Hitting the Reset Button – Genealogy Do-Over Week 1

While I was on vacation last week, I came across Genealogy Do-Over, a 13-week project developed by Thomas MacEntee, creator GeneaBloggers. The purpose of the project is to help those of us who need to hit the reset button on our genealogy methods. I have to say, this is something I have needed for a long time. The advice given in Genealogy Do-Over is based on Thomas’ own personal experiences as a genealogist. While I would like to think that after 15-years of genealogy research that I was more than a novice, I am sure there are many genealogy enthusiasts like me who never created good, solid habits for research. Over the years, I have taught myself through reading, conferences, and trial-and-error, and created my own unique methods. However, I know there must be a better way to ensure that I make the most of every hour I spend.

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Visit to St. Mary’s City

It’s not enough for me to research my ancestors from the comfort of my own home. I want to know them who they were and what life was like when they were alive. One way to connect with our ancestors is to visit the places they lived. Not only does it provide the opportunity to do some additional research, it also gives us the excitement of walking in their footsteps.

A few years ago, my husband and I had a wonderful opportunity to visit St Mary’s, Maryland where his ancestors first set foot on American soil. The early inhabitants of Maryland arrived around 1634 aboard two ships, The Ark and The Dove. The colony was established at the southern tip of Maryland, land surrounded by the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. St Mary’s City, the first city and first capital of Maryland, was named for the wife of King Charles I. Although Charles was an Anglican, his wife Henrietta Maria of France was a Roman Catholic. The charter for the settlement of Maryland was given as a refuge for Roman Catholics and a place of tolerance for all religions.

St. Mary’s city is one of the most historical cities in the country with claims to may other “firsts” in the new world:

• First successful proprietary colony in English North America
• First Freedom of Conscience policy in America
• First effort to free religion from government in America
• First Catholic chapel in English America
• First woman to petition for the right to vote in English America (Margaret Brent, 1648)
• First legislator of African descent in North America (Mathias de Sousa, 1642)
• First evidence of baroque town planning in America
• First public inn in Maryland
• First government building in Maryland (the Secretaries Office 1664)
• First Protestant (Anglican) church in Maryland
• First official city in Maryland
• First state house in Maryland, The Country’s House
• First monumental public architecture in Maryland, the 1667 Brick Chapel
• First printer in the southern colonies of America

Today, St. Mary’s City is considered one of the best preserved archeological sites and is listed as a National Historical Landmark. When my husband and I visited there, we saw the remains of many of the original buildings and learned what life was like for the early settlers of St. Mary’s City. This was a rare opportunity because so many of our ancestors lived in cities and towns that have modernized over time, with very little semblance of what they once were.

If you are interested in learning more about St Mary’s City, visit their website Visit – HSMC. Whether you have family from that area or not, it is a great place to go to learn more about Colonial America.

Visiting St. Mary’s City and a few other family locales only makes me wish I could do this more often. I recently read a post Places to Visit | Wandering With Us that inspired me to give more thought and somehow make it happen.  I don’t know if there is an RV in my future but the thought of traveling to the places my ancestors lived sure sounds like a great retirement plan.

The Mysterious Elmer Condon

No one knows why Earl Conway left his wife and children, changed his name, and headed to California. Some family members believe Grandma Thacker (as she was known by) must have been a difficult woman to get along with. Or maybe Earl inherited his father’s wayward behavior. The facts leading Earl to his decision may not be clear, but the story of how Uncle Earl ran off and changed his name so his wife Ella would not find him is still a family favorite.

My Almost Claim to Being Royal

Lady Mary Grey (Wikipedia)

Naming a blog can be as difficult as naming your first child. Our blog name is our brand in the blogging world. It’s what attracts readers to our posts. It’s what we hope will be inscribed on coffee mugs when we become famous. When I first conceived a genealogy-themed blog, I struggled with the name. It seemed all the good ones were taken. Then I came across an old Fox News report from 2006 claiming that “almost everyone on earth is descended from royalty.” This reminded me of a story I had heard regarding the Key family and their near claim to the British monarchy.

Why I Blog

I have two passions in life: genealogy and writing. A year ago, I created Descended from Royalty as a genealogical-themed blog so I could write about the thing I loved. For most of my life, family history research has been a solitary activity. Not to say I did not collaborate with newly found cousins, or that I did not share what I found with family members. Their passion for my discoveries, however, was either short-lived as they move on to their own ancestral interests, or feigned to make me feel better. I thought blogging would connect me with other people who love genealogy as much as I do. Mainly, I wanted to create a place where my passion could thrive.

Those who are not into genealogy do not understand what all the noise is about. Why, they ask, should I get excited about people who lived hundreds of years before me? They see no relevance in knowing about their ancestors. They definitely do not see the fun.

For me, genealogy research is like a weaving a tapestry. Throughout all of time, there are tiny threads of family history, scattered here and there, and meaningless as a single thread. The fact that my ancestor Martin Key lived in Albemarle County, Virginia in the late 1700’s means very little until I weave in other threads of information. Then a picture begins to appear:

My Grandmother was a Barnardo Child

Christmas came early to my house this week. A long-awaited package containing my Grandmother Daisy’s file of the time she spent in the Barnardo’s Children Home during the early 1900s finally arrived. I ordered the file a little over a year ago and had almost forgotten about it. Imagine my surprise when I found a rather large envelope in my mailbox with a British return address, labeled “private and confidential.” At last, the story of my grandmother’s custody in one of the most well-known child welfare organizations was about to unfold.

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

I’ve always loved the story of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The tale is full of adventure and sometimes utter nonsense. Much like family research. Like Alice, I sometimes chase white rabbits, never knowing where they will lead me.  And like Alice’s adventures, our research presents us many locked doors. All we have to do is find the right key.

Sometimes we choose the wrong door and head down a rabbit hole. This happened to me when I was researching my mother’s family.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. – Desmond Tutu

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.

Georgia O’Keeffe

 

 

© 2014 Susan Spaulding

The “One Lovely Blog” Award

 As a relatively new blogger who has been inconsistent in posting over the past few months,  I was both surprised and honored to find out that I was nominated for the “One Lovely Blog” award.

Thank you Sandra Fleming  for this your nomination, which I accept. Blogging does not come naturally to me. I struggle coming up with topics that I think will be interesting, so for you to not only read my blog but also recognize it means a lot.

Here are the rules:

The One Lovely Blog Award nominations are chosen by fellow bloggers for those newer and up-and-coming bloggers. The goal is to help give recognition and also to help the new blogger to reach more viewers. It also recognizes blogs that are considered to be “lovely” by the fellow bloggers who choose them. This award recognizes bloggers who share their story or thoughts in a beautiful manner to connect with viewers and followers. In order to “accept” the award the nominated blogger must follow several guidelines:

• Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
• Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post.
• Share 7 facts/or things about yourself
• Nominate 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog:

Here are seven facts about me:

1. I was born in Southern California but have lived in Oklahoma since I was 17. The culture confusion has lead to many therapy sessions.
2. I am an only child. My cousins referred to it as spoiled.
3. I have been married (to the same man) for almost 38 years. We met during tornado season (he was a storm watcher, I was a coward). Our first date was the movie “Death Wish”. Did I tell you I have been married 38 years?
4. I work full-time as a business analyst, a very left-brained activity. My writing is an attempt to equalize the playing field
5. I will be going on my 3rd cruise in two weeks. I love it. Not so sure my husband does, however
6. I have a secret ambition to write a mystery novel.
7. I have a passion for genealogy. I have been tracing my family tree since I was a child and I am always thrilled with each new discovery. I recently started a new blog geared toward family history. It’s called Descended From Royalty if you want to check it out

Now for the nominees. Peer recognition is so very important and I am happy to recognize other bloggers whose words inspire me and lift my spirits. Therefore I am pleased to nominate the following:

1. Perspectives On….
2. Lindaghill
3. What Oft was Thought
4. Silver Threading
5. Second & NE
6. Love Happy Notes
7. RachaelSquirrel
8. Big Red Carpet Nursing
9. Alzheimer’s Wife
10. Write Beside the Sea
11. PaulaWalkerBaker
12. Mum C Writes
13. Celebrating Sunshine
14. It’s a Charmed Life
15. Mum C Writes