A Common Bond

The NGS Conference 

Experience

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 19 Theme: Nurture

This week I am attending the NGS Family History Conference. I knew coming up with an ancestor to write about this week would be tough. These conferences can be a bit exhausting. They really get those wheels turning in your head!

Conference Information Here

Most of my family and friends just don't get it.
They refrain from teasing me about my hobby to my face (except my husband, of course). They politely listen to my boring stories and don't understand why I'm so excited about finding things that really don't matter to anyone but me. I'm sure they wonder why I use my vacation days to attend a conference. Other than a handful of relatives including my daughter Jennifer, I'm pretty much on my own with this.

I have attended the NGS conference 3 other years, and went to RootsTech in 2018. Wednesday was the first day of the NGS conference in St. Charles, Missouri. I was able to connect with my mom's cousins in the morning, which was great. We're planning to go out for dinner later this week with my sisters. 

For the most part, however, I spent the day by myself. I signed up for lunch and dinner sessions, and ate both meals with strangers. By the end of the day, I realized that I am being nurtured by people I've never met before. 

It is so nice to talk to people about a common interest. At lunch I sat next to a lady who had train robbers in her family tree. Another lady at dinner said her family immigrated to Virginia in the early 18th century and never left that county. She is related to some of her ancestors 4 different ways, which makes for an interesting, but limited, genetic mix. Everyone is genuinely interested in your "boring" stories and you enjoy hearing theirs. It's a great feeling. 

The Danse Macabre

The Teter Family's Horrifying Trip From Virginia to Illinois

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 18 Theme: Road Trip

Generation 13:

My 8th Great Grandmother

Rebecca Henckel Teter

and 

Generation 12:

Abraham Teter (son of Rebecca) and his wife Mary Kittle Teter

My 7th Great Grandparents

Line of Descent:  Rigsby, Kienlen, Aden, Holland, Hartman, Estep, Teter

Hans Holbein, 1549 (public domain)

Death comes for us all. 

I have always been fascinated by the Black Death, which swept across Europe, Asia, and North Africa during the 14th century. This terrible disease killed an estimated 50-60% of the affected population. I can't imagine how our ancestors coped after such an event. After all, we descend from the survivors. 

In 1797, the Teter family, along with about 150 others, left Hardy or Pendleton County, Virginia (now West Virginia) for a better life in Illinois. This is the story of their journey as published in several books and county histories.


Life is fragile, and you never know when skeletons will take you to the dance of death. 

James L. Thompson Makes A Generous Gift

James L. Thompson Makes A Generous Gift

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 17 Theme: At Worship

Generation 8My 3rd Great Grandfather

Rigsby, Kienlen, Aden, Thompson

I was raised Roman Catholic like my dad, but my mom was Baptist. When I was little, we would attend Sunday Mass with my dad at Seven Holy Founders, then head over to the First Baptist Church of Affton for Sunday School. Once we moved, when I was about 10 years old, my mom had trouble finding a church she liked so we would go to Mass with my dad. She eventually found her way to Canaan Baptist Church. Her faith was strong, and that church and congregation meant a lot to her.

(logo credited to the original artist, Piotr Mlodozeniec)

My heritage is a diverse mix of Christianity. Besides the Catholics and Baptists, there were Quakers, Presbyterians, Methodists, Reformed Dutch, and Anglicans. There were probably more that I can't recall at this moment. Some ancestors led their faithful flocks, and others led more secular lives. Like many family historians, I have at times been surprised by the intermingling denominations in my family tree. I am fortunate to interact on a daily basis with people from all over the world, from many diverse cultures and with many different belief systems. I embrace this diversity in my own tree and in my community. It makes life interesting!

In 1861, James L. Thompson, a Methodist who came from Presbyterian stock, along with Samuel Miller, deeded 2 1/2 acres of land to Obion Chapel Methodist Church for a church and cemetery. Thanks to this generous gift, people are still worshiping in that same location today. He lived just uphill from the church, and the rest of his tragic story I will save for another day.

Transcription of land deed: 
James L. Thompson and Samuel Miller to Deed 2 ½ acres Methodist Church, Obion Chapel. Registered on the 11 day of April AD 1861. We have this day granted and do hereby grant to the Methodist Protestant congregation at Obion Chapel the following tract of land in Obion County bounded as follows: Beginning at a small black oak Thompson's SW corner thence W 12 poles to a hickory with hickory pointers thence N 17 poles to a stake with 2 hickory pointers thence E 24 poles to a dogwood with 2 white oak pointers thence S. 14 poles with ash dogwood hickory pointers thence W 12 poles to the beginning containing by estimation two and a half acres to have and to hold to the same congregation their heirs their assigns forever we hereby warrant and will forever defend the right and title to the said land against all lawful claims what ever. In Testimony where of we have hereunto set our hands and seals this day of 1860 Ack. James L. Thompson [seal] and Samuel N. Miller [seal].