Friday, December 31, 2010

Ringing in the New Year

   
On New Years Eve is tradition to share the night with friends and family to see the old year out. Its exit is usually noisy and used to be customary to ring out the old year at midnight on New Year's Eve by tolling the church bells followed by ringing in the new year with a cheerful peal, as the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson refers to here in his 1850 poem:

"Ring Out, Wild Bells"
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
 
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
~ ~ ~
For more poems by Alfred Tennyson see:
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beauties of Tennyson

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Locating Gravesites Long Neglected


The Office of Historic Alexandria, VA, procured a grant to locate grave sites in historic Fort Ward Park, one of 68 earthen forts that were built in the defense of Washington, D.C., during the Civil War.

 
By using ground-penetrating radar, an archaeological technique unlikely to disturb graves, archaeologists have worked for about a year with Fort Ward and the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery toward righting what descendents and neighbors have viewed as disrespectful neglect.

Read the full article here:   
After Decades, Atonement for Neglecting Graves 

You may also read more about this at:  Historic Wanderings
~ ~ ~ 

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!

  
Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.


And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed,
God Bless Us, Every One!
~ ~ ~

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve Greetings

  
" The Watch On Christmas Eve"


 Harpers Weekly
1876
~ ~ ~

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The National Christmas Tree

  
(Photo by Terry Adams / NPS.gov)

 (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)

~ ~ ~

Monday, December 20, 2010

Last Day to Vote for your Favorite Blogs


Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day to place your votes for your favorite genealogy blogs.
Tangled Trees is listed under the My Family History catagory.  Please take a few minutes from your hectic, pre-Christmas, madness Monday Schedule and vote at:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting

And while at the FamilyTreeMagazine website please note that podcaster Lisa Louise Cooke has released a Genealogy Gems Podcast Android App allowing genealogists to stream 100-plus podcast episodes as well as access bonus content.
~ ~ ~

Sunday, December 19, 2010

1655 Marriage record of Louis Houde Houle


Quebec Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967

(click image to enlarge)

Although difficult to read, this is the marriage record of   
Louis Houde Houle
Born 01 Jul 1617 in St-Pierre de Manou, Chartres, Perche, France
Son of Noel Houde & Anna Lefebvre
Married Marie Madeleine Boucher on 12 January 1655
 in Notre-Dame, Quebec
Marie Madeleine was born 04 Aug 1641 in Quebec
Daughter of Marin Boucher & Perrine Mallet

She was 13 yrs of age and he was close to 40.
Together they had 14 known children.
                                                    Madeleine died 23 July 1709
An inventory of their wealth was taken 29 Oct 1709,
and it is believed that Louis died c.1712.
~ ~ ~

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Advent Calendar - Stocking Stuffer Memories


Classic Stocking Stuffers

 










Ah yes -  do you remember playing with these favorites on Christmas morning?

Comes with a 'shooter'!

Of course the red tipped candy cigarettes are preferred!

 
 






Ohhh  ...  Ahhhh




Wing-a-zing it!



And finally - every year, without fail, we always found gold (chocolate) coins at the bottom of our stockings.
 
Geneabloggers Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

Friday, December 17, 2010

Another Christmas Favorite

      

This one's for you, Christopher.  We're thinking of you and hope you feel better than new soon!!


"Well, see the plate runs right underneath the part here. 
                See, over here, nothing. 
                         But, here if this gets dented, 
                                then my hair just ain't going to look right."

Click here to go to sound clip.
~ ~ ~

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Here We Come a'Caroling on this Cold December Day....


We have many favorite Christmas Carols, so for this year's Blog Caroling post I chose to highlight a carol that reflects our German Heritage:


O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat schon zur Winterzeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Mut und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren!



 ~ ~ ~

How to Survey a Cemetery:


1. Select a cemetery by
          • location
          • interest
          • need

(Types of Cemeteries:  Church, Commercial, Community, Family, Military, Slave)

2. Research the cemetery using:
  • Cemetery Vertical files
  • Census information
  • Historical newspapers
  • Civil War military records
  • Deeds, wills etc.
3. Complete On -Site Cemetery Survey and Survey Form

 A. Introduce yourself to owners and/or neighbors.
(Neighbors are a good source of information which can be documented at a later date)

  B. Photograph the cemetery and its surrounds including:

 • overview of the cemetery including markers, field stones and depressions
 • markers with unusual inscriptions
 • broken, leaning or fallen markers
 • any evidence of vandalism
 • unusual markers- zinc markers for example
 • markers with symbolism
 • different views of the cemetery and markers

C. Record inscription information from markers, not recorded in earlier surveys.

D. Record observations and recommendations for the cemetery.

 ● Very Overgrown
 ● Some Fallen Trees
 ● Some Trash 
 ● Style of Enclosures
 ● Do not agree with markers being moved

 4. Complete the Survey - Include all important historical information learned in research

  Provide to local historical society(s) & libraries:
      • hard and digital copies of the completed survey
      • digital copies of the photographs with descriptions/ captions

  Report any vandalism to owners, neighbors and police

 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHILE AT THE CEMETERY:

1. When possible, work in pairs.
2. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing - you may be exposed to poisonous vines, insects, extremes in temperatures, and /or rough terrain.
3. Carry with you:
   *clipboard
   *pertinent information to the cemetery -example a map of the cemetery
   *camera
   *bottled water
   *yard stick or walking stick
   *small broom
   *cell phone

4. Do not try to move or repair markers without the advice of a professional.

5. If the cemetery is in need of a clean up, ask neighbors etc. for suggestions of groups who might want to conduct a clean up.

6. If cleaning a marker, use only soft brushes and distilled water.

7. Be respectful of flora and fauna.

8. Share your survey information with the local historical &/or cemetery preservation organizations.

For more information see: 
~ ~ ~

Monday, December 13, 2010

Remembering Historic Ilda, Virginia

Dedication of the Ilda Historical Marker


(Click on image to enlarge and read)



The event, scheduled for Sunday, December 19th, 2010, will begin at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia at 1:30 PM with refreshments, followed by the program which will start at 2:00 PM. The dedication ceremony will continue across the street at the marker for the unveiling and candlelight memorial.

For more information see:  
                                          The Blacksmith Shop c. 1890
                                          Home of Moses Parker
                                          Page Parker Family c.1887

Parking will be available at the Jewish Community Center located at: 
 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Obituary of John N. Bacon of Jonesborough, TN (1826-1895)

  
I had saved this obituary thinking it was our John N. Bacon, but it was a different John N. 
The obituary is interesting though, so I kept it.  Perhaps in the future I will find that this John connects with our Bacon family. In the mean time, I will share this in the chance that another Bacon researcher will claim him.
 

Date: 1895-05-28;

Paper: Daily Journal and Journal and Tribune

(genealogybank.com)
~ ~ ~

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bull Run Festival of Lights


The Bull Run Festival of Lights
located at Bull Run Regional Park in Virginia,  is an annual trek for many families. Here the holidays are  illuminated with a display of more than 40,000 twinkling, festive, animated lights set to music. There is no need to bundle up as the colorful, enchanting, views are enjoyed from the comfort of your car.  This drive thru event sees more than 30,000 cars each season. 



 ~ ~ ~

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

One of Our Holiday Favorites:



I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!

Plus other memorable lines:

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.
* * *
How about a nice football?
           * * *
Some men are Baptists, others Catholics; my father was an Oldsmobile man.
* * *
It's a Major Award!
 * * * 
It could be a bowling alley!
  * * *
Fra-gee-lay.
  * * *
Bumpuses!
* * * 
And my personal favorite:

Randy lay there like a slug! It was his only defense!
* * *

A wonderfully hilarous movie!
~ ~ ~

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Pearl Harbor Memorial

          

The USS Arizona Memorial 
honoring the Sailors and Marines who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on
December 7, 1941.


The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.  The Memorial structure spans the mid-portion of this sunken battleship. The United States flag flies from a flagpole which is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship.
~ ~ ~

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Stoneham - Finding Their Origin

   
One of the benefits of using Rootsweb WorldConnect is the little green leaf icon that appears when a possible match can be made to a person on Ancestry.com

When I just have a few moments to spare, I like to go the my tree which is uploaded to the WorldConnect project and click on various names to see if the little leaf can point me to something new that I hadn't yet searched.

Today was my lucky search day as I decided to randomly pick Stoneham from my surname index.
Julia Stoneham who married Narcisse Lambert on 22 Apr 1845 in St-David-D'Yamaska, Quebec, is our ancestor.
I clicked on her father, Patrick Stoneham, and got the following display of my uploaded tree information:


You can see the shaded area with the happy green leaf above.
By clicking on that link I am taken directly to the record transcription in Ancestry.com:


Great!  I now have a place of birth:  Ireland
And on Ancestry I can view the original record to confirm the transcription plus glean other information from the census including occupation of cultivateur (farmer) :


Another blank filled-in and our second ancestral connection to Ireland was discovered!
~ ~ ~

Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Hebrew Feast of Hanukkah


as reported in the Baltimore Sun on  28 November 1899


(genealogybank.com)