Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Land Records

I've been reading about ways to go around brickwalls in genealogy research. One of the suggestions is to use Land Records. So, I got on the BLM (Bureau of Land management) and looked up Reuben F Miner, my 2ggreat-grandfather. Although I have alot of records on him and his children, I have very little on his father. I figured I would just start on Reuben and maybe get a better understanding of him. I found the listing of the deed in 1876 and can even get a copy of the original deed, but I'm not sure how to find the additional records I've read about. I would like to find out what happened to the land, since in 1880 he was living in another state and in 1883 he was back in Wisconsin, and endless he was logging on it, he was some where else. in Wisconsin. His wife Mary Lucy Starkey Miner, supposedly died a few months after giving birth and they were staying at a logging camp at the time of her death.

I guess I'll have to do some studying about land records and deeds before I can really use them. I have some other people I'm researching, that it might help useing land records, but I need to learn how to use the ones I can find easily first. Since I live in Arkansas and all my research is in the Northern states I rely on the Internet and films alot. I can't just go down to the court house and look the records up. Although I would like to do some research like that some day.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

PERSI

Today my husband left his cell phone home. That's an interesting way to begin a blog about Genealogy, but he needed me to bring it to him before my doctor's appointment. Well my appointment was in the early afternoon and I figured he needed it before then, so I rearrange my plans and decided to do some genealogy. The Little Rock main library is on the way to my appointment. Libraries, especialy the larger ones have internet access to both Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest. Both good resource sites, but are fee base. I can't afford to pay the fee, so I plan my trips to the library carefully. I've been reading The Family Tree Problem Solver by Marsha Hoffman Rising. She talks about PERSI, an index to the many genealogical magazines that have been published over more than 100 years. So I got on Heritage Quest and looked through PERSI. I looked for articles that might help me with the Coulton Family and now I need to order several of them. The articles can be ideas on how to research an area, to trascribtions of records. The only problem is if the library you are at does not have the magazine the article is in, then you need to send away to Allen Public Library. They are the ones that keep PERSI updated and they have a copy of all the magazines the index. So now I'm going to order some articles that include tax lists for Philadelphia.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Phebe Coulton

Among the things I have found is an index that is wrong. Of course this happens, but because of this index Joseph Coulton's birthdate has been estimated to be about 1722. Instead I contend he was born closser to 1755, a 30 year difference! All because someone put down that Phebe was the grandchild of William Coulton (Joseph's father). People came to the conclusion that if Phebe was William Coulton's granddaughter then she had to be Joseph's daughter since William only had one known son, Joseph. Following is something I put together a few years ago that states my case as to Phebe Coulton is William Coulton's daughter and Joseph's sister.

In an effort to verify the information on the Coulton Family, I came to realize that the following Will Abstract might be wrong. COULTON, WM. Blockley, Phila. Co.April 16, 1774. June 15, 1774.Wife: Phebey.Children: Joseph, Lyddia (wife of Isaac Warner), Rachel (wife of Enoch Bonsalland Margaret (wife of Thos. Winn).Grandchild: Phebey (wife of Edward Robinson).Execs.: son Joseph and son in law Isaac Warner.Wit: Thos. Musgrove, Thos. Marshall, Sr. and John Mather. Q.19.
This Will Abstract has been used by many in their research of the Coulton Family. However, I propose that the abstract is wrong and that Phebe is William Coulton’s daughter and not his granddaughter.

Why Phebe is a daughter instead of a granddaughter!

1) In Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: Will Book No. Q
Years covered: 1775-1778: FHL# 21727: Wills v P-Q
William Coulton Will, page Q19
(This is part of the will, the part that mentions his children)
“It is my Will and I order that in the first place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied Item I leave and Bequeath unto my loving wife Phebey Coulton one half of my Estate Real and Personal During her widdowhood and after her widdowhood or Decease my mind and will is of that the said effects Real and Personal of which I have left unto my Loving wife Phebey Coulton shall [desolve] to my Son Joseph Coulton as his Real Property Item I give unto my Son Joseph Coulton the other half of my Land or Estate Goods [chatties} & to him his heirs [and assigns] Item I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Lydia Warner Twenty Shillings. Item I give and Bequeath unto my Soning Law Isac Warnor the sum of Ten Shillings Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Rachel Bonsall the sum of Twenty Shillings Item I give and Bequeath unto my Soning Law Enoch Bonsall the sum of Ten Shillings Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Margaret Winn the Sum of Twenty Shillings, Item I give and Bequeath unto my Soning Law Thomas Winn the sum of Ten Shillings. Item I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Phebey Robinson the sum of Twenty Shillings. Item I give and Bequeath unto my Soning Law Edward Roberson the sum of Ten Shillings. Item I give and Bequeath unto Joseph Coulton after the marry or Decease of my Beloved wife the Land both Reall and Personal unto my son Joseph Coulton to him his heirs [and assigns]…”
This Will can be found at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/philadelphia/wills/coulton-w.txt
There is no difference to the listing of Phebe, than for Lydia, Rachel or Margaret nor any difference in the listing for their husbands.

2) In Joseph Coulton’s will, (Probated 13 Mar 1782, found in Will Book S page 93, FHL#21728)
[The person who is generally considered Phebe’s father], there is no mention of Phebe or any other marriage than to Mary Williams. Also all his daughters are listed as being under the age of 18, and his son being under the age of 21.
This Will can be found at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/philadelphia/wills/coulton-j.txt

3) According to the Bonsal Historical Society, Phebe was disciplined in 1757 for marrying outside of unity and her sister, Rachel, was disciplined for accompanying Phebe to her wedding.

4) Known marriage dates of the children of William Coulton: Margaret marries Jan 1757:to Thomas Wynn–RECORD OF PENNSYLVANIA MARRIAGES, PRIOR TO 1810. Volume I.Surnames Rob-Z: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/philadelphia/church/pass8-13.txt
Lydia marries Aug 1757: to Isaac Warner
Rachel marries May 1758: to Enoch Bonsall- Coulton/Bonsal marriage: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/chester/vitals/marriages/bonsallcoulton.txt
Phebe marries Aug 1764: to Edward Robinson - Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1790, p 56
Joseph marries Oct 1771: to Mary Williams - (See Philadelphians married in early New Jersey Records) http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/philadelphia/vitals/njphilmar.txt

I don't think these are hyperlinks and I don't know how to make them into hyperlinks. Sorry, if you want to see the reference you'll have to cut and paste.

If you notice Phebe's marriage is before Joseph's only known marriage. Granted there is still a lot of work to do, but we can at least get the birth order of these children in the right order.

From looking at the marriage dates I purpose William and Phebe Coulton children from first to last born goes something like 1) Margaret 2) Lydia 3) Rachel 4) Phebe and last 5) Joseph.
I'm gathering tax records on the Coulton. I'll post my findings later.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

My first blog

I have been doing genealogy for about 30 years. Over that time I have collected a lot of information, both from official records and from other people. At times I disagree with either the record or the conclusion someone has come to, here I will try to explain myself and my reasons for the disagreements. When needed I will try and present my case in a logical manner. Also I will post some of my brickwalls for others to see and maybe help me. I am hopeing from time to time to just list my research goals for a particular person or family, so I can find the to do list.