Standing on a Quaker Burial Ground in Philadelphia that Contains my 8th Great-Grandmother's Bones
In which I discuss my recent visit to the Arch Street (Quaker) Meeting House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where my 8th great-grandmother, Katherine Lightfoot Miller, is buried; and I share some details about the Meeting House as well as Quaker beliefs and history.
My Dad: Master of Sea and Sail ... and Winner of the Single Handed Sailing Society's 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai's Hanalei Bay
In which I celebrate my father, Douglas William Graham, for Father’s Day, and describe some of his many sailing adventures - including his victory in the Single-Handed Sailing Society’s 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai’s Hanalei Bay.
Chasing History: Exploring My Ancestral Roots
Follow along as I explore my family history, travel to important historical sites, share photos, and conduct research for my various writing projects. These blog posts tells stories from various branches of my family tree, including Colonial Americans, Indian Captives, Scottish Presbyterians, Irish Quakers, Pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails, Civil War Veterans, Early Californians, and Ellis Island Immigrants, as well as my more immediate family.
I actually began this blog April 30, 2022, but I am working on migrating my previous blog posts to this website from blogspot.com, making this a work in progress. I hope you’ll follow along!
Exploring Mike's Family History in Oregon City
In which I discuss some McQuade family history and describe our visit to Oregon City, where we visited Railroad Avenue (where his grandfather, Thomas Victor McQuade, was born), the Pioneer Cemetery (where his great-great grandfather Aaron Walker is buried), and the “End of the Trail” Museum.
My Dad: Master Builder Extraordinaire
In which I describe some of my father’s building projects, including various wall units, cabinets, tables, vanities, decks, play houses, and real houses, as well as how he has nurtured Mike’s building skills and added to his tool collection.
My Mother: Seamstress and Craftswoman Extraordinaire
In which I discuss my mother’s amazing sewing and crafting productions, including matching outfits, Bicentennial clothing, Halloween and Drama costumes, Wedding favors, Paintings, Embroidery and Crochet projects, and more.
Countdown to Book Launch on February 1!
In which I do a ten-day countdown to the book launch of A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-65, and share photos and book excerpts along the way.
Exciting News ... "A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Callaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri" is Coming Soon!
In which I announce that my book A State Divided will launch on February 1 and that I will begin a 10-day countdown leading up to the big day; and I share “Poetic Thoughts on Missouri in the Civil War.”
My Mother: The One Who Taught Me to Love the Holidays
In which I discuss the many ways my mother taught me to enjoy and celebrate Christmas - including hand-crafted ornaments, Christmas cards, nativity sets, ornaments to commemorate special vacations and events, hand-sewn stockings and pillows, homemade cookies and pies, and so much more; and I share lots of photos.
Exploring Family Connections to the 1758 Fort Sebert Massacre, Col. Henry Bouquet’s 1764 Treaty, and The Light in the Forest
In which I discuss how my 7th GGP’s were killed in the Seybert Massacre in Augusta County, Virginia, in April 1758, and their three children taken captive by the Shawnee (including my 6th GGM Barbara Reager); how Barbara and her sister were returned along with more than 200 other captives in November 1764 to Col. Henry Bouquet along the Muskingum River in Ohio when the tribes had to return their white captives as part of a treaty agreement; and how this relates to the novel The Light in the Forest, which I have taught to my juniors for many years.
My Scots Irish Ancestors Immigrated to Pennsylvania, then Virginia ... and Some Got Taken Captive by the Shawnee!
In which I discuss some ancestors of my great grandmother Fleeta Jackson Brandt - the Archers and Renicks - who were part of the Ulster Presbyterians discussed in my previous post; explain how they immigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania, then later Virginia; and relate the story of my 6th GGM’s sister, Elizabeth Archer Renick, who was taken captive by the Shawnee along with her seven children in 1757 after her husband was killed and scalped.
Tracing my "Ulster Presbyterian" Roots from Ireland to Pennsylvania
In which I explain how so many English and Scottish Presbyterians (including some of my ancestors) ended up living in various counties in Ulster in Northern Ireland, the reasons they immigrated and reasons the left, and why so many moved to Pennsylvania
The Veteran Reserve Corps in the Civil War
In which I describe some of the military records I recently acquired related to my GGG GF James Calaway Hale, including a letter he wrote in Jan 1865 to Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, as well as share what I learned about his service in the Veteran Reserve Corps, aka. the Invalid Corps.
Still Writing ... and Getting Closer!
In which I describe the writing process, which includes lots of research, drafting, editing, feedback, and revisions; and provide some examples of the assistance I am receiving on my book A State Divided from Andrew County Genealogist Kathy Ridge.
Telling My Story to Los Gatos Rotary
In which I describe the presentation I gave to Los Gatos Rotary in November 2022 about my book projects and share photos as well.
Exploring the Pony Express - and Creating a Family Connection
In which I explain some of the history of the Pony Express; describe its first rider, Johnny Frye; share photos from our visit to the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri; and share an excerpt from Missouri Daughter in which Bailis recalls watching that momentous first day of the Pony Express with his brother Benjamin.
Following Family Footsteps in Andrew County, Missouri
In which I describe my visit to Andrew County, Missouri, in October 2022 with my husband Mike, where we to visited the Andrew County Historical Society and Museum in Savannah, met with Genealogist Kathy Ridge to learn more about the Hale and Petree families, walked around downtown Savannah and admired the Courthouse, visited the areas in which the Hales and Petrees lived (including where my great grandmother was born in Rosendale), and found the gravestone for James and Elizabeth Hale, as well as their daughter Amanda, in Fillmore Cemetery
A Letter from Rebel Cousin Rachel
In which I share another excerpt from Missouri Daughter that includes a letter to Bailis from his cousin, “Rachel at Rebel Rendezvous,” reflect a bit on how the war tore families apart, and discuss the importance of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and explain the Platte River Bridge disaster, when Confederate guerrillas burned part of the track and caused a train to derail outside of St. Joseph, killing approximately 20 people and injuring 100.
Researching the Oregon-California Trail: The California Gold Rush and my GGG-GF Henry Petree
In which I discuss some California Gold Rush history, including how my GGG Grandfather Henry Petree took two of his sons, John and Benjamin, with him to California in 1849 to search for gold, leaving behind son Bailis (my GG GF) and his two sisters to live with a nearby family; I also include an excerpt from Missouri Daughter in which I imagine how Bailis might have felt about this, having already lost his mother five years earlier
Researching the Mormon Trail, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and the Graham family's arrival in Utah
In which I relate more Mormon history, describe the Mormon Trail and the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and discuss the Graham family’s arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the 1880’s.