A Daughter's Work is Never Done

I can't blame you if you had assumed, after reading yesterday's post at A Family Tapestry, that I would now delve into finding the next generation of ancestors in those maternal lines still puzzling me. If you had drawn that conclusion, I would normally have heartily congratulated you on your astute observation.

But sometimes, Life happens.

Now, don't go assuming that this means an unfortunate downturn of events. On the contrary. Remember: not only is there bad stress, there is also good stress. This is one of those good times.

Yesterday, I finally—yes, unbelievably, finally!—completed the last step in sending in my application to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. All, incidentally, in time to be included in this 125th anniversary year of celebration! It's, um, only been about three years since I officially started the process. And, just as it was begun three years ago, yesterday it ended over another cup of coffee.

In what should have simply been a meeting to provide a festive closure to such a long process, after affixing my signature to the drawn-up application, I guess I couldn't bear the thought of having it all "over." The thrill of the hunt is too alluring for me. I had to have a new chase to look forward to.

With a smile still on her face—incredibly, after all those months of coaching me through the research process—my genealogy angel was quite gracious as I grasped for ideas on a next challenge. Currently serving as Registrar of our local D.A.R. chapter, professional genealogist and fellow genea-blogger Sheri Fenley has exhibited the patience of a saint in coaxing me toward closure on this one project. And now, I want to do this to her again?

From somewhere in the back of my mind came the realization that, not only could my daughter also be a D.A.R. member by virtue of my maternal line's Patriot—Zachariah Taliaferro—but she could doubly qualify for membership, thanks to her paternal grandmother's history, as well.

In fact, at the close of that same year in which I initiated my pursuit of D.A.R. membership, it was in writing about two people in my mother-in-law's line that I realized I was researching a possible Patriot. His name was Lyman Jackson, father of the New York born John J. Jackson that I suspected had come from such a heritage.

Indeed, the further I pursued that line, the more indicators I stumbled upon. For one thing, I did locate enough material to show me that John J. Jackson, himself, had served during the War of 1812—stationed, at one point, at a fort on the Mississippi River near Saint Louis.

Once I zeroed in on John J. Jackson's wife, however, I also realized that she, too, was descended from a Patriot—Sarah Howard Ijams was daughter of William Ijams.

While you may think I am going overboard in seeking to link three different Patriots to my daughter's D.A.R. membership, I have an additional reason for this next project: I have two sisters in law and two nieces who may, by virtue of a properly-assembled paper trail, also avail themselves (should they wish to do so) of membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. And pass down to yet another generation the awareness of our part in our nation's history.

That's one way to keep it all in the family.