Happy Birthday to Me!

The Death of Ottoway Bullock

Many early North Carolina marriage licenses indicate whether the parents of the bride and groom were alive or dead. Since official death certificates did not begin until 1913 in North Carolina, this information on the marriage licenses has been invaluable in my family research prior to 1913. In order to estimate the time frame of death for North Carolina ancestors who died prior to 1913, it is necessary to locate the marriage licenses of all of their children if possible, not just your direct line.

Ottoway Bullock, who was born February 1832, was the father of my great great grandfather Andrew Bullock (1862-1915). Through searching the marriage licenses of Andrew’s brothers Oscar and Nathan, I have been able to determine that Ottoway Bullock died sometime between March 1906 and December 1907.

• Oscar Bullock, married Mattie Burnett on March 11, 1906. The marriage license states that his father, Ottoway Bullock, was alive.
  
• Nathaniel (Nathan) Bullock, married Lillian Howard on December 29, 1907 in the Smith Creek township of Warren County. Nathan’s parents were listed as Julia Bullock, who was still living, and O. Bullock who was listed as dead by this date. (I assume that O. Bullock stood for Ottoway Bullock.
  
  

Marriage License of Oscar Bullock to Mattie Burnett

Marriage License of Nathan Bullock to Lillian Howard

Traditional Funeral Attire

For older generations such as my great grandmother Bell Bullock Johnson (1890-1982), it was customary to wear all black to a funeral. The black apparel also included a black hat. This custom has not been necessarily continued as a whole with younger generations. Below are photos from a family funeral in Richmond, VA that occurred possibly in the 1970s.

(Front) Aunt Bessie Bullock Carroll (1901-1991), a sister of my great grandmother Bell. Grandma Bell is the lady in the back.

(Left to right) Aunt Bessie; Emma, a daughter of Bell and Bessie’s sister Channie; and Grandma Bell. Here we see more of the outfits of the older ladies wearing black dresses, hats, and purses, and their niece wearing a flora print dress. Even though we can’t tell from the photos, I assume that the older ladies were also wearing black shoes.

Verlena, daughter of Bessie and Bell’s sister Mima; Aunt Bessie; and Emma, daughter of Bessie and Bell’s sister Channie. I do not know the name of the little girl, but she is a granddaughter of Emma. In this photo, we see more of a contrast between the clothing of the older lady and the younger ones.

I Love Your Blog Award

I am honored to be one of the recipients of the “I Love Your Blog Award.” Many thanks go to fellow Bloggers Msteri of Heritage Happens, and Miriam Midkiff of AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors for nominating me for this award.

The rules associated with this award are as follows:

• Can put the logo on his/her blog


• Must link to the person who gave the award


• Must nominate 7 other blogs and link to them


• Must leave a comment on each of the nominated blogs

I have added the "I Love Your Blog Award" logo to my blog and have also placed links to the persons who gave me this award in this posting.

Additionally, as a recipient of this award, I am required to nominate seven other blogs. Below, is a list of my nominations for the “I Love Your Blog Award.”

1. Steve’s Genealogy Blog by Stephen Danko
   
2. Creative Gene by Jasia
   
3. Welcome to My World by Judy Roo
   
4. The Blessedness of Believing by Linda Meadows
   
5. Genealogy – Photograph – Restoration by George Geder
   
6. Life in Possum Holler by Carolyn Billingsley
   
7. Footnote Maven by Footnote Maven

Finally, I will leave comments on each of these blogs.

Thanks again to Msteri and Miriam for your nominations. I am honored to be included in a group of such Great Bloggers.

My Ten Favorite How-To Genealogy Books

Like most genealogist, I have a ton of genealogy related books. These books include numerous how to genealogy books for beginner to advanced levels, as well as county, city, and church histories.


Below are ten of my favorite How-to genealogy books and workbooks.

1. Allen, Desmond Walls, First Steps in Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Family History, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1998.
2. Burrough, Tony, Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree, New York: A Fireside Book-Simon & Schuster, 2001.
3. Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo, A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Immigrant and Ethnic Ancestors, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2005.
4. Croom, Emily, Unpuzzling Your Past: The Best Selling Basic Guide to Genealogy, 4th Edition, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2001.
5. Croom, Emily, The Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook: Essential forms and letters for Genealogist, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 1996.
6. Hartley, William, G., The Everything Family Tree Book, Finding, Charting, and Preserving Your Family History, Holbrook, Massachussetts: Adams Media Corporation, 1998.
7. Melnyk, Marcia D. Yannizze, Family History 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Ancestors, Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books, 2005.
8. Melnyk, Marcia D. Yannizze, The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research, Cincinnati, Ohio: Betterway Books, 2000.
9. Renick, Barbara, Genealogy 101: How to Trace Your Family History and Heritage, Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 2003.
10. Woodtor, Dee, Finding a Place Called Home : A Guide to African-
    American Genealogy and Historical Identity, New York : Random House, 1999.

How to Create a Slideshow on Facebook with your Photos

Beginner's Guide to using Facebook Applications : How to Create a Slideshow on Facebook Using your Photos : Facebook Tutorial -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Grandma Emma's Family Hat Traditon

Maternal Grandmother Emma

My grandmother’s generation and that of her ancestors, wore hats to church because of religious beliefs that a woman must have her head covered in church. This belief is based on the scripture by Paul the Apostle in the Bible.

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 1 Corinthians 11:5

My maternal grandmother, who is 86 years old now, still honors the hat tradition learned from her ancestors.

Grandma Emma's mother Bell

Grandma Bell (left) and her sisters Mollie and Channie

Grandma Luvenia, mother of Bell, and maternal grandmother of Emma

How to Register & Join Facebook

I joined the social network Facebook two weeks ago. Below is a video with information on how to set up an account.
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Beginner's Guide to using Facebook Applications : How to Register and Join Facebook : Tips for Using Facebook Online -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

How to Use the "Wall" on your Facebook Page

Beginner's Guide to using Facebook Applications : How to Use the Wall on your Facebook Page : Facebook Tutorial -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

How to Create & Build a Facebook Profile

Beginner's Guide to using Facebook Applications : How to Create and Build a Facebook Profile : Beginner Instructions for Facebook -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

60 Minutes – Facebook

This is an interview by 60 Minutes of Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old CEO and developer of Facebook.

Aunt Mary’s Notebook

Aunt Mary Johnson (1927-1986) was a sister of my maternal grandmother. One of the things I inherited of hers is a notebook which contains Bible study and church notes. A cousin gave me this 7.5 x 8 notebook that was written possibly around 1953 and 1954. Only two pages of this notebook contain dates. Most of the pages are handwritten, but one page it typewritten. When I was a young girl, I used to receive letters written from Aunt Mary. However, I do not have any of those letters now. The gift of this notebook is precious because it gives me a sample of Aunt Mary’s handwriting that I used to read many years ago. Aunt Mary served Little Mt. Zion Holy Church in White Plains, NY as Sunday school teacher, president of the choir, vice president of the missionary department, member of the usher board, and secretary. Some of these notes in this notebook may have been recorded as Church secretary.

Bible Study Notes

Typewritten Notes


Youth Day Offering