The Ancestral Pen

  52 Ancestors: John Dodridge Ward (1862-1935) Some ancestors leave behind neat paper trails—birth certificates, marriage records, death notices, all lined up in chronological order. Others seem to vanish into thin air, leaving genealogists scratching their heads and wondering what happened. My husband's 2x great-grandfather, John Dodridge Ward, falls squarely into the latter category. But his disappearing act wasn't magic—it was deliberate deception that would take DNA testing to finally unravel. The Early Years: A Normal Start John D. Ward was born on October 8, 1862, in Tennessee, the son of James B. Ward and Mary Jane Rankins. He grew up in McNairy County, Tennessee, surrounded by a large family of siblings. The 1880 census shows him as a 16-year-old farm hand, single and living with his parents—nothing particularly unusual for a young man of that era. In 1883, at age 21, John married Melinda H. Reed in Hempstead, Arkansas. The couple would go on to have three children...

  Each Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who served and sacrificed so we might live in freedom. In our family, the Woolsey name carries with it a deep legacy of courage, duty, and devotion to both country and kin. This year, we reflect on the men in our Woolsey line who answered their nation’s call—not just in one generation, but across two defining wars in American history. Private Daniel Woolsey – Revolutionary War Patriot Born in colonial New York,  Daniel Woolsey  served as a Private in the 3rd Regiment of the Ulster County Militia during the American Revolution, under Colonel John Cantine. He was the son of  Henry Woolsey , who also served in the same regiment, making theirs a proud father-son legacy of service to the emerging nation. After the war, Daniel built a life with  Ann Halstead , and together they helped settle new lands, moving westward to Ohio around 1829 or 1830. They made the journey in a wagon driven by a future in-law, with Daniel’s elde...

When you’re writing historical fiction based on real people—especially your own ancestors—it’s tempting to start at birth and tell everything . After all, you’ve done the research. You’ve tracked down the census records, military registrations, and newspaper articles. You know when they were born, who they married, how many children they had, and where they ended up. But here’s the truth: you don’t owe the reader every fact . You owe them the truth of the story. And more importantly, you owe them a good read—something engaging, memorable, and making them want to come back for more. Start With the Burning Question Before you begin writing, ask yourself: What is it about this ancestor that compels me to tell their story? What’s the defining moment or series of events that you find yourself telling over and over to anyone who will listen? That moment—the one you can’t shake—might be the climax of your story. Once you have it, you can start to shape the narrative around it. Look...

Alden Williamson was born in 1750 in New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia. As we approach Memorial Day, it seems fitting to honor this patriot ancestor who served his country in its earliest days. Family Life Alden married Isabel Thompson in 1778 in Virginia. With Isabel, he had at least two sons: John Williamson (born May 19, 1781) and Richard S. Williamson (born 1786). Isabel passed away the same year Richard was born, in 1786. Records indicate that Alden married Mary Elizabeth Jackson much later in his life, likely around 1814 when their son Shadrick Williamson was born. Military Service Alden served as a Private under Captain William Campbell at the Battle of Point Pleasant, earning him recognition as a Patriot (DAR Patriot #A126757). The Battle of Point Pleasant, fought on October 10, 1774, was a pivotal clash between Virginia colonial militia and a confederation of Shawnee and Mingo warriors led by Chief Cornstalk, taking place at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rive...

  It was last Sunday. I was feeling pretty good about all I had accomplished for the week with social media and blog posts for both The Ancestral Pen and the DAR. My book proof had arrived on Saturday and I was pleased, so I hit the publish button on it Sunday morning. I still had a couple more blog posts to write but knew I would be on track, and then all hell broke loose. I'm sitting here in my lounge, a blanket over my legs because it's still a bit cool here on spring mornings. My laptop on my lap and my fingers clicking away making my words come to life. I hear my son fire up his truck to go do a side job with his brother, but otherwise the house is still quiet. It's my quiet writing time, and then it wasn't. I hear a pitiful squawk from a chicken and then I hear it again, only that time I knew by its abrupt end that it wasn't good. I also knew that it was coming from the other side of the yard where there was not supposed to be a chicken. Before I could get my ...

When writing historical fiction or simply trying to visualize our ancestors, we often face a challenge: how do we create a vivid character when we don't have photographs? This guide will show you how to extract rich character details from historical records and transform them into both literary character profiles and AI art prompts. Records to Explore: Finding the Puzzle Pieces Historical records are like puzzle pieces – each one reveals a small part of a person's life. Here's what to look for: Census Records : Beyond basic demographics, census records reveal living situations, occupation changes, household compositions, and economic status. For example, you can see whether someone owned or rented their home, age, birth location, and occupation. Military Records : Draft registrations, service records, and pension applications offer physical descriptions (height, weight, eye/hair color, distinguishing marks), occupational skills, and life events. They also demonstrat...

   Thomas and Martha with their three oldest boys. Like a wheel in motion, my 2x great-grandfather Thomas Miller Hoard's life was characterized by constant movement across America's heartland as he sought better opportunities for his family. Throughout his 69 years, Thomas's journey would take him through multiple states - from Missouri to Nebraska, Arkansas to Kansas, and finally to Oklahoma - as he raised a large family and adapted to the changing economic and social landscape of late 19th and early 20th century America. Early Life and Family Background Thomas Miller Hoard was born on June 27, 1867 to James W. Hoard (1837-1911) and Emily Letitia Scott (1848-1948), Thomas came from a family with its own interesting history. According to his father's obituary, James was born near Atlanta, Georgia on June 7, 1839. As a boy, he moved with his parents to Alabama, where he lived until the Civil War broke out. James then enlisted in the Confederate Army and served for three ...

Dear Readers, I'm thrilled to share some exciting news - I've finally hit the "publish" button on the digital version of "His Greatest Regret"! After months of waiting, Richard Woolsey's story is ready for you to explore. This has been a 20-year journey - countless hours of research, collaboration with my cousins, and even a DNA test to piece together Richard's fascinating life. The print version proof copy should arrive this week, and barring any issues, I'll be publishing that version too. Richard Woolsey was quite the character - a smooth-talking man whose paper trail has always fascinated me. I won't sugar coat it - he was not a good father to his youngest child, though by all accounts, he was devoted to his first six children. It's one of the mysteries I've pondered throughout this project. In "His Greatest Regret," you'll follow Richard's adventures across late 19th century America - from Indiana to Kansas...

211 N Pettit Ave, Hominy, OK as it appears today For this week's #52Ancestros challenge, I'm taking a different approach. Instead of "At the Library," I'm sharing the story of my ancestor Martha Ellen (McCombs) Hoard, whose life journey took her through Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma during a transformative period in American history. Early Years in Post-Civil War Arkansas (1870-1890) Martha Ellen McCombs was born on July 1, 1870, in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas. Her parents were John A. McCombs (1846-1921) and Lutitia Nichols (1850-1926). As the eldest of eight children, Martha grew up in Dickson, Benton County, Arkansas, where the 1880 census shows her living with her family at age 9. Martha's childhood unfolded in a rural farming community still recovering from the Civil War. During her formative years, Benton County was experiencing significant agricultural changes. In the 1870s and 1880s, the county led Arkansas in tobacco production, harvesti...

Family history research often yields a collection of dates, places, and basic facts that, while valuable, can feel lifeless on their own. In this post, I'll show you how to transform those dry ancestral details into vivid historical narratives that can enhance WikiTree profiles, blog posts, short stories, or even books. Let's use an example from my family tree - my 2x great-grandfather David Isiah Rollett. Starting with the Basic Facts At first glance, here's what we know about David's early life: Born January 26, 1866, in Stewartville, Missouri Lost his father, Abner Elmer Rollett, on October 16, 1866 (when David was only 9 months old) By 1870 (age 4), living in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois In 1871 (age 5), his half-brother Brierley Revel Rollett was born In 1880 (age 14), still residing in Nauvoo, listed as "grandson" in the household Now remember my last post Creating Historical Contex.....  I showed you how important it was to compile a complete t...