Question of the Week: What is a brickwall you are working on?

Question

What is a brick wall you are currently working on?

Share the related profile(s) in your post and maybe a wonderful WikiTreer can help you break through!

Comments

McDermott, Ottawa and Michigan caught my eye. My great-G+ Henry (Harry) McDermott (1845-1931) left Glasgow Scotland, arrived in Canada 1868. Married Anna Ferns in Ottawa 1869.

1910 Iron Mountain Ward 3, Dickinson, Michigan (prior, he seemed to go back and forth from Canada to Mich.)

Harry had at least 7 siblings, including a brother, Patrick (1858- ) and an unknown brother born 17 May 1864.

Don't know if there's a connection?  Harry's parents were from Ireland and went to Port Glasgow, somewhere between 1821-1843.

Maybe check out Scotland baptismal records.

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Mary,

Do you know what year he immigrated to the USA?  From what port in Europe?

I had much the same situation with my German grandfather.  All the family knew was that he came from "East Prussia."  There was a photo sent to him by his sister showing his son in uniform.  I sent a copy to a group in Germany which identified the uniform.

Using the given name "Johann" certainly sounds like he was German.  Are you familiar with the history of the lands bordering the Baltic Sea?  In the 19th century, the countries (Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia) were  (at times) part of Prussia.  Following WWII there was a huge diaspora of Germans to the west which ended sadly for them.

I would enjoy hearing more about your brick wall.

Best wishes,

C.

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Jenny,

Thanks for the info. I hadn't even looked at Scotland because the censustakers were usually pretty good at differentiating between McDermid for the Scots and McDermott for the Irish, but it's probably worth a look. The Michigan connection is interesting too. Do you know if your folks had any family who came to Canada or Michigan before them or were they the pioneers in the family?

Chris

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I am totally stumped trying to find the parents of my Great Grandfather.

They are (according to his birth certificate) Albert and Rega Faber from Holland.  They had 4 children 2 born in Holland - Margaretha in 1880 and Albert in 1881.  They then have two children born in Buffalo, NY David in 1883 and John in 1885.  In 1892 all four children show up in a census at the St. Johns Children's home in West Seneca NY.  I cannot find anything about their immigration or deaths.  I know Margaretha passes away in a fire at the children's home in 1897 and my GGF lived until 1962.  His parents are a mystery.

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Harry McDermott kept a diary (how lucky for us) and did not mention that anyone went before him. He also wrote that he stowed away on a ship.

what about records from; Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1802-1967

Ottawa St Patrick 1858-1868

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Hi Karen [[Nielsen-6435]], I have a lot of Pedersdatter's on my Dad's side of the family, all who came to America from Norway. There are several Christine/Christina/Kristine's in the family, too. I know that most of them came over from Olso (Kristiana), Norway in 1843.  I will search for your GG, in my family line.  If I can be of any help to you, please let me know. Jennifer Olmstead [[Olmstead-2793]].

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The Maryland State Archives sent a notice this morning to their newsletter subscribers announcing a brick wall session on 3 May 2019.

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My brick wall is my grandfather, my mother's father I have no information on, even his correct name, his parents, his death date. All I know is he married my grandmother (Maude Denbo born 1888 in Posey Co) they were divorced when heir 2 kids were small and I know nothing else. How can I get by that road block

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My brickwall is my Great Great Grandfather's family. John Glynn.

https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Glynn-633&public=1

I have who he married & his children & so forth.

Actually it was my mothers brickwall for nearly 30yrs until she sadly passed away a few months ago & now I'm attempting to learn about family research etc - my biggest hope is to break this wall and carry on searching this line as she has done so much for the other branches. 

So I know she's done everything imaginable she can to break this wall. I asked the National Library in Canberra as well. 

She even had her brothers Y-DNA tested (i believe the Y111 test), but she didn't live to see the results & unfortunately the results are way over my head and no one seems to be searching this John Glynn.

Also I apogise to any one who goes to his profile - I haven't really set out & fixed his bio page. It's still all the information that was in the gedcom file. Though maybe that will help in this situation. 

To any one who can break this wall for me - I'll give you my first born ;) He's a great kid & comes with his own wife & kids so he's house trained ;)

Thanks, Kylie :)

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The biggest brick wall I am working on isn't so much a wall as a couple of weak links.

Alford (maybe Alfred) Wightman [[Wightman-516|Alford Wightman]] is my GGGFather. He is the son of [[Wightman-517|Amos Wightman]] and [[Whipple-1676|Lucretia Whipple]]. He was born before 1796 in Bozrah, New London, CT. I have his estimated death before 1899.

Alford's siblings were Isaac Wightman (1790-?), Amos Wightman (~1792-Jan 1813), Susannah Wightman Wager (~1794-?) and Clarissa Wightman Cone (1800-1888).

Alford married Martha Unknown [[Unknown-396322|Martha Unknown]] before 1829. The marriage lasted until after 1834. Alford and Martha had two children Amanda and Amos (my GGF).

Martha had been married before to a Crandall and had five children: James, William, Lansen, Emily and Rachel. After Alford she married a Dodge.

I have possibly found her living near her son Amos Wightman in the 1850 census as Martha Crandall. I next find her in the 1870 and 1880 census as Martha Dodge living with her daughter Amanda Wightman Young.

I would love to find Martha's maiden name, birth and death dates along with Alford's actual birth date and death date and locations for both.

Thanks!

Answer 1

My name is Marie Zens,granddaughter of Daniel  Robert Zens. MY great grandparents were Robert E Zens (full middle name not yet known) and Ellen M.  Zens (maiden surname unknown).Ir is listed as Unknown in all the census records I've checked.

I know that Ellen M.Zens' parents were both born in Ireland  (1920s census  federal record) and that her native tongue was Irish.

Has anyone unearthed her maiden name and/or the names of  her Irish parents?

Hurrah, I am  partly Irish. What a gift!

Answer 2

My 3gGrandmother Margaret Ellen Boomer Fisher. Boomer-250. Born  Jan 8 1831, Ireland and died Jan 16 1899 Missouri. I've been in contact with people regarding records in Ireland and have checked passenger lists for both USA and Canada with no luck. I can only find one passenger with parents Michael and Margaret, but the person don't seem to match my ancestor after reviewing it. This is my biggest brick wall.

Answer 3

The current brick wall is  [[Tallis-79|Thomas N Tallis]] who was born in Ireland. I don't know where. He is my direct ancestor. In trolling Find A Grave looking for his record I found another Tallis , William, who had a county in Ireland and started researching him.

I found a 4th cousin on Ancestry who had the same [[Tallis-106|William Tallis]] and that was the only connection I could find between us. William's find a grave had his county as Kilkenny, Ireland. I was hoping I could connect the two Tallis families.  So far no luck.  I don't understand the Irish records that are available and both names are very common. I would like to make sure I get the correct records.  This also would clear up most of my unconnected records if I could connect the two families.

Help would be most appreciated.

Answer 4

Trying to find the mother and father of Edna Mae Pitts, born 29 Nov 1895, in Yalobusha, Mississippi and died in Gainesville, Alachua, Florida on 20 Oct 1980. She married Fred Elsworth Goldsmith about 1912 in Arkansas or Mississippi. I've had no luck, even with DNA.

Comments

Have you seen the 1900 Fed Census for Ella M Pitts living as a step-daughter to a Alfred L Mccullar and Willie G Mccullar

I don't know if it's yours but have a look on Family Search:

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9FX-HL1 : accessed 8 April 2019), Ella M Pitts in household of Alfred L Mccullar, Beat 3, Yalobusha, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet 1A, family 11, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,834.

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Kathy, Thank you, thank you!!! You are such a God send. I have had so many McCullar's show up as DNA matches.I am positive that Ella must be my grandmother's sister and the McCullar's (McCollough) must be my half cousins. All I needed was a fresh pair of eyes. Thank you, again.!

Answer 5

My most puzzling brick wall:  My great grandfather Andrew J Joyce.  Enlisted in Union army in Michigan in 16th Infantry-Michigan E.  Is listed on pension index.-50032 application, 32492 certificate Aug 15, 1864 (invalid)

Widow Emma Joyce application 346386

Living in Erie Co. New York as widow with daughter Mary Ellen in 1910 census

Answer 6

I havent found a way to work on my brick wall.  Ottillie Priebe born in Prussia, 1860- 1933. She was naturalized with my ggrampa so not much info there. She came here in 1880 and was a servant until my ggrampa married her.

Answer 7

John Green Mosely born 1820 VA died after 1900 Tx. Dont have parents, or death and burial . Married 1 1845 in Marshall co TN to Martha C ONeal. Census in Bedford co TN 1850, 1860 married Emmaline Cupp bef 1880.Last census 1900 Lamar co Tx.

Answer 8

Unfortunately my mother and her brother passed away of cancer last year and family seems to not exist. Then goes in circles and mystery. Date 22??? Lots in family history.

Brick wall #1: Leslie Allen Dionne. He was my mother's father who passed away November 11,1971 before I was born, do to fact my mother was still child. Death certificate finally surfaced and my biggest fear realized, cause of death surrounding issues to brain, what i have been battling myself for years with no know answers.

Brick wall #2: His mother listed as Bertha Wolk, can't find certain history anywhere.  Hint my mom said her grandmother was lucina dionne.

Brickwall # 3: Ellen LaFave, name in history and dates never match.  Sister of my grandfather Adolph LaFave and Dorothy Mae Henning. She married Herbert Jenna Frechette as Helen.

Adolph also passed away from Cronic Brain syndrome and cerebral hemorrhaging . Any help would be appreciated for health reasons and future of my families memories and honor to the names to be remembered. I have 4 children who are without family and and uncle who died too afraid to have children for fear of dying on them. Cancer tragic in my family and want to make a difference for future.

  Thank you and may god bless all!

Answer 9

I had been stuck for a very long time on Frederick Wilhelm and knowing nothing of his father or mother.  I recently made a breakthrough on his father, Louis Wilhelm, but nothing on his mother.  

This wall has dogged me for quite awhile.  I am determined to get through it... even if it means a pick axe.

Comments

YaY!  I finally got the link correct!

:: Thunks head on keyboard ::

Answer 10

I have been researching my family for seven years now, and I unfortunately just can't get any further than the following:

My great-great grandfather Willem Hermanus van Staden was born c1856 Thaba Nchu, Orange Free State and married Elizabeth Magdalena van Staden (born Swart) 31 July 1882 in Smithfield, Orange Free State. They had nine children, the oldest being:

Hendrik Petrus van Staden * 1883 (my great grandfather)

If I go on naming traditions in South Africa, Willem Hermanus' mother must have been Christina Wilhelmina (His second daughter was named this). Here is the problem:

1. There is a Hendrik Petrus van Staden *1829 married to Catharina Wilhelmina van Staden *c1830 in Cape - I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON MARRIAGE, CHILDREN AND, IF IN FACT THEY WERE THE PARENTS OF WILLEM HERMANUS.

2. Some sources claim that a Hendrik Petrus van Staden's *1790 third marriage was to a Catharina Wilhelmina (van Staden) born van Staden - HERE TOO I FIND NOTHING ON THEIR MARRIAGE, CHILDREN AND IF THEY HAD A SON WILLEM HERMANUS VAN STADEN.

I would greatly appreciate any help in this regard.

Answer 11

I am trying to discover my Johnson (patrilineal / Y-DNA) ancestor prior to the 1700s.  I have my line traced back to John Johnson b. 1757.  He moved to NC and was a son of Abraham Johnson who was from Virginia according to family tradition.  What I run into, though is multiple John Johnsons with Abraham as the father.  There are also multiples b. 1745-1757 and d. 1808-1852 depending on which one is found.  The best I can tell, my John Johnson was b. 1757 and d. 1808.  I would like to solidify his dates, discover his wife, and more about his father Abraham.  It isn't until John's son, James "Jimmy" Johnson -- my 4x great grandfather  -- that there is certainty on dates, wife, etc.

Answer 12

My maternal 3rd great grandmother https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Whitworth-791

I'm not even sure I have the right spelling of her last name! It could be Witworth. I located two brothers from a newspaper article regarding her husbands death. Unfortunately for as excited as I was thinking they would lead me to their parents, I am once again, up against a brickwall

Answer 13

my Brick wall is trying to find members of John E Richard  descendants  John E. Richard from St Landry Parish in Louisiana was the half brother to my Grandfather Frank Richard from the same area around the 1800 `s to 1944 or later -- their father was Eugene Richard who was married to Frank Richard`s mother   but not to - John E. Richard`s mother who was African American  - her name may have been Mary ?  Gay - not sure -I was told that John E. Richard`s children moved away as they became adults because they   did not want to be known as African American - I would like to find them as we are related

              Martha Beaugh-15  Leger

 Martha Beaugh-15   Leger

Answer 14

Thomas George Clarke.  Maternal Grandfather as noted on both my Mother (1918) and Aunt’s (1917) birth certificates. My Grandmother had the name Clarke and both girls were registered as Clarke.

No marriage lines found.  Thomas George was noted as working as a rivetter at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich during 1917 and 1918 according to the birth certificates.    My Grandfmother left her daughters a letter to be read after her death and said he had been a bigamist.  They appear to have lived together until 1923 from local voting rolls etc. but nothing after that.    Could be his name is false too.

The only hope I nave is the 1921 census as records from the Arsenal were destroyed by fire during 1940, nothing to do with the Blitz.  Not sure where else to try

Answer 15

Joseph Barker, Barker-11837 he would be my paternal ggg grandfather. I have found burial records in Swain Nc 1933 but no death certificate listing parents , census records put his DoB abt 1871. He's not only a brickwall but , was a big surprise as I never knew our surname was suppose to be Barker. I do have census records and SS applications showing where his son Franklin my gg grandfather changed not just his name but wife and children's too. The census records have their old names in all the ones prior to 1930 and the new names 1940 and after.

Answer 16

William Sinclair  is my brick wall.  Born 1788 in Orkney, Scotland he came to work at the Hudson Bay Company as a fur trader in what would become Manitoba, Canada.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sinclair-4420

if you look on the profile I have in Research Notes and public comments a couple of possible sets of parents but still have no verification or clue to reach that conclusion so still a wall

Answer 17

I'm currently looking for the parents and grandparents of my grandfather Charles R Mosely. He was born in Kensett Arkansas but all of his records, including his military records were conveniently "lost". I've been waiting 3 years on a copy of his DD-214.  I've found unverifiable information that he was put in the care of his step sister when his parents died. He married Janie Evelyn Pugh near Steele Missouri.

Answer 18

For this past month, I have been working on the 'colour' biobuilders. I selected the 'Brown' family in 1600 Connecticut. I am a Tuttle descendant and there is a great aunt Mercy Tuttle married Samuel Brown. Most of the biographies were limited or missing for this couple and their family. Mercy Tuttle murdered her 17 y/o son, Samuel Jr. with an ax in 1691. There was minimal information on Samuel. In a Jacobus reference, he lists basic information on Mercy, Joseph and all their children EXCEPT Samuel. It becomes clear when reading stories and early court transcripts that Mercy was mentally ill, possibly manic depressive or schizophrenic. Ancestry is also history and I feel it is important to provide biographies (preferably with first sources or recognized sources). Working on this family has been a real 'brick wall.' It's interesting that we still keep mental health and mental illness locked away even in the 21st century.

Answer 19

I think that my biggest brickwall that I am most interested in getting fixed is for Matthias Haemmerle (Haemmerle-14). I have gotten much closer with the discovery of his Baptism record to where I at least have his parent's names, but I would like to know at least a couple more generations back. As is, I'm stuck with this dead end Ancestor that I'm trying to figure out.