Blog Caroling - The Carol of the Bells

My Christmas this year is filled with bells, and the carols playing are no different. The Carol of the Bells is based on a Ukrainian song and was adapted by Peter Wilhousky, who lived down the street from me when I was a child. He was long retired by that time, but it was a thrill to know he created the carol we were singing. 

The lyrics are layered - the carol is sung in under two minutes. But it is tremendous, tremendous fun. 

Blog Caroling is an annual tradition started by Footnote Maven. It is a joy to participate again this year. 

Baubles, bangles and bells ~ Celebrating Christmas

As a family historian, a second generation American of Eastern European ancestry and long time lover of musicals, tradition - no - TRADITION means everything. Come Christmas, however, and traditions can overwhelm. 

I want it all. The Christmas of my childhood. The Christmas of my faith. The Christmases of our families' past. The Christmas of today.   What I end up with are layers and layers of moments, each a link to a Christmas past.  

The music playing references our heritage and our own lives. Slavonic, Latin and English hymns. Folk music and saxophones. Choirs and bells. When the Hallelujah Chorus plays I remember singing it myself for the first time, my daughter's choir, and my mother giggling as she told us of the time she "hallelujahed" a beat to soon. One unanticipated solo. 

This year I was able to spend several days decorating our tree. For the last few years we've traveled at Christmas, visiting family and celebrating afar. No trees put up at home. It was a luxury and joy to reflect on each ornament as I hung it on our mishmash tree. 

There are wheat ornaments from Kansas that remind me of our first home and daughter's birth - and of my husband's ancestors who settled there a century earlier. Tin instruments that make me think of the music we've played over the generations.

A straw ornament from my cousins in Slovakia reminds me of a stable. Lovely little birds make me think of my three mothers - birth, in-law and step. Birders all. 

There are stars that reflect beaches we've walked on. Stars that remind me of the Carpathian mountains. Stars because we remember a Star in the East. A lobster that reminds me of summer dinners and winter parties. 

Angels who herald or chime, angels that hung on trees of grandmothers and great-grandmothers decades ago. 

Our lady of the torch reminds me of a frantic visit decades ago and the earlier passages of my grandparents almost 100 years ago. Our Lady of the tree is an ornament I made 50 years ago. 

There are church spires from Frederick, Maryland and from farther east. And lighthouses from the coasts we've lived on to bring us safely home.

A small home or cabin covered in snow reminds me of growing up in Connecticut and of the many generations of my family who have lived in the mountains. 

A very old Santa from my parents' Air Force days in Europe still peeks out from behind Alice in Wonderland - one of the many children's book characters hiding in the tree because we read. 

My sister's carousel brings back the our early adult years, when money was tight but her love was shared. I remember rides with her in Binghamton at the carousels and watching my own children whirl round on ones at carnivals and even looking over the Grand River in Michigan.

But above all there are bells. Bells that remind me of church and choirs and songs ringing out across the fields. Bells that help me remember that time and those we love pass, traditions change, but the joy and beauty of Christmas can lift our spirits each winter. 

Saturday Night Fun - Ancestral Name Numbers

Randy Seaver has handed me an easy way to get back to blogging with this week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge. Easy, but pretty depressing, were I a negative type of person. (Those who know me are guffawing. I am never the optimist.)

After similar posts made on geneablogs and social media, Randy suggested we calculate the percent of ancestors we've identified going back 10 generations. Luckily I'm in a glass is half-full mode and not too dismayed by my 14% total. Given that my father is a first generation American whose family is from the Carpathian Mountains, I'm pleased I broke the ten percent threshold.

I ran Legacy's Ancestor Book report for 10 generations and started counting. I'm golden through my 2nd great-grandparents, but then the numbers drop off. Precipitously.

In addition to my mystery Rusyns, I have all those lovely Southern ancestors. Ancestors who simply appear in Tennessee with only a few breadcrumbs to follow. Women recorded as Sarah, wife of great-grandpa so and so.  Smiths and Jameses living in the mountains of Virginia. Mountain people are hard to trace.

So 14% is where I am. I don't know if I'll ever get much further, but I've made some progress in the last 25 years. Future breakthroughs will be worth far more than whatever small percentage they add to the number.

Rosemary Popp Wiktorek - Wordless Wednesday

31 July 1925 - 29 July 2012

Leonard Holt & Judith Mason Marriage Bond - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

This is another transcription of documents copied last year at the Library of Virginia - the marriage bond for my 4th great-grandparents Leonard and Judith Mason Holt. 

Know all men by these present that we Leonard Holt & Daniel Driskill are held and firmly bound unto James Munroe Governor of The Commonwealth of Virginia in the Sum of One Hundred and fifty Dollars to the which paiment will and Truly to be made to the said Governor or his successors we bind ourselves our heirs Executors and Administrators Jointly & severally firmly by these presents Sealed and Dated this 28 Day of September 1800
     The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a Marriage shortly intended to be had and Solemnized between the above bound Leonard Holt & Judith Mason both of the County of Campbell

If therefore there by no Legal cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation to be void
                                                                his
Sealed & Delivered }                Leonard   X  Holt  {LS}
                                                             mark
In presence of         }                 Daniel Driskill       {LS}    


Source
Campbell County, Virginia, Marriage Bonds & Consents, 1782-1853, Holt-Mason, 1800; Library of Virginia Campbell microfilm #44, item 221.