Genealogy Jottings

Now that I have completed my supplemental Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) application to recognize the Pennsylvania service of my ancestor Caleb Reed (1756-abt. 1835), I am ready to compile my annual Christmas genealogy project. Every year I write up something to distribute to the family.

No one of my ancestors offered an obvious choice to write about this year. I had a fractured approach to my research and made no breakthroughs on any ancestor. I began in January with the Carters and soon became mired in East Tennessee records. This will take considerable time to unravel.

When I attended a spring DAR workshop and attempted to gather Caleb Reed’s information, I hit a brick wall with his wife’s Carr family.

In the summer I joined an Irish genealogy study group only to get stuck there, too.

With no obvious ancestor to write about this year, I will work on a different sort of project. The American Revolution remains fresh in my mind with the Caleb Reed application so I will discuss the service of the Revolutionary War era ancestors I have proven to the DAR.

These three (Gershom Hall, Robert Kirkham, Caleb Reed) would be of interest to relatives. I will write up service summaries for them with the intention of updating it some year in the future when I have proofs for additional ancestors.

As for the Caleb Reed, I have high hopes. My local DAR Registrar signed off on the supplemental this week, and I mailed it off to the DAR headquarters the next day.

Now it will take its place in the lengthy line for national approval, a process that is taking about two years.

In the meantime, I can work on finding enough information to submit another ancestor’s name. This research has become more timely as America approaches its 250th birthday in 2026.