put a link to it here. A gathering and mingling of early Kunkel families
Wallace’s grandmother began the genealogy work in the late 1940s, spending long hours at her typewriter. She created genealogy books for her seven grandchildren as Christmas presents in the 1960s. Wallace, his daughter Mary, and his grandchildren have continued this work. When Wallace was alive, he collaborated with James on this historical project. It’s poignant that yesterday (I originally wrote this blog on April 8, 2018.) marked the anniversary of his passing. Wallace was also known as “Mr. Sawdust,” a skilled furniture maker and the founder of the “Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking.”
“At least forty families of Protestant Kunkels immigrated to America from Germany between 1728 and 1770. Some of the Catholic families of Kunkels immigrated to the United States after the War of 1812. Many of the early Kunkel families settled in Pennsylvania. Today, Kunkels live in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and throughout the United States. The surname is spelled Kunkel, Kunkle, Gunkel, Gunkle, Konkel, Konkle, and other variant spellings.” -J.E. Kunkle & W.M. Kunkel, 1995 (415 pages of history).
A gathering and mingling of early Kunkel families talks about our first notable figure, Baron Johann Kunckel von Löwenstern, a German chemist. Around 1678, he replicated Hennig Brand’s discovery of phosphorus isolation. Kunckel later managed the laboratory and glassworks in Brandenburg as a court chemist and apothecary.
Ars Vitraria ExperimentalisJohannes Kunckel, Ars Vitraria Experimentalis, 1679
The illustration by George Smith from his 1738 chapter “The art of blowing glass in miniature” (fig. 3) is not labeled alphabetically, but Johannes Kunckel’s 1679 engraving (fig. 4) is:
A — table around which four people may work at once
B — the lamp, filled with oil and a strong cotton wick
C—the hole where the tapered blowpipe is attached . . . so that the air is directed onto the acute and concentrated flame, producing a flame that will melt glass. Goldsmiths have a similar system for soldering metal.
D — bellows attached to pipes of tin that are hidden under the table
E — lever, attached to the foot pedal
F — ventilation hood
G — foot treadle for the bellows, pressed by the worker
Left: Probably engraved by Gottfried Spiller (1658–1728). Covered goblet with “Fruit Children,” before 1700. Gold ruby glass, H. 9 1/8 in. (23.1 cm). Focke-Museum, Bremer Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Bremen (68.253). Center: Ruby glass flute with “AR” monogram, around 1715. German, Dresden. Gold ruby and transparent glass (blown, cut), H. 23 cm. Green Vault, Staatliche Kunstkammlungen Dresden (IV 228). Right:Covered goblet, 1725–35. German, Potsdam. Transparent dark gold ruby glass (blown, cut) 10 9/16 x 3 5/8 in. (26.9 x 9.2 cm). Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, Bequest of Jerome Strauss (79.3.318) Gold ruby glass was perfected through alchemist and glassmaker Johann Kunckel’s experimentation under the patronage of Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, at the elector’s glassworks in Potsdam. Its name comes from the addition of colloidal gold to the glass before melting, a complex operation that required the skills of both alchemist and glassmaker. Displayed in a Kunstkammer, glass pieces served as signs of the alchemical knowledge required to produce them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Continue Reading If You’re Interested in the Kunkle Line.
Our Kunkles trace back to my grandmother, Hilda Leonore Kunkle. However, I don’t have any personal stories to share as I didn’t know my dad’s family. I gained most of my knowledge later in life through my siblings, letters from my Aunt Elva (Hilda’s daughter), and documented facts and history shared by others.
Hilda married Glen Henry Logan in 1921 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Her father was Charles J. Kunkel. You’ll notice how the name is interchangeable with the -el and -le. He married Carrie Morrison in 1892. Charles lived most of his life in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, until his wife died in 1937. He then moved to Michigan to live with his daughter, Hilda, and her family until his death in 1948 at the age of 82.
Charles’ father was Michael Kunkle. He also grew up in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. In 1860, Michael married his neighbor, Esther “Hettie” Hawk. They were Lutherans, and Michael worked as a carpenter before becoming a farmer for the rest of his life. Michael passed away at the age of 80 in 1918 in Westmoreland.
Michael’s father was Daniel. They lived on Michaelsburg Plantation, a 336-acre estate owned by a family member. His family was among the First Families in Hempfield Township.
Some family stories were recorded in the History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania by Boucher, John Newton; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921, joint editor. Publication date 1906. Publisher New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company. Contributor Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Daniel married Mary Elizabeth Kepple, and they had a son named Michael. They moved from Westmoreland to Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a railroad lock tender. Unfortunately, Elizabeth passed away about 10 years later. After her death, he married Catherine Iseman in 1844, but she died of cancer in 1850. In 1852, Daniel married Sarah, whose last name is unknown. It is still unknown when Daniel passed away, but it is confirmed that he was alive at least until 1870, as he is listed in the census at age 66 and still working for the railroad.
I’ve been putting off delving into the Kunkel family, but now things are more interesting. The first names in the family often begin with Johann for boys and Anna or Maria for girls. I’ve had to redo my Kunkle family tree twice because I initially followed the wrong line. However, thanks to the help of other researchers, Vernon Cook and James Kunkle, I am now back on track.
Daniel’s father is Johann Jacob Kunkel (Gunckel), Jr. It is in this generation that the Kunkel and Gunckel names are interchangeable. He married Elizabeth Schaeffer in 1789 and had 10 children. My records indicate that he was a farmer, and his cause of death was “gravel.” After researching old terms for the cause of death, “gravel” seemed to refer to the modern equivalent of kidney stones. He is buried in Brush Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Johann Jacob’s father is Johann Jacob Gunkel, Sr. His father is our immigrant ancestor of this family. He was born in Breitenburg, Germany in 1746, and they immigrated in 1749 when Jacob was only 3 years old.
Tom writes, One of the first known settlers in Pine Grove area after the French and Indian War, 1689-1763, Great Britain Battles France over unsettled territories in N. America, was Jacob Gunkel. He was located on the site of the Eagle Hotel in 1771. Here, he laid claim to a tract of two hundred acres of land, which he subsequently purchased from John and Richard Penn, proprietors of the Colony of Pennsylvania, which included the site of the present borough of Pine Grove. The convergence of several roads on Gunkel’s plantation made it an excellent location for a tavern, and soon after he purchased the land, he erected a log building, Gunkel’s Tavern, which he kept till 1810 and then he removed to a farm about a mile south from the borough were he died in 1813. His property was located next to the property of his daughter Eva and husband Johannes Loffler.
Another source states he “kept a house of entertainment, and in 1795 opened a store which he kept until 1810. (Source: History of Schuylkill Co, PA, by W. W. Munsell & Co, – 1881). On May 21, 1810, Jacob Gunckel of Pinegrove Township, Berks Co, PA, yeoman, and Susannah, his wife, sell to John Gunckel, yeoman, for 255 pounds, land containing 235 acres, part of the larger tract of land called “Gunckel’s Farm.” (Deed book 24, page 488).
Cemetery records for St. Peter’s (Gunkle’s) Union Church of Pinegrove Township, Schuylkill County include the following references: Jacob Gunkel; born September 28, 1746; died September 2, 1813 Eva Lefler; born Mar 25, 1809; died Jun 21, 1841 Johannes Leffler; born Jul 5, 1764; died Aug 16, 1849; son of Gottfried, Mahanoy Twp., Northumberland Co. Eva Lofler (nee Kunkle); w/John; died Jan 26, 1857; 83y 11m 15d
Gunkel’s Cemetery, located across the street from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, contains a memorial plaque that reads: Site of the 1st Reformed-Lutheran Church 1782-1817 Donated by Jacob & Susanna Gunkel
Joh. Jacob’s father was Johann John Gunkel, born in 1722 in Breitenborn, Germany. John Gunckel married Anna Margarethe Lorentz and arrived in America in 1749 with his young son. In the book “Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American Colonies,” there is the following: “John Gunckel of Bethel Twp., Berks County, Pennsylvania, became a citizen 20 September 1761.” These naturalizations were performed at the Philadelphia County, PA Courthouse. https://archive.org/stream/naturalizationso24grea#page/75/mode/2up/search/gunckel
Johann has often been confused with Johann Michael Gunkel, who was the same age. They were first cousins from Breitenborn and used similar names for their children. They also attended the same church. By the way, Johann (John) also had a brother named Johann Jacob. Talk about confusing!
John is also our Revolutionary War ancestor. His SAR Patriot number is P-171729. The John Gunckel of Bethel Township, who performed Revolutionary War service and from whom we are descended, was enrolled in 1777-1779 in the First Class, Captain Valentine Shoufler’s Seventh Company, First Battalion, Lancaster County Militia. He was assessed 26 pounds in fines, according to the evidence of an undated list of Class Fines. (Pennsylvania State Archivist, Military Accounts (Militia), Records of the Comptroller General, at the Division of Archives and Manuscripts) Larry Patrick Cornwell, 138085, has a SAR-approved supplemental under this John Gunckel. Larry served as the Genealogist General of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution from 2011-2014 (www.sar.org)
John died in 1795 at the age of 73.
John’s father was Lorentz Gunkel, born in Breitenborn, Germany. He immigrated to the US in 1751 on the ship the “Duke of Bedford” with wife and one child, from Rotterdam, and last from Portsmouth, England. Port of entry was Philadelphia, PA, on a Saturday. Records show that Lorentz settled first in Northampton Co, PA, and later pioneered in Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties, PA. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and a pensioned veteran. *(Record Sources: 1804, pg 335 (Supp. 1983) aud 9041, pg 459 (From Flörsbach, Germany).
Lorentz wed Anna Catharina Gundlach in 1709. It’s uncertain who the “young child” who immigrated with them is. However, it could be our ancestor, Johann Jacob, as he was born in 1746.
Lorentz’s father was Hans Gunkel, who was born in Neuhütten, Spessart, Germany, in 1636. He was known as a Catholic man. He married Margareth N. and worked in a “glass house.” They later moved to Breitenborn, where Hans was invited by Heinrich Gundlach, the headmaster of the Breitenborn Works, to recruit glass makers from all over the country in the 1670s and 1680s.
When I originally published this post, a cousin replied, introducing himself. He also stated, “I do not believe that anyone actually lived in a “Glass House” I believe that this is simply a misinterpretation of the translation of Neuhutten. The Huts of glass were simply the buildings that were constructed… or the kilns… that were used to make the glass. These kilns were made of bricks so they could be brought to new areas where the resources (forests) were over-exploited to the point that they had to move to continue to be able to make glass. When they relocated to the area of NeuHutten they simply called it that “New Huts”.”
Hans Kunkel was a skilled glassblower, and many Kunkels were known for their glassblowing skills all over Europe at that time. Gundlach, an entrepreneur, made efforts to recruit the most talented glassblowers to come to Breitenborn. It is impressive that Hans Kunkel was still very productive in the 1680s. For instance, between January 4, 1684, and November 26, 1685, at around 50 years old, he produced 42,300 drinking glasses of various types and earned 91 fl. 16 alb (the equivalent of the dollar in those days). In addition to blowing glass, he occasionally attended the furnace, an important task for maintaining proper temperatures during the melting process.
During the winter months, the furnace stayed cold. The production period was 9 months per years – max. During the winter months, most of the works the people were also engaged in was cutting the firewood (beech and oak) for the furnace which did eat up a lot during the production period. So additionally they had another income. There were over 20 men permanently assigned to the fire wood cutting and handling, plus the seasonal ones. Hans Kunkel, for example, made 83-1/2 Clafter (7’x7’x3′) and earned 25 fl. additionally in 1689.
Despite all the hard work, Hans Kunkel lived to be nearly 100 years of age. There is a lot more similar data available, basically showing production figures, earnings, how they were paid (normally 50% cash, and the other in natural things, like grain, flour, etc. and the beverages, like beer and brandy were also brewing there.)
(Above Source: – “Heinrich P. Göbel” – Germany Researcher. (1994)
Hans’ father was Johann Michael, born in Glasshouse, Germany about 1600. He married Anna Katharine Naumann. He died in 1676. There is not much else known about him.
The Kunkels were already living in Neuhutten before the Thirty Years War. It seems that Neuhutten and that part of Germany were already in the Lutheran camp. The Kunkels all seemed to have been born, married, and died in “The Glasshouse” in Neuhutten.
Joh. Michael’s father was Johannes Jurg, born about 1565. He married Elisabeth Christina Houser.
The Kunkel family still live primarily in the Spessart Mountain range area, which is a mostly wooded region in the heart of Germany. There is a historical mention of an early Glasshouse in the Spessart area dating back to 22 August 1349. During that time, the area was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Mainz.
The Union Letter (Bundesbrief) of 1537 (or the Federal Charter or Letter of Alliance) lists two KUNKELs, namely Jurge (George) and Hentze Kunkel, and in a later revision dated 24 February 1559, again two KUNKELs – George and Friedrich Kunkel. There are links, as glass-making was only carried down by the same families.–Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy, “Notes for Johann Jurg Kunkel and Elisabeth Christina Houser” Webpage: www.umich.edu/~bobwolfe/gen/mn/m6413x6414.htm Email address: JanetRobertWolfeGenealogy@gmail.com Go to the Genealogy Page for Johann Jurg Kunkel Go to the Genealogy Page for Elisabeth Christina Houser Go to the Kunkel surname index. Go to the Houser surname index. Go to the Home Page for Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy
Much research is still needed to fill out all the missing information; however, I have been told that genealogy records beyond this point are next to impossible to find due to all the wars that took place in this country. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) destroyed many church records throughout Germany. So many records have been destroyed, and finding a cemetery with headstones that can be read after 500 years would be impossible.
All Kunkels do not accept the “dweller by deep water” definition of the name. Other research has yielded another possibility for its origin: It seems to derive from the Old High German name “KUHN,” meaning “wise.” (In this case, such a compliment would make it acceptable.) GUNKEL probably refers to living in deep water. In German, KUNKEL means the part of a spinning wheel called the distaff. A staff on which fibers such as flax or wool are wound before being spun into thread.
As you study the descendants of these families, you will find that intermarriages were rather common. Men had limited ways to meet eligible mates and could usually not go farther than they could walk or ride horseback to court. When there were family get-togethers, they met women who just happened to be related in one way or another. (James E. Kunkle- 2000)
Joh. Jurg’s father was Hans. Hans was born about 1530 in Glasshouse, Germany. He married Anna Catharina Wolfgang in 1554. Hans Kunkel of Neuhutten was called “Schwarzkoph” in the Parish records. Meaning “Black Forest.”
Some show Claus Kunkle, born 1490, as Hans’ father, and Conrad, born 1460, as Claus’ father, but I do not have sources to back these up.
The Coat-of-Arms of the Kunkel, Kunkle, etc., family is recorded in Rietstap’s Armorial General (Pg. 1144)
This link is one of James’ first works on the Kunkles and contains a lot of interesting information, from their Coat of Arms to their superstitions to their culture, customs, and rituals. Conkle/Kunkle File #1
While I couldn’t find exact Kunkel glass other than the original Johann’s, I did find some drawings of the glassblowers’ working areas in that century.
Glass blowing, from a Book of Trades, 1542 (engraving), German School, (16th century) / Private Collection / The Stapleton Collection / The Bridgeman Art Library
There is still much to learn about certain individuals in this family, and I hope to contribute to James and Wallace’s wonderful work. RIP, guys! You left a wonderful legacy for all of us.
Glass furnace, with workers. Georg Agricola (German, 1494–1555). In De re metallica [Berckwerck Buch, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1580, p. cccxc]. Rakow Research Library, The Corning Museum of Glass (66820). Photo: The Corning Museum of Glass. Read more at https://www.cmog.org/article/lamp.
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So, witches run in my family. Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Susanna (née Clark) was the wife of Josiah Rootes (1613-1683). Josiah Rootes, originally from Great Chart, Kent, England, was a passenger on the Hercules of Sandwich, under the command of Captain John Witherley. The ship was bound for “the plantation called New England in America” in the spring of 1634/5. Josiah, along with his mother and brother, migrated to America and was instrumental in founding the Beverly Church.
Josiah had taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy at Great Chart and received his certificate from Robert Gorsham, curator of Great Chart, on 20 March 1634/35. The Hercules of Sandwich is probably the same as the Hercules of Dover mentioned by Winthrop as being here in the summer. ~~Samuel G. Drake, Result of Some Researches Among the British Archives for Information Relative to the Founders of New England: Made in the Years 1858, 1859 and 1860 (n.p.: H.W. Dutton and Son, Printers, Transcript Office, 1860; reprint Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1963), 84.
On June 25, 1678, Josiah made a sworn accusation of thievery against William and Elizabeth Hoar. He claimed the family had stolen (clothing, apples, wood, and hay) from him for nearly twenty years, and he had only just discovered proof – in the form of Goody Hoar’s apron.
When several neighbors came under suspicion of receiving stolen goods from Mr. Hale’s maid, Margaret Lord, Josiah Rootes complained to the court in a written statement that “for neare twenty years together we haue ben Aflicted by hauing owr goods stollen At sundri time And we not Abell To make due profe haue ben forsed To sufer owr seuellfes To be wrownged in estat And name: And god by his prouidens hauing latlie discouered sum of Theas wokes of darknes wee Judg yt. To be owre duty To speake in vindicasion of Truth and Conuictccion of sine…. He deposed in Salem Court that same month, aged about 65, and again, aged about 60, as did his wife “Susanah Roots, aged about forty-eight years…”
Their son, Jonathan Rootes, aged about thirteen years, affirmed…” Among those who testified were Abigell Stone, Jr., Abigall Ston, Jr., John Lovet, Jr., and Bethiah Lovet (Sussanah’s daughter).”
That same day, Susanna first appears on record: Susanah Roots, aged about fifty-three years, Mary, wife of Heugh Woodbery, aged about forty-eight years, and Sarah Roots, aged about twenty-four years, deposed that about two months ago they saw Mary, wife of Samuell Harres and Tabitha Slew carry a parcel of small linen into Samuell Harris’ house.
Five years later, in the spring of 1683, Josiah Rootes passed away. He named Susanna as the executrix of his will and stipulated, “…my loveing wife Susanna [have] the use & improvement of all my small estate, what ever untill such time, as my son Jonathan cometh to the age…” and if she did not remarry, “[Jonathan] shall pay unto her, his said mother eight pounds, [yearly] duerring the terme of her widdowhood, or her natural life, and let her have the use of the west end of my now dwellinghouse, of a bed, beding, her firewood brought to the doare [door].”
For the period, this is an appropriate provision for a wife who worked land, maintained a household, bore and nurtured six children. Josiah’s specification that Susanna have the sunny west-facing room with cozy bed and fire burning is lovely and fitting after 40 years of toil at his side. –Poor Irish & Pilgrims. New World Shoots from Old World Roots.
Inventory of the estate of Josiah Roots of Beverly, who deceased June 3, 1683, taken by Samuel Corning, sr., and Andrew Elliott: one coverlaide, lOs.; 1 bed ticking, iSs.; coverlaide, ili.; 4 yards of red Cloth at 6s. per yard, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of Lining Cloth, ili. 8s.; 4 yards of Dowless, 8s.; 4 yards and 1-2 of kerzey, ili. 6d.; New England money, 71i. 8s.; old England money, 16s., 81i. 4s.; 2 yards of broad Cloth, ili. 2s.; 1 yard & 1-2 of broad Cloth, 18s.; 2 yards and 1 quarter of Red Cloth, 155.; 1 Carpet, lOs.; 11 yards of sarge, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of white Cotten, 14s.; 1 Chest, 2s. and his woolling wearing Cloths, 51i. 5s.; and his wearing Linning, ili. lOs.; 61i. 17s.; 6 yards of kerzey, ili. 16s.; 4 yards and a quarter of kerzie, 31i. is. 6d.; 3 yards of Lining Cloth, 55. & 1 hatt, 45. 9s.; 8 pair of sheets for beding, 41i.; bed and its belongings, 41i. lOs.; 1 bed and 2 bed steads with other furniture, 5 li.; 1 bed with its furniture, 21i. lOs., and other Lumber, 31i.; 3 chests, ili. 2s.; 1 Table and 3 Joint stooles, 1 Table, 18s.; Cushions, 6s.; 1 Little Table, 4s. 21i. lOs.; 2 Chairs, 3s.; pewter, 21i.; brass & Iron, ili. 13s., 31i. 13s.; I Cart & wheels, plowghs & plowgh tackell, 41i.; 1 sled & 4 axes, 6s.; 3 hoes, 3s. 9s.; barrell, Tubs and other Lumber, 12s.; 3 other Tubs, 2s. & 2 spades, 55. 7s.; 1 horse, 2li. lOs.; parcel of shingles, ili. 55., 31i. 155.; 10 thousand of shingle nailes, ili. 105.; 2 oxen, 71i. & 4 Cows at 121i., 19 Ii., 2 Steeres, 41i. los.; 19 Sheep & Lambs at 3 Ii. 19s., 81i. 9s.; houses, land and orchard, 2601i.; 6 Acres of meadow, 301i.; 5 swine, lOs. per, 21i. lOs.; total, 3841i. 19s. Several debts, 191i. 8s. 3d.
In his will dated 15 May 1683, Josiah Rootes, “of the town of Beverly,” leaves his entire estate to his son Jonathan, after settling legacies for his other children, Bethiah, John, and Thomas. He entrusts the management of his estate to his wife Susanna, whom he appoints as executrix until Jonathan reaches adulthood. After Jonathan comes of age, he is responsible for his mother’s support as long as she remains unmarried.~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, IX: 66. 67.
On June 26, 1683, Susanna Roots, now a widow, renounced her role as the executor of her husband’s will in a Salem court. She stated that she had “many weaknesses and infirmities of old age” and, therefore, could not serve as executor.
The court appointed John Hill and Nehemiah Grover to bring in an inventory as soon as possible, and the inventory was sworn to on 6 July 1683. (Andrew Elliot, who would, in 1692, accuse Susanna Rootes of witchcraft, was one of the appraisers).~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, VIII: 66, 6
Nine years later, as she approached her 70th year, she found herself being taken to Boston and thrown into jail with irons on a charge of witchcraft, which carried a sentence of death.
Accusing neighbors of theft in a close-knit community is a serious matter. It’s possible that friends of William and Mary Hoars, Mary Harres, and Tabitha Slew held a grudge against the Rootes family, or they might have been jealous of the Rootes’ wealth, leading to the accusations.
(Warrant for Arrest of Susannah Roots )
Salem May 21-1692
To the Constables of Beverly.
Whereas Complaint hath been this day made before us, by Sergent Thomas Puttnam and John Puttnam: both of Salem village yeomen against Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow for sundry acts of witchcrafft by her Commited on the bodys of Mary wallcott Abigal williams Marcy Lewis Ann Puttnam and others.
You are therfore in their Majesties names hereby Required to apprehend and forthwith bring before us Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow, who stands charged with Committing Sundry acts of witchcraft as aboves’d to the wrong and Injury of the bodys of the above-named Persons, in order to her Examination Relateing to the aboves’d Premises faile not Dated Salem May the 21’st 1692
John Hathorne
Jonathan. Corwin
[Pbar ]r order of the Govener & Councell
To the Marshall of Essex or his Deputy vera Copia attest
May 21 — 1692
*Geor: Herrick Marshall of Essex
I doe apoint mr Jonathan Biles to bee my Lawffull Deputy to serve this warrant
*Geo: Herrick Marshall of Essex
(Reverse) I have prosecutted the within written warant and have apprehended the person of the within mentioned Suzannah Roots and Brought her befour awthority. 23: may 1692
An information if it might be any help in the examination of the person before you goode Roots I being in the house of Mr Laurence Denni’s some time since she was suspected for what shee is now before you & there was Likewise Leonard Austen of our Town of Beverly s’d Austen then s’d that he thought she was a bad woman, his reason was that he Living in the house with s’d Roots not Long since and when he went to prayer at any time with his wife & thought s’d Roots would acompany them in s’d Duty but Did not at any time but would withdraw & absent herselfe: & further when my self were gone to bed & she unto her bed. she would rise in the night & we Could hear her talk in the roome below I lying in the Chamber over s’d roome as if there #[there] were: 5: or six persons with her more s’d Austen might speak if caled thereunto as far as know more concer[n]ing Roots
Susannah was eventually released, but while she was in prison, her grandson John Lovett III visited her and gave the following deposition about his conversation with Dorcas Hoar, another prisoner:
The depersision of John Lovet aged about 25 years this deponant tetifieth & say that he the s’d deponant sume time in June last past went into the prisan to see my gran mother then goodee hore asked me the s’d. deponant whether I knew of any witnesses that would Come in or be brought in against hear.&.I the s’d deponant told her I did not know of any and then the s’d. hore asked me whether goodman witreg would not Come in against her about his Cow I the s’d debonant tould the s’d whore I did believe he Would the s’d whore replyed she did not know that he had ara Cow, furder saith not
Supposedly Susannah was released due to insufficient evidence but died less than a month later. Susannah ended up in the care of Ambrose Gale after Josiah died since she had no known family members who survived her. However, the arrangement was not without a business-like aspect. In June of 1684, the court ordered that Susannah’s inheritance should be given to Gale to reimburse him for expenses. It was agreed that with the transfer of her assets, Gale would care for her for the rest of her life. (Note: Susannah was the mother of Ambrose Gale’s deceased son-in-law, Thomas Rootes, husband of Elizabeth Gale. Not much is known about how she died. Maybe her decline in health and the conditions in jail made her too weak.
A student essay submitted in the UK states an interesting theory:
“Some of the witches like Susannah Roots were also accused for entertaining people late at night or adultery, but just because they did those kinds of things did not mean they were looking for power or attention from the whole town, but from the people they did it with. What we know now that did not know then is that the accused must have had been sick in some way or form. We can conclude this with the fact that the symptoms of witchery are the same symptoms as the Encephalitis Epidemic that accrued in the early 1900s to the mid-1900s.” https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/salem-witch-craft-hysteria-history-essay.php
I recently covered information about the Bean family while researching William Bean on the Logan side a few weeks ago. For example, our Bean immigrant was a Scottish Prisoner of War and was sold as an indentured servant.
John MacBean (my 9th great-grandfather) came from Scotland as a POW. He was one of 272 prisoners from the Battle of Worcester on the ship John and Sarah in 1651 that traveled to Boston (the Mac was dropped in Boston).
There is *no* documentary evidence giving John Bean of Exeter's parents/grandparent's names, or origins. We can confirm that he was most likely born in Scotland, was taken prisoner in England at the Battle of Worcester, and was one of the 'Scottish Prisoners' transported to New Hampshire on the ship "Sarah and John"; but that's it for anything prior to his arrival in America. Both the US and UK branches of the Clan MacBean Inc. Genealogy Department have been trying to locate _any_ additional information *without* success. The _suggested_ names for John's father/grandfather first appear during the mid-20th century and have no basis in fact. If anyone has *documented* evidence - with solid provenance - of his ancestry and origins, we would be overjoyed to receive it; but if your information comes from family trees without sources or provenance, or family 'legend' handed down without anything to back it up, then please do *not* treat it as gospel, or base any further research on it. --Allan MacBain MBCS Associate Genealogist (UK and Europe), Clan MacBean Inc.
John Bean and six others were indentured to Nicholas Lissen, owner of sawmills on the Exeter and Oyster Rivers. Usually, these servants had to serve six to eight years for their master, but John married his master’s daughter within THREE years! Nicolas’ other two daughters married John’s friends and fellow POWs. Interestingly, the Lissens were also from Scotland.
John MacBean was born about 1634 in Strathdearn, Inverness, Scotland. As with the Clan Logan Visits Scotland, the MacBeans also belong to a Clan. From clanmacbean.org:
Our Gaelic name is MacBheathain, meaning “Son of the Lively One.” It is pronounced MacBain in Scotland. The “bh” in the Gaelic has a “bv” sound. The “ea” has the harsh “a.” The “th” has an h sound. The “ai” has the harsh “e” sound. This becomes “Macbvaheen.” This is why there are so many spellings of the sound. For a long time, everything was spelled phonetically. There was no set way. You can find one family member that spelled his name one way, and his brothers spelled it another way. Many records show the names spelled the way the recorder spelled it, not the way the family spelled it.
The Prefix of “Mac” means “Son of.” As time passed, many people dropped the a and put a line underneath the “Mc” with two dots to show that the a was suppose to be there. Later the lines and dots were dropped altogether. Some times you will find M’ which means the same as Mac. Mack is also accepted.
Kinchyle is the Cry that the clan warriors would yell as they began to engage in battle. It was meant to unite them as one force. Kinchyle (kin-hile) was the land owned by the Clan which stretched around 2 miles along Lock Ness. This was located approximately where the town of Dores (due-ers) is today.
Clan Motto: Touch not a catt bot a targe! This motto, which is written on our badge, means, don’t mess with this cat unless you have a shield for protection against it!
This monument to Clan MacBean is inside the McBain Memorial Park, created by Hughston McBain of McBain, the 21st chief. It lies above Kinchyle near Dores on the south shore of Loch Ness. The site was opened in 1961.
In the spring of 1650, when Oliver Cromwell threatened to invade Scotland, many Scottish highlanders enlisted to defend their homeland. The Scots lost the Battle of Dunbar on 3 September 1650, but a year later, a reorganized Scottish army prepared to fight Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. When no ammunition was provided, the Scots resorted to clubs, stones, and the butts of their muskets until they were finally overpowered, and Scotland lost her independence. The surviving Scottish soldiers were taken as prisoners of war. From Volume I, Descendants of John Bean of Exeter (2019 edition)
On April 18, 1654, John married Hannah, the daughter of Lissen. Shortly after, he became a partner in the sawmills, a business that continued until Hannah’s death and John’s subsequent remarriage. In addition to his work in the sawmills, John Bean was also a land developer. Between 1660 and 1708, he acquired nearly 20 acres of land, cleared it of timber, and transformed it into working farms, preparing them for sale to new settlers. Furthermore, he was involved in farming and crafted boots for settlers as well as shoes for trade with Native Americans.
John Bean was Presbyterian, and Margaret, his second wife, was a member of the Hampton church in 1671 but was dismissed from that church in 1698 to join the church in Exeter. They chose to worship at the Congregational Church because there was no Presbyterian Church in Exeter, though John remained a Presbyterian until his death.
His first wife, Hannah, was born around 1635 in Scotland. She passed away at the age of 24 in 1659 during the birth of their third child in Exeter, New Hampshire. She was buried at Old Gathering House Churchyard in Belknap, New Hampshire. Hannah Lissen had two sisters: Elizabeth Lissen, who married Henry Magoon, and Mary Lissen, who married Alexander Gordon. Both men were with John Bean on the ship John and Sara.
John Bean and Margarett Rees married before 16 November 1660 in Exeter, Massachusetts Bay. Margarett Rees was born around 1635 in Wales. She passed away in 1714 at 79 in Exeter, New Hampshire, and was laid to rest at the Old Meeting House Churchyard in Belknap, New Hampshire.
John’s eleventh son, James, is my ancestor. He was born on December 17, 1672, in Exeter, Massachusetts Bay. James became a significant landowner in his own right. In February 1698, he purchased 30 acres from the town of Exeter, which he added to the land he inherited from his father. James was a trapper and a hunter, and he actively participated in the Indian Wars, fighting against Indigenous peoples until they withdrew from New Hampshire around 1710. In July of that same year, James successfully thwarted an attempted kidnapping of his three nieces by Indians who intended to take them to Canada.
James Bean married his first wife, Sarah Coleman, in 1692 in Exeter. Sarah was baptized in 1673, indicating she was born around that same year. She passed away in 1696.
James’ first son, John, is my ancestor. He was born in 1693 in Brentwood, New Hampshire, and married Sarah Sinkler in 1718 in Exeter, New Hampshire, which was part of British America at the time. John passed away in 1747 in Brentwood, New Hampshire. It is said that he was his grandfather’s favorite and was rather spoiled by him, ultimately acquiring land through his will.
Their sons were very influential in Exeter, New Hampshire. In fact, Nathaniel was one of the delegates who ratified the Constitution of the United States. However, my ancestor is their first son, Joshua.
Joshua was born in 1719 in Brentwood, New Hampshire. He was a Quaker and had a remarkable family, with a total of 22 children—eleven from his first wife and eleven from his second wife. It’s no wonder there are so many Beans across North America! Around 1781, their daughter Hannah and her husband relocated to Gilmanton, Strafford, New Hampshire. Hannah was the first white woman to settle in Gilmanton, and their child was the first white child born there.
In 1781, Joshua and his first wife, Lydia Brown, moved to Gilmanton. They traveled on horseback, carrying their three small children in the saddles. Four of Joshua’s sons attended Dartmouth College, and five of his grandsons also graduated from Dartmouth. Additionally, two of his grandsons graduated from Harvard.
Because Joshua was a Quaker, he was unable to serve in the Revolutionary War or sign the Association Test Act of 1776. He and his sons were part of a group of thirty-five individuals who sent a letter expressing their support for the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4th.
My ancestor, John, was the sixteenth child of Joshua and Hannah Robinson. He was born on September 4, 1746, in Brentwood, New Hampshire. John married Abigail Fowler in 1767, also in Brentwood. Abigail was born on June 14, 1747, in Brentwood. Unfortunately, not much more information is available about John.
I have conducted most of my research for this blog using Volume I: Descendants of John Bean of Exeter from the clanmacbean.org website. However, this source did not provide information about the rest of my family line, so I reached out to them to inquire about adding my family line to their research.
John and Abigail’s seventh son, also named John, was born on April 20, 1781, in Gilmanton, Strafford, New Hampshire. He married Abiah Chase on January 11, 1803. In 1814, they moved to Warsaw, New Hampshire, and in 1834, they relocated to Sparta, Pennsylvania. John served in the military in 1813.
Company Number: 33rd U.S. Infantry
Enlistment Date: 10 May 1813
Comments: Mustered Out June 30, 1813
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Light
Complexion: Light
John and Abiah had eight children. Their third child, Louise, is my Bean ancestor. She was born on February 9, 1809, in Gilmanton, Belknap, New Hampshire. She married Lemuel H. Logan in May 1828 in Warsaw, Genesee, New York. Lemuel’s will stated he left money to each of his children, while all his real estate went to his “youngest son, Ryland.” It is believed that Louise died giving birth to Ryland.
According to the 1865 IRS Tax Assessment Lists, Lemuel was a “Retail Dealer” for a Farmer’s Market, and he paid taxes on the profit. Lemuel purchased 100 acres of land near the Catholic Cemetery in Corry, Pennsylvania. My 2nd great-grandfather, Silas H. Logan, was born on March 10, 1833, in Batavia, Genesee, New York, to Louise and Lemuel.
Silas was a farmer and then worked on the railroad; you can read more about him at
Browsing the homepage of my Ancestry database reveals upcoming birthdays and anniversaries, including both marriages and deaths. August 3rd was the anniversary of my 3rd great-grandfather, Mathias J. Chapman, passing away on my mother’s side. As I reviewed his details, I realized I had very little information and couldn’t recall the last time I had researched about him.
As I reviewed my information to verify its accuracy, something caught my attention. First, he had served in the Civil War, and second, he had been incarcerated as a “rebel deserter.” His imprisonment took place at Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania. 1 I knew I had to dig into this further!
Peggy Seymour possesses a family bible that indicates Mathias was born approximately in 1841 in Spotsylvania, Virginia, to Herman and Ann Chapman. (Peggy and Barbara are the daughters of Ellen Seymour, who is my great-grandmother’s first cousin on her father’s side.) Mathias married Sarah J. Crutchfield in Goochland, Virginia, on January 4, 1861, at the age of 19. The bible also notes that Mathias and Sarah had a child in 1862, but unfortunately, the baby passed away the same year.2
Mathias joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War on August 29, 1861. Historical records indicate that he had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and sandy hair. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall. According to NARA records, he completed his service in October 1862 and transferred to the Virginia King William Light Artillery Battery. He mustered out again on December 15, 1862, and once more on January 15, 1863. On June 20, 1863, he was categorized as a “rebel deserter” and was imprisoned at Fort Mifflin until his release on November 17, 1863.
The NARA has “Descriptive Book of Arrested Deserters” ledgers, but the one he would be in is not online. I am waiting for the NARA to get back to me with their information on him. These books usually have descriptive information, so I hope they tell me more.
Update 6 Sep 2024: From the NARA via email:
The National Archives does not have Confederate pension files in our custody. Pensions based on military service in the Confederate States of America were authorized by some Southern states, but not by the federal government. To see if a former Confederate or his widow received a pension, contact the state archives of the former Confederate state where the veteran or his widow lived after the Civil War.
Confederate records that are in the custody of the National Archives are located in Record Group 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records. These records are incomplete, due to the hazards of war and the destruction of records at the end of the Civil War. RG 109 consists of records that were captured by, or surrendered to, Union forces during and at the end of the Civil War, as well as records that were later donated to, or purchased by, the U.S. War Department.
Fort Mifflin held three kinds of prisoners: Confederate prisoners of war, Union soldiers, and civilians. The prisoners were held in the Fort’s three largest casemates or bombproof shelters.
The same gentleman who emailed me also sent me his Oath of Allegiance.
The oath of allegiance probably refers to a list of prisoners in Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, who signed a document indicating that they had taken the oath of allegiance. This document is located in RG 109 Entry 199 Records of Confederates in Union Prisons, under Pennsylvania. Although the National Archives is not appropriated to provide free copies of records in our holdings, because the number of pages involved is small and because the series is not available on microfilm or in digital form, we have made a one-time exception. A complimentary scan of the endorsement page and of the page where Chapman signed his name is attached.
In July 1863, Fort Mifflin started to accommodate Confederate prisoners of war taken during the Battle of Gettysburg, which occurred from July 1 to July 3. At its highest occupancy, the fort held up to 216 Confederate POWs in its largest casemate. Their time at Fort Mifflin was short-lived, as many were eventually moved to larger facilities like Fort Delaware, or they were released after pledging allegiance to the United States. 3
According to the records, Mathias’s desertion coincided with the birth of their child. The family Bible also notes that his wife, Sarah passed away in 1863.
While Mathias was stationed at Fort Mifflin, a significant skirmish took place in Hagerstown, Maryland. Already an important center for trade and transportation, Hagerstown would later be instrumental during the Civil War. In July 1863, while Mathias was still imprisoned, Hagerstown played a key role in the Confederate army’s retreat from Gettysburg. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee and his troops aimed to cross the Potomac River into Virginia. Union cavalry, led by General H. Judson Kilpatrick, attempted to intercept the Confederate forces and engaged them in Hagerstown. Lee had established a garrison in the area to protect their rear. The subsequent Battle of Hagerstown lasted seven hours, involved around 2,000 soldiers, and resulted in close to 200 casualties.4 Interestingly, being labeled a ‘rebel deserter’ and becoming a POW may have ultimately saved Mathias’s life.
My great-grandmother’s notes indicate that he served as a drummer boy during the Civil War, but there are no documents to support this claim. They only show that he was part of Light Artillery units, although it’s possible he served in both roles.
One year after his release from Fort Mifflin, he married my third great-grandmother, Mary Isadore Burns, in Hagerstown, Maryland, just over the border from Pennsylvania. Their wedding took place at Saint Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church (now John Wesley United Methodist Church) and was officiated by Rev. George W. Heyde. 5 Mathias worked as a brick mason, and they welcomed three sons while living in Pennsylvania. In 1872, the family moved to Virginia, where they had three more sons and one daughter.
By 1896, Mathias was serving as the superintendent of Cedar Grove, Elmwood, and West Point cemeteries, and he was later elected as the “Keeper of the Cemeteries.”
In 1894, he was elected to his present office, and he has fulfilled his duties in an able manner that leaves no room for criticism. Under his supervision, great changes have taken place. Under his care, great attention has been given to the cemetery grounds, and they have been kept neat and beautiful, a fact that is appreciated by all those who have loved ones there entombed.Mr. Chapman is well in touch with his fellowmen and is a member of K of P Lodge No. 56. Vandalia Lodge No. 57. I. O. O. F. No. 79, Orinoco Tribe, I. O. Red Men; Palestine Tent No. 40, Rechabites, and Friendship Council No. 4. Chosen Friends. He has intelligent plans for the further improvement of the cemeteries, and his past efforts for the public good should entitle him to a continuance in the office. All of the property in his care is well kept, and a special improvement is noted in the West Point Cemetery. When he went into office, he found that place overgrown with weeds and the branches choked with underbrush. The weeds have been removed, the underbrush cut away, and the cemetery is now a neat, well-kept, and slightly place, that is a credit to Norfolk.6—
Mathias passed away from a stroke at 11:00 a.m. on August 3, 1898, at the age of 56, in Norfolk, Virginia.7
The Stephanz family is my most exciting discovery yet. They have been what genealogists refer to as a ‘brick wall.’ Breaking through brick walls is very satisfying! Their Kansas story fascinated me, showcasing how they persevered through a language barrier and maintained their traditions in a foreign land. But I digress.
I’ll start with Mathias Paul Stephanz, Jr. Mat was born on 13 JUL 1894 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. His parents were Mathias Stephanz, Sr. and Mary Swegel. No, wait, that is incorrect. He was born to Matijas Štefanc and Marija Švegelj, but that is yet another story.
Matijas, Mathias, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Marija- 1905 Kansas City, Kansas
Mathias, Jr. was born on a Friday over 120 years ago. My second cousin, Susan, told me that her father mentioned he was somewhat fair-haired when he was young, with blue eyes, and that he was a great father. She said he always spoke about how great his wife, Clara, was, constantly driving them all over or sailing with them across the country and the world, and how she was always packing up everything they owned whenever they moved. Her dad also mentioned that it only took one look from Mat to make all the kids behave. Susan added that Mat preferred Milwaukee over Kansas City because of the fun times they had at the lake, parties, and being with family, especially during the summers.
Mat was baptized in 1894 at St. Joseph’s Parish in Kansas City. He had one younger brother and two younger sisters.
They lived on Sandusky Ave./411 N. 4th Street (in the rear of the house) on what is known as Strawberry Hill. The addresses confused me until I realized that 4th Street curved into Sandusky, and they lived right on the border of those two roads. So, some census takers show Sandusky, and some show 4th St.
The house is still there. But a highway was built right through Strawberry Hill in 1957, forcing neighbors to move from their homes. See my blog about Strawberry Hill and the people who lived there.
Mathias lived in Kansas City until he was 24 years old in 1919. On July 9, 1916, he wrote a letter to his sister, Mary. The postmark on the letter indicates that it was sent from Detroit, Michigan. I can only assume he was visiting there. In his letter, he refers to his adventures in Toledo. The letter starts with what must be her nickname (written as he wrote with punctuation and spelling).
Dear Squib,
I got your letter all ok. I spent the 4th in Toledo and went to Toledo Beach sure had a good time. I am going to tell you something that I don’t want the old folks to know. I think I’ll marry in Toledo. I’ve got the girl at last I believe and I found her myself too. Her name is Bessie Jacobs. Tell you how I met her Elizabeth’s old friend Frances (can’t read last name) has been trying to land me “ha ha” the old fossil she got me to come over and meet her cousin from Detroit and this little girl happened to be there too and she didn’t introduce us but I made up my mind that I didn’t need any and the funny part of it Bessie told me later that she had her mind made up to know me too but Frances kept on her tail so much that I couldn’t talk to her alone until the next day. She is a telephone operator and I’ve got the job taking her home when I am there now there’s another fellow but his name will be mud before I’m done. Sis, you can talk about fast work, but listen to this I met about 2 o’clock Monday and Wed night about 12 I proposed (she would not give me a final answer yet) She didn’t know me well enough yet but I think my chances are good. I wish you or Leah could come here on a visit and meet her I wonder if she is a big as Joe’s girl she weighs 103 pounds and reaches about to my arm pit and she wears glasses but she can look nicer in them than any girl I ever saw she 19 years old and she can cook and do housework too she’s not a fancy cook but she can put up a meal so I should worry. I’ll think I’ll move to Toledo and go living Alice’s husband is trying to land me a job there and I can be making 100 (word looks like “bones”) in a short time and I know I’ll like it better he’s got 2 uncles that are engineers too so it will all be in the family and I can save more money there too. What’s the matter with the King (Joe’s nickname maybe?) I thought he was going to be a candy maker he better try something where he can learn to be something so he won’t be a common laborer when he is my age I wish you all would move to Toledo you could all get jobs here easy enough and we could all have a dandy time better than in KC I believe. Well sis I guess I told you all I could so I will close now hoping to hear from you soon and tell all my friends hello for me Leah and Joe too (Leah must have been Joe’s sister, Lizzie- maybe a nickname) Tell that King to get a job dam quick and tell the Belgian hello too I almost forgot her.
With Love, Mat
P. S. I repeat I would like picture of the bunch as soon as possible.
This letter is interesting as there are a lot of Stephanz in my research showing up in Toledo. There is even a Mathias, except the age doesn’t pan out. Are there relatives in Ohio we didn’t know about? Are they the ones Mat is referring to in the letter? Is this why he is in Toledo at this time? There is a William R., a Francis J., and a Mathias.
The marriage mentioned in the letter did not happen. Instead, Mat married Clara Elizabeth Hennig at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1920.
Can you identify the error in the previous record? Augusta was Clara’s mother, but it should indicate Mary as Mat’s mother. Also, Mathias’ name is listed with “neo-Conversus” underneath it. I’m not sure why it indicates him as a convert, as he was baptized in St. Joseph’s Parish in Kansas City.
The directory shows Mat living in Kansas City with his parents in 1916. I wonder what happened between his visit to Toledo in 1916 and his marriage to Clara in 1920 in Wisconsin. How did he meet Clara? Nine months after their marriage, Marguerite, my grandmother, was born in Illinois. I think around 1920, he joined the Navy, but I’m still trying to obtain the records. The department won’t send them to me because I’m not the next of kin. I haven’t appealed this decision yet.
He spent most of the next 47 years in the United States Navy. He was transferred to various locations: Wisconsin in 1920, Illinois in 1921, Pensacola, Florida in 1922, Norfolk, VA in 1926, the Canal Zone in Panama in 1932, Hawaii in 1935, back to Norfolk in 1939, Jacksonville, Florida in 1941, Oregon in 1944, and his last enlistment was in Jacksonville, Florida in 1950, where he retired as the Aviation Chief and made his home there. However, he didn’t retire but instead became the Finance Officer at American Legion Lake Shore Post 137. Mat and Clara had three daughters and two sons.
Mathias Stephanz, Jr. 1916Mathias P. Stephanz, Jr. abt 1920Chief Mathias P. Stephanz, Jr. 1930
Present Ranking F-4-D F.R. -31 Mar 1941- (Men transferred to Fleet Reserve upon completion of 20 years who were serving in the regular Navy on July 1, 1925, or who reenlisted under continuous service immediately thereafter.) ACMM (PA) (Aviation Chief MACHINISTS’S MA)
1941- Paul, Virginia, Buddy and Mat
1941- Paul, Mathias, Clara, Virginia, Clarice
Buddy and Mat 1941
Paul and Bess wedding, Clara & Matt in background
Alice & Ralph Hennig, Clara and Matt, Clarice and Virginia
Marguerite, Sharon, Albert, Clarice, Clara, and Matt. Bishop Kenny Catholic High School Graduation- 1957
Virginia, Clara, and Matt- Christmas 1959
Jeanne, ARW, Mathias, Ruby 1963
Clara, Marguerite, and Mathias- VA Hospital in Tuskegee, Macon County, AL 1967
Although Mat passed away at the VA hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama, his body was transported back to Jacksonville, FL to be buried in Riverside Memorial Park that October.
What a life Mat led! Still, he died too young, at the age of 73. I wish I could have known him in person. I can only imagine the stories he could have shared with me as a kid growing up in Kansas, as a young adult with a young family, and during his very successful Navy career. Oh, the places and things he must have seen.
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I have been absorbed in genealogy/family history for a significant period, and I can attest that we all start as beginners. Even when revisiting older branches of my family tree, I still encounter what I call ‘rookie mistakes.’ It’s a journey we all embark on.
Here, I’ve outlined crucial mistakes that, if avoided, can significantly enhance your genealogy search, making it a more fruitful and enjoyable experience.
Pay attention to the wealth of information that your living relatives can provide. I regret not asking more questions of my grandparents, great-grandparents, great-aunts, and great-uncles. With the right encouragement, most family members are eager to share their memories, which can be invaluable for future generations.
Here’s a big one! Attaching other people’s trees to yours! If another person’s tree has an error, such as the wrong generation, attaching it to yours can add people who aren’t related.
Many families have stories and traditions passed down through generations. These family legends can be a goldmine for genealogy research, but it’s crucial to approach them with an open mind. Tales of famous ancestors, war heroes, surname changes, and the family’s nationality likely have factual origins. Your task is to sift through these stories, as ancestors may have added embellishments over time.
Many people are eager to explore their cultural roots and trace their family history back to their country of origin. However, it’s usually challenging to start researching genealogy in a foreign country without doing some preliminary research first. You need to know when they decided to move, where they originally came from, even their city or town.
When searching for ancestors, it’s important to consider variations in names and spellings. People often misspelled the names of our ancestors in official records for various reasons, and individuals may have used different names at different times. Researching surname origins and using genealogy databases can help in finding variations. (See my blog about Surnames.)
Avoid advertisements promising “a family history of enter surname here in America.” Many of these are for mass-produced coats of arms and surname books that do not provide specific family histories. Additionally, be careful when purchasing family crests and coats of arms from commercial sources, as these items are often not tied to particular surnames or families. Your best bet is to look for official clan groups. For instance, a couple in my family are Clan Logan Society International (https://www.clanlogansociety.org/) and Clan MacBean (https://clanmacbean.org/)
Genealogy is about much more than just adding names to your database. Instead of focusing on how many ancestors you’ve traced or how many names you have in your family tree, take the time to truly get to know your ancestors. What did they look like? Where did they live? Which historical events influenced their lives? Your ancestors had their own hopes and dreams, just like you do. While they might not have found their lives particularly exciting, you will usually find something interesting.
Just because a family genealogy or a record transcription has been written down or published does not necessarily mean it is correct. Vital information may be missing, transcription errors may occur, or invalid assumptions may be made in books containing transcriptions (cemetery, census, will, courthouse, etc.).
When using the Internet for genealogy research, approach online data with skepticism. If possible, verify and corroborate every detail yourself. Visit the source or retrace the researcher’s steps to ensure accuracy.
I’ve often looked back on an ancestor in my family tree only to find I needed a source for the information. A rookie mistake! There have been occasions when others have asked me about the information and where I found it, and embarrassingly, I’ve had to tell them, “I don’t know.” It’s essential to keep track of your genealogy sources to avoid redoing your research. Document and cite each source, and make copies if possible.
Family historians should remember to research their ancestors’ siblings. Doing so gives you a fuller understanding of your ancestors’ families. It’s unlikely that you descend from a long line of “only children,” so keeping your family history in context is necessary. (See my blog on Collateral Ancestors)
Genealogy is a deeply personal and enriching journey, marked by the excitement of discovery and the patience required to unravel complex family histories. By learning from the common pitfalls I’ve outlined, you can enhance your research process, making it more rewarding and accurate. Remember to engage with living relatives, approach family legends with a balanced perspective, and meticulously document your sources. Embrace the nuances of name variations and be cautious with information from online sources and other people’s trees. Ultimately, genealogy is not just about filling in names on a chart but about understanding the lives and stories of those who came before us. Every piece of information you uncover, every tale you validate, brings you closer to your ancestors, transforming your family tree into a vibrant tapestry of history and heritage.
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Have you ever looked at other family trees online? I have, and they are pretty interesting. You can certainly tell the beginners from someone who has been doing it a long time. I am not judging, not harshly, anyway, because I was a beginner, too.
If people use the trees only for aesthetic value, they can insert their ancestors’ names in the way they like. However, if you are using an online service and expecting hints or assistance from DNA matches, it’s essential to input names and dates correctly.
Here are the rules for correctly recording names in genealogy.
USE WOMEN’S MAIDEN NAMES. Always enter a woman’s maiden name if you have it (her surname at birth) in parentheses on a written/typed chart or a database’s last name field. When you do not know a female’s maiden name, insert her first and middle name on the chart, followed by empty parentheses (). For example, to record Sara Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown and who is married to John ROWAN, write “Sara Elizabeth ()” or “Sara Elizabeth () ROWAN.” When using a database such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, or Family Search, use the maiden name in the last name field. If you do not know the maiden name, leave it blank.
UNKNOWN NAMES. Do not put “LNU,” (Last Name Unknown), “UNK,” (Unknown), “MNU,” (Middle or Maiden Name Unknown) as these databases do not pick those up as you mean them. UNK is an absolute last name in Dutch. LNU is Vietnamese (Lưu) from the Chinese surname 劉 in central and southern Vietnam. It is the Chinese variant of Lu or Liu. When it comes to names you do not know, you accept that you do not know it and leave the field blank or use () on a typed or written chart.
NAMES IN SEARCH ENGINES.
Ancestry: For better search results, provide more information for the search engine to match against. For example, specifying a middle name like “Lemuel” can help narrow down results when searching for someone with a common name like “John Smith.” There are fewer John Lemuel Smiths globally than John Smiths. Ancestry automatically considers common nicknames, abbreviations, and alternate spellings. An example of their tips is that a search for “Bill Smith” could also return results for “William Smith,” “Wm Smith,” “Bill Smyth,” or “B. Smith.” An exact name match is the most relevant, followed by common misspellings, nicknames, and other variations. Remember that names can be misspelled or mistranscribed in original records or indexes, so looking for alternate spellings may lead to the right match despite the name appearing incorrect.
Family Search: They state, “The more of a surname you type as a search term, the smaller the results list will be. Since many surnames have spelling variations, you may want to broaden your search. To do this, you can type only part of the surname. (Or truncating your search.) For example, if you type “Newcombe” as your search term, the computer will find only that spelling of the name. However, if you type “Newcom” as your search term, the computer will find any surname that begins with those letters, including Newcom, Newcomb, Newcome, Newcombe, and so forth.”
My Heritage: When typing in the name in their fields, advanced options appear and allows you to specify whether you want an exact match, whether to include spelling variations, matching initials, and so on.
The critical takeaway is to take a few minutes at the beginning of your search and learn how the particular database search functions. Most sites have a tips section.
RECORD NAMES IN THEIR NATURAL ORDER.—first, middle, last (surname/maiden name). Using full names whenever possible makes lineage easier to trace. If a middle name is unknown, you may use an initial if you have one. Write names just as they appear on a birth certificate or spoken aloud upon introduction; no commas are necessary.
LAST NAMES. In the computer world, typing in all capital letters is considered yelling. Most genealogists choose to print surnames in all capital letters. Capitalizing the last name is a matter of preference rather than correctness. However, capitalized last names make it easier to read and distinguish surnames from first and middle names on family trees and in publications.
NICKNAMES AND ALTERNATE NAMES. Most databases have a separate field for nicknames or “also known as” names. You should not put them in the main name fields. If using written or typed charts, include them in quotes after the first given name. If the nickname is customary (i.e., Dan for Daniel), it is unnecessary to record it because only more unique nicknames need to be written (i.e., Esther “Hettie” HAWK.) If a person is known by multiple names, perhaps due to adoption or a non-marital name change, include all alternate names in parentheses after the surname on charts or a written tree. Clarify this with an “a.k.a.”, also known as, before the full alternate name, so that anyone reading your chart understands that the following is an alternate name. An example is Johann Leopold SCHWITTKOWSKI (a.k.a. John Paul HENNIG). Record it even when parts of the name are the same.
ALTERNATE SPELLINGS. When researching your ancestor’s surname, consider alternate spellings, particularly if the spelling has changed throughout time. There are several reasons why a last name might have been altered, such as illiteracy. It was common for ancestors who could not read or write to spell their last name phonetically, based on how it sounds, and this often led to slight variations between generations. When documenting surname usage, start with the earliest known usage, followed by all later known variations. For example, as in my family tree, you would write John LOGEN/LOGGAN/LOGAN or Johann SCHWITTKOWSKI/ HENNIG.
MAKE NOTES. Most databases have a place where you can insert notes. When recording names in your family tree, write notes or use the notes field. Specify unusual or confusing details for clarity. For instance, if a female ancestor’s maiden name is the same as her husband’s surname, briefly note why you have entered the same last name twice for her. Explaining prevents others from assuming it’s a mistake and helps them understand its reasoning.
Adhering to these straightforward guidelines ensures that your genealogical data is sufficiently clear for others to comprehend.
💁♀️EXTRA TIP: Are you finding the best search results for locating your ancestors? Did you know that misspellings and transcription errors limit your search? Unsure about the spelling of your ancestor’s names in records?
It’s time to try a wildcard search!
One of the best search secrets is using wildcard characters like “*” or “?” to substitute for letters you don’t know or are unsure of. When you use these characters in a search, it instructs the search engine (such as Google or Ancestry) to consider any letter in that position as a match.
Before using the genealogy wildcard search, remember that “*” replaces zero to multiple characters, while “?” replaces just one character. Read the search tips section for the database you use for their wildcard characters.
Google is a valuable tool for genealogy research, providing access to various resources and information. Here are some tips for using Google for genealogy:
Specify Your Search
Identify what you want to find. Formulate your question to Google just as you would to a research librarian or archivist.
Use Search Operators
Use quotation marks to find exact matches. (You don’t need to put around the whole sentence. For instance, Where is the “National Dairy” in “Butte”)
The word “AND” includes multiple words or phrases. How do you tell the search engine that you want to find Web sites that contain references to Keyword A and Keyword B? (Coal and Mines)
The word “OR” combines searches. It is beneficial for finding synonyms or related concepts. Using “OR” allows you to conduct multiple similar searches simultaneously, saving time.
Placing a tilde character (~) immediately in front of the keyword. asks Google to find pages with the word or words similar to it. The resulting pages for ~genealogy may include genealogy, family tree, roots, ancestry, heritage, vital records, or other words.
Use the minus sign (-) to eliminate keywords. The minus sign is just a hyphen in front of a term you want to have excluded from the search results. For example, if you were looking for a salsa recipe, you might search for salsa and discover multiple definitions. There’s the dance. There’s the music. Don’t forget the food. By using -dancing or -music, we can focus solely on salsa recipes: salsa -dance -music. Or, if you do not want onions, add -onions.
Don’t use “stop words.” Google often ignores small, commonly occurring words, such as ‘the,’ ‘at,’ and ‘of,’ and refers to them as stop words. When we search The Great Wall of China, we get about 471,000,000 results. By searching Great Wall China, we get about 815,000,000 results. And if we use the parenthesis around “The Great Wall of China,” we only get about 5,570,000 results.
Use 3-5 keywords for the most relevant results in a search query. Using too many keywords will limit your results.
Google Alerts
Google Alerts enables you to set up multiple keyword searches to track specific information for free. It allows you to monitor any keyword or phrase you like without manually entering it.
Use Google Maps
Select a location and then use the “find businesses” tab to identify points of interest like churches, cemeteries, and historical societies. You can also see the surrounding areas.
Use Google Earth
Discover your ancestors’ hometowns, see how they look today, and locate nearby buildings, schools, and churches. You can also utilize Google Earth Pro to generate personalized maps of your ancestors’ surroundings. Click and drag the image to take a virtual walk down the street where your ancestors once lived.
Use Google Images
Google Image Search will display photos with a brief title and website address when searching for ancestors’ names, surnames, or places they lived, including nicknames or abbreviations. It provides exact matches and visually similar images based on your uploads and critical phrases. Clicking on a result will bring up a pop-up with more details about the image, potential copyright status, and a gallery of related photos.
You may also want to try Google’s Reverse Image search. This technique uses a photo rather than text to search Google.
To perform a reverse image search on Google, follow these steps:
1. Go to Google.com and click the “Images” link in the upper right corner.
2. Click on the camera icon in the search box.
3. You can drag and drop a photo from your computer onto the Google Search page or click “Upload” to select an image from your computer or mobile device.
4. Review the search results page for the related images and information.
Use Google Photos
You can create, edit, and add maps and text to your photo albums, containing up to 20,000 photos or videos. You can organize your albums by family, surname, individual, or event and label them with relevant information.
Google Books (One of my favorites!)
You may already know that Google Books will keyword search within billions of pages of text in published books worldwide. Some of these books are even available to read on the site. Searching Google Books can lead you to facts, stories, new sources for your research, and even images. I’ve found many ancestors this way.
Google News Archive
Google News Archive is no longer actively digitizing and indexing newspapers. However, it can still help you find online content for specific newspapers. You can access an alphabetical listing of newspapers and enter keyword searches in the search box on the webpage for all the newspapers listed there.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is the go-to resource for accessing scholarly articles, theses, dissertations, and other academic sources. It specializes in searching for high-level academic content. You can find specialized content on Google Scholar, such as biographies of little-known ministers or histories of small towns.
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Have you heard of rabbit holes in genealogy? They are more common than anything else in genealogy. Imagine you’re researching Aunt Betty and discover that her famous strawberry pie recipe is now made in several bakeries nationwide. To understand how Betty achieved this success, you delve deeper into her family history.
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You find that her uncle was a chef at a popular restaurant in New York, so you start exploring his family background. It turns out that their family owned a farm and grew all their food. Betty’s uncle’s mother taught all the boys how to cook using the produce from their garden.
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That’s a rabbit hole. We neglected poor Aunt Betty while we went on our adventure, similar to Alice in Wonderland.
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Stop getting distracted by unexpected genealogical discoveries. Have a plan.
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Before beginning your research, write out your research question or statement. Writing it out will help guide you and keep you on task.
Break your primary research question down into more minor, individual research questions. Be specific in the question.
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Analyze what you already have. Start with what you know: Work from the known to the unknown.
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Remember to take notes: Write down key findings and questions as you go or after you have finished. You might forget what you’ve learned if you haven’t anything down.
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Use a separate notebook: Keep a notebook for your research facts, and always record the source. Recording the source will make it easier to add more details later. If you are going astray, write down what you found and then return to your main question.
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Set a timer: Keep track of how much time you’re spending on your research.
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I don’t avoid rabbit holes, but it is much easier for me to get back on track when I do if I have a plan in writing to fall back on.
![FIG. 39. Glass furnace, with workers. Georg Agricola (German, 1494–1555). In De re metallica [Berckwerck Buch, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1580, p. cccxc]. Rakow Research Library, The Corning Museum of Glass (66820). Photo: The Corning Museum of Glass.](https://i0.wp.com/i.pinimg.com/564x/4e/49/5e/4e495ec5a072d9bb33f6f130891e9660.jpg?w=840&ssl=1)
However, he didn’t retire but instead became the Finance Officer at American Legion Lake Shore Post 137. Mat and Clara had three daughters and two sons.
Ancestry: For better search results, provide more information for the search engine to match against. For example, specifying a middle name like “Lemuel” can help narrow down results when searching for someone with a common name like “John Smith.” There are fewer John Lemuel Smiths globally than John Smiths. Ancestry automatically considers common nicknames, abbreviations, and alternate spellings. An example of their tips is that a search for “Bill Smith” could also return results for “William Smith,” “Wm Smith,” “Bill Smyth,” or “B. Smith.” An exact name match is the most relevant, followed by common misspellings, nicknames, and other variations. Remember that names can be misspelled or mistranscribed in original records or indexes, so looking for alternate spellings may lead to the right match despite the name appearing incorrect.
Family Search: They state, “The more of a surname you type as a search term, the smaller the results list will be. Since many surnames have spelling variations, you may want to broaden your search. To do this, you can type only part of the surname. (Or truncating your search.) For example, if you type “Newcombe” as your search term, the computer will find only that spelling of the name. However, if you type “Newcom” as your search term, the computer will find any surname that begins with those letters, including Newcom, Newcomb, Newcome, Newcombe, and so forth.”
My Heritage: When typing in the name in their fields, advanced options appear and allows you to specify whether you want an exact match, whether to include spelling variations, matching initials, and so on.
The critical takeaway is to take a few minutes at the beginning of your search and learn how the particular database search functions. Most sites have a tips section.
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