Laurel Hill Cemetery

Here we are at Laurel Hill cemetery, just a few miles up the Schuylkill River. It was founded in 1836 after a Quaker John Smith buried his young daughter and then the site couldnt be  located. So he started what eventually became 80 acres of a quiet, peaceful resting place. We dont know if any of our family is buried here. What we do know is that there is so much to learn from those who have passed before us.  

One day last week I found 15 pages with Wooly/Woolly/Wooly listings. Children and marriage of George and Elizabeth Wooley. So far I have found 8 children. I  havent been to family search yet to find out how and if they are related to Thomas and Sarah Woolley but since starting this journey through 1,500 books in Pennsylvania and reading about the settlement started by William Penn, I have pondered this idea. Cicily Wooly came over in 1683 as an indentured servant and soon after came Thomas, who married Sarah Coppack in 1729 in Christ Church. These are the only Woolley names I have found. This leads me to believe that after that date, most of the other Woolleys settling in Chester county could be related. I will continue to look for our family name through my mothers mother Celia Woolley Morrison Larson. I owe my love of the Pioneers and family history to her. She served at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Building for many many years.
So, why were there so many George and Elizabeth Woolleys?? I am guessing that just like today, the y were the popular names. King George and Queen Elizabeth.

This map shows how the plots of land were divided in the area around Philadelphia. William Penn set up the city with the two rivers on either side. The Delaware River being larger in where Penns landing is.

So who celebrated St. Pattys day,,ME! We are part Scot- Irish through my grandpa Morrison

 

Spring Fever

This morning I walked Jim to the subway so he could attend the first of many meetings. We leaped forward into spring without much strain. Yesterday Jim cleaned the chapel and I helped Amy prepare and serve our 300 Stake Relief Society Sisters. After standing in my stiff shoes (for the first time, without any stockings/tights..yes, I did start working on my tan those two days last week when we had 70 degree weather) and got about 10 blisters. After returning home to drop off Bev and pick up Jim we went to our clean chapel to start the first practice for our Young Women talent show.  Needless to say, even though my feet hurt, they are very happy doing what I love to do.. Music, dance, and helping the sisters.

Thursday evening we attended an interfaith meeting next to a building which the community wants to turn into a place to distribute food, clothing and other goods to the needy, We came to show our support and were very humbled.

Honoring those who have passed before

Jim organized a great temple trip to Washington DC. Here we are with those who did baptisms for those who have passed before. Others went for the first time with escorts.

Here is the latest in the Philadelphia Temple. There is an inscription which says House of the Lord.

The site that Jim is standing near is the Stake center across the street from the temple and the high rise that will be finished way after we leave Philly. The stake center will be complete for the temple open house and used at that time for instruction and organizing during the open house in August. 

Each day I take time to read about the formation of our government and the settlement of the Philadelphia area. And each day my testimony is strengthened as to the importance of the restoration happening here in the Eastern States. We honor those who have passed before us by writing their stories, researching the dates, and encouraging others look for information about their families. As I read and look data each day I am happy to be a part of this search.