Movember Canada ~ Facial Hair & The Bramble Bush

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 45 (BEARDED)

Facial hair is an interesting thing. As a woman I remember the first time I found a wayward hair, and plucked it. At some point I discovered that facial hair really is a genetic trait, and I was very disappointed to discover I carried that gene. This year would have been a perfect opportunity to participate in Movember since leaving the house in 2020 requires a mask.  Do I really have to worry about those wayward facial hairs? Instagram has let me see what I might look like if I just let me facial hair grow as it desires.

My husband tells me he began shaving in grade 6.  

He is a paramedic so must keep clean-shaven where it would interfere with his respirator at work. 

His beard grows quickly as shown below - about a week into our camping vacation. 

About 1995

We have two sons. Our youngest definitely out-beards our oldest. Most folks who meet the two of them assume the younger is the oldest because of his facial hair. There are times he has it short and tailored as it is below, and times it is long and bushy. Our oldest has times it's longer, but his beard could never be described as bushy.

They get their facial hair from different parts of this Bramble Bush.
They get their fun attitude about life directly from their dad.

Is Your Dad A Guitar Hero - Father's Day competition
Awarded the title of Mr. Congeniality 
He wasn't the winner, but he was the photo featured in the paper 

When considering which ancestor to write about for the prompt BEARDED I went searching through the photos attached to our Bramble Bush. I was surprised at how few men in our Bramble Bush wore a beard. 

I kept searching with the idea that I would write about the longest beard.  I didn't find any photos depicting a long beard. 

In keeping with the theme I opened this blog with - 
I decided to write about a father and son duo who had impressive
(or at least I think they are) beards.

My husband's X3 great grandfather:

Robert Henry Williams

BIRTH 31 MAR 1831 • Ontario, Canada

DEATH 12 FEB 1896 • Bayham, Ontario, Canada

and his father X4 great grandfather:

Isaac Williams

BIRTH 19 MAY 1802 • New York, United States

DEATH 19 MAR 1868 • Bayham, Elgin Co, Ontario, Canada

As you can see the photo above is not the greatest quality. On November 2nd I mentioned to my husband that I thought I would have to renew my lapsed Ancestry membership because I wanted to find a clearer photo of X4 great grandfather Isaac Williams. 

I had no idea just saying it out loud would make something happen.

3 days later (on November 5th) I woke to an email from Ancestry letting me know I had received a message from another member. When I went to my inbox I found a message from my husband's 3rd cousin 2x removed. The message was full of details about the Williams/Claus side of the Bramble Bush, and had a link to an 83 page document full of photos and more details. This new cousin offered to send us more photos that aren't in the document. She also provided the information that Isaac and Mary had 8 children. I had only found 4 of them so far. I am so grateful for cousins who reach out to share.
This is what family is all about. 

Now back to X4 great grandfather Isaac Williams and his facial hair.  

The photo above that is very hard to see may not actually be Isaac. 

It has been widely circulated as a photo of Isaac
(the other half not included above is stated to be X4 great grandmother Mary, nee Claus). 

With the photo not confirmed as being Isaac I considered removing it from the blog post. 

I chose to keep it because that photo was where this search began. 

I did believe it was Isaac, and I wanted a clearer photo depicting his facial hair. 

Instead my new found cousin-in-law produced this copy of a drawing held by family members. In this one it is obvious which side of the family the facial hair descends via.

Reproduction of a drawing believed to be Isaac Williams

In looking at the photos of Isaac and Robert Henry it appear as though they are related. The fuzzy photo isn't clear enough to make a positive comparison, but on a quick glance it does appear to be the one that is not like the others. 

With the photos and details about this side of the Bramble Bush provided by the newly discovered cousin there is much research I will be working on for weeks to come. 

 

Returning to the theme of BEARDED. Movember happens every year in November. It's an opportunity to not shave for a whole month for a good cause. There are many other activities if not shaving isn't your thing. This year Movember added non-binary to their registration option. You can raise money for men's health. It's not too late to get started for this year, and next year you could sign up earlier.  

Click the link to learn about the different ways of getting involved with Movember Canada. 
https://ca.movember.com/?home

Wrapping up with another look at this Bramble Bush's facial hair

Instagram photos 

                                     not true depictions of the members of this Bramble Bush


You win some and you lose some when you play the genetic lottery!

This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________

Seeking Gargoyles ~ Across The United States

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 44 (SCARY STUFF)

My great grandfather, Thomas Thomson, was a carver. 

Thomas Thomson
BIRTH 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada

My grandmother told me stories of the travel they did when she was a child for her dad to make carvings.  She told her tale many times over the years. I never tired of hearing of the Gargoyles he carved.

Grandma told me he carved Gargoyles in Cleveland, Ohio & Des Moines, Idaho.

Many times over the years I have searched for Great Grandpa's Gargoyles without luck. I have spent the past month searching virtually on my own in anticipation of writing this blog, but I was not successful in finding the correct gargoyles.  

I thought I remembered he had carved in Omaha, Nebraska where I found gargoyles had been on the old city hall around the top of the building. The historical information I found didn't look promising for when they were carved being the ones I was seeking.  The building had been built earlier than the 1920s that my ancestor was carving gargoyles.  

After searching and searching I realized I had missed an obvious thought. 

Why not reach out to the local libraries. I work in library. How was it I never thought of sending my research questions through ASK A LIBRARIAN services. This is a service I am fully aware of, and yet I had missed it in all the years I have searched. 

When I received my reply from Omaha Public Library my hopes were dashed. The carver of those gargoyles was Joseph Irving. 

I had also emailed the Des Moines Public Library asking about gargoyles in their city, and was disappointed to discover not all library services are free for the user like they are in British Columbia, Canada. My reply from the Librarian at Des Moines Public Library asked for a $20/hour fee paid in advance for their research assistance. 

Seems Omaha Public Library research is also not free. After the one email from Omaha I was told any further info would be chargeable under their premium service rates. 

Without a guarantee that I would have the information I was seeking without first paying using their pay for services wasn't for me. 

BUT all hope was not dashed. 

A nugget of information was buried in the $$s for research reply - they were going to use their newspaper clipping services. Why had I never thought to search Thomas' name with the keyword gargoyles in the news databases before.  After spending several hours searching I did not find any reference to Thomas Thomson who was a carver of gargoyles. 

Anytime I search for my Thomas Thomson with anything close to artistic copious entries for the  the Canadian Artist, Thomas Thomson appear in searching. This makes the search frustrating. I have used Boolean Operators to refine my searching, but as of today I have not successful found the GARGOYLES I SEEK. 

Source: Pixabay.com

I shall not give up.

Sometimes the facts are difficult to find as you tug the threads of the story to create a picture. Genealogy research has no timelines. I know someday I will find the right gargoyles as I continue to refine my search strategies.

Still searching!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!










***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***






Image Source:

Dragon, Gnome, Pixabay License, Free for commercial use, No attribution required, Retrieved November 2nd 2020 from https://pixabay.com/photos/dragon-gnome-gargoyle-4031094/

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________

Pangborn ~ Things That Make You Go Hmmm

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 43 (QUITE THE CHARACTER)

When thinking about the prompt QUITE THE CHARACTER I traveled up our Bramble Bush on the Vannatter line looking for someone that made me go 'hmmmm'.

I traveled all the way back to 1665 where I found my husband's 8th great grandfather.

Edmond Pangburn

BIRTH 1665 • Long Island, Nassau, New York, United States

DEATH 1711 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States
married to 

Lydia - maiden name not confirmed

1670–1744

BIRTH 21 SEP 1670 • Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut

DEATH 1744 • Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey

their son ~ my husband's 7th great grandfather:

William Pangburn

BIRTH 1706

DEATH 1759
married to

Mary Ann Coddington

BIRTH ABT. 1706 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA

DEATH 1780 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA

Their daughter ~ my husband's 6th great grandmother:

Annatje Mariah Johanna Pangburn

BIRTH 14 AUG 1736 • Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States

DEATH 1767 • Woodstock, Ulster, New York, United States

married to

Jacobus Jensen Van Etten

BIRTH 3 MAR 1733 • Kingston, Ulster, New York, United States

DEATH 1767 • Smithfield, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States

This is where the Pangburn name ends in this BRAMBLE BUSH.

The Van Etten name begins.

Their son ~ my husband's 5th great grandpfather:

William VanEtten

BIRTH 13 JAN 1760 • Rhinebeck, New York, USA

DEATH 1842 • Ontario, Canada

married to

Annatje Merckel

BIRTH 20 OCT 1765 • Katsbaan, Ulster County, New York, USA

DEATH 1835 • Ontario, Canada

This is where the VanEtten name ends in this BRAMBLE BUSH.
The Vannatter name begins with all 6 children using the new spelling variation.

Their son ~ my husband's 4th great grandpfather:

Benjamen Vannatter

BIRTH 8 JUN 1794 • United States

DEATH 24 NOV 1867 • Ballinafad, Wellington, Ontario

married to (2nd wife) 

Mary Havens

BIRTH 23 DEC 1808 • Clinton, Ontario, Canada

DEATH 28 DEC 1866 • Erin, Wellington, Ontario, Canada

When I first started researching on this family line my husband thought the Vannatter family origins were Italian. When I first climbed this branch, and discovered the variation in the name I wondered where he got the belief they were Italian. I told him he needed to embrace his heritage by letting go of red wine & embracing black licorice. He explained that he just thought the family names: Alonzo, Nina, Maria,Vera, etc.... sounded Italian, and he did enjoy pasta and red wine so it seemed logical.

Now back to why I chose the Pangborn family line to feature for QUITE THE CHARACTER.   

According to the House of Names - The Pangborn family Motto is:

I would rather die than be disgraced

translated from Latin --- Malo mori quam foedari --- it can also mean:

Death rather than dishonour

or 

I prefer to die rather than lose my honor

BUT in further research it appears as though that it's an Irish motto for the Ryan family. 

I had never heard the Pangborn name before researching for this blog. I was surprised at how many references there are throughout the internet. This is a line I would like t spend more time tugging the threads of. 

Regardless of where the motto originates 

I can confidently say it fits for
my husband & our sons

Remembering those who came before us!






This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Sources:

Malo mori quam foedari, Heraldry of the World, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from

https://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/wiki/Malo_mori_quam_foedari

The Pangborn Motto, Pangborn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms, House Of Names, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from https://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/pangborn-family-crest.htm

Image Sources:

Free Public Domain Images, Snappy Goat, Retrieved October 25, 2020 from

https://snappygoat.com/s/?q=bestof%3Atree+roots+stem+branches+naked+bare+cross+section+silhouette+orange

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________

Pride ~ Honor (It's A Family Name)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 42 (PROUD)

First I will take a moment to feel the pride I have in myself that I have written about a member of this Bramble Bush weekly since January 2019. Prior to the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks Challenge I had an uncommitted relationship with my blog. Since signing up for the 2019 challenge I have written every week.
I am very proud of myself. 

I then started to think about using the prompt, PROUD, to write this week's blog.

Merriam-Webster lists the following:
"Synonyms for proud 

disdainful, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), lofty, lordly, prideful, superior." 1

I haven't yet found any Lords in our tree. 

Still searching I found Merriam-Webster came to the rescue with PRIDE:
"Synonyms for pride 
boast, credit, crown jewel, glory, honor, jewel, treasure, trophy" 2

 In looking at the synonyms for Pride the word honor leapt out at me. 
HONOR is a family name that appears 5 times in our Bramble Bush.

The name first appears with my X3 great grandmother:

Honor Gunnell

BIRTH ABT 1832 • Hambledon, Buckinghamshire, England

DEATH JUL 1882 • Hambledon, Surrey, United Kingdom

Married to my X3 great grandfather:

William James Dendy

BIRTH ABT 1843 • Ewhurst, Surrey, England

DEATH 1909 • Horsham, Sussex (formerly Surrey), England

They named their first born daughter

Florence Honor Dendy

BIRTH 31 OCT 1868 • Wandsworth, Surrey, England

DEATH 22 JAN 1946 • Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

Honor had 2 granddaughter's carry her name forward

Honor Rosener Kate Faggetter

BIRTH 22 NOV 1889 • Pirbright, Surrey, England

DEATH JAN 1985 • Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

daughter of

Rosa Mary Dendy

BIRTH 26 FEB 1865 • 5 Balham Place, Wandsworth, Surrey, England

DEATH 4 NOV 1902 • Pipestone, Manitoba, Canada
&

Frederick Henry James Faggetter

BIRTH ABT 1865 • Pirbright, Surrey, England

DEATH JAN 1894 • Pirbright, Surrey, England

The 2nd granddaughter to carry her name is my great grandmother:

Rose Honor Dendy

BIRTH 14 APR 1906 • R.M. of Pipestone, Bardal, Manitoba, Canada

DEATH 17 SEP 1974 • Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

daughter of 

William Herbert Dendy

BIRTH 27 JUL 1866 • Wandsworth, Surrey, England

DEATH 25 DEC 1929 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
and

Amy Louisa Baker

BIRTH 18 MAR 1875 • Ealing, Middlesex, England

DEATH 23 DEC 1949 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Honor had a great granddaughter carry her name:

Margaret Honor Toms

BIRTH 6 JAN 1915 • Redvers, Saskatchewan, Canada

DEATH 5 MAR 2007 • Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

daughter of

Honor Rosener Kate Faggetter

BIRTH 22 NOV 1889 • Pirbright, Surrey, England

DEATH JAN 1985 • Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

and

Robert Franklin (Frank) Toms

BIRTH 10 OCT 1886 • Ontario

DEATH 08 JUN 1971 • Redvers, Saskatchewan, Canada

********

My great grandparents
Ernest Elmer & Rose Honor (nee Dendy) Bayes 
& their two children (my grandmother and her brother).

Back to the name Honor - clearly there was a family bond to the name passed down over the generations. Since I haven't done a lot of research above Honor on the Gunnell/Dendy line of this Bramble Bush I can not say where the name originated. 

Following the names passed down the family line!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***








Footnotes:

1 Proud, Thesaurus, Synonyms, Merriam-Webster, Retrieved October 19th  2019 from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proud

2 Pride, Thesaurus, Synonyms, Merriam-Webster, Retrieved October 19th  2019 from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pride

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________

Fishing For Cousins ~ When The Bait Works

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 41 (NEWEST)

If you are a regular reader of my blog you may remember  Week 16 (AIR) Cousin Fred ~ Too Tall to be a Pilot where I wrote about my grandmother's cousin Fred Baker. 

By the end of that blog there were more questions than answers about Cousin Fred. Most of those questions were answered when I received an email from Cousin Fred's son.  

Blogging as Cousin Bait worked again!

When I first began my genealogy blog I hoped that cousins who make up this Bramble Bush would find an entry about a relative of theirs, and message me. I had hoped they might type their relatives name into a search bar, and find my blog. When I received the email below it was clear that blogging as Cousin Bait really works. 

Read on to see the results of this fantastic catch. 

*****some details redacted for the privacy of the living*****

Hello Deb, I guess you could say I am "Cousin ***" since Cousin Fred was my father. I had your email sent to me from my cousin ****** ***** who got it from his sister **** ******.

I read the blog (http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2020/04/cousin-fred-too-tall-to-be-pilot.html and thought I might be able to fill in some blanks you were mentioning and asking about.

As you have probably already guessed from this email, yes, my Dad did marry before going overseas. He married Jean Anderson Moorcroft. You'll find attached a copy of a newspaper announcement for their wedding as well as a picture of them on their wedding day which was September 11, 1943.

You mentioned you were curious about Dad's size. He was 6'4" tall and probably weighed around 220 pounds when he was in the service. You find attached a picture of him flying a Harvard Trainer aircraft. You can tell it's him because his head just fits under the canopy.

I also attached a picture of him with some of the men he served with, and I'll let you guess which one he is, lol.

Dad and Mom had 2 sons when he returned from overseas, *** who was born in **** and myself who was born in ****.

After leaving the service Dad gave up his pilot's license at my Mom's request. 

He worked as an aircraft mechanic for TCA which later became Air Canada. They lived in Winnipeg until 1964 when they moved to Toronto and Dad became the international Service Manager for a company called Grip Clinch. They sold pneumatic air tackers which were made in Germany. Dad travelled over there a few times and learned to speak rudimentary German.

In June of 1975 Dad retired to a very Small town about 140 miles North of Toronto. Mom and Dad lived the remainder of their lives in Kearney and I think it was the best part of their lives together.

Mom died of ALS in 1988 and Dad died of Cancer in 2002. My brother also died in Kearney in 2001. They are all buried in the local cemetery there.

I have also attached a picture of Dad in his 70s beside his Honda Gold Wing.
He said it was the closest thing he could find to flying.

I hope this helps a little. If there is anything else you may have a question about, I would be more than pleased to try and help.

All the best,

"Cousin" ***.

Genealogy researching is more than collecting names in files. 

It's breathing life into the people who came before. 

It's seeing who they were. 

It's realizing how their dna matches yours. 

It's about the roots and branches of your family.

Blogging as Cousin Bait works again!

This is why I search - 

Cause ...

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know.

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***









Photos:

Provided by Cousin Fred's son, September 2020



Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________

Penicillin, Electroshock, Hippocratic Oath, and a Dictionary ~ What Do They Have In Common?

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 40 (OLDEST)

A few years ago my dad gave me a Webster's Dictionary, and told me that he remembers it on the shelf throughout his growing up.  

The date stamped on the front is 1941.  My grandparents were married in 1939. 

The book is in fairly good condition given that it was in use regularly prior to my receiving it.

Inside the front cover I found 3 newspaper clippings. 

One of them was about the new drug Penicillin that was still in clinical trials.
**Notice the prices in the advertising and the reference to coupons**

One was about the Hippocratic Oath.

One was about Electroshock Therapy

When I first discovered these three clippings in the dictionary I was left pondering what could they possibly have in common?  

I searched, and could find nothing. 

With little to go on as far as dates or where they were published I would be guessing rather than concluding any commonalities. 

Then I realized - 

What they had in common was that my grandparents thought they were important enough to keep through the years. 

My conclusion - 

They are very old articles.

I love this dictionary because it was a part of my dad's growing up. 

I also love this dictionary because Noah Webster is my 4th cousin X7 removed on my mother's side of this Bramble Bush. 



Bringing both sides of the family together in one old artifact!




This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***








Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

___________________________________________________________