and here I am, time to start indexing.

Yeah, I've finally come to the point in my family research that I have to start indexing. I'm sure this is going to be fun, and in a good way. Memories will be brought up, and I will find new clues, and maybe dig a bit deeper, so I'm looking forward to the indexing process.

My mom also sent me some of her mom's diaries dating back to 1931, when she was attending the University of Michigan, I also recieved from her, cemetery records from some of the cemeteries in Canada, a book titled "The Complete book of Emigrants in Bondage 1614-1775", it has Pardons on condition of transportation, Convict ships to the American Colonies 1716-1775, List of Assize Records Used, and summary by county of records used. This book looks like it deals with Englishmen, but I've just recieved it, and haven't been able to really get into the book itself.

I also recieved "Vital records of Woodbridge, New Jersey" from Rev. Joseph W. Dally dated 1983. These were orginally published in 1873 by the Rev. Joseph W. Dally, along with that pamphlet, I recieved the "Early Settlers in Trenton and Ewing"(Old Hunterdon County). I will have to find my connection in these books, so needless to say, I'm going to be busy.

George H. Woods gets his first visit.

Yesterday I spent several hours at the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia, I was looking for George Woods, he's the paternal grandfather of a great aunt. I was told at the office when I asked for any records that they had, I was the first relative to ask for him, I didn't know that they kept track of who inquires, I'm guessing since he was a Civil War Soldier any information that they could get about him would help with future inquiries.

George is listed on the Speakers Belvedere from Georgia, Comp. D 26, according to the records, he was 6'8" tall, which I find very tall, I thought that most men of that time were shorter. George died of Typhoid Fever. There is a section of Civil War Soldiers who did die of small pox and they are buried in the section next to the belvedere and across from it.

 

George died at the Knights Tabacco Factory that was used as a hospital at the time, there were 4 buildings used as hospitals, only two remain standing today in Lynchburg. George is resting in a beautiful area, full grown maple trees, boxwood hedge, antique roses were in bloom while we there. George was married to
a Miss Sarah Scarborough, as far as I know they had 2 boys together, James Wesley Woods and Francis Marion Woods. Sarah remarried a Mr. McCormick in 1865.

This is lots 78-79-100-101-122-123 (78-79) back by the hedge.

Lynchburg Civil War Hospital Marker.
There are a handful of buildings at the Cemetery that are museums, there is a great place to have a picnic across from the chapel, they hold weddings there, and we saw a few photographers out. If you have the chance to be in the area, make sure you have an hour to visit.

Fragile Tree Limb?

Do you ever feel like you've walked out onto an unstable branch of your tree, I sure everyone goes through this, I think that I have found one in my tree. Last month when I went to New Ringgold, Pa. to take photos of the Zehner family, I thought WOW, I've finally found the first settlers to this country for a branch of my family. Well, here's my puzzle, Anna Catherine Zehner/Zahner(b.1702) who married Andreas Andrew Harter(b.1699) in Germany, Anna is my 5x grandmother, her father according to Mary Harter's Book "The Harter History" is Peter Zehner (according to the marriage records in Germany). The Zehners and Harter's come from the same village in Germany, so far I'm unable to put them together.

Ancestory.com has Peter Zehner(b.1675) married to Barbara Gotslieg (ukn).

So I've got to find if they are of the same Zehner family tree, I'll have to find the book "The Zehners-Hoppes Family" of Berks County, Pa. I'm sure this book will be able to either help me make the branch more stable, or simply keep it a weak branch.

Don't you just love family research?

Oh so close...........

July 12.2011

   Today my husband and I made the trip from Upstate New York to New Ringgold, Pa., we were on the hunt for the Zehner family, one of the founding ancestors for my paternal side, the persons that we were looking for were Johann Adam Zehner and his wife Maria Catherine Mertz. When we arrived at the church which is on a hill, we had about 2 hours of daylight left, we didn't realize that the church and cemetery are in the hills and daylight doesn't last long.

To my surprise most of the early  tombstones are in German, and I didn't have enough time to try and figure that out, so I just started to take photos, my husband and I drove to the upper parts of the cemetery trying to get as much light as we could, we found more of the Zehners, Hoppes midway and at the top of the hill, I got half way up and the battery on my new camera died, urgh! So we'll be heading back up in the fall, I'm going to try and plan it when the trees are changing colors.

I did find this information on the church door, for genealogy information contact

Todd Cheese

smc68@ptd.net

So hopefully this fall I'll be able to return and have plenty of time to go over this cemetery, and also look at the others in the area.

Getting Ready to Find Dead Relatives

This week I'm going to visit my son and his beautiful family,(yes I'm biased). On our way home,I'll be going to the Zion Stone Church Cemetery in New Ringold, Pa, I'll be looking for the families of Harter, Mertz, and Zehner's. These families are the founding families from Germany. I'm very exicited to visit this cemetery and find them.

We are also going to try and visit the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Va. to find a George H. Woods, he's supposedly buried in the "Old Confederates Section" of this cemetery, he died of typhoid fever while fighting in the Civil War.

I can't wait to find these relatives and show them to our extended family members.

Proud Momma Moment

June 23.2011, my son was selected to be one of 150 soldiers to meet the President of the United States. President Obama made a trip to Ft. Drum to thank the troops for their service.

The President made a short speech to all, and then shook their hands and made sure to have photos taken of them and himself.

     I made sure to add this to his line in our family tree at Ancestory. Com. How many people do you know that have ever met a President? I know that it's a very rare chance that it'll ever happen, and wether or not he voted for him, he'll have a story to tell his children some day and photos to prove it.

  Just being a proud momma that he was selected for this rare chance to meet his boss.

No Camera, DRATS!

Here's what I'm working on, besides having to buy a new camera. I'll be traveling up to Castorland to see my son and his family, coming back, I've found where some of the Harter founding family members are buried, and will be looking for their stones, at least 7 members are buried there. These are the Zehner family in Berks County, PA. (Photos to follow of course).

If you need me to do any research while I'm there, please let me know ASAP, so that I can get a schedule done. Thanks. Tina