FOLLOWING THE TRAILS OF ANCESTORS

By Mary Emma Allen

The search for one's ancestors and family history can lead you on fascinating jaunts and adventures of discovery. As I delve into the stories of my ancestors' lives, I'm led to parts of the country, distant from where I grew up. Following the trails of my ancestors has enabled me to visit interesting places, make new friends, and meet relatives.

When I was growing up in southeastern New York State, my world mainly revolved around the family I lived with and my mom's parents and cousins 45 miles away. One aunt and uncle lived in New Hampshire, so visits with them opened our world.

However, as I searched for ancestors, I was led to western New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Kansas, and Civil War sites of the South. My genealogy travels opened up new vistas and brought me to historic sites.

Ancestors in Binghamton, NY & Kansas

As I looked for Great Grandmother Olive's origins, I discovered she grew up near Binghamton, NY, three hours' drive west from where I spent my childhood. I've visited that area and discovered more about this branch of my family.

This research introduced me to Olive's brother, mentioned only as Uncle William Mathewson in Grandma's photo album. However, he was known in Kansas, where he settled, as the original Buffalo Bill. He left home and took up life in the West as a fur trapper and explorer.

Eventually Uncle Buffalo Bill established trading posts on the Santa Fe Trail, married an adventurous English woman, helped found Wichita, Kansas, and was an Indian peacemaker requested by the natives at treaty talks.

Uncle George in a Civil War Cemetery

William and my Great Grandmother Olive's half-brother, George, perished from dysentery during the Civil War. Research led me to a cemetery at Marietta, GA, north of Atlanta. On a sunny spring day, my husband and I visited the Union Cemetery, followed a description their mother's letter, and found a marker with Uncle George's name on it.

There also was a tall monument with a star on it, described by Great Great Grandmother Eliza. How interesting to find this evidence that Uncle George did fight in the War Between the States and was buried where his mother believed.

Early Settlers in Providence, RI

Tracing the Mathewson family to their beginnings in this country, led me to Providence, RI. There we find a street called Mathewson Street and a theatre named after this family. I've walked along this street, trying to visualize it as the area might have looked when the early Mathewsons lived there.

From Providence and nearby Johnston, various Mathewsons headed westward like many other families in Rhode Island. First my direct ancestors moved to the Windsor, CT area, where William married Tabitha Chaffee. Some of their children were born there and others in Triangle, Broome County NY in the early 1800s. My family descended from them.

Tracing only one branch of my family, the Mathewsons, has led me to various parts of the country. Other areas I've researched from my parents' families include Columbia County, NY, Quaker Hill, NY, Salina, KS, Welton, IA, Low Moor, IA and Seattle, WA.

Meeting Today's Descendants

In my research I've discovered second and third cousins and we've shared information and memories. Friendships have evolved as we've gotten to know one another.

Following the trail of your ancestors' lives can take you to many new areas of the country and to foreign countries. As you travel for genealogy purposes, you'll also find other enjoyable aspects of these regions.

�2006

(Mary Emma Allen combines genealogy, scrapbooking, and travel into a fascinating aspect of her career. She also teaches classes on family history, scrapbooking, and travel writing. Visit her blogs: http://meafamilyhistory.blogspot.com and http://trailsendquilters.blogspot.com . E-mail: me.allen@juno.com )