Why Samuel Poor DID NOT Die in the War of 1812

I have a love hate relationship with ancestry.com.  I love when I find good sources and I hate when members publish erroneous information in their family tree and then it gets added to lots of other trees.

The death of Samuel Poor is one such source of misinformation.  Many public trees have Samuel Poor dying in the War of 1812.  Of course, these trees are unsourced, but that doesn't stop people from adding the information to their tree.  There may be a Samuel Poor who died in the War of 1812, but not my Samuel Poor.

Samuel Poor, the son of Moses A. Poor and Elizabeth Barber Poor DID NOT die in the War of 1812 and here are a couple of reason why:

• First, he had children from 1826-1845. (Elizabeth, Jane, George, Hannah, Samuel, William, David, Evan, and Harlan.) 
• He received a land grant in 1837.
• He can be found in the 1830, 1840. 1850 and 1860 Census. 

I am still researching Samuel Poor, but my advice for all genealogists is to take the time to see if the records you are adding to your tree make sense.  If you have fathered children, bought land, and can be found in four census's- you have to be alive to do this.

If you would like sources for the above information, please contact me and I will be happy to provide them for you.

Harlan Poor Dies at Battle of Spotsylvania-Military Monday

I saved this post in draft last month because I didn't have time to write it due to the holiday season. Of course, I didn't write how I found Harlan Poor's death, or saved the records, and had to re-do my research.  I was sure I had added it to my genealogy software, but it isn't there.

Harlan A. Poor, the son of Samuel and Eleanor (Begole) Poor, was born around 1844-1845 in Michigan.  Harlan A. Poor is my second great-uncle, the brother of my great, great grandmother Elizabeth Poor Fenn.  He died in the Battle of Spotsylvania on 12 May 1864.

I had to do a little research as I didn't know there was a Battle of Spotsylvania and then I discover it was one of the bloodiest in American History.  18,000 Union soldiers and 10,000 Confederate soldiers lost their lives over the two week battle. 

I do know that Harlan A. Poor enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the Civil War on 22 July 1862. This record can be found at ancestry.com under the U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles  by searching for Harlin A Poor.  He enlisted in Company D, Michigan 17th Infantry Regiment.

The next record I found was the Roster of Union Soldiers Buried at Fredricksburg National Cemetery.  Information on how the records were compiled is included.  Harlan A Poor is listed on page 147.  The entry below is the information found.

"(1205) Poor, Harlan A. (ROH has Pool) Private. Co.D, 17 MI. Age 18. Res - Johnstown. Enlisted 22 Jul, 1862 at Kalamazoo for three years and mustered in 11 Aug, 1862. Killed in Action at Spotsylvania 12 May, 1864 (SR). Originally buried at Beverly's Farm, Spotsylvania (ROH)"

Further research found the above record at ancestry.com.  It is the U.S. National Cemetery Internment Control Form for H. A. Pool.  The information provided is very similar to the record from Fredricksburg National Cemetery Roster.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database has Harlin A. Poor's record too.  A history of the 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry can be found at this site.  The information found there includes:

Poor, Harlin A.

REGIMENT NAME:

17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry

SIDE:

Union:

COMPANY:

D

SOLDIER'S RANK IN:

Private

SOLDIER'S RANK OUT:

Private

ALTERNATE NAME:

FILM NUMBER:

M545 roll 33

NOTES:

Lastly, Find-a-Grave has a memorial for Pvt. Harlan A. Poor.   Someone else set up the memorial and transferred it to me.  Harlan A Poor was originally buried at Beverly's Farm in Spotsylvania and removed to Fredricksburg, Virginia.

More research is needed on Harlan Poor and I look forward to that research.

Week 2: Pennsylvania-Genealogy by the States

Jim Sanders at Hidden Genealogy Nuggets website and blog has created the Genealogy by the States blogging prompt, suggesting each week we blog about an ancestor or one of our families that have a connection to that state.  This week's state is Pennsylvania.
My connection to Pennsylvania comes from my mother's Mast ancestry.  Immigrant Jacob Mast is the earliest Pennsylvania settler in my ancestry, coming to the United States when many Germans were immigrating to Pennsylvania, the 1700's.  Other Pennsylvania surnames include:  Berkey, Forney, Hershberger, Livengood, Schrock, and Seese. 
A book written by Eli Mast titled Mast:  1737 Immigrant Jacob Mast,  that I found at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, details Jacob's life.  I have used this book to find clues for further research.  It details Jacob's immigration to Pennsylvania.  The book states that Jacob Mast immigrated in 1737 aboard the ship, Charming Nancy.  He is listed aboard the Charming Nancy which arrived in the United States in November of 1738. 
Jacob Mast lived most of his life in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  He died in March 1772 leaving a family that has expanded and flourished throughout the United States. 
Here are a few of the many internet sources I have used to research my Pennsylvania ancestry.  Click on each on to be taken to that website.

1. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
2. Historical Maps of Pennsylvania
3. Pennsylvania State Archives
4. Mennonite Heritage Center
5. Cyndi's List-Pennsylvania

Where in the World is David Watt?

One of the first places genealogists look for information on their ancestors is in census records.  United States Census records can be found through Family Search and Heritage Quest for free.  Heritage Quest is available through many local libraries.   

I am compiling that information for my ancestors in table format, once a month.  This month shows where David Watt can be found in the Scotland Census and United States Federal Census.  I am missing the 1871 Scotland Census.  David immigrated to Canada in 1879 and the United States in 1881, causing him to miss the 1880 U. S. Census and the 1881 Census of Canada.

FACT	DATE	PLACE OF RESIDENCE	ENUMERATION DISTRICT/PAGE ID./DWELLING
Birth	25 Sep 1858	Methil, Fife, Scotland
Census	1861	Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
Census	1900	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States	116/9/160
Census	1910	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States	191/8B/174
Census	1920	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States	235/13A/230
Census	1930	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States	52-22/7A/142
Census	1940	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States	52-28/13B/260
Death	21 Mar 1945	Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, United States

                                                                                    

Lt. Col. Merle M. Glover-Tombstone Tuesday

My great uncle Merle M. Glover's obituary said he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, but when I used the Veteran's Gravesite Locator I could not find him.  The reason for that is that Arlington National Cemetery has its' own gravesite locator website.  After I requested a photo through Find a Grave I discovered that Arlington National Cemetery website has a picture there, too.

Next, I found his memorial at Find-a-Grave and requested a photo.  David McInturff graciously accepted the request and posted three marvelous pictures there.  Lt. Col Merle M. Glover and his wife, Violet Genevieve (Dout) Glover, are buried there in Section 53 Gravesite 1828.

Photo credit David McInturff

 MERLE M

GLOVER

LTC

US ARMY

WORLD WAR I & II

JAN 21 1902

NOV 12 1981

 Photo credit David McInturff

53   1828

VIOLET 

GENEVIEVE

HIS WIFE

DEC 20 1907

DEC 27 1984

Photo credit David McInturff

The website for Arlington National Cemetery provides a location map with the search results.  The green number 1 shows the location of the burial.  The picture below is in hybrid mode, you can click imagery for another view and map for the map view. 

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia 

Cemetery Map Locator

If you click on the number on the website, it provides birth date, death date, burial date, section and grave site information, and a picture.  

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

Information and Picture

Merle McKinley Glover was born 21 January 1902 to Frank H. Glover and Hattie Lodema Fenn Glover.  He married Genevieve Dout 31 May 1927.  They had two daughters, Marylyn and Barbara.  I wrote a previous post about Merle running off to Canada to join the military here.  He made a career in the military, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

Happy Birthday, Travis

Our son, Travis, is celebrating a birthday today and I plan on reminiscing about his second birthday.

We were living in Battle Creek, Michigan on WahWahTaySee Way at the time of Travis' 2nd birthday.  Kirsten and I took Travis to Bill Knapp's for lunch.  Bill Knapp's was a great place to celebrate birthdays.  The children's menu had their meals labeled with animal names.  Kirsten and Travis liked ordering that way.  They gave the birthday person a free chocolate Celebration cake and "Happy Birthday" was played over the loud speaker.  My kids loved Bill Knapp's and their chocolate cake.  We were sad when it closed.  Bill Knapp's Celebration Cake recipe was purchased by Awrey's and can be found at some grocery stores now.

 Travis trying to put his soccer goal together as his sister, Kirsten, looks on.

Kirk was working at Minges Brook Elementary that day.  When he got home Travis opened his presents.  Kirsten got Travis a Little Tikes Ferry boat.  Other gifts he got were a Fisher Price soccer set, clothes, wooden peg sorter (which I still have) and money.

Travis opening clothes, he looks happy.  The Little Tikes ferry boat is in the background.

We weren't living near any family at this time, so we had a quiet dinner with just the four of us.  I had made a small cake, so he got two cakes for his second birthday!  Travis is living in Florida now and I hope he has a great birthday.  

Happy Birthday, Travis!!

Happy Birthday, Alayna

Happy Birthday, Alayna!

Our son, Travis, is dating a wonderful young lady named Alayna.  Today is her birthday.  Happy Birthday!  I hope your year is as special as you are.

Facebook for Genealogy-Family Group

Are you looking for a way to connect with family members?  Try Facebook Groups.  I started a Fredricks Genealogy group on Facebook in 2010.  I thought it would be a great place to share family information and pictures with family members who might not read a blog regularly.  This group covers information on the family of my grandparents, Otto August Fredricks and Daisy Ellen Graf.

I am so pleased with the results of this group.  My hope was that this would be a place to connect with family members.  I hoped we could open up our photo albums and share; and share, they did.

One of the pictures shared was an early photo of my aunt, Lola Fredricks Brown.  I had never seen it.  Her granddaughter shared it along with their wedding photo.

Lola Fredricks Brown, date unknown

Another one I loved seeing was of the twins, Norma Jean 'Jeannie' and Norman Eugene Fredricks and their cousin, Rose Marie.  It is precious, and another one I don't know if I would have seen if it wasn't posted by Rose Marie's daughter.  A discussion ensued on facebook about this that was fun to read.

L-R Norma Jean 'Jeannie', Norman Eugene, and Rose Marie taken on the Fredricks Farm, Brethren, Michigan

In December, I started posting mystery pictures.  Some I knew who were in it and a couple I didn't know.  The first one I posted was of Valentine Graf and Nancy Mast on their wedding day in 1888.  Valentine and Nancy Mast Graf were Daisy Graf Fredricks parents.  It was a photo I was sure no one had seen before.  It was fun to see the guesses.  Eventually, someone guessed correctly and then I re-posted it with the information about it.

Valentine Graf and Nancy Mast, 24 November 1888, Indiana

The pictures I didn't know about were solved by other family members.  I posted baby pictures, Christmas pictures, etc.  My cousins seemed to enjoy the guessing games, from these posts stories started coming out.  I was even contacted by a cousin in California.  She shared pictures with me via email.  She gave me permission to post the pictures on Facebook.

The Fredricks Facebook group has been a fun way to share the information I have found on the family, but even more fun has been seeing what others share.  Do you have a unique way that your family shares information?  Please share in the comments.