It is a revelation to discover that I have not posted on this blog since late June. Thank you for the emails and phone calls from many of you to find out if I am in good health. Well…
…I spent most of July and part of August doing field genealogy research in Virginia and Connecticut, much of the time with my daughter Linda Brinkerhoff:
My Virginia research took me to the Virginia Historical Society, now called Virginia Museum of History & Culture https://www.virginiahistory.org. Here I acquired several books of Virginia interest including Jamestown Brides by Jennifer Potter (New York: Oxford University Press, 2019). For a description of this amazing book, see my Virginia blog. For an account of my research Stay Tuned–as I share some remarkable finds among the m ore than ten million documents and extensive indexes held by the Museum.
And to the Library of Virginia in Richmond, http://www.lva.virginia.gov. Linda and I spent spent two full days searching family and personal record collections identified and described in detail in Guide to the Personal Papers Collections at the Library of Virginia, edited by Trenton E. Hizer. (Richmond: Library of Virginia, 2008). This 1,082 page finding aid allows searches directly from its pages.
And to the Leesburgh Public Library. Linda and I wanted to locate the 16th century town and church of Leedstown, Virginia established by Richard and Edward Bray.. Acquainted with Lord Fairfax’s Manor of Leeds in Loudoun County, we checked for information on the town and church there first. Actually, Leedstown was in Westmoreland County, also part of the Northern Neck, along the Rappahannock River. The site is marked by a relica of a lighthouse and a recreational park.
Then we spent a week at the Mohegan Sun Resort in the Uncasville/Montville area of Connecticut. Surrounded by Indian culture and artifacts. Research excursions to the Connecticut State Archives in Hartford and to the Windsor Historical Society and the Windsor Public Library–collecting copies of original documents and numerous index entries for follow-up at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
When I left for home finally, I drove across New York State on the scenic route, into Pennsylvania and Ohio. Everything went well until I got to Kansas City where I-70 is all torn up with detours into the countryside for miles and miles. The rain was coming down in sheets and night was coming on. I saw parts of central America that I have never seen before as I have criss-crossed the country to speak and to research.
Then I went to Yellowstone for a week with Linda and her family. It was wonderful –the company, the park, the scenery, and the animals. Since I had not been there for several years, I was pleasantly surprised to find it almost a cell-phone-free zone. No super highways, no commercialization. Two new visitor’s centers were informative and beautiful examples of our tax-dollars at work. Vacations have been few for me–so I had a great time!
This week is the first time I could type in 2 months–I slipped on a wet floor and cracked my rotator cuff. Ugh! Have not been able to drive because it takes too much strain on my arm to turn the wheel. So I spent my rehabilitation time reading! About Virginia. About Native Americans. About the Irish and their settlement of America. Very nice way to rest! Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle. http://arleneeakle.com
PS Hang in there with me and I will share what I learned in the archives of Virginia and Connecticut. I’m still looking for a study on the culture of the Mohegan Federation and the meanings of the artifacts and relics present in every hall and venue of that magnificent casino.
PPS Columbus Day–when the crazies get finished, even Columbus will be under a cloud of suspicion. No historical figure is safe! What are we to do?