Shaky Leaves

Freewrite - May 6, 2015

Having very little to go on in the relationship between 1. Isaac Holmes and 2. Nathaniel Holmes and 3. Samuel Holmes Sr, I thought of an idea. Whether it will bear any fruit or not, I do not know.

We tie these three men together with the 1760 Muster Roll of New York Volunteers for the Seven Years War. Nathaniel (son of Isaac, proven) of Bedford (yes) appears on the Muster Roll with Samuel. N is 37; S is 16. Both are from Bedford. This is the only link we have. Its not a whole lot of proof.

My idea is this. I have a list of men who were mustered from March to May, 1760, with William Gillchrist as their Captain. I will enter each man in ancestry, see if they have a shaky leaf, and see if any who do have a story as to what happened to them.

I would really like to know what their company accomplished, if anything, but google is barren on Captain William Gillchrist.

Let us see. I shall try to remember to report back.

Reporting back: I have been working on the list. It's not as helpful as I hoped. In fact, my only hope is to keep on going.

War and Peace

Freewrite - May 5, 2015

This could almost be a war and peace story. Nathaniel and Samuel Sr in the Seven Years' War - Samuel Sr in the Revolutionary War and forced to go to Canada as a Loyalist - the sons of Samuel Jr and Betty in the Civil War (and if I remember correctly, some grandsons). Probably could fast forward to the Great War if I want to go that far with it. Unless - - it might make a good conclusion if I could find a descendant or two who were killed in the Great War. I'm just meandering - but, I might have a theme here.

The only one who did not serve in a war was the protagonist, Sam. He was too young to have remembered much about his father serving in the RW, and died before the CW began. I think. (No date of death for Samuel and Betty - but no mention of them in the 1850 census. If he was alive he would have been in his eighties.)

That reminds me - no email from the Brownville Church either. After all this time, I'm probably not going to get one.

The Seven Years' War and the Fall of Montreal

Freewrite - May 3, 2015

I guess it's never to late to study American History. AH 101, here I come. French and Indian aka Seven Years' War 1756 - 1763. My alleged GGGGG and my GGGG Grandfathers volunteered for this war and were mustered in New York in 1760. Why alleged? This is the weak link in our Holmes genealogy and the only connection we have found that ties them together. The place is right and their ages are realistic for father and son. However, there were a lot of Nathaniels and Samuels - do we have the correct link back to Francis? Montreal fell to the English in September, 1760. Were Nate and Sam Sr involved in that battle, I wonder?

Where Should I Look for my Lost Motivation

My motivation done got up and left. Where I do not know. If I knew, I'd go out there and get it. But, alas, it is the last day of April and it is cold, grey, damp, gloomy, and I think I saw some snow flurries. So, if my motivation is outside, I think I will leave it out there. I am, at least, motivated to crochet.

I think if I could just find one little Holmes clue, I'd find some motivation. But I've been looking at shakey leaves and military records and Nathaniels and Samuels and Benjamins thick on the ground and who is who and some insist that although he is the son of Sam and Betty, he is also the son of Shivaree Holmes and died in Stockton, New York.

I found a Benjamin Holmes who died in Feb 1850 in Oswego. That's about sixty miles away from Brownville, This Benjamin was a millwright and died of consumption. I stuck that information in there with the notation "needs verification." The date is right, and the fact that I can't find any civil war records that seem to fit my Benjamin tells me that I may be on the right trail. However, I have to blaze it a little further in both directions to prove it. The other Benjamin married a Betsy Taylor and lived a lot longer. If Find a grave didn't say he was the son of Shivaree, I'd probably be on that trail, but I just can't justify it. Shivaree and Samuel are just too different names, and the mothers are different as well, although I can't find Shivaree's wife at the moment.

I can't just keep on writing freewrights. Perhaps they are a good exercise and lead me places, but so far, no, I just have words on paper that are rather meaningless at this time.

I have had no answer from the Brownville church. I don't know if that's good or bad. I consider it good manners to acknowledge receipt of an email, but not everybody else does. Perhaps they are busy digging in dusty tomes in a seldom used, smelly room, and will come back with oodles of information on my Runaway Sam. (I have my doubts.) There is nothing to do but wait.

I thought maybe I would make a cover and the start of a book. That's just putting off the inevitable nitty gritty of writing, isn't it? Or, would it be motivational to look at a cover and a Bibliography and think, "I have a book in the making." I wonder what will be in the middle of it by the time I'm done.

The Outline and Other Stuff about Sam and Betty

Freewrite - April 25, 2015

I must make an outline for Runaway Sam. I started one today on a piece of scrap paper. That is not the title of my proposed book, at least my public/family title. But in my mind, that's who he is - the main male character of the book. Betty, I don't know her well enough yet to give her a nickname. Sam's son, Daniel, Karl wrote, was called Old Dan, so that is what I called him. He was 68 when he died; 5 years older than me. Not so old, but then, age is a relative thing. I never gave Charlotte a nickname, so maybe I won't give Betty a nickname. If I do, it's because it just happens. I never went about searching the closets of my brain for a name for Sam. It just happened into my head and I thought it appropriate.

     "1920. Is it to be believed? I feel as old as Methuselah." Violet Crawley

I just finished watching Season 4 of Downton Abbey. At least it ended better than Season 3. That was dreadful. Matthew, lying there, pinned under his car, eyes open and staring at nothing, blood pouring out of his ear. I figured he was dead but I wasn't sure if they'd revive him Roadrunner like, so I googled Matthew Crawley. Yup. He's dead. And it gave him a pedigree, a family history, a biography; like he really lived.

What has that to do with Runaway Sam? Well, Lynne, who gives me these ideas for writing a great family history that generally leads me into Trouble, says that every chapter should end with a cliffhanger. It must leave the reader with a terrible need to read just one more chapter. Like when I went to lunches at Mom's whilst working at the bank. I'd eat her good, salted, food, and when I got back to the bank, I needed water. Badly. Cups and cups of it. What water she gave me with dinner didn't suffice. I don't know if that's a good analogy or not, but this is a freewrite so I can say what I want. Unlike Runaway Sam's tale.

Julian Fellow gives every epidsode of Downton Abbey a hook at the end. It sticks in my mind, and probably yours, and I want desperately to know what happens next. For Season 4, I forced myself to wait three days before touching Netflix on my tablet. I don't know how well I can do it with Sam's tale, as I know so little, and I can't write a main character like Matthew out of the book just because someone doesn't want to renew their contract, because it's history, not a fictional television show. But I need to work on it. Little hooks to keep my reader's interest in reading just one more chapter before they close the light.

     "I should hate to be predictable." Mary to Matthew at the wedding alter.

Thelma, president of NBGS, has told me twice that she never read a family history quite like mine. She said that is not a criticism. The look on my face when she first said it might have implied to her that I thought it was.

I tell you something. A book writing is like a living thing. It takes over sometimes. It tells me what it wants done. Sometimes my characters just do what they want to do. I have to keep a tight rein on the words. I have a sort of introduction started. It will change. My outline will change. Each and every page will change. It is not predictable. A book that I write myself, even a letter or a diary entry I write myself, is not predictable. And I'd hate for it to be predictable. I probably like the surprises more than any of my readers except maybe Paula.

Outline - Take One

I Introduction

     Thesis Statement

II In the beginning. Bedford, NY. Birth of Samuel

     Someplace,not sure where yet. Birth of Betty

     Their parents and grandparents: Samuel Sr Holmes and Elizabeth Fountain

                                                         Peter McElmon and Mary Margaret Fillmore

     

     Genealogy. Get the begats out of the way and somehow make them interesting.

III Places

     Bedford and other places Samuel lived before moving to Canada

     Nova Scotia

     Upstate New York

     Also Betty's places

IV Life in upstate New York

     Family

     Farm

     Faith

V Family in more detail: each person

     Samuel and Phoebe (1st wife)

          Daniel

          Other child, probably a son

     Samuel and Betty (2nd wife)

          James B

          Ann

          Betsy Marinda

          Benjamin McElmon

          Margaret Mariah

           Lyman White

VI Conclusion

     Refer back to thesis statement

Somewhere in there I need to put what I know that influences Samuel. It will require research. The Revolutionary War affected him indirectly. His parents and the Holsteads were Loyalists. Maybe the McElmons were also. The Civil War affected his children, although he did not live to know about it. I need to know the history, the geography, and the terrain of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia; Westmorland County, New Brunswick, near the Northumberland Strait; Jefferson County in New York, etcetra.

     "War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don't." 

     Matthew Crawley

As I've said before, I don't think highly of Sam, my great great great grandfather. How could he leave two young children behind with their grandparents, never pay child support, never even inquire about their well-being? I wonder what kind of man he really was. But, like Black Sheep Fenwick Holmes, I might grow to like him in a way. It will help if I understand him. All I have to go on is two letters that he and Betty wrote home, and some dry facts that need verification in transcribed tomes and records. I sure hope some other tidbits of his life show up.

     "Don't dislike him before you know him. That's the hallmark of our parents' generation, and I

     forbid it." Matthew to Mary

All quotations are from Downton Abbey, series one and two.        

A New Book and How It Helps Me With Sam and Betty's Journey

Freewrite: April 24, 2015

I have written something down. I have chosen six possible starting points and listed them. I have written two introductions out of six. If I don’t write something I won’t write anything. After all six are written, I shall put them away for a few days and then read them. I might send them to Paula. Maybe.

I have done a bit more research. I should keep a research journal; it might help. I found where granddaughter Betsy Holmes Adams wrote something other than Nova Scotia or New York for her father’s date of birth. I knew I read it, but where? When? It took me a good hour to find it again. I see it in one place only. I wonder if I can use it. I think, can I take some liberty with this book? Can I call it a story, based on solid research and two letters? Historical fiction, if you will, with much emphasis on the historical in fictional but realistic settings. Would my family settle for that? I won’t put words in anyone’s mouth other than what I read in the letter, or any other letters I might, but doubtfully, find.

“Facts are deceiving. We may know them, but never all of them. Only the bits and pieces that survive the voyage. In real life, the story is never finished. Discoveries may be made to shed light on it; for instance, in some attic, some cellar, the lost pages of the diary may be discovered . . . Fiction is another story. We can be sure of it, for we make it up, it is complete and finished. We can embrace it, because it is what we know.” p. 4

I sat down to supper by myself, me and a book. Erin bought me this book when she was home not last time but the time before, I do believe. It is called “Creation” and under the word Creation are the words, “a novel.” The author is Katherine Govier, and the book was published in 2002. It is the story of John James Audubon. Audubon, who drew the birds of North America. I have read the introduction. I do not know why I didn’t read it before. Audubon, the lover of birds, of the art of birds, and something about him the man, the husband, the father, and the journal writer.

“The older man slings his gun over the shoulder of his fringed jacket; he must be a frontiersman, a hunter. But he has a certain vibrancy, as if his whole body were a violin freshly strung . . .” p. 1

“He will leave, aside from his great book of pictures and the volumes of words that accompany it, his journals, and many letters.” p. 3

I’m intrigued. It started out with a bit of family history. It’s about a love of birds. It’s about the art of drawing birds. Why wouldn’t I love this book? The only think I enjoy that he probably didn’t is crochet. But I did find a knitting reference. I can knit as well as crochet.

            “They cavort in their outfits and flirt with the ladies who sell knitted goods.” p. 2

“A festive atmosphere has taken hold of the town. The tailor, the publican and the knitting women, in fact most of the population of Eastport, have downed tools and filtered to the docks to see off the schooner and its crew.” p. 5

That’s all well and good, but what does it have to do with Sam and Betty? Mr. Audubon and his son are starting a journey in Eastport, Maine. Around Nova Scotia, passing New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, nodding at distant Newfoundland, hugging the Gaspé Peninsula, sailing down the St. Lawrence. In 1833. 12 years and 11 months after Sam and Betty took their journey; I am making the logical assumption that they sailed the same route, from Halifax to Quebec City.

“The Ripley rounds the southeast coast of Nova Scotia in a fresh northeast wind . . . From here they sail east to the Strait of Canso ‘in a horrid sea” . . . the weather clears and they sail through the strait with twenty other vessels, all fishing boats bound for Labrador. They pass Indians in a bark canoe. “ p. 8, 9

I figure that thirteen years, from May 1820 to June 1833 – the journey would be much the same route and the same conditions; probably a bit colder. Audubon will not go to northern New York; I haven’t read that far yet but I believe his destination is Labrador. However, I am getting a feel for the journey that Sam and Betty took way back in 1820 – I’m shivering in the cool breeze that teases my ankle covering dress, I’m jumping off my seat as the cannon acknowledges farewell, I’m wondering when and if I’ll ever see my family again, but . . . unlike Audubon, I’m patting my belly, feeling for butterfly flutters.

“Earthbound, he walks the shore on a clean sand beach . . . The sand is sleek, the water falling over itself in clear, transparent folds at his feet. A piping plover runs and flies before him, chirping in mellow notes. The unfamiliar terns dip and soar overhead. There are dozens and dozens of them.

            He wants to possess one.” p. 13

Audubon didn’t own a Nikon. He shot them with his gun. How else could he draw them, after all? I’m so thankful for my Nikon, for you who know me well know I’d never shoot them with a gun. For more reasons than one.

I read a little further on. He did kill them, occasionally, to study them and to serve as models for his paintings. However, he met them where they lived, near their nests. He knew his models well.

Where to Start the Next Story

Freewrite:  April 20, 2015

I am having a difficult time settling down to write. I guess I need a plan a goal a theme and a bunch of obstacles to overcome.  I have the obstacles. It’s just that I don’t have any more answers than anybody else has and as this is NOT a work of fiction, I can’t make them up. Therefore, they are my obstacles just as much as they were Sam and Betty’s obstacles.

So where do I begin? I’d like to begin on the boat. Dare I? I only have a granddaughter’s word to a census taker for that little obstacle. In Nova Scotia? Why did they skedaddle out of there? In a land of strangers? Were they running from something? Someone? In 1840, looking back? On their wedding day? Was Betty pregnant? Was that their problem?

Where do you like a story to begin? Do you like it chronological: start from the beginning, go to the middle, end at the end? Sensible shoes.  Do you like it to go back and forth? Two points of view: the writers and the protagonists? Me in my slippers dancing with him in his steppin’ in manure boots. Looking back on life, leaving only the climax and conclusion for the ending? Angel wings and silver sandals. In the middle, then back to the beginning, then fast forward to the here and now? Running shoes to baby booties to comfy slippers.

Never thought too highly of Sam. But I need to keep my feelings out of it. Has to be his feelings. And Betty’s feelings. Never mind what I think. Hey, Sam, Runaway Sam, I still have to wear your genes whether I like it or not. So it is important what I think. ‘Cause the way I figure it, I’m about the only one who’s going to tell your story.

So you can run but you can’t hide ‘cause I’ve opened the door of your closet a wee crack. It is 2015. Nobody much cares if Betty was pregnant or not anymore, these days. But what matters is what kind of a father were you? What kind of a father would leave his babies behind and never send a dime of support money or inquire about their welfare? How did you treat the other six? I just have my wonders. I’ve met some of your grandchildren. I’ve visited them at census time and at their Findagrave. They haven’t whispered their secrets to me yet, but for one.

I don’t have the makings of a book yet. Perhaps I never will. Oh, I can make a list of genealogical bones. What fun is that? I like to make the bones stand up and dance. So I have to start the book. And wait. And watch. And listen. Will I ever find enough to tell a story? I don’t know the answer to that yet. But I do know this: I know more than I knew when I wrote my first book. I know more than I knew three months ago.

So that’s my first freewrite ‘bout Sam and Betty. My first warm-up exercise. My going public with a promise to do my very best to tell a truthful story, even if I don’t find all the answers. Where will my book take me? Close to home, in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Jolicure, New Brunswick. Bedford, NY. Northern New York. Echo, Michigan. Washington DC. Virginia. I’m sure I’ll find other stops along the way. I have a long journey ahead of me; I’d best board the train.

Family History Challenge - Day Eight

Mapping the story.

The 3-Act Story

The majority of good stories that you have read in your life follow the time-tested components of  a 3-act structure.  The three act structure is also a reliable structure for composing your family history story.  Those 3 acts are very simple, Act 1, 2 and 3. We will refer to them as the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Act 1- The beginning – Introduces us to the protagonist ancestor. It sets up the story question, and the motivation for your ancestor to take action.

Act 2- The middle – This is where we watch our ancestor overcome all the obstacles they faced in pursuit of their goal. It is usually the longest section and where most of the action will take place.

Act 3 – The end – It starts at the climax and concludes with the resolution. It is usually the shortest and begins immediately at or after the climax.  We will talk more about these two elements in the upcoming days.

I have a chart to use for this. Thanks, Lynn.

Family History Writin Challenge - Day Seven

The antagonist.

The major antagonist I will choose will be the people of the town who, in disregard of the law, would not let the women vote on the one major case I know of that Grace represented. These could be men and women, old school thoughts and values, status quo.

Minor antogonists might have been her law partner who gave up her practice, other lawyers, etc. But I'm not so sure about them. I'd be making stuff up. Her case came up after she'd been an independent lawyer for some time, going by memory, seven or eight years. What happened after she won the case with the supreme court? Would anyone else with money to pay ask her to represent them? Would the men and women of the town run her out? Why did she leave DesMoines and go to Idaho Falls to work, along with her sisters and brother? Where in the world could I find that out?

Family History Writing Challenge - Day Six

Conflict.

Without it, there is no story. What was Grace's conflict? Reader must understand this challenge and how she overcame the obstacle.

Understand the goal.

Figure out what stands in the way of meeting that goal.

Find an inciting incident. What does she decide to do to change the path and meet that plot goal.

What is the first turning point?

What are the obstacles? Obstacles block the path to achieving goals. They are also called plot points. Three types of obstacles:

ancestor vs. another person
ancestor vs. circumstance
ancestor vs. self


Conflict is the overall idea. Obstacle is the roadblock(s) that stands between meeting the goal.

What obstacles did Grace face in realizing her goal?

Times were changing in the early 1900s, and Iowa was not too shabby on the change chart, but still, women could not vote on a particular civic issue, even though the law said they could. Women were incensed, and tried to block the path of the issue. They finally hired a lawyer, Grace: a woman. A determined woman.

Obstacles: the local townspeople would not recognize the law, which pitted men against women. Even tho' the law was on the books, it was not recognized by the powers that be.

I don't know of the obstacles, but a little freewrite might enlighten me. Grace was older than most when she graduated. She was a long way from home, but had grown up in Iowa, moved to Maine, and moved back. He father, according to his biography, wrote long letters to his children who were away. He died in the early 1890's, so Grace and perhaps Winafred must had moved back to Iowa before his death. So, she and Winafred were single women, alone in a big city. Winafred worked, Grace went to school. I can't find them in the directory before 1898. Their uncle and aunt, James and Fanny Ballantyne, lived in Brooklyn, Iowa. Fanny died in 1902 and James in 1906, but they had obstacles and conflicts of their own. Later, their daughter Charlotte lived with them for a while. So, one conflict was living far from family, and having only each other. They were single and needed to make a living. It would appear that Winafred did the work whilst Grace went to school.

It was a man's world, although inroads were being made. Iowa was more liberal in its ideas about racism and women's rights. Drake University, where Grace earned her law degree, was founded on the acceptance of people of any race, religion or sex. So, that was good. Her classmates, whom I can only find to the letter M, seemed to be all male, although one was named Winny so could be either. But, for the most part, they were male. Did this create issues?

I feel that the daughters of the Ballantynes (James and Fanny; Robert and Louisa), must have been strong women. They made their own way in the world and were independant, although they stuck together for quite some time. Did this make them socially unacceptable at the time?

I have no idea what they looked like, and if that was a drawback.

Anyway, Grace represented the women of DesMoines and lost the case. She took it to the Supreme Court and won her case. That is the only case I can find. It was written up in newspapers across the country.

Her first law career was a partnership with another lady lawyer, but that did not last too long. Soon she was independent, but perhaps worked in a law office. That I can't figure out from the directories. Eventually, when she was older and moved to Idaho Falls, she managed an office.

Why?

Toller

On February 7, shortly after midnight, our beloved Toller went peacefully to his rest at the Riverview Animal Hospital. He only had enough strength to occasionally raise his head and look at us - not puzzled, not really pained, just eyes full of trust. I have taken care of you for thirteen years, and now you are taking care of me. Miss me, but let me go.

It started a week ago; Friday, January 30, 2015. When Bill rubbed his head to say goodbye on his way out the door for work, he found a hematoma on Toller's ear. We are familiar with these, as our cat Fred had one. We could have lived with a cauliflower ear, but I decided to take him to see Dr. Cook anyway. As he examined Toller and made his ear recommendations - four to six treatments of removing blood and giving him anti-inflamatories and steroids and the like, I mentioned that I didn't like the way he was breathing, and that he was coughing and hacking a lot. He seemed to be catching his breath, and Dr. Cook listened to his chest for a good long while.

He recommended that we deal with the ear and then discuss the much increased heart murmer. We agreed to that, and made an appointment to have his ear drained on Monday, February 2. Dr. Dooer was well experienced in draining ears, he said. She decided to do it in the front room. Big mistake. Toller, it seems, was a head-shaker. He shook blood all over the room. I think he missed the ceiling but not much else. He stayed for an extra hour, as his blood didn't clot. We made an appointment for Thursday. That night, he drank a lot of water, and after every drink, threw it up. I followed him around with paper towels for several hours.

On Wednesday, they called me from the office and asked if I wanted to reschedule because of the impending storm. I said no, but I'd call early if I needed to change the time. I told her that Toller's breathing was more labored, and about all the vomiting. She said she would write it down. I was supposed to go to church to volunteer, but Toller appeared weak and tired. I decided that I'd better stay home. I didn't want him to die alone in his kennel. He rallied, and we went for a walk, two times up and down the street. He enjoyed sniffing, marking, and getting out, I do believe.

The storm was not too bad, so I kept my morning appointment. I thought Dr. Dooer might have read my concerns, but I don't think she had. Before the procedure, I explained my concerns again, and said that all he had for breakfast was a few mini-wheats. She proceded to give him some sample dental kibble which Toller gobbled up like a good boy. He had no bleeding issues, and she thought one more visit would take care of his ear. I told her again that he would not eat his food, and she told me to get him some new food. I knew better. I guess we just know our dogs. I bought him some canned dog food and mixed his kibble in it and he ate some - not his normal amount, but some. He seemed happier. We felt better.

In the morning, he was just not himself. He ate bits of canned food with kibble in it, a wee bit every hour or so, until mid-afternoon. The last time, he did not finish it. He did not want his pill or a piece of cheese. He did lick up the bit of ice cream in the bottom of Bill's dish. He continued to drink. He went outside for a while in the afternoon. His bowels were very loose. Late afternoon, he laid down in the grey room, and they he stayed, on the bare floor. Bill said that he didn't think he could get up. After a while, I asked if we could at least get him on his blanket on his couch. Bill carried him. He felt cold to me. I covered his back end up with the blanket I had over me. By this time, we decided that he should not come home tomorrow. I recommended that we call the Riverview Animal Hospital, but Bill wanted to sit vigil with him and wait so he could have it done at the Moncton Clinic. At 10:30, he lifted his head and coughed and couldn't get his breath well at all. His third eyelids were showing. His chest was rising and falling, rising and falling. I called the Riverview Hospital and they told me to bring him in. The vet on call, Dr. Coleman, said that he probably had heart disease or cancer, maybe both. His lungs were full of fluid. He was uncomfortable.

He never complained about anything. Bill had to carry him everywhere. We held him across our laps as the doctor inserted first something white to relax him, and then something blue to euthanise him. While he was still alive, he still trusted us with his big, brown cataract eyes. His chest stopped rising and falling and he was gone.

But not forgotten.

Update February 22. Yesterday I brought Toller home. We both shed more tears; me, at the clinic and Bill, when he unwrapped his wee coffin. But he is home, at the only home he ever knew, the home he  managed to manouver with his very limited eyesight. In the spring, we will place his coffin with Raleigh's and Fred's. But for now, we sit and glance at him every now and then. I try to remember him, sitting in his familiar places, cosy and trusting with his family. I could not wish him back, knowing how every breath was a struggle and every step became more difficult ~ that is my head. My heart, oh how my heart longs to see him again.

Rest peacefully, my doggie. 

Family History Writing Challenge - Day Five

Lynn says we need Goals, Motivations and Stakes.

The goal is the heart of the story. It is motivated by something in the protagonist's life that had a significant impact on them. If they didn't make their goal, they feared a loss.

Goal - what does ancestor want?

Motivation - why does she want it?

Stakes - what happens if she fails to achieve it?

Lots of ideas. I wish I knew Grace. But I do know some of the things she did, and I have a few newspaper writeups about her. She has one big success that I know of. But, first she needed a goal. She was not a young chickie when she graduated from Law School; I think she was 31. I wonder how she made it. Did they have scholarships back then? Did she receive an inheritance? Did her sister support her while she went to school?

Why did Grace want to be a lawyer? I think she wanted to change the world for women. At least, going by what she accomplished, that is what she did.

What happened if she failed? I'm sure we all wondered about that sometimes. I figure, in a law office, as in any business, most days, most clients would be pretty routine. Did she get many clients? Male clients? As most of the time she appears to be on her own, it was either drum up business or not be able to pay the bills. Did she fail, when later in life she was a secretary-treasurer for a business, or was she using her legal skills at the same time, or did she just choose to give up some responsibilites as she grew older. That I do not know the answer to.

However, she did have her epiphany - her great accomplishment - her day in the sun. That is the big thing in my story, the other things will build up the story and the setting, and conclude it. And her sisters and cousin will figure prominently, as well as the courts.

Family History Writing Challenge - Day Four

Today's assignment is to begin the story, and how to do it. I have written my initial paragraph, at least in rough draft stage. But, lets have a look at Lynn's ideas.

The beginning is the start of the story until the first plot point. I don't think I've come to that stage yet. I need a hook. That can be a question, a crucial moment, an interesting picture, an intriguing character, an unusual situation.  I think I put all of the above in my initial paragraph. Question: Would she be able to make it in a man's world? The crucial moment: commencement. The intriguing character: Grace with a B. An unusual situation: I don't know that a graduation is so unusual, but not so many women graduated from Law School in that era.

Each sentence builds on the previous sentence. The last sentence of a paragraph is the catalyst to the next.

What else?
~ introduce the protagonist. That is Grace.
~ establish the setting. Law school graduation
~ introduce the antagonist. That will be, I think, the status quo.
~ introduce a story question. Well, after graduation, will she find a job? That's a typical question.
~ introduce the theme. Independent women!

What to avoid.
~ back story or flashbacks. Stay in the present.
~ too much description. Use Unique and specific details.
~ introducing too many characters.
~ differing points of view of different characters.
~ changing locations
~ spoon feeding the reader. Don't tell everything in the first chapter.

Paragraph #2.

We know that Grace is graduating. Could talk about Drake University and why Grace went there. Is she worried about facing opposition from the status quo? (Man's world, old ideas?) Will anyone hire her? Father raised his daughters to be independent women. (REREAD book chapter about Robert Ballantyne.) Take her home afterwards and have her discuss this with Winafred. Stay in DesMoines for now.

Family History Writing Challenge - A First Paragraph Freewrite

Grace trapised across campus to the auditorium with her classmates. They walked purposefully, proudly, in single file, in alphabetical order; Grace with a B led the line of men in their robes, hoods of purple, and mortarboards.  Grace glanced at the sky, wishing her father was here; how proud he would have been. She lifted her arm in its unfamiliar garb, and wiped a tear away. She and Winafred lived so far from their home in Maine; and yet, Iowa was as much a home to them as Maine. Her mother's congratulatory letter sat on her dresser. Grace had read it so many times. Proud families watched the 1899 graduating class of Drake University School of Law file by. Winafred, sister, roommate and friend, gave Grace a smile and nod as she passed. Her classmates lauded her as she accepted her diploma. "What will life hold for me in a man's world?" she wondered.  Graduation and commencement. An ending and a beginning. She squelched her fear, knowing that Robert and Louisa Ballantyne's daughter could do anything she wanted to do.

Family History Writing Challenge - Day Three

Focus

How to focus the story:

~ Ask questions

     What do I want my readers to know about Grace?

     What legacy did she leave?

     What lesson can we learn from her?

     What interests ME about her? What intrigues me about her?

     What do I find fascinating about her?

~ Understand my audience

     Who am I writing for?

     What is my purpose?

~ Identify a specific time in her life. I do not need to include everything about her. Narrow the scope.

~ Sift through the abundance of information I have about Grace. Hold on to all the supporting facts of the focus and let the rest go.

~ Exercise: Convey what I want to say about Grace in six words.

In case you wonder where I get these ideas - I follow the Family History Writing Challenge by Lynn. If you are interested let me know and I'll point you in her direction.

My thoughts on these ideas:

I want my readers to know that Grace, two of her sisters and her cousin were well-educated, focused, full of dreams young ladies who didn't let their gender get in their way of living their dreams. And how they got to be that way. 

Grace, Winifred, Alice and their cousin Charlotte never married - unless Charlotte did - I lose her, and as far as I know, left no children. I hope they left the legacy to their friends, neighbors, peers and co-workers that they left to me - a woman, whether she be a woman who had to struggle in life just to let the world know that a woman is every bit as much a person as a man, with equal rights, or a woman of today, who is recognized as being such but still sometimes feels she has to prove herself, or can prove herself if she wants to. A woman, just like a man, can be whoever she sets her mind to be, if she sets her dreams and goals high and works toward achieving them. And, in the end, like Grace, she wishes to downgrade her dreams, she's entitled to that as well. What I don't know is why. What happened? 

What lesson did she teach me? Dream big. Even though I'm retired and in my early 60's, I can still dream big.

What interests and intrigues me about Grace, and also Winafred and Alice and Charlotte? Well, I wonder what they looked like. Why did none of them marry? Were they not interested? Lesbians? Not desirable because they were activists? Nowadays, women can be independant and single if they like and its no big deal, but in the early 1900's, many women married and let themselves be looked after while they took care of household responsibilities. It makes me think back to their upbringing, so therefore, that must be a bit of my focus.

I think, in that era, women were becoming more independant, more vocal, especially on the east coast in the big cities. In studying history of Iowa, this state was revolutionary in their opinions and treatments of people of color and women. Drake University was founded with the principle that students could attend irregardless of race, religion and sex. Perhaps, since Grace grew up in Iowa and moved to Maine, she wanted to go back to Iowa so she could attend school and become a lawyer. I'm not sure if she could have done this in Maine. Massachusetts maybe, but her home was in Lincoln, Maine.

Whom am I writing for? This is for my family newsletter. I am going to let my family know that I took a few liberties. Did Grace receive a congratulatory letter from her mother? I don't know, but I do know that when her father was alive, he wrote her long, newsy letters. So I'm taking a few liberties like that. I didn't do much of that in my book, but I'm going to start now. Just little things with some basis on facts that make sense. Otherwise, I won't have too much of interest to say. If a tear runs down her cheek when she thinks of her father as she marches in a graduation processional, what difference does it make. But it lets you know that her father is no longer alive, without saying that Robert Ballantyne was born in 18xx and died in 18xx.

Narrow the scope. I'll have to work on this. The story is really about Grace, but I did want to include Winafred, Alice, Frank and Charlotte. 

What can I say about Grace in six words?

Grace changed her corner for women.

Family History Writing Challenge - Day Two

I am supposed to choose a protagonist ancestor for my story. I have chosen Miss Grace Ballantyne Holmes. She is to be
~ the central character
~ the focal character
~ someone through whose eyes the story is revealed
~ an emotional guide
~ one who demonstrates action in her life - acted, not reacted, to the world
~ a decision maker
~ a person with personal conflicts and/or fear
~ she must be crucial to plot
~ she must move the story forward
~ she must create empathy in the reader - she is a real person with real problems and real dreams, and a few flaws and blemishes, and somewhat likeable
~ she must change, or her world must change, or she must change the world

I feel that Grace meets this criteria. Paula called her "Amazing Grace." I think that title has been used, but it appears to describe her. I don't know too much about her personality but I know some of the things she did. I know she changed her world, and she changed careers. Personally, I like her and so does Paula. I know what the house she built in 1920 looked like. I know who she lived with from the late 1890's until her death, generally. 

Family History Writing Challenge - Day One

Today I have to choose whether to write a "narrative using third person" or a "memoir using first person."

This will probably be the easiest post of the month. I know who I am writing about and it is not me. It is Miss Grace Holmes Ballantyne. So I am writing a narrative using third person.

First thing I want to know is: what was a graduation ceremony like in 1899. I know that Pomp and Circumstance was not yet written. Did they march step by proper step in sync or did they shuffle and jive. I suspect the former, but I really have no clue. I don't even know if they marched. Did they keep their hats on their head or toss them in the air with a message inside at the close of the ceremony? What did we ever do without google?

I visited the website for Drake University and found the following:

~  It was started by Disciples of Christ in Iowa and first known as Oskaloosa College. It was moved to Des Moines in 1881 and became known as Drake University. It was named after Francis Marion Drake, a benefactor, who was a former Civil War General, a former Iowa governor, banker, railroad builder and attorney.

~ It was co-educational from the start.

~ In 1891 there were 8 departments, 53 teachers and oer 800 students.

~ Its founders dream was that the school be broad-based and liberally nonsectarian. They issued the following statement -
     "This University has been designed upon a broad, liberal and modern basis. The articles of incorporation provided that all of its departments shall be open to all without distinction of sex, religion or race. In its management and influence, it will aim at being Christian, without being sectarian."

Drake University's School of Law traces its history to 1865.

I found this at http://www.drake.edu/

Grace graduated from Drake University School of Law in 1899.

History of Graduations:

~ Wearing of a gown or long robe with hood started in 12th century and soon became official attire of accademics.
~ Wearing of a cap or morterboard began in the 14th or 15th century.
~ Tossing the cap started in 1912
~ Turning the tassel started in last 40 - 50 years.

http://cnynews.com/graduation-ceremony-traditions-and-history/

Therefore: Grace wore a gown, hood and morterboard. School colors are blue and white. Not sure if that was the color she wore though. She did not toss her cap or turn her tassel.

Did she march? All I could find was a history of William and Mary. It says they gathered together and walked into . . .  and out of . . .

http://scdb.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Commencement


Also looked at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_regalia_in_the_United_States

Lakeville Chronicles 2015 - January 16 - 22

Friday, January 16, 2015

I think I got my second pair of glasses in 2008, the year I retired. Probably I did, so I would have some financial assistance from insurance. Today, I ordered a new pair of glasses and a new prescription. I thought it might be about time.

Glasses are expensive. But not taking good care of our eyes is expensive as well. So, I cringed, handed over my credit card and plugged in my secret code. I think the glasses have a burgundy frame, but not a big frame. I tried on so many pairs that I can hardly remember what they look like.

Of course, I needed to celebrate new glasses and a renewed vision, so I went to Chapters and bought two new books. I've been watching "Call the Midnight" on my new tablet, soI bought the memoir that inspired the show. I have also been watching the miniseries " The Book of Negroes" on Wednesday evenings, so I also bought that book. I will put these waway for ow, until I  get near the end of the series. I also bought a children's book called "Piau's Potato Present." It's written by an Acadian genealogist and it is about the Treitz family. The Treitz's were Germans who came to Acadia from Pennsylvania with several other German families after the Grande Derangement. I thought I'd take it to the genealogy meeting tomorrow, along with my Uncle Billy's fiddle that I am bringing for show and tell.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

They woke B up to come to work at 5 and sent him home at 8. They called him in again for the night.

I went to the genealogy meeting and took my violin. I got to show and tell to the whole group. Also found out that Katherine Barnes is the daughter of Lillian Ogilvie and grew up in Hillgrove. She wants a copy of my book. I told her I'd have to check. I have three left; one is for the Archives in Fredericton and I can't remember who the others are for. Actually, I think one is for the ISBN people in Ottawa in case they ask for it.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

One 17 year old lad gave Bill a merry chase through the halls of the GD Hospital last night, until he was cornered and could go no further. It took seven people to quiet the lad down. So didn't they call him back in tonight. I hope said fellow is sedated or tied. Poor guy; not much of a life ahead of him to be such a menace to society.

I went to church and came home and did a bit of crocheting. Going over to ancestry.com now; looking for inspiration. Sigh.

Monday, January 19, 2015

B called in to work for the third night in a row. He slept until noon today, so is a bit rested, but I told him he'd better book tomorrow off. A lady bit one of the guys today. Then she cried for the rest of the day. The lad woke up and busted up a television today. Dr won't send him to adult psych ward. So he continues to harass and scare children. Seem quite right?

Started working on Grace and co for the February history challenge. I think the letter will only have Grace. I wanted to do a visitor to Riverbank but I don't think I have the time and gumption to do it. I'd rather crochet this winter, it seems. But I'm at least going to get something for the newsletter. I will not make her talk and do things that she "might have done," but I will try to use active sentences to make my story pop off the page. (Yeah, right)

E rather unhappy with her computer and I think, her job. I do believe her other company was better. She bought her computer only this summer, here in Moncton I think, and its not working well.

Family History Challenge February 2015: Preparations

Lynn Palmero hosts a Family History Writing Challenge and I'm setting up for 2015. As I need to write an article for the newsletter in February, I chose to write about Grace Holmes Ballantyne and her two sisters, Winafred Louise and Alice Eliza, and her cousin, Charlotte (Lottie) H Ballantyne. Also in there will be her brother, Frank, and maybe her cousin's son, Lyle.

I don't know yet if the story will focus on Grace with the others sort of in the sidelines, or focus on all of them. I'm thinking Grace, but time will tell as I research and write. Amazing Grace, Paula called her. I think that title is taken, but she was an amazing lady.

I have several wonders.

Grace was a lawyer up until 1920 census. In 1930 she was a secretary in a real estate office and in 1940, the office manager. Why did she stop practicing law? At this point in time, and Paula and I have done quite a bit of research, I have no idea.

Why did none of those young ladies ever marry? Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just unusual that none of them did, especially at that time.  I have no photos of any of them.

When did Charlotte die? She's alive in  Des Moines in 1933, and then she disappears into thin air. Iowa and Idaho have pretty good records, too.

Those ladies, or combinations of them, as well as Frank, shared accomodations. I am going to make a spread sheet, listing people by dates, by home addresses, by employers, by dates of death. I haven't quite figured out how yet, but I started on it tonight.

I have quite a bit of info stored on MS word from 2013 - much of it research of Paula. I remember reading about Des Moines in the early 1900s, and I think it was a pretty dirty place as I recall, but need to re-research.

I found the death certificate of Alice, but not the others. She died of recurrent cerebral hemorages over a course of five years.

So . . . the work begins.

Lakeville Chronicles 2015 - January 1 - 7

Lakeville Chronicles 2015

Week One

Thursday, January 1, 2015

It's a goal - we'll see. I want to chronicle 2015 from my wee corner of the world. What I did, what went on in my house or my family, what went on in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, North America, Taiwan and the rest of the world that interests, intrigues, surprises, offends, amuses me. In short, anything that I find noteworthy and doesn't bore me. Highlights, mostly - short little posts.

It's the very first day. I don't have a lot of precise goals although there are things I want to accomplish this year. First of all, I tried to kickstart my EBCYG Facebook group. I managed to get some response from some of the same people who always respond. So be it; the 20:80 rule works almost everywhere. I read four chapters. I took a long walk with Toller to the beaver dam. It was frozen so we walked up the back road and had a good look around Beaver Country. I found tracks and photographed them; J and I looked at them and decided they were muskrat tracks. The only critters I saw were Toller, Riley (a dog down the road), 8 mallards and 3 crows. Around here - some pidgeons, juncos, woodies, jays. I didn't spend much time bird watching here though. 

Things I want to accomplish this year:

Make minimum of 30 small doilies for 2016 reunion.

Get a good start on Riverbank Visitors.

Read through the Bible and at least a dozen books.

Set plans in motion for 2016 reunion.

Visit Aunt Helen.

Visit Anne Marie, Mary Jane and Margaret.

Walk more.

Kayak more.

Pray more.

Spend less time on computer. I do tend to waste time on here.

Spend more time with Bill.

Spend more time housecleaning.

Make some Christmas gifts. For now, think about what to make and who to make for.

Friday, January 2, 2015

We went to Bill's favorite restaurant today, St. Huberts, for their Christmas special. Took J and Mom, and we were all stuffed. Julie picked up her new car today, a cherry colored Toyota RAV 4. She has not come home with it yet, so I assume she went to C and L's. Bill worked the last two nights in a row so he is sleeping in his recliner, and Baroque music is on the television. That's how I know he's really sleeping.

Our little prayer group is coming along on EBCYG, at least with several of the women. Several are quite enthusiastic. One girl posted a photo of her journal with all of our names in it.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Toller's been scratching at his underarm area for a couple of days. A bit of rubbing and I found a cyst. It seems to move. Yesterday it seemed on his rib area, today between the top of his two front legs. Its about the size of a big marble, I'd say.

J went home in her new cherry red Toyota. Luna stayed with us, as J will be back again next weekend so she can see the doctor on Monday.

Expecting some weather tomorrow, but not quite sure what. I think it will be snow turning to rain. We'll find out tomorrow when we wake up and look out the window, I guess.

Doing the last row on a doily. Love doing the last row as I can look forward to a new doily. This one is two colors, so I have lots of thread ends to sew and hide.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

It snowed, then freezing rained. Now its just warming up and getting ready for a quick freeze again. I stayed home from home, as did Carmaine. I've driven in worse but as I grow older, I just don't want to chance it. Toller and I walked in the early afternoon. I wanted to go to the beaver dam, but he kept gettin snow bunnies between his toes and we had to stop every few seconds to get them out, so we turned around and trudged home.

My little group of seven seems quite enthusiastic. Others are sending in some requests. I want to get my notebook quite finished this week, then just do the daily maintenance. I've read several chapters and finished "The Art of Racing in the Rain." Good book, told from the dog's perspective. I'm in the middle of "Pale Crocus" doily; coming right along on my 2016 doily project. Today Luna and Elsa were running pelnel through the house in a great chase. Luna jumped on the couch, leaped on my lap, tangled in my crochet thread, and freed herself to win the race. Mind you she's six or seven years younger. My doily remained intact, fortunately, and Luna didn't kill herself.

No idea what is going on outside Lakeville; I hunkered down in my cabin today. J used her new confection oven, she said, to cook trout. It worked. My sister's Christmas pyjamas are way too big. I wish she had tried them on here and we could have returned them. The receipt is now shredded. I think she is going to try and exchange them, but she may have to regift them.

Monday, January 5, 2015

It is sooooo cold . . . wind chill factor -35 tomorrow so says Elspeth. It's cold in as well, and I don't usually find it cold. And the street is a sheet of ice. We've been growling that Bill hasn't been called in to work, and today, when the driving is so dangerous, they calle him in from 6 to midnight. I know he made it safely; now just to make it safely home in the dark.

Red must be cold too. Looks like he wanted some new threads for his nest.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

I went to KD Wednesday (KD = Kraft Dinner) at church and afterward we had our Christmas potluck dinner. 'Twas fun and lots of laughing. I came home with beans and lots of cut up fruit cake so I have some eatin' to do. I'm full, but craving a cup of tea. 

B worked in the ER today so will be home about 4:30.

Finished a doily and have a new one ready to go. This will be a pale yellow.

Talked to J. Concerned. 

Started doily. It's one of those where the difficulty lies in the beginning and hopefully, will be easier as it goes along.

It is still very cold outside and once again, the  heat pump gave up. J's apartment is very cold. 

ISIS strikes again. 12 people, including journalists and police, are dead.