Sunday, February 24, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Bail of Alleged Pickpocket Forfeited

A little fun tonight.  I'm not blogging on one of my relatives (at least I don't think I am!), but I'm transcribing an article that was on the same page as the obituary I posted last night.  Let's just say it caught my eye.

Easton Express, Friday, 15JAN1926, pg 8

"Bail of Alleged Pickpocket Forfeited

When the name of Albert Smith was called in court at Belvidere yesterday there was no response, and Judge Harry Runyon promptly ruled that his bail bond of $2,500 be forfeited.  Court attaches say that the bond was furnished by a casualty company.  A short time after Smith had been arrested friends came to his rescue, with the result that the bond was accepted and the defendant lost no time in getting away from this vicinity."

I'm sure his friends were not at all pleased at losing such a sum of money.  That's a lot today, but we're talking 1926.  Not cool.  Perhaps this transcription will add a little spice to someone researching Mr. Smith's family tree!

Sunday's Obituary - Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle


Easton Express, Friday, 15JAN1926, pg 8
Continuing on this week with all those Blanchfield obituaries that I've been hanging on to for years without posting.

Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle was the daughter of Manus Maurice Boyle and Alice Monaghan.  A coal miner, Manus left his pregnant wife and daughter, (Bridget) Mary, and went to Australia to mine for gold.  He died in the shipwreck of the Royal Charter on his return voyage on October 26, 1859.  He never got to hold his daughter, Anna (my 2nd great grandmother) who was born 2 months after his departure.


“Mrs. Martin Blanchfield

Mrs. Anna Blanchfield, wife of Martin Blanchfield, died at 9 o’clock last evening at her home, 34 Heckman street, Phillipsburg, from paralysis, with which she was stricken two weeks ago.  During the eight years that Mrs. Blanchfield made her home in this town, coming here from Hazleton, Pa., she made many friends.

Besides her husband the deceased is survived by the following children:  Mrs. Robert Flynn, Misses Anna, Josephine, Lillian and William and Joseph Blanchfield.  A sister, Mrs. Mary Fay, of Hazleton, also survives her.  She was a faithful member of Sts. Philip and James’ Catholic church and the Rosary Society.”

A shame that her two daughters that predeceased her were not mentioned.  Mrs. Abraham (Mary) Turnbach and my great grandmother, Mrs. Edward (Alice) Quirk.  It reminds us that just because we come across an obituary doesn’t mean that the information in it is complete (or in many cases correct).  A shame when researchers get a piece of information like this and stop.