Gen. Patton Featured in Huguenot Street Newsletter

My article on our Elting "cousin", General George Patton, is featured in the Spring edition of Historic Huguenot Street's newsletter.  See:  http://www.huguenotstreet.org/ and click on the mini newsletter at the top of the page. I have another article in that issue on "The Gathering" held on the Street last August. This issue has lots of information about HHS events!

Fun Times with "Who Do You Think You Are?"

I missed the broadcast of the TIM McGRAW segment on the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are?", but listening to my husband talk about it, I began to hear familiar information. I could not believe my ears when I turned on the computer video and heard Tim McGraw discover his 8th great-grandfather was JOST HITE!  For those who have read my book, Answering the Call! you know that there are several Hites featured. A quick review of the McGraw information compared to our Elting information showed that Tim's ancestor grandmother, Jost Hite's daughter Mary Magdalena, was the sister of John and Isaac Hite who married two of Cornelius Elting's daughters, Alida Eleanor and Sarah.

So, all you Elting descendants who love country music and appreciate Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill...we have newly-discovered "cousins" to welcome into the family. Aren't family "connections" fun?

That Pesky Final "E"

"...One never knows what will be found in military records. The affidavits filed on behalf of Civil War veterans' widows are especially interesting and usually filled with all sorts of information in their attempts to prove not only that they are the actual widow, but that they are destitute and have not remarried.

The following information appeared in an August 18, 1886 affidavit signed by Mary (Brodhead) Eltinge as explanation for why her last name differed from that of her late husband, Daniel D. Elting. Who would suspect that a comment on the age old 'to E or not to E' dilemma of our family would be found there?

              '...that for a number of years prior to the year 1860 nearly every branch of the Elting family wrote and spelled the family name with the final 'E' and which was the original way of writing and spelling the name in English. That Daniel D. Elting the husband of the claimant always wrote and spelled the name without the final 'E' and the only reason why claimant wrote and spelled the name with the final 'E' on Eltinge was that she considered it the correct way and liked it better and the name when written looked more finished and appeared better.'

One would think that the actual descendant of the Elting(e) family would have the final say, but he died first, so I guess she won. To further complicate the issue for the government, Dr. Edgar Eltinge sent an affidavit re Daniel's death, but listed the name as Capt. Daniel D. Eltinge! That caused the paper to be returned with the the question 'Is Dr. Eltinge clmts brother?' scrawled across the bottom of the page. Poor Mary. Adding that final 'E' to her name just increased her problems. "

                 Originally published in "The Historian" official newsletter of the Bevier-Elting Family Association of New Paltz, NY.  June 2003. Page 2.  By Grace Elting Castle

Writing Family History

Have you ever had the urge to put all those little snippets of family history into a book? Perhaps others are urging you to do so as they want to have access to your collection? Or perhaps you have grandchildren who are (or will be someday) interested in the stories that are in your files.

Now is the time to begin! The following tips are derived from preparing for the publication of my book, "Answering the Call! An Elting Military Tribute." The stories and photos from this ten year research project were compiled into a book over the summer of 2008 (stretching a little bit into the fall as I struggled with a computer program formatting the pages).

1. Decide on the topic of your book and stick to it. For "Answering.." of course it was the military history of our family. If this step is neglected, you'll be bogged down in research (though happily) for centuries. It's OK to make copies of everything else family-related as you collect material for your book, but keep it separate and don't allow it to get you sidetracked on yet another topic.

2. Decide on your filing system and stick to it. Writing the book will be so much easier if the research material is carefully organized. File your topic material separately from the other family history treasures you've discovered.

3. Carefully document the source of all materials (Stories, photos, obituaries, newspaper and magazine articles, websites, etc.)

4. Set a deadline for completion of the research. I didn't---and after ten years had to tell myself "Enough, already!"

5. Begin compiling names and addresses (snail and e-mail) of interested persons (relatives, friends, librarians) when you begin the research and build on it throughout.

6. When you find someone with great information or stories, get it immediately. Use a recorder as much as possible. Hire someone to get it for you if you're too distant and can't get it any other way. People have a habit of passing away before we get the stories!

7. Stay abreast of technology. There is a multitude of information available on the Internet, for instance, that I could never have dreamed of when I decided to write this book.

8. Give your book a title from the very beginning of the project. It may not be the one you actually use, but having a title helps focus on the project. With a title you realize that you're working on a BOOK.

9. Be on the lookout for the best printing company. Most family histories will be self-published and you want your book comparable to ones released through the best publishers. Pay attention to who printed the books you purchase in local history venues (libraries, museums, gift shops). Contact the printer and ask all the questions you have. The best printers will happily assist you with each step. (My printer is Maverick Books in Bend, OR. Wonderful company!)

My book? It's 224 pages of Elting military history with photos and information not only on a representative number of the descendants of Jan and Jacomyntje (Slecht) Elting who have served in the US military from the mid-1600s through mid-2008, but also a smidgen of the history of the village of New Paltz, NY. Order at http://www.cluesonline.com/ or e-mail me at gecastle@cluesonline.com

Answering the Call! An Elting Military Tribute

Answering the Call! is my book honoring Elting descendants who have served in the military during the period between the mid-1600s and mid-2008. There are 224 pages of photos and biographical information on the men (and two women) who represent all the many hundreds (perhaps thousands) of the descendants of Jan and Jacomyntje (Slecht) Elting(e) who have served this nation since before it declared independence from Great Britain!

There is also information on the early history of New Paltz, NY where Roelif Elting, the couple's son, married a DuBois and started an Elting presence in the village that continues today. There's a chapter on early slave activity in the village...including Elting participation.

There are some surprises, including that General George Patton was a descendant, as was Admiral Morton Deyo. Their stories are included. Other surnames range from Bright to Pattou to France, Crispell, Blum, DuBois, Schoonmaker, LeFevre, Gilles, Greeley, Hasbrouck, Fawver, Hite, Houghtaling, Kennoch, Howell, LaDue, Mitchell, Osterhoudt, Peters, Smith, Snyder, VanWagenen, Webb, Wionowsky, Woolsey, Wright, Wygant and Yandeau.

The result of ten years of research, with lots of input and donations of photos and information from Elting(e) descendants, this book is privately published and a limited edition. It's the perfect gift for your family genealogist, historian or history buff!

Order at http://www.cluesonline.com/ while it's still available!!

While you're there, you might also want to order one of the CDs of the Elting genealogy book published by James W. Elting of South Carolina.