Tombstones and Graveyards and Churches, Oh My!

At the Family Reunion with cousins Linda 
Garrison Sessoms (l) and Kolby Garrison (r) and
her precious guide dog Amelia.

I had the opportunity, recently, to attend the Garrison Family Reunion, in Wilmington, NC.  This is my mom's side of the family and as I have mentioned in prior blogs, she was one of 12 children, which produced many grand and great grand children.  Unfortunately, only two of the 12 are still with us but both were at the reunion!  What a blessing that was!  There were probably 35 or so relatives there, which is a smaller number than when we had the reunion years ago, but still a great turnout, considering how busy everyone's lives are.

We had the reunion at my cousin's house which had the perfect backyard for such an event.  It was a gorgeous day and everyone had a great time.  We talked about reunions of the past, and special memories of those we have lost.  It was so nice to see everyone. Thanks to my three cousins, Delores, Debi and Gwen, who put it together.

One of the subjects we discussed was our family history, the genealogy we have worked on, and trying to find out who the father of my Great, Great Grandfather John Wesley Garrison really was. Several of us have looked into it and have found no definitive answer, but more on that in a later blog.

Mittie Hayworth Garrison's family home, before it was 
taken down.   The gentleman who owned it was going 
to renovate but must have thought it was too far gone.  

Our first adventure, after the reunion, was to try to find my grandmother's family home near High Point, NC.  We had an address, put it into the GPS and off we went.  Sadly, when we arrived at the address, we realized that they had recently torn it down.  You can't image the sadness when we made that discovery. Thank goodness, my cousin Anne and my Aunt Gladys had visited there not long ago and taken some pictures, so we do have a visual record.  After leaving the location where Grandma's home had been, we started hitting the cemeteries that were close by, where some of my relatives were buried.  

I had always heard tales of Abbott's Creek Primitive Baptist Cemetery and how beautiful the tombstones were.  The way they were intricately carved, showed pride and workmanship by the person who created them.  Unfortunately, many were very old and well covered with moss or lichen, which made them very difficult to read.  Some of the different styles are shown above.  

It was cold and rainy that day and my husband was a real trooper, marching through the graveyards with me, during that week of Halloween. We visited about six cemeteries that day, including two where my Quaker relatives were buried, Deep River Friends Meeting (est. 1754) and Springfield Friends Meeting (est. 1773). The gravesites we visited in these two places went back to the 1700's and 1800's. 

While visiting the Springfield Friends, and looking for Micajah Haworth's gravesite, I met the new Pastor, who had just started weeks before.  He was a very nice man and was very helpful in helping us locate the tombstone. He also gave me the name of someone higher up, should I need further help in the future.  

I couldn't make it to all the cemeteries that day, but I got to a lot of them and enjoyed seeing many of the family plots for myself.  It became obvious, very quickly, that I could spend weeks, trekking around the state, walking through many more burial grounds. But that will have to take place at a different time.  I will share more about this fact finding trip in the next blog.  Needless to say, being this close to where my family members lived, just reignited the fire to find those elusive, long lost relatives!

Preserving the Ha(y)worth Family History for Future Generations, Part 9

George Haworth was the fifth Great Grandfather of my
Grandmother, Mittie Ethel Hayworth Garrison.  

I would not be here today if it were not for George Haworth and his many descendants.  The Haworth line has continued for many generations in our family and will live on for many more. My Grandmother, Mittie Hayworth Garrison, was the 5th Great Granddaughter of George.  She was almost 92 years old when she passed away.  I felt very blessed to have her around that long.  The picture to the right was taken just a couple years before she died.  Four generations. My mom is on the left, holding my daughter Stephanie.  

So, we are all thankful to George for coming to America, risking his life on the ship Brittania, and starting a family.  He died in January of 1725 (Quaker calendar) and was buried in Buck's County, Pennsylvania.  At the time of his death, he and Sarah had had eight children.  The children were, in birth order:
1.  A son who died in infancy
2.  Stephanus Haworth, born in 1713 and married Rachel Beeson
3.  Rachel V. Haworth, born in 1715 but died young
4.  Absalom Haworth, born in 1716 and married Elizabeth E. Payne
5.  John Haworth, born in 1717, married Mary Garner
6.  James Haworth born in 1719, married Sarah Wood
7.  Mary Haworth born in 1721 married John Michener
8.  George Haworth Jr. born in 1724 and married Mary Brown

Buckingham Friends Meeting House still stands today.  

George had been a weaver and a farmer. He and Sarah were Quakers and belonged to the Falls Member Meeting and they were charter members of the Buckingham Friends meeting.  

Three of George and Sarah's sons, Stephanus, Absalom and James, left Pennsylvania and headed south.  They landed in Virginia, where they set up their new homes and started their own families. Stephanus later moved to North Carolina.  

Today's Terri's Tidbit:  Were you a Little House on the Prairie fan?  Did you read the books, watch the show, or both?  There is a new book out by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and edited by Pamela Smith Hill.  It is called Pioneer Girl:  The Annotated Autobiography.  It is a beautiful book that would be worthy of your coffee table.  Check it out here!

Preserving the Ha(y)worth Family History for Future Generations, Part 8

Before we get into the last of the letters, I wanted to share with you something I found on Ancestry.com. It is the marriage intention, of George Haworth and Sarah Scarborough. It that was found in the Quaker records dated September 9, 1710 (1).

According to the Haworth Association website (2), these are the vows exchanged between George and Sarah. "Whereas George Haworth of ye Township of Makefield in ye County of Bucks & Province of Pennsylvania, Weaver, and Sarah Scarborough, daughter of John Scarborough of ye township Solebury in ye county and province aforesaid, spinster, having intentions of taking each other in marriage did publish ye same before several monthly meetings of ye people called Quakers in ye county aforesaid according to ye good order used amongst ye, whose proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof & having consent of relations and parties concerned nothing appearing to obstruct were approved of by ye at meetings."
"Now these are to certify all whome it may concern yt for ye full accomplishment of their said intentions this 28th day of 9 mo/anno 1710 they ye sd George Haworth and Sarah Scarborough appeared in a publick meeting of ye said people and other matt together at their usual meeting house in ye township of Buckingham and County aforesaid and ye ad George Haworth taking ye ad Sarah Scarborough by ye hand did in a solemn manner openly declare yt he took her to be his wife and did likewise promise to be to her a true and loving and faithfull husband untill death should seperate ym & yn and there in the said assembly she ye ad Sarah Scarborough did likewise declare yt she took ye ad George Haworth to be her husband promising to be unto him a loving and faithfull and true wife untill death should seperate them and moreover ye ad George-Haworth & Sarah Scarborough, (she according to ye custom of marriage assuming ye name of her husband) as a further confirmation thereof did then and there to those present sett their hands & we whose names are hereunder subscribed being amongst others psent at ye solemnization of their ad marriage and subscription in manner aforesaid as witnesses thereunto have also to these psents set our hands ye day & year above written."

George and Sarah were married on September 28, 1710.

The last letter George sent to his brother was in October 1722, Quaker calendar.  It's shorter than the rest but he starts off letting him know that all are well.  "These are to let thee know that we thy kindred are all in good health, blessed be the Lord for it..."  He goes on to let them know a little about Mary and her family.  "My Sister Mary and children desire dearly to be remembered to thee and the rest of our kindred in England; all her children is married and doth well three of them married according to the good order of Friends, her husband died a year and eight months ago." (All italics are excerpts from George’s letters, as written.(3) )

George wants to know more about his brother's health. "So dear Brother I heartily desire thy wellfare both Soul and body. Give my dear Love to my Sisters and to all my Relations and Friends."

At this point in time, George has more children.  "I have 4 children 3 boys and one daughter. Our country is pretty healthy at present blessed be the Lord for it."  

He brings up something in this letter that kind of surprised me.  "We have been affraid of War by the Indians, thro' some ill indian traders but now we have had a treaty of peace."  Indians?? Yikes!  I knew there were Indians around but didn't think about the fact that they might go to war.  

George gives information about the state of the country in 1722.  "Our Country encreaseth and the inhabitants groweth large and fast, Corn is cheap and money scarce."   

The last writing we have from George is, "so having not much more at present but our dear love to you all I rest and remain thy Loving Brother.

George Haworth

P.S. I have received no letters since one from John Laycock; Dear Brother I often think of you forget not to write to me by what oppertunity thou can."  He is still trying to get the family to write to him.  I have loved having these letters to read.  It shows just how important it is to save old papers, letters, newspapers, etc., so future generations can learn things about us.  Take some time to write down information about your family or record a conversation with an older relative! Your future generations with thank you!

Today's Terri's Tidbit:  I just found another podcast that is fun for those working on their family history.  The phone app is called Extreme Genes Family History Radio.  They have a Facebook page.  Click here to visit it.  Their website is here and they have the podcast available there too. Check it out!

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(1) Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes. Hege Friends Historical Library, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
(2)Haworth Association Website: http://haworthassociation.org/
(3)George's letters can be found in many publications but most notably in:
Early Letters from Pennsylvania, 1699-1722
George Haworth The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 37, No. 3 (1913), pp. 330-340

Preserving the Ha(y)worth Family History for Future Generations, Part 7

The next letter from George Haworth was written in 1715 and he tells his brother he is "hoping these few lines will find you in good health, as I and my Wife and child is at present blessed be the Lord for it...".  He recently saw his niece and nephew, children of Mary.  "Two of my Sister Mary's children, John and Mary came to see me this Spring and they are all in good health..."  (All italics are excerpts from George’s letters, as written.(1))     

We find out that Mary is a Quaker but her husband is not.  "Sister Mary owneth Friends, but her Husband holdeth more for the Church of England; but she hath brought up her children very orderly and they behave themselves very civilly amongst sober people, and their love is very respectfully desired to you all and they were glad to see and read the letters I received from thee."  It looks like many in the area were Quakers.  "...the greatest share of people in our parts is called Quakers and Meetings are kept in good order, there is a great many of meeting houses built, I can take my Horse and ride to any of 8 meetings in a morning before the Meeting begin."

George shares information about all the different religions in his area.  " There is of all sorts of Professions, as Church of England, Anabaptists, Presbeterians, Independents, Papists &c. and most of them hath houses or churches to meet together to worship in..."

I doubt the family in England ever had the chance to meet George's wife.  They were curious about her and it seems that his brother had married twice and George didn't know anything about his wives either.  "Further Brother thou desired to know what County my Wife was of; her parents were born in London and she was born in Pennsylvania, but thou hath had 2 Wives and never sent where thou married them nor who they were."

At this point it appears that George is still a weaver and a farmer.  "So concerning what calling I and my Wife doth follow we make our own cloth both linnen and wollen and sometimes I weave for wages I clears land and plows I count I have 100 bushels of Corn this year very good wheat Rye and Barley and Indian Corn, I plant trees and hath Apples Peaches and Cherries and I have good land and wants more hands to help me I have 4 Cows and 4 Horses and 31 Swine..."

George talks about the country and what it is like at this time.  Can you imagine Philadelphia only one mile long?  "...one thing more concerning the Country how it is settled Philadelphia is our greatest town we have; it is very large about a mile long with a great breadth might be populated a market twice a week and full of all Country business and Sea affairs the River full of Sloops and Ships, Bristol is a market town and there is a many more too tedious to set down. We have a fine large country with great conveniency in it."

By the time of this letter, George and Sarah have had their first child.  "My Son is 2 years and 5 months old his name is Stephanus..."  Stephanus is my 6th great grandfather and the start of the first generation of Haworth's, born in America.  There were other children too.  More on them later.  

Today's Terri's Tidbit:  I have been having so much fun using Google Books.  Have you been to this website?  Click here to check it out.  Try putting a family name in the search box and see if something comes up.  I put George Haworth's name in and lots of things came up.  I was surprised when I put my name in and two things came up.  Some of these books are free, some you can buy and some you can order to be delivered to your local library.  I am finding more and more interesting things, each time I go there to explore.  Happy Searching!
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(1)George's letters can be found in many publications but most notably in: 
    Early Letters from Pennsylvania, 1699-1722
    George Haworth The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
    Vol. 37, No. 3 (1913), pp. 330-340