The optional theme for Week 18 was “Where There’s a Will.” Many people followed the theme. Others didn’t. And that’s perfectly alright
Among the wonderful posts that I’ve read this week were these gems:
- Melissa Wiseheart of A Wise Heart’s Journey told about the clues that she gleaned from the will of her ancestor Phillip Irey
- Beth Gatlin of So Many Ancestors! shared her ancestor Edward Lucas disowning his son Edward. (As I commented to her on Facebook, only a genealogist would get excited about an ancestor disowning someone!)
- Nancy Niehaus Hurley of Indiana Ties showed how she uses probate records to get details about her ancestors’ lives (in this case, Amelia (Micol) Weber)
My post this week was about Robert Darling, the brother of my ancestor Mary (Darling) Young. Robert was unmarried, but his will could prove key to researching that branch of my family tree.
Your Turn
Who did you write about this past week? Leave a comment below with the link to your post and a little bit about your ancestor. You never know what cousins are reading this! Also, be sure to take a look at the Week 17 recap. There could be a cousin waiting for you there!
By the way, I’m conducting a reader survey to see what types of posts you’d like to see more of here on No Story Too Small. I’d love to know what you think! (Click here for the 1-question survey.)
Upcoming Optional Themes:
- Week 19 (May 7-13) – There’s a Way
- Week 20 (May 14-20) – Black Sheep
- Week 21 (May 21-27) – Military
- Week 22 (May 28 – June 3) – Commencement
MOYNAHAN: Matthew Moynahan’s Last Will (1770-1860) Where are the rest of his children? http://moynahangenealogy.blogspot.ca/2015/05/52-ancestors-no18-matthew-moynahans.html
REYNOLDS, David – Not a will, but his pension papers were widely informative.
https://kessgen.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/52-ancestors-2015-18-david-reynolds/
I ended up not following the theme. However, the name of this 3rd great grandmother, Frances Stanton WILLET (1807-1893) is kind of close. My initial thought was that a will might help confirm a few things in this family – I’m still hoping…
Frances Stanton Willet
Yandell WOOD (1826-1906), my paternal 3rd great-grandfather – Through his will, I learned that he co-owned a mill in Tennessee with his brother and that he filed a Civil War compensation claim – i.e., “war claim” – against the United States government for damages done to his business by soldiers.
Thanks for the shout out!
You’re welcome!
Oops – forgot the link for Yandell WOOD! – http://shaketree.blogspot.com/2015/05/YandellWoodWhereThereIsAWill.html
ESTES – NOT BROCK
http://dna-explained.com/2015/05/03/barbara-not-brock-estes-c1670-1721-abrahams-wife-52-ancestors-70/
Barbara’s maiden name was not Brock, or at least there is absolutely nothing anyplace that says it was except a novel in the 1980s. And in this case, there was a will…but it was stolen. To see how we know what was in her will, you’ll have to read the story:)
WILLIAM BOVENSCHEN 1866-1947 Indiana
“Will” Bovenschen, my great grandfather, and what his son-in-law thought of him.
http://timelinesandstories.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-week-18-where-theres-will.html
I wrote about William H. Griffin, my 3rd great grandfather, who was NOT a farmer in the 1800’s…unusual for my SC ancestors. http://nancyhvest.com/52-ancestors-week-18-william-h-griffin-not-a-farmer/
Obadiah Holmes (c 1610-1682) Rhode Island Baptist minister left not only a will (obligating his eldest son to pay out bequests for years into the future) but also left enough testaments and writings to fill a book! http://victoriajosfamilystories.blogspot.ca/2015/05/obadiah-holmes-c1610-1682-52-ancestors.html
Want to hear something funny? I have just been writing about ancestors and not using the optional themes. Coincidentally, the optional theme this week and my post matched perfectly!
INGHAM
I have had trouble sorting out the hundreds of Hartleys from the Bradford area of Yorkshire, England, but his week’s theme inspired me to look for a will in Melbourne, Australia. That’s what I love about this challenge! It often inspires me in a direction that is outside my current focus of research.
Hannah Hartley Ingham – Where There’s a Will, There Might Be a Clue
http://wp.me/p4ioO6-cZ
Harriette ANDERSON Kaser
I chose to celebrate the upcoming Mother’s Day by featuring a photo essay of my mother being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
http://ancestorsinaprons.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-18-a-mothers-day-photo-album-of-harriette-anderson-kaser/
MICHAUX, ROCHET – Part 1 of a 2 week focus on my French Huguenot ancestors, Abraham & Suzanne (Rochet) Michaux (8th Great Grandparents). Pictures, info, book suggestions, some relating to them specifically and others relating to Huguenots in America in general.
My Pinterest board address here:
https://www.pinterest.com/pattidi/52-ancestors-on-pinterest/
I only have one ancestor’s will in my collection. This is about the challenges trying to locate my 3rd great grandfather, Martin Kelly’s probate file in San Francisco.
RICHARDSON, Henry Proctor died in 1905 in Derby England and left a very short will, not even bothering to name his 5 daughters and ignoring his 3 sons. But one of the executors was his son-in-law.
http://boormanfamily.weebly.com/blog/henry-proctor-richardson-ii-1825-1905-18-52-ancestors
I thought my great great grandmother’s will was straightforward until I recently received old letters that were in the possession of her son in New Zealand. Where there’s a will … there is often a dispute.
http://ancestorchaser.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/52-ancestors-week-18-where-theres-will.html
Professor Speece dished dirt — a lot of it — in his will.
Frederick Conrade SPEECE (1785-1868)
http://tangledrootsandtrees.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-18-professor-frederick.html
James Xenophon McIlwain – no. 34 (week 18) – I should have blogged about JXM the week “what’s in a name” was the theme. I would love to know the origin of and how to pronounce his middle name.
http://denise-livinginthepast.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-no-34-james-xenophon.html
LUCAS – Week 18 “Where There’s a Will”: Edward Lucas Disinherits His Son Edward Lucas
http://so-many-ancestors.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-week-18-where-theres-will.html
My 8th-great-grandfather disinherited my 7th-great-grandfather.
LOGUE, Michael C. – Allentown and Philadelphia, PA.
My Dad had told me that he left home and no one had ever heard from him again. How his wife’s will proved that wasn’t true.
https://patriciarohn.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/week-18-how-my-great-grandmothers-will-solved-the-mysterious-disappearance-of-michael-c-logue/
HEAP, Robert 1818 Will from Cheshire, England.
https://putnamsisters.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/52-ancestors-robert-heaps-will/
I wrote about my husband’s great grandmother, Margaret Hepler. It was through her father’s will that I found proof of her paentage.
Anton and Anna Maria KREMER-MERKES may not have been very well off but they raised children who worked hard and learned where there’s a will, there’s a way.
52 Ancestors: #18 The KREMER-MERKES Family of Bettendorf
by Cathy Meder-Dempsey at Opening Doors in Brick Walls
The confusing will of DOBSON, Thomas from Durham England
http://martinewsancestors.blogspot.com/2015/04/52ancestors-week-18-where-theres-will.html
For Józef Ślesiński (1821-1866) from Ślesin, Poland, where there was a town called Wilczyn, there was a wife.
https://pastprologue.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/week-18-jozef-slesinski-1821-1866/
WILLIAMS–Indiana Fletcher William and Why I have 20,000 sisters.
The story of a will that has made an incredible impact on women.
http://ancestorsiwishiknew.blogspot.com/2015/05/56-williams-indiana-fletcher-williams.html
Short and sweet was my great-grandfather’s will. He made his point!
http://suesresearch.blogspot.com/2015/05/where-theres-will-52-ancestors-18.html
SPITZER, William Durwood
https://dawnsfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/52-week-challenge-week-18-where-theres-a-will-william-durwood-spitzer/
Discovering my 2nd Great Grandfather’s will at the Archives in the library of the University I attended and work at!
https://terstriep.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/52-ancestors-challenge-wheres-theres-a-will/
FICCA – 52 Ancestors 2015 Edition: #18 Agatha Ficca (1921 – 1994) (Tombstone Tuesday) by Eileen A Souza at Old Bones Genealogy
http://www.oldbonesgenealogy.com/52-ancestors-2015-edition-18-agatha-ficca-1921-1994-tombstone-tuesday/
http://untangledfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2015/04/life-wasnt-easy.html
I used the theme in a slightly different way. Not about the will a man left at the end of his life, but his sheer will to go through great lengths and live in poverty just to keep his family together.
My 2x great grandmother Frances Hermans [DeValkeneer], born Francisca Heiremans.
http://gatheringbranches.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-week-18-frances-hermans.html
LYFORD, Stephen – A New Englander who left slaves to his son in his will. The first direct ancestor (that I’ve found) who owned slaves. http://mymaineancestry.blogspot.com/2015/05/where-theres-willthere-might-be-slaves.html
I shared my 3rd great grandmother’s will. Her name was Mary H Mitchel Jones of Morehead City, NC. Here is the link: http://www.howdidigetheremyamazinggenealogyjourney.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-2015-edition-where-theres.html
FAGAN< Sarah – Her will upset her heirs very much
http://www.examiner.com/article/ancestor-18-sarah-fagan-left-a-controversial-will-when-she-died
POST, Mary – 1615-1684; my 9th great-grandmother on my mother’s lines. I think I’m late with this one, but here it is! I loved finding her will.
http://twigsandtrees.blogspot.ca/2015/05/52-ancestors-52-themes-no-18-where.html
My great, great, great grandmother’s money turned up too late to save her daughter from the Poorhouse.
https://msgenealogyuk.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/ann-hendry-1817-1871-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-18/
Monroe Augustus Potwin, mathematics professor turned house painter.
http://ancestorarchaeology.blogspot.com/2015/05/monroe-augustus-potwin-mathematics.html
Simeon Turner owned farm that is now Fruitlands.
http://wide-eyed-window.blogspot.com/2015/05/52-ancestors-challenge-week-18.html
Super late: Jane Hipp Richards http://wp.me/p5z5tj-50
Super super late! I am writing about Octave Tourville, a printer during the 19th Century.
In English: http://www.huboutourvillegenealogy.com/wp/?p=1231
In French:http://www.huboutourvillegenealogy.com/wpfr/?p=1065