Friday, January 13, 2017

The Roots of an Old Soul



"We are the chosen. My feelings are, in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know, and approve. To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe (family).
All tribes (families) have one. We have been called as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: TELL OUR STORY.  So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find oursleves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and the indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in and giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation.
It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers. That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones."  THE STORY TELLERS, Author Unknown

I didn't write the above. . .Wish I had. . .It's the best explanation of myself that I have read. . .ever. . .




I AM an OLD SOUL. . .That's the first truth. . .I am also the family KEEPER OF STORIES. . .You have witnessed that yourself in my last six years of posts! . . .Put these two together and you have the makings of an amazing CHRISTMAS JOURNEY into the world of MY ANCESTORS.




I only learned about six months ago that I am descended from several of the FIRST FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA. . .the earliest arriving around 1629. . .They came to establish tobacco PLANTATIONS throughout Virginia. . .some with land grants from the CROWN. . .They rubbed elbows with GOVERNORS Berkeley, Spotswood, Dunmore. . .WASHINGTON. . .JEFFERSON. . .and all the FOUNDING FATHERS. . .They were on the cutting edge of the new BRITISH COLONY and then of the new NATION called this UNITED STATES. . .




I knew nothing of this last year. . .Surely you can imagine what this means to an OLD SOUL. . .and the family KEEPER OF STORIES. . .and how thrilled I was when John offered to take me back to COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG for two amazing weeks to visit with my 389 year old relatives. . .In fact, the week of Christmas we actually stayed at my 7th Great Uncle's POWHATAN PLANTATION. . .










We worshiped in the CHURCH of several ancestors. . .










and visited with friends and family from the PAST. . .and from the PRESENT. . .






















By the time we traveled across Virginia for an additional week, I was simply bursting with EMOTIONS. . .and I gathered enough STORIES to keep me busy for a while. . .It was a trip that I will never forget. . .a trip that put flesh on the bones of all those Virginia ANCESTORS. . .and made them come ALIVE again. . .

By HEARING THEIR STORIES. . .I found the ROOTS of this OLD SOUL. . .




. . .from my Past to your Present. . .




5 comments:

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

How exciting for you to just learn of your ancestors in Virginia! I am a Virginian and find our history fascinating. My ancestors probably knew your ancestors! He came to Jamestown on the Patience after the Sea Venture wrecked in Bermuda. He later became a Burgess in the First House of Burgesses.
Your photos of you and your husband in Colonial Williamsburg are beautiful as well as the ones at Powhatan Plantation. I've stayed there many times when we visit Williamsburg. ♥

Cindy Lou said...

How very Blessed and Special for you !! Love your clothing !! A truly serial experience I'm sure ! Lucky you !!

Unknown said...

Such a fabulous opportunity! I have done some genealogy, but my first cousin has done much more, and has everything in bound volumes for us. It's all very interesting, and we have some interesting ancestors, Governors, and some who had a little shadiness about them.

I really love your beautiful clothing. I think the styles back then are so pretty. I enjoyed your post very much.

Have a fabulous weekend!!

Heide at ApronHistory said...

How very special! It sounds like a dream trip! (I would be pinching myself) The beginning excerpt is perfect. Family history is very important, whether we know it or not!

Emily RP said...

Your story is fascinating! So wonderful to see your pictures and learn of your ancestors in Virginia! What a special trip for you and your husband. The unknown writer said everything I have felt as I have visited the places they had walked and lived. I too, have stood silently at their graves and shed tears. For the past five years, I have traced my family from England and Scotland. Some of them had roots in Virginia. I am sure your family and mine knew each other. This past year, I discovered our family is directly related to Thomas Jefferson.

You take care.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...