My great grandfather was a Civil War veteran. His name was John Jackson Hollandsworth, called "Jack". He was born April 21, 1838 in Franklin County, Virginia.
Jack Hollandsworth enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 25 on August 1, 1863 at Christiansburg, Virginia in Montgomery County. He was a Private in Company K, 22nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry, McAustin's Brigade. Enlistment was for a period of three years. His Captain was John Francis.
After serving for a little over one year, he was captured at Strasburg, September 23, 1864. J. J. Hollandsworth's name appeared on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, captured by General Sheridan's Forces, and sent to Point Lookout, Maryland on September 30, 1864.
J. J. Hollandsworth's name appeared as signature to a Roll of Prisoners of War paroled at Point Lookout, Maryland and transferred to Aiken's Landing, Virginia March 17, 1865, for exchange.
In an interview with my grandfather's sister, Naomi Hollandsworth Holley, she remembered her father raring back in his chair telling about battles in Gettysburg. After the war, his nickname was "General Jackson". He died February 13, 1920, age 82. Jack Hollandsworth is buried in the Cahill Cemetery next to his wife, Orpah Anne Cahill Hollandsworth, who died in 1933, one day shy of her 88th birthday.
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Information from copies of original records ordered by Avis C. Turner, personal research, and interviews.
An item in the Martinsville Bulletin's Stroller on June 24, 2011, told about a new interactive online resource. "Walk in Their Footsteps" helps visitors identify and follow Civil War Regiments through battles in Virginia. The program-www.VirginiaCivilWar.org/footsteps-has history and genealogy resources.
I recently found interesting maps and lists of Virginia battles.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Pounding
Several days after his father died, Clifford went to a nearby store in the wagon to get some corn meal ground. He came back with 6 pokes of flour, 1 sack of Daisy Middlings, 1 sack of meal, 10 pounds of sugar, 2 pounds of coffee, one dollar's worth of beans, an envelope of money, and this note:
"Whereas the said Homer Carter met with death in an areplain (sic) and has left a wife and fore (sic) children and they are weakly and left them very dependent and we the people feel it our duty to give her money to help her bar (sic) her many berdens (sic) and sign our name below."
Two sheets of lined paper listed 85 names and their contributions totaling $161.50. I'm sure the custom of helping neighbors out in time of need by giving a "pounding" (a pound of sugar, flour, coffee, etc.) and the gifts of money made things a little easier for Annie Carter and her children.
Annie died two years later on June 1, 1928, age 37, after a measles epidemic. The four children stayed on the farm until December, when the place was sold. Then, they came to Bassett and boarded with various friends and relatives.
"Whereas the said Homer Carter met with death in an areplain (sic) and has left a wife and fore (sic) children and they are weakly and left them very dependent and we the people feel it our duty to give her money to help her bar (sic) her many berdens (sic) and sign our name below."
Two sheets of lined paper listed 85 names and their contributions totaling $161.50. I'm sure the custom of helping neighbors out in time of need by giving a "pounding" (a pound of sugar, flour, coffee, etc.) and the gifts of money made things a little easier for Annie Carter and her children.
Annie died two years later on June 1, 1928, age 37, after a measles epidemic. The four children stayed on the farm until December, when the place was sold. Then, they came to Bassett and boarded with various friends and relatives.
The Day the Airplane Fell
On that Sunday afternoon in the spring of 1926 I can picture friends, neighbors, relatives, old and young, watching the airplane rides from the edge of a large, open field. It must have been exciting to the farmers, housewives, and children to watch this still "new-fangled" flying machine take off, circle around with each passenger, then land--safely--and to hear each person telling of the thrill of their airplane ride.
Homer Carter watched and listened intently. He really wanted to go up in that airplane, but had forgotten his "pocketbook". Suddenly, someone said, "Go on Homer, it's your turn."
Homer Carter declined. Then, "I dare you!".
Homer replied, "I don't have the money." So, a hat was passed among the spectators and the fee was collected. Ironically, as Homer and the pilot walked toward the airplane, someone playfully teased, "What kind of flowers do you want for the funeral?"
My dad, Homer's only son, stood watching apprehensively. Fifteen year old Clifford had on a new pair of shoes that fateful Sunday, but when that airplane fell, he tore across the field as hard as he could. As Homer was being put into a vehicle for transportation to the hospital, a relative told the children to tell their father good-bye. Clifford watched helplessly as Homer spoke his last and only words, "I'm cold."
My grandfather Homer Richard Carter, who married Annie Lura Young in 1907, died May 3, 1926, age 40, from his injuries in the plane crash near Henry Station in Franklin County, Virginia. The pilot was not hurt.
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Little stories do make genealogy more interesting.
Homer Carter watched and listened intently. He really wanted to go up in that airplane, but had forgotten his "pocketbook". Suddenly, someone said, "Go on Homer, it's your turn."
Homer Carter declined. Then, "I dare you!".
Homer replied, "I don't have the money." So, a hat was passed among the spectators and the fee was collected. Ironically, as Homer and the pilot walked toward the airplane, someone playfully teased, "What kind of flowers do you want for the funeral?"
My dad, Homer's only son, stood watching apprehensively. Fifteen year old Clifford had on a new pair of shoes that fateful Sunday, but when that airplane fell, he tore across the field as hard as he could. As Homer was being put into a vehicle for transportation to the hospital, a relative told the children to tell their father good-bye. Clifford watched helplessly as Homer spoke his last and only words, "I'm cold."
My grandfather Homer Richard Carter, who married Annie Lura Young in 1907, died May 3, 1926, age 40, from his injuries in the plane crash near Henry Station in Franklin County, Virginia. The pilot was not hurt.
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Little stories do make genealogy more interesting.
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Family Tree
Genealogy--tracing the family tree--has been a hobby for many years. "A recorded history of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor or ancestors", that's what Webster's Dictionary says, but it is so much more. It is an engrossing hobby anyone can do--and, I believe, everyone should do. They're not perfect--our ancestors--but by studying the past we can better understand the present, and plan the future to make it better for us and our children.
I have started traing four different main lines--my paternal and maternal lines: Carter and Hollandsworth, and my husband's: Turner and Conner. I published The Carter Family Tree in the 1980's and am currently working on my Grandmother Hollandsworth's story--raising six children as a widow beginning in 1915 near the boom-town of Fayerdale in Patrick County where Fairy Stone State Park is today.
In between these two, I've kept tracing, working on lots of sidelines, collecting and writing little stories, newsletters, and games. I've taken pictures, written short articles about them, made postcards, booklets and reports.
I love to write and enjoy our local Piedmont Writers Group. We've done several booklets, and now are working on a new one.
I have pictures displayed in my hallway--some hang on the wall, some on a shelf that I change every so often.
I've about gotten used to the digital camera. Sometimes I miss the cameras using a roll of film, taking 24 or 36 pictures, remove film, drop off, pick up later (I do like next-day better than two weeks). The digital takes awhile to enter, rotate some pictures, look and decide, submit order, then wait 15-30 minutes--and they're done! Amazing. Sometimes I wait, but I look around the store, find some sales, and I buy more stuff.
My camera has a button to push part way to focus, then all the way down to snap pictures. The trouble with that is granddaughter Chloe Jean-Ellen is there which I focus, then when I snap the picture, she's already gone! But, I still love to take pictures.
I have started traing four different main lines--my paternal and maternal lines: Carter and Hollandsworth, and my husband's: Turner and Conner. I published The Carter Family Tree in the 1980's and am currently working on my Grandmother Hollandsworth's story--raising six children as a widow beginning in 1915 near the boom-town of Fayerdale in Patrick County where Fairy Stone State Park is today.
In between these two, I've kept tracing, working on lots of sidelines, collecting and writing little stories, newsletters, and games. I've taken pictures, written short articles about them, made postcards, booklets and reports.
I love to write and enjoy our local Piedmont Writers Group. We've done several booklets, and now are working on a new one.
I have pictures displayed in my hallway--some hang on the wall, some on a shelf that I change every so often.
I've about gotten used to the digital camera. Sometimes I miss the cameras using a roll of film, taking 24 or 36 pictures, remove film, drop off, pick up later (I do like next-day better than two weeks). The digital takes awhile to enter, rotate some pictures, look and decide, submit order, then wait 15-30 minutes--and they're done! Amazing. Sometimes I wait, but I look around the store, find some sales, and I buy more stuff.
My camera has a button to push part way to focus, then all the way down to snap pictures. The trouble with that is granddaughter Chloe Jean-Ellen is there which I focus, then when I snap the picture, she's already gone! But, I still love to take pictures.
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