Underground Railroad in Lancaster, NY

I haven't been taking the time of late to post on my blog, even though there are so many things I should be posting. Something happened the other day that I really need to record and share. First let me say that I am posting this bit of family history for myself and for anyone searching for Winspear family history. The internet has made searching so much easier, but someone needs to make sure the information gets out there so Google can find it for us. I love doing family history research, genealogy. I have had so many emotional experiences when I have found members of my family who I knew nothing about. I have interviewed relatives both close and distant. Everyone is always happy to share and glad to know someone is interested. This is particularly true of the older generation (of which I have become a part). 

So on Friday I spent the entire day searching through family files, scanning and uploading old photos. My mother, Louise Winspear, had been very organized and had file folders where she saved old photos, funeral programs, notes, news clippings, etc. As the "family historian" I was left with much of this information. I have been trying to go through it and make it available to the rest of the family through online sharing.

I came across an old newspaper clipping that told of the sale of a house, built in 1810, at 5976 Genesee St. Lancaster, New York. My Winspear family settled in this area after coming to America from Yorkshire, England. This article mentioned that during the Civil War John and Catherine (Wheelock) Winspear lived there, and that they built a tunnel between the house and the 40 x 60 foot basement of the barn where it was used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Let me tell you, this sent chills thru me! I know well who this family is as I have recorded their names and the names of their many children. John is the brother of my G-G-G-Grandfather William Winspear, who lived nearby. To think that members of my family were involved in the Underground Railroad made me so proud. This area of Western New York is so close to Canada and my guess is that the runaway slaves here headed there.

Even though I feel acquainted with this family through my research, it brought to mind how much I don't know, and how much I would like to know. For example, I didn't know this family was involved in hiding slaves. I don't know what part, if any, that his brother William played. I do know that William's son, my G-G Grandfather James Pennock, joined the Union Army when he was 16, as did his cousin, George Franklin Winspear, John and Catherine's son.   

Now, in the year 2016, I was able to go to the computer and Google the address of the house and find it on Google Maps. I found out that the house is currently an historical landmark called the Hull House, after the original owner, and they do tours and have lunches there, etc. It's amazing what we can find online now. I do a lot of research on ancestry.com, so if you are Winspear searching for information, be sure and check out my Winspear/mwp Family Tree, or contact me--definitely contact me!

All the best till next time!
Marcie Winspear Patch

My OCD

I have edited this post from its original form as I was trying to line up photos and that didn't go so well. I have been working on new pattern covers, and that has taken up some time. But they are coming along nicely. I have always loved this little log cabin design! Just a normal LC, but the border makes me happy. You may have noticed a trend with me and two ended borders. Don't ask, I have no answer. I just get a kick out of that.
I seem to have a touch of OCD when it comes to certain things. Quilting for sure, and then my second passion is family history, or genealogy. Like  sewing, I became involved in this at a young age and the interest has stayed with me. Since I was a child I began writing down names and dates and bits of stories. Over the years I have compiled quite a lot of family information. I have had the pleasure of interviewing people who were distantly related and ended up forming wonderful relationships. I think old people especially love to share family information and to know that someone cares. You reach an age where life spins around you and it is nice to know you still have something of value to share. I am not quite there yet, but I can see it approaching! (The old thing is chasing me down!)

Anyway, I have become reacquainted with my cousin, who became interested in family history, and she is driving down here from Buffalo, NY this week so that we can share family information. I am so excited. Thanks to the internet we re-united and have each been searching ancestry.com, etc. 

 Now to clean up my house so it is presentable for company. Too bad I am not a bit more OCD about that!

 

COMING TO AMERICA

One thing you should know about me is that I am nothing if not obsessive-compulsive. I dive into quilting and cannot pull myself away. The same is true of family history and genealogy. I have not been involved in the genealogy for quite a while, but recently have been drawn back into it. Maybe it is the upcoming family reunion in Utah in August, and the ancestor quilt I am making. (You see how nicely I drew two of my compulsions together?) Yesterday I decided to re-type a short history of my great-grandmother's. The photo copy that I have is old and beginning to fade, so I now have it typed in a folder on my computer. The history is very brief, and some of the details are heart breaking.

The family's name was Scow. They left Denmark in 1866 to immigrate to Utah to join the other Mormons who had gathered there under the direction of Brigham Young.Their five children were ages 1, 9,12,14 and 18. First they traveled by steamship to Hamburg, Germany. Then on May 25, 1866 they boarded the sailing vessel Kennelworth and spent fifty-two days on the Atlantic Ocean before landing in New York on July 18, 1866. From there they boarded a train to carry them northward through New England. In Canada they had to travel on dirty and uncomfortable freight and cattle cars to Michigan and then on to Chicago. The heat was unbearable this time of year.  Finally reaching Quincy, Illinois they boarded a steamboat that took them to Wyoming, Nebraska. Oxen teams pulled wagons that carried them the rest of the way to Salt Lake City, Utah. The wagon carried their family of seven plus three other women, provisions and furniture. Considering the way we travel today, can you even imagine what this might have been like? 

Nine year old Sam became ill with malaria fever and still had to walk most of the way. Grandmother prayed for his life and for four days they expected to have to bury him. They even had burial linens prepared. Finally Grandmother retired to a quiet spot and asked the Lord to forgive her for presuming her child should be saved while she had seen so many others buried by the side of the trail. She said, "Thy will, not mine be done". Sam began recovering and by the time they reached Salt Lake City he could walk by holding on to things.  

As they approached Salt Lake City they were met by people carrying baskets of fruit which were freely distributed among them. I imagine they wept with joy.

Their trials were not over, but this part of their journey was. I feel fortunate to know this much about them and what they endured. The personal history was written down as my Great-Great-Grandmother, Catherine Scow Davidson, told it. She was 12 years old during this time. I was able to find other information on line that discussed the very group that they traveled with, both on ship and by wagon. What a thrill for me to be able to add more details to this story! I am so proud to be a descendant of these people and so grateful for their sacrifice. I know they are not unusual in their struggles, they are just mine!