The Letter B---Family History Through The Alphabet Challenge

The Letter B
I chose this picture of the letter B because some times doing family history is like a maze, you never know what's just around the next turn.
 
One of the turns I took looking for this relative was searching the internet for information and serendipitously finding pictures of family grave stones on a great web site called findagrave.com.






The Letter B is for Burger. My 6th great grandfather's name was Zachariah Burger. Zachariah lived from 1761 to 1836 and was buried  in Terpenning Family Ground Cemetery,   Esopus, Ulster Co., New York. 

 

With a little googling I learned that he had fought in the Revolutionary War, an exciting discovery for a patriotic American.  

I am grateful to live in a country where I can practice my religion freely, speak freely, and enjoy an element of security from tyrannical rule. I have always admired the founding father's for having the strength to fight for their liberties, as well as all those who have paid for our freedoms with their blood. 

Freedoms I partake of daily. Finding that one of my relatives fought in the Revolutionary War made my heart well with pride. Made me want sing - Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" and wave a flag.

When I think of the insurmountable challenges Zachariah Burger and those who have fought to keep America free faced and overcame- I find myself looking at my trials differently because I know if I am brave and stand up for what is right - freedom can survive and thrive. 

The letter B leaves me proud of my country, freedoms, and family.

Kelly Hamon

Images
http://www.findagrave.com/
www.printactivities.com
http://uda3mau.blogspot.ca/2012/11/best-american-flag-hd-quality-rate-9.html

The Letter A---Family History Through The Alphabet Challenge

The Letter A

This kind of reminds me of Sesame Street, when they would say "and the letter today is" and "brought to you by the letter..." then they would have all kinds of things that began with that letter--it was fun as a child thinking about all the things that day that began with that letter.

It also reminds me of a game that I made up when I was taking a trip up to Toronto to get tickets for Phantom of the Opera with a friend of mine---he wanted to be more than friends and I felt a bit uncomfortable on the drive back home so I made up the game I called The Alphabet game. Every one (if you have more than 2 people in the vehicle it makes it fun) in the car in turn has to say one word that begins with the beginning letter, which we all know is A, none of the words can be the same, and when some one can't think of a word they loss the round and need to move on to the next letter---you keep on playing until the last letter. It's a great distraction and that's what I needed on my trip home.


As for our alphabet challenge it's not to distract but have some fun with family history.

When I think of the letter A and family history I think of one of my  great grandmother's Augusta Meyer.

Augusta Meyer was born February 1872 in Germany she married one of my great grandfathers (Charles Witt)  in 1894 in America and had 7 children.

I've found a couple US Census records with her and her family
US Census 1900
US Census 1910

I get so excited when I find records about my family, because it makes them more real to me, not just people on my family tree or a pedigree chart, but real people who lived, breathed, wept, loved and laughed just like me----that are a part of me even though I may have never known them.

According to one of the census records she was called Gusty, I really like that, Gusty has a ring to it, it makes her seem to me a bit whimsical. Maybe it was a childhood nickname or maybe her sweetheart, my great grandfather called her that in way of affection. I believe one day I will be able to ask her.

Kelly Hamon

Image: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Brought_to_You_by_the_Letter_A

Family History Through The Alphabet Challenge--The Beginning

 I just ran into this great idea from the blogger at Genealogy and History News. That blogger suggested the idea way back in May, but since I just found it---let the challenge begin.

The challenge was to use every letter in the alphabet some how every week about family history.

Resources
Image:  http://tinyurl.com/7h7ov5b