Rabb Family in South Carolina: the 1850 Census

My third great grand uncle, J. Glazier Rabb in 1850 Census in Fairfield, South Carolina (15 Aug 1850): He is the head of the household.  At the age of 33, his occupation is "Planter".  (See discussion at THIS LINK).  
See also the wikipedia article.

 The value of his real estate is $5000; I am assuming that he inherited this property, for the moment.  So, if he was 33 in 1850, he was born about 1817.  

Mr. Rabb is married to Nancy; for both her and her husband, they were recorded as having been born in Fairfield County.  Nancy is age 28.  (She was born about 1822).  From various sources, I believe that her maiden name was Watt.  In my database, she is listed as Nancy Ann Kinkaid Watt.

Their oldest child living at home is John W. Rabb (age 9).  Then, there is James K. Rabb, age 6; William C. Rabb, age 5; Virginia C. Rabb, age 2, and a baby (no given name is recorded).  This child is 1/12 years old.  Can we "guestimate" that the child was born in July of 1850?  We will want to follow up our research by checking the 1860 census, etc.

Here is the findagrave link to John Glazier Rabb.


 

FamilySearch Perks

FamilySearch.org has many little features that can bring us closer to our ancestors.  For example, there is a link that you can follow to see the headstones of your family members' headstones!  

https://screenshots.firefox.com/98Ig5ynbyAlb2bnP/www.familysearch.org 

is the link I followed and saw that my grandmother's oldest sister was still living just after I had given birth to my youngest child.  Why, oh why, did I not take the opportunity to go and visit her?  Back then?

 

Twitter Fills a Niche for researchers

News of all types happens at Twitter!  I stumbled across this website/blog:  http://www.digitalnc.org/blog/tag/genealogy/.

Challenge: See what you can find of interest at Twitter.com in the genealogical field!

You can find the very blog, maybe, that will push your research a little bit further down the road. 

 

I have "played" with alternate websites to establish my family history.

Here is one example of my publishing attempts, the purpose of which was to explore and record various family history research projects.

My WordPress Site

(My) Human Errors Notwithstanding, real research is imperfect but a guide, nevertheless.

Residence 1900: Cauley, Santa Rosa, Florida: “Cauley” was a family that lived in this area, possibly, an area which I have yet to define as a township, at this point.  There were also other families; McLelland was one and I did find a McLelland Community on the map listed below.

Current Community Map of Santa Rosa, Florida

A sloppy transcription of the 1900 Census (by me), with comments:
Samuel Barnes (head of the household), in 1900 U.S. Federal Census in the township of Cauley, Santa Rosa County, Florida, is 73 years old; he and his wife have been married for 54 years! Samuel was born in Georgia. His wife, Elizabeth, is age 70; she has borne 4 children, all of whom are living. Her maiden name is Holland and she hails from North Caolina.
Sam and Elizabeth’s son, Joseph lives “next door” to them in this census. I believed that his wife was named Laura, but in this census “Vetsie” or ?Betsy? is listed as his wife. Joseph is age 31; they’ve been married for 6 years. Both were born in Alabama. Joseph Barnes’ son is William and he is age 6. William Barnes was born in Florida March of 1894. Joseph’s daughter is Mary C; she was born June, 1897 and she was also born in Florida.
Another of Samuel and Elizabeth’s sons live nearby and is listed on this page as Charlie Barnes. His age and year of birth isn’t listed! However his birth month is September and he has been married to his wife Anna for three years. Charley/Charlie was born in Alabama and his wife was born in Florida. They have a daughter and a son. Both children were born in Florida, probably in Santa Rosa County. Nettie’s birthday is Dec of 1897 and Joseph D. Barnes was born in November, 1899. He is just 5 months old in the census!
Also, the Henry Barnes listed on this census page is I believe, another of Sam and Elizabeth’s sons. He is “Henry Barnes”; he was born in May of 1865. Henry’s wife, “Viney” was born in Florida, but he was born in Alabama. Question: Where in Alabama did the Barnes family live?
Henry and his wife have been married 12 years; they have 3 children, all of whom are living. Mary E. Barnes was born Feb 1889 and she is 11 years old (born in Florida); Ruth is 5 or 6 years old and was born in May of 1895. Lillie is a September baby, born 1896; she is three years old.
There is at least one or more other family members listed on this census page for the Barnes family. Sarah Barnes married Mr. Farrington. She was born in Alabama in May 1873. She is 27 years old; she had 4 children but in 1900 only three of them are alive. Her son William H. is listed on the census page; he was born August 1888 and he is eleven years old. He was born in Florida. Mary E., a daughter, was born in Feb. 1891, also in Florida. James, a son, was born June 1899; he is 11 months old.
The father of Sarah, Henry, Charlie, etc. is listed in “My Heritage” as being both William Jackson Barnes and as Samuel Jackson Barnes. This may be an error I made earlier in my research of these folks. Or an error in the record sources. I do believe the correct name is Samuel for the father of this family.
You can discover more info by searching at My Heritage, FamilySearch, etc.  I am looking for someone who knew members of the Barnes Family in Santa Rosa County, (or their descendants, rather).  Please contact me.

The Rain is falling, drop by audible drop!

Just listened to a webinar (free) from the Florida State Genealogical Society website.  Judy, the Legal Genealogist was featured and basically the topic was good evidence versus bad evidence.  

Without sharing my copious notes (I didn't get a syllabus because I'm not yet a member of this society), let me just say, the presentation was very helpful!  I will sign up again and hope that the next webinar will be just the high quality that this one was!

The Genealogical Proof Standard plays a center role in our efforts to collect our family and determine that they are definitely our family!  And of course, you can't talk about evidence without mentioning Elizabeth Shown Mills!

You will find Elizabeth's book, "Evidence Explained" at this website and others.

How Do You Group or Organize Your Family History Files?

Occasionally, I think that I have worked a lifetime finding the trails of my ancestors and yet failed to organize those files in a way that makes sense.

I am equally challenged by the sharing (or lack of) the discoveries and surprises, the human drama stuff.  Here are a few forgotten files I found on my computer and their relevancy to the families I cherish as my own. 

I think that, for now, I will open one file at a time and post it in some type of format that gives clarity and direction.  My first such effort can be viewed; this is research conducted by my Dad, Wiley Benjamin Hill, years ago.   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F-9kbDO1QJ7CP8KOED9he19FvWYZ0OWdjeFk6ncfinw/edit?usp=sharing

It is just a tidbit, but every tidbit teaches us something about the resources that can be searched. 


 I will show the information, for posterity's sake by entering the details, if possible, at the FamilySearch.org website.  I'll let you know how it comes out! 

Chipping Away at Brick Walls

https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/chipping-away-at-the-brick-walls-in-my-family-history/

Evidently, Google has the answer, in fact Lots of Answers! 

I wonder, also, how many clues lie closer to our reach?  Old photos, old documents in the homes and residences of ourselves and/or our kinfolk.  What do we remember?  Memories are another treasure chest.  For example, in the case of my ex-husband, with whom I had three children:  I remember meeting Bill's grandfather when I was perhaps, 12 years old!  Bill's family was living in Shalimar, Florida at the time, in a big old rambling house that was located on a spit of land on the bayou.  

I also met and knew Bill's maternal grandfather and grandmother, the Reynolds family who lived in Troy, Alabama.  Now that Bill, recently deceased, is gone, are my memories of any importance?  With our three children, will a small sliver of my recollections be of any value?  You never can tell.  It may be that my meager bank of recall might be of some comfort to them, simply because we all look back and wonder sometimes at the struggles and triumphs of our ancestors.  As well as our own.

Descendant of Adolph Forrest Dalton

Obituaries Folder

In scrabbling around (I have tons of paper, notebooks, newspaper clippings, etc.), I found one folder that held "Obituaries".  

 I noticed that I had gotten the basic (vital) facts from the first obit, but had neglected to record the whole obituary as written, ....you know, the part with relatives, brief life sketch, etc.

Everyone deserves to be remembered (you will often hear that sentiment from a genealogist or see it in written materials).  What I have done in the past, finding a place to put the obituary information/sentiment, as well as the vital "facts", is to enter it at FamilySearch.org, on the personal profile "page" for that person.  Located at the top of the items listed, including details for birth date, etc., is a heading for "Life Sketch".  You can easily enter the detailed obit information, here under this section.  

The obituary itself, or rather an "Image" of it can be added under the Memories option.  There are other options, as well.  You can read the obituary and by this I mean that you can vocally read it and add it as a recording, also a "Memories" feature.

Questions?  Please contact me at margaret.harris@gmail.com if you need further instructions.  

Helpful Hints from Ancestry.com

When working on your family history, it is helpful to receive hints and tidbits of educative stuff!  This is a message I received from Ancestry.com as I was "unpacking" my DNA results:
 1850–1875

Disrupted by the Civil War

North Alabama Settlers

When several years of depression forced cotton prices to plummet and banks to collapse, thousands of farmers left Alabama and joined other migrants en route to cheap or free land in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Market prices improved leading up to the Civil War, a war that left the state divided in the north, which thousands of Southern Unionists called home. Alabama lost more than 25,000 men to the war and  many farms were destroyed. It also brought an end to the enslaved labor the plantation system was built on and laid the foundation for Alabama’s iron and steel industry.

[Does anyone have a personal story about this event impacting their family]?

My Ancestry DNA results are in!

So, I recently did my second DNa test, this one, via Ancestry.com.

My first test was with FTDNa.com.    I have a warm spot in my heart for that company (it was my first), and I trust their lab; they are doing an awesome job out there in Texas!  However, you won't always find a lot of family trees posted on that website.

Consequently, I  uploaded my gedcom/database, (created from my fave genealogy software, RootsMagic.com), to as many family tree websites as possible.  MyHeritage.com took my raw data and has, so far, been very useful in putting me in touch with matches, but again, not a lot of family trees.  I also uploaded my raw data to WikiTree.com, Gedmatch.com and maybe a few other websites that I can't think of, right now.  

Just for the heck of it!  My personal belief is that you can't have your DNa data in too many places!

For many years, now, I have posted family trees at Ancestry.com; when I discovered, however, that I couldn't upload my FTDNa results to Ancestry, I really had no choice but to do the Ancestry.com DNa test!  For one thing Ancestry has a ton of other people's family trees, and I wanted to be able to connect with those folks, people to whom I might be related.  Secondly, I wanted those folks to be able to connect with me. 

Just got the results and can't wait to start digging into them!
I don't put a lot of store in the ethnicity report; most of my folks probably came from the

British Isles and (genealogical research always takes me there)!  However, this Ancestry DNA test confirms what I already knew:  If I ever get to the British Isles, I should feel a "whammo" ton of ancestral auras!  Or something. 

Stay tuned---more to come!

My Personal Family HIstory Projects

We all have our personal libraries that were created by the Family History Lust Bug!  Some of us have books that have been passed down from an earlier generation.   

Access this Link to see My Private Library's List!

Maybe we went to yard sales, genealogy conferences, or bought off of E-Bay, those publications that might hold the key to finding an ancestor.  For whatever reason, we haven't thrown them away.  Well, today, I created my own little project...actually it is just one poke at a bigger job: a file of all the genealogical publications that I own.  I would gladly donate the books to a local library if I thought anyone, anymore, wants hard copies and more paper.  And, I suppose that when I pass away, that is probably what my children will do with all this "stuff".

I'm not sure if the Fort Walton Beach, Florida library would be interested.  They have been working well with the local Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County; we needed a home for the exchange journals accumulated over the years.  Then, there is the Baker Block Museum (limited space, but has done a whole lot of work in preserving local histories).  The Valparaiso Library used to be "the" genealogical library, but their space and resources are also limited.  

Then, there is the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  I'm pretty sure that they will take as much as one would want to give them!  Or the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  The 3rd national treasure of genealogy is located at the Clayton Library in Texas.

Finally, there is the University of West Florida historical archives.  Okay, kids; you have several choices, here, but this would probaby be a very good one!  I have to keep reminding myself that "things" are not important but we all do the best we can in preserving history, especially family history.  To take a look at my list so far, access this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nwflgenealogy/

I posted last night on Facebook, about how you can find books and other genealogy-related info/published materials at FamilySearch.org. 

There are literally thousands (well, I didn't count them), but there are a lot of other ways to access this type of stuff. Here is one such site/source I just stumbled on:

https://issuu.com/tuscaloosagenealogicalsociety/docs/rootsbranches_april_2010_v3_cg

Excellent Opportunity to Enhance Your Knowledge

Want to learn more about DNA?  

Here is your chance to get ahead of the game!

Sponsored by our local genealogical society!

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~flocgs/DoDNA-Regform.pdf

News and Other Stuff: Best Internet Sites

How to Search for Records at FamilySearch

• Get a free account
• On the opening page, you will see four options to the right of the little FamilySearch tree symbol:
•  Family Tree
•  Search
•  Memories
•  Indexing
• Choose the "Search"

• Click on the very first option "Records" 
• Records = Sources = Documents
• What record do you need for your ancestor?  
• Some sources may already appear on his/her profile.
• Review that information and then, identify what other sources might be helpful.
•  This is where "Search" Records comes into play!  Do you know what record types will give you the info that you need?
• Make a timeline for your relative; there are a few more events that just Birth, Marriage, and Death, although these are the major ones that you want to identify.

Timeline Events might include the following:

 

Births generate a certificate: a birth certificate!  How easy or how hard is it to locate someone's birth certificate?!!

 

 

 Marriage generates a Marriage Certificate.  Where can you find, if not the actual certificate, a record that verifies the marriage?

 

 Death generates both a death certificate and burial records.  An obituary may help you locate a cemetery, the place of burial or other information.  Findagrave.com is one of the most popular websites for searching information about this "life" event.  It is owned by Ancestry.com, but because the database info and photos was gathered by volunteers, there is no charge to access this wonderful source. 

Definitions, Correlations, "Call it what you will", Genealogy or "Family History"

Genealogy Is:

"Family History" Is: 

• Posterity:
  all future generations of people; the descendants of a person;
• ***Ancestors and Ancestral Lines: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499125571177592714/;

  

  My Grandmother, Eunice Tucker Hill Hall

• Boring:
  
• ***All About Technology: Links at the FamilySearch Wiki
• Hard? Hard! Stumped? 
• About Stories: Archive your stories.  Tell/share your stories. 
•  Storycorps: questions

• ***Photos:  The photo to the right is, of course, of mostly grandchildren and children and various members of my family.  Did you know that FamilySearch has the capacity to load photos? 

Regarding the familysearch.org/photos topic, be sure to check out YouTube for instructions and for Genealogy topics in general.

• Family History is all about Challenges and it Being a Challenging exercise!  No pain, no gain!  Challenge Yourself.  

• Catastrophes and Calamities: 
• How they might have shaped your family's story
• Natural Disasters and Genealogy

• The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 and Your Ancestors

• Genealogy is "A record of one's ancestors":
• Become educated at the National Archives Web Site.
• Learn what a record group is: "
  Different Kinds of Record Groups
  The fact is, by including all these rooms you'll need different record groups (building materials) like those we will study in this series. Some provide evidence of glorious or sorrowful life events. Others guide you to other resources, but each major record group has a purpose in your construction plans to build an authentic family history. We need them to support our entire building. Without all of them, we have a half-finished structure.
  This next group of lessons will cover some of the major record groups genealogists use which we have not covered as fully yet. They include:
• Civil Registrations
• Census Records
• Court and Probate Records
• Periodicals and Newspapers
• Land and Property Records
• Military Records
• Finding Aids
• Biographies
• Immigration and Naturalization
• Church Records 

• ***Lists:  Family History is Cyndislist! In addition, check out the "list" of genealogy databases at Wikipedia!  
• Did you know that Facebook has Genealogy?!!?  And Katherine R. Willson has created a list for that!  Thanks, Katherine. 
  
• Geography is a Genealogical Goldmine!  It is all about

"Location, Location, Location"

• Maps: How does accessing maps help my genealogical efforts?
• How can I utilize Google Earth and Google Maps for genealogical research?
• Charts and Forms And Templates Too!  These tools will help you get organized whether you are online or want to print them out.
• Misbach Free Forms 
• Buy Software?  Some genealogy programs are free (MyHeritage.com's Family Builder)
• Software purchases for genealogy programs: Read reviews, talk to other genealogy nerds, choose wisely.  Remember, entering your family tree into a software program (as opposed to entering the information online) should offer you the capacity to create a gedcom--a mechanism that will allow you to submit your family tree to websites like WikiTree.com; Ancestry.com; MyHeritage.com and FamilySearch.org, etc.  I use RootsMagic; some folks use Family Tree Maker. Just google "genealogy software" to find out more!  Read reviews and articles.  Google "reviews genealogy software".
•  Here's a thought:  You can design your own charts, forms, reports (and is there a Facebook Group for that?  Maybe!).  You can also find templates at some Genealogy BLOGS!)  I will recommend just one of the many blogs that I follow: this Blog: https://www.geneamusings.com/
• How would you locate other blogs? 
• If you love Excel, you can keep your Excel and use it design your own unique form or chart.   
• I joined a Genealogy Templates Group on Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/genedocstemplates/

 

• Family History is "Descendants"
• Video available on this topic. 
• There isn't a descendancy report option at FamilySearch, (unless I'm blind).  However, the video link above shows you how to do descendancy research at FamilySearch.org
• Use your software program (in my case, Rootsmagic); I can print a descendancy report from Rootsmagic! Why would a report like this be so helpful in this day and age of DNA?!! [Because it will help you to identify your cousins?!!]
  

 
 
 
 

• Genealogy and Timelines:
•  https://www.cyndislist.com/timelines/templates/
• Templates and Grids for Genealogy
• Article about using timelines for Genealogy
• History and Timelines 

•  Genealogy and Blueberries:  Many folks who live in NWFL aren't aware that one of the great cash crops in the history of Walton & Okaloosa County was blueberries!  After reading the NWFL Daily News article I had to clap my hands!  I had just recently learned that I am related to the Sapp family mentioned in the article.  

So, what is it about genealogy/family history that you love?  

 

•  
• Is it About Families?
• Are you having Fun?
• Lineage
• Is it about BMD's?
• Bloodlines
• Is family history your passion or just a Hobby?
• Origin
• Obituaries
• Cemeteries
• Making Choices
• Addictive
• Research
• History
• An Account and An Accounting
• A Pedigree
• A Group 

More About the Family History Fair

Best Internet Websites:

Using Your Research Principles to Guide You

in

Your Internet Search Page 1

(As adapted from the Website at FamilySearch Wiki: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Principles_of_Family_History_Research)

Step 1: Identify What You Know

Step 2: Decide What You Want to Learn

Step 3: Select Records to Search (What kind of a record type are you looking for? What kind of Record Type do you need)?

Step 4: Obtain and Search the Records

Step 5: Evaluate and Use the Information

For in depth info, go to the FamilySearch Wiki Link, above. 

  You are wondering how this pertains to Genealogical Websites, perhaps?!!

So....tell me why I begin here with this discussion...The Internet is a Forest or maybe a Jungle!  You could get lost or worse, dismayed and disoriented...perhaps even distracted if you slough this roadmap off!  You need a compass.  You need directions, a guide.

 
A List of Websites might open your eyes; notice that the wesbsite should be directed toward types of records that genealogists are wanting to find, based on what you already have.

Lets say this is what you know/don't know/still need to find out:

1.  We know that Obediah EDGE was born some time in 1828.  We need to find out if that date is correct.  What was happening in 1828 anyway?!!  And where was he born?  Who was his mother and father?  Did he have siblings?  When, where and who did he marry?  How do we know?  How do we find out?

Answers:   
 You may be an experienced researcher, but maybe you are brand new at online research.  My suggestion is get a free account at FamilySearch.org and see if the research has already been listed there in the ONE BIG FAMILY TREE.  

The goal at FamilySearch is that each and every individual shall be represented in one file folder, so to speak.  Various people can provide parts of the story, info about sourcing, etc.  Records will be cited, marriage records will be shown (the image), and discussions will be exchanged in an effort to resolve differences of opinions.  And we all live in a perfect well.  Well, let's see how this works.  (Go to familysearch.org at this time).  Find out what is known about Obediah Edge, born in 1828. 

 

Basics of Finding Great Internet Sites

The basics of finding good genealogy websites:  

• Learn, Know, and Practice:

•  Principles of researching your family history and in

• Building a solid genealogical case. 

 The Genealogical Proof Standard can be the guide to your Internet experience when searching for websites that will yield you the best results for finding your ancestors! (also see this article) or buy yourself a book! 

 Christine Rose wrote the book!

Family History Fair is March 9th! Have you registered?

Sorry, no free streaming live sessions planned for this event!  You actually have to be there to get the goods! 

Family History Fair March 9th, 2019:  Here are some of the things you might need to know:

•  

Conferences, Events, Fun or What?!!

Announcing the Federation of Genealogical Societies August Conference:  Ta-dum!  Drum Roll!  Hip, Hip, Hurrah!

Just wound up with the RootsTech 2019 event and I loved watching the Free Streaming Sessions!  Some of the presentations were video taped and will be on the Internet soon, (next week).  Those are free also.  I just checked and there are videos that are already for you to explore.

Great learning tool, folks...a way to get your society members excited and informed, or for you loners, it could become an education tool.   And older videos are also available from past years.