Rootseekers

Press release

Rootseekers Genealogical Society members met at the Tri-County Library in Mabank recently for their yearly “Bragging Rights.” Bragging Rights is when some member has an ancestor they would like to brag about. A dollar will gain you two minutes to brag. Many members go over and have to pay more. Money goes to buy books for the genealogy room.

Carol Dwinnell led off with her husband’s family who joined the ” First Families of Oklahoma.” His ancestor was Martin Luther Gorman. She had two certificates that they accepted her information as proof that the Gormans were one of the first families in Oklahoma.

Grace Donovan came next with a photo album of tintypes. She had to repair some of the pages when she first received it because it was in such bad shape. Most she does not know who they are, just that they are family. Some are of the Ponder family. Continue reading “Rootseekers Hold ‘Bragging Rights’ Meeting”

Pictured are, from left, Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton, Julie Gustafson, Margaret Ann Trail. (Courtesy Photo)

The speaker at the June 17 meeting of the Rootseekers Genealogical Society was Carrie Anne Wilson Woolverton. The meeting took place at the Tri-County Library in Mabank. Carrie was dressed in period costume of the day. Her topic was Betsy Ross.

Betsy Ross was originally buried in the Free Quaker burial ground on North 5th Street in Philadelphia with her husband John Claypoole. Twenty years later, their remains were exhumed and transferred to Mt. Moriah Cemetery in the Cobbs Creek Park section of Philadelphia. In 1975 in preparation for the United States Bicentennial, the city ordered the remains moved to the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House. In 1976, the remains of Betsy Ross and John Claypoole were exhumed and transferred a third time to the garden of the Betsy Ross House where they can be visited today. Continue reading “Rootseekers Learn About Betsy Ross”