INTRODUCTION
: Since putting the original search hints document on the Northumberland web site,
other information has been collected from the PANORTHU-L genealogy mailing list
and has been added
to this collection as "Wisdom of the List". (See below).
This information is current as of July 15, 2000. However, too often, someone looks at this Search Hints Section of the web page and is discouraged by the emphasis on Eastern European Catholic coal miners and the fact that much of the information at the end of this section is concerned with Mount Carmel. Although that is how these hints started, much information as to sources and sites that are more generally applicable have been included.
Peruse the information here and you will find references, telephone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses for a great many resources pertaining to Northumberland-including the Court House, the Historical Society, the Mount Carmel library and cemeteries, the Diocese of Harrisburg, and the State Department of Vital Records, etc. The information contained here is all based on personal experience within the last several years (from ca. 1998) and should be relatively current. Please if you can add to the list for something that you have found and which may help others, email me the information sffwjf@dca.net.
WISDOM FROM THE PANORTHU-L(IST): In the sections that follow are a number of hints and advice, which have been offered on the Northumberland discussion list since about spring of 1999. This list was assembled from messages that were saved in a personal computer and are not warranted to be complete or to contain every hint or suggestion. Some of the messages have been edited for brevity. The original submitter's identity and email address have been preserved since these messages were offered on a public list and are searchable still through the archives functions of Rootsweb. Be aware that some of these addresses may have changed over time in case you wish to contact someone for more information. Nevertheless the following compendium is offered as part of the rich resource represented by the Rootsweb Northumberland mailing list, "PA Northumberland - List". Take this as a partial and incomplete representation of the "Wisdom of the PANORTHU-L" [Pa Northumberland Discussion List PANORTHU-L@rootsweb.com with the word "subscribe" as the Subject line to subscribe.
This "wisdom" has been distilled into the following categories: Cemetery & WPA (Work Project Administration) Records * Shamokin Cemetery Records * St. Edwards (Shamokin) * Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland * Odd Fellows Cemetery * Mount Carmel Catholic Cemeteries * WPA Records * Meiser Burial Lists * Family Graveyards In Berks Co * Cemeteries and GNIS Churches * Churches * St. Joseph's Church Coal Mining and Coal Mine Accidents * Coal Mine Accidents Epidemics * Epidemics Historical Societies * Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township * Mahanoy and Mahantongo Historical & Preservation Society web site * Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services Immigrants * Galicia (Austria) Maps Newspapers * Newspapers * Newspaper Articles * Newspapers on microfilm Tax Digests, Deeds, & Property Records * Deeds Towns and Townships * Rush Township * Township vs. Town Veteran's Records * WWI Veterans Cemetery & WPA (Work Project Administration) Records
Subject: Shamokin Cemetery Records Thu, 29 Jun 2000 15:15:15 EDT Jdeeben@aol.com I'm not sure if many people are aware that the Register & Recorder's Office in the Northumberland County Court House has the original burial record book for the Shamokin City Cemetery. It approximately covers the years 1860-1978, and contains name, date of death & burial, cause, age, and plot location. The book also contains a detailed map of the cemetery, showing EVERY plot location. I understand the cemetery caretakers gave the book to Frederick Reed's keeping several years ago out of concern over ongoing vandalism to the cemetery storage building. Mr. Reed keeps it in his office so you have to ask him directly to use it.
Subject: St. Edwards (Shamokin) Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 12:37:04 -0600 From: Maryellen Hamel mmhamel@juno.com A while back, I received a listing of folks buried in St. Edwards (Shamokin) from the Northumberland Historical Society [...] it appears that graveyard has been transcribed...
Subject: Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 19:48:05 - 0500 "Lou" latsha@sunlink.net I just uploaded another 12 years of Riverview - it's available at my homepage. Visit my homepage at http://www.geocities.com/heartland/estates/5506/
Subject: Odd Fellows Cemetery Tim Bowser bowser@csi.com wrote: Can anyone tell me what the current name of the Odd Fellows Cemetery on the Trevorton Rd. outside of Shamokin is? I searched the USGS mapservice and was unable to find an Odd Fellows Cemetery but I know it exists since I have ancestors there.
Subject: Odd Fellows Cemetery Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 14:16:46 -0500 From: Kay Knapp knappk@bucknell.edu Yes, this cemetery still exists. It is located on Route 225 just outside of Shamokin going towards Trevorton
Subject: Odd Fellows Cemeteries Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 18:49:52 -0000 From: "toni marie rossi" tonirossi@theglobe.com Odd Fellows Cemetery, W Broad, Tamaqua, PA., (570) 668-2070 Odd Fellows Cemetery Assn Morea Rd. Frackville, PA. (570) 874-4462 Odd Fellows Cemetery Assn Ringtown Rd. Shenandoah, PA. (570) 462- 0011 Odd Fellows Cemetery Co Po Box 296. Danville, PA. (570) 275-2901 Odd Fellows Cemetery Co Rr 1 Box 950. Ranshaw, PA. (570) 648-1651
Subject: Odd Fellow's Cemetery Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 18:31:21 -0600 From: "Marie L. Berens" TheBerens@Clarksville.com My sister contacted the Odd Fellows and was told that the local chapter was closed and the cemetery has been taken over by the one across the road. They are not really responsible for it so many areas of it are still under brush. As families clean up areas of it, they take over the mowing, etc. We found several graves last summer we never knew were there.
Subject: Mount Carmel Catholic Cemeteries Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 21:41:59 -0500 From: "smidge" smidge@ptd.net Does anyone have a listing of what cemeteries there are or a transcription of who is buried in them? I am planning a trip to Mount Carmel in the near future and would like to have this info to plan my trip. Before the Catholic churches were forced to consolidate, each parish had its own cemetery, each with its own name. There are a number of Catholic cemeteries on the hill outside Mt. Carmel (the Meriam Mountain Road) and I believe there are Catholic cemeteries on the road leading to Kulpmont (going past the stadium). Now there are only two Catholic churches in Mt. Carmel: Divine Redeemer Church (570-339-3450) and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (570-339-1031). You would probably do best if you called the church secretary and asked if any records are still kept in Mt. Carmel. It would also help if you knew the nationality since each church catered to different groups. (i.e., the Italians went to St. Peters, the Polish went to St. Joseph's, etc.) You may have to contact the Harrisburg Diocese which is the repository for the Catholic Records of Northumberland County Churches. There will be a fee for a search at the Diocese Archives.
Subject: WPA Records Marti Wise wrote: I have a citation by another researcher for WPA Records Vol 103 and I am not sure what WPA Records are, although I have heard WPA before and can't remember what it is. Can someone tell me what these records are, what WPA stands for and where I can access them ...
Subject: WPA Records Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 22:24:39 -0400 From: Dick Martz rjmartz@voicenet.com If you are referring specifically to Northumberland County WPA records you are probably looking for the records gathered in the 1930s by Heber Gearhart. Gearhart was secretary and president of the Northumberland County Historical Society from the 1920s through the 1950s (as I recall). During the Depression he was responsible for several WPA grants for historical research. The results are a large number of black fiberboard notebooks in the NCHS library in Sunbury. They include such things as cemetery lists, church records, and other compilations. They are somewhat indexed and contain a lot of data not available anywhere else.
Subject: WPA Records Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 22:50:03 -0700 From: Gerry Hamor ghamor@vcnet.com Heber G. Gearhart put together a WPA project entitled "Northumberland County Gravestone Inscriptions" during the Depression, as Dick pointed out in an earlier reply. This information is probably still available. I became aware of this source in 1983 and was able to order a microfilm copy from Salt Lake City via my local FHC. The microfilm number was 0531279, according to my receipt. I found many important dates on the microfilm. I probably need to access it again!
Subject: WPA Records Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 22:50:03 -0700 From: Gerry Hamor
ghamor@vcnet.com Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 08:28:00 -0400
From: John & Nancy Hendricks
jshendricks@earthlink.net Dick Martz wrote:
If you are referring specifically to Northumberland County WPA records you are
probably looking for the records gathered in the 1930s by Heber Gearhart.
Gearhart was secretary and president of the Northumberland County Historical
Society from the 1920s through the 1950s (as I recall). During the Depression
he was responsible for several WPA
grants for historical research. The results
are a large number of black fiberboard notebooks in the NCHS library in Sunbury.
They include such things as cemetery lists, church records and
other
compilations. They are somewhat indexed and contain a lot of data not available
anywhere else.
Marti Wise wrote: Dear Dick, Marti and other interested listers, I would also
recommend
that you check out the series of volumes on "Northumberland County
Pennsylvania Burials" (other surrounding county volumes also available) that
were compiled and originally published by Joseph
A. Meiser, Jr., B.S., Ph.D and
his wife Sarah Roadarmel Meiser. The Preface of most of his publications
contains a paragraph that reads as follows:
"To assist both present and future generations,
the authors began their initial
research by obtaining the tombstone inscriptions compiled in the middle 1930's
by the Works Progress Administration (W. P. A.). The authors then visited each
cemetery and verified so far as possible the inscriptions recorded in the W.P.A.
listings and updated the cemetery listing to the date shown under the name of
each cemetery".
The many books
compiled in this fashion by Joe Meiser and his wife are hand-
written in a very unique style that is a pleasure to own and use. Although Joe
is no longer personally involved in the direct
publishing of his books that were
already "out of print", you can now contact Robert L. K. Jones
Subject: Work Project Administration Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 07:29:55 -0500
From: "Mark E. Murphy" murphy13@frontiernet.net Hello, everyone. First I
apologize to those who will see
this more than once. I seem to remember some
discussion a little while back about the Work Project Administration (WPA), but
I can't remember what list it was on that I saw it. (I tried looking
for it on
ROOTSWEB's mailing list search, but still could not find it.) Sorry to bring it
up again, but I was hoping that someone could give me some insight as to where I
can find copies of this
series of books, entitled: "United States Work Project
Administration Index To Records of Alien's Declaration of Intentions and/or
Oaths of Allegiance 1789 - 1880 In U S Circuit Court, U S
District Court,
Supreme Court of PA, Quarter Session Court, Court of Common Plea PA."
This is an 11 volume set, and it appears that my brick wall, Philip MURPHY, may
be hiding on page 654!) Is
this set of books on the Internet or at some library
that someone knows about? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in
advance. Mark
Subject: Meiser Burial Lists Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 09:01:02 -0500 From: "Gary
Roberts" g.roberts@prodigy.net I recently was able to get the following books
by Dr. Joseph Meiser.
I will gladly do look-ups.
Genealogists Guide to Burials in Northumberland Co. PA Vol. I, 2nd Edition 1997,
475 Pages, Sunbury - Penn's w/Brice Addition, Hunter Cemetery, Grant Private
Cemetery,
Pomfret Manor, & West Side Cemetery Vol.II 3rd Edition 1998, 562
Pages, Central Area Townships Upper Augusta Township, Rush Township, Lower
Augusta Township, Rockafeller Township, Shamokin
Township, Snydertown Borough, &
Ralpho Township. Also, includes Bear Gap Methodist in Columbia County
Vol. III 4th Edition 1997, 428 Pages, Lower Area Townships Little Mahanoy
Township, Zerbe
Township, West Cameron Township, East Cameron Township, Jackson
Township, Washington Township, Upper Mahanoy Township, Lower Mahanoy Township, &
Jordan Township
Vol. IV 2nd Edition 1998, 350
Pages, Shamokin, Odd Fellows Cemetery & Mountain
View Manor
Genealogists Guide to Burials in Schuylkill Co. PA Vol. I, 3rd Edition 1998,
174 Pages, Mahantango Valley Area of Schuylkill, Dauphin
& Northumberland
Counties. Eldred Township, & Upper Mahantango Township, Schuylkill County, Upper
Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County; Pillow, Oakdale, Berrysburg,
Elizabethville & Middle
Paxton Township, Dauphin County
Genealogists Guide to Burials in Columbia & Montour Counties 3rd Edition 1998,
518 Pages, Municipalities south of the Susquehanna River Catawissa Borough,
Catawissa
Township, Cleveland Township, Conyngham Township, Franklin Township,
Locust Township, & Roaring Creek Township, Columbia County and Newberry
Township, Montour County. Gary L. Roberts Texas
http://pages.prodigy.net/g.roberts/homepage.htm
Subject: Family Graveyards In Berks Co Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 09:40:11 -0700
From: "Nelson R. Sulouff" zuli@sprintmail.com A new book has been published by
the Berks Co. Assn. For
Graveyard Preservation (BCAGGP) concerning the old
family graveyards that have been located in Berks County Pennsylvania.
Promotional material says the book contains pictures, maps, descriptions
etc. of
indexed graves.
For more information, see the BCAGP homepage at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/3005/graves.html Scroll down to the
book entitled "EPITAPHS" and "Click for a
Sample." My informant about this
book, who lives in Virginia, has told me "A copy has been donated to the library
of the Historical Society of Berks County, at which place the compilation may
be
inspected." I have absolutely no financial interest in this book, nor any
relationship with its authors. The sole purpose of this messsage is to
publicize what looks like a useful tool for
genealogical research on early
Pennsylvania families. Please do not send me inquiries for more information
about what this publication contains. I do not have it, but I do plan to take a
look
at it when I visit Berks Co...
Subject: Cemeteries and GNIS Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 08:54:01 -0400 From:
WJFreeman Here is an interesting web page that I came across on referral by Bill
Dollarhide. It has some weird
and interesting general information in it such as
the list of cemeteries maintained by USGS as the Geographic Names Information
System (GNIS). According to Dollarhide
http://www.genealogybulletin.com/archives/HTML/current9.html
this is the most
complete listing and location indicator for named cemeteries to be found
anywhere. The GNIS contains about 107,000 Cemeteries taken from the detailed
7.5' x 7.5' series of USGS
maps. Go to
http://mapping.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html. For example, fill in the form
at this website with PA; Northumberland and Cemetery and you will find 22
cemeteries listed with links
to USGS maps showing the locations.
I love the stories in the column about holding your hands above your head,
turning in a circle and shouting the name of your ancestor. Why not? Can't
hurt;
but remember to do it in the cemetery and not the supermarket! I will
definitely give it a try the next time I'm out looking for someone's remains. I
have searched one cemetery in Northeast PA
for my grandfather without success.
This would be a good test case, if and when, I get back there.
Churches
Subject: Churches Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 21:29:40 -0400 From: "J. Robert Jones"
rjones@mediaone.net Some of my family is buried at St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Cemetery, Lower Augusta
Township, PA. This is located on the East Side of the
river off of Jew's Hollow Road, unless it has been given a more politically
correct name.
----- Original Message -----
From: Elida
YardWorks@compuserve.com Sent: Sunday, April 18, 1999 11:34 AM
Subject: Churches Well, what a piece of luck! While looking through my paper
files for another subject I came across a picture of the Zion Church, located in
Augustville, Rockefeller
Township, Northumberland Co., PA plus a map of 100
historical sites in this County. Rockefeller Township looks to be located
between Upper and Lower Augusta with the Susquehanna River on the
west and
Shamokin Township on the east. The Zion Church (#95 on the historical map) with
the picture has a caption that reads: "The first church was a small log
structure built in 1765. The
present church is built of stone in the
meetinghouse manner. C, S, G". I don't know what the C, S, and G refer to.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: Churches. From: Marti Wise rmwise@erols.com DATE: 4/17/99 6:49 PM Does
anyone know where the German Lutherans that lived in Augusta Township, later
Lower Augusta Township in the
late 1700's would have gone to church? And if you
know the name of a church, do you know if there are any records that are
available anywhere?
Subject: Churches: Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 21:29:40 -0400 From: "J. Robert
Jones" rjones@mediaone.net Some of my family is buried at St. Peter's Lutheran
Church Cemetery, Lower Augusta
Township, PA. This is located on the East Side
of the river off of Jew's Hollow Road, unless it has been given a more
politically correct name.
----- Original Message -----
Subject: Churches From: Elida
YardWorks@compuserve.com Sunday, April 18, 1999 11:34 AM Well, what a piece of
luck! While looking through my paper files for another subject I came across
a
picture of the Zion Church, located in Augustville, Rockefeller Township,
Northumberland Co., PA plus a map of 100 historical sites in this County.
Rockefeller Township looks to be located
between Upper and Lower Augusta with
the Susquehanna River on the west and Shamokin Township on the east. The Zion
Church (#95 on the historical map) with the picture has a caption that reads:
"The first church was a small log structure built in 1765. The present church
is built of stone in the meeting house manner. C, S, G". I don't know what the
C, S, and G refer to.
----------
Forwarded Message ---------- Marti Wise rmwise@erols.com DATE:
4/17/99 6:49 PM Churches Does anyone know where the German Lutherans that lived
in Augusta Township, later Lower Augusta Township
in the late 1700's would have
gone to church? And if you know the name of a church, do you know if there are
any records that are available anywhere?
Subject: St. Joseph's Church Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 23:02:57 -0700 "toni marie
rossi" tonirossi@theglobe.com Yes, St. Joseph's merged with 4 other churches.
It is online and linked to
my pages. toni marie rossi http://members.theglobe.com/tonirossi/index.html - Northumberlander's
Coal Mining and Coal Mine Accidents
Subject: Coal Mine Accidents: From: Vince Zotkiewicz vinzot@worldnet.att.net
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 3:48 PM I am researching a family member,
Alexander Czarniecki, Mount Carmel,
PA who died in a coal mining accident at
Locust Gap Colliery in 1941. If any subscriber has any experience in
researching mining accidents I would appreciate your help and direction....
Subject: Coal Mine Accidents: Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 21:22:10 -0400 From:
"Nancy Boyer" nboyer@ptd.net Here are a few sites to try that relate to
anthracite coal mining:
http://www.msha.gov/district/Dist_01/Fatals/histfat.htm
http://www.history.ohio-
state.edu/projects/coal/AnthraciteDescription/AnthraciteRhone.htm
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/dms
/records/genealogy.htm
Epidemics
Subject: Epidemics Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 10:44:54 EDT From: Jococity@aol.com
Peter, since you are trying to determine if it was an epidemic that influenced
your family to move in
the middle of the summer, it reminded me of a list of
major epidemics in the United States. I had recently read on another list.
Source: Ancestors West, SSBCGS, Vol. 20, No 1, Fall 1993,
South Bend (IN) Area
Genealogical Society via Julie Burnett, Sue in Arizona and Judy Mordgren
SMACAGS.
"In case you ever wondered why a large number of your ancestors disappeared
during a certain
period in history, this might help. Epidemics have always had
a great influence on people - and thus influencing, as well, the genealogists
trying to trace them. Many cases of people
disappearing from records can be
traced to dying during an epidemic or moving away from the affected area. Some
of the major epidemics in the United States are listed below"
Historical Societies
Subject: Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township Date: Wed,
10 Mar 1999 21:02:53 -0500 From: joy matkowski" joymatkowski@email.msn.com Our
annual membership drive is
now underway. Membership is still only $7 per year,
which includes a subscription to the quarterly Herald and admission to the
museum, which this year will feature exhibits on the Red Men,
Robinson Field,
the Hotel Gernert, and the tornado of 1910. Members can also place free
genealogical queries in the Herald and use the genealogy and history library.
To join, send your name,
address, and check to Membership, Box 171, Millersburg,
Pa 17061. For further information, call Shirley at (717) 692-4933 or e-mail
mbghist@epix.net
Subject: Updates to the MMHPS Web
Site. Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 16:03:19 -
0500From: Dick Martz rjmartz@voicenet.com In response to periodic questions
regarding the records available at the Northumberland County Court House and at
The Northumberland County Historical Society I have added two new pages to the
Mahanoy and Mahantongo Historical and Preservation Society web site.
These pages may be accessed from the LINKS page
at www.mahantongo.org. I'm told
that the Northumberland County Historical Society is thinking about a web site
of its own. As always feedback, comments, corrections, and flames are always
welcome.
Subject: Attempt to reach site: Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 13:02:18 EST From:
DICK744@aol.com
Someone recently posted a site address for the Mahony Historical Society. I
tried the address
I had copied and reached the home page but it seemed to lock-
up after displaying just a background color. I have tried it several times,
with the same result.
If anyone has contact with the
site, please tell them there might be a problem
with their server. Here is the URL I used:
Subject: Updates to MMHPS site Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 21:19:43 - 0500 From: Dick
Martz rjmartz@voicenet.com The Mahanoy and Mahantongo Historical & Preservation
Society web site at www.mahantongo.org has just been updated. A new page called
DATA has been added which contains two entries. A brief
history of the Stone
Valley Church in Lower Mahanoy Township which includes pictures and the
beginning of the Birth and Baptismal records. (More of these records will
come later.) The second
entry on DATA is a list of Nineteenth Century
Northumberland County Area photographers. Additions and corrections to both of
these DATA resources is welcomed! We, of course, plan to add more
DATA
pertaining to the Lower Northumberland, Upper Dauphin, and Western Schuylkill
County areas we represent.
The Society is beginning another book project, following the success of the
Dalmatia
Bicentennial History (now about 90 percent sold out.) Our new book
will include histories of all of the communites in our "jurisdiction." See the
PROJECTS page at our site for more information
and please feel free to
contribute any information, anecdotes and stories you might have. We would also
like to copy any historical photographs pertaining to this area.
Subject: More Updates to the MMHPS Web Site Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 19:40:37 -
0500: From: Dick Martz rjmartz@voicenet.com I have filled in the pages that were
missing in the Stone Valley
Baptisms up to August 27, 1826. The pages can be
accessed from the Mahanoy and Mahantongo Historical & Preservation Society site
located at: http://www.mahantongo.org/ Follow the links through
DATA to the Stone
Valley Church to Baptisms
Subject: SPGS: Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 22:08:48 EST From: DYERDALLAS@aol.com
Ron, SPGS is: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services PO BOX 253
Laughlintown, PA 15655. They have the
research guide "Pennsylvania Line" which
references many PA resources. I have seen others on the list refer to this
resource guide. It is especially helpful for anyone beginning their PA
research. I have had my copy for about ten years and I have used it many times.
I have also purchased microfilm reels for the Sunbury American Shamokin Journal
from them. Chris Dyer
Immigrants
Subject: Galicia (Austria) Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 12:28:59 -0800
For those who may be wondering, Galicia as of 1900 was a
section of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. My husband was born there in 1944, when
it was Poland; for a while, it was part of the Soviet Union; now it is in the
Ukraine. Someone from there might speak any of several different languages and
hold to any of a variety of religions, but they're unlikely to speak Greek,
IMHO.
>
>From Floyd page 648: The first permanent rector of the Ruthenian Catholic
Church of Shamokin was Rev. Theo. Obushkewicz, who had charge from 1890 to 1891.
On May 1, 1893, Rev. John Ch. Konstankewicz took charge of the parish and is the
present rector. In closing, two brief explanations should be made: (1) Here in
America the Ruthenians are often erroneously styled
"Greeks." They are not
Greeks, and among the laboring people not one understands a single word of
Greek. They are a branch of the great Slavonic race and the name of the
nationality is Ruthenian.
There are thirty-two millions of these people, out of
which number 2,700,000 inhabit Galicia under the dominion of Austria; over
600,000 northern Hungary, adjoining the borders of Galicia, and
29,000,000 all
of southern Russia, under the dominion of the "White Czar", The Russians call
the Ruthenians the "Little Russians," thereby endeavoring to assimilate them
with themselves and show
the world what a great nation Russia is. But such
assimilation has no historical foundation whatever. The reason they are called
Greeks arises undoubtedly from the fact that the first immigrants
were unable to
understand the English language, either in whole or in part, and upon being
questioned as to whom they were they would answer, "Greek Catholics." But the
word Greek pertains only
to the form of their church, because the Ruthenians
belong to the Eastern Church, just as other nationalities inhabiting Europe
belong to the Western (or Roman Catholic) Church. A German or
Frenchman, or any
other European, belonging to the Roman Catholic Church might similarly, on
coming to this country, in his ignorance of the English language describe
himself as a Roman Catholic,
but he would not be a
Roman any more than a Ruthenian is a Greek.
Subject: Galicia (Austria) Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 03:28:10 EST From:
FROSTAD@aol.com Have you checked out this site. You can search their database by
surname. Some ship passenger lists
from specific areas. They have 1882 maps that
can be downloaded also - including Galacia. http://feefhs.org/ THE Pioneer Web
Site for all Central and East European Genealogy since May 1995
Federation of
East European Family History Societies P. O. Box 510898, Salt Lake City, Utah
84151-0898
Subject: Galicia Date: Fri, 19 Mar 99 08:20:28 -500 From: gregprice@innevi.com
In my opinion, the ultimate website concerning Galicia is the Carpatho-
Rusyn Website maintained by
Greg Gressa. It has enormous amounts of history
about the area and surname listings going back to 1787.
I'm writing this message on the fly so I don't have the url handy. Go to the
Yahoo
Search Engine and type in "Carpatho Rusyn".
Subject: Galicia (Austria)
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 23:39:13 -0000 From: "Ragnar J Ragnarsson"
ragsie@centrum.is You bet there were, but more so numerous villages. Its
capital was
L'viv (Lemberg in German), now in the Ukraine. Another city is
Ternopil, also now Ukraine. In 1772 when Galicia became a province of Austria
it had 2,650,000 inhabitants in an area of 31,600
square miles. I suspect your
GGPs were Ruthenians (Carpatho-Rusyns). Township Have a look at the web site of
the Carpatho-Rusyn Knowledge Base website at www.carpatho-rusyn.org . They have
a
large amount of material I think you might find useful.
You really want to find out the name of the town/village your GGPs came from.
Naturalization papers are the first choice I'd say. I found
my GF's village
there (discovered later it was also recorded on my mother's baptismal
certificate, only this was written in church slavonic!). I haven't found my
GGF's naturalization papers yet,
but in the church records at the time of his
death, the village he came from was recorded. I presume Social Security
applications might also be helpful, as well as death certificates.
My
ggrandparents claimed Galicia, Au as their homeland. I spent some time
trying to find that "town" on the map. Only recently I found that it's an
entire region. Were there towns and cities
associated with this "region". I
have no other indication where in Galicia they were from, but it would be
interesting to know what the possibilities were. They were 1880 emigrants.
Does
anyone know what resource I might use to fill me in on the region during
and before that time.
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Galicia (Austria) From: joy matkowski joymatkowski@email.msn.com Date:
Thursday, March 18, 1999 7:59 AM For those who may be wondering, Galicia as of
1900 was a section of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. My husband was born there in
1944, when it was Poland; for a while, it was part of the Soviet Union; now it
is in the Ukraine. Someone from there might speak any of
several different
languages and hold to any of a variety of religions, but they're unlikely to
speak Greek, IMHO.
Maps
Subject: Northumberland Map: Date: Thur, 01 Apr 1999 12:17:48 -0800 From:
Tony Rebuck tar2@psu.edu Someone asked about a map of Northumberland County.
Try
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/northumberland/areahistory/northmap.gif
Subject: Cemeteries and GNIS (see also this heading under the Subject
Cemeteries and WPA Records above. Follow the links given their to reach the
USGS series of maps.)
Newspapers
Subject: Newspaper holdings at Mount Carmel Library Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000
11:42:13 -0400 From: Mount Carmel Public Library "mcpublib" mcpublib@ptd.net
The Mount Carmel Public Library
has the following newspapers on microfilm:
Shamokin Register starting March 8, 1860 Shamokin Herald starting June 10, 1862
Mount Carmel Ledger starting October 1892 Mount Carmel Item starting
Janurary
1888. We have a microfilm reader/printer, copies are 25 cents per page.
Subject: Newspapers Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 16:31:36 -0800 From: Betts
Subject: Newspapers Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 16:49:09 EST From: LLDelk@aol.com
My grandmother happened to send me an article that was in the July 2, 1997 issue
of The Daily Item that
reviewed Sunbury's newspaper history. Perhaps you and
others might find this helpful:
Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette - first newspaper in Northumberland County,
began in 1792, published
weekly, single column devoted to local news, suspended
during War of 1812, resumed afterward and continued until ?.
The Republican Argus - began in 1802, published in Northumberland, continued
to
1809 or a little after. Later merged with the Gazette.
Public Press - began in Northumberland, from 1872 to 1921.
Der Freiheitzvogel - first Sunbury newspaper, German language paper, 1800 to
about 1802.
Times - Sunbury's second newspaper, 1812 to 1820. Name changed to the Public
Inquirer.
Public Inquirer - Sunbury, about 1820 to 1822. Name changed to Gazetteer.
Gazetteer - Sunbury,
abt 1822 to 1833.
Northumberland Republicaner - Sunbury, German language paper, 1812. Name
changed to Nordwestliche Post in 1818.
Nordwestliche Post - Sunbury, German language, 1818 to 1827.
Shamokin Canalboat - Sunbury, German language, 1827 to1833. Name changed to
Workingman's Advocate.
Workingman's Advocate - Sunbury, English language, 1833 to 1838.
Sunbury Gazette and Miner's
Register - Sunbury, abt 1838 to 1879.
Gazette American - Sunbury, consolidation of Sunbury Gazette and Miner's
Register and another newspaper, 1879 to 1880.
Gazette - Sunbury, 1880 to abt 1883.
Sunbury American - 1840 to 1923?
Der Deutsche Amerikaner - Sunbury, German language edition of the Sunbury
American, 1843 to 1864.
GazetteAmerican - Sunbury, merger of the Gazette and the Sunbury
American, after
the Civil War, lasted several years.
Der Deutsche Demokrat - Sunbury, 1856 to 1861. Became the Northumberland County
Democrat.
Northumberland County Democrat - Published in
Sunbury, 1861 to 1923.
Weekly News - Sunbury, ? to 1923.
The Sunbury Daily - Sunbury's first daily newspaper, 1872 to 1876, then resumed
again in 1879 to 1937.
Evening Item - Sunbury, a daily
newspaper, 1893 to 1937.
Sunbury Daily Item (now the The Daily Item) - merger of The Sunbury Daily and
the Evening Item, 1937 to present.
Subject: newspaper articles Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 21:50:02 -0500 From:
"smidge" smidge@ptd.net I have several pages of newspapers from the Mount Carmel
paper. If you see a name
that connects let me know and I will send you the info
in the article.
July 1936: Albert Klinger Michael Palubiski Joseph Rompolskie C. Gummel (Brother
Joseph Gummel)
Edwin W. Aston Daniel Heil
Edward Morgan Adam aviczinges
December 1928:Fred Rodain; Laura Stecker; Thomas Fritz, son of Mr. And Mrs. ?
Fritz of Mahonoy City
January 1929: William Wilson of Port Carbon Ed. F. Stephens of
Pottsville Mrs.
Vera Berger Benedict Dunloski of St. Clair Agnes Zahoriak, aged 2 Mrs. Anna
Malloy Dr. Edwin J. Buckley William Tabey
Subject: Newspaper Findings Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 19:10:42 -0400 From: Marti
Wise rmwise@erols.com I wanted to tell you that I just posted 38 new names;
more marriages and deaths
from Northumberland County newspapers 1861 - 1878,.
Go to my web site at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/3600 Click on
"MY NEWSPAPER DISCARDS" on the main page and you will be there.
The latest
entries are in green.
Subject: Newspapers on microfilm: Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 20:30:56 +500 From:
"Elizabeth Wall/Peter Binkley" wallandbinkley@home.com I requested a microfilm
of a Northumberland county
newspaper from the 1860s at my local public library
in London, Ontario, Canada, and it was brought in by interlibrary loan from one
of the Pennsylvania universities. I had it for four weeks, no
charge. Great
service! Peter Binkley
Thu, 29 Jun 2000 11:11:03 -0500 From:Timothy Shipe
Subject: Deeds Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 19:33:21 -0800 From: Betts
betts@sprintmail.com I just spent a day in Union County at the courthouse
looking at some old deeds from when Union
County was part of Northumberland
county. I was amazed at the information some of them contained! I knew my great
grandfather was Samuel Edward WALKER (b. 10/23/1864) and that his parents were
William WALKER and Sarah BURRIS. That's all I knew for sure. I had no idea
where the Walkers came from. From census records, I suspected William Walker's
parents were John & Ann Walker. In
1850 William (28 yrs old) was living with
Ann Walker (57yrs old) and John Walker (26 yrs old). Backtracking led me to
suspect John Walker. I found some old deeds that not only confirmed that
John
was married to Ann, but also gave his parents, William and Olympis Walker of
Bucks County, his sister, Mary who married William HOUSEL, and the man Olympis
married after William died
(Nathaniel STRAHORN). It also stated that the land
had originally been granted by Patent dated 08/25/1776 to John Kelly and wife
Sarah.
Subject: HAWORTH, Thomas/Henry: Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 06:01:52 -0500 From:
"Betty Haworth" woolspinner@coastalnet.com Our visit last week to Sunbury in
hopes of finding Thomas/Henry
HAWORTH only yielded 2 clues. One was at the
Historical Society, from the EARLY RECORDS OF THE MEMORIAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN
(EPISCOPOL) AT ASHLAND, Schuykill County...
The next was at the Archives
in Harrisburg when the elusive Sunbury Tax Books
were located for us. We found one entry in 1857 for "Thomas Henry, employed by
Lancaster Colliery. He paid a sum of $25 at a rate of 30 cents per
hundred. He
already had a bit of assets. We found no other reference to Lancaster Colliery.
We were told by Mr. Reed at the Court House in Sunbury that the Archives had
lost the Tax Books but
it only took a little insisting and they were found in
short order. They are not listed in the computer or the black books at the desk
outside, but inside in a filing cabinet in the corner of the
room, lower drawer.
Ask the person at the desk. The tag on the boxes read, Carton 31,32. L-2840 and
2833. I am going to write to Mr. Reed and tell him they are not REALLY
lost...Betty
Haworth
Towns and Townships
Subject: Rush Township Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:07:35 -0400 From: Charles
Rockett Chukrock@compuserve.com The "history"of Rush Township is found in [the]
Northumberland County
history book.... The Sunbury library should furnish you
info.
Subject: Township vs. Town: Amy Leone wrote: Can someone help me out with this
whole township concept? Is a county divided into townships? Is the township a
taxing authority? Are the
schools operated by the city or the township? For
example, it seems that Harrisburg has several townships, i.e. Lower Dauphin,
Upper Dauphin, etc. What is the role of the city?
Subject: Township vs Town: Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2000 10:38:34 -0500 From: Linda
Koharski koharski@sunlink.net Hi Amy & group, Counties are divides in townships.
Inside the townships there
can also be towns or cities which may have local
taxes and separate municipal jurisdiction. If you do not live inside a city or
town, your local taxes are paid to the township. School districts
have separate
areas. They may cross city or townships lines and they collect school taxes
based on in what school district you reside. These are personal taxes and a
person can also be taxes
separately if they own property.
Veteran's Records
Subject: WWI Veterans Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 12:26:02 -0700 From: "Robert
Josephs" josephs@phonewave.net I understand that WWI veterans were required to
record their discharge papers
with their county court house. Has anyone used
this resource viz. A viz. The Sunbury Court House? Are these records filed
alphabetically? What is the fee?
Subject: WWI Veterans: Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 18:48:50 -0500 From: "Marie L.
Berens" TheBerens@Clarksville.com My sister and I used these documents in
Sunbury. If I remember correctly,
they were not filed alphabetically, but there
was an index. We were able to find most of the documents up through the Korean
War, but there were a few missing. Perhaps, they never filed them.
I was
amazed to find my own father's DD 214 on file. My husband just retired after 20
years active duty and it was a shock to see how recently those documents weren't
considered confidential.
We learned a great deal about the battles my uncles
were in and awards received that nobody ever mentioned.
Subject: WWI Veterans: Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 00:39:52 EDT From: Chris Dyer
DYERDALLAS@aol.com I have seen this information at the courthouse for WWII
vets. If I remember correctly it was
listed with the recorder of deeds. These
records are indexed. Northumberland County has even sent me copies of the
indices by surname in the mail. All they charge is a copy fee.
End "Wisdom of the List" - for now.
A GUIDE FOR A PERSONAL VISIT AND OTHER INFORMATION
(WITH EMPHASIS ON THE MOUNT CARMEL AREA)
As it happens, my family were immigrant, Eastern European, Catholic, coal miners
and
were centered on Mt. Carmel in the eastern side of the county. Nevertheless
these hints may prove useful for others whether or not your searches are
centered on immigrant ancestors around the
turn of the century.
My problems as I began my searches were that I did not know what information was
where. In many cases I did not know enough to ask the right questions. I would
discover
later that if I had been a little more alert or knowledgeable, I could
have gotten a lot more information per visit. For instance, I did not know that
naturalization papers were in the
Prothonotary office across the hall from the
Recorder of Deeds at the Sunbury Courthouse.
Often on returning from a trip to Northumberland County, I would wonder, if
again I was within a few
feet of some record that would make a difference in my
search, but did not know enough to ask. I usually sort all of this out when I
get back. I'm only able to study and make correlations as
I carefully enter
data into my database. I find all but the most obvious correlations, insights
and understandings very tough to do while standing in an office or library.
There I am surrounded
by more reference materials than I can look through and
with the clock ticking on the office hours and the length of my visit.
These hints are offered based on one person's experience.
First I assume that
you may want to visit in person but with limited time. These notes may help.
Nothing beats a personal visit to walk the grounds of one's ancestors.
LDS RECORDS--Should you not be able to make a trip, take a look at the
information that may be available at your local Church of Jesus Christ of the
Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Family History
Center. Please visit their web site
at www.familysearch.org and follow the links as follows "Browse Catagories"
"Libraries", "Family History Library Catalog"and "Place Search". Enter
Northumberland, PA. The on-line information is up to date.
Or visit your local FHC. Take a 3.5" blank and formated floppy disk with you
and have someone show you how to access the same
information as above from the
CD-ROM on their computer. Copy each file (or all of them for that matter) onto
your disk as a series of text (*.txt) files.
Later if you wish you can assemble the
individual files using your word
processor into a contiguous document. Doing this puts everything in one place
in one document that is easier to grasp than a few hundred individual screens
whether on-line or at the FHC. Chances are that whatever approach you take, you
will see something worth checking that you of which you were not aware.
In either case, with your research
questions in mind, you may be able to plan
how you can attack your problem.
If traveling to Northumberland, you can go
directly to the source of some of what you seek. If researching via microfilm,
having reviewed what is available at your FHC may help you see a source
of which
your may not have been aware.
If you should be fortunate enough to take a trip to Salt Lake City, doing this
exercise before arriving will give you a chance to formulate a search
strategy.
That way you can hit the stacks and not have to waste your on-site t ime working
through the index material.
I saw in the LDS list a book by Florence Clint, "Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania, area key: guide to the genealogical records of Northumberland
County, Pennsylvania, including maps, histories, charts and other helpful
materials" 2nd ed. Everton, Logan, UT, 1977.
74 p. Unfortunately, I do not have
a copy of this book and it may be out of print. This may be another resource if
you can find a copy.
LET'S GET DOWN TO NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
- So for the researcher with limited time, who may have Catholic ancestors from
Eastern Europe and who is looking for a foothold, here is my best
recommendation
for a visit. (I would start with a census record search in hand before any site
visit, if at all possible.) This is a compilation of what I should have done if
I had known what
to do. It took me more than five visits to the area to learn
this. Of course there is no right or wrong way to do any of this and your case
may be different. Here is what would have worked
best for me:
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COURTHOUSE -
I would start at the Courthouse in Sunbury [open 9-5 PM, 9-4:30 pm T-F]. I
found a lot of information at the Recorder of Deeds office at the
Courthouse on
marriages, births, deaths and military discharges. [Frederick M. Reed, Recorder
of Deeds, Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Northumberland
County Courthouse,
Sunbury, PA 17801, (570) 988 4140].
DEEDS: Indexes 1772-
1913, 1914-1946, 1947-1973, 1974-1989, 1990- present. Books: A-Z, AA-XX, 50-
600; Record books 601.
MORTGAGE Indexes: 1772-1973,
1974-1989, 1990-present,
Books: 1-449' Record Books 601. WILLS: Indexes 1772-1930, 1930-1987, 1987-
present. Will books 1-59 [also original estate documents, including wills,
property
inventories, vendues, etc.].
ORPHAN'S COURT: Index 1772-1930, 1930-
1987, 1987- present. Dockets 1-67. MARRIAGE Indexes (Male & Female) 1885-
present, Dockets 1-113, 1885-1987; 114-, 1987-
present.
DELAYED BIRTH
CERTIFICATE BOOKS 1869-1906.
Birth Docket: Oct 7,1852-Mar 12,1853. Death
Docket July 5, 1853-Mar 9, 1855. Marriage Docket Dec 4, 1852- Feb 9, 1854.
BIRTH RECORDS Two Volumes: 1893-1905.
DEATH RECORDS: Two Volumes: 1893-1905.
Also some charter books, some military records and a large 1858 wall map.
These
indexes and documents are all
open to hands-on searching. Copies are $0.25
each; $5 min on mail outs. Two-hour metered parking in front and rear of
Courthouse. Bring change. Security guard and scanner just inside front
door.
Computers & cameras ok. Generally handicap accessible.
For marriage records, don't forget to check the separate indexes for Males and
Females. I found a number of unexpected connections
that way. The marriage
license records will give ages and maybe more importantly the parent's names for
both the bride and groom. If it is marriage records, you seek, but have no luck
at the
courthouse be sure to ask Fred Reed where else to look. In fact, be sure
to ask Fred anything that you might even think may exist. He is extraordinarily
helpful and often will stop what he is
doing to give you personal service.
There were nearby Justices of the Peace in adjacent counties who ran marriage
mills. Fred can tell you where to look for those records that are not in
Sunbury. When I checked the Orphans Court Docket books (Recorder of Deeds
office), I found an application for a delayed birth certificate from one of my
grandfather's brothers which gave a lot
of family information that turned out to
be unique!
If you are looking for naturalization or divorce records don't forget the
Prothonotary Office across the hall. [Ms. Suzanne Vastine-Smith,
Prothonotary-
Clerk of Court, Office of Prothonotary, Room 7,Northumberland County Court
House, 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801, (570) 988 4151] This office also
has CIVIL COURT RECORDS
Appearance Dockets, Execution Dockets and Original
Papers Filed. Quarter Sessions Records, Sheriff's Deed Books and Fictitious
Business Names.
There are probably plenty of other sources of
valuable records at the
courthouse, but I'm just reporting on what I have had experience with.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Next I would do a quick check of the Mt Carmel Obits catalog
and the gravestone
books at the Northumberland County Historical Society (The Hunter House, 1150
North Front Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 286-4083). The NCHS is only open
certain days of the
week and then only for a few hours-call ahead for their
schedule. Last I knew it was M, W, F & 1ST Saturday,1-4pm. There is a small
nonmember fee to use their reading room (2nd floor not
handicap accessible).
There is a new set of books at the NCHS which may save some time in walking
through the graveyards, "A Genealogical Guide to Burials in Northumberland
County, PA"
(Joseph A. Meiser Jr. B.S. Ph.D. and Sara Roodarmel Meiser, DDRAIG
GOCH Publication PO Box 87 Grantham PA 17027-0087 ). These volumes cover
Borough of Kulpmont, Marion Heights and Mount Carmel
Township.
There is another recent book at the NCHS in which the obits in the Mt Carmel
News Item and other nearby papers have been cataloged. I have this source in my
notes as "Mount Carmel
Obituary List, 1892-1902 1920-1923" compiled by James M.
Ryan, VA (Based on the list prepared by Mrs. Graffa at the Mount Carmel Public
Library).
It will be easy to get distracted by the shelves
of material at the NCHS but in
the end there probably won't be much of significance for the East End of the
county and not much on the Mt Carmel area. The Northumberland County Historical
Society
tends to have less information on the eastern side of the county and
very little on Catholic families. Jack Pensyl has been very helpful to me at
the NCHS.
The NCHS has cemetery records, church
records (baptisms), marriage, birth and
death records before 1850, tax records by township up to the 1780's, newspapers
(mostly before 1900-but not for Mt Carmel) census records from 1850-1920
for
immediate counties and published family genealogies and county histories. They
also have some W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration to give the unemployed
something to do in the 1930s)
records. There may be available the Herber
Gearhart, "Northumberland County Gravestone Inscriptions, (black fiberboard
notebooks). Also available from Salt Lake through your local Family
History
Center. According to Gerry Hamor on this list in May, 1999, the microfilm
number is 0531279 and that he found a lot of important dates on this film.
I'm not sure if NCHS has the census
record indexes. Somebody correct me on
this. Without an index, you are probably in for a long search through the
handwritten microfilmed records. Doable but very tedious and time consuming.
If you are planning to check the census there, ask if they have the indexes
first.
MOUNT CARMEL LIBRARY AND CEMETERIES - THE SECOND DAY -
Chances are you won't be able to get all of this done in one
day. But if you
are organized and have a helper, you have a shot. If you are going to stay
overnight, I would do the Mount Carmel library and a walk through the graveyards
on the next day.
The graveyards are always open and the library, I believe, is
open Saturdays for a period. Call ahead for the library hours, which change
from winter to summer.
MOUNT CARMEL LIBRARY
The Mount
Carmel Public Library (30 South Oak St, Mount Carmel, PA 17851 [570]
339-0703, mcpublib@ptd.net They have the Shamokin News Item (formerly the Mount
Carmel News Item).from origin to present on
microfilm. Recent issues on
microfilm are received quarterly. The library hours are Monday-Tuesday-Thursday
9:30am-7pm; Wednesday 9:30am-1pm; Friday 9:30am-4pm. The hours change in the
Summer! Call ahead. The current librarian's name is Claire Hudson. In
addition to microfilm for the local newspapers, they have microfilm of some
birth and death records for the Mt Carmel
Township. Neither the Courthouse nor
the Northumberland Historical Society in Sunbury have some of these. These
records were apparently from the township books just before the turn of the
century. I don't have a list of the dates these records run. An email to the
library would be a quick way to find more specifics. I found a number of family
member's birth and death dates
in their microfilms. The State began keeping
vital records about 1906 or so and the township records were discontinued.
The Recorder of Deeds Office in Sunbury will also have a list of birth
and
deaths but it isn't the same as the Mt Carmel books now on microfilm at the
library--so don't make the mistake of checking in one place and think that you
got it all.
The Mt Carmel Library
also has Census microfilm for Northumberland County but no
indexes. They have only one microfilm reader but it does make copies for a
small fee.
Yes, I know there is a library in Shamokin in the
old Vets Lodge hall. I haven't
been there, so I can't comment on their resources, hours, etc. Maybe someone
else can supply some tips here.
NEWSPAPERS AT THE MOUNT CARMEL LIBRARY -
For others who
are still looking for information on individuals in the Mt Carmel
area. The Mt Carmel News Item is a good source of obits. Better yet if you
have checked the book at the Historical Society in
Sunbury and found the date
and page number. As far as I know the library at Mt Carmel is one of the few
places where you can access this information on microfilm. When you look
through the
paper, you will see that they didn't miss much in such a small town.
If your travels take you through Sunbury before searching the Mt Carmel News
Item microfilm records have a look at a "Mount
Carmel Obituary List, 1892-1902
1920-1923" compiled by James M. Ryan, a recently issued book at the
Northumberland County Historical Society (above). I don't know that there is a
copy of this in
the Mount Carmel Library. If you call ahead, you might ask
about it. I seem to remember that other newspapers (Shamokin?) may be included
in this latest work, but I'm not entirely sure of that.
Anyone else know?
Many, many hours were spent scouring these old films and cataloging the data in
order to make it easier for the rest of us. I found two obits that I didn't
know existed that
way. I would have probably never had the time or patience to
look in the years the obits were listed.
You may find that looking through the microfilm in a daily newspaper to be
tedious indeed.
However, it is a great way to get some flavor of the times.
Advertisements, national news stories, labor issues at the mines and the price
of coal all are interesting reading.
If you should find
yourself in the Mt Carmel library going through the News Item
microfilm, I recommend to first study a few pages to find where the births,
obits or marriages generally occur in the paper (page 3
page 5, etc.). Then you
can quickly move to about that spot from day to day. It helps to have somebody
looking over your shoulder for this. My wife often spots things I would have
missed this
way.
Don't forget to check the front page of each issue if your ancestors were coal
miners, like mine. Virtually every incident that happened in or around the
mines anywhere nearby usually made
the front page.
The problem with the microfilm reader in the Mt Carmel library is that you can't
look at a whole page but only a half portion of the page. There should be a way
to change the lens
or optics so that one can view a complete page at a time.
The librarian, probably knows if they have the equipment or how to make the
changes.
I'm not sure that the newspaper did a very good job
in listing weddings and
births. I have looked once or twice for both without success. Too bad since
that would also be very useful info. Some of each is listed so you may have
better luck than
I have here. Needless to say my ancestors weren't in the
social register so maybe they only got listed when they died.
CEMETERIES
- There is a Polish cemetery, St Joseph, as you go west out of Mt
Carmel past the
stadium towards Shamokin and Kulpmont. I walked this cemetery twice once in the
snow in winter and once in spring. I didn't find my ancestors but did meet up
with one of the
local undertakers. I was invited back to the funeral home and
checked their records which proved to be interesting but didn't tell me exactly
where my grandfather or great grandfather were
buried. They had planted my
great grandfather for $168 but neglected to say where. In my case the cemetery
was listed as "Doolyville" in the Mount Carmel News Item obit from the microfilm
at
the Mt Carmel library. Doolyville is a "patch" (to use the local term in the
Mount Carmel area) of houses just outside the city limits to the west of Mount
Carmel (out West 3rd Street). Just
beyond this patch of houses on the hill
above are five cemeteries--two on the right (St Peter and St Paul, Greek
Catholic [Ukrainian] and St John The Baptist Catholic (Polish) and three on the
left (Our Lady [primarily Irish], ST JOSEPH [primarily Polish] and Mount Carmel
[primarily Protestant])
I am aware of the other cemeteries on the mountain as you go south out of Mt
Carmel (the
Meriam Mountain Road). I have walked them also. See the
recommendation on the book at the Northumberland Historical Society in Sunbury
above.
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The Funeral directors are generally
more helpful than the Parish offices. I
believe there are two funeral homes now in Mt Carmel. Here is one of them: C.
J. Lucas Funeral Home. I talked to Charles Lucas and his father Charles
Lucas
(27 Vine Street, Mount Carmel 17851 (570) 339-4110)). Maybe someone else on the
list can supply the name of the other one. However, a key question might be
where are the records for those
undertakers who are no longer in business. The
NCHS and C. J. Lucas or the other funeral director may have some knowledge here.
PARRISH OFFICES
-
The Mount Carmel Catholic Churches have been
consolidated and most of the
rectory offices are reluctant to do any searches for you-even if you are
standing there. Instead they will direct you to the Archivist, at the Diocese
of
Harrisburg-no, you can't go to Harrisburg and search the records (microfilm)
yourself.
MOUNT CARMEL AREA RECTORY LISTINGS FOR CHURCHES, 1998 -
Divine Reedemer includes: Holy Cross, Saint Peter's,
St. John the Baptist, Mother of Consolation
438 West Avenue, Mount Carmel, PA 17851 570-339-3450
Our Lady of Mount Carmel includes: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St.
Mary's Cemetery,
St. Joseph, Locust Dale
47 South Market Street, Mount Carmel, PA 17851, 570-339-1031
Holy Angels includes: St. Casimir, St. Mary's
Our Lady of Perpetual, Marion Heights
855 Scott Street,
Kulpmont, PA 17834, 570-373-1221
St. Peter & Paul Greek Catholic Church includes: St. Peter &Paul Greek
Catholic Church, Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary, Centralia, Patronage
St. Mary's Church,
Marion Heights
131 North Beech Street, Mount Carmel, PA 17851, 570-339-0650
St, Michael's Orthodox Church
Willow West Avenue, Mount Carmel, PA 17851, 570-339-1200
Mount Carmel Cemetery
36 East Second
Street, Mount Carmel, PA 17851, 570-339-3021
Oak Hill Cemetery
36 East Second Street, Mount Carmel, PA 1785, 570-339-3021
Tifereth Israel Cemetery
Box 35, Mount Carmel, Pa, 17851, 570-339-5453
e-mail
tmatlow.sunlink.net
DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG -
The Diocese has microfilmed records but are unindexed within a parish so you
need to provide as much info as possible as to which parish, dates, etc.
Here
is what I received from the Diocese
- DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG, 4800 UNION DEPOSIT ROAD-BOX 2153 HARRISBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA 17105 (717) 657-4804 EXT. 214 - Fax 717 657-1573.
THE ARCHIVES
-
Genealogical Research Policy - A search - of sacramental records, indexed by
parish and preserved on microfilm in our diocesan archives, can be undertaken
for you. Specifically, our records do include baptisms
and marriages for the
parish of interest to you. Death and burial records, however, are not always
found on the oldest rolls of microfilm. Genealogical information is transcribed
as it appears
on the microfilm of the original parish register. It is then
provided to you in the format of a letter signed by the diocesan archivist. No
certificates are issued.
All requests must include
biographical data relating a family name to a parish
or geographic area in our diocese. This is important because no index by
surname exists for these sacramental records.
In accord with a
decision by our bishop, and as recommended by the Association
of Catholic Diocesan Archivists, genealogical searches are concluded with the
year 1920.
One genealogical search costs thirty dollars
($30.00) [Note: as of the year
2000, this fee is $35.00] and is limited to two hours search time. This fee,
which is due when the research request is made, is charged even if your family
records
are not located.
Please reply if you want a search to begin. Your check for thirty dollars
payable to Archives, Diocese of Harrisburg must be included with an affirmative
reply. Four to six weeks
is a reasonable time for you to expect this research
to be completed.
11198 Diocese of Harrisburg Secretariat for Canonical Services
Kathleen Signor
Assistant Chancellor for Archives * Archivist
- E-
mail:archives@hbgdiocese.org"
I wrote in March, 2000 to the Archdiocese of Harrisburg for a record search.
Since I wanted to find out everything (!), but wasn't sure how to go about
requesting it, I phoned the Kathleen Signor, the Archivist, and told her what I
wanted and asked her how to present my multiple requests. She was very helpful
in guiding me to a much
simpler request than I was considering. I had planned
to make a table of all the people I was interested in and the data I was seeking
on each. While she didn't tell me not to do this,
she said that it was
sufficient just to write a simple letter and attach a data file (abbreviated)
from Family Tree Maker. I then used a highlighter and margin notes to indicate
who and
what I was looking for. This took only a few minutes to do.
In a few weeks, I received several pages of copies made from the microfilm
records. In these copies, I located several "new"
facts including my
grandfather's birthdate along with those of several of my mother's sisters. I
had been seeking these data for sometime and this was close to my last hope.
She also sent a
birth record of a "missing" child who didn't survive. And
finally, I was rewarded with the maiden name of another grandmother as part of
marriage record. The Catholic Church is good about
listing surnames of both
parents. Ms. Signor also mentioned that she had searched all three parishes in
Mount Carmel for my family records. Overall, this was a very worthwhile search
experience
which yielded data I have found no where else.
SUMMARY
- So to summarize, you may have the most luck, in the following order: 1.
Courthouse--Recorder of Deeds and maybe the Prothonotary office
(quick look for
naturalization papers--there are only a couple of index books to check), 2.
Northumberland Historical Society (if your ancestors were Catholic don't waste
time on the church
records there--they are all Protestant records--they have no
Catholic records--just use the cemetery inscriptions book and the Mt Carmel News
Item obits and move on.) 3. Mount Carmel Public
Library 4. Cemeteries 5.
Funeral Directors.
And finally, finally, if all else fails you can obtain birth and death records
from the Vital Records, State Department of Health, 101 South Mercer
Street, New
Castle, PA 16103 (724) 656-3100 FAX (724) 652-8951 for records extant after
1906. Parent's names were supposed to be recorded on Death Certificates after
1913. You must state your
relationship to the person you are seeking. Be sure
to ask for a full copy of the record! Birth records are $4 and death $3; be
sure to include a stamped self addressed envelope (SASE). If
you don't know the
year of the birth or death they will do a "decade search" for a significantly
higher fee ($28). This is a little known service. Be sure to include all
possible spelling
variations! Include a SASE for return of copies.
Well, that is my current state of knowledge and what I know about searching for
my family, for what it is worth. This is offered in the spirit
of trying to be
helpful and not as a comprehensive, "the last word" note. I'm sure I've
overlooked or am just ignorant of many things. I would be interested to hear
about them, if offered in
the same spirit.
Walter Freeman
Sffwjf@dca.net
1657 Boston Measles
1687 Boston
Measles
1690 New York Yellow
Fever
1713 Boston
Measles
1729 Boston
Measles
1732-3 Worldwide Influenza
1738 South Carolina Smallpox
1739-40 Boston Measles
1747 CT, NY,PA, SC Measles
1759 N. America (areas inhabited by white people) Measles
1761 N. America & West Indies Influenza
1772 N American Measles
1775 N America (especially hard in NE) Epidemic - Unknown
1775-6 Worldwide (one of the worst) Epidemics of
Influenza
1783 Dover, DE ("extremely fatal") Bilious Disorder
1788 Philadelphia & New York Measles
1793 Vermont (a
"putrid" fever) and Influenza
1793 VA (killed 500 in 5 counties in 4 wks) Inluenza
1793 Harrisburg, PA (many unexplained) Unknown reason for
deaths
1793 Middletown, PA (many mysterious) Unknown reason for deaths
1793 Philadelphia, PA (many unexplained) Unknown reason for
deaths
1794 Philadelphia, PA Yellow
Fever
1796-7 Philadelphia, PA Yellow
Fever
1798 Philadelphia (one of the worse) Yellow Fever
1803 New York Yellow
Fever
1820-3 Nationwide (starts-Schuykill River and spreads) "Fever"
1831-2 Nationwide (brought by English emigrants) Asiastic Cholera
1832 NY City and other major cities Cholera
1833 Columbus, OH (many deaths) Cholera
1834 New York City, NY (many deaths) Cholera
1837 Philadelphia Typhus
1841 Nationwide (especially severe in the south) Yellow Fever
1847 New Orleans Yellow Fever
1847-8 Worldwide
Influenza
1848-9 North America Cholera
1849 New York (many deaths) Cholera
1850 Nationwide Yellow
Fever
1850-1 North America Inluenza
1851 Coles Co, IL, The Great Plains and Missouri - many deaths)
Cholera
1852 Nationwide (New Orleans 8,000 die in summer) Yellow Fever
1855 Nationswide (many parts) Yellow Fever
1857-9 Worldwide (one of greatest) Epidemic of Influenza
1860-1 Pennsylvania Smallpox
1865-73 Philadelphia, NY, Boston, New Orleans Baltimore, Memphis, Washington DC
Smallpox Cholrea
(A series of recurring epidemics of: Typhus, Typhoid, Scarlet Fever, Yellow
Fever
1873-5 N America & Europe Influenza
1878 New Orleans (last great epidemic) Yellow Fever
1885 Plymouth, PA Typhoid
1886 Jacksonville, FL Yellow
Fever
1918 Worldwide (high point yr) Influenza
(More people were hospitalized in WWI from this epidemic than wounds. US Army
training camps became death camps, with 80% death rate in
some camps)"
