Thursday, March 18, 2010
St. Patrick's Day: it's deeper than you thought.
We all know that it celebrates St. Patrick (duh) and that it's been observed as a religious holiday in Ireland for over thousands of years. When the holiday came to America, commercialism had nothing to do with it. Quite the contrary: the first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in the streets of New York City by Irish soldiers serving in the British military in 1762. The parade was an expression of their Irish patriotism, something that made them feel closer to home. Their nostalgic celebration is positively endearing to a genealogical researcher like myself.
A lot of people love to hate these kinds of holidays, citing them as Hallmark Holidays: commercial and devoid of any real meaning that once existed. Even though I agree that certain companies are dependent upon our enthusiasm to keep these holidays alive, we only have ourselves to blame! Frankly, there aren't enough nationwide celebrations! Thanks to our own festive nature, we have National Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day and Shark Week (or, the best week to watch Craig Ferguson.)
There's a holiday that never stuck out to me until this year: St. Patrick's Day. The Irish hardly care about this day at all, so why celebrate it? Because it's not an Irish holiday, per se: it's an American holiday. Our country has millions of descendants of Irish immigrants in our melting pot and St. Patrick's Day may be the one day a year that we pause to consider about our own nations of origin.
One of my coworkers has the opinion that Americans aren't necessarily Euro-UK-Asia-African-Oceanic "mutts". She said, even though we're not all cross-cultural mutts, we're all essentially Americans. I struggled with this thought at first, but then it made total sense. It's our diversity that makes us Americans! Our nation has a remarkable history, and perhaps as Americans we're actually citizens of Earth. This is something we should be proud of. Celebrating our diverse background should be a part of our individual patriotism.
For one day a year, even for a fleeting moment, we ponder our heritage and engage in the conversation of genealogy. We connect with each other subconsciously when we talk about heritage, Irish or not, and that's a uniquely American experience.
So lets have more conversations! Lets find more reasons to celebrate the cultures and the people that brought us here!
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Dickersons of Person County, NC
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3okrKkA6bI/AAAAAAAABd0/v-7UGZCUhjU/s400/Walter+Ombrice+Evelyn+and+Roland.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3okh9ZcyjI/AAAAAAAABdc/KCD2DXXSBVI/s400/Eliza+and+Walter+Dickerson.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3okhr-gmUI/AAAAAAAABdU/Ov2iylGqa_E/s400/5+Generations+2.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3okhVCnBBI/AAAAAAAABdM/Eh77VYMYc5A/s400/5+Generations.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3ohfcnv1OI/AAAAAAAABc8/StK74YKbqEQ/s400/Mr+and+Mrs+Henry+Young,+Gertie+May+Buchanan,+Bessie+Dickerson+and+Charlie+Dickerson.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S3ohfBUi5xI/AAAAAAAABc0/hINq6cVqisE/s400/Joseph+A+Snow.jpg)
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Eleanor Osborne Jewett - Heritage Photo Album
Eleanor Osborne Jewett Dwyer Buhl.
Staunch Democrat. Detroit Social Butterfly. Once referred to as a Great American Beauty
(by a newspaper!)
Here's the deal. My printer has decided it does not like to scan and in fact, it has ceased all scanning operations whatsoever. As I have a couple of priceless scrapbooks and photo albums on loan for my genealogy research, I decided these must be digitized! So I took photos. Of photos. Albums propped on pillows with a bedside light? Best way to do it if you gotta. If genealogy is as exciting to you as it is to me, you won't even notice the poor quality - you're used to it, eh? Poor excuse, I know...
They're not candids, they're portraits. Stunning portraits. This is one big long picture parade, guys. If you see two in a row of the same photo, it's because one is a larger or more detailed photo. Also, because Blogspot isn't err, terribly photo friendly, you will need to click on any given photo for its full effect.
And now for the Genealogy candy! Make sure you click on these photos - the text is very clear.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Coming Soon!
-The Dickerson line from Person County, NC
-New photos of Harry Mulford Jewett
-A startling & random, yet awesome discovery about my Great Grandmother Eleanor Osborne Jewett Dwyer!
I also want to put together a list of questions that young people can ask their relatives to get the ball rolling. That's right - how to have more "good ole days" conversations! As if it's difficult!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Lunsford Family
One of Brad's relatives is "Aunt Sister", Mamie Starkes Potter.* Using Google, I typed in her name. There was only a single match. And it happened to be that one exciting puzzle piece that opened up the rich heritage of this line. Take a look at what I found:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S2YM5HfMVdI/AAAAAAAABXc/73aq0-25_4w/s400/From+Mrs.+Mamie+Starkes+Potter,+RL+Starkes.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S2YNoW31S6I/AAAAAAAABXk/LBds4onDazA/s400/Mamie+Starkes+Potter.jpg)
It's an excerpt from a periodical published by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (volumes 92-93). Whoever owns the copy this was taken from didn't want the entire volumes to be published online, I suppose, but I'm glad that they allow relevant snippets.
Then I found out this, about R.L. Starkes, from the Library of Congress:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S2YP4io6bKI/AAAAAAAABXs/3dEpGi3JB_c/s400/Palestine+Daily+Herald,+August+2+1910+-+RL+Starkes.jpg)
R.L. Starkes & Sarah "Sallye" P. Lunsford, from the Curtis/Fitzgerald Family Tree Website.
You can keep on clicking on the fathers to get all the way back to a cannibal! But I'll get to that in just a minute. Mamie & Sally Starkes great grandfather, Rev. Uriah Williamson Lunsford, married a gal names Sarah Ansofee Funderburk. I guess Ansofee is meant to sound like "Anne-Sophie", probably. anyhow, here is a website with some really fascinating trivia about the Reverend and here's an excerpt about his wife:
The Lunsfords located about 2 1/2 miles from Brushy Creek. Sarah’s eyesight was impaired and, though totally blind, we are told that she knitted, sewed, spun, and oared for her children: four boys and five girls.
Onto the cannibal!![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S2YZVOcdPGI/AAAAAAAABX0/uaHErdPoUzk/s400/sirthomas.jpg)
Of course he wasn't really a cannibal, but I'm sure there are nursury rhymes written about him:
"Because of his history of violence and the attacks on his character over the years, he and his troops, the Roundheads, were said to be cannibals and child-eaters, and Puritans taught their children to fear his very name. Although he was an excellent soldier and gentleman, he was painted as an ogre who “roasted babies and stewed sucklings.” -This paragraph is from a very interesting website all about Sir Thomas. (link)
From Wikipedia:
Sir Thomas Lunsford (c. 1611 – 1656) was a Royalist colonel in the English Civil War. Lunsford committed a murderous assault upon Sir Thomas Pelham in 1633 and was outlawed for failing to appear to receive judgment in 1637. He was pardoned in 1639 and joined Charles I's army. He was made lieutenant of the Tower in 1641. He was removed on petition from the Commons; knighted in 1641; made prisoner during the Battle of Edgehill in 1642 and released in 1644. He went to Virginia in 1649, where he died in 1656.
-there is a Sir Thomas Lunsford Drive in Williamsburg, Virginia. It's in a very nice suburban neighborhood - very "white picket fence" kind of place.
- Sir Thomas Pelham, whom he "murderously assaulted" was actually his cousin and neighbor.
- The Pelhams and the Lunsfords' dispute started when one of Pelham's dogs accidentally wandered onto Lunsford property. One of Lunsford's sons shot the dog.
- Aside from child-eater and suckling-roaster, he was also called a debauched creature, a swaggering ruffian, a "reckless, notorious swashbuckler", and a "man of decayed and desperate fortune". Are the British always so colorful with their abuse? (Answer: Yes. This is consistent with Henry Higgins and Simon Cowell.)
-There are distant relations to the Boleyn family
______________________________________________
Sallye Starkes & Mamie Starkes Potter, sisters
R.L. Starkes / Sarah "Sallie" P. Lunsford
Rev. Uriah Williamson Lunsford / Sarah Ansofee Funderburk
Peter Williamson Lunsford / Philitia Dicy Davis
Moses Lunsford / Mary Fox
Isaac Lunsford / Lucy Fauntleroy
Swanson Lunsford / Elizabeth Bassett
John Lunsford / Elizabeth Jenner
Sir Thomas Lunsford / Mary or Anne Hudson
_________________________________________________________
UPDATE 2/1/2010: I've reached the end here - at the year 970 with the approximate birth of Ingram de Lundresford in Sussex, England.
Other sources:
Sir Thomas Lunsford Wikipedia Entry
Comprehensive Timeline of Sir Thomas, from Google
Southern Roots - A Great Reference
British Civil Wars, Commonwealth
Old Whyly
Sir Thomas Lunsford Regiment of Foote, a reenactment troupe
Rev. Uriah Williamson Lunsford & Sarah Ansofee Funderburk
*Here's a tip for other genealogists = using parenthesis on a google search will find only exact matches, which is important when you're dealing with proper nouns. For example, if you type in the name "Faser", Google will know to omit its matches for Fraser, Frasier, and faster.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Daniel Gooch's Will
In the name of God Amen. I Daniel Gooch of the County of Granville and
State of North Carolina, Being weak in Body, but in perfect mind and
memory, thanks be to God do make and ordain this my last will and
testament, in manner an form following viz.
First of all, I recommend my soul to god, who first gave it and my body
to the Earth to be buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my
Executor hereinafter named
As to my Worldly goods which god has blessed me with, I give and devise
in the following manner.
1st I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid
2nd I will to my daughter Hannah Gooch and to my Daughter Nancy Gooch,
one hundred acres of land out of the tract whereon I now reside
including my Dwelling house Kitchen and other Houses. Beginning at the
place on the River called the Cat Hole, thence to the Gate near the
apple orchard thence to run beyond the using Spring so as to take in
thence to corner in the Field opposite to the fence below the North
Gate from the house thence e along said fence through the woods so as
to mark the compliment to Lemuel Goodwin line, thence along Goodwin’s
line to the River and thence down the River to he Beginning. Also I
will to them one yoke of oxen and one cart. But in case the should
marry or die the land to be equally divided amongst my children namely
my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas Gooch, Jane
Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch,
Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c
and to my daughter Rachel Howard wife of Thomas Howard, the part or lot
of said land which may fall to her, the same to be the sole right of
the said Rachael Howard, during her Natural life and at her death the
said lot which may fall to her to be equally divided amongst the
children of the said Rachel Howard then living and the legal
representative of such as may have died each child of said Rachel to
have one share, but the lot of land or her part, in no wise to be
subject to the debts or incumberances of said Thomas Howard but to be
and remain the sole and undivided property of the said Rachel and her
children as aforesaid. Also at their death or marriage the yoke of
oxen and cart to be sold and the money arising from such sale to be
equally divided among my children in the same way and to the same as
herein expressed.
3rd I will that the balance of my lands and all my negroes o be
valued and lotted into twelve lots each, equally divided amongst my
children namely my son Samuel Gooch, Joseph Gooch, James Gooch, Thomas
Gooch, Jane Clements, William Gooch Hannah Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S.
Gooch, Daniel T. Gooch, Nancy Gooch to them their heirs administrators &c
4th I will that all my household and kitchen furniture and stock of all
kind, farming utensils and property of all kind to be sold on twelve
month credit and the money arising from such sale to be equally divide
amongst my children as above named and below expressed
5th I will to my daughter Rachael Howard wife of Thomas Howard one
twelfth part of the balance of my lands and negroes the Lots which she
may draw or fall to her also one twelfth part of the money arising from
the sale of my stock and other property. The lot of land and the lot
of negroes and the increase of said lot of negroes if any and the
twelfth part of the money arising from such sale of property the same
to be the sole right of the said Rachael Howard during her natural
life and at her death the said lot of land and lot of negroes and the
increase of said negroes if any and the money as above mentioned to be
equally divided amongst the children of the said Rachel Howard then
living and the legal representatives of such as may have died each
child of said Rachael to have one share but the lot of land and he lot
of negros their increase if any and money in no wise to be subject to
the debts or incumbrances of said Thomas Howard but to be and remain
the sole and individual property of the said Rachel and her children as
aforesaid.
6th I will to by daughter Hannah Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to
be paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice out
of my stock of horses.
7th I will to my daughter Nancy Gooch one hundred dollars in cash to be
paid out of my estate by my executors and one horse her choice of my
stock of horses
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my sons Joseph Gooch, James
Gooch, William Gooch, Amos Gooch, Dudley S. Gooch and Daniel T. Gooch
executors to this my last will and testament. . In witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal the 23rd day of September AD 1837
Daniel Gooch (his mark) (seal)
Signed in presence of
Jas. A. Russell
Joseph House
Samuel Rogers
State of North Carolina
Granville county
November Court AD 1837
The execution of the last will and testament of Daniel Gooch decd. Was
duly proven an oath in open court by Joseph House and Samuel Rodgers
two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded at
eh same time came forward James Gooch and Amos Gooch named as Executors
in said will and duly qualified as such Witness James M. Wiggins clk.
Ancestral Diagram (patriarchs on left, matriarchs on right, direct descendant in bold)
Halle S. Dickerson
David Bradford Dickerson / Rachel Alton
David Dickerson / Karen Faser
Charles Dewey Dickerson / Ruth Chandler
Dewey Dickerson / Bessie Ola Buchanan
Grover Cleveland Buchanan / Gertie Mae Young
John Buchanan / Fluvanah Rachel Slaughter
Jacob Glover Slaughter / Elizabeth Parham Howard
Thomas Howard / Rachael Gooch
Daniel Gooch / Nancy Sneed
N.B. Critchfield
My great-great-great Grandfather (should all of those g's be capitalized?) on my Mom's side is N.B. Critchfield, a G.O.P. elephant of many colors. He was born July 20, 1838. Here is a list of his titles:
-Baptist Reverend at Turkeyfoot Baptist Church (and others)
-Trustee of the Western Pennsylvania Classical & Scientific Institute at Mt. Pleasant*
-Unofficial yet devoted Historian of Mount Pleasant, PA
-Public School Principal
-Public School Superintendent
-Secretary of Agriculture, Pennsylvania
-Senator, 36th district, Pennsylvania
-Superintendent and Chaplain with the US Christian Commission during the Civil War
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S0eln26N0GI/AAAAAAAABTE/3FzPwfxRVX8/s400/18954b.jpg)
From a School pamphlet dated 1895
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S0emmBExNgI/AAAAAAAABTU/BdJ16O86s20/s400/critchfieldbell.jpg)
Photograph by K. R. Overholt Critchfield, c. 6-20-1999
The "Critchfield Bell" (and I'm assuming this - and I'll tell you why) was the school bell at the Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific Institute. The inscription on the bell reads:
Pittsburgh, PA A.D. 1877
Western Penna. Classical and Scientific Institute
Mount Pleasant, PA
Cast in 1842 - recast in 1877
Ordered by N.B. Critchfield, Treas
August, 1877
N.B. Critchfield is mentioned in an annual report of the United States Christian Commission. I'm sure it's worth mentioning, although I'm not quite sure what these stations were quite designed for ... I'll have to update this one soon...
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S0eqIz8E9wI/AAAAAAAABTc/NY3L8bnOYzM/s400/3208995.jpg)
Also of note was his involvement with the case of the Umberger tragedy, the murder of a friend of his. It's far too much to copy & paste.
Notably, N.B. was a speaker at The Delegations of Farmers and Old Soldiers, a tribute to veterans of the Civil War on September 15, 1896. The guest of honor was Major William McKinley, who spoke about economics, our nation's debt of gratitude toward veterans, and patriotism. After the event, Major McKinley was a shoo-in for Republican voters. He became the 25th President of the United States the next year.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qXWYTjue_cc/S0egm4AKKJI/AAAAAAAABS0/Ld1xuohDVN0/s400/JerseyChurch.jpg)
Patrick Wallner's Facebook Genealogical Accounts via "Bird" Critchfield
United States Christian Commission: Fourth Annual Report, January 1, 1866 Supplementary Report, page 207-207
McKinley Speaks Twice! New York Times Article
History of Mount Pleasant PA
The Umberger Tragedy
The Critchfield Bell
*The institute is located in Westmorland County USA, named for a British county in which several of my ancestors were Dukes & Duchesses. It's a little coincidence but I love those 'Aha!' moments when things seem to come full circle.