Dr.Rev Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial



Me and Grandbaby Jai 2013
Today is the Day of Service for America. In Honor of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. My contribution was to help donate funds for the Memorial and teach my Descendant's about his Life, Work, and Deeds. I had almost forgot these. They were on another camera after my cellphone lost it's power. It was such a learning lesson that day. So many questions from Jai. 

 I always want to Honor his Life in any capacity big or small. I "Lived" one day before he was Assassinated. We will always be tied together in that moment. He was always my school project.

 I will gladly pass this onto the rest of the babies in my family or any child who wants to know. 

 "Who this man was".....

 Thank You So Much Dr. King for helping us set "OURSELVES" FREE with your Guidance. Your Legacy will live on in so many hearts. As long as I live, I will Honor that. 

 It's the least I can do for all that you have done for so many. I hope you are resting now. We miss you. One day we'll be together.

 Happy Birthday!
Love, True Eddie Tyler Taylor and Puddin' aka Jai
                                                                         "And a CHILD shall Lead Them".
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In Honor of Dr.King's Birthday 2014 ~ #DreamForward



Dedicated to Sandra Taliaferro and L.t. Lanier of the Family Griot who just passed yesterday. I Will continue to Dream Forward with our Ancestor Work.  

 San encouraged me and read my Blog when I first started. I'll remember all the fiery conversations me and L.t. had. Such a lost to the Genealogy Community in whole. You will be Missed. 
Reblogged from the Taliaferro Project!

 Click Link Below to read Sandra's STory! 
Ms. Sandra Taliaferro


 Friend of Friends Lesson


The King Center for Observance Events


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Worldwide Genealogy | A Genealogical Collaboration: A TrueKeeper....

Worldwide Genealogy ~ A Genealogical Collaboration: A TrueKeeper....: Hello All! My name is TRUE ! Yes!  that's really my NAME . I usually don't talk about ME. Just for this Post I will tell you a ...

Hello All! My name is TRUE!

Yes!  that's really my NAME.

I usually don't talk about ME. Just for this Post I will tell you a little about MYSELF which is hard to do. This is the 1st Time I have gotten really Personal.  I have been blogging since November 7, 2012. I choose that date in Remembrance of my Daddy who taught me the True meaning of Family History.  I  Reserve my Blog for my Ancestors.

I was born a day before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr died. April 3rd. In Harrisburg, Pa.
 When I was born my Father's Parents adopted and raised me. My Grandmother Tinnie named ME.
On April 4, 1968 when Dr.King was assassinated my Grandmother said "When One Life was Taken, Another was Given".

She always boastfully said. I was "Blessed" from the womb.

My Mother who is German and my Father who is African American.

My Mom, Me and 2nd child with Parents (Grandparents) 1989

 They were young, it was the 60's. The World was a tumultuous time. My Father was away at Vietnam he served 2 Tours and spent 28 years in the United States Marine Corps, and still Living today. Both are! I'm a retired Army Veteran as well. Serving in the Army has afforded me to be stationed and live all over the World and United States in ways I might not of ever experienced doing something else as a career. I live in the COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY! good Ol' US of A.

My Grandparents decided after much thought who were married for 25 years and all their children were Grown and Living away from home decided to "Keep Me"!  I was their Oldest Child's Firstborn.

I laugh now because I say they bought and got me for about 160 Bucks!

Receipt of my Adoption
This and my Original Birth Certificate and Letter from Lawyers is my only Documentation of my Original Birth. This has never been seen before. I only found it after my Grandparents passed away.  My Adoption Records from the State of Pennsylvania are Sealed. That is why I'm glad my Grandparents let me KNOW my Parents so I didn't have to Question who I was and Search for my Heritage. It was the Best thing for my Family to make all those decisions before I was born.

I'm so Grateful and Proud. I was meant to be with my Paternal Grandparents. They were the catalyst for the Wonderful Life I have been able to Live. I had the Luxury of having all of ME and my Heritage. No part of me was Denied. My Grandparents let me see both sides of my WORLD through my Birth Parents.

I've always felt International for the longest. So it's befitting that I'm participating in this WorldWide Genealogy Blog for I am Truly Worldwide. Through DNA testing I have learned about my English, Irish, Norwegian and African Roots. Some parts still Unknown. I'm a U5b1c Maternally and E1b1a7a Paternally through 23andMe.

Since I was a little girl. I knew I was gonna be the "TrueKeeper" of my Family's History. I've appreciated this Gift for a long time. It started when I was 9 and I didn't know it was called Genealogy or what Genealogy was?  I just always penned and kept Notes to Myself. Eventually as I grew into adulthood. It has it's True Meaning now.
Daddy and Me,  age 9.  1977

From this picture, it explains it all. I found this after my Parents passed away also. I remember those times. When Daddy would break out the pictures and I would ask so many questions and remembered Family Stories from Heart back then.

I'm so Grateful for them not shooing me away and answering my questions. I always loved to hear  My Family Stories and where I came from. I have deep roots in Cumberland County, Newville, Pennsylvania, my Mother's European family have been there since the Revolutionary War from England, Ireland, all over Europe.  All the way to Bullock County, Midway, Alabama with my Slave Family. It was always a joy learning about all the Relatives I had and what their Lives were like.
 They could of kept the old ways where a "Child should be Seen, and Not Heard". I loved hiding in the wings and behind doors to Listen to the Old Folks. I'm glad I got to stay with my Grandparents. I was Overwhelmed with Way too much LOVE for ONE person.

I get a little teary-eyed at times. I find solace in that they appreciated and knew what I was doing and they were so Glad and Grateful to tell THEIR stories and that someone was Passing it On.

So that is what I do at my blog: My True Roots!  ! I do African American Research intermixed with my European Heritage. Please stop and have a look around. We just might be Kin!

I'm a member of 3 Genealogical Societies. I'm also a part of African American Genealogy Slave Ancestor Research or AAGSAR.  I also TWEET.  That Girl! @MyTrueRoots .   I look forward to writing more on my Ancestors and tell you the STORY that Inspired me the MOST and hearing all of Yall's stories. Thank you to Julie Goucher of "Angler's Rest" for the Invite!

I have A Ol'Slave named Ike Ivery!  He is who began me on my Quest for being the......... TrueKeeper! of my Family History.

Are you the "TrueKeeper" of your Family?


Thank You to my Grandparents for all their Love and Everlasting Support. Simply the best!
Me with my "Parents" who are my Grandparents, 1997


See Ya soon!
Best Regards, True!
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BlogFest2014! African American Bloggers ~ Family History Revealed

  Today is the DAY!  AAGSAR BlogFest 2014  has ARRIVED!

 
 Our Ancestors are SPEAKING! It's been a long tedious 4 months. Through our "Principal" Luckie Daniels she created AAGSAR after a Grievous and Sorrowful time when she lost her Mother she went offline for a bit. 

 "I'm so Glad" she came back!  We are Celebrating and Finally through her have found Our Voice and made a HOME for Our ANCESTOR's to bear their TRUTH. 

 I have been in many  Facebook Groups. Done many Internet Searches for my Genealogy and Family History.  I was sort of out in the Wild trying to find my place and didn't quite know what to do with my Work, only that I wanted other researchers to see it. I couldn't put two and two together. 

 NEVER have I seen someone place the VALUE and MEANING on what our Work was suppose to do?  The Mentorship she has provided to us can't be matched. She has helped us grow into our Own. Even with myself she made me Think about what I Speak into the World and has helped me Grow in Confidence that I do know what I'm doing. 
She has also been our Cheerleader and Advocating for Years for our Voices to be at the Table.
 She has had more than her share of Heaping and Hauling, with us Grown Folks with our Hard Heads and Stubbornness.   Teaching us how TECHNOLOGY and Blogging can be integrated to put our Research out there and take us to the next level.

 AAGSAR found ME! We have done 1:1 training. Been taught the meaning of our Work is IMPORTANT, we Do have a VOICE! Other's want to hear and read our Stories.  There are so many African American Family Histories. We finally found a PLACE where we can Commune together and get our Ancestors ONLINE and Out into the Community. We know what it means to be the Keeper of Records. What a HONOR it is to be the GRIOT, chosen to tell our Ancestors stories.

                      BlogFest2014 and AAGSAR have gotten us to the TABLE.
 Coming to the Table


 This is a 1st! I'm so HUMBLED to be a part of so many new African American Bloggers! We are not in the shadows anymore. I look forward to hearing more of their stories. For up and coming New Bloggers who are hesitant?  Take the Leap of Faith and begin sharing your stories in Blogging!  You can do IT!   No more should we accept "Hoarding" our Family Histories. Keeping them in our Minds and Binders. 

 Let Them Speak! Let your Ancestors Stories be Told! 

I'm so PROUD and PLEASED with Principal Daniels on your Leap Of Faith. For so many of us we had doubts and fears. 

 Now we know what the TRUE meaning of our Work on behalf of Our Ancestors truly means.

  Do not DESPISE your PAST. Keep writing all the way from  your PHd Dr. to Preacher to Prisoner. Fully embrace all your family stories, let their Lives show their MEANING in Blogging.

 This is a LIST of new African American Family Historian Bloggers being presented for BLOGFEST 2014! you can also follow US on Twitter @AAGSARFaceBook .

 LINK FOR NEW BLOGGERS! :  

Enjoy!  Spread the Word. If you have family connections in anyway,  CONTACT and COMMUNE with them. Keep everyone Encouraged, do a Random Act of Kindness and SHARE INFO. 

 We have already LOST so Much. Let's try to work through the HURT, PAIN and SHAME and work together. It only makes the Genealogy Community STRONGER! We will only come out on the other side Truthfully by Honoring Our Ancestors Stories. All of it.....

 They say to OPEN a WINDOW after a Loved ones Passing, so their Soul Can Fly. I'll open a Window tonight in Honor of OUR Ancestors...... Let their Spirits SOAR on this Day of our BlogFest2014!


Ancestor Guidance


 My Ancestors are PLEASED and BEAMING!  Ivery, Lewis, Miles, Daniel, Sweigard, Evans, Johnson, Watson, Heckman's and Barrick. North and South, even as far far away in hamlets and countrysides all over the World. They are SMILING!

 Today we will Celebrate! Congratulations to all AAGSAR Tribe Member Bloggers! {{{Clapping}}}

  Our Sankofa Journey for Blogging has BEGUN! 

 Today we "Bask in Our Ancestor's Light", for tomorrow the REAL WORK begins.......




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~~Ike Ivery's Brother's & Sister's with his Parents~~

Something about a NAME

What's in a NAME?.......


My name is UNIQUE and BEFITTING for Me.  TRUE!


  I'm taking a Journey in Looking at my Ancestors NAMES and how they are passed along and for what reasons? They have been helpful in me finding more of my Ancestors Documents.
It all started from what we know with Ike Ivery's Parents. William Ivery born during the War of 1812 and Minta? born 1834.  Granddaddy William also used Ivey as a surname. I don't know just yet if we choose the name or was it from the Slave owner? There were Ivey's living nearby. That is what I associate for my reasoning. I'm always on the hunt for the connection! Granddaddy Ike is listed as Issac!   Issac and Ike have gone on to each Generation till present day in this family. 
Granddaddy Ike's Brothers & Sisters were:



                                                                    Rosanna~Isabella~Jacob~John~Abraham~Sarah

Line 21: 1870 Bullock County, Ala Census for William and Minty Ivery

Down below are "Some" things I've learned along the way about them. I'm always searching for more.  I'm just excited and Proud to know Granddaddy Ike had Parents, Brother's and Sisters! and that they were recorded and not lost in the Middle Passage. I can go just a little bit further back and I'm grateful.
So many times we focus on a Person's NAME, that we tend to forget they had a Family besides the one they Made. 





 Rosanna: Born 1850
Rosanna Ivery and Charles Ford Marriage License February 10th, 1870
Granddaddy Ike:  Born 1853

Isabella: Born 1858
Isabelle Ivery and Charles Haynes Marriage Liscense May 28th, 1881
My Mentor had to go and see what else he could figure out. There was no Record to Print. As you can see above. Only to snail me and tell me it was on Page# 448 Marriage Record Book #4 Coloreds. It was just unreadable and he got what he could. What it did say was she was married "At her Father's Place" William Ivery. Which told me Granddaddy Ike's Father William was still LIVING in 1881! he would of been about 69.

 Out of the 7 children 5 were born into Slavery. Abrahama and Sarah were born after Freedom came. 

  Charles Haynes is also Brother to Mary Haynes, Ike's 1st wife. Siblings married Siblings.



Source Citation
Year: 1870; Census Place: Ridgeley, Bullock, Alabama; Roll: M593_4; Page:271B; Image: 545; Family History Library Film: 545503
Description
Township: Ridgeley
I find Milford McTyiere living with them along with Rosanna's husband Charles Ford. Milford could of been a wedding dowery of Mrs. Caroline McTyiere Ivey who was married to Malachi Ivey living near my Slave Ivey/Ivery's. 



William and Minty with their Children 1870

Jacob: Born 1860.  He's the one that keeps me drawing me near. Jacob is Resounding! He is still Living until 1880 Census he's 18.  I'm wondering what happened to him?


John:  Born 1862


Abraham: Born 1866
Sarah: Born 1869  


                              Granddaddy Ike used his Siblings names in Naming his OWN Children.

  How Grandaddy Ike passed family sibling names. Rosanna:  Was used for my OWN "Grandma Eddie"!

Mrs. Eddie Lee Rosanna Savannah Louisiana Ivery Lewis
Isabella:    Belle was used for Ike's first daughter, "Leila Belle". We have passed Belle on in many ways in this family. I haven't seen Isabella yet. I couldn't find Isabella at first because they were using Belle.

Jacob:    I haven't seen this used yet. I like Jacob!

John:     Granddaddy Ike, used this for his 2nd Son. We've seen it used many times. Daughter Eddie, named her Daughter Johnnie Mae.

Abraham:   Was used for Ike's 3rd son Abe.

William:  Ike used for his 6th Son. I think it was for remembrance of his Father. We have passed this name on as well.


Sarah:  Once again his Daughter my Grandma Eddie, used it for her Daughter's name. This just confirms to me how close her and Grandaddy Ike were from all the stories my Dad told me. She really carried this Naming Tradition on down. Sarah Cate Lewis Glenn Miles she is still living at age 97! Granddaughter of Our Beloved Ol'Slave ~ Ike Ivery!

I know most are Biblical Names which Slaves had the tradition of doing. When I see it used again. I know it's in Remembrance of Our Elders.

 Some of these names it took a long time to identify. Many times family would use Nicknames, or name would be shortened which hindered my research. Over the years I had to learn about Soundex and look for clues in nicknames or shortened versions or variations of a NAME. example: Minty/Minta could be "Arminta".

As a young Mother I had help in naming my 1st child. Been taught what it means to Name your Legacy. So with keeping and passing this Tradition down. With the help of Daddy; James E Lewis and Mom. 
My Son was named after his Great Great Granddaddy James Edward Lewis born 1884, his Great Grandfather born 1918 and Grandfather born 1947.
 Edward James Lewis. 
We call  him "Eddie" for short. 
Which is also his Great Great Grandmother's name!

My Son Eddie with his Great Grandparents 1987 Pop-Pop & Nannie

The Jewels in my Crown have been paid for Mightily. I will wear my Crowned Name Proudly. 
The Crown to my Throne Continues........

What's in your NAME?




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Blog Caroling "O Holy Night!"




O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
 Of the dear Savior's Birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt his worth
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices oh Night divine
On night divine, oh nigh, oh night divine

Chains shall he break 
for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord, let ever ever praise Thee
Noel, Noel
Oh night , oh night divine
Noel, Noel
Oh night , oh night divine
Noel, Noel
Oh night, oh night divine

~"MERRY CHRISTMAS"~

This song always gets me teary-eyed and grateful.

 

Thanks to Footnote Maven! for doing this every YEAR!

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