How to stay busy for a conference: Next FTF post is up!

My next post for Family Tree Firsts is up!  Hope you all enjoy it!!

I really do overschedule, overstretch, and overreach at times in my life.  My simple weekend of staying at home looking at a computer screen filled very quickly.  Obligations, opportunities, and a need to be helpful do it to me every time.

Besides the Family Tree University Virtual Conference, the one thing that I had to do (no matter what) was meet my new-to-me cousin Bob.  We have been corresponding for several months and I was not going to miss the opportunity to meet up with him and his wonderful wife while they were in town.  All I have to say… I sure do see the Arvin family resemblance!  My husband commented on it as well.  Hopefully we will get to meet up again in the future.

Yes, I am still pouring through all the lectures from the conference.  I know I will watch a couple of them several times just to make sure that I didn’t miss any of the information.  This is such a good conference and I have a feeling that I will be attending them in the future as well.  One day I think I would like to attend a brick and mortar conference, but it may be a while off.  Like when the boys can fend for themselves and it is okay to leave them alone…when will that be…really? 

 

 

Week 39 of Abundant Genealogy

Week 39: Society Journal or Quarterly. Share with us your favorite genealogy society journal or quarterly publication. How long have you been reading it? Which group publishes it? Why is this publication one of your favorites? How has is helped you research your family history?

I have really enjoyed receiving my issues of American Ancestors from NEHGS.  They are interesting, insightful, and an all-around good read.  When I get it in the mail I just can’t stop reading it until I am through from the beginning to the end.  I became a member last year, and since they are quarterly I have only received 5 issues. 

In that amount of time it has helped me in several ways, and I am sure that I will discover that it is a publication I won’t want to do without.  I have discovered new ways to research, places to look, and most importantly I can study the ways that others write and research.

Visiting Sisters: October 1908

Wheat farm in Washington, Daviess County, Indiana
Image from the Library of Congress

This was another treasure that I recieved from my aunt a few weeks back.  While long, it is a fascinating personal account of a vist between sisters.  The family connection for the people named in the entry are listed below.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Siblings:
William H. Duley
Rebecca Duley Fravel
Abbie Duley Lasley
Emma Duley Farish
Catherine "Kitty" Duley Deatrick
Sarah E. Duley Bline

Rebecca Hall = Daughter of William Duley

Mary Brennan, Emma Graham, Abbie Connnaughton, Carrie Cates, John Bline = Children of Sarah E. Duley Bline

Rhoda Brennan = Sister in law to Mary Brennan

Still piecing together the Deatrick family...

Page 1

Washington, Ind October 20, 1980

Mrs. Rebecca Fravel and Mrs. Abbie Lasley and Mrs. Emma Farish left for New Albany October the 19, 1908.  There visiting there Mr. and Mrs. James Deartrick there sister and also Mr. Ben Deatrick and family, on the morning of the 20 started for Washington Ind to visit Mrs. Sarah E. Bline and her daughters and sons and sons wifes and our only brother William H. Duley and his daughter Rebecca Hall and her little daughter Mary Hall from Mount Vernon Ind.  They also met us there and we had a family reunion it was real nice and a happy meeting for us all to meet again and enjoy life together one more time in this life = but the parting will be sad but bye and bye we will meet to part no more that will be grand = we was met at the depo by Mrs. Mary Brennan = Mrs. Abbie Conethan our brother William H. Duley having a buss ready we all got in and away we all went to the city Hotel = to our sister Mrs. Sarah E. Blines home = she met us at the door with a welcome.  Shake hands and a lovely kiss on her lips all so met her son John and wife Ellie with all there welcomed in there home then having a nice lovely dinner spread before us to partake off which was good and nice =  and on the 21 of October we were all invited to Mrs. Abbie Conathan to take dinner we all went.  Mrs. Rebecca Fravel, Mrs. Abbie Lasley, Mrs. Emma Farish, Mrs. Sarah E. Bline, Mr. William H. Duley, Mrs. Rebecca Hall,

 

Page 2

and her daughter Mary Hall to a = dinner and good time together after the good dinner we served we all got on the street car going to the semitary where Mrs. Bline husband body was laid to rest to await the reserection morning when the graves shall give up the dead.  We all walked around though the grave yard looking and readin on the grave stones until we were very tired then we all come to the car and got in and then went home with our sister Mrs. Sarah Bline = staying all night = then on the 22 we were all invited = to take dinner with Mrs. Mary Brennan = where we all having a nice dinner and a real good time to geather having another one in our number which was Mrs. Emma Graham from Browstown = which was the daughter of Mrs. Sarah E. Bline = then after dinner the neighbors of Mrs. Brennan came in and we all together had a nice talk together and a real nice time = then we all come home with our sister Mrs. Bline at her home at the city hotel = on Friday the 23 our brother William H. Duley and his daughter Mrs. Rebecca Hall and her little daughter Mary = left for Mount Vernon Ind and went to there home = but my prayer is that we may all meet where parting is no more

 

Page 3

on the evening of the 23 there was a four seated rig frove up at our sister Sarah Hotel = there were eight of us got in the rig Mrs. Rebecca Fravel, Mrs. Abbie Lasley, Mrs. Sarah E. Bline, Mrs. Emma Frasher, Mrs. Mary Brennan, Mrs. Abbie Conathan, Mrs. Ellie Bline, Mrs. Emma Graham we all had a nice time.  We went all through the town of Washington Ind.  Seen the nice churches = school houses and so many nice residents and so many butiful flowers = and riding out until the sun was setting in the west and we all had a nice and a good time together = on Saturday the 24 Mrs. Rebecca Fravel, Mrs. Abbie Lasley, Mrs. Emma Farish all went to Mrs. Margaret Holbins had a nice dinner we spent the day with her = in the evening Mrs. Sarah E. Bline and daughter Mrs. Emma Graham come to spend the evening had good time together in the evening we come home with sister Sarah then myself Abbie Lasley and Emma Graham went down to Mrs. Mary Brennan and taken supper = then I come Abbie Lasley and stayed all night with sister Sarah.  On Sunday morning the 25 myself Mrs. Mary Brennan, Abbie Conthan went to the ME church to meeting and all came back to Sister Blines for dinner in the evening we all went to the Salvation Street Meeting = at night we went

 

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to the UB Church to meeting Brother Moon from Harrison Co was the preacher.  Brother Seoonoaen (?) was the presideing Elder it was quarterly meeting.  The sacrament was administered they had a good meeting = Monday the 26 = Sarah B, Abbie L, Rebecca F, Emma G all went to Mrs. Will Cates for dinner.  We had a lovely dinner every thing was so nice and good.  We had a nice talk after dinner and a good time together.  Then Mary Brennan and her son was with us for dinner.  Later in the evening we all went out calling on Mrs. Rhoda Brennan and then from there to our sisters home Sarah E. Bline for to stay all night on the night of the 26 Sarah, Becca, and Emma and my self went up in town to shows they were real nice.  On the morning of the 27 Becca and Emma and myself went to Abbie Conathan to stay a while = then we come back to sister Sarah for dinner and on the evening of the 27 Emma Farish, Abbie Conathon and myself called on Brother Moon and wife and spent the evening nicely.  Then come back to sister Sarah for the night.  So many of our friends come in to bid us good bye for we were going to leave for New Albany on the morning of the 28.  It was sad to part

 

Page 5

with  those we loved.  Our Sweet sister and her loving children Becca dn Emma and myself left the city hotel leaving our good sister standing in the door with weeping eyes to bid us all farewell = and waving her sweet hand goodbye = then our nephew John Bline and our nieces Abbie Conanthan and Mary Brennan, Carrie Cates and her husband Will Cates = all went to with us so sad = but as the hymn sang = I sed god be with you all till we meet again = leaving them and kissing them all good bye = but I hope not forever = then we got to New Albany at 10 clock in the evening, getting on the street car went to Mr. Ben Deatricks and ate dinner = they went to see our friend Mrs. Stacie Anderson = which was very sick then went from there to our sister Kitty Deatrick and her husband James Deatrick = and staying all night with them.  On the morning of the 29 Mrs. Rebecca Fravel, Emma Farish, Catharine Deatrick = Abby Lasley, all went to Lem Deatrick for dinner had a fine dinner his wife and daughter treated us so nice = after dinner we went to visit Mr. Ed Deatrick and wife and family had a good time.  Stayed till late in the evening.  Becca went home with sister Kitty to stay all night

 

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Emma went to Mr. Ben Deatrick to stay all night = I went to visit Mrs. Ryland.  She was not at home = then I went to Mr. Lem Deatrick at night.  Will Ryland, Mrs. Ryland Will Ryland Mother, and mrs Lizzie Deatrick = and myself Abbie Lasley all went to the mission church = we herd a fine surmon = then I went home with Mrs. Lizzie Deatrick and stayed all night = on the 30 Mr. John Deatrick came and taken all four of us sisters down to his farm on the Ohio river to take dinner with him and his family = my sister names that went was Rebecca Fravel, Kitty Deatrick, Emma Farish, and myself Abbie Lasley = we had a nice time at his home every thing was lovely the hous was so nice well furnished but one was missen that was laney his wife.  She has gone never to return again.  She was not there to welcome us in as she use to meet us at the gate and welcome us in but she has to her home in heaven where when we meet her at the gate we will enter in to the city where there will be no more parting but forever praising the lord halleugh; then in the evening John Deatrick brought us back to Ben Deatrick.  Becca dn emma Stayed all night I went to Lem Deatrick, Lizzie Deatrick and Will Ryland and myself went on the hill to the campground

 

Page 7

to visit Mrs. Cora Riggle my cosin.  She had consumption.  She was very poorly = no better she was so glad to see us = and had so many good words for us all and so many pleasant smiles = poor woman I did feel so sorrow for her = then we come back to Lizzie Deatrick eate supper and went to Ben Deatrick after supper.  Stayed a while then went to see Staccie Anderson.  Found her better then I went back home with Lizzie Deatrick and stayed all night = the next morning  which was the 31 of October Becca F, Emma F, and myself Abbie L, left New Albany for Corydon.  Got to Corydon at 10 O Clock.  There Ben Lasley was there for to take me home = Georgie Fravel to take Becca home, Charley Farish come to take Emma to her home = that the end of our journey a good and a nice time we all had together.

What do you all know about that =

Written by Mrs. Abbie Lasley = after her and her other too sisters Becca Fravel and Emma Farish taken there trip to Washington Daviess Co Ind to visit there sister Mrs. Sarah E Bline and children.  I love you one I love you all = I love you until we shall hear the call = To meet on cannan happy shore = there to meet to part no more

 

Page 8

Written by Mrs. Abbie Lasley

For her sister
Mrs. Sarah E. Bline
And Family

Mrs. Abbie Lasley, Mrs. Rebecca Fravel, Mrs. Emma Farish

This was all about there visit to Washington to see there sister and what happened while there and at New Albany on there journey

Remember me when this you see

Tho many a miles afar we be
And the grave shall be my bed
Remember me when I am dead

Abbie Lasley, love to all

Say it like you mean it... I AM A WRITER!

This morning I read a post on Lynn Palermo’s blog The Armchair Genealogist that really spoke to me.  It was “Blog to Book:Finding Your Writing Routine.”  At times it was like she was reading my mind.  I found myself talking back to the computer screen and nodding in acknowledgment.  Luckily no one saw me, so there were no mom-has-gone-crazy-again stares. 

Lynn shared her story of becoming a writer in this post, and I found it encouraging.  Until the last few months I would only tell my closest friends that I had really started to love writing.  A few weeks ago I told a complete stranger that I was a writer.  It was liberating.  It was scary.  It was so unexpected!  I just blurted it out when I was asked what I do.  “oh, you know.  I am a stay-at-home mom and I write a family history blog.”  Where in the world did that answer come from?

As a child I had been told several times by teachers that I couldn’t write.  Which, as with my artist streak (another story about how I believe all I am told) I subconsciously took to heart.  I couldn’t diagram a sentence and still don’t understand how to use punctuation correctly.  Verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives… make it stop!  Just let me put the words onto the paper.

I struggled with writing prompts through school, drug my heels on papers, and cringed at the thought of having to share my thoughts or ideas with the class.  My one bright spot seemed to be creative writing.  I earned repeated praise for my poetry, fictional short stories, and other creative writing assignments.  When I was in 4th grade I sat down at the family computer (an apple IIe) and wrote a 10 chapter novel about a girl in colonial Maryland.  To be fair, 4th grade was the year I studied Maryland State History. But, I wasn’t a good writer.  Nope, not me; just ask all my teachers.  Well, except one.  When I was a junior in high school my honors English teacher was great.  This was the year for creative writing and all of the sudden I was an A student for the first time ever.  That should have told someone, anyone, something about me.

Twenty years later and here I sit struggling with the thought that maybe, just maybe, I could be a good writer.  Maybe, just maybe, someone would be interested in hearing what I have to say.  Could it be true?  I know that I type so fast words get lost from my brain to the keys.  I know I still struggle with the proper usage of the comma (just ask the poor soul who reads my FTF blogs before I send them off).  However I have learned to love the written word again.  I now write on a daily basis, and I have found that I could spend hours at my computer putting thoughts to paper if I could.

Does that make me a writer?

If it does… what do I do next? 

 

Well, besides swallow that knot in my throat and take a plunge… any plunge… into the world of free-lance.

I have wonderful friends and family who have been encouraging me to take this leap.  Why don’t I write I book?  Why don’t I write some articles?  Why don’t I do some more research and really write an in depth history of X family?  Well… why shouldn’t I?

First… I just have to kick this fear of failure to the curb.  Yes, I have to get over the fact that I may fail.  On the other hand I could be a sucess.  Just need to throw that doubt out, like I somehow did when I started this blog.

 

photo credit: Joel Bedford via photopin cc and Dave Dugdale via photopin cc

Software clean up next step

Okay, here is my next please help question, because I am not sure how to proceed. 

Now that I have all the people cleaned up I am starting on the media.  My biggest problem is I have Census records that are linked to the wrong people with the wrong source citations.  For example:  The Kelley family should show a Census record for Rutherford Township, Martin County, Indiana.  The source citation for the record states that, but the image is for the Combs family from Lost River Township, Martin County, Indiana.

<insert hysterical screaming here>

 

When I click the button on FTM2012 to unlink source I get 10 choices to unlink... to say I am paranoid about doing something wrong in an understatement. Suggestions?  Besides paying one of you to come to my house and sort this out.

Image from the Library of Congress

Court records and the interesting things you read in them.

For the last several days I have been combing though the Surry County, North Carolina Court minutes from 1797-1836. There are references to many of my family (so far all on the "good" side of the law) and I am cataloguing them for future research. However, every so often, I run into an interesting snip-it of another family’s life.

This evening the following item on page 23 from the court minutes of 1815-1819 caught my eye:

Ordered by the court that JEMIMA KELLY (a child of JOHN KELLY who has deserted his FAMILY) aged three years this day August 16^th, 1815 be BOUND unto JOHN MARTIN until she arrives to the age of 18 years.  The said MARTIN agrees to learn her the art & minstress [mystery] of a SPINTRESS give her one years schooling between the age of 12 & 16 years & two suits of clothes at her freedom.  6/paid

So besides the heart wrenching story of a 3 year old being abandoned… what the heck is “the art & minstress [mystery] of a SPINTRESS?”  Could it be a person taught to spin on a spinning wheel?  Any ideas?

 

 

Image from the Library of Congress

Friends are the best research partners: Next FTF post is up!

 

My next post at Family Tree Firsts is up!  You can read it here.

A few weeks back a group of my friends, who all have a passion for genealogy, got together to share and learn.  We had a great time and it made me think about genealogy societies.  I know, odd train of thought, but bear with me a minute.

Genealogy societies form as a place where people in an area, or with a specific research slant, can come together to learn.  Or at least that is the way I tend to define them.  There was one in the nearest big town to me, about 20 minutes from my house.  However, their meetings have, in the past, been on the same night as meetings for another group I am involved with.  I was a ceremonial officer in the other group for the last 4 years and I needed to be at those meetings.  Unfortunatly the genealogy society appeared to met at no other times.  Yes, I was bummed, but I figured that I would pick it up after my term of office was over.  Well, good intentions and all, I can no longer find working contact information for them and have a sinking feeling that they may no longer be a functioning group.

That is why I was so excited to find like minded people in my other hobby who invited me to come up to the NOVA area and share in a day of genalogical fun!  We did have a great time, and with an amazing set of cooks a great pot luck too.  Yummmm..... fooooooooddddddd.  We just sorta formed our own impromtu informal group.  Those sometimes are the best kind.

We decidedly to meet quarterly and our next meeting is in November.  I seriously can't wait.

Image from the Library of Congress