Twice my 5th great aunt, Sarah (Eve) Adams intrigues me and I keep coming back to her. Maybe it’s the romantic account of her courtship with her husband. Perhaps it’s the dramatic story of having to cross the Atlantic alone after the death of her husband and brother during the War of 1812. It could … Continue reading Mother Aunt Adams
Recently I was interviewed by Denys Allen on her podcast, “Your Pennsylvania Ancestors.” We talked about what I’ve learned from my 6th great-grandmother Mary Adams Bones about getting through difficult times. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
My 4th great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Eve) Carmichael, kept a diary from 1837 to 1850 that was passed down and is now kept at the library at University of North Carolina. As a teenager, on one of our semiannual drives from Washington, DC to Clemson, South Carolina, to visit my grandmother, we stopped at UNC so … Continue reading Peculiar Gratitude
I had been on the trail for several years, looking for the siblings of John Adams of Chequer Hall, County Antrim, Ireland. The only sibling I knew about was a brother named James, who received £50 in John’s will. Family stories say that John and James were business partners. But without known parents and thin … Continue reading Finding Siblings
I have a sister. My mom and dad each have two. Lots of my ancestors had sisters, lots of them were sisters. Two of my 4th great-grandmothers were sisters to each other and they had eight more sisters. As I thought about this theme, I thought about my relationship with my sister and how much … Continue reading Sisters, Sisters
Family legends go with family history like oreos go with milk. While often not provable, there can be nuggets of truth to many of our families’ legends. James Bones was born about 1766 near Randalstown, County Antrim, Ireland, the first child of John and Elizabeth (Scott) Adams. James had four brothers and one sister. As … Continue reading A Rebel with a Cause(way)
The prompt for 52 ancestors for week 27 is Independence. James Bones was born in 1766 to John Bones and Elizabeth Scott in Ballyportey, County Antrim, Ireland. Nothing is known about his childhood. As an adult, he worked as a linen bleacher in the ubiquitous Irish linen industry. He was also a farmer, leasing a … Continue reading Seeking Independence
