Brick wall

 This week's theme is "Brick wall." In genealogy a "Brick wall" is when you can't go any further with your research. You're at a dead end. Everyone has them. For me, I have a few that have been very frustrating. 

On my paternal side my grandparents were Lawrence F. Thompson and Lois Ashley. For the Thompson side, I can go back to my 3x great grandfather, Riley Thompson. I know from his death certificate and the 1850 census that he was born in New York and came to Michigan. His mother's name was listed as Mary. His father may have been named Allen. On the 1850 census he and his brother Leonard are living in Allegan with a James and Anna Allen. They are all from New York. James and Anna were old enough to be Riley and Leonard's parents. Interestingly enough, my 3x great grandfather Riley Thompson lived just 2 farms down from my 3x great grandfather, David Bellinger. David was 9 in 1850 and lived with his parents. It's funny to see how close they lived to each other. Riley was most likely from Onondaga County, New York. That was listed on his death certificate as place of birth. I've tried searching for information on Riley's brother Leonard and haven't had any luck with him either. Riley and Leonard just seem to have popped up in Allegan one day.

With my grandmother Lois Ashley I can trace the Ashley line back to Joseph Ashley, who came to Michigan from New York with his wife, Mary. I know Joseph's father's name was Nicholas Ashely. Nicholas, 4x great grandfather, was written up briefly in biographies of pioneers of Allegan County. The story with Nicholas is that he sailed to America as a boy with his parents from England. Both parents died on board, with their bodies thrown overboard.  Coming to America as an orphan Nicholas was taken in by another family until he could support himself. He served in the American Revolution, married, and had a family. Having no idea who Nicholas's parents were leaves my research into the Ashely line at a dead end. He is another mystery man who just appeared.

On the maternal side I've had a bit better luck. My grandparents were Ray Henrickson and Viola Strand. I can trace the male line back to Johan Johansson, my 2x great grandfather.  According to Swedish death records his father was Jons Johansson and mother was Stina Danielsdotter. Born in 1804 and 1793 respectively. That's as far as I've been able to go there. 

With Viola Strand I can go back to Karl Friedrich Theodor Strandt, 3x great grandfather, born in 1834 Germany. His parents were elusive until recently when I was sent a copy of Karl's birth record/certificate of legitimacy. It listed the names of his parents. Finding that gave us the name of his mother, finally. We had figured out his father's name, but had never been able to find his mother's name. It also gave us the town/parish he was born in. However, until more records from the churches come online, any further research on the Strandts will be difficult to do online, so, right now, Karl Strandt is a Brick Wall. 

There are Brick walls with other various branches of the family tree, but these are the biggest ones. Especially Riley Thompson and Nicholas Ashley.