Merryann Palmer's Blog – July 2009 Archive (3)

I just got the most amazing comment on one of my groups here - I lamented the fact that I couldn't find some ancestors (Housler & Erskine) in Muskegon Co., MI. I have had several people give me suggestions, most of which I have already done, but some of which were new ideas I am pursuing. Then today, I got a wonderful surprise - a corespondent sent me a link to the death certificate of Daniel Hostler that I have been looking for for years!!! I now have a maiden name for Daniel's mother, as… Continue

I got Jacob Swartz' will transcribed and was a bit surprised by what it contains. It definitely narrows down his death date and separates his children into first wife and second wife.



In a nutshell, here is what it says:



10 April 1852 - original will made. Gives $5 each to sons Frank, Anthony and Joseph. Leaves all land, stock and personal goods to wife Gertrude. Sons Nicholas, John and Peter to divide said property after her death.



14 May 1854 - codicil made.… Continue

Actually, it's more than a sort of.



My search goal at the Family History Library in Salt Lake for today was to find out something (anything) on Jacob Swartz and his wife Gertrude. I knew that he was born around 1798 in Prussia; immigrated in 1843 via Rotterdam with 3 children and no wife; married Gertrude in Ohio before 1847, when their first son, John was born; and died between 1855 (when the last child was born) and 1860 (when Gertrude and the kids are living with her new husband,… Continue