{"id":11513,"date":"2015-10-06T11:31:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T15:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=11513&s_referrer=Social&utm_source=Social&s_trackval=SM_Blog_SrchBnr_1411_00&utm_campaign=SM_Blog_SrchBnr_1411_00&s_siteloc=Blog&utm_medium=Blog"},"modified":"2015-10-09T14:43:45","modified_gmt":"2015-10-09T18:43:45","slug":"searching-the-archives-for-rufus-i-found-little-eugenie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/searching-the-archives-for-rufus-i-found-little-eugenie.html","title":{"rendered":"Searching the Archives for Rufus, I Found Little Eugenie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eugenie Caroline Kemp (1842-1845) was only three years old when she died \u2013 and until recently, I didn\u2019t even know she had existed. I discovered her when I was doing a search in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> about one of my ancestors.<\/p>\n

I was searching for information about Rufus Crosby Kemp (1813-1856). My research notes said that he was born in Maine in 1813 and died in 1856 in New York City. So \u2013 he lived in at least two U.S. states: Maine and New York.<\/p>\n

Looking for him in GenealogyBank\u2019s archives, I knew by experience that typing his full name into the search box probably wouldn\u2019t get me the record results I wanted.<\/p>\n

But, let\u2019s try that full name archive search anyway and see what we can find about Rufus.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Nothing.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Search Tip:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Typing in the first name, middle name and surname was just \u201ctoo much information.\u201d In the early 19th century, newspaper editors rarely referred to individuals in print by their full names \u2013 they shortened the name to what fit the character space available in that day\u2019s newspaper.<\/p>\n

So \u2013 I searched for Rufus in the newspaper archives again, this time typing in his name as Rufus C. Kemp to give a wider scope of possible articles, and I limited the search date range to 1810-1870.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

OK. That search returned 24 record results.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see what they tell us.<\/p>\n

Looking at the first result\u2026
\nHmm \u2013 that\u2019s not good news.<\/p>\n

Business Troubles<\/strong><\/p>\n

It seems that he and his business partners Benjamin L. Mann and Albert Whitney were having a tough go in their business \u2013 \u201cWhitney, Kemp & Co.\u201d was insolvent.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts), 22 March 1841, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This newspaper article gave key new information: in 1841 Rufus Kemp was living in Boston, Massachusetts, and operated a business in the area.<\/p>\n

[search_box]<\/p>\n

What did the next search result, an obituary, show?<\/p>\n

Obituary for Rufus Kemp<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
New York Tribune (New York City, New York), 23 October 1856, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OK. This is also our target Rufus Kemp.<\/p>\n

His obituary tells us that by 1856 he was living in New York City at 259 Fourth Avenue (which is by Union Square) and that he died on Monday, 20 October 1856.<\/p>\n

The obituary gives his age (\u201c43d year of his age\u201d) and tells us that he was a member of the Olive Branch Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows<\/a>, No. 31.<\/p>\n

Business Ad<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next newspaper article gives us more information on his business.<\/p>\n

\"ad<\/a>
Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, Massachusetts), 2 January 1833, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This advertisement tells us that his business was well located, next to the Eastern Stage House \u2013 an important Boston hotel in the early 19th century.<\/p>\n

Marriage Announcement<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next search result also gives me key information that I didn\u2019t have: the exact date of his marriage to Ann Maria Moynihan (1815-1907)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"wedding<\/a>
Columbian Centinel (Boston, Massachusetts), 6 September 1834, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We now know that they were married on Wednesday, 3 September 1834 in Boston.
\nGreat \u2013 I can add that information to my family tree.<\/p>\n

Obituary of Rufus\u2019s Daughter <\/strong><\/p>\n

I kept opening up each search result \u2013 and then I found this: the obituary notice of little Eugenie Caroline Kemp (1842-1845)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Weekly Messenger (Boston, Massachusetts), 31 December 1845, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Who was she?
\nI had no record of her \u2013 but there she was.
\nShe was 3 years and 7 months old when she died on 29 December 1845.<\/p>\n

Now I have a new member to add to our family tree!<\/p>\n

If I had given up after my first newspaper archive search attempt, I wouldn\u2019t have found her. Also, if I had stopped looking at the articles after finding Rufus Kemp\u2019s obituary and marriage announcement, I wouldn\u2019t have found her. It was by adjusting my ancestor search from her father\u2019s full name, Rufus Crosby Kemp, to Rufus C. Kemp, and by continuing to look at every article, that I found more information \u2013 and critically \u2013 that I found Eugenie Caroline Kemp.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep searching the historical archives and be flexible in how you search for your ancestors. If you search only using your target ancestor\u2019s full name, you might miss the key articles you need to document your family tree.<\/p>\n

Better to search the archives using several variations: with only the surname; the first and last name; or first name, middle initial, and last name.<\/p>\n

And \u2013 when you get your search results \u2013 be sure to open and read each one of them. You just might find a new twig on the Family Tree \u2013 like little Eugenie Caroline Kemp (1842-1845).<\/p>\n

Related Search Tip Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n