American Patriot - Troy Public Radio's: In Focus My True Roots Journey to the American Revolution

American Patriot: My True Roots to the American Revolution

I was honored to join Carolyn Hutcheson on Troy Public Radio’s In Focus for the “Genealogy in Your Genes” series. In February of 2026. 

During our conversation, I shared how family history, documentary research, and DNA helped me trace my lineage to my Revolutionary War Patriot, Nicholas Barrick. This journey is about more than finding a name on a family tree. It is about understanding how the lives of those who came before us continue to shape our identity, our service, and the stories we preserve for future generations.

Listen to the interview below.

True's Interview on In Focus Troy Public Radio

[Listen on the official Troy University Podcast Network] 

https://today.troy.edu/podcasts/in-focus-with-carolyn-hutcheson/american-patriot-tprs-in-focus-feb-19-2026/

True Lewis of My True Roots Visits New Faces of NextGen LIVE

I did a Guest Interview for Faces of NextGen LIVE of 

NextGen Network. 

True Lewis Visits NewFaces of NextGen LIVE

You can Follow them on Twitter 

@NextGenNetWrk 

Had a Wonderful time with Eric and his Viewers!

Thank You so Much! 

November 6th, 2017. 

A Daughter of the American Revolution

My Patriot 

Johann Nicholas Barrick

Johann Nicholas Barrick "My Patriot" was born on August 2, 1761 in Greenwich, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Maria Lambert ( Lambertie) variations in 1783. They had four children in 23 years. He died on July 20, 1844 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, having lived a long life of 82 years.

As you can see, my Patriot is from Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania so it was only natural for me to make my final decision to choose a Chapter in Pennsylvania.  Mother and Daughter - We joined together! 

5th Great Grandfather Nicholas Barrick. 

Grandfather Nicholas served with the 6th Battalion of Berks County, Pa Militia. He was mustered in for the Revolutionary War. He received a pension from 1837- until his death in 1844. When the Revolutionary War was over, he was deeded land from his Father Henry who we see has having the last name of Berg. He shared this land with his brother John in Pennsylvania. The family ended up moving to Queen Annes County in Maryland about 1790 where Nicholas worked as a bricklayer on the new courthouse. 

It took me four years to order and research, to get my Application for the DAR completed. It was well worth the Fight! It was quite the experience with this type of lineage research gaining and ordering sources and proving connections generation to generation and how it's suppose to be done correctly. It took every ounce of my belief and others that this could be possible. 

I want to Thank some very patient Genealogy Friends along the way who encouraged me and had my back along the way. Even when I was pouting and throwing my hands up at a few turns. They kept me encouraged. 

There was even a "Group" made for me to go back and forth on theories and have a workstation, just for me to concentrate solely on my application and get moral support.

There was a Mondays with Myrt! program I had attended  from Dear Myrtle. All this came about because I yelled out of place in our Chat Room and my hand went up like a school girl who couldn't wait to be answered from the teacher! We were having a discussion and somehow DAR came up.  Cousin Russ and Dear Myrtle said "Who was that?" and her light bulb went off! 
That is how the ball got rolling!  With her weekly Wacky Wednesday she took time and patience with Cousin Russ to have a Hangout designed around me and my Patriot. She gathered all the resources she had available and got me  surrounded with a Group of Ladies that went well beyond the "Call of Duty", like Soldiers do. They had a plan. 

I was introduced to Marian Kowalski and Sheri B. Fenley along with Carmen Cross and Brenda Hare.  Their work was impeccable. 

They had all my Documents lined up and advised me on, what do you do next?  They were my 2nd pair of eyes with glasses. For one, I had approached my application in the wrong way. DAR research is different from tree building.

You see where I'm going with this?  

Collaboration at it's best! The Genealogy Community came out for one of it's own. 

By the time Dear Myrtle and her Community got through with me I had a completed DAR worksheet with all that I had researched and saw where my 3 weakest links where to work on so I could continue to the home stretch.   

In February, 2016 after Rootstech I was able to Submit my Application to my Registrar. 

 On April 25th, 2016. The Letter I was waiting on came with the news I needed more Documentation. Hard lessons to learn and more research. 


I am now as of July 5th, 2016 a Member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 

My Official DAR Certificate

Open Letter

Dear Pat; and Cousin Russ & Sheri Dahling, 

 Without you all keeping me uplifted, encouraged and beating the drum on this Application. I wouldn't of got through this all. I wanted you to know I appreciate all the work and effort you put into this Special Project just for me and my Mom. All your hard work didn't go unnoticed. It's not unbelievable how far and wide you put your arms around me and got me through this Journey. All the support from the Genealogy Community as well. I wanted to thank you with much gratitude and I know my Patriot Grandpa Nicholas is saying Thank You for helping their Grand baby out as well. I Salute you. I Thank you. It's with Gratitude I'm writing to you, from my Heart that I'll always remember and this will be my words for all to see for future Generations. Thank You for being on this Journey with me. 

Thank You and Well Done! 

True! 
The Great Great Great Great Great Granddaughter of Patriot Johann Nicholas Barrick. 




Here's the Episode! True's DAR Application Review

Dedicating this to my Fellow Sisters: Shelley Murphy. Elon Cook & Karen Batchelor the 1st African American Woman recognized admitted to the DAR along with our Brothers Lonnie Riley & Michael N. Henderson of the Sons of the American Revolution. Also, My Black Pro Gen Family. You have been supportive in so many ways on my Quest to get this Completed.

 All is Well. Thank You from my heart. 

 This is for you Pudding and the rest of my Future Grand Babies, Nannie did this all for you.

The Lest of roads Traveled. Many have Journeyed before me. Many will come after me. I Stand here to tell you,  you can take this walk and Reclaim your Lineage as well. 

Let your Presence be felt. For you are Today's DAR. 

Bernice Bennett: Blog Talk Radio: 

Research at the National Archives and Beyond 

Why should you Join a Lineage Society?

My Periscope at Rootstech

My Periscope on Last Day at 

Rootstech

Note To Myself:  I should of done more! This was fun. 

Rootstech ✔︎ List - Calling Card ☏

 Note To Myself : I was SO excited I didn't Post this on time. February 7th, 2016. After Rootstech 2016. 


Can you tell I'm excited about Rootstech ?



Next Month February 3rd - 6th. I'll be in Salt Lake City! It's been a "Bucket List" Dream for me to Attend since I learned of it's Importance in the Genealogy World.

I use to live in Washington State in Tacoma for 3 years so it will be good to be headed out that way again! I've been so anxious and excited since September.


CHECKLIST:

✔︎ Large Suitcase
✔︎ Roller back pack
✔︎ Electronic devices / chargers
✔︎ Supplies
   Starbucks Card (lots of coffee drinking) ☕️
    Schedule 
    Business Cards / Labels
    Flight Information  
    Hotel Reservations  
    Energy for Dear Myrtle's After Party! 
   
   


I'm gonna be a First-Timer! I have had all these dreams of what it's like to be around thousands of other Family Historians and Genealogists and Technology folks in one room that are so enthused like myself ?

I also have Family History Library time. On Tuesday night, I get to meet Israel and talk DNA and a Host of others that I have longed to meet.

My Circle of Gen Friends has grown over the last 3 years and 3 months. I'm excited to see them in person from Facebook, Twitter and the many Bloggers I hang out with online but haven't met in person. I have a List of Folks I have got to see!

Keynote Speakers:  Paula Madison! Doris Kearns Goodwin! Steve Rockwood, Bruce Feiler, and Josh & Naomi Davis (Taza) . Just added was StoryCorps Dave Isay & Michael Leavitt.

On Tuesday! I finally meet my Mentor. Dear Myrtle or Pat. I call her for many reasons "Madea" we are having lunch at the Blue Lemon with many others. This is how I get to kick Rootstech off. Meeting Dear Myrt! I hope I don't go OfF like a Party-POP! when I see her. To Top my night off. I got to see Cousin Russ! 

 I also spend time with my Black Pro Gen Sisters! I'm having Supper with them!  Can you believe I get to see them in person? Angela Y. Walton-Raji and Bernice Bennett! Especially my Cousin Shelley Murphy Family Tree Girl. 

The 1st person I see at Rootstech is Thomas McAntee of our very own Geneabloggers! What are the Odds? Unbelievable. I was so glad to hug him. 


On Wednesday! I'll have a special surprise for you! Don't worry, I'll give you all the details AFTER the Event. You won't want to miss this one! Trust ME!


On Thursday at 4:20 I have appointment with Family ChartMasters! very exciting on how they will help me put my Slavery Heritage Family on display for a gift to the Ivery's later. We have a Reunion in 2017 in Orlando, Florida. 

Friday! By Special Invitation I go to the After Party. My Heritage is Hosting! There will be Prizes and I know that is gonna be one heck of a shindig. 

I'm getting up early everyday! I'll rest when I get back to Kentucky!

I'm sure my night life will be up to par as well! I plan on "Hanging Out" as much as possible.

The After Party with Dear Myrtle and Friends will be a Blast! I'm bringing something sweet and special from my Home State! So you will have to come back for that Surprise!

I'll have lots of pictures to show! I am gonna do my best to let you see the in's and out's of the week. I'm gonna miss Hilary and Caitlin and Paul and a few others but we will try our best to make them feel like they are here with us. I'll have lots to share! 

If you can't be there. My Blog Sister Cheryl of Carolina Girl!  has a Link to all that is Online for live streaming! Take a Look at her Blog. She has tons of information and experience. I followed her around Rootstech 2015 when I couldn't make it. 

See ya! at Rootstech 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah! in Person and Virtually!

                

My True Roots "Calling Card"

"PERISCOPE" Rootstech2016 Out, with True!

Follow Me on

Periscope  @MyTrueRoots 

Hello, GeneaBuds! 

It's me; True! 

"That Girl !" @MyTrueRoots

I wanted you All to Follow Me directly on PERISCOPE

I'll be sending my 1st Periscope broadcast by Twitter notification!

Coming February 3rd - 6th I will be in Salt Lake City, Utah.

@

Rootstech2016

I sincerely want you ALL to get Up Close & Personal with ME as I take my Journey to one of the Largest Family History Conference in the World as a 1st Timer!

 Visit me on Periscope as 

That Girl! @My True Roots

Listen for the "Whistle"!

My Periscope Profile 

Don't forget to "Tap" your Screen and Send me some Heart Love! 

To Give Hearts: Give 1 Tap for each Heart.

Periscope Hearts 

The Color of your Hearts will match the Color that's laid over your Profile! 

So TaP~Tap away! 

On Replays you can still give Hearts! 

To Learn more: go Here! Periscope 

I'm gonna Broadcast LIVE and let you in on some Behind the Scene looks! Perspectives and Thoughts. Hopefully some Surprises, thrown in! 

Just to let you see and feel how it is to be a 1st Timer!

Yes, My True Roots will be losing her Genealogy Virginity at Rootstech2016 over some Beads!

Visit my Blog here at  My True Roots!   and my  Google + Page! , as I reveal some of my NoTe's To MySelf for YOU, on my "True" Daily Perspectives of the Day! 

If your gonna be at Rootstech2016, Give me a "Shout-Out" and let me know where I can Follow you!

Come up to me! Get yourself acquainted with  True! I will be more than Glad to Meet You! 

Let me know about your

True Roots!

I'll be back in the coming days and months before Rootstech2016 Starts to take you with me on my Journey.

Let My True Roots be your Insider News if you can't be There! So follow along as we "Scope" out Rootstech2016 together.

Don't forget if your GOING Leave me a NoTe or Comment! and let me know your Coming too!

Early Bird Special Registration 

 September 15th, 2015.  

FGS 2015 Is this your 1st Time?

My 1st Trip to a Family History Library Center was in Milwaukee Wisconsin! on LaGrange Avenue. 

From where I lived it took me about 45 minutes each week on a Tuesday to visit. 

I was anxious and nervous. I just arrived after living in Seattle for 3 years. So my basic research was Oral History and what I could find online. I had joined Ancestry.com in 1997. So for 6 years that is what I could do. I was far far away from any of my Ancestral Homes of Research. I was new at Genealogy. So this was another 1st step!

It was like my 1st Day of School. I had my backpack ready. Pencils sharpened, I was finally gonna be around other Family Historians and Family Researchers. Genealogist. It was Awesome!

Is this your 1st time? I was asked. Me: YeS!....

When I arrived someone was there to Greet me and Explain the usage of the place and where everything was located and reassured me they were just around the bend to answer any questions and assist me. 

Before I got started they asked if I could sign the registry and let me know there was a donation box. I happily obliged! 

In my early days of research I had got a TiP that this is where you go to actually see documents and find things you couldn't online. They had a assortment of records. All the hours of painstakingly trying to read, magnify, write notes. Stay concentrated! as well as do the "ButtDance" on those folding chairs, all the while trying to keep warm. It was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. LoL. 

I remember my 1st Day. I was in Genealogy School. 

The microfiche!!! 

that I  hadn't used since probably High School were in full effect. All lined up. Access to what genealogy sites were around during that time period. My 1st Computer was a Gateway, it was after 9-11 and I was just getting use to the new systems. That is when I would go into Walmart and get a Free AOL disc every 30 days. Then I moved up to paying every month. I can't even remember when it became FREE I was with them for so long. 

It's also were the Ladies taught me how to use Family Group Sheets. Record Logs. Which I miss and every now and then. I have to get back to using them. I need to brush up on my habits of the Genealogical Proof that I learned so early. Now it's a habit I haven't kept up with and must go over some of my work and correct as I have gotten computer savvy and lazy. 

One thing those early teachings taught me were seeds that I can continue to grow on. They were the "Golden Days" of Genealogy and those things I was taught you can never go wrong with even with today's technology.

I haven't been back to LaGrange Avenue. The Army ended up sending us elsewhere. Your Home is where the Army sends you. So If I could! 

I would like to say Thank You to the Ladies there! They had patience with me. Little did they know they were teaching me so much in their small gestures.

So if FGS2015 Conference is your 1st Time!

Go and Look at my Fellow 2015 FGS Ambassadors.

 They have some GREAT Advice on Getting Your Trip Planned for SUCCESS!

I'm taking ADVICE from All my FGS2015Ambassadors! 



2015FGS Ambassador Jen Baldwin  from Ancestral Breezes had a Good Plan to Follow if it's your 1st Time going to FGS Conference!! She put together a Great List of "To do Things" and How to have Success!

And

FGS2015 Ambassador Diane MacLean Boumenot of One Rhode Island Family!

You still have time to REGISTER and Get out to the Largest and Historical Moment in Time for FGS2015 Conference combined with Rootstech! 

February 11th - 14th. Salt Lake City!

Hurry it's Not to Late!

2015FGS Registration!