Rambling Genealogy Tips

TIP# 80 - RESEARCH RAMBLINGS

Today, I would like to give you just a hodge-podge of things that might be of help to you - I'm just calling them "Ramblings" for lack of a better term.

FORTS: "The forts in which the inhabitants took refuge from the fury of the savages, consisted of cabins, block houses, and stockades. A range of the former commonly formed at least one side of the fort. Divisions or partitions of logs separated the cabins from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve feet high, the slope of the roof being invariably inward. A few of these cabins had puncheon floors, but the greater part were earthen. The block houses were built at the angles of the fort. They projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every way larger in dimensions than the under one, leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under their walls. A large folding gate made of thick slabs closed the fort on the side nearest the spring. The stockades, cabins and blockhouse walls were furnished with ports at proper heights and distances. The entire extent of the outer wall was made bullet proof. The whole of this work was made without the aid of a single nail or spike of iron, which articles were not to be had." (Collins, Volume 1).

STATE PENITENTIARY. Collins gives a detailed history of the penitentiary located in Frankfort. He states that it was established in 1798. The prisoners were for some years allowed to appropriate to their own use, the excess of their earnings, above the costs of their prosecution and after making restitution to those they had injured. This was repealed in 1805.

Joel S Scott was appointed the first agent and keeper, replaced by Dr T S Theobolds in 1834. From 1834 to 1839 there were from 80 to 140 prisoners. The convicts were employed in labor by day, but not allowed to talk together except about the business in hand. They ate twice a day of bread, meat, vegetables and soups. Church services were held every Sabbath, and those that could not read or write were tutored. Saturday was shaving day - their heads - not their beards. When within 4 months of release, their hair was allowed to grow. Upon discharge, each prisoner was given $5.00 in cash and a suit of clothes.

EARLY LOUISVILLE INSTITUTIONS: The following are listed by Collins beginning on page 356:

THE MEDICAL INSTITUTE was organized in 1837.

THE ASYLUM FOR THE BLIND: Established 1842. Early enrollment ran between 40-50 students. They were taught elementary and higher branches of the English language, modern and ancient languages, music, vocal and instrumental. They were also taught a craft to help make them employable after they left.

THE MARINE HOSPITAL: Established 1820 and designed for a refuge for sick and infirm marines.

MARRIAGES:

I have noted before the term "implied" marriages which meant a marriage which occurred based on other legal documents (wills, deeds, etc), but of which no license can be found. These occurred early in Virginia, and must to have been the case in a lot of the marriages we all search for.

There were also "bridge" marriages in which the couple met on a bridge with the bride and her family on one end - the groom and his family on the other - the pastor in the middle of the bridge and the bridal party coming up from both sides, meeting him in the middle.

There were also "woods" marriages, which as implied for the name, took place in the woods with only the parties present.

Many of these weddings took place when they were not a member of the Church of England and their marriage was not recognized by the church; however, was quite valid.

There were also in older times what was known as a "handfast" marriage. I have recently learned of this from various sources and you might find this noted when you see a H/F after a persons name on birth and marriage records. This was a way of designating that the wedding was "uncannonical, private or a probationary type of marriage"! It announced to the neighborhood that there had been a union between the couple but occurrred before the blessing of the church was received. The man and woman would meet in front of friends or neighbors and hold hands above their heads. They were "repeat their vows" - or intentions of getting married. They were allowed to live together as man and wife for a period of one year and one day - or until a minister performed a church approved ceremony. If the couple didn't wish to marry at the end of their probationary period, they could simply walk away and there were no legal ties. Any child born during this probationary period had the legal right of inheritance at the death of a parent.

A "crossroads" wedding was, as it appears, one that occurred at a crossroads and was done after sunset. According to Antique Weekly, Vol 30, #14, June 23, 1997, this indicated that the bride brought no debts into the marriage.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS - WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

When Social Securities are numbered, there is a rhyme and reason to them. The first three numbers show the area where the individual lived when they applied. The next two numbers are called "control digits" and are used by the government to identify fake numbers. With each area of the first three digits, the odd groups - 01 through 09 and then the even groups, 10 thru 98 are issued first. Then the even groups 02 thru 08 and the odd groups 11 thru 99 are issued. The last four digits are issued just in numerical sequence. The government can look at a Social Security number and tell the year it was issued, and aproximately what time of the of the year it was issued. An example I found showed that a card beginning with 010-28 indicates that it was issued in 1951 to a citizen of MS and 010-44 wasn't issused until 1968 in the same state.