#my family history

[rivertigo]

my great grandpa maybe he chilled here in between delivering sugar beets

[flowerandblood]

For now, due to the break that @black-dread took, I also decided not to publish new chapters for now, but I have something different and quite interesting for you, because it actually sounds like a story taken from a fanfic from the 19th century and this is about my great-great-grandmother, Rozalia.

I devoted my master's thesis to her (I illustrated a book about her life story) and I have been dealing with her story for many years because… I still have no idea who the father of her children, and at the same time, my great-great-grandfather, was.

Rozalia was born in 1876 in Masovia, at that time under the Russian partition, into a family of agricultural workers (people hired by farmers or heirs to work in their fields).

In 1886, her father died, and in 1894 her mother married Jakub, who was 40 years her senior, probably to provide any living conditions for her children (Rozalia had two other siblings).

In 1896, Rozalia gave birth to her first child - daughter Stanisława. She is unmarried, in the documents there is no information about the child's father.

Usually, in such a situation, such a girl was immediately married off, but not Rozalia.

Rozalia gives birth to six more children: 1899 (Jacek), 1901 (Walenty), 1904 (Katarzyna), 1908 (Józef), 1913-1916 (Wacław), 1918 (Bolesław - my great-grandfather).

Rozalia dies in 1944 as an unmarried woman.

None of them had a father listed in the documents.

There were various rumors about who the father of her children was. My grandmother claimed that she overheard the adults talking about how this man was some kind of aristocrat.

But who?

For years I read parish and archive books, I found documents regarding the owners of the estate where Rozalia was born and the one where she later worked.

And nothing.

Everyone knew that Rozalia traveled to Prussia for work and that my great-grandfather was born in Bellshwitz.

However, no one from there matched the dates either, there were too many unknowns in the places where she was.

Me and my cousin took DNA tests and it turned out that we had a huge section of DNA in common with a German with whom I tried to link all of this with Bellshwitz, without success.

On Christmas, my grandmother and I called her cousin, Ignacy, son of Katarzyna, daughter of Rozalia, to wish him well. Even though I asked him many times to tell me about Rozalia, he maintained that he didn't remember anything.

During this conversation, when I spoke about her and this man again, and the fact that he was probably German, Ignacy said:

Yes, yes. We knew he had left and disappeared suddenly, but we didn't know where. When I joined the army, communist officers asked me: Why didn't you tell us that your grandfather emigrated to America? I replied: I had no idea about it myself.

I remember once, when I was still a little child, a handsome, elegantly dressed man came to our house, he didn't go inside, he noticed me playing with other children. He came up to us and asked which of us was named exactly like me. I told him it was me, and he held out his hand to me and said, "Greet your grandfather."

When I wanted to shake his hand, he put his hand under my mouth so that I could kiss it. I didn't want to do it and ran away. I never saw him again after that.

The situation he was talking about took place around 1936, probably whoever this man was, he left for America after the outbreak of World War II - the German aristocracy in these areas did not love Hitler.

I still don't know who this man is, but I hope that one day I will find out.

There are no photos of Rozalia, but there are photos of her daughter, Katarzyna, whom my grandmother said looked very much like her mother. Based on her descriptions, I took photos of myself as my great-great-grandmother, which I later used in the book as her portraits, which you can see at the top of this post.

[the-entity-down-the-street]

Ooooooooh I have feelings about this one. I come from a family of certifiable hicks from the backwoods of West-By-God, as my mama calls it. I didn't grow up there (I was in Florida pretty close to the Everglades), but three generations of Appalachian hillbilly flow through my veins, and I am sick of folks like my family being America's punchline. The way people look down on us fucked with my mama's self-esteem my whole life, because she was afraid of being seen as a stereotype. Being surprised that gays exist in the country is just another way to gawk at poor people like sideshow freaks, and only further isolates those of your own community who need it the most (because yeah, it ain't easy being trans in the country, and can be plenty dangerous too).

every month someone makes a post like “wow, I can’t believe there are gay rednecks. can’t believe there are gay people living in the rural Midwest or Deep South.” kill the classist in your brain

[deborabuerk-the-write-stuff]

The Legacy of Robert Burns and Auld Lang Syne

By DEBORA RAGLAND BUERK,Writer, editor, andsometimes family historian. The Write Stuff. "Should old acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?Should old acquaintance be forgot,and auld lang syne?For auld lang syne, my dear,for auld lang syne,we'll take a cup of kindness yet,for auld lang syne." Auld Lang Syne. Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song pronounced: [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsəin].…

[crowkip]

yeehaw, baby!

[sacha1slytherin]

I can't get over the fact that my ancestor's a runnaway royal prince man, and that the house I'm descended from is known for being cruel (which is nothing to be proud about mind u, but then again during that time where people longed to have power and had to seek ways to keep it, and defend themselves etc. it was the norm then, and my people are warriors, so yeah...), like wtf, I could literally write a book series about my family's history ...

Of course my ancestors did great and good things most of all, but they did cruel things as well, and that especially won't be forgotten. Like my people really be remembering things that happened like in the 13th century f.e. as if it had happened yesterday, whenever my family had told them that they're a descendant of that house...I'm of the 23rd generation of that house, and like I will never be normal over that fact...I'm writing this while I'm eating an ice-cream and thinking about my life in general btw, like wtf man, my life isn't normal at all.🥲

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

going through my old journals as part of therapy homework and i'm reading a section written in the emotional wreckage of a full-on breakdown when i get hit with this line:

There is never a satisfying answer to ‘Why didn’t they love me?’

like wow babe. good fucking point

[cassandragemini]

its so crazy that for the last 5 years a small but annoyingly vocal online group has been acting like mob movies of all things are pretentious and inaccessible cinema. yeah the godfather is kinda slow but these are movies about criminals who shoot people

[kaahmbem]

legend has it that the young witch circe and the once beautiful nymph scylla shared a complicated past...

[sephirajo]

Lol well found out how to check it and was "bet you don't care about all these other tragedies and scientists"

Mexican blood is on those bombs. Using my family's brains and then tossing us aside. Can't have a mexi work on the bombs after all. 🙄

[cassandracain52]

Reverse trope

where instead of the Bats forgetting that they’re adopted (something actual adoptees do on occasion and is hilarious) they forget that some of them *cough Damian cough* aren’t

_______

Jason in the heat of a probably ridiculous argument: Yeah well YOU’RE adopted!

Tim just as invested in said argument: So are YOU! We all are!

Damian who had previously been quietly watching this unfold while he drank his tea: Actually I’m not

Tim and Jason who didn’t realize he was there but are already DoneTM: …… Damian continuing to sip his tea entirely unbothered: :)

Damian: Because I’m not an orphan-

Jason: ok, yoU KNOW WHAT-

____

or like in their group texts (that we know they have thanks to Nightwing (2016) #79)

*Steph changed the group chat name to “Bruce Wayne’s Personal Orpanage”*

Jason: Really?

Steph: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Steph: It’s the truth Damian: Both my parents are very much alive

Steph: Shhh you don’t count

Cass: Mine too Duke: Technically so are mine

Barbara: I still have a dad so there’s that

Steph: YOU GUYS ARE RUINING THE JOKE

Tim: Stephanie aren’t BOTH of your parents alive???

Steph: KNOW WHAT? FINE

*Steph changed the group chat name to “The Technicality Police”*

Tim: well that’s more accurate at least

Steph: :)

_____

Damian in his 10th argument with Tim of the day: That’s- this is-

Tim in full Antagonizing Big Brother mode: I’m listening

Damian -a Gen Z and best friend to Jon Kent- extremely frustrated: This is such Motherless behavior!

Tim taken aback: [voice cracking] W-what-?

Damian who didn’t mean to say that but doubling down anyway because his bloodline doesn’t believe in admitting mistakes: THIS! This is such Motherless behavior!

The rest of the family who is also motherless: :O

Cass whose been spending way too much time with Meme Queen Stephanie Brown and not involved in the argument but finding it entertaining regardless: [nodding along seriously] Facts

Tim: [visibly betrayed] CASS WHAT-

A video copy of the interaction gets sent out anonymously to the entire family. Barbara is the prime suspect but there is no proof as of yet (and they will never find any)

Steph, Cass, and Duke continue to respond “Motherless behavior” everytime one of the bats does something they deem questionable/insane. It is said often

It only stops when one night in the middle of patrol. Batman is in full Dark Knight mode (possibly in the middle of threatening someone) and descends from the ceiling into the middle of a warehouse drug deal, dark cape billowing out behind him-

and Steph just automatically whispers “Motherless behavior” forgetting her com was still very much on

She immediately realizes what she said and frantically apologizes but it’s too late.

Bruce just- Blue Screens. Completely stunned into silence

Dick -who was unfortunate enough to be the one teamed up with Batman tonight- is fighting for his life to choke back his laughter

Jason doesn’t even try to stop his and has collapsed to his knees from lack of air from how hard he’s laughing. Cass try’s half heartedly patting his back to help to no avail

The criminals are terrified into surrender from The Red Hood just laughing hysterically at seemingly nothing while Batman just Stands There

Damian ends up being the only one still functioning enough to continue arresting everyone, though he is privately amused and strangely proud

Tim and Barbara have saved both the com recordings and cowl footage to at least three different servers and sent it to absolutely everyone before Batman even recovers

Duke finds out second hand the next morning and is furious he missed the chance to see it in person. He declares he is moving to the nightshift so it doesn’t happen again. (He is all talk and goes to bed by 9 pm)

Bruce bans the phrase for life and promises swift and server punishment to anyone who dares to use it again

[teddypdf]

my butch mother, annie, and their friends (70s - 80s)

[fictionadventurer]

I have to talk about Chester Arthur. His story makes me go crazy. A mediocre president from the 1880s who's completely forgotten today has one of the best redemption stories I've ever heard and I need to make people understand just how cool his story is.

So, like, he starts out as this idealist, okay? He's the son of an abolitionist minister and becomes famous as a New York lawyer who defends the North's version of Rosa Parks whose story desegregates New York City's trolley system.

Then he starts getting pulled into politics and becomes one of the grimiest pieces of the political machine. He wants money, power, prestige, and he gets it. He becomes the right-hand man of Roscoe Conkling, the most feared political boss in the nation, a guy who will throw his weight around and do the most ruthless things imaginable to keep his friends in power and destroy his enemies.

Because Arthur's this guy's top lackey, he gets to be Controller of the Port of New York--the best-paying political appointment in the country, because that port brings in, like, 70% of the federal government's funds in tariffs. He gets a huge salary plus a percentage of all the fines they levy on lawbreakers, and because he's not afraid to make up infractions to fine people over, he is absolutely raking in the dough. Making the rough equivalent of $1.3 million a year--absolutely insane amounts of money for a government position. He's spending ridiculous sums on clothes, buying huge amounts of alcohol and cigars to share with people as part of his job recruiting supporters to the party, going out nearly every night to wine and dine people as part of his work in the political machine. He's living the high life. Even when President Hayes pulls him from his position on suspicions of fraud, he's still living a great life of wealth, power, and prestige.

Then in 1880, his beloved wife dies. While he's out of town working for a political campaign. And he can't get back in time to say goodbye before she dies. Because he's a guy who has big emotions, it absolutely tears him up inside, especially because Nell resented how much his political work kept him away from home. He has huge regrets, but he just moves in with Roscoe Conkling and keeps working for the political machine.

And then he gets a chance to be vice president. The Republican Party has nominated James Garfield, a dark horse candidate who wants to reform the spoils system that has given Conking his power and gave Arthur his position as Port Controller. Conkling is pissed, and he controls New York, and since the party's not going to win the election without New York, they think that appointing Conkling's top lackey as vice-president will pacify him.

They're wrong--Conkling orders Arthur to refuse--but Arthur thinks this sounds like a great opportunity. The only political position he's ever held is Port Controller--a job he wasn't elected to and that he was pulled from in disgrace. Vice President is way more than he could ever have hoped for. It's a position with a lot of political pull and zero actual responsibilities. He'll get to spend four years living in up in Washington high society. It's the perfect job! Of course he accepts, and Conkling comes around when he figures out that he can use this to his advantage.

When Garfield becomes president, Arthur does everything he can to undermine him. He uses every dirty political trick he can think of to block everything that Garfield wants to do. He refuses to let the Senate elect a president pro tempore so he can stay there and influence every bill that comes through. He all but openly boasts of buying votes in the election. He's so much Conkling's lackey that he may as well be the henchman of a cartoon supervillain. On Conkling's orders, he drags one of Garfield's Cabinet members out of bed in the middle of the night--while the guy is ill--to drag him to Conkling's house so he can be forced to resign. He's just absolutely a thorn in the president's side, a henchman doing everything he can to maintain the corrupt spoils system.

Then in July 1881, when Arthur's in New York helping Conkling's campaign, the president gets shot. By a guy who shouts, "Now Arthur will be president!" just after he fires the gun. Arthur has just spent the past four months fighting the president tooth and nail. Everyone thinks he's behind the assassination. There are lynch mobs looking to take out him and Conkling. The papers are tearing him apart.

Arthur is absolutely distraught. He rushes to Washington to speak with the president and assure him of his innocence, but the doctors won't let him in the room. He gets choked up when talking to the First Lady. Reporters find him weeping in his house in Washington. Once again, death has torn his world apart and he's not getting a chance to make amends.

Arthur goes to New York while the president is getting medical treatment, and he refuses to come to Washington and take charge because he doesn't dare to give the impression that he's looking to take over. No one wants Arthur to be president and he doesn't want to be president, and the possibility that this corrupt political lackey is about to ascend to the highest office in the land is absolutely terrifying to everyone.

Then in August, when it's becoming clear that the president is unlikely to recover, he gets a letter. From a 31-year-old invalid from New York named Julia Sand. A woman from a very politically-minded family who has been following Arthur's career for years. And she writes him this astounding letter that takes him to task for his corrupt, conniving ways, and the obsession with worldly power and prestige that has brought him wealth and fame at the cost of his own soul--and she tells him that he can do better. In the midst of a nationwide press that's tearing him apart, this one woman writes to tell him that she believes he has the capacity to be a good president and a good man if he changes his ways.

And then he does. After Garfield dies, people come to Arthur's house and find servants who tell them that Arthur is in his room weeping like a child (I told you he had big emotions), but he takes the oath of office and ascends to the presidency. And he becomes a completely different man. His first speech as president mentions that one of his top priorities is reforming the spoils system so that people will be appointed based on merit rather than getting appointed as political favors with each change in the administration. Even though this system made him president. When Conkling comes to Arthur's office telling him to appoint his people to important government positions, Arthur calls his demands outrageous, throws him out, and keeps Garfield's appointees in the positions. "He's not Chet Arthur anymore," one of his former political friends laments. "He's the president."

He loses all his former political friends. He's never trusted by the other side. Yet he sticks to his guns and continues to support spoils system reform. He prosecutes a postal service corruption case that everyone thought he would drop. He's the one who signs into law the first civil service reform bill, even though presidents have been trying to do this for more than ten years, and he's the person who's gained all his power through the spoils system. He immediately takes action to enforce this bill when he could have just dropped it. He becomes a champion of this issue even though it's the last thing anyone would have expected of him.

He oversees naval reform. He oversees a renovation of the White House. He still prefers the social duties of the presidency, but he's respectable in a way that no one expected. Possibly because Julia Sand keeps sending him letters of encouragement and advice over the next two years. But also because he's dying.

Not long after ascending to the presidency, he learns he's suffering from a terminal kidney disease. And he tells no one. He keeps going about his daily life, fulfilling his duties as president, and keeps his health problems hidden. Once again, death is upending his life, and this time it's his own death. He's lived a life he's ashamed of, and he doesn't have much time left to change. He enters the presidency as an example of the absolute worst of the political system, and leaves it as a respectable man.

He makes a token effort to seek re-election, but because of his health problems, he doesn't mind at all when someone else gets the nomination. He dies a couple of years after leaving office. The day before his death, he orders most of his papers burned, because he's ashamed of his old life--but among the things that are saved are the letters from Julia Sand, the woman who encouraged him to change his ways.

This is an astounding story full of so many twists and turns and dramatic moments. A man who falls from idealism into the worst kind of corruption and then claws his way back up to decency because of a series of devastating personal losses and unexpected opportunities to do more than he could have ever hoped to do. I just go crazy thinking about it and I need you all to understand just how amazing this story is.

[deborabuerk-the-write-stuff]

The Forgotten First Ladies.

First ladies of the White House are widely celebrated, but the contributions of White House hostesses, often relatives or friends of the president, are often overlooked. Read more...

White House Hostesses: The Forgotten First Ladies By Rosie CainAU Fellow 2021-2022 First ladies hold a unique place in American history. The collection of first ladies’ gowns and artifacts remains one of the most popular exhibitions, visited by millions of annual visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.. First ladies are the focus of documentaries,…

[magicalbuttertarts]

Bri, once again I love that you wrote this about my family history.

This is all based on true events of my 7x great-grandparents Robert Land and Phoebe Scott.

Robert was a British Loyalist who was a spy.

He was captured and released by George Washington on the grounds that as a citizen of Pennsylvania, he could not be tried in a military court.

His home was burned in Pennsylvania and he was banished to Canada, him believing that his family was dead.

Phoebe believing and the family made it safety and were taken to New Brunswick. Years later she heard that a man by the name of Land lived near Lake Ontario.

She took a chance, and traveled from New Brunswick to what is Hamilton Ontario and reunited with her husband.

Home | W.O.

Summary: Will, a British loyalist, is captured, tried, and found guilty as a traitor. With his conviction overturned by George Washington himself due to a technicality, he is released on bail. While chased and injured by Patriot sympathizers, he manages to escape to the Niagara area. Once he returns to Pennsylvania, his home is destroyed, and his wife and children are gone. He decides to leave the colonies for good. He makes his way to Canada. While in Canada, he is reunited with family.

Requested by: @magicalbuttertarts

Will Ospreay Masterlist

AEW Masterlist

Taglist: @theworldofotps @smallestsnarkestgirl

"I don't like this war business, Will," Y/N told him. The young parents watched their daughter and son chase each other outside. Their blonde hair blowing past them. The sun was setting behind the mountains. A whole field for then to play and run free. Just like they always wanted as children. "This isn't good for our two... three babies,"

Will looked at her round stomach. Soft kisses planted on her neck and shoulder. His hands rubbed her clothed stomach. They landed just under her stomach. He lifted the swollen belly up slightly to give her some relief. She leaned her head back against his shoulder. He placrd his lips at the shell of her ear. "This will all be over by Christmas. You'll see,"

"I'm not just talking about the soldiers, Will. I mean you. The Patriot sympathizers won't be happy that you are providing aid. I want my children to have their father," Y/N spoke. A sentiment she often repeated to him at night before falling asleep and before he left to find a British camp. Will stiffened.

"You have nothing to worry about. They'll never catch me," he assured her. "I promise,"

Will stirred from his sleep. His beautiful wife and childrens faces faded away. The iron bars around him a cruel reminder of his broken promise to her. Their children were not going to have their father. An unfair trial with Patriot sympathizers made sure of that.

Two men appeared before his jail door. His heart ached. He thought he had more time. His Y/N would be heavily pregnant now if she hadn't given birth without him already. Selfishly enough, he hoped he would see her face one last time before they blindfolded him and hung him.

"You're free to go," one of them barked at Will. The other muttered about George Washington being a bleeding heart to criminals.

"Wh-what?" Will asked. He quickly jumped to his feet. This had to be some mistake. Just like that he was free to go back to his family. There had to be a catch. Maybe he was still dreaming.

The man opening the door laughed. "Someone may have slipped out that a loyalist is to be set free. Do be careful out there. Or don't,"

The door to his jail cell opened up. With the warning in mind, Will rushed to the entrance of the prison. The laughter and jeers from the two men behind him echoed the hallways.

When Will opened the last door blocking his freedom, he quickly found out the severity of the situation. A group of ten men were there and ready to hurt him .... or worse.

"I'm just trying to be with my wife. She's having my third child. You know I am a good husband and father," he told them. Their actions immediately proved that they didn't care about his wants. His quest to go back home ended abruptly.

A man in the mob struck him across the cheek. Will nearly fell to the ground. When he turned to look at the man, he saw the others getting closer to him. They were angry. Angry that a loyalist gets to live his life while their loved ones may have died from his help. They wanted revenge and they wanted it bad.

Will ran off as quickly as he could. When the mob realized they couldn't catch him, they started to throw whatever they could at him. Rocks and other objects hurled at him by people he once called friends. A couple made contact with his body. Fresh cuts and bruises on his skin as he ran into the woods. He knew he couldn't go home. His wife and children wouldn't be safe.

Dread consumed him the further he left Pennsylvania. He missed his wife and children. Y/N was strong, but what about his children. They needed their father. His thoughts drifted to the new baby. He prayed it was a girl. Another boy would have Y/N pulling her hair out.

When he made it into Canadian soil, he never expected what he would find when he went back to Pennsylvania.

Will dropped to his knee in disbelief. The home he built with his wife and children was little more than charred remains. He grabbed some of the ash and dirt that laid under him. They slipped through his fingers on the ground. With a heavy heart, he stood up.

He walked inside the home. Memories of the past consumed him. Tears fell down his face. His fingers gripped his hair tightly. There was nothing for him here now. A known loyalist, there was no use in rebuilding in the colonies. He would have to go back to Canada.

Years passed by. Will was never able to find the whereabouts of his wife and children. He feared they were dead. Long gone from the cruel world without him. He never found another woman that could replace his Y/N. Figuring he would die alone, he started to rebuild his life.

The acres of land he now owned a reminder of the same field his children loved to play in. Often times he would look out the window. He swore he could see them outside. Their blonde hair sparkling in the sun. Their giggles rolled through the grass. Will is brought back to reality with a knock on the door.

No longer worried about his past, he opened the door to see a woman with two children and a toddler. The toddler rested on the woman's hip while the children hid behind her.

"Will?" Y/N asked in disbelief. She reached out and touched his cheek.

Will remained in place. He expected this to be another one of his hallucinations. When the skin made contact with him, he realized he was no longer dreaming. His breath caught in his throat. He forced himself to talk. "Y/N?"

She nodded frantically. They embraced. His shirt wet from her tears. Will gripped her tightly. His children hugged him as well.

His home was now complete.

[puppyfriedrice]

oh you're into feedism? which parent was weird about food