Tracing women in early 19th century history can often be a difficult process. Women often didn’t exist except in the context of their wifely status. Such is the case of Sally Ann (unknown) Darling. She is only mentioned in a couple documents that I have found, so far. I first encountered her name when I found the obituary of her son, Rufus Holton Darling, which mentioned that he is the son of Abner and Sally Darling. I also traced her husband, Abner Darling. That search yielded his will, which made Sally Ann the executrix. It mentions nothing other than her name. It doesn’t even mention the names of their children. In court, men attested to the validity of the will and it doesn’t appear that she ever addressed the court. The 1840 Census shows that Rufus H Darling is living at the same location (based on neighbors) that Abner Darling lived at before. Living with him was an older woman that I presume is Rufus’s mother – Abner’s wife – Sally Ann. Sadly, that is about the extent of what I have learned about Sally Ann.
Bio – Sally Ann (Unknown) Darling (c. 1780-aft 1840?)
1780 – Birth – The 1840 Census infers that she was 50-59 years old suggesting a birth year of 1780-1790. The 1830 Census infers that she was 40-49 years old also.
1820 – Appears to be living with husband, Abner Darling, and 7 children in Paris, New York.[i]
1830 – Appears to be living with husband, Abner Darling, and 8 children in Clarkson, New York.[ii]
1839 – Sally’s husband Abner dies. She is made executrix of the will and inherits everything. She is living in Clarkson, New York.[iii]
1840 – Apparently living with son, Rufus H Darling, and four other children in Clarkson, New York. [iv]
I have been unable to find Sally in the 1850 Census.
· I am further researching for Rufus Holton Darling’s siblings. Hopefully, results of that search will provide additional information or clues regarding Sally Ann.
· Third cousins on the Darling DNA profile would share Abner and Sally Ann as common ancestors to my mother-in-law. Following clues there may help open this new brick wall.
ENDNOTES & SOURCES
[i] 1820 Census; New York, Oneida, Paris, Page 267 – Abner Darling; Ancestry.com
[ii] 1830 Census; New York, Monroe, Clarkson, Page 271 – Abner Darling; Ancestry.com.
[iii] New York Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999; Monroe – Wills, Vol 002, 1835-1841, Pages 329-331 (362-364 of 513); Abner Darling. Ancestry.com. Also, see the transcript.
[iv] 1840 Census; New York, Monroe, Clarkson, Page 177 – Rufus H Darling.; Ancestry.com.
One of the big genealogical research problems relates to making the jump between 1900 and 1880. Without the 1890 Census, it can often be difficult to make the leap and it seems like a wall that needs to be overcome. Sometimes there is a gate that takes you past the wall, sometimes the gate is locked. Such is the case with my Hatfield project.
Arthur R Hatfield was born in May 1865 in Indiana.[i] The Census indicates that both his parents were born in Indiana as well and that is all we know. No parents’ names, or anything else.
Arthur married Rebecca Leona Crawford on 29 Mar 1893 in Holt County, Missouri.[ii] Leona, as she was known, was born in Holt County. The couple lived in Holt County through the births of their first two sons Clyde Raymond Hatfield (1894-1959) and Guy C. Hatfield (1875-1964.
Unfortunately, I have been unable to use census or other records available on-line to determine his parents. That means back to the not-on-line resources. First, we’ll order a death certificate from Nebraska and see if that yields any information. Next, we try to order a marriage certificate from Missouri and see if that yields any information. Either way, we are off the internet using “old school” methods. Here is what I think I know about Arthur Hatfield.
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RH12 – Arthur R Hatfield (1865-1931)
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 7
Arthur R Hatfield was born in May 1865 in Indiana[iii]. He died in 1931[iv]. When he was 27, he married Rebecca Leona Crawford, daughter of Charles Crawford and Margaret Rebecca Collins, on 29 Mar 1893 in Holt, Missouri, USA[v].
Arthur R Hatfield was enumerated, in the 1900 Census, being in Wakefield, Dixon County, Nebraska.)[vi]. Hew was the head of the household, a farmer renting his farm. He could read, write, and speak English. With him are his wife their two boys, Clyde and Guy.
During the 1910 Census he lived in Daily, Dixon County, Nebraska. He was the Head of the household and married. With are his wife and two sons. Also living in the house hold are a border, Lura Harrington, and a hired man, Silas Foster. I can’t tell if they moved between 1900 and 1910. Wakefield and Daily, Nebraska, are only about 15 miles apart and there are no towns between them. I’ll need to do a neighbor analysis to determined if they moved. In any event, Arthur was a farmer and renting his farm.[vii]
I have been unable to find Arthur in the 1920 Census. His wife, Leona, is living with their son, Guy, in Dry Creek, Pierce County, Nebraska. With them are a niece and a nephew of Guy, Leona and Albert Crawford.[viii]
The 1930 Census shows Arthur and Leona living together again in North Dry Creek, Pierce County, Nebraska. Again, he is the head of the household who is farming on a rented farm. Living with Arthur and Leona is a hired hand, Harry(?) Bau.[ix]
Pleasant View Cemetery
Plainview, Pierce County, Nebraska
Photo by JimW via Find-a-Grave
Arthur R Hatfield died in 1931. He was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Plainview, Pierce County, Nebraska[x]. We have ordered a copy of his death certificate to confirm the date and place.
Children
Arthur R Hatfield and Rebecca Leona Crawford had the following children:
1. Clyde Raymond Hatfield was born on 04 Jan 1894 in Mound City, Holt, Missouri, USA.[xi] He died on 06 Apr 1959 in Plainview, Pierce, Nebraska, USA (in a hospital.)[xii]. He married Ruth Barrett between 04 Jan 1912-05 Jun 1917.[xiii]
2. Guy C Hatfield was born on 08 Aug 1895 in Missouri, USA[xiv]. He died in 1957 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.[xv] He did marry a Mildred, surname unknown, date unknown.[xvi]
Further Actions
Order death certificate for Arthur R Hatfield. (Underway.)
Order marriage certificate for Arthur R Hatfield and Rebecca Leona Crawford.
Do a “neighbor analysis” to determine if Arthur & Leona moved between 1900 and 1910 or if the change of location was due to census districting.
[vii] 1910 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com , Year: 1910; Census Place: Daily, Dixon, Nebraska; Roll: T624_842; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0081; FHL microfilm: 1374855.
[viii] 1920 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010), Ancestry.com , Year: 1920; Census Place: Dry Creek, Pierce, Nebraska; Roll: T625_995; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 177; Image: 439.
[ix] 1930 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2002), Ancestry.com Year: 1930; Census Place: North Dry Creek, Pierce, Nebraska; Roll: 1290; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0011; Image: 96.0; FHL microfilm: 2341025.
[xiii] United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA, Clyde Raymond Hatfield . https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:29J2-5Q1.
[xiv] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2005), Registration State: Nebraska; Registration County: Pierce; Roll: 1711766.
[xv] U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Guy C Hatfield .
[xvi] 1930 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2002), Ancestry.com Year: 1930; Census Place: North Dry Creek, Pierce, Nebraska; Roll: 1290; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0011; Image: 96.0; FHL microfilm: 2341025.
[Sometimes you just have to skip a generation in your research to find the answer to the question. If you do so, it is important to have a clear reason and a clear explanation of how any why you skipped the generation. Such is the case for my Blanchard study. The family oral story was that the Blanchards have been in Maine “forever.” I was asked to find out exactly when they came to Maine.]
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My search began with Edward E Blanchard, who married Priscilla Newcomb in 1925. I then began following him and his ancestors back in time. In 1920, he was living with his widowed mother and four siblings in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.
Further research found that his father Frederick W Blanchard died in 1918.
In 1910, the 9-year-old Edward was living with his parents, Frederick W and Minnie Blanchard in South Portland, Maine.
In 1900, Frederick is living in South Portland with his wife Minnie and three of his children. (Edward hadn’t been born yet.)
In 1887, Frederick and Minnie were married. It was Minnie’s first marriage, but Frederick’s second marriage.
The 1880 Census was particularly difficult to interpret. Frederick was living with his uncle, Charles H. Blanchard and his Charles’s wife Miranda. Also living in the household was Elizabeth Blanchard, a 79-year-old widow who is listed as a “boarder.” Next door, is 81-year-old Myra Blanchard. Of course, both Charles and Myra are listed as “Head” of their respective households. Sadly, the 1880 census is the first census which identifies the relationships of people in a household to the Head and the 1870 census won’t shed any more light on to the relationships.
The 1870 Census shows the Charles H Blanchard household including his wife Miranda, 4-year-old Fred, and three other children. Also living with them is 70-year-old Elizabeth.
The 1860 Census shows Charles and Miranda living in Cumberland, Maine, apparently with three children. Next Door to them is Cyrus and Elizabeth Blanchard with a 16-year-old boy, Melville G Blanchard, who I tentatively assume to be their son.
Looking closer at Cyrus Blanchard’s life, he was apparently married three times. First to Apphiah Young in 1816, Apphiah died in 1841. His second marriage was to Sarah Staples. Sarah died in 1848. His third marriage was to Elizabeth Mills. This would be the Elizabeth we see him with in 1860. It also fits the age of the Elizabeth in the household of Charles H Blanchard in 1870 and 1880. Elizabeth would be Charles’s step-mother.
Cyrus and Elizabeth also show up in the 1850 Census with what appear to be four children. Charles, Nancy, Albion, and Sarah.
So, if, in fact, Frederick’s uncle is Charles and Charles’ father is Cyrus, then Frederick’s grandfather must be Cyrus. We may not know the name of Frederick’s father, which might be Melville, Albion, or something entirely different, but we do know his grandfather’s name.
I believe that Cyrus was born in 1791 in old North Yarmouth, Cumberland County, (Maine) and that his father was Ebenezer Blanchard, born 1760 in Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. So, Ebenezer would be the first of Edward Blanchard’s direct ancestors to live in Maine.
There is more research to do. The leap of faith between Frederick and Cyrus need much more to confirm. Also, there were many other Blanchards in Cumberland County long before Ebenezer came to Cumberland County. There was a Samuel Blanchard who sold ¼ of an island in Casco Bay to an Ebenezer Blanchard in 1762. Also, according to the 1870 census to the agricultural schedule, there were 7 farmers with the surname Blanchard farming in Cumberland Center, Cumberland County. Basically, you can hardly turn around without encountering another Blanchard in Cumberland Center or Yarmouth; there are hundreds of them. So, lots more research to do on this family.
Oh, by the way, it appears that Ebenezer was the son of Daniel Blanchard born 1727 in Weymouth, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, a known patriot of the Revolution.[i]
My primary reason for genealogical research is to get to know someone, an ancestor. Often the ancestor is mine or my wife’s but occasionally the ancestor is a friend’s or, not nearly often enough, a client. Census records are a key starting point to know an ancestor. Census records also situate the individual in time and place, which then provides a context for other searching and getting to know the ancestor. Information about my presentation, “Getting to Know You: Ancestors through Genealogy” is on my website.
I like to use Ancestry.com as my baseline regarding an individual. Many of their collections include images, which make validation of the transcriptions easier. Family Search is also an excellent resource. Because of indexing quirks, sometimes you can find an ancestor on one system and not the other. Family Search also has many of the Census records images available through them at no charge. For census records that they don’t have the image for, Family Search often directs you to the images on Ancestry or Fold3. What is really cool is you can save records you find, when the image is not available from Family Search, to a personal Source Box (you need a free account with Family Search). Later, you can visit your local library, most of whom have access to the Library Edition of Ancestry.com and/or Library access to Fold 3, access your Family Search account, then access your source box. From there you should be able to select the images you have been wanting, download them to a thumb drive and have the images you desire. Personally, I find having an Ancestry.Com account well worth the expense and I recommend getting one. If you are an AARP member and want an Ancestry.com account, CALL Ancestry and tell them you want the one-time AARP Member discount. If you haven’t used the discount already, you can use it for a renewal too.
I find it difficult to write about an ancestor I’ve never known, nor met in person, when there are many other people who knew the ancestor in life. With the exception of the photo, the below story of Essie Pansy Barnes Roberts is based almost entirely on what I have found on Ancestry.com. My goal was to follow Essie through all the Censuses during her life and then fill in some details based upon stumble on finds on Ancestry (got to love those shaky leaves). Next time I’ll use what I learned here and use social media, scour newspapers, and search other sources for relevant information to fill in the texture of her life, but here are the basics of Essie’s life.
RB05 – Essie Pansy Barnes Roberts (1903-1982)
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 6
Essie Barnes Roberts aka “Gran”
to her many grandchildren.
Photo courtesy of granddaughter.
Essie Pansy Barnes was born on 15 March 1903 in Graysville (Turman Township, Sullivan County) Indiana.[i] She died on 20 November 1982 in Mount Clemens (Macomb, Michigan), aged 79[ii].
She is the daughter of Joel Clinton Barnes(1857-1921), and Marada Mae Lister, (aka Marady, May, Morady, & Maranda)(1867-1932).
The 1900 Census indicates that before she was born, her mother, Marada, had three children before 1900. One was John Lister, whose father is unknown. One was an older brother, Ray, whose father was Joel Barnes. The third child was born and died before 1900. It is unclear of that child was Joel’s of if he or she had a different father. [iii]
Likewise, her father had three children by another wife, Sarah Josephine Conner. The children were Flora, Flava, and Anna/Alma. Flava was born in 1881 and died in 1882. This set the stage for Essie’s birth in 1903.
1910 Census indicates 7-year-old Essie living in Turman Township, Sullivan County, Indiana with her father, mother, paternal half-sister Anna, maternal half-brother John A, Lister, older brother Ray, and younger sister Mabel. Essie was attending school. The 1910 Census also indicates that her mother had six children, four of which were living. The implication of this is that Marada had another child between 1900 and 1910 that had died.[iv]
1920 Census indicates the 16-year-old Essie living in Turman Township, Indiana with father, mother, brother Ray, and sister Mabel Bessie. Essie was attending school.[v]
In May, 1922, Essie married Bert Allen Roberts(1903-1949), son of Hugh Ellis Roberts(1884-1908) and Clora D Scott [roberts] [adams](1884-?) in Sullivan County, Indiana[vi]. Her marriage registration indicates that her father was dead. Subsequent research found that her father, Joel, died in 1921. The registration also indicates she was living in Graysville, which is an unincorporated community in Turman Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, the same place she was born.
The 1930 Census finds the young couple thirty miles to the north renting a home at 613 North 15th Street in Terre Haute, Indiana. Bert is working in construction as a plumber’s helper. Their oldest child Pansy is attending school. Their oldest son, Bert and their twins, Hugh and Helen, and Essie’s 63-year-old mother, Marada (“May” in the Census) round out the household.[vii] Marada died in 1932.
Ancestry.Com’s City Directories for Terre Haute show the Bert and Essie living at 354 Chestnut in 1934 and 1936. [viii][ix]
The 1940 Census finds the family living at 1719 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute. Because they are living at the “same place” as in 1935, it appears that they moved up Chestnut Street and didn’t have the street renumbered.
Their oldest daughter is listed in the 1940 Census as “Penny” and not Pansy. She is 17 years old and attending high school.
Bert Junior is 15 years old and also attending high school.
The twins, Helen & Hugh, are 13-years-old and are attending grade school (7th grade)
Sometime in the 1940’s the Roberts’ moved to the Detroit, Michigan area. Essie’s husband, Bert, died in a fiery motor vehicle accident in 1949.
Essie lived Ferndale (Oakland County, Michigan) sometime before 1982 when she died at Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan.[xi]
Further Research
The name, birth, & death of the child born before 1900 that died.
Ada Barnes was born on 21 March 1898 and died on 19 December 1899.
The name, birth, & death of the child born between 1900 and 1910 that died.
Nelson Barns was born on 14 April 1901 and died 22 November 1902.
Trace Essie oldest daughter’s name from Pansy to Penny and determine what her name actually was. It may also give insight into Essie’s middle name of Pansy.
Trace the children of Bert & Essie through the school system.
Endnotes
[i] Sources: Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 – Family Search (Other) – 1930 Census / Indiana, Vigo, Terre Haute, Page 9A – Bert A Roberts – Ancestry (Other) – 1940 Census / Terre Haute, Vigo Indiana – Bert Roberts – Ancestry.com (Other) – 1910 Census / Indiana, Sullivan, Turman, District 178, Page 8A – Joel C Barnes – Ancestry.Com (Digitizing) – 1920 Census / Indiana, Sullivan, Turman, District 0270, Sheet 1B – Ancestry.Com (Digitizing) – U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 / Essie Roberts – 384-20-4983 – Ancestry (Other) – Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996 / Essis P Roberts (1903-1982) – Ancestry (Internet)
[ii] Source: Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996 / Essis P Roberts (1903-1982) – Ancestry (Internet)
[iii] Source: 1900 Census, Indiana, Sullivan, Turman, ED 138, Sheet 7B – Joel C Barnes, Ancestry
[iv] Source: 1910 Census, Indiana, Sullivan, Turman, District 178, Page 8A – Joel C Barnes, Ancestry
[v] Source: 1920 Census / Indiana, Sullivan, Turman, District 0270, Sheet 1B – Ancestry.com (Digitizing)
[vi] Sources: Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 – Family Search (Other) – 1930 Census / Indiana, Vigo, Terre Haute, Page 9A – Bert A Roberts – Ancestry (Other)
[vii] Source: 1930 Census / Indiana, Vigo, Terre Haute, Page 9A – Bert A Roberts – Ancestry (Other)
[viii] Source: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 / 1934 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Bert A Roberts. – Ancestry (Other)
[ix] Source: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 / 1936 – Terre Haute – Bert A Roberts – Ancestry (Other)
[x] Sources: 1940 Census / Terre Haute, Vigo Indiana – Bert Roberts – Ancestry.com (Other) – U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 / 1940 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Bert A Roberts – Ancestry (Other)
[xi] Sources: U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 / Essie Roberts – 384-20-4983 – Ancestry (Other) – Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996 / Essis P Roberts (1903-1982) – Ancestry (Internet)
I was recently asked about what I do for Genealogical Training. How do I keep up with things genealogical? Of course, learning is an ongoing process, but the key to learning, in my opinion, it to provide an environment for learning. I do that in several ways.
First of all, I volunteer at my local historical society and museum. There, I regularly answer questions from individuals who have questions regarding their genealogical searches. I have only been in Maine about a year and a half, so my volunteer work helps me really learn about the place where I am living and the ancestors of this place. I am also learning about the genealogical records available here. Not only does it help me help others but it also helps me understand what types of records are available at a historical society in general. I am amazed at the kinds and types of materials that are possible. There are resources that I would never have thought of. By volunteering, I have the knowledge to ask other societies for specific types of materials or searches and hone in on specific possibilities.
Next, I attend my local chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society. Every month they host a speaker who talks about various genealogical topics and I attend. Not only does it give an hour of education it has the side benefit of meeting and conversing with individuals who actually care about my genealogical successes and brick walls as I care about theirs. Just those conversations can be motivating and inspiring. I even gave one of the talks last summer regarding “Social Media and Genealogy.” There is nothing that teaches you more than preparing to give a talk.
Next, I am particularly interested in genetic genealogy. There is a new Genealogical DIG (DNA Interest Group) here in Maine, which I am now attending. I also volunteered to help with a website for them. Not only do I learn about genetic genealogy through the meetings, I learn even more as I help with the content of the website. And again, being able to chat with individuals with a similar interest in genetic genealogy can sometimes be inspiring.
Next, I read. I subscribe to several magazines and the other societies I belong to send magazines focused upon their society. I also subscribe to several blogs of individuals that I know their writings will usually be interesting. Another thing I did was create a daily magazine at Paper.li. I am still using the free version and have the system create a Genealogical Daily. I check it every day. You can modify your paper to ignore some types of content and I’ve adjusted mine to eliminate some of the more flagrant sales pitches. Sure, it sometimes duplicates items I’ve already seen through my few blog subscriptions but I can quickly bypass the. I think it is a great resource. If you are interested in seeing what I’ve done, see it at https://paper.li/DT_Genea/1445328221. Feel free to subscribe or favorite it. If I see enough users I might try to curate the postings.
Next, I plan to attend three, day-long genealogical focused seminars or conferences this year. All are sponsored by my state Genealogical Society.
1. 2016 Maine Genealogical Society Spring Workshop – April 23, 2016. The keynote speaker is well-known genetic genealogist Blaine Bettinger
2. 2016 Southern Maine Genealogy Conference – May 21, 2016. The keynote Speaker is D. Joshua Taylor of “Genealogy Roadshow” fame.
3. 2016 Maine Genealogical Society and Annual Meeting – September 17, 2016. The keynote Speaker is Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
I think between the workshop, conference and meeting, I’ll pick up many new things.
Finally, I watch a one hour video every week. I tend to miss watching a video on weeks that I’m attending a conference but I watch one most every week. My favorites are usually RootsTech videos. They never have a bad video.
My plans include about ninety hours of semi-formal training, (50 hours of videos, at least 15 hours at conferences, and 24 hours of presentation at society chapter and DIG meetings. Add another 100+ hours of volunteer service at the Historical Society and Museum supporting genealogical activities and I figure I’ll be learning all year.
How many can you check off?
þ Volunteer at local historical or genealogical society.
þ Attend your local genealogical society’s chapter meetings.
RootsTech 2015 Video Archive (Note: RootsTech 2016 is in just a few weeks. Typically, these videos are unavailable when the new RootsTech takes place. There may be a couple weeks between when the video archive for 2015 is not available and the 2016 archive becomes available.
