RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2007
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
Although genealogy and history are intertwined, family researchers often ignore looking for useful information about their ancestors in historical journals and quarterlies, especially those published years ago. Often the information may have also been printed in a genealogical quarterly or in a book, but sometimes it has not. Even if the material appeared in a later work, some genealogists may have easier library access to the earlier publication. In addition, the original records sometimes may have been lost since the material was published, making the reproduction of the data in earlier journals even more important and useful.
For instance, an article in a historical journal that may be helpful in genealogical research is "Confederate Government in Dona Ana County as Shown in the Records of the Probate Court, 1861-62" by Charles S. Walker, Jr. It is in the July 1931 (Vol. VI, No. 3) issue of the New Mexico Historical Review. The article provides information on court cases such as the proving of wills, settling of accounts, and proclaiming of orders for road and bridge repairs. Case number 32 on page 269, for instance, concerns Thomas J. MARTIN (sic) vs. John E. DUSENBERRY, Garnishee. On 16 May 1861, a bond and affidavit was filed and writ issued. A subpoena for Thos. J. Bull (sic) was continued to the November term of court.
Since genealogists need to know the history of their ancestors' ethnicity, the countries where they resided, and the times during which they lived, historical publications also offer clues for further family research in the footnotes, end notes, or bibliographies of sources provided in their articles. In addition, historical periodicals may contain data that touch upon subjects not yet discussed in genealogical publications.
An example is "El destierro de los Chinos": Popular Perspectives on Chinese-Mexican Intermarriage in the Early Twentieth Century" by Robert Chao Romero. This fascinating piece appears in Aztlan: A Journal of Chicano Studies, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Spring 2007), pages 113 - 144. Romero points out that most Mexican cultural studies have ignored the contributions of Africans, Arabs, and Asians to society and identity. While some researchers are uncovering African contributions, Romero concentrates on unearthing Chinese contributions.
Thousands of Chinese immigrated to the Latin country in the early 1900s. Romero focuses his article on intermarriage (usually Chinese men and Mexican women) in the twentieth century, both in Mexico and the southwestern United States. His case study concerns Chinese immigrant Pablo CHEE, who married Adelina PALOMEGUS in 1909 in Chiapas, and includes a photograph of the family. Besides supplying a brief, interesting background of the Chinese in nineteenth and twentieth century Mexico, Romero provides valuable insight into how popular Mexican culture viewed interracial couples and their offspring and its affect on them. Knowledge of these perspectives will help genealogists to understand issues such as their racial classification on Mexican and U. S. census records. Anyone tracing Chinese-Mexican ancestors will want to read Romero's unique article.
Charles N. Ferguson, 811 South Market, Shawnee, OK 74801 is seeking information about Minnie MILLS, who married Martin Luther FURGUSON about 1909 or 1910 in Madison or Robertson County, TX. They had one son, Henry Clifton FURGUSON, born in 1911 in Texas. After Clifton's birth, Minnie divorced Martin. She remarried and had several children. Who did she marry? When Clifton FURGUSON died about 1967 in Texas, Minnie came to the funeral. The 1900 census of Gonzales Co., TX, lists a Minnie MILLS, age 9 years old. Is this the same person?