Doing God’s Work: The Blesseds

The theme of this month’s 12 Ancestors in 12 Months writing challenge is “Check It Out!”, something uttered regularly by family historians with each new find, myself included. With each new “discovery”, I regale loved ones and strangers alike with what I learned, whether they care or not.  🙂

So what makes this discovery any different than the hundreds of others I have made already? Why should you “check it out”? Let’s find out…

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My genealogical research has uncovered dozens of ancestors who devoted themselves to God, so many that I began a series of posts titled Doing God’s Work: Our Families’ Faithful. This is the eleventh installment. 

In the previous post of this series, I presented brief biographies of three direct ancestors who were monks. Yes, you read right… monks.

Charles David Spangler

On this day, 25 April 1912, Charles David Spangler (my spouse’s 3rd great-grandfather) passed away in Lansing, Fayette County, West Virginia.

Born on 5 November 1837, in Botetourt County, Virginia, Charles David Spangler was the second known child of Jacob Spangler and Elizabeth “Eliza” L. Craft, joining older brother Clifton Hill Spangler, who was born a year and a half earlier.

Penelope (Worden) Woodmansee

On this day, 2 April 1805, Penelope (Worden) Woodmansee (my 7th great-grandmother) passed away in Dover Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Born on 24 March 1728, Penelope was the daughter of Samuel Worden and Abigail Mott. She joined her elder sister, Phebe Worden, born on 30 June 1724, and brother Benjamin, born on 7 June 1726.

Circa 1730, brother Samuel was welcomed to the family. Four years later, circa 1734, sister Sarah arrived. In 1738, sister Hannah came along. Then, circa 1740, Penelope’s final known sibling, sister Silence was born. Although little more is known about Penelope’s childhood, much is known about her birthplace.