Tobin Family Website

Is a new HP 6.0 MegaPixel Digital Camera and Photo Printer! That’s right, I have the digital itch once again and who better to scratch that itch than jolly old Saint Nick’s elves over at HP? They have been hard at work assembling feature-laden, quality digital cameras, like the award winning HP Photosmart R927, which won American Photo’s Editor’s Choice for 2006. Best of all, their compact size allows them to slip right out of your Christmas stocking and right into your pocket! HP offers a wide variety of cutting edge features, with resolutions up to 8.2 MegaPixels and LCDs up to a huge 3″ over at their digital camera website.

A digital camera is a MUST HAVE! Unfortunately, my favorite digital camera plunged to its death, having fallen a distance 18 times greater than its lenth. To put it into perspective, that would be like you or I falling out of a 9 story building. Worst of all, there was no featherbed landing. It landed directly on its extended zoom lens on a concrete sidewalk. Amazingly, I was able to briefly resuscitate it back into service…..but sadly, it expired soon thereafter. So, I would be most appreciative if the jolly one would find it in his heart and his bag of presents to place a new HP under my tree!

This post was brought to you by HP!

Over the past week I have done a fair amount of Genealogical research and have been posting updates to the Tobin Family Genealogy pages.

I am currently researching the Klein family from Hungary, which are my mother’s ancestors on her father’s side. Unfortunately, we do not know a lot about my mother’s relatives on the Klein side. I have been able to gather pretty good information on her father Jules Klein and grandfather Jacob Klein. We know that Jacob Klein was born in Hungary in Jan 1868 came to New York City from Hungary in 1882, and that he died between 1900 and 1910….most likely in 1903 or 1907, in an accident involving the New York City subway system. The US Census records have been invaluable in confirming a lot of the details. I have done some research that indicates that Jacob may have arrived in Apr 1882 aboard the SS Rhenania with a mother named Esther and several brothers and sisters, but I have been unable to confirm if this is the correct Jacob Klein, as there are many out there (althoughy most are from Germany vice Hungary). Jacob had 4 children, the youngest of which was my grandfather Jules Klein, who was born in NYC in Aug 1903. Unfortunately, my mother’s parents died when she was relatively young, so we really don’t know much about her roots. I hope to find more information regarding Jacob Klein and his ancestors from Hungary.

I have also been researching the Nathan and Brandstrup lines, which are my mothers ancestors on her mother’s side. I was able to track back to my mother’s Great Granparents, Michael and Augustin Nathan, which was nice as my mother did not know their names. Michael Nathan immigrated from Germany in about 1853 according to US Census records, while Augustin was born in New York. Michael’s occupation was listed as a watchman in New York City.

I have also been successful in finding information on the Brandstrup’s. According to my research, my mother’s Great Grandmother Susan Simmons came from Ireland. Once again, the US Census records were a goldmine. I found information about her in the 1870 and 1910 Census Records. In the 1910 Census Records, I was able to determine that Susan (Simmons) Brandstrup had immigrated to the US in 1866 from Ireland (her parents were both Irish as well). The census listed her residence as 508 132nd Street West in Manhattan. She was listed as the head of household with her 19 year old son Frederick S. Brandstrup residing with her. There was no mention of her husband Frederick, so I presume that he may have died before 1910. Susan’s occupation was listed as Seamstress, and Frederick’s occupation was listed as Office Clerk. Frederick’s place of birth was listed as Minnesota and his father’s place of birth was listed as Denmark, so I am sure that this must be the correct Susan and Frederick Brandstrup (it matched all of the info we had on Mary (Brandstrup) Nathan….father of Danish descent, mother named Susan, and Mary was born in Minnesota). Based upon the info I found in 1910, I started searching earlier Census data. The only thing I was able to find on Brandstrup or Simmons was a Susan Simmons listed in the 1870 US Census who was from Ireland and born in the right year. The census indicated that she lived in New York, NY, with a lady named Jane Simmons who was 2 years older than her and also from Ireland. I presume this was most likely her sister. This would have been about 4 years after Susan’s immigration to the US. The occupation for both women was listed as “dress making”. I am fairly sure this must be her.

Interesting stuff….I have posted the latest finds on the Genealogy website.