Layng & Tinney Mortuary Files revisited

The newest SMCGS project has begun.  The over 7000 files in the Layng and Tinney Mortuary Collection will be scanned to ensure they remain available for researchers use even if the physical files disappear.

The files can provide a wondrous amount of information on a family.  Take the file of John Bryson Abbott who died 28 Jan 1935.  Inside you will find newspaper clippings tracking his family for quite a few years.  In wondering why, we discovered that his bill was not completely paid until 1946.  

The file includes a Certificate of Burial which gives parents names and birth places, his wife, the fact he had lived in Redwood City for 9 years and that he is buried in Alta Mesa Cemetery.  There are two typed obituaries, plus two clipped from newspapers.  

There is a copy of the bill for the funeral and a notice of a trustee sale for the property in 1941. 

In addition there is a notice of his son Cyril's marriage license application as well as one for a nephew, an article about his son's fiance's bridal shower, an obituary for his sister, a hand written note sending the viewer to another file for information on the marriage of another son.  In other words, a lot of genealogical information that could save hours of research time.

This project is no small undertaking.  As Barbara Ebel and I set up the process today, just three files took us 45 minutes, so we can use all the help we can get.  If you would like to lend a hand using the library scanner, or by scanning at home contact Publications@smcgs.org for details.

SMCGS Databases Online: Layng & Tinney Mortuary  Sep 2017

SMCGS Databases Online: Coroner's Records II

The long-term project to index SMC Coroner's Records has been completed.  The majority of the 40.000+ files were indexed by Russ Brabec.  The index goes through the year 1984.  An earlier post on this blog, SMCGS Databases Online: Coroner's Records, discusses the index and the digital images that are available on FamilySearch.

Coroner's records can be full of interesting  information.  Take the case of James Malaney, who was found outside some 60 yards from his cabin by John Anderson.  John originally saw him and thought he was sleeping but on passing him again 2 1/2 hours later checked him and realized he was dead.

It turns out that James had received some money.  As was his custom, according to witnesses, he went on a drinking binge.  The binge had lasted between 8 and 10 days.

A jury was sworn, heard the evidence and on 14 Mar 1881 found that James Malaney, age about 58, nativity unknown but thought thought to have resided in  Wisconsin previously, had died of exposure and exhaustion.

Some files are much longer than this five page file.  You will find natural deaths, train accidents, drownings, murders, suicides and much more.


Index to San Mateo County Coroner's Records 1856-1984

SMCGS Databases Online: The SMCGS Obituary Collection

This SMCGS Obituary Collection currently includes over 57,000 indexed and scanned obituaries as well as a large collection of obituaries that are indexed elsewhere.  This project started when the society received the obituary morgue of the Redwood City / Peninsula Times Tribune when they closed their doors.  That original collection was indexed by the SMCGS Computer club.  As it became more troublesome to store and use the obituaries in their original envelopes the society decided to photocopy the obituaries.  The copies were then placed in binders in the SMCGS Library. Eventually the pages started to wear so it was decided that we should scan the pages.  This was the start of the collection that exists today.  

You will find the following collections in the index

• PTT Redwood City Tribune / Peninsula Times Tribune - obituary morgue (1969-1992)  Indexed by SMCGS Computer Club - copied and scanned by Barry Goyette and Cath Trindle
• MISC Obituaries contributed by a variety of sources, newspaper generally unknown (mainly 1960s-1990s) - Copied, Scanned and Indexed by Barry Goyette and Cath Trindle
• SMCHA Obituaries culled from the Biographical files of the San Mateo County Historical Association and added to SMCGS  (mainly 1970-1995 some earlier) - Indexed and scanned by Jo Rebuck, Lauren Perritt , Donna Farmar, Celeste Guillory, Cath Trindle - a work in progress
• DJ Daily Journal - Scanned and Indexed by Jo Rebuck
• BORK Obituaries of San Mateo County Individuals listed in Southern California Newspapers Collected by Eleanor Borkenhagen - Scanned and indexed by Cath Trindle
• DP Daily Post - Scanned and Indexed by Jo Rebuck
• DN Daily News - Scanned and Indexed by Jo Rebuck 
• VET Veteran's Memorial - Scanned and indexed by Cath Trindle 
• DN Daily News - Scanned and Indexed by Jo Rebuck 
• SMCT San Mateo County Times - assorted pages - Scanned and indexed by Cath Trindle

This is an ongoing project.  As the SMCHA culls more obituaries we will add them to the collection.  Additionally if anyone has access to other papers in the county and would like to contribute it would be appreciated.

The following collections which are indexed on Obituary Daily Times are also available in our scanned files.

• Pacifica Times Tribune 1999 + collected and indexed by Chris Havanar scanned by Jean Ann Carroll
• San Mateo Times 1999 + collected and  indexed by Chris Havanar scanned by Jo Rebuck, Donna Farmar, Lauren Perritt and Cath Trindle

To obtain a copy of any obituary in our index or from the collections listed for the Obituary Daily Times see Research Services under Research on the SMCGS website.

Check out the other SMCGS Databases and good luck with your research.

SMCGS Databases Online: Birth Index

The San Mateo County Birth Index which covers the years 1856-1965, was created to augment the counties computerized index which started with the year 1966.  Included are Birth Volumes A-C and 1-53, Delayed Birth volumes 1-5 and the Birth Affidavit Register (which lists births filed with the counties Official Records.)

Although there is a statewide index to birth records starting in 1906, it does not include book or page numbers for locating records at the county level.  It does not include the many delayed births that were filed including many after 1906. It also contains many mistakes.

Using the state index as a starting point, Barry Goyette, Cath Trindle, Norma Sheehan, Loren Perrit and Chris Green checked each name against actual records and the county index. Where multiple spellings of surname were in the state index they were kept. New spellings were added when indexers felt the name had been misinterpreted.

At some level, state or county, one original indexer indexed many names that could be construed as nicknames with the name they might be as well, thus Lisa becomes Elizabeth, Wendy becomes Gwendolyn, etc. These were also left in the index as we had no way of knowing
if in fact names had been changed at the state level and not reflected in county records. Be aware that because it is in the index does not make it a fact.

For more information on San Mateo County delayed births read Armchair Research in the September 2013 SMCGS Newsletter, which is available in the members only section of the SMCGS website, in the SMCGS library and in other genealogical libraries.

Official Records Book (FS - Record of Deeds New Series) 1037 p. 73 

Before ordering the record from the San Mateo County Recorders Office, be sure you are asking for the right thing.  If the numbers are in the DB column the records are in the Delayed Birth Certificate Books.  If you don't specify that you might be told the record doesn't exist.  If the numbers are in the Or columns then you need to ask for the page in that Official Record Book (you might also find those records online on FamilySearch.  These records often include information that wouldn't have been recorded if it had been filed at the time of the birth, such as this 1902 birth which was recorded in 1942.

Check out the other SMCGS Databases and good luck with your research.

SMCGS Databases Online : Sole Traders

The debut of San Mateo County Genealogical Society's new website brings with it the opportunity to tout some of our great SMCGS offerings.  Over the next few months we will highlight some of the great indexes we have created over the years, starting with our newest.  

Barry Goyette has put together an index of the Register of Separate Property of Married Women and Sole Traders 1856-1913.  While I could tell you about the wonders of California's Sole Traders law, why redo what Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, does much better.  In two posts published the week of her recent seminar at SMCGS she explained the law and gave examples of what the records might tell you.

Reprise: California’s sole traders - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist October 30, 2014  

Reprise: Separate property, separate debts - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist  October 31, 2014

You can the index here:

Index to San Mateo County Sole Traders Register - Barry Goyette 2014

And I am very happy to tell you that you do not need to order these records from the county!!!!  They are available on FamilySearch.  Be sure to start with a page number from the index to search through these browseable records.

 Separate property of married women and sole traders vol 1 1856-1913