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

Related Posts:

• New Family Calendar
• Genealogy Christmas Gifts
• Time for a New Family Calendar

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.

Related Posts:

• Lt. Johann Jonas Wolf, Revolutionary War Soldier
• Johann Jonas Wolf
• On the Road in Abbottstown, PA: John Frederick Wolf

Merry Christmas, 2019!

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• Merry Christmas 2018
• Family Memories: Santa
• Christmas Memories: Cookies

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:

6 December 1868 OH     Augustus & Esther Gruissy

20 December 1818 MS     Edwin & Martha Alford

21 December 1887 MS    Jasper & Rose Brown

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 

Related Posts:

• Patrick Coyle
• Michael Coyle

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 

Vintage Photograph: Cecil Clare Fortenberry

Cecil Clare Fortenberry

1914 MS - 1987

Son of Tate Edward Fortenberry & Lucy Viola Brown

Husband of Lovie Wilson

My 1st Cousin 1x removed

Related Posts:

• William Jackson Fortenberry
• The Terrible Hurricane in South Mississippi 1882