Sunday, January 31, 2010

An Indentured Servant


William Bean was born 18 September 1792, we believe in Baltimore, Maryland. [Family lore leaves us to believe that, and a search through Baltimore Church records indicate a male child was baptized who was born on 18 September 1792, whose name was William Bean.]

At some point, William McBean [William's father], brought his wife, Sarah, and his oldest son, John, into the the Potts Valley area of Monroe County, Virginia [now West Virginia].

What happens next is unknown. William McBean disappears from history sometime before February 1804. It was then that Sarah places John Bean, her eldest son, into an indenture contract. [through the overseers for the county poor] where he was to be taught to be a weaver. [We'll discource on John another time.]

Just a few months later, on his 12th birthday, young William was also placed through the county poor for indenture. A copy of the contract is above.

A transcription of the document reads:
Dated 18 Sept. 1804

"This indenture made this 18th of Sept 1804 one thousand eight hundred and four between Jas. Christy owen Neal Robt Johnston and henry McDaniel of the one part overseers of the poor for monroe County and henry Smith of the other part witnesseth that the so overssers doth bind an orphan boy named William Bean aged twelfth years to the said henry Smith of the county aforesaid and State of virginia to Serve the said henry Smith until he arrives at the age of twenty one years, during all which time the Said William Bean Shall faithfully Serve his Master and all his lawful Commands obay he Sall not suffer any Damage to be done to his Said Masters goods without giving him notice thereof he Shall not frequent Still houses or taverns he shall not play at Cards dice or any unlawful game or at any time abscond himself from his masters business without his Masters leave he Shall not commit fornication nor Contract matrimony during said term but as a true and faithful servant shall truely and diligently Serve his Said Master until he arrives at the age aforesaid and the henry Smith in Consideration thereof doth Covenant and agree to have the so William Bean taught the art trade or Mastery of a Black Smith and provide for him a sufficiency of everyt thing thats requiset for an aprentice during the term of his aprenticeship likewise he is to have him taught to read the holy Scriptures planely to write a plane hand and arithmatic through te rule of three which Education he is to be thoroughly acquainted with at the Expiration of his time and also to give him Such freedom dues as the law direct taking Care to have Said aprentice instructed in the Principals and duties of the Christian religion as far as Said Master is Capable In writing whereof the partys have interchangeably set their hands inscribed this day and year above writen Signed Sealed ad delivered in the presents of - John Hinchman - Owen Neal - Henry Smith - Jas. Christy" [sic]

I have left the grammar exactly as the original was written. There are no paragraphical or line delineations. You will also note that punctuation is sporadic at best.

Young William was taught to be a blacksmith. It was a trade he did not use.

Instead,  9 years later on 20 Nov. 1813, he married the daughter of one of the county's most influential residents, Joseph Wiseman.He married Rachel, who was born in 1790.

By 1820 William had begun to have a collective amount of land that would net him a fortune [worth a couple of million dollars today]. He brought a suit against a Mr. Ballard in Monroe County [to whom he had been indentured], and won a large sum of money which enabled him to begin his climb to fortune. While the suit is named in Monroe County, records, no one, to date, has located the details of this suit. I have searched through the County Clerk's records for the time, and if the suit actually went to court, the records are not there to support it, although the date for hearing was set and is noted on the court calendar.

William led a full life. He and Rachel were married just 13 days shy of their 43rd wedding anniversary, when she succombed to a fever. [Their daughter Nancy had fallen from the same fever just 27 days earlier.] Rachel was buried in the family cemetery on Potts Creek, near present day Waiteville, WV.

William was 72 years old when he lead a posse of "home guard" to arrest some renegade's from the Civil War who had stolen items from various homes in the area [the latest being clothing from a washline]. As he was approaching a cabin in Wiseman's Hollow, one of the renegade's shot from the loft of the cabin. The bullet hitting William in the top of his head.

He was carried back to the Bean home on Potts Creek, and "layed out" in the parlor. He was buried the next day in the family cemetery beside his love, Rachel.

From the county poor, to one of the most wealthiest men in the county at the time, William Bean overcame and prospered.

When I hear individuals say that they are victims of their circumstance, I am compelled to them that we are all victims. But we must rise above that victim mentality to become victors.

What an example I have had to come before me.

William is but one of the examples from which I have shaped my life. The poor little boy, who was placed up for indenture on his 12th birthday. He was my great-great-grandfather.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Come Sunday Morning

Okay, so I've done it yet again! Another SNGF challenge that I don't get to respond to until Sunday morning.

Here's Randy's challenge from last night:

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1) Open your genealogy software or family tree program of choice and make yourself the highlighted person.

2) Find out how to create a Calendar to show birthdays and/or anniversaries of yourself and all of your ancestors (or all relatives, or all persons - your choice!). The "Help" button is your friend here!!! It can be done in all of the current software programs.

3) Create your calendar. Pretty it up if you want. Save it. Can you show us a page from your calendar - say January 2010?

4) Which of your ancestors (or relatives, or descendants - your choice!), if any, were born on 30 January?

Have fun with this. How can you use this information during the coming year?

I know that this is more work than you're normally used to on Saturday Night, but it is a great way to use your genealogy program
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, here's my results from playing with this cool tool in FTM [which I didn't even know it could do!!! Thanks Randy!]

And for #4, who was born on January 30th?

Lavonna Beane Smarr; Elizabeth Carithers Saye; Gustavus Clements; and Alan D. Fairburn.

Randy, I've got to say, this has been the most fun I've had on a SNGF challenge is quite some time! And it taught me something about my program that I didn't even know about it! So, many thanks for this wonderful challenge! And keep them coming!!!

Sentimental Sunday - January 31, 2010

The Adwell Children – Easter Sunday 1987

Since I write so often about my five children, I thought you would enjoy one of my more sentimental photos of them. This was taken on Easter Sunday of 1987.

Back row: Debbie, David and Chris [Debbie & David are twins]

Front: Crystal and Mike.

The girls are wearing dresses that my mother had crocheted for them. [Crystal’s even had matching “bloomers”!]

Everyone called them my “stair-step children”. I guess you can see why! In the photo Chris was 8, David & Debbie 6, Mike 4, and Crystal 3.

Aren’t they precious? [Of course, I wouldn’t prejudiced just because they are mine!]

These cutie pies are all grown up now, and have children of their own. Some older than the oldest here! [Hard to believe!!!]

This is my inspiration!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Challenge #5 - 52 Weeks To Better Genealogy

GeneaBloggers sent out the following challenge this morning:

"Play with WorldCat.org. WorldCat is a massive network of library content that the public can search for free (user name and password not required). Not every library is a part of WorldCat, but the vast size of the network makes it an important genealogy tool. If you are looking for a specific book or publication, enter the identifying information into the WorldCat search box and see which libraries hold the item. You may even find that you can get the item through your library’s inter-library loan program. Don’t forget to search for some of your more unusual surnames and see what comes up. The goal is to play with WorldCat and examine its possibilities for your own research. If you’re already familiar with WorldCat, play with it again. The network and collection grow and change constantly. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with searching WorldCat for this exercise.


This challenge runs from Saturday, 30 January 2010 through Friday, 5 February 2010.

And remember - as Amy says - these should be fun exercises! Don't feel that you have to participate each week, nor should you beat yourself up if you miss one or more challenges. We all have so much that we want to accomplish - let alone what we want to accomplish with our genealogy blogs. This series should be one which, by the end of 2010, helps you to be a better genealogist."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And so, with the four man family lines that I research for my family I went in search of what merial was out there. [I've never been able to find alot that pertains to any of the four lines, but for the sake of the exercise I did  endeavor to give it the ol' Scout try!]

On my paternal side I am researching the Bean and Faudree families. The following turned up:
Bean- -
          Bean Family History
              American Genealogical Research Institute - 1978
              OLC # 51585950
         The Bean Family of Maryland
               Margaret Bean Langley - 1984
               OLC # 11261216
   NOTE: There were literally hundreds of volumes of "Bean Family" related texts, but only these 2 appeared
                to relate to anything near what my "orphan" Bean's information might be in.

Faudree -
           Faudree Family Bible Record, 1869 - 1938
                 Archival Material - Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA
                 OLC # 122323305
           NOTE: The above Faudree manuscript is the only thing pertaining to my Faudree's that I saw. I may
                just have to plan a trip to Richmond for this!!!

On my Maternal side there are the following two lines:
Dreher -
           Dreher Family Bible Records, 1765 - 1834
                  Family Bible for descendants of John Dreher (b. 1765) and Catharine Dreher (b. 1768)
                 OLC # 47813841
          Dreher Ancestors and Descendants
                  By Mildred J. Krannawitter - 1993     
                  OLC # 31157754
          Dreher Family Miscellany, 1829-1888
                 Manuscript Collection German Archival Material
                 OLC # 145787291

Banet -
          No References Foun d

I did find this an interesting challenge. And I actually did find something in the Library of Virginia that may be more than beneficial for me to view [Faudree family Bible]. While my library does not participate in the WorldCat or in interlibrary loan from out of state, I do frequent the Library of Virginia in Richmond about 3 or 4 times a year. I was not aware of this collection, and you can bet that I WILL be seeking it out!

Thanks GeneaBloggers for a great challenge!!!

Surname Saturday - January 30, 2010

Following the Tombstone Tuesday post, in which I blogged regarding Andy Morris and Lucy Caldwell [ancestors of my children – but not mine] I decided to follow through with my eldest son’s Ahnentafel and continue with the Morris family line.


Using Chris as #1 in the Ahnentafel, here is Chris’ ancestry through the Morris line:


1. Christopher Scott Adwell – b.WV; M: Patsy Annette Treadway

2. Andy Lewis Adwell – b. WV; M: Cynthia Ann Beane

5. Mary Lillian Jones – b.17 Mar 1932, Glace, Monroe, WV – d. 19 Sep 2002, Charleston, Kanawha, WV; M: Elmer Lewis Adwell [1933-1995] 24 May 1955, Union, Monroe, WV

11. Della Mae Morris - b. 04 Jul 1897, Glace, Monroe, WV – d. 25 Jan 1977, Glace, Monroe, WV; M: Charles Franklin Jones [1904-1958] abt. 1931

22. Andrew Lewis Morris – b. 10 Apr 1844 , Monroe County, [West]Virginia – d. 04 Dec 1936, Monroe County, West Virginia; M: Lucinda L. Caldwell [1852-1940] either 29 Apr 1878 or 03 May 1878 in Monroe County, West Virginia [there are marriage records for this couple on both of the dates listed].

          i. Martha A. Morris

          ii. John H. Morris

          iii. Walter Lee Morris

         iv. Ada F. Morris


         v. Andrew Lewis Morris, Jr.


         vi. Archibald Morris


         vii. Della Mae Morris


         viii. James Ernest Morris


         ix. Earnest Morris


         x. Birdie Morris


         xi. Lillian Stella Morris



44. Nathaniel Morris – b. 1801 Monroe County, [West] Virginia – d. aft 1870 Monroe County, West Virginia; M: Jane Ralston [1802-bet. 1850-1860] 14 Nov 1821, Monroe County, [West] Virginia.

         i. Margaret Morris


         ii. Jackson Morris


         iii. Mary S. Morris


         iv. Jennetta Morris


         v. Augustus Morris


         vi. John Nelson Morris


         vii. Andrew Lewis Morris

88. Thomas Morris – b. abt 1776 – d. Unk

         i. John Morris


         ii. Pleasant Morris


         iii. Nathaniel Morris

Friday, January 29, 2010

Follow Friday - January 29, 2010

Today I’d like to introduce you to FamHist – Family History Thoughts and Links. This is a very good genealogical blog that is written by a man known only as LineageKeeper. [His retagger Profile does state that he is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Other than that, he remains anonymous.]


The site offers some very good insight into various aspects of genealogy, from documents, to photos, music, and more!

The site offers the following information:

“I've been an avid genealogist for most of my life. Although my life has involved significant investments of time with family, church and corporate management opportunities, family history research has been my means of relaxation. It is an activity that can continue almost anywhere at any time and the quest, although challenging, is a fascinating never ending journey. Having long been involved in technology, I've found that I've enjoyed using it most to document my research and to connect with cousins worldwide resulting in friendships and international family research teams. All of today's research technology and tools make this a wonderful time to be alive!”

LineageKeeper authors the following blogs:

LineageKeeper

Tombstone Territory [co-authored with an individual known only as “Stonewalker”]

FamHist

Fact & Whimsey [also co-authored with Stonewalker]
Great info. Excellent writing. Enjoy!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday - January 28, 2010

The following are photos of the interior of the old William Bean home, as posted yesterday.


The Front Room

The stariway leading to the 2nd floor.

One of the bedrooms.

The doorway leading to the stairs.

A window, where once there was a chimney, looks out on the beautiful Potts Valley, toward Waiteville.

One of the upstairs bedrooms.

Although the exterior has changed a bit, there has been siding placed over the logs and both stone chimney’s have been removed, the interior remains much the same as it was when William and his wife, Rachel, lived there with their family in the 1840’s-1860’s. Only electricity and a modern bath added. The rear extension behind the house is a complete modern addition.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Fantastic Podcast!


Okay, so I was so-o-o-o jealous when other genealogy researchers and bloggers got to attend the Family History Expo in Mesa, Arizona last week. But funds are limited, and so I just couldn't get there.

Well, thanks to some great folks, we are getting some wonderful information from that conference! One of the really great ones is the Genealogy Gems Podcast, which is hosted by Lisa Louise Cooke. And on the Friday evening meeting Lisa recorded her first ever LIVE! Genealogy Gems podcast.

And I got to sit here tonight, in my cozy chair, and listen to this great podcast. [You can too, here.]

Lisa let us know she has a great toolbar out to download for free. You can download it here. [By the way... I LOVE this toolbar!]

Lisa introduced her daughter, Lacey Cooke, who is her Stage Manager.

Following that she did an interview with Gena Philibert Ortega [Gena's Genealogy Blog]. They discussed World Vital records, and genealogy blogs. They discussed how to follow, subscribe through a reader and how to set up a reader.

A fun interview followed with Thomas MacEntee [Geneabloggers] and Thomas' Top Ten Genealogy Blog Myths. As always Thomas' wit and humor had everyone laughing!

Lisa went on to introduce Bruce Buzbee, who is the new Genealogy Gems Podcast sponsor. [Yes, you recognize Bruce's name from Roots Magic!]. They discussed the new Roots Magic software, and the free [yes, free!] download version you can get!

Lisa's last interview was with Anastasia Tyler, from Ancestry. They discussed the collaborative effort Ancestry had in producing 'Who Do You Think You Are?" with NBC. [The show will air on Friday, March 5th - see our previous post today with the trailer!] They also discussed the new things that will be coming up on Ancestry in 2010.

This was an upbeat and exciting podcast! And you won't want to miss it! So, be sure to visit Genealogy Gems Podcast now [Podcast #79]!

NBC Trailer for WDYTYA

NBC has released the trailer for their long awaited "Who Do You Think You Are" series which will begin airing on Friday, March 5th, 2010.
I can't wait!!!!!

Tombstone Tuesday - January 26, 20101


Andy L.Morris and Lucy E. Caldwell Morris

Andy Lewis Morris was born 10 April 1844 in Monroe County, [West] Virginia to Nathaniel Morris and Jane Ralston. He married Lucinda “Lucy” E.V. Caldwell , born 27 October 1852 – Craig County, Virginia,daughter of Jacob Caldwell and Susan Huffman; in Greenbrier County, West Virginia on either 29 April 1878 or 02 May 1878. There are two marriage records for this couple, one on each of the two days listed here; so I am not sure which is the correct date. The one for 02 May does list the minister who performed the ceremony, Rev. V.W. Wheeler, so perhaps it is the correct one.


Andy and Lucy had at least 11 known children: Martha, John, Walter, Ada, Andy, Archibald, Della, James, Earnest, Birdie and Lillian.

Andy and Lucy are buried at the Hylton Cemetery, Glace, Monroe County, West Virginia.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Madness Monday - January 25, 2009


Here lately, I’ve been getting a strange number of odd requests from blog readers regarding my blog. And while I can say I am humbly grateful to know somebody is reading my blog(s), and I’m not speaking to myself all the time, it is a little maddening at some of the requests I have been getting. Let me share just two of these with you.


“January 5, 2010 – “I saw where you wrote about my grandpa. He was married to my great-great-grandma. Can you tell me more about her?”

That was it! No mention of either individual’s names. Nor the writers name! Let me address this issue. First of all – re-read that question. Do you see it? Grandpa was married to “great-great-grandma” [no that’s not a typo on my part, I simply copied and pasted the original email here].

Second no names for either grandpa or great-great-grandma. If other researchers are anything at all like me…and I hardly presume to put myself in the same category with some of the elite company I happen to read about… I write about dozens of individuals each week. Both my own research and that I do for clients. I sometimes mention clients’ research in my blogging [with all names, places, etc. changed to protect my clients privacy], but only in passing [ie: I found a record I was searching for – this is how I did it; I was surprised to see mention of this in a record I located; etc.] So, to have me remember what, or who, I have written about without any reference, such as even the date I wrote about this individual, well, you get my drift.

It’s maddening!

Here’s another:

“December 7, 2009 – Helo, I saw where you mentioned my grandpa in an article on the computer. I think you got his wife wrong. He wasn’t married to that woman. My grandpa was married to my grandma, and I can prove it!”

Okay, this person actually did go on and mention the date the blog post appeared, and her grandpa’s name. I do apologize to her. Because, the person I mentioned in the blog post was my own grandfather as well. I mentioned the three children he’d had with my grandmother.

You see, the “grandpa” she was referring to was actually her “great-great-grandfather”. Yep. She was descended from my grandfather all right. But from his second wife. Not his first, nor his third [my grandmother]. What the reader did not know, was that her great-great-grandfather had been married three times. She thought he’d only been married the once. So, I do apologize that in my nine years of attempting to locate all of his descendants [from the whole group of 15 children he’d fathered over a 40 year time span] that I somehow had missed this reader, and had not introduced her to the man he really was [I have since remedied that situation]. But the maddening thing I am illustrating here, is that I get these kinds of letter, like this “how dare you say this!” from individuals who haven’t a clue about the reality!

Of course, in all honesty, I am fairly new to the world of blogging [I won’t have my second anniversary until June of this year], so these kinds of comments are new for me. And I was prepared for different kinds of barbs and unflattering comment. What I have been unprepared for are those individuals who comment with lack of intelligent knowledge on the subject they are arguing about!

As my grandpa Dreher used to say, “Don’t go into battle unarmed”.

If you see me posting something regarding any specific individual here, be prepared if you want to “argue”. I’ve done my homework!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Rice Paddy?


When is a paddy not a paddy? When it's a canvas, of course. But as staff writer YOKO HANI discovered in northern Aomori Prefecture, what's nice to look at is rice to eat as well.


This year's rice-paddy artwork created by the farmers in Inakadate Village in Aomori Prefecture is a reproduction of a famous Edo Period print by Katsushika Hokusai (top), while in their fields in 2006 the village people reproduced "Fujin Raijin Zu Byobu (Wind God and Thunder God Screens)" (left) by the early Edo Period artist Tawaraya Sotatsu (above), and in 2005 they grew rice replicating ukiyo-e works by Sharaku and Utamaro.PHOTOS From  INAKADATE VILLAGE OFFICE

Mysterious "corn circles" of incredible complexity that appear overnight, or a baseball park as in the 1989 film "Field of Dreams" — who knows what you might come across in your local rural idyll these days.

But travel some 600 km north of Tokyo, then take a drive off the beaten track. There, in a village in verdant Aomori Prefecture, who would ever expect to find exquisite Edo Period artworks sprouting amid a swaying green sea of enormous rice paddies?

It's neither a dream, a supernatural mystery, nor fiction.

You can read the rest of this fascinating article on The Japan Times Online.

Immigrant Song...I've Got The BEST EVER!!!

Inspired by Chery Kinnick's immigration song... I had to post my favorite immigrant song EVER made! Sorry, folks... it just can't be beat in my book!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun (Come Sunday) - January 24, 2010

As usual, a day late [well, you know the old saying!]. But then better late than...well, you know that one too!

Here's Randy's latest SNGF assignment:

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

* Tell us about your "other" hobbies or interests outside of genealogy and family history research, writing, speaking, etc.

And so, I respond:

I have a very eclectic set of hobbies and other interests. Genealogy for clients and my own pursuit of family history keeps me the most busy. [It's not just a hobby, it's my career, and my passion!]

But, believe it or not... I do get involved, and love doing other things!

* I love to read! I am an eclectic reader as well! [Get that from my Grandpa Dreher!] Believe it or not, once [many moons ago] I was living in Texas with my first husband. We didn't have any money. No car. So I couldn't even get to the town's library. I had a desire to read so badly, that I literally pulled the canned goods out of the cupboard, and read them one by one. Yep. That's how much I love to read! I just recently started a blog "The Books on My Shelf" that reviews each of the books I read. I literally read 3-4 new books every single week. When I run out of new material, I go back through my old books, or will quickly download an ebook, and read! I almost always have 2 books going at once, and sometimes 3! Just can't read, or learn enough!

* I love to study! I am one of those people, who until I discovered I could work at genealogy, couldn't decide what I wanted to be when I grew up! I was 42 before I realized genealogy was my called profession. Until then? I'd been a salesman [many times over!], a waitress, a seamstress, a free-lance writer, and I had spent thirteen years as a geriatric nurse practitioner! I've even received two degrees in theology, and am an ordained non-denominational minister. I still study whatever catches my fancy. Right now... I'm searching for the perfect genealogy based degree program. [I think Boston University may be where I'm about to tap into next!]

* I love to crochet and knit. Although I never have the time any more! I used to do one or the other as I watched television in the evening. But I don't usually watch television in the evening any more. As a matter of fact, when the hubby is gone [he's a truck driver and gone Sunday through Friday] I never even turn the thing on! He will watch a little tv now and then; I don't even know why I have cable. It's really a wasted expense in our home! Anyway, back to the knitting and crocheting: I do want to crochet about 150 white snowflakes to go on my Christmas tree this coming Christmas. I'm going to craft an Ancestor Christmas tree this year. Photos of my ancestors and my husband's ancestors hanging amongst the crocheted snowflakes. Oh, I can picture it in my mind!!! Just hope I can make it look as pretty as my mind is showing it to me! Ha ha.

* I love to cook! Last year I had decided to work my way through Julia Childs, Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, Rachel Ray, and so many others! I have dozens of cookbooks! I decided I would do something similar to the theme behind Julie and Julia [the 2009 movie blockbuster]. So, I sat up a blog, and I actually got several absolutely yummy, rich, wonderful recipes down. Then my doctor put the hammer down! Lose some weight, shape up, or I was going to get a new outfit. Complete with angels wings and a white gown. I just wouldn't be wearing it in this life!!! So, I had to start working on my poor physical condition. I've since gone all natural and health conscious. [When I do ANYTHING I go all the way!] So, I joined a health conscious group. And I blog daily on their web site. I also changed my on cooking blog, [you can view it here], where I blog about once weekly [sometimes more often] with a new healthful, nutritious, recipe.

* I am a "grassroots" advocate. While I don't get out and physically campaign, I speak out in the manner in which I do best, and am trained to do. I write. I protest the way our country has taken a turn for, and I speak out to get Americans involved in protecting their own civil and national rights. I ferociously defend our constitutional rights. Again, I blog. It's the manner I speak out best in. I blog daily at The Grassroots American.. Yeah, recently, I've even been labeled a "tea-bagger". That's okay by me. Call me what you like! I'm just me!!!

* I love my pets. I have two right now. My little cranky Chihuahua, Chica, which my husband rescued for me in 2005 in Dallas, Texas. I was traveling with him on the road [I spent a year on the truck with him traveling the US - I documented those travels in thousands in photos - you can see a few at my Flickr site - just click on the "From the Road" folder.] And I have another rescue pet, Fred. Fred is a bit of a misnomer. Fred is a feline. A female feline. She started out as a "Daddy's little girl" cat, and actually lived on the truck with my hubby. Then she came home to stay one weekend, and has been here ever since. At night I sleep Chica lying on one side of me, and Fred on the other! [I sometimes add the pair in my blog posts! So be watching for glimpses of them!]

* And I love being with my children and grand-children. I have five grown children, who I seldom get to see! The are spread all over the country now [literally from Virginia's seacaost, all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada!] I have 12 grandchildren, counting the extended family. [Four are natural, but I love them all equally!]

* And I absolutely love, love, love my hubby. I've told the story before, so I won't bore anyone with it yet again, but he is my hero. My knight in shining armor. I literally live for the weekends, when he comes home and can spend one or two days here. He's usually too exhausted for us to do more than just know we're both home together. But the weekends are what makes my life!!!

Okay, I probably wrote a bit more than Randy was intending here! But then again, that's something else I LOVE to do! I write. I've had over 40 published genealogy research project and a memoir. I am in the process of getting "Christmas Recollections" published [remember the 24 advent days of Christmas blogging we did in December? Mine is being published, and will be available on Amazon.com and other online retailers in the near future. Watch for announcements!] I have had numerous newspaper stories and articles published by local papers [Mountain Messenger, The WV Daily News, Charleston Gazatte, The Monroe Watchman, etc.]. I have even spent a stint of time writing "how-to" manuals [back in the 1990's I even wrote a how-to manual on how to start a day-care in your home - ugh! Believe it or not, it sold pretty well!!!] I am currently working on my very first work of fiction. I won't give it all away, but it's a genealogical based story. Be watching for that as well! [Although I'm far from finished with it!]

And that concludes this lesson in NEVER asking me what I enjoy doing!!! You see, there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I enjoy most! And when you get me talking about all of those things.... well I never know when to shut up!

Okay, so let me tell you about...........

Sentimental Sunday - January 24, 2010


This is snapshot of my Uncle, John Monroe Beane, Jr. and my Aunt Mildred Tolley Beane.


John was born 08 Oct 1908 to John Monroe Bean, Sr. [1866-1954] and Ada Burdette [1883-1929]. John was the eldest of the nine children born to this couple. [John Sr. was married three times, having outlived his first two wives, and fathered 15 children total.]

John and Mildred were married 23 Aug 1943 in Monroe County, West Virginia. The above photograph is believed to have been taken shortly after their marriage. The couple had four children: Betty, Johnny, Cathy and Darrell.

John passed away July of 1972 at the age of 63. He is buried at New Zion Union Church Cemetery, Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Something for Us Baby Boomers....

Surname Saurday - January 23, 2010

Today I’d like to introduce you to my Stible family branch.


Years ago I received the undocumented part of this tree, and have always said I’d get around to researching it, but have yet to do so. But I keep promising myself…. “One of these days!”

1. Water M. Beane - B. West Virgibia ; M: Lois V. Drehe– B. Indiana

2. Walter Maxwell Beane – B. WV; M: Lois Velleda Dreher
                      Ch; Cynthia, Velleda, David, Jeffrey

5. Mary Elizabeth Faudree –B. 03 Jun 1897, Sweet Springs, Monroe, WV – D: 01 Jan 1975,    Clifton Forge, Alleghany, VA; M: John Monroe Bean, Sr. [186601954] on 01 Dec 1935 Covington, Alleghany, VA.
                    Ch: Walter, Edsel, Roy

10 Stephen Ledford Faudree –B.08 Jul 1857, Sweet Springs, Monroe, [W]VA – D. 16 Jan 1929, Sweet Springs, Monroe, WV; M: Eliza Carnefix [1851 – 1929] on 17 Dec 1878, Monroe County, WV.
                    Ch: Iva, Bervie, Pearl, Gordon, Spurgeon, Roy, Faye, Mary, Zenna and Veda

21. Mary Margaret Wickline –B. 1831, Monroe County, [W]VA – D. Monroe County, WV; M: Richard C. Faudree [1834-1902] on 28 Oct 1856, Monroe County, [W]VA
                    Ch: Stephen, Unknown

42. Elijah Wickline – B. 1799 Monroe County, [W]VA – D. 27 Jun 1879, Sweet Springs, Monroe, WV; M: Elizabeth Lewis [b. 1795 – VA] on 08 Jan 1821 in Monroe County, [W]VA.

85. Catherine Sparr – D. Monroe County, [W]VA; M: Jacob Wickline [1750-1821]

170. Johan Friedrich Sparr – B. 01 Sep 1725, Wuttemburg, Germany; M: Anna Margaretha Schnaeder [1729-1801]

340. Johan Georg Sparr – B. Germany- D. 19 Oct 1777, Dover, York, PA; M: Maria Katrina Kauffman [1703-1776]

680. Hansford Jerg Spahr – B. 1671, Altenburg, Germany; M:Maria Unknown

1361. Anna Barbara Stible – M: Jakob Spahr

2722. Georg (Jorge) Stible – B. 1603 Germany

Friday, January 22, 2010

An Interesting Cup of Chocolate


On January 11, 1935, the legendary aviator Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California. During the flight Amelia became cold from the high altitude. Luckily she had brought along a thermos of hot chocolate. After the flight she commented, "Indeed, that was the most interesting cup of chocolate I have ever had, sitting up eight thousand feet over the middle of the Pacific Ocean, quite alone."

A Collaborative Effort

A Collaborative Effort


I come from such a wonderful family! And there’s so many of them! [It helps that my Dad is number 13 of a family of fifteen brothers and sisters!]

Last week my cousin, from deep in the heart of Georgia [ya’ll know that’s pronounced “Jawja”, right?] contacted me looking for help in researching part of her line. She’s been working genealogy for her Crosier line, and the many others as well, for a few short years. I’ve been so blessed to have been able to assist her [and bask her in shade many times as well!] as she works on this line. Believe me, this girl is a natural genealogist! But I digress…

Last week she was looking for the 1900 Census for the Hinchee family of Monroe County, West Virginia.

Now, this particular family has a bit of sad history to it. First of all there is tragedy, but the worst of all…is the sad case that research indexers [yep, you know those kindly folks who index the census records, and such, over at places like Ancestry.com, to name but one] can’t seem to read the name Hinchee. Nope! Not a bit! Why, I’ve seen the name indexed as Hincher, Hinckee, even Hinckey and Hickey!

Second, Mr. Giles Hinchee, the father of the family in question, took for his bride a woman whose surname was “Crosier”. Not so bad, right? Except you would be surprised as to how many different ways even that name can be found indexed! [We won’t even go into that for this illustration, however. We’ll save that for another day.] But this particular Miss Crosier had the odd given names of Armacie Celona. [Oh, I kid you not! The poor baby!!!] Fortunately, she went by the nickname Macie. [You can imagine the fun it was trying to locate this child’s birth and death records! Again, we’ll save that for another day!]

The tragedy for the family was that Macie died in 1912 at the very young age of only 36 years. She left behind five young children ranging in age from 17, down to the wee two year old. [Her death record states she died from “surgical shock” with no other explanation given.]

Two years later, Giles remarried to a Miss Ida Dassa Surface, of the same community. A bit older than Macie, it appears that the couple did not have any children together, but that Ida finished raising Macie’s children as if they were her own.

And so, my cousin in the south contacted me. She had been able to locate most records of importance, birth, death, and census, except for the 1900 Census. Seems she could not find that particular one. [Well, with the indexers, you can imagine the names they might have filed the Hinchee family under!]

And so I decided to help my cuz out [well, I would give it my best try at least!]. So, I headed on over to my favorite records site, Ancestry. There I put in the info that I knew about old Giles. Born 1865 - Virginia. Died 1935 – West Virginia.

First search gave me everything from Giles Hinchee in the 1930 Census [the only Census with the correct spelling found] to Gitis Hinchee in the 1910 Census. But nothing for 1910.

So, I went back to the HOME page on Ancestry, and clicked on the Census year 1900. I figured I had to be able to locate them fairly easily. We knew they had not left the county. We also knew they lived in the same house for all of Giles’ adult life. So… it had to be a simple process. Right?

So, I typed in the family surname, Hinchee. Clicked on West Virginia. And limited my search to Monroe County. Okay, here’s where the brilliant minds of the indexer’s came into play!

The following list of individuals came up:
Rufind Hinchu [for Rufus D. Hinchee]
Jennie L. Hinchu
Della C. Hinchu
Amah C. Hinchu [for Alma C. Hinchee]
Willie K Hinchu
Chalmul Hinchu [hmm???]
Lizzie Hinchu
Frank J. Hinchu and
Ethel M. Hinchu

Come on! The Hinchee’s are one of the oldest families in the county! How hard could this be! So, I looked at the Census taker’s handwriting. I truly expected to see some horrendous penmanship that would cause the many individuals who indexed to all agree the spelling was “Hinchu” instead of “Hinchee”. Now, I respect Ancestry, I really do. I’ve been a subscriber for many years. I purchase the biggest research package that they offer yearly, and I fully intend to continue doing so as long as I can afford to, but this was just a bit ridiculous! The handwriting was very clear and precise! There were no problems in differentiating between the “ee” on the end and the indexers “u”.

So, what was I to do?

Okay, so how many ways can you mess up on the spelling “Giles” [I’d already seen the 1910 census had him listed as “Gitis”, but it did come up in the search, so maybe….just maybe…..

And so I returned to the 1900 Census search page. There I put in only the first name, Giles. No surname. West Virginia. And specified Monroe County.

Low, and behold, the very first record to emerge was Giles M. HINCHER. [Okay, they were getting warmer at least!]

I had found them. Yep. Sure enough, when I opened the link to the record, there was Giles, wife Macie, and their first two daughters, Mary and Lillie. As well as a Hinchee nephew, Luther [another line for my cuz to trace!].

So, what did this teach us?

Number one – ALWAYS use the Soundex when searching. And number two, think outside the box. If we had searched using the last name alone, or even the two together, we would never had located them. But because of the somewhat unusual first name, Giles, when I used it alone, for a rural area, bam, the record came up first on the search.

If only finding my car keys were half this easy. Now…. Where did I lay those things down at????

Free Online Archive Lessons

The National Archives is offering free archive research online classes!


You can download these free lessons here.

Or you can sign up [for $90] for graduate credit here.

Either way, great lessons!!!

Follow Friday - January 22, 2010

Today I’d like to introduce you to Elyse’s Genealogy Blog


The byline on this blog reads: “This blog is all about genealogy. I am a college student who has been bitten by the genealogy bug. This is my place to share my family tree, my tips and suggestions, along with my genealogy related opinions.”

The author of this blog is ELYSE DOERFLINGER.


Elyse has this to say about herself:


“I'm a college student that has is very addicted to genealogy. I've been researching for the last 6 years, but over the last year, I have been redoing my genealogy to be sure that everything is properly sourced. I write two blogs, have a video blog, and you'll often find me on Facebook.”

Elyse is an excellent writer. She authors two blogs:

The Graveyard Rabbit Student!
And Elyse’s Genealogy Blog

Elyse can also be seen on YouTube where she authors and “stars” in her own genealogy info films.

This young woman has been a guest speaker at several genealogy events, and will be a speaker at the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree this year.

Elyse is a vibrant speaker, and writes from a broad base of genealogy knowledge with authority on the subject. Don’t let her youth fool you! She really is an up-and-coming genealogy star!

If you’re not currently reading Elyse’s blog, I urge to head on over there and begin now! Yes, she can even teach an old dog a few new tricks!!!

By the way, so nice to see someone of her youth becoming so well advanced in the field of genealogy!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Questions To Ask Regarding Every Document You Uncover

Way back in October 2000, Marcia Melnyk did a wonderful article in Family Tree Magazine that reminded us what to look for in every document we find:

Leave no stone unturned. Many types of records provide clues that are often overlooked. Take what I call the “Doberman” approach to your genealogy research: Latch on to a fact and don't let go until you've gotten everything out of it. Squeezing every single scrap of information from a record as a clue to other research will pay big dividends. “Ask” every document these questions:


• Why was the document created in the first place?

• Are you looking at the original or a copy?

• To whom does the document pertain?

• How close to the original event was the document created?

• Who are the witnesses, informants or other persons mentioned in the document?

• Are any family relationships stated or implied?

• Did the person executing the document sign with a signature or mark?

• Is the information reliable, usable, or simply a clue to further research?

• What's the full citation for the document?


If we'll keep these questions in mind, we will the MOST out of every document we locate!

Treasure Chest Thursday - January 21, 2010

Following in the Geneabloggers tradition of showing you something I consider a treasure on Thursdays, I have been going through my expanisve photo collection, and sharing those with you.

Today I'd like to introduce you to four of my great-aunts and great-uncles. Two couples. One from each couple are brother and sister.


Lorene Banet Lee, Otis Lee Sr., Cora Allen Banet, and Clarence J. “Greenie” Banet


These are two of my maternal great aunts and uncles. Lorene and Greenie were brother and sister [my maternal grandmother’s sisblings]. Lorene was the youngest child of the family.

Lorene and Greenie were two of the eight children born to Francis Isidore “Frank” Banet and Adaline Eve.

Greenie was born 11 Sep 1904 and died 17 Aug 1986. He married Cora Allen [1912-1993] on 26 May 1928. They had two children: Faye and Jerry.

Lorene was born 15 Jan 1909 and she died 27 Mar 2005. She married Otis Lee Sr. [1908-1986] on 05 May 1934. They had five children: Emma Jean, Otis Lee Jr. [1937-2007], Ruth, Norman and Suzanne.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - January 20, 2010


Hmmm....

Don't know how this got here...

Oh well. Yep, that's the old Texicanwife. Circa.... well... uh... heck.... about 19... uh....

Well, there's definitely a "can-can" petticoat holding those skirts out, and I see a parasol purse, and look at the little Sunday cap.

Let's just say too many doggone years ago to count! [tee-hee]

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday - January 19, 2010


Francis Isidore “Frank” Banet and Adeline Josephine [Eve] Banet.

Frank was the son of Isadore Banet and Rosalie Sprigler.

Adeline was the daughter of Joseph and Annette Eve.

The couple had eight children: Robert, Arthur, Charles, Augustin, Francis "Frank", Clarence, Irene and Lorene. [Irene was my grandmother.]

They are buried in the Edwardsville Cemetery, Georgetown, Floyd County, Indiana.

These are my great-grandparents.

Ode To The Family McBean

The following is my submission to the current Carnival of Genealogy blogging event, which is an "Ode to my Family" event, in which a poem, rhyming or not, or a statement, regarding your family; something appropriate to introduce a book or a video about your family, is to be written for submission.

My biggest brick wall is old William McBean, whose two sons were surnamed simply Bean. To date, we still do not know for certain where old McBean came from, or his past. His son, William, left a wonderful trail of paperwork to get to know something of himself. But the father? Well, it's all a mystery.

And so, I give you,

Ode to the Family McBean

There once was a family McBean
Whose history just cannot be seen
We’ve looked far and wide
‘No access’, ‘Denied’
Their records, it seems, are wiped clean!

They crossed river and mountain
Past springs that flowed like a fountain
To a valley most green
Settled family Bean
At the base of the place - Peter’s mountain.

For the son of William McBean
Who on no father could lean
Became quite known and quite wealthy
His own sons strong and healthy
But old McBean’s records were wiped clean.

Where oh where was his past?
McBean came from what caste?
For his children-poor-worked for others
They became indentured brothers
McBean disappeared really fast.

So where to look for McBean?
Perhaps in a DNA gene?
With test then layed
No matches were made
There’s still no word on McBean.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Historical Marker Database

National and global events all happened somewhere, and historical markers mark the place where many occurred. But the richness of history is in its local details, details that can be insignificant on the global stage: the home of an individual who made a difference; a natural feature, building, byway; or something interesting that happened nearby. History is not just about the high and mighty.

Markers tell stories and point out facts. There are countless thousands of great stories marked by markers—and some boring ones too. Some markers simply recite facts while others are insightful, obscure, cryptic, patriotic, fascinating, sad, funny, or just downright bizarre. Many of those markers are on these pages, others are waiting for you to discover and add them to this database.


So hit the road and experience history first-hand yourself. History happened nearby.

View some of these historical markers on the website, The Historical Marker Database. Upload photos you've taken of historical markers to share with others. Or view markers you may not have seen before.

I believe this will become the "FindAGrave" of the Historical Marker community!

The Happy 101 Award!

I have really got to check my posts more often!!!

Imagine how thrilled I was this morning when I was looking over the Geneabloggers Madness Monday posts and saw that my post from January 11th was included in tpday's Madness Monday group, and when checking for comments found that on January 11th Leslie Ann Ballou of Lost Family Treasures had gifted me with the Happy 101 Award!


Along with this award I am supposed to list ten things that make me happy; and pass this award on to ten other bloggers.

So, here goes!

Ten Things That Make Me Happy:
1] My husband coming home on Friday night after being on the road all week long [he's a long-haul truck driver and gone from Sunday until Friday].

2] The rain on the roof.

3] Wet kisses from any one of my grandchildren!

4] My doggy cuddling up and singing to me! [Well, it's a howl, but she's a Chihuahua, so I call it singing!]

5] A good book!

6] Completing a genealogy research project and having the client tell me how happy they are with the results!

7] Finishing a writing project.

8] Being told "We're going to print!"

9] Hearing, "Mom, I'm coming home for a visit!"

10] A good meal with a glass of fine wine.

And how do I pass this award on to 10 who I admire when I admire so many??? Is there a way to to do that?

Hmmmm.....

If you are reading this, then please accept this award because you have made me so happy in reading this blog!

Otherwise, the ten go out to:
1] Arlene Eakle - Virginia Genealogy Blog
2] Ruth Stephens - Bluebonnet Country Genealogy
3] Elyse Doerflinger - Elyses Genealogy Blog
4] Gena Philibert Ortega - Gena's Genealogy
5] Granny Pam - Granny's Genealogy
6] Katrina McQuarrie - Kick Ass Genealogy
7] Linda McAuley - Documenting the Details
8] Dr. Bill [William L.] Smith - Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
9] James Tanner - Genealogy's Star
10] Mavis Jones - Georgia Black Crackers

Again, thank you Leslie for the award! Makes my sing!!!

Madness Monday - January 18, 2010

Joseph Eve, born 11 January 1829, France, immigrated to this country before 1858. He died 08 January 1892 in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. His wife Annette [maiden name unknown] was born 12 Feb. 1840 in Indiana. She died 01 May 1870. The couple are buried at S. Mary of the Knob’s Cemetery, in Floyds Knobs, Floyd County, Indiana.


They are my great-great-grandparents.

To date, the only records I have been able to locate, with any uncertainty for this couple, is the 1860 and 1870 Census. His tombstone is recorded on Find-A-Grave. My hope is to make a trip there in the next year or so and actually get to photograph the grave, and do a little research in Floyd County. [I have maternal aunts and an uncle along with many cousins, who live nearby, so it will make a great family reunion trip as well!]

I know from the 1860,1870 and 1880 Census that Joseph was a farmer. And the couple had at least these children: Nicholas, Lawrence, Alfred, Charles and Adaline.

[Joseph married Adaline DuBois 24 Oct 1871, eighteen months after the death of Annette.]

Joseph's daughter, Adaline, was my great-grandmother. Born 11 Feb 1867, she died just one day shy of a full year before I was born. 5 Nov 1958. She is buried in the Edwardsville Cemetery, Georgetown, Floyd County, Indiana.

Adaline married Francis Isidore Banet [15 Aug 1863 – Apr 1945] on 31 Oct 1893 in Floyd County. The couple had eight children: Robert, Arthur, Charles, Augustin, Francis, Clarence, Irene and Lorene. Irene was my grandmother.

Born on 24 May 1906 in Floyd County, Irene died on 08 Aug 1989 in Gap Mills, Monroe County, West Virginia, where she’d gone to live with her youngest daughter, my mother, following the death of her husband, Henry Condar Dreher, Jr. [31 Dec 1902-17 May 1977]. Henry and Irene were married on 12 Dec 1923 in Indiana. They had five children: Ethel, Arthur, Marion, Billy and Lois. Lois is my mother.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Challenge 3

GeneaBloggers is doing it yet again! Giving us another season of wonderful challenges to help us improve on our blogging, and genealogy, skills.

Here's the 3rd challenge of the year:

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge 3


Assess yourself! You’re great at researching everyone else’s history, but how much of your own have you recorded? Do an assessment of your personal records and timeline events to ensure your own life is as well-documented as that of your ancestors. If you have a genealogy blog, write about the status of your own research and steps you may take to fill gaps and document your own life.

~*~*~*~*~
 
Oh my! You caught me!!!
 
Assess myself? I nearly fainted when I read that!
 
So, pulling out the old files I began to take a close at what I have recorded of myself for my children and grandchildren, and [gasp] the future generations yet to be born.
 
I'm so ashamed.... [don't look now, but I'm scuffing the toe of my shoe, my head is lowered, and there may even be a tear of regret in my eye].
 
So where do I even start?
 
Uhmmm, at the very beginning I am sure, as all I have for myself is the pertinent dates of vital statistics recorded in my genealogy program. Nothing else!
 
I'll need to make a time line to even determine what records I need to add. How many educational degrees and certificates should I attach to this file, or do I just make mention of them? [I'm one of those habitual students you've read about. I never could decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, until I hit 40 and found genealogy!] Birth certificate. Marriage record[s] [oh yes...more than one]. Divorce date [do I dare place a copy of that in the file? oooh, yucky!!!] What about health records? I am a cancer survivor. Do I add the files for that ordeal, a mention of the cancer, what kind, brief mention of treatment, followup biopsy's, is that enough? I've noticed that those "fill-in-the-blank" family history books include clothing, shoe and ring sizes; do I include that?
 
Oh, this is gonna be a real job!!!!
 
Right now I've got a couple of clients I'm working on, so I can't get to this just yet. Maybe in a few weeks when things slow down a bit. Or maybe this summer when it's too hot to get out. Or at least......by Christmas.
 
Just kidding. I know it's something I really ought to take serious, and get done. I know my family will appreciate it one day. I certainly would have appreciated my ancestors having done something similar! I do keep a detailed journal [I have done that since I was about 8 years old], so they will, of course have that should I fail to get everything in my genealogy files. But I promise, on my honor as a genealogy researcher, I will do my very best to make this my new commitment!
 
[How are the rest of you getting along with this? Please, please, don't let me be the only one who hasn't done anything regarding their personal history!!!]

I will post later with results of this new committment, as it begins to take shape. So be watching for that!

Sentimental Sunday - January 17, 2010



This is a series of photographs of the old William Bean homeplace, located near Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia taken by Roger Davis [Roger is my third-cousin, once removed - or at least I think, I have such a terrible time computing familial relationships and rely on my genealogy program to do that for me!]. Roger visited the old homeplace in September of 1999 with my Dad [that's him with Roger in the bottom photo].

This is the house that William Bean built for his wife, Rachel Wiseman Bean in the 1840's. The sturcture itself is made of log. It has been covered with wood-siding since about 1910. However, the interior remains log [in another post I will show you some of the interior shots of the place taken in 2009].

On either end of the home, you can see where there were once big, rock fireplaces. These have been replaced [since the 1970's] with windows.

The house sits adjacent to the little road that splits the property in half. Across the road, through a field, and onto a hillock in the forest lies the Bean cemetery, where there are approximately 30 graves. The cemetery had been overgrown with trees. [I'll feature this cemetery at another time as well.]

William and Rachel were the parents of thirteen children. Every two years the descendants of this couple gather at Waiteville ina celebration of the lives of our ancestors. Roger, Walter and I are a part of those descendants. [That's a small glimpse at Roger's family tree on the lower right of this page.]

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Come Sunday Morning

As with most SNGF challenges, I am the next morning before getting to respond! Here is Randy's GeneaMusings Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge:

Hey there, it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!!


Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music!), is:

1) Remember when you were 12 years old? On a summer day out of school? What memory do you have of fun activities?

2) Tell us about that memory (just one - you can do more later if you want to) in a blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a comment on Facebook.

Here is my response!
 
It is 19[uh-hum - let's not even go there! Just know I am 12 years old!]; it's a hot summer day in Norfolk, Virginia. I hop on my bike [yeah, it was one of the cool new spider-bike's, with the new-fangled banana seats with "flower power" designs printed on it, and had a straw basket on the front covered in "groovy" flower-power flower petals!]. I fly over to my friend Debbie's house, where she gets on her bike, and we ride over to James' house. Where somehow we just know that Kenny will also be hanging out. Here we taunt and tease the boys, who really have no use for us, but with whom we are definitely entrigued. Before we know it, the boys are mounting up on their own bikes and chasing us through the neighborhood.
 
After what is probably a couple of hours of hot pursuit, we finally end up back at my house where cold glasses of ice-tea await us. Later Mom pops my sister,Eydie,  Debbie and I into the car, and off we head to the beach, where we spend several hours frolicking in the surf and sand. We know we can always look toward shore and there would be Mom, sitting back with a book, but with one eye warily keeping watch over her charges. If we got washed too far down the beach and looked back to her, we would see her wave to us to move the play back up closer to her watch, and we would make our way back toward her.
 
Afterwards we would dry off, head to the car, and stop at the local High's Ice-Cream parlor for a triple scoop of peppermint, pistachio, and butter nut ice-cream [or at least that's what my cone would have on it!]. Frantically licking our cones to keep them from melting all over us, we'd head back to the car and home.
 
"I never can understand why playing in the water just wears you girls out!", Mom would always exclaim.
 
Nothing heavy for dinner on a day like this! Mom would make us bologna and cheese sandwiches for the evening. And afterward cut open a watermelon that had been chilling in the fridge. The cold, wet sweetness would slide right down after a busy day!
 
Debbie would spend the night, and we'd crawl into my bed, all three of us, my sister, Eydie, Debbie and I [I was the one with a double-size bed], and we'd giggle until way past midnight when Mom would come tiptoeing in and say, "Okay girls, that's enough for tonight!" Finally we'd drift off.
 
It was a great day!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Drug Problem With My Generation

If you will click on the image below, it will open in a new window for better clarity and viewing so that you can read it in its entirety.

Surname Saturday - January 16, 2010

Today I’d like to introduce you to my Tuckwiller line.


1. Cynthia Ann Beane – b. 1959

2. Walter Maxwell Beane – b. 1938; M. Lois Velleda Dreher [b. 1938] in 1958
                             Ch. Cynthia, Velleda, David, Jeffrey

4. John Monroe Bean – b. 15 Dec 1866, Cincinatti, Ohio – d. 10 Apr 1954, Waiteville, Monroe, WV; M: Mary Elizabeth Faudree [1897-1975] on 01 Dec 1935, Clifton Forge, Alleghany, Virginia
                           Ch. Walter, Edsel, Roy

9. Margaret Smith Perkins – b. 03 Mar 1826, Greenbrier County, [W]VA – d. 11 Jun 1891, Monroe County, WV; M: William McHarvey Bean [1832-1890] on 26 Aug 1852 in Monroe County, [W]VA.
                          Ch. Unnamed, Viranda C., Samuel, William, Viranda E. “Betty”, John, Alice, Nanny

19. Elizabeth Tuckwiller – b 08 Nov 1779, Greenbrier County, [W]VA – d.28 Jul 1867, Greenbrier County, WV; M: Rev. Samuel Parkin [1778-1854] on 15 Sep 1812 in Greenbrier County, [W]VA.
                          Ch. Cathy, Joseph, Nancy, Elizabeth, John, Ballard, Rachel, Margaret, and Catherine

38. John Tuckwiller – b. 1752, Virginia – d. 18 Feb 1832 Rich Hollow, Greenbrier, [W]VA; M: Catherine Riffe [1762-1823]about 1777, believed to have been in Greenbrier County, [W]VA.
                           Ch. Hannah, Elizabeth, Esther, David, Barbara, John, Daniel, Caty, Nancy, Rachel, Mary

76. Thomas Tuckwiller – d. 20 Oct 1774, Shenandoah County, Virginia; M: Sabina Unknown
                           Ch. John

I have been able to confirm all individuals in this ahnentafel except for Thomas and Sabina. While there are numerous Thomas Tuckwiller listings for Shenandoah County, all transactions appear to have been after the date of death. [All information I have on Thomas is shown above, and comes from another family researcher.]

Working through the Shenandoah County Will book, I came across the following entries:

1768, May 25 Entry obtained by Thos Takewiller in the Late Proprietor's Office for about 400 acres #963, surveyed 1 Nov 1787, actually 119 acres [Shenandoah County Survey Book 1785-1794].

1774, Sep 27 John Duckmiller administrator of Thomas Duckmiller, John Duckmiller, Henry Whitich, and Samuel Stover enter into a bond in the Dunmore County Court [Shenandoah County Willbook A page 66].

1774, Oct 20 Inventory of the estate of Thomas Tuckwiller, appraised by Philip Baker, George Hern, and Martin Comer, John Tuckwiller administrator, was returned and ordered recorded on 27 Dec 1774 [Shenandoah Willbook A pp 72-3].

One researcher theorizes that Thomas’s wife’s name was actually Sybilla, or Sybillia. There is a Shenandoah County marriage bond for Jacob Wollf and Sybilla Dockwiller dated 21 Sep. 1774.

Of course, this runs amuck the date of death we have for Thomas. However, if John and Thomas “Duckmiller” listed above as actually John and Thomas Tuckwiller, then John appointed the bond for administrator of Thomas’ estate on 27 Sep 1774, which of course meant he predeceased this date. An inventory of Thomas Tuckwiller’s estate was appraised on 20 Oct 1774 [the date we have for his death]. So, the marriage bond for Sybilla/ Sybillia “Dockwiller” and Jacob Wollf would have been entirely appropriate.

On 01 Nov 1787 Jacob Wollf was present at the survey for Thomas “Takewiller” property in Shenandoah County, VA [Survey Book 1785-1794, p93]. He is also listed on the 1787 Shenandoah County, VA personal property tax list.

Then from “Our Families” [Larry Shuck - Publisher: Gateway Press (1995); ASIN: B0006F58MY - pp. 253-257] I find the following children listed for Thomas Tuckwiller and Sybilla [not Sabine] as:

John 1752-1832 married Catharine Riffe moved to Greenbrier Co., (West Virginiaa maybe as early as 1778

Sivily 1761-1860 married William Henson at Botetourt Co., Virginia, 1785. Death record indicates she is a daughter of Thomas. Christopher Hedrick swore in Sivily's pension application that she was his sister-in-law as well as stating the two were sisters [his wife and Sivily]. She moved to Greenbrier Co., (West Virginiaa.

Mary 1762-1861 married Christopher Hedrick at Greenbrier Co., (West) Virginia 1787. Death record listed parents as Jno. and Sabina Tuckwiller. [While son John did, indeed, have a daughter Mary, she found married to Abram Coffman in the Greenbrier County records, and her death record lists her as Mary Coffman. Thus ending any confusion of whose child she was.]

Nancy married Anthony Schoe at Greenbrier Co., (West) Virginia 1781. No proof she is a daughter of Thomas.

Thomas married Anna (-) Burner at Shenandoah Co., Virginia, 1789. No direct proof that Thomas was son of Thomas.

Daniel moved to Montgomery - Bedford Co., Virginia, area, no proof he is a son of Thomas.

I should probably have saved this for my Madness Monday blog! As you can see, it’s quite the “maddening” research!

It is my hope to finally uncover who Thomas Tuckwiller was. His birth place and date. And hopefully find his long-lost parentage.