Month: September 2017

A Female Viking Warrior Confirmed by Genomics

No Comments

A female Viking warrior confirmed by genomics

The objective of this study has been to confirm the sex and the affinity of an individual buried in a well-furnished warrior grave (Bj 581) in the Viking Age town of Birka, Sweden. Previously, based on the material and historical records, the male sex has been associated with the gender of the warrior and such was the case with Bj 581. An earlier osteological classification of the individual as female was considered controversial in a historical and archaeological context. A genomic confirmation of the biological sex of the individual was considered necessary to solve the issue.


Materials and methods

Genome-wide sequence data was generated in order to confirm the biological sex, to support skeletal integrity, and to investigate the genetic relationship of the individual to ancient individuals as well as modern-day groups. Additionally, a strontium isotope analysis was conducted to highlight the mobility of the individual.
Results

The genomic results revealed the lack of a Y-chromosome and thus a female biological sex, and the mtDNA analyses support a single-individual origin of sampled elements. The genetic affinity is close to present-day North Europeans, and within Sweden to the southern and south-central region. Nevertheless, the Sr values are not conclusive as to whether she was of local or nonlocal origin….

Checkout the full article here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.23308/full

The Boston Coffee Party of 1777

1 Comment

Alvan Fisher - Coffee clap
The following was recorded in the journal of John Boyle on that date: A Female Riot. ~ About 100 Women from the North-Part of the Town, getting information of a Quantity. of Coffee being in the Store of Thos. Boylston, Esqr. which he refused to sell at the regulated Price, attacked him in King-Street, and demanded the Keys of his Store, which he refusing to deliver, they immediately placed him in a Cart, and threatened to Cart him out of Town, upon which he delivered them the Keys. — A Committee was appointed to keep him Custody while the Body was employed in getting the Coffee out of the Store, which they speedily effected, and went off with their booty.
Writing from Boston, on July 31, 1777, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John, away attending the Continental Congress in Philadelphia wrote on the account:
“There is a great scarcity of sugar and coffee, articles which the female part of the state is very loath to give up, especially whilst they consider the great scarcity occasioned by the merchants having secreted a large quantity. It is rumored that an eminent stingy merchant, who is a bachelor, had a hogshead of coffee in his store, which he refused to sell under 6 shillings per pound.
“A number of females—some say a hundred, some say more—assembled with a cart and trunk, marched down to the warehouse, and demanded the keys.
“Upon his finding no quarter, he delivered the keys, and they then opened the warehouse, hoisted out the coffee themselves, put it into a trunk, and drove off. A large concourse of men stood amazed, silent spectators of the whole transaction.”

New Page: Catharine Rhodes, & John McCarty, of Rush County, IN

No Comments

John McCarty, who has resided in Rush County for the past fifty-three years, was born in Lincoln County, N. C., March 14, 1816, being the son of Jacob and Judah (Jenkins) McCarty . . .  and on February 1, 1865, Mr. McCarty, was married to Miss Catharine Rhodes. She was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 10, 1828, being the daughter of George and Sarah (Ruby) Rhodes, the former a native of Bedford County, Pa., and the latter a native of Shenandoah County, Va., both of German descent. Her father was the son of Philip and Mary (Weaver) Rhodes, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Her mother was the daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Bender) Ruby, who were natives of Virginia  . . .

Follow this link for the complete page: Catharine Rhodes, & John McCarty, of Rush County, IN

New Page: Bazil Rhodes, b. 1830, of Rush County, IN

No Comments

BAZIL RHODES was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., May 9, 1830; is the seventh in a family of nine children, born to Joel and Catharine (Stewart). Rhodes, the former born near Hagerstown, Md., 1783, and died in this county, June 27, 1873; the latter born in Virginia, July 5, 1790, and died in 1867. . .

Follow this link for the complete page: Bazil Rhodes, b. 1830, of Rush County, IN

New Page: Albert Rhodes, b. 1840, Montgomery Co., OH, of Rush County, IN

No Comments

ALBERT RHODES, of the village of Mays, Center Township, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, August 29, 1840, being the son of Lewis and Henrietta Rhodes, who were natives of Montgomery County, Ohio, and Rockingham County, Va., respectively. His father was the son of Philip Rhodes, and his mother was the daughter of Charles Yost. . . . .

Follow this link for the complete page: Albert Rhodes, b. 1840, Montgomery Co., OH, of Rush County, IN

New Page: Abraham Rhodes, b. 1810, Bedford Co., PA, of Rush County, IN

No Comments

ABRAHAM RHODES, who has resided in Center Township for the past fifty-two years, was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 20, 1810. He was the son of Jacob and Catharine Rhodes, who moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, when he was but seven weeks old. . . .

Follow this link for the complete page: Abraham Rhodes, b. 1810, Bedford Co., PA, of Rush County, IN