Genealogy Help and Tools

15 Apr 2020
Ultimate Blog Challenge

By now if you have been following my blog, you have learned that two of my favorite things to do are CRAFTING and GENEALOGY. 

For the April Ultimate Blog Challenge, I chose the theme of  

G E N E A L O G Y

Working on my family tree is very relaxing for me. I enjoy learning the history of my Ancestors as well as meeting new family that I never knew existed. Hearing their family stories about a common ancestor intrigues me. Especially if I hadn't heard of it before. 

I also enjoy seeing the photographs of my ancestors, young and old. In fact, if you have been following my blog - I have discussed photos quite often. I LOVE photos and if you were to look at my family tree, you would see what I mean. Photographs tell the stories that otherwise seem to go untold. But genealogy doesn't start or stop with the photographs. Even though they are amazing 'most' of the time! 

There's so much more to genealogy than just putting a name on a piece of paper or into an application on the internet. C'mon, we all can write our name, add our parents and call it a Family Tree...and trust me, many people out there in the world do JUST that! I find that aggravating, to say the least - but that's my own opinion. Sometimes, that's all a person knows and even at best - they may not even know the mother or the father. Which could be one of the reasons they started their family tree in the first place. Another reason a person starts a family tree is to learn their origins. In other words, where they are from or better yet, their ancestors. 

One of the first things a person does when they start their family tree journey is to fill out a Family Group Sheet (FGS). 

I'll use myself as an example. WIFE - I'd put my name there. Then I'd fill out the rest of the information pertaining to me. One thing for women - - ALWAYS use your "maiden" name!!! Continue filling out the rest of the page with the pertinent information. 

Then, once this is completed - create another FGS one for your mother and your father. If you are married, do one for your spouse or significant other. Before you know it, you have the beginnings to fill your tree in with. 

Whether or not you are building a family tree with an actual paper trail or online, you will want to do your research. I'll help you get started by giving you a few site names that can assist on your ancestral journey. 

According to Genealogy In Time, the Top 20 out of 100 Genealogy Websites in 2016 and the last time I checked, the list hadn't been updated. 

1. Ancestry.com
2. Find A Grave
3. FamilySearch
4. MyHeritage
5. Ancesty.co.uk
6. Geni.com
7. GeneaNet
8. Newspapers.com
9. Ancestry.com.au
10. FindMyPast UK
11. Family Tree DNA
12. Ancestry.ca
13. Archives.com
14. MooseRoots
15. WikiTree
16. Genealogy.com
17. FamilyTreeNow
18. Fold3
19. Genealogy Bank
20. GEDmatch

I use many on the list of 100 and out of the Top 20 - I use more than half of these sites. There are many different avenues a person can take when it comes to genealogy research. Like anything else, the work must be put into it, and everything needs to be vetted to ensure accuracy so your records are as factual as can be. After all, these ARE your roots we are talking about. 

Another great resource for research is National Archives or even your local library. I've also found that even on the City websites, many of them have a historical area. I learned this last year by accident when I was helping a cousin look for information on a Great Grandfather. I believe he was like her 5th or 6h (I don't remember exactly). We were thinking outside of the box and we were spot on. Not only did we find newspaper articles on this individual, but we also found church records that the city had archived on their site. We were elated! 

Here are a few other sites that might be beneficial to your research. 

https://tx.countygovernmentrecords.com/texas/web/ - This site is used to search for documents that have been recorded in the County Clerk's office in various counties. 

www.deathindexes.com  - Find death indexes for different states. (free site but be careful what you click on as some states have links to pay sites). 

www.tshaonlilne.org/handbook/online -  Texas Handbook Online, where you can find some interesting information on different people and places that make up Texas. 

www.genrootsblog.blogspot.com

I would also encourage you to do a DNA test if you are starting a family tree. This can also prove to be very useful in your research. Several times a year, Ancestry puts their DNA kits on sale for a fraction of their normal cost. Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, and this might be the time to order your kit! 

There are other sites as well who offer DNA testing. A few of them are, 23&Me, Myheritage, and FamilyTreeDNA. I know from time to time they too, have sales on their DNA kits. 

I haven't even begun to make a dent on what's available to a person in the way of genealogy with the information I've shared. My hope is this information will be useful to those who are considering genealogy. There is a wealth of information at our fingertips by way of the world wide web and our local libraries. If you have a Genealogy Society in your area - that would be a great place to start your journey. 

If you are a seasoned genealogist, just maybe I have given you some ideas that you hadn't considered before. Whatever the case may be...I hope the walk with your ancestors proves to be rewarding for you as they are for me. 

What are you waiting for? Start your family tree today! I'm off to walk with my ancestors...

Heart to Heart Soul Creations

H2hsc2020

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Another Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure - Woman's That IS!

14 Apr 2020
Ultimate Blog Challenge

Continuing with the theme of Genealogy, I want to share a story about another man's trash is another man's, well WOMAN's treasure in this case.

Several years ago my husband and I had traveled to Illinois to visit his family. I transplanted him to Texas a year after we were married. We celebrated 21 years in February 2020.

It was a Sunday morning and we had just finished loading the car to begin our trek back to Texas. From where we were to where we lived was almost a sixteen-hour drive. As we were saying our 'goodbye's and giving the family hugs, my sister in laws say's, 'wait a minute - I want to give you something'. During this trip, I had given her a Family Scrapbook that I had been working on for several months. It was a surprise.

When she returned to the garage that is set up like a man cave - she looks at her brother and I and begins to say, "I think you (looking at me) should have this stuff because you are the family genealogist. I'm not sure what it is, but mom found it junkin' one day and maybe you can use it crafting or in your genealogy research'.  We thanked her and continued our goodbye hugs.

In the garage with us, was my husband's Uncle; his nephew; his brother-in-law; his sister, him and I. His Uncle being curious - knowing we were about to head out, asked what the papers were. The papers were the 'stuff' my sister-in-law had given me.

I glanced through them when she had given them to us but really didn't pay much attention as we were needing to get on the road. It was later than usual when we were trying to leave and we were facing a 16-hour drive. Work would be waiting for both my husband and me first thing Monday morning.  Realizing we were already behind schedule, I began reading one of the pages out loud...

CORONER HILL

HELD GRAHAM

INQUEST TODAY

______

Mine Accidents Have Kept Mr. Hill on the Go Friday & This Morning

______

Coroner John Hill went to Kincaid this morning to conduct an inquest over the body of John Graham 50 years old, a track later who was killed while at work in the Peabody Coal Mine No. 8 at Tovey Friday at 11:45 a m. 

(I continued reading)...

The verdict returned about noon said that Mr. Graham came to his death by being struck by a string of loaded mine cars that had broken loose from the motor that had been pulling them. 

Mr. Graham stepped out of the way of the motor to let the cars go past. When the last car passed he stepped back on the track to resume his labor and was run down by half the string that had broken loose and was following under the momentum gained before the coupling broke loose. 

(From the Breeze, 1 Feb. 1918

followed by the Inquests from the mine explosion at Stonington)

(I stopped reading)...

As I finished reading, I asked who was John Graham? Everyone looked at each other and my husband's uncle said, 'That was our people'. Our grandparents were Graham's! At this point, we were all just looking at him with this expression of WHAT? As you can imagine, my wheels were turning in my mind. I need to get on the family tree - I need to research this right now. We CAN'T leave!!! 

I looked at another page. I began to read...

ANDREW RYAN

A FARMER HERE

50 YEARS DEAD

______

Native of Ireland Passes Away at Local Hospital

at 2 A. M. 

Andrew Ryan aged eighty, for fifty years engaged at farming in Christian County, passed away at 2 o'clock this morning at the St. Vincent hospital in this city, to which institution he was brought Friday suffering from complications accompanying old age. He had been in ill health for a number of years, but took a sudden turn for the worse on Sunday, at his country home nine miles north of this city. 

Funeral Monday

The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Monday morning, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Stonington with Rev. Father J. J. Corcoran presiding. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery, in this city. 

Biography

Andrew Ryan was born June 6, 1839, in Ireland, a son of Thomas and Johanna (Gean) Ryan. Fifty-three years ago he came to the United States living for two years in Sangamon County, moving then to Christian, he having resided in this county since that time. In 1868 he was married at Elkhart, Ill. to Miss Mary Coady, who survives him. Also surviving are three sons, Patrick of Sicily, and James A. and T.D. of Stonington; two daughters, Mrs. John Graham of Taylorville and Mrs. Patrick Graham of Sicily; twenty-one grand children and one great-grandchild. 

(Taken from the Daily Breeze Saturday June 21, 1919)

As I finished reading this last one...again, the uncle says - these are OUR people! Little did we know that in my hands were the actual Coronor's reports, newspaper articles and documentation for several people in my husband's family. His mother had found this stack of papers and a Family Bible (which we still have) junkin' on her one her daily excursions. In this stack of papers was this newspaper article...

Mrs. Owens Files Suit

For Separate Maintenance

______

Mrs. Mamie Owens filed suit for separate maintenance against her husband, Otis Owens in the circuit court today. She charges adultery, and in her bill names Edna Matthews as corespondent. 

The couple was married in this city March 26, 1923, and lived together until August 14, 1928. They have two children, Loena May, aged 18 months and Rita Madonna, 2 years old. Mrs. Owens in her bill says that her husband is capable of earning $100 per month on the railroad and asks that the court compel him to contribute to the support of her and the children. 

Mrs. Owens is represented by Attorney Harry B. Hershey. 

15 Aug. 1928

It is now almost 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning and we still haven't left for Texas!!! My husband and I decided to stay for lunch then get on the road. The garage was buzzing with conversations around these papers I now have in my possession. I asked how John Graham and Andrew Ryan was related to the family, but no one knew and I couldn't get to a computer. I was itching to unpack my laptop at this point...but I didn't. 

We ate lunch, then we left. That 16-hour drive seemed like forever...we couldn't get to Texas fast enough. I have a gold mine sitting in my hands that I need to research. Not tomorrow, not next week - - but NOW!!! It's all I could think about as my husband was driving the first leg. I continued reading through the papers and the stories that I was holding were very sad and yet at the same time, a bit comical. 

There were a total of 21 pages. Four of them were Family Group sheets listing the family of Mr. Graham and Andrew Ryan. Three were newspaper articles and the rest were actual Coroner reports. Another man's trash is another man's treasure. In this case, MY treasure! 

My husband and I talked about these items his mother uncovered unbeknownst to her and the rest of the family. We couldn't ask her where she found them sitting on the curb waiting for the trash because she passed away several years prior. These are the kind of things that make me cringe as a genealogist...knowing that people throw papers, photos, and history away without knowing the value of them. 

We finally arrived at home - it was very early on Monday morning - both, my husband and I called into work. I couldn't sleep. I immediately retrieved the papers and fired up my computer. Looking at my husband's family tree - I determined that Mrs. Owens who filed the suit mentioned above was my husband's great grandmother. She was John Graham's daughter. He was my husband's 2nd Great Grandfather. 

Mamie Owens, my husband's Great Grandmother

Andrew Ryan was my husband's 3rd Great Grandfather. 

I uploaded these documents into my husband's family tree and a few weeks later, I had several inquiries of people thanking me for doing so. I don't know who these people are, other than they are distant relatives who share these three common ancestors with my husband and his family. 

To date, I haven't been able to uncover any photos of the Great Grandfathers, but I'm very thankful to my mother in law for retrieving these treasures out of the junk that day in Illinois. It's hard for me to think about what would have become of them had my sister in law not said she had something to give us that day before we headed home. Sadly, they probably would have found their way to a junk pile on the side of the curb. 

This goes to show that another man's trash is another woman's treasure!!! 

Walking with the ancestors - - it's in my blood. It's documentation, stories, and articles like these mentioned above that I search for in my research. PRICELESS!!! 

Heart to Heart Soul Creations

H2hsc2020

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Cemeteries

April 9, 2020
Ultimate Blog Challenge

Here we are on day 9 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge for the 2nd quarter of 2020. Where is the time going? As I continue to stay within my theme chosen of genealogy, I'm going to talk about a word we don't like discussing very much because of what it represents. 

C E M E T E R I E S

A time of loss. A time of finality. A time of grief. A time of sorrow. An ending to a beginning. 

Cemeteries can hold deep significance for families when loved ones are buried in them. I have many family members who have been laid to rest (so to speak) in cemeteries. I can't remember the last time I visited their gravesites though. 

On my last two trips to Amarillo, I thought about visiting the cemetery where my grandparents are buried...I drove in on I-40 passing the cemetery. It wouldn't take me long to stop and honor their memory, but I kept on driving. Maybe I'll stop on my way out of town...sure, that's what I'll do. The day came for me to make my way back to the big city...passing the cemetery once again, I continued to drive...I don't know what keeps me from going. Maybe it's the loss that I feel when I think about my grandparents. After all, they did raise me from the time I was born until their deaths. It could be, I don't want to feel that emotion of grief. Whatever the case may be, death is death and that doesn't change. 

Did you know that a graveyard is different than a cemetery? Yes, they both are a place to bury the dead, but they have different meanings. Most times, a graveyard is associated with a church. It's quite smaller than an average cemetery. It is part of the churchyard. I visited several of these over the course of the last year. The first one was in Louisiana when I went for the 61st Annual Hillman Reunion. 

Sunday morning came around and I went to church with my cousin's family. 

Directly behind the church is a graveyard. Most of the people buried there are related to my Monk Family ties one way or the other. The chain-link fence and the gate photo are the entrance to the graveyard. These are a couple of people who are in my family tree. They were 4th cousins to me. It was an honor walking the graveyard and paying my respects to those who are buried there. 

 

I've always enjoyed going to cemeteries. I enjoy looking at the dates, the ages, the stories that are left untold. It saddens me when I see a young child gone at a very young age. In Mineral Wells, Texas. across the road from where my great grandparents (Chennault’s) lived, there is an old cemetery with very old headstones in it. Every time we visited them, I always wanted to walk that old cemetery. 

Today is still the same when I see a cemetery -my car is like a magnet... I want to stop and walk around and look at the headstones, read the names, and wonder what their stories were. (I find it strange that growing up I enjoyed reading the Obituaries). Kids don't do that...but this kid did. Now I know why...genealogy reasons! I learn a great deal in reading an Obituary. That information helps with my research. 

One thing that's true today, thinking about the people who have had to say goodbye to their loved ones without a service being held due to the Coronavirus pandemic saddens me. They will be laid to rest without anyone around. I'm sure once everything settles down, families young and old will honor their loved ones 'after' the fact...but the reality is it won't be the same. If any of you reading my post have lost loved ones as a result of this crazy pandemic or know someone that has passed...I'm truly sorry for your loss. There are no words to take away the pain or the grief you or your family is feeling. I hope and pray somehow you find peace and comfort. 

I'm grieving the loss of my own mother and it wasn't because of the Coronavirus. In fact, I'm thankful she passed just a few short days before the outbreak struck. I've had so many distractions though - honestly, I don't think I've truly grieved my mom. I do at times have waves of emotions that set on my heart and I think about her memory...I miss my mom. 

Did you know in Texas, there are 50,000 Historic cemeteries and only a portion of them have any information on them. I recall early last year, I traveled to Houston, Texas with my daughter. When we were going through Waco, my eye caught a headstone on the side of the highway. It wasn't in a cemetery or a graveyard, it was right beside the paved road in which we were traveling. I wanted to stop, but my daughter insisted we keep moving down the road. As we continued our journey down the road, ever so often I would see another headstone alongside the paved road.  (I plan on going back one day and walking through the cemeteries in Waco, TX as well as looking at the ones alongside the road). 

Several years ago, when I was doing some genealogy research out in Paris, Texas (Lamar County) - I had the opportunity to travel across the state lines into Oklahoma. Just across the Red River on the Oklahoma side is a small town called, Hugo. Hugo became a popular wintering place for circus and rodeo companies, because of its mild climate. An estimated twenty circuses at times were based in Hugo, OK. In 2008, there were three. (Wikipedia). This is where the Circus Cemetery is. Yes, you read right...the Circus Cemetery

There is a section in the cemetery called, "Showmen's Rest". There are some huge monuments there. There are many famous people buried there too, along with some common names such as Martin, Smith, Brown's, etc. The headstones in the Circus Cemetery are quite unique. You might find a big top tent or an elephant. There are clowns, too. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen any headstones like that in cemeteries I've been in before. The cemetery is quite interesting, and I want to take another trip to Hugo, OK and spend more time walking around that famous cemetery.  

Some of the people buried in this cemetery are Ed Ansley, better known as Buster Brown and Lane Frost, a famous Bull rider is also buried here. (8 Seconds, a movie starring Luke Perry as Lane Frost was released in 1994). 

This cemetery is an amazing place to visit not only to honor those who have passed but to visit the Showmen's Rest area and see the unique headstones and learn about the people who were in the circus. 

Moving on, I want to talk about some disheartening things found at cemeteries today. Recently, a cousin of mine had visited a cemetery in Mesquite, Texas while doing some genealogy research. When he got home, he messaged me and told me about what he had found...he was quite taken back with what he had seen. I'll give you an example - gravesites that have sunken. (probably created by weather or lack of water). He also mentioned many broken headstones that lay on or near the original sites. When he sent me the photos as seen below, my heart sank. I wondered if there were no family members who visit these sites regularly or was there no money to fix them? I'm sure across America in most cemeteries one will find things like this. I know sometimes though; vandalism causes images like this. Whatever the case may be though, it is quite sad - especially knowing "how" much it costs to bury a loved one unless they were buried in a Pauper's Grave. 

A pauper's grave - -it's sad to think that regardless of a person's life, history or story - that no one in the family claims the body. It's possible though, that someone buried in a pauper's grave was unknown or indigent. I've known of people who were buried in a pauper's grave and it breaks my heart on many levels. 

A website that I use a great deal when I'm working on my family tree or that of another person is Find A Grave. This site is another source of learning a wealth of information about a person and their family.

I've found many times; I may just have a name - no family at all on my tree for a particular person. When I come across a memorial on Find A Grave, many times I will learn of their parents, their siblings, their spouse (s), and their children, too. I get excited when there are write-ups on the Memorials in Find A Grave. The things we learn from them are priceless and sometimes very disheartening. For example, a child losing both of their parents on the same day and they are a toddler or the mother of 15 children loses her husband to war and now must figure out how to make ends meet. Everything matters. Everyone matters. 

When I access a person's memorial on the Find A Grave site and there aren't any family members associated with them, if I have the information, I will always suggest edits to update the record. After all, we all have a mother and a father. 

Also, talking about headstones and cemeteries - Find A Grave has volunteers that will go out and take photos of the cemeteries and the headstones if requested. All they ask is a little bit of information like the cemetery or location if known and the name of the person.  I think that is amazing that people take time out of their day to provide this service. (I guess they like walking the cemeteries too...maybe I should be a volunteer!) I've requested many photos from the volunteers at Find A Grave. 

My post might have been a difficult read today, the fact remains though - -being a genealogist and following the leads, turning over the stones to find the answers - cemeteries can prove to be very useful in one's research. The memories of our loved ones locked away in our hearts and minds will go on for a lifetime - even though, their bodies turn cold and turn to dust in the dark, damp ground called the grave. Don't despair as they aren't there any longer, they have moved on. Every person who has died has a story to be told. Don't wait until it's too late to listen...because then, they can't be told. 

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H2hsc2020

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Procreation - It's ALL About Family

Day 7
4/7/2020

Family, it started with Adam and Eve and has continued to procreate ever since. 

Continuing with my theme of Genealogy for the April Ultimate Blog Challenge, I'm going to share my family with you. I mean c'mon - - I had to start somewhere right? 

Like many of you, my family branches go way back. That depends on which side of the family branches one looks at though. On my paternal lines - I haven't been able to build that side up much for several reasons. 

• I don't speak or read the Italian language (always wanted to learn though)
• The spelling of the surname (s) has changed over time
• When they immigrated to the states, their last name changed
• The use of alias names come into play on many occasions

Maria, 1886-1963

My paternal grandmother is a brick wall for me. Her name is Maria. She came to the States from Sicily, Italy. I have the last name, but all my research turns up nothing. The reason being could possibly be the way the name is spelled, or the last name I have is incorrect. None the less, I will continue turning over rock and limb to put the pieces together in order to learn about Sicilian Heritage.  This branch stops with her for now. 

P R O C R E A T I O N 

On my mother's lines, both paternal and maternal - I have them built out quite far.  They are my Ancestors. My pedigree chart looks like this:

Parent: 

Bessie L. G., 1934-2020

Grandparents: 

Richard M. Gordy, 1904-1962

Letha I. Chenault, 1912-1971

Great Grandparents: 

Paternal -

Robert Gordy, 1860-1917

Nancy Elizabeth Hillman, 1875-1937

(I wrote about the story of her daughter, Lucinda in a previous write up). 

Maternal -

Jerome W. Chenault, 1892-1974

Nellie C. Martin, 1892-1982

ALL my Great Great Grandparents: 

Robert Gordy, 1829-1900

Martha J. West, 1820-1870 (she died during childbirth)

Riley H. Hillman, 1831-1916

Lucinda Perkins, 1842-1918

(Like Maria above, Lucinda is also a brick wall for our family lines- nothing more has been found on her or her parents). 

Thomas J. Chenault, 1862-1939

Margret E. Lee, 1861-1942

James M. Martin, 1858-1940

Lydia A. Brown, 1856-1942

ALL my 3x's Great Grandparents:

William C. Gordy, 1792-1860

Anna Griggs, 1795-1858

William N. West, 1775-1846

Ailsey Rogers, 1785-1862

Charles L. Hillman, 1779-1837

Palathial Ammons, 1799-1858

BRICKWALL/DEAD-END AS Lucinda's parents are unknown

Abraham C. Chenault, 1836-1927

Mary L. Littlejohn, 1840-1922

Sir William Lee, 1827-1891

Peninna Springer, 1838-1865

Daniel H. Martin, 1838-1880 (his story is one that will make you go hunh...I'll share it one day). 

Pernella E. Huff, 1842-1917 (confused on many trees with another "Nellie Elizabeth Huff")

James W. Brown, 1827-1868

Almarinda H. Thompson, 1832-1907

Are you seeing HOW my tree has procreated and

the number of GREAT GRANDS a person has!? 

This doesn't even account for the couple’s children and their descendants. 

(THIS is WHERE the DNA matches come from)

ALL my 4x's Great Grandparents: 

Leonard Gordy, I, 1772-1807 (many Leonard Gordy's are in my tree - talk about mind-boggling! 

Elizabeth Parker, 1772-1819

John Griggs, Jr., 1745-1825 (many John Griggs as well in my tree - MORE mind boggles!)

Mary Woodward, 1765

Thomas O. West, 1718-1808

Catherine Easting, 1723-1800

Shadrack M.A. Rogers, 1753-1832 (Revolutionary War)

Hope Tatum, 1762-1838

John H. Heilman, 1730-1790 (name changed through the years to Holmon, Holloman, and Hillman) 

Anna N. Lewis, 1730-1833

Henry J. Ammons, 1781-1895

Nancy E. Brewster, 1770-1833

George W. Chenault, Sr., 1811-1895

Mary J. Tidwell, 1803-1894

Charles S. Littlejohn, 1810-1856

Mary S. Kimbrell, 1830-1865

Samuel L. Lee, 1797-1861

Elizabeth Ingram, 1802-1875

James Martin, 1808-1872

Mary, 1805-1895

James M. Huff, 1812-1875

Elizabeth Martin, 1815-1888

Alexander J. D. Brown, 1807-1891

Lydia Honea, 1809-1899

My tree continues to PROCREATE...

ALL my 5x's Great Grandparents: 

Peter Gordy, II, 1735-1788

Ellinor N. Leonard, 1735-1797

Parker lines are still being researched at this time

John Griggs, 1712-1799

Mehitable T. Ellis, 1720-1758

Christopher Woodward, 1775-1785

Anne, b? - 1740 DEAD END/BRICK WALL due to no last name! 

West lines are still being researched at this time

Easting lines are still being researched at this time

Rogers lines are still being researched at this time

Tatum lines are still being researched at this time

Hans Heilman, 1710-1810

Christina Henning, 1710-1810

Howel L. Lewis, Sr., 1731-1812

Mary I. Willis, 1733-1813

Joshua Ammons, 1756-1833

Elizabeth F. Parker, 1764-1847 (oh snap, there's another Elizabeth Parker! LOL)

Brewster lines are a DEAD-END, BRICK WALL

George M. Chenault, 1786-1854

Elizabeth Willeford, 1790-1812

Rhode Tidwell, 1779-1850

Elizabeth Patterson, 1742-1825

Marcellus Littlejohn, 1766-1850

Elizabeth Ellis, 1766-1850

John Kimbrell, 1776-1852

Mary Scales, 1776 -?

Stephen Lee, 1760-1840

Keziah Lee, 1765-1832 (YES, that's her maiden name and she married a Lee) - that's what my 1st mother in law did too, married someone who had the same surname!!!

Ingram lines are still being researched at this time

Springer lines are still being researched at this time

William Martin, 1772-1847

Mary A. Cook, 1772-1857

Mary, my 4x great grandmother's line is a BRICK WALL and DEAD-END

Samuel Huff, 1781-1868

Phoebe Whiteside, 1791-1865

Daniel Martin, Sr., 1781-1851 (I'll be sharing his story on the 11th)

Mary E. Ayers, 1791-1858

James D. Brown, 1775-1841

Ann Noble, 1788-1863

Tobias Honea, 1762-1840

Mary Ambrose, 1765-1841

Ambrose Thompson, 1787-1817

Emma Sylvester

procreation continues...

ALL my 6x's Great Grandparents: 

Peter Gordy, I, 1698-1775

Catherine Christopher, 1717-1797

Joseph Leonard, 1699-1797

Jane, 1740-?

Parker lines are still being researched at this time

Griggs lines are still being researched at this time

Ellis lines are still being researched at this time

Woodward lines are still being researched at this time

Anne's lines are a - DEAD-END - BRICK WALL, remember!? 

West lines are still being researched

Easting lines are still being researched

Rogers lines are still being researched

Tatum lines are still being researched

Andreas H. Heilman, 1668-1757

Maria Muller, 1685-1769

Phillip Henning, 1750 -?

(wife is unknown)

Charles Lewis, Sr., 1696-1779

Mary Howell, 1700-1783

Willis lines are still being researched

Ammons lines are still being researched

Robert M. Parker, 1744-1830

Nancy Sands, 1745-1802

Brewster lines continue to a DEAD END -BRICK WALL

Do you see how the research can prove to be difficult the further back it goes...for me, it's been the needle in the haystack. Knowing what is true and what is not. I follow the facts and sometimes, that is QUITE difficult, to say the least, because of the unknowns. That's when I wish I had the means financially to travel all over the United States and abroad to do the research. Even a trip to Utah would prove beneficial!! Nevertheless, my tree continues to procreate...

Stephen W. Chenault, 1767-1819

Fanny Nelson, 1766-1855

Jordan Willeford, 1759-1855

Charity Holleman, 1744-1855

Tidwell and Patterson lines are still being researched at this time

Samuel D. Littlejohn, 1733-1813

Sarah S. Cofer, 1737-1818

Ellis and Kimbrell lines are still being researched at this time

Joseph H Scales, Jr., 1750-1796

Anne H. Perkins, 1752-1852

Edward Lee, Sr., 1725-1775

Mary Allen, 1723-1810

Samuel S. Lee, 1740-1831

Francis K. Lee, 1748-1828 (married to someone with the same surname)

David Martin, 1737-1777

Anne Ellison, 1739 -?

William Cook, 1732-1804

Jane Strahan, 1734 -?

William Huff, 1750-1782

Rebecca V. Bateson, 1170-1850

Whiteside lines are a DEAD-END/BRICK WALL

Thomas Martin, 1756-1837

unknown wife currently

Henry W. Ayers, 1754-1833

Elizabeth Knox, 1770-?

Alexander Brown, 1745, Scotland

Isabella Noble, 1749, Scotland

Noble lines are a DEAD-END/BRICK WALL from 5th grandmother

William T. Honea, 1735-1764, England

Elizabeth Woolett, 1726, England

William Ambrose, England

unknown wife

I'm going to stop here...the lines are starting to become less and less with information. I do have my Chenault lines built back to Estienne Chenault, 1670-1720. I was given the Chenault Red Book for Christmas two years ago. This can be purchased through the Chenault Family National Association. Once you log onto the website, look for the item called, Red book and supplements above the words "WHO ARE WE".

I also have my Gordy lines built back to John Jack Gordy, 1370-1420. I haven't done much from John Gordon (which is the Gordy lines) of 1479-1544 to John Jack Gordy. Sometimes, I want to take these names off of my tree, but for now, I leave them as place markers in hopes that one day, I will uncover something that will prove beneficial and my tree will continue to grow those particular branches.

Sheesh, I'm exhausted just typing all this stuff...have your eyes gone cross-eyed yet? I think by now, you get the picture of how my family tree may look. Now, remember, in between all my great grandparents are their children and their descendants. My tree today has almost 27,000 names in it - that's a small tree compared to some I have seen in Ancestry. I saw one the other day that had over 100,000 names! My mouth dropped to the ground...I was amazed as I looked through their media files at all the photos and documents they had. Jealous might be the better word here...I long to find family photos of my great grands and when I do, I let out a LOUD exclamation of excitement!!

Adam and Eve started the cycle of PROCREATION and we can thank our ancestors for continuing the circle of life.

Who knows, I may be a distant cousin or closer to one of you reading my post today!!! If so, hello 'new' cousin...

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