Tombstone Tuesday ~ Thomas Edward & Helen Jean Stone Coghan

For today's tombstone, I am going to show you my Grandparent's stone.  They were both cremated and their remains are at the Northlawn Memorial Gardens in Peninsula, Summit County, Ohio. 

Kelly

Memorial Mondays ~ Col. James Francis Moore

I thought it would be fun and interesting to begin sharing all of the obituaries that I have collected for my family.  You can learn a lot about your family if you are lucky enough to have obituaries for your ancestors.  They are definitely worth hunting for.  Today, I am going to start by sharing my oldest obit that I have found to date. 

Col. James Francis Moore was born 12 August 1751 in Baltimore County, Maryland to James Francis Moore and Hannah Willmott.  Moore married Ann Standiford 18 February 1773.  Shortly after his marriage to Ann, Moore and his family moved to Pennsylvania.  On 19 March 1776, Moore joined the 12th PA Line to serve his country in the Revolutionary War.  By 1781, Moore was living in Kentucky with his family where he owned property and became involved in politics.  Moore died 14 December 1809 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Kentucky Gazette, Lexington, Kentucky, 19 December 1809

Frankfort, Dec. 16.

DIED- On Thursday evening Last, of a paralytic affection, Col. JAMES F. MOORE, a senator from the counties of Jefferson & Bullitt.  It is a source of pleasing reflection, amidst sorrow to the relatives of the deceased, that he carries to the silent tomb, the unfeigned regret of his numerous acquaintances and friends. Col. Moore, if we mistake not, was one of those, whose courage and virtues, achieved the salvation of our common country—and in other respects, he was an active and useful member of society: On this melancholy occasion, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by both houses of the legislature.

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, that in testimony of respect to Col. James Francis Moore, deceased, late a member of the Senate, that the members of the general assembly, will attend in procession his body to the grave, and wear mourning during the present Session of the General assembly, in honour of his memory.”

Kelly

Wild Wednesday in Genealogy ~ The French Protestant Huguenot Church

It was an exciting day for me when I went to see the only still operating French Huguenot Church in America in Charleston, South Carolina.  I went to tour it just because it was French and I am a descendant of French Huguenot, Maureen Duvall.  Maureen came to Maryland about 1650 with 150 immigrants under Colonel William Burgess.  One of his children was Susanna, who married Robert Tyler.
While touring the church and taking photos, a church member was telling us about the church that was built in 1681.  It was beautiful.  Then my Mom noticed Maureen's name on the wall!  The church member explained that when the church needed to be updated, they asked for donations from other French Huguenots in the US, so if a name is on the wall, a descendant of them donated money to help the church.  It was a very wild surprise.
So if you ever get to Charleston, you should check out this historical church.

Kelly

French Church

Duvall Society

Tombstone Tuesday ~ John Henry Shafferman

John Henry Shafferman is one of my immigrant ancestors.  He was born 10 May 1809, possibly to James and Mary Shafferman.  John came to the USA from somewhere in Germany in about 1846 with his second wife, Mary Catherine Haberkotten and four of his children, including my ancestor, Maria Louisa.  In 1850 the Shafferman family was living in Maryland where John was a laborer.  They were affiliated with the St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Cumberland where a few of their children were baptized.  John soon found a job for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which led the family west ward, through Virginia, and ultimately to live in Taylor County, West Virginia.  

John had three children with his first wife and seven children with Mary Catherine.   John died 24 October 1885 in Taylor County, West Virginia.  He is buried next to his wife, sharing a tombstone in Bluemont Cemetery, Grafton, Taylor County, West Virginia.

Kelly

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Charleston, South Carolina

Last week while on vacation I managed to ditch the boys and head to The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church in Charleston, South Carolina (more on that another day).  On the walk thru the French Quarter, we passed St. Phillips Church Cemetery.  This was a very neat cemetery, the Pinckney Family are buried here.

Kelly