A few weeks ago, I was doing something and for some reason I decided to Google my grandmother's name. The expected things popped up; links to her obituary, the Find A Grave link, and some trees on Ancestry. What I didn't expect was to see her name connected to a weather forum chat link. Being the curious person that I am, I clicked on it and am so glad I did!
The person that had written the original post had been a student of my grandmother's when she was teaching first grade many years ago. The post was a nice tribute to her and included her obituary. What was even better was that someone else had commented on this post looking for members of the family because he had pictures of them that he would like to return! I tried to reply to the comment but I couldn't because I wasn't a member of the site. I set up an account asap but it took several days before I was able to comment. However, once I did, this kind gentleman answered me right back.
Several years earlier, he was helping to clean out a storage closet in his church and came across a box of old pictures, letters, and documents. Some of the pictures were labeled, some were not. As he put it, "being one of the more mature members of the church I was given the job of caretaker of this box". It had nothing to do with the church and no one recognized any of the names so they were going to throw it out. This church (and where the gentleman lives) is no where near anywhere my grandparents have ever lived. However, this gentleman is deep into genealogy and knew that there might be family members that would love to have these things. Turns out, he was right. It took him several years of just keeping his eyes out and searching the names on sites like Ancestry, Find A Grave, and Googling them occasionally, but he's found someone from almost all of the families that were happy to have what he had found. Mine was one of the last. Unfortunately, a lot of the photos weren't labeled and he has no way of knowing who to give them to. Thank goodness my grandmother was so very good about labeling her photos!! I'm sure she had sent these photos to friends (possibly family but I don't know who it could have been) back in the 1940's.
There were three photos, one of which I'd never seen. After looking through the box again to make sure he wasn't overlooking anything, he put them in the mail. I received them yesterday and was like a little kid in a candy store when I saw that envelope in my mailbox. Yes, I had seen two of them before. Yes, I knew what they looked like (he had emailed me copies). No, I'm not going to do anything spectacular with them. But the route they took to get to me absolutely amazes me. Technically, you could say it started with my grandmother mailing those photos 60 some odd years ago but for me, it started with a Google search!
Every family has skeletons in their closet and hidden treasures waiting to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
One Thing Leads to Another
Earlier this week, I went looking for a picture of my grandmother that was 'missing'. I was going to share it with a friend of mine, but when I went to send it to her it wasn't where I thought it was. I thought I had it in my computer with all of my other photos but when I started looking, it was no where to be found. So, I pulled my box of old pictures out and started sifting through them. I came across several pictures that I didn't have in my computer files so I started scanning and organizing them. There was this one picture of a pretty older lady that my grandmother had labeled, "Lelia Green Osborn". that day who she was.
The name sounded somewhat familiar but I wasn't sure exactly how she fit into my family tree. For some reason, I decided that I needed to know
First stop, my Family Tree Maker files. I remembered that my grandmother had an Uncle Joe Osborn. Maybe one of her aunts was married to him but I didn't remember a Lelia. Sure enough, neither one of them were there. I had all of her aunts and uncles listed with their spouses and children. So, who were they and how were they related to me? Or my grandmother for that matter.
Joe Osborn was appointed guardianship over some money she inherited when her father died but I didn't have him in my tree. I did, however, have a picture of her with him when she was about three years old. Now I'm realizing that I was never clear about how he was related to her. When I was in Alabama a couple of months ago, I got copies of some documents relating to the guardianship that I hadn't had time to transcribe. Maybe it was time to make time.
Unfortunately, the documents didn't really give me any information I didn't already know. They are not complete files of the case; they are the final settlement of the guardianship which was started in another county and the first part of the case was recorded there. I foresee another trip to Alabama and another courthouse in my future! There are some Greens in my tree but a couple of generations further back than Lelia would have been and it 'started' with a female so I didn't really think that that is where she fit in.
I checked for a marriage license for Joe and Lelia but didn't find one. I decided to look at some census records next and, lo and behold, there was Lelia in 1880 as a child. This is where it gets interesting. There were several other children in the household listed as step-children and their last name was Hand. Which was my great-great grandmother's (Sarah) maiden name. Her mother's name and Lelia's mother's name were the same. Could their mothers be same person?
During that same trip to Alabama, I had found an estate settlement for Thomas Hand, Sarah's father. Back to deciphering and transcribing. This time, I did learn some new information. The man who was appointed executor of the estate, Thomas Green, married the widow, Jane Hand. So, yes, Lelia and Sarah Elizabeth were half-sisters!
Just curious to see if this Thomas Green was any relation to my other Greens (who were in Sarah's husband's line), I started looking at census and marriage records. Was I surprised when I discovered that he was most definitely a part of my Greens! My mind is still trying to wrap around the fact that he was the brother to my female Green ancestor. He was Sarah's step-father AND her husband's great uncle. I'm not even going to try to figure out his relationship to me! It's enough for me to know where he (and Lelia) fit into my tree.
I know that these sort of things happen in everyone's tree and honestly, this isn't the first time it's occurred in mine, but it is the first time I've done all the research and made the connections. I can't help but wonder if my grandmother knew about these connections and I just didn't know enough to ask the right questions. I believe that Joe and Lelia must have been close to my grandmother and her mother (Lelia's niece) or Joe wouldn't have been appointed as the guardian of the trust.
One of the lessons learned? Remember that siblings can often be the best lead or source of information for the records we need. Not only was Lelia a great lead but so was Thomas-both siblings of different direct ancestors!
Oh, and the picture of my grandmother that started this whole thing? I found it. It was one of the last ones I pulled out of the box.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
 |
| Lelia Green Osborn |
First stop, my Family Tree Maker files. I remembered that my grandmother had an Uncle Joe Osborn. Maybe one of her aunts was married to him but I didn't remember a Lelia. Sure enough, neither one of them were there. I had all of her aunts and uncles listed with their spouses and children. So, who were they and how were they related to me? Or my grandmother for that matter.
Joe Osborn was appointed guardianship over some money she inherited when her father died but I didn't have him in my tree. I did, however, have a picture of her with him when she was about three years old. Now I'm realizing that I was never clear about how he was related to her. When I was in Alabama a couple of months ago, I got copies of some documents relating to the guardianship that I hadn't had time to transcribe. Maybe it was time to make time.
Unfortunately, the documents didn't really give me any information I didn't already know. They are not complete files of the case; they are the final settlement of the guardianship which was started in another county and the first part of the case was recorded there. I foresee another trip to Alabama and another courthouse in my future! There are some Greens in my tree but a couple of generations further back than Lelia would have been and it 'started' with a female so I didn't really think that that is where she fit in.
I checked for a marriage license for Joe and Lelia but didn't find one. I decided to look at some census records next and, lo and behold, there was Lelia in 1880 as a child. This is where it gets interesting. There were several other children in the household listed as step-children and their last name was Hand. Which was my great-great grandmother's (Sarah) maiden name. Her mother's name and Lelia's mother's name were the same. Could their mothers be same person?
During that same trip to Alabama, I had found an estate settlement for Thomas Hand, Sarah's father. Back to deciphering and transcribing. This time, I did learn some new information. The man who was appointed executor of the estate, Thomas Green, married the widow, Jane Hand. So, yes, Lelia and Sarah Elizabeth were half-sisters!
Just curious to see if this Thomas Green was any relation to my other Greens (who were in Sarah's husband's line), I started looking at census and marriage records. Was I surprised when I discovered that he was most definitely a part of my Greens! My mind is still trying to wrap around the fact that he was the brother to my female Green ancestor. He was Sarah's step-father AND her husband's great uncle. I'm not even going to try to figure out his relationship to me! It's enough for me to know where he (and Lelia) fit into my tree.
I know that these sort of things happen in everyone's tree and honestly, this isn't the first time it's occurred in mine, but it is the first time I've done all the research and made the connections. I can't help but wonder if my grandmother knew about these connections and I just didn't know enough to ask the right questions. I believe that Joe and Lelia must have been close to my grandmother and her mother (Lelia's niece) or Joe wouldn't have been appointed as the guardian of the trust.
One of the lessons learned? Remember that siblings can often be the best lead or source of information for the records we need. Not only was Lelia a great lead but so was Thomas-both siblings of different direct ancestors!
Oh, and the picture of my grandmother that started this whole thing? I found it. It was one of the last ones I pulled out of the box.
 |
| Maude Foster and Mayburn Allison Teague on the Quad at the University of Alabama in 1931. |
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Do You or Don't You?
My mom is working on what she is calling a booklet about her mother's family. Earlier this year, there was talk about a family reunion some time this summer and she decided that she would compile all of the information that we (she) has in a 'booklet' for everyone to have a copy of. This, like most projects my family undertakes, became a snowball rolling down a hill. What started out as a simple compilation has turned into a major undertaking. I'm not complaining; after all, I will be a beneficiary of the finished product. Also, I think it's one of those instances when we should be thankful we have so much information that we can't fit it into a simple 'booklet' of one half to one page per person. The fact is, we have a LOT of information on this family: pictures, stories, documents. It is easily two pages per person plus pictures. But, this post isn't about how much information we have or what a big project it turned out to be. It's about what to include in a publication of this kind.
Everyone has 'skeletons' in their family trees. It could be an illegitimate child, an illicit affair, a scoundrel, a murder, anything that might be considered scandalous. Things that weren't acceptable a hundred, fifty, or even twenty years ago are completely acceptable by society's standards today. We don't hardly blink at an unwed pregnancy or an older woman marrying a younger man anymore. However, at one time those things were sufficient cause to be ostracized and definitely hidden or not talked about by families. Sometimes, the stories were whispered about and passed down from generation to generation orally. If you're lucky, there are records somewhere that give you the information that you need to confirm the facts and complete your family tree.
While doing this booklet, my mom struggled with whether to include some of the information that we have. There's a supposed illegitimate child, an unfortunate marriage and divorce, and a possible bigamist, just to mention a few. Her quandary was whether or not to mention these things in her sketches about these people. Some of the things she wasn't sure about were common knowledge and some weren't. Most of it wouldn't affect living people in any way; it involved people and their children long dead. But what about the stuff that would affect people still living? Even if they weren't directly involved, it concerned a parent, grandparent, or cousin. While none of it was exactly earth shattering, it would probably change the way some people think about those people. Several of the stories that we have recorded aren't very complimentary to the person they are about. So, what do you include and what do you leave out? Because, face it, as genealogists, we don't throw any scrap of information away. It's our job to research, record, and share our family's information.
In the end, she decided not to include anything that was just a negative theory. She pretty much stuck strictly to the facts. The unflattering stories weren't included because we had plenty of other information we were able to use. The unfortunate marriage and divorce was a second marriage that had no children and lasted less than two years so she didn't mention it. It was just a matter of what felt right to us. Of course, we have all of this information in our notes and if it should ever be needed or someone wants to know about it, we'll be glad to share it.
I think it all comes down to whether the information is going to hurt, embarrass, or anger someone living. If it is, leave it out but keep it in your research notes. Sometimes those tidbits are what direct us to the documents or people we need to prove a connection. Not everything is meant for public consumption so be aware of how what you publish will affect the living-the dead don't care.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
Everyone has 'skeletons' in their family trees. It could be an illegitimate child, an illicit affair, a scoundrel, a murder, anything that might be considered scandalous. Things that weren't acceptable a hundred, fifty, or even twenty years ago are completely acceptable by society's standards today. We don't hardly blink at an unwed pregnancy or an older woman marrying a younger man anymore. However, at one time those things were sufficient cause to be ostracized and definitely hidden or not talked about by families. Sometimes, the stories were whispered about and passed down from generation to generation orally. If you're lucky, there are records somewhere that give you the information that you need to confirm the facts and complete your family tree.
While doing this booklet, my mom struggled with whether to include some of the information that we have. There's a supposed illegitimate child, an unfortunate marriage and divorce, and a possible bigamist, just to mention a few. Her quandary was whether or not to mention these things in her sketches about these people. Some of the things she wasn't sure about were common knowledge and some weren't. Most of it wouldn't affect living people in any way; it involved people and their children long dead. But what about the stuff that would affect people still living? Even if they weren't directly involved, it concerned a parent, grandparent, or cousin. While none of it was exactly earth shattering, it would probably change the way some people think about those people. Several of the stories that we have recorded aren't very complimentary to the person they are about. So, what do you include and what do you leave out? Because, face it, as genealogists, we don't throw any scrap of information away. It's our job to research, record, and share our family's information.
In the end, she decided not to include anything that was just a negative theory. She pretty much stuck strictly to the facts. The unflattering stories weren't included because we had plenty of other information we were able to use. The unfortunate marriage and divorce was a second marriage that had no children and lasted less than two years so she didn't mention it. It was just a matter of what felt right to us. Of course, we have all of this information in our notes and if it should ever be needed or someone wants to know about it, we'll be glad to share it.
I think it all comes down to whether the information is going to hurt, embarrass, or anger someone living. If it is, leave it out but keep it in your research notes. Sometimes those tidbits are what direct us to the documents or people we need to prove a connection. Not everything is meant for public consumption so be aware of how what you publish will affect the living-the dead don't care.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Local Groups
A few days ago, I attended a meeting of the local genealogy club. They are called Roots and seem to be a nice, friendly group of people. Some of the members have been doing genealogy for many years and some have just started digging into generations. One of the things I just had to smile at was the fact that we all have similar stories. A relative that doesn't want to share the one and only picture of an elusive ancestor, gestapo like guardians of the courthouse records, and finding a hidden nugget of information in a most unlikely place.
I don't have any ancestors that I know of in this area but that isn't going to keep me from doing research here. One of the reasons I wanted to join this club was because they know all about the libraries around here and what is in them. There is access to records from all states at some of them and two Family History Centers close by. Once I've gotten the information I discovered on my last trip organized and entered in Family Tree Maker and my next steps planned out, I'm heading out to one of them to do some research.
It was good to meet some other people interested in something that I'm interested in and make some new friends. I'll go back next month and whether I have anything new to report, I'll enjoy visiting and sharing experiences and maybe even get some advice on where to look next for that brick wall I'm sure to have encountered.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures waiting to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
I don't have any ancestors that I know of in this area but that isn't going to keep me from doing research here. One of the reasons I wanted to join this club was because they know all about the libraries around here and what is in them. There is access to records from all states at some of them and two Family History Centers close by. Once I've gotten the information I discovered on my last trip organized and entered in Family Tree Maker and my next steps planned out, I'm heading out to one of them to do some research.
It was good to meet some other people interested in something that I'm interested in and make some new friends. I'll go back next month and whether I have anything new to report, I'll enjoy visiting and sharing experiences and maybe even get some advice on where to look next for that brick wall I'm sure to have encountered.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures waiting to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Getting Started
I have been doing genealogy for over two thirds of my life but feel like I'm still just a beginner. It's one of those things that I love to do but it has had to take a back seat because life just interfered. I had dinners to cook, carpools to drive, football and volleyball games to attend, and children to love and nurture on. I've recently become an empty nester and find that I have some time on my hands. So, I have pulled out all of those scribbles on legal pads, documents I copied, and the trusty old tree chart and started getting my stuff organized. I spent months going through 30 years worth of accumulation of documents, photos, and notes and entering them into a family tree program. Now I know what information I have on everyone in my tree-and what I need to start looking for. I have also realized that I should have taken better notes, asked different questions, and documented EVERYTHING with SOURCES!
My husband is not interested in genealogy at all. He tolerates it and occasionally will be interested in something that I discover but for the most part doesn't care that I discovered who John Griffin's parents were or that my distant cousin has a picture of my great-great grandfather. However, he doesn't mind me wandering through cemeteries looking for long dead ancestors or haunting courthouses and genealogical websites for that elusive one fact that ties one generation to another.
I decided to start blogging about my journey through the genealogy world because I need to keep a record of what I do and when I do it. I have also learned so many lessons the hard way and want to pass them along to anyone that might decide to follow me on my journey. Mostly, I want to be able to share my discoveries and frustrations with others that will understand. So, here I go traveling down the dusty country roads and through the old cities of the south to find out where Grandpa (and Grandma!) came from and what he did in his life.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures waiting to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
My husband is not interested in genealogy at all. He tolerates it and occasionally will be interested in something that I discover but for the most part doesn't care that I discovered who John Griffin's parents were or that my distant cousin has a picture of my great-great grandfather. However, he doesn't mind me wandering through cemeteries looking for long dead ancestors or haunting courthouses and genealogical websites for that elusive one fact that ties one generation to another.
I decided to start blogging about my journey through the genealogy world because I need to keep a record of what I do and when I do it. I have also learned so many lessons the hard way and want to pass them along to anyone that might decide to follow me on my journey. Mostly, I want to be able to share my discoveries and frustrations with others that will understand. So, here I go traveling down the dusty country roads and through the old cities of the south to find out where Grandpa (and Grandma!) came from and what he did in his life.
Every family has skeletons in the closet and hidden treasures waiting to be found; I hope to discover all of mine!
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