This is so fascinating. Thank you for sharing the story with such care. And how incredible to know more about the history of the place. Are you sure there aren't some ghosts hanging about? You know I want them to be there. Maybe not ghosts in the ways we see them in movies, shows, and books, but their presence is keenly felt, it seems.
I kid you not, when we met with the previous owners they strongly asserted there were no ghosts, because they had someone come to inspect. We just nodded politely. 😀 I like your idea of the presence being keenly felt, though.
Hi Laura, thats fascinating to learn the history of the family.you re a great writer! I’m also interested in genealogy and have been going down rabbit holes researching.
My mother's family was Quaker and many of them were involved in the Revolution in some way or another. Many were formally dismissed (or however) for the duration, then returned without difficulty afterward. My own family members did not fight but worked behind the scenes -- in supply, medical etc.
Thanks for sharing that bit about the Quakers, I'm glad that was the case. Local history books mentioning Timothy Taylor indicate the break was permanent, because he married outside the faith (something up with which they would not put, as the saying goes).
Love this accounting, and how you described this hunt as your version of a video game. I have several of my own video games - including Ancestry. Julie H. and I used to love to visit the old churchyard cemeteries on our Lord's Company tours. It was fun to "visualize" someone's life from the dates and quotes on the tombstones. Several years ago I made my own pilgrimage to visit the Civil War Chickamauga Battlefield in northern Georgia, where my German-speaking great-great-grandfather was wounded. Family lore had it that a few years later, while he was seeking a cure for his battle wounds at some sort of spa/hot springs, he was killed on a Mississippi River steamboat that caught fire and sank, leaving behind a destitute, illiterate wife and a young son. Imagine my surprise when I got access to Ancestry military records last Memorial Day weekend and found out that he did not die then, but survived for a few more decades, getting checked in and out of the Ohio Soldiers' Home. Now I have to wonder if the "steamboat story" was just something to tell the kids? Or did my ancestor run off in pain, illness, addiction to the family of his birth in northern Ohio? Did his wife kick out an abusive drunk? Or did he leave his family out of shame and depression? The worlds of this video game keep expanding. Thanks for your wonderful share. Can't wait to learn more.
I didn't realize you and Julie visited cemeteries on our Tours, that's so cool and I'm sorry I missed out! Also, in your family lore you've touched on an aspect of ancestry research that I especially enjoy: the social history of the period, and constructing a factual or at least plausible narrative about the lives of the people on the family tree -- especially the women, who are woefully underrepresented in historic records. Okay, back to Frogger now. 😀
How wonderful to have been given Timothy Taylor's history, and then to *meet* him in his resting place. I love how respectful you and Chris are about your stewardship of this old house and its story.
This is so fascinating. Thank you for sharing the story with such care. And how incredible to know more about the history of the place. Are you sure there aren't some ghosts hanging about? You know I want them to be there. Maybe not ghosts in the ways we see them in movies, shows, and books, but their presence is keenly felt, it seems.
I kid you not, when we met with the previous owners they strongly asserted there were no ghosts, because they had someone come to inspect. We just nodded politely. 😀 I like your idea of the presence being keenly felt, though.
How wonderful to be able to learn about the house and its inhabitants history!
Thank you Stasia. The research is fun and seemingly endless.
Hi Laura, thats fascinating to learn the history of the family.you re a great writer! I’m also interested in genealogy and have been going down rabbit holes researching.
It's nice to hear from you, Sally. Glad you are enjoying the newsletter!
My mother's family was Quaker and many of them were involved in the Revolution in some way or another. Many were formally dismissed (or however) for the duration, then returned without difficulty afterward. My own family members did not fight but worked behind the scenes -- in supply, medical etc.
Thanks for sharing that bit about the Quakers, I'm glad that was the case. Local history books mentioning Timothy Taylor indicate the break was permanent, because he married outside the faith (something up with which they would not put, as the saying goes).
Of course! Great piece, I should have said!
Well that's very kind. No "shoulds" allowed by the way! ❤️
Love this accounting, and how you described this hunt as your version of a video game. I have several of my own video games - including Ancestry. Julie H. and I used to love to visit the old churchyard cemeteries on our Lord's Company tours. It was fun to "visualize" someone's life from the dates and quotes on the tombstones. Several years ago I made my own pilgrimage to visit the Civil War Chickamauga Battlefield in northern Georgia, where my German-speaking great-great-grandfather was wounded. Family lore had it that a few years later, while he was seeking a cure for his battle wounds at some sort of spa/hot springs, he was killed on a Mississippi River steamboat that caught fire and sank, leaving behind a destitute, illiterate wife and a young son. Imagine my surprise when I got access to Ancestry military records last Memorial Day weekend and found out that he did not die then, but survived for a few more decades, getting checked in and out of the Ohio Soldiers' Home. Now I have to wonder if the "steamboat story" was just something to tell the kids? Or did my ancestor run off in pain, illness, addiction to the family of his birth in northern Ohio? Did his wife kick out an abusive drunk? Or did he leave his family out of shame and depression? The worlds of this video game keep expanding. Thanks for your wonderful share. Can't wait to learn more.
I didn't realize you and Julie visited cemeteries on our Tours, that's so cool and I'm sorry I missed out! Also, in your family lore you've touched on an aspect of ancestry research that I especially enjoy: the social history of the period, and constructing a factual or at least plausible narrative about the lives of the people on the family tree -- especially the women, who are woefully underrepresented in historic records. Okay, back to Frogger now. 😀
How wonderful to have been given Timothy Taylor's history, and then to *meet* him in his resting place. I love how respectful you and Chris are about your stewardship of this old house and its story.
Thank you Tui, that's very kind. We are sort of in awe of this place and feel very lucky to be here.
Interesting!
Thank you! I love this kind of stuff and am happy that others do, too.
Great story, love it!
Merci beaucoup!
I LOVED this. So interesting!
Thank you! Stay tuned -- history will be a bit of a recurring theme here.