tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81613477936374688862024-03-14T00:44:43.227-07:00BELDIN Family Alliances: From Then Til NowBELDIN, STEIN, MOSSEY/MASSÉ/MACÉ, REED, MILNE, RICHARDSON, JENKINS, MILNE, FORGEA/FORGET, MCCUE/MCHUGH, CARLSON, GIRARD, BOUVIER, LAFORCE, HILL, PATON, ELLIOTT, YOUNG, PÉPINMargiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-7069038503393460312016-02-29T20:47:00.001-08:002016-02-29T20:48:18.051-08:0030 January 1943–A Wedding<p><font size="1">My parents, James Donald Stein and Irene Emma Mossey were married on Saturday, 30 January 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Here is my mother’s recollection of her wedding day and honeymoon:</font></p> <p>In February, 2001, Mom related the story of her wedding to me:</p> <p><em> “We were married on Jan. 30, 1943, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dad proposed to me on Valentine’s Day, 1942. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3q1WjbLbImo/VtUey_rV3wI/AAAAAAAADuw/bHsiM68r6qU/s1600-h/Jim--Irenes-Wedding2-color3.jpg"><img title="Jim & Irene's Wedding2-color" style="float: left; margin: 8px 17px 2px 0px; display: inline" alt="Jim & Irene's Wedding2-color" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uU9vbQIjtWk/VtUezWVCJ4I/AAAAAAAADu0/T9cukiZTji0/Jim--Irenes-Wedding2-color_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" align="left" height="240"></a>He took religion lessons from the chaplain so we could be married by the priest in St. Michael’s Cathedral. There was a blizzard on Jan. 28th, the day he left Jacksonville, Florida, to come home. The train stopped in Philadelphia because of the snow. He finally got another train. He arrived home that night about 9pm.<br> Annemarie Bailey and I trudged thru the hip-deep snow to meet him at the train station because there were no buses running right then because of the snow. It took us about one and one-half hours to get to the station in downtown Springfield. The next day, we spent almost all day running to and from the courthouse and judge’s chambers to get our marriage license. We couldn't get it until Dad arrived home and we had to get special permission because we had to dispense with the waiting period. We finally found a judge who was available to sign the paper. <br> We were to be married the next morning about 10am. We arrived at the chancellery and the bishop was out of town and had not signed our dispensation to be married because Dad was not Catholic. He was expected back by noon. I had really wanted to be married at noon. It was awful waiting. They did not marry after 12pm at that time, so Father married us and said he would explain to the bishop. The bishop did not get back before noon. I cried through the whole ceremony. <br> We had a lovely reception at my parents’ home on Marion St. My Aunt Adis baked the two-tier cake (apple sauce) and her husband, Uncle Dub, decorated it. He had worked at a bakery at one time or other. I had a soldier and bride on the top. It was beautiful. We had pictures taken at the studio and then went home for the reception. <br> It snowed and then we had sleet. We left for New York City around 5pm. While we were sitting on the train waiting to leave, some of our friends walked thru and covered us with confetti. We had to sit like that for three hours on the ride to NYC. <br> We went to the Chesterfield Hotel (no longer there) and our reservation was given away because we were late arriving. They gave us another room on the 12th floor which was very nice. We had breakfast served in our room the next morning. We did some shopping, sightseeing and window shopping. We visited the NBC building and toured it. They were interviewing people on the new invention-television. I was picked to be interviewed. It was real neat and Dad was so proud. We stayed there for four days and spent the rest of his fifteen-day leave between his parents’ home and mine.”</em></p>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-79937393247286405762013-11-21T11:04:00.001-08:002013-11-21T11:04:03.962-08:00Where Was I Nov 22, 1963<p>It is interesting when we think back at the history during our lives, we remember some details better than others. Where were you when Kennedy was shot? I am sure every one of us can remember it as plain as it happened yesterday.</p> <p>I was sitting in my Spanish class at Henry Clay Junior High School. Sr. Cisneros was our teacher. I can’t remember if we were writing or listening, but I do remember the announcement over the loudspeaker on the front wall of our room. It interrupted our class to let us know that not only had President Kennedy been shot, but he had died. We were kids so I don’t remember what our reaction was nor do I remember what happened at school the next few days. Seems to me, schools may have been closed.</p> <p>I do remember hearing my dad say, when I got home, that it was such a shame. We were not a politically active family, though my parents always voted. Nor am I even sure my parents voted for Kennedy, but the idea of killing someone for whatever reason was beyond my father’s understanding even though he had served in WWII. Guns were unnecessary in his life.</p> <p>I also remember my dad watching the TV when Ruby shot Oswald. He called to us to come quickly to watch what happened. Again, he could only shake his head in disbelief. </p> <p>Where were you on this day?</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-80180776425970469792013-04-29T15:29:00.000-07:002013-04-29T15:33:39.307-07:00New Research Doesn’t Answer Old Questions<blockquote> <p>After three weeks of research in Massachusetts and attendance at the wonderful New England Regional Genealogical Conference, I didn’t come much closer to the answers I was seeking to find. In fact, I guess I could say my mind is now more muddled with information and even more questions.</p> <p>The goal of this trip was to spend time researching in the courthouses of Pittsfield regarding the arrest of Bridget HEARST McHugh on charges of “illegal keeping of intoxicating beverages”. I was able to find the court case and after pleading “not guilty”, Bridget was let off. On the other hand, David Tierney who was also arrested at the same time, for the same crime, by the same officer was not so lucky. It was found there was probable cause and he was set for trial. I did not pursue his case which I now wish I had, but I had so much more to research, time was an issue. However, I am left with more questions. There were witnesses presumably against Bridget because they were reimbursed by the court. David Tierney had no witnesses to be paid, so why was Bridget found “not guilty” and David was not? What was the probable cause that made him more guilty than Bridget?</p> <p>I was also there to research the dower rights of Bridget consequent to the death of her husband, Francis. I found none! There was property including a house in Frank McHUGH’s estate. I wanted to know who owned the house and what became of it after the deaths of Francis and Bridget. More questions than answers again: the house was owned by Bridget right from the start; then was sold by Annie F. McHUGH to her cousin, Ellen MULLANEY all the while Hannora MCHUGH Forgea and her family were living in the house! Huh? Why didn’t the FORGEA family buy the house? Why were they allowed to live in it only until the death of Nora? </p> <p>After her death, her two youngest were consigned to Brightside Orphanage. Six months later, Annie F. MCHUGH petitioned for temporary guardianship of the three daughters of Nora; Catherine and Anna were in the orphanage. Where was Adase? Why the need for guardianship papers when Adase was 20 and the two younger girls were in the orphanage?</p> <p>And some answers only led to more confusion. Aunt Anna was consigned to Brightside Orphanage until shortly after her 12th birthday, then she was released from Brightside to Beaven Kelly. I thought Beaven Kelly was a person. Instead, it turns out it was a retirement home for elderly gentlemen. What was a 12-year-old doing in a retirement home for elderly gentlemen? Hopefully answers will come as I sift through all the documents I was able to copy. Thank goodness for smart phones.</p></blockquote> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-8964596266097852812013-01-28T20:06:00.000-08:002013-01-28T20:07:48.149-08:00Our Move to the Tri-Cities<p>In the spring of 1992, Dad [Bernie Beldin] was made an offer he could not refuse.</p> <p><br>He was a major in the United States Air Force, happy with his service but feeling the pressure to retire after 32 years combined enlisted/officer service. Because of his time in service, he felt his chances of making lieutenant colonel were slim in addition to the reduction in forces that President Clinton was proposing at the time.</p> <p><br>However, he had always vowed he would not leave the service without a job waiting for him. His wish had just come true; he was offered a position by a contractor and, if accepted, would be working in the Federal Building in downtown Richland. He made an exploratory trip out to the Tri-Cities, flying into Portland, OR, so that he could drive through the Columbia Gorge which a friend had assured him would be a beautiful drive. He was impressed with the beauty of the area; he was interviewed and offered the job.</p> <p><br>He moved to Richland in April, not yet retired from the service but taking leave and planning his retirement for the end of May. In August, Kris, [our son] joined him so that he would be able to begin his first year in high school at the school he would be attending for the next four years. Michelle, Ginger and I [our daughter, our dog and mom, Margie Beldin] remained in Lake Ridge, Virginia, awaiting the contract renewal with the firm Dad/Bernie had just joined - no contract, no job, no reason to move us all to the Tri-Cities. Fortunately, in October, their contract was renewed and our family was reunited by the end of October, 1992. We were all finally together in Richland, Washington.<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2002-03-07--House-winter 2" border="0" alt="2002-03-07--House-winter 2" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d-bFxhFn8O8/UQdLElb40dI/AAAAAAAABTU/ozvvXnk-hsQ/2002-03-07--House-winter%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163"></p> <p><br>The housing market was so bad at the time, with only 72 houses on the MLS, we decided to purchase property and build our dream home. Fourteen months later, in December, 1993, we moved into our dream home and have enjoyed living here, in the Tri-Citites, ever since.</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-22074079158913872962012-10-03T14:44:00.001-07:002012-10-03T14:44:25.780-07:00Dogs<p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QgFVGZD-qbA/UGyxrUZmI7I/AAAAAAAABIs/rFsCY4EiINo/image%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="179" height="126"></p> <p>This week we learned that Kris and his family are getting a puppy. I don’t even know the gender but s/he is a real cutie. We do know that she is a shih tzu.</p> <p>My family has always has dogs since the day I was born. Mom and Dad had a black w/white Pomeranian when I was born named Tippy. She was never my friend; even dogs can be jealous, but she was my first introduction to canines and I have been awed by them ever since.</p> <p>When I was pregnant with Kris, Bernie and I got our first dog. Buffy was a buff colored cocker but did not like men. She also wasn’t crazy about Kris who was born just a few months later usurping her place in the family. </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2004-10--Ginger-cropped" border="0" alt="2004-10--Ginger-cropped" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PqXYaH2hq7k/UGyxr33h3YI/AAAAAAAABI0/YAWP9c9dSC4/2004-10--Ginger-cropped%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="111" height="124"></p> <p>Ginger was the most precious dog of all. Another cocker, she was small and loving and a joy to our family for the seventeen years we had her. It was so hard saying goodbye to her after all the love and joy she had given us. She was even loved by our vet who kindly met us on a Sunday to give her her final peace. We were lucky that both our cockers were small without much hair. And they had the prettiest faces, not the smashed nose that so many cockers often have.<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2004-12-04 -- CASEY, Cassie and Bachus" border="0" alt="2004-12-04 -- CASEY, Cassie and Bachus" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sbJDHuP8-ZQ/UGyxsb-_DrI/AAAAAAAABI8/cHBkVg9LOl4/2004-12-04%252520--%252520CASEY%25252C%252520Cassie%252520and%252520Bachus%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="96"></p> <p>While we still had Ginger, we decided to go with a bigger dog. We had cared for Michelle’s golden, Bacchus, and found having a big dog was kind of fun. I was prepared to find a golden, but Bernie had had an Australian Shepherd as a young adult and he thought he would like that kind of a dog.</p> <p>Welcome Maggie. Maggie was a rescue who had been living on and off the streets for most of <img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " border="0" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA " align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cbQP1f53YRU/UGyxs-tOXsI/AAAAAAAABJE/pqAJLR2OHRM/2006-02--Maggie%25252C%252520cropped%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="138" height="134">her life. She was beautiful but big. She weighed more than 65 pounds and lumbered along as we would walk. She didn’t like being a leash but then why would she. She would just follow us along as we walked. She was a charmer, to say the least. Maggie only lived with us 11 months. We discovered she had a tumor in her brain that made her back legs weaker and weaker. When she could no longer get up on her own, we had to say good-bye to her. She was only 8 years old and eleven months wasn’t enough time to really let her know how much we loved and needed her. She was supposed to be our comfort when we lost Gingie, but Gingie was still going strong.</p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2008-Portland-weaves" border="0" alt="2008-Portland-weaves" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jWhLtn5M1rE/UGyxteQXWeI/AAAAAAAABJM/wy4MKES-cPk/2008-Portland-weaves%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" height="117">Our next dog was the most wonderful one would could ever wish for except for one major flaw, he was petrified of other dogs and would react by attacking if one got near him. He was very respectful, though, and never once got between Gingie and us. By now, she was older and had gone through having Bacchus live with us, then Maggie came into and our of our home and now another dog. She had about had it and actually had absolutely nothing to do with Skye, which was just fine with him. With Skye, we got involved with dog agility. What fun we had and Skye was the perfect “first agility dog.” He was so well behaved and we, together were so attuned. It was such a joy to run with him. There will never be another dog like Skye. We lost him to a very debilitating disease which also affects humans, myasthenia gravis. He was diagnosed in March and six weeks later he was gone. Our world was shattered and it is still hard to think of him without my heart breaking.</p> <p>After losing Ginger, we adopted Roxie who was born in Spokane, had a family but was given up at 18 months old. She <img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Roxie - face" border="0" alt="Roxie - face" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eUacqB7kYiY/UGyxtkqhGWI/AAAAAAAABJU/atoyCddaCoQ/Roxie%252520-%252520face%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="156" height="121">is a very pretty girl but very reserve, a barker (yuk) and much less willing to do what we want. She is not people or dog unfriendly, but she is the most outgoing dog we have ever had. She does not give kisses and hardly wags her tail but I think she is happy to be in our family. We give her lots of love and lots of opportunities for exercise which she loves. She is turning into a nice agility dog, but will never enjoy agility the way Skye did. After a run, you could tell that he loved what we had just done and was ready to go again. For Roxie, it is the reward. “Where is the food?” is all she cares about at the end of a run.</p> <p>After losing Skye, we thought Roxie would like a doggy companion. She had tried, unsuccessfully, to get Skye to play<img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_5635" border="0" alt="IMG_5635" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t4np_RNRPHk/UGyxuNST2dI/AAAAAAAABJc/XEmc5w0VQpg/IMG_5635%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="112" height="151"> with her. She loved going to Michelle’s and playing with Cassie, Michelle’s female golden. So we were looking for a dog so she would have a companion and we would, hopefully, have another agility dog. Skete was found wandering the streets of Chehalis. He was rescued by a dog-loving lady and her family. They couldn’t keep him because they were already expecting the arrival of two new shelties to add to the one they already had, so she was looking for a good home for “Shep” whom we later named Skete. Skete was only 15 to 18 months when we got him, so he is a baby and very frisky, much to Roxie’s dismay. She is growing to like him more and more and they do play together, but mostly it involves Roxie standing and barking while Sketey runs circles around her. I think they are having fun????</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-32103369478303433932012-03-24T12:39:00.001-07:002012-03-24T18:49:46.400-07:00One Clue – More Questions<p>Or at least on Randy Seaver’s Blog, it is Surname Saturday, so decided to post what I just learned last night.</p> <p>It is often said, we should reread documents we have collected on ancestors. Recently, I have been looking for obituaries for my deceased ancestors. Having a subscription to GenealogyBank certainly helps and makes it more fun than tedious to read all that pops up even when it is usually NOT about my family. But that’s another blog, of course.</p> <p>So, I noticed that although I had the death and burial information for my grandfather, William G. MOSSEY, I did not show in my genealogy program that I had an obit for him. However, I have a folder on my computer filled with downloaded images that I have yet to attach to my RootsMagic database, so checked there before wasting time looking in GenealogyBank. Sure enough, I had a very nice obit. And, voilà! there was some information I had not noticed before. When he died, he left his two daughters, my mom and her sister, and HIS sister, Evelyn C. Good. Oh my gosh! I had not noticed that before and why do I care?</p> <p>In my grandfather’s birth family, I have two sisters, Cecile Mossey and Evelyn Mossey, both born in 1880. Obviously, this cannot be unless one was born early in the year and the other late in the year but that does not often happen. And, when I find one sister in a census or other record, I cannot find the other. I have also had trouble finding either of them in many censuses or city directories. But, I have often suspected, that these two sisters are one and the same person, they/she just keep changing their names whenever they feel like it. My father’s mother, Emma JENKINS, and family did this ALL the time, so I am not surprised to find this. Maybe this was a trend in the early 1900s?</p> <p>Back to the obit: my grandfather’s sister is listed as Mrs. Louis Good. A quick search of some internet databases does not produce a marriage but looking in the city directories of Springfield in 1953 produces a Llewellyn J. Good and his wife Evelyn C. Since many of the obits I have read have massacred names, or at minimum misspelled them, I can see where Louis and Llewellyn may be the same person and Evelyn C. is certainly a good indication that Evelyn Cecile may be that person. I did do some research looking for her in the 1910 and 1920 census, but could not find her in either of those but did find Evelyn married to Llewellyn in the 1930 census with a 16 year old daughter.</p> <p>But, of course, there is another conundrum, which might indicate one of them was married more than once. In the column listing age, Llewellyn is listed as 39 years old; Evelyn is listed as 48 making her birth year 1882! And, to further muddy the waters, he first was married at age 20 and she was first married at 23. If this marriage is their first, she would only be three years older than him, hmmmmm.</p> <p>The 16 year old daughter, is she theirs or his? Question answered, it seems Llewellyn was married when he was 20, as indicated by the 1930 census. His first marriage was 23 Nov 1910 to Marion Gertrude Osborne. I have found no death date as yet for Marion Osborn Good nor have I found the marriage between Llewellyn and Evelyn. So, the mystery remains, is Evelyn Good married to Llewellyn Good Cecile or Evelyn Mossey, my grandfather’s sister?</p> <p>One piece of information generates many more questions.</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-48586044323343121532012-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:002012-03-14T17:06:42.697-07:00And to the Present<p>Last week, I had the opportunity to spend the whole week with my daughter and granddaughters who live not too far from here. What a privilege to be able to see your own posterity in action and enjoy children the way we all should. It is unfortunate we don’t often derive the same pleasure from our own children as they are growing up as we do when they are our grandchildren. As grandparents, we get to step back, laugh, play, hug and enjoy these tiny beings probably much more than we enjoyed their parents. The joys of being a grandmother.</p> <p><br>Ellie is 2 years and Emma 3 months and both have already very distinct personalities. Emma loves to be held and is <img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-03-09 -- Happy Emma" border="0" alt="2012-03-09 -- Happy Emma" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lCD9_QywYOY/T157O0RybTI/AAAAAAAABD0/nmeIEzoJc20/2012-03-09%252520--%252520Happy%252520Emma%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="234">easily entertained by what is going on around her. While Ellie, makes her own entertainment. There’s no sitting down and watching, except an occasional Dora or Mickey cartoon. Emma has three stages in her life right now, sleep, eat, awake and the cycle starts again. Ellie, on the other hand, is always busy doing something and eating and sleeping are not high on her list of “activities” although she does go to bed around 8pm and takes a 2-hour nap every day. But while she is awake, there are discoveries to be made. And, Ellie’s favorite words are, “Ellie do it!” She likes us to help get things started, like zipping zippers, putting food on her plate, opening doors, but once we get her started, she helps herself.</p> <p><br>I think my favorite time this week was when Ellie and I took our walks. The first morning, the walk was not long but it was cold. We were looking for flowers but obviously in the winter, they are few and far between. Except for one, nearly-dead plant, we only saw some plastic flowers several people had planted in their yards to give them some color, I am sure.<br>The second walk was way more interesting because the sky was blue and sun was shining. We walked for nearly an hour and I without my camera! The day before I had had Ellie stand quietly so she could hear the birds. I am not much of a birder, but I do know a robin when I see one and there were lots of them. I quieted Ellie with my finger to my mouth, so now Ellie knew how to quiet me, so we could listen to the birdies. <br></p> <p>We also came across a boulder that was shaped so that there was a seat and back just big enough for Ellie. She loved sitting there. After that, she had to try every large rock she found. I warned her the pointed rocks were not suitable for sitting, but she found many that were just her size. </p> <p><br>We also first heard then saw a waterfall. Someone had a huge tower of basalt in their yard which they had turned into a waterfall complete with pond and goldfish. What a wonderful sound to hear on a brisk, sunny day. Near here, we met Snickers, a little white dog that looked like a mop who was working furiously to get to us to say hello. Ellie was apprehensive which surprised me as she lives with two goldens and loves to visit our two aussies. We also looked at pine cones, which Ellie did not seem to care for, and looked at all the cracks in the sidewalks.</p> <p><br>We walked for about an hour and it was only the last 5 minutes as we were heading home that she wanted to be carried so like a good Gramma, she got a piggy back ride.</p> <p><br>The day we went to story time was so much fun for Emma. While Ellie and Mommy participated in story time at the library, Gramma got to hold Emma who was mesmerized by all the kids and movement that was going on in the room. She was not interested in sleeping or eating; she just spent the whole time in my lap watching the action. She is certainly a curious little girl.<br></p> <p>The most fun, though, was watching and listening to Ellie as she expressed herself. While she is not yet speaking in <img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-03-09 -- Ellie at the park" border="0" alt="2012-03-09 -- Ellie at the park" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3GCT4kzWsMA/T157PAiNfUI/AAAAAAAABD8/t3YjhcH6ES8/2012-03-09%252520--%252520Ellie%252520at%252520the%252520park%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="226">full sentences, the one sentence she knows perfectly is “I like birthday parties.” Apparently, Dora had a birthday party in one of her cartoons and Ellie was hooked. She kept repeating that sentence over and over sometimes dancing in a circle as she repeated it. Once, while I was changing her diaper, she threw her head back and shouted, “I LIKE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!” Too bad her birthday isn’t until the end of November.</p> <p><br>Going to the park was the culmination of our week; it also made it easier for Gramma to leave as Ellie was way to interested in playing than worrying about Gramma having to go home to Grampa. Hope she wasn’t too disappointed when she realized I had left. I miss her so…</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-80623195094412793302012-03-12T15:02:00.000-07:002012-03-13T12:29:54.724-07:00An Artist in the Family<p>On our long ride to RootsTech, I was telling my friend about my great grandfather, Joseph Mossey (Massé). He was a carriage trimmer. My friend asked what a carriage trimmer was and while I thought I knew, I hesitated. I decided if I am going to get to know my ancestors, I should get to know what it is they did and be able to explain that to others.</p> <p>Naturally, I began by googling “Carriage Trimmer”. I found a website that categorized professions. My Joseph was an artisan. That was a pleasant surprise. My mother and grandmother were excellent needleworkers in knitting, embroidery and sewing and my grandfather, George Mossey, was, according to my mom, a great cook. And, now his father was an artisan in his own right.</p> <p>How did I learn about my great grandfather’s abilities? I was doing some newspaper research. I found a site that has indexed the newspapers of northern New York. This ad I found in The Plattsburgh Sentinel caught my eye and gave me a smile. My great grandfather was “one of the best carriage trimmers”!<sup>1</sup> How thrilling that someone would actually print such nice words about one of their employees who also is my ancestor. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GwmmqAp8cKA/T15x6nMoDpI/AAAAAAAABDc/_5L1LLUmV40/s1600-h/Newspaper----Plattsburgh-Sentinel-18.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Newspaper -- Plattsburgh Sentinel, 1883, MOSSEY, Joseph" border="0" alt="Newspaper -- Plattsburgh Sentinel, 1883, MOSSEY, Joseph" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F5fmo7N6FP0/T15x7PXUuuI/AAAAAAAABDk/G99rExC7eDE/Newspaper----Plattsburgh-Sentinel-18%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="227"></a></p> <p>In my search, I also found a book that is a reprint of a book that was apparently the carriage trimmer’s Bible back in the 1880s and maybe was one my great grandfather referred to in his business. </p> <p align="left"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 33px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Carriage Trimmer's Manual-grey" border="0" alt="The Carriage Trimmer's Manual-grey" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x7Ouk9OYhig/T15x7Q-wVMI/AAAAAAAABDs/BrphItn5490/The%252520Carriage%252520Trimmer%252527s%252520Manual-grey.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="283">According to the description on the website, “…the book describes the complexity of materials—leathers, silks, laces—and range of skills (upholstering, tufting, stitching and binding, cutting enameled leathers, making leather sockets, welting, fabric selection, etc.) required for this branch of the carriage trade.” The book also contains “recipes for cleaning, oiling and blacking leather, polishing metals and restoring ivory, among others.” It goes on to describe the tools used in the carriage trimmers arsenal, such as stuffing sticks, round knives and shears.<sup>2</sup></p> <p align="left">Looks like I’ll be going back to Google to learn what many of those terms mean which will give me a better idea of what my great grandfather really did for a living. </p> <p align="left">(Can you hear the buttons popping off my shirt?)</p> <p align="left">__________________________________________________________________________________________________</p> <p align="left">Sources</p> <p align="left">1. Unknown author, . "Merritt." <i>Plattsburgh Sentinel</i> [New York] 20 Apr 1883, Vol. 28, No. 47 1. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <a href="http://news2.nnyln.net/plattsburgh-sentinel/serch.html">http://news2.nnyln.net/plattsburgh-sentinel/serch.html</a>.</p> <p align="left">2. "The Carriage Trimmers’ Manual Guide Book and Illustrated Technical Dictionary." <i>Astragal Press</i>. Astragal Press, An Imprint of Finney Company, 2012. Web. 12 Mar 2012. <http://astragalpress.com/carriage_trimmers_manual.htm>. </p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-50616334439843711052012-02-29T20:38:00.001-08:002012-03-13T17:04:38.002-07:00Newspaper Research Brings SurpriseEvery once in a while, research reveals a surprise that sets you back on your heals. This happened to me this weekend as I was researching on GenealogyBank for data about my gg grandfather, Francis McCue or Frank McHugh as his name evolved before he died.<br />
<br />
Let me back up a bit. I was privileged to attend RootsTech with my friend, Bev. We decided to get there a few days early so we could spend some time in the Family History Library. While there, I actually found some court records for Bridget McHugh which dealt with the estate of Frank McHugh. More on that in a later blog.<br />
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Then, at RootsTech, I attended a session by Drew Smith on using your blog as a research log. That was it. This is what I am going to try and do as I spend this year trying to find where in Ireland Frank McHugh came from.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I spent several hours researching in GenealogyBank for any news items on Frank McHugh but instead came across a small article about Bridget. Of course, every little bit of information causes many more questions that lead to more research. But, that is what makes researching our families so interesting.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VLlQ5zl6Zwo/T079OxR-RCI/AAAAAAAABDA/Ba-FU_baPWc/s1600-h/Newspaper----MCHUGH-Bridget-arrested.jpg"><img alt="Newspaper -- MCHUGH, Bridget, arrested, 1887, Pittsfield, MA" border="0" height="172" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zsepbIykUNI/T079PFNqiJI/AAAAAAAABDI/4AHKIRLbWHU/Newspaper----MCHUGH-Bridget-arrested%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Newspaper -- MCHUGH, Bridget, arrested, 1887, Pittsfield, MA" width="403" /></a><br />
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Questions that now need to be answered are: Why was having some beer in the house against the law? Why did she have beer in her house? When was the trial and what was the result? (I searched GenealogyBank but found nothing on the trial).<br />
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Newspaper research is really fun because it helps bring our ancestors to life. My gg grandmother was a real person who got her name in the paper probably in a way she never expected. I sure was surprised!Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-84475397911412463222012-01-12T15:10:00.001-08:002012-01-12T15:10:02.841-08:00New Year’s Resolution<blockquote> <p>This year I plan to write more diligently on my family history blog. At the end of the month, I will be traveling to RootsTech. One class in particular I plan to attend is Drew Smith’s <a href="http://rootstech.org/schedule/friday/TU022">Using a Blog as Your Online Research Log</a>.</p> <p>As I established goals for this 2012 New Year, I decided I would like to concentrate on breaking down some of my brick walls most of which occur around the beginning of the 19th century. But, in addition to the brick walls, bringing my ancestors to life using as many records as I can find, became an AHA moment while I was attending a genealogy conference. I needed to make them real people, flesh them out. People, and especially my ancestors are not just names, dates and places. They were real people whose decisions affect me and my descendants.</p> <p>This morning, I was reading an article in Jan/Feb’s Family Chronicle by Bernice L. Rocque who has turned her research into stories which “[illuminate] the essence of ancestors who influenced the generations behind them…”. </p> <p>While I don’t have the connections she has to older living relatives, I do have facts and could certainly work to find more. So as the New Year begins, I will try to put into words the facts I have learned about my ancestors. Maybe I will even try to record the first-hand knowledge I have about the ancestors I did get to know or learn about from the family stories I heard growing up.</p> <p>My blog will become my research log but with more details. </p> <p>Wish me well. </p></blockquote> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-20006561751561263902011-02-26T09:37:00.001-08:002011-02-26T09:37:42.740-08:00Learning the Culture<p>Just read an interesting story that Dad sent to me. He found it on CNN: <a title="http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/26/forgotten.graves/index.html?hpt=C1" href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/26/forgotten.graves/index.html?hpt=C1">http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/26/forgotten.graves/index.html?hpt=C1</a></p> <p>I find it interesting that black families seem to be so much more interested in their past and wanting their descendants to remember, than those in my family. When I tried to ask questions of family members, or have tried to contact distant family members, I have most often been shunned or told that they can’t remember anything. My mother was this way; and Carol, my cousin, told me the same thing about her mother (my mom’s sister). They could remember very little. Once in a while I could get my mom to talk but it was rare. And when I showed her her name and her family listed in the 1930 census, she wanted to know why she should care about it.</p> <p>It wasn’t until I saw Rosie O’Donnell on Who Do You Think You Are? that I got a clue about my family history. Although only one line of my family history is Irish, it seems that the celtic philosophy permeated my family’s way of thinking. Rosie mentioned that in her Irish household, the past was forgotten, never spoken of. For some reason, the Irish do not like speaking about their past. </p> <p>Like many cultures, the Irish have had a hard history. But what makes their history any more difficult than that of the Blacks in America whose ancestors were enslaved, treated like animals and had very difficult lives? What about the American Indians who were forced to leave their homes because of the white man and yet still revere their ancestors. I know little about the Chinese and their hardships, but their ancestors, too, are revered.</p> <p>Some interesting thoughts. Guess I will have to study this further.</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-11030107618810955402011-02-25T18:05:00.001-08:002011-02-25T18:05:34.604-08:00Actually Using High Tech<p>So, with all that I learned at RootsTech and have been reading about, I realized I needed to put it all to use.</p> <p>This is, again, off track of my family researching, but just wanted to assure my family that the time, effort and $$$ put forth for family history is paying off little by little.</p> <p>Friday, after RootsTech was finished for the day, I was determined to get over to the Family History Library before all the festivities began so I could get a little research in.</p> <p>As I dumped all my stuff in the hotel room, I was trying to figure out what to take and not overload myself with stuff. (I usually have to cart everything along in case I “forgot” something.) This time though, I was determined to take the minimum and get a few things accomplished in the small amount of time I had.</p> <p>I did not want to lug my netbook along and a whole bunch of paper notes. So, using my newfound knowledge, I grabbed my thumb drive which had RootsMagic-to-Go on it, a pen and a spiral notebook with paper to write notes and my NGS neck ID holder for my pen and Library cards.</p> <p>Off I went to the Library which was just next door and since the sun was shining and weather seemed relatively mild (and cuz I kept forgetting my sweater the last time I was there), I walked out without any coat and just my thumb drive, pen and spiral notebook.</p> <p>Got to the Library, plugged my thumb drive into a computer, looked at my database, clicked on the Library catalog to see what films I needed to view, jotted down a few notes and the film#s, unplugged my thumb drive and I was off to find the films and see what I could learn.</p> <p>What fun! Had everything I needed at my fingertips, did not lose my sweater, didn’t have to worry about a computer and I actually found a lot of information on one of my families of interest.</p> <p>Yea for technology and good weather!</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-79016683824681657392011-02-23T15:49:00.001-08:002011-02-23T18:43:17.015-08:00from High Tech to Low Tech<p>Wow! did not realize it had been so long since I posted. I want to get back to my ancestors’ history but I need to share with my friends and family all the cool things I did in Salt Lake City.</p> <p>I was soooo lucky that Michelle and Ellie (14mos) wanted to come with me so that made the trek so much more fun.</p> <p>We arrived on a Wednesday; Carolyn picked us up at the airport but not before she locked her keys in the house. Michelle and I were content to sit and wait (what choice did we have?) which also gave Ellie a chance to nap.</p> <p>While sitting there, we saw the Sleights. Alane was on her way to Alicia’s for the baby blessing and Don was going to follow on Friday. So funny in this huge world actually running into people we know.</p> <p>Carolyn is amazing. She managed to get Michelle’s two huge suitcases and my med-large suitcase in the trunk and 2 carseats, a stroller, two babies and 3 adults in the car. Great job, Carolyn. (Should’a taken a picture of that!)</p> <p>After running errands, etc, Michelle drove me to the Plaza Hotel where I was going to stay for the 3-day RootsTech Conference. The conference was great! As usual, I learned a lot. Saw lots of people that I knew from previous conferences and met a lot of knew people. Innovations at the conference were the play ‘n relax areas; the central “camping” spot for the bloggers, the hands-on workshops, the fact that the conference was for both techies and non-techie types. There was also a wider age range in the attendees than I have seen in the past.</p> <p>My favorite quote of the conference was by Curt Witcher: “If you do what you have always done, you’ll get what you have always gotten.” Interestingly enough, I can apply that to many facets of my life. Just the week before, my dog agility trainer told me the same thing when I could not get Skye to jump over a different jump; I kept giving him the same signal so he kept jumping over the same jump, duh!</p> <p>There was some frustration with class offerings and logistics at RootsTech but that is to be expected when something so huge (3000 people) and so quickly brought together (7 months) has its debut. The keynote speakers were very good and not necessarily genealogists. Curt Witcher, however, is still one of my favorites and I had the privilege of hearing his keynote address AND attending the luncheon where he again spoke, this time specifically about societies. I came back with tons of ideas and have been overwhelming our TCGS president with them.</p> <p>The rest of the week was spent with family. It was fun. We all enjoyed watching the 3 kids play together: Dallin, 8; Gracie, 4, and Ellie, 14mos. In spite of the cramped quarters, only one bathroom, and car jockying, it was a pretty smoothe and fun week. Michelle had fun cooking for Kris and Carolyn, Kris made us the MOST scrumptious pizza I have ever eaten (and probably filled with a gazillion calories—but so yummy). We saw Dallin and Gracie do their gymnastics (with 3 kids, 3 hours right at dinner time, the logistics getting there and back were interesting.) </p> <p>We went to the ballet, the Carl Bloch Art Exhibit at BYU with Midge, Cheryl and Kaia, the temple, the Family History Library, the Lion House Pantry; shopping, walking, eating Graeter’s Ice Cream, crazy week…</p> <p>We had warm days, sunshine, wind blowing so hard it nearly blew Gracie over; snow (so glad I wasn’t driving) and cold. </p> <p>After 9 days away, though, we were ready to come home. Kris got us to the airport in plenty of time to relax. We let Ellie play in the kiddie play area for 30 min before we headed to our gate. On arrival, Bernie and Marshall were waiting for us with flowers (thanks to Marshall) and the ride home (2.5 hrs) was quiet and relaxing (Bernie does all the driving; I am so lucky).</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:6042b3cb-0235-4c3c-9f79-74a0ff398a95" style="padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; width: 400px; padding-top: 0px"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-2173b9d671fba96b.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=2173B9D671FBA96B!109&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View RootsTech Week" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_OhaqpQLOf9I/TWWdCGRZesI/AAAAAAAABAg/cXxSdpOAhfs/InlineRepresentation6e4c4c8c-5a87-46e8-b104-498965a09f1a%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:400px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-2173b9d671fba96b.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=2173B9D671FBA96B!109&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-79363147323231115462011-02-06T23:31:00.001-08:002011-02-06T23:31:23.606-08:00The Now: Going to Salt Lake City<p>The new RootsTech Conference takes place this week in Salt Lake City. I decided to go but when I told Michelle, she wanted to go too. Not to the conference of course, but to visit her brother, Kris, and his family.</p> <p>So Wednesday morning, we are flying from Spokane to Salt Lake City, Michelle, Ellie and me, Gramma.</p> <p>I am excited about RootsTech and the opportunity to learn about 21st century technology and genealogy. Plus, some of my favorite presenters/genealogists will be there: Thomas MacEntee, Curt Witcher – as well as several friends. I also was lucky enough to find someone who needed a roommate for the conference, so will be staying with Terri during the conference. Old friends, new friends, family, this should be a great week.</p> <p>When Michelle found that the Sleeping Beauty Ballet was being performed, she bought tickets for Carolyn, me and her to go. We hope to go to the Salt Lake Temple on Monday morning, then visit the Family History Library to gain some insight into Swedish Research. This will be a busy Monday.</p> <p>Tuesday we will have lunch with Midge Patrick then attend the Carl Bloch art exhibit at BYU’s Art Museum. </p> <p>Michelle also found out that Smith’s sells Graeter’s Ice Cream and plans to buy a half gallon every day we are in Salt Lake—guess she likes ice cream!</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-46332469891444629982011-01-27T20:44:00.000-08:002011-01-27T20:59:33.996-08:00William G. Mossey, My Maternal Grandfather<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OhaqpQLOf9I/TUJNLwBugVI/AAAAAAAABAM/wDYBVCDvQOk/s1600-h/1942--William%20G.%20MOSSEY-B%26W%2C%20touched%20up%5B65%5D.jpg"><img title="1942--William G. MOSSEY-B&W, touched up" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="256" alt="1942--William G. MOSSEY-B&W, touched up" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OhaqpQLOf9I/TUJNMH670jI/AAAAAAAABAQ/RCLJrrYPOLE/1942--William%20G.%20MOSSEY-B%26W%2C%20touched%20up_thumb%5B63%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" align="left" border="0"></a>Grampa Mossey was known as William G. by my mom and others who knew him but I find it interesting that he was actually baptized as George William (Georgius Gillelumus) in St. Peter’s Catholic Church on 31 January 1878. I often wonder why someone would give their child one name, but call them by another. I understand nicknames and childhood names, but giving him two names then reversing them makes me curious. His godfather was named George LaFossé, hence the given name George as this is often the practice in the Catholic Church. The child receives the given name of the sponsor. So maybe it was out of respect and love for the godfather who was named George. At any rate, he was known as William G. as far as my mom ever knew. I do not know what he was called by his friends and family (aside from Dad and Grampa), but in the 1880 US Census in Plattsburgh, he is enumerated as Willie, a 2-year-old.</p> <p>Although my grandfather was born in the 19th century, most of his adult life was spent in the 20th century. And, although I did meet him, I, sadly, know little about him.</p> <p>I do know that my mother adored him. I think I asked her once what made him so special, but her comments were pretty non-descript—he was nice, she loved him, he was her father… Pretty much what many of us would say about our dads.</p> <p>Grampa’s heritage was French Canadian even though he and his father were both born in Plattsburgh, New York. Mom told me that he spoke fluent French and would greet people in French as they walked down the streets of Springfield [Massachusetts] together. </p> <p>Several things I know about him, thanks to my mom, I have been unable to prove as yet. First, she told me he worked as a cook on a boat [presumably on the St. Lawrence River as Plattsburgh is located on that river]. Secondly, he worked for the WPA during the Depression. Both of these facts are verifiable, just have to find the records to do it.</p> <p>Mom said they would walk to mass on Sunday and when they returned home, Grampa would have a delicious breakfast waiting for them including Boston Baked Beans. I have the recipe here:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OhaqpQLOf9I/TUJNM_MYkfI/AAAAAAAABAU/c-SCvFlHXnM/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="381" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OhaqpQLOf9I/TUJNNdD8SKI/AAAAAAAABAY/ehk44olNtjo/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="487" border="0"></a></p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-44981262782814069652011-01-09T23:15:00.001-08:002011-01-09T23:19:26.956-08:00Discovery Isn’t Always Joyful<p>Continuing with my French-Canadian research has not only led to fun discoveries such as being able to apply for a lineage society and to know that our ancestors can be traced to the 7th century, but also has allowed discovery of some seemingly serious health issues.</p> <p>I know that Kris is interested in this because of some health concerns he has and, up to now, this has not been as interesting to me. But, the other night a real revelation occurred.</p> <p>I am not sure what I googled, but I noticed an article linking French Canadian descendants with high cholesterol. Since both my mom and I have high cholesterol but not the lifestyle that is often associated with high cholesterol (active, not overweight, non-smoke and drink), my doctor and I have often wondered why I have high cholesterol. Now I have some clues.</p> <p>My interest was piqued a while ago while looking at the syllabus for the NEGHS Regional Conference taking place in Springfield, MA (my birthplace) in April. I noticed a presentation by Muriel Normand on “<font color="#400040">From Quebec to New England: They Brought Along Their Genes.”</font><font color="#ff0000"> </font><font color="#400040">Naturally, I was curious so did some Googling. I didn’t find much the first night I tried except to learn that French Canadians and their descendants have a form of Tay Sachs disease which is also found in Askenazi Jews.</font></p> <p><font color="#400040">Then, the other night I found the article on high cholesterol. The first one I read was so filled with technical jargon, I understood nothing other than this is a phenomena found in the descendants. Heart attacks in early life are also common. I did understand that the gene that causes this high cholesterol has been identified.</font></p> <p><font color="#400040">Obviously, this subject needs more study. Oh, how I would love to attend the conference in Springfield…</font></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f016f126-fc63-4637-83c6-21cbbc188f4c" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">LiveJournal Tags: <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=health" rel="tag">health</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Carignan+Soldiers" rel="tag">Carignan Soldiers</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Fille+du+roi" rel="tag">Fille du roi</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=high+cholesterol" rel="tag">high cholesterol</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Springfield" rel="tag">Springfield</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Kris" rel="tag">Kris</a></div> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-34754958414872498602011-01-08T09:14:00.001-08:002011-01-08T09:16:48.999-08:00Reaching Back into History<p>Now that I know we can trace our lines back to the Filles du Roi and Carignan Soldiers, I continued my research this time realizing an even bigger surprise.</p> <p>My next discovery was that one of our Fille du Roi actually can be traced to Charlemagne, King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. Tracing a family back that far can only be accomplished if your family lines tie into royalty because the commoners were barely able to keep up with their day-to-day lives let alone keep track of who their ancestors were.</p> <p>In fact, just the other day, Dick Eastman in his blog, talked about our ancestors of the 1600s and how rudimentary their lives were living day to day, barely surviving the daily chore of existing understanding very little about hygiene and health, possessing little to no knowledge, and other features of life that make ours so interesting and easy.</p> <p>Catherine de Baillon was a Fille du Roi sent by the king of France to marry and populate in New France. We are linked to Catherine through our Forget line: </p> <p><font size="1">1-Catherine DE BAILLON-3363 (about 1645-27 January 1688)<br>. . 2-Jean MIVILLE-3345 (5 September 1672-30 December 1711<br>. . . 3-Guillaume Gabriel MAINVILLE/MIVILLE-3243 (7 March 1704-10 February 1799)<br>. . . . 4-Catherine Miville MAINVILLE-1336 (28 October 1747-)<br>. . . . . 5-Marie HUPE-LAGROIX-912 (9 June 1775-2 August 1855)<br>. . . . . . 6-Pierre LATOUR DIT FORGET-683 (13 July 1794-27 August 1878)<br>. . . . . . . 7-Gilbert LATOUR DIT FORGET-674 (15 May 1825-12 July 1854)<br>. . . . . . . . 8-Desiré "Jerry/Jeremiah" LATOUR DIT FORGET-383 (9 Nov 1844-28 Dec 1916)<br>. . . . . . . . . 9-Gilbert M. FORGEA-305 (about January 1865-6 July 1925)<br>. . . . . . . . . . 10-Katherine Winifred "Nin" FORGEA-303 (9 March 1898-3 October 1962)<br>. . . . . . . . . . . 11-Irene Emma MOSSEY (22 November 1922-12 September 2007)<br>. . . . . . . . . . . . 12-Marjorie Anne<br>. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-Kristofer Earl<br>. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-Michelle Alicia<br>. . . . . . . . . . . 11-Anna Winifred MOSSEY (18 December 1918-1 November 2002)<br>. . . . . . . . . . . . 12-Carol</font> <p>According to Raymond Deschenes, <i>Miville Genealogy/Deschenes Genealogy</i> (<a href="http://miville.com/miville4/74.html">http://miville.com/miville4/74.html</a>): </p> <p><em>Catherine de Baillon, wife of Jacques Miville dit Descheses…came with a 1000 livres dowry and was considered to be born from an upper class family. Her ancestry can now be traced back to Charlemagne and the 7th century.</em> <p>True to form, in an effort to become more knowledgeable of this period and these young women, I have inter-library-loaned two books to read on the subject. I am hoping to find out more specifically about the women in my family a well as the women and men, in general, who accepted this seemingly daunting path to follow. Was it forced on them? Did they consider it an adventure? Did they realize how difficult life would be when they arrived in the new world? Will we ever know?… <p> </p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:56017a8e-4237-498f-891c-ecb3404f45ca" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">LiveJournal Tags: <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Fille+du+roi" rel="tag">Fille du roi</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Carignan+Soldiers" rel="tag">Carignan Soldiers</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=Charlemagne" rel="tag">Charlemagne</a>,<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/interests.bml?int=De+Baillon" rel="tag">De Baillon</a></div> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-89416207138668338032010-12-30T17:30:00.000-08:002010-12-30T17:33:35.206-08:00Joining a Lineage Society<p>Last night I learned that I am finally eligible for a lineage society. Not such a big deal but with friends that belong to DUP, DAR, and children and a husband who are eligible to join SAR and DAR, I always wondered if there was a lineage society for me.</p> <p>Last night, I found one! <a href="http://www.fillesduroi.org/src/about_us.htm">La Société des Filles du roi et soldats du Carignan, Inc.</a> This is so exciting, at least to me. I look forward to being able to share some of my heritage with others who may have the same gr gr + grandmothers I have. There were at least two female ancestors who came to Canada as Filles du Roi, but I have more lines to research on my French Canadian side, so there may be other “Filles”.</p> <p>So far, I have not found any soldiers, but, with time, I may find some as well.</p> <p>How I wish I had begun this family history research while we were still living in Virginia. There would have been so many research opportunities for me not to mention, I was only hours’ drives away from my ancestral grounds. This lineage society is located in Chantilly, Virginia, would have been so close, (sigh).</p> Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-34144930629536727492010-12-22T20:51:00.000-08:002010-12-22T20:51:38.225-08:00Christmas and Deceased AncestorsSadly, I cannot say that we ever did anything special to honor our ancestors who passed on before us during the Christmas season. Because we were such a small family and we were in California when most of our family was in the East, we didn't have anyone to interact with. I think we only visited my gramma's grave a handful of times. I don't think I would even know where it is now.<br />
<br />
This year, though, I have thought of my mom a lot more than in the past. I really miss her and wish she were still here. I miss my dad too but he has been gone a lot longer, so the sting of his absence is a lot less. He would have been far more interested in family history than my mom was. Too bad I was so slow to get interested in it.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-76741096102194838812010-12-09T09:36:00.000-08:002010-12-13T17:03:04.264-08:00Outdoor Christmas Decorating Memories<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgKWb5VtSHR6X2ScSDYzprGvpBw5gRwSwfUqWT104QwBy5DGRO2xnJnoXSZ6u8T8yiO530Fy-jkCRZiS3SgXmaYMGPAKrlOiJVPmTuyzTvukMQepxPsi5EN1416ydpLWE8WCrv_66Hok/s1600/scan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550336864302463202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgKWb5VtSHR6X2ScSDYzprGvpBw5gRwSwfUqWT104QwBy5DGRO2xnJnoXSZ6u8T8yiO530Fy-jkCRZiS3SgXmaYMGPAKrlOiJVPmTuyzTvukMQepxPsi5EN1416ydpLWE8WCrv_66Hok/s320/scan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pBiM-XW1VT_RTu1IWOfyR043LS7ghGnEfMoNP7UadCPZvapVUowSR1lljPnthgRRZYjlovtzWGo85L9teVHILBKBP85syx3BESCj7rv9FYkjtHEwQmE1tn_l7sI15GcmS4CcqnzsT8g/s1600/PC020011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548739505790556962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pBiM-XW1VT_RTu1IWOfyR043LS7ghGnEfMoNP7UadCPZvapVUowSR1lljPnthgRRZYjlovtzWGo85L9teVHILBKBP85syx3BESCj7rv9FYkjtHEwQmE1tn_l7sI15GcmS4CcqnzsT8g/s320/PC020011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I can only remember decorating the outside of the two houses for Christmas. My parents current house (the one I grew up in) and our house in Louisville that we lived in for five years. Although I hated decorating the tree at my parents' house, I loved decorating the outside. You see, my parents' house is a country style with the white front porch that should have rocking chairs on it, which is perfect for a country style Christmas. One year we decided to try using evergreen garland with red bows and that is what we've stuck with each year. We wrap each post with the evergreen and then place a red bow at the base. We then wrap the evergreen around the railing coming up the stairs and place red bows at the bottom. Before my parents replaced their deck with the composite stuff, you could see the staple holes where we used the stapler to keep the evergreen and bows in place. We've added a few things throughout the years, more evergreen garlands along the railing and even lights at one point. When it snows, it looks even more beautiful because of all the colors, the blue house, the green garlands, and the red bows.<br />Our house in Louisville was decorated very simply. We put green wreaths on the front windows and then a candle light in each of those windows. It is very classic looking especially since our house is red brick on the front. For a couple of years we put icicle lights along the gutters. I prefer the white icicle lights and my husband prefers the blue, so we'd trade off each year. Getting the wreaths up each year was a challenge. The previous owners had done this and that is where we'd gotten the idea. Our only problem was that we didn't know what they had used to keep the wreaths up. We tried several things for 2-3 years and then finally I figured out that we could use suction cups with hooks. We did that and voila! we had wreaths that stayed put on the windows even in the strongest winds!<br />The unfortunate thing with decorating your house in a certain way is that you tend to move to other houses where you can't decorate the same way, so we currently have five wreaths in our basement just sitting there hoping for the day that they will be used again!</div>Michelle Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10517279537714717848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-8042904554146460322010-12-03T13:41:00.000-08:002010-12-03T13:58:16.419-08:00Holiday OrnamentsI was so looking forward to discussing our holiday food traditions yesterday, and then the day got away from me.<br /><br />Today it's about ornaments and boy, do we have ornaments. Dad and I bought the traditional kind our first couple of years married, but then Gramma Stein got down to business and made us so many beautiful, sequined, glittery ornaments, our tree was never bare again. Maybe next week I can get a box out and put some pics here to share.<br /><br />Then, living in Germany, the land of Christmas, we found tons and tons of beautiful wood-carved ornaments. Many were available on the base at the duty-free shops. The very best Christmas shop in all Germany is, of course, Käthe Wohlfahrt's. The actual store (http://www.wohlfahrt.com/index.php?clang=1) is located in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but there always were booths on the base especially during Christmas. Her store was truly a fairytale place to visit even in summer; you would be instantly transported to December.<br /><br />We were able to get so many cute child-fun ornaments such as trucks, planes, helicopters, snowflakes, cuckoo clocks, baby in its crib, so many many more. Will have to find some of those too to post.<br /><br />Then, you kids began school and each December, you would come home with treasures made with the help from very talented art teachers or just some great moms who came to help the students create their Christmas treasures. Our tree gets so full now, we truly need a full 6' tree with lots of sturdy branches.<br /><br />For a while, I tried to make ornaments with pictures in them of us and our dogs each year. I kind of got behind but still have a box full of pretty ornaments just waiting for me to organize my photos to find just the right pictures to use in those ornaments.<br /><br />I am working on the photos and just about have them all sorted, so pretty soon I may be able to finish that ornament project I started.<br /><br />In the meantime, I guess it is time to sort the ornaments I do have and give some to you kids to enjoy sharing your memories with your kids and putting on your own family's Christmas tree.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161347793637468886.post-4237883357131811542010-12-01T08:33:00.000-08:002010-12-03T13:59:51.056-08:00Our Christmas TreeI have had a real Christmas tree my whole life until a few years ago when Dad, bought a small, fake tree from Michael's with the help of Gramma. Not my choice or wish, but for the years when we are not with you guys, it will do.<br /><br />My fondest memories of the Christmas tree take me back to when I was a teenager living in Gardena, California. We had several Jewish families as neighbors. The most fun when we were decorating the tree was to to invite Bruce, Ricky and Cindy over to help us. We would all have fun putting the ornaments on our tree. I don't remember singing or music or any special things we did as we decorated, but just the fun of sharing our traditions with others.<br /><br />(Then, during Hannukah, which always falls around Christmas, we would play Dreidel with them at their house and be invited over to witness the ceremony each evening of lighting the candles on the Menorrah.)<br /><br />Before decorating the tree, Dad would take my brother and me to a local lot (sometimes the Boy Scout lot as Dad was active in Boy Scouts for many years) to buy our tree. We never ventured far but picking out the tree was important, so we did spend a good amount of time finding the right tree<br />.<br />Dad would tie the tree to the top of the car and as soon as we got home, he would place it in a bucket of water.<br /><br />Within a few days, Dad would get started on the tree. No matter what we had chosen, Dad was sure to make it even better. He would trim branches from the bottom of the tree so there would be room for the presents but often, if branches were not spaced right, Dad would actually drill a hole in the trunk and add limbs to fill out the bare spots. Our tree was always a "custom" tree thanks to Dad.<br /><br />Mom had made a beautiful tree skirt (can't remember what it looked like, but I remember Mom making one). That would go around the bottom of the tree. Then as Christmas drew close, we would begin to pile presents under the tree.<br /><br />Dad always took lots of pictures of us around the tree but sadly, none of those pictures have survived.<br /><br />But our memories do, thank goodness.Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02485649263574102604noreply@blogger.com0