Deepening Our Roots

by Donna Swagerty Shreve

I have challenged myself to find more ways to entice my children and younger generations of my relatives into our family history. My youngest son has been a reluctant audience to my well worn family stories. I finally hooked him when I realized his father’s side has deep roots in New York City where he has resided for the last twelve years. Last May we met a second cousin at the Westlawn Cemetery in the Bronx where we visited several ancestors that were located in places throughout the 400 acres cemetery. That visit piqued my curiosity about various Shreve types who had resided in New York City over the years. I was amazed at the quantity of the ancestors and the impressive locations where they lived and did business. 

My son has recently moved into an apartment owned by his partner’s father. On the walls of this, new to them, apartment will soon hang pictures of his family history in this apartment. Many a family gathering was held in this apartment over the years and involved several generations. 

I decided my son also needed a reminder on the walls of HIS heritage. I ordered a 1877 map of Manhattan. Thanks to the generosity of the second cousin who visited the cemetery with us, I now have some beautiful old photos of those relatives who resided in New York City during the nineteenth century. I will place the photos along each side of the map with a line connecting them to their addresses. What stood out right away was how close my son had lived to several of these addresses at his previous location where he lived for over 12 years. 

Now both guys have their roots on display in their new abode. I finally have a new audience for my research as I continue to delve into my husband’s side of the family. There are many ways to approach genealogy and sometimes a simple map can do the trick.

12/27/2021

339 words