Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has given us his weekly Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge for today.  It is: "Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Think about the question: Why do I pursue genealogy and family history research? and  2) Tell us about it on your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook."


There are too many reasons, so let's begin with the obvious. I want to know who all my ancestors were, and I mean all of them.
Also,
I want to be late for just about every appointment, because I need that last bit of information.
I want to be glued to the computer or have my nose in a library book.
I want to starve myself, because I won't get up to eat.
I want to get fat because I won't exercise because I want to be at the computer.
I want to get a sore back, sore hands and have eye problems because of the computer...need to blame the problems on something.
I want a messy house, because other things take priority.
I want a hobby that makes me appear smart.
I want to talk about genealogy and have others look strangely at me.
I want a hobby that doesn't cost too much.
I want to wear Genea-Blogger beads one of these days.
I want my non-genealogy fb friends to see all my fb friends, and think, "she knows a lot of people all over the United States, Canada, and So. Korea."
I want to meet somebody just like me.
I want people to think, "This doesn't sound like Barbara."

Surname Saturday -- JOHNSON, MEAD / MEED and SANGER

Elizabeth / Betsey Johnson is one of my "Brick Walls" and unlike some others, her ancestry is pretty much unknown. She was born Nov. 7, 1751 in Lynn, Massachusetts, married David Mead / Meed on October 21, 1773 in Lynn.  They had three children and moved to New Hampshire.  After his death, she married Abner Sanger and had seven children.  Her marriage record is written as: "Mrs. Elisabeth Johnson and David Meed, Oct. 21, 1773."  Does anybody know if that really meant she was previously married or was she an older single woman, and it was a title of respect (she was just 22)?

+ 2 i. ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON was born 7 NOV 1751 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 MAR 1799 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2. ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON (WILLIAM JOHNSON) was born 7 NOV 1751 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 MAR 1799 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Town Cemetery, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. She married DAVID MEAD 21 OCT 1773 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of BENJAMIN MEAD and HEPHZIBAH. He was born 19 NOV 1749 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 1784 in New Ipswich, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She married Abner SANGER 1 APR 1784, son of Eleazer SANGER and Mary DIKE. He was born 12 MAR 1738/39 in Hardwick, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 OCT 1822 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Old Cemetery, (Known as Washington St. Cemetery) Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.


Children of ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON and DAVID MEAD are:

+ 3 i. Elizabeth (Betsey) MEAD was born 11 OCT 1774 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 APR 1868 in Glover, Orleans Co., Vermont.
+ 4 ii. MARY "Polly" MEAD was born 1777 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 JUL 1813 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 5 iii. David MEAD was born 1779 in New Ipswich, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died BET 1850 AND 1860 in of Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.


Children of ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON and Abner SANGER are:


6 i. Hepzibah SANGER was born 16 MAR 1785 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 25 APR 1785 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 7 ii. Abner SANGER was born 19 APR 1786 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 15 APR 1867 in So. Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 8 iii. Hepzibah Meed SANGER was born 24 JUL 1788 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died NOV 1861 in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.
9 iv. Abigail (Nabby) SANGER was born 1 AUG 1790 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 1 APR 1791 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 10 v. Abigail Willey SANGER was born 27 MAY 1792 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 23 NOV 1878 in Swanzey, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 11 vi. Rhoda Jackson SANGER was born 12 AUG 1794 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 7 APR 1871 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
12 vii. Sally SANGER was born 8 OCT 1796 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 21 AUG 1883 in Peabody, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Conversation -- Part 3

My letter began with, “Dear Mr. Barnes” unfortunately, I didn’t save a copy of my letter nor did the recipient.  Now for the beginning. About 1996, I used a genealogy book, The Genealogy of Thomas Barnes of Hartford, Connecticut, and was so happy to discover that my ancestors were listed in the book, with a source! It was for the marriage of ESTHER BARNES and NATHANIEL BISHOP of Connecticut. 

Immediately, I wrote the author a letter, since his address was printed in the book. Within days, I received a reply.  It seemed he was more excited than me. Why?  He was born and brought up in my home town. Even though he now lives in California, some of his family is still living here in my town in Massachusetts.

When I decided to write about the letter, his book and our meetings, I contacted him and his wonderful wife, Edna.  Edna replied back, “As far as we can determine, it looks as if we first met in October 1997 at the Library. I remember when you came bouncing in all enthused. It was such a pleasure to meet you. Also, we believe that Fred has visited with you in person four or five times. He has visited with you twice by himself. In August 2009, I returned back to CA earlier than Fred so he met with you and did some additional visiting with relatives and "old" classmates. He also was able to see you when he went back to his 50th High School Class Reunion in 2001. When we both went back for his 55th High School Reunion in 2006 you met us in Andover, MA. I'm not sure what year it was that you welcomed us into your home. You were doing some remodeling but wanted to share some of your genealogy material with us at that time.  Please let us know if you have any questions regarding Fred and his home town as he was "growing up".

This wonderful friendship developed because of a simple letter.  In addition, Fred is also my 8^th cousin, but it feels like a 1^st cousin with both of them. They are both members of my local genealogy club, long-distance from California.

If you have a BARNES line in your family, chances are pretty good, that person is in Fred’s two-volume set, reprinted 2001.  Please contact me if you wish further information.