#family history blog

[epicstoriestime]

A Grandfather I Never Knew

James Elwood Burchfield Jr. passed away on April 30, 2021, at the age of 93. He lived a long life, filled with stories I’ll never get to hear firsthand, but it’s clear he made an impact on the world around him. He served in the Navy during World War II, retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, and was a proud Mason. Born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1927, he saw decades of history unfold, and I can…

[twistingtreeancestry]

Acadian Genealogy Research | My Biggest Regret

Image by www.epictop10.com. The website is no longer functional and is up for sale. I cannot find another site for this creator. Found on Flicker.com

— — — — — — — — —

I was born and raised Cajun in Southwest Louisiana with my paternal family, all Cajuns and Acadians as far back as I've been able to trace to that period. My paternal grandmother's side was Catholic while my paternal grandfather's side was Baptist.

At some point in my youth, I was given my grandfather's family bible, which had his lineage back to France written on the front inner flap of the cover.

The family bible was roughly 13" tall by 8" wide with a depth of about 1 ½". It had a cream-white background and the title "Holy Bible" was embossed with a shimmery dark golden ink or paint. The title was stylized in large font in the upper center right of the front cover with the "o" in "Holy" aligning over the "B" in "Bible".

Since my family unit was constantly being moved around at the time, most of my possessions lived in boxes that stayed behind at relatives' houses. The family bible was among those possessions, and eventually, the contents of these boxes were largely forgotten.

A few years after my grandparents died, I was finally in a place to receive my boxes. When I rediscovered the family bible, I didn't feel like I should be the steward of it as I wasn't Christian, wouldn't be having kids, and didn't care about genealogy at the time.

Instead, I decided it should go to a responsible family member who would be able to enjoy it and continue to pass it down. Sadly, no one accepted it for a variety of valid reasons. My life then hit some gnarly turbulence and I was again constantly on the move.

I began noticing that with each move, the family bible was becoming more damaged because I could no longer protect it properly. I had since gone no contact with all of my family, and reaching back out was not an option.

A couple months after noticing the accruing damage, I stopped in a random town to donate even more of my belongings to a Goodwill shop. I accidentally gave them a box with my necessities in it, including the family bible. Thankfully, I quickly realized the error and was able to get the box back.

When they saw the tape sealing the box had been cut open, the volunteers suggested I go through the contents to ensure nothing was missing. It had merely been rifled through, likely to take inventory.

The family bible was visible, and one of the volunteers asked about it. I told them a tl;dr version of my experience with it and the fears I had over it being destroyed. The volunteer went over the option of donating it and assured me that it was highly likely to find a good home in that town. I agreed to leave it in their hands and continued on my way.

After not being able to get it out of my head for a few days, I decided to call the Goodwill store to inquire if they still had the family bible. I learned that it had just finished processing the day before and was bought after only 4ish hours of being put out on the sales floor. I've since kicked myself plenty of times, especially once I fell into genealogy.

I no longer remember the ink-etched names of my forebears. I don't even remember the state I was in (though I have a list of likely states*), let alone the city.

I often wonder what ever became of the family bible. I harbor no musings that I will ever again have possession of it, but I hope that it's been cared for and will one day reunite with my grandfather's descendants.

It is indubitably not only the biggest regret I have regarding my Acadian genealogy research but also considering the genealogy research of other Cajuns and Acadians who might have benefitted from such a primary source of lineage.

* — Possible states: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming — Possible time frame: ~2010s

[sharonmunroe09]

Family History Blog

Family History Blog Sharon Munroe's story is an autobiographical account of a pragmatic Australian family bestowed with handsome good looks and exceptional intelligence; we follow their journey spanning over a century going from affluence to bankruptcy, failure to success, and the turbulent inbetweens. Read the blog.

[wh0-is-lily]

Anjelica Huston (Christian Dior ad, 1973) Marie Claire Magazine Photograph by Bob Richardson

[sailoreuterpe]

[wonder-worker]

Thinking about Elizabeth Woodville as a gothic heroine is making me go insane. She entered the story by overturning existing social structures, provoking both ire and fascination. She married into a dynasty doomed to eat itself alive. She was repeatedly associated with the supernatural, both in terms of love and death. Her life was shaped entirely by uncanny repetitions - two marriages, two widowhoods, two depositions, two flights to sanctuary, two ultimate reclamations, all paralleling and ricocheting off each other. Her plight after 1483 exposed the true rot at the heart of the monarchy - the trappings of royalty pulled away to reveal nothing, a never-ending cycle of betrayal and war, the price of power being the (literal) blood of children. She lived past the end of her family name, she lived past the end of her myth. She ended her life in a deeply anomalous position, half-in and half-out of royal society. She was both a haunting tragedy and the ultimate survivor who was finally free.

[thepaintedroom]

William Orpen (British/Irish, 1878–1931) • A Bloomsbury Family • 1907

[efverse]

so. heres the deal. IF this victini fixation lasts for the entire month of december, minimum...i will make a separate side blog for it. if it fizzles out before the new year. then i will just keep it all here...

[presleysgirl6]

Rare unseen candids of young Elvis (found in a Facebook group)

Note the black lace shirt he’s wearing in the candids above is the same shirt he wore in the photos below

These three pictures below were taken July 15th, 1955 at the Joy Drive-In Theater (the last two photos were taken at the theater manager’s house on the same night)

[bl-bam-beyond]

A NEW BL MOVIE from TAIWAN

Title: A Balloon's Landing

Release May 10, 2024 according to MDL but may not have an international release.

It stars Terrence Lau (a Hong Kong Actor) and Fandy Fan (BL LOVERS WILL REMEMBER HIM FROM HISTORY 2: CROSSING THE LINE)

The story goes Tian Yu, a frustrated Hong Kong writer meets street gangster Xiang and they embark on a journey to find the Bay of Vanishing Whales a place that leads to paradise. Along the way, they discover unexpected twists and turns and close bonds.

So BL Fam does anyone know about this one?

@pose4photoml @lutawolf @absolutebl @beniyo @wanderlust-in-my-soul @kingofthereblog-boysloveed @pharawee

[resplendentoutfit]

Fashions of the Early 1830s: Large Hats and Leg-o-Mutton Sleeves

I was obsessed with Victorian era fashion for way too long! Let's jump back a few years and take a look at what royals and high-society women were wearing from 1830 to about 1836.

Vincente López Portaña (Spanish, 1772–1850) • Maria Cristina de Bourbon, Queen of Spain (fourth wife of Fernando VII) • 1830 • Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid

The style of the blue gown above is in keeping with Romantic era fashion, with its elbow-length puff sleeves with lace trim and pleated bodice. For formal attire, long gloves were worn.

The Maria Cristina de Bourbon portrait is of a royal subject, therefore the jewel-studded headpiece is especially grand, as is the bodice ornament and earrings. The feather was characteristic of the times – very large hats with feathers were in vogue, as well as large bonnets. The Spanish queen is wearing a lace mantila with her headpiece, which I assume is a symbol of her Spanish heritage.

The fabric of the queen's dress is extraordinarily elaborate, with all-over silver thread embroidery. The bodice on this and many early to mid 1830s dresses was called a bodice à la Sevigne, which was made up of a central boned band divided into horizontal folds of fabric.

Belts and wide ribbons around the waist were often featured on dresses of the early to mid 1830s.

The fashion from circa 1830 to 1835 was one of over-porportioned extravagance. Sleeves larger than were ever seen or since been, width at the shoulders, and dramatic hats and headpieces.

Hair too was over-the-top. Notice the perponderance of elaborate braids, coils, and curls in these images.

1830-34 • British • Printed Cotton Day Dress • Victoria and Albert Museum

One such dramatic feature of 1830s fashion was the pelerine, a lace covering that was worn over the shoulders. The cut of the neckline was already exagerated to emphasize width at the shoulders; adding a pelerine only added to that width as well further acting as more ornamentation to the outfit.

François-Joseph Navez (Belgian, 1787-1869) • Théodore Joseph Jonet and his two daughters • 1832 • Private collection

Sleeve style quickly evolved from simply puffy to Gigot or leg-o-mutton sleeves – a huge, billowy sheer sleeve over a smaller one, continuing with a tight-fitting long sleeve.

This flamboyance in sleeves was to suddenly come to an end around 1836. More about that in a future post, as I continue to flit willy-nilly along the fashion history timeline!

References:

• Fashion History Timeline: 1830-1839

• Wikipedia: 1830s in Western Fashion

• Wikipedia: Pelerene

• Mimi Mathews: The 1830s in Fashionable Gowns: A Visual Guide to the Decade

[twistingtreeancestry]

Jamey Johnson - In Color (Official Video)

[penmanshipeb]

"If you can't beat them, join them."

In Numbers 22, Balak, the king of Moab, saw the Children of Israel and was afraid of them, so he sent to fetch Balaam to curse them. Balaam said he would check with the LORD first. The LORD told him No, don't go with them. This happened more, because king Balak was serious and the prophet desired the king's pay for doing this deed, and so, the LORD said if you go with them, only say what I give you to say. He went the following morning. The ass he rode spared his life and God gave the ass the ability to open his mouth and say words to him, yet the prophet made his way to Balak. He ended blessing the children of Israel three times instead of cursing them because that was all the LORD spoke through him . . . Balak was mad and upset. He was upset with Balaam the prophet. So, Balaam, in his greed, counseled the king of Moab towards his goal of dismantling the threat of the children of Israel. He advised that he should cause self-sabotage through causing the children of Israel to worship their gods and such. This would make the LORD's anger kindle against them to destroy them (Numbers 22-25). Balaam got his prize.

This very same act occured in the Church during the time of the Roman Empire under the emperor Constantine's reign, and is yet ongoing, occurring today. It takes a sense of history to know and follow God's word and promises adequately. The messages to the Churches in Revelation address this history, because it is for "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

During the time of emperor Constantine, there was a union of church and state. There became an infiltration of the world into the Church. Paganism became transformed into "Christian" customs and traditions. Satan said since killing them in the Coliseum wasn't getting it, let me change strategy. A feast/festival for a day called Saturnalia or Yule to some in paganism became recognized and celebrated as the birth and celebration of the Christian deity instead. Its customs became adopted into the Christian faith. No big deal to man but to God, spiritually, it is. Christ speaks about this worldly conquest of the Church saying this:

[13] “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. [14] But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. - Revelation 2:13-14

False teachers will teach that this observation is just a part of one's conviction . . . Meaning, it is your prerogative to do as you will here . . . All is pleasing to God. Don't allow these false preachers and teachers as Balaam, who have the word of God or the calling of God on their lives to preach the Word, to steer you to being rejected by God . . . God finishes to this people, saying, "REPENT, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. [17] “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:16-17). Many pastors, bishops walk in blindness, no different than the world. "IF THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND BOTH SHALL FALL IN THE DITCH." Many pastors, elders, teachers, prophets, evangelists, or people of God in general are covetous just as Balaam, unwilling to shine light on Truth or be for Truth.

📜 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” [18] “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” - II Corinthians 6:17-18

[historyslittlebish]

King Charles the II of Spain Autopsy (Quick Facts)

Warning: Graphic description, gore-y

Inbreeding was common in royal families in Europe and in the Spanish king's parents were first cousins. The Habsburg jaw was a common trait and got more and more severe the more inbreeding there was.

The deformation of the jaw made the tongue enlarged and made it hard to eat, swallow, and speak.

King Charles the II didn't learn to walk until 4-8 and even then could not walk very well and most likely could not speak until age 3-4. He was mentally retarded and had many health problems and diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, and smallpox (+more) but ended up surviving until the age of 38.

At autopsy is was noted and I quote (from Wikipedia if you wanna find it), "heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water."

The fact he was alive was a miracle.

The inbreeding continued for centuries and made many have 'royal diseases' such and Hemophilia (seen in queen Victoria of England, Alexei Romanov, Lord Leopold Mountbatten, etc).

ps. feel free to fact check me!

[pacifica-elise-northwest]

What happened to your mansion?

"Well..um, I guess old man Mcgucket owns MY family mansion now?. like..How? just- ugh..I srsly wish my Dad didn't have to sell it.."