VOL. VII.

PEDIGREE BUILDING.

[Wilkes-Barre Record, Jan. 11, 1896.]

His

One of the informal meetings of the Wyoming Historical Society was held Friday evening. Rev. Dr. Jones, vice president, occupied the chair and there was a large attendance. The address of the evening was by Dr. William H. Egle, State librarian, and one of the most prominent and assiduous genealogical students of the country. subject was "Pedigree Building" and it was listened to with the greatest interest. Dr. Egle attached great importance to knowing the genealogy of one's immediate family, though frequently great difficulties are encountered and tangled family threads check the enthusiasm of the tyro and discourage him in his task. If in the first instance we knew the date of the arrival in America of the first ancestor and had town records showing the marriages, births and deaths down to the eighth generation it would be easy, but not so easy to trace back a family who do not know the names of their grandparents on both sides. To successfully accomplish the preparation of the record of any one family requires not only love for the work but a perseverance and an intuitive knowledge which but few possess.

Family pride, pure and simple, is a thing which a great many Americans would

feel

some

shame in acknowledging. And, yet, one has only to watch American public life a short time to see that family connections play an important part in affairs and to perceive that a large share of the public men of to-day are descended from, or related to, the public men of yesterday. You may consider it pride or not, but everything which pertains to one's own family should be carefully recorded and preserved for the benefit of those who are to follow after. He who collects and keeps his own family history, is not only a benefactor in his way, but will receive the blessings of future generations. These records

No. I.

should be piously guarded, and if possible preserved permanently, and I am glad to note the increased interest taken everywhere in this particular subject.

Thirty years ago when I commenced gathering up material of the history, biography and genealogy of Pennsylvania, I was asked time and again, what I meant, as no body wanted such information. But our people had to be educated to it, and to-day, the demands come from all sections of our American Union, requesting certain genealogical information. It is wonderful what a step forward our American people have taken in this respect, and, this great desire does not not come alone from that class which a correspondent twenty-five years ago denominated as "old maids who had nothing else to do," but I have inquiries from all the professions, from the judge on the bench to the Senator in Congress. And here let me offer my meed of praise to those noble women of uncertain age who can always be depended upon for accuracy and assistance in pedigree building. From them I have received more aid than from all other members of any one family put together for reliable and important data.

There are three motives for pedigree building:

First-Search for a noble ancestry.
Secondly-Fortune hunting.

Thirdly-Laudable desire to preserve the family history.

It may possibly surprise you to learn that of a work relating to the "Royal Ancestry" of American citizens, the compiler pocketed $30,000-a large sum truly, for people to pay for snobbery; and those who assisted in adding to the coffers of one who catered to their "royal" pride no doubt begin to realize how little trouble there was in the make-up of their royal descent. When in every large city of the Union there are dealers in stationery, who will manufacture coats of arms for the royal Four Hundred for decoration on card, carriage and plate, it is not surprising

that there are hundreds of people who are thus willing to give a large sum of money for any work which traces back their lineage to some crowned head be he white, black or Indian. It is not difficult to do this kind of work, but no honest genealogist will engage in it. Carefully examining the record of these Americans of royal "scent," it will be found that all of the intermediate generations are without dates. In fact the descent is far-fetched. It is such work as this which brings genealogy into disrepute and ridicule. If I had the time, I could show my hearers, and prove to them conclusively how easy it is to build up the spurious pedigree of all of them, so that they too might culminate in the person of a debauched monarch, a dozen centuries ago.

Another class are the seekers after wealth. Some of these have heard that a fortune was awaiting them in Europe, and all that was necessary was to properly prove their descent.. Every now and then we read in the newspapers that millions of dollars are awaiting claimants, in England, Ireland and Germany, and at once the genealogist is besieged by persons having the same name who are desirous of securing their share of the fortune. It is wonderful to what lengths these people go, and I presume there is no country in the world where people are so easily duped and defrauded as in the United States. The reason therefor is the greed of gain and the desire to become suddenly rich. All these reports of fortunes are arrant frauds, and not a dollar has ever come to claimants in this country.

There may be some who sneer at pedigree building, but there is a wide difference between the laudable work of gathering up and preserving the record of your family and the hunting for fortunes or the snobbish efforts of establishing one's self as an American of royal descent. You see there are two classes of pedigree hunters which disgust, one hunting for fortunes, the other for blood royal. It is wonderful to what lengths these people go, it is their dream by night and their theme by day. True blood is better than to be a descendant of a royal house through a morganatic alliance. "Tafelfaehig" is the pride of the German, and purity of lineage outranks the titles which a sovereign may confer.

That class of people who are worthy of emulation-deserving of unstinted praise are they who with the pious

motive of preserving the record of their ancestry, gather up the precious threads of genealogical woof they may find scattered here and there, and without inordinate vanity weave them into a continuous story of family history,honorable in the beginning-in the patriotism of a long line of God-fearing and estimable men and women. They seek not descent from a debauched monarch, or an inheritance to a mythical fortune. They are to be honored for what they have done, and to be admired for their loving and patriotic work which will live long among family annals, free from 'the selfaggrandizement of royal descent and the taint of cupidity-when these shall have been discarded and ignored by their former devotees.

Build your pedigree well; place little reliance upon tradition, yet it may furnish you clues to facts, and these are what you want in pedigree building.

Beware of the three brothers theory, and be satisfied that there is but one head of the family, concerning whom you propose to prepare a record. Neither say that your ancestor came over on the Mayflower or on the Welcome with William Penn, unless you have positive authority, for, as the list of passengers on both those vessels is known, you may make a mistake. is sad to think of how many ancestors came over on these vessels, for were this true both of these vessels would hav gone to the bottom long before they reached midocean. Do not claim too much. Secure the facts and place them on record.

It

Dr. Egle interspersed his too brief address with incidents showing the humorous side of the search for pedigrees and closed with the hope that some one would prepare a genealogy of the early settlers of "this grandly historic" Wyoming Valley, as he termed 'it.

The speaker exhibited a family record in German, printed at Ephrata, Pa., in 1763, being the first printed family record extant.

DEATH OF MRS. CALVIN PARSONS.

[Daily Record Jan. 2, 1896.]

After a happy married life of nearly 60 years, Mrs. Calvin Parsons, was separated from her husband on the opening day of the New Year by the cruel message of death. This worthy couple have been spared to one another far

Mrs. Parsons was born in Enfield, Conn., June 22, 1814, and was the daughter of Oliver and Vena Parsons. She married Calvin Parsons on August 17, 1837. They began housekeeping soon after near their parents' residence.

She was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, having confessed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at the early age of twelve.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, four of whom survive, Oliver A. and Mrs. Louise A., wife of C. P. Kidder of Wilkes-Barre; Mrs. Almeda A., widow of the late E. C. Cole of Ashley and Mrs. Anna, wife of George W. Fish of Waverly, N. Y.

One son, Hezekiah, the youngest, died four years ago.

Mr. Parsons' friends have heard him tell of his courtship, which had a. tinge of romance about it. Ann had accompanied her parents on a visit from Connecticut to Wyoming Valley and remained here to accept the offer of a school. Calvin, who had never before seen her, was so charmed with the young teacher, then a girl of about 22, that though they were first cousins he wooed and won her. Their married life was of the most delightful type and their home was ever the abode of peace and mutual affection between all its members. In those youthful days just preceding their marriage, Mr. Parsons thought it no formidable task to make trips by carriage or horseback between Connecticut and Wyoming Valley, the journey ocupying a week.

They set up their household at what was then called Laurel Run, now the borough of Parsons and there their entire married life has been spent. The early years were marked by an almost pioneer experience, Laurel Run being a mere hamlet. But their mutual diligence and thrift brought them prosperity and their home has long been noted for its comfortable appointments and the charming hospitality of its occupants. In earlier days when it was customary to entertain the traveling clergymen, of whatever denomination, no home ever opened its doors with a greater cordiality of welcome than did the home so beautifully presided over by her who is now gone to the mansions of the blest. The Christian life was exemplified in her in a marked degree and it did not overlook the practical aspect which prompts to the lending of a helping hand to those who need sympathy or material aid. Her death is a stunning blow to the partner of her joys and cares and his wide circle of friends will join in extending their sincerest sympathy; and in commending him to the comforter in whom they have mutually trusted since first they met sixty years ago.

Mrs. Parsons was of English extraction. She is seventh in descent from Benjamin, who came from Oxfordshire, England in 1637. Benjamin was a greatuncle to Thomas Parsons, lord mayor of London, who was a man of promi

nence. Benjamin landed at Roxborough, Mass., only twenty years after the arrival of the Pilgrims. Going to Springfield, Mass., he assisted in forming the first Congregational Church, the 250th anniversary of which was celebrated not long ago.

*

The death of Mrs. Parsons on New Year's Day recalls the fact that her husband's mother died on that date forty-two years ago, her own mother's death occurring on Christmas Day.

DEATH OF J. W. GILCHRIST.

[Daily Record Jan. 11, 1896.] News of the death of ex-tax receiver John W. Gilchrist was a heavy blow to his many friends Friday. He died at 5:50 in the morning after severe suffering.

For several years Mr. Gilchrist had been suffering with a stomach trouble, but he was always able to attend to business after periodical attacks. About five weeks ago, however, he was seized with a severe attack of congestion of the stomach and kidneys and nothing could be done to stay the progress of the malady. He suffered very much pain, but bore it with patience and scarcely ever complained. He was conscious to within an hour of his death and conversed with his family about the new life beyond the grave, upon which he was about to enter. "The end is not far off and I'm going just where I want to," were his last words.

Mr. Gilchrist was born in WilkesBarre June 15, 1840, and was, therefore, 56 years of age. His parents were of Scotch origin and his grandfather came to this country and located in Saratoga County, N. Y. A son of the latter, Peter, came to Wilkes-Barre in 1827 and engaged in business here, being for thirty years proprietor of the old Phoenix Hotel, where the Wyoming Valley Hotel now stands.

His wife, the mother of deceased, was a daughter of Miller Horton, a pioneer of Wilkes-Barre, and their children were eight in number, the subject of this sketch being the third in point of age.

Deceased obtained his education at the Wilkes-Barre Academy and the Wyoming Seminary. On August 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 52nd P. V. I. In 1863 he re-enlisted in the same company, attaining the captaincy for meritorious conduct and served until July, 1865, when he was honorably dis

charged. Those who were associated with him in the many battles in which he participated, pronounce him as brave a soldier as ever entered an engagement and a captain whom it was an honor to serve under. He was in all the great battles of the old 52nd. On December 23, 1861, he was married to Ruth A., daughter of Thomas C. and Abigail (Church) Reese, of this city, and four children were born to them. These are Elizabeth, (Mrs. Thomas W. Haines), Emily (deceased), William B., of White Haven, and John W., at home. Besides these he is survived by his widow, two brothers, Miller in Philadelphia and Thomas in Colorado, and three sisters, Mrs. Col. George N. Reichard, Agnes and Isabel M. Gilchrist of this city.

He was chief-of-police in 1878-9; warden of the county prison from 1879 to 1882 and was appointed tax receiver of this city in 1883 and continued in office until 1895.

He was a member of Lodge 61, F. and A. M.; Shekinah Chapter 182, R. A. M.; Dieu le Veut Commandery 45, Knights Templar, Wilkes-Barre; Lulu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Philadelphia, and Conyngham Post, G. A. R.

DEATH OF MISS MARY BLAKE. [Wilkes-Barre Record, January 8, 1896.]

Tuesday morning Miss Mary H. Blake was found dead in bed at her home, 18 North River street. She had been an invalid for about ten years, suifering a stroke of paralysis ten years ago and another seven years ago. Death was caused by general debility, superinduced by paralysis. For a year she had not been beyond her door yard.

Miss Blake was the last of her generation of the Blake family. She was born near Toms River, New Jersey, Dec. 24, 1819. When four years old she came to this city with her mother and has resided here ever since, she having lived at 18 North River street for forty years. She is survived by two nephews and three nieces: James G. Blake, of this city, and James Stark, of Philadelphia; and Mrs. N. P. Jordan and Mrs. Hettie H. Sperring, of this city, and Miss Ruth Stark of Philadelphia. Miss Blake was also a sister of the late Thomas Blake of Wilkes-Barre.

Deceased was an estimable lady and her characteristics were those which appertain to the most benign Christian life. During her long illness she was patient and forbearing and endured