Brenner Genealogy

Jill Ball writes: “I invite all genealogists and family history freaks to join me by sharing your bucket list of events, places, people and resources you would most like to experience before you leave this mortal earth.”

Week #4  –  For which free offline genealogy tool are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.  (Thanks to Amy Coffin and Thomas MacEntee.)

This week’s question was a bit more difficult for me since I have done most of my research online.  Without any doubt, I am most grateful for 1st cousin once removed, Dana Jack Bode.  His research (done mostly in the days of pencil, paper, notebook, and film-based camera) is the foundation of my work.  However Dana, while offline, is not a resource that others can access. 

As I have been getting ready for RootsTech 2012 and my opportunity to have a couple of extra days in the Family History Library, there is one tool that has been quite helpful as I have been organizing my To-Do list — namely, source citation cards.  While I have developed my own cards, I have to admit that the idea came from “Cite Your Sources” sticky-notes that can be obtained from Fun Stuff for Genealogists, Inc.  (www.petersenprints.com/store/contents/en-us/d111.html)  The “Fun Stuff” website is full of neat things for genealogists:  archival resources, T shirts, bumper stickers, jewelry, maps, scrapbooking resources, etc.    (Note: I have no connection with Fun Stuff for Genealogists, Inc.  I mention them because they were the origin of the idea.)

While I was impressed with their “Cite Your Sources” sticky-notes, their notes weren’t quite what I wanted for my own record-keeping.  So I designed my own.  Mine fit on 4″ X 6″ cards and use both the front and back to add information.

I keep a stack of the cards near my desktop computer so I can quickly pick up one when I have located something online that I want to preserve.  Mostly, citation material for my online research is saved in a digital form.  Occasionally, however I reach for one of the citation cards.

I have found these citation cards most helpful while doing offline research at a repository.  Take a picture, scan a document, transcribe a paragraph from a newspaper or book…    then the citation card is crucial for securing the necessary data for the citation.  While I have not used them for such, the cards could also provide input to a research log.

The front contains the basic information necessary for creating the citation.

The back gives me a place to indicate the quality of the resource.  It also has space for any information or comments that I want to record.

I have found the citation cards to be most helpful as I have been preparing for my trip to Salt Lake City.  I intend to research my 3g-grandmother Brenner’s ancestors in Baden.  Johanna Catarina Venninger married Georg Friederich Brenner in Adelshofen, Baden, in 1822.  In 1836 my 2g-grandfather, Johannes (John) Brenner, was born.  John was the first of my direct-line Brenner ancestors to come to the United States (1856). 

I have received extensive data from an online “cousin,” detailing Johanna Venninger’s ancestors.  They came from the Baden villages of Adelshofen, Kurnbach, Ittlingen,Neipperg, Stettin, Sulzfeld, and Waiblingen.  FHL has information taken from church and civil records of those communities.  I intend to explore those microfilms to validate the information that I have received.

For each village, I have a list of individuals (with events and dates).  I have prepared citation cards with all the pertinent information about the respective microfilms for each village.  Since I will not have to develop a separate card for each item I find, I have numbered all the citation cards and will simply note on my lists the citation card # plus additional information.  If any particular find takes me in a new direction or provides new information, I will prepare a separate card.

I have found these cards to be most helpful.

Our US-REC Study Group is working on libraries as sources.  Our first assignment is to determine which libraries we haven’t yet explored for research.  Since I am relatively new to the St. Louis metro area, I have just recently procured my library cards for St. Charles and St. Louis county libraries.  The St. Louis county library is most interesting to me because a) it is the repository for the National Genealogical Society book loan collection and b) the library is developing a Family Heritage Center that slated to open sometime this year.  The Center will be about 25 minutes from my house.  I have so far made only one short trip to the library.  I will begin making regular trips to the library this Spring.   A second major library is the Midwest Genealogy Center in suburban Kansas City, Missouri.  I have actually stopped at the library twice while driving between Omaha and St. Louis.  I was able to do a little bit of research, but need to spend a whole day or two there.

Right now, however, my greatest interest in in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
I will arrive early for RootsTech 2012 and stay an extra day so that I can spend time in the FHL.  While this assignment is for our study of American genealogy records, I am actually going to spend most of my time on records related to a small area centered in what is now Eppingen, Baden-Würrtemberg, Germany.  My 2g-grandfather (John Brenner) immigrated to the United States in 1856.  He was born and raised in Adelshofen, Baden.  I have information from a recently found cousin indicating about 10 generations of my 2g-grandfather’s maternal Baden ancestors.  The ancestors come from Adelshofen (88 events – baptism, marriage, death), Neipperg 28 events), Stetten (15 events), Sulzfeld (53 events), Kürnbach, 26 events) and Ittlingen (29 events).  Each of the town is within about 6 miles of Eppingen.  Not on the map below is Waiblinger (39 events) or Loenbrunn (5 events).  Waiblingen is about 30 miles southeast of Eppingen.  I am unable to locate Loenbrunn.  Those events, however, are indicated in the records from Adelshofen.

I utilized the Place List function in RootsMagic 5 — generating and printing a list of all events and persons associated with each of the towns. 

 I then did a “place” search in the FamilySearch catalog for each of the towns. 

I made copies of the micorfilm numbers and their contents for each of the towns.

The event lists for each town and the cards holding information about the appropriate microfilms for each town are clipped together and ready to be packed.   I also have uploaded FHL Floor Plans to my smartphone and iPad.  So, now I have a clear plan and the advance preparation to assist me in carrying out that plan.
Purpose/Goal:  Validate information regarding the Venninger line (plus cognates)
Process:   While in Salt Lake City, view as many FHL microfilms from Evangelische Kircher in selected towns in Baden as time permits.  Un-viewed microfilms to be ordered for viewing at Hazelwood FHL after returning home.  Write one or more blog posts describing the actual process of locating and viewing the microfilms, and the results thereof.  

There has been a very interesting discussion happening among a number of geneabloggers over recent weeks regarding the nature of the “genealogy community.”  Two recent posts –  Geneabrarian’s “Eliminating the Hobby from Genealogy”  and Greta Koehl’s “Genealogy: A Trivial Pursuit”  (see also, Greta’s post, “Why I Want to Remain an Amateur”)  have raised questions that I need to answer for myself – namely, How? And Why? do I pursue genealogy with such passion?

While I am not a professional genealogist, I do understand the uneasiness and apprehensions that professional genealogists must have when any of us hobbists publish unsourced information and/or invalid inferences drawn from the information.  While the professionals have standards that relate to their certification, we hobbists have only the principles and practices by which we informally abide. Here are mine:

1. I will explore
Sometimes my explorations will be orderly and goal-oriented; sometimes, more like a feeding frenzy.  I am a data hunter and gather.  I will not reject any data that is pertinent to my family lines, even if that data conflicts with and/or contradicts previous data.  When I find a conflict, I will continue to gather data until I can reasonably resolve that conflict.  While I primarily use the internet for finding information that relates to my family lineage, I know that on-site research is sometimes necessary.

2. I will share (both giving and receiving)
Through my blog and the presence of my online family tree, I will share my research and my conclusions with family members as well as other genealogists and family historians.  I will also gather and share data with “cousins” who are also researching any of my family lines.  Where possible I will be in contact with those “cousins” to determine the sources and validity of their information; and I will share with them the sources of my information.  While I will not publish undocumented “cousin” information as if it were established (validated), I will use such information as clues for further research. 

3. I will cite
Insofar as possible, I will provide accurate source citations for published research (in my blog and on my website).  I adhere to the Pirates of the Carribean philosophy of citation – that is, they are not so much ‘laws’ (to be slavishly followed) as they are ‘guidelines’ to assist us (see my previous blog post).   When entering information in my RootsMagic 5 database, I use RM5′s built-in citation templates.  When entering data in Research Wiki or my online database, I use E. S. Mills’ Evidence Explained as a guide, as well as templates I have downloaded from Pro Genealogist’s website and others, and templates I have developed myself.

4. I will learn
I know that I will continue to make mistakes in my research, in organizing my information, in making inferences and drawing conclusions, in citing sources, and in transferring data.  I will, therefore, not only strive to correct such mistakes but will also seek to learn so as not to repeat them.  When others point out mistakes I have made, I will accept their insights and wisdom with grace.  I will admit mistakes when I am aware of them and then correct them to the best of my ability.  I will continue to learn more about standard processes and protocols by reading genealogy blogs, attending genealogy workshops and conferences, participating in online study groups and webinars, and/or engaging in formal courses of study.

5. I will stay connected
My entrance into the world of genealogy was heralded by the gracious gift of Dana Jack Bode, a 1st cousin once removed, and enhanced by the gift of former brother-in-law, John Boyer.  Those gifts taught me the importance of connections within the family.  My contact with other geneabloggers and internet searchers have confirmed the importance of staying connected with other genealogists and family historians.  Most importantly, my genealogy is a joint project with my son, Russell.  He is the webmaster and IT manager of our project; I am the field researcher and data manager.  I can’t conceive of doing genealogy or family history without staying connected.

6. I will operate with integrity
Wikipedia defines “integrity” as “a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes.”

Elizabeth Shown Mills, in a comment on “Eliminating the Hobby from Genealogy,” suggests that genealogy is “not a game of solitaire or an afternoon of knitting in which our screw-ups can be quickly unraveled with no affect on others.  As in all research fields, most genealogical screw-ups – all those wrong conclusions – can be prevented by following the standards and practices that create reliability.”

I hold myself accountable for my genealogical research by remembering my two grandchildren – Olivia (7) and Benjamin (5). To them I am just “PopPop,” not a genealogist or family historian. In 20 or 30 years, I hope they will entertain some fascination with our family’s history… and when they do, I want them to have the best records that I can leave. One of the ways I ensure such a legacy is to commit myself and my genealogical endeavors to a consistency that embraces “the standards and practices that create reliability.” To that end, I commit!

Christmas is not a just day.  Instead, it is a 12 day celebration that begins (in some traditions) on December 25th and continues for 12 days (until January 6th).  As a reminder, we have the 12 Days of Christmas carol. 

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, I will be posting one event / person from my genealogical research that relates (sometimes in a rather convoluted way)  to the particular gift of that day in The 12 Days of Christmas.  If you wish to peruse the entire schedule, check previous posts for Days 1-6  and   Days 7 – 12.

 January 5 – Eleven Pipers Piping  (Day 11)

Theological interpretations of the carol suggest that the 11 Pipers represent the 11 faithful apostles.  Of course, the unspoken word here is that there was a 12th — a blacksheep.  In doing a bit of googling for this post, I learned that there is an International Blacksheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG)  Interestingly enough, the IBSSG has a “Tender Lambs Corner” for private sharing of stories that might have a negative effect on a living individual or on the family in general.  Have you discovered one or more blacksheep among your ancestors?  Can you write about them?  If so, share the story with us.

Encer (Ensor, Enser) Cole was my 3g-grandfather.  He was a deserter in the War of 1812.  He served as a private in Captain George W. Magee’s infantry company, 1st Regiment, Maryland Militia.

Pictured above are two of the Company Muster Roll and Company Pay Roll for Enser Cole’s company.  They show that he began service in Magee’s Company on 22 July 1814.  From that date to 13 October 1814, he was paid $21.23 for 2 months and 23 days service.  The second Company Muster Roll (14 October 1814 to 10 January 1815) bears the simple message that Enser Cole “Deserted Dec. 6. 1814.”

Enser married Elizabeth Shaffer in about 1812.  Not to long after that Enser and Elizabeth moved from Maryland to Columbiana County Ohio.  Did Enser desert in order to marry Elizabeth?  or Had they already been married?  Was Encer’s move to Ohio occasioned by his desertion?   These are questions I have not yet been able to answer.  Other than the War of 1812 Muster Rolls, the earliest records I have for Enser are Tas Assessment for his farm in Beaver Township, Columbiana County, Ohio in 1833 and the 1840 Census for Columbiana County.