Author: Kris Hocker

James BUCHANAN

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

I’m seeking information on James Buchanan, husband of Sarah “Sally” Craig, and possibly the son of John Buchanan and Mary Irvine(?). I’d like to prove/disprove that the James Buchanan who was married to Sarah Craig was the son of John and Mary (Irvine) Buchanan,  identify a birth place, and prove/disprove that he also married Margaret Tatlock

James BUCHANAN was born circa 1812/22 in Ireland and he may have died 17 Apr 1888 in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland of bronchitis. In various census records, he was listed as a coal miner and ironstone miner. About 1845, James married Sarah CRAIG. She was born circa 1809 in Ireland and died sometime between 1851 and 1861 in Scotland.

James and Sarah had two children that I know of:

  1. Elizabeth Buchanan (1845/7—13 May 1828) married Peter Purvis Bonnington. Scottish census records place Elizabeth’s birth place most consistently in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  2. Sarah Buchanan (ca 1847—?)

The 1851 Scottish census found him in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland with his wife Sarah, daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, and widowed mother Mary, living at #9 Barnhall Row. He was a coal miner. All the family was listed as born in Ireland. I’m fairly certain that this is, indeed, my James Buchanan.

I believe the 1861 Scottish census found him in Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland with his daughter Sarah. He was listed as being a coal miner. Both father and daughter were listed as born in Ireland. Daughter Elizabeth was living with a family in High Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, working as a dairymaid. According to this census, Elizabeth was born in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

I may have found him in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1871 and 1881. Unfortunately, while the birth place matches and he’s still a miner, the ages do not match. Additionally, neither daughter is living with him. Instead he’s living with what would be a second family—wife Margaret Tatlock and children: Mary, Catherine, James, William, and John. I think this may be the same James Buchanan, but I need more proof before I can say for certain.

Do you know anything about this Buchanan family? If so, please add a comment.

Where’s Your Irish From?

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d point out some excellent sources for Irish genealogy research.

Ancestry

The 24/7 Family History blog article, Irish Database at Ancestry.com points out several of their most popular Irish databases. You must have a WorldDeluxe membership in order to use them, but I usually find at least some of what I’m looking for on Ancestry. Here’s the list:

  1. Index to Griffiths Valuation, 1848—1864
  2. Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, 1824-1837
  3. Irish Flax Grower’s List
  4. The Royal Irish Constabulary 1816-1921
  5. Cassell’s Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland
  6. Irish Records Extraction Database
  7. Irish Immigrants: New York Port Arrival Records, 1846-1851

Sometimes you can find Irish ancestors in databases from outside Ireland. I found an Ireland connection while researching my Scottish ancestors through the Scottish Records Office. Here are some other helpful databases suggested by Ancestry:

  1. UK Medical Registers, 1859-1959
  2. UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
  3. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896
  4. British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
  5. British Army WWI Pension Records, 1914-1920

NEHGS

The New England Historical Genealogical Society are featuring three family bibles from Irish families online. The current features is the Irish Bible record for the John Gough Family, 1822-1878. The Goughs apparently immigrated circa 1822/24 and lived in Albany, New York before moving to Massachusetts and settling in the Worcester area. You can view some pages from the bible online here.

NEHGS also has several excellent articles written by Mary Daly for the Irish American family researcher. If you’ve got Irish ancestors, I’d recommend reading these articles Getting Started in Irish American Genealogical Research and Identifying the Origin of Your Irish Immigrant Ancestor. More articles on Irish research are also available for free.

FamilySearch.org

And, of course, the FamilySearch indexing project also has Irish records available. Currently, the Irish Civil Registration Indexes, 1845—1958 are available for viewing (index only).

Of course, this is only a small part of the information available for Irish researchers. If you know of another great resource, go ahead and post a comment to share it. It’s always great to discover new sources of information! Thanks.

Photo: Christian and Sarah Hershey

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

Christian and Sarah (Hocker) Hershey

Christian and Sarah (Hocker) Hershey

Christian Millard Hershey married Sarah Frances Hocker, daughter of Henry Landis and Mary A. (Shenk) Hocker on 15 Sep 1910 in Hockersville, Derry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Bell

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

Sometimes during your research you come across families with the same surname you’re researching, but you don’t know how or if they fit into your family. The family of Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker is one such family.

Originally, William Wingeard attributed Adam as a son of John and Christianne Catharine (Steirling) Hocker—primarily, I believe because of his age and proximity to where John and Catharine were living in Pennsylvania. However, subsequent research proved that John and his brother Jacob moved their families—including John’s son Adam—to Ohio about 1839. Since Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker remained in Pennsylvania, Adam can not be John’s son.

I am seeking any additional information on this family, especially any data that may lead to an identification of Adam’s parentage.

Adam Hocker was born 19 Oct 1812, possibly in Hummelstown, Derry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania and died 26 Sep 1870 in Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.1 He was buried in Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin, Pennsylvania. Adam was a farmer, and he first showed up in Dauphin county tax records in 1834 (age about 22).

Adam married Eve Hamaker, daughter of Adam Hamaker (25 Dec 1778—15 Nov 1828) and Magdalena Snavely (17 Oct 1776—5 Apr 1845), on 22 Feb 1838.2 Eve was born 24 Jun 1817 and died 14 Nov 1892. She, too, was buried in Churchville Cemetery on 18 Nov 1892.3

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker had the following children:

  1. Jacob H. Hocker (1839—1911)
  2. John Hocker (1841—1905)
  3. Adam H. Hocker (1843—1902)
  4. Mary Elizabeth Hocker (1946—1930)
  5. Sarah Hocker (1848—1930)
  6. David R. Hocker (1850—1887)
  7. Malinda Hocker (1853—1926)
  8. Martin M. Hocker (1855—1928)
  9. Anna C. Hocker (1860—1947)

Finding Burial Records Online

Kris Hocker on 16 Mar 2009

I enjoy visiting cemeteries looking for the burial locations of long-lost relations. There’s a sense of connection you feel standing in a place where family is resting. Unfortunately, traveling to those locations is not always possible.

Now you can find grave sites and burial information—sometimes including photos of gravestones—online. Family researchers,  genealogy buffs, and local historians have contributed information from cemeteries all over the country. You can take advantage of their kindness to locate family members you’ve been searching for.

Here are some of the web sites that I’ve used:

  1. Find A Grave (found a lot!)
  2. Interment.net
  3. Cemetery Junction
  4. National Veterans Website (find an American Vet’s grave site)
  5. Tombstone Transcription Project

If you do find someone you’ve been looking for, show a little kindness to someone else and share some of the information you’ve collected. You never know when it’ll lead to a family connection!

Photo: Beth and Violet Seltzer

Kris Hocker on 15 Mar 2009

Bethy and Violet Seltzer

Bethy and Violet Seltzer

Elizabeth and Violet Seltzer, daughters of Charles Augustus and Rebecca (Boyer) Seltzer. Charles Seltzer was a craftsman, a harnass maker.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Bell

Photo: Henry Uhland Seltzer

Kris Hocker on 14 Mar 2009

Henry Uhland Seltzer (1824—1897)

Henry Uhland Seltzer (1824—1897)

Henry Uhland Seltzer, son of Philip and Maria (Uhland) Seltzer, was born 15 Jun 1824 and died 25 Nov 1897. He was buried in the Palmyra Cemetery. He married Anna Hocker, daughter of Martin and Barbara (Smith) Hocker, 12 Dec 1850 in Harrisburg.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Bell

Photo: Lloyd and Mary Stickel

Kris Hocker on 13 Mar 2009

Mary Hocker and Lloyd Stickel

Mary Hocker and Lloyd Stickel

Mary Crum Hocker, daughter of Samuel Augustus and Amanda Elizabeth (Crum) Hocker, married Lloyd Stickel, son of Nathan E. and Mayme (Hill) Stickel, about 1920 in Illinois.

Photo courtesy of Debbie Brown

Photo: Benjamin Franklin Seltzer

Kris Hocker on 13 Mar 2009

Benjamin Franklin Seltzer (1861—1949)

Benjamin Franklin Seltzer (1861—1949)

Benjamin Franklin Seltzer, son of Henry Uhland and Anna (Hocker) Seltzer, was born 1 Apr 1861 and died 9 Oct 1949. He married three times: first Elizabeth Litzenberger, second Katie Bealer, and third Matilda Sanders.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Bell