I sent him privately what was missing..with instrucitons..sometimes all programs drop things with glitches or viruses....his missing drive was on the Family Tree installation CD....but since he may have not know how to reteve it, I emailed it to him.....we have both purchased it, so it should not be violating any rules or regulations....with my instructions his files should be OK again...at least for now...if he has opened up his email and done it...I was hoping for a reply from him...... Shirley Strosaker ----- Original Message ----- From: "James R. Baker, Jr." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [MO] FTW Failure > Here's what FTM says, but it still only happens with mine if I exit from any > page other that the family page. Many people have this problem and most > think it's simply a problem with the FTM program. I've seen it discussed on > the FTM discussion page. > Jim > > Message: "An error has occurred in OLE2NLS.DLL. Please try reinstalling > OLE." When Starting Family Tree Maker > Verify Microsoft Outlook Express Settings > Start Outlook Express. > Click the Tools menu > Click Options... > Click the Read tab > Click the International Settings... button > Make sure the checkbox to "Use default encoding for al incoming messages" is > checked > Click OK twice to save your changes. > ---------- > Verify Windows Regional Settings > Click Start then Settings and then Control Panel. > Double-click on the Regional Settings icon. > Click the Regional Settings tab. > If English (United States) is not chosen, select it from the list. Choose OK > and allow your computer to restart. > If English (United States) is selected check to make sure that there are not > multiple instances of English (United States on the list. It there are, > restart your computer and then come back to this list and make sure that > only one English (United States) is shown in the list and that you select > it. > > > > > > James R. Baker, Jr. [email protected] > Visit my genealogy page: > 135 pages of Marriages, Tax Lists, Census, Baker Information, Various > Records... > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jrbakerjr/genealogy/index.htm > (some pages do not work well with Netscape) > .. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 8:06 AM > Subject: [MO] FTW Failure > > > > Scott, > > > > Rather than fooling around in the strange file world, I would do one or > > all the following: > > 1. Reinstall FTM in a new folder and then use it to open your xxx.FTW > > File. > > 2. Contact the FTM people. > > 3. Is every thing else working? Even if it is run a virus scan, there are > > a lot of strange bugs running around the cyber world. > > > > Bill > > > > Some Data on cemeteries and funeral homes > > <http://genealogyinstlouis.accessgenealogy.com/buchholz.htm> > > Surnames of Interest: BUCHHOLZ anywhere > > -BECKMANN-CASSIDY-DeL0NJAY-DREES-NENTWIG-NEUTZLER-PONCOT-RENSING-STAUDER- > > STIEFFERMANN > > > > > > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from *digest* mode, send a message to > > [email protected] containing only the word > > "unsubscribe". > > > > ============================== > > The easiest way to stay in touch with your family and friends! > > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST1 > > > > > > > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== > Need to find the county for a town? USGS/GNIS site: > http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html > > ============================== > Search over 900 million names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp >

Here's what FTM says, but it still only happens with mine if I exit from any page other that the family page. Many people have this problem and most think it's simply a problem with the FTM program. I've seen it discussed on the FTM discussion page. Jim Message: "An error has occurred in OLE2NLS.DLL. Please try reinstalling OLE." When Starting Family Tree Maker Verify Microsoft Outlook Express Settings Start Outlook Express. Click the Tools menu Click Options... Click the Read tab Click the International Settings... button Make sure the checkbox to "Use default encoding for al incoming messages" is checked Click OK twice to save your changes. ---------- Verify Windows Regional Settings Click Start then Settings and then Control Panel. Double-click on the Regional Settings icon. Click the Regional Settings tab. If English (United States) is not chosen, select it from the list. Choose OK and allow your computer to restart. If English (United States) is selected check to make sure that there are not multiple instances of English (United States on the list. It there are, restart your computer and then come back to this list and make sure that only one English (United States) is shown in the list and that you select it. James R. Baker, Jr. [email protected] Visit my genealogy page: 135 pages of Marriages, Tax Lists, Census, Baker Information, Various Records... http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jrbakerjr/genealogy/index.htm (some pages do not work well with Netscape) .. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 8:06 AM Subject: [MO] FTW Failure > Scott, > > Rather than fooling around in the strange file world, I would do one or > all the following: > 1. Reinstall FTM in a new folder and then use it to open your xxx.FTW > File. > 2. Contact the FTM people. > 3. Is every thing else working? Even if it is run a virus scan, there are > a lot of strange bugs running around the cyber world. > > Bill > > Some Data on cemeteries and funeral homes > <http://genealogyinstlouis.accessgenealogy.com/buchholz.htm> > Surnames of Interest: BUCHHOLZ anywhere > -BECKMANN-CASSIDY-DeL0NJAY-DREES-NENTWIG-NEUTZLER-PONCOT-RENSING-STAUDER- > STIEFFERMANN > > > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from *digest* mode, send a message to > [email protected] containing only the word > "unsubscribe". > > ============================== > The easiest way to stay in touch with your family and friends! > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST1 > >

Scott, Rather than fooling around in the strange file world, I would do one or all the following: 1. Reinstall FTM in a new folder and then use it to open your xxx.FTW File. 2. Contact the FTM people. 3. Is every thing else working? Even if it is run a virus scan, there are a lot of strange bugs running around the cyber world. Bill Some Data on cemeteries and funeral homes <http://genealogyinstlouis.accessgenealogy.com/buchholz.htm> Surnames of Interest: BUCHHOLZ anywhere -BECKMANN-CASSIDY-DeL0NJAY-DREES-NENTWIG-NEUTZLER-PONCOT-RENSING-STAUDER- STIEFFERMANN

I need help from any and everyone. I can't open my FTM. A box will come on telling me to the OLE2NLS.DLL needs to be reinstalled. I go to settings and try to reinstall it, but it sends me to My Computer to view, then folder options. I still can't get in the FTM. HELP Thanks Scott I do Look-ups at the Second Largest Genealogy Library in the Country. Email me directly to inquire at [email protected]

Where could I find a place to search these{if there are any}for the years 1920-1950? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

For those of you with roots in Montana you may find this interesting. ----- Original Message ----- From: Connie Berry <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 7:17 PM Subject: [MONTANA-L] Urgent-Montana connections > I read this message on Roots-L list and thought it was important to all > those who have Montana ancestors. > > Connie > > Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 14:11:23 -0800 > From: "Arlene Robinson" <[email protected]> > Subject: FW: Urgent-Montana connections! > > > From: Linda Thiessen [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 12:12 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [MI-Genealogy] Urgent-Montana connections! > > This was a response I received from a posting on a Montana mailing list > I subscribe to regarding the destruction of ancestral records in > Montana! I asked if there was any action I could take as my mother was > born in Butte and I have an interest in preserving these records. I > thought those of you with connections to Montana should be aware of the > situation and hopefully will take action too! > > "I would think that the more who wrote the better. Make sure the > families who write explain that they're interested in preserving their > Montana family records, as the site requires a person to put their home > address and they'll see it's from out of state. In the comment section, > just mention the reasoning for wanting the bill to pass - their Montana > ancestral records. If you have any other questions, Patti Marchington > is heavily involved in Helena. Her email address is below." > > Please take the time read this message and respond to those mentioned > below via e-mail. > > Subject: Urgent--SB 443 Hearing update for > > Genealogists & Historians, > > SB 443 had tons of opposition from the lobbyist for: > The Clerk of District Court Assoc. > The Clerk & Recorder's Assoc. > The Treasurer Assoc. > and opposition from the: > The School Insurance Assoc. > The State Fund for Workmen Comp. > The State Historical Society Library > The Secretary of State Brown's Office > (I hope I didn't leave anyone out...) > > They brought up all kinds of things that twisted > SB 443 into something that it wasn't. > SB 443 only concerns Public Records that > are being destroyed in County Courthouses...not > anything to do with Workmen's Comp., School > anything, etc. > > Only to give "Notice" to the Public...the State > Historical Soc, Historical & Genealogy Soc., > down to the Public to have a chance to Preserve > our MT History! > > I showed the House-State Admin. Committee today, > 3 Old Record Books originally from Park County Courthouse, that were > thrown away. These are: > 1897 Voter Registration Book (name, age, birthplace, & address were > listed for each voter). 1889 Court Ledger Book...that on the last page > has the old 1889 to 1890 marriage records. > 1904 City of Livingston Census Book (has names of all family members, > occupation of head of > household, ages, & addresses). > > These books were "rescued" by a Historian that happened by the trash > cans by the Courthouse and were "saved" in our local Yellowstone Gateway > Museum here in Park County....But many, many other records have been > lost forever. > > Our Park County has thrown away the old MT. Marriage Application > Books...as many other counties have done, because the Clerk of District > Court Assoc. has said they have to... > (None of the MT Old Marriage Application Books from about 1865/1889 to > 1960s have been copied!). > > No Courthouse is willing to tell exactly what records have been > destroyed, how many, what they are, etc. We don't have an accounting on > anything. > > I had really thought it would be a simple thing to just have the > Courthouses to "post" on the wall of the Courthouse the list of Records > that they didn't want (or had no room for). And since most Courthouses > around MT have e-mail (with more coming on-line everyday), they could > just e-mail the State Historical Society of that list of > unwanted Records. The State Historical Society (that does not want > these records) would look on their lists of local Historical & Genealogy > Societies for the area in and around the County that doesn't want the > records...and the Public & MT State Historical & Genealogy Societies > would all be notified! > > Very little work on the part of the Courthouses. > No cost to the County. After the listings of the local Historical & > Genealogy Societies' e-mails on the State Historical Society Library > Computer database...very little work (not compared to the priceless > preserving of history). > > If Montana does not come up with a simple plan like this to preserve our > MT History NOW....a lot more RECORDS WILL BE DESTROYED!!!! > > MT Courthouses do not have the space for these > Records...they will not be expanding their Courthouse Buildings. They > say Micro-filming is too expensive. > > The Montana Clerk of District Court & Clerk & Recorder Assoc.s will > continue to hire their lawyers & lobbyist to tell the MT Researcher what > Records we can see, what Records that will no longer exist, while they > and all of the Courthouse clerks will be the only ones to have Access, > BUT NOT THE PUBLIC. > > Please call or e-mail these House of Representatives on the House-State > Administration Committee. > > House--State Administration Committee: > Allan Walters, Chairman R - Hamilton > Debby Barrett, Vice Chairman Majority R - Dillon > Tom Dell, Vice Chairman Minority D - Billings > Norma Bixby D - Lame Deer > Dee Brown R - Hungry Horse > Don Hedges R - Antelope > Hal Jacobson D - Helena > Larry Jent D - Bozeman > Michelle Lee D - Livingston > Larry Lehman R - Power > Ralph Lenhart D - Glendive > Gay Ann Masolo R - Townsend > Doug Mood R - Seeley Lake > Alan Olson R - Roundup > Holly Raser D - Missoula > Rick Ripley R - Wolf Creek > Clarice Schrumpf R - Billings > Frank Smith D - Poplar > > e-mail the House of Representatives: > http://leg.state.mt.us/leg_msg.htm > > This House-State Administration Committee > needs to hear from at least hundreds of > MT Genealogists & Historians in the next > couple of days! > Please Support SB 443, we need everyone's help NOW! > > Patricia Marchington > Member of Park County & the State Genealogy > Society. > [email protected] > > > ==== MONTANA Mailing List ==== > Join and support RootsWeb, home of Montana-L, the MSGS Web Site & many > other genealogy lists and resources: http://www.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >

May those who love us, love us. And those who don't love us,may God turn their hearts; And if He can't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limping. LEE&SUE

This is a public THANKS to Bill Blanders! He has been so very helpful and patient in helping me with my BRYANT/LOWE couple. All my previous research has been in England, France and New Zealand, so I am not very familiar with US resources. (BRYANT/LOWE is my aunt's family, not my direct line). Thanks again Bill, your help is GREATLY APRECIATED! Linda Hamid Roseville, CA

Is there anyone on this list that can help locate a the origins of a James Martin Bess who had married an Abernathy. They are reputed to have died in DUNKLIN Co. MO in a flood "shortly" after 1902. They had a son Edwin b. 1902 who was reputedly reared by an "Aunt" Grace Langdon. It is not known whether there were other children or not. Edwin's daughters know nothing of their origins except what I've written here. They have his delayed birth certificate which he had applied for in the 1940s. It says he was b. in Dunklin Co. Edwin died in FL in 1960 while his children were still teenagers. If you have access to 1900-1910 census records, Cemetery records, newspaper articles about the flood, or anything else that might help them, please check. It would mean so much to these ladies whom I met in the local library in NE TN today. Their story breaks my heart. Neither are on line so please respond to me or the list and I will pass the mesages along to them. Thanks ever-so-much. Lorena

Good Morning! I'm hoping someone has easy access to 1910 Source material and will be able to look up the family of Edward LILES spouse Laura GOODALE LILES. I would like the names and ages of those in the household. Possibly in Jackson County, Missouri. Thank you very much, Marie LC "May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead" ~Celtic Blessing~

GNIS allows you to download their files for all states plus. The state down load does take a bit of doing, but once you have the file you can open it with WinZip and covert it to a spreadsheet and manipulate it in many different sort profiles. I have Missouri and Illinois broken into CEMETERIES CHURCHES CITIES TOWNSHIPS Other subject availabilities are: AIRPORTS, SCHOOLS LAKES CLIFFS RIVERS FLATS and about any other physical feature you can dream of. Bill Some Data on cemeteries and funeral homes <http://genealogyinstlouis.accessgenealogy.com/buchholz.htm> Surnames of Interest: BUCHHOLZ anywhere -BECKMANN-CASSIDY-DeL0NJAY-DREES-NENTWIG-NEUTZLER-PONCOT-RENSING-STAUDER- STIEFFERMANN

http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnisform.html (For anyone else who has GNIS bookmarked, this is a new URL for them---they've redesigned the form a bit). Depending on what you're trying to do: if you're looking for all townships called BLAINE, for example, put Blaine in the "feature name", and use "civil" from the drop down menu for "feature type." If you want to restrict it to a particular state, put the state name in the "state or territory" box. If you don't know what the township names are for a particular county, and want a list, leave the feature name blank, put the state name in the appropriate box, "civil" as type, and put in the county name. You may get some other civil designations besides townships, but you'll know which ones are the townships: they'll be listed this way (to use an example from Greene County): Cass, Township of Megan "Piglet" Zurawicz, ListPig [email protected] [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Varner [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 8:31 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [MO] Township Lookup Importance: High Seems like I heard about a website where you can find any township in the country. Does anyone know of such a site? ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== To subscribe to MO-ROLLCALL-L: send a message containing only the word "subscribe" to [email protected] ============================== Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history learning and how-to articles on the Internet. http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library

Seems like I heard about a website where you can find any township in the country. Does anyone know of such a site?

Dear Listers, I am still looking for information on an 1880 marriage in Lawrence Co. Does anyone know if marriage records are available? (Specifically, are certificates orderable?) Here's the couple I am looking for: Marriage Index: Missouri, 1851-1900 Bryant, Mary Lucy Alice Spouse : Lowe, William Isaiah Marriage date : Nov 7, 1880 County : Lawrence Gender : Female Source : County Court Records Microfilm Number : 0930949 - 0932751 Any leads would be greatly appreciated. Linda Hamid Roseville, California

<A HREF="http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/libsrc/obit06b.htm">ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY: PREMIER LIBRARY SOURCES</A> Jan, you might try this link. I found my grandfather's obituary through this site. You can call or write the genealogy dept of the library if you find a name you want more information on. Hope it helps. Jann Okla. City

ANNA M. (nee ARTHUR) MILLER and CHARLES A. MILLER. Thanks to a very kind person in the Kansas City area, name of Chris, I have the following information. Need more to complete my search. She and Charles were probably married late 1890 or early 1900. Anna M. Miller was married to Charles. A. Miller. She was in the Kansas City Directory 1937 through 1945. Last known address was 3339 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri. Was listed as the widow of Charles A. Miller. She was not in the K. C. directory in 1947. Probably died between 1945 and 1947. I sent this information, (all I had), to obtain a death certificate. Anna M. Arthur, probably born Between 1870 - 1890 in Iowa. Her siblings that I have traced were born in Decatur, Iowa. One of her brothers was my grandfather. He and her other siblings and parents, are all deceased and buried in Gass Cemetery, Boone County, Arkansas. They did a five year search and did not find a death certificate. Her parents, my great grandparents, were; James Nathaniel Arthur born Indiana 7/30/1847 d. 01/16/1939 Pheobe Liviney Endsley born Indiana 7/22/1849 d. 11/30/1938 The parents and siblings all died in Alpena or Burlington, Arkansas and all buried in same cemetery. Is there is a census or any other type of way to see when she died? Am looking for her children, if she had any. Would very much like to know when and where she died and where she is buried. Possibly an obit if at all possible. I have two brick walls. This is one of them. Any information at all will be greatly appreciated. Any type of advise or help will be gratefully accepted. I want to find her very much. Respectfully yours, Jan

Douglas/Ungaro Our Tipton connected oral histoy holds that John Francis Veulemans immigrated from Belgium in the 1840s and purchased a farm outside Tipton A black farmhand named Charles was included in the sale. The oral history says that when Charles got his freedom as a result of the Civil War he took the name Veulemans as his surname and went on to become the first black Baptist minister in the Tipton area. I have never run across any mention of him in my work but perhaps his church records exist and could be found with his name. His membership rolls should provide several interesting leads if they could be located. Coming from the south, I am sure I have cousins who rightful own my family name(s) if they wish to but there are no stories connecting them to us. I have will information on some families as of yet not proven up which contain the first names of the slaves given upon death to others. I am sure you already know about the Slave Census taken shortly before the Civil War (at least in MO) this would provide you with the names of Slave holding families in the areas you are working. From there I would go to the probate records of those familes since especially in families with only a small group of slaves they will often be mentioned by name in the wills, sad to say, in among the other items without even the dignity of a seperate sentence. (How I pray I would have been different and how I fear that I would not have.) I have read about Venture Smith and was moved by his profound dignity and pride in his good name. The image of this six year old child being treated as a beast of burden and essentually orphaned in the doing yet able to hold on and to be his own person. I will teach his story to the children beside Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Brown vs the Board of Education. Douglas/Ungaro wrote: > Thank you to Maureen Patt for sharing the Westerly Sun > (Rhode Island) news article on Venture Smith (published > Friday, 9 March 2001)! > > If anyone has helpful data, I am researching MISSOURI and > KENTUCKY enslaved ancestors and the slaveholding families - > surnames: NICHOLS, YANCEY, MILLER, SHACKELFORD, etc. > in Central Missouri - TIPTON, BOONVILLE, etc. and my ancestor > PRISCILLA SHACKELFORD who was enslaved. > > A lot of history has been written about Venture Smith and the > many millions of Africans like him (many my ancestors), who > were kidnapped and sold from Africa. Many of these documents > are in libraries and archives in England (and other countries: > Spain, France, etc.). > > WGBH (Boston, Mass) public tv website has Venture Smith's > own account of his life in Africa (GUINEA, West Africa) - how > he and other Africans were captured, sold into CHATTEL > slavery, and shipped to the AMERICAS including USA, > BRAZIL, CUBA, etc. > > His life story as told to Elisha Niles was published (1798) as > "A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native > of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States > of America, Related by Himself." > > The Link to this Text is on this website: > http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h5t.html > > I have copied part of Venture Smith's account of his life and > misfortunes as an African forcibly "migrated" to America to > work as a Black slave. > > This passage describes how he was forced by lawsuit to pay > for a _barrel of molasses_ accidentally lost from a boat on > which he was only a passenger. Venture Smith was also > forced to pay the court costs by which he was prosecuted. > It was a lot of money for him, hard earned in inhuman conditions > (enslavement). > > "Four years after [in about 1790] , I met with another loss, far > superior to this in value, and I think by no less wicked means. > > Being going to NEW LONDON with a grand-child, I took passage > in an Indian's boat, and went there with him. On our return, the > Indian took on board two hogfheads of molasses, one of which > belonged to CAPT. ELISHA HART of SAYBROOK, to be delivered > on his wharf. When we arrived there, and while I was gone, at the > request of the Indian, to inform Captain Hart of his arrival, and > receive the freight for him, one hogshead of the molasses had > been lost overboard by the people in attempting to land it on the > wharf. Although I was absent at the time, and had no concern > whatever in the business as was known to a number of respectable > witnesses, I was nevertheless prosecuted by this conscientious > gentleman, (the Indian not being able to pay for it) and obliged to > pay upwards of ten pounds lawful money, with all the costs of court. > > I applied to several gentlemen for counsel in this affair, and they > advised me, as my adversary was rich, and threatened to carry the > matter from court to court till it would cost me more than the first > damages would be, to pay the sum and submit to the injury; which > I accordingly did, and he has often since insultingly taunted me > with my unmerited misfortune. Such a proceeding as this, committed > on a defenceless stranger, almost worn out in the hard service of the > world, without any foundation in reason or justice, whatever it may > be called in a christian land, would in my native country [GUINEA, > WEST AFRICA] have been branded as a crime equal to highway > robbery. But Captain Hart was a white gentleman, and I a poor > African, therefore it was all right, and good enough for the black dog." > ------------------------ > WGBH website also has the article which follows, at: > http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p80.html > > "People & Events: Venture Smith 1729 - 1805 > > Venture Smith, born free in Africa but captured and enslaved at > the age of eight, became a figure of mythical proportions in New > England, where he was known for his great size and strength. > > Named Broteer by his father, a "Prince of the tribe of Dukandarra" > in Guinea, he wrote that "I was descended from a very large, > tall and stout race of beings, much larger than the generality of > people in other parts of the globe." Legend has it that he was a > giant, weighing over 300 pounds. > > Venture's great size and unwillingness to suffer insult made him > a problem for his owners, and he was sold several times before > he was able to purchase his freedom in 1765, at the age of thirty-six. > When Venture wrote that he had "lost much by misfortunes and > paid an enormous sum for my freedom," he was referring to far > more than his purchase price of "seventy-one pounds two shillings." > > Venture was eventually able to liberate his two sons, Solomon and > Cuff, his daughter Hanna, his pregnant wife Meg, and their unborn > child. Solomon, the eldest son, died aboard a whaling ship, and the > new baby was named Solomon in his honor. Cuff, the middle son, > enlisted in the Continental army when he was in his early twenties. > After the war, he returned to his family in East Haddam Neck, Connecticut. > > In his latter years, Venture suffered from blindness and ill health. > In 1798, a narrative of his life, which he related to a local schoolteacher, > was published. He died on September 19, 1805, at the age of seventy-seven." > On WGBH public tv website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p80.html > > ---------- > Edited from Maureen Patt's Email to: > [email protected] > > Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 > Subject: [MO] Vrnture, A Slave, Made His Mark In Stonington, CT LONG > > [Article published in the Westerly Sun, Friday, 9 March, 2001. > Westerly, Rhode Island] > > The inscription said, "Sacred to the Memory of Venture Smith, an African - > > tho the son of a King he was kidnapped and sold as a slave but by his > > industry he acquired Money to purchase his Freedom." > > > > There is also a picture of the rock accompanying the article. > > > Venture [SMITH] farmed for seven years more and died in 1805. > He is buried in the cemetery of EAST HADDAM Congregational Church. > > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== > > MARIAN DOUGLAS > in Skopje, Macedonia. > Researching NICHOLS, > YANCEY, MILLER, > SHACKELFORD, etc. in > Central Missouri - TIPTON, > BOONVILLE, etc. and > PRISCILLA SHACKELFORD > who was enslaved. > [email protected] > in Italy: > [email protected] > > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== > Visit http://www.usgenweb.org > The USGenWeb Project-Archives-Census-Tombstone > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query!

Thank you to Maureen Patt for sharing the Westerly Sun (Rhode Island) news article on Venture Smith (published Friday, 9 March 2001)! If anyone has helpful data, I am researching MISSOURI and KENTUCKY enslaved ancestors and the slaveholding families - surnames: NICHOLS, YANCEY, MILLER, SHACKELFORD, etc. in Central Missouri - TIPTON, BOONVILLE, etc. and my ancestor PRISCILLA SHACKELFORD who was enslaved. A lot of history has been written about Venture Smith and the many millions of Africans like him (many my ancestors), who were kidnapped and sold from Africa. Many of these documents are in libraries and archives in England (and other countries: Spain, France, etc.). WGBH (Boston, Mass) public tv website has Venture Smith's own account of his life in Africa (GUINEA, West Africa) - how he and other Africans were captured, sold into CHATTEL slavery, and shipped to the AMERICAS including USA, BRAZIL, CUBA, etc. His life story as told to Elisha Niles was published (1798) as "A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself." The Link to this Text is on this website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h5t.html I have copied part of Venture Smith's account of his life and misfortunes as an African forcibly "migrated" to America to work as a Black slave. This passage describes how he was forced by lawsuit to pay for a _barrel of molasses_ accidentally lost from a boat on which he was only a passenger. Venture Smith was also forced to pay the court costs by which he was prosecuted. It was a lot of money for him, hard earned in inhuman conditions (enslavement). "Four years after [in about 1790] , I met with another loss, far superior to this in value, and I think by no less wicked means. Being going to NEW LONDON with a grand-child, I took passage in an Indian's boat, and went there with him. On our return, the Indian took on board two hogfheads of molasses, one of which belonged to CAPT. ELISHA HART of SAYBROOK, to be delivered on his wharf. When we arrived there, and while I was gone, at the request of the Indian, to inform Captain Hart of his arrival, and receive the freight for him, one hogshead of the molasses had been lost overboard by the people in attempting to land it on the wharf. Although I was absent at the time, and had no concern whatever in the business as was known to a number of respectable witnesses, I was nevertheless prosecuted by this conscientious gentleman, (the Indian not being able to pay for it) and obliged to pay upwards of ten pounds lawful money, with all the costs of court. I applied to several gentlemen for counsel in this affair, and they advised me, as my adversary was rich, and threatened to carry the matter from court to court till it would cost me more than the first damages would be, to pay the sum and submit to the injury; which I accordingly did, and he has often since insultingly taunted me with my unmerited misfortune. Such a proceeding as this, committed on a defenceless stranger, almost worn out in the hard service of the world, without any foundation in reason or justice, whatever it may be called in a christian land, would in my native country [GUINEA, WEST AFRICA] have been branded as a crime equal to highway robbery. But Captain Hart was a white gentleman, and I a poor African, therefore it was all right, and good enough for the black dog." ------------------------ WGBH website also has the article which follows, at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p80.html "People & Events: Venture Smith 1729 - 1805 Venture Smith, born free in Africa but captured and enslaved at the age of eight, became a figure of mythical proportions in New England, where he was known for his great size and strength. Named Broteer by his father, a "Prince of the tribe of Dukandarra" in Guinea, he wrote that "I was descended from a very large, tall and stout race of beings, much larger than the generality of people in other parts of the globe." Legend has it that he was a giant, weighing over 300 pounds. Venture's great size and unwillingness to suffer insult made him a problem for his owners, and he was sold several times before he was able to purchase his freedom in 1765, at the age of thirty-six. When Venture wrote that he had "lost much by misfortunes and paid an enormous sum for my freedom," he was referring to far more than his purchase price of "seventy-one pounds two shillings." Venture was eventually able to liberate his two sons, Solomon and Cuff, his daughter Hanna, his pregnant wife Meg, and their unborn child. Solomon, the eldest son, died aboard a whaling ship, and the new baby was named Solomon in his honor. Cuff, the middle son, enlisted in the Continental army when he was in his early twenties. After the war, he returned to his family in East Haddam Neck, Connecticut. In his latter years, Venture suffered from blindness and ill health. In 1798, a narrative of his life, which he related to a local schoolteacher, was published. He died on September 19, 1805, at the age of seventy-seven." On WGBH public tv website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p80.html ---------- Edited from Maureen Patt's Email to: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 Subject: [MO] Vrnture, A Slave, Made His Mark In Stonington, CT LONG [Article published in the Westerly Sun, Friday, 9 March, 2001. Westerly, Rhode Island] > The inscription said, "Sacred to the Memory of Venture Smith, an African - > tho the son of a King he was kidnapped and sold as a slave but by his > industry he acquired Money to purchase his Freedom." > > There is also a picture of the rock accompanying the article. > Venture [SMITH] farmed for seven years more and died in 1805. He is buried in the cemetery of EAST HADDAM Congregational Church. > ==== Missouri Mailing List ==== MARIAN DOUGLAS in Skopje, Macedonia. Researching NICHOLS, YANCEY, MILLER, SHACKELFORD, etc. in Central Missouri - TIPTON, BOONVILLE, etc. and PRISCILLA SHACKELFORD who was enslaved. [email protected] in Italy: [email protected]

Just inside the entrance to the Davis Farm on Greehaven Road is a large boulder inscribed with the words "Venture Store". It is a memorial to an African-American who toiled as a slave on what was then the Stanton Farm in the mid-1700's. Legend has it that Venture, born in Africa the son of a prince of a tribe in Guinea and sold into slavery at age six, could pick up that rock and carry it for several yards. In the 19th century, the rock was weighed at 442 pounds. But more important than his prodigious size and strength, through sheer persistence and hard work, Venture became the personification of the American Dream. In 1798 when he was 69, Venture, who could neither read nor write, related his life story to a school teacher Elisha Niles. It was a published work widely read then - and now - as a chronicle of slavery in New England. As Venture told it, his father was killed by another tribe who marched Venture and other captives to the sea. "All the march I had very hard tasks imposed on me. I was obliged to carry on my head a large flat stone used for grinding our corn, weighing as much as 25 pounds, besides victuals and cooking utensils. Though I was pretty large and stout for my age, yet these burdens were very grievous to me, being only six-years-and-a-half old." He was then put on board a vessel belonging to Rhode Island and was bought by Robert Mumford, a boat steward, for four gallons of rum and a piece of calico. Mumford named the child Venture because he had purchased him with his own private venture. The 6-year-old was then sold to another member of the Mumford family who took him to Fishers Island to live. For the first couple of years, he was kept busy with household tasks, but as he grew older, he was put to work outdoors, and the work became harder with more rigorous punishment for failure. At 22, after 13 years on Fishers Island, he married Meg, another slave. At that time he began to be restless and resentful of his position and made plans with others to run away. After his plan was discovered, he was sold to Thomas Stanton of Stonington who lived on the farm that today belongs to the Davises. Probably it was his great size and strength that made him to valuable to harm in any way. The arrangement seemed to work for a while. After the first year, Stanton purchased Meg and their infant daughter and the family was reunited. Probably it was during this time that his great feats of strength, including carrying Venture's Rock to put in a stone wall were accomplished But sometime later the troubles began with the Stantons. As Venture told it, "I had a falling out with my mistress. This happened one time when my master was gone (hunting). At first the quarrel began between my wife and her mistress. Hearing a racket in the house, I ran (inside) and found my mistress in a violent passion with my wife. I requested my wife to beg pardon of her mistress. But whilst I was thus saying, my mistress took down her horse whip, and while she was glutting her fury with it, I reached out my great black hand and committed it to the fire." When Stanton returned from hunting his wife told him of the incident but he "took no notice of it. A few days later when I was putting a log in the fireplace I received a most violet stroke on the crown of my head with a club 2 feet long and as large around as a chair post." Venture clearly understood something about the law because he took the club out of Stanton's hands and went to a nearby justice of the peace with it. Stanton and his brother went with him. According to Venture, the justice told him to return to his master. He consented. The justice also cautioned his master about his treatment of his slaves. On the way back to the farm, the Stantons dismounted their horses and began beating Venture. He says "I became enraged by this and immediately turned them both under me, laid one across the other and stamped them both with my feet." After this Venture was put in handcuffs and his ankles fastened with "a large ox chain." Stanton began negotiating with neighbors to sell him and eventually he was sold to a Col. Oliver Smith. At this time, his wife, two sons and a daughter were still the property of Thomas Stanton. Venture made an arrangement with Smith to purchase his freedom. He hired himself out to fish, farm and cut wood and paid Smith one quarter of everything he earned. After four years he had paid some 71 pounds and was given his freedom. But his wife and children were still in bondage. He was 36 years old. He moved to Long Island and spent the next four years working for various people and cutting what he estimated as several thousand cords of wood. He said, "the money which I earned I laid up carefully. I bought nothing which I absolutely did not want, mates I shunned and all kinds of luxuries I was a stranger to." He then purchased his two sons, Solomon and Cuff, for $200.00 each. Four years later he purchased his pregnant wife's freedom noting that he was "prevented having another child to buy." He took the surname of Smith as slaves traditionally having only one name. His older son Solomon shipped out on a whaler against his father's wishes and died of scurvy on the voyage. When the smallest child was born he was given the name Solomon in his brother's honor. He also purchased his daughter Hanna who later died. Venture purchased a house and land on Long Island. He said, "my land and my industry was what alone saved me from being expelled from that part of the island when an act was passed that all Negroes residing there should be expelled." But a year or so later he did leave, moving to East Haddam, Connecticut. There, through hard work and thrift, he acquired 100 acres at Haddam Neck along with three houses. He owned about 20 boats, used in trade along the Connecticut River and the Rhode Island coast. Respected by most of his neighbors, he refers to prejudice only once in his memoirs. Apparently he was charged for a barrel of molasses that fell overboard at Old Saybrook, although he was merely a passenger on the boat. He paid reluctantly saying, "Captain Hart was a white man, and I a poor African; therefore, it was all right and good enough for the black dog." Legends about Venture were traded by the people of Haddam; how he walked on his knees when his feet were frost-bitten; how he freed a beached scow when old and half blind; and how he weighed more than 300 pounds and measured 6 feet around the waist. At age 69, he related his life story. At the end he said, "Though once straight and tall, I am now bowed down with age and hardship. But amidst all my griefs and pains I have many consolations; Meg, the wife of my youth, whom I married for love and bought with money, is still alive. My freedom is a privilege which nothing else can equal. I am possessed of more than 100 acres of land and three houses. It gives me joy to think that I have and that I deserve so good a character." Venture farmed for seven years more and died in 1805. He is buried in the cemetery of East Haddam Congregational Church. The inscription said, "Sacred to the Memory of Venture Smith, an African - tho the son of a King he was kidnapped and sold as a slave but by his industry he acquired Money to purchase his Freedom." Printed in the Westerly Sun, Friday, 9 March, 2001. Westerly, Rhode Island There is also a picture of the rock accompanying the article.

Hi folks, I'm unsubscribing from all my list this weekend for a few months. Here is my surnames [please contact me directly at [email protected]] ABATO/ABATE-ITALY>RI>NJ>MO [Antonio 1870; Eugene P. "Gino" "Mike" 1910; Eugene Anthony Alfred "Gino" 1934] BARTLETT-TN [Nathan; Joshue; Naricissa 1831] BURRIS-NC>VA>OH>MO [William Sr. 1763; George 1790; Cynthia 1820] CAMPBELL-TN>MO>AL [Mary "Polly" abt. 1810] DEWITT-?ME>NJ>IA [Eleanor 1796] DUNN-PA>NJ>IA>MO [Henry; John 1791; Edmund 1823; Lillie 1859] ESTES-IL>MO [Bird 1788; Wilson 1814; Elisha M.1847; James B. 1871; William Oscar 1890] EWING-IRELAND>VA>WV>OH>MO [William abt. 1690; James 1720; John 1747; Lydia 1793] FLEEMAN-VA>MO [Jane E. abt. 1833] GREEN-SC [Sallie 1795] GREGORY-NC>IL>MO [William H. abt. 1793; James Marion 1844; Jo Ann 1871] HAWK-OH>MO [John 1817; Martha 1842] HERREN-VA>TN>MO [Richard "Dickie" 1761; William 1812; Amanda 1831] HERREN-VA>TN>MO [Richard "Dickie" 1761; Wiseman 1818; Martin Hickman 1865; David Edgar 1910] JOYCE-VA>NC>OH> [Thomas 1725; Alexander 1750; William B. 1797; Narissa 1834] MANCINI-ITALY>MO [Luciano 1857; Ernesto 1885; Antonio 1909] MCDANIEL-MD>OH>MO [George 1800; Horatio 1828; Franklin P. 1855; Dewey Everett 1899; William R. 1922] MEDLEY-TN [Mary "Polly" 1809] MILLER-WV>OH [Nancy 1809] MITCHELL-PA/MD>TN>MO>CA [John; Morris 1762; Elisha 1804; James Campbell ''J.C." 1828; Elwiza Josephine 1862] MOORE-IN>?>MO>KS>CA [Jonathan 1829; James Edgar 1867; Wesley May "Mary" 1896] NOVELLO-ITALY>RI [Josephine abt. 1870] PHILLIPS-TN [Sarah "Sallie" 1831] RANDALL-ME>IA>MO[John 1785; Ephraim "Richard H." 1807; Esther 1833] SARGARENT-N. IRELAND>VA>[Margaret abt. 1722] SHANGLER-OH [Elizabeth abt. 1830] SLAUGHTER-VA>OH>IL>MO[Ezekial abt. 1779; Robert Turner 1807; Milton B. 1834; Ida May 1862] SKEETERS-IN>MO>? [Mary 1830] SMITH-SCOTLAND/IRELAND>OH [John; Ann 1754] SMITH-[Mary 1750] STAHL-NJ [Anna May abt. 1915] THOMAS-NC>TN>MO [Camm 1763; William 1791; Jesse 1821; Jesse 1865; Armentie 1892] THOMPSON- [Letitia] TOURTELLOTT-FRANCE>RI>CT>ME>IA>MO [Abraham 1655; Abraham 1697.98; Abraham 1724/25; Abraham 1744-46; Thomas B 1786; Almira 1812] WALKER-TN>MO [Hiram 1824; Martha 1845] WAT[T]ERSON-NC>TN [William E. 1819; Lucy 1865] WILLIAMS-NJ>OH>MO [Abraham abt. 1830; Arista Kimble "A.K." 1853] YOUNG-[Elizabeth 1780] Please contact me directly [email protected]!swbell.net Thank you, Ruth