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

Let's Try This Again

Well, I have been off my game for a while but I'm trying to get back.
I am learning to quilt and hope that posting here, and following some cool quilters blogs to get the hang of quilting. Hopefully get some tips and finish the quilt I'm working on.
Quilting is something I've always wanted to do (on my Life Goals List), my Granny did but passed away before I was interested in learning. So now I'm looking to others for guidance.

~Michelle

Country Living

I have made my reservations and ordered my tickets!
I am offically going to the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain!!
This will be so much fun, I can't wait to see all the antiques and crafts.
I know there will be lots of people there but am hoping that I might meet some decor bloggers.

Woo Hoo!!!!

I Won

I am the proud winner of a roll of Frog Tape from the talented Miss Mustardseed.

I know that that might not be reason for most people to post on their blog but...I have never won anything before so I am extatic!! I am so looking forward to using it on a project. Now I just have to decide what project I will do first.

When I get my tape and do my project I Promise I will post here. This will be what keeps me accountable. Now I have to because I said I would. LOL (we'll see how that works)

I am still here

Update required.

I am still at home. My employeer let me go, I still can't drive, I have occasional headaches that are dibilitating, I get dizzy, my gait is still unsteady and short term memory still gives me problems.

But, my family is the best! Hubby takes care of me and handles the household, my Mama calls everyday to check on me and encourages me, son & daughter-in-law have me to lunch at least once a month and visit on weekends, my sister calls and runs errands when I need her to, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law stay in touch with hubby and send me silly jokes through e-mail to keep me laughing. I have days that are tough but overall I am doing good.

I had hoped that I would be able to fill a blog with lots of creative and crafty things I am doing but that is harder than I thought. Doing the blog and doing the crafts, but I have lots of ideas and will keep trying.

Fall is my favorite time of year so hopefully that will give we inspiration and incentive to accomplish more of my plans. Slow and steady wins the race, so as long as I am doing something each day I am getting further along.

Just my ramblings and hoping that posting something will get me in gear.
Now on to enjoy my week. I will keep updating with me and my projects.

Can I Sew?

I got a great sewing machine.

I've been checking out all the great blogland posts about Home Decor.I can do this, surely, it's just a small curtain. This will be a snap.

Here's the window, cafe rods already installed:





















Ok, now I am second guessing myself. What if I mess up my pretty new material. I love it and it will look so good when the laundry room is done. I can see it now

~ pretty light sunshine walls, new white cabinets over the washer & dryer, a riser for the washer & dryer, home built bench, turquoise accents ~

Allright I'll do a test curtain, just to be certain. I have some saved material that will work:
















Sewing, I am a little nervous.

Ok it is done, I am likeing it. It's not perfect but I wasn't looking for perfect.
Just pretty.





























So what do you guys think??

My Ugly Sofa

Today at Pink and Polka Dot she is having an ugliest sofa contest.

I think I've got this one!

Let me give you a little background.

She is approximately 43 years old. My parents bought her for their formal living room about 1967. So this "beautiful" green and gold fabric was very much in style at that time. I think she is dressed in a "modern style" because I have never seen another like her.

She is 78" long (that's over 7 ft!I had to pull out my tape measure), the seat cushion is attached, and each of the back cushions is an individual. The cushions along her back have loops that slip over the finial posts along her to hold them in place. Kinda confusing so here is a close up:

Some of her loops have long since bitten the dust.

And as you can see, her makeup has faded in places.

Now don't get me wrong, she has been a part of our family for a very long time and has stood the test of two (me & my sister) little girls growing up, and my sisters family when they were starting out and now is with me. She was probably tested most in my household, 4 boys can really test an ageing maidens sensibilities! But she has stood strong.

I believe she deserves a Makeover, what do you think?

Ugly, yes. But can she be made into a beauty again??

Vote for her,she needs the love!!!

Michelle

PS ~~ Now cross your fingers that I can figure out how to join the party

My Craft Room

Next up. Get a craft room. Well we don't use our dining room, more casual fare for us, so it is elected to become the craft room! Yea! Now it has been being used as the collection site for all items leaving other rooms, so this is what I had to start with...

Luckily my wonderful hubby is helping to clear out and put desks and such where I want them.

Otherwise this would have taken a lot longer for me to do.

Do you see my newest toy on the desk in the right picture? Let me show you a close up.

Isn't she just beautiful! I can't wait to put her to the test. I am so excited, I see pillows & curtains & reupholstering in my future. And whatever the hubby adds to the list. Now where did I put that instruction manual??

Anyway, back to the craft room.

Sunday hubby had the day off so we got up had coffee ate a little something and decided what to tackle first. He has plans for moving office furniture into the youngest sons vacated room to give himself a place of his own and turning the soon to be vacant small room off the Master bedroom into a huge walk-in closet. I have no problems with this plan! ;0)

First though he helped to empty all the boxes from my soon to be craft room and move the desks and hutch where I wanted them. I didn't think I had very many crafty supplies so this would give me plenty of room for what I wanted. A table for sewing, a table for crafting (paint, hot glue, and such) and the hutch for storing accessories. OK, here are the (at this point) after pictures:

What a difference! Wow so much room. I should be able to do anything I want to do.

Now about not having craft supplies. See that teal bin, full of sewing notions and some fabric.

The hutch...well let me just show you:

I have PLENTY of crafting supplies.

I better get busy or Dear Hubby will wonder why he did all that work!

Tomorrow I plan to join the linky party(if I can figure out how too) over at Pink and Polka Dot. Lets see if I am right and I have the ugliest sofa there is!

See you there!

Michelle

Some of the Stuff

My family would tell you I am hardware challenged. Kitchen tools, bring them on I love to cook; but hammers, saws and all not so much.

I love to "shop" the wonderful places like Pottery Barn, Renovation Hardware...you know the spots. They have such beautiful pieces and rooms that just look awesome but the prices...not in my budget! Enter http://www.knock-offwood.com/. What an amazing blog

Somehow, don't ask 'cause I just don't know, I found Knock-Off-Wood. Love It!! Picked out a few Projects and started talking to hubby. He was not real enthusiactic, we are NOT carpenters. But I kept working on him, talking it up and started showing him some plans.

So I want to make THIS, THIS and THIS. Just need tools.

Mothers Day - If you could have only seen the look on my youngest sons face as I just freaked out when he handed me this:

I squealed like a girl when I opened it and saw

Then hubby broke out the big guns

Am I the luckiest Mama or what?! They love me, they love me, they really love me. Now...

This will be my first project. Got to get wood, stain or paint (I'm not sure which), sandpaper, screws, nails, wood glue, wood putty... This might take a while. Especially since hubby says I have to have "adult" supervision when using all sharp tools. He is such a worry-wart.

Wish me luck and Have A Great Day

Michelle