Great news!!

i had an interesting thing occur today-found a cousin who played with my mom on the old family farm and at aunts house across from the farm on rt 34-this farm(tansey's) had the first roadside stand in monmouth county and betty and my mom loved watching the stand when they were allowed to! betty found me because i had posted before holidays that i was looking for tanseys. her friend blair mcfadden, called her and betty said she was so excited at hearing my name as she knew my mom had named her baby linda(52 yrs ago) so she wrote and one thing or another led to me forgetting to write back-today i called her in pennsylvania - she has the family history from my two great aunts who were like grandmothers to me! and she knows all the married names etc- i am so relieved and happy and thrilled that i actually TALKED to someone that knew all my family and my mom, that i just thought maybe the list would like seeing that someone has finally knocked a few bricks loose! i was getting to be a master at facing brick walls as they all say-=linda erdmann brown- daughter of dot tansey

Nancy: Could you please contact me off list? I've got a few questions for you. Thanks, Pat

Hello Linda... what is your questioon Mill Ryan ~ Rootsgirl50@aol.com ****************************************************************************** ******************** BOOKS WORTH READING Broken Promises: A New Beginning--http://www.hardshell.com/brokprom.html Twisted Lives--http://www.fictionworks.com/etwistedlives.htm The Adventures Of Angel--http://www.bookmice.com/angel.htm

plz contact me- i have a question ! linda

kirby heard wrote: > > my question: is there any way to know/places to look? nothing from his > inventory leads us to any sort of profession... what were common > professions in 1833? > > how early did such a thing as a city directory exist [assuming it had more > to do with telephones than anything]? will records be found as to taxation > or anything else like that for the time period? Have you tried tax lists? They existed early. Barbara

Well, there are two major parts to the process. One is to incorporate in a state, which varies in cost and simplicity. NJ is one of the easier ones. Anybody can do it on their own without a lawyer in about an hour for a $50 filing fee (not 100% certain about the fee -- its been a couple of years). The other part is to set the organization on the path to 501c3 status through the Federal IRS, which is the same for all states. While there are indeed a number of different types of tax exempt organizations, the only one that applies for this purpose is a 501c3 because that is the one that gives donors a tax benefit as well. For the handful of NJ state and county grants that I investigated, all of them required that the organization be a 501c3 -- partly because this type of organization is structured so that non-members (Joe Public) receive the largest share of the benefit. In the case of a fishing club, it is the members who receive the largest benefit, and hence they do not get the coveted 5013b status. My point in bringing this up is that we'll have to pay no matter what: pay to set up and run the charity, which will then *hopefully* successfully obtain a grant to pay for the materials, or forego the charity route and just pay for the materials directly out of pocket. It seems faster, cheaper, less hassle, and less risky to do the latter. At $3.50 a census film to rent, along with the free use available at the Archives, aren't we looking at less than $500 to do all the needed census transcriptions? Kind regards, Lowell Tokyo, Japan > -----Original Message----- > From: Joyce [SMTP:jt1161@earthlink.net] > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 11:10 PM > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > > Doesn't the relative ease of it depend on what state you are setting up > in? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Doanld Lutz <pegadon@earthlink.net> > To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 9:07 AM > Subject: Re: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > > > Of course, there is more than one type of tax exempt organization. I > set up > > a 501C(4) organization for the fishing club. We are tax exempt, but > > donations to us are not tax exempt. The C(4) status is relativly easy > to > > get. The type of status depends on your fund raising and use of funds > intentions. > > > Don Lutz > > Virginia Beach > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Carhart, Lowell <LC111162@exchange.DAYTONOH.NCR.com> > > To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 2:05 AM > > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > > > > > > > Folks, > > > > > > It is worth knowing that creating a tax exempt organization is not > quick, > > > cheap, or easy. Forming a legal corporation in NJ *is* very quick and > > easy, > > > and has but a modest fee. However, applying for tax exempt status, > > > submitting the required annual reports, and maintaining the proper > ratio > > of > > > small and large donors *is* very time-consuming and expensive. For > > example, > > > the entity could not maintain its 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with > just > > a > > > few large private donors. The law requires a somewhat complicated > ratio > > of > > > small to large donors. This is to prevent rich folks from forming > their > > own > > > non-profit companies and then funding/running them on their own. By > > > requiring a broad range of donors, this sort of abuse is curtailed, > and > > also > > > increases the likelihood that the non-profit will benefit a wider > group > of > > > people. There are certain exceptions to the funding rule when the > > > only/largest donor is a government agency. However, the aim here I > believe > > > is to get private (non-government) funding. If that is the case, then > > > attempting to form and run a non-profit for the sake of $1,500 would > not > > be > > > cost-effective. It would cost more than that just to incorporate, pay > > > set-up fees, and pay for accountants to maintain the paperwork, and > > > certainly none would go to the project at hand. > > > > > > I learned all this from my efforts to form the Topanemus Society which > was > > > *going to be* a non-profit to help restore and maintain the Topanemus > > > Cemetery. There was no way that I was going to get 100 - 200 folks to > > donate > > > ~$20 a year to maintain the correct small donor / large donor ratio, > even > > > though I already had three $500 annual donors lined up. Even having > those > > > three donors and a handful of small donors was not enough to preserve > the > > > 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Also, you don't get the 501(c)(3) status > > > awarded for several years after applying. The government is not making > it > > > easy to not pay taxes. <wink> > > > > > > Kind regards, > > > Lowell > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Teddies96@aol.com [SMTP:Teddies96@aol.com] > > > > Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 9:38 PM > > > > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > > > > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Check out Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - > IRS > > > > > > > > <A > > HREF="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/eo-types.html">Click > > > > > > > > here: Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS</A> > > > > > > > > Hi. I would think it best to apply for tax exempt status on our own > and > > > > then > > > > we could take checking into funding further. Here is a link to tell > you > > > > more > > > > about who is qualified for tax exempt status. > > > > > > > > Fayth > > > > > > > > > >

Hi Lowell, Although it is insufficiently appreciated by the public, taxation of corporations works against the public, and especially against low income members of the public, by forcing up prices of goods and services provided by those corporations. The profit rate on sales, before and subsequent to the imposition of the income tax, has always been about the same, however, imposition of such taxes has raised prices (and, therefore, after tax corporate profits) and reduced the purchasing ability of the public. The people least affected by such taxes are the rich, since their purchases, as a percentage of their total income, are the smallest, while their incomes from corporations are the largest. Politicians neglect to reveal these truths, because it works to their advantage to conceal the true impact of taxes on the economy and on the public. If you doubt the accuracy of these representations, I urge you to do your own investigation, or to inquire of any economist you respect (listening closely to his answer, if he works for a politician). Have a great day. Laurie Carhart, Lowell wrote: > Folks, > > It is worth knowing that creating a tax exempt organization is not > quick, > cheap, or easy. Forming a legal corporation in NJ *is* very quick and > easy, > and has but a modest fee. However, applying for tax exempt status, > submitting the required annual reports, and maintaining the proper > ratio of > small and large donors *is* very time-consuming and expensive. For > example, > the entity could not maintain its 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with > just a > few large private donors. The law requires a somewhat complicated > ratio of > small to large donors. This is to prevent rich folks from forming > their own > non-profit companies and then funding/running them on their own. By > requiring a broad range of donors, this sort of abuse is curtailed, > and also > increases the likelihood that the non-profit will benefit a wider > group of > people. There are certain exceptions to the funding rule when the > only/largest donor is a government agency. However, the aim here I > believe > is to get private (non-government) funding. If that is the case, then > > attempting to form and run a non-profit for the sake of $1,500 would > not be > cost-effective. It would cost more than that just to incorporate, pay > > set-up fees, and pay for accountants to maintain the paperwork, and > certainly none would go to the project at hand. > > I learned all this from my efforts to form the Topanemus Society which > was > *going to be* a non-profit to help restore and maintain the Topanemus > Cemetery. There was no way that I was going to get 100 - 200 folks to > donate > ~$20 a year to maintain the correct small donor / large donor ratio, > even > though I already had three $500 annual donors lined up. Even having > those > three donors and a handful of small donors was not enough to preserve > the > 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Also, you don't get the 501(c)(3) status > > awarded for several years after applying. The government is not making > it > easy to not pay taxes. <wink> > > Kind regards, > Lowell > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Teddies96@aol.com [SMTP:Teddies96@aol.com] > > Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 9:38 PM > > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Check out Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > - IRS > > > > <A > HREF="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/eo-types.html">Click > > > > > here: Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS</A> > > > > Hi. I would think it best to apply for tax exempt status on our own > and > > then > > we could take checking into funding further. Here is a link to tell > you > > more > > about who is qualified for tax exempt status. > > > > Fayth

I can't agree with you on no income, no taxes. If you organization is tax exempt (our fishing club and Civic League are both 501C(4) tax exempt. If the income is less than $25,000.00 you do not have to file a tax return, unless requested by IRS. Income over $25,000.00 is tax exempt also. In addition it is not necessary to have a CPA do your books. In setting up our tax exempt status I worked with an IRS agent in Baltimore. Don Lutz Virginia Beach ----- Original Message ----- From: Frank Slocum <ditto@tctc.com> To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 10:43 AM Subject: [NJMONMOU] Tax exempt > Hi; > Suggestions: > Find a low cost tax CPA who will file for the org annually. > The CPA handles the funds. > If you have no income you have no taxes. > At worst you probably could get three years of profit before you would have a liability. But by the time you filed, with the CPA fees there would be no tax liability. > > I have done a college fund when I lived in NJ. > > Frank Slocum > > >

Hi; Suggestions: Find a low cost tax CPA who will file for the org annually. The CPA handles the funds. If you have no income you have no taxes. At worst you probably could get three years of profit before you would have a liability. But by the time you filed, with the CPA fees there would be no tax liability. I have done a college fund when I lived in NJ. Frank Slocum

Doesn't the relative ease of it depend on what state you are setting up in? ----- Original Message ----- From: Doanld Lutz <pegadon@earthlink.net> To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 9:07 AM Subject: Re: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > Of course, there is more than one type of tax exempt organization. I set up > a 501C(4) organization for the fishing club. We are tax exempt, but > donations to us are not tax exempt. The C(4) status is relativly easy to > get. The type of status depends on your fund raising and use of funds > intentions. > Don Lutz > Virginia Beach > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Carhart, Lowell <LC111162@exchange.DAYTONOH.NCR.com> > To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 2:05 AM > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > > > > Folks, > > > > It is worth knowing that creating a tax exempt organization is not quick, > > cheap, or easy. Forming a legal corporation in NJ *is* very quick and > easy, > > and has but a modest fee. However, applying for tax exempt status, > > submitting the required annual reports, and maintaining the proper ratio > of > > small and large donors *is* very time-consuming and expensive. For > example, > > the entity could not maintain its 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with just > a > > few large private donors. The law requires a somewhat complicated ratio > of > > small to large donors. This is to prevent rich folks from forming their > own > > non-profit companies and then funding/running them on their own. By > > requiring a broad range of donors, this sort of abuse is curtailed, and > also > > increases the likelihood that the non-profit will benefit a wider group of > > people. There are certain exceptions to the funding rule when the > > only/largest donor is a government agency. However, the aim here I believe > > is to get private (non-government) funding. If that is the case, then > > attempting to form and run a non-profit for the sake of $1,500 would not > be > > cost-effective. It would cost more than that just to incorporate, pay > > set-up fees, and pay for accountants to maintain the paperwork, and > > certainly none would go to the project at hand. > > > > I learned all this from my efforts to form the Topanemus Society which was > > *going to be* a non-profit to help restore and maintain the Topanemus > > Cemetery. There was no way that I was going to get 100 - 200 folks to > donate > > ~$20 a year to maintain the correct small donor / large donor ratio, even > > though I already had three $500 annual donors lined up. Even having those > > three donors and a handful of small donors was not enough to preserve the > > 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Also, you don't get the 501(c)(3) status > > awarded for several years after applying. The government is not making it > > easy to not pay taxes. <wink> > > > > Kind regards, > > Lowell > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Teddies96@aol.com [SMTP:Teddies96@aol.com] > > > Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 9:38 PM > > > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Check out Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS > > > > > > <A > HREF="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/eo-types.html">Click > > > > > > here: Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS</A> > > > > > > Hi. I would think it best to apply for tax exempt status on our own and > > > then > > > we could take checking into funding further. Here is a link to tell you > > > more > > > about who is qualified for tax exempt status. > > > > > > Fayth > > > > > >

Of course, there is more than one type of tax exempt organization. I set up a 501C(4) organization for the fishing club. We are tax exempt, but donations to us are not tax exempt. The C(4) status is relativly easy to get. The type of status depends on your fund raising and use of funds intentions. Don Lutz Virginia Beach ----- Original Message ----- From: Carhart, Lowell <LC111162@exchange.DAYTONOH.NCR.com> To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 2:05 AM Subject: [NJMONMOU] Types of Tax Exempt Organizations > Folks, > > It is worth knowing that creating a tax exempt organization is not quick, > cheap, or easy. Forming a legal corporation in NJ *is* very quick and easy, > and has but a modest fee. However, applying for tax exempt status, > submitting the required annual reports, and maintaining the proper ratio of > small and large donors *is* very time-consuming and expensive. For example, > the entity could not maintain its 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with just a > few large private donors. The law requires a somewhat complicated ratio of > small to large donors. This is to prevent rich folks from forming their own > non-profit companies and then funding/running them on their own. By > requiring a broad range of donors, this sort of abuse is curtailed, and also > increases the likelihood that the non-profit will benefit a wider group of > people. There are certain exceptions to the funding rule when the > only/largest donor is a government agency. However, the aim here I believe > is to get private (non-government) funding. If that is the case, then > attempting to form and run a non-profit for the sake of $1,500 would not be > cost-effective. It would cost more than that just to incorporate, pay > set-up fees, and pay for accountants to maintain the paperwork, and > certainly none would go to the project at hand. > > I learned all this from my efforts to form the Topanemus Society which was > *going to be* a non-profit to help restore and maintain the Topanemus > Cemetery. There was no way that I was going to get 100 - 200 folks to donate > ~$20 a year to maintain the correct small donor / large donor ratio, even > though I already had three $500 annual donors lined up. Even having those > three donors and a handful of small donors was not enough to preserve the > 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Also, you don't get the 501(c)(3) status > awarded for several years after applying. The government is not making it > easy to not pay taxes. <wink> > > Kind regards, > Lowell > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Teddies96@aol.com [SMTP:Teddies96@aol.com] > > Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 9:38 PM > > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Check out Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS > > > > <A HREF="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/eo-types.html">Click > > > > here: Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS</A> > > > > Hi. I would think it best to apply for tax exempt status on our own and > > then > > we could take checking into funding further. Here is a link to tell you > > more > > about who is qualified for tax exempt status. > > > > Fayth > >

my ancestor [Nathaniel KIRBY] died intestate 1833, Monmouth co, NJ. based on my research to date, I've made the presumption that he died 'unexpectedly' as those who were ill had drawn up wills in one fashion or another. from wills & deed we know his grandfather was a carpenter; from a story about his widow removing to Illinois, she dreamed her sons would have a chance to be anything other than fishermen, out on the prairies. so, I'm beginning to wonder if my ancestor was a fisherman, hence his unforseen death [all sorts of potential scenarios pop in mind]. the author of the story mentioned, having lived in IL, spoke of her ancestor being from the 'coast' though I don't think of Upper Freehold twp as being a 'coastal town' per se. my question: is there any way to know/places to look? nothing from his inventory leads us to any sort of profession... what were common professions in 1833? how early did such a thing as a city directory exist [assuming it had more to do with telephones than anything]? will records be found as to taxation or anything else like that for the time period? I'm aware of 'colonial' papers & records; there are fabulous maps that help place people in the area later on [i.e., 1851 Lightfoot]. my missing time period --1790-1840--coincides with the census records that no longer exist [& other helpful things]. I'm looking for new rocks to turn over so I can grub for the worms I might find there. so far it is this method that has found the info I have to date, so it's not a 'bad' method, but I don't always know the best places to look for the rocks, from here in NC. thanks as always, to some great lists! ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ kirbz@netmcr.com Kirby Heard in NC/US searching LUNAN and ANDERSON in SCT; JONES, MELL and HEARD in GA; KIRBY, GASTON and BRITTON in NJ

Folks, It is worth knowing that creating a tax exempt organization is not quick, cheap, or easy. Forming a legal corporation in NJ *is* very quick and easy, and has but a modest fee. However, applying for tax exempt status, submitting the required annual reports, and maintaining the proper ratio of small and large donors *is* very time-consuming and expensive. For example, the entity could not maintain its 501(c)(3) tax exemption status with just a few large private donors. The law requires a somewhat complicated ratio of small to large donors. This is to prevent rich folks from forming their own non-profit companies and then funding/running them on their own. By requiring a broad range of donors, this sort of abuse is curtailed, and also increases the likelihood that the non-profit will benefit a wider group of people. There are certain exceptions to the funding rule when the only/largest donor is a government agency. However, the aim here I believe is to get private (non-government) funding. If that is the case, then attempting to form and run a non-profit for the sake of $1,500 would not be cost-effective. It would cost more than that just to incorporate, pay set-up fees, and pay for accountants to maintain the paperwork, and certainly none would go to the project at hand. I learned all this from my efforts to form the Topanemus Society which was *going to be* a non-profit to help restore and maintain the Topanemus Cemetery. There was no way that I was going to get 100 - 200 folks to donate ~$20 a year to maintain the correct small donor / large donor ratio, even though I already had three $500 annual donors lined up. Even having those three donors and a handful of small donors was not enough to preserve the 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Also, you don't get the 501(c)(3) status awarded for several years after applying. The government is not making it easy to not pay taxes. <wink> Kind regards, Lowell > -----Original Message----- > From: Teddies96@aol.com [SMTP:Teddies96@aol.com] > Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 9:38 PM > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [NJMONMOU] Check out Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS > > <A HREF="http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/eo-types.html">Click > > here: Types of Tax Exempt Organizations - IRS</A> > > Hi. I would think it best to apply for tax exempt status on our own and > then > we could take checking into funding further. Here is a link to tell you > more > about who is qualified for tax exempt status. > > Fayth

Nancy Heydt wrote: <snip> >There's George, son Ralph, son George, Joseph son of Ralph the younger, Jedediah son > of same Ralph. Nancy, thank you for offering to do lookups. I would be very interested to know what is said about Jedediah and his father, Ralph. Does the book mention Jedediah's daughter, Mary, who possibly married Thomas Smith (and Daniel Wells)? I received some unsourced info that says Jedediah Allen's house in Shrewsbury is now a museum. Does anyone know whether this is true or not? If true, is there anything online about the museum or where can I write or phone to get more info? Best regards, Gaylene Kerr Banister Houston, TX jlbanister@earthlink.net http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~banister/index.html

for evertons today- i also had it earlier tonite and every time i went in i got connection refused- then i saw box with letters and tried that site- i need the box site to send to soden! thanks linda

joyce- saw on evertons soden=i am sending it if i can get into site again

Eantotown LDS has 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1920 census on permanent loan. I'm not sure about 1910. Yvonne Maureen Foster wrote: > Hello Anita and all, > For those who are interested in transcribing AND who live in Monmouth County, > our FHC in Eatontown has Monmouth County Census tapes in their permanent > collection. I am not sure which years, but I would be surprised if 1910 was > not there. I will check this out and get back to the list. If 1910 is in the > permanent collection, then there is no cost associated with reading the > tapes. > Maureen Foster > > Anita Clayton wrote: > > > If you want to order from a Family History Center, I will get the numbers

Joyce, thank you so very much for sharing that delightful poem. Doris ----- Original Message ----- From: <Joyce2814@aol.com> To: <NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 10:41 PM Subject: [NJMONMOU] Fwd: The Census Taker > > --part1_b5.1a9d6ac.260d8f7d_boundary > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > In a message dated 3/24/00 7:21:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, Joyce2814 writes: > > > received this through another list and with all the talk of the census > this > > really struck home for me. > > > > CENSUS TAKER > > > > It was the first day of census, and all through the land; > > The pollster was ready ... a black book in hand. > > He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride; > > His book and some quills were tucked close by his side. > > > > A long winding ride down a road barely there; > > Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting, up through the air. > > The woman was tired, with lines on her face; > > And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place. > > > > She gave him some water ... as they sat at the table; > > And she answered his questions ... the best she was able. > > He asked of her children... Yes, she had quite a few; > > The oldest was twenty, the youngest not two. > > > > She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red; > > his sister, she whispered, was napping in bed. > > She noted each person who lived there with pride; > > And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside. > > > > He noted the sex, the color, the age... > > The marks from the quill soon filled up the page. > > At the number of children, she nodded her head; > > And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead. > > > > The places of birth she "never forgot"; > > Was it Kansas? Or Utah? Or Oregon ... or not? > > They came from Scotland, of that she was clear; > > But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here. > > > > They spoke of employment, of schooling and such; > > They could read some, and write some. Though really not much. > > When the questions were answered, his job there was done; > > So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun. > > > > We can almost imagine his voice loud and clear; > > "May God bless you all for another ten years." > > Now picture a time warp ... its' now you and me; > > As we search for the people on our family tree. > > > > We squint at the census and scroll down so slow; > > As we search for that entry from long, long ago. > > Could they only imagine on that long ago day; > > That the entries they made would effect us this way? > > > > If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel; > > And the searching that makes them so increasingly real. > > We can hear if we listen the words they impart; > > Through their blood in our veins and their voice in our heart. > > > > Author Unknown > > > > Joyce at the Jersey shore > > > --part1_b5.1a9d6ac.260d8f7d_boundary > Content-Type: message/rfc822 > Content-Disposition: inline > > Return-path: Joyce2814@aol.com > From: Joyce2814@aol.com > Full-name: Joyce2814 > Message-ID: <5b.3927f7d.260d60a3@aol.com> > Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 19:21:55 EST > Subject: The Census Taker > To: NJMONMOU-L@rootsweb.com > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 68 > > I received this through another list and with all the talk of the census this > really struck home for me. > > CENSUS TAKER > > It was the first day of census, and all through the land; > The pollster was ready ... a black book in hand. > He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride; > His book and some quills were tucked close by his side. > > A long winding ride down a road barely there; > Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting, up through the air. > The woman was tired, with lines on her face; > And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place. > > She gave him some water ... as they sat at the table; > And she answered his questions ... the best she was able. > He asked of her children... Yes, she had quite a few; > The oldest was twenty, the youngest not two. > > She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red; > his sister, she whispered, was napping in bed. > She noted each person who lived there with pride; > And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside. > > He noted the sex, the color, the age... > The marks from the quill soon filled up the page. > At the number of children, she nodded her head; > And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead. > > The places of birth she "never forgot"; > Was it Kansas? Or Utah? Or Oregon ... or not? > They came from Scotland, of that she was clear; > But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here. > > They spoke of employment, of schooling and such; > They could read some, and write some. Though really not much. > When the questions were answered, his job there was done; > So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun. > > We can almost imagine his voice loud and clear; > "May God bless you all for another ten years." > Now picture a time warp ... its' now you and me; > As we search for the people on our family tree. > > We squint at the census and scroll down so slow; > As we search for that entry from long, long ago. > Could they only imagine on that long ago day; > That the entries they made would effect us this way? > > If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel; > And the searching that makes them so increasingly real. > We can hear if we listen the words they impart; > Through their blood in our veins and their voice in our heart. > > Author Unknown > > Joyce at the Jersey shore > > --part1_b5.1a9d6ac.260d8f7d_boundary-- >

When did this happen? They didn't have them a few years ago.