Iredell County, NCGenWeb

Exploring the depths of our family history isn’t just about satisfying our curiosity or filling in a family tree. It’s about preserving a legacy for future generations—our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Imagine the invaluable gift of knowing the stories, struggles, and triumphs of ancestors. I recall a moment when convincing a relative of the significance of capturing a four-generation photograph proved challenging. This rare opportunity, featuring a newborn alongside their father, grandfather, and great-grandmother, epitomizes a unique, once-in-a-lifetime moment that, while it might seem of little consequence now, will undoubtedly become a treasured piece of history for future family members. Let’s cherish and seize these moments, understanding their potential impact and the legacy they contribute to our descendants.

What Value A Photo?

In life’s vast and ever-twisting tree,
Where roots dive deep and branches free,
Lies a tale of ages past,
In shadows long and echoes cast.

A newborn’s cry, a lineage’s breath,
A moment shared ‘twixt life and death,
Where generations in a frame,
Bind future’s promise, past’s acclaim.

Great-grandmother’s eyes, a well of years,
Father, grandfather, bygone fears,
A lineage in a single sight,
A beacon through time, a guiding light.

So, treasure these moments, brief and rare,
A photo, a memory, an heirloom to share,
For what may seem small in our own story’s page,
Becomes the legacy of a future age.

–Penned by Tom Winslow, 2024-02-07

As the holidays approach and families get together, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about preserving your family’s history. One of the best ways to do this is by interviewing your older relatives about their life experiences. Not only will you learn more about your family’s past, but you’ll also create a lasting record that can be passed down to future generations.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Prepare your questions: Before you start your interview, take some time to prepare a list of questions. Think about what you want to learn from your relative and what topics you’d like to cover. Some good questions to ask might include:
   • What was your childhood like?
   • What was your first job?
   • How did you meet your spouse?
   • What was your proudest moment?
   • What advice would you give to future generations?
2. Take notes: During the interview, take detailed notes so you can remember everything your relative tells you. You can use a notebook or a computer to record your notes.
3. Take photos: If your relative has any old photos or documents, take pictures of them. These can be great additions to your family history.
4. Make recordings: Consider recording your interview so you can listen to it again later. You can use a smartphone or a digital recorder to make the recording.
5. Consider DNA testing: If you have an older relative, consider having them take a DNA test through a service like Ancestry.com. This can provide valuable information about your family’s ancestry.
6. By following these tips, you can create a lasting record of your family’s history that can be cherished for generations to come. Happy interviewing!

I am starting the process of adding a few pages to the site providing an index to testators of old wills in Iredell County.  Most of the originals should be available at the North Carolina State Archives.  I hope that FamilySearch will have the will books online sometime soon.

I learned something rather surprising:  There are only four surviving marriage bonds in the Iredell County records at the NC State Archives.  I don’t know what happened to the hundreds of bonds which should have been executed over the years.  I am working to obtain copies of the four bonds.  Early marriages were often performed “by banns,” meaning that the couple had the marriage banns called in church for three consecutive weeks, and then they were considered married.  The remnant of that system is the part in the marriage ceremony asking for anyone who knows a reason the couple may not be married to speak forever or hereafter forever hold his peace.  Some church records may have information on such marriages, but otherwise a researcher will have to rely on indirect evidence such as a the name of a daughter’s married surname in a will or a son-in-law’s name in the bride’s father’s will.  Starting in the 1860s, marriage licenses started to be used, and those forms name the couple and their parents — that can name a step-parent, but do be cautious.  It is before that time period that proving a marriage is a particular challenge.

A link to the Statesville Historical Collection has been added to the Research Resources page of this site.

A local resident has written a book, and there will be a public event at the Statesville library on July 14th, when Mr. Stonestreet will talk about his book, and copies will be available for purchase.

Tales From Old Iredell County: Historical Mysteries, Legends, Murders and Stories of the Unusual and Unique, by O. C. Stonestreet

Iredell NCGenWeb is changing to WordPress software, and so things will look and function differently. Thank you for visiting Iredell NCGenWeb!