Remembering Kenny on his 37th Birthday

Today is my son's birthday. He would have been 37 years old.

It's one of those days where remembering him is both joyful and sad.

I have been thinking about the day he was born. How my contractions started in the early hours of October 10, 1980. 

I remember that we had to go by the place where your Dad worked to cash a check because we didn't have enough gas in our car to get to the hospital. 

I remember hitting every red light on the way there. 

I remember Sr. Mary Kay, our midwife and a Catholic nun, putting you in my arms and telling us we had son.

I remember counting your fingers and toes.

I remember the little boy who was always quick to smile and laugh.

I remember the moody teenager.

I remember the good and the bad times.

I know that you were working hard to put the bad behind you and looking to the future.

Happy Birthday, Kenny! I love and miss you every day.

Kenny's birthday celebration, c. 1987. Personal photograph of Dawn M. Kogutkiewicz

Double the Joy with Twin Boys!

 

Congratulations to my cousin Jackie and her husband Luke on the birth of their twin sons, Milo and Mika! Congratulations to my cousin Mike and his wife Kristy, Milo and Mika are their first grandchildren. Also, congratulations to my Aunt Barbara and Uncle Kenny because Milo and Mika are their 16th and 17th great grandchildren!

Dear Milo and Mika,

Welcome to the world precious little boys!

I hope you have eyes that are filled with wonder.

I hope you are as mischievous as all little boys can be. 

I hope your laughs are big belly laughs.

I hope your hearts are full of grace.

I hope you will always be each other's best friend.

I hope you will be reach for the stars and the moon and everything this world has to offer.

Most of all I hope you know just how much you are loved little ones!

Love,

Dawn

Remembering Camden

My dear sweet Camden,

You were gone before I could say hello and I love you forever, yet alone say goodbye.

Your tiny, precious little foot prints were carefully put on paper but are now imprinted on my heart.

All summer I kept seeing butterflies and dragonflies more than I have seen in a very long time. It was you who came to mind each time. You have your wings my sweet little one.

As you celebrate your first heavenly birthday I want you to know that you are always in my heart.

I take comfort in knowing that you my sweet grandson are with your Uncle Kenny.

Dede loves you!

 

Welcome to the World, Kennedy!

I am thrilled to add another leaf our Kitts line! Congratulations, to my great niece, Brittney and her husband Michael on the birth of your daughter, Kennedy who arrived in July! I am so very happy for you! 

Dear Kennedy,

Welcome to the world precious little girl! 

I hope you have eyes that are bright like starlight.

I hope you are sugar and spice but mischievous too!

I hope your laugh sounds like the tinkling of bells.

I hope your heart is full of grace.

I hope that you reach for dragonflies, lady bugs, butterflies and the wonders of the world.

Most of all, little girl I hope that you know how much you are loved!

Love,

Aunt Dawn

Hello, it's me...

Hello Everyone,

It's been five months since I have posted here at Dawning Genealogy but it has been a busy five months filled with family, learning, researching, and a few other things.

To start with I spent the month of April preparing for the National Genealogical Society's (NGS) 2017 Conference that was held in May in my home state of North Carolina. This was my first national genealogy conference and I loved it! I learned so much from this experience and came home with my head spinning from information overload! I enjoyed meeting my fellow genealogist/bloggers, Annette Burke Lyttle, Cheri Hudson Passey, J. Paul Hawthorne, Tierra Cotton-Kellow and Lisa Talbott Lisson. I was thrilled to hear lectures by Elizabeth Shown Mills, Judy G. Russell, Blaine T. Bettinger, Thomas W. Jones, Craig R. Scott, John P. Coletta, Angela Parker McGhie, and Gail Jackson Miller.

I opted to stay with David, Cassie and my Doodlebug in Burlington rather than a hotel.This was the best option for me! When I got home every evening Doodlebug would ask me, "Dede, how was your conference?, Did you meet new friends?, What did you learn, Dede?". I would answer his questions and then it would be time for him to get ready for bed. How do you explain to a three year old that this experience was like being given the keys to Disney World? After Saturday's classes I headed to Greensboro to spend Mother's Day with my Mom and spend a couple days visiting and getting DNA samples!

I spent most of May organizing all of the material (handouts and notes) I collected from the NGS conference. Before I knew it, it was June then July and now August is half over. I was in Greensboro nearly every weekend in June and July. I came home from NGS with lots of books, surprise, surprise! During the week I was reading books by Thomas W. Jones and Blaine T. Bettinger. I was also anxiously awaiting for DNA results for my Dad, my hubby, Tommy and my nephew too. Once their results came in I started looking over their results for any close matches especially because there were not many. I still have lots to do and learn about DNA but I am slowly getting there. I am wondering if I will ever get the hang of those nifty tools at Gedmatch! Oh and I am on the waiting list for the Gen Proof Study Group which discusses Thomas W. Jones, first book, Mastering Genealogical Proof.

We went with David, Cassie and Doodlebug to Jurassic Quest XL at the Greensboro Coliseum. Doodlebug is into dinosaurs in a big way and he had a ball at this event. He has already asked if we can go again next year!  I spent a girls weekend with my best friend Banna, then spent time with my Uncle Kenny and Aunt Barbara who came to visit from Kentucky. I also got to spend time with my niece Grace (who wants to learn about genealogy, yay!) and my nephews Bryan, TJ, Jebb, Walker and JJ. Grace, JJ, Walker! At the end of July we celebrated my Mom's 80th birthday with family and friends and a very special group of kids who are near and dear to Mom's heart, her after school kids.

Tommy, David and Doodlebug at Jurassic Quest XL with the Spinosaurus in the background.

At the movies with Walker, JJ and Jebb seeing the latest Transformer movie. Doodlebug was jealous when he saw the picture. He told me I could only go to the movies with him! 

 More movie fun with Grace, Walker and JJ. We went to see Wonder Woman. We really like the new improvements to the Regal Palladium in High Point!

My Mom and JJ share a birthday. JJ and I share a special bond, I was my Mom's birthday present when she turned 25 and JJ was her birthday present when she turned 68.

Mom with a few of her after school kids. Mom kept after school kids from the mid-1970's to the late 1990's. Her first after school kid, Jenny is now a doctor practicing family medicine and her last after school kid, Mary is heading to medical school.

We have one more trip planned with my family to Myrtle Beach where my parents will be staying for about two weeks. As many of us kids who can will be arriving with our families the weekend after Labor Day. Then on September 18th I will be having foot surgery, again! I have many topics for blog posts running through my mind and I am hoping to get them down on paper (so to speak) before my surgery.


I hope all of you have had a great summer so far! 

Take care,

Dawn

Slave Name Roll Project # 5 ~ From the Will of James Gregorie

Earlier this week I had a request through Ancestry to share my tree with someone looking at the Rivers family. The Rivers family is a direct line for my children through their paternal great grandmother Annaleize Edmondston (Rivers) Plowden. I make it a habit to review any lines I haven't worked in a while before sharing my tree to make sure I have no new hints to follow and my "i's and t's" are crossed. In doing my review, I discovered a will for James Gregorie. James Gregorie was born about 1740 in Edinburgh, Scotland. James wrote his will on 31 December 1806 in Charleston, South Carolina where he lived and it was proved on 4 December 1807. James Gregorie died at sea onboard the Huntress Breeze enroute to New York for his health. 

                                          Mortuary Notice for James Gregorie, published 17 July 1807. Image from GenealogyBank.com

Here is a brief genealogical sketch of the connection between the Rivers family and the Gregorie family. My children's 2nd cousin, 4x removed is Emilie Rivers Venning (1848-1921) who married Edmund Gregorie (1848-1924). Edmund is the great grandson of James Gregorie (1740-1807). James suffered a tragic loss in 1784 when he lost his wife Ann and three of their five children at sea. On 22 February 1789, James remarried in South Carolina to Mary Christina Hopton. James and Mary had no children together. The only heirs in his will beside his wife Mary, are his two sons, Alexander Fraser Gregorie and James Gregorie II (some records list him as Jr.) from his first marriage. James II, is the father of Edmund Gregorie. 

Today I am posting the pages of James Gregorie's will that details the names of slaves that he willed to his wife, Mary Christiana and his sons, Alexander Fraser Gregorie and James Gregorie, II. I will also be posting the page from Mary Christiana's will that pertains to the slaves she inherited from her husband.

Will of James Gregorie, page 2, the names of 31 slaves he willed to his wife, Mary Christiana (Hopton) Gregorie. Image from FamilySearch.org

Also the following thirty one Slaves, to wit. Old Robin, Davey, Kitt, Lewis, Adam, Jacob, Old Nelly,  Miley, Old Sarah, Katey, Jefsey, Grace, Judy, Nanny, Katey, Nancy, Cato, Fanny, William, Little Nanny, Dick, Lucy, William, Amos, Jamey, Mingo, Dick, Motley, George and Richard together with the future issue of the females of them from the date of this my will.

Will of James Gregorie, page 3, the names of 25 slaves he willed to his son, Alexander Fraser Gregorie.Image from FamilySearch.org

Item I give and bequeath to my son Alexander Fraser, his Executors Administrators and Assigns, the following twenty five Slaves, to Wit. Abram, Mulatto Billy, Empy, George, Johnny, Harry, Abram, Billey, Bob, Phil. Jamey, Thomas, Nelly, Franky, Penney, Alice, Jenney, Nancy, Suckey, Charles, Mary, Little Nelly, Little Franky, Little Jonney and Polly together with all the Children of the females of them, who have been born since who have been born since their Parents have been in the possession of my said Son, as well as those which shall be born after the date of this My Will.

Will of James Gregorie, page 5, the names of eight slaves that he will to his s on James Gregorie II.Image from FamilySearch.org

Item I give and bequeath unto my Son James, his Executors Administrators and Assigns the following eight slaves Viz. Nelly and her son Ben, Richard, Faddy, Shadwell, Dinah, Matilda and her child Bella, together with the future issue of the females of them from the date of this my will.

In all there were 64 slaves listed in the will of James Gregorie. I have not yet found any type of estate inventories that may have additional names of his slaves but will continue to keep looking. I have also not been able to locate the wills or any type of estate inventories for Alexander who died in 1848 and James who died in 1852 at this time.

I also found the will of Mary Christiana (Hopton) Gregorie at FamilySearch.org on page 4 of her will, I discovered what happened to a few of the slaves that she was willed by her husband, James. For several of them who appear to be families she requested their freedom while others went back to heirs of her husband James.

Will of Mary Christiana Gregorie, page 4, Image from Ancestry.com

Whereas my husband, Mr Js Gregorie did by his will leave me the Life possession of Certain Negroes belonging to his Estate, the Same to revert to his heirs after my decease but giving me the power and permission to leave said Negroes to Such heirs of his as I might think right and proper and also with the Consent of his Executors any of the Said Slaves might be Sold ye Amount to descend as the Negroes to his heirs. I therefore with their Consent having had ye following named Negroes lawfully appraised have purchased them 6 p ^r C ^t  United States Stock Viz^t . Dick or Richard, a Carpenter, Caty, Fanny and her Son William to these four and any future children Fanny may have, I hereby Leave and bequeath their full freedom, requesting my heirs and Exors: to confirm it to them as fully as ye Law Will allow 6 p^r  C^t  ye Six p.^r  C.^t  Stock for which these Slaves were Sold I leave and bequeath to J. Ladson Gregorie ye Son of James Gregorie Sen and also ye price of Cato, who also sold for 6 p^r C^t United States Stock ye others. ye remainder of ye negroes I will and bequeath altogether to Alex Fraz. Gregorie and to his heirs, requesting he permit Mingo a cooper to remain in Town with his Family to work his Trade and pay him Wages, Nelly the wife of Mingo with her Son an' daughter, Jack and Phoebe being my property purchased and paid for with my own Money Some years ago I bequeath as follows Viz. to Nelly I leave and Will her to have her freedom requesting it may be Lawfully Confirmed to her her children Jack a  cooper and Phoebe a washer whom I esteem to be good orderly people I Leave and bequeath to my niece S Dehon her heirs and assigns forever, Bob whom I purchased since ye death of Mr Gregorie I Leave and bequeath to Mrs Alicia Middleton her heirs and assigns forever I also leave her in like manner Cretia and her only child  June requesting that they not be Separated and I earnestly request if any of my people s be sold they may Chuse their purchasers.

Today, I release the names of the slaves belonging to James Gregorie and who he willed to his wife and sons. I hope that they are now at peace and that their families will find them soon. They are Old Robin, Davey, Kitt, Lewis, Adam, Jacob, Old Nelly, Miley, Old Sarah, Katey, Jefsey, Grace, Judy, Nanny, Katey, Nancy, Cato, Fanny, William, Little Nanny, Dick, Lucy, William, Amos, Jamey, Mingo, Dick, Motley, George, Richard, Abram, Mulatto Billy, Empy, George, Johnny, Harry, Abram, Billey, Bob, Phil, Jamey, Thomas, Nelly, Franky, Penney, Alice, Jenney, Nancy, Suckey, Charles, Mary, Little Nelly, Little Franky, Little Jonney, Polly, James, Nelly and her son Ben, Richard, Faddy, Shadwell, Dinah, Matilda and her child Bella, Jack and Phoebe.
 
Sources:

 "James Gregorie," mortuary notice, People's Friend (New York, New York), 17 July 1807, vol. I, issue 271, page 3; online index and digital image, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 9 March 2017), Newpaper Archives, 1690-2010; this image and index is through online subscription only.

"South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 9 March 2017), Charleston County, Wills, 1807-1818, Vol. 031, image numbers 38-47 of 497 images; entry for James Gregorie.

"South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 9 March 2017), Charleston County, Wills, 1818-1826, Vol. 035, image numbers 427-432 of 437 images; entry for Mary Christiana Gregorie.


Editor's Notes: 

The will of James Gregorie was recorded in Will Book E - 1807-1818 and recorded on page 11. This is a typescript of the original will and this is my translation of this copy with spelling and punctuation as it was found at FamilySearch.org.

The will of Mary Christiana Gregorie was recorded in Will Book F - 1818-1826 and was recorded on page 483. This is a typescript of the original will and this is my translation of this copy with spelling and punctuation as it was found at FamilySearch.org.

A Mother's Grief ~ Remembering Kenny

Thirty-six years, three months and 30 days ago, I gave birth to my son Kenny. It was one of the most joyous days of my life. 

Kenny and I, October 1980 (personal collection)

Then the unthinkable happened.

Seventeen years, three months and 30 days ago, Kenny died on Wednesday, February 9th, 2000. He was 19 years, 3 months and 30 days old.

It was unexpected. 

There were no final good-bye's or I love you's.

His death shook my world to its very foundations and shattered the windows of my life.

I wasn't sure if I would ever recover from his loss. 

I have screamed, I have cried.

I have asked why him? Why our son? Why must our family endure this tragic loss?

I have grudgingly...

• Accepted that I will never have the answers
• Accepted to cope with my grief
• Accepted that whether I like it or not, LIFE does go on

I miss...

• His smile that was framed with gorgeous dimples
• His laugh
• His voice
• His hugs
• His eyes, so very dark brown like chocolate
• His humor
• The way he always told me he loved me, "Love you, Momma" and with his hand gave me the universal sign for "I love you" in sign language
• The way he teased me for crying when Mr. Spock died in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan  

I have learned...

• That my grief ebbs and flows
• That there are good days and bad days
• That he lives on in my heart until the day my heart stops beating
• That he lives on in my son, David
• That he lives on in my grandson, Easton  
• That he lives on in our memories 
• That he lives on in our hearts  

I love you baby boy, more than words can ever say and I miss you so much.

Yes, you our gone from this world but you are NEVER forgotten.

David and Kenny, September 1999 (personal collection)

This is one of the last pictures taken of my sons together. David is on the left and Kenny is on the right. I wrote about Kenny's death in a four part series in 2015 (and reposted them last year) here on my blog. You can find them at these links Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.