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Acknowledgements A work of this size could not have come to fruition without the generosity and contributions of many kind souls who span this country from shore to shore. The computer has allowed me to reach out to family and friends that I never would have met otherwise, and I am so much richer for the experience and for their expertise. I know I cannot thank individually every unsung hero who has benefited this work, but I would like to draw special attention to just a few.
Becky Hill and Nan Card at the Rutherford B.
Hayes Memorial Library – both of these ladies have been a constant source of
encouragement and knowledge. They
make research in this phenomenal library a joy at every turn.
The Kentucky Historical Society of Frankfort – all the
wonderful folks in the genealogy section are a ‘dream come true’ for a
researcher. I want to especially
thank them for giving me permission to use some of the fabulous photographs they
have in their archives. The visual
enhancements have helped this work “come to life.”
All the delightful staff at the
Hopewell Museum of Historic Paris/Bourbon County – they gave so
generously of their time.
Tom Moore
of Bourbon County – who came to my aid when writing Virginia Roots in
Kentucky Soil
by helping us locate the Webb/Ware Cemetery.
I would still be lost if it were not for him!
The late John
Woods - John was such an enthusiastic researcher, and his site provided
so much information for those of us lucky enough to know him.
David Nance – David is a super “go to” person for gaining
valuable data about The Forks of Elkhorn Church and providing maps pertaining to
the area.
Kathleen Neal Dawson
– Thank you so much for sharing the moving deathbed story of Susanna
Ware.
Karin Rice – Thank you for providing the information and chart
from the Dower and Division of Land records for James Conn. Your contribution added much to the
history.
Marti Martin,
Woodford County Historical Society board member and researcher - Marti tirelessly tracked
down information for me concerning all the Wares in Kentucky. Many of the deeds and documents in
this book came from her willingness to sift through countless records on my
behalf. Thank you, Marti, for your
thoughtfulness and hard work.
Jane and Scott Dudgeon of Virginia – By providing me access to
your family records and documents, you gave me the very clues I needed to do
further research. Thank you.
It was an incredible blessing to come in contact with other researchers who had
their own particular branch of the family so well documented and traced. It was through their insights on
their own relative that I gleaned information I would never have been able to
gather on my own.
Betty Fitzgerald – When it came to the lineage of John Ware,
there were two ladies who stood head and shoulders above the crowd with their
knowledge and facts about this firstborn son of James and Agnes. Betty sent me entire sections of
information on the descendants of this line and was a constant source for facts
and accuracy. Thank you, Betty, for
your insights and your abundant wealth of information.
Vicki Ware Cheesman – A direct descendant of John Ware, Vicki
knew everything there was to know about this ancestor. She is truly a “Sherlock Holmes” of
research. When I think of Vicki, I
am reminded of words like tenacious,
dedicated, uncompromising, (in her search for the truth), and
unwavering.
(She is like a bloodhound with a fresh scent when a new clue comes
her way.) I also think of words like
friend, cohort, partner in crime, and
encourager. Not only has Vicki provided a website for all
Ware researchers at
www.warefamilies.org, but she has been a constant
source of help and insight for me.
She has always ‘been there for me’ over the several years it has taken me to
write this book - to spur me on, lift my spirits, or give me a swift kick in the
butt when I needed it. She would not
let me “settle” for less than she thought I could do - even when I was ready to
toss this manuscript in the fire out of frustration. Thank you, Vicki, for having faith in
me – and thank you for the countless hours of editing we suffered through
together with laughter.
You and I both know that “all those
couples had their babies together and they were very very happy!” (Inside joke)
Peggy Smith Kittell – Nicholas Ware had always been somewhat
elusive for me in the past, so when I got to his chapter, I was thrilled to get
in touch with two direct descendants who opened up a virtual treasure box of
information for me. One of those
kind people, Peggy Kittell, provided me with her lineage information and, in so
doing, opened the floodgates for further information. Thank you, Peggy, for providing the
missing puzzle piece I had not seen before.
Robert and Norma Ware – My other “angels
of ancestors” came via a delightful phone call to Bob Ware in California. This wonderful gentleman and his wife
had (not only done firsthand research in South Carolina), but had unearthed some
of the most fascinating family history I had heard. All of the information on Thomas
Edwin Ware was the result of their detective work and Norma’s writing. I can never thank them enough for
their generosity in sharing pictures and information. Each conversation with Bob would
brighten my day.
Debbie McCardle – When it came to the children of James Ware II, my
personal area of expertise lay with his son, James Ware III. The other siblings needed a heroine
to rescue them from obscurity. I
will forever be indebted to Debbie, a descendant of Thompson, who provided me
with so much insight into this son and SO much more! Debbie is one
of the most professional and
dedicated researchers I know. The
wife of James Talbot McArdle, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Debbie has kindly
shared all her research (which is abundant) on this family member and has even
located bibles and documents I had never seen before. On a recent trip to Kentucky, she
became my “feet on the ground” and hiked all over to track down data for me. With her expert knowledge in antiques
and history, Debbie has often given me the professional insights I sorely
needed. Thank you, Debbie, for your
friendship, guidance, support, and constant encouragement. I can never repay you for all you
have done.
John and Judy McGee of Southeast Texas – It was just recently that I was
contacted by Judy McGee in Texas, who kindly offered to share some photographs
her family owned of the descendants of Thompson Ware’s daughter, Davidella Ware. They add so much to the history! Thank you, Judy, for making it
possible to put a name with a face!!
Jim and Jane Shropshire – It was also only in the last few
months that I came in contact with Jim and Jane Shropshire – descendants of
George Ware. They kindly provided
the awesome likenesses of James Todd Ware and Lucy Arabella Ware Shropshire. Thank you for enhancing their
stories!
Sandra Walker – Much of the data I had for Polly Ware Webb came
from the kindness and generosity of one of her descendants – Sandra Walker. Not only did Sandra share incredible
portraits and photographs, she allowed me to use some of the oral history that
has lovingly been preserved and passed down through her family. Her stories can be found in much
greater detail in Virginia Roots in Kentucky Soil, but without her
contributions on Polly, this book would be sadly lacking. Thank you, Sandra, for your help and
your friendship.
Albert Bruns and
Maunsel White – Both of these cousins are direct descendants of the
daughter of James and Caty Ware - Catherine Ware Scott. They
provided many wonderful portraits and artwork for this book (and its
sequel), along with family records and historical documentation for the pictures of all those
involved with Catherine Ware Scott.
Thank you both so much.
Martha Baskin – I want to thank Martha tremendously for
allowing copies of the letters that Harvey Richard Ware wrote to his wife to be
included in this book. They provide
valuable personal insights into the people and the times.
Gail Wurtele – In writing the chapter on Edmund Ware, it was
such a blessing to make the acquaintance of Gail Wurtele. She is the manager of Wildwood - home
of Jasper Ware. Her terrific
contributions of the photographs of the family and Wildwood are a gift beyond
measure. It is so nice to know that
Jasper’s legacy is in such capable hands!
Conrad Wayne Ware – Wayne was my “on the
site” researcher for Wildwood, and I am deeply grateful to him for allowing me
to use some of his quotes. Even
more, however, I want to thank him for his unfailing support and kindness over
the years. He always seemed to know
just when I needed a little “pat on the back” to get me motivated. Thank you, Wayne and Jan, for being
great people!
Deacon Dorothy K. Royal of St. Mary’s
Episcopal Church in Nebraska – One day this kind lady took a phone call from me
inquiring about a stained glass window for Jasper Ware that hangs in the church
where she serves. Dropping
everything, she was not only kind enough to dictate the inscription on the
window for me - she sent me pictures and a bulletin from the church. You cannot convince me that angels
are not everywhere. Thank you!
Elizabeth and James Ware – Although both
of my in-laws have already passed away, I want to publicly thank them for
entrusting to me the family documents and letters that it has been my privilege
to safeguard over the years and preserve for future generations. It is my honor and joy to be able to
share these treasures with other family researchers, as I know my in-laws would
have wanted. It is my constant hope
that I have made them proud.
John Reagan,
who fulfilled my heart’s desire to make my work accessible to others by setting
up a website for me at
www.waregenealogy.com.
-
What more can I say of John!? This
man is a saint. So much of what I
have been able to share with other researchers on line would never have been
possible without his willingness and generosity in posting my work. There are no words to adequately
express the depth of my gratitude, and I continually marvel at his infinite
patience.
John Hay – When my husband and I arrived in Kentucky to do some
more research, this kind and wonderful cousin (who had never met us) was so
unbelievably generous as to let me invade his privacy, take pictures, and wander
around the lovely grounds of his home - Scotland.
It was a surreal experience and one I will never forget. Thank you, John!
Eugenia Crittenden Blackburn Luallen (better known as Crit) – I
am honestly at a loss for words as to know how to thank this lovely and gracious
woman. On a hunch (often called a
‘gut instinct’ ), I decided to check out a stretch of gorgeous Kentucky land
that just ‘called’ to me as possibly being Wareland – the property of James Ware
in the 1700s. When I knocked on the
door of this beautiful home and babbled something about ‘looking for Wareland,’
this soft spoken, delightful lady informed me that I was standing on it. If memory serves me correctly, I
think I threw myself at her with a huge hug and babbled even more. Instead of kindly escorting me off
the property or calling 911, Crit proceeded to verify for me that my search was
finally over. I had, indeed, found
my ‘pot of gold at the end of the rainbow’.
It was an indescribable moment for me.
Her hospitality and graciousness knew no limits as she let this (somewhat
crazed) genealogist take pictures and imagine herself standing on the same
ground that an ancestor had stood - over 230 years ago. Over the ensuing months, Crit shared
family photos, trekked through a neighboring graveyard, and answered my many
questions as I pieced all the information together. The history you see before you now
could not have been possible without her input, and her generosity of spirit
will bless Ware relatives for generations to come. The added bonus was the discovery
that our families are actually related!
David Ware –
Thank you, David, for allowing me to sequester myself off and become a hermit
while working on this project – sometimes at the price of being sociable or
approachable. You have patiently sat
through hours of listening about dead relatives (“graveology,” as you love to
call it) and you always make me feel like you are actually interested. Your support and pride in my work
makes it so special for me.
Cathy and Rich Spinner – I want to thank my sister and
brother-in-law for being the best cheering section anyone could ask for – you
provide so much more than I deserve.
James Ware – And, last, but certainly not least, my beloved
husband, Jim.
What would I do without him?
He has been the conduit through which all of this became possible. His willingness to spend vacations
roaming around cemeteries and in local libraries makes him a candidate for
sainthood right out of the chute.
His unfailing support in whatever task I undertake is a gift beyond measure. When I have become obsessed with the
latest chapter or transcription, he has willingly (without ever a word of
complaint), taken over the cooking and cleaning, or whatever else I have let go
unattended in my fever pitch of creativity.
His insights are impeccable, his knowledge limitless, and his attention
to detail a source of constant inspiration for me. He is my breath, my life, and the
reason why this book came to be.
JCW
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