Every Revolutionary War Pension has a Story

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

As the soldier tells his story of the events which occurred during the fight for freedom, he assumed that everyone knew the details of the battles, and their officers. In those days, they did. However, we can still learn about his exciting adventure. All that the genealogist needs to do is to review the historical accounts of the battles and follow the Generals and other officers under whom the ancestor served. In other words, the historical research of its leaders will not only provide a plethora of exciting battles but also pinpoint dates and locations which the ancestor shared. That information will help to tell the story to the children and preserve the American heritage.

The Thrifty Baby-Boomer Generation (1940s-1960)

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

This generation collected and saved the old family bible and other treasures past. They were the children raised during the Second World War, Korea, and Vietnam. They knew relatives who served in WW I and WW II, part of the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was an era that specialized in hard work, bravery, and ambition to make it better for their children. The pay scale was something like $15 per week and people appreciated having a job. Children were taught to tell the truth, play in the yard, participate in sports, pray in school, and salute the American Flag. They attended school in clean, well-pressed clothes. The girls wore ballerina skirts and bobby socks. During the summer, children sold coat hangers for 1 cent each to local dry cleaners. There were no riots or demonstrations in the parks and streets. People raked their yards and picked up their own trash. A college education was not required to obtain a job. Although salaries were low, food was rationed and the imposition of income tax by the Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 was a burden, people were thrifty and managed to live within their income. Yet despite the struggles of this era, families were free of debt and it was simpler times.

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.

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 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.

Complicated Kinships

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

Seems like everyone searches for some pretty tough genealogies. Sometimes it just takes reading every single old will ane estate in the counties where the ancestor resided. I found the will of a man who died before the birth of his son. And that the wife was already remarried and when she gave birth, gave the child the surname of her first husband as his first name. Harrison Acworth. I was previously perplexed by this name, as it did not fit the other Acworth children. Yet, the generation was correct. So now, instead of Harrison being the father of my ancestor, he was the half-brother! Thus, identifying the mother even though I did not locate the Acworth (second) marriage, clarified the situation. During the 17th and 18th centuries, after the death of a spouse, remarriage was eminent. In fact, no sooner than a widow buried her husband, than suitors commenced calling. That is because of times of the importance of maintaining the family home and raising the children. Many marriages went unrecorded at the courthouse because it was not required. That is why the details existing in the community must be seriously dwelt upon by the researcher.