When my great grandfather James M Dobbs was appointed to a consul generalship in South America at the start of the 2nd Cleveland Administration, his name appeared in newspapers all over the United States. In the majority of those appearances, it was one item in a list of other men who had been appointed to an office that April in 1893. Most of the newspapers … Continue reading International Man of Mystery Part 6
The recent discussions about immigrants eating cats and dogs remind me that my ancestors were immigrants. Some arrived from Europe as early as the 1630s, while others came as late as the 1880s. Their experiences varied—some were treated better than others. For instance, my German ancestors managed to preserve their culture and language long after arrival, which the English-speaking population found objectionable. There was pressure … Continue reading From Bavaria to New York: An Immigrant Journey
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
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
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…
In a previous post, I wrote of how I discovered that my mother’s grandfather lied on a passport application that he filled out towards the end of WWI. As a former Consular officer and recently retired from the US State Department, he had to have known that what he had done was illegal. James Monroe Dobbs, Sr. was born July 4, 1859, yet on more … Continue reading International Man of Mystery-Pt. 5
A few days ago, I renewed my Ancestry.com subscription despite my annual vow to resist. This year’s offer—40% off a six-month subscription—was too tempting. This package included access to U.S. and international records as well as newspaper and military archives. As I signed up, I told myself I’d regret it if I didn’t find value within the first few days. Navigating Ancestry’s Value Over Time … Continue reading Found: The Obituary of Col. D. J. Dobbs
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
Ancestry.com was offering a 40% off sale on its subscription packages over Memorial Day weekend. After debating which of the three six-month options to purchase, from the moderately priced USA Records-only package to the complete package, including access to Fold3.com (the military records database) and Newspaper Archives, I ultimately decided on the whole package. I knew I would regret not having access to everything. On … Continue reading The Fate of Col. David J Dobbs (May 1865)
After 40+ years of research on my Irish ancestors, I have learned that some were Native Irish, some were Anglo-Irish, some were Ulster Scots, and some may even be Vikings (or Norsemen). Some of them were Roman Catholic, some were Church of Ireland, some were Presbyterians, and some, in the distant past, were Celtic pagans. Some were Loyalists, some were Rebels, some were Scotch Covenanters, … Continue reading More Irish Than The Irish
Gathering Leaves 