Letters, a thing of the past?

Today I discovered that letters written by my fourth great grandparents between 1881 and 1885 had been published by a local Historical Society. It was so exciting to read these. They weren’t very long, but they were interesting and provided a view of their life.

Will our great great grandchildren be able to find such things. How long has it been since I wrote a letter? Since 2006, I wrote letters to my daughter when she was in boot camp. Everything else is in emails or on Facebook. What will there be for our descents to find?

Thinking about this, maybe I should get in a habit of printing out emails and postings to document events and such.

Google Earth

The new Google Earth is awesome! Ok, we can't go back to the 1800's or even the 1960's with the new historical time line, but look at NYC and the twin towers. Galveston and the changes from the hurricane can be viewed. This program should not be overlooked by genealogist.

Possible Connection

As I was researching Russel Shepard's family I found that one of his sisters Eunice married a Henry Wait. It appears they moved to Owego, but many of the children's names match those of our Wait/Waite family. I also believe one of is children moved to and area that has a DNA connection.

This needs more research!

Christmas Gifts

What Christmas gifts last? I was thinking today about all the gift's that me or my kids have been given over the years. Which ones do we still have or do we remember? What has been handed down and treasured?

The wooden rocking chair that mom gave Shara, Kaiden now enjoys it. The cradle dad made me when I was little, it's in the attic, I need to get it down and take it back to him so the legs can be fixed. I would like to do that and have it for the kids to play with when they come. The Easter dress that my grandmother crocheted for me with the orchid coat to match. The desk and the play house dad made us. I wish I had that play house still.

I wonder what my kids remember the most? Maybe I am selfish, but I hate spending money on things just to have them discarded. I want to give things people will want and love.

I started doing a yearly book of pictures from the year before for my kids and dad. Some of my sibling make fun of me but I think the kids and dad really enjoy them. I am thinking about getting an extra one each year for each grandchild, then for their wedding or maybe college graduation give them the whole set. One for every year of their life. I wonder if they would like that?

Death of a friend

Genealogist thrive on recording births, marriages and deaths, but when you have to record the deaths of those who you enjoyed sharing your hobby with there is a sense of loss. It's different then when when a close family member passes. It's often a loss that you don't learn about in time to attend the funeral. It may be weeks or month before you learn they are gone. It's a different loss, not as crashing as a family member, but it's still a deep loss. It's a loss of someone who understands the excitement you feel when you break through a brick wall. Often it's someone who is a distant relative working on the same lines your are. You may only see or talk to them a couple time a year, but the excitement is great because you know the work that has gone into each others research.

Today I learn that a dear friend died. He died in September, he was a distant relative of my husband's who made me feel great. He was older then my parents, I didn't know him well. We shared a love of family history. We met him through another distant relative that I looked up on the internet. I felt that he really enjoyed our visits. We talked about family and ourselves. Jim was a very successful man, I'm not sure we would have had anything in common if not for a family connection. He would call or drop a letter out of the blue. We would drop in and visit if we were in the area. Our last visit was sad, he had no clue who we were. I wanted to go to his services, but they are long past. We had ask his daughter to let us know if he got bad, but we were no one to her. I understand how we would never have entered her thoughts during her time of pain. I will send a very late card of condolence. Mostly I miss not having an interesting friend to drop in on. I will miss received obituaries of people I have never met from Jim so my records are up to date. Rest in peace James Waite, I hope you realize the impact you made on our lives even though the time we spent together was short.

Find a Grave

This is a wonderful site, I wish I had found it sooner. I am surprised how many of my ancestors are already listed. Many with out photos, I have a lot of work to do.

Loved ones can leave flowers and messages even if they can't visit the grave in person.

Search Deborah Waite's cemetery records at by entering a surname and clicking search: This contributor's recordsAll of Find A Grave (53.4 million names) Restrict search to Surname

Annual report of the Adjutant ... - Google Books

Annual report of the Adjutant ... - Google Books: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

HOUGHMASTER GEORGE Age 18 years Enlisted February 9 1865 at AYatertown mustered in as private Co H February 22 1865 to serve one year mustered out with company July 7 1865 at Madison Barracks NY