Tomasa Gonzales and Philip Bouguignon in the 1860 Census

A woman who marries a soldier often finds herself physically separated from him for substantial periods of time. Tomasa Gonzales is no exception.

Nineteen year old Tomasa Gonzales, the wife of Philip Bourguignon, can be found in the 1860 U.S. Census at Fort Craig, 30 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico. She was living in household #310, as head of family #222. She was a laundress. She is listed with three children: Abram (5 years old), Celsa (4) and Amado Gonzales (4 months.) Interestingly enough, it does not appear that any of these children were her own. She had been married just 3 years prior, and seems too young to have had 4 and 5 year old children. Also, I find no other documentation of her having children by those names. She should have had a daughter Margarita Bourguignon by this time. Margarita would have been born around 1858 or 1859, according to the 1880 and 1885 censuses.

Tomasa's 26 year old sister, Maria Ynes Gonzales, is shown in the same household, as the head of family #223. Maria Ynes is a laundress also. She is listed with two children: Margarita 2 years old, and Nestor 11 years old. Is this Margarita actually Margarita Bourguignon?

1860 Census of Fort Craig, Territory of New Mexico, p. 28

Meanwhile, Tomasa's husband is enumerated in a different military fort. Sgt. Philip Bourguignon is listed with his fellow soldiers of the 1st Regiment of the Mounted Rifles at Ft. Union in San Miguel County.

The couple had been married for only three years. What would it have been like to be living apart so early in the marriage?

1860 Census of Fort Craig, Territory of New Mexico, p. 127

Sources:
1860 U.S. Census, Socorro County, New Mexico, population schedule, Fort Craig, p. 28, dwelling # 310, families # 222 & #233, Tomasa Gonzales & Maria Ynes Gonzales; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 October 2015).

1860 U.S. Census, San Miguel County, Territory of New Mexico, population schedule, Military Camp at Red River, Fort Union, p. 127, dwelling #1263, family # 1268, Phil. Bourginon; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 October 2015).

1880 U.S. Census, Socorro County, Territory of New Mexico, population schedule, Palomas, enumeration district (ED) 45, p. 63, dwelling # 44, family # 44, Donaciano Montoya; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 July 2015).

1885 U.S. Census, Sierra County, Territory of New Mexico, population schedule, Las Palomas, Precinct No. 4, enumeration district (ED) 30, p. 2, household # 17, family # 17, D. Montoya; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 July 2015).

Matrimonios: San Miguel del Socorro, 1 January 1854 - 31 December 1900; San Ignacio y San Cristobal, 1 March 1869 - 31 December 1900; San Marcial, 26 March 1883 - 31 December 1902; Our Lady of Sorrows of La Jolla, 1 January 1872 - 31 December 1900 (Alburquerque: Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico, 1999), p. 20.

Historical Photographs: WWII, Vietnam, Vietnam Memorial Wall

Footnote, a website that has a database of over 38,000,000 images from the National Archives and other sources, announced recently that it will permanently allow free access to its complete collection of photos from World War II and Vietnam. There are over 80,000 photos in this collection. Link.

The collection includes images from the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. These images are searchable by name, allowing for viewers to find individual soldiers' names on the wall.

Users of the site will be able to write captions and stories to accompany the photos, and may even upload additional pictures. This allows for people to create online memorials of loved ones who were killed during the conflict. In order to do this, you will have to sign up for membership to the site. Membership is free; however, free membership allows only limited access to the Footnote website. You will be encouraged to sign up for a paid membership to the site.

Jose Estanislas Miera - Husband of Teresa Zimmerly

Jose Estanislas Miera was my great, great uncle by marriage. He was married to Maria Teresa Zimmerly, the sister of my great grandfather Estevan Zimmerly.

On 12 September 1918, J.E. Miera filled out a World War I registration card. The card indicated that he was born on 8 August 1884. He was a clerk at the A.H. Hilton Mercantile Co. (A. H. Hilton was the father of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.) He listed his nearest relative as his wife, Terezita Z. Miera. He was of medium height and build, and he had brown eyes and black hair. He was not obviously disqualified for military service due to physical disabilities.

I found this document on the Ancestry.com website on 15 April 2008. Click on the picture above to get a better look at the registration card.

Why It's a Good Idea To Make Copies....

Remember that Zimmerly Pension File that I just got in the mail? Well, I almost lost it and I don't have a copy.

I went to the Special Collections Library yesterday, and I set down the file next to a microfilm reader I was using. I walked away and forgot it there. Luckily, someone picked it up and put it in the lost and found. I'm going to go pick it up today.

I spent $25 on the file, and if I had to re-order it I would have to wait another couple of weeks to get it. I intended to start working on an article today using the information I found on the file.

So next time I have an important file like that, I'm going to make copies before I leave the house.

Zimmerly Civil War Pension Records

Yesterday, I received in the mail Civil War pension records for my 2nd great grandfather Samuel Zimmerly and his widow Paula Zimmerly de Torres. What can be found in these documents:

* Samuel Zimmerly declared that he was an invalid due to rheumatism contacted while in the army. He claimed to have been exposed to "damp, wet weather."

* Samuel was working as a carpenter while living in Socorro, New Mexico.

* There are two documents that include Samuel's signature.

* A couple of the documents include Paula's mark (apparently she could not write.)

* Certain affadavits include statements and signatures by prominent Socorro residents such as Samuel Meek and Luis Maria Baca.

* One record includes a list of items and value of Paula's property.

* Handwritten copies of Samuel and Paula's marriage record, as well as the baptismal records of four of their children: Maria Dolores, Estavan, Tereza and Ricardo Maximiano.

* A letter from the Socorro County Assessor Ricardo Zimmerly to the Pension Department announcing his mother's death on 23 July 1917.

... and a bunch of other stuff.

There is no new information about Samuel's family. The copy of the marriage record once again states that he was Swiss, and that he was the son of Santiago Zimmerly and Maria Schus.

Luis Maria Baca declared that as far as he knew, Samuel was not married before he married Paula Torres. But then again, he only knew Samuel since 1864.

I hope to write an article about Samuel Zimmerly soon. I'll probably publish it in the New Mexico Genealogist. Maybe I'll give the readers of this blog a sneak peak.

More links about Samuel Zimmerly:

* Samuel Zimmerly and Paubla Torres

* Searching for My Zimmerly Cousins

* Civil War Roster

* Camp Lathan and the California Column

* Samuel Zimmerly Living in Visala, California?

* Zimmerly Questions

Genealogical Databases at the Rio Rancho Library

The Rio Rancho Library website has links to a number of databases that can be accessed online. Many of them, such as FamilySearch and Rootsweb, can already be accessed without using the library website; while Ancestry.com Library edition can only be be accessed by visiting the library and using their computers. However, there is one database that patrons can access for free through the library website. If you have a Rio Rancho Library card - or even a Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library card - you can get on to Heritage Quest Online for free.

Although Heritage Quest is not quite as good as Ancestry.com, it does have some good databases. For instance:

* U.S. Census records. You may search certain censuses: 1790 - 1820; 1860-1920; and part of 1930. You may browse any census from 1790-1930.

* Over 22,000 family and local history books.

* Abstracts for over 2,000,000 genealogy and local history articles (you have to pay a fee to get the actual articles.)

* Selected records from the Revolutionary War.

* Freedman's Bank records.

* U.S. Serials Set - memorials, petitions and private relief actions of the U.S. Congress.

Check it out!

1819 Muster Roll of Soldiers from Belen and Sabinal

One of my favorite resources is the book "Rio Abajo: Prehistory and History of a Rio Grande Province" edited by Michael P. Marshall and Henry J. Walt. The book is an archealogical and historical survey of the New Mexico communities south of Belen. Included among the histories are transcriptions of historical documents, such as a "Review of Militia, Mayoralty of Belen, November 4, 1819" (pages 263-264.) This muster lists 50 men, their ranks, and the weapons they carried.

Since this book is copyrighted, I am not going to list the men here. However, if you are interested in finding out who is on the list, send me an e-mail at abqbobcat@nmia.com.

If you ever get a chance, find this book in a library or purchase yourself a copy. Amazon.com has used copies starting at $180.52. I would try to find it elsewhere. I found a $30 copy at a used bookstore once.

1890 Census - Special Schedule - Philip Bourguignon

In 1890, the United States did a special schedule of Civil War era surviving soldiers and widows. My 2nd great grandfather Philip Bourguignon was listed on this schedule.

He was listed as a sargeant in the Company F of the 1st U.S. Cavalry. He enlisted on 4 December 1848 and was discharged on 11 September 1861. His residence at the time was Socorro, Socorro County, New Mexico. He had rhuematism and was pensioned.

Other soldiers and widows listed on this particular schedule are Presicilliana Melton, widow of Thomas Melton; Washington Wise; John Ryan; and James D. Mitten (?)

Click on the image below to get a larger view of the document.

This document was retrieved from Ancestry.com on 7 November 2007.

Samuel T. Zimmerly's World War I Draft Card

Below is a copy of Samuel T. Zimmerly's World War I draft card. Samuel T. Zimmerly was the son of Juan Jose Zimmerly and Isabel Torres. Samuel was married to Juanita Torres, the daughter of Candelario Torres and Gregoria Orinez.

The draft card display's the following information about Samuel Zimmerly:

* He was born on 21 January 1889 in Socorro, New Mexico, USA
* He was a natural born citizen
* He was a self-employed farmer
* His dependants included his wife, child and brother
* He believed that he should be exempted from the draft because of his dependants
* He was of medium height, slender build, had brown eyes and hair, was not balding, and was missing any appendages
* He signed his card

Click on the image below to get a larger view:

I retrieved this document on 23 April 2007 from Ancestry.com.

See also Ricardo Zimmerly's and Estevan Zimmerly's draft cards.

Ricardo Zimmerly's World War I Draft Registration Card

Here is a Ricardo Maximiano Zimmerly's World War I Draft Registration Card. The card states that he was born on 6 May 1878. He was the assessor for the county of Socorro, New Mexico. He was married to Lizzie Stackpole Zimmerly.He was tall, slender and had brown hair and brown eyes. The card was completed on 12 September 1918. Click on the image below for a larger view:

Ricardo was my great-grandfather Estavan Zimmerly's brother. I found this document on Ancestry.com on 6 October 2007.

See also Samuel T. Zimmerly's and Estevan Zimmerly's draft cards.

Genealogy Databases

While surfing the web today, I found a page on the RootsWeb site that has searchable User-Contributed Databases. These databases include military records, census records, and even yearbooks.


There are databases for many countries and apparently all 50 states. Below are links to the New Mexico databases:


NM: Curry Co: Clovis, New Mexico Class of 1928 - Alumni Lists
NM: Dona Ana Co: 1844 Census - Dona Ana Bend Colony (Includes Las Cruces, Dona Ana, Tortugas, NM) - Census
NM: Dona Ana Co: Desert View Cemetery; Chaparral - Cemetery Records
NM: Lea Co: Antioch Church Cemetery - Cemetery Records
NM: Quay Co: WWII Soldiers from Roosevelt, NM - Military Records
NM: Roosevelt Co: 1914 Yearbook, Portales HS, Portales, NM - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Eastern New Mexico College - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Eastern New Mexico College - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Eastern New Mexico College Yearbook 1944 Freshman Class - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Eastern New Mexico College Yearbook-Sophmores 1944 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, NM) Greyhounds 2003 Football Roster - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: El Portal 1953, Portales New Mexico High School - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Lamb O Rama 1959, Portales Jr High School, Roosevelt County, New Mexico - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Military Discharge Index, Roosevelt County, NM - Military Records
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales High School, Portales NM, Class of 1929 50th reunion - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1915 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1920 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1923 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1924 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1925 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1926 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1927 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Portales, NM High School 1928 - Alumni Lists
NM: Roosevelt Co: Roosevelt County, NM, Marriage Records, April 1903 through January 2002 - Marriage Records
NM: San Miguel Co: Highlands University yearbook 1967 - Alumni Lists


Check this site often as databases are added frequently.

Who is Justin(e) Zimmerly? World War II serviceman.

I found a World War II Army Enlistment record for Justine Zimmerly on Ancestry.com today.

The record shows that he was born in 1922 in Bernalillo (city or county), New Mexico. He enlisted on 2 September 1942 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He had four years of high school education. He was single, with dependents. He was 5'8", 152 pounds. His civilian occupation was either a crane operator, power shovel operator, or hoist operator. He enlisted as a private for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months.

If you know who this man is, please post on this site.

Ignacio Torres' World War I draft card

Ignacio Torres was my paternal grandmother's father. His draft card shows that he was born on 25 October 1875. He was a white man born in the United States. He was a laborer who worked for Ed Dodd in Socorro, NM. His wife was Mrs. Andrea Montoya Torres, and they both lived in Socorro, NM. He was a tall man of medium build who had black hair and black eyes. He completed his registraton on 12 September 1918.


Ignacio Torres' World War I draft card

I found this World War I Draft Registration card on Ancestry.com on 26 May 2007.

Rafael Baca's World War I draft card

According to his 12 September 1918 draft card Rafael P. Baca, a native born white man, was born on 8 February 1878. He was a self employed farmer. His was was Josefita P. Baca. They both lived in Socorro, NM. He was of medium height and build. He had brown eyes and hair. It appears that his brother Maximiano P. Baca was the registrar for this document.

I searched for draft cards for Rafael's brothers, including Maximiano, but not find any.

Rafael Baca was my great-grandfather, the father of my maternal grandfather.


Rafael Baca's World War I draft card
This record was found on Ancestry.com on 26 May 2007.

The Zimmerly family registers for the World War I draft

Of the three sons of Samuel and Paubla (Torres) Zimmerly, two of them registered for the World War I draft - Ricardo and Estevan Zimmerly. A son of the oldest brother, Juan Jose Zimmerly, also registered - Sam Zimmerly.

From these records, I've gleened the following information:

Ricardo Maximiano Zimmerly, born 6 May 1878, was the Socorro County Assessor on September 12, 1918. He was White and born in the United States. He lived in Socorro, New Mexico. His wife was Lizzie Stackpole Zimmerly. He was of a tall and slender build. He had no physical impairments.

Ricardo's brother Stephen Zimmerly (my great-grandfather) was born on 3 October 1887 in Socorro, N.M. USA where he also resided. On 5 June 1917 he was a deputy assessor under his brother Ricardo. He had a wife and 4 childrren at this time. He did not claim an exemption from the draft. He was a caucasion of medium height and slender built. He had brown eyes and hair, and was not bald. He had no physical disability. He signed his draft card under his spanish name Estevan Zimmerly.

Ricardo and Stephen's nephew Sam Zimmerly was born on 21 January 1889 in Socoro, New Mex. USA. He lived in this same town. He was a self-employed farmer. His dependants included his wife, child and brothers. He claimed an exemption because of his dependants. He was cacausion of medium height and slender build. He had brown eyes and hair and was not bald. He was not disabled. He signed his draft card on 5 June 1917.

As far as I know, none of these men actually served during the war.



Stephen (Estevan) Zimmerly's World War I draft card

These records were found on Ancestry.com on 26 May 2007.

See also Ricardo Zimmerly's and Samuel T. Zimmerly's draft cards.

Military records are free on-line until D-Day

Military records are free on Ancestry.com until June 6, 2007, the anniversary of D-Day. I am taking the opportunity to search for records - you should, too.

I've already found a number of World War I draft cards on my ancestors and other relatives. I'll post their information on this blog later.

One of the things that I found interesting on the site are actual World War II newsreels. I plan to use them when I teach school next semester - if I get a job by then. By the way, I finally got my BA in Education! Woo Hoo! I'm applying at schools here in Albuquerque, NM and the surrounding communities. Please post on this site if you have any leads for a middle school or high school social studies teacher position. Thanks.

Samuel Zimmerly - California Civil War Roster

My 2nd great grandfather Samuel Zimmerly was a member of the "California Column", which were a group of Union regiments that came to New Mexico during the Civil War. On this site he is listed as a member of Company B of the California 1st Regiment of the Infantry. According to this document, he was a corporal who enrolled at Camp Latham, California on October 13, 1861. He mustered out at Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 3, 1864 after completing his term of service.

Here you may find a short history of his regiment.

All of this information may be found in the book "Records of California Men in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1867" by Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Orton which was published in 1890. A complete transcription of the book is on the web at the California Civil War Rosters Transcription Project.

Abner Hanks - American Revolutionary War soldier

My wife's paternal grandmother was a woman by the name of Ethel Marie (Hanks) Douglas. According to "The Hanks Family of Viriginia and Westward", Ethel's great-grandfather was a man by the name of Abner Hanks, who was married to an Elizabeth Goodwin (she was one of his wives, as he apparently was married 6 times.) Today, I searched RootsWeb and found a genealogy for Abner Hanks on the McCord Family Online database. The author of the database quotes from a National Archives record indicating that Abner Hanks was a soldier drafted in the American army in April 1780. You may read a transcription of that document by going to the following link.

Reference:

Barber, Adin,The Hanks Family of Virginia and Westward. (Kansas, Illinois: The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1965.)

Ralph Douglas' World War I Draft Registration Card

Form 1 1395 REGISTRATION CARD No. 23

1. Name in full: Ralph Douglas Age: 26
2. Home Address: Hindsboro, Ill
3. Date of birth: may 18 1891
4. Are you (1) a natural-born citizen, (2) a naturalized citizen, (3) an alien, (4) or have you declared your intentions (specify which)? Natural
5. Where were you born? Hindsboro Ill U.S.A.
6. If not a citizen, of what country are you a citizen or subject? [Blank]
7. What is your present trade, occupation or office? Mechanic
8. By whom employed? Mossman & Moss (?)
Where employed? Hindsboro Ill
9. Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother, solely dependant on you for support (specify which)? Wife
10. Married or single (which)? Married Race (specify which)? Caucasion
11. What military service have you had? Rank [Blank]; branch [Blank]; years: None; Nation or State [BLANK]
12. Do you claim exemption from draft (specify ground)? No

I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.

Ralph Douglas
(signature or mark)

12-8-9-A
REGISTRAR'S REPORT
1. Tall, medium, or short (specify which)? Medium; Slender, medium, or stout? Medium
2. Color of eyes? Blue; Color of hair? D. Brown; Bald? No
3. Has person lost arm, hand, feet, or both eyes, or is he otherwise disabled (specify)? No

I certify that my answer are true, that the person registered has read his own answers, that I have witnessed his signature, and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows: [Blank]

John P. R(illegible)

Precinct 1
City of County: Douglas
State: Ill Date of registration: 6-5-1917

Source: Ancestry.com World War I Draft Registration Cards