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Daughter of a GUNN|Taliaferro County, GA

Somehow or other, my paternal line is connected to the Gunn family of Taliferro County, Georgia. I first discovered this blood tie via DNA testing results among myself and my father, and sister. According to AncestryDNA ThruLines, William Nelson Gunn Jr (1814-1886) is my 4th great-grandfather. While there are times that the ThruLines are more…

Historical Family Photos: 1893 | Virginia Baptist State Convention

Here are links about some of the interesting subjects of the May 1893 Virginia Baptist State Convention in Hampton, Virginia: Virginia Baptist State Convention J.C. Farley, photographer Spiller Academy and R. Spiller J.E. Jones Rev. James H. Holmes W.T. Johnson Rev. A. Binga, D.D. W.F. Graham Virginia Seminary at Lynchburg Richmond Planet newspaper archives FREE…

2022 Update: Jamaica and Genealogy

Previously, I did an update on my search to learn more about the many and mysterious Jamaican profiles that appear within my DNA relative matches. In rechecking these matches a couple of months ago, I noticed that in addition to several surnames repeating, there were repetitive family groups that tie back to Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica.…

Rum Runnin’ in the USA | John W. Hoxey

How did I get here? While searching for details on the life of John W. Hoxey (1866-1956), husband of my third great-grandmother, Josephine Turner Hoxey (1864-1938), I discovered more than I bargained for. Picture it. (in my Sophia Petrillo voice) 1920’s Virginia. Chesapeake Bay. Prohibition. Schooners. Rum runners. Feds… That’s where we’re headed. Let’s first…

Thanks for the Rapid Response!

Ah, the perils of messaging on Ancestry.com or elsewhere in our genealogical journey. The fact of the matter is that for whatever reason, the notification system on Ancestry is subpar at best. When comments are left on media items, if you don’t look—you don’t see. Such is the case that I painfully learned, recently. The…

Historical Newspapers: Mr. Samuel H. Harrison, Jr. | 1917

For this topic, let’s pore over the details included in the 1917 funeral announcement of my ancestor, Samuel H. Harrison, Jr. Samuel H. Harrison, Jr., my maternal second great-grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 1917. According to the above shared news item, he had fallen ill four weeks prior by suffering a stroke after…

1893 Virginia Baptist State Convention Historical Newspaper Article and Records

VIRGINIA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION, AT HAMPTON, VA., MAY, 1893. LEADING DIVINES. ———— THE VIRGINIA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION ———— Spiller Academy-Some of the Personsin the Picture – Leading Characters Commented Upon—- The Virginia Baptist State Conven-met at Suffolk, Va., WednesdayMay 8th with the Baptist Charch atwhich Rev. W. W. Gaines is pastorRev. H.H. Mitchell. D. D.…

Aunt Sallie’s 1896 Fashion

As we learn about our family history and review the records, photos, and circumstances surrounding their lives, it’s always interesting to learn more about related subjects. For example, the photograph that includes my third great aunt, Sallie John Turner, has piqued my curiosity about the fashion of the day. Sallie John Turner, born 1880 in…

Very Necessary: Primary Sources

In the world of genealogy, primary sources are a type of best friend. They add weight to the credibility of our research and should be applied as much as possible to our work. What is the definition and what are some examples of primary sources? According to the Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts…

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