Dear Cousins and Researchers:
Joyous Christmas to you! I hope your "holly days" are merry and bright. (Ours
are unseasonably cold, but we like it!) My have been a little more frantic
than usual in our house, so give me plenty of time to answer your questions. I
haven't had much time to come on the internet at all lately, and I'm not sure
what the future will bring. Anne Chamlee (the other half of e-mail queries) is
equally busy.
1998 was an interesting research year but a busy one. Unfortunately, research
was somewhat neglected because of too many internet web site duties and
personal family projects. My personal goal is to spend quality time back in
libraries and less time on the internet next year. To achieve this goal I have
recently passed off Johnston & Wake County USGenWeb counties to the
genealogical societies in their respective areas which will free my time
considerably. Other cousins who have counties such as Bobbe Duvall
(Robert/Jarred/Freeman...) and Bob Chamblee (Robert/John/William Bryant) have
also transferred duties on their counties for the same reasons. Rocky
Strickland (Robert/James/Nancy/....) graciouslly took over the Strickland
Query Site I was running for the four counties in North Carolina. Tommy
Strickland (Robert/James/Nancy/....) volunteered to help me on the Nash County
USGenWeb site. And yes, it takes a Chamblee/Chamlee village to raise D'Ann.
As for the future of the Chamblee & Chamlee Family Network site, don't expect
too much more genealogy to be put on the site. It's tediously time consuming
and expensive to add so much info. As time permits I will put up interesting
tidbits if possible. The e-mail alone keeps Anne Chamlee (her husband:
Jacob/William/ and I more than busy.
The entire website needs a graphic makeover, but it's not going to happen
soon. The COUSIN page needed a makeover this year, but I hope to do it in
1999. Many, many cousins have contacted me of their family alliance, and some
of them actually research. All names will eventually be put on the COUSIN
page.
Thanks to a great kindhearted gesture by Dr. John Chamblee (whom I hope has
subscribed to this list) I was able to have a Chamblee genealogical book in my
home for several months this summer. Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, I was
able to color xerox the 160 pages+ of every page of this grand diary of
Chamblee family events as an alternate back-up copy.
This genealogy book was written about 1895 by Rochter Portland Chamblee
(1867-1900), the great grandson of old Robert/Chambleee 1742-1819, of Wake
County. The book included much genealogy, many tidbits only important to me, a
map of Chamblee lands, reference to where James, John and Jarred Chamblee had
their manor houses, etc. and many fascinating family narratives. Other notes
were added by Rochter's siblings after his death in 1900. Rochter wasn't
privy to actual primary source records, so perfection was not expected in this
book. I was more than ecstatic to have the opportunity to spend many hours
studying this book and can't wait to spend the coming year following up on a
few leads the book gave me. Many thanks to Dr. Chamblee for his extraordinary
gesture of family goodwill.
Thanks to the ubiquituous Bolton/Chamblee researcher, Carla Tate, the very
early European Strickland end of genealogy research is finally going in
England. The early Stricklands lived near the Chamblees in early Wake County,
and their family was important to ours. Often by tracing a family's maternal
lines or the lines of the neighbors you will find answers to your own direct
genealogy questions. Naturally, the Bolton research done by Carla and Betty
Starnes continues at a frenetic pace.
Anne Chamlee keeps me informed of genealogy that comes her way on the Chamlee
and GA/SC end of things. Bobbe nails down genealogy in Mississippi, and the
rest of you graciously send what you have. Without a doubt EVERY little bit
helps to complete the picture. Thank you ever so much for donating your own
research efforts.
I know I am (as usual) behind in my e-mail to many of you. Please prevail upon
me if you need to.
The seasons best and to good health in 1999,
D'Ann Stoddard in West Los Angeles
(Robert/Jarred/Lucinda....)