Summer's almost over..... :D

Thing have been so crazy here. Summer was great, did a lot of camping. Fed the deer up north at a refuge, my daughter was in baseball (her team took 3rd place!), my husband's family had family reunions, my great neice & nephew came up from Virginia for a visit, went swimming A LOT, and our foster baby J, (we got him at 5 days old) went to live with his birth father. (J was 17 months old when he left us)

I am so ready for school to start, but we are gonna go camping one more time! I did find over the summer, my husband's great great grandfather August's death certificate. For those of you who don't know my husband, his name is Martin.... check out the Father's name on August's death certificate!!! :)

Gravestone Symbolism

I love old gravestones, they are so beautiful and with great meaning. I never knew what some meant, so

I did some research into the meanings of symbols on gravestones. Listed below are some of the symbols commonly used and what they mean. (I have gathered all over the internet)

Anchor: The Anchor represents a steadfast hope. There is life after death.
Arch: We are separated from our loved ones now, but we will spend eternity together in heaven.
Birds: Birds represent the soul.
Cherub: A cherub represents divine wisdom.
Broken Column: A life cut short.
Conch shell: The wisdom of a wise man.
The Cross, the Anchor, and the Bible: The trial, the victory, and the reward.
Crown: Eternal reward and glory.
Dove: Holy Spirit, purity and love
Evergreen: Eternal Life
Garland: Christ was victorious over death.
Ivy: Faithfulness
Lamb: Innocence.
Laurel: Victory
Lily: The resurrection
Olive Branch: Peace and Forgiveness
Palms: Victory over death.
Peacock: Eternal life.
Skeleton: Life is short.
Star of David: God
Snake in a Circle: Everlasting life.
Flag: liberty and loyalty. Often seen on military markers.
Stars & Stripes around an Eagle: Eternal vigilance and liberty. Often seen on U.S. military markers.
Sword: often indicates military service. When found on the base of the stone might indicate infantry.
Horse: May indicate calvalry.
Eagle: courage, faith and generosity. May indicate military service.
Shield: Strength and courage. May indicate military service.
Rifle: often indicates military service.
Cannon: generally indicates military service. When found on the base of the stone it may indicate artillery.
Crossed Swords: Lost in battle. (Also may indicate a military person of high rank)
Torch: Eternal Life.
Triangle: The Trinity.
Weeping Willow: Grief
Heart: victory of the soul over death
Hands reached to the sky: signifying a belief in life after death.
Hands pointing down: as though to depict the hand of god confirming mortality.
Hands clasped in prayer: devotion or a couple reunited in death.
Handshake: soul saying goodbye to earthly life.

Links to others:
http://www.everlifememorials.com/v/headstones/cemetery-symbolism.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headstone
http://www.thegraveyardrabbit.com/2008/12/links-to-articles-by-graveyard-rabbits_20.html

A variety of acronyms, such as GAR, DAR and SCV may also indicate military service or membership in a veteran's organization. These listed here are U.S. organizations.

CSA - Confederate States of America
DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution
GAR - Grand Army of the Republic
SAR - Sons of the American Revolution
SCV - Sons of Confederate Veterans
SSAWV - Sons of Spanish American War Veterans
UDC - United Daughters of the Confederacy
USD 1812 - Daughters of the War of 1812
USWV - United Spanish War Veterans
VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars


Speaking of graves, I always wondered why people put stones or rocks on gravestones, well... The Jewish tradition of leaving a pebble or stone on top of a tombstone signifies that someone has honored the deceased person’s memory with a visit to the grave. I have also heard that it commemorates the gathering of family and friends to mourn the deceased. Cool isn't it?

Pvt. Dee Lash

Born L. D. Lash on December 11, 1895 in Richfield, Genesee County, MI to John H. Lash and Cordelia Lane.
He worked for the city of Flint as a Laborer, according to his June 5, 1917, World War 1 Draft Registration Card.

He died July 20, 1918 at the 103rd Field Hospital in La Ferte, France. Died of wounds received during the battle of Chateau-Thierry. He was buried in the American section, La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, Grave #239.

According to correspondence in his military file he "was cheerful and quite optimistic when evacuated. Later died at hospital, and accorded military burial. Greatly admired by his fellow soldiers, his untimely death is sincerely regretted."

In July of 1921 his body was brought home, at first his final resting place was going to be Arlington Cemetery, but his father changed his mind and had him laid to rest in Gracelawn Cemetery, Flint, Genesee County, MI. There is no grave marker on his grave that I was able to find.

I have searched the Flint Journal paper for July 1918 and 1921, there is no mention of him dying or being brought home. There is no obituary, not even in the list of injuried soldiers is there anything mentioned of him.



Here are some World War 1 links that are helpful

http://www.worldwar1.com/
http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.overthefront.com/
http://chippewa.migenweb.net/gwarsoldier.htm

Lighthouse Tribe of Barkhamsted, CT

They were a quiet little community in the hills of Connecticut. Here is there story...

It all starts with JAMES CHAUGHUM and MOLLY BARBER. James was born to Samuel & Priscilla Chaughum circa 1710 on Block Island, Rhode Island. James went to worked as a gardener for Molly's father. Molly was born in Ireland about 1714. Her father's name could be Peter Barber, but it is unknown. It is unknown when they came to Wethersfield, CT.

The story goes that Molly had many male callers, she fell in love with a gentleman caller, and her father denied them to get married and locked her up on their grounds, the gentleman then moved out west. James seeing Molly so sad gave her a rose from the garden and a friendship blossomed. They eventually fell in love and decided to run away so they could be together. Molly's angered father chased them from Wethersfield, CT into an Indian village near Barkhamsted, were he passed right by Molly and didn't even recognize her. Molly and James then settled in the mountain range around Barkhamsted where they flourished.

They had 8 children in all; Sally, Samuel, Solomon, Meribah (Mary), Hannah Sands, Mercy, Mary (Polly), and Elizabeth. Samuel married a Miss. Green, Solomon married a Miss. Hayes, Meribah (Mary) married Samuel Lawerence, Hannah Sands married Ruben Barber in 1784, Mercy married Isaac Jacklyn, Mary (Polly) married William Wilson before 1797.

My link is Mary & William Wilson (click on their names above, and it will take you to their website)

Click here to view Photos from Book's on the Lighthouse tribe

Suggested Reading
A Village of Outcasts: Historical Archaeology and Documentary Research at the Lighthouse Site, by Kenneth L. Feder (Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View, California---1994).(Book cover scanned by Sherry L. Carsten)

Barkhamsted, CT and its centennial 1879, by William Wallace Lee, (Meriden, CT: Republican Steam Print, 1881).

The Legend of Barkhamsted Light House, by Lewis Sprauge Mills, (Lewis Sprauge Mill, publisher. Barkhamsted, CT).

Other Links to the Lighthouse

Stone Museum in People's State Forest, Pleasant Valley

Barkhamsted Historical Society

Lyman C. Lash

Born: 19 May 1826 - New York

Marriage: 9 Dec 1848 - Grand Blanc, Genesee, Michigan to Mary J. Reinhart

Census: 1850 - Atlas, Genesee, Michigan

Census: 1860 - Oregon, Lapeer, Michigan

Census: 1870 - Richfield, Genesee, Michigan

Census: 1880 - Richfield, Genesee, Michigan

Census: 1900 - Richfield, Genesee, Michigan

Death: 15 Jul 1902 - Richfield, Genesee, Michigan

Burial: 17 Jul 1902 - Richfield Union Cemetery, Richfield, Genesee, Michigan

_________________________________

Anyone have any other information?

UGH!

My computer crashed!! I lost all my genealogy files!!! :(

Mary Conley Hilliker - grave found!

Mary Conley born 23 June 1833 in Cayuga County, NY (calculated from her gravestone; says she was 38 years 9 months, 7 days).

I have her marriage to Lester Gibbs on 12 Nov 1850 in Lapeer County, Michigan (source Dibean Marriage Records), daughter Eleanor (Ella) born sometime between 1852-1854, I can't find her in the 1860 census, and she isn't with Lester or her daughter, which are with Philo & Mary Ann Gibbs in Dryden, Lapeer County, MI. According to Family Search, she marries to Charles Garner in 1861 in NY (but her surname is Traverse), between 1862-1864 they have Albert and Harriet Garner, all in Cayuga or Wayne County, NY. Charles dies in the Salisbury Prison in Salisbury, NC. Sometime after his death in December of 1864, but before 1868 she moves back to Lapeer County, Michigan.

She marries Mortimer Hilliker on 29 March 1868 (this is where I get Cayuga County, NY as her birth). Daughter Lillie is born in December 1868 in Dryden, Lapeer County, MI. I next find her in 1870 census with husband Mortimer in Dryden, Lapeer County, MI with Bert & Hattie as Hilliker's not Garner. She died on 1 April 1872 and is buried in Thornville Cemetery, Lapeer County, MI.

What I find interesting is...

1. I found Charles Garner in 1860 with Robert & Mary Conley in Cayuga County.
2. Mortimer Hilliker's brother Albert married Rebecca Conley daughter of Justice & Lucy Conley and has a sister named Mary.
3. I found Justus COONLEY (spelling different I know) with Ester, Lucey, Julia, Mary, Harriet, and Rebecca in Lapeer County in 1850
4. Mary is buried in the same cemetery as other Hilliker's but also with Gibbs and Eoff's.
   

Could my Mary be related to Albert's wife Rebecca? Could Robert and Mary Conley who Charles Garner is living with be related to my Mary? Where oh where did my Mary go??