Ok, so let's get back on track. Here's what I have on my plate these days:
- Process the 60 pages of genealogy papers I copied from the Thomas Hume papers at UNC's Southern Historical Collection last week. In order to make heads or tails of it, I need to reconstruct Thomas Hume's genealogy and find the connection to the Godwin family of Nansemond Co., VA and then try to understand the connection with Mildred Holliday who wrote a LOT about the Godwin family. Oh yeah and then I have to determine if my line of Godwins descend from this line!!!
- Process the O'Neal family wills, photos and genealogies that one of my Family Finder matches sent to me. (Yes, a confirmed "cousin!") My match is in her 80s so if I want to learn more information about the O'Neal family I better ask sooner rather than later!
- Finish entering information on the William Godwin who married Pheriby who moved to Georgia and then settled in Alabama in the 1800s. One of his descendants took the 12-marker Y-DNA test and came back as a 100% match to the group of Godwins that my line descends from. A 12-marker match is not enough to prove we have a common ancestor, however, this tester does not match any other Godwin/Goodwin in the project. We hope a higher marker test will be performed in the near future. I have also been entering data about a similar William who is often confused with this one. He married Winnefred (maiden name thought to be Farabee). You can see why there might be confusion. Although this William lived and died in Johnston Co., NC in 1845, his heirs settled in Dale Co., Alabama.
- Process the new Find-A-Grave photos for the Barton Family that someone took and posted for me from Center Point Cemetery in Howard County, Arkansas.
I really need to stop starting new projects until I finish existing projects. And I need to process items that I obtain from libraries, archives and from other researchers or family members. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this problem though!
Hey Ginger - is there some sort of self-imposed deadlines at work here? Some terribly important reason to get everything done at once -? Pick one, then work on it. You've described a very big elephant... and you know how to eat one of those (one bite at a time). We all know that there are always lots of lines to research, and so very many new things to process and work with. BUT - your eyes and fingers can only handle one at a time. Give yourself a break here. Maybe the elderly cousin is the only one with any kind of a 'rush' to meet with. Take care - and know that having a dozen projects is very normal, so it's controlling our urge to tackle all at once, that is important!
ReplyDeleteHi Celia, thanks for the reality check. That's probably why I'm feeling so overwhelmed - because I think I have to do it all at once! I just know me and if I don't do it now it will never get done and I will probably forget all about it. Thanks for the advice on working with my elderly cousin first. She's been a real pleasure to work with so far and I'm enjoying the relationship we've built.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginger! I have the same feeling as you: overwhelmed by everything there is to do genealogy-related! My blog post from yesterday has the same theme, only I'm overwhelmed by all the new info available through blogs, webinars, tweets, etc. I'm always looking at the next new thing, and am not really doing a good job of focusing on the research tasks at hand. I need to focus, pick a topic, and complete that task, then move on to something new. Good luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteI *try* to make room in my day for a little bit of everything, but sometimes I just have to put down the new stuff and focus on the old. Kind of like closing Facebook for a while ;-)
DeleteHi Ginger!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was Mary Ruth Godwin Dyal. Her parents were Henry Jacob Godwin and Zannie Cobb Davis. Henry's parents were Johnathan John Godwin and Mary Wilson. I am trying to find more information about this line. Do you have any thing you can share? My email is mary316@gmail.com
Thanks!
Hi Mary, I sent you an email, but have not received a reply. Can you tell me where your Godwins are from? Thanks
DeleteHi Ginger! I'm not sure but my phone has been doing crazy things lately so maybe that's why I didn't get your email. Sorry! My Godwin's lived in south Alabama and for a short time the Florida Panhandle. Henry Jacob's birthday was 6/7/1881 and he died 11/7/1974. Johnathan John Godwin's (b. 4/11/1833 d. 5/8/1914) parents were William M. Godwin II and Elizabeth McCabe Brewton. Hopefully some of this helps. I am also looking at Zilla Godwin who was married to a Jesse Baggett. I'd like to piece together who her parents were. My father's mother was Mary Ruth Godwin and his dad was Don Carlos Dyal. My grandpa Dyal's mother was Pearl Agnes Baggett. I have recently started looking into the Baggett side and Zilla Godwin popped up. I never knew the Baggett's and Godwin's were related. Sorry to overload you with so much information! Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, yes, I just learned of the Godwin-Baggett marriage myself. Zilla Godwin who married Jesse Baggett is thought to have been the daughter of Richard Godwin and Zilla Thomas who moved from Sampson Co., NC to Hancock Co., GA. Unfortunately there were a LOT of Godwins in AL and according to DNA analysis they were NOT all related :( I'd be happy to discuss this with you further in email. My email is ginger.reney@gmail.com
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