Ancestor Approved

Tonight I must share my humble thanks at being "Ancestor Approved"! Yay!

I was awarded this from Susan Edminster of Echo Hill Ancestors, a blog I have been following for some time and greatly enjoy! The award was created by Leslie Ann Ballou of Ancestors Live Here to recognize “blogs full of tips and tricks as well as funny and heartwarming stories…”

I know that Sue at Echo Hill fulfills this, and I am slowly attempting to myself, in this blog, not only showcase my own family history, but some stumbles and leaps I've encountered along the way.

To participate you must list 10 things that surprised, humbled or enlightened you about your ancestors.
And of course, to pass along to 10 other bloggers out there. I am working on this part and will have a "Part II" updated soon.

For tonight, my 10 surprises, humbling and enlightening experiences (phew, where to start?!):

1. The LOOPS family, as is my surname and for most of us, where our research begins, started as a "you and your brothers are the only Loops out there" statement. And how even in the beginning's of the internet (way before Rootsweb and the LDS websites) proved nearly instantly that this was not the case. Surprise! There is family out there!

2. That our LOOPS came from a family who died on the ship's crossing from Germany, leaving two young boys who DID NOT KNOW THEIR NAME, and were separated when arriving. It was assumed by all current generations that they never found each other.

3. My recent (gulp) discovery, when finding the First and Only known picture of my ggGrandfather Frederick Loops, has the "Loops, Milwaukee Wisconsin" logo on his picture. Meaning it was taken at his BROTHER's, Charles Loops, photography studio in Milwaukee. Not only did they find each other, but they met....and Frederick, his son Charles (Charles the first) and Charles' daughter Georgebelle all ventured from North Carolina to visit this "other" Loops family in Wisconsin.
How sad that this information gets lost in just a generation. And how wonderful to finally discover! (tears)

4. I am consistently humbled and fascinated by researching the LOVEALL family, and that, to date, I have yet to find a LOVEALL that is not descended from Henry Loveall, 1694-1786. We are all connected. This is an amazing family to research.

5. In a sappy, sentimental nod, I LOVE that my family has endowed me "Family Historian", not just in that I'm the only who really Does this research and knows all the lines, but that they have enlisted me to be the physical keeper of the family photographs and sentiments. Boxes just keep arriving. And each new box brings a new set of adventures and explorations - and a whole new set of tears.

6. My sons' family is a new and I foresee, lasting research project into OLD AMERICANA. It seems that each new name into Dean, Haskell, Hathway, White, Hammond, etc., leads me down another path to American generations of Salem and Plymouth. These make me want to read every historical novel and watch old movies to get a visual glimpse into the garb, the language, the religion, the life that these original American settlers had.

7. Humbling that there are still so many road-blocks. I still do not know the heritage of my YOUNG family, or the correct origins of the WEBBs. I love the challenge of still having something to "research", but that it makes you want to pull your hair out.

8. Not a surprise, but I am continually impressed with my Great-Uncle Art Young, and the name that he has provided to Bow-Hunting in America. If you are a bow-hunter, you know Pope-Young. That's Art! He led an amazing life. You can read more about his adventures here.

9. As I dive more into my North Carolina roots, even though I no longer live in North Carolina, I feel more and more connected to the families of Kinston, Lenoir County, where Frederick LOOPS settled; who's daughter Lelia married a MEWBORN; who's son Charles married a WEBB, who's mother was a PITTMAN. The history books of the area tell of these families, families of whom I am all a part of. And it makes me want to return, visit, learn, and give a few hugs.

10. Impending surprise of DNA research out there, and a lil lady who believes she might be a descendant of our Frederick LOOPS and we shall have the DNA results soon to show whether or not this possibility. That DNA research is even possible in calculating genealogical history is certainly the newest of all research out there. What will this possibly mean in the future, I wonder?

There you have it, for tonight. 10 wonderments that have crossed my path in this wonderful adventure. Thank you again, Sue, for the honor. I shall pass it along!

~happy huntings,
Joanna

Friday's Family Photos (Webb)

These are a few wonderful Webb Family photos. Enjoy!

Rev. James Barney WEBB, 6 Dec. 1823 - 2 Aug 1901


Emma Webb Noland, abt 1868 - 1954


George Bell Webb, 8 Jul 1855 - 21 Aug 1914


Agnes Pittman Webb, 17 Feb 1856 - 16 Oct 1883


Guy Webb, 24 Jul 1877 - 5 Oct 1939


Frank Webb, 5 Sept 1879 - 4 Oct 1912


Eva Bell Webb Loops, 28 April 1882 - 15 Sept 1966


And Who is this? Looks like George Bell Webb there in the center... and the boys in the top-hats? Anyone know?

Calling Webb Family Researchers

My ggGrandfather was George Bell Webb of Kinston, NC.
He was first married to Agnes Pittman, dau of Francis Marion Pittman and Louisa Mewborn, and had three children: Guy, James Francis "Frank" , and Eva Bell (my gGrandmother).

Agnes died in 1883 and he later married her sister Emma, and had two daughters: Agnes Webb Stacy and Carrie Lulu Bernard.

My gGrandmother Eva Bell Webb Loops saved so much; so much from the Webb family. And apparently her daughter Georgebelle Loops Smith also did a bit of research and was in communication with the Webb family.

I have pictures.
I have crazy tons of pictures.
I have pictures that I know no one in them, except that they are this WEBB family.

Agnes as a child; Carrie Lulu as a child, on and on and on. But these are the two evident from the writings on the photos.

I need help. I need someone to tell me who these are - and I can send you the photos too!

I'll get around to scanning and posting online. But if you are of this family, please contact me, because I need help. I've been given an amazing gift, and I know this needs to be shared with other researchers.

Contact me: thefamilyorchard@earthlink.net
And please stay posted here on the site, because I'll be posting photos as soon as I start scanning.

They're Just People

I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but I have to share my adventures tonight into the world of the Loops family. I had mentioned my Uncle Frank's passing a few months ago, the end of his generation of Loops, and the rememberall of our family. He was also the youngest son of Charles I and Eva Webb Loops, and lived near his sister Georgebell who'd passed 15yrs prior. Which means, he had all her "stuff".

Today arrived all of their combined "stuff".

As the Historian of the family, as my father described it, it just made sense to send everything to me. Everyone else would enjoy a few moments of nostalgia and awe (and confusion and great overwhelmed feelings), and then it'd go into the closet.

I feel overwhelmed with the 30lbs of "stuff" that arrived at my house tonight, but I also feel very honored. Eva Bell Webb Loops, my gGrandmother saved; her daughter Georgebelle saved that and continued on with her own genealogy research and more. It is evident in these boxes that I now hold 100+years of pictures, bibles, letters, research, history.... that is our Loops family, and also our Webb family.

I get to keep this! And I will. I will scan and digitize; save and save and save. I need more fire-proof boxes, but I will get them. I will put in special folders and files and help document the mix-matched findings that are stored in these two boxes. And I will help create something that can be passed on further. (oh, my dear son, I wonder if you'll even want it... you will have little choice, you know? it's you or your uncles).

I haven't digested fully yet what is included in these boxes. I will have much more to say as I dig deeper. Tonight was simply a 3hr look over everything, and then back in your box you go.

But it's overwhelming. So long to research a family and to now have faces to that family. Here you are, George B. Webb, in photo. Photo after photo, there you are. You were as alive as I am today, with emotions and love of your children and interest in your wife and political ambitions or whatever... you were alive. You are not simply a date in a book... you were a man.

Love letters from Charles E. Loops "the first", to Eva, 1901-1903, when they were both young and separated, yet in love and soon to be married. They were both beautiful - I know this now... I have pictures. And their handwriting is beautiful and learned. They were young people in love, and to read the letters between them is beautiful and heart-warming, and confirming that.... they were people. Just... people. Alive and in love, as much I have had romantic feelings in my life.

I think sometimes I get caught up in the names and dates. I try to remember the stories, the realities that are our ancestors, that they lived and breathed just the same. But to finally see pictures of their then fashion and hair-styles, read their style of writing, to really see what their day was focused on.... it becomes real. I don't know how I can do this with people hundred's of years back, aside from watching movies that place me in that time, but for now.... at least I have a visual face on my ggGrandparents. It's amazing.

SO MUCH more to share as I digest.

For now, I'm in awe.

Online Resources - Google Books (Webb)

Google books seems to be an amazing tool available on the internet. Having just found this vast resource, I feel a bit overwhelmed as to what to do with the information I'm finding. Is it time to start purchasing books?

Because of a comment left Here (yay! a comment!), I thought I'd test the waters on Google Books to see if anything popped up about James B. Webb. The site appears to have some books fully scanned in, many "book overviews" and quite a few book reviews. It is not a library - but WOW! Is it off to a great start!

For example, a quick search for James B. Webb (in quotations), 1795, provided that there is a James B. Webb listed in 3 different periodicals... the two at the bottom provide no data, no preview. They are simply "book overviews". Enticing... frustrating, but enticing.



Continuing with my hunt, I searched for "James Barney Webb" and came up with this excerpt from Virginia: rebirth of the old dominion, Vol. 4. Philip Alexander Bruce.



"one of three brothers that came to America from...."
What does this mean? Which brothers... in which generation?

Because I show James (1795), son of Colonel James Webb (1758), son of Samuel Webb (abt 1720), son of Samuel (1690) who was born in Massachusetts, son of Samuel Webb (1660) also born in Massachusetts. SO..... I'm curious if this lil excerpt is meaning WAY back in the Samuel lines? Or is some of my information incorrect? Because no where do I have three brothers who came to America from...

Ooh, it's just enough to tickle you, and get you riled up, and then have to search for more.

Again, Google Books seems like a potential invaluable resource. One not to get too excited about, one to tempt you into confusion and puzzle hunting - but isn't that what this is all about?!

Surname Listing - BELL

I'm counting down my ancestral lines... on to my 4th Great Grandparents.
Many of these lines I have little information on as they are moving into the 1700s. If the line originates already in the country of origin, I'm skipping over it. If they do not have a known last name, obviously, I am skipping it.
I am only listing those families that have American origins and the immigrant person still missing.

Today, #73... Sophia BELL.
She is connected through:

4. Charles Ernest Loops II (1906-1977)
5. Laura Melba Dekle (1908-1994)

8. Charles Ernest Loops I (1875-?)
9. Eva Bell Webb (1882-1966)

18. George Bell Webb (1855-1914)
19. Agnes Pittman (1856-1883)

36. James Barney Webb (1823-1901)
37. Margaret Ann Laughinghouse (1823-1880)

72. JAMES WEBB Jr. was born on 2 Mar 1795 in Westbrook,ME. He died on 24 Feb 1833 in Lost At Sea.
73. SOPHIA BELL was born on 7 Mar 1797 in Possibly Kinston,Lenoir Co.,NC. She died on 13 Sep 1840.

Children of James and Sophia: Emily Ann Webb (died bef 1850), James Barney Webb (1823-1901)

**********
If you have any information on the family of Sophia BELL, please leave me a comment!

~happy huntings

Surname Listing - PITTMAN

I"m counting down my ancestral lines, working on my 2nd great grandparents. The PITTMAN family is rich in North Carolina History. The descendants are still in Kinston, NC and much information is available on the descended families at the Lenoir Co. Genealogical Society.

7 generations of PITTMAN connected through:

4. Charles Ernest Loops II (1906-1977)
5. Laura Melba Dekle (1908-1994)

8. Charles Ernest Loops I (1875-?)
9. Eva Bell Webb (1882-1966).

18. GEORGE BELL WEBB was born on 8 Jul 1855 in Greene Co.,NC. He died on 21 Aug 1914 in Kinston,NC. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery,Kinston,NC..
19. AGNES PITTMAN was born on 17 Feb 1856 in Fountain Hill,Lenoir Co,NC.. She died on 16 Oct 1883 in Kinston,Lenoir Co.,NC. She was buried in Maplewood Cemetery,Kinston,NC.

Children of George and Agnes were: Guy Webb (1877-1939), James Francis "Frank" Webb (1879-1912), Eva Bell Webb (1882-1966)

38. FRANCIS MARION PITTMAN was born on 11 Sep 1829 in Lenoir Co.,NC.. He died on 1 Jan 1899 in Grifton,NC..
39. LOUISA MEWBORN was born on 17 Dec 1833 in North Carolina. She died in unknown.

Children of Francis & Louisa: Agnes Pittman (1856-1883), Alvah Francis Pittman (1857-1926), Emma Pittman (1860-1930), Nancy Louisa "Nannie" Pittman (1862-1954), Amon Ernest Pittman (1864-1951), Robert Elijah Pittman (1867-1936).

Francis married 2nd, Sarah Ann "Sally" Mewborn. Children: Mary Anna Pittman (1878-1968), Felix Marion Pittman (1880-?), Margaret Elizabeth Pittman (1881-1960), Susan Henrietta Pittman (1882-1962).

76. ELIJAH VAIL PITTMAN was born in 1784/1788 in Lenoir Co.,NC.. He died in 1855 in Lenoir Co.,NC..
77. NANCY BROOKS was born in 1788 in Lenoir Co.,NC. She died about 1842.

Children of Elijah and nancy: Mary Ann Pittman (1816-1881), Josephus Pittman (1819-?), Philetus Nelson Pittman (1826-?), Francis Marion Pittman (1829-1899).

152. JOSEPH PITTMAN was born in 1742. He died in 1809.
153. ELEANOR VEALE was born about 1750

Children of Joseph and Eleanor: Spencer Pittman (?), Elizabeth Pittman (?), Thomas Pittman (?), John Pittman (?), Elijah Vail Pittman (1784/1788 - 1855).

304. JOSEPH PITTMAN was born about 1700 in Craven Co.,NC. He died about 1752 in Craven Co..
305. ELIZABETH FERGUSON was born about 1704

Children of Joseph and Elizabeth: Obedience Pittman (?), John Pittman (?), Mark Pittman (?), Southy Pittman (?), Thomas Pittman (?), Infant Pittman (?), Joseph Pittman (1742-1809)

608. OBEDIENCE PITTMAN was born about 1670 in Accomac Co.,Virginia. He died in 1713 in Province Of NC,County Of Bath (Now Craven Co). Married UNKNOWN.

Child of Obedience: Joseph Pittman (abt 1700-abt 1752)

1216. JOSEPH PITTMAN died about 1683 in Accomac Co..
1217. ELIZABETH JOHNSON

Child of Joseph & Elizabeth: Obedience Pittman (abt 1670-1713)

******
This was a fun one for me to run-down, see the missing holes in siblings, and that I need to get back to work to see if there is new information available about Joseph Pittman.

He was born in Accomac Co., Virginia and died in Craven Co, NC. So he is the Pittman that landed in NC.

If you have more information on this family, please leave me a comment!

~happy huntings

Surname Listing - WEBB

Now getting in the routine of Surname Saturday, after my four grandparent lines established, I'm continuing on with Great-Grandparents.

Today... WEBB (unfortunately, another one of those lines where I'm STUCK)
CAN YOU HELP??

4 generations of WEBB are connected through:

4. Charles Ernest Loops II (1906-1977)
5. Laura Melba Dekle (1908-1994)

8. CHARLES ERNEST LOOPS was born on 12 Nov 1875 in Kinston,NC. He was christened on 16 Oct 1885 in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Lenoir Co., NC. He died in North Carolina.
9. EVA BELL WEBB was born on 28 Apr 1882 in Kinston,NC. She died on 15 Sep 1966 in Arlington,VA

Children of Charles & Eva were Frank Webb Loops, Georgebelle Loops (1904-1990), Charles Ernest Loops II, and Frederick Carlysle Loops (1908-1965).

18. GEORGE BELL WEBB was born on 8 Jul 1855 in Greene Co.,NC. He died on 21 Aug 1914 in Kinston,NC. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery,Kinston,NC..
19. AGNES PITTMAN was born on 17 Feb 1856 in Fountain Hill,Lenoir Co,NC.. She died on 16 Oct 1883 in Kinston,Lenoir Co.,NC. She was buried in Maplewood Cemetery,Kinston,NC

Children of George and Agnes included Guy Webb (1877-1939), James Francis Webb (1879-1912), and Eva Bell Webb.

George later married Agnes' sister, Emma Pittman. Children included Agnes Pittman Webb (1890-1976) and Carrie Lulu Webb (1893-1948).

36. JAMES BARNEY WEBB was born on 6 Dec 1823 in New Bern,Craven Co.,NC. He died on 2 Aug 1901 in Kinston,Lenoir Co.,NC. He was buried in 1901 in Maplewood Cemetery,Kinston,NC..
37. MARGARET ANN LAUGHINGHOUSE was born on 10 Sep 1823 in Perquimans Co.. She died on 14 Feb 1880 in Kinston, Lenoir Co., NC. The cause of death was pneumonia. She was buried on 15 Feb 1880.

Children of James and Margaret Ann were Carolina J. "Carie" Webb Midyette (?), Sophia A. Webb (1843-1865), Mary Margaret Webb (abt 1848-?), Benjamin T. Webb (abt 1850-?), Martha Jean Webb Meyer (abt 1852-1880), George Bell Webb, Nancy Maple "Nannie" Webb West (1857-1952), John William Webb (abt 1861-1923), and Emma Webb Noland (abt 1868-1954).

72. JAMES WEBB Jr.was born on 2 Mar 1795 in Westbrook,ME. He died on 24 Feb 1833 in Lost At Sea.
73. SOPHIA BELL was born on 7 Mar 1797 in Possibly Kinston,Lenoir Co.,NC. She died on 13 Sep 1840.

Children of James & Sophia Webb are Emily Ann Webb Gaskill (died in 1850) and James Barney Webb.
_______________________________
I've got a lot of research still to do on this family, cleaning up some of the supporting information. Bob West (a cousin and descendant of James Barney Webb, et al) has been researching this line for years and is also STUCK. Hmph.

If you are part of this family or have any information, please leave me a comment!

~happy huntings,