Tracking documentation

Eugene Narron Allen Death Certificate

Sometimes I get off on tangents and "special projects" that, while they have significant impact on my research, also feed my OCD. For example, I recently started filling in my collection of death certificates. I've said before that I love, love, love death certificates. They provide such rich information and insight. 

I especially like looking at cause of death and the informant to consider the circumstances that may have led up to the death. It's a huge part of the story.

The NC Archives has death certificates from about 1913 to 1979. I ran a FTM report and compiled a list of all family members with deaths in NC in that time frame. 

I had long ago scanned all of them, but they were scattered around my computer files, so I organized them into the proper folder and made sure they were attached as appropriate in Family Tree Maker.

For those that were missing, I first checked Ancestry.com to see if I could snag them online. If that failed, I ordered it from the NC Archives via their online portal.

I tracked cause of death and place of burial. Also the funeral home who handled the deceased, although I've not had any luck getting funeral home records.

Added bonus, of sorts:  Many many of my folks died of heart disease. Guess I need to hit the gym more often so that doesn't happen to me!

Next up:  Marriage records.

Wake County Genealogical Society's January Meeting

Please join the Wake County Genealogical Society for our first presentation of the new year with Dr. David Kendall, author of “When Descendants Become Ancestors: The Flip Side of Genealogy.”  This highly thought-provoking book challenges us to write our life stories and perhaps will even change the way we view history. 

Dr. Kendall’s goal is to encourage people of all ages to examine their lives, write and preserve short stories about their own life experiences and to use their wisdom to enhance the lives of future generations. His web site can be found at www.stories4descendants.com and includes a weekly blog. Dr. Kendall will also have copies of his book available for purchase.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the Olivia Raney Local History Library, 4016 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC  27610.  

  

Meetings are free and open to the public, and are for all levels of family historians and genealogists, whether or not you are researching in Wake County. Come share your stories and learn more about writing about your very own life experiences!

Emily Massengill Stancil, Johnston Co, NC, 1848-1884

Emily MASSENGILL, my 3rd great aunt, was born July 1848 in North Carolina as the second child of my 3rd great grandparents, Aaron MASSENGILL and Wilsie HARPER. She had two siblings, Mary Ann Rebecca and Bethena Hawkins.  

When she was 18, Emily married Moses STANCIL, my 3rd great uncle and also son of my 3rd great grandparents, William Young STANCIL and Elizabeth Sallie MORGAN, on 11 Dec 1866 in Johnston County, NC.

I descend from her sister, Mary Ann Rebecca, who married William Stancil, a brother of Moses. Two sisters married two brothers! AND...each of them are children of my 3rd great grandparents. How weird is THAT?

Moses served in the Confederate Army along with his two brothers Young Allen and Joseph Stancil. He helped build the Ironclad Abemarle and then fought on it in the battle at Plymouth, NC and until it was torpedoed. He served with Company B, 8th BN of NC. 

Emily was counted in the 1860 census in the Neuse River area of Johnston County, NC. She was also counted in 1880 the census in Smithfield, Johnston County, NC.

Moses and Emily had the following children prior to her death at age 36:

1. F. L. Stancel was born about 1869 in NC.
2. Bettie STANCIL was born about 1870 and died in 1891 in NC. 
3. David H. STANCIL was born about 1871 in NC.
4. William Aaron STANCIL was born about 1875 in NC.
5. S. H. Stancel was born about 1878 in NC.
6. Moses Luther STANCIL was born on 28 Dec 1879 in NC.
7. Junius J. STANCIL was born in 1882.

Emily died of July 1884 in Johnston County, NC. 

Family Tree Stats

Here's the statistics from my current Family Tree Maker database. 

Over 4000 people, 16 generations and 580 surnames. Over 15,000 facts and nearly 2000 pictures.

I'm impressed. With me. 

Fresh Starts in 2015

A new year is all about new opportunities, right? Fresh starts. 

I always do the resolutions thing. I'll exercise more, lose 20 pounds, keep a cleaner house, organize my research. Yeah. Right. A girl can dream.

Speaking of fresh starts, I've often toyed with the idea of starting my genealogy research all over again. After all these years and after all the MOUNTAINS of research and facts I've accumulated. 

I've done a terrible job over the years of documenting and properly citing my sources plus I've learned so very much along the way. This would be a great (but oh so daunting) chance to start at the beginning - with myself - and document things the right way. To reexamine my sources, rethink my research strategies. Seems a good way to jump-start my research, which really needs a shot in the arm.

Even one of my genealogical idols, Myrtle, has considered starting over. One of my favorite blogs suggests not really starting over, but instead doing a "reappraisal". 

Cool idea.