Ship's Passenger Lists...A Couple Free Sites for You

Some people are your relatives but others are your ancestors, and you choose the ones you want to have as ancestors. You create yourself out of those values.

Ralph Ellison

First Name: Alice

Last Name: Keating

Ethnicity: Ireland, Irish

Last Place of Residence: Dublin

Date of Arrival: Feb 13, 1893

Age at Arrival: 20y Gender: F 

Marital Status:

Ship of Travel: Germanic

Port of Departure: Liverpool & Queenstown

Manifest Line Number: 0276

She was only 20 years old when she ventured forth, alone, from Ireland to start a new life here in the United States. My great grandmother, Alice. She sailed on the Germanic which had the distinction of being the fastest ship in the world at the time. What were her dreams?  What were her hopes?  Why did she come? Was she afraid?  Was she disappointed in what life had to offer her?  Marrying so young, so many children. Had she wanted more but settled for something less? Or this her dream to begin with...to marry and have many children?  I have to wonder if  she had imagined that she would make her home on the 'poor side of town', a young immigrant women with so many mouths to feed...five children in ten years time...or perhaps, compared to what she left behind in Ireland, she felt she had struck it rich.  

I never got to meet her, nor have I found any living relatives who can tell me about her. Her life is a mystery. I know the month and year she was born, but I don't know what day. I don't know of her parents, nor of any siblings she may have had.  I don't even have a picture of her so I don't even know what she may have looked like, but I know from hearing my mother talk that she was beautiful.  Will I ever know her story? Will I ever know who she really was? These are answers I may never find, but I will not give up.  When I first began searching, I didn't even know her name.  This tombstone was all I had. One never knows when the answers will come. Or, she may forever remain a mystery, my brick wall as we genealogists like to say.

 As you can see from the above, immigration and passenger arrival lists can reveal the names of relatives and places of birth.  Fortunately, there are several free places that one may search for ancestors. One of the most important arrival ports has long been the Port of New York and of the 50 million people who traveled to America, more than 2/3 of the passengers arrived in New York Harbor. Two great sites are Ellis Island and Castle Garden.

Ellis Island opened its doors in 1892, and until 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island.  Amazing, isn't it?  To think that this is the first place our ancestors landed. To see if your ancestor came through Ellis Island check here....Ellis Island

Not all immigrants to arrive in New York  came through Ellis Island, though.  In fact, the first immigration center in New York was Castle Gardens which welcomed over 10 million immigrants from 1830 until Ellis Island opened. To search for your ancestor, go here Castle Garden

Of course there are many other ports, both on the East Coast and on the West Coast. They are easy to find online in this day and age, and many are free.  Many of our ancestors arrived in Canada and either settled there or migrated to America.  They were all so brave, our ancestors, to leave everything they knew to venture forth into this new world. And even if one is not working on a family tree, you will find it so exciting to find your ancestors  when they first arrived in this country.

She calls to me from long ago;

through sunlit skies, through drifts of snow;

in dancing clouds above the sea,

I call to her, and she to me.

So real was she. She laughed, she cried,

She loved, she lost, she lived, she died.

In hopes and dreams, so real was she,

She lived her life that I may be.

The blood through which my veins does flow,

The same as hers, so long ago.

So it will be. Then when I'm gone,

in a future child it will flow on.

I'll live my life, and when it's done,

I'll live again in those to come.

For I'm a bridge from her to me,

From all that were, to those that be.

 Darlene Stevens

October Returns

'Tis the night - the night

Of the grave's delight,

And the warlocks are at their play;

Ye think that without

The wild winds shout,

But no, it is they - it is they.

Arthur Cleveland Coxe

Yesterday they predicted rain and the tornadoes in the morning'sforcast. It did not seem like one of the best of days to venture out.  So, why not play hooky and curl up in my rocking chair with a good book? And the rain finally did come....about 5 pm in the afternoon.  I really could have made it to the center after all, but who's complaining.  The rain did wash that dreadful humidity away, and that's what counts.  It was actually nice to stay home yesterday.  Spent some time planning my Halloween celebration and then curled up in my rocker while catching up some reading about my favorite holiday of the year.  Here are some of my favorite Halloween books.

An oldie but goodie. I absolutely loved it.  Got it last year for only  99 cents on  Kindle, but you can also find it free online here....The Book of Halloween 

From the publisher....

Originally published in 1919, Ruth Edna Kelley's THE BOOK OF HALLOWE'EN remains the all time classic exploration of Halloween history, from the mysterious year end rites of the ancient Celts, to the autumnal reign of Samhain, the Druid god of death, to the coming to Europe of Christianity and "All Saints Day," to the charming early 20th Century Halloween beliefs and customs of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany and America. Filled with Halloween poems, games and tried and true ancient methods for divining the future (especially for discovering the identity of one's future spouse!), THE BOOK OF HALLOWE'EN opens a captivating window into the past of one of today's most beloved holidays.

Okay, this is a new one for me.  Downloaded the free sample on my Kindle, and I was hooked. Had to have it.  This will be my reading material for today. 

 Book description...

One of humanity's most enduring myths is that the dead, on certain nights of the year, can leave the Other World and move freely about the land of the living. Every year, on October 31, children of the world re-enact a sacred ceremony whose roots extend to the dawn of time. Author Jean Markale meticulously examines the rituals and ceremonies of ancient festivities on this holiday and shows how they still shape the customs of today's celebration.

Also from last year.  A really great book by Gerina Dunwich.  Will be reading it again.  It's one of those books that can be enjoyed over and over again.

From the publisher... 

You may think that Halloween is only about ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. However, there is much more behind this spooky holiday. For Pagans the world over, Halloween is a time of magick and divination-a night for honoring ancestors, celebrating the harvest, and ringing in the New Year. In A Witch's Halloween, bestselling author Gerina Dunwich dispels the myths of this holiest of Pagan holidays and its most famous celebrants.

Written by a Wiccan High Priestess, A Witch's Halloween tells you all that you need to know about this sacred holiday, from the history, folklore, myths, and spells to Sabbat rituals, recipes, divinations, and Halloween superstitions, and much more. This insightful book is a complete guide to celebrating the holiday as it was meant to be.

Bought this one last year as well.  Some really some spooky and fun tales here. 

Book description...

In this book, you'll find stories for the darkest night of the year from some of the top voices in dark fantasy and horror. Two boys investigate a Halloween ghost, and learn a terrible truth...an encounter with a fortune-telling machine has deadly consequences...a World War II veteran finds out his cousin's tragic romance was not of this world...a trick-or-treat game show pits kids against real monsters...Halloween angels unleash inner longings one night a year...and six more stories that will chill your bones like a late Autumn night.

Another one of last year's favorites.  

A collection of Halloween related tales and poems. Ranging from ancient Ireland to modern-day Colorado Springs, you will encounter paranormal beings, ghosts, werewolves, demons, delusion, and daemons. Humor and horror flow from these pages as the authors endeavor to entertain and frighten the reader.

What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night! With what wistful look did he eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the waste fields from some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with snow, which, like a sheeted specter, beset his very path! How often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! and how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scouring! 

 Washington Irving 

(a quote from "The Legend of Sleep Hollow")

Monday Morning This and That

Not all of your decisions will be correct. None of us is perfect. But if you
get into the habit of making decisions, experience will develop your judgment
to a point where more and more of your decisions will be right. After all,
it is better to be right 51 percent of the time and get something done,
than it is to get nothing done because you fear to reach a decision.

H.W. Andrews

Ah, another Monday has arrived, another week begins...although I do have to admit, since I retired each day seems to run into another as each day feels like a weekend.  Followed true to my plan for my weekend plan and didn't veer off course. Weather wise, the humidity was back in full force, and it felt pretty nasty. On Saturday I stayed in the entire day.  Had gone to the fruit stand on Friday so there was nothing I needed.  On Sunday morning I went to church. During mass, an elderly woman entered dressed in her Sunday best, a bonnet, white gloves, and carrying a nice little bag.  Stirred up memories of the was church used to be when I was growing up.  Now, people think nothing of going in jeans and shorts and tank tops.  Why, even the priest said, one day during the summer heat, that no matter how hot it is, one should always dress respectful for church.

Part of my yield from my trip to the fruit stand, my favorite all-time grape--Baby Thompson grapes.  They are so sweet and yummy that I really have to be careful not to eat them all in one sitting.

I am so proud of my son.  I don't usually brag about my kids, but he did something special yesterday worth talking about.  Most here probably don't know that my son is a wrestler and an actor.  He appears weekly as an undercover officer on Elementary and Blue Bloods.  Well, he happened to see this story about a young boy who is dying of a rare disease that doctors have been unable diagnose him. At the present time, his brain is deteriorating, and doctors only give him about two years to live. The child's story can be found at Cole's Cause. My son, wanting to do something for this child spent months promoting and eventually producing a charity wrestling show which turned out to be a big hit.  Both stars and wrestlers got together in what was also a tribute to my ex husband, who was also an actor and wrestler.  All proceeds went to a fund for the child.  Tears welled in my eyes when the child's mother posted that this was one of the best weekends her family has had in a long time.

Have any of you been following the incident between the motorcycle gang and the SUV? I am not making any judgements because I wasn't there, but  I can empathize with the driver of the SUV because I've been through it and know the fear these motorcyclists can instill when the mob mentality takes over. A few years back hubby and I were headed for our weekly  jaunt to the beach. It was our day to unwind. The morning was lovely, and we were both looking forward to the day when  we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of motorcyclists.  There were so many of them it was impossible to count, and they were obviously getting a kick out of intimidating the drivers on the highway.  They weaved in and out of traffic, slowed up to look in the windows, laughed, and then pulled onto the next car, sometimes weaving in and out in front of cars.  It seemed to go on forever, and by the time we pulled off the road to go into the beach area, I was so afraid that my entire body was trembling and tears rolled down my cheeks. On that day all of our joy was taken away.

So, I can totally understand where the driver's 'flight or fight' response kicked in.  It is a very frightening situation, and he had his wife and daughter in he car as they headed out to celebrate their anniversary.  As per the hero who stepped in to help, six men pulled him from the car and were beating him and they were starting to pull his wife from the car.  Mob mentality.

Now,  don't get me wrong. I have nothing against motorcycles or their riders. In fact, when I was in my late teens a friend of mine was a rider, and me and my friends fought for the chance to ride on the back of his Harley.  There was nothing like it.  I used to feel like I was riding with the wind. Oh, how he loved his bike and took care of 'her'.   A few years later, long after I had moved to the city, I found out he had been killed in a motorcycle accident.  So sad.  He was so young.

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:
but the earth abideth forever.--Ecclesiastes

I  received my DNA test on Friday, and it is already on its way back to Ancestry. I am so excited. My previous DNA test traced my maternal lineage only, and though it was exciting to learn which Haplogroup I descended from. This new test will focus on my genetic ethnicity.  Can't wait.  Who knows what new secrets will emerge.

We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies. 

Shirley Abbott

Friday Thoughts

To be great, be whole: do not exaggerate or exclude anything of
what is yours. Be entire in everything. Put all that you are into the least that you do. Be like the full moon, living aloft and shining everywhere.

Fernando Pessoa

Well, as another Friday rolls around, it is once again time to prepare for the weekend.  Not much on the agenda, though.  Looks like it will be a quiet one.  Tonight is the healing service at the Church, and tomorrow a trip to the fruit stand.  I found some wonderful apple recipes that I would like to try. I need to keep up my intake of fruits, and sitting and munching on an apple or a pear just doesn't do it for me.  And forget oranges...although I do like my Clementines.  On Sunday morning there is Church, and in the afternoon, a time of rest. 

The weather here has been beautiful...although Thursday was a bit more humid than I would have liked.  Changes are in the wind, though, and rain is heading our way. That's okay, too. I really don't 'have' to go out in it if I don't want to, and  I do love pulling the curtains aside and sitting by the window, watching and listening to a healing rain. For so many years I have lived my life in the fast lane, and I am finally learning how to slow down.  It hasn't been easy.  If you remember, when I first retired I was on the run seven days a week.  Now I am learning the importance of slowing down.  One doesn't have to be on the run every day to enjoy their retirement.  A good book, a good movie, a day in bed--all can be enjoyable.

We have quite an exciting lineup at the Center this month.  On October 10th is the annual Columbus Day party.  From what I gather, members get together and put on a little skit about Columbus and afterward comes music and dance. I don't totally agree with a celebration of Columbus, but, hey, a party is a party.  The, on October 15th a nutritionist is coming in to talk about nutrition and health.  Looking forward to that one. I've been taking some online nutrition courses through Coursera and am eager to learn more.

And on the 31st our annual Halloween party will be held.  You know I am looking forward to that one.  Would you believe I am 66 years old and have never been to a 'real' Halloween party?  Oh, we had them at work for the clients, but it was different.  I was working. Somehow that took the fun out of it.  There was always some client who was acting up. But this time, this party will be just for fun. Put your thinking caps on. I am looking for some ideas for a costume so it's time to put your thinking caps on again.

Speaking of fun, they started a new group called "Reminiscing".  It's going to be a lot of fun.  Lots of stuff about the 50's and 60's. (There goes my trivia group).  We are even going to plan a 50's party where we dress in 50's clothing and dance to 50's clothing.  Now I was only in the single digits in the 50's, so the 60's will be added in as well. That is really going to be a trip down "Memory Lane".  My goodness, it's hard to believe that 50 years ago I won a dance contest.

Well, I do seem to be rambling a bit today, so I will leave you with the following thought...

  

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.

Henri Berson

Happy weekend to all.  See you on Monday.

The Windmill

Good morning, everyone.  Another splendid day ahead of us.  Yesterday went up in the 80's, but it wasn't that dreadful summer heat.  In fact, it was nice out that I got on the bus to go to the Center and instead stayed on and headed out to the beach.  It was a perfect day for the boardwalk, and I spent several hours out there communing with the ocean.  When lunch time rolled around, I have to admit, sodium levels were the last thing on my mind. How could I resist a Nathan's dog and their extra famous cheese fries?  Yummy. All in all it was a magnificent day, restful day.  The ocean can be very healing.  My only regret was that when I got there, and reached in my bag for my phone to snap some pictures, I remembered I had left it on the table after charging it. Oh well, next time, and there will definitely be a next time. 

The other day I came across the following tale by Hans Christian Anderson and fell so in love with it, that I just had to share it here.  It is a wee bit long, but so full of meaning.  What a writer he was!  It is called "The Windmill".  Perhaps you know it.  Enjoy.

A windmill stood upon the hill, proud to look at, and it was proud too. 

I am not proud at all," it said, "but I am very much enlightened without and within. I have sun and moon for my outward use, and for inward use too; and into the bargain I have stearine candles, train oil and lamps, and tallow candles. I may well say that I'm enlightened. I'm a thinking being, and so well constructed that it's quite delightful. I have a good windpipe in my chest, and I have four wings that are placed outside my head, just beneath my hat. The birds have only two wings, and are obliged to carry them on their backs. I am a Dutchman by birth, that may be seen by my figure--a flying Dutchman. They are considered supernatural beings, I know, and yet I am quite natural. I have a gallery round my chest, and house-room beneath it; that's where my thoughts dwell. My strongest thought, who rules and reigns, is called by others 'The Man in the Mill.' He knows what he wants, and is lord over the meal and the bran; but he has his companion, too, and she calls herself 'Mother.' 

She is the very heart of me. She does not run about stupidly and awkwardly, for she knows what she wants, she knows what she can do, she's as soft as a zephyr and as strong as a storm; she knows how to begin a thing carefully, and to have her own way. She is my soft temper, and the father is my hard one. They are two, and yet one; they each call the other 'My half.' These two have some little boys, young thoughts, that can grow. The little ones keep everything in order. When, lately, in my wisdom, I let the father and the boys examine my throat and the hole in my chest, to see what was going on there,--for something in me was out of order, and it's well to examine one's self,--the little ones made a tremendous noise. The youngest jumped up into my hat, and shouted so there that it tickled me. 

The little thoughts may grow--I know that very well; and out in the world thoughts come too, and not only of my kind, for as far as I can see, I cannot discern anything like myself; but the wingless houses, whose throats make no noise, have thoughts too, and these come to my thoughts, and make love to them, as it is called. It's wonderful enough--yes, there are many wonderful things. Something has come over me, or into me,--something has changed in the mill-work. It seems as if the one half, the father, had altered, and had received a better temper and a more affectionate helpmate--so young and good, and yet the same, only more gentle and good through the course of time. What was bitter has passed away, and the whole is much more comfortable. 

"The days go on, and the days come nearer and nearer to clearness and to joy; and then a day will come when it will be over with me; but not over altogether. I must be pulled down that I may be built up again; I shall cease, but yet shall live on. To become quite a different being, and yet remain the same! That's difficult for me to understand, however enlightened I may be with sun, moon, stearine, train oil, and tallow. My old wood-work and my old brick-work will rise again from the dust! 

"I will hope that I may keep my old thoughts, the father in the mill, and the mother, great ones and little ones--the family; for I call them all, great and little, the company of thoughts, because I must, and cannot refrain from it.  

"And I must also remain 'myself,' with my throat in my chest, my wings on my head, the gallery round my body; else I should not know myself, nor could the others know me, and say, 'There's the mill on the hill, proud to look at, and yet not proud at all.'" 

That is what the mill said. Indeed, it said much more, but that is the most important part. 

And the days came, and the days went, and yesterday was the last day. Then the mill caught fire. The flames rose up high, and beat out and in, and bit at the beams and planks, and ate them up. The mill fell, and nothing remained of it but a heap of ashes. The smoke drove across the scene of the conflagration, and the wind carried it away. Whatever had been alive in the mill remained, and what had been gained by it has nothing to do with this story. 

The miller's family--one soul, many thoughts, and yet only one--built a new, a splendid mill, which answered its purpose. It was quite like the old one, and people said, "Why, yonder is the mill on the hill, proud to look at!" But this mill was better arranged, more according to the time than the last, so that progress might be made. The old beams had become worm-eaten and spongy--they lay in dust and ashes. The body of the mill did not rise out of the dust as they had believed it would do. They had taken it literally, and all things are not to be taken literally.

A Wee Bit of Genealogical Information

The choices that we make in life are not unique to us.They are a distillation of all that has come before us. The more we become aware of our ancestral lineage, the more freedom we will have to honor what is best and let go of the rest.

This past Saturday I was just about to leave to go shopping when hubby came out and told me to put on the History Channel, that the show was about my ancestors. Indeed it was. Of course I had to take my jacket off and watch--'Barbarians II: Saxons'. Great show. It focused on basically one area, East Angolia which originally consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk. The earliest sign of man in this area-dates back to 9000-5000 BC. During the Iron Age, the area was settled by Celtic tribes, in particular the Iceni (people of the horse) whose queen, Boadicea, led a great rebellion against the Romans 

 The fact is, many of my ancestors stem from Norfolk, England--Stalham, Barton Turf, Thetford, North Walsham, Lessingham, etc.  When working on our genealogy many of  us tend to focus on those family we can name and add to our tree, but forget about their history.  What of those who came before? Where did they come from?  What is their history?  Aren't my distant ancestors  a part of my history as well? Just because I have been unable to give them a name doesn't mean that the weren't there. Finding records that far back can be pretty darned impossible, but we can understand our ancestors by learning about how they lived.  One great book I found about the history of early Norfolk was 'Seahenge: a quest for life and death in Bronze Age Britain' by Francis Pryor.

My great grandmother, Mary Constance, from Stalham. I believe that I met her once before she passed away in 1956. I remember my dad taking me to see two older ladies with an accent. Now I know they were British accents. When my mom found out, she blew a gasket, and that was the last time I saw Mary Constance, by I know she has been with me throughout the years. I remember when hubby and I moved to the house with the huge backyard. I decided I wanted to grow vegetables even though I had never done so. It grew so well that I began to call it my magical garden. Couldn't understand it, though. Never had a garden a day in my life. And then I saw the picture of her, standing in the middle of her garden, proudly showing off a huge tomato she had grown. 
 

As I began doing some research over the weekend, I did find a DNA project in process that was identifying those whose ancestors stemmed from the Iceni tribe.  Although I cannot participate because only male DNA is used for this project, I did find one of my family names on the list of those already identified--Harmer. Before that I can find no record, but I've not given up.  Ancestry has a new DNA test for both male and female that will provide me with a full breakdown of my genetic ethnicity. I am so excited.  My kit should arrive by Friday and in a few weeks I should have a pretty detailed history of who I am.

Below I have listed some free genealogy sites for anyone who might have ancestors from Norfolk.

A really great site is the Norfolk Transcription Archive.  Although they are no longer posting information, the site remains standing with thousands of names and records and can be found at Norfolk Transcription Archive

Another site you can gleam information from is Genuki: UK and Ireland Genealogy 

For cemetery records you might try Norfolk County Cemetery Records  

You can find free census records at Free Cen

And birth, marriage, and death records can be found at FreeBMD  

as well as at   FreeReg

Genuki, FreeCen, and FreeBMD can be used for all of England. Enjoy

October, Here's to You.

October, here's to you.

Here's to the heady aroma of the frost-kissed apples,

the winey smell of ripened grapes,

the wild-as-the-wind smell of hickory nuts

and the nostalgic whiff of that first wood smoke. 

Ken Weber

(Took awhile here in the city, but the leaves are finally starting to change)

What a fantastic month this is! Although I love Spring with its new beginnings, I do have to say that September and October are my favorite months of the year. The extreme heat and humidity are gone and have been replaced by a crisp Autumn chill. Night starts earlier in the day, and have you noticed? Even the moon and stars seem brighter at this time of the year. And we can turn off that noisy air conditioner and crack open the window while we snuggle under our blankets. The leaves will begin changing from green to orange, gold, brown, red, and yellow, and although I am not fond of winter fruits, I do love the sweet smells of apples at the fruit stand for this is the time of the apple harvest.  No, it really  doesn’t get much better than an October day.

So many joyful memories.  Harvesting grapes from grandma's grapevine.  Raking huge piles of leaves and throwing ourselves in them.  The smell of burning leaves in the air. Candied apples. The darkening skies as thousands of birds head for their southern shelter. 

(Beautiful Autumn sky)

October is the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar. Its name is derived from the Latin numeral octo meaning "eight". This is because in the old Roman calendar, October was the eighth month of the year. Its astrological signs are Libra (Balance) and Scorpio (Emotional).  This month is sacred to the Celtic horned god, Cernunnos, Egyptian god Osiris, and Hecate in her aspect as the Crone. 

The flowers for October are the Calendula and the Cosmos. Calendula is associated with the sun and magic. Its element is fire; its gender masculine. There is an  old love spell which instructs the woman to  collect soil that her prospective partner has stepped on and use it to pot  a calendula plant. The health of the plant will indicate the health of the relationship. The Cosmos is a plant that has been used to attract Faeries to a garden. Its name is derived from the Greek word for harmony. So, if  you want good luck, fill your garden with Cosmos. The birthstone of October is the Opal.  The Romans wore opals for centuries as a symbol of hope and purity.

October's child is born of woe, 

and life's vicissitudes must know.

 But lay an Opal on her breast, 

and hope will lull those woes to rest.

Traditional English Proverb

And, of course, the month ends with Halloween or All Hallow's Eve  which just happens to be my favorite holiday. And even though it is not the same holiday I remember as a child,   I certainly  beats out Christmas in my book. 

"In the great silence of my favorite month,
October (the red of maples, the bronze of oaks,
A clear-yellow leaf here and there on birches),
I celebrated the standstill of time.

The vast country of the dead had its beginning everywhere:
At the turn of a tree-lined alley, across park lawns.
But I did not have to enter, I was not called yet.

Motorboats pulled up on the river bank, paths in pine needles.
It was getting dark early, no lights on the other side.

I was going to attend the ball of ghosts and witches.
A delegation would appear there in masks and wigs,
And dance, unrecognized, in the chorus of the living."

Czeslaw Milosz,  

Translated  by Czeslaw Milosz and Leonard Nathan