Why Santa is Getting Coals for Christmas!

Genealogy and the Rogue Santas

This is a reprinted post from 2009… but oh so fun when reminding genealogy researchers to review Criminal Records and Conduct Registers when tracing ancestors. The following examples were all taken from ancestry.com (a quick search on the name Santa Claus). You know you too are curious of what ‘ole Santa was doing in the 1880’s.

On the 15 Aug 1881, the U. S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas was none too happy with Santa Claus. Was he really selling “spirit?” Perhaps it was a tough year, and he needed help spreading the Season’s Joy.  Well this “colored” Santa, lived in Eureka Springs close to the Tahlequah (Indian Reservation), was accused of“introduc[ing] into the Indian country a large quantity of spirituous liquors…two gallons of whisky[sic]”. By doing so, he violated the IRS laws by not paying the special liquor law tax.  

In November of 1888, Santa Claus from Texas, was serving time in the State Penitentiary in Huntsville. He had to serve two years for rebellious conduct. He unfortunately didn’t complete his time, as he died 25 April 1889.  Hmm...no one said Santa was immortal!

It Might Be Legal In Some Places, but….

At a3Genealogy we aren’t sure if Santa isn’t being mistreated…a bit.  In Minnesota, women can face up to 30 days in jail for impersonating Santa Claus…it was on the books as late as 2012. Wondering if that has changed this past year!

Merry Christmas from the a3Genealogy Staff and Researchers!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy.com

Last Day to Enter the Holiday Giveaway

Free 23andMe DNA Kit - Follow a3Genealogy

You Can Order One

Deadline - 22 Dec 2013, 5:00p.m.
One lucky follower will win a 23andMe DNA kit ($99.00 value). Putting health/medical issues aside, this DNA kit is a wonderful tool to aid in determining family and kinship. This autosomal test assists in genealogical research and bringing down research in your brickwalls. For information on this type of DNA testing, review Your DNA Results. 

Visit the 23andMe site to learn more on the product.

How to Enter to Win

1) Like a3Genealogy on Facebook 

2) Follow a3Genealogy on the Blog (on the Right: Join this Site)

3) Follow a3Genealogy on Twitter

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4) Share a3Genealogy with Friends (this one won't be tracked, but appreciated).

Your name will be entered into a drawing. (Must meet all requirements by 5:00pm Dec 22). Winner will be confirmed Dec 23rd. Just in time for the holidays.

Kathleen Brandt

website: a3Genealogy.com

a3genealogy.blogspot.com

(Original Post 1 Dec 2013)

10 Links to Documenting South African Genealogy

Preserving South African History

For the true Genealogists in you, I know you have at least been wondering where would a country like South Africa turn to for an account of its history? The answer…depends on your ancestral heritage. 

It should surprise no one that there is a 1) Genealogical Society of South Africa. Yes, you will find information on gravestones, a collection of 2) Family Bibles with genealogical information, and early 3) Church Registers and Baptisms (1745 - 1912).  Like FindaGrave.com and BillionGraves.com, you will be pleased to know volunteers have added over a half a million gravestone photos to the 4) Gravestones in South Africa project. 

Researchers of historical topics of South Africa will find an impressive collection also at the 5) National Archives of South Africa (NASA) website, which provides searchable finding aids for various topics. Here are a few of the databases of interest. 

GEN		-	Data of the South African Genealogical Society on Gravestones
HER		-	Data of the Bureau of Heraldry on registered heraldic representations
KAB		-	Cape Town Archives Repository
MAN		-	National Registers of Manuscripts and Photographs (NAREM and NAREF) National Archives' cartographic and library material, microfilms and copies
ROS		-	National Register of Oral Sources (NAROS)
TBD		-	Durban Archives Repository
TBE		-	Port Elizabeth Archives Repository
TBK		-	Cape Town Records Centre
VAB		-	Free State Archives Repository

What about the Slave History?

Slavery existed in South Africa from 1653, Cape Town, until 1834 when it was abolished. (Yes, before the USA - it was under the British Empire nonetheless). This only granted ex slaves a life of forced indentured servants under their former slave owners. The “mandatory” apprenticeship of indentured servants did not end until about 1840. So where are these records? What more is available? Where would the“Nelson Mandela” family find information on his family history.

There are resources to searching South African genealogists. Websites (many searchable, or at minimum with a finding aid) can be found to cover every thing from 6) British 1820 Settlers to South Africa  to the 7) Jewish South African SIG and database. There's the 8) University College, London database to assist descendants of slave owners trace their ancestors' involvement in the Mauritus, and Cape Colony slave trade.  But what about the enslaved? Or indigenous Khoikhoi, as for true history of South Africa?

 Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: South Africa Maps

Suggestions for Enslaved Research?

Of course oral family history is essential, but there’s more, at least for Mauritians. Researchers may wish to visit the Nelson Mandela Centre for 9) African Culture Slave Database to learn more of their Mauritian slave history.

Others are joining the 10) Cape Coloured DNA Ancestry Project, that began in 2007,  tracing their ancestry to the south African slave trade. 

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy.com

Accurate, Accessible Answers

Potter’s Field Records and Genealogy Research

Photo: Babies Buried at Hart 

Where Are My Ancestors Buried?

We know "Potter’s Field" as land set aside for burials in unmarked graves; often paupers and the poor and indigents' burials. But, “potter’s field” actually originates from the Bible- the Gospel of Matthew. When Judas Iscariot was overcome with remorse for accepting the thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus, he returned the coins to the temple. However, the priests would not accept the thirty pieces of silver, deeming it “blood money.” Instead the silver was used to buy land to bury the poor and foreigners. The purchased land had once been owned by a pot-maker, so it was known henceforth as “potter’s field.” (For a longer version visit: The World Detective.)

Where to Find Records

Although it would not be feasible to name all of the nation’s Potter’s Field burial record locations, here are a few frequently referenced Potter's Field record holdings:

• New Orleans Public Library's Louisiana Division & City Archives. "Potter's Field" Records, 1842-1843 . [Filed under call number mf LMC430 1838-1841]
• Hart Island, NY.  Don’t be fooled by the location name. This New York City owned Potter’s Field has a rich history beginning in 1868. Be sure to visit the Searchable Database. In New York, Washington Square Park was once also a potter’s field. To learn of the earlier New York City Potter’s Field visit the Frequently Asked Questions. 
  At a3Genealogy, we find that we are called to research Hart Island burials frequently; especially for children. Here is a disturbing, yet informative article: What We Found At Hart Island, The Largest Mass Grave Site In the US. For more recent burials, visit The Hart IslandProject: New York City public burials 1980-2008

3 Tips to Locating Ancestral Burial Place

1. Begin with A Local Search. The local Potter’s Field was the answers to not only the burying the poor and unclaimed remains, but also to epidemic deaths, prisoner burials and for those not permitted to be buried on the church grounds. The smallest of towns seem to have a Potter’s Field. Often land was set aside adjacent to a City Cemetery for indigent burials. Such is the case with Hutchison, KS, Eastside Cemetery. 
   Tip: Begin with the last known residence of your ancestor and check the area for Potter’s Field. At a3Genealogy we begin with a 200 mile radius (especially in rural areas), but know our Kansas ancestors have been located in Chicago; and our North Carolina ancestors interred in New York.
2. Learn About the Record Collection.  Like many historical collections, Potter’s Field records may not be complete. Even the NYC Hart Island records are missing two volumes of infant burial records, spanning 1977 to 1981. So be sure to understand the shortcomings of the records and collections.
   Historical cemetery names have changed and often the burial sites have been moved or expanded. Here’s an example from the Kansas City Times, 23 March 1972 account of Potter's Field:
   In 1911, the Union Cemetery of Kansas City closed their Potter's Field. In May 1911, the new Potter's Field opened at the Municipal Farms and was known as Leeds Cemetery…” “Grave sites were marked with a metal stake that had the name of the deceased written on paper and held under a piece of glass. A few of the stakes can be found, but no names or marked grave sites have survived. All that remains is rough, hilly land covered by trees and scrub. This was known as Section #1 and had burials from 1911-1934. Section # 2 was opened in 1934 and had burials until 1965. This section was on the west side of I-435 while Section #1 was on the east side of I-435. The address for section #2 is 6900 Coalmine Road. It was the area where the police firing range is now located. The graves in Section #2 were marked with cement cylinders with numbers on them and each burial was given a number. Some of these remain in place.
   
3. Research Historical Context: Were Ethnic Burials Allowed? Evergreen Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles, parceled land for indigent burials as early as 1877.  This ethnically segregated cemetery held designated sections for Armenians, Japanese, Chinese, early white settlers, and a large section of Mexican graves, and acreage for indigent persons was set aside. Evergreen Cemetery historically allowed African-Americans to be buried at the cemetery also. 
   Ownership of the indigent cemetery passed from the City to the County of Los Angeles in 1917 - 1924. In 1924 Los Angeles chose to cremate the remains of their lost and abandoned and built a crematorium: Boyle Heights. We have located a listings of Boyle Heights burials, void of in-depth genealogical information. 
   
   
   
   
   The Jewish Cemetery Mt. Zion, Los Angeles, was created as a cemetery for the Jewish indigent between 1916 and 1919. There are over 6800 burials at Mt. Zion. Researchers can find the indexed listings on JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry(JOWBR).  The Hebrew name may be provided.

With a little digging, may you unearth your ancestor!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy.com

a3genealogy@gmail.com

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City Directories and Early Veterans of War

Veteran's Day Includes All Wars

Most of us know the 1919 history of Armistice Day. We may also know that 11 Nov 1938 it became a Federal Holiday to recognize and honor WWI veterans.  The recognition of American soldiers was extended to “American veterans of all wars.” 1 June 1954 thanks to President Eisenhower. So that would include the early wars.  Early war veterans were most often recognized locally way before Armistice Day, especially in small towns across America. 

Using City Directories

Local researchers may find their veteran ancestor featured in newspapers, local town histories, and even in city directories.  Families were sometimes elevated to “local celebrity status.”

In 1888 the Des Moines City Directory noted its Sons of Veterans and highlighted officers of the Iowa Prisoners of War Associations way before the 1919 Armistice Day and decades before the official 8 Oct 1954 Veterans Day Proclamation.

In Toledo

The 1892 City Directory not only lists the Sons of Veterans information but also the Union Veteran’s Union (Civil War).

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy.com

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Finding WWII Heirs

Hildebrand Gurlitt and Forensic Genealogy 
Few are as fortunate as those researching Hildebrand Gurlitt, his family, the Gurlitt Gallery and his business operations. If you have been following the news, Hidebrand Gurlitt is probably a household name. He was an art dealer before, during, and after the war. Recently his art collection - some acquired legally, other looted pieces, or hidden to keep safe - valued at over $1.3 billion dollars was discovered in his son Cornelius Gurlitt’s Munich flat. Hildebrand died 9 Nov 1956. The art included Nazi confiscated pieces and many classics. There was a copper engraving of a crucifixion scene by Albrecht Dürer from the 16th century. For a good briefing on the news visit The Economist.

What few realize is that Gurlitt was thoroughly questioned by the Unites States, France and other world governments, so post-War documents - lists of art pieces, and correspondence between he and various agencies - is in abundance. The correspondence included lists of his inventory which identified works of Picasso, Degas, Chagall, Matisse. All of these collector favorites passed through the Gurlitt Gallery.

In 1945, when Hildebrand Gurlitt was being questioned for his art dealings, young Cornelius was only 12 years old and sibling Renate, 10.  But it was Cornelius who became the custodian (legal or not) of the art.

Genealogy of Hildebrand Gurlitt

The genealogy and official biography of Dr. Hildebrand Gurlitt is outlined for us in his 10 page Oath dated 10 Jun 1945.  Gurlitt included in his Oath a “full and complete declaration” of his art, as required by the post-war investigation. The Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany) (OMGUS) were attempting to return the original pieces to their rightful owners. Visit a3Genealogy Hildebrand Gurllitt Oath and Genealogy page for his full declaration dated 10 Jun 1945..

The family history Gurlitt provided to OMGUS spanned several generations and provides researchers substantial information.

 

What’s Next? Forensic Genealogy
Uncovering the art pieces is only the first step of the long process of returning the valuable art pieces to their rightful owners and families.  Who were the owners, who are the heirs? What is the fate of these wonderful pieces of history? These are some of the looming questions.

There are many post-war letters salvaged in governmental records in France, the US, and other countries requesting their art to be returned;  therefore, owner’s names can be verified for some pieces. Sometimes addressed envelopes were salvaged in the various post war collections providing clues of residence for the heir researcher. Gurlitt also kept accurate records for pieces that were legally acquired, and provided accounts of the Gallery pieces to the post-war investigators of various countries.

However, time will seem to stand still, as lawyers, forensic genealogist specialists, private investigators, and others, research to locate families and heirs.

Note: In the US, the Gurlitt Investigation information, documents and records are held at the National Archives and Records Administration;  much is in the Ardelia Hall Collection.

Kathleen Brandt

Researcher, Forensic Genealogist

Private Investigator, MO Lic #2012006814

a3genealogy.com

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Using Early Tax List for Genealogy in KY, VA, and TN

Census Substitute

VA Tithable

As a family researcher or genealogists have substituted tax lists for those missing census records or for county/state enumerations between census?  At a3Genealogy we find that we use Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia tax lists the most, so we wanted to share this topic with our readers with a few helpful links.

What Types of Tax Lists?

There were poll tax, real property tax (land), and personal property tax (slaves, cattle, horses). And let’s not forget the tithing states, like Virginia; and early quit-rent taxes paid by landowners before Revolutionary War in Colonial America. Again these can be analyzed.

In Virginia the 1790 and 1800 census schedules were lost (ever wonder how that happened?), but tithable men were enumerated. Tithable monies were important to pay for the maintenance of the local churches and parishes. It was through a tithable Virginia list that we located Tim McGraw’s ancestor Isaac Chrisman in VA. 

Since tax lists were created annually, with a bit analysis, the researcher can…

• Narrow birth years of males (when are they initially named on the tax lists).  Know your states’ laws for the year as to when a male (son) must be listed individually and not enumerated with the father. 
• Differentiate men of the same names.  .
• Track families that were not landowners.  If they were not landowners, researchers rarely find a probate or will.

In addition to substituting census records, we find that tax lists are especially useful when paired with pre-1850 census records.

A great article on analyzing tax lists and the possibilities of solving research problems is provided on the FamilySearch.org Wiki: Kentucky Tax Records.  Even if you aren’t researching in Kentucky, this article is helpful. Here’s a small excerpt:

A study of tax lists across time would reveal which of the three men named John Jones owned land. The land could be identified by location and tract. The acquisition and disposal of the land can be tracked for each man. With this knowledge, deeds and land grants can be checked. Deeds may reveal the wife’s name. This may now have helped pinpoint which John Jones married Sintha Smith. John Jones’ relationship to the other Jones men in the neighborhood can then be studied.

Where to Begin

Here are three key points to tax lists analysis:

Virginia Early Laws

1. Know the law of the county/state of interest
2. Also, stay mindful of the state and county map formations. As noted, Kentucky and West Virginia were in present day Virginia in 1783.
3. Obtain copies of the original lists.  Transcribed copies may not be exact: are the names in order as recorded?, typos?, etc.  Researchers may find copies of original records on line, on subscribed websites, or order the microfilm copy from the Family History Library (FHL). Be creative when using keywords on the FHL. A recent search for “tithable” led us to the following title: The 1787 census of Virginia : an accounting of the name of every white male tithable over 21 years, the number of white males between 16 & 21years, the number of slaves over 16 & those under 16 years, together with alisting of their horses, cattle & carriages, and also the names of all persons to whom ordinary licenses and physician's licenses were issued. This title was used in lieu of “1787 Tax Lists of Virginia.” (Note: to activate link, login may be necessary) 

For More Information (and Case Studies)

Tennessee Early Tax (ancestry.com)

• Early Tax List Records for Tennessee, 1783-1895, may be digitized on ancestry.com. This database collection includes 71 Tennessee counties. Originals of Tennessee salvaged tax lists may be found at the State Library and Archive.
• Visit Library of Virginia: Colonial Tithables 
• A collection of free scanned microfilm Virginia Tax Lists - early City Tax Lists, County Tax Lists,  and Colonial Lists - may be found at the Binns Genealogy website.  
• Tax Lists (1792-1840) An Overlooked Resource for Kentucky History and Land Title 

Other States

Mississippi County Tax Rolls, 1818-1902. Recently the a3Genealogy researchers were able to use these tax rolls to identify the correct slaveholder and slave family.

Kathleen Brandt

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate, accessible answers