Society Saturday - Is there a witch in your family tree?

It's almost Halloween, when the goblins and ghouls and witches come out. 

Did you know that there were at least 316 people accused, tried or convicted of witchcraft in the colonies prior to 1700?

While the victims of the Salem witch hysteria are probably the best known "witches", there were many more episodes in our colonial history.

The first known execution for witchcraft in the colonies was that of Alice Young who was hanged in 1647 at Hartford, CT.

The majority of witchcraft accusations occurred in New England, especially Massachusetts and Connecticut.  There were other occurrences throughout the colonies, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 

There was even a woman, Katherine Grady, who was hanged from a yardarm on board a ship bound for Virginia in 1654.

The Associated Daughters of Early American Witches is a lineage organization which honors the memory of these men and women who were victims of this dark period of our history.

www.adeaw.us

From Russia with Love - Part 3

Part 3 - Becoming American

Here is the last part of the Steinbrecher trilogy -
They started in Russia:  http://whatsmylineage.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-russia-with-love-part-1.html
They sailed across the atlantic ocean:  http://whatsmylineage.blogspot.com/2011/09/from-russia-with-love-part-2.html

Finally, they settled in Fulton County, Ohio.

This is the Lutheran Church in Pettisville where they worshiped (as it looked in 2010)

They settled near Pettisville, a town with a large population of other German speakers.  My great-grandmother never really learned to speak English.  My great-grandfather could speak enough to "get by".  This is understandable, considering the family lived in Russia for over 100 years and still spoke primarily German.

They did become citizens of the United States on 3 October 1910.

My great-grandparents were:

John William Steinbrecher, born 14 August 1859 in Doenhoff, Russia, son of Johann Wilhelm and Catherine Elizabeth Steinbrecher.
He married (1) Catherine Baus on 27 December 1881.  They had:
1. William Steinbrecher, born 13 August 1882 in Russia
2. Katharine S. Steinbrecher, born 30 May 1884 in Russia
3. Eva Elizabeth Steinbrecher, born 31 May 1886 in Russia
4. Marie Elizabeth Steinbrecher, born 5 July 1888 in Russia
Catherine died on 25 August 1888 and John married (2) Eva Elizabeth Hettinger on 4 June 1889 in Doenhoff.  She was the daughter of Jacob & Eva (Schlegel) Hettinger and was born 30 August 1866 in Doenhoff.
They had:
5. Henry Steinbrecher, born 10 September 1890 in Russia
6. Rosa Steinbrecher, born 13 June 1892 in Nebraska
7. John Steinbrecher, born 22 June 1894 in Fulton Co., OH.
8. Clara Steinbrecher, born 24 August 1895 in Fulton Co., OH
9. Lorenz Louis Steinbrecher, born 18 September 1898 in Fulton Co., OH
10. Arthur E. Steinbrecher, born 25 May 1906 in Fulton Co., OH.

This family photo was taken in late 1894.  

Back: children William, Eva and Katherine Steinbrecher

Front: children Henry and Rosa Steinbrecher, parents Johann Wilhelm and Eva Elizabeth (Hettinger) Steinbrecher, children John and Marie Steinbrecher.

They are buried at Pettisville Lutheran Cemetery, Pettisville, Fulton Co., Ohio with William's parents and some of their children and grandchildren.

Society Saturday - "Hats off to Our Heritage"

The National Society Children of the American Colonists has a project every year to support our colonial heritage.  Usually, when we think of colonial america, the original thirteen colonies come to mind.  There were europeans living farther west as early as the late 1680's.  These were predominantly fur traders who enjoyed a business relationship with the native americans in areas of present-day Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.  This history is commemorated at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, IL.

This year, National President Amanda Nagy has chosen to support the Museum.  She is raising funds to help build a hands-on exhibit to show school children what happens to the furs that the traders obtain from the indians.  The children will learn how the furs are made into beaver skin hats similar to the iconic hat worn by Abraham Lincoln.

Her National Project theme is "Hats off to our Heritage" and she will be selling lapel pins to help raise money.

The Illinois Chapter of CAC recently visited the Isle a la Cache Museum and saw the area of the proposed exhibit.

Military Monday - Lookout Mountain

On 24 November 1863, the "Battle above the Clouds" took place on Lookout Mountain just south of Chattanooga, TN.  It allowed the Union to take control of the railroad supply lines at Wauhatchie and marked the beginning of the end for the South.  This was followed by the battle of Missionary Ridge and Orchard Knob on 25 November 1863.

Three of my Civil War ancestors fought at these battles, known collectively as the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign:

John J. Neeley was in the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry which participated in the battle of Missionary Ridge.

George W. Wiley was in the which participated in the 73rd Illinois Infantry which participated in the battles of Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge.

William D. Hill was in the 59th Illinois Infantry which participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.

Apparently, it was quite popular for veterans to visit Lookout Mountain and reminisce.   This photo shows my great-great-grandfathers C.C. Ormsby, J.J. Neeley and Dick Shores posing atop the Mountain.  

Charles Clark Ormsby was in the 123rd Illinois Infantry which camped at Maysville, AL during this time.  Although his regiment did not fight at Lookout Mountain, it was a great photo op.

I am not sure who Dick Shores was.  He may have been the Richard Shore born ca 1848 in Ohio who served in the 149th Indiana Infantry and died 30 August 1930 in Casey, IL (Pension index at NARA).  The census lists Richard Shore living in Casey, IL in 1880 (born ca 1848 in OH), and Richard Shores living in Crooked Creek Township, Cumberland Co., IL in 1900 (born ca 1848 in OH).   I don't believe that he was related to C.C. or J.J. although Casey and neighboring Crooked Creek Township were small communities so they probably knew each other. The 149th IN regiment did not participate in the above battles either, so I suspect these old veterans were simply enjoying each others' company on a road trip.

Society Saturday - Children of the American Colonists honor Christopher Columbus

The National Society Children of the American Colonists was honored to participate in a ceremony at Columbus Plaza.  National President Amanda Nagy posed with the explorer himself before the festivities.

The ceremony was organized by the Knights of Columbus and several lineage organizations took part.

The high school student who won the "Christopher Columbus Essay Contest" sponsored by the NSDAR read her essay.  After a concert by the Marine band, and remarks by several dignitaries, there was a procession of wreaths.

Columbus Day 2011 was a gorgeous 75 degrees with blue skies in Washington, DC.

National President Amanda Nagy with President General Dr. Richard Clouse starting their procession.

After the ceremony with NSDAC National President Georgia Holder

Society Saturday - A Cemetery Tour

The Chicago Chapter, Colonial Dames of America met recently for a Cemetery Tour.

We met at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.  One of our members has given tours there before and took us on a walking tour.  It was a beautiful fall day, about 70 degrees.

This cemetery is where several prominent early Chicagoans are buried.  Above is the monument for architect Louis Sullivan.  Others buried there are developer Potter Palmer, retailer Marshall Field, architect Mies van der Rohe, piano manufacturer William Kimball, and railroad car maker George Pullman.

It was nice to walk in this beautiful cemetery and learn some interesting tidbits of Chicago History.

Society Saturday - Pierce Downer Pool Party

No, there wasn't a pool party in Chicago in October, I'm just late posting this.

The members of Pierce Downer Society, Children of the American Revolution met for their annual pool party (in August).  Members had fun in the pool, and in the sun.  They enjoyed refreshments and worked on plans for the upcoming year.

The members that day range in age from 2 months to 19 years.

One of the reasons that I enjoy having my daughters in C.A.R. is the friendships that they make.  The teenagers tend to take the younger members under their wing and help them along.  Members of all ages make friends from around the state and across the country by attending state and national meetings.  And, it's a good opportunity for children to learn about leadership, patriotism and history while having fun.