This is a supplement to my family history website "Family Reflections". It will document my research as I delve into my my four main lines: Ruffing, Garland, Coleman, Bernardo. As well as provide articles on doing your own genealogical research.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Grandma Garlands School Records or THAT'S why I'm so terrible in Math!
I gleaned some great genealogical information from them too! My Great Uncle John J. Coleman (who raised my grandmother) was listed as guardian with his occupation listed as a shipfitter at Boston Navy Yard. WOW! What a find this is! I also learned that prior to her attending Milton High she was enrolled at Mount St. Joseph Academy. Her grades from Mount St. Joseph were also included which was an added bonus. I had no idea she attended any other high school other than Milton. They will be the next people I contact for more information on Grandma Garland.
As for the grades it seems Grandma Garland was great in P.E. class and Sewing but not so hot in Math. Now I know why I have so much trouble with math!! If you send off for your ancestors school records come back here and let me know what kind of great finds you come up with!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Cemetery Touring
The first cemetery was the Old St. Joseph Cemetery. Most of the graves in the old section (1835 - 1841) are unmarked graves of the many victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic that struck the area in 1841.
It's not known how many people are buried here but it is believed many of Florida's leaders including several members of the Florida Constitutional Convention rest here. Although there are not many headstones I found this beautiful black headstone on the other side of the cemetery.
The second graveyard we visited was the Chestnut Street Cemetery of Early Apalachicola (Old City Graveyard)
There were so many interesting stones there I didn't have time to take pictures of them all but here are two of my favorites:
The grave of George W. Core
Transcription: George W. son of Rev. D.W. and Mrs. F. V. Core. Born Nov. 27, 1877 Died Mar. 1, 1902 A life so well spent on this earth cannot fail to reap a bountiful harvest in the one to come.
I loved this headstone because the whole stone is a stump of a tree and it has the seal of the Woodmen of the World on it.
The Grave of Catherina Spano
Transcription: Here rests the body of Catherina Spano Bor 17 May 1853 Died Oct 09 1900
I really loved this marker. It's obviously homemade and the shadow it reflects is really interesting.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spring Cleaning
Happy ancestor hunting folks!
Sandra
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Pap and the Treasure Trove at Newspaper Archives
My Pap has had an amazing life, born in Pennsylvania in 1927 and descended from German immigrants. He was raised on my great grandparents small farm on Flading Lane. He played high school baseball and was set to join the Red Sox when war broke out in 1941 he joined the war effort in the 82nd Airborne division. He met my grandmother in Germany and they were married when they returned to the states. He's been a Washington D.C. Police Detective and for all of my life he was a baseball coach and umpire.
I was so excited to find several articles about my Pap, mostly about his baseball coaching career. Here was an article about him being given the head coaching position at Mount St. Mary's College, another article talking about his position as Assistant Coach at the Naval Academy, even an interview where he talks of learning the game from his uncle "Red" Ruffing who played for the Yankees (as a side note I've yet been able to prove our relationship the famed pitcher with any kind of substantial evidence) and also an article where he talks about catching fly balls for the Homestead Grays. These articles have helped me flesh out the story of my Pap and add a bit of interesting history outside of his basic statistics.
I strongly recommend getting yourself a subscription and checking it out! If you do and find something useful to you I'd love to hear about it, just leave a comment below.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Been A Long Time...
From now on though I am going to set aside some time to do some research. I've also been studying to become a Certified Genealogist! I'm very excited about it, hopefully I will be able to turn it into a career! Now wouldn't that be something? Look for more frequent updates here on my family research, my journey to become a genealogist and other genealogy related posts!