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COASTAL GEORGIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS &
REVIEW (JULY 2003)
SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING will
be held at the College Place United Methodist Church on Altama Ave. in
Brunswick at 2 p.m.
JUNE 22nd 2003 MEETING was
headed by Dr. Caroline Haley, one of our members. The title of
discussion: “Genealogy 101”. She reminded us of things that we usually
take for granted after years of research. One being a research log.
Record where you went, what you looked for, and if you found anything. I
know I have gone over some things twice when I could have been looking for
something else. Another pointer is to not use initials. Find out what
they stand for if you can, and always include maiden names. Also, there
are more records than just birth, marriage, and death. Awards, citations,
heirlooms, are just a few of the obscure records that people overlook.
They may be very telling if you look a little closer.
TIPS FOR RECORDING ORAL
HISTORIES
Many of us could literally,
and quite possibly physically, kick our selves for not paying attention
when grandma was alive and telling stories. In my case I could kick my
cousin who took the tape of hours of my grandmother and her sister telling
their family history, showing photos, and telling stories. Not only did
he take this tape, he promptly inserted it into his VCR and recorded a
football game over it! I never got to see it.
Knowing what we know now
from researching, we realize how important it may be to future generations
to have our history recorded, whether orally or mechanically. I know the
young-uns aren’t interested now, but they may be later. And like Ms.
Fowler of our group stated, start writing a biography about your life, and
tell it like it is, don’t hold back.
My nephews are probably
going to pass out when they read about my life, but maybe it will help
them overcome their obstacles, and understand why grandma was rather mean,
and why their father was too.
I have asked many relatives
to write me a short bio on themselves. So far my aunt and a great aunt by
marriage have given me some interesting stories. And I happen to be lucky
that a great great grand aunt wrote a story about her family from her
great, greats, etc. up until her marriage.
Here are some tips
suggested for interviewing those not willing to write it down themselves:
Schedule the interview in
advance. Give the person time to collect themselves, and their memories.
Bring a tape recorder or a
video recorder (make sure the interviewee has given you permission), also
bring writing tools to take notes while you are recording, you may miss
something important. The electronic age is not perfect.
Prepare a list of
questions, and bring extra paper to write the answers on. Number the
questions and answers accordingly.
Don’t be afraid to let your
subject ramble, you never know where it might lead.
Be patient and don’t push
for answers, this cause frustration and may exhaust your subject too
early.
If a question clearly
upsets the interviewee, back off! You may have inadvertently brought up a
painful memory or a skeleton that they are not ready to talk about.
Exact dates are important,
but hard to remember. Try having them relate the dates to events in their
life, graduation, marriage, birth of a child, newsworthy event, etc.
Ask your interviewee if
they have any old family photos that would relate to the task at hand, and
bring copies of things you may think they will like to see, and maybe
have.
Try to keep the interview
short. Some people, like my father, don’t want to talk for more than ten
minutes so try to limit yourself to an hour or so. Be sure to send a
thank you letter, with an SASE in case they remembered something after you
left and they can jot it down and send it to you.
If you have a scanner or
digital camera, take it with you. You won’t have to wait for copies of
photos, you can make them on site.
The most important tip,
make sure you have ample battery and power supply for your electronic
equipment. Dead batteries are like that family history tape with the
latest football game taped over it.
THE BRICK WALL
My brick wall involves my second great grandfather Jacob J. HEDRICK. Born
about 1798 in Virginia, quite possibly in Giles County, but he could also
have been born in Pennsylvania, no birth documentation has been found.
Through a long and vexing
two year search, I believe I have found Jacob’s parents to be John and
Mary HEADRICK. Mary’s maiden name is unknown, but she was born 28
November 1778 in a location unknown to me , and she died in Grant Co.,
Indiana on 4 January 1864.
John Headrick died around
1841 from estate record information. He shows up in early Virginia tax
records as owning land in Giles Co., Virginia in the early 1800s. By 1832
or so, he was no longer living there and in 1840 he shows up, with some
sons, in Grant Co., Indiana where he dies quite possibly that year or the
next.
Jacob Hedrick, his son,
married for the first time in Giles County to Mary BANE on 7 November
1823. They moved from Virginia, to Ohio, then to Grant Co., Indiana in
1840, then Huntington County, Indiana in 1850. Mary died in Huntington
County on 17 February 1855. Together they had 7 children born throughout
the three states, one becoming a Union Civil War Veteran.
On 26 May 1857, a 60 year
old Jacob marries a 23 year old Sarah Jane WEBB in Huntington Co.,
Indiana. Sarah is my great great grandmother. She too was born in
Virginia to George Washington and Nancy (ROCK) WEBB on 22 March 1834.
George brought his family to Indiana also, and from viewing census
records, I believe he and his wife may have died by 1860 as they are no
longer listed in the census, and the rest of the children are living in
other homes in the county of Grant in Indiana.
I have not proven Sarah’s
parentage beyond her father. There are family lines on the internet, but
they have a lot of conflicting information, and we all know how popular
the name George Washington was. I do not know when they were born, or
where, or who their parents were.
On Jacob J. Hedrick, I do
not know who his parents really were, just their names John and Mary.
From a will dated October 1841 in Grant Co., Indiana, I have learned who
his siblings could be, one of them being married for the first time in
Virginia and a John Headrick signed their marriage bond, then they are
listed with their maiden, and two married names in the will, so I am quite
sure this is the right John Headrick. But where was he from originally?
Was it Virginia? Or was it Pennsylvania where the other Hedrick lines
originated from?
It is supposed that three
Hedrick brothers came to America. One of them became a Revolutionary war
hero, and maybe my John is a son, a brother, a cousin, or a nephew. This
Phillip went to Virginia, then later to Indiana. But not in the same time
frame.
So, if you have some good
Virginia connections who might be able to help me out, drop me a line. I
have yet to pursue this John Headrick, as I haven’t had time, and I wanted
to be sure, which I am now, that he is in fact my third great grandfather.
John J. Headrick/Hedrick
born about 1760 married to Mary??? Born 28 November 1778 died 4 January
1864, where are they from?
Jacob J. Hedrick (son of
above) married first in Virginia to Mary Bane, then second in Indiana to
Sarah Jane Webb. His death date unknown. Was he born in Virginia and to
whom? Was it John and Mary Headrick?
Amy Hedrick:
amylyn@btconline.net
INTERNET
http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/frame_800.htm Irish Genealogy Ltd has
been established to co-ordinate the Irish Genealogical Project, a unique
undertaking that helps you find answers to the questions you have about
your Irish roots. What makes the Irish Genealogical Project unique is that
it embraces the whole of the island of Ireland, and is supported by
Government agencies. Their partners in the project include the three most
prestigious family history and genealogical research associations in
Ireland.
http://www.123genealogy.com/ 123Genealogy is the leader in
family history tutorial videos focusing on methodology, software, internet
and research topics. The nation's best genealogy experts become your
personal tutors as you learn step-by-step the ins and outs of family
history.
PAPER OR PLASTIC
I had prepared this article
before our meeting in June, and it was kind of ironic that we touched on
this very subject during Dr. Haley’s program. For those of you who
couldn't be there, this is one of the topics that branched off of the
digitizing of records and their lasting effects.
The digital age is sweeping
over us faster than a tornado. New and exciting imaging systems are
popping up everyday. The latest craze of course is the digital camera.
I purchased my digital
camera a year ago, and have been snapping away ever since. It is great, I
can take up to 850 regular 4x3 photos! I can also set the camera to take
internet ready photos, and then I can fit over 1500 photos on one memory
card! No more buying rolls of film that only takes 24 to 36 photos at a
time. I can take pictures all day, my only worry being dead batteries.
However, if you think about
it, do you want precious and possibly priceless photos in a digital only
format? We first came out with records, then cassette tapes, then CD
discs, and now you do not see a record player anywhere but in a flea
market.
Another downside, is that
most people think that they can just print up these photos, then they will
be on paper, which we all have photos that are hundreds of years old so
this makes sense. But many don’t realize that their desktop printer is
not of the same caliber as the photo mart’s printer.
The photo developer
printers cost thousands of dollars, and one color of ink, just one color,
costs about $100 or more. And, these inks are permanent. Unlike your
printer photos, where if you get them wet, just a little drop, the whole
picture slides right off of the photo paper.
However digital provides
massive photo capabilities, no developing time, and you can always take
the photos to the developer on a disc and have them print them up. But
which sounds cheaper, buying a roll of 36 photos for about $4 and paying
about $5 or $6 to develop it, or paying $10 per 8x10 sheet of photos?
You can usually only fit
about 3 photos, sometimes four on this 8x10 sheet, so you need about 12
sheets at $10 each to develop a normal roll of film.
For me a digital camera
works because I am using it to take photos, mainly for the internet. I
don’t have any family to take precious photos of, other than my
four-legged children, so this route is more economical. And, if you don’t
have to print out every photo you take, it may work for you too. After
all, you have the option of deleting photos you don’t like, and viewing
them as you take them so you make sure you get the perfect shot and
printing only those you want to keep forever.
So, if you are a technical
“geek” and have to have the latest gadgets, think about those photos you
are taking that will be irreplaceable to future generations. Photos that
are to be kept for a long time, in my opinion, should be printed up by a
professional outlet not just saved on the computer or a disc, because one
day our cd-roms and computers are going to be outdated like the vinyl
record or eight track tape, and so will our hundreds of genealogical gems.
UPCOMING EVENTS
4 July 2003 Friday “12th
Annual Cannons Across the Marsh” from 11am to 4pm on July 4th at Ft. King
George in Darien, McIntosh Co., Georgia. Presentations include: hourly
artillery and musket firings, blacksmithing, baking, brewing, local
history, guided tours, and canoeing. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for
seniors, and $2 for children 6 years or older. Call (912) 437-4770.
16 July 2003 Wednesday
“Georgia in Revolution”. Dr. Stan Deaton will be lecturing on Georgia’s
signers of the Declaration of Independence. Free and open to the public
at the Coastal Heritage Center St. Simons Island, for more info call (912)
638-4666.
23 July 2003 Wednesday
“Georgia in Revolution”. Mr. Bill Chafin will lecture on Nancy Morgan
Hart, Revolutionary Spy. Free and open to the public at the Coastal
Heritage Center on St. Simons Island. For more info call (912) 638-4666.
30 July 2003 Wednesday
“Georgia in Revolution”. Dr. Martha Keber will be lecturing on “After the
War: Lafayette’s Tour of Georgia”. Free and open to the public at the
Coastal Heritage Center on St. Simons Island. For more info call (912)
638-4666.
PUBLICATIONS
“Mayflower Bastard, A
Stranger Among the Pilgrims” by David Lindsay. Richard More started out
hard in life. His mother was an adulterer, and her husband wasn’t about
to raise any bastard children. Samuel More divorced his wife Katherine
Moore and planted the children on the Mayflower for exile to America. One
child remained in England, four made the trip, only Richard More survived
at the tender age of 5 years. I picked this book up on a whim, and was
entranced. This is a story built around actual people, gleaned from known
facts, court documents, and church records. Richard More was a real
person, and David Lindsay, a descendant. You will follow Richard through
his life from the landing in America, to his travels as a sailor, his
marriage of two women at the same time, his excommunication from the
church for adultery, and to the ending at the Salem Witch trials. Richard
More was the only Mayflower passenger to have an individual gravestone
marking his final resting place.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FATHERED
HOW MANY?
Rampant rumors of ole’
Ben’s leaping libido have been around since before and after his death in
1790. Apparently he has fathered many illegitimate children around the
world, who would have guessed?
L. David Roper, a retired
physics professor from Blacksburg, Virginia has come up with the perfect
solution: DNA testing.
Short of exhuming Ben’s
body, this is the next best way, and you can participate in the fun. If
you think you are descendant of one of Ben’s many children, Mr. Roper
would like to hear from you. Unfortunately this testing only works with
male descendants as the X chromosomes change more frequently then the Y
does over the years.
You can visit Mr. Roper’s
site at
http://www.roperld.com/franklingenetics.htm and find out how you can
participate in the project. He has already received several DNA samples
from people claiming to be descendants. Although direct relationship to
Ben can not be proven without his DNA, a link can be through known male
descendants.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Annual membership to the
CGGS is only $15 for one person or $18 for a family. Membership extends
from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003.
Remit payment to our
treasurer:
Barbara Baethke
119 Bayberry Circle
St. Simons Is. , GA 31522
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