Finding Eldad Parts 1 & 2

Here is a video series I created discussing using my brother’s DNA to help us find more ancestors, aiming to uncover the rich tapestry of our family history. Throughout the episodes, I delve into the process of analyzing genetic information and how it can shed light on connections that were previously hidden to us. Additionally, I excitedly share the remarkable story of how I discovered … Continue reading Finding Eldad Parts 1 & 2

More O’Malley

I have discovered more information about my O’Malley family in Minnesota. I found the source for the marriage record of my great, great-grandparents, I learned that Martin O’Malley died because of an accident, and I found a first hand account of the Dakota war from a resident of Mower County. In an earlier post, I mentioned that I had documented the marriage of Martin O’Malley … Continue reading More O’Malley

The Importance of the Portsmouth Compact

A month ago, I wrote an article titled “Massachusetts Ancestors with Wikipedia Articles.” Yet it’s only now, through further study, that I am realizing the significance of what three of those ancestors did when they put their names on a document in the spring of 1638. These men are ancestors on my father’s side of the family, and their names were Philip Sherman, John Coggeshall, … Continue reading The Importance of the Portsmouth Compact

Lucien François Gaume, Veteran of the French Revolutionary Wars

In 2023, during my visit to Paris, my final stop before heading home was the Arc de Triomphe, located just a few blocks from our hotel. The Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris’s most iconic landmarks, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at the Battle of … Continue reading Lucien François Gaume, Veteran of the French Revolutionary Wars

He Went as Far as Danville

I know of at least two ancestors who were veterans of the War of 1812. I’ve written an entire chapter about my mother’s great-great-grandfather, David Dobbs, who served as a third lieutenant in the Georgia militia during the Creek War of 1814. In this article, I want to share a discovery I made regarding my father’s great-great-grandfather, Corbett Pickering, and his service in the Pennsylvania … Continue reading He Went as Far as Danville

If It Quacks Like A Duck…

It turns out my father’s ancestor, Dr. John Denny, was not a “real” doctor, a revelation I stumbled upon in yet another history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. This particular account, penned by Emily C Blackmon and published in Philadelphia in 1873, sheds new light on his true profession. John Denny, my 4th great-grandfather, was born in what is now Phillipstown, Duchess County, New York, although, … Continue reading If It Quacks Like A Duck…

More on Jotham Pickering

Contents in the Post More on Jotham Pickering This is a follow-up to the recent post, “Remembering Patriots: Seven Ancestors Who Fought in the American Revolution.” I found more information regarding Jotham Pickering, my father’s great-great-great-grandfather, who served in the military during the American Revolution. A book titled, “US, Massachusetts, Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1801,” and published in the 19th century summarizes … Continue reading More on Jotham Pickering

More Pickering Papers

I was curious to find information about my father’s Pickering ancestors who moved from Salem to Mendon, Massachusetts in the 1730s. I scoured Google Books and came across a book titled “The Annals of the Town of Mendon 1659-1880.” Three generations of my Pickering ancestors lived in Mendon for nearly a century. I was uncertain about the exact timing of Edward and Hannah Pickering’s departure … Continue reading More Pickering Papers