Fort Stanton

This past weekend for my Birthday, I wanted to visit Fort Stanton. I like to visit and explore new places. We had a busy fall so it was a good day to enjoy spending with my husband. I was exposed to Fort Stanton through a Ghost Adventures Season 2 episode 3.  

Prior to arriving at the fort, we stopped at the New Mexico States Veteran's Cemetery and Merchant Marine and Military Cemetary.  We visited on Veteran's Day.  We read a sign about putting coins on the graves. A penny means that you visited so I ran back to the car and got some coins.  We didn't understand at the time why there were so many Merchant Marine graves in southeast New Mexico. In 1899 a Merchant Marine hospital was established at Fort Stanton. 

Upon arriving at the fort, there was a fort docent in the courtyard/parade ground that asked if we wanted to help raise the flag.  We loved that he asked us as we are both veterans. The docent was also a veteran. It was truly a unique experience and honor. Since we both part of the flag detail. We didn't get a good picture.

More information about Fort Stanton - here

Catholic Chapel on Fort

Adult Arts and Crafts - Watercolor Fall Scene

 

This is another Andrea Nelson Art Project. I treated myself to a #8 round watercolor brush.  It was a big splurge at 4.99 from Hobby Lobby.  It makes a difference though. I did two paintings. It is a good creative exercise. 

Pumpkin Shelfie

Nope not ready to transform my dining room to Christmas.  I have these pumpkins on top of my China Cabinet.  The clock was my Grandma Marvel's. 

I also have fall on my kitchen sink display. I have my little November girl.  I think I got her from my Aunt Sharon a thousand years ago.

What I Read November

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone else is reading.

Reading has been on the lighter side recently. 

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

This was a book club selection. It was the book I didn't know I needed.  Adam is an organizational psychologist.  I love the stories he included about people who discovered their hidden potential especially later in life and how they unlocked it. My husband was on a work trip, and I made him download the audio book. I could of highlighted this entire book. This book I highly recommend.

Things I Wish I told My Mother

The ending of this book made me cry. I thought this was an enjoyable read about a mother and daughter who take a trip to Paris and Norway.  It has a little twist I didn't see coming.  

Weekly Roll

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Little known fact about me

Me and My AIT Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson, SC

I was a 71L aka a highly trained killer typist in the Army. Don't all typists carry an M-16 and deploy a claymore? I served in the Army from 1990 - 1994.  I was more Private Benjamin and less GI Jane. I was part of HQ's 32nd AADCOM  (Darmstadt, Germany) and 11th Signal Battalion (Darmstadt, Germany) and HQ's 160th Battalion aka Night Stalkers (Fort Campbell, KY) and then I went into the National Guard for a year in Colorado. Post I did about 32nd AADCOM

I have no regrets joining the Army.  I learned a lot about myself. I grew up. I made mistakes and I made good friends.  It was an honor to serve. A lot that experience formed my beliefs about government both good and bad.

Unpopular Opinion

I don't mind growing old. Every year I turn older I think," Wow I made it another year. "

Dead People Files - Revolutionary Ancestors Part 2

In honor of Veteran's Day, I decided to highlight two of my Revolutionary ancestors. I have 2 ancestors on my Hoyt/Liston tree who Revolutionary War Soldiers. One I have written about before was Basil Prather but not his Revolutionary War service. Part 1 of my Revolutionary ancestors is here.

Rachel Gaither married Thomas W Prather. Rachel and Thomas Prather are my 5th Great Grandparents. Both of their fathers were Revolutionary War Soldiers.  Rachel's father, John Gaither was a captain of Montgomery County Maryland Militia. Thomas's father was Basil Prather who was part of the North Carolina Milita.  Basil and John are my 6th Great Grandfather. Below is some brief biographical information.

Interesting Fact

You have 128 -5th Great Grandparents.

You have 256 - 6th Great Grandparents

Captain John Gaither V1

 

Captain John Gaither was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 1740 to John Gaither and Anne Ruley. John married Anne Jacobs who was born in 1740s also in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  They married most likely in 1761.  Their first child, Jeremiah Gaither was born 7 Sept 1762 in Maryland. 

John Gaither was a Lt of Flying Camp and Captain of Montgomery Co, Maryland Militia. He served as a Captain and Patriot. He was enlisted by Thomas Mayo.

**** I am having trouble proving this and even in DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) has a warning that this doesn't have collaborative information.  To make matters more complicated there are quite a few John Gaither's in the time period.

Basil William Prather

Basil Prather and his twin brother Baruch William Prather served during the Revolutionary War in the North Caroline Militia. Basil served in the Army as a Private under General Gates. He was in the Battle of Camden where he took a rifle ball to the knee on Aug 16, 1780. He was to limp the rest of his life. The Battle of Camden was a win for the British. General Gates troops were suffering from dysentery and this majorly depleted General Gates troops.  Over 2,000 Patriots died in this battle. More info about the Battle of Camden.

Basil was born in Maryland to Aaron and Jane Prather in Maryland and moved west after the war. Basil lived in several states eventually residing in Utica Township, Indiana near what is now Watson, Indiana. When Basil moved here Indiana was not a state but part of the Northwest Territory.  Basil died at age 79 - Oct 7, 1822.

*** Basil has a DAR record

Dead Files - Genealogy Conference Field Trip

I was lucky enough to attend a local Genealogy Conference in Roswell NM put on by the Wilson-Cobb Genealogy Research Library last Saturday. The Speaker was John A Sellers - "The Magic of Rabbit Holes".  It was "Alice in the Wonderland" themed.

I was lucky enough to visit the Wilson-Cobb the day before and meet some of their lovely volunteers and explore their collection.  I thought the event was well attended and held at the Roswell Museum event space.  I think there as around 60 attendees.  I will say the average age was around 75 so I felt in the minority.  However, it was privilege to spend the whole day learning about genealogy with people as passionate about the subject as myself. I just love the stories. 

One thing that stood out to me was when John Sellers said, "To be a good genealogist, you must be a good historian." John Sellers is a wonderful and knowledgeable speaker.  He left me wanting to dig into some more records.

I was hesitant at first to attend. I literally only knew 3 people who I met the day before. I am glad I got out of my comfort zone. I signed up and committed without knowing anyone. Genealogy conferences can connect you to others and also spur on your own research.