Rochester, Monroe, NY Rochester Republican Mar 8, 1849 THE DIVORCE BILL - A bill has been introduced in the Assembly, and is exciting considerable discussion, in relation to divorce. The leading features of the bill are, that divorce may be obtained for the following reasons: ! ..Adultery — as at present 2..Imprisonment in State Prison for not less than two years. 3..Attempting homicide, when such attempt was not justifiable. 4..Union with a sect which denies the marriage relation. 5..Insanity, for a period of five years. We regret to see the proposition to grant a divorce in cases of insanity. It appears to us that in such an event, the conjugal relation should not be dissolved. Insanity is not a crime, and in cases of insanity, if ever, this relation should not be disturbed. ** SUDDEN DEATH — Miss Eliza Catharine McARAN, aged 19 years, residing in Washington city, on Tuesday last, in ascending a pair of stairs, her mouth filled suddenly with blood, and on descending to the room where her mother was sitting continued to eject blood until she expired. Previously she was apparently in good health. She was to have been married on the evening of the occurrence, to a gentleman residing in Philadelphia. ** A courteous Frenchman, in reply to the question why women were not admitted into the Chamber of Deputies, said, that to be a member it was requisite to be 40 years old, and it was impossible to suppose that any lady could reach that unseemly age. ** SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOUSE OF REFUGE — The committee of managers whose duty it was to inform Mr. WOOD of his appointment as Superintendent of the Western House of Refuge, received a communication from him yesterday, accepting the appointment. ** THE MURDER OF MRS. WALKER IN N. Y. The New York papers contain the proceedings of the investigation of this case before the Coroner's Jury on Friday last. The evidence is somewhat voluminous, and we propose to give only such parts of it as are pertinent, much of it being, as in all such investigations, but repetitions of the same facts. It appears from the testimony of Mrs. Eliza H. WELLS, an aunt of the deceased, that the maiden name of Mrs. WALKER was Martha Eliza BLACKWOOD — that she was first married in 1834 to Charles F. MILLER, with whom she lived about eight years. They separated, and about a year after the deceased obtained a divorce from him in the State of Connecticut. After obtaining the divorce she remained in Connecticut a short time and then went to Yonkers, where she lived until her marriage with the accused in 1846. She then came to new York and resided with WALKER as his wife. They next to St. Louis, remained there two years and returned to New York, and lived at 422 Greenwich street. After living there a few weeks the deceased went to live with her aunt, Mrs. WALKER. Mrs. W. further testifies as follows: Mr. WALKER has visited her sometimes; he has called two or three days running, and sometimes he would not call for ten or twelve days; never remained all night; only went into the parlor; I think I never was present when they were together here; I don't know whether any difficulty ever occurred between them when they were together; she has told me that he would make great professions of attachment sometimes; she said she tho't his family were not her friends; she told me that Mr. WALKER denied that they were married; I think she did not tell me that Mr. WALKER exacted from her any professions or statement relative to their marriage; she never said anything about his wanting her sign a paper; she told me that she wanted him to sign a paper, acknowledging the time when they were married; he refused at first at another time she told me that he had offered to sign it; he did not sign it; she did not tell me but once that he had promised her to sign the paper; she showed me the paper; I first saw at three or four weeks ago. He was here the evening before the deceased was injured; the deceased spoke to me about a pistol some weeks since; she said Mr. WALKER had a pistol; that she had it in her hand, <snip> didn't get the rest. ** BOY BURIED ALIVE — The New York Tribune gives an account of finding the remains of a boy seven years old, who was lost in August last. He was missed by his playmates, and never found till last Friday, when he was dug out from a sand bank, where the poor little fellow must have been buried alive by the falling in of the bank. He was a son of Francis RILEY. ** We find this in the Albany Knickerbocker. A man was found at Trenton the other day, mounted on a ladder, with his lips pressed to the telegraph wires. He was kissing his wife in Philadelphia ‘by telegraph.' It was found on enquiry, that he was a newly married man. ** John A. COLLIER is mentioned, according to the Albany Express, as likely to be appointed Naval Officer of the port of New York. His name is also mentioned in connection with the office of Solicitor of the Treasury. — [Alb. Atlas] ** Find ALL of the News Abstracts for Monroe Co., NY at http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/NY/Monroe/index.html -- GjS

Hello all ... While finding one of my NY surnames is certainly hit-or-miss, I am so grateful for all contributions and being an optimist, feel sure someone, somewhere will provide just the tidbit I've been looking for since 1968. While many of us do not have access to old New York newspapers, I imagine we all have access to items of great value to others. For some years I have contributed to two Genweb county web sites. The first is where I live and the other is where my father grew up and I was given a box history by his sister which includes newspapers, old school programs and a copyright-expired county book. For 15 years I have also helped people researching ancestors who lived in my county (though I have none here). You, too, can help others. Go to your museum or library. Ask for early city directories (over 75-years-old), school annuals, or civic organization's membership rosters. Make copies, type and then submit them to the owner of your own county web site. What is important is for each of us contribute to the knowledge of others in our own way. By priming the pump where you live, someone who has access to the information you seek might decide to do a little searching. At least that's what I keep hoping. Happy hunting, clemi