Sunday, March 18, 2012

Family of Clifford Sheridan Hunsicker and Margaret Mary Smith


To determine what work I need to do to complete my father's (William Robert Hunsicker) family I have written out all of the information and sources I have.

After seeing how much information there is, I have decided to place my comments at the top.

The only person I have complete documentation for is William Robert Hunsicker, my father, because I inherited it directly from him. All other information not supported by documentation is from discussion with family members.

I need to get birth certificates, death certificates, and, in some cases, marriage certificates. It appears from what I have read that in order to get birth certificates for uncles and aunts I will have to get the death certificates first. Birth and death certificates come from the Pennsylvania state and (prior to 1906) county government. All marriage certificates come from county government. I will have to see what documents my cousins and my one remaining aunt have.

I will consult with the  members of the Lower Bucks Genealogy Club and see if my understanding is correct.

I need to speak to my Aunt Evelyn (who is my oldest living relative) to get more information on her family.

I would like anyone who is interested to comment on whether I need to get these documents for all of the individuals listed below.

The 1930 Census shows Clifford S. Hunsicker and Margaret M. Hunsicker, along with their first three children living at 111 Congress Street in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States.

1930 Federal Census ED 9-48 Sheet 7A (detail)

The 1940 Census Shows Clifford S. Hunsicker and Margaret M. Hunsicker, along with all five of their children living at 235 S Lincoln Ave in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and living in the same place in 1935.

1940 US Federal Census ED 9-58 Sheet 9A (detail)


Clifford Sheridan Hunsicker, son of Sheridan Landis Hunsicker (1865-1916) and Emily Farquahar (1873-1965) was born 1 April 1903 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania,  United States, and died 3 July 1976 in Penndel, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Sources for Clifford Hunsicker:
Clifford appears on page 229 of A Genealogical History of the Hunsicker Family born 1 April 1903 the fourth child of Sheridan L. Hunsicker and Emily Farquahar.
The 1910 Census shows a 7 year old Clifford living with his parents at 2315 Germantown Ave. in Philadelphia, PA.

1910 US Federal Census ED 315 Sheet 12A Dwelling 224 (detail)
The 1920 Census shows a 16 year old Clifford working as a roofer and living with his widowed mother at 1633 Spencer Street in Philadelphia, PA.

1920 US Federal Census ED 1570 Sheet 13B Dwelling 294 (detail)
A Marriage Certificate shows that on February 7, 1925, Clifford S. Hunsicker and Margaret M. Smith  were united in marriage in accordance with License #39856 issued by the Clerk of the Orphan's Court of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
 A Certificate of Marriage shows that on February 7, 1925, Clifford S. Hunsicker and Margaret M. Smith were lawfully married at St. Michael's Church, Chester, PA, by Rev.John J. Toner. James Duffy and Mary Duffy were the witnesses.
The 1930 Census (shown above) shows a 26 year old Clifford working as an assistant freight-clerk for the steam railroad and living with his wife and  3 children at 111 Congress Street in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States.
The 1940 Census (shown above) shows a 37 year old Clifford working as a clerk for the Reading Steam Railroad and living with his wife and 5 children at 235 S Lincoln Ave in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and living in the same place in 1935.
Death Certificate #541099 issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Vital Statistics, states thay Clifford S. Hunsicker died on July 3, 1976 in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania,United States, of Accute Coronary Occlusion, Advanced Coronary Heart Disease, and Generalized Arteriosclerosis.
The Bucks County Courier Times 6 July 1976 Page B29 includes the obituary of Clifford S. Hunsicker.

In the future I will show images of and discuss Clifford's other documents in a separate post and put the link here.

On 7 February 1925 he married Margaret Mary Smith, daughter of Michael Arthur Smith (1871-1937) and  Elizabeth Dickson (1870-1945), born 27 April 1902 in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States,  and died 4 August 1955 In Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Sources for Margaret Mary Hunsicker:
The 1910 Census shows a 8 year old Margaret living with her parents on Franklin Ave in Cheltenham Township, PA.

1910 US Federal Census ED 70 Sheet 11A Dwelling 326 (detail)

The 1920 Census shows a 17 year old Margaret working as a weaver in a mill living with her parents at 123 Old Soldiers Road in Cheltenham Township, PA.

1920 US Federal Census ED 78 Sheet 5B Dwelling 98 (detail)
Margaret Mary Smith at work circa 1920

The 1930 Census (shown above) shows a 27 year old Margaret living with her husband and first 3 children at 111 Congress Street in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania,  United States.
The 1940 Census (shown above) shows a 37 year old Margaret living with her husband and 5 children at 235 S Lincoln Ave in Newtown Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and living in the same place in 1935.  
1955 Pennsylvania Death Index (Death Certificate to follow)
Funeral Card issued by Charles Swartz, Funeral Director, 323 East Washington Ave, Newtown, PA

He then married Lorraine Simmons, a widow, daughter of Edward J. Winder (1883-) and Catherine Unknown, who was born 14 Nov 1911 in Pennsylvania, USA and died Nov 1988 in Glenside, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Sources for Lorraine Winder:
The 1920 Census shows Lorraine living with her parents in Middletown, Bucks County, PA.
Social Security Death Index

In the future I will show images of and discuss Margaret's other documents in a separate post and put the link here.

Children of Clifford S. and Margaret Mary:

John Joseph Hunsicker (1925-1933) married Unknown. Due to privacy concerns detailed information on this individual will not be shown on this public blog.

Charles Thomas Hunsicker (1927-2006) married Evelyn Unknown. Due to privacy concerns detailed information on this individual will not be shown on this public blog.

Mary Ann Hunsicker (1928-2000) USA, unmarried. Due to privacy concerns detailed information on this individual will not be shown on this public blog.

Marjorie Theresa Hunsicker (1930-2003) married Alan Ellis Shaw (1922-2003), had four children. Due to privacy concerns detailed information on this individual will not be shown on this public blog.

William Robert Hunsicker (1932-2002) married Dorothy Mae Hunsicker (1927-2007), had five children. Her parent's family group sheet can be found here. This is my father and mother. Due to privacy concerns detailed information on this individual will not be shown on this public blog.

If you have any questions or additional information on these individuals please comment on this post.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

I joined my local genealogical society yesterday

Yesterday I went to the monthly meeting of the Lower Bucks Genealogy Club in Langhorne, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I joined at the meeting.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with the area (I live in Hamilton Township, NJ) and I had some difficulty finding the meeting location despite locating it on Google Maps before I went. I arrived in the middle of a presentation on the great flood along the Delaware River Valley in 1955. The presentation lasted for the remainder of the meeting so I was not able to really meet and get to know the other members.

The presenter, Mary A. Shafer, has written an excellent book on the subject, Devastation on the Delaware: Stories  and Images of the Deadly Flood of 1955, which can be purchased here.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Documents Retrieved

I have gone through my parents (who are both deceased) papers to find vital records and other items of interest.

Here is what I found:

My father, William R. Hunsicker:

Marriage Certificate
Retirement request from US Army
Discharge (DD214) from US Army
Death Certificate
Funeral Expenses

My mother, Dorothy Mae (Stauffer) Hunsicker:

Marriage Certificate
Reissued Social Security Card (married name)
Medicare Card
Death Certificate
Funeral Expenses

Other interesting items:

Father's funeral guest register
Mother's funeral guest register
Grandfather's (mother's father) funeral guest register

In the future I will analyze the genealogical significance of these items.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

My family tree is a total mess

With very few properly cited sources and lots of duplicate spouses and children from sloppy and lazy online tree matching my family tree is such a total mess that I have decided to rebuild it from scratch using the old tree as a guide rather than trying to correct all the mistakes.

I will be starting with both my mother's and father's direct ancestors and their immediate families and branch out from there.

I will report here my efforts to locate and properly cite sources for each person in the tree.

How I am learning more

I am listening to the following active genealogy podcasts:

Genealogy Gems Podcast  
An excellent source of genealogy news, information, techniques, and tools to do genealogy right.
The Genealogy Guys Podcast
Great information
Blog Talk Radio
The only live genealogy podcast that you can interact with either by chatting or calling in.

I have also subscribed to the Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast.

I have also listened to Family History - Genealogy Made Easy and learned that I have not been doing nearly all that I can do to research my family history.

I have also purchased Roots Magic 5 and it's source templates are teaching me how to cite sources properly.