The Search for Abner Darling (1780-1839)

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Don Taylor

The Search for Rufus H Darling’s father:
Abner Darling

Finding individuals before the 1850 Census is always problematic. I find the process to be an iterative process, that is to say, it is necessary to go through the same records several times until you find the right connections. Here is my process for finding Abner and Sally Darling. As is always the case, start with what you know (or think you know).

Known:

According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, Rufus Holton Darling was the son of Abner & Sally Darling. He had come to Kalamazoo from Rome, Oneida Co., NY in 1840.[i] This article is about searching for Rufus in Oneida County and the search for his parents, Abner and Sally Darling.

1840 Census

A search of the 1840 Census revealed 9 people with the surname Darling in Oneida County, New York. No one named Rufus or Abner (that would be too easy) is listed. The only Darling listed as being in Rome is  
1840 – Israel Darling – Rome, Oneida, New York
M Under 5     1
M 30-39         1
F Under 5      1
F 5-9               1
F 20-29          1
1 person employed in navigation of canals, lakes, rivers.[ii]
From this, I deduce that Israel Darling was born between 1800 and 1810 and probably worked on the nearby Erie Canal. Clearly no other Darling men were living in his household. From this Census record, I think it is fairly safe to conclude that Israel Darling was living with his wife and three children in 1840 in Rome.
Rufus doesn’t appear in the Census for Rome, Oneida county, New York in the 1840 Census. So, there are three likely answers.
1.     Rufus moved before the census date of 1 June 1840.
2.     Rufus was somewhere else in Oneida County, near to Rome.
3.     The newspaper article was wrong.

1830 Census

A search of the 1830 Census yields seven Darling’s listed. Again, no Abner. I wouldn’t expect the then 14-year-old Rufus to be enumerated, but rather be in another household.

1820 Census

The only other chance is to find the family in Oneida County the 1820 Census. A search on Ancestry.Com yielded 8 entries for Darlings in Oneida County, New York. None were in Rome; however, there were two entries for Abner Darlings. 

Abner Darling Entry #1 

1820 – Abner Darling – Vernon, Oneida, New York[iii]
M 10-15         1
M 16-18         2
M 16-26         5
M 26-44         3
M 45 & over  1
F 16-25            1
F 26-44            1
F 45 & Older   1
Persons engaged in Manufacturing: 8
Vernon is a small town about 12 miles south of Rome, NY. However, this census entry shows a complex household with six adults and seven children (under 25) primarily working in manufacturing.  In 1820, Rufus would have been five years old and is not enumerated in this listing.  So, we need to look at the other Abner Darling’s entries. The good news is this entry
infers there was an Abner Darling who was born before 1875 living in Oneida Co., so I should make a “do not confuse with” entry in my worksheets.

Abner Darling Entry #2

1820 – Abner Darling – Paris, Oneida, New York[iv]
M Under 10   3
M 10-15         1
M 26-44         1
F Under 10    1
F 10-15          2
F 26-44          1
Persons engaged in Agriculture: 1
This likely shows a simple farm family with two adults and seven children under 16.
The good news is that Rufus could be one of these three males under 10. The bad news is that it is not Rome.  Paris is a small town about 17 miles southeast of Rome. However, Paris is only about ten miles south of Utica, so I would expect that people from Paris would associate themselves with Utica and not Rome. Abner Darling of Paris doesn’t show in the 1830 census gives rise to my speculation that Abner Darling of Paris either died or moved sometime between 1820 and 1830. I think I’ll use that as a hypothesis and continue on.
Returning to the 1830 Census, sadly none of the entries for Darlings in Oneida County are in Paris. So, it appears that Abner either died without his heirs continuing on the property or that Abner moved.
The Abner of Paris in the 1820 Census closest census (three on each side) neighbors were: Henry F West, James Eastman, David Pixby (?), John Ramsdale, Solomon Stockwell, and Joseph Ballou. I decided to see if they show in the 1930 Census.

Back to the 1830 Census 
Henry F West Appears to have moved to Richland, Oswego County by 1830. 
James Eastman – No John, but there an Amasa Eastman in Kirkland and two Benjamin Eastmans in Paris.
David Pixby (Bixby?) – None 
John Ramsdale – No John, but there is a Henry Ramsdale in Kirkland. 
Solomon Stockwell – shows in the 1830 Census living in Kirkland. No there are Darlings enumerated on the same page (11). 
Joseph Ballow – Also shows in the 1830 Census living in Kirkland and also on Page 11.

The good news is that Kirkland was established as a town in 1827 from the town of Paris. People in Kirkland in 1830 would have been in Paris in 1820 without having moved. Because of this, I have little doubt that I found the neighbors of 1820 Abner of Paris and looking at those neighbors, neither Abner nor any other Darlings are in Kirkland in 1830.
At this point, I’m still pretty good with the hypothesis that Rufus Holton Darling’s father, Abner Darling, was the Abner Darling of Paris (Later Kirkland). If that is the case, I have the following family information
Abner Darling Born 1776-1794 – Married before 1807. (Engaged in Agriculture.
Sally [Darling] Born 1776-1794 – Married before 1807 – Died after 1820.
1.    Unknown Male Darling – B. 1804-1810
2.    Unknown Female Darling – B. 1804-1810
3.    Unknown Female Darling – B. 1804-1810
4.    Unknown Male Darling – B. 1809-1920
5.    Rufus Holton Darling – B. 1815-1816
6.    Unknown Male Darling – B. 1809-1820
7.    Unknown Female Darling – B. 1809-1920
For a marriage date, I am assuming that the 1820 Abner Darling of Paris census entry was a standard family unit, that is to say, husband, wife, and 7 children. I presume that they were married before the oldest child was conceived. They have three children over 10 in August 1820 so the oldest of the three children must have been born by 1808 and conceived by 1807 (presuming no multiple births).

The Will of Abner Darling

At this point, I was kind of stuck. Then I looked at the wills and probate records on Ancestry.Com. It is a fantastic resource. I quickly found the Will of Abner Darling who died in 1839 who gave everything to his wife Sally. Could this be the same Abner and Sally Darling who were the parents of Rufus Holton Darling?

Back to the 1840 Census

I thought I’d take a look at the 1840 Census. Sally would, most likely, still be in Clarkson only a year later. A search yielded a huge find. Rufus H Darling was the head of a household in Clarkson.

Rufus H Darling Entry

1840 Census – Rufus H Darling – Clarkson, Monroe, New York[v]
Census Entry
#
Name
Birth
Comments
M 10-14
1
Unk. Male
1825-1830
Minor child in will.
M 20-29
2
Rufus H
Unk. Male
1815-1816
1809-1820
Fits 1820 Census.
Fits 1820 Census.
F 15-19
2
Unk. Female
Unk. Female
1820-1825
1820-1825
Minor Child in will.
         “
F 50-59
1
Sally Ann
1780-1790
Fits 1820 Census.
I have little doubt that this Rufus H Darling entry is the correct Rufus H Darling and that his father, Abner Darling of Clarkson, died in 1839 and that, in 1840, Sally Ann Darling was living with her son Rufus H in Clarkson, Monroe Co., New York.

Back to the 1830 Census

Then I went back to the 1830 Census and found an Abner Durling living in Clarkson, Monroe County, New York.
1830 Census – Abner Darling – Clarkson, Monroe, New York[vi]
Census Entry
#
Name
Birth
Comments
M Under 5
1
Unk. Male
1825-1830
Youngest boy in 1840 Census
M 5-9
1
Unk. Male
1820-1825
Missing in 1840 Census
M 10-14
1
Unk. Male
1816-1820
M 15-19
2
Rufus
Unk. Male
1810-1815
1810-1815
One of them is probably Rufus.
Other Unk Male in 1840 Census.
M 40-49
1
Abner
1780-1790
Fits Abner
F 5-9
2
Female
Female
1820-1825
1820-1825
Fits 1840 Census
Fits 1840 Census
F 15-19
1
Female
1810-1815
Fits female < 10 in 1820 Census
F 40-49
1
Sally Ann
1780-1790
Fits both 1820 & 1840 Censuses
Everything appears to fit my expectations for the Abner Darling family as I would expect it to be in 1830.
The will of Abner Darling provided the break that allowed me to think outside of the Rome, Oneida County box. I now believe that Rufus Holton Darling was born near Rome, New York. When he was a child from 5 to 15 years old, the family moved to Clarkson, New York (about 20 miles west of Rochester).  In 1839, his father passed and the 25-year-old Rufus became the head of the household. In late 1840, Rufus located to Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Solving family history by using the pre-1850 censuses can be difficult and complex. There are seldom easy answers, but through perseverance, a viable conclusion can be reached. Now to sort out Abner in the 1810 Census.  There are five Darling families in Oneida County during the 1810 Census.  One of them is “A. Darling.” The eldest in that enumerated family is over 45 years old. Too old to be our Abner. But there is a 16 to 25-year-old male in that enumeration who could be our Abner.  Another fine investigation to undertake….

Abner Darling (1780-1839) 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 3

Marker of Abner Darling
Source: Find-a-Grave
Born 1780 – The 1830 Census indicates he is between 40 and 49 years of age, suggesting a birth between 1780 and 1790. His marker on Find-a-Grave appears to indicate his birth in 1780.
1820 – Paris, Oneida, New York, USA, Appears to be living with wife and 7 children working in Agriculture.[vii]
1830 – Clarkson, Monroe, New York, Appears to be living with wife and 9 children.[viii]
c.1838 – Monroe County, New York, sued Nathan Mott & Ansel Frost.[ix]
1839 – January 8th, Monroe County, New York, signed last will and testament giving all to his wife Sally Ann.[x]
1839 – January 11th, Abner died. He was buried in Hamlin, Monroe County, New York at the Lakeside Cemetery. [xi]
1839 – May 1, Abner’s will was probated. His wife, Sally Ann was the Executrix.

Further research

Determine the siblings of Rufus H Darling.
Find Abner Darling in the 1790, 1800, and 1810 Censuses.
Determine Sally Ann Darlings maiden name.
Determine what happened to Sally Ann Darling.

Souces:

[i] ”KPL 3X5″ Vital Record Files, Kalamazoo Public Library;, Kalamazoogenealogy.org.
[ii] 1840; Census Place: Rome, Oneida, New York; Roll: 313; Page: 65; Image: 705; Family History Library Film: 0017199
[iii] 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Vernon, Oneida, New York; Page: 257; NARA Roll: M33_73; Image: 260
[iv] Ibid.
[v] “1840 Census,” Clarkson, Monroe, New York,  Roll: 297; Page: 177; Image: 359, Rufus H Darling, Ancestry.com, 12 Jan 2016.
[vi] “1830 Census,” Clarkson, Monroe, New York, Series: M19; Roll: 94; Page: 271, Abner Durling (Darling), Ancestry, 12 Jan 2016.
[vii] “1820 Census,” Paris, Oneida, New York-, Page: 267; NARA Roll: M33_73; Image: 270, Abner Darling, Ancestry.Com, 12 Jan 2016.
[viii] See Endnote VI Above. 
[ix] “New York Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999,” Monroe County, New York, Abner Darling, Wills, Vol 2, 1835-1841, See Pages 329-331, Ancestry.Com.
[x] Ibid.
[xi] Find-a-Grave, Abner Darling, “Memorial #131155053,” https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=131155053, 9 Jan 2016.
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Abstract & Will of Abner Darling (1780-1839)

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Don Taylor

Abstract & Will of Abner Darling (1780-1839)

Amanuensis Monday

Great-great grandfather Rufus Holton Darling’s father’s name was Abner and his mother’s name was Sally. Although I am not totally convinced, I am fairly certain that this “Record of Will” refers to Rufus’s father Abner. It also helps explain why Rufus would have left New York for Michigan in 1840. At Abner’s death, Rufus would have been 24 years old. 

————-

Abstract of Will (Abstracted by Don Taylor)

Information that I found.
8 January 1839 – Abner Darling of Clarkson, Monroe County, New York was alive to sign his last will and testament.
He made his wife, Sally Ann Darling the Executrix of his will.
He gave everything to his wife, Sally Ann Darling.
He wants his debts paid.
He has pending litigation against Nathan Mott & Ansel Frost.
His wife should take care of his minor children including educating them. 

Jan-April 1839 – Abner Darling died.

1 May 1839 – Abner’s will was probated.

————-

Transcript of Will

Transcribed by Don Taylor

Source: Ancestry.Com – New York Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 – Monroe – Wills, Vol 002, 1835-1841, Pages 329-331 (362-364 of 513)

Record of Will

Know all whom it may concern that that I Abner Darling of Clarkson in the County of Monroe Do make ordain and constitute this my last will & testament –

First I make & Constitute my beloved wife Sally Ann Darling sole executrix of this my will. Second. I give & bequeath to my said wife all my goods and chattels land & tenements & all my estate both nal [real] & personal of which I may die seized or possesed or whether in fasision or in action to have & to hold the same to her own use – forever, Third, It is my will that all my just debts be paid & in as much as the ability of my said executrix to pay the same will depend on the determination of a suit now defending in the Court of Chancery against Nathan Mott & Ansel Frost it is my will & desire that said suit be prosecuted with all diligence to a determination & that my said executrix shall perform whatever shall be nessary & proper to perform whatever deorse may be made therein trusting in consequents of the Justice of the cause that she will thereby nalise the means of paying my debts, And it is my request & desire that my said executrix will in her discretion & according to her means maintain and educate such of my children as are minors they aiding and assisting therein & that at or before her decease she will if need be make such bequest or other arrangement that what may remain of my property after her decrease may be equally divided among all my children. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this eighth day of January 1839.

Abner Darling (S)

Signed sealed published and delivered by the said Abner Darling to be his last will & testament in the presence of us & who in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses all residing in Clarkson. 

Sellach Boughton
William Blake
Joseph Lovejoy
———- DISCLAIMER ———-
 newspapers.com newspapers.com 
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Donna in Bridgeport, CT, at Poli’s – June 30-July 2, 1927

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

We know Donna played in Warren, PA, in early May, but don’t know where she, Sammy, and Hal Dixon were until the played at Poli’s Theater in Bridgeport, CT from June 30 until July 2, 1927.[i] [ii]

From the advertising it is clear that the movies had taken over. Irene Rich in a Warner Bros. silent feature, “The Climbers” was top billing. Even for the opening night, the “Donna Darling Revue” was promoted after “Amateur Night” in the “Amusements” article regarding what was playing at the Poli, which read:

AMATEURS TONIGHT AT POLI’S VAUDEVILLE 

In addition to the amateur presentations tonight, Poli’s Vaudeville theater offers a splendid new program today.

Irene Rich leads an all-star cast through the screen version of the stage success “The climbers.” Commander Byrd’s start over the Atlantic is in Pathe News and a short Mack Sennett comedy completes the photoplay bill.

Heading the vaudeville contingent is Stan Stanley and company in a bit of farce, hokum and burlesque. The captain Boys present their six beautiful fashionettes in an elaborate dance act. Modern Vaudeville Frolics includes Donna Darling, Sammy Clark and Hal Dixon; Watts and Reingold in “Their Own Way,” and William Moore as “The Chef” contribute entertainment of high caliber.[iii]
I’m still searching for other Donna Darling showings during 1927. This may have been her last show in 1927 as her son, Russell, was born less than two months later. I do know she played in Mount Carmel, PA in April 1928.

Poli’s Theater

This Palace Theater photo shows the glory the theater once had. Photo courtesy Porcelain Doll via Cinema Treasures.

Poli’s was, in some ways, kind of an early multiplex. Built in 1922 by Sylvester Z Poli, the Palace and Majestic Theaters were separate theaters within the same building complex separated by the Savoy Hotel. The Poli Palace was the larger of the two theaters and was the largest theater in Connecticut until 1975[iv]. According to Historic Buildings of Connecticut, Mae West also played the Poli Palace in 1927.[v] The Majestic Theater closed in 1971 and the Palace Theater closed in 1975. The theater has been vacant for 40 years and the city is hoping to redevelop the property.

Google Maps view of the Palace/Majestic Theater today
Endnotes
[i] Bridgeport Telegram, 29 Jun 1927, Pg 10 – via Newspapers.com
[ii] Bridgeport Telegram, 2 Jul 1927 – Bridgeport (CT) Telegram – Via Newspaper Arvhives.com.
[iii] Bridgeport Telegram, 30 Jun 1927, Donna Darling Revue at Poli’s via Newspaperarchive.com
[iv] Web: Historic Buildings of Connecticutt: https://historicbuildingsct.com/?p=19817
[v] Web: Historic Buildings of Connecticutt: https://historicbuildingsct.com/?p=19817
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Compulsive searching – Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949)

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Don Taylor

Compulsive searching…

I think the more passionate we are about something the more likely we can be compulsive about it. We can put hours and hours into something with no results and still keep going. At some point, we just need to set it aside and say, “I’ll come back to this later.” Such is the case with my research regarding my potential grandfather Bert Allen Roberts. (See My Paternal Brick Wall for details regarding “potential.”)
I have many key facts regarding Bert and his life. I know about his birth, marriage, children. I even followed him through all the censuses and through many city directories. I just wanted to find his death information.  It can’t be that hard….
I thoroughly searched Family Search, Ancestry, and several of my other regular genealogical sites and didn’t find anything. He just like vanished after the 1940 census. Then, I turned to one of my favorite sites, Newspapers.Com. I quickly found an article about a Bert Roberts who died in a motor vehicle accident on 1 May 1949.

The Terre Haute Star (Terre Haute, IN) – Mon, May 2, 1949,  Page 1
Via Newspapers.Com

The article indicated that this Bert lived in Detroit. I know that at least two of his children were living in Detroit in the late 1940s so imagining that my Bert moved to Detroit during the 1940s is quite imaginable. So, could this article’s Bert Roberts the same Bert Roberts I am researching? With the name and date of death, it should be easy to confirm that this is the right Bert Roberts and I will have the answer. After searching for hours… and hours… and hours… I just couldn’t find anything.  Sure, I found other articles about the accident but nothing that mentions next of kin. One article said that the body was shipped back to Detroit (NewspaperArchives accessed via MyHeritage). I thought I should find a death certificate in Indiana records – No such luck. Maybe an obituary in Detroit/Michigan records – Again no luck. I searched this way, that way, and the other way but no success. I found it incredulous that I couldn’t find a link as to who this Bert Roberts, who died in Elwood, IN, was. I kept searching. I got more and more compulsive about finding if this Bert was my Bert.

After spending the better part of three days (probably over 20 hours searching), I have finally come to the conclusion that this is not time spent well. I have other fish to fry and need to move on. Will I return to searching for my Bert’s death information? Of course, but I will also hope that my research into other individuals in this family will prove (or disprove) my Bert and this Bert are the same person.

Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 2

Bert Allen Roberts was probably born on 20 September 1903 in Sessor, Franklin County, Illinois[i]. I say “probably” because, although his marriage records indicate his birth as 20 September 1902, every census indicates him to be born consistent with a birth in September 1903 (age 6 in 1910 Census, age 16 in 1920 Census, etc.).  It is not clear why he would make himself 19 instead of 18 when he married, but it appears that he did.  I believe him to be the third of four children born to Hugh Ellis and Clora D (Scott) Roberts. His older siblings were Harry Ray and Carrie Mae. His younger sibling was Mable Ilean.

1910 Census – Hosea Adams, Head, with his Roberts step-children.

I believe his father died sometime between 1907 (conception of his sister) and 1909.  In any event, By the 1910 Census, his mother had remarried for a year and Bert was a stepson in the household of Hosea L. Adams living and attending school in Turman, Sullivan County, Indiana.[ii]
In 1920, his is still living with his mother and step-father, in Hutsonville, Crawford County, Illinois, but now working as a farm laborer for wages[iii].
He married Essie Pansy Barnes about 19 May 1922[iv].  He and Essie show up in the 1929 City Directory for Terre Haute, Indiana. He and Essie also appear in the 1930 US Census in Terre Haute.[v] [vi]
The 1931 Terre Haute Directory is something of a conundrum. It shows Essie P Roberts (wid Bert A) working as a cook[vii]. I think this is in error for a number of reasons as follow.
The 1934 Directory brings Bert back to life as a taxi driver living with Essie at 354 Chestnut.[viii]. Likewise, the 1936 City Directory has him and Essie still together and him working as a driver for the Circle Cab Co. [ix]
The 1940 Census has the Roberts family living at 1719 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute, with Bert working as a laborer in the enameling and stamping industry[x]. That is the last solid entry that I have for him.
We know that his youngest son, John Harald Roberts married Isabell Jean Matcher in May of 1947 and lived in Detroit.[xi]  We also know that his son, Hugh Eugene married Janet Marie Dion in Detroit in 1950.[xii] With at least two of his children living in Detroit in 1949, it is easy to imagine that Bert was also living in Detroit.  If so, the vehicle accident on 1 May 1949 could have easily been his death.
I know that I was being compulsive placing so much time trying to connect the 1949 death of a Bert Roberts to my Bert Roberts. I thought, my goodness, I should be able to find something about the death of Bert Roberts of Detroit who died in Elwood, Indiana on 1 May 1949. I will put it aside for now and come back to it after I’ve researched more of the family.  Hopefully, my overall genealogical research process will intercept the information I am looking for later and everything will fall into place.

[Correction: One of the grand-daughters of Bert Allen Roberts, confirmed that her grandfather died in 1949 in this motor vehicle fire. 1/31/2016]

Endnotes/Sources:

[i] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” Sullivan Co., Indiana, Bert Allen Roberts, 1922, GS Film Number 001906822-Digital Folder Number 004170594-Image Number 00614, Image, Family Search, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXF1-HZN, 27 Dec 2015.
[ii] “1910 Census,” Turman, Sullivan, Indiana, Hosea L Adams,  Roll: T624_381; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0178; FHL microfilm: 1374394, Ancestry, 22 Dec 2015.
[iii] “1920 Census,” Hutsonville, Crawford, Illinois;, Hosey L Adams,  Roll: T625_364; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 29; Image: 66, Ancestry.Com, 22 Dec 2015.
[iv] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” Sullivan Co., Indiana, Bert Allen Roberts, 1922, GS Film Number 001906822-Digital Folder Number 004170594-Image Number 00614, Image, Family Search, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXF1-HZN, 27 Dec 2015.
[v] “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” 1929, Terre Haute, Indiana, 411, Bert A Roberts, R. L. Polk & Co., Ancestry, 22 Dec 2015.
[vi] “1930 Census,” Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana, Bert A Roberts – Head,  Roll: 635; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0022; Image: 637.0; FHL microfilm: 2340370, Ancestry, 21 Dec 2015.
[vii] “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” 1931, Terre Haute, Indiana, 387, Roberts, Essie P, R. L. Polk & Co., Ancestry, 21 Dec 2015.
[viii] “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” 1934, Terre Haute, Indiana, 323, Bert A Roberts, R. L. Polk & Co., Ancestry, 21 Dec 2015.
[ix] “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” 1936, Terre Haute, Indiana, 350, Bert A Roberts, R. L. Polk & Co., Ancestry, 22 Dec 2015.
[x] “1940 Census,” Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana, USA, Bert Roberts – Head, Roll: T627_1103; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 84-31, Ancestry.Com, 21 Dec 2015.
[xi] “Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952,” John Harald Roberts, County File Number: 704264-State File Number: 381870, Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867–1952. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.-, Ancestry, 21 Dec 2015.
[xii] “Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952,” Hugh Gueene Roberts [Eugene], County File Number: 780165 – State File Number: 461232, Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867–1952. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.-, Ancestry, 21 Dec 2015.
Posted in #52Ancestors, Roberts | 5 Comments

Scrapbook Digitization

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Don Taylor

Scrapbook Digitization at the Scarborough Museum

Scrapbooks can be an incredible source of information regarding a place and time. However, by their very nature they can self-destruct over time. Often they are filled with newspaper clippings that yellow and become brittle as the years pass. Sometimes clippings and other documents are mounted with tape or other means that damage the exhibits within.

Several of us at the Scarborough Historical Society & Museum are working to preserve some of these treasures through digitization. The first one we have been working on is a medium sized scrapbook donated by 2006. There are nearly 200 pages of clippings of items that the creator found important during the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s.

To save the scrapbook we began by scanning each page of the scrapbook in a way that minimized potential damage to the book. The images were scanned as 600dpi color images in TIFF format. These TIFF originals are about 100MB in size and have excellent archival capabilities. The TIFF files are our digital originals and are never modified or changed. Then the TIFF files are imported into optical character recognition (OCR) software and searched for text. Next, the imported files are resampled to 300dpi and changed to grayscale (black & white) and saved as 300dpi PDF files that include the selectable text embedded in the image. Having selectable text allows for searching the files for keywords as a group. These files are also excellent for printing and typically are about 7MB per page, about 1/12 of the size of the original files. Now that we have the images, what do we do with them?

Just paging through the digital images on the computer is fun. For example, in this scrapbook, there are articles about the turnpike between Kittery and Portland being built. I found it amazing that construction began in May 1946 and the pike was open for use only 19 months later on 13 December 1947. The pike cost 50¢ to travel the distance with fewer charges for shorter distances when it opened.

Antique Wall telephone with hand crank - By JGKlein (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Antique Crank Telephone

It was also fun to read about how, in 1950, dial phones came to Scarborough and that the old crank phones could finally be replaced. There were complaints how party-line neighbors would listen in on private conversations and even join in and hopes that someday that would be a thing of the past. That brought back memories for me, as a child, we had an eight-person party line for a while. Our ring was two longs a short and a long. Anyway, I can definitely see how Scarborough historians would find the scrapbook a treasure trove of information about Scarborough and nearby communities.

I found the pages regarding Princess Elizabeth’s wedding and wedding dress to be historically interesting but not of particular genealogical interest. Although I do have a general interest in history, genealogy is my passion. Would the scrapbook help in genealogical research? I thought so, but I wanted to test that premise.

My “Thurlow Test”
I began with Thurlow. I know Bruce from the Museum (he is the Programs Chairman). I also know his family has been in Scarborough for many years. Might they be mentioned in this scrapbook? A quick search found three pages with “Thurlow” mentioned.

On 10 October 1939, a Miss Alice Thurlow attended a wedding shower for Miss Elizabeth Charlotte Moulton. This is the type of information that is important for genealogists wanting to do “friends, acquaintances, & neighbors” (FAN) analysis.

Alice Thurlow & Peter
Kelley, Jr.  1940

In 1940, Alice E Thurlow married Peter W. Kelley, Jr. at St. Joseph’s Church in a service officiated by Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Houlihan. We also learn that Miss Thurlow “is the daughter of Mrs. Harold F. Seal of Bell Street.” Humm. Interesting. I would interpret that statement as Alice’s mother remarrying. Certainly something to theorize, research, and prove genealogically in further research. There is also a photo of Alice and Peter. Although only black & white and newsprint pixelation, it does provide an image of the couple. Also, from the article, we learn that after they return from a honeymoon, they will live on Bismark Street. (Another area of research. Was there a Bismark Street in Scarborough or are they locating to Portland? There is a lot more information, particularly regarding Peter’s family. Any genealogist working on the Thurlow family would love the data and photo provided in this story.

Finally, the third article found mentions that Donald Thurlow was a boy scout who acted as an usher for Scarborough superintendent of schools Franklin H. B. Heald’s retirement testimonial dinner in 1946. This is really cool information because it adds texture to understanding about the individual’s interests. We now know that Donald was interested in the Boy Scouts.

My “Delaware Test”
After finding amazing bits of information on the Thurlow family in just one scrapbook, I thought I’d do one more quick search for another Museum regular. This time I searched for “Anna Delaware.” Instantly the results come back; two pages include both Anna and Delaware.

Anna Wright
1945 newspaper
clipping

The first one, from 1945 is the announcement of the engagement of Anna Wright and Cpl. Warren H. Delaware. The article provides their parents names, where they went to school, where they worked, and photos of both Anna and Warren.

The second finding is hand annotated “23 May 1946,” the date of the article. It talks about how Anna and Warren were to marry Thursday. It mentions Anna’s sisters, Mary and Margaret and several other relatives. There is more about Warren’s family as well. There is also a photo of Anna in an amazing wedding dress. From a genealogical perspective, there is almost enough data in those two articles to rough out a family tree.

If you are a member of the Scarborough Historical Society & Museum, can’t make it to the museum, let me know (through the museum) and I will be happy to do a look-up for you. Better yet, if you can make it in, I’ll be happy to show you how to search for your ancestor in the scrapbook collection. If you are not a member, please become a member.

Finally, are you a member of your local historical society? If not, join and volunteer. Besides the benefit of learning more local history, they are bound to have genealogical tidbits galore, maybe even some old scrapbooks that need digitizing that you can help with.

Sources
Scarborough Historical Museum, Scarborough, Maine.  Small Scrapbooks Collection; Accession # 06-69.1; various pages, scan images 051, 068, 125, 153, & 164.

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