Author: Jack
I retired in 2008 and so I have more time now to devote to several of my interests The blog here is mainly for my interests in some current events but may have the occasional rant on other subjects. I have also decided to keep my genealogy posts and book reviews here instead of 2 additional blogs (and so simplify my life a little).

Charles Greer who escaped from Sing Sing

Charles Greer who escaped from Sing Sing

Posted on by Jack

I’ve written several times about the Charles Greer who escaped from Sing Sing in 1922. I believed he was the child of John and Julia Greer of New York City.

I did find a newspaper article that seemed to confirm I was right but I was hoping to find a second source. Yesterday I found it.

Ancestry.com now has added some Sing Sing admission records and a little searching led to the record of Charles Greer received in 1920 and convicted of murder as reported in the newspapers. Julia Greer of 1487 Amsterdam Ave, NYC was listed on the record.

The Rosie Effect: more than funny

The Rosie Effect: more than funny

Posted on by Jack

Let me start by saying The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion is the second book in a series.  I had read and reviewedThe Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion several months back.

I thought it was a great book which was laugh-out-loud funny. And the second book continues the humor. Continue reading “The Rosie Effect: more than funny”

Full Irish – political suspense

Full Irish – political suspense

Posted on by Jack

Mix a bit of suspense with politics in a fast moving and very entertaining novel and you have Full Irish by Pete Morin and Susanne O’Leary.

I was quickly drawn into the story when an Irish politician was murdered on his way to a meeting to deliver a small but mysterious package. The action quickly switches to a Boston law office and Massachusetts politics. And then back to Ireland. The 2 stories quickly come together in a transatlantic web of political intrigue and corruption.

I read Kindle edition so had no idea as to the number of pages. I just checked the Amazon site and they say the paperback has 260 pages. But it is fast paced and a quick read. I read the book in a few sittings. I have linked to a page that has both the kindle and paperback editions listed. I recommend the kindle if you have one and enjoy it. It is considerable cheaper.

At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you do too.

A History of New York in 101 Objects

A History of New York in 101 Objects

Posted on by Jack

Some love New York City or at least find it interesting. Some love to hate it. Some don’t care much one way or another. Unless you are in this last group, you probably will like this book.

I am now reading A History of New York in 101 Objects by Sam Roberts. Continue reading “A History of New York in 101 Objects”

Bipartisan cooperation lost

Bipartisan cooperation lost

Posted on by Jack

Is President Obama already missing the Republican cooperation he enjoyed during the first 6 years of his presidency?

After the recent election, some thought bipartisan cooperation was possible. I’m not sure why. There has been little evidence of bipartisan cooperation in recent years on most issues.

The Republicans warned President Obama not to “poison the well” by using his executive authority on immigration. Yet he did. From listening to reaction, I guess the spirit of bipartisan cooperation was lost. I’m wondering if President Obama already missing the Republican cooperation he enjoyed during the first 6 years of his presidency?

Chink Greer of the Slant Eyes

Chink Greer of the Slant Eyes

Posted on by Jack

According to the Yonkers NY Statesman of January 4, 1924, the Charles Greer who escaped from Sing Sing was known as Chink Greer of the Slant Eyes to the New York police and was a brother to Horace Greer of Mabel Normand scandal fame. The author of the article is unknown since a byline is not included but the article is called “Brother of Dines assailant killed local man in 1920”.

According to this article Charles “Chink” Greer developed a disease as a result of exposure of the elements During his escape and the two days before his recapture. After he was recaptured, he was sent to Clinton Prison in Dannemora, NY where is died on December 27, 1922.

Charles “Chink” Greer

Charles “Chink” Greer

Posted on by Jack

In my reading about collateral relatives I’ve been filling in information on the John Greer and Julia Mary Hopkins family of New York City, I found some interesting stuff on Charles John Greer, a son born around 1900.

The first hit that this might be interesting Continue reading “Charles “Chink” Greer”

Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania

Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania

Posted on by Jack

The state of Pennsylvania not only forbids local governments from regulating guns but went beyond that with a new NRA-supported law allowing the allowing the NRA and other organizations members with living in Pennsylvania or actual residents of the Commonwealth to sue the municipality for not only injunction to stop the law but for any actual or punitive financial damages they feel are warranted.

For example, Philadelphia and many other communities require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms. Since our state government will not act against making of “straw” purchases, many municipalities have. Both are important tools to fight gun trafficking without interfering with the possession of guns by ordinary citizens. Continue reading “Regulating Guns in Pennsylvania”

FREE online newspaper article

FREE online newspaper article

Posted on by Jack

Over the past couple weeks I wrote about finding online newspaper articles about a great grand uncle named Matthew H. Greer. I found several articles about his death and his will. Several articles from paid sites. But the final word on his will (at least so far) came from a newspaper I found in a free online newspaper article.

The free online newspaper article Continue reading “FREE online newspaper article”

A visit to the Big Duck

A visit to the Big Duck

Posted on by Jack

Last week we decided to visit the Big Duck.

BigDuck300

As you can see the duck is really big, dwarfing the flagpole and building in the Background of the picture. My wife and I decided to take a driving tour of part of Long Island and since the Big Duck was one one route we could take, we decided that was the way to go.

We thought we would use one day to explore the South Fork and visit the Hamptons and Montauk. We planned the day so our journey passed the Big Duck. We were staying in about mid-Island so we took the Long Island Expressway to the NY-24 exit just before Riverhead and headed south through Flanders, NY on route 24. The Big Duck was sitting there off to the left of route 24 as we went south before we reached route 27 and 27A.

Other than saying “you can’t miss it”, I don’t think more explicit directions are needed. After all, if you can’t see a 20 foot high duck by the side of the road, you probably should not be driving.

Matthew Greer, the younger, part 3

Matthew Greer, the younger, part 3

Posted on by Jack

So in the earlier installments of this story we had Matthew Greer dying in Great Neck, NY in 1936 and leaving his $ 10,000 estate to his niece Jennie Zweifel.

His sister Sarah Mahan was not mentioned at all in part 2 but some of you may have noticed her name in the tags. So what does Sarah have to do with it? Continue reading “Matthew Greer, the younger, part 3”

Matthew Greer, the younger, Part 2

Matthew Greer, the younger, Part 2

Posted on by Jack

So now Matthew Greer, the younger, is a bit less of a mystery to me. I have an arrival from Ireland in 1883 and a death in Great Neck, NY in the 1936. That was covered in Matthew Greer of Great Neck, NY part 1 of this story.

For those not familiar with the New York City area, Great Neck is on the north shore of Long Island. The area in often called the Gold Coast or some might prefer to call it Great Gatsby country. Continue reading “Matthew Greer, the younger, Part 2”

Horace A. Greer, New York City to Los Angeles

Horace A. Greer, New York City to Los Angeles

Posted on by Jack

I’ve been writing about Horace A. Greer who was born in New York City in 1894, moved to Los Angeles, got into the Mabel Normand Hollywood scandal in the 1920s, and kept a fairly low profile after that. I’m fairly certain he died in 1966 in the LA area since the California Death index records his death with birthday and his mother’s maiden name (Hopkins).

I’ve had found quite a few records Continue reading “Horace A. Greer, New York City to Los Angeles”

Matthew Greer of Great Neck, NY

Matthew Greer of Great Neck, NY

Posted on by Jack

I have often wondered about Matthew Greer, the younger. He was born in Sligo, Ireland shortly before the death of his father. I have written about his parents Matthew Greer and Ruth Allingham. Several of the Greer children had emigrated to New York and widowed Ruth Allingham Greer decided to join them taking her remaining 3 children with her. This was in 1883 and young Matthew was about 9 years old.

After that he vanished. Continue reading “Matthew Greer of Great Neck, NY”

Genealogy Trails

Genealogy Trails

Posted on by Jack

Genealogists look for information – mostly old information – having to do with our family history. We collect that information, try to figure out what is fact, and try to assemble a true history of our family.

But information can be hard to find. We often have to pay and sometimes that is worth while. But what I really like is when I find information for free. Continue reading “Genealogy Trails”