Hear Hear, v063Fa1985.htm

The Rochester Genealogical Society will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month (except December, July and August), at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, East Avenue and Vick Park B. The mini-workshop will, start at 7 P.M., followed by the business meeting at 7:30 P.M. and the main program at approximately 8:00 P.M. Visitors are welcome.

The theme for this year's mini-workshops is research in other cities and states. We are choosing localities which because of their early settlements, proximity to Rochester, and/or variety of records, would be of most interest to our members. If you would like to see a particular place as the subject of a mini-workshop next spring, or if you have done research in a particular location, and would be willing to lead a workshop, please contact Carmen Bush (3).

Thursday, September 19
Mini-workshop: RESEARCHING IN THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Dr. Jonathan Garlock, former Director of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Local History Project, will discuss the importance of asking the right questions of the materials we have collected, in order to interpret our information accurately and creatively.

Mini-workshop: RESEARCHING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Program: BRING AN ANCESTOR BACK TO LIFE

This is your chance to talk briefly about an ancestor that you find interesting, it doesn't matter whether he was famous, or infamous, or just plain folk. Come prepared to tell us something about him and what makes him interesting to you, If you have a picture or anything belonging to him to show, so much the better.

Mini-workshop: RESEARCHING IN MARYLAND
Program: GENEALOGICAL REMINISCENCES

Charles Shepard, Esq., who has been an active participant in the development of American genealogy for over fifty years, will give us some glimpses of what research was like in earlier times.

Mini-workshop: RESEARCHING IN MASSACHUSETTS
Program: THE VALUE OF YOUR LOCAL HISTORY BOOK AS RARE BOOKS

Mr. John Westerberg, owner of the Yankee Peddler Bookshop and an expert in the field of book collection, will discuss what makes a book valuable. Mr. Westerberg will also discuss - as time permits - the value of individual items that members may want to bring to the meeting from their own collections. Please limit yourselves to one book only, so that there will be time for all interested.

Note: This column is devoted to news about local and out-of-town members of the Society. Members are encouraged to submit information about research, indexing projects, publications and other genealogical activities in which they are involved. Please submit material to the Editor or Peter Bush (3).

Jean Larson (342), who resides in San Francisco, writes that she is very active in the California Genealogical Society (based in San Francisco) and the California State Genealogical Alliance. She also belongs to several English genealogical and family history societies, and she is actively researching several families in England. Her publications include "The Alborn Enquirer", a newsletter; The Rev. Geo C. Alborn and Has Pastoral Records (1976); and contributions to History and Genealogy of the Hubbell Family (3^rd ed. 1980).

Among the members of a steering committee to oversee the regional archives and public records management project is Monroe County Historian Shirley Cox Husted. The project, and the grant which is funding it, are described elsewhere in this newsletter.

Lillian Good (258) reports that she is still receiving many inquiries about the two books she has written in recent years: A Lineal Genealogy of the Wilson Cross Family and Allied Families (1982) and The Descendants of the Verry Family of Herefordshire, England 1569-1983 (1983). Copies of both books are still available from her.

Marianne Hesselberth (256), Julie Steitz (25) and Dorothy Bailey (2) are hard at work on the Penfield Pioneer Certificate project, which is part of the official celebration of the 175^th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Penfield. Certificates are being awarded to applicants having an ancestor who lived in Webster in/or before 1840 or Penfield in/or before 1885 (Webster was part of Penfield until 1840). Julie and Dorothy are also organizing a project to index census records of the Town of Penfield; anyone interested in helping should call Julie at (716) 586-4870 after October 1, 1985.

In June, Helen Rockwell (158) attended a conference in Boston entitled "Come Home to New England." Sponsored by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the conference featured daily lectures with plenty of time reserved for research at the NEHGS library and other research centers in the Boston area.

Another Society member who took advantage of the summer months to attend a genealogical conference is our co-editor, James Roome (335). He attended the Fifth Annual National Conference of the National Genealogical Society in Salt Lake City on August 6-9. It will interest those who use the LDS library facilities that it was announced at the conference that IGI microfiche will be available for sale to patrons (for home use) for ten cents a copy per 'fiche' in the near future. Also a considerable amount of effort is going into making different genealogy software programs compatible with each other off different types of computers so that genealogists will be able to communicate with each other regard1ess of the type of equipment they own. In other words if I have information on a surname which you are researching, you will be able to call my computer and copy this information directly into your computers memory, and either view it on the screen or type it out on your printer. Sounds great doesn't it?

More news about Victor Brackley (369) and his campaign for legislation to shorten the waiting period for vital records in New York. He reports that bills were introduced in the recent session of the State legislature but were not reported out of committee. He's hopeful that the legislature will act on the bills during this fall's session, or next year. He urges Society members to write to their State Senators and Assembly persons in support of the bills. The bill numbers are A.3732 (Assembly) and S.5632 (Senate).

Q: Was there an Episcopal elementary or high school in Monroe County about 1810 to 1830 and do records exist of those who attended the school? B. Symons, Coldwater, MI

A: First you have to understand the educational system of the day. Public schools weren't required in NY State until the early 1840's so schools before 1840 didn't operate like today's schools. In those days the parents were expected to pay for their child's education. In some towns the school was set up by a prominent resident or was maintained by donations. Some churches in those early days did try to educate some of the children who couldn't afford an education otherwise. The only Episcopal Church in Monroe County before 1830 was St. Luke's Church of Rochester and they did maintain one of these "charity schools" but it didn't start until 1833. Sketches of Rochester by Henry O'Reilly (1838) says that in St. Luke's "A charity school of 75 scholars is kept in the Sunday-schoolroom of the church. It was established in 833 and is mainly supported by the Young Ladies Benevolent Society of St. Luke's." The Rochester newspapers of 1833 show that the Young Ladies Benevolent Society sold crafts to raise money for the start of the school. As noted previously, St. Luke's did also maintain a Sunday school. Besides religious studies, the Sunday school also taught students to read and write but only for a few hours on Sunday. According to Sketches of Rochester, the first Sunday school was held in 1818. Rochester Genealogical Society indexed the records of St. Luke's a few years ago and there are baptisms, marriages and death records but there were not any records of either the Charity school or the Sunday school.

Q: What is the origin of the name of the hamlet of LINCOLN in the Town of Walworth? J. Larson, San Francisco, CA

A: In Landmarks of Wayne County, NY by Hon. George W. Cowles (1895), it says that "in 1853 Nelson F. Strickland erected and started a mill here and in the fall of that year a store building was put up and business opened. In 1866 Mr. Strickland obtained a post-office for the place and was appointed the first postmaster." So it was that the place was probably named in 1866 by Mr. Strickland when he needed a name for the postoffice address and he named it for Pres. Lincoln after his assassination.

Do you have a question related to the Rochester area? Please keep them short and specific as possible. Write to: Dick Halsey at RGS, PO Box 92533, Rochester, NY 14692.

There was mixed news in recent weeks concerning efforts to improve the management of historical records in New York State.

The good news was that a $55,000 grant was awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) of the National Archives and Records Administration for the planning of a regional archive and public records management project In the County of Monroe.

The bad news was that Governor Cuomo vetoed a bill, based on a recommendation of disapproval from the state Division of the Budget, that would have enabled the State Education Department to provide advisory and consultative services to local governments and historical records repositories In New York State.

Public Records Archives Grant

The $55,000 NHPRC grant will be used in conjunction with contributions of in-kind services from the City of Rochester ($11,655), the County of Monroe ($35,000 in cash and in-kind services) and SUNY-Brockport ($13,500) to develop plans for a regional records and archive program.

The project is being overseen by a steering committee chaired by Monroe County Clerk Patricia L. McCarthy. She noted that "by sharing costs and pooling our resources in this region we will make record programs available to municipalities that could not afford a professional records management system on their own."

Other members of the steering committee are Dr. John Noble, the City records manager; Monroe County Historian Shirley Cox Husted; Dr. Owen S. Ireland, Brockport History Professor; County Legislature Clerk Carol Kamen; Annette Wiesner from the Office of the County Executive; Brockport Library Director Dr. George Cornell and State Supreme Court Justice Robert P. Kennedy, an ex-officio member.

The grant will be used to fund a study by General Physics Corp. of Columbia, Maryland, a consulting firm that was selected by the steering committee. The firm will be responsible for analyzing the County records inventory, developing a five-year plan for records management services for local governments in this region, and investigation sites for the records repository. One of the sites to be examined is Hartwell Hall on the SUNY-Brockport campus.

In addition to establishment of a records repository, the projects other goals are: proper management of County records, for which there presently is no coordinated program; education of local public officials about the importance and cost-savings of a professional records management program; and investigating the use of automatic information retrieval systems and facsimile transceivers to transmit information from the repository back to the documents office of origin.

According to McCarthy, this project complements the recommendations contained in "Toward A Usable Past," the report to Governor Cuomo by the New York State Historical Records Advisory Board of which former County Clerk Patricia Adduci, now State Motor Vehicles Commissioner, is a member. The report urges a regional approach to archives administration and records management.

Regional Historical Records Program Development Bill

At the same time Monroe County is moving toward a regional archive, the movement for improvement, in historical records management elsewhere in the State suffered a setback with Governor Cuomo's recent veto of the Regional Historical Records Program Development Bill.

The bill would have amended the Education Law to allow the State Education Department to provide advisory and consultative services to local governments and historical records repositories. The intent of the bill was to provide a professional records specia1ist in nine regions of the State, with each specialist providing technical advisory services to local governments and records repositories in his region. The bill would have initiated services in three regions of the State during the 1985-6 fiscal year and would have covered the entire State by the 1987-8 fiscal year. The State Archives, which is part of the State Education Department, would assist these specialists through inservice training and developing publications and audiovisual and other materials for use in the regional program.

The bill was drafted by the State Archives and was supported by the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the State Historical Records Advisory Board, the Coalition for New York's Documentary Heritage, the New York Library Association, the New York Board of Regents, and other archival historical and local government organizations.

The Governor's veto was based on a recommendation of disapproval from the State Division of the Budget. The Governor's veto message, dated August 2, 1985, stated that "the programming and fiscal issues associated with implementation of a historical records system are more appropriately addressed through the Executive Budget process. Any program-matic expansion of the reference and research library resource system should be accommodated within the framework of the State Education Departments budget and the State's overall fiscal situation."

The future of this program apparently depends on the resolution of the budgetary dispute. According to the State Archives staff, the 1986-7 fiscal year budget being developed by the State Education Department will include funds for the regional historical records specialists. However, it is far too early to predict whether these funds are likely to survive the complicated budget review process that will culminate in the legislature's passage of the State budget next spring.

Among local legislators, Assemblymen David Gantt and Gary Proud were sponsors of the Regional Historical Records Program Development Bill. Society members are encouraged to contact their local assemblypersons and senators to express their continued support for the bill (which may be re-introduced next year in the same or amended form) and for the funding of the program through the Education Department budget.

Peter Bush

One little known treasure in Rochester is the naturalization index located in the Monroe County Courthouse (Permit Office). Two segments run from 1820 to 1906, and from 1906 to the present. There is a fee for obtaining a file once the file number has been determined from the index.

Another way to obtain the same information is to go to the County Clerk's Office and ask to see the set of film done by the L.D.S. called Original Index to Petitions, 1820 to 1906. These films win give you the Petition number. The Intention papers are kept separately and have their own film index so make sure you look at both. This method could save you time and money.

For the period after 1906, the certificate of naturalization is on file in Washington, D.C. and Monroe County has only the Intention and Petition papers in the Courthouse (Permit Office).

Naturalization papers can at the very least give you the country of origin for your ancestors, but sometimes they contain the city and country which can be a big help in locating your ancestor across the ocean.

The $10.00 dues includes you and your spouse and is due during the month of September. If it can't be paid at the September meeting, it should be mailed to the Membership Chairperson by the end of September. Membership entitles you to the current issues of Hear Ye, current membership list, surname index and placement of "queries" in Hear Ye at no extra charge.

HISTORIES OF WESTERN NEW YORK STATE

Those wishing to purchase Histories of Western New York State may find that the remaining copies of the early histories of the area sell, from used book dealers for $100 or more. Luckily three very good early local history volumes: Sketches of Rochester, History of the Holland Purchase, and History of the Pioneer Settlement of the Phelps and Gorham's Purchase and Morris Reserve have been reprinted over the last few years by James Brunner, 20 Groveland Rd., Geneseo, NY 14454. For those from the Rochester area, these books may be obtained for $25.00 each at either Scantoms or Village Green and possibly at other area bookstores. They may also be obtained by mail or $26.75 directly from Mr. Brunner.

Brief descriptions of these histories may help you to consider buying these very useful volumes to augment your genealogical, collection.

Sketches of Rochester by Henry O'Reilly originally published in 1838 and reprinted in 1984 is the first history of Rochester written just four years after Rochester's becoming a city. It contains many statistics of the city including climatic, medical and geological. There is much information about the flour milling Industry in Rochester and facts about the Erie Canal, before the coming of the railroads. It has 43 illustrations of the primary buildings of the city and views of the Genesee River. The reprint has in addition to the original, a portrait of the author, a 1838 map of the city and an index to make it more helpful to the genealogist. A newspaper review in 1838 says it is "a detailed account of every event of importance" in the history of Rochester "given in a dear and intelligible manner" and "the book should be in the hands of every family."

History of the Holland Purchase by Orasmus Turner was originally published in 1849 and reprinted in 1974. It is the History of Western New York encompassing the present counties of Chautauqua, Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming and Allegany. This history includes many detailed accounts of the history of Western New York State and biographies of the early families along with many illustrations. The reprint has added as index for help in locating your ancestor, if your family lived in the area, you will find this an invaluable aid.

History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase and Morris' Reserve by Orasmus Turner originally was published as two separate editions in 1851 and 1852 and reprinted together in 1976. This is the history of the Genesee River Valley area of New York including the counties of Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Livingston and Allegany. It includes biographies of the pioneers and histories of many of the towns of the area. More importantly, there are pioneer history sketches by the surviving early settlers of the Genesee Valley with details of their families and neighboring families which prove invaluable for genealogical research. The Rochester Daily Advertiser of August 1850 calls it "graphic and eloquent" with much "historic detail which might otherwise be dull and uninteresting."

Dick Halsey

(Editors note: Early New York State county etc. history book reprints are also available from 'Heart of the Lakes Publishing,' Interlaken, NY 14847)

Genealogical Guide to Monroe County, NY published in July l985 by the Rochester Genealogical society, this comprehensive booklet has 48 pages packed with where- and how-to-find-it instructions, Contains locations of divorce, court, census church, naturalizations, cemetery, land, adoption, military and vital records; city directories, newspapers and maps; transportation routes; histories and historians of county towns, and villages; a guide to the Rochester Public Library; and much more. Send $6.00 to RGS plus $1.00 for potage and handling.

The Kodak Genealogical Club presents:

FAMILY TREE CLIMBING CAN BE FUN

Genealogica1 Workshop

With Phyllis and Floren Preece of Everton Publishers, Logan, Utah

When: Saturday, October 26, 1985 - - - 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Where: Kodak Park Recreation Center (Bldg. 28, Rm 107-111) 200 Ridge Road West (Route 104)

Program: 8:00-9:00	Registration (Please register In advance since space may be limited)
9:00-12:00	Presentation by Phylis Preece, "Getting the Most Out of Records" or "The Four Dimensions of a Good Search."
12:00-1:00	Lunch; Brown Bag or Purchase in adjacent Cafeteria
1:00-4:00	Presentation by Floren Preece, "Searching in America"

Cost: $13.00/person (Checks payable to Kodak Genealogical Club)

Registration Form includes more information: Pick up at the next meeting of the Rochester Genealogical Society or send a SASE to James F. Roome, 6835 Fisher Road, Ontario, NY 14519-9709.

R.G.S. OFFICERS 1985 - 1986
President:	Helen Berkeley
Vice Pres. & Program Chairperson:	Carmen Bush
Recording Secretary:	Judy Markham
Corresponding Secretary:	Charlene Guyer
Treasurer:	Alberta Greer
Membership Chairperson:	Helen Rockwell
Hear Ye co-editors:	Robert Hesselberth James Roome
Rochester Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 92533, Rochester NY 14692

Geo. J. Fish, teacher
Elizabeth Agen Michael Agen Peter Agen William Agen Joseph Anthony Francis Buckley Henry Eldredge Lyman Eldredge Margaret Flegle Volley Flegle Cora M. Gilman Frank Gilman Henry Gilman Carlton C. Harris Claude Harris Emma Hiett Mary Hiett	Samuel Hiett John Kelly Mary A. Kelly Josaphine C. Kimble Cornelia Lettington George Lettington Harriett Lettington John Lettington Henry McGregor George Metcalf Mary Metcalf Sarah Metcalf Alice A. M. Miller Ardean R. Miller Charles Miller Charles C. Miller Milton M. Miller	William Miller Charles Moore Frederick Moore Nelson Moore Timothy Murphy Theodore Pope J. Elmer Post Eliaz J. Pea Edgar Savage Edward D. Smalley George Smalley Helen A. Smalley D. C. Southwick Frances Thurston Sidney Williams Alvorn C. Woodin Eugene Wooden