Surprisingly, I find people that do not research their maternal ancestors. I don’t know how you leave those stones unturned, And it’s not necessarily true that you wont find history written on them. Massachusetts Quilting.. I was browsing only as I love quilting and like a gift from the heavens, I saw a quilt by…
Writing the book
Finally I am formatting the book I hope to write. Although I will provide documentation, I will abandon the well known version of formatted genealogy with lineages and dates. I intend on taking my gathered facts and research and instead write them out narratively. Instead of sharing my enthusiasm, I have watched non-researchers stare blankly…
Organizing Research
Over the years, I have chanced upon so many ways to organize research.There are websites, groups, books, and such to teach organization. I have also found lots of archival quality storage containers to help me. I long to be the most perfect student of all these things. I am not. My budget afford me a…
On Blogging….
I read wonderful blogs where the author has researched and then written story after story, reporting all sorts of interesting information for the reader. I long to be that author. But reality sets me apart. I work more than full time, live alone and my research is my passion that is saved for those lone…
Dyer Memorial Library
I discovered the Dyer Memorial Library in Abington, Massachusetts last week. I grew up within miles of it but never visited. As an adult, once my addiction to family history took hold, I sought out places that were good for research. I had heard of the Dyer Memorial, I meant to visit and explore its…
Mount Vernon Cemetery
I was able to visit Massachusetts this weekend and if any of you are family history buffs, you will know that rarely does a trip not include a stroll through a cemetery. New England Cemeteries are gorgeous in the fall. Leaves cover the ground, trees light with color and old trees stand as they have for…
I do Instagram for my business. Whenever I learn something for my business, as soon as I am comfortable with it, I run to my genealogy screaming, “Hey look what I can do with you!!!” So here is my Allen Gazette Instagram…. soon to be loaded with really cool family photos. https://instagram.com/theallengazette/ Hits: 0
Old Photos
As the years pass, my appreciation grows for old photos.These photos were taken in 1959. It isn’t simply the people portrayed in the photo but the background. Photos show us the wallpaper, the drapes, furniture, toys and such that provide us windows into the lives of those in the photo. And how many places required…
Family Patterns of Death
My Great Grandmother, Laura, died leaving 6 children under 10 years old. Upon researching, I discovered that her mother, Mary Hutchins, died leaving her children at young ages as well. Mary Hutchin’s mother died in the Great Boston Fire, leaving her child motherless. Unable to identify Mary’s mother, we don’t know if that is where…
Willie E. Balentine
My Great Grandfather was Bill Balentine. He told numerous tales that found their way into oral history. Apparently he had a grand sense of humor. I have heard that he changed his name to Balentine to be named after his favorite beer. I also heard he was married to an Indian woman in Maine and…