In a message dated 11/11/00 10:25:06 AM Eastern Standard Time, julie0521@earthlink.net writes: << Subj: HCC lookup Date: 11/11/00 10:25:06 AM Eastern Standard Time From: julie0521@earthlink.net (Julie ) Reply-to: julie0521@earthlink.net To: kwsroots@aol.com Ken - Rather than a look-up, I have a general "how-to" question that you may be able to help me with. My question is how to handle historical place names that have changed names. One example would be the city of Osnabruck. Today it is a city in Lower Saxony in Germany, but it had a tumultuous history: until 1801, Osnabruck was independent and ruled by a Prince Bishop. In 1801, it was overrun by the Prussians In 1803, it was invaded by Napoleon's France In 1805, the Prussians were back In 1806, the French returned and Osnabruck was part of the French Empire. In 1814, it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Hanover. What would be the proper way to record the life events, recognizing the geo-political boundaries of that period: Person 1 born 1624 in Osnabruck Person 2 born 1802 in Osnabruck, Prussia Person 3 born 1804 in Osnabruck, France Person 4 born 1815 in Osnabruck, Hanover. or record them all with today's boundaries--Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany? I know that this request is a bit outside of you normal scope for volunteer look-ups. I have unsuccessfully searched for the answer and thought you may be able to steer me in the correct direction. Thanks for any help that you may be able to provide. _Julie >> Hi Julie, I'm afraid I don't know how much help I can be. Saying "this request is a bit outside of your normal scope" is like saying the election results in Florida are a bit unsettled. In any event, I'm sending a copy of your request to the Mail List in hopes that there are others who may better help you. One possibility of accommodation, using your example for Person 2, would be to say that Person 2 was born 1802 in Osnabruck, Prussia, and then add parenthetically "(present day Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany)." Huron County, Ohio, in its formative stages in the early 1800's, had townships going hither and yon, combining and separating, some being annexed to adjacent counties. Ruggles township, for example, was part of Huron County until 1846 when it became part of adjacent Ashland County, Ohio. So, as another example, it might be acceptable to say, that in 1844, "Jacob Smith settled on section 2, lot 27 in Ruggles Township, Huron County, Ohio (present day Ashland County, Ohio)." Hope you get some good suggestions from the Mail List. Regards, Ken Shute, in MD (kwsroots@aol.com).

Julie, I too am interested in how folks respond. I have similar situation here in Ohio. My ancestors settled circa 1803 in the 1st quarter-township of Range 4, Township 5, USMD. Below I will list the counties their residence was in along with the year: 1802-1803: Washington County, Northwest Territory (Ohio) 1803-1804: Washington County, Ohio 1804-1808: Muskingum County, Ohio (area referred to as District 4) 1808-1810/11: Oxford Twp., Tuscarawas County, Ohio 1811-present: Oxford Twp., Coshocton County, Ohio I have been listing each child's birth place as it was called at the time of birth and then in my text or research notes indicating that the homestead is now located in Oxford Twp., Coshocton Co. OH. I am also including every map I can find showing the changes in boundaries over time so that my family can visually understand what I am trying to say. Maps that line up correctly have been hard to find and they often don't include every year, which I almost need. County maps that show early township boundary changes would be wonderful - has anyone ever seen a publication like that? > Ken - Rather than a look-up, I have a general "how-to" question that you > may be able to help me with. My question is how to handle historical place > names that have changed names. > > One example would be the city of Osnabruck. Today it is a city in Lower > Saxony in Germany, but it had a tumultuous history: > > until 1801, Osnabruck was independent and ruled by a Prince Bishop. > In 1801, it was overrun by the Prussians > In 1803, it was invaded by Napoleon's France > In 1805, the Prussians were back > In 1806, the French returned and Osnabruck was part of the French Empire. > In 1814, it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Hanover. > > What would be the proper way to record the life events, recognizing the > geo-political boundaries of that period: > > Person 1 born 1624 in Osnabruck > Person 2 born 1802 in Osnabruck, Prussia > Person 3 born 1804 in Osnabruck, France > Person 4 born 1815 in Osnabruck, Hanover. > > or record them all with today's boundaries--Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, > Germany?