If you are not familiar with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Blog Prompt Series hosted by fellow blogger Amy Johnson Crow, please take a moment and check out the link here:   https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/ Let's just say life has been incredibly busy so I am still working on March's prompts. Some day, hopefully soon I'll get caught up.  Week 12:  Misfortune There is no family tree that has not has some misfortune. This week, I encourage you to explore some of it. It doesn't have to be a heart-wrenching tragedy. It could be a set-back in business or a missed opportunity. Write about something that didn't go the way your ancestor would have wanted or had planned. This is the first time I've written about my great grand uncle Charles Lee Harrison. Before I get to his misfortune, I would like to share what I know of his life. The most reliable evidence of his birth date I believe can be found on his Word War I Draft Re

A painting I inherited from my Dad. I believe this is Frederica Augusta Inniss Murrell Bit by bit. Piece by piece. I've been going through pictures, letters and other memorabilia I inherited from my father. I've also been doing some great work with my therapist regarding processing my feelings. My takeaway for the week has been that I can love and be mad at my dad at the same time. Mad feels like too strong of a word. I'm annoyed but my heart has already forgiven him. Yes, my dad knew how much I loved family history and yet all these treasures he kept to himself. The conversations we could have had about this stuff. Sigh. It wasn't meant to be.  Grief is a process of unraveling. Layer by layer, I'm on a path of discovery. I've been reading some letters written by father when he was a young man. This was a much more optimistic time in his life. To see his words on paper expressing feelings of joy and youthful optimism has been a revelation. Anyway, e

Church Record Sunday is a blog prompt developed by Gena Philibert Ortega of Gena's Geneology blog. The prompt involves sharing an individual church record or a set of church records that has been helpful with your research. Well, this recent find from among the papers and pictures I inherited from my father certainly has helped me. This is one of two copies of a baptismal record for my dad's father/my grandfather Harold Murrell Sr. He was born in Barbados in 1903. This document allowed me for the first time to learn my grandfather's full name. Here's the details: Baptism Solemnized in the St. Catherine's Chapel When baptized:  Oct 18th When born:  August 16th Child's Christian Name:  Harold Osmond Fitzherbert Parent's Name:   Christian -- George Nathaniel & Frederica Surname --Murrell Mother's Maiden Name:  Inniss Abode:  Marley Vale Rank, Occupation or Profession of Father: Painter Minister Officiating:  H R Barnett

Week 11: Lucky Do you have an ancestor who was lucky at something? Lucky to be alive? Lucky at cards? Lucky in love? Maybe you have an ancestor with a name that reminds you of luck or fortune. There's always "luck of the Irish." Maybe you have a story of how luck played a role in finding an ancestor. Write about that this week. A few years back, I was lucky enough to stumble across a letter on Ancestry.com written by my 4th great grandfather Benjamin Ellison of Snow Hill, Greene County, NC. The letter I found in a collection called Washington D.C., Ex-Slave Pension Correspondence and Case Files, 1892-1922. Prior to the Civil War, Benjamin had been a slave and the letter I came across mentioned who is owner had been. Before I reshare the letter, here's how I am connected to Benjamin Ellison.  Source Information:  Ancestry.com. Washington D.C., Ex-Slave Pension Correspondence and Case Files, 1892-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Ope

In some ways I feel so much closer to you. In other ways you've grown ever more distant. Making my way now through unfamiliar seas. I fell asleep early last night and now I find myself up at 5:00 am. This is what I woke up to. Words floating around in my head thinking about my father. It's a soup. Some things floating more closely to the top with many emotions lurking below. I'm still trying to figure this space out. This space without you dad.  Growing up has many phases.When I was kid I thought to myself, "When I grow up, I'm going to be..." I would fill in the blank with things like a teacher, a doctor, or veterinarian. I thought there was an end game. A destination to becoming. I didn't realize this growing up thing has nothing to do with obtaining an occupation. Well, that's not entirely true. It's more like that it's just part of it. Growing up is a process that just goes on and on. Moving out. My first job afte

Rosa Mitchell Jones My 2nd great grandmother If you are not familiar with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Blog Prompt Series hosted by fellow blogger Amy Johnson Crow, please take a moment and check out the link here:  https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/ Rosa Mitchell Jones was my maternal 2nd great grandmother and she was definitely  someone I would describe as a "strong woman." Why? Well, here's why. 1) She was born into slavery around 1861 in Beaufort, NC. Survivors of slavery were made of stronger stuff. 2) She left her childhood home of Riverdale, NC and settled in the seaside town of Morehead City, NC with her husband Alexander Hamilton Jones. To leave behind all you know and hold dear takes incredible strength 3) She survived the loss of her only son Cesar M. Jones and raised 3 daughters. Those daughters were all college educated. Two became teachers, while the other became a nurse. 4) After her husband died, she continued to co