Saturday, March 5, 2011

Parrot Bible Birth Page ~

This was folded and kept among my grandmother's things.
Listed are the children born to Robert Samuel Parrott and first wife, Amanda Curry.
Also listed are the children born to Robert Samuel Parrott and second wife, Nannie Barber Parrott.
R.S. Parrott and Nannie Parrott's birth dates are listed at the bottom of list.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Charles Heberton Ellis ~ 3rd Great Grand Uncle

Charles Heberton Ellis and his wife, Nancy Turner Ellis are buried not very far from the area in which they lived their lives.


They are buried at Buffalo Baptist Cemetery in Cherokee County, South Carolina.



Charles’ marker has succumbed to the ravages of time and lies in silent testament to the man that it once identified.



Sadly, this happens and markers are lost. I see that other such markers in this cemetery have been dutifully replaced when they became no longer legible. For this, I am glad. Preservation and documentation is so very important, or we will eventually lose the knowledge of where our ancestor’s lie.



That is my personal quest, to document all that I can , for future seekers. Hopefully they will still search long after I am but a name, in a cemetery somewhere. Ashes to ashes and a name etched on stone.



Nancy’s marker still stands and gives us comfort that Charles rests beside her. Nancy's parents were Elijah Turner, Sr. and Edith "Edy" Jane Sarratt, buried at Ellis/Turner Cemetery, Spartanburg County, S.C.
Nancy was a sister to Sarah A. "Sally" Turner, who married David Ross Ellis. David and Sarah Turner Ellis were my 3rd Great grandparents. So two brothers, married two sisters.


There are old markers here and old graves really speak to me. It is like touching the past and being a small part of it all.  I love being in the midst of all that time passage.



I was proud to walk among them and whisper my hello.



What tales they could tell us and what stories we would hear?



With rustling sounds in the wind, I fancied that I really did hear a few whispers, standing in the bright sunshine, among my family.







Fourth Great Grand Uncle ~ Rueben Blanton





My search for my ancestors took me to the Broad River along the North and South Carolina border. Again, the river calls me back. This time to the land where my grandmother’s father’s family lived. Very near the Ellis Ferry area of the Broad River.



The Ellis’ family and the Blanton’s paths surely crossed generations before my Craton Rone Blanton married his sweetheart, Lizzie Ellis.



We went back to the country side where the rolling hills are well manicured. We traveled over the Broad River and went to Cleveland County, North Carolina. Near the center of the country church cemetery lies Rueben Blanton. Camps Creek Cemetery.



Reuben Blanton ~ 1793-1875

Rueben was my Fourth Great Uncle, brother to Charles Blanton, father of Isaac Willis Blanton. Isaac Willis was my third great grandfather.



Rueben was born in 1793, nine years older than brother, Charles. He died in 1875.



Rueben’s wife, Rachel Gaston Blanton is buried alongside of him.



She was born sometime around 1805, her date of death is February 15, 1893. She lived to be 88 years old.





The setting is peaceful and quiet. There are horses pastured nearby. A wonderful final resting place.


Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sentimental Sunday ~ Grandma's Precious Memories

My Grandmother was a happy soul.  She looked for the silver lining in every cloud.  And for that I am appreciative. She taught me how to enjoy life's every moment.  She taught me how to laugh at myself and to not take things so seriously.  She showed me that life need not be spent with a frown on your face.

She was the "Keeper" in the family.
She kept her sweet memories and tokens of happy times close to her.
She showed me the importance of remembering.

She was gentle, grand lady.

This is a tiny snapshot of her and a friend. The picture is not even an inch square.  I did not realize that they had these types of booth pictures way back in the 1920's.   She kept that tiny token of a happy time,  for all those years.

The beau in the picture is simply labeled  "Cliff Dedmon".  If you recognize this handsome fellow, please let me know.



Grandma. Ethel Leigh Blanton Parrott

She kept this Valentine card that was given to her by my parents.

The card must be circa 1956.

Stored in it's envelope, neatly.
Tucked into the top dresser drawer with other treasures she kept.