Who Do You Think You Are?

Preview the Stories from Season 3!

Words cannot describe how excited I am about this show!

For the last two years from February to March, you could always find me at my parent's house every Friday night. Why? Well, the fundamental reason was that I, until recently, did not have cable but the real reason I was over there weekly, was to watch this show!

Here is another spin-off television show from Englad. The series follows well-known celebrities and athletes as they journey through time to discover their personal, family roots. There are celebrities who finally get answers to family mysteries (Kim Cattrall). There are celebrities who are united with relatives they did not know existed (Rosie O'Donnell). There are celebrities who are brought back to the faith of their ancestors by what they discover (Gwyneth Paltrow).

I don't think I need to explain to you why I love this show so much but if you are just tuning in, you can read more about my infatuation here or here and if you still need more here.

If you are a fan of the show or are tuning in for the first time tonight, let me know what you think of it!
Season Premiere February 3 - Fridays 8/7c - on ABC

Sentimental Sundays - Hopelessly Romantic

Upon re-typing my 3rd Great-Grandmother's diary, I came across this entry this morning. 

The day before, there had been a Vernon family reunion and Georgia Alden was continuing the description from that day. I found the following poem to be so heartbreakingly romantic and not to mention the continued conversation regarding the height of some of the men quite amusing. 

Sunday, September 7, 1890

Too tired to go to Church. Uncle Frank and Lizzie stopped at Aunt Harriet’s last night. Harry Hargis and Hendson Vernon of Georgia spent the night. The number of tall men at Nazareth yesterday has been subject of comment. A great many were six feet or over, all the way to six feet, six inches. The youngest descendant there was Master Alex. Vernon Holmes 5 weeks of age. The following poem was received from his descendant in Texas who wrote they would be with us in spirit on the 6. Anna L. Walden, Frances Lay, Dallas, Texas. The subject of the poem was a Great-Granddaughter of Alexander Vernon and the writer General Mirabeau B. Lamar, Third President of the Republic of Texas. It was written while Texas was a Republic on a sheet of music with a lead pencil, during Nancy’s absence from home.

To Miss Vernon

The richest rose, the rarest flower in Texas Valleys shining,

Can never match the absent one for whom my heart is pining.

My thoughts are with her day and night, nor can I from her turn ‘em.

Go where I will I still behold the smiles of Nancy Vernon.

Ye belles of wealth, ye devotees of fortunes heartless pleasures,

If to your stores ye wish to add fair virtues shining treasures,

Go seek the subject of my song; in her you’ll quickly find ‘em

For every gem of soul and mind is found in Nancy Vernon.

I know ‘tis said there never shone on earth a faultless creature.

That some slight shade must ever dim the brightest form or feature

But if such shadows dwell with her I’m sure I can’t discern ‘em.
I own that others have their faults, but none has Nancy Vernon.

But why should I her praises sing? Poor worth my softest numbers;

Songs of mine can never make the love that in her bosom slumbers.

Then take any harp and break its chords, take my songs and burn ‘em

I prize them not since they can win no smiles from Nancy Vernon. 

Surname Saturday - Richardson to Richerson

My last name is Richerson; not Richardson, Richarson, or Richerdson. To me, my last name is the correct spelling but I am a little biased. 

The story in our house is that my 3rd Great Grandfather and his brothers went off to fight in the Civil War. At some point during their enlistment, the spelling of their last name was changed from Richardson to Richerson. The theory is that the boys did this to ensure receipt of payment. Apparently, there were other Richardsons fighting in the war and my relatives wanted to make absolutely sure that they got what was theirs. 

4 Generations of Richersons

Thanks to the man on the left, Wright Montillion

Thankful Thursday - Circumstance of Events

There are many things that I am thankful for but when I sit down and really dive deep into what matters most to me and what would make me an incredibly different person, I’d have to say I’m grateful for my Great-Aunt, Goti (technically, she’s my 1st cousin 2x removed but she was like a sister to my grandmother.)

Take this as you will but I would not be here if her father had not been killed in a German bomb shelter – that’s another story for another day. Honestly though, had he survived the war, there is absolutely no way that I would be here. The following events would not have happened:

1. Goti’s mother would not have married an American soldier, who adopted her and moved the family back to the US after the war was over.

2. Goti would not have met her future husband while they were both stationed in Alaska – ALASKA! and after a short long-distance relationship, he asked her to marry him!

3. Shortly after the wedding, Goti’s new husband, my Uncle John, would never have sponsored my Grandmother’s immigration over to the US and provided helpful information on her journey, “For the record, I am a woman.”

4. Lastly, had my grandmother never emigrated from Germany, she would have never met my Grandfather, who most of  his friends and family thought would never marry, she would have never fallen madly in love, married and later had my mother who, thankfully and  subsequently fell in love with my father, married and a few years later had me. :)

I’ve just now begun to see the effects of God’s wheels turning slowly but I would have to say that the earlier events definitely happened for a reason and there was a reason for them all.

Today I am most thankful for my fun, loving, and witty Great Aunt, Irmgard Fischer! 

Goti and my Grandmother

October 28, 1919

92 Years Ago Today........

My Grandfather, Sibley Trest Richerson, was born!

My Grandaddy, bottom center with his Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather

My Grandaddy was born in Stockton, Alabama to John Leslie and Bessie Mae Richerson. 

He is the second oldest of four children. 

He only had 3 years of high school education.

He was inducted into the Alabama High School Baseball Hall of Fame.

He married in 1940 and had 2 children.

He was a fireman. 

My Grandaddy, on the right, with an Army buddy.

He enlisted in the Army in 1943 as a member of the 2061st Engineer Aviation Fire-Fighter Assigned to the 406th Fighter Bomber Group, P-47, of the 9th Air Force for Duty.

He received a Dear John letter while overseas. 

He married my Grandmother in 1949. 

They had 3 children.

Total he has 5 Children, 12 Grandchildren, 9 Great-Grandchildren. 

My Dad, Uncle, Grandfather, and Uncle

To have seen everything he has seen! 

Such a great man!

Happy Birthday Grandaddy!!

Hoot Noggit!

Grown-Up Field Trip: Part 1

 A few months ago, I had several close friends come to me with questions about my birthday:

What do you have planned? 

Well, nothing yet.

What do you want to do? 

Maybe just a dinner or something. 

and then the questions followed with 

Because I have a wedding/wedding shower on your birthday.....

Oh....

With the first friend, I didn't think much of it but then when #2 and #3 came around I started to get a little upset/disappointed. Don't my closest and most loyal friends know that they are to leave October 22nd open forever and always? 

Instead of sulking about the situation, I decided to plan a trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Yes, of all the places to plan a birthday celebration, I chose Plymouth. With my love of genealogy and my connection to the area, I was determined to go, with. or without. anyone! At first, it was just going to be me on this lovely voyage but then my mom worked her magic, and was able to get off work, so she and my youngest sister were able to join me! 

The weekend started out great with a major victory for my brother. They were the big upset win over the undefeated East Paulding Raiders. The final score was 29-23! 


I can honestly say, the entire visitor section was beaming! We were all so proud of our Greyhounds! 

My Brother and his team mates singing the fight song after their victory!

Our flight the next morning was at 815 and we made it into Boston around noonish. We walked through Quincy Market to see all the yummy foods before sitting down for lunch at Wagamamas. I first fell in love with Wagamamas when I studied in London during Jan Term. The food is fresh, delicious and quick!  And just my luck, they have one in Boston! My meal was just like I remembered and what made it even better was that mom liked it too! 

Pretty view of South Quincy Market

After lunch, we drove to our hotel in Plymouth, checked in and immediately hit the road again to see the sites. Our first destination: Plymouth Rock. 

I was warned before I left about the size of the rock. "It's not very big, you know!" or "Don't be disappointed when you actually see the rock." I was realistic however; I knew that pieces of it had been chipped away by souvenir seekers and that it had been moved several times, especially during the Revolutionary War. There is still something to be said about seeing the rock, though. Maybe it means more to me because my 9th Great-Grandfather was the 'first' to step on it but I still thought it was flippin cool, in the words of my father! 

THE Plymouth Rock

After we saw the rock, we moved on to the Mayflower II. The Mayflower II is a replica of the originial that sailed almost 400 years ago. The ship, in comparison to the amount of passengers onboard (102), was tiny and with the rough seas that they endured, the Captain probably kept them all underneath for their protection. We learned the next day, that there was supposed to be a second ship, The Speedwell, going over but the Captain did not agree with what the Pilgrims were seeking (religious freedom), so he rigged the masts incorrectly and played dumb, leaving the ship unsailable and making everyone merge onto one ship, the Mayflower. 

The Mayflower II

Our first day was a little rushed because we had an early dinner reservation at the Plimouth Plantation for their Harvest Dinner. Yes, we're strange, we know. I was actually a little disappointed that dinner was inside! We have done an Irish dinner inside a castle before and so I was totally ready for that setting. I was prepared for dinner in a Pilgrim house or even just outside with a table and bench. The food was actually good and their was a lot of it! It was all family style and you were only given a pewter plate (salad size), a steel knife (with rust) and a soup spoon. I'll be honest with you, at lunch before we left Boston, we kept saying "Eat as much as you can because you don't know if dinner is going to be any good." Well, we were stuffed at the end of the night, which happened to be just after seven. 

Our menu for the Harvest Dinner

Because of our early morning wake up call and with much of Plymouth already closed, we decided to call it a night for the day. Eleven hours later though, I did not regret our decision one bit! For now we were rested for our official and exciting full day ahead!

Marilyn Monroe

I have recently taken up an interest with Marilyn Monroe.

She has always been a person of interest but lately I found myself more intrigued with her. There were basic things I knew and loved about her:

I love the fact that she was not runway model thin. 

I love the fact that she was both a baseball wife and a literary wife. 

But mostly, I love the fact that she was absolutely, without a doubt, glamorous!

Well, recently, my mom and I were planning an upcoming trip to Plymouth, Mass and Boston and we were researching places to visit. We were on the Alden House website and on there they have a link of famous descendants of John and Priscilla Alden. In the list were political people such as John Adams and Dan Quayle and some other scholarly people but there was also Norma Jean Baker; professionally known as Marilyn Monroe!

Immediately, we stopped so I could add this information to my family tree! Turns out that Marilyn Monroe is my 9^th Cousin 1x removed! 


My family line to John Alden comes from Joseph Alden, John and Priscilla’s third born and Norma Jean comes from Elizabeth Alden, J & P’s first born.  

I told you we were related!!

Just wanted to brag a little!

Thanks!

Ode to an Old House

Today, my Mom, Dad, Brother, and I are taking a day trip to Spartanburg, SC. My brother, who is a rising Senior in high school, is attending a one day football camp at Wofford College.

My father has recently become obsessed with my Great-Great-Grandparent's house which still stands in the city (once you see pictures, I'm sure you'll understand!). My dad was discussing the transportation plans with my mom one night as well as their plans while my brother was at the camp and I quickly invited myself along! There are only two of us in our immediate family who have not seen the house, Bon Haven as it's called, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity!

My Great-Great-Grandfather, as I recently found out, was deemed Spartanburg's most distinguished businessman and some also deemed him "Spartanburg's first citizen". He had a hand in the developement of almost every aspect of the city; from the school system (founding one college and being on the board of another), to health care, to the water system, to the city's bank and cotton mills he even was a part of the house senate. The names John Bomar and Georgia Alden Cleveland are still very prominent in the city today.

I'm very excited to hopefully journey back a little bit in time and visit the same places where my relatives lived and basically created!

For more information or pictures on Bon Haven (because my computer won't let me upload any), I highly recommend the article below from Garden and Guns Magazine: Ode to an Old House

What's in a Name

Family names are a big deal in my family!

There have been dibs placed on family names for children not even born yet, there have been family quarrels on who is going to name their what, there have even been names not even spoken for fear of someone claiming the name as their own!

Well, below are some family names which I have a feeling might not be some of the front runners in our family:

Men

Bibby Bomar (1754-?)

Booker Bomar (1810-1889)

Fielding Bomar (1762-1840)

Larkin Cleveland (1772-1852)

Leander Murdock Alden (1829-1880)

Water Cleveland (1875-?)

Female

Adeliza Wight (1794-1794)

Ambrose Blackburn (1710-1780)

Hopestill Alden (1668-1753)

Patience Bomar (1793-1823)

Thankful Alden (1813-1847)

Tombstone Tuesday - Abby Frances Alden

I woke Sunday morning with the desire to go to the cemetery…that’s normal right?! Doesn’t everyone at some point in the week want to leisurely visit a cemetery?

My intention for going was to take pictures of family members’ headstone to add to Find a Grave and to also to explore some more since the last time I was there was for an actual funeral (don’t want you to think that I’m some weirdo who sunbathes at cemeteries because I’ve seen that and let me tell you, it is weird!)

So, I grabbed my dog and headed out to St. James Episcopal Cemetery in historic downtown Marietta. I took pictures of my grandparents and great-grandparents and a few distant cousins as well.

While exploring, I came across Abby Frances Alden.

The last name immediately got my attention and the fact that she was a bit secluded from those around her. So I snapped her picture and returned home to do some research.

Turns out, she’s my 1st cousin 4 times removed. She, like me, is a direct descendant from John Alden of the Mayflower – hence the last name!

Her mother, Alice Burrington Wight and my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother, Fanny Leonard Wight, were sisters and her father Charles Henry Alden is the Great-Great-Great-Grandson of John Alden from the Mayflower. If I’ve done my math correctly, it would appear that Abby’s parents were second cousins.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time I’ve come across this in my family. My mother jokes that this is why we bring in new blood like my grandmother and father.

This is about all of the information that I have so far on Abby. Hopefully, with time, I’ll be able to discover more about her and how she ended up in Marietta, GA.

Calling all my creative, resourceful friends!

I have a hobby; a serious one!

I am fascinated with history and genealogy! I have been researching my family history for a few months now. First trying to go back to the Mayflower and now trying to find my grandmother's father and any of his relatives. But I keep going back to one small detail. 

A few months back, NBC aired a series following 8 celebrities as they traced back their family history. Each of the episodes were all very interesting! But Ashley Judd's episode really peaked my interest. 

Like my heritage, Ashley is able to trace her family all the way back to the Mayflower to William Brewster, one of the main founders of the Mayflower expedition. In the episodes, Ashley makes a stop at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and in this particular segment, they present her with a keepsake. As Ashley unravels the scroll, she sees that it is a family lineage chart from her all the way back to William Brewster. 

Immediately, I think to myself, 

I HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE!

I have been in search of a family lineage chart for a while that looks as simple and elegant as this one above. All of the family trees, charts, graphs, etc. that I have googled have all been included some sort of literal tree or it doesn't go back as far as I need it to go back or it's in a different format that I do not find apealling. 

So here's my question/request, if any one out there knows where I can obtain a family lineage chart like the one above or know how I can go about having one made, I would be forever indebted to you! 

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions that are given! 

Devotedly...

Post-Marked April 1911

My dearest sweetheart,

You simply do not know how very, very much I enjoyed my visit Sunday. I had, I think, the best time I’ve had in my life. You and your folks are so kind to me, and you – you love me so!

Mary and I worked hard on my (guest) list last night, and we expect to finish it tonight. Last night I added most of my Chester and Spartanburg names. This is very interesting business; isn’t it? It awakens old memories and associations and carries us back into the past. As you said, Sunday, I love, sometimes, to visit the past.

Got your delightful letter last night and thank you so much for your love.

When I came back Sunday night, I slept all night – from twelve o’clock – in the day coach with all my clothes on. The Pullman was badly crowded, and the day car looked better to me.

The weather continues very warm, dry, and unpleasant, and everyone wishes for real fall weather.

Breakfast is about ready and I will close. Will write you again very soon.

Devotedly,

Wellborn

Thursday A.M.

This was a letter that my Great-Grandmother, Alice Cleveland of Spartanburg, SC, received from her beloved, Wellborn Reynolds of Marietta, GA. (Alice, by the way, is the Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of John & Priscilla Alden of the Mayflower but that's another matter.) I've found several of these letters around the house and everytime I discover one I am more and more intrigued. In the pile of letters that I found this one in, were also condolence letters from when my Grandfather passed away. In a personally emotional letter, I read as a friend of my Grandfather's told his wife, my Oma, how "no one could have described John any better than Pastor Richardson. He truly was a 'Christian Gentleman'." I had always known how great of an individual my grandfather was but for some reason, I found this letter extremely moving.

Today, in a time where tweets, status updates and mass emails are taking the place of letters and long personal conversations, it makes me want to take a stand and revert to the simpler days.

My father has a theory....with all of the technology that we have available to us, he feels that there will come a time when society just can't take it anymore. They will shut down and basically become like the Romans....need I say anymore?! After he shared his theory, I suddenly had my own apostrophe! Lighting had just struck my brain! It is true, we do have a lot of technology available to us; leading us to know things of far away lands much much quicker. There are people out there who believe the end of the world has begun due to frequent natural disasters and inclement weather. But is it possible that these events have been happening since the beginning of man...well not since the beginning of man but for a while at least.

Deep for a Thursday night isn't it?! I don't mean to rant all night or press my thoughts on you but my point of all of this is simple. When has it become acceptable for people to forgo personal, one-on-one communication? Is it that we have too much going on and find this method easier or do we really want to air our personal business to everyone and their brother!? While, yes all of the tweets, posts, and tags are fun, what will we leave our great-great-great-whatever to read or learn about us?! A printed email?! I just think there is something very irreplaceable about a hand written, post marked letter, postcard, what have you from someone from the past.

This is a subject that I feel very, very strongly about. My Mother's Father passed away when she was 11 months old. Growing up, this was something that always managed to capture my imagination. What was he like? What would he have looked like? What would he have smelled like? How would his voice have sounded? All of these questions plagued my mind. Luckily, he lived during a time, where letter writing was the norm and luckily, my Grandmother, the German, WWII survivor and pack rat, saved a fair amount of his correspondence. I've found letters from when he was at the Naval Academy in NY, letters to his parents and letters from his travels with my Grandmother. All of these allowing me a chance to know the Grandfather I was never able to know.

My Great-Great-Grandmother, Georgia Alden Cleveland, also kept a daily diary from 1890-1914. Come to think of it, there might just be a simple solution to this. This could just possibly be some kind of personal turmoil that I am struggling with. I mean, I've got rather big shoes to fill! My Great-Great-Grandmother kept a diary for over 20 years! I think the longest I ever went was a few months. Think of the history that she provided! She talks of going to the Chicago State Fair in 1898, of the Wright brother's inaugural flight and other events in history. That's huge! I know that I've had relatives who have witnessed other historical events but how many of them have documented it personally. Anyone can tell you the facts, but what about the emotions or even what about the weather of that day (Georgia Alden was known for journaling about the weather)?! I don't think you can find a smiley face to accurate depict any of those!

In my journal from high school, I've got a blank page for September 11th. I think it's time I fill that in now...