Why were you invited to this newsletter? Everybody comes from somebody! This is what all of us have in common. In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia.
You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war. Why is this important to Our family? Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war. Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail.
You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family! Some of our new readers may still ask: Why is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud. Well, hold on, Dock and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael, Ford and Wyatt Family. Need I say more?
165th Edition
Peace, love and Strength Family,
If we've never shared anything else of importance to you let us do so now! During the month of February there will be lots of discussion about Black History. What should stand out in your mind is, "Slavery is white history. How we survived it, is Black History. " So live your truth and your history as a survivor of a horrific chain of events that couldn't and didn't kill us. There's so much power in recognizing how strong you are; when strong was all that could save you.
We encourage you to protect your children and Grandchildren: Teach them well!
The bigger picture for our family unit is we are puzzle pieces that make up the whole puzzle. Should we leave one piece out the puzzle is noticeably incomplete. Our Ancestors created the outer border of the puzzle and we fill in the middle. This newsletter serves to bring these pieces together and honors the valuable place each of you holds in the puzzle.
Your experiences, good, bad, overwhelming, well accomplished, tramatizing and fulfilling, makes us who we are today. Because despite of all the distance, discord, disconnect, isolation; here we are receiving this family Newsletter. It was by design that we have all reconnected.
So in acknowledgement of Black History, you are encouraged to celebrate your victories. Be your own hero. Sing your own praises. You are indeed Somebody! Your experiences have value and worth and who you are deserves to be honored. What you didn't have, who you didn't know, how you got here in spite of or because of; is Your Black History!
We salute each and everyone of you and encourage you to continue reconnecting and sharing your piece of the puzzle. Our History is not a color, it's who we are and how we made it. Black History is how we survived!
I Am Black History 24, 7, 365 !
Welcome February, cheerfully known and shared as Black History month. They'll tear down monuments and tear up documents, but there's no overlooking our existence. Live and love your truth because weaker people would have die!
Welcome February, gleefully celebrating Valentines day. Love yourselves, love your families and share your love with others.
This newsletter serves to put an exclamation mark on the lives our Ancestors hoped we would have. The messages in this newsletter is to offer hope, encouragement and acknowledgement. So I hope you will reach out to one another and share victories, desires and needs. We can only trust you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us. Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer.
Prayer Warriors.
During these trying times we ask that you keep the entire family in your prayers. Our family is made up of a mosaic of different cultures and here in the U.S. they are under constant attack. Pray for strength, protection and Grace.
We couldn't go a day without keeping our Elders uplifted in our prayers. Their roles as head of our community can be daunting. We pray for good health and wisdom.
Please keep all of our family members who have health issues in your prayers as well.
Finally, please keep Cousin Wayne Richburg and family in your prayers as he continues to adjust to the passing of his mother Doreen Chesson Richburg. It is also of great importance to keep Doreen's only surviving brother, Charles Chesson Jr. in your prayers.
Good News:
Happy 18th Birthday to Charles E Tucker III in Danbury, Connecticut. "Trey " as he is fondly referred as is the son of Charles Jr and Shaynele Tripp Tucker . He is the grandson of the late Charles Sr and Marie Pittman Tucker. Trey is the Great Grandson of Harry P Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker. We extend a loud and Proud Birthday shout out to Trey and look forward to seeing him move forward in his New Season.
Well family, I've heard the phrase "What's love got to do with it?". Well we have to congratulate these love birds on their upcoming child birth. Yes, New York, your own Mercedes Davis is preparing for the entry of a baby at anytime time. She is the daughter of Kim Morefield Davis and Marvin Davis. and the Granddaughter of Carole Tucker and Bernard Morefield
. She is the Great Granddaughter of the late Harry P. Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.
With a great sense of relief we able to report that Cousin Tyrone Haden has been released from the hospital earlier this month and will be returning to week within a week. Tyrone was blessed to be strong enough to celebrate his daughter Nijah's birthday on Jan. 29th. Tyrone is the son of the late Cecelia Haden and Tyrone Phelps. He is the grandson of the Late Lloyd Jr. and Dorothy McKelvey Haden. He is the Great Grandson of Lloyd Sr. and Janie Stroud Haden
It couldn't get any better for a Father and son. On Jan. 23rd in San Diego California Horatio Green traveled from Florida to Pin his son Malik Green, who is a member of the US Navy. He is now an NC1.and his father pinned his ribbon on his uniform. The ribbon symbolizes his promotion and role Counselor for his Shipmates Malik, is the son of Horatio and Katherine Johnson Green and grandson of the late Gloria Tucker Green and .Brad Jones. He is the great Grandson of the late Wilbur Tucker and Lillie , he is the Great Great Grandson of Harry P Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker,
Our History:
A message from the Ancestors: You are the best part of our Story
Remember Mathew Marshall your ancestor was a slave and here you are today showing that slavery was not his whole story.
The following chart lists the original Stroud sisters and their parents. The Chart branches out showing their ancestors. The following chart is created and supported by DNA matches.
Earlier in our Newsletters' we talked about Ned who lived to be shy of 100 yrs old, with 21 children and was once enslaved. This chart symbolizes that our history goes far beyond the boundaries of Enslavement. Ned was a defiant as well as brave Black man. In 1871, he served as a witness in the courts of 12 white men who had come to his home in Alamance County, North Carolina. They lured him out of his home under the guise that they wouldn't hurt him. Once he came out they took his gun tied him to a tree and whipped him. Ned testified that one man gave him the 25 lashes, while 8 of his children watched.
Ned testified to serve notice that he wasn't scared!
Wider Horizon Book Club
Join us of Feb 28th at 4 pm Est for our Virtual Book Club meet. We will be discussing the book The Good Wife by Meredith Lavendar and Kendall Shore . We will take time out sharing a Black History Presentation.
So grab a glass find your happy place and join us via zoom. Just click the link and the password is HORIZONS
