THE AUSTIN FAMILIES REGISTER THE SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER OF THE Austin Families Genealogical Society AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF AUSTIN FAMILY RESEARCHERS CANADIAN & U.S. COUSINS DISCOVER EACH OTHER IN FORT WAYNE 2006 INTERNATIONAL AUSTIN CONVENTION Carol R. Austin, 9726 Mirage Circle Garden Grove, CA 92844. Carol’s e-mail address is [email protected]. AFGS Genealogist Pat Austin brought her thick yellow folder on the William and Ruth Austin line of Virginia AFGS Photo 81 and North Carolina to this year’s convention. It held the Cousins continuing discussions even after data collected in the 19 years since the Society’s initial convention! Top photo (facing camera, left to right): publication of this line on Austins of America PAGE 232 Linda Austin, Pat Whalon & Jackie Austin. Bottom photo: Howard Austin, Janet Austin, Marilyn Rawls in AUGUST 1987. Her compilation of names and & Pat Whalon. addresses of those researching this line was of special interest to several attendees: Marilyn Rawls of Ontario, VOLUME 2 INDEXING VOLUNTEERS Jackie and Linda Austin of Alabama, Janet and Howard Austin of Arkansas, Pat and Rodney Whalon of Indiana. Thanks to the convention attendees who volunteered to help index Austins of America - Volume 2: Cheryl Austin With Pat’s help these cousins discovered each other, and Akusis, Donald Edroy Austin, Carol Robinson Austin, became so enthused comparing notes and swapping Kathleen Cree Koble and Marilyn Louise Rawls. stories on their line that they continued their discussions long after the convention had ended (see photographs at 2007 CONVENTION SITE SELECTION right)! See PAGE 82 for more on this year’s convention AFGS members have nominated two sites for the 2007 and attendees. International Austin Convention: London, England and Sydney, Australia. Along with this newsletter, members AUSTIN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AWARD will receive a ballot for selecting the 2007 convention venue. Members can also cast their vote by following the The AFGS 2006 Austin Genealogical Research Award was “Research” link at the AFGS website: www.austins.org. presented to Gay Gaston Martin, Jr. of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The Allen County Public Library offers large collections AUSTIN COATS OF ARMS from many countries. ACPL is the largest public A most colorful detailed report on all registered Austen- genealogy research library in the United States. Austin coats of arms begins on PAGE 96. It was written by the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of the College of Arms AUSTIN-AUSTEN DIGITIZATION PROJECT in London as part of a study commissioned by the As mentioned in the January newsletter, the AFGS library AFGS. has hundreds of documents submitted by members that are not yet available at the Austin-Austen Research Center KENT BAPTISMAL RECORDS (AARC) at our website: www.austins.org. The Society’s Austin-Austen Digitization Project enables volunteers to Starting on PAGE 99 are over 1100 additional Austen digitize these documents on their personal computers. As and Austin baptisms from Kent, courtesy of the Kent is shown in the screen image below, the document to be Family History Society. This information supplements digitized appears in the large upper window, while the that which appeared in the AFGS newsletter of transcriber types text into the smaller lower window. We SEPTEMBER 2005. have had a few volunteer transcribers to date, and they have provided many newly-digitized documents for the UK AUSTEN-AUSTIN DNA DONORS AARC. These new documents can be also be viewed via An AFGS member recently made a generous contribution the ‘Holdings’ links (see Holdings PAGE 43 for some to the Austin-Austen DNA Project Fund, designated for good examples). This is a large project, and more help is testing UK Austen/Austin lines. While the AFGS Austin- Austen DNA Project already includes a number of UK NOTE: Page 82 consists of small head shots of 2006 Convention Attendees. This page has been eliminated participants, this donation will make it possible to expand here. on that. UK Austen/Austin males willing to have their DNA tested are asked to contact the Fund Coordinator: SEPTEMBER 2006 Austin Families Genealogical Society PAGE 83 Attendees to the 2006 International Austin Manager of the Historical Genealogy Department at the Convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Allen County Public Library spoke about Voices of Our Ancestors Letters and Diaries of Yesteryear. The (Individual head shots of attendees conclude on convention concluded with the presentation of the 2006 this page – deleted here) Austin Genealogical Research Award [see PAGE 100]. The Society's 2006 International Austin Convention was held on 21-22-23 July in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On Friday aftemoon Sidney Earl Austin of Portland, Indiana led a group of attendees on a tour of the Lincoln Museum. Following a Friday evening "Get Acquainted Party many attendees dined at the Old Gas House Restaurant. On both Saturday and Sunday, morning and afternoon Workshops were held so the attendees could exchange information. Saturday- after self-introductions by attendees about- their research interests - reference librarian Delia Cothrun Bourne spoke on Research at the Allen County P~iblic Library. Dr. Charles Ward Austin of Garden Grove, California, gave two well-researched talks: DNA: History and Biology and then DNA: Applications to Genealogy. Dr. Michael Edward Austin of Concord, Massachusetts next gave a colorful presentation on the Austen-Austin Coats of Arms, followed by an interesting talk by Arthur Maynard Sikes of Suffield, Connecticut on The 1855 New York State Census. On Sunday morning a presentation prepared by Dr. Roger Brian Austin of Sherborne, Dorset titled the Distribution of the Austins in England was presented by Arthur Maynard Sikes, since Roger was not able to attend the convention due to illness. Carol Robinson Austin of Garden Grove, California next spoke about a number of Austin-Austen Families Around the World. Dr. Michael Edward Austin finished the morning session with a talk on The Austin-Austen DNA Project Status. Sunday afternoon a second presentation prepared by Dr. Roger Brian Austin titled Do Surnames Die Out? Predictions Based on Records of Four Families was presented by Dr. Charles Ward Austin. During the AFGS Business Meeting, the Society's progress in a number of areas over the past year were summarized by Dr. Mike Austin, the AFGS President. The Society's January 2006 newsletter reached a record 695 members and libraries, and membership continues to expand, especially in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom & the United States. Sunday evening - after a cocktail hour and a fine banquet - Mr. Curt B. Witcher, PAGE 84 Austin Families Genealogical Society SEPTEMBER 2006 SOME DESCENDANTS OF subsequently discovered on board, make the total 25. The vessel was in tow of the Black Prince, and next day about two ROBERT AUSTIN AND MARY ANN PENN p.m., the wind being fresh from the W.S.W. with a heavy sea OF LIVERPOOL, LANCASMIRE on, on the steamer could make no headway, and the ship was by Stephen Bradner Austin towed into Holyhead harbour. The voyage was resumed on the morning of the 10th, and and Ethel: May Austin about nine a.m. on the 11th the steamer left the ship, the Tuskar light being then distant 15 miles N.E., and the wind [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72] blowing a moderate breeze from W.S.W. The wind was various until the night of the 12th, when it seconds, Howard vainly trying to turn. He failed to accomplish freshened into a brisk gale, and the captain took in sail and his purpose, and gradually sank down until his shoulder touched. prepared to wear ship. This was done shortly afterwards, the A fall was declared for Austin - time, two minutes. gale in the interval having increased in a most alarming "The fourth and last bout was well contested. Howard was still manner. the attacking party, and after a struggle of five minutes threw his About four a.m., on the 19th, the ship was struck by a terrific opponent, and the match was decided in his favor." sea, which threw her so much on her side that the upper dead eyes of her main rigging were under water, and in that In the 1880 New York census William and Delia resided on position she continued, all control over her being lost. The close reef fore and mizentop sails were taken in, but they West 22nd Street in Manhattan. William's occupation is were blown away. The pumps were then sounded, and four Listed as "Clerk." In the 1900 census William was listed as inches depth of water was found in the well, which half an an accountant, and Adella was listed as having had two hour subsequently had increased to 14 inches. The pumps children, but only one was living. William Austin's will was were then manned, but after pumping for half an hour the drawn up in 1922, and lists Agnes Cotter Austin as his water was found to have increased by a depth of 2 feet 4 adopted daughter. William died of pneumonia on 12 October inches. Efforts were made to get the ship before the wind by hauling 1930, while residing at 742 Woodcrest Avenue in the Bronx down the mizen staysail and loosening the foresail, but whilst Borough of New York City. His death certificate indicates he putting up the helm the hands of the wheel blocks broke, and had been a telegraph operator for Western Union. His when the helm was put hard up by means of relieving tackle it photograph taken circa 1930 has the notation on the back that was found the ship would not answer the helm. he was "82 years old / 50 years with Western Union." The crew accordingly cut down the mizenmast, and William and Adella had two children: subsequently the mainmast, and then the ship paid off and R31.