Gerry's Passion: Genealogy
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Who Are Your 32 Third-great-grandparents?
Friday, January 31, 2025
Remembering Simon F Flaugh
Remembering Simon F Flaugh
born 16 June 1852 in Saegertown, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
died 30 November, 1931 in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, Colorado
Simon was born 171 years ago last June 16th. His parents were Frederick and Caroline Elizabeth Easton Flaugh. He was the third of eight or nine children.
There is a Samson Flaugh in some trees that might have been a twin brother who died, or maybe Simon later went by Samuel. Some people have trees with Simon's name as Samson or Samuel. It is confusing. Simon married Ida Rust, 1859–1920 Marriage "8 Jul 1877 • Woodcock Twp, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania Flaugh - Rust - July 8 By Rev. William Grasale. Samuel F Flaught and Miss Ida A Ruth. Both of Woodstock, this County." Simon and Ida had twelve children together, four of them died before adulthood. There is a record of them getting a divorce in 1918. I haven't found any record or family story of why they divorced. They are buried together. He obviously died a decade plus before I was born, but my Mother-In-Law, Mary Flaugh Humes, grew up around him. He lived with her family for a few months before the family sent him on to Grandpa Tom Flaugh's brother, James Flaugh. Mary always said he was mean to her and that was one reason Tom sent him on to his brother's home. Quite likely, he had dementia.Thursday, January 30, 2025
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025 Week 3: Nickname
I'm in the process of catching up with my writing. This weeks topic,is Nickname. In my family most of the nick names were the standard shortened nicknames. My name, Geraldine, ìs Gerry. my Dad, Melvin was Pat as were several Uncles and cousins whose last names were Patterson. My husband Cecil was Cece as a young child and Cec as a young adult. My Daughter-in-law’s family used lots of nicknames, most of which didn’t have much of or anything to do with their given names.
My Uncle, known as Kenneth to my Dad and me, was named John Kenneth Eugene Patterson. John was his Great Grandfather's and a maternal Grand-Uncle's name, but I don't know where Kenneth or Eugene came from. According to his obituary Uncle Kenneth was also known as Pete. Maybe there were too many Pat's around and it was kind of close otherwise I've no idea where it came from.
Monday, January 27, 2025
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025 Week 2: Favorite Photo
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025 Week 1: "In the beginning"
I have again decided to post as many of these themes as I can. Who knows what I will accomplish; 1, 3, 5, 11,22,33,or maybe 52. This is a program that I've started many times and usually only get 3 or 4 written and posted. As I have said in the past, I believe that however many stories I tell is better than none. If this idea intrigues you, check out Amy Johnson Crow's website at: 52 Ancestors www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-new" target="_blank">"52 Ancestors
This week's topic is "In the beginning". The instructions for this challenge are "interpret the phrase however you want - you can't be wrong." My interpretation is the beginning of my interest in genealogy
At the age of 81, the specific beginning memories are a little blurry. I know My mother told me some stories of her childhood over the years, and then when I was attending Point Loma High School her mother came out to stay with us for a few weeks or months. I believe it was winter and she came because she needed to get away from the bad weather in Ohio. I know that she had injuries over the years from slipping and falling on icy steps. She may also have needed a break from her husband. I wasn't privy to that information, but I had an impression that he was rather difficult to live with. I remember from my first visit that his daughter's hair was half her height long because he wouldn't let her cut it.
I believe that during her visit, my grandmother told me family stories. She had two sisters living in the San Diego area and these Grand Aunts would pass on information to me. My Aunt Elsie had a collection of scrapbooks that had an enormous amount of information about family and friends from McCreary and Whitley Counties in Kentucky and probably Scott County in Tennessee. My Aunt Vee (Vera) had her parents Family Bible with names and dates.
One of the first things I remember learning were the names of three of my Great Grandfathers names: George Washington Strunk, Abraham Lincoln Weddle, and Thomas Jefferson Jeffers. I was fascinated that all three were named after famous Presidents. I have a vague recollection of doing a family tree for a class, but it might not be accurate.
After we were married in June, 1964, we took a trip of a 3 day honeymoon in Big Bear, then on to Santa Rosa for Cecil to meet his boss in person Mr. Mitchell of Roy F Mitchell and Associates, Public Accountants, along with the other partners and staff, and find a place to live. On the drive home our 52 Chevy had problems. Luckily we were near Glendale where my paternal Uncle Carter and Aunt Mary lived. They took us to dinner, found a motel for us, and we got the car fixed. The rest of that story is for another time.
A year or so later we stopped by my paternal Uncle GB's home near the LA airport. He had his parents Family Bible. I know I copied all the information listed in the Bible. Later I typed it all up, and now I can't find that handwritten list. I believe all my information is correct, per the Bible, but I wish I could verify it with that list. His wife at that time died, and he remarried and as far as I know his third wife probably threw the Bible away.
Well, time to wrap this
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
"Tonight's challenge: 1) Use the FREE FamilySearch Full-Text Search (https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text) to find a record for one of your ancestors that is new to you. +6 2) Share your results on your own blog or in a Facebook post."
His example of land grants, inspired me to search for my Grandfather, Jasper Patterson's records.
Here is the first item I found: "Caldwell, Texas, United States Deed 1895 …to me ┃ in hand paid by the promissory note of ┃ Jasper Patterson for said sum of Twenty ┃ two Hundred and … …annum from date and ┃ said note is signed by said Jasper Patterson, and the vendor's lien is hereby … …presents do grant sell and convey unto the said Jasper Patterson of the County of Hays ┃ and State of Texas… …thereto in anywise belonging with the said ┃ Jasper Patterson his heirs and assigns forever and ┃ I hereby …"
I knew he lived in Hays County Texas, but didn't know he owned land in Caldwell County. Actually, when reading the complete document, I see his father, G. B. Patterson, is the seller and Jasper had to pay $2250 + 8% interest for the land. He married my grandmother, Katie Tadlock, in Hays County, Texas on 14 Nov 1894 so they were a young family. Per his obituary they moved to Granite, Greer County, Oklahoma Territory in 1901.
website for this document: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3SF-B6BZ? view=fullText&keywords=Jasper%20Patterson&groupId=M9MZ-B3N
Jasper is also mentioned as posting a bond to be a suretie on another person's will in 1910.
Here is the transcription: "Jasper Patterson , being first duly sworn on oath say : That I am one of the sureties whose name is subscribed of the above bond , that I am a resident and householder , and freeholder , within the State of Oklahoma, and am worth the sum of Four Thousand Dollars, over and above all my just debts and liabilities, exclusive of property exempt from execution."
This one is found at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97G-SYLW?view=fullText&keywords=Jasper%20Patterson&groupId=M99J-C33 December 17, 2024 update: I must have been interrupted and didn't publish this near the time I wrote this. The information is good so am publishing it now.