I’ve always wondered how I got to be whoever in the heck I am. I know a lot has to do with the environment in which I grew up. I have written plenty about that. And a lot has to do with my parents who I watched from a first row seat how they lived their lives. They were amazing folks and I have written plenty about them and the older I get the more I appreciate them.
But I also know much of whoever I am comes from genetic makeup. That means that whoever I am cannot fully be blamed on my environment but some blame has to be placed on my genes.
To that end I have been going back in time and reading about my ancestors. The internet is truly the Information Superhighway. I have found old newspapers on the internet that give me a glimpse into people who have my DNA but I never had the privilege to meet. I’ve never really been very interested in all that before. Maybe it’s because I’m not as young as I used to be but I am doing a little research into the makeup of some of my ancestors.
Late one afternoon a couple of weeks ago I left Columbus GA and was driving the approximate 90 minute drive home to Warner Robins. When I was driving by the little town of Box Springs, I remembered that I have ancestors buried somewhere near there. I saw a little country cemetery and pulled off the road and walked through the cemetery looking for the name McCoy on a headstone to no avail.
My grandmother on my father’s side was a McCoy. I know very little about the McCoy’s except they lived in Talbot County and were buried near there. My older brother remembers visiting a little cemetery there with our grandparents but does not know where it is. That means none of us know where our great grandparents are buried.
After a two hour search on the internet on Saturday afternoon, I discovered that Grandpa McCoy was buried at Maund Family Cemetery near Juniper GA. He was 77 years old when he died at my grandparent’s house in Reynolds. I also discovered that his wife, who was a Maund, died when she was only 36 years old. Grandpa McCoy never got remarried. I also discovered that Sara Maund, my great grandmother, was one of eleven children. Their dad was called Colonel Maund and was apparently well off and owned a plantation. The family cemetery is located about ½ mile from where the house was located.
And through the power of the internet, I have at least an approximate location of where the Maund Plantation and the graveyard are located. It was less than a mile away when I stopped a couple of weeks ago at a random cemetery I saw on the side of the road.
For some strange reason, it has become very important to me to find that cemetery and the graves of my ancestors. My siblings and I will be headed that way one weekend soon with weed wackers and other necessary tools to find and then clean that cemetery that used to be kept up by our grandparents. Our guess it has been at least 50 years since a relative has visited those graves.
I used to wonder why people went through all the trouble of genealogy research and walking through old cemeteries.
There is much history in those kinds of places. And if I am determined enough, I may just discover some things about myself I never knew.
Look for a blog coming soon from Maund Family Cemetery in Juniper GA.
3 comments:
Bruce,
I too have become interested in my Reynolds Ancestors. I have found a lot over the last few years. Maybe we can get together and share some of what we have found.
Ed Guinn
I have a cousin who has spent years tracing our family and has gone back as far as 1613. He has compiled all of his research into a book and it is so very interesting. I found out that the Gaultney's are connecting to many other families in Taylor County. Good luck in your search.
Bet you didn't know that we are related. I am your sister 'cause Naia adopted me about 15 years ago. Yep, it's true. Just ask Kikky. And I am one proud member of ya's family!
Cheryl Thigpen
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