Communicating Life2: January 2018

HEARD FAMILY RESEARCH RESOURCES:

Heard Family of Pitkin and Dry Creek – PART 1

Part 1 discusses the background, researchers, reports, repositories, and sources of information on the Heard Family. It tells the story of the research into the family history and genealogy. It is the starting point for further investigations and discussions. When completed there will be five Blogs, (Parts 1-5).

The Heard (Herd, Hurd, Hird) Family is among the best-researched, most carefully documented families of America. This often comes as a surprise to Heard family members who think such distinctions belong to illustrious families like the Washington’s, Roosevelt’s, or Boone’s. However, reports on our modest family are archived and catalogued in the Library of Congress and the record-based history of the Heard Family (Poole, 2005) is used in many genealogy courses as the exemplary standard for excellence in documentation. Further, special collections of records donated by Heard Family researchers are housed in libraries and museums from Pennsylvania to California. The stories of Heard Family researchers are fascinating, and seem the most appropriate starting point for sharing this History of the Heard Family of Pitkin and Dry Creek, Louisiana. Knowing the strengths, weaknesses and background of our sources empowers every reader who seeks to understand and evaluate our story.

Since the Heards have never achieved great fame or notoriety, the reason the family history has been so extensively preserved is a bit puzzling. My own theory is that: (1). Heards have a storytelling gene that preserves (and occasionally embellishes) family stories; (2). Heards have a deeply held belief that their family is unique, special, and worth remembering; (3). Heards are often teachers or lawyers, occupations that place high value on creation and preservation of the written word; and finally (4). Heards have a recessive gene that produces in every generation, one or more anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsives who store, save, preserve, and pass along family lore (in short we are genetically predisposed and can’t help ourselves).

JOYCE PERKERSON POOLE -- “A Heard Family Record-Based History: First Five Generations in America” 2005.[1]

Every Heard family member is indebted to Joyce, whose detailed, meticulous, and extensive first-hand research has created what many experts consider the consummate family history. Any serious interest in our Heard Family legacy should begin with Joyce’s book. Completed in 2002, the print edition was published by Gateway Press in 2005. Including the introduction and Table of Contents, the print copy is over 1,045 pages. The first 18 Chapters (664 pgs.) is a detailed, carefully documented account of the first five generations (descendants of four sons of our legendary “Father Heard”). Chapter 19 renders an account of early American Heards who cannot, at this time, be directly connected to the primary Heard Family. Poole’s chronology assigns a unique number to each family member, to avoid confusion and to make reading easier. The narrative is backed by sources for each relationship and assertion. If you want to further explore the original sources, the remainder of the volume provides further documentation and photocopies of records.

Specifically, Chapters 20-25, (pgs. 677-973) present the Heard-related public records from the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Chapter 26 (pgs. 891-966) contains Heard records from other states. Twenty-five Appendix Records, including photos and copies of original letters and difficult-to-find publications, constitute pages 891-966. In many respects, these Appendixes are among the most interesting and valuable portions of the book. Finally, a detailed index (pgs. 967-1039), prepared by Jana Sloan Broglin, completes the volume.

All of the original copies from the 2005 printing were sold, but copies are often available through on-line resales (i.e. from Amazon or Google Books), typically priced between $70 and $100. When the initial print copies were sold, Joyce offered her work as an e-book on a CD. She also gave permission for those who have the CDs to reproduce and share these. Most recently several on-line sites offer the book in PDF format. These are offered free to subscribers. I have not downloaded a copy, but was pleased to find it available. One reputable site is Open Library. Copies are also available in most genealogy libraries.

If the book sounds both impressive and potentially overwhelming, you’ve got the picture. I have owned my volume for almost a decade, and always breathe, “Thank you Joyce,” when I open it. Although she is only 3 years older than I am, Joyce has intensively researched the Heards for over 40 years. Over those years, she knew and/or worked with most of the active Heard family genealogists, including our Aunt, Elizabeth McKnight Heard (and Aunt Elizabeth’s colleague, and co-author, Harold Heard.) She was involved with the “The Heard Journal” in the 1980’s and worked on The Heard Chart, developed by that research group. Her first Heard family history, published in 1985, focused on our mutual ancestor, Col. Stephen Heard of Albemarle and Pittsylvania Counties, VA. This work is available in most genealogy libraries.

Further, Joyce has made us an additional gift. In 2014, she donated her 40-year, 185-item, collection of materials (including those on which her Heard book is based) to the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library in Augusta, GA, where we can have access to the complete collection.

Myths, Legends, Facts, and Fiction: In writing her history of our Heard Family, Joyce Poole’s challenge was not only to collect the facts, but also to tease out the embellishments and debunk the myths perpetuated by earlier publications and researchers. As many of you know, I am a proponent of the “power of myth,” (Read http://communicatinglife2.blogspot.com/search?q=Myth ). I subscribe to the philosophy that, “What we believe about ourselves has power, even if the belief is not founded in fact.” On the other hand, I do not believe in “alternative facts.” The beauty of Joyce’s work is that she not only identifies the unsupported or verifiably false information, she identifies when and where the misleading information was inculcated into our family lore.

Beyond Poole’s Research -- As an optimist, I continue to hope that Irish or English records will someday be discovered and will answer questions about our immigrant Heards and their ancestors. However, I do not believe that we are likely to make any break-through in record discoveries in this country. That is, we may find a few additional records that clear up a some questions, or add to the existing knowledge, but I do not anticipate great surprises or new insights. I think the PAPER TRAIL, has been well-exploited. The most likely source for new revelations and advancement of our knowledge will be genetic genealogy (DNA Research).
The final chapters in this series of Blogs will include information and findings from the members of our Heard Family who are currently involved DNA research.

Before Poole’s Research – The remainder of this Blog. will consist of a history of Heard Family Research preceding the publication of Joyce’s comprehensive volume. Much of what is covered can be found in Poole, 2005, which is a prime source for this report.

Legendary Heard Family Manuscript: 1420-1720 (Lost before 1906)

The earliest written and published records of our Heard Family describe a hand-written genealogy, copies of which existed at least until the second half of the 19^th century. The manuscript is described as dating to 1420, and being written English and in Galic. There are multiple references to this document, which was apparently lost or missing by the turn of the century. In a published account written by Eliza Jane Heard Wooten (b. March 25, 1825 and d. 1893), we have a description of the lost genealogy.

While Mrs. Wooten’s story was written before 1893, when the author died, it was not published until 1900, when it appeared in a genealogy column in an Atlanta newspaper. In 1902, it was republished in Historical Collections of the Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In what is called, “Mrs. Wooten’s Paper,” (reprinted in Poole, Appendix #3) we read: “Brother James had the original as far back as 1420, giving the places where they were born, lived and who they married, what positions they held under the government. We are an English family, held estates in England and were granted estates in Ireland. So some of our ancestors were born in each country – just as they happened to be spending their time, in either one or the other country.

In 1720 our great-great grandfather used a pitchfork on a minister of the Established Church of Ireland, about tithes, and thought he had better leave. So he and his six sons and five daughters came to Virginia and settled in Hanover County in 1720. One son remained in Ireland to settle up his father’s business and came out the next year. He was an Irish earl and lived in County Tyrone, Ireland when he had the trouble with the minister.”

It should be noted that in 19^th Century America, being English was far more socially desirable than being Irish. Further, some of the account (i.e. the altercation with the Minister, and the number of sons and daughters have not been verified), and some information, such as the title (Earl) and the initial settlement in Virginia, are false. Elaboration and dissemination of this information was accomplished through the Heard Association, created about 1906 by Julius Whiting Lilly.

The Heard Association and Julius Whiting Lilly: 1906-1922+

In 1906, a professional genealogist, Julius Whiting Lilly of New York, printed an announcement of the formation of the Heard Association, whose purpose was genealogical research. This announcement and copies of some subsequent Association Bulletins were eventually filed and catalogued in the Library of Congress. The success and longevity of the Heard Association speaks to the number, interest, and dedication of Heard descendants.

Mr. Lilly was the husband of a Heard descendant, and reported in the announcement that he had already been researching the Heard Family for three years. Members were asked to pay dues of $2.00 per year to defray expenses of the research and reporting, and were asked to send information in their possession to Mr. Lilly. Officers of the Association were Heards (men of course) from New Jersey, Houston, and Georgia.

The Heard Association identified and circulated Mrs. Wooton’s Paper, as well as a letter written by her brother, Dr. Faulkner Heard to Silas W. Heard (dated March, 1900, Reprinted as Poole’s Appendix #4) and published in 1902 along with Mrs. Wooten’s account.

For almost 20 years, Mr. Lilly distributed multiple publications, based on materials submitted by Heard family members and his original research. While the last publication was dated 1922, some information in that publication was from 1939, suggesting that typed pages were sometimes added to older publications. He published a number of genealogies and bulletins. Unfortunately, some of his research was undocumented, confused, or simply wrong. Among Lilly’s suspect assertions is the name, “John Heard,” for the legendary founder of the family; the “Auditor” Heard Coat of Arms; and the identification of Keighley, West Riding, York, England, as the original home of the Heard Family. Joyce Poole’s critique of Lilly’s work along with a photocopy of a Heard Association Bulletin constitutes Appendix #2 in her book.

The Heard Journal & Hurd, Hird, Hurd, Too. Vols. 1-19 1984-1989, Cumulative Indexes 1994 edited by Elsie L. Zarnowitz. Published by Family Tree Helpers.

The Heard Journal represented a major undertaking and stands as a distinguished achievement. The Advisory Board included four Heard Family genealogists, John H. Burger, Charles R. Clemson, Harold Heard, and Joyce P. Poole. Each of these dedicated Heard researchers has made unique contributions to our understanding of the records.

Subscriptions to the Heard Journal cost $13 per year, with three indexed issues per year. Copies could be purchased for $15, and a set for $17, post paid. A total of 19 editions were published. (Appendix #6 of the Poole Book includes a photocopy of the July & Oct. 1988 double edition as well as reprints of exemplary articles). Information on our branch of the Heard tree was collected by Elizabeth McKnight Heard, and submitted through Harold Heard.

While I have been unable to find copies available on the Internet, the Index can be accessed, and Volumes of the original Journal are available in many libraries, including the NYC Library, the Dallas Library, and many genealogical libraries in Georgia. They can also be accessed on microfilm at any LDS Family History Center.

Charles Clemson – We are indebted to Charles Clemson for his extensive research of the early Lancaster Co. PA records, especially the land records. Not only did Charles search the libraries and archives, he traveled the roads of Lancaster County, literally walking in the footsteps and mapping the lands first settled by our immigrant Heard ancestors.

Harold Heard – Harold Heard was located in Texas, and published four volumes on the Heard Family. These include Heard Cousins (1971), Southern Heard Families (1968), Early Records of Heards (1971), and Miscellaneous Collections of Heards (1970). Elizabeth McKnight Heard’s research on our branch is included in Southern Heard Families. He also published Heard Families in Arkansas (1970) and Heard Families in Louisiana (1970).

Communicating Life2

Pages

Sunday, January 21, 2018

HEARD FAMILY RESEARCH RESOURCES: Heard Family of Pitkin & Dry Creek -- PART 1.