Census Sunday – William M Fortenberry & Christina Brown in MS

William Magee Fortenberry

28 December 1799 SC – 27 October 1867

Son of Isaac Fortenberry & Bethany Magee

Christina Brown

2 February 1805 SC – September 1860 MS

Daughter of Moses Brown & Sarah Robertson

My 4th great grand Aunt

1850 US Census, MS, Lawrence County

William Fortenberry, 50 b SC; farmer; value of real estate: $1,200

Wife, Cristine, 46 b GA

Children: Isaac 21; Eliza 16; Jesse C, 14; John, 10

1860 US Census, MS, Marion County

William Fortenberry, 60, Baptist clergyman; value of real estate: $300

Wife, Christian, 55

Family Treasure: Golden Pitcher & Glasses

This pitcher & six glasses were owned by my paternal grandmother, Ivy R Mark Brown. My aunt & uncle recently shared some of Ivy’s treasures with the family in a ‘No Tag Tag Sale’ that allowed family members to select items once owned and used by Ivy.

The color of this glassware caught my eye. The orange/peach color shines like gold when held in the light. Then I noticed the Dutch design on each piece. I wonder if the windmills reminded my paternal grandmother of her German & Swiss roots.  Her ancestor, Heinrich Ritter, sailed from Rotterdam, Holland in 1732 with his family and made a new home in Pennsylvania.

I know nothing about the manufacturer of these pieces. I don’t see any name or logo. I doubt that they are of any great value except that they were once owned and used by my grandmother. I plan to use them when the family is gathered so we can share memories and raise a glass to Grandma.

Michael Coyle b 1805 Ireland

I have been moving back through time & generations as I write for this prompt and, naturally, as I move back in time, especially to other countries, evidences of my family are more incomplete and imperfect. I have some limited knowledge of Irish records; have used Find My Past & Roots ie; and hired a genealogist in Ireland; but still results are meagre. 

Michael Coyle

b c 1805 Ireland

My 3x Great Grandfather

St. Paul’s Ballymachugh Church, Co Cavan, Ireland. 

Several Children of Michael Coyle & Mary Cunningham were baptized here.

Photo taken 2012 during my trip to Ireland

Michael Coyle married Mary Cunningham, born c 1810 and the daughter of James Cunningham. Her siblings were: Laurence, Anne, Catherine, Bridget & Rose.[1]

Michael & Mary were married 31 August 1833 in County Westmeath, Ireland.[2] The witnesses at their wedding were Bridget Cunningham [most likely the bride’s sister] and Terence Brady [in the future their son would marry a Brady].

In 1837 Michael was still in County Westmeath, according to the voters register.[3] After that they moved across the county border to County Cavan where their four children were born: James Coyle[4], Patrick Coyle[5], Margaret Coyle[6] and Michael Coyle.[7]

Mary did not live to see her children become adults. She died 25 January 1848 in Moate, Co Cavan, Ireland.[8] Michael’s death date is unknown at this time.

1 Michael Coyle b: Abt. 1805 in Ireland, d: Unknown
... + Mary Cunningham b: c 1810 Ireland, m: 31 Aug 1833 Ireland, d: 25 Jan 1848 Moate, Cavan, Ireland
......2 James Coyle b: 01 Mar 1839 Magherboy, Cavan, Ireland, d: Unknown
......2 Patrick Coyle b: 20 May 1841 Moate, Cavan, Ireland, d: 21 Jun 1925 Milford, New Haven, CT
...... + Margaret Brady b: c 1855 Killykeen, Cavan, Ireland, m: 11 Feb 1870 Granard, Cavan
County, Ireland, d: 22 Nov 1934 Waterbury, New Haven, CT
......2 Margaret Coyle b: 29 Aug 1843 Cavan, Ireland, d: Unknown
......2 Michael Coyle b: 7 Mar 1847 in Moate, Cavan, Ireland, d: Unknown



[1] 1821 Irish Census, Drumlummon, , Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.
[2] Marriage Record for Michael Coil & Mary Cunningham, Mount Nugent Parish, Co Westmeath, 31 August 1933. Rootsireland.ie
[3] Electoral Register, 25 March 1837, Michael Coyle in Borough of Anthlone, Co Westmeath. Findmypast.ie
[4] Baptismal record for James Coyle, 1 March 1839, Register 33a, page 12, Ballymachugh Roman Catholic Church Records, Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.
[5] Baptismal record for Patrick Coyle, 20 May 1841, Register 33a, Page 30, Ballymachugh Roman Catholic Church, Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.
[6] Baptismal record for Margaret Coyle, 29 August 1843, Register 33a, Page 48, Ballymachugh Roman Catholic Church, Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.
[7] Baptismal record for Michael Coyle, 7 March 1847, Register 33a, Page 76, Ballymachugh Roman Catholic Church, Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.
[8] Record of Death for Maria Cunningham Coyle in Moate, 25 Jan 1848; Parochial Registers of Drumlumman South and Ballymachugh, 1837 - 1935, Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Carrick Finea Parish, Microfilm #1279229, Family History Library, Loudonville, New York. Record of Death page 16.

Grandmother Remembers

Grandmother Remembers

Conceived & written by Judith Levy

Designed & Illustrated by Judy Pelikan

Stewart, Tabori, Chang Publishers, New York

If you have a grandchild, I recommend this book. It has pages for you to complete; personal messages from you to your grandchild. This hard cover book is delightfully illustrated and has pages of writing prompts such as:

The Day I was Born

As a Young Woman

My Wedding Day

Your Parent was Born

Your Parents

Your Birth

Holiday Traditions

Thoughts I'd like to Share with You

The Future

 I first bought this book about 20 years ago, when our children were little. I gave copies to my mother-in-law [my mother had died already], asking her to fill them out for our children. She did a great job, telling stories about herself as a child and young woman; adding photos and family recipes. Our children grab the book when they want the recipe for their grandmother's apple pie or meatballs.

Recently I was in Glenn Ellyn, Illinois with one of our daughters and we were browsing in a little book store. I saw this book and was happy to discover it is still in print. I had to buy a copy because my husband & I are about to become grandparents. I have already begun filling  in the family tree and printing out photos to include. Maybe reading this will inspire a love of genealogy in our future grandson.

If you'd like a copy it is available on Amazon. 

Grandad, don't feel left out. There is also a Grandfather Remembers Book.

Elisabeth Burkholder in PA

This prompt comes from Amy Johnson Crow at her blog, No Story Too Small. She suggests we write once a week about a specific ancestor.

Elisabeth Burkholder Wolf

24 May 1814 PA – 22 June 1856

Daughter of Abraham Burkholder

My 3x Great Grandmother

Pennsylvania

I have not looked at information about Elisabeth in quite some time. I felt like I had to dig her up and dust her off. I looked at my notes in Family Tree Maker and thought; I must have more about her than that so I went to my file cabinet, pulled open one of the drawers full of my father’s family folders but found no additional notes there. 

Elisabeth Burkholder was mostly likely the daughter of Abraham Burkholder. I have evidences of him in Franklin Township, Adams/York Co., PA. If you research Adams/York Counties you know that the boundary line moved so people changed counties without ever moving their homes.

Elisabeth married John Franklin Wolf. They had nine known children born in York, PA. 

In 1850 John & Elisabeth were in Franklin Twp., York, PA. John was a stone mason. Next door was their oldest daughter and her husband, Sarah & James Williamson. The children of John & Elisabeth were living with their sister rather than their parents.[1] I could speculate on why they were living next door but I have no way of knowing the real reason.

Elisabeth short life story ended 22 June 1856, about a month after the birth of her last child.[2] Less than five months later John married again. On 6 November 1856 he married Caroline Philips.

As with many ancestors I wish I knew more about Elisabeth. She had only four decades to leave her mark but her children and their children carry the line forward. 

1 Elisabeth Burkholder b: 24 May 1814 York, PA, d: 22 Jun 1856
... + John Franklin Wolf b: 11 Apr 1809 Berwick, Adams, PA, d: 10 Mar 1883 Medina, OH
......2 Sarah Wolf b: Abt. 1833, d: Unknown
...... + James T. Williamson
......2 Esther Barbara Wolf b: 14 Jun 1836 York, PA, d: 11 Aug 1906 Medina, OH
...... + Augustus Ceaser Gruissy b: 16 May 1840 OH, m: 6 Dec 1868 Stark, OH, d: 8 Dec 1915 Stark, OH
......2 Susan Wolf b: 26 Sep 1839, d: Unknown
...... + James Custer m: 6 Nov 1873 Wayne, OH
......2 John W. S. Wolf b: Sep 1841 PA, d: 13 Sep 1908 Medina, OH
...... + Elizabeth Jane Anderson
......2 Joseph Wolf b: 8 May 1844 York, PA, d: 11 May 1924 Plain Twp.
...... + Anna Eliza Kohr m: 22 Aug 1872 New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, OH
......2 Margaret Ann Wolf b: 03 Sep 1846, d: 29 Jan 1864
...... + Jugandt
......2 Justina Wolf b: 24 Aug 1850, d: 1851
......2 Samuel Wolf b: 2 Feb 1853, d: Unknown
......2 Frederick Wolf b: May 1856, d: 2 Sep 1856


[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Franklin Township, York, Pennsylvania; John Wolf & James Williamson families.
[2] The Diary of Ivy Mark Brown, great granddaughter of Elisabeth.

Census Sunday – Thomas Brumfield in MS

I have Christopher W Vinson from FL, my 4^th cousin 1x removed, to thank for giving me some information on our joint Brumfield family. He gave me some basics on this branch of the family and from there I did some searching on Ancestry.com. I was able to find this census report:

Thomas Meredith Brumfield

13 Jan 1837 MS - 20 Nov 1923 MS

Son of Charles Brumfield & Harriet Knight

1880 US Census; MS, Yazoo, Sanders Precinct; ED 125, SD 8, Page 47; Thomas Brumfield Family; digital image, Ancestry.com.

Thomas Brumfield, 43 b MS (b c 1837); farmer; parents b GA

Sallie A., wife, 41 b MS

Children all b in MS: Mollie, 14; Charlie, 12, laborer; Willie, 10, laborer; Thomas, 8; Joseph, 6; Benj. H, 3 years old.

Family Treasure: Rock of Cashel Plates

Family Treasures

These four pink plates were owned by my paternal grandmother, Ivy R Mark Brown. My aunt & uncle recently shared some of Ivy’s treasures with the family in a ‘No Tag Tag Sale’ that allowed family members to select items once owned and used by Ivy.

First I noticed the pretty pink color of these four plates and then I looked closer at the design. The picture is the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary, Ireland. I was surprised because this is not the Irish side of my family. Perhaps these were once a gift. Perhaps the color or design just appealed to her.

Besides the fact that these plates had belonged to my grandmother and the pretty color, I wanted the small lunch sized plates because I have visited the Rock of Cashel. My oldest daughter & I visited Ireland in 2012 and the Rock of Cashel was one of our favorite spots. On my next visit to my daughter, I plan to give her these lovely plates.

The plates were made in England by the Johnson Brothers. According to Wikipedia, 

“The  four original 'Johnson Brothers' were Alfred, Frederick, Henry and Robert. Their father married the daughter of a master potter, Alfred Meakin. In 1883 Alfred and Frederick Johnson began production at a defunct pottery known as the Charles Street Works they had purchased at a bankruptcy sale in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.” The brothers “developed a product known as "semi-porcelain", a range of earthenware that had the characteristics of fine china, but the durability of ironstone. This kind of tableware soon became very popular in the United States due to its durability and low cost.”

Rock of Cashel, Ireland

John Franklin Wolf; Stone Mason

John Franklin Wolf

11 April 1809 PA – 10 March 1883 OH

Son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer

Husband of Elisabeth Burkholder

My 3x Great Grandfather

John Wolf 1809 - 1883

John Franklin Wolf was the son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer. His siblings were: John Adam, Louisa, Frederick, Jacob, John Jonas. Esther Barbara, Ninetta, Henry H. & William.[1] They grew up in Franklin Twp., York, PA.[2]^,[3] The Wolf family had been in PA since arriving from Germany in 1737.[4]^, [5]

John’s first wife was Elisabeth Burkholder. They had nine children. She died 22 June 1856, about a month after the birth of her last child. Less than five months later John married again. On 6 November 1856 he married Caroline Philips.[6] They had one daughter together.[7]

In 1850 John & his first wife, Elisabeth, were in Franklin Twp., York, PA. John was a stone mason. Next door was their daughter and her husband, Sarah & James Williamson. The children of John & Elisabeth were living with their sister rather than their parents.[8]

Ten years later John was in Wayne, OH. He was married to Caroline and working as a laborer.[9] In 1870 they were in Medina Co., OH. John was a brick and stone mason whose real estate was valued at $1,000.[10]

Two of John’s sons, John and Joseph, served in the Civil War. Both sons joined Company D in the 120^th Regiment. Both returned home safely.[11] John W. S. Wolf served with the rank of private in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry.[12] John was transferred to the 114^th OVI on 27 November 1864.[13] He was sometimes detached from his company and working with the Pioneer Corps.[14] This group of soldiers was detailed to carry out duties such as cutting roads, repairing bridges and works, and dismantling enemy artillery, fortifications, and railroads. John was mustered out 24 July 1865.[15]

Joseph Wolf was in the same company as his brother.[16] He was mustered into service 15 October 1862. The 120^th O. V. I. was involved in the flowing battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, 28 – 29 December 1862; Arkansas Post, Arkansas, 11 January 1863; Thompson’s Hill, Mississippi, 1 May 1863; The Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, 18 May to 4 July 1863; and Jackson, Mississippi, 9 – 16 July 1863.[17]

Joseph Wolf was aboard the City Belle, 153 ton side-wheel steamer that was used as both a transport and as a hospital boat. It was traveling up the Red River to Alexandria and was carrying the 120^th Ohio Infantry Regiment. On 3 May 1864 the ship was near Snaggy Point when it was ambushed by the Confederates. Shots hit the boiler and the ship sank. One third of the Ohio regiment was killed, and about 200 soldiers escaped by jumping overboard and reaching land.[18] Joseph was captured.[19] His brother was with the Pioneer Corps at that time and not with him. Joseph remained a prisoner of war for 18 months. He was paroled at Red River, Louisiana 27 May 1865 and returned to his post on 18 June 1865.  He continued to serve and was discharged at Camp Chase on 7 July 1865.[20],[21]

John was fortunate to have both his sons survive the Civil War.

John Wolf died at the age of 75 years & his death certificate lists the cause as “old age”.[22]

The newspaper was succinct:

Mr. Wolf I spoke of in my last was buried on Saturday.[23]

Find A Grave shows his burial site as Maple Hill Cemetery, Hinckley, Medina, OH. Second wife, Caroline is there as well.

Related Posts:

• Esther B Wolf Gruissy
• On the Road to the NGS Conference; the John F Wolf House
• PA Research Trip. York Co Heritage Trust

---

[1] Wolfe, J. Arthur. Jonas Wolf of Berwick Township, York County, Pennsylvania: A History and Genealogy of a Colonial Ancestor and Some of His Descendants. Privately Published: 1987. Copy of book owned by York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania.

[2] 1810 Franklin York Co PA; Franklin Wolf family.

[3] 1820 US Census, Franklin, York Co., PA. John Wolf family.

[4] A Collection of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727 - 1776' by I. Daniel Rupp. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company 1965

[5] Young, Henry James. Genealogical Reports for The Historical Society of York County: Evidences of the Wolf Families of York County before the Year 1850, 1938. From York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York,

[6] Marriage record for John F. Wolf and Caroline Philips, 6 November 1856, Volume 5, page 25, Wayne County Probate Court, Court House, 107 W Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio.

[7] Interview with Clarence Mark; conducted by author, July 1993, in Greenville, Ohio.

[8] 1850 U. S. Census, Franklin Township, York, Pennsylvania; John Wolf & James Williamson families.

[9] 1860 US Census, Sugar Creek Twp., Wayne Co., OH; John Wolff family.

[10] 1870 US Census.  M593 Roll 1241, Page 40. Wadsworth Twp., Medina Co.; M593 Roll 1241, Page 40. John Wolf family.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Wolf family papers and charts from Christine Ann (Klessins) Zengler, Wisconsin.

[13] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[14] Compiled Service Record of John Wolf, Civil War, National Archives and Records Administration.

[15] U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, Ancestry.com

[16] Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Joseph Wolf.

[17] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[18] Gaines, Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. Louisiana State University Press, 2008.

[19] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[20] Compiled Service Record of Joseph Wolf, Civil War, National Archives.

⁸⁶⁵Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Joseph W olf.

[22] Record of Death for John Wholf, Probate Court in Medina County Ohio 1883, Medina death records #2819, Vol. 2.

[23] Medina County Gazette Friday, July 6, 1883.

Genealogy Fun

Last Saturday, Randy Seaver made a fun suggestion on his blog, Genea-Musings. He posts fun suggestions on Saturdays. 

Randy gave a link to Image Chef and he showed some of the fun genealogy graphics he was able to make at the web site. I decided to follow Randy's lead. Here are some of the graphics I came up with:

I used a photo of my great grandparents, Michael & Mary Jo Coyle for this wanted poster.

I'll have to use this newspaper graphic in a future post when I come with a great find.

A good reminder written in the sand.

 Hopefully our stories are recorded somewhere that is a little safer!

This taxi graphic is good for a 'Travel Tuesday' post.