How Did I Get Here? My Amazing Genealogy Journey

Rest In Peace  Uncle Bobby. See you on the other side. 

Well, It's been a while since I've written. Some of you out there might have been wondering is she ever coming back. The answer is yes. I've decided that my blogging journey will be perhaps a bit different now. I still love researching about my family and I still love making new discoveries and connecting with cousins. That I will continue doing. I just feel that I have to be the one driving this blog and the blog not driving me. There's a whole world out there that I've been exploring since I have taken time away from the computer and you know what, I've been enjoying myself. I've been doing a bit more painting in my spare time. When I paint, it's meditation time for me. I love the process of getting quiet and focused and just letting things out on paper or on canvas. It's a great way to relax.  As a family, we did less travel this summer. We did visit Cape Cod at the end of June. I realize now I don't think I posted any pictures from ...

I am a little bit behind on these prompts so I am going to bust out two posts today and maybe another two tomorrow. We'll see what happens.  If you are new to the 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge,  be sure to check out Amy Johnson Crow's website  for more information. Here's the link:   https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/  Week 5: At the Library Some ways you could interpret this theme include: an ancestor that you discovered while researching at the library; an ancestor who was a librarian or an author; an ancestor who had a large book collection; an ancestor who you picture being in a library; or maybe a relative who took you to the library.  Years ago, I took advantage of a great online source for tracking down ancestors in Craven County, NC. If you are not familiar with the resources available at the New Bern-Craven County Public library's Kellenberger room, check out for yourself what they have available here . I ...

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...

In honor of National Women's History Month, I'm doing a couple of posts to honor fearless females in my family. Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog is hosting once again the Fearless Females Blogging Prompt Series. If you aren't familiar with these blog prompts, be sure to visit her blog for more information.  March 26 — What education did your mother receive? Your grandmothers? Great-grandmothers? Note any advanced degrees or special achievements. Each of these three lovely ladies attended college. From left to right:   Great Grandma --Ophelia Jones Bryant --A&T College The Negro Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro, NC. Grandmother --Mary Bryant Harrison Horton --Queens College (S he gets extra points in my book because she earned her degree when she was in her 60's.) Mom --Hofstra University I did my part in continuing the tradition and received my degree in 1994 from Binghamton University. Now it's up to my ...

Lisa Alzo of the blog The Accidental Genealogist is back hosting her list of 31 blogging prompts to celebrate the "fearless females" in our family trees in honor of Women's History Month. If you aren't familiar with these blog prompts, please check out the following link:  Fearless Females Blogging Prompts: Returning for Another Year to Celebrate Women's History Month March 29 — Create a free Fold3 Memorial Page or a Genealogy Trading Card at Big Huge Labs for a female ancestor. Some of you may have created your own card back in September 2009 following Sheri Fenley’s post over at The Educated Genealogist. This time, the card is for your female ancestor. Tell us about who you've selected and why and then post a link to what you've created. Previous trading cards I created were for my great grandmother Ophelia Jones Bryant, my 2nd great grand mother Rosa Mitchell Jones, and grandmother Mary Bryant Harrison Horton. You can view those cards on thes...

Amy Johnson Crow, the author of the blog No Story Too Small, is the host of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Blog Prompt series. If you are not familiar with the project please click on the following link:    Announcing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2015 Edition. Week 49 (December 3-9) – Holidays. What ancestor do the holidays put you in mind of? I did pick my 2nd great grandfather Thomas Duke Harrison for Week 42 of this year's challenge but I don't really see any reason why I can't choose him again especially since his birthday fell on Christmas Day.  Plus I am running short on time in regards to getting caught up on these prompts before the New Year. It's 5:26 pm EST as of this writing so time is a ticking. (Smile) According to Thomas's death certificate he was born on Christmas Day. The year he was born was most likely around 1856 based on what was listed on an early marriage record for him.  I've featured my 2nd great grandfather quite often on this blog. ...

Amy Johnson Crow, the author of the blog No Story Too Small, is the host of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Blog Prompt series. If you are not familiar with the project please click on the following link:   Announcing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2015 Edition. Week 39 (September 24-30) – Unusual: What is the most unusual record you’ve ever found? Or, who is the most unusual of your ancestors? (You can take that any way you want to!) For this week, I chose not to follow the prompt. This post came about in quite a random fashion. Sometimes, I'll go to my tree and just poke around through record sets searching by surname and location and this can be the catalyst for a new post. That's what happened here with this one. So, I'll begin by sharing from Ancestry.com's recently released Wills & Probates, Estates & Guardian Records Collection. If you haven't had the opportunity to check it out yet, by all means do so. Here's the link from Ancestry.com's b...