Celebration Sunday-Genealogy Happy Dance! A Workshop and Big Boxes.

 

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 who has 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.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 

This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling 

down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also put a link to a blog post telling about what had you dancing this week.

1908 Letter Signed by Sarah R. Hudson

Half of One of the Big Boxes!

Diane Richards

LaBranda Garrett

Cousin Marilyn Trevino

Mags Gaulden

My Happy Dance Moment for this week: 

Spending time in the Archives and meeting up with genealogy friends last weekend was so much fun. 

It's wonderful to get back to speaking in front of a live audience and meeting up with friends I haven't seen for a couple of years because of COVID.  

I had an amazing experience in the Archives in Columbia, SC. I requested two big boxes of miscellaneous documents to see what they had in them. There were letters, school records, receipt books,  and so many more pieces of paper that had never been indexed.  

Then a family discovery! One box held a letter written by my great great grandmother Sarah R. Hudson and the other one from Sarah's son, my great grandfather, John M. Hudson.  There were also pension receipts for Sarah and even two letters from her son-in-law letting the pension office know she had passed away and that he had paid for her funeral. 

I was astounded that these finds were buried in a big box of miscellaneous items.

What a happy dance moment!

I am planning on writing a post about miscellaneous records and how to look for them when you are researching in the archives. Stay tuned!

 

What's your Happy Dance Moment?

 Please share, and let's celebrate together!

                                                                      

                                                                                              

Share the fun! Click below to tweet this post! 

Looking forward to reading about your Happy Dance moment!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 3~
   This day marks the 108th anniversary of the marriage of my paternal Great Grandparents, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918). John was 34 and Blanche 28 when they married in Manning, Clarendon, South Carolina. 

Marriage Announcement
John and Blanche Hudson
Manning Times (Manning, SC)
9 May 1914 

May 5~
   My paternal grandmother, Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010) was born 102 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. Mary was the daughter of Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964) and Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993).

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Mary (Baker) Hudson
1920-2010

 Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Heping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Nov. 22~
    My paternal grandfather, Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976), was born 102 years ago in Clarendon County, South Carolina. He was the only child of John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche Thames (1886-1918). 

Benjamin Allen Hudson
About 1920
Clarendon County, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 William Gordon Bonner Stukes (1745-?), my paternal 6th great grandfather, was born 275 years ago in Cambridge, England.

Nov. 23~
 Ellen Caroline (Martin) Early (1850-1926), my paternal Great Great Grandmother, died 93 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. She was 76 years old. Ellen is buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina.

 The 200th wedding anniversary of my paternal 4th Great Grandparents, John Milton Dargan (1799-1847) and Emily Elizabeth (Vaughn) Dargan (1897-1865). They were married in 1820 when John was 20 and Emily was 23. Their marriage most likely took place in Sumter District, South Carolina.

Nov. 24~

  Frances Virginia (McRady) McManus (1836-1903), my maternal great great grandmother, died 117years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina at the age of 47. Fannie is buried in the Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina.

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 My paternal 5th great grandfather, Philip Roberts (1763-1854) died 166 years ago in Harrison County, Kentucky.

This date also marks the 129th anniversary of the death of my paternal Great Great Grandfather, Ransom Taylor Early (1829-1888).  Ransom was 76 years old when he died in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. He is buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville.

Ransom Taylor Early
Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina
Photo Credit: Joy Steele-findagrave.com Contributor
Used with permission

Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Heping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Nov. 22~
    My paternal grandfather, Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976), was born 102 years ago in Clarendon County, South Carolina. He was the only child of John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche Thames (1886-1918). 

Benjamin Allen Hudson
About 1920
Clarendon County, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 William Gordon Bonner Stukes (1745-?), my paternal 6th great grandfather, was born 275 years ago in Cambridge, England.

Nov. 23~
 Ellen Caroline (Martin) Early (1850-1926), my paternal Great Great Grandmother, died 93 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. She was 76 years old. Ellen is buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina.

 The 200th wedding anniversary of my paternal 4th Great Grandparents, John Milton Dargan (1799-1847) and Emily Elizabeth (Vaughn) Dargan (1897-1865). They were married in 1820 when John was 20 and Emily 23. Their marriage most likely took place in Sumter District, South Carolina.

Nov. 24~

  Frances Virginia (McRady) McManus (1836-1903), my maternal great great grandmother, died 117years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina at the age of 47. Fannie is buried in the Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina.

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 My paternal 5th great grandfather, Philip Roberts (1763-1854) died 166 years ago in Harrison County, Kentucky.

This date also marks the 129th anniversary of the death of my paternal Great Great Grandfather, Ransom Taylor Early (1829-1888).  Ransom was 76 years old when he died in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. He is buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville.

Ransom Taylor Early
Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina
Photo Credit: Joy Steele-findagrave.com Contributor
Used with permission

Who are you remembering this week?

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 3~
   This day marks the 106th anniversary of the marriage of my paternal Great Grandparents, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918). John was 34 and Blanche 28 when they married in Manning, Clarendon, South Carolina. 

Marriage Announcement
John and Blanche Hudson
Manning Times (Manning, SC)
9 May 1914 

May 5~
   My paternal grandmother, Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010) was born 100 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. Mary was the daughter of Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964) and Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993).

Mary (Baker) Hudson
1920-2010

May 9~
 Thomas Phillip Roberts (1830-1883), my maternal 3rd great grandfather, died 127 years ago on this day in Richland County, South Carolina. He was buried in Brown's Chapel Cemetery.

Thomas Phillip Roberts
Headstone
Brown's Chapel Cemetery
Richland County, South Carolina
photo credit: Jim Hepler

Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week on My Family History Calendar

November 18-November 23

Nov. 18~ 
  My paternal 3rd great grandfather, William A. Martin (1813-1887) died in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina 132 years ago. He is buried in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery in Statesville.

William A. Martin

Headstone

Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery

Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina

photo credit: Joy Steele. Used with permission

Nov. 22~
    My paternal Grandfather, Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976), was born 101 years ago in Clarendon County, South Carolina. He was the only child of John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche Thames (1886-1918). 

Benjamin Allen Hudson
About 1920
Clarendon County, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 William Gordon Bonner Stukes (1745-?), my paternal 6th Great Grandfather, was born 274 years ago in Cambridge, England.

Nov. 23~
 Ellen Caroline (Martin) Early (1850-1926), my paternal Great Great Grandmother, died 93 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. She was 76 years old. Ellen is buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina.

 The 199th wedding anniversary of my paternal 4th Great Grandparents, John Milton Dargan (1799-1847) and Emily Elizabeth (Vaughn) Dargan (1897-1865). They were married in 1820 when John was 20 and Emily 23. Their marriage most likely took place in Sumter District, South Carolina.

Who are you remembering this week?

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,

Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun~Longest Line of Ancestral Tombstones

This week on his blog Genea-Musings, Randy Seaver gives the challenge to determine and share our longest line of ancestral tombstones.

My longest unbroken line is on my paternal side.
1-My grandfather Benjamin Allen Hudson (1918-1976) buried in the Sumter City Cemetery, Sumter, South Carolina.

2-His father, my great grandfather, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) buried in Home Branch Cemetery, Paxville, Clarendon, South Carolina.

3-John's mother, my great great grandmother, Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson (1835-1916) buried in Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery, New Zion,  Clarendon, South Carolina.

©Cheri Hudson Passey

4-Sarah's mother, my 3rd great grandmother, Martha Julia (Epps) Smith (1808-1854) buried in McElveen Cemetery, Williamsburg County, South Carolina.

And ending with:

5- Martha's mother, my 4th great grandmother, Martha Elvira (Frierson) Epps (1783-1853) buried in Epps Cemetery, Williamsburg County, South Carolina.

Five generations of tombstones on my paternal side.

How many do you have on either of your lines? 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

April 30- May 6

April 30~
  This day would have been my 5th great grandfather, John Dargan's (1749-1817) 268th birthday. He was the son of Capt. John Dargan (1726-1766) and Mary (Strother)  (1729-abt. 1808) and may have been born in the Prince Frederick Parish area of South Carolina. 

May 3~
 The 103rd anniversary of the marriage of my paternal great grandparents, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918). John was 34 and Blanche was 28 when they married in Manning, Clarendon, South Carolina.

Marriage Announcement
John and Blanche Hudson
Manning Times (Manning, SC)
9 May 1914 

May 5~
   My paternal grandmother, Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010) was born 97 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. Mary was the daughter of Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964) and Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993).

Mary (Baker) Hudson
1920-2010

Who is on your calendar this week?
Helping you climb your family tree,

This Week On My Family History Calendar

May 1-May 7

May 3~
   This day marks the 102nd anniversary of the marriage of my paternal Great Grandparents, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) and Louvinia Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918). John was 34 and Blanche 28 when they married in Manning, Clarendon, South Carolina. 

Marriage Announcement
John and Blanche Hudson
Manning Times (Manning, SC)
9 May 1914 

May 5~
   My paternal Grandmother, Mary (Baker) Hudson (1920-2010) was born 96 years ago in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina. Mary was the daughter of Jubal Ransom Early (1888-1964) and Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993).
Miss you Mimi!

Mary (Baker) Hudson
1920-2010

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

Those Places Thursday~Midway Presbyterian Church

The Midway Presbyterian Church in New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina was named because of its location, halfway between churches in Sumter and Williamsburg Districts. The congregation began meeting about 1801.Work started on the original log building in 1802 and was officially organized in 1804.The church seen now was built in 1850. It was moved back 100 feet from the road in 1939 and remodeled. 
   
From 
The Register of Session Minutes of Midway Presbyterian Church Clarendon County, South Carolina 1801-1902 by Lois Anne Warren-Daniels, Linda J. Warren & Dianne C. Warren, 2002, pg. 1 
  " Sept. 20th 1801
       Nine men of the inhabitants of Bull Savanna & Pudding Swamp met a the house of Mrs. Mary Conyers in order to form a church & raise a salary for a minister one fourth of his time.
  Sept. 2nd 1802
    The congregation employed Wm. McIntosh & Saml. Fleming to build a church for one hundred & eighty dollars. Nov 10th 1802 the house was raised & called Midway because it was built half way between Williamsburg & Salem Church & members from those two churches aided in the building, a house of worship & support of the gospel. 
  January 10th 1803
   The Rev. G.G. McWorter preached his first sermon in Midway Church.
 October 22nd 1803
 The house was completed & rec'd by the Building Committee.
 In the year 1804 the church was organized."                          
                 
                  

Historical Marker
Midway Presbyterian Church
New Zion, Clarendon, South Carolina

 Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson (1835-1916), my Great Great Grandmother, attended Midway Church.
  

Midway Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

The Register of Session Minutes records on page 119: "January 17th 1902
  Session met-opened with prayer. Present Rev. James McDowell, R.E. McFadden and R.W. Wheeler, elders at the house of Mr. R.S. Flemming. Mr. Henry While Flemming was examined and received as a member of the church. Also Mrs. Sarah R. Hudson by examination and received."

The Register of Communicants published in the same book on pg. 119 shows that Mrs. Sarah R. Fleming was admitted to the church 26 April 1857 by examination. She was dismissed [date not given] because she had united with the Baptist Church. 

 Sarah was admitted to the church most likely after her marriage to James E. Fleming (1831-[?]). She was widowed and then married Ezra Ashby Hudson (1821-1882). Her admittance back into the Midway Presbyterian Church in 1902 may have been because her daughter Ila O. (Hudson) Flemming (1877-1939) and son-in-law Lewis Patrick Flemming (1873-1953) were married there and were members. Son, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961), my Great Grandfather was admitted 18 May 1902.
 The records also indicate that Sarah and James Flemming's children were baptized at Midway and that her mother, Martha Julia (Epps) Smith (1808-1854) my 3rd Great Grandmother, also joined.
   Register of Communicants pg. 129:
 Mrs. Martha Smith Admission: 17 Jan 1852, by Examination, died July 1854, Wife of H.J. Smith. 
   Many other members of the family were involved in the Midway Presbyterian Church. Some of the surnames in the records include Epps, Frierson, Fleming, and Smith.

Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Fleming Hudson
(1835-1916)
Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 Sarah Rebecca (Smith) Flemming Hudson died 9 March 1916 of influenza. Her death is recorded in the Register of Deaths, pg. 144. She was buried in the church's cemetery.
  Daughter Ila and son-in-law James were also buried there.

Ila O. (Hudson) Flemming (1877-1939)
and husband
Lewis Patrick Flemming (1873-1953)
©Cheri Hudson Passey

               

Double Marker
Lewis P. Flemming
and
Ila O. Hudson Flemming
Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery

                     
 Midway Presbyterian Church was and still is an important part of the Clarendon County community of New Zion. 
 My family worshiped here. Did yours?

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!



   

 
 

Treasure Chest Thursday~

  

 When my paternal Great Grandfather, John McSwain Hudson (1880-1961) died, this book was found.

The Story of the Bible
Charles Foster (edition unknown)
©Cheri Hudson Passey

        Did the book belong to John, or his second wife, my Step-Grandmother, Margaret Ann "Annie" (Thames) Hudson (1875-1960)?

Margaret Ann (Thames) Hudson
©Cheri Hudson Passey

   No owner,s name is written in the book, but there are names of others throughout, including some younger members of the Thames family. 
 The book may have been used to help teach youth about the stories of the Bible. Perhaps the markings, underlined passages and names attached to certain sections are from Sunday School lessons being taught by Annie. One of the notes is dated June 1927. 

Inside Front Cover
The Story of the Bible
©Cheri Hudson Passey

   A picture taped to the front of the book is of a group of people outside of a store. The establishment was said to have been owned by Annie's brother Horace McWeaver Thames. This picture may be of his family and employees.  A banner for Red J. Tobacco is above the door.
  On the right-hand side, the stitches can be seen where someone took great care to sew the book back together. A few of the pages are missing, including the publisher information.

Picture inside front cover
Possible Horace McWeaver Thames Family
©Cheri Hudson Passey

 Along with newspaper clippings about Bible verses, and the remains of once pressed flowers, there is a Christmas gift tag to Uncle John from a Thames niece, Willie Mae.

Gift Tag
Inside Bible Stories Book
©Cheri Hudson Passey

      Although her name is not written as the owner of this book found among the possessions of John and Annie Thames, many of the things found in it lead to Annie being the owner. 

 This well-worn book, with it's binding sewn together is a treasure and a glimpse into the life a woman who married her sister's-Louvina Blanche (Thames) Hudson (1886-1918)-husband after her death following childbirth. She marked scriptures and may have taught them, saved flowers and gift tags, and passed down a family picture for future generations. 

 What treasures do you have that give you a glimpse into your ancestor's lives?

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!