Yesterday, I featured two of the deeds of my 2nd great grand uncle Alfred Mitchell on this blog. If you missed that post, here's the link:   Amanuensis Monday on Tuesday: Alfred Mitchell --Deeds #1 & #2 . On those deeds, there was a name that intrigued me to due to recent updates to my AncestryDNA connections. Before I go into that, I just want to say that I have this theory about the ancestors. Some of those folks that have crossed over I think are just chomping at the bit to get information to their living folks. I think if they find someone researching a place or person they were associated with then they figure out a way to get us to "speak their names" and get that information passed on to the right people. Lately, I have been spending a lot of time reviewing my research on my Riverdale, NC ancestors. Many of my most recent posts have featured folks who once lived in that area.  Here's where it gets interesting. On yesterday's post, one of the na

As I mentioned in my post from last week,  52 Ancestors: #12 Alfred Mitchell --A Son Bears Witness , I want to share over the course of the next few Mondays (well, for this week Tuesday) the deeds of my 2nd great grand uncle. Like his father,  Mortimer Mitchell , and sister, Rosa Mitchell Jones , Alfred went on to become a property owner as well. Here is the earliest deed I have for him, dated December 23, 1882.  I really did try to get this post out last night but my parenting duties take priority over blogging. As a result, we have Amanuensis Monday on Tuesday.   (Part one)       This indenture made and executed this 23rd day of December, A. D. 1882, by and between Alfred Mitchell of the one part and Abram D. Fisher of the other part, both of the County of Craven and State of North Carolina; Witnesseth that the said Alfred Mitchell for and in consideration of the sum of Two Hundred and Ten dollars, to him in hand paid by Abram D. Fisher the receipt where is hereby acknowled

Here's some more pictures from our recent trip to Siesta Key, Florida. I can't believe we've been home almost a week already. Vacations always go by so quick.

If you are not familiar with this wonderful project that was created by Julie Goucher of the Angler's Rest blog, please refer to this link:   http://www.anglers-rest.net/book-of-me-written-by-you.html This week's prompt is - Your First day of School Do you remember the day? The weather  What you wore  How you got there Who took you to school Where was the School Any stories? Friends Teachers How old were you? Were you perhaps home schooled or taught in a different way to the usual traditional methods - such as were you in a remote area and lessons conducted using the phone etc Do you have any other memories or thoughts of your first day of school? Or perhaps ask a sibling, parent, child etc Caution - do not spend lots of time on your junior school that will be in another prompt!..... I slacked off all last week on My Book Of Me Prompts , while I was on vacation. Bad me (pretend hand slap.) So now I have to catch up even more. Oh well. In the words of my fr

I am participating in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge put forth by Amy Johnson Crow of the blog No Story Too Small . If you aren't familiar with the challenge be sure to check out her blog. Imagine it's March 11, 1878. You are 22 years old. You were born a slave but now you and your family are free. You were once considered property but now you are bearing witness to your father signing a deed to purchase land. What would that feel like? Well, that scenario describes what it was like to walk in the shoes of my 2nd great grand uncle Alfred Mitchell. Alfred Mitchell was one of the children Mortimer Mitchell  and Annie Taylor Mitchell . Based on information from his marriage record and his death certificate, I believe he was born on July 31, 1856. His death certificate showed his place of birth as being Beaufort County, NC. What a moment for a father and son together! A father showing his son how it is done; How to purchase land. A son sharing in the moment

On my post,  The Wonder Of Wandering , I featured a couple of newspaper articles that discussed an enterprise that was run by a family with the last name of Mallett. They ran Clare Fibre Works in Riverdale, NC which employed a large number of individuals from the area. One of the the Mallets, specifically one by the name of Charles E. Mallet had a connection to one of my ancestors.  David Sampson was my 2nd great grand uncle who I have written about quite a bit on this blog.  If you are new to my blog, here are two posts about him. Dave Sampson a True Riverdale Character --Part one Dave Sampson a True Riverdale Character --Part two On the 1880 Federal Census, Dave Sampson was listed as working as a porter in a store for Charles E Mallett.  Charles and David were approximately the same age.  I wonder what their relationship was like.   Source Information:  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  1880 United States Federal Census [database on-lin

So we are in Siesta Key, Florida again and you know what that means... Meaney's Mini-Donuts! "Oh yeah!" The Beach "Must dig" "Still digging" "Find anything yet?" "Okay I'll stand still for a picture." Happy Family! Happy Me :)