1940 New York Census

I woke up this morning to Ancestry.com going berserk with all these new hints because I can now search the 1940 census for New York by name. This brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes when I found the very first census showing my Grandparent's after they married and when my Aunt was just 2 years old.

There is something amazing to me about these Census records. If you take the time to search the entire record image you discover things, for instance, just 10 rows down from my Grandfather, my Grandmother's sister is listed. She was living in the same building with her daughter and her daughter's family. Her husband was gone by this point and from what I can tell, they moved in with Aunt Helen when he passed. My Grandparent's lived below them and it shows me just how much my Grandmother and her sister's cared for each other.

Now to search the records for my Grandfather's Mother. My Great Grandfather had passed in 1938 so I am curious to see where she wound up and who she was living with:).

Cheers!
Sammee

Took a Break

Hello all, it has been awhile since my last post. I began to get so overwhelmed with the whole "Finding my Roots" journey that I literally had to close up shop for a bit and walk away. I needed to recharge and recommit. I don't know how many other people are out there that have the same messed up family tree like I do, but if you do then you know how frustrating the search can be when you are starting from nothing and building it from scratch.

What boggles my mind is that no one, on either side of my family, kept a family history. I mean, seriously? Maybe it is because I have lived in Utah since I was six and family history is such a HUGE part of the genetic make-up of most Utahns. I am an east coast girl, my home town is Erie, Pennsylvania, and I spent my formative years living in Utah during the winter with my parents and the rest of the year scuttling between Erie (with my Grandparents) and San Francisco (with my Aunt). I loved my San Francisco journeys because I had extended family that lived there and surrounding areas. Every visit we all got together and Fran and Anselm's AMAZEBALLS two story home (they won an architectural award for the renovations they did on the building). A huge dinner was prepared, the conversation flowed, Anselm would play the piano (he wasn't just a highly respected sociologist but also an accomplished classical pianist) and laughter rung out in the air. Our family tapestry on my Grandmother's side of the family was so loving and supportive. It never entered my mind that no one in the room had any information about our Goldman roots. How did a family with such close ties and bonds have no information about the Matriarch and Patriarch that created all of them?

On my paternal side, the same thing. My Grandfather took off on the family and I can understand the lack of information because of that but in speaking with my biological father's cousins I discovered that they have as little information as I have. Their mother, my Grandfather's sister, had little to no information also. There is the family lore that we are Native American, although I can't prove that nor can I figure out which line (Great Grandfather or Great Grandmother) it comes from. I feel at times that there is something in the Universe that is literally preventing me from finding any information. At times I wish I had Henry Gates on speed dial so I could call him and beg him for his help. I mean, have you seen how much it costs to hire a professional genealogist to do the research for you? On ancestry.com the cost STARTS at $1900.00, seriously, who has that kind of money lying around?

I will get through this, I will discover the hidden secrets and find that line we all descend from. I will find out whether my Grandmother's father had another family in Europe and that that is the reason he went back and forth to Hungary and not because he sold European pocket books to American women. I WILL succeed but I cannot promise that I won't throw my hands up in the air and have a temper tantrum that would rival the most misbehaved 3 year old. So here is to all you Family Tree Hunters, may we discover the amazing, mourn the tradgedies and honor all of those that came before us.

Cheers!
Sammee

And the Teich's are on Board!

I emailed my cousin David who is my third cousin and he sent me his sister's emails. In the span of two hours, my cousin Judy and her daughter had emailed me and my cousin Esther just sent me her information. In my head, I always thought that certain parts of the family knew information that I didn't. Turns out, some of the Grandchildren did but for us, Great-Grandchildren, we are all pretty much in the dark together. I am so beyond excited that they will be going on the journey with me and that there are people who will honestly understand my emotion regarding this journey and understand my excitement every time I find out something new.

So what am I doing tonight? Family tree....I am supposed to be cleaning the house....but I'd rather be doing the family tree ;).

Cheers!
Sammee

Sharing Photographic Memories

Goldman Family Sometime before 1924

11 Brothers and Sisters with their Spouses and Children 

(My Grandmother and Uncle are the only one's not married yet)

The 5 Graces, The Goldman Sisters

(From Left to Right Aunt Lillian, Aunt Ida, Aunt Esther, Aunt Helen and My Grandmother Anne)

From Left to Right Uncle Abraham, Uncle Seymour and a Friend

Here are a few photographs of my Grandmother's family that I emailed to VH in MD. Her Great Grandmother was the sister of my Uncle Sandor and Uncle Abraham's wives. It feels so awesome to be able to share these photographs with her. Because even though we don't share the same blood, we do share to four common descendants between our families. I hope everyone is having a joyful and blessed weekend. Now to watch Joyful Noise with my daughter, girls night!

Cheers!

Sammee

And Two More Family Trees with my Grandmother's Brother and Sister on them Found

Just finished messaging to Family Tree holders on Ancestry.com. One Family Tree had my Aunt Ida and her husband listed (he is a relative of the Family Tree Holder) and another Family Tree has my Uncle Shimon on it. I have messaged the person with Uncle Shimon on their tree before but still have not heard back so I am trying again....and will keep trying until I hear back. Onward and Upward!

Cheers!
Sammee

Is Anybody Out There?

I still don't understand how this whole bloggersphere works. I don't know how to search for blogs or how people would even find this little ol' blog. I like to think people are reading this but to be honest, I have no idea. But still I soldier on and will continue sharing the crazy story of my search for my family history. Henry Louis Gates Jr. (one day I WILLmeet this amazing man) said on his latest episode of Finding Your Roots that "We are our ancestors". I truly feel that, I mean, I know who I am but to discover the people I descend from, to discover the stories of their lives....it makes me stand a little taller, walk a little straighter and strive to conduct myself and my life in a way that would honor them. Until the next post.

Cheers!
Sammee

Sisters, Sisters, There were never such devoted SISTERS

In contact with a woman named Valerie who turns out to be my Great Aunt Sarah's, Great-Great Niece. Although we aren't related, it is pretty cool to meet someone who has a common ancestor with me. I received an email today providing me with Great Aunt Sarah's family tree information. You could have smacked me with a Mackeral and called me fish bait when another email came in with some very interesting information. Sarah had a sister named Emma, who married a man named Abraham. Wait a second,  I have a Great Uncle named Abraham who married a woman named Emma. I had no idea that Sarah's sister had married into the family, not only that but my Mom and Aunt were unaware of it also. So Sarah married Sandor and Emma married Abraham, so her sister also became her sister-in-law. Pretty nifty neato if you ask me, that being said, I hope Abe and Emma married for love and that it wasn't arranged. Uncle Sandor and Sarah had a habit of medaling in other's lives.

Cheers!
Sammee