The discussion about pensions is very interesting. I found the following web site http://www.blackcamisards.com/usct/pension/penacts.html#03031865 that lists all the Pension Acts. It doesn't sound as though there was a lot of "coverage" until the 1890 act, but there's not a lot of information on the site about the 1865 and 1887 acts. Does anyone else have information on these? My great grandfather had an invalid pension and spent a lot of time in and out of "Old Soldier" homes in the early 1900s. Leslie Molldrem Syracuse earlier In a message dated 08/23/1999 7:59:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, deemills@netsync.net writes: > Linda Crannell wrote: > > > > > I have become quite interested in the effect of the Civil War in > Washington > > County as reflected in admissions to the Poor House. This has been a > verrrry > > tricky one. In 1862 & 1863 there were several mentions made; ie. father > > killed in war, father away in war, husband killed in war ... even a couple > > of men of whom it was said they were hurt in the war. Then, abruptly, no > > more mention of the war in any admissions. > > > > > > Here is the example I just MUST try to track down. > > David MOUNTAIN > > Male 57 White Single born Ireland/Waterford/? > > Poor House Admission/Discharge > > 11/10/85 - 4/19/86 > > 11/13/86 - 4/25/87 > > 5/2/87 - 5/6/87 > > Comments on his certificate: > > Rheumatism -- served in the War, 16th Artillery > > > > Here's my question (obvious!) > > WHY would a man whose service in the Civil War could surely be documented - > - > > after all, they even knew which unit (sorry, guys: probably wrong term--I > > don't know military terminology from Greek!)in which he served -- who > would > > almost certainly have been eligible for a pension -- spend TWO WINTERS in > > the Poor House?!? > > > The Poor House in that era was the equvilaent of todays nursing homes, > as well as a Homeless shelter, Insane asylum, Detox center etc. > > The man probably was unable to work in the winter due to his reumatism - > so he went to the Poor house to stay. He may also have paid some board- > have you checked this possibility? Many in our county Poor house did > pay board. They were unable to care for themselves and either had no > family or the family did not want to care for them. But they did have > some income - pension, savings etc. So they paid their way. > > Hope this helps. > > To get the man's pension record you need to send to National Archives > Name and unit he served in will get you his record. >

Hi, I just wanted to let everyone know that I have WFT #24 if you would like me to do a lookup, please email me. This is the first time I have posted to this list, so I hope this is appropriate to do. Christina M

In order to be eligible for a pension, the veteran had to have a disability attributable to his military service. A surviving widow or children under 16 were eligible. The pension wasn't large. For a surviving widow it was something like $6/month + $2/month for each eligible child. I don't know what the veteran himself would have received. There were modest increases in later years. Regardless of whether a pension was granted, if the veteran applied for one there should be a pension file at the National Archives. Send email including your postal address to 'inquire@arch2.nara.gov' and request two (2) copies of 'NATF Form 80'. They'll arrive in a week or two. Fill out one for Military record (if wanted), the other for Pension file. Return both to the address on the form. The fee is $10 each if found; no charge if not found. Expect to wait a few months for their response. (If you happen to be in Washington DC you can look it up yourself for free, and actually examine the original papers.) BTW, "Unit" is a perfectly acceptible general term. Regards, Charles Sullivan "Linda Crannell" <lindac@jump.net> wrote: >Greetings! This is going to several lists, so please forgive the duplication >(and the repetition of things you may have heard me say before). >I am writing a history of the Washington County (NY) Poor House. > >OK, I can't stand the puzzle any longer! So I'm gonna have to track this one >down. > >I have become quite interested in the effect of the Civil War in Washington >County as reflected in admissions to the Poor House. This has been a verrrry >tricky one. In 1862 & 1863 there were several mentions made; ie. father >killed in war, father away in war, husband killed in war ... even a couple >of men of whom it was said they were hurt in the war. Then, abruptly, no >more mention of the war in any admissions. > >Now, I know there was a Civil War Pension program. I know lots of >generalities about it ... like it became huge over time and included even >distant relatives of men who stubbed their toe in the war. (OK, so that is >an exaggeration. No disrespect intended, but the vast expansion of the >pension program was a fact and quite a political issue.) > >Here is the example I just MUST try to track down. > David MOUNTAIN > Male 57 White Single born Ireland/Waterford/? >Poor House Admission/Discharge >11/10/85 - 4/19/86 >11/13/86 - 4/25/87 >5/2/87 - 5/6/87 >Comments on his certificate: >Rheumatism -- served in the War, 16th Artillery > >Here's my question (obvious!) >WHY would a man whose service in the Civil War could surely be documented -- >after all, they even knew which unit (sorry, guys: probably wrong term--I >don't know military terminology from Greek!)in which he served -- who would >almost certainly have been eligible for a pension -- spend TWO WINTERS in >the Poor House?!? > >I need HELP!!! (2 kinds, actually) > >1. How do I track down this man's application for a pension and its >disposition? (I have avoided learning this genealogy technique because I was >more interested in the following.) > >2. Where do I find good HISTORICAL (NOT genealogical) information about the >CW Pension program? (When it started, how it worked, a chronological >timeline for its implementation, relevant laws, etc.) > >I am a little bit desperate here. I will be in Albany and Washington County >for about two weeks -- I leave in a week (takes 4 days to drive there from >Texas). I could spend lots of time looking in the libraries & archives there >but I don't know the system. Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Feel free >to e-mail me privately if you don't think your info would be of interest to >the whole list. > >BTW, anybody out there have info about this David Mountain? >Thanks, Linda > > >==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== >Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? >Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.html

Yes, 1880-1948, on microfiche, but it's only available to the public in two places: at the NY State Archives in Albany and at the National Archives Regional Branch in Manhattan. The NY State Dept of Health has never given permission for it to be duplicated by the Family History Library. It does _not_ includes deaths within NY City. The FHL has those. Regards, Charles Sullivan sunnygirl@webtv.net (Marge Minardi) wrote: >Hi All does anyone know if NYS has some sort of death index that would >go back to at least 1900. Marge > > >==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== >Have you considered joining the Rootsweb Genealogical Data >Cooperative? > http://www.rootsweb.com/

I am forwarding this message on to the NY list in the hopes that someone will be able to help me find the info. on DAVID DOPP. The source suggested in the message below did not reply to my query. Thanks, Marcia -----Original Message----- From: der@redrose.net <der@redrose.net> To: Jones <dougj@enter.net> Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 4:12 PM Subject: Re: Corp. David DOPP, Loyalist >Hi Marcia, > >> From: "Jones" <dougj@enter.net> >> To: <der@redrose.net> >> Subject: Corp. David DOPP, Loyalist >> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 14:24:44 -0500 > >> Hello Al, >> >> Was very interested in David DOPP, who died in Gen Hospital, June 6, >> 1782. First, how can I found out what hospital in Manhattan. he died >> in and how can I get more details on David??? All this info. came from >> the Loyalist Regiment under Colonel Beverly Robinson from NY. >> >> Thanks for any help you can supply. >> >> Best, >> Marcia >> >> >I think you want Al Steinburg, whose e-mail address is given on the page >where you found the Loyalist muster roll on my page. URL for my page >index is given in signature below. > >Regards, >Donna Ristenbatt >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >der@redrose.net >Visit: ON THE TRAIL OF OUR ANCESTORS >http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Ships' Lists, PA and Mennonite Research Corner, >Dutch Research Corner, Cemetery Lists, >Rev. War Loyalists, Finding a Civil War Ancestor, >Many Surnames and More! >

Greetings! This is going to several lists, so please forgive the duplication (and the repetition of things you may have heard me say before). I am writing a history of the Washington County (NY) Poor House. OK, I can't stand the puzzle any longer! So I'm gonna have to track this one down. I have become quite interested in the effect of the Civil War in Washington County as reflected in admissions to the Poor House. This has been a verrrry tricky one. In 1862 & 1863 there were several mentions made; ie. father killed in war, father away in war, husband killed in war ... even a couple of men of whom it was said they were hurt in the war. Then, abruptly, no more mention of the war in any admissions. Now, I know there was a Civil War Pension program. I know lots of generalities about it ... like it became huge over time and included even distant relatives of men who stubbed their toe in the war. (OK, so that is an exaggeration. No disrespect intended, but the vast expansion of the pension program was a fact and quite a political issue.) Here is the example I just MUST try to track down. David MOUNTAIN Male 57 White Single born Ireland/Waterford/? Poor House Admission/Discharge 11/10/85 - 4/19/86 11/13/86 - 4/25/87 5/2/87 - 5/6/87 Comments on his certificate: Rheumatism -- served in the War, 16th Artillery Here's my question (obvious!) WHY would a man whose service in the Civil War could surely be documented -- after all, they even knew which unit (sorry, guys: probably wrong term--I don't know military terminology from Greek!)in which he served -- who would almost certainly have been eligible for a pension -- spend TWO WINTERS in the Poor House?!? I need HELP!!! (2 kinds, actually) 1. How do I track down this man's application for a pension and its disposition? (I have avoided learning this genealogy technique because I was more interested in the following.) 2. Where do I find good HISTORICAL (NOT genealogical) information about the CW Pension program? (When it started, how it worked, a chronological timeline for its implementation, relevant laws, etc.) I am a little bit desperate here. I will be in Albany and Washington County for about two weeks -- I leave in a week (takes 4 days to drive there from Texas). I could spend lots of time looking in the libraries & archives there but I don't know the system. Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Feel free to e-mail me privately if you don't think your info would be of interest to the whole list. BTW, anybody out there have info about this David Mountain? Thanks, Linda

Hi again, Jerry and the NY List--This answers my question (see below)--thanks so much! Marilyn In a message dated 8/23/99 8:00:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JDafoe2@home.com writes: > The French's 1860 Gazzatteer saya that BLENHEIM was formed from Schoharie > March 17, 1797. It is an interior town sw of the center of the co. Schoharie > Creek flows n through the the e part , receiving West Kil and several other > streams. > I trust this answers your question. > JERRY >

Hi All does anyone know if NYS has some sort of death index that would go back to at least 1900. Marge

Hi New York List: Does anyone know where a town or village or area called "Blenham" in the 1790s might have been? It's mentioned in a will of someone living in New Marlborough, Ulster Co., NY in 1795. The exact quote is "James Teller of Blenham". I've already checked the website that lists towns in NY state that have changed their name and didn't find it. I've also already checked my DeLorme's map and gazzatteer of NY State. (I'm travelling so I don't have access to my trusty French's 1860 Gazzatteer!) Thanks and have a great day! Regards, Marilyn Hough Stern

There's been a lot of discussion re photographing tombstones so when I found this I thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth. The Fuller Brush catalog called "Home Trends" advertises Gravestone Cleaner -- item 35039 $4.95 or 2 for $9. It's supposed to work on everything from cement to marble and terra cotta. I don't know anything about it except that Fuller has always been a good company. The URL is: www.hometrendscatalog.com Dee Watt Stratford CT (but forever an Ithacan) searching: Bennett, Dickens, Gardner, Kennedy and VanFleete

I am researching the family of Joseph SMITH and Laura Ann GEE who came from New York State to South Middleton Township, Norfolk County, Ontario sometime around 1835 and eventually ended up in Lind, Wisconsin. Joseph SMITH was born 15 Mar 1798 in New York State (possibly Jefferson County). He died 18 Feb 1877 in Lind, Wisconsin. Laura Ann GEE was born 20 Jan 1818 in New York State (possibly Jefferson County) and died 12 Dec 1858 in Lind, Wisconsin. He parents were John GEE and Hannah EVIDON. Joseph SMITH and Laura Ann GEE crossed into Canada over the frozen St. Lawrence River and were married 11 Jan 1834. Apparently Laura Ann's parents were not enthusiastic about her marriage to a man twenty years older. Children: Jeremiah Wise SMITH Born: 04 May 1835, South Middleton Died: 08 Jul 1917, Tillsonburg Married: 16 Jun 1856 to Catherine ARMSTRONG Catherine ARMSTRONG: Born: 13 Mar 1838, Walsingham Township Died: 24 Nov 1909, South Middleton Father: Lawrence Cornelius Armstrong Mother: Irena [maiden name unknown] Children: William Arthur Smith, b. 24 Jul 1857 in South Middleton Charles Wilmont Smith, b. 26 Jun 1860 in South Middleton George Oscar Smith, b. 25 Jul 1862 in South Middleton Ella Smith, b. 08 Dec 1864 in South Middleton Clara Edith Smith, b. 10 Jun 1867 in South Middleton Joseph Emerson Smith, b. 11 Sep 1869 in South Middleton Frank Byron Smith, b. 10 May 1873 in South Middleton Albert Ernest Smith, b. 28 Jan 1879 in South Middleton Charles W. SMITH Born: 17 Dec 1839, South Middleton Died: 10 Aug 1868, Lind, Wisconsin Joseph Emerson SMITH Born: 06 Apr 1847, Long Island Died: 31 Aug 1838, Aylmer Married: (1) 15 Apr 1867 to Sarah Anne Brooks (2) to Sarah Susanna Bonser Ira Christopher SMITH Born: 16 Jan 1852, [unknown] Died: 07 Dec 1930, The Dalles, Oregon Married: 24 April 1878 to Mary Ellen Mead in Weyauwega, Waupaca County, Wisconsin Any information or connections to this SMITH family would be appreciated. Claude Smith Cambridge, Ontario CANADA claude.smith@sympatico.ca <mailto:claude.smith@sympatico.ca> Searching for ancestors and descendants of: Joseph Smith & Laura Ann Gee from New York State to South Middleton Ontario Archibald McKee & Margaret Whiteside from County Cork Ireland to Wellington County Ontario http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/m/i/Claude-B-Smith-Ontario http://ww3.sympatico.ca/claude.smith

Well written Margaret...and all so true. I am researching my Reynolds line, have traced my ggrandfather and ggrandmother to New York and hit the old block wall. Good luck on your search, and just keep digging. Alice Ca. -----Original Message----- From: MARGAREt DAVIS <SAGEMOM@webtv.net> To: GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 7:55 PM Subject: What do you think? I'm afraid I am one of those who thought I could just get on the internet and there it would be----all my family done up in a nice bow. Well, after six months, I quickly became disabused of that idea. I do a lot of the leg work myself and it has been very rewarding. BUT I have found the internet to be a wonderful tool. The keyword here is TOOL! I have received tremendous help and discovered a lot of new cousins and wonderful friends. Now that I have something to share, I quite willingly to do, whenever the occasion arises. In return for that I myself have received help from others who are willing to share. In conclusion, for me at least, any research, I do will be done with both leg work and the internet. Margaret in NV ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.html

I'm afraid I am one of those who thought I could just get on the internet and there it would be----all my family done up in a nice bow. Well, after six months, I quickly became disabused of that idea. I do a lot of the leg work myself and it has been very rewarding. BUT I have found the internet to be a wonderful tool. The keyword here is TOOL! I have received tremendous help and discovered a lot of new cousins and wonderful friends. Now that I have something to share, I quite willingly to do, whenever the occasion arises. In return for that I myself have received help from others who are willing to share. In conclusion, for me at least, any research, I do will be done with both leg work and the internet. Margaret in NV

Hello Listers: I'm trying to help someone who is not a member of this list by forwarding her request for her. Marilyn is looking for her relatives, Steven Brighi and Debbie Brighi. She thinks they still live in Astoria, NY. Info she has is Steven Brighi b. 8/30/1956 and Deborah b. 10/12/1957. We've checked information as well as online resources for phone/email/address, etc., to no avail. Can anyone help? Please respond directly to Marilyn at MRerecich@aol.com . Thank you for your time, Debbie

1892 NYS. For NYC, Manhattan, 1890 Police Census. On Sat, 21 Aug 1999, Della M. Waldram wrote: > Was there a state census in New York for any year during the 1890's? > If so, how might one access an index to said census. > > DW > > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? > Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.txt > >

In going back to read the postings on this subject, I decided to jump in. As a fairly recent "newbie" (1 year last Jan) I find using the lists & net quite helpful, frustrating & fascinating. When I first found Rootsweb & popped in my mother's maiden name I found a cousin quite near to my home! What a thrill that was. As a result, my elderly aunt has been in touch with her aunts (through my cousin), has discovered she has a half-brother whom my cousin met & informed us about, & we are planning to bring these wonderful people together! The feelings I get when I think about what my cousin & I have accomplished, not about names & dates, but about the human aspect of it, is overwhelming. I realize some are not that fortunate, but it certainly made me believe that someday, I WILL find the rest of our family. So to start on the net is good; then do the other research. A second success story is another cousin on my mother's side, but just a bit more removed. Delightful person! Has sent me much info & I filled in a spot for him with my very limited data. Which brings me to a point I hadn't yet seen about reciprocating. Some of us have VERY limited data at the time someone sends us a piece of information. How I would love to "give back", but I haven't yet proved most of what I have & then, as I said, it is limited. However, I do let them know what small amount is in my files. The way I feel is that if someone has taken the time out to read my request & been courteous enough to respond, it's the least I can do, even if I have to tell them, "I'm sorry, I don't think there's a connection." How much better to say that then let them hang onto a possibility. That way, they can move on. Recently, I did send to every NY list because I didn't know which way to go. As a result, I have received at least 10 answers, some of which lead me into a new direction to check at the FHC. How many hours did I spend originally checking in one county where I had a snippet of info, & then it didn't turn up anything. This particular line is VERY important to our family, as we are siblings in a broken family with no one left who can tell us about who we are or where we came from. That also brings up another point. We're in our mid-50s to late 60s (I'm the youngest) so my siblings feel the urgency to learn what they can. They have been thrilled with the little I've been able to discover about this line so far. It means a connection to something that has been missing in our lives. I couldn't have done it without searching the net & from the kind help of others. So in summation, yes, I feel it has been very helpful. But there is still a long road to travel. I just hope that in the process of receiving help from others I don't forget to say "Thank you from the bottom of my heart". Beth

Just a big thanks to all that sent me information on how to obtain an obit from Watertown. Good Luck to All. Carole Kelly

Was there a state census in New York for any year during the 1890's? If so, how might one access an index to said census. DW

that's not what was said only that three days of it was enough See My Surnames at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/3752/ Have a nice day !

Contact the genealogy dept at the Flower Library in Watertown give themthe info you have and for the price of postage they will send it to you. See My Surnames at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/3752/ Have a nice day !