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Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 3:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Given, LaPollo, Kushla, Bliss, Baker, Grubb
Hello all, this is my first post. My name is Jim Given. I have spent quite a bit of time researching and had much more success with my wife’s family, but have really run into a wall with my family. I was hoping someone might be able to help. Please forgive me as I have not seen a sticky to tell me of the correct question protocol here.

My tree
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14592860/family/pedigree?fpid...

Questions:
1) I have been foiled trying to find data on my ancestors who came from abroad in the 1800’s. From Ireland, Italy, and Austria. Any good means of finding info vs traveling to those countries to find info? Example, Andrew Given(1834-1913)(Ireland to PA), Dominic LaPollo(1879-1944)(Italy to PA), and William Kushla(1891-) & Mary Bliss(1888-1972) both from Austria to PA? Also no clue to finding Andrew’s wife Elizabeth’s (Eliza)(1833-1905)(Ireland to PA) last name.

2) Margaret J Given(s)(1868-1946 PA), I am at a loss, my Dad told me he heard that she was a distant relative with the last name of Givens vs our name Given from Missouri. I have found census data pointing to Missouri, and Illinois. I have been totally stumped of finding more info about her past. My Dads mom who died in 1960 used to correspond with those relatives but all info of them died with her.

3) Tilghman Baker(1841-) I have not been able to find anything but a 1920 census for him, or his wife Mary Grubb(1845-). Both lived in PA, but Mary was born in Delaware.

All of these ancestors lived in PA, mostly close to Philadelphia area. I have linked Census data, pics, and even letters to them.

I really hope I am not asking too many questions or breaking some kind of question protocol. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

Best,
Jim Given

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 7:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Tilghman Baker
1910 PA census Philadelphia
2150 180 202 Baker Tillman M. 59 36 MD MD MD
Mary 57 MD MD MD
Florence 21 (?) PA MD MD
Elijah 19 PA same
Frank 17 same
Kurtis 17 same
Cormack, Charles grandson 14
Mason, ALice granddaughter 9
Mason, Madeline granddaughter 7
Mason, Tillman M. grandson 4 (also listed in household with Tilghman Baker in 1920 census)

pilot.familysearch.org has a death certificate for one of his daughters', lists father as Tilghman H. Baker. Lists father's place of birth as Caroline Co., MD. Mother's POB is Baltimore, MD>

Could not find family in 1900, but did not have more time to look.


Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 1 Aug 2010 1:08AM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm not sure if this is going to be appreciated, and please don't take my blunt delivery personally.

You've not been foiled, this isn't a brick wall, you simply have newbie "going to fast and haven't learned enough basics skills" syndrome. Those darned Ancestry.com commercials are part to blame.

Much of what you are posing questions about is findable, but you're stumped and frustrated because you lack the basics of what to be doing and where to look.

I'm a teach 'em how to fish proponent. You're going to greatly benefit if you slow down and pick up a "how to" book on genealogy. People will look up plenty for you, but until you understand how to put into context, it's meaningless. Would you decide to take up the hobby of rock climbing and just buy a rope and head off to the mountains? Same thing here, you're going to get so much more out the experience and enjoy it if you spend a wee bit of time in the learning how to stage. Your local library awaits you. Happy trails.

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 6:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you Sandra...I will digest this and see where it may lead me to next. Much appreciated.

Jim

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 6:59PM GMT
Classification: Query
I understand where you are coming from, and if it were so easy as to go to the library, then I would do so. I think I have done a decent job so far of connecting 4000 or so people(mostly with docs and mainly on my wife's side)with out the library.

That being said, again I understand what you are saying, and if I had the time to just spend researching that option would suit me well, but alas I don't, and going to Philly to get most of these docs will not fit my time either. Much too much time I would rather spend with my family.

Maybe when I retire in 15 years I will have that time.

Thank you.
Jim

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 7:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Have to say...tyvm! I missed this...all those spellings can def help to miss these. I spent hrs looking for a new lead on Tilghman...you did it in no time..TY. Any suggestions of how you did this would be appreciated. I may not have the urls you find this better than ancestry.com.

Thx again,
Jim

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 7:18PM GMT
Classification: Query
You are right, I do work fast, and maybe i might miss some things....so apprech what you are saying. If you have found any online resources helpful, I would be in your debt.

Best,
Jim

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 7:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
I actually don't subscribe to Ancestry.com right now, but use a database called Heritagequest online through my library. One of the features I use frequently is the advanced search. It allows me to search by first or last name (which I did with Tilghman Baker), by county and/or state, by age, race and gender.

My first assumption was that he was likely still in the same county as the census you found him in. This was indeed the case. So a search for the 1920 census showed me he was in Philadelpha, PA, so I looked for all Bakers in Philadephia, PA in 1910 and so found a listing for Tillman Baker. This did not work for 1900, so either the transcriber got the name(s) wrong or he was living in different area.
Another thing to search for are Tilghman's children, sometimes they get the parents names wrong, but the children will be listed correctly. Or search on the neighbors. Especially the older ones, as they are less likely to move through time.

So my next move would be to try searching on the children and the neighbors to see if they were still in Philly in 1900.

pilot.familysearch.org can also be a great finding method. If you can't find someone on Ancestry, you may find them there.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Good luck.
Sandra

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 3 Aug 2010 8:07PM GMT
Classification: Query
Jim,

The familysearch.org site has great and free resources on it. You have to go into the pilot program on the site to find the databases. The link is under "What's new" on the home page.

Also, do you know if there is a Family History Center near you? You can search for one on the familysearch.org site, and also in the Library catalog for the available microfilms/fiche in the areas of interest you're researching in. Sometimes the furthest you have to travel is a few miles from where you live to look at records from all over the world. Whatever film is in the library in Salt Lake can be viewed at your local FHC.

Re: Newbie ran into a wall....any help appreciated!!!

Posted: 4 Aug 2010 5:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
Re your William Kushla, Ancestry's "Selected U.S. Naturalizations - Original Documents" shows a Petition for Naturalization for "Jan Kaszlak, change to John Kushla" who arrived in Philadephia from East Galicia, Austria in Dec. 1913. His wife is Millie and children are Walter, Joseph, Anna and Mary. You might also search this alternate spelling in case your Kushla was originally a Kaszlak.
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