Finding the Way Home

Somewhere there is a road to the old home place. It may be covered over with dirt or cement, but it exists. The past is not completely hidden. We learn that in archaeological digs. As erosion, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, lava and fire help sweep away former times, we forget. As communities and villages disappear into towns and cities, the world turns. Somehow we think that we are the substance of all civilization. Yet the surface has not been touched so far as discovery is concerned. There still remains the written records which genealogists crave to help explain and complete their own history. Despite the loss of important documents, clues remain. At this moment, genealogists are beginning to share their information over the internet. A recent discovery of my own was that someone had shared a photograph of my great-grandfather over the internet. For years, I searched for this soldier who died during the Civil War. Seems that he was a surgeon who served in an Alabama regiment. Imagine the joy which I experienced in seeing this photograph! Did you realize that people hid important documents behind wooden walls, under floorboards and in wells? An afternoon in the woods near the the old home place might turn up broken tombtones buried in pine needles, or tincans buried in the dirt containing items of interest.

Why it is Important to Find Family Bibles

The old family Bible seems to be a thing of the past. Yet, I have seen them in antique shops and on microfilm in State Archives. It is the perfect record for the genealogist because it provides accurate names, births, deaths, burials, and often clippings of obituaries. For this reason it is always a good idea to peruse the shelves at the Archives, public libraries, and anywhere and everywhere that you venture. Do not forget to ask the baby boomers as that generation has not quite passed and probably has an old bible or two. Also and has a fairly decent online collection available to members.

Finding Colonial Ancestors in Georgia

The primary research tool for the first settlers to Georgia is the Colonial Records of Georgia by Candler. As a result of this voluminous record, the biographies and genealogies of all of the first settlers are found on Georgia Pioneers in the Colonial Category. I became interested in what happened to the first voyagers; therefore, the biographies are records of the first settlers and their families and included the names of ships and passengers, civil servants, baptisms and deaths.

The Easier Road to Genealogy

An easier method of tracing ancestors is available should one study the history of the times. Sure, there are the standard history books. However, those books provided in schools, libraries and elsewhere do not begin to describe the history of any given era. Because it is the people themselves who make history. A few characters who fought in the Revolutionary War or made laws, does not begin to describe the real history! The key is to find the old neighborhood. In other words, where the families resided, neighbors and friends who witnessed their deeds, married their daughters, and labored on farms, developing a better way of life. One can learn the names of ancestors, but what did those people accomplish and who were they County records provide interesting answers but to glean the details one must examine every possible record!

There were Two Margaret Hollands

There were two Margaret Hollands in my lineage; one born in 1790 and the other one born in 1792 (according to census records). Because of the homes of certain family members, it occurred to me that this might be the same person. In fact, I was convinced of it until I went year-by-year in each census record and continued to see two separate entries. Actually, one was a widow and the other a spinster sister in the neighborhood. Now the problem was proving that the spinster residing alone in the same neighborhood was the sister of another family member near-age. As I continued the effort, I discovered tidbits of other information which helped to prove the relationship. The county records contained names of witnesses to deeds who were also purchasers from estate sales. In other words, the introduction of one fact usually establishes the need to clarify another situation. Such clues become invaluable over time. Daniel Bonnell was Executed for Robbery Tales of Woe "Light Horse" Harry Lee died at Dungeness The Case of Hog Smith The Romance of John Wesley Thomas Jones of Wales Capt. John Collins of Acworth William Few Peter Gruber and Neighs Forced out of Austria He Came Over in a Barrel The Heartbreak of George A. Benson of Lawrenceville The Old Woman and Toccoa Falls They Traveled Far in Search of a Home The Enduring Escapades of Thomas Ramsey Major James Hicks Jeremiah Lamar The Flemings of Sunbury Lorenzo Dow Smith Wilson Conner The Sad Tale of Every Cemetery Swedish Soprano If Only I Could Tell My Grandmother the Rest of the Story Grannie Stories told over Chicken Every Sunday Anthony Bonnell Old Dan Tucker

The Alexander Cleveland House in Ruckersville

Alexander-Cleveland House is located near Ruckersville, Georgia. An old home from the early days. Many such dilapidated homes as this one are depicted in the Georgia countryside landscape. It it is worth the time and effort to take in hand an old county map and (using the legend) try and locate the old homeplace as well as cemeteries hidden in the grass.