this is a story about finding certain answers in a cemetery that became the burial place for the 1st generation immigrants to physical place. Buried by those who used a certain cemetery, usually associated with a Church. The burial/headstones I found were part of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Arcade Wyoming County NY. To honor those of Irish descent in this cemetery, each stone paid homage to the home parish in Ireland, by having this information a researcher doing a family line will have location in Ireland by tracing the home parish location. One can presume that the names listed are the correct one, or the names used in the old country. Not sure how one would find the information online since my discovery was made through the information found at the Church, that the cemetery was used by the communicants of the Church
1st generation cemetery
July 10th, 2023Where are they 1790-1849
July 18th, 2023In the time frame listed above, one must first take into account that this was before record keeping was just starting. In the case of NY, counting people wasn’t there first goal, extabliching at the town and county level who owned various parcels of real property so that taxes levied on the land could be collected from the proper owners-living on the land with a proper deed to show proof of ownership or were absentee owners or lots were unclaimed or no owner could be identified. In NY a state law requiring town clerks (of those towns that had been created) were required from 1799-1804. Having deeds recorded where the original owner lived or at the county clerk’s office was required to be filed. Until recording things became law, if the owner and buyer had a copy of the title to property, and the seller agreed in writing to warrant and defend the buyers ownership of the land in perpetuity.
When the federal census was started 1790 and up through 1840, only the head of household was named. Those with the personso named was M or F and free or slave. It wasn’t until 1850 that that census became to count and name everyone in a given household. Babies young than 1 year old were usually listed as infant.
So between 1790 and 1840 the federal census has the surname of the one who was the head of household. Some censuses were taken by the state on the half decade. For those counties created at the time of the state census. Some have survived and some have not. People moved a lot, I have noticed this movement was basically to “earn there salt” or went to wherever prosperity seemed to have set up shop or where opportunity has beconded
Holland Land Company western ny land development
July 12th, 2023Holland land company records were digitized and now held by the library at SUNY Fredonia NY. They searchable online. It is quite a collection including maps, Deeds can be searched thru Genesee County deeds at family search.org-will be quite a search but may point you in the right direction..hope this helps
NY State censuses for
March 3rd, 2023Census-what you might learn
For NY interested genealogists only
1850 and ’55 census readouts for the town of elbridge, Onondaga County NY
Look up services for either of the two censuses
Small fee for the research
questions direct to-research@fingerlakeshousehistories.com
Church records when found can
January 18th, 2023Note year admitted
Can note be listed as either examined or admitted by letter
If admitted by letter the previous Church will establish good membership based on an examinatination ie. Baptised or from another previous Church. If admitted by letter, the Church will note that and the new member of the Church will most likely retain the letter
It can also include “dismissed” and to where if known
It can note- “dropped” or “suspended” this maybe because of a violation of Church rules
Date and place of death maybe noted
Maiden name followed by married name may show surname connections
If they are found at a main Church in there records, the content may note previous Church copies of the Member and Pastor list, it can also note book losses due to fires etc..
All in all an excellent source of non census information and maybe due the time frame involved my be the only surviving record of genealogical information
Land the history of NYS thru patents,grants and deeds
June 20th, 2022The 1st installment
The history of NY’s land exclusive NYC can be found in tracing and exploring the land.
Two very accurate and very useful maps are the 1829 Burr atlas of the state of NY and the 1895 Joseph Bien map of the state of NY.
The Burr Atlas has a collection of county maps based on those that had been erected by that date. While no names of any direct genealogical nature it does have lot numbers which delineated and showed those parcels that were surveyed for land development.
The Bein map, done in 1895 is the state as it was laid out at the time, with the added feature of laying out the grants, patents and the large tracts of land as they were created and sold. The location of each can help to find places where people settled as the land was populated.
There are other types of maps that can help to expand the research done using the two types mentioned above
These will be in the next post
Why we look- part one
June 2nd, 2021The answer to that question sees self explanatory
A better way to phrase it might be where do we look, and when we look, do we do it without preconceived outcomes (no they wont have exactly want what I need. Does paying for a site guarantee a successful outcome, some times yes and sometimes no. Is the subscription all inclusive? Has their reach gone far enough or do they miss things. Are there other subjects, that on the face of it reveal additional information that is not part of their search.
Stay tuned as we get into the meat of Where and not why
inquiry@fingerlakeshousehistories.com
Fingerlakeshousehistories
April 15th, 2021Welcome to my site
Curiosity, a roadblock or a question concerning your house, family or History (local or regional) brought you here.
I started this business in 2005, a volunteer stint doing research to support the interpretation of buildings (3) and the association of people (building, living in or the contribution of them) were the main goals.
Learned the research of things and people from the ground up.
In 2005 I converted my new found research skills into a business which mirrors the goals the museum gave me only this time my canvas is large chunks of upstate NY. Mostly centered on the Finger lakes, Central and Mohawk regions of the state.
If you think I might be able to answer or give some direction to or hacks to your projects please let me know.
Since a house cant be separated the those connected to it, I have learned a bit of genealogy.
The research is museum quality, but the price is not in the lawyer zip code.
Thanks for stopping by
Rick Porter
Finger lakes house histories, research@fingerlakeshousehistories.com
Church record
July 25th, 2020I have a list, from March 24,1869 from the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Oswegatchie, St Lawrence County, NY a list of the Church members who supplied money or loads of wood, to support the Minister for the year.
Can do lookups from the list or check for a specific name from the area, who may have joined the Church
Please use research@fingerlakeshousehistories.com and use Church in subject line thank you
Does the history of a residence or other building
October 9th, 2019Linked to those who built owned or now living in?
So my question is this kind of link actively pursued?
And why or why not?
Your thoughts…