THE CHRISTIANA SEELEY DARE SAW MILL DEED & DAVID SAYRE SHEPPARD WILL DISTRIBUTION

  We were at our favorite antique store in Lambertville, New Jersey, Kline's Court Antiques, and I was chatting with the owner, Mindy, about what my latest passion was...................... 

HERITAGE RETURNED.  

She then went looking into cubbies, underneath drawers, searching behind things...  

What she came up with was THE OLDEST THING I'VE EVER RESEARCHED !

It was deed......... and a will distribution.

  This deed has Christiana Seeley Dare, (1728-1801), and widow of John Dare ( 1713-1785), along with her son and his wife, Seeley (1749-1811) & Hannah Dare (1752-?) selling a saw mill to David Sayre Sheppard, (1757-1827)  It's dated April 12, 1794...........................

 This, I believe, is the distribution for David Sayre Sheppard's will.  

David was born on March 16, 1757 and died November 24, 1827. 

 Included in this certificate are his children from two wives, Sarah Ludlam Walker 1784-1814) (When she died in 1814, her portion went to her heirs), Joseph Sheppard (1786-1838), Ercurius Ludlam Sheppard (1793-1859),  Providence Ludlam Sheppard (1788-1860), Isaac Aplin Sheppard (1806-1863),  & Mary Sheppard Hann (1804-1885).

APPARENTLY David Sayre Sheppard had A LOT of property to disperse.

Let the games begin.

Lest You Forget,

Michael

CATHERINE IS GOING HOME...... SORT OF.....

Catherine Goetschius has LEFT the building and is on her way to Walnut Creek, California, NOT Bergen County, New Jersey where she was born (in 1789).

I will miss her, & hope she likes being reunited with her family....... her great great great great grandson, to be exact.

I CAN'T WAIT to share the NEXT family Bible that's on it's way here.............  Stay posted.

Lest You Forget,

Michael

CATHERINE GOETSCHIUS HAS A FAMILY

Catherine Goetschius has a family, and he called me today !

  I got a call today from a gentleman in California who is Catherine's 

great-great-great-great-grandson, 

so she (OK, her picture) is going home to her family tomorrow.  

  I've asked Mark Harrison to send me a picture once they get reunited, and then I'll post the picture. 

Lest You Forget,

Michael

JOHN CUTHBERT OGILVY & FREDERICK TAYLOR CHANDLER

  When I was up in Adamstown, Pennsylvania and I went to visit my friends, Bruce Horton and Daniel Charest at The Black Angus Antiques at Stoudt's Brewery to look at a few pieces of "heritage" that I would like to have returned to their families........... except THESE pieces, I can't just GIVE to the families, because they have much more monetary value than the emotional value of the family bibles and pictures that I've been trying to return so far.
  The first piece is the fruit and nut set that I spoke about in an earlier blog.......... It was presented to John Cuthbert Ogilvy of Glasgow, Scotland upon his retiring in 1903 from "S. Allsopp & Sons", a brewer.  It's a BEAUTIFUL piece, as you'll see.
  I've tracked it down to his great-great-granddaughters named, Norma & Henrietta Ogilvy living in Spokane, Washington.....They were born in 1935 & 1940, respectively.

  BDH Antiques also has possession of the sterling "loving cup" that was presented to "Frederick Taylor Chandler" when he was elected to the presidency of The Philadelphia Stock Exchange on March 30th, 1905 and was presented this by "A FEW FRIENDS"........  

  In looking for his lineage I came across the fact that Frederick was my 1st cousin 5X removed of wife 1st cousin 9X removed ......... Pretty funny, huh ?

  "Fred T. Chandler" was the vice-president of The Philadelphia Club, the precursor to The Philadelphia Phillies, among other things.

  I'll keep plugging along.....writing emails to relatives......hoping that someone will get back to me.

  Lest you forget,

  Michael

"TAUFSCHEIN" FOR HILDA MAGDALENE RENGERT

  I was in Adamstown, Pennsylvania looking for some "heritage" to "return"........... and I came across this "taufschein", which is a German baptismal certificate, for a "Hilda Magdalene Rengert" born on 26 JAN 1903, and she was baptized on 10 APR 1903.

  The interesting thing is that she was born in Waldo, Marion County, Ohio........FAR from Adamstown, Pennsylvania.

  I went on Ancestry.com and found a number of people that have her in their family trees, so I email one to see what will happen.

  This is the "taufschein".  Let the games begin....................................

HERITAGE IS RETURNED - THE STRINGERS

Ken & Marie Stringer with Ken's mother, Barbara.

  Yesterday I returned my first family bible to The Stringer family.  The bible was started by Ken Stringer's great-great-grandparents,  John Edward & Sarah (Hoffmaster) Stringer, who were married on March 3rd, 1868.  

  We laughed over the initial reaction from his wife, Marie, when I tracked her down on Facebook and sent her a message.  I explained that I had this family bible that I THINK was from her husband's family.  I gave some of the names and information, so she had Ken check the facts with his mother, Barbara.  Ken's father, Harry Stringer, had done A LOT of research of his family tree, with genealogy being his passion.  Sadly, Harry passed two years ago.  So when Ken came in with my email to check out the facts, Barbara just went and got the BOOKS where Harry had kept the information.  The first book they opened had a picture of John & Sarah Stringer...............

  Marie emailed me back: "Correct... Very interesting.  Please leave your store phone number and I'll give you a call." I chuckled when I read that.......  I think she thought that I MIGHT be a little crazy..... little did she know........

  The mystery remains as to how THEIR family bible ended up at The Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, New Jersey when the family has lived in the Philadelphia / Norristown area for years.........

  I'm so glad that I could be the vessel that brought them all together.

  Ken & Marie plan on giving the bible to their newly married son, Ken, and new daughter-in-law, Jayna, so they can continue to put in their life information where the bible left off........

JOHN CUTHBERT OGILVY

  Friends of mine, Bruce Horton & Daniel Charest, of Bruce D. Horton Antiques in Adamstown, PA (Stoudt's Black Angus Antiques Mall) have this fruit & nut presentation box.
  The box is of beautiful wood and once the top is open, there are trays on either side that fold out to reveal a sterling silver bowl with repousse´ fruit all around, fruit knives & scissors with mother of pearl handles, and nut crackers.
  I thought that this was the most beautiful thing I'd seen, when I first laid eyes on it, and when they closed the lid to reveal the plaque .......... I froze, because it was a genealogists dream........ This is what was inscribed:

  Presented to 

Mr. John Cuthbert Ogilvy

BY

Scottish Agency of

Messrs. S. Allsopp & Son's Ltd.

AS A

Token of esteem and respect, 

ON HIS RETIRAL

After Seventeen Years Service

30th Nov. 1903

  John Cuthbert Ogilvy lived in Glasgow, Scotland and was a "Brewer's Traveller for "Messrs. S.Allsopp & Sons", that made "Allsopp's Pale Ale" and "Allsopp's Bitter Ale".

  I've tracked down his family on Ancestry.com & followed his son, James Leslie Ogilvy, who immigrated to Canada, then to Spokane, Washington, where he died in 1954.  

  James had a son named, Thomas Webster Leslie Ogilvy, who died in St. Louis, Missouri.  I'm having a harder time going forward because Thomas had two daughters, and it's ALWAYS harder tracking daughters, because MOST of them get married and changed their name.

  I'll keep you posted what I happen to find out.

  Lest you forget,

  Michael

SUCCESS.......... CONTINUED

  I emailed the person in charge of the "George Otis Willard Family Tree", who called himself "Computer Archivist", and heard back MORE details.
  Come to find out, he is the (ironically) computer archivist for the The Willard Family Association, & he started the tree on Ancestry.com to "help solve a research puzzle" one of the members of the association had posed to him.  The puzzle was about where George Otis Willard was buried, and they found out the answer before they knew about the family bible, BUT the bible confirmed their suppositions.  
   They held a small ceremony last month at his unmarked grave site, so The Willard Family Association is going  to help get a stone carved and placed.............
  How GREAT that the family has their own association ?  I wish WE did..... Actually, I guess I do........ I'm descended from John M. Mendenhall (1659-1743).  He was my 8th great-grandfather.  The Mendenhalls have their own association......
  I have two more pieces that I'll be adding soon...... GREAT pieces.........

  Lest you forget,
  Michael

ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY...........

  Last night I was looking on Ebay for family bibles, YES, Ebay sells family bibles...........  Anyway, I came across a bible that belonged to a Lucie Willard, who's father was a man named George Otis Willard.
  I looked on Ancestry.com and found a family tree titled "George Otis Willard Family Tree"...... WHAT WERE THE CHANCES ?
  So I sent one of my KOOKY emails, ("I know this is going to sound strange, but.........."), in the wee small hours of the morning.......... and got an email back 28 MINUTES LATER saying "Thanks! I just bought it..." I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me.
  Having YOUR family bible on Ebay is such a fleeting moment, because once it's sold, it's going into someone's collection........... probably NEVER to be seen or heard of again..........  So pay attention people, LOOK on Ebay every once in a while....... OR you can just wait with baited breath for one of my KOOKY emails, "I know this is going to sound strange, but.........."
  I can't wait to hear back from her to let me know more specifics.

  Lest you forget,
  Michael

THE STRINGER FAMILY BIBLE.....REVISITED

  I contacted Marie Stringer though Facebook on July 11, 2012.  She said later that she thought that it sounded a little crazy, BUT all the information was correct, and the bible that I had was indeed her husband's family bible.
  Her husband is Ken Stringer & Ken's father, Harry was VERY interested in doing his family tree and had been doing the research for years.  It was Harry's family tree on Ancestry.com that led me down the right path to find Ken, and his wife, Marie.
  One thing you might not know about family bibles, is that they ALWAYS started when someone got married.  That was the jumping off point for their family, and this was how & where people kept all the most important family information. This bible was started when John Edward Stringer &  Sarah Hoffmaster, Ken Stringer's great-great-grandparents were married on March 3, 1868. With each child that was born, it was added in the bible.  With each relative that passed, it was added in the bible.  With each child that got married, it was added in the bible.
  ONE of the incredible things about this story is that Harry's passion for his family history was passed down to his grandson, Ken, Jr.. Then Ken, Jr. got married TWO DAYS after I sent Marie my first message that I had found their family bible.
  There is NOTHING that is coincidence or accidental............
  Ken, Sr. & Marie plan on coming to the shop with Ken's mother, Barbara after Labor Day.
  I'll let you all know how that visit transpires.

  Lest you forget,
  Michael

 

MY DAGUERREOTYPE OF CATHERINE GOETSCHIUS

  This was my find on yesterday, Sunday, August 12, 2012.  It was at the end of the day at Lambertville, New Jersey's Golden Nugget Flea Market, and I had found just one hand-made twig basket and NOTHING with heritage...........
  In the LAST row, I saw a slew of pictures, and Deguerreotypes in little hand-tooled leather books, but pictures are almost impossible to track UNLESS there is something written in or on them.  THEN...... I saw one with a note....... "Raymonds Great Great Grandmother name Elizabeth Ann Sutherland Shuart mother".  I thought that this picture & it's note would be pretty easy to track down.......... and I was right.
  We went to The Lambertville Station for brunch and I took out my iPad and found her right away....... ACTUALLY, I found Elizabeth Ann Sutherland Shuart, because I read the note incorrectly...... but also found her mother at the same time.
  And now to find HER family.................  I put a tree on Ancestry.com & attached her picture there.  Hopefully someone wants her........
  AGAIN, I DO NOT WANT MONEY FOR ANY OF THESE ITEMS, I just want to return these articles of heritage BACK to their families...........
  HEEEEEEEEEERES, Catherine !!!!!!
  She lived from 1793-11 APR 1859..........
  I guess 60 looks VEEEEERY different NOW, than what it looked like in 1853, or so...........

Here is the whole book with the note...........
I'll keep you posted........

  Lest you forget,
  Michael

  

THE STRINGER / BURCHFIELD FAMILY BIBLE

  This bible was also bought at The Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, NJ.  I purchased it on 15 JUL 2012.
  It starts out with John Stringer and Sarah Hoffmaster getting married on 03 MAR 1868.  John was a minister and (this is my FAVORITE part of this whole bible) he mad his wife & two children sign "The Family Temperance Pledge".  Here's the picture:

This is what it says......................

Family Temperance Pledge

  "We, the undersigned, do solemnly Promise to keep, hence forth and forever, a triple pledge against Liquor, Tobacco, and Profanity.

  We Promise not to Make, Buy, Sell, or Give as A Beverage, Intoxicating Liquors while we live.

  From All Tobacco we will Abstain, and Never take God's name in vain."

WOW, that must have been a REALLY fun house to grow up in.........

  I tracked this family FORWARD using Ancestry.com, and EVENTUALLY Facebook..............

  So I ended up contacting the great great great grandson of John Stringer (1840-1931), and they are coming to get the family bible this week at my store, Kelly-Cataldi HOME in Keswick Village, Glenside, PA.  I'll let you know how it goes.

  Lest you forget,

  Michael

THE PURSEL FAMILY BIBLE

  These are pictures of the TWO Pursel Family Bibles that I purchased at The Golden Nugget Flea Market just outside of Lambertville, NJ in January 2011........ I've connected with a few people interested in the bibles, but they seem to disappear after a few emails. 

  I think the point that they're missing is that I trying to reunite their family's heritage with THEM....... 

 I DON'T want any money, I just want to return it to their family..........  I'm hoping by starting this blog that people will realize just what's out there.

  ALL these picture are of these two bibles, and paperwork & pictures that were inside.  

The top bible was for William Pursel (02 JUL 1811-?) & Mary P. Hough (21 DEC 1818-24 JUL 1877), and they married 21 JAN 1837

This second bible belonged to John Pursel (22 APR 1844-30 JUN 1926) and  Martha T. Slack (14 FEB 1842-21 FEB 1926) and they were married 14 FEB 1866

"It is with joy mingled with sadness that we inform you of the presentation of a bright little girl 2 A.M. Tuesday Oct 31st-1882.  All doing well so far.  Come and see baby- Mother keeps well, love to all- write soon.  Hope you are all well, good wishes.                                                                                                                           Friend Anna McLaw                                                                                                          828 Franklin St. Phila "

John & Martha Pursel

Of particular interest to me was this poem called "Policits At Home"........ I'm pretty sure that it's supposed to be "Politics At Home"...........  This is how it reads:

We've had the worstest time at home,

  since Ma's begun to vote.

First one an' then the other tries

  to get each other's goat.

An' every day it's just the same,

  I don't know where I'm at,

                                                                               Cause Pa's a strong Republican, 

an' Ma's a Democrat.              

I hear em' in the morning first

  when Ma's a fryin' cakes,

an' late in the evening when they're in bed

  until the baby wakes,

At dinner time an' supper time,

  an' all the evening through,

They tell each other horrid things

  that both parties do.

If I's a man I'd be ashamed

  to vote most either way

'cause both of 'em should be in jail

  a judgin' what they say.

I don't know which one's goin' to win -

  I sympathize with Pa,

But more I hear their arguments

  I'll stake my "dough" on Ma.

MARRIAGES

John Pursel & Martha T Slack
14 FEB 1866  

Franklin Pursel & Hattie F. Paxon 
01 JAN 1891 

 R. Randolph Pursel & Charlotte W. Scott 
18 SEP 1911

BIRTHS

John Pursel - 22 APR 1844  

Martha T Slack - 14 FEB 1842  

Franklin Pursel - 20 JAN 1867  

William Pursel - 06 MAY 1869  

Louis Pursel - 13 NOV 1875  

R. Randolph Pursel - 22 OCT 1891 

Eleanor E. Pursel - 22 JAN 1896    

DEATHS

William Pursel - 03 MAY 1874  

Louis Pursel - 15 NOV 1875  

Martha T. Pursel - 21 FEB 1926  

Ephraim Slack - 23 JUN 1872  

Charlotte Marie Pursel - 21 FEB 1915 - 24 FEB 1915  

Frank Pursel - 23 NOV 1923  

John Pursel - 30 JUN 1926

DEATHS

Harriet F. Paxon Pursel - OCT 1928  

Martha Jeanette Pursel - 05 MAR 1947  

R. Randolph Pursel - 01 AUG 1954  

Eleanor E. Pursel - 26 JAN 1972    

BIRTHS

M. Jeanette Pursel - 17 JUN 1917 

 Edward R. Pursel - 13 OCT 1919

MARRIAGES

William Pursel & Mary P. Hough 
21 JAN 1837  

William Wilson Pursel & Emma Jean Dilmars 
27 JUN 1877  

Anna M. Pursel & Rev. Chas. Wesley Todd 
25 DEC 1861  

Paxon Pursel & Mary H. Rich 
08 FEB 1865 

 J. Thomas Pursel & Sallie Eva Stroud 
09 FEB 1875

BIRTHS

William Pursel - 02 JUL 1811  

Mary P. Hough - 21 DEC 1818 

 Mary H. Rich - 16 SEP 1838  

Martha T Slack - 14 FEB 1842  

Paxon Pursel - 10 NOV 1837  

Anna M. Pursel - 07 OCT 1839  

Oscar Purcel - 02 JAN 1842   

John Pursel - 22 APR 1844    

BIRTHS

Jonathan Thomas Pursel - 21 AUG 1847  

Wm. Wilson Pursel - 09 SEP 1849  

Mary Ellen Pursel - 26 APR 1852  

Richard H. Pursel - 21 JUN 1853

DEATHS

Oscar Pursel - 03 JAN 1842  

Richard H. Pursel - 22 JUN 1858  

Mary P. Pursel - 24 JUL 1877  

William Wilson Pursel- 09 DEC 1906





Now I'm just looking for it's family.......................
More later......................

  Lest you forget,
  Michael

HERITAGE RETURNED.........Why ?

  Genealogy is my passion, & I've done my family tree AAAALLL the way back to 800AD, but what I don't have are artifacts of my heritage. OK, OK, I have a Mission rocking chair that was my great-uncle's & my father's 78 records, but that's about it.  That's just how it is. So when I started seeing family bibles & photos at flea markets, as well as engraved items like "loving cup" or presented pieces, it upset me. It upset me enough to action...... Then I realized that I could reunite articles of heritage with their families...........
  This is what I have done so far....... I bought two bibles that belongs to the Pursel/Hough/Heston/Slack families in Bucks County, PA & one bible that belongs to the Stringer/Burchfield families of Philadelphia, Chester County & Lancaster County, PA.  
  This past Sunday, I went up to The Golden Nugget outside of Lambertville, NJ looking for some thing that I could reunite with their families.  I found a picture in a little tooled leather book from the mid-late 1800's with a note pinned on the velvet inside.  It had someone's name, so it was a PRIME piece to research.  By the time we had ordered brunch at The Lambertville Station, I found her on Ancestry.com: 
Catherine Goetschius........mother of Elizabeth Ann Shurly Sutherland Shuart.......
  This is just my first post......getting my feet wet....... the NEXT posts will be of the individual pieces & their stories........

  Lest you forget,
  Michael