What you know first

When I was young, I stayed with my grandmother quite often during school breaks.  One summer I copied her family history notes into a green four subject notebook, never fully realizing what a valuable resource I had recreated until my mother asked to borrow it a few years ago. The pages have darken and my handwriting has matured since that summer long ago.

I enjoy scanning the pages from time to time wishing I had recorded the many stories my grandmother shared with me as I wrote. I recently read a children's book titled, "What You Know First" by Patricia Maclachlan in which a child does not want to leave the only home she has known.  The mother helps the child let go by explaining that her baby brother will need someone to tell him about their old home in the future.

My grandmother knew first, and she did her part by passing the stories along.  Now, it's my responsibility to keep the stories flowing to the next generation. If I don't, who will.

Stella's Roots, Part 7

   One day I hope one of my entries reads, Stella's Roots, Final Chapter.  When I'm ready to throw up my hands and say "We will never know anymore than we know now!", new information comes along.  This week something big came along.
   Several weeks ago Jim and I composed a letter requesting help from yet another new found cousin in Seattle.  In the letter we outlined who we were and our goal to find out who Stella's parents were.  Cousin Bruce called Thursday.  We were thrilled, and he was tickled to hear from us!
   Unfortunately, his health hinders his mobility and overall health.  He has good days and bad days.  The day he called, he was experiencing a good day.  I mention his health because his family records are stored in his attic. Hopefully by the next conversation, he will have the family history boxes out of the attic. He said it had been a long time since he even thought about his family history and didn't feel comfortable quoting any dates without his notes. 
   Bruce did tell Jim that Stella was the last child of Marlin and Fannie Goins.  Marlin was killed prior to her birth when a mule kicked him in the head, and Fannie died of influenza sometime after Stella was born.  All of the children were sent to live with others. He was adamant about Marlin being Stella's father.  We have hopes he has death dates to support him.
  Jim and I are ready to pack our bags and head to Seattle, but I guess we'll wait.  Bruce said he would call Jim within the next two weeks. 

Leap Day Birthday

The chances of being born on Leap Day is 1 out of 1461. So, are the chances of a set of twins being born on February 29th  higher?  Personally, I'm not sure, but I think it's pretty darn amazing.  My gg grandmother and her fraternal brother were born on February 29, 1888. A passing photographer was so taken with the idea of twins being born on leap day, he took their photo. Unfortunately, I don't possess that photo.
I remember my grandmother saying her mother only celebrated her birthday every four years.

Over the Mountains They Came, One by One

   I'm fairly certain all my relatives came over the mountains to settle in the hills of Tennessee. Probably they traveled different routes. One of those ancestors was William M. Evins.  He was born  August 11, 1787. There is some confusion as to exactly where he was born.  His children at different times said he born was born in Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina. So, who knows which path he took over the mountains..
   About 1810 William married Elizabeth Woolsey. Together they had thirteen children over a span of 22 years. One of their children was my ggg grandfather, William A. Evins. Other children included Martha, John, Aaron, James, Elizabeth, Samuel, Wesley, Elvira, Manerva, Susanna Matilda, Nancy and Sarah. On a Culleoka side note Samuel became a preacher, and at some point he was the pastor at  Friendship Baptist Church in Culleoka.. Two of Samuel's sons, Wesley and Benton, operated the Evins' Brothers Store in Culleoka beginning in 1893.
   By the early 1800's William had moved into Middle Tennessee. The first official record of a land purchase was in 1818.  He bought 69 acres of land in Bedford County for $241. Not much is known about William or his children.  He was probably a struggling farmer raising a house full of young'ems.  He and his wife were buried in Old Flat Creek Cemetery in Bedford County.  Near their graves are three broken headstones bearing the names of Manerva, Martha and Wesley, their children.  William A. and his wife were buried in this cemetery as well..

William M. and Elizabeth Evins

William A. Evins