The Monmouth Connection
A Publication of the
Monmouth County Genealogy Society
Member of Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)
& National Genealogical Society (NGS)
VOL. 22 NO. 5
Website -- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njmcgs/ “Finding Your Civil War Ancestor”
Topic of May General Meeting
Sunday, May 15
Community/Senior Center
72 Broad St., Eatontown
More than six million Americans fought in the Civil War,
our nation’s bloodiest conflict. On Sunday, May 15, 2011.
MCGS vice president Gerald “Jerry” Smith will show
you how to discover
your ancestor’s role in
the war, be it for the
North or the South.
He will discuss using
Footnote.com
and
accessing Prisoner Of
War information.
Jerry’s own ancestors
include servicemen
on both sides, Union
and Confederate. He
has also researched
his wife, Cathy’s,
Civil War ancestors
and discovered that
the family’s oral tradition that her ancestor was a Union
Colonel was not true. Instead, Jerry discovered he led a
band of Confederate raiders in West Virginia.
Jerry is the author of three books and many articles
published in genealogical magazines and journals. (See
page 56 of this newsletter for his latest book).
Jerry is a nationally known speaker, having presented
talks at genealogy and history societies throughout
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. His past
presentations include lectures, computer workshops,
and such senior education programs as the Academy of
Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware. His
speaking engagements have included the 2010 annual
May 2011
meeting of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey, the
2011 New England Regional Genealogical Conference,
and the 2011 Institute of Genealogy and Historical
Research at Samford University.
He is a Certified Genealogist (CG) having completed the
requirements of the Board of Certification of Genealogists.
(BCG.)
Bring a “School Days” Item
To the July General Meeting
Bring something related to “School Days,” your own or
your ancestor’s, to the July 10, 2011 General Meeting.
This summer meeting is traditionally Show and Tell, so
this is your opportunity to show off any item that reminds
you of school.
If you don’t have anything you think is appropriate for
this topic, bring another item you would like to display to
your fellow genealogists. Or if you just aren’t comfortable
sharing in a group, bring yourself and enjoy the show.
As usual, the meeting will be at the Community/Senior
Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown, and will start with
refreshments and networking at 1:30 p.m.
IN THIS ISSUE
President’s Message....................................................50
Welcome New Members..............................................50
Keeping a Journal.........................................................51
Tried Mocavo.com Yet?................................................52
NYPL’s 42nd St. Building Turns 100...........................52
German Interest Group Open for New members.......53
Education Committee Brings in Funds........................54
Joseph Bray Photo Finds a Home...............................54
Upcoming Genealogical Events...................................54
TMC Presents Another Winning Essay.......................55
MCGS Takes Part in History Fair................................55
Jerry Smith Publishes Third Book................................56
Heads Up for Slocum Reunion......................................56
Hendrickson Family Cemetery Rededicated............56
Monmouth Roots.............................................................57
Monmouth County Will Abstracts.................................58
“Weekend in Old Monmouth” April 30 & May 1...........59
50
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
President’s Message
I cannot believe that it has been three years since I was
elected president of MCGS. Since then we have been
busy. We celebrated our 20th anniversary right off the
bat. We co-hosted the GSNJ Spring Forum at Monmouth
University. Our publications committee published
Volume X of the Bible records and the Bible Records
Master Index.
Thanks to our webhost, Linda Patterson, we have a
Facebook page and 100 people “Like” MCGS. Our
webpage is informative, easy to use and full of links to
genealogy websites.
When issues arose with the newsletter publisher, Judy
Bretzger stepped up and became our publisher and editor,
many thanks to the people who have written articles and
the committee that assists Judy.
We answered the call from MCHA when they needed
assistance for the George Moss estate auction. We stepped
up again when the Beau Ridge Home Owners Board
destroyed the Hendricks/Hendrickson Family cemetery.
Based on the damage our assistance will be ongoing for
some time. Our legislators are proceeding with a bill to
protect family cemeteries.
Our finances, which were on solid footing three years ago,
remained strong despite the downturn in the economy.
Book sales have done very well, especially mail orders;
we have shipped orders all over the country.
The First Family Committee updated the application
process and created a new tier called Federal Families, for
individuals with ancestors residing in Monmouth County
in 1800 or before.
The Family History Month committee continues to spark
genealogical interest in local middle school children;
our essay contest brings in many entries each fall. We
continue to participate in Monmouth County Archives
Day held each October at the Library Headquarters in
Manalapan. We also set up an exhibit about MCGS at a
Brookdale WWII Studies event. We will be attending the
State History Fair for the first time this spring at Allaire
State Park.
Our Education committee has added instructors, and as
use of the Internet has increased, they presented topics
on Ancestry.com and other websites while reinforcing
the basics of research. The Speakers bureau continues to
MAY 2011
lecture and educate people all over the state, even lecturing
in southern New York.
Our Vice President, Jerry Smith, has brought us a wide
variety of speakers; the topics have ranged from orphan
trains to local railroads, archeology of Bonaparte’s home
to Duffy’s Cut, land records, Quaker records, and court
records from Quarter Sessions and Oyer & Terminer,
overseas research, local authors among others.
It has been my pleasure to work with all the outstanding
people that have made up the Executive Board; they have
all given so much in time and effort. My heart felt thanks
go out to all of the officers and the committee chairs that
have served part of or all of the last three years: Jerry Smith
(Vice President), Lou Friedersdorff (Treasurer), Gail Hahn
(Secretary), Beverly Yackel (Education and Speakers
Bureau), Carol Megill (Family History Month), Linda
Wilson (First Families), Joan Shipley (Greeter), Audrey
Maxymuk (Historian), Donna Diamant (Hospitality),
Sharon Morris (Hospitality), Linda Patterson (Membership
and Webmaster), Judy Bretzger (Newsletter), Carol York
(Publications), Janet Borchardt (Publicity), Mark White
(Sales), Bob Breen (Newsletter Circulation), Henry and
Anne Butow (Mail Order Sales) and last but not least
our Trustees, Mabel Sweetnam, Mike Truex and Dolores
Olson. The dedication of the board and committee chairs
made my job easier than I imagined. Thank you to all of
our members for continuing to support MCGS, you’re the
reason we’re here.
Debbie White
Welcome New Members
DUNSTER, Ms. Myrtle
88 South Main St., Allentown, NJ 08501
Email: [email protected]
Researching: Cottrell, Alex and Hannah
EVANS, Mr. John
45 Lorelei Dr., Howell, NJ 07731-2846
Email: [email protected]
Researching: Belfast and Monmouth Co families
RITTENHOUSE, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
33 Delikat Lane, Sayreville, NJ 08872-2209
Email: [email protected]
SCHLIESSMAN, Mr. and Mrs. Larry
P.O. Box 2974, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Researching: Morris, Herbert, Hillyer(Hillard),
Crawford, Suydam
MAY 2011
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
Members Find Keeping a Journal
A Good Genealogical Practice
Journals -- writing them or finding and reading them,-have long been important to genealogists. Passing down
a record of your own life can be a priceless gift to your
descendants. We asked some MCGS members about their
journal keeping habits.
Lynn Wilson, First Families Chair, has been keeping a
journal since she was a child. She explained to TMC: “I
got my first diary as all girls do - Christmas at about 8
years old, one with gold lettering on the front and a KEY!!
I didn’t keep it daily because as I remember I lost the key
and had to cut the diary open and then it was fair game
for anyone else to read. (So much for telling deep dark
secrets, especially with brothers and sisters around.)
“I guess I started to keep a daily writing as a newly
married woman. I was very lonely, no car, no interaction
with family members, etc. so I found company with my
daily writings. It was nothing more than a list of things
I wanted to do and what happened during that day. As
time went on and my family grew, it was a way to keep
track of the kids memorable moments such as first tooth,
started to walk, etc.
“I became interested in journal writing when I took a
class on women writers at Brookdale. Because I had kept
a journal for my own reasons, it became clear how other
woman through the ages have kept one for most of the
same reasons I did. It also interested me how people
use the diaries, not for others to read, but to use them as
company, to work out psychological situations they were
having, and just keep track of their daily doings. I have
found keeping a diary very therapeutic. There were times
in my life when the situation I was going through was so
difficult that I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing.
I wrote my thoughts down as a” stream of consciousness”
and later read over what I had been thinking to help me
get through my problems. I love to go back and reread
my journals and see how far I’ve come, dealing with all
of the things life throws at us.
“It is so interesting to me to read other people’s journals
(especially from hundreds of years ago) and see how they
also are experiencing the same issues that we struggle
with each day… like the kids are driving me nuts, my
husband doesn’t understand me, etc. One of my favorite
journals is The Diary of Sarah Tabitha Reid, 1868-1873,
by Delight W. Dodyk. It is the diary of a woman who
lived in Freehold, New Jersey, after the Civil War. It is
51
wonderful for those who have ancestors in Monmouth
County during this time. She writes of her family members
and neighbors, using their names and places they lived,
during this time period.
Janet Borchardt was also inspired by Sarah Tabitha Reid’s
diary. She writes “I always loved that journal. . . it was so
lovely, as it gave a daily picture of what life was like long
ago. I remember reading it and just being blown away by
the detail and description of ordinary life.”
Janet explained “I have been doing journal writing for
years, ever since I became a reading specialist (in the early
90’s). Have alway done it with students I tutored. It is a
wonderful diagnostic technique, and all kinds of things
come out when you write daily. I had the students write for
about ten or fifteen minutes daily to start the class. I used
to have samples of children’s writing -- it worked when
they were angry about something or disturbed--it can be
quite revealing!
“I still do journal writing. My latest one is a ‘joy journal’
-- things that give me joy! I think I read this in “Oprah”
magazine. It allows you to focus on filling your life with
things that are uplifting by seeking them out and listing
them.”
Other members have found journals useful. We envy
Bob Lightburn, who told us “ My great aunt, Mary
(Lightburn) Caffrey, kept a diary for 1906 which I have
a copy of. I found it very interesting, primarily because
it gave me a real feeling of what her life was like at that
time. I was amazed at how many books she had read and
movies that she had seen that year. She also mentions the
great earthquake that struck San Francisco in April and
how all of her relatives were safe.
“My paternal grandfather, Charles McConnell Lightburn,
kept a diary for the year 1911. His entry for January 1st
included the statement ‘I resolve to write something on
each and every one of the three hundred and sixty five
pages of this book, (it was a date book that he used as a
diary) be it nothing more than the state of the weather (It
was below zero in Denver that day).’ Inspired by his diary,
I decided to keep one for the year 1979. The temperature
in Vienna, Virginia, by the way, was 40 degrees on the 1st
of January.”
Sue Fevola, who keeps journals of vacation trips, says she
has no journals from her ancestors but does prize copies
of letters written during the Civil War from a soldier to his
father, and several from 1900-1902 from a Marine writing
52
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
to his sister during the war in the Philippines.
Heidi Phelon also writes a journal when she travels. She
tells us her daughter-in-law, a birding enthusiast, creates
calendars using photos of birds and animals she takes on
her trips. She gives them as gifts every year.
Bev Yackel has kept her personal calendars for many
years, with her family’s activities noted. She says “A year
or two ago I began the process of ‘extracting the data’ and
creating files from them. Almost finished the project last
summer but got side-tracked.”
“The Diary of Sarah Tabitha Reid” by Delight W.
Dodyk, published by the Monmouth County Historical
Association, is available at MCHA and at the Monmouth
County Library .
Judy Bretzger
Tried Mocavo.com yet?
Critics’ Opinions Vary
Mocavo.com, a new search engine designed for
genealogists, made its debut March 15. Many of the most
widely read genealogy columnists and bloggers appear
excited about its potential, while TMC found a few who
were disappointed.
Mocavo announces itself as the world’s largest free
genealogy search engine, “providing genealogists access
to the best free genealogy content on the web including
billions of names, dates and places worldwide.” Mocavo.
com, according to its home page, seeks to index and make
searchable all of the world’s free genealogy information.
“While Mocavo.com discovers new sites every day, some
of the existing sites searchable on Mocavo.com include
genealogy message boards, family trees, state and local
historical societies, the Library of Congress, National
Archives, Ellis Island, Find A Grave, the Internet Archive,
various U.S. state archives, and many tens of thousands
of genealogy sites built by individuals. Similar to other
search engines, Mocavo.com honors site owners by linking
directly to their content.”
Dick Eastman, writing in his online newsletter eogn.com,
says “Unlike other search engines, Mocavo.com limits
its searches solely to genealogy sites. That makes a big
difference to many of us who are searching for names that
also are common words or corporate names. For instance, if
I search for my own surname, Eastman, on most any other
search engine, I receive hundreds of thousands of “hits”
from photography sites and other sites that have nothing
to do with genealogy. Performing a search for “Eastman”
MAY 2011
on Mocavo.com returns thousands of “hits,” all of them
from genealogy sites and with very few references to
photography. Even the few that refer to the Eastman Kodak
Company were references found on genealogy sites.”
Michael Le Clerc, writing for the New England Historical
and Genealogical Society (NEHGS), says “The best thing
about Mocavo is that it specifically targets genealogical
websites, automatically removing extraneous results (like
Facebook pages, etc.) that appear in Google searches. This
function is extremely helpful, especially when researching
a very common name. While there are times I wish to cast
a wide net with a Google search, it is very nice to have a
search engine that filters out all of that noise for me.”
He goes on to give helpful instructions for users. “For
the best results, put names in quotes. Mocavo will
automatically search for instances of “firstname lastname,”
“lastname, firstname,” and even “firstname middlename
lastname.” You can do “or” searches (looking for this “or”
that) by utilizing the pipe symbol ( | ). The | is usually
above the Enter key on an American computer keyboard.
Similarly, you can omit certain words by using the minus
sign (or dash).”
Randy Seaver, posting at geneamusings.com said “My
impressions of mocavo.com after using it occasionally
for about one week, is that . . . Mocavo listed genealogy
specific matches on the first results page which were
buried many pages deep on other search engines. [and
that] Mocavo has the potential to guide family historians
to free online resources fast.”
Not everyone was as pleased with Mocavo. Kerry Scott
at cluewagon.com says there is nothing Mocavo does that
Google can’t do, if you know how to narrow your searches.
But many genealogists are just not that good at “narrowing
searches.” For the less sophisticated genealogists among
us, this writer included, Mocavo promises to fill an
important need by eliminating non-genealogy references
among its “hits.”
If you have had an experience with Mocavo or any other
new search engine, and would like to share it with us,
please email the editor at [email protected].
Judy Bretzger
NYPL’s 42nd St. Building Turns 100
For 100 years the landmark Stephen Schwarzman Building
on 42nd Street with its world-renowned collections has
served researchers in style. Find out what the birthday
celebrations will include at exhibitions.nypl.org/100.
MAY 2011
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
German Interest Group
Open for New Members
It’s not too late to join the German Interest Group, the
newest addition to MCGS’s offerings. Drop in on the next
meeting, May 21, at 10 a.m. at the Colts Neck Library
and improve your skills, or help someone else find their
German ancestors.
The 20 plus members, led by Chair Joan Shipley, began
meeting January 26 and have discussed basic resources
for the pursuit of “die Vorfahren.”
Joan pointed out that
Ancestors in German
Archives, A Guide to
Family History Sources
by Reginald Wright III
and others, is a good
starting point for German
research. It may be found
in the Reference section at
the Eastern Branch of the
Monmouth County Library
-- call number R929.343
WRI. This reference work
lists each German state
and then the archives and
respositories located in
each town or city within
it, with a description of the
holdings.
53
Orts, or Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire. This
can be found at several sites, includng microfiche at the
Family History Centers (#6000001-29), ancestry.com
and family search.org. Bob also informed the group that
genealogical societies exist within each German state and
can be very helpful. He will report on this at a future
meeting.
(Our first try at using Meyers Orts was intimidating.
We were bewildered by both the language and the
format. Then we did something unconventional. We
read the directions! FamilySearch.org features a superb
description of the gazetteer and how to use it, including
translations of the myriad
abbreviations. We highly
recommend it.)
Limited knowledge of
the German language
is a problem for many
members.
Sometimes
seeking the help of
professional researchers
and paying a fee is
unavoidable.
The
Association
of
German
Speaking
Professional Genealogists
is one place to look. It is
a professional association
whose members work as
professional genealogists
Bob Fruh assists Elizabeth McDermott with
in the regions in which German
German documents.
Another resource, The German
is spoken or in the areas in which
Research Companion has been
German was historically spoken.
described as “an information bonanza.” Its 700 plus pages
They may be found at www.berufsgenealogie.net/english/
are crammed with material essential to a successful search
start.htm.
for German ancestors. Everything from German history
timelines to ship’s names to repository addresses to tips
A future issue of TMC will list some German translators
for letter writing to German abbreviations to vocabulary
and researchers known to MCGS members.
lists are found here.
Nancy Ronning volunteered to record the minutes at the
We found the section on German names to be particularly
February meeting. She neatly summed up the discussion
helpful for dealing with the multiple “first” or given names
of lineage books: “Lineage books exist for some parishes
of our German ancestors.
or towns in Germany, published under the general series
title ‘Ortisippenbucher.’ They are a goldmine if one exists
The German Research Companion, Third Edition,
for yours. Places to look for ortisippenbucher are the
by Shirley J. Riemer, Roger P. Minert, and Jennifer A.
Library of Congress, the New England Genealogy and
Anderson is available from Lorelei Press.
Historical Society and possibly the German genealogy
collections at large public libraries and specialty libraries.”
At the group’s February 26 meeting Bob Fruh explained
JB
the importance of yet another basic resource, Meyer’s
54
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
MAY 2011
Education Committee Brings in Funds for Projects
The Education Committee under the
chairmanship of Beverly Yackel, has
once more proven itself a winner,
earning $475 for MCGS from the
March 26 Land Records Workshop.
Such funds allow us to provide top
quality speakers at General Meetings
at no cost to attendees and to underwrite our publishing and research
projects that benefit the society and
the community. Our skilled presenters volunteer countless hours perfecting their talks and organizing the
spring and fall workshops.
Workshop presenters, top row: Melissa Johnson, Larry Fermi, Mark White.
Front row: Gail Hahn, Carol York, Jerry Smith.
Joseph Bray Photo Finds a Home
The photograph of Joseph Budd Bray, featured in the
September 2010 issue of TMC, has finally found its
home. MCGS member Nadine Jeffrey has found many
unidentified photos in furniture she has purchased at
auction. Our readers were invited to find out who Joseph
Bray was from the information included with his photo.
Cindy Kiefer of Mesa, AZ, did a remarkably thorough
search and found the owners.
Richard J. Walter of Vienna, VA, wrote the following to
Nadine Jeffrey after she sent the photo off to him.
Dear Ms. Jeffrey
I received the photograph dated Feb 1887 of Joseph Budd
Bray, my great grandfather born 24 April 1845. Thank
you very much for sending it to me. It happens to be the
most youthful of photographs we now have of him.
The story behind my receiving it is most interesting. Your
finding it at a flea market or auction several years ago,
and then Cindy Kiefer of Arizona doing all the research to
make a connection to a present day relative. Remarkable
with the limited information she had to go on.
My grandmother Adele Bray Walter b. 8 Aug 1891 was the
youngest child of Olive Alice Hueston Bray and Joseph.
She at times lived in Spring Lake and Ocean Grove, NJ. I
visited her the summer of 1963 on my way to the US Coast
Guard Base at Cape May. She died 10 Mar 1964 while
living in Neptune, Monmouth County, NJ. Even though
other Brays visited/lived in Ocean Grove, I of course now
“wonder” if the box that you bought with the photograph,
had at one time belonged to her. Just a pleasant thought! I
say this because I note that your community of Oceanport
is not that far from Neptune. Adele is the “little girl” to
the right of (the photo of) Walter’s Lower Mill {Easton,
PA} on the home page of www.walterfamilyhistory.com
Thank you again for your kind gesture and for your
surprise telephone call January 22. I also appreciate the
Monmouth County Genealogy Society for sharing copies
of The Monmouth Connection, which explained a lot of
the mystery behind the photograph.
Richard J. Walter
Upcoming Genealogical Events
May 3, 2011, “British Research,” Susan Fogg
Eisendorfer, Morris Area Genealogy Society, Morris
County Library, Whippany.
May 14, 2011, “Letters Home,” dramatic portrayal of
a Civl War Soldier, Mark Simmons, Passaic County
Historical Society Genealogy Club, Lambert Castle,
Paterson.
May 23, 2011, “Discovering Your Community’s Civil
War Heritage,” Stephen D. Glazer, Genealogical Society
of Bergen County, Public Library, Ridgewood.
May 24, 2011, “Census Quirks,” Beverly Yackel, Little
Egg Harbor Genealogy Club.
June 7, 2011, “Tracing Our British and Dutch
Connections,” Dave Peck, Morris Area Genealogy
Society, County Library, Whippany.
MAY 2011
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
TMC Presents Another Winning Essay
Amanda Tran, Land O’ Pines School, won third prize in
our Family History Month contest with this essay.
The Journey to Freedom
There isn’t much to tell about when my immigrant
ancestors came to America, since most of my family had
lived in Vietnam their whole lives. So the first generation
to come to America was none other than my dad’s. He
has retold his journey to America multiple times to me,
and I think it is time that other people should hear about
this adventurous tale of an individual who was seeking
freedom.
It was a sad day in April of 1975 when South Vietnam
lost to North Vietnam in the war and the whole country
became a communist country. The South Vietnamese
were closely watched and they had lost all their rights and
freedom. My dad was among one of those unfortunate
South Vietnamese.
The thought of fleeing Vietnam crossed his mind then.
For a few years, he and a few of his close friends were
working secretly on a plan to escape. They didn’t have
the faintest idea where they would end up later on, but the
idea of regaining freedom was all that they wanted.
The first atempt was failed and my dad nearly got caught.
He would have been sent to a labor camp, but the near miss
did not deter them from thinking about escaping. A few
months passed; some of his friends and he got together
and planned for the next escape, but unfortunately, the
plan failed once more.
After two failed attempts, my dad was frustrated and
depressed. He doubted that he would ever get another
chance. That’s when his parents discovered that a friend
whom they trusted was secretly planning to escape. They
contacted the friend and convinced him to let my dad and
his sister join his group.
My dad soon learned that this group was much larger than
he had ever organized in the past. There were almost 100
people involved in planning the escape, and they were
competent, so the people were excited and hopeful this
time around. About six months later they were getting
ready to leave the country.
On the night they were set to leave, people in small groups
of two to four slowly and quietly came to a secret location
where a fishing boat about 33 to 36 feet long was docked.
It took almost the whole night until the last person boarded
the boat, and they were packed in there like a can of
55
sardines. Imagine about 100 people plus food, water, and
fuel supplies for seven days worth all packed on a 36 foot
boat. Needless to say, it was quite uncomfortable. But
they were all ready to handle adversities, which included
the risk of dying at sea. Finally, a few minutes before 4
a.m., the boat started to drift out into the ocean. My father
and his sister spent about three days and three nights
snuggled in the boat, and one of those nights hailed a very
strong storm. The storm rocked the boat fiercely, and
sometimes the boat was blanketed by towering waves. It
finally crossed my dad’s mind that they may not survive
the night, but thankfully they did.
They landed on a deserted island a few days after the storm;
an island that belonged to the Malaysian government.
My dad and his sister ended up staying on that island for
the next ten months and relied on food supply from the
International Red Cross.
They couldn’t speak English when they first came to the
United States. My dad and his sister were nervous at first,
but also relieved that they had entered a world full of new
opportunities. My dad started working in factories for a
small amount of money, and later advanced to jobs with
higher pay. He finally saved enough money to enroll
into college and dad went to Brookdale Community
College to study engineering, then transferred to the New
Jersey Institute of Technology and earned his degrees in
Electrical Engineering.
You see, history is more than important people and dates.
It is the lives of its people. My dad is the reason why I’m
here today.
MCGS Takes Part in History Fair
Visit MCGS at the “Spirit of the Jerseys” Fair May 7 at
the Historic Village of Allaire, Allaire State Park,
Farmingdale, NJ. Look into five centuries of New Jersey
history all in one place. This historical festival offers
period music, living history demonstrations, special
exhibits, tours, food and lots of hands-on activities for
kids.
Stop by the MCGS booth or join us at the table while we
answer fair-goers’questions about genealogy and family
history. To volunteer, contact Lynn Wilson (609) 4489515 or Judy Bretzger at [email protected].
Admission to the fair is free. A $5 parking donation will
be requested by Allaire Village, Inc. to help defray the
costs of the Fair, which is sponsored by the NJ Division of
Parks and Forests & Historic Village at Allaire.
56
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
Jerry Smith Publishes Third Book
Anyone with ancestors in or near Bedford County PA owes
a debt of gratitude to MCGS vice president Gerald “Jerry”
Smith. The rest of us benefit, too, from the publication
of Jerry’s third book “Bedford County, Pennsylvania,
Quarter Sessions 1771-1801.”
This book covers Dockets 1 and 2 of the Courts of Quarter
Sessions, which had broad jurisdiction encompassing
many areas where otherwise undistinguished citizens
might find themselves -- and their genealogist descendants
might find their ancestors’ names. The records contain
administrative entries, such as oaths of office, petty
criminal offenses, and such serious offenses as assault
and battery, riot, or horse stealing.
Jerry’s popular lecture “Bastards, Bridges, and Bawdy
Houses” is based on Quarter Sessions records that include
“tipling houses” where alcohol is sold without a license,
bastardy cases fixing financial responsibility for children
born to unmarried persons, or road crews drafted to keep
up the local highways or supply someone else to do it.
MAY 2011
In this book Jerry has transcribed more than 3500 names,
a daunting task considering the difficulty of reading two
hundred years of old handwriting in faded documents.
He credits MCGS members Joan Shipley, Beverley Yackel
and Carol York as proof readers.
Those of us with no likely ancestors in Bedford County
may still enjoy browsing through approximately 350
pages of glimpses of the language and social mores of
these early Pennsylvanians.
The book is available through Heritage Books, Inc.,
Publishing Division, 100 Railroad Ave. #104, Westminster,
MD 21157 or www.HeritageBooks.com.
JB
Heads Up for Slocum Reunion
Frank Slocum tells us “The annual ‘Slocums of New
Jersey’ reunion is set for Sunday October 2, 2011. We
are planning on keeping the reunion at the Ocean Place
in Long Branch. Time: Sunday, October 2, 11 a.m. to 4
p.m.”
Hendrickson Family Cemetery Rededicated
As Work on Reconstruction Progresses
Above: Eagle Scout John Ronald Myatt
plays taps.
Photo credit: Grace Modla
Left: Simple white crosses now mark the
burial sites of members of the Hendrickson
family
Photo courtesy of Tom Wysmuller
Work is progressing on the reconstruction of the
Hendrickson cemetery in Holmdel. Attendees at the
rededication of the cemetery, March 13, saw newly planted
crosses marking the currently unidentified grave sites.
The Hendricks and Hendrickson Family Association is
actively seeking donations toward restoring the historic
graveyard, destroyed by the board of the homeowners
association of the surrounding development.
Anyone with information or photographs of the site before
the demolition of the gravestones is asked to contact
Arthur Rittenhouse at [email protected] or 732-525-3208.
MAY 2011
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
Monmouth Roots
The Wardell and Longstreet Families:
First Families of Old Monmouth
County
We continue our series looking back at the families whose
descendants have been accepted as members of First
Families of Old Monmouth County (FFOMC).
Eliakim Wardell is the ancestor of Ramon Lowell Burke.
Eliakim was born 23 Sept. 1634 in Boston, MA. and was a
resident of Monmouth County in 1666-1691 or even later.
(1691 –Deed of Sale in Shrewsbury, NJ, Grantee Eliakim
and Lydia Wardell, Grantor Joseph West). Eliakim was
the child of Thomas Wardell of Lincolnshire, England
and Elizabeth Woodruff. (Colonial and Revolutionary
Lineages of America, NY: The American Historical
Comp. Inc, 1950-Vol. 15, p. 453-454).
Eliakim married Lydia Perkins, who was born in Boston,
MA on 3 day 4 mo. 1631. (A Report of Record Comm,
Boston Births…1630-1699, p.1) They married at Hampton,
NH on 17th of 8 mo.1659 (Wardell-Perkins marriage record
(1659) New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Admin.,
Concord, NH.)
Eliakim Wardell, a Quaker, was constable in Shrewsbury
in 1669, was nominated overseer of Shrewsbury in 1670,
and was the first sheriff of Monmouth County in 1683.
(This information comes from the following sources:
Pioneers of Maine and NH by Pope, p. 140, 222; Colonial
Families of America by Ruth Lawrence, Vol. 9, pg.37; Old
Times in Old Monmouth, by Salter and Beekman (1887), p.
104, 99 etc.; This Monmouth of Ours, by Wm. S. Horner,
1932, p. 202).
Joseph Wardell, son of Eliakim and Lydia Wardell, was
born at Hampton, NH on 29 day 10 mo. 1660 (Joseph
Wardell Birth Record - 1660, NH Div. of Vital Records
Adm. Concord, NH). He died at Shrewsbury, NJ, before
30 May, 1735 (John E. Stillwell, MD-Unrecorded Wills
and Inventories of Monmouth, NJ-Vol VI, p. 100).
Joseph married Sarah Bonnell in Monmouth County,
New Jersey in 1696 (John E. Stillwell, Unrecorded Wills,
p. 100). Joseph and Sarah had a son, Samuel Wardell. He
was born in Monmouth County c. 1703-04. (Homesteaders
Newsletter, Vol.7, no.1, p.7, Spring, 1999, Springfield,
MA) and died in Monmouth County on or before 13 May,
1783 (NJ Calendar of Wills 1781-1785, Vol. VI, p.430). He
married Sarah Arney ca. 1723 (John Arney Will 1731-
57
2, NJ Calendar of Wills Admin. First Series, Vol XXX,
pg.24.)
Other family names in Ramon Lowell Burke’s family are
Smith, Slocum, and Harmon.
Albert Eugene Rebholz, Jr.’s ancestor is Stoffel Dircksen
Langstraat (Longstreet). Stoffel was born about 1666
at Flatlands, King County, New York. (The Longstreet
Family of Monmouth County, New Jersey, complied by
Barbara C. Smith for the Monmouth County Park System,
1983). He married, prior to 1710, Moyka (Moica) Laen
(Lane) Van Pelt. (Calendar of NJ Wills, Vol.ii-1730-1750,
edited by A. Van Doren). Mayka died prior to March 1753.
(Calendar of NJ Wills, Vol. III-1751-1760 by Honeyman
(1924).
In his will, dated 1 Dec. 1739 and probated 1 Mar. 1741, he
calls himself “Theophilius”, an erroneous interpretation
of his name, Stoffel, however signed his name on his will,
Stoffel Langstrat. (Genealogy of the Family of Longstreet
with related families, etc, by Edward Mayes.) A copy is
at Monmouth County Historical Association Library.
Regarding Theophilius this was included: “From the
American Weekly Mercury of date Feb. 14-21, 1726-7 the
following extract is taken: Langstraat, Theophilus - From
the Shrewsbury in East Jersey, on Saturday, the last day of
Dec., 1726, Theophilus Longstreat of Shrewsbury in the
County of Monmouth, aged near sixty years, he met with
seven swans flying over a meadow, who shot down six of
them at one shot, such a shot was never known amongst
us.” (Genealogy of the Family of Longstreet, Mayes).
Stoffel and Mayka had a son named Dirck/ Richard
Longstreet. He was born at Brooklyn, NY. He was
baptised on 25 April 1696. (Genealogy of the Fam. Of
Longstreet, Mayes, pg. 18.) Dirck married Alice Osborn
before 1718. (Genealogies of NJ Families. Vol.II by
Joseph Klett). Dirck died at Shrewsbury, NJ, before 1761
(Calendar of Wills, NJ. Vol.IV-1761-1770).
Dirck and Alice (Osborn) Longstreet had a son Derrick/
Richard who was born at Manasquan, NJ and baptised
13 Dec. 1745 at 3 months. (Christ Church Records,
Shrewsbury, NJ, Special Collections, Rutgers Univer.
Library). He married Prudence Parker, possibly of
Shrewsbury, NJ. On 27 July 1763 (NJ State Archivesmarriage license Vol. LP178.)
Other families in Albert E. Rebholz’s family are Allen,
Chamberlain, and Roberson.
Linda Wilson, Chair, FFOMC
58
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
Monmouth County Will Abstracts
Series 2 – FHL film number 0548087
This series continues the statewide will abstract series originally published by the New Jersey State Archives. We are following the arrangement of the wills and other documents by
the docket number which appears on the official listings of the
State Archives; there is one docket number for each packet,
though each packet may contain several different documents.
The packets appear on the microfilm in numerical order by
the docket numbers. The letter M at the end of each docket
number shows that this is a Monmouth County packet. Full
copies are obtainable from the Archives, or one may examine
the originals on the microfilms obtainable through the Mormon Family History Centers. We will note the relevant FHL
microfilm reel numbers. Our abstracts began in the middle of
FHL film #0548085.
Your comments are always welcome. Contact Pat Wilson
at [email protected] or Carol York at hyork@
exit109.com.
1818, July 4. Craig, Jane. Twsp of Freehold. County of
Monmouth.
Will of. Debts to be paid.
To Ann Lloyd; my large Bible and “Satton Cloak”, and
one-half of my wearing apparel. Likewise to my daughter
Mary Drummon; my long cloak and the other half of my
wearing apparel.
To my son, John Craig; $10.
To John Craig Drummon; $40.
To Catherine Craig; $20 and my desk.
To my son Lewis Craig; one bed and bedding in his life
time and then to Mary Drummon.
Olinde Lloyd is to have one bed and bedding, a “dish cittle”
and “brass cittle”, and my large looking glass.
To Melende Lloyd; my small iron pot.
To Rachel Craig, wife of William Craig; my “tea cittle” and
stillyards.
To Jane Drummon; one bed, bedding and curtains, and
clothes cabaret and large iron cittle.
“I wish to have a “hed” stone got for my Self.”
There is twenty acres of salt meadow to be sold and my
Cattle is to be sold, and other articles “Knot” mentioned,
and the money to go to my two daughters, Ann Lloyd
and Mary Drummond, their life time. Then to be equally
divided among their daughters.
To Jane Craig, daughter of John Craig; $20.
Executors: John T. Smith, and James A. Reid.
[Signed]
MAY 2011
Witnesses: Aaron Reed, Elisabeth Reed, and Moyka /
Moyra[?] L. Reed.
19 July 1824. Sworn by Aaron Reed, and Moyra / Moyka
L. Reed.
Sworn by John T. Smith and James Reid, Executors.
1824, July 19. Inventory $1,461.22; by Robert Conover
and James Bowne.
Wearing apparel. Items bequeathed in the Will. Dishes,
table clothes and napkins. Curtains, chest, small trunk.
Tables, chairs, andirons, cows, meat barrels. A note of
hand. An account. A mortgage.
28 July 1824. Sworn by Robert Conover and James
Bowne.
13 August 1824. Sworn by John T. Smith and James A.
Reid, Executors.
9537M
**********************************************
1824, June 14. Davison, Jacob. Twsp of Upper
Freehold. County of Monmouth.
Inventory [Not totaled]; by Lewis Perrine and Nicholas
Reid.
“his Revolutionary pention - - - - $46.12 ½”
[S34299 NJ Line]
20 July 1824. Sworn by Nicholas Reid.
Sworn by John Perrine, Jr., Adm’r.
9538M
**********************************************
1819, July 24. Dey, Jane. Twsp of Upper Freehold.
County of Monmouth.
Will of.
To my four daughters, namely: Nancey Hooper, Rebecah
Wallon, Elizabeth Wallon and Mary McChessna; my bed
and bedding that I used to “ly” on, with all my wearing
clothes of every description, to be divided share and
share alike amongst them all.
To my grandson Joseph Dey who is now living with
me, after payment of debts and funeral expenses; the
remainder of my personal property with all my real
estate. I likewise appoint him to be my only and sole
executor.
Executor: Grandson Joseph Dey.
Signed
Witnesses: Benjamin H. Van Schoick, William Van
Schoick, and Benjamin Van Schoick.
19 October 1824. Sworn by Benjamin Van Schoick.
MAY 2011
THE MONMOUTH CONNECTION
Sworn by Joseph Dye, Executor.
1824, September 30. Inventory $69.05; by William
Gravat and Benjamin Van Schoick [signed as].
Purse, and wearing apparel. Bed, bedstead and bedding.
Chest, small trunk, chairs, a cupboard dresser, crockery
in the same. A lot of glasses and bowls. Pot, skillet, pans,
andirons, and griddle. Shovel and tongs. Diaper table cloth.
Churn bucket. Barrel with soap.
A red and white cow. Corn and potatoes. Other household
items.
30 September 1824. Sworn by Wm. Gravat [signed as].
Sworn by Benjamin Van Schoick [signed as].
Sworn by Joseph Dey, Executor.
9539M
************************************************
1824, April 26. Drummond, John. County of
Monmouth.
Inventory $872.99; by Brittain Tucker and Jacob White.
Wearing apparel, desk and book case. Bureau, tables,
clock, Windsor chairs and carpets. Looking glasses. Beds
and bedding. Tow coverlet and other bed linens.
Books, crockery and glass. Baking oven, earthen and stone
pots. Knives and forks. Other kitchen furniture and items.
Barrels, kegs, casks. Wool wheel, flax wheels, tow wheel
and reel.
Rye and indian meal. Bee hives, garden tools, pick, and
broad axes. Winnowing mill fan.
One “skow “in the pond. A wood boat. Livestock.
Boards and timber. A dog called Spring. Other farm tools,
items, and implements.
3 May 1824. Sworn by Jacob White. Sworn by Hannah
Drummond, Adm’x.
Sworn by Edmond West, Adm’r.
9540M
************************************************
1824, August 20. Drummond, John C. Twsp of
Shrewsbury. County of Monmouth.
Inventory $818.69; by John Chamberlain and Henry
Wolcott.
Purse and wearing apparel. Bed and household linens.
Bureau, stand, tables, crockery, tumblers and pitchers.
Knives and forks. Other kitchen items. House items and
furniture.
59
Livestock, lot of ropes, leather, and one sword. Garden
truck and potato patch, crops.
Farm tools and items.
Time of a Black girl. Saddle and bridle. Carpenter tools.
Wagons.
A books of accounts. [among those listed] Mary
Drummond, and John P. Lewis, guardian of Robert
Drummond, Jr.
“Certificate to pay by John P. Lewis for Robert
Drummond Jr. if recovered in Court”
21 August 1824. Sworn by John Chamberlain. Affirmed
by Henry Wolcott.
Sworn by Sylvester Brinley, Adm’r.
9541M
**********************************************
‘Weekend in Old Monmouth’
April 30 and May 1
The annual “Weekend in Old Monmouth” tour returns
Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, with 40 historic
sites throughout the County open to visitors. Hours for
most sites are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April
30 and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1.
Plan your route with the help of the county’s website,
visitmonmouth.com. Maps and booklets describing
participants will be available at most sites.
Locations connected to the Revolutionary War will take
part, in addition to, museums, lighthouses, Victorian
homes, and historic churches.
Membership Renewal or Application
Name: Address: Phone: Email: Researching: Choose one:
❏ Renewal
❏ New Member
Choose one:
❏ Individual $20 ❏ Family $25
Mail a check payable to MCGS to:
Monmouth County Genealogy Society
Membership Committee
P.O. Box 5, Lincroft, NJ 07738-0005
The Monmouth Connection
Monmouth County Genealogy Society
P.O. Box 5
Lincroft, NJ 07738-0005
VOL.22 NO.5 -MAY 2011
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #168
FREEHOLD, NJ
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL
ISSN-1078-6899
Editor/Publisher
Judy Bretzger
(732) 542-0963
[email protected]
Circulation Manager
Bob Breen
(732) 458-0179
[email protected]
The Monmouth Connection
Newsletter Committee
Beverly Yackel (732) 747-8505
[email protected]
Joyce Friedersdorff (732) 671-7381
[email protected]
Ann Schaefer - artist
(732) 530-4779
Carol York (732) 671-0593
[email protected]
Joyce De La Cruz
[email protected]
© 2011 by the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. The Monmouth Connection is published bi-monthly (January-November).
The Monmouth County Genealogy Society
President
Vice President
Debra White
(732) 335-0977
[email protected]
Jerry Smith (732) 922-8125
[email protected]
Secretary
Lou Friedersdorff (732) 671-7381
[email protected]
Gail Hahn
(732) 780-9284
[email protected]
Treasurer
Trustees
Mabel Sweetnam
Mike Truex
Dolores Olson
Membership Chair
Linda Patterson
(732) 741-0734
[email protected]
The Monmouth County Genealogy Society’s Purpose is to promote the study of family history as well as the study
of history, geography, and social customs of our ancestors; to collect, preserve, and disseminate significant genealogical materials, particularly those of local origin; and to foster interest in these subjects through seminars, educational programs; and to exchange genealogical information through publications, lectures, seminars and other study
groups. Membership in the Genealogy Society is open to all upon submission of a Society application.