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NEWSLETTER Root Seekers Genealogical Society Volume No. XX, Issue No.2 Mabank, TX June 2009

Report courtesy of Nina Hendricks

May Meeting Highlights Members Brick Walls – An Update On What Surnames Members of Root Seekers are Currently Working and the Brick Walls They Had Encountered

Jim Robertson-Smith surname which is Corinne’s maiden

name. Lana Napper-working on Barr, James, Donnell,

Lockinar, Huddleson, Ward, Napper, Forbes and Gayheart

(Indian) surnames. Ruth Shelton shared that she has

Footnotes, a software program that has Civil War and

Revolutionary War Service Records in it. Nina Hendricks-

working on her grandmother, Nellie Mullins b. 1847 AL.

Marian Tillery-working on Nathanial Waller, Pitt &

Craven Co., NC, also Price, Owens, Weber, Bruell. Betty

Foster-James Wright, Rutherford Co., NC. Judy -

Captain Thomas Walling. Carolyn Bostian – John W

Whorton, b. 1805-1810 GA, checking Stewart Co. GA.

Also Horton, Smith, Dees, Webb, Owen, Pace, Knight,

Johnson, & Poland. Others shared suggestions to help

Famous Quotes: “My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.” Rodney Dangerfield “Don’t worry about avoiding temptation. As you

grow older, it will avoid you.” Winston Churchill

April Meeting Highlights “Tracing Your Roots Forward” – Teaching Students to Love History by Pat Clamon

Pat says that even as a child she always loved history and even named her stuffed animals after famous people in history. She says History and Genealogy go hand and hand and Pat had to get very creative to get her students to like history. One way was to take them to visit where the history happened. She took her students to Boston and made trips to Europe at least 12 times. Most of her students had to earn their fares to Europe, but it made them appreciate it all the more. Other ways she peaked their interest was to have games and quizzes over a certain decade or have them identify people or objects in history. What Is It? And Who Am I? were favorites. She encouraged her students to keep a journal for their children and grandchildren of their travels. They also made calendars with the birth dates of their ancestors and extended families. One of Pat’s favorite quotes is “To forget one’s ancestors is to be a book without a source, a tree without a root-Chinese Maxim.” During her tenure she supervised trips with students to England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and Boston and New York. Pat Clamon is a retired teacher of English, French, Latin, Social Studies and Advance Placement History for twenty-nine years of which twenty-three were with Mabank High School. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, and graduate of SMU Masters and SMU Law Degrees. Pat has made presentations to State for gifted and talented children four times and is a speaker at ladies clubs and

church groups. ■ Report courtesy of Nina Hendricks

Pictured left to right: Pat Clamon and Root Seekers President Margaret Ann Trail.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1-3

Monthly Meeting Highlights

3

What’s New? A List of New Books in the Library

4

Welcome to New Members

4 4 5 6 7-8

Have You Tried These Web Sites?

Results of Fund Raiser Garage Sale

Genealogy Seminar Set for October

Mabank Volunteer Fire Department

Kyser Cemetery Enumerated (Part 2)

9-11 13 14

Increasing Your Genealogy Researching Skills

OPHGR Work Shop Sep 26, 2009

Root Seekers Statement Page

15 Back Page - Editor’s Corner

break through some of these brick walls. Robert Johnson

shared about web sites to look up servicemen in all the wars.

Apologies to any who shared that I didn’t get names and

information as people were sharing faster than I could take

notes. Editor

continued on page 3

June Meeting Highlights “Master Genealogist” – A Software Review by Jim Robertson

Jim gave a review of how he uses the Master Genealogist software program to help manage his Family files and to write a book detailing his Family History. It can help you to do the same by being able to include your pictures and quoting sources for each person in your file. You can add census records, land deed records and stories to make your files and family history more complete. Jim has used the Master Life Program for many years and still prefers it over many others on the market today. He also has taught many others how to use the software. Jim is a third generation Texan, a graduate of Georgia Tech and a Navy Veteran of World War II. He began his interest in genealogy more than 30 years ago and since that time, genealogical research, computers and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) have become his major hobbies. Jim is a member of a long list of organizations including the SAR, the General Society of the War of 1812, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Somerset Chapter of Magna Charta Barons, Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the USA, Society of the Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, Society of Colonial Wars, Order of Three Crusades, Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims and The Jamestown Society. He is our beloved founder and first president of the Root Seekers Genealogy Society. ■

Report courtesy of Nina Hendricks

On the Lighter Side.... When browsing old cemeteries, one can encounter some very interesting old tombstones! In a Silver City, NV cemetery:

Here lays The Kid. We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger But slow on the draw.

In a Ruidoso, NM cemetery: Here lies Johnny Yeast...Pardon me for not rising.

On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket, MA: Under the sod and under the trees, Lays the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there’s only the pod. Pease shelled out and went to God.

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What’s New? Books Continued

Tennessee Historical Quarterly; Fall 1984

The German Research Companion

History of Leon County, Texas

History of Wilbarger County, Texas

Anson County Heritage North

Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists

Edgefield Vol 1 Abstracts of Deeds

Greenwood County Sketches – Old Roads

The Life and Times of Judge Junius Hillyer (from his memoirs)

Marriage License Bonds of Accomack County, Virginia from 1774 to 1806

Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina

Sunlight on the Southside - List of Tithes Lunenburg County, Virginia 1748-1783

Passports Issued by Governors of Georgia 1810 to 1820 and Index of Persons Receiving Passports, 1785 to 1820

■

List courtesy of Nina Hendricks

What’s New?

A List of the Books Donated to

the Tri County Library

Genealogy Room New Books Shelved as of 4/14/09: “He Loves A Good Deal of Rum” Military Desertions during the American Revolution, 1775-1783 Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812 Tri-County Obituaries A; BA-BEZ, from the Marie Reasonover Collection. The Heritage of Bullock County, AL The Heritage of Dallas County, AL The Heritage of Pickens County, AL The Heritage of Sumter County, AL Death Notices from Richmond, VA Newspapers, 1841-1853 The Arkansas Gazette Obituaries Index 1819-1853 Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, NC 1915-1916 Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, NC 1917-1918 Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, VA 1655-1900 A Compilation of the Original Lists of Protestant Immigrants to South Carolina 1763-1773 West Virginia Estate Settlements 30,638 Burials in Georgia The following books were donated by Jim and Corinne Robertson: Bedford Co., VA Deed Book !-1 1754-1762 Decline of Rome and the Rise of Mediaeval Europe Magna Carta Tracing Your Ancestry America’s War of Independence 1763-1783 The Census of the United States Union County, Kentucky 1810 Columbia County, Arkansas Census 1880 The Huguenot Society of America Passports Issued by Governors of Georgia, 1785-1809 The East Tennessee Historical Society’s Publications No. 56

and 57

FAMILY ROOTS You know you’re an addicted Genealogist...... ......when you think every home should have a microfilm reader. ......if you rather read census schedules than a good book. .....when you know every town clerk in your state by name. .....if you start heading to the nearest computer when you

hear that Ancestry has added new records online.

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Root Seekers Newsletter

The Root Seekers Newsletter is published Quarterly at Mabank, Texas, by the Root Seekers Genealogical Society. The mailing address of the society is:

1921c TOLOSA SCHOOL PICTURE

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Welcome new members. We are happy to have you as a

part of our Genealogy Society. It is our belief that we can

learn from each other and there is a wealth of wisdom in

our collective minds.

Since our society is made up of “newbies” as well as

seasoned veterans, there can be much advantage for new

members to confer with those veterans about difficulties

that you are having in doing your research as the veterans

may be able to offer some helpful suggestions for breaking

through brick walls.

There are also many advantages of being a member of

Root Seekers Genealogy Society. You have the use of the

Genealogy Room at the Tri County Library and on each

Tuesday of the month, there will be another member or

two there to help you with your research. They will show

you how to use the computer to access a world of

information to which you may not otherwise have access.

They can show you how to use the copier that is located

within the Genealogy room for convenience while still at

the regular library rate per copy of 15 cents. They can

show you how to access the data on the many cds and

microfilm that we have. If you have not yet checked out

the Genealogy room at the Tri County Library, I urge you

to do so and take advantage of the many books that have

been recently added to the shelves. Plan to go on a

Tuesday and receive help from one of our veterans and get

full use of all the Genealogy room has to offer to further

your research. You can go and research on any day the

library is open. Just sign in with the receptionist.

Editor

Have You Tried These Web

Sites? Do you have Brick Walls? Do you have Dead Ends? Do you need a

new place to look?

Obviously, many of us have subscriptions to sites such as

Ancestry.com or Genealogy.com which both are owned by

Ancestry as is the Rootsweb.com site. But for those who

don’t have that available, did you know that Root Seekers

members can access Ancestry.com in the Genealogy room

of Tri-County Library? As a member that is one of your

privileges.

http://www.rootsweb.com Click on “World Connect”

http://wwwfindagrave.com Find a grave or cemetery, thy

this one

http://www.ancestralfindings.com Search by Surname

http://www.genforum.com Genealogy help and guidance

http://www.cem.va.gov/ Veteran cemeteries and

information service

http://translation.langenberg.com/ Translate from

English to foreign language or foreign language to English

http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/ Caleb Johnson’s

MAYFLOWER web pages

http://www.surnameweb.org/ Searchable Registry with

thousands of surname links

http://gencircles.com Search by Surname

http://www.usgenweb.com Search by state, then by

county. Has a lot of cemetery, birth, death & marriage

records & other useful information.

Look for more next Newsletter! ■

List courtesy of Nina Hendricks

2009 GARAGE SALE FUND RAISER WAS A SUCCESS A Garage Sale was held on Friday, April 22. Despite a chilly and overcast day, there was a decent turnout of patrons searching for bargains and looking to buy items donated by members of Root Seekers. At the end of the day $224.20 was raised to help buy more books for the Genealogy Room at Tri County Library in Mabank and help pay for preserving and rebinding Obituaries previously stored in notebooks. Thanks to all of you who donated items and to all who attended the sale and purchased items.

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The next FUND RAISER will be our Genealogy Seminar coming up in October 2009. Encourage your

friends and family members who are interested in Genealogy to register early to hear Lloyd

Bockstruck, whom most of us believe to be a walking encyclopedia of everything genealogical! A little

bird told me that Lloyd may be retiring this year from the Dallas Public Library where he has been

the Supervisor of the Genealogy Section for a number of years.

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“Looking Back” By Nina Hendricks

#2 HISTORY OF MABANK FIRE DEPARTMENT

Mabank Banner, June 25, 1941. In 1920 the necessity of a fire department in Mabank was realized by the citizens of the town. With W.M. Covey as chief this worthwhile organization began its services to Mabank with twenty members. There are six, Laban Nesmith, J.S. Flanagan, Everett Lamb, Paul Pearson, Hulette Jones and H. L. Allison who have continued their membership throughout twenty-one years. During the first few years of serving Mabank, the only fire fighting equipment the department could boast of was two chemical drums mounted on a two-wheel chassis drawn by the boys. The fire fighting facilities were greatly improved when the department purchased a model T. Ford on which the two chemical drums were mounted. The progress of the department and its eagerness to be in position to render the most effective service is realized when we compare our present equipment, consisting of two trucks equipped with the very latest pumpers and other features for fighting fires with the two chemical drums drawn by the boys of yesterday. The department is recognized as one of the most efficient volunteer departments in the state. Their success in this achievement is attributed to the cooperative spirit of the membership of the fire chiefs and other officers. The department has been very fortunate in having as their chiefs, such men as W. M. Covey, T. L. Jennings, L. H. Treadwell, H. L. Allison and our present chief, C. P. Churchwell to whom we can give the credit of having one of the lowest key rates of any town in this part of the country. Submitted by Nina Hendricks

Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me Why my house is such a mess.

He asked if I’d been ‘computering’, And I had to answer ‘yes’.

He told me to get off my fanny

And tidy up the house. And so I started cleaning up... The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.

That really did the trick... I was just admiring my work,

I didn’t mean to ‘click’.

But click, I did, and oops I found A real absorbing site.

That I got SO way into it. I was into it all night.

Nothing’s changed except my mouse

It’s very, very shiny. I guess my house will stay a mess...

While I sit here on my hiney.

This is an example of what you can find online sometimes if you are a little bit lucky. I have recently been in contact with a young woman, Ashley Horton Brown who lives in Tallassee, FL who has inherited this trunk full of old Bibles, records and artifacts belonging to her father, Noah Horton, her grandfather, Lonnie Obry Horton and g grandfather, Joseph Brown Horton. She found me from a posting two years old on a surname board on the internet for the name Horton. Her g grandfather is a brother to my g grandfather. WOW!

Editor

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The Recording of A Cemetery

By

Thelma Greene Reagan

Today we walked where others walked

On a lonely, windswept hill;

Today we talked where others cried

For Loved Ones whose lives are stilled.

Today our hearts were touched

By graves of tiny babies;

Snatched from the arms of loving kin,

In the heartbreak of the ages.

Today we saw where the grandparents lay

In the last sleep of their time;

Lying under the trees and clouds

Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.

Today we wondered about an unmarked spot;

Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?

Was it a babe, child, young or old?

No indication could be found.

Today we saw where Mom and Dad lay.

We had been here once before

On a day we’d all like to forget,

But will remember forever more.

Today we recorded for kith and kin

The graves of ancestors past;

To be preserved for generations hence,

A record we hope will last.

Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,

For stones sometimes crumble to dust

And generations of folks yet to come

Will be grateful for your trust.

Printed by permission from OPHGR’s “Your Window to the Past” Newsletter, Feb 2009 Vol 2 & 3

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Kyser Cemetery

Kaufman County, Texas Enumerated On August 16, 2008

By Nina Hendricks, Donnie Hendricks, Ron Holmes

Directions: Take Highway 243 between Kaufman and Canton. Turn on County Road 109 at the Kyser Cemetery sign, go 2.2 miles to County Road 109A. Take a right and go 7/10 miles to County road 109C and take a left. Go to the end of the road and to the left is the locked gate that has the name of Kyser on it. Permission will be needed to open the gate but there is a walk-thru if you would like to walk to the cemetery. This is a very old family cemetery with several broken stones. It is well kept by the Kyser family and is surrounded by a chain link fence. (This is Part 2 of the enumeration of this cemetery. See Part 1 in 1st Qtr Newsletter)

Double stone: Together forever Willie H. Raymond Annie Lee Raymond Mar 7, 1879 Apr 2, 1882 May 7, 1954 Mar 18, 1908 Gone from our home but not from our hearts. Daddy and Mother on foot stones

Mary E. Raymond Oct. 1, 1899 Aug 30, 1966 In loving memory-Daughter on foot stone

Mable R. Raymond Sept. 20, 1902 May 1, 1972 In loving memory-Daughter on foot stone

Dewvall Raymond Sept. 9, 1903 May 6, 1972 In loving memory-Son on foot stone

Double stone Edgar A. Raymond Bessie M. Raymond Mar. 8, 1908 May 23, 1910 Dec. 2, 1979 Nov 8, 1980 Gone from our home but not from our hearts. Mom And Dad on foot stones End of graves inside wrought iron fenced area.

Double stone William M. Raymond Ruby L. Raymond Nov. 18, 1920 Apr. 20, 1926 Mar. 9,1982 Dec. 22, 1998 Military stone at foot. Pvt. U.S. Army World War II

Tommy Earl Pate Mar. 1941 Mar. 1941

Edward H. Sorrells, Son of Jim and Sadie Sorrells 1926-1926

Katrina Fisher Feb. 8, 1971 Feb. 9, 1971 Parents Franklin and Judi Fisher

Double stone-Love never fails James Edison Fisher Hester Lorene Fisher July 13, 1907 Aug 13, 1922 Apr. 11, 1997 Jan 17, 1989 Military stone Pfc U.S. Arm World War II

Nora “Dee” Raymond Feb. 7, 1911 Dec. 18, 1999 Precious are the children.

Minnie Lee, Daughter of J. H. and Maggie Raymond Feb. 9, 1927 Apr. 11, 1956 In loving memory

Haywood Raymond Jan. 9, 1902 Oct. 23, 1975 In loving memory

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Next Newsletter will begin Part 1 enumeration of Cedar Creek Memorial Park Cemetery. Submitted by Nina

Hendricks

Maggie Mae, Wife of Haywood Raymond Aug. 22, 1902 May 23, 1938 In loving memory

Jim M. Raymond Aug. 15, 1928 Dec. 13, 1928 Our Darling Baby

Double stone-Together forever H. H. Cox Hazel L. Cox Jan. 3, 1923 Feb 26, 1923 June 14, 1986 Married Feb. 1, 1939

Robert Dale Cox, Son of H. and Hazel April 10, 1947

Daniel H., Son of Douglas and Patrica Cox Jan. 3, 1969 Feb. 12, 1969

Charles Cox, Son of Hazel and H. H. Cox Jr. Born and Died Dec. 15, 1939

Jack W. Bass – father Jan. 27, 1944 Nov. 13, 1985 Military stone Jack W. Bass Jr. Pvt. U.S. Army 1944-1985

Double stone Myrtle Raymond Bass Jack Wilford Bass Sept. 11, 1924 Sept 4, 1920 June 21, 1993 Mar. 7, 1994 Married Oct. 20, 1942 – Mother – Father on foot stones

Infant son of John P. and Eula L. Cox 1907-1907

Dylan Wayne McMillian Nov. 5, 1993 In our hearts forever

Double stone Mark Edward Cox John 3:16 Feb. 20, 1960 Nov. 22, 1995 Forever in our hearts

Double stone W. M. “Preacher” Cox Annie F. Cox Mar. 11, 1924 Jan. 21, 1929 Oct. 13, 2001 Married Sept. 29, 1944 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

David A. Cox Nov. 12, 1947 July 21, 1981 In loving memory

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INCREASING YOUR GENEALOGY RESEARCHING SKILLS Recently, the Henderson County Historical Society and The Daniel McMahon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a Genealogy Workshop at the Henderson County Historical Museum Annex Bldg. This workshop was attended by several members of Root Seekers. I very much enjoyed the Workshop Class “Getting Everything Out of the Evidence You Have”. These two pages are a reproduction of one portion of the information that was presented during that class. Instructions: This is an exercise of learning to read and fully appreciate what information may be on a Marriage License. Using the Marriage License printed on page 10, answer the following questions. Answers will appear on Page 11 so if you want to work this exercise do so before looking at Page 11.

Jacobson Marriage License

Collecting Names

What was Helen’s maiden name?

Who were Helen’s parents?

Who were Virgil’s parents?

Who were the witnesses?

Marital Status

Either Helen or Virgil had a child when they married. Which one was it?

Had Virgil been married previously?

Had Helen been married before?

Migration

Where was Virgil born?

Where was Helen born?

Both lived in Chicago at the time of their marriage. Why might they have gotten married in Iowa?

Potential Research Ideas

What are potential areas of further research?

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ANSWERS

TO

EXERCISE

Jacobson Marriage License

Collecting Names

What was Helen’s maiden name? Horton

Who were Helen’s parents? Bert and Nellie Campbell Horton

Who were Virgil’s parents? Albert and Thea Ingbrickson Jacobson

Who were the witnesses? Mr. and Mrs. E. W. McFerren

Marital Status

Either Helen or Virgil had a child when they married. Which one was it? Not enough information to

know, only Helen had been married before so would likely be her. It will take more research to

determine. Check Census records to see if a child is present.

Had Virgil been married previously? No...document says it is his first marriage

Had Helen been married before? Yes....document says it is her second marriage

Migration

Where was Virgil born? Tromso, Norway

Where was Helen born? Albany, New York

Both lived in Chicago at the time of their marriage. Why might they have gotten married in Iowa?

Either one of their parents might now live in Iowa.

Potential Research Ideas

What are potential areas of further research?

Could check the Vinton, Benton County, Iowa census records for 1940 to see if either his or her

parents lived in Iowa.

Could check the New York census records for 1940 to see if her parents still lived in New York.

Could check the Chicago, Illinois census records for 1940 to see if his or her parents lived in Illinois.

Could check birth records in Iowa and Illinois and New York for the birth of a child to Helen Reed.

Could check Marriage records prior to 1940 to find Helen and Reed spouse’s information.

Could check census records prior to 1940 for Helen living with Reed spouse and if any child present.

Could check death records prior to 1940 to find when Reed spouse died. Document implies she is a

widow since she gave her maiden name.

Could check Iowa and Illinois census records for 1940 to see if where Witnesses live.

Could check City Directories for all of the above mentioned locations to see if you can find any of the

persons mentioned above.

Could check baptism records for the child that Helen Reed may have had.

Could check Immigration Records as to when and where Virgil came to the U.S. Did his parents

come?

You may come up with lots more ways that you can expand on the beginning information to get all that you can out of it. Just don’t forget to use all your resources when you are researching your family genealogies. Much information can be found in surprising sources. Always look for documentation to support what you know or have been told by family members. When you do this you will either support that information or debunk it and along the way discovery some new items that may lead to even more discoveries. Editor

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Here’s an opportunity that some of you might like to have to take a look at the Family Tree Maker software product and let this group of ladies give you some hands-on help to see what it has to offer and how to use it for your best advantage with your genealogy information. If you are interested do please give them a call. Editor

RSGS Tri-County Library P. O. Box 1770 Mabank, TX 75147 Our Mission Statement: The Society, a non profit organization, seeks to further the development of genealogical research; to act as a training agency for persons interested in genealogical research; and to acquire and make available a collection of genealogical and historical materials. The present membership is approximately 59. Current Officers are: Margaret Ann Trail President Julie Gustafson 1st Vice President Helen Preston 2nd Vice President Betty Foster Secretary Ruth Shelton Treasure Jim Robertson Parliamentarian Nina Hendricks Historian/Public Relations Carolyn Bostian Editor Annual membership dues are $12.00 for an individual, $15.00 for a family, and $5.00 for full time students. Special rates are available for lifetime memberships, with discounts for senior citizens. Regular meetings of the Society are on the third Monday of each month, except December (do not meet), at 7:00 p.m. at the Tri-County Library on Main Street, Mabank, TX.

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The Back Page

Editor’s Corner

As we come to a close of another Root Seekers Newsletter, I have to tell you that I am looking forward

to the day when I will finally complete my paperwork for entrance into so many of the organizations

of which some of you are members. It has been a long journey and it’s not over yet. When I started

this journey about seven years ago now, after I retired in 2002, I really had no idea of where I was

headed.

The road has been difficult at times and many times frustrating beyond belief as I know that is

something with which many of you can identify. I started with what I thought was a lot of

information. A cousin and one aunt on my Dad’s side of the family had been researching for thirty

years and I thought surely there would be little for me to have to do. But I was disappointed when I

discovered that the Horton line had only been traced back to 1805-1810 in GA. Before that time

nothing was known about where these people came from, how they got to America or even what

nationality they were. So many of the Hortons had already died off and there was little way of finding

any new information. Unfortunately, only myself and my cousin were left to attempt to carry on with

the family research. So we begin to document all of the information that we did have in hopes that

the process would bring new clues.

In the process, it has been a lot of ups and downs. We can get really excited over finding a land deed

in the correct name or a document to prove what the middle name of that oldest relative whom we

only knew as John W Whorton. We have only recently discovered that the W is for Wesley. Oddly

enough my brother’s name is Wesley and he is the one who did the DNA test for us to compare with

all the Hortons and Whortons and Whartons and about a dozen other spellings out there! As neat and

tidy as that sounds, I know for a fact that my brother was not named for this oldest ancestor because

no one new his name and my mother has told me the story of how she named him. It involves the

character name (Wesley Peepers) of an actor (Tony Randall) in a TV sit com of the 1950s. Of course,

one still wonders if these long gone ancestors exerted some influence over the naming from beyond.

Not provable but interesting to speculate. I’ll tell you more about the results from the DNA testing in

the next newsletter.

I have also been working on my Mom’s maiden name of Monk, her father’s line. My Mom’s cousin’s

daughter had done research for years on that line and we even had a copy of the work she had done. I

thought this should be a breeze to use this line since I knew we had a Civil War Vet but I didn’t know

about an American Revolution Vet. This line has proven to be a real challenge. There is a lot of

information out on the internet but some of it is conflicting so it is not a clear path to where I want to

go. In the time I have been researching this Monk line, I have made progress and taken the line back

farther than it was before. And I have the potential to take it back even farther if I could just get the

stubborn pieces to fall in place.

One of the reasons that I started with my Mom’s line is because she is 84 and will turn 85 in Dec 2009.

I would love to complete her line back to the American Revolution and beyond before anything should

happen to her. It would be such a thrill to be able to show her the family history. All along the way, I

have made many discoveries so I am not discouraged just anxious to get on with it. So the search goes

on and will continue until I reach my ultimate goal. I sure would love that to be sooner than later.

Carolyn Bostian, Editor