Family History Foundation Blog

30-photos-of-hermitage-andrew-jacksons-tennessee-mansion-15-featured

30 Stunning Photos of The Hermitage: Andrew Jackson’s Tennessee Mansion

The Hermitage is the mansion of Andrew Jackson, acclaimed General and 7th President of the United States. Andrew Jackson’s figure stands as a towering monument to American history that can never be torn down; his home, The Hermitage, is equally illustrious. At over 1000 acres, The Hermitage is truly a breathtaking place to visit. Nestled

30 Stunning Photos of The Hermitage: Andrew Jackson’s Tennessee Mansion Read the full story →

general-manasco-gen-john-manasco-of-alabama-a-biography-featured

General Manasco: The Obituary of Gen. John Manasco of Alabama

This is the obituary of General Manasco, aka., General John Manasco of Alabama. It is not my telling but is my transcription of a newspaper article that was published on March 27th, 1895 and again republished on February 15th, 1922, both in the “Mountain Eagle,” a local newspaper in Jasper, Alabama. The 1922 “Mountain Eagle”

General Manasco: The Obituary of Gen. John Manasco of Alabama Read the full story →

17-photos-historic-dameron-marsh-in-virginia-featured

17 Photos of Historic Dameron Marsh in Virginia

Dameron Marsh in Virginia is a 316 acre promontory that lies along the northeastern point of the Northern Neck of Virginia just above where the Rappahannock River empties into the Chesapeake. It is a beautifully serene wildlife area and nature preserve that takes some driving to get to, but definitely worth the trip. Especially if

17 Photos of Historic Dameron Marsh in Virginia Read the full story →

alabama-bicentennial-200-years-statehood

Alabama Bicentennial: 200 Years of Statehood

Alabama became a state on December 14, 1819 and 2019 marks the Alabama Bicentennial: 200 years of being a state. It’s time to celebrate! Whether you’re “built by Bama,” a Southerner, or a proud American, 200 years statehood for any state is something to sink your teeth into and reflect on. Our American history is

Alabama Bicentennial: 200 Years of Statehood Read the full story →

Manasco Alabama: One Of America’s Oldest Ghost Towns

One of the coolest things I’ve ever come across while doing genealogy was to discover that my 4th great-grandfather founded his own town in 1879 – Manasco, Alabama – which is now a ghost town! It’s not just a ghost town because I said it is, it’s on a historic register of American Ghost Towns

Manasco Alabama: One Of America’s Oldest Ghost Towns Read the full story →

My 2018 Reading List

My 2018 Reading List has been very much historical. I’ve focused on the histories of Colonial America and Medieval Europe for the most part as well as a melange of other interesting tidbits. A lot of what I read came from my travels to Canada, California, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama this year. One of the

My 2018 Reading List Read the full story →

andrew-jackson-manasco-families-of-alabama-featured

Andrew Jackson and the Manasco Families of Alabama

There is a vein of political truth that begins in the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee and runs all the way down to Northern Alabama – specifically Walker, Winston, and Fayette Counties. This narrative is about the ideological connection between General Andrew Jackson and the Manasco families of Alabama and their sympathies during the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson and the Manasco Families of Alabama Read the full story →

book-review-the-debatable-land-graham-robb-featured

“The Debatable Land” by Graham Robb [Book Review]

“The Debatable Land” by Graham Robb brings the historical drama! The author, almost by chance, uncovered one of Britain’s most enduring, and ironically, forgotten mysteries. The question is: should he have left it alone? I can’t say enough about this book in terms of its contribution to understanding the British Isles as a whole as

“The Debatable Land” by Graham Robb [Book Review] Read the full story →

5-reasons-give-books-this-christmas-featured

5 Reasons To Give Books For Christmas

Not sure what to get this holiday season? Give books for Christmas! Here are 5 reasons why a book is better than some random trinket or desultory addition to someone else’s clutter pile. As corny as it sounds: give the gift of reading this Christmas, for Christmas’ sake. 1. Promote Critical Thinking ‘Critical reading’ promotes

5 Reasons To Give Books For Christmas Read the full story →

ancestry-dna-traits-deeper-look-genes-featured

Ancestry DNA Traits: A Deeper Look At Genes

Ancestry DNA Traits is the latest offering by Ancestry.com that allows its users to peer into the genetic looking glass in ever more personalized ways. With Ancestry DNA Traits one gets a very personalized tour of ones own genes in terms of specific inherited traits such as cilantro aversion, iris patterns, and earlobe shape; in

Ancestry DNA Traits: A Deeper Look At Genes Read the full story →