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Archiver > SMITH-PA > 2007-09 > 1191214186


From: "N & K Chestnut" <>
Subject: Re: [SMITH-PA] To Megan
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:51:05 -0700
References: <002f01c80317$e12d4270$040fa8c0@Main>


To Megan,
Welcome to the "club" of SMITH researchers.
You wrote that your mother is Mary Catherine Battson (nee SMITH). Correct? So your mother was born Mary Catherine SMITH in 1950? Question - Have you talked with your mother about the things she remembers? Make copies for yourself of the family pictures when she was growing up, especially names of the people in the pictures, where and when the pictures were taken. Record these names, towns and dates (at least the year) for the pictures. Later this information might give you clues to extended family members or friends and places they had been.
You wrote that her father was Joseph David Smith and he married Elizabeth Louise Hendron. Is that correct? You need to know when and where they married. Then if possible you will want to know the names of those who attended the wedding or sent any kind of gift (their relationship to the bride or groom and where those folks lived, town and state). On this Mailing List you are trying to get help on this SMITH line of yours, not so much the HENDRON line. Although it is possible that the HENDRON wife might help you find the right SMITH.
Then you wrote that Joseph David SMITH's parents were William and Katherine/Catherine SMITH; and you think their children were: Catherine, Daniel, Edward, George, Helen, Marie, Robert and William. Where does your Joseph David belong is this possible 'lineup'?
I am having difficulty visualizing the time frame that this family may have been included together on a Federal Census. The most recent one available is 1930; but without a possible location, a state, large city or county which was mostly rural, for them. It is not likely you could be sure when you found them.
But Federal Census is probably about the third tool you will try to use.
First you start with your mother whatever you can pull out of her memory, you write it down. And whatever is in her house, you make notes or copies of it.
Second, you did not say if her parents were still living. Are they? If they are, you do the same things again with their memories and items in their home.
Does your mother have any siblings? If she does, you will want to talk or write to them, also.
If your SMITH grandparents are already gone, you will want to check their siblings if they have any living ones. If you are too late for Grandparents and Great-Aunts and Great-Uncles, then you try to contact Cousins, First Cousins, Second, Third, etc.
All of these relatives may have helpful pieces to the puzzle you are trying to put together. The information ("clues") may be in those people. Sometimes a friend of the family may know as much as a relative.
Good luck as you begin to work on your personal puzzle.

Kay C.

----- Original Message -----
From: Megan S Wreath
To: ; 'Smith PA Mailing List'
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:10 PM
Subject: [SMITH-PA] Where do I begin?




I am new to this list and new to ancestry research in general. I am trying
to learn, but I have little time to do so. On top of that I have been
blessed with the Smith line. I have no idea where to begin.

Here is what I know.

I am Megan Wreath (nee Battson).

My mother is Mary Catherine Battson (nee Smith) born 1950.

Her mother, my grandmother is Elizabeth Louise Smith (nee Hendron) born 1929
from Philadelphia. She married Joseph David Smith. I have his parents as
William and Katherine/Catherine and his siblings are Catherine, Daniel,
Edward, George, Helen, Marie, Robert and William, but I don't know if that
is accurate and that is all that I have.

I believe my Smith line to come from Ireland, but I can't say for sure.

Where can I possibly go with such little information and a name like Smith?

HELP!

Megan



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