Tuesday, December 31, 2019

New Decade; New Family Calendar!




Happy New Year!

Each year, for several years now, I make a calendar for my family. It is my Christmas gift to my brothers, my cousins, my children,... It has become a tradition in itself. People look forward to it. This year my older brother unwrapped his calendar, held it over his head & said, "Now it is Christmas!" 


Things I include in the Family Calendar:
  • Birthdays & anniversaries of family members & our ancestors.
  • Brief genealogy info on direct line ancestors
  • Wedding, Showers, Anniversary photos
  • New Baby Photos
  • Graduation photos
  • Travel photos
  • Lots & lots of photos

back cover


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Friday, December 27, 2019

December Birthday: 280 Years Ago, Johann Jonas Wolf

Johann Jonas Wolf

Born 280 Years Ago



My 5th Great Grandfather

Born 27 December 1739, Pennsylvania
Son of Johan Jacob Wolf & Anna Barbara Orth
Died 21 September 1787 PA, Lived 47 years

Husband of Appollonia Dick, married 1761

Lived in Beriwck Township, York, PA

Revolutionary War Soldier, York Co Militia PA 

Father of 10 children:

Jacob Wolf
Appollonia Wolf
John Wolf
Catherine Wolf Becker
Adam Wolf
Johan Jonas Wolf
Christianna Wolf
John Frederick Wolf
Maria Elizabeth Wolf
Andrew Wolf


Even though I have been researching our family's history for quite some time now, it still amazes me that I can learn about someone like Johann Jonas Wolf. He was born 280 years ago and yet, I have learned about this man who is in my direct line, when and where he lived, his military service and his children. At times when I wish I could learn more I sometimes have to sit back and be happy for the things I have learned already.


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Monday, December 16, 2019

December Anniversary: Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon


 Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon 
16 December 1798
South Carolina



Jeremiah George Smith
23 December 1773 SC – 1843 MS
Son of Jeremiah Smith, Sr. & Jemimah Hollis
War of 1812 Soldier

Joanna Dillon
22 August 1778 NC – after April 1821
Daughter of Richard Dillon & Anne Lawrence

My 4th Great Grandparents

Parents of 13 children:

Hollander Smith Morris
Martha P. Smith Alford
Eli Smith
Jane Smith Warner
Edwin Smith
Wyatt Smith
Eliza Smith Bullock
Calvin Smith
Lidda Smith Harvey
Mehala Smith
Milevey Smith Harvey
Joanna Smith Bullock
Jeremiah Smith


Other December Anniversaries:



Saturday, December 14, 2019

December Birthday: Thomas A. Coyle


Thomas A. Coyle

Born 16 December 1903 NY City
Son of Michael Coyle & Mary Josephine Mullane

My Maternal Grandmother's Brother



Recently, my cousin, Pat Brady, found this fold3 record for my great uncle. I had not known his exact birthdate. And I had not known he had ended up on the west coast. In fact, I would have doubled this was my great uncle except that, on this Registration Card, he gave the name of his sister, Marion (Coyle) McCall.

Thomas A. Coyle
First Holy Communion Photo


Michael & Mary Josephine (Mullane) Coyle, who had both been born in Ireland, had seven children, all born in New York City: two sons and five daughters. Michael was a Baker. One son died as a toddler. My maternal grandmother was the oldest child and helped to care  for her siblings. She also helped in her father's bakery. As the story was told to me, the family had hard financial times, circa 1920 or 1925. It strained the family & the marriage. Michael left his family. I have still to discover what happened to him. The older daughters had jobs and supported the family.

In 1927 Mary Jo died. My grandmother, the oldest child, was already married & about to become a mother herself. The other sisters lived together with the older sisters taking care of the younger sisters who were 16 & 11 years old. Thomas lived on his own. Photos show him in a naval or Coast Guard or Merchant Marine uniform. In 1930 he wrote a poem for his youngest sister's birthday. She gave me the poem & said she did not know what had happened to him. Was that true? My older brother had been told that Thomas may have fallen in with a bad group of young men. 

This Registration Card [above] may lead us to some answers. I wonder if Thomas Coyle  married. As far as I know my mother was the only grandchild of Michael & Mary Jo Coyle. Maybe Thomas had children. 

Find A Grave has a Thomas Coyle in Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, Washington. This Thomas has the same 16 Dec 1903 birth date & 27 April 1970 death date. There is no grave marker to give additional information. Is this the final resting place of my great uncle? What story would he tell if I could talk to him?



Thomas Coyle 




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Monday, December 9, 2019

Oh Family Tree!

This is from 2016 but still appropriate.




Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree!
Thy leaves are so elusive
Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
Thy names are always changing
Not only in census reports,
But also in obituaries.
Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
Thy names are always changing!


Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
Such puzzles do you bring me!
Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
You confuse and bewilder me!
For every year this Family tree,
Brings to us such mystery.
Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
Such puzzles do you bring me!

Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
You'll be ever changing!
A story of our ancestors
You'll be ever changing
Each date and place
Each misspelled name
No one alive spreads tales so well
Oh Family tree, Oh Family tree,
You'll be ever changing.

Colleen G Brown Pasquale