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title: The Weekly Genealogist, February 28, 2024
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Weekly news about genealogy and history, databases, educational resources, and more from American Ancestors.

| View in browser     February 28, 2024   Read Past Issues   Feedback? Email Us Recently on Vita Brevis Unscrambling Census Records   What do you do when census records contradict each other? In a new blog post, researcher Joe Smaldone investigates a mess of connections between two families of Irish immigrants living in 19th-century Boston, and explains how he deciphered the truth. Read More Upcoming Online Seminar—March 16 Basics of Early New England Research   Despite a wealth of genealogical resources, 17th-century New England research presents unique challenges. This online seminar will discuss settlements and migrations in early New England, how to find and use available records, and strategies for breaking down brick walls. Members save 10%. Register Now The Weekly Genealogist Survey This Week's Survey: Ancestors Who Changed Their Surnames Take the Survey Now Share your thoughts about the survey! Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length. Last Week's Survey: Ancestors or Relatives Who Lost Fingers, Toes, or Limbs   Total: 2,759 Responses 31%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives lost a finger or fingers. 8%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives lost a toe or toes. 27%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives lost a limb (an arm or a leg) or part of a limb. 5%, My ancestor or relative lost a body part not mentioned above. 45%, No, I am not aware of any of my ancestors or relatives having lost fingers, toes, or limbs.  Readers Respond   Jim Boulden, London, England: My relative Alexander Bunker died a horrible death after falling under a train in 1846 and having his legs amputated in hopes of saving his life. The newspapers covered it extensively: "Mr. Bunker of Brooklyn, met with a sad accident at Newark, New Jersey, on Monday. He was a passenger in the Philadelphia train, and in getting into the cars, missed his foothold and fell beneath the cars, which passed over his legs, crushing them in a shocking manner, so much so, that immediate amputation of both was necessary." He was just 24 and a new father. He died two weeks later.   Marilyn McMillan, Granite City, Illinois: My great-grandfather Horace Pruett had four brothers; three of them lost body parts. Robert, a miner, lost his right hand. Harry’s left arm was crushed in a mining accident and was amputated above the elbow. Floyd lost a leg at age sixteen while trying to hop a freight train. In addition, Horace’s father, Ken, lost part of his right hand in an accident involving a circular saw. Fortunately, Horace and his brother Clyde escaped any limb losses.   Linda Reid, Toronto, Ontario: My grandfather lost part of two fingers in an accident at the Hill-Clark-Francis lumber mill in New Liskeard (now Temiskaming Shores), Ontario, around 1930. He used to horrify his grandchildren by putting the end of his pointer finger up to his nostril. It looked as if the rest of his finger was inside his nose.   Cathy Kohn, Edina, Minnesota: My great-grandmother lost her hand due to a gangrene infection around 1920. She always wore a muff in public to hide her loss of limb. She was able to continue to needlepoint, however. She had a velvet-covered vice that she attached to a table to hold her needlework in place.   Barbara Laughlin Adler, Ann Arbor, Michigan: My father, Owen M. Laughlin, lost his right arm during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. On the day after Christmas, as his platoon approached Bastogne, a Nazi sniper shot Dad in his right arm. He managed to crawl back to his men; one of them helped Dad to continue firing with his left hand until the Nazis retreated. Dad was sent first to a Paris hospital and then transferred to a hospital in England where his right arm was amputated. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery, and the Purple Heart for his injuries. Dad often said that he considered himself one of the lucky ones—so many men died in that battle. What We’re Reading   Why Do We Leap Day? We Remind You (So You Can Forget for Another 4 Years) NPR's Morning Edition features experts in astronomy, history, and economics who discuss various aspects of leap year.   A Peek Inside a “Scam Manual” Written to Help Immigrants Avoid Becoming Victims “Early 20th-century migrants from Europe had to be on their guard against marriage brokers, card sharps, ghost mediums, and more.”   Recovering the Lost Aviators of World War II This Smithsonian article looks “[i]nside the search for a plane shot down over the Pacific—and the new effort to bring its fallen heroes home.”   Rare Armor Unearthed at Site of 17th-century Fort in Maryland Archaeologists have found other artifacts and the outline of the fort’s first major building, a storehouse.   What a Teacher’s Letters Reveal About Robert Smalls, Who Stole a Confederate Ship to Secure His Freedom From Slavery “Harriet M. Buss’ missives home detail the future congressman’s candid views on race and the complicity of Confederate women.”   Treasure in the Attic: Woman Steps Up to Save Long-lost Mural of 1800s Jewish Immigrant Congregation After learning about the mural in the attic of a North Adams, Massachusetts, apartment building, genealogist Carol Clingan began to raise funds to stabilize it and move it to the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. Spotlight: Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax, Nova Scotia   by Valerie Beaudrault   The city of Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia. The Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax maintains a burials database for three cemeteries on their website. Holy Cross Cemetery opened in 1843 and contains 23,000 burials. Mount Olivet Cemetery opened in 1896 and contains 25,000 burials; it is also the burial site of victims of the Titanic sinking and the Halifax Explosion. Gate of Heaven Cemetery opened in 1938. Search the database by first/last name, cemetery name, or plot number. Data fields include first name, last name, age, and cemetery. Click View Details to access the complete record. Search Now Upcoming Lectures, Courses, Tours, and More March 5–19 (Tuesdays) Online Seminar: Verifying Your Jamestowne Lineage   March 7 Free Online Author Event: Brooke Kroeger with Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism   March 14 Free Online Lecture: Jews, Freemasons, and a Nineteenth-Century Debate on Universality View All Upcoming Events Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind. Your Free Will.    As a family historian, you know that wills are important in your research—but have you created a will for yourself? Free Will, an easy and free online will creation tool, will guide you step-by-step through identifying beneficiaries for your assets, supporting the causes that are important to you, and planning for the preservation of your research. Learn More Educational events brought to you by Vol. 27, No. 9, Whole #1196 Copyright ©2024 American Ancestors. All Rights Reserved.. American Ancestors, 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, 1-888-296-3447 Unsubscribe Manage preferences Membership   \|   Database News   \|   Expert Help   \|   Give   \|   Live Chat |
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