Sandi's Gen-story

New and Updated Computer and Software

2012-02-10T14:06:00.000-05:00

I just purchased a new computer and software and it is like Spanish to me; I know a little but not enough to get the best benefit from everything new. So I am learning all about Windows 7, Word and Excel 2010, downloading and uploading, installing, but have yet to transfer any of my old files to the new computer. I love my old computer. It is a good friend and has been with me about 7 years, but she is slow and cramped and feeling her age. I updated her as far as she could go so I had to get another one. This new one is an HP and what they call a small footprint as it is not as large as my Gateway so takes up less room on my desk. I did have to buy an adapter for my mouse and keyboard as they didn't work with the new HP; had different connections in back, so I did that and now I am pretty much happy with my products. I hated the mouse and keyboard that came with the HP, but I will keep them around in case I decide to keep Gateway and hook her back up to my monitor and use her for things other than the Internet, like my old fun games, and family stuff that I don't want to lose or post on the Internet. She is still good for that but I do want to backup everything there so I can transfer it when I decide to. She has 2 hard-drives, one is a backup for the other, but I still don't know much about how I am going to transfer from one computer to the other. I will have to check into that, maybe purchase something to aid me in doing that. Don't really know right now. I do have some Family Genealogy software that I will install on the HP and then try to transfer my files to it from the Gateway via the program itself. That way I can get back to doing some research on my family and on two other family's I have been working on.

I know I was going to post a lot of information here on what I have on my family names, but I haven't done it. I had no desire to start it even though I said I would. All I have to do is transfer what I have in my documents to this HP from the Gateway. Maybe by disc. I have a CD burner on the Gateway but not a DVD one, so it would take a while to transfer it all. I could buy a flash drive which I think would be much simpler to use. I saw one that was 8 GB for less than $10 and I wish I had purchased it. I could have used it for transferring a lot of files over. I don't even know if this HP DVD burner will use CD's. I have to check the book on it. Well, I just read in the manual that there is an easy way to transfer files from one to another with the Windows Easy Transfer. All I need is to buy a special cable to go from one to the other; it says a regular USB cable will not work. Also it says I can use CD's, DVD's, Memory Sticks and External Hard Drives. I am going to get me an External Hard Drive for backup for this new HP; I wish I had bought one for the Gateway. In fact I think I can still buy one, hook Gateway back up and back up the what I want to transfer only, then transfer to the HP, then keep on backing up the new HP to the External Hard-drive. My HP has a 1TB hard-drive though so I should only back up what I want to keep, not most of the nonsense I have on my Gateway or what I will put on this HP as nonsense. I don't need the games, old letters I have written unless they are proof of something, etc. I do need all my graphics, genealogy files, and at least one copy of my pictures. That reminds me, I have pictures on my a couple of flash drives that I can go ahead and transfer now to the HP. So I will get off here and continue working on it. Bye for now.

Some Information For All To Read

2011-07-07T18:22:00.000-04:00

I decided I needed to post what information I have on marriages, births and deaths in case someone out there could use the information. There is no search engine or any easy way to search what I put on here, but I will try to make it as easy as possible for all to find what they may be looking for: I will try to put all like Surnames together in one place for an area, while keeping the different areas separate: I will also list as much as possible where I came across the information so that you can check it for yourself or at least have the source citation to use. I may enter most of the information I have into my word processor and then transfer it here when I have it in the order I would like it to be.

This information will not be only those names on my own family tree; they will be names I have written down for use in other family tree's, names I came across while researching, or miscellaneous data I kept. I hope it will help someone out there but if not, it will be posted to the WWW forever. Or as long as the WWW is around.
I may have the information that someone is desperately seeking but hasn't the resources to find on their own.

It will be some time before anything is posted here as I just came up with this idea today and it is going to take me some time to get it together even if I stay on it on a daily basis. I am still doing 2 other family tree's as well as my own so I am kept pretty busy.

See you later.

Not on Internet for an Unspecified Time

2011-03-13T17:09:00.002-04:00

I must apologize to anyone who may have searched for and found nothing new on my blog as I was off the Internet for quite some time and just recently my circumstances changed so that I was able to get back on and continue with my blogs.
I am still unable to do Ancestry research or join the other site that has all the most newspapers which I am hoping to find some mention somewhere of my great great grandmothers marriage and or birth notice in the paper of her first child and maybe the obituary of her mother that will at least prove or disprove if her mother died in child-birth, or if in fact she was the child of Servia/Sophia and not of Rhoda as I expect. Of course her great grandfather mentions her in his will, as the daughter of his daughter Rhoda Austin Cole who was deceased, but Rhoda's death date precedes the date we have for her daughter's birth which makes it IMPOSSIBLE for her to have birthed her: unless: the dates (mother's death or daughter's birth) are wrong as it would seem that Rhoda could have died right after the daughter Jane was born and that would seem possible and even right for Rhoda's sister to raise Jane in her household until she was married 25 May 1848 according to some, my mother included. The first child we know of being born to Jane was born in 1853. Jane would have been 11 years old when she married, but she was included in the household of Palmer and Sophia/Servia Cole in the 1850 census being 13 years of age, if born in 1837 and no mention of a husband there. A Jonathan was listed that fits with the earlier census' as being a son of Palmer and Sophia, and then a Permelia who is first mentioned here in 1850 and I believe is Jonathan's wife. I can't wait to get back into my research. I really would like to find out the truth of the matter if at all possible. Either way, if Jane is Rhoda's or Sophia's they both being daughters of Ezra Austin, would make the siblings all relative anyway and the ancestors of Ezra the same. And as I suspect Palmer and Solomon were brothers too, so that side of the tree would also have the same ancestors most likely at least for the generations concerned.
Speaking of research, I haven't been on Ancestry for many a year now so I hope when I return there will be a lot more for me to search than before and when I get the other site, I am hoping that there is a newspaper or article there that will mention my ancestors and clear up the mystery for me. I want to search Illinois also again as I think they may have been there when the census' was carried out and that is why I find no record of them for the year they aren't listed in the NYS federal census. It could be they got married in Illinois or even had their first child there. There are some Cole children listed as heirs in Ezra's will that were in Illinois at the time. Well until next time. Happy Searching.

My Fonda Family

2011-01-17T11:29:00.002-05:00

There is a gedcom on Roots Web about the Fonda family genealogy by Adam Mark Fonda. I know he spent many hours, days, weeks, months, and years and plenty of money to make this gedcom, but I warn everyone who does research to not follow this history as if it were completely true. He does have some dates and names wrong so you must do your own research on your ancestry line, not to simply take what he has down as the gospel truth. He has added middle names to some taking the fathers name and placing it as a middle name for the son to keep the line connected in his own mind though there is no proof that the son had a middle name - this also may lead to mistakes in family lines. My own personal family Fonda line is not correct on his gedcom so please do not use it thinking my line is incorrect on my blog. I have copies of birth/death/marriage certificates to prove my dates; where there is a question of parents etc I have acknowledged there is a question and there is no proof as yet to be found by me. I am still searching and will not allow a misconception to be construed as the truth without alerting the viewer/reader as to the problem. Please know that our ancestors know who they are and who they were related to and that God knows everyone and we are all one family under him. This is not a life or death situation, but for purests it may be very important to them and there could be legal things involved in knowing the truth of relationships. But these are so far in the past it is not very likely to matter in this age. We are able to keep track of thngs better now, but with the promiscuity of our children and the sperm banks and the children of those who are not female/male parents it is not likely that our future children will be able to get a true ancestral line if they search for one. Time is short for all of us and we will meet someday all who we are descended from if we are lucky enough to.

Ezra Austen/Austin

2008-09-11T13:05:00.000-04:00

Imagine my joy and surprise when I received an email from a descendant of Ezra Austin. She told me that Jane was listed in Ezra's probate records. My question here is, which Jane? Jane Cole Fonda, a grand-daughter, or Jane Rider Cole, a daughter-in-law? I do hope it is Jane Cole Fonda and that he stated in his will whose daughter she really was! My e-mailer advised that she hadn't dug out the files yet on her ancestor but when she did, she would contact me again. I am on pins and needles!! I would wait with bated breath, but am afraid I would expire before I hear from her again, so it's pins and needles for me. As soon as I am contacted and find out the information I will be back here to post it to my blog. I know I am counting on an uncertain lead - so many times, the testator will not be explicit with the names and relationships of those who are listed in the will/probate. I am hoping Ezra was a very conscientious and explicit type of person who would make sure that any names in his will are clear as to who they are related to as son, daughter, father, mother, grand-daughter, daughter-in-law, wife, brother etc. I have read a few Lawyer wills and those are very explicit and you can connect families together because of the very clear lines drawn by the testators.

Until next time.

Summarizing Cole

2008-08-14T08:47:00.000-04:00

I deleted some information that I had put on here yesterday. It was too confusing even for me so today I am going to summarize what I know and give my reasoning for what I suspect.

Jane E. Cole, wife of John Fonda:

born in Saratoga Co., NY: 24 Sep 1837 (per death certificate)
died in Fulton Co., NY 6 Jan 1916 (per death certificate)
age at death: 78 years 3 months 13 days. ( per death certificate)

Parents: (per death certificate) Solomon Fonda and Jane Austin> know this is not correct.

Married: John Fonda
Date of marriage: unknown
Place of marriage: unknown

What we do know:
In 1840 USFC: Palmer Cole has a female child 0-4 ys of age=1836-1840.

In 1840 USFC: Solomon Cole has no female children.
In 1850 USFC: Palmer Cole has a female child named Jane E. Cole, age 13.

In 1850 USFC: Solomon Cole has no female child born 1837.
In 1853 Winfield Scott Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda in Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., NY.
In 1855 Benjamin Franklin Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda
In 1859 Agnes Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda
In 1860 USFC: haven't found them yet
In 1862 Edith Viola Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda
In 1863 a child Charlie Fonda was born and was in the HH in 1870.
In 1865 a child Eva Fonda was born and was in the HH in 1870.
In 1868 William H. Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda (called Willie in 1870 Census)
In 1870 USFC John, Jane E, Ben, Agnes, Charlie, Eva, and Willie.
In 1872 Erwin Fonda was born to Jane E and John Fonda
In 1874 Herbert Fonda was born to Jane E and John Fonda
In 1879 Mary Evalyn was born and died
In 1880 USFC: haven't found them yet
In 1881 Emmett Blair Fonda born to Jane E and John Fonda in Galway, Saratoga Co, NY
In 1890 Oct 15; John Fonda age 64 died in Fonda, Montgomery Co., NY (per death certificate and W.S. Fonda was informant)(Presumed buried in Fonda, NY)
In 1900 USFC haven't found Jane E Fonda yet
In 1910 USFC: Jane E living in HH of Emmett Fonda: age 74, bore 9 children with 8 living - listed as grandmother to HH, with father born RI, widowed.
In 1916 Jane E. age 78y 3m 13d, died in Gloversville, NY and was buried in Fonda Cemetery.

If we count the number of children listed in the above, we see that there are 10 children> Winfield Scott, Agnes, Ben, Charlie, Eva, William, Erwin, Herbert, Mary E. and Emmett. We also know that two of the children Benjamin in 1906, and Mary Evalyn in 1879 died before Jane E. in 1916. We do not know for sure if any more children were born &/or died. The dates of births that we have are:

1853, 1855, 1859, 1862, 1863, 1868, 1872, 1874, 1879, 1881. Some of these may not be exact as they are taken from the census. If you also notice, Jane E. states that her father was born in RI. The only place a Palmer Cole in the census states that he was born in RI is in the 1860 USFC for Erie Co, NY. The 1850 states NYS.

Reasons why Jane E could not be Solomon and Rhoda Austin Coles daughter:

1. Rhoda Austin Cole died 1836

1A: Solomon and Jane Rider: Jane has no female children listed in 1840.

2. Solomon and female about same age in 1840 Census with no female children.

Solomon and Jane Rider had son George die in 1835, sons Arnold and John living in 1840.

3. 1840 USFC shows Palmer and Sophia with a male 10-14 and a female 0-4. (1837) no other children.

4. 1850 USFC shows Jane E in HH of Palmer and Sophia Cole age 13 (1837) John age 24, and Pamelia age 22 - believe John and Pamelia married.

Reason for Solomon and Jane to be listed on death certificate of Jane E Fonda:

1.- Solomon and Jane may be parents of Jane E. Cole - given to Palmer and Sophia to raise as their own daughter.
2. - Name Austin was remembered because Solomon was married to Rhoda Austin who died 1836.
3. - and Solomon and unknown female in 1840 census (could be Jane Rider);
4. - George Cole, dies 1835, record states he was son of Solomon and Jane Cole.
5. - Emmett or someone in HH stated Jane E. was grandmother leading me to believe they confused Jane E Cole Fonda the mother, with Jane Rider Cole the grandmother. When Emmett was born his mother was already 45 years of age

CHECK: DOUBLECHECK: Gravestones, death records, state census', marriage and divorce records, births, adoptions/church/obituaries and town directories for all the places mentioned. I will check all Mom's research as well as what I can find on the Internet.

Great Grandma

2008-04-21T08:47:00.000-04:00

I just heard the news yesterday. My grandson and his girlfriend are going to have a baby. That is all I know right now. No name, no sex, no date, just have to wait till I hear more, but isn't it wonderful!! Another member of the family line is going to be born. Will this child be interested in his/her ancestors? Will he/she be wanting to continue the research? This child will have a couple of whole new lines to work on; his/her mothers and his/her fathers plus all those that connect on those two. I will try to have the childs' father's father's mother's line completed as much as possible. The childs father's father's line has already been partially done and is published.

I know I was going to speak of Scrapbooking this time and I will. This will give me a chance to do a few baby pages for the scrapbook. I still have so much to do; many photos still need to be scanned onto the computer so that I won't lose them if something should happen to the originals. I will be using some of the originals in the scrapbooks I hope to make for different members of the family. And this will be something I know I can pass on to my descendants. Someone in the family will care for them after I am gone. But I am not going anywhere for a very long time except to Kansas City and Indianapolis this year.

Speaking of scrapbooking. I have been getting scrapbooking ideas in the form of a binder and it's leaflets from "Photos, Memories and More" for over a year now. I have started a second binder and will probably get a 3rd and 4th before it finally ends. There are many pages of ideas for every imaginable event or date or happening that can be thought of. Some I may never use, but others I am sure to make use of. Today I hope to have the time to start on some more pages. Later on I will have to purchase more protectors and more papers as I will be making different sizes of scrapbooks. The one I am keeping is of my mother and father and their siblings and children and their friends. It is the largest one, a 12X12 post bound book. The other one I have is a 8.5X11 3 ring binder type. I want to get more like the 3 ring binder one to give to my family members. The best way to hand down your ancestor tree and pedigree along with the photos and history is through scrapbooking. You are able to use everything you can find to make the lives of the people you are scrapbooking about come to life. Those small things that were kept because of sentimental reasons like the wedding bouquet, the invitations, the graduation announcements, birth announcements, newspaper articles, and yes the death obits and certificates also. The scrapbook is about the whole life, not just the good things though we do want to remember all the good things we can about our ancestors. But if there is a criminal record for a great great grandfather, go ahead and use it. Did he get thrown in jail for stealing a coat? or food? Why do you suppose he stole? What is the real story behind the act? Was he hungry and out of work and lost his home, maybe his family too? Or was he just a ne'er do well? Was he a "black sheep" of the family? What makes up your family ancestry? Who were these people who ultimately gave you life? Learn as much as you can about the times of your ancestors - the history of where they lived and what were the weather conditions, the political conditions, the geography of the area; the economy of the times that helped to make the decisions your ancestors made.

And for those of you who are living today - keep a diary of your life and let your descendants know what your circumstances are, what your area of the country is like, what the economy is and how you handled the hardships you face; your political views and the places you traveled and the great things you saw or were a part of. And don't forget to mention the little known things, like a nickname you had, or your favorite flower or color, your favorite food, and did you have a garden. Everyday life may be boring to you, but to your descendants it will be an exciting time in history that they will enjoy reading about and seeing with your eyes. Mention the people you know, or met and how they affected your life. Give a good accounting of your years and leave it for all the descendants that you have a part in making who they are. Until next time.

Reunion Update

2008-04-12T16:17:00.000-04:00

The King Family Reunion will be held in July this year, the actual day is still undecided, but it will probably be about the 3rd or 4th Sunday of the month. More will be posted as I find out when for sure it is going to be.

A few years ago it was changed to September, but before that it was always held in July and they decided to go back to July for the Reunions of the King Family.

Magazines, RSS Feeds, Societies

2008-04-10T08:29:00.000-04:00

How many Genealogy or Family History magazines do you subscribe to? I like Family Tree Magazine. It advertises that it is "America's # 1 Family History Magazine!" and I believe it. There is so many helpful articles in one issue that it takes a while to try them all out. The best feature at the moment is the "state research guides" that they are putting in that you can take out and put in a binder. They do two states per issue and will have Ohio, Florida, Maryland, Ohlahoma, Mississippi, and New Jersey in the coming months.

One of the articles has to do with Surnames. Now you might not think you could write much about "surnames" because, you know, everyone has them. But WOW! wait till you read the article. Or wait till you start researching your own Surname and see just how many you will come across that also has your given name. Talk about confusing!! And when you start looking for that ancestor that you just know is going to be the one that gets you into the SAR or DAR and find out there are 20 or 30 with the same exact name, and possibly the same birthplace, and even the same birth month and you don't know the exact birthdate of your own ancestor - well, it is frustrating to say the least. But take heart, there are ways to find your one true ancestor. The article lists seven (7) ways to look at your Surname and find out all about it. And you could find a lot more relatives than you thought possible to boot.

There's always good articles in The Family Tree magazine and I recommend everyone to subscribe to it.

Another good resource to have are the RSS feeds for blogs, articles etc that are published on the Internet. I subscribe to Arlene E'akle's Virginia blog and Genealogy Insider and even the Midwestern Roots 2008: Family History Conference to keep up on the news. I am going to be adding more as I come across those that interest me.

And how about Genealogical Societies! Right now I am a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) which is holding its annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri this year and in Raleigh, North Carolina next year. I plan on going to both as they are very informative and you meet lots of Professional Genealogists that offer tips and other information that can be very useful in your own research. It is also a very good idea to join those societies that are located in the area of your ancestral research. Mine is in New York mostly, so joining the Central New York Genealogical Society is my next project. They have "Tree Talks", their publication of genealogical records from around the State of New York. Each one covers portions of records from different counties within New York and you have to receive them all in order to have the complete record so a continuing subscription/membership is vital. You can purchase back issues of Tree Talks if you happen to miss one for one reason or another. Tree Talks publishes abstracts, bible records, has book reviews, and queries and articles on genealogy and research, military records, births, deaths, will records, marriages, tax lists, cemeterys and so much more. It is a good idea to have a lot of binders to put these in as they come as loose leaf pages so that you can someday have complete volumes in one binder. They have been around since 1961 so there are plenty of volumes to collect.

Next time I will be talking about more genealogical resources and scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a creative way to do your family tree with pictures, anecdotes, articles that belonged to great- great grandma, special events that occurred in your ancestors or your own life. Till next time.

Some Great Sites:

2008-04-09T10:05:00.000-04:00

I was looking for anything to do with Genealogy and Family History and I found Arlene Eakle's website and blog. She has a new blog on Virginia now that looks to be very interesting. I also like her booklets on Kentucky as I have some ties to Kentucky where my in-laws live, and their ancestors came from Virginia. My ancestors came from New York, and now I see she has a whole set of volume's on "Researching Your Roots in New York - Break Your Losing Streak!" I will definitely have to purchase these even though I have loads of New York information from my mother's research. I also purchased her "Family History for Fun and Profit" but have not used it yet to continue my research. Arlene has also purchased a large warehouse that she has turned into a Genealogy Library where you can leave your genealogy research if it needs a permanent home and will be available for research by others. So I am thinking that because there is no one in my family that really is interested in continuing my research or having all my genealogy records that I will be donating them to Arlene's library where I know they will be well cared for and organized into some semblance of order. I also have all my mothers research that will also go along to be well cared for.

Another genealogy blog that I am personally acquainted with the owner is "history- genealogy site" by Barbara deMare of New Jersey. She has much information and methodology noted on this website and if you are interested in Chapel's, Smiths, Carpenters, Halls, Avery, or Stratton she may have some information for you. Her ancestors were here in the USA in early 1700. Give her blog a read and see what you think of it.

In case you are not aware of it, there is a place called Tribal Pages that you can use to enter your family history on, post pictures, make it available to all or give it password protected security just for family members. I have two sites, one for my family and one for my in-laws family. What I like about these is the ease of use, easy editing, and the nice look they have. For a price you get more room for pictures and no ads on the site, but the price is very reasonable. I have lots of room for everything I want to put there but haven't been working much on it lately. Was without my computer for a few months and just got it back on the Internet recently and am trying to catch up on all my projects.

May is a special month for me as I am going to the National Genealogical Society's conference in Kansas City, MO. I have never been to one of these conferences and I am wanting to go especially since my friend Barbara will be there as well as my other friends Helen and Sue. We are called Famgeno's as we have a website on MyFamily.com where we congregate with others to discuss our genealogy research and family matters and have chats once a week. We have many members though not all join in the chats. We have become like a large extended family and three of our members have found connections to each other in researching their ancestors. It is truly a small world.

I am hoping to put more information on my blog in the coming months about my research and about my trip to NGS in KC as well as other websites, magazines etc that I find useful. I may be able to help someone else out there find something they need.

Until next time I remain dedicated to my mother's memory and her search for her ancestors.

The Cole saga continues

2007-09-19T21:57:00.000-04:00

In looking through my mothers papers I came across a letter written to her by a genealogist that she hired to do some research for her on the Fonda-Cole names in 1981. She found this information, "A Palmer Cole and Susannah Fonda Patterson, both of Perth, married January 8, 1853 (per rec. of the First Presbyterian Church of Broadalbin.)" I will be asking for a copy of this record from the First Presbyterian Church of Broadalbin as soon as I can.

Well, it was under my nose all this time. Susannah Patterson, married Palmer Cole about the same time that Jane Cole would have married John Fonda. Jane would have been the last child to leave the household as Jonathan and Permelia (I believe these are husband and wife, not siblings, but will have to research more on this for proof) have left the household, especially if Susannah who I note was a Fonda before becoming a Patterson, would be joining the family, so she was probably widowed when she married Palmer. I will make a note to search for her as a Patterson and a Fonda when I am able to do so again; a Fonda family with her as a child and a Patterson family with her as a spouse although it will be hard as the census' for that time period do not list names except for the head of household. I will have to rely on other records of the area.

Some other records Mom had were from the Saratoga County Historical Society. They gave her some information on Cole and Rider surnames. There was a Jane Cole that died 3 Oct 1899 that was wife to Solomon Cole; her age was 73 and she was born in Providence making her born circa 1826. Her burial place was not known. Her father is listed as William Rider and mother was a Susan SNU. (surname unknown); There was also Arnold Cole age 57, who died 2 Jun 1895 - born circa 1838 - a farmer born in Broadalbin and buried in Union Mills, his father being Solomon Cole and his mother being Jane Rider - both parents listed as born in Saratoga Co., NY. In 1903, on 18 Mar, William Ward Rider age 77, born circa 1826, a farmer born in Fulton Co., NY and buried in Union Mills was the son of William Rider born in NY. Mothers name unknown. And later that year of 1903, on Oct 18 John Cole age 62, born circa 1841, a teamster, born and buried in Union Mills son of Solomon and Jane Rider Cole, both born in Union Mills. As I go through more of Moms papers and records I will be posting what I find here. Until the next time.

Joseph and Lottie Mae Lilley King Descendants Family Reunion

2007-09-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

On September 9 2007, the descendants of Joseph and Lottie Mae Lilley King gathered together for a family reunion at Carrollton, KY in the beautiful General Butler State Park. 80 people attended the reunion coming from Indiana, Lexington KY, and closer. Our oldest member was 77 and our youngest was 33 days. There were two other reunions being held there at the same time and both had members related to members of our reunion. What a large connected and extended family there was. Some looked at the pictures of the ancestors and were able to tell the younger generations who they were giving a little bit of history about them. Many pictures were taken of those that attended so that we have a pictorial record to go along with the written record. Family groups were gathered together for the pictures so that we had a record of who belonged to whom, as well as random picture taking. Food to feed an army was available and enjoyed by all - meatloaf, chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, home grown tomatoes, yeast rolls and biscuits, potato salads, pasta salads, green beans, corn, and so much more -- then the desserts -- someone brought dirt pudding (in a planter with a flower), pies, cakes, cookies, and a huge decorated cake to commemorate the occasion was brought by me. The nine children of Joseph and Mae were written in and those who attended were descended from those children. Plans are being made for next year to have a better pictorial record for all to see and family group sheets and pedigree charts. We are hoping to have over 100 members join us next year. If even one family comes that hasn't been before and we get their family information as well as what they may know about the other members it is a success.

Tentative dates for next year are the second weekend Saturday and Sunday in September and it will be an all weekend event held at General Butler State Park in Carrollton, KY with the feast being held on Sunday. Bring your camping gear and camp out at the park or at one of the homes of members who live close by and are attending. We will have names and addresses for those who would like to come early and stay over. Please bring all vital information on your family and what you know of your parents and grandparents etc. as we will have family group sheets and pedigree charts to be filled out for all members attending. We are also planning entertainment and karaoke for those interested in singing or playing as well as card and board games, and yard/lawn games. Come to the Reunion and Have A Great Time.

My Mother

2007-07-17T21:27:00.000-04:00

This is my mother when she was about 16 years of age. It is her ancestry line I am having a bit of trouble with, namely her great grandmother, Jane E./A. Cole who married John Fonda around 1850-1852. She was quite young when she married and in the 1850 census she is listed with a Palmer Cole and Sophia, with Johnathan and Pamelia in their 20's and Jane only 13. My mother said her father always told her that her great grandmother was married at a very young age. If this is our Jane Cole then Palmer and Sophia are most likely her parents and Johnathan and Pamelia either her brother and sister or sister-in-law. Sohphia died shortly after and Palmer is listed with Susannah in later census' and Jane is not found. I don't know if I looked for Johnathan and Pamelia in the 1860 census but I will again. John Fonda and Jane E. are listed in the 1870 USFC and she is 33 yrs of age which matches with the one we have and John is 40. There are 5 children listed ages 1 to 13. Jane would have been ca. 20 when the oldest was born. If she married at an early age, say 13 or 14, it would be ca. 5 or 6 years before any children show up. This could be due to stillborns, early child deaths or the fact that Jane was not physically old enough to have children. So I will be searching the census records for NYS and see if I can find them there in 1855 or 1865. They were living in Fulton Co., Broadalbin Township in the 1870 Census.

In the 1830 Census for Providence, Saratoga Co., NY Palmer Cole is 20-29 with a female 20-29 and a male child 0-4. I don't have any for 1840. In 1850 Palmer and Sophia are ages 48 adn 47; Johathan is 24 which fits, Pamelia is 22 and Jane is 13. Solomon Cole and wife Jane with sons Arnold, Charles, John, William W., Jonas and Rhoda Ann live in the same area. In the 1860 census, we find Palmer and Susannah ages 58 and 39 living in Elma, Erie Co., NY. Palmer is listed as being born in Rhode Island and occupation as a joiner. The 1850 census says he was born in NY. Jumping ahead to the 1910 census for Johnstown, Fulton Co., NY we find a Jane E. living in the household of Emmett Fonda and listed as grandmother. This Jane E. is 74 years of age making her born ca. 1836; her father is born in Rhode Island, her mother in NY and she had born 9 children with 8 living in 1910. Also she is listed as widowed.

This Jane E., a grandmother with father born Rhode Island would fit the Palmer listed in Elma, Erie Co., NY in 1860. She also fits the 1870 census Jane E. married to John Fonda with Ben, Agnes, Charlie, Mary Evalyn (Eva), Willie with her age at 33, which is 40 years earlier. So we need to find land records, town directories, estate will records if there are any, birth and death records for the children and newspaper articles/obits for the time period.

I subscribed to the New York lists and will ask for help in the areas where they lived to see if I can find out anything that way.

Until the next time.

Grateful For

2007-07-11T13:07:00.000-04:00

I read an article that states that a person who is grateful for what he has is a happier person with less illness created by stress. To help yourself become a more grateful person you need to realize what you are grateful for and a good way to do that is to list at least 10 things on a regular basis that you are grateful for. Here are a few things I am grateful for:

1. I am grateful for each day that I wake up.
2. I am grateful for having a loving husband.
3. I am grateful for having my children.
4. I am grateful for living in the USA
5. I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy.
6. I am grateful I can worship my GOD.
7. I am grateful for the sun, the wind, the clouds, the rain and all the elements that make this world what it is.
8. I am grateful for my sister-in-law who is as sweet as can be.
9. I am grateful for the friends I have.
10. I am grateful to have a house to live in.

There are many other things I am grateful for. Without listing them in order I can say I am grateful for all the work my mother put into searching her family lines and my dads family lines. I am grateful to have all her photo albums, and her journals and all the genealogy she acquired and the books she bought or subscribed to. I am grateful that I have the Internet to research these family lines and that I have the knowledge how to do so. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to go to school and learn as much as I can about genealogy research and history. I am grateful for great online friends who help others by giving great genealogy websites and information on how to do things and where to find things . I have been blessed with so much that I take for granted and sometimes I just need to stop and look around to see what it is I have and to imagine what it would be like to not have it all. I am grateful that I do have it all. I am grateful for the work it takes to keep it and use it to the best of my ability. I am grateful for peace in my soul and for stress and strife to keep me humble. It is not always a good thing to have everything so easy and peaceful. You forget what it takes to make it this way and it is not good to forget that it can all be taken away so easily; so enjoy it while you have it and take care of it to have it a long time and remember what it took to get it this way. Remember also who is beside you keeping you safe and encouraging you to succeed and helping you along the way. Be grateful!

Not Everything is as it Seems

2007-04-25T10:38:00.000-04:00

Well, I took an online class on "Salt Lake City research online through family search.org" on the Gen-Class website but wasn't able to do the hands on during class so started going back over my lessons and doing some of the hands on. This is a great site and the class was great and there is a second class to teach you even more about SLC research and the familysearch.org website. But (isn't there always a but), when I put in my grandfathers name, not only did I get IGI information on the name, but there were entries from a Mark Fonda with lots of information on John Fonda but with erroneous/misleading information. I had written to Mark Fonda before and told him that the information he was posting on my line, was incorrect and gave him the correct information. On this site he also has cd's of all this information for sale. But his information is misleading, incorrect, and though he has documentations for some of this it is not for everything and this will lead some people (those who don't do there own verifications), to perpetuate false family groups. My line that he has posted has a lot of erroneous information in it. I don't have documentation for everything either and that is why I haven't posted every thing in my tree, but I do know all about my grandparents and who their parents were. What he has is completely wrong. So a bit of advice to all who do research on your family tree's. Verify, verify, verify - prove, prove, prove that what you have is really correct. Find the documents, get the copies, get more than just one piece of proof - get as much as you can on each one of your ancestors and don't take one persons research for your own. Don't perpetuate false family tree's.

I know some people think they are doing everyone a favor by posting or making available lots of information for them to research, but unless they state that it is not proven or some such statement letting you know that it has to be researched and proven/verified, then I don't think they should be selling the information to others and making money off false information. But then, some people have no qualms about duping others. Just My Opinion.

Jane Cole Fonda

2007-01-07T16:47:00.000-05:00

Jane Cole Fonda, my 2nd great grandmother is a brick wall, in the respect that I haven't found out who her real parents are. My mother did this research on her great grandmother and at first thought Jane was the daughter of Palmer Cole. Palmer Cole (I have found only one Palmer Cole) in the 1830 census for Providence, Saratoga County, NY has 1 female and 1 male between the ages of 20-29; 1 male 0-4 years of age. In the 1840 census for Ephratah, Fulton County, NY for Palmer Cole: 1 male and 1 female between 30-39 yrs of age, 1 male between 10-14 yrs of age and 1 female 0-4 yrs of age *Jane?; In the 1850 Census for Providence, Saratoga Co., NY we have this listing: Palmer Cole age 48, Sophie Cole age 47, Jonathan Cole age 24, Jane E. Cole age 13, and Pamelia Cole age 22 who I think is probably Jonathan's wife. In the 1860 Census I find Palmer Cole age 58 with Susannah Cole age 39 living in Elma, Erie County, NY. I have no proof that this is my Palmer Cole, but additional research shows this Susannah may be Susannah Patterson. If Palmer's wife, Sophie died between 1850 and 1860, he may have married again. I will need to search for a death record of Sohpie Cole between 1850-1860.

Palmer Cole of the 1860 Census was born in Rhode Island. In the 1910 Census for Johnstown, Fulton Co., NY in the household of Emmett and Mabel Fonda, there is a Jane E. Fonda listed as grandmother who's father was born in Rhode Island. This Jane E. had 9 children with 8 of them still alive in 1910. What I need to do is follow Emmett's line back to see if I can find them and see who the real grandparents are. Mother said Emmett was a cousin to her.
NOTE: I tried searching for Emmett in the census backwards but had no luck in finding him.

I also tried searching for John Fonda the one that married Jane E. Cole according to Mom. I am beginning to think this line is really messed up and I may have to start with who I know for a fact is my relation - like my grandfather John Fonda, his mother Emma J. Copp and his father Winfield Scott Fonda, who is the son of the John Fonda I am having trouble with along with his wife.

Emmett Fonda in 1910 was married and had Jane E. Fonda living in his household. Though she is listed as "grandmother", she is really Emmett's mother according to Mom's records. Emmett was born in 1881 and Jane would have been around 47 years of age when he was born, if he is in fact her son. I think I will start from scratch - though Mom did and a lot of her information comes from family members, and that is what may be wrong here. According to a family group sheet I have John Fonda (gg-gf )(1826-1890) and Jane A(E). Cole (1837-1916) had 9 children but Benjamin died in 1906 and Mary Evalyn died in 1879. The rest of these children are Winfield Scott (g-gf) (1853-1933), then Benjamin, Agnes, Edith Viola, then Mary Evalyn, William H., Erwin, Herbert, and Emmett Blair. So that would be 2 children died before 1910 with 7 still living.

In 1910, my gf John (1886-1965) and his brother Winfield, sons of Winfield Scott Fonda (g-gf) and Emma J Copp Fonda, were in the same household; Winfield was married to Violet and they had children Addie and Richard.

In the 1900 Census for Mohawk, Montgomery Co., NY, Scot Fonda aka Winfield Scott(g-gf) Fonda and Emma J. Copp Fonda had 7 children; Viola (1883), Winfield (1884), John (gf), Edgar (1888), Nathan (1896), Eva (1897), and Ida (1898).

In the 1880 Census Winfield S.(g-gf) and Emma J. Fonda had Frederick (1877)and Jane L.(1879) Between 1880 and 1900, a period of 20 years more children would have been born and some died: (Emma J. had 11 children, 9 living in 1900)

Now his father, my gg-gf John Fonda and Jane E Fonda were in Broadalbin, Fulton Co., NY in the 1870 Census and had Agnes, Ben, Charlie, Eva (Mary Evalyn) and Willie (William H). Charlie is not listed elsewhere and would have been born about 1863. GG- GF John died in 1890 in Fulton Co., NY. This all according to my Mothers records. She had sent for the death certificates of John Fonda and Jane Cole Fonda. On the death certificate of John Fonda the informant is W.S. (Winfield Scott) Fonda; on the death certificate for Jane Fonda the informant is of course Emmett Blair Fonda who she was living with at the time of her death. Now is where the discrepancies show up:
On Jane's death certificate: Fathers Name: Solomon Fonda - of Saratoga, NY (This should be COLE)
Mother's Maiden Name: Jane Austin, birthplace unknown.

My mother had crossed out the name Jane and wrote in Rhoda as well as crossed out the name Fonda and wrote in Cole after she had talked to Emmett Blair Fonda who was the informant on her death certificate.
After doing much research I did come across a Saloman Cole and Jane Cole who were the parents of Rhoda Ann Cole living in the same area as Palmer and Sophia Cole in the 1850 Census for Providence, Saratoga, NY. ***Palmer and Saloman could be brothers. This Jane could be Jane Austin Cole **make an effort to find out.** It is not inconceivable that Emmett when filling out the information put in the wrong names if Jane and Saloman were indeed related and may have helped to raise Jane E. after Sophie died. **Find out when Sophie died and where she is buried, parents names if possible**.
** Find death certificate of Sophie 1850-1860: Find birth record of Sophie ca. 1803: Find marriage record of Sophie and Palmer Cole between 1821 - 1826: Find death record of Palmer Cole, aft 1860: Find marriage record of Palmer and second wife, bef 1860: *There is a story my mother told me that she said her father told her that his grandma was married at age 13 or thereabouts. Jane E. was 13 in the 1850 Census. Find marriage record for Jane E. Cole and John Fonda aft 1850 bef 1860: The places they lived were in Fulton and Saratoga counties 1850 and 1860.

Family Un-Secrets

2006-12-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

All families have them! "SECRETS" that are uncovered when the family researcher starts creating the family tree. They become known as un-secrets.

This blog is for my research into my family tree; here I will post my notes, my thoughts, my "what-if's", and my brickwalls, as well as my discoveries, my surprises, my disappointments, and my tumbled brick walls.

All family information will be entered in my new software program called Legacy. I received the manual on it today and I will start reading and using the software to create my first family tree with the new software. I have Family Tree Maker with family history on it but I am starting fresh with a new family on Legacy so that there are no mistakes and it can be as complete a family tree as I can make it.