Emigration - Immigration

Arrival at Jamestown

The word, emigration, is defined by the Library of Congress as, the act of leaving one’s country to live somewhere else.  It may also be defined as, the act of moving from one country to another with the intent of not returning.

Emigration is to be distinguished from the word, expatriation, which means, the abandonment of one’s country and the renunciation of one’s citizenship in that country.

 In many instances expatriation is a result or the consequences of emigration because emigration denotes the removal of a person and that person’s property to another country.  Sometimes, emigration is  used in reference to the removal of a person from one section to another section of the same country.

 Immigrant is normally defined as the person who emigrates or enters another country with the intent of becoming a permanent resident of that nation.
  

Jamestown Island - May 2007 - 400th Anniversary 

 The U.S. Federal Government did not require captains or masters of vessels to present a passenger list to U.S. officials before January 1, 1820.  The lists that remain for the period before 1820 are varied in content. They range from lists that contain names only to those citing a person's full name, age, and country of origin.
There were approximately 650,000 individuals of all nationalities who arrived in America prior to 1820.  They were predominately English and Welsh with smaller numbers of German, Irish, Scotch-Irish, Dutch, French, Spanish, African, and other nationalities. These folk [immigrants] tended to settle in the eastern, middle-Atlantic, and southern states.

There were over ten million immigrants that arrived from northern Europe, the British Isles, and Scandinavia between 1820 and 1880. Starting in the 1840’s and 1850’s there was a large increase in the number of immigrants from both Germany and Ireland.  Some of these folk settled in large eastern and mid-western cities, but most migrated to the mid-west and western parts of our nation.

More than twenty-five million immigrants, mainly from southern and eastern Europe came to America during the period between 1880 and 1920. Many of these individuals came from Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and England. Many of these folk settled in the larger cities, including New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Castle Garden [now Castle Clinton] was America's first immigrant receiving center.  From the 1^st of August 1855 it welcomed more than eight million immigrants that arrived in the state of New York before it was closed on the 18^th of April 1890. Castle Garden was succeeded by Ellis Island in 1892.

Ellis Island 1905

Ellis Island opened in 1892 as a federal immigration station, a great change was taking place in immigration to the United States. Immigrants poured in from southern and eastern Europe as arrivals from northern and western Europe–Germany, Ireland, Britain and the Scandinavian countries–slowed. Jews escaping from political and economic oppression in czarist Russia and Eastern Europe [in 1910 some 484,000 arrived] and Italians escaping poverty in their country. There were also Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Serbs, Slovaks and Greeks, along with non-Europeans from Syria, Turkey and Armenia who all left their homes in the Old World due to war, drought, famine and religious persecution.  All hoped for greater opportunity in the New World. One such person was the composer, Irving Berlin who arrived in 1893.  We all remember at least a few of the many songs that  Irving Berlin contributed to our nation's musical heritage  including: God Bless America, Easter Parade and White Christmas. 

Ellis Island officially closed in 1954.  It has been estimated that forty per cent of all current citizens of the United States can trace at least one ancestor who arrived in America via Ellis Island. Ellis Island opened to the public in 1976. Now, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in the restored Main Arrivals Hall may be toured and folk may trace their ancestors through millions of immigrant arrival records made available to the public in 2001.

Custom Passengers Lists were kept by the Customs Department from 1820 - 1902.  The Immigration and Naturalization Service started keeping records in 1883.  These records are  referred to as Immigration Passenger Lists.

A Journal - Elkton - McGaheysville, Virginia Area

Miss Lottie M. Davis

Today, we continue our visit to the Elkton - McGaheysville area in Rockingham County, Virginia as seen through the eyes of Miss Lottie M. Davis as she recorded the events of 1928 in her "Journal".  It is important for us to remember that there was still no uniform spelling of words at this time.  Most people spelled words, including names, as they sounded to them in their own language.

Part Five
Page Twenty-one
1928 -January
15 Jan 1928 - Mrs. Iris Secrist New boy Richard.
19 Jan 1928 - Uncle Dave Davis died.
19 Jan 1928 - Mrs. Buck Kite died.
19 Jan 1928 - Mrs. Bob Cash new baby.
30 Jan 1928 - Lura new baby.
28 Jan 1928 - New electric washing machine.
21 Jan 1928 - Centrill Dean sent on road.
__ Jan 1928 - Earl new phone put in.
20 Jan 1928 - Lucile operated.

Page Twenty-two
1928 - February
23 Feb 1928 - New oil stove from Mable $20.00.
1 Feb 1928 - Lloyd Merica new baby.
__ Feb 1928 - Clyde Koontz left home.
4 Feb 1928 - Jim Tuckin killed.
__ Feb 1928 - Fix River bridge at Elkton.
10 Feb 1928  - Busy Bees Supper made $ 96.54.
10 Feb 1928 - Uncle Henry Harmen died colored.
21 Feb 1928 - Miss Mary Burck [Burk or Burke?] died.
19 Feb 1928 - Mrs. Jim McGahey new boy Billie.
17 Feb 1928 - Rev. G. W. Glegg died Lacey Spring.
1 Feb 1928 - Mrs. Lloyd Merica new baby. [This is the second entry for this event.]
__ Feb 1928 - Mrs. Charles Zetty operated on.
24 Feb 1928 - Ladies Aid Supper.
26 Feb 1928 - Mrs. T. Downs hurt.
6 Feb 1928 - Iris Wyant new baby.
6 Feb 1928 - Mrs. Harold Workman new baby.
15 Feb 1928 - Rolston & Mae King were married.
__ Feb 1928 - Miss Scruggs married.
29 Feb 1928 - Mr. J. S. Eaton moved.
__ Feb 1928 - Adia Moaten operated on.

Page Twenty-three
1928 - March
6 Mar 1928 - Mrs. I.L. Flory operated on.
__ Mar 1928 - Harold Victrola. [Victrola is an early form of a record player.]
8 Mar 1928 - Mr. Ed Hawkins died age 71 years.
__ Mar 1928 - Mrs. Russell Hensley new baby.
__ Mar 1928 - Blake Shifflett shot.
__ Mar 1928 - Herman Longley operated on.
20 Mar 1928 - Mrs. Leap came home.
3 Mar 1928 - Pauline Smith married.
1928 - April
7 Apr 1928 - Show of cards from L.A.S.
9 Apr 1928 - Mrs. John Shuler operated on.
14 Apr 1928 - Mrs. Sam Breeden.
13 Apr 1928 - Mr. H. Longley child dies.
16 Apr 1928 - Mrs. Rose Morris died.
17 Apr 1928 - Mable Electric Washing Machine,
19 Apr 1928 - Sarah Morris operated on.

Page Twenty-four
20 Apr 1928 - Houk Breeden shot.
24 Apr 1928 - Lura Frazier moved in new home.
21 Apr 1928 - Helen Monger married.
__ Apr 1928 - Water System completed.
27 & 28 Apr 1928 - snow fell.
__ Apr 1928 - New preacher at Presbyterian.
1928 - May
__ May 1928 - New walk on back.
5 May 1928 - New crutches.
9 May 1928 - Mable had teeth taken out.
__ May1928 - Mrs. Joe Shigar [Sughrue?] new baby.
23 May 1928 - Mammie Morris died.
24 May 1928 - Mildred Monger operated.
30 May 1928 - Miss Sedrick of Shenandoah killed.
30 May 1928 - New road open Spotswood Trail.
31 May 1928 - Harry Comer killed.

Page Twenty-five
1928 - June
2 Jun 1928 - Busy Bees Lawn Party made $ 73.00.
2 Jun 1928 - Mr. Parrish Funeral.
4 Jun 1928 - F. Shifflett child died.
3 Jun 1928 - Mrs. Nancy Dicison [Dixon or Dickerson?] new baby.
9 Jun 1928 - Mable gets new teeth.
9 Jun 1928 - Mrs Sallie Miller died age 89 years.
__ Jun 1928 - Elizabeth Thomas graduates.
19 Jun 1928 - Willie moved.
18 Jun 1928 - Mrs. Lizzie Thacher [Thacker?] died age 49 years.
24 Jun 1928 - Mrs. Selena Shipp died age 79 years.
25 Jun 1928 - Childrens Day at U.B.C. [United Brethren Church].
27 Jun 1928 - Mr. Jones died 75 years.
30 Jun 1928 - Irene Long married.
30 Jun 1928 - Ladies Aid Lawn Party.

Page Twenty-six
1928 - July
31 Jul 1928 - Mr. Andrew Hensley died age 36 years.
1 Jul 1928 - Mrs. Foltz went back to Mrs. Leap.
2 Jul 1928 - New swing came.
3 Jul 1928 - Mrs. Claude Baugher new baby.
6 Jul 1928 - Virginia Talifarro married.
9 Jul 1928 - Lewis Lambert killed by lighting.
11 Jul 1928 - Lester Baugher child died.
8 Jul 1928 - Mrs. Fred Baugher visits Elkton.
__ Jul 1928 - Mable had papering done.
20 Jul 1928 -Mr. Andrew Hensley hurt.
19 Jul 1928 - Mr. Henry Good died.
21 Jul 1928 - Jess Hammer killed self - 22 years.
23 Jul 1928 - Miss Kate Liggett died 83 years.
20 Jul 1928 - Tal Hammer hurt on train.
23 Jul 1928 - Miss Clara Lambert married.
__ Jul 1928 - Mrs. Petty operated on.
__ Jul 1928 - Mrs. W. E. Deal [Diehl?] in Hospital.
25 Jul 1928 - Mrs. Mary Offenbacker died.
__ Jul 1928 - Carl Whitfield new baby.

Page Twenty-seven
1928 - August
3 Aug 1928 - Mrs. Susie Steward died sudden - 80 years.
2 Aug 1928 - Lighting struck church.
8 Aug 1928 - Mr. Sam Shifflett died 88 years.
7 Aug 1928 - Fultz child died age 4 years.
10 Aug 1928 - Mr. Frank Fultz died 80 years.
11 Aug 1928 - Mr. W. T. Miller died 65 years.
16 Aug 1928 - Graney painted bathroom.
18 Aug 1928 - Alice Hammer hit by ball.
31 Aug 1928 - Mr. Conder died age 95 years 10 months.
29 Aug 1928 - Annie Wright died colored.
29 Aug 1928 - Mr. Stawter Smith died.
18 Aug 1928 - Irene Monger married.
1928 - September
1 Sep 1928 - Clara Frey married at Kyser W.Va.
11 Sep 1928 - Dr. Fisher killed Miss Bechone  in office.
11 Sep 1928 - Child found in box.
12 Sep to 16 Sep 1928 - Conference met in Roanoke. [Church conference?]
17 Sep 1928 - School started.

Page Twenty-eight
11 Sep 1928 - Leonard Secirst [Secrist?] moves to Washington, D.C.
16 Sep 1928 - Mrs. Ruby Collman [Coleman?] Doffermyer [Dofflemyer?] died.
__ Sep 1928  - Mrs. Fannie Eaton buy new home.
19 Sep 1928 - Mrs. Gordon Baugher died age 82 years.
15 Sep 1928 - Daddy & Graney & Harold went to Roanoke.
__ Sep 1928 - Mrs. Ralph Dutrow new baby girl.
26 Sep 1928 - Mrs. Mollie Miller died 68 years..
24 Sep 1928 - Miss Ethel Gooden killed in Phila[delphia] 40 years.
29 Sep 1928 - Mrs. Alice Gilmon new baby boy.
1928 - October
1 Oct 1928 - Menfee feed store open.
3 Oct 1928 - Tomie Arementrout [Armentrout?] died 16 years 10 days.
2 Oct 1928 - Mrs. Elmore [Elmer?] Monger new baby.
3 Oct 1928 - Richard went to Loths Stove Co. work.
__ Oct 1928 - Lawrence Lam open new Store building.
__ Oct 1928 - Dr. Kite starts his new drug store.
10 Oct 1928 - Reu Compon left Elkton Va.
20 Oct 1928 - Dr. Shacklett left Elkton Va.
To be continued...

The Skillet

In today's world, we tend to live in a society where almost everything is disposable.  And, we've all heard the saying that "one man's trash is another man's treasure" which is just another way of saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

We've all asked our-selves the question, "Exactly what is the difference between an antique and an heirloom?"  The answer is that an antique is anything over one hundred years of age while an heirloom can be anything that is passed down through a family from one generation to another.  For instance, in our family we have two thorn-less heirloom roses, one came from my husband's side of the family and the other through my own Shifflett ancestors.  Many people have treasured dishes, plants and handmade needlework pieces that are heirlooms.  An heirloom can be an antique and in the reverse, an antique can be an heirloom, but not all antiques are heirlooms and not all heirlooms are antiques.

 It is my hope that by sharing one of my favorite things with you, it will cause you to remember many such things in your own family.  If it does, please share them with the younger members of your own family.

The item is a large black cast iron skillet which measures twelve inches round without the handle and stands three inches deep.  This skillet is special to me because it belonged to my maternal grandmother,  Ruth Elizabeth Dofflemyer Lilly who reared me after the deaths of my own parents.

Ruth Elizabeth Dofflemyer Lilly
3 Nov 1899 - 23 Jan 1968

 The skillet had been given to Ruth by her paternal grandmother, Pamley Ann Rinehart Dofflemyer who had as the story goes, obtained it as a young bride from her parents, Andrew Jackson Rinehart and his wife, Elizabeth Pence Rinehart.

Pamley Ann Rinehart Dofflemyer
8 Feb 1850 - 28 Oct 1918

Pamley Ann Rineheart was one of the five daughters of Andrew Jackson Rinehart and his wife Elizabeth Pence, the daughter of Peter Pence and his wife, Sophia "Suffie" Aleshite.  Pamela's paternal grandparents were Adam Rinehart and his wife, Mary Price. Mary Price Rinehart, born 1787 [age 73] the daughter of John Price, was living with her son and daughter-in-law in the 1860 Page Co., VA Federal Census .

Children of Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Pence Rinehart:
1. Pamley Ann Rinehart married John Wesley Dofflemyer, son of John and Nancy Dovel Dofflemyer.
2. Mary Catherine Rinehart married Andrew Jackson Campbell, son of Jonas and Elizabeth Taylor Campbell.
3. Charlotte Jane Rinehart married Philip Alger, son of Lemuel D. and Mary Ann Getts Alger.
4. Susan S. Rinehart married Albert Calvin Turner, son of Andrew Jackson and Rebecca Nauman Turner.
5. Ambrose G. Rinehart married Nancy Elizabeth Shomo, daughter of Elone William Henry and Elizabeth Frances Louderback Shomo.
6. Francis Marion Franklin Rinehart married Rebecca Susan Painter, daughter of Peter and Jinetta Painter.
7. Martha E. Rinehart married Hubert Lee Huffman, son of Mark and Barbara Catherine Brubaker Huffman.

Pamley's Skillet

 The women in this branch of my family have always been noted as great cooks and this particular skillet has always been a carefully guarded treasure.  I have many fond memories of my own grandmother frying a freshly killed chicken in this pan while she shared story after story about her own life with her grandmother who had given her this prized skillet when she married my grandfather, Claude Aldine Lilly the son of Hugh Brock and Amanda Roberta Propst Lilly.  And hopefully, my own daughters have equally fond memories of me making my special pineapple upside down cake in this very same skillet.

Any cast iron utensil  is a treasure that should be respected.  It will last for many generations if given good care.  In fact, the more it is used, the better it works. For this type of pan to cook its best, it is imperative to care for it properly which means that it should never be washed with soap or detergent and never, ever put into a dishwasher.  It should be washed with only hot water after each use, and this does means that it should be done while the pan is still hot.

If, for any reason, the skillet needs scouring it is best to use something such as Morton's Kosher Salt to accomplish the task.  Scrub  the salt around the sides and bottom of the pan with a stiff brush or even rub it on with a paper towel. If something is still stuck, loosen the residue by putting the pan back on the stove and boil water in the pan until it loosens. Dry the pan immediately and then heat it for two or three minutes to open the pores of the iron.  Then apply a thin coating of lard or a really good vegetable oil.  For pans with lids, it is important to add a wad of paper to keep the pan dry.  The lid should be kept ajar as you do not want it to ever rust.

To properly season a cast iron utensils one must rub the iron deposits  with steel wool to remove all rust. Rub hot fat or oil all over the clean utensil [outside as well as inside]. Wipe away all excess fat/oil.  Bake the utensil upside down on a rack in an oven.  Be sure to put a sheet of foil on the shelf beneath the pan or an old cookie sheet.  Repeat oiling and baking until the utensil is well seasoned. An egg fried in a well seasoned skillet will not stick.

A Journal - Elkton - McGaheysville, Virginia Area

Miss Lottie M. Davis 

Part Four

Page Fifteen

January 1927

12 Jan 1927 - Dr. T.C. Firebaugh died age 56 years.

10 Jan 1927 - Mr. Joe Cash died.

14 Jan 1927 - Mr. Isaac Hammer died.

12 Jan 1927 - Mrs. S. L. Baugher died age 54. 

Jan 1927 - Miss Annie Argenright in hospital

20 Jan 1927 - Mrs. Russell Hensley new baby.

Jan 1927 - Lester MGuire moved to Rhoda.

Jan 1927 - Build Standard Oil Company.

February 1927

1 Feb 1927 - Tall Stanley child died 2 years.

5 Deb 1927 - Miss Anna Funkhouser died 75 years.

Page Sixteen

March 1927

18 Mar 1927 - Mrs. Baughter get Miss Mollie place.

14 Mar 1927 - Mrs. Swartzle other died.

18 Mar 1927 - Miss Mollie J Sale on Saturday.

11 Mar 1927 - Mr. I. H. Hammer died age 78 years.

5 Mar 1927 -  Irene Monger and Mary Long married.

24 Mar 1927 - Limb taken off by Dr. Deyler and Dr. Miller.

27 Mar 1927 - Mr. Bob Frazier died.

24 Mar 1927 - Limb taken off by Dr. Deyler and Dr. Miller. [2nd entry for this]

April 1927 

14 Apr 1927 - Came home from Hospital.

28 Apr 1927 - New Wing on R.M.Hospital. [Rockingham Memorial Hospital].

May 1927

4 May 1927 - Mrs. W. G. Brill operated on.

13 May 1927 - Mrs. T. Farror new baby.

24 May 1927 - Mrs. Joe Sugher [Sughrue] operated on.

15 May 1927 - Mrs. Homer Monger died age 28 years.

16 May 1927 - New paper on 3 [three] bedrooms.

 2 [?] May 1927 - Mr. Aaron Davis died.

Page Seventeen

21 May 1927 - Mr. W. A. Sandridge died 88 mashie [spelled correctly].

30 May 1927 - Eula McGuire gravated [graduated].

16 May 1927 - Mrs. Warn McGahey died age 55 years.

21 May 1927 - Fawley moved in new home.

June 1927 

1 Jun 1927 - Alice and Jula [Julia] Keezle tonsil removed.

5 Jun 1927 - Rue  Mrs. Wood new baby.

6 Jun 1927 - Pauline Gilmore married.

7 Jun 1927 - Mattie Downs died.

9 Jun 1917 - Harold Workman.

11 Jun 1927 - Miss Carrie Rolston married.

16 Jun 1927 - Miss Cook married.

19 Jun 1927 - Miss Nancy Dyke married.

20 Jun 1927 - Mr. Bob Keezle married.

30 Jun 1927 - Mrs. Nora Whitfield Hensley died age 32.

27 Jun 1927 - Mrs. George Breeden new baby.

Page Eighteen

July 1927

1 Jul 1927 - Mrs. Farror died age 95 years.

3 Jul 1927 - Virginia married L.

10 Jul 1927 - Mr. P.B. Monger died age 84 years. [Benjamin Price Monger?]

10 Jul 1927 - Lester McGuire new baby Chas.

26 Jul 1927 - Gale Davis birthday.

30 Jul 1927 - Chas & Alice here.

30 Jul 1927 - Mr. F. Leap married.

August 1927 

5 Aug 1927 - Iris Secrist operated on.

27 Aug 1927 - Dr. L.B. Yancey died.

26 Aug 1927 - Mr. Rains died.

27 Aug 1927 - Mr. Eaton new home.

Page Nineteen

September 1927 

6 Sep 1927 - Miss Kate Lee Rolston kill self.

Sep 1927 - State road started Spotswood.

6 Sep 1927 - Mable and Earl take trip.

5 Sep 1927 - Aunt Sis Secrist moved to Washington D.C.

11 Sep 1927 - Mrs. Yancey killed by Dovel.

11 Sep 1927 - Mrs. Floyd Burke hurt.

14 Sep 1927 - U.B.C. [United Brethern Church] met in Winchester.

15 Sep 1927 - Rev. N.F. A. Cupp died at conference age 65.

15 Sep 1927 - Mr. A. J. Bear died age 78 years.

28 Sep 1927 - Mr. E. Petty died 52 years.

20 Sep 1927 - Mr. Sam Monger stable burned.

October 1927 

2 Oct 1927 - Aunt Sis here.

6 Oct 1927 - Mrs. McIntyre died age 65 years.

7 Oct 1927 - Henry Dean killed age 28 years.

20 Oct 1927 - Mrs. Joe Black new baby.

27 Oct 1927 - Arthur Hensley died.

Page Twenty

2 Oct 1927 Mrs. Charles Burner new baby.

24 Oct 1927 - Miss Cora Lee Yate operated on.

Oct 1927 - Miss Ruby Maiden married.

November 1927 

Nov 1927 - New water pipe layed.

11 Nov 1927 - Mrs. Hammer died Harrisonburg age 84 years.

14 Nov 1927 - Bill goes to M.G.

17 Nov 1927 - Laurence Frazier drown in Boom [Boone] Creek age 54 yrs. 8 mo. 17 dys.

5 Nov 1927 - Mrs. Site new baby.

19 Nov 1927 - Norwood Workman operated on RMH [Rockingham Memorial Hospital].

26 Nov 1927 - Kisting [Kissling] shot by Caldwell.

28 Nov 1927 - Stated painting house.

27 Nov 1927 - Alice Monger married Nash.

27 Nov 1927 - Mr. Charles Armentrout died.

24 Nov 1927 - Annie Hammer married.

29 Nov 1927 - Lelia [Lelia Davis Monger] operated on.

Page Twenty-One

December 1927

2 Dec 1927 - John Eaton died age 74 yrs.

5 Dec 1927 - Mrs. Ed Jome died age 58 yrs.

7 Dec 1927 - Killed Hogs. 450# 14 c [cents] $63.77.

10 Dec 1927 - Lelia [Lelia Davis Monger] came home.

9 Dec 1927 - Clara Molone operated on.

12 Dec 1927 - Rev. Mr. Dycke died age 83 yrs.

29 Dec 1917 - Charles Keezle married.

To be continued:

Genealogy Questions

 Many of you have asked that I take some time to more fully explain a few things which have cause problems in your research into your family's past.  For those of you who are not interested in this subject, please bear with us. Perhaps you  just might happen to find something that will be of interest to you later in your life.

We will begin at the beginning to ensure that we are all on the same page in regard to our terminology as words, as well as things, are not always as they may first seem.

There are two distinct objectives or goals which must be carefully considered before it is possible for one to succeed in  research of this type.  There is no right or wrong choice; however, you are the absolute only person who can decide which choice is the best one for you to make as it must be based upon what you want to achieve.

1. Genealogy is the study of one particular family.  In the United States one normally begins with  the immigrant ancestor and works to the present while documenting all of the children in each and every   generation as one progress from the past to the present. A good numbering system is crucial for the         success of this type of project.

2. Family history is the study of one person and of all of that person's ancestors. The number of individuals one must deal with doubles with each generation.  For instance, you and only you are the first generation.  Generation two is composed of your own two parents. Generation three is composed of your four grandparents, etc. Normally, it now takes about fifteen - eighteen generation for one to go back to the immigrant ancestor who came into the colonies, which for many of us is at Jamestown.  This means that you would be dealing with thousands of ancestors which all contributed to who you are via your genetic makeup.

Let's look at this and see how it works so that when I tell you to start with yourself, you actually pay attention.
Gen 1- 1x1= 1
Gen 2- 2x2= 4
Gen 3- 2x4= 8
Gen 4- 2x8= 16
Gen 5- 2x16= 32
Gen 6- 2x32= 64
Gen 7- 2x64= 128
Gen 8- 2x128= 256
Gen 9- 2x256= 512
Gen 10- 2x512=1,024
Gen 11- 2x1,024= 2,048
Gen 12- 2x2,048= 4,096
Gen 13- 2x4,096= 8,192
Gen 14- 2x8,192= 16,384
Gen 15- 2x16,384=32,768
Gen 16- 2x32,768= 65,536
Gen 17- 2x65,536= 131,078
Gen 18- 2x131,078= 262,156
Gen 19- 2x262,156= 524,212
Gen 20- 2x524,212= 1,048,424
Yes, that is correct.  In working back just to eighteen generation in a straight line you will deal with 262,156 people...Now, consider that this is absolutely without any cousins or their' families being added.

And, oh, just for the record, I absolutely do recommend that you do a "Family History" rather than  a "Genealogy" because most folk are more interested in the people who contributed to their very own genetic makeup rather than in bunches of other people who are only very distantly related to them.  If you want all of the work you will accomplish preserved in the future, you most probably should research something that will be of interest to the younger folk in your family.

This is why I will question you when you ask me which is the most important branch of your family for you to work with?  I am not attempting to evade answering your question, but am only trying to get you to understand that each of your own direct ancestors are all, each and every one of them, equally important due to the fact that without any single one of them, you would not be the person you are today.  This is true because each and every single one of them contributed to your very own genetic make up.

And no, it is not necessary for you to  have a computer to organize all of your ancestors. We will get into organization another time, if there is enough interest in the subject.

Now, let's move on to another very important issue.  A source is the reference citing where you obtained the documented proof for each statement that you have made. It positively is NOT the required proof which is required for each statement in either a genealogy or a family history.  For instance, a source might be a book reference or simply a statement made by your aunt telling you that she thought she remembered her  father saying that his parents were married in Rockingham Co., Virginia.

A documented primary proof is a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage record, deed, etc. meaning a legal document involving or made by a particular person when they were alive.

A gravestone, obituary, military record, etc. is considered a secondary proof as it is normally made by someone else.  Bible records may sometimes be considered a bit of both as a person may write the entries for his own marriage and his children's births but normally someone else writes their death entries.

Many of you have asked me exactly what facts are necessary to document.  There are four things: the birth, marriage and death of each individual in each generation PLUS a legal document such as a will, deed or Bible Record that connects each generation to the next one by stating the named person as a son or daughter.

Currently it is considered necessary to completely document with a legal record the first three generations plus each and every connection from the beginning of an application to the ancestor in order to join any lineage society. This brings me to another point -there are literally hundreds of lineage societies, each of which have a different purpose and therefore have different requirements for membership. Normally, the purpose of  each organization is to honor a direct ancestor by documenting the applicant's connection to him/ her and then the life, family and service of that particular ancestor.  This brings us to two more important words: Lineal and Collateral.  Lineal descent is in a straight line. Collateral descent may be via an aunt or uncle's service rather than in a straight or direct line. To the best of my knowledge the UDC [United Daughters of the Confederacy] is the only women's society which now accepts collateral applications.

I wish I could assure you that there was an easier, less time consuming way to  complete a genealogy or family history, but there simply is not.  Many of you are aware that Dr. John W. Wayland started me in research before I was quite eleven years of age.  Those of you who know my daughters, well understand that the long standing joke in our family is that, "Mother wrote books before there were ball point pens!"  Well, while not exactly the truth, its very close as I wrote before ball point pens were easily available in our area.

The Library of Virginia 

And yes, I do remember having to drive to Richmond to the Virginia State Archives in order to simply look at just one census record because that was all that it was possible to accomplish in any one day as there were no copy machines, no microfilm and in reality no really good indexing system by which the library staff could easily honor your request for original material.  But, there was one big plus... if you were a Virginia resident, you could check out a book [if the archives/library had two copies] and then return the copy you borrowed by mail within two weeks.

This now brings me to another question which so many of you have asked, "What's wrong with me using internet services such as Ancestry.com and/or what is the problem with this type of thing?"  Well, to begin with, it is necessary to fully understand that Ancestry.com is a business based upon compilations of what people may think or believes to be true.  It absolutely, positively is not documentation because it does NOT make a copy of the actual court record/document available to you to print to be included in your records.

I know from experience teaching classes that many of you "cheat" because I always catch you at it.  You assume that if fifty people have something recorded on an internet service as being true then it must certainly be so...WRONG..WRONG...WRONG!!!

This simply means that someone wrote down something incorrectly and forty-nine others copied it in hopes that it was correct.  While in reality, this only means that fifty people copied incorrect information because they chose not to take the time to even attempt to document the point in question. A good example of this would be the maiden name of the wife of Abraham Estes who lived in Virginia in the 1650's. There are more than fifty entries on Ancestry.com which cite this woman's maiden name as being Barbara Brock. This is positively wrong information!!!  Abraham Estes was married at least twice and perhaps three time, but never once was he married to a woman named Barbara Brock.  He did marry a woman named Barbara which was an exceedingly common given name at the time. The Brock  surname was assumed to be correct because a novel was written about what someone "thought" Abraham Estes's life might have been like...

One time, just to make this point positively clear to a class full of adult students whom I was teaching who had more or less disbelieved what I had said about using such sites, I  attached the Cherokee National Flag next to the Frazier surname with absolutely no comment.  Without any doubt Frazier is a Scottish/Norman French surname. Please also know that I did not have my own  lineage posted, nor my name nor my own Frazier family connection.  I simply put the Cherokee National Flag near a Frazier surname that was already on the Ancestry.com site.  Before the end of the class period, nearly seventy people had incorporated the Cherokee National Flag into/with their own Frazier family data. My class was absolutely stunned by this fact. I would imagine that many of those who had attached the Cherokee flag to their Frazier ancestors spent a lot of time trying to figure out where the original flag had come from as I promptly removed it before the class period was over.  My students felt that I was "mean" but no one has ever questioned me again concerning this particular point.

With that being said, Ancestry.com does have Federal Census records available on their site.  It is fine for you to use them, but in dealing with Census Records it is imperative to understand and remember that they are not always accurate because during the early years, the census taker rode horseback and stopped at houses in hid given area.  Many times he stayed the night with whomever he was interviewing when dark settled due to the fact that hotels were not available.  If he spend the night he might ask his host about the family who lived across the mountain from him or farther back in the hollow. The person most probably would do his best to get things right but just as you might not know the given names and birth dates of all your neighbors families, most likely this individual also did not know the correct ages or full names.

National Archives - Washington, D.C.

An internet site that is available by subscription that does contains proofs is Fold 3.  This site contains records from the National Archives in Washington, DC.  It was designed primarily to make military records available to anyone who paid a fee.  This site also includes many Native American records which were recorded by the United States Government and some Federal Census Records.

Another thing is that I truly wish that I could tell you is that with perseverance it is possible to find solutions for all of your research problems.  But alas, at this time, even with all of our technology, it is impossible for me to do so.   For example, at the time of the American Revolution there literally were fourteen men named Abraham Morgan which is an uncommon given name in the Morgan family.  Morgan is a Welsh surname meaning most all of these men or their families originated in Wales.  All of these men chose to live relatively close together when they had the whole frontier to chose from. Also, each and every one of these fourteen men were in and out of the same geographic areas. Most, if not all, of these men had Quaker ties.  Most of these men were military leaders in their own right or were very closely related to those who did.  For instance, Daniel Boone's mother was a Morgan and both of his parents were Quakers. Most of these men were dismissed or kicked out of the Quaker church for their military persuasion.

Then, lo and behold, before Virginia declared war on Great Britain, one Abraham Morgan was tried for being a Tory. This man was given, "thirty-nine lashes for being an ignorant man with small children".  From that time forth, there are multiple statements each saying that each branch of Morgan family are unrelated to any other by that surname in the colonies.

After fifty plus years of research, I can tell you all of the parents of the Abraham Morgans.  I can tell you who each man married, but still after fifty plus years of work, I am unable to state conclusively whose children belong to which couple.  By process of elimination, which does works in most cases, I still know that I have more work to do on the problem.  My husband laughingly says that the solution to this problem gives me a good reason for living.  Who knows, he just maybe right...

A Journal - Elkton - McGaheysville, Virginia Area

Miss Lottie M. Davis
PART THREE

Massanutten Mountain as viewed from Elkton, Virginia

[Notes by BJM:
1. It's fascinating to learn that it took sixty years from the time The War Between The States ended until our folks here within the Shenandoah Valley, who had bore much of the devastating effects of that war, got around to admitting that, "New matters too." [p.10 - April 1925].
2. Only one year later some of our valley families started installing indoor bathrooms [p. 11- 27 Dec 1926 and p. 14 - 28 Dec 1926].
3. An airplane wrecked in Elkton [p.10 - 18 Sept 1925].
4. Cover Tannery burned [p. 10 - 13 Dec 1925].
5.  Mr. T.A. Merica store burned [p.11 -  28 Jan 1926].
6. G. Downey store burned down. [ p. 11 - 5 Feb 1926].
7. Merchand [Merchant?] Grocery. Safe robed [robbed] [p. 12 - 16 Mar 1926].
We must not forget that there was no such thing as fire insurance for the majority of folk at this time.  

Page 10
1925
8 Aug 1925 - Uncle John Mills.
5 April 1925 - Mr. Walter Flick died age 65 years.
5 April 1925 - Mrs. Frank Hammer died.
30 March 1925 - Mr. A.P. Yancey broke limb.
March 1925 - Mr. G. House moved to Elkton.
April 1923 - Lawrence and Mary goes to Housekeeping.
April 1925 - New matters too.
24 April 1925 - Mrs. Ella Powell died.
19 Jan 1925 - William Kyger Birthday.
26 Jan 1925 - Chas. Fogle Birthday.
11 Jan 1925 - R.B. Pennington died.
22 Dec 1925 - Mr. Lee Shifflett moved.
13 Dec 1925 - Cover Tannery burned.
5 July 1925 - Warn [Warren's ?] Birthday.
18 Sept 1925 - Airplain [airplane] wrecked in Elkton.
23 Sept 1925 - Conference UB [United Brethern] met in Martinsburg,WV.
18 Dec 1925 - Aunt Sarah Davis Died.
26 Sept 1925 - Guy's tonsils removed. [Guy Monger, son of Clark & Lelia Davis
   Monger.]
8 Nov 1925 - Mr. A.P. Shifflett died.

Page 11
1926
Nov 1926 - Clarence Life moved to Elkton.
1926 Spring - Lena Clifft moved to Washington D.C.
27 Dec 1926 - Bathroom put in.
8 Dec 1926 - Mr. Moses Powell died.  Age 87 years.
17 Dec 1926 - Mr. Clarence Baugher died.
27 Dec 1926 - Mrs. Haney Walton Died. Age 46.
20 Dec 1926 - Mr. M.M. Jarman Died. Age 74 years.
22 Oct 1926 - Mrs Hugh Frye new baby.
11 Oct 1926 - Mrs. John Wyant new baby.
Nov 1926 - New truck.
29 Dec 1926 - Mr. Chas. Marshall killed at I [Island] Ford. Age 63 yrs.
6 Jan 1926 - Mrs. Ella Rogers died.
6 Jan 1926 - Mrs. Ruth Hammer Meadows died.
28 Jan 1926 - Mr. T.A. Merica store burned.
27 [29?]Jan 1926 - Mr. Joe Lucas died.
29 Jan 1926 - Mr. Chas. Zetty died.
1 Feb 1926 - Hubert Thomas child burned to Death.
5 Feb 1926 - G. Downey store burned down.

Page 12
1926
9 Feb 1926 - Mr. Harold Sours died.
12 Feb 1926 - Mrs. George Monger died. Age 79 years.[Mary Ellen Dearing Monger,
     daughter of Thomas & Hannah Ann B. Goff Dearing].
13 Feb 1926 - Miss Mollie Jenning died age 79 years.
April 1926 - Roy Comer married Shifflett.
10 May 1926 - Mr. Walter Price died age 36years.
12 May 1926 - Mrs. Charles Breeden died.
14 May 1926 - Mrs. C.W. McGuire operated on.
16 Mar 1926 - Merchand [Merchant?] Grocery. Safe robed [robbed].
20 Mar 1926 - Mrs. Lester McGuire new baby. Frances.
20 Mar 1926 - Mrs. Bill Hammer new baby.
15 Mar 1926 - Mrs. Ella Hammer moved.
13 Feb 1926 - Miss Mollie J. died.
25 Mar 1926 - Mrs. Ed Kite new baby.
29 Mar 1926 - Carpet goes to loom.
16 Mar 1926 - Mrs. J.W. Stearn goes to Hospital.
31 Mar 1926 - Mr George Monger died. [George Washington Monger, son of William
     Henry & Nancy Ellen Burk Monger].
1 April 1926 - Mr. J.W. Rhode moved.
19 Jan 1926 - Dr. Marshall killed. Miss Mae Detrick gets 10 yrs. in pen [prison].

Page 13
March 1926 - Mr. King leaves & Mr. Compton comes.
18 April 1926 - Snow fell.
4 June 1926 - Amos Davis house burned.
14 June 1926 - Cave & Breeden married.
4 July 1926 - Shipp & Herring accident.
14 July 1926 - Mrs. Meadow died.
15 July 1926 - Mrs. Jim Rhode died. Funeral at Dayton.
16 July 1926 - Hitt child dies at RMH [Rockingham Memorial Hospital].
8 July 1926 - Uncle Frank Merica died.
28, 29, 30 July 1926 - Alice & Chas. Eppard visited us.
7 Aug 1926 - Blackie was killed.
2 Aug 1926 - L.[Ladies?] Aid Lawn Party. Made $100.00.
7 Aug 1926 - Chas Palmer married.
9 Sept. 1926 - Mrs. Joe Taylor died.
8 Sept. 1926 - Rev. S. Baugher died.
9 Sept. 1926 - Aunt Ruddin Jome [Jerome or Jones?] died.
Aug 1926 - Rev. Ed Callwell had meeting.
30 Sept. 1926 - Mrs. William Downs died.
16 June 11926 - Mrs. Comer died.  Daves mother.

Page 14
Sept 1926 - Mrs. M.V. Leap went to Ronoke [Roanoke]
Sept 1926 - Mollie Merica moved.
9 Nov 1926 - Dr. Kale died at RMH [Rockingham Memorial Hospital].
6 Nov 1926 - Mrs. Joe Taylor Sale.
28 Nov 1926 - Mrs. Jeff Meadows died.
13 Nov 1926 - New truck.
2 Dec 1926 - Mrs. Ida Marshall house burned.
28 Dec 1926 - New bathroom.
17 Dec 1926 - Mr. Clarence Baugher killed.
Dec 1926 - Lula Comer operated on.
To be continued.












ild dies at RMH