I found myself at a dinner party, more of a banquet really, where there were many people gathered and dressed in an array of fashions from times gone by.
Entering the room I am seated at the head of the table and as I look around I discover these were no ordinary people. They were my ancestors coming together to discuss their lives and help me to remember and honor them.
Seeing Bertrand Campbell Price sitting near me I exclaim "Cam! Where did you go? Do you know the rumors that persist about you? When you disappeared in 1922 it was thought you ran away with all the family money or were a victim of foul play. Some say your daughter, Beulah Mae (Price) Roberts, knew more about your mysterious vanishing act than she was willing to tell.
Now is the time to set the record straight!"
Beulah speaks up on her father's behalf and explains the reasons why she put a date and place for her father's death on her delayed birth certificate. Wanting to know more about her experiences during her time on earth, she sighs as I ask her to tell me about the grief of losing six of her twelve children; three in infancy and three during WWII. " How did you handle it?" I ask. Her tears flow as she shares how she moved forward a day at a time, never really getting over their loss, but learning how to live with it. We all are weeping as we hear her story.
Turning to Frank Emerson Sullivan, Sr, I plead with him to tell me "Who are your parents? Tell me about your life. All I know about you is your service in WWI. Please give me clues as to where to find your records so your branch of the family can be grafted into mine."
As we move on through dinner, Benjamin Marion, my French immigrant ancestor shares tales of his family's persecution as a Huguenot and what it felt like to be forced to flee their homes.
What was it like to sail across the ocean and start over in a new land? What were your first thoughts as the ship sailed into Charleston Harbor?" I ask.
Next, we all look to William Amos McManus and wife Fannie -Francis Virginia (McRady) McManus as I learn about his family and the children brought into their homes through adoption. Leaning a little closer, I whisper and ask about the scandal dealing with their daughter Effie Vida (McManus) Burkett and her husband William J. Burkett. "What's the real story? The newspaper report says they were poisoned! Your rebuttal asked for the true story to be told. Will you tell me now?"
Around the table, I see Charity Stafford, William Dorrity, Mary Jane (Brown) McRady, William Smith, William Frierson, Rebecca Bradley, William Baker, Margaret Dunagan, Anthony Lee and others who stand at the end of their branches and each share a little of their life experiences. I ask them for help in finding their families in order to grow our tree.
Looking to Martha (Mathis) Dorrity and Marina (Mathis) Stafford, I ask them to explain their connection and question if researchers were on the right track with their shared maiden name.
Thomas J. McRrady speaks up and agrees to help me understand his timeline and separate himself from others in the area with the same name.
Joachim Hudson eagerly shares his knowledge of the reported tie to the famous Henry Hudson.
Ransom Taylor Early, sitting further down the table with his in-laws William Martin and Matilda C., begins his story by telling where the Early family came from before living in Iredell County, N.C. William takes a turn and does the same. "Matilda," I query, "what does the "C" stand for in your name? Is it for your middle or maiden name?" She happily gives her full name so her branch of the family can be added.
Arriving late, Jubal Ransome Early sits next to his father Ransome. All eyes look at him as we shake our heads. "Three families?" I ask. "Children who didn't know about each other?"
He blushes and tells his side of the story.
As the banquet continues several of those who served in the Revolutionary War, some in the company of Francis Marion, tell of the events leading to war and the formation of our country. .John Jacob Ergle, Lt. John Frierson, Jesse Baker, William Baker, Anthony Lee, John Bradford, William Vaughn, William Strother and John Marion, Jr. all take a turn.
Confederate Soldiers, George David Eargle, Alpheus J. Baker, Benjamin Reese Gibson, Thomas Lemuel Thames, William Dorrity and son Manning David Dorrity, Sr. enlighten us on what it was like during our nations Civil War and the toll it took on their families and why they choose to fight a losing battle against their nation.
I notice a group of women sitting together and they explain they are all the Marys, Janes, Marthas, Sarahs etc. who are listed with only their first names in my database. They plead with me to listen as one by one they share who they are and which family they belong to.
Making my way to the children's table, I am touched by all those who died in between census records or not included in family documents. They are anxious to share their names, to be counted, to belong.
Sadly, the night is coming to an end. Reaching out to each in attendance we share an embrace as we part. I thank them for their stories and each priceless piece of information.
Each is cherished, even ones who may have lived and made choices foreign to my understanding,
Their blood runs through mine.
If not for them, I would not be here to share their stories. They want so much to be remembered.
Waking from what turns out to be a marvelous dream, I pull out my computer and go to work.
I have branches to climb, stories to tell, and ancestors to remember.
If you had the opportunity, which of your ancestors would you invite to dinner and why?
This post was written using the prompt "Invite to Dinner" from the series 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks by Amy Johnson Crow.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
