We depend upon records to reveal the “truth” about our pasts.
Yet sometimes records have anomalies.
Some are amusing or humorous.
Some are interesting or weird.
Some are peculiar or suspicious.
Some are infuriating, even downright laughable.
Yes, “Records Say the Darnedest Things.”
Records Say the Darnedest Things: An All American Family
Utah Crosen may not have started life spelling his name Utah. In 1880 his parents (or at least the census enumerator) spells it Eutaw.
Source: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC5Q-FJY : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Eutaw Crosen in household of Mortimore Crosen, Gainesborough, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing sheet 381D, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T9-1367. Image viewing restrictions may apply to this and subsequent images.
By at least 1900 he spells it Utah.
Source: "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMNS-383 : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Utah Crosen in household of Mortimer Crosen, Gainesboro District (Ashton & Dolan Precincts), Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing sheet 10A, family 186, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241709.
If your given name is Utah, obviously you find and marry someone named Rhode Island.
Source: "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRHN-66X : accessed 27 December 2013), Utah Crosen and Rhode Island Place, 11 November 1907; FHL microfilm 31,459.
And if you’re living in Virginia, then it’s only natural you name a daughter Virginia.
Source: "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MPPV-WCZ : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Utah Crosen, Gainesboro, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 95, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1,375,642.
At first glance it appears they give their oldest child a weird name: Esther. However, we learn from the census ten years later (1920) the oldest child is actually a son named Vermont. Silly enumerator. Utah, Rhodisland, Vermont, and Virginia have been joined by Minnesoda, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, and Montanna.
Source: "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJFJ-PBT : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Utah Crosen, Gainesboro, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 71, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1,821,890.
In the next ten years they add Montana, Kansas, and Tennessee to the union.
Source: "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/C673-3W2 : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Utch Crosen, Gainesboro, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0003, sheet 1B, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T626.
Ten years after that (1940), Minnesota and Maryland are still living at home with Utah and Rhodeisland. In the intervening years, Montana, Kansas, and Tennessee join the all American family.
Source: "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRY1-DDQ : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Utah Crosen, Gainesboro Magisterial District, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35-3, sheet 2B, family 30, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4,264.
It should be of no surprise that a family member serves his country in World War II. Montana enlists 30 June 1942. (Source: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8TM-6Y9 : accessed 27 Dec 2013), Montana Crosen, 30 Jun 1942; citing “Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946,” NARA ARC ID 1263923.)
Hats off to this all American, patriotic family and the darned records they leave behind.
Thanks, Barbara Algaze, for sharing.
so fun!
ReplyDeleteI love the things you post. This was ("All-American Family") especially delightful.
ReplyDeleteLove the names! I wonder how they named their children.
ReplyDeleteI have great grand mothers named America and Texana - they would have fit right in!
ReplyDeleteThat was just super funny. I laughed all the way through!
ReplyDeleteI have distant cousins named Asia, America, Europe and Africa Hamlin. When they ran out of continents, they went for more conventional names and a younger son was named Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice president.
ReplyDeleteI thought naming a son Georgia was a bit cruel.