Merry Christmas!

I wish you a Very Merry Christmas! Cyndi

Christmas Eve Carol - O Holy Night

Have a blessed night. Please take the time to remember what this evening is all about!

Sentimental Sunday - Christmas Carols

Michael Buble` "Chestnuts Roasting on the Fire"

Christmas Friday

 

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Men

Thankful Thursday

Thursday's are dedicated to something we are thankful for, and this is not an easy task for me, as I am so thankful for everything! But I persevere and find that one special thing today that I am most thankful for.

 

I am most thankful for my wonderful adoring husband of 16 years. We were both older when we met, and a bit set in our own ways. But we mimicked one another in our likes and dislikes, morals and values, and we loved one another, literally, before putting eyes on each other. (We met through a personal ad.)

 

The first moment we met face to face, and he wrapped me in his arms, I knew I was home! And we are blissfully happy today! And looking forward to many more years. In February we will celebrate our 17th anniversary!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Texts

I have found much information on Monroe County's genealogy from Orem Frederick Morton's 1910 book, A History of Monroe County, West Virginia . This book is available for download to read at
Amazon for 0.99 cents.  Hard copies are also available, but as in all matters genealogy, the hard cover books are expensive!

Morton gives us not only history of the county itself, but family genealogies. These are done from word of mouth. There are some errors found, but there is enough fact that you can easily find the proof.

I often refer to this book when going in another direction. It gives me enough of a clue to get my research going.

Monday Mentions - Free eBooks

For those of you who own an eReader, Kindle, Android or Nook, there are numerous places to find free books.

I use BookBub, where I receive emails daily with several books listed from free to $2.99; and I  go to Amazon and then do a search for "free eBooks". There are thousands of books for free. In every genre you could imagine! I collect cookbooks, and my Kindle is loaded with cookbooks I have now right at my fingertips, and in no more space than my Kindle device. How cool is that?

There are thousands of web sites that offer free books. Simply do a Google search and you will see what I mean.

I love that I can have a complete library in my kindle or on my pc or laptop! I am never far away from a digital book!

Sorta takes the fun out of that library in my dream home doesn't it?

Sentimental Sunday - Christmas Carols

Michael Buble` Christmas

Saturday Searches......

As always we are searching today for more proof of parentage on William M. Bean, 1792-1864, Monroe County, West Virginia.

Old William himself said that he was born in Baltimore, Maryland. However, one of his grandsons told a genealogist about 1900 that William was born in Ireland and came here as a young man.

We know that he was here by 1804, at the age of 12, when he became indentured.

We know that there was only one "family" with any form of the name "Bean" in Monroe County around that time. Land Grants had been given to William McBean for Stoney Creek, Virginia (a formidable place, today it is a  rock strewn narrow valley, and the hillsides on both sides run almost vertical. The only thing it could be profitable for was trapping or timber.) In 1804 the taxes were not paid, and in 1805 the property was up for public auction. In 1805, there was no mention of William McBean, but on the tax rolls there was a Sarah Bean, widow, owning nothing but her clothing and a spinning wheel. We are assuming that these two individuals are related, and expect that they are husband and wife, as well as parents to William Bean, as there is a written letter stating the inspection of William Bean's Bible shows his parents as William and Sarah.

The search goes on for proof positive!

And The Christmas Season Officially Starts!

While many of you will be out and about catching those "Black Friday" sales, I will be comfortably going about setting up my home for the holidays!

Usually we put up a 7-foot pine tree that dear hubs goes out to the lot and picks himself, as he has the best eye for a tree. But because our living room is filled with all of my physical therapy equipment now, we are opting for a 4-foot artificial tree, that can sit atop the bar between our living room and kitchen.  Next year I am hoping for another large tree, as by then, dd will have moved out, and my equipment can go into that bedroom, along with my office.

Today I begin to also watch all of the Christmas movies on Lifetime and Hallmark, and of course, my favorite of all, the three "Santa Clause" movies with Tim Allen. They became an instant favorite for me. They bring back the innocence of childhood for me. And just while I am watching those....I can believe in Santa once more, the man.

Tim Allen in "The Santa Clause"

 

So, while you are out and about today, just think of me, hanging the stockings with care on the fireplace mantle, then snuggling up on the sofa with my sweet hubby, and sipping egg nog while watching films about Santa!

 

This is what excites me about Christmas. What gets you in the Holiday mood?



 





Happy Thanksgiving Day!

What Are You Having For Thanksgiving Dinner?

 

This is the first Thanksgiving since I had children that I will neither be having dinner them, or with other family members. It will just be my husband and I. So I thought long and hard, questioned the dear hubby, and finally came up with a meal that is neither labor intensive or over abundant. Enough to make us celebrate our Thanksgiving to God for all of His abundance to us in the past year.

 

First there will be turkey. But alas, it will just be a turkey breast.

There will be cranberry sauce. But it will be canned, since it will only be eaten by myself.

 

Of course there will have to be green bean casserole!

 

Baked sweet potatoes, one for each of us. We prefer them baked like a white potato, and put a pat of butter in them just before consuming.

There will be turkey gravy. From a jar, as I am terrible at making gravy!

 

Stuffing from a mix.

 

Frozen yeast rolls. (You just let them rise and bake!)

And because dear hubby says he’s never had it, we’re having sweet potato pie instead of pumpkin.

There will be plenty of hot coffee and sweet tea. Maybe a little wine. And maybe after dinner and we’re sitting in the living room… a little egg nog may be called upon!

Whatever you have for Thanksgiving dinner, make it to suit you and your family. Start some NEW family traditions! And just enjoy the meal together. The fellowship. And don’t forget to give thanks for what you do have. So many don’t have anything this day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Texts

"I only need you to find out if my gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather fought in the American Revolution. So what would you charge?"

 

 

Okay, this automatically sends up red flags for me. Obviously this person is totally unaware what a service costs. But does anyone? I mean, to charge for a service, could be anywhere from $1 to thousands of dollars! (Can I get an Amen?)

 

In order to keep expenses at a minimum for individuals, I usually charge a search fee of $50. This allows me to see if I can even locate that dear old grandpa in the "easiest" lists to start with. (A quick check through my favorite genealogy site, Ancestry.com!)

 

If I can locate the person there, then we reach an agreement. I usually start with $100-$200 down payment, for a 5-10 hour search.  If further searching is required, then we will bill in another block of $100-$200 dollars. And so on, until the goal has been reached. There are other add on's that might be added as well. Costs for copies, or ordering of other documentation. Trips to cemeteries, courthouses, or genealogical societies, will also add on mileage and time. Overnight stays will include not only mileage and time, but costs of accommodations.

 

I keep a meticulous time record so that clients will be able to see that my charge for time has been documented well. I actually use a written time card. This keeps me accountable not only to the client, but to myself as well. If I find that I have flittered away too much time on any one search, which can happen when something truly exciting or amazing comes across, then I will credit the client that time.

 

It works for me.

 

I've been doing this for 13 , almost 14 years now. And it's always worked well for me.

 

I still always wonder, however, if they have to ask what my fees are, can they really afford to have the work done or not? It's a risk. For you to take a client that may not be able to pay. But then I think, playing Devil's Advocate, I know it is a risk on their part as well. And so I give it my all.

 

Be a give it "your" all type of genealogist too!

Monday's Musings

Good morning everyone.

I am currently writing a novel based on my great-great-grandfather's life. There are several areas in it that are family lore, or in other words...have no factual  evidence on which to rest their tales.

So, for lack of evidence, I am adding those family lore pieces into the story, but I am having to add to the disclosure, that this is a piece of fiction, based on historical fact.

 

If you were unable to find facts for family lore which you were sure was the truth, what would you do? Would you include the disclosure? Or would you simply write the story, and never mention that you were unable to find fact for those bits and pieces of lore, which wouldn't change the overall reading of the book if left unspoken?

 

It's a bit of a dilemma. But I am weathering through, and noting fiction where fiction is added.

 

Have a blessed day as we move toward our Thanksgiving celebrations!

Busy as a Bee

I have been stealing two hours every evening to simply write.

 

 

 

What, you might ask, is causing me to spend two hours every evening typing away on my computer?

 

The Great American Novel!

 

Okay, okay, I figured you wouldn't fall for that! However, I am writing a novel that is the Great American Novel to me. It is a novel on my great-great-grandfather's life.

 

We haven't a lot to go on. His father as know it, is another of those whimsical McBean's named William. Family lore says he was a loyalist in the Revolution.  After the war, he received land grants at a place called Stoney Creek, which even today is a natural divider between Virginia and West Virginia.

 

We know that his property was sold off for back taxes because his widow could not afford the taxes in 1805.

 

We know that his eldest son, John, was placed as an indenture servant in February 1804. So we are "assuming" that he died before then. And in September his son William, my gr-gr-grandfather, was also placed for indenture. On his 12th birthday.

 

Family lore states that he had a younger brother, Roy, who was indentured with him at the same time. Roy either disappeared or ran away shortly thereafter. He was never heard from again. It is believed there may have been foul play and Roy was killed accidentally.

 

The novel is being written as fiction. The gaps being filled in by imagination.

 

I am in hope of finishing it about the first of the year. And so I am making good progress with it, and that my dear friends and family, is where I am hidden each evening. No phone calls will be answered during my writing time!

 

Do you have your Great American Novel yet inside of you! Explore with it. Perhaps you can write yours completely non-fiction! How great would that be? Unfortunately the family lore has been passed down and I am including that as part of the fiction, since I am unable to prove, or disprove it.

 

Give it try. I've spent years researching my family. And this is just one of many more books to come.

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ck!

Not quite like Jack Nicholson in The Shining, but here I am! After more than a year's absence, due to health reasons, I find myself able to do nothing much more than work from an office desk. And what do I know better while sitting at a desk is that work I love most...genealogy research.

Unfortunately for our family, we have lost our eldest living siblings in the family.

On August 16th we lost Margaret Beane Loper.

Margaret was within 11 days of reaching her 100th birthday.

And just last evening we lost William McHarvey Beane.

Bill was 97 years of age, and had been struggling with health issues for some time. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Our newsletter will be out again in just a couple of days! If you haven't subscribed to our digital email, please feel free to send me an email, and I will make sure you receive the very next newsletter.

Have a great evening!