.
.
I was thinking some more after yesterdays post. Of speaking about dead relatives.
You know when you miss or want to see someone today, all you have to do is phone or email or go visit. I like writing paper letters so I do that too. & most cell phones now & computers you can see your person when you talk to them ( I confess I am not that advanced, Ahem! ) You can call and hang up - call again a second later when you remember something - and call again - again - again...
I visit with people all over the world and we are really seconds away from each other this way.
When someone dies, all you can do to visit is go to the grave. At home you can pull out their pictures or letters & momentos.
You don't have to bury them away from your life. Talk about them to family & friends. Quote things they said or did, to others. Tell stories about them. You don't have to get long winded and get boring or turn others off. But injecting funny things about people or
"my Grandma Alma once did that too, she ....."
"I heard my Uncle Douglas was there, he......"
" I got this ........ from my Granny (my great grandmother Alla) "
It's like spending time with them, if you can say their names and remember them.
I've wondered how Jane must have been sadly heartsick to live so far away, from her old family back in Ireland. And then as the years go by that she was the last one of them all alive. Even with her own many children around her and their families. Her own children were under 10 years of age when they left Ireland. My Great Grandfather EWM Evans was 9 years old when they left in in 1869. When she became an old lady here, was it easier to put the old family back in Ireland away in a box of photos & letters. Who could she talk to about them? How many of them did her own children remember from so long ago?
Think about your own family now
How many branches you have & last names
Jane had the same back in Ireland, & relatives I'm sure her own children never met. As we do here now. So don't put your people away in a box in the closet. Talk about them when you can. Genealogy and family history are made for this. You don't have to make the kids sit down for a class about the old people ( tho wouldn't you love to have a captive audience) . Just be sneaky and inject little stories about them whenever & wherever you can. One day you'll be amazed at how much they soaked up from you.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
1st Name Saturday - Surname Saturday
.
.
. Boo-Hoo! "The Ide's of July" took Most WONDERFUL youngest daughter back to Washington, D.C. to get ready for University again in August. Pretty sure I got in enough hugging & new pictures to last until Christmas time. I know Erma Bombeck used to write in a crazy busy house, while cooking dinner in the kitchen and holding the paper in one hand and doing spaghetti with the other. My brain goes blank when it's on a countdown to the Most WONDERFUL daughters departure to fly back. The thoughts are there but the brain just doesn't connect with the typing fingers.
You know you go along and all your people are named in your mind, as you live and grow you know them as Grandma this, Grandpa that, Uncle so & so, Aunt zu zu, cousin blankety blank and whoever address's anyone by first saying, "Hi Cousin Zelda". We never say that to their face. Only when we're speaking about them with someone else. Personally, I like saying "Hi Cuz", but that's just me.
When my Mother was a toddler, she couldn't say her name, but she could almost pronounce "shisher", for sister.
That stuck and everyone forever called her 'Sis'. Her own parents & siblings always called her, Sis. All my cousins called her, Aunt Sis.
Good thing everybody always called me Katie, tho my given name is Kay. Having 2 Kay's in one house would get confusing. As I'm sure a lot of families experience when they have the same thing, with same names in one house.
Couple of years ago I was finding some information to give my Aunt Rose. She lives a good distance away and we weren't able to get our families together much thru the years. I was talking to the guy and he commented how odd it was to hear me say 'Aunt Rose'. Me someone he never met or knew. A complete stranger using a family salutation. You could get possessive.
You could almost feel like,
"Hey, who does this person think they are? This is MY Aunt. Only I can call her Aunt. You can't!"
I heard the most wonderful expression a little while ago. My dearest Grandma Alma was called Auntie Alma. I have NEVER heard her called Aunt before. Of course she was an Aunt to a LOT of people, but I have not visited with those cousins before and it took me by surprise. I wanted to hear her say it over and over it sounded so amazing to me.
One of the things I knew a long time ago, is that one of the saddest parts of someone dying, is that their name isn't spoken much anymore. People skirt around saying it so people don't what? Take on and start crying or something, trying to be kind. I think, that thinking is really a cruelty. When someone is gone, that is when you should be saying their name the most. Talking about them, reliving memories of them.
When my cousin said "Auntie Alma", I had a flash of actually seeing her like it was today, not 36 years ago & that felt great. For the time of a brief phone conversation and now a little later, it felt great.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
.
. Boo-Hoo! "The Ide's of July" took Most WONDERFUL youngest daughter back to Washington, D.C. to get ready for University again in August. Pretty sure I got in enough hugging & new pictures to last until Christmas time. I know Erma Bombeck used to write in a crazy busy house, while cooking dinner in the kitchen and holding the paper in one hand and doing spaghetti with the other. My brain goes blank when it's on a countdown to the Most WONDERFUL daughters departure to fly back. The thoughts are there but the brain just doesn't connect with the typing fingers.
You know you go along and all your people are named in your mind, as you live and grow you know them as Grandma this, Grandpa that, Uncle so & so, Aunt zu zu, cousin blankety blank and whoever address's anyone by first saying, "Hi Cousin Zelda". We never say that to their face. Only when we're speaking about them with someone else. Personally, I like saying "Hi Cuz", but that's just me.
When my Mother was a toddler, she couldn't say her name, but she could almost pronounce "shisher", for sister.
That stuck and everyone forever called her 'Sis'. Her own parents & siblings always called her, Sis. All my cousins called her, Aunt Sis.
Good thing everybody always called me Katie, tho my given name is Kay. Having 2 Kay's in one house would get confusing. As I'm sure a lot of families experience when they have the same thing, with same names in one house.
Couple of years ago I was finding some information to give my Aunt Rose. She lives a good distance away and we weren't able to get our families together much thru the years. I was talking to the guy and he commented how odd it was to hear me say 'Aunt Rose'. Me someone he never met or knew. A complete stranger using a family salutation. You could get possessive.
You could almost feel like,
"Hey, who does this person think they are? This is MY Aunt. Only I can call her Aunt. You can't!"
I heard the most wonderful expression a little while ago. My dearest Grandma Alma was called Auntie Alma. I have NEVER heard her called Aunt before. Of course she was an Aunt to a LOT of people, but I have not visited with those cousins before and it took me by surprise. I wanted to hear her say it over and over it sounded so amazing to me.
One of the things I knew a long time ago, is that one of the saddest parts of someone dying, is that their name isn't spoken much anymore. People skirt around saying it so people don't what? Take on and start crying or something, trying to be kind. I think, that thinking is really a cruelty. When someone is gone, that is when you should be saying their name the most. Talking about them, reliving memories of them.
When my cousin said "Auntie Alma", I had a flash of actually seeing her like it was today, not 36 years ago & that felt great. For the time of a brief phone conversation and now a little later, it felt great.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Saturday, July 3, 2010
SCRIVEN surname Saturday
.
.
JANE BURY SCRIVEN EVANS
It's all in the name isn't it. Some of my greatest help has come from using the old formula for naming. This has given me tremendous breakthru's in working on people, especially in the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond.
Wish it had entered my mind when I had my own girls 30+ years ago. I might have named them a schoosh differently. Either of them would have got an Alice or a Kay or Katie.
I am Kay "Katie" Alice Cox- Morris.
My mother was Martha "Kay" Alice Cluver -Cox.
Her grandmother was Alice "Alla" Hinkston- Cluver.
Her mother-in-law was Catherina Margarethe Cluver- Cluver.
Her mother was Catherina, and so on, and so on .....
Jane was named for her mother, Jane Medlicott ( aka Mrs. Captain John Scriven )
Bury comes down from the Barclay, Robert Barclay " The Apologist" Quaker, on Captain John's side ( & also the line of Jane's husband, Edward ).
Scriven also comes down on the line of Jane's husband, Edward.
Jane & Edward were 2nd cousins.
I have used the old naming formula as a great aid in helping me work on names. This chart has given me tremendous help in finding information on names. Look at your people, see what names are in the middle - search those middle names - you'll come up some great information you didn't even think of looking for.
********************************************************
.Irish Naming Patterns
1st son was usually named after the father's father
2nd son was usually named after the mother's father
3rd son was usually named after the father
4th son was usually named after the father's eldest brother
5th son was usually named after the mother's eldest brother
1st daughter was usually named after the mother's mother
2nd daughter was usually named after the father's mother
3rd daughter was usually named after the mother
4th daughter was usually named after the mother's eldest sister
5th daughter was usually named after the father's eldest sister
**************************************************************
Copy this, use it. I've kept a copy in front of my eyes - on the cork board I have on the wall, at the back of my desk. I do the same thing with the 'days of the week' for this Blog, Monday Madness ... Tuesday Tombstone ... ...... a note tacked on the board where I can see it and not have to look it up all the time.
Have a Great 4th of July, Happy Trails Katiebird
.
JANE BURY SCRIVEN EVANS
It's all in the name isn't it. Some of my greatest help has come from using the old formula for naming. This has given me tremendous breakthru's in working on people, especially in the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond.
Wish it had entered my mind when I had my own girls 30+ years ago. I might have named them a schoosh differently. Either of them would have got an Alice or a Kay or Katie.
I am Kay "Katie" Alice Cox- Morris.
My mother was Martha "Kay" Alice Cluver -Cox.
Her grandmother was Alice "Alla" Hinkston- Cluver.
Her mother-in-law was Catherina Margarethe Cluver- Cluver.
Her mother was Catherina, and so on, and so on .....
Jane was named for her mother, Jane Medlicott ( aka Mrs. Captain John Scriven )
Bury comes down from the Barclay, Robert Barclay " The Apologist" Quaker, on Captain John's side ( & also the line of Jane's husband, Edward ).
Scriven also comes down on the line of Jane's husband, Edward.
Jane & Edward were 2nd cousins.
I have used the old naming formula as a great aid in helping me work on names. This chart has given me tremendous help in finding information on names. Look at your people, see what names are in the middle - search those middle names - you'll come up some great information you didn't even think of looking for.
********************************************************
.Irish Naming Patterns
1st son was usually named after the father's father
2nd son was usually named after the mother's father
3rd son was usually named after the father
4th son was usually named after the father's eldest brother
5th son was usually named after the mother's eldest brother
1st daughter was usually named after the mother's mother
2nd daughter was usually named after the father's mother
3rd daughter was usually named after the mother
4th daughter was usually named after the mother's eldest sister
5th daughter was usually named after the father's eldest sister
**************************************************************
Copy this, use it. I've kept a copy in front of my eyes - on the cork board I have on the wall, at the back of my desk. I do the same thing with the 'days of the week' for this Blog, Monday Madness ... Tuesday Tombstone ... ...... a note tacked on the board where I can see it and not have to look it up all the time.
Have a Great 4th of July, Happy Trails Katiebird
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Just got this ' Tombstone' Tuesday
HI EVERYONE,
Caroline Chamberlin Shepler
died 21 April, 1899 ?
connects to
John Quincey Adams BALLOU, a previous post.
Working on Mr. Ballou's family to find our 'Auntie Tupper', I've been so lucky to have a lovely lady penpal of Mr. Ballou's family, Glenna. Glenna has sent me some wonderful Ballou family things; people photographs, large family Ballou Bible, and assorted other little goodies. I try to think to ask others when they help me, if I can do anything for them here.
Glenna mentioned her relatives had been looking for Caroline Chamberlin Shepler for a long time. Believed died in Oakland, California or Alameda, California .... I found several things about the family, census stuff ... other tidbits. Could never find Caroline's obit. I frequently order up newspaper microfilms using my library's interlibrary loan system. Takes time, but saves me a lot of driving and other bother. Could never find her obit.
Out of the blue last night, I heard from another sweet lady 'Jonne', also been looking for Caroline too ..... TACOMA, WASHINGTON Caroline is buried in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA.
Who knew !!!! Have to write back to Jonne and ask how they ever found Caroline up in TAcoma. So glad to forward the Tombstone picture and information on to Glenna. Wish I was up there to clean up the stone and try it see everything on it better. Glenna first mentioned Caroline to me back in January of 2009. So a year and a half's not so bad a patch. Makes me feel like I'm an archaeologist!
A refreshing change to take a break and help others out. Digging for your own people all the time, writing off for information, finding volunteers .... it helps to take a break and do totally different people for someone else. & I have great BIG story for that ( to put in another post ) which is actually about my lovely penpal in Ireland, Irene.
So a great success story with CAroline and Gold Stars all around,
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Friday, June 25, 2010
Follow Friday? isn't that Saturday!
Ha! Ha!
Geesh! time can't go this fast but already a month has flown by since my last entry. Just too much life going on to sit down and putter at the blog. Most **Wonderful** oldest daughter has graduated from CSULA, in Los Angeles, California with her Master's in Accounting. So horribly proud of her I could bust and almost squeezed her to death several times. Hey, she & her sis are my living dolls, of course I want to play with them. Was a great visit, always too short.
This time also had first visit to the La Brea Tarpits, park in almost downtown LA. Always wanted to go see this, and see if it looks anything like they use in movies, hmmm... some yes, some no. A beautiful park, got lots of pictures. Did not know the pits formed long AFTER the reptile dino's went their way in the BIG die off. So they don't pull out any T-REx or such biggies.
Youngest most **Wonderful** daughter returns to Gallaudet D.C. in mid-July so getting in all the hugs I can before that. Try to get enough to last until Xmas vacation, if she comes home then??? What does Mom ever know ?
So June almost over but had great genealogy results this month. Lovely volunteer in Scotland sent me photos of graves. I had lost the ones I had, and these were hugely welcome replacements. The last of my Evans line in the UK. This too huge a story to type all now.
Heard from a in-law relation of this line, with a new address. This time I got the stamp with the fairy in her chariot drawn by birds & a red mail box set in a brick wall.
Sadly received word of an older relative here in California died. This family line my grandfathers. Another huge story with this line to much to type today. In brief had visited with her mother-in-law 25 years ago, she died and then lost all touch. I shared a lot of this family history with the town museum & historical society. A couple of years ago, here comes her granddaughter asking about the family? The docent got us in touch with each other. Success story***
Just remember - when something doesn't work and you can't find anything - then cross that off your list and move onto something else. Even not finding information is information too.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Geesh! time can't go this fast but already a month has flown by since my last entry. Just too much life going on to sit down and putter at the blog. Most **Wonderful** oldest daughter has graduated from CSULA, in Los Angeles, California with her Master's in Accounting. So horribly proud of her I could bust and almost squeezed her to death several times. Hey, she & her sis are my living dolls, of course I want to play with them. Was a great visit, always too short.
This time also had first visit to the La Brea Tarpits, park in almost downtown LA. Always wanted to go see this, and see if it looks anything like they use in movies, hmmm... some yes, some no. A beautiful park, got lots of pictures. Did not know the pits formed long AFTER the reptile dino's went their way in the BIG die off. So they don't pull out any T-REx or such biggies.
Youngest most **Wonderful** daughter returns to Gallaudet D.C. in mid-July so getting in all the hugs I can before that. Try to get enough to last until Xmas vacation, if she comes home then??? What does Mom ever know ?
So June almost over but had great genealogy results this month. Lovely volunteer in Scotland sent me photos of graves. I had lost the ones I had, and these were hugely welcome replacements. The last of my Evans line in the UK. This too huge a story to type all now.
Heard from a in-law relation of this line, with a new address. This time I got the stamp with the fairy in her chariot drawn by birds & a red mail box set in a brick wall.
Sadly received word of an older relative here in California died. This family line my grandfathers. Another huge story with this line to much to type today. In brief had visited with her mother-in-law 25 years ago, she died and then lost all touch. I shared a lot of this family history with the town museum & historical society. A couple of years ago, here comes her granddaughter asking about the family? The docent got us in touch with each other. Success story***
Just remember - when something doesn't work and you can't find anything - then cross that off your list and move onto something else. Even not finding information is information too.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
THERE IS "NO" TOMBSTONE ... Tuesday
.
.
SO you find the cemetery and go there.
You have the cemetery map and the plot information.
You have all the data and facts you could find.
Your there - standing at the plot - and no Tombstone :(... Maybe nothing at all but bare dirt. What a letdown is that!
DON'T GIVE UP! Get Down - start digging!!!!
I've gone to cemeteries with all my facts and maps and ect.. Camera ready, sketch pad & pencils & chalk ( I like to use a Newsprint pad with it's brown paper and I freehand draw what I see. The layout of the plot and what the stone says. As many details and I can. ) , ready and ........... no stone. You'll find that even when you take lots of pictures, you'll get home and not be able to make out what the stone says. WaHHHH! .... but stop and think.
It doesn't take long for weeds and grass to take over anything. Leaves fall ... dirt washes over and sediment grows.
I went to one plot where I was so disappointed to find NO stones. So I sat down and thought for a minute. Many cemeteries lay their old stones flat to protect them ( outside the USA too ) , many fall down over time. The 1906 earthquake in SAn Francisco, California toppled many works of art in the cemeteries. I scrounged around and found a strong dead tree branch and started scraping & digging. Way under the leaves and some dirt I found the man's stone. So then I figured his wife who wasn't mentioned on his, must have her own. So I dug around and found hers. Then I figured some children must be nearby too. So I dug around and found them.
Nature will bury them again, as they are on a wooded hill. But I got my photos and had a great time finding this buried treasure. How more disappointing it would have been, if I hadn't just sat down to enjoy the atmosphere for a little while, and thought things out.
Now I always have a few things in my car, under that back seat. Too many times I've just happened to be in the area and popped into a cemetery, with nothing to help me. So now I keep some yard gloves, a little yard tool of somekind - maybe a hand trowel or small shovel, a rough brush of somekind - a horse's currycomb is good .. especially an old one that isn't too stiff, & an old toothbrush is always my best friend.
Many times I've had to dig or scratch away dirt at the bottom of a stone. As the buildup of soil covers the bottom lines of writing. Moss, mildew & dirt fill in images and writing. Often just some good rubbing with a cloth, wipes off stuff so I can read the stone or make out the images.
Anyway, whatever works for you.
So another day down, I don't have to report for Jury Duty Summons. My fingers are getting tired of being X'd that my juror number won't be called. Now, I'm not shirking my civic duty. I've sat on juries and it seems I get the summons every other year. But - why does it seem the county picks on me. How come none of my relatives get the call? Oh well, can't fight it - altho after so many times, I have some ideas of how to get let go. Like the much older gentleman who fell asleep in the jury box, head nodding and chin on his chest, his hearing aid whistling. Like in a movie, the entire courtroom quietly looked at him at the same time and all knew what was happening. The judge thanked & dismissed him, and called the alternate up.
Too much hassle going in & out of the courthouse now with the security checkin line. I just stay inhouse for lunch and breaks. If you really want to piss off a judge, just show up late anytime. No excuse is acceptable. Got some good books to take by Lincoln Child & Clive Cussler, and my crosswords.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
.
SO you find the cemetery and go there.
You have the cemetery map and the plot information.
You have all the data and facts you could find.
Your there - standing at the plot - and no Tombstone :(... Maybe nothing at all but bare dirt. What a letdown is that!
DON'T GIVE UP! Get Down - start digging!!!!
I've gone to cemeteries with all my facts and maps and ect.. Camera ready, sketch pad & pencils & chalk ( I like to use a Newsprint pad with it's brown paper and I freehand draw what I see. The layout of the plot and what the stone says. As many details and I can. ) , ready and ........... no stone. You'll find that even when you take lots of pictures, you'll get home and not be able to make out what the stone says. WaHHHH! .... but stop and think.
It doesn't take long for weeds and grass to take over anything. Leaves fall ... dirt washes over and sediment grows.
I went to one plot where I was so disappointed to find NO stones. So I sat down and thought for a minute. Many cemeteries lay their old stones flat to protect them ( outside the USA too ) , many fall down over time. The 1906 earthquake in SAn Francisco, California toppled many works of art in the cemeteries. I scrounged around and found a strong dead tree branch and started scraping & digging. Way under the leaves and some dirt I found the man's stone. So then I figured his wife who wasn't mentioned on his, must have her own. So I dug around and found hers. Then I figured some children must be nearby too. So I dug around and found them.
Nature will bury them again, as they are on a wooded hill. But I got my photos and had a great time finding this buried treasure. How more disappointing it would have been, if I hadn't just sat down to enjoy the atmosphere for a little while, and thought things out.
Now I always have a few things in my car, under that back seat. Too many times I've just happened to be in the area and popped into a cemetery, with nothing to help me. So now I keep some yard gloves, a little yard tool of somekind - maybe a hand trowel or small shovel, a rough brush of somekind - a horse's currycomb is good .. especially an old one that isn't too stiff, & an old toothbrush is always my best friend.
Many times I've had to dig or scratch away dirt at the bottom of a stone. As the buildup of soil covers the bottom lines of writing. Moss, mildew & dirt fill in images and writing. Often just some good rubbing with a cloth, wipes off stuff so I can read the stone or make out the images.
Anyway, whatever works for you.
So another day down, I don't have to report for Jury Duty Summons. My fingers are getting tired of being X'd that my juror number won't be called. Now, I'm not shirking my civic duty. I've sat on juries and it seems I get the summons every other year. But - why does it seem the county picks on me. How come none of my relatives get the call? Oh well, can't fight it - altho after so many times, I have some ideas of how to get let go. Like the much older gentleman who fell asleep in the jury box, head nodding and chin on his chest, his hearing aid whistling. Like in a movie, the entire courtroom quietly looked at him at the same time and all knew what was happening. The judge thanked & dismissed him, and called the alternate up.
Too much hassle going in & out of the courthouse now with the security checkin line. I just stay inhouse for lunch and breaks. If you really want to piss off a judge, just show up late anytime. No excuse is acceptable. Got some good books to take by Lincoln Child & Clive Cussler, and my crosswords.
Happy Trails, Katiebird
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sidetracked by BALLOU from Treasure Chest Thursday
.
.
Great Morning ALL,
Arrrrgh! Keep getting sidetracked from entering about ggGrandma Jane but she doesn't mind waiting a bit ( XX fingers - "HI, up There Grandma" :) Read Leslie Ann Ballou made the idea for 'Treasure Chest Thursday'.
BALLOU is now stuck in my head, so have to write about this and get it out.
John Bradford Tupper, my ggGrandfather. When his brother Seth, died back in New Hampshire, he invited Seth's widow & 2 sons, to come live with him & his 7 children in Graton or now called Sebastopol, California. John was a widower when his wife, Martha Douglass died.
AFter most of the children had grown and gone, John and Seth's widow - Elizabeth Kimball Tupper married.
Elizabeth was affectionately called, 'Auntie Tupper' by her large 2nd family.
Auntie Tupper's sister, was CAtherine Kimball who married, John Quincy Adams BAllOU.
This Mr. Ballou was the famous founder of the dried fruit industry in San Jose, California. He's easy to read about online.
My current relatives had lost track of what happened to Auntie Tupper. It was a tough search but I found the end of her story. Especially with some great help from my sister. & in doing so, am now happily in touch with some descended relatives of this BALLOU line. I'll get more loaded on my laptop, so I can share things about them. It's a small, small world isn't it!
Happy Trails, Katiebird
.
Great Morning ALL,
Arrrrgh! Keep getting sidetracked from entering about ggGrandma Jane but she doesn't mind waiting a bit ( XX fingers - "HI, up There Grandma" :) Read Leslie Ann Ballou made the idea for 'Treasure Chest Thursday'.
BALLOU is now stuck in my head, so have to write about this and get it out.
John Bradford Tupper, my ggGrandfather. When his brother Seth, died back in New Hampshire, he invited Seth's widow & 2 sons, to come live with him & his 7 children in Graton or now called Sebastopol, California. John was a widower when his wife, Martha Douglass died.
AFter most of the children had grown and gone, John and Seth's widow - Elizabeth Kimball Tupper married.
Elizabeth was affectionately called, 'Auntie Tupper' by her large 2nd family.
Auntie Tupper's sister, was CAtherine Kimball who married, John Quincy Adams BAllOU.
This Mr. Ballou was the famous founder of the dried fruit industry in San Jose, California. He's easy to read about online.
My current relatives had lost track of what happened to Auntie Tupper. It was a tough search but I found the end of her story. Especially with some great help from my sister. & in doing so, am now happily in touch with some descended relatives of this BALLOU line. I'll get more loaded on my laptop, so I can share things about them. It's a small, small world isn't it!
Happy Trails, Katiebird
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