Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandaddy!

James "Lester" Howard

b. 23 Apr 1915

d. 28 Apr 2004

A Must Have For a Research Trip!

This is a very important item I take on my research trips. As often happens, I underestimated the time I needed (i.e. wanted) at the NC Archives.  Breakfast was long past and the lunch hour was approaching.  I was on the trail of a new record and not willing to give up the search.  So... a quick break with a high protein snack and I was back to my search.  (Yes, I did go on to make a great find.)

Wordless Wednesday Who Could They Be?

Three  Unidentified Women


This is a large (almost 8 x 10) photo of three unidentified women.  They are likely from Pittsylvania County, VA.  The photo was in the collection of my great grandmother Esther Lee Richardson Talbott.  Some in the family believe the women may have been school teachers.  They do have the school teacher "look".  Anyway, if any cousins or Virginia researchers recognize these women, I would love to hear from you.  (As usual, my Wordless Wednesday is never really wordless!)

A New Set of Records!

During a recent visit to the NC Archives, I came across Wake County, NC Road and Bridge Records, 1800- 1869  by Stewart E Dunaway. Recently published, this book describes original road records/petitions for a 69 year time span.  Imagine my excitement when I discovered 2 generations of my ancestors listed on one of the documents.  I immediately requested the original records.  

 This document is a petition written in July 1823 requesting a road from Orange County, NC to the meeting house in Holly Springs, Wake, NC:

"....we the undersigned petitioners request...for a road leading from the County of Orange through a part of this County [Wake] beginning and most convenient to a road in the settlement of Edward Harris thence tracing or nearly tracing an old road said by some of the old fellows said to be laid off 30 or 50 years ago leading by  Luis Hopson, Joseph Barbee, Josiah Barbee, Justin Sears, ________, James Harward... to the Holly Spring Meeting House."

The petition was then signed by 47 men including my GGGGG Grandfather James Harward and his son my GGGG Grandfather George Harward.  What an incredible document that showed the neighbors living along this proposed road.  James Harward is the very first signature.

I have used county court records that name road crews as a means of placing my ancestors close to their neighbors, but I had never thought to look for this type of petition.  This particular petition also came with a map! Yes, I did the "happy dance" with this find.

Happy Blogiversary (A Day Late)!



I can't believe I missed my second blogiversary!  That is correct.  Are You My Cousin is two years old as of yesterday.  I started this blog to simply share the stories of my ancestors.  Through sharing my ancestors' stories I discovered new friends and new (actually related to me) cousins.  How fun is that!
Why did I miss the party?  I was making memories with the current generation, of course.

Look what I got recently!  I am so excited, and a little intimated, too. One of my goals for the year is to become more intentional and consistent with sourcing my information.  I also want to be more comfortable with the whole process.  What better place to learn than Evidence Explained  Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace  by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  While I knew I had lots of room for improvement, I really thought I was doing "okay" on the citing my sources (if you don't count my early work!).  Oh, my!  The process of reviewing my past work and correctly citing my sources is humbling and a bit tedious, but I am already feeling more comfortable with my sources. And well, that's the goal. 

A Rare Photo

This is one of the few photographs of Elton Carr with her first husband Beverly Dixon. In her journal, Elton wrote the the date she met Beverly (August 1930) and his address on Leigh St in South Boston, VA. Beverly was born about 1914 to Nathaniel Dixon of Halifax County, VA. I have yet to find the date that Beverly and Elton married.  Unfortunately their marriage was cut short when Beverly was killed in a car accident soon after they married.  The above photo was taken at the Pheobe Ann Community House on Mountain Road outside of South Boston, VA.

Haley and Carr Cousins:  If you have memories of Elton and Beverly, please share.