Family Friends Friday

I grew up in a small neighborhood, in a small town, in the 70's & 80's. The road we lived on created a circle of sorts, coming in off of the larger road and going around to exit back onto the same road just a short way down. Until my junior year in High School it was a dirt road, with a clay base.

The picture above is from Google Earth and shows the area as it looks now. I think there were about 10 homes total in the whole neighborhood during the time I was growing up. I'm kind of guessing, memory not to clear on the exact number. Everyone knew each other. We didn't lock our doors during the day, except for the front door; all family and friends knew to come to the back door anyway! In fact, most times we would call out "knock, knock" and walk right in.

Our little neighborhood was surrounded by woods then, which made for great summer time play. My sister and I grew up playing with the 3 boys next door. Many a summer game of hide and seek, Red Light - Green Light, climbing trees, and riding bikes.

Neighborhood cookouts held at one family or the others back yard. Papa Joe's BBQ, Mr. Whitfield's catfish stew, churned ice cream, card games, playing in sprinklers, and sometimes music provided by The Mills' family musicians. Many a happy memory of times gone by. Holidays & Birthdays celebrated together and enjoyed by all. July 4th always at Papa Joe & Gigi's house, because it was also Gigi's birthday! On Christmas morning we were back and forth between houses seeing what each had gotten and exchanging gifts. Easter Sundays, dressing up and going to church and then coming home to hunt Easter eggs.

Mathews & Whitfield Family Easter Picture

probably between 1974 - 1976

Some of those neighbors have passed away now, some have moved (after my sister and I married Mama sold the house and moved also), us kids have grown up and have our own family's now but the memories remain. And the special place in my heart that each of those childhood neighbors and friends hold will ensure that they will always be carried with me.

~Michelle
© Michelle Deal 2014 All Rights Reserved

Military Monday

Last Friday was the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Which got me to thinking about WWII, and I knew from family lore ( is there any other way to say memories spoken to me by a family member?) that my Dad and my Mother's Father were both in the Navy during WWII.

So I went searching on Fold3 to see if I could find out where they were around June 6th 1944.

First I searched for my Grandfather
Lloyd Angevine Cole (1912-1981)
I was able to find a Navy Muster Roll that placed him on the USS Frybarger (DE705), 26 May 1944. This Roll also shows that he came aboard on 18 May 1944 , he would have been 32 at that time, and  enlisted 4 Dec 1943.

Further research states that the Frybarger made two convoy escort voyages to Bizerete until November 1944 and afterwards began escort duty in the Pacific.

Then I looked for my Dad.
Charles Aaron Mathews (1926-1974)
The first Muster Roll I found him on was for the USS Hollis (DE-794) 24 Jan 1944. This Roll shows his enlistment date as 11 March 1943. He was still serving on the USS Hollis for the quarter ending 30 June 1944, he would have been 18 at that time.

Further research states that the Hollis made two escort voyages along the East Coast and then reported to Quonset Point RI to assist in sonic research to find countermeasures for German acoustic torpedos. She remained in that research until 28 May, when she sailed to Casablanca in an aircraft carrier screen.

It was very interesting, to me, to find that both my Father and Grandfather were traveling some of the same waters (per se), at the same time, defending this great country of ours. It makes me proud that they are part of my Family History.

Sources used - Ancestry.com, Fold3, Wikipedia

~ Michelle
© Michelle Deal 2014 All Rights Reserved

Thursday Q&A

Today I'm doing Q & A. With myself !

Q: When did you get interested in genealogy?
A: About 2009, so not that long ago.

Q: Why did you get interested in genealogy?
A: Lots of reasons actually. The main  reason was to trace or find my Dad's ancestors, and find out more about his life and family. My Dad died when I was 6, so I didn't get the chance to know him very much. He was 20 years older than my Mama so almost, if not a whole, generation between them. His Father had died many years before I was born, through genealogy I found out 1948. His Mother died when I was 18, at the age of 84, long before I was interested in anything as dusty and old as genealogy. I knew of no local family so genealogy was the way I felt I could find more information and learn about him as a grown man and child. Mama knew a few things, but Daddy nor his Mother were much for sharing personal stories.

Q: What did you know about genealogy when you started?
A: My Great Uncle, on my Mother's side of the family, had done a lot of genealogy research. So I asked him about his research and he mailed me the Lee Family History pamphlet that he had made up for family reunions. Wow, very confusing to me. Lots of pages with numbered people and copies of blurry not very legible forms of some kind. The numbering didn't make sense and the forms (now I know census records) were all but impossible for me to read no matter understand what they were telling me. Just finding my Mama & Daddy and me and my sister in all of that took a couple of hours! There was no information to help me at all with my Dad, in fact the whole thing was only tracing his Maternal side to the Lee Family. I was able to ask him a few questions at the next family reunion about how he researched, and he talked about visiting Courthouses and the National Registry in Atlanta GA. It seemed to me that genealogy was going to be very hard!

Q: So, what did you do?
A: At that time I was working full time, and extra time for trips to repositories and 3 hour rides to look for genealogy records just wasn't available. So I joined Ancstry.com. Hoping that I would be able to find some things and learn a little more. I was excited and jumped right in, connecting shaky leaves and adding information left and right. Not really understanding that I needed to verify that what I had was correct, after all it was there and the "right" name, so it must be. Right?! We'll as any of you seasoned genealogists know, I had a lot of misinformation and went in directions that were totally not my family.

Q: Are you still researching your ancestors today?
A: Yes! Even though I have mainly done all my research online and am only now trying to branch out and find genealogy societies and repositories to help fill in the gaps in my knowledge and family, I have learned a lot and understand the importance of genealogical proof. I do have a good bit of tangible correct information now, on my Dad's and Mama's sides of the family. And hope to find more.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: Filling in, or maybe filling out, the lives of the ancestors I have found. Getting information about where and how they lived so that I can understand more about them. I have a few walls that are still holding me back, but I am confident that in time and with help I will be able to answer my questions and find the family members that are "hiding" at this momenet.

I hope you have enjoyed reading just a little about me and my short journey in genealogy. I still have a lot to learn and a lot I want to learn, so join me in "Digging For Roots" and learning about genealogy.
If you would like, take my questions and answer them for yourself. I know that I would enjoy hearing your stories about your foray into the Land of cemeteries, dusty books, and historical markers.

~ Michelle

© Michelle Deal 2014 All Rights Reserved

Sunday Snapshots

Snapshots I took of the pretty flower bouquets Barb brought home this morning.

~ Michelle

Saturday Searching

I am working on tracing my Father's family tree. At this point all of my searching has been online, mainly through Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Some information I have verified with my Mother as she had met some of his Uncles and cousins when they were first married. My Dad died when I was 6, so I can't go the route of questioning him, and his Mother died when I was 18. A long time before I was interested in knowing my family history.

I know that I am going to need to make some actual physical trips to county courthouses and Family History Centers to get information but want to make the best use of my time and resources. So that I get quality information and documentation. I haven't figured out how the numbering of family lines works yet, so please forgive me if there are errors in how this is done. I still have a lot to learn about genealogy. Any help that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Where to go? What to look for? Where to look?

My current information:

1) Charles Aaron Mathews
b. 14 Feb, 1926  Concord, Pike, Georgia, USA
m. 23 Apr, 1966  Beaufort, SC, USA - Edith Jean Cole
d. 16 June, 1974 Augusta, Richmond, GA, USA

3) Roger Thomas Mathews
b. 5 Oct, 1901 Concord, Pike, GA, USA
m. 18 Dec, 1921 Pike County, GA - Willie Roberta Milner
d. 12 Nov, 1948 Augusta, Richmond, GA, USA
4) Willie Roberta Milner
b. 4 Apr, 1906 Militia District, Coffee County, GA, USA
m. 18 Dec, 1921
d. 10 Aug, 1987 Augusta, Richmond, GA, USA

7) Uel Aaron Mathews
 b. 23, Dec 1877 Pike County, GA, USA
 m. 21 Nov, 1900 Pike County, GA- Lydia Elizabeth Harris
 d. 7 Nov, 1939 Concord, Pike, GA, USA
 8) Lydia Elizabeth Harris
  b. 1 Nov, 1881 Concord, Pike, GA, USA
  m. 21 Nov, 1900
  d. 12 Aug, 1938 Concord, Pike, GA, USA
           
9) John Willis Milner
  b. about 1867
  m. in 1897 Pike County, GA, USA
  d. in 1961
10) Elizabeth ?
  b. about 1881
  m. in 1897 Pike County, GA, USA
   d. ?

11) Edmond Dyer Mathews
b. 9 Oct 1851 Pike County, GA, USA
m. 23 Dec, 1875 Pike County, GA - Sarah Thomas Oxford
d. 1936 Concord, Pike, GA, USA
12) Sarah Thomas Oxford
b. 17 Jan, 1847 Henry County, GA, USA
m. 23 Dec, 1875
d. 4 Aug, 1907 Pike County, GA, USA

13) Jonathan James Milner
b. 10 Jan, 1831 Wilkes County, GA, USA
m. 2 Jan, 1853 - Nancy Catherine Bouland
d. 3 Jun, 1910
14) Nancy C Bouland
b. 14 Mar, 1834 Zebulon, Pike, GA, USA
m. 2 Jan, 1853
d. 16, Dec, 1918 Concord, Pike, GA, USA

My #'s 9 & 10 are my brick wall right now. I do have census records during the appropriate times, but no where can I find Elizabeth's maiden name or specifics on birth, marriage, and death.

A Woman of Grace and Beauty

My Maternal Grandmother was a quiet woman. What I consider a "true southern lady". I never heard her say a bad thing about anyone.

I remember visiting my grandparents when I was a little girl in Beaufort, SC. We would spend a week to two weeks with them in the summer. I didn't realize then what a small home they had, it was just home. My sister and I would sleep on the pull-out sofa and Mama slept in the guest room (her old bedroom). There was an eat-in kitchen, and Grandmama always had grape juice and ginger snaps for treats. She would give us each a special tiny glass and fill it with, what I thought, the sweetest grape juice ever!

The back yard was filled with wild flowers of every kind, that danced in the breeze. My sister and I would pick bouquets and bring them to her, she would always exclaim over them and get a glass with water to put them in, and place them on top of her kitchen cabinets. I guess I thought it was a place of importance, to keep them safe and to be seen. Now I know that Grandpapa had asthma and high allergies and she was putting them somewhere that wouldn't bother him, but she never turned them down or made us take them away.

We would take at least one trip to the beach, Hunting Island, and gather sea shells and play in the surf. Grandmama always wore her sun hat and worried that we were getting out to deep. She didn't swim so anything past your ankles was too deep. She would hold my hand and we would walk along the wet sand looking for special shells, and watching the shrimp boats in the distance.

When my family takes a trip to Hunting Island now, the minute I can smell the marsh I know we are there. As children, my sister and I were always asking "Are we there yet?". If you have ever been you know the marsh smell is present before you actually are in Beaufort, but to me that's when you are there.

I can hear her voice even now, "Now Edith (my Mama), they are just babies". I knew I was loved and that she would always.

Mamie Catherine Williams Cole (b.1922 d.2003)

Memorial Day Monday

A day to honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to this great country of ours.

Many of my ancestors have served in one branch or another of The United States military, although I don't know of any that have lost their lives while doing so, their willingness to serve makes me proud.

Here is a list of those that I know of:

Charles Aaron Mathews (b1926 d1974), WWII and Korea, Navy
LLoyd Angevine Cole (b1912 d1982), WWII, Army & Navy
Frank Aloyious Cole (b1880 d?), Spanish American War, Army
Moses Mathews (b1725 d1806 ), gunsmith Revolutionary War for the Colonial Army
Jonathan James Milner (b1831 d1910), Civil War Confederacy
Capt John Milner (b1746 d1812), SC Militia

   

              

~ Michelle

Treasure Chest Thursday

Family Treasures

This means something different to everyone I'm sure. For some it may be valuables; like jewelry, silver, or art work. For me it is the items that bring back a memory or cause me to think about a family member that I can no longer spend time with. These items are not valuable by monetary standards but to me they are irreplaceable.

The metal bowl was used by my Grandpapa Cole for shaving, according to my Mama he used an old fashioned razor (possibly a straight razor) and brush to apply the soap. I don't remember actually seeing him shave but I knew this was his. My Grandmama kept it after he passed away and found some use for it, I think as a foot soak. When Grandmama passed in 2003, Mama had me and my sister come to the house to see what we would like as mementos and keepsakes. I'm pretty sure this was the first thing I grabbed.

The cabinet, is a working Victrola that my Daddy purchased before I was born. It has a crank handle that attaches to the side ( I keep it stored away, as it is a great temptation to little hands) and uses steel needles. I have all the original 78 LP's he had and have added some over the years, from estate sales and flea markets. Very few people actually recognize what it is and it weighs a ton! It is one of the very few things that I have of my father's, he passed away in 1974 when I was 6, so it is a treasure in my household.

What do you consider a treasure? Do you have any family treasures?



~ Michelle

Wednesday WakeUp

Topsail Island, NC
Ok, so I'm a little late with this post but someone is waking up somewhere in the world right now. I took this photo a couple of years back. Hubby and I got up early and headed out to catch the sunrise, what a beautiful peaceful setting.
~ Michelle

Monday's Musings and A Lesson Learned

Is it true just because someone says it is?

Three years ago, I decided to trace my Father's family. See, my Daddy died when I was 6 years old. His dad died at the age of 48, his mom ( my Granny) died when I was 18. Long before I was in any way interested in genealogy. On top of that Daddy was 20 years older than Mama and my Granny was around 85 when she died. So in actuality a whole generation removed from "the norm".

My Great Uncle, on my mothers side, has done a lot of genealogy work. Of course on the Williams/Lee branch of the family, Lee mainly, definitely more Southern appropriate. Literally no research on alternate branches. Ok, Ok, I understand, after all that was his ( and my maternal grandmother's) family history. And mine by relation, all good to have even though I didn't understand at all the family history pages he had written up and given at family reunions! What were all those blasted numbers? And why weren't they sequential? Anyway literally no living relatives, that I knew of, in Daddy's family to ask questions. My Mama knew a few family names, but literally by word of mouth.

So what does a girl do? Join genealogy online and "go searching". Imagine my surprise, I found links, and shaky leaves, and family names!! Wow, this is not so hard after all! Connect Connect Connect. Now I have family members all the way back to I think the 1500's!!! Amazing!

Finally the glow wears off, and I start thinking and wanting to know more about the lives these family members lived. How did we get from Wales ( and being called "Sir So & So) to a small mill town in SC? What was it like for my Granny, in rural GA, helping to raise her brothers and sisters at the age if 14 when her mother died? Was that true? It was what had been told to my Mama at some point in time but...

 I remember in elementary school a little game the teacher had us play, she told the first person in the first row something and that person turned and whispered it to the next, and so on and so on. Y'all remember that, right? Of course, by the time it got to the last person in the room it was totally different from the original.
Where did all these linked family members come from? Where did these people get their information? Was it correct? Were these really my relatives? Or had I been "duped" by something repeated so many times it wasn't anything close to the truth?

Back online I go, find some genealogy blogs and find some educational material about how to conduct family research. Learn that there needs to be source citations. What's that? Look for said citations in the information I have gathered. Hmm, seems that it mostly came from someone copying someone else's tree. Find out that census reports are really hard to read. Learn that even though I know my Daddy's surname ( new term for me - it's a last name!) it could easily be recorded with a different spelling and still be his family! What?!

Ok I now know a little bit about how to go about tracing my family tree. Still a lot to learn, but I'm excited again! Start from the beginning and cite my sources! Go to the courthouses and actually look up the records. Yay, road trip in my future!

The short answer is No. Just because someone says it (or puts it in a family tree), doesn't make it true. Take the time to check the information. Look at source citations. Find your own proof!

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

I have really enjoyed reading http://www.geneamusings.com blog, and have decided to join in on his Saturday Night Fun.

1. My Mama, E J C, was born on the 17th of June 1944. It was a Sunday. In fact it was Father's Day that year, so her birth certificate didn't get written and recorded until the next day! So legalities say she was born on the 18th. 
2. Some of the recorded happenings, on the 18th, in history are:

• 1923 - USA: the first Checker Cab was produced by the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• 1941 - France: British troops bombed the German occupied French coast with explosives during the night and early into the morning. World War II
• 1948 - USA: Columbia Records publicly unveiled it's new long-playing phonograph record (LP), the 33 1/3, in New York City.
• 1948 - World: the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted the International Declaration of Human Rights and a " Draft Declaration of Human Rights".
• 1976 - South Africa: Rioting in South Africa spreads throughout the country. The prime minister of the nation, John Vorster, recognized that the violence was an effort to cause panic and create a division with the black and white communities in the nation.

     3) Famous people born on June 18th:

• 1517 - Emperor Ogimachi of Japan (d. 1637)
• 1780 - Michael Henkel, composer
• 1908 - Maria E Vieira da Silva, Portuguese painter (Infinite Passage)
• 2006 - Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsbe

I found the history and people information looking online and the first is part of My Family History

My mission this week is: Done

~Michelle

The New and Improved Family Deal

Ok, it's May 2014. Lots of changes around the homestead.

We have become a multi-family household. Me, Hubby, my Mama, Sissy, and youngest niece. One Big Happy Family, learning to combine our energies, loves, and household goods into 1 home. So far we are doing good.

We are getting ready to add a suite onto the house (for Mama) and expand the second bathroom to accommodate our growth. The Contractor has been hired and is working up plans off of my crude drawings for us to approve. If we are lucky, construction will begin in June!

Hopefully I can get on the bandwagon and get to posting here. Looking forward to projects, photography, quilting, genealogy, and more!

~Michelle