A Shaking Leaf Told Me So

 I know that we like to make fun of Ancestry's little shaking leaf, but it really cleared up a mystery for me recently.  Actually, it was a mystery that I had even forgotten about.  In an old box of pictures that my Grandma Ritchie gave me - many of which were picture of my Grandpa Ritchie's family - was this adorable picture.  As you can see, it was taken in Scotland.  On the back, in my Grandma's handwriting it says, "Bill & Hildegard".  At one point she and I had gone through these pictures because "Ritchie" is added in my handwriting.  I didn't think to ask her how it was possible that Bill & Hildegarde, both born in Cleveland, Ohio happened to have their pictures taken in Scotland.  I have to admit that at the time I was so wrapped up in names - either added them to my genealogy or making sure I knew who was in all the pictures - that I never asked any OTHER questions.

So, many, MANY years later I came across this picture and couldn't figure it out. 

I put the picture away and forgot about it - totally forgot about it.  Then, a few weeks ago I was going through my hints - the shaking leaves - and got a hint for Hildegarde Ritchie.  The hint said it was an arrival record in 1905.  Well, I KNEW that was wrong because Hildegarde was born in this country.  Still, it's not that common a name, and I always like to look at a hint before I dismiss it, so I clicked on the actual record.  I was so surprised to see a record for Mary, William and Hildegarde Ritchie - with both of the children noted as "US born".  So this was "my" Hildegarde!  I never knew that my great-grandmother went back to Scotland to visit her family.

Seeing this tickled something in my mind and I remembered seeing this picture - it all came together.  I know this is hardly a stunning discovery - or even a brick wall.  But it was a proof that the names on the back of this picture were correct and it also gave me a look into the life of this family that I hadn't known.  Mary Benzie was only 17 when she came to the USA.  Here she was, 10 years later, coming back from a visit to her parents in Scotland.

Weekly Events ~ January 24 - 30

January 24th ~ This day is marked by the death of Margaret BEVERSTOCK in 1858 in Durham, England. I believe that she is my 4x great-grandmother.

January 25th ~ On this day in 1921 my grandaunt, Cora Black RITCHIE is born in Cleveland, Ohio. I have no pictures of Cora when she was young. I guess as the youngest of a large family, there was no time for baby pictures! This day is also marked by the death, in 1985 of one of Cora's older brothers, my granduncle, Thomas Albert RITCHIE.

January 28th ~ This day is marked by the death of my great-grandfather, Thomas Leopold RITCHIE in 1953 in Ravenna, Ohio. He was born in St. Andrews, Scotland, came to Canada when he was around 9, ended up working in Massachusetts by 1900 where he met and married his wife and then moved to Ohio where he raised a family of 8 children and lived the rest of his life. I would loved to have talked to him!

January 29th ~ On this day in 1775 Margaret KIRK, my 4x great-grandaunt is baptized in St. Andrews Scotland.

January 30th ~ On this day in 1698 my potential 7x great-grandfather, Niklaus ZAUGG is born in Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland. Also on this day, in 1831 in St. Andrews, Scotland my 2x great-granduncle, Thomas SWINTON is born.

Also born on this day in 1914 is another Ritchie sibling, my granduncle George Foster RITCHIE. Uncle George was definitely a "character."  He was the story teller in the family and he always embellished those stories quite a bit.  He gave me some great information on the family history, but I've had to go over every piece to find the actual truth to the story.  I don't have many pictures of Uncle George - he was one of the younger children in the family of 8.  In the picture to the left I think he looks quite a bit like his older brother, my grandfather David Ritchie.

Finally this day is marked by the death, in 1985 of my granduncle Clair Raymond SAURER.  I always remember that Uncle Clair and Aunt Temp lived next door to my grandparents and they had a dog that was scary!  Uncle Clair loved that dog but we were always warned not to run up to it or even go near it unless Uncle Clair was around.



[this post was originally written in 2010 and has been slightly modified for 2011]

Family Events ~ November 15 - 21

[I know it's been awhile. I just have a lot going on in my personal life right now. I guess I'm not really a true blogger because my first instinct isn't to rush out and tell the world...anyway, I've decided to do at least 2 genealogy/blog things. First, I'm going to start posting my weekly family events on Sunday. My family likes those and I seem to get the most comments on those as well. Second, I'm going to pick ONE family name and only work on it and only it - really! (trying to cure my GADD) So, that's it for now.]

November 15 ~ On this day in 1778, my 4th great-granduncle, George KIRK is baptized in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

November 16 ~ On this day in 1746, my 5th great-grandfather, John GOURLAY is baptized in Ceres, Fife, Scotland. This day is also marked by the death, in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1997, of my brother-in-law's grandmother Vestal [MATHIS] MOUSER.

November 17 ~ This day is marked by the death, in 1800 in Berne, Switzerland, of the man I believe to be my 6th great-grandfather, Abraham ZAUGG. Also on this day in 1838, my 3th great-grandparents James BENZIE and Mary BENZIE [this was her maiden name as well as her married name] were married in Oyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

November 20 ~ This day is marked by the death, in 1913 in Weld County, Colorado, of my great-great-grandaunt, Mary Ann [AUFLICK] SAUNDERS.

Wow ~ a whole week's worth of events and not ONE picture!! That's unusual for me.

Tombstone Tuesday ~ a Stormy Day in Scotland

As you can see from the sky, the weather was somewhat threatening. We were coming to the end of a day touring around Fife. We had visited several churches where someone had been there to meet us and show us around as well as give us some of the history of the church. Now, as we were heading back, our driver had pointed out the Dairsie church but said that it wouldn't be open for us. He seemed to think that we would be happy just seeing it from a distance - and my parents probably would have - but there were gravestones there! Of course I needed to stop.


Many of the stones were old, and I wasn't looking for anyone in particular. Dairsie would be the area where some of my RITCHIE's had been born, but the ones I had traced had all moved and been buried elsewhere. As the weather was really staring to look ominous, we found this stone:

Erected
to the MEMORY of
WILLIAM RITCHIE
Late Blacksmith at Dairsie
Who Departed this Life
on the 8. June 1798 aged 51 Years
Also
EUPHAME Wife of the above
Who Departed this life on the
4. March 1829 in the 72 Year
of her age

ALSO THEIR DAUGHTER
AGNES WHO DIED 17th MAY 1891 AGED 95 YEARS

Now, I don't have this family "tied in" to mine yet, but Dairsie was not a large place. I feel sure they are somehow related. I just need to figure it out! So glad we stopped.

Family Events ~ August 9 - 15

August 11 - David GOURLAY and Barbara PORTER my 4x great-grandparents are married in Ceres, Fife, Scotland on this day in 1800. Also on this day in 1803 the couple's daughter Margaret, my 3x great-grandaunt is baptized in Ceres Parish. Finally, this day in 1907 is marked by the birth of Vestal MATHIS, my brother-in-law's grandmother, in Arkansas.

August 12 ~ James RITCHIE, my 3x great-granduncle is baptized in Kembeck, Fife, Scotland. Also on this day in 1833 Robert Souter SWINTON, my 2nd great-granduncle was baptised in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

August 13 ~ Jane/Jean SWINTON, my great-great-grandmother, is born in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. While I have no pictures of Jane, this is a picture of the house in St. Andrews where she grew up. Today it is a chocolate shop.



August 15 ~ In 1904, Hildagard Moore RITCHIE (left), my grandaunt, is born in Cleveland, Ohio. This day is also marked by the death, in 1970, of my great-grandmother Nelle EICKELBERG (right) in Denver, Colorado.

Family Events ~ July 26 - 31

July 26th ~ is marked by the death, at the age of 88, of my Grandpa, Jack H QUICK, in Hamilton, Ohio.



July 27th ~ in 1830 Annis Mae GALLOWAY the 3x great-grandmother of my sister's husband was born in Tennessee.


July 30th ~ in 1809 my 3x great-grandfather, David RITCHIE is christened in Dairsie, Fife, Scotland. This day is also marked by the birth of my uncle, also David RITCHIE, in Wayne County, Ohio.

July 31st ~ in 1888 the above mentioned Annis GALLOWAY would die in Hempstead County, Arkansas. For a great picture of Annis and her gravestone, visit her page on Find-A-Grave.

Family Events ~ April 26 - May 2

Not a very busy week in my family's history...but here are the events.

April 28, 1803 - Marriage banns were published for David RITCHIE and Margaret LOUDEN, my 3rd great grandparents in Kemback, Fife, Scotland.

April 29, 1864 - My great-great grandmother, Nellie AUFLICK was born in Minersville, Ohio.

I have many, many great pictures of Nellie, but I scanned two new-to-me pictures today during Scanfest. [which I attended for the first time today and thoroughly enjoyed!!]

I knew that my great-great-grandparents liked to travel in their later years. Apparently after living for so long in Colorado, they enjoyed warmer destinations. Here are pictures from Florida taken in two consecutive years 1923 and 1924.

Family Events ~ April 12 - 18

I've been a little (OK, a LOT) lax with this lately and need to get started up again. I really like this idea as it puts me back in touch with ancestors I sometime forget ~ people not in my direct line.

April 12, 1840 ~ My great-great-grand Uncle William RITCHIE was born in Blebo Craig, Fife, Scotland. An exciting note about this relative is that I've just had a contact from someone still living in Scotland whose husband is a direct descendant of William. YEAH!!

April 15, 1879 ~ My nieces' & nephew's great-great Grandfather, the Reverend Enoch Melvin MOUSER was born in Magnolia, Arkansas.

April 16, 1919 ~ My great-great Grandmother, Hellen LUMSDEN died in Inverurie, Scotland. I posted her gravestone previously here.



April 18, 1823 ~ Anna SCHENK, who I believe to be my 5th great Grandmother, died in Langnau, Berne, Switzerland.

Tombstone Tuesday ~ James Kirk, Scotland

MEMENTO MORI
Erected
by
JAMES KIRK Merchant
St. Johns, New Brunswick, North America
In Memory of
JAMES KIRK, his Father
who died 3rd Feb 1829
aged 80 years
ELSPETH RUSSELL his Mother
Died 7th May 1832
aged 81 years

This is another ancestor's gravestone that I was able to visit in St. Andrews Cathedral graveyard. James KIRK and Elspeth RUSSELL are my 5th great-grandparents.

Their son, James KIRK, who erected this monument is the youngest child (I've found) in a large family. I have yet to trace what happened to him in Canada. His much older sister, Elizabeth, is my 4th great-grandmother. There is a memorial to her very near this one which I featured in an early Tombstone Tuesday post.

Exciting News from Scotland

For anyone with Scottish ancestry, ScotlandsPeople has just added OPR (Old Parish Register) death records covering the years 1538 - 1854. Be sure to read the descriptive information, which can be found here. In part it warns of the sparse coverage for these records as there was no requirement to records deaths and burials. Still, I was excited to see these images available and have already found an entry that is very probably my 4th great-grandfather, David Ritchie.

Of course I don't expect you to take my word for it - this is, after all, just a blog!

Happy Hunting!

Tombstone Tuesday ~ More from Scotland

One great thing about many gravestones in Scotland is the wealth of genealogical information they hold. Women are almost always mentioned by maiden name. It certainly makes it easier to go back a generation. This stone (from the same small graveyard in Oyne mentioned in last week's post) certainly exemplifies what can be found. Here, the children are specifically called out by birth order - 2nd son, 3rd daughter etc. Again, I don't know how I might be related to these BENZIE's but it's a good bet that I am ~ at least slightly!

St. Patrick's Day Post

Well, this is the day that we are all Irish, right? Except that I'm not Irish, or so I thought. I'm German, and Swiss and Scottish with some English and maybe even Welsh thrown in, but not Irish, nope not even a trace. I even used to tell people that in response to the question of why I wasn't wearing green on St. Patrick's day. In reality it was usually just that I had forgotten, but I always said it was because I was NOT Irish.

Now while I'm not Irish, I am definitely Scottish. Two of my great-grandparents were born in Scotland so one quarter of the blood in my veins in purely Scottish. The good news for me as I started to explore this part of my heritage is that Scotland has so many records digitized and available at ScotlandsPeople (which is a fee site and well worth the money in my opinion.) So, there I was sitting at home in my pj's tracing my ancestors in Scotland in the 1800's more easily than I can trace most of my ancestors here in the US for that same time period. I would find a death record and work back to a marriage or birth record and I was just sailing right along. I also looked as come census records for good measure. This was EASY!

And then I came to Thomas SWINTON. He was an early Tombstone Tuesday post and all of a sudden, I couldn't find where someone had been born (or baptised.) I had a marriage record for Thomas and Elspeth SOUTAR 27 Dec 1828. I also had a death certificate for Thomas 19 March 1892. There was surprisingly little information on this document. I say surprising because on his wife's death certificate ten years earlier, their son Thomas, who was the informant in both case, had been able to list not only his mother's parents' names, but also his grandfather's occupation and his grandmother's maiden name. Everything completely filled out. In the case of his father the only information he could give was his grandfather's name, Robert. Nothing on his grandmother at all and no occupation listed for his grandfather.

Still, I thought this would be relatively easy to pursue. I started looking at census information for Thomas to find the parish where he was born. I felt that given a location, approximate age and father's name I could find what I was looking for. OK, great plan - 1851 lists Thomas as being born in Ceres, Fife with an age of 41 that would put his birth at roughly 1810. Quick search - nothing. Expand search for a birth year of 1800 - 1820 - nothing.

OK, moving on to the 1861 census which lists Ceres again but has his age as 57 which would put his birth year at approximately 1804. I've already looked at that. Move on to the 1871 census which now lists his place of birth as St. Andrews and his age at 60 - he sure hadn't aged much in 10 year! Another quick search expanding birth range back to 1795 and taking in ALL of Fife - nothing. Moving on to 1881 census which again lists St. Andrews and age of 72 so nothing new to search. In desperation I decided to look from January, 1795 to December of 1820 for ALL of Scotland - NOTHING.

Wearily I pulled up the 1891 census. At this point his wife was gone and his children all married. He was living alone, still on South St in St. Andrews, 83 years old, listed as a retired shoemaker. Everything is looking about the same and then I focus in on the "Were Born" field. Listed there - IRELAND. Wow - could this be why I could not find a birth record for him, the reason that he had several different birth locations listed when all the other members of the family stayed the same throughout all their census listings? Would this be why his son didn't seem to know anything about his father's parents? Since Thomas is now living alone this would possibly be the only time that he had answered the census questions himself.

I have to admit that I haven't looked for Thomas any further. I meant to post about him as my brickwall ancestor but felt that he couldn't really be a brickwall if I hadn't even looked. I guess I am a little intimidated trying to figure out where to even start. I never read anything about researching in Ireland because after all, I'm NOT Irish. It's just that now, possibly, just possibly, 1/32nd of my blood is Irish ~ and I wore green today!

Tombstone Tuesday ~ from Scotland

While in Scotland in the summer of 2007, I was (not surprisingly) photographing gravestones. We were in a relatively small graveyard in Oyne and I was taking pictures of all the BENZIE stones I could find. Given the size of the cemetery, there were an amazing number of them! I have not yet worked on this line, so I have no idea if the person commemorated on this stone is a relative, but I do believe that all the Benzie's here are related in some way. It's just rather hard to work out with the Scottish method of naming and all the men seem to end up being named either William or James! Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but I have an amazing number of them to sort out.

I found this stone especially interesting as it is a memorial, rather than a gravestone, since the people were not buried here.

IN MEMORY OF
WILLIAM SIMS
WHO DIED AT
CRIPPLECREEK COLORADO, U. S. A
1899
ALSO HIS WIDOW
CHRISTIAN BENZIE
WHO DIED AT INVERURIE
1940

Family Events ~ March 1 - 7

William BENZIE - my great-great-grandfather died on March 2, 1922 in Inverurie, Scotland.



Erma Christina GRABER MALCUIT - my great-great-aunt died on March 3, 1984 in Ohio.


Anna STETLER - my 4x great-grandmother died on March 5, 1882 in Wayne County, Ohio.

James Swinton RITCHIE - my great-uncle was born on March 7, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio.

[Something that I am shamelessly stealing from Julie over at GenBlog is this idea of showing what events happened during the coming week in my family history. Thanks Julie!!]

Tombstone Tuesday ~ SOUTER, Robert & family

TO

The Memory of
ROBERT SOUTER
late Dundee Carrier St. Andrews
who died 29th June 1823
in the 47th year of his age
Also his wife ELIZABETH KIRK
died 9th August 1863
aged 87 years
Also their daughter ELSPETH SOUTER
wife of THOMAS SWINTON
died 14th January 1882
aged 74 years
Also THOMAS SWINTON

Died 19th March 1892 85 years

Last Tuesday's post made me think more about our trip to Scotland in May, 2007. This is another ancestor's gravestone that I was able to visit in St. Andrews Cathedral graveyard. One thing I love about researching my ancestors in Scotland is how women don't lose their maiden names. Many documents will refer to them that way and it makes it easier to find the previous generation.

I am also busy trying to get a time line together for the last mentioned person on this memorial, Thomas SWINTON, as he is going to be my first brickwall ancestor posting. Thomas is my 3rd great-grandfather.

Tombstone Tuesday ~ BENZIE, William & family

This week it was an easy choice. As I mentioned in my Sunday Random Relative post on Mary BENZIE, she came to the United States without her parents, who had remained in Scotland. So, today I picked her parent's gravestone in Inverurie.

Erected
by
William Benzie
Inverurie
In memory of this daughter
Barbara Shepherd
who died Nov 5, 1890
Aged 5 years & 10 months
Also his son William
Who died in infancy
And daughter Annie Leith
Died Oct 17, 1893
Aged 3 years & 5 months
His Wife
Helen Lumsden
Died April 16, 1919 aged 69 years
The said
William Benzie
Died March 3, 1922, aged 78 Years

What is even more special about this selection, is that I took the picture myself. In May, 2007 I had to opportunity to go to Scotland with my parents. We took a trip focused around the locations where my father's paternal grandparents had lived. Part of that trip took us to Inverurie.

I could probably spend a full year blogging just about that trip and all the wonderful things we saw. It is just truly amazing how those names on a chart can come to life when you see the churches and villages and start to imagine your ancestors there.

Here is a full picture showing my dad standing beside the stone.

Random Relative of the Week

Mary BENZIE Ritchie

Born December 7, 1876 ~ Inverurie, Scotland

Died February 21, 1961 ~ Garrettsville, Ohio





Mary, the oldest girl in the back, center is my great-grandmother. Pictured with her are her sisters. Left to right they are Lizzie, Mary, Helen and in the front, Jane. The imprint on the front of the picture is "R Brown Inverurie"

All of the Benzie sisters eventually ended up in the US.

Mary BENZIE's husband, Thomas RITCHIE was also born in Scotland. My Dad says that he loved to listen to them talk as they both retained their Scottish accents. My Dad also remembers when Mary died that they had such a hard time finding heather but that they eventually did. They had to have heather since she was born in the Highlands!

I have yet to track down exactly when Mary came to the US. I know that she did NOT come with her parents, James BENZIE & Hellen LUMSDEN as they remained in Inverurie and are buried there. Mary was still living in Inverurie as late as 1891 when I find her in the census of that year. By 1900 I believe she was living in the Boston area as I have found an entry that could possibly be her as a domestic servant on the 1900 census.

Certainly she and Thomas were both in that area by the end of 1900 when they were married in Cambridge, MA on October 17, 1900.

By at least 1902, when their first son was born, they were living in Ohio. Mary and Tom would have a total of 8 children, all of whom lived to adulthood. Their 4th child, David Washington RITCHIE was my Grandpa. He always said he was the "youngest of the oldest 4."