The Isle of Bornholm

I have been dabbling in the Petersen side of the family, and I find their story, while likely common among early Saints, remarkable.  My great-great grandfather, Niels Rasmus Petersen, was baptized into the church on March 26, 1874, in Denmark when he was 23.  Just over a year after he was baptized, he was called to serve a mission on the Island of Bornholm (this island fascinates me and I want to go there someday).

While he was there, he taught and baptized Jensine Caroline Hanson, who, after both of them moved to Manti at different times, he would marry.  They had a son, Niels C. Petersen, who had a son, Ralph Petersen, who had a daughter, Julie Petersen, who is my mother.

I find it incredible that well over one-hundred years ago, my ancestors met on a tiny island with less than 50,000 people on it (less than the city I grew up in) and 1/5 the size of Rhode Island and, that because of these two people, I now have an incredible wealth of blessings that I could not have imagined.  It is much too personal to me to feel random or happenstance.  I am so grateful for open-minded Danes who felt the Spirit and followed the Spirit into the Church.

Here is the obituary where I gleaned a lot of this information:

And here are a couple of pictures of Bornholm.  Want to go with me?

Well, why didn't you tell me I was illegitimate?

A couple years back, I was searching through some of the records my father had obtained from his uncle that had recently died.  I knew my Asmussen line hadn't been explored too thoroughly, so I was excited to fund quite a number of documents on my Asmussen line.

Unfortunately, as I was searching, I realized that the information had all been recorded and the temple work for the individuals had already been completed.  That is, until I came across a shocking discovery.

I was looking upon some records regarding my great great grandfather Johan Heinrich Asmussen when I found a record pertaining to his birth.  I started deciphering the writing, expecting to find as his father Heinrich Conrad Asmussen and his mother Wilhelmina Benedicta Schmidt.  However, I noted a word in German that looked familiar, but that ultimately I did not recognize.  When I looked up the translation, it said "illegitimate."  My eyes widened when I realized what I had discovered.  My great great grandfather was not the son of Wilhelmina Benedicta Schmidt at all.  In fact, he was the child of Sophia Magdalena Lucie Schmidt, a name I had never seen before in any records.  Apparently, Johan had been born of Sophia, but raised by Wilhelmina as one of her own.

What did this exciting revelation mean? It meant that I had an entirely brand new line of ancestry that had never been researched before! What luck! What glory! I carefully studied all of the records in my father's possession and uploaded the names to Familysearch.org (here's a link to Sophia's page).  However, I have done nothing further on the line.

Project:

1) Flesh out this family tree

There is a ton of research that could be done here, but I know very little about German family history.

Ideas:

1) What we need to do is see if we can find any records pertaining to Sophia: See if she remarried, see if she had any other kids.
2) We can look for all of her brothers and sisters in records, too; see if the married, had kids, etc. (plus, I need more information on them so we can do endowments, sealings, etc.)
3) We can try and push this line back as well, starting with attempting to find more information about Sophia's parents (again, I need more information on them so we can do endowments, sealings, etc.)

Where to go first:

1) The best and easiest thing to do would be get the records from my dad, see where they came from, and look in similar records (also, they all need to be digitized for record keeping purposes)
2) Familysearch has an awesome wiki that has so much valuable information.  You could start by reading the Germany page.
3) Then, you might check out the page for Schleswig-Holstein, the area where Sophia was born.  That should give you some idea of records that are available.
4) You could always just Google it.
5) After you are done, check out my favorite German soccer team, Holstein Kiel.  Can you guess why they are my favorite? :)

This is all original research! If you want to talk about it, give me a call! I would love to brainstorm!

Familysearch - What does it all mean

Familysearch.org is awesome.  And it has a ton of information on there.  But a lot of times people get on and say, "What does all this mean? And how can I use this?"

Information on Familysearch is compiled generally from member submissions.  The bulk of it was created from databases downloaded by previous generations (our grandparents and parents) that used the churches software to compile their data.  When they would upload their files to the Church, the church used them all to create one massive massive family tree.  However, all that came with it was the data, none of the sourcing.  So, while likely 85% of the information is correct, there is another 15% that is inaccurate or downright wrong.

What is good as that the majority of people that are on Familysearch.org have had their work done.  So even if we don't exactly know where the information came from, at least we know their souls are saved (well, at least that the have the option of saving their souls).  This is important to understand for those of you who want to simply find a line and experiment and try and find new information.  So, the best way to find potential names for temple work is to go to a line (or some branch of a line) that looks a little sparse or that cuts off early.  Then, you can search both in all directions (laterally as well as descendants and ancestors) to find new people to baptize.  When you find those people, you enter their information into Familysearch, including the source information, and then do the work for them!  Finding one new name can often lead to a cache of other new names.

I am involved in a project that is much more tedious.  I am highly skeptical of all of the information on Familysearch unless it is actually sourced.  I figure, while everyone needs to be baptized, I would rather work on people I know are in my family.  So I have been attempting to create a tree that has only information that I can pin to a specific source.  This project is not conducive to finding new names for baptism, but they do pop up occasionally.  Dataheads can join me in my quest.

William and Sarah - Someone thinks we're married ...

William Bean and Sarah Wallage are my fourth great grandparents on the Bean side of the family.  I found information that their marriage record was extracted way back when by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  However, I don't have copies of the original.  I have found that looking at the original Marriage records and searching through the entire film can produce a wealth of additional information.  This is the printout of the extraction:

This is the information you will use to locate him on the film. Now, this one is confusing, because there appears to be no film for 1832 ....  However, after a little research, I think 0254576 is the way to go.  I literally have no primary documents on these two, so this record would be awesome.

Oh, and if you're interested, this is the sweet church they got married in.

Project:

1) Order the film number 0254576 from the family history library (use this link) (the films cost $7.50 to rent on a short term basis)

2) Find a Family History Center with a film reader

3) Search the film for the name "Bean" or "Wallage"

4) If your Center has the capability (and let's pray they do), capture each image that could potentially be related to the Bean and Wallage families; otherwise just write down all the information

5) Rejoice in your discovery!

William Bean - I've been Christened!

William Bean is my second great grandfather on the Bean side of the family.  I found information that his Christening record was extracted way back when by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  However, I don't have copies of the original.  I have found that looking at the original Christening records and searching through the entire film can produce a wealth of additional information.  This is the printout of the extraction:

This is the information you will use to locate him on the film. 

Project:

1) Order the film number 025462 from the family history library (use this link) (the films cost $7.50 to rent on a short term basis)

2) Find a Family History Center with a film reader

3) Search the film for the name "Bean"

4) If your Center has the capability (and let's pray they do), capture each image that could potentially be related to the Bean family; otherwise just write down all the information

5) Rejoice in your discovery!

Digitize your own records

Take all of your vital records (Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Ordination Certificates, etc.) and digitize them.  It makes family history at least a billion times easier in the future.

Interview Parental Units

My Mother and Father have fantastic stories.  One of my biggest regrets is that we never recorded an interview with my Grandpa and Grandma Bean before they died.  However, we did does so with my Petersen Grandparents and that recording is like gold.

Let's face it, my parents aren't getting any younger, but their minds are still sharp and they remember a great deal about their youth and growing up.  This information needs to be recorded and transcribed soon so that it can be preserved for generations to come.

Project:

1) Interview Lee and Julie Bean (for question ideas click here)
2) Make sure you record the interview (this can be easily done with nearly any phone)
3) If you have time, transcribe the interview (or pass that project on to someone else!)

COMPLETED: Sally Petersen - Remembering the Dead

Stephanie took on this challenge and found the obituary! Here it is:

 

Here is the link to the obituary. I was surprised that the obituary was so small, but I couldn't help but wonder how this family coped with the loss.  I would love to talk to my mother about this.

PRIOR PROJECT

 

 

Sally Petersen was my mother's sister who died early in life.  Surprisingly, however, I have almost no documents relating to her or her life, which is unfortunate!  Any documents on Sally would be appreciated, but I am particularly interested in her obituary, as I have seen that document referenced in multiple places.  I think she died in May 1, 1971, Orem, but I am not even sure about that.

Project #1:

1) Call Julie Bean and ask her for more information regarding the time and place of death
2) Locate Sally Peterson's obituary
3) Capture an image of the obituary

Possible Resources:

1) Julie Bean
2) Online archives of newspapers

Project #2:

1) Collect all documents relating to Sally Petersen

Possible Resources:

1) Don Carr, her husband prior to her death
2) Julie Bean
3) DeAnn Wilson

William Aspey - Christening Records

William Aspey is my third great grand uncle coming out of the Bean/Wainwright side of the family.  I found information that his Christening record was extracted way back when by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  However, I don't have copies of the original.  I have found that looking at the original Christening records and searching through the entire film can produce a wealth of additional information.  The extraction says that he was Christened on May 29, 1829, In Wigan, Lacashire, England.  This is the information you will use to locate him on the film.  Who knows, you may even find my direct ancestor, my third great grandmother Margaret Aspey, born 20 Nov. 1833 in the same place!

Project:

1) Order the film number 94033 from the family history library (use this link) (the films cost $7.50 to rent on a short term basis)

2) Find a Family History Center with a film reader

3) Search the film for the name "Aspey"

4) If your Center has the capability (and let's pray they do), capture each image that could potentially be related to the Aspey family; otherwise just write down all the information

5) Rejoice in your discovery!

Peter Aspey and His Two Sara Sisters - Christening Record

Peter Aspey was my third great grand uncle coming out of the Bean/Wainwright side of the family. I had two Sara Aspey's, sisters of Peter.  One of them died 8 days after birth, and three years later, another Sara was born.  I found information that each of their Christening records were extracted way back when by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  However, I don't have copies of the originals.  I have found that looking at the original Christening records and searching through the entire film can produce a wealth of additional information.  This are the printouts for each of the extractions:

This is the information you will use to locate him on the film.  Who knows, you may even find my direct ancestor, my third great grandmother Margaret Aspey, born 20 Nov. 1833 in the same place!

Project:

1) Order the film number 94034 from the family history library (use this link) (the films cost $7.50 to rent on a short term basis)

2) Find a Family History Center with a film reader

3) Search the film for the name "Aspey"

4) If your Center has the capability (and let's pray they do), capture each image that could potentially be related to the Aspey family; otherwise just write down all the information

5) Rejoice in your discovery!

John Aspey - Christening Record

John Aspey is my third great grand uncle coming out of the Bean/Wainwright side of the family.  I found information that his Christening record was extracted way back when by the Church.  However, I don't have copies of the original.  I have found that looking at the original Christening records and searching through the entire film can produce a wealth of additional information.  This is the printout of the extraction:

This is the information you will use to locate him on the film.  Who knows, you may even find my direct ancestor, my third great grandmother Margaret Aspey, born 20 Nov. 1833 in the same place!

Project:

1) Order the film number 94032 from the family history library (use this link) (the films cost $7.50 to rent on a short term basis)

2) Find a Family History Center with a film reader

3) Search the film for the name "Aspey"

4) If your Center has the capability (and let's pray they do), capture each image that could potentially be related to the Aspey family; otherwise just write down all the information

5) Rejoice in your discovery!

Harry Asmussen - Who is this guy?

I found this photograph while searching through my grandmother's old photographs:

William is my great grand uncle and Alice was his wife, but I have no idea who Harry is!  I have records of one of William's brothers named Henry, but he was born in 1887.  It is unlikely (although not impossible) that Harry is Alice and William's son, as Alice would have been 18 and William would have been 16.  Additionally, I have no idea where this headstone is located.  I don't think we need to re-photograph it, but visiting and noting gravestones close by may reveal other family members!

Project 1:

1) Find out who Harry is

2) Capture and document any evidence

Possible Resources:

1) 1900 US Census

2) 1920 US Census

3) 1930 US Census

4) Denver, Colorado Death Records (from familysearch.org or ancestry.com)

Project 2:

1) Find out where this headstone lies (use Denver, Colorado death or cemetery records as indicated above)

2) Visit the graveyard, search for any close by family graves

3) Take pictures of other graves

COMPLETED: Earl Asmussen - 1930 Census

COMPLETED PROJECT

Thanks, Stephani, for finding the following information!

Unfortunately, it looks like Ancestry.com owns the rights to the 1930s census, so we can't get an actual image unless we get a subscription or go to a family history center.  A project for another day!

PRIOR PROJECT

Earl Asmussen, my great uncle, recently died.  At one point in time, I looked at the 1930 census and found him.  While the information therein would not give any new information, it would be fun to look at and would give a more complete record of his life.

The project:

1) Search the 1930 US Census for George Asmussen, born Dec. 1924 in Idaho
2) Take a screen shoot of the census and share the results!

Resources:

Likely use www.familysearch.com

Old Homes in Denver

My great-great grandfather, John Asmussen (along with a good number of other of my ancestors) lived in Denver, Colorado.  I inherited a number of old photos of the residences John lived in in Denver.

The addresses are as follows:

3555 Franklin, Denver, Colorado (1913, residence at time of death)
3721 Marrion, Denver, Colorado
3421 Williams, Denver, Colorado (residence of my great-granduncle, Bill Asmussen, in 1915)
3421 Hombolt, Denver, Colorado (residence of my great-granduncle, Bill Asmussen, in 1913)

Here are photos of the residences (I don't know when they were taken)

The project:

Go to the homes and take photographs