On a wooded section of road, an iron gate stands at the entrance of a driveway that climbs to the right, up a small hill. Peeking out behind trees and bushes stands Chequer Hall, a house built during the Plantation of Ulster during the 17th century and the home of my 7th great-grandfather, John Adams, … Continue reading Chequer Hall
Almost every line of my husband's genealogy has early Mormon pioneers who crossed the American continent to settle in Utah. After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, some were asked to settle other parts of the west, including my husband's 2nd great-grandfather. William Jordan Flake was asked to go south in 1877 to what is … Continue reading Finding Cousins, Ireland Edition
One of my favorite things in Ireland was meeting people. Everyone was so nice and helpful and willing to talk. Our visit to the Kilraughts Reformed Presbyterian Church was no exception. We hadn't planned on attending the meeting there, but we were happy we did. The greeter at the door helped us get hymnals and … Continue reading Talking to Strangers
One of the first Presbyterian churches in Ireland, established during the Plantation era in the early 17th century, was built in the townland of Kilraughts, County Antrim. The congregation later moved 1.5 miles east, but burials still took place at the old churchyard. My ancestors, John and Elizabeth (Borland) Adams, likely attended this congregation. The … Continue reading Old Kilraughts Churchyard
James Bones is a bit of a legend in our family history. There are several stories surrounding his participation in the 1798 Rebellion for a free and independent Ireland. One legend says that James, fleeing for his life, took a piece of the Giant's Causeway with him before he met a boat at nearby Dunluce … Continue reading Fort of the Fianna
As my kids have gotten older, I've been able to get back to reading for fun. I'm the type that you'll find reading at 2 am because I keep saying to myself, "just one more chapter." I love lots of genres, but especially enjoy historical novels. Last summer, I read "The Invention of Wings" by … Continue reading The Invention of Wings
My grandma loved the beach. She could spend hours looking for seashells. According to my aunt, grandma was really good at finding whole shells of all sizes. She kept some of these in glass containers around her house. I also remember a seashell wreath as well as prints of beach dunes and the battery in … Continue reading Seashells and Sunshine
