Shelby, so coincidental that you would mention the surname STROUD from Wayne Co....I have been researching that familial connection with my NELSON lineage for some years now.... I have learned in my research of these older, original pioneer families from Wayne and Lincoln Co., that their beliefs of the supernatural was quite extensive. More than a year ago, I called my mother's first cousin. A male NELSON, in his early eighties, and residing in Florida. I wanted to inquire about some gravesites and family history, and he loves to talk about his family and growing up back here in Lincoln Co., WV. He and his sister were raised by their grandfather, Old Man Liss Nelson and his second wife Lucinda aka "Gramaw Lovey" Price Wallace Nelson, b. 1869, d. 1942. I truly enjoyed hearing the information that this cousin told to me about my great grandparents, as his honesty barred no modesty, nor politeness, as to the personality of my great grandfather Liss. My cousin told it like he remembered it being. My cousin, also proceded to tell of Gramaw Lovey, and that she was a midwife; that she had birthed many babies in the Harts, Gill, and River Bend areas. Gramaw Lovey would doctor people when they were ailin', he explained. She was the sweetest, kindest woman he knew. When Cousin Nelson was about the age of ten years old, Gramaw Lovey had told him when he was born, that he was born with a "veil" over his face. Gramaw Lovey, he said, as she explained to him, that this meant that he would always be forewarned of things to happen in the future. She told him of this, because he was having fitful nightmares and she would ask him about them. Now mind you, I was somewhat taken in awestruck at his subject matter....and I was believing him to be very serious, as he had stated that he and only his wife knew of this ability that he had. Cousin Nelson went on to explain that he would have dreams, and then usually within a weeks' time, the dream would come true in reality. He stated that many of these dreams were of a bad outcome, such as a friend dying in a car wreck, or some serious accident, or the like....and I could hear his wife (a nurse) in the background saying, "tell her about that dream about so and so, and what happened." And so, it went on from there as he went on with many different examples throughout his life. Cousin Nelson told me that I may not believe him, but he wanted me to know about it, as we were related. He asked me if I had ever experienced anything like that, the forewarning by dreams? I told him, "yes, I can totally relate".....(not to have made a pun). Anyway, he believed that God had given him this gift and ability, but he was troubled with shame for the simple reason that he did not know how to use it to make things better. Just another example of folklore and supernatural belief..... Have a great week, Sandi --- BurgessWV@aol.com wrote: > While we are into the super natural, I will tell > one; A fellow miner and I > were having lunch in the mine; he looked over at me > , and said " do you believe > in witches? No, I replied he went on to tell of a > witch(Stroud) in Wayne > County. She approached a neighbor begging for food, > or any gift. The neighbor > refused her; she said, " see that cow over there ? > she will give you no more milk". > Immediatly the cow ran over a cliff & broke her neck > ! > > Shelby > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about > your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the > last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com