1837-1857 Buffalo City Directories - Taylor and Gehring

Good afternoon,

I've been examining the Buffalo City Directories from 1837 to 1857. I decided to conduct a very preliminary study on the appearance of two names. One name is that of your great-great-grandfather Benjamin C. Taylor. The other name is that which may be the maiden name of his wife, your great-great-grandmother Catherine Gehring.

I discovered this great image of Michigan Street Baptist Church at the What To Do, Buffalo Niagara website.

My approach was simple. Copies of the same 1837 through 1857 Buffalo City Directories are available through the LDS Family History Library on microfiche numbered FHL[6043723-6043744]. Per the Catalog the complete FHL collection are on 121 microfiche and 52 microfilm reels. The Directories are available from 1827 through 1930. I also was able to locate an online map of Buffalo in 1850.

The first part of the study identifies, at this point, six specific entries that can be attributed to your great-great-grandfather Benjamin C. Taylor. I have included the 2-page spreadsheet of the Buffalo City Directories Study 1837-1857. Using the map I was able to locate the approximate locations of the Taylor house; "106 Walnut" and "Walnut near Sycamore". The following inserts of the Directories' pages include 1850/51; 1855; 1856; 1857; 1858; and 1859.

The next surname, Gehring, the maiden name of your great-great grandmother Catherine (née Gehring) Taylor may be a bit more difficult to determine. I mean that it may be somewhat difficult to determine any Gehring family connections as current paperwork does not highlight any such relationships. On a survey of the mentioned Directories I have located those names that may appear to be similar to the "Gehring" and "Ghering" that you provided me. From 1837 through 1857, but not conclusive, I have found at least the following variants on the name in the Directories: Gehrein; Gehring; Goehring; Gahring; Grahling; Gering; Gerling; Geering; Gehrung; Gearing; Gering.

As we have not established a current linking of your great-great-grandmother Catherine with her immediate family, that is the "Ghering" family, at this time, I have been able to also zero in on those names, similar in some way that may be located near to the location of the Benjamin C. Taylor address, that is, "Walnut n Sycamore" and "106 Walnut". A number of these should be further investigated to see if there may be some clue that may lead us to factual evidence of a relationship.

Have fun with this information.

Jim

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July 12, 2009 - Possibly Gustavus Anderson and the Underground Railroad at Eppes Plantation - Part 6

Good Morning,

In my search on the Internet, my search for the name of your great-great grandfather Gustavus Anderson, I have unearthed a document that seems extremely interesting. The document Slavery and the Underground Railroad at the Eppes Plantations, Petersburg National Battlefield is a Special History Study by Marie Tyler-McGraw. It is A Study Prepared under the Cooperative Agreement between the National Park Service and the Organization of American Historians, and presented by the Northeast Region of the National Park Service, U.S Department of the Interior in 2005.

The part that I discovered on my search, from Page 51 of the document:

William Still’s accounts sometimes tantalize more than they inform. He does not give us — and perhaps did not have — the identity of C.A. or G. A. who wrote the following letter, apparently about James Hill, a young Petersburg man hidden in Richmond for more than three years. This young man may be James Anderson Hill. There is a connection between the Anderson and Hill families, not yet explained. 151 “Dear Brother Still – I received a message from brother Julius Anderson asking me to send the bundle on but I has no way to send it. I have been waiting and truly hoping that you would make some arrangement . . . the bundle has been on my hands now going on two years, and I have suffered a great deal of danger...” 152 Shortly after this, James Anderson [Hill] left Richmond for Boston.

The footnotes at Pages 62 and 63 are:

151 The 1850 and 1860 Indexes to the Richmond Free Black Census, Valentine Museum, Richmond, show free black Anderson and Hill families living very near each other in the city. One is Gustavus Anderson, who may have been G.A., the author of the above letter. The names Gustavus and Julius Anderson suggest German paternity.

152 Still, Underground Railroad, 205.

The link to the Slavery and the Underground Railroad at the Eppes Plantation should bring up a PDF file. It can be downloaded. If the PDF document is not brought up via your Internet connection, a Google search can be done for Eppes Plantation Virginia Gustavus Anderson.

Extremely interesting reading.

And I'm off to look for some more.

Jim

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July 9, 2009 - Anderson Children, 1840 and 1850 - Part 5

Good Evening,

I have come across the possible take on two Census pages for the Anderson family, 1850 and 1840 both of Henrico County, Virginia. The two pages of the identified 1850 Census are shown in Part 4.

The 1850 Census has the parents Gustavus Anderson at 35 years and Amelia Anderson at 33 or 35, depending on how I read it. Gustavus's occupation is entered as "Lawyer" and he has real estate valued at "$800". It should be taken into account that per family tales he, great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson was a free man.

According to the 1850 Census they have seven children listed of which the first two would be of concern when comparing to the 1840 Census; William H., 16 and Anne Eli, 12. The next daughter, Martha J. is listed as either 7 or 9 years, and all-things-being-equal would not appear on the earlier 1840 Census.

In the 1840 Census I found the head of household, Gustavus Anderson and the household includes a total of 10 Free Colored Persons, broken down as follows:

• 3 Males Under 10,
• 3 Males 10 & under 24,
• 1 Male 24 & under 36,
• 1 Female Under 10,
• 1 Female 24 & under 36,
• 1 Female 36 & under 55.
  

My assessment on the 1840 possibilities are:

1. Gustavus, Head of Household = 1 Male 24 & under 36. (He is listed at 35 years in the 1850 Census.)
2. Amelia, Wife = 1 Female 24 & under 36. (She is listed at 33 or 35 in the 1850 Census.)
3. William H., Son = 1 Male Under 10. (He is listed at 16 in the 1850 Census.)
4. Anne Eli, Daughter = 1 Female Under 10 (She is listed at 12 in the 1850 Census.)

This would account for 4 of the 10 occupants. The one Female entered in the 36 & under 55 column could be a parent or any other female relative or acquaintance. As she was listed as a Free Colored Person it would appear that there is a greater, but not definite, chance of her being somehow related to either Gustavus or Amelia.

My concern would be the five other males all under 24 years of age; two Under 10 and three 10 & under 24. One iteration, as they are all enumerated as Free Colored Persons could be that they were possibly sons of Gustavus and Amelia. Under this scenario it could be deduced that Amelia may have had a son (or sons) when she was very young, at the extreme of 13 years. Is this possible? The answer is yes. And taking this thought forward, Amelia could have had a child, all sons, consecutively for three years, and further she would have had three more sons and a daughter from the ages of 16 through 24. The thought would be that she had had seven children by the time she was 25 years old. And this would translate that Gustavus and Amelia had at least 15 children. A large family, but a possibility; seven children by 1840, another six by 1850, and two more through 1861.

An alternative could be that the young males, all or some, at the most five could be relatives and/or friends of the family. The point of note is that they are all listed as Free Colored Persons. The other possibility is that a notation on the 1840 Census could be an error.

Based on the history of the times and the information as provided by the 1840 Census this positioned this household as one of a small percentage, which narrows the possibility that this may have been the family that I'm looking for.

And I've enclosed a Gustavus and Amelia Anderson Descendant Chart of them and their offspring accounted from 1850 forward.


Enjoy,

Jim

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July 8, 2009 - The Ontario and Virginia Andersons - Part 4

Good afternoon,

Today, I've been adding Census records to the Sandra J Anderson Garcia Jun 15 2009 Legacy database. All of the Ontario Canada Voters' List as mentioned in Part 3 have been entered to the database, specifically to great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson.

We had a bit of an accident in the kitchen this morning and a cup of coffee was spilled onto a number of my cookbooks... Thanks-be that none got on the genealogy documents. I suppose the old trick of "antiquing" the papers could work to give them a bit of authenticity, but ink-jet print jobs smear and run... The cookbooks that got "java'd" are drying now.

As I entered the information from the 1861 Canada Census, (on the left) identifying great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson as head of household, and the 1891 Canada Census, (on the right) with great-great-grandmother Amelia Anderson as head of household, I noticed a number of differences that should be noted. The major differences are the reported ages of the individuals. I need to do a comparison analysis and try to identify a possible correct year of birth for each.

And to top it all, I discovered two new Censuses. An 1850 US Census taken in the Western District in the County of Henrico in the State of Virginia, and an 1840 US Census of the Eastern District of Virginia. Both are subsequent enumerations of the Gustavus Anderson family.

The 1850 US Census for the Anderson family now allows us to note that your great-great-grandparents Gustavus and Amelia Anderson had, at this point in time of recording, at least nine children. They were:

1. William H., born about 1834 in Virginia.
2. Ann Eliza, born about 1838 in Virginia. I have found three other birth year possibilities: 1841, 1847, and 1856. The 1856 year can be eliminated based on the information provided in the 1850 US Census.
3. Martha J., born about 1841 in Virginia. As Martha J. is recorded at a younger age than Ann Eliza by about three or four years It could be safe to conclude that sister Ann Eliza was not born in 1841.
4. Maria L., born about 1843 in Virginia.
5. Sarah, born about 1845 in Virginia.
6. Elizabeth, born about 1847 in Virginia. The year 1847 conflicts with the same year found for older sister Ann Eliza on the 1861 Ontario Census. It also appears that there was additional confusion of ages enumerated in 1891 Ontario Census between Ann Eliza and Elizabeth.
7. Gustavus, born about 1849 in Virginia. An alternate birth location is given as Canada in the 1910 US Census taken in Erie County, New York which would be in conflict with the 1850 US Census recorded in Henrico County in Virginia which of course enumerated that he was born in Virginia.
8. Caledonia, born about 1854, in the United States The 1891 Ontario Census records that she was born in 1861 which would mean that the 1861 Ontario Census could not have her listed at 7 years old, which it does.
9. Nathaniel, born about 1859, in Ontario, Canada.

The 1840 US Census requires a different analysis process. The information that is typically provided on this Census is the name of the Head of Families, and a corresponding number of persons as categorized by Free White Persons; Free Coloured Persons and Slaves. As mentioned I did discover an entry for one Gustavus Anderson in the Eastern District (or Territory) of Virginia and in Henrico County. I am investigating the possibility whether this is could be your great-great-grandfather. It may be as the Gustavus Anderson family is listed as Free Coloured Persons. I will continue this analysis and provide the same on my next posting.

Enjoy,

Jim

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July 6, 2009 - The Wealth of History of Gustavus Anderson - Part 3

Afternoon,

My thoughts as I was working on July 5th's posting was that the proverbial snowball has begun rolling down the hill. Well please change the visual to an avalanche down a mountain. The finds for great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson now do not appear to be slowing down. There are so many leads that all this work will definitely take some time to review and analyze, yet alone try to order it all into a good stream of his life.

I am labeling this posting Part 3, andas I have completed two subsequent postings Parts 1 and 2. This is to provide an easier way of referencing specific postings, as needed.

I did mention in Part 2 that I had also found an 1861 Canada Census and the Ontario, Canada Voters' List - 1877 through and including 1886 specific to Gustavus Anderson. I thought that today I would work on providing the information on the Ontario, Canada Voter Lists as there is some time required on preparing each image document for your review. Chapter 8 of the book The Revised Statutes of Ontario 1887, provides a good reference point for perusing of the The Voters' Lists Act, RSO 1877....

The following are the 10 years which include great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson on the Ontario, Canada Voters' List. (If you print these documents I would suggest noting each individual printed page with the corresponding year as the year itself does not appear on any of the images. This will avoid confusion at a later date.)

1877 (Coded OVL001);
1878 (Coded OVL002);
1879 (Coded OVL003);
1880 (Coded OVL004);
1881 (Coded OVL005);
1882 (Coded OVL006);
1883 (Coded OVL007);
1884 (Coded OVL008);
1885 (Coded OVL009);
1886 (Coded OVL010).

As great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson passed away in 1886 I searched for an equivalent Voters' List for great-great-grandmother Amelia Anderson. I did not find any specific to her name but I did see subsequent years with a Mrs. Anderson listed. This will require further investigation.

Further information is provided on Wikipedia regarding Concession roads referencing the terms Concession and Lot as used on the Voters' Lists.

Much more to come,

Enjoy,

Jim

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July 5, 2009 - Gustavus Anderson Definitely Lived in London, Ontario - Part 2

Good Afternoon,

The data and documentation is coming at me quicker than I can absorb it. And having to jump across the Canadian American border from Buffalo, New York to London, Ontario, and back, my gathering of new information can appear somewhat hectic.


View Larger Map

I've stumbled across the following since early this morning:

1. 1871 Canada Census. See this morning's early posting, Andersons in Ontario - 1871
   
2. 1881 Canada Census.
3. 1886 Death Registration for great-great grandfather Gustavus Anderson.
4. 1861 Canada Census.
5. Ontario Voting Lists - 1877 through and including 1886

1881 Canada Census (coded ON002)

Originating from the Library and Archives Canada, in Ottawa, Ontario, the reporting of the 1881 Canada Census enumerates that the Anderson family in London had reduced in size. Great-grandfather Gustavus is not listed on the 1881 Census but we know that he is living with his wife, your great-grandmother Elnora Elizabeth (née Taylor) and their children in Buffalo at Walnut Street. Your grandaunt Amelia Grace Anderson had just been born on the 26th of March when the 1881 Canada Census was begun on the 4th of April.

Great-grandaunt Elizabeth is also not listed with her family in the 1881 Canada Census. I have discovered a possibility of her whereabouts on the same Census, working for a Blizard family who are two houses away from your great-great-grandparents' home. All the information matches the Elizabeth Anderson of the 1871 Canada Census except that 1881 Elizabeth is listed at only 23 years old. Based on the age listing from the 1871 Census she should be enumerated at about 33 years in the 1881. Otherwise as everything else matches, this could be an extreme coincidence, except for the age difference. I will be investigating this further.

Another note is that great-grandaunt Caledonia is not present in the 1881 household... And a great-grandaunt Carrie has appeared. She, great-grandaunt Carrie was never listed on the 1871 Census. In 1871, Caledonia was entered at 17 years old. If she had been entered to the 1881 Census her age should be about 27 years. But great-grandaunt Carrie is entered at 26 years in 1881. They could be twins... or Caledonia and Carrie are one and the same person. Aren't there twins in your ancestral lines? The Turners?

1886 Death Registration for Great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson (coded DON003)

Via Ancestry.com and from the Archives of Ontario, Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1934, I was able to discover an actual registration entry possibly listing the death of great-great-grandfather Gustavus Anderson. The actual date, 29 April 1886 is not included in the entry but the date of registration is 4 May 1886. The points of matching are his name, Gustavus Anderson; his occupation, Farmer; and location, London Township, County of Middlesex, Ontario. As the registration date is only five days from the date recorded of his actual death, it is highly possible that this Registration refers to Gustavus Anderson, Sr.

I will be investigating the two other items; the 1861 Canada Census and the Ontario Voting Lists and provide you my thoughts shortly. For your information and interest the 1861 Census appears to be specifically agricultural and of farming in nature. The Ontario Voting lists also seem to be poll lists of landowners and I have been able to extract the name of Gustavus Anderson on 10 subsequent years from 1877 through and including 1886.

As I mentioned to you before, the snowball effect is just beginning...

Enjoy,

Jim

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July 5, 2009 - Andersons in Ontario, Canada - 1871 - Part 1

Thanks to the Canada Public Archives and Ancestry.com I was able to quickly track down your great-great-grandparents Gustavus and Amelia Anderson... and family. This is thanks to the publication of the 1871 Canada Census for District No. 9 East Middlesex, Sub-District E. Township of London in the Province of Ontario.

The Anderson family includes seven members:

1. Gustavus; aged 56; occupation Farmer
2. Amelia; aged 57;
3. Ann Eliza; aged 30; occupation Servant;
   
4. Elizabeth; aged 23; occupation Servant;
   
5. Gustavus; your great-grandfather; aged 22; occupation Waiter;
   
6. Caledonia; aged 17; and
7. Nathaniel; aged 12.

All were born in the United States except Nathaniel, who was born in in Ontario. This of course could imply that the Andersons have been in Ontario, Canada since at least 1859.

Explore the Census page. It will be coded ON001 and I have to enter the related information into the Anderson Garcia database.

Jim Click here to continue reading...

July 1, 2009 - Was There A Jeanette Lewis?

Evening,

I entered the name Jeanette Eley Lewis from the Descendant Chart that had been created from family files and was provided to me. The offspring of Ben 1856-1932 and Sarah (Sarah) Turner 1861-31 on the chart as entered are: Ora 1-8-90-9/70, O’Dell, Mildred, John, Jeanette Eley, Sadie, Ila, and Jewelle. I have inserted a copy of the same.

The logic of her death entered from a “Highly reliable” source is taken from the fact that she does not appear as a part of the list of house members on the 1900 US Census for Troy Township, Monroe, Iowa dated the 20th June 1900. The 1900 Census lists all the household including: Ben, Sallie, Udel T., Mildred J., Ora L., John E., Jewell E., Sada N., and Ila. There is no indication of a Jeanette Eley as indicated on the Chart.

When I first compared the two documents; the 1900 US Census and the Descendant Chart I noticed that Jeanette Eley only appears on the Chart, whereas Jewell E. appears on both. This means that there are three possibilities that I can think of:

1. Jeanette Eley may have passed away at some time before the 1900 Census was recorded,
2. Jeanette Eley was staying at someone else’s house at the time that the Census was taken, or
3. Jeanette Eley and Jewell E. are the same person, and the information on the Descendant Chart is less reliable.

At this point in time I decided to enter both names, Jeanette Eley and Jewell E. to your database. I decided to go with the first point that Jeanette Eley had passed away. My reasoning:

1. The birth years of all the other children who are included in the Census range between 1886 and 1899 which would indicate that unless she, Jeanette Eley, was older than Udel T. and it could mean that she had possibly left the family and could be recorded elsewhere or
2. There are some “conception possibilities” between the birth years of the children that she had been born and passed away at an early age.

The source, the Census is what is “Highly reliable”, definitely not my logic nor the Descendant Chart. And of course the 1890 US Censuses were destroyed by fire in St. Louis so at this point there is not any other documentary proof immediately accessible.

I hope this makes sense. It does not mean that it is fixed in stone and of course can change at any point.

Jim

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