I traveled back to Tennessee last week for a reunion of the descendants of Thomas Jefferson Castellaw (1808-1878), and was reminded of the important role storytelling plays in how our family history is passed down through the generations. I’ve long
My direct ancestors are in bold. This is a work in progress. Much of my direct line is documented, but some may not be. If there is a question, I usually include words like “seems likely” or “possibly” in hopes
Photo/Lynn J. Graves Click to Enlarge Mary Aurelia Blaydes Castellaw with her grandchildren Lynn Graves is one of my many Castellaw cousins that descend from my third great-grandparents, Thomas Jefferson “T.J.” Castellaw (1808 – 1878) and Mary Elizabeth Cole (1809
Pennsylvania Ave. Entrance to the National Archives Since moving to Washington, D.C., a research trip to the National Archives has been at the top of my list of things I wanted to do. A recent Saturday morning with nothing planned
Click to Enlarge Source: Peggy Anderson l to r: Children of John and Nora Castellaw Hilburn; Edith, age three,Thomas, less than one, and Carrye, age seven. After doing a little research for the blog entry I wrote a while back
Click to Enlarge l to r: Robert Edward “Bob” Castellaw, Zula Zera Watridge Castellaw,John Hilburn, Nora Castellaw Hilburn, Zach Fletcher Castellaw “He ain’t heavy… he’s my brother” as the old Hollies song goes.You assume the families of your siblings will
The family of Jeremiah Fletcher and Mary Aurelia Blaydes Castellaw Back row: Lucy Albina “Bina” Castellaw Cobb and Albert “Al” Lafayette Cobb, Likely Arthur Fletcher Castellaw, Jack Castellaw, Thomas Jefferson “Tom” and Helen Moody Castellaw, Rosie Whitamose (girl the Castellaws
The Castellaw Family Reunion was held this past weekend at Holly Grove Baptist Church in Haywood County, TN. It was a great time with descendants of Tom and Nancy Marianna Johnson Castellaw and their son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Zula
If you have not read part one, you can find it here. Isle of Skye For the next few days, our home base was The Cluanie Inn Hotel. It was our favorite hotel of the trip. Calling it “remote” does
When I was a young boy, my paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Castellaw Williams, took me to the cemeteries around Haywood County, Tenn. where she shared stories of our ancestors as we roamed around checking out their headstones. Aaron Sammy Castellaw’s headstone