Continuing on through my genetic genealogy timeline, my DNA has been found to match with 1,000+ 4th cousins or closer relatives who now live as far north as Vermont, span southward down the eastern coastline into Georgia, and inland to the now midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio. We also can … Continue reading My Genetic Genealogy: 1775-1825
Crime and Justice
Sleepy Hollow: To be, or not to be
Regular readers of my posts quite likely already have noticed that these writings are about the histories of people, places, and things that I have recalled, researched, or fact-checked to the best of my ability and chronicled here because I hold something about their existence near and dear to my heart. Infrequently though, I add … Continue reading Sleepy Hollow: To be, or not to be
Observing Women’s History Month and Honoring One of America’s First Women Immigrants
Background Just 30 years ago in 1987, the United States Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. This action came eights years after Molly Murphy MacGregor, a member of The National Women's History Project, was invited to participate in The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, which was chaired by … Continue reading Observing Women’s History Month and Honoring One of America’s First Women Immigrants
Christmas Traditions in Our Nation’s Capital
One of my former colleagues posted this article from a pamphlet he picked up at the Mary Surratt House Museum titled, “Christmas of Yesterday: A History of Our Treasured Traditions and Holiday Customs.” (If you recall, Mary Surratt was an alleged member of the Abraham Lincoln assassination conspiracy and holds the dubious distinction of being the first … Continue reading Christmas Traditions in Our Nation’s Capital
Witnesses to Great Commotions Over Religion, Politics, and Money
Yes, this post may be a game changer--where I dare to speak of religion, politics, and money--Growing up it was drilled into me to never talk about these topics in public and open conversation. But why? Was this always an American position, or when did this begin? From the history of my 15th-century ancestors primarily from England, France, … Continue reading Witnesses to Great Commotions Over Religion, Politics, and Money
Mary Custis Lee Challenges Streetcar Segregation
Mary Custis Lee, eldest daughter of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Custis, born in Alexandria, Virginia (1835-1918), was my 2nd cousin's [six generations removed], (Mary Tabb Bolling Lee) sister-in-law. She never married and spent most of her life traveling the world. Mary was recorded as being the most aloof and outspoken of the Lee … Continue reading Mary Custis Lee Challenges Streetcar Segregation
Witches and Witchcraft Revisited–Another Brick Wall Downed!
Just a short 3-1/2 years ago (November 15, 2012) I wrote my first post Hello World! to this blog site. In it, I alleged my family may have an ancestor who was accused of being a witch in Massachusetts. (Note that most women, and men, who were accused of witchcraft in the 15th-19th Centuries were feared … Continue reading Witches and Witchcraft Revisited–Another Brick Wall Downed!
Old Wounds Reopened…
When asked about how I feel about the August+ events in Ferguson, Missouri, that now have festered and exacerbated old wounds among our people, my only answer can be; "I'm having flashbacks to the happenings in the 1960's, equal rights movements, and the 1990's in Los Angeles and around the United States after the Rodney … Continue reading Old Wounds Reopened…
A Girl Jekyll and Hyde Who Embezzled $110,000
I subscribe to World Explorer Ancestry.com which gives me full access to everything Ancestry has available, including Fold3.com, the military records site, and Newspapers.com, which includes unlimited access to more than 50 million pages from more than 1800 newspapers across the United States with billions of articles, obituaries, and announcements that may contain stories of my … Continue reading A Girl Jekyll and Hyde Who Embezzled $110,000
Hello Again, World – My 145th Post
My First Post - Eight Months Ago Eight months ago on November 15, 2012, I published “Hello World“--my 341-word first blog post ever, under the category of Witches and Witchcraft. I wondered then if some of my family from among the 40 generations I have traced back could have been among those accused of witchcraft … Continue reading Hello Again, World – My 145th Post
Tobacco, Slavery, Earthworms, Honey Bees; Grains, Livestock, Disease…Oh My!
After reading one of my posts, a friend suggested I take a look at the book 1493... by Charles C. Mann. Only in a few pages and I had a rude awakening. It appeared to me that up to this point I had merely been scratching the surface when describing our family's roots, branches, history, … Continue reading Tobacco, Slavery, Earthworms, Honey Bees; Grains, Livestock, Disease…Oh My!
Our Unbounded Heritage: 12th Century & Beyond 