ancestral clues and lessons

Ancestral Clues and Lessons: James Rampley

James Rampley was born in England in the 1750s–probably in County Suffolk. He married Sarah Gibson in Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1771. He died in Harford County, Maryland, in 1817. Some lessons I’ve learned about research from James: wills may contain end-runs around in-laws. James gave an inheritance to the children of one of his […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Thomas Sledd

Thomas Sledd was born in Virginia and died in Kentucky in 1815. He married Sarah/Sally Tinsley in Amherst County, Virginia, in 1798. Some things I’ve learned about research from Thomas: minor boundary changes can move your farm to a new county. Thomas’ estate was settled in Bourbon County after his death in 1815. The estate partition […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Enoch Tinsley

Enoch Tinsley was born in (probably) Kentucky in the 1790s and died in Shelby County, Indiana, in 1875.  He married Nancy Dunaway in Kentucky. Some things I learned about research from Enoch: the importance of neighbors–Enoch was initially located in the 1830 census by finding his 1840 neighbors, searching for them in 1830 and looking […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Melinda (Sledd) Newman

Melinda Sledd (Newman) was born about 1799, probably in Amherst County, Virginia. She married Augusta Newman in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1815 and died in Linn County, Iowa, in 1867. Some things I’ve learned about research from Melinda: first names can slightly vary. Melinda is listed in a few documents as Belinda. Since the majority […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Augusta Newman

Augusta Newman was born in Maryland in the late 1790s and died in White County, Indiana, in 1861. Some things I’ve learned about research from Augusta: the importance of “heirship” deeds. Augusta’s estate settlement in White County, Indiana, does not mention real property at all. There was a series of deeds wherein his widow and […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Hinrich Sartorius

Hinrich Sartorius was born Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1837 and died in Adams County, Illinois, in 1912. He married Trientje Behrens in Golden, Adams County, Illinois, in the 1860s. Some things about research that I’ve learned from Hinrich: your beneficiaries can alter your will. Hinrich’s will gave one farm to one set of children and another […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Maria (Bruns) Fecht

Maria (Bruns) Fecht was born in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany, and died probably in Hancock County, Illinois, before the fall of 1877. She married Hinrich Jacobs Fecht in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany. Some things I’ve learned about research from Maria: people sometimes marry their in-laws. Maria married Hinrich Jacobs Fecht after his first wife Trientje Bruns died. Trientje […]

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Ancestral Clues and Connections: Hinrich Jacobs Fecht (1823-1912)

Hinrich Jacobs Fecht was born in 1823 in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany, and died in 1912 in Elvaston, Hancock County, Illinois. He married Marie Bruns in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, and later married Antje (Jaspers) Habben in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1877. What I’ve learned about research from Hinrich: last names can be dropped. Hinrich is enumerated in […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Probably Margaret (maybe Stephens), probably born Canada around 1825,

There are qualifiers with this probable ancestor of mine: Margaret.  She is enumerated in the 1850 census with Benjamin Butler in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan, as the oldest female in the household. She is twenty-five years of age and shown as having been born in Canada and it is assumed she is Benjamin’s […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Benjamin Butler (abt 1819-1880s)

Benjamin Butler was born about 1819 probably in New York State. He died in the 1880s in Vernon County, Missouri. He was married twice and the mother of his “first batch” of children was named Margaret.  I descend from a child of that “first batch” of children. Some things I’ve learned about research from Benjamin: […]

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