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The Thistledown Scottish Society of Tidewater, Inc. SUMMER 2010 VOLUME 27, ISSUE NUMBER 3 Genealogy: When it’s time to throw in the towel and hire a professional researcher by Marcey Hunter ♦Am I limited in my research re- L ike me, many of you have sources because I don’t own or spent years on researching your don’t know how to use a computer? family’s roots. It is exhausting yet ♦Are the bulk of my ancestors thrilling, productive yet frustrating, written records (land grants, deeds, addictive yet absurdly time con- wills, etc.) physically located where suming. Many of us enjoy solving I cannot access them easily and mysteries, sleuthing around in economically? graveyards or vital statistic reposi- ♦Do I need help writing, editing or tories. “Digging up bones” as it has publishing my genealogy research? been called is a wonderful and ♦Do I want on-site photographs meaningful way of connecting with and/or oral histories of distant rela- our ancestors, Scottish and other- tives? wise. How did they live? Whom did ♦Do I want to join a lineage soci- they marry? What challenges did ety such as the Daughters of the they face? American Revolution and need help In a perfect world, it would be as getting concrete and well-sourced easy as opening an old bible or information? joining Ancestry.com. And if you’re where my ancestors lived (Nova ♦Am I trying to track down living lucky enough to be researching an- Scotia, Scotland, Ireland) there is family members? cestors who lived in the local area, only so much I can do. ♦Am I dealing with adoption/birth hands-on research is a little easier. For many of us the challenge is parent issues that are more chal- But since so many of us ended up not only geographic. There may be lenging? in Hampton Roads because of the personal reasons why we prefer to ♦Am I researching an ethnic Navy or some other reason, easy have the information here and now group where records are more access to court documents, etc., – a special gift for someone, the scarce (Native Americans, for ex- becomes more of a challenge. passing of time and the realization ample)? But sooner or later, we hit the pro- that none of us is getting any ♦Have I hit a brick wall that I think verbial brick wall, and it then be- younger. is insurmountable? comes a personal conflict as to So I started looking in to profes- So, interested in hiring a profes- whether we persevere on our own, sional genealogy research options, sional? Some basics... hoping for a miracle, or throw in the and thought I’d share them with What Can I Expect? towel and hire a professional. you. (By the way - I haven’t taken There are no guarantees. Con- I am at such an impasse myself. I the plunge yet, but I just might!) sider the fact that we all have 16 can and have done much research First, some questions to ask your- great-grandparents, and they all online and at the library, but without self: have families whose branches go having my boots on the ground in ♦Do I have time to devote to this every which way. Therefore, it some of the key geographic areas research? would not be easy to predict how Continued on page 8 PAGE 2 THISTLEDOWN SUMMER 2010 About the Scottish Society A Few Words from the President of Tidewater, Inc. Dear SST Members, Since our last newsletter we’ve had two (2) general meetings of SST members. At each he Scottish Society of Tidewater exists to T meeting our goal is to have an informative, promote the preservation and study of Scottish cul- and hopefully enjoyable, presentation on Scot- ture, including music, language, art, history, folk- tish culture, customs, music, or other Scottish lore, dance, literature, athletics, and all other things related events. We have a good schedule of distinctively Scottish among interested persons in programs through the beginning of next year. the Hampton Roads, Virginia area and to cooperate We’re into the dog days of summer, so there is with like-minded persons, groups and organizations every good reason come out in the evening here and abroad. and enjoy the monthly programs. Remember A meeting is held on the first Wednesday of each we have an excellent web site with the pro- month at the Church of Ascension Community Cen- gram schedule. ter, 4853 Princess Anne Rd., Virginia Beach, VA In May we were treated to a an excellent 23462-4446. Social time begins at 7:00pm, and the presentation by Charles (CG) Miller and his meeting starts at 7:30pm. Anyone interested in wife Nancy on “The Great Kilt”, its history and Scottish culture and history is invited to attend. its tradition. CG came in full regalia and dem- P.O. Box 3733, Norfolk, VA 23514-3733 onstrated how to wear the great kilt. He also www.tidewaterscots.org discussed the history of the Clan Tartans, and how they came to be what they are. I’m sure this latter part surprised most of us. For the June meeting I’d prepared a presentation that covered the areas SST Executive Board in Scotland where I’d vacationed. Although I’ve many good digital photos President: of those journeys, I‘m sorry to say our planned projector, and the primary John McGlynn [email protected] backup plan, then the second backup plan, fell through. I was left to ver- bally paint those pictures of glens and mountains and distilleries. A chal- Vice President: Tricia Young [email protected] lenge for a poet better than I, but nevertheless we had good feedback and interaction. By the way, since then I’ve acquired the use of a new projec- Secretary: tor that we should be able to use at all SST functions. Lucy Withington [email protected] At the July meeting, Randy Dedrickson gave us an update on the Wil- liamsburg Scottish Festival, which is shaping up to be quite an event that Treasurer: Jeanne Rider [email protected] you will not want to miss. This was followed by a fascinating presentation by Al Cowan on Scottish Athletics. How fortunate we are to have so many Board of Directors: knowledgeable and talented people in our society! Tom Crouch [email protected] Upcoming Events: Donna Looney [email protected] July 14: Celtic Night at the Beach; 17th Street park, 6.30pm to 11pm This is an event sponsored by the city of Virginia Beach. It’s a family Linda Lucas [email protected] affair with face painting for kids and includes music by Celtica. SST will George Phillips [email protected] have Nessie there, and a table with all things Scottish. We’d like to have Bob Rider [email protected] some volunteers help us at the table, so come out an join us. We may even have some Great Kilt demonstrations. Terri Woodward [email protected] Aug 4: Wallace Day: You can’t miss this. On the same night as our regular 1st Wednesday of SST Committees the month meetings, this is a pot luck dinner (more details to come) com- Webmaster: bined with a presentation no other than John Wallace. John is busy work- Scott MacGregor [email protected] ing on his presentation and is excited to be coming up from NC to see Membership: many of his friends here. Marcey Hunter [email protected] Sept 18: Celtic Festival at Murphy’s; 30th and Pacific Program: September 19: SST Annual Picnic: 1 – 5 pm; Church of the Ascension The SST Board of Directors picnic grounds Sunshine: Hope to see you at any or all of these events! June Lockwood [email protected] Have a wonderful and safe summer. Newsletter Editor: Yours aye, Marcey Hunter [email protected] John SUMMER 2010 THISTLEDOWN PAGE 3 Flowers of the Forest George A. MacRae Virginia Beach, Virginia George Alexander MacRae succumbed to illness June 7, 2010 at the age of 92. Survivors include wife, Gloria; sons, Robert Bruce, Donald Robert (wife Karen); grandsons, Craig (Carrie) and Eric (Patti); great- grandchildren, Nicole, Justin and Megan; and nephews, Bruce, Barry, Rob and Val. He was predeceased by parents, Donald A. and Emmy Elva Paine; daughter, Jennifer Allison; daughter-in- law, Madonna; and brother, Robert G. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was a survivor of the "Halifax Explosion" and evacuated to Baddeck where several cousins and relatives live today. His father, Col. Donald Alexander MacRae, was wounded in World War I and later moved the family to southern California. George was a track athlete in high school, Glendale Junior College (news accounts referred to his as the "Glendale Greyhound" and was awarded a "golden shoe"), and received a track scholarship to LSU in Baton Rouge, La. He set re- cords at each school and ran (but lost) against Olympic runner Glen Cunningham. He enlisted as a Ma- rine in World War II and transferred to the U.S. Marine Raiders. He spent two years in and out of hospitals after being wounded and losing use of one arm. With help from his mother, he became a "leftie" and found employment with Lockheed, Dumont Aviation and Queen's Medical Center. He was a certified pur- chasing manager. He lived in Cape Breton Island, Harbor Springs, Mich., Glendale, Catalina Island and Honolulu, retiring to Virginia Beach. He was an amateur photographer, loved sailing and golf. He served as assistant and later curator of the Marine raider Museum now located at Quantico, and was active in the Raider Association fielding numerous inquiries regarding raiders and their service; former Chieftain of Caledonian Society of Hawaii, member of Clan MacRae of No.