Category: Research

Family research

Ulrich Huber’s Conestoga Tract

Kris Hocker on 29 Dec 2011

Woolrich Hoober survey

Last week’s article for the “Along the Pequea” series, traced the land transactions of Hans Line’s property. This week, we’ll follow the transactions of his neighbor, Ulrich Huber.

Ulrich Huber first appears in Conestoga in the 1728 survey of his Conestoga plantation (see figure 1).1 John Taylor surveyed 226 acres, adjoining John Line, John Dehoof, and Jacob Hoober.  However, we can presume he was in Pennsylvania by 1718. He was naturalized with a large group of Mennonite settlers in 1729 who had “transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania between the years one thousand seven hundred and one thousand seven hundred eighteen.” 2

Woolrich Hoober survey

Figure 1: Woolrich Hoober 1728 survey

Ulrich received a warrant for this property 19 Sep 1744.3 He patented the tract either 19 or 20 Sep 1744.4 He was taxed for property in Conestoga in 1751 and 1754.5

On 16 Nov 1750, Ulrich sold 15 acres to his neighbor Michael Hess.6 On 7 Dec 1754, Michael and Barbara Hess sold their 15 acres from Ulrich to Michael Harnis[h].7 I found no subsequent deed of sale from Michael Harnish for this 15 acres. However, when Ulrich’s tract was sold to John & Henry Brenneman in 1791, it included the entirety of the tract patented to Ulrich Huber.

Ulrich died prior to 18 May 1757.8 On 23 Jun 1759, his heirs—Jacob & Barbara Hover, Henry & Anna [Hover] Shank, Jacob & Maria [Hover] Boyer, Elizabeth Hover, Ulrick Hover and Henry Hover—transferred the land to the eldest son John Hover, witnesses were [Christian?] Line and Michael Shank.9

John and Mary, his wife, held on to this property for nearly a decade before selling it to Melchor and Ann (Good) Brenneman on 10 Oct 1767.10 The Brenneman’s held onto the land until 1783 when they sold it to their daughter and son-in-law John and Eve Bowman on 22 Mar.11 Eight years later, John and Eve (Brenneman) Bowman sold the property to her brothers John and Henry Brenneman.12

John and Henry apparently partitioned the property. John and Catharine Brenneman sold their 113 acres, adjoining Jacob Smith, John Good, George Rathvon, Christian Line, and Abraham Huber, to Henry Zercher on 7 May 1794.13 Zercher later died intestate and John Brenneman bought back the property on 10 May 1806 when Zercher’s heirs refused the land at it’s appraised price.14 John and Catharine then sold the tract to Jacob Heidelbach on 12 May 1806.15

5,000 Acres—Where Did It All Go?

Kris Hocker on 24 Dec 2011

The earliest established settlement in Lancaster County occurred in the fall of 1710 while it was still a part of Chester County. A small group of Mennonites made a deal for land with William Penn. He wrote to the Ambassador in the Netherlands in April 1710 telling him of a party coming to Holland in order to go to Pennsylvania.1

We know their names because this group wrote a letter to the Mennonite leaders in Amsterdam dated 27 June 1710 to thank them for their assistance. They were on their way to Pennsylvania, expecting to sail within a few days to Gravesend, England and from there to America.2 The letter was signed by Martin Oberholtzer, Martin Kendig, Christian Herr, Jacob Müller, Martin Meili, and Hans Herr. Their ship, the Maria Hope, arrived in Philadelphia 23 September 1710.

On 8 October 1710 land warrants were issued to Martin Kundig, Martin Meily, Christian Herr, John Herr, Wendell Bowman, John Bundely, Christopher Franciscus, and Jacob Müller.3 Martin Oberholtzer, an original member of the group, did not participate in the land purchase. Surveyor James Taylor was ordered on 10 October 1710 to survey 10,000 acres for the Colony of “Swissers lately arrived in this Province” at Pequea.4 The area they settled includes present day Willow Street, stretching across West Lampeter Township over Pequea Creek and into Strasburg Township and Strasburg village. The purchase was divided amongst these men on 12 April 1711.5

Original Lancaster Warrants

Original Pequea Settlement Land Warrants

About 1715 or 1716, Martin Kendig returned to Europe to convince other Mennonite families to come to Pennsylvania. On 22 November 1717, Martin Kendig & Co. (John Herr) were issued a warrant for 5,000 acres in Chester County (now part of Lancaster County).6 I found the following in the Copied Survey Books:

Pensilvania SS
(Seal) By the Commissioners of Property
At the Requests of Martin Kundigg and Hans Heer both of the Township of Strasburg in this Province that we would Grant them to take up Several Tracts among the late Surveys made on Conestoga and Paque Creek the quantity of ffive Thousand Acres of Land for which they agree to pay to the Proprietrs use ffive hundred pounds Mony of the said Province for the whole or in Proportion should there be Returnd upon the Survey thereof more or less and the Yearly quitrent of one Shilling Sterling for every hundred Acres These are to Authorize and Require thee to Survey or cause to be Survey’d unto the said Martin Kundigg and Hans Herr among the said late surveys according to the Method of Townships appointed in several Regular Tracts the quantity of ffive Thousand Acres of Land that hath not been already Survey’d nor appropriated nor is Seated by ye Indians and make Returns thereof into the Secretarys Office which surveys by thee mad by Vertue hereof in case the said Martin & Hans fulfill the above agreement by paying down the said sum of Mony upon the Returns of the said surveyes shall be Valid otherwise the same is to be Void as if it had never been made of this Warrant ever granted Given under our hands and Seal of the Province at Philada the 22d day of 9br [November] Anno Din 1717

Richard Hill

Isaac Norris

James Logan

To Jacob Taylor Surveyr General

In Testimony that the above is a copy of the original remaining on file in the Department of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania made conformably to an Act of Assembly approved the 16th day of February 1833, I have hereunto set my Hand and caused the Seal of said Department to be affixed at Harrisburg, this Thirtieth day of March 1909

Henry Hauck

Secretary of Internal Affairs7

The Chester County Old Rights Index notes a number of surveys associated with this warrant. They include:

  • D78:3—10 Nov 1720, Joyst Lette, 190 acres on west side of Conestoga, adjoining Toris Ebys, Henry Funk, London Company Tract, and William Huse
  • D78:4—28 8br [October] 1728, Hans Line, 200 acres on a branch of Pequea Creek, adjoining Martin Boyer (now Abraham Smith), Christian Stone (now Jacob Boyer), and Christian Prenaman
  • D78:5—12 Oct 1731, John Long, 473 acres (325 by right of Martin Kendrick & John Heer), adjoining Jacob Stoner, Poston Fink, Abraham Miller, James Thornbury, Peter Lane and Henry Lane
  • D78:37—12 9br [November] 1727, Abraham Burkholder, 250 acres, and Benjamin Wittmer, 150 acres; Benjamin Wittmer sold to Henry Bear, returned 26 Oct 1734
  • D78:38—20 9br [November] 1727, Martin Kendrick, 50 acres on a branch of the Pequea, adjoining John Hess, Joseph Steeman, and Martin Kendrick
  • D78:271—29 May 1718, John Snevely (son of John Jacob Snevely), 200 acres; Peter Yortee (now John Jacob Snevely), 200 acres; Jacob Funk, 200 acres; all three tracts northwest of Conestoga Creek
  • D78:2722[4?] November 1717—John Snevely, Jacob Snevely, 137 acres, adjoining Robert Eares, Tho. Thornbury, John & Jacob Snevely; returned 3 Jun 1735
  • D78:273—2[4?] 9br [November] 1717, John Snevely & Jacob Snevely, 76 acres, adjoining other land of John & Jacob Snevely
  • D78:274—John Snevely, returned 3 Jun 1735
  • D78:275—24 9br [November] 1717, John Funk, 100 acres on a branch of the Conestoga, adjoining Jacob Funk
  • D78:282—13 January 1745/6, Michael Miller, 269 acres in Hempfield township, adjoining Jno Knisley, Felix Miller, Hans Adam Libhart, Wido Hipkin
  • D78:293—2 June 1718, Henry Muscleman, 200 acres on a small branch of the Little Conestoga, adjoining land of Michael Costman’s children
  • D78:294—30 May 1718, Roody Moyer, 200 acres on a branch of the Conestoga, adjoining John Funk
  • D71:42—3 9br [November] 1729, Michael Graff, 100 acres on a branch of Beaver Creek, adjoining Jacob Graff, Isaac Herr, and Michael Graff
  • D71:51—3 9br [November] 1729, Michael Graff, 125 acres, adjoining Michael Graff and Jacob Prowprather
  • B22:45—31 May 1718, Martin Kundigg and John Heer, 200 acres on a branch of the Little Conestoga, granted to John Witmore, adjoining Andreas Coffman, Christian Peelman and Henry Pare
  • D82:1—20 June 1719, Jacob Bheam, 57 acres on a branch of the Pequea; 9 9br 1720, Hans Hess, 125 acres, adjoining Jacob Bheam
  • D82:2—25 8br[October] 1726, Hans Hoober, 50 acres [Earl Township], adjoining Hans Hoober and Hans Muscleman
  • D82:3—23 June 1721, 3 tracts of 150 acres each for Hans Moyer, Hans Musleman (+50 acres), Hans Hoober (+50 acres), situate between Mill Creek & the Conestoga
  • D82:16—18 8br 1728, Hans Hess, 195 acres, adjoining Philip Rudesille, Martin Kendrick, John Jacob Moyer, John Dehoof, Hans Hess and Christian Stoner
  • D82:18—20 8br 1730, Hans Hess (see previous survey)
  • D82:19—20 May 1719, Barbara, widow of Jacob Hoober, 102 (corrected to 105) acres, adjoining Hans Boyer, John Line and Martin Boyer
  • D82:24—19 Mar 1747/8, Isaac Heer (father of Hans Heer), 260 acres (312 on resurvey in 1757), adjoining land formerly of Amos Strettle (Peter Musser and Christian Shoults), formerly of John Taylor (Jacob Beam, William Stewart, Martin Bear), Jacob Prowprather, Adam Thomas, and Henry Hoover
  • D82:33—21 9br 1719, Jacob Graff, 400 acres on a branch of Beaver Creek, adjoining Thos. Smith, Michael Graff, Isaac Herr, and John Koyle
  • D82:40—10 8br 1827, to John Bowman, father of John Bowman, 150 (corrected to 147) acres on a branch of Beaver Creek, adjoining Amos Strettle and Caspar Bowman, a warrant to accept this survey was dated 1 9br 1744
  • D82:41—Hans Graff, 1419 acres +91 acres from later survey returned on 13 October 1742
  • D82:47—22 June 1721, two tracts for Henry Bear, 200 acres (now his son Jacob Bear) and Martin Graff, 151 acres, between Mill Creek and the Conestoga
  • D82:51—10 8br 1727, Hans Graff, 1419 acres in Earl Township, 250 acres of which is part of the Kendig/Heer warrant, the rest from a warrant to Hans Graff on 4 8br1718 for 1150 acres, tract adjoining Christian Winger, Hans Brady Negly, Conrade Roode, Adam Painter, Philip Shiesfer, Peter Goode, and Henry Bear
  • D88:127—20 October 1728, Woolrick Hoober, 226 acres on a branch of the Pequea, adjoining John Dehoof, Jacob Hoober, and John Line
  • D88:130—16 8br 1730, Jacob Hess, 200 acres on a branch of the Conestoga, adjoining Jacob Bear and John Ulrick Hoober
  • D88:133—12 May 1731, Andrew Hershey, 424 acres (300 acres in right of Martin Kendig & John Heer) on a branch of the Shickasalungo Creek
  • D88:134—20 June 1719 and 10 October 1731, Jacob Behme, 381 acres total (including 57 from previous survey) on a branch of Pequea Creek, adjoining Hans Hess, Robert Creage, Christian Prenaman, Henry Hoober, Christian Heer
  • D88:135—28 January 1733, Jacob Hoober, 210 acres on the Pequea, adjoining Jacob Good and Samuel Buyer
  • D88:136—30 May 1718, Toris Ebys, 300 acres on Conestoga Creek, adjoining lands of Henry Funk and Michael Shank
  • D88:137—30 May 1718, Toris Ebys, 300 acres on Conestoga Creek, adjoining Henry Funk and Michael Shank
  • D88:138—10 May 1719, Hans Boyer, 210 acres on Pequea Creek, adjoining Widow Hoober, Ulrich Hoober, and John Farrer
  • D88:139—20 8br 1729, Samuel Boyer, 115 acres on Pequea Creek, adjoining John Goughnower, Christian Stone and Jacob Hoober
  • D88:140—12 9br 1720, 4 tracts on Pequea Creek surveyed for Hans Boyer (88 acres), Jacob Hoober (81 acres), Martin Boyer now Abraham Smith (84 acres), Christian Stone now Jacob Boyer (164 acres)

I don’t know if these add up to 5,000 acres—some of the surveys are duplicates or overlap previous surveys; some include land from separate warrants. But they should be a good representation of the Kendig & Herr 5,000 acre warrant as divided amongst Lancaster settlers after November 1717.

If you’re searching for information on early immigrant ancestors who settled in Lancaster County, you can find land information at the website of the Pennsylvania State Archives. The warrant registers for Lancaster County will list warrants issued starting in 1733. For earlier records, try the Old Rights Registers for Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties—Chester is the best place to start for pre-1729 Lancaster records.

If you know who the land was patented to, but not who it was warranted to, try the Patent Indexes. That will give you the warrantee and warrant date. The warrantee township maps are also a good place to look if you’d like to see where your ancestor’s property was located. The files are listed by the modern townships, so you’ll need to know the relationship between the historical townships and the modern ones. If you don’t, try this map at the Lancaster Historical Society’s website.

Lancaster deeds for this period are also available online. You can read more on how to use the online reader and where to find images from the Grantors index. Unfortunately, the Grantees indexes are not online, so you may have to get creative to find what you’re looking for. Deeds and deed indexes are available through the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds and FamilySearch.

Have you found a Lancaster County ancestor in online records? What did you learn about them?

1805 Martic Township School Board

Kris Hocker on 22 Dec 2011

On 13 February 1805, the Martic Township school board included:

  • Henry Bowman,
  • Martin Huber,
  • Benjamin Hart,
  • Christian Musser,
  • Daniel Herr,
  • Martin Eshleman,
  • Martin Huber (joiner),
  • Isaac Herr,
  • Joseph Bassler,
  • Jacob Huber,
  • Jacob Kochenauer,
  • Henry Resh,
  • John Kindig,
  • Jacob Brubacher,
  • John Winter,
  • John Huber,
  • John Huber Junr.,
  • Abram Kochenauer Senr.,
  • Abram Kochenauer Junr.,
  • George Hess,
  • John Hart,
  • Frederick Kuhn,
  • Peter Miller,
  • Christian Kochenauer,
  • Andrew Miller, and
  • Jacob Kepperly

They were all of Martic, Strasburg and Conestoga Townships, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 1 Adam Kochenauer had allowed them to build a one-story, stone schoolhouse, fronting the public road. It sat on approximately 22 perches of land that he sold to the school board.

Hans Line’s Conestoga Tract

Kris Hocker on 22 Dec 2011

Hans Line Conestoga Tract

On 22 November 1717, Martin Kendig (Kendick, Kendrick, Cundigg) and John Herr (Heer) were warranted 5,000 acres in Lancaster County by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania. They, in turn, transferred this land to their fellow immigrants. Among these was Hans Line.

John Taylor surveyed 200 acres on a branch of Pequea Creek for Hans Line on 20 8ber [October] 1728 in right of Martin Kendig and John Herr.1  Adjoining landholders at the time of the survey included: Jacob Boyer (formerly Christian Stone), Abraham Smith (formerly Martin Boyer), and Christian Prenaman. Hans Line patented this tract on 14 April 1735.2 (See lighter blue section on map below.)

Hans Line Conestoga Tract

On 21 December 1750, John Line was warranted 23 1/2 acres, adjoining the 200 acre Hans Line tract.3 This tract was surveyed 23 December 1750 and patented to John Line on 9 April 1753.4,5 (See dark blue section on map above.) At the time of the survey, this tract adjoined land of Henry Boyer, Ulric “Hower” [Hoober], and John “Hower” [Hoober].

The following spring, on 24 March 1754, John Lyne and Barbara his wife sold 200 acres to John Lyne Jr.6 John Lyne Jr. was apparently the son of John and Barbara Lyne. The deeds where John Lyne [Jr.] transfers this land state “…the said John Lyne the father…did grant…unto the said John Lyne (party hereto) by the name John Lyne Jr…”

Christian Line and Henry Line tracts

Figure 2: Christian and Henry Line tracts

John Line Jr. apparently decided to retire from farming in 1785. On 8 Dec 1785, he divided the 200 acres his parents had sold him between Henry Line and Christian Line.7 (Refer to map above.) Neither of the deeds refers to John’s wife, nor did she sign either deed, indicating that she was already deceased.

Christian apparently took responsibility for caring for John Line as John sold him the additional 23 1/2 acres he’d patented in exchange for “good and decent boarding, washing, lodging, and apparel for him the said John Lyne Sr.” for the rest of his natural life. 8

According to the deed, Henry’s tract adjoined Jacob Boyers, Christian Brenneman, and John Lyne’s other property. However, by 1785 Jacob Boyer(s) had sold his adjoining tract to Jacob Boyers Jr.9 Jacob Boyers Jr., in turn, sold it in two tracts to Rudy Miller and Henry Boyers.10,11 The tract indicated for Christian Brenneman (if it’s the same as in the survey), was patented to Jacob Huber in 1759.12 He left it to his son Christian in his last will and testament.13 Christian then sold it to John Jacob Gochenour, whose heirs released it to his son Jacob in 1780.14

Christian’s adjacent neighbors were listed as Abraham Smith and Jacob Boyer. The transfers of Jacob Boyer’s property have already been mentioned. Abraham Smith’s tract, meanwhile, had passed to Henry Boyer by 1750.15 Henry Boyer’s heirs sold it to their new step-father Rudy Miller in 1776.16

John Line apparently passed away sometime shortly before 25 November 1805.17 The online will abstract lists as children: Henry, John, Jacob, Mary (wife of Jacob Warner), Ann (wife of Jacob Shallenberger), Christian, Abraham, Barbara (wife of Michael Shenk), and Elizabeth (wife of George Markley).18

On 21 July 1813, Christian and Feronica Line sold to their son Christian Jr. 23 acres two quarters nine perches, adjoining Henry Boyer, Henry Resh, the widow Brenneman and Christian Line Sr.19 This deed specifically outlines the passing of the land from John Line to his son John Line to his son Christian Line Sr. and then to his son Christian Line Jr., stating the tract was granted “…unto a certain John Line (Grandfather to the said Christian Line Senr.).”

Henry Line died sometime between 2 or 7 August 1815 and 11 November 1816.20 His property was passed on to his son John who sold five acres to Christian Hess on 16 April 1819.21 John is the only child mentioned in the will abstract. His wife is named as Anna, and his executors were Martin Funck and Henry Rush. Henry Rush was most likely a neighbor (see Christian Line’s deed above) and Martin Funck was most likely his brother-in-law. A deed pertaining to the settlement of a Martin Funk of Manor Township lists Anna, wife of Henry Line of Conestoga Township as his daughter and Martin Funck as his son (among others).22

Along the Pequea

Kris Hocker on 22 Dec 2011

I’m sure you’ve heard or read that learning about your ancestor’s neighbors can greatly assist your family research. None of our ancestors lived in isolation. They had family, friends and neighbors who often shared their language and customs. These social groups often intermarried, moved and settled together, and sold land to or purchased land from each other. They stood as witnesses to deeds and wills, served as administrators of estates or executors of wills, or lent money for mortgages so their children or those of their friends or family could purchase property. Learning about these relationships can provide important clues about your ancestor.

I’m starting a new series of articles that will trace land transfers on Pequea Creek from the original warrantee through 1800. Deeds can provide not only a place of residence and timeline of locations for your ancestor, but can also give you the names of heirs, maiden names for the women in the family, and an insight into the social groups and relationships of your ancestor. I started tracing deeds to try to get a clearer picture of the families who lived around the Huber/Hoover families I’ve been researching. I keep running into people who share the same name, but clearly—because of conflicting details—can’t be the same person. I’m hoping the deeds will help me start to identify individuals and align them with the correct families.

In the meantime, I’ve compiled quite a bit of information. I’m sharing it in hopes that it may also help another researcher. If it does, I’d love to hear from you.

The first article will feature Hans Line of Conestoga (now Pequea) Township.

Friday Finds: Free Online Census Images

Kris Hocker on 9 Sep 2011

1820 US Census, Lancaster County microfilm

1820 US Census, Lancaster County microfilmThe United States Federal Census is one of the most widely used resources for genealogists. Online access to the census indices and images is available through a variety of subscription services like Ancestry.com, Archives.com, and HeritageQuest and free sites like FamilySearch.org. But did you know that the census microfilm images are also available online for free through the Internet Archive?

You can browse the census microfilm online from the comfort of your home. You can even download a reel and view it as a PDF on your computer. You can’t search the schedules for your ancestor—there is no index. But if you’re short on cash, here’s a free and convenient alternative to visiting the nearest NARA office or genealogy library.

I was finally able to learn the census schedules from Conestoga, Lampeter, Strasburg and Sadsbury townships from 1820 are missing by viewing the microfilm roll online—something Ancestry’s customer service department apparently did not know.

Using the Census

Kris Hocker on 6 Aug 2011

Census records are a valuable tool for the family historian. Do you know enough about them to use the effectively?

Initially there was no Census Bureau. From 1790 to 1870, the U.S. census was the responsibility of the federal marshals. Each marshal was to hire and manage the assistant federal marshals taking the census in his district. In many outlying areas it was a challenge to get to the inhabitants because of the terrain, lack of roads, lack of provisions and great distances.

Additionally, people were sometimes superstitious about the census. Before the 1790 census, one member of Congress remembered that “back in the 1770s most of the residents of a New York town had fallen sick right after they had been visited by a British census taker.”1 Another brought up the story from the bible where a plague visited Israel after King David ordered a census.

Census Day

Every census has a census day—the date the census enumeration was to represent. This date was not the day that the enumerator actually visited the household. The census taker was instructed to include all members of the household on the census day—even family members who had actually passed away between that date and the date the enumerator visited. Additionally, they were not to include any children born after that date, even if they were members of the household when the enumerator visited.

Knowing the date is important for estimating birth years. A person born before the date had already advanced a year in age from the previous year, but those born after the date would not have. Between 1790 and 1820, Congress set the census day for the first Monday in August. Between 1830 and 1900, the date was set as June 1st. In 1910, it was April 15th. It was January 1st for 1920 and April 1st for 1930. Depending on the census year, census takers were given between 1 month and 18 months to complete the enumeration for their district.

Both dates should probably be recorded. Although the census takers were given specific instructions, it’s impossible to know if they followed them.

Where Did They Live?

It’s also important to understand the changing borders between jurisdictions. Between census years new states, counties and even townships may have been added, changing border lines between jurisdictions. For instance, both Providence and Pequea townships were added to Lancaster County after 1850. A family in Conestoga Township in 1850 might appear in Pequea Township in 1860 without having changed their residence at all. A person living in Hardy County, Virginia in 1860 might have been living in Hardy County, West Virginia in 1870, again without having moved.

Lost

Just about everyone has heard of the destruction of the 1890 U.S. census, but do you know what other census records are lost or missing?

Until 1830, the census records were required to be deposited with the U.S. District Courts. The president was to receive only aggregate information about the people in each district. Congress enacted a law in 1830 calling for the records from the 1790-1820 censuses to be turned in to Washington. Some of the district court clerks did a better job than others of preserving those records. Some records were either lost before 1830 or were simply never sent to Washington. The following lists the lost records:

  • Alabama: 1790-1810 not taken, 1820 lost
  • Arkansas: 1790-1810 not taken, 1820 lost
  • District of Columbia: 1790-1800 not taken, 1810 lost
  • Delaware: 1790 lost
  • Georgia: 1790-1810 lost; 1820 3 counties lost
  • Illinois: 170 not taken, 1800 lost, 1810 St. Clair county lost
  • Indiana: 1790 not taken, 1800-1810 lost
  • Kentucky: 1790-1800 lost
  • Louisiana: 1790-1800 not taken
  • Maryland: 3 counties missing from 1790
  • Michigan: 1790-1800 not taken, 1810 lost
  • Mississippi: 1790 not taken, 1800-1810 lost
  • Missouri: 1790-1800 not taken, 1810-1820 lost
  • New Hampshire: 1790 missing 13 towns in Rockingham county & 11 towns in Strafford county
  • New Jersey: 1790-1820 lost
  • North Carolina: 1790 missing 3 counties, 1810 missing 4 counties, 1820 missing 6 counties
  • Ohio: 1790-1800 not taken, 1810 lost
  • Tennessee: 1790 not taken, 1800-1810 lost, 1820 20 eastern counties (Knoxville district) presumed lost
  • Virginia: 1790-1800 lost (1790 compiled from 1785-1787 county tax lists)

Tips

  • The 1820 census includes the category males “16-18.” Those in this column will also be in the “16-26” category. Check the total household number to ensure that they weren’t included twice.
  • The microfilmed 1830-1840 federal census records may have been taken from copies incorrectly sent to Washington instead of the original. Check to see if the handwriting changed between one district and another to determine if it’s a copy or the original.
  • Comparisons with original records for the 1850-1870—where they still exist—reveal that there  were often errors made in copying the records. Names were misspelled or sometimes omitted, ages were copied incorrectly.

For more information about the census records or how to use them effectively, try one of these books:2

Ancestry Errors Wiki

Kris Hocker on 5 Aug 2011

Many of you may know that I’ve been researching the Huber families of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I’ve been recently focusing on the early settlers along Pequea Creek in Conestoga, Martic, Lampeter and Strasburg townships. Census records have been one of the resources from which I’ve been compiling data. To my disappointment, the 1820 census for Conestoga Township is apparently not on Ancestry.com.  Yet, from all the information I’ve looked at, those records should exist.

This would hardly be the first time I’ve found an error in the census records—and I’m not just talking a transcription error. Those are all too common, but easily addressed (thank goodness!). No, I’m talking mislabeled or misplaced records. So, when I saw that an Ancestry Errors Wiki had been created, I was actually relieved. First, that I wasn’t only one experiencing these kinds of problems and second that there was going to be a means of finding out about these errors!

Here’s what Michael Hait, creator of the wiki, had to say about it.

For this reason, I have created the Ancestry Errors Wiki. This wiki will provide a hub for genealogists to notify other genealogists of errors that exist on various subscription genealogy websites. In time, these errors may be corrected, but until then, researchers should be able to search for any known existing errors, and adjust their research accordingly.

The purpose of this site is not to report indexing errors. Both Ancestry and Footnote contain effective internal mechanisms for amending and modifying indexing errors. This site is for the reporting of imaging or programming errors only.

The site uses the wiki platform, so that any user can create and edit content. This will allow the site to include information based on the research experience of the whole online genealogy community.

I would like to invite all genealogists to visit the site and add any errors of which they are aware. Only with all of our help will this site be a successful and useful resource.

Visit the “Ancestry Errors Wiki” at http://ancestryerrors.wikia.com/wiki/Ancestry_Errors_Wiki. For more information, contact Michael Hait, CG, at michael.hait@hotmail.com.

So, if you’re having problems locating records that should be there, head over to the wiki and find out if someone else has had that problem, too. There might even be a solution. If I can find these records for Conestoga Township, I’ll be posting about them.

Five Things You Should Know…

Kris Hocker on 3 Aug 2011

When we find a genealogical record we like to wring it dry of evidence, pulling every piece of information we can about our ancestor from it. However, we may miss some obvious clues if we don’t understand some basic facts about that record.

Michael Hait has posted an excellent article entitled “Five things you have to know about every record” on his blog Planting the Seed. What are the five things? They are:

  1. Why was the record created?
  2. Who created the record?
  3. Who provided the information?
  4. How did you get the record?
  5. What are the alternatives?

Head over and check out his post. You might learn something. I did.