Researching Susie

Since my grandmother's friend, Susie, played a role in our quiltmaking, attending the tying sessions at the dining table, I decided to find out more about her. She was a figure in my childhood, too, often at Nanny's home when I visited. Susie also helped care for Nanny when she was ill and helped Auntie with housework and did sewing. Even though Susie probably was paid for housework, she was a friend.

It was many years before I realized that Susie had Negro blood she was so fair skinned. As we children got older, Mother mentioned this, perhaps realizing we'd hear something or notice that her hair was tightly curled or her skin was dark, not tanned, in winter time.

Checking the Census

Where is the first place one goes when trying to find more information about a person who lived years ago? Those involved in genealogy know the census is very helpful. Ancestry.com usually has many of these.

I did learn from the census that Susie was unmarried in 1920, the last census where I found her, but I know she must have lived until the 1940s because I remember her. I knew there were men in her life, but these were her brothers. Her mother was living with them in the 1910 census.

Then I traced her mother in earlier census and learned whom she married. I traced his genealogy and found his family. Since I don't know the mother's maiden name, it's difficult to know much about her family.

Although I'd been told Susie was Negro or black, on all the census except one, Susie and her family members were listed as mulatto. So that would account for Susie being so light skinned.

By tracing Susie's background, I'm trying to give her a place in history. (As far as I can tell, she has no descendants. Susie and her brothers were unmarried.)

Susie has a place in my Trails End memories, as a lovely, dignified lady who cared for my grandmother, attended our quilting sessions, and was a friend of the family.

Quilters' Tea Time Traditions

As I read my grandfather's journal, I discovered that he, Burton Barker Coon, discussed tea time and his mother's group of quilters. When the neighboring ladies gathered to work on their quilts, they might serve tea, he said.

His mother, Mary Barker Coon, was one of my ancestors, part of the group I call the Trails End Quilters. My daughter, granddaughter, and I continue their tradition of making and enjoying quilts.

To learn more about tea time traditions, some that evolved in my family and others I've discovered around the world, visit my blog, Tea Time News & Notes at http://tea-time-notes.blogspot.com .

More Quilting News & Information

If you'd like to read my other blogs/web sites with information about quilting and patchwork in addition to that involving the Trails End Quilters, check out:

Quilting and Patchwork at: www.quiltingandpatchwork.com

Quilter's Potpourri at: http://quilterspotpourri.blogspot.com

Here you'll find a variety of postings and stories about quilting past and present.

Mom, Write Down Your Memories

"Mom, you spend time researching our family history and telling me stories about Grandma and Great Grandma. But you need to write down your memories for me and your grandchildren," my daughter said.

So often we think other people's memories and stories are more interesting and important than our own. However, to our families, as Beth reminded me, ours are a part of our family heritage as well. (This also includes our quilting memories and journaling about what we're doing today. Involved in this would be research and writing about us as Trails End Quilters.)

I began relating some of my childhood memories, as well as those of later years, so they would become part of my daughter's and my grandchildren's background.

Perhaps in the future, they will be as excited to learn about my life as I am about my great grandmother's letters telling of homesteading in the Midwest. Your journals, your stories, and your memorabilia are part of the heritage that binds your family together.