CNN stated that the Government would in two weeks time decide to >allow or not allow a Charge to your phone bill equal to a Long Distance >call EACH time you access the Internet. > >The address is http://www.house.gov/writerep/ > >If you choose, visit the address above and fill out the necessary >form! > >If EACH one of us, forward this message on to others in a hurry, we >may be able to prevent this injustice from happening!

CNN stated that the Government would in two weeks time decide to >allow or not allow a Charge to your phone bill equal to a Long Distance >call EACH time you access the Internet. > >The address is http://www.house.gov/writerep/ > >If you choose, visit the address above and fill out the necessary >form! > >If EACH one of us, forward this message on to others in a hurry, we >may be able to prevent this injustice from happening!

The previous message regarding a report by CNN is not true - please check facts before forwarding "cry wolf" messages. I responded to this very same "alarming" message some time ago and received a very courteous and prompt response from the FCC that this is totally bogus. Please check their site at: http://www.fcc.gov/ As in genealogy, check your facts!! Diane

Hi Folks, I'm searching for information on Lewis E. BARGER, born in Botetourt County, VA, in 1869. His parents were William L. and Sarah BARGER. Thanks for any help or advice. Sincerely, Karen Miles-Mitchum darkwolf@usit.net

Another cem in Botetourt that I found in the same condition: in fact, could not even get to it has worried me also. It is the Lemon (Lemmon) cem. I would like to help get it back in some kind of respectful condition. Jacob Lemon and some members of his family are buried here. sue miles

Does anyone have directions to Brick Union Cemetery? Researching ThomasJEWELL,William HATCHER, AndrewHOWARD, AsaHALL, Sarah FARLEY, James GRAHAM, George BOOTHE, any HICKLIN, William GREEN,Thurman BAXTER,John "the settler" BISHOP, Ezra COLLINS, William CUNNINGHAM, Clarence SMITH, Pierce BOYER, Christopher TYNAN, Georg (Dresher)THRASHER , Sarah COX, anyOBENCHAIN,any AKERS, Emra ALTIZER,Henry VANOVER doreatr@rbnet.com rena@genealogy.org http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/3798/index.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapatric/files/cem2.htm http://members.bellatlantic.net/~scotnroa/Barb/floyd.html

Recently, I was able to purchase "A History Of Rockbridge County, Virginia", by Oren F. Morton. It is a 1998 facsimile reprint of the original book which was published in 1920. It is an excellent book and can be purchased through Heritage Books Inc. at www.heritagebooks.com or at www.ancestor.com. Since I was the one who recently sent information on Naming Patterns that are sometimes used by different ethnic groups, I thought I'd also offer some other useful information on names as talked about in the above book. I was surprised to learn that our ancestors only started using middle names after 1789 and that within 50 years, having only a single name was a rarity. Prior to that, middle names were more common among the Germans. Because they were so proud of their newly founded country, you will often find initials in a person's name such as G.W. for George Washington or T. J. for Thomas Jefferson or B.F. for Benjamin Franklin. Soon after, people also started naming their children after prominent citizens of the community or a local minister. It wasn't long before middle names were given to girls too. People did not shorten names as we do now. You won't usually find a Samuel being called Sam or a Benjamin being called Ben or a Patrick being called Pat. However, it was common for certain women's names to be changed to a nickname. The most common ones were Mary became Polly, Martha became Patsy, Elizabeth became Betsy, Sarah became Sally and Agnes was often called Nancy. When researching an ancestor with one of those names, don't be surprised to find them regularly listed by the nickname instead of the given name. I hope this helps you as much as it did me. Judy Clark-Wick JWick@compuserve.com Source: "A History Of Rockbridge County, Virginia" by Oren F. Morton.

I live in Botetourt Co Va I'd appreciate it if someone can give me directions to this Cemetery. I have the list of the stones from Appalachian Notes. I would like to go there myself. If someone can let me know whare it is i'l see what i can do. Rena Researching ThomasJEWELL,William HATCHER, AndrewHOWARD, AsaHALL, Sarah FARLEY, James GRAHAM, George BOOTHE, any HICKLIN, William GREEN,Thurman BAXTER,John "the settler" BISHOP, Ezra COLLINS, William CUNNINGHAM, Clarence SMITH, Pierce BOYER, Christopher TYNAN, Georg (Dresher)THRASHER , Sarah COX, anyOBENCHAIN,any AKERS, Emra ALTIZER,Henry VANOVER doreatr@rbnet.com rena@genealogy.org http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/3798/index.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapatric/files/cem2.htm http://members.bellatlantic.net/~scotnroa/Barb/floyd.html

My 4-great grandfather Christian HOUSMAN deeded the land (or at least some of the land) for Brick Union, from what I understand. He and his wife Eve, plus some other HOUSMANs and relatives are probably buried there. I'd really like to see it cleaned up, as it is, in a sense, part of my heritage. Unfortunately, I live a couple thousand miles away from Botetourt County, so I can't get involved in any clean-up effort, other than to possibly donate money to a civic group or similar. --jsl -----Original Message----- From: Sylmalone@aol.com <Sylmalone@aol.com> To: VABOTETO-L@rootsweb.com <VABOTETO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, December 7, 1998 3:04 PM Subject: Brick Union Cem >I had a chance to visit Fincastle Historical Society this summer and found the >people there very helpful, especially Mrs. Honts. We were asking where the >Brick Union Cemetery was, she drew us a map. We found it but couldn't get to >it because it was so overgrown with weeds, etc.Later in the Fall, my son went >back and was able to go in and took some pictures. It still needs to be >maintained. Some of the stones were over turned. I wonder if someone would >check with the Boy Scout Organization or some other group that would be >willing to under take this as a community project. > >Throw this suggestion out and see what comes of it. I live in Charlottesville >and too far away to try this myself, I am retired. > > >==== VABOTETO Mailing List ==== >The VAGenWeb's QueryPage for the "Unknown County" is at URL: >http://people.delphi.com/fspradlin/vaquery.htm >

The state of disrepair and disregard for old cemeteries is and has been appalling. I hear of these decaying and vandalized cemeteries all the time. Let us face the facts, it is up to the local citizens to determine the legacy of the past. In many, if not all cases, the local citizens have no relatives in these cemeteries, and if they do they care not. In many communities the old families have died out after their children went to the big city to make their fortunes. The majority of the citizens of most rural areas are foreign to the area or they are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, here in the deep south read that as real "red necks" etc. These are the same people who deposit their trash on any side road where they cannot be seen by the authorities, who deposit their beer cans and McDonalds litter on any roadside. Those whose children find great pleasure in destroying and looting remote cemeteries. Down here, a few months ago, a grown woman was found looting a local grave yard of objet d'art etc. About the only way to protect a cemetery, nowadays, is to place an electrified fence around the property, along with armed guards. Well, I've vented my anger. Remember it is up to the local population to protect its history. Only a strong law, with exceptional enforcement and prosecution and punishment, will help to end the rape of this part of our heritage. Ron Hughes

I had a chance to visit Fincastle Historical Society this summer and found the people there very helpful, especially Mrs. Honts. We were asking where the Brick Union Cemetery was, she drew us a map. We found it but couldn't get to it because it was so overgrown with weeds, etc.Later in the Fall, my son went back and was able to go in and took some pictures. It still needs to be maintained. Some of the stones were over turned. I wonder if someone would check with the Boy Scout Organization or some other group that would be willing to under take this as a community project. Throw this suggestion out and see what comes of it. I live in Charlottesville and too far away to try this myself, I am retired.

I am a descendant of James A. and Harriet Dooley. Harriet's name on her marriage license is confusing because I can't tell if the name is Hiner or Hines.. Marriage date is Oct.31,1849 in Botetourte Co.Witness was William Kessler. Her parents are not listed. Would like to know who her parents are and and siblings also same for James. Their daughter Mary E.F married my gggrandfather, Jewett H. Grady b Dec 1,1829,Rockingham Co..Died Aapril 3,1893. They married Dec.23,18869. Both are buried in Brick Union cem. near Troutville, Va..Jewett is the s/o Ambros and Mary? Grady. That's all I know about them. Need dates, and children Hope that someone can help. This is my first request. I just signed on..

Looking for information on Jacob DEISHER, son of Jacob DEISHER and Christina RULE. Jacob was born 25 Jun 1823 and died in July 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. Did Jacob marry and have any children before he died? I'm also looking for birthdate/death date information on his sister Juliann (Julia Ann) DEISHER, who married Christian COPP on 28 Jun 1830 in Botetourt County. Thanks much in advance... Jennifer Lyon

Jo & Botetourt List, Thanks for the forward on the Ball family. It is all VERY interesting. I will certainly keep all this in mind in my research. I plan on taking my time so as not to take a false step. I do not want to make a mistake. Thanks SO much to everyone that has been so responsive and helpful on this family. It will make my work much easier. Julie A. Strejc

I checked with the Casor Assoc of America (also includes Custers & Kesters) CASTOR-L@rootsweb.com and one of the members, who is a descendant of Sarah BALL CUSTER, sent this to me to share with the folks on this list who are searching for the relationship of Sarah BALL to George Washington. Jo Kester kester@saber.udayton.edu I hope these items from Milo Custer, Donald M. Custer, and Margaret Kinsey will help with the documentation on Sarah Martha Ball Custer. It seems that E.W. Gans who was secretary-treasurer of the Ball Estate Association entered all the information the Association had collected in his book, "A Pennsylvania Pioneer", but the first few pages of chapter XIV "Genealogies" were not accurate. He took data from Hayden's "Virginia Genealogies" (on a Virginia Ball family) and inserted the Pennsylvania Balls. This from "Ball Cousins" by Margaret B. Kinsey. So Mr. Gans did descendants a great service in preserving the legal records the Association had collected, but added a bit of confusion by creating the Washington family relationship myth (which was easily disproved).. Milo Custer in his "Custer Genealogies" disproves another form of the myth that Sarah Ball Custer, wife of Paul Custer, was closely related to the Washington family by being the sister of Mary Ball Washington, mother of President George Washington. He states: "Careful investigation discloses that Mary (Ball) Washington had no sister named Sarah, nor any who married a Custer. Further research reveals that Sarah (Ball) Custer did have a sister named Mary, but that this Mary Ball married a man named George Smith, and not Augustine Washington." (Appendix page XXXIII which goes into greater detail) Donald Custer noted in his research that even his family believed that Sarah Ball Custer was closely related to the mother of George Washington, Mary Ball. He said that the DAR even accepted this, but it was his understanding that they no longer did and that The Mary Ball Association rejects it. Donald offers many proofs that this myth is not true. Perhaps the Will of Samuel Ball is among the most important documents he gives. " WILL OF SAMUEL BALL IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, Samuel Ball, being weak in Body but of sense and memory thanks to God, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men to die, I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows: ITEM: I give to my loving wife ANNA CATHARINE BALL the use of my Negro Man, Adam, during the time she lives my widow, and afterwards to my son William Ball, and His heirs forever. ITEM: I give to my son William Ball all my land and six Negroes by name Daniel, Dett, Cloandy, Rose, Rachel, Ester, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body, forever, and for want of such heirs then as followeth: ITEM: I give to my Daughter Margaret Ball five Negroes by name Jam, Murriah, Milla, Kittener, Will, and a feather bed and furniture and a mare Tillie and her colt and my horse Batcheller and if in case my son William should die without heirs lawfully begotten of his body then I give four hundred acres of land which is already bounded to my said Daughter Margaret Ball and her choice of two Negroes belonging to her brother, part of her and her heirs forever, and the rest to be divided amongst the three sisters. ITEM: I give to my daughter JUDITH HACKLEY two Negroes by name Cate, Jack, to her and her heirs forever and four hundred and sixty acres of land to her and her heirs forever in case her brother should die as aforesaid. ITEM: I give to my son William Ball all my estate that is not mentioned already to him and his heirs forever. ITEM: I give to JAMES POLLARD five acres of land bounded thus...to be his and his heirs forever. ITEM: I give to my daughter MARY GREEN twenty shillings. The reason I give her no more is because she has had her part already. ITEM: I do appoint my son William Ball and my two sons-in-law, John Hackley and Robert Green to be sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of August in the year Seventeen Hundred and Fifty-one. SAMUEL BALL" Donald goes on to explain that the will was made in Culpepper County, VA and that he included it to show that Sarah Ball Custer (30 Oct 1712 PA - 10 Dec 1779 PA) was not a daughter of Samuel as she was still living in 1751. This will of Samuel Ball shows that earlier DAR research which stated that Sarah Martha Ball was born in Wicomico County, MD and was the daughter of Samuel Ball was not true. There are other earlier assertions that Sarah Ball Custer was closely related to the mother of George Washington which Donald has closely examined and found to also be undocumented and in error. He goes on to explain that the settlement of the Joseph Ball estate shows no evidence of any relationship to the Washington Family. Margaret B. Kinsey in "Ball Cousins" compiled a book based on the distribution of Joseph Ball's estate between 1827 and 1858 which is a great help to researchers in sorting out the family of Sarah Ball Custer and also shows no relationship to the Washington family. Please pass this on to anyone interested in the Sarah Martha Ball Custer line. I would like to be related to George Washington as much as anyone, but I believe the myth has been disproved. There are still sites on the internet with the old Gans data, but that doesn't make it true. Someone wrote me that everyone knew that Sarah Martha Ball Custer was related to George Washington. I begged them to send me a document proving the relationship, but never heard from them again. Until I find documentation I do not believe I am related to George Washington. Julie has a better chance as her Balls are from Virginia. Donald mentioned a Ball Family Association, perhaps she could look into this group for further help. I have not researched Sarah Martha Ball Custer myself as I am only up to her grandson Peter Custer's family (son of Jonathan, Sr). Love and all best wishes for happy holidays to you and Jack, Grace Grace Custer Ebneter Peachtree City, GA http://members.tripod.com/~EbneterG/index.html

Need information regarding marriage of William Henry Smith b. 16 June 1861, Botetourt County, d. 11 Feb 1949 m. Mary Elizabeth BUSH who died in November 1917....probably in Botetourt County. I would be most grateful for any information regarding these two people. Thanks! Karen klws@socket.net Genealogists never die, they just lose their census.

Need obituary for William Henry Smith b. 16 Jun 1861, Botetourt County, d. 11 Feb 1949, Shawsville, VA. Obituary probably would be in Roanoke Times. Also need to know where Virginia newspapers are accessible on microfilm. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks! Karen klws@socket.net Genealogists never die, they just lose their census.

Just a shot in the dark, but perhaps it is the GUNNINGS cemetery in Sullivan County, TN, (just across the border from VA). I have several ancestors burried there. Marie (Akens) Graichen Researching: AKENS, AKIN(S), AIKEN(S), EAKIN(S); E. TN>VA>NC.

Brenda, It's still a good idea. Judy Clark-Wick JWick@compuserve.com Researching the surname Clark

Thanks Kathy, I had not heard that about Polish names, so I'm going to save that in my files. I also know there are many nationalities, such as Russian and Japanese where they change the end of the surname to designate if they are a male or female. I have not yet begun my search for my Clark family ancestors in other countries, but I imagine it can get very confusing if you don't know the naming customs there. Judy Clark-Wick JWick@compuserve.com