CategoriesEnglishFamily TreeSite

Family Tree Update

Posted on 11 June 2010by Brian Zalewski

I thought I’d do a general post about recent updates to family tree research and the site itself.

I just updated the Family Tree section of the website to the latest release of The Next Generation of Genealogy Site Building (TNG) to version 8.0. I have yet to see all of the new features and changes, but if previous versions are any indication, it should be pretty nice. So far, there is now a Calendar on the Dates & Anniversaries area, a nice photo viewer and slideshow (example), and many other “under-the-hood” tweaks. I also changed the background image/color of the family tree site to be a bit lighter. I noticed, even for my young 30-year-old eyes, that some of the smaller text was hard to read. It seems better. As always, please let me know if anything is hard to read or broken on the site. More than likely I just didn’t notice it yet.

On the family tree research front, I’m still going back through every census record for our families and inserting much more detailed source information, including house and family numbers and exact pages, etc. My previous sourcing wasn’t too good and I had accidentally deleted a lot of the details when I merged sources in my software. Anyway, it’s good to go back through. I’ve noticed some small details that I missed.

I haven’t broken down any major brick walls on my family recently, but I have added more people to my wife’s family tree. They are temporarily inserted as I find more credible sources. For example, some info was only found in Ancestry.com’s family trees area and I don’t exactly trust it due to many problems/wrong info in the past. But, it’s good to at least get the data in there so I can research it more in-depth. Again, her family history is much more “exciting” than mine. I say that with much humor, because all family breakthroughs are exciting. Her’s just has a lot more history with it, especially early American history. This latest line ties back into the ROGERS family of Connecticut, which seems to be pretty well-researched and rumored to be both possibly connected to the Mayflower and John the Martyr, but more research is obviously pending on those. We’ll just add that to the list with her connection to English royalty. *sarcastic eye roll* All kidding aside, doing Colonial American research is fun for me since my family is basically all European straight from Wisconsin (and some Canadian.)

I plan on doing an export and updating the info on the online family tree soon.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: June 6th – 12th

Posted on 6 June 2010by Brian Zalewski

Weekly history from our family tress. As always, you can find any of this information on the Dates & Anniversaries page.

June 7th

Today is my mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

1669 – Born – Maria Catherina STOLTZENHABER – Maria is my wife’s 8th-great-grandmother on her father’s side. She was born in Stettin, Baden, Germany and married Ernest Ludwig FABER in 1691. They had 4 children. She passed away on 10 Jan 1726 in Neipperg, Baden, Germany.

1796 – Died – Marie MATTOT – Marie is my wife’s 6th-great-grandmother on her mother’s side. She was born about 1733 in Dhuy, Namur, Belgium. She married Hubart ETIENNE in 1756 and had 6 children. She passed away in Dhuy, Namur, Belgium.

June 8th

Todays is my maternal grandmother’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

1770 – Died – Marie BOURGEOIS – Marie is my 7th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 22 Dec 1704 in Port Royal, Acadia, Canada. She married Pierre ROBICHAUD in 1724. She passed away in Quebec, Canada.

June 11th

1757 – Born – Anna Catherina CROX – Anna is my 6th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born inGenk, Limburg, Belgium. She married Wilhelmus van CRAYBECK in 1778 and had 4 children. She passed away on 8 Mar 1787 at Genk, Limburg, Belgium.

June 12th

Today is my older brother’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Eric!

CategoriesGenetic GenealogyPersonal

23 and Me

Posted on 4 June 2010by Brian Zalewski
My maternal results

On National DNA Day, April 23rd, there was news that 23andMe was selling the “Complete Edition” of their genetic test for $99. The usual price for this test is $499, so a savings of 80%. I couldn’t pass up this deal since a) I am always curious about data and information b) I wanted to go deeper into my ancestry with DNA as I’ve only done basic tests. I also planned on getting it for my wife, also, but by the time we checked the site later in the evening the price was back to normal even though it was only about 8PM here.

Well, I sent in my sample and it says it will take 6-8 weeks for results. I got my results about 4 weeks later, so that was a surprise. The Complete Edition also includes the “Health” information, which is interesting. As they mention many times, I take all of that information with a grain of salt, even though there isn’t anything major to worry about in my results.

But, this site is less interested in what type of earwax I have or my Alcohol Flush Reaction and more interested in my Maternal and Paternal DNA information. I had previous known that my maternal line was H and my paternal line was R1a1. This gave me some insight into my genetic history, but it was a basic overview. I now know more details.

My maternal line has been traced in more detail to the H11a group. Their site describes it:

H originated in the Near East and then expanded after the peak of the Ice Age into Europe, where it is the most prevalent haplogroup today. It is present in about half of the Scandinavian population and is also common along the continent’s Atlantic coast.

My maternal line is basically all German, as I wrote about in a recent SNGF post.

My paternal line (or my Zalewski line) has been traced in more detail to the R1a1a subgroup.

R1a1a is the primary haplogroup of Eastern Europe, where it spread after the end of the Ice Age about 12,000 years ago. The haplogroup is most common in a swath from Ukraine and the Balkans north and west into Scandinavia, along the path of the men who followed the receding glaciers into Europe. It is also common near its presumed point of origin in south-central Asia. R1a1 is one of the two most common Y-haplogroups in Slavic-speaking populations.

That makes sense, since the Zalewski line traces back to Poland/Prussia, which is in the area mentioned.

The site also has a nice “Relative Finder” that will show you people who are more than likely closely-related to you based on your genetics. You can then send an introduction to them and if they accept, you can compare your basic results. I’ve sent a few intros to people who it predicts are somewhere between 3rd and 7th cousins to me. I have yet to receive a response, but it’s only been a few days.

All of the other info it gives like my “Health Traits” and my “Disease Risk” are interesting to browse. While they have useful info, such as certain risks, it shouldn’t (and doesn’t) affect my daily life due to the new nature of this field, but it’s nice to know.

Anyone else in either of these haplogroups?

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 30th – June 5th

Posted on 31 May 2010by Brian Zalewski

The important dates in my family history for this week (a day late.) As always, you can find this info on the Dates & Anniversaries page.

June 2nd

Firmenich Family 1895
Pauline FIRMENICH and her family - 1895

1789 – Married – Johannes VENNINGER & Elisabeth FLECK – Johannes and Elisabeth are my wife’s 5th-great-grandparents on her father’s side. They were both born in Baden, Germany. They had 8 children, including her ancestor Elisabetha VENNINGER. Johannes passed away in 1834 and Elisabeth in 1837.

June 3rd

1640 – Born – Major William VAUGHAN – William is my wife’s 9th-great-grandfather on her mother’s side. He was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales. In 1668, he married Margaret CUTTS. In the book “The Genealogical Registry of the Butters Family” it says William “came to New England from London about 1664. He was elected Constable in 1665, Lieutenant of Cavalry in 1672, Captain 1680, Major Commanding, 1681, one of the Council of New Hampshire 1682-1690, Treasurer of Province 1696-1698. He married Dec. 8, 1668, Margaret, daughter of Hon. Richard Cutt, son of Richard Cutt, Esq., of Grondale Abbey, Arkesden, Essex county, England.” He passed away in about 1690.

1910 – Died – Pauline (THOMPSON) FIRMENICH (right) – Paulina is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born 5 May 1849 in Granville, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin (now Brown Deer, Wisconsin.) She married Mathias FIRMENICH in 1867 in Brown County, Wisconsin and they had 13 children. Paulina outlived four of her children who died of Diphtheria in 1885. She passed away in Morrison, Brown Co., Wisconsin and is buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin.

June 4th

This is my father’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!

1891 – Married – Frank F BRAATZ, Sr & Margaret STEARNS – Frank and Margaret are my great-great-grandparents on my father’s side. They were married at Bear Creek, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. Together they had 5 children, including my great-grandmother Agnes (BRAATZ) CORRIGAN. Margaret died in 1943 and Frank in 1948. They are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ashland, Wisconsin.

June 5th

1926 – Died – Carl F H LAST – Carl is my great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born on 26 Sep 1851 in Doeringshagen, Pommerania (which is now located just northwest of Å»abowo, Goleniów County, Western Pomerania, Poland.) He married Augusta LUEDTKE in 1883 in Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin and together they had 16 children. Carl passed away in Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin and is buried there at Union Cemetery.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 23rd – 29th

Posted on 23 May 2010by Brian Zalewski

My family history for this week. As always, you can find this information out at any time on the Dates & Anniversaries page.

May 25th

1922 – Died – Ignatz Peter SZULTA – Ignatz is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born 30 Jan 1849 in Bukowa Góra, SulÄ™czyno Parish, Kartuzy County, Pomorskie, Poland, a small parish near Gdansk. In 1870, he married Nepomuncema SYLDAKT before emigrating to Wisconsin in about 1881. He passed away in Milwaukee and is buried there at Holy Cross Cemetery.

May 26th

1770 – Died – Andreas UHL – Andreas is my wife’s 7th-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born in Rothenburg, Obdertauber, Bavaria. He married Elisabetha FABER in 1728. He passed away in Neipperg, Baden, Germany and is buried there.

May 27th

1879 – Born – Mary (DAKINS) SHANNON – Mary is my wife’s great-great-grandmother on her mother’s side. She was born in Dayton, Waupaca Co., Wisconsin. In 1899, she married George W SHANNON and had one child, Marie R SHANNON. Mary suddenly died in 1904 in Keene, Portage Co., Wisconsin. Little Marie was sent to live with Mary’s parents and George, it seems, went off to Colorado.

2006 – This is also our 4th wedding anniversary.

May 28th

1842 – Born – Mary Jane (LINT) DIETER – Mary Jane is my wife’s 3rd-great-grandmother on her father’s side. She was born in Ohio. She married Frederick DIETER in 1868 in Fox Hollow, Wisconsin. They had 12 children including her ancestor Emma DIETER. She passed away on 20 Oct 1913 at Fox Hollow and is buried at Emmanuel Cemetery in Richland Co., Wisconsin.

May 29th

1816 – Born – Nathaniel SHANNON – Nathaniel is my wife’s 3rd-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born in Gilmanton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire. He married Rosina ARNOLD in 1838. They had 8 children together, including the above-mentioned George W SHANNON. He passed away on 26 Oct 1878 in Stockton, Portage Co., Wisconsin and is buried nearby in Whiting.

CategoriesWay Back WednesdayZalewski

Way Back Wednesday: The Lone House

Posted on 19 May 2010by Brian Zalewski

House

This man originally purchased the house that my grandparents lived in from 1955-2005, until I bought it. He actually wanted the brick version of the house, so he purchased another one. He is pictured here on the land where his house is being built. Way in the back is his original purchased house, my grandparent’s house..my house. It turns out that it was the first house built in this subdivision in 1955. It looks a bit different today.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 16th – 22nd

Posted on 16 May 2010by Brian Zalewski

The history of my family for this week. As always, you can find this information anytime on the Dates & Anniversaries page.

May 16th

1842 – Born – John HUIZEL – John is my wife’s great-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. He married Barbara REINDL in about 1864 and they had 5 children, all of them before emigration to the US. He passed away on 19 Mar 1903 in Iowa and is buried at Bohemian Cemetery in Plymouth, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa.

May 17th

1809 – Married – Constant Joseph LAURENT & Marie Josèphe BERO – Constant and Marie are my 4th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at Piétrebais, Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium. Together, they had 4 children including my ancestor Jean-Baptiste LAURENT. They both passed away at Biez, Chaumont-Gistoux, Walloon Brabant, Belgium, Constant in 1841 and Marie in 1853.

May 18th

1848 – Born – Peter MUHM – Peter is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Palatine, Montgomery Co., New York. He married Ida SCHAVANDIE in about 1870. They had 4 children born in Wisconsin. Peter passed away at 39 on 6 May 1888 in Langlade Co., Wisconsin. His wife lived almost 50 more years when she passed away in 1934.

May 19th

1872 – Died – Dorothea (COOK) MORAN – Dorothea is my wife’s 3rd-great-grandmother on her father’s side. She was born 8 May 1825 in Cork County, Ireland. In 1845 she married Robert MORAN. Together they had 9 children on their travels from Quebec, Canada to Wisconsin. Dorothea died in Grant Co., Wisconsin and is supposedly buried at Old Rock Church in Livingston, Grant Co., Wisconsin.

May 20th

1920 – Died – Olivine (ST. LOUIS) LAURENT – Olivine is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 17 Sep 1835 in Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. In 1857 she married Jean-Baptiste LAURENT (son of Constant and Marie above.) They had 9 children including my ancestor, Mary Philomene LAURENT. According to my notes, Olivine was the first school teacher in Phlox, Wisconsin. Note write up on the History of Outagamie County regarding the early days at Phlox, Wisconsin. The school is now torn down. Olivine passed away in Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin and is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in the nearby Norwood Township.

May 21st

1838 – Died – Lawrence MINK – Lawrence is my wife’s 5th-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born 8 Nov 1773 in Fredericktown, Maryland. He married Mary Elizabeth LOWRY in about 1795. He passed away in Preble Co., Ohio.

CategoriesCemeteriesTombstone Tuesday

Tombstone Tuesday: Toney

Posted on 11 May 2010by Brian Zalewski
Carey Toney - Headstone
Carey Toney

This is the headstone of my wife’s 5th-great-grandfather on her father’s side, Carey Toney. Carey was born 3 Oct 1763 (or 1757) in Buckingham Co., Virginia to William and Margaret (SUTHERLAND) TONEY. He married Elizabeth DOREN in 1789. Later they traveled to Ohio where they lived out the rest of their lives. Carey died on 6 Sep 1859 at the age of, as the stone says, “about 100 years.” He is buried with his wife at Railsback Cemetery in Union County, Indiana.

[ Find-a-Grave Link | Cemetery Link ]