This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xZC.2ACIB/2403 Message Board Post: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006 Barton Family Back-to-our-Roots Retreat attendees gathered at the Tyger Baptist Church for morning services. If I remember right, I think one of our Barton ancestors helped in organizing the founding of the church. David Barton b. 1752-1838 and his wife Nancy Barrett Barton tombstones are in the Tyger Baptist Cemetery across the street from the church. Lunch was provided by the Tyger Baptist Church ladies. After lunch a cemetery walk was took place. The highlight of the whole Barton Retreat was the dedication of a beautiful memorial bronze marker placed on the original homestread site of Thomas Barton b.1723. This 150 acre homestead was north of the Pacolet River, between two forks that drained into that river. These forks were later named Barton Creek and Barton Branch. After the dedication, it was a very, very hard time to say, Good Bye, to all the cousins and relatives that we had met for the first time during the three day retreat. We then headed to the Greenville/Spartanburg airport to make sure that we knew how to get there at 4:00 AM. >From the airport, we headed to our cousin Harold Turner's home in Picken, SC. to see all of his beautiful handmade muscial instruments. Well, going against my wife Lee Ann's directions, I took the scenic route, instead of the most direct route and did not arrive until after dark. Harold is really a fine skilled craftsman. He also plays and sings pure "Dark Corner" music. In fact, the next week-end, he was a featured demonstrator at the old Haywood Grist Mill, where the Pickens County Parks has demonstrations of old-time happenings on certain week-ends of the month. Well, we arrived back here in Bellingham, Washington safe,sound and still on a high. (I know now what LSD did to those Californie's back in the 60's and 70's) As I close, my wife and I would just like to thank everyone for great time that we were able to share with yo'all. To Terry, Bette, Shirley, Harold and all the great speakers and entertainers, THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I am not a poet by any means, but, I would like to summerize our feelings of the 2006 Barton Retreat. The Barton family tree reminds me of our great fir and pine trees that grow here in the Pacific Northwest. Every year, in the Fall leaves and needles drop to the ground. In the Spring, new leaves and needles sprout, the limbs and branches keep growing and getting bigger, adding to the size of the tree. Some leaves and needles you can recognize, others are just what you see in pictures or words on a piece of paper. When you attend a family reunion, rather it be the Barton Family or any other reunions of your various family lineages, you are able to connect the names and faces on real people. Plan now to attend your next years Reunions!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, with all our Love and Appreciation Wally and Lee Ann Caviness