Wake County Genealogical Society Blog: November 2024

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Thankful Thursday - Caswell's Day of Thanksgiving - November 28, 1777

I found this interesting tidbit of history on the UNC Libraries' NC Miscellany blog.

The post outlines the details of Richard Caswell's Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation published in the North Carolina Gazette on Nov.14,1799. Now at that time, Caswell was more thankful for a victory over Generals Burgoyne and Gates and their British forces than he was for turkey and stuffing. Read the original post with a link to Caswell's original proclamation in his own words.

Thanksgiving In North Carolina, 1777

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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Thankful Thursday - Traditions that have stood the test of time

Did you know that an ad hoc farmers market auction sprang up at the fall tobacco auction in Durham in 1939? Enjoy more Thanksgiving trivia and traditions in this article posted from Our State Magazine.

A North Carolina Thanksgiving, Revisited - Our State Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, LC-USF33-030733-M4

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Wake Wednesday - Early Social Program Provides Support for Confederate Veterans

After the Civil War and for several years to come, Confederate veterans returned home where readjustments to daily life were many. Many soldiers suffered debilitating injuries, returning home without limbs or losing them later due to complications of old injuries.

Did you know that North Carolina was the first state to provide artificial limbs to its Confederate amputees after the Civil War? This was in response to a similar Federal program. The state provided limbs at no charge and also offered a $70 allowance to those who wanted to choose their own leg or go without one. Arms were priced at $50.

Jewett's Patent Leg Company set up manufacturing at the site of the Raleigh bayonet factory near the R&G railroad on Salisbury Street, between North and Johnson Streets, in 1866-7. A more extensive description of this early social program can be found at the website for the historical marker that was placed near the former bayonet factory/leg company. View here.

See information about Jewett's Patent here.

View an image of one of the two Jewett limbs held by the state.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

For History's Sake, Watch American Coup: Wilmington 1898 on PBS

This painful and incendiary moment in Wilmington's history has impact far beyond the bounds of her city limits. A Raleigh news outlet was instrumental in the event. The 1898 coup d'etat in Wilmington - the only successful overthrow of a domestic government in Americha history - is examined in a new documentary.

Watch American Experience on PBS this coming Tuesday at 9pm.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898

Description from PBS:
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina's largest city in 1898 -- the only coup d'etat in the history of the US. Stoking fears of "Negro Rule," self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington's democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Dozens of Black residents were murdered, and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants -- Black and White -- seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

PBS has created many educational resources based on research to help share and examine this painful moment in our history. View their 1898 event timeline here. View the feature on Wilmington's Black citizens at that time here.

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WCGS member Ed Webb attended the special screening and discussion of the documentary in Wilmington at Thalian Hall last week. These were his thoughts:

"My wife and I had the chance to see the NC premiere of the upcoming PBS American Experience documentary film American Coup: Wilmington 1898 at Thalian Hall in Wilmington this past Thursday (Nov. 7). Some of the 1898 events occurred in Thalian Hall so the film was even more impactful. It is a film worth watching for NC history with a Raleigh relationship (the News and Observer role in inciting the overthrow, for example). And there’s a touch of genealogy in the film as descendants of blacks and whites involved in the coup participated in the film. Some of these descendants were in the audience Thursday night)."

Watch it for NC History's sake.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Wake Wednesday - Long Forgotten Cemetery With One Marked Stone Gives Up It's Secrets

The cemetery in question sat deep in entangled woods near Holland Rd. and Judd Parkway in Fuquay-Varina. So deep, that even the most recent land owners were not aware of its existance. The sacred ground only came to light after the land had been sold to developers who had started the process of clearing the land. Two casual walkers out for a stroll saw it and brought the cemetery to the attention of Fuquay-Varina Museum staff who did not recognize the names which were not similar to any that were known in the area.

The developer's crew was careful to work around the cemetery and has added a permanent, heavy iron fence to protect the area. Within the fence there is one marked grave and several unmarked ones. Clues to who might rest in the cemetery were meager, yet the Fuquay-Varina Museum staff rose to the challenge to discover the family's identity and connections to the community and beyond.

Their search resulted in an article in the Museum's blog that brings life to Mary Winford Smith Tudor (1847-1888), her husband - Samuel Green Tudor, and Mary's Smith family roots in the Middle Creek area. The research and the story are very well done and others looking for good methodology and fresh ideas will enjoy the read.

Please enjoy their blog post here - Who was she?

Who Was She? blogpost

**WCGS note - This cemetery was not found or reported back when the Wake Cemetery Survey c.1978 was taken. A note of this cemetery, this post and the approximate location will be added.

Friday, November 1, 2024

WCGS Member Ed Webb to Present at the Olli Family History SIG in December

The OLLI (Osher Livelong Learning Institute)* newsletter for October features their Family History Special Interest Group in honor of Family History Month. In addition, they spotlight the upcoming presentation of Ed Webb who is one of our own! The group is lead by WCGS President, Barbara McGeachy.

Message from OLLI -

Beyond the classroom….
OLLI’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are formed and led by members who want to connect with other OLLI members who share a common interest outside of the classroom setting.
Since October is Family History Month, we’re spotlighting our Family History SIG.
The Family History Special Interest Group is one of OLLI’s biggest Special Interest Groups with 75 members and 25 - 30 members regularly attending meetings both in-person and via Zoom. Barbara McGeachy has been coordinator of the group for the last twelve years. Barbara describes her interest in the group as a calling for sharing stories. She shares, “My grandmother shared stories about many of her ancestors including her grandfather who served in the Civil War. We must share our stories or they will be lost forever.” We appreciate Barbara’s commitment, organization and passion for family history!
Meeting on the second Friday of each month from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., each Family History Group meeting is organized around a different genealogy-related topic, theme, or resource presented by a Family History SIG member or someone that Barbara brings in from a genealogical society. Some of the topics they are planning to explore this academic year include Heritage Tourism, Sons of the American Revolution, Irish Research and Genealogy Technology (all subject to change, of course).
This group is open to people at all levels of genealogical knowledge and experience.
Ed Webb is the Family History SIG member who will be presenting at the SIG meeting on December 13. Ed shares, “As a genealogist for my family and a regular participant in the OLLI Family History SIG for several years, I always find the sessions interesting, and I applaud OLLI’s support of the group to continue learning about family history and genealogy research. Hearing about family stories, like the one about my aunt Mary that I’ll present in December 2024, makes the research much more understandable…. Because SIG members are frequently the presenters, the sessions are more informal and engaging. From my work on the story of my aunt Mary, I have learned more about research sources and discovered much about my father’s family that I had only heard snippets about. Now I have confirmed and elaborated on those snippets into a story that I want to share about her and my family. Explaining how I located the information may help others in their own research.”
Are you interested in joining the Family History Special Interest Group? Email Barbara at barbnral@gmail.com so that she can add you to her mailing list and get Zoom link and meeting information to you. Here’s your chance to start or continue a lasting passion for genealogy too!

*The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at NC State provides non-credit short courses, study trips, and special events for adults aged 50+. Topics are wide-ranging in the liberal arts and sciences, and we emphasize learning for the joy of learning. Programs range from one-time lectures to six-week courses, and we provide many opportunities to connect with others who share your interests. Most of our courses are held at the easily-accessible McKimmon Conference and Training Center.

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