Thursday, December 18, 2008

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I have been awfully good this past year. I’ve shared my information, helped new genealogists get started on their research and kept my files up to date ... well, soft of, but two out of three isn’t so bad, is it? Won’t you reward my good behavior by granting my wishes? Just in case you can’t read my mind, here they are:

Please, can you let me know who fathered the children of Julina Caroline Vaughn, including my great-grandfather, David Vaughn? She left few clues and I have just about run out of places to search.

While you are at it, can you find out the identity of the father of the children of Rebecca, Julina’s mother? Both of these ladies have caused me much distress by keeping these names secret for so many years.

I know my ancestor, John E. Wilson, married a daughter of Hugh McVay as his first wife before 1807, but please, Santa, could you find out her given name and just whisper it in my ear? I promise to share with all the other McVay and Wilson researchers.

Some Rand family researchers say my William Rand died in the poor house in Stokes County, North Carolina because of “liquor, fast horses and women.” Please Santa, can you find out if this is true? It would be ever so nice to fill in that gap on my family group sheet and I promise not to think badly of him.

And finally, Santa, my ancestor, Thomas Joyce, and his brother, Alexander, first show up buying land in Lunenburg County, Virginia in 1748. Had they just arrived from Ireland or did they live somewhere else in America before settling in Lunenburg? There is a lot of controversy about this situation and all of their descendants would be thrilled to know the truth. Reveal this secret and I'll spread the word and list you as my source.

Santa, I know you're kind of busy right now and if I have asked too much, don't worry. I’ll be happy if you can grant just two or three of my wishes.

P.S. I will leave a plate of cookies and cup of milk for you by the tree.

With anticipation,

Brenda

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Brenda, with those requests Santa might get kind of busy... and you probably should leave him an orange to help boster his energy and maybe raise the ante a little with hot chocolate instead of just milk. Santa used to leave me a lump of coal when I was sort of bad, but since I started doing genealogy it has been brick walls, even, sometimes when I was "good!" As a reminder, Santa may grant your wish for Christmas, but you may not see it until sometime in 2009. Please let us know when he grants your wish, the rest of us might want to get a special hot chocolate mug for Santa in 2009. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!