Sunday, December 25, 2011

Genealogist's Christmas Eve

Genealogist's Christmas Eve
('Twas the night before Christmas)
-----------------------------------------
'Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my spouse.

The dining room table with clutter was spread
With pedigree charts and with letters which said...
"Too bad about the data for which you wrote;
Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."

Stacks of old copies of wills and such
Were proof that my work had become too much.
Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

And I at my table was ready to drop
From work on my album with photos to crop.
Christmas was here, and such was my lot
That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot.

Had I not been busy with grandparents' wills,
I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills,
While others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheers,
I'd spent time researching those birth dates and years.

While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash.

When what with my wondering eyes should appear,
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.
Up to the house top the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and 'ole Santa Claus, too.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.
As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa--KER-RASH!

"Dear" Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good 'ole Santa could see
I had no Christmas spirit you'd have to agree.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who'd brought us such gladness and joy:
When I'd been too busy for even one toy.
He spied my research on the table all spread
"A genealogist!" He cried! (My face was all red!)
"Tonight I've met many like you," Santa grinned,
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.

I gazed with amusement--the cover it read
Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead.
"I know what it's like as a genealogy bug."
He said as he gave me a great Santa hug.

"While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folk who can't find a thing."

"Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I'll clean up the house from this genealogy mess."
As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who'd brought much to me.

While settling in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle,
To his team, which then rose like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
"Family history is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!"
(Author Unknown)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Kyle Cemetery on Pepper Street, Christiansburg, Virginia

In 2005, my brother, Tim and I went to visit the Kyle Cemetery on Pepper Street in Christiansburg, Virginia.  We wanted to pay our respects to Kyle and Montague ancestors.


This is how we found the cemetery.
 




















I was so pleased to learn yesterday that the Christiansburg Civic League has taken this cemetery on as their restoration project.  The following pictures are taken from their website: http://christiansburgcivicleague.org/OurProjects.html You can tell that they have been cleaning the place up.When we went, we were lucky if we could see three grave markers.  Looks like they found a bunch more.



Monday, August 22, 2011

http://www.vahistoryexchange.com/Andrew_Lewis.pdf

Andrew Lewis – Elijah McClanahan [History of Augusta County – John Lewis Peyton – 1882]

Andrew, the second son of John Lewis, resided on the Roanoke, in Botetourt County, as did his brother, Charles. The will of Lewis, which is on record in the county court of Botetourt – dated in 1780, and admitted to record in February, 1782, showing that he died between those two periods – devises to his son William two thousand acres of land lying on Roanoke River. This embraces the fine body of lands lying west of Salem for many years owned by Dr. John Johnston, on which there is a magnificent spring, which, in years gone by furnished the water power for a manufacturing mill that has long since disappeared. It also embraces the very valuable farm known as “Dropmore,” containing one thousand acres, bought from Captain William Lewis by Nathaniel Burwell, and was sold in 1869 for $100,000 – one hundred dollars per acre – probably the largest sale of the same quantity of land that was ever made in Virginia. As will be more particularly stated hereafter, General Andrew Lewis, who owned this land at the time of his death in 1781, was buried on an eminence overlooking the beautiful valley of Roanoke River, spreading out for six miles above and below the spot where the grave is now marked, from which spot I hope his dust will be removed at an early day to the public cemetery nearby.
Some of the descendants of General Lewis are now living in Roanoke County. Col. Thomas Lewis and his brother Andrew, and great-great grandchildren – also Major Andrew L. Pitzer, and other children of Madison Pitzer, who married Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of Captain Andrew Lewis – also the children of Col. Elijah McClanahan, who married Agatha Lewis, daughter of Colonel Andrew Lewis, of Bent Mountain. Mrs. Colin Bass, now residing in Salem, is one of these children. Captain Andrew Lewis married Jane McClanahan, a sister of Colonel Elijah and James McClanahan, and at the close of his life resided on the farm now owned by Capt. Robert B. Moorman, half a mile west of Big Lick Depot.
Colonel Andrew Lewis, of Bent Mountain, formerly in Montgomery County, now in Roanoke, was one of the sons of General Andrew Lewis, who died about the year 1844, at an advanced age (about 84). My personal recollections of Colonel Lewis are very distinct, having often seen him in my boyhood, at my father’s house, and at his own house on Bent Mountain, where he owned an immense body of lands that were valuable for pasturage and raising fine cattle in former days, and where, like Alexander Selkirk, he reigned as “monarch of all he surveyed,” for a great number of years. I also met with him a few times in the latter part of his life, after religion (which he embraced when near eighty years old) had softened some of the rough points of his character. Like all of the Lewises, he was a man of commanding figure and appearance, reminding one of the description given by Stuart in his “Historical Memoir” of General Andrew Lewis: “ He was upwards of six feet high, of uncommon strength and agility, and his form of the most exact symmetry. He had a stern countenance, and was of a reserved and distant deportment, which rendered his presence more awful than engaging. “
Colonel Andrew Lewis was married twice – first to a daughter of Thomas Madison, by whom he had three children: one Charles who died unmarried, and Thomas, who was killed by McHenry in a duel fought with rifles which was fatal to both parties. The event created great interest at the time of its occurrence, not only on account of the high standing and character of the parties, but of its tragic termination. The only daughter of Col. Andrew Lewis by this marriage was Agatha, who married Col. Elijah McClanahan and left a large number of descendants. By his second marriage with Miss Bryant, he had one daughter, Kitty, who married Joseph King, and is still living on Bent Mountain with her son, Joseph R. King.
Doctor Andrew Lewis was another member of the Lewis family, who lived and died in Botetourt. He was a son of Captain William Lewis, who was twice married – first to a daughter of Thomas Madison, and afterwards to Nancy McClanahan, sister of Colonel Elijah McClanahan. Dr. Lewis rose to great eminence
in his profession and married Maria Walton, who is now living near Salem, and had three children, two
daughters and one son. One of the daughters, Lucy, married George W. Shanks; the other, Mary,
married a daughter of Rev. Dr. McFarland, and left a daughter and son, Frank Lewis, who is now at the
Seminary, preparing for the ministry.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Timothy J. McQuaid and Sarah "Sadie" Pickard

Once upon a time in the township of Cranford, New Jersey on February 22, 1903, Timothy James McQuaid married Sarah Ceilia Pickard. 



Later that year on August 1st, they had their first son Timothy George McQuaid.



Timothy and Sadie went on to have a total of 7 children.

Timothy George McQuaid (1903-1986)
John A. McQuaid (1906 - 1968)
Margaret McQuaid (1906 - )
Mary Cecelia McQuaid (1909 - )
Sarah McQuaid (1911 - 2002)
Katherine "Kitty" McQuaid (1915 - )
Charles McQuaid (1918 - 1976)


This is a photo of the stone at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Newark, NJ.  Sadie passed in 1918. Timothy died in 1931.