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An "Orphaned Heirloom" is Orphaned No More
( Original published in January 2019 "The Heritage Room" - the JustaJoy.com newsletter.)
In one hand is a modern copy of a picture of a great-great-grandfather and in the other - an original item from his history. One hundred and sixty-six years separate the two items and they would probably never have been reunited except for a great-great-grandson, Seward Osborne of Newberry Florida, and his passion for the past. The book lists all the names of the Lexington, New York Artillery Co. founded in 1852. It also includes information on many activities such as the purchase of uniforms, expenses related to "carting guns from Catskill" and much more. One of the men in the book is Porter Schermerhorn, Seward's 2nd great-uncle and brother to his 2nd great-grandfather. Rarely has the Heritage Room been blessed with such excitement as ensued from Seward's initial phone call requesting more information on the little, handwritten book. From childhood memories, Seward readily recalled the very field where these early militiamen probably practiced and drilled . Such a wonderful match to such a deserving man. Thank you, Mr. Osborne for YOUR service to our country, as well (army veteran) and thank you for the service of your ancestors. |
1989 U.S. Cruise Book
You find my picture in the fire department. I was a crew member for three years. Although this cruise book was only $25.00 brand new, it has become priceless over the years. I've been looking for this cruise book for years, but the only ones I've come across were from sellers who knew how much this could mean to a former crew member pictured in this book , and asking ridiculous prices, often over $350.00. Thank you so much!! This means so much to me. I'm on disability and I never thought I'd come across another copy of my cruise book that I could afford. I looked at the other items you are selling and it looks like you have quite a few yearbooks of varying branches, and ALL OF THEM are reasonably priced. I hope you sell all of them and continue selling military memorabilia for many, many years. Thank you and God bless you.
MM3 M.F. Tipshus
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War of 1812 Muster Roll Happily Restored
Some exciting correspondence has transpired at JustaJoy, recently. It is quite doubtful that War of 1812 Captain Samuel Clark could ever have guessed that he would be the source of such excitement more than 200 years after he signed his name on his Company's muster roll, but that is what has happened .
"To be honest ,"Jonathan wrote, "I'm astounded by what I'm finding out...I believe this document may be much more important than I thought. What it means is that Captain Samuel Clark and Margaret Hosack were my 3X Great Grandparents! This was not discovered previously and our family has been looking very hard for decades. I am so pleased! You can't know what an exciting breakthrough this ended up being. I am very pleased and I'm pretty sure I'm closely related to every Clark and Hosack on the document."
Your story brought a smile or two to JustaJoy, as well, Mr. Clark. |
[Special Note: This JustaJoy member wanted to express appreciation for JustaJoy.com in spite of not being able to recover an original item - exemplifying why we always leave information and pictures from sold items on the site.]
Charles C. Durham
"I was reading a magazine in the doctors office about a website that linked heirlooms with family members. I joined and posted my family surnames not really expecting anything, yet, hoping. A ledger appeared from Shelby, N.C. from my
Just to hold something over one hundred and fifty plus years old that he had held and to see the purchases by my family and their neighbors! History turned into life. I am passing them immediately to my great-grandchildren who are in middle school. Their dad is a history teacher and their mother, a heirloom aware
Luella Taylor - Denton, TX
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War of 1812 Pension Document
"My husband and I are very pleased to find the 1851 letter from the pension commissioner regarding a claim for bounty land. John Hollenback was my husbands great grandfather. Thank you."
Nancy Clark - Henderson, NV
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Victorian Era Trade Card
"My husband and I are excited to find this postcard that can be added to our genealogical 'gems'. Dr. Jayne was a great uncle to my husband whom he never met but had heard about through family. We have saved a bottle that once held one of his tonics but this will be so special because of the artwork. Thank you JustAJoy.com and George for bringing us together with this item. I've only been a member for three days, and success already!"
Susan Colvin - Merrillville, IN
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1942 "Quips & Cranks" Davidson College Yearbook
"I was so excited & surprised to discover this yearbook. Due to the fact that I am adopted & didn't discover my biological parents until late in life, I never got to meet my father in person. He died at the age of 38. In this yearbook is only the second time I have seen his picture. Thank you JustaJoy.com for all of your hard work."
Jane Black - Atlanta, GA
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Dunham Family Advertising Card
"As a professional genealogist compiling a history of all the Dunhams in America, I have researched this family for many years. However, there were still some Dunhams whose ancestry I had not been able to trace back. Recently a friend pointed me to the JustaJoy web site and said that there were some items containing the Dunham surname for sale on that site.
I went to the site and found an interesting looking trade card advertising the Willis and Dunham Millinery shop in Minneapolis, MN. I purchased the card from the vendor and when it arrived I found it to be in excellent condition just as the description on the JustaJoy web site had stated.
Then, my job was to identify this Dunham. By research in the census I discovered his name was Marshall L. Dunham, and he was in partnership with Isaac B. Willis in the wholesale millinery trade. BUT - I did not find a Marshall L. Dunham in my very large
My thanks to Joy for creating this fantastic web site which allows people to search for items that might once have belonged to their family. In my
Gratia Dunham Mahony - Huntsville, Alabama
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Civil War Letter
"Are you the Joy in JustaJoy? If so, I can't thank you enough for your fabulous website! What an awesome idea! Your hard work is very much appreciated - I'm sure by many people! I actually signed up in hopes of finding my grandmother's long-lost Victorian photo album (FLEWELLING, WEHL/ WALES surnames - Ohio and CA), and was surprised and thrilled to find an original letter written by my gr-great grandfather during the Civil War! I am looking forward to researching the recipient of his letter, Lt. W. Hart, Jr., too! So, Please send the invoice - I can't wait to pay for this letter!
[After arrival of item]
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for shepherding this fabulous piece of our family's history back "home". It's just amazing to hold a letter that my gr-great grandfather wrote nearly 150 years ago, at the close of the Civil War! Wow!! I can't thank you enough for recognizing its value to his descendants and listing it on JustaJoy.com. It has become an instant family treasure!"
Cindy Reinhardt - Santa Barbara, CA |
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1920's College Calling Card
"I received the calling the calling card for Annabel Waits yesterday, and it was so awesome to actually be holding something that one of my family members held 80+ years ago! Annabel would be the first cousin of my dearly beloved grandfather, who rarely talked about the past, so this is a side of my family that I know very little about. Now all of a sudden I know that Annabel attended a teacher's college in Athens, and with a little more research I was able to find her grave and who she had married. It helped to fit another piece of my genealogy puzzle! Thank you so much! You provide a
Maria Rogers - Savannah, Georgia
WWI Honor Roll Poster
"For my father-in-law, this is like winning the lottery. He has always taken so much pride in his father who was in WWI. He is telling everybody! Thank you JustaJoy.com!"
Phyllis Caldwell - Anderson, SC
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WII Medical Personnel Photo
"I was surprised and pleased to see the name of one of my relatives from a picture that I am sure was considered lost to the ages. Thanks to JustaJoy a family memory can be restored and a piece of our history can be preserved and passed down. Thanks
Greg Hampe , Virginia
Note - On December 4, 2012 a TV story was done by Kris Van Clef on ABC Channel 7 news in
Washington, DC. You can see it on the JustaJoy.com home page!
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1916 Concord, NC Newspaper
"I was really happy to find this item. A
Vernon Brewer, Concord, NC
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1810 Family Bible
"Found in a stack in our church library in Atlanta, an 1810 family Bible with full family names engraved on the front. It contained 200 years of records in beautiful handwriting, totally legible. We received contact from the great-great-great grand daughter, in Virginia, who was thrilled to find it. She made a generous contribution for the children in our church's community basketball league. Happiness has spread broadly!You have a business that is combined with mission!"
Mary Stripling, Atlanta, GA
"JustAJoy is a wonderful site for reuniting families and heirlooms. I was able to obtain a family Bible published in 1810 as a result. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to learn more about my g-g-g-grandfather and his family. We learned that there were several children we did not know about including the firstborn preemie who lived only 4 hours. This event certainly has me sold on JustAJoy.com."
Lila Davis, Virginia Beach, VA
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WWII Regimental Photo
"My sister googled my grandfather's name and to our family's surprise we discovered that JustaJoy.com Family Heirloom Exchange had a picture for sale of a military platoon standing for a photo in front of barracks dated 1945. On the back of this photo was a rare incident where the men in the photo had written their names and hometown and state on the back. Joy Shivar of JustaJoy.com Family Heirloom Exchange cleverly listed all the names of the men in the description of the photo. This enabled our family to find a unique and only picture of our grandfather when he was 18 years old. My grandfather passed in 1996. My brother will have a great keepsake for his future children to carry on with our last name. Our grandfather was from Oakdale, Tn."
Thank you
Thea, Susan, and Ryan - grandchildren
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War of 1812 Pension Documents
"The documents deal with a claim from my g-g-
Thank you,
Thomas Shay, Arlington, VA
Note - On December 4, 2012 a TV story was done by Kris Van Clef on ABC Channel 7 news in
Washington, DC. You can see it on the JustaJoy.com home page!
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1915 Graduation Picture
"We were delighted to obtain the composite of the 1915 dental school class. Dr. Hinman was a member of the faculty at that time and the discovery of this memorabilia ties in perfectly with the celebration of our 100th anniversary!"
Sylvia Ratchford - Executive Director, Hinman Dental Society, Atlanta, GA
1943 University of North Carolina Yearbook
"Received and it's wonderful! So great to see my grandfather as a
Harris Kay - Chicago, IL
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