99 Things Genealogy Meme Aussie Style

Better late than never!

Geniaus asked Aussie genealogy bloggers to continue this meme. Here is her post http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2011/09/99-things-genealogy-meme-aussie-style.html

The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicise
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

Here is my contribution.

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
2. Joined the Australian Genealogists group on Genealogy Wise
3. Transcribed records.
4. Uploaded headstone pictures to Find-A-Grave or a similar site.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents)
6. Joined Facebook.
7. Cleaned up a run-down cemetery.
8. Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group.
9. Attended a genealogy conference.
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
12. Joined the Society of Australian Genealogists.
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
17. Researched outside the state in which I live.
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants. 
19. Cold called a distant relative.
20. Posted messages on a surname message board.
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
22. Googled my name. (and those of ancestors and distant cousins)
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
29. Responded to messages on a message board.
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
31. Participated in a genealogy meme.
32. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
33. Performed a record lookup.
34. Took a genealogy seminar cruise.
35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
36. Found a disturbing family secret.
37. Told others about a disturbing family secret.
38. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
39. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
40. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person.
41. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure. 
43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
45. Disproved a family myth through research.
46. Got a family member to let you copy photos.
47. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
48. Translated a record from a foreign language.
49. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
51. Used microfiche.
52. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 
53. Used Google+ for genealogy.
54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors. 
55. Taught a class in genealogy.
56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents.
60. Found an ancestor on the Australian Electoral Rolls
61. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
62. Have found relevant articles on Trove.
63. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
64. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
65. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
66. Visited the National Library of Australia.
67. Have an ancestor who came to Australia as a ten pound pom.
68. Have an ancestor who fought at Gallipoli.
69. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
70. Can read a church record in Latin.
71. Have an ancestor who changed his/her name.
72. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
73. Created a family website.
74. Have a genealogy blog.
75. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
76. Have broken through at least one brick wall.
77. Done genealogy research at the War Memorial in Canberra.
78. Borrowed microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
79. Found an ancestor in the Ryerson index.
80. Have visited the National Archives of Australia.
81. Have an ancestor who served in the Boer War.
82. Use maps in my genealogy research.
83. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK. 
84. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
85. Visited the National Archives in Kew. 
86. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
87. Taken an online genealogy course.
88. Consistently cite my sources.
89. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors. 
90. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
91. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
92. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
93. Followed genealogists on Twitter.
94. Published a family history book (on one of my families).
95. Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
96. Offended a family member with my research.
97. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.
98. Have a paid subscription to a genealogy database.
99. Edited records on Trove.

Madness Monday - Working in a Lunatic Asylum

My 3x Gt Grandfather John Bull was a Storekeeper in a Lunatic Asylum, Melbourne Lodge on Lamb Lane just off the London Fields. When he wasn't at work he and his wife Sarah lived at 13 Exmouth Place, Hackney.

1841 English census taken 6 Jun 1841

There is reference to Melbourne Lodge in British History Online (about half-way down the page - use CTL-F to find it). I didn't realise it was a Lunatic Asylum until I received his death certificate from the GRO.

1843 Death Register of John Bull, Storekeeper in a Lunatic Asylum.

Tuesdays Tip - Baptisms at Grandfather's Church

Then, as now, families like to have a relative baptise the latest additions to the family. When it is grandfather performing the baptism then the family travels to grandfather's parish. I've recently transcribed some baptisms held at St Martin Outwich in the City of London and found these nice examples of a family having grandfather baptise the latest additions.

1. 19 Sep 1832, Beaumont Ellis s. of Beaumont Atkinson, gentleman, and Elizabeth (Ellis), South Grove, Hampstead, b. 15 July; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
2. 02 Aug 1835, Georgina Elizabeth, d. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), South Sea House, b. 21 July; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
3. 23 May 1837, John Joseph Ellis, s. of Beaumont Atkinson, gentleman, and Elizabeth (Ellis), South Grove, Hampstead, b. 20 April; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
4. 23 May 1837, Catharine Frances, d. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), South Sea House, b. 21 April; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
5. 20 Dec 1840, George Simpson, s. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), South Sea House, b. 16 Sep; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
6. 11 Jul 1842, Henrietta Jane, d. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), South Sea House, b. 6 June; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
7. 08 Jan 1844, Barbara Frances, d. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), 20 Dartmouth Terrace, Blackheath, b. 19 Nov 1843; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector
8. 08 Dec 1845, Helen Blanche, d. of George Stevenson Ellis, gentleman, and Barbara Frances (Simpson), 20 Dartmouth Terrace, Blackheath, b. 29 Oct; by J. J. Ellis, M.A., Rector 

Here is  The Rev John Joseph Ellis, M.A. record in the CCEd, the Clergy of the Church of England database. His son, George Stevenson Ellis, lived nearby at South Sea House but moved out to Blackheath and still returned to have his father perform the baptisms. His daughter Elizabeth (Ellis) Atkinson, lived in Hampstead and came into the city for her father to perform the baptisms.

Knowing the occupation of relatives can make all the difference in finding baptisms which don't appear in the home parish.

Black Sheep Sunday - Henry Tissott (Tissett) 1832 Pleading for Clemency (Part 1)

Following my previous post on  Henry Tissott 1832 Letter from Gaol Henry's father Joseph Tissott petitioned the court for clemency because he was only 13.

HO17/99 Petitions for Clemency

Petition SQ10

The humble petition of Joseph Tissot

Sheweth

That your Lordships humble Petitioner is the Father of Henry Tissott an unfortunate youth thirteen years of age now under Sentence of Death recorded in Stafford Gaol for aiding and assisting Elizabeth Banks seventeen years of age in Stealing and disposing of a cow, belonging to Henry Crutchley of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford.

Your Lordships humble Petitioner prayeth of your great goodness you will consider the feelings of a parent having but this Son and a daughter many miles from him left out of Seven children my said Son Henry Tissott has always been brought up with me under my own care untill Childlike he was enticed to leave me prior to the said Robbery.

Your Lordship’s Humble Petitioner therefore humbly prayeth that you may consider the prisoner’s tender years, and that this is the first and only charge ever brought against him, and that you of your great compassion will ameliorate the anguish of an afflicted parent Sixty one years of age over an unfortunate child

and be pleased to be as lenient with the prisoner as his case will admit and your Lordship’s humble Petitioner will as in duty bound ever pray

Joseph Tissott – his mark

Tuesday Tip - Non-traditional Baptisms

It's easy to forget that not everyone was baptised as a child or was baptised in their home parish. Hear are some examples I found while transcribing the baptismal registers of St Martin Outwich in the City of London.

• 10 May 1772 Jane Hermitage, a black girl, aged abt 14 years
• 14 Oct 1792 John Dilston, five years of age, s. of Richd and Deliana Powle
• 21 May 1799 John Love, a black adult 23 years old, servt to G. Booth Barrett Esq.
• 30 Nov 1800 Flora Jones, a native of the East Indies, about 18 years of age, living with John Jones Esq., of the Bengal Warehouse E[ast] I[ndia] House
• 22 Jan 1817 Henry Gompertz, an adult, a solicitor, Crown Ct., Threadneedle Street

St Martin Outwich 

Black Sheep Sunday - Henry Tissott (Tissett) 1832 in Stafford Gaol

My Great Grandfather Henry Tissott stole a cow when he was 13, was sentenced to death then had his sentence commuted to transportation for life (see my note below - got to make sure of the facts). Here is a letter he wrote his father from Stafford Gaol.

Letter from Henry Tissett in Stafford Gaol 1832

 

January 8^th Stafford Gaol 1832

Dear Farther

I now set down to writ a few lines hoping to find you in good health as it leaves me at the present considering my unfortunate situation.  Dear father Elizabeth Banks enticed me away from home and thold me that she had a cow at Wolverhampton and she told me she wanted me to take it to Birmingham market for she wanted me to cell it as I did not know beter but it was herowne and wen we had sold it she said she wold by me some sows but wen she had sold it she began to quarrel with me wen i was in bed and said to me how come you to steal the cow and I said to her you told me it was yours and I told the man at the house as she sent me from it and then the man of the house got up and went for the constable and had us both put into custordy and she told me if I  would tell the magaistrate as she had nothing to do with it and clear her she would go home to my father’s house and wen he was a sleep she wold kill him and bring me all is money to the prison. Dear father I hope you pleas either cord hav send to me on Thursday next and pleas to bring me a little bacon chees and buter and a little coffee and sugar and about 3 shillings in money as you may see me on Thursday or in Thursday or satarday. So no more at presant from your unfortunate son

H Tissart

I used the services of Pastfinders to get these records from the National Archives at Kew.

Sorting Saturday - Ignored Clues on scanned Birth Certificates

This is a follow-up to my previous post Sorting Saturday - BDM Certificates from Various Heaps .The BDM's I had to take to Kinko's, AKA Fed-Ex Office, are from Western Australia and just won't fit on my Canon CanoScan N1220U. When I first started in genealogy I didn't realise exactly how much there was on these certificates.

These West Australian Birth Certificates (from 1898-1906) have:

1. Number in Register
2. Child: When and where Born
3. Child: Name and whether present at registration or not
4. Sex
5. Father: Name and Surname, Rank or Profession, Age, and Birth-place
6. Father: When and Where married, Previous Issue living and deceased
7. Mother: Name and Maiden Surname, Age, and Birth-place
8. Informant: Signature, Description, and Residence of Informant
9. Witness: Name of Accoucheur, Nurse by whom certified, and Names of Occupiers or other Witnesses
10. Registrar: When registered and where
11. Registrar: Signature of District Registrar
12. Name, if added after the Regisration of Birth.
13. Certification that this is a true copy of the register kept in Western Australia

I had previously entered the obvious items into my Family Tree Maker files and now, after verifying I hadn't made an error, I took a look at the Informant And Witness columns.

The informant for my Uncle Harold in 1898 was his father (nothing new there). But his father Harry was listed as an occupier of the house where Harold was born. i.e. he was born at home. This also held true for my Aunt Evelyn's birth in 1901 and my Aunt Ida's birth in 1904.

I found I hadn't missed very much the first time around.

The indices (or indexes) for Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state of Western Australia can be found at WA Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages