date: 2/22/2006 from: Donna <[email protected]> subject: concerns about vital records policies & where to write. Our list owner posted an interesting article that may be of concern to some of you. If you missed it, please read it now or read it again. "Life & Death of Public Records" http://www.alternet.org/story/32242 If you are concerned, here is a site that lists e-mail addresses for your senators in D. C.: www.senate.gov/general/ contact_information/senators _cfm.cfm - 101k - Here is a site with e-mail addresses of the congressmen: www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email. html - 6k - Feb 20, 2006 - Never under estimate the power of letter writing. -Donna Mollaun

date: 2/21/2006 from: Donna subject: Natl Geneaological Society Does anyone know if the is a National Genealogical Society that has a lobby team?

Buried in a 2004 law on terrorism is text that could bar public access to birth and death certificates for up to 100 years The Life and Death of Public Records By Terry Allen, In These Times Posted on February 21, 2006, Printed on February 21, 2006 http://www.alternet.org/story/32242/ Sometimes it's the small abuses scurrying below radar that reveal how profoundly the Bush administration has changed America in the name of national security. Buried within the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 is a regulation that bars most public access to birth and death certificates for 70 to 100 years. In much of the country, these records have long been invaluable tools for activists, lawyers and reporters to uncover patterns of illness and pollution that officials miss or ignore. In These Times has obtained a draft of the proposed regulations now causing widespread concern among state officials. It reveals plans to create a vast database of vital records to be centralized in Washington and details measures that states must implement -- and pay millions for -- before next year's scheduled implementation. The draft lays out how some 60,000 already strapped town and county offices must keep the birth and death records under lock and key and report all document requests to Washington. Individuals who show up in person will still be able to obtain their own birth certificates and, in some cases, the birth and death records of an immediate relative, and "legitimate" research institutions may be able to access files. But reporters and activists won't be allowed to fish through records, many family members looking for genetic clues will be out of luck, and people wanting to trace adoptions will dead-end. If you are homeless and need your own birth certificate, forget it: no address, no service. Consider the public health implications. A few years back, a doctor in a tiny Vermont town noticed that two patients who lived on the same hill had ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Hearing rumors of more cases of the relatively rare and always fatal disease, the doctor notified the health department. Citing lack of resources, it declined to investigate. The doc then told a reporter, who searched the death certificates filed in the town office only to find that ALS had already killed five of the town's 1,300 residents. It was statistically possible, but unlikely, that this 10-times-higher-than-normal incidence was simply chance. Since no one knows what causes ALS, clusters like this one, once revealed, help epidemiologists assess risk factors, warn doctors to watch for symptoms,and alert neighbors and activists. Activists in Colorado already know what it is like when states bar access to vital records. For years, they fought the Cotter Corp., claiming that its uranium mining operations were killing residents and workers. Unwilling to rely on the health department, which they claimed had a "cozy" relationship with the polluters, the activists tried to access death records, only to be told that it was illegal in this closed-records state. An editorial in Colorado's Longmont Daily Times-Call lamented, "If there's a situation that makes the case for why death certificates should be available to the public, it is th[is] Superfund area." Some of state officials around the country are questioning whether the new regulations themselves illegally tread on states' rights. But the feds have been coy. Richard McCoy, public health statistic chief in Vermont, one of the nation's 14 open-records states, says, "No state is mandated to meet the regs. However, if they don't, then residents of that state will not be able to access any federal services, including social security and passports. States have no choice." But while the public loses access to records, the federal government gains a gargantuan national database easily cross-referenced in the name of national security. The feds' claim that increased security will deter identity theft and terrorism is facile. Wholesale corporate data gathering is the major nexis of identity theft. As for terrorism, all the 9/11 perpetrators had valid identification. Meanwhile, the quiet clampdown on vital records is part of a growing consolidation of information at the federal level. "That information will dovetail with the Real ID Act of 2005," says Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Real ID cards are the other shoe that is scheduled to drop in three years." That act, signed into law last May, establishes national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards, and centralizes the information into a database. Aside from public health and privacy concerns, closing vital records incurs a steep intangible cost: It undermines community in places where that healthy ethos still survives. In small town America, the local clerk's office is a sociable place where government wears the face of your neighbor. Each year, Vermont's 246 towns distribute their vital statistics to all residents. "It's the first place everybody goes in the Town Report," says state archivist Gregory Sanford. "Who was born, who died, who got married, who had a baby and wasn't married." This may not be the most dramatic danger to democracy, but it is one of the Bush administration's many quiet, incremental assaults on the health of America's body politic. And it may end up listed on the death certificate for open society. © 2006 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved. View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/32242/

Date: 2/19/2006 From: Donna Criswell Mollaun Subject: Creswells from Beers sent in by [email protected] There were many Creswell/Cresswell/Criswell/Crisswell families in the area after the Rev. War. My bunch had their surname spelled all of those ways, so the spelling doesn't seem to be a way to separate them. Sure wish somebody could make a connection between all of those Criswells! Love Beers! Grear article! In the meantime, there is a Criswell bible (my bunch) posted here if you want to take a look: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmarsha/criswellbible.htm Missing are the first two to enter the pan handle (Brooke Co.) and those names are Richard (father of Richard named in the Criswell bible) and his wife, unknown Davis. It really isn't known that unknown Davis came with Richard. She may have died in Baltimore Co., MD. -Donna

Here is some abstracted info regarding CRESWELL with a Brooke County connection: SAMUEL CRESWELL, one of the oldest, most intelligent and highly respected farmers of Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn., is a grandson of James Creswell, who came from Fort Deposit, Md., settled in Washington county about the year 1790; removed to Brooke county, W. Va., about 1800; was married to Miss Mary Johnston, a native of Lancaster county, Penn., and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Their union was blessed with nine children, namely: Robert, John, Samuel, Margaret, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine and James, all of whom died, leaving numerous descendants, who are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Robert, the eldest son of James and Mary (Johnston) Creswell, was born December 23, 1780, and came to Washington county with his father in early life. Robert was reared on the farm, but turned his attention to milling soon after becoming of age, and built for himself a mill, now known as Ryland's Mill, Brooke Co., W. Va., which he operated for many years. He was united in marriage about 1808, with Miss Mary McCarrell whose father, Thomas McCarrell, came from Ireland at an early date, and took part in the Revolutionary war, serving until the close of the conflict. To this union were born seven children, viz.: James, Eleanor, Thomas, Samuel, Robert J., Mary and Jane, of whom but two are living: James and Samuel. Samuel Creswell was born February 22, 1815, in Brooke county, Va., and attended the common schools of that section. He afterward became a millwright, in which business he was successful having built his first sawmill when but fourteen years of age. This mill is still in operation, and is known as the "Ryland's Mill." Among the many witnesses to the skill and ingenuity of Mr. Creswell are the old Wilson Mill, near West Middletown; the McBain Mill in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the old mill now known as the "Kidd Mill," which Mr. Creswell built, and operated for a number of years. He afterward came to the farm where he has since continuously resided. He was married February 2, 1837, to Mary Cunningham, a native of Washington county, born April 25, 1820, a daughter of John Cunningham, who came from Ireland at an early date. She died August 9, 1890. She was the mother of four children, viz.: Susanna, married February 7, 1861, to William Hanlin (deceased) (she first settled in Washington county, but now resides at Richmond, Ohio. She has had eight children: Samuel (deceased), Rachel J., Grace M., M. D., George A., Marie E., John D., and William F., deceased); Mary Eleanor (deceased), Rachel Jane and Emma F. Mr. Creswell has been a stanch Democrat, and one of the counselors of his party. He has 186 acres of fine land, and a comfortable home. In religion he has always been a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant Church. His daughter, Emma F., has been a photographer for several years, and has in her possession quite a number of historical photographs, the product of her own work. Text taken from page 857 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project <../beers.html>. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

Oops! 2 page numbers were listed for the transcipt of Mary Margaret Warrell's book, "How Our Little Family Grew". The correct page is 19. So Sorry! -Donna Criswell Mollaun surnames: Criswell, Davis, Gorsuch/Gossage, Lutes, Odell, Potter,

Date: 2/18/2006 From: Donna Criswell Mollaun Subject: Brooke Co., Criswell,Davis, Gorsuch/Gossage, Ogg connection The following is from page 18 of a book written by Mary Margaret Warrell, who lived in Wheeling, Ohio Co., WV. For those of you who don't know the geography of the pan handle, this is a county directly below Brooke Co.. Her book is mainly about the LITTLE family, but I have found some of my surnames in it. The title of the book is, "How My Little Family Grew". The following is a transcript of page 19: GEORGE OGG III was born in 1724 (recorded in St. Paul’s Register), son of GEORGE, JR. & MARY (POTTE) OGG. He married HELEN HAMILTON (dau. of WILLIAM). Their son BENJAMIN OGG was born 1849 (St. Thomas Register). (ca same time RICHARD CRISWELL was born). GEORGE OGG III owned Calendonia, mentioned in his 1767 will. Was wife or Revolutionary Soldier, RICHARD CRISWELL an OGG? Maybe named RACHEL. This given name is used often in CRISWELL family. RICHARD CRISWELL, born ca 1748/49 (by his testimony in Pension Declaration in Brooke Co., (W) Va. court. Pension Claim of RICHARD CRISWELL (Natl. Archives, S-6779). He was drafted and served 6 months in Capt. CHRISTOPHER OWENS’ Co., Col. LUCK’S Regt. of Balti. Co., Md. Mil,; marched from Baltimore to N. J. to camp about 2 miles from Philadelphia which was then in possession of the British. Immediately after t his service, the dates of which he did not remember, he served as a substitute, for his brother ANDREW for 3 months in the same company, participating in one battle, of Brandywine he believes. His brother ANDREW, living in the same household and being unwell, agreed to care for RICHARD’S wife and 2 children during his absence. He applied for pension Nov. 27, 1832, age 84. Only witness was RICHARD JOURDAN who served in same Regiment. Same day, SUSANNAH, wife of NICHOLAS GOSSAGE, age 50, made statement that she had known RICHARD since infancy; that he was “Uncle” by marriage”, she has repeatedly heard her father say that he had to care for RICHARD’S wife and children while he was on duty in the Revolutionary War. We had thought that this “brother ANDREW” to be a CRISWELL but from the testimony of SUSANNAH GOSSAGE (GORSUCH) it seems like he was a step-brother or brother-in-law. He is evidently ANDREW DAVIS unless SUSANNAH has a previous marriage. Perhaps the wives of RICHARD and ANDREW were sisters. WAR of 1812 RECORD GORSUCH (GOSSAGE) NICHOLAS GORSUCH on the Brooke Co., Va. muster roll May 3, 1814 under command of CAPT. MOSES CONGLETON. On Apr. 28, 1855 NICHOLAS GORSUCH was in Bethany, Brooke Co., Va. He had received land warrant for 40 acres and applied for additional bounty land. vouched for by RICHARD ADAMS. NICHOLAS GORSUCH volunteered May 3, 1814 for 3 months. Nov. 13,1855 NICHOLAS GORSUCH, age 68, was in Bethany, Va. Aug. 11, 1871 NICHOLAS GORSUCH, 87 was a resident of Blue Township, Muskingum Co., O. (P. O. Duncan Falls) widowed. He stated he had been married to SUSANNAH DAVIS near Risters Town, Md., Balt. Co. Oct. 1804. Signing as attorney and witness: WM, S. HARLAN & JONATHON E. MILHAUS, both of Zanesville. Apr. 5, 1871 he was at Confederate Cross Roads, Blue Rock Twp., Muskingum Co., O.---- --by DOROTHY ANTHONY, 143 Main St., West Farmington, O. (I am indebted for much of the Maryland records on the CRISWELL family to Mr. GEO ELY RUSSELL, 3800 Enterprise Rd., Mitchelville, Md.) There were DAVIS and GORSUCH families in Brooke Co. early. There are marriages in 1807-1809. The CRISWELLS came to Northern Neck of Virginia as this was called before July 1811 _________________________________________________________________________end of page Consider Gossage & Gorsuch to be the same name. Richard Criswell is my direct line ancestor. If you have any information about these people, please e-mail me. <[email protected]>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McConnell Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2066 Message Board Post: I am looking for descendents of Dantz McConnell (b. 1828 in Ireland). He eventually settled in Brooke County with his wife Jane. I know they had 2 children, Samuel & Lizzie McConnell (b. 1853 & 1860, respectively). If anyone has any information on them or their families, I would love to hear from you. Elizabeth Cheeks [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FCC.2ACE/2065 Message Board Post: Looking for info on the family of Nicholas Butler who moved here ca.1800 from Baltimore Md. His oldest son,Henry married Charity Baxter 9-9-1807 in Brooke Co. Nicholas's youngest son James Isaac b.1-1810 in Brooke Co. is my GGGgf.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2064.1 Message Board Post: Good morning.. Please realize...not until 1850 were families named on the census report. There are no Barnet's on the 1850 Brooke county census.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Barnet/Barnett, Robinson, Peters, Baker Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FCC.2ACE/2064 Message Board Post: George Barnet married Polly Crawford in Brooke County on June 10, 1800, Book 1A, page 41, Brooke County Marriage 1797 - 1874. Hopefully someone with access to Brooke County Census records from 1810 and 1820 can send me infomation. I believe they may be the parents of George Barnet who was the father of my Third Great Grandmother Jamina Barnett born in 1826. Samuel Barnet was in Belmont, County, Oh in the 1830 Census with his 4 year old daughter Jemina. In the 1840 Census they were in West Chester, Perry County, Oh. I believe it is quite possible Samuel was in Brooke prior to migrating to Ohio.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: SWEARINGEN, BLUE JACKET Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FCC.2ACE/2056.1.1.2.1 Message Board Post: "Red Fox" had an excellent quote: "Momma's baby, Papa's maybe. If you read any of the statistics - they provide such a situation on the average of every 8 generations or so. A married woman's child always carries the surname of the husband - regardless of parentage. Blue Jacket's descendants does not match male descendants of the Swearingens. A pretty scientific "blow" to the myth!

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Tecca, Federico, Bonitatibus, Ginelli, Boneventura, Checca etc. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FCC.2ACE/2019.1.1 Message Board Post: All the names you mentioned are from the Abruzzi area of Italy and the little town of Pettorano sul Gizio, where my grandparents, Tecca, were from. If we can go back far enough, we are all related; however, in my own famiy I have been able to get back to the 1700's. In my family there are Bonaventura and Bonitatibus. It looks like the Susi names were cousins. When did your relatives come to America? Were you able to figure out where they settled? Others from Pettorano settled in Hamilton, Canada, Ohio, PA, West Virginia, and some in the Eastern states including NY and Massachusetts. My direct line settled in PA, WV and Ohio. I have even found a line that settled in Livingston, Montana. I am happy to help in any way that I can and if you would like to email directly, use my [email protected] address. We could also talk via Ma Bell is you like. I have been to Pettorano on two occasions doing history research. jo-ann

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Susi, Ranalli Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FCC.2ACE/2019.1 Message Board Post: Hi - I am very interested in the Susi family of Pettorano sul Gizio. My gg-grandfather was Domenico/Domenick Susi, who married an Emmanuele and had at least four sons, John, Jesse, Joseph, and Philip. (These boys may have anglicized their names upon arrival in America -- Ellis Island records suggest they may have gone by Biagio, Donato, Cheddedio, etc.). My g-grandfather Philip married Christina Ranalli. His brother Jesse married Teresa Ranalli. Do you have any insight into any of these folks? Many thanks.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McCracken Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/1778.1.1 Message Board Post: Any information about the one sister, Evelyn Johnson McCracken. Please e-mail me as soon as anyone has anything. Very IMportant that I find any info on here. [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McCracken Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/1778.1 Message Board Post: Please, This is very important. Can anyone tell me about the one sister, Evelyn Johnson McCracken. Anything....... Thank you.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2056.1.1.2 Message Board Post: Here is some additional information for you. Rec'vd this in my E Mail. Hi Sharon and all There was recent corespondance between Mrs. Hubbard and Todd hanson re: a Henry D. Swearingen of Brooke County WVA. I don't have special knowledge about this fasmily as listed in the Census but I do have various other data of the family. Sharon Rouse/Eye and I have corresponded in some depth in that last few years about other families who connect to the Swearingens going back some years before the 1950 census. A Karel Whyte wrote a book on the Swearingen family in America which I don't have, but I do have a lot of her work and much more of my and other's studies. However I am far from an expert in the family but I am a collector. An observation follows - offered without any restudying as I have been very busy working on other related families such as the Fouke and Chapline families of WVA and elsewhere. I seem to remember a special familiy of Swearingens who moved from ther Hagerstown, Maryland area to Western PA in/about 1760s. They had MANY children and moved to the Buffalo creek areain a disputed ownership area near Wheeling that I tend to think of as in North Ohio County. Two of their sons Marmaduke and his brother apparently was seized by the Indians in a raid and carried off to an Indian Village where Chief Cornplanter lived. [Many accounts exist regarding this Event, but one must know that the whole affair is now adjudged by most "experts" as being pure myth!].Marmaduke's brother was released As the "myth" goes -in brief - Cornplanter adopted the lad as his own son and trained him to be sub-chief.. They named him Blue Jacket as he wore the tattered remnants of his English Jacket. Blue jacket went on to become a great chief - killing many English during the period of unrest which eventuated in Lord Dunsmore War, One killed was a Swearingen (would have been an uncle) who was a Captain of troops along the Ohio. Blue Jacket lived a long time - eventually making peace with the English Ohioans and died with honor. His story is commerated each year and a play-pagent put on in a town in Southern Ohio. From my study of the facts and unfacts I believe there was reason to believe some segmenmts of the story.....but surely not all. A DNA study of Blue Jacket's descendants does not match male descendants of the Swearingens. A pretty scientific "blow" to the myth! Dick Matteson 5204 Paducah Rd. College Park, MD 20740 301-4412-2885 [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2056.1.1.1 Message Board Post: If you will contact this woman, she may be able to help you. Just tell her that I gave you her name Eye White, Sharon "BCG" Rouse E-mail Address(es): [email protected] Personal Information: Address: 11 North 19th St #A Wheeling, WV 26003 USA Phone: 277-4749 Notes: Searching Swearingen, Van Swearingen, Roney, Fouke, Chapline, Weaver

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McCoy-Franklin-Crist-Wyatt-Edwards-Garrett-Lewis-Parks-Long-Montgomery-Lessor-Flint- Melville=Mollenkamp-Wideman- Kumbeir- Barber Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2063 Message Board Post: I have been trying for over 20 years to learn the identity of Harvey’s parents/siblings & the location of his birth. Place. Any help, suggestions & or information would be very much appreciated, I have really hit a brick wall. Below is a list of his & His wife’s children. I would be very interested in where Louisa was born, Her parents names were: John Crist, born in 1789 & Nancy Woodcock, born November 05, 1797, Louisa was one of nine children, she had 8 brothers & sisters. Thank You His great great-grandson Gayle M. Garrett Husband: Harvey McCoy Born: December 23,1813 in: Virginia, or could now be West Virginia or part of a neighboring State Married: October 03, 1842 in: Perry County, Indiana Died: December 17,1895 in: Appanoose County, Iowa Burial: December 1895 in: Mount Pleasant Baptist Cemetery, Monroe County, Iowa Father: Mother: Other Spouses: Wife: Louisa Crist Born: About. 1821 in: Indiana Died: December 18, 1893 in: Appanoose County, Iowa Burial: December 1893 in: Mount Pleasant Baptist Cemetery, Monroe County, Iowa Father: John Crist Mother: Nancy Woodcock Other Spouses: CHILDREN 1 Name: Matthias McCoy Born: July 10, 1843 in: Perry County, Indiana Married: in: M Died: Apri130, 1864 in: Killed in action in Civil War Battle at Mark's Mills, Arkansas Burial: Spouse: 2 Name: Jehu Hardy McCoy, my great grandfather Born: October 18, 1844 in: Perry County, Indiana M Died: August 04,1926 in: Graham County, Kansas Burial: in: Leland Cemetery, Leland TWP ., Graham County, Kansas Married: August 09, 1866 in: Centerville, Iowa Spouse: Elizabeth Wyatt. 3 Name: John Riggs McCoy Born: November 20, 1846 in: Perry Co. , Indiana M Died: February 22,1935 in: Ottumwa, Iowa, Wapello County Burial: February 22,1935 in: Brooks Cemetery, Wapello County, Iowa Married: May 10,1866 in: Appanoose County, Iowa Spouse: Eliza Ann Gillman 4 Name: Lewis C. McCoy Born: September 28,1848 in: Perry County, Indiana Died: October 05,1925 in: Appanoose County, Iowa M Burial: in: Hillcrest Cemetery, Taylor Twp., Appanoose County, Iowa Married: in: Spouse: Sarah K. Gray 5 Name: Melissa Ann "Sis" McCoy Born: August 10, 1853 in: Moravia, Iowa, Appanoose County Died: December 31, 1929 in: Iowa F Burial: in: Hillcrest Cemetery, Taylor Twp., Appanoose County, Iowa Married: in: Spouse: William Henry Pence 6 Name: Isaac Madison McCoy Born: May 27, 1855 in: Moravia, Iowa, Appanoose County M Died: January 09,1937 in: Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma Burial: January 12, 1937 in: Collinsville Cemetery Married: May 30, 1875 in: Spouse: Alice Jane Main 7 Name: Arstarkus McCoy Born: April 11, 1858 in: Iowa M Died: March 11, 1926 in: Moravia, Iowa, Appanoose County Burial: in: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Moravia, Iowa, Appanoose County 1

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McKim-Atkinson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/2062 Message Board Post: Does anyone know if the McKim log cabin is still standing on McKim Ridge? I read an article about it on the Brooke county website. Thank you. Mardell