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Sunday, August 21, 2011

I know how to spell my name!

Oh, you do?

Often times it is difficult finding the records you need using the spelllng you are familiar with.  This is usually due to a disconnect between the ears and hand of the person recording the birth registration, marriage registration, death registration, census or what have you.  Here are a few examples:

The name Schwedler is pronounced as “swadler” because of the way Germanic names are pronounced.  I have found it spelled as Schwadler, Schwedlr, Swadler and a few more.  My great grandmother Dorathea Garnatz has been found as Dora T. Gamutz, Dora T. Gamats, Dorathea Gemtz, Dora Garrietz and Doreth Swadler.

Many times the surname is seen as both the German and the English form:  Greenwald is the English equivalent of the German Grünewald and has been found as Grunewald and Grinewald.  Polzine has been found as Polzin and Polsine.  The German Müller has been found as Mueller or Miller (they actually mean the same).

Often the name is downright butchered as Aurora being found as Aarva and Alwine found as Alvin.  My great great grandmother Fredericke was found listed, not once, but twice as Fred.  I have Wienke relatives that were listed as Winkie.

You’ll many times find your person by their nickname rather than their given name:  Alwine was found as Winnie and I’ve also found Wilhelmina listed as Winnie as well as Minnie for the same person.

So, if you are having trouble locating an ancestor try getting “hooked on phonics”, or try looking for Bill or Wm instead of William, Edw for Edward or even Robt for Robert.  Your imagination can be used to look for Raymond as Ray, or David as Dave or Au or Aug for August. Interchange John and Johann or if Peter was called Junior then look for Junior.  You may try finding Carl Frank by looking for C.F.  Use wildcards and broaden your search by looking for the given (first) name if it is unusual or unique.  Try spelling the name as it would have been spelled in the native country.

Good hunting,

Ken

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Bit by Bit

Bit by tiny little bit some things are coming into focus.

I have recently discovered that Grandma Ruby Belle Noble Schwedler (daughter of Dyson Noble and Sarah Ann Sharp) not only had two sisters, Myrtle and Edna Noble but also had two brothers.  The first brother (un-named) was born 9 May 1883 and died the following day.  The second brother (also un-named) was born 18 Aug 1884 (the same birth date as Great Aunt Myrtie) and apparently died soon afterwards.  I have yet found a death date for him.

Below is a photo of Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Dyson and Sarah Ann.  Double click on it for a larger view.

Noble, Dyson and Sarah Ann

Keeping it in the family, so to speak, Grandpa Otto Schwedler ( husband of Ruby above) had three previously unknown sisters and one brother.  Two of the females were born in Brighton, Kenosha County, Wisconsin.  I had only known Geat Grandpa Albert and Great Grandma Dorathea Schwedler to have lived in Racine County.  But, this is for another entry.  I digress.  Great Aunt Anna was born soon after the Schwedlers arrived in this country in November 1882.  Two years later Great Aunt Minnie (Wilhelmina) was born in November 1884. I have no birth location (yet) for these two ladies.  I found a record of birth for the birth of one female in May 1887 and another in May 1888 in Brighton, As of yet, I have no death dates. I then found the death record of a Louis Schwedler, son of Albert and Dorathea for 8 Aug 1890 in Rochester, Racine County. And lastly, there was a Fredia Schwedler born to these parents on 15 Sep 1891 in Rochester and died the same day.

That’s all for today.  I’m now planning my trip to Waukesha for the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Conference in October.