Worldwide Genealogy ~ A Genealogical Collaboration

My 2014 Accomplishments! & My Goals for the New Year of 2015!

It's Good to be back with my Fellow Bloggers in 2015 for the Worldwide Genealogical Collaboration Project!

2014 was a Wonderful Blessed Year for My True Roots!

1. I took My True Roots on Facebook.
2. I bought my Domains. 
3. My Father took the DNA Test on 23andMe so I could get my Paternal Haplogroup. Which is E1b1a7a.
4. I was also chosen as one of many 2015 FGS Ambassador for the Federation of Genealogical Societies; 2015 FGS Conference with Rootstech combined. There is still time to Go!  I was so HapPy and BeYond Myself! I'm still pinching myself. I've have learnt so much and I'm around another great group of People who are passionate about the same things about our Stories as we all here at Worldwide!

I also went on a research trip in my Ancestral Places of Research in October. Alabama again but this time, I got to finally go to Georgia! I spent 5 days trapezing around the South and grave yard hopping. It was much needed. I had a pair of new eyes, saw and learnt new things. These trips are what I need in the Summer & Fall to get me through my hibernation of Winter Research and writing. I went to my Historical Society meeting in Bullock County, Alabama. I did all this from Kentucky! I went to Alabama Department of Archives & History. I got a lot of WORK done! besides me sneaking a picture of myself! I love this place!

Me at ADAH!

I had some important Family Members pass away this year. My Beloved Aunt Sallie Bea Robbins 1920-2014. She was instrumental in my Genealogy work. She was my Elder who I went to for reassurance, who I confided in. I did all my work, and Research through her eyes after her Brother my Dad passed away. She was my strength to lean on at all times. There is a void for me now. I know a Elder will come forward one day and be my Grace.

She was the one gave me permission to go on. She is the one who vouched for my Character and allowed other Elders in the family to have confidence in my work and it was all for the good, and for this family.

My Biggest Success and Happy MOMENT!

In July of 2014. There was a Open Casting for Genealogy Roadshow. I applied and my application was ACCEPTED! It's a show on PBS sort of like Antiques Roadshow but for Genealogy. It's also not Celebrity filled. It's for regular everyday Folks like me and you. My family got CHOSEN!

 They research your family. They research with the top Genealogists of the Country and answer a question or two for you about your Family. As much as I research on my family,I don't know everything! That is what they did for me. They found something I had no idea about and answered a longing question for me! I find it befitting that TODAY my piece is posting on the Day that the show starts.....very sweet.

So you'll have to stay tuned. Check your local listing for your PBS channel. Every Tuesday. Starting January 13th, 8pm est.  I was chosen for the St. Louis version at St. Louis Union Station.

I really didn't know what to expect when I got there for filming in August.

I was so nervous and excited at the same time. Filming and being around all those people at Historical Landmark. Kenyatta and my Producer, they made me feel right at ease. They were so courteous and helpful to us the whole time. Very gracious.

I'll be forever Grateful for this Moment for My True Roots! and my Family. It was truly a Honor and we feel Blessed. We have a piece of the puzzle solved so we can go even further.

I look forward to you all watching. I'm excited to read stories from my Contemporaries here at Worldwide. You all are some of the greatest writers and I truly enjoy this Collaboration and being in your company. Welcome to Martin! Ursula and Janet! Thanks Julie for putting up with me!

2015 Goals:

• Continue research on my family. There is plenty to do and look for. Plan another research trip for the Summer and Fall. Post my findings on my Blog and get more of what I do have online.
•  I plan to dig more into my DNA and get a better understanding. 
• Make a log for Oral History Interviews and go over all the ones I have from over the years. They are still touchy even after my Parents have passed for about 8 years. It doesn't seem like it but I need to get those online, even the original papers I scribbled on are important.
• Pay more attention to International Year for People of African Descent and Honor that. Click the link to find more information on our Recognition from the United Nations.  

“ The International Year must become a milestone in the on-going campaign to advance the rights of people of African descent. It deserves to be accompanied by activities that fire the imagination, enhance our understanding of the situation of people of African descent and are a catalyst for real and positive change in the daily lives of the millions of Afro-descendants around the world".......

•  Set a DATE to get a rough draft on a Family History Heritage Book for my Family. 

All I have to do is keep working hard, collaborate in faith, and Pray and Listen for my Ancestors. I look forward to what the Lord has in store for My True Roots.

See ya Soon!

Best Regards, True! 

Lillian Mary Johnson Sweigard

Hello All!    it's FEBRUARY! 

It's me; True! again.

I'm going to make this Short and Sweet. I will be travelling to my "Ancestral Home" of Alabama to bury my Mother's Sister. My African American side. So please bear with me. I will add to this later.

It's very challenging when you are grieving and have to keep your daily responsibilities up. I haven't been much in the mood to write as of late. After I get past a few things in the next couple days. My tears will turn to joy and I will get up to task of writing again. I'm just in a lull right now.

I wanted to introduce you all to my Maternal Grandmother!

                                              "LILLIAN MARY JOHNSON SWEIGARD" 

 Lillian Mary Johnson was born on Tuesday, October 30, 1905, in Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Her  Father was, Joshua William Sharpe Johnson, he was 26. Her Mother, Cora Agnes Rebecca Watson, was 22. 

She was 1 out of 6 children. Her brother William Levi 1904, "Grandma Lillian" 1905, Russell Luther 1907, Dorothy "Aunt Dot" 1910, Rosanna Jane 1914, Viola Catherine 1917. 

She had one child with a man with the last name of  Carpenter in 1925. Geraldine. 

 She then married Harry Clayton Sweigard in 1932. My "Grandpa Harry". They had one child together in 1948.  My "Mother" Sharon. 

Grandma Lillian passed away on November 27, 1971, in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 66.  I was 3 years old.

Lillian Mary Johnson Sweigard

In 1910, Lillie Johnson was 4 years old and lived in Newville, Pennsylvania with her father, mother, and 2 brothers. They are on LINE 22-26. Grandpa Sharpe was working on the railroad.

1910 Census of Lillian in Newville with Parents and Sibs

Newville is the kind of sleepy town full of Mom and Pop's and where people know people. Mostly a Generational family type of town. Like the Walton's if you please. Grandma Lillian's line goes all the way back to William Watson from what I have researched. Watson's have been there since the Revolutionary War. This is my Irish Line. Her Mother Cora's family has been there as well. 

That line goes back to "My Patriot" Johann Nicholaus Barrick born August 2, 1761 in Cumberland County and died July 20th, 1844 in Cumberland County, Pa. He is my 5th Great Grandfather. 

 I only have his Father's name of Henry Berg/Berk. No Mother's name. He married Anna Maria Lambert/Lambertie.

I've only been told stories about Grandma Lillian. I still have to interview my Mother more while she is still in good health and good memory.

My African American Grandparents would tell me because the 60's were so rocky even in Pennsylvania. They would have to sneak and let Grandma Lillian see me. Grandpa Harry was still leary. My Paternal GrandParents would tell me how they would call her and let her know they were gonna be at Sears that day and what time. Sears was by Grandma Lillian's house. She would go and act as she would normally as to shopping. Then she would slowly come up to my Dad who would be holding me then. Strike a conversation about how Pretty of a baby you have Sir. Daddy said she would hold my little hand and gaze and coo at me and I would just look between her and him. 

I wish I could see her in my big eyes. I wish I could smell Grandma Lillian. No one knew I would only have 3 little years with her off and on. 

Mom would tell me also how she would sneak to call late at night or during the day when she could and ask Mrs. Lewis is there anything TrueAnn needs? No, Ms. Sweigard she is doing fine. Don't worry and begin to tell her little things I might of been doing through the week. 

Mom said once she called about a white fur coat she saw at the big department store, she wanted me to have and Mom talked her out of it. Saying, I would get so many things on that. Your spoiling the child. They would laugh. I know Grandma Lillian wanted me to have the best. I still have the white lace dress with a pink bow after my Grandparents passed. They still kept the dress for me to have as Woman now. Every time I would go home I would ask my Parents. Mom where is the dress Grandma Lillian gave me? "She'd say in the back closet", Go! Look at it. I'm still saving it for you! and her and Daddy did.

White Lace Dress

She was tough lady with her Irish bit in her, but she was sentimental. These are the accounts about her that I wish to talk to my Mom about. 

My other gift is her China punch bowl set in it's original box from Anchor Landing. I'm about to put it in a hutch now that I have a Home of my own now. That was saved for me as well. I love it. 

Also I have my most cherish gift which is my baby Rocking Chair.......Grandma Lillian bought that for my Grandma Lewis to rock me in. I have kept that chair in my baby room and then when I moved from my nursery that was through my Parents room and graduated to my Tween room it went with me down the hall. Well...I have that rocking chair in my Grandbaby's room at my House now. Mom always told me you take care of that chair, it was my job every saturday to dust it down and make sure nothing got on it or to break it. 

My baby Rocking Chair

This Spring I plan to meet my DNA cousins who are Grandchildren of Grandma Lillian's siblings. I hope my Mom will show me new pictures and I hope there is one of me and Grandma Lillian together. My Aunt is suppose to give me her Bible.  I wonder what treasures I'll find in there?

I'm so grateful My Grandparents saved those things for me.

 Grandma Lillian is part of who I am. My Grandparents kept her memory and presence near me. It's those little things that they did that they knew would make a world of a difference to me later in life.... So it has.

They say you can never miss something you never had. Well... I do miss my Grandma Lillian. I love my Grandma Lillian. 

See ya Soon!

Best Regards, 

True!

 *1. Cumberland County was first settled by a majority of Scots-Irish immigrants who arrived in this area about 1730. English and German settlers constituted about ten percent of the early population. The settlers originally mostly devoted the area to farming and later developed other trades.

*1.  REFERENCE:  Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania; University of North Carolina Press, 1944, p. 60.

A TrueKeeper....

Hello All! My name is TRUE!

Yes!  that's really my NAME.

I usually don't talk about ME. Just for this Post I will tell you a little about MYSELF which is hard to do. This is the 1st Time I have gotten really Personal.  I have been blogging since November 7, 2012. I choose that date in Remembrance of my Daddy who taught me the True meaning of Family History.  I  Reserve my Blog for my Ancestors.

I was born a day before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr died. April 3rd. In Harrisburg, Pa.
 When I was born my Father's Parents adopted and raised me. My Grandmother Tinnie named ME.
On April 4, 1968 when Dr.King was assassinated my Grandmother said "When One Life was Taken, Another was Given".

She always boastfully said. I was "Blessed" from the womb.

My Mother who is German and my Father who is African American.

My Mom, Me and 2nd child with Parents (Grandparents) 1989

 They were young, it was the 60's. The World was a tumultuous time. My Father was away at Vietnam he served 2 Tours and spent 28 years in the United States Marine Corps, and still Living today. Both are! I'm a retired Army Veteran as well. Serving in the Army has afforded me to be stationed and live all over the World and United States in ways I might not of ever experienced doing something else as a career. I live in the COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY! good Ol' US of A.

My Grandparents decided after much thought who were married for 25 years and all their children were Grown and Living away from home decided to "Keep Me"!  I was their Oldest Child's Firstborn.

I laugh now because I say they bought and got me for about 160 Bucks!

Receipt of my Adoption

This and my Original Birth Certificate and Letter from Lawyers is my only Documentation of my Original Birth. This has never been seen before. I only found it after my Grandparents passed away.  My Adoption Records from the State of Pennsylvania are Sealed. That is why I'm glad my Grandparents let me KNOW my Parents so I didn't have to Question who I was and Search for my Heritage. It was the Best thing for my Family to make all those decisions before I was born.

I'm so Grateful and Proud. I was meant to be with my Paternal Grandparents. They were the catalyst for the Wonderful Life I have been able to Live. I had the Luxury of having all of ME and my Heritage. No part of me was Denied. My Grandparents let me see both sides of my WORLD through my Birth Parents.

I've always felt International for the longest. So it's befitting that I'm participating in this WorldWide Genealogy Blog for I am Truly Worldwide. Through DNA testing I have learned about my English, Irish, Norwegian and African Roots. Some parts still Unknown. I'm a U5b1c Maternally and E1b1a7a Paternally through 23andMe.

Since I was a little girl. I knew I was gonna be the "TrueKeeper" of my Family's History. I've appreciated this Gift for a long time. It started when I was 9 and I didn't know it was called Genealogy or what Genealogy was?  I just always penned and kept Notes to Myself. Eventually as I grew into adulthood. It has it's True Meaning now.

Daddy and Me,  age 9.  1977

From this picture, it explains it all. I found this after my Parents passed away also. I remember those times. When Daddy would break out the pictures and I would ask so many questions and remembered Family Stories from Heart back then.

I'm so Grateful for them not shooing me away and answering my questions. I always loved to hear  My Family Stories and where I came from. I have deep roots in Cumberland County, Newville, Pennsylvania, my Mother's European family have been there since the Revolutionary War from England, Ireland, all over Europe.  All the way to Bullock County, Midway, Alabama with my Slave Family. It was always a joy learning about all the Relatives I had and what their Lives were like.
 They could of kept the old ways where a "Child should be Seen, and Not Heard". I loved hiding in the wings and behind doors to Listen to the Old Folks. I'm glad I got to stay with my Grandparents. I was Overwhelmed with Way too much LOVE for ONE person.

I get a little teary-eyed at times. I find solace in that they appreciated and knew what I was doing and they were so Glad and Grateful to tell THEIR stories and that someone was Passing it On.

So that is what I do at my blog: My True Roots!  ! I do African American Research intermixed with my European Heritage. Please stop and have a look around. We just might be Kin!

I'm a member of 3 Genealogical Societies. I'm also a part of African American Genealogy Slave Ancestor Research or AAGSAR.  I also TWEET.  That Girl! @MyTrueRoots .   I look forward to writing more on my Ancestors and tell you the STORY that Inspired me the MOST and hearing all of Yall's stories. Thank you to Julie Goucher of "Angler's Rest" for the Invite!

I have A Ol'Slave named Ike Ivery!  He is who began me on my Quest for being the......... TrueKeeper! of my Family History.

Are you the "TrueKeeper" of your Family?


Thank You to my Grandparents for all their Love and Everlasting Support. Simply the best!

Me with my "Parents" who are my Grandparents, 1997

See Ya soon!
Best Regards, True!