Author: A.S. Williams

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Genealogy Muse

What inspires you to keep digging?? We all get frustrated and push the research to the side, but what brings you back. For me, it’s those unanswered questions. For so many years, everyone has been my cousin. I was never one to have ‘play’ cousins. I always liked to know how people are family. That inspired me to start looking. The sheer aggrevation of people saying “They’re your cousin, I don’t know how”.

The problem here is, when my Grandma Bessie was talking not many of her children were listening. She told stories of her people and how such-n-such were related. Only a few of her children can actually spread the tree out further. But, not many can help the tree go higher.

The city that my family ‘originated’ from (i use that term loosely because I don’t know where origination is, but we’ve been there since 1866…so that’s the best I have) is Elizabeth City, NC. Everyone knows everyone. So, if you talk to enough people, you’ll find out that they know someone that married someone that is my cousin. While visiting the cemetery that my grand uncle is buried a couple of weeks ago, an older lady approached me. She was there with her family cleaning off the graves of their loved ones. Here I was, a woman wondering around a cemetery alone…with a camera. I guess I looked lost or suspicious. She asked me “Who are you looking for” and I told her I was looking for my great grandfather, Aaron Spence. She asked me who I was. I told her and her response was “Oh, you one of those Spence’s”. WTH??? Then she asked me again who I was looking for. Upon telling her….again. She said “Ed Spence? OOO I know Ed. O.k. nice to meet you”. LOL. Thanks for the help!! Anywho..I was rambling..

I said all that to come back to, it’s hard to feel grounded when you don’t know where your roots lie. So what inspires you?

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Researching Humans…

I just completed the newsletter interview with my 80 year old 1st cousin 2 times removed. She is the grandchild of my 2nd great grandparents, William and Harriet Lowry.

My cuz, Tina, is usually responsible for this, but she tried on several occasions get it done. However, this cousin was not available when she called. So I told her I’d try. BINGO – she was available.

She gave me some insight in to who my 2nd great grandparents were as people. She said that William was a fun man. He played with all his grandchildren and she remembers him having a garden that she would play in. He was short ‘about 5’ somethin’ and dark skinned. Harriet was a ‘big fat light skinned’ woman. She was also somewhat taller than her husband. She had long hair down her back. She enjoyed when this cousin would come over and cook for her. She also said that they both were very nice people.

Now, this cousin was only about 8 or 9 when her grandparents passed. So imagine…cooking at that age.

It was nice getting to hear what type of people they were and it helps put more humanity to the names. Hearing for the umpteenth time that Harriet had long hair down her back (from someone that actually saw here), is something. In African American genealogy research, it is often assumed that if an ancestor was noted having long hair or long dark/black hair, they must be Native American. Of course, this is just and assumption and we all know…you should never ass-u-me.

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Wordless Wednesdays – Follow up

This is a picture of my mother showing me the Ethiopian Coffee ceremony. Why is she showing me this? Well, she’s Ethiopian..duh..lol For Mother’s Day, while I gave her a gift card to her favorite store, she gave me culture as a present. Although I focus most of my ancestry researching on my paternal line (mainly because it’s easy access), my maternal line is equally as important. You can read more on the details here.

I have always been proud of the fact that my mother is Ethiopian. I remember when I was younger, telling people that because I thought it was the coolest thing! But, growing up wasn’t much different than any other household. We didn’t speak any foreign languages. She didn’t teach us her language of Tigrinya because she was focused on learning English. In addition, Jacksonville doesn’t really have a strong Ethiopian presence to help people reinforce their culture on their children. I’m sure if we lived in Washington D.C. we would be fluent in Tigrinya.

As I’m going thru this journey, I realize there are a lot of things that I need to focus on. I want to take the time out to learn Tigrinya (I have Tigrinya the EZ-Way CD). I’m also going natural. I’ve had a relaxer for as long as I can remember and I want to see what my hair looks like without the chemicals. For so long, you think that you NEED to have a relaxer. But, I’m tired of that NEED and ready for this WANT…

*pictures will be updated later…having computer issues.*

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Help I’ve fallen…

…and I can’t get my genealogy butt up!!!!

Life has been so busy I hadn’t had the time to focus on my research in a while. I don’t ‘feel’ my ancestors pointing me in the directions they once were or they’re pointing me in the direction I’m currently going. Hopefully, I’ll get bit again and the urge will return.

Meanwhile, I was award with the One Lovely Blog Award by Kathryn Doyle at CGS. THANKS!!!!

Genea–bloggers use awards to support each other and to spread the word about new blogs with a family history focus. The honor comes with the stipulation that it be passed on to seven more “lovely” blogs.

Here are my picks….sorry if you’re duplicated..I’m selecting the top 7 genea blogs that I stalk that have updated lately…

Heritage Happens

Find Your Folks

But Now I’m Found

All My Branches Genealogy

Roots Reading

Our Georgia Roots

BackTrack

In other news, I’m going to Elizabeth City on the 25th to spend more time with family and doing more research. I hope to take pictures of more cemeteries in the area as well as interviewing some of the older family members.

But, before I go, I have to scan the 2 photo albums I got from my grandma and pictures I received from my grand-aunt. I’ve been slacking on my scanning. But, since this is my daughter’s birthday weekend and I’m torturing myself with allowing a slumber party, I figure I can lock myself in my room and get it done. My grandmother’s only requirement was that she get a new photo album for her pictures. I got the new album, now I need to start scanning.

Just wanted to let anyone out there that reads this, I haven’t disappeared, just busy.

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Surnames I’m Researching

I know I’m late but I’m trying to catch up. But, a few weeks ago, other blogger began posting the surnames their researching. I believe Geneablogie was the first one (I got a Note from him on Facebook).

For those of you who don’t know, the surnames that I’m researching are listed on the right side. I try and tag my blogs with the surnames I’m writing about.

Pasquotank County, North Carolina

  • Spence
  • Lowry/Laurie/Lowery/Laury/Lowrey
  • Banks
  • Williams
  • Ferebee/Ferbee
  • Howell
  • McPherson

Camden County, North Carolina

  • McCoy
  • Spence (Want to see if the African-American Spence’s of Camden are related to the Pasquotank Spence’s)

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I’m back…

…hopefully for good.

It’s been almost a month since I’ve posted anything. But, I haven’t abandoned the blog. I’ve been busy trying to manage a lot of tasks.

Anywho…last month on the 20th, I went to the Black Family History Day in Morrow GA. That was a 5 hour drive for me, but it was my first genealogy related trip since starting my research in 2007. I can’t even begin to describe how much I enjoyed it! There were so many African American people that were knee deep into their research. Me, on the other hand, I’m only about toenail deep in comparison. It was at the NARA in Morrow, GA and they gave excellent presentations regarding resources to use when researching your ancestors. Many resources I didn’t know about. Especially since I’m just getting started with my hands on research and doing less internet research. Also, I was able to meet Melvin J. Collier. Melvin is one of my friends on Facebook and I was extremely delighted when he instantly recognized me. He’s the author of Mississippi to Africa, A Journey of Discovery and I got a copy of my book signed. One day, I could be worth some money 😉

I highly recommend this book researching their African American ancestors. Melvin shows you in his book how he traced his ancestors and the tools he used specifically to get the information. I’m half way thru the book and I’m jealous of the pictures he has of his ancestors!!! I’m only 2 years in, but I haven’t turned up treasures that he has.

The following weekend, Feb 27th, I went to Elizabeth City, NC. My father, daughter and myself left Thursday morning for our 9 hour drive. I was excited on the way up. My plan was to spend all day Friday at the county clerks office researching my ancestor, Buenna Spence. Friday came and my dad dropped me off at the county clerks office. However, I made a rookie mistake. I didn’t make sure they had the book I needed before I left. I did call and made sure that I could access their records and hours of operations. But, when I got there, the book I needed, 1922 court records, was sent out to archives. DARNIT!!! I didn’t let myself get upset. I just got to know the other dusty records they had on hand. And they have a lot!!! This was my first time doing research in a courthouse and I just wanted to look at everything. I viewed wills from 1800. I was loving every bit of it. I didn’t find anything about my ancestors because I was just ‘looking’. I didn’t know what I was looking for since my original mission was squashed. But, I made a decision that I’ll go back for an entire week. That way, I’ll have more time to do what I need to do.

The most important part of the trip was sitting and taking to my grandmother and grand uncle about stories they heard and people they know from around town. My grand uncle has a lot of stories because he would sit and listen to his mother when she told them about family. Not many of the other siblings, my grandmother included, listened to their mom when she talked about ‘olden days’. But my uncle did. I need to get back there and sit with him and pick his brain.

Last but not least, I think I know exactly where the Millpond Burial Ground is. This is a picture of a spooky old house that I would need to past in order to get to the field where the cemetery allegedly is located..(that was a long sentence). I got was so excited to be able to see the house that’s on the map in person! We also went to Gallop Cemetery on Blindman Road. Thursday and Friday in Elizabeth City were cold but dry days. However, Saturday, the day we went to look at cemeteries, it rained!! It was freezing! But, I had my tail outside taking pictures of headstones…in the cold and wet. Nothing but adrenaline was pushing me at that point. I’ve never been in a cemetery before, so I don’t know proper cemetery etiquette when it comes to the dead. So, I just said, ‘Sorry’, if I stepped on any graves.

I didn’t recognize any names on the headstones in my family tree. But I took pictures of all of them. My cuz, Tina, is researching her dad’s side of the family and several of these names are in her tree. I plan on posting the pictures to Find A Grave once I get some time.

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Research here I come…

Today, I officially started researching my family tree again. Thanks to Ancestry.com. They sent me the upgrade to my FTM 2008 for free. So now I have FTM 2009 on my laptop. This makes researching my family tree much easier.

Today, I’m researching Buena Spence. Buena is an ancestor that has an interesting story to tell. She did something that caused her mom to be called as a witness to her trial. Not only that, there is a possibility that she had children that did not belong to her husband. I know, I know. You’re saying that these family secrets should be left buried. Well, I DISAGREE!!! Everyone wants to know the true story, but few will ask those question.

Before my family reunion last year, an aunt of mine sent me obituaries for various family members. She sent me one for I. Joseph Williams. While researching him, I found no connection to my family. I called my aunt and she told me that he was her first cousin on her dad’s side. He was his sisters son. I had his birth certificate in hand and I told her that it didn’t make sense. His mother is listed as a non-Spence. She couldn’t tell me which sister because she didn’t know. I just thought that she was mistaken and put the obituary to the side.

Well, a few weeks before the reunion, I got a ‘wild hair’ and it was bugging me to find out who this person was. I talked to several other family members and they led me in the direction of I. Joseph’s daughter. I tracked her down and just asked her “How are you related to the Spence family?”.

She told me the most interesting story.

She said that the woman on his birth certificate was not his real mother but she was his step mother. She said that his real mother was married when he was conceived but the man she was married to wasn’t his father. As a matter of fact, he has another brother from this union. When his real mother died, the ‘government’ came in to take the boys (she had 2 sons with this outside man) and put them in orphanages, I think. At that point, the real father stepped up and claimed them to be his children. From that point on, he and his wife at the time raised the boys.

WOW…my aunt wasn’t crazy! It seems that Buena was the bit of a wild child and has a good story to tell.

So, next week when I go to Elizabeth City, I will be spending the day at the courthouse to find the court records from 1922. I’m extremely excited!!!

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Why we’re clueless.

Talking to my dad yesterday, I realize that as a family, we’re clueless.  We don’t know who are relatives are, let alone our ancestors.  I put in a perspective he could understand. 

I told him that I know my grandmother’s siblings and their descendents.  But, he doesn’t know his grandparents siblings and/or descendents.  That is a generation of cousins he has no idea about.  That’s what makes us clueless. 

But, that’s one of the beautiful things about family.  Because we have the same blood running thru our veins, there is an instant connection to them as well as to the past.  There is similarity in lives that you can not forget.  Because they’re family, you’re always connected.   

I’ve spent the last several months trying to reconnect with those family members no one knows about.  I’ve called cousins as distant as possible with a simple “Hello, you don’t know me but you’re my cousin.  My great-grandmother was Bessie Spence.”  From there, they have welcomed my phone call.  It’s beautiful.   Bessie & Rosa Spence were the matriarchs of the family.  Everyone knows those names.  It’s like getting a VIP pass to someone life by saying you’re descendent from them. 

I truly believe my calling is to reconnect my family that has long gone distant.  Family rumors and disagreements cause some family members to stop reuniting.  Others no longer see the importance of keeping up with cousins. 

I always find it silly when some cousins are to scared or nervous to call other cousins.  I’ll call anyone.  Why be scared to talk to family?!?

But as we move forward, I hope that my efforts will show my family that regardless of anything, because we’re family, I love you.  I may not even know you.