I have been trying to write about new ancestors this year so I am truly struggling with this one. I have already told you a great deal about Sarah Larkin Beardsley, my 2X Great Grandma who was a doctor and died at 39. Then there was my Dad’s Uncle Berlindo Moro who was murdered, protecting a friend in 1928, he was only 19. So I am truly stumped about for this prompt. So what I started to do is look at the Family tree and see if anyone jumps out at me.

Well I stumbled upon the Hurley Family. They are my husband’s relatives on his Mom’s side. My mother-in-law used to like to hear about my genealogy research and was always amazed about what I found out on my family. She told me I was luck to be able to trace my family as her family were recent immigrants to the United States. Coming in the early 1900s. I never did a huge amount a research while she was alive and that bothers me. She would of been so happy with what I found out. Also I miss not asking questions because people always know more than they let on. So back to the Hurley family, particularly Joseph Hurley.

Joseph Hurley, is G’s 2nd Great-granduncle. He was born 22 May 1881 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was born to David Hurley and Bridget Gleason Hurley. We first find Joseph on the 1891 Canada Census of Hamilton, Ontario Canada. In the household are William Butler 29, Head, Mary 22, Mary E. 3, Margaret 8/12, Bridget Hurley, 44, Mother-In -law, David 50, Father In Law, Glass Labourer, Edward 14, Joseph P. 9.

We then find Joseph in the 1900 US Census for Brooklyn, Kings Co, NY living on Atlantic Avenue. He is now 18 and the only child living with David 55 and Bridget 55.

I did find Mary And William Butler a few families up on the page.

In 1905, Joseph Hurley age 24, is listed as a boarder in the house of William and Mary Butler. Also living as boarders in the House are David Hurley, 69 and David Hurley Jr. 30. Sadly Bridget died in 1903/4, I haven’t been able to find her death certificate on the NYC Historical records site.

In 1910, Joseph Hurley, 28 is listed in the US Census for NY, Queens living with his wife Nellie, 22. They have been married 2 years have no children and it lets me know that Joseph Hurley is a Naturalized citizen. The 1900 census happens to be one of my favorite records as it has so much information.

Interesting fact about the Naturalization listed in the 1900 census is that Joseph did not file a Declaration of Naturalization until 1914.

The 1920 census of Brooklyn, NY has Joseph 37, Helen M, and son David 5/12. It shows that Joseph became a citizen in 1914. I think I need to go find that whole Immigration file and see if it has any goodies. Joseph is a traveling salesman.

The 1925 NY State Census for Orange County, Newburgh we find Joseph age 44, Eleanor 31 and David age 5.

At this point, I lose the family and can’t find them together again. The next record I find is the death certificate for Joseph P. Hurley.

This is actually the record that sent me on the whole journey to figure out who Joseph Patrick Hurley was. I love finding out about other relatives not in a direct line and trying to piece together their story and learn a bit more about them and create a story in my mind about them.

I would love to figure out what happened to his family. Joseph’s Nephew James Hurley was the informant so I want to learn more about James and why was it his responsibility to look after his Uncle. I have a feeling I will find out more as I continue to research. Not sure if the life of Joseph Patrick Hurley would be a movie but it could be a story of Hope, Perseverance, love and loss.

This is a fabulous prompt and I had many ancestors to choose since I had a lot of names that began with a vowel. For this one I decided on my Grandma’s side of the family.

Elijah Preston is my 3X-great grandfather and I don’t really know a whole lot about him and writing this blog has me wanting to research more into this family unit further than I have.

Elijah Preston was born 15 August 1823 presumably in Wilmington, Essex Co, NY to Abner Preston and Delia (Hudson?).

His first appearance by name is in the 1850 federal census for Wilmington, Essex, Co., NY. He is 26 years yold with an occupation of Bloomer (something to do with the iron mines). Living in the home are Emily, age 22, Edwin 5, Carlos 4, and Arvilla 1. Arvilla Preston is my 2X great grandmother.

The 1855 NY State Census for Wilmington, Essex Co, NY has the same family make up with the addition of Adaline age 2.

The 1860 federal census, we still have the same family unit. Elijah 36 is now listed as a Farmer. Emily 32, Edwin 16 is also listed as a Farmer, Carlos 13, Arvila is listed as Rosamund 11, Adeline 6 and Emma 2.

In 1863, Elijah age 40 is listed as registering for the Civil War in Wilmington NY. I have never checked to see if he served in the union army.

In 1865 NYS Census for Wilmington, Essex Co, NY we find the family but Carlos and Arvilla are no longer in the home and we have the addition of Melvin age 3.

The 1870 census for Wilmington Essex Co, NY shows the family has changed again. Elijah 46, Farmer, Emily 42; Adaline 16; Emma 12; Melvin 9; Lida 2; Dolly 6/12. Edwin is no longer in the home.

The 1875 NYS Census for Wilmington has the family the same except Lida is listed as Allida and Dolly is Polly Ann age 5.

The 1880 Federal Census for Wilmington Essex Co NY we have Elijah 56, Famer, Emily 52; Melvin 17; Alida 12; Polly 10. The family directly above is son Carlos and his family.

Emily Williams Preston died 21 May 1890.

The 1892 NYS Census for Wilmington Essex Co, now shows Elijah 69, Farmer, Melvin 31, Caroline 32 Melvin’s wife and Albert 5. These are the only members of the household. Daughter Arvilla 44, is in the next household with her family.

Eliha died 28 December 1895 in Wilmington, New York.

Elijah and Emily were the parents of a total of 11 children. Three of those children died as toddlers and were never listed in a census.

• John S. Preston (1852-1854)
• George A. Preston (1856-1860)
• Elijah D. Preston (1861-1864)

I have also not found Emma Preston after the 1875 NYS census, so that will be a future research project to see if she married.

I really delve into a particular ancestor as it raises questions and makes me want to piece more of the life together. I want to know more. I need to bring this family forward.

The tombstones of Elijah Preston and Emily Williams Preston.

This is an interesting prompt for Week 12. When I see membership, my first thought goes to country clubs. I have no idea why but it does. My family has never been a member of a country club. So I started thinking a bit more about organizations my family belonged to.

My Dad is a member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus.

My Grandpa was an Elk and a Mason. I remember my grandma saying she was president of the Eastern Star. I know my mom and her siblings were part of the 4H.

Me I have chosen to join lineage societies. It lets me bring my love of genealogy to life and honor those who have gone before.

I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Descendants of Early American Farmers.

I am working on an application for the National Society Daughters of the Union. I am thinking of honoring my 2X great grandmother Sarah Larkin Beardsley by joining the Descendants of Early First Responders. Someday I will finish dotting all the i’s and crossing the t’s to join the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches.

I am also thinking of becoming a member of the Local Quilt Guild and I need to see if there is a Genealogy Society to join here. For me it is a great way to make friends locally.

So are you a member of any society or group?

Week 7 of 52 Ancestors is upon us. 4 more entries and I will be current. This week’s topic is Outcast. I am seriously stumped about what to write about this week. I don’t think I have anyone who fits the definition of Outcast.

The closest person I could think of is my husband’s Great Grandfather Henry Bass. I wrote all about him in this post.

He is a true scoundrel and one day I will finish piecing together his actual story.

Benjamin Wood Larkin is my 3X Great Grandfather and is the father of my beloved 2X Great Grandmother, Sarah Larkin Beardsley, MD.

What I believe is true about Benjamin Larkin

1. He is the son of John Larkin (1790-1865) and Sarah Wood (1789-1865).
2. He married Ruth (possibly Morgan) I have a couple of theories and DNA matches that support the hypothesis.
3. Daughters Sarah (1847-1886) and Julia (1849 – ??) were born in NY. In 1860 Sarah is with her Grandparents in NY.
4. In 1850 – Benjamin, Ruth, Sarah and Julia appear on the Federal Census in Morristown, St Lawrence County, NY. Their is a Rueben Morgan in the next dwelling. I believe Rueben married Benjamin’s sister later on.
5. In 1852, Benjamin and Ruth have a daughter Clare in Illinois. (This was derived from a Minnesota Territorial Census in 1857).
6. IN 1853, Benjamin and Ruth had their daughter Lucy in Joliet Illinois. This was found by reviewing Lucy’s DAR application. Lucy married James Thompson. She died in NY in 1934.
7. In 1855 a daughter Ruth was born in 1855 I think in Minnesota and died in 1864. She is buried in NY.
8. !n 1857, Benjamin appears in a Minnesota Territorial Census with all the daughters. No Ruth. A new Wife Margaret, who is 18 and born in Norway and there is a son George Henry Larkin (1857 – 1936).
9. Edward Jay Larkin was born to Margaret and Benjamin in 1859. Edward lists his birthplace as Wisconsin.

I have an 1859 Land Grant application in Fillmore County Minnesota in Benjamin’s Name. I do not find him on any subsequent census.

In the 1900 Census Margaret Larkin, lists herself as a widow and she is living with her son Edward and this is the last record I have of Margaret.

Today, I spent some time building down the descendents of Benjamin Larkin and his son George had no biological children. He did have a Stepson. His son Edward Jay Larkin had 3 children who had children. Also one of his descendants came up as a DNA match to my Mom so maybe that will yield some fruit.

I did find some Land Grants in Florida with the name Benjamin W. Larkin in the Gainesville area, so I need to see if I can find something there. I also found a newspaper in Clinton County mentioning Sarah and her husband going to Florida so maybe it is possible Benjamin went there.

I really would like to tie up the loose ends and delve further into my tree and maybe see if I can prove that his wife Ruth was indeed a Morgan, it would open up several more Revolutionary War Patriots. Seems like most of my DAR lines come through females and the records can be spotty.

So what do we think happened to Benjamin?

Here are a couple of my theories.

1. I think Benjamin after Ruth died married Margaret to have some one to take care of all these daughters.
2. Benjamin suffered from Wanderlust and started traveling and cashing in on his father’s War of 1812 Land Grant.
3. He abandoned his Children with relatives and in his Son’s case left them with his mother.
4. I think it is entirely possible his daughter Sarah did travel to Florida when she had consumption to see him and he did possibly die there.

If you have suggestions of resources for me to look at let me know.

A huge amount of my research focuses on two particular counties of New York State, my maternal ancestors settled primarily in Clinton County.

Most of my family in Clinton County centers on the towns of Plattsburgh, Peru and Ausable.

The other New York county that a lot of my research has been focused on is Essex County. I have affectionately called Essex County as the black hole of my family history.

For Essex County, a lot of my research is in Chesterfield, Jay and Wilmington. I have lots of research particularly in North Jay but records can be hard to come by.

Recently I have been working on my Dad’s side of the family and I have been focussing on his Italian roots as much of his family stayed in Italy. I stumbled across this map recently and it has really helped me as I have been looking for records.

I have so far found records in Vasto, San Salvo and Lentella. As I have said most of my Italian research is done blind as there is no one alive that really knows anything. My Dad has told me things and next time I see him I am going to sit down and write down everything I can so I can maybe find out more.

I personally love the old insurance maps where you can see who was living where.

I love that the Library of Congress has a great cache of old maps to use for free. Looking at a map always helps me figure things out with locations and how much travel people did by horse and buggy,

What do you like about maps?

Today is April 1st, 2022 and it is the long awaited day of the release of the 1950 census. I was very excited about this day because it is the first census my parents show up on. It released at 12:01AM EST. Since I live in the central time zone I was luck to be able to view it last night since I was up and down another rabbit hole that I will save for another day.

Even though I would of loved to search for my Dad or the elusive Henry Bass, I figured I would start with my Mom, Grandma and Grandpa because the lived in a much smaller place than NYC. Oh did I mention I decided to take this endeavor on using my iPhone.

Well I had great success and found them right away.

As you can see they were in Clinton Co, NY in the Town of AuSable.

But my most favorite part of this page is my Grandpa’s occupation.

Yep you read that right he was Beer Salesman. LOVE It.

I will spend some time looking for other relatives including my Dad and all of my Grandpa and Grandma’s siblings and some great grandparents and of course the elusive Henry Bass but it is fun to see people I actually know on the census.

Now the wait begins until 2032 for the 1960 census.

Tradition. What makes a tradition? I try to think of traditions we had growing up and nothing leaps out to me.

With my own family, I try to concentrate on making the memories and being present. Things that might be considered traditions are we put our Christmas Tree the weekend of Veterans Day. We tend to go to Disney for Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. I sometimes make things that evoke memories of my grandparents but I am not swayed one way or another.

I have items that remind me of family but I try to share their stories and make them become real to them and not just names with dates.

I sometimes people get so wrapped in those traditions that they are not able to change and see what can be.

Surprise Surprise for this topic I do not have a lot to report as the majority of my ancestors were Farmers and they farmed in Clinton and Essex Counties of New York.

I do have Sarah Larkin Beardsley who was a doctor. My grandfather on my dad’s side was a contractor. A Great Grandfather on my Dad’s Side was big with the Sanitation Department here in NY, story goes he was responsible for helping them unionize.

Funnily enough as the majority of my relatives were Farmers my husband has a whole slew of Longshoreman in Brooklyn. He also has a post master in North Carolina. A Great Aunt who went to Julliard and was a concert pianist. A Great- Great Grandmother who owned and ran a stationery store. I particularly love reading about women who had occupations, to me it shows the growth of women in this country in a short time.

 

When I think of tragedies in my family tree, a couple come to mind but the first one I always think of is my Great-Uncle Berlendo Moro.

Berlendo Moro was born in 1909 in New York to Domenico Moro and Teresa Tracchia Moro. He was the 3rd son of the couple and the 3rd child. Sadly Berlindo, never married and died December 2nd, 1928, in Astoria, NY at the age of 19/20.

He was murdered while helping a Police Officer Richard Duffy.

This was a huge case that involved a manhunt and trial. Sadly his killer only received 8-15 years.

Berlendo Moro is buried in Saint Michael’s Cemetery in Jackson Heights, Queens not far from where the family lived. One of my projects is to aquire all the new articles from the time and try to get to the Courthouse to read the case transcripts because I feel like it would be interesting due to the personal ties.

I will be honest all the names on this tombstone had tragically short lives.