In a message dated 10/17/99 7:34:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time, hopefarm@hopefarm.com writes: << I attended an historian's meeting this morning at which a speaker, almost as an aside, mentioned that by law municipal historians could not do genealogical research for a person. >> Well then , will they answer a letter asking for help with ' my family history ' I recently sent out 50 letters , todate I have only received 5 replies !! , do you all think I can expect more , or have they roundfiled them , ' gothelp? ' Phil

-- [ From: Richard Frisbie * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] -- Dear Mary C. VanAlstyne and Listmembers, Mostly - I agree with what has been posted, and in some places it isn't up to me to agree or disagree. However, please don't shoot the messenger. I related a quote from a speaker at an historians meeting - not my feelings. And, as far as the "consensus of opinion" goes about "no order forbidding them to so do" - it was stated as a local law prohibiting municipal historians (in New York State) for doing genealogical research on anyone's behalf. I reported it because it surprised me too - I hadn't heard of it either. About historians themselves - well-said Mary! Truly, they usually have no salary, no budget, demands from all levels for their very limited time, and a genuine love of history -- AND - my respect. Richard

To Richard & the List. After reading Richard's message about the duties of municipal historians and what they couldn't do, I contacted a couple of my historian friends and asked if they are specifically forbidden to handle genealogy requests/ The consesus of opinion is that they do not have to handled genealogy requests but there is no order forbidding them to so do. One gave me permission to quote her thus" The duties being: to research and document the history of the town of (in her case, Alabama) and make this information available to the public. Although this includes recordingimportant events of the lives of the people that lived here; it does not necessarily mean to track each person's lineage." So it is not forbidden, basically our job is how far we wish to take. Cindy sent a copy of the information from "Historians Guide A Hand Book for Local Historians" provided by theNew York State Education Department. since it is a rather lengthy description, I'll only quote the parts applying directly to genealogy........ "And, when the social historian begin to work with family history and to focus on a broader network of kinship relationsips over time, and when the genealogist begins to spend time and effort in indexing the same manuscript census returnsthat historians use, it is time for the two groups to examine their common ground That common ground belongs not only to the genealogist and the academic historian but also to the archivist, to the museum curator and to the preservationist. Most importantly, that common ground belongs to the local historian. Suddenly, it seems that many people, bot locally and across the nation, seem to be interested in this turf. Thus, the local historian begins confronting a whole array of new audiences with new kinds of questions and with new needs. How should the local historian respond? There are two levels of answers to this question. One level is individual. How will each historian choose to define the job? This level is the one at which most local historians operate whether by mecessity or by choice. The other level is collective. How will historians, as members of the body of officially appointed historians in New York State, choose to define their jobs? Both levels are important. (The next portion of the instructions include a laundry list of all the very important accomplishments of the local historian ) In short, responding to observed public need and to the texture of the historical record in each locality, the local historians have carried out their honorable and essential function as keepers of collective past in whatever ways they saw fit. For this task, most have received no pay and only a minimal budget for supplies and equipment. With luck, they might have received money for travel to official meetings. But most hisotirans have done their work primarily because they loved to do it, both for its intellectual rewards and because it offered a chance for real public service. So it has been the historians themselves who have been the only people todate able to define the scope and fabric of their activities" My comments...:And I can only add to that, that I believe the majority of our historians do a teriffic job with very little pay. However, there are historians who dislike getting involved with genealogy and they do have a right to refuse to do any genealogical research. I believe that each township does have to appoint a historian, but the funding is usually at the very bottom of the budget and they have to find someone with a love for history and people.Mary C. VanAlstyne Mary C. VanAlstyne

I recently became the State Contact for Rhode Island and Vermont. I'm looking for a few good volunteers to join GenExchange and our group of many volunteers working to bring free access to genealogical information over the internet. If you live in or near one of the open counties or have access to material from any county, please consider adopting a county and becoming a county contact. To adopt a county go to the county contact list on the state page and click adopt me from any vacant county. Fill out the application and hit return. It is that simple, Your application will be reviewed and you will hear from us in a couple of days. Rhode Island - http://www.genexchange.com/counties.cfm?state=ri *All counties are up for adoption. Vermont - http://www.genexchange.com/counties.cfm?state=vt *All counties are up for adoption. Best regards, Debbie Debbie Whitman - dwhitman@genexchange.com RIGenExchange http://www.genexchange.com/ri/index.cfm http://www.genexchange.com/vt/index.cfm

My grandmother, Lydia Schilling RAUB, kept a little diary/scrapbook. In it is a newpaper clipping headed "Turning pages back 65 years", about the 65th wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Saxton from Newark, NJ, back to Ulster County, NY, where they were married. There's a picture of the couple. I've scanned the picture..for what it's worth...the original is pretty yellowed, so it's not great quality any more...and retyped the small article underneath. If anyone would like it, I'll be happy to send it to you as a Word attachment. Elizabeth BEN SCOTER shared common ancestors with my grandfather, Daniel RAUB---Anthony VAN BENSCHOTEN and Margriet WELS, but the connection was several generations back...so I don't know if they were acquainted because of this relationship, or whether it was just a coincidence. Another one of those genealogical mysteries I'll never solve! Jan Raub Reuther

Hello again, I am ready to move on from Hendrick. But we can still discuss new information if anybody has anything to offer that has been following my posts. I recieved a beautiful scan of a Deed with both Hendrick and Elizabeth Kortrights signatures on it clear as day. Since I mention Elizabeth let's move on to her. Elizabeth "Liddie" Hornbeck, married Hendrick "Henry" Kortright on 28 Dec 1739 in Rochester (Raysester) twp, Ulster Co., NY. This was during the Governship of William Crosby, and when Albany was appointed its first English Mayor, Edward Holland. It would then change in 1747 when the silversmith, Jacob C. Ten Eyck would be the first Dutch Mayor of Albany. Elizabeth and children went with Henry West to Virginia and the South Branch community about 1760 where they bought land as mentioned in the deed above. This area would later become Hampshire County WV. Elizabeth Hornbeck was born May 13th 1722. Five years younger than her husband. She was born in Kingston, NY. Her parents were Johannes "John" HORNBECK and Orseltjen "Urseltje" WESTBROEK. She had Eight Brothers: Benjamin, Richard, Daniel, Samuel, Jonathan, Isaac, Abraham and another Bejamin. She also had two sisters: Annatjen (who married Jeems Simson) and Lena "Eleanor" (That married Cornelius Cutteract). ((He might be a Cutright??)) Elizabeth's Father died eight years after her and Henry moved out west at the Manor of Fox Hall, Kingston, NY (I would like to know more about this place). At least four Brothers went West with her and Henry: Richard, Daniel, Samuel, Jonathan, Abraham and possibly Isaac. That is about all I know about this lovely lady. Maybe we can add to her history. Your cousin, Jay Steffens

> ----- > Do you happen to have any further info on Catharine Crom? (siblings or parents?) Thanks. > Subject: Hendrick "Henry" Kortright Pt.2 > Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:36:19 -0400 > From: "J.Steffens" <lynx1063@erols.com> > To: NYULSTER-L@rootsweb.com > > So far there has not been much response to add to what I presented on > Hendrick "Henry" Kortright. There may not be anymore to add. I will post > this information for discussion before moving on. > > >From Gordon Courtright > > Children of HENDRICK KORTREGT and CATHARINE CROM are: > ii. GEERTJN6 KORTRIGHT, b. Aft. 1703; d. Died young. > 19. iii. HENDRICK "HENRY" KORTRIGHT, b. Aft. 1706, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; > d. Aft. 1752. > iv. CATHARINA KORTRECHT, b. 1709, Raysester, Ulster Co., NY25; m. TEUNIS > MIDDAGH, 13 September, 1728, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY25.

Many thanks for all the help on my publishing project. I hope those who answered will post to the list, because the answers (particularly from Marty, who runs the OCGS research room) were very insightful. I've decided to put my stuff in a three-ring binder, probably using sheet protectors just as I set up my working notebook. As Marty pointed out, these binders stand up on the shelf and don't get lost behind other volumes. I may use the plastic coil type binding for my B-list libraries. The cheapo plastic comb bindings I'll reserve for my ungrateful family members who don't share my interest in genealogy. I was advised not to include e-mail and written correspondence, just paraphrase it. And listers suggested I get permission to include photos of living descendants. (Think I'll just include photos in the binders sent to family members.) I don't have enough information yet to do a Table of Contents, Index, etc. This is only volume one of the saga. I do have a lot of primary source documentation that I'd like to share with other researchers. And we all know the gods of genealogical research smile down on those who share. Cheers, Elizabeth

-- [ From: Richard Frisbie * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] -- Listmembers I attended an historian's meeting this morning at which a speaker, almost as an aside, mentioned that by law municipal historians could not do genealogical research for a person. Interestingly, he added that if the historians did genealogy work on their own and someone asked them a question about it - they could answer (as in - share their own work). But, their municipal work was in the Family History line, NOT genealogy. Admittedly - that is a very fine line - I just didn't know there was a law about it. It also came up about the income generated by genealogists and how a Southern State genealogy group documented so much money coming into their state capital (hotels, restaurants, gas etc.) from genealogists using the State Archives, that they convinced the state to build a new archives building and keep it open on Saturday and Sunday! (You mean - when people can use it? Amazing!) So - if you want the archives of NY more accessible, send them a letter. Richard Frisbie

Greetings List, Many, many thanks to each and everyone of you who responded to my Modena question. I've had over 20 responses on the list and to my e-mail address. This just proves what we all know, that our list is the GREATEST!! Best Regards, Barbara Jones Pulley

I am ready to *publish* a slim volume of my findings on the HARRIS/CRAWFORD/YOUNGBLOOD families of Montgomery, Crawford and Mamakating and would like some advice from listers. Publish is perhaps too strong a word -- I want to put together in a coherent manner census records, obits, family group charts, etc. to mail to historical societies, libraries, gen. societies that helped me. I will write a 3-4 page introduction on these families, but most of the volume (booklet) will be photocopies of my documentation. An experienced genealogist told me that these folders of information, sent round to libraries and societies for their vertical files, are great finding tools. Any tips on doing this in an inexpensive manner? Should I include e-mail and written correspondence with hired researchers? These exchanges clarify a lot of research problems, but I wonder about privacy issues, also it adds bulk. Should I include family photos of living descendants? Should I combine documentation for the two families or separate them to be filed under different names? What sort of binding do you recommend? I plan to go to Kinko's and I really don't want to spend a lot. Hope these questions don't sound too brainless. I think a lot of intermediate-level genealogists would be interested in the answers, so perhaps listers can post answers to the list. Thanks in advance, Elizabeth Pope, Tampa, Fl.

Looking for family information on Jenkins' marriages to: Bertholf; Le Fevre; Du Bois; Barton; Goetschius; Vernvoy; Barnhardt; Townsend; Rosekranz; Hardenbergh. All in the Ulster County, N.Y. area from about 1800 to 1820 time frame. If anyone has any information on these marriages and would like to share please Email me. Tom Jenkins from Texas tjenkins@ghg.net

Does anyone know where I can find old issues of subject newspaper? I have a copy of one page circa 1930's, entitled "Phoenicia Section" that has subset headings for Willow and Spruceton. I've inquired at Woodstock and Phoenicia Libraries, and Woodstock Historical Society....no one knows. Perhaps this was a Delaware or Greene County paper. Ginny Byron vbyron@ulster.net

Modena is a community just west of the Thruway on route 44. I don't believe it is a municipality but it does have a zip code, 12584. It is part of the Township of Platekill. Bill Staples

Barbara, I use the USGS Mapping Information page at http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html to help me with unfamiliar places. I looked up Modena for you. Modena is now Clintondale. Regards, Sue Dewey suebee@flash.net

Good morning to all! Am hoping that someone still living in Ulster County, maybe near Ellenville, can help me. My grandmother's death cert. stated that both her parents were born in Modena, Ulster Co. I haven't had any success locating such a place, other than that it may be near Plattkill, which doesn't help, as I don't know where that is/was. Does Modena still exist? If not, where would the records from there be? I certainly will appreciate any help with this. The 2 surnames involved were Schoonmaker and Seymour. Regards, Barbara Jones Pulley Southeastern NC

Barbara; In looking at my map of Ulster County I find MODENA located in Plattekill Township at the intersection of routes 44/55 and 32. It is just west of I-87. Hope this helps. Don White

Here's the website that gives info on Ulster County towns. Modena is included. I believe this site is referenced at the Ulster County GenWeb site. http://www.bearsystems.com/ Regards, Ginny Byron vbyron@ulster.net

Dear Barbara, Modena is located in Ulster County, just south of New Paltz. Postal zip code is 12548. It's in my "Rand McNally Road Atlas". There's an Ulster County website that gives info on all towns....can't recall the url, but if you do a web search on "modena, new york" or "ulster county, new york" it should pop up. Regards, Ginny Byron vbyron@ulster.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Pulley <bearlady@duplinnet.com> To: <NYULSTER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 11:58 AM Subject: MODENA > Good morning to all! > Am hoping that someone still living in Ulster County, maybe near > Ellenville, can help me. My grandmother's death cert. stated that both her > parents were born in Modena, Ulster Co. > I haven't had any success locating such a place, other than that it may be > near Plattkill, which doesn't help, as I don't know where that is/was. > Does Modena still exist? If not, where would the records from there be? > I certainly will appreciate any help with this. > The 2 surnames involved were Schoonmaker and Seymour. > Regards, > Barbara Jones Pulley > Southeastern NC >

So far there has not been much response to add to what I presented on Hendrick "Henry" Kortright. There may not be anymore to add. I will post this information for discussion before moving on. >From Gordon Courtright Children of HENDRICK KORTREGT and CATHARINE CROM are: ii. GEERTJN6 KORTRIGHT, b. Aft. 1703; d. Died young. 19. iii. HENDRICK "HENRY" KORTRIGHT, b. Aft. 1706, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; d. Aft. 1752. iv. CATHARINA KORTRECHT, b. 1709, Raysester, Ulster Co., NY25; m. TEUNIS MIDDAGH, 13 September, 1728, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY25. Children of PETRUS KORTRIGHT and MARYTJEN-MARRITJE VAN GARDEN are: 31. i. HENDRICK "HENRY"6 KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT, b. August 1717, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY. 32. ii. RACHEL KORTRIGHT, b. 1720, Prob. Raysester, Ulster Co., NY. 33. iii. ABRAHAM PIETERSEN KORTRIGHT, b. 1724, Raysester, Ulster Co., NY. 34. iv. TIACTJE "TJETJEN-TJAETJE" KORTRIGHT, b. 1727, Raysester, Ulster Co., NY; d. Bef. 1750, Prob. Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY. 35. v. MARYA KORTRIGHT, b. 1730, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY. 36. vi. PETRUS KORTRIGHT, b. 1732. 37. vii. ANNETJE KORTRIGHT, b. 1734, Raysester, Ulster Co., NY. So, there were two Hendrick “Henry” Kortrights born within 10 years of each other. This could lead to confusion. Both in Kingston. Their Fathers: Petrus "Pieter" and Hendrick Hendricksen (JR) were Brothers; sons of Hendrick Jansen Kortright Van Beest.. I decend from The son of Petrus Kortright that married Elizabeth "Liddie" HORNBECK. 31. HENDRICK "HENRY"6 KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT (PETRUS "PIETER" HENDRICKSEN5 KORTRIGHT, HENDRICK JANSEN "VAN BEEST"4 VAN KORTRYK, JAN-BASTIAN "BASTIAENSEN"3, SEBASTIAN "BASTIAEN"2 VAN KORTRIJK, SEBASTIAN Y1 CORTEZ) was born August 1717 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY99. He married ELISABETH "LIDDIE" HOORNBEEK 28 December, 1739 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY99, daughter of JOHANNES HOORENBEEK and ORSELTIEN WESTBROEK. Notes for HENDRICK "HENRY" KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT: Parents: Pieter Kortregt and Marytjen Van Garden; Child: Hendrik; Witnesses: Louwerens Kortregt and Zara ten Eyk. More About HENDRICK "HENRY" KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT: Baptism: 22 September, 1717, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY99 Notes for ELISABETH "LIDDIE" HOORNBEEK: Record No. 3002. Parents: Johannes Hoornbeek and Orseltjen Wesbroek; Child: Elisabeth; Witnesses: Jan Vaarten and Tryntjen Oosterhoud. More About ELISABETH "LIDDIE" HOORNBEEK: Baptism: 13 May, 1722, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY99 Children of HENDRICK KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT and ELISABETH HOORNBEEK are: 124. i. JOHN "THE BEAR HUNTER"7 KORTRIGHT-CUTRIGHT, b. August 1747, Hampshire Co., VA, now Moorefield, Hardy Co., WV; d. 24 December, 1830, Ross Co., OH. 125. ii. CHARITY CUTRIGHT. 126. iii. BENJAMIN CUTRIGHT, b. 1740, Fairfax, WV. I disagree with Gordon here, Their first child was not John "The Bear Hunter" Cutright, but John "The Indian Scout" Cutright. Gordon has in his notes that these two individuals are one person. John "The Bear Hunter" Married Elizabeth Subre and moved to Ohio. John "The Indian Scout" married Rebecca Truby and stayed in Buckhannon West Va.