{"id":29037,"date":"2018-02-09T14:33:43","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T19:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=29037"},"modified":"2018-02-09T14:34:05","modified_gmt":"2018-02-09T19:34:05","slug":"how-to-find-your-cousins-using-only-a-last-name-and-a-hometown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/how-to-find-your-cousins-using-only-a-last-name-and-a-hometown.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Your Cousins Using Only a Last Name and a Hometown"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last few posts, I\u2019ve shared strategies I used to find records on my Sniffen cousins from Westchester County, New York. Today I\u2019m using a different strategy: I\u2019m simply searching GenealogyBank for the last name \u201cSniffen\u201d with the keyword \u201cWestchester\u201d to see what other Sniffen cousins I can find that might not be in my notes.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This search came up with several interesting Sniffen cousins.<\/p>\n

The following Westchester County news article mentions a meeting of the Women\u2019s Afternoon Euchre Club at which Mrs. D. Austin Sniffen won second prize.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, New York Tribune (New York, New York), 11 March 1899, page 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a quick FamilySearch query for \u201cD Austin Sniffen\u201d I found my cousin David Austin Sniffen<\/a> (1873-1950) of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, and his first wife Helen (Farley) Sniffen<\/a> (1867-), to which this article probably refers.<\/p>\n

This next article from the New York Tribune<\/em> writes about an upcoming \u201csociable\u201d at the White Plains Presbyterian Church<\/a> at which many of my Sniffen cousins would participate.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, New York Tribune (New York, New York), 16 January 1897, page 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to this article:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea will be to reproduce, as far as possible, old-time customs, costumes and cooking. Old-time songs and hymns, pitched by a tuning fork, will be sung, after which Miss Addie Sniffen, daughter of Deacon Theodore Sniffen, will give piano solos\u2026 selections of music arranged for eight hands [will] be played by Deacon Henry O. Sniffen and his wife, Charles Sniffen and Miss Julia Sniffen.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My Sniffen cousins likely referred to in this article include the young pianist Adeline B. Sniffen<\/a> (1875-) and her father Deacon Theodore Sniffen<\/a> (1848-1938), Deacon Henry O. Sniffen<\/a> (1870-1941), Charles E. Sniffen<\/a> (1854-), and Julia E. Sniffen<\/a> (1882-).<\/p>\n

This is an important find. With so many of my cousins actively attending this specific church, I can focus on that church and its records to get more of the details of their lives.<\/p>\n

Next, I found an obituary mentioning my cousin Allan Mead Sniffen<\/a> (1796-1873) and his wife Eliza Ann (Lawrence) Sniffen<\/a> (1805-1870).<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, New York Herald (New York, New York), 26 January 1880, page 9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This obituary reports:<\/p>\n

\u201cSNIFFEN. \u2013 On Wednesday, January 21, 1890, Eliza A. Lawrence, wife of the late Allen M. Sniffen, in the 76th year of her age.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A good find. I did not have her date of death \u2013 now thanks to this obituary record I can add that information to the family tree.<\/p>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Search using one of your family surnames and the name of the town or county where they lived to discover cousins you may not already know about. By bringing together every possible cousin, you can extend and map out the family tree \u2013 lining up the information until you can confirm or exclude each one from your family tree.<\/p>\n

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