Name: Moritz Gertner/Arthur Moses Gardner

My grand uncle, brother of my maternal grandfather, used more than one name in his lifetime, making it difficult to find records for him. There were gradual variations in his name over the years.

Moritz Gertner/Arthur Gartner/Arthus Gardner

1884, June 17. New York State birth certificate for my grand uncle shows his name: Moritz Gertner, son of Leopold & Fany (Edelstein) Gertner of 59 Pitt Street, New York City.

1900. US Census, Manhattan, NY. The 15 year old boy was Moses Gartner, ‘at school’

1905. New York State Census. Moses Gardner, 17 working as a telegrapher.

1917. WWI Draft Registration card. My granduncle was now Arthur Moses Gardner. Indicates he was born 15 June 1874. His father was Leopold Gardner and he was working for the Western Union Telegraph Company, so I know it is the correct man.

1925. New York State Census. Moses A. Gardner, 37.

1925, December 24. New York State Marriage Certificate. Arthur Moses Gardner married Frances Eisen in the Hotel Majestic on 72^nd Street & Central Park West.

1930. US Census, Manhattan, NY. Arthur Gardner was a ‘wireman’ for Western Union. He & frances were on West 164 Street.

1940. US Census, New York City. Arthur Gardner and Frances lived on Riverside Drive. He was a ‘wire chief’ for a communications company.

1942. WWII Draft Registration card. Arthur Moses Gardner and Frances were still living on Riverside Drive. He was working for the Western Union Telegraph Company on Hudson Street. He indicates he was born 15 June 1884.

1953, May 4. According to Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn he died on May 4, 1953 and is buried under the name Arthur M. Gardner.

The names changes were variations on his original name. He went from Moritz to Moses to Arthur Moses. His surname went from Gertner to Gartner to Gardner. It is easy to see how this could have gradually changed and makes a bit of a nuisance to track him but not impossible.

I had not been able to find a birth certificate for my grand uncle, most likely because I was looking for Moses or Arthur. Recently, Robert Friedman, of Stepsto the Past LLC, went to the New York City Archives and found the birth & marriages certificates for me!

Next up: photographs of his tombstone & a death certificate.

Census Sunday: How many children?

Jesse Warren Ball & Cynthia Ann Alford [my 2^nd great grand aunt] lived in Mississippi and raised a large family. How large was that family and who were the children? I think I have made sense of the data and figured that out.

I found an Ancestry Tree that showed nine children. I wanted to verify those children so I started to check US Census reports. I quickly had pages of confusing notes. I started a new paper by folding it in fourths giving me four long columns, one for the Ancestry tree and one for each census year, and things began to come clear. Then I began an excel spreadsheet. Adding colors made it even clearer. I think I have the children sorted out.

Jessie Warren Ball

 1808 – after 1870

&

Cynthia Ann Alford

 1820 MS – between 1860 & 1870

Anyone else like using spread sheets to sort data?

I will check out 1880 as well. Hopefully, I am getting these children sorted out correctly. 

Military Service: Jacob Ott II, Revolutionary War Soldier

Seven of my 5^th great grandfathers served during the Revolutionary War. Several of their brothers, sons and cousins also helped to obtain our freedom and to establish our new country.

Jacob Ott II, 14 Aug 1755 SC – 1816

Captain, SC Militia, 

Orangeburg District Regiment 1781 - 1782

Jacob Ott lived & served in the Orangeburg District in SC. He served in General Marion’s Brigade in the Militia. He also furnished supplies for the troops.[1],[2]

The information on Jacob’s service was brief so I decided to search for more about General Marion and quickly discovered he was the famous “Swamp Fox”. Suddenly my family was excited about this ancestor & his service. We all remembered learning about the Swamp Fox & watching his tale being told on the ‘Wonderful World of Disney’ when we were children.

General Francis Marion was also known as “The Swamp Fox”. He eluded capture by the British as he & his band navigated the Carolina swamps. He had a troop of men called “Marion’s Brigade”. Their knowledge of the swamps allowed them to harass the British. This famous group helped to defend the city of Charleston and took part in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

Song of Marion’s Men

By William Cullen Bryant

Our band is few but true and tried.

Our leader frank and bold;

The British soldier trembles

When Marion’s name is told.

---

[1] DAR website

[2] ‘Revolutionary War Soldiers for North and South Carolina’ website

Military Service: William S Kelly, Revolutionary War

My 5^th great grandfather was one of many soldiers who helped to secure our independence from the British Empire.

William Stark Kelly, 1739 – 1826

Private, 1^st Regiment Bute Co., 
NC Militia

Served under Capt. William Brinkley & Capt. John Pitts; both under Col Samuel Jarvis.[1]

"Served as a private in Capt. Bown's Company, Col. Thomas Clark's Regiment (first) North Carolina Continental Line 1777; also in Capt. Brinkley's Company of 1st Regiment of North Carolina Militia."[2], [3]

In trying to discover about William Kelly’s service information was brief so I looked for information about his Regiment.

The 1st North Carolina Regiment was raised on 1 September 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. In January 1776 the organization contained eight companies. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in 1776. It transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. At that time, Thomas Clark became colonel of the 1st Regiment. The unit became part of Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July. In 1777 the 1st North Carolina saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and it was present at White Marsh. Still led by Clark, it fought at Monmouth in June 1778. The North Carolina Brigade marched south under the command of James Hogun and arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina in March 1780. The 1st Regiment was captured by the British army at the Siege of Charleston on 12 May 1780. Clark and 287 men became prisoners. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781 and fought well in Jethro Sumner's brigade at Eutaw Springs in September that year. The 1st North Carolina was furloughed on 23 April 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on 15 November 1783.[4]

Outline Descendant Report for William S. Kelly

1 William S. Kelly b: 1739 in Ireland, d: 1826 TN

... + Mary Durham m: 1776 NC

......2 Margaret Kelly b: 1772 in Wake, North Carolina, USA, d: Louisiana, USA

...... + John Brumfield b: c. 1768, m: 23 Oct 1788  Wake, NC, d: 1834 LA

.........3 William Brumfield b: 1790 York, SC, d: 1868 Washington Parish, LA

......... + Harriet Statham

.........3 Lucy Brumfield b: 1792 York, SC, d: 1815

......... + Barksdale Statham m: 1815 LA

.........3 Willis Brumfield b: 1794 York, SC, d: 16 Oct 1833

......... + Nancy Virginia Holmes b: 1797 GA, m: 25 Jan 1818 Pike, MS

.........3 Davis Brumfield b: 1795 York, SC, d: 23 Apr 1863 in Pike, MS

......... + Cynthia Holmes b: 12 Dec 1804 GA, m: 23 Nov 1823 MS, d: 10 Jul 1884 MS

.........3 Charles Brumfield b: 01 Jan 1796 in York, SC, d: 07 Aug 1870 MS

......... + Harriet Knight b: 22 Aug 1804 GA, m: 22 Aug 1820 Marion, MS, d: 18 Mar 1870 MS

.........3 Ridley Brumfield b: 1798 York, SC

......... + Susanna Statham m: 1816

.........3 Isaac Brumfield b: 09 Mar 1801 York, SC, d: 14 Feb 1862 MS

......... + Elizabeth Holmes b: 11 Feb 1808 GA, m: 31 Jan 1827, d: 24 Jun 1890 Tylertown, Walthall, MS

.........3 James Brumfield b: 1803 York, SC, d: 15 Mar 1883 Tangipoha Parish, LA

......... + Leah James

.........3 Elijah Brumfield b: 1805 York, SC, d: Aft. 1860

......... + Charlotte Temple Ott b: 1815 LA, d: 1895

.........3 Jesse Kelly Brumfield b: 1 Mar 1807 York, SC, d: 25 Jul 1884 Amite, MS

......... + Hannah Youngblood b: c. 1807 GA, m: 11 Jun 1830

.........3 Alexander C. Brumfield b: 1811 York, SC, d: Unknown

......... + Anna Tate

.........3 Nathaniel Brumfield b: 1813 Washington Parish, LA, d: 8 Feb 1852 LA

......... + Charlotte Temple Ott b: 1815 LA, m: 1835, d: 1895

.........3 John Wilson Brumfield b: 30 Jun 1811 Washington, LA, d: 19 Jun 1889

......... + Cindyrella Lanier b: c. 1817 Washington Parish, LA, m: 14 Feb 1839, d: 30 Dec 1884

......2 Sarah Kelly b: NC

...... + Joseph Cowling

.........3 John Durham Cowling b: c. 1814 Franklin, TN

......... + Frances Camp

---

[1] DAR website

[2] US Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889 - 1970, Louisville, Kentucky; National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, microfilms.

[3] ‘Revolutionary War Soldiers from North and South Carolina’ Website

[4] Wikipedia

Military Service: Revolutionary War in NC & SC

Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC

Recently I have come across a website that lists thesoldiers from North and South Carolina who served in the Revolutionary War. There are pages and pages of soldiers.

You can search by: State, First or Last Name, Rank, Regiment or Key Words. Or, you can just browse but be sure you have lots of time because there is lots of information.

I found several of my ancestors, including Richard Dillon, my 5^th great grandfather. The data matched information I had found on other sites.

The only reservations I have in using the website is that I do not know where the data has come from. “Data provided from the website Carolana.” That’s all I have been able to discover so far. Has anyone else tried this site? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Independence Day!

My husband & I are once again hosting a big family BBQ on the 4^th of July! Hurray! It is lots of work and lots of fun. We have a nice screened in porch that is perfect for my uncle, the family patriarch, to sit on a rocker and a big back yard that’s perfect for the younger cousins to run and play. My brothers & cousins all bring a dish to share and my husband is in charge of the grill. There will be lots of laughter; sharing of ‘remember when…’ stories; and, this year, our baby grandson will be passed from one set of loving arms to another.

Each time we gather for Independence Day I set up a family history display of some kind. This year I will focus on our Revolutionary War soldiers: seven of my 5^th great grandparents who helped to free us from the British Empire.

I made a trifold display board that includes:

·         A family tree chart from my paternal grandmother going back 5 generations that shows both her Revolutionary War soldiers

·         A family tree chart from my Paternal grandfather going back 5 generations showing his 5 Revolutionary War soldiers

·         An 8x10 Chart for each soldier with his military details

·         The soldiers are numbered, both on the family trees & on the charts, to make it easier for the family to understand how each soldier is related to them.

I will make some copies of this information for those who want to take it home.

Whatever you do to celebrate, remember those who made the day & our country possible.

Related Posts:

• A Time to Share Our Family's History
• Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pensions

Johann Jonas Wolf