Nope, Not a Scanned Doc, a Photographed Doc

Last week, I decided I wanted some documents found in a Civil War Pension file scanned. Problem, the documents were longer than my scanner could handle.  After a bit of chatting with the WO's, I decided to try that new camera. 

In the past, with prior cameras, I have not had the kind of results I was pleased with.  I have used the camera to capture photos and such, both from books and from a microfilm reader, and as thrilled as I am to have the images, I tend to be greedy and want better.

So, I took the documents over to the table, by the door wall, lots of natural light and gave it a try. 

Results after tweaking with photo editing program. Cropped away the table, did a bit of auto enhance, size adjustment.  (You really need to click on the image on this one to see in better window.)  I have reduced to 8 inch wide, for blogging purposes.  It, in my opinion, is even better in the full octane version.  Enough better, that I now have another 35 images to process.

I used the macro setting, natural light (a good sunny day natural light), held camera above document without any angle involved (in other words, shoot directly down), steady shot enabled on camera settings (love that, always enabled!  LOL), tried to keep the documents square to table edge, so I capture them straight.  Squeeze the shutter release, don't jiggle the camera.  I also previewed each document as I took the photo, just to be sure I was happy with the results, if not, I could immediately retake.

I believe I will be reviewing files, pulling documents I have, and will be photographing a lot more over the next few months.  I like this so much better than "stitching" images.  Stitching takes some time and patience.  (No wise crack comments, please, on my lack of either, time or patience.  LOL)

This death record from Jamaica ties to the post, Oh, Those Wild, but Fun to Research, Lashbrooks , John Thomas Morris is the first husband of Catherine Boderick Morris Lashbrook.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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Carnival of African-American Genealogy, Restore My Name

It seems that I have hit a gold mine of slave names in Virginia Chancery Cases. As time permits I will be sharing these, giving names I find in hopes that slave descendants will benefit from my digging in the Chancery. I have set up a special page where I will list the links to these posts as they appear, “Slave Names Virginia Chancery, Friend of Friends” (See the right hand column of my blog)

Today’s offering is from the Chancery Cases of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, the Library of Virginia has them digitized.

Plaintiff(s) EVERIT MORRISS BY ETC
MARGARET MORRISS BY ETC
Defendant(s) EXR OF NANCY MORRISS
NATHANIEL YOUNG EXR
Index # 1814-013 (9 pages)

Those interested in this case should pay close attention to pages 4, 5, 7, and 9.

The slave owners in this case are the Morris family. The slaves named are Tom and Milly. The following graphic is part of page 9, the Will of Nancy Morris.  I am still working on tying Nancy into my linege/data base.  It appears that Nancy Morris is the sister of Hezekiah Morris.  See below for additional information on his family.

This is my entry to the 1st Carnival of African-American Genealogy, Restore My Name

The challenge follows:

Restore My Name – Slave Records and Genealogy Research, will kick-off this African-American themed carnival intended to be a gathering place for the community to share and learn about African-American genealogy.

This first CoAAG theme will deal with how records of slave ownership are handled by the genealogy researcher. Contributors will be asked to write a blog post (at their own blogs) on one or more of the following aspects (my answers follow each question):

What responsibilities are involved on the part of the researcher when locating names of slaves in a record? Find a way to get those names and information out in the public, blog em, find a depository, on line or otherwise and SHARE! This is about human and family history kindness.  Do the right thing, share what you find.

Does it matter if the record(s) are related to your ancestral lines or not? NO

As a descendant of slave owners, have you ever been pressured by family not to discuss or post about records containing slave names? NO

As a descendant of slaves, have you been able to work with or even meet other researchers who are descendants of slave owners? Not applicable.

Have you ever performed a Random Act of Genealogical Kindness involving slave ownership records? Or were you on the receiving end of such kindness? See my post Relatively Speaking, Slave Names & Chancery Cases

*  Hezekiah Morris married Amelia Battin.  They had two children Everitt and Margaret (Peggy).  After Hezekiah's death, Amelia, also known as Permilia, Pamilia and Melia, marries William Seeds.  Amelia and William have 5 known children, Mary Ann, Edmund ,Nancy, Permilia and William.  Slave descendant researchers should look at Chancery cases involving the Seeds clan as well.  Future posts will include additional cases I have found, and the seach has just begun.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.

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