I was interested before I knew he was my cousin

Pictured here is the Alan and Michelle Blood family. A couple of years ago I became friends with Alan on Facebook  because he was an employee of FamilySearch. Alan passed away last year of Breast Cancer. But in his last months, he took us along on his journey of treatment, life, and work experiences, to the point that those of us who followed him felt personally involved in his life and he became my virtual friend. 

I now follow his wife Michelle's Facebook posts as she movingly shares her journey now as a widow. Her words are touching, insightful, and I look forward to reading her posts weekly. 

Much to my surprise, my recent research revealed that Alan Blood is my 6th cousin, once removed. I've created this chart that illustrates that (I'm the "Mary Margheim" at bottom right). 

I had no idea of this connection all the months I followed Alan along on his journey of dealing with cancer. But now that I know we're related as cousins, I'm grateful that I was able to learn more of his life and family while I had that chance. It's a small thing, but meaningful to me. Thank you, Alan.   

Some Connections Just Blow Me Away

Last night I read that New Hampshire marriage records have been updated on FamilySearch so I reviewed some of my Phelps ancestors. My 3rd great grandparents are Arva Phelps (1797-1870) and his wife Betsy Bartlett (1811-1850). I knew that Arva’s sister Mary was married to Jackson Blood and, for some reason, I spent some time tracing the ancestry of Jackson—which I had in my database. I think I was simply drawn by his name. Jackson’s 3rd great grandparents were Richard Blood and Isabel Wilkinson, as you can see on the chart above. I often prepare descendant reports in my RootsMagic file just to see who all is connected to a family. I love looking at, and studying, NAMES. 

I noticed that Richard Blood had a great-granddaughter who married a Spaulding. When I saw that Spaulding name, I remembered that my (adopted) son Matt had Spauldings somewhere in his ancestry. I looked it up and found the connection, then prepared the chart above to illustrate it so I could show my husband. It shows Matt’s 5th great grandparents--Phoebe Spaulding and Martin Lamb. Phoebe’s father Josiah Spaulding is a 4th cousin of Jackson Blood, who was married to Mary Phelps, my great, great, great grandaunt!
Connections like these seem irrelevant to those who profess “We’re all related anyway”, but I don’t think along those same lines. I find relevance in these connections and it excites me to make discoveries like this. The enthusiasm that I feel is what keeps me doing the research. There’s a surprise around every corner!

Jackson and Mary Phelps Blood

They say money doesn't grow on trees, but we can find great treasures on trees--our Family Trees!

I recently got an email from a lady named Margaret who inquired about my relationship to Jackson Blood, whom she found on my family tree posted at Ancestry.com. The name wasn't familiar to me so before I answered her I had to look at my database to see who he was. I found that he was married to Mary "Polly" Phelps, whose brother Arva is my 3rd great grandfather. This makes Mary Phelps Blood my 3rd great grandaunt. So I'm not really related by
"blood" to Jackson Blood. (Just had to add that).

I replied to Margaret about my connection and she very graciously blessed me today with these photos of Jackson and Mary Phelps Blood, their gravestones and this photo of their house!!

Jackson Blood was born in 1795. In 1815 he came on foot to Yates and purchased a farm near the lake, where he remained until 1830. He then removed to a farm which he purchased on lot 2, just south from Lyndonville, where he remained till his death in 1875. His wife was Mary Phelps, a native of New Hampshire. Their daughter, Mrs. Ira Martin, resides on a part of the same place. C. Jackson Blood, a son and a prominent citizen of Yates, died in the town in 1888. Source: Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, by Isaac Smith; http://tinyurl.com/btz3da

JACKSON BLOOD (22 Jan 1793 - 2 Sep 1871) Newspaper: The Medina Tribune; Thurs., 7 Sep 1871Surnames: BLOOD, PHELPS

Another of the older citizens of Yates has gone. Mr. Jackson BLOOD died of cholera morbus, about two o'clock on Saturday last, after a brief illness of a little over two days. Mr. BLOOD was one of the Pioneers of this town, having moved and settled here in 1818. He was born in New Ipswich, N. H., on the 22d day of January, 1793, and was consequently in the 79 year of his age at his death.

Mr. BLOOD resided in Boston and Cambridge about the time of the war of 1812, and stood two different drafts for that war. He was married in 1814 to Miss Mary PHELPS, his now surviving widow. He made his first visit to what is now the town of Yates in 1817, having made the journey from N. H. and return on foot. The following year he moved his family, with an ox team, first to Batavia and thence to this town, the journey occupying twenty-one days. He made a public profession of religion and was baptised into the Yates Baptist Church on the 22d day of September, 1822, being the first person baptised into that church after its organization on the sixth day of June previous.

His funeral was attended to-day by a large concourse of friends and citizens from the Methodist house in this place. Rev. W. T. Potter, the Pastor of the Baptist Church officiating, assisted by Revs. Dr. Chamberlain and K.(?) E. Brownlee. The sermon was from the 17th Psalm, 15th verse. Yates, Sept. 4th W. T. P.
Posted by: Orleans County Genweb staff, 1 Nov 2006 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyorlean/obitb3.htm

Interment in Boxwood Cemetery - "B"
Town of Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York. Transcribed by: Richard and Shirley Nellist. Contributed by: Richard Nellist, Town of Ridgeway Historian. Formatted to htm by: Doug Murphy
Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyorlean/boxwoodb.htm

Jackson and Mary are both buried in Boxwood Cemetery, Ridgeway, Orleans, New York. Mary was born in 1794 and died September 17 1883.

I'm very grateful to Margaret for sharing these precious photos with me. I'm posting this information here on my blog because this was one of the reasons I started writing this blog. I realized it could be a good "repository" for me to keep track of emails, new contacts, and discoveries of new information about ancestors and other relatives. I can "tie things together" here until I have time to update my database and my family files. As I "publicize" my work and my findings, others may discover connections too! And we're all blessed.