To celebrate America 250 (our 250th anniversary of independence),  Washington State Genealogical Society  will be posting articles on Revolutionary War ancestors of our members.  If you have a Revolutionary War ancestor, please send the Word document to Charles Hansen, our blog master.  Our secretary, Jill Scott, has already sent in a very interesting article on her distant grandfather who was a Green Mountain Man, a very famous militia. Please share your story with SKCGS as well.  Here is one of my ancestors--Charles Dyer Captain of Rhode Island militia. Gravestone of Charles Dyer, Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont Charles was a descendant of several generations of public and military service in the Rhode Island Colony.  He served throughout the war and then settled in Vermont with other family shortly after the war.  He lived a long life, dying at age 92.  He had never applied for a pension, stating that he was well off and other people nee...

Women's Month Vectors by Vecteezy Note: this post is excerpted from one published some years ago by MaryLynn. Enjoy, and send us your own stories this Women's History Month. Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History  is the title of a book by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, written in 1976. Since that time the slogan has become bumper stickers, pins, placards, t-shirts, and many other memorabilia. It has become the cry of feminists and is a truism throughout history. When a woman, or group of women, affected society, it was usually by stepping outside the norm. I would like to share some quotes from the book and how they have fit in with some of our own ancestors or women in history whom we admire.  Follow this link to quotes and see if you are inspired about someone in your history. Quotes: “Some history-making is intentional; much of it is accidental. People make history when they scale a mountain, ignite a bomb, or refuse to move to the back of the bus. But they also make history by k...

  My mother, a late bloomer? I've never thought of her that way until last week, when I heard Melissa Barker's presentation about finding records for our female ancestors. Suddenly I could hear Mom's voice saying that her last job was most important of her life, even more than raising my sister and me. While thanking Melissa for her lecture I tried to say what Mom told me, and choked up with emotion. I was overwhelmed with grief, but also with joy that Mom found a way to heal her own heart while working in a prison! My mother was on her own from about age thirteen when she worked and boarded with a couple with young children before and after school. She wanted to pass the high-stakes test in Canada at the end of grade nine, so she could go to high school. During her time with that family, lots happened, including a burst appendix and time in hospital recovering from the infection and surgery. This all happened miles away from her mother and siblings in Calgary, Alberta, Can...

The Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States, is being celebrated this year and everywhere you turn, you are being invited to participate. When I think of 1776 and the birth of this nation, I think of my Revolutionary era ancestors and how they were involved in the struggles and successes in their lives.  I suppose I am fortunate to have such ancestors to remind me of the "Spirit of '76" in establishing our country. I have to remind myself that 1776 was only the beginning, the birth. It is the 250 years of growth, exploration, immigration, poverty, riches, turmoil and triumph, that we celebrate today. These are the stories, the moments in our personal and collective histories that we can share with others.   Some of our stories are proud moments; some are humorous; some are of sad times or regrettable situations. But they all must be shared; look around you and find a place where you can contribute your story. National Celebration Americ...

 Could YOU resist?   The Hamilton Farmer's Advocate, Hamilton, Missouri, Thursday 21 November 1912, page 1, column , "CALDWELL CIRCUIT COURT: November Term Adjourned Friday Afternoon--Proceedings Since Last Issue," Jennie vs David McBee divorce judgement; Newspapers.com : accessed 13 February 2026.  Wh ile cleaning up some McBee profiles in my Ancestry.com tree (with the aid of ProTools), a Newspapers.com link to this news article popped up as a hint for a different David McBee. I was unable to resist researching this couple, although I was almost sure that they were not "my" McBees.  But I went to bed that night baffled, having had little success in finding either of them. In fact, I intended to drop it, if nothing more turned up. However, I woke up wondering how Jennie and the children survived. $2000 isn't nothing, but even in 1912 it could not have sustained them for long.  Ancestry came through for me Valentines Day morning with a hint to the 1900 Cen...

Step Up and Make a Difference: SKCGS Needs YOU as Our Next Secretary! Hello fellow SKCGS members! As my term as Secretary of SKCGS comes to a close, it seems like a good time to reflect a bit. It was yesterday I was just getting familiar with SKCGS and the many excellent benefits they offered members. From the presentations during COVID, to the monthly Genealogy Chats, I came to appreciate how special the SKCGS community was. And when asked to become the Secretary, I was glad to be able to give back and help.   So, I'm writing to encourage one of you to step into this rewarding role. If you've ever thought about getting more involved with SKCGS or wondered what happens behind the scenes, this might be the perfect opportunity for you! Why Consider Being Secretary? It's Perfect for Your Schedule We all have busy lives; attending an in-person meeting may not be something you want to do. SKCGS board meetings are once a month in the evening via Zoom and last about an ho...