The who's and why's of this database.
The data contained on this web site is a culmination of more than 130 years of research. More than sixty years by Louise Jordan Dail. More than forty years by William "Bill" Chappell. More than thirty by me, Michael Vance Baker, as well as years of help from George "Don" Copeland. Please see the tab Contributors for a list of fellow researchers and contributors.
Please send additions and corrections to mvb63@cox.net.
My first tree was created when I was 12 years old. The hand drawn tree contained my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. My mother, Betty (Muha) Baker and father, Henry Ford Baker helped me and have continued to do so over the last 35years. My mom, her roots stemming from Czechoslovakia, (as of 1993 Slovakia or the Slovak Republic) my dad and his kin from North Carolina. After attending several family reunions and having my dad tell me this is your cousin, and this is your cousin, and so on and so on,,,, I could hardly keep my aunts and uncles straight, yet alone all of my cousins. My dad, one of 15 children, 13 of which survived to adulthood. Thus, at least twenty-six aunts and uncles and more than fifty first cousins. My interest in genealogy began as a way to record all of my cousins. Then with my dad by my side, many a night till 5 a.m. I quickly learned how vast his knowledge of his family was and how much more I needed to record. As soon as I had one line nearing completion, my dad would ask, "Do you have cousin Sidney in there?" I'd look and sure enough, No. We'd end up adding another thirty or so names before daybreak. In 1995 I began to publish my data on the web. From those publishing's I've had many cousins write, you have my great grand(parent) on your site, but you are missing their spouse and children. Please add them, I'd really like to see them on the web. Thus, my data is not focused on my ancestry, but "OUR" ancestry. Instead of a one family name site, the database has evolved into a regional historical site. That region, runs from Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement to Edenton, North Carolina. Edenton, the site of Edenton Tea Party and first capital of North Carolina.
The database is: My ancestors ancestors, their siblings, their children and their children's children. Their cousins and in turn, their cousins.
Welcome to the "Carolina Cousins".
My cousins and my cousins cousins.