#52 Ancestors Week 2

The theme for Week 2 is "Favorite Photo." I've had this theme in almost every version of 52 Ancestors because, let's face it, who can choose just one?! Plus, we should be telling the stories of those photos so they don't get lost in time. 

As I scrolled through all the photos that I have added to my family tree the one that jumps out at me most is of my husband's great-grandmother Hazel Lamb King. I love this photo because even though its a posed picture it shows so much personality out there on the ice having a good time.

 #52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 1

This week's theme is "I'd Like to Meet." Most of us have an ancestor who we'd like to meet (even if it's to ask, "What are your parents' names?") This week, write about that ancestor or why you'd want to meet him or her. Feel free to be creative!

So many to choose from but I keep coming back to William Fain Rountree. William was born in 1865 in Georgia and was a railroad engineer for GS&F. He has been a brick wall of mine since I started on my genealogy journey in 2005. I am pretty confident I have his mother figured out but can not prove their relationship. As unoriginal as it is to say I'd ask him who his parents were I'd also get the chance to tell him my son is named after him! What we do know is that William had a brother Cornelius who stay in Effingham County and that in Cornelius will he references "land that belonged to my mother". There were no death certificates in Georgia at the time Cornelius died, but there was one for William. On it, it lists William Rountree as father and mother unknown. It has been a challenge because in Georgia there are many burned courthouses and other record losses.

Here is my theory: There was a William Rountree that married a Belison Bevill in Chatham County in 1848. I believe Belison's middle name is Catherine. In 1849 they had a son named William and these 3 were together on the 1850 census. in 1851 the Rountree's added a daughter Mary Ann. The next year the toddler William died in Screven County followed a year later by his toddler sister. There are old grave markers at the Old North Newington Cemetery. This must have broken the older Rountree hearts but in 1854 they had another daughter Louisana followed by Cornelius in 1856, another daughter in 1858, and a son Francis M born in 1861, and finally William F in 1865.

By 1870 Father William is not with the family in the census. During this time period, there is a Belison Bevill listed in the church minutes for Newington Baptist - the church where the two littles are buried. She is listed in the church minutes as deceased by 1874. What is interesting is she is listed as Belison Bevill, not Rountree.

Reflections and forward looking

So 2019 was one for the record books.  All my readers know about my brain tumor diagnosis and subsequent brain surgery to remove said tumor.  I've been trying to be open and honest about all challenges I face and how I am facing them, however I did not post that in May of 2019 I was also disgnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  I immediately went on Metformin and changed my diet - almost keto and I was doing really well until surgery.  Post surgery I started eating like old Randi and have continued to through today.  I was being hopeful that the tumor removal might effect my a1c but alas it has not.  (There is some science behind this) So now I will start tracking my carbs again (myfitnesspal) and back to regular exercise.

I learned a lot about myself in this last year and I really hope to continue my personal growth as a wife, mother, genealogist, library worker, volunteer and chodan.  By next year I should be getting ready to test for EeDan (2nd degree black belt) I want this more than I thought I would. I start today by focusing on health - yes I made Monkey Bread for the house full of guests but I will be focused on eating better and exercise. 

My most immediate goal is my next karate recert in February - while not quite as daunting as the black belt test it is a difficult day and I still have yet to attempt break falls - I am very scared as I still feel the difference in my skull.

I'm a Black Belt with a Brain Tumor

It's been a while since I have posted and now it's time to change the focus of this blog. For a few years now I have suffered from chronic vertigo. During Black Belt Bootcamps I would have to grab onto a wall sometimes to keep my balance, I completed and passed my 9 hour Black Belt test in February of 2018 and am so proud to be a "ChoDan".  All this time my vertigo was holding me back.  In November of 2018 I decided enough was enough and I was determined to get to the root of the problem.  I went to my doctor who referred me to an ENT.  The ENT ordered an MRI and on Dec 31 I had my first ever MRI.  January 4th I received my results.  I have a brain tumor known by 2 different names Vestibular Schwannoma or Acoustic Neuroma.  This is a benign tumor that grows on you balance nerve.  The nerve structure in the brain places the balance nerve, acoustic nerve and facial nerve all in a bunch.  Most people who are diagnosed have a loss of hearing on one side as their first symptom, I am blessed to still have my hearing now.  My vertigo is still ever present and I walk like I'm drunk...I'm not.  This will all be dealt with in a few weeks - July 22 I will be undergoing a 8hourish brain surgery to remove the tumor.  There is a possibilty of losing hearing on the one side due to surgery and well as risk of injury to the facial nerve which can cause facial weakness on one side.  I intend to blog my recovery every step of the way.  There might be times when this blog is TMI but I feel like I want to put it out there for others who are considering their options.  I plan to be back at work the first week of September and I hope to be back in karate class as soon as I can and plan on getting back on my bike (on the trainer) in the winter.  My goal is to be ready to re-cert my black belt in February.

Right now I'm in countdown phase, trying to get everything lined up at home for me to be completely useless for a few weeks. 

#52Ancestors – Week 7 A little Swedish for ya!

#52Ancestors – Week 7                                             Randi Mathieu

This week’s prompt is “Valentine” Is there a love story in your family tree? Maybe a couple was married on Valentine's Day or you have a valentine that one ancestor gave to another. Maybe you have an ancestor named Valentine.

Hmmm, these are getting a little more challenging now that I’ve used up my awesome stories.  After running a calendar report on Legacy I came up with the idea to feature Johanna Mathilda Andersdotter. 

Johanna was born in Mellosa, Sodermanland, Sweden to Anders Gustafson and his wife Anna Pehrsdotter on 14 February 1838.  In March of 1860 She married Lars Erik Ersson in Husby-Oppunda, Sodermanland, Sweden.  Lars was from a parish known as Ardala, Sodermanland, Sweden.  The family grew in Husby-Oppunda as they had 4 children in their time there.  They eventually moved to a parish known as Bettna.  In Bettna their family grew even larger with 3 more children.  From Bettna the family moved one last time to a parish know as Lids.  In Lids there were 3 more children born to Johanna and Lars.  In total they had 10 children.  Johanna died in Lids in 1887 and Lars stayed there until he passed in 1917.

                      

The walk from Mellosa to Husby-Oppunda is approximately 32 km and would take around 6.5 hours. Husby-Oppunda to Bettna is approximately 10.6 km and would take about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Their final journey was around 28km which equals about 5.5 hours or walking time.

I love researching in Sweden as the churches were to account for all people in their district. The church not only recorded birth, marriage and death but also kept a move-in/move-out book!  The other joy of researching Swedish records in the naming system. Johanna Mathilda Andersdotter tells me she is the daughter of Anders! Not only that, but the women kept their surnames after marriage.  While I don’t have a photo of Johanna, I was able to find photos of the parishes where she reported to.

 

Bettna Parish

Husby-Oppunda Parish

Lids Parish

Mellosa Parish

#52Ancestors – Week 6

#52Ancestors – Week 6                                             Randi Mathieu

This week’s prompt is “Favorite Name”.

This is an interesting thought to process.  My first gut reaction to “Favorite Name” was how do I not use “William Fain Rountree” after all I used his middle name for my son’s middle name. As I thought about what to write, I thought about my own name – how original it is and how much it’s not what you expect.  Most people hear the name Randi and think male (until they notice it’s spelled with an i).  As I think about the names in my family my two great aunts stand out to me. Willis Melmus Simmons and Jessie (Chessy) Ward Simmons. These two women grew up with male sounding names in the early 1900’s.  Willis was named after 2 ancestors – both male.  Willis was the name of her grandfather and Melmuth was the name of a great uncle who died in the civil war.  I have not been able to track down where Jessie’s name came from but a middle name of Ward must have been a family name somewhere – guess I have some more research to do!

                             

 Willis

 Jessie

Catching Up

I will hopefully be catching up on blog posts now.  Life got a little hectic but now all should be calm.  I will be posting my #52Ancestors posts as soon as I get them in order.