Steve Szabados Genealogy

SAMPLE OPENING PASSAGE TO A FAMILY HISTORY

Here is an example of using history to begin your family history. I wrote this excerpt after I had completed most of the research. However, it helped me organize the overall story I tell in my history, and it created an exciting beginning for my family to read.

Our McDowell Family in American History

Thomas McDowell is my 8^th great-grandfather whose father and grandfather had migrated from Scotland to Ireland seeking farmland. However, his six sons left Northern Ireland in the early 1700s to make new homes in the British colonies in America.

Scottish families had migrated to Ireland with the promise of land from King James. However, by 1700, most became upset with the British rule in Ireland and began considering further emigration. The British rulers and landowners in Ireland banned the practice of their Scottish Presbyterian faith. Additionally, they threatened the Scotsmen’s economic future by restricting the trade of Irish goods to only English merchants, banning any European trade. Beginning about 1720, many started leaving Ireland for the Colonies.

Our McDowell family left in the early 1700s to escape religious and political discrimination from the British in Ireland and acquire farmland. They came to America with their families, which included four to eleven children in each family group. Recruiters and land agents from the various American Colonies roamed Irish ports, offering land and freedom to those willing to risk crossing the Atlantic so their families could have a better life in the New World.

After arriving in the American Colonies, our early McDowell pioneers joined other Scotch-Irish families in the rolling hills in Pennsylvania, west of the German communities. They made their home in settlements such as Carlisle, Caln, Nottingham, Donegal, and Stranbane in Washington and Cumberland Counties.  They preferred the hills and valleys next to the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, which included the fertile Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys in Pennsylvania and Virginia and the Piedmont area in North Carolina. The settlements grew as the early settlers wrote letters home, urging family members to join them. The different McDowell branches settled in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina.  

Thomas McDowell’s sons not only found the freedom and land they were seeking, but they had significant roles in the growth of the colonies and the founding of America. His sons and their descendants were early settlers in western Virginia and North Carolina, clearing land, building settlements, protecting their families from the threat of Indian attacks, and helping the American colonies claim their freedom from the English Crown during the American Revolution, such as leading their militias during the Battle of Kings Mountain, and the Battle at Cowpens.

Colonial settlements required male settlers to be members of their local militia. They formed these groups to protect themselves initially from the Indians, who tried to prevent the immigrants from settling on their native hunting lands. Two of our McDowell immigrants, William and John McDowell, were killed by Indian raids.

During the Revolutionary War, many local militias fought against the British. The sons and grandsons of our McDowell immigrants were members of the colonial Patriot forces who fought the British. Additionally, some were high-ranking officers and played significant roles in winning major battles, such as the Battle of Kings Mountain and the Battle of the Cowpens. Many are in the history books for their efforts in establishing the early settlements and serving in the military during the Indian Wars and the Revolutionary War.

Many of the McDowells living in Colonial Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina were related, with their common ancestor being Thomas or one of his sons. Unfortunately, their relationships were sometimes confused. They had similar given names, such as Andrew, Alexander, Charles, John, and Joseph. They were also born about the same year. For example, Joseph “Pleasant Garden” McDowell, born in 1758, and  Joseph “Quaker Meadows” McDowell, born in 1756, are often confused. They lived in neighboring counties in western North Carolina.

This confusion is a crucial element to the McDowell story because I have found family historians have recorded many birth and death dates to the wrong family members with the same name or attributed erroneous parents, placing them in the wrong ancestral line. Additionally, Thomas’s son, Ephraim, is erroneously considered the progenitor of the McDowells in Virginia and the territory that became Kentucky. Some historians go further and attribute all McDowells as descendants of Ephraim. However, this confuses the ancestry of the descendants of Ephraim with the descendants of his five brothers.

I hope my McDowell Family History will sort out the confusing issues and give accurate details about their life stories while honoring their contributions to American history. 

Books about Writing

Here are my recommendations for books on writing. Note I have divided my list into two lists. The more important list is “Tips on Writing Family History.”

Developing Pure Writing Skills
1. A Writer’s Coach by Jack Hart
2. On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Tips on Writing Family History

1. How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History by Annette Gendler
2. How to Write Your Personal or Family History: (If You Don’t Do It, Who Will?) by Katie Wiebe
3. A Recipe for Writing Family History by Devon Noel Lee and Andrew Lee 
4. Writing Family Histories for the Nonwriter by Stephen Szabados 

Keep Your Writing Simple and Readable

Your family history is not an academic report. You must cite your sources, but do not let its academic nature distract you from the stories. Do not view writing your family history as a report at the end of a project. Try viewing it as a journey of discovery.

Remember, your family history is a living document. Be flexible because there will always be new information to add. Be excited to tell the life story of your ancestors in words your family will understand. Do not be afraid to show your heart. Use your voice and style. Do not exaggerate or try to imitate your favorite author. You are writing it for your family. It does not have to reach the literary level of a best-selling book. So please keep it simple and omit needless words.

Your vocabulary is also essential. Use the words your family typically hears from you. If you must look up the definition of a word, do not use it. Instead, use a word that is comfortable for you.

I encourage you to use your words, voice, and style, but spelling and grammar are crucial in any type of writing, including family history. If you are reluctant to write because these skills intimidate you, grammar checkers such as Microsoft Editor, Prowriting Aid, and Grammarly will help you overcome your fears. These products include a free version on their website or offline for products like Word. You can quickly write your draft at your skill level and then turn on the grammar-checking software to correct errors. Using grammar-checking software can effectively enhance the readability of your narratives.

I use Grammarly as my grammar editor and have had great results. It also gives me suggestions to make my passages more readable. In addition, using this software allows me to spend more time researching and compiling the stories than agonizing over punctuation and grammar.

Initially, a grammar editor may intimidate you because it may catch many instances of your misuse of grammar and punctuation. However, the software is your friend because it points out problems privately before you show the narratives to your family. Your standing within your family should increase because your narratives are so clear. Also, remember the software does not change your narratives but merely suggests changes. The writer can accept the change or dismiss it. For example, I usually accept most punctuation changes but review how the other suggestions may change the readability or meaning of my content before choosing.

Textbooks state all writers strive to create well-written narratives and use the fundamentals of sound writing. This statement may intimidate some from attempting to write a family history. But these lofty visions should not deter genealogists from doing their work. Instead, your goal should be to identify and save family stories using the skills and tools you have.

Family History in Colonial Records

Finding the family stories in colonial records is more challenging than using records from the 1800s and 1900s. However, I have found success by researching probate, land records, county histories, and written family histories. Be thorough in your research, and include all family members. These sources may be challenging to find but must be found and reviewed if a record or narrative could exist.

The following are some examples.

Probate

No one has found a marriage record for my 4^th great-grandparents, Peter Whittinghill and Catherine Gebhart. However, there is proof of the marriage in a probate record for her father.

The record stated, “Jacob Baylor had purchased land in 1780 from Mathias Gebhart, and the Conveyance of land had not been completed when Mathias Gabhart died in January 1798.” The bill listed the children of Mathias and stated his daughter Catherine had married Peter Whittinghill.

The most common benefit of probate records is the list of children’s names included in the wills. Another benefit is the inventory of goods, which measures the deceased’s wealth and points out areas of interest such as books or hobbies.

Land records

The following two examples show the timing of Peter Whittinghill’s moving his family from Virginia to Kentucky.

A county land record in Virginia indicated Peter Whittinghill sold his land in Rockbridge on April 5, 1796. The record also stated that Peter and Catherine were living in neighboring Amherst County at the time of the sale.

A Kentucky land record indicates Peter and Catherine purchased land in Mercer County, Kentucky, on January 26, 1798. The deed lists that Peter Whittinghill of Fayette County, Kentucky, purchased the land.

These two land records add details to Peter and Catherine’s story and also ask what they did between the two land transactions.

• What were they doing in Amherst County, Virginia?
• Did they make the 550-mile trek through the wilderness to Kentucky during the summer of 1796 or 1796?
• Knowing the beginning and end points of the journey may suggest their path.
• What were they doing in Fayette County, Kentucky, before buying the land in Mercer County?

To expand the narrative and answer these questions

• Searching for records of Catherine’s family, who may have accompanied her and Peter on their journey
• Review maps and historical trails that may indicate their route.

County History

Many county histories were published in the 1870s due to the impending Centennial celebration and are usually called “brag books.” The nickname refers to the exaggerated biographies at the back of the book that county residents submitted to the publishers. However, the historical narratives at the front of the book are based on county records and should give accurate comments about early settlers. If your ancestor was an early settler, this section may be a treasure trove of information.

I developed the following narrative from the county history, land records, and plat maps.

John Whittinghill bought land in Trisler, Kentucky, which was a few miles south of Fordsville. The county history indicates they settled on a farm on October 10, 1807, called Jones Station, and it was in the valley on the east side of the farm owned by John B. Haynes. While John built the cabin for his family on his land, they lived in a camp next to the East Fork Baptist Church, which is about two miles east of Fordsville. He also rented cleared land on the Gentry fields near Barrett’s Ferry, about eight miles away, to grow corn until he could clear his property for his crops[1]. I believe the Barrett’s Ferry land is near the present-day bridge on Highway 919 that spans the Rough River and is south of Fordsville.

Other Family Histories

Another source of family stories I use cautiously is family histories written by other researchers. Some were written in the 1800s, but most are from the 1900s. Some are more recent. I review them prudently because they may state information contradicted by recently discovered records or use confusing logic. However, I have found helpful information in most of the narratives. I have found these family histories in the Ancestry.com catalog, Familysearch.org’s Book section, and Google Books. I search using the family surname and then sort through the results for the books from the correct area and time period. I only use the information I have cross-checked with multiple sources, and it is logical.

The following example explains how I tried to sort out the family tree for my McDowell ancestors.

Various online trees list Charles McDowell with three different fathers (Thomas, Abraham, and Joseph) and three birth dates (1680, 1688, and 1697). I believe his parents were Joseph (1668) and Anne Calhoun (1655), and he was born in 1688. However, the date of his birth needs more research. I base my opinion on the following passage from Leo McDowell’s history of the McDowell Family that identifies Joseph McDowell’s parents and indicates Charles is his brother.

Charles lists his brother in his will as Joseph, who lived in Virginia and later moved to North Carolina. Other confirming details are that his brother Joseph has to be the son of Joseph McDowell and Anne Calhoun and the father of “Quaker Meadows” Joseph. This relationship fits the description of Charles being the grandfather of “Pleasant Gardens Joe” and the uncle of “Quaker Meadows Joe,” as I found in other narratives.

Exerts from “My McDowell Family” by Leo G. McDowell[2]

“Charles and Joseph McDowell came from Donegal, Province of Ulster, Ireland, lived for a time in Pennsylvania, where they landed, and from there moved to Augusta county, Virginia. This was along with Ephraim, John, Robert, and Archibald. Unquestionably, they were all related, but to what degree it is impossible to determine with exactness at this late day.

“However, we know that Charles and Joseph were brothers because in the will of Charles, which is the second oldest recorded will in Anson County, NC, he says: ‘I do leave to my well-beloved brother Joseph McDowell of Frederick county in Virginia, one brown broadcloth coat, one beaver hat, and one pair of shoe boots.”

[1] Obituary of John’ son Peter T. Whittinghill, The Ohio County News, HARTFORD, KENTUCKY, Wednesday, June 16, 1886

[2] Webpage: “My McDowell Family – Settling the Frontier” by Leo B. McDowell, 2000, Per Findagrave: His parents were Abraham MacDowell & Ann Colquhoun/Calhoun of Ulster, Northern Ireland

Creative writing vs. Encyclopedic statements

Excerpt from “Writing Family Histories for the Nonwriter”

The new book will be available in June 2023 on Amazon.com

My strategy for writing my family history is initially to transcribe the information from documents to summaries for each ancestor. These entries can be bullet points. They can also be sentences, but they do not have to be. This method helps me start the process and should help most people overcome their fear and reluctance to start writing their family history.

I visualize my initial entries for an ancestor as just recording information. As a result, my first entries have an encyclopedic format and could be considered boring. Here is an example:

“The baptismal record for my grandmother, Anna Chmielewska, indicates she was born on June 26, 1899, in Pierzshaly, Poland, to Aleksander Chmielewski and Julianna Zaluska.”

This format is mechanical. After using it frequently, remembering specific words, phases, and the sentence structure for each type of record is easy. Each entry begins with the name of the record type, followed by a verb such as lists, indicates, or shows. Next, enter the person’s name and then list the information in the document. Using this method, you can record the information quickly and accurately in your summaries for each ancestor because the words should flow freely. In addition, frequent use will train your eyes where to look for the information in the document.

Using summaries as your primary research document, you should update them conscientiously with more details and facts. Having all the information for an individual in one place is another benefit because it helps find further info faster. Additionally, list the information in chronological order, which will slowly tell the stories. Finally, the latest info, details, and stories will help you expand the initial encyclopedic entry into an appealing narrative. For example, here is the current entry describing my grandmother’s birth after I added details I gleaned from pictures and other documents:

“Anna was born at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 26, 1899, to Aleksander Chmielewski and Julia Zaluska in a small cottage in the farming village Przezdziecko-Pierzchaly, Polish Russia.

“In Poland, fathers choose the names of their sons, and mothers select their daughters’ names. Additionally, Polish parents often give their children saint’s names, and usually, the name is associated with the saint for the day of the birth. However, the saint’s name for June 26 was not Anna, so I do not know why my grandmother received her name.

“On the day after Anna’s birth, Aleksander put Julia and the baby onto his horse cart and led them down the dirt road three miles to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Andrzejewo for Anna’s baptism. Walking behind their father were Anna’s four siblings – Marianna (age 17), Boleslaw (age 14), Stefania (age 12), and Hipolit (age 6).

“Also joining the procession were Grandfather Adam Chmielewski and the godparents Franciszek and Emilia Uscinski. Emilia was Julia’s first cousin, and, as godmother, she was responsible for dressing the infant for the christening.

“Another group accompanying the family to the church included Jozef Sutkowski, age 42, and Aleksander Sutkowski, age 40, who were needed as witnesses to the birth. They were farmers in Pierzchaly and brothers to Anna’s grandmother Teodora who had died four years prior.

“Grandmother Franciszka Zaluska and other family members met them in Andrzejewo because they lived near the church.”

You may think I am taking some liberties with the creative writing in the second example, but I did not make up the details. They came from the documents and photos:

• Birth and baptismal dates – from Anna’s baptismal record
• Birthplace and location of church – from Anna’s baptismal record
• Size of the cottage – from vintage pictures of the village
• Condition of roads – from vintage photos of the area
• Origins of her name – from books on Polish customs
• The list of people attending the baptism- from birth, marriage, and death records for the friends and family of the Chmielewski family and the village of Pierzchaly
• Distance to the church – calculation from a map