Skeletons Not In The Closet

A skeleton carries the concept of something buried or hidden a long time ago that was intended to remain buried. As genealogists, we often discuss "skeletons in the closet" as a family secret uncovered during our own family tree climbing.  It may or may not be something that we are glad we uncovered.

A skeleton is also the bony, rigid support that serves as a framework to help hold us together. [At least that is while we are alive.]  More or less it is the support to soft tissues and the protection to certain parts of the body...an essential part of the motion's of life.

Over the years, I have found that defining a "skeleton" of our ancestor's land gives a foundation to the family tree climbing.  It may be a county, stream, land mass, or even country.  Sketching the outline without any landmarks or names, will define a "skeleton" of the family's origin that may help us understand our ancestor's own motion through time. [And generations!]

The drawing above is an outline of my ancestor's land...a skeleton if you will.  It is not labeled at first, but will provide a support for all the names and areas yet to be discovered.  Drawn to scale, it can be used to estimate distance, which can be used to understand time between settlements or towns.  Names may change, and certain identities, but the skeleton will generally remain the same.  Make multiple copies of this skeleton so that you can add new names and identities as they are discovered.  Theses skeletons need not be put in the closet.

Getting the Poynt

Landmarks are important aspects in examining the history of an area. Especially if you are trying to establish the location of ancestors. Getting around certain brick walls may depend upon identifying and placing certain landmarks in the correct location recorded in deeds and surveys.

History often gives the stories behind these landmarks. Sting Ray point (poynt) is such a case. John Smith in his own writings give the following account:

"...vpon the riuer of Rapahanock, by many called Tappahanock, but our bote by reafon of the ebbe, chanfing to grownd vpon a many fhoules lying in the entrances, we ipyed many fifhes lurking in the reedes;..." [spelling as written 18 June 1608, f = s]. Thus, on low tide, the boat was grounded near the shore.

"...our Captaine fporting himself by nayling them to the ground with his sword..." [Interesting way to fish!]

"But it chanfed our Captaine taking a fifh from his sword (not knowing her condition) being much of the fafhion of a Thornback, but a long tayle like a ryding rodde, whereon the middft is a moft poysoned fting, of tow or three inches long, bearded like a faw on each side, which the ftrucke into the wreft of his arme neere an inch and halfe:..." [Take that Captain John Smith for sticking your sword into me...!]

"no bloud nor wound was feens, but a little blew fpot, but the torment was inftantly fo extreame..."

The tracing above is the mouth of Rappahannock River. The south landmark is Sting Ray point. The north landmark is Musketo Point. It was from these landmarks that the survey crews would begin their survey. The drawing shows 1 mile makers as they would be counted from these landmarks. Thus, "eight miles up" would be from these geographic points.

Certainly, Captain John Smith got the point!

Taken from: The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and Summer Ifles: with the names of the Adventuresr, Planter, and Governours from their firft beginning. An: 1584 to this present 1624. London, Printed by I.D. and I.H. for Michael Sparkes, 1624. p.58-59.

BWP(22): Maps form History

Making maps can be a key ingredient to moving back some of those brick walls. [BWP(21).] Likewise, using maps from history will often provide addition information and understanding regarding those ancestors.

The figure to the right is such a map of the Virginia , 1754. A post entitled: "Maps from History", June 3, 2011, discusses this help.

It is to be found in the blog: The Jones Genealogist. It is intended to be a help.