Author Archives: Pat Shaul

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About Pat Shaul

Genealogist / Family Historian; Blog started as a record of my Grandfather's post card collection which ran for 15 months. Then, in June, 2017, I changed over to reporting and commenting on notifications from the ANCESTRY app "We're Related" I then started to provide snippets into ancestor biographies on the dates that were significant anniversaries.

More Inventors in the Family

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Pat Shaul

My 9th great grandfather, Joseph Jencks [Jenks], famed for his skill in working in brass and iron in England, and was brought to the Colonies by Governor Winthrop, the younger, to establish an iron works here in 1635. Specimens of … Continue reading →

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Improvement – a family trait?

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Pat Shaul

Well, back at the patent office, I noticed that Great-Great Grandfather, Ezra P Koontz, must not have been satisfied with the refrigeration unit for which he took out a patent in 1880, since he took out another in 1890 Frigidaire … Continue reading →

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Great Great Grandfather Koontz did get off his rocker…

Posted on December 17, 2025 by Pat Shaul

Ezra Peter Koontz, my great-great grandfather, did more that patent a rocking chair (see prior post). As indicated in the above advertisement for his furniture and bedding store in Ligonier, Indiana, he was a cabinet maker by trade. Once in … Continue reading →

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Ezra Peter Koontz

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Pat Shaul

Not only did Great-great Grandfather Ezra Peter Koontz sit in a rocking chair, he invented one! Below are the drawings and patent document for that chair.

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Gettin Me Some Education

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Pat Shaul

After completion of Diahan Southerd’s mtDNA for Genealogy Course, I was hooked on getting a better understanding of the areas in which I appear to be most interested. Therefore, I have set up a study program using the following texts: … Continue reading →

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UFOs are Real!!

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Pat Shaul

Well, that is the title of a new presentation in the works. I have noticed that a number of my ancestral lines just start or just end. Some of my genealogy colleagues call this a brick wall. I, on the … Continue reading →

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Still making progress on tracking mtDNA matches

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Pat Shaul

I am making slow progress through Diahan Southard’s mtDNA for Genealogy Course. I have finally gotten to the point where I have identified the matches provided for my mitochodrial DNA and have filtered out that are not the best use … Continue reading →

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Falling even deeper ….

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Pat Shaul

I am slowly, very slowly, working my way through Diahan Southard’s online class on mitochondrial DNA. Finally, through my own fault, I am in the midst of lesson 2. Diahan has given a “light bulb goes on” explanation of the … Continue reading →

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Help, I have fallen, and I am not ready to get up…

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Pat Shaul

Into a rabbit hole, that is. I have been getting a slog of articles on DNA – mitochondrial DNA to be specific. These are being written by a number of my most respected authors – Roberta Estes (#RobertaEstes #DNAeXplained ), … Continue reading →

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Update to the purge of excess paper …

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Pat Shaul

It is true, the dumpster was filled with thousands of pages of paper records that I have digitized and I was very proud of the space I created in my office. Then I looked around and found I have a … Continue reading →

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