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From: "Mollie Simpson" <>
Subject: Re: [TNDICKSO] Sunday Afternoon Rocking...a mite late
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 18:56:42 -0500


You know, I have never quite thought of it that way, but it does make you
stop and think................
Mollie
----- Original Message -----
From: "j" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 6:56 PM
Subject: [TNDICKSO] Sunday Afternoon Rocking...a mite late


> "If the Ghost of Many Greats Grandpap Could Talk" (from the Sunday
> Afternoon Rocking Rocking series)
>
> It more often occurs to me than it once did, as I do my genealogy searches
> and help others with theirs, that regardless of what the records
> say...things are not always what they appear. And the more we delve into
> all this, the more we know it. We are always turning up this thing or that
> thing, having an elder tell us the "rest of the story" in whispers not to
> be repeated, wondering what secrets are buried now never to be told, what
> mistakes were made in the record-keeping (on purpose and not), and a bit
of
> chagrin (but a bit of humor too!) is often the case as I peruse
> that"documented" family tree of mine.
>
> I wonder what "they" might have to say about it if they could....
>
> "Well here I stand, not that they know it, and I don't know whether to
> laugh or weep for the pity of it. They have me married to my grandmother's
> sister, and my father married to my wife, and apparently my wife has three
> children I did not know about. I am glad she named one of them after me.
> That tintype they have my name on is actually my sister-in-law's uncle's
> brother who just happened to have almost the same name as me, but let me
> tell you he was sneaky as a barnyard rat and I really hate being known for
> all eternity as walking around with his ugly mug.
>
> All this they are so proud of is thoroughly documented of course, and I
> wish I could just step right in and tell them how they got the
> documentation in a tangle worse than sister's knittin. They also have no
> clue where I am planted and I could tell them that too, that I am actually
> the center of attention as the county courthouse is right over the top of
> me and hasn't a clue I rise each night to scramble through the records and
> hoot over what is missing, what is not filled out properly, and what is
> filled out totally wrong.
>
> I could tell them a thing or two about that census taker they are all so
> sure has the right answers. He never was all that bright to start with
> (kicked in the side of the head by a mule when he was a youngin), stayed
> two sheets in the wind most of the time, and if he didn't feel like taking
> roll he just sat down and made up a thing or two. Why do they think we
> could spare him from the farming to do this mess anyhow??? Foolishness it
> was, and we were much too busy for it, and so we spared what we could for
> the foolishness.
>
> Of course they do not want to know all this...I am sure they don't because
> if they knew all that then they would know they have not a chance at
> learning the real story as those of us who know it are waiting on this
side
> for them and there is no U.S. Mail routes between. Now that great great
> great granddaughter of mine is mighty proud because she thinks my pap was
a
> Revolutionary War soldier and that apparently is something mighty big to
be
> in this day and age. Hmmmmm.... maybe better she does not know that my pap
> never fought with anything much except my ma which might after all have
> been worse than the King's men, so maybe he deserves the honor after all.
> She also is proud because she thinks her many greats grand pap got hung by
> the King's men for being a Patriot. Fact is he got hung for being a hoss
> thief, but maybe that is not so bad either since he stole the hoss off the
> grandpa of my sister-in-law's uncle's brother that was that sneaky
barnyard
> rat. He stole the hoss off the barnyard rat's grand pap in order to go
> fetch the midwife to deliver the youngin that they have down as his own
but
> was not,was actually the wood's colt of the hoss owner who wouldn't claim
it.
> Not that we don't have some things to be prideful of, we surely do. But I
> am telling you right here and now when these kinfolks of mine cross over
to
> my side of the river it is going to take from now till eternity to set
them
> straight".
>
> Just a thought... <vbg>
> jan
>
> Copyright ©2000JanPhilpot
> .________________________________________________
> (Note: Afternoon Rocking messages are meant to be passed on, meant to be
> shared...simply share as written without alterations...and in entirety.
> Thanks, jan)
> Sunday Afternoon Rocking columns are distributed weekly on the list Sunday
> Rocking. This is not a "reply to" list, and normally only one message per
> week will come across it, that being the column. To subscribe send email
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