Source Templates

This morning, I watched part of the Wacky Wednesday episode: The Source Is Gone and hope to finish it watching it later today. During this presentation, Cousin Russ discusses how he is rethinking how he cites memorials on Find A Grave.

During the presentation, Cousin Russ compared the suggested citation for a Find a Grave memorial to how he was citing the memorial in his software. This made me curious about my own citations and how they compare.

Below is the suggested citation for the memorial of my second great grandfather, Washington Marion Crawford.

When I looked at the footnote for the Find a Grave source in my software (RootsMagic), I found that the footnote was similar to the suggested footnote.

My footnote is ‘created’ using a template to enter the information.

The above template is a ‘custom’ template that I created. I often copy a built-in template and then customize the copy. I like using templates. They make it easy for me to remember to include the important elements in a citation. However, I had heard that templates don’t work well when data is exported – particularly via GedCom. This issue is discussed on the RootsMagic forum: ‘Templated Sources in GEDCOM and Data Exchange‘ and ‘Extreme Source Splitting and RM’s Source Templates‘.

To date, I have ignored the issue around how GEDCOM handles my sources created with the templates. Today, I decided to investigate what is happening to my sources when they are exported. One of the ways I export data on a regular basis is by uploading events and sources to Ancestry via RM’s TreeShare. Looking at the same citation on Ancestry, I discovered that whatever I put in Source Details is split from whatever is in the Master Source section of my template.

I also noticed that the words ‘created by’ or ‘photographed by’ were dropped. These words were not entered by me in the source details section of the template but part of the citation template.

Wondering how the citation would transfer using GEDCOM, I created a small GEDCOM file. I then imported that GEDCOM file into a different genealogy program: Legacy. Once I figured out how to view the source, I found that words ‘created by’ and ‘photographed by’ were also dropped.

After comparing the citation from the other software program to the citations from Find a Grave and from RootsMagic, I discovered that the order of the Source Details text in the Legacy footnote was in order entered in my template (top to bottom).

From this study of my citations and what happens during the export, I believe there are some things that I can do to improve the exported citations:

• enter ‘created by’ and ‘photographed by’ in the Source Details instead of using the footnote template to add that text
• change the order of the Source Details components in my Source Template to match the order that I would like the text to appear in a footnote

If I attempt either of the above changes, every individual in my RM program with a Find A Grave citation would be marked as ‘changed’ for TreeShare. Thus, I need to be willing to spend considerable time to make these changes and work thru the TreeShare list. At this point, I’m not going to make the changes to existing citations. However, I will likely create a new template to use for any new citations.

 

Thompson Deeds

As mentioned in a previous post, my John Thompson ancestor and another John Thompson of a similar age are both living in Warrick County, Indiana at the same time. I’m hoping that land records for Warrick County, Indiana will help me separate these two families. Buried in my paper files were some notes I took from the deed index books for Warrick County. Since there are additional notes in the margins of these notes, I’m assuming I looked at the deeds while on a research trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake.

For some reason, I did not get copies of these deeds — and I need the actual deeds to track the land and separate the two men. Yesterday, I learned that my local library (Seneca Free Public Library) was an affiliate library. [HAPPY DANCE!] That meant that I could get copies of the deeds without having to travel to a family history center or another affiliate library.

So, I now have 22 Thompson deeds from Warrick County, Indiana to work with. From previous work with deeds, I learned that the wife’s name is likely to appear on a deed where the land is sold. Since I believe the wives of these two men have different names, I’m hoping to use the sale of land to figure out who lived where.

Since my ancestor, John Thompson, married Sarah Iglehart, I’m looking for a wife named Sarah. Below is an image of the deed where John and Sarah Thompson sell land.

Warrick County Indiana
Deed Book 9 page 240-241

John Thompson and Sarah Thompson his wife to Samuel C Bradford
19 Jun 1850

This indenture made this the nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty between John Thompson and Sarah Thompson his wife of the County of Wapello in State of Iowa [Apct] first part and Samuel C Bradford of the County of Warrick and state of Indiana of the second part witnesseth that said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen hundred dollars paid to the said party of the first part by the party of the second part in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain sell convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever all the following described pieces or parcel of land to with the West half of section no twenty five (25) and also the north west quarter of the south east quarter of section no twenty three all in township no five (5) South of Range No nine (9) west lying and being in the county of Warrick in the state of Indiana containing by estimate three hundred and sixty acres be the same more or less together with all the rights privileges and appertenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the above described premises with all the improvements and appurtenances to the same belonging to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever and the said party of the first part for themselves and their heirs do hereby covenant with the said party of the second part and his heirs that they are lawfully seized in fee of the premises aforesaid that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances whatsoever and that they will forever warrant and defend the same and the quiet and peaceable possession thereof together with the appertenances to the same & belonging unto the same Samuel C. Bradford his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever in witness whereof the said John Thompson and Sarah Thompson his wife who hereby relinquish her right of dower to the above described premises has hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
John Thompson (seal
Sarah (her mark) Thompson (seal)

In presence of
[no signatures]

State of Indiana
Warrick County SS
I J Wart B Moore Recorder in and for said county do hereby certify that the above named John Thompson came personally before me and acknowledge the foregoing instrument of writing to be his voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned. Also Sarah Thompson above named wife of the said John Thompson who being by me examined privately separate and apart from and with the hearing of her said husband and the full contents and [pinpost] of the said deed being by me made known to her she acknowledge that she voluntarily executed the same of her own free will and account and without any coercion or compulsion from her said husband. In witness of which I hereunto set my hand and seal at Boonville this nineteenth day of June AD 1850.
J. Wart B. Moore RWC (seal
By Isaac S Moore deputy

There are also deeds where a John Thompson and wife Eliza sell land.

Warrick County Indiana
Deed Book 4 page 37

1 April 1840
John Thompson and Eliza Thompson his wife to Eddy Brown

This indenture made and entered in to this first day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty between John Thompson and Eliza Thompson his wife of the one part and Eddy Brown of the other part both of the State of Indiana and the county of Warrick and Spencer witnesseth that the parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to them paid in hand the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged that the parties of the first part has bargained sold and conveyed unto the said Eddy Brown his heirs and assigns all the tract and lot of land designated by the following nombers to wit the North west quarter of North East quarter of section no. Twelve in township four South of Range No. Six west containing 40 acres being and situate in the County of Warrick to have and to hold the same with all the appertenances belonging thereunto to the only proper use and benefit of the said Eddy Brown his heirs or assigns forever and the parties of the first part doth covenant and agree with the said Eddy Brown that they are lawfully seized in fee simple and that they have a lawful right to convey the same and that the premises are free from all incumbrances and the parties of the first part their heirs or assigns doth warrant and defend the same unto Eddy Brown his heirs or assigns from all claims that may come through them or their heirs forever in witness whereof the parties of the first

Continued on page 38

Part have hereunto set or caused to set their hands and seals the day and date above written

John Thompson (seal)
Eliza (her mark) Thompson (seal
Attest
George P Hall
John Scales

The State of Indiana
Warrick County
I James Asheley a justice of the peace in and for sd county do certify that John Thompson and Eliza Thompson his wife personaly apeared before me and the contents of the written and foregoing indenture made known to the wife and her examined separate and apart from her sd husband and she did acknowledge the with to be her voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned and desired that the same might be recorded as such. In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 10 day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
James Ashley JP

Now that I have two different land descriptions associated with two different wives, I can track the land descriptions and begin separating the deeds for these two men.

 

Happy Dance!

The Seneca Free Public Library is an affiliate Family Search library!

I only have to drive a few blocks to access the restricted resources on Family Search! That means I have access to deeds, marriages, wills, probates and a wide variety of other resources at my local public library.

About a month ago, the ‘genealib’ mailing list was discussing the new application to become an affiliate library. I shared that information with the director of the Northeast Kansas Library System. She shared it with the directors of public libraries in northeast Kansas. My local librarian completed the application and notified me today that everything was approved and configured.

Upon learning this fantastic news, I packed up my laptop and to-do list and headed to the library. In a couple of hours, I was able to download over 20 Thompson deeds from Warrick County, Indiana. These deeds were dated prior to 1900 and will help me sort out the two Thompson family lines living in Warrick County, Indiana about 1840. I spent less time accessing these deeds at my local library than it would have taken me to drive to and from what previously was the nearest affiliate library.

From my afternoon of research, I have some tips for others wishing to use the Seneca Free Public Library to access restricted records on Family Search:

• Use a library computer (the open wireless network evidently didn’t access the Internet via the same IP address as the library computers)
• Use a computer in the genealogy room
• Images are downloaded to the DOWNLOADS folder – can be copied/pasted onto a thumb drive
• Saving to the SOURCE BOX on Family Search is a LINK to the record. The image is not viewable from home.

See my post, Affiliate Library, for information about the application process and join my HAPPY DANCE!

Sources

Yesterday, I stumbled on an Ancestry feature regarding sources. I was already aware that Ancestry places sources found on Ancestry at the top of the list of sources.

 

Sources that I have in RootsMagic and transfer via TreeShare to Ancestry are listed as Other Sources, below the Ancestry sources.

If I have added a lot of Ancestry sources to an individual, then I must scroll down to find these ‘Other Sources’.

What I didn’t know, was that by scrolling over the source and clicking on the ‘VIEW’ icon, it would open up the source showing the complete citation — and any details added to the citation. Since I have started transcribing documents into the ‘Detail text’ screen for a source, those transcriptions are being uploaded to Ancestry and viewable by clicking on that ‘VIEW’ icon.

So, when looking at someone else’s tree, SCROLL DOWN and see if they have any ‘OTHER SOURCES’ attached. If so, view the source to see if there is a transcription attached!

Thompson Will

Last week, I stumbled upon a hint that the father of my ancestor, John B Thompson, was David Thompson of Barren County, KY. Following that hint, I found the will of a David Thompson in Barren county, KY. Among his children was a John B. Thompson.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of clues in the will that suggested that the John B Thompson of the will was not my ancestor.

• My ancestor was not living in Barren County, KY at the time and I currently have no record placing him in Barren County, KY
• The list of children did not include where they lived. For example, it did not say John B Thompson of Warrick County, IN.
• John B Thompson was named as one of the executors.

Trying to prove/disprove a link between my John B. Thompson and David Thompson of Barren County, KY, I did further research on the David Thompson family. I found a marriage record for David Thompson and Mary V Waller in the Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 database on Ancestry.

When I searched public member trees for a John Thompson with parents David Thompson and Mary Waller, I found several trees. Most of those trees had an 1850 census record for John B Thompson in Barren County, KY attached as a source. Since I have census records placing my John B. Thompson in Wapello county in 1850 and 1856, I don’t believe these are the same men.

I am concluding that the will for David Thompson of Barren County, KY is NOT for my ancestor. Below is a transcription of that will.

Barren County, Kentucky
Will Records, 1828-1856, Vol. 3
Image 63 of 249

Page 98

In the name of God amen I David Thompson of the County of Barren State of Ky having some afflictions in body of a sound perfect mind and memory thanks be to the Almighty God for the same knowing that it appointed for all men to die wishing to dispose of my worldly property that God has been pleased to bless me with do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form following
First, I give and bequeth to by beloved wife Mary V Thompson all my property I am in possession of or may be willed or devised to me, any way whatever all my tract of land whereon I now live with all the appurtenances there unto belonging all my negroes horses and stock of every description with my farming utensils house hold kitchen furniture and should there be any thing that is not here named I give and bequith the same and what is above named to my beloved wife during her natural life
2nd after my death I wish my wife to pay all my just debts out of the above named property and to give to the two children now living with us namely Jane Thompson and Nathan Thompson to be equal with those that has had the largest portion also all those that are married make them equal one with another according to her best judgement and what time she pleases or can conveniently share the property
3rdly where as I have a lawful claim to a certain piece or parcel of land whereon my son Wm Thompson now lives for which I have a title bond from Isaac Mize and when said right are made to me from sd Mize I intend to make general warranty deed to my son William and have recd full value of my son William for said land should I depart this life before said deed is made to said William my executor or executrix shall make said deed to said William Thompson and the land named in this third item is in no wise considered any part of his portion as I have received full value.
4th and lastly after the death of my wife it is my wish and desire all the residue of my property shall be equally divided among all my children namely William W Thompson Elizabeth G Wallis John B Thompson James G Thompson Lewis Thompson Jane Thompson Nathan Thompson should either of my children die without lawful issue their part shall revert back tot he rest of my children and their lawful representatives. I also constitute and appoint Mary V Thompson my beloved wife John B Thompson & Lewis Thompson my sole executrix and Executors to this my last will and testament. In testimone whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this seventh day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty five
David Thompson
signed sealed published & delivered by the above named David Thompson to be his last will & testament in the presence of us. Who at his request in his presents have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same
Geo Shirly
Jas Reas
Jos R Compton
Abner H Snow

Kentucky, Barren. Will Records, 1828-1856. Film #004818753. David Thompson, 7 May 1835 vol. 3: page 98; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online September 2018.

 

Which One

I descend from John Thompson — the John Thompson who married Sarah Iglehart in Ohio County, Kentucky, lived in Warrick County, Indiana, Wapello County, Iowa and Adams County, Iowa.

The 1830 and 1840 census records for Warrick County, Indiana include two men named John B Thompson.

1840 Census

1830 Census

Since I had researched this family, I already knew of most of the children and their birth dates. Using this information, I could calculate their ages and figure out how the family would show up on the 1830 and 1840 census.

After comparing the ages to the two census records, I highlighted the John B Thompson that I believe matches the family of my ancestor, John Thompson.

With an 1830 census record for John Thompson matching the ages of the family members, I elected to search for patent records in Warrick County, Indiana. The result turned up nine patents for a Thompson, with four of them named John.

Based on the land descriptions, there may be several family groups. I colored those in T4SR6W green and those in T4SR8W gold. Unfortunately, that left both John’s outside of the two groups.

I then used the website HistoryGeo to try and figure out which of the patents for John Thompson might be my John Thompson.

My John Thompson married Sarah Iglehart. Even though they married in Ohio County, Kentucky, I searched land patents for Iglehart or Igleheart in Warrick County, Indiana. I found Levi Iglehart with land fairly close to one of the John Thompsons with land in sections 23 and 24.

Since several of John Thompson’s children married an Evans, I then searched for patents registered by an Evans in Warrick County, Indiana.

When I zoomed out a bit, I found that John Thompson owned land in sections 23, 24 and 25. James Evans, a potential father-in-law of William Taylor Thompson (son of John Thompson) was in section 36. A little to the West, Levi Igleheart was in section 22 and Asa Iglehart was in section 21.

The proximity of all of these potential family members supports the theory that the John Thompson with patents in sections 23, 24 and 25 is the husband of Sarah Iglehart and father of William Taylor Thompson. If the land was sold while his wife was still living, the deed for the sale of the land would support this theory IF John’s wife is named Sarah.

These land records are valuable clues to the Thompsons, Igleharts and Evans families. However, further research is needed to verify my theories.

 

 

Numbers

How many people are in your tree?

For one #genchat tweeter a couple of weeks ago, a large number of people in a tree was justification to ignore that tree. My interpretation of that tweet was that the individual believed that large Ancestry member trees were simply compilations of various trees.

For me, the number of people in my tree represent progress. Since January, I have been recording the number of people, families, events, sources and citations at the beginning of each month. If these numbers are stagnant, then I have been spending too much time on Facebook, etc. and not enough time in the records.

With over 12000 people in my tree, I have a fairly large tree. While some might believe that number comes from importing other trees, I only made that mistake once. I learned from that mistake and worked to get the extraneous people out of my tree.

So, if I don’t import other trees, how did I get 12000 individuals in my tree?

For quite a few years, I have been using genealogy software to manage my tree. I utilize my software like a database — a place to store events putting a person in a specific place at a specific time. Thus, my usage goes beyond my ancestral tree. My genealogy database includes:

• Descendants
  • Following children helps me research their parents and grandparents
  • Helping identify DNA matches
• Same Names
  • Helps in separating records when trying to figure out which is my ancestor
  • I have a lot of ‘same names’: James Crawford, Hiram Currey, Noah Briles, Noah Rush, John Thompson …
• FAN Club (Friends, Associates, Neighbors)

Thus, I have a fairly large tree. A tree filled with information that helps me find other relatives.

THOMPSON Query

I am researching John Thompson who married Sarah Iglehart in 1820 in Ohio county, Kentucky. According to cemetery records, John was born in Kentucky. According to a history of Adams County, Iowa, John resided in Warrick county, Indiana before migrating to Wapella County, Iowa and then to Adams County, Iowa.

John and Sarah’s children include

• William Taylor Thompson (1820-1898) md Mary Ann Evans
• Jacob Thompson (1822-1905) md Rhoda Evans
• Benjamin Franklin Thompson (1824-1875) md Catherine Black
• Levi Thompson (1826-1828)
• Martha Jane Thompson (1828-1848) md Alexander Van Winkle
• Andrew J Thompson (1832-?)
• Mary Elizabeth Thompson (1834-1917) md Henry Evans
• John Lowe Thompson (1836-1917) md Martha Ingersoll
• Francis Marion Thompson (1838-1921) md Martha Schooling
• Sarah Ellen Thompson (1841-1844)
• James Allen Thompson (1841-1868) md Margaret Scott

I am trying to identify John’s siblings and parents. Based on the birthplaces of the children, I believe John and Sarah were living in Warrick county, Indiana in 1840. A search of the 1840 census for Warrick county, Indiana shows several Thompsons, including TWO named John B Thompson.

 

I think the John B Thompson in Ohio, Warrick, IN is my John Thompson.

Is anyone researching any of these other families?

Are any of these men brothers?

Genealogical Societies

What was the first genealogical society you joined? Why did you join it? What societies are you a member of?

These are the questions for this week’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. Since me genealogical journey started 30 years ago, I’m unsure which was the first society I joined.

I’m guessing it was the Kansas Genealogical Society – which sounds like a statewide society but is actually a society focusing on Dodge City, Ford County and Southwest Kansas. Since my research began in Dodge City, this society was a great resource. This was pre-internet times where research involved traveling to libraries and courthouses or getting information in the mail. Their Treesearcher publication would arrive every three months full of valuable transcripts of information. When I would visit my grandmother in Dodge City, I would visit their library to do research.

During those early days of my genealogy journey, the mail was my primary connection to records, other researchers and learning opportunities. I was a subscriber to Everton’s Genealogical Helper and would pour thru each issue looking for potential cousins to contact.

It was thru the mail that I received some of my best genealogical education. The National Genealogical Society, of which I was (and am) a member, offered a course thru the mail. This course forced me to learn to use a variety of records and to learn about records available locally.

Thru the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, I was able to travel to Salt Lake City and spend a week researching in the Family History Library. During that week, I was there when the doors opened and usually leaving the library as they were closing for the night. I came home with a pile of copies of records – primarily land records that helped me make tremendous strides with my research.

Over the years, my memberships have varied – but all have been selected to support my research or genealogical education.

Today, one of the societies I belong to is the Topeka Genealogical Society. Even though this society publishes a great journal, it is the educational opportunities that I find the most valuable. Each year they have a conference with a nationally recognized speaker. During this past year they helped sponsor a DNA conference. About once a month, I participate in two study groups hosted by the society. I thoroughly enjoy getting together with other researchers and learning from them.

With the abundance of resources available on the Internet, it would be easy to isolate myself in my office to research my family history. However, I think my research and my skills would become stagnant if I isolated myself in that way. Thus, I will continue to join societies so I can connect with other researchers and learn how to be a better family historian.

9/11 Memories

Today is a ‘where were you’ kind of day. In the past, the question, ‘where were you’ was asked in regards to Pearl Harbor and Kennedy’s assassination. Today, is a similar time when we recall where we were on that fateful morning when the towers fell.

I don’t remember how I found out about the attack on New York. However, I have vivid memories of that morning. I’m guessing that the school office had the radio on that morning and that I was in the office and heard the news. My memory begins with my setting up a TV in the library along the west wall and turning on CNN. Shortly after turning on the TV, the library was full — full of teachers and students.

My library was about 20′ by 56′ feet. Subtracting the bookshelves and counter, the room was more like 15′ x 40′. My memory says that about 60 students and staff worked their way into this space to stare at the TV screen. This wasn’t a large, flat screen TV of today, but a large for its time, bulky TV on a cart. I’m guessing it was a 32″ TV – and all eyes were on it.

For the most part it was a quiet room. Occasionally, someone would ask a question and Mr. (Dennis) Hermreck, our new social studies teacher, would respond. When the newsmen started talking about the hijackings of other planes and the potential for more, a student broke out in tears worried about her parents who were to fly home from California that day.

As if a normal school day, the bell rang. Slowly everyone left to go to their next class. However, it didn’t take long for the room to fill back up as they returned to sit in front of that lone television.

We watched as the second plane hit. We watched as the people fell. We watched as the people ran. We watched as the towers fell. We watched as reports came in of a plane hitting the Pentagon. We watched as reports came in of a plane crash in Pennsylvania. We watched.

What are your memories of that morning?

Were you watching it on TV?

Were you in the library that morning?