Letters are a treasure trove of information. I recently participated in a panel discussion about the intersection of postal history and genealogy. Here are some examples I shared.
Tag: Henry Townes Medlock
The Second Wife
When Julia Anne DeVore King was 15 years old, she married her Aunt Ellen's widower, Dr. William Edward Prescott, who was 35 years older than her. Julia became stepmother to her three cousins, Julia Annie and Wallace Thomas, who were older than her, and Eustace, who was 6 years old at the time. Julia and … Continue reading The Second Wife
Dear Harvester
Henry Townes Medlock grew up on a farm. He worked alongside his father and older brother on the family farm in Meriweather, Edgefield County, South Carolina. Records indicate that it was a modest farm with a few farm animals that produced butter and eggs and the family harvested corn, oats, wheat, cotton, and peas. As … Continue reading Dear Harvester
1912
Newspapers can be fascinating sources when looking for information about ancestors. Some of my ancestors lived in Edgefield, South Carolina and at the beginning of the 20th century the local newspaper, The Edgefield Advertiser, reported on the social activity of the town's citizens, as well as local news and politics. I've been able to take a … Continue reading 1912
A Marriage Record
I was recently examining my great-grandparent's marriage licence. South Carolina started requiring marriage licences in 1911. It's been fun noticing the little things in this document. First, you can see that both Henry and Martha signed the certificate on the first page. We have letters and other notes that Martha wrote, so I recognize her … Continue reading A Marriage Record
Three Henrys
Henry has always been a special name for me. I think it's because I heard it so much growing up -- it's the name of my uncle (Henry Townes), my grandpa (Henry Hammond), and my great-grandpa (Henry Townes). I recently found this 3-generation photo that features the three Henrys. It pictures my dad and his … Continue reading Three Henrys
The Embodiment of Love
Growing up, we would make semi-annual trips to visit my paternal grandma. As we grew up, our three-week summer vacations turned into long weekends and Christmases always had a slightly different grouping of relatives. But among the things that changed, a few stayed the same, including the way my dad and his mom, siblings, and … Continue reading The Embodiment of Love
Heart Genealogy 