Aug. 5~
Samuel James Bradford II (1815-1875), my paternal 3rd great-grandfather, died 151 years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina.
Who are you remembering this week?
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.
My Happy Dance Moment for the week:
This past week I was able to take the IGHR course Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis.
It was taught by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA, Course Coordinator; LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG®, CGL®, FASG, FUGA, Melissa A. Johnson, Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG®, CGG®, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, David Mc Donald, DMin, Angela Packer McGhie, CG®, FUGA, David E. Rencher, AG®, CG®, FUGA, FIGRS, FNGS, and Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGLTM.
Although I had so many deadlines to meet as I listened, took notes, and attempted the homework, I was able to learn so much, and many things I already knew were reinforced.
Thanks to all who taught and participated in the course; I learned from all of you!
What was your happy dance moment?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
Join me and the GenFriends panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Shelley Murphy, and Mary Kircher Roddy, as we welcome special guest True Lewis, from My True Roots, for an inspiring conversation about her search for her family's Revolutionary War story.
Watch as True shares how her research led to a deeper connection with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), opened unexpected leadership opportunities, and even resulted in an invitation from Auburn University.
Have you searched for a Patriot?
Tell us your story!
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy the conversation!
True Lewis is a family historian, retired U.S. Army veteran, author of My True Roots®, a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of the National Genealogical Society and Alabama Genealogical Society. She serves as National Chair and host of the DAR Today Podcast. She resides at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
My Happy Dance Moment for the week:
Attending workshops and conferences is so much fun, and the opportunity to do research and meet up with friends is even better!
Last week I did just that. On my way to Columbia to speak and attend the South Carolina Genealogical Society Workshop, I stopped by the Sumter County Archives to do some research. Then, before the event, I spent the day at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. So much fun digging into old boxes and books looking for information on family and watching others do the same.
I was able to give three presentations and attend others. Mark Lowe was the keynote speaker and always so generous with his time and friendship.
This weekend every July is always a time to learn more about my ancestors, learn, and meet up with friends old and new.
What was your happy dance moment?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
If you've ever wanted to learn more about the history of a house, you won't want to miss this episode. Marian Pierre-Louis joins Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Shelley Murphy, and me to share how deeds, maps, newspapers, and other sources can help you discover who lived there and the stories they left behind. It's a fascinating conversation full of tips that can help you start researching any house.
Watch!
Have you ever done a house history on either your home or an ancestral home?
We'd love to hear about it!
Links in this episode:
Marian Pierre-Louis
https://www.marianpierrelouis.com/
Northeast House Historian
https://northeasthousehistorian.com/
How James Deetz Saved My Life
https://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-james-deetz-changed-my-life.html
Stopping Stones
https://stoppingstones.org/what-is-the-witness-stones-project/
Books:
Small Things Forgotten
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Things-Forgotten-Archaeology-American/dp/0385483996/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TZMA4CL1T4C8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UTVaZ2Gafm_mf91k9UVVBGK-9akXsTAgrHStFNa9fhQaCMAMMZnVlts4MHrJiG26_mItxrsW345Ap1rZVp81f9RanUWnuMFQZqSVKtzPbx2Ty7A0nc0jwjxZMdXCg1tazS09h33obO46VCz1wFgN3L8BfrEHtgv3ZvRz22DJS5-c0736O5Ez5zL3BSr0wm7QAtghH7HYKt2ya3R0oXlc-NEiq1h8rqYVIp6LVdxJ4KE.a-r6gIBOsbrS3w6LNcv-5NRMw8g203PK4_XfwGf2I4U&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+deetz&qid=1784055051&sprefix=james+deetz%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1
A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
https://www.amazon.com/Midwifes-Tale-Martha-Ballard-1785-1812/dp/0679733760/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3fp79eosJjm0E0ea1YPAMwM0DtwqTW3QGVcY7mwSDawxLlqox_SsKMBkhomSGdMiiu_MdH2dRmd0BjtBhtMQxjVnGkBZx7gFDc3iHGDrrBPvGQwrZ9ttX3_oRFYP7z9ve5rX-79oGd8R_SnYnUZdGg.jqYJLpSvPMNi3DGOGAapixZiC3oCj2peyCDZaRY25bs&dib_tag=se&hvadid=738937841460&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9010594&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4167042576170281842--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4167042576170281842&hvtargid=kwd-1542760366536&hydadcr=22562_13531169&keywords=martha+ballard+midwife&mcid=58cd515b2bfe308ba4696c156a5e02cd&qid=1784055221&sr=8-1
Contact the Panelists:
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
My Happy Dance Moment for the week:
Having a computer backup!
Last week, for some reason, I was unable to log on to my computer.
It went to sleep, and then it wouldn't accept facial recognition, my password, or my PIN! Restarting didn't help. I had to take it in to get it fixed, and the only way to do that was to wipe my computer so I could start over, as if it were brand new.
I have no time for this! Do we ever?
Luckily, I have several backups. I use Dropbox and OneDrive to back up files and photos, and Backblaze to back up anything on my hard drive.
I also have an old, very slow but functional laptop that I was able to use while restoring my files.
I ordered a thumb drive from Backblaze, and it was here in just a couple of days. Meanwhile, my Dropbox and OneDrive files have synced from the cloud.
Everything is back and running!
Thank goodness for backups both local and in the cloud!
The lesson? ALWAYS have a method or two you can use when you have a computer crash. It will save you so much heartache.
What was your happy dance moment?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,.png)
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| Burial Site Quaker Cemetery Camden, South Carolina Image Credit: Cheri Hudson Passey |
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
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Some of our family's greatest treasures aren't found in photo albums or courthouse records. They're growing quietly in backyards, along old fence lines, and beside forgotten homesteads.
In this episode of GenFriends, Cheri and the panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Shelley Murphy, and Mary Kircher Roddy, welcome Blaine Bettinger to explore the stories behind heirloom plants and discover how flowers, shrubs, trees, herbs, and vegetables passed from one generation to the next can provide meaningful clues about the people who planted them. We'll discuss how these living heirlooms can reveal migration patterns, family traditions, cultural heritage, and connections to ancestral homes while helping preserve memories that might otherwise be lost.
Whether you've inherited a rose bush from your grandmother, found daffodils blooming where an old farmhouse once stood, or wondered about the century-old fig tree in the backyard, this conversation will inspire you to look at your family history through a different lens. Sometimes the roots of our family stories are quite literally growing beneath our feet.
Do you have heirloom plants?
We'd love to hear from you!
 |
| Jenny's Heirloom Plant |
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| Mary's Postcard |
Links in this episode:
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.
This past week, I had the honor of joining Katherine Willson and a wonderful group of instructors and students for the GRIP course "Marching Toward Change: Reformers, Crisis and Movements that transformed 19th and 20th Century America. My session was on the abolitionist movement.
This course helped to see how society and its choices, good or bad, changed our ancestors' lives and how our ancestors may have been part of that change.
So many things to think about, some were very heavy, but some were inspirational too.
There has not been a genealogy institute course like it! A true happy dance week!
What was your happy dance moment?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,.png)
The panel, Melissa Barker, Jenny Hawran, Laura Hedgecock, Shelley Murphy, Mary Kircher Rody, and I welcome special guest Amy Johnson Crow to talk to us about researching in cemeteries.
Watch as Amy shares tips and experiences with finding family in cemeteries, and we share ours!
We would love to hear about your cemetery research stories.
Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
On this episode of GenFriends, Melissa and Shelly help Jenny, Laura, and me learn how Black soldiers fought for freedom, independence, and the future of a nation long before their stories were fully recognized. We explore the lives of Black Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers, the records they left behind, and how their service continues to shape family and American history today.
Click to watch Melissa and Shelley share their expertise!
Do you have these soldiers in your family tree?
We'd love to hear from you!
Melissa Barker -A Genealogist in the Archives
http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/
Bernice Bennett-BerniceBennett.com
http://www.BerniceAlexanderBennett.com
Jenny Hawran-Like Herding Cats Genealogy
https://like-herding-cats.com/
Laura Hedgecock-Treasure Chest of Memories
https://treasurechestofmemories.com/
Mary Kircher Roddy-MKR Genealogy
Shelley Murphey-Family Tree Girl
Thank you so much for watching!
Don't miss an episode. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.
My Happy Dance Moment for the week:
A visit from my parents' friend had me doing the happy dance this week.
Harriette Lockhart, on the left, has memories of them, my brother, and me, from our time in Bermuda and Florida, as well as a trip to visit us in England. My dad, along with her husband, was serving in the Air Force, and we were stationed there at the same time. They kept in touch over the years.
She was visiting her sister, Julie, and doing some genealogy research in SC, so we took the opportunity to meet for lunch.
With both of my parents gone, it is wonderful to have someone who loved them share her experiences of their friendship.
Thank you, Harriette, for allowing me to feel them so close this week.
What was your happy dance moment?
Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
