Wordless Wednesday: Henry D. Snyder Family
The Henry Snyder family
A family photo circa 1889: Saraphine K. (Witmer) Snyder, Lillian Witmer Snyder, and Henry D. Snyder of East Greenville, Pennsylvania.
Witmer Family, ca 1911
It’s amazing what you find when you go looking. I was rescanning some photos that are already on the site at a higher resolution to send to a cousin and came across this photo.
Witmer Family circa 1911
It features the following family members: (seated) Henry and Saraphine (Witmer) Snyder, Lillian (Snyder) and Russ Greulich, Lydia (Kline) and Edward Witmer; (standing) Gertrude Witmer, Horace and Mary (Breish) Witmer. I don’t know who the two girls are or the woman and teenager behind and to their left (our right). But it does clear up a question I had about the following photos:
Russ Greulich 1911
Witmer Grandchildren circa 1911
I’ve always wondered who these children were and how they fit into the family. Now I know that the infant in the middle is my grandfather Russ Greulich. I still don’t know who the two girls are, though. Do you?
Fearless Females: How Did They Meet?
Today’s entry to celebrate Women’s History Month in the blog meme Fearless Females is:
How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?
My parents both went to Pennsylvania State College in Centre County, Pennsylvania. My father was in a fraternity and my mother in a sorority. They met, I believe, through those groups.
The Hockers, 1941
When my paternal grandmother was eighteen, she left Pine Glen and took a job as domestic help, looking after the children, the house, etc. for the Bogar family in Harrisburg. (She’s still friends with Mrs. Bogar!) My grandfather was working with his father, a carpenter, who was doing some work on the Bogar’s house when they met. My grandfather told us that he took one look at grandma and knew she was the woman he’d marry. She made him wait, however, until she was twenty-one and could get her mother’s blessing on the marriage.
I don’t know how my maternal grandparents met. They never talked about their families. I do know that the Greulichs and Wieders lived in neighboring communities in northern Montgomery County. My maternal grandparents were even cousins-by-marriage. My grandfather’s Aunt Katherine Greulich married my grandmother’s Uncle John William Wieder. Perhaps they met through the family. My grandfather’s parents, however, were not keen on the marriage. Apparently, E. J. Wieder, my grandmother’s father had “gone through a fortune” and that somehow made my grandmother a less than stellar match for their only son. Edwin J. Wieder was a jeweler for 30 years in Pennsburg—a business he opened shortly before his marriage in 1905. He was a postmaster for Pennsburg for nine years and a town burgess for eight years. He also served on the town council and as an auditor. It’s quite likely that he lost the jewelry business during the depression (1932-1935).
My grandmother was a physical education teacher by vocation, but a musician—a violinist—by avocation. My grandfather once told my mother that grandma’d turned down a career as a violinist to marry him. She likely got her passion for music from her mother Mary Catharine “Mae” Waage, who was a “successful and well liked music teacher” before her marriage.[1 “A Pretty Home Wedding,” Town and County, Apr 1905] Grandpa was also a amateur musician. He played trombone and one summer played in a shipboard band for his passage to Europe. My maternal grandmother also made my grandfather wait for marriage. They waited two years until she got her teaching certificate.
Fearless Females is, a blogging meme, presented by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog in celebration of National Women’s History Month.
Shockey’s Counterfeit Currency
In a previous post I wrote about connections some of my Hoovers had with the Shockey family of Washington County, Maryland. In reviewing the PDF file of Maryland Historical Magazine, volume 13, number 3, I found reference to the Shockeys again. This time in relation to counterfeit money during the Revolutionary War. I’d read about this elsewhere online, but it was interesting to read about it in the minutes of the Committee of Observation for Elizabeth Town.
In reviewing reference to fines paid to the Committee by local Mennonites, I saw the following:
1777, March 1st To Cash paid the Regulars for standg Guard over Isaac Christn Shockey, Jno Tedrow and Jno Acton… 4 [pounds]..17 [shillings]..0 [pence] 1
Then somewhat earlier in the document, I found the confession of John Tedrow.2
Sunday evening Febry 2d 1777… John Tedrow A Prisoner in this Town, for passing counterfeit Virginia Money, was brought before Committee, upon Examination confessed that he went to Isaac Shockeys on tuesday the 21st of Jany last tarried there some Days that sd Shockey agreed to give hime the sd Tedrow 150 dollars of sd Counterfeit Money, in order to pass out of which Tedrow was to return one half, but afterward sd Shockey only gave him 78 Dollars saying there was no more sign’d, and that the person who sign’d the Money, would sign no more, at that time, because he purpos’d to have it press’d, thinking it not yet compleat, that said Tedrow when pass’d what he had receiv’d, was to repair to sd Shockey for more, who promised to supply him therewith, and that he the sd Tedrow might return what he pleas’d in Lieu of the 78 Dollars receiv’d that there was at Shockey’s a certain Person dress’d in white Broad-Cloath Coat Jacket and Breeches, with a velvet Cape on Coat, whom he the sd Tedrow suspected to be the Signer of sd Money, that sd Tedrow asked sd Shockey that Gentleman’s name, Shockey replied he knew it not, and that he refus’d to tell his Name to any person, that a certain Christian Hearn was at Shockeys in the Company with the aforesaid Gentleman, said he was a Captain, and came on purpose to Recruit.
Sign’d John his X mark Tedrow
Upon receiving the aforegoing Confession of John Tedrow it is ordered that a strong Guard be sent to apprehend Isaac Stophel, Felty and Abraham Shockey, and all others whom they may have reason to suspect to be concern’d with the said Counterfeit Virginia money and them or either of them bring before this Committee to answer sd Charge and likewise to bring all Counterfeit money, Materials thereto belonging, and all fire Arms that may be found in their or either of their possessions.3
Monday Feby 3d 1777… The Guard sent to apprehend the Shockeys return’d, and delivered to Committee the Bodies of Isaac, and Christian Shockey, who on Examination denied the Charge of being privy to, or concern’d with the making and passing Counterfeit Virginia Money. Ordered that the said Shockeys be confin’d in Irons in the Common Goal for this County until legally discharged therefrom Redd from the Guard a Rifle Gun got at Valentine Shockey’s marck’d on the Butt W.S.4
Tuesday Feby 4th… John Acton (agreeable to order) was brought before Committee, charg’d with writing & sending a Letter to Isaac Shockey at said Shockey’s Request, to the Intent that said Shockey and his Banditti might rescue John Tedrow a Prisoner, (for passing Counterfeit Virginia Money) from the Guard who then had said Tedrow in Custody, upon Examination acknowledged the Charge Therefore ordered that sd Acton be kept in Irons close confin’d in the Common Goal, untill legally discharg’d therefrom.5
Saturday Feby 8th 1777… Ordered that Capn Andrew Linck pay David Harry £2…12…6 for his services and nine men under his Command in apprehending Isaac and Christian Shockey—and that the Shockeys pay the same to Committee.6
Monday Feby 10th 1777… Information being made to Committee that a certain Christian Kearn and James Quigg (alias) Quick residing near Baltimore are principally concern’d, with the Shockeys, in making and passing Counterfeit Virginia Money—Resolved that a Letter be sent to the Committee of Baltimore giving them Intelligence thereof, that they may take Order therein.7
Monday Feby 24th 1777… On Motion resolved that Letters be sent immediately to the Committees at Reading and McAllister Town informing them that this Committee has receiv’d Intelligence that a Certain Christian Kearn, James Quigg (alias) Quick and Benjn Lewis are Principally concern’d in making and passing the present Counterfeit Virginia money now circulating, that they hold a Lodge near sd Town, that the Paper of sd money was made at the Paper Mill on Schuykill near Reading Town. That a Letter be likewise sent to the Committee at Chambers Town giving them intelligence that this Committee has been inform’d that a certain Benjn Nugent near sd Town is concern’d wth the aforsd persons in passing sd money, that sd Committees may take order therein and apprehend such Malefactors.8
Saturday March 1st 1777… Ordered that Baltzer Gull pay John Adair 10/6 for three standing Guard over Isaac, Christr Shockey, Jno Tedrow and Jno Acton, the sum of £4..17 that a Rifle belonging to Christr Shockey be apprais’d and sold to defray the Expence…
Ordered that Baltzer Gull pay John Fackler £2. for his and seven Men’s Services in assisting to apprehend John Acton &c living at Green Spring Furnace.9
March 1st 1777…By Do [Cash] paid to John Fockler for him & 7 Men going as Guard to Green Spring furnace for John Acton &c 2£..—..— 10
The Shockey story goes on. I found this in an online message board:
The following information is from historical newspapers available on line.
Apr. 8 1777- Dunlap’s Maryland Gazette- ” 10 Pounds Reward – Broke out of Frederick County gaol the following persons Isaac Shockey, Christian Shockey (son of Valentine), Christopher Shockey, John Tutterow and John Acton, who were committed upon suspicion of counterfeiting and passing counterfeit Virginia money.”
November 23, 1779 -Pennsylvania Packet – ” At the Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Carlisle for the Hon. Thomas McKean and William Atlee, Justices. Christopher Shockey was tried and convicted and received the sentence of death for passing counterfeit 30 dollar bills of Continental money dated 22nd July 1776”
And from legislative document ‘We hear that the execution of the sentence of death lately pronounced at Carlisle, against Christopher Shockey for the counterfeiting of paper money is ordered to be done at Carlisle on Wed. 8th of Dec.’11
Fearless Females: Marriages
Today’s entry for Fearless Females is about family marriages:
Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.
Elmer and Lillian Greulich marriage record, 21 Sep 1901
My great-grandparents Elmer Calvin Greulich and Lillian Witmer Snyder were married on 21 Sep 1901 in East Greenville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia.1 Elmer, born 6 Aug 1880, was the son of immigrant Karl Philipp (Charles Philip) Greulich and his second wife Caroline Krauss Wolf. Elmer was a cigarmaker. Lilliam, born 26 Oct 1879, was the daughter of Henry D. and Saraphine K. (Witmer) Snyder. She was a teacher.
My great-grandparents Edwin Joshua Wieder and Mary Catharine “Mae” Waage were married on 19 Apr 1905 in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.2 Edwin, born 29 Mar 1880, was the son of Emanuel and Alavesta Esther (Dillinger) Wieder. Edwin was a jeweler, then a baker and postmaster at Pennsburg. Mae, born 27 Oct 1877, was the daughter of Dr. Charles Theodore and Lydia S. (Eshbach) Waage of Pennsburg. She was a music teacher and later a postal clerk in Pennsburg. Coverage of their wedding stated:
E.J. Wieder and Mae Waage Marriage Record
“A Pretty Home Wedding. Amid Profuse Decorations in the Presence of a number of Relatives and Invited Guests Two if Our Young People are Married.
A pretty wedding was solemnized at 3:30 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon at the residence of Dr. C. T. Waage, of Pennsburg, when his only daughter, Miss Mae C. was united in marriage to E.J. Wieder Jr. of Pennsburg. The ceremony was performed by two uncles of the bridge, Revs. O.F. Waage, of Pennsburg, and Rev. Kehm, of Sellersville…
…The bride was attended by Miss Stella Troxell, cousin of the bride, of Philadelphia, and Charles W. Keely, of the firm Dotts & Keely, of Philadelphia, was best man. Miss Gertrude Anders, of Lansdale, presided at the piano, and Dr. Fred Waage, cousin of the bride, was usher…
…The guests present were Dr. and Mrs. C. T. Waage, parents of the bride, Mr. and Mars. E. J. Wieder, parents of the groom, John Wieder [brother], Miss Cora Wieder [sister], Miss Lizzie Bobb [cousin of the bride], Miss Ada V. Waage [aunt], Mrs. and Mrs. M. K. Gilbert, Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Hunsberger, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Steckel, Misses Vinnie Mensch [cousin’s F.O. Waage soon-to-be bride], Nora Kneule, and Florence Dyson, of Pennsburg; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ott [groom’s cousins], and Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Moyer [groom’s aunt and uncle] and daughter of Limeport; Mrs. Frank [Dillinger] Heller [groom’s aunt] of Standard; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anders, of Landsdale; Miss Alice Welker, of Red Hill; John Hillegass and Miss Bertha Raudenbush, of East Greenville; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jacoby, Mr. and Mrs. Cressman, Mrs. Dr. Ritter, Harry Kehm [bride’s cousin] and Miss Tillie Cressman, of Sellersville, and George Welker, Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Huber, Mrs. C. F. Schoenly, George Day, Frank Haring, Misses Sarah Weil and Nora Keller, members of the St. Mark’s choir.”3
William and Isabella (Smith) Hocker
My great-grandparents William Howard and Isabella Aitken (Smith) Hocker were married 13 Oct 1914 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania by Rev. H. Everett Hallman.4 Will, born 17 Aug 1890, was the son of Albert Curtin and Lillian Ainsley (Leedy) Hocker. Will was a carpenter. Isabella, born 4 Apr 1893, was the daughter of William and Eliza Craig (Bonnington) Smith. She was telephone operator in Harrisburg.
Clyde and Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover
My great-grandparents Clyde L. and Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover were married 16 Apr 1908 in Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.5 Clyde, born 30 Oct 1886, was the son of Samuel Thomas and Victoria (Walker) Hoover of Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Clyde was a lumberman. Nora, born 26 Oct 1891, was the daughter of George W. and Lovina Caroline (Force) Houdeshell. Nora, aged 16, was a cook at a lumber camp. Her father apparently told all his daughters at age 16 to either get married or get a job. Nora, I’m told, refused to give her consent to a marriage for any of her daughters who didn’t wait until they were 21 years old.
Fearless Females is, a blogging meme, presented by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog in celebration of National Women’s History Month.
Friday Finds: Maryland Historical Magazine
I was recently going through the stacks of materials distributed around my “office” when I came across a document I’d ordered from PERSI—”Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Elizabeth Township District [Washington County]” from the Maryland Historical Magazine, Volume 13. I had ordered this because copies I had made at the Pennsylvania State Library were difficult to read; I was hoping for a clearer copy.
What I found made me unhappy. The copies I’d made were not from volume 13, number 2; they were from volume 13, number 3. So, here I have a nice stack of reading that doesn’t include the information that I was seeking. My bad for not clearly marking each photocopy with its full source citation!
Maryland Historical Magazine, Volume 13, Number 3, page 245 PDF
I went online to see if I could find somewhere I could order copy of the pages from the correct volume. Instead I found a page on the Maryland Historical Society’s website that seemed to imply that they were providing online access to the periodical.
Wow! I logged in and sure enough volumes 1, number 1 through volume 99, number 4 are available online as PDFs through a joint project of the Maryland Historical Society and Maryland State Archives. Volumes 101-104 are available to members of the Maryland Historical Society. The volumes have been indexed, so you can search them.
Online viewing through the PDF viewer I have was not optimal—the text appears jagged and bitmapped. Opening the file in Preview on the Mac (an option in the viewer) was similar. However, downloading the file and viewing in the Adobe PDF viewer solved the problem—crisp, clear text! I search for “Hoover” in the PDF and it skipped to the first notation (see blue highlight).
I’m so glad I decided to clean up a bit and discovered my mistake. It lead to a wonderful online resource!
Fearless Females: Sharing First Names
I’ve always been told that I was named after a German actress. So, I’ve never had any expectation that it was a family name. Until my family moved to New England when I was 10, I’d never even met anyone with the first name Kristen and even then it was more often spelled Kristin.
There are actually two others—Kristen and Kristin—in my family tree. One from my father’s side, the other from my mother’s side. Both were born after 1900. It is unlikely that either of my parents even knew about either—the relationship was that distant.
However, I have seen related names in my family history. In my research I’ve most often seen the name as Christina or Christiana. My eldest, direct immigrant ancestors Christopher and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker had a daughter named Christina. She married Johann Michael Lang (Long here in the U.S.) in Rußheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany on 8 Nov 1746. This couple came to the U.S. in 1752 with Christina’s parents. They had children: Johann Michael Jr. and Anna Christina. Their daughter married Johan Wilhelm Stober in Lancaster County circa 1777. This couple moved to Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Christopher’s son Johan Adam, my ancestor, and his wife Maria Elisabetha Weidman had two daughters named Christiana. The eldest died as a child. The younger girl married Henrich Fetter on 26 Jun 1781 at Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania. They had children: Catharine, born 4 Jun 1782; George, born 10 Aug 1785; John, born 19 Sep 1789; Anne Marie, born 18 Sep 1791; and Elisabeth, born 2 Feb 1794.
The name isn’t found again in my direct line until me.
Fearless Females is, a blogging meme, presented by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog in celebration of National Women’s History Month.
Irish Family History Foundations Exceeds 18 Million Records!
In March our thoughts turn to Ireland—and where else would they be with St. Patrick’s Day coming up? So, this announcement is rather timely! If you’ve got ancestors from Donegal, listen up…
The Irish Family History Foundation’s Online Research Service (ORS) are pleased to announce the availability of an additional 90,000 civil death records from Donegal Ancestry along with other corrections and updates including 6500 new birth records.
Just go to the following site and login using your existing IFHF login details. http://donegal.rootsireland.ie/
We now have over 18 million records online.Remember that you can purchase and spend your credit at any of the IFHF online centres.
Please check out our interactive map to see which centres are currently live.
If you have any questions or comments please check our Online Help and if this does not provide an answer, then do not hesitate to contact us or one or the county centres.
FamilySearch: New Records Added
FamilySearch.org announced the addition of new records for: Brazil, England, India, Italy, Nicaragua, Spain, Wales and the United States.
More fascinating collections were published this week online at FamilySearch.org—39 million new records, to be exact. The England and Wales 1901 Census will certainly be a favorite for British and Welsh researchers. And how about one million images added for Italy? Or India Land Ownership Pedigrees? FamilySearch’s Texas collections have always been popular, and this week Texas collections have grown by 1.5 million new records (including birth, tax, and county records). In addition, more collections were released for Brazil, Nicaragua, Spain, and the U.S. (Delaware, New Hampshire, and Virginia).
A wide variety of original source records from around the world are continually being added to FamilySearch’s online collections. Search them now at FamilySearch.org.
See the table below for additional details about the latest collection updates.
| Collection | Records | Images | Comment |
| Brazil, Catholic Church Records | 0 | 233,420 | Images added for Sao Paulo (Piracicaba);Minas Gerais (Guaxupe, Pouso Alegre, and Joao del Rei); and Rio de Janeiro (Nova Iguacu). |
| England and Wales Census, 1901 | 34,138,362 | 1,456,023 | Rich index with links to images on FindMyPast.com. |
| India, Moga Land Ownership Pedigrees | 0 | 7,640 | Set of land ownership pedigrees (Shajjra Nasb) that show familial relationships as land was passed from father to son (in Sanskrit). |
| Italy, Civil Registration, 1806-1940 | 0 | 944,579 | Additional images added for Ischia, Napoli City, Nuoro, Mantova, and Padova. |
| Nicaragua, Managua, Civil Registration, 1879-2007 | 0 | 265,237 | New digital images added. |
| Spain, Catholic Church Records, 1500-1930 | 17,348 | 87 | Additional records from the diocese of Ávila. |
| U.S., Delaware Marriage Records, 1913-1954 | 53,352 | 112,854 | Name index and images of Delaware statewide marriage records. The certificates are arranged by year and then by certificate number. |
| U.S., New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947 | 318,102 | 1,028,209 | Index and images of New Hampshire marriage records. These records consist of cards giving the names of the bride and groom with the town and date of the marriage and often much more information. Note: There are two images for each marriage. |
| U.S., Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1934 | 440,509 | 416,479 | Currently years 1903 to 1909 and 1926 to 1934 are available. More years will be added later. |
| U.S., Texas County Tax Rolls, 1846-1910 | 0 | 678,887 | New digital images added. |
| U.S., Texas, Mills County Clerk Records, 1841-1985 | 0 | 90,818 | New digital images added. |
| U.S., Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929 | 0 | 11,999 | Naturalization petitions from four U.S. District Courts in Virginia; these records correspond to four record series at the National Archives. |