John Hudson’s Children, Forsyth Co., GA

I found the following while reading Forsyth County’s early deed books. It was recorded near the front of the volume (see the source, below) before the index.

Record of the Birth of John Hudsons children
William Hudson was born December 2 1817
Forest Hudson was born January 24 1819
Elizabeth Hudson was born April 21 1820
John Hudson was born March 22 1824
Berry Hudson was born December 2 1826
Henry Hudson was born January 13 1829
Jane Hudson was born January 2 1831
Rilla Hudson was born September 8 1832
Eliza Hudson was born September 10 1834
Recorded this 10th April 1839
W. D[?]. Roy[?]

Now, aren’t you curious as to why that was written into the deed record? Me, too!

Source: Deed Book E, 1838 – 1839, Forsyth County: frontmatter; Clerk of the Superior Court, Cumming, Georgia; Georgia Archives film RHS 3607-3608 (Drawer 170, Box 44).

IGHR Friday: The Green, Green Grass of Home

This whole week has been so action-packed that I’ve had a difficult time narrowing down topics to write about. I met so many people, made friends and important contacts, and learned at least a small something from each topic covered in the course I took. All that aside, I couldn’t wait to get home. This morning was a short one, and once certificates were handed out, goodbyes said, and the car packed, I gladly hit the road eastbound toward home.

IGHR Thursday: Unintended Lessons

Of all the things we covered this week, there were a few lessons I learned that had very little to do with Southern genealogy. Case in point: I’ve been invited to speak at the Rockdale County (GA) Genealogical Society this coming August. I hope to have a powerpoint presentation ready to illustrate various items in the lecture, and I know I’ll need to create a really outstanding handout as well. So, I spent a good deal of time studying the format of this week’s lectures, the various types of slides used, and comparing syllabus layouts with the needs of my target audience. I learned quite a bit about the process during this week, but I’m fairly certain our instructors didn’t have those lessons in mind when creating their lectures.

IGHR Wednesday: Slaves in the Family

I know I’ve talked about Michael Hait a lot in the last couple of posts. While Michael and I have met online and even corresponded a time or two, we had never met in person. He introduced himself Tuesday, and we’ve had several conversations since then centered around, you guessed it, certification and records, in particular records pertaining to slave and/or African American research.

IGHR Tuesday: Am I Ready for Certification?

One of the hot topics amongst this week’s IGHR participants is certification. This comes up even in casual conversation, and because most of the genealogists here have a certain level of osity toward the subject, I doubt many realize how frequently it’s mentioned.

Tuesday night, Dr. Thomas W. Jones and Elissa Scalise Powell moderated a discussion about certification through the Board for Certification of Genealogists. This particular session deviated a little from the usual more formal format in that certified genealogists who were in the audience were invited to share their reasons for seeking certification. This was followed by a short conversation by Michael Hait and Harold Henderson on how not to submit an application for certification.

IGHR Monday: A Whole Different Level of Serious

A few years ago, I attended the Federation of Genealogical Society’s national conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. I had never been to a national conference before and wasn’t sure what to expect. I kept looking around and thinking, is this it? I mean, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the conference, met some fantastic people, and learned a lot, but it wasn’t the kind of education I really needed. Although a growing number of lectures at national conferences are geared toward advanced topics and/or professional genealogists, most have the beginning or intermediate genealogist in mind. And since the lectures are short (generally 45 minutes in length with a ten or fifteen minute Q&A, although not always), the speakers don’t necessarily have time to give more than an overview of the subject being covered. A really good overview, but not generally the kind of in-depth discussion I was hoping for.

At IGHR, I’ve found that in-depth learning experience. The people here are absolutely amazing, from the institute’s staff to the course coordinators and teachers to the students. In between classes, everyone is in conversation, and most of it centers around genealogical issues. For those who are new to the institute (like me), some of that discussion revolves around getting to know researchers on a personal level, or meeting researchers in person with whom one has only ever corresponded before.

Samford University’s IGHR: Sunday

Today, I drove to Birmingham, Alabama, to participate in my first Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), held annually at Samford University. The campus is small but lovely, and everyone seems very nice. Classes start in the morning. I’m taking Course 3: Research in the South, Part 1, led by J. Mark Lowe, the course coordinator. We have a bevy of other good speakers for this course, namely Linda Woodward-Geiger, Deborah Abbott, and Michael Hait. I’m looking forward to hearing what these fine researchers have to say about the records, resources, and history of my native land.

Feature Friday: A Good Joke, 1882

From the 11 January 1882 issue (Vol. 2, No. 51) of the The Advertiser, published in Clarkesville, Habersham Co., GA.

A Good Joke.

It is related of the Rev. Edward L. Stephens that as he was on his way to one of his appointments he was accosted by a young man who had recently been elected to the office of Justice of the peace, and who thought himself a very important personage. He said:

“Mr. Stephens, why do not you ministers of the present day follow the example of your Saviour more closely? We read of him riding to his appointments on asses.”

“Well,’ said Mr. S., “I will tell you. At this day and time, there are so many asses elected J. P. that we find it impossible to get one to ride.”

The J. P. had no more to say, and from this day wisely avoided all controversy on that subject.

Tombstone Tuesday: Some Kell Markers, Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery, Rabun Co., GA

The following grave sites in the Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery, in Dillard, are grouped together.

Feature Friday: The Negro Exodus, 1882

The following item was found in the 4 January 1882 issue (Vol. 2, No. 50) of the The Advertiser, published in Clarkesville, Habersham Co., GA.

The Negro Exodus.

The Atlanta Post-Appeal says that on the 28th December between five and six hundred negroes from Edgefield county, South Carolina, passed through Atlanta on their way to Arkansas. They are under the leadership of a colored preacher named Hammond who had promised to have a chartered train waiting for them at Augusta, but failed to do so, and the party had to pay full rates to Atlanta. They say they found it too hard to make a living in South Carolina and determined to go elsewhere. Hammond went to Arkansas some time ago and examined the country, and on his return advised the negroes to go out there. It is expected that thousands, altogether, will go.