When it comes to the “UNUSUAL” in genealogy research, the
best place to find it is in a historical society. More often than not, it will
be the lucky recipient of family papers, photo albums, and scrapbooks that
people don’t know what to do with when a family member dies.
As a volunteer with the Greene County Historical Society
in Stanardsville, Virginia, I have completed several indexing projects that
could be beneficial to many researchers who trace their lineage to early
families in Greene County.
For example, the
Early Family scrapbooks contain greeting
cards, newspaper clippings, funeral memorial cards, school and church programs
collected by Mrs. Early for over 50 years. She saved any tidbit related to her
family, her extended family, her distant family, friends, and neighbors. While
my line and hers do not intersect, I found several news articles that mentioned
my relatives. One article even had a photo that gave me my first look at the
woman who had been explicitly denied any inheritance from her husband’s father,
my great-grandmother’s brother. She looked like a sweet lady, hardly the
gold-digging shrew depicted in the will. One interesting newspaper article Mrs.
Early saved told me the story about Seal, a dog that “attended” the University
of Virginia. I recalled my dad telling about
Seal but did not remember the
significance until I read the story.
The Price-Hill Daybooks are a record of the general
store’s daily sales. Every page lists the names of customers, what they
purchased, the cost of each item, and how they paid offering clues to the daily
life of the citizens and their economics. Probably learning that someone bought
Lyons Kathairon which supposedly cured baldness or they were in need of more
Mexican Mustang Liniment is a bit like peering into someone’s bedroom, but the
purchases tell a story. There are also genealogical clues to be found in the
day books. For example, one entry shows Thomas Gordon as “guardian of Frances
Gordon.” Some customers sent their “boy” or their “girl” to pick up an order.
Since there are entries including “son” and “daughter,” I believe these
designations indicate a servant.
 |
| Inside cover |
The
Hamm Daybooks are 15 years of records kept by the
local tailor Joseph H. Hamm from 1856-1871. What an amazing social history
revealing who was having a coat repaired, who was ordering clothes for a
wedding, who needed a frock, and even who needed new underwear! The selected
fabrics and trims hint at the customer’s personal economics and social status.
While
none of my Jolletts seemed to have been Mr. Hamm’s customers, a distant cousin
George Sampson was. In March of 1863, he paid $1.00 to have a jeans coat cut.
 |
Page from the Hamm Daybooks
31 March 1863 |
My 3X great-grandfather’s brother Thomas Marshall paid Hamm $1.50 to make him a
black velvet hat. Since the records cover the time of the Civil War, it is
enlightening to read what work Hamm provided for Union soldiers in Virginia.
 |
My 2X great-grandfather and his son Burton Lewis
registered to vote in 1902 |
The
Voter Registration Books in Greene County are full of
genealogical details that go far beyond the date someone registered. A date of
birth will be more accurate than one found in a census record or death
certificate even because the information was supplied by the person himself,
not an informant. Transfers in and out of a precinct are noted, usually along
with the date. Occupations are listed as are removals from the rolls due to
death. Sometimes the registrar added notes such as the father’s name, a
nickname, or “brother of” to distinguish voters with similar names. I must
admit, I was a bit surprised to learn my great-great grandfather James Franklin
Jollett was 66 years old when he finally registered to vote. What took him so
long? He might have been a bit slow, but his granddaughter Blanche Jollett Gentry
and his granddaughter-in-law Mary Neville Peluso Jollett were among the first
women to register when suffrage was at long last granted in 1920.
 |
White Women - Husckstep Precinct of Monroe District
Blanche Gentry was 30 years old. |
 |
White Women - Husckstep Precinct of Monroe District
Mary Neville Peluso Jollett was 24 |
Amy Johnson Crow continues to challenge genealogy
bloggers and non-bloggers alike to think about our ancestors and share a story
or photo about them. The challenge is “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.”
Wendy
© 2021, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
