Eclectic Ann: 2026

Sunday, July 12, 2026

I love connections!

This week I discovered that two of my husband's new DNA matches have familial connections to both myself and Tom's nephew-in-law.

The first one, Samantha Garland, turns out to be Tom's 1st cousin 2 times removed. She was already in my tree because her great grandmother, Charlotte Betz Bell, is the sister of Tom's mother, Caroline Betz Sinton. She is Wayne Bell's granddaughter. This goes thru Samantha's mother's side. Samantha also already had John Ellsworth Betz Jr and Charlotte Johns in her tree. Samantha's profile says that she is from Carlisle.

Charlotte Betz Bell

Wayne Bell - died in 2007

Obituary found here: https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Wayne-C-Bell-RESCHEDULED?obId=22951498#/obituaryInfo

This is simple enough, usually end of story, but in looking further at her tree, I saw a surname that I recognized, Growden of Bedford County Pa. I also have Growden ancestors from Bedford County. Samantha's 3rd great grandfather, Francis Grant Growden, was already in my tree and in Samantha's tree as well. Another simple connection made. This one thru Samantha's father's side. This connection makes Samantha and I, 5th cousins 2 times removed thru our common ancestors, William Growden & Ann Cocker, who immigrated here from Cornwall, England. A coincidence that I found when attaching Samantha's line to mine were some Ancestry hints for Samantha's great grandmother, Hazel Growden. These hints were from her high school yearbooks in Bedford. It turns out that she graduated from Bedford High School with my dad in 1947! They are on some of the same pages of the yearbook together. They are also 4th cousins. The real connection was made when Samantha's parents got married linking her to another married couple in Pittsburgh (me and Tom).

Bedford Class of 1947 Freshmen - Hazel Growden & John Heacock classmates

Hazel Growden Zembower - died in 2011

Hazel's obituary here: https://obituaries.times-news.com/obituary/hazel-zembower-760209611

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The second discovery, Wilbur Swade, is Tom's 6th cousin thru their common ancestors Johann Adam Schauer & Anna Elizabeth Koch. In adding Wilbur and his line to my tree. I noticed that his mother, Beatrice Semerod, and his father, Clarence Swade, were already in my tree. So, Semerod, why is she already here? It's turns out that Beatrice is Scott Semerod's great grand aunt thru their common ancestor George Semerod and because she married Clarence Swade and is also Wilbur's mother. This makes Wilbur, Scott's 1st cousin 3 times removed. This does not make Scott and Tom or Nina related tho, other than Scott being Nina's husband, just that the three of them are all related to Wilbur Swade and Nina is Tom's niece. So the Scott to Tom and Nina connections are because of two marriages, Beatrice to Clarence and Scott to Nina. Yes, I know, this one is harder to follow!

Wilbur Swade who died in 2023. He was born in Frackville and died in Annville.

His obituary can be found here: https://news.thesunontheweb.com/articles/wilbur-wib-a-swade/

But this is one of the things that makes genealogy so interesting to me. And I just love finding unexpected connections. So stay tuned, there are always more stories to be found.

Friday, July 3, 2026

America's 250 !

America's 250 !!

I did not want our 250th birthday to go by without recognizing all of our country's Revolutionary War Patriots but especially our family's ancestors and cousins who were soldiers, supporters and founding fathers of our country. A great big thank you to all of them! Imagine what life would be like without the work and service of these patriots?

Over the years, my genealogy journey has shown me many connections to important times in our nation's history. And many familiar historical characters. Instead of a story, I am just going to list them here (you all know where to find more out about them). These are individuals from my family, my husband's family and other collateral lines. As you will see, we have many, many connections to our war for independence. They come from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut , Kentucky, North Carolina to name a few.

You can also join Ancestry.com for free to view my tree and look up these individuals.

Our Pennsylvania Roots by ASinton. Our Pennsylvania Roots

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!

Here are some ancestors who qualify for membership in the DAR or SAR:

Ann Heacock Sinton Ancestors

William Haycock(Heacock) - Paid Supply Taxes in support of the War, his story here:

https://eclecticann.blogspot.com/2025/10/william-haycockheacock-my-first-dar.html

William Coffin - Patriotic Service during the Battle at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, served by caring for wounded soldiers. He was a Quaker.

Andrew Maurer - served in the Bucks Co and Northampton Co Militias

Jacob Fyock - served in both the Cumberland Co Militia and the PA Rifle Regiment on the Continental Line in 1776

Manoah Singleton - Orange Co Virginia Militia with George Rogers Clark and also in the Kentucky Militia

Manoah Singleton's wife Sarah Craig Singleton - carried water to the soldiers at Bryant's Station, Fayette Co Kentucky

Peter Martin - Culpeper Co Virginia Militia

Tolliver Craig and his wife Mary Polly Hawkins Craig - Defender of Bryant's Station Kentucky and she carried water to the soldiers there

Daniel Singleton- furnished provisions in Orange Co Virginia

Henry Smith - He was paid for services rendered in Stafford Co Virginia

Joseph Jeffrey - Furnished supplies in Fauquier Co Virginia and in the Va Militia in 1781

Christopher Brill - served in the Bucks Co Militia and paid Supply Taxes

Johann Simon Claar - York Co PA Militia and 1st company 7th Battalion PA

Thomas Sinton Ancestors

Michael Sebastian - He took the oath of allegiance in 1778 in Northampton Co PA

Andrew Fidler - Berks Co Militia

Johannes Lamm(Lamb) - Berks Co Militia

Jonathan Strickland - Took the Oat of Allegiance in 1775 and was Overseer of Highways in 1782 in New York

Oliver Spicer - 8th Regiment of Foot in Militia in Connecticut

Jonas L Gray - in Col Canfield's Regiment in Connecticut

An Example of Pennsylvania's Oath of Allegiance:

The following oath of allegiance was tendered to white males over 18 in Pennsylvania: “I, ----------, do swear (or affirm) that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a free and independent state, and that I will not at any time do or cause to be done any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared by Congress; and also that I will discover and make known to some one justice of the peace of the said state all treasons 2 and traitorous conspiracies which I now know or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America.”[Pa3 111-112] This oath has three elements that were common in many of the oaths during the Revolution. It includes an abjuration of allegiance to the King of England; it includes promise of allegiance to the state as an independent state; and, it includes a commitment to reveal treasons and conspiracies against any of the states. Every state required some promise of allegiance.

George Washington's signed Oath of Allegiance

Individuals below are cousins of some degree or related by marriage to myself or Tom or one of various collateral families that I have researched. Some of theses individuals are related to both Tom and I or other lines in my tree. These lists are far from complete but are a good representation of our family's participation in the War for Independence.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence:

US Constitution Signers:

Continental Congress Members:

Boston Tea Party:

Edmund Sears is Ann's 2nd cousin 8 times removed.

Thomas Melville is married to Ann's 4th cousin 6 times removed, Priscilla Scollay and Herman (Moby Dick) Melville's grandfather.

Ephraim Smith is married to Ann's 2nd cousin 8 times removed, Lucy Stevens.

Samuel Adams is traced back to the Coffin family which I am descended from.

Samuel Howard is Ann's 9th cousin 8 times removed.

Hezekiah Coffin is Ann's 3rd cousin 6 times removed.

The Winter at Valley Forge: not a complete list

The Boston Massacre:

Samuel Gray is married to Ann's 3rd cousin 6 times removed, Lois Samson.

John Adams is Ann;s 4th cousin 7 times removed and future President. He was tasked with being the lawyer for the British soldiers involved in the massacre.

John Hancock is Ann's 5th cousin 6 times removed.

US Revolutionary War Service Members: This not a complete list

Early US Presidents & Vice Presidents who participated in the Revolution:

George Washington is Ann's 4th cousin 8 times removed.

John Adams is Ann's 4th cousin 7 times removed.

Thomas Jefferson is Tom's 4th cousin 7 times removed & Ann's 10th cousin 8 times removed.

James Madison is Ann's 5th cousin 6 times removed.

James Monroe is Tom's 5th cousin 6 times removed.

Aaron Burr is both Ann's & Tom's 4th cousin 6 times removed.

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Nature At It's Best

In just one half hour early this morning, I had a very pleasant experience looking out my window.

It is a cool and gray day building up to rain later. I suspect that is why all of this happened so close together.

I had gotten up early about 6:30 AM and fed my cats and as is a habit that I have, I gazed out my kitchen window for a bit and saw two bunnies. They were facing each other and suddenly started jumping up high at each other. Then sat staring at each until one moved away. As this was happening, two birds streaked through. It was a Robin chasing a Blue Jay. This happened several times. I wonder if one or both had a nest or fledglings somewhere near. We had a Robin's nest under our deck a few weeks ago. The parents were very protective. Maybe a new batch of babies is underway.

I went upstairs and looked out the bathroom window and the bunnies and birds were still there, the bunnies eating the white clover in the yard. Quietly appearing, two young whitetail bucks strolled through. Both with velvety antlers beginning to grow. They were nibbling on low hanging tree leaves along the edge of the woods as they went. Then some movement in the grass turned out to be a Flicker looking for bugs. He left quickly and I will probably not see him for a few years again.

Again, some movement, in the trees this time, caught my attention and two gray squirrels were foraging and chasing each other from branch to branch. A bird that I usually only hear, and true to that, began it's distinctive call, a Pileated Woodpecker deep in the woods. The squirrels were back, now hopping along on the ground.

As the squirrels disappeared, two hen Turkeys strolled out of the woods. I haven't seen them in awhile. Through all of this, other birds were singing in the woods, notably, the Cardinals.

These are all not unusual sightings in my backyard, but never all at once within a half an hour's time. I often like to take a photo of some of these encounters but this time I just stood watching and enjoying nature at it's simplest and it's best.

Just stop and watch, you may be surprised at what you see.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Week 16 - A Quiet Life - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

My Mom fits this theme, at least on the surface. I would ask her frequently to tell us stories from her childhood etc, but her answer was always "I don't have any stories". End of conversation. Yes, it seems a quiet life. I realize now, too late, that I was not asking the right questions or asking them in a vague way that allowed her this answer. But having said this, she did tell us a few things in passing.

There was the time her brother chased her with a fake snake and after that she could not even look at a photo of a snake. In later years, her young rambunctious grandsons tested that and it was not quiet!

They had a Victory Garden during WW2. Possibly quiet unless there was a snake involved!

When she was little, her mother would dress her and her brother up for contests and parades. Parades would not be quiet.

Her paternal grandmother was Italian and never learned much English. My mom would sit with her and some cousins listening to stories in Italian. She had no idea what was being said as she never learned to speak Italian. Depending upon how animated the stories were, maybe not quiet.

Her wedding had excitement, when the planned venue for the reception had to cancel at the last minute and they had to scramble to find a new location. Not quiet.

I think she must have had a busy social life as a teenager, as she would sometimes speak of friends. One in particular was from an Italian family. Her name was Santa. I think if you spent much time with Santa, it would not be quiet. She was very boisterous and happy and loud, but mom loved her and would look her up whenever we visited her hometown. I think my mom was drawn to this type of friend tho, as she had another one later in life who was the same. Mom probably thought she was a quiet person but these friends drew her out of her shell and she would have fun with them. Many of her newer friends were made when she started riding horses. Not always a quiet activity.

My mom lost her mother when she was 10 years old and seven years later, in one years time, she lost a loved aunt and three of her four grandparents, a tragic kind of quiet for their home and the families. My baby brother died at birth and his absence was quiet. After her mother died, mom stayed quiet about an illness she had because she became afraid of hospitals where her mother spent the last two weeks of her life.

So I think my point is that no one's life is really quiet. It's full of everyday happenings, happy and sad. You might not be doing adventurous things or travelling to exciting places, but the everyday things make it a life full of activity. I guess it all depends upon how one defines quiet whether or not you have a quiet life.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

An Autumn Memory

Just today, I read a blogpost that reminded me of shared childhood memories and thought I would write mine down as well. The author of the blog grew up on the same street as I did. It was a great neighborhood. The shared memory involves the orchard that she writes about.

The post that stirred my memory can be found here: https://open.substack.com/pub/nancyhonicker/p/mein-freund-nikolaus?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

My memory is of Sunday drives that our family would take in the autumn back in the 1960's. We would always go out to the Hegins Valley in Schuylkill county and visit the same Blazer Orchard. On our way to and from we would watch for an especially colorful tree bursting with the reds, yellows and oranges of autumn. Dad would pull over and we would get out and collect a few of the most colorful leaves. I can remember, in the days before seat belts in cars, standing up in the back seat and leaning over the front seat to look for the trees. It was a very beautiful and scenic trip out to the farmlands. When we arrived at the orchard, Mom would pick out her purchases, always Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples were brought home. The orchard had many types of homegrown fruits and vegetables and regularly advertised in our hometown newspaper. We always looked forward to these short trips every year. Just one small but special childhood memory.

Pottsville Republican, Oct 17,1964

Pottsville Republican, Oct 12, 1963

Pottsville Republican, Aug, 24, 1962

My family has other connections to orchards. I wrote about my great grandfather who was a prominent orchardist in both Indiana and Pennsylvania. His son also went on to establish his own orchard in Biglerville, Adams county, PA and supplied apples to the Musselman company. Their story here:

https://eclecticann.blogspot.com/2022/02/week-7-landed-52-ancestors-in-52-weeks.html

My husband and I drove thru the rolling hills in Adams county a number of years ago and we were amazed at the acres and acres of fruit trees. I have a fruit crate from my grand uncle's farm. It serves as a nightstand now. But I do remember my grandfather having fruit from his brother's farm. It was delicious! We have continued visiting various orchards and farm markets over the years with our children and grandchildren, sometimes picking our own apples and peaches. A tasty family legacy.

Monday, February 2, 2026

Week 6 - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Favorite Photo

As stated in the introduction to this week's theme of Favorite Photo, it is hard to ask a family historian to choose a favorite. There are so many. The photo that I chose to write about has several reasons to place it in that category.

In May of 1921, a family reunion was held by the McGuins. The McGuins are my great grandmother's family. There were several posed group photos and candids from this reunion taken but I like this one best for several reasons. First, it is a casual pose of Mom and her daughters. Even my photographer husband liked it for that reason. And next it is two generations which would not have been possible a year later. Mom, Rebecca Growden McGuin fell ill later that summer, and never recovered well, died April 17, 1922. Her daughter Theresa is my great grandmother and it is one of the few photos of her as a younger woman.

Each woman in the photo has a different expression on her face. Mom looks pleased to have all of her children about. Clara looks determined, for what reason, I don't know. Agnes looks worn and tired and sad. Mary looks funloving and pleasant and Theresa looks like don't mess with me.

This reunion made the local newspapers, as many of that time did, detailing the location and attendees and the fact that it was noteworthy for being the first time the family was all together in one place. One small inaccuracy is that there was another son, the eldest child, who died young at age 23 in 1833.

Bedford Gazette, May 20, 1921, pg 4

The women in the photo are left to right:

Clara McGuin Fisher : She was born on 30 Mar 1863 at Beans Cove, Bedford Co, PA and married John Thomas Fisher on 22 Jan 1889 at Bedford. She was Thomas' 2nd wife. He brought two daughters into the marriage. Clara and Thomas had no children of their own. Clara died on 26 Aug 1949 at age 82 in Bedford. Her husband died the following year.

Everett Press, Friday, Aug 31 1945

Rebecca Growden McGuin : She is the mother and was born on 18 Aug 1839 in Cumberland Valley, Bedford Co. She married William Thomas McGuin on 5 Jan 1858 in Centerville, Bedford Co. They would have 9 children, 4 daughters and 5 sons. Her husband died in 1905. Rebecca died on 17 Apr 1922 in Bedford, the last of her siblings. She was living with her youngest child, Theresa at the time of her death.

Agnes Melissa McGuin Dumpert : Agnes was born on 26 Jan 1861 in Bedford, Bedford Co. She married Joseph Dumpert on 6 Feb 1878 in Beans Cove, Bedford Co. They would have 5 children, 2 daughters and 3 sons. This family appeared to move frequently. Between 1879 and 1900 they lived in Bedford PA, Ohio, Nebraska, Indiana and finally back in Bedford. According to her death certificate she was divorced at the time of her death on 24 Dec 1949 in Harrisburg, PA. Her former husband died in 1936.

Muncie Evening Press, Wed, Jan 4 1950

Mary Josephine McGuin Will : Mary was born on 4 Feb 1876 in Bedford. She married Peter Will on 21 Nov 1897 in Bedford. They would have 3 daughters all in Bedford. Mary passed away on 14 Jan 1943 in Bedford. Her husband died in 1949.

Bedford Gazette, 24 Nov 1899

Theresa Beatrice McGuin Arnold : My great grandmother, Theresa, the youngest child of Rebecca, was born on 9 Oct 1880 in Cumberland Valley, Bedford Co. She married William Ralph Arnold on 18 Jun 1902 in Bedford. They would have 10 children, 5 daughters and 5 sons all in Bedford, PA. Her husband died in 1961. Theresa died on 22 Dec 1967 in Bedford.

Bedford Gazette, 1967