This will be my entry for the theme of “Thankful” and it should become clear why I am thankful as this story unfolds. A few days ago I was finally able to do something that had long been on my genealogy wish list. My husband accompanied me to Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia to look…
Tag: Philadelphia
James Burton Evans – A Murder Story Halfway Told – 52 Ancestors 2015 #26
This is the halfway point for the 2015 edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I am proud that I have kept up with my posts so far this year. I did have a little help from guest bloggers Gary Barlow and Ingemar Nåsell and for that I offer them a big “thank you!” Since…
Moses McGaughey Senior – The Lucky Bible – 52 Ancestors 2015 #11
St. Patrick’s Day is approaching. My side of the family has 100% of its origins in Germany, at least in the last 150 years or so. For Irish roots, I have to turn to my husband’s family. Gary’s 2x great-grandfather on his paternal side was Moses McGaughey. Moses arrived in Philadelphia, PA, in 1825 aboard…
James Burton Evans – A Teen Stabbed on the Street in Philadelphia – 52 Ancestors #44
Entry #44 I have three historic newspaper subscriptions, and I try to search for ancestors and their offspring in the appropriate collections. Sometimes the news is disturbing. In the case of 15-year-old James Burton Evans, who was the son of Abner James Evans and Mary E. Brown Evans, it was fatal. The family tragedy of…
John Elliott – Burned to a Crisp – 52 Ancestors #37
Entry #37 John Elliot, my husband’s 3rd great grandfather, was the eldest child of Robert Elliott and his wife, Lillian (last name unknown). They were Irish immigrants who made the journey to relocate in Philadelphia from their native land in 1816. John was born sometime in the following year. On 24 April 1838, he married…
William Robert Sigmund – Wounded at Gettysburg – #52 Ancestors #29
Entry #29 July marked the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. I do not purport to be an expert on this battle or the Civil War in general. In fact, I find it a little intimidating to write about events that are so historically significant; however, I do feel that it is noteworthy to document…
Joseph Köhler – It’s Nice to Know You Better – #52 Ancestors #28
Entry #28 I am visiting family in Pennsylvania this week and staying with my mother-in-law. She has been telling my husband and I for a few months that she found boxes of “really old photos.” At my request, she dragged out the five boxes in her keeping. Mostly, I was disappointed. There are only a…
Henry O’Donnell – Died on the 4th of July (Heat Exhaustion) – 52 Ancestors #25
Entry #25 Henry O’Donnell was the husband of Sarah J. McGaughey, who was my husband’s 2nd great grandaunt and sister of Moses McGaughey Jr. Both Henry O’Donnell and Moses McGaughey Jr. were members of the Philadelphia police force, but at separate times. The two brother-in-laws were stone polishers prior to becoming police officers; perhaps they…
Michael Mick – Found Drowned – 52 Ancestors #17
Entry #17 Michael Mick is my husband’s 3rd great grandfather on his mother’s side of the family. There are a few mysteries about him that keep him in the forefront of my genealogical mind these days. Michael was the son of George W. Mick and Elizabeth Park. He was born about 1834 in Plainfield, New…
Anna Marie and Elisabeth Lang – When in Doubt, Test the DNA – 52 Ancestors #10
Entry #10 This is one of those serendipitous stories where truth is stranger than fiction. Allen Weirick and I met in the 10th grade through our mutual friend, Steve Tsou. We became part of a small group of friends that spent a lot of time together. This translates to having known one another for about…