Describe a tender moment one of your female ancestors shared with you or another family member.Today's prompt was a little more difficult for me. So I choose this photo:
Is there a female ancestor who is your brick wall? Why? List possible sources for finding more information.
Have you discovered a surprising fact about one of your female ancestors? What was it and how did you learn it? How did you feel when you found out?For this entry I'm going to defer to my post about Shocking Family Stories. My discovery of the murder of my 3rd great grandmother by her husband, my 3rd great grandfather. I'll say at first I was horrified and the newspaper accounts of the incident are quite detailed about the account.
Shining star: Did you have a female ancestor who had a special talent? Artist, singer, actress, athlete, seamstress, or other? Describe.
Many member of my family play musical instruments. I personally play the clarinet. One of my Aunts also plays the clarinet, in fact she loaned me her clarinet to use while I was in school band class under the agreement that I would play at the family Christmas the following year. Well I only played for the family once. I think playing for my family was more nerve wracking than any concert I ever played in. I did play at a headstone dedication last summer for GTAGS if you all remember from my post about the Gottlieb Piltz. I also played the bass clarinet, which looks like a cross between a clarinet and a saxaphone. Social Butterfly? What social organizations or groups did your mother or grandmother belong to? Sewing circle, church group, fraternal benefit society or lodge? Describe her role in the group.My mother and paretnal grandmother were both members of the Catholic Daughters. I also remembers my mother and my maternal grandmother being members of the local ladies aid society when I was younger. My Mother and I are both members and board members of the local genealogical society. For the Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Soceity my mother is the group historian and the correspponding secretary, I am the current Vice President and the publicity chair.
If you could have lunch with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why? Where would you go? What would you eat?If I could have lunch with any female family member, it would have to be my 3rd great grandmother, Emily (Tennyson) Fitzgerald. I would want to meet her because I have so many unanswered questions about her life. I would want to know why she left Ireland or England. I would also want to know where she fits into the Tennyson family. According to her eldest son's obituary she is the sister of Alfred Tennyson the writer. I would also like to hear about her husband, my 3rd Great Grandfather.
Write a six-word memoir tribute to one of your female ancestors.Fern Leona Kirby (my husband's grandmother). Kind hearted. Warm. Welcoming. Missed Dearly.
News makers? Did you have a female ancestor who made the news? Why? Was she famous or notorious? Did she appear in the social column?
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| Cornelia Maria Loomis |
Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.This is a story about my grandma, my mom's mom. After the tornado had destroyed their house, my mom and aunt were under a table, aparently under the pile of rubble. Their dog, Collie, had found them and my grandma lifted up the edge of the house so that the girls could come out. I can only imagine, as a mother, what she was thinking at that moment. I also can't imagine the relief that she felt when my mom and aunt were safe.
Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation.
Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?My original entry on this was posted on July 25, 2010.
What role did religion play in your family? How did your female ancestors practice their faith? If they did not, why didn’t they? Did you have any female ancestors who served their churches in some capacity?My family is, for the most part, Roman Catholic. My Great Grandpa's half sister was a nun. Elsie Jane Wood joined the convent after her husband died, presumably overseas, during WWI. She was part of the Society of Helpers convent in Chicago, IL. My grandma talked about Sister Elise frequently. She would tell me that she always looked forward to recieving her cards and letters in the mail. We never knew what happened to her until a couple years ago when I spoke to one of the Nuns that knew Sister Elise and told me many things about her. She told me that Sister Elsie died in 2004. There was a definate fondness in her voice for Sister Elsie when she told me about her and I know she has a special place in my Grandma's heart. Someday I hope to take my grandma to pay her respects.
Take a family document (baptismal certificate, passenger list, naturalization petition, etc.) and write a brief narrative using the information.
On September 15, 1846, a publication of two wedding announcements whom were not objected, Mr Pierre Bilandele, vicar-general of the bishop of Montreal the priest officially authorized for this purpose, asked for the mutual consent of George Lardy widower of Marie Josephele(?) Chartrans, of this parish on this part and Esther Beauchamps, eldest daughter of Jean Baptiste Beauchamps Journalist and Agathe Morin of this parish on the other part, and joined them in marriage according to the laws and customs practiced by the Holy Church, in the presence of François Lardy, father of the groom and Jean Baptiste Beauchamps, father of the bride who has declared his innability to sign, so that the groom and Jean Baptiste Sancer undersigned be legal.
Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.My Grandma has a collection of letters that she and my Grandpa wrote back and forth while my grandpa was in the Army during World War II. I have never read them.
Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.One of my favorite recipes is one my Grandma makes called Grandma's Strawberry Desert. Ok I don't think she uses the word 'Grandma's' in it, but I do. I really like this recipe because it is so yummy! Whenever I have it, it reminds me of my grandma.
Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)
How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?
Week 10: Disasters. Did you experience any natural disasters in your lifetime? Tell us about them. If not, then discuss these events that happened to parents, grandparents or others in your family.
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| The aftermath of the tornado- I believe this is what is left of their house. |
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| My Grandparent's Dog (Collie) that saved my Mom and Aunt |
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| My Grandpa (without the hat) and the sherrif (far right) and two local men |
Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.My Grandma and Grandpa, Richard and Maxine (Loomis) Courtad were married 22 Feb 1944 at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. The church is still standing on base. I was able to see the church in December when we were in Battle Creek for my husband's National Guard Christmas Party (the same day I visited the National Cemetery).
Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.I'm not named after anyone. My parents choose my first name because Alanna is gaelic for Helen. I was once told that my middle name was actually a consideration for my first name, but I'm glad they choose Alanna for my first name. (Prounounced uh-Lane-uh). Little know fact my middle name is Colleen, but it is spelled Collen, because there was a typo on my birth certificate. I've thought about having it corrected for years, but for some reason never have had it done.
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| Lily and Liam in March 2010 |
Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?
March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.
