President Wilford Woodruff

This quote from Wilford Woodruff pretty much sums up how I've been feeling the last month or so - not about any line in particular - but about all of my ancestors.

Oh I wish many times that the veil were lifted off the face of the Latter-day Saints. I wish we could see and know the things of God as they are laboring for the salvation of the human family who are in the spirit world; for if this were so, this whole people, with very few, if any exceptions, would lose all interest in the riches of the world, and instead thereof their whole desires and labors would be directed to redeem their dead. -President Wilford Woodruff

What a Strange family!

I put some updates on the Williams blog... particularly about the Strange family - Robert and Mary Strange of Brinkworth, Wiltshire, England!

Also ordered some death certificates from the GRO (General Register Office in England) today -- and ONLINE! The internet... gotta love it!

Another Update - Slack family

The Slack family on the Parker line has had some major update this morning. Lots of stories - including one that's pretty sad.

Have a wonderful weekend... I've got a Flaming Arrow District training day to finish preparing for -- it's tomorrow... and even a talk for Church to finish as well.

Watson Family now has a blog

I created the Watson Family blog... and it's now linked at the right.

Hope everyone's having a great Wednesday!

Just Write It Down! (now)

As I've been researching my mother's Williams line I'm continually grateful for the little bit that my great grandfather did write down about his life. George Rolland Williams at least has given me some clues to find the rest of a paper trail  (where one exists). The three sentences that he wrote about his coming to America has been  at least helpful. He told us he was four years old, that he came on the Ship Hudson, and that he came with the Erastus Snow Company across the plains (actually, that's turned out to not be true, but close).

So... George Rolland at least wrote something down... what about you? (and me!)

What greater legacy could you leave behind

For your family than a part of YOU?

-- A treasured bit from YOUR heart and mind, 

And a bit of your spirit, too?

In the years to come it could mean a lot--

That story about you --

Your experiences -- your special thoughts --

And your testimony too.

Then write it down in black and white --

Write it down without delay,

While the memory is burning bright,

Tuck a bit of you away.

And somewhere down the paths ahead, 

The words you wrote will all be read --

You'll speak to them -- your love they'll feel, 

They'll remember YOU with a love that's real.

And the testimony your story imparts

Could stir new faith within their hearts!

-Linnie Parker Gold


... and the Williams line got an update today!

Williams line

I updated the Williams blog twice today... amazing things were discovered.

Now if only it would rain!

Time at the Family History Center

Since my last post, I've spent time at least once a week at my local Family History Center. Kudos to the great people who work at the Kingwood Texas Stake Family History Center.

I've spent time on the computers - mainly using ancestry.com which is free when I use it at the FHC. I've tried using findmypast.co.uk, but it is not as user friendly as ancestry.com. Maybe I'll try it again. I do love using the online databases, because the indicies created can find records so much faster than I ever could!

Otherwise, I've also spent time on the microfilm reader. We had the transparent belt (not sure what it's called) come off of the high magnification reader that I use... so yesterday we learned how to put that back together. :)

Another great website I've found recently (especially if you have relatives buried in Utah) is namesinstone.com - they match the map of the cemetery up with the sexton's record of where someone is buried. Wow! I have a 3rd great grandmother (Mary Jones Slack) that we knew the location of her grave, but there is no headstone. I found her on the namesinstone.com (ironically, her name isn't in stone) website and now I think I should be able to walk right to where she is buried the next time I get to the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Happy searching! I'll be updating the Williams today... so much I've learned!