Volume 7, Number 3
Fall 1986
Volume 7, Number 3
Fall 1986
| 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 | |
|
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Have you ever stopped to think how much genealogical research has changed since "Roots" became a national pastime? With the upsurge of interest, many more records are available today which makes the search more rewarding, but the growing numbers of people and the increase in regulations adds a frustration factor unknown before. Tracing family orgins continues to grow as a hobby and I believe that our Society has much to offer this interest through education, programs and assistance to one another. Over the years, I believe that our programs have been varied and interesting and the mini-workshops, which precede the formal part of our meeting, continue to offer detailed material on specific topics. But it could be more - much more. To make the Society meetings more effective, we need more involvement on the part of our members, and we need to have our frequent visitors join the group. In final analysis, we need new and creative ways to let the people in our community know that we exist. How can you become involved? There are many ways, both big and small. Bring refreshments to the next meeting. Make suggestions for future programs. Contribute an article to Hear Ye some thing that has not been published and is of general interest to the membership would be wonderful. In the past we have talked of pairing an experienced genealogist with a beginner, or with someone needing help with a specific problem. We have experienced people - is there anyone needing help? Would someone be willing to answer questions or out-of-towners needing information about Rochester? And then there are computers. Topics could range from what to buy or how to get started to meeting with a small group to exchange information. This touches the tip of the iceberg. Each of you attends the meeting hoping to learn something that will further your own research or interests. That is as it should be, but in addition, I am suggesting that you would receive greater satisfaction if you offered something in return. All of us would benefit, and the rewards would far outweigh the time expended. |
1986 - FALL PROGRAM
by Carmen Bush
The Rochester Genealogical Society will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month (except December, July and August), at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, East Avenue and Vick Park B. The mini-workshops 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 years mini-workshops is research in foreign countries, both in person and by mail. We will be covering not only specific countries, but also general topics that are important to anybody trying to trace an immigrant ancestor abroad, no matter in which country. If you would like to see a particular country as the subject of a mini-workship next spring, or if you have done research in a particular locatiom, and would be willing to lead a workshop. Please contact Carmen Bush.
Thursday, September 18
Mini-workshop: "GETTING STARTED IN FOREIGN RESEARCH: MYTHS AND REALITIES"
Program: "RESEARCHING THE CIVIL WAR"
William Welch, president of The Civil War Roundtable of Rochester will present an interesting program on researching Civil War era people and objects. If you would like to bring a Civil War book, diary, picture, or other object to the meeting, Bill has graciously offered to look at it and help you identify it.
Thursday, October 16
Mini-workshop: "HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND TRANSLATE FOREIGN DOCUMENTS WHEN YOU DONT KNOW THE LANGUAGE"
Program: "IRISH RESEARCH"
Thomas Prittie, past president of the Ontario County Genealogical Society will be our speaker. Mr. Prittie has researched his and his wife's Irish ancestors both from here and in Ireland, and he will give us a very informative talk on Irish research.
Thursday, November 20
Mini-workshop: "RESEARCHING GERMAN ANCESTORS"
Program: "THE PRESERVATION OF GENEALOGICAL ARTIFACTS"
Ron Emerson, technical specialist at Light Impressions Corporation, will discuss the best methods and materials available to preserve our valuable documents and other objects of genealogical interest, particularly photographs.
INTERESTING ARTICLES from Carmen Bush
A couple of articles of interest to genealogists have appeared recently in non-genealogical magazines. On the light sid, the July issue of Readers Digest has an amusing article by Dale Van Alta called "The Joys of Ancestor Hunting." On the serious side, the July issue of Smithsonian contains a very interesting article about the Domesday Book in Great Britain. The article, written by Sue Arnold, is titled "The British are Making Book on Great and Little Domeday."
VITAL RECORDS FROM THE CRAFTSMAN by Dick Halsey
The Rochester Public Library has an index to the early newspapers of Rochester. Recently I found that a newspaper named The Craftsman was not indexed during the project. The Craftsman was a Masonic newspaper that was started to counter the anti-masonic feelings of the times. It was published from 1829 to 1831. Going through the paper, I found that the following vital records from The Craftsman were not in any of the other Rochester newspapers.
(February 17, 1829; p 15) Married in Gates on the 12th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Hirman HUBBARD of Canartdaigua to Miss Ruth B. CORSER.
Married on the 12th inst. by Rev. James, Mr. Martin GRIDLEY of this village to Miss Eliza RICHARDSON.
(March 17, 1829; p 47) Married at Geneva on the 5th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Hickox, Mr. P. McCAULEY of this village to Miss Eliza Ann ROGERS of the former place.
(April 6, 1829; p 71) Married at the Friends Meeting House in this village, on the 2nd inst., Abraham WILSON to Abigail SEYMOUR.
(May 19, 1829; p 119) Married this morning by the Rev. Dr. Comstock, Mr. Thomas ANDREWS to Miss Lavinia GILBERT, daughter of John GILBERT, Esq., all of Rochester.
(June 9, 1829; p 145) Drowned in the Canal, adjoining his father's residence, in this village, on Wednesday, the 3rd inst., Joseph Henry, eldest son of E. J. ROBERTS in the 4th year of his age.
Died at Canandaigua on the 30th ult., Edward, infant son of T. B. BARNUM of this village.
(June 30, 1829; p 168) Died on Sunday morning, Geo. Clinton, son of Gen. Jacob GOULD, aged 5 months.
(July 14, 1829; p 185) Died yesterday morning, Elisha TAYLOR, aged 43 years. He was one of the earliest settlers of this village and sustained through life an unblemished reputation and enjoyed in every situation the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. His funeral will take place this morning at 10 o'clock from St. Luke's Church, of which he was an efficient and exemplary member.
(July 28, 1829; p 200) Married at Henrietta, Mr. Etheridge M. FISH of Rensselaerville to Miss Laura Ann STEPHENS of the former place.
(September 8, 1829; p 249) Married at Friends' Meeting House, in this village, on Friday last, Alonzo FROST to Mary T. FRINK.
Died on the 1st inst. in Brighton, Mr. Harvey BOUGHTON, aged 47. Printers in Cleveland, Ohio and Stockbridge, Mass. are requested to insert this notice.
(September 15, 1829: p 256) Died in this village, on Sunday last, George, son of George and Emily KING, aged 16 months.
(September 22, 1829; p 264) Married in Parma on the 24th of August ult. by Zolved Stevens, Esq., Mr. Lewis CROSIER of Hallifax, Vermont to Miss Malinda ALLEN of the former place.
Died in this village, on the 16th inst., Mr. William DUNCAN, aged 47 years.
(November 3, 1829; p 312) med on the 31st, an infant child of Mr. C. 4. DUNDAS.
(November 10. 1829; p 321) Died on the 27th ultimo, at Rush, in this county. Harriet Porter, aged 6 years, an Interesting little daughter of the late Wm. P. TRASK, M.D. of Woodville. Mississippe.
(December 29. 1829; p 377) Died at Pavilion, Genesee County, on the morning of the 24th inst. Hannah, consort of Harmon J. BETTS, Esq., aged 35 years. Thus has flown to high Heaven a spirit beloved by all. In her, the poor over found a friend and benefactor; her heart was ever open to their wants, and ever ready to alleviate their distresses. She has left a husband and numerous friends and acquantances to mourn the loss from the circle in which she moved and scattered blessings around her. Her complaint was the consumption, of the most alarming nature. But with christian fortitude and composure. she looked with pleasure on the hour which was to dissolve her union, with this world of trouble.
(May 11, 1830; p 103) Married in Rochester, by the Rev. A. Bigelow, on Sunday evening last, Mr. Walter WHIPPLE to Miss Susan A. DONALDSON. daughter of Dr. Lothario DONALDSON.
(June 19, 1830; p 144) Married on Thursday, the 10th inst. at St. Luke's Church by the Rev. Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Georce J. JENKINS to Miss Sarah P. PLUMB.
(September 11, 1830; p 239) Died in Cambria, Niagara County of consumption, Mrs. Phebe PARDY, aged 62 years, wife of Mr. William PARDY, late of Gorham, Ontario County. Mrs. Pardy was a fond and attentive mother, and a kind and good neighbor. She bore her long illness with christian resignation and died in the hope of a blessed resurrection.
(October 9, 1830; p 259) Married in Rochester on the 6th inst. by the Rev. Dr. Comstock, Orsmel B. CORBIN to Miss Mary SAGE.
(October 27, 1830; p 287) Married in Pittsfield, Mass. or, the 7th instant, H. J. BETTS, Esq. of Pavilion, N. Y. to Miss Alamene F. KITTREDGE of the former place.
(January 12, 1831; p 374) Died at Lima, Livingston County, on Saturday the 1st inst. after a short but painful illness, Mr. Asael BUNNELL, aged 34 years, leaving a wife and three children with numerous friends to deplore his sudden and unlooked-for departure. The deceased was an industrious mechanic, of gentle, unobtrusive manners and irreproachable moral character. He had long been a member of that venerated, but now abused institution of Free masonry. At his espressed wish, he was buried according to the Masonick rites. A procession of about 60 of the Fraternity, in the Insignia of the Order attended his remains to the grave.
(January 19, 1831; p 379) Died in this village, on the 4th inst., Philip QUINE, Jun. in the 22d year of his age, a native of the Isle of Man. He left a mother, three brothers and a sister wholly dependent upon him for support. During his sickness, Mr. Mathies showed him great kindness and interred his remains at his own expense.
(February, 16, 1831; p 415) Married at Rome. Oneida County on the 9th inst. by Elder David Morris, Doct. Ethan A. POTTER of Dansville, Livingston County, N. Y. to Miss Martha A. WRIGHT, of the former place.
PROGRAMS RECAP
by Judy Markham
April - "DECIPHERING EARLY AMERICAN DOCUMENTS" - Kay Thompson
Time, the writer's background and his physical condition can all Influence handwriting. So reading the of times spidery script of colonial penmanship can be a formidable task. But Kay Thompson, Rush town historian, offers some general guidelines:
Kay suggests two sources: E. Kay Kirkhams The Handwriting of American Records for a Period of 300 Years and Harret Stryker Roddas Understanding Colonial Handwriting.
May - "THE IRS AND THE GENEALOGIST" - Virginia Juby
To most of us genealogy may seem like a pastime that were happy to spend money on. But to anyone who does research for a fee or publishes a family history, it is an income-producer and thus of interest to the IRS.
How the income is declared, depends on whether or not genealogy is a business or a hobby, explains Virginia Juby, an agent for H & R Block. That, in turn, is determined by the researchers intent, the amount of time put into it and the amount of money earned.
To be a business it should yield a profit at least two of five years, she recommends, otherwise the IRS is likely to assume no profit was intended and it thus was a tax evasion. In addition, all business profits are subject to a self-employment tax.
Certain expenses incurred as a hobby may be deducted, but only if they are offset by income. You can not take a net loss on a hobby.
If you decide to publish a book, again most expenses are deductible against royalties. The sale of the copyright is reported as a sale of an asset. In all instances, she advises, keep very specific records.
ARE THESE YOUR ANCESTORS?
by Dick Halsey
In the 1847 Rochester directory is listed Schmaeerhocks C. YMNUTGZSCHLOEFFENHOEFFLER, a soapmaker, that lives in a house near the Pinnacle. Also in that same directory is Bauenrouepff Czaske Ik ZOPLOCKSTEINSKI, a pedler, that lives on Dublin street. Neither one of these men is in the next Rochester directory nor show up in the 1850 census index. It seems very likely that they changed their names to something a little shorter. Does anybody have an idea of what happened to either of these interesting gentlemen?
JAMES GORDON MONTGOMERY PIONEER
from Helen Rockwell
(The following article was written about 1935 at the time of Rochester's Centennial observance, by the granddaughter of James Montgomery, M. Estelle Montgomery. Current residents of the city will notice that references to locations and street names have changed vastly in fifty years.)
James Gordon Montgomery was one of the pioneer builders of Rochester. He was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch parentage, in 1816. He settled in Rochester Village in 1831. He married Jane Finley in 1834. They had two sons and two daughters, viz., John Fisher born in 1835; Eliza Jane in 1837; Diana Finley in 1838 and David Scott in 1840.
James G. Montgomery and his wife were members of the reformed Presbyterian Church, then located on Stillson Stree, whose pastor at that time was David Scott.
James G. Montgomery erected the first three houses on South Avenue south of the Subway, the Marsh Seminary for girls just south of the present Byron Street which at that time was Holley Street, the Montgomery homestead on South Avenue near Comfort Street and the Warrent homstead on South Avenue near Alexander Street.
The Marsh and Warrant homes are still in residence. He formed a partnership in 1852 with Philip Meyer and they opened up a canal boat building plant on what was then Pinnacle Avenue, now Clinton Avenue South. His business, subsequent to his death in 1855, was continued by his eldest son, John F., who married Agnes Logan of York, Livingston County, in 1860. They had six sons and one daughter, namely, William James, Gordon Sproull, Francis Ernest, George Edwin, Charles Herbert, John Frederick and Mary Estelle, all of whom reside (1935) in Rochester, except Francis E., deceased, and William J., who is a resident of Colton, California.
In partnership with Rochesters late Mayor, Hiram H. Edgerton, John F. Montgomery constructed the Hayward Building, East Side Savings Bank, Alling & Cory's and Tully Buildings on Exchange Street, Wilder Building, the Exchange Place Buildings, the Cooperative Foundry plant and many smaller buildings. Subsequently, in partnership with his sons, William J. and Gordon S., he owned and operated the Montgomery Wood Working Mill on Graves Street. At this period he rebuilt Christ Church, the Brick Church and the original Mt. Hope(?) Presbyterian Church also a large addition to the Elmira Reformatory, the Custom House at Oswego and the County Building at Warsaw, N.Y., as well as many other large plants and private dwellings. His death occurred in March of 1900, and the business was carried on by his sons William J. and George E. Montgomery.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION MEMBER LIST
from Julie Steitz
Note: The Pioneer Association of Western New York was organized in 1847 and the list below presents members up to November 1866.
to be continued
Reader should consult ROCHESTER HISTORY, published by the Rochester Public Library, Vol. XLVII, Nos. 3 & 4. Ruth Rosenberg-Naparsteck, Editor. This publication lists attendents of the First Pioneer Festival in September of 1847 and includes their ages, where they emigrated from and when they arrived in Rochester. Several of the names, of course are in the above members list.
Reader should also consult TREE TALKS, Vol. 26, No. 1, page 51 for information about another early society, The Genessee County Pioneer Society, the records of which are now located in the Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, NY.
To Volume 7, Number 2
To Volume 8, Number 1
Back to Hear Ye Archives page
