Family History Research by Jody Lutter

We can turn to DNA to try to uncover the parents of Jonas Long, my 5th great grandfather. We are looking for the identities of 6th great grandparents who lived in the 1700s. We will be working with very tiny amounts of shared DNA.

Sp...

During the life of Jonas Long in the early 1800s, mail was not delivered to individual houses; rather, letters and such were sent a local establishment designated as a post office. Recipients were published in the local paper to notify them that mail awaited them.

I found a few such notices for Jonas Long. There may be more, but poor copy of these newspapers, combined w...

Letitia, or Lucretia Frances, daughter of Jonas Long and Elizabeth Merrell, was a bit challenging to track. She was born about 1831, probably in Richmond County (Staten Island), New York.

What became of Catherine Long, daughter of Jonas Long and Elizabeth Merrell?

She was born about 1826, probably in Middlesex County, New Jersey. She married around age 16 or 17, had at least one child, who produced grandchildren and great grandchildren of Catherine.

I don't know the full name of Catherine's husband and I do not know when or where she died.

How did my 5th great grandparents, Jonas Long and Elizabeth Merrell, meet before marrying in 1816 on Staten Island, New York?

I do not know at this point in the research.

Jonas would have known Elizabeth's family through the neighborhood, business, and/or place of worship. Jonas likely lived and/or worked in either Middlesex County, New Jersey and Richmond County,...