Digging up Roots in New Netherlands

Joan Vinckeboons (Johannes Vingboon),
"Manatvs gelegen op de Noot [sic] Riuier", 1639.

Over the past month I have been reading the book about my family from this post.  It is a compiled genealogy (with footnotes and sources!) from a married couple by the names of William Kenneth Rutherford and Anna Clay (Zimmerman) Rutherford.  Our common line is my most frustrating line currently: the Hayden Family.

I knew that my line descended from John Alden and Pricilla Mullins through marriage into the Hayden family.  I also knew that our common ancestor William Hayden married a woman who had Dutch ancestry.  Besides that I didn’t know much else about their lines.  Very quickly I have learned that I need to do a lot more research.  I mean lots, particularly in the early founding of this area of the country.

Lydia Kierstede married William Hayden about 1748.  Originally from Staten Island, New York her family has deep roots into the New Netherlands colony.  I don’t know much about this time in colonial history, besides the fact that the British took control of the colony during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.  This is now a subject that I am eagerly learning more about.

Various lines of Lydia’s family appear to have been involved in many functions of the colony from the start.  Several lived in Fort Orange, New Amsterdam, and as well as on what is now Staten Island and Long Island.  There were farmers, doctors, an interpreter and a midwife.  While most were simple colonists quite a few were skilled workers employed by the Dutch West India Company.

I never thought I would find roots to this part of Europe.  The lines of German ancestry were not surprising, I have several recent immigrant lines, but it was interesting to see town names in Norway, the Netherlands, and Denmark. This is a whole new area of history, geography, politics, and social history I need to study.  Lots of trips to the library and hours on the computer I guess.

Anneke Jans

Several of the biographical sketches from the book also made me think that I have had a colorful and amazing family from the earliest of times.  I need to do further research, of course I want to see these documents myself is possible, but it is fantastic that I have a bit of a road map to read and use for clues to my past.  Plus, telling my kids about the adventures, trials, success, and failures their ancestors had makes their family real.  I just love hearing my kids ask me if they had relatives who participated in major historical events. 

One ancestor that has grabbed my attention, and the attention of many of her descendants, is Anneke Jans.  I am descended, it appears, through her daughter Sara from her first marriage to Roelof Jansen.  There are many legends, folk tales, and stories that have been built up around her including the exploits of her great grandson to take back land on Manhattan that once belonged to her. 

I plan on writing more over the next few months about these relatives.  This is going to be so much fun!

Nearing the finish line on the cookbook

Progress on the cookbook was the name of the game last week.  There was organizing, sorting, formatting, and all those sorts those types of things.  You know all the things that are not really fun but have to be done so you have a great family heirloom. 

Image from the Library of Congress

I also learned the major drawback to creating a family cookbook.  You are always hungry and want to make all the recipes that you read.  Wow!  There are some really, really yummy sounding ones in there.  I can’t believe that a lot of them I have never heard of and they supposedly from my great grandparents.  The only thing I can think of is that my mom’s family didn’t like them for some reason so grandma didn’t make it.

However, I do wish I had more pictures for the book.  So far it is illustrated with clip art since I don’t have many pictures of the larger family group.  The plea has gone out for pictures, and I hope that they start rolling in soon.  Any day now would be great…

Oh, and stories.  Several people sent in stories about the recipes or other remembrances about their parents and grandparents.  I have learned a lot about the family from them.  Which lead me to also put out a call for more of these to give flavor to the book.  I am waiting, impatiently for those too.

My parents are coming up this week with several cookbooks.  Grandma bought them from organizations as fundraisers over the years.  Dad told me that there are several entries in the books from family.  Even though I have about 20 recipes right now, I think a few more that are not desserts or meat courses would be a good thing.  My family sure has a sweet tooth.

Deadline for completion of the cookbook is the end of the week.  Fingers crossed that I can make it.  If you are interested in creating your family cookbook I suggest you check out these links to get you started!

eHow : How to Make a Cookbook

grandparents.com : Make Your Own Heirloom Cookbook

Mixblog: 10 Ideas for Creating a Collaborative Family Cookbook 

There are also a ton of websites that will help you design, print, and publish your cookbook.  Just Google "make family cookbook" and stand back. I personally am working on mine with MS Publisher and then I am either going to take it to a copy store to print or I am thinking about using Blurb.  When I get to that point, I will let you know what I decide.

Conference attendance in my yoga pants and slippers

This weekend was the Family Tree University Winter Virtual Conference, and I attended.  Did you?  

This was my 3^rd virtual conference I have attended.  Once again I was impressed by everything.  It seems to get bigger and better each time, and I can’t wait to “see” what is in store at the next one.

For those of you who are thinking “what in the world is she talking about” let me explain the concept of this conference.  It is all ONLINE!  The sessions, by nationally known speakers, are pre-recorded so you can download them and listen to them at your leisure, forever.  There are live chats scheduled over the 3 days on many topics and moderated by a host who guides the conversations.  Then there are the discussion boards.  Lots of topics where the attendees can interact with each other, share information, chat, laugh, and have social time.  Oh, I almost forgot!  There is a swag bag and free give ways too! 

Best of all, this is the first time I have been able to attend the conference without being double booked.  My first conference was the same weekend my mother-in-law came to visit and I took her on my first NARA trip.  Last fall I thought I was going to be able to dedicate the whole weekend but once again I found myself out of town.  Thank goodness they are virtual! 

Of course, the fact that I can spend the whole day in comfy clothes with slippers on curled up with my lap top doing all this is the cherry on top of everything.  My kids think I turned into scary research mommy again since I didn't take the robe and fuzzy PJs off until about 2 pm yesterday.  Which, I traded in on a cardigan and yoga pants. You know, a short robe and clothes you can leave the house in if you have too.

To top off my weekend of genealogical bliss, during this conference I lead a live chat on doing on-site research.  This was the first time I have done anything like this.  Well, I have participated in chats before, but the leading is new.  Even with the butterflies, I think I got the hang of it quickly and kept it going.

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and had a great time. Not only did I learn a few things, but I hope that the participants learned a few things too.  As well as having a great time of course.

Well, there is still daylight and 2 sessions that I need to “attend” before the conference closes its doors for the weekend.  Here’s to continuing education…

DAR Application Woes: My Hayden line is driving me crazy!

Many of you know that I have been plugging along on my DAR application on my Hayden family line for a little more than a year.  (This is the same family I am applying with for the GSMD.)  Silly me to think that it would be quick, simple, or easy.  Silly me to think that anything in my life could ever be quick, simple, or easy.  Thus, let Murphy step into the picture, just to say to me “You silly girl.”

A few weeks ago I found out that the patriot I am pursuing, whom is on file with the DAR and that I could dovetail into, is a closed file.  Yes, a closed file. What is that you ask?  It seems that for a short period of time starting in the 1960s a member could request that their application file, and all the paperwork in it, be closed.  No one after that could have access to any part of it except the staff at the library.  The staff can read it but not give out any information contained within.  No big deal right? Yeah, well, it throws a big wrench into everything for me.  Particularly when you hear that the information in it could help.  Insert heavy sigh here.

I now have a weak link that I am trying to prove, and I am told that this information is in the file, you know the file I can't see.  This is the way my life goes in a majority of the things I do.  However, having to scrape and fight for something just builds character.  At least that is what I have told myself for 30+ years.

My weak link is in proving (beyond a doubt with documentation) that the parents of Noah Gilpin Hayden are Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin.  As a form of brainstorming, and a not very well masked plea for help, I am putting out here what I have so far.  Everything I have, which I am beginning to realize really isn't that much.

First off:  the line (the way I know it)

Noah Hayden (Patriot) married second Elizabeth Gilpin

Noah Gilpin Hayden married Unity Patterson

Mary Jane Hayden married James Combs

Tying the first 2 couples, the weak link, is what I have to do.  All the couples from Noah G. and Unity forward are proven through records satisfactorily, but I included their daughter Mary Jane as there is information in her generation which helps the prior one.  I also know that Noah’s father William Hayden, who is also in the DAR database, had a son named Noah but I need to prove that my Noah is his Noah. 

All of which is approved for the GSMD, however, different lineage societies require different things.  Thus I can not use one as proof for the other.

Alright: the sources, information, and documentation:

Here is the proof paperwork that I have.  Of course, as I already stated, once I see it all written down I am beginning to see the gaping holes.  Again the reason everyone needs to do things like this for their research.

I.          Mary Jane Hayden and James Combs

• Marriage record from Orange County Indiana 23 Feb 1845
• Both listed in her father’s will (Mary Jane Combs formerly Hayden and her Husband James Combs)
• Mary Jane Birth/Death:  No death records from the time frame for this county according to the county clerk. Headstone picture from Willow Springs, Howell County, Missouri born 12 Sept 1827, died 16 Jul 1888, know she moved there with several of her children in the mid 1880s.
• James Birth/Death: No records for either just suggestion of birth in Surry County, North Carolina where his family lived and death in Wabash County, Illinois through family lore.
• 1840 Census for Monroe County, Indiana page unidentified for Charles Combs shows a possible James
• 1840 Census for Mercer County, Kentucky page 211 for Noah Hayden shows a possible Mary Jane
• 1850 Census for Franklin, Orange County, Indiana page 107B; information for Mary Jane: age 23, born KY; information for James: age 27, born NC
• 1860 Census for Center, Greene County, Indiana, page 672; information for Mary Jane: age 29, born KY; information for James: age 39, born NC
• 1870 Census for Center, Greene County, Indiana page 285B; information for Mary Jane: age 43, born KY; information for James: age 49, born in NC
• 1880 Census for Columbia, Dubois County, Indiana page 4C Enumeration District 158; information for Mary Jane: age 53, wife, born KY, father born KY, mother born VA; information for James: age 59, born NC, father born NC, mother born NC

II.         Noah Gilpin Hayden and Unity Patterson

• Marriage listed in the Marriage registry 12 Dec 1822 for Mercer County, Kentucky (image available on  Family Search) 
• Marriage Bond for 10 Dec 1822 for Noah G. Hayden and Unity Patterson signed by Noah G. Hayden and William Patterson for Mercer County, Kentucky (image available on  Family Search)
• Noah Gilpin Hayden Birth /Death: Tombstone with known wrong information in Trimble Cemetery near Bromer, Orange County, Indiana.  States he was born 1 Jan 1811 and died 28 Aug 184 (2 or 7) Probate Record from the Indiana State Archive.  Need to contact them for full source information as I cannot make out the date.  I think it says 24 November 184(4 or 7) from Orange County, Indiana
• Unity Patterson Birth/Death: Tombstone Emanuel Hatfield Pioneer Cemetery Owensburg, Greene County, Indiana.  Born 19 Sept 1802, died 12 Apr 1870 dates seem correct based on family lore.  No death records from the time in Greene County Indiana according to clerk
• 1820 Census for William Patterson in Mercer County, Kentucky page 105 shows the possible parents of Unity with a child her age
• 1830 Census for Noah Hayden in Perryville, Mercer County, Kentucky page 359 shows the correct family unit with one slave
• 1850 Census for Indian Creek, Monroe County, Indiana page 344B;  information for Unity: age 49, birth VA

   III.                    Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin

• Marriage Bond for 23 May 1804 for Noah Hayden and Elizabeth Gilpin signed by Noah Hayden and William Wilham (image available on  Family Search)
• Marriage Register for Mercer County, Kentucky 11 Jun 1804 (image available on Family Search)
• Noah Hayden Birth/Death: Baptism record for him and 3 of his brother on 31 Oct 1756 Shrewsbury, Morris County, New Jersey Christ Church Parish Record (Google Book) 
• Elizabeth Gilpin Birth/Death: Will on file in Mercer County, Kentucky signed 26 Sept 1825.  A son named Noah is listed in the will, as is a William Patterson.  All known children are listed in the will as well.

Clues and other sources:

In a magazine that was published from 1929-1933, The HaydenFamily Chronicles, there is quite a bit of information on this line of the family.  All editions are online and can be read there too.  A few interesting facts that I think I need to follow up on, as they are clues to where Noah was during his lifetime, can be found on these pages.  I have listed a few of the passages below:

Volume 2, Issue 1, Page 17

Volume 4, Issue 2, Page 92

I also have access to another genealogical book (thank you mom and dad) titled Genealogical History of Our Ancestors by Rutherford.  We have a common ancestor, Noah’s parents William Hayden and Lydia Kierstede.  Volume 2, of the 2 volume set, contains the descendant’s listings for all the families.  Not a lot of new information, a listing of children and spouses, and known birth/death dates.  Noah is entry 215 on page 231 is you have access to a copy and is shown below.   It has no death date listed but a possible death place of Mercer County, Kentucky.

Next  Steps?

Okay, I think I know what I need to do now.  The checklist I have put together for myself is listed below.  I really hope it doesn't take me another year though.  If you have suggestions or advice...I am all ears.

• Talk to the GSMD, they have this line proved, maybe they can help
• Confirm birth of Elizabeth Gilpin
• Confirm the birth of Noah Gilpin Hayden in Kentucky
• Confirm birth of Unity Patterson in Virginia
• Confirm will date with Indiana State Archives for Noah Gilpin Hayden probate
• Find death, if possible, for Noah Hayden
• Find record of supposed deed transfer from Enoch to Noah, maybe it will give more clues
• Find any mention of him in the records from Randolph County, VA (now West Virginia)
• The reason he fought for Pennsylvania (he was from New Jersey and his father enlisted in  Virginia) may help
• On the 1830 NG Hayden Census there is a slave listed, perhaps I can find references looking in these records for slave transactions

Last resort...I throw in the towel and tackle one of my dozen plus other eligible, and recognized,  patriots.  While it would still take time, and not something I want to do, it is always an option if I can't get this link fixed.

Fingers crossed!

Free Genealogy Lecture Series

For those that are in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area the Fredericksburg Regional Genealogical Society (FRGS) will be presenting a lecture series in conjunction with the Central Regional Rappahannock Library (CRRL).  They are free and open to the public, but registration is required to make sure the correct room size is booked. 

FRGS is lucky to have a few national speakers for this event as well as talented members from the local FRGS and researchers from the CRRL presenting.  I will be giving 2 presentations on May 11^th if you are in the area.  While I will not be able to attend the whole series due to previous commitments I would love to know if you will be attending! 

The information below was kindly put together By Mary Maki for the fliers.

Introductory Genealogy and Beyond

Central Rappahannock Regional Library

1201 Caroline Street

Fredericksburg, VA 22401


Call 540-372-1144 to register

March 16&30, April 13&27, May 11

9:00 a.m. – Noon

March 16, 2013

Getting Started by Tripp Wiggins – Session I

Genealogy research is not as difficult as one might think. Mr. Wiggins will address the question of why we do genealogy, what we get out of it, and how to begin. He will explain how talking with family members, looking around the home for family bibles, letters, and photographs, etc. provides important information.  He will then show how to research vital records (birth, marriage, and death), and conclude with an introduction to using the U.S. Census in genealogy research.

A Fresh Look at Beginning African American Genealogy by Char McCargo Bah– Session II

Although this lecture is focused on finding resources for those of African American heritage, the organizational aspects she covers will benefit every genealogist. Ms. Bah will cover organizing your research, writing narratives of what you already know, how to interview relatives, utilizing the U.S. Census, vital statistics, and the importance of joining a genealogical society.

March 30, 2013

Sourcing and Documenting Information by Charles S. “Chuck”Mason Jr. – Session I

Admittedly not the most exciting part of tracing ancestors, documenting the information is by far the most important. Source citation is critical to genealogy research, and Mr. Mason will show how to correctly document sources and explain why it is so important.

Genealogy 201: Beyond the Basics by Tish Como – Session II

Genealogy is about more than recording the names and dates associated with one’s ancestors; it’s about discovering how they lived. This session will focus on locating records and resources that can help tell your family’s story; developing good research habits; using advanced search techniques for better results; and critically evaluating records and findings.

April 13, 2013

Timelines by Phyllis Marilyn (Jule) Legare – Session I

It's easy to let ourselves focus on finding ancestors names, dates & places.  However, our ancestors also fit into a broad picture of life at a certain point in time. World and local events helped to shape our ancestor's choices and lives. Initially in a timeline we may have descriptive data about an ancestor's life. When we interweave historical data, we enrich our understanding. Discussion will encompass describing timelines, how to create them and how to find the appropriate historical data to include.

Military Research Phyllis Marilyn (Jule) Legare – Session II

Much of our country's history has been centered around war & strife and for researchers the good news is those conflicts resulted in records of genealogical importance. Military service and pension records are a wonderful source of family's history and stories. Once you find your ancestors’ military information, you will add so much to your understanding of your family's struggles and life as it was.

April 27, 2013

Probate/Courthouse Records: Understanding Them and Locating Them by Sharon Hodges  – Session I

There are many important records to discover when researching your family’s history.  One of these is probate, or, as they are sometimes called, estate records.  But why do so many genealogists stop after searching for a will?  Locating and understanding other probate records can provide valuable information on your ancestors.  Learn what records exist, what they may tell you, and how to find them.

Civil War Research  by Holly Schemmer– Session II

Fredericksburg is rich in Civil War history. This presentation will help you locate the best sources in finding your Civil War ancestor.

May 11, 2013

DNA in Genealogy by Shannon Combs-Bennett – Session I

Many people are familiar with the use of genetic testing to solve crimes or diagnosis disease, but what about helping you track your family tree?  In this presentation you will learn how to use DNA to trace your ancestors, what the process is, and how you can get started.

Continuing the family legacy: Honoring heritage through lineage societies  by Shannon Combs-Bennett- Session II  Every family has a story to tell and some are more unique than others.  One of the greatest ways to honor the memory of your forefathers is by joining a lineage society.  These societies recognize those in our family tree who have done great things, fought in wars, rallied for a cause, or even owned a colonial tavern.  Learn how a lineage society can help you, what it is like to apply, and how to find the one that is right for you.

Week in Review and The Latest FHWC Story

What a week, so much done, so much left to do, and so much to share!  Knowing what to tell you and where to begin is my morning frustration it seems.

Week three of the Family History Writing Challenge is done.  Last week I mainly worked on the cookbook.  I have decided that I will need to beg for some more stories and remembrances from my family as well as pictures of the people who passed down the recipes.  It will make the book come to life much more I think.

With all the editing and sorting of the recipes I only wrote one story.  This one is about a clock that I inherited when I was 5 years old from my grandmother’s sister, Beatrice Armstrong Norris.  It is included at the end of this post.  Hope you enjoy it.

Also, if you saw my post on Friday the Going In-Depthdigital magazine was released.  I have never been involved with a project like this before and have been blown away with the response the community has given to the magazine, its creators, and my fellow writers.  I am feeling truly blessed this morning to be a part of such an amazing group of people. Let me know what you thought of the first issue! Oh, and don’t’ forget to check out the blogs and forums.  There is lots of wonderful information over there at the In-Depth Genealogist.

Finally, I will be speaking on three occasions this year and wanted to pass that information along to you.  If you are in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area I hope you will come out and listen plus say hi!  First, I will be giving a presentation on Blogs for Genealogy to the Fredericksburg Regional Genealogy Society (FRGS) on April 10.  It will be at the end of the regular meeting which starts at 7pm in the Salem Church Library.  Next I will be participating in a series of Seminars (March 16 to May 11) presented by FRGS in conjunction with the Rappahannock Regional Library.  The topics I will speak about are on genetic genealogy and lineage societies from 9am – 12pm at the Downtown Fredericksburg Library May 11^th.  Finally I will be once again speaking at the FRGS evening meeting on October 9^th on the topic of genetic genealogy at the Salem Church Library starting at 7pm.

Hope you all have a great week of discovery and research!

My Cinderella Clock

As a little girl I was fascinated by my visits to my grandmother’s older sister Bea.  Aunt Bea was born Beatrice Armstrong in Martin County Indiana.  She married a man named Victor Norris and even though he died many years before I was born my great aunt never remarried.  Bea died when I was 4 years old so my memories of her are scattered and jumbled to say the least.  They are more impressions of what my senses told me about her. 

I remember her sitting in a big fluffy chair a round, happy, grey haired woman with her feet propped up on a footstool.  She always had caramel candies in a dish next to her chair that she would give me.  Her laugh was loud and strong to my little ears and she was a very animated talker.  However, the one thing I remember the most was the clock she had on top of her TV. 

This was no ordinary clock, it was a Cinderella clock.  Well, at least as a small child that is what I thought it was.  The clock was shaped like a grand carriage.  A large round cab set on top of 4 large delicate wheels.  It was ornately designed and many flourishes and embellishments.  The face of the clock was where the people would have sat and, well, I loved it.  My grandmother told me I would sit for whole visits staring at the clock.  It was too high for me to touch, but I still tried to.  To me it was the coach that carried Cinderella to the ball, a perfect princess carriage.

When Aunt Bea died my grandmother brought the clock home with her.  She sat it on her TV and I watched it again.  Grandma told me it was mine and when I was old enough I could take it away to my house.  My grandmother died when I was 16 and the clock was passed onto me.

I know nothing about this clock and I wish I knew more.  A wheel was been broken in our first big move after college but other than that the clock still works, and when plugged in keeps time.  The face-plate says it was made in the USA by United Clock Corporation, Brooklyn, New York. 

It sits packed away for now.  My boys have just become old enough where I may begin putting things that are fragile back out into circulation.  One day I hope it will sit out on display in the house. Not on top of the TV though, they are way too thin now.

Have You Seen The New Going In-Depth Digital Magazine?

If it wasn’t evident by the big image on the side of the blog, I am one of the new writers for the In-DepthGenealogist (IDG).  Why am I writing this, today, when I have been talking about it for well over a month?  Well, you see the first issue of the digital magazine, Going In-Depth, is live today.  This is big, and I am so happy to be involved with it.  My next adventure in my genealogy journey is starting. 

For those of you who still don’t know about the IDG, be sure to check out the website and not just the magazine.  The IDG is a free newsletter, blog, forum, as well as magazine that has as its primary goal advancing knowledge for all genealogists, hobbyists and professional, in an educational and entertaining setting.  You can find the IDG team on Facebook and Twitter @indepthgen as well.

I am currently writing the Technology Blog on the website and The Society Pages column in the magazine.  My blog posts will cover gadgets, gizmos, and everything tech related a genealogist may want to use.  There is a lot of technology out there that I think can cross defined barriers and be used in our world just as much as another.  This is really fun, and I get excited each time I sit down to write about what new things I have found.  The Society Pages is a column about lineage societies. It will give highlights of societies that you may want to join as well as advice, tips, and tricks on all that goes into applications.

So come check it out!  I don’t think you will be disappointed in the least bit.  

Irish Girls and their Claddagh Rings

A love story and a romantic gift for your Valentines Day enjoyment.  This is a story that I wrote as part of the Family History Writing Challenge.

I have a Claddagh Ring, one that I will cherish forever.  For those of you who may not know what a Claddagh Ring is there are plenty of resources online to check out and read about the history and meaning of this simple piece of metal.  There are traditions that go along with the wearing of the ring as well, which can give you information about the romantic availability of the wearer.

The one I have is my original engagement ring and the only Claddagh Ring my husband has ever liked.  For a man of his heritage this may be an inconceivable idea, but it is true nonetheless.  He, however, knew that I wanted one, loved them, and thought them beautiful.  It seems that the stars aligned on Tuesday 20 May 1997 while we were shopping in Holyhead, Wales (and I know this because I kept a trip journal).  We had a few hours to burn before we caught the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and spent it meandering the streets of the town. 

At this point in time my husband and I had been dating for just over 4 years.  We would not get married for another 2, but that is another story.  He and I had lost track of my parents in the street and were doing a bit of window shopping.  While on our trip through Europe we had one credit card between us that would work because at that time they did not take discover cards.  Which lead us, the poor college students, being even more frugal in our spending and souvenir shopping as we made our way around.

That is when I saw a small local jewelry store and veered off to go in.  There in the case was an entire selection of Claddagh Rings.  You see I was on a mission from a good friend, and future bridesmaid, to find her a silver one to bring home.  As I was perusing the selection to see if there was anything in her price range I saw it: a beautiful gold ring with a dark red faceted stone for the heart.  It was the most beautiful Claddagh Ring I had ever seen.  Even more amazing, he liked it to.  The only one he had ever seen that he actually liked.

He heard my breath catch, had me try it on, looked at it some more, but we eventually left it where we found it.  Little did I know he was trying to figure out a way in his head to find my parents, ditch me with my mom, and take my dad back to the store to buy it without me finding out.  I had the working credit card remember, which was a wrench in the whole plan, and it was killing him.  Half an hour goes by and he has still not successfully completed the task he set himself. 

We had to walk back past the store to get to our truck to drive to the ferry when my darling threw all caution to the wind and asked me if I wanted to get the ring.  YES!  I was giddy, jumping with joy, and couldn’t believe it.  I wore it out of the store and every day until two years ago when I needed to put it away for safe keeping.  When we decided to get married the next year I didn’t need an engagement ring, I already had it. There was no need in purchasing another ring to signify something we knew in our hearts to be true since the day we meet. So we got an engagement truck, which is an even longer story, for another time.

Today my ring sits in a ring box waiting to be passed down. The stone is nearly smooth and the band is almost completely worn through.  It is a testament to the loving relationship we have and I hope will be treasured and loved by our future generations.

Week 2 Update on the FHWC and a Bear Story

The first full week of writing was very difficult, mostly due to how many other things that just had to be done in my, and my family’s, life.  However, I wrote every day, even if I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, I still wrote.  I have now completed 3 stories, finalized the layout for the cookbook, and started transcribing recipes.

When I first thought about taking on collating a cookbook for my relatives, I didn’t think it would be difficult at all.  Wow…why on earth would I have thought that?  Now that I have the recipes the real fun has begun.  There is the order, the transcribing, finding pictures to go with each entry, stories or memories about the food if possible, and a dozen other tiny details.  I am just thankful that I didn’t have to have all the recipes and my family actually submitted them.  That would have been even worse!  I talked to my dad last week about my progress, secretly double checking that they did not have any more recipes squirreled away somewhere, and he told me about a collection of recipe books my mom just found.  They are from her home county in Indiana written by various community organizations and there are quite a few family members listed as contributors in it.  Her mother picked them up and made notes in them too.  I am giddy with anticipation to see them. 

I wrote the stories about a couple of newer items in my possession.  Objects that one day my children will inherit and I want to make sure they know the provenance from the source.  While I have told them the stories it would be even better to have the information written down by the person herself.  Item one is a stuffed bear, second my engagement ring, and third an eagle candle set.  The bear is mine, the eagles are my husbands, and well, the ring is from him to me.  They all have special meaning and fond memories attached; perfect things to be subjects in my writing. 

Fingers crossed for another productive week!

Remembrance Bear

For many, many years I had a bear collection.  Well, I still do, but I have not added to it in over a decade.  It started when I was very small, reached near obsession level when I was in high school, and then declined as I started my own family.  However, my children have the obsession now, so I must have passed it on to them.  My prized bear is the one my husband bought me on our first day as a married couple.

We were married at The Lodge in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  The morning after our wedding we had a wonderful breakfast in the hotel restaurant and looked around the main building a bit more before heading back to my parents’ house 90 miles away.  Then we would be driving with the vocalist, our best man, and maid of honor the 20 hours back to our new home. 

I wandered into the hotel store and was perusing the items there.  Mostly I was looking for thank you gifts and other trinkets as a form of remembering the day.  That is when I noticed their bears.  Beautifully dressed and done up Victorian bears.  I walked over to their shelf and just stood there marveling at the detail and how exquisite they were. 

My husband leaned down and told me to pick one, whichever one I wanted.  I honestly couldn’t believe it! They were a bit on the pricey side for a newlywed couple who had just finished college and were in the process of buying their first house.  I took my time and eventually picked a light tan bear with a green velvet hat with roses, matching purse, cute little spectacles, lace collar and matching lace veil.  She was the perfect bear and I loved her from the minute I took her down off the shelf.

My bear sits still on a bookshelf in our house.  She has been with us since that very first day we became a family.  Through all these years she has watched over our lives, a silent witness to all our achievements and heart aches.  One day, if I am lucky enough, I will be able to pass it on to another person who will cherish her as much as I have.  

Saving your pennies for a rainy day....

photo credit: Jill Clardy via photopin cc

The laundry machine pays me, does it pay you too?  Really, it does.  For years I have put clothes in the drum and at the end of the cycle I have anything from a few pennies to a few dollars.  My husband says I should be ashamed for laundering money like that and my kids just wander around the house hopelessly looking for that dollar they knew they had put in their pockets.  My laundry “tips” go into a large fishbowl we have in our kitchen.  From there I dig out money for an occasional coffee, water at the gym, last minute popcorn money for school, or anything else that the family may need spare change for. 

The other day I cleaned my desk (it took 6 hours, sigh) and I found my old bank that said “Shoe Fund” on it.  This cute little ceramic bank was given to me years ago by a friend who knew I have a passion for shoes.  It was a great birth day present and for years I have put the spare change that makes its way onto my desk into the little bank.  That is when it hit me.  I should really turn in my shoe fund for a genealogy fund.

Isn’t that a great idea?  I have been walking around the house patting myself on the back while thanking my kids for their contribution to my genealogy obsession.  However, a fishbowl just wasn’t okay anymore.  It is big and anyone could take money out of it. I needed to dress up a new bank and let people know exactly what they were helping mommy pay for.  Can you just imagine the eye rolls?

Thankfully my eldest son just outgrew his shoes, again, in only four months, so I had a fresh shoe box at my disposal.  I know, a shoe-box,  kind of overkill isn't it?  But you use what you can find.  So, that along with some construction paper and I had a brand new money collection device.  It even has a prominent position on my genealogy bookshelf within reach of anyone who wants to contribute.

My youngest told me that I wasn’t allowed to have a money box (cute name huh) without knowing what my goal is and what I am going to do with it.  (Unlike him who gathers loose change like an obsessed hoarder carrying it to his piggy bank to listen to his precious clinking around in it) However, I knew he had a point.  What will I do with my laundry tips?  How will I save and how will I spend it?

My initial list consisted of books, supplies, and dues which sounded all good.  Then, it struck me.  I really, REALLY, want to go to the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) next year and what a better thing to do than start now to save up for all the fees to pay for me to go.  Nothing like a goal to make you squirrel your (and your family’s) pennies away is there?

So....good choice?  Do you think there is something else I should save up for too.  RootsTech is up there on my list, but I can't drive to it like I could GRIP.  A flip-pal is still on my want list as well.  I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts.  

Genealogy Packages and Discoveries

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity on the genealogy front around here.  My best day was last Monday when I received two items in the mail.  One, a letter from a cousin helping me research my Combs family line, and two, books from my parents.  Boy, it was like my birthday at the mailbox ripping open packages.  The kids, once again, thought mom had completely gone off her rocker.

In the letter there were two marriage certificates.  These certificates are needed to complete the DAR and the GSMD lineage society applications I am still working on.  She had to do battle with an unfriendly court clerk to get these, and I am very thankful that she put up with lady to further our research.  I am sure I am going to get to do that the next time I get back to Indiana.    Oh course, there were a couple of surprising elements to the marriage certificates.

First was the certificate for William Hall and Malira Price.  They are my 3^rd great-grandparents who were married in Greene County Indiana on 25 February 1854.  It is a short form marriage register, so no good genealogical information for previous generations, but at least I have something for them.  From the form I see they received the license on the 23^rd and had the marriage recorded on March 1^st.  There isn’t any other information, not even a pastor’s name, but like I said I won’t be complaining.

Next was the certificate of their daughter Mary Margaret Hall.  She married Willis Franklin Combs in Greene County on 5 September 1877.  I stopped cold in my tracks, because something wasn’t adding up with that date.  I read, and re-read, and read a third time.  Then I went to look at my information on their oldest son Ira in my database.  Ira was born 29 October 1877.  Huh, that is interesting.  Now I wonder all sorts of things:  did they just wait a long time, was this "shot gun", was Ira his son?  I could go on and on.  Oh a puzzle and a family mystery!

The books were equally exciting, and proof that my parents spoil me.   A few weeks back I received two books through inter-library loan that have a significant amount of information on early colonial generations of my family.  I talked excitedly over the phone to my dad about it and he found a gently used copy online and bought them for me.  I jumped up and down with delight when I opened the package.  Tuesday I spent several hours reading and placing tabs in the book for each of the generations to make future look-ups easy.  It is going to take me a while to read and digest all the information presented, but boy is t going to be fun.  I particularly love that there are footnotes, sources, and a bibliography.  If you have any of the following lines check out this 2 volume book set.

It is going to be interesting to read about my ancestors who were from New Amsterdam.  I had no idea I had roots to Norway through one family.  Or that my family owned property in what is now Manhattan (60 acres…imagine what that would be worth today!).  Most unusual, “a husband selling his wife into Adultery”, I can guess what that meant.  I foresee several more days of night time reading in my future.

My most common recent ancestor with the author of this book is William Hayden.  William was born in Braintree, Massachusetts 5 October 1727 and died in Fayette County, Pennsylvania 18 July 1823.  He married Lydia Kierstede who was baptized 14 February 1725 in Staten Island, New York and died 1794-1795 in Hampshire County, Virginia.  This is the listing of their ancestor’s surnames that are covered in the book, all of whom are on my father’s side. 

Alden

Bass

Dey

photo credit: Bunches and Bits {Karina} via photopin cc

Duyts

Hayden

Holmes

Hyde
Jan

Jansen

Johnson

Laurenszen

Molenaar

Mullin

Neale

Pray

Pullen

Roelofs

Satyrs

Savil

Scott

Stillwell

Webb

Heraldic Primer Part 6: Inanimate Objects

Up to now I have told you about the various common flora and fauna that can be seen on heraldic devices as well as ordinaries, colors, and line divisions.  In this post I am going to touch on inanimate objects, and with my usual disclaimer, there is no way I can cover them all in one short post.  Please realize that there are hundreds of charges that are in this category and I would suggest you do further research on your own from the sources I listed in my first post if you can’t find an object you are looking for.  Or try your favorite search engine; you may be surprised by what you can find.

An inanimate object is my way of describing a charge that is not living, or animate.  This category can include clothing, weapons, armor, musical instruments, tools of a trade, household goods, ships, buildings, or even celestial bodies to name a few.  It also includes body parts of humans such as hands, legs, arms, and heads.  

These objects generally reflect the person they represent.  For example a soldier may use a sword to represent his military prowess or a miller a mill rind to represent his trade through history.  In modern day heraldry an electrician may use the sun instead of a light bulb to give his arms a more ancient feel.  While these inanimate charges tend to lean to the ordinary objects found in everyday life there are exceptions.  For example the DNA double helix was first granted in 1966 as a charge that can be used on a person device.  Also there have been satellites and computers granted as heraldic charges in the recent past.

Charges like doors, gates, towers, walls, arches, and other types of architectural features are found commonly in heraldry.  Parts of armor that would have been worn into battle, with or without the corresponding body parts, are popular for showing strength.  For weaponry there is a large listing of various items used.  For example, every part of the arrow may be depicted on a device including multiple arrows and archery equipment.

Overall, the charges you will see more than anything else are items that would be used every day.  These charges can tell a lot about a family, person, or guild by the tools they choose to display.  Not only tools and instruments used in and around the house are seen, but also tools for very specific trades.  Examples are: bellows, baskets, shuttles, rakes, glazier tools, blacksmith tools, beehives, goblets, farrier tools, and stools.

For an amazing pictorial description of crowns, coronets, helms, and ecclesiastical charges I suggest you check out this page from the University of Notre Dame.  It is very well done and very in-depth.  In addition they also have a page on common types of crosses used in heraldry .  Both of these charges are common in heraldry of nobility and pious individuals.  There is a very large variety and I could spend an entire post talking about these two subjects alone.

Below is a listing of common inanimate objects, not including geometric designs that are found in heraldry or many of the charges listed above. 

In addition to the examples above there are still a plethora of other charges that may be seen.  Once again I encourage you to see what else you could find in books and online.  Next time: geometric designs.  This should be our last building block post before we can start putting it all together.  

Week 1 Progress in the FHWC and a Story

photo credit: Giulia Bartra via photopin cc

Progress over the first three days was good, even if it happened to be a weekend.  I finished one story, laid out the cookbook, organized recipes into categories, and did the lineage pages (one for each family) for the front of the cookbook.  Whew, it sounds like more than it was.  Probably about 6 hours of work total over three days. 

I discovered when I was doing the lineage pages that I have a lot more gaps than I really like in my nearer generations.  This week I am going to send it out to the family yahoo group and see if anyone is willing to give me death and marriage dates on my grandmother’s generation.  That is where I have the most holes mainly because I can’t get the information from the internet as they are too recent and those records aren’t available yet without being there.  Might as well ask their kids and grandkids for the information, right?

Since I wanted each lineage page to fit on one page of the cookbook, I listed only direct line male ancestors for each surname until my grandparent’s generation.  For their generation I listed all the siblings with their birth and death dates and their spouses.  It is the spouse’s birth and death dates I have the most holes on. 

The one story I wrote was about the Waterford crystal seahorse and land horse my husband and I bought in Waterford, Ireland.  For your reading enjoyment, I posted it below.

Land Horse and Sea Horse… Oh my!

In May of 1997 my then boyfriend, now husband, and I had a grand European adventure.  My mother was stationed at Landstuhl Army Medical Center and had saved up several weeks of leave.  The plan was to travel from Germany to Paris, then to Dover through Calais, and then drive through the British Isles together as a family before returning Germany.  We spent a month driving my parents Ford Explorer through England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.  So. Many. Stories.  This story is about Waterford, crystal, and finding something that speaks to your heart.

We spent one night and one day in Waterford, Ireland at a hotel right on the river across the bridge where we drove into town from Dublin.  It is now the Treacy Hotel, but it was the Day’s Hotel when we visited.  My husband and I went out after dinner and explored up and down the river doing some evening sightseeing.  Nothing was open, of course, but we saw some interesting parts of town.  The highlight of the evening was sitting in front of the tower and eating a candy bar talking about what our future might be.  He had bought my engagement ring a few days before while we were on Holyhead Island, Wales.

The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we drove to the Waterford Crystal Factory.   Mom and I couldn’t wait to get there; we had been talking about it for weeks.  My husband and dad enjoyed it too… but I don’t think they were quite as mesmerized as we were by the shiny, glittery, glassy stuff.  At the time of our visit the factory was in the middle of switching from the old factory guided to tour to the new tour which, when complete, would be mostly self-guided. 

Of course you are shuttled through their factory store at the end, and of course we HAD to look around.  My mom and dad looked at settings and house hold goods, but we weren’t interested in those types of items.  As college kids what in the world would we do with bowls, drinking vessels, or that type of stuff in our college housing?  That was when we found the sculpture section of the gallery, and fell in love with 2 small figurines: one, a rearing horse, and the other, a Waterford seahorse. 

My husband grew up training and riding horses.  He has always loved those great big beasts but it was his lot to fall in love and marry a woman who is scared to death of them.  I, on the other hand, love the ocean, which he really only tolerates because of me.  They were perfect, and exactly the souvenir we wanted. One that spoke to us and who were are.

In addition to the sculptures (which stand about 6” in height) we also received a free gift.  Free is always good, particularly when it is crystal.  That year they were giving away friendship bowls when you purchased a certain amount of crystal.  My parents, were given two, and they kindly gave us one.  For many years it sat holding potpourri in our living room.  Now it sits in its box waiting for a bigger house, and older children, so it can be displayed again. 

The crystal, however, almost didn't make it home.  The next week we were in Edinburgh and my father was nearly involved in a major traffic accident on the A1 traveling down to York.  We had drove from Edinburgh to York the day before when my mother realized after unpacking the truck she was missing her uniforms.  A quick call back to the B&B in Scotland confirmed that the cleaning staff had hung her suit bag up in the closet, something mom never did.  My other half and I got to sight see York that day while my parents made the trip, again.  On their way back to the hotel in York dad was nearly sideswiped by a lorrie merging onto the A.  He swerved into the other lane, missing a car, but had to slam on his brakes so he didn't rear end the stopped traffic in front of him.  My mom told me he turned the car slightly sideways in case he needed to go onto the shoulder but all she could think of at the time was "The Crystal! Don't hurt the CRYSTAL!"  Which dad says she screamed at him as they were skidding down the motorway.  Mom and her priorities right?

Today the horses sit on our mantle.  Looking at each other and reminding us of our amazing adventure.