Bits of News

In USA Today, the daily newspaper, the issue today carries the Prime-time Nielsen ratings. What exciting news for "Who Do You Think You Are" as they had 7.1 million viewers and ranked at #32 (I believe last week it was #40). On Friday evening, only two NCAA basketball games did better. "Our" show beat out Dateline, and 20/20 for the evening.  Anybody interested in this stuff?

Bits of News

Since I am an avid reader of newspapers and magazines, I often find something I think others might enjoy reading.  I don't necessarily agree with what is written. Anything I post will always pertain to genealogy or something technical that we can all use (if I can figure it out first). Recently, I did a short piece on Facebook or Google. I also did several pieces on "Who Do You Think You Are?" and quite a few people responded. It was interesting to read what the critics in the entertainment field thought. One was a Genealogy software review from a magazine and the other for the above show. I had two others, but took them down.

However, I think some of the articles are interesting and here is the most recent. A little background first. Three weeks ago, I copied the review of WDYTYA? from Entertainment Weekly, an awful review it was. They gave the show a D. A lot of us were upset.  Fast forward to the recent issue, they give this Friday's show a "TV What To Watch" a nod. So they have gone from a negative to a positive. (I wonder if the ratings have anything to do with it.)

Tombstone Tuesday - POOLE, 1st two generations in Massachusetts

Jonathan Poole

Born: Abt. 1634, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died: December 24, 1678, Reading (now Wakefield), Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Jonathan Poole married Judith.

They were my 9th great-grandparents.

The below photo shows the detail of the headstone above, the photo is from the book, Graven Images.

Footstone for Jonathan Poole

Both Father and son buried at

Old Burying Ground Cemetery, Wakefield, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Jonathan Poole, son of first Jonathan

Born: February 28, 1666/67, Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died: May 28, 1723, Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Jonathan Poole was married to Bridget Fitch
They were my 8th great-grandparents.

Surname Saturday -- FITCH (two generations)

I chose the Fitch name (with Connecticut roots) today because I know another blogger shares the same surname, and I hope others do to. Two generations of my Fitch family are shown below, and those in green are my direct lines. I have this surname for five generations.

Two of my Fitch descendants are buried at Old Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.  James and Nathaniel tombstones may be seen on Find-A-Grave.

For additional information, please view page 328 of the google book, Connecticut historical collections: containing a general collection of ... By John Warner Barber

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1. THOMAS FITCH was born 1590, and died ABT JAN 1632/33. He married ANNE REEVE 8 AUG 1611 in Bocking, England. She was born 29 NOV 1590, and died 20 JAN 1684/85 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Children of THOMAS FITCH and ANNE REEVE were:

2 i. Thomas FITCH was born BEF 14 OCT 1612 in St. Mary's, Bocking, England, and died 1704 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Anna Stacia \ STACEY 1 NOV 1632 in St. Mary's, Bocking, England. He married Susannah (__) w\o Thomas FITCH ABT 1650. She died 8 JUL 1673 in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
3 ii. John FITCH was born 10 JUN 1613 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 1666 in Braintree, County Essex, England.
+ 4 iii. JAMES FITCH was born 24 DEC 1622 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 18 NOV 1702 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut.
5 iv. Sarah FITCH was born 24 JUL 1631 in Bocking, County Essex, England. She married John BURR ABT 1673 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

4. JAMES FITCH (THOMAS FITCH1) was born 24 DEC 1622 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 18 NOV 1702 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Trumbull Cemetery (Ancient Grave Yard), Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail WHITFIELD OCT 1648 in Norwich / Saybrook, Connecticut, daughter of Henry WHITFIELD and Dorothy SHEAFFE. She was born 1 SEP 1622 in Ockley, Surrey, England, and died 9 SEP 1659 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut. He married PRISCILLA MASON OCT 1664 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, daughter of JOHN MASON and ANN PECK. She was born OCT 1641 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1711.

Children of JAMES FITCH and Abigail WHITFIELD were:

+ 6 i. James FITCH was born 2 AUG 1649 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 10 NOV 1727 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut.
7 ii. Abigail FITCH was born 6 AUG 1650 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 5 JUN 1687 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married John MASON ABT 1670 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, son of JOHN MASON and ANN PECK. He was born AUG 1646 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 18 SEP 1676 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut. She married John BUTTOLPH 27 JUN 1682, son of Thomas BUTTOLPH and Ann HARDING. He was born 28 FEB 1639/40 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and died 14 JAN 1691/92 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
8 iii. Elizabeth FITCH was born 2 JAN 1650/51 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 7 JUL 1689 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. She married Edward TAYLOR 5 NOV 1674 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.
9 iv. Hannah FITCH was born 17 SEP 1653 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1697 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. She married Thomas MIX 30 JUN 1677 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, son of Thomas MIX and Rebecca TURNER. He was born 30 AUG 1655 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 30 JUL 1706 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.
10 v. Samuel FITCH was born MAR 1654/55 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 18 FEB 1724/25 in Prob. Preston, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Mary BREWSTER 28 NOV 1678 in New London / Norwich, Connecticut. She was born 10 DEC 1660 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 25 AUG 1751.
11 vi. Dorothy FITCH was born APR 1658 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 28 JUN 1691 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Nathaniel BISSELL 4 JUL 1683 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Children of JAMES FITCH and PRISCILLA MASON were:

12 i. Daniel FITCH was born 16 AUG 1665 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 3 JUN 1712. He married Mary SHERWOOD\SHERROD 7 MAR 1697/98 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut. She was born 1672 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, and died 16 SEP 1752 in Montville, New London Co., Connecticut.
13 ii. John FITCH was born JAN 1666/67 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 24 MAY 1743 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth WATERMAN 10 JUL 1695 in Norwich / Windham, Connecticut, daughter of Thomas WATERMAN and Miriam TRACY. She was born 6 AUG 1675 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, and died 24 JUN 1751 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut.
14 iii. Jeremiah FITCH was born SEP 1670 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 22 MAY 1736 in Coventry, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Ruth GIFFORD 4 JUN 1698. She was born 30 DEC 1676 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1736 in Coventry, Tolland Co., Connecticut.
15 iv. Jabez FITCH was born APR 1672 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 22 NOV 1746 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth APPLETON 26 JUL 1704 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was born 23 APR 1682, and died 18 OCT 1765 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
16 v. Anne FITCH was born APR 1675 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 17 OCT 1715 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. She married Joseph BRADFORD 5 OCT 1698 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He was born 18 APR 1675 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, and died 16 JAN 1746/47 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.
+ 17 vi. NATHANIEL FITCH was born OCT 1679 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 14 MAY 1759 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
+ 18 vii. Joseph FITCH was born NOV 1681 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 9 MAY 1741 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut.
19 viii. Eleazer FITCH was born 14 MAY 1683, and died 4 JUN 1748 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Martha BROWN, daughter of John BROWN and Anne MASON. She was born 20 NOV 1681 in Swansea, Massachusetts.

Follow Friday -- Facebook or Google

If somebody had asked me which of the two, Facebook or Google, was getting the most hits per week, I would have said Google without a doubt.

Imagine my surprise when, I read in the Boston Globe the other day that "Facebook surpasses Google in US hits" wow, I thought what does this mean?  Of course, I know what it means, but what about down the road? I can imagine Google starting up a social network site of its own, (not the new Buzz, but something totally different) and Facebook will offer a blogging format. Now a days, you shouldn't get too used to anything on the net, because it will change soon.  This is a little news item, nothing more.  I just thought it was interesting.  So for Follow Friday, I will be following whatever news there is on Facebook and Google, and may the best site win.

Tombstone Tuesday - NEWELL of Connecticut (3 generations)

The Burial Ground Hill Cemetery is now known as The Oak Hill Cemetery

located at Southington, Connecticut

Samuel Newell (above)

Born:  February 19, 1685/86, Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Died:  February 11, 1750/51, Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

My 6th great-grandfather

Asahel Newell (above and below)

Born:  May 05, 1725, Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Died:  April 05, 1769, Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

My 5th great-grandfather

Mark Newell family (above and below)

Born: October 17, 1757, Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Died:  January 09, 1829, Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

His wife, Phebe Sill

Born:  May 27, 1756, Prob. New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut

Died:  October 26, 1809, Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut

My 4th great-grandparents

Note:  The wives of the first two Newells are buried in another cemetery.

Madness Monday -- Asking for Help #2

If you live in certain areas of the East Coast, you know that it has been a very rainy, windy and cold weekend. A perfect time to spend the day or days writing your blog, reading others, using new templates to create a new face for your blog, or if you are like me (and I doubt you were), just trying to fix up the old format. What a huge time waster, and I mean hours and hours. I couldn't even get the colors to match. I did, in fact, try the beta format for the new, templates and then in a second it was wiped out. Truth be told, I don't think I saved it. So with the frustration intact, I went back to the old. It is just madness, but there aren't any questions as yet on this topic. Read all about the new version from Blogger Buzz, also, Tom MacEntee wrote about it.  However, even with my failure, I enjoyed seeing some of the newly created designs during the weekend, such as Apple's at Apple's Tree, Midge's at Granite in my Blood, and Heather's at Nutfield Genealogy.

I hope you all like my same, old blog. One quick question, how in the heck do I make my photo go all the way across? Before this new version, it went to within 1" on the right, then I removed it to try again, and I get this small photo.

Les Larrabee of  Bits and Pieces wrote the following to me, as he was trying to leave a comment on my Foote blog, "I can't always post a comment to the type of comment field in your blog and others using that style. I use firefox for a browser but Explorer doesn't work either. Do you ever have that problem?" Later, he provided more information, "I just tried it using Explorer and got the same results but this time it gave a message that the comment would not process. And again it's not just your blog, its any with your style comment field. The google blogger style and the one that asks for and email address both work OK. It does drive me crazy so it fits Monday madness" And, he is asking me? Is there anybody who can answer his question?  Thanks Les.  I seem to receive quite a few comments, so I'm not sure what is going on.  Can anybody help Les? And, thanks Les, great question.

Happy follow up.  Thank you to Apple at Apple's Tree.  She was able to resize my blog photo, and I'm very happy.  It is almost like having a "Brick Wall" come down, the blog looks normal!

Surname Saturday -- FOOTE (two generations)

Nathaniel Foote and his family establish a very old line in Connecticut.  He was born September 21, 1592 in Shalford, Colchester, Essex Co., England and settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut.  Nothing too unusual about that, other than the fact that both my parents can claim him as their 9th great-grandfather.  I am not sure how the calculation of Family Tree Maker determined that my parents are 6th cousins, perhaps it was through one of the two other lines in which they are also related, but I do know they claim Nathaniel Foote as an ancestor.  Nathaniel Foote is buried in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and I am anxious to go to that cemetery. But, I need to do some homework first, as there are 2,700+ stones there.

One of the links to Find-A-Grave gives me a good idea of what the cemetery looks like, and even provides an address where I can get a gravestone guide. I think I need to do that soon. The link for Nathaniel Foote is impressive, but there is no cemetery stone!

The Foote Family Association of America has a nice web site, if you are interested in this line. And, Foote family: comprising the genealogy and history of Nathaniel Foote, Volume 1 By Abram William Foote is free on Google books.

My Foote genealogy is below, and those in green are my direct lines. You can view my entire Foote tree on RootsWeb.

1. NATHANIEL FOOTE (ROBERT FOOTE1) was born ABT 1593 in Shalford, Colchester, Essex co., England, and died BEF 20 NOV 1644 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Behind Congregational Church, Wethersfield. He married ELIZABETH DEMING ABT 1615 in Shalford, Colchester, Essex co., England. She was born ABT 1595 in Colchester, Essex co., England, and died 28 JUL 1683 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Children of NATHANIEL FOOTE and ELIZABETH DEMING were:

+ 2 i. ELIZABETH FOOTE was born 8 SEP 1616 in Of Colchester, Essex, England, and died 8 SEP 1700 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

3 ii. Nathaniel FOOTE was born ABT 1620 in England, and died 1655. He married Elizabeth SMITH 1646 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of Samuel SMITH.

+ 4 iii. MARY FOOTE was born ABT 1623 in England, and died AFT AUG 1685.

+ 5 iv. ROBERT FOOTE was born 8 DEC 1627 in England, and died 1681 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.

+ 6 v. Frances FOOTE was born 1629 in England.

+ 7 vi. Sarah FOOTE was born ABT 1632 in England, and died 1673.

+ 8 vii. Rebecca FOOTE was born ABT 1634, and died 6 APR 1701 in Hadley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.

Generation No. 2

2. ELIZABETH FOOTE (NATHANIEL FOOTE2, ROBERT FOOTE1) was born 8 SEP 1616 in Of Colchester, Essex, England, and died 8 SEP 1700 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married JOSIAH CHURCHILL 1638 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was born 1 JAN 1611/12 in England, and died 1 JAN 1686/87 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Children of ELIZABETH FOOTE and JOSIAH CHURCHILL were:

+ 9 i. MARY CHURCHILL was born 24 MAR in Hadley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, and died 1690 in Prob. Hadley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.

+ 10 ii. Elizabeth CHURCHILL was born 15 MAY 1642.

11 iii. Hannah CHURCHILL was born 1 NOV 1644, and died BEF 11 NOV 1683.

12 iv. Ann CHURCHILL was born 1647. She married Mr. RICE.

13 v. Joseph CHURCHILL was born 2 DEC 1649, and died 1 APR 1699. He married Mary (__) w\o Joseph CHURCHILL 13 MAY 1664.

14 vi. Benjamin CHURCHILL was born 16 MAY 1652, and died 30 OCT 1712. He married Mary (__) w\o Benjamin CHURCHILL 1677. She was born ABT 1652.

15 vii. Sarah CHURCHILL was born 11 NOV 1657. She married Thomas WICKHAM 11 JUN 1673. He was born 15 OCT 1651 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 30 APR 1730 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

4. MARY FOOTE (NATHANIEL FOOTE2, ROBERT FOOTE1) was born ABT 1623 in England, and died AFT AUG 1685. She married Thomas TRACY. He was born in of Norwich, Connecticut, and died 7 NOV 1685. She married JOHN STODDARD ABT 1642 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was born ABT 1620 in of Watertown, Massachusetts, and died ABT 20 DEC 1664 in wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married JOHN GOODRICH 4 APR 1674 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of JOHN GOODRICH and MARGERY HOW. He was born BET 1615 AND 1616 in Bury St. Edmunds, co. Suffolk England, and died 6 APR 1680 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Children of MARY FOOTE and JOHN STODDARD were:

+ 16 i. Mary STODDARD was born 12 MAR 1642/43 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 23 AUG 1683 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

+ 17 ii. JOHN STODDARD was born 12 APR 1646 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 4 DEC 1703 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
18 iii. Caleb STODDARD was born 12 SEP 1648 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

19 iv. Joshua STODDARD was born 12 SEP 1648 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 1725. He married Bethia Goodwin SMITH 15 AUG 1684 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of Richard SMITH.

20 v. Mercy STODDARD was born NOV 1652, and died 1715. She married Joseph WRIGHT 10 MAR 1684/85 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

21 vi. Elizabeth STODDARD was born JUL 1656. She married Mr. WRIGHT.

22 vii. Nathaniel STODDARD was born MAR 1660/61, and died 9 FEB 1713/14. He married Mary (__) w\o Nathaniel STODDARD BEF 1692 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She died 17 JAN 1692/93. He married Eunice STANDISH 7 DEC 1693 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of THOMAS STANDISH and Susannah SMITH. She was born 1664, and died 5 AUG 1716.

5. ROBERT FOOTE (NATHANIEL FOOTE2, ROBERT FOOTE1) was born 8 DEC 1627 in England, and died 1681 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married SARAH POTTER BEF 1660 in New Haven / Branford, Connecticut, daughter of WILLIAM POTTER and FRANCIS (__) w\o WILLIAM POTTER. She was born ABT 22 AUG 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died AFT AUG 1706 in (Prob.) Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.

Children of ROBERT FOOTE and SARAH POTTER were:

23 i. Nathaniel FOOTE was born 13 APR 1660 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1714 in Branford, New Haven, Connecticut. He married Tabitha BISHOP. She was born 14 SEP 1657 in of Branford, Connecticut, and died 1715.

24 ii. Sarah FOOTE was born 12 FEB 1661/62 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Isaac CURTIS 13 AUG 1682, son of Richard CURTIS. He was born in of Wallingford, Connecticut, and died 15 FEB 1711/12. She married Nathaniel HOW 9 AUG 1714. He was born in of Wallingford, CT.

+ 25 iii. ELIZABETH FOOTE was born 18 MAR 1662/63 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 14 MAY 1730 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.

26 iv. Joseph FOOTE was born 6 MAR 1665/66 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 6 MAR 1750/51 in Branford, New Haven, Connecticut. He married Abigail JOHNSON 1690. He married Sarah ROSE 1710. He married Susanna (Henbury) FRISBIE 8 SEP 1741.

27 v. Samuel FOOTE was born 14 MAY 1668 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1696 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail BARKER.

+ 28 vi. John FOOTE was born 24 JUL 1670 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1713 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.

29 vii. Stephen FOOTE was born 14 DEC 1672 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 23 OCT 1762 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth NASH 1702. He married Hannah (__) HOWD 27 JUN 1739.
30 viii. Isaac FOOTE was born 14 DEC 1672 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 11 FEB 1758 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Rebecca DICKERMAN 1709, daughter of ABRAHAM "Abram" DICKERMAN and MARY COOPER. She was born 27 FEB 1678/79 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 13 OCT 1757.

Tragic or Unexpected Deaths

March is National Women's History Month and a genealogist has come up with the topic "Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?"

All deaths are tragic, some expected, but none more surprising than a physically fit 70 yr. old woman dying on her bike. She was on a bike trip, but one which began hours before in Acton, MA., with her leading The Nashoba Valley Pedalers, a group of riders to ride 12 miles to see the Lexington, MA parade in honor of Patriot's Day on April 16, 1990. On their return trip, she had a massive heart attack. A nurse was a rider, but the CPR couldn't save my mother. From what I recall, there were about 10 in the group, of which she was the president and tour leader.

A little background. She didn't drive until I was out of high school, so she biked, took a bus, or walked everywhere. Speaking of biking, for fun, she took long trips; for instance, many 100-mile-a-day trips, and her goal was 5,000 miles a year.  There were bike tour trips to Russia, China, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands and she was due to do a bike tour in France just six weeks after her death. Along with biking, she enjoyed swimming, cross country skiing and in my early years, there was ice skating and tennis.

She was a widow, my non-athletic father died the year before. She lived alone and never wasted a minute between her sports and volunteering for six to eight organizations.  I never got the chance to discuss her parents and grandparents or other older family members, as I had just begun doing genealogy. But she did give me a lot of her old DAR papers in December 1989, and four months later she was dead.

A side note. Two years later I was in London seeing a play. During the break, while in the restroom I had a nice conversation with a lady, we shared where we were from. I said Alexandria, VA and she said Acton. Naturally, I asked if she knew my mother. Yes! She did and even mentioned her death, the funeral, and the reception. I left with chills up and down my arm and every time I thought about that encounter for several years.

Note:  The photo was taken by a good friend,  and it was included in a large newspaper article about her, four years before her death.

A Sad Farewell

Today was an unhappy day; it began with my knowing I was going to go to a wake. Not just any wake, but to one of a former genealogy club member, somebody I've know about 12 years. Our genealogy club has about 70 members, of which usually 15 people show up, and more often than not, the same people attend. Our club is pretty unique in that we have five husband and wives, a mother with two daughters and a mother with a daughter and son-in-law. Most of the regulars have been attending as long as my husband and I.
 
The other day when I was notified that one of the long-time members died suddenly at 59, it was a shock to us all. As written in her obituary, her passion was genealogy and she was a proud member of the genealogy club. How could you not cry? Her love of genealogy was like all of ours. Her mother also did it, and her husband seemed to be interested in it as well. This afternoon, I asked her husband about it, and I think he might try to do it, since my friend was also working on his lineage. We all hate going to a wake alone, but I did, and met two of the couples there, as well as one of the other members. We all knew each other and it was comforting. More members were going this evening.

I think too, my friend would be pleased with the number of her genealogy friends who showed up. We will all miss her.