Celebrations: As 2016 Comes to a Close

[Life's ups-and-downs -- Puck's improvement on Cole's "Voyage of Life" / J. Keppler. N.Y. : Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, 1883 July Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]*

Here's a look backward at Ancestry Island at some of my favorites for the year.

I think Christine's discovery that out ancestor John Warren Avery (1835-1900) was a target of KKK attacks in Winston County, Alabama, in the 1870's easily ranks as the biggest surprise all year.

Christine is also responsible for finding a letter written by my great grandmother Nannie Freeman Warren (1857-1934) describing her family's move to Johnson County, Texas, in 1870.

I'm rather proud of my successful search for my paternal great uncle (Henry) Hill Freeman Warren (1896-1956) a graduate of Vanderbilt University's medical school. (Honestly, I never expected to find him in Connecticut!)

A multi-week (and still not completed) review of the Macon County, Alabama, probate records of my third great grandmother Timney P. Watts Warren Phillips (1805-1863) has been fruitful, bringing to light (among other things) the medical care she received during her last illness and the names of three more of her stepchildren and even a daughter, Martha Norman Phillips Adams (1833-1916), that we didn't know about previously.

An important outcome of researching the will and probate records of my fourth great uncle Jeremiah Warren (1772-1832)** was learning the fate of several of the enslaved persons named in 10th Item of his will through a comment posted by a descendant of the woman named Mary. And I will be posting more about Jeremiah's probate in the coming year.

Finally, and just for fun, I'm including a link to one of my most memorable experiences abroad: French Pirate Bikers. Enjoy!

*LOC's commentary on this image is priceless: Illustration shows two men on bicycles, one just starting out on life's journey, being towed by Father Time, the second one is nearing the end of life's journey and about to get caught by a scythe and thrown from the bicycle into a grave. Milestones and signs mark the journey: in youth there is "Health", between 20 and 30 there is "Happiness", at 40 there is "Pleasure", at 50 "Hope", at 60 there is "Neglect", between 60 and 70 there is "Regrets" and "Sickness", at 80 there is "Fear", and at 90 is an open grave with an owl perched on the mile-marker. At the top center is a "Half Way House" and at bottom center, in a floral arrangement, is an hourglass on top of a clock.
** Timney's brother-in-law


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: French Biker in Kilt and Lace, Beziers 2012

Or perhaps he was from Scotland?

[From my personal collection]

In case you missed them, there's been two previous posts of this event: One and Two.


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: Triky, Beziers 2012

Returning to the photos I took of the Beziers motorcycle rally in Beziers four years ago, here's today's offering: Triky.

[From my personal collection]

From the number 58 on Triky's French license plate we can tell that its home base is in the department of Nièvre* in Burgundy, about 350 miles north of  Beziers.


*I haven't been to this part of France (yet).


© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: French Pirate Bikers, Beziers 2012

Apparently this is an annual event in Beziers but it certainly wasn't what Bonnie and I were expecting on our trip to the flower market that's held every Friday on the allees Paul Riquet. All other traffic was brought to a halt but the spectacle was worth the wait as several hundred bikers circled the promenade before parking their motorcycles and settling down to enjoying themselves.

[From my personal collection]

If I recall correctly, the man in the middle with the upraised arm was singing pirate songs (in French, of course).


And at the other end of the allees Paul Riquet the flower market proceeded as usual.

[From my personal collection]

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Drive: Two Citroëns

Bonnie was dropping a departing friend off at the Beziers train station several years ago when these two red cars parked side-by-side caught my eye.

[2014, from my personal collection]

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Fantastic Find Saved: Hôtel Chappaz à Béziers

As you may know, over the past six years I've been privileged to spend a lot of time hanging out with my best friend Bonnie (she of the enviable ancestral records) near Béziers in the south of France. Whenever we visit the town we always seem to pass by this absolutely gorgeous old house that's right across the street from the new shopping center.

[Photo courtesy of Luc Beelen]

The building is truly exceptional so you can imagine my horror when Bonnie told me last summer that it was scheduled to be demolished. And when I got an email from her recently with the subject line, "That wonderful house in Bez" I was almost certain the news would be bad.

But no, Hôtel Chappaz will be preserved, becoming an annex to the the new Palais de Justice* being built on the block next door.

The fantastic sculptures that ornament the house were done by Béziers' native son Jean-Antonin Injalbert (1845–1933), a sculptor of great national importance.

[All photos courtesy of Luc Beelen]

M. Chappaz made his fortune from vermouth in the late 19th century and obviously wanted to display his wealth.

[Source: Patrimoine de France, photo credit Fatma Alilate 2014]

If you want to see a dozen more photos of Hôtel Chappaz, visit Patrimoine de France's website (in French).

Thanks again to Luc for giving me permission to use his photos.

*In the linked video showing a 3D architectural of the new building titled "Projet Beige" you can catch glimpses of Hôtel Chappaz hiding itself behind some trees.

© 2015 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.