52 Ancestors - Revolutionary

postcard from Zazzle

Happy 250th Anniversary USA! I thought I would share a couple of my previous posts about some revolutionary soldiers and characters in my line

Abel Sutcliff Jr

Basil William Prather -His twin brother BaruchWilliam Prather (1742-1810) was also a Revolutionary Soldier

During the Revolutionary War, Baruch Prather served from Montgomery Co., Maryland, as a Private and then 1st Sergeant in Capt S. Swearingen & Col. J. Murdock'c Maryland Militia Company. He also had Revolutionary War patriotic service by Signing Oath & Furnished Wheat to the militia.

Another bloggers story about Baruch Prather

Baruch William Prather

Their older brother Samuel Pranther (1740-1785) also served during the Revolutionary War, but I know much less about him and his service.

Lastly, my favorite story is not about a Revolutionary Soldier but the Centennial Celebration and one ancestor who claimed he was born on July 4, 1776 - Aaron Teagarden

Wordy Wednesday

Tuesday Night Rainbow

 

junk journal peek

 

Art Idea from Deep Space Sparkle Art

My neighbor was playing The Gambler by Kenny Rodgers. That was the inspiration for the page.  Hopefully I put that sound worm in your ear.

Weekly Roll

 

The heat vibes are no bueno

Escaped Giraffe in Texas Gracie the Giraffe was just living her best life. 

2 Giraffes Recovered after Missing for a Year I have questions.

College Common Reads for 2026 - I just thought this interesting.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Former President Biden photo bombed his wife, Dr Jill Biden's, zoom with our book club. We were having a discussion about her book, View from the East Wing. This zoom cracked me up. I enjoyed listening to the zoom.  The book was meh for me.  Book review is coming in July.

Recipe from Real Simple 2023

We had this for our book club dinner.  The only change I made was to use coleslaw and double the sauce.The mint in here was surprisingly good. Plus we made mojitos later in the week with the leftover mint. 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

 

This week bouquet

Walmart Special (Pink), Durango (Yellow), 

and golden scepter (small yellow)

Inappropriate Thoughts

I cannot lie I was really excited when our new dishwasher arrived.  We have a tiny kitchen, and this is a portable dishwasher.  I have been without a dishwasher other than myself and my husband since Mother's Day.  It may be small, but it is mighty.

We also have ordered more spoons! Where have all the spoons gone?  I totally relate to the sentiment above.

Deep Thoughts

We are at a kitchen crossroads.  Our kitchen needs a remodel.  It is tiny and I am not sure we can change that.  Buying another portable dishwasher decision was only choice other than a full gut.  All the electrical and plumbing. There was no electrical under the sink so installing a cabinet dishwasher was going to involve more than we could juggle currently.

Wordy Wednesday

 

What I Read and What I have DNF in June

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone else is reading.  This summer reading has been a bit about quitting books unfortunately. 

We Are Mighty by Sharon McMahon

Sharon McMahon came out with a picture book based on her adult book The Small and the Mighty.  It is beautifully written and illustrated.  I have talked about Claudette Colvin, and she is featured in here as well.  I took a picture of the book by someone who I consider small and mighty in our community of Artesia, NM - Sallie Chisum.

Have you ever been in a reading pattern where you pick up books and just can't finish them or lose interest.  Well I have been in that pattern recently.  So, I thought I would share those books and why I didn't finish and if there are a time and place to revisit them.

Chain of Ideas by Ibram X Kendi

This was one of our extra book club reads.  I did make it through 50/130 chapters and read the epilogue.  The chapters are small, but the book is 510 pages. We had an author talk but no book discussion. It is well researched and about replacement theory and zero sum.  I get the concept it was just too much and without discussion I found it a chore. I don't think I will be revisiting

Her Hidden Genuis - Marie Benedict

I have read a few of her books.  I made it only 18 pages.  The historic fiction book highlights Rosalind Franklin and her work on DNA.  I could revisit this book but wrong time for me. I have read Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, The Only Woman in the Room.  I thought those were good reads. 

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

I was a little bit on a Bridgerton kick, but I only made it 146 pages, and I just put it down.  I am positive I will go on another Bridgerton kick. I like these books for a lighter read. 

Who Needs Friends by Andrew McCarthy 

I never even cracked this book. I just thought it was a book about friendship.  I not sure if I will revisit.

Weekly Roll

 

Linky Love

I have been listening to The Lady Vanishes Podcast. This is an old missing person case from Australia. 

Political Typology - If you divided voters into 9 political groups.  I thought it was interesting

Camino de Santiago Alternative - walking pilgrimage

Inappropriate Thoughts

Roswell is not too far from the town I live in. This just cracked me up. There was an alleged UFO crash July 4, 1947, outside of Roswell New Mexico. Roswell UFO Festival

52 Ancestors- the possibilities

I am participating in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 ancestors in 52 weeks. This week's topic was possibilities.

Find a Grave

Find a Grave

What is the likelihood that 2 Noah Liston's are both related to me and buried in the same cemetery, Mount Moriah Cemetery, Valley Point, Preston County, West Virginia. Secondly their deaths and births are a year apart. Ah, the possibilities. It gets better they both married women who go by Elizabeth even though Noah E's wife's name was Mary Elizabeth. I was researching Noah Z Liston, but I kept getting a lot of Noah E Liston's info mixed in on Ancestry So, I did a dry erase board to get things sorted out.  I did not realize at first that I was related to Noah E Liston.

Their common ancestor is John Jackson Liston Sr. He is my maternal 4th Great Grandfather.  Noah Z and Noah E's fathers are brothers. Both Noah's were farmers and live in the same county. Evidently are also buried in the same cemetery. 

I know the pain of having multiple people in your 6th grade class named Heather.  I was one of 6 Heather's 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

 

Bouquet of the Week

Walmart Dahlia, Salvia, Lavendar, 

Linky Love

Anyone else follow Jackie and Shadow the eagles at Big Bear.  Well their eaglets, Sandy and Luna, spend the night alone in the nest.

New Mexico Nun closer to Sainthood

Missing Nuclear Lab Worker found dead in New Mexico Forest amid a string of missing Scientists - has anyone else been following this.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Of course, I needed my own special 

alien stickers

I rewarded myself with a sticker bootcamp course for my Cricut. Does anyone else reward themselves when they do something hard? I have done many things with my Cricut but designing stickers is not one of them. It was time consuming, but I learned a lot. This was a Mim Jenkinson sticker bootcamp course.

so many ideas

Wordy Wednesday

 

Junk Journaling

It is a picture of a lid for a reusable container

I typed "Chaos Container"

 I don't know if what I do is junk journaling, scrapbooking, slam book or what.  I started a new junk journal because I ran out of pages in my other journal.

This was in my old Junk Journal

April 2026

Weekly Roll

 

2nd bouquet of summer

Walmart Dahlia and lavender

Linky Love

Sinclair Dinosaur Recovered - Only in New Mexico! We have at least 3 Sinclair Stations and someone has been dressing up them or putting eyes on them. It is pretty funny.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Meet My Little Friend

There has been a lizard hanging out in our yard.  The dogs have been enjoying chasing it. I pretty sure they would eat it if they caught it.

Deep Thoughts

It was pointed out to me thar my behavior was enabling someone else's behavior.  I really did not like having that pointed out to me.  I really wanted to deny that but upon sitting with that I decided to take some steps to change my behavior. If nothing changes, nothing changes. 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll- Memorial Day

first dahlia bouquet of the summer

Happy Memorial Day!  I am a little light on content this weekend. We have a lot of house and garden projects going.  The heat is on here in New Mexico. School is out for the summer.

 Linky Love

Summer Reading Guide - Everyday Reading - the extended guide is worth signing up for.  I will be sharing what is on my summer reading list soon.  

Inappropriate Thoughts

I am never entering our alley again.  Snakes is a big hell no. Let's just start a dumpster fire!

Wordy Wednesday

 

In 2016 Joseph Fasano's college students started writing down his slightly unhinged advice in a notebook.  The result is 150 plus pages of advice, and the notebook now lives in his office and invites students to write down his words.  Above is a sample of some of the quotes in his notebook. 

Teacher Quotes Go Viral

Weekly Roll

 

Any of these on your list? 

Children's Summer Reading Log - free printable from Everyday Reading

2026 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide - Modern Mrs Darcy also has a full reading list guide for purchase.  The minimalist guide is a sneak peek.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - I finally watched. I thought it was great.  Sally Fields was awesome. Book Review - HERE

Inappropriate Thoughts

I got this ad in my feed. I blame my nephew. I only know what actuary is because of him. This ad was in my feed.  I want people to know I always use my math skills for evil.  Just ask my Algebra 2 teacher according to her I can't use math for anything.  

Wordy Wednesday

 

Happy Mother's Day Weekly Roll Edition

Postcards I mailed out this week

to Japan, Wisconsin, Lithuania, and Germany

I have been sending postcards for a year. I have sent and received about 112 postcards.

I am also excited about the new US Postcrossing Stamps coming out in May.

Shut out to My Mom!

Happy Mother's Day!  

Love You

 

 

 

 

52 Ancestors- Questions the Record Can't Answer

I have been participating in 52 ancestors in 52 weeks a writing challenge put on by Amy Johnson Crow. The prompt was, "Questions the Records Can't Answer."

In my genealogy work, I have been reading a lot of town history books or a county history book. Occasionally you stumble across a story, and you say, "What?" Did I read that right? It is usually just a snippet of a story. I always want to know more. I need more context and more facts.

I was reading the Mason and Menard County history, and I came across the story below

The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

I believe the Hoyt that is mentioned might be one of my relatives. Is this frontier justice?

So, if I am interpreting this right, a Hoyts field was set on fire after threats were made to the Alwoods to leave the neighborhood. The Alwoods or their associates burned the wheat field of a Hoyt. 

In retaliation, the  crops of the Alwoods were burned, the Alwoods home was burned and their son and daughter shot. (neither fatally)

As consequence indictments were brought and trials commenced. However, all this was stopped after Jack (Andrew Jackson) was shot in 1856 in his field cutting corn. Jack Alwood was warned that if he pursued prosecution of those who wronged his family, he would pay the price.

find a grave

I did spend some time researching this.  It was pretty unsatisfying.  I didn't really get much

I have a lot of questions.

Why did they dislike the Alwoods?  Was it because they were rich and from New Jersey?  Were they southern sympathizers?   Hiram Alwood and Andrew Jackson "Jack" Alwood have limited information.

Which Hoyt's were involved? I was able to research the 1850 US census and Illinois 1855 census there were a number of Hoyt's living in Mason County.  Most of my relatives are found in Salt Creek, Illinois not Manito. Those living in ne.ar Manito were in the 1850 census were Benjamin "Leonard" Hoyt, Albinus Perry Hoyt, Horace Hoyt. I don't know if I am related.

Map Source

What does the court say? There are no digitized court records from this time period that are easily accessible.