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The Monday, May 14, 2007, meeting of the Society will be at 7:00 P.M. at the Surry County, Va. Recreation Center.
A nominating committee has been appointed. It consists of members Bess Richardson, Bo Bohannan and Eve Gregory. Their selection of nominees are shown below. Nominees for the Board of Directors are Kathy Thompson, Tarika Blizzard, Troilen Seward and Rev. James Harrison as President. A nominee to replace Shirley Cockes has not been selected at this time. Nominations may be made from the floor for all positions.
If the math is correct, this election starts our eleventh year of operation, following approximately a year of getting organized.
Yes, the contract is signed, and the deposit made. Now we are handling details, permits, exact location, utilities, etc. Depending upon how fast commitments are received and new gifts, the building will be close to being paid for. At last check we have approximately $275,200.00 in the bank. Some additions we would like will depend upon new gifts. The Society has been approved for a loan, if it is necessary. As with most construction, there will likely be some surprises and changes necessary. Also, this will substantially increase our operating cost. There will be electricity, water, heat and air conditioning. There will be grass to cut and driveways to build and maintain. We will need to establish a maintenance fund. This will start a new era for our Society. I can't wait! JEA
 This wooden plaque came from the Cabin Point Royal Arch Lodge, established April 13, 1775. Apparently nailed to the inside of the lodge. Laurie Hopper found it and gave it to Clark Sieburth of Cabin Point. He has graciously loaned it to the Surry County Historical Society to be shown at our great celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Capt. John Smith and his settlers' first landing in Surry County At this time no one, including the State Masonic Lodge headquarters, has been able to de-cypher the Code.
Today there is an explosion of interest and activity in tracing our roots. We have so many more research assets available, and new communication systems make information available worldwide. It has changed the way research is done. This is very upsetting to many long-time genealogists who consider themselves purists. The traditional genealogist depends upon the source documents. Wills, deeds, marriage records, birth records and death records provide the "meat" for most research. Often years or decades would be spent searching lost ancestors. Where did they move, whom did they marry, what were the names of their children? Did they die at 40 or live to 90? Complicating the situation was two or more sons naming their children with the same names, our recent generations moving everywhere, and daughters marrying unknown spouses, divorces and remarriages. Quite often our citizens of Anglo-Saxon bloodlines search out records diligently, but stop when it takes them back to Europe. Pre-1607 information, where they came from, were they originally English, Danish or French? Did their ancestors originally come from Europe, or have Asian or African origins? Today, the computer and the DNA programs available allow a novice to collect reams of information quickly. Sometimes they are lucky, and make a direct hit immediately. Like a gambler at Las Vegas, they are more likely to spend lots of time and money, and may have empty pockets at the end of the day. Yet, it is a beginning. Often it introduces beginners to experienced genealogists and that gets them on the right track. Do not knock it. But it is much more complicated than that. Our African American citizens are now very active in searching for their roots. Many of their original ancestors in this country came in as slaves. They were moved from farm to farm. Sometimes the slave owners and slaves moved from state to state. Most could not read or write. Marriages were informal and often never registered. From what country, what tribe, in what century did they arrive here in America? Did they come directly from Africa, or through the islands and central America? Their original language is inevitably lost. There are no written records. Perhaps a few words or expressions may give a clue, but only a clue. Most could not read or write for generations. Records kept by slave owners usually gave only a single name determined by the slave owner. Even if they can put together their ancestry here in the USA, where did they come from? Check out all information on their owners. Often records on the owner's family will give information and insight into yours. Here we get into the only tools available. DNA and the genes that, collectively, can tell their past. What country, what tribe or tribes. Every year as files and tools get better, the more accurate the information becomes. It gets to the point that you can tell where in a certain country in what century their ancestors were moved, often against their will, and ended up here in the USA. You may learn that nearly all from their source came into the Islands, before coming to the USA. We cannot determine their names, or their language, but we can learn more year by year of their roots. This is important and builds the foundation for increased knowledge in the future. Do not knock it. Try to insure you have the best information available, unembellished, and fact. It becomes the foundation for studies of their lives, their past, and your future. Leave unanswered questions open. As time passes, many may be answered. Try to minimize or clearly identify speculation. Ask readers to give you their research. A single clue may lead you to answers. Indian blood lines call for similar research. Because their tribes were in the USA, it sometimes is easier to search. There is often written information available, but few written Indian languages. You must depend on the oral history and written information of recent generations. Much of the early written information available was written by the English settlers. Is it biased? Is it accurate? So much of our written history tells of the good, and ignores the bad. I can remember my mother telling me not to write down certain facts about ancestors. Write it all down. Also there was considerable intermarriage between the African Americans and the Native Americans. Sometimes the Indian blood was hidden, and it takes considerable research to bring it out. For some in early days, Indian blood was considered beneath that of African Americans. Most Indian languages consisted largely of pictographs, and their own languages were largely never meant to be read, only to depict. Again Genes and DNA often give the clues as to which tribe, or perhaps mixture of tribes in your past. There are three important rules to follow. If you follow these you will leave work that is invaluable to the succeeding generations.
The Dendron Museum and Boxcar opening dates for the remainder of 2007 are scheduled for the following Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.:
Exhibits:
Keep your Dues up to date. Check the renewal date on your Newsletter mailing label. Support your Society!
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