I have really been interested in Genealogy since about 2003---and have spent many hours researching my own Family History. I only wish I had have been interested years ago when my mother and father were living (and I could have gotten much more information from them). But---I was too busy then! SO---with the help of Ancestry.com and alot of hard work and help from cousins who have done Family History, I have put together quite a bit of history especially on my mother's side of the family.
My mother always told me that we were "Scotch-Irish"---so I knew I had relatives from both Scotland and Ireland. Here's my Irish connection:
-My mother was Edith Marguerite Ballard.
-My grandparents (Mom's parents) were Ida Elizabeth Bruce and James Franklin Ballard.
-My great grandparents (Ida's parents) were Daniel Hoge Bruce and Martha Matilda Carr.
- My great-great grandparents (Daniel's parents) were Joshua Henderson Bruce and Margaret Anderson Hoge.
-My great-great-great grandparents (Margaret's parents) were Daniel Hoge and Nancy Ann Stafford. Nancy Stafford was born Sept. 9, 1783 in IRELAND. She died on Feb. 7, 1853 in Montgomery County, VA. (Daniel Hoge was born and died in VA).
-My four-great grandparents (Nancy Ann's parents) were James Stafford and Nancy Eaton. James was born about 1752 in Tyrone Co., IRELAND, and died on Jan. 19, 1830 in Giles Co, VA. Nancy Eaton was born in 1750 in Tyrone Co, IRELAND. She died in VA. James and Nancy were married in 1768 in County Fermanagh, IRELAND.
That is as far as I have been able to trace the Irish side---but I have traced the Scotland side (the Bruce side of my family) all the way back to Robert de Bruce , who died in 1245. He was the grandfather of King Robert "THE" Bruce who became King of Scotland at Scone in March of 1306. King Robert was not in my 'direct' line---but was the half-brother of my direct descendent, John Bruce (born in 1290). Interesting stuff, isn't it???? It's hard to find the correct information especially when you go back THIS far.
Genealogy is LOTS of fun --but it takes TIME and someone who is interested in DETAILS.. I LOVE it---but I have so many interests that I never have enough time to do everything I want to do. I also have a Thomas Jefferson connection in my family --which I will share sometime. As I said, it's an interesting hobby!
Here are some pictures of some of my family members. Above is my great grandfather, Daniel Hoge Bruce (1846-1915). Below are others.
This is my great great grandparents, Joshua Henderson Bruce (1825-1904) and Margaret Anderson Hoge (1825-1870). These were Daniel Hoge Bruce's parents. They had seven children.
This is my grandmother and grandfather, Ida Elizabeth Bruce (1874-1904) and James Franklin Ballard (1861-1936). These were my mother's parents.
The quality is not good --but I love this photo of my grandmother, Ida Elizabeth Bruce. Don't you just love that HUGE hat????? ha
These are my wonderful parents. Mom was 42 and Dad was 53 when I was born--a BIG surprise I'm sure!!!!! Mom was Edith Marguerite Ballard (1900-1991) and Dad was Simon Edgar Banks (1889-1969).
This is a really neat picture of my mother --taken in 1904 when she was about 4 yrs. old.
Finally, here is a picture of some chubby little girl, born Elizabeth Bruce Banks, in 1942.. Wonder who that could be?????? Tee Hee!!!
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you---especially all of you who are IRISH! Wear your green today--so you won't get pinched!!!
Hugs,
37 comments:
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you two also. I love these charming old photos. My grandma's name was Ida Elizabeth also - I love her hat in the photo above! You were so cute and I bet adored by your parents.
What an adorable baby picture of you! I too love genealogy! Very cool about your Irish relatives and I can't believe you can trace back your Stottish family that far back!
What an adorable pic of your mother as a baby! And that "chubby cheek'd" one too! I wish I had the time for geneology, I have a lot done already but there is aways more to do. I have connections to Horace Greeley "go west, young man"... although it's through my grandmother's adoption, not blood. Also to the Eastman family,.. alas! no Eastman-Kodak $$$ arrived in my bank account! :)
I think it's so great that you have gotten so far back on your genealogy Betsy. That is a lot of work! Love all the photos too, esp. the cute baby at the end of your post. :c)
Betsy, what a fantastic job you have done on discovering your Irish genealogy. That takes a lot of dedication, and many hours of late nights at the computer.....
Love the pictures, I have some old victorian pictures of my Irish great grandfather, of which I treasure...You look like your mum, and cute as a button !
Hugs
x
These photos are great! I think it is so wonderful to know your family history. Your mom was a cutie as a little girl as were you!
I love old pictures. I try to imagine what their day to day lives might have been like. Did they get dressed up especially to have the photo taken? I bet it was a big event.
Wow. There's a chance we might be related. My dad's into genealogy, and gave me a CD with all the details. Trouble is, I moved last fall to a new apartment at a whirlwind pace and am still unpacking so I have no idea where that CD got to. Anyways, you've got me curious now. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
You have done a fantastic job with all of your research Betsy. I love the old photos too....isn't it funny how NO ONE smiled back then for pictures....well, they did in the baby pictures. you were a surprise...how sweet.
Oh you know I love black/white photography especially when the pictures are of family. Genealogy is a fun thing to research but as you said, so time consuming. I would love to know more about my grandfather. We know almost no history about him.
Top o’ the mornin’ to ya! I too am Scot-Irish. My mother used to warn me, "scotch is something you drink."
What a grand Scottish/Irish connection you have. So many neat pictures too. You are so lucky to have so many. Your Grandmother, Ida elizabeth, has such sad eyes. Interesting post.
My daughter loves doing the research too but she has gone back as far as you have. She has run into too many roadblocks. MB
I love old photos and seeing how people dressed and looked. The 1/8 of me that isn't German is Scotch-Irish, but I never knew what that meant exactly. I've never tried to trace beyond my great-grandparents who all came over from Germany.
People who do this blow my mind! My cousin is nuts for this sort of thing, ya'll are a lot smarter than I am!! Good work Betsy.
I love the old photographs and the story about your family. My mother's family were stoic Scots-Irish, early settlers of the NC mountains. Her maiden name was McFalls and her family had the red hair to prove it.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, and in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Have an awesome day! I'm wearin' the green! I do have some lovely Irish friends here! Loved your post and all the pictures. No, they weren't allowed to smile on photos in those days!
I did some genealogy too for a bit, but our daughter is the one who showed greater interest. It's a very time consuming hobby. You've done a great job!
Lots of love,
Karin
Betsy: What neat photos from your heritage. That goes back to some famous heritage.
I went somewhere just because of your, check my post.
I love genealogy too! I have been at it for over 15 years now. My interest (and available time) waxes and wanes - it is currently in waxing mode!!
I love old portait photos - anybodys! Great family treasures you have!
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you. What an interesting post. The pictures were so awesome!!!...m...
Happy St. Patrick's Day back! D's got Scotch, Welsh and Irish in his background.
That baby picture of your Mither IS very cute. And you were pretty darn cute yourself.
Love the 2 baby photos. Your mother's photo is cute. I am glad I never got hooked by the ancestery looking. I would have been obsessive about it just like I am at everything else I do, and I do not time for it.
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I am Scotch Irish as well. I do not know my geneaology like you do though! Happy St Patrick's Day!
I love old photos and yours are exceptional! What a cute baby you were.
Happy St Pats Day to you. Stay away from the green beer!
Love all the old pictures and the info that goes with them. I would like to know some family history but have never done it.
My mother's maiden name is Kelly, so I'm thinking I have some green in me. :)
Hi Betty!
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment on my blog. It's so interesting that you posted these pictures today. Yesterday I was going thru some of my Mom's stuff and found one of my Grandmother's school pictures. It's from a little school house near the hollow and was taken in 1922. I'll probably do a post about it later on, but I was so happy to find she had written the names of the children on the back of it! I can pick out my grandparents and several aunts/uncles/cousins. Glad you are home safe and ice free! Have a great week!
That is so awesome, that you can trace your family back so far. I loved the picture with the hat. It makes me think of my 21 year old daughter Megan, who loves to wear big old fasioned hats.
Happy St. Paddy's to you, too.
Wow, you've obviously done lots of geneology, and you certainly have interesting ancestors. Love the old photos.
You sure were able to get your family history from far back. I enjoy looking at these old photos. Most of the clothing, hairstyles and expressions, so different from today. The last picture, of you is precious!
Dear Betsy, I'd say you qualify to wear a shamrock today. Great ancestral pictures, however that wonderful smile didn't appear until your mother. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
These are absolutely BEAUTIFUL pictures and a fascinating family tree story! (And yes, I'm sure you were QUITE a surprise to your parents!!) I'm 41 and I think I would FAINT if I found out I was pregnant now.... but several decades ago, I'm sure it was really even more rare for a woman in her 40's to have a baby!
Betsy, you have done a fabulous job with collecting your family tree memorabilia! I'm really impressed!
Happy St Pat's to you!
Betsy, I forgot to say....
There's an awrs waiting for you, over at my place :)
Hugs...
Josephine
What great photos, and it is nice to have your family history go back to Ireland. I can trace mine that far too on my dad's side. His ancestors were ADARE (Adair) from my grandma (my dads mom) she is also the one I can trace my ADAMS family too. I meant to ask your husband if he has any TITTLE (last name) on his tree, that is who married the adams that I trace. I would love to compare notes (I can sent you a link to my family tree if you would like it)Just stop by my blog and let me know. I bet somewhere along the line we are related.
What a cute baby picture! :-)
What I notice most about all of the old photos is how somber everyone looks. The women especially look very stern. Then look across the screen to look at you and George with BIG smiles on your faces. Hee, hee! How times have changed. :-)
Family history is fun and very complicated. One side of my family was well-researched by one of my mother's brothers. He was smart enough to ask questions when some of the older generation were around. And that part of the family has been in North America since the 1630s, which makes the searching easier.
But my father's side of the family is a complete blank. Hmmm.
I love genealogy too! I was really into it a couple of years ago, but I ran into a into a "brick wall" of sorts and gave it a rest for a little while!
Love your pictures!
Mandy
Lucky you to have all these pictures and all this information!
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