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
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.
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
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
