Old Place Names: Westville, New York

In a previous post, Final Journey from Queens to Westville, I wrote about locating a place of death for Coe D Jackson.  He died in 1888 in Westville, New York, according to the New York State Death Index.  The current Westville is in Franklin County, New York, and I saw no reason why Coe would leave Queens County to die there as an old man.

Thanks to T. P. for sending me Coe's obituary, stating that Coe died in Lawrence.  A little more searching provides a small article copied over and over on the internet that Westville was a name for Inwood, Queens County, in the 1860s through the 1890s.  Lawrence was a neighboring area whose name remains as a village in the hamlet of Inwood.  The area became Nassau County after Queens was divided in 1898.

A search of older publications at Google Books provided more details.  Locating exact places when names and borders have changed over the centuries is tricky but crucial for more accurate research.

23andMe DNA Kits: Dramatic Price Reduction

In case you have not heard, 23andMe and drastically lowered the price of a DNA testing kit from $299 to $99.  There is no subscription fee.  I do not know how long this price will last.

This test is for autosomal DNA, which seeks to identify the pieces of DNA you carry from all of your ancestral lines.

I have several people in mind that I wish to test.  The key to successful use of these DNA testing sites is to test family members from different branches of your tree.  To date, I have tested myself, both parents, my mother's brother, and two of my father's cousins.  Coincidentally, both of my father's cousins matched my maternal side- one to my mother and the other to her brother.

Hope that I am able to find a part-time job to cover the costs.

Also, please bear with me.  I am using a new computer with Windows 8.  Very confusing at present.

Amanuensis Monday: Aunt Mary's Birthday

Fourth in a series of transcribing the notes in the BISHOP family file at New York State Library in Albany.

Today's item is a letter written on the 5th day of December, 1900 by Anna P Kelsey to her cousin Mary, requesting that she honor the 10th day of December as the 100 year anniversary of the birth of their aunt Mary.

Cape Vincent, NY

Dec 5, 1900

My dear Cousin Mary

I received a letter from cousin Julia Wilson today (whose address is 1032 Pine Street, Boulder Col) asking that we might as a family celebrate the 10^th day of Dec 1900, as it is the 100^th anniversary of Aunt Mary’s birth- “In the only way we can, scattered over the continent as we are, by observing a special commemoration, a continual commemoration in our hearts, giving thanks 1^st for the noble lives of our grand parents, and their children” of whom (your father and mine, together with Aunts Mary, Maria, and Julia and Uncle Ogden,) we have such lovely remembrances.

2^nd  “That not one of their posterity has disgraced the name.”

3^rd  “That no quarrel, hatred, misunderstanding has ever entered the circle to spoil our home love.”

And 4^th a prayer for each of us, that we may have grace given us to live worthy of the ancestry which is our, Worthy of them.

Cousin Julia wishes me to “notify you of this call for our centennial commemoration and give her your address.  She will try on that day to send a short telegram to you.[“]

Lovingly your cousin

Anna P Kelsey

1900 United States Federal Census
Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York
Ancestry.com