When the Ancestors Answer Back

Charles H. Gamble military record from Fold3.com

Just a week ago, I wrote my first true genealogy post for this blog, a discussion of the Civil War service of Charles Henry Gamble, my godfather's maternal grandfather.  I was inspired to do so after writing a letter just a couple of days earlier to the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society (BCGHS), requesting membership.  I felt so full as I typed the names and dates of the folks who represent my godfather's ties to Blount County, it was as if I was making an offering: yes, I will call your names so that you are not forgotten.  It seemed that this is what I am supposed to be doing, and so I jumped into writing the post about Charles Henry even before I had all the puzzle pieces in place for him.

Today, I received an email from someone in the BCGHS who had read my letter.  Years ago, she had discovered Charles' grave in

Old Quaker Cemetery on findagraves.com; picture uploaded by 98percentH2O

the Old Quaker Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee, and set about gathering information about him and other Black Civil War veterans who were from or settled in Blount County.  Her information was used in a tribute this past summer to commemorate 150 years since Emancipation (here is an article describing the event).  She's offered to share the information.

Her email conveyed information I didn't know and made me realize that some of the information I have collected on my godfather's family is incorrect; and, of course, I was able to pass along some information that I had.  One of the nuggets in the email was the fact that Charles was buried next to Myra, the young daughter he and his wife, Mary, had lost. I also learned where Mary and some of their other offspring are buried.  It means so much to have this information and to know that Charles Henry and his fellow soldiers were honored in their hometown.

I know I am supposed to do the genealogist's happy dance, but I am going to be honest and tell you that my first response was an upwelling of emotion.   This very helpful informant wrote that she had not been able to find any descendants of Charles Henry and Mary Lucinda Gamble. My godfather is no longer alive to claim them.   But that is not the reason for my emotional response. It is because when I received the email, it was as if Charles Henry was reaching out to me more than a century after his passing.  I answered his call, and he answered back.