The Ancestral Pen

Book Blog

  • 52 Ancestors: Institutionalized: The Tragic Story of Jay “Jaybird” Roe

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    by

    amygennut
    in

    Some relatives leave behind stories of triumph and success. Others, like my 2x great grand uncle Jay “Jaybird” Roe, leave stories that reflect the harsh realities of a different era – stories that remind us how far we’ve come in understanding and treating medical conditions, yet how far we still have to go. Born around 1900 in Kansas, Jay first appears in the 1910 census as a 7-year-old boy living with his father Jerry Rae in Otoe, Noble County, Oklahoma. The family, though they attempted to claim Native American heritage on census records, were actually Romani Travelers. Like many nomadic…

  • Weekly Newsletter: My 4 AM Writing Ritual

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    by

    amygennut
    in

     Beep. Beep. Beep.No, that’s not my alarm clock—I rarely need one anymore. The persistent ache in my hip or back and my insistent bladder nudge me awake as the bedroom clock glows 4:02 AM. I surrender to the inevitable, sliding my feet to the floor and stretching away the stiffness. Outside, the world remains still and dark, but inside my mind, characters and plot lines already begin to stir.The coffee maker gurgles in the kitchen as I collect dog bowls, fill them up and let the dogs in for their morning meal. Steam rises from my mug, a simple pleasure…

  • 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Scott line DNA Research

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    by

    amygennut
    in

    I have been trying to break through many lines for many years, including my Scott line. Out of curiosity, I was looking through my ancestor DNA connections, and I saw something promising for the first time in my matches. So come along with me as I give you a front-seat view of how I think through my DNA research.What I Know The screenshot above shows all of the lines that descend from Emily Lutitia Scott. Most of these descendants I knew before we even started doing DNA, so the research back to my 3x great-grandmother Emily is pretty solid. We…

  • Juggling History, Writing, and Seedlings

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    by

    amygennut
    in

     As some of you may see starting at the very top of this weeks newsletter there are a great many changes going on. I thought why the heck not reinvent my business, join the Daughters of the American Revolution and go into overdrive with that, take on some genealogy research for a couple young ladies, potentially future DAR’s, and continue writing all at the same time. Oh and don’t forget I’m still not retired, so I work full time too. Sure why not. I got this! Actually, believe it or not with today’s technology, calendaring, scheduling social media, Ai assistance,…

  • The Lanterns Still Shine: Commemorating 250 Years Since Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

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    by

    amygennut
    in

      April 18, 2025 Today marks exactly 250 years since an American silversmith mounted his horse and galloped through the Massachusetts countryside on a mission that would change the course of history. On this night in 1775, Paul Revere embarked on his famous “midnight ride,” carrying urgent news that British troops were on the move. Two lanterns hung in Boston’s Old North Church tower, signaling the approach of British forces by sea, and setting in motion events that would spark the American Revolution. The Man Behind the Legend Before he became an American icon, Paul Revere was a skilled craftsman…