Public Ledger Origins, 1848-1875, Introduction

COLLECTIONS OF The Genealogical Society OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA ORIGINS Some eighteen years ago, a group of volunteers of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania inaugurated a project of indexing all the names in the Death Notices, Marriage Notices and the Wants columns of the Philadelphia Public Ledger. This work was begun with the initial issue of the paper in 1836 and continued until the issue of 1875. This effort has resulted in the publication of eighteen volumes of indexed names. As the work proceeded into the 1850's, the effects of the Great Hunger in Ireland, the Potato Famine, began to be seen. Irish immigrants were marrying, and dying, and their newspapers notices began to show their places of origin in the Old Country. Also, immigrants began to advertise in the Wants and Personal columns upon their arrival in America to contact relatives who had come before them. The news¬ paper columns would show names, ages, places of origin, down to parish¬ es and townlands, as well as relationships between individuals. This information would be a windfall to genealogists. All those names and places! We created a matrix, a form in which genealogical information could be written. We called this new project "Origins". We expanded its base to include not only Ireland and foreign countries, but other areas of the United States. We began "Origins" in 1848 and concluded in 1875. We included persons whose origins or places of marriage or death were in other areas of the country and who were from Pennsylvania, New Jer¬ sey and Delaware. There were many more deaths in the 1861-1865 period because of Civil War casualities. The indexing of marriages and deaths, as well as "Origins" continued simultaneously until the newspaper books were no longer available. Everything in the books has been checked, but there is always a possi¬ When an Irishman who can't spell says "Ballaklee" to a newspaper clerk, how can the clerk know that he is saying "Dublin". bility of error. Robert E. 0 Connor ORIGINS WANTS, INQUIRIES ETC., INFORMATION WANTED, AND PERSONALS All of the above newspaper column headings have been used in these "Origins". We started in 1848 (because of the Irish Famine) and con¬ tinued through 1875. The Wants column mainly was for employment op¬ portunities, everything from hat trimmers to iron moulders, but tucked into this column were ads beginning: Information Wanted Of. In Aug¬ ust of 1848 a new column heading began called "Inquiries etc." and it reappeared in April and June of 1849, even as the Wants column contin¬ ued. In August 1849 another heading was tried as "Information Wanted", but it wasn't until December 1852 that "Personals" began and would continue as the column for those seeking friends and relatives. These column headings usually appear on page 3 in the newspaper, but also can be found on pages 1, 2 and 4. To assist you, we have noted the page and column number below the publication date. The Wants and Personals have been extracted as they appear. Many are or Irish origin, but also include other nationalities, as well as the native bom. Infor¬ mation might include the ship name, date of arrival, other family members, such as cousins or brothers-in-law, and maiden names, as well as occupa¬ tions. You may also note that the same "Personal" ad has been placed in other newspapers in the larger eastern cities in hope of locating a relative. Spelling - The ad-taker clerk listened to an Irish brogue and wrote down how he thought the names were spelled. Very often, the Irish immigrant could not read or write and the clerk was ignorant of Irish surnames and place names; thus you get Boil for Boyle, and Rardon for Reardon. Dailey is spelled Daly, Daily, Dealy, Dely and Dayley, so be sure when using the index to look for alternate spellings. Every Irish town and townland is in a larger jurisdiction, the Civil par¬ ish. Often the ad clerk made no distinction and every place name was called a parish. We have tried to help with correct spellings [the names are in brackets], as well as additional information, also in brackets, which might be of help to the family researcher. Addresses - Upon arrival, the immigrant often stopped at a hotel or boarding house, usually along the waterfront, thus you see "repeat" addresses. Many used agencies such as "The Only Incorporated Ameri¬ can Emigrants' Friend Office" as a home address. Street addresses from the early years cannot be used to locate the same addresses today, as the present street numbering system did not begin until 1857. Because of the erratic numbering, additional information was given to pinpoint a location, such as: "between Seventh and Eighth sts." or "3rd door from the corner of Sixth and Noble sts.." Some of the streets and alleys no longer exist, or their names have changed. The GSP has a book called "Philadelphia Street Name Changes" by Jefferson Moak, which will assist you. The Wants and Personals are interesting reading, as the new arrivals and those already here try to connect up with their friends and rel¬ atives. Perhaps you will make a "connection" too. Trudy Slaven  COLLECTIONS OF The Genealogical Society OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA  ORIGINS Some eighteen years ago, a group of volunteers of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania inaugurated a project of indexing all the names in the Death Notices, Marriage Notices and the Wants columns of the Philadelphia Public Ledger. This work was begun with the initial issue of the paper in 1836 and continued until the issue of 1875. This effort has resulted in the publication of eighteen volumes of indexed names. As the work proceeded into the 1850's, the effects of the Great Hunger in Ireland, the Potato Famine, began to be seen. Irish immigrants were marrying, and dying, and their newspapers notices began to show their places of origin in the Old Country. Also, immigrants began to advertise in the Wants and Personal columns upon their arrival in America to contact relatives who had come before them. The news¬ paper columns would show names, ages, places of origin, down to parish¬ es and townlands, as well as relationships between individuals. This information would be a windfall to genealogists. All those names and places! We created a matrix, a form in which genealogical information could be written. We called this new project "Origins". We expanded its base to include not only Ireland and foreign countries, but other areas of the United States. We began "Origins" in 1848 and concluded in 1875. We included persons whose origins or places of marriage or death were in other areas of the country and who were from Pennsylvania, New Jer¬ sey and Delaware. There were many more deaths in the 1861-1865 period because of Civil War casualities. The indexing of marriages and deaths, as well as "Origins" continued simultaneously until the newspaper books were no longer available. Everything in the books has been checked, but there is always a possi¬ When an Irishman who can't spell says "Ballaklee" to a newspaper clerk, how can the clerk know that he is saying "Dublin". bility of error. Robert E. 0 Connor  ORIGINS WANTS, INQUIRIES ETC., INFORMATION WANTED, AND PERSONALS All of the above newspaper column headings have been used in these "Origins". We started in 1848 (because of the Irish Famine) and con¬ tinued through 1875. The Wants column mainly was for employment op¬ portunities, everything from hat trimmers to iron moulders, but tucked into this column were ads beginning: Information Wanted Of. In Aug¬ ust of 1848 a new column heading began called "Inquiries etc." and it reappeared in April and June of 1849, even as the Wants column contin¬ ued. In August 1849 another heading was tried as "Information Wanted", but it wasn't until December 1852 that "Personals" began and would continue as the column for those seeking friends and relatives. These column headings usually appear on page 3 in the newspaper, but also can be found on pages 1, 2 and 4. To assist you, we have noted the page and column number below the publication date. The Wants and Personals have been extracted as they appear. Many are or Irish origin, but also include other nationalities, as well as the native bom. Infor¬ mation might include the ship name, date of arrival, other family members, such as cousins or brothers-in-law, and maiden names, as well as occupa¬ tions. You may also note that the same "Personal" ad has been placed in other newspapers in the larger eastern cities in hope of locating a relative. Spelling - The ad-taker clerk listened to an Irish brogue and wrote down how he thought the names were spelled. Very often, the Irish immigrant could not read or write and the clerk was ignorant of Irish surnames and place names; thus you get Boil for Boyle, and Rardon for Reardon. Dailey is spelled Daly, Daily, Dealy, Dely and Dayley, so be sure when using the index to look for alternate spellings. Every Irish town and townland is in a larger jurisdiction, the Civil par¬ ish. Often the ad clerk made no distinction and every place name was called a parish. We have tried to help with correct spellings [the names are in brackets], as well as additional information, also in brackets, which might be of help to the family researcher.  Addresses - Upon arrival, the immigrant often stopped at a hotel or boarding house, usually along the waterfront, thus you see "repeat" addresses. Many used agencies such as "The Only Incorporated Ameri¬ can Emigrants' Friend Office" as a home address. Street addresses from the early years cannot be used to locate the same addresses today, as the present street numbering system did not begin until 1857. Because of the erratic numbering, additional information was given to pinpoint a location, such as: "between Seventh and Eighth sts." or "3rd door from the corner of Sixth and Noble sts.." Some of the streets and alleys no longer exist, or their names have changed. The GSP has a book called "Philadelphia Street Name Changes" by Jefferson Moak, which will assist you. The Wants and Personals are interesting reading, as the new arrivals and those already here try to connect up with their friends and rel¬ atives. Perhaps you will make a "connection" too. Trudy Slaven