The Dusty Genealogist
A February Challenge
– Make Contact!
Congratulations on all you have accomplished so far! When it comes to doing research, we are very fortunate to live in the Western New York (WNY) area.
If your ancestors arrived between 1620 and 1800, there is, oddly enough, a great deal of information available about them. Most immigrants arrived in the Northeast or further down the East Coast. Lots of historical information is available about those people. It is a matter of figuring out who has the information you want. Start with the historical societies in the communities where your ancestors lived. From 1800 to about 1860, Buffalo was a smoking hot place to be. There were more millionaires here in Buffalo during that time than anywhere else on the planet. People with money came west to Buffalo because there was land to buy. People with ambition came west because there was opportunity.
If a man was willing, a parcel of land could be purchased from the Holland Land Company at a favorable price with favorable payment arrangements. The men were called “Yankee Schemers” and were favorably encouraged by the land company to buy land and open a tavern to encourage civilization in their western border territories. At the time, a tavern also included a hotel of sorts, a way station, and a center for community activity. When you research land records, many taverns appear. There were several families here in WNY by the time the war of 1812 started.
If your family came here from ‘back East’ there are some established migration patterns that can be followed. Work your way back to see if your people were in some of these communities headed west.
If your ancestors came in the 1820s through 1860s, there are reliable immigration records and some odd quirks about this area and Canada. Many immigrants came into America via Louisiana and up the Mississippi River to Buffalo because that was where the jobs and business opportunities were. When searching for your ancestor, remember that there are specific historical groups for marine and ship people, doctors, mill workers, iron workers, shoe makers (the concept of right and left shoes started with a manufacturer here in Buffalo – prior to that, all shoes were the same and the wearer was responsible for alternating the shoes from left to right to extend their wear!) If you have tried one route that was explored, try a different route – a trade route.
When the railroads expanded west, so did our ancestors. When land opened up out west, so went our ancestors. Small communities along western migration routes have some old newspapers and records. People in wagon trains died along the way, but there were records kept. These records were mainly regarding their money. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has land records available online and printable for people who received land.
Money was available to be made and lost. Wealthy families came to America to cut timber to ship back to Europe because the Europeans had stripped their land bare. Wealthy men made sure that their female children were directly provided for. They didn’t leave land and money to men that were simply marrying their girls. The wealth was to be kept in the family. The more wealth a man or woman had, the less likely they were to tell anyone what they were actually worth.
If your ancestor immigrated to this area and was a laborer, he worked long and hard for his money. His wife worked long and hard to take care of the household and the family. She may have worked part time outside of the home for cash, but this may not be proven. If a woman could cook, sew, or clean, she may have brought extra money into the home to help with the expenses. There was plenty of work to go around. Man and wife managed to raise their family and encourage the next generations until you came along.
Whether your family had a lot of money or little money (as fortunes came and went), for a person who was willing to take a chance on something new, they survived and thrived resulting in you being here today.
Every nationality has a group represented in this area. For the month of February, I challenge you to make personal contact with a genealogical group here in WNY. The Buffalo area has a genealogical group for you. If you need a starting point, contact the Family History Center (Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints) located at 1424 Maple Road, Amherst, NY. They can be reached at 716-688-2439 and are open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 10AM-2PM as well as Tuesday and Thursday from 10AM – 9PM. This is a terrific place to start or to go for guidance, help, or questions. If you visit, you will be amazed at the information they have available. If you are interested in a specific nationality, they can probably help you or at least direct you to people who are familiar with that research.
Below are some cultural research sources:
Swedish: The Fenton History Center in Jamestown, NY
Polish: The Polish Genealogical Society, located at 612 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14212. See <www.pgsny.org> for contact information
Italian: The Buffalo & Western New York Italian Genealogical Society, located at 171 Fowler St., Kenmore, NY (716-632-6658)
Jewish: The Jewish Genealogical Society of Buffalo. See their website, <http://www.jewishgen.org/jgs/jgs-buffalo>, for more information.
African American: The Buffalo Genealogical Society of the African Diaspora meets every second Saturday at the Merriweather Library, located at 1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, NY 14208, from 11:00 to 1:00. They can be reached at 716-883-4418. It is open to the public and free.
The Buffalo and Eric County Library: Grosvenor Room also has a lot of helpful information; they also collect local high school and college yearbooks. Search <www.buffaloresearch.com> for genealogy and local history in buffalo. You will find links to sites that may give you some leads. There is no cost for doing research at any of these locations identified above. There may be a small charge for copies; someone has to pay for the paper! All of the people at these locations want you to find your ancestors. Go contact one that can help you this month!
A brief bio of Marjory Regan: I am a member of the Williams Mills Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and a Certified Genealogist. Thank you for your questions, comments, problems, and successes. Email me at getreganmail@gmail.com. Make sure you put “Dusty Geni” in your subject line. I think genealogy is a fascinating hobby; I hope you will, too. Get started! Do something small every day; it all adds up. Label photos with first and last names and approximate date of the photo. Do it for an hour while sitting on your patio enjoying the fresh air. Your ancestors will love you forever for your efforts.
By Marjory Regan
