The 49th in a series Prompt: New Horizons ~*~ Every time we chase a dream or pursue new personal frontiers we make a choice to embrace a new way of being that challenges what we already know of ourselves. Many of our ancestors dreamed of something better for themselves, their children, and future generations, and … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Out with the Old; in with the New
The 48th in a series on my Family Tree Prompt: Overlooked ~*~ For this piece my attention was drawn to an historic place which, it appears, is mostly overlooked. Frankly, it only came to my awareness this week as I stumbled upon a ship’s passenger list that included my third great grandfather, George Sparling (1822-1884), … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Gateway to a New Life
The 47th in a series on my family tree Prompt: Wrong Side of the Law The trial proved to be a national sensation. The murders of four Sparling men ~ a father and three of his sons ~ in Tyre, Sanilac, Michigan, between 1908 and 1911, and the subsequent trial of the family doctor, his … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Justice Not Served
The 46th in a series on my family tree Prompt: Tombstone It’s been a long time since I was able to do any graveyard exploration, so for this challenge I leaned on FamilySearch to help me identify ancestors whose tombstones are readily accessed, and findagrave.com for extra help or information, as available. The tombstone that … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Gone Home
The 44th in a series on my family tree Prompt: Ghost Story ~*~ Some family stories are just too strange to be believed. This particular tale first came to light earlier this year during an email exchange with my cousin Kelly who is working on the McDonall family tree with me. In the sharing of … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: The Ghost and Mrs. Cox
The 44th in a series on my family tree Prompt: Shadow ~*~ Every family has its shadow characters. People whose misery casts a pall wherever it lands and upon whomever it entangles. In previous posts reference has already been made to family members who created emotional havoc for their immediate circle and, indeed, for ensuing … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: The Shadow of War
The 43rd in a series on my family history Prompt: Organized ~*~ My genealogical files are not at all organized. Oh sure, I have file folders set up on my lap top for all things digital, and physical files for all things paper. They’re even labeled! Still, that is the extent of it for now. … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Organized Thought
The 42nd in a series on my family tree Prompt: Lost ~*~ The incident of the missing Crouse boys simply wasn’t the type of story the family could bring themselves to talk about. Too painful; too mind-numbing; too heartbreaking. A tragic story kept close to the heart. Not even a birth record to be found … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Missing
The 41st in a series on my family tree Prompt: Passed Down ~*~ Things. We accumulate them, and then what? Speaking as one with no children it’s a question I ponder frequently. And as I get older the need to acquire anything for the sake of it becomes less important. I wonder about my ancestors … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: 200 Years … and counting
The 40th in a series on my family tree Prompt: Preservation ~*~ Somehow over 35 years of holding the family archive and several moves I haven’t managed to lose anything. Then when a cousin on my maternal grandfather’s side started taking an interest in researching our shared ancestral roots I gave her some relevant records … More Shedding Light on the Family Tree: Saving it for Later
Shedding Light on the Family Tree 