May 1997 Newsletter
MAY 1997
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Dear Family:
Another month has just zoomed by and all the things I need to do in
order to be ready for the picnic on July 12th, 1997 still remains to be
accomplished. I am reminded by the Pennsylvania Dutch saying "the faster I
go the behinder I get". Well I must have been going really fast, because I
am really behind. I guess that except for finalizing the relationship of
Ruth Battman to the correct Samuel Yarnall, I have completed phase one of
my data entry chore. We now have over 11,500 names in our database and are
at the point where I can begin to handle the many correspondences with
additions and corrections to that data. I would like to cover a bit later
in the newsletter the Samuel Yarnall question, as there are several cousins
who are waiting patiently for us to make that connection. From this search
we are now in contact with Monte L. Yarnell and Jerry McCloskey, two newly
found cousins by way of the internet. Speaking of the internet, our cousin
Paul R. Yarnall has expanded his home page to include a genealogical
message for the Yarnall / Yarnell clan. For those new to the Newsletter,
Paul's Web page can be accessed through his Http://www.cityscope.net/~pry
address.
Lillian and I just celebrated our thirty fifth wedding anniversary
and are still very much looking forward to the wedding of our daughter
Cathy to Alan Flade on May 16, 1997, and while all the activities makes the
timing tight for this issue of this newsletter, the time, to the family
picnic, is too short not to publish this edition . Again on the wedding
front, in what has become a mating ritual, friends and family of Cathy and
Alan accompanied them on their bachelor and bachelorette night. The guys
enjoyed a dinner that included - to my surprise, (He He He) a television
facing the table with the first game of the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo
Sabers playoff game being televised - Oh, what a surprise (just kidding).
We were able to enjoy chicken wings, burgers good company and a great
hockey game - any game the Flyers win I consider a great game. After
dinner, off to the Reeds nightclub. Is this how many of the young people
meet today? My goodness, am I behind the times: Or do you suppose that we
are actually ahead of the times. Perhaps the circle will go around again,
and the nightmare of the nightclub will be replaced by the roller skating
rink or the movies, or even a dance. What do you think? I read a recent
newspaper article that dealt with the party atmosphere on the college
campuses. It seems that the party is the ultimate pick up spot for a
generation that wants to meet an overnight partner with no strings and no
long term commitments. I would be curious on your comments on this issue. I
must admit to being too old for this activity.
=====?
Will the correct Samuel Yarnall please stand up? It seems that
Harry H. Yarnell has Samuel, twin and sixth child of Elizabeth (James) and
Abraham Yarnall marrying first Sarah Lamb, and second Ruth Battman, and
producing nine children from the second marriage and none from the first.
That is at odds with the records shown by Mary Card Yarnell, which is
presented here.
Samuel Yarnall, son of Abraham Yarnall and Elizabeth of New Castle Co. on
the Delaware b. 6/20/1764 ["Newark" - Chester Co. Hist. Soc. Quaker rec.]
m. Sarah Lamb, dau Pierce & Rachael Lamb of Kent county, 1/10/1788 @ Cecil
Mtg. House # * d. 9/5/1807 # *
Ch: Mary b. 9/28/1788
Elizabeth b. 11/20/1790
Hetty b. 4/30/1792
Rachel b. 9/6/1794
Susanna b. 12/28/1796
Sarah b. 5/24/1799
Rebecca b. 3/22/1803
#Maryland Quaker (Friends) Records of third Haven Tred Avon) Talbot County,
Vol. 1, compiled by Mrs. Carl W. (Lucy Kate) McGhee, Washington, D. C.
Mimeo. No Publ. date; acquisition date @ Mesa LDS Gen Library. Above found
Sections 149, p. 62 and 172, p. 78
* Quakerism on the Eastern Shore, Kenneth Carroll, Maryland Hist. Soc. 1970.
Samuel Yarnall as presented by HHY would show the following children as the
issue of Ruth Battman.
ch: Lavinia b. 6/21/1798
Rachael b. 9/20/1799
Jacob b. 5/5/1801
Henry Battman b. 1/12/1803
Rebecca b. 11/12/1805
Thomas b. ?
Isaac b. 1808
Samuel b. ?
Catherine b. 11/14/1810
Could our mystery Samuel be the son of Ann (James) and Daniel Yarnall? I
show this Samuel as having married Sarah Yarnall first, with no date and no
second marriage. If someone out there has additional information, please
send the information to me., we really need to clear up this mystery.
?
On Tuesday April 23rd, Wayne and Nancy Yarnall returned from their
extended vacation. They reported that they had a wonderful "once in a
lifetime" trip, but lets allow them to tell the ending. Since Tucson, we
spent 3 days in the rain north of Phoenix waiting for better weather. Then
4 days at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in the Verde Valley. Then two days
north of Flagstaff at Cameron Trading Post where we spent a full day at the
South Rim of the Grand Canyon. An awesome place -- very big hole in the
ground. Then on to Page, Arizona one day at the repair shop and one day at
the marina on Lake Powell in Glenn Canyon. We got two inches of snow the
morning we left Lake Powell. Then 2 nights at Zion National Park, a very
interesting place. Nancy got to drive the motor home in the center of the
long narrow tunnel at 'Zion while traffic was stopped the other way. Then
Panaca, NV at Cathedral Gorge State Park. Then a free campground with full
hookups at the Ely, NV Holiday Inn. A night at Jackpot, NV on the way to
twin falls, ID. Then 2 days West of Boise on the Snake River. Saturday
night we camped in a Friends driveway in Boise. After attending Boise
Friends Meeting Sunday we left for Burns, OR. Then a stop in Sisters, OR.
and home on Tuesday April 23rd.
Your trip sounded awesome Wayne and Nancy. I hope that one day Lillian and
I will be able to make the same journey. Glad to have you home safely.
?
Boy, you should see this hamburger in person. In fact, if you show
up at the Yarnall / Yarnell Family picnic on July 12, 1997, you will be
able to do just that! Since the time is getting close, let me take the time
to give you some additional information and directions to the picnic
grounds.
Directions to Picnic Grounds:
Lower Perkiomen Valley Park
Phone # 1-610-666-5371
>From Philadelphia - Northeast and West
Route 1 to Route 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) - West Route 76 to
Route 202 (King of Prussia) South - 202 South to 422 West (bypass) - Take
the 422 bypass West from King of Prussia. Exit at the sign for Oaks, and at
the bottom of the ramp is a stop light. Take a right at the light and look
for the park entrance on your right. The rest should be fairly clear in the
map. I hope that your phone calls were productive. Please let me know if
there is any problem in understanding these directions.
>From Philadelphia - Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls
West Route 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) to Route 202 (King of
Prussia) South - 202 South to 422 West (bypass) - Take the 422 bypass West
from King of Prussia. Exit at the sign for Oaks, and at the bottom of the
ramp is a stop light. Take a right at the light and look for the park
entrance on your right. The rest should be fairly clear in the map.
>From Philadelphia - Far Northeast and Suburbs
PA Turnpike West to King of Prussia exit - Exit to Route 202 South
- Very short distance to 422 West (bypass) - Take the 422 bypass West from
King of Prussia. Exit at the sign for Oaks, and at the bottom of the ramp
is a stop light. Take a right at the light and look for the park entrance
on your right. The rest should be fairly clear in the map.
>From New Jersey
Follow the directions above for either the Turnpike or Route 76
(Expressway).
>From Western PA - Pittsburgh
PA Turnpike West to King of Prussia - Exit to Route 202 South -
Very short distance to 422 West (bypass) - Take the 422 bypass West from
King of Prussia. Exit at the sign for "Oaks", and at the bottom of the ramp
is a stop light. Take a right at the light and look for the park entrance
on your right. The rest should be fairly clear in the map.
Things to do at picnic:
If you are concerned, and aren't sure if we have everything together, don't
worry about it, you can rest assured that we don't, and are flying by the
seat of our pants. That's why we need you, to straighten things out.
If you have a PA fishing license, the Perkiomen Creek is within 100
yards of picnic area, and has been stocked with trout. There will be quoits
(Quates in Philly); Volley ball; Sitting and eating - a big favorite;
Sitting and talking - another favorite; Massive picture taking, so bring
your camera in self defense; Swings and seesaws for the kids; Standing and
eating - another biggie.
? ?
? Now for the good part, what to bring to the picnic. I will have Hot
Dogs and Hamburgers for everyone, Linford Yarnall will be supplying soft
drinks, and Robert and Edith Yarnall will be supplying gaiter aid and
orange drink. I do encourage anyone that has a favorite covered dish recipe
to bring along their creation for the family table. The family table is
where we put all those goodies that people are so anxious to share, and it
is also the place where you will most likely find me - just kidding. This
year, based on all the comments I have been hearing, I could be hard
pressed to have enough Hot dogs and burgers to go around, and that will be
great. Last year, after Big Bertha held down attendance, I was eating
hamburgers through December - just kidding again. However, if a few people
bring a covered dish, that will make up for any extra people that I hope
will show up. Also, please remember, Alcoholic beverages are not permitted
in the park.
Last month we mentioned that Charles Yarnall would like to make
arrangements at a local campground prior to the picnic and take the
opportunity to meet other members of the family who enjoy camping. Charles
can be reached by Email at cyarnall@miworld.net or by phone at
1-301-689-1784, and by snail mail, address your correspondence to: Charles
F. Yarnall, 16 Mount Pleasant Street, Frostburg, Maryland 21532. If you
are not sure if you will be able to make the trip, contact him anyway, just
in case the spirit moves you to attend, you will be prepared, and Charles
will have some hope of company.
This month we are adding Linford Yarnall's name as a contact person
for meeting at a Hotel prior to the picnic. We are listing the Hotels in
the King of Prussia and Valley Forge area. The Hotels of King of Prussia
are Located approximately ten minutes from the picnic grounds. They are
also 20 minutes from Philadelphia, and 40 minutes from Wilmington Delaware.
They are within three miles of where the Expressway meets the Pennsylvania
Turnpike, routes 202 / 422 and 476. You will find more than 3,000 hotel
rooms available. The variety of accommodations makes King of Prussia one of
the east coast's favorite meeting spots. They are home to the Plaza / Court
at King of Prussia featuring 9 department stores and more than 450 stores,
restaurants and services as well as the Valley Forge Convention Center at
King of Prussia, not to mention the wonderful historic attraction of Valley
Forge National Park. Please note that I have been advised by virtually all
of the Hotel Managements that the pricing structure listed is at todays
(5/12/97) pricing and as the date of the picnic approaches, those prices
could change. In fact, at this time the McIntosh Inn is booked for the
12th, and booked solid for the weekend is the Holiday Inn at Valley Forge
(not listed due to no vacancy)
I hope that this list of Hotels and their approximate pricing is
helpful in planning your trip. Just remember to call as soon as possible in
order to leverage the best pricing for your stay. I know that Linford would
like to have the opportunity to spend some time with those planning to stay
at one of the Hotels prior to the picnic. Linford H. Yarnall can be reached
by snail mail at PO Box 476, 1929 Union Valley Road, Hewitt NJ 07421, by
phone at 1-201-728-2020, or by Fax at 1-201-728-4545.
McIntosh Inn
260 N. Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-768-9500
$62. per day +Tax w/Queen
$64.per day +Tax w/ 2 double
Park Ridge At Valley Forge
Hotel and Conference Center
460 North Gulph Road
King of Prussia, P:A 19406
1-610-337-1800
Weekend rate
$89. per day + Tax w/ single, double or 2 queen
Sheraton Valley Forge and Plaza Suites Hotel
1600 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-337-2000
$95. per day + Tax
King, 2 queen and 2 double available
Valley Forge Hilton
251 West Dekalb Pike
King of Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-337-1200
$85. per day + Tax
Ask for bounce back package.
Includes continental breakfast.
Valley Forge Marriott Suites Hotel
888 Chesterbrook Boulevard
Wayne, PA 19087
1-610-647-6700
$99. Per day + Tax
Deluxe Suite w/ King and Sofa bed Queen
$109. per day + Tax
Includes buffet breakfast.
Comfort Inn / Valley Forge
555 West Dekalb Pike
King of Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-962-0700
$104. per day + Tax
2 Kings Size
Includes continental breakfast
Triple A rates
$93.60 per day + Tax
2 Double Double
Fairfield Inn By Marriott
258 Mall Blvd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Fax only 1-610-337-7027
Hampton Inn
530 West Dekalb Pike
King of Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-962-8111
$79. per day + Tax
1 double
$89. per day + Tax
Queen
The Inn At King Of Prussia
by Best Western
S. Gulph Road
King of P:Prussia, PA 19406
1-610-265-4500
$95. per day + Tax
Whatever way appeals to you, Camping, Hotel Camping, or just
stopping by, we encourage you to come out and say hello. Join us in some
talking, eating, playing and hugging. Help us to make this year's Family
Picnic Group Photo the best one yet.
?
When tracing our roots, the connection between the Yarnall's and
the Bakers certainly must be considered, since Francis married Hannah
Baker, and Philip married Hannah's niece Dorothy Baker. One of our cousins,
Karen Judith (Greim) Mullian has teamed up with several other researchers
to study the Baker line, its claim to Royalty and the ties to our present
day family: But rather than for me to try to explain what they have
discovered, Karen has been kind enough to submit the following report.
The Baker-Yarnall Connection
When I first began researching the Baker and Yarnall families in
the early 1980's, I came across the following notation in the
Palmer-Trimble Genealogy(1): "The Baker Family claim descent from one Sir
Richard Baker, b. 1568 at Sissinghurst, Kent, d. 1645 in the Fleet where he
had taken shelter for poverty and where he wrote several historical,
poetical, and miscellaneous articles."Although Gilbert Cope called this
"questionable," he indicated that Sir Richard's wife was Margaret
Mainwaring (2).
According to the History of Chester County (3), John and Mary Baker
of Edgmond, Shropshire, England, were the parents of the following children
who all settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1682:
John, d. 3rd mo. (May) 1684\5
Joseph, b. 1st mo. (March) 1, 1671\72, m. Mary Woodward
Hannah, b. 1664, d. 1719, m. 8th mo. (Oct.) 4, 1686 Francis
Yarnall
Mary, m. 6th mo. (Aug.) 1686 William Coeburne
Sarah, m. 5th mo. (July) 1687 Charles Whitacre
Recently, several fellow Baker researchers corresponding via the
Internet have tried to confirm the connection between the Quaker Bakers of
Edgmond, Shropshire and the Bakers of Sissinghurst. Thanks primarily to the
indefatigable efforts of Edward Coates Sinker of Bosbury, Herefordshire,
England, a piece of evidence has come to light which lends credence to the
Palmer-Trimble assertion.
Burke's Landed Gentry (4) provides the following information: "Sir
Richard Baker, M.P., of Middle Aston, Oxon [Oxfordshire], and St. Bride's,
London, the history (who m.
Margaret, dau. of Sir George Mainwaring [sic] of Ightfield, Salop
[Shropshire], and d. in Fleet debtors' prison 18 Feb. 1644/5, bur. St.
Bride's) son of John Baker, disinherited elder son of Rt Hon. Sir John
Baker, of Sissinghurst, Kent (See Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies,
Baker, Bt., of Sissinghurst)."
Ed Sinker writes "note that Edgmond and Ightfield are only 15 miles
apart." (5)
While the short distance between Ightfield and Edgmond is not proof
positive, Burke's information certainly brings the Sissinghurst, Co. Kent
Bakers into closer physical proximity of John and Mary Baker of Edgmont,
Shropshire, whose children settled in Pennsylvania in the 1680's. The
Palmer-Trimble Genealogy indicates that Sir Richard Baker, "The
Chronicler," and Margaret Mainwaring had a son Sir John Baker, born in
1598. The name of Sir John's wife has not yet been discovered, but they had
at least two sons, John Baker, born 1621, died 4th mo. 25 1672 in Edgmond,
Shropshire and Robert Baker (6), who died 6th mo. 1672 in Edgmond,
Shropshire.
John Baker married Mary (maiden name unknown) and was the father of
John (below), Mary, Hannah who married Francis Yarnall, Sarah, and Joseph
Baker all of whom came to Pennsylvania.
John Baker, the son of John and Mary (above), died 3rd month
1683/84 in Pennsylvania and was the father of Martha, Rebecca, Sarah (who
was struck and killed by lightning in 1699, and Dorothy Baker. Dorothy was
born 6th mo. 10, 1671 in Edgmond, Shropshire, and died 10th mo. 1, 1743 in
Springfield Twp., Chester Co. (now Delaware Co.), PA and in 1694 became the
wife of Philip Yarnall, brother of Francis Yarnall who married Dorothy's
aunt Hannah Baker.
Robert Baker also married a Mary (maiden name unknown). Their son
Joseph was born about 1660 in Edgmond, Shropshire and died in 1716 in
Chester Co., PA; he married ____________.
Sir Richard the Chronicler's father John was disinherited, and this
could account for the family's removal from Kent to Salop. What was the
reason for the disinheritance?
Sir John Baker (1488-1558), grandfather of Sir Richard, "The
Chronicler," was the only privy counselor of Edward VI to refuse to
acknowledge the last will of King Edward which would
have changed the succession in favor of Lady Jane Grey, the Protestant
Queen of Nine Days. This Sir John Baker remained faithful to the Catholic
cause and served Mary Tudor, the Catholic daughter of King Henry VIII and
Queen Catherine of Aragon when she ascended the thrown. According to a
caption under his portrait in an unidentified publication, he was
"Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the House of Commons. Known
posthumously as "Bloody Baker" for his alleged persecutions of the
Protestants in the reign of Queen Mary, he inherited the Manor of
Sissinghurst and was the true founder of the family's fortunes." He died in
1558, only a few months into the reign of Mary Tudor's sister, the
Protestant Queen Elizabeth I.
Is it possible that Sir John's son John (the Chronicler's father),
like so many young men of his time, sympathize and perhaps marry into the
Protestant cause, thus giving his father cause to disinherit him? Burke's
Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies (7) reports that Sir Richard Baker, the
Chronicler, whose wife Margaret was the daughter of Sir George Mainwaring of Ightfield
(through whom we can go back to the Norman Conquest of 1066) and by whom he
had two sons and three daughters, owned the manor of Middle Aston in
Oxfordshire and had served as High Sheriff for that county in 1620.
Subsequently, he became surety for debts incurred by his wife's
family which resulted in his falling into poverty and thus ending up in the
Fleet Prison for debt where he died on the 18th of February, 1645. He was
buried at St. Bride's Church in nearby
Fleet Street. What affect did Sir Richard's poverty have on either the
religious or economic motivations of his descendants, particularly those
who sought refuge from religious persecution in their homeland to settle in
Pennsylvania?
?
Answers to these questions might help to confirm the connection
between the American and the English Bakers. Once a definitive link is
found, then the descendants of Francis and Hannah (Baker) Yarnall and
Philip and Dorothy (Baker) Yarnall, can lay claim to descent from a family
that sprang to prominence in 1490 when Thomas Baker (d. 1497), "an
upstart from nearby Cranbrook," (8) purchased Sissinghurst from the
deBerham family and gave rise to a distinguished line of civil servants to
the British Crown.
In addition, comes word from Ed Sinker that the Bakers can claim
descent from the Baliol family of Scotland, with possible connections to
John Baliol, King of Scotland from 1292 - 1296 (lived 1249-1315) and
through him, not only to the ancient kings of Scotland (including Duncan I
and that rascal cousin of his Macbeth) but also to King Alfred the Great,
King of All the Britains.
Whether our ancestors were royal or even descendants of royalty is
certainly open to conjecture, but it is interesting to consider that they
may very well have rubbed shoulders with
those whose thunderous motions changed the world. And perhaps from our own
ancestral diversity, we can somehow learn to be more tolerant of the
differences we find in others.
References
1. Palmer, Lewis, comp. A genealogical record of the descendants of
William and Ann (Palmer) Trimble of Concord Delaware County. Chester,
Pennsylvania: Press of Chester Times, 1910.
2.Gilbert Cope Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust
street, Philadelphia, PA. Gilbert Cope (1840-1928) was a renowned
genealogist of Quaker families of Chester and Delaware Counties,
Pennsylvania, and neighboring states.
3.Ashmead, Henry Graham. History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia. LH Everts and Company, 1884.
4. Burke's Landed Gentry, 18th Edition, Volume III, 1972, p. 35.
5. E-mail between Edward Coates Sinker to Karen Mullian, February 15, 1997.
6. Mrs. Alice (Baker) Healy wrote to the compiler on 21 July 1979, from
North Palm Springs, California, that she had identified Joseph Baker's
parents as Robert and Mary Baker
of Edgmond, Shropshire. Robert Baker left a will proved 30 August 1672 in
the Edgmond Archdeaconry, Salop, included in Film 95652 at the Genealogical
Library in Salt Lake City, of
records in the Consistory Court of Lichfield, indexed in Film 95282.
7.A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant
Baronetcies of England, Ireland, and Scotland. By John Burke, Esq. . . .
and John Bernard Burke, Esq. 2nd
edition. London: John Russell Smith, 1844.
8. Jane Brown, Sissinghurst—Portrait of a Garden, The National Trust and
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, n.d.; Sissinghurst was first mentioned as
the home of Stephen de Saxingherste in 1180. The estate devolved to the
Sackville family in the 16th century and today, as Sissinghurst Castle,
boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. The property is in
the hands of the National Trust through the Sackville-West family.
Line of Descent of the Baker Family
Thomas Baker, d. 1497, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Co. Kent, England;
purchased estate from the deBerham family
Richard Baker, d. 1504, m. Joan _____
John Baker, b.c. 1488 at Sissinghurst, d. 1558; Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Speaker of the House of Commons under
Mary Tudor; m. Elizabeth (Dinley) Barrett;
John Baker, b.c. 1524, disinherited, m. Catherine Scott
(possible Baliol connection, taking us back to Alfred
the Great)
Sir Richard Baker, "the Chronicler," m. Margaret
Mainwaring, d/o Sir George Mainwaring (descended
from Ranulphus [or Randle] Manwaring who accom-
panied William the Conqueror to England in 1066)
John Baker, b. 1598
John Baker, b. 1621, d. 4th mo. 25, 1672, m.
Mary _____
John Baker, d. 3rd mo. 1683\84
Dorothy Baker b. 6th mo. 10, 1671,
m. Philip Yarnall
Mary Baker, m. 1686 William Coeburne
Hannah Baker, b. 1664, m. 1686 Francis Yarnall
Sarah Baker, m. 1687 Charles Whitacre
Joseph Baker, m. Martha Woodward
Much thanks to Karen and her fellow researchers for the wonderful
information that they have shared with the rest of the family.
?
Now, in what would seem to be a fitting lead in, let me introduce
you to the "Family Circle Person of the Month", Karen Judith (Greim)
Mullian. Karen traces her branch through Amos, seventh child of Hannah
(Baker) and Francis Yarnall as shown below. That line would be Francis (1),
Amos (2), Mary (3), Amy Garrett (4), Lydia Griffith (5), B.F. Ahn Jr. (6),
Blanche Ahn (7), Grace Mullin (8), B.C. Greim (9), Karen Greim (10). What
is of particular interest of this line is the trace through the collateral
lines made necessary when tracing through the female lines of our
ancestors. Karen reports the following: I grew up and still live in
Delaware County, having graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1970.
After graduation from Keystone Business School (now the Chubb Institute) in
Springfield, I married Tom Mullian in 1976. I currently work in the
Communications Section of the American Board of Internal Medicine in
Philadelphia. I have always been interested in the history of the area, and
in 1980 I embarked on researching my family history. A plethora of place
names to Upper Darby are named for ancestors: Garrett Road, Garrettford,
Bonsall Road, Hibberd Road. None of this was ever mentioned to me when I
was growing up. Before I started doing genealogy, there were many occasions
when Tom and I would ride out West Chester Pike (Route 3). When we would
reach the intersection of Route 3 and 926, I would always comment on the
beautiful farmhouse that was visible on the north side of West Chester
Pike. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the house had been built
by one of my earliest Pennsylvania ancestors, Francis Yarnall. In addition
to genealogy, my interest in history has led me to explore historic
interpretation, and through membership in a group called Past Masters in
Early American Domestic Arts, I have learned much about the way our early
ancestors ate, dressed, and worked to develop the foundations of our
country.
Thank you Karen for sharing your biography with the rest of the
family. Karen has also been very helpful in directing others, who are
searching for their ancestry, to people who may be able to help them find
the information that they seek. sources of information. Karen can be
reached on the internet at Swampfox@icdc.com.
?
Since we are on the internet and computers, there is a crisis that
is rapidly approaching - it is the year 2000. A computer consultant working
on year 2000 conversions (also known as Y2K--let's hear it for jargon),
states he doesn't believe businesses understand the magnitude of the
problem they face and is taking his money out of the stock market and the
bank. Many others are also predicting widespread computer system meltdowns
as the clock turns from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000, despite the
dire warnings. According to observers, many companies refuse to recognize
that the date-field problem in computer software is not just a systems
problem for the MIS people to solve, but is a looming business crisis.
"When the computers see '00,' nothing is going to make any sense," says the
consultant. Programs that are date-driven as in banking, finance and
insurance, will generate negative dates. MRP systems will schedule shipping
dates before manufacturing has begun. Companies that are avoiding or
downplaying the problem do so out of fear of the costs. Estimates for the
price tag to convert all the software code that affects dates run as high
as $600 billion. But the costs could be much higher, because businesses
that haven't solved the problem in time risk huge lawsuits from those that
have, if their systems don't work together properly or generate faulty
data. That's if the companies are still in business.
?
I received some very sad news this past month. Jim Snyder's Russian
fiancee, Natalia Klimova was found dead in Bosnia. It was only last spring
when I was told by Jim that he was going to travel to Russia once again to
see his long distance sweetheart, but this trip was to be much different.
Jim and Natalia have kept up a constant communication with each other over
the years, by way of letters and pictures. This relationship started by a
chance contact through Jim's business cards while he was doing business in
Russia (This is history repeating itself if you remember the chance note in
a box of ammunition that led Harry Elsworth Yarnall from Washington State
to Connecticut to marry Kathryn Marie Walsh, after an extended period of
letter writing). Jim would visit whenever possible and love flourished.
Now, after making all the arrangements, Jim was to make another trip to
Russia in September of 1996, when he would take Natalia as his bride before
returning to the United States. That was not to be however, and in June,
Jim was notified that Natalia was missing, and it wasn't until October that
he was notified of her death. For background, both America and Italy are
responsible for the peacekeeping mission in that country. Natalia was
working for them as a courier, and was caught in the wrong place at the
wrong time. Natalia was 28 years of age and has two brothers aged 11 and
18, and a sister who is 19 years of age. Jim is making arrangements to
return to Russia to see where she is buried and to pay his last respects.
Our prayers will go along with Jim, not only for peace in the area, but for
peace in Jim's heart; that he and the family of Natalia would find peace
and make sense of this tragic loss.
?
It seems fitting that our prayers for Jim, and for the family of
Natalia would lead into another paper from the book, "The Rebirth of
America" by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation titled, "Potent Answers to
Persistent Prayer." How many of us in this hectic day and age give thought
to asking for assistance from the Almighty God? Yet he encourages us with
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us:" 1 Jn 5:14. Too often in my own life
I try to do things myself, only to be reminded that without him I am
useless and helpless. With him all things are made whole; but how many of
us take everything to Him in prayer? There was a time when it was
considered normal to publicly pray, but not so any more. My friend John and
I would always hold hands with those around us at the breakfast, lunch or
dinner table - usually in a restaurant somewhere, and that simple act of
devotion would be looked on with wonder from many of those seated around
us. There have been so many times when at wits end, I have managed to
remember that he has requested that we take everything to him in prayer,
and on remembering and complying, what relief to know that it was out of my
fumbling hands and in the control of a merciful God. But what are the
spiritual conditions in this country today? Do you often see people in
public engaged in prayer? Do we all make it a regular practice to give
thanks for our meal? Are we at another point where history is repeating
itself?
From The Rebirth of America we read, "Spiritual conditions in the
United States deteriorated in the middle of the 19th century. People were
making money "hand over fist," and when they did, they turned their backs
on God. But a man of prayer, Jeremiah Ianphier, started a prayer meeting in
the upper room of the Consistory Building of the Dutch Reformed Church in
Manhattan. He advertised it. Only six people (from a population of one
million) showed up. But the following week there were 14, and then 23. They
decided to meet every day. Soon they filled the Dutch Reformed Church, the
Methodist Church on John Street, then every public building in downtown New
York. Famed newspaper editor Horace Greeley sent a reporter with horse and
buggy riding around the prayer meetings to see how many men were praying.
In one hour, he could only get to 12 meetings, but he counted 6,100 men.
Then a landslide of prayer began. People began to be converted (10,000 a
week) in New York City. The movement spread throughout New England. Church
bells would bring people to prayer at eight in the morning, twelve noon,
and six in the evening. The revival went up the Hudson and down the Mohawk.
Baptists had so many people to baptize, they couldn't get them into their
churches. They went down to the river, cut a big square in the ice, and
baptized them in cold water. In one year, more than one million people were
converted. The revival crossed the Atlantic, broke out in Northern Ireland
and Scotland and Wales and England, South Africa, South India -- any- where
there was an evangelical cause, there was revival -- and its effect was
felt for 40 years. It began in a movement of prayer...it was sustained by a
movement of prayer.
The movement lasted a generation, but at the turn of the 20th
century there was need of awakening again. There were special prayer
meetings at Moody Bible Institute, at the Keswick Convention in New
England, in Melbourne, in the Mildrey Hills of India, at Won San in
Korea...all around the world people were praying that there might be
another great awakening in the 20th century. God did indeed answer these
prayers -- in 1905.
Let me give you two examples: first, the student world. One of the
leaders of the revival of 1905 was a young man of the Ivy League who later
became perhaps the world's most famous professor of world missions. When
he was at Yale in 1905, 25% of the student body was enrolled in prayer
meetings and Bible studies! The ministers of Atlantic City reported that of
a population of 50,000 in that city, they knew of only 50 adults who were
unconverted. In Portland, Oregon, two hundred and forty department stores
closed from 11 to 2 for prayer and signed an agreement among themselves so
that no one would cheat and stay open. That's what was happening in the
United States in 1905. That revival of 1905 in the United States was linked
to the famous Welsh revival of 1904, which swept like a tidal wave over
Wales -- where 100,000 people were converted in a five month period. Five
years later, J.P. Morgan wrote a book to debunk the revival. His main
criticism was that of the 100,000 that joined churches in the five months
of the revival,k after five years, only 80,000 still stood. Only 80,000!
The social impact of the Wales revival was astounding. Judges were
presented with white gloves: they had no cases to try. No rapes, no
robberies, no murders, no burglaries, no embezzlements, nothing. The
District Consuls held emergency meetings to discuss what to do with the
police, now that they were unemployed. Drunkenness was cut in half. The
illegitimate birth rate dropped 44 percent in two counties within a year of
the beginning of the revival, so great was its impact.
From the Denver Post on January 20, 1905 we read. "For two hours at
midday all Denver was held in a spell....The marts of trade were deserted
between noon and two o'clock this afternoon, and all worldly affairs were
forgotten, and the entire city was given over to meditation of higher
things. The Spirit of the Almighty pervade every nook. Going to and coming
from the great meetings, the thousands of men and women radiated this
Spirit which filled them, and the clear Colorado sunshine was made brighter
by the reflected glow of the light of God shining from happy faces. Seldom
has such a remarkable sight been witnessed -- an entire great city, in the
middle of a busy weekday, bowing before the throne of heaven and asking and
receiving the blessing of the King of the Universe."
Much love,
Fred
Jer. 29:11 - 13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will
hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart.
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