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A Good Ghost Story
View in browser Well, summer is almost over. For me, that means canning season is about to begin—but this year, I’ve added writing a good ghost story into the mix. In my last newsletter, I shared that I’m entering the Writers of the Future contest. The work is well underway: I now have a cover and a first draft. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be polishing it up and preparing to submit it by the end of the month.Here’s a sneak peek from The Crossing Hour:When Clara invests everything she has into restoring Willowshade Manor, she envisions fresh paint, polished antiques,…
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52 Ancestors: The Bridge Between Two Worlds–William Vaughn Cook
The Bridge Between Two Worlds: William Vaughn Cook’s Journey from Missouri Pioneer to Chickasaw Citizen In the dusty archives of the National Archives and the faded pages of century-old census records, there lives a story that speaks to the heart of America’s frontier experience—a tale of love, adaptation, and the courage to cross cultural boundaries. It’s the story of William Vaughn Cook, a man who became a bridge between two worlds. A Mystery That Began in Kentucky Picture this: somewhere in the rolling hills of Kentucky, a family named Cook made a decision that would echo through generations. Ananian (or…
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52 Ancestors: Earliest Ancestor – Edward Beeson (1659-1712)
When I think about how far back I can trace my family tree with confidence, Edward Beeson stands as my earliest researched ancestor. While WikiTree may show lines stretching further into the past, Edward represents the furthest point where I’ve personally validated the research and feel confident in the documentation. He’s my 7th great-grandfather, and his story spans two continents and three marriages during the tumultuous early years of colonial America. From Leicestershire to the New World Edward Beeson was born on February 24, 1659, in Thrussington, Leicestershire, England, to Thomas Beeson and Ann (Pecke) Beeson. He was christened…
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52 Ancestors: Rachel (Mason) Roe – Hidden in Plain Sight
“Did your mom speak Romani, and were your mom and dad both gypsy?” The question from my newly discovered cousin, Rhonda Krug, stopped me cold. After fifteen years of tracing my ancestors, I thought I had uncovered every family secret. But this? This was something I never saw coming. My second-great-grandmother, Rachel Mason Roe, had always been one of my more puzzling ancestors. Born around 1863, she appeared in records with frustrating inconsistencies—different birth years, various spellings of her name, and conflicting information about her origins. When I discovered the 1910 census claiming she was “half Chippewa Indian” born…
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52 Ancestors: Helen Fannie (Burnett) Williamson – A Life Swept Westward
Born August 24, 1862, in Warren County, Kentucky Died September 15, 1909, in Bradley, Grady County, Oklahoma Helen Fannie Burnett’s life embodied the restless spirit of late 19th-century America, when families packed their belongings into wagons and chased opportunities across an expanding frontier. Born during the Civil War in the rolling hills of Kentucky, she would die nearly half a century later in the red dirt of Oklahoma Territory, her journey marking the path of a nation pushing ever westward. Kentucky Roots Helen entered the world on August 24, 1862, as the daughter of John Burnett and Mary Jane…
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52 Ancestors: Tillman Williamson “T. W.” Graham
Photo shared by Glenda Owen on Ancestry.com My fourth great-grandfather, Tillman Williamson “T.W.” Graham (1817-1893), was a man perpetually in motion, chasing opportunity across three states during one of America’s most transformative periods. But his story also serves as a perfect reminder of why careful record analysis matters in genealogy, because sometimes those convenient Ancestry leaf hints can lead us astray if we’re not paying attention. From Tennessee Roots to Texas Dreams Born on May 15, 1817, near Nunnley in Hickman County, Tennessee, T.W. started life in the established settlements of middle Tennessee. By 1841, he had married Jency Jane Williams in Perry…