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?

166th Edition

Peace and love Family,

We are stepping out on Faith each and everyday and just look at us now! Welcome to March and Women's History Month. We have so much to celebrate and beam with pride about when we think about the women in our Family. They are known for being able to be whatever they want to be!!

We wish to impress upon you the road traveled and strength the woman of our family exhibited! It took faith, Stamina and a core belief in family values to bring us to this point in our lives. This is in no way to suggest they were perfect, just saying they were perfectly design to be the vessels from which we came from.

In many instances they took what little they had to nurture and care for a generation that exist today as lawyers, doctors, nurses, lab techs, teachers, reformed addicts, husbands, wives, farmers, entreprenuers, community advocates, servants and minister. They held that family unit together despite the pushing and pulling that was going on around them.

We cannot hate our women when we look at all they endured and how damn good we turned out, We cannot minimized the roles they've played in protecting our very existence. Oh to those, who have not come to that moment in their lives when they have to say: "if it weren't for my mother, my Grandmother, my Aunts or my Ancestors.

It's a humbling moment when you recognize what a job they did! So let Women's History Month take on a more reflective meaning to each of us. While we wait for our men to heal from their wounds, transverse through the minefield of blockades and for the children to grow up, it's that Woman holding down the fort. It doesn't take away from the accomplishments you've made, it's the exclamation mark in your journey.

Much love to each of you and Happy Women's History month.

Stroud The Sisters and their mother Mary T top is right. Rachael Stroud Michael top left. Gustava Stroud Ford center, Jannie Stroud Haden bottom left and Helen Stroud Tucker bottom right

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.

Good News:

This is a heads up announcement. Our reigning Matriarch will be turning 90 years old in April. So mark your calendars our Matriarch Elizabeth "Betty" tucker Scotland will be 90 year on April 22nd. And she and husband Norman "Mickey" Scotland's will be celebrating their Anniversary in April. These are big Milestones for or reigning Matriarch.

For some of us who are members of the older generation it is hard to accept how easily the younger generation rely on Door dash, Uber and Uber eats. Well family you are never to old to learn to appreciate something new. I sat facetime with my 5 year old Grandson who lives in California. He was eating ice cream and I playfully said " I want some. " Well, Mr. Khimahr went to his mother and No More than twenty minutes later delivered to my doorstep in Florida was a cup of my favorite Butter Pecan ice cream. So thank you Uber Eats and Khimahr Benjamin.

Welcome home Carla Tucker from your cruise on Wonder of the Seas. We can tell you enjoyed yourself and getting ready for the next one. You look absolutely radiant!

Happy Birthday Teresa Haden Boone.in Belville, Texas , It's a long way from New York and Rhode Island .

Prayer Warriors:

On behalf of everyone who is going through something and we are unaware of, Thank you for your prayers. The message has been received .

We ask for your Prayers for our own Micheala Hougabook. After being on a liver donor list for three years Micheala got that long awaited call. Let your prayers ask for successful recovery.

Congratulations on Celebrating 5 years as Virtual book Club.

Wider Horizon Book Club

Join us via Zoom as we meet the 4th Saturday of each month at 4pm eastern time, to discuss and share our monthly readings. March 28th our Book reading is: "In Praise of Difficult Women by Karen Karbo.

Just click the link below :ID: 827 9641 9692 with the same Password: HORIZONS.

• Virtual Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82796419692

Stop in and see what this group is all about. Bring your glass. We believe you will be pleasantly surprised and drawn into joining us again. All ages are welcome to join us.

Our History

We have shared with you the importance of an area called Culpeper, Virginia, where our ancestors presided. Remember Jane Ford and Mathew Marshall Ford had 17 children. One of their offsprings brings us to a DNA connection to Mariah Washington.

Here's Mariah's story shared by her Great Grandson Jeffrey "Straight Arrow" Shanks

February 18 at 2:13 PM

 ·Front Royal, VA ·

Black American History continues for me. My Grandfather Gabriel would always tell me stories of our ancestors and how powerful they were and was always fighting. That Warrior's spirit! I can remember my Great Uncle Tecumseh(my grandfather's brother)would visit us from SW Virginia close to Kentucky and tell the story of his 3x great uncle who he called The Black Panther crossing, kind of ironic would you say. What a story of a true warrior and he would never settle always resisting to give in even until death in 1813. The mighty Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was mighty in battle and in spirit! Family always knows who you are and whose you are!! I honor my 2X great grandmother Annie Mariah Williams- Washington(b.1831) and my beautiful mother Mary Washington-Shanks today and our ancestor my 5x great uncle Tecumseh b.1768. Keeper of the faith and truth blessings to our ancestors.