52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 21): Nickname

 "Their real name is what?" 

The writing prompt for Week 21 in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is titled "Nickname". 

That word brought back a flood of memories for me and the people in my mother's family. It wasn't until I was in college that I knew the real names of some of mother's first cousins. 

It seems that mother's grandmother, Mamie TEEL Stuart, loved to give nicknames to her "kids". Well, at least to a son or two, and most of her grandsons. 

Mamie (TEEL) Stuart, Fisher Co., Texas

I knew these family members as "Chine", "Puggin", "Shorty", "Jug", "Scooter", "Frog", "Jimbo", "Chick", "Pookey", "Tadpole", etc. when I was growing up.

As I got older (college aged), my mother would call them by their birth names, and I often asked, "Wait?? Who are you talking about?" 

I asked more than one time, "Why did she give them nicknames like that?" No one could answer that question.

Years later, I still don't know the answer to "why", but I have learned from my mother, obituaries and genealogy research, what their birth names are/were. 

Was giving nicknames common in your family? My dad's family didn't seem to give nicknames. Was this a tradition in some families and not in other families? 

Let me know if your family gave nicknames, too. 

 - Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Nickname" this week. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Week 16): Step - A Step-Parent and DNA

 Step by Step: mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) and auDNA (autosomal DNA) 

Participating in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge has been an enlightening journey, and this week's prompt, "Step," brings a multitude of meanings to mind. Whether it's taking a physical step, progressing through tasks, or the steps in musical scales, the concept of "step" resonates in diverse ways. However, for this blog post, I'm exploring a more personal dimension of "step" — my experience as a stepmother.

In late 1986, I married a young widower, and embraced the role of stepmother to his daughter, who was just shy of her fourth birthday, having lost her mother in 1985. Our family included my biological daughter, making our household a blend of laughter, challenges, and sisterly bonds.

As the girls grew up, the advent of DNA testing added a new layer to our family's story. Initially, my interest in DNA testing was sparked by a desire to learn more about my own roots. Through mtDNA testing at Family Tree DNA, I discovered that I belong to the rare Haplogroup I, a group intriguingly nicknamed "Iris".

The real surprise came when we learned that my stepdaughter also belonged to Haplogroup I, though she is Haplogroup I2. Considering we're both this rare mtDNA haplogroup, I couldn't help but wonder about the odds of such a coincidence. 

Though she and I are both I's, there is a difference because my Haplogroup I includes some mutations that aren't found in other "I's". My mtFull Sequence test was completed in July of 2014 at Family Tree DNA, and we had no matches until December of 2014. As of the date of this blog post, that match in December 2014 is the only Genetic Distance - 0 match on our match list.  

Over the years, DNA testing has not only fascinated us with such revelations but also united us in unexpected ways. Our family now boasts several "Irises," including six granddaughters and a grandson, who also carries his mother's mtDNA haplogroup.

Another surprise was in the early days of auDNA (autosomal DNA), she shared small segments of DNA with my father. I believe that I know where the connection is, and one day I will write about it. 

This journey through genetics has redefined what family means to us, blurring the lines between step and biological relations. Our journey is also a testament to the fact that family isn't just about DNA; it's about the steps we take to embrace, love, and understand each other, making every discovery a step toward greater unity.

- Revis 

This content was crafted for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, focusing on the theme "Step" this week. 

Valentine's Day 2023

Today is Valentine's Day 2023. I was thinking about the excitement as a kid of taking Valentine's to school for classmates. Would I get candy? Do you remember these "Sweetheart" candies? You can still buy these "full of sugar" hearts! 

Going through my never-ending stash of photographs and memoraphilia, which my mother kept for years, I came across this Valentine that my sister and I sent to my maternal Grandmomie, Eva Nell Stuart Dennis. 

Do you remember giving Valentine's to your parents or grandparents? Girlfriend/boyfriend? Best friends? Did you give candy or flowers?

From my furry buddies (Callie and DT) to all of you, I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!  

- Revis

Friday's Faces From the Past: Lea (Ham) Chance Child

Looking through the old unidentified pictures I had scanned that were in my mother's possession - again - and I ran across this one that has written on the back "Lea Ham child". 

Lea HAM (b. 9 Jan 1892-TX - d. 28 Sept 1981-San Diego, CA) married Basil Houston CHANCE on 4 Jan 1912 in Tishomingo, OK. 

Lea was the younger sister of my great-great-grandmother, Jennie HAM Teel, the wife of William Perry TEEL. 

Another sister to Lea was Mary HAM King, wife of Butler KING.

Sisters Jennie and Mary were older than Lea and born in Bibb County, AL, and their father was Jordan HAM (b. 1840-AL - d. 19 Dec 1929-Tishomingo, Johnston Co., OK).

Their mother, Jordan's wife, was Francis "Fannie" PARKER (b. Jan 1849-AL - d. 7 Dec 1927- Tishomingo, Johnston Co., OK).

Now, for my questions: 

Is this a boy or a girl? I think it's a boy, but I'm no expert with photos. In my tree information, I show Lea and Basil Chance with three children, a girl and two boys. 

Do you know who this child is? If so, please comment or message me. Thank you!

-Revis