With family stories, it’s easy to expand on details to appeal to an audience. Family historians may have to rein in the enthusiasm to find the extraordinary stories that lie dormant. Stories250
Blush, thank you. If YOU are inspired Chris, then my work here is done. ☺️
I can hardly wait. 👉 👈 Be sure to drop it into Projectkin.org/stories250-form and I'll get it added to both the map and timeline. I've collected 13 so far. 😉
It's pretty amazing what family lore can lead to. I got started in genealogy because my mother's maiden name was Adams and we were supposed to be descended from the same Adams line - Henry Adams of Braintree, MA in the early 1600s. It didn't take long to document my Adams ancestors as descending from John Adams of Fairfield County, CT who was a Loyalist sailing in the fall fleet of 1783 to a new life in Canada! David Ross contributed to American independence and now his story has been told!
Exactly! These myths are like earworms; they will persist. Sometimes, the best you can do is insert the term "myth" that x, y, and z, so that maybe someone will become curious about the real story.
And thank you, Linda. I imagine my 5x gramps did many things in his time. This little adventure had to be a story he retold for many years.
Oh gosh, thank you, David. That’s very high praise coming from you. Hm… with all your Underground Railroad stories… do YOU have any stories from the Revolutionary period?
About the closest I could come to telling a family tale connected to the American Revolution would be the one in which Nova Scotians decided they did not want to be the 14th colony.
Go on… if it happened or largely happened between 1726 and 1826, it qualifies! Your incredible stories about our friends up north are wonderful. Hang on… have a story for me about the Charlton Militia or Stone’s Coffeehouse?
and also not from my lineage but someone who sparks my interest because he became the Father of the American Cavalry. Except that he was an intersex person -- meaning both Father and Mother of the American Cavalry -- Casimir Pulaski. He saved George Washington down in Georgia (I think), and in so doing influenced the course of US history.
My lineage was interacting with British military and NE colonials up in Nova Scotia, between 1726 and 1755. Which according to one historian, was the eastern boundary of Massachusetts until the Revolutionary War was won by the colonials. Other historians call it the 14th colony. "There's always one in every crowd, heh?" that has to do something different. (:
Remember my Lafayette project? I was so inspired by the idealistic teen who never let the so-called founding fathers forget why they set off on this crazy idea of independence. His personal push for the abolition of slavery and personal commitment to the tour of America still sends chills down my spine.
The darkness of the French Revolution reminds us of the darkness in our souls. I knew little about the story of Arcadia until I read your work and Lisa Maguire's Beaubassin series.
What a wonderful family tale that actually could be perfectly documented! I love this whole ideal - movement - to encourage all of us to look for, find, research and share these stories!
This is a wonderful exploration of micro history. These New Jersey waters have seen so much between the Brits, the colonial rebels and later the German u boats.
In writing this I was struck by the difference in perspective you must have living in neighborhoods with such ties to national history. Anne’s piece about Lexington had me thinking about the connection to place. Here in Northern California, we get the gold rush… but militiamen? It’s a world away. Here I am schooled by Anne in Australia. 🤭
When I was reading this I was thinking about my fil who dived on these uboats. I have no idea if any from the revolutionary war exist. I just never thought about it. Now I need to!
I jumped back 100 years from Leonora to see what relatives were involved and I think there are quite a few. I’m still at the nut gathering stage — not the storytelling!! ☺️
A German U Boat? Wow. My father was an enlisted officer on a WWII SS class boat in the Pacific. I have a more than passing knowledge of Submarine history and warfare. For both German and US WWII era boats the big technological leap was air conditioning. Without it everything would mold in the high humidity. The S class did not have A/C and earned the moniker "pigboat" because you would stink like a pig in the high humidity. By 1944 the US was using the S class for training while the battle forward areas were patrolled with SS class.
This was fascinating Barbara. The twist and turns. As they say, “I’d love to have been a fly on the wall” to hear some of these conversations. Your account also gave me a clearer picture about how to edit my “250+ year story.” Enjoyed yours immensely.
Oh gosh, I’m so glad. I wrestled with for a while, but when I finally saw the obvious key between what were really two stories, it started to fall together and I had a thread to follow.
Thank goodness for grandmothers and their stories even when they turn out not to be entirely true. They play a key role in prompting us to research and explore the stories.. David's story is an interesting one which must have taken quite a bit of untangling
Oh, I know. I'm so sorry I never had a chance to know her. She passed away when I was about five and lived overseas. It's an honor to pick up where she left off. I'm not quite sure what I will find with Ezekiel Ross. All I have so far is that he was a private and was taken prisoner. Hm... 🤔 there has to be something there.
This is a story and a half Barbara. I can imagine the rabbit holes you went down to piece it all together. Your grandmother's book is a treasure, even if some of it seems fanciful to you. It gives you somewhere to start and also allows you to get to know your grandmother. This story would sound like a boys own adventure apart from the fact that it is true and there are real people involved. Your post is wonderful to read.
Aw, shucks, thank you. I think it's always easier to write it from my own point of view. I haven't quite developed the reporter's voice. It was fun, though. I'm hooked on rabbit holes. 🕳️🐇
What a great story! And how many things go wrong because we tend to see what we expect to see!
lol... exactly!
Excellent written and well researched story! You may have given me the inspiration I need to write about a Patriot ancestor.
Blush, thank you. If YOU are inspired Chris, then my work here is done. ☺️
I can hardly wait. 👉 👈 Be sure to drop it into Projectkin.org/stories250-form and I'll get it added to both the map and timeline. I've collected 13 so far. 😉
It's pretty amazing what family lore can lead to. I got started in genealogy because my mother's maiden name was Adams and we were supposed to be descended from the same Adams line - Henry Adams of Braintree, MA in the early 1600s. It didn't take long to document my Adams ancestors as descending from John Adams of Fairfield County, CT who was a Loyalist sailing in the fall fleet of 1783 to a new life in Canada! David Ross contributed to American independence and now his story has been told!
Exactly! These myths are like earworms; they will persist. Sometimes, the best you can do is insert the term "myth" that x, y, and z, so that maybe someone will become curious about the real story.
And thank you, Linda. I imagine my 5x gramps did many things in his time. This little adventure had to be a story he retold for many years.
Ah, the family stories. You did a wonderful job tracking down the details.
Gosh, thank you. The thing is, you just know there's more. Ezekiel, I'm coming for you!
Engaging story. Well written.
Oh gosh, thank you, David. That’s very high praise coming from you. Hm… with all your Underground Railroad stories… do YOU have any stories from the Revolutionary period?
Hi Barbara...great story!
About the closest I could come to telling a family tale connected to the American Revolution would be the one in which Nova Scotians decided they did not want to be the 14th colony.
Go on… if it happened or largely happened between 1726 and 1826, it qualifies! Your incredible stories about our friends up north are wonderful. Hang on… have a story for me about the Charlton Militia or Stone’s Coffeehouse?
Charlton -- not from my lineage...
and also not from my lineage but someone who sparks my interest because he became the Father of the American Cavalry. Except that he was an intersex person -- meaning both Father and Mother of the American Cavalry -- Casimir Pulaski. He saved George Washington down in Georgia (I think), and in so doing influenced the course of US history.
My lineage was interacting with British military and NE colonials up in Nova Scotia, between 1726 and 1755. Which according to one historian, was the eastern boundary of Massachusetts until the Revolutionary War was won by the colonials. Other historians call it the 14th colony. "There's always one in every crowd, heh?" that has to do something different. (:
Maybe that's a tale worth telling?
Oh yes! Please do!
It's going to have a Francophone view. Looks like your project wants an Anglophone one. You okay with that?
Absolutely, I would LOVE a Francophone view.
Remember my Lafayette project? I was so inspired by the idealistic teen who never let the so-called founding fathers forget why they set off on this crazy idea of independence. His personal push for the abolition of slavery and personal commitment to the tour of America still sends chills down my spine.
The darkness of the French Revolution reminds us of the darkness in our souls. I knew little about the story of Arcadia until I read your work and Lisa Maguire's Beaubassin series.
What a wonderful family tale that actually could be perfectly documented! I love this whole ideal - movement - to encourage all of us to look for, find, research and share these stories!
Aw, that means so much to me, especially coming from you. Thank you. And yes! My secret plan is pretty obvious, huh? 🤭
This is a wonderful exploration of micro history. These New Jersey waters have seen so much between the Brits, the colonial rebels and later the German u boats.
In writing this I was struck by the difference in perspective you must have living in neighborhoods with such ties to national history. Anne’s piece about Lexington had me thinking about the connection to place. Here in Northern California, we get the gold rush… but militiamen? It’s a world away. Here I am schooled by Anne in Australia. 🤭
When I was reading this I was thinking about my fil who dived on these uboats. I have no idea if any from the revolutionary war exist. I just never thought about it. Now I need to!
I jumped back 100 years from Leonora to see what relatives were involved and I think there are quite a few. I’m still at the nut gathering stage — not the storytelling!! ☺️
A German U Boat? Wow. My father was an enlisted officer on a WWII SS class boat in the Pacific. I have a more than passing knowledge of Submarine history and warfare. For both German and US WWII era boats the big technological leap was air conditioning. Without it everything would mold in the high humidity. The S class did not have A/C and earned the moniker "pigboat" because you would stink like a pig in the high humidity. By 1944 the US was using the S class for training while the battle forward areas were patrolled with SS class.
Bring it on! We’ve all got the acorns! I’m here for it.
This was fascinating Barbara. The twist and turns. As they say, “I’d love to have been a fly on the wall” to hear some of these conversations. Your account also gave me a clearer picture about how to edit my “250+ year story.” Enjoyed yours immensely.
Oh gosh, I’m so glad. I wrestled with for a while, but when I finally saw the obvious key between what were really two stories, it started to fall together and I had a thread to follow.
Thank goodness for grandmothers and their stories even when they turn out not to be entirely true. They play a key role in prompting us to research and explore the stories.. David's story is an interesting one which must have taken quite a bit of untangling
Oh, I know. I'm so sorry I never had a chance to know her. She passed away when I was about five and lived overseas. It's an honor to pick up where she left off. I'm not quite sure what I will find with Ezekiel Ross. All I have so far is that he was a private and was taken prisoner. Hm... 🤔 there has to be something there.
This is a story and a half Barbara. I can imagine the rabbit holes you went down to piece it all together. Your grandmother's book is a treasure, even if some of it seems fanciful to you. It gives you somewhere to start and also allows you to get to know your grandmother. This story would sound like a boys own adventure apart from the fact that it is true and there are real people involved. Your post is wonderful to read.
Aw, shucks, thank you. I think it's always easier to write it from my own point of view. I haven't quite developed the reporter's voice. It was fun, though. I'm hooked on rabbit holes. 🕳️🐇