Part 722p – Smith Groh Genealogy - The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – 1917 WWI Draft Registration – Livingston County, Michigan

Good Day,

In my genealogy hunt sometimes I have to go backwards to go forwards to discover that of our ancestors… Researching and searching for documents connected and pertaining to ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway we step back in time to 5 June 1917.

On 18 May 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed immediately after the United States declared war on Germany. The Act authorized the President to increase the military. The First Registration on 5 June was for men aged 21 to 31; men born between 6 June 1886 and 5 June 1896. GGG-Grandfather Brayton definitely was a targeted candidate.

Here are the two pages of the 1917 Registration Card and Registrar’s Report. These pages were downloaded via Ancestry.com from The National Archives. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 and World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C. Source Citation: Registration Location: Livingston County, Michigan; Roll: 1675809; Draft Board: 0.

My transcription -

Form 1 1076 REGISTRATION CARD 502 No. 18

1 Name in full – Brayton C. Placeway Age in Years - 29
2 Home Address – Howell, Mich
3 Date of birth – April 17, 1888
4 Are you (1) a natural born citizen, (2) a naturalized citizen, (3) an alien, (4) or have you declared your intention? – Natural Born
5 Where were you born? – Pinckney, Mich
6 If not a citizen, of what nation are you a citizen or subject? - Citizen
7 What is you present trade, occupation, or office? – None 30
8 By whom employed? – Nobody Where employed? –
9 Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for your support? – Wife
10 Married or single? – Married Race? – Caucasian
11 What military service have you had? Rank - Fireman branch - Navy years - 11 months Nation or State – United States
12 Do you claim exemption from draft? – None

I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.

Brayton C. Placeway

(Signature or Mark)

REGISTRAR’S REPORT A 21-3-13

1 Tall, medium, or short? - Medium Slender, medium, or stout? Medium
2 Color of eyes - Blue Color of hair - Brown Bald – No
3 Has person lost arm, leg, hand, foot eye, or both eyes or is he otherwise disabled? – None

I certify that my answers are true , that the person registered has read his own answers, that I have witnessed his signature, and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows –

Oscar Schoninhale

(Signature of Registrar)

Precinct – Genoa
City or County – Livingston
State – Mich

June 5, 1917

(Date of Registration)

If ggg-grandfather Brayton completed and signed this Draft Registration on 5 June 1917 Line 10 and 11 above could possibly mean that he was referring to his wife Johanna (née Plischke). The notice of request for divorce was published in The Flint Daily Journal 17 November 1917. (See Part 697p.) There appears to be no reference to either of his children gg-grandmother Edith or gg-granduncle Robert.

The Mystery continues. The next location I find ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway is in Cook County, Illinois. Stay-tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 721am - Smith McCullogh Genealogy - 1801 Bond of Marriage - GGGGG-Grandparents Thomas and Mary (née Marsingale) Aldridge - York, England

Good Day,

Following up to Part 653am I continue the search and research of the genealogy of the Aldridge Family Line.



I have been able to discover the 30 May 1801 Bond of Marriage of 5-times great-grandparents Thomas and Mary (née Marsingale) Aldridge. From what I read the Marriage took place "in the Minster in Beverley Parish".

The following are images of the two pages as downloaded from Item 1 of the microfilm FHL [1469549] Marriage Bonds and Allegations for the Diocese of York, 1618-1887.

And my transcription... (The English teacher of my past life comes to fore when I found two published typeset typos.)

The thirtieth day of May
in the Year of our LORD One Thousand Eight
Hundred and one

On which Day appeared perſonally Thomas Aldridge
of the Parish of St. Martin in Beverley
Schoolmaster
and, being Sworn on the Holy Evangeliſts, alledged and made
Oath as follows, That he is of the Age of twenty two
Years, and upwards, and a Batchelor and intends to marry
Mary Marsingale of the Parish of St. Mary
in Beverley aforesaid
Aged twenty one Years, and upwards, and a Spinster

not knowing or believing any lawful let or impediment by Reaſon
of Conſanguinity, Affinity, or any other Cauſe whatſoever, to
hinder the ſaid intended Marriage: And he prayed a Licence to
Solemnize the ſaid Marriage in the Minster in Beverley
aforesaid, in which ſaid
Parish the ſaid Thomas Aldridge further made
Oath, That he the ſaid Thomas Aldridge hath had
his uſual abode for the Space of four Weeks laſt paſt.

On the ſame Day the ſaid Thomas Aldridge
Thomas Aldrige
was Sworn before Me

Robt Rigbey
Surrogate


KNOW all men by theſe Preſents, That we
Thomas Aldridge of the Parish of St. Martin
in Beverley Schoolmaster, and Thomas Whitaker
of the Parish of St. Mary in Beverley Bookseller
are bound and firmly obliged to the Right Worſhipful
SORBORNE MARKHAM, Maſter of Arts Vicar General, and
Official Principal of the moſt Reverend Father in God William
by Divine Providence, Lord Archbiſhop of York, Primare of
Engalnd and Metropolitan, lawfully authorized in the Sum
of Two Hundred Pounds of good and lawful Money of Great
Britain, to be paid to him the ſaid to him the ſaid OSBORNE MARKHAM,
Maſter of Arts, or to his Executors, Adminiſtrators, Succeſſors,
and Aſſigns, for the Payment whereof well and truly to be made,
we oblige ourſelves, and each of us by ourſelves, for the Whole
and the Full, our Heirs, Executors, and Adminiſtrators, firmly
by theſe Preſents, ſealed with our Seals, Given the thirtieth
Day of the Month of May in the Year of our
Lord, One Thouſand Eight Hundred and one.

The Condition of this Obligation is ſuch; That if the above
bounden Thomas Alderidge and Mary Marsingale
now licenſed to be married together, be neither of Conſanguinity
or Aſſinity the one to the other, within the Degrees prohibited for
Marriage: If alſo there be no other Lett, Impediment, or lawful
Cauſe whatſoever, but that they may be lawfully married together,
both by the Laws of God and this Land: Moreover, if the Perſons
whoſe Conſent is required by Law in this Behalf, be thereunto
agreeing; And laſtly, if the ſaid Marriage be done and ſolemnized
in ſuch Manner, as in Licence to them granted is limited, then
this Obligation to be void, or elſe to remain in full Force and
Virtue.

Sealed and Delivered
in the Preſence of
Thomas Aldridge

Robt Rigby
Surrogate

Thos Whitaker

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 720sp – Smith Groh Genealogy – GGGG-Grandparents Charles and Ulricha Seigel and GG-Granduncle Robert Placeway – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Good Day,

Genealogy and the search and research of a family line can certainly require one to pull out and learn all methods of investigation and examination…

As I am searching into the mystery of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway I, at certain times, come across his extended family, relatives, and connection. In this case it is the 1930 US Census for Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the inhabitants at 7019 East Chestnut Street. The occupants of the house are gggg-grandparents Charles and Ulricha Seigel and their grandson, gg-granduncle Robert Placeway.

Here is the image of the 1930 US Census as downloaded from Ancestry.com from the original data from the United States of America, Bureau of the Census, Fifteenth Census of the Unite States, 1930, Washington, DC.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930; T626.

In Part 719p I have provided the 1930 US Census recorded locations of gg-granduncle Robert Placeway’s parents, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel) Placeway and ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway. GGG-grandmother Mary was recorded just around the corner from 7019 East Chestnut Street at her place of work. GGG-Grandfather Brayton is recorded living in Chicago in Illinois.

In my review of the 1930 US Census I have notice two observations that cause me to ask a couple of questions. The first point is that gg-granduncle Robert’s Father’s Place of Birth is recorded as “Unknown”. In the 1920 US Census it is recorded as “Michigan”. All-things-being-equal, it is possible that either gggg-grandfather Charles or gggg-grandmother Ulricha, of whom one provided the enumerator of the 1930 Census with the information, may not have known, or remembered, where their former son-in-law, ggg-grandfather had been born. It just seems strange that they, the Seigels and the Placeways were in the same house during the recording of the 1920 US Census.

The second note that I am trying to figure out is the correlation between gggg-grandfather Charles’ 1930 age and the age provided when he first married to those of gggg-grandmother Ulricha. The ages recorded are: gggg-grandfather Charles – 85 years and gggg-grandmother Ulricha – 67 years; a difference of 18 years, he being the elder of the two. The “Age at first marriage” are listed: gggg-grandfather Charles – 28 years and gggg-grandmother Ulricha – 32; a reverse difference of 4 years.

If gggg-grandmother Ulricha was 32 at her first marriage, my calculations equal that she was first married in 1895. If gggg-grandfather Charles was 28 at his first marriage, the calculations equal that his first marriage was in 1873, or 22 years earlier than his marriage to gggg-grandmother Ulricha. (I hope I have the math correct.) All-things-being-equal, this may mean that gggg-grandfather Charles' marriage to gggg-grandmother Ulricha could have been a 2nd marriage.

Another point of comparison are the years provided by the 1920 and the 1930 US Censuses regarding gggg-grandfather Charles’ “Year of immigration to the United States”. The 1920 US Census records “1888” while the 1930 US Census lists “1848”. A 40 year difference? Definitely something to investigate…

And the Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway continues with just a number of other attached mysteries. Stay tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 719p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – 1930 US Census – Now Divorced

Good Day,

And now we find a new component and the life and times of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway. I have chanced upon the 1930 US Census pages that enumerates both ggg-grandparents Brayton C. and Mary (née Seigel) Placeway. The two pages were recorded 17-19 April 1930 and 18 April 1930, respectively.

GGG-Grandfather Brayton C. is recorded in Cook County, Illinois. He is living at 1804 2D N. Clark. His occupation is listed as a "Machinist" with the "City Bus Transport Co." His marital status is recorded as “D”, Divorced.

GGG-Grandmother Mary is listed as working as an "Attendant" at the "Milwaukee County Asylum For Chronic Insane" in the town of Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Her marital status is listed as “D”, Divorced.

All-things-being-equal we now have documentation noting that ggg-grandfather Brayton C. was divorced from his first and second wives, Johanna (née Plischke) and ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel).

My next door to open is to find the 1930 US Census pages recording ggg-grandparents Brayton C. and Mary (née Seigel)'s two children, gg-grandmother Edith and gg-granduncle Robert Placeway.

The top inserted image is graphic of the Milwaukee County Insane Asylum where ggg-grandmother Mary worked as an Attendant in April 1930. The other image is a circa 1935 photograph of a electric trolley bus that may have belonged to the City Bus Transport Co. where ggg-grandfather Brayton was employed as a Machinist.

Stay tuned for the continued search of The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 718dhg – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – mtDNA X2e1a1 = Doherty -> Holmes -> Gallagher

Good Day,

I decided to take a completely different approach today on A Genealogy Hunt and discuss mtDNA or mitochondrial DNA. This discussion is specific to Andy’s mtDNA or his maternal line DNA.

All of Andy’s brothers and sisters should have the same mtDNA results. This information is only passed by his sisters to their daughters and sons. A daughter will pass her mtDNA to her children and only her daughters will pass the mtDNA structure to her children. Brothers and sons do not pass their mtDNA typing or coding to their children.

Andy received his mtDNA, X2e1a1, from his mother Myrtle Francis Gertrude (née Doherty) Brunhammer. She received her mtDNA from her mother Myrtle H. (née Holmes) Doherty… This continues back from daughter to mother to mother, and in this case, based on our records to Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes.

All of Andy’s aunts and uncles received their mtDNA, X2e1a1, from their mother, Andy’s grandmother Myrtle H. (née Holmes) Doherty. And only his aunts have passed it on to their children, who in turn, his female cousins have passed it on to their children.

Andy’s mtDNA Haplogroup matches, based on the results in the Family Tree DNA database, are extremely interesting percentages. The Percentage is calculated from the Country of Origin reported to the total number from that country in the Family Tree DNA database.

There are three resulting matches and they are:

1. Ireland – 1 Match – Less than 0.1%

2. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya – 17 Matches – 19.5%

3. Tunisia – 5 Matches – 10%

Interesting results based on a total 23 Matches of the Country totals in the Family Tree DNA database of 2,923. These percentages could change in any direction depending upon the addition of more results and participants in the database.

The following is a Family Tree DNA mtDNA Migrations Map showing the possible movement and expansion of ancestry. I have highlighted the path of the Haplogroups - L3 to N to X which shows the approximate route of Andy's maternal line.

As testing is completed, the current results of Andy's mtDNA is X2e1a1. The chart shows the highlighted Haplogroup breakdown and the regional concentrations based on the results of database. Note that X2e concentrates to Georgia, Kyrgyz, Altai. The above inserted image of the map is that area.

If you have any questions, comments, ideas, thoughts, and ideas, please feel free to contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 717s – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1866 Birth and Baptism – Great-Grandmother Mary Helen Sheridan

Good Day,

Today my genealogy search takes a veer to the left, or is it the right, in the discovery of the ancestors of the Doherty Family Line. From the Registers of Baptisms of St. Peter’s Church in Wilmington I have located the Baptism Registration of great-grandmother Mary Helen (née Sheridan) Doherty.

The date of great-grandmother Mary Helen’s baptism is 15 August 1866. A daughter of gg-grandparents Thomas and Helen (née Haley) Sheridan, her birth is recorded at the day previous, 14 August.

Here is the image of the page from the Church records as downloaded from Item 4 of the microfilm [1787748].

The Latin transcription –

Augustus 1866

15th Baptizavi Mariam Helena filiam Thomas Sheridan
et Helena Haley natam heri Sponsores Eugenium
Sheridan et Maria Hayes.

P.R. Obrien

And my translation –

August 1866

15th baptized Mary Helen, daughter of Thomas Sheridan
and Helen Haley, born yesterday, Sponsors Eugene
Sheridan and Mary Hayes.

P.R. O’Brien

And now I have some new information to add to my Sheridan Descendant Chart.

The above inserted image is of alter of St. Peter's Cathedral in Wilmington, Delaware.

Stay-tuned, and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 716p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – Updated Life Timeline

Good Day,

The first 32 years of the life of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway most certainly were busy, for the lack of a better term.

In genealogy once I can gather and corroborate the events, information, data, and dates I can definitely get a glimpse into the life and key points of one’s life. At this point in the creation and updating of ggg-grandfather Brayton C.’s Life Timeline I most definitely am discovering and unearthing a possible and exciting short 32 years.

Here is the latest update of the Brayton C. Placeway Life Timeline.

The search and research of the genealogy and life events of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. is most certainly, in my opinion, a genealogist’s dream example. The only issue at this juncture is that the expansion of the physical Life Timeline is getting somewhat crowded… And this will continue. Just wait until you see what I have found.

As a note of information, I have altered this new update of the Life Timeline. I will now include my new and latest updates in red. All events and incidences typically can be read about in various Postings in A Genealogy Hunt. All-things-being-equal I will shortly be including a cross-reference to the Part number.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 715d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1895 – Birth, Baptism, and Death – Grandaunt Helen Doherty – Wilmington, Delaware

Good Day,

The Genealogy trek continues with the discovery of the vital registrations of grandaunt Helen Doherty (aka Dougherty)’s very short life.

In my project to gather all documentation of all Doherty family and ancestors I have uncovered the pertinent vital records for the life of great-grandaunt Helen Doherty, the only daughter of g-grandparents Gerald and Mary (née Sheridan) Doherty.

The first document and image are the pages, extracted from the 1895 St. Paul’s Register of Baptisms. Grandaunt Helen was born 24 January 1895.

She was baptized by Father M Y Fallon at St. Paul’s Church 3 February 1895. Her sponsors were John and Mary E. Doherty.

Here is the image of the two pages of Page 10, downloaded in parts from Item 6 of microfilm FHL [1788084].

My transcription –

10
No. – 256
FAMILY NAME
Father – Gerald P. Doherty
Mother – Mary E
RESIDENCE – 703 Harrison
CHILD’S NAME – Helen
Date of Birth – Jany 24
Date Baptism – 1895 Feb 3
Sponsors – Jn Doherty & Mary E
Priest – M Y Fallon
Remarks –

Tragically grandaunt Helen Doherty passed away six months after her birth. I have discovered the 1895 Return of A Death in the City of Wilmington registration. From the Family Search, Historical Collections – Delaware, Death Records, 1855 – 1955 I have downloaded the image from Digital Folder Number 4252478, Film Number 6383 and Image Number 373 of 416.

And my transcription. Note carefully how both spellings of the surname, Dougherty and Doherty, are used.

Dougherty, Helen

RETURN OF A DEATH in the City of Wilmington

1. Name of deceased – Helen Dougherty
2. Color – White
3. Sex – Female
4. Age – 6 months
5. Widowed, Married or Single –
6. Date of death – July 24, 1895
7. Cause of Death – Tubercular Meningitis

J. P. Fahey Physician

8. Occupation –
9. Place of birth – Wilmington
10. When a minor – Name of Father – Gerald Doherty
- Name of Mother – Mary E
11. Ward – 5
12. Street and number – 703 Harrison St.
13. Date of burial – July 26
14. Place of burial – Cathedral

Daniel T Killroy (Undertaker)

Another point to note regarding the information as provided in the Family Search database, gg-grandfather Gerald's name has been entered as "Jerald".

And the search continues.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 714p - Smith Groh Genealogy - The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway - 1893 - There's No Place Like Home

Good Day,

I suppose I should not be surprised that something new in my genealogy search for the life and times of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway is always going to show up.

And yes I know that Michigan is not Kansas, but I didn't think I would have to stumble over an article from a newspaper from South Dakota.

From a 13 May 1893 issue of The Daily Huronite I discovered the reporting that a tornado hit in the vicinity of Pinckney in the Putnam Township.

Reading the article I immediately focused on the surname Placeway. It was William Placeway. "The cyclone next struck the premises of William Thompson and William Placeway, half a mile further east, destroying all their farm buildings, orchards, windmills, etc." All-things-being-equal this William Placeway was the father of ggg-grandfather Brayton C.. This could be gggg-grandfather William H. Placeway.

Logically, ggg-grandfather Brayton C. and his twin brother, ggg-granduncle Clayton C., who were born in 1888, would have been about five years old in 1893 at the time of the tornado strike. According to The Daily Huronite Article "All the members of both families (i.e. Thompson and Placeway) were injured, but it is said none seriously."

To further provide additional support that this may have been our Placeway Family, I then read in the article that "A cyclone passed two miles east of this village (i.e., Pinckney) at 2 o'clock a.m... It first struck the barns and buildings of Louis Dryer... The cyclone next struck the premises of William Thompson and William Placeway, half a mile further east..."

I then discovered an 1875 Putnam Township Land Map. This map provided me with the location of the Village of Pinckney and the various locations Placeway (in yellow) and Thompson (in blue) properties. It is almost conceivable to track the actual path of the 1893 tornado.

1875 Putnam Township Land Map U.S.,
Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

The W. H. Placeway indicated on the 1875 map, all-things-being-equal, has to be gggg-grandfather William Henry Placeway, father of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. But there is a modicum of doubt as the map was drawn in 1875, 13 years before the 1893 tornado.

And then I chanced upon another Land Map; a 1915 Putnam Township map. Property owned in the name of W. H. Placeway are on the map. Some of the W. H. Placeway properties are almost in the same location as indicated in the 1875 map. This information provides further support that the 1893 tornado did destroy Placeway buildings and property, as reported by The Daily Huronite of South Dakota. The only issue now is that gggg-grandfather William Henry had passed away four years earlier in 1911 on a visit trip to Iowa.

1915 Putnam Township Land Map U.S.,
Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

A point of information regarding the 1915 Putnam Township map is that I have highlighted, in yellow, a property labeled "Roy Placeway". From my research and discovery to date I believe, that this Roy Placeway could be ggg-grandfather Brayton's 1st cousin, older by 12 years.

This Mystery of GGG-Grandfather Brayton C. Placeway Posting has certainly challenged my search and research skills. And all I can say is that "You were there, and you were there... and most definitely he was there."

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 713p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – 1916 Flint to Perry

Good Day,

Here is another article, actually a social news-note that I just stumbled upon, in my genealogy search to reconstruct the life and times of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway is dated 29 November 1916. This note is from the “Perry Paragraphs” of The Flint Daily Journal. “Mr. and Brayton Placeway… motored to Perry, Sunday…”

A logical conclusion could be that this was ggg-grandfather Brayton and his second wife, Johanna (née Plischke). The month is November 1916; the notice for his subsequent and intended divorce from Johanna appeared in The Flint Daily Journal a year later in November 1917.

A quick search of information of Flint, Michigan, details that the population of the area increased from about 13,000 in 1910 to somewhere in the vicinity of 86,000 in 1916. That is about a 560% increase. Astounding… and then I learned that in 1908 one William Durant organized the General Motors Company and these were the early boom years of the automobile industry. Sort of explains why “Mr. and Mrs. Placeway motored to Perry”, a short 35 miles away.

Now my curiosity is peaked. It is recorded that gg-granduncle Robert Arthur Placeway, all-things-being-equal was ggg-grandfather Brayton C.’s son, was born on 9 July 1916 in Cook County, Illinois. And then ggg-grandfather Brayton is living, as reported by the 1920 US Census, with his first wife, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel), their daughter, gg-grandmother Edith (née Placeway) and son, gg-granduncle Robert. I need to now find the Birth Registration for gg-granduncle Robert Arthur Placeway.

This is getting a wee bit confusing… and I was warned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 712d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1893 Birth and Baptism – Grandfather Gerald Doherty

Good Day,

The Doherty Genealogy and Family Line research and search carries on. From the 1893 recordings of the St. Paul’s Register of Baptisms I have located the Baptism Registration of Grandfather Gerald Doherty.

Here is the image as downloaded from the St. Paul’s Register of Baptisms from Item 5 of the microfilm FHL [1788084]. Due to the size of the page and image, I had to copy the left and right size of the page individually. I then cut and paste the two pieces to create a single image.

My transcription –

292

Register of Baptisms

1893 Date – March 26
Name of Child – Gerald
Lawful Child for – Gerald P Doherty & Mary
Born – March 11
Sponsors – Cornelius McLaughlin & Marg Doherty
Name of Priest – M Y Fallon

Comments, ideas, thoughts, and questions definitely welcomed.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 711p - Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway - 1906 Detroit

Good Day,

And my genealogy hunt continues to understand the life and times of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway... and continues.

Last night I stumbled across, through Genealogy Bank, a couple of articles, actually minuscule notices from a couple of newspapers. All-things-being-equal they each had to have something to do with ggg-grandfather Brayton.

The first is from the 19 July 1906 issue of the Pinckney Dispatch.

If this is ggg-grandfather Brayton, the Local News blurb writes that he is visiting his parents. It indicates that he now, at 18 years old, is living in Detroit, Michigan about 60 miles away from his parents, gggg-grandparents William and Arvilla (nee Spaulding)Placeway.

A couple of facts can be extrapolated from the news note. This include:

1. Pinckney, Michigan is where ggg-grandfather Brayton and his twin brother, ggg-granduncle Clayton were born.

2. GGGG-Grandfather William Placeway did not pass away, as yet, until 1911, when he was visiting one of his daughters in Iowa.

My question - What was ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway doing in Detroit? Guess I'll have to keep searching and research more documents and data bits.

Social notes from city and town newspapers are sometimes a great place to find a small detail(s) of an ancestor's life.

Please contact me if you have any thoughts, ideas, issues, comments, and questions.
Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 710p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – Whatever Happened to Johanna (née Plischke) Placeway?

Good Day,

Sometimes in the search and understanding of genealogy, documentary information and data may provide an answer. And then, sometimes the information does not get you any further ahead.

Accordingly ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway filed for a divorce from his 2nd wife Johanna (née Plischke) of Austria, per The Flint Daily Journal of 17 November 1917. (See Part 697p.) Also I have the 1920 US Census that on 9 January 1920 ggg-grandfather Brayton was living with his first wife, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel), his children, and his in-laws. They were living in Wauwatosa City, in the County of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I chanced upon the 1920 US Census for one Johanna Placeway. This Johanna Placeway is a roomer on 8 January 1920 at 816 Buckham Street in Flint City, in the County of Genesee, Michigan. She was employed as a "Drill Press Operator" at an "Auto Factory".The distance between Johanna and ggg-grandfather Brayton is one day, per the dates of the Censuses, and due west across Lake Michigan about 250 miles, as the crow flies.

There are a couple of points recorded in the 1920 Flint City Census that peak my interest and genealogical curiosity. The Johanna Placeway enumerated on the Census has to be ggg-grandfather Brayton’s wife or ex-wife. Her birthplace, as well as that of her parents, is listed as “Bohemia”. (See Part 694p.) And of course these listed points raise some questions.

1. Johanna Placeway is noted as Married – “M”. My question – When did ggg-grandfather Brayton’s and Johanna (née Plischke)’s 17 November publication for divorce become final?

2. The year of immigration to the United States recorded for Johanna is “1900”. She is also listed as “Na” – “Naturalized” in the year “1915”. The year 1915 makes sense; based on the 1 February 1915 Emergency Passport Application issued at the American Embassy in Berlin, Germany to both ggg-grandfather Brayton and his wife Johanna. My question – Did Johanna visit/come to the United States in the year 1900? Why?

3. Was ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway legally divorced from his first wife, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel)?

And I guess I just keep on searching…

Stay tuned, and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 709p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – Updated Ancestral Mapping

Good Day,

Visual tools are complimentary in genealogy to the detail and information found. I have used Ancestral Atlas, an ancestry mapping software, to provide a graphic mapping and overview of key pinpoints and locations that ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway.

This current mapping begins with the pinpoints of ggg-grandfather Brayton’s birth in 1888 and follows through to the enumeration and recording of his residence with his family per the 1920 United States Census. I have added the connecting red dotted lines to provide the connection between key locations.

As I follow the life and times and mysteries of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway, I will be adding key pinpoints to track his various locations and occupations.

To date, and between 1888 and 1920 these are the various recorded and reported jobs attributed to ggg-grandfather Brayton.

1888 – 17 April – Birth of twin brothers Brayton C. and Clayton C. Placeway, Putnam, Livingston, Michigan, USA

1900 – 11 June – Student, Putnam, Livingston, Michigan, USA

1906 – 1915 – Employed with Barnum & Bailey Circus, Europe

1910 – 15 April – Apprentice Seaman, U.S. Navy, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA

1906 – 1915 – English/German Interpreter, Gas Company, Gablonz, Austria (albeit Jablonec nad Nisou, Bohemia)

1915 – 1 February – Theatrical Artist, Berlin, Germany

1920 – 9 January – Stuffing Clerk, Express Company, Wauwatosa City, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Definitely to be continued. Stay tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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My Tangent - Not Only Genealogy But Muffins Too...

Good Day,

Yes, I am obsessed with genealogy... and quilting. But I do have a couple other likes that from time-to-time bide my time.

Today was the third time in a couple of weeks that I set myself back to another one of my long-lost loves; baking.

Who'd'a thought that running a bakery that many years ago would necessarily put me back into the mood to start again? But first, let me explain, I'm not starting a bakery... I'm just doing the baking. I think that there is also the sticker shock after I purchased some baked goods at a specialty coffee and goodies shop.

And I've started off with muffins.

The first batch - Banana, sour cream, and toasted walnuts. Didn't have enough sour cream so I substituted half required with yogurt. Not a bad result, and they didn't last long out of the oven.

The next dozen was Cranberry and orange. But this one doesn't count. This was from a box off the shelf. I was being a bit lazy and thinking that everything would be pre-measured and in easy plastic compartments if I used a box/package. I definitely wanted to see and taste if there was a real difference between homemade and packaged goods. Damn right there's a difference... But I am confused, why did the package mix instructions only state that the resulting batter would make 11 regular-sized muffins?

My next homemade batch was a mixture of cornmeal, flour, bacon, green onions, and three types of cheeses: Asiago, white cheddar, and mozzarella. These were terrific, and you can tell that "Chopped" is definitely having a lasting effect on my approach to cooking.

Today's experiment was blueberry, sugar, and grated lime peel. The recipe called for lemon peel, but I only have a key-lime tree in the back-yard. A blueberry sugar reduction was made to swirl into the batter of each muffin. Also a mixture of sugar and lime peel was mixed and sprinkled on top. Fresh out of the oven, only half a dozen left.

And yes, the above image of six lime-sugared blueberry muffins are the ones out of my oven.

And here's to fairly good baked goods.

Now I will focus on A Genealogy Hunt on my Mystery of the genealogy and life of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway. Also, got to work on the next new Quilt SB designs.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 708p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – Updated Life Timeline

Good Day,

As a compliment to my genealogy research to the mystery of the life and times of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway, I have created an evolving Life Timeline. This Time Lifeline is a means and way to see a quick overview and diarized picture of ggg-grandfather Brayton’s life and the events as I discover them.

All-things-being equal, ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway’s Time Lifeline will get longer and more details will be added. To date I have included that which I have found for his first 32 years.

I have created this Time Lifeline using SmartDraw VP. If you have any comments, thoughts, ideas, and questions please feel free to contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 707p – Smith Groh Genealogy – The Mystery of Brayton C. Placeway – 1920 US Census – Some Confusion?

Good Day,

Following up with my genealogy search and the mystery of ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway I now move from 17 November 1917 to 9 January 1920. The 17 November 1917 date is the reference to the newspaper clipping regarding his request for a divorce from his second wife, Johanna (née Plischke). See my Posting Part 697p for the details.

We now move forward to the registration of the 14th Census of the United States on 9 January 1920. According to the actual page of the 1920 US Census ggg-grandfather Brayton C. Placeway is now living at 173 Chestnut Street in Wauwatosa City, in the County of Milwaukee, in the State of Wisconsin.

He is living with his first wife ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel) and their two children; gg-grandmother Eideth (aka Edith) and gg-granduncle Robert. The house and residence is actually owned by his in-laws gggg-grandparents Charles and Ulricha (née Manthye) Seigel. Also in the house are ggg-grandmother Mary’s two brothers and one sister; ggg-granduncles Walter E. and Arthur R, and ggg-grandaunt Helen J.

Here are the listed residents at 173 Chestnut Street –

Charles Seigel – Head – Age: 74 years
Ulricha Seigel – Wife – Age: 58 years
Walter E. Seigel – Son – Age: 24 years
Arthur R. Seigel – Son – Age: 21 years
Helen J. Seigel – Daughter – Age: 19 years
Brayton Placeway – Son in law – Age: 31 years
Mary Placeway – Daughter – Age: 29 years
Eideth Placeway – Grandaughter – Age: 10 years
Robert Placeway – Grandson – Age: 3 5/12 years

And now for the bit of confusion. GG-Granduncle Robert, ggg-grandparents Brayton and Mary (née Seigel) Placeway’s son was born about July 1916. GGG-Grandfather Brayton’s notice for divorce from his second wife Johanna (née Plischke) was published in The Flint Daily Journal on 17 November 1917. (See Part 697p.)

The timing of events seems to be somewhat puzzling. But it is not necessarily the above-mentioned birth and divorce dates that are confusing. What I have not been able to find, at this point in my search and research, is documentation that ggg-grandfather Brayton ever divorced and re-married his first wife, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel), who he had married initially on 9 September 1908. (See Part 675ps.)

A quick summary of dates and events concerning this period of ggg-grandfather Brayton’s life are:

9 Sep 1908 – Married 1st wife, ggg-grandmother Mary (née Seigel) in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

22 Jul 1909 – Birth of daughter, gg-grandmother Edith (née Placeway) in Pinckney, Michigan

Circa Nov 1914 – Married 2nd wife, Fraulein Johanna (née Plischke) of Austria

Circa Feb 1915 – Returns with 2nd wife, Fraulein Johanna (née Plischke) to New York

9 Jul 1916 – Birth of son, Robert Arthur Placeway in, as indicated in some records, Cook County, Illinois

17 Nov 1917 – Notification of divorce proceedings against his 2nd wife Fraulein Johanna (née Plischke) issued in Flint, Michigan

9 Jan 1920 – Living with 1st wife, ggg-grandmother Mary, his two children and his Seigel in-laws in Wauwatosa City, Wisconsin

Did ggg-grandparents Brayton and Mary (née Seigel) Placeway ever divorce before ggg-grandfather married his 2nd wife Johanna (née Plischke) of Austria? That is my question. I will keep looking.

I will soon be updating the Brayton C. Placeway Life Timeline. Stay tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 706d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Dohertys, The Next Generation(s) – Thoughts On Naming Conventions

Good Day,

Okay, before we head off for Andy's 12:30 CT, left wrist, surgery, I may have had a genealogy epiphany...

GG-Grandparents Philip and Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty’s first four children appear to have been:

1. Daniel Doherty, born 1863,
2. Gerald Doherty, born 1864,
3. Helen Doherty, born 1866, and
4. Mary Ellen Doherty, born 1868.

GG-Grandmother Margaret's parents were Gerald and Ellen (née McGuiness) Doherty.

According to the 1870 US Census the Docherty (aka Doherty) household included -

1. Philip Docherty, 38 years,
2. Margart Docherty, 30 years,
3. Jerald Docherty, 5 years,
4. Margartt Docherty, - 6/12 months,
5. Daniel Docherty, 60 years, and
6. Hugh Docherty, 28 years

A general rule of thumb in naming children, especially in Ireland, followed a naming convention and pattern.

Irish Naming Conventions

1. The 1st son (Daniel) was usually named after the father's father (Daniel ?). Is this the 60-year old Daniel Docherty listed living with Doherty (aka Docherty) Family in 1870? Could the 60-year Daniel Docherty have been gg-grandfather Philip’s father?

2. The 2nd son (Gerald) was usually named after the mother's father (Gerald). GG-Grandmother Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty’s father’s name was Gerald.

3. The 3rd son (Philip) was usually named after the father (Philip). GG-Grandfather’s name was Philip.

4. The 4th son (John Patrick) was usually named after the father's eldest brother (John ?). There is a coincidental family of Dohertys, according to the 1870 US Census, living down fromgg-grandparents Philip and Margaret Doherty’s house at 731 Madison Street in Wilmington. The John Doherty’s are living at 232 Madison Street. The head of the household, John Doherty is listed at 50 years old. GG-Grandfather Philip Doherty is listed at 48 years old. My question – Is John Doherty at 232 Madison Street gg-grandfather Philip Doherty’s older brother?

5. The 5th son was usually named after the mother's eldest brother. There is no 5th Doherty son on record, at this point in my search.

6. The 1st daughter (Helen) was usually named after the mother's mother (Ellen). Helen is an English variation of the name Ellen.

7. The 2nd daughter (Mary Ellen) was usually named after the father's mother, (Mary ?).

8. The 3rd daughter (Margaret aka Greta) was usually named after the mother (Margaret).

9. The 4th daughter (Frances aka Fannie Annie) was usually named after the mother's eldest sister, (Fannie ?). Could the Fannie Doherty, who passed away in 1895 at 731 Madison Street, have been gg-grandmother Margaret’s elder sister?

10. The 5th daughter (Mary Agnes) was usually named after the father's eldest sister, (Mary ?). This would tie to possibility that the 2nd daughter, great-grandaunt Mary Ellen may have been named for gg-grandfather Philip’s mother Mary. It also leads to the possibility that gg-grandfather Philip may have had an elder sister named Mary named for his mother who may have been named Mary. (Now trying saying that all in one breath…)

I have included all the family ancestors in red that would fit in the naming convention. All-things-being-equal the five blue names are the persons who a specific child may have been named after. Obviously there is a coincidence regarding the 1st son Daniel... and the possibility that he may have been named for the Daniel Docherty (aka Doherty) who was living in Philip and Margaret's home in 1870. This could lead that Daniel Docherty may have been Philip's father... I can't prove this as yet but it definitely makes some sense.

Here the updated Doherty Descendant Chart for cross-reference.

Certainly would appreciate anyone’s thoughts, ideas, comments, and questions. Also it certainly would be exciting if any Doherty descendant may have some notes, maybe a letter or a page from a Family Bible, or a photograph… or any type of cryptic memento that could assist in the search for the Doherty Family Lines.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 705d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Doherty Descendant Chart Updated

Good Day,

Since I posted Part 665d, my last update to the Doherty Descendant Chart, I have definitely added a number of new bits of information and data. As I continue to mention, and write, my work in genealogy is “Always Under Construction”. Even though everything has happened in the past, I am constantly finding and learning new details about ancestors and family members.

I am a very visual person. I have to see everything in pictures, especially in the form and Descendant and Ancestral charts. Above is my latest update to the Doherty Family Line and the Doherty Descendant Chart.

As always the Doherty Descendant Chart is in reference to the ancestral relationships to Andy. I have highlighted his direct Doherty line by indicating his immediate blood line with yellow and blue symbols. All new, updated, and changed data is emphasized in red. The codes that are interspersed throughout the Chart are the Part numbers as referenced to my Postings and discussion on A Genealogy Hunt.

If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, and ideas, please feel to get in touch with me.

Jim

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Part 704d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Number 11 Has Been Found!!!

Good Day,

Well I have been searching and researching the clue of the 1900 US Census that states that gg-grandmother Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty had had 11 children. And I believe I have had success. Ceteris paribus, I do believe the find may be the 11th Doherty great-grand…

Okay here is my thinking process and what I have done and found.

Following up my Posting Part 703d I mathematically decided to compute the time frame between the marriage of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty and the birth of each of their 10 known children.

Each of my calculations is the time elapsed between each event. Therefore beginning with the Marriage of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret on 4 January 1863 and calculating the time to the Birth of great-grandfather Gerald Paul the intervening time was 1 year, 10 months, and 21 days. Taking into account the 9-month period prior to g-grandfather Gerald Paul’s birth, there would have been a possibility of a birth of the 11th child sometime between Jan 1863 and February 1864. This is the approximate period of time I would need to search the St. Peter’s and St. Paul's Registers of Baptisms for any indication of the registration of another, the 11th child.

1. Marriage of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret – 4 Jan 1863 – The Starting Point
- Search St. Peter’s Parish Records – January 1863 to February 1864

2. Birth of g-grandfather Gerald Paul – 25 Nov 1864 – 1 year, 10 months, 21 days
- Search St. Peter’s Parish Records – November 1864 to June 1865

3. Birth of g-grandaunt Helen – 25 Mar 1866 – 1 year, 4 months
- Search St. Peter’s Parish Records – March 1866 to April 1867

4. Birth of g-grandaunt Mary Ellen – 14 Jan 1868 – 1 year, 9 months, 20 days
- Search St. Peter’s Parish Records – January 1868 to March 1869

5. Birth of g-grandaunt Margaret aka Greta – 22 Dec 1869 – 1 year, 11 months, 8 days
- Search St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Parish Records – December 1869 to December 1870

6. Birth of g-granduncle Philip – 3 Sep 1871 – 1 year, 8 months, 12 days
- Search St. Paul’s Parish Records – September 1871 to May 1872

7. Birth of g-granduncle John Patrick – 18 Feb 1873 – 1 year, 5 months, 15 days
- Search St. Paul’s Parish Records – February 1873 to March 1874

8. Birth of g-grandaunt Fannie Annie aka Frances – 20 Dec 1874 – 1 year, 10 months, 2 days
- Search St. Paul’s Parish Records – December 1874 to November 1875

9. Birth of g-grandaunt Mary Agnes – 4 Aug 1876 – 1 year, 7 months, 15 days
- Search St. Paul’s Parish Records – August 1876 to September 1877

10. Birth of g-grandaunt Elizabeth – 26 Jun 1878 – 1 year 10 months, 22 days
- Search St. Paul’s Parish Records – June 1878 to November 1879

11. Birth of g-grandaunt Catherine – 11 Aug 1880

Having set the parameters for my search, I began to go through the St. Peter’s Register of Baptisms beginning at January 1863. Reviewing the registrations, from Item 4 of the microfilm FHL [1787748], I stumbled upon one baptism at the bottom of a page dated 11 October 1863. Well guess what? I held my breath… enlarged the image to get a better read. It is; it has to be number 11. Great-Granduncle Daniel Doherty born 9 October 1863 and baptized 11 October 1863. Nine months after the 4 January 1863 marriage of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty. Eureka!

Here is the image of the registration page from the Register of Baptisms. You will note that the image of the page is somewhat obtuse at the center fold. You can read “Philippi Doh…” and then “& Margarita Do-”, and one of the Sponsors is “Dionysius Doherty”.

And here is my transcription and translation of the Latin.

1863

October

11th Baptizari Danielem, filium Philippi Do(herty), et Margarita Do-(herty), natum 9th huius, sponsores Dionysius Doherty et Catherina McGonigle

11th baptized Daniel, son of Philip Doh(erty) and Margaret Do-(herty), born 9th of this month (October), sponsors Denis Doherty and Catherine McGonigle

Great-Granduncle Daniel Doherty was the first and eldest of the 11 children of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty. All-things-being-equal, there may have been other children born to gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret. There is that possibility given the timing between each of the 11 children. At this point, Doherty Family history does not indicate the addition of any more children.

My next step... to recreate and update the Doherty Descendant Chart. Stay-tuned.

If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, and ideas please feel free to contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 703d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Is Greta Actually Margaret? – And, Were There Eleven Dohertys?

Good Day,

In my genealogy hunt for the offspring of gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty, all-things-being-equal, I can only go by the "11" children as listed as credited to gg-grandmother Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty in the 1900 US Census.

According to the 1900 US Census taken in Wilmington, it enumerated and noted that great-grandmother Margaret Dougherty (aka Doherty) had had 11 children. At the point of time when the 1900 US Census was taken, on 2nd of June 1900, six of her children were still living and they were listed as: "Gerrold, Margaret, Fannie, Mary, Lizzie, and Katie".

1900 US Federal Census, Delaware, New Castle County,
Wilmington Hundred, Wilmington City, 2 June 1900.

I am almost convinced that great-grandaunt Greta was great-grandaunt Margaret.

And here is my logic... 1. Greta is NOT listed in the 1900 US Census.

2. Margaret is listed in the 1900 US Census. Her birth month and year are listed as December 1869, and her age is given at 30 years.

3. Greta is a diminutive form of Margaret, of which Greta is a nickname.

4. Greta's 2nd November 1950 Death Certificate has her birth date, as informed by her sister Catherine Doherty, as December 23, 1871. There is a possibility that great-grandaunt Catherine may not have provided the exact day and year of great-grandaunt Greta (née Margaret)'s birth date.

5. Margaret's Baptism Registration from St. Peter's Register of Baptisms records her birth data as 22 December 1869.

6. The family moved from St. Peter's to St. Paul's just after St. Paul's was established in 1869. St. Paul's was established on around 20 December 1869.

All-things-being-equal, and of course this could change, I would tend to believe, based on the above logic, that Greta was actually Margaret.

I have been examining available documentation that is uniquely different, available for Greta versus Margaret. And as I note that if Greta is Margaret, which is highly likely, then there should be another child, an additional one to make the total 11.

As things went, it would appear that whoever provided the information to the enumerator when he (or she) knocked at the door in June of 1900, s/he, the Doherty providing the information, may have had first-hand knowledge of the existence of 11 children. There were 7 persons listed as living at the house: gg-grandmother Margaret; her six living children, and grandfather Gerald. If the enumerator came during the day to take the Census information I would presume the majority of the six were more than likely at work and grandfather Gerald may have been at school as he would have been about 6 or 7 years old. There is a great possibility that it was gg-grandmother Margaret who may have provided the enumerator with the information.

All-things-being-equal, I would tend to believe that great-grandaunt Frances may have been the "Fannie Annie" who listed in the St, Peter’s Register of Baptisms. It is too coincidental regarding the dates and the fact that, and I believe, she was known as "Aunt Fannie". Fannie is a definitive diminutive of the name Frances. I just think it may have been a case of the Priest getting his bookkeeping done and in the process he may have put down what he "remembered".

This is sort of the same situation as the Greta versus Margaret and the Doherty versus Dougherty spelling issues. Note also that the enumerator listed both great-grandfather and grandfather as "Gerrod" versus their correct names "Gerald".

When it comes to research I have found three things that are usually all over the place - spellings of names, dates of birth, and years of immigration. Putting everything in place, I usually accept all names as I see them. I enter the first found occurrence of a name on the first document I come across into my genealogy database. As I find subsequent spellings and iterations of the name I add them to my database in the section "Also known as".

And now, if great-grandaunt Greta is great-grandaunt Margaret then I am still searching for the 11th Doherty sibling. Who knows whom I may find?

Stay tuned and enjoy,

Jim

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Part 702d – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1861 Death – GG-Granduncle Bernerd Doherty – Wilmington, Delaware

Good Day,

One never knows what surprises lurk around each corner of this genealogy thing. All I can say is that  I am not pressing any leaves and getting an immediate revelation.

Genealogy does take time to search, research, investigate, read, understand, and formulate the mire of intricate relationships that are revealed and unearthed from discovered data and information. I believe that this is the intriguing and inspiring part of genealogy on which I tend to thrive.

Most recently I came across and discovered the 6 November 1861 Death Return of one Bernerd Doherty. Apart from the tragedy of being taken at 23 years of age by Consumption, Tuberculosis, this new document is a definite helping key to the re-creation of the Doherty Family Line.

Source Citation - "Delaware, Death Records, 1855-1955," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FNG1-X5L : accessed 1 June 2012), Bernerd Doherty, 1861.

This 1861 Death Return has three key elements that are critical to the Doherty Family Line and Ancestry. These are:

1. Bernerd’s surname is written "Doherty",

2. Bernerd lived on Madison Street in Wilmington, and

3. Bernerd’s parents were Gerrett and Ellen Doherty.

From gg-grandmother Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty's 30 December 1919 Certificate of Death we learned that her parents were ggg-grandparents Gerald and Ellen (née McGuiness) Doherty. (See Part 663d.) All-things-being-equal ggg-grandparents Gerald and Ellen it seems more than likely that ggg-grandparents Gerald and Ellen could be the same persons as Gerrett and Ellen Doherty, the parents of Bernerd Doherty.

On this supposition, Bernerd Doherty would have been gg-grandmother Margaret (née Doherty) Doherty’s brother. He would have been Andy’s gg-granduncle Bernerd. I would be inclined, but I do not have any documentary proof at this junction, that his name could have also been spelled Bernard.

As gg-grandmother Margaret passed away, as written on her 1919 Certificate of Death, at the age of 80 years, it could be calculated that she was born about 1839. GG-Granduncle Bernerd, based on his death on 6 November 1861 and that he was 23 years old, was born about 1838. He would have been gg-grandmother Margaret’s elder brother by approximately one year.

Another key factor from gg-granduncle Bernerd’s Death Return is that his Residence is listed at “Madison St.” This is the same street where gg-grandparents Philip and Margaret Doherty lived with their family in 1880. GG-Grandfather Philip is listed in the 1874 Wilmington City Directory living at 731 Madison Street. Both GG-Grandfather Philip and the single Fannie Doherty (Part 696d) passed away at 731 Madison Street in 1897 and 1895, respectively.

The Residence fact, tied in with the above arguments, and that gg-granduncle Bernerd’s surname on the 1861 Death Return is “Doherty”, corresponds to the surname of Doherty of the 1863 Marriage Registration of gg-grandfather Philip Doherty and gg-grandmother Margaret Doherty. (See Part 674d.) This provides additional corroborating proof and evidence that the spelling of Doherty, at least as far back as 1838, was/is the approach to spell the surname.

But I do continue to have a puzzler.  Who actually was Fannie Doherty, who lived at 731 Madison Street, and passed away there on 24 May 1895? And I'll keep looking.

Any questions, thoughts, ideas, and comments, please contact me. Also stay tuned… more definitely to come.

Enjoy,

Jim

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