English Ancestry Front and Center at W.I.S.E. Seminar —Sandy Ronayne

Volume 13, Number 4 Denver, Colorado October, November, December 2012

The Rev. Dr. David McDonald, CG, will be the featured speaker at the W.I.S.E. seminar on 10 November 2012 at the Central Denver Public Library, 14th Avenue and Broadway, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dave, an expert on English research, will speak on four English genealogy topics:

• Researching Colonial Ancestors • English Church Records after 1558 • English Probate • Civil Registration Dave has more than thirty-five years experience as a genealogical researcher and more than thirty years experience as a genealogical lecturer. Board-certified since 2004, he is a trustee and president of the Board for Certi- fication of Genealogists. He has been a director of the National Genealogical Society since 2007.

Both of his mothers’ grandfathers were natives of the north of England —Yorkshire and Durham— and he has enjoyed the opportunity to research in various church and public archives and record offices in the UK.

Dave’s research specialties include the midwestern states, New England, American migration patterns, and churches and denominational history. He has lectured in England, across the United States, for both the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), as well as regionally and locally. He frequently writes book reviews for the FGS Forum. Beyond the genealogical realm, Dave is a minister serving in the United Church of Christ near Madison, Wisconsin. His wife, Dr. Jennet Shepherd, is an optometrist. They have three adult children. For a registration form go to the W.I.S.E. website: http://www.wise-fhs.org/docs/dave_mcdonald_seminar_with_logo_5.25.pdf The materials fee is $30 if paid by 3 November and $35 after 3 November. Contact Sandy Ronayne at [email protected] or 303.750.5002 for more information.

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More than the weather occupied us, however. Once again, my husband and I visited the Ulster Histori- President’s cal Foundation near the campus of Queen’s Uni- Message versity Belfast to purchase books for W.I.S.E. to donate to the Denver Public Library. We purchased six, and two are of particular interest: the 747-page What could be more welcome than Colorado Index of People and Places to the Ordnance Sur- autumn 2012? Not only does it hold its customary vey Memoirs of Ireland by Patrick McWilliams, promise of renewed vigor in our family history which had been missing from the OSM series at study, but it portends the end of a ghastly summer DPL, and Them Wild Woods, The Transatlantic of heat, drought, the atrocity in an Aurora Letters of an Irish Quaker Family, 1818-1877, by movie theater and those gruesome fires Bill Jackson published in 2011 and based on letters that claimed three lives and more than 600 homes. rescued in Colorado Springs in 1914. They be- W.I.S.E. members Linda and Warren were among longed to Joseph Sinton, of the dairy business. Any those who lost their home in Colorado Springs. relatives among you W.I.S.E. members? Our heartfelt sympathy remains with them. We kept alert for appropriate purchases for door The worst of the Colorado fires occurred during prizes, which you”ll see at our fall and winter pro- our annual visit to the United Kingdom, and grams. We spent a weekend in London where I e–mails kept me informed of the sad occurrences visited the Silver Vaults that Tina Taylor-Francis here. But if I needed any further evidence that wrote about in the previous edition of W.I.S.E planet Earth was experiencing one weird summer, I Words, and we saw Shakespeare’s Henry V at the got it in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was rainier reconstructed Globe Theater. Always, we were and grayer than usual, and very cool. Furnaces aware of the importance of the British / Irish expe- were on. Parts of the city were flooded during a rience in the Anerican experience and vice versa. particularly fierce storm late in the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit when she shook hands with Martin McGuinness, the former IRA commander who now is a Sinn Fein politician and Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister. Belfast’s old, nar- row drains can’t handle the runoff from the city’s excessive paved surfaces. But Belfasters are used to this, and the queen made bigger news that day. Still, the weather commanded everyone’s attention, and we frequently heard an apology, as if the denizens could control it. “So sorry we’re having this awful weather while you’re here,” was the lament from family members, a bookstore owner, a Inspired by Tina Taylor-Francis' article in the previous edi- guard at the Public Record Office of Northern Ire- tion of W.I.S.E. Words, W.I.S.E. president Zoe Lappin visited land and even a friendly lady at a bus stop. No one the Silver Vaults in London in July. quite believed us when we assured them that we Back home, it was a busy summer for W.I.S.E. loved the cool wet weather, that it was 105 degrees members, led by Bill Hughes, at the Irish Festival. Fahrenheit when we left home (40 degrees Celsius Thanks to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable vol- in their terms) and that fires were rampant. Later, unteers. We gained three members who picked up when we rendezvoused in Belfast with W.I.S.E. our literature at the festival booth, taking W.I.S.E. members Sandy Carter-Duff and Duane Duff, one to an impressive 200 members for the first time. of Sandy’s first remarks was, “Isn’t this wonder- Only two genealogy / family history societies in ful?” She was referring to the weather, comparing the state are larger. Now, new (and old) members Belfast and Denver.

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— do not hide your skills. We need you to make our society more vigorous. Letters to and from the Editor

It’s time to take a deep breath and dive Recently I received an inquiry from a Missouri into Colorado in the fall, grateful for our riches genealogist who had been surfing the Internet look- — golden aspen against the evergreens, superb ing for folks with the surname of “Williams.” She genealogical resources, a thriving genealogy com- stated, “Imagine my surprise when I was munity, the proximity of the world’s greatest ge- googling around and came up with your [W.I.S.E. nealogical library just over the mountains in Salt Family History] website. In it I saw the photograph Lake City, and educational programs, especially that Lura Williams was holding of her husband’s the W.I.S.E. seminar on English research in ancestral home in Wales. … I also have photos of November. And, of course, cool weather. When I that house in Wales and have had letters and e- look back on my summer adventure in the land of mails from the lady living in that house. Someday I my roots, I’ll smile as I remember the headline in a want to go there.” The inquirer further asked how give-away tabloid newspaper, accompanied by a she might get in contact with Lura. photo of an ugly washed-out road in Devonshire, England: “Look on the sunny side! Weathermen As editor, I sent the inquiry on to Lura and asked are obsessed with rain, says tourism boss.” In the her to respond. Lura replied to me: “I LOVE it! UK this summer, everybody was a weatherman. …[He] is a person that I know little about—he left Wisconsin and went to Nebraska, apparently married twice. There is another cousin in Monument whom I am quite close to who once asked me, ‘Who in Nebraska would have sent a wedding present to my grandmother and grandfather?’ I knew who it was and am anxious to learn a bit more about them. I shall write to her now!” It looks like another W.I.S.E. member is off and running with a new line of research, thanks to the talent and efforts of volunteer webmaster, Al1an Turner, and programs coordinator, Sandy Ronayne. Further correspondence from the genealogist stated: “I had not known about your organization until I ran across the website. Do you know about the Welsh museum in Wymore, NE? The website is www.welshheritage.org … I want to learn more about your organization. I am program chair for the NWMO Genealogy Society in St. Joseph, MO.” So, I sent her second message on to our membership chairperson and fellow Welsh person, Nancy Craig, who after some friendly exchanges, learned that they have W.I.S.E. members Jack and Zoe Lappin, left, and Sandy acquaintances in common in Minnesota. It is a and Duane Duff rendezvoused in Belfast, Northern Ire- small world. land, dining at the Cloth Ear adjacent to the venerable Merchant Hotel in July. The wall hanging is labeled as Heart-warming experiences like these make it bit- “Burtons tailors demob suit and accompanying bow tie ter sweet to pass on the task of newsletter editor to worn for a wedding 1946-47.” A Burtons demob— my successor, Nyla Cartwright, effective with the demobilization—suit was a civilian outfit given to Brit- first quarterly issue of 2013. Thank you, Nyla, for ish soldiers upon leaving the military, especially after assuming this responsibility and I am confident World War II. Burtons was the name of the tailor. you will do a great job of keeping members —Zoe von Ende Lappin and the public informed of W.I.S.E. activities and

www.wisefhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 58 October, November, December 2012 cultural events in the metro area, in addition to providing a forum for sharing stories and research. W.I.S.E. Family History Society

My parting message to W.I.S.E. members is W.I.S.E. Family History Society is dedicated to re- simple: Thanks for the memories! Please keep the search in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, the Chan- ideas and articles coming and give Nyla the nel same wonderful support that you gave me. Your Islands and the Isle of Man. Attention is also directed to the emigration and immigration of these peoples as well friendly cooperation helped make the job fun as heraldry and one-name studies. Monthly meetings and rewarding. While this is “Cheerio,” in a sense, are generally held the fourth Saturday of most months it is not a final “Good bye.” I treasure the friend- at the Central Denver Public Library, 7th Floor. Mem- ships I have made and plan to continue my associa- bership is open to anyone with interest in family history and genealogy. Membership dues for the calendar year tion with W.I.S.E. I look forward to fun and infor- are $12 for an individual or $15 for a family living at mative programs and occasional chats with the same address. The W.I.S.E. Family History Society all of you. publishes W.I.S.E. Words four times per year, and a subscription is included with membership dues. Add $5 —JudithSchaefer Phelps□ to the dues, if you want a printed copy of the newsletter mailed to you. © 2000-2012, W.I.S.E. Family History Society, Membership Report P.O. Box 40658, Denver, CO 80204-0658 All rights reserved. Welcome to new members who joined W.I.S.E. Visit our website at www.wise-fhs.org. Family History Society recently: May 2012: Beverly and Wendell Elmore, Thyria Officers and Board Members Wilson. President ...... Zoe von Ende Lappin June 2012: none...... [email protected] July 2012: “Chris” Christofferson and Joanne Vice President ...... Sandy Ronayne Killinger-Christofferson, Christopher Evans, Secretary ...... Milly Jones Ron Jepson, Jean Pfannenstiel. Treasurer...... Nancy G. Craig Past President ...... Duane Woodard In This Issue Membership...... Nancy G. Craig Seminar on English Research...... 55 Members’ Interest Coordinator ...... Terence Quirke Publicity Coordinator ...... JoAnn DeFilippo President’s Message ...... 56 Archivist ...... Elaine Osborn Letters to and from the Editor...... 57 CCGS Delegate ...... Cathy Bowman Membership Report ...... 58 Webmaster...... Allan Turner Irish Festival 2012...... 59 Newsletter Staff W.I.S.E. Summer Field Trip to Colorado Museum ...... 59 Newsletter Editor ...... Judith S. Phelps ...... [email protected] Searching for the Coltrains...... 60 Book Review Editor...... Zoe von Ende Lappin History of the Scottish Calendar...... 62 Internet Resources Review Editor ...... Linda Pearce Proofreaders ...... Jack and Zoe von Ende Lappin Please Sir, May I Have Some Ovaltine?...... 63 Distribution Coordinator ...... Sue Clasen Book Reviews ...... 64 Country Editors W.I.S.E. Book Donations to DPL During 2012 ....67 Wales...... Nancy McCurdy Member Profiles ...... 69 Ireland...... Marylee Hagen Scotland...... Diane Barbour W.I.S.E. Program Schedule ...... 70 England ...... Tina Taylor-Francis

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Irish Festival 2012 —Marylee Hagen

W.I.S.E. had another successful year at the Irish Festival held July 13, 14, and 15 in Littleton. We had two tents, which gave us more room for the big crowds we had the entire weekend. “Surnames” was the most discussed topic — everyone wanting to know more about their family name. The book Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght was in constant use. This is the one that has almost every name people ask about — so we now have two more copies for next year. Many thanks to all the volunteers who participated: Brennan Bull, grandson of Dan Parker, Dan Parker and Linda Babcock, Cheryl Cherry, Lisa Cioffi, Cindy Duane Duff take a seat in a vintage automobile. Donnelly, Kendra Elrod, Marilyn Elrod, Marylee Hagen, Melinda Harnish, Bill Hughes, Nancy Hunt, Marilyn Lyle, Jean Maguire, Isabel Morrison, Suzanne Norris, Sandy Ronayne, Harry Ross, Steve Saul, and Thyria Wilson. Extra special thanks go to Bill for all his enduring hours he spent scheduling, preparing, manning and dismantling our Irish genealogy tents. Without him W.I.S.E. could not have participated in the Irish Festival. Some of you know this year was different with a new director for the Festival as she changed the Cultural Village setup. We did not know what to expect — but we did our best and had lots of com- pliments on surname charts, maps and research display boards. Lura Williams, left, and Dorothy Coltrin were among the W.I.S.E. members touring the museum.

W.I.S.E Summer Field Trip to the Colorado History Museum

About twenty W.I.S.E. members and guests assembled at the new History Colorado Center in downtown Denver on June 23 for our traditional early summer outing. Here are photos showing W.I.S.E. folks enjoying the many attrac- tions. Ideas for our field trip in June 2013 would be most appreciated. Please share your ideas with any board member. Museum guide Dani Newsome chats with Dan Parker.

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formation, but don’t solve the high seas mystery. Searching for the Coltrains The first evidence of his whereabouts comes from —Dorothy Coltrin a military Unit in the French and Indian War of 17605 which states that John, age 17, was born and To determine connections between families, the resided in Wareham. This would make his birth best tool is paper research. It requires looking year 1743, thus he was about the same age as his anywhere that seems logical or sometimes illogi- wife Rebecca. The second Wareham document is cal. Here is what my paper trail tells me about my his 1761 application for a guardian,6 which states Coltrin / Coltrain family and how DNA helped to that his deceased father was William Coltrain, solve at least part of the story. late of North Carolina. Now I have a North But I’m left with one mystery: Was my ancestor Carolina connection! But it gives a different name, James or William? William, not James as his father, Zebedee’s great– grandfather. My search starts with a Mormon story of my great- grandfather, Zebedee Coltrin, in his 80th decade, Further research into tax, land and church records he wrote his autobiography, stating that his in the Wareham-Rochester area have not uncov- father and mother were John Coltrin and Sarah ered a William Coltrain. Graham and his paternal grandparents were John So I started looking for a William Coltrain in Coltrain and Rebecca Maxham. The elder John, North Carolina. In 1747, James Trotter petitioned a Zebedee’s grandfather, was reportedly born at sea Chowan County, North Carolina, court to become while his father, James Coltrain, was traveling the guardian of his grandson William from Edinburgh to the American colonies. James Coltrain, orphan of David Coltrain.7 This William settled in North Carolina, but his son John went to would be too young to be the father of my John Connecticut where his son John was born. Mem- (born about.1743). But now I had the name of bers of my Coltrin family have created a pedigree William and his father David Coltrain. Were they from this autobiography and have submitted this related to my William / James? ancestral file to Family Search.1 According to the Marriage Bonds of Chowan I wanted to verify this information. In the Church County,8 Mary Coletrain married her second hus- of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints (Mormons), it band, Lawson Predy, in 1745. This indicates that is possible to find biographical information that her first husband David Coletrain died before this comes from a religious rite called a time. In Mary’s will of 1792 she listed her son Patriarchal Blessing. Zebedee’s father, John, joined William “Cothraine” as the heir of her estate. As the LDS Church in 1845 and contemporary this is an unusual name in the North Carolina area information from the index of these blessings2 and with a son by the name of William, Mary states that John was born in Tolland, Connecticut, Trotter Coletrain was certainly the wife of David.) on 30 July. 1775 and his parents’ names were John In 1737, a David Coltrain witnessed a land deed and Rebecca. Even though John and Rebecca lived 9 for Robert and Elizabeth Humphreys. He also and bought property in Tolland, the family was not witnessed and administered wills, purchased land, originally from Connecticut. ran a ferry and was appointed a Justice of the In the town records of Wareham, Massachusetts, I Peace.10 One of his most dramatic roles was found Zebedee’s grandparents, John Coltrain and as captain of the 2nd Battalion sent by the North Rebecca Muxsom and their intention to marry on Carolina colony as part of a British military expe- 12 November 17623. In the Church records of dition to Cartagena, Colombia.11 It has been sug- Wareham the baptismal date for Rebecca, the eld- gested that David may have died in Cartegena. est child of Edmund Muxsom and Abigail Ellis, is However no evidence has been found to support given as 10 October 17424. So when did John this.12 Either way his son William would have been arrive in Wareham, especially if he was born on the born before his mother married again in 1745. high seas? So could my William (or James)be a relative of I have found two more documents for John David’s? He doesn’t seem to be a sibling to David. Coltrain in the Wareham area. They add more in- Apparently David Coltrane of North Carolina is the

www.wisefhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 61 October, November, December 2012 youngest son of Patrick Coltrane and Elizabeth several Patricks and a William from 1600 into the Stewart of Wigtownshire, Scotland. Although 1700s. there’s not an abundance of documentary 16 On the other hand, the six descendants of my evidence, it is a leap most members of the John Coltrain of Wareham with a father named Coltrane family make. By looking at the Scottish William, late of North Carolina, have almost the Old Parish Records of this area, Patrick Coltrane same DNA, indicating that they are all closely and Elizabeth Stewart did not have a son William. related. But their DNA is very different than Christened between 1703 to 1711 in that of the other Coltranes / Coltrains. Now where Wigtownshire, the names of David’s siblings were do I go? I have a wonderful autobiography and John, Patrick, Robert, Alexander and Thomas. some interesting documents, but I sm still looking David was christened as the son of Patrick and for the father of my John Coltrain. He must be out Elizabeth on 7 September 1711. 13 there somewhere and maybe he was born in With further investigation into records of the Scotland. Was he William or James, or somebody coastal area of North Carolina I found a James else? Coltrain in Bertie County. He was at least 16 in the Thanks to the help of the various members of the 1761 tax records with his mother Rachel Coltrane / Coltrain families of North Carolina. Savage in Bertie County.14 In the previous year Without them, I would not have a story. only his mother was listed and in following years he was no longer living with his mother. This ______would suggest that James was born about 1745. 1Family Search, https://familysearch.org/search/trees I have documented evidence of his role in the 2Index of Patriarchal Blessings:1833-1963, FHL Revolutionary War from Martin County (a portion 392651-96 of divided Bertie County), and in 1781 the division 3Richard W Griffith, CG Wareham Marriages and of his land to his two sons as heirs to the property. Intentions from Town Books 1 and 2, In the 1800 census records of Martin County, https://www.warehamhistory.com/WarehamGenWeb/ John and James Coltrain are found. So who was MI.htm James’s father? And could my John be the brother 4Leonard H Smith, Trans, Records of First Church of to this James? I have not located any record: tax, Wareham, Mass, 1739-1891, (Clearwater, FL) p. 10. land, church, or such that lists an appropriate 5 William or even an earlier James in this part of “A Return of men enlisted for His Majesty’s service for the total reduction of Canada, 1760” Mass. Archives: North Carolina. Muster Rolls Vol 98, p.13. As you can see, unraveling this story is not simple. 6“Guardianship for John Colterin” Office of Probate, My paper research confirms three Coltrain men Court House, Plymouth, MA 02360 Docket born in the 1740s: a William born before 1745 # 4794OS He needed a guardian as he was under the age whose father David was probably from Scotland; a of 21. James whose father is unknown and my John with 7Colonial Records of North Carolina: a father named William (or James) who had some http://freepagegenealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~trotter ties to North Carolina. So is there a connection and /jastrotnorthcarolina.htm how do I find it? 8Chowan County Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 http:// This is where DNA15 comes in. I have been fortu- www.ncgenweb.us/chowan/marr/PR%20Groom.htm nate to get three men from the William Coltrane 9Abstract of Deeds, Edgecombe Precinct and family of Randolph County, three men from the Edgecombe County as found in Halifax Co, NC Public James Coltrain family of Martin County and six Registry, 1732 through 1758, Deed Books 1 thru 6, men from my own family to participate in a Y– Roanoke New Company, 1956. p. 20. Chromosome study. What the DNA evidence 10J.S. Coltrane, “David Coltrane, a monograph” seems to tell me is that William and James October 1999, held in 2009 by Tim & Suzanne have a common ancestor and if they do come from Coltrane, 49 S. Talbert Blvd, Lexington, NC. Wigtownshire, these two families have lots 11Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, of common history. The Coltranes were quite 1740-1741 http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/ prominent in this area and Scottish records list document/csr11-0021

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12To get further information on the role of David The Julian calendar did not line up with the solar Coltrain in the battle of Cartegena, it would be helpful calendar. So in 1582 Pope Gregory instituted a new to read Murtie June Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the calendar called the Gregorian calendar. South, 1732-1774, Genealogical Publishing, 1983. She uses various British Military Sources. The adjustment to the Gregorian calendar required Possibly these archives in London could shed more light that 10 days be dropped to allow for the alignment on his possible military death. to the actual solar year. To do this the countries 13Scottish Births and Baptisms, 1564-1955, which adopted the Gregorian calendar dropped 10 FamilySearch.org at https://familysearch.org/pal: days. Thus October 4, 1582, was followed by MM9.1.1/XY94-VZ4 October 15, 1582. This calendar also adopted 14A.B. Pruitt, List of Taxables, 1755-1764, Bertie Co, January 1 as the beginning of the New Year. Many 2009 p. 50. Protestant countries did not adopt the 15Family Tree DNA,, Coltrains of NC Project, Gregorian calendar right away. Politically it was a http://www.familytreedna.com religious world. 16 One man is from the eldest son of John Coltrain, England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until William (1764–1820); one is from the second son, 1752. But Scotland showing its independence Elisha (1767–1861); and four are from my direct ancestor, the third son John (1775–1846). adopted one part of it in 1599. The Scots changed the beginning of the year to January 1 instead of March 25. They accomplished this by eliminating History of Scottish Calendar 3 months so 1599 had only 9 months. January 1 of —Diane Barbour, PLCGS 1599 became January 1, 1600. The other fact to remember is that the 10 days that were dropped in Some of you may not know 1582 in the countries that adopted the Gregorian that Scotland did not always calendar were never dropped in Scotland and coincide with England. An England. Thus they were always 10 to 11 days be- example is when the calendar hind the Gregorian calendar countries. At adoption switch took place. One thing a in Britain in 1752 these days were dropped in genealogist must be aware of is September of that year. that the calendar wasn’t always James VI ruled Scotland and Elizabeth I like it is today. ruled England. James VI eventually succeeded Julius Caesar instituted a calendar that was adopted Elizabbeth as James I of England, since Elizabeth in 46 BC and used for the most part until 1582 AD. never married and had no heirs. So what would it It was called the Julian calendar. The year began have been like to be a trader or involved in com- on 25 March. That day was nine months exactly merce between those two countries at this time? before Christmas and was called Lady Day It is said that Scotland, which had friendly relation- or the Feast of the Annunciation. ships with France at this time, needed to change to Remember, in those days the world was centered accommodate the trade between Scotland and around the Catholic Church—not a lot of science France. France had traditionally been an enemy of in that age. England. Prior to 1582 if a date occurred in January, The average person probably did not know the dif- February or March, it would be the end of the ference because many of our ancestors did not read previous year. Parish registers went from March 25 or write. They were more involved with their farms to March 24. This is important to remember when and survival and less involved with commerce. It looking for records. You have maybe seen all came together in 1752 when both Scotland and documents for these months expressed with two England adopted the Gregorian calendar. dates. For example, a date may be expressed as As genealogists who work in researching Scotland 19 February 1535 / 36. That means the record is and England it is important to interpret records be- dated 19 February 1535 but would actually tween 1600 and 1752 very carefully. Here are a be 1536 in our present day calendar. few things to think about.

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• Eleven days were eliminated from the month of mush. What amazed me was that the images were September in 1752. So if someone were born very familiar looking indeed. Porridge can be on one those days there may not be a birth re- thick, thin, lumpy or watery that resembled cream cord. If that person were already living he of wheat or regular oatmeal. I also saw soups that would be 11 days younger then given in later looked very appetizing with vegetables such as records. peas, potatoes, cabbage or seafood to just plain broth. Could this all really be gruel? • If a child was born in Scotland on 23 March 1598 and baptized on 25 March 1599, that was Then I saw it, listed amongst the various bowls and only 2 days later. cups; there was a large glass of Chocolate • In computing the age of a person who migrated Ovaltine! Wait, how could this be? I remember between England, Scotland and Europe at this drinking Ovaltine; my parents gave it to us as chil- time one must be mindful of calendar changes dren. I started making calls. My father, my mother, in calculating age. my husband, members of the office where I work, sure enough, they all partook in this “energy drink • Be careful when using calculators on software of the day” as my father called it. I asked him if he programs if they don’t take into account all of knew he was giving his children gruel. He laughed, Scotland’s calendar changes. and I read him the following statement from These are just a few things to think about when Wikipedia: you are awake at 2 A.M. some morning before “The importance of gruel as a form of sustenance your newspaper has been delivered and it’s too is especially noted for invalids and for recently- early for your morning walk. weaned children. Hot malted milk is a form of gruel, although manufacturers like Ovaltine and Horlicks avoid calling it gruel, due to the negative Please Sir, associations attached to the word through novels May I Have Some More Ovaltine? like Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.” —Tina Taylor–Francis Further research led me to discover that the Feeling a bit peckish while brainstorming for my Ovaltine factory was located in Kings Langley, next article I found myself surfing the Internet Hertfordshire, England (a town about 28 miles looking at all forms of British foods. Growing from London). Who knew I would have such close up with parents of English, Scottish and German genealogy ties with this tasty nutritional drink? backgrounds, I recognized many of the photo- Kings Langley is where my great-grandfather’s graphs I encountered as foods that I grew up family lived until their deaths. Additional investi- on and ate quite often: “shepherd’s pie,” “pasties,” gation led me to the website for the history of the “meat pies,” “bangers and mash.” Incidentally, Ovaltine building (www.theovaltine.net) on which sausages were nicknamed “bangers” because “dur- it states: ing wartime rationing they were so filled with wa- “Ovaltine became something of a national institu- ter they often exploded when they were fried.” tion in Britain towards the middle of the twentieth http://www.meetingsin.com/London/wineanddine.php century with the Ovaltinies radio broadcasts Other uniquely named English foods such extolling the health-giving benefits of the drink. Yet as “bubble and squeak” were named for the sounds Ovaltine is of Swiss origin and did not that the dish made while it was cooking. arrive in the UK until the early 1900s. While searching for food images I came across Dr. George Wander, a Swiss chemist wishing to good old gruel. The name alone evokes thoughts of promote the nutritional value of barley malt, cre- Oliver Twist and runny cold yucky slop that no one ated it in the 1860s. George’s son, Albert, who had would eat if he had to on purpose, or would he? succeeded his father in 1900, developed export There were many photographs and recipes for markets for the drink and formed a British com- gruel (yes, actual instructions for how to make this pany to sell and manufacture Ovaltine in England. yummy dish) on the Internet, yet no real definition A factory was built at Kings Langley, on the Three as to why it was named gruel versus just plain old Rivers bank of the Grand Union Canal, and

www.wisefhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 64 October, November, December 2012 production began here in 1913. So successful was In the end, it turns out Oliver Twist was right, the business that a much larger factory was built gruel was not all that bad after all. It was a super on the site between 1924-29.” nutritional food that could be served hot or cold, liquid to lumpy or anywhere in between. Today some of the varieties come in chocolate or vanilla flavor or is served with apples and cinnamon or with raisins and brown sugar. Today we also hear that it lowers cholesterol (oatmeal) and still provides us with all the vitamins and minerals we need (Ovaltine type drinks). It can be given to infants, the elderly, the infirm and even healthy people. Gruel has stood the test of time and I believe still remains the true original “energy drink”. The next time you pass these drinks in the store, think back to poor old Oliver and Ovaltine factory in 1990. yes, please, have another. This company was so successful that it employed about 1,400 people in the factory by around 1950 (http://www.kingslangley.org.uk/ovaltine.html). Book Reviews According to the website, many of the surrounding local dairy farms, egg farms, and barley farms pro- You And Fred Flintstone :Yabadabadoo! duced the main ingredients. General Editor Joan Thirsk, The Agrarian History This form of gruel was so popular it spawned a of England and Wales Volume 1 – Prehistory, generation of children known as “Ovaltineys;” it Cambridge University Press, 2011 got its own radio show and made its way in to A high proportion of the movies such as “Annie” and “A Christmas Story”. evidence is already irre- Also of note, this “energy drink” was the official trievably lost. The progress of sports drink of several Olympics. At the 1948 British agriculture in Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium, 25,000 cups prehistoric times is largely a were served to competitors, according to the matter of conjecture. Guardian newspaper of November 13, 2000. Sales of this popular drink did not decline until Prehistory deals with non- the 21st century and the factory eventually closed in literate people. Since 1950, 2001 and operations were moved back to carbon dating has refined the Switzerland. system of dating prehistory to statistical probabili- ties. After the final withdrawal of the ice sheets, Ovaltine had such a huge impact on the community about 10,000 BC, the basis for the subsistence- of Kings Langley, having employed so many local economies of agrarian societies formed. Mesolithic people and using the products from the farms hunter-gatherers and intrusive Neolithic farmers around Kings Langley for multiple generations. shared with newcomers to develop the agrarian How many people can find kin who were amongst societies from the late fourth millennium BC. the employees or farmers? In searching further for employment records for the factory on the As the environment warmed, the English Channel Internet and at historical society websites formed around 5500 BC, insulating the island from I sadly found that none had any employment naturally spreading plant and animal species. John records or references for the factory workers’ re- Aubrey in the 1660s wrote, “ancient Briton was cords. I sent inquires to the local societies, one great forest, the inhabitants as savage as the however so far have not had any positive beasts whose skins they wore.” The beginning of responses. Nevertheless, my search for these the decline of forest cover dates to the records will continue. stone–using Mesolithic culture. Today we wonder

www.wisefhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 65 October, November, December 2012 at the heath lands or the chalk downs of Sussex, few farms in extent. The settlement of Skara Brae cleared for fodder, pasture or cultivation. in Orkney has a croft-like nature. A late Neolithic site at Grandtully Perths includes pits and holes but On the post-glacial tundra ran reindeer, no evidence of a house. bison and wild horses. Later appeared wild cattle and elk in the birch, pine and hazel forests. Animal skin was most likely used for tailored With the beginning of the mixed oak woodland clothing, rawhide ropes and skin–covered we have red and roe deer, wild boar and brown boats. The dietary revolution in Britain was bear. the cultivation of large grain cereal grasses of western Asia, wheat and barley, alongside There is little evidence of the use of birds for food the herds and flocks of protein sources in the fourth except in the Hebrides and Orkneys. Coastal sea millennium BC. Evidence suggests our fishing reaped sea mammals, shellfish, fish, sea- “Flintstone” forebears ate crab apple, cherry, weed and moss; all were eaten for food. raspberry, blackberry, rose hips, watercress, wild Diets of 6000-3000 BC were deficient in cereal thyme, mint and edible fungi. Fields were worked crops and starches. Wild seeds and hazelnuts were with an ard or a hoe. The earliest surviving wood eaten. At this time, human communities were small disc wheels are from the end of the third millen- and primitive. nium. While it would be wrong to consider the prehis- The writing of history from non-documentary toric peasant as actuated by the same ethics or sources is a difficult, little understood task. work, profit and financial status as the modern The most important evidence is archaeological, man, they had plenty of time to sleep, gamble, excavations, paleobotanical pollens, seeds visit, entertain and dance. Man can only be under- and charcoal, skeletal evidence from humans, stood as a piece of natural history himself. South- animals, birds. Buried soils provide evidence of ern England’s earliest human population was only land use. 250 people. By implication we can learn something of the Stone ax-blades, chipped and ground into shape communities that the people lived in and their from igneous rock, felled the trees to clear the land attitudes to life and death. Less than 1 percent of for agriculture. The wood was worked into houses, archaeological evidence has been studied, the rest burial and ceremonial structures, boats and wooden lies unexcavated. equipment. Industry was able to produce the cut What we do know empirically is that these people stones at the locations of the mineral source and to are our ancestors. Our DNA comes from them distribute the finished goods widely. directly through the process of life. We are these Sanctuary sites of the henge monument class and people now living in a different space and time. other ceremonial centers of circular embanked Mitochondrial DNA, in every bodily cell is passed enclosures, large settings of rings of timber from mother to child in an exact copy. uprights, were coming into being in Much like today, people lived in family groups of Wessex, Woodhenge, Wilts, Durrington Walls adults and children. They likely were intelligent (late Neolithic period about 2000 BC) and and had empathy for each other. elsewhere, demanding timber on a considerable scale. Want to learn more? In this book you will learn of the integration in Britain of the literate classical Stone-tool using agricultural economies in Britain and Roman civilizations. After the Mesolithic and existed for a long duration amidst a large element Neolithic periods comes the Bronze Age, the use of of social evolution from about 3500 BC to 1500 stamped coinage, metallurgy, alchemy, the societal BC. Instances of human occupation attested formation of chiefdoms, the Druids, communal by finds of pottery, flint, stone, foods, hearths, rub- enclosed settlements, better nutrition and popula- bish, storage and structures are widely scattered tion explosion. throughout Britain. Population centers were smaller than a village and could have been only a —Nancy McCurdy

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Updated Guide a Must for Ireland Research. however, is where knowing the variant names would be most useful: It’s the way I learned that John Grenham, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: the Lappins’ parish of origin, Currin in Monaghan, The Complete Guide, Dublin, Gill & Macmillan, is Drumully in this list and it was Drumully’s reg- 2012. ister I needed to study. (Its dates were too late for The long-awaited fourth edition my purposes, however.) of John Grenham’s Tracing Your One feature I was so hoping Grenham would in- Irish Ancestors: The Complete clude in this edition didn’t make iteither — a simi- Guide has made its appearance, lar list of Protestant registers, primarily Church of and like the previous versions, Ireland and Presbyterian. It too must have been it’s chockfull of information for omitted in the interests of saving costs, or perhaps any level of researcher. There are because Catholic research is more difficult and two important additions — an popular. index, plus a comprehensive guide to online re- A fairly large number of resources Grenham names sources, hundreds of them, both pay and free. The are esoteric ones with little general appeal, espe- guide covers both Northern Ireland and the cially to Americans who rarely get to Ireland, and Republic. even when they do, have little time to spend poring But don’t throw away your copy of the third edi- over obscure sources. These are the ones that ap- tion, for it contains one feature missing from the peal to the professionals on the spot, making the new one – the 23-page list of variant names of rest of us envious of anyone having time and en- Roman Catholic parishes. Omitting it must have ergy to use them. been a way to save space, i.e., production costs, as A couple of other points that Grenham apparently the 579-page fourth edition is 53 pages longer than missed: He only occasionally mentions the third. Still, it seems too helpful a tool to have Ancestry.com and outright ignores it in his discus- shed. sion of emigration. Microfilms of Customs Passen- Otherwise, Grenham’s work lives up to the title. ger Lists and Immigration Passenger Lists, he tells The book is, indeed, complete, mostly. It’s orga- us, are in the U.S. National Archives and “no index nized in a familiar outline, beginning with where to to these available, making them very difficult start, taking us through the often-arcane to use”. W.I.S.E. researchers know better — methods of record keeping throughout Ireland’s 83 million names appear in New York Passenger history, complicated by the fire in the Public Lists alone on Ancestry.com, easily searched by Records Office in Dublin in 1922. He covers cen- surname. Ellis Island passenger lists get no recog- sus and church records, property and valuation re- nition at all. He does cite the other great free cords, wills, the Genealogical Office in Dublin (it’s resource, FamilySearch.org, frequently. not what its name implies), emigration, the registry Despite these flaws, the fourth edition is a keeper. of deeds, newspapers (his favorite source and It represents an enormous amount of work by this mine, too), directories, occupational records, acclaimed genealogist and writer and his staff, county source lists with page after page of bibliog- and we Ireland researchers can count ourselves raphies, research services by county, estate records among the most fortunate in the world with this and the best list by far for American researchers: fabulous new edition. Just the website addresses, historic Roman Catholic parish registers. These are compiled in summer 2011, are worth the cost of listed by county with accompanying $37.95 in paperback, $11.80 for the Kindle county and parish maps, giving dates, location of version. I hate to think of the possibility that it may microfilm copies and their numbers, including be the last paper edition, for Grenham recognizes those that are held by the Family History Library. the flourishing future of online and (How I’d loved to have had that directory when I electronic publishing. started my research 32 years ago.) For now, the fourth edition is a must addition to The register list covers 143 pages and must be as any British Isles researcher’s library. W.I.S.E. has complete as Grenham was able to make it. Using it, bought a copy for the Denver Public Library, along

www.wisefhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 67 October, November, December 2012 with Ian Maxwell’s new one, Tracing Your North- the doctrine that emerged at the end of Victoria’s ern Irish Ancestors, a Guide for Family reign in the early 20th century: The monarch must Historians, 2010. stay out of politics. It was that vital construct that —Zoe von Ende Lappin saved the English royals when continental monar- chies met their painful ends, and now underlies the Queen Elizabeth II on Stage and at Home proposition that the monarchy and democracy support each other. Andrew Marr, The Real Elizabeth, An Intimate Still, the queen has exhibited political skill Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, New York: Henry dealing with prime ministers, from Winston Holt and Co., 2011. Churchill to David Cameron. She is famously out It’s the queen’s Diamond Jubilee of step with modern life, has very little formal year, and Brits everywhere are power, yet she commands enormous celebrating her ascension to the respect and attention wherever she goes. She’s one throne in—60 years ago. Only her of the world’s richest women, but turns off lights great-great-grandmother, Queen that aren’t being used; she has a wonderful smile, Victoria, was the monarch longer, “but her face falls into a rubbery solemnity that she 64 years. Queen Elizabeth II was herself has likened to Miss Piggy,” Marr laments. only 26, but a wife and mother She’s dutiful, kind, wise and shrewd. She softens already, when she ascended. Billions of words edges. She’s an anachronism, but without her, have been written about her and her sometimes Marr says, Britain would be brittle, shabby and irascible offspring, but the important threads of her even grayer than it is. “And honestly,” he con- life often are obscured by the more newsworthy cludes, “the more you see of her in action, the antics of those princes and princesses who are her more impressed you are.” legacy. Her hats get more attention than her dedi- —Zoe von Ende Lappin cation to her duty. But now comes Andrew Marr, a British journalist, with a remarkably thorough and readable biogra- W.I.S.E. Book Donations to DPL phy of the queen. He is a monarchist who admires during 2012 her greatly, but doesn’t fall into the trap of loving her too much. He respects her, but never gushes. True to its mission of furthering genealogical re- He takes his readers through her reign to see world search in the British Isles, the North American events as she saw them and reacted to them, in- colonies and among the emigrants, W.I.S.E. has cluding the misadventures of her children. He em- donated 31 books to the Denver Public Library so phasizes that she sees herself in a religious role, far in 2012. Ireland and Canada lead the list of lo- while also understanding that it was genetic hap- calities, with 11 from each, followed by three each penstance that it was she who became the monarch, from Scotland and the United States (Irish and not that God chose her. Few people, he says, real- English immigrants in the latter), two from ize that she sees herself that way, and that she con- Scotland and only one from England. All have siders her “job” a Christian calling that cannot be been, or soon will be, added to the genealogy col- ignored. lection on the fifth floor of the main DPL, each identified as a W.I.S.E. donation via a book plate As other authors have, Marr makes clear that the bearing our logo. Publication dates range from an queen is extraordinarily hard-working and well- 1876 reprint to 2012. Many were suggested by informed, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the W.I.S.E members, and we encourage your input on Commonwealth fell apart after she died. Canada that score. If you come upon the title of a book and Australia are most likely to leave and become you’d like to consult, but don’t wish to buy for republics, he says, for the Commonwealth has no yourself, please let us know and, if appropriate, constitutional basis—it’s those nations’ gift to her. we’ll try to purchase it for DPL. The new acquisi- She has seen a great sweep of history during her tions are listed on the next page, and there’ll be long reign, and, Marr tells us, has always followed more to come.

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W.I.S.E. Book Donations to DPL during 2012

Country Author Title Copyright Oatmeal and the Catechism: Scottish Gaelic Settlers Canada Bennett, Margaret in Quebec 2003 Canada Campey, Lucille H. A Very Fine Class of Immigrants 2007 Canada Campey, Lucille H. After the Hector 2007 Canada Campey, Lucille H. Fast Sailing and Copper-Bottomed 2002 Canada Campey, Lucille H. The Silver Chief 2003 Demography, State & Society; Irish Migration to Britain Canada Delaney, Enda 2000 1921-1971 Errington, Elizabeth Canada Emigrant Worlds and Transatlantic Communities 2009 Jane The People of Glengarry; Highlanders in Transition 1745- Canada McLean, Marianne 1991 1820 Canada O'Grady, Brendan Exiles and Islanders; Irish Settlers of Prince Edward Island 2004 Canada Ross, Joseph R. History Cape Negro and Blanche; Nova Scotia 1988 Irish Nationalism in Canada; Exploration of the Revolu- Canada Wilson, David A. 2009 tionary Irish Canadian Underground Register of the Scholars Admitted into Merchant Taylors' England Robinson, Charles J. 2001 School 1562-1699 Ireland Bardon, Jonathan The Plantation of Ulster 2011 Ireland Clarke, RSJ Gravestones, County Down, vol. 18 1988 Ireland Clarke, RSJ Gravestones, County Down, vol. 2 1988 Ireland Dobson, David Irish Wills and Testaments in Great Britain 1600-1700 1998 1916 Ireland's Easter Rising, Ireland Fierch, Frederick G. 2008 Shots that Cracked an Empire Ireland Grenham, John Tracing Your Irish Ancestors 2012 Ireland Jackson, Bill Them Wild Woods: (Irish Quaker letters, 1818-1877) 2011 Ireland Maxwell, Ian Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors 2011 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Ireland McWilliams, Patrick 2002 Index of People & Places Murphy, Helen M. and Marriages in the Roman Catholic Diocese Ireland 1993 James R. Reilly of Tuam, Ireland 1821-1829 Ireland Rainby, Desmond A Chronicle of Comber 2011 Scotland McDonnell, Frances Aberdeen Obituaries 1748-1854 2000 Scotland McDonnell, Frances Birth Briefs of Aberdeen 1637-1705 1995 Scotland McDonnell, Frances Roll of Apprentices, Burgh of Aberdeen 1622-1796 1998 Irish Immigrants-Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank USA — 2001 (3 Vol. total) USA — Descendants of Roger Williams (4 Vols. + suppl to Vol. I) 1991-2009 USA — David Thomas: Iron Man from Wales 1995 Beech, Geraldine, Maps for Family and Local History: The Records of the Wales Rose Mitchell and Tithe, Valuation Office and National Farm Surveys 2004 William Foot of England and Wales, 1836-1943 Bridgeman, George History of the Princes of South Wales. 1876 Wales Thomas Orlando [With Genealogical Tables.] reprinted

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Member Profiles

JoAnn DeFilippo. Born in Nancy E. McCurdy.Nancy the beautiful Wyoming joined W.I.S.E. after her Valley of Pennsylvania, father passed away and she JoAnn McNally was a took over his St. Andrew's lucky child of Irish, Polish Society membership. On a and German ancestry. page in the St. Andrew’s Since the fates have a Society newsletter was an sense of humor, her fine ad for a W.I.S.E program arts education led her to manage a health exhibit at about the history of the the 1964 World’s Fair and later to teach 42 adven- Highland Games. The speaker at that meeting was turous fifth graders in New York City. dressed in full traditional Scottish dress. She felt at home. Her family had won first place as best in the After marriage, JoAnn and Frank DeFilippo Highland Games parade one year in Estes Park. moved to glorious Golden, Colorado, where Nancy’s forebears are Irish Catholics who left her he attended Colorado School of Mines. During majesty’s service in 1888, German Protestants the energy boom of the early 1980s, they adopted (Pennsylvania Dutch), French Quakers, Scottish Mary and went to live in the rich Appalachian Protestants, and English Daughters of the Ameri- culture of Pikeville, Kentucky. Later the family can Revolution. was stationed in the enduring west of Axial Basin, Colorado, where they adopted John andattended After working 13 years in private preschools and ropings, round–ups and enjoyed potluck suppers. 20 years in medical laboratories, Nancy is now semi-retired. She is currently working part-time as After returning to Golden, JoAnn found employ- an art teacher for elementary school–aged chil- ment as a civilian programmer for the Air Force dren. She went to an art school on a full scholar- and later as systems analyst for a national ship between college careers; her sisters manufacturer. Currently she enjoys volunteering at and an uncle are all very accomplished artists. St. Anthony Hospital. A love note from the past in the form of a Nancy’s passion these days is playing her grand- multi-family tree increased her interest in geneal- mother's piano, listening to classical music ogy. In 2012, JoAnn and her sister Molly and opera, interior decorating, preserving heir- attended the W.I.S.E. Four Classes in Irish Re- looms, attending a play-readers group and geneal- search. It was a pivotal event; they were off ogy. Last year she learned how to play chess and researching. and is looking for a challenger. Anyone game? JoAnn immediately volunteered her services to the Being the volunteer Wales country editor has society and has taken over the task of publicity led Nancy to many wonderful books and as an chair for the W.I.S.E. society. Watch for her avid reader, the work has been very special to her. announcements. She has loved every moment. W.I.S.E. board meetings are at the Byers-Evan House Museum Although her quest is not a search for castles, and Nancy feels like it is in Downton Abbey. it is a tribute to the tenacity and zest for life Nancy says, “Board members work hard and I am of the “Sons of the Poor Man,” her McNally proud to be with so many talented and devoted ancestors.  people. They have fun too, how could we not?”

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W.I.S.E. Program Schedule

How I Transcribed a Test (Will) of 1570 Dorothy Coltrin 22 September 2012 1:30 p.m. Dorothy will discuss what steps it took to transcribe “secretary hand” used in 16th Denver Public Library century Scotland. She created a modern version of the will and then deciphered the 7th Floor structure of the Rolland A Coltrane family of Mochrum Parish, Wigtownshire, Scot- land. Dorothy is a member of W.I.S.E. as well as the Boulder Genealogical Society, the New England Historic Genealogical Society and is treasurer of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies. 

Gaelic Language Mick Bolger 27 October 2012 Mick Bolger, a native of Ireland, will discuss the Irish language. Irish is the official 1:30 p.m. language of the Republic of Ireland despite being the first language of only a small Denver Public Library minority of the population. For most of Irish history it was the primary language of 7th Floor that nation and is the source of a rich and deep literary and song tradition. This talk will address the nature of the language, its unusual grammar and syntax, its place in Irish history and its effects on English as it is spoken in Ireland today. Mick has taught Irish Gaelic in both the United States and Ireland for many years. 

British Research Seminar Rev. Dr. Dave McDonald 10 November 2012 Dave is an expert on British genealogy. Board-certified since 2004, he lectures 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. regionally, nationally, and internationally on church records, migration patterns, and Denver Public Library records of fraternal and community organizations. Dave will speak on four English Lower Level Conference genealogy topics, including Researching Colonial Ancestors, English Church Records Center After 1558, English Probate and Civil Registration. (use east entrance) Materials fee is $30 if paid by 3 November; $35 after 3 November. Registra- tion form available at http://www.wise-fhs.org/activities.html 

1 December 2012 Scottish Fiddling 1:30 p.m. Invited Group Denver Public Library th Join us for our holiday meeting with treats and enjoy entertainment by a Scottish 7 Floor fiddling group.