I celebrated Easter yesterday with some of my family in Rochester, NY. Tradition is what builds our family history, and what better way to add to it than by spending a soggy but sunny afternoon playing "Bunny Rabbit Ring Toss" and "Slingshot Egg Launch" with family old, new and honorary? It gave us a chance to exclaim over a new engagement, and to discuss a new piece of information on our Civil War ancestor who fought so bravely with Ellsworth's Avengers, the 44th NY.
My generation recalled out loud our fondest Easter memories, especially those of the family photo shoot every year followed by worship at Sand Beach Dutch Reformed Church in Fleming, then home to a delicious dinner and too many chocolate eggs.
I looked across the picnic table at my teenage nieces and nephews intently watching the animation in their grandmother's expression while she talked about what Easter was like with our parents when she was a child, just post-World War II, and realized that this day would also be a memory for them to share and pass along to their own children and grandchildren someday.
Oral history is such a special way to share your family history. I hope you take a little time today to tell someone else about one of your own traditions. Happy Easter!
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2 comments:
Enjoyed reading your blog on facebook. What mew information do you have on James Hitchcock?
You picked right up on James, didn't you! It is no big information. I did confirm by contacting the NYS Archives for a copy of his service record ($3.00) that James Hitchcock was wounded at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862 and was "absent" at Convalescent Camp from October to December 31 of that year. He was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant in January of 1863.
What was new to me was his occupation, listed as shoemaker at the time of his enlistment in Seneca Falls, NY in 1861. He was 5' 6" tall, with a light complexion, brown hair and gray eyes.
I sent for his brother Fred's service record, and he was 5' 6" tall, dark-completed with brown hair and gray eyes. He enlisted as a substitute for John H. Osborne of Auburn, NY. Always nice to find a new tid bit!
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