Hello from the Sky

As you read this post, I am flying high above you on my way to Hamburg, Germany.  I have also pre-published a few posts from yesterday until tomorrow, as I will be in and out of wireless access.  I have my genealogy packed (well, saved on my computer), along with numerous magazines and books to keep me occupied.  I also have my flip digital recorder which I will be using to spotlight genealogy in Germany and surrounding countries over the next 5 months.  I hope you will follow along on my journey through German lessons to visiting ancestral villages.

Surname Saturday: Gress

Each Saturday this year I am posting one of my surnames, going in alphabetical order.  This weeks surname is Gress.  The names in red are my direct line ancestors.

1-Joseph GRESS
b: about 1806, , , , Germany
d: 1860, Eden, Erie, New York, USA
+Caroline
b: about 1810, , , Baden, Germany
d: 1870, Eden, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Margaretha GRESS
        b: about 1834, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Georg GRESS
        b: about 1837, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Michael GRESS
        b: about 1841, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Joseph GRESS
        b: calculated 9 August 1841, , , , Germany
        d: 18 February 1899, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . +Sophia PASSEL
        b: January 1846, , , Mecklenburg, Germany
        d: 27 May 1928, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Louisa GRESS
                b: February 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . +Theodore SCHOULTZ
                b: December 1863, , , New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Jacob J. GRESS
                b: 26 January 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 11 August 1932, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . +Elizabeth L. FINK
                b: 6 July 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                m: Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 24 April 1957, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Chester E. GRESS
                        b: June 1888
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-May GRESS
                        b: 19 September 1890
                        d: 11 June 1970, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter L. GRESS
                        b: 6 December 1891, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elsie GRESS
                        b: 13 May 1894
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Howard J. GRESS
                        b: 18 March 1896, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Beulah GRESS
                        b: 27 January 1898, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 7 May 1968, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vera Julia GRESS
                        b: 11 January 1900, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 2 February 1976, Cheektowaga, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Carolyn M. GRESS
                b: about 1871
. . . . . . . . +Ralph WILLIAMS
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ethelyn WILLIAMS
. . . . . . . . 3-John GRESS
                b: about 1873
. . . . . . . . 3-Eli GRESS
                b: about 1875
. . . . 2-Jacob GRESS
        b: about 1845, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Barbara GRESS
        b: about 1848, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Johann GRESS
        b: about 1850, , , , Germany
. . . . 2-George GRESS
        b: about February 1852, , , , Germany

The Final Tale-y of Genea-Blogger Games Medals

The 2010 Winter Genea-Blogger Games are coming to a close.  It has been an impressive two weeks here at A Tale of Two Ancestors and I hope I am able to continue at many of these things in the future.  Data Back-up and Organization are the two areas I will continue to train on so that I can get that Platinum next time.  My final metal count is:

Go Back and Cite Your Sources!: 50+ Citations - Platinum Metal


Back Up Your Data!: Task A, C, E completed - Not sure how this works... Bronze, Gold and Platinum

Organize Your Research!: Task A, E, F completed - Gold Metal

Expand Your Knowledge: Tasks A, B, C, D, E completed - Platinum Metal

Write, Write, Write!: Tasks A, B, C, E, F completed - Platinum Metal

Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness: Tasks A, B, E, F, G completed: Platinum Metal

Now, I stand in line with my fellow genea-bloggers, as we wave our flags and proudly wear our metals for the closing ceremony.  I look forward to taking a short break over the next couple days and then beginning my training for the Summer 2012 games (there will be Summer 2012 games, right, Thomas? ;-)).

Tombstone Tuesday - Augusta Tross Eichhorn

Augusta Tross Eichhorn, 1877 - 1939

Congratulations Fab Forty!

Congratulations to my fellow genea-bloggers who made Family Tree Magazines Fab Forty list!  Keep up the amazing blogging!!!

Smile for the Camera - Give Their Face a Place

For the women's history month Smile for the Camera, "Give Their Face a Place," I wanted to show the family resemblance of the Passel line.  I would love to know how far this goes back, as it is amazing to see yourself in photos of your ancestors.  Beginning at the top is my great-great-great grandmother Sophia Passel Gress, her daughter Carolyn Gress Williams (my gg aunt), her niece Vera Gress Whitehead (my g grandmother), her daughter Marlyn (my grandmother), her daughter Holly (my aunt) and me.  Can you see it?

A Tale-y of my GeneaBloggers Games Medals

Here is my Week 1 Genea-Blogger Games update.  I have done well in some categories and not so well in others, but have metaled in all categories, which I consider a win.  With a week left, I hope to accomplish a couple more metals, particularly a few more of the Platinum variety.

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!: 39 Citations - Gold Metal
2. Back Up Your Data!: Task E completed - Bronze Metal
3. Organize Your Research!: Task E completed - Bronze Metal
4. Expand Your Knowledge: Tasks A, C, D, E completed - Diamond Metal
1. Footnote page for Marcantonio Maria Casillo
5. Write, Write, Write!: Tasks A, C, E, F completed - Diamond Metal
6. Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness: Tasks A, B, E, F, G completed: Platinum Metal!!!

Amazing New Genealogy Spreadsheets

Dick Eastman posted about CensusTools Spreadsheets today.  After reading the post, I want to check them out, as I love spreadsheets for data tracking.  I was not disappointed!  In fact, I can not express enough how impressed I am with this site.

Gary Minder writes "Ever try entering extracted census data into your genealogy program's primitive text editor? The mess and frustration led me to create my first spread sheet in 2001 so I could elec tron i cal ly preserve my data in an easy to view format."  I can not agree more and am loving the spreadsheets he created, particularly the research log, census trackers and the cemetery data form.  After downloading them and going through a few I donated his recommended $10 through PayPal.  This is the best $10 I have spent on genealogy organization material in a long time.

I highly recommend you go and check out his spreadsheets, as they will make your life much easier organizationally.  The research log lists over 125 types of sources to check for each person with a box next to each that you can check yes, no or not applicable.  If these sources aren't enough it is easy to change or add more, such as changing the US censuses listed to those in the country they lived in.  I would also recommend adding in Footnote, GoogleBooks, WOrldCat and a blog search for each ancestor under online sources.  I look forward to using this to make sure I have found all I can about each ancestor.

My Happy Day at the FHC

Yesterday I had a very productive day at the Family History Center.  My films on Knockholt, Kent, England parish records came in, allowing me to find baptism, marriage, burial, and even birth dates in some lucky cases on my ancestors and their families.

I was looking for a few specific items: the baptism of Emma Bond Hayman, her marriage to Charles Whitehead the of marriage of of her parents, Richard and Mary, and the burial date of her father Richard Bond.  I was hopeful that I would find Mary's, maiden name, as well.

I was very surprised when I found out that Richard Bond 21 Feb 1841, as I had previously searched FreeBMD for his death certificate to no avail.  I searched again when I got home and found a Richard Bond, died Jan-Feb-Mar 1841 in the Bromley district of Kent.  I had done some research and knew Knockholt was in Sevenoaks district, except that I missed the part that said it was placed in Sevenoaks in 1969... oops.  Prior to that it had been placed in Orpington and prior to that, it was in Bromley (from 1837 - 1934).  A good reminder to do as thorough historical research of the towns my ancestors are from as I do for my genealogy research.

Although I did not see Richard and Mary Bonds marriage record, I did find baptismal records for their 14 children, including my direct ancestor Emma's birth date as well (15 May 1811, christened 9 Jun 1811) - thank you to the overzealous minister who wrote in both!  I also found many burial and marriage records.  I now have a lot of records on order from the GRO, which I hope will arrive in the next two weeks and may give me Mary's maiden name.  From there I will go back to the films to fill in my research.

A Tale-y of Day 2 and 3

Day 2 of the Genea-Blogger Games took a backseat to Valentines Day.  I had pre-posted my Wordle's on Saturday night, leading to a new medal in the Expand Your Knowledge category for completing task E.  Counts at the end of day two:

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!: Bronze
2. Back Up Your Data!: None
3. Organize Your Research!: None
4. Expand Your Knowledge: Silver
5. Write, Write, Write!: Bronze
6. Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness: Silver

Day 3 went fantastically for my research and the Games.  I spent 3 hours at the FHC and found a lot of family information in the parish registers of Knockholt, Kent, England.  After I got home from work I went to adding it all into RootsMagic and sourcing it!  Counts at the end of day two:

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!: Added 24 new citations to make a total of 35, earning the Gold!
2. Back Up Your Data!: None
3. Organize Your Research!: The 24 citations created 25 data entries (Task E), leading to a Bronze.
4. Expand Your Knowledge: Silver
5. Write, Write, Write!: Bronze
6. Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness: Silver

I get out of work at 7pm tomorrow, giving me ample time to win some medals while I watch Olympians win some as well!

Valentine's Day Family Word Mosiacs

In honor of Valentines Day I have created Word Mosiacs at ImageChef.  The first is for my paternal side and the second for my maternal side.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Candy Heart for All of You!

Thanks for reading and commenting on my posts all year:-)

Made at from Candy Hearts

A Tale-y of my GeneaBloggers Games Medals

I apologize for the awful pun in the title of this (and the next 23) post(s), but I couldn't help myself;-)

Day one of the GeneaBlogger Games was a stunning success.  I had off work, so I began about 1am, went to bed after some pre-game planning and then spent the day doing genealogy interspersed with laundry and homework.  I have medaled in 4 out of 6 events and am just warming up!

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
1. Citation Count: 11.  Currently at Bronze ranking with distinct possibility of Platinum
2. Back Up Your Data!
1. Task Completion: None, aiming for the Gold here, but may only get a Silver.
3. Organize Your Research!
1. Task Completion: None, despite all the source citation.  I should organize all those sources later this week.  Goal here is a Gold.
4. Expand Your Knowledge:
1. Task Completion: A(Make a GoogleMap of an ancestral town), which you can view here.  I will get a Platinum in this event, as I LOVE these types of activities!
5. Write, Write, Write!
1. Task Completion: F(Participate in a 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy Challenge), during which I made a GoogleMap shown here and helped me medal both #4 and #5:-)  I am aiming for a Platinum here, as writing is the whole point of being a blogger.
6. Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness
1. Task Completion: A(Comment on a new Geneaology Blog) - very easy with all the wonderful new blogs.  G(Use follow feature on Blogger-based Genealogy Blog) - did this after making comments above.  F(Join a society) - I received my membership kit for APG today.  Not sure yet if this counts, will have too look into it.  Currently at either Silver or Gold Level.  Anticipate Platinum Level by end of Games.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Week #7

Amy Coffin at the We Tree blog is challenging bloggers to become better genealogists, with a new prompt each week through her 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy:


Week 7:  Play with Google Maps. This is a helpful tool for determining the locations of addresses in your family history. Where your ancestral homestead once stood may now be a warehouse, a parking lot or a field. Perhaps the house is still there. When you input addresses in Google Maps, don’t forget to use the Satellite View and Street View options for perspectives that put you were right there where your ancestors once stood. If you’ve used this tool before, take sometime and play with it again. Push all the buttons, click all the links and devise new ways it can help with your personal genealogy research. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with Google Maps, or suggest similar easy (and free) tools that have helped in your own research.


I learned about the miracle of Google Maps for genealogy, particularly for timelines, while at the Genealogy Reference Desk Institute.  I have been meaning to play with them ever since and this weeks challenge gave me the perfect opportunity.  I recommend looking at the help articles, as they are very clear and concise and helped my greatly.



View German Ancestral Villages in a larger map


This is my map on my German (with a couple in the Alsace Region of France) ancestral towns.  I will be living in Hamburg - way up at the top if you scroll the map up - and hope to visit these places over the next five months.  If you click on the map, I listed each ancestral line who lived in each town so that I remembered who was where.  This is also one of my GeneaBloggers Games entries.

Surname Saturday: Fleeman

Each Saturday this year I am posting one of my surnames, going in alphabetical order.  This weeks surname is Fleeman.  The names in red are my direct line ancestors.

1-Adam FLEEMAN
b: about 1820, , , Hesse, Germany
d: 25 November 1889, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
+Barbara GRISS
b: calculated 23 January 1824, , , , France
d: 1 October 1870, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Barbara FLEEMAN
        b: 13 February 1846, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
        d: 1 January 1929, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . +Gottlieb FINK
        b: 1 October 1838, Bretton, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
        d: 7 April 1910, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-George FINK
                b: 26 May 1865, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Elizabeth L. FINK
                b: 6 July 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 24 April 1957, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . +Jacob J. GRESS
                b: 26 January 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                m: Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 11 August 1932, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Chester E. GRESS
                        b: June 1888
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-May GRESS
                        b: 19 September 1890
                        d: 11 June 1970, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter L. GRESS
                        b: 6 December 1891, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elsie GRESS
                        b: 13 May 1894
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Howard J. GRESS
                        b: 18 March 1896, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Beulah GRESS
                        b: 27 January 1898, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 7 May 1968, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vera Julia GRESS
                        b: 11 January 1900, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 2 February 1976, Cheektowaga, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Ella FINK
                b: 18 September 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Edward FINK
                b: 23 December 1871, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Ida FINK
                b: 16 August 1873, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Emma FINK
                b: 9 June 1875, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Lydia FINK
                b: 3 May 1877, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Louis A. FINK
                b: 16 July 1879, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Frank FINK
                b: 16 October 1882, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Edna FINK
                b: October 1884, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Walter T. FINK
                b: April 1887, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Mary FLEEMAN
        b: about 1848, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Adam FLEEMAN Jr.
        b: about 1850, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . +Henrietta S.
. . . . . . . . 3-Adam L. FLEEMAN
                b: calculated 3 April 1884, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 27 July 1884, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Elizabeth FLEEMAN
        b: about 1853, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Lewis C. FLEEMAN
        b: calculated 9 May 1855, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
        d: 5 August 1874, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Caroline FLEEMAN
        b: about 1858, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . 2-Charles FLEEMAN
        b: calculated March 1860, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
+Magdalena
b: calculated 7 May 1826
m: after 1870
d: 17 May 1874, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA