Month: June 2018

While Reading the Clagg Court Case

There are many depositions in the Clagg-Sledd Court case from Bedford County,  Virginia, which came to a head in 1827. We’ve written about the case before focusing on the origination of the debt. But the origination of the debt is only the tip of the iceberg and I’m still trying to figure it out. The […]

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My Blogs

I maintain the following genealogy blogs. The blogs are all free to subscribe to: Rootdig.com—Michael’s thoughts, research problems, suggestions, and whatever else crosses his desk Genealogy Tip of the Day—one genealogy research tip every day–short and to the point Genealogy Search Tip—websites I’ve discovered and the occasional online research tip–short and to the point Casefile […]

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When Your Ancestor Said How Old He Was

Individuals give their ages in a variety of records before 1900 in the United States. How many times were they asked for “proof” or “evidence” of their age? And how many times were they simply asked? If it seemed reasonable to the clerk or official, that’s probably what got written down. That potential for variability […]

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Three Trientjes in Three Adjacent Households

This image comes from the 1910 Census for Northeast Township’s Second Precinct in Adams County, Illinois. In three households in a row the lady of the house is named Trientje. I always knew Trientje was a good Ostfriesen name (my great-grandmother was a Trientje and I have numerous earlier ancestors named Trientje), but this really […]

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How Much to Prove James is Riley’s Pa?

We mentioned earlier the difficulty in locating one record that clearly stated that James Rampley (1803 Harford County, Maryland-1884 Hancock County, Illinois) was the father of Riley Rampley (1835 Coshocton County, Ohio-1893 Hancock County, Illinois). Other than printed county histories there are no sources that state the relationship explicitly. County histories are not always the […]

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The Incorrect “ballance”

This is part 5 of the will of Mimken [Mimke] Habben which was admitted to probate in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1877. It is recorded in Will Book C, pages 27 and 28 (available digitally at FamilySearch.org), which is where this image was taken. The word “ballance” is spelled incorrectly and underlined. My guess is […]

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Casefile Clues Is Back!

After a hiatus, Casefile Clues is back! We’ve put out three issues since resuming publication. Casefile Clues focuses on being readable, understandable, and practical. Articles exhibit sound research methods and analysis–but are not tedious or difficult to follow. Sample issues can be downloaded on our website. Learn more about Casefile Clues.  If you’ve not been getting your issues […]

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A Bee in the Fence?

In reviewing material from a Civil War pension file, I came across a deposition that partially confused me–initially. Ira Boyd is making testimony in October of 1918 in the pension application of Emmar Osenbaugh. He has been asked how he came to know Osenbaugh and her husband, John. He states, in part: “I came to […]

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