08 March 2016

The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour: Research Plans

It's hard for me to narrow down the list of questions I have about my New England ancestors, but it is something I need to do as I plan my Great Big New England Genealogy Tour. This is going to be the most challenging part of the preparation for me. It is the most important part if I want to have a successful research trip. 

I started by looking at my research and creating questions that need to be answered.  Next, I prioritized the questions to those that are ready for on the ground research.

It is hard to know how many questions I realistically can work on during my trip, but I came up with the following, in order of importance.  Three questions may not seem like a lot, but answering these questions will lead me to new avenues of research and more questions. Plus, I have a list of ancestral places I would like to visit and a list of additional questions, if needed.

Question 1:  Who were the parents of Daniel Fenn, who was born circa 1787, possibly in Vermont, and married Huldah Rowley, 28 Feb 1808, in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont?

Question 2:  Who were the parents of Huldah Rowley, that was born circa 1789, possibly in Pittsford, Vermont, and married Daniel Fenn, 28 Feb 1808, in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont?

Question 3:  What was the maiden name of Lucy, the wife of William Powers and mother of Vinera Eglantine Powers, who was born circa 1782, possibly in Vermont?

Below is my blank research plan.  I make a copy of it and fill in the relevant information based on the research objective/question.

Objective:

Current Information

Conduct a Broad Search:  (Search based on location, time, and associates)

Understand the Records:  (Glean information from names and dates)

Correlate the Evidence:  (Direct vs. Indirect Information)


Conclusion: 

Here is my research plan for Question 1:

Objective: 
·      Who were the parents of Daniel Fenn, who was born circa 1787, possibly in Vermont, and married Huldah Rowley, 28 Feb 1808, in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont?

Current Information:
·         According to the book, 1992 Supplement to the 1984 Genealogical Register of the Early Families of Shoreham, Vermont by Susan Holt MacIntire and Sanford Stowell Witherell, Daniel was born circa 1787.  No other record of birth has been found.  This date goes along with his death information.  He died in 1836 at the age of 49.
·         Daniel Fenn married Huldah Rowley, 28 Feb 1808 in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont, United States.
·         Daniel Fenn and Huldah Rowley Fenn were the parents of Orpah Ann Fenn, Tully C.P. Fenn, Betsy M. Fenn, Aminda Fenn, Orlo H. Fenn, Daniel C. Fenn, Abel Fenn and two other daughters.
·         Daniel Fenn was a member of Capt. George Fisher’s Company, Sumner’s Regiment in the War of 1812 from 12 April 1814 to 20 May 1814.
·         Daniel Fenn, age 33, can be found living as head of household in the 1820 Census records for Shoreham, Addison, Vermont, living with Males: Under 5 years of age: 1; Of 5 and under 10: 1;  Of 15 and under 20:  1; Of 20 and under 30:  1; Of 40 and under 50:  1 Females: Under 5 years of age:  1; Of 5 and under 10:  1; Of 10 and under 15:  1; Of 15 and under 20:  1; Of 20 and under 30:  1
·         Daniel Fenn, age 43, can be found living as the head of household in the 1830 Census living in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont with Male: Under 5:  1; Of 5 and Under 10:  1; Of 15 and Under 20:  1; Of 20 and Under 30:  1; Of 40 and Under 50:  1.  Females: Under 5:  1; Of 5 and Under 10:  1; Of 10 and Under 15:  1; Of 15 and Under 20:  1; Of 20 and Under 30:  1; Of 40 and Under 50:  1.
·         Daniel Fenn and his family arrived in the Michigan Territory in the spring of 1833 settling in Sylvan Township, Washtenaw, Michigan Territory.  He was one of the earliest settlers in Washtenaw County, Michigan Territory.
·         Daniel Fenn was named overseer of the poor for what was known as the Vermont Settlement in April, 1834.
·         Daniel Fenn and his wife, Huldah Fenn were two of fourteen original members of First Baptist Church of Lima, Washtenaw, Michigan Territory in July of 1833..
·         Daniel Fenn purchased three land patents, certificate numbers 9093, 9094, 9095 for 80 acres per certificate for land in Washtenaw County, Michigan Territory. 
·         Daniel Fenn is buried at Vermont Cemetery, Sylvan Township, Michigan Territory.  His headstone states he died 8 March 1836 at the age of 49, making his birth year about 1787.

Conduct a Broad Search:  (Search based on location, time, and associates)
·         Check Census records for 1790, 1800, 1810, for Fenn’s living in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont that have males of Daniel Fenn’s age.  (1790: 3; 1800:13; 1810: 23 married) There is a Daniel Fenn living in Washington, Litchfield CT in the 1790 and 1800 Census. Look at names on the pages surrounding to see if any came to Vermont or Michigan with them.
·         Check Addison county, Vermont Land Transactions for Daniel Fenn.
·         Check church records(Baptist?) in Shoreham, Addison, Vermont for mention of Daniel Fenn.
·         Check tax records for Shoreham, Addison, Vermont for Daniel Fenn.
·         Check probate records for Washtenaw County, Michigan for Daniel Fenn, Date of death 8 March 1836.
·         Check First Baptist Church records in Lima Township, Washtenaw.
·         Look for Daniel Fenn’s War of 1812 records.
·         

Understand the Records:  (Glean information from names and dates)

Correlate the Evidence:  (Direct vs. Indirect Information)

Conclusion: 


The last three sections will be completed as the research is completed.  If you would like to see my first, The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour post, click here.


3 comments:

  1. For the maiden name of Lucy Powers, she was probably Lucinda Pixley, born 9 August 1783 in Westminster Township, Windham, Vermont. See her FamilySearch.org record,K644-MCV; she married Wiliam Powers Sep 12 1802 - St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont; but these are not well sourced; Lucy (Pixley) Powers appears on the death file index card for Charles Williamson Glover in the Ypsilanti Historical Society archives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I found a source for Lucy (Pixley) Powers: it appears on the mortality card of Charles Williamson Glover, her son-in-law, as abstracted from his obituary published in the Ypsilanti Commercial Weekly of 27 May 1871. The index card was found in the Ypsilanti Historical Museum archives; they have microfilm of the newspaper for that date, though I have not read it yet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome, thank you for sharing. I love new leads to follow.

    ReplyDelete