Dear WW and Cousins: For those of us in the backcountry, who cannot drive to a library easily, and who access huge amounts of data via a subscription service like this, the cost is not prohibitive, and access is very easy and comfortable in one's own home (i.e., at midnight when I can't sleep.) Also, when the databases first become available at ancestry, they permit free access for ten days. BUT, you are right in many ways. Another method is getting the books through interlibrary loan. It is time consuming but effective, and you can make photocopies. A VERY big advantage at Ancestry is the huge variety of databases which are not so easily accessed elsewhere, for instance the census images they are offer, the mlitary records, the land records, etc. Since these are searchable, it saves many frustrating hours of trying to check page numbers, run to the photocopier, etc. But, garbage in, garbage ou!!. Ancestry has not indexed some works properly, and so relying on the search engine means that one might miss just the key record one needs. In the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers at Ancestry, Kate Markham who married Thomas Smith does not turn up on the Markham search. Neither does PARKE SMITH, whom I believe may well be my ancestor. The whole Brasieur family doesn't show up! AND, worser and worser!! when a fantastic hit is made, asy a will, or these EPV papers, Ancestry has recently taken to adding a HTML coded "Comment" behind every few lines which means that copying the stuff is practically impossible. THIS IS NOT the service I pay for, and had I not renewed prior to their doing this, I would have questioned renewing at some length. There is a subscription service available for the William and Mary Quarterly, which I used as a student, through JSTOR, and I can highly recommend it. The search feature is highly effective, eliminating many many frustrations of trying to find a particular name in a particular journal (since they've been publishing for over a decade) and then finding the person is not really the John Smith one hoped to locate. Many good hearted souls are transcribing the early WMQ articles containing parish records and the like, and which are no longer subject to copyright, and publishing them on the Rootsweb archived pages. . http://www.wm.edu/oieahc/JSTOR.html This is a real good question, WW., thanks for asking. Does anyone else have any different take on this? Or additional comments?? Love, Your Courin, Carolyn ----- Original Message ----- From: William Woodson <wwoodson@lorettotel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 1:14 AM Subject: Re: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > Carolyn, > Is this Valentine Material only avaialble when one subscribes to the annual > fee indicated? If so, so be it. But, is that the only way to have access > to this work? If so, in a year of so, one could drive to Nashville, > phoptcopy the whole Woodson pages for the cost of the subscription, that > would need to be renewed in a year. What is your take on this? Best > wishes, William Woodson > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> > To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 7:37 PM > Subject: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > > > > Dear Cousins! > > Today is my birthday, and don't ask! I'm at the age when I don't want > to admit to how many. Too many fingers to hold up and so many candles the > cake would fry! I was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but my > son-in-law Daniel called this morning to announce the early arrival of my > Granddaughter -- tentatively Victoria -- but I have suggested Victoria > Carolyn instead. Daniel said his brother Ron suggested Ronald. I don't > know what that means, but probably that they're not going to name her > Victoria Carolyn. > > This is a small miracle in our family. Andrea and Dan have been > married 18 years, (longer than both of my failed marriages) and had finally > consulted a fertility specialist in order to conceive. Our baby was > supposed to be due the 16th of January, after I arrived in Maryland! I said > she's showing my characteristics already -- she arrived when she decided it > was right. I am so elated. What a blessed gift. > > The next news is the addition of the Edward Pleasants Valentine > Papers at Ancestry.com. I suggested this work several years ago after I > first subscribed to Ancestry, and also suggested that if they indeed > published them, they should award me copies of the 4 volumes work. (They > haven't yet!) This is an indispensible tool for the Virginia researcher. > Mr. Valentine copied records for 34 core Virginia families: Allen, Bacon, > Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur, Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, > Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham, Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, > Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, > Smith, Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, and Woodson. In providing > the records for these families Mr. Valentine's research also gives records > pertaining to a variety of allied families and neighbors. > > The Virginia family I believe is MY Smith family is Mr. > Valentine's Smith family which he researched so diligently until his early > death in 1908. His collection was published posthumously, to the very great > benefit of untold descendants of these families. I disagree with Mr. > Valentine's conclusions regarding Francis Smith's family, but have not yet > completed the research. I hope to publish a paper on this research, for > this family is at the heart and soul of the Virginia Frontier families. > Francis Smith's daughter Susanna married William Preston, whose position, > influence, and family touched literally every early Frontier Virginia > settler from the mid-1700's to the end of the century. In turn, their > descendants became judges, governors, state and federal office holders into > the 20th century. Your Virginia (and beyond!) research will be greatly > enhanced through examining Mr. Valentine's massive, (nearly 3000 pages, > including the index,) brilliant work. > > (You may need to copy and then paste this address) > > > http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.htm?t=2&c=49&co=0&y=0&dbid=60 > 58 > > > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Dear WW and Cousins on the List: I can't find how you got that address. Whatever it was, it is not about the Draper Papers. The addresses I mentioned were the Rootsweb site on the papers, and the Draper Manuscript Home Page. These addresses are: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/draper/ http://www.webpub.com/~jhagee/draper.html WW! Have you researched Obediah Woodson? He was one of the earliest militia commanders during what would become the French and Indian War (aka The Seven Years War.) I have him appearing in the Augusta County participation in the French and Indian War, which we are just approaching at the website from G. Washington's perspective. The backcountry paid a heavy price for occupying the Shawnee and Cherokee crossroads and territories. A quote from John Madison, Clerk of the Augusta Court: "Four families on their flight from a branch of New River this minute passed my house, who say that five men were murdered at the house of Ephraim Vause, on Roanoke, since the death of Col. Patton. {July 1755 at Draper's Meadows} 'Tis shocking to think of the calamity of the poor wretches who live on the Holston and New Rivers, who for upwards of a hundred miles have left their habitations, lost their crops and vast numbers of their stock. Could you see, dear friend, the women who escaped, crying after their murdered husbands, with their helpless children hanging on to them, it could but wound your very soul." Sounds rather like 2001, doesn't it? I have been reading and re-reading Frederick Kegley's excellent, excellent, "Kegley's Virginia Frontier." This was published about 1936 and is out of print, but I understand Heritage Books is offering a reprint for about $80. Our contemporary Kegley is Mary, who still lives in Wythe County and practices law there. She has continued the traditioin of excellence established by Frederick. You can find her books at: http://www.dnai.com/~skegley/KegleyBooks/ Others you will find interesting as we march up the Valley of Virginia (down is up here, or at least South is up) are those who moved from the initial settlements at Sherrando and Hopewell, those Scotch Irish Rowdies who came from the lower Susquahenna River and Lancaster County PA; the sturdy Germans, and the Philadelphia Perimeter hodgepodge (Delaware River Valley, Northern MD and Delaware people. And so we have Stephen Holsten or Holstein, Jacob Stover, Jost Hite, Peter Hogg, some Griffin/Griffiths and Peppers for our cousin Mary; Burtons for our cousin Beej, The Van Meters, The Sayers (Cousin Kay) , Lewis; Looneys who started out Lunas in PA, and the Dulas who ended up Dooleys in VA (Tom being the one of later infamy and song); Breckenridge, Campbell, Christian, Patton, Preston, McDonald/McDaniel, Vause families; John Smith whose son John was murdered right before his horrified eyes, and last but not least, our favorite gentleman, the young George Washington, as Eastern Virginia begins to join with the Backcountry. The more I study George Washington the more I admire him. I also feel if ever someone was born under a lucky star, it surely must have been him. More on this at the website soon. It is an exquisite day in Beautiful Eastern Oregon: crisp-clear and sunshiny. I hope the sun is shining on all of you as well. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn cmacdee@centurytel.net -- Visit American Crossroads -- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/

Carolyn, Another thought on WMQ in the issues noted: The Swems Index is such a great tool. I am hesitant to ask if you have used it since you are all over the place with research, but if not, get it in a library. Swem was for years the Librarian at William and Mary College. He ransacked, as I recall, eight of the journals that discussed family history in Virginia, and complied this index with surnames and given names with abbreviated citations of the journals indexed. This was an invaluable tool when I started the work on Woodsons in the 1960s. I find relatively few smaller libraries have a copy, but it would be an invaluable tool to recommend librarians to consider adding to their collection. I just note Capt. Obadiah Woodson as follows: Cited in 21V89 [Va. Mag. of History, v. 21, p. 89; 25W(s)286 [WMQ 1st series vol. 10, p. 46]; and so on. Well, so it goes. That note about our going through some lists, I do not know what to make of it. We will see. Best wishes, William Woodson. ----- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 8:10 PM Subject: [AMXROADS] WMQ at Rootsweb > Dear Friend WW! This is wonderful! How did this William and Mary Quarterly > site escape me? > Thank you so very much for this address. This is a marvelous help for any > Virginia researcher. The WMQ is how I first got onto the origins of my > Virginia Smith Ancestry. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/wmmaryqtr/index.htm > > By the way, you don't seem to realize our messages have been through the > list! Aren't you glad we're so eloquent? And sweetly remarked? > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Carolyn, Got the note. Just by coincidence, today while stumbling around in some search engines, I found several early issues of William and Mary Quarterly. I have looked for this for a long time, but success came today. As I have it: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/wmmaryqtr/index.htm Included are Vol. 1-27 (1892-1991). I just checked and this is the correct format to reach the material. Hope this helps you. Check, and if I am corrent on the link, post it for others. Best wishes, William Woodson -- --- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 4:50 PM Subject: Re: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > Dear WW and Cousins: > For those of us in the backcountry, who cannot drive to a library > easily, and who access huge amounts of data via a subscription service like > this, the cost is not prohibitive, and access is very easy and comfortable > in one's own home (i.e., at midnight when I can't sleep.) Also, when the > databases first become available at ancestry, they permit free access for > ten days. BUT, you are right in many ways. Another method is getting the > books through interlibrary loan. It is time consuming but effective, and > you can make photocopies. > A VERY big advantage at Ancestry is the huge variety of databases > which are not so easily accessed elsewhere, for instance the census images > they are > offer, the mlitary records, the land records, etc. Since these are > searchable, it saves many frustrating hours of trying to check page numbers, > run to the photocopier, etc. But, garbage in, garbage ou!!. Ancestry has > not indexed some works properly, and so relying on the search engine means > that one might miss just the key record one needs. In the Edward Pleasants > Valentine Papers at Ancestry, Kate Markham who married Thomas Smith does > not turn up on the Markham search. Neither does PARKE SMITH, whom I believe > may well be my ancestor. The whole Brasieur family doesn't show up! AND, > worser and worser!! when a fantastic hit is made, asy a will, or these EPV > papers, Ancestry has recently taken to adding a HTML coded "Comment" behind > every few lines which means > that copying the stuff is practically impossible. THIS IS NOT the service > I pay for, and had I not renewed prior to their doing this, I would have > questioned renewing at some length. > There is a subscription service available for the William and Mary > Quarterly, which I used as a student, through JSTOR, and I can highly > recommend it. The search feature is highly effective, eliminating many many > frustrations of trying to find a particular name in a particular journal > (since they've been publishing for over a decade) and then finding the > person is not really the John Smith one hoped to locate. Many good hearted > souls are transcribing the early WMQ articles containing parish records and > the like, and which are no longer subject to copyright, and publishing them > on the Rootsweb archived pages. . > http://www.wm.edu/oieahc/JSTOR.html > > This is a real good question, WW., thanks for asking. Does anyone else have > any different take on this? Or additional comments?? > > Love, Your Courin, Carolyn > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: William Woodson <wwoodson@lorettotel.net> > To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 1:14 AM > Subject: Re: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > > > > Carolyn, > > Is this Valentine Material only avaialble when one subscribes to the > annual > > fee indicated? If so, so be it. But, is that the only way to have access > > to this work? If so, in a year of so, one could drive to Nashville, > > phoptcopy the whole Woodson pages for the cost of the subscription, that > > would need to be renewed in a year. What is your take on this? Best > > wishes, William Woodson > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> > > To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 7:37 PM > > Subject: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > > > > > > > Dear Cousins! > > > Today is my birthday, and don't ask! I'm at the age when I don't > want > > to admit to how many. Too many fingers to hold up and so many candles the > > cake would fry! I was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but > my > > son-in-law Daniel called this morning to announce the early arrival of my > > Granddaughter -- tentatively Victoria -- but I have suggested Victoria > > Carolyn instead. Daniel said his brother Ron suggested Ronald. I don't > > know what that means, but probably that they're not going to name her > > Victoria Carolyn. > > > This is a small miracle in our family. Andrea and Dan have been > > married 18 years, (longer than both of my failed marriages) and had > finally > > consulted a fertility specialist in order to conceive. Our baby was > > supposed to be due the 16th of January, after I arrived in Maryland! I > said > > she's showing my characteristics already -- she arrived when she decided > it > > was right. I am so elated. What a blessed gift. > > > The next news is the addition of the Edward Pleasants Valentine > > Papers at Ancestry.com. I suggested this work several years ago after I > > first subscribed to Ancestry, and also suggested that if they indeed > > published them, they should award me copies of the 4 volumes work. (They > > haven't yet!) This is an indispensible tool for the Virginia researcher. > > Mr. Valentine copied records for 34 core Virginia families: Allen, Bacon, > > Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur, Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, > > Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham, Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, > > Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, > > Smith, Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, and Woodson. In > providing > > the records for these families Mr. Valentine's research also gives records > > pertaining to a variety of allied families and neighbors. > > > The Virginia family I believe is MY Smith family is Mr. > > Valentine's Smith family which he researched so diligently until his early > > death in 1908. His collection was published posthumously, to the very > great > > benefit of untold descendants of these families. I disagree with Mr. > > Valentine's conclusions regarding Francis Smith's family, but have not yet > > completed the research. I hope to publish a paper on this research, for > > this family is at the heart and soul of the Virginia Frontier families. > > Francis Smith's daughter Susanna married William Preston, whose position, > > influence, and family touched literally every early Frontier Virginia > > settler from the mid-1700's to the end of the century. In turn, their > > descendants became judges, governors, state and federal office holders > into > > the 20th century. Your Virginia (and beyond!) research will be greatly > > enhanced through examining Mr. Valentine's massive, (nearly 3000 pages, > > including the index,) brilliant work. > > > (You may need to copy and then paste this address) > > > > > > http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.htm?t=2&c=49&co=0&y=0&dbid=60 > > 58 > > > > > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, > > go to: > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Carolyn, I have done some study of Obadiah, but not much in more recent years. One matter I have often considered was the fact that many of the Woodsons in Henrico County, VA in the 1690s were Quakers and suffered for their beliefs; but by the 1750s and following they became participants in the battles accros the frontier as they and their fellows moved ever westward. The reason for such "conversion" may never be known; but that line of study is most intriguing for me. Obadiah was likely descended from these Quakers, or at least grew up knowing about their beliefs. One note: If this is the one you refer to, I have just checked in Woodson Watcher 11/2 1993, p. 63 that gives the following on Obadiah: "b. ca. 1712, Henricvo County VA, m. ca. 1734, d. before 21 Nov. 1767, Pr. Edward County, VA." If this is your man, he was right in the middle of the Quaker Woodsons, but became a frontier warrior. How did siuch a change occur? Well, so it goes. Are you referrring to the American Crossroads website, or is there another with the research your are doing? Let me hear as you have time. Best wishes, William Woodson ----- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 4:46 PM Subject: [AMXROADS] Mis-Directed Address for Draper > Dear WW and Cousins on the List: > I can't find how you got that address. Whatever it was, it is not > about the Draper Papers. The addresses I mentioned were the Rootsweb site > on the papers, and the Draper Manuscript Home Page. These addresses are: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/draper/ > > http://www.webpub.com/~jhagee/draper.html > > WW! Have you researched Obediah Woodson? He was one of the > earliest militia commanders during what would become the French and Indian > War (aka The Seven Years War.) I have him appearing in the Augusta County > participation in the French and Indian War, which we are just approaching at > the website from G. Washington's perspective. The backcountry paid a heavy > price for occupying the Shawnee and Cherokee crossroads and territories. A > quote from John Madison, Clerk of the Augusta Court: > "Four families on their flight from a branch of New River this > minute passed my house, who say that five men were murdered at the house of > Ephraim Vause, on Roanoke, since the death of Col. Patton. {July 1755 at > Draper's Meadows} 'Tis shocking to think of the calamity of the poor > wretches who live on the Holston and New Rivers, who for upwards of a > hundred miles have left their habitations, lost their crops and vast numbers > of their stock. Could you see, dear friend, the women who escaped, crying > after their murdered husbands, with their helpless children hanging on to > them, it could but wound your very soul." > Sounds rather like 2001, doesn't it? > I have been reading and re-reading Frederick Kegley's excellent, > excellent, "Kegley's Virginia Frontier." This was published about 1936 and > is out of print, but I understand Heritage Books is offering a reprint for > about $80. Our contemporary Kegley is Mary, who still lives in Wythe County > and practices law there. She has continued the traditioin of excellence > established by Frederick. You can find her books at: > http://www.dnai.com/~skegley/KegleyBooks/ > > Others you will find interesting as we march up the Valley of > Virginia (down is up here, or at least South is up) are those who moved from > the initial settlements at Sherrando and Hopewell, those Scotch Irish > Rowdies who came from the lower Susquahenna River and Lancaster County PA; > the sturdy Germans, and the Philadelphia Perimeter hodgepodge (Delaware > River Valley, Northern MD and Delaware people. And so we have Stephen > Holsten or Holstein, Jacob Stover, Jost Hite, Peter Hogg, some > Griffin/Griffiths and Peppers for our cousin Mary; Burtons for our cousin > Beej, The Van Meters, The Sayers (Cousin Kay) , Lewis; Looneys who started > out Lunas in PA, and the Dulas who ended up Dooleys in VA (Tom being the one > of later infamy and song); Breckenridge, Campbell, Christian, Patton, > Preston, McDonald/McDaniel, Vause families; John Smith whose son John was > murdered right before his horrified eyes, and last but not least, our > favorite gentleman, the young George Washington, as Eastern Virginia begins > to join with the Backcountry. > The more I study George Washington the more I admire him. I also > feel if ever someone was born under a lucky star, it surely must have been > him. More on this at the website soon. > It is an exquisite day in Beautiful Eastern Oregon: crisp-clear and > sunshiny. I hope the sun is shining on all of you as well. > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > cmacdee@centurytel.net > -- Visit American Crossroads -- > http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/ > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Carolyn, Is this Valentine Material only avaialble when one subscribes to the annual fee indicated? If so, so be it. But, is that the only way to have access to this work? If so, in a year of so, one could drive to Nashville, phoptcopy the whole Woodson pages for the cost of the subscription, that would need to be renewed in a year. What is your take on this? Best wishes, William Woodson ----- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 7:37 PM Subject: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > Dear Cousins! > Today is my birthday, and don't ask! I'm at the age when I don't want to admit to how many. Too many fingers to hold up and so many candles the cake would fry! I was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but my son-in-law Daniel called this morning to announce the early arrival of my Granddaughter -- tentatively Victoria -- but I have suggested Victoria Carolyn instead. Daniel said his brother Ron suggested Ronald. I don't know what that means, but probably that they're not going to name her Victoria Carolyn. > This is a small miracle in our family. Andrea and Dan have been married 18 years, (longer than both of my failed marriages) and had finally consulted a fertility specialist in order to conceive. Our baby was supposed to be due the 16th of January, after I arrived in Maryland! I said she's showing my characteristics already -- she arrived when she decided it was right. I am so elated. What a blessed gift. > The next news is the addition of the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers at Ancestry.com. I suggested this work several years ago after I first subscribed to Ancestry, and also suggested that if they indeed published them, they should award me copies of the 4 volumes work. (They haven't yet!) This is an indispensible tool for the Virginia researcher. Mr. Valentine copied records for 34 core Virginia families: Allen, Bacon, Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur, Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham, Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, Smith, Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, and Woodson. In providing the records for these families Mr. Valentine's research also gives records pertaining to a variety of allied families and neighbors. > The Virginia family I believe is MY Smith family is Mr. Valentine's Smith family which he researched so diligently until his early death in 1908. His collection was published posthumously, to the very great benefit of untold descendants of these families. I disagree with Mr. Valentine's conclusions regarding Francis Smith's family, but have not yet completed the research. I hope to publish a paper on this research, for this family is at the heart and soul of the Virginia Frontier families. Francis Smith's daughter Susanna married William Preston, whose position, influence, and family touched literally every early Frontier Virginia settler from the mid-1700's to the end of the century. In turn, their descendants became judges, governors, state and federal office holders into the 20th century. Your Virginia (and beyond!) research will be greatly enhanced through examining Mr. Valentine's massive, (nearly 3000 pages, including the index,) brilliant work. > (You may need to copy and then paste this address) > http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.htm?t=2&c=49&co=0&y=0&dbid=60 58 > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Carolyn, I got an email from you a little while back giving me the following: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/ and http://www.rootsweb.com/ussearch.htm Have I copied these accurately? I can find the first but cannot find the second. What have I done wrong? I will keep trying, but I must have copied something incorrectly. When you have a bit of time to spare, please check my efforts for accuracy. Thanks, William Woodson ----- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 4:18 AM Subject: Re: [AMXROADS] Draper's Papers and Doomsday Book > Hi Barb and all; > I should be more specific in referring to these things! I'm glad > you asked. The Domesday (but pronounced Doomsday) Book was William the > Conqueror's great assessment of England, which he has just wrested from the > natives! The Conquest was in 1066, and the Domesday assessment begun and > formally compiled about 20 years later. The Domesday can serve as a tax > record, a census, an inventory, and the earliest broad historical record of > "the English." It goes from county to county, village to village, farm to > farm. It is wonderful, and gives a picture of our (those of us with British > history) earliest selves. There is a abbreviated, searchable transcript > online: > http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/ > The Draper Manuscripts are a massive collection of interviews, > copied documents, letters, diaries, etc. pertaining to persons and events > concerning the expanding frontier. There are 491 notebooks, which have been > microfilmed on 123 reels. They are available on interlibrary loan. Draper > was especially interested in Daniel Boone and many of his contempories, so > there is much of interest to persons interested in Kentucky beginnings. > Draper lived in the mid to late 1800's but his collections especially > pertain to the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/draper/ > The Draper Homepage has some interviews and an index to the microfilm. > http://www.webpub.com/~jhagee/draper.html > > With love and best New Year Wishes Barb, > Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

The Doomsday book was began by Wm the Conqueror aft 1066 to record the important peoples of England the country he had just acquired. similar to our census. Draper was a gent who went around collecting all info on folks in the original backcountry settlements talking to descendants of same. Very fascinating stuff, i did find the progenitor of the MS QUIN family of NC in his papers. There is an INDEX to find what names are in these papers, but you have to ask for it and then look up the reel you need. at least that was the case about 5 years ago. I think it is much more easily accessible now - I found the papers at the UNIVERSITY library in Orlando, at that time Universities were the only place that had them. hope this helps. josie At 12:03 AM 1/2/2002 -0500, you wrote: >Hi, >There are two questions that came to my mind as I read Carolyn's last >message. I have a rough idea of what the Draper's Papers are, having >browsed one book some time ago. However, I could not figure out what >system they are under, or how to find if my ancestors made it into the >Papers. There was no one available or willing to assist me with my >questions at that particular library. Second, I have heard of the >Doomsday Book. What is it? I have been researching a long time and >should know, but I don't. Thanks to Carolyn and anyone else who can help >me out here. > >Barb T > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi Barb and all; I should be more specific in referring to these things! I'm glad you asked. The Domesday (but pronounced Doomsday) Book was William the Conqueror's great assessment of England, which he has just wrested from the natives! The Conquest was in 1066, and the Domesday assessment begun and formally compiled about 20 years later. The Domesday can serve as a tax record, a census, an inventory, and the earliest broad historical record of "the English." It goes from county to county, village to village, farm to farm. It is wonderful, and gives a picture of our (those of us with British history) earliest selves. There is a abbreviated, searchable transcript online: http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/ The Draper Manuscripts are a massive collection of interviews, copied documents, letters, diaries, etc. pertaining to persons and events concerning the expanding frontier. There are 491 notebooks, which have been microfilmed on 123 reels. They are available on interlibrary loan. Draper was especially interested in Daniel Boone and many of his contempories, so there is much of interest to persons interested in Kentucky beginnings. Draper lived in the mid to late 1800's but his collections especially pertain to the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/draper/ The Draper Homepage has some interviews and an index to the microfilm. http://www.webpub.com/~jhagee/draper.html With love and best New Year Wishes Barb, Your Cousin, Carolyn

Hi, There are two questions that came to my mind as I read Carolyn's last message. I have a rough idea of what the Draper's Papers are, having browsed one book some time ago. However, I could not figure out what system they are under, or how to find if my ancestors made it into the Papers. There was no one available or willing to assist me with my questions at that particular library. Second, I have heard of the Doomsday Book. What is it? I have been researching a long time and should know, but I don't. Thanks to Carolyn and anyone else who can help me out here. Barb T

Dear Friend WW, The EPV Papers are an online gift, but need work to come up to the quality of organization Mr. Valentine did with his data. I wrote a nag to them, "Poor, Poor Poor," but I don't suppose it will do much. Usually they don't understand what I'm talking about. But first of all, no page references when you access the info, and so therefore, it makes it difficult to use them in a proper way in any paper or work. Many mistakes in indexing if one has to rely on the search engines. Names left out. I would love to have the published set of books, but, ah well........ Per your comments on the Williamsburg papers and resources, yeah, Wmsburg would be great, but greater still for me would be going to the University of Virginia. They have so many excellent things online, but it would not equal being there; walking where Jefferson once strolled .... Another alternative resource which might intrigue you are the Draper Manuscripts, which have been microfilmed. You can access them via your local library or of course, "the family history center nearest you." (LDS!) I've been browsing through other online sources, trying to get my ideas crystallized for my speech. http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/ Another online source you might find illuminating is Documenting the American South http://docsouth.unc.edu/ A little further back in history -- they have a copy of the published Domesday Book here in Oregon at the Salem archives, and I had plotted for two years to go and browse it before I left Portland. ah well .... The Smith family Mr. Valentine detailed, as well as what I believe is mine is one of those genealogical mysteries. It appears to me that nothing has been done on them since Mr. Valentine died in 1908. People just wrote down what he deduced, and then over the next hundred years (almost!) they have just copied and recopied. "Garbage in, Garbage out!" I have the utmost respect for Mr. Valentine, however. He's one of the few who proceeded in a very scholarly way. BUT, I find his conclusions about William Smith are UN-scholarly!! Ah, well .... So very nice to hear from you. I hope you've had a blessed holiday and are looking for to a better New Year. With love and regard, Carolyn

Carolyn, I just got home from a four dfay trip into Georgia. I want, first, to extend congratulations to you and your on the birth of the grandchild. How very nice, and after all the hopes and dreams of so many years! I find that grandchildren are a womderful addition to a family at any age, but the older the better. There is new life, new hopes, new possibilities, but most of all a new love to be given and received. You will understand this so mych better next Christmas. Our newest grandbaby had his first Christmas when he knew what was involved. Did he cut a shine on Christmas day. You will know and I rejoice for you and yours. What a great way to begin a new year. Also, thanks for the Valentine papers. My, how many people will thank you and the Ancestry people for this boon to Virginia research in genealogy. I have used it many times and it is most valuable. Thanks for helping to get this done. One thing to think about. Some years ago I learned of some documents at the American Culture Center in Williamsburg, VA. These are the records of various Virginia planters and merchanges in Glasgow and elsewhere in Great Britain before and after the Revolution. I have only corresponded about them, but an article I read told that various planters had purchased many itmes from English merchants with loans, guarantees, agreements, etc., at stores these mercnahts had established in VA. Then the war came, and [surely we know only a few of the Americans and none of our own ancestors would do it] some of those in debt to English merchants tried to refuse payment. This lead to various squabbles between the new American government and the British. It was finallly decided that the bills had to be paid. So, there were firms in Engoland that sued in American courts for recovery of debts. These records were noted some years ago and became available in microfilm and at the center in Williamsburg. I wanted to go there and study these documents, but the time has not come avaiable, and the expense of staying at Williamsburg is prohibitive. So, I have not little on it. When I was in Goochland, for example, going through various records, I found numerous cases between this American plantation owner, large and small, and this British firm. If such recoeds could be searched, they would tell of the purchases, the places where the purchases were made, the kind of household goods, farming tool, etc., were purchased. From your primary interest. ot seems this would be a great blessing to you and your research. I do not know how to proceed on it, but you may well know or how to find someone who will. I will be willing to help if I can learn how. It may not be possible to acdcess any of this material, but it just might. The Valentince papers give us hope. Thanks again, and congratulations. Happy hunting in the new year. William Woodson ----- Original Message ----- From: Carolyn McDaniel <cmacdee@centurytel.net> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 7:37 PM Subject: [AMXROADS] Birthdays, Babies, and Valentines > Dear Cousins! > Today is my birthday, and don't ask! I'm at the age when I don't want to admit to how many. Too many fingers to hold up and so many candles the cake would fry! I was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but my son-in-law Daniel called this morning to announce the early arrival of my Granddaughter -- tentatively Victoria -- but I have suggested Victoria Carolyn instead. Daniel said his brother Ron suggested Ronald. I don't know what that means, but probably that they're not going to name her Victoria Carolyn. > This is a small miracle in our family. Andrea and Dan have been married 18 years, (longer than both of my failed marriages) and had finally consulted a fertility specialist in order to conceive. Our baby was supposed to be due the 16th of January, after I arrived in Maryland! I said she's showing my characteristics already -- she arrived when she decided it was right. I am so elated. What a blessed gift. > The next news is the addition of the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers at Ancestry.com. I suggested this work several years ago after I first subscribed to Ancestry, and also suggested that if they indeed published them, they should award me copies of the 4 volumes work. (They haven't yet!) This is an indispensible tool for the Virginia researcher. Mr. Valentine copied records for 34 core Virginia families: Allen, Bacon, Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur, Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham, Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, Smith, Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, and Woodson. In providing the records for these families Mr. Valentine's research also gives records pertaining to a variety of allied families and neighbors. > The Virginia family I believe is MY Smith family is Mr. Valentine's Smith family which he researched so diligently until his early death in 1908. His collection was published posthumously, to the very great benefit of untold descendants of these families. I disagree with Mr. Valentine's conclusions regarding Francis Smith's family, but have not yet completed the research. I hope to publish a paper on this research, for this family is at the heart and soul of the Virginia Frontier families. Francis Smith's daughter Susanna married William Preston, whose position, influence, and family touched literally every early Frontier Virginia settler from the mid-1700's to the end of the century. In turn, their descendants became judges, governors, state and federal office holders into the 20th century. Your Virginia (and beyond!) research will be greatly enhanced through examining Mr. Valentine's massive, (nearly 3000 pages, including the index,) brilliant work. > (You may need to copy and then paste this address) > http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.htm?t=2&c=49&co=0&y=0&dbid=60 58 > > Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Dear Cousins! Today is my birthday, and don't ask! I'm at the age when I don't want to admit to how many. Too many fingers to hold up and so many candles the cake would fry! I was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but my son-in-law Daniel called this morning to announce the early arrival of my Granddaughter -- tentatively Victoria -- but I have suggested Victoria Carolyn instead. Daniel said his brother Ron suggested Ronald. I don't know what that means, but probably that they're not going to name her Victoria Carolyn. This is a small miracle in our family. Andrea and Dan have been married 18 years, (longer than both of my failed marriages) and had finally consulted a fertility specialist in order to conceive. Our baby was supposed to be due the 16th of January, after I arrived in Maryland! I said she's showing my characteristics already -- she arrived when she decided it was right. I am so elated. What a blessed gift. The next news is the addition of the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers at Ancestry.com. I suggested this work several years ago after I first subscribed to Ancestry, and also suggested that if they indeed published them, they should award me copies of the 4 volumes work. (They haven't yet!) This is an indispensible tool for the Virginia researcher. Mr. Valentine copied records for 34 core Virginia families: Allen, Bacon, Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur, Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham, Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, Smith, Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, and Woodson. In providing the records for these families Mr. Valentine's research also gives records pertaining to a variety of allied families and neighbors. The Virginia family I believe is MY Smith family is Mr. Valentine's Smith family which he researched so diligently until his early death in 1908. His collection was published posthumously, to the very great benefit of untold descendants of these families. I disagree with Mr. Valentine's conclusions regarding Francis Smith's family, but have not yet completed the research. I hope to publish a paper on this research, for this family is at the heart and soul of the Virginia Frontier families. Francis Smith's daughter Susanna married William Preston, whose position, influence, and family touched literally every early Frontier Virginia settler from the mid-1700's to the end of the century. In turn, their descendants became judges, governors, state and federal office holders into the 20th century. Your Virginia (and beyond!) research will be greatly enhanced through examining Mr. Valentine's massive, (nearly 3000 pages, including the index,) brilliant work. (You may need to copy and then paste this address) http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.htm?t=2&c=49&co=0&y=0&dbid=6058 Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn

Dear Cousins, The second week in January I will be leaving North Eastern Oregon for the North East coast of the country, visiting Maryland to get a new Grandbaby, and then to the joint NEHGS/GENTECH2002 Convention in Boston January 24th to 27th. I am so excited about both events. For those of you unfamiliar with the acronyms: NEHGS is New England Historic Genealogical Society http://www.nehgs.org/about/main/and GENTECH is for Genealogical Technology which awarded me a scholarship last year. http://www.gentech.org/ I will be giving a speech at the convention about the progress and outlook of American Crossroads. The NEHGS is the oldest genealogical society in the United States, having been founded in 1845. Just the thought of researching there makes me tremble in awe and excitement. As you know, American Crossroads seeks to generate community through the list and website. To do this, we strive to teach and interpret historiy through genealogy, by keeping abreast of resources on the internet and also of new products, technologies and methodologies which facilitate our aims.. I am in the process of finalizing my speech, and would like imput and comments from you on what you think are good directions, how things could be improved, how you have utilized the site and material, etc. Please address comments via this list -- I would like very much to learn from you. How are we doing? Give me your opinions and ideas! I need all the help I can get! As we finish this horrible, tragic year, I hope as we begin a New Year (as much as is possible) we can take a great many good and positive outlooks from the terrors of 2001 and look forward to a future that that is blessed with increased wisdom, compassion and concern for our Fellowman, and a Peaceful existence with one another. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Visit American Crossroads, an Internet Community http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/

It was beautiful, thank you for sharing! Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Shawn Woodard ----- Original Message ----- From: <georgias413@attbi.com> To: <AMXROADS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 12:24 AM Subject: [AMXROADS] A Sweet Wedding > Hello Cousins, > I have been in touch with our dear cousin, Carolyn, and she has encouraged me to share a true story about a "Sweet Wedding." > > In August, my father visited me here in the Pacific Northwest. After he arrived back at his home in Florida he met a nice southern lady from Tenn. It seemed that my father had met Alma a year ago when she was visiting her daughter in Florida. When Dad went to play cards with his friends after his long trip, low and behold, Alma was visiting again. > > After Alma went back to her hometown of Byrdstown, Tenn. Dad called her. Alma asked him to visit her in Byrdstown. I think he was packed in record time. It took him 12 hours to make the drive from his home town to hers. After being with her for a week visiting her brother and sister-in-law, then a sister and brother-in-law being shown around this small town. The town is so small it doesn't even have a blinker light let alone a stop light, only stop signs. > > Dad called me and his words were, "Georgia, Alma and I would like your blessings, we want to get married." Now I must tell you that my father is 84 and Alma is 83. I was overjoyed for my father. He had buried two wives and he was finding love again. I, of course said, "Yes, by all means, you have my blessings." > > I then talked to Alma and during the conversation I asked her when she had fallen in love with my father. In a sweet southern voice she told me how she was visiting her daughter, in Florida, and Nelson was also visiting. Their eyes met across the room and the rest is history. > > The wedding was set for 13 Oct. 2001 for several reasons. Her son was going to be visiting for two weeks and would be there for the wedding. I would be able to make it because later in October I planned on visiting my son in Las Vegas, Nevada. So plans were made, airline prices checked, tickets bought and delivered via FedEx. I found out that my brother, who lives in Florida, would also be driving up for the wedding. > > On October 11, 2001 I found myself sitting on an airplane when the thought of Sept. 11 hit me. Well, I was in the Lord's hands so off we went. I was met at the Nashville airport by my father and Alma and Alma's son. We then drove two hours to Byrdstown. After I checked into a motel we went over to Alma's house to get acquainted. A lovely evening. I took my father's car and drove about 3/4 of a mile back to the motel. > > The 12th of October was spent in a tour of the town, making arrangements for a corsage for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom. There was only one florist in the town and all they had were old, worn out roses. So I settled on silk roses and since Alma had not decided on what she would wear to the wedding, I got white roses with an iridescent ribbon. The rest of the day was spent in visiting and helping Alma fix dinner. I begged off from a card game to be able to get back to the motel. A surprise was waiting there. > > The surprise was that Alma thought that her two daughter would not be able to make the wedding. Little did she know but they were driving in on Friday night. One daughter was driving up from Florida and the other daughter was coming down from Ohio. The daughters, plus their husbands and one grand daughter. I met the oldest daughter and her husband at the motel. By now my brother had arrived and was settled at the motel. > > The morning of the wedding my father insisted on treating us to breakfast. As Dad, Alma, Chuck, my brother Bud, and I sat in the restaurant, we were being watched from across the street by Alma's two daughters. What fun! We all then went to get ready for the wedding which was set at 12:30 pm at the local cafe. > > My brother and I arrived at the cafe at 11:45 am and the two daughters, Margaret and Holly and their husbands and the grand daughter, Maria were already there. Chuck was to drive the bride and groom in at 12:20 pm. The owner of the cafe knew Alma and this lady had gone the extra mile. She had brought from home lace table cloths, flowers, candles and more. The banquet room was all set and we were also to have a buffet meal after the wedding. Margaret had also brought things to decorate the room to make it look more like a wedding chapel. All was ready, only the bride and groom were absent. > > At precisely 12:20 pm the bride and groom were driven up to the restaurant. My brother and I went outside to try to distract Alma so she would not look in the large window and see her daughters. My father knew about the daughters and their families being there. We had to tell him because he kept guessing that they would be coming. As Alma walked into the banquet room her attention was on the table, the flowers and the place where she and Dad would stand. Then all of a sudden she spotted her oldest daughter. She let out a soft cry and almost ran to Margaret. Then she saw Holly and Maria and Margaret's husband and then Holly's husband. By now she is in shock but a few tears began to flow. I was able to get some good pictures and I think all the laughter helped Alma. > > Now the wedding was to begin, but wait, were is the Clerk of the County Court who was to perform the wedding. Oh, here he comes. Now do you have the rings. No, oh, they are back at the house on Alma's dresser. Chuck jumps in the van, heads for the house, gets the rings, and is back in record time. The house is only about 1 mile from the cafe. Now we can begin. > > The bride had chosen a beautiful powder blue suit and the groom wore a sport coat of gray with tan trousers. I was able to pin the corsage on Alma and pin the boutonniere on my father. Just before they started I gave Alma a lace handkerchief that I had brought from the Pacific Northwest. Then Margaret asked if her Mother could hold my Bible since it was the only Bible in the room. I had wanted to share some scripture with them when we toasted the bride and groom. So Alma held a new hankie and my Bible. (This really was my husbands Bible, a small one, and my husband died 4 years ago) We proceeded, as the vows were said I noticed that both Alma and my father had hold of that small Bible. The rings were given and my 84 year old father and his 83 year old bride were pronounced husband and wife. A sweet kiss followed. > > We all had a nice buffet meal. During the meal there were stories about the newlyweds and with much laughter and rejoicing we then toasted the bride and groom with Sparkling Apple Cider. I shared about Ruth following Naomi but I changed the words a bit. Alma would say to Nelson, even if you go to Florida, I will go, and even if you live at Orange Blossom Circle, there I will live also. Many laughs! Then I shared on I Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It all was well received. > > Now the fun begins! The Clerk of the County Court, Cletus by name, had stayed for the buffet and now picked up his guitar and began to pluck it's strings. Alma's brother got up with his violin (fiddle) and then a niece got up and picked up her banjo. Now we had us a band. Wow! They took requests and played several songs, all of which I had never heard before. Then my father asked them to play "The Tennessee Waltz." As the song began, my father asked his new bride if she would dance with him. I watched as Nelson and Alma danced to the strains of The Tennessee Waltz. Needless to say I got good pictures even though there were tears in my eyes. Yes, tears, to see the look of happiness on the faces of these two sweet people. > > Your never too old! > > My father is Nelson Alexander Pennington and his new bride is Alma Walters Pennington wed on 13 October 2001. > > Hope you enjoyed my father's Sweet Wedding. > Georgia Ann Pennington Sligar > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Hello Cousins, I have been in touch with our dear cousin, Carolyn, and she has encouraged me to share a true story about a "Sweet Wedding." In August, my father visited me here in the Pacific Northwest. After he arrived back at his home in Florida he met a nice southern lady from Tenn. It seemed that my father had met Alma a year ago when she was visiting her daughter in Florida. When Dad went to play cards with his friends after his long trip, low and behold, Alma was visiting again. After Alma went back to her hometown of Byrdstown, Tenn. Dad called her. Alma asked him to visit her in Byrdstown. I think he was packed in record time. It took him 12 hours to make the drive from his home town to hers. After being with her for a week visiting her brother and sister-in-law, then a sister and brother-in-law being shown around this small town. The town is so small it doesn't even have a blinker light let alone a stop light, only stop signs. Dad called me and his words were, "Georgia, Alma and I would like your blessings, we want to get married." Now I must tell you that my father is 84 and Alma is 83. I was overjoyed for my father. He had buried two wives and he was finding love again. I, of course said, "Yes, by all means, you have my blessings." I then talked to Alma and during the conversation I asked her when she had fallen in love with my father. In a sweet southern voice she told me how she was visiting her daughter, in Florida, and Nelson was also visiting. Their eyes met across the room and the rest is history. The wedding was set for 13 Oct. 2001 for several reasons. Her son was going to be visiting for two weeks and would be there for the wedding. I would be able to make it because later in October I planned on visiting my son in Las Vegas, Nevada. So plans were made, airline prices checked, tickets bought and delivered via FedEx. I found out that my brother, who lives in Florida, would also be driving up for the wedding. On October 11, 2001 I found myself sitting on an airplane when the thought of Sept. 11 hit me. Well, I was in the Lord's hands so off we went. I was met at the Nashville airport by my father and Alma and Alma's son. We then drove two hours to Byrdstown. After I checked into a motel we went over to Alma's house to get acquainted. A lovely evening. I took my father's car and drove about 3/4 of a mile back to the motel. The 12th of October was spent in a tour of the town, making arrangements for a corsage for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom. There was only one florist in the town and all they had were old, worn out roses. So I settled on silk roses and since Alma had not decided on what she would wear to the wedding, I got white roses with an iridescent ribbon. The rest of the day was spent in visiting and helping Alma fix dinner. I begged off from a card game to be able to get back to the motel. A surprise was waiting there. The surprise was that Alma thought that her two daughter would not be able to make the wedding. Little did she know but they were driving in on Friday night. One daughter was driving up from Florida and the other daughter was coming down from Ohio. The daughters, plus their husbands and one grand daughter. I met the oldest daughter and her husband at the motel. By now my brother had arrived and was settled at the motel. The morning of the wedding my father insisted on treating us to breakfast. As Dad, Alma, Chuck, my brother Bud, and I sat in the restaurant, we were being watched from across the street by Alma's two daughters. What fun! We all then went to get ready for the wedding which was set at 12:30 pm at the local cafe. My brother and I arrived at the cafe at 11:45 am and the two daughters, Margaret and Holly and their husbands and the grand daughter, Maria were already there. Chuck was to drive the bride and groom in at 12:20 pm. The owner of the cafe knew Alma and this lady had gone the extra mile. She had brought from home lace table cloths, flowers, candles and more. The banquet room was all set and we were also to have a buffet meal after the wedding. Margaret had also brought things to decorate the room to make it look more like a wedding chapel. All was ready, only the bride and groom were absent. At precisely 12:20 pm the bride and groom were driven up to the restaurant. My brother and I went outside to try to distract Alma so she would not look in the large window and see her daughters. My father knew about the daughters and their families being there. We had to tell him because he kept guessing that they would be coming. As Alma walked into the banquet room her attention was on the table, the flowers and the place where she and Dad would stand. Then all of a sudden she spotted her oldest daughter. She let out a soft cry and almost ran to Margaret. Then she saw Holly and Maria and Margaret's husband and then Holly's husband. By now she is in shock but a few tears began to flow. I was able to get some good pictures and I think all the laughter helped Alma. Now the wedding was to begin, but wait, were is the Clerk of the County Court who was to perform the wedding. Oh, here he comes. Now do you have the rings. No, oh, they are back at the house on Alma's dresser. Chuck jumps in the van, heads for the house, gets the rings, and is back in record time. The house is only about 1 mile from the cafe. Now we can begin. The bride had chosen a beautiful powder blue suit and the groom wore a sport coat of gray with tan trousers. I was able to pin the corsage on Alma and pin the boutonniere on my father. Just before they started I gave Alma a lace handkerchief that I had brought from the Pacific Northwest. Then Margaret asked if her Mother could hold my Bible since it was the only Bible in the room. I had wanted to share some scripture with them when we toasted the bride and groom. So Alma held a new hankie and my Bible. (This really was my husbands Bible, a small one, and my husband died 4 years ago) We proceeded, as the vows were said I noticed that both Alma and my father had hold of that small Bible. The rings were given and my 84 year old father and his 83 year old bride were pronounced husband and wife. A sweet kiss followed. We all had a nice buffet meal. During the meal there were stories about the newlyweds and with much laughter and rejoicing we then toasted the bride and groom with Sparkling Apple Cider. I shared about Ruth following Naomi but I changed the words a bit. Alma would say to Nelson, even if you go to Florida, I will go, and even if you live at Orange Blossom Circle, there I will live also. Many laughs! Then I shared on I Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It all was well received. Now the fun begins! The Clerk of the County Court, Cletus by name, had stayed for the buffet and now picked up his guitar and began to pluck it's strings. Alma's brother got up with his violin (fiddle) and then a niece got up and picked up her banjo. Now we had us a band. Wow! They took requests and played several songs, all of which I had never heard before. Then my father asked them to play "The Tennessee Waltz." As the song began, my father asked his new bride if she would dance with him. I watched as Nelson and Alma danced to the strains of The Tennessee Waltz. Needless to say I got good pictures even though there were tears in my eyes. Yes, tears, to see the look of happiness on the faces of these two sweet people. Your never too old! My father is Nelson Alexander Pennington and his new bride is Alma Walters Pennington wed on 13 October 2001. Hope you enjoyed my father's Sweet Wedding. Georgia Ann Pennington Sligar

Dear Cousin Georgia and Cousins on the List, Thanks for your beautiful story. These kinds of connections with family and friends are so valued this Christmas after the devastation which has attacked our country and seeks to destroy our traditions and heritage. I have received a greeting from another Nelson Pennington, which I will pass on to you, Georgia, and yours to him. He doesn't subscribe to the list, but keeps in contact, as I do with him. May you and your family have a blessed Christmas, Georgia. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads

Dear Cousins, I have put up my holiday greetings page, and have included links to last years' as well if you were not around then, and would like to peruse the pages, which include Bret Hart's "How Christmas Came to Simpson's Bar" which includes some sidenotes on a brief visit to California by some of my gold seeking ancestors. They saw the light and went back to Nebraska. As Oregon's noted historian Terrence O'Donnell puts it, "Those searching for Eden are very different from those seeking gold." http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Christmas/harte.html The main page last year featured illustrator Thomas Nast's "Christmas Dream:" This Harper's Bazaar political cartoonist created the first images for Santa Claus in Clement Moore's "A visit from St. Nicholas." Amazing to observe that work, and these beautiful dreaming children and realize both came from the same pen that pinned down corruption in the form of Boss Tweed and his gang. http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Christmas/dream.html And then, in thinking of my Dad, I included Robert Service's "The Trapper's Christmas:" http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Christmas/trapper.html This year's page is simpler. I hope to add some information about George Washington at Valley Forge, and about those first wintry years of the Revolutionary War, but for the moment: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/Christmas/2001.html Remember, if any of the html addresses are too long, just copy and paste them into the address of your browser. Best Christmas Love to all of you, my Dear E-Friends and Cousins, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads

Dear Cousins, I have just discovered some much needed Pennsylvania records are to be found in the ARIAS system of the PA Archives. http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/index.asp The only ones interesting to me were the Revolutionary War records, but more are planned!! Yay team ARIAS! Get Going!! At first blush these records may seem clumsy, but if you use digitized records as much as I do, you will quickly realize this is nevertheless a good system. Instead of the standard search engine, which means you have to search for every individual variant you can conceive of, they have indexed the records in manageable clumps, and then you simply scroll within 10 names in each clump. That means you can find every name listed, however bizarrely the transcriber (or somebody) spelled it. It is still a lot of trouble, but the thing is, you know if everyone is there -- or not. Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File Indexes (I have not entered all the data for those shown here, only those I was most intrested in.) Ephraim Pennington of York County is also mentioned in the Library of Congress' American Memory George Washington Papers. Paynten, James Payton, John I am pretty sure the first is Pennington, but who knowns on the second??!! Items Between Pelegar, John and Penington, Thos. include 89 AND 90 -- Charles Penington of Chester County and Capt. Ephraim of York. Item 91 is 1st Lt. Ephraim of York 1778 Item 92 is George, a drummer 93. Gill from Chester 94. Gill from Chester 95. Isaac from Bucks, 3rd BN 96. Pvt. Isaac from Chester, 6BN 97. Jacob, 1st Phila BN 98. Paul, 4th BN Chester 99. Thomas, 1st BN, 5th Co 100. Thomas Items Between Penney, Hugh and Penrose, Isaac 6. Amos Penniger, Chester 6BN 8. Pennington, Barthrow. (?) 2nd PA Regt. 9. Sgt. Charles, Chester, 1st Regt of Foot, Col. Hannum, Capt. Mordecai Morgan 1777 10. Charles, Chester, 4BN 11. Edward, City of Phila (seems to owe him money) 12. Ephraim York (1787 Camp Security) 13. Capt. Ephraim York 1781 14 Ephraim (certificate) 15. Isaac Pvt. Chester 5th BN Capt. Rowland's 4th Co. 16. Isaac Chester 1781 17. Isaac Chester 6th BN 18. Isaac, Pvt. 3rd BN Phila City; called 1778 "lives in Reading" 19. John, Bucks, Capt Pugh's 4th BN ; appeal (of fines?) 20. John, Bucks, New Brittain twp, Col. Wm. Roberts; 4th BN nonattend. fines; fine bk of George Wall sub. Lt. 21. John, Bucks, Col Henry Derrach, 3rd BN, inability of body, muster fines 22. Paul, Chester, 4th BN, appeal bk 23. Thos. Chester, 4th BN appeal 1781 24. Thomas Chester, Capt. Rowland 4th BN, 1780 fines book Although this is not much when one considers the fine, excellent, outstanding !! online collections at the Library of Virginia, and Maryland's slower, but getting-there efforts at the Maryland Archives. However! It is a beginning! We are happy they've started. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads

Dear Cousins, We are coming to the point as we journey along the Backcountry, to see the meeting and merging once again of one developing culture with another. In this case it is the emergent Backcountry meeting the more established and genteel eastern/plantation-bred Virginians in the form of George Washington, Dr. Thomas Walker, Peter Jefferson and his son Thomas, the Meriwethers, and so on. The desire for land was the great common ground. (heh) It is so interesting to see young Washington's impressions leap from his journal. He is at once repelled and yet interested in learning and fitting in during his journey over the mountains. He doesn't complain, but obviously finds it hard to tolerate the "lice and vermin" in the bed provided at Isaac Pennington's, but only vows to be more prepared in the future. He comments on the "Dutch" who follow them and speak no English. These are very valuable comments to help us understand the diverse elements in the locality, and how they united. He remarks upon the difficulty of travel over the poor roads, and provides details about the prominent people in the neighborhoods who we see are not prominent because of wealth, but because of the needed services they provide in the community. The next crossroads we come to will be exploring the huge grants of land that followed the Hopewell and Sherrando settlements. To understand these, I suggest checking out the Library of Virginia's Pages "Exploring the West from Monticello." http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/lewis_clark/home.html In the portion titled, "Albemarle Adventurers," you will find the foundations of the Virginia Land Companies, the players from the establishment who joined the Backcountry (if you were wondering why the Albemarle and Hanover county names suddenly start appearing in Augusta County, the Southside, and SW Virginia -- and their derivitive counties. In our next explorative era we will follow George Washington again as he and Christopher Gist go a-spying against the French, the building of Forts along the Virginia and Pennsylvania frontier, the drumbeats of the Seven Years' War, or French and Indian War, which really continued as an Indian war until about 1800. Gist, Washington, General Braddock, Daniel Boone, all come together in this period. Also, Beej, a General Burton! Christopher Gist also was hired by the Ohio Land Company to explore the north and western lands for development and settlement. Afterward he was supported by George Washington as an Indian agent, and in this capacity in 1758 he contracted smallpox and died somewhere along the Winchester road. The next pages at the website will reflect these people and processes. Please let me know your own ancestors who may be of interest to others in these periods and localities. Note that we have progressed into the Potomac Perimeter with little fanfare......!! Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads