Amanuensis Monday



The above document is a pay voucher for William Bean, of Monroe County, West Virginia during the Civil War.

It reads as follows:

No. 22
The COnfederate States
To: Wm M Beane Pri Co F 22 Brig
1863
To Extra duty as Ferryman at Greenbrier Bridge
as per order from Brigade HQTP from 14th day of
February 1860 to 25th day of May 1863 Making one
hundred days (100) at 25 c per day.             $25.00

William was a double agent during the Civil War. He was enlisted in the Union Army, which caused a great rift between him and his family. He then, by all appearances, enlisted in the Confederacy. However, when taken prisoner in Maryland, was taken to Elmira Prison in New York, where he was soon after transferred to Ohio in the Union Army. And remained there until the close of the war. His records are interspersed throughout both forces [Union and Confederate].

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #5

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2011) that invite genealogists and others to record memories and insights about their own lives for future descendants. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your memories on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

Week 5: Favorite Food. What was your favorite food from childhood? If it was homemade, who made it? What was in this dish, and why was it your favorite? What is your favorite dish now?

 

My favorite food from childhood was, believe it or not, onions. I am told that as an infant in a high chair if they put a piece of candy and a piece of onion on the tray before me that I would take the onion and eat it first!

My favorite snack was always a slice of onion, mayo, and salt & pepper on a slice of bread! I loved onions raw, boiled, and fried! And yes... I adored them with liver!!! [I know... I was simply weird that way!!!]

Anyway that they were fixed.. I loved onions!

 

What is my favorite dish today???

It's a chili recipe... Joe's Homemade Chili. And yes... there are LOTS of onions in this! But it also has kidney beans, black beans and chick peas. As well as zucchini! And ground turkey meat. This is a chili that I could eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!! And yes, I have!

 

 

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.... Come Sunday Morning

Randy offers us a new challenge... one which I get to late [as usual!]. So here's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun [come Sunday morning!]:

It's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!

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

1) What day of the week were you born? Tell us how you found out.

2) What has happened in recorded history on your birth date (day and month)? Tell us how you found out, and list five events.

3)  What famous people have been born on your birth date?  Tell us how you found out, and list five of them.

4)  Put your responses in your own blog post, in a comment on this blog post, or in a status or comment on Facebook.


*****

1] I was born on 04 Nov 1959. It was a Wednesday. I know this, because I have been told many times by my parents. But I also used this site to assist me! This Zeller's Algorithm can be used to determine any date's day of the week from 1582 to 4902!!!

2] in 1920: Air Mail Service between US and Canada was started; 1922:British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen discover a step leading to the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt..   1933: According to the press, it was announced that the possible inference of Soviets in Manchuria was a “made up” story. The Japanese had allegedly made up this story to cover up an alternative advancement northward.

1944: Governor Thomas E. Dewey criticized President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the reason why the Second World War was prolonged. Dewey stated that the war had continued on as a result of Roosevelt’s “confused incompetence”.


1953: A group of UN members along with neutral observers led an angry anti-communist protest. This particular incident took place while a Communist drilling of Chinese prisoners was going on.
1956: After the Hungarian Uprising last week led by Prime Minister Imre Nagy the soviet air force has been bombing the capital of Hungary Budapest and have now amassed 1,000 Soviet tanks on the outskirts of Budapest to crush the uprising once and for all. In the next month the Soviet Union took back full control of the country deploying tens of thousands of troops and tanks and replaced the head of government with Janos Kadar. During the following months more than 50,000 were killed and 200,000 Hungarians sought political asylum in the West during the Soviet crackdown.

1958: Pope John XXIII the son of a poor Italian farmer was crowned 262nd pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on the balcony of St Peters Basilica with 200,000 spectators watching from St Peters Square in a 4 hour ceremony .

1963: The Russians had stopped another U.S. convoy while it was traveling on the autobahn between West Berlin and West Germany. This halted convoy had just been used in a training exercise in West Germany.

1966:  The Arno River floods causing the flooding of nearly 2/3rd's of the city of Florence with some areas of the city in as much as 8 feet of water. The floods knocked out all power to the city including hospital emergency generators and caused the death of more than 100 lost their lives. Florence has always been famous for it's historic books/manuscripts and fine art and estimates put the number damaged between 3 and 4 million with 10's of thousands damaged beyond repair and restoration.

1970: Genie a feral child is taken to Children's Hospital Los Angeles after her mother enters a welfare office in Temple City, California, to seek benefits for the blind. Genie had spent nearly all of the first thirteen years of her life locked in her bedroom. During the day, she was tied to a child's potty chair in diapers and at night, she was bound in a sleeping bag and placed in an enclosed crib with a cover made of metal screening. She was never allowed to talk as her father beat her every time she made any sounds. At 13 years of age her vocabulary consisted of about 20 words. The movie Mockingbird Don't Sing was based on this tragic true story .

1979: Militant student followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran taking 90 hostages. The students were enraged that the deposed Shah had been allowed to enter the United States for medical treatment and they threatened to murder hostages if any rescue was attempted. No diplomatic solution could be found and President Carter ordered a rescue mission in which eight U.S. military personnel were killed and no hostages rescued. The hostages were held in captivity for 14 months and were eventually released when the US Government released $3 billion in frozen Iranian assets and promised $5 billion more in financial aid.

1980: Former Hollywood actor and Republican Ronald Reagan wins the US presidential elections beating Democrat Jimmy Carter with a huge majority.



1983: This was another busy bombing day for the Israelis and Palestinians. First, an Israeli bombing post in Tyre was struck by a suicide bomber. Israel then fought back using air fighters. They struck Palestinian bases located in the central mountains.

1985: It was revealed on this day that Italian prosecutors made plans to interrogate Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He was believed to be a reliable witness to the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro.

1988:  A computer virus has infected many thousands of computers connected to the Internet. The Internet ( ARPANET ) currently connects 50,000 computers from Government agencies and Universities. The virus closed down a number of the computers as operations slowed down and the computers were forced to reboot. The virus was targeted to any computer running the operating system Berkeley UNIX Version 4.3. The virus was traced back to a Computer student at Cornell University.
1995:  Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. At this time it was believed that the man responsible for the death of Rabin was affiliated from a right-winged group. This man was also said to have been from Herziliya. Rabin was hit in the back, shoulder, and side.

2002:  A political party with Islamic affiliation won at the polls. Some concerned existed as to whether or not religion would play a part in the politics of this new leadership. However, it was assured by Turkey that this would not be the case. Persons such as the Justice and Development leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured that this country will not continue to revel in the victory. Instead, they plan on developing a government “where common sense prevails”.

2006:  Katharine Schori is taking office as the first female bishop in the Anglican denomination. The choice is controversial, as most other Anglican Churches do not allow women to become bishops. More than three thousand well-wishers attended her investiture ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral, and seven conservative US dioceses have already said that they will not accept her authority.
2006:  Thousands of Tehran's school children and college students have marked the anniversary of the 1979 hostage-taking at the American embassy. The speaker of the Iranian parliament has said that it is similar to the current nuclear row, and that America is always trying to put Iran under pressure. In a rowdy celebration of student power, it had boys and girls segregated outside the former American embassy. Another red flag that said "Death to America" was burned. ( And Iran wonders why the west do not trust them ? )

2006:  A group of children that had been selected by Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime to help create an Aryan master race has met for the first time as adults. Children from the Nazis' 'Lebensborn' or 'Font of Life' project have gathered in the German town of Wernigerode to discuss the trauma over their origins.

2007:  The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians is needed. Ms Rice urges Arab states to accept a peaceful and permanent home for Israel, and Israel says there will be no deal for a Palestinian state unless its own security is guaranteed. Rice has gone to the region to prepare for the peace conference that will be taking place in the US that month, but she says that she was not yet ready to set a date for the conference.

2008:  The United States general election. The Democratic Party did well on the national level, with increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. Barack Obama was the Democratic nominee. The incumbent Vice President, Dick Cheney, did not run for the office. This year's presidential election is the first since 1928 in which neither an incumbent president nor an incumbent vice president was a candidate. Obama will be inaugurated on January 20, 2009.

2008:  Californian voters have approved Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriages. With more than 95% of the vote counted, the measure has 52.1% to 47.9%. The measure to ban gay marriage in California will throw doubt onto the 'unions' of the approximately 18,000 Same Sex couples that have 'wed' during the last 4 1/2 months.
2009:  Italian political leaders are uniting to condemn the European court ruling that crucifixes can't be displayed in schools, and are a breach of human rights. The Italian government, the Vatican and Catholic right wing parties are dismissive of the European Court of Human Rights ruling, which started from the case that was brought about by an Italian mother having opposed to the hanging of crucifixes on classroom walls.


***Answers to Question 2 were found here.http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/november4th.html#1979

3] Famous people born on November 4th were:Laura Lane Welch [also known as Laura BUSH] was born 1946.
    Abbey Lewis - American actress - born 1910
    Adrian Zaugg - South African race car driver - born 1986
    Alfonso II of Naples - King of Naples - born 1448
    Ann Loos - American Actress - was born 1915
    Anne Sweeny - American Businesswoman with the Walt Disney Company - born 1958
    Also well know and well recognized:
    Puff Daddy
    Jeff Probst
    Ralph Macchio
    Will Rogers
    Walter Cronkite
    Matthew McConaughey
****The above celebrities were found on various web sites simply by using the Google search engine, and typing on  "celebrities born on November 4th"

4] Herein posted!

Sentmental Sunday

My paternal grandparents, John Monroe Bean, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Faudree Bean.

1948.

Sorting Saturday

Today I'd like to address something quite simply fixed, but which for a time completely baffled me!

My paternal lineage is quite large. My grandfather one of eight children, his father one of eleven.

While I have spent many years researching these lines, I have accumulated a great number of family photographs. For years, these photos were simply filed under "BEAN", our family name. By the time it reached several hundred [if not thousands] I would have to search through numerous "John Bean" photographs to find the correct one!

What was a girl to do?

It was then that I learned about sub-folders.

When I began this genealogical journey, I had never touched a computer before. And I am completely self taught. My DH, who is well versed in IT, told me at the start that he could do it for me... but if I wanted to learn how to do anything on the computer, I'd be better off finding the answers for myself.

And so... as I wanted to learn something, I would consult a search engine, or order a book, research until I found the answer. So I was a little later than some in learning certain aspects of the technology! But I did learn!

Sometimes I learned the hard way. Like filing all photos under one name to start with!

So... today, my "BEAN" folder has many sub-folders.

There are folders for each of William and Rachel's eleven cildren. Beneath each of those are sub-folders with each of their children, and in some files there are even more sub-folders!

I can easily access the files and am able to draw up photos and portraits in mere seconds.

This method works much like my binders with hard copies of documents.

You don't have to make everything complicated! Sometimes... the simplest methods are the best!

Family Recipe Friday...Grandma's Fried Rabbit

Fried rabbit was a staple in the hill country of West Virginia from the time the area became populated until the mid-twentieth century.

The hills and hollers are filled with an abundance of game, but rabbits are especially plentiful.

Young boys learned to catch this game before the age of ten using simple snares and box-traps.

These traps were simply constructed, and many times were the young boys first attempt at woodworking.

Game is lured into the trap by the scent of food [usually apples or carrots for attempting to catch rabbits].

As they enter, to reach the food, a prop is simply knocked out of place by the animal and the door to the trap slams shut, trapping the animal inside. An opening on the opposite end can allow for dispersing of the animal without even removing it, or it can be pulled out through the original trap opening and dispersed.

The carcass was then brought to the kitchen door for "Mom" of the house to clean and prepare for eating.

I won't go into the proper method of cleaning and butchering a rabbit carcass at this time... although we may look at that at a later date!

Once the animal was butchered, mother was left to either "put it up" [usually canning the cooked meat], or fixing it right away.

The animal would be allowed to soak for several hours in a salty brine to help take away some of the "gamey" flavor attached to it. [Believe it or not... if the rabbit has been eating wild onions... you'll know it when you bite into the meat!]

Then mother will par boil this meat to make it tender.

Simply placing the meat in a large pot of boiling salt water and allowing it to boil for about 30 minutes will remove any remaining gaminess, and tenderizes the meat should it be tough.

The pieces of meat [which strangely enough resemble the carcass of a chicken!] are then lightly disted with cornmeal or flour, dipped in egg and milk and rolled in flour. [The first dip allows the remaining two to adhere well to the meat.]

Next a large, heavy skillet is prepared with a generous amount of lard for cooking. When it is brought to a medium/hot heat, the pieces are then dropped into the fat and fried until golden brown.

A delicious brown gravy is then made from the pan drippings.

Served with biscuits, this is a meal unto itself! And it is highly favored, even today, in the hills!

And everywhere!!!

Squirrels are caught and cooked in a similar fashion.

In this manner, young boys learned early how to provide for their families. They also provided their family with fish... but that is for another day!

Treasure Chest Thursday...Two Photos

The following two photographs are of my great-grandfather's brother, Archibald Marmaduke Beane.

Born 06 Oct., 1826 he died 31 Aug. 1899.

I received these portraits this week from a distant cousin who is descended through Archibald's BEANE line. I was thrilled to have these!

Take a look:

This photo shows us a 40-year old Archibald. Archibald was the 9th born child of William and Rachel [Wiseman] Bean of Monroe County.

I love the detail in this portrait.
First, he is posed in a relaxed manner, one arm resting on the side table, the other hand upon his thigh. His legs are crossed comfortably. Other details to note:
He has a moustache and a small chin goatee. In later years he wore a full beard. He has a rather unique hair style! His hair appears to be parted on both sides, with the center combed back, and then a small, short bangs present upon the forehead.

It is hard to tell in the portrait, but he may be wearing two shirts beneath the vest. Over the outermost shirt, he is wearing a lapelled vest of striped material. A watch chain is clearly visible, and appears to have a watch placed in the fob pocket. His outer coat appears to be a rougher, coarse material. Perhaps a linsey woolsey [this was most recent after the Civil War]. His trousers are tucked firmly into his knee high boots, which while very clean, do not appear to be highly polished.

He is seated upon either a chair or a wide stool with spindled legs.

The coverlet on the side table is printed with Victorian flowers.

This appears to be a studio portrait, but that is merely deduction and conjecture and is uncertain. And may be the earliest known photograph of Archibald.

A marvellous portrait!

 Here is another photo of Archibald taken in his later years. He would have been in his late 60's to early 70's in this photo.

Note the beard here, which was indicative of all photos of Archibald in his latter years. He has a low collar shirt on, which appears to have print design. He is wearing a vest over his shirt, which is striped. This looks to possibly be made of wool. You can clearly see the button detail. He is wearing a suit jacket with wide lapels. His hands are indicative of an older gentleman. Note the prominence of large, gnarly veins. He is slightly squinting, which may be due to lighting in the studio, or preparing for the flash of the camera.

A wonderful portrait!

Many thanks to our newly found cousin for sharing these!

Wordless Wednesday

Lenora HYRE BEAN
1851-1909

Tombstone Tuesday

A.M. BEANE

BORN

OCT. 6, 1826

DIED

AUG. 31, 1899

----

AT REST

Archibald Marmaduke Beane was the 9th born child of William and Rachel [Wiseman] BEAN of Monroe Co., WV.

Archibald married [1] Amanda SHIRES [1826-1852]

Their children were:

John, Amanda and Alafore.

He married [2] Margaret DUNBAR.

Their children were:

Mary, Madora, Alonzo, Wellington, Augustus, Laura, Christine, Charles and Bertha.

Archibald was born in Monroe County, but migrated to Kanawha County.

He is buried in Teays Hill Cemetery at St. Albans.

Maritime Monday

Yep... this handsome sailor, circa 1956... is my wonderful Dad.

Here is wearing the traditional "duck" hat [you'll recognize it from the Donald Duck cartoons!]. And his winter blues.

Dad joined the military when he was 17 and retired after 22 years in 1976. He would have served even longer, but had to retire due to injury.

I am especially proud of my Dad's time in the Navy, although it did mean not having him around during my growing up years! He was always away at sea.

Mama kept his portrait in nearly every room of our home, and each evening we would gather and pray for Daddy and the other men on his ship.

When his ship came home, it was like fair time! The families would all gather on the pier, dressed in their Sunday best, and we'd wait, sometimes for hours, as the ship was slowly pulled into harbor by tugboats.

The sailors would all be dressed in the dress uniforms, lined up at parade rest around the edges of the deck of the ship. We would all try to pick out our own Daddy from other's Daddy's!  Sometimes we would say we found him, but you could never be sure!!!

Then after the ship was moored, the boatswains whistle would shrill through the air as the men were released to go ashore. Everyone would crowd near the gangway and wait for the men to depart the ship. We were always right there to welcome Daddy back home! He'd grab one or the other of us in his arms, kiss Mommy, and we'd head for our car.

I was always so proud to be holding onto my Daddy's hand! I remember in Kindergarten passing a classmate on the pier and saying "That's my Daddy!" [I always recall that whenever I see the old Shirley Temple movie... "Little Princess". Remember her holding her Daddy's hand and saluting Queen Victoria she whispers in a stage whisper, "That's my Daddy!" Yep... I definitely connect!]

Dad's always been my hero.

He always will be.

Sentimental Sunday... More Time In Europe

In 1980 I visited Paris. Here's a shot from the base of the Eifel Tower.
On this particular day, they weren't allowing "patrons" to climb. Mwah - mwah!

For $5 I got a dessert sized bowl full of browned hamburger meat when I asked for a hamburger at a cafe! [McDonald's had not yet arrived!] And french fries are not french! [LOL]

Later I found out that pizza, while invented by Italians, was considered a non-Italian dish, highly over rated by Americans! And that no place on earth has better spaghetti Italiano than in DaSilvana in Arcanazzo. It was simply fabulous!

I also found out that many cafes and bars still had what Americans refer to as "squatters".

I also found some in Italy as well as Spain. Although I am told that now, in 2011, most have been replaced with a more modern convenience.

Uhm, yeah... folks this was the bathroom in a cafe in Paris. No dilineation of restroom facilities for men and women. Both used the same convenience. Needless to say, if nature hadn't been calling so badly I would have held it till I returned to the hotel we were staying in! And yes... this was probably the most sanitary of these conviences I saw while in Europe. The rest were... let's just say not so nice!

More photos to come!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun...Do Some Random Research

Thanks to Randy for the latest SNGF challenge!

"Hey genealogy buffs - it's Saturday Night and time for more Genealogy Fun!  Play along with us and tell us about it.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to follow Chris Staats' rules (from Freaky Friday: Random Research Reports)  for picking a random person's name and then doing some online research about that person.  Here are Chris's rules:

1. Go to The Random Name Generator and click the red “Generate Name” button at the top of the screen

2. Go to Ancestry.com and enter your generated name in the search box on the main search page. [Randy's add:  If you don't have Ancestry.com, go to http://www.familysearch.org/ and do it there - it's free.]

3. From the results, your research target will be the first census result for your generated name.

4. Using whatever online resources are at your disposal, see what else you can discover about your random person and write about it. It can be a formal report complete with footnotes, or just a “research story” about what you tried, problems you overcame, or success you had. Maybe you want to create a research plan for practice?

5. Post about it on your blog or wherever you wish, and link here to tell Chris about it.  Tell Randy about it too as a comment here or a comment on Facebook or Twitter."

And so I gave myself one hour of research time online to see what information I could find.

At the Random Name Generator I was given the name Jordan Gamble.

Upon doing a search at Ancestry, the very first Census record that came up was the 1930 Census for Keaton, Arkansas County, Arkansas.

From there I located the 1920 Census for Gamble, his death record and his divorce.

Jordan Gamble was born in either Arkansas or Alabama [depending upon which Census record you look at] in either 1882 or 1879 [1930 and 1920 Census records respectively].

CENSUS
1930
Keaton, Arkansas, Arkansas
Roll: 64/ Img 251.0
ED 14/ Sheet 5B/ 10 Apr 1930
Lines 83-88/ Public Road/ 94/99

GAMBLE, Jordan    Head     M  Neg  48  D    Arkansas    Mississippi  Mississippi  Farmer/ General
                  William   Son       M  Neg  20  S    Arkansas     Arkansas    Arkansas    Farm Laborer/General
                  Jordan E. Son     M  Neg   18  S    Arkansas    Arkansas     Arkansas    Farm Laborer/General
                  Oscar     Son       M  Neg  16  S    Arkansas    Arkansas     Arkansas    None
                  Elporter  Son       M  Neg  12  S    Arkansas    Arkansas    Arkansas     None
                  Ezell       Son       M  Neg  10  S    Arkansas    Arkansas    Arkansas     None

From this we deduct that Gamble was a farmer. We also learn that he rented his farm. According to this census no one in the household was attending school, and no one could either read or write.

In the previous Census [Keaton, Arkansas, Arkansas; Roll: T625_53/ Img 283; ED 11/ Sheet 13B/ 26 Jan 1920; Lines 75-85/ FM/245/ 251] Gamble is married to what appears to be his second wife, Emma. We can presume Emma is his second wife due to several clues. First, while Jordan is listed as 41 years of age in this census, Emma is only 26 and the eldest child, Isaiah, is 16 years of age. While not entirely impossible that she is Isaiah's mother, it is highly unlikely. Also, in the children's mother's place of birth only three of the 8 list NC [Emma's POB] as their mother's POB. The remainder as listed simply as US.

In 1926 Jordan filed for divorce from Emma [he is listed as Plaintiff and she as defendant on records]. The divorce was granted 09 Apr 1926, and it appears, according to the 1930 census, that Jordan received custody of the children born to this marriage.

Jordan Gamble died on 22 Feb. 1933 in Arkansas.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #4

Week #4 – Home

Week 4: Home. Describe the house in which you grew up. Was it big or small? What made it unique? Is it still there today?

I grew up in a military home, and so it changed quite a bit.

From 1960-1961 we lived in a duplex on 15th Street in Norfolk, VA. In November of that year we moved just down the street to a cottage. We lived there until 1965.

In 1965 we moved to 12th Street, in Norfolk. And in 1967 my parents purchased the house above.

4600 Krick Street, in Norfolk. We lived here until 1973. The house is still standing. And it was this house that I have my fondest memories.

In 1973 we moved to Gap Mills, West Virginia. That house, as well, is still standing.

In 1975 I married and began living in my own home.

But it is definitely the house on Krick Street that I recall with the tenderest of memories!

Shopping Saturday

When my grandparents were youngsters, their parents probably shopped at an establishment something similar to this one...

Goods were few in comparison to today.

Since my grandparents lived on a farm, their parents probably only came to town a couple of times a month, if that, to buy staples needed to get by on. The rest of their foodstuffs were home grown.

Items like salt, sugar, flour and coffee were considered the staples.

Everyday items like meat, milk, eggs, cheese, and vegetables, were grown on the farm.

The visit into town would usually cost them anywhere from .50 cents to $1.50 a trip. You've got to understand, that was big money in the day!!!

Sugar was .08 cents a pound in 1860; salt cost $1.25 for a 25 pound sack [or .05 cents a pound]; flour was $7.14 a barrell [can you imagine???] and coffee was king at .20 cents a pound.

Today, we shop in mega markets like the one seen below

where we can purchase items from every continent of the globe. And where we go at least on a weekly basis, and sometimes on a daily basis!

Our average spending today is nearly $200 a week for a family of four. And the cost is rising higher every week.

I often wonder what my great-grandparents would think if they could walk into a market today?

How many items would they even recognize from the past?

The next time you are going marketing, take a look around you. Try to see through your ancestors eyes, and feel the amazement that they would have felt!

It's a pretty amazing feeling!

Family Recipe Friday... It's All In The Seasoning

A HUGE fan of cast iron cookware... I grew up around it and have always loved not only its durability, but it's also the best non-stick cookware known to man!!!

When you purchase a new piece of cast iron cookware today, it is usually considered pres-seasoned. So what does that mean?

It means the cookware is ready to use, as is. Otherwise, you must temper it to make give that non-stick quality. And the manufacturer, as well as most modernists, tell you to lightly grease the pan with solid shortening, turn it upside down in an oven at 200-dgrees farenheit, and bake for 2 to 4 hours [depending upon the manufacturer].

And yes... I have used this method. It works. To a degree. I find that harsh dish detergents then remove this seasoning after only a few washes. And while many disagree on care of the seasoned skillet [can you believe there is controversy over whether to wash it or not?] I am a huge proponent on the old adage 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness' and scrub-a-dub in the dish water!

So, here's the method my grandmother used [born 1897] and which she proclaimed her mother used as well. I find the seasoning lasts much [much, much] longer with this method!!!

In a woodburning cookstove, build a light fire and allow the stove to begin to cool. Lightly grease the cookware with lard, line the pan with potato 'peelin's' [that's the peeled potato skins for those of you not from the mountains!]. Place in the stoves oven just before going to bed at night. When you get up in the morning, remove the pan from the oven. Remove the peels, and wipe clean. It's now ready to be used!!!

Since I haven't a wood burning cook stove, here's the method I still use today, grease the cookware lightly with solid shortening. Line the interior with potato peels [skin side up!]. Place in the oven at 150 degrees [or the warm setting] and allow to stay in the oven overnight. Remove in the morning as above.

This type of seasoning works wonderfully well. I have several skillets which have only been seasoned once since I received them over 35 years ago!

Treasure Chest Thursday...Rotge or Langford?

There has been controversy over whether Betty Rotge was born Betty Rotge or Betty Langford.

She was indeed born Rotge. She was then raised by her grandmother, and often adopted her grandmother's last name, although she was never legally adopted.

Wordless Wednesday

Well... almost wordless

This photo was taken in 1980 while visiting Paris.

The Champs Elysse [arch d'triomph].

A Paris Visit

1980

Tombstone Tuesday...Pocohontas

Having grown up in Norfolk, Virginia, Pochontas was a very early heroine of mine. However, so much has been fictionalized about this Native American that it is hard to tell fact from fiction!

Here is the account listed on FindAGrave:

This is a purely English fictionalized view of Pochohontas. While she is said to have dressed in the English style while in London, she refused anything but loose or braided hair and no headgear. It is doubtful she sait for a portrait.

"

Birth:	1595
Death:	Mar. 21, 1617 Gravesend Kent, England
Native American Colonial Figure. She was most likely born in Werawocomoco (what is now Wicomico, Gloucester County, Virginia) on the north side of the Pamaunkee (York) River, about 1595-96, a daughter of the Chief over some forty Algonkian Indian villages that were spread about the shores of the rivers now called the James and the York, which flow into Chesapeake Bay. Her father called Powhatan after his chief village named her Meto-aka and later "Pocahontas", meaning "Playful little Girl". Her true name, Mato-aka, was only used within her tribe. She likely saw white men for the first time in May 1607 when Englishmen landed at Jamestown. The one she found most likable was Captain John Smith. The first meeting of Pocahontas and John Smith has become a legendary, romanticized story, but the two did soon become friends after the meeting. Relations with the Indians continued to be generally friendly for the next year, and she was a frequent visitor to Jamestown. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied Indians bringing food and furs to trade for hatchets and trinkets. Pocahontas apparently married an Indian "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among Indians, but her relationship with the Englishmen was not over. When an energetic and resourceful member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he devised a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, lesser chief of the Patowomeck Indians, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she "began to be exceeding pensive and discontented," but she eventually became calmer and even accustomed to her captivity. Argall sent word to Powhatan that he would return his beloved daughter only when the chief had returned to him the English prisoners he held, the arms and tolls that the Indians had stolen, and also some corn. After some time Powhatan sent part of the ransom and asked that they treat his daughter well. Argall returned to Jamestown in April 1613 with Pocahontas. She eventually moved to a new settlement, Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. It was here that she began her education in the Christian Faith, and that she met a successful tobacco planter named John Rolfe in July 1613. She was allowed relative freedom within the settlement, and she began to enjoy her role in the relations between the colony and her people. After almost a year of captivity, Dale brought 150 armed men and Pocahontas into Powhatan's territory to obtain her entire ransom. Attacked by the Indians, the Englishmen burned many houses, destroyed villages, and killed several Indian men. Pocahontas was finally sent ashore where she was reunited with two of her brothers, whom she told that she was treated well and that she was in love with the Englishman John Rolfe and wanted to marry him. Powhatan gave his consent to this, and the Englishmen departed, delighted at the prospect of the "peace-making" marriage, although they didn't receive the full ransom. Sir Thomas Dale made an important voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and, to insure spectacular publicity; he brought with him about a dozen Algonquian Indians, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was well publicized. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and the rest of the best of London society. Also in London at this time was Captain John Smith, the old friend she had not seen for eight years and whom she believed was dead. After seven months Rolfe decided to return his family to Virginia, In March 1617 they set sail. It was soon apparent, however, that Pocahontas would not survive the voyage home. She was deathly ill from pneumonia or possibly tuberculosis. She was taken ashore, and, as she lay dying, she comforted her husband, saying, "All must die. Tis enough that the child liveth." She was buried in a churchyard in Gravesend, England. She was 22 years old. (bio by: K M) " Burial: St George Churchyard Gravesend Kent, England The top of the Pochontas memorial statue at Jamestown, Virginia The Pocahontas Memorial Statue located at historic Jamestown, Virginia. The commemorating Pocahontas at St. George Churchyard, Gravesend, England. It reads: THIS STONE COMMEMORATE PRINCESS POCAHONTAS OR METOAKA DAUGHTER OF THE MIGHTY AMERICAN INDIAN CHIEF POWHATTAN. GENTLE AND HUMANE, SHE WAS THE FIREND OF THE EASRLIEST STRUGGLING ENGLISH COLONISTS WHOM SHE NOBLYE RESCUED, PROTECTED AND HELPED. <----------------> ON HER CONVERSION TO CHIRSTIANITY IN 1613 SHE RECIEVED IN BAPTISM THE NAME REBECCA, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS BECAME THE WIFE OF JOHN ROLFE, A SETTLER IN VIRGINIA SHE VISITED ENGLAND WITH HER HUSBAND IN 1616, WAS GRACIOUSLY RECEIVED BY QUEEN ANNE WIFE OF JAMES I. IN THE TWENTY SECOND YEAR OF HER AGE SHE DIED AT GRAVESEND, WHILE PREPARING TO  REVISIT HER NATIVE COUNTRY AND WAS BURIED NEAR THIS SPOT ON MARCH 21ST 1617,  St. George Churchyard Gravesend, England

Motivation Monday - George Washington

Here's a great quote from the founding father for this Motivation Monday:

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few;
and let those be well-tried before you give them your confidence." George Washington

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.... Come Sunday Morning

It's Saturday Night again - time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1) How old is one of your grandfathers now, or how old would he be if he had lived? Divide this number by 4 and round the number off to a whole number. This is your "roulette number."

2) Use your pedigree charts or your family tree genealogy software program to find the person with that number in your ancestral name list (some people call it an "ahnentafel"). Who is that person?

3) Tell us three facts about that person in your ancestral name list with the "roulette number."

4) Write about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a Facebook note or comment, or as a comment on this blog post.

5) If you do not have a person's name for your "roulette number" then spin the wheel again - pick a grandmother, or yourself, a parent, a favorite aunt or cousin, or even your children!

Thanks Randy for another great prompt!!!

So here's mine:

1] My grandfather, John Monroe Bean, was born in 1866. If he was alive, he would be 145 years old.
Divided by 4 would be 36.25, or rounded to 36.

2] Number 36 on my Ahnentafel is James Perkins.

3] James Perkins:
               1] was born 21 November 1741 in Virginia
               2] died on 25 March 1825 in Greenbrier County, [West] Virginia
               3] married Elizabeth Bonderant

Sentimental Sunday...A Year In A Truck!

What were some of the odd quirks of your ancestors?

What about you?

Ever done something you never thought you'd do before?

In 2005 I joined my husband on the road. He specifically leased a truck [he's a truck driver] so that I could travel with him. He drove long-distance [meaning all over!]. And we traveled coast-to-coast, and were in all 48 of the contiguous United States.

It was a fabulous opportunity for me, and I chronicled nearly every step of the way with over 11,000 photographs.

Yep... I spent a year on the truck with him!

One of the highlights of the trip?

I had always wanted to go swimming in the Pacific Ocean. I have swam in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Mexico. But never made it to the Pacific Ocean.

In June of 2005 I finally got my opportunity.

But can you believe it? The water temperature here, at Huntington Beach, was only 62 degrees that day! [You can see from the photo the day was overcast.]

Those brave souls that were in the water were in wet suits!

I didn't care.

I got into my swimsuit, and wore a t-shirt over it, and dove in.

Hubby walked in as far as... well let's just say above his knees... and said it was simply too cold for him!

Me?

I was determined I was going to be able to say I had swam in the Pacific!!!

To be honest, it was a quick dip, but fully immersed!

Afterward I dried off, back into jeans and a dry t-shirt and ball cap, and we strolled the beach.

It is a memory I treasure always!

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week #3

This is a blogging prompt for promoting a personal memory journal for our genealogical portfolios as prompted at:
http://www.geneabloggers.com/calendar/

Week 3: Cars. What was your first car? Describe the make, model and color, but also any memories you have of the vehicle. You can also expand on this topic and describe the car(s) your parents drove and any childhood memories attached to it.

My first car was a 1965 Plymouth Satellite, two-door coupe. It had an automatic transmission, with a shifter in the middle console.

The car was a medium brown with a black top. The interior was chocolate and beige. And she was a beauty!!!

I was 16 years old, and she was a gift from my parents on my wedding.

Yeah... I was a child bride. And I think Mama and Daddy gave me the car to encourage me not to quit high school [which I didn't... I even graduated ahead of my class by 6 months!].

While the marriage was a mistake... the car sure was fun! The next year my ex-husband traded it off [big mistake... and a sore spot between us!].

I always remember the little Plymouth though. She was the car I learned to drive in, and found my first taste of independence in.

Somewhere I have a snapshot of the car but it's probably in storage somewhere.

Loved this prompt !!!

Surname Saturday... Williams

Another look at some of my husbands family lineage:

1.

Joseph Wright HENRY and 3. Betty Louise Rotge. He married Cynthia Ann BEANE Covington, Alleghany Co., VA.

2.

Batesville, Panola, Mississippi. He was the son of 4. William Lee HENRY and 5. Emma Louise

PETTIE. He married Betty Louise Rotge on 30 Jul 1947.

3.

Jourdanton, Atascosa, Texas. She was the daughter of 6. John Cornelius ROTGE and 7. Ora Lee

Sparks.

4.

Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. He was the son of 8. Sterling Price HENRY and 9. Fannie UNKNOWN. He

married Emma Louise PETTIE.

5.

in Fulton, Fulton, Kentucky. She was the daughter of 10. Timothy Martin PETTIE and 11. Elizabeth

Ann WILLIAMS.

10.

married Elizabeth Ann WILLIAMS in 1883.

11.

daughter of 22. Jessie H. WILLIAMS and 23. Rebecca.

22.

wifeofJessieWilliams before 1840.Jessie H. WILLIAMS was born in 1817 in Kentucky. He died before 1880. He married RebeccaTimothy Martin PETTIE was born in Jul 1854 in Tennessee. He died between 1910-1920. HeElizabeth Ann WILLIAMS was born Feb 1854 in Kentucky. She died Aft. 1930. She was theWilliam Lee HENRY was born on 17 Jul 1892 in Cayce, Fulton, Kentucky. He died on 24 Jan 1965 inEmma Louise PETTIE was born 16 Jun 1895 in Columbus, Hickman, Kentucky. She died Aug 1985Joseph Wright HENRY was born on 20 Sep 1927 in Fulton County, KY. He died on 16 Nov 1993 inBetty Louise Rotge was born 30 Aug 1930 in Kerrville, Kerr, Texas. She died 05 Jul 2003 inJohnnie Lee HENRY was born  in San Antonio, Bexar Co, TX. He was the son of 2.

Family Recipe Friday... Dutch Oven Cobbler

This is a basic simple cobbler recipe, that can be baked over hot coals [which I have done on campouts] or in the oven. It's a fast easy cobbler. And all you do is mix, and dump, the ingredients into the Dutch oven, and bake!

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter, 1/4 cup
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 4 to 5 cups fruit
• 1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Melt the butter in Dutch oven.
Mix together the flour, milk, 1 cup sugar, and baking powder; pour over melted butter
Put fruit (your choice), approx 4-5 cups over mixture
Sprinkle 1 cup sugar over top
Bake in 350° oven until golden brown (usually 30-35 minutes depending on oven temp.)

Serve while warm [especially good with a scoop of ice-cream, or as the old folks used to do with heavy cream poured over!].

When you place this in the oven, the fruit is on top... when you take it out... the crust is over the top! The kids love seeing this transformation!

Enjoy!

Treasure Chest Thursday...School Photos

That's my 6th grade class in 1972.

Can you guess which one is me???

[Hint: I was the tallest one in my class until I entered 8th grade! And in this class... I was even taller than the teacher!]

Wordless Wednesday

Law Office of John Wesley Hardin

El Paso, Texas

Tombstone Tuesday.... Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

The following information is derived from FindAGrave:

Birth:	Jan. 17, 1706
Death:	Apr. 17, 1790
Declaration of Independence Signer, Continental Congressman, US Diplomat, Printer and Inventor. Published the "Pennsylvania Gazette" and "Poor Richard's Almanac". Famous for his confirming lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a thunderstorm. Invented bifocals, Franklin Stove and other inventions. Served as a Delegate from PA to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776. Signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Served as U.S. Minister to France during the Revolutionary War. Instrumental in encouraging France to side with the U.S. One of the main negotiators of the peace treaty with Britain. Signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783. His son William Franklin was the last Royalist Governor of New Jersey, remained loyal to England and died in London. Uncle of Revolutionary War New Jersey Militia Major General and US Senator Franklin Davenport. 23 U.S. States have counties named after him. Image is on the current U.S. $100 dollar bill. One of the most famous and well known 18th Century thinkers, Renaissance men and Revolutionary Patriots. (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Burial:
Christ Church Burial Ground
Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: Very near 5th and Arch Streets corner

Upper crypt is Benjamin and Deborah Franklin

Benjamin and Deborah Franklin

1790

A view of the Franklin crypt through the iron fence.

Near Franklin's grave:

The Body of

B. Franklin Printer.

Like the Cover of an Old Book

Its Contents worn out

And stript of the Lettering & Gilding

Lies Here. Food for Worms.

But the Work shall not be lost

For it will as he believ'd

appear once more.

In a new and more elegant Edition

Corrected and Improved

By the Author.

Benjamin Franklin

Signer of

The Constitution of the United States

September 17, 1787

Chronology of Benjamin Franklin

The Last Resting Place Of

Benjamin Franklin

1706-1790

Benjamin Franklin is buried at

Christ Church Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Christ Church Burial Ground

Christ Church Burial Ground