Honoring the Past

“You can inspire others by sharing the historical context of your life and your values, experiences, accumulated life wisdom, and insights. Stories also mend the rifts between generations or individuals, because when you honor what was good, you find how to forgive what was bad and reconcile your past.” ~ Marlee Ledai, Living Spaces

How Did Your Ancestors Sign Their Names?

Read this insightful article at Ancestrymagazine.com

“Whether or not your ancestors could read and write, you’ll learn a thing or two about them through the “signatures” they left on old documents.

It is an exciting moment to look at an ancestor’s original signature on a document. For a moment in time, it is as if we are standing there with them, pen in hand, imagining the land to be bought or sold, the will and the properties to be divided, the marriage that will join two lives. Even when their signature is only a mark, it represents an expression of their will and offers us a glimpse into their lives and their literacy—if we know what to look for. Even when we find our ancestor’s signature recorded in a deed book by a clerk, there is much that we can learn from the clerk’s facsimile signature of that ancestor.”        READ MORE > > >

100 years ago today

Today is the 100 yr anniversary of the death of Sarah Orne Jewett, Maine author of “The Country of Pointed Firs”, http://tiny.cc/oj37Wsary. Sarah was a famous 19th century author, and a cousin in our family tree.

Family Photos

Family History

Family Photos Link

That Old Time Religion

Campmeetings are in my heritage.  I have some sad news about a fire at the Alton Bay Conference Center in NH.  See my post at Journaling the Journey that includes information about the fire and the Campmeeting with links to historical photos, etc.

Here’s a photo of great-great grandfather, Rev. A. E. Walton, with a group of preachers at the Alton Bay, NH campmeeting.  He is in the second row back from the front, right side, 4th in.  (Photo enlarges when clicked.)

Unique Baby Names

Recently a walk through an old local cemetery I came across some truly unique names.  The Christian names  (given names, first names) of folks were truly reminiscent of the times which the people had lived.

Names like Elihu, Eloda, Sewell,  Parris, Nebbie, Constant, Kenelm, Freeman,  Peaslee, Salome, Glenni, Anguilla, Ruhumah, Tryphena, Lottienne, Minta, Newlon, Mehitable, Jotham, Marin, Alonzo, Cindarilla, Moses, Cornelius, Cordelia, Moody, Sophronia, Adelaide, Essmer, Kesiah, Fula, Malon, Redington, Ossie, Welington, Alzada, Darius, Anstress, Adalussia, Glenwood, Judah, Bertelle, Vesta, Oneal, Everlennah, Hattie, Luvisa, Lucretia, Orseamus, Melville, Violet, Minerva, Elias, Albinea, Lovinea, Asenath, Alva, Effie, Sturgeon, Atenlenta, Fortunatus, Seldon, Mahala,  Manley, Aurilla, Elsie, Letha, Ora, Nathalia, Prudent, Anis, Sylvina, Lilnwood, Augustus, Obadiah, Cornelia, Archa, Electa, Una, Silas, Abrose, Corydon, Plena, Alwilda, Elwin, Pansy, Permilla, Patience,  Greenwood, Jairus, Hedwige, Granville, Althea, Alzora, Wyman, Sumner, Arastus, Printha, Camalstine, Huldah, Etta, Cyprienne, Octave, Rosetta, Orinda, Perlmelia, Ephraim, Greenleaf, Obed, Medora, Emilus, Ardacton, Fravel, Wilder, Elbridge, Alzada, Malinda, Albion, Elva, Hildred, Zadie, Reward, Thena, Thurlow, Abbilena, Orrin, Delbert, Phebe, Ozro, Inez, Almon, Eliza, Elvira, Clymenia,  Florena, Cyrus, Algenon, Claraette, Llewellyn.

Do not some of these sound like surnames?  I’ll let you figure out which names are male or female.  People are always looking for unique names to name their babies.  Out of these  mere 150 names that have mostly gone out of circulation in recent years, I suggest people start recylcing some of them.  If they dare. As a writer of historical fiction, at least I’ve found an interesting source of historically accurate names to draw upon.