Save your Receipts

 Can you imagine documentation from the DMV or from your mortgage broker being interesting in 4 or 5 generations? Maybe it would be slightly more interesting to find proof of purchase of a sports car or learning to sky dive. I certainly I was excited to find proof that my great-great-grandfather had a mining claim in Dawson City, Canada.

Family history had claimed (pun intended) that he was a miner who did find gold. I had never quite believed this, as his age didn't quite jibe with the '49 gold rush. Little did I know as a child that the second gold strike was what really made Seattle, and ignited the hearts of treasure-seekers, my ancestor included. I'm referring to Colonel Joseph Green, who was a pretty interesting individual and I have rather a decent amount of primary and secondary source information for him, so stay tuned. (I don't have it all scanned or photographed yet. Real life gets in the way, you know).

This is a photo of a photocopy so the quality isn't fantastic, but it is a "Free Miner's Certificate". This is still something one would need to purchase to have the right to "acquire mineral and placer title", here is how you would go about getting one if you were in Canada today and wanted to go pan for some gold. (view the pdf linked at the very end of the post--this was the first year these certs were required!) The date of issue of this particular document is "9th Apr 98", issued in Dawson. This is to certify that Joseph Green of Dawson has paid me this day the sun of Ten dollars and is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a free miner, under any Mining Regulations of the Government of Canada, for one year from the 9th day of Apr 1898". Modernly it only costs $25 dollars, so this would have been very steep for 19th century people. The certificate also allows hunting, fishing, cutting of essential timber. He needed this certificate in order to do this: 

Although this document predates the above, its likely that he had gotten his certificate for 1897 and it wasn't saved. I am lucky enough that these came down to me! This is a Grant for Placer Mining, stamped Aug 30, 1897. "In consideration of the payment of Fifteen Dollars, being the fee required by the provisions of the Dominion Mining Regulations, by Joseph Green of Dawson accompanying his application number 658 dated 30th August 1897 for a Mining Claim in the Indian Creek mining Division of the Yukon district, more particularly described as Placer mining Claim N* 18 Below on Sulphur (sic) Creek in the aforesaid mining division". This gave him exclusive use of the ground for mining, and to use the water that flowed there in order to do placer mining, which is the mining of alluvial deposits. 

Here is another, for 1898:

This one is a receipt for a Mr HW Mobsely, who's claim was "Placer mining claim N* 19 on Gold River Creek (?) in the aforesaid mining Division". No idea who this person was and why it got saved. 

This one is another for Joseph Green, for a different mining concern. "Date April 18 1898, for a mining claim in The Swedish Creek Mining Division of the Yukon District. Being claim No. 585 above Dis(---)" the rest is not intelligible. It looks like the pen needed a fresh dip in the inkwell. 

This is also for other people, but is appears to be the same claim on Indian Creek as the grant from 1897. Perhaps Col Joseph was working with other miners on the same claim during this time? I'm not sure why he/the family would keep it, but it was clearly important for some reason. 

The miners are AE Griffin and HP Anderson. "30 August 1898, for a mining claim in the Indian Creek mining division being No 18 below Discovery on Sulphur Creek" 

I don't know if its possible that I should get so lucky to find a match to this mining site with just one google search, but "No 18 below Sulphur Creek, Dawson, Yukon" got me some plausible connections. It doesn't seem possible but perhaps it is the same place! One, taken by Frank E Wolfe. Suggested date range is 1898-1901. Could Joseph be in this photo? Or Messrs Anderson and Griffin? 

I wish I could go to the University of Washington libraries and check out the special collections myself! 

Here's another view of the same cabin, you can recognize the large upright timber. 

Another image of what is labeled the same claim but belonging to a Tom Mokelbast at the time, part of the University's collection also. This is a Larss and Duclos photo. 

I have many letters from the Col to his family (and from them to him!) that I need to parse and share but they are copies of the originals and some rather hard to read. (And also hard to read because of the content) Perhaps some will give context and information to flesh out these forms. 

Just another interesting note, a history of Klondike mining records, in case anyone else is on this search. 

Identifying a mystery location

 I have begun to scan photos borrowed from my mom's house (really they are all just boxed items she is going through from grandma's, they are not necessarily "hers") and trying to be clear about what things are and who is in each photo. This is a bit of a challenge because my mountaineering grandparents visited a lot of pretty places that look much alike. Also some of the sets of photos are clearly reprints, and removed from the original contexts (what pictures would have been in the same set with them indicating being taken at the same time, etc) makes it harder to guess! This photo stood out from the set I was scanning and I wondered why.

Before you begin to guess, we were able to figure out this location. My crack collection of knitting pals over the internet were able to ID the location as being the Dinant Citadel of Namur, in Wallonia, Belgium, as taken from the Jambes bridge over the Meuse. (Apparently this is THE location to photograph the citadel, as many photos from the web have the exact angle.) This photo has led me on a great journey of information since identifying it, for instance this river has been a strategic location since Roman times and there were significant battles here in World War 1 and 2. In fact, the Meuse was part of the forest of Ardennes which was thought to be impenetrable to tanks, and where the Battle of the Bulge was fought. I have, through family stories, been told that when my Grandfather served in WW2 it was as part of this campaign (thought he was a Technician and lucky enough not to have to fire his rifle). 

In searching for more information about this location and the War(s), I learned that this location suffered heavy damages and wondered what that meant for dating the photo. The current bridge (Pont Jambes) is made of stone and has large arches to allow boats to pass, constructed in 1961. The Wikipedia entry for the Battle of Dinant (first World War) shows the destruction of the buildings at the base of the citadel as well as another bridge that would probably be located out of the photo to the right, by the church building, indicating significant damage to the whole area. I can't tell anything about the materials or permanence of this bridge based solely on this photo, so the best guess for era would probably involve getting lucky and finding images that had the same perspective and matching the buildings in the background. The reason I am interested in the date of the picture is I am curious if it is a photo taken concurrently with my Grandfather's service, or if he (or someone else) returned and took it at a later date. Unfortunately my Grandfather passed when I was quite young, and while he did come and speak to my elementary school class about his service, I really don't remember much of his words, and what I do remember are mainly reinforced by 2nd hand accounts from other family members. So, we figured out part of the mystery of this location, but more remains to be learned!

Shiny Things

 Occasionally people find out I care about things which are old, or "nice" in the sense of not-every day, and they pass on their objects to me. I don't get to host any tea parties (even before Corona) but I do like nice objects. Craftsmanship is valuable!

I got these from my husband's grandmother. They are from various members of her family. The Daffodil-pattern spoon is from 1950. The small spoon is called "Lido" and is a WMA Rogers from 1938. Finally on the far left, a Derby silver spoon in the "Harvard" pattern from 1883! I love the deco patterning. This is a great website if you need to identify old silver patterns: https://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/. (That does specify American though)

These are items I got from my Grandma's estate. I don't necessarily have the need for a full set, but I really liked these particular items. On the right is a cake server. It almost looks like it should be paired with another for a mirrored image! Then a butter spreader, a funny cocktail fork, a butter knife, a salad fork, regular fork, and soup spoon. Oh, and a wee baby curved spoon across the top. The last two have been engraved, there are an H and P around a large swoopy A for Henry Atwell Post. However, the A almost appears to have another name inside, and the central letter looks less-deeply engraved as if it were older and the H and P were added later. Was this done? 

I am having some luck with some of these patterns, but need to ask an expert about some of them. The most exciting first was probably the funny cocktail fork. It's maker's mark is a crossed pick and shovel with the initials M and B, which stands for Joseph Mayer & bros. He was a Seattle silversmith, and I found another excellent local history blog with great info about the gentlemen and their work. The author says the brothers even went up to Alaska and Dawson in the Yukon to be closer to the sources, i.e. the gold and silver coming out of the ground. As I have letters from a relative who was trying his hand at his fortune in Dawson, that is a fantastic connection to make. Mayer also made clocks, here is an image of the Friedlander's clock. 

Taken from the collections of the MOHAI site, it stands on 2nd and Cherry circa 1920. The collection states "This street clock was made by Joseph Mayer & Brothers Company, a watchmaking and wholesale jewelry business begun in Seattle in 1897. Founded by German immigrants Markus (1878-1950), Albert (1872-1929), Emil (1881-), Herman, & Joseph (1868-1937) Mayer, the company existed in various form until 1991. About 100 Mayer street clocks were produced between 1909-1930, often placed in front of jewelers or watchmakers. As of 2014, 15 of the 46 confirmed Mayer clocks in Seattle survive.

This clock was made for Friedlander & Son., Inc., Jewelers, at 1300 Second Avenue. The view in this image is looking east across Second Avenue. The building at the left of the frame is the Arcade Building, built in 1903; it is no longer standing".

But, back to the fork: it's pattern is "1909", made in 1906. 1909 was the year of the Yukon-Pacific Exposition, and Joseph Mayer & Bros made commemorative spoons (not this pattern but others) and "dollars"/medals for sale. I'm learning fantastic things just from silverware and can't wait to find out more. 1906 would have been before my grandmother and grandfather were born, so perhaps this was an item belonging to one of their parents. Her mother did collect commemorative spoons, so perhaps it came from her items.

A Postcard

 When I share things I want to focus on the juicy details whenever possible. No one wants a big genesis-like list of names and dates. So items and photos especially, and where other information is warranted I will focus on facts that I can verify through primary documents, or if not, at least multiple sources. Regularly I see items on FamilySearch.org (its free! thanks Mormons!) where you can tell if someone had just viewed the source with their eyes instead of continuing to copy and paste they would tell what the record was supposed to say and not continued to pass on incorrect information. 

This postcard I found in a book I took from my grandma's house. I found other treasures in the book as well, we'll have those another time. The caption says "Winter Home of John D Rockefeller, Ormond Beach, Fla". Here's a nice overview of the house, which is called The Casements. It must be nice to name your house. Mine would be called something related to Hobbits, I think. 

It is addressed to "V-- H.A. Post, Coudesport, PA. Potter County" The text is as follows (as well as I can gather)

"Coronado Beach, Fla

10 December 1925

Dear Archdeacon,

    We are here enjoying the sunshine and the out-of-doors -- which for me means so much. The ___ is __ anxious for me to be back on the job-- __ only promise him to come just as soon as __. Our kindest regards to you and to Mrs Post from us all--

Ever yours, A.S.P."

As you can see I couldn't make out all of those words. If you can pick them out, please do. Paleography is quite the art form! As best as I can gather from census data and other sources, the family lived in Pennsylvania for some time (and non-consecutive times, as my grandfather was born in PA but his next sibling in Nevada, and the following two back in PA). From an obituary notice in the publication “The Living Church” which appears to have been a sort of church directory, vol 125 Nov 3 1952: "After a curacy on Staten Island, he was rector of the parishes in the diocese of Harrisburg and Erie PA, later becoming Archdeacon of Harrisburg for 5 years". However, a little tidbit from the religious publication “The Churchman” vol 121, (Jan 3 1920) says that Henry Atwell “Resigned the rectorship of All Saint’s Church in Harrisburg PA, and will become the rector of St Paul’s, Elko Nevada, and have charge of the missions at Wells, Clover valley, Palisade, Eureka and Tuscarosa”. Douglas was born in May 1920 in Nevada, and his next sibling Joe was born in July of 1921 back in Pennsylvania. So perhaps the rectorship in Elko was previous to becoming Archdeacon, and the "Living Church" blurb just didn't think to mention it as it seems to have been rather short!

I have no idea who A.S.P is. Henry was an only child (which seems very rare for his day), but I'd hazard a guess its another Post, perhaps a cousin. Maybe I will figure it out!

                    

Why write about family history?

 I have been interested in genealogy since I was a child, and general history more as I age. The thrill of finding a gem of information during research is akin to finding an old coin or scrap of paper with curly script. I was raised with the telling of stories, and the family's history was fairly well-known at least in the basics. Some of this oral knowledge will be connected to source documents, with great joy, but some will remain uncorroborated. My grandmother passed in November of 2019, and a deep dive through the years of possessions she and my grandfather had become stewards for (they were continuous occupants of their home since 1967 and it had the room!) meant that there were tangible items to connect. The time was now, during the pandemic, to follow a passion and begin to share it. Now that the items have been distributed among her children or simply cleared away, I wanted to act before any more knowledge was cleared away as well.

I have benefited from the research and information shared by others, including by personal websites, including one I discovered in college and can no longer find, by Linda Workman Hansen. She has passed, so perhaps the domain is no longer being maintained. However I'm under no illusion that this information will be anything other than interesting unless you share my interest for tidbits from another time, local history, or are perhaps related to me. When we were cleaning out my grandmother's house, an aunt told me that my grandfather loved old things, and sometimes bought things like books just because they were old. I thought--perhaps this is where I get it. Perhaps you enjoy old things as well.

The title of this blog is a reference to a poem, and the fact that I grew up in Western Washington between the Olympic and Cascade ranges. Much of our recent family history takes place in Washington, though it is not confined here. Also it is a nod to the influence of the outdoors on my family and myself.