Easy Genealogy

The Easy Branch of My Family History

I’m always amazed that so many people know so little about their family. There’re probably many reasons. Some just don’t talk about family. Some don’t pay attention until it’s too late. Some have had disasters or death cut off that knowledge. I’ve always been thankful my mom’s family talked and payed attention.

My mom knew of several generations of her family by way of mouth. I liked to listen and so when I began my research I had a lot of information to begin recording. I wish those ancestors had be the type to write about their family and their own life or save letters and things that belonged to those ancestors. My maternal grandmother was a Bristol. While her mother didn’t talk much about her family we knew the names back to my 2^nd great grandparents, where they were from and had a few pictures. Her father’s family was a little more well off and we knew names, places and had pictures back to my 2^nd great grandparents and siblings. We had family stories. Then we discovered there was a Bristol Family Association that published a genealogy and had annual meetings. So, the Bristol line was traced back to the first ancestor who came ashore in the 1640s. This has made this line reveal some valuable stories like being a Puritan who was caught kissing his wife on Sunday, to a Revolutionary War soldier, to living in the Dakota Territory in the early 1880s and then to Great Falls, Montana in the late 1880s.

My paternal grandfather’s family came to America in the 1930s and local papers had stories abut them. My paternal great grandmother lived until 100 yrs. old and I knew her as a child. I knew stories she told but being young I should have asked more questions. Unfortunately, her son-in-law through away family portraits and papers when he moved into the house and my mother’s cousin threw away the little left from that great grandmother when she took over the house, things like letters from my 2^nd great grandmother and the family Bible.

I value all the information I received from those ancestors and wish my grand and great grandparents didn’t live 1000 miles away during the time when travel and long distant phone call were so expensive. But I’m luckier than most having a published genealogy for that one branch of my family. 

#Easy genealogy, #52 Ancestors Easy

The Death of a Famous Person That Shocked Me the Most

When I think of a death of a famous person that was shocking  would be of one in my childhood. There are so many that could be shocking since then, but I think we get desensitized. But that first one was John F. Kennedy. I was in 7^th grade. It was the last period of the day at Gloucester City Jr. Sr. High School. That period was English with Mrs. Dot Sasse. As we passed through the hallway to class some of the teachers were crying especially Mrs. Dougherty who was talking to Mrs. Sasse. After we got in  class either Mr. McNally or Mr. Bracken, I don’t remember which, came on the PA. The announcement was made that President Kennedy had been assassinated and school was being dismissed. This was a Friday so school would be closed for the weekend. School was closed on Monday for the funeral. The nation, including myself were in shock. Myself and all of America was glued to the television to watch the funeral.

The other death that shocked me was the assassination of Robert Kennedy. I always got up early for school and would watch the 6am news. I was anxious to see who won the primary election the night before as I hoped it would be Kennedy. It was shocking to see news coverage of the shooting of Kennedy in the hotel kitchen. I ran downstairs and woke my parents and told them. I don’t remember them getting up as I guess they were immune to these events.

The assassination of Martin Luther King was not shocking as I thought he was always in danger. White people didn’t want society to change. But I guess his death as it affected me was the shock. My school was all white with a few Hispanic students. This was not because of segregation but because as the only public school in my town that was the racial makeup of the town. When we arrived at the start of school there was a dead chicken up on the flagpole. School was canceled for the day because they thought the school may be a target of violence. I don’t remember if school was closed for more than one day. My dad had a lot more work for a while since he was Chief of Police and the town was on edge.

#Death of a famous person that shocked me the most

My Wedding

Recently Bill and I celebrated our 38^th wedding anniversary. Of course, it brought back memories. Currently, we’re going through an extreme heat wave. We married on July 18 and it was a hot day like our current weather. My church didn’t have air-conditioning so the little fans in front of the stained-glass window opening tried to give us a little breeze. Then our ceremony was held up for a half hour because my mother-in-law was late. Eventually though we got through the ceremony and went back to my parent’s house for the reception. It was kind of chancy to have an outdoor reception, but our plan was in case of rain we would borrow a tent from the armory. We had enough of our Army Guard buddies at the wedding we thought there would be help. Things went well except for one incident that I didn’t know about for a year. When our first anniversary approached I asked about the tradition of eating a piece of wedding cake on that date. That’s when I learned that because my parents’ house wasn’t air-conditioned after we cut the cake the top layer slid off onto the floor. Proves there isn’t truth to superstition – Bill and I are still together 38 years later.

#Wedding, #52 Ancestors Wedding, #Moore, Arlene, #Baker, Arlene, #Baker, William

Wiedrich Reunions

My Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ernie Wiedrich had wonderful family reunions. In my childhood I think I only went to one. It was in a park in Batavia, NY. Every year my family went to Batavia to visit my mother’s relatives especially my great grandmother, Sarah Wiedrich. It was a car trip that took about 8 hours. We happened to be there one year when my grandfather’s brother, Chester (Chuck) and his family had their reunion. I don’t remember much since the number of relatives there was overwhelming for a child.

Many years later my mom and I would go to Batavia to visit her childhood friend, Arlene (Cook) Hodgins. By this time my great grandmother, Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ernie were gone. One year we were there in early July and learned  that the Wiedrich reunion was still going on with Chuck’s children. So, we went to a park in Darian to have a reunion with my mom’s cousins. Then for several years we made it a point to go to Batavia when that reunion was going on. My mom really enjoyed seeing her cousins again and I liked getting to know them  too.

My mom passed away in 2012 and I haven’t been back. Some of the cousins have died too and I’m not sure if they still have them. But recently I connected with a daughter of one of Chuck’s daughters through “23 and me”. It was nice to hear from her and have kind of a virtual reunion.

#52 Ancestors Reunion, #Wiedrich reunion, #Family reunions

A Very Patriotic 4th of July

A Very Patriotic 4^th of July

52 Ancestors 2019 – Independent

In 1976 the 4^th of July was a big deal. We were celebrating our country’s 200^th birthday. This was the culmination of months of events marking the start of our nation. For me that day was especially memorable. I didn’t go to a parade, visit an historical landmark, go to a picnic or do any of the thousands of events observed throughout the country. I was in San Antonio Texas.

What was a Jersey girl doing there? Going through or as many know surviving basic training. I had joined the Air Force Reserve. I was 25 and had been a teacher for several years. I left for San Antonio the Monday after school let out on the previous Friday. I flew from Philadelphia to San Antonio. Once there I was met along with other trainees by a sergeant who took us to a room to wait for others and a bus to Lackland AFB. When we got off the bus on base we were taken to a room where additional information was given. I think most of us were feeling a little intimidated. We had to go to a bathroom and give a urine sample to check for drugs. Even though we were not in this reception room that long I made a few friends that would be in my training flight and later in my tech school class.

From there we went to our barracks. These were modern facilities ^nd floor with a “patio” underneath where we would form up into ranks. Another squadron was on the other side of the building. On the first floor between the two “patios” was the mess and the laundry rooms. The barracks was divided into two rooms with half of the 50 or 60 squadron recruits in each. Our bunks were singular. With a locker at the end of the bunk and chair against the wall. The drill sergeants had their own room. Only 1 sergeant stayed at night. Beyond that was the latrine and day room. The first days were tough. Years later I found a letter in a pension file in the US Archives that a 2nd great uncle wrote to his mother. In that first letter after joining the 7^th Cavalry, he asks her can you get me out of this. I think most of the people who join the military think this.

with air conditioning which was really welcomed in the Texas summers. The barracks were on the 2

The 4^th of July came, and we were only a week and a half into training. Basic training is a specific number of days and weekends and holidays don’t count. So, 4^th of July meant I more day added to basic training. We didn’t train that day and spent it in the barracks. But then in the evening we could go down on the “patio” and watch fireworks that were miles away. We were disappointed not to spend our country’s 200^th birthday with a little more excitement. But think of it. We were serving that same country perhaps not as dramatically as those Americans in the Continental Army but what a terrific 4^th of July.

#July 4, 1976, #Air Force basic training, #Arlene Baker, #Arlene Moore, #Bicentennial, #Air Force basic training 1976, #52 Ancestors Independent