WikiTree Secret Santa 2023 - Wishes accepted! / Challenge done [closed]

Question

Secret Santa 2023 challenge finished! Check out the Wrapup & Thank You post on G2G with all the details!

Did you ever write a letter to Santa? Was it magically answered for you? WELL ... in this 15th anniversary year you have the opportunity to make a Genealogical Wish to Santa (or the Great Pumpkin, or the Spirit of the Universe, or the great WikiTreer in the Sky ...) and MAYBE ... just maybe ... one of our amazing WikiTree Elves will respond to your request!

All you have to do is click ANSWER button right below this post, and indicate what it is you'd like help with.

As the Genie of the Lamp said - there are just 3 rules:

1. You can't kill anybody - BUT - you can wish for someone to help you find a death record!

2. You can't make anybody fall in love - BUT - you can wish for someone to help you find a marriage record (and children ...)

3. Finally, no wishing for more wishes. Please ONE WISH per WikiTreer.

Note: This is a fun challenge, and Elves are your fellow WikiTreers who have volunteered their time and resources to help you out ... but there is no guarantee that we'll be able to get through every wish, break down every brick wall, find all the missing information that everyone could wish for ... BUT ... we will do our best, and have fun along the way.  If you wished last year, and it wasn't granted, know that someone looked at it and tried.  This year, perhaps choose a different ancestral star to wish upon...

IF you wish to volunteer to be a Secret Santa ELF - then - check out THIS G2G post and sign up there! (You can do both!)

The deadline for Wishes is December 23rd at noon, Eastern Standard Time. The results of the Secret Santa Challenge will be revealed on the January 6th Saturday RoundUp LiveCast at 10am EST with Betsy, Mags, Greg and Lead Elves Christine and Kathy.

(Thank you to my fellow lead Elves Christine Daniels and Kathy Nava!)

NOTE: G2G Post closed - Secret Santa 2023 has already started!  THANKS to ALL WISHERS who shared with us! Big Reveal will occur on 6 Jan 2024 @ 10am Eastern Time (3pm UTC) during the RoundUp LiveCast!

NOTE 2: Elves that need assistance - DO NOT COMMENT HERE - Instead, go to the Elf Chat post on G2G and ask your question there!  Thanks!

Comments

trying to make a wish...how do i do that?

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Chris - "Answer this Post" With your wish :

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Santa's Elves - I need help!!! Seeking the parents of Lydia Haxton (my GGGgrandmother) b. 4 Aug 1827 Griswold CT D. 25 Nov 1898 North Brookfield, MA. Buried in Hop Meadow Cemetery Simsbury CT (FAG 80969768). There were many Haxtons in Griswold CT. Emily Haxton's family bible was donated to the NEHGS. According to the bible entries, Emily was the daughter of Moltby & Lucy Greer Haxton and the wife of Alden Goddard. Lydia Haxton was not mentioned in Emily's bible. However, in the 1860 US Census, Emily & Alden Goddard are living with Lydia Haxton Carpenter & her husband John Grant Carpenter in Simsbury CT. Lydia & John Carpenter are also found in Simsbury in both the 1870 and 1880 US censuses. I have been trying for many years to identify 1) the parents of Lydia Haxton and 2) the relationship between Lydia Haxton and Emily Haxton. Merry Christmas wiki elves.

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Graeme Olney...thank you for your response

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I'd like to work on wish 121.  I have many ancestors in Haddam; Hadlym etc

Answer 1

Who are the grandparents of Clark-70990? This is a Scottish Clark, not a colonial Clark. Maybe someone in the Scotland project has some resources to break through his brick wall parents?

I have since added triangulation information to his father's profile. In addition to that, the triangulation details were already posted to the mother's profile. The leads to Argyll could be enough for someone with Scottish records to locate the marriage record of the parents.

Comments

Wish 1 received

Answer 2

Who is my 3rd Great Grandfather's parents?  We've never been able to locate George's (Miller-84626) dad or mom.  He has no middle name which makes it more difficult.  We also do not know his religion.  We know he was born in Maryland by oral history, supposedly in Adams County.  However, there has never been an Adams County, Maryland.  The first record we can verify is his marriage to Sally (Brown-122136) in Stark County, Ohio.  I would love Santa's help!  Thank you!

Comments

Wish 2 received

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I'm not sure what others have told you, but there is definitely an Adams County in Pennsylvania.  Gettysburg sits in the middle of it.  Until the Mason-Dixon line was established on about the 39th parallel in 1767.  Until that time, Maryland claimed land up to the 40th parallel, which would probably have included all of Adams County.  So, Pennsylvania churches and civil records might be what you need to look at.

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There is an Adams County, PA right on the border with Maryland.  That is the county Gettysburg is in.  Maybe check there.

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My dad and I had a long discussion about the Mason/Dixon line which pointed me to that search in PA, so Idid look into Adams County, PA, but without knowing his choice of religion, I've had no success.   Thanks for the info though!  Chris

Answer 3

I have looked for many years for the birth location, date of birth or baptism, and the parents of my maternal 3rd great grandfather, Michael Gabler. He was born about 1818 in Bavaria/Germany/Prussia. I would love it if one of the Elves with experience in German records would help an aging Wikitreer. Thank you!

Gabler-73 - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gabler-73

Comments

Wish 3 received

Answer 4

Finding the Canadian marriage record for my 3rd great grandparents, Peter Courtney and Ann McDonald would be astounding (if their parents names are listed I'd be over the moon)! No idea when Peter landed in Canada from Ireland, but they probably married sometime 1849-1851.

Comments

Wish 4 received

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I can handle this one of you put it on the secret santa list. Or not on the list. either way ~~~~

Answer 5

This is my tough problem of 2023, with tantalizing clues but not quite enough solid evidence: Who are the parents of Jane (Jones) Pickerel?

I've divided her profile into the early years (Sources section) and into a second section (Additional Clues) covering what I found for later years.

The Research Notes and Additional Clues sections will summarize where the research stands.

Challenges of a Death Record:

1. I sent away to the state for a death record and got back an index page, with no person listed which might be Jane Jones Pickerel. I also checked directly, on Ancestry, the Ohio Death Records Index 1908-1932, found via the card catalog.

2. The death date of 1 June 1912 is verified by a newspaper item.

3. The county does not fulfill requests for death records by mail. You have to go there in person (cost $25) or hire Vital Chek, which likely doubles or triples the cost. And there might not be a record, or it might not name the parents.

I've looked for other ways to either confirm or dispel a connection of Jane Jones Pickerel of Marion County, Ohio, to the Jane Jones of Pennsylvania, starting with the sisters Rachel (who appears to have lived in Marion County) and Margaret (who may have visited there), but so far, no success.

Perhaps a new set of sharp elf eyes (and a bit of elf magic) will see something or find something that I missed!

Comments

Wish 5 received

Answer 6

Who were the parents of Peter Evertz? He was born in 1820 in Dahlem in the Eifel region of the Rhineland.

Comments

Wish 6 received

Answer 7

Who are the parents of   Witkowski-218.  this is a tough one for me.  from some info from his daugther Stephania's sons: He hated his father so he took his mothers last name Witkowski (a) His father may have disowned him and he (Franciszek)  fled the Crimean War to come to America.  When he died, leaving Karolina (nee Kot) a widow, and children, the neighbors who knew of him told her to write to his parents in Poland and ask for help since they were upper-class wealthy.   She said no.  They didn't write them so she wouldn't either.   a south river, nj indenture mentions a spelling  Frank Witkowsky.   some info stated his Father may have had a last name of Oleder (pronounced Olender).  an outline of Witkowski tree:   Francisezek Witkowski (Oleder) (b. 1868)  Galacia (Poland) (died 1908 buried  East Brunswick NJ)wed Karolina Kot Kamionka, Galicia (Poland) (b. 1880-1947)   it mentiones he had at least one sister. After he died,  Karolina married Konstanty Truchel and they had Sophie Truchel (my grandma)  but some of the census indicate odd info  such that Sophie Witkowski and that Carolina (Carrie)  was also mentioning her Witkowski children too but Sophie was a Truchel.

Comments

Wish 7 received

Answer 8

I would be grateful if someone familiar with German records would confirm the parents of my 3X Great Grandfather, Baron & Major Frederick Augustus DeZeng (DeZeng-4). He was a Notable, a Glass Pioneer in the United States, who attempted to establish a window glass factory on Rice Lake, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

According to family lore, his mother was Johanna Phillipina von Ponickau and his father was Baron Frederich Augustus von Zenge of Rusherwald, Wokenstein, near Marienburg, Saxony, and was Lord Chamberlain to the Duchess of Saxe Wussenfeb and High Forest Officer to the King of Saxony.

Comments

Wish 8 received

Answer 9

I would love some help in finding the parents of Laumeier-2, Anna Cathrine Margarethe Laumeier.

She got married in 1834 in Ledde, Westfalen, Prussia and the marriage record showed that both her parents were dead.  I have been unable to find any records of her before this marriage.

Santa’s help will be very much appreciated.

Comments

Wish 9 received

Answer 10

I have been looking for confirmation of Guy-4863 George Guy (listed as freedman in Brunswick Co Virginia), he is my 3rd GGrandfather's, linage back to John Guy (1758 Brunswick Virginia?-1820s • Accomack, Virginia, USA)  

George's (supposed) father William R Guy had a very active and documented presence in the Granville Co NC Melungeon Community. 

John Guy(George's suppposed grandfather) was a member of the Catawba Indian tribe and fought in the Revolutionary War, 115 Reg. Militia, Virginia

Also, George's wife Elizabeth (Barnette) Guy Barnett-14706 (3rd GGrandmother) born about 1812 Virginia, no death date.I can not find any information at all on her past this.

Both George and Elizabeth are either Mulungeon or Mulatto and on some census listed as black, some listed as white. 

All of these people seem to have moved back and forth from the Eastern shores of VA/NC into the hills of VA and NC. They do seem to stay around the Indian communities such as in Virginia Accomack and Brunswick (Meherrin tribe) and in NC near the Soponi communities near Hollister(now) and Winston Salem NC (now) 

Any help with my Brickwall would be appreciated so much, Thank you

Comments

Wish 10 received

Answer 11

My wish is for a transcribed copy of the 41 page "Southern Claims Commission Allowed Claims" for my many great grandmother McMurray-864.  The link to the document at Ancestry is on the profile.  I tried reading it but I had a difficult time with the chicken scratch and with my old eyesight it gave me a tremendous headache.

Comments

Wish 11 received

Answer 12

Who were the parents of Catherine Stoner?

She lived in rural Central New York between 1815 and 1845.

There were several Stoner families living in or near Cayuga (or Onondaga) counties in the timeframe. Her husband remarried after her death, and one of the descendants from that second marriage did research to join the DAR (fairly recently). That research is linked from Catherine's profile and her sisters are named on p. 46 of the first PDF of that research.

Neither the Cato town historical society or the Cayuga County historian had any pertinent information.

Comments

Wish 12 received

Answer 13

Can you break this brickwall?  I am trying to figure out who the parents of my Earliest Known M-line Ancestor, Girzel Walker.  The attached parents are NOT proven, but a possibility.  

Comments

Wish 13 received

Answer 14

All I want for Christmas is to break a brick wall, pull a brick out, smash that wall down.

Santa, if you could use your magic and find one or both parents of [[Chapman-869|John B Chapman Sr (abt.1755-abt.1812)]] I would be ever so grateful. I’m on your Good List this year.  Others use this gentleman as his father but it’s not correct. Chapman-1281

Many thanks if you can help me out. And my apologies to  Donald Yetter Gardner for hijacking your lyrics. 

Comments

Wish 14 received

Answer 15

Anyone who can check records in Germany/former Yugoslavia might be able to help me. My husband's mother's family comes from that area and I have records involving their immigration but nothing before and I don't know any names beyond her parents, Georg Gaertner (Gaertner-160) and Maria Schneider (Schneider-8810).

They weren't Jewish, but fled the Nazi regime anyway, before emigrating to the US and ended up in Florida.

Thank you

Comments

Wish 15 received

Answer 16

Who are the parents of Angelo Chiera?

He's my grandfather, but my mom cannot remember anything about his parents, except their names (and even those we're not so sure about). He was born in Libya, but he lived in Italy and Germany too, for a period. Whatever information can be found would be so much help!!

Comments

Wish 16 received

Answer 17

My wish is to find my 3rd GGF, John Page, the spouse of https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wightman-1273 | Ann Catharine Wightman Page.

His first name is proved by the land transaction on her profile.  It's the only record I have found for him.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks.

Comments

Wish 17 received

Answer 18

Having someone email me today to tell me that what I requested couldn't be found, but that I could "search the unindexed marriage records on Family Search" was very disappointing. I'm fully aware that there is no guarantee with the Secret Santa requests, but I was enjoying the anticipation of the possibility that someone could help me. What a letdown.

Comments

Hi there Nikki,

Hmmm .. the Elves have not started (or SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED ....) their work yet - the Secret Santa challenge itself is from Dec 23rd to Jan 5th - we're just in SIGN UP phase right now (for Wishes and Elves) ...   I know some are very keen and can't wait to get going ... but, I'm surprised someone would have jumped the gun with NEGATIVE news!  Me-thinks an ORC snuck in amongst the Elves.  Don't worry - your wish is still on the list and WILL be looked at ... even if an Orc thinks it's not possible, we will give it a try!

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Nikki, I so sorry this happened to you. Perhaps you could privately send Greg the ID# of the member who did this so that they can be contacted and asked to not spoil any further surprises. They may just be overly enthusiastic and not understanding what Secret Santa is all about. A little redirection could be all they need.  

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Dear Santa and wonderful Elves……please help me.  My ancestor, Laurence Butler, arrived with the third fleet in 1802.  We can accurately account for his death in 1820, but his Irish background has been difficult so far as it occurred in a period when births and baptisms were not allowed for the Catholic population.  Laurence, (who advertised in his Sydney business as a Furniture-maker as Lawrence (the English form)), had left his wife, Catherine, in Ferns, County Wexford, where he had his home and business. I am unable to establish whether he was born in Ferns or elsewhere and an actual date of his birth.  Catherine is also a complete mystery.  It is not known what her maiden name was, whether there were children of the marriage, and why she remained in Wexford.  It is likely that her Ferns home was taken or destroyed, and it is also likely that she was not given the opportunity of being transported with her husband, Laurence.  From other accounts Catherine seems to have lived a difficult life in extreme poverty, and is recorded as having died in Wexford in 1816.

Answer 19

I'm looking for the parents/more details about [[Stevens-24028|John William Stevens (abt.1801-bef.1861)]] (Dorset, England) The name is just a little too common and I'm not familiar with the area so I keep finding the wrong person.

Comments

Wish 18 received

Answer 20

My Christmas lights would shine a little brighter if I could know where in Scotland my 3rd great-grandfather Thomas Menzie came from.  In my previous attempts to confirm this detail, I've been in touch with other researchers (on Ancestry).  There was another Menzie (John), who also lived in Lenox, Madison County at the same time as Thomas and people think that John and Thomas traveled together to the United States from Scotland.  Perthshire keeps coming up and there does seem to be a concentration of Menzies there.  To zoom in more specifically, I think they were from Weem/Dull.  (Yes, there is a place called "Dull" which is now a sister city to Boring, Oregon!)  I'm not confident how Thomas and John were related so I haven't entered John's extensive branch on WikiTree yet.

Any help with parting the curtains to give a view to the turn of the 19th century would be fantastic.  Thank you in advance, Elves and Santa!!!

Comments

Wish 19 received

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Betsy, it would be funny if your John Menzie ended up being related to my Mary Menzies also from Perthshire. 

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For sure, Emma.  I see that we're currently connected at 20 degrees.  Having some Menzies in common would probably bring that number down!