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Favorite Place – Week 17 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Bugscuffle
So how did Bugscuffle get its name? The origin began at Tate School. (In the late 1800s, Mr.Tate donated land for a school and a cemetery.) One theory claims that during a pie supper at the school, Homer Coker lamented that they were inundated with bugs and it was “just a regular bugscuffle.” Another anecdote maintains that a man was passing by the school and exclaimed that the students were “scuffling in the dirt like bugs.” Regardless, it is definitely an interesting name and stokes the imagination.
Bugscuffle was a rural area near Strickler, Arkansas. It basically consisted of the school, a cemetery, church, and Bugscuffle Road.
Bugscuffle Road today is on the U.S National Register of Historical Places. Bugscuffle Road was one segment of the Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company from 1858-1861. According to https://encyclopediaofArkansas, “it was the longest stagecoach line in world history at approximately 2,812 miles and was a major factor in the settlement of Arkansas and the American West before the Civil War. When gold was discovered in California in 1849, bringing over a quarter of a million people to the West Coast, there was a huge demand for transporting mail and passengers. At the time, the usual route was by boat, either around South America or with an overland crossing in Panama, both of which were time-consuming, expensive, and dangerous. After California threatened to secede if a faster mail service was not established, Congress voted in 1857 to subsidize a mail run from the Mississippi River to San Francisco. It required that mail be safely carried in twenty-five days or less.”
My great grandfather, Marshall Vandyke, was a farmer and the family lived in the Bugscuffle, Strickler, and Cove City area of Arkansas for several years. His son Elliot Cecil was born in the Bugscuffle area in 1907 and died in Bugscuffle in 1917. Marshall died in Bugscuffle in 1922. Both Elliot and Marshall are buried in the cemetery.
When I heard that some of my ancestors were from Bugscuffle, I was intrigued by the name. I’m looking forward to visiting in person this summer when we are in the Bentonville/Rogers area for our nephew’s wedding.
DNA – Week 16 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
“Life is lived forwards, but understood backwards.” Soren Kierkegaard
DNA results are most accurate when examined in conjunction with genealogical research. According to https://www.livescience.com, DNA findings are not an exact science because groups of people moved and mixed with other groups of people. Boundaries changed. War affected who lived where. People moved where the work was or to have a better life. Information found on Family Tree states that “Scientists can make inferences about your ancestry based on trends among populations, but they currently can’t say for sure that your ancestors lived in a specific country, much less a specific town.” Ultimately, the companies that provide DNA testing are actually providing estimates that are based on a combination of statistical data, historical information, and known migration of the populace. Most people have autosomal DNA testing done which can provide information up to 6 generations (Y-DNA and mtDNA can provide information up to 10 generations).
I had my DNA testing done through Helix as part of the Healthy Nevada Project. This is a large-scale genetic screening and research initiative. My results show that my heritage is 99.9% European and identified 6 of 26 regions in my genetic makeup. I am:
- 58.6% Northwestern European (United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Northern France, Northern Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland)
- 19.7% Northeastern European (Prussia/Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden)
- 16.9% Southeastern European (Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Yugoslavia/Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Moldova)
- 3.5% Southwestern European (Portugal, Spain, parts of France, Italy, Malta, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City)
- 1.2% Ashkenazi Jewish (European Jews from the area between France and Russia)
- 0.1% Austronesia – Filipino
The theme of the Healthy Nevada Project is “Empowering every person to improve
their life through DNA.” This project studies how genetics affect health. Participants may be asked to complete surveys and even partake in specific studies if their genetic markers warrant it. ( So far, I have been asked to complete two surveys related to COVID-19.)
In addition to information on where my ancestors may have lived, Helix also provided some health characteristics based on my DNA. I am likely to drink more coffee than people in some populations and my weight is less likely to be affected by saturated fat. I am able to digest lactose and have no problem with gluten. My calcium and vitamin D levels tend to be average.
On the other hand, I am likely to have a higher BMI (body mass index) than would be expected. Because of this, I really need to focus on healthy eating and exercise.
Years and years ago in the early 1980’s, Linda and I decided to become certified aerobic dance instructors so that we could offer classes and make some money as well as improve our fitness levels. In addition to taking classes and learning the routines, we had to take a CPR class, run a mile in a certain amount of time. (I don’t remember how long we were allowed but since we never ran it was a definite challenge; however both Linda and I were able to succeed.) We also had to have our BMI calculated. They used hydrostatic body fat underwater testing. While it was very interesting, this was the first time that I realized that my BMI was higher than expected even though I was thin.
“There are centuries of human history coded into our genes. From our ancestors’ migration paths to their dietary habits, the results from our DNA testing kits can tell us a lot about the people that came before us.” https://www.helix.com/collections/ancestry
Our DNA results may help us discover cousins and other relatives that we may not have known about otherwise and can reinforce that our genealogical research is on the right path and makes sense. It may help us keep our options open as we discover ancestors that we originally did not expect (I’ll be looking for those Southeastern and Southwestern European ancestors). It can also be helpful as we strive to live the healthiest lives possible.
Brick Wall – Week 15 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Confusion is Inevitable
Brick walls in genealogical research are inevitable. Families tend to remember some things that are not actually factual. Over time, stories may become embellished (I have plans to tell a story later that my great grandfather told his children that seems to be greatly exaggerated). Often things just weren’t talked about. Details changed as different people shared their memories of events and by the time several generations passed no one knew what really happened. People moved; names were changed; multiple people had the same name; there are multiple spellings for the same person; people remarried; records were lost or never existed; records haven’t yet been digitized or are otherwise unavailable.
My grandfather Malcolm McLeod was the son of John McLeod and Sarah Jane Liggett. John’s parents were Malcolm McLeod and Mary Stewart McLeod. Mary has been one of my brick walls. Malcolm’s wife was named Mary but I was only able to find her maiden name Stewart in John’s California Death record.
California Death Record
| Name | John McLeod |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth | Sep 7 1863 Canada |
| Death | May 23 1942 San Bernardino, California, USA |
| Father’s last name | McLeod |
| Mother’s maiden name | Stewart |
In the 1920 census, it says that John’s mother was born in Canada and that she is Scottish. Finding more information is proving to be very difficult. Mary Stewart and/or Mary McLeod are extremely common names. I am also struggling to find more information on her husband, Malcolm McLeod. Malcolm McLeod is also a very common name and I am having trouble matching anything new with what I do have. I think his father was also named Malcolm McLeod and his mother may have been Mary Chisholm. If so, they were both born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada. I do know that my branch of the McLeod’s lived in Canada until they emigrated to the United States in 1902 when they settled in San Bernardino, California. (According to the Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission – Port of Sumas, Washington, Seattle, passengers were required to provide the name and address of the nearest relative or friend in the “country whence alien came.” John McLeod gave the name of John Stewart who was a cousin (possibly Mary’s). John’s final destination was given as Del Rosa which became part of San Bernardino.)
Another brick wall I have is identifying the Vandyke ancestors before they settled in the United States (New Jersey, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana). Vandyke has had many spelling throughout the years: Vandyke; Van Dyke; Van Deyck; Van Dijk. My 4th great grandfather, Dominicus Van Dyck was born in 1761 in Neshanic, Somerset, New Jersey. The Harlingen Dutch Reformed Church records show his baptism on March 22, 1761. His father was Dominicus Van Dyck and his mother was Marigreita Cock (Cook). Beyond that I know very little.
One of my research goals is to learn more about my ancestors before they immigrated to America (the Netherlands; County Armagh, Ireland; Bitburg, Germany; Baiersdorf, Germany). I’m really not sure what records are available and how easy they are to use.
A more current brick wall is that of my father’s aunt and uncle, Freddie and Jacque Williams, and their children. As a child, I understood that Freddie and Jacque had two sons who were born with muscular dystrophy. Every year we would watch the Jerry Lewis telethon and it would have significant meaning because of the family connection. (I never knew the sons’ names and now I question if there were two sons and if anyone had muscular dystrophy.) Freddie and Jacque later adopted twins who were born in 1955 in Germany. Freddie, Jacque, and the twins came to visit us when we lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma (they were living in Salinas, California at the time) and Sandra and I became pen pals for a couple of years. Imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that one of Freddie and Jacque’s sons, Richard Williams, died in 2020 at the age of 77. He had four children and multiple grand children and great grandchildren. His obituary lists his parents, Freddie and Jacque, but does not list any siblings including the twins. I have only found death notices for Freddie, Jacque, and Sandra – no obituaries. If there was another son, he was probably born in Wichita in the 1940’s. I am hoping that when the 1950 census is released on April 1, 2022 that I might be able to gather more information.
When I joined the genealogy club at our community, I was surprised to learn that a couple of members had been researching their ancestors for over 20 years and one man had been involved for 30 years. Now that I am actively researching, I have discovered that the more I find out, the more there is to learn. New records are continually being released and people often point me in new directions. And so the journey continues.
Wordless Wednesday – 4/14/21
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Great – Week 14 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Joseph Bond
Life in colonial America had its challenges. According to https://historyofmassachusetts.org, “These early colonists faced many hardships including disease, famine, brutal winters, hot and humid summers, warfare with local Native-American tribes as well as with other countries that were also trying to colonize North America and political struggles due to political instability in England.” This is the world that my 7th great grandfather, Joseph Bond was born into. Joseph’s father John was born in 1624 in England (possibly Bury St. Edmonds) and emigrated to colonial America and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts where he was a proprietor. He married Hester Blakeley on August 15, 1649. “Joseph ye son of John Bond was borne Aprill 14,” 1653 in Newbury, Massachusetts. (Massachusetts, U.S. Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988)
Joseph married Sarah Williams (daughter of John and Rebecca “Colby” Williams) on November 26, 1679 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. (After Joseph’s father, John died, Joseph’s mother married his wife Sarah’s father so Sarah’s mother-in-law also became her step-mother and Joseph’s father-in-law became his step father.) Joseph and Sarah had 10 children: Abigail (my 6th great grandmother), Esther, John (who sadly drowned in 1721), Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, Sarah, Mercy, Lydia, and Rebecca. The family were Methodists and attended Lynn First Methodist Church.
Defining Moments in History
Per Descendants of John Williams by Cornelia Bartow Williams, “Joseph Bond served in King Philip’s War under Lieut. Benjamin Swett in June and August, 1676. In the assignment of wages for ‘Haverhill-towne’ 24 Aug., 1676, his allotment was £0.13.6. He took the oath of allegiance and fidelity in Haverhill 28 Nov., 1677. In 1680 he was on Thomas Dustin’s garrison, one of the six organized for protection against the Indians. He also was one provided with snow-shoes for the same purpose.”
King Philip’s War (1675-1678) was also known as the First Indian War. King Philip’s War was particularly significant because the colonists went to war and dealt with their adversaries without any support from the British government (or any other European government). Thus, the colonists began to develop an “independent American identity” which therefore enabled them to begin separating from Britain. According to www.history.com “King Philip’s War is considered the bloodiest war per capita in U.S. history. In the space of a little more than a year, 12 of the region’s towns were destroyed and many more were damaged, the economy of Plymouth and Rhode Island Colonies were all but ruined and their population was decimated, losing one-tenth of all men available for public service.” Life in the colonies may have taken a different turn if the British had provided the expected support.
A Twist – Interesting Neighbors In Haverhill, Massachusetts
Joseph Bond, Thomas Dustin (or Duston), and their families all lived in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Both Joseph and Thomas were soldiers under Lieutenant Benjamin Swett in 1676. Joseph later was on Thomas Dustin’s garrison in 1680 as the conflicts against the Indians continued. (King Philip’s War was in 1675-1676 and King William’s War was in 1689-1697.)
Thomas had married Hannah Emerson and according to Find a Grave, they had 10 children. {Hannah had an interesting family background. Her youngest sister, Elizabeth, was hanged for infanticide and both her cousin, Martha Toothaker Emerson and her uncle, Dr. Roger Toothaker were tried at the Salem witch trials after they were accused of practicing witchcraft. Martha was eventually released due to lack of evidence and Roger died in prison.}
In 1697, Hannah Emerson Dustin, had a quite tragic and horrific experience and took matters into her own hands. This gruesome and violent event began when Hannah, her week old baby, the nurse, Mary Neff, and some other neighbors were captured by the Abenaki, a local Native American tribe. (Hannah’s husband, Thomas and the rest of their children fled to the garrison house that Thomas was building.) About two weeks into their capture… “One night when the Indian family was sleeping, Duston, Neff, and Leonardson—who were not guarded or locked up—armed themselves with tomahawks and killed and scalped 10 of the Indians, including six children. They wounded an older woman, who escaped. A small boy managed to run away. Duston and her fellow captives then left in a canoe, taking themselves and the scalps down the Merrimack River to Massachusetts, where they presented them to the General Assembly of Massachusetts and received a reward of 50 pounds.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history
“Hannah became a minor celebrity, her story was recorded by Cotton Mather in his Magnalia Christi Americana. The governor of Maryland sent her a pewter tankard to congratulate her on her escape. Her story has been retold in History of Haverhill, in Notable American Women, in Thoreau’s A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, and most recently in Laurel Ulrich’s Goodwives.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4667/hannah-duston
Hannah is likely the first American woman to have a statue built to memorialize her.
Life was often difficult for these early colonists, but they persevered. Throughout the year, I will follow the path from Joseph and Sarah to Susanna Osborn (Joseph and Sarah were the great-great-great grandparents of Susanna) and see how her journey led her from Pennsylvania to Virginia to West Virginia to Plum Grove, Kansas which today is a ghost town.
Music – Week 13 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Music Intertwined With Life
There is a distinct relationship that ties music to emotions and memory. It touches our soul and adds to the quality of our life.
Family Musical Fun
My grandfather, Don, enjoying square dancing. 
Don’s great, great granddaughter, Josie, enjoying her dancing. 
Leia playing drums. 
Leia’s grandfather, Ralph 
Gary and Jacque (Gary has quite a collection of Hard Rock pins from around the world and met one of the artists when we were in Hawaii.) 
Becky 
Kylie with her guitar. 
Kylie’s brother, Alex 
Kylie’s son, Aiden 
Kylie’s mom, Linda 
Sage and Josie singing at a concert. 
Leia 
Jacque 
Gary and Jacque joining in the fun before the Elton John concert.
My husband, Gary Coble, is a musician and music educator. It is a huge part of who he is.
It was only natural that Gary would make music his life’s work. Gary’s mother, Georgene, says that when Gary and his brothers and sister were little they often would sing their conversations. Gary began playing drums when he was ten. All through school, he played in every band available. He was a music major in college and went on to have a distinguished 35 year career as an instrumental music teacher and director. (He also taught choir for a couple of years when he lived in Wyoming.)
In college he began playing in a band on weekends. When he taught in South Dakota and Wyoming, he continued playing on weekends. His band, Prairie Fire, developed quite an impressive reputation and his band mates became lifelong friends.
While living in Palm Springs, Gary was the principal percussionist with the Desert Symphony for 15 years. He had the wonderful opportunity to play with other talented professional musicians and has played with several guest artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Trini Lopez, and Glen Campbell.
When we retired, one reason we chose to move to North Las Vegas was because we wanted to take advantage of all the entertainment opportunities available. Between December 2017 and the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020 we saw 31 shows. We’ve availed ourselves of the eclectic offerings and have seen Barry Manilow, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, KISS, Lion King, Toby Keith, ZZ Top and everything in between. We are definitely looking forward to seeing many more artists, musical groups, and theatre productions.
One can learn much about a society and its culture by listening to the music of that time period. Culture is “learned and shared behavior.” Music reflects this shared life experience and historically provides insight into the time period and the values of people as they express themselves. The emotional impact is undeniable. Music often becomes part of a person’s identify.
When I was getting my MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Science), one of my requirements was to collaborate with a colleague and create a research project for students. Gary was my obvious choice for a creative collaboration.
One of Gary’s philosophical truths was “Fine Arts are the true chronicles of a society.” This became the basis for our collaborative project which became the DSMS Cultural Museum of the Arts. (This project was so successful that not only did we have students present at a state technology conference in Sacramento, but Gary and I were selected to present this project at CSLA (California School Library Association conference).
Working in groups, students selected a period from history and a fine art. Their research and subsequent projects demonstrated how the music (or other fine art) both reflected and impacted society. The students then created slide presentations with music to share their discoveries and conclusions. It was truly amazing to see the in-depth knowledge these students were able to impart as well as the sophistication of their projects.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
Take time today to enjoy your music in whatever form it takes. Let the music feed your soul.