Newspaper trail leads to elusive genealogical 'hare'
Published Saturday November 21st, 2009
When I was a child shadowing my older brother as he checked his snares, I was amazed by his ability to find a hare trail.
He'd crouch low, point his woolen mitt into the woods and say, "There it is. See it?"
I'd peer into the bushes, trying to see what he saw. If snow was on the ground, I saw the tracks, but if the ground was bare, the trail was invisible.
He gave clues to help me. "See how the branches separate for the hare to squeeze through? Can you visualize the circle made by it?"
Eventually, I was able to see the trail made by the hare, as well as spot deer trails and identify the 'scat' of local wildlife. My brother was a great guide and taught me how to connect the clues to solve a puzzle.
I apply this same sleuthing technique to genealogy when I find names that might be connected to my family tree. By following the clues, I either eliminate them as possibilities or confirm they are related.
For example, Guilford Hammond is found in the Index to Death Certificates on the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick website (PANB: http://archives.gnb.ca). He died May 7, 1940 in Carleton County. Unless I order the death certificate, this is the only information available.
If he turns out to be unrelated, I've wasted my money. More clues are needed.
I referred to Daniel F. Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics, also found on the PANB website. I searched using the surname index and found 510 records. I added the letter G to filter the results.
Two names appeared requiring further investigating: Gilford Hammond (April 25, 1893, The Gleaner) and Gilphin Hammond (March 21, 1896, The Gleaner).
The first record is a death announcement for Captain Hammond. Gilford is listed as a son by a second wife. Since neither the captain's nor his second wife's name is mentioned, we don't learn the identity of his parents.
But we now have the names of Guilford's half-siblings and his full-brother, George.
The second record is a visiting announcement: "George Hammond, brother of Gilphin Hammond, Kingsclear (York Co.), arrived last night from Montana." I'm certain this George is Guilford's brother.
Next, I search the same database for Bradford Hammond listed as deceased in the father's obituary. I found several references including Bradford G., Bradford E. and B.G.
The newspapers dating March 1889 announce his death on March 3 in Montana. I learn his father's name was Judah Hammond of Kingsclear.
Next, I turned to census records. Guilford was found in the 1911 Canada Census for York County. It states he was born December 1860 (age 50) and lives with his wife, Ella.
In the 1901 Census, we discover Guilford's mother's name. Gilford, born December 29, 1849, age 41, is living with his wife, Ella, daughter, Lucy, age 19, and his widowed mother, Lucy A. Hammond, born Dec. 4, 1825, age 75.
Although some information is questionable, the obvious can't be denied. From simply following a trail, we took a name and learned enough information to determine if this person belongs on a branch of the family tree.
* Diana Lynn Tibert is a freelance writer living in Milford, N.S. Submit a query. It's free! : RR No. 1 Milford, Hants County, N.S., B0N 1Y0; email: tibert@ns.sympatico.ca
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