Ireland is a major player in our family history with 4 separate ancestor lines coming from the Emerald Isle. Three were actually Scotch Irish from the Plantation settlement of Northern Ireland and one was a young Irish Prince Anselan O Kyan who ended up fighting the Danes and joining forces with Malcolm II who gave him lands and title and the name Buchanan.
James Patton from Springfield Donegal, James McGavock from Glenarm. and the Cloyds from Derry all came to America seeking land and fortune and escaping from a God Awful mess in the Old World. From what I have read on their histories the World was a
dangerous and trying place and they were a tough group of peoples.
Without them and others our way of life would be nonexistent and I believe we should honor them in everything we do today.
So I would like to Thank them All for what we have today.
What is Memorial Day?
Ten years ago we came to Dublin Virginia to take on the project of restoring the old family home Rockwood. While repairing everything I noticed the lower level plaster walls were covered in graffitti. Names, drawings, trains, horses, wagons and some dates. Facinating history. Like looking at a prehistoric cave wall.
One very elaborate signature stood out “Elliott Hampton Howe 1897” written in a giant scrolling script. I wondered who he was and why the signature was here. It wasn’t till years later I was given a book “Listen to the Mockingbird” written by Lt Col Daniel Dunbar Howe about the Howe, Hoge, Tyler familes and our connections. I learned from this that Elliott was born 1880 and was 17 years old and our cousin visiting the home at the time.
Fast forward to World War One and young Lieutenant Howe was 38 , married with children, and serving our country in the great Battle of the Meuse -Argonne. Leading his platoon he was struck by a German artillary shell and died there in France.
Memorial Day is set aside to Honor our fallen soldiers who have given the greatest sacrifice for God & Country and I am proud to have learned of this unknown member of our family and what he did for the USA. Thank you Elliott for this.
There are a lot of family members who served in various wars and branches of service back to the French Indian and Revolutionary War and up through the current time. Some of these are being posted in our http://RockwoodFamily.com website.
Our Friend and Angel Connie Richeson has gone to her Heavenly home
There are some people in this great big world who just shine like a star and Connie was one of them.
UNFORGETTABLE SHE IS.
Everyone was her friend and she would go out of her way constantly to make you feel special or help you in anyway.
I remember her taking over the kitchen here and feeding our guests when Rochelle and I could not be here for that.
She would travel to Central America to help those in need and just glow about it. Always taking on the work of The Lord and living it too.
Constance was a living example of what it means to be a Christian and I am sure the Good Lord would agree.
We Love you and you will be sorely missed.
The following words were written for Connie by Sarah McMillin and Caroline Donnelly and spoken at the service yesterday (1/10/13)by Sarah.
Where can I find Connie?
She is the warm love within our hearts , She is the Ray of light that breaks through the cloud cover, She is the resplendence of the blue crab,
She is the dancing of the sandpipers, She is the laughter inside our souls, She is the dramatic glow of a Sandbridge sunset,
She is the gentle caress of the ocean wave, She is the wonder in a child’s eyes, She is the fierceness of the mighty osprey,
She is the devotion of a pair of Tundra swans, She is the playfulness of a leaping dolphin,
She is that comforting summer breeze as it glances your cheek,
She is a love everlasting, She is home in the Glory of God, and
SHE IS HAPPY.
60th Anniversary of Ann & Frank Magill
We were surprised and delighted to have Ann and Frank Magill visit us from their home in Keene, New Hampshire. They love to come back to Dublin Virginia and the home (Rockwood Manor) of his mother and grandparents. This time they brought Frank’s sister Becky Barnette from North Carolina with them. Her family had just celebrated Becky’s 90th Birthday here and Crystal Magill recently married Chris Jenkins here as well.. So wonderful to have this great group of cousins who so love our family home and to see them grow and prosper in it’s presence.
