Introduction

In the last few years I have become very interested in our family genealogy and history. In fact, I've found SO much information, I need one place to store it all, and share it. I need a place where I can direct curious relatives and friends. That's what this blog is for!

I am extremely busy raising two kids with a third on the way, and often I am tired, so I can't promise I'm going to post something often. But genealogy is one of my top hobbies. It's one of the first things I think of doing when I need to take a break and do something fun! So I know I will definitely post something here from time to time.

So what are some specific plans I have for this blog? Well, some types of information and posts I would like to do are:

-General genealogy of my family lines, surnames of which are Hannum, Wilkinson, Helms, and Hamilton. These are basic main lines I descend from.

-Expanded genealogy of branches off the main family lines. Some surnames I know of right off the top of my head: Tennant, Morgan, Tefft/Taft, Hunsaker, Fleming, Stewart, Weaver. These are surnames connected to my basic family lines through marriage. For example, Mary Louise Morgan married Joseph Yost Hamilton. These were my great grandparents.

-Genealogy and information from my husband's family lines, some surnames include: Terry, Wilson (Olsen), Warner (Warneke), Swinborne, Hannan, Waterhouse, Proctor, Jennie/Jenny.

-Spotlight profiles of notable ancestors: I have found in my research many veterans, pioneers, politicians, Freemasons, entertainers, town founders, and even nobles and royalty.

-Spotlight profiles on important locations connected to our families. Just a few are Monongalia County, West Virginia; Pulaski, Tennessee; Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, CA; Ipswitch, Massachusetts; Yorkshire, England; Lanarkshire, Scotland; Alsace-Lorraine France/Germany; Flanders (Modern-Day Belgium)...and many others.

-Culture details: Posts exploring the various cultures of our ancestors. Time period, religion, political happenings, locations...these can all influence what life was like for our ancestors during certain times. I would also like to post recipes (either specifically from our families, or recipes from their time and place, something they would have likely eaten). I have quite a few recipes from my great grandmother's recipe stash I would like to share, for example.

-Family Mysteries: Rumors, people who disappear from the record without a trace,  ancestors with common names who are hard to ID in records, that sort of thing. Things about our family that seem to bring up more questions than answers. I LOVE mysteries and I know there will be some I want to track here not just for the entertainment of others, but for myself- to keep a journal/record of my investigations and to document findings or possible leads.

-Family stories. I think that one is pretty self-explanatory.

-DNA results: I recently had a DNA test done to track ancestry and trait, and even health, information. I found out some interesting things. My husband will be taking his DNA test soon as well and I look forward to finding out what it says!

For now that's all I can think of. If I think of any more I'll edit this post and add on. I'm going to sleep now. I'm so tired I can hardly see straight!

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Note: I will be trying to avoid posting any sensitive personal information here. As such I will not be revealing the names or sensitive details of anyone living. I will be signing my blog as "Evie". I will be referring to my husband as "Thor" (He's Norwegian :-P ), our daughter as "Spunky" and our son as "Tank".  We have another on the way and for now I'm just going to call her "Baby".

Thanks for checking out my blog! :-)
Evie