Sometimes when I decide to write about a particular topic, in my research I find that one or several other persons have already covered the subject so well that there is not much that I can add to the conversation except curiosity. That is the case here, so bear with me. A recent conversation with some friends started with cemeteries ( because that is where all conversations with me seem to start these days… ), settled on black cemeteries and then veered over to the Freedman's villages in Raleigh.  If I asked you to name some Freedman's villages in Raleigh, could you?   Many people could name Oberlin Village. A few others could add Method.  These are only two of thirteen Freedman's villages that sprang up around postbellum Raleigh in the late years of the Civil war and in the years immediately after. Blacks, no longer enslaved and with little to no livelihood, fled to Raleigh (and other large cities across the South) seeking refuge from hostility, jobs and assistance from...

 Here is another great find that resulted from researching the Wake Cemetery Survey project .  A large number of historic maps have been scanned and put on line by the Wake County Register of Deeds. The restored and peserved historic maps are available in the Online Consolidated Real Property Index . Currently available map time frame spans years 1885 to 1927 To View Preserved Historic Maps Online - Follow the Instructions Below: Visit: https://rodcrpi.wakegov.com/booksweb/genextsearch.aspx Enter one of the BM Years into the Book field one of the following years. In the Page field enter % This collection is extremely useful for tracking changes to an area over time and locating buildings or landmarks that may no longer exist. Here is an example map from 1913. Market House Site in Raleigh mapped 1913 City Market in Raleigh today   It is interesting to see what is the same and what has changed in the ensuing years. Notice how the original small lot sizes have been abso...

On Nov. 19. 1806, Hartwell Parrish, John S. Robeteau, Dury Brown, Isham Utley and William Spright, Jr conducted business at the William Hill General Merchandising Store .   This account appears in an abstraction of the original ledger in the Wake Treasures Journal. This abstraction of the ledger Contains 250 pages, approximately 2500 names, and activities from November 1806 to March of 1807. The abstraction is divided into three parts appearing in Vol. 1, Issues 2 , 3 , and 4 . If you had Wake County ancestors living in the area in the early 1800's, this may be a record set you want to check out. image source   (not original to Wm Hill ledger) Journal access is a great perk of your Wake County Genealogical Society membership and a handy tool for those researching in Wake County remotely. Members have 24/7 access to the Journal. With 20 plus years of content, you will likely find the surnames and place names you are researching.  Access the Journal issues ...

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began during the American Civil War when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. After World War I, it came to be observed in honour of those who had died in all U.S. wars, and its name changed to Memorial Day. (source) While modern tradition has us observing Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, from 1868 to 1970 it was observed on May 30 each year. Most of the free search days at the pay sites will have expired by now, but you can continue to honor your soldier ancestors with research using these free resources. Enjoy. Discover the military stories of your Wake County and North Carolina ancestors with the help of this list. Raleigh National Cemetery page at Veteran Affairs.gov -  general information page - includes a  map and search tool, and information brochure on the history of Raleigh National Cemetery. Raleigh National Cemetery page at Find A Grave - includes 5,910 memorials....

I want to point you to this very good article from familytree.com on the meanings of the day and just how the traditions can further your research.  source " Memorial Day   was originally observed in the United States on the last Monday in the month of May. It was adapted from a holiday called Decoration Day that originated in the years following the Civil War. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971. The purpose of Memorial Day is to enable families to have a day off that they can spend honoring deceased relatives who served in the United States military. The traditional way to spend Memorial Day is to visit cemeteries and decorate the graves of relatives and ancestors who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines. A small American flag is placed near their headstones. It is also acceptable to place flowers in addition to the flag ." >> Read more here     Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |...

We have some very exciting news regarding the Wake Cemetery Survey Project video and our participation in the National Genealogical Society SLAM! Idea Showcase competition. Head on over to the Wakecogen home page and read the details.  If you are at the NGS conference next week, be sure to checkout the SLAM! open house on Wednesday evening. Our own Cynthia Gage will be in attendance representing WCGS and the video. View the NCS 2023 SLAM! Idea Showcase entries  here . Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

This is what the State Capitol building and grounds must have looked like to your Great-great Grandparents on a hot August afternoon in the 1880's. I bet it has been a really long time since an oxcart was seen there! source Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact