July 1, 2008
Orrell Website & Blog To Close On July 1, 2008
After much soul searching, we have decided to close the Orrell Family Website & Blog on July 1, 2008, which is the two year anniversary of the blog.
Health factors, time constraints, and money factors all entered into our decision.
If there is anything on the website and blog you need, please get them before 1 July 2008.
Thanks for your support and good luck on your genealogy research.
Robert Stanley Orrell (Daytona Beach, Florida)
Reverdy Lewin Orrell, III (Baltimore, Maryland)
(Note: This entry will remain at the top of the blog entry list. Scroll down for current entries)
May 13, 2008
Oath of Allegiance
I've written about the seldom seen Oath of Allegiance certificates before. I've located two more for a total of five. I'm showing all five of the Oaths here because they are all different.
The Oath basically states the Confederate soldier will return to his home and not take up arms against the United States.
Oath #1 - Woodson T. Noe 1863 Mississippi
Oath #2 - Jacob B. Bodenhamer 1865 North Carolina
Oath #3 - John C. Bodenhamer 1865 North Carolina
Oath #4 - Samuel Orrell 1865 North Carolina
Oath #5 - Moses Knight 1865 Georgia
May 11, 2008
Odds & Ends
Here's a great site for FREE genealogical records and sources.
CHECK IT OUT!
http://www.researchguides.net/free.htm
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University of Maine Yearbooks on the Web
The Fogler Library at the University of Maine in Orono has digitized the school's Prism yearbooks for 1895 through 1997.
Issues of The Prism vary in content and layout, but seniors are always highlighted. Individual photographs of seniors are arranged in alphabetical order by last name (within each college), and accompanied by information about hometown, major, and fraternity or sorority. Some books also contain photos of members of other classes. The older yearbooks did not contain photographs of individual students, however. Most of them do contain pictures of an entire class, as well as pictures of the athletic teams, the drama club, and more. Also included are sections on the faculty and administration, campus organizations, athletic teams, Greek societies, and events.
The pages of each yearbook are available as PDF files. The pages were crystal clear and was easy to read. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat or a similar PDF viewer program. The University of Maine yearbook digitization project is sponsored by Fogler Library in partnership with the University of Maine Alumni Association.
The Prism yearbooks are available at http://library.umaine.edu/yearbooks.
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Man Finds Civil War Grave In Rubble
After years of searching, a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, man has located the lost gravesite of his great-great-uncle, Lt. Col. Ephraim Anderson, who served in the Civil War. Anderson has been described as a forgotten soldier from the Union Army.
David Cheslock said he and his wife, Donna, learned last weekend that the burial site was in Hanover, Maryland, not far from the BWI Airport. They spent some time to find the exact location, using great detective and genealogical investigation techniques.
The search for knowledge about Anderson began several years ago, according to Cheslock. He had been doing genealogy research on his family line. As he began to gather information on Anderson, the data led him to Howard County.
Cheslock, who majored in history in college, said that he felt the need to sort out the facts from fiction. His research journey took him and his wife to Ellicott City, Maryland, where they used the local library. From there, they went to Hanover.
"He died in Washington, D.C.," he said. "We discovered that his body was held in a congressional cemetery in a public vault." Anderson had recently returned from Florida, where he had gone for his health. He died in the hospital.
The body had later been moved to Hanover for burial.
You can read this interesting story in the PublicOpinionOnline at http://tinyurl.com/59m2ce.
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Final Notes On Orrell Musicians
Several times in the past I've written about Orrell musicians. One was Robert Ellis Orrall, singer, songwriter and promoter. While watching a few music videos on CMT the other day, I saw Robert's name listed as co-writer on Taylor Swift's newest hit song.
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May 9, 2008
John Orrell, Sr WIll
One of the highlights of my 31 years of research was the first time Reb and I visited the Maryland Hall of Records. We were able to call up and hold in our hands the actual will of John Orrell, Sr. The will was written on a huge piece of parchment and measured about 16' x 20'. The will had been laminated to protect it.
While John wasn't the earliest Orrell in the United States, he certainly had the most descendants of any of the Orrells researched. There are currently over 6,500 descendants of John in the Orrell Database.
The will of John Orrell, Sr was written and signed on 23 November 1723 in Dorchester County, Maryland. John actually signed his will. I've transcribed the will the best I could. A copy of the will follows.
1723 John Orrell Dorchester Co Will Liber 18,216
In the name of God, Amen.
I John Orrell of Dorchester County being sick and weak in body but of perfect and sound memory. Thanks be to Almighty God for the same and taking into consideration the uncertainty of this life and that it is appointed for all men once to die being willing to settle my Worldly affairs where with it hath pleased God to bestow upon me here on Earth do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all or any will or wills by me heretofore made pronouncing and declaring this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form that is to say:
First I give and bequeath my Sold into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me and my Body to the Earth from Whence it came to be buried in a decent manner as by my executor hereafter named shall deem fit. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife my dwelling house and lots of land belonging and lying in the Town of Cambridge until her decease and then to descend unto my children all my estate both real and personal lands and tenements to be equally devided amongst them all to them and their heirs forever, my Dear Wife to have an equal share of my personal estate. I do hereby request my executor to sell and dispose of a parcel of land to which I have in my possession in Anne Arundel County to pay me debts and that it be converted to no other use then this my Last Will and Testament. I desire that all debts I owe to any person, that is just. And lastly I do hereby appoint my beloved wife Mary Orrell my whole and sole executor to execute this my Last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have heretofore set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-third day of November 1723. Signed, sealed, declared, published, and pronounced in the presence of John Tollet, William W. Stanford, and Johanna H. Hennesey.
(At the foot of the will was thus written:)
December 26, 1723 came John Tollet and Johanna H. Hennesey two of the subscribing evidencers to the above will and made oath upon the Holy Evangelists of the Almight God that they saw the above said John Orrell sign and seal and heard him publish and declare the above instrument of writing to be his Last Will and Testament and at the time of the doing he was to their knowledge in perfect sense and memory and also there was with them and there present the other witness William Standford.
May 7, 2008
Robert T. Orrill - Court Order
Robert T. Orrill was born about 1803 in Virginia. He was the son of Gregory Orrill, Revolutionary War soldier.
Robert married Martha Ann Acree about 1838 in Virginia. The couple had six children. Most of the children lived in the Richmond, Virginia area.
Robert and family were listed in the 1840 New Kent County, Virginia Census
Robert and family were listed in the 1850 King & Queen County, Virginia Census.
Robert and family were listed in the 1870 nd 1880 Chesterfield County, Virginia Census. The 1880 census states his father Gregory was born in France. I haven't found any proof of this.
Robert died at age 88 on 7 May 1891 in King & Queen County, Virginia.
Shown here is a court order dated 28 May 1838. Phillip Aguella? was ordered to pay Robert $1.25 one day's pay and for traveling 5 miles. This document was extremely hard to read.
May 5, 2008
Some NC Genweb Sites Move From Rootsweb
As I reported several days ago, some of the North Carolina Genweb sites have changed servers and are moving from Rootsweb since they merged with Ancestry.com.
Here's a current list. I'm sure there will be more. If you research in North Carolina, you can add this list to your favs.
North Carolina Genweb County sites:
Alamance County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/alamance/
Alexander County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Alexander/
Bladen County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/bladen/bladen.htm
Burke County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/burke
Cabarrus County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/cabarrus/
Cleveland County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Cleveland/
Cumberland County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Cumberland/
Currituck County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/currituck/
Craven County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/craven/
Dare County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/dare/
Dobbs County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/dobbs/
Duplin County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/duplin/duplin.htm
Franklin County: http://www.webofroots.com/Franklin/
Gaston County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/gaston/
Greene County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Greene/
Guilford County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Guilford/
Harnett County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/harnett/
Hoke County: http://ncgenweb.us//hoke/
Jones County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Jones/
Lenoir County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/lenoir/
Lincoln County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Lincoln/
New Hanover County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/newhanover/
Onslow County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/onslow/
Pamlico County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/pamlico/index.html
Pasquotank County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/pasquotank/
Pender County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/pender/
Perquimans County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/perquimans/
Richmond County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Richmond/
Rutherford County: http://www.webofroots.com/Rutherford/
Scotland County: http://www.ncgenweb.us/Scotland
North Carolina Genweb Military sites:
NC Main Military Page: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncmil/
NC in the Revolutionary War: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncrevwar/
NC in the War of 1812: http://www.ncgenweb.us/nc1812/
NC in the Civil War: http://www.ncgenweb.us/nccivwar/
NC in the Spanish American War: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncspam/
NC in World War I: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncwwi/
NC in World War II: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncwwii/
NC in the IraqWar: http://www.ncgenweb.us/nciraq/
May 3, 2008
It's In The Blood!
I've mentioned several times I have quite a few relatives that were associated with boats. The entire time I was working on the boats I had no idea that any of my relatives were connected with boats. I ran a search in the Fact List - Occupations section of my Bob Database. I found some names and occupations I wasn't aware of. All of this info will be used in an upcoming book titled Gunboats, Steamboats & Sailing Ships.
Here's what I found.
Sailing Ship builders * 2
Sailing Ship captains * 4
Confederate gunboats * 2
Steamboat captains * 3
Fishermen * 5
Oyster lease * 2
Shipyard carpenter * 1
Ferryman * 2
Boat pilot * 1
Customs inspector & wharf owner * 1
Lighter vessel * 1
Relatives on boats that sunk and/or died at sea * 5
Crewmember - Confederate barge * 1
I've put together a brief bio of each relative.
Daniel Robert, II was my 9th great grandfather and was a sea faring merchant from Wales in the latter part of the 1600's. Owned and operated the sailing ship The Daniel. It is thought this is the ship that brought Daniel’s son Rev Pierre Robert and a colony of French Hugenots to South Carolina in 1686.
Major John Lowe was my 8th great grandfather. He was born in England but settled in Maryland about 1670. He built and owned a fleet of ships in Maryland in the late 1600's. John’s will mentioned three ships and a shallop, which is a small coastal sailing vessel.
Capt Robert Scott was my 2nd great grand uncle. He was a Master Mariner from Scotland and commanded at least two British barques in the 1840's. Barques were three masted sailing vessels. Capt. Scott brought my great grandmother Margaret Banks and her family to the United States in 1848. Her mother was the sister of Capt. Scott. The two sailing vessels Capt. Scott commanded were the Adam Carr and Ann Harley.
Capt Archibald Scott was my 2nd great grand uncle. He was the brother of Robert and a Master Mariner from Scotland. No information has been found on Archibald’s ships.
Capt John S. Banks was my 2nd great grand uncle. He arrived from Scotland aboard the sailing ship Mary & Susan in 1829. John was a well known steamer captain on the Cape Fear River operating out of Wilmington, North Carolina. Some of the steamers John operated were Cotton Plant, Henrietta, R. E. Lee, Brothers, James R. Grist, T. Petteway, John Dawson, Douglass and the Scottish Chief, which John and his brothers James and David owned.
John Scott Banks was my great grand uncle. John served as an Assistant Paymaster in the Confederate Navy aboard the gunboats CSS Maurepas, CSS Ponchartrain and CSS Palmetto State.
Adolphus Lafayette Orrell was my great grandfather. Adolphus served in the Confederate Navy during the Civil War. He was a drill master on the training ship CSS Patrick Henry. Adolphus served as master mate aboard the gunboat CSS Drewry. When the CSS Drewry was grounded, the crew was transferred to the gunboat CSS Richmond until it was destroyed by her crew when the city of Richmond was being overrun near the end of the Civil War..
Robert M. Orrell was my 2nd great grand uncle. Robert owned and operated several steamboats on the Cape Fear River including Henrietta, Sun, Halycon and the R M Orrell.
James Augustus Orrell was my great grand uncle. James worked for his uncle Robert M. Orrell in the steamboat office. After the Civil War James operated the steamer Halcyon on the Cape Fear River.
David Banks was my 2nd great grand uncle. He arrived from Scotland in 1835 aboard the sailing ship Mersey. David worked aboard a lighter vessel, which was a vessel that carried a lighterman out on the Cape Fear River to light the lamps just before dark on the channel markers.
Shirley Wootson Stanley was my 1st cousin. He served as a Seaman 2nd class in the United States Navy aboard the collier USS Cyclops. The USS Cyclops became famous as one of the Bermuda Triangle mysteries when it disappeared in 1918.
Tyson Stanley was my 2nd cousin. He served in the United States Navy as Aviation 3rd Class metalsmith aboard the USS Ranger . Tyson died from a chest tumor off the coast of Africa during World War II in 1942.
Martha Allis Banks was my great grand aunt. Along with her daughter Carrie Allis Banks and her 14 year old sister-in-law Mary Jane Banks, were lost at sea when the USS Army Transport General Lyon caught fire and burned off the coast of Hatteras, North Carolina in 1865.
Matthew Albritton Knight was my 3rd great grand uncle. In 1877, Matthew was hired to operate the South Prong Ferry at Knight’s Landing, Clay County, Florida. He was paid $10 per month but refused to keep the ferry in good condition. Service was discontinued until the county commission paid for necessary repairs. Matthew operated the ferry until October 1885 when the ferry operation was moved to another location.
Samuel Lowe, Sr was my 3rd great grand uncle. In the 1850 Nassau County, Florida Census, Samuel’s occupation was listed as ferryman. No other information has been found.
Samuel Lowe, Jr was my 1st cousin 4 generations removed and was the son of Samuel Lowe, Sr. When Samuel filed for a Confederate pension, he listed his occupation was fisherman. No other information has been found.
John Richard Sampson was only related to me by the marriage of his daughter Rowena to Adolphus Lorenze Orrell and the marriage of his son Ruric to Marion Louise Orrell. In John’s Confederate service records, it was mentioned he was detailed as a crew member on the Colonel’s barge in Virginia.
Aaron James Roberts was my great grand uncle. In the 1900 and 1920 Jacksonville, Florida Census and city directories, Aaron’s occupation was listed as ship carpenter in the Jacksonville shipyard.
Frederick E. Roberts was my 3rd cousin 2 generations removed. In the 1930 Lee County, Florida Census, Frederick’s occupation was listed as pilot - boat. No other information has been found.
Thomas Henry Roberts was my great grandfather. His name appeared in the Volusia County, Florida Deed Books with an Oyster Right (lease) on Turnbull Bay in 1909. Turnbull Bay is only fives miles from my house.
Jesse Samuel Roberts was my great uncle. Jesse's name appeared in the Volusia County, Florida Deed Books with an Oyster Right (lease) on Turnbull Bay in 1909.
Linton Stephens Roberts was my 2nd cousin 3 generations removed. In the World War I Draft Registration, Linton’s occupation was listed as fishing in DeSoto County, Florida.
Mitchell Sherrod Roberts was my 2nd cousin 3 generations removed and brother of Linton. In the World War Draft Registration, Mitchell’s occupation was listed as fishing in DeSoto County, Florida.
Moses Percy was only related to me by his two daughters’ marriage to my cousin John Scott. Moses built a two masted schooner named Jubilee in 1828 at Brigus, Newfoundland. The schooner was 61' long, 19' wide with a 19' draft. Moses’ occupation in 1828 was Sea Captain. In 1865 his occupation was Master Mariner. In 1871 Moses’ occupation was Master Mariner.
James McDoud was my 2nd great grand uncle by his marriage to Catherine Lowe. In the 1870 Duval County, Florida Census, James’ occupation was listed as fisherman.
James Tizzard was only related to me by his daughter’s marriage to James Banks Scott. James’ occupation was listed as fisherman in 1913 in Newfoundland.
Theophilus Weeks was my 7th great grandfather. He founded what is now Swansboro, North Carolina. Theophilus built a wharf on the White Oak River near Bogue Inlet for the incoming sailing ships to load and unload their cargo. Theophilus was also appointed Customs Inspector, a job he held until his death in 1772. During the town's 200th anniversary in 1983, a bronze plaque was unveiled in the city park honoring Theophilus Weeks.
I've also located the names of 10-12 more relatives who served in the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard in more recent years, including my nephew, Gregory Scott Pennington, who will retire in October as Coast Guard Master Chief after 30 years service.
IT'S IN THE BLOOD!
Here's a few boat photos I've located.
The Ann Harley MAY have looked like this replica ship built to the same dimensions.
The gunboat CSS Palmetto State
The gunboat CSS Richmond
The training ship CSS Patrick Henry
The USS Cyclops
May 1, 2008
Grandma's Apron
This was sent to me by my wife's niece.
Grandma's Apron
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears .
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
Send this to those who would know, and love the story about Grandma's aprons.
REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.
April 29, 2008
Talk About Bad Luck!
Today I'll put the spotlight on the great grand uncle of OFA Charter Member Edwin Howard Orrell. David Graham Orrell was born in 1832 in Stockport, England. He was the second of five children of Isaac Kenneth Orrell and Eliza Ann Sefton. Isaac and his family arrived at the Port of Philadelphia in the spring of 1855 aboard the ship Asia.
David changed his middle name from Graham to his mother's maiden name, Sefton. David enlisted in the United States Army for five years on 7 September 1858. The reason is not known, but David enlisted under the alias of Sefton Worrell and signed the enlistment declaration with this name. David was assigned as a private in the 1st Regiment, Maryland Rifles. When the Civil War broke out, David (or Sefton) transferred to Company E, 1st U. S. Cavalry, Union Army.
David was injured at Brandy Station, Virginia on 1 August 1863 when he fell on his horse's pommel and was severely ruptured when the horse was shot out from under him. David suffered a sunstroke while lying on the ground awaiting treatment. He also had his nose injured when he was trampled by another horse while lying on the ground.
David spent six weeks in a hospital in Washington, DC. He was discharged on 7 September 1863 when his enlistment expired.
David married Elizabeth Morris on 22 December 1873 in Hartford, Connecticut. David and Elizabeth had seven children.
David filed for an Invalid Pension on 8 May 1879. He died on 27 June 1891 from heart disease while living in Philadelphia. Elizabeth filed for a Widow's Pension on 10 July 1891. Elizabeth received $8 per month plus $2 per month for each of her children.
I could not get a decent copy of David's enlistment certificate. Shown here is David's pension application. The card shows his wife's name and his alias of Sefton Worrell.
April 27, 2008
Convert Documents to PDF
It seems like every computer user needs a PDF reader sooner or later – and it’s no wonder. Adobe created its PDF (or Portable Document Format) in 1993, and today it is the standard file format for exchanging documents even amongst dissimilar computers. PDF files are essentially “print images.” You can view a PDF file on the screen or print it on your printer, and the document will look the same in both cases. All the correct fonts, colors, graphics and typesetting will be in place, even if you do not have those fonts installed on your computer. A PDF file is a true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) document: whatever displays on the screen is what prints out.
Perhaps the best feature for genealogists is the capability to exchange PDF files between different programs. That’s why some of today’s genealogy programs have built-in PDF converters that let you share the programs’ charts and reports with friends and family who do not have your program. However, this still leaves you with the question of how to share documents from programs that do not have this built-in conversion capability.
An even greater quandary for many is how to share documents between different computer operating systems in a readable format. You can create a PDF file on your Windows system and then e-mail it to a Macintosh user or a Linux user. What the other person sees or what is printed is always a faithful reproduction of the file you created. All the other person needs is a free PDF viewer program. Several such programs are available with Adobe Acrobat Viewer being the most popular.
PDF files are very popular for printing of documents: you can create the PDF file as you wish and send it to a printing service. Their phototypesetting machine can use the PDF file to produce a printed document that will be exactly the same as what you created. Many books are first converted to PDF files and then sent to the printer.
For the first few years after Adobe offered PDF, the only method of creating PDF files was to pay $250 or more for Adobe Acrobat, sold by Adobe Systems. At first, Adobe Systems jealously guarded the internal workings of the software as a trade secret. However, as the years went by, Adobe relented and released the specifications, allowing other companies to create software that works with PDF format. PDF now is an open standard and recently took a major step towards becoming ISO 32000.
Apple’s latest Macintosh OS X operating system even includes the ability to create PDF files from most any document, be it a word processor or spreadsheet or web page or even output from a genealogy program. In fact, Macintosh users can skip the rest of this article since you already have the capability to create PDF files. Some versions of Linux also include similar PDF functionality.
Microsoft has not added similar capabilities to Windows. In fact, the latest version of Windows, called Vista, now includes the capability to make print image files in Microsoft’s own portable document technology, called XPS. However, XPS apparently has not gained many supporters. PDF remains the de facto standard.
Even if Windows does not ship with PDF capability, the Windows user can easily download and use any of a number of free programs that will add the ability to create PDF files from most documents. I have experimented with several and eventually settled on PrimoPDF as the program I prefer.
PrimoPDF will create PDF files from any of more than 300 file formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt, .html, .txt, and many more). It even includes “one-button PDF creation” from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Unlike many of the other free PDF converters, PrimoPDF will also create password-protected PDF files.
I found PrimoPDF to be easy to download, easy to install, and easy to use. It installs as a printer driver and appears on your list of installed printers. To create a PDF file, simply create the document in the normal manner with almost any program, and then select PRINT. When Windows asks which printer you wish to use, select “PrimoPDF” from the list of available printers. You will later be asked for a file name and subdirectory where the file is to be stored on your system, along with a few other parameters. The document is then “printed” as a PDF file and is stored wherever you specified.
PrimoPDF is a very professional looking product, and I think it should be installed on every Windows system. I especially like it when installed on a laptop PC. When traveling, I sometimes want to print something but do not have a printer along. I can create a PDF file and then send it via e-mail or copy it to a USB jump drive. I can later have the PDF file printed at any print shop, even if that shop uses Macintosh systems.
PrimoPDF is available at no charge at http://www.primopdf.com/. The same company also sells NitroPDF Professional, which adds the ability to create “fill-in-the-blanks” electronic forms, sticky notes, and review comments, as well as the ability to digitally sign and certify PDF files. Those added features may be useful in the workplace, but most individuals do not need them; the free version will work well for most.
Several other free document-to-PDF conversion tools are available. The more popular ones include the following:
Ghostscript at http://www.ghostscript.com was the first free PDF creation tool available. However, it is rather awkward to use, requiring a lot of systems knowledge and several other software tools. I no longer recommend Ghostscript.
CutePDF at http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp (although you must download additional free software from another site in order to make it work).
PDF995 at http://site4.pdf995.com/download.html (although it displays advertising while operating).
If you search online, you can find a few more free document-to-PDF conversion programs although they may not be as well-known as the above four.
April 25, 2008
“The Wall” on Footnote.com: A Moving Marvel
From Dick Eastman's Blog:
Last week I had a chance to accompany several Footnote.com managers and software developers as they conducted in-home and in-office usability sessions with a number of readers of this newsletter. One of the new services they tested was Footnote’s new “Viet Nam Wall” image. It was an unannounced product at that time, but that changed today at a press conference at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. The Interactive Viet Nam Veterans Memorial is now visible to everyone at no charge on www.footnote.com.
I’d suggest that you take a look at the Interactive Viet Nam Veterans Memorial, even if you did not have friends or relatives who died in that war. First of all, it is a very moving experience for any American as we can see the names of all those who died during the war. Second, it is a technological marvel: at five gigapixels, it may be the largest single graphic image ever placed on the Internet. Yet you can view sections and search for names by using any Windows or Macintosh computer. The image even works on dial-up connections although perhaps not at a speed that you would want to live with.
Footnote.com hired a photographer known for his work with National Geographic. He went to the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial and photographed each section of the Wall in high-resolution color. He then returned to his studio and spent many hours “stitching” the individual photographs into one massive image.
The result is one photograph of the 58,249 names carved into the black granite wall. This high-resolution photograph covers every inch of the 246 feet 9 inches (75 meters) of granite blocks. At the highest tip, the Wall is 10.1 feet (3 m) high, tapering to a height of eight inches (20cm) at the extremities. The image stored on Footnote.com contains five gigapixels. This one photograph has to be seen to appreciate the details available.
You can now examine this hallowed ground without traveling to Washington, D.C. For many of us, this is a great service.
You can search for a name of anyone who died in Viet Nam. (You can also search by locations or by other terms. For instance, you can find all the men from your hometown who died in Viet Nam by entering the name of the town. Click on “Advanced Search” to limit your search to locations.) When the name is found, one click of the mouse will display an image of that name as it is engraved on the Wall. You can zoom in and out easily to see all the details. In fact, you can zoom all the way out to see the entire wall or zoom in to see very tiny details. You can also navigate up, down, left and right.
Once the name is displayed, you will also see a “pop-up box” that displays more information about the person: full name, rank, military unit, military specialty (occupation), home town, home state, age, race, religion, marital status, Viet Nam tour start date, date of injury, date of death, location of casualty, cause of death, and more.
Now for what I think is the best part: you can add more text and even pictures to the online information. If you knew this person or even served with him, you can enter your comments as a memorial to his life. Stories about his life, his service in Viet Nam, and especially his beliefs are strongly encouraged. If you shared any experiences with this soldier, sailor, or airman, you can now share those stories with others. Stories about the deceased’s family and the impact of his death are also appropriate. If you have a picture of the deceased, you can also scan that and upload it. All information contributed then becomes visible to others who look for that soldier’s record on Footnote.com. The information you add may be of great benefit to his family, friends, and others who look for his record on the Footnote.com version of the Viet Nam Veterans’ Memorial Wall.
To see one veteran’s story about finding a fallen comrade in the Footnote.com database, go to http://go.footnote.com/thewall?xid=47 and click on the video there.
I am very impressed with the Footnote.com online image and database of the Interactive Viet Nam Veterans Memorial. I suspect you will be, too. It is a technological marvel as well as a moving experience.
The Interactive Viet Nam Veterans Memorial is one of the free services available on Footnote.com. You can even leave a tribute, a story, or a photograph at no charge. Anyone searching for that soldier in the future will be able to see your contribution, again at no charge.
To search the Interactive Viet Nam Veterans Memorial or any of the other collections available, go to http://www.footnote.com?xid=47.
Bob' Notes: I went to Footnote and tried it out. Very impressive! I searched for two names and immediately found both of them. By clicking on the name you can upload photos or stories. I uploaded one photo which was very easy to do. And it's FREE!
April 23, 2008
Union Pay Receipt
Here's another seldom seen document. It's a Union Army Pay Receipt for two months pay. The receipt was for $32 and was dated 20 April 1865. What is conflicting here is the fact that James was in prision when the pay receipt was dated.
James Thomas Orrell was the fifth of six children of James Thomas Orrell, Sr and Ann Crowder of Jennings County, Indiana. James, Jr enlisted in Company E, 82nd Regiment, Union Army on 14 August 1862. He was wounded in the right side of his face and ear on 19 September 1863 during the Battle of Chickamauga. He was captured on 20 September 1863. James was paroled on 20 May 1865 but not mustered out unitl 17 June 1865.
James died on 28 January 1928 in Garland County, Arkansas.
April 21, 2008
Findmypast.com Passenger Lists Now Complete
The following announcement was written by FindMyPast.com:
Leading UK family history website findmypast.com has completed its project to scan and index the complete set of outbound passenger lists for long-distance voyages from all British ports between 1890 and 1960.
Working in association with The National Archives of the United Kingdom, the project took a team of 125 people over a year to scan in the 1.1 million full colour individual pages - some handwritten, some typed. In total 24 million passengers are recorded travelling between these dates. Their reasons for travelling varied from emigration to diplomatic missions, to business trips or purely for pleasure.
The final decade to go live covers the years 1950 to 1960 and includes the so-called "Ten Pound Poms" travelling under the Australian government assisted passage scheme. In most cases the old UK address of the passenger is given, enabling family historians to trace back the roots of their British ancestors. Accompanying some of the 1960 lists are scans of the handwritten departure cards completed by each passenger. These show the full date of birth of the passenger as well as their UK address and occupation, with the names and dates of birth of any children travelling with them on the reverse - a goldmine for the genealogist.
There are also a number of famous people recorded travelling in the records during the 1950s. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair can be found listed as Anthony Charles Lynton Blair travelling on the Iberia to Adelaide on 24 December 1954, aged one, while on 5 August 1958 the young Bee Gees are recorded emigrating with their parents on the Fairsea to Sydney.
All seven decades of the passenger lists are free to search at findmypast.com. The images and transcripts can be viewed with either a 12 month Explorer or a 1 month Voyager subcription to findmypast.com, or alternatively with pay-per-view units or vouchers.
April 19, 2008
Rev. Richard Nelson Orrill
Today the spotlight is on Richard Nelson Orrill. He was born in 1868 in Indiana, the fourth of four children of Leander Clay Orrill and Elizabeth Mary Litson. Richard married Flora Belle Martin on 27 January 1891 in Furnas County, Nebraska. The couple had two children: Elizabeth and Robert.
Richard became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard and family were listed in the 1920 Seattle, Washington Census. Richard was listed in the 1923 Seattle City Directory. His occupation was listed as pastor, Queen Anne Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard also served as pastor after 1924 at Seaview Methodist Church in Seattle for four years. He was pastor of Capitol Methodist Protesant Church for two years.
Apparently Richard and his family moved to North Hollywood, California. He was pastor there in the North Hollywood Methodist Church.
While preparing his sermon, Richard suffered a heart attack at age 67 and died on 14 July 1935. His obitaury appeared in the 25 July 1935 edition of the Seattle Daily Times.
Here's a great photo of Rev. Richard Nelson Orrill
April 17, 2008
Followup on "Bad Baby Names"
Today Show host Meredith Viera recently interviewed Michael Sherrod, V. P. of Ancestry.com about his new book Bad Baby Names. I reported on this book on 22 March 2008.
The complete interview can be found at this url:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23671347?sssdmh=dm13.159788&o_iid=35761&o_lid=35761#23671347
This interview is well worth watching. It's only three or four minutes long.
April 15, 2008
Ancestry.com Releases New Records
Ancestry.com has just released hundreds of new titles. Several that caught my eye were:
Missouri States Archives Death Records 1834-1931
Missouri State Archives Birth Records 1851-1931
Missouri State Archives Marriage Records 1805-2002
Miscellaneous High School Yearbooks
While I don't have any relatives in Missouri before 1960, I still had to check out the databases for Orrell and it's variations. Here's what I found.
Births - 0
Deaths - 1 Orrell
Marriages - 82 Orrell; 10 Orrill; 10 Orell; 5 Orel. Iimages of the certificates are also posted. The ones I checked were excellent quality.
I also checked out the yearbook collection knowing it would be a long shot to find anyone. Here's what I found: 34 Orrell; 7 Orrill; 7 Orel.
I saw Eastern High School, Baltimore 1932 listed with one entry. Reb and I both had relatives in Baltimore in that time frame. I was shocked to find a cousin of mine! Ida Hannah Orrell was born in 1914, the daughter of Charles Banks Orrell and Ellen Hill Anderson and granddaughter of Adolphus Lafayette Orrell.
Here's the 1932 yearbook photo.
April 13, 2008
Beware Of Fraudulent Websites!
Potentially Fraudulent Sites Posing as Genealogy Websites
Writing in the Ancestry.com blog, Mike Ward is warning other genealogists of fraudulent web sites posing as genealogy sites. These sites take your credit card information and provide little in return.
Mike writes:
We have recently become aware of three websites purporting to allow family history research: SearchYourGenealogy.com, Ancestry-search.com and Australian-Ancestry.com. The sites claim to have “the largest online genealogical search tool” and promote themselves as the foremost resources for genealogy, but from what we can tell, these sites are nothing more than a series of web pages with links to other services. These sites, in our opinion, are clearly fraudulent.
On each site, potential customers are lured to purchase under what we feel to be false, misleading and deceitful promotional material, and get little or no value out of money spent at the websites. Blog and message board posts from the community confirm this opinion.
You can read Mike's entire article at http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008/04/10/potentially-fraudulent-sites-posing-as-genealogy-websites/
April 11, 2008
Civil War Database FREE Until April 30!
Here's a web site to check out for those of you that are researching relatives who fought in the Civil War. The web site is FREE until April 30. You must use the url posted here to access the free site.
http://alexanderstreet.com/resources/civilwar.access.htm
I immediately went to the site and typed in all variations of Orrell. I got 62 hits. Some of these are duplicates. My Civil War research has located 83 Orrells (all variatons of spelling) that served.
Here's the breakdown:
ORRELL * 22 Confederate * 10 Union
ORRILL * 16
ORRALL * 3
ORREL * 1
ORELL * 7
OREL * 2
ORRELLS * 1
The information given in the FAQ section is misleading. It states the records are available for download. This is incorrect. There is a brief bio of the soldier including his age, place of residence, unit, etc and the source of the info. There is also regimental histories posted which are already online free at the Soldiers and Sailors web site.
This is an ongoing project and is a pay site. All in all, it's still a good place to check out while it's free if you're researching the Civil War.
April 9, 2008
Ocie Newhouse Carnes
Debbie's grandmother died Tuesday morning in a Charleston, West Virginia nursing home. She was 95 years of age.
Ocie Ora Newhouse was born on 9 January 1913 at Wills Creek, Kanawha County, West Virginia. She was the oldest of 12 children of Perry Eifton Newhouse and Blanche Evelyn Carnifix. Ocie married her grade school boy friend, Charles Willam Wesley Carnes, on 24 October 1932 in Charleston, West Virginia. When Wes died in 2002, the couple had been married an astounding 69 years!
When I first met Ocie, I couldn't believe the amount of food she prepared every meal. She made the largest biscuits I had ever seen. She cooked three times a day and always had at least two meats on the menu.
Ocie had been in a nursing home for several years. Ocie will be buried next to her husband in John Beane Cemetery, Sissonville, West Virignia.
The photo of Debbie and her grandparents was taken about 2001
April 7, 2008
Spring Break '08
My daughter Julie and her kids, Austen and Faith spent Spring Break with us recently. Here's three photos from the week.
My kids - Julie and Brent
Brent took Austen and Faith bass fishing one day. Here's a nice largemouth bass they caught.
We drove over to Cape Coral, Florida and spent a few days with my sister Brenda. We visited Sanibel Island and the Ding Dowling Wildlife Preserve. Brenda and her husband are Karaoke fans so we did the Karaoke thing one night. I haven't tried that before. Of course, someone took a photo of Tubby (me).
April 5, 2008
Kirk Raymond Orrell Obituary
I'm running this obituary in hopes someone can indentify this person or his upline.
Kirk Raymond Orrell was bron on 5 January 1966 in Boston, the oldest of four children of Raymond Ballard Orrell and Audrey Lawton. Raymond was born in Massachusetts.
Kirk was married to Katherine Price. The couple had one child - Emily Elizabeth Orrell, born on 11 November 1999 in Mecklinburg County, North Carolina (Charlotte).
Kirk died at age 35 on 15 February 2001 in Charlotte. He was the business manager for Clariant Corporation in Charltotte.
April 3, 2008
Guardianship Application
Here's a seldom seen document. It's a Guardianship Application for Edward Arnold Orrell to become guardian of his minor brother, John Aaron Orrell. I do not know the reason why Edward filed for guardianship in 1890 when his mother died in 1884!
Edward was the oldest and John was the youngest of six children of John James Orrell and Ann Eliza Hewlett of Wilmington, North Carolina.
The document is dated 29 July 1890.
Edward also filed for a Civil War Minors Pension in 1892 for John. The pension was rejected due to incomplete service records. Their father, John James Orrell was a Confederate soldier and ship's pilot who changed sides during the Civil War and became a ship's pilot for the Union. I would assume this was why the pension was rejected.
April 1, 2008
James Banks, Confederate States Attorney
I knew James Banks was an attorney in Lake City, Florida from about December 1859 until his death in 1869. I did not know James was a Confederate States Attorney until I located the following two letters while searching the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies In The War of The Rebellion for any information on my Banks relatives that served the Confederacy.
The first letter was written to Governor Perry of Florida in 1861. The second letter was written to Governor Milton of Florida in 1864.
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March 30, 2008
More Unique Tombstones
My daughter Julie and granddaughter Faith and I went on a cemetery run while she was visiting recently. We visited Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, Florida where several dozen of my dad's relatives are buried. While I have a lot of photos from this cemetery, I needed about 25 more. The cemetery was in pitiful condition. They need a new grounds crew! This is one cemetery that does not have a friendly office staff. We walked about one third of the cemetery. That's all I could handle. I took 32 photos, several were names that looked familar but I wasn't sure they were relatives.
The three photos posted here are not relatives. They are unique stones we ran across. The Chinese fellow was a world class horticulturist and orange grower. He developed several new species of oranges and grapefruit.
March 28, 2008
Americans Lack Family History Knowledge - Part II
RE: Americans Lack Family History Knowledge. This is exactly how I got started in genealogy. When my dad died in 1977, the first question the funeral director asked me was "What was the name of your dad's father'"? I didn't know! My grandfather died when my dad was 21 years old and he had never mentioned him. I did know my grandmother's name as she died when I was 5 years old. This started my 31 year quest (so far) for information on my family.
I started writing letters (before computers) and talking to relatives. The local library had very few books about genealogy. I located a private genealogy library 50 miles away that had hundreds of books and all of the census on microfilm. I joined the local genealogy society and met several other people who were trying to learn how to find those ever-elusive relatives. I found other persons with the surname of Orrell while hunting my own relatives. I figured I would keep that information for anyone who was hunting their relatives. I went through several hundred phone books in the local library and extracted every Orrell name and address and sent a letter to those people.
The first letter I ever wrote was to Richard Francis Orrell in Maryland. He gave the letter to his nephew, Reb Orrell, who had just started his own research. The second letter I wrote was to a relative of Edwin Howard Orrell in Massachusetts. She referred me to Ed for information. I also made contact with David Oliver Orrell in Columbus, Ohio. David had been researching for years. Ed had been in contact with Reb and David, also. Ed had also been in contact with a British Orrell researcher, Terrence Anthony David Orrell.
Reb Orrell had the foresight to start the Orrell Family Association to get all of these researchers together and share their knowledge and notes. This was in 1986. Reb, myself, Ed, David and Terrerence would become the Orrell Family Association Charter Members.
About this same time frame my daughter Julie was in the eighth grade. The teacher asked the class to make a chart containing their parents and grandparents names. Using my notes and a pedigree chart, Julie was able to fill in every blank. Needless to say, she got an "A" on that project.
Even though my research has slowly considerably the last couple of years, I still have that burning desire to learn more of my ancestors. YOU SHOULD TOO!
