Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Delicate Yellow Columbine and a Happy Dance - Finally!

Saturday, June 4th - - We almost made it back from lunch without stopping to take photos of the flowers! Almost, but not quite. These were in the “Pioneer Garden” near the Library.




Photos taken Saturday, June 4th

Oh, and in case you think all we've been doing while in Salt Lake City is photographing the pretty flowers, I did on this day, late in the afternoon, have occasion to do the “Happy Dance” after finding a Deed where the heirs of my 4th great grandmother sold land in 1849 that had been willed to her by her father Andrew Brinker!

Previously all I had was her name Mary C. (wife of Jacob Switzer). Turns out her name was Anna Catharina, aka Catharine. A book with several updates has been published on the lineage and descendants of Andrew Brinker that take me back three more generations (with names of spouses and their parents) to Zurich Switzerland... way cool.

It was an amazing feeling when I read that little sentence in the Deed Book “It being a tract or parcel of land willed and devised by Andrew Brinker, late of Columbiana County, dec'd, to his daughter Catharine Switzer & her heirs..” The transaction was signed by her four surviving daughters and their spouses (whose names I already had from Jacob's estate settlement).

A little squeal of delight. A few tears. Lots of laughter. A “new” ancestor found – the first one in many, many years. Can you say Happy? Oh yeah. I still have the smile on my face!

7 comments:

Carol said...

Yes, I can guarantee she is G-R-I-N-N-I-N-G!!

And, having watched her research for over 2 weeks, I can tell you she EARNED this one!!

Debbie Blanton McCoy said...

Congratulations! How fun to find a new ancestor. :-)

Barbara Poole said...

That's wonderful Becky, I'm really happy for you. And thanks for taking the photo of the yellow columbine, I didn't know they came in that color.

Anonymous said...

Woo-hoo!!! Just wish it had been an ancestor that we had in common :). You are having way too much fun - I'm envious. Just wanted you to know that I was up until 2 this morning filling in the new info on George W. Joslin/Matilda Winebrenner thanks to your posts. I've got to quit reading your blog so I can get some sleep :). Babs

Greta Koehl said...

Columbines and finding ancestors - some of the best parts of life!

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

Congrats! I know you'll have fun learning about your newly discovered ancestors and I look forward to reading all about it.

Michelle Goodrum said...

Woo hoo! I am doing the happy dance for you!

Love the yellow flower. It's got character!