International Jazz Day

First International Jazz Day, April 30th, 2012 - Flash mob of Cologne Jazz Musicians in front of the Cathedral of Cologne. Photo by Annamarie Ursula (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

 In 2011, the 36th UNESCO General Conference proclaimed April 30 as International Jazz Day. According to the United Nations International Jazz Day, April 30 Web page, International Jazz Day "is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people."

An All-Star Global Concert is held each year. This year's concert was held in Paris, France.

My cousin Steve Slagle is a professional jazz musician.

References
International Jazz Day, 30 April
International Jazz Day 2015
Proclamation of International Jazz Day

52 Ancestors: Week 17 "Prosper": Laura Ingeborg Olsen

According to "A Brief Story of the Boe (Bø) Family" by Melvin Brodshaug, in Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark, compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, Laura Ingeborg Olsen "moved to California in the 1940s and made successful investments in oil wells and goldmines, emulating her grandfather."

Laura Ingeborg Olsen was born on 5 May 1900 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Louis Henry Olsen and Carrie (Kari) Boe (my great-grandfather's sister). Her father's father, Louis Olsen, was a forty-niner. According to "A Brief Story of the Boe (Bø) Family," he mined $8,000.00 worth of gold and had it minted in Philadelphia.

Laura grew up in Minneapolis. In 1920, she worked as a cashier in a department store.

1920 United States census, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Ward 3, population schedule, enumeration district 238, sheet no. 4A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

On 6 November 1925 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, Laura married Lewis Gilmore Klefsaas, a school teacher. From 1925-1927, the couple lived in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. By 1929, they were living in Minneapolis.

Keiter Directory Co.'s Rochester and Olmsted County, Minnesota Directory 1927. Rochester, MN: Keiter Directory Co., 1927. Page 254. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Some time between 1938 and 1940, Laura and Lewis' marriage ended. Laura married John Mason O'Day, an oil driller, some time after 1942 (when his previous wife died). He was living in Maricopa, Kern County, California. Laura may have gone to California and met and married him there. It is also possible that they met elsewhere, though; John traveled frequently. He may have been the reason that she moved to California. John died in Kern County, California on 17 March 1947. Since John was an oil driller, I wonder if Laura inherited some of those investments in oil wells.

On 18 September 1948, Laura married Frank M. Withrow in Los Angeles, California. At the time of their marriage, Laura lived in Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles County, California. Frank worked in radio sales. He died in 1958.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8KT-BLG), Frank M. Withrow and Laura I. O'Day, 18 Sep 1948; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,116,805. Image edited (negative to positive).

On 12 May 1962, Laura married Frank Holman Cannon in San Diego, California. Frank was an engineer with RKO and Warner Brothers studios. He was chief engineer at Camp Pendleton for 22 1/2 years, and was a specialist in earthquake reconstruction. Frank died on 13 October 1983. At the time of his death, they were living in Fallbrook, San Diego County, California. Laura continued to live in Fallbrook until her death on 4 March 1992.

References
Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Boe!

My maternal grandfather John Boe was born 107 years ago today.

Mappy Monday: Moreton Bay and Moreton Island

Moreton Bay and Moreton Island. Screen shot from NASA WorldWind. Public domain. Available from Wikipedia.

This map shows Moreton Bay, located on the coast of Queensland, Australia, near Brisbane. My great-great-grandfather's brother Ola Peter Troedson arrived at Moreton Bay on 12 August 1871, on the Friedeburg, which had departed from Hamburg, Germany.

Moreton Island, the world's third largest sand Island, is on the eastern side of Moreton Bay.

Census Sunday: Mr. and Mrs. Sexy

I came across this census record, and the names of one couple caught my attention: J.N. Sexy and Mrs. Sexy. I thought that was an unusual surname!

1925 Census of Iowa. Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Bills of Sale Between Francis Hardgrave and His Descendants

I have summarized the below information about the slaves that my 6th-great-grandfather Francis Hardgrave sold or gave to his descendants. I have not seen the original deeds; the information is based on published transcriptions/abstracts.

On 7 April 1818, Francis Hardgrave sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave seven negro slaves named Phillis, Jurdon, Darkcus, Allen, Claborne, Colman, and Charles. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 8 April 1818, Francis Hardgrave sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave a negro boy named Green. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 19 October 1818, sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave a negro man named Stephen. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 1 May 1828, Francis Hardgrave gave and conveyed  a negro boy named Henry, about six years old, to his grandson Thomas Francis Hardgrave. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book P on 23 May 1828.

References
Smith, Mary Sue. Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H 1809-1821. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2000.
Smith, Mary Sue. Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book "P" Personal Property Deeds 15 November 1821 - 13 February 1829. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2010.

Friend of Friends Friday: Will of William Gower

My 5th-great-grandfather William Gower wrote his will on 1 March 1849. He died on 11 October 1851, and his will was recorded in the Davidson County, Tennessee Probate Court books on 23 April 1852.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 197. Available from FamilySearch.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 198. Available from FamilySearch.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 198. Available from FamilySearch.

I have transcribed the portions of the will which mention William Gower's slaves, as well as the list of his children near the end of the will.

[To his wife Charlotte Gower] Also for life the following Slaves. viz. Isaac a negro man and Rachael and Harriet negro Women.

Item 5 it is my  will and desire that at my death the residue of my perishable property be sold on a Credit of Twelve months and with any debts due me applied to the payment of debts and funeral expenses and the balance thereof together with the residue of my slaves not heretofore bequeathed be eaqually [sic] divided among all my Children and the children of Abel Gower deceased they representing their deceased Father and respect being had to the deductions heretofore directed to be made.

And it is intended that all my children viz. Lorenzo D. Gower, Peggy Gatlin, Mark B. Gower, Abel B. Gower's children, Wm T Gower, Charlotte T Russell, Sally Newsom, Lucy Shuster, James Gower, John H. Gower, Leonidas F. Gower, and Nancy C. Gower shall share eaqually [sic] in my estate including the advancement or deductions above mentioned.

Below are the slaves held by William Gower and his son Lorenzo Gower that were recorded in the 1850 United States Census slave schedule.

1850 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, slave schedule. Available from Ancestry.com. 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Thriller Thursday: John Gatlin Shot By Saloonkeeper

On 7 October 1916, my great-grandfather's brother John Reynold Gatlin was at Frank Morilli's saloon at 537 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, with several others. They caused some trouble and were thrown out of the saloon. John attempted to get back inside, but Frank Morilli was determined to keep him out: he shot John in the right leg!

Chicago Tribune, 8 October 1916, page 4

Wordless Wednesday: Hotzenwald

Talented Tuesday: Will Loftin Hargrave, Composer and Author

Will Loftin Hargrave, the son of my 5th-great-grandmother's brother Skelton Hardgrave, was an author and composer. The Library of Congress has sheet music for several songs that he composed.

There liv'd on the banks of a smooth flowing river [sheet music]. Library of Congress Peforming Arts Encyclopedia.

Wait for the wagon [sheet music]. Library of Congress Performing Arts Encyclopedia.

His compositions "There Liv'd on the Banks of a Smooth Flowing River" and "Wait for the Wagon" were published in 1851.

Old Bob Ridley [sheet music]. Library of Congress Performing Arts Encyclopedia.

His composition "Old Bob Ridley" was published in 1853. It was performed by Kunkel's Nightingale Opera Troupe.

Wallannah: A Colonial Romance. Internet Archive.

His book Wallannah: A Colonial Romance was published by B. F. Johnson Publishing Company in 1902 (twenty years after his death.) The book is set in New Bern, North Carolina.

Kinston Journal (Kinston, North Carolina), 13 November 1879, page 2

Goldsboro Messenger (Goldsboro, North Carolina), 15 January 1883, page 1

Semi-Weekly Messenger (Wilmington, North Carolina),11 March 1902, page 4

References

Old Bob Ridley [sheet music]
There liv'd on the banks of a smooth flowing river [sheet music]
Wait for the wagon [sheet music]
Wallannah: A Colonial Romance (East Carolina University Digital Collections)
Wallannah: A Colonial Romance (Internet Archive)

Mappy Monday: Map of Kentucke, 1784

Map of Kentucke. From The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke, by John Filson (1784). Public domain. Available from DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska-Lincoln and  Wikimedia Commons.

This 1784 map by John Filson is the first known map of Kentucky. Filson dedicated the map to the United States Congress and to George Washington.

My Hardgrave ancestors came to Lincoln County, Kentucky around 1795. My 5th-great-grandparents Hannah Hardgrave and Andrew Russell married in Lincoln County in 1799, and afterward lived in Pulaski County, which was created out of Lincoln and Green Counties.

Census Sunday: Errors in 1870 United States Census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee

The 1870 United States census records for the 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, contain errors. My 3rd-great-grandparents Joseph and Amanda (Russell) Tarkington (spelled Tarington in the census record) appear to be in a household headed by Mary Ann Clardy. The next household appears to be headed by my 4th-great-grandmother Sobrina Russell (Amanda's mother). She lived with Amanda and Joseph in 1860.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. 

Close up:

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 9. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Close up:

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 9. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

By looking closely at the other families on the census pages, it becomes apparent that the enumerator recorded the dwelling and family numbers on the wrong line; they should have been written on the line below. In many households, some children appear to be in different households than their parents. Several households appear to be headed by babies less than a year old.

The below image shows households that appear to be headed by Nancy Fleming, age 4/12; James M. Gardner, age 9/12; William Hulme, age 3; and Ransom J. Dudley, age 1.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 2. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

The error begins on the first page of the census for the 7th Civil District, but there is another problem as well: dwelling 1, family 1 begins on line 12 of the census page.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 1. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

52 Ancestors: Week 16 "Live Long": Walter Floyd Boe

The Week 16 theme for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors Challenge is "Live Long". One ancestor that came to mind was my great-grandmother Ellen Victoria (Dahlquist) Anderson (8 September 1886 - 26 April 1986), who lived to the age of 99. But since I have already written about her, I  decided to write about another relative who also lived to the age of 99: Walter Floyd Boe, my maternal grandfather's half-brother.

Walter Floyd Boe was born on 5 June 1901 in Minnesota. He was the son of my great-grandfather John Boe and his first wife Signe Olson. On 31 August 1901, Walter was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Benson, Swift County, Minnesota.

Baptism, Walther Floyd Boe. 31 August 1901. Trinity and Our Savior's Lutheran, Benson, Minnesota. Ministerial records, combined, 1900-1917. Available from Ancestry.com. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

By 1905, the Boe family was living in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa.

Iowa state census, 1905. Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. 

Shortly afterward, Walter's parents separated. He, his mother, and his sisters Lillian and Gladys were in California by 1914, when his half-sister Vivian Brazier was born in Tehama County. His half-sister Cecil Brazier was born in Butte County, California in 1916.

In 1920, Walter and his mother and sisters were living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. Walter was using the surname Brazier. He was working as a machinist.

1920 United States census, Stockton Ward 3, San Joaquin County, California, population schedule, enumeration district 173, sheet no. 18B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

On 24 December 1929, Walter married Vilo Ulala Christiansen in Los Angeles, California. They were married by Bishop Albin Hoglund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At the time of their marriage, Walter worked as a locomotive fireman for the Southern Pacific Railway.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NY-WRV), Walter Floyd Boe Brazier and Vilo Ulala Christensen, 24 Dec 1929; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,770.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29942-4027-43?cc=1804002), Walter Floyd Boe Brazier and Vilo Ulala Christensen, 24 Dec 1929; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,770.

In 1930, Walter and Viola lived in Los Angeles with Vilo's mother, Emma (Jones) Christiansen. Walter was working as a locomotive engineer.

1930 United States census, Los Angeles City, Ward 13, Los Angeles County, California, population schedule, enumeration district 19-764, sheet 12A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

In 1931, Walter's listing in the Los Angeles city directory indicated that he was an engineer in the Garfield Building.

Los Angeles, California City Directory, 1931. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011

By 1939, Walter and Vilo were living in Fresno, California with Walter's mother and half-sister Cecil.

Polk's Fresno (California) City Directory, 1939.Los Angeles, CA: R. L. Polk & Co. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

By 1940, Walter and Vilo were living in Chowchilla, Madera County, California, and had had two of their daughters. Two more daughters were born later. Walter was working as an electrical engineer at a creamery.

1940 United States census, Chowchilla, Madera County, California,population schedule, enumeration district 20-1, sheet no. 1B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Walter eventually returned to his birth surname, Boe. He and his family moved to Butte, Chico County, California. In 1983, he was listed in the city directory as a junk collector.

1983 Chico (Butte County, Calif.) City Directory. R. L. Polk & Co. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Walter's wife Vilo died on 19 August 1990. Walter died on 15 February 2001. They are buried in Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, Butte County, California.

 Photo by Adriana at Find A Grave

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940

The records of the Evangelican Lutheran Church of America, 1875-1940, are now available on Ancestry.com. This is great news for me, because I have many Swedish and Norwegian ancestors who attended Lutheran churches. The records have been available on Archives.com for a couple of years, but I could never figure out a way to search only that collection, or to browse images without first doing a search and viewing a record. Since Scandinavians may be listed under patronymics or surnames (in the case of Norwegians, they often used the name of their farm in Norway), and there are so many people with the same patronymics, it is useful to be able to browse the records for areas where ancestral families lived. I know that this collection contains records for some of my Norwegian relatives in Minnesota. I hope to be able to find more records.

Thriller Thursday: Robbed, Beaten, and Thrown Out of Car

On 1 October 1914, my great-grandfather's brother John Reynold Gatlin began a drive from Chicago, Illinois to Indiana, where his (and my great-grandfather's) older sister Mary Florence (Gatlin) Pate lived. His friend Charles Harris accompanied him on the trip. Two other men that Charles Harris knew joined them while they were still in Chicago. When they were near Lafayette, Indiana, John was beaten by the three men and thrown out of the car. In addition to the car, the men stole a diamond stud and $103.

I suspect that there may be more to the story. John had been in trouble with the law before.

The car belonged to John's brother-in-law William K. Wells. I am still trying to determine how the two men were connected. John's older sister was married to Downie Campbell Pate. His other sister Anna was married to Frank Joseph Smith at that time. In 1920, John was enumerated in the United States census with his apparent wife Ermer, but her age was given as 21. He had at least two subsequent marriages. On his World War I draft registration card, John stated that he was single. William K. Wells' sister could be an unidentified wife.

Indianapolis Star, 3 October 1914, page 4

Tax Day

Since 1955, April 15 has been Tax Day. Federal income taxes began during the Civil War, when  the Revenue Act of 1861 was passed. The Revenue Act was repealed in 1871. The first peacetime income tax was imposed in 1894, when the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act was passed. One year later, the Supreme Court ruled that the tax was unconstitutional in Pollock v. Farmers' Loan and Trust Company. The Sixteenth Amendment (passed on 2 July 1909 and ratified on 3 February 1913) gave the United States Congress the right to impose a federal income tax. From 1913 10 1918, the deadline for filing tax returns was March 1. It was then changed to March 15. In 1955, April 15 became the deadline.

Other taxes have been collected in the United States since colonial times. In 1800, my 5th-great-grandfather Andrew Russell was listed as a taxpayer in Pulaski County, Kentucky. He was the only white male over 21 in his household. (He had married my 5th-great-grandmother Hannah Hardgrave a year earlier.) He had two horses.

1800 Tax List, Pulaski County, Kentucky. Pulaski County (Kentucky). Tax Assessor. Tax books 1799-1822. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Historical Society, 1952-1953. Family History Library microfilm 8209.

In 1811, my 6th-great-grandfather Francis Hardgrave (the father of Hannah, Andrew Russell's wife) was listed as a taxpayer in Davidson County, Tennessee.

1811 Tax List, Davidson County, Tennessee. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Early Tax Lists of Tennessee. Microfilm, 12 rolls. The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

References
April 15: More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Tax Day
A Century of Income Taxes: The History of Tax Day
History of the US Income Tax 
Lincoln imposes first federal income tax
Pollock v. Farmers' Loan and Trust Company
Revenue Act of 1861
16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Federal Income Tax (1913)
United States Taxation
Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Gatlin!

My paternal grandfather Henry Cornelius Gatlin was born 105 years ago today.

Amanuensis Monday: Joseph S. Tarkington's Southern Claims Commission Claim: Cross-Examination of Witness, Alfred Smith

When Joseph S. Tarkington filed Louisiana claim #12265 with the Southern Claims Commission, another of his witnesses was his former slave Alfred Smith. I do not know if Alfred was related to Joseph's other former slave who testified, Jack Smith. Alfred's cross-examination is transcribed below.

Cross-examined by the Commissioner - Witness answers as follows:

My name is Alfred Smith, I am 40 or thereabout. I live in New Orleans and am engaged as fire-man on a Mississippi river boat. I was born a slave of the claimant and lived with him until the end of the war. I do believe that the claimant always had been a strong Union man, during the war I have often heard him talk against the Confederacy and say he did not want anything to do with it and would not be mixed up with it. I have heard men threaten to whip the claimant and drive him out of the parish on account of his Union sentiments, and for a long time he could not go to town for fear of these threats being executed. The claimant and his wife often gave United States soldiers food, milk, &c. but he never gave the Confederates anything at all - they were too much against him. I used often to go to Franklin with the claimant and the people would beset him to join them in Secession and threaten to whip him if he did not, but he would always refuse and take no part at all in the fuss. One time I remember of they were going to cow-hide him because he would not join them and had he stood they would have whiped [sic] him, he ran away manfully jumped into his skiff and went home. I feel sure that the claimant never could prove loyalty to the Confederacy if the same had been maintained as a separate government because of the reasons I have already expressed. I have no interest in this claim at all.                   
                                                               his
                                                    Alfred  X  Smith
                                                             mark

 Sworn before me this 25th day of June 1872
                                              Wm. Grant
                                              Special Comm

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Cross-examination of witness, Alfred Smith, 25 June 1872; Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Available from Fold3.

Halifax Resolves

Halifax Resolves plaque, North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh, North Carolina. Photo by Daderot [Public domain], 5 October 2011. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

On 12 April 1776, the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress authorized North Carolina's delegates to the Second Continental Congress (Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn) to vote for independence. This action was the first to call for independence. It was directed to all the colonies and their delegates at the Continental Congress. Because the Fourth Provincial Congress met in Halifax, North Carolina, the action became known as the Halifax Resolves.

References
Halifax Resolves
The Halifax Resolves (North Carolina History: A Digital Textbook)
Halifax Resolves (North Carolina Manual)
Historic Halifax: Halifax and the Revolution
North Carolina Advocates Independence

52 Ancestors: Week 15 "How Do You Spell That?": James Mapplebeck

James Mapplebeck, the second husband of my great-great-grandmother Catherine Elizabeth Winters and the adoptive father of his stepchildren (my great-grandmother Kathleen Graham and her brother Garfield), had an uncommon surname. At times that has been advantageous. For example, it would have been much more difficult to find the newspaper articles about my great-grandmother and the father of her oldest child (whose name had been previously been unknown to me) if she had been using her birth surname instead of her adoptive surname. However, sometimes finding members of this family can be challenging, because the surname has been spelled many different ways in records. The first part of the name is pronounced "Maple." (I learned this from my family, and it explains why I have often found the name spelled with only one p in records.)

The Mapplebeck family came from Rawcliffe, Yorkshire, England. The name is usually spelled Mapplebeck in British records. Some examples from FamilySearch include the indexed baptismal record of James' father George Mapplebeck, the indexed marriage record of George Mapplebeck and his first wife Mary Stephenson, and the indexed baptismal record of George and Mary's son William Mapplebeck (James' half-brother). But in Canada and the United States, I have found many different spellings. In the 1851 Census of Canada, George, Mary, and William were enumerated in York County, Canada West (Ontario) with the surname Maplebeck. In the 1861 agricultural census of Canada, George was enumerated in Minto Township, Wellington, Canada West with the surname Mappelbeck. James may have been born in Minto Township. According to his death certificate, he was born on 29 December 1858. George purchased land in Minto Township in the mid-1850s.

In 1871, the Mapplebeck family lived in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. The 1871 Census of Canada enumeration is the first one that I have located for James. The family surname is spelled Mapplebeck in the census record. When James' father George died on 15 May 1878, his surname was spelled Maplebeck.

In the early 1880s, James, his brother George, and his mother Jane moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. James and his brother worked as glassblowers. In the 1883 Lovell's Montreal Directory, all three family members appear in the alphabetical directory with the surname Mappleback, and in the street directory with the surname Mapplebeck. James married my great-great-grandmother Catherine Elizabeth Winters on 20 November 1885. His surname was spelled Mapplebeck in the record from St. Mary's Church in Hochelaga. He became a father to Elizabeth's two children Kathleen and Garfield, from her marriage to James Graham. They used his surname until they were adults. (Kathleen took the surname Walker after the birth of her first child, and used her married name, Boe, after her marriage to John Boe. Garfield returned to his birth surname, Graham, when he was in his mid-20s.)

In the 1891 Census of Canada, James' surname was written as MapleBack. In FamilySearch's and Ancestry.com's index to the 1891 Census of Canada, his name appears as Back James Mapleback. The Mapplebeck family moved to Alton, Madison County, Illinois, where James worked as a glassblower for the Illinois Glass Company. His mother Jane, sister Sarah, and brother George moved to Camden, New Jersey. His half-brother William Mapplebeck lived with his wife and children in Hamilton, Ontario.

By 1898, James had moved to San Francisco, California, where he worked as a glassblower for San Francisco & Pacific Glass Works. His surname was spelled Mappelbach in the 1898 and 1899 San Francisco city directories. His wife and her children remained in Alton, Illinois.

By 1900, James had moved to Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. His surname was spelled Mapplebeck in the 1900 United States Census. He lived in a household headed by a man named N. P. Ohaver. He and J. J. Barfield, age 15, were both listed as "Partner." He was listed as a glassblower.

In 1910, James lived in Alabama, Sacramento County, California. He worked as a teamster in a vineyard. In the 1910 United States Census, his surname was spelled Mapplibeck.

In 1914, James Mapplebeck was listed in the Index to Precinct Register, Yuba County, California. He was listed in the Far West District, He lived in Wheatland, was a farmer, and was a Republican.

I have not been able to locate James in the 1920 or 1930 United States censuses. His death certificate suggests (based on length of residence in California, 47 years) that he continuously lived in California after he arrived in the late 1890s. Perhaps his surname is badly misspelled in the census records.

In 1934, James Mapplebeck was on the list of registered voters in Sacramento County, California. He was a laborer in Sacramento, and was a Republican.

In 1936, James Mapplebeck was listed in the Sacramento city directory as a resident of Home for Aged. In the 1940 United States census, James was listed as a resident of Home for the Aged in San Joaquin, Sacramento County, California. He was enumerated with the surname Maplepeck.

James died of bronchial pneumonia in Sacramento County Hospital on 7 September 1946. He was buried in Sacramento County Cemetery.

So many spellings! 

Lovell's Montreal Directory, For 1883-1884, Containing an Alphabetical Directory of the Citizens, Street Directory, an Advertisers Classified Business Directory, and a Miscellaneous Directory, to which is added Directories of Coteau St. Louis, Coteau St. Pierre, Cote des Neiges, Cote St. Antoine, Cote St. Luc, Cote St. Paul, Cote Visitation, Hochelaga, Lachine, Laprairie, Long Point, Longueuil, Mount Royal Avenue, Mount Royal Vale, Notre Dame de Grace, Outremont, St. Jean Baptiste Village, St. Lambert, St. Louis of Mile End, Town of St, Cunegonde, Town of St. Henry, Verdun, and Village of St. Gabriel. Corrected to June 16th, 1883. Montreal: John Lovell & Son. Available from  Ancestry.com. Canada, City and Area Directories, 1819-1906 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

St. Mary's Church, Hochelaga, Quebec, Canada. Marriage of James Mapplebeck and Elizabeth Winters, 20 November 1885. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. Available from Ancestry.com. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

1891 Census of Canada, Ste Marie Ward, Montréal Centre, Quebec, district 172, page 1, family 5. Available from Ancestry.com. 1891 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

J. P. Hodge and Sons' Directory of the City of Alton, North Alton and Upper Alton, 1895-1896. Alton, IL: J. P. Hodge & Sons. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory for Year Commencing May 1898. San Francisco: H. S. Crocker Company, 1898. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1910 United States census, Alabama, Sacramento County, California, population schedule, enumeration district 87, supervisor's district 2, sheet no. 5A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. 

Index to Precinct Register, Yuba County [California], 1914. General Election November 3. Page 16. Available from Ancestry.com. California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

1940 United States census, San Joaquin, Sacramento County, California, population schedule, Home for the Aged, sheet no. 2B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.