Mystery Monday: Heirloom Archaeology - Connecting Family to a Vintage Photo Album

(Courtesy of Chris Hodge)

Heirloom Archaeology finds lost family heirlooms, and through research, returns these precious family artifacts back to their rightful owners. Chris Hodge, owner of Heirloom Archaeology is on a mission to do just that!

His most recent discovery is in the form of a photo album he purchased from an online dealer in Maine. This discovery encompasses a collection of photos which dates back to the late 1800's. The surnames of those photographed include: COLE; LOWELL; YOUNG; SPOFFORD; NEWELL; AUSTIN; CUMMINGS; TURNER; KEITH; and GOODWIN. The mystery is "Where are the living descendants to the people in these photographs?" Like many of us, Chris shares a passion for family history and has set out to unite the living relatives with their respective family photos. Additional details of this story can be found on Heirloom Archaeology's Facebook page. If you are related to these families or have additional information to lend to this research, you can contact Chris at chris@heirloomarchaeology.com.

Happy searching! :-)

Share a Memory!

My family and I are gathering to remember my mother as we approach a milestone anniversary of her passing. It’s hard to believe so much time has gone by, because in my mind it’s still as real as yesterday. Over time we’ve been able to look back without so much sadness but there are those times where that longing for her is so strong. It’s important to keep her memory alive, so remembering her life and sharing her life with her descendants is a great way to do just that.

My mother had a boombox (yes, boombox) that I keep in the house. I hardly ever play it – I guess it’s just there for sentimental reasons – and decoration! I can remember one of my nieces who was about five years old at the time asked if she could have it. I explained to her that she could not because it belonged to my mother and now it is mine. She continued to argue her case as to why I should give her the boombox. I don’t remember everything she said but she ended with something along the lines of “And because I knew her too, she would want me to have it.”

I had to explain to her that she did not know my mother – they never met because my niece had not yet been born. She only thought she knew her because she had heard stories about her. She continued to argue that she had met her before. She went on to tell me all kinds of things about her - even her name and describing what she looked like. The kid was so convincing she had me double checking my math...LOL! I couldn’t help but laugh and thought how nice it was for my sister to talk to her about our mom. Whatever she took away from that conversation, she was convinced that she knew her! By the way, she still did not get the boombox!

It’s great when you can know things about your ancestors and don’t really have to wonder what they looked like, what kinds of things they liked, etc. They are blessed to have people who can give them a firsthand account of her life. So tonight we’re having a memorial dinner to remember my mother and share our memories about her.

If you’re looking for a fun way to keep the memory of your loved one alive, this is a great idea! We may shed some tears but the memory of this gathering is not to be sad, but to fondly remember. I’ll prepare dinner and I’ve picked up a few of her favorite snacks to share with everyone. I also have sheets of paper where each person can write down a memory and we can exchange and read them; I especially like sharing a memory because someone may remember something that you may have forgotten and vice versa. It will be great to have everyone share their stories and to share with the younger generations.

Remember, the conversation of family history can begin with one shared memory!

Happy sharing! :-)

That's MY ____________!!!!!!

We've all been in a position where we have been extremely proud of a family member - at a graduation, a performance, a sporting event, or whether they were recognized for some other notable achievement. People shout out things like "That's MY baby!" or "That's MY sister!" so forth and so on. I've done it too. In our eyes they have done something so magnificent, that we want to sing the praises of our family member to the world.

This also applies to our ancestors! Many of you can relate that doing genealogy is such an emotional journey! You began to learn all about your ancestors. They become so real that you can feel the highs and lows of their life's story. Oftentimes, there is always that one ancestor who stands out as our favorite or most fascinating. I have one - he's my 2x Great Uncle! His accomplishments may not be a big deal to some, but they are major to me. "That's MY Uncle" and I want everyone to know! I hope to share some of his story tomorrow for Family Friday!

Who is your favorite ancestor? I encourage you to share their story tomorrow also! Remember to use #FamilyFriday and #ThatsMY*insert relation* when posting!

Happy Sharing! :-)

Madam Ancestry is taking a break...but I'll be back soon! 11/1/16 to be exact! :-)

Hey everybody! There has been A LOT going on in the past few months - some good, some not so good. With that being said, I have decided to take a little break. Because of my love for genealogy and my love for my GenFriends, I can't stay away too long - so I'll be back in full swing on 11/1/16. I just need this short break to clear my mind and regroup. Please know that I have tons of things to share when I do come back! What this means is that I will not be responding to phone, email, or any social media posts until 11/1/16. Client work is also on pause until that time.

Thank you for understanding and allowing me this time to become better!

We'll talk soon! :-)

Grandparents Day - Sunday, September 11, 2016

I was looking for a cool graphic to promote Grandparents Day, and this one that I found (on the app Typorama) stopped me in my tracks. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this picture brings many words to mind. One word in particular that sticks out in my mind is nostalgia. To me, this picture depicts grandparents who look like they are about to ride off into the sunset. Something about the setting of the picture makes me want to hold on to them, memories of them, and to hear so many of the stories they possess.

Grandparents Day was founded by Marian McQuade to recognize the contributions of seniors. This year, Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 11, 2016. Grandparents are the foundation of a family. Doubtless, they’re the reason why your family upholds many dear traditions to this day.

I’ve never had the grandparent experience and it’s something that I’ve always wished I could’ve experienced. All of my grandparents passed away early on in my life. I remember them but I do not have memories of them (if that makes any sense). I think it would’ve been fun to bake cookies together, go to the park or a museum, or have them teach me something cool. I often hear stories about how good of a cook my paternal grandmother was. I wish I could taste some of those cakes and pies – or least have been able to ask for a recipe (smile)! I wish I could ask them about their lives or what my parents were like when they were little. I think I’d always let them know how important they are. Even though I never really got to know them, I still feel as though they are important to me.

I urge you to take time on Grandparents Day and let your grandparents know how important they are, because if you still have them, your family is blessed. Make the most of making memories with them. Sit down and tell them about your life or have them tell you about theirs. Indulge them in something they would like to do - maybe even help them prepare their favorite meal.  

Most importantly, get family history! Let me say that a little louder, GET FAMILY HISTORY! Capture their family stories and advice while you can, because just like the people in the picture, once they ride off into the sunset, they’re gone. It will do them good to share and to know that you actually take an interest in what they have to say.

And if you’re like me and don’t have any grandparents around, find the oldest person in your family, or an elderly neighbor, or even visit a nursing home. There are so many elderly people in nursing homes who have no one checking on them. I’m sure it would put a smile on their face to see and talk to you, or even bring them a nice card.

Happy Grandparents Day!  

My First Book Review: Going Over Home

Those of us who do genealogy are fascinated by the lives of our ancestors and the stories that surround each of their lives. I've had the pleasure to read Going Over Home - the first book in the Wayfaring Sisters Series, written by Katie Andrews Potter. I'm excited to have been invited to write a review for it! I absolutely love stories about families and somehow always feel connected to the events and characters of each story. 

"Going Over Home is a story that many of us can relate to as we follow Maddox "Maddie" Fox (the main character of the story), on her journey to learn about her family's history. Maddie was always curious about where her family came from and knew there was more to it than what she was being told. With the help of her sister and roommate, she slowly uncovers family secrets and begins to connect the dots. Things that were vaguely familiar to her, soon become more keen to her memory; and a surprising chain of events leads her to discover some unlikely family connections! As Maddie sets out for answers, she gets more than she bargained for when she realizes that the outcome of her family's past - and future - rests on her shoulders. Maddie soon finds herself in a race against time as she struggles whether to enjoy the only life she's ever known or walk the path of her ancestors to preserve the fate of her family! This story will take you on a blast to the past - literally! Thrills, chills, suspense, and love - this story captures it all and will leave you feeling like part of the family! I can't wait to read the other books in this series!"

- Madam Ancestry 

Check out Katie's bio below to learn more about her and to get information on how to order these great books! 

About the Author

Katie Andrews Potter

Katie Andrews Potter is a 9th generation Hoosier and has been a genealogist since she was 16. She has her degree in Elementary Education and has always enjoyed writing for children. She is currently pursuing her Master's in American History and a certificate in Genealogical Studies-American Records at NIGS. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Ben, and their two children, Eliana and Micah, who she homeschools. Katie writes for The In-Depth Genealogist, and is soon launching a blog entitled Storybook Ancestor, which will focus on encouraging parents and their children to delve into their family history and write their ancestors' stories. Her personal genealogy blog is www.goinoverhome.blogspot.com.

Going Over Home is the first book in The Wayfaring Sisters Series. Each book follows a different member of the Fox family. Going Over Home follows Maddie, and the second book, Going Over Jordan, released in 2015, follows Ellie. 

Katie is currently writing the third book, Wayfaring, centered around Carrie. The books are set in present and pioneer Indiana, and were inspired by Katie's love for genealogy and Indiana history. Katie's books can be found on Amazon.

Join My Book Club!

Hey everybody! I thought it would be cool to launch a book club this month! The way this book club works is that we'll share some of our favorite genealogy books/resources each week. I'm sure we all have resources that we utilize that can be helpful to others who are researching. I'll be posting my favorites each week on my Facebook page and also encourage you to post your favorites. Make sure you're following my page so that you can get all the updates!

Happy researching :-)

Have you heard? I'm giving someone an AncestryDNA kit for FREE!!! You heard that right - FREE! And that someone could be YOU!

I've heard some people express that they are not in the position to purchase a testing kit, so I'd like to help you get one step closer to reaching your family research goal!

Here's what you have to do:

1. Like my Facebook page
2. Post a video (60 seconds or less) on my Facebook page telling me why you should be chosen
3. Use #MadamAncestryGiveaway when posting and sharing!

That's it! :-D But you must do ALL 3! 

The winner will be announced next Friday, August 5, 2016. Note: This date is subject to change based on the number of entries received. 

House Rules:

1. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 and older (except my family members - sorry guys). 
2. Contest is open July 29, 2016 from 12:01am - 11:59pm EST
3. Madam Ancestry, its owner, and affiliates does not assume any liability past ordering the AncestryDNA testing kit for the winner. 
4. Madam Ancestry, its owner, and affiliates does not assume any liability for family upsets or any situations that may arise out of the discovery of information concerning living or deceased individuals or events/circumstances surrounding living or deceased individuals. 

      Happy posting! :-)

PRIVACY

As keepers of family history we have a responsibility to maintain and preserve the family history for future generations. The issue of privacy is even more important in today's world as things can be shared all over the world with just one click of a button.

We rely on many types of vital records to conduct our research. Sometimes those records are easily available to us and sometimes they are not. In doing my own family research I found that due to privacy reasons, many of the areas would not release birth records until after 75 years, death records until after 50 years, and some had completely different restrictions in place.

I've run into situations where I'm on a good lead for a record and it comes to a screeching halt because of privacy restrictions. While it hurts me to my core to know I may have to wait some time to find out what's contained in the record, I can tell you it's for a good reason - protecting personal information! And I'm OK with that!

Birth and death records within 50-75 years can contain lots of information about people including:

1. Names of living individuals 
2. Addresses 
3. Medical history 
4. SSN

This is definitely the kind of information you wouldn't want falling into the hands of any random person, so you can see why such restrictions are set in place.

Protecting personal information goes even further than this. We can sometimes become overzealous as we share information about our family discoveries. We're so excited to share what we've found that we've just shared names and photos of individuals without their consent, or a vital record that contains personal information pertaining to other people, or maybe even someone's location. Imagine your image or your personal details being shared with millions of people. Imagine some random person walking into the vital records office and gathering information about you. I'm sure that thought makes you feel a little uneasy and now you can understand why such privacy restrictions are put into place.

Here are a few tips to help protect personal information:

• Keep personal information on living individuals private. I know sometimes it's hard not to include living individuals as it relates to discoveries, but think about giving that person a code name so you're not giving out their real name or any other personal details about them. Some people don't mind you sharing their name, but if it can be protected, do so. 
• Ask for permission before sharing someone's photo when you're sharing your discoveries. If no permission is given or you feel that you don't want to show the faces of the people in the picture, there are tons of apps where you can blur the faces out before sharing the photo.
• Blur out/cross out sensitive information on vital records such as SSN, addresses, full names, etc. This practice still applies when sharing screenshot images. While we know that some records are so old they become a matter of public record, you still want to protect any sensitive information contained, especially if it relates to living individuals or the next closest generation to living individuals. 
• This one is a matter of preference but I'll throw it out there anyway and let you use your own judgement - Family Trees! I had my tree public at one point, but recently decided to make it private. In many programs the information for living individuals is kept private. I got to thinking "What if there is some unsavory person out there lurking for information?" They could be looking for any type of information that could connect them to something else. My mind went all over the place so I decided to make it private. And there's a rigorous questioning process I'll take them through before deciding to share that information!

If you'd like to share suggestions on how to keep privacy, you can comment on this blog post, email me at madamancestry@gmail.com, or post them to my Facebook page!

Enjoy your privacy! ;-)

Do You Recognize This Family? Help Reunite the Smith Family with their Family History!

It's Family Friday and I've got some BIG NEWS!!!

We’ve all seen a story on social media or mainstream news about some random person making an unlikely discovery of another family’s heirloom or other personal family effects. Little did I know that I would soon become part of such a discovery!  

A few days ago I received a message from a good friend, Lorissa Edwards. She mentioned that she had a project for me and that she would tell me about it later. She called me that evening to tell me she had been out “thrifting” at a local Goodwill and found some really cool art pieces. As the conversation continued, she mentioned that she found a photo album that caught her attention. As she thumbed through the album she discovered that there were some personal photos inside the album. “Are you sure those aren’t stock images?” I asked. She replied “No, these are someone’s personal photos - old photographs – a couple look to be from the 1800’s! There are even handwritten letters from 1916 and letters typed on Emory University letterhead from the 1920’s and 1930’s!” I had to sit all the way up! “What?!” I exclaimed.

We continued talking about how we couldn’t believe she had made such a discovery. She offered to drop the information to me the next day and let me have at researching since that’s my thing. “Connecting families one ancestor at a time” is what I do. We exchanged calls and messages over the next few days to piece together the ins and outs of the matter and decided that we would try to reunite this family with this information. If you are related to this family please contact madamancestry@gmail.com. 

We also need your help in spreading the word, so share, share, share! If no family members come forward to claim this information by August 31, 2016, we discussed the possibility of donating this information to the Emory University Archives. 

Take a good look at these photos and let us know if you recognize this family or if you are any relation to this family. 

We are not sure who the woman on the left is, but the man and woman on the right we believe to be Mr. & Mrs. Ponder Lane Smith.

We believe the photo on the top left is an older photo of Mamie Harden (Hardin?) and the photo on the bottom left is a young photo of Silas "Sike" Harden (Hardin?) - his name is actually written on the back; The top right photo is believed to be Mamie; the middle photo is believed to be Rose (Rosa?), Mamie, and their other sisters Robin (Dee?), Frances, and Sarah; the bottom right photo is believed to be an older photo of Mamie and Silas "Sike" Harden (Hardin?).

This is a copy of the death notice for Ponder Lane Smith (P.L. Smith) along with a photo of his burial. 

This is what we've concluded:

1. Rose (Rosa?) was a nurse (and possibly a student) at Emory
2. Rose and Mamie were sisters
3. Rose married Robert "Bob" Young and Mamie married Silas "Sike" Harden (Hardin?). They are listed as Mrs. Robert Young and Mrs. S.S. Hardin in their father's death notice in the paper. 
4. Ponder Lane Smith (P.L. Smith) is the father of Rose and Mamie and three other daughters - Robin (Dee?), Sarah, and Frances, according to his 1939 death notice in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. 
5. The family was in Juliette (Monroe Co.), Atlanta, and Forsyth. Mamie and Silas were in Jacksonville, FL. 

After reviewing additional records, it appears that Ponder Lane Smith (P.L. Smith) was married to Janette M. Sawyer and they had 7 daughters: Mamie (b. 1902); Robin D. (Dee?) (b. 1905); Rose (Rosa?) (b. 1907); Lillian (b. 1908); Willie (b.  est. 1910); Frances (b. est. 1910); Sarah T. (b. est. 1910). 

There were only five daughters listed in Ponder Lane Smith's death notice, so at this point we do not know what happened to the other two daughters. I've added images of the letters as well, in case this information can offer additional clues to possible relatives. Many of the letters have sections that are blurred to reserve sentiment for possible relatives. Again, we would like to reunite family members with this information, so if you are related to this family please contact madamancestry@gmail.com by August 31, 2016. 

REMEMBER: It is so important that you do not throw out photos, letters, and other things of that sort. If you do not know what to do with them, donate them to a library or historical society so that they can be properly archived and preserved. 

Be My Guest!

Two things I love are writing and family history! I've been blessed to combine these efforts through blogging! I've even been invited to write a few guest pieces that I'd like to invite you to check out! In addition to my blog, I look forward to more opportunities of being able to write for others from time to time. I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to MyCanvas and Lisa Lisson for having me as their guest, allowing me the opportunity to write for them, and to inspire others! :-)

Bring Your Family History to LIFE!

Family Friday

Hilson: A Story Behind the Name

A little help, please...

We've all been in the throes of a good ancestor hunt when we finally get to a point where we have to blurt out that little four letter word - HELP!

We may not realize it, but sometimes that help is already available to us before we can ask. Ancestry.com is one of my many resources for researching family history. Many times, before I begin a search of all records, I check to see if the name I am researching shows up in any family trees.

I decided to pick up the search again for my great grandfather on my maternal line. I really didn't have much information about his life - other than than knowing the name of his wife, the names of their children, and that he unfortunately died when he was 26 years of age (possibly 24 as his birth year may be off by a couple of years). I would check for trees on Ancestry and he never seemed to show up. I was able to check other databases and found documentation that lead me to discover the names of his parents and his siblings. After that discovery they all seemed to have joined the "Ancestor Witness Protection Program" (smile)!

Doing family research takes lots of time. You may not always get the answers you're looking for, but I'm a firm believer that those answers will come eventually.

I decided to search for great grandfather again today and wondered "Could he finally be listed in someone's tree"? To my surprise he was! And so was his entire family! I reviewed this person's family tree and they had identical information to what I have, plus LOTS of information that I didn't have. I was so excited because this part of the family finally has a story!

I noticed that the person who owned the tree had various other trees. I contacted them to explain who I was and ask their relation. The owner of the tree is not related but mentioned that she just likes to research and update her findings in her spare time. I gave her a hearty thank you and encouraged her to keep up the good work! Without her help I would've never been able to make this remarkable discovery!

Never give up on your search! Your help may be closer than you think and may also come from an unlikely source! I would've never thought that someone I don't know and who has no relation to my family would provide the information that I was looking for! Let's all do our part and help index information. Your one post could be the one missing link for someone to complete their family history!

And when you're tired of shaking your tree, go shake someone else's - you may be surprised to find that some of your ancestors may fall out!

Happy Searching! :-)

What Runs In Your Family?

Discussing what medical conditions run in your family is not always a popular conversation - but it is an important one! The reason for this post is to help encourage you to open the door to discussing medical issues that run in your family. Some things may be of minor significance and some things may be of major significance, so it's important to sort it all out.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. That may not mean anything to you. It didn't mean anything to me until some years ago when it hit home and affected my mother and completely changed all of our lives. Prior to that I never thought to ask her about her medical history, or the medical history of her family.

As I gathered some family data recently, I began remembering that my grandmother also suffered a stroke which contributed to her death. Another family member was trying to convince me that wasn't the case but I could vividly remembering hearing that she suffered a stroke when I was a kid. I began going through my family papers and just as I thought, stroke was a major contributor to her death. "That's ironic" I thought, but I didn't think much of it again until I stumbled upon a copy of my great grandmother's death certificate. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that she also died as a result of having a stroke! What are the odds that great grandmother, grandmother, and mother would all succumb to the same disease! This was no coincidence to me!

I began asking other relatives what they knew of strokes in the family and other contributory causes that could put us at a higher risk. No one seemed to know and the people who could really answer these questions are unfortunately no longer here. Now that I have this information I can share with other family members so that we know what to look out for and try to prevent the same. If you're interested in learning more about stroke and stroke prevention, National Stroke Association is a great resource to look into.

I hope that you will take time today to discuss your family's health - it could save a life!

Happy Living! :-)

Family Friday!!!

Hey everybody! Y'all know what day it is...Family Friday!!! I wanted to share with you that I had another opportunity to provide a guest post for the MyCanvas Guest Blogger Series! This series has so many great bloggers with so much great information! My piece was about "Family Friday" a creative way to get the family involved. If you haven't had an opportunity to check out the post you can click here to be directed to it for some great tips on how to engage and inspire your family about their history!

Happy Family Friday!!! :-)

Influential Women of the Family - Part 3

(Madam Ancestry's personal family photo)

Sickness (and tears) caused me to send this out late, but there was no way I was letting Women's History Month end without honoring...MY MAMA!

This picture of us is kind of blurry but it's still one of my favorites! I don't specifically remember this event, but I do know it was someone's birthday and we had birthday cake. There were a lot of us so it seemed like we had birthday cake quite often (smile). For a long time, mama used to make all of our birthday cakes. I can remember going with her to some place where she would take classes on cake decorating and voila! Perfectly decorated birthday cakes! It was the best to eat the leftover cake batter from the bowl - and so worth the smack on the hand for touching the cake piper and tasting the frosting inside! My Miss Piggy birthday cake was probably my favorite birthday cake! She made it for my 6th birthday and I'll never forget it!

(Madam Ancestry's personal family photo)

This year we're approaching a milestone anniversary of her passing and I honestly can't believe it's been this long. I was feeling a little low about how there is so much more I want to know about her that I won't get to know. She endured more than I could ever know being raised in a poor, single-parent family, and growing her own family to the standard she wanted her children to achieve. As I thought about her, I realized that I had already encapsulated so much about her.

BRAVE: She ventured off with "Deddy" to move to another state. They packed up the kiddos and left everything and everyone they new and started a new chapter in life. Oh, and did I mention she was two weeks from delivering a baby at the time?!

TOUGH AS NAILS: You've gotta be tough to raise 8 kids (and some grands)! Early on they made a decision that she would be a stay at home mom. I probably would've lost my mind if I had to listen to all those kids all day, everyday. But she did it. She was the type to let things roll off her back. I've only seen her emotional once...mabe twice...in my entire life, seriously!

RESOURCEFUL: She had many talents and would use whatever she had. I remember her sewing; baking; stretching those dollars (I thought I was a super shopper but I have nothing on her); being a doctor (she had a knack for making remedies by mixing medicine and whatever else she could find in the house...lol...but we always got well)! She could feed a multitude. To this day I do not know how there was always food to go around. I have the hardest time trying to keep leftovers with just me (smile)! She drove our shuttle aka the minivan. She drove all of us all over the city to where we needed to be, all in the same day! There must have been more than 24 hours in a day back then!

RESILIENT: I've watched her withstand setbacks in life, bounce back from major illness and keep it moving like she never missed a beat. When she couldn't talk she found a way to communicate. She fought it out until the end.

There is so much more I could say about how she loved us all in her own unique way. She was truly one of a kind. I'm glad to have had her for a short time than to have not had her at all. I'm thankful for our time, for the lessons, taking on her traits, and most of all for the memories!

I love you always and forever, Ma!

Happy Women's History Month!

Throwback Thursday - Let's try something a little different!

Recently I was going through some family papers and found some old letters, postcards, and other handwritten documents. I smiled as I admired the handwriting and the stories each record contained. We're now so caught up in the digital age, I got to thinking "Does anyone write letters anymore?"

Since today is "Throwback Thursday", I thought it was appropriate to talk about this today. Throwback Thursday is a social media trend where users share old photographs (usually with the hashtag #TBT), but I thought it would be fun to try something a little different! Today, let's skip the texting and the email and take the time to write someone in our family! You can write a nice letter, or send a postcard with a short note. Encourage your relative(s) to write back! You'll be helping keep family connections, and sharing memories for future generations to fondly look upon!

Happy writing! :-D

Influential Women of the Family - Part 2

Hey everybody! We're still in Women's History Month and for today's post, I chose to honor...my sisters! I blurred their faces because I didn't get permission in time to post this photo. I usually like to get my family's permission before posting them on "The WWW" as my Deddy would say (smile). If/when I get their permission, I'll be sure to update with their smiling faces!

(Madam Ancestry's personal family photo)

There is much I can say about them individually, but I'll keep it short and sweet! As long as I can remember, they've always been there. They have helped shaped some of my earliest encounters like teaching me to read, lady-like etiquette, cooking lessons, teamwork, coaching difficult situations, and much more. They're exceptional mothers/mother figures, career women, strong & supportive wives, and continuing their education! I also admire how they hold the family down in their unique way; always standing in the gap wherever needed, ready to assist however they can. We fight hard sometimes, but love even harder. When it's all said and done we're sisters made, and friends raised!

Happy Family Friday!

P.S. - This is all they get since they always tell me I don't have any emotions (but I really do)...LOL!

Stay tuned this month for stories on more influential women in my family! You can share your stories of influential women in your family by emailing me at madamancestry@gmail.com!

Influential Women of the Family - Part 1

Due to technical issues, this Family Friday post is on Sunday! Enjoy!

I'm sure it goes without saying, but women are phenomenal! March is Women's History Month and I've decided (beginning) today to use the remaining Fridays in this month to honor influential women in my family.

Today, I'll talk to you about my aunt - whom I'll call "AP" for the sake of this post. I thought it would be appropriate to have her also talk about who she views as the most influential woman in our family. For the sake of this post, we'll call her pick "Granny CC". 

"AP"

(Madam Ancestry's personal family photo)

AP is hands down one of the most amazing women I know. I hope she knows how much I truly love and admire her. Recently, my sister went out of town and her children were talking to her about bringing souvenirs home. One asked if she could bring AP back with her. We had a good laugh about that. I shared the story with someone and she remarked with a smile "AP must sure be something! It seems like everybody in your family has a wonderful story to tell about her." I told her about all the amazing things she does from making clothes, to making candy, to making the best home-made rolls, interior decorating, and much, more more - seriously, the woman can do it all! Out of the many things I admire about her, there are a couple that stand out: (1) How she works to keep the family together and (2) How she makes each person feel special. She's always doing things to let me know how special I am...since I am the favorite niece (smile)! 

I started thinking that I was close to my niece's age (about 6) when she created one of my favorite memories that I still think about until this day! I remember receiving a child's tea party set for Christmas and she was coming to visit in the Spring. I had my very own serving set and I was saving it just for AP! I remember talking to her on the phone and telling her about my plans and she told me she was excited and couldn't wait to have a tea party. 

When she got there, I had everything all set - fruit punch, grapes, cheese and crackers. This was a big deal! I had a little table in my room with a couple of chairs. When she came upstairs, she told me how much she liked my room and she was so glad I had invited her to a tea party. She ooh'd and ahh'd and I felt like I had hosted the party of the century! 

I recently mentioned it to her and she laughed. She vaguely remembered it. She reminisced about how we used to work on crafts together, like making t-shirts, and when I had begged my parents to buy me some Mickey Mouse designer jeans, and she looked at the pattern and made it for me before she went back home. She's a strong woman who is the epitome of you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. She has raised 5 children, 20 foster children, has about 3 god-children, and has enough grandchildren and great-grandchildren that I've lost count :-) She creates memories and that's one of the many things I love about her!

                              "Granny CC"

MA: Who doyou think is the most influential woman in the family?

AP: My Granny CC! She was a strong-willed woman and I spent a lot of time with her - so I have many great memories. I have many memories of going between Monroe and Detroit to go fishing with her each summer. 
MA: What is your favorite memory of her?
AP: There are so many. I think I'd have to say how she collected sea shells for me - a bag full! I loved them and always held on to them. She used to make me bacon and eggs, and sometimes grits if we had time. We'd get a bag full of green grapes - they were ten cents per pound back then. 
MA: (laughs) I would love to get grapes for ten cents per pound!
AP: She also made the best cakes! It smelled like heaven smelling those cakes (fruit cake and pound cake) under the bed. She also stored sacks of apples and potatoes under the bed. 
MA: Why did she store these items under the bed? 
AP: They didn't have a lot of space back then and you also didn't want anyone coming around eating up your cake! The cakes were tightly wrapped and stored in tin cans. I could hardly sleep from the aroma of those cakes coming from under the bed!
MA: What did you admire most about her? 
AP: The unconditional love she showed me. She always treated me the same and did whatever she could for me. I always admired her spirit - she was a determined, strong-willed, and saved woman. She was a homemaker but was also business savvy. I can remember she bought several properties - even purchasing a farm when she was in her 70's. She would be on that farm catching chickens and plucking feathers. She made the best fried chicken you'd ever taste in your life!
MA: How do you think Granny CC helped shaped the family? 
AP: She created some strong women with that same mindset. She passed those traits down to my mother, and my mother passed them down to me.
MA: What specifically do you think you gained from her?
AP: Mostly her determination and strong-will. I've raised 5 kids by myself after a divorce, been an entrepreneur, paid off my home, bought property on a resort, remodeling my home on my own several times. Just being good at whatever I put my mind to. 
MA: I remember all those home renovations! They always turned out great! 
AP: My mom was good like that too. I remember coming home from school one day to find that mama had knocked down walls in my bedroom to enlarge the living and removed a door to put a 12 foot picture window. Can you imagine coming home from school to find out your room is gone? (laughs)
MA: (laughs) That is pretty funny! Is there anything else you want to tell me about Granny CC? 
AP: When I would visit her or she would visit us, she and I would always share a bed. She had a rocking chair in the room. One night she got up and asked if I saw someone sitting in the rocking chair. I told her no. She said it was her sister. It wasn't too long after that occurrence that she passed away. Maybe she saw something, I don't know. I hate that I didn't get to see her before she passed away (I was in the hospital). I loved my Granny CC, she was a remarkable woman. Even though she's gone, she will always stand tall in the minds of the family.


Stay tuned this month for stories on more influential women in my family! You can share your stories of influential women in your family by emailing me at madamancestry@gmail.com!

Women's History Month

In case you didn't know, March is Women's History Month! Beginning today, I'm going to use each Friday in this month to acknowledge influential women in my family. So be on the lookout for the blog update later this afternoon! I'm excited to share with you all the woman I chose to start this segment off with, and also share the memories of the most influential woman she chose to honor.

I'm sure you all have some great and influential women in your families also, and I'd love to hear about them! You can pick anyone - your mom, sister, grandma, or even "2x Great Aunt Gertrude" from the 1880 Census (smile)! You can share your story with me via email or on Facebook. Who knows, your story may even be featured on my blog! I look forward to hearing from you and sharing our stories of the amazing women we descend from! :-)

Happy Family Friday!

Finding Sammy Davis, Jr.

Happy Family Friday!!! I thought I'd let you all know that I'm on yet another mission...Finding Sammy Davis, Jr.! For all those side eyes and eyebrows that went up, let me explain. You know how you can recall hearing something, but in that moment it doesn't really mean much until your memory recalls it? Well that's kind of what has brought me back around to this. I remember being told and overhearing conversations about being related to Sammy Davis, Jr. I guess as a child I kind of knew who Sammy Davis, Jr. was but didn't really think much of it. I remember seeing him on TV a few times, and that was about all I could tell you.

I remember my mom's aunt stating the claim of relation. She's gone and so is mom, so I kind of chalked it up to one of those "family fables". That is until I recently discovered an interesting family photo. A couple of weeks ago, I was meeting with my uncle to go through some information and photos as we're planning for our family reunion. He asked me to bring whatever photos I had so we could go through them. As I was going through my box of information, I discovered a picture; although I'm not sure if the picture was taken in my grandmother's home or her sister's home (the one who claimed the relation to Sammy Davis, Jr.). Something in the picture caught my attention. I noticed a wall that had pictures of various people in the family. As I glanced over those faces trying to see if I could recognize everyone, I noticed a face I did not expect to see - you guessed it, Sammy Davis, Jr.! This was the first piece of evidence that could lend credibility to the claim of his relation.

When I met with my uncle, I brought it up to him. He said that he knows he's a cousin but he couldn't remember the exact break down as his aunt could relay. He said that he also remembers that his aunt and Sammy would write letters to each other and exchange birthday cards and Christmas cards. "Well what happened to all of those letters and cards?" I asked. He didn't know what became of it after her passing.

So now my wheels are spinning and I'm trying to make sense of all of this. His picture wouldn't be on a wall in my relative's home with other family members if he's not part of the family, right? We will find out! Stay tuned!


Happy searching! :-)

Let's Write Cursive!

I know this topic stirs up mixed reviews! This picture was shared in one of my genealogy groups and it speaks volumes. I can recall a conversation I heard recently between two relatives concerning the topic of cursive writing. One was completely shocked to know that their children didn't know cursive and that they didn't teach cursive writing in school anymore. The other thought cursive writing served no purpose and that it was completely unnecessary. I didn't think too much about it until one night I was doing some research and the light bulb went off - if they can't write in cursive, they can't read cursive writing either! That means they can't read historical documents (like the Declaration of Independence), census documents and other records of value pertaining to family history, and letters or cards from grandparents - because I'm pretty sure your grandparents are of the generation who still writes in cursive (even some of those aunts and uncles too!). Cursive even allows you to have your own unique mark! Some argue that cursive is something you never use...well...algebra isn't used everyday either but it's still learned. I asked one of my nieces the other day if she knew how to write in cursive. She thought for a moment and shook her head no. Finally she said "I don't really know cursive, but I do know how to write my name in cursive...so I can only recognize the letters in my name in cursive." So, since I've been dubbed as our family historian I'm going to make a conscious effort to help the kids in my family learn cursive so they can understand, appreciate, enjoy all these records of significance! Whether or not cursive is taught in the schools is up to the educators, but you can do your part by helping the next generations in your family learn it. And if you'd like a few more reasons, check out this article Five Reasons Kids Should Still Learn Cursive Writing. A cursive writing lesson would be fun for a Family Friday night (hint, hint)!

Happy Writing! :-)

It's my 1st Blogiversary!!!

Happy Blogiversary to me!!! Yes, today is my One Year Blogiversary! One year ago today I was pushed to really go after two things that I love - writing and genealogy! From there Madam Ancestry was born! I've got to say that I've enjoyed every moment of it. I would also like to thank each one of you for the well wishes, support, and for following/interacting with me over the past year. I'm thankful for everything I continue to learn, opportunities that have opened up, and for all of my #genfriends I've made over the past year. I'm excited to begin working on lots of new things in this new year. Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams. Reach for the stars! Better yet, reach for some ancestors!

Happy Searching!