She was a small person, my mother recalls, and wore long dresses with bonnets and aprons in the style of her times. She wore high top boots that laced up the front. When mother was small, Granny Adams, as we called her, lived with my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth. Both were without husbands at that time. 

Granny Adams had only one eye. In those times before modern medicine, people apparently learned to live with whatever infirmities afflicted them. Granny Adams had my Grandmother Blanche make her a burial outfit complete with bonnet and apron, and she kept it in a trunk. Every few years, however, she would decide to wear the outfit and would then ask my Grandmother to make her another one.

There were many other Adams family members that lived in the area nearby. Each one seems to have a story of their own. People back then lived closer to the elements than we do today. Mattie Lou, my great grandmother's sister, was blown away in a cyclone once, much like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," I suppose. But Mattie Lou just came right back down in Tennessee, and except for a broken tooth, was none the worse for the experience. I have met her decedents via the Internet. My mother played with one of "Aunt Lou’s" children as a young girl.  However, it seems they got into a spat which ended up in a fist fight between the two young ladies and ended the friendship for many years.

Another son, was named Sill Vester.  He was closest in age to my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth. Mattie Lou’s descendent put me in touch with her descendant, and we had a great exchange over our common ancestors. I am beginning to fully realize the things that are possible now through the Internet. A few weeks ago, I did not know these "cousins" existed. Now I’ve actually written to them. We all share the same ancestors.

Yet another relative was Charles, whom we believe had at least three wives. We are not certain if he divorced before remarriage or simply "walked away." According to mother, divorce was not always formalized in the olden days and if the man "walked away," it was just considered over. It seems to me that I recall from history that Andrew Jackson’s wife Rachel fell into considerable disfavor with the proper people of Nashville society over this type of divorce.

At the beginning of this venture, I joked about finding I was related to Grizzly Adams. I’ve not found him, at least not yet, but I did find an "Uncle Bear." He was an in-law, however, and not really an Adams.

Mother tells me that Granny Harriet Adams is buried in the family cemetery on the farm where she lived her final days. So is my great grandmother, and my grandparents along with various children that died through the years. I feel strangely drawn to that place. It has been years and years since I've been there, but I know that I will have to go back some time. There is great continuity between the living and the dead, the present and the past. I feel a sense of oneness with those who went before. Generations continue – life goes on. 

A tree has many branches. I know now why they liken the family to a tree, so many paths, so many directions to go. And so, the search continues as I look for the parents of John Calvin who settled in the land called Erin.

NEXT:  Finding the Path