Conflict in Our Family Trees

This month’s writing challenge, as offered by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow, is Conflict. Over the course of human history, conflict has abounded.

Our collective family has its own share of conflict. For nearly a dozen years, I have documented many of these family conflicts, some big and some small. Here are my top 20 “all-time favorite” family conflict posts:

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.

Everyday Women, Everyday Lives

In celebration of Women’s History Month, March’s 12 Ancestors in 12 Months writing prompt is Females.

For more than 12 years, I have written about hundreds of women in our combined family trees, many of them found in the pages of history books. In this post, I wanted to focus on everyday women—ten to them to be exact—who died in March. Although these women lived simpler lives than our more famous forebearers, their lives were important nonetheless, especially to those of us who proudly call them ”family.“

John Daniel Stark

On this day, 24 March 1912, John Daniel Stark, my 2nd great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 15 April 1856, in Morgan County, Missouri, John Daniel Stark was the son of Charles Stark and Elizabeth Manes. John Daniel Stark was one of 18 known children, including five older half-siblings from his father’s first wife, Sally (Amos) Stark—James, Benjamin Amos Stark (born on 12 August 1826), Elizabeth, Rebecca (born 1829), and Nancy—and nine elder full siblings—Mary, born in June 1838; Sarah, born 2 January 1840; Margaret, born in 1842; Vienna, born 13 February 1844; Elizabeth Jane, born on 16 September 1847; Lewis Manes, born 7 January 1850; Samuel J., born in March 1852; William Shelton, born 13 March 1853; and Martha Elizabeth, born 22 April 1855.