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Archiver > LANCSGEN > 1998-02 > 0886473476


From: "Pam Benckhuysen" <>
Subject: Re: New subscriber
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 21:37:56 -0500


Hi,

I am also a new subscriber, just starting in a what will most like be a long
battle to find needles in haystacks.

I am researching Isaac Smith who married Margret Alice Houson and lived in
Blackburn, Lancashire at least in 1885 when my great grandmother (Esther) was
born. Isaac is listed as a Cotton Weaver on Esther's birth certificate. The
had a number of other children, Margaret, Emily, Arthur and Sarah and there
may have been more. These five ended up in the United States prior to 1908. I
am not sure that the parents went.

I am a newbie to geneaology research ( doing this as a project for my brother
and sister who are very interested in the family history), so you will have to
excuse my ignorance, and the fact that I am looking for Smith's ( I am sure
there are millions) and Houson ( I am sure there are only a few).

Were there cotton mills in Blackburn in the 1850 - 1900 period, the current
topic has me curious. Rumor has it that Isaac and Margret's childrent were
orphaned and adopted into US families, but I don't have real confirmation of
that. If it is true I am wondering what would have happened during that time
period that might have precipatated the death of both parents. What passenger
lists would I look into if they did move to the US in the early 1900's.

Another question, do you need address's to look up census information ( sorry
-- probably a stupid question), and what is the IGI and what are the ARJ files
posters are referring too.

I will stop now while I am ahead.

Thanks,

Pam Meyer

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