Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

from

Our House to Yours!

"Rule Breakers" In The Family?

Violet and Cecile White

I found this photograph of my grandmother Cecile White Howard (1917-1983) and her sister Violet White Hicks (1920-2005).    The sign in the middle says "DANGER  KEEP OFF". I don't know the story behind the picture, but it would appear we have a couple of daring rule breakers in the family!  I wonder of Grandmother White (Stella Holyfield White) knew.

If any White family cousins know the story behind this photograph, I would love to hear  (and share) it.

Blog Caroling

I'm happy to join in the blog caroling tradition started over at Footnote Maven. It's my first time "singing" on the blog.  What fun!

This is the time of year full of  high school choral concerts in our area.  There is a lot of talent in our area and it is a treat to hear the students sing.  

I am sharing Hark the Herald Angels Sing performed by a local high school choir a couple of years ago.  Enjoy!

Please, No More John Whites!

My research focus recently has been on my White family line out of Surry County, NC.  Another research and I are working hard to untangle the White families.  A daunting task to say the least.

My line looks like this:

Cecile White (my grandmother)  (1917-1983)

 James Abe White     (1891-1967)

 Thomas Jefferson White   (1851-1922)

 Joseph White    (Abt 1802-Abt 1881)

John White      (b. Abt 1770)
                                                         

These relationships are well established.  It's with Joseph's father John White where the research starts getting difficult.  There are John Whites in multiple NC counties and VA.  In the NC Will Index there are 34 John Whites listed scattered throughout NC.  Not one of them is the right one!

"My" John White and his sons came to Surry County likely in the late 1820's.  But where did they come from?   With which White family do they connect?  Many (unsourced) online trees have the family coming from Warren County, NC or possibly Granville County.  This is a very real possibility and one I'm checking out.

The search continues......

Addicted to Genealogy?

Who me?

(I hear my family laughing in the background.)

Are you?  Not sure?

Visit Dee at Ancestrally Challenged and read her post 100 Signs You Are Addicted to Genealogy.  It is a fun read!

I particularly liked #71:

Your ideal genealogy tool would be a time machine so you can go back in time to talk with your ancestors and get all those burning questions answered.

Did I mention I am a Dr Who fan, too?

Advent Calendar - Our Christmas Tree Tradition

I am participating in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories this month. I'll be sharing Christmas memories throughout the season -- some old and some new. This is a re-posting of a post I did  December 2009. It's one of our favorite traditions!

We have a unusual Christmas tradition in our family. We name our Christmas tree every year. It started many years ago we as my husband and I got a Christmas tree that leaned. We spent a long time trying to get that tree straight in the stand only to realize the trunk of the tree was straight about 2/3 of the way up. Then the trunk went off at an angle. We had a leaning tree. (Thank goodness the cats did not try to climb it!) We dubbed the tree Eileen.

Believe or not the next Christmas we had "Eileen, Too." Yep, that tree leaned, too.

The next year? We had George Straight.

Ever since then, we've named our Christmas trees. The names are never planned in advance. We let the tree "speak to us". This year we have Homer (because we got it at Home Depot) with us for the month of December.

How Is Your Holiday Shopping Going?

Need a little help?

Don't forget to check out Esther's Place - Heritage Gifts by Lisa.  (There is a button on my sidebar to take you there.)

You will find great personalized gifts such as Coasters, Decorative Tiles and Scrabble Tile Necklaces.  The Wine Glass Charms are proving very popular.  All feature photographs of your ancestors and/or relatives.

Here is a fun idea!  What mother would not enjoy having a scrabble tile necklace the the sweet face of her child/baby on it?  Teenagers also enjoy this necklace with their own photograph on it. Me?  I'm partial to my  great grandparents' photographs. (Of course, I am the family historian!)

Scrabble Tile Heritage Necklace

Not sure what a family member will like?  Not to worry.  Gift Certificates are now available.

Since these gift items are custom orders, don't wait too long to place your order!

I Did It! (Mostly)

The month of November I have been participating in NaBloPoMo.  The goal was to post to my blog every day  for the month.

And I did.

Mostly......  The Thanksgiving holiday  got me off track a bit.  Maybe it was all the stuffing I ate (?).  Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I learned quite a bit from this exercise in blogging.

• Planning is crucial.  I've never used an editorial calendar, but I can certainly see the advantages in one.
• A "tickler file" is a great resource.  Mine is just a pad of paper sitting on my desk where I can write down an idea for a post. There is no need to be fancy or even high tech. I just need to be able to write my ideas down when I think of them to keep from forgetting them later.  
• You "meet" lots of fun people with similar interests in the blogging world when you are tending to your blog consistently.
• My enjoyment of telling my ancestors' stories was reinforced.  Telling their stories was why I started this blog  and why I continue to blog.  I can't not tell their stories.

December begins tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to participating in Geneabloggers Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.  As I talk with my older relatives this Christmas season, I'm planning on talking about how they celebrated Christmas while growing up.  I'll let you know what I learn.

(PS - Don't look for a post every day.)

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy!

Arthur Crafton Talbott

27 Nov 1916 - 27 Feb 1993

Arthur "Crafton" Talbott

Age 3 years

Crafton Talbott as a Young Man 

Crafton Talbott and his "million dollar smile".

Dobson High School Basketball Team
1932-1933

This is a photograph from my grandmother's photo album.  She (Cecile White) played on the girls' team in high school.  Unfortunately she did not include a picture of the girls' team in her album.

Surnames of the boys' team players include Collins, Long, Melton and White, Folger, Sims, Monday, Cockerham, and Phillips.

While none of these young men are directly related to me, I suspect a couple may be cousins on collateral lines.  I wanted to share this photograph in case there are other Surry County, NC researchers who might researching these surnames.  I just might have other photographs of your ancestor.  One never knows where a photograph of an ancestor might turn up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday - Stella White

Stella (Holyfield) White

of 

Dobson, Surry, North Carolina

Needing Help Deciphering A Name

This is an entry in the 1826 Surry County, North Carolina List of Taxables.  I am having a difficult time deciphering this entry and wondered if my genealogy blogging friends could help.  I have a few ideas, but don't want to mislead anyone.


What are your thoughts?

Happy Birthday, Big Granddaddy!

Connie M. Howard

21 Nov 1891-10 Jan 1995

103 Years Old

My Ancestors' Signatures

I have recently begun intensely researching my White family line of Surry County, NC.  I am working with another White family researcher and we are making some great discoveries.  (I'll share more about the that in future posts.)

One of the fun things I found this week is the signature of my GGGG grandfather John White as he wrote it in Feb 1833.  A White is Albert White, the son of John.  These signatures are at the bottom of a bond naming John White as executor of his uncle John Seagrove's estate.

The last signature is that of Pleasant Venable.  I'm not sure yet where he fits into things.

There is much work to be done to be done on this White family line.  There are MANY White families out there and MANY men named John White.  All are not our ancestors.

If you are a White family researcher with Surry County connections, I'd like to hear from you.

They're Here!

I posted about DH winning a pickle guessing contest at the NC State Fair recently.

What did he win?

Pickles, of course.

And they are here!

Mt. Olive Pickle Prize Pack

This is the stuff family stories and family history is made of - the little things.

(I'm partial to the Kosher Dills myself.)

Friday Genealogy Quote

One of my cousins sent me some genealogy cartoons and quotes this week.  (Isn't having cousins great?) I thought I would share one of my favorites.

Family faces are magic mirrors.  Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.

-Gail  Lumet Buckley

To see more fun cartoons and quotes, go here.

Granddaddy and the CCC Part 3

Granddaddy (Lester Howard) was discharged from the Civilian Conservation Corps in June 1937.  I love how the Certificate of Discharge gives a description of his.  Brown Hair. Brown eyes.  Ruddy Complexion.  (Just what is a ruddy complexion?!) Five feet, 6 1/2 inches.  

The service record for my grandfather tells me much I already knew  from just having known him.  He was a good worker and  a great cook!   Granddaddy returned to his family in Sanford, NC.  Two years later he married Cecile White of Surry County, NC.

Wordless Wednesday - Comer Cousins

Tommie Sprinkle, Mary Comer, Webster Comer
Cecil White

Wordless Wednesday (with an explanation!)  This is a photograph from the teenage scrapbook of Cecile White Howard.  She's the tall girl in the back.  Mary and Webster Comer would have been her cousins, but I'm not so sure about Tommie Sprinkle.  I haven't found any other Sprinkles in the White family line.

I do have a number of photographs of my grandmother's friends and cousins taken in Surry County, NC.  If you are researching families in this area, let me know.  You never know.  I might have a photograph of your ancestor!

Talented Tuesday - Music In The Carr Family

Winnie Haley Carr
1891-1970

I think these photographs tell the story of how important music was in the Carr (and Haley) family. When the extended family gathered there was always music and dancing.

 Above is Winnie Carr, my great grandmother.  Not only did she play the guitar, she also played the banjo.  Her banjo is still in the family today.  Below is her oldest son Lawrence.

Lawrence Baker Carr
1910-1985

Lawrence also played the guitar and sang.   He and his younger brother Ernest even performed on the local radio station.  I believe this was in Danville, VA.  [Cousins -Let me know if I have the wrong location.]  Ernest had a good singing voice and sang in worship services while serving in the navy during WWII.

Carr and Haley Cousins - Do you have photographs of other family members with musical instruments? I'd love to share them here.

Pickles, Books and John White

Last week was an exciting week around here.  It all started with.....

Pickles.  DH found out he won the "pickle guessing" contest at the NC state fair earlier this month.  You know the contest - the one where you guess how many baby pickles are in the enormous jar.  We are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of his pickle prize pack. (Try saying that three times fast!)  I'm just hoping the prize pack does not arrive in an 18 wheeler delivery truck.

The excitement progressed onto....

Books.  I was notified later in the week that I had won a daily prize from BlogHer for participating in the NaBloPoMo.  This is the challenge I have taken to post to my blog every day for the month of November.  I am waiting for books from Penguin (Publishers) to arrive.  I love to read and am thrilled to have won books.

And then....

John White.  You knew there had to be some genealogy in here somewhere.  I was contacted by another White researcher who provided some wonderful clues to research regarding my ancestor John White of Surry County, NC.

Top all of this off with fall leaf color at its peak.  It truly was an exciting week!

Granddaddy and the CCC Part 3

CCC Buddies

My grandfather made a number of very good friends while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.  This photograph of Lester with his CCC buddies was taken in High Point, NC.  (After serving at the camp in Old Fort, NC, Granddaddy was transferred to a camp in High Point, NC.) I love the hats!  I know that even years later, Granddaddy and Clay McIntosh continued their friendship.  The two men and their families visited back and forth.

When Granddaddy started in the CCC he made $30 a month.  Here is what he did with that money:

We would send 25 dollars to our family and we got five dollars.  I sent mine to Aunt Ammie.  She a widow living on the farm with Grandfather Howard [Suggy Howard] and helping to care for Jewel and Clayton [Lester's siblings]. This I did about three years.  The five dollars took care of my cigarettes, (I smoked at that time.) hair cuts and maybe a date or two.  A movie cost ten maybe five cents and sandwich ten cents hot dog five cents.

Lester eventually transferred to the CCC camp in Yanceyville, NC where he was promoted to first cook and made $45.00 per month.  While there he helped feed two hundred men a day for more than two years.  To supplement his monthly salary he began selling belt buckles and fancy pillow covers. I would like to know the story behind those fancy pillow covers.  Where did he get them and who bought them?  I have to assume a lot of young women received these as gifts.

Granddaddy and the CCC Part 2

Lester Howard recovering from pneumonia

Not long after arriving at the CCC camp in Old Fort, NC, Granddaddy became ill.  Quite ill, actually.  Here are his words:

...I did not get out of bed.  When I did not report the C.O. and the company Dr., a Captain Kerr, came to check.  After examining me I was sent to the hospital with pneumonia for five weeks.  I was very sick.  High fever and packed in ice for several days.  The doctors did not give me much chance.  After the hospital I did not have any duties for some time......

There is more to come.......

Follow Friday

Here are a few of the fun and interesting things I found on the web this week. Check them out.  I'm sure you will find them interesting!

The Chart Chick:  I have enjoyed following the Janet as she is striving to stir her children's interest in genealogy.   She is very creative and I look forward to trying to implementing some of her ideas.

(Mis)Adventures of a Genealogy:  Cinamon shared a great link to the American Meteorological Society where one can discover the weather of your ancestors. Want to know what the weather was like in the early 1900's?Go here to check it out.  I spent a little too much time playing exploring this website.

Pinterest:  Pinterest is essentially a visual bookmarking site. Instead of bookmarking a website, one bookmarks a visual image. Each image has a link back to the website it came from. These images can be organized into virtual bulletin boards. While not a genealogy website, if you type "family history" or "genealogy" into the search box, many related images (and ultimately links) result.  I enjoy displaying my family heritage as well as making family heritage crafts.  I found lots of good ideas on Pinterest.  I've also found a number of family history books I would like to read through this site.  One needs an "invite" to participate at Pinterest; however, I just clicked "Request and Invite" and one appeared in my e-mail inbox.  Quite simple, really!

CCC Camp and my Grandfather

My grandfather James Lester Howard (Lester) was a good cook.  It was not unusual to wake up and find him in the kitchen making a full breakfast.  I was particularly fond of his cooked apples.  He told us he learned to cook when he served in the CCC camps as a young man.

It was many years later as I pursued my family history that I began to wonder exactly what was the CCC camp that Granddaddy talked about.  He occasionally talked about things he did at the camp.  He talked about being the cook.  He told us stories about how sick he got from pneumonia.  Granddaddy saw his first snowfall while serving in the CCC.  To a kid, it sounded a little like summer camp.

But then that changed.  

I came into possession of my grandfather's journal written in the 1990's.  The journal is fairly short, but much of his writing is about his experience in the CCC. Looking beneath the words the reader finds what Granddaddy did not say in words.  His experience with the CCC had a tremendous impact on his life.  He made life long friends there and for the first time was able to enjoy a little spending money.

I'll let Granddaddy tell most of his story, but first a little background on the CCC.

The CCC camp or Civilian Conservation Corps was a work relief program put in place by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 during the Great Depression.  The program was designed for unmarried men ages 18-25.  Many of the men enrolled were from "relief families". These men worked to develop and restore federal, state and local natural resources.  In return, the men were provided with a small salary.  They were organized into companies and resided in  military type camps.  Examples of the projects they worked on were erecting fire towers, planting of trees in federal forests, building of fire roads and working on soil erosion projects.

(You can learn more about the CCC  here and here.  PBS aired an excellent documentary on the CCC entitled American Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps. ) 

Excerpted from journal of Lester Howard:

July 14-1994

A Mr. Cashier who came Down to fish and hunt told us about The CC Camps.  I had never heard about.  Had first started about six months before. Paying thirty dollars a month.  We would send 25 dollars to our family and we got five dollars.  ........

After signing we were sent to Fort Bragg for physicals about 3 weeks.  This was November 1933 [Granddaddy was 18 years old.] I choose to go to Old Fort from there.  So did Robert [Robert Johnston was the son of Cornie Maddox Johnston and first cousin to Lester.] I had never been to the mountains.  There were icles [icicles] hanging off those cliffs six feet long.  I began to wonder if I was in the right place.

The CCC provided my grandfather not only a way to financially assist his family, but also an opportunity to see a different part of the state.  I remember him talking about those icicles.  For a teenager from the Sandhills of NC, the cold was quite a shock!

Stayed tuned!  There is more to the story to share!

Wordless Wednesday - Stella and James Abe White

Stella (Holyfield) and James Abe White
of Surry County, NC
1963 - 50th Wedding Anniversary
My Great Grandparents

Tombstone Tuesday: Another Interesting Tombstone

This is a tombstone for Rachel Blythe, wife of A G Bauer.  She died in 1897 at the age of 26.  The stone is located in the Oakwood Cemetery in Wake County, NC.  Rachel's husband was an architect and erected this stone monument for his wife.   Her photograph is attached inside the columns.  It is damaged, but her image is still visible.  This is the first time I have seen a person's photograph on a tombstone.  Quite a lovely tribute to his young wife.

I did find interesting the fact that husband and wife had different surnames.  I wonder if Blythe was Rachel's maiden name?

(Cousins- Just in case you are wondering, this is not one of our ancestors.)

A Favorite Resource

For those of you who research in North Carolina, I wanted to share with you a resource I use regularly.  It is the 2009 edition of Guide to County Records in the North Carolina State Archives published by the North Carolina  Office of Archives and History.    This is a wonderful resource that lists the original and microfilmed records of each NC county that are housed at the NC Archives.  As I develop my research plans, I consult my copy to determine which records the archives have.  That way, I can be more efficient with my actual time in the archives.

For example, when I was researching the Howard/Harward family living in Moore County, NC in the mid-late 1800's, I consulted my guide.  I quickly learned that Moore County is a "burned" county. Land records and many court records prior to the courthouse fire in 1889 were mostly lost, so I knew not to spend time looking for these.  I did discover that one tax book from 1852-1860 survived the fire.  This surviving record was one of a few to survive the fire and fortunately I was able to place my ancestors in a specific location in the county for that time period.  I was able to complete this part of my research fairly quickly since I knew what to look for ahead of time.

Do any other NC researchers use this regularly?

(I ordered my copy from here.)

Baby Care 1940's Style

Back in the summer I became the curator of sorts (if you will) of several generations worth of family history material.  Among my grandmother's things I found this large envelope.

I opened it to find this:

A Baby care manual published by The Parent's Institute, Inc. out of New York. (That really is a cute baby on the front cover!)

This is the table of contents of all the articles in the manual - articles that are not really that different from the magazines today.  For example there is Caring for you newborn infant, This is the Way a Baby Grows, and Guard Against Children's Diseases.  My favorite was the article on a new mother's schedule.  According to the article, after caring for the baby and the home a new mother should have an hour of "free time" in which to entertain friends or do something for herself.  Entertaining never crossed my mind in those "newborn days"!

Actually, this manual appears is in excellent condition.  Almost untouched. I wonder if my grandmother even used it.  

A Good Deed

These two photographs bring back some fun memories.  Not so much of the horse (maybe pony?), but the story behind how my grandfather Lester Howard came to own her.

First, let me introduce you to my grandfather:

He was the true Southern Gentleman.  The caretaker in the family.  He never met a stranger.  So, it was no surprise when he bought a raffle ticket to support the local boy scouts. 

The problem came when he won the raffle.  The prize?  A mare.  Did I mention that the mare was pregnant? You can just make out the baby behind its mother.

I personally was thrilled!  I was just a little girl and had visions of riding the pony through the pastures.  The pony and I would be best friends.  In reality, I was scared of it!

Just where does a man with no farm keep a pony?  On a friend's farm, of course. (I still remember Mr. McKinney and his small farm.  We used to fish in his pond.)

The following year my grandfather graciously donated the mare and her offspring back to the Boy Scouts to be raffled off.  

No, Granddaddy did not buy a raffle ticket!

Follow Friday

Here is another edition of Follow Friday featuring some of the interesting things I have found on the internet this week.

I'll start with NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month.  (I talked about this yesterday.) Head over to BlogHer to find out more about the challenge to bloggers to post every day the month of November.

I like Harriet's take on blogging this month over at Genealogy Fun.  She's blogging about things she is thankful for.  A great reminder to us all.  Thanks, Harriet!

Free Genealogy Resources provided some food for thought with the post Personal Feelings and Genealogy.  I'd be interested in hearing others' thoughts on how to handle information we find that can be painful to others in the family.

Enjoy!

Family Interviews

I had FB message from a cousin last week telling me about an elderly cousin who was a teenager when my great grandmother Mattie Maddox Howard died.  She remembers Mattie.

How have I let this cousin slip off my "family history interview" radar? I'll be making plans shortly to interview this lovely lady.

I have come to realize there are many in the family lines that still need to be interviewed. Some for a first time. Some for a second (or third) time.   I recognize that I am fortunate to have so many relatives to interview.

It's time to step out of the archives and/or away from the computer databases.  It's time to tap into the family sources.  It's time to learn what the records cannot tell me.

Cousins- I'm going to need your help with this.  I've started a list, but let me know who you think I should interview about the family history.

I challenge my fellow genealogists to seek out family members to interview this holiday season.

National Blog Posting Month

November appears to be the National Blog Posting Month.  Participating bloggers post to their blog every day during the month.  Should I do it?  Can I do it?

Cinamon at (Mis)Adventures of  a Genealogist and Michelle at The Turning of Generations have inspired me to jump in with them.  It is a daunting task.  (I'm already behind a day!) Will I have enough ideas?  Geneabloggers and BlogHer  are both great places to find blogging prompts.  I don't usually use a lot of blogging prompts.  Mostly, I post on what is on my mind and that might account for the irregularity in my posting.

So, I'm taking the challenge.

Thanks Cinamon and Michelle for the inspiration!

A Matter of Focus

I missed an anniversary date recently.  (Fortunately, my husband remembered and got the card out in a timely manner.)

As the family historian one would think I would remember birthdays, anniversaries, etc. After all, a day rarely goes by when I don't work with dates of some sort.

My daughter quipped that maybe I should just focus on important dates for the living family members!  Ouch!
(I'm sure I'll convert her to the genealogical way of thinking one day!)

Advice From The Expert

I was fortunate to spend the day at the North Carolina Genealogical Society's fall workshop today.  Barbara Vines Little spent the day speaking on colonial research.  I have heard Barbara speak on other occasions and was eagerly looking forward to hearing her speak again.  Her specialty is colonial research in Virginia.

Colonial Virginia. 1760's.  King and Queen County.  That's precisely where my Howard (or is it Harward?) line is stuck.

As far as Virginia research goes, King and Queen County is not a good place to be stuck.  It is a burned county.  Twice.  There are no records for the time period I am researching.

At the first break I approached Barbara to inquire if there were possibly any ways to research this time and place in history that I had not thought of.  When I explained the county and time period I was interested, she smiled and said, "You have my sympathy."  (I get that a lot in my colonial VA research!)

But all is not lost.  Barbara went on to give me some ideas and areas for research that could possibly lead to clues about the Howards (Harwards).  These areas of further research may be long shots, but I'll never know until I look.

If this next phase of my research doesn't find any results..... DNA anyone?

Follow Friday

I love blogs!  I read many during the week and think "I need to share that!".

But then I get busy and forget to write it down.  Forget to share it. (Does anyone else do this? Please tell me I am not the only one.)

I'm trying to be more organized about keeping up with the Follow Friday theme.  This week I have succeeded. Yeah!

So, here goes....

What I have seen in the blog world this week!

• Top Scariest Things in Genealogy over at Family Cherished.  I identified with this one  a little too much.
• Geniaus has started The Ancestors' Geneameme.  I'm looking forward to participating in this geneameme.
• I really enjoyed this post on It's Time to Change the Game  at For Your Family Story. Caroline shares an insightful article into the changing times of genealogy.

Enjoy the weekend!

Christmas Ornaments at Esther's Place

The holidays are coming!  I know many of us are still wearing shorts, but the calendar does confirm the holidays ware coming.

I am not singing Jingle Bells yet, but I have developed new Christmas ornaments that can be personalized with your ancestors' photographs.  You will find them over at Esther's Place. (Click here or the button on my sidebar.)

Memory Frame Christmas ornaments have a photograph on each side.  You could have an ornament with a husband on one side and the wife on the other.  You never have to worry about the ornament facing the right way! Another suggestion is using two photographs of the same person at different ages.

These look great on the Christmas tree and can be conversation starters as you celebrate the holidays.

Scrabble Tile Christmas Ornaments look great on a miniature Christmas tree!  These small ornaments create a fun "family tree".  These ornaments come in sets of six.  You can also order a Miniature Christmas tree already decorated with 12 scrabble tile ornaments.

Stop by Esther's Place today!  (Just click the button on the top right of the sidebar.)

Looking for something a little different?  Check out the Heritage Coasters and Decorative Tiles.  They make great gifts!

New! Wine Glass Charms At Esther's Place

Have you ever set your wine glass down only to discover later you cannot remember which glass is yours?  Wine glass charms to the rescue!

These cute wine glass charms are made from scrabble tile and personalized with your photographs. Coming in a set of six (6), you will be ready for hosting your next get together.  No more forgetting which wine glass is whose!  These little charms are great conversation starters as well.

Want a set for a gift?  For yourself? (Don't forget the holidays are coming!)


Here's how:

• Go to Esther's Place.
• Complete the order and checkout process. 
• E-mail the photographs you wish to use to LissonGenealogy@yahoo.com .

That's it!  Pretty easy, right?

Looking for something a little different?  Be sure and check out the Heritage Coasters and Decorative Tiles.

Unidentified Photograph - Can You Help?

It has been a while since I have posted a photograph of unidentified individuals.  The above photograph was among the belongings of my great grandmother Esther Lee Richardson.  I am not sure if these young men are ancestors of mine or just friends of Esther's.  (She had a lot of friends and a lot of beaus!)  I suspect this photograph was taken in the Danville, VA area or in the South Boston,VA area.  

If you recognize any of these young men, let me know!

Reunion Tip Updates

Last week I asked for tips on how to plan a family reunion. (You can see that post here.)  I received great tips both in the comments and in my e-mail.  In fact the tips were so great I wanted to share some of them with all of you.  If you are also looking at organizing a family reunion, you might find these helpful.

1. Be prepared to work longer than you think.
2. Plan, Plan, Plan!
3. Covered dished works well for the food.  Everyone is guaranteed to have something they like.
4. Divide the guest alphabetically by first name.  A-H brings a meat dish, I-S brings a vegetable of side dish, and T-Z brings a dessert. 
5. Ask people to bring photographs or other family heirlooms to share.
6. Take lots of pictures.
7. Have a good database of names and addresses.  Send out invitations 6-8 weeks ahead of time.
8. Announce the reunion on-line in surname lists (such as found on Rootsweb).
9. June can be a good time to hold a reunion - when the children are get out of school.
10. Have activities for the little ones.

Lastly....

   11. Enjoy the day!

A Forgotten Source?

I had the experience of talking with a woman at a local nursing home recently.  She was hard of hearing and difficult to understand at times.  What she said did not always make sense in the conversation. 

Until…..

She started talking about her grandmother.

Her face lit up.  Her eyes became brighter.  And the stories began to flow.

She told me:

·         What her grandmother was best known for cooking. 

·         How many children she had. (A lot!)

·         Twins ran in the family (and who had the twins).

·         Where her great grandmother was from.

 While oral history is often subject to the errors of one’s memories, truth and/or clues to the truth are often embedded within these histories. 

 What this gentle woman taught me was despite her cognitive deficits associated with her old age, she was still a valuable resource to the family historian or genealogist.  Do we sometimes overlook the opportunity to interview a relative simply because her memory is slipping?

 If we do, I think we may be missing out on a lot.

SLIG is Having A Blog Contest

The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (that’s SLIG for short) will be holding their annual genealogical institute on January 23-27, 2012.  Five day courses are offered in tracks and taught by some of the best educators in the field of genealogy.  (Oh, I wish I were planning to go!) It is definitely on my list of genealogical institutes to attend “sometime”.  Samford’s IGHR is another institute I hope to attend.

               

While I have no current plans to go, I put together my top three choices for course tracks for if I did go. I would put Course 8: Beyond the Library: Using Original Source Repositories being taught by John Colletta.  Over the past few months I have researched in rural county courthouses and discovered this has become one of my favorite ways to research. I would like to learn more about using other original source repositories.  (I have also never taken a class by John Colletta that wasn’t great!)

Course 10: Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum taught by Angela McGhie would be a wonderful course to take.  As a genealogist, one can never get enough “hands on” analysis practice.  Being able to talk it through with other genealogists can prove to be very helpful.

A few years ago I attended the NCGS (North Carolina Genealogical Society) Fall workshop on using land records.  I was fortunate to hear Rick Sayre present several lectures on this subject.  I was just starting out and learned so much those two days.   He and his wife Barbara Sayre will be teaching Course 11: Advanced Research Tools: Land Records.  This is an area I would like to strengthen my skills.

Those would be my top three choices if I were actually going to SLIG 2012.  (A girl can dream, can’t she?)  Actually all of the course tracks look fantastic.  To pick three favorites, much less just one to actually attend would prove difficult.

To find out more information about SLIG, check out their website at www.slig.ugagenealogy.org . If you are a blogger and would like to participate in SLIG's blog contest you can find the rules here.

A Reunion - Is It Time?

Ever since I started tracing family lines, I have dreamed of organizing a family reunion.  I confess the thought excites me, but also has me a little anxious!  (Okay, maybe a lot anxious.)  Other than hosting children's birthday parties and the occasional family Christmas, hosting large events has not been high on my priority list.

But it's time.


I thought I would start with the Howard (or Harward) family.  There are a number of cousins (on the direct and collateral lines) who still live in the area where the Howards settled in North Carolina.  Organizing a reunion in North Carolina seems a little less daunting for my first one than trying to organize one out of state.


Here's where I ask for help/suggestions from those of you who have done this! 
(Thanks to those cousins who have already given me some great ideas!)

What is the best time of year to have a reunion?  Summers are usually more flexible for families, but it sure is hot that time of year.

What are some fun ways to share the family history?


What are your tips and tricks to a successful reunion?


Haley Cousins -- Don't feel left out!  You're next on my list, so be thinking!

For Shakespeare Lovers

Charles Johnstone MacBeth

Someone in my house is a Shakespeare fan, so I could not resist taking a photograph of this tombstone in the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC.

IN MEMORY 

of

CHARLES JOHNSTONE MACBETH

Eldest Son of 

Hon. Chas MacBeth

and Henrietta G. Ramenel

his wife.
Born Dec. 22nd 1835.
Died April 30th 1880.
-------
A devoted son and fond husband
An esteemed and valued citizen
and friend

I'm Published!

Two years ago I attended a Cousins' Weekend where I presented the Howard (Harward) and the Maddox genealogies. When I had the opportunity to attend Cousins' Weekend again this year, I wanted to share more of our family history.

About who? And how?

The "who" question was obvious - Mattie Maddox Howard.  Mattie is my great grandmother and my cousins' grandmother.  Sadly none of us knew her.

The "how" question proved a little more daunting.  I wanted to write a book.  Never mind I had never done this  and didn't know where to start. I did the only thing I knew to do. I just started writing.

And now I've completed it.
 

My goal has been accomplished.  I am a published author! (My children were impressed at least!)

Excerpt from Mattie's Story:

As a child, I frequently visited my grandfather's attic.  It was always lots of fun to see the Christmas decorations stored away or the knick knacks my grandmother put away for another day.  But always, I studied the portrait of my great grandmother Mattie Howard that was stored up there.  I wondered about her.  Perhaps I thought if I stared at her portrait long enough and concentrated hard enough, she would tell me her secrets.....


Mattie didn't tell me her secrets in that attic, but her portrait did spark a curiosity that years later started my pursuit to discover who my great grandmother really was.


Mattie's Story can be ordered from Lulu.com.

Worship At Moore Union

I had an opportunity this weekend to worship at Moore Union Christian Church in Lee County, NC.

Moore Union is the church where my maternal grandfather Lester Howard attended as a child. Multiple generations of Howards, Letts, and Womacks have worshipped here over the years. Many in the small cemetery beside the church are my ancestors. It was a treat to worship in the same church where four generations before me did the same.

The Moore Union congregation welcomed my cousins and myself warmly and graciously into their midst. We appreciate their hospitality.

(I even met a cousin.)

October Is Family History Month

It is hard to believe that September has come to a close and October is here.  I know that fall officially started at the end of September, but it never feels like fall to me until October.  (Maybe that's because I am still wearing shorts in September!)

October also begins Family History month.  In looking at family history month resources on the internet, I came across the Family History site for the State Library of NC.

Their site has an incredible number of resources available.  If your ancestors have North Carolina roots, be sure to visit their site.  Links to many of NC's resources including historical maps and newspapers of the state.  Links to family Bibles as well as funeral home records/obituaries are there, too.

Lots of fun facts are included as well. For example,  did you know that Elvis Presley's ancestors came to NC in the 1740's?

As you celebrate Family History Month, don't forget to interview the relatives that you do know!  Oral histories provide a such a rich background to our research.

Apparently Someone Has Been Listening!

When I began pursuing my genealogy, I quickly learned that the spellings of names was very inconsistent to say the least.  I began keeping a log of the spelling variations I would find for each surname. I would share some of the more unusual spellings with anyone within earshot.

It would appear someone has been listening!

Recently one of the children was filling out a form asking for your mother's maiden name.  My child looked up and asked "Which spelling should I use? One "t" or two?"

Giveaway Winner

The winner of the 6 x 6 decorative tile from Esther's Place is Debbie over at Blanton Family Roots and Branches. 

Congratulations, Debbie!

It's The Last Day....

...to participate in the giveaway for a 6 x 6 tile from Esther's Place.  Be sure to go here and leave a comment letting me know you want to enter.  That's all.  Pretty easy, right?

Tombstones and Resumes

I thought about entitling this post :

Now Why Couldn't My Ancestors Do That?!

(I think you will see why is a minute.)

I found the historic cemeteries in Charleston, SC absolutely fascinating.   So many of the gravestones provided an incredible wealth of information on the person they represented. It like having a resume on the gravestone. For instance:

This is the gravestone for Captain James Ross, buried in the Presbyterian Church on Meeting Street in the historic district of Charleston.  The transcription of the stone is as follows:

HERE REST

The Mortal Remains of 

CAPTAIN JAMES ROSS

A native of the Town of Lerwick,

North Britain.

For upwards of Thirty Years,

He commanded vessels out of this Port,

And for the last Sixteen Years

Resided here permanently

As a Member of the Board of Port Wardens

And most of that time as its Chairman

The duties of which he discharged

Most faithfully

____________________of his existence

He was in the fullest sense

An Honest Upright and Noble hearted Man.

He died in this City
On the 8th October 1856
Aged 70 Years, 8 Months,
And 9 Days.
Justly and sincerely lamented
By a numerous acquaintance
And many sincere Friends.

This gentleman's name, age, place of birth, death dates, place of residence, and his occupation are all listed.  The information on Captain Ross's stone can also lead the researcher to other records for the city that mention him.  Records leading to other records is always a good thing.

Tombstone Tuesday - Gravestones and Their Stories

On my recent trip to Charleston, SC I spent a lot of time wandering the historic cemeteries.  I was drawn by the stories these cemeteries told just by the gravestones that were there.  The artwork and symbolism can tell so much about the person (and the family) buried there.

 As I wondered the cemeteries, I wondered what I could learn about a person or family by just what was in the cemetery.  No computer look-ups. No prior knowledge of the family.  No other information than what was literally in front of me.

And that's when I found myself in front of the James and Elizabeth Ladson family plot in St. Michael's Church on Meeting Street. This gravestone in particular caught my attention.

This gravestone has six (6) Ladson children listed!  It was a bit difficult to read in the cemetery and in the photograph, but modern technology (i.e. Picasa) helped me decipher it.

• Robert Gilmore Ladson - died 26 May 1828, aged 1 year 53 days
• Frederick Fraser Ladson - died 29 Jun 1830,aged 4 years 6 months
• Judith Eliza Ladson - died 2 Jul 1830, aged 9 years 11 months
• Eliza Caroline Ladson - died 23 Jun 1835, aged 10 months 6 days
• Charlotte Josephine Ladson - died 25 Jul 1837, aged 6 months 2 days
• James Ladson - died 6 Jul 1839, aged 17 years

Five of the children died before the age of 10 years. All died in the early summer months.  

Why?

Here are a few of my theories:

• Charleston, SC is very hot and muggy during the summer months.  It is also very "buggy".  (Wear bug repellent when exploring this city's cemeteries!  I learned the hard way.)  Mosquitoes and other bugs can carry illnesses.  Perhaps this was a contributing factor in these children's deaths.
• With the young age of the the first five children listed, could there be a genetic disorder present in this family? Or at the very least, a genetic predisposition toward weak a immune system.
• Early medicine being what is was, the children may have died from common childhood illnesses.

In addition to the six children above, Elizabeth Ladson lost at least one other daughter in early adulthood as well as her husband.  There is no doubt about it.  Life was hard for this family.  It is hoped that in the midst the grief, joy was also found.

Esther's Place Giveaway!

If you haven't already, visit Esther's Place, my online store for heritage crafts. Just click the button on the top right sidebar to take you there.  I think you will enjoy your visit.

To celebrate the opening of Esther's Place, I am giving away one 6x6 decorative tile to one lucky winner.

How do you enter the giveaway?

So glad you asked.

Just leave a comment below telling me you would like to enter.  That's all.  Easy, right?
The contest will close on Wednesday night (9/28/11) at 11:59.  I will use Random.org to select the winner.

Genealogy and Physical Therapy

As I meet genealogists through my blog or at an event, I am always fascinated by the various backgrounds we bring to genealogy research.  I've met genealogists with backgrounds in business, teaching, law and more.

By training I am a physical therapist.  Specifically, I am an acute (hospital) PT.

Genealogy and physical therapy - an odd combination, don't you think?  Well, maybe not.

As a physical therapist, I evaluate a patient's problem, develop a treatment plan, and carry out that plan. Isn't that what I do as a genealogist?

1. First I identify the research focus. (This would be the patient's problem). 
2. I analyze what is already known about the research question. (This would be the patient's medical history.)
3. I determine what other information is needed. (This would be hands on evaluation of a patient's problem.)
4. I develop a research plan to address the central question. (This would be treatment plan.)
5. I carry out the research plan. (This would be carrying out the patient's treatment plan.)
6. I re-evaluate the research plan and adapt it based on research findings.  (I re-evaluate the patient frequently and make adjustments to their treatment as needed.)

Whether I am working as a genealogist or a physical therapist, I use both my analytic skills and my interview/people skills. "Thinking outside the box" is helpful in both as well.

Genealogy Buddies

Enjoying Lunch in Charleston

This week I tagged along with DH to a conference in Charleston, SC.  After all, I couldn't resist all the history in that historic city.  I spent a lot of time wandering the streets looking at the historic houses and the cemeteries. I suppose it is a sign of genealogical maturity that I spent more time in the cemeteries than I did in the shops!

One of  the highlights was having lunch with Vicki of my ProGen study group.  We enjoyed a very southern lunch of delicious Po' boy catfish sandwiches. (If you find yourself in the South sometime, be sure and try one.)  Vicki and I talked genealogy almost non-stop.  How fun to talk genealogy with someone whose eyes do not glaze over at the mention of the word ancestor.

Esther's Place

Esther's Place is my new online store featuring custom heritage crafts designed to share your family history.  As a genealogist and the family historian, I have frequently found myself attempting to share our family history without seeing my listener's eyes glaze over.

You know that feeling, don't you?  I needed to be sneaky  more creative in sharing the family history.

Heritage Coasters and Tiles

The numerous photographs of my ancestors sparked the idea for my Heritage Coasters.  From there the ideas kept coming and the Decorative Tiles were developed.  You know what?  Friends and family ask me about the ancestors in the photograph on a coaster (or tile).  Somehow, stories with a photograph seem more real.

Coaster Featuring Cecil White Howard

So, you're invited to stop by and look around.  Simply click on the button at the top of my sidebar to go to  Esther's Place. Let me know if I can help you with anything.

Be sure to check back often.  New products are in the making!

**Esther's Place is named for my great grandmother Esther Lee Richardson Talbott (1896-1923).