Why Join a Lineage Society

When I first started doing genealogy 15-20 years ago, I never dreamed or wanted to join the DAR or Mayflower Society. I just didn’t get the concept of what was the big deal about having ancestors that came over on the Mayflower or fought for America’s freedom from the British in the Revolutionary War.

I guess that and the fact that my mom couldn’t understand why I wanted to dig into the lives of her family, especially since they had spent lots of time and effort hiding the family secrets. Out of respect to my mom, the most wonderful person in my universe I did very little digging into her family. My Mom died 4 years ago this last February. At first when I started researching the biological side of my mother’s father I was guilt stricken every time I found something. Then I opened an e-mail from Marcia & David Treadway stating that I was either a 1st or 2nd cousin to him, from the FTDNA testing. As we started sharing family history back and forth the guilt started getting less and less.

David really wanted to become a SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) member and kept reminding me that neither one of us was getting any younger. That is when I decided to look into becoming a DAR member and what the organization was really about. So I contacted Ginger Carter, and found out that she is the Registrar for the Worcester Chapter of DAR. I knew Ginger through our affiliation in MSOG (Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc.) the Worcester Chapter. Ginger is a wonderful advocate for the DAR.

I found that it appeared that I had gotten the wrong impression of what it really meant to become a DAR member. It is an organization that forms lifelong bonds with other members that network together to honor their revolutionary ancestors, and promote the preservation of American history, education and patriotism in our community.

 

Genevieve R Vaundell DeHaan receiving my DAR pin from Ginger Carter, Registrar,  Linda Munroe, Regent looking on

     Photo by Jennifer Willson, Curator

These are all the reasons why I had become a genealogist and family historian in the first place. I’m PROUD to be an AMERICAN and be able to honor my ancestors who were so instrumental in ensuring that we would have all the freedoms we enjoy today.

That is why I am proud to say I’m a DAR member. I also believe that my mom would be alright with it.

First DAR Meeting

I went to my first DAR meeting on Saturday February 13, 2016. Here in Massachusetts and the rest of North East United States we were experiencing very cold and brutal weather. The temperatures were well below zero. The wind chills in Worcester were -17 degrees F. They were advising us to wear layers of clothes and not expose our skin to the weather for any length of time. When I read the e-mail from Ginger Carter, Registrar of the Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter of the DAR in Worcester Immediately I decided that it was time to go to a meeting even if the weather was bone-chilling cold. I am not a winter person. Thus I have to force myself out.

I got to the Chapter House (The Timothy Paine House,) “The Oaks” built circa 1774 early. As I walked around the first floor I got the feeling that I had made a mistaken the time, but thought there were cars out front. The next person that came in the building was the Chaplain, Judith Wood , the Chapter Chaplain and she greeted me very warmly; then took me under her wing and brought me upstairs and introduced me to Linda Hart, Regent. I felt at home at once thanks to these wonderful women.

From there I was introduced to several women and we went downstairs to have coffee; I felt very embraced and lucky to be in their company. Then the meeting started and I was sworn in as an official member of the DAR. 

Me (Genevieve Vaundell De Haan, L-R, Judith Wood, Chaplain, Ginger Carter, Registrar, Linda Hart, Regent

Photo taken by Jennifer Willson

During the meeting I heard about all the wonderful projects this Chapter is participating in. They are a busy bunch and there is quite a diversity of projects. It was a very exciting experience. After the business meeting there was a presentation of the Chapter's major project. Restoration of the their home "The Timothy Paine House" circa 1774. I love old houses and think we should preserve more of them, after all they are our history along with the people who built and maintained them.
My Revolutionary soldier is Jonathan Treadway born in Connecticut.

Blog Posting Committment

While preparing to write my next blog post it suddenly occurred to me, that doing this blog is making me look over my genealogy research like I am under a high powered microscope. I don’t know if it all started when we received the challenge from Thomas MacEntee to join him in his “Genealogy-Do-Over” that started on January 8, 2015 check it out at http://www.geneabloggers.com or when I joined Dear Myrtle’s Beginning Genealogy Study Group  Hangouts on Wednesdays. You can catch Dear Myrtle’s hangouts live, or check it out at  http://blog.geneawebinars.com/2015/01/hangouts-dearmyrtles-beginning.html

I do know when I decided to commit to blogging with consistency that I also wanted to make sure that the information that I am posting about my family genealogy is accurate and well documented. After all family history without documentation is just a fairy tale or fiction. I do not want to be another one of those people that is putting garbage and false statements out on the internet. We have enough of that going on.

So with keeping with the theme of the above mentioned people (Thomas MacEntee and dear Myrtle) I decided to go over all my research with a fine tooth comb. The first thing I wanted to do is get my computer files and genealogy software ORGANIZED. I found some of my citations duplicated, missing or lacking vital information. Thus that is the reason why I have not posted as much as I wanted to.

The software program that I use is Legacy Family Tree. It is the computer software that I started with in 2005. It meets my needs and was very easy to see where I needed to do more work on my tree, especially with my sources and citations. 

I have always been interested in “my roots” and history even as a child, but respected my mother’s wishes not to ‘dig up the past.” About sixteen years ago I decided if I waited for my Mom (died age of 97 yrs. 3 months) to pass on I would never be able to research my family. I dedicate this post to you Mom.

 © Photo taken by Lisa De Haan           
                 Genevieve Fish Vaundell ------12 Nov 1914- 11 Feb 2012 

         at one of her favorites places the white mountains in New Hampshire

 

Rose Eliza (Peloquin) Vaundell Obituary

Rose Eliza (Peloquin) Vaundell Obituary-Friday December 8, 1933

Photo taken by Genevieve De Haan-Pine Grove Cemetery, No. Grafton, Massachusetts

As I looked for my Great Grandmother’s obituary never in my wildest dreams did I realize the journey it would lead me on. Mrs. Rose E.’s Peloquin  obituary[1] states that beside her husband Nelson Vaundell, she leaves two grandchildren (Nelson H. & Evelyn Vaundell ), three brothers (Louis of Worcester, Fred of Brockton, and January Peloquin of Whitman), and a sister Mrs. Fred Coots of Whitman. This would prove to give me the biggest clue in the Peloquin family history. I thought to myself finally an unusual name. How many parents name their son January.  Thus I started looking for a January Peloquin in the 1930 Census.

In the 1930 U.S. census[2] at  http://bit.ly/1iauSXn I found a January Peloquin living with his brother-in-law Frederick J. Coots, his wife Josephine M. and their son Frederick J. Jr. in Whitman, Plymouth Co.,  Massachusetts. Bingo!!!

In the 1920 U.S. Census[3]  at http://bit.ly/OhhyWW  there is a January J. Peloquin, age 60, born in Massachusetts living in Brockton ward 2, Plymouth Co. with his mother Almena Peloquin, age 79, born in Vermont.

In 1930 U.S. Census[4] at http://bit.ly/1iOHTVs there is a Frederick Pelequin, age 50, living in Brockton, Plymouth Co., with his wife Margaret, age 49, both born in Massachusetts.

I then tried to find Louis Peloquin, or any variation of the name (Pellican, Pelican, Pelequin, Pellaquin, etc.) but could not find anything at on Sarah’s fourth sibling. Oh well three out of four; I felt really blessed.

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[1] Worcester Daily Telegram, Worcester Public Library, roll 0458 “obituary”, Friday Dec 8, 1933 Co. l1, p. 12.

[2] “United States Census 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org)

[3] "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org)

[4] "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org)