I knew exactly where the headstone would be. We got out of our car at the gate, greeted by a blue Church of Ireland sign, and walked the gravel driveway to the churchyard. It seemed an unlikely place for a church, almost nothing around, except the modern house next to the road, perhaps belonging to … Continue reading With Feelings of Undiminished Regret
As I research the descendants of my ancestors, I sometimes come across uncles who never married. The reasons they didn't marry are sometimes clear and sometimes not, but one thing I have noticed, especially for those who lived in the 19th century, there is very little to be found about them. As I thought about … Continue reading Where Have All the Bachelors Gone?
As I research my ancestors and their families, I find myself sometimes wondering, if I knew the person in life, "what would I think of them? Would we like one another?" I like to think that for the most part we would, especially when I can pull together a pretty good picture of someone from … Continue reading Good Man, Kind Friend, and True Christian
Sources are essential to genealogical research. Typical sources include census records, birth and death records, marriage records, an so on. These sources provide various bits of information for the facts of an ancestor's life. Sometimes in a search, or through serendipity, a unique or unusual source will come to light. These might include journals and … Continue reading From Antrim to Augusta
In genealogy and family history work, one does not often think of things in terms of young. Often we find ourselves looking at old records and documents, old cemeteries and churches, old photographs and journals. But this week's topic for 52 ancestors is Youngest. Initially, I thought about my 5 year-old son who loves to dictate … Continue reading A Young Widow with One Child
The prompt for week 28 of 52 ancestors is Travel. I often think about how difficult travel must have been for some of my earliest known ancestors as they crossed continents, oceans and mountains. Each one was travelling for a different reason and each one traveled these long, difficult journeys because it was the only … Continue reading With the Speed of Electricity
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
