SoG or the Society of Genealogists

The Society of Genealogists (SoG) is a UK-based educational charity founded in 1911. Its base was Bloomsbury, London. It was established to “promote, encourage, and foster the study, science and knowledge of genealogy.” SoG is the largest library outside of the U.S. Membership is open to any adult who agrees to abide by the Society’s rules and pays the annual membership fee of £45.00 ($66.77 with the current exchange.) This will give you free access to the library when it is open. As a non-member, costs are, £5.00 for 2 hours, £10.00 for 4 hours, and £18.00 for the entire day.

Bloomsbury, London

The Society is now nestled at number 14 Charterhouse Buildings on Goswell Road, London, in a narrow four story building, which originally was constructed in 1968 for storing rolls of silk. In 1984, the Society moved to its current location. Today, it holds over 120,000 books, CDs, databases and microfiche holding the places your ancestors lived. It collects research notes, published family histories and biographies along with special collections of genealogical research over the past century. You’ve found the Society of Genealogists in the United Kingdom.

14 Charterhouse Buildings

No bags, cell phones, pens (remember, this is a library, pencils only), sharp implements nor any food or drink are allowed in the library. However, the library does have a room you can use if you’ve brown bagged your lunch. Lockers are issued to store personal items.

The Upper Library holds armed forces, biography, education, family histories, Ireland, membership, men’s toilets, occupations, overseas, peerages, religions and wills.

The Middle Library has the English counties, Wales and Scotland in book form, textbooks, women’s toilets and the Librarian. The librarian was not to be found. The textbooks on this level include Hearth Tax Assessments, pre-1841 censuses and population listings. Here, in the Tax-Essex Hearth Tax Assessments of 1662, I found probable ancestors, including a Knight of the Bath. 

The Lower Library is the archives, computers, family trees, maps and microfiche. I found myself on this level the longest. The list of membership funded sites, free to use, is outstanding. Set up at a computer, the librarian suggested ancestry.co.uk to begin since I was familiar with the American version. The information generated from one surname was remarkable; a brick wall is beginning to crumble.

The Ground floor holds the locker room, common room, lecture room, and a book store with an ongoing used book sale.

Months prior to my visit, I’d emailed SoG for information and request to speak to a librarian or genealogist during my visit. I’ve still no response. Our society may be small in comparison, but more personable. I do not regret my visit. To visit their site, go to www.sog.org.uk, it will have you organizing a visit in person. Go armed with the ancestor information you are looking for and let the hunt begin.

Weeding Through the Early Years

I'm of the self-taught days of the 70s. Mom and I would make hand copies of the census, marriage licenses, death certificates, etc. When we had extra cash, we would make copies...at least 5 of each document because lord knows what plague or pestilence would befall us and take the only copy. I can only assume the other copies were an offering of some kind. I still have 20 copies of a news clipping of a baby who, as far as I can tell, is no relation whatsoever. One of the many mysteries she took to the grave with her. Damn it.

Emerging from the dusty cellars of the record rooms and basements of various municipalities, blinded by any natural light, we would then cemetery hop. With our notes from every death certificate copied in our fists, a full tank of gas, and enough film to shoot enough photos that if laid end to end would circle the globe. Also in our arsenal were gloves, whisk brooms, and brushes to clean of overgrowth on the stones. Mom also would bring her supplies to do stone rubbings.

I have learned the hard way over the years to be sure and cite everything I find. Today, of course, it is very easy to remember such a simple act. Software programs of today will either do it for you or won’t let you go any further in your entry until you do. Think of it as technology slapping your hand for not sending a thank you note for the information the internet has given you. In the beginning, however, in our excitement, we would sometimes forget to cite the back of multiple copies. A perfect example of this would be twenty copies of an article of a mystery baby.

I was bequeathed boxes, notebooks, and envelopes filled with over twenty years of research when mom passed. The family sheets have been labeled and filed; citations completed. Information has also been entered into my personal software and online. I consider this my five copies. The next project is to tackle umpteen copies of deeds, land parcels, and wills which need to be read, entered, scanned and filed.

And what, do you ask, am I going to do with twenty copies of an article of a mystery baby? I’m going to tuck them into a file in the back of the cabinet so my descendants will ask, “Who in the world is this kid?”

The Spanish Influenza Pandemic

I'm not sure how the subject came up. It may have started with a question about a website then the topic took a turn. Regardless of the how it came to mind, I decided I needed to know more about the Spanish Influenza epidemic from March 1918 to spring of 1919. Looking at my own tree, I found one ancestor died in September of 1919 after the epidemic of Typhoid Fever (another blog for another day). The other died the fall before the outbreak. Even a bout of the flu today can send you to your maker. I could have stopped there, but since I've had a career in the medical field for over 25 years, my interest had been piqued.

According to the Warsaw County Times, October 10, 1918, "If the people of this country do not take care the epidemic [Spanish Influenza] will become so widespread throughout the United States that soon we will hear the disease called 'American' influenza." Had the American public been more informed, they would have realized it really was the American Influenza. It was on this day, Buffalo Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, stores and taverns, essentially any public meeting to close their doors to the public. But where did it begin? Some thought it started in China, others a small town in Kansas. The Spanish flu hit in three waves.

On March 11, 1918, Fort Riley's company cook, Private Albert Gitchell, came down with cold like symptoms.  He was sent to the infirmary and was isolated. Private Gitchell was the first reported case of the flu. Within one hour, several more soldiers came down with the same symptoms. This was a military outpost which trained new recruits before sending them off to Europe during the Great War.  Within five weeks 1,127 soldiers at Fort Riley had been stricken; 46 died.

Familiar military telegram sent to loved ones

As we all know, any flu virus can kill its victim and usually that victim is very young or elderly. In 1918, it mutated into something more deadly. Its target was the young and healthy between the ages of 20 and 35 years old, spread quickly and in the end killed 5% of the world population. It became known as influenza, grippe, Spanish Lady, three-day fever, purulent bronchitis, sandfly fever and Blitz Katarrh.

There were reports of the same flu symptoms being reported from other Military camps. Soon after, there were reports aboard ships headed for Europe. By mid-May, French soldiers were infected.

When the flu hit Spain, the government announced the epidemic. Spain was the first country struck not involved in the war. Since their health reports were not censored, this was the first people had heard of the flu during the first wave. It was then when the flu was dubbed "Spanish Influenza." After sweeping through Spain, it spread to Russia, India, China, and Africa. By the end of July 1918, after infecting people all around the world, the first wave seemed to be dying out.

Military staff report

It wasn't long before the second wave struck. By late August 1918, it was not only contagious but more deadly. It hit three port cities virtually at the same time, Boston, United States, Brest, France and Freetown, Sierra Leone. The new mutation was felt immediately.

Symptoms of the mutant strain were quite gruesome. During the first hour there would be fatigue, fever, headache and victims would start turning blue. At times, the victims were so blue, their original skin color was difficult to determine. Coughing was with such force, some tore abdominal muscles. Foaming blood ran from mouths and noses. Some also bled from their ears. The second wave struck so quickly many died within hours of their first symptoms.

At the time of the second wave, Buffalo was the tenth largest city in the United States. By 20 September of 1918, the epidemic raged the Niagara-on-the-Lake military facility. Health Commissioner Dr. Franklin C. Gram asked all city physicians to report all cases to the Health Department for accurate statistics. He also wanted to isolate and quarantine call cases and contacts. When the announcement was made, there were no known cases in Buffalo, but they were expected. He told the public to brace themselves. He compared it to the measles; he knew the community would understand the comparison. Only 10 days later, 50 cases were reported. Dr. Gram braces for the worst.

By 10 October, sub-committees were formed to educate the public. Twenty-one districts were formed in the city, each with its own health inspector. Mayor Buck ordered all schools, churches, movie houses and theaters, taverns, pool halls, ice cream parlors and soda shops closed. Because of the streetcar strike ventilation and passenger restrictions were not needed. Nearly 100 cases were reported the day he issued these orders. As in other cities, hospitals filled quickly. Central High School was converted to a hospital until the pandemic was over. Other cities erected tents as hospitals.

Those not stricken with the flu wore masks for protection.

Trolley Driver denying a passenger a ride because he isn't wearing a mask

Mailman protecting himself

Typist at Work

As with any medical outbreak, there were home remedies people tried; eating raw onions, keeping a potato in your pocket (even now I can't fathom why), and wearing a bag of camphor around your neck. None held off the deadly second wave.

A children's rhyme began during the second wave.
     I had a little bird,
     Its name was Enza.
     I opened the window
     And In-flu-Enza.

The number of bodies soon out numbered the available resources to deal with them. Morgues were forced to stack bodies like cord wood in corridors of the morgues. There were not enough coffins or people to dig the graves. Many were buried in mass graves freeing towns and cities of rotting corpses.

Armistice, November 11, 1918, it was the end of the Great War. As people were coming out on the streets to welcome home the returning troops, soldiers were hugged and kissed thus beginning the third wave of the Spanish Influenza outbreak. The third wave was not as deadly as the second but still worse than the first.

No one knows why the flu mutated in 1918, nor how to prevent it from happening again.

Superintendent's condolence letter to a child's parents

Influenza Archive

 Influenza Exhibits

Warsaw County Times

About the Spanish Flu

Pandemic History

The Search of my First American Veteran

I am the 7th great granddaughter of Captain Thomas Taber. His first marriage was to Esther Cooke, daughter of Mayflower passenger, John Cooke (my 8th great granduncle). His second wife, my 7th great grandmother, was Mary Tomson (Thompson). She was the granddaughter of Francis Cooke, Mayflower passenger, signatory of the Mayflower Compact, and my 9th great grandfather. All 13 of his children and their descendants have a Mayflower connection! But this is not about my Mayflower connection as wonderful as that is.

In honor of Veteran's Day, I had decided to go back in the tree and talk about my 6th great grandfather, Henry Strunk who was a Revolutionary War veteran. Something tugged me to go back a little further. I knew Thomas Taber was a Captain, but all of my research was leading me down dead end paths. Until today.

Captain Thomas Taber was quite a man. In 1673 when he's married Mary Tomson, he was the surveyor of highways in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. In 1678, Dartmouth held its first town meeting since the beginning of the King Philip's War. It was about this time Thomas builds a "stone ender" house for his ever growing family. The house was 16 feet by 20 feet and was home for Mary and himself along with their 13 children. Can you imagine 15 people under one roof of that size? 

The photograph above is an etching of the what the house would have looked like in 1678. The photograph on the left is what remained until the late 1800s. Today next to 191 Main Street, are of the fairplace remains. 

In 1673, Thomas was a surveyor of highways of Dartmouth. Only someone with a higher education, even then, would hold such a position. It was very likely he would have been a Lieutenant in the Militia at the time of the King Philip's War due to his knowledge of the surrounding highways and paths. This was the  first of a series of American-Indian (or Colonial) Wars. 

By 1679 he was the Town Clerk. In 1685 he began an eight term career as a selectman in the Town of Dartmouth, Fairhaven Village.  On 20 May 1690, he was commissioned Captain after the King Philip's War. He was deputy in 1693.

Captain Thomas Taber had been a prominent land owner, surveyor, Selectman, deputy and militia captain. He is my first American veteran and ironically enough, died at the age of 84 on 11 November 1730. The date would become, some 189 years later, declared Armistice Day by President Wilson.  

The Wait is Over!

It had been a 72 year wait.  Actually, only ten but it certainly felt longer.  Every genealogist, whether an amateur or a professional had been waiting for that day for years.  The 1940 census was now public.

At first, it was as hard as Obama's affordable health care site. But once traffic slowed, it has proven to be a fantastic tool.

I have found my dad's side of the family who had dodged the census enumerator in 1930. By 1940, Dad and his family had moved from the house he was born in to the house a block away were he'd grow up in. He's also bring his young family into the home to help care for his grandparents. I remember those days fondly. It was also before my grandfather changed careers from the steam railroad to the steel plant, a man I never knew but I'm learning more with each discovery! My love of books and the printed word comes naturally, Grandma was a bookbinder!

I found Mom and her family easily enough. They lived on Orchard Park Road. Once I had the address, I Google mapped the address, hit street view and was able to see the actual house Mom lived in when she was 5. I was even able to recognize neighbors names from stories told in my younger years. Tell me technology isn't a great thing!

It was also the year of Grandpa's hooker (he was a crane operator). Imagine my shock to find out my grandfather had a hooker!

While it's been over a year since the 1940 census came out, I'm far from finished piecing together my family's story. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not anxiously waiting for the 1950 census to become public in 8 years!

Memories in Photos

I believe the phrase, "A picture is worth a thousand words" accurately expresses my thoughts whenever I get a photograph from the past.  It's like an unexpected gift.   

A couple years ago when I came home from work, my daughter handed me the mail which included a Christmas card from my cousin, Donna.  Inside was a black and white, 5 x 7 photograph of our great grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.  

With this picture, I have some clues about my family.  First things first, I'm wondering were dad got his height genes.  I never met his father but I understand he was a tall man for his generation at five feet ten inches tall. It is pretty obvious I otherwise come from a family of short. By the way, my grandfather is not in the shot, he's behind the camera.

Judging by the fashions, they fared pretty well during the depression. I don't have the month they were married but I would guess the spring. The fresh flower corsages lovely.

It is also had to tell but Old Grandpa's left arm was taken in an accident at work. He was a watchman for the South Buffalo.

Regardless of whether I have learned something new about a long ago photo, I love to gaze at them wondering what life was like back in the day.

 

Adding a few Leaves

A cousin of mine widowed at a very young age.  Her children are now grown.  The gentleman she has been with for the past fourteen years had asked her once again to marry him.  He not only loves her but would like her taken care of if anything were to happen to him.

This leads me to some of my ancestors.  Families 150 to 200 years ago were very large.  I would love to believe they took their Bible seriously and went forth and multiplied.  I'm sure some did, but more did not.  A couple may have had six to eight children with the intention of rearing farmhands.  Don't look so shocked.  Life expectancy was much younger.  Boys were expected to follow in their father's footsteps; girls to marry and raise large families.  A husband would die in a farming accident, a woman in childbirth; leaving the surviving spouse with a brood of children to raise.  The widow or widower would remarry a widower or widow combining the two families.  As you can imagine, families then could have sixteen children.

This has happened more than once during my family history.  If fact, my seventh great-grandfather, Captain Thomas Taber married his second wife, Mary Tomson, he built a second home to hold his, hers and theirs!  Remarrying was a practical solution to single parenthood.

My cousin and her new husband certainly are not merging a family this large but with two little words, she has become a grandmother.