In Search of Jerome: A Tale of Pennsylvania Research Frustration

With 12 hours in the famed Family History Library, could I turn up enough clues to find out what happened to my fourth great-grandfather Jerome Andrus?

Jerome had disappeared from the paper trail after the death of his maybe wife (I don't even know whether they married).

Surely the Family Sleuther could sleuth out an old man from the latter 19th century.

Spring has sprung at the Family History Library

The Pennsylvania Conundrum

Jerome Andrus was the father to my third great-grandmother Mary Jane Andrus. The identity of Mary Jane's mother - and Jerome's presumed wife - remains a mystery.

Mary Jane (Andrus) Bair

Mary Jane was born in December 1862 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Her death certificate identified her father as Jerome Andrus, but the mother was "unknown." Mary Jane's 1945 obituary explained that her mother died when she was only three weeks old. For whatever reason, Jerome did not raise his daughter and Mary Jane was left to "kindly relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Beardsley, who adopted her as their own on January 3, 1863." See An Unknown Matriarch Cloaked in Mystery.

According to a July 1863 Civil War draft registration record for Bradford County, Pennsylvania, Jerome Andrus was married.

Bradford County, Pennsylvania Civil War Draft Registration - July 1863

If the record was correct, Jerome Andrus had already remarried just eight months after the mother of his daughter Mary Jane had passed away.

As I searched for more information, I quickly learned about the misery joys of Pennsylvania research.

For example, I tried to find marriage records for Jerome, but repeatedly came up empty-handed. The FamilySearch Wiki explained that, "Pennsylvania counties recorded few civil marriage records before 1885."

Pennsylvania did a poor job of keeping civil records.

I was also surprised to discover that court records - that could detail Mary Jane's adoption by the Beardsley family - were not microfilmed nor digitized by FamilySearch and were only available in the Pennsylvania State Archives. Furthermore, there were no tax records that could help me locate and follow Jerome.

FamilySearch index for Bradford County, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania does a poor job of broadly sharing existing records with researchers.

As the desperation mounted, I pulled nearly every book from the shelf on Bradford County. I soon realized that Jerome had once again won the day: his whereabouts would remain a mystery, for now.

The investigation would have to wait until I could make it to the state archives in Pennsylvania.

Books on Bradford County, Pennsylvania

The day wasn't an entirely unsuccessful, though.

While conducting research in the Family History Library, I ran into True Lewis, a genealogy buddy who I've followed with admiration online, and author of family history blog, My True Roots.

RootsTech 2019: Daily Recap

Saturday, March 2, 2019:

It's early evening and the snow has started falling in Salt Lake City. I'm nice and toasty in the Family History Library (seriously, what's the thermostat set on?!), and reflecting on the final day of RootsTech. 

I attended four sessions today:

• Tracing British Ancestors Through the Ages with Else Churchill, Myko Clelland, and Audrey Collins. Else started with an admonition for the audience: "We're British and speak fast, so keep up!" The presenters whisked us through British history spanning the 17th century (pre-Civil War) to the Victorian era and into the 20th century. A bevy of records were splashed on the screen for our research consideration. There was a slew of great research tips, too, including Else emphasizing that, "You've got to be open to variance in name spelling. I think I went from Churchyard to Churchill." Myko advised to be prepared to give leeway in your ancestors' ages in Victorian era census records. The ages were often rounded down. For example, even Queen Victoria was enumerated younger than she actually was.

Audrey Collins, Myko Clelland, and Else Churchill (at podium)

• Writing and Publishing a Family History: 10 Steps with Penelope Stratton. I've been writing about my fifth great-grandfather for months. This session was fantastic and provided to-the-point tips to make the writing process smooth while tailoring, to the extent possible, the content to appeal to my audience (let's just say my genealogical tome is likely to appeal to a very niche readership!). Penelope implored the audience to action: "No one knows your family history like you do. I urge you to get it into print. It's the best way to ensure you're leaving a legacy. Get something tangible." I was sold! Penelope, who's affiliated with the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has published a book on the topic: Guide to Genealogical Writing. She warned there were only a few copies left at the NEHGS booth in the Expo Hall. After the presentation, I briefly discussed my project with her and then hoofed it over to the expo hall just in time to watch the last copy being purchased. A pox on that shopper's family history! I joke, I joke.

• Connecting Your DNA Matches with Diahan Southard. I can't get enough DNA coursework because of the potential it holds for helping me advance my Kirk family research (my passion project). Diahan's session focused on the importance of genetic networks to help answer specific research questions. I track my genetic networks using Excel spreadsheets of my own design. I was curious to learn about new tools that automate much of the work, including GeneticAffairs.com and DNAgedcom.com. Clearly, I have homework for after I fly home tonight in the hotel. 

• It's Called FAMILY History: Top Tips for Collaborating With Living Family Members with Crista Cowan and her father Stephen Cowan. Crista, who works for Ancestry.com, and her father have set a weekly phone date to work through their most recent DNA matches. Why have they conducted this collaboration for more than two years? Simply put, two heads are better than one. It was a touching and funny presentation. Crista joked: "I read obituaries every Sunday night to my dad like they're bedtime stories." There was a particularly funny exchange that happened, which I shared on Twitter:

And that's a wrap! 

During four wonderfully-exhausting days, I attended twenty-three different sessions (very nearly an entire 24 hours of genealogical learning and entertainment). I got to learn from experts in the field who I've seen on TV, listened to on podcasts, and read their published works. 

I met dozens of family historians - some I've known for years on social media but am only now getting to put Twitter handles with faces. I connected with my genealogy community.

@tillies_tales

@JordanClanGen

@ancestryadrienne

Indeed, Connect and Belong. 

P.S. 

As I was writing this post, I was approached by a gentleman who asked if I was Family Sleuther. FamilySearch's Family Tree app includes a Relatives at RootsTech feature that identifies potential cousin matches based on the shared pedigree. We were a match.

Allow me to introduce you to @researchfamtree, my potential 9th cousin!

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Friday, March 1, 2019:

Day three of RootsTech. You know the protocol: in my seat for sessions beginning at 8:00 am and buckled in for a day of back-to-back learning. Today's lineup included:

• Writing Powerful Family History Stories with Valerie Elkins, Rhonda Lauritzen, and Rachel Trotter. In the thick of writing my own book about my fifth great-grandfather, I was keen for tips that would liven up the material (to the extent that's possible). I loved Valerie's recommendation to choose your most cherished, most-told stories because you know them so well, and they make for an easy place to start. Another good point was the recommendation to focus on your story's theme. The advice: focus on your protagonist's change. "Every great story is about transformation."

• Video Magic: Creating Brilliant Videos Quick and Easily with Lisa Louise Cooke. I've recently started producing short films for a Facebook family group that I administer. The response from group members has been rousing. Lisa is a fantastic presenter, and knows how to pull at her audience's heartstrings. Her advice: make the story personal. Why? Fred (Mr.) Rogers put it best, "There isn't anyone you couldn't learn to love once you've heard their story." Stories that are personalized make for compelling viewing.

Lisa Louise Cooke

• Chromosome Mapping Tips and Techniques with Blaine Bettinger. I aspire to make greater use of third-party tools that afford me expanded ability to interpret my genetic data. Blaine's session was a breezy walk-through the capabilities of DNA Painter. The program maps DNA that you've pinpointed to a particular ancestor on a graphic illustration of your chromosomes. I look forward to giving this a whirl. I wonder which snippets of my chromosomes can be attributed to Thomas Kirk (my 5th great-grandfather)?

• General Session with Saroo Brierley, who was separated from his family at five years old, shared his remarkable journey from his adoptive Australian family to his home in India. The incredible saga was recently told in the film Lion.

Saroo Brierley

• I split my afternoon between two sessions, which were competing interests. First up was David Allen Lambert presenting on Colonial New England Research and Resources. There's fantastic record-keeping in the region and many detailed genealogies (some even dating back centuries). But, David cautions, "Question older genealogies" so you don't perpetuate a mistake that was made 100 years ago. I slipped out to catch the tail end of How to Start a Family History Blog and Why You Might Want To with Laura Hedgecock and Elizabeth O'Neal. A highlight for me was meeting Linda, the blogger behind Empty Branches on the Family Tree. I've followed her work for years, so it was good to finally put a face with the blog.

• My academic schedule for the day wrapped up with D. Joshua Taylor presenting Land Records: 15 Steps to Move Beyond the Index. Followers of this blog know that I've been toiling with trying to pinpoint the location of a 100-acre tract of land that my maybe sixth great-grandfather Joseph Kirk leased beginning in 1773. I'm eager to apply some of his tips to this lease and see what additional clues I can wring from the record.

At day's end, I joined the crowds back in the expo hall, checking out what the many exhibitors had on offer.

I also met Jenna, aka Seeking Surnames, who won my RootsTech free pass giveaway. I've known Jenna for several years through #Genchat, an online Twitter conversation. I've said this so much this week, but it really was a pleasure to finally meet in person.

Family Sleuther and Seeking Surnames

I also met Nathan Dylan Goodwin, another social media buddy and author of the Forensic Genealogist, a series of genealogical crime mysteries. I picked up the first book in the series, Hiding the Past, which I look forward to reading.

Family Sleuther with Nathan Dylan Goodwin

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Thursday, February 28, 2019:

Bright and early this morning, I made a beeline for the convention center. By 8:00 am I was in for another succession of fantastic RootsTech sessions, including:

• The Ultimate Guide to Tracing British Isles Roots with Jen Baldwin, Myko Clelland, and Brian Donovan. A key takeaway for my Irish research (those pesky Quirks/Kirks) was learning from Brian that Irish Protestants migrated in proportionally higher numbers because they more often spoke English, and they often migrated to Canada because it was government subsidized. I also learned that Irish Quaker records are quite robust, survive largely intact, and date to 1660. Many Irish Quakers migrated to America. I'm not sure whether my Irish ancestors were Quakers, but worth investigating.

Myko Clelland, Brian Donovan, and Jen Baldwin

• Adding Shared Matches and Genetic Networks to Your Research with Blaine Bettinger. Blaine's overview of DNA cluster research is very applicable to the research I've done to support my theory that my 5th great-grandfather Thomas Kirk had a sister, Mary (Kirk) Geiger (see: Were They Brother and Sister? Verifying an 18th Century Relationship with Autosomal DNA).

• General Session with Ancestry.com CEO Margo Georgiadis and featuring Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond. Margo announced a slate of new tools that Ancestry unveiled today, including a new approach for tagging family trees and a DNA tool (ThruLines) to help suss out shared family connections. That latter tool will be especially helpful given that the AncestryDNA database is about to hit 15 million. 

Margo Georgiadis, Ancestry.com CEO

Patricia Heaton extolled the virtues of family - no less true for a Hollywood actress - and that, at our core, we all share more in common than not: "We need to remind ourselves that despite our differences, we're all one family."

Patricia Heaton

• What You Don't Know About Ancestry with Crista Cowan. Crista picked up where Ancestry's CEO left off in the plenary, and provided a precursory preview of each of the new features unveiled today. I'm quite antsy to begin tinkering with them, and see how they enhance my own family history research.  

Crista Cowan

• Go Behind-the-Scenes of Long Lost Family with Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs. I love this show, and was very glad to see the hosts on the agenda. If you haven't yet, watch this series, which seeks to reunite adoptees with their biological family. Although the emphasis isn't necessarily on the genealogical research conducted to connect lost family, the human stories are incredibly compelling television.

Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs (center)

• Ask the Experts with Kenyatta Berry, Angie Bush, and D. Joshua Taylor. The concept for this session was great. Get three expert genealogists on one stage and have the audience pepper them with questions. Even better, the session encouraged users to submit questions via Slido, an online event question aggregator. I was able to get a few questions in, including whether recent popular media stories on DNA (some sensationalized and others with merit) will negatively impact sales and folks' willingness to test (yes, already happening, says Angie). I also asked about the prospects for PBS' Genealogy Roadshow returning for another season. Kenyatta and Josh said that was possible; the show was not canceled just on hiatus. And, lastly, what innovations are on the horizon for genealogy? Kenyatta flagged greater records access, particularly for materials held by academic archives. Josh anticipated technology that would further bridge the divide between DNA and paper trail.

Kenyatta Berry, D. Joshua Taylor, and Angie Bush

Other highlights of the day included wandering through the expo hall, which boasts an array of family history vendors. 

I listened to Lisa Louise Cooke record a Genealogy Gems podcast. Then, a few booths later, I got to share my adoration face-to-face with Brooke, the wonderfully witty mover and shaker behind Reclaim the Records, a nonprofit organization using government open records laws to make genealogically-relevant records publicly available. Financial supporters of the organization received t-shirts, too. Please and thank you!

It was also selfie day at RootsTech. There was no shortage of snapshots with genealogists I admire and engage with on Twitter.

@ancestryjourney

@GenealogyJen

@ShamrockGen

@CarolinaGirlGen

@ShamrockGen, @FamilySleuther, @GenealogyJen, and @Pressingback
Photo courtesy of @ShamrockGen, used by permission

---

Wednesday, February 27, 2019:

It's been a looong yet fantastic first day of RootsTech 2019!

By my tally, I logged over six hours with some of genealogy's most high profile names:

• Me and My 1,000+ DNA 4th Cousins with Diahan Southard. After a breezy introduction to genetic genealogy and an overview of autosomal's limitations due to recombination, Diahan walked attendees through her protips to help determine which of your many DNA matches (should you be so lucky to have hundreds, like I do) to focus your valuable research effort and time on. Key takeaway: DNA is a fantastic revolutionary tool that can point you in the right direction, but you will always have to couple it with traditional genealogy to prove a relationship. I'm eager to apply Diahan's strategies, and see if I can make some progress and tame my genetic horde.

Diahan Southard posing for Australian genealogist Jill Ball

• Tools for Your Genealogy Business with Amy Johnson Crow. Amy offered pointers on how to avoid the social media black hole and make the most of promoting a genealogy business or blog through thoughtful and data-informed social media techniques. I was particularly glad for the chance to see Amy present because she was a key figure who inspired this blog - nearly six years ago! - with her 52 Ancestors blogging prompts.

The author with Amy Johnson Crow

• Everyone Has a Story, Even You! with Blaine Bettinger, Angie Bush, and Diahan Southard. This genetic genealogy trio walked two normal people (i.e., not celebrities) through their ancestry - essentially a real-time Who Do You Think You Are? The case studies reinforced the premise that Diahan introduced earlier in the morning that DNA cannot be divorced from the paper trail. A complete family history story requires both.

Southard, Bush, and Bettinger

Fantastic connecting with genealogy friends from social media like @sosonkyrie

• Italian Genealogical Records and Strategies for Success with Mary Tedesco. Mary is familiar to many because of her work on PBS's Genealogy Roadshow. With a compelling passion for Italy, she warmed the crowd up with a round robin of the Italian hometowns of audience members' ancestors. I've enjoyed my Italian genealogy because the civil records made for a methodical research process. One record led to the next, and I quickly bounded back each preceding generation. I'm now at a point where I'm ready to tip my toe in Catholic Church records, but have found the access issue particularly daunting. Mary underscored the potential value of the church's records thanks in huge part to the Council of Trent, which standardized the creation of ecclesiastical records in 1563. The prospect of being able to take my genealogy back anywhere near that year is quite exciting.

• Use an Ancestor's FAN Club to Get Past Brick Walls with Drew Smith. A longtime fan of the Genealogy Guys podcast, I'm always game to listen to Drew or George Morgan. Drew shared examples from his own research to illustrate the value of the FAN Club principle: researching your ancestors' Family/Friends, Acquaintances, and Neighbors to suss out forgotten relationships that may point to clues needed to help roadblocked researchers puzzle out the truth behind those relatives who were seemingly dropped off at random by aliens (the only conceivable explanation for their sudden appearance or disappearance from the records).

• General Session with Steve Rockwood. FamilySearch's CEO, Steve Rockwood, welcomed the crowd and reminded everyone that "Family history is not a spectator sport" and nothing happens unless you act on it. FamilySearch announced that it was making a generous $2 million donation to the new International African American Museum's Center for Family History in Charleston, South Carolina. The museum is under construction on the site of a wharf that saw the largest number of enslaved Africans brought to America and sold into slavery. Its president, Michael B. Moore, is a descendant of Robert Smalls who "bet everything he had on everything he dreamed of" and sought freedom in the north at the outset of the Civil War. He eventually served in the Union Army, persuaded President Lincoln to enlist African Americans in the armed services, and even served in Congress until the encroachment of Jim Crow. There's a lot of potential with this new center to deepen the understanding of the ancestral origins for many African Americans. Martin Luther King III joined the chorus of voices on stage to cheer the investment, as he underscored that, "knowing who and where we come from and how we're connected creates a more powerful present and hopeful future."

Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO

Martin Luther King III

I attend many large conferences for my day job, and I can confidently say that the RootsTech team has pulled off an exceedingly polished endeavor. 

There were no lines to get into any of the sessions. Presentations were in large rooms with plenty of seats to accommodate attendees. And the conference app has made quick work of accessing session handouts, rating sessions, and catching last-minute conference updates. I applaud their efforts, which have created a polished learning/networking environment focused on connecting and belonging. And we're only just beginning.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2019:

First full day in Salt Lake City is now under my belt, and what a busy day it was.

Bright and early, I joined the chorus of genealogists cheering the Family History Library to open its doors. When the locks finally clicked, we mobbed made our way inside and each headed off for own merry rounds of research.

I dove headfirst into my never-ending, never-yielding Kirk family mysteries (stay tuned for that post next week). Nothing puts you in genealogy purgatory faster than trawling through 18th century (West) Virginia land deeds for hours. Nothing.

At lunch, I made my way to the Salt Palace Convention Center to pick up my RootsTech 2019 conference materials. It was an incredibly smooth process: in and out in a matter of minutes. No uncertainty about where I needed to go. No lines. No hassle. Well done!

After registration and a quick bite to eat, it was back to the library and more research before this evening's RootsTech Media Dinner (as a reminder, I'm serving as a conference Ambassador).

This year, the conference anticipates nearly 14,000 attendees from all 50 US states and 37 different countries. That's a lot of folks to connect with and geek out over our shared passion. Quite fitting when you consider the conference's theme is: Connect. Belong.

Bottom line: this year's event promises a dynamic experience for attendees: high profile keynote speakers, hundreds of classes, tech offerings (check out FamilySearch's Family Tree app and the Family History Activities option to tinker with the gamification of genealogy - which of your ancestors do you most closely resemble?). 

Stay tuned. The updates continue...

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Monday, February 25, 2019:

I'm here! Family Sleuther is finally - after a flight delay - in Salt Lake City and ready to kick-off RootsTech 2019. Follow this space in the coming days to catch-up on all of the family history conference excitement as seen through my eyes.

Today's highlights include:

• Escaping winter weather to successfully fly across country, and having my checked bag arrive, too. Celebrate every victory!

Today's lowlight includes:

• Discovering that my airplane window seat - for which I paid extra - provided a rather opaque view of the world around me. A five hour jaunt across the country felt like I was in a windowless room. Oh, because I was!

Tomorrow we get down to the business of family history! Check back to see what RootsTech has in store for us. 

RootsTech: A Survival Guide to the Family History Event of the Year

RootsTech, the genealogy event of the year, is just around the corner.

Last year, the conference drew more than 17,000 attendees from every US state and nearly 50 countries. Of course, we live in a digital age, which made the event accessible to more than 100,000 people worldwide through live-streamed content.

This year promises to be just as successful!

Beginning next week, thousands of avid family historians will descend on Salt Lake City - the genealogy capital of the world - to learn and grow their research skills while building networks with colleagues who share their passion. As a RootsTech Ambassador, I will be among them and sharing my experience with you.

By the numbers, the event has much to offer:

• Over 300 breakout sessions
• Nearly 200 exhibitors 

Keynote speaker highlights include:

• Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
• Saroo Brierley (author of Long Way Home, his acclaimed autobiography recounting his cross-continent search for his family. The story was recently adapted for the screen in the film Lion.)

Reflecting on lessons learned from last year, this year's event promises to offer a more customer-friendly experience with lots of exciting new offerings. Check out this Road to RootsTech video clip highlighting some of the best practices that will make the event a more enjoyable learning experience.

If you're attending RootsTech, be sure to review the Survival Guide, so you're able to make the most of your conference experience.

Not able to travel to Salt Lake City? No problem! You can still participate in RootsTech.

• Many sessions will be streamed live for free. 
• The new Virtual Pass provides access to 18 recorded sessions and can be viewed on demand for 12 months after the videos post. 

It promises to be a very busy week with lots on offer. Stay tuned to Family Sleuther for updates throughout the week!

Coming of Age in Virginia's 18th Century Tax Records

Benjamin Franklin was right. There are only two certainties in life: death and taxes.

After spending hours at the Family History Library slogging through Virginia’s sparse 18th century paper trail, I’m mighty thankful for the taxman.

Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

In 1783, that man was James McCalister. He was responsible for assessing personal property tax liability for residents living in his designated district within Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Among the men enumerated by McCalister in 1783 were Joseph Kirk and his brother John. The brothers had lived in the area for the past ten years when Joseph leased 100 acres in April 1773 from the Honorable George William Fairfax, proprietor of thousands of acres in Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Joseph Kirk has been a person of interest for much of this year. Like a breadcrumb trail of clues, family lore, DNA, and the paper trail have led me to his Virginia doorstep to investigate the possibility that he was the father of my fifth great-grandfather Thomas Kirk. The following post will catch you up on the investigation to-date:

• A Genealogy Cold Case Heats Up

This weekend's tireless hours of research holed up in the world's preeminent genealogy library may have resulted in an opaque jackpot discovery. 

As the dust settled from my research frenzy, I found myself wondering whether I had surfaced circumstantial evidence for Thomas Kirk coming of age in the household of Joseph Kirk's widow.

A Farmer’s Socioeconomic Status and Disappearance

Berkeley County's tax records hinted at the socioeconomic status of Joseph Kirk and his brother John.

For example, both brothers appeared in Berkeley County’s 1782 personal property tax list that tallied men of voting age as well as the number of slaves owned. Joseph and John were enumerated separately – suggesting that they lived in separate homes. They were each the only voting male in their household, meaning no sons of voting age. Neither man owned slaves.

Beginning in 1783, a decade after Joseph signed the land lease with Fairfax, the digitized personal property tax records pointed to his modest means. In that year, he owned 3 horses and 4 cattle for which he was assessed a 17-cent tax. His brother John owned 2 horses and 1 cow and was assessed a 14.3-cent tax.

Joseph and John Kirk in 1783 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia
Personal Property Tax List

The brothers’ ownership was unchanged in 1784. Joseph paid another 17-cent tax for 3 horses and 4 cattle, and John paid his 14.3-cent tax for 2 horses and 1 cow.

Oddly, neither Kirk brother was enumerated in the 1785 personal property tax list. I believe something grim had happened due to three factors:

1. Joseph’s absence in the personal property tax records beginning in 1785.
2. Joseph’s failure to seek remuneration in 1783 (the year he was able to do so) for the grain he gave to Colonial Revolutionary armed forces.
3. Joseph’s wife, Sarah Kirk, appeared in court without him in 1784 on a Replevy Bond because, beginning in December 1783, they had fallen behind on rent due to Fairfax (again, see A Genealogy Cold Case Heats Up).

Joseph’s absence in these key records suggests he was ailing or had passed away.

In 1786, Joseph Kirk was not enumerated in McCalister’s tax district. However, his brother John Kirk was listed in a new tax district, suggesting he had moved. John appeared in Walter Baker’s tax district where he owned no horses or cattle and was assessed a 10-cent poll tax. Why the move and what happened to his livestock? 1786 was the last time John appeared in Berkeley County's tax lists by name.

In 1787, a new name appeared on the personal property tax list: Sarah Kirk – Joseph Kirk’s widow. She had 1 horse and 2 cattle, indicating that during her household’s two-year absence from the personal property tax list, there was financial decline. This year's tax list included a potentially helpful column. The first box tallied the number of white men over the age of 21 (these would be the community’s eligible male voters). The field was blank, indicating that there were no adult men in Sarah Kirk’s 1787 household. Joseph Kirk was missing from the home.

During these years, taxes were concurrently assessed on land owners. This created a second set of records that complemented the personal property tax lists. Curiously, Joseph Kirk’s name appeared on the land tax lists in 1785 through 1787 when it did not appear on the personal property tax lists. However, in 1788, the land tax list included his name followed by the abbreviation “exrs” – executors. Joseph was in fact deceased, even as his name continued to appear on the land tax list.

1788 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Land Tax List: "Joseph Kirk's Exrs"

A Male Comes of Age

Having established that Joseph Kirk - the household's sole voting-age male - was deceased, provided a unique opportunity to gauge whether any men would come of age on the tax list (most likely sons growing up).

Could I monitor the field denoting white men of voting age to identify whether Sarah had boys in her household who would age into adulthood? Perhaps someone matching my Thomas Kirk's demographic (age), her possible son, would make an appearance.

In 1792, 1794, and 1795, there were no men above the age of 16 in Sarah Kirk’s household.

1795 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List

In 1796, that changed. A male above the age of 16 was enumerated in Sarah’s household. Subtracting 17 years (to account for the male being over the age of 16) suggested an approximate birth year of 1779.

1796 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List

Thomas Kirk's original headstone indicated he was born in 1778 per the age at death on his now-missing headstone. Without knowing his exact birth date or which month and day that the 1796 personal property tax list was enumerated, it is impossible to determine what year the male above the age of 16 was actually born. However, he was certainly within range of Thomas Kirk’s birth.

Is this the earliest known appearance of my fifth great-grandfather in the paper trail?

Sarah Kirk and the male above the age of 16 appeared again in the personal property tax lists for 1797, 1798, and 1799. They were both missing from Berkeley County's tax lists beginning in 1800.

1797 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List

1798 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List

1799 Berkeley County, (West) Virginia Personal Property Tax List

Could It Actually Be Him?!

If the voting-age male was in fact Thomas, his disappearance by 1800 dovetails nicely with the existing timeline of his life. Previous research traced Thomas Kirk to the 1799 personal property tax list in Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia). It was in Brooke County that his soon-to-be wife Sarah Bonar was raised, so he was expected to arrive on that scene eventually.

Did Thomas move west from Berkeley to Brooke County - perhaps after the death of his widowed mother - with sufficient time to appear in both counties' 1799 tax enumerations? It's possible depending on when they were each enumerated.

Could this voting-age male who came of age on the tax lists be Thomas Kirk?

The records don't state his name explicitly, but - like a puzzle piece that fits snugly - they don't contradict this theory and only add fuel to my growing speculation that Thomas' parents were Joseph and Sarah Kirk of Berkeley County, (West) Virginia.

Like I said, it's a potentially opaque jackpot discovery. Nothing is definitive. It never is in my arduous ongoing Kirk research. I've learned to interpret the shadows on the walls.