Society Saturday - Grandma Mary was a Witch

My stay in Washington for Lineage Week concluded with the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches breakfast on Saturday morning. 

This is one of the most fun groups to belong to.  Partly because of all of the wonderful ladies (over 500) who belong, and partly because it's just fun to tell people that you're a "witch". 

ADEAW has a breakfast every year that is always well attended.  This year, our speaker was Bernice Telian, one of our members.  Bernice had written a book about her ancestor Mary Barnes entitled "My Grandma Mary was a Witch".  She gave an interesting talk about how she learned about her grandmother's brush with witchcraft.

Bernice Telian with President General Kathy Carey

Mary Barnes was the wife of Thomas Barnes.  They had four children: Sarah Barnes (married John Scoville), Benjamin Barnes, Joseph BArnes, and Hannah Barnes.  Mary was tried for witchcraft in January 1662/3 in Connecticut.  She was found guilty and hanged on 25 January 1662/3.  Several of the ADEAW members claim her as their ancestor.

Bernice concluded with a personal request for the Connecticut legislature to exonerate Mary.

Chaplain Kelly Carey conducts the memorial service with the assistance of our page.

www.adeaw.us

Society Saturday - Dining with the Washingtons

Alright, so I'm getting farther behind with my postings.  I still have a couple to post from Lineage Week, not to mention a few more national meetings since then.

The National Society, Sons and Daughters of Antebellum Planters, 1607-1861 met on Friday of Lineage Week.   They joined the Descendants of Bench and Bar for a black tie dinner at the Army Navy Club.  Both groups have quite a few members that overlap, so it makes sense to have a joint meeting.

In addition to the usual business consisting of a few reports, appointing a nominating committee for Bench & Bar, and installing new officers for Planters, we had an interesting program.

Stephen McLeod, from Mount Vernon entertained us with his program on "Dining with the Washingtons".  He was quite knowledgeable about all of the social events taking place at Mount Vernon when George and Martha lived there.  We learned a little about the interior design of the mansion, the types of food that was served, and how it was served, as well as some of the roles of the slaves who worked there.

This is one of the more enjoyable meetings of the week - not too much business, an interesting program, and, most importantly, good friends to socialize with.

www.antebellumplanters.com

Motivation Monday - Earning my PLCGS

Three years ago, I decided that it was time to turn my genealogy hobby into a more professional venture.  While I'm not ready to hang up my own shingle, I did want to formalize my education.  I looked into several types of courses.  After speaking with Louise St. Denis at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies, I started their coursework.  

The National Institute has several course offerings in different Tracks.  I chose to study American Records.  To earn a PLCGS (Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies) , I had to take 40 courses, of which 14 were General Courses, 14 were specifically about American Records, and 12 were elective courses.  Most courses are 8 weeks long, with one lesson per week and an exam at the end.  I could actually do them at my own pace, and sometimes would complete 2 or 3 lessons in one week if I had the time.  All courses were completed online.  We were able to interact with others in the course through messages and monthly online chat sessions.

The Generic courses consisted of topics such as "Analysis and Skills 1-3", "Methodology 1-6", copyright, paleography, using the Family History Center, and Genetics.  The American Records courses taught such topics as census records, church records, probate records, etc.  For part of my elective course-work, I chose to each a Basic Certificate in German Records.  This consisted of 4 courses on German Handwriting, German Locales, German genealogic vocabulary and German Church Records. 

Some of my course mates were concentrating on other areas such as Canadian Records, British Records or Australian Records.  Other electives ranged from courses on how to use Family Tree Maker or Ancestry.com, and how to plan a family reunion, to research on specific locales.  Some of the elective courses I took were on Mayflower ancestry, researching 20th century ancestors, and tracing female lines.

 

When I started this program, I wasn't sure how long it would take, but I was able to complete my 40 courses in just under 3 years.   I attended the Graduation ceremony virtually through their chat room.  This worked out well, because it was the same day that my daughter graduated from High School and I had to be there in person.

I am now able to add PLCGS to my list of credentials.

 

www. genealogicalstudies.com

Society Saturday - Tour of the State Department

Every year, following General Court, the ladies of  the National Society, Daughters of Founders and Patriots go on a tour somewhere in the greater Washington DC area. 

This year they travelled to the U.S. State Department for a tour of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms.  Upon entering the State Department building (after clearing airport-style security), we were led down a series of drab hallways with a very "government-issue" look to an elevator.  When we exited the elevator on the top floor, the surroundings had changed dramatically.  We were greeted by a guide who explained that the Secretary of State, Vice-President and a few other select government officials could use these rooms for diplomatic functions.  The reception rooms were established in the 1960's and furnished over the next 20 years with pieces representing early American art.

Our guide upon entering the Reception rooms explaining the history of some of the furniture.

This is a Skippet - a box that holds an official wax seal - used for signing treaties.

A portrait of John Hancock hangs in the Gallery.

Our Guide points out several items of interest in the Gallery. 

National President Irene Walker looks on.

In the John Quincy Adams Drawing Room stands the desk that the Treaty of Paris was signed on.

In the desk is one of the original copies of the Treaty of Paris.

Our tour group in the Thomas Jefferson room

Motivation Monday - ProGen 20

I have embarked on a new venture.  I have joined a ProGen study group.  We are studying the book Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers and Librarians, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills.  I am in the 20th group of people doing this organized study. 

Each month we read one or two chapters of the book and prepare an assignment to coincide with that chapter.  We are organized into 3 sub-groups of 8 people who meet on-line once a month to critique each other's assignments and discuss the book.

 

This program lasts for about 19 months and the homework has already proven to be fairly time-consuming.  I am looking forward to learning everything I can from this program, and I look forward to getting to know the other study group members while I refine my own skills.

 

http://www.progenstudy.org/index.html

Society Saturday- DFPA General Court

The National Society, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America had their General Court (annual meeting) in April.  This event lasts almost 3 days. 

Wednesday morning begins with an Executive Board meeting.  This is followed by the luncheon of the National Officers Club.  General Court itself begins Wednesday evening with a banquet.

The banquet is in the elegant Mayflower hotel and is always a nice start to the meeting.  After everyone met the National Officers in the recieving line, they were treated to an excellent meal.  Our banquet entertainment this year was a group of ladies who sang selections from the 1940's, in the style of the Andrews sisters.

The business meeting of General Court was held on Thursday.  A memorial service was conducted to remember 42 ladies who had died over the previous year.  We were grateful for our pages Frances and Donna who helped with the memorial wreath.

On Friday, there was a brief Executive Board meeting followed by a group tour of the State Department (more on that next week).  After the tour, some of us took the memorial wreath to the Women in Military Service Memorial (WIMSA) for a brief wreath-laying ceremony.

Betsy Gauld, Peggy Christie, Frances Lowe and Kimberly Nagy at the entrance to WIMSA

The ladies in the Hall of Honor.

Conducting the ceremony.

Placing the Wreath.



www.nationalsocietydfpa.com

Society Saturday - Descendants of Early Quakers

On Friday afternoon of Lineage Week, the National Society Descendants of Early Quakers has their annual tea.  This is a group of men and women who can trace their ancestry to a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) prior to 1835. 

Although the organization has no official ties with the Quaker religion, they do try to reflect some of its terminology and practices.  For example, they do not make motions or vote, but instead, "Agree in Unity".  The Officer titles are unique as well.  For example, there is a Presiding Clerk, a Recording Clerk, and a Keeper of the Common Fund.

The Presiding Clerk was Marlene Wilkinson.  She led the meeting through the reports of officers, an election, and a decision to make a charitable donation to Earlham College in Indiana (a Quaker school).

The program was given by Rick Hollis on "Cultivating Simplicity" and was very informative .

After the program, the officers for 2013-15 were installed by Past Presiding Clerk Carole Belcher.  The new National Presiding Clerk is David Stringfellow.

www.earlyquakers.org