19th century

  • Trading Tiny Portraits

    Sep 9

    If you inherited a collection of photos and there are some people may be from the 1880s to the turn of the 20th century you do not have a clue about, it could be those photos were part of trading. During the Victorian era (1850s – 1900), it was the practice to have a calling card, the wealthy Victorian socialite’s version of a busin...

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  • 1780s to 1860s – Portrait of an Eye

    Sep 3

    Over the decades and centuries, our ancestors have done and produced some very unusual artifacts, many handed down over the generations. Here is one from the 1700s, if you have such an heirloom, it is a rarity. A very popular keepsake were miniature portraits (in lockets, watches) especially in eighteenth-century England and then Amer...

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  • Federal Mortality Schedules

    Aug 11

    Anyone working on their family tree has checked at least one set of US Federal Census, depending on when their ancestors lived. Each and every one offers its own unique insight to a relative's life at that moment. Yet, one type of census might not be as familiar but should be used by those doing family research. The US Federal government ...

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  • Your Ancestors Had Their Issues to Protest

    Jul 11

    Sometimes, especially during the Summer 2020, there are many things that have upset and frustrated Americans – race relations, police wrong-doings, wearing a facial mask, Presidential Rallies; business closures, social distancing, unemployment, Covid-19, beach closings, etc. Yet, all we need to do is look at our own past history to see Americ...

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  • Bank for the Ladies in 1880s

    Jun 1

    If you had female ancestors in Boston in the 1880s, they may have been a member of a unique establishment for the times. This unique establishment started in April 1879 by Sarah E. Howe was the Ladies' Deposit Company (a bank) located in Boston. Sarah was unique herself, a former fortune teller, once married but now single in 1877. She saw ...

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  • Not Using Married Lady’s Given Names

    May 19

    It can be hard enough trying to research the female ancestors on the family tree, especially in the 1800s into the first half of the 20th century. It was a practice that once a woman married, from then on especially in any newspaper articles or journals / reports by organizations, she was referred to as: 'Mrs. Henry Wilson'. It was not acce...

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  • How Did A Couple Meet?

    Mar 23

    Don't miss an opportunity to answer this family question. The best source is the couple themselves or at least one of the spouses. This should also be answered by yourself – the researcher, write of how you met your spouse. Even if a couple separated or divorced, the information on how they met should be noted. There can be some really i...

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  • Importance of the US Census

    Mar 9

    The first census in U.S. history took place in 1790, and it continues today. The census is conducted every decade (10-year counts), meaning if your ancestors lived in America (states and territories) as of 1790 or after, then it’s likely they’re in the U.S. Census. Such a treasure chest of information. Only problem, not every person's name wa...

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  • City Directories for Westfield, NJ

    Feb 29

    City Directories are very important in learning more about where your ancestors lived, their occupations, and names. Now if you had any ancestors from the Westfield, New Jersey area any time between 1885-1896, 1901-1930, 1936-1939, 1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971-1980 and 1982 – you are in l...

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  • Was There a ‘Circuit Rider’ with your Family Tree?

    Feb 19

    The phrase 'circuit rider' is not a commonly known expression anymore yet at one time it was very well known. A Circuit Rider was a clergy member who traveled a certain region across the United States to minister to settlers in sparsely populated areas and even for organized congregations who could not afford a regular permanent minister. ...

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