March 2008

Jane G. Whomsley, (1937-2007)

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Jane Garratt Whomsley on December 13, 2007,after a year of upbeat determination to beat her cancer. Jane, a native of Philadelphia, had roots on the Eastern Shore and retired to the Chestertown area with her husband Don in 1990. We have not been able to document when she joined the Society, but she soon became actively involved in a number of projects, and was a dedicated member and officer of the Upper Shore Genealogical Society until the end.

Jane's expertise at the computer keyboard is illustrated by her service record to the Society: Editor of our newsletter "Cousin to Cousin", 1998-2007; Recording Secretary, 1998-2001; Corresponding Secretary, 2003-2007; Kent County Cemeteries Project, Committee Chair, 2000-2004; and Internet Correspondent, 2005-2007. She also served as President in 2001-2003.

Jane admitted to being "cooking challenged"; she much preferred the out of doors to household chores. During the summer, one could find Jane reading in her pool, planting and tending her extensive flower gardens, filling her hummingbird feeders, observing the waterfowl in the marsh below her balcony, and enticing flying squirrels to venture within a few feet of her windows.

When the vines and bushes started to take over at our Research Center, Jane would arrive with truck and garden gear to restore order. After the nicely kept cemeteries were recorded, Jane would be at the front line, in appropriate attire, doused in insect repellent with probe and machete in hand, whacking her way through briar bushes and swampy areas seeking a supposed former burial site to record. Those who ventured out with her nearly always returned with a story to tell : being chased by unfriendly dogs, getting stuck in a ditch, or rechecking a cemetery citation in the dark with a flashlight.

Jane's good humor, and quiet Quaker approach to life and others are remembered not only by those who knew her in the USGS, but by the many friends she made in the area: the Daughters of the War of 1812, Curves, Red Hatters and a local exercise class. We remember, and say, until we meet again, dear friend.

Her obituary: fhnfuneralhome.com/obitdetails.php?ID=5367

Judith Hymes, President

The Library Research Center is open on Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (except Federal holiday weekends or during inclement weather) When in doubt, call (410) 778-0983

The Library is located in the USGS Center, Rt. 313, Linhard Lane, Greensboro, Caroline County, MD   Directions are available on our website.

Website: http://www.chronography.com/usgs

Correspondence: Please send all correspondence to Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland, PO Box 275 Easton, MD 21601

Chesapeake Cousins: Send articles c/o Jean Kelly to USGS, PO Box 275, Easton, MD 21601

Address Changes: Please keep us informed on mailing and email changes.

Welcome New Members

A-09 McKenny W. Anderson
27792 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD 21654-1633
Surnames: ANDERSON

B-40 Susan Bowdle
2118 NW 115^th Street, Vancouver, WA 98685

Surnames: BOWDLE

C-02 Jerry E. Cox
310 E. 74^th St. 3B, New York, NY 10021
Surnames: SYLVESTER, ROE, EMORY

G-09 Ruth Anne Gibson
4019 Carter Creek Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825
Surnames: DUNCAN, SULLIVAN, FORREST, FOOKS

F-20 Bob Faulkner
83 Regency Boulevard, Pueblo, CO 81005
Surnames: FAULKNER, FALKNER, FALCONER

L-13 David Latham
Surnames: DENFIELD, KIRWAN

M-38 Edwin A. Mulford, Jr.
208 Edjil Drive Newark, DE 19713-2349
Surnames: MULFORD, THORNLEY, SOLLOWY, HOLLOBAUGH, GEORGE MILLER

N-20 Margaret Ann Newton
2635 Hoopes Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050
Surnames: BLOUGH, CECIL, FOSTER, MANSFIELD, SHAFFER, THOMAS

P-20 Doris Walls Paniere
2105 Peters Corner Rd., Marydel, MD 21649
Surnames: WALLS, HOLDEN, DODD, DOWNES, KEMP, TRIBBITT

S-01 Julia A. Slagle
Surnames: AYERS

W-37 Loretta C. Walls
102 Archer Lane, Millington, MD 21651
Surnames: WALLS, COLEMAN, HOLDEN, CRONSHAW, LEE, SMITH

Address Changes

Please make changes in your Membership/Surname List #18

B-37 Dorothy Bailey
322 Morris Ave., Federalsburg, MD 21632

M-43 Frances Moore
315 Heron Point, Chestertown, MD 21620

T-08 Mrs. Earl Tyson
Zip Code: 19380-4701

W-8 Mrs. Mary J. White
200 Terrapin Grove, Apt. 121, Stevensville, MD

New Library Acquisitions
• Joseph Dickerson: Hooper-Edmondson Family, Powell Family, Sharpe-Edmondson Family, House of Memories, Bartlett-Dixon
• Sue Thompson: Cosden Family Newsletters
• Karl and Barbara Elder
• Book collection of Jane G. Whomsley

Ancestral Family Tree
Remember our Ancestral Family Tree Displayed at the Research Center. A contribution will place a leaf on the tree showing your family surname. Send SASE for application blank. Donations are used to purchase genealogy materials for the USGS Library.

Ancestry Tree Donations:
• J-04 Karen Jolly – GOODING
• H-45 Ben Hollinger cash donation
• P-20 Doris Walls Paniere – WALLS
• W-37 Loretta C. Walls – LEE, HOLDEN
• Donation in Memory of: Shirley Wheatley Tipton

A special thank you to all the above contributors, and to any others who have recently made donations to our Library and Ancestry Tree. If we have missed anyone, your name will be listed in our next newsletter.

Volunteers Needed

We are experiencing a staff shortage for covering Saturday hours at the USGS Library and Research Center. Call and offer to volunteer (410) 673-7426. We will train.

Local Historic Houses
We would appreciate submissions on local historic houses. Do you have photos or articles you would like to donate? Send to c/o Irma Harper, USGS, PO Box 275 Easton, MD 21601

Online Genealogy Sources

More and more genealogical information is coming available online. Do you live far from a library or your ancestral locations? Don't want to go out in the cold & ice?

WorldVitalRecords.com is a free and fee based collection of American or International records, full text family histories, vital records, small town newspapers, etc. Take a look.

TIL WE MEET

Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Genealogist and Historian Irma Harper will talk about "The Hidden Greenway of Federalsburg, Caroline County" at USGS Library and Genealogy Center Rt. 313 at Linhard Lane, Greensboro, Caroline County, MD.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Luncheon
Joshua's Restaurant, 219 East Water St. Centreville MD 21617
Joshua's Family Restaurant & Lounge is located in Historic Downtown Centreville, 2 blocks east of Rt. 213 on Rt. 304

You and your guests are invited to join us for luncheon at Joshua's. If you wish, bring a small genealogical find or treasure for "Show & Tell" Please RSVP to Deborah Reilly via email or phone by May 15 with the number in your party. We will order off the menu. Please bring cash so each can pay his bill in the most efficient way. No credit cards please. Remember to add 6% tax and 20% gratuity. For reservations and further information please call Deborah Reilly, 410-778-0983.