Relics: Genealogy, family stories, history & other curiosities.

 Location, Location, Location!  My genealogy pal, Lois Powell and I had a great time creating our What's Your Story? podcast that we decided to give it another go.  Here we talk about the importance about learning all you can about your ancestors location.  Many thanks to our great producer, Nicole Farrell.   Listen here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q09T1K5oIc&list=PL3Rit4SVfvWdk3EDrKsWBSKElfbTyoXR-&index=3 You can check out the ELCL Youtube Genealogy Tab to see past podcasts and videos designed to help you with your genealogy research.  

My day job as a librarian has been turned upside-down by the pandemic.  We returned to work in early summer and all of our programming since has been virtual.  Its been a challenge, but has also been fun, we are all learning a lot and trying things we would have never dreamed of in our pre-covid routines.    Lois Powell, my great genealogy volunteer at the library and I have started a podcast.  October is Family History Month and we wanted to do something to replace the programs we haven't been able to have.  I am happy we tried it and hope we can do a few more.   You can listen here.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGCcqpN0YwE&t=17s

I have been thinking a great deal about Minnie Jones Rose since we were told to shelter in place.   Minnie was my maternal great grandmother. She died the year before I was born, so we have never met. I don't know a whole lot about her. I can't find her in a census until she is a 23 year-old married mother. Despite all the research challenges she has given me, Minnie continues to be one of my most fascinating ancestors.   She was born in 1887 in St. John's, NY and raised in Johnsontown, two towns tucked into the hills of Rockland and Orange County Counties, and washed away to build Harriman State Park.  Born to a single mother, her father was never revealed, and I can only imagine what kind of hardships that presented.  She was a widow before age 50 and she raised 5 children.  A devout Methodist, Minnie forbid chores or sewing on the Sabbath.  Stitch on Sunday, rip them out on Monday, she would say.   When I first expressed interest in learning more about Minnie and

Elizabeth Cassidy Schuler is my great-great grandmother. She was born October 1849 in New York City. She was the daughter of George Cassidy and his wife Martha.  Or was it his wife Bathsheba? This is my attempt to sort through the evidence and determine if Bathsheba Williams and Martha Cassidy are indeed the same person- wife of George, mother of Elizabeth and her brother William and my three times great grandmother.   Let's begin with the 1850 US Census. George Cassidy is living in NY's enumeration district 2, ward #18, George is 31 years old, born in NY and his occupation is recorded as soda water. He is residing with Martha, who we assume is his wife. Martha is 26 years old and born in Ireland. The couple reside with William, age 5 and Betsey, less than one. Also, living with the family is John Williams, a 60 year old carpenter, born in Ireland.   The family remains intact in the 1855 NY State Census. They are residing in the 14th ward of enumeration district 1. George i