Volume 10, Number 3
Fall 1989

1989 - FALL PROGRAM
Letitia & William Welch

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 PM (except as may be noted for special programs), followed by the business meeting at 7:30 PM and the main program at approximately 8:00 PM. Visitors are very welcome.

Thursday, September 21st

Mini-workshop: "Working with the census in the USA" - Ossie Salyards

Program: "Introduction to Using a Computer in Genealogy" - Dr. Stanley R. Ames

The use of a computer makes genealogy easier, much faster, and more fun. The principal operations are collection, organization and computerization of information, followed by writing text and preparation of camera-ready copy. Names, relationships and vital data, as well as biographical information (or abstracts thereof) are stored on a computer disk. There the information can be searched, correlated and reorganized. A genealogy software program is a great aid. It prints out individual sheets, family group sheets, descendant charts and much more, use of a word processor program makes writing a family history and preparation of camera-ready copy much easier. It also helps in spell-checking, page layouts, alphabetic listing of sources and automatic preparation of a Table of Contents and an Index.

Thursday, October 19th

Mini-workshop: "Court Records" - Kay Thompson

Program: "Historical/English Genealogy" - Leah Kemp, Rochester Museum

Thursday, November 16

Mini-workshop: "Searching Civil War Records" - Bill Welch

Program: "Identifying and Preserving Antique Images" - James M. Reilly, Director, Image Permanence Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology

FAMILY FILE Dick Halsey We are going to begin the ambitious project of collecting family group sheets for families that lived in Rochester an/or the surrounding counties, If you have records of a family that lived in Monroe, Wayne, Orleans, Livingston, Genesee or Ontario Counties, New York, before 1920 we would like you to share your information with us. We hope that your information may help someone else researching the same family either now or in the future. You may submit your information on any style of family group sheet as long as it shows the husband, wife and their children. We will place the information in a computer file that may be easily searched for any name in the future. You can bring your sheets to the next meeting or mail them to Dick Halsey. For those with a computer, we will use Personal Ancestral File (the LDS program) on an IBM compatible computer. You may also submit information by having your program create a GEDCOM file of only the families that lived in one of the si.x counties listed above. The GEDCOM file is a standardized method for transferring genealogical data. Most genealogy programs now have the capability of creating the GEDCOM file. You may also submit this GEDCOM file on either a 5¼ or 3½ (IBM compatible) diskette. Non IBM computer owners will have to print out family group sheets to submit their families. Note: This file was eliminated in Dec. 2001.

CALLING ALL DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM AND DOROTHY ADAMS ACER In 1991 it will have been 100 years since the last entire family reunion at the Mary Jane Acer Fisher home in Pittsford, NY. Soon it will be 200 years since William and Dorothy settled there. William had six children. I have found most of the descendants of David and Aaron, but none of John, Hannah, Reuben or William, Jr. I need any and all information to let the people in Pittsford know we "Acers" are going to celebrate our forefathers settling in the Northfieid area in 1791. Help me please. Names, addresses, dates, places, etc. I don't want to leave anyone out of the family history. Plan now to celebrate a couple of days of you 1991 vacation in July in the Rochester, NY area. Exact dates to be determined. You'll get more news late as plans progress, and you may be called upon for your expertise in in HELP. Virginia Platter, 18141 Sunnybrook, Lathrup Village, MI 48076

GRANTEE LIST FOR EARLY LAND PURCHASES IN ONTARIO COUNTY, NY
Jim Roome

Grantor Oliver Phelps unless marked with *

DATE	NAME	LIBER-PAGE
1800	ONTARIO Co. supervisors	07-16
1800	WARNER, Ashel	06-565
1800	SIMMONS, Richmond	06-554
1800	WILDER, Gamaliel	06-540
1800	JONES, Nathan	06-533
1800	ELY, Heman	06-394
1800	ELY, Heman	06-383
1800	ELY, Heman	06-530
1800	SIMMONS, Abraham	06-530
1800	SCOTT, Ezekiel	06-526
1800	DEAN, Seth	06-525
1800	HULL, Jabez	06-523
1800	HAWLEY, Henry	06-477
1800	WADSWORTH, Jeremiah	06-467
1800	FELLOWS, John	06-419
1800	FELLOWS, John	06-418
1800	FELLOWS, John	06-417
1800	BARNEY, John **	06-403
1800	GORHAM, Nathaniel	06-380
1800	GORHAM, Nathaniel	06-379
1800	PORTER, Augustus	06-378
1800	PORTER, Augustus	06-377
1800	PORTER, Augustus	06-376
1800	PORTER, Augustus	06-375
1800	CASTLE Jr, Lemuel	06-375
1800	CASTLE, Daneil L.	06-374
1800	WILDER, Gamaliel	06-366
1800	LAPHAM, David	06-354
1800	LEALAND, James	06-353
1800	GOODING, William	06-327
1800	PORTER, Peter B.	06-320
1800	HOWLAND, Gilbert	06-303
1800	ATWATER, Jeremiah	06-299
1800	REDFIELD, Peleg	06-292
1800	PORTER, Augustus	06-288
1800	WILDER, Jonathan	06-282
1800	MARVIN, Ezra	06-276
1800	SIMMONS, Richmond	06-268
1800	SHORT, Abel	06-267
1800	WHEELER, Aaron	06-266
1801	WARNER, Joseph	07-500
1801	LATTA Jr, James	07-482
1801	LATTA Jr, Samuel	07-481
1801	CHURCH, Frances	07-404
1801	CHAPMAN, John	07-434
1801	HAYDEN, Jonathan	07-432
1801	COATES, John	07-421
1801	KIRKLAND, Joseph	07-411
1801	HOPKINS, Samuel M.	07-411
1801	CASE, Josiah	07-401
1801	WALDRON, Joseph	07-401
1801	WALKER, Perez	07-399
1801	HLDRICH, Asa	07-385
1801	PALMETER, Joshua	07-380
1801	PHILIPS, Darues	07-375
1801	CHAMPION, Henry	07-370
1801	MORRIS, Thomas	07-362
1801	CLARK, John ****	07-354
1801	HICKOX, Levi	07-339
1801	DEWEY, Jedediah	07-325
1801	COLE, Eleazer	07-324
1801	DENNIS Sr, George	07-314
1801	PETERS, William	07-306
1801	BILLINGS, Aaron	07-305
1801	DENNIS, Benjamin	07-304
1801	BIRCHARD, Asahel	07-298
1801	CURTIS, John	07-297
1801	HOLCOMB, Seth	07-287
1801	HILL, Ephraim	07-282
1801	WAITE, Elizabeth	07-264
1801	BILLINGS, Aaron	07-259
1801	STATE OF CONNECTICUT	07-246
1801	CHAPIN, Israel	07-242
1801	CHAPIN, Israel	07-241
1801	MC LOUTH, John ***	07-233
1801	LATTA Sr., Samuel	07-232
1801	CROSBY, Simeon	07-226
1801	GOODING, George	07-206
1801	SHORT, Philip	07-200
1801	DOUGLASS, Anna (heirs of)	07-195
1801	DOUGLASS, Anna (heirs of)	07-194
1801	CASE, Sebe	07-190
1802	HANNAY Sr, William	09-41
1802	SMITH, Peter	09-15
1802	TAYLOR Jr, Joseph	09-4
1802	FIELDS, Timothy	09-3
1802	BLACKNER, Levi	08-642
1802	BURNET, William	08-631
1802	WARFIELD, Alexander	08-619
1802	SHEKELL, John	08-614
1802	SALTONSTALL, Dudley	08-604
1802	BLACKMER, Levi	08-574
1802	ARMS, Daniel	08-548
1802	ATCHINSON, Sylvestus	08-547
1802	BRUNSON, Daniel	08-534
1802	OGDEN, Thomas L.	08-526
1802	HASKELL, Jeremiah	08-499
1802	ORTON, James	08-473
1802	BLAKE, Joseph	08-328
1802	SULLIVAN, James	08-313
1802	CAST, Jacob	08-305
1802	PARRISH, Jasper	08-290
1802	PARRISH, Jasper	08-288
1802	MORRIS, Thomas	08-286
1802	SAWYER, Prudence	08-284
1802	SAWYER, Prudence	08-283
1802	MC LOUTH, Cromwell	08-281
1802	BLAKE, Joseph	08-266
1802	BLAKE, Joseph	08-263
1802	OGDEN, William ***	08-250
1802	WHITNEY, Silas	08-240
1802	BOGERT, Herman H.	08-2127
1802	CLARK, William	08-2113
1802	GORHAM, Nathaniel	08-197
1802	SULLIVAN, James	08-184
1802	BARLOW, Abner	08-179
1802	DODS, John	08-167
1802	SULLIVAN, James	08-126
1802	BRONSON, Isaac	08-124
1802	BIGELOW, Oliver	07-609
1803	JACKSON, Daniel	09-256
1803	SMITH, Joseph D.	09-630
1803	AININ, Joseph	09-438
1803	SHORT, Theophilus	09-431
1803	BILLINGS, Aaron	09-420
1803	BILLINGS, William	09-428
1803	SULLIVAN, James	09-414
1803	SLOAN, Sturgin	09-412
1803	HARRISON, Luman	09-406
1803	READ, Philip	09-404
1803	GRIFFITH, Joseph	09-396
1803	COX, Joshua	09-393
1803	DAVIDSON, Hugh	09-345
1803	HILL, Ephraim	09-343
1803	BADGELEY, Ichabad	09-337
1803	WHEELER, George A.	09-335
1803	VAN DUGEN, Adam	09-327
1803	SHORT, Daniel	09-322
1803	MC KINSTRY, Williams	09-313
1803	OLDS, Rufus	09-299
1803	WELCH, George	09-298
1803	HURD, Philenah	09-296
1803	GRANGER, Pierce	09-290
1803	COLLINS, Cyprian	09-287
1803	DENISON, Asa	09-218
1803	SHAKELL, Benjamin	09-206
1803	TAYLOR, John	09-113
1803	BUSH, Gilbert	09-73
1803	WHEELER, Aaron	09-56
1803	ROSE, Jarius	09-49
1803	ROSE, Jarius	09-46
1803	ROSE, Jarius	09-74
1803	MORLEY, Timothy	09-35
1803	WELLS, Peter	09-29
1804	CANANDAIGUA ACADEMY	10-298
1804	GREEN, Ephraim	10-297
1804	ALDRICH, Asa ****	10-136
1804	HOWELL, Nathaniel ****	10-292
1804	HOWELL, Nathaniel	10-291
1804	SMEDLEY, James	10-287
1804	MILLER, Jacob	10-286
1804	MUCK, Jonathan	10-280
1804	WHITE, Friend	10-272
1804	WHITE Jr, Friend	10-271
1804	KING, Joshua K.	10-252
1804	MOSLEY, Elijah	10-235
1804	BARLOW, Abner	10-224
1804	BOUGHTON, Hezekiah	10-170
1804	DAVIS, Thomas	10-154
1804	BATES, Esther	10-143
1804	BATES, Phineas	10-142
1804	BATES, Phineas	10-141
1804	PARSONS, Elephas	10-132
1804	PORTER, Augustus	10-126
1804	SANBURN, Nathaniel	10-113
1804	TEFFANY, Silvester	10-303
1804	ATWATER, Moses ****	10-302
1804	PERRY, Nathan	10-110
1804	ATWATER, Moses	10-102
1804	WIRT, Henry	10-87
1804	FERGUSON, William	10-86
1804		10-
1804	CHAPIN, Thaddeus	10-57
1804	CHAPIN, Thaddeus	10-51
1804	MC LOUTH, Cromwell	10-48
1804	CHAPIN, Thaddeus	10-44
1804	BARBER, Amos	10-9
1804	TAYLOR, Ephraim	10-8

Rochester, NY, 26 May 1852:

It was very hard to leave behind our beautiful homeland, the land I love, and all our good friends but all will be forgotten very soon. The grief stayed with us until Mannheim, from there we started a new life. We went by boat and there was something new to see every minute. We left at four o'clock in the morning, and at ten o'clock in the evening we arrived at Cologne, a beautiful city.

The next day at ten o'clock we walked to the railroad and the good life again started anew. We could not see many new things in the North, except the big stacks of grain. The houses were so small that you could hardly believe it,. The stacks of grain were three times as big as the houses. They lay on the field and were covered by a roof of straw, and the corn or grain went to malt right on the field. What we saw was unbelievable.

We were pulled by an engine through a water tunnel and arrived at Antwerp at eleven o'clock at night. The city has 100,000 inhabitants and 70 churches. The Minster Church has 36 bells and is the richest church. ft is hard to describe the sounds of all the bells in those churches. We have been in one church in which everything was built of marble, we went out the side door of the church to an anointing garden,. The walls were as high as a church tower, and there was much art there; there were the twelve Appostles and the life of Christ from His birth until His grave. Everything was made of an alabaster-like stone, Above is Christ and the cross, and beneath is Christ in His grave. The value is impossible to estimate. In another part of the schurch is a cleansing room with an iron fence in front. From behind the iron fence, you can see the arms of poor people who beg for mercy. Everything is very beautiful but sad.

We went to a museum and saw many oil paintings, 373, all life size. They were all of holy people, from Adam up until this time. I believed that I was in Heaven. From there we went to see the Sisters in Cloister and there was much to see.

On the first of January at six o'clock in the morning, we started a new life again. We went into a prison; such a prison as that one does not exist in the rest of the whole world. There is no pity in that place except from God. The bad feeling went away after we came out of the prison. The music played, more sad that happy and we all boarded the boat.

You must forget everything and start a new life. If everyone dances, sings, and is happy one day, then the next day it is stormy. Even so, you have a good life. You can see the power of God and how beautiful He created the world, and how He masters everything. From the back of the ship, the waves appeared so beautiful as to be made of stone. It reminded me of Weisenbach.

When the ship had to go over the waves, it rocked from side to side. There was a big laugh and the people went from one side to the other, suddenly they all landed in a big pile. The young people, who were all healthy, did not mind, but I had the misfortune to be sick most of the time because the boat was always rocking and I could not stand it.

The worst disaster was a fire under the Captain's room. The cook must have started it somehow with a light. He should have thought that a fire could break out. When we saw the flames, we knew that we had nowhere to go. My first thought was would the people in Weisenbach ever know what a tragic ending we had: I did not know whether to jump into the water or burn a very painful death. But then, Anton came and told me that the fire was extinguished and that there was no great damage. After that I could not wait until the moment came for me to be off the ship.

We sailed in icy water, but in a short time we were in clear water. We saw some very large fish, the size of pigs or horses. They were like dogs with swords on their backs. After we traveled 20 or 30 days at sea, I thought we were on the ocean; but in 30 days at sea, we did not even have the ocean in sight. We had only traveled through the Holland, English, and Irish channels.

It was treacherous in the Irish Channel, and there was a big storm for seven days. We entered the ocean and the waves were tremendous and were always hitting the boat. We were hopeful that we would survive the storm. The smallest children of Karl Krieg, Joseph Klumpp, Georg Krieg, and Armand Gerstner died. As the ship went out, the bodies were let into the water. The law is that, if the ship is traveling, the bodies can be buried at sea; if it is anchored, they must remain on the boat.

The priest thought that a Weisenbach memorial should be built. You could build a pig sty for a memorial, because, in 73 days, there was not a day with out a fight. After 75 days we finally came to land. We went to a restaurant and sent for Anton Gerstner: he came, but Leo Woerner is not here any more. Leo had 200 goldpieces saved and went on again with this money because he did not like New York.

Even though there were 776 churches, I did not see the interior of even one of them in the five days that we were there. The people in New York were not religious; all the crooks, who have nowhere else to go, sit there.

It was deep winter when we landed in New York. Unfortunately, the day of our arrival was a nice day, and the ice broke up in the canal. The railroad was locked and we had to remain in New York for five days. The ones who planned to go to Philadelphia could go immediately. Ignaz Krieg, Karl Krieg, Wilhelm Grossman, Armand Gerstner, Michael Fortenbacher, Friedrich Dorre, and I were going to Rochester. New York was very expensive and it cost a lot of money to stay there.

After a journey of three days and three nights, we arrived in Rochester. We met so many friends here that we could not believe that we were so far from Weisenbach; Knopf from Vorfeld(?), Elias (Fritz) from Langenbrand, Bauer from Bermerbach, Hubert from Reichenthal. The Bauers took me in for three weeks.

I was unsure whether I would stay here. About twenty hours from here you could own a piece of land about two morgens in size (approximately one and one-third acres). You do not have to pay for the land and food for three months immediately. You can just work and eventually pay for it, and then you can be on your own. I would like to live like a human being and go to church once in a while if I am able to do so.

Here I can live under decent people and I can earn enough; nine thaler, and even as much as twelve or sixteen thaler per month. A day laborer earns very little; one florin forty-eight kreutzers or as much as three florins fifty-two kreutzers. I have decided to stay here and have rented a beautiful house with papered rooms and a nice garden. It costs one florin forty-eight kreutzers per week. I can grow what I need to live; everything grows better here than in Germany. Everything in the past is over. I thank God for happiness for my children.

Rochester is a pretty city; everything here is built more beautifully than in Germany in the English style. There are seventy-five churches, two of them are German Catholic. I only go to one of them because the other is too far. I never wanted to leave the pretty church in Weisenbach, but I have found one that is just as pretty. When we came into the church for the first time, the people were singing and I was overwhelmed. It was Pentecost and the service was beautiful. Later I took my boys to the priest and he like them very much. He said that for twelve years there was no catechetical school; now there is an established school, a rectory, four priests, and a teacher who earns ninety-five florins per months. A woman teaches the girls and earns seventy-five florins. The teacher has nothing to do in the church but sing and play the organ. Three Brothers do all the necessary work. The interior of the church has more art than a church in Germany.

The mill grinds six hundred sacks of flour each day. I have never seen such white flour. Dark flour does not exist here, but wheat flour is more than enough. Brandy is made from corn, and the beer from malt is very good. We like to drink it and it would be worthwhile to make it. Nobody makes coffee because it is very expensive. One pound of sugar is six kreutzers. All kinds of fruit are grown in plenty, and apples are two kreutzers for fifty pounds. Potatoes cost eighteen kreutzers.

The washing facilities here are better than in Germany. A cleaner can wash in one day as much as can be washed in three days in Germany. The clothes are as white as snow. soap costs seven kreutzers. One pound of salt one kreutzer. Shoes and dresses are not very expensive. Leather has no value and shoes are made in factories everywhere.

When I make coffee, I dont like to drink it alone. If I see a woman outside, I call her in to have coffee with me. Here the women are not allowed to work; it is the same here as in Germany. I think very often about Weisenbach, but I do not want to go back. I like to live here in the hope that we will see each other again. It is a nice, free life here, we can do what we want You do not have to do anything but live following the Ten Cammandments of God. There is someone to take care of the poor people; thieves and robbers are punished hard. Independence Day is celebrated on July fourth.

Marriage here is very simple. You can ask the priest in the evening to marry you in the morning, If you do not want anyone to know, you can get him to the house any day or night. You can be married for a whole year and not have anyone know.

All who come to America are not happy, If they do not work and just drink, they will never make a living. My wish is that my children will have a good life here in America in the future. The Weisen-gardener did sow seeds on a good soil, and I have nothing to do but pun out the weeds, The teacher Geisler welcomed Anton and August and the Pastor have them each a gold medal. He said that they were eager to advance.

If anyone should desire to come to America, he should not come with an agent; he should go to a seaport and ask to go with a captain. It costs half as much that way. I could have saved a lot for my children and could have bought a house.

I ask that you answer my letter soon and that the ones to write me do not tire so early. The newspaper here does not tell us much about Germany. I think my dear Nani should have something to tell too. I wish that you would post this letter at the "Gruner Baum" (Note: Gruner Baum is an inn that still exists in the neighboring town of Gernsbach; not far from Weisenbach.) I would like to hear from dear Helena, still healthy as when I left; and dear Johann. They are the dearest that I left behind, . . could I just once more talk to her as before, but that is not more.

If we just live as the Holy Church tells us, we will not be apart forever. Stay well and healthy, very friendly regards, your submissive servant,

Katharina Eckstein

Regards also to my dear Nani, every teacher, the Ziegler family, all my brothers and sisters, all my friends. Should I have omitted some friends, I wish to include them also. Dear God, give us health, happiness, and blessings and once again we will see each other.

Katharina Eckstein in Rochester, New York, in North America.

I hope that with a few lines I can make us happy. It is not necessary for me to write a special letter because Katharine Eckstein wrote about everything: how the trip was and how it is here. My husband works in a factory where chairs are made. Everything is made by machine here in America, and nothing is hand made because everything has to be completed in a hurry.

Wilhelm earns one florin forty-eight kreutzers until July when he will earn two florin twenty-four kreutzers. He works from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm both summer and winter.

- - - In America, if someone wants to drink and not work, he will have nothing. The men here have to work hard; the women do not have to work up until this time. I do not know about the rest of the Weisenbacher, but Katharina Ecksteln and I were together on the entire trip. We are very happy in America.

Regards to all my friends and the people I know, to the teacher Grissler and his wife, and to Adolph. I wish that I could invite them all to a cup of tea, because here it is very inexpensive. - - -

Theresia Grossman

QUERIES & THINGS:

NEW BOOKS AT ROCHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY (1988)

Author	Title	RGS Ref. Number
Butchart, Ronald E.	Local Schools: Exploring Their History	Rr 371.0109, B983L
Judkins, Russell	Iroquois Studies: A Guide to Documentary and Ethnographic Resources from Western NY and the Genesee Valley	Rr,OS 970.0049, J92i
Mellen, Rachel	Practical Guide for the Genealogist in England	Rr 929.1072, M525p, 1987
NY State Archives	Researching the History of Your School	Rr 371.0097, R429r
Smith, Virginia Jeffrey	St. Lukes Church - Genesee Falls	Rr 283, S662s
Yasso, J. Marilyn Hannett	History of Retsof, NY: A Compilation - 1884-1986	Rr,OS 974.785, Y29h
Cambridge, MA City Council under the States	The Records of the Town of Cambridge (formerly Newton), MA	Gr,974.44, C178r