WELCOME

Welcome to the fourth issue of the quarterly online newsletter supplement to "Self Portraits: The Self Family NetLetter," the Website dedicated to Self family research at http://www.selfroots.com

You are receiving this newsletter because you were kind enough to join "Self Seekers: The Self Family Association." We appreciate all of your contributions, large and small, and we hope you will continue to support our page, our surname list, and this newsletter.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Self Portraits Website is now two years old! The first upload was in September, 1996. Our first corresponding cousin contacted us about a month later. Nearly 800 Selfs have written to us since then. There have been many reunions of close cousins through the postings on "Find YourSelf." We have accumulated literally thousands of pages of information on all branches, making us undoubtedly the largest Self genealogy repository in the world. "We" and "Us," of course, mean all of YOU. Thank you so much for your contributions!

We would like to have your gedcom so that we can add your information to our database. With your permission, we will also list and distribute your gedcom on request (but only with your permission). Please send us gedcoms so that we can start a library that will help others. If you've already submitted one, kindly re-send so that we will have the latest information. And we would appreciate being kept informed of new family members as well as other changes.

If you haven't joined our Self Surname Mailing List yet, please subscribe. Instructions will be found on the main page of our Website. Note that we also host the Swindle Surname List as well as listservs for Erath County, TX., King County, TX., Union County, GA., Towns County, GA., Murray County, GA., Grayson County, TX., and Clay County, NC. In addition, we have adopted the King County, TX, Murray County, GA, and Clay County, NC USGenWeb sites.

We hope you've had a happy and restful summer. And now that those "stay indoors" months have come again, we'd like to be included in your plans. If you have any old photos, or a spare minute to write a small story, reminiscence, or article about your ancestors, or copy some Census material on a research trip--please share with us. We don't mind writing most of the "Self Seekers Newsletter" by ourSelfs, but your contributions make each issue a lot more interesting.

At this time, we are asking you to renew your membership in "Self Seekers" by January 1, 1999 in order to receive the January, April, July, and October 1999 issues as they are released. Membership fees remain the same: Regular Member, $12 and Charter Member, $25. If you are a Patron Member, your initial contribution is gratefully acknowledged and good for the lifetime of the "Self Seekers" association.

THE SUCCESSFUL GENEALOGY WEBSITE

by Barbara Ann Peck

Every so often a cousin writes to say: "I love your Website! I'd like to have one, too!"

This is good news for us. We encourage all Selfs to create their own Websites because we can share reciprocal links with them; and that means more sources of information for everyone.

In this article, we'd like to discuss what makes a successful genealogy Website--the pros and cons based on our own experience, observation, and the comments and suggestions of our cousins. You may then be better able to decide what type of site you want while gaining an understanding of how to attract visitors and keep them coming back.

SITE TYPES

There are five types of genealogy Websites: 1) cooperative sites; 2) pages of links; 3) personal pages; 4) personal family pages; and 5) surname-specific pages.

COOPERATIVE SITES are usually a group rather than an individual endeavor. People with a common interest in a surname, geographic locality, historical time period, etc. work together on a site or maintain sites within a larger structured framework. Some examples would be state or federal databases such as the Kentucky vital statistics indexes or the Las Vegas, NV marriage index; databases maintained by genealogical societies or groups (both non- and for-profit) such as RootsWeb, Ancestry, World Family Tree, or Kindred Konnections; or the state and county pages of the USGenWeb. This category can also include newsletters which may or may not represent an association's sole presence on the Web and involve the collaboration of many members; as well as pages put up by Civil War enthusiasts, book publishers, local Chambers of Commerce, or any number of groups or businesses that provide genealogical or historical information.

The most well-known and comprehensive page of genealogical LINKS is Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet. Gene Stark maintains a searchable index of family names linked to gedcoms on his (and other) Web Servers. There are many similar, smaller sites devoted to maintaining links to external pages. They themSelfs do not usually contain genealogical or historical data. They will offer to list your relevant Web page in one of their numerous categories; but they will not do any research for you or recommend one link over another. Since most of these sites are maintained by one very busy Webmaster with little or no assistance, their owners will probably not have time for lengthy correspondence.

PERSONAL PAGES are the creation of an individual or a nuclear family unit and have great opportunity for Self-expression. Personal pages may or may not contain actual genealogies, and these will usually be sub-pages rather than the main focus of the site. Sometimes they are just fun pages that give insight into the daily lives and achievements of those who share your surname. Other times they are business pages. But they often contain photographs and writings that can help you get to know their authors. Webmasters may simply invite correspondence from visitors with surname. And they may feature a "favorite links" section leading to more comprehensive genealogy sites.

PERSONAL FAMILY PAGES come in three basic formats: freely-created, gedcom-generated, or graphical tree. Freely-created sites usually follow the traditional genealogical procedure of starting with oneSelf and working backwards. They may contain photos, family trees, and other information about the Webmaster's personal ancestry. Unrelated items are found on them, too, although the sites are mostly dedicated to family history. They are almost always colorful and woven with great care because they represent an emotional investment on the part of their authors. Gedcom-generated sites are highly structured and follow a format predetermined by their sponsor, such as those created from Family Tree Maker files. The Webmaster has some choice over colors and fonts, but usually the site is totally dedicated to presentation of a gedcom so graphics and links are minimal. These pages allow their creators to cram an incredible amount of valuable information into a few megabytes of space. Gedcom compilers often trace allied surnames forward as well as backward, so you may find your relatives in surprising places. The graphical tree is the third and newest type of site because the technology required to generate the "tree" is also fairly new. The site itSelf combines raw information with the personal touch. In most aspects it is a freely-created page; but somewhere on the main page or one of its sub-pages, there is a window containing a Java script that unfolds into a graphical chart of a person's ancestry. You can click on an individual's "box," and you will then be focused on the ancestors and descendants of that person. The one drawback of Java scripts is that you cannot cut, copy, or paste information from the chart to a word processor or database. (This limitation is also true for pages created in Adobe Acrobat format.)

"Self Portraits" is an example of a SURNAME-SPECIFIC SITE. This type of site is freely-created and may contain many different elements such as colorful graphics, links, a GuestBook, files for download or distribution by e-mail, and sometimes raw data in the form of Census pages, vital statistics lists, charts, "trees," and so on. It represents all descendants of the surname (including allied surnames) from the earliest-known ancestor to the present day. Most surname-specific sites are quite small and specialized. A large site like "Self Portraits"--representing a very prolific family--is a tremendous undertaking. Like a major links page, it theoretically attracts thousands of people and requires constant maintenance and updating. Unlike the links page, the Webmaster of a large surname-specific site can also expect to conduct a huge volume of correspondence that may be lengthy and ongoing.

THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER

Choosing the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your site is the first--and one of the most important--decisions you will make. If you're reading this article, you already have an account with an ISP that allows you to send and receive e-mail and browse the Web. Or you may be accessing the Internet through your workplace. So we'll assume that you've already dealt with the issues of cost and connectivity. But is your current ISP the right host for your Website?

If your site is a cooperative one--such as a County page within the USGenWeb framework--you can choose to upload it to your own ISP's Server, or you can make use of the RootsWeb offer to provide space for USGenWeb pages.

Gedcom-based sites may be hosted by a company or group such as Family Tree Maker, the software publisher. Size is usually not an issue since the host also benefits when visitors see what lovely pages can be generated from their program. If you want a site with a Java script tree, FTM can help there, too. These pages are easily created, uploaded, and maintained because FTM and others have created software to make your experience trouble-free. America Online and other large ISPs also have formats for genealogy pages that are quite attractive and easy to work with. But nothing is stopping you from simply cutting and pasting a report from a genealogy program--or even typing gedcom-like information--onto your personal family page. And if you know how to write and insert Java code, most ISPs allow for that possibility as well.

Personal pages that contain some genealogy and personal family pages dedicated to an individual's family history are usually not too long, so a regular Internet account should do just fine for your site. Even 10-20 photographs (reduced to a reasonable size and compressed into .jpg or .gif format) will not consume your entire storage allotment. And a good-sized links page can be contained in a small amount of space. Even most surname-specific sites will take years to grow beyond the maximum storage space offered by the majority of ISPs.

Very large, high-traffic sites are another story, especially if they are non-profit in nature. Traditionally, ISPs offer 5MB of Web storage space for a personal account and between 10MB and 50MB for a business account. The business can afford to pay more and write it off as an advertising expense. An individual with a huge links or surname-specific site usually cannot afford a business account, but the site may quickly outgrow the space allotment of the personal acount.

There are some options to help alleviate the crunch. If your site is part of a family association or if it has paid sponsors, you may be able to afford to buy more storage from the ISP on a per-MB basis or change to a business account. Alternatively, funds may be used to buy storage from other ISPs that offer lower rates. You can find some good deals out there if you shop around. Even without an external funding source, you may be able to find a second ISP that is affordable for your personal pocketbook. You can also feature "advertising" on your site. Be careful, though! No one likes "commercials," and if they are very blatant, your visitors might not return. Personally, we have no problem with a small banner or animation that invites you to "click" for more information. You are not coerced into taking any kind of action if you prefer not to. But ads that appear as a separate obscuring window and require conscious effort to make them disappear--well, those are not places we want to visit again. If you do accept advertising, see if your ISP can "match up" the ad with the theme of your site. Serious family researchers are not always interested in repairing credit or switching brands of toothpaste, but an ad for a genealogy software program or bookstore would not seem out of place.

If your site is large and has a high number of hits--and you have the money to do so--you may want to purchase your own domain. Your ISP may offer virtual domains for anywhere from $5 to $100 per year. Your files will still reside on the same Server, but you will have a name descriptive of your site and one or more e-mail addresses at that domain. The best part about owning a domain is that once you have registered your domain name, no one else can use it as long as the required annual fees are paid.

CREATING THE WEBSITE

You can create a very professional-looking Website using any number of software programs, or by simply entering HTML coding into a word processor and saving your work as a text file (with an .htm extension). You can be as plain or fancy as you like. Even the more structured cooperative or gedcom-generated pages allow for creativity. Your site is limited only by your imagination.

Don't be afraid of learning to write HTML or work with a Web editor. And uploading to your ISP's Server will become automatic, especially if you use a graphical FTP program (low-cost shareware is available on the Web).

When you design your page, keep in mind that it will be loaded on all sorts of computers through a variety of Browsers, modems, networks, and lines. The loading time of any page is a crucial element. In general, you will want your page to load as quickly as possible so that your visitors don't get tired of waiting and hit the STOP button. On the other hand, if your site relies heavily on graphics or other slow files, the loading time may be significant, but the page itSelf will reward those patient enough to wait.

Here are a few considerations:

LENGTH--Long pages take longer to load, even if they consist entirely of text. Sadly, most of us still access the World Wide Web through analog telephone lines designed for voice communication. This outdated technology, along with local regulations, limit the transmission speed of data over even the fastest modem. The main page of any site should be the introduction to your sub-pages. Major sections should have their own pages with links to them from the main page. When you have finished the first draft of your main page, make a printout. If it is longer than seven printed pages, you may want to re-work your ideas.

GRAPHICS--Graphics, depending on their size and compression, are the greatest contributors to extended loading times. They are also the reason that the World Wide Web evolved from a collection of text-based Unix pages to the lovely graphical sites that you see today. Use graphics, animations, and videos wisely and sparingly. Make sure that photos have been reduced to sizes large enough to enjoy but small enough to load at a respectable speed. Match your background and text colors and use only one or two fonts. As in printed publications, making use of size, boldface, and italics in one font is preferable to using ten different fonts that confuse the eye.

SOUND--Sometimes it's fun to click on a link that activates a cheery greeting. And music can be pleasant. You can choose to allow the visitor to activate sounds and music manually or have these elements start up when the page is accessed. Do use simple .wav or .mid files, though. More sophisticated sound players may prevent streaming video from functioning in the absence of a sound card.

LINKS--Links are the "glue" of the Web. Use them to access your sub-pages and your favorite external sites. Use them several times if you want to--there can never be enough access points. "Mailto" links can generate an e-mail form so that visitors can write to you or others. Links can enlarge photos and play music. Reciprocal links between external sites of common interest can share the burden of storage space crunch between them. In fact, good "netiquette" provides for reciprocal links as a courtesy between two Webmasters; so if you want to link to another genealogy or historical site, e-mail for permission to do so and ask if the Webmaster will, in turn, link to your page.

GUESTBOOKS--GuestBooks are friendly. Visitors love them. You can get free or low-cost GuestBooks from several sources on the Web. As with any software, determine how reliable the Service is before signing up for it--we had to learn this the hard way! Choose a Service that allows you to configure your GuestBook freely. Most Services let you choose your background, text font and color, welcoming remarks, and provide cgi forms for the entering of basic data such as visitor name, e-mail address, URL (if applicable), and a brief message. Some may offer the option of "tracking" your visitors by asking them to tell you how they found your site or supply optional personal data.

SEARCH ENGINES--The major search engines will eventually find your site and list it in their indexes. You can speed things up by going to the home page of each search engine and filling out a request for inclusion. Or you can find a free or low-cost Service on the Web that will contact the search engines for you. You are not obligated to provide a reciprocal link to a search engine; but it helps your visitors if you have links to one or two of your favorites so that they can use your site as a gateway to the Web. If your site contains lots of raw genealogical data, you may want to consider creating a viewable index of your own or even having a cgi-based search engine to facilitate finding information on your pages.

COUNTERS--It's both fun and informative to know how many people visit your site. You can get free counters on the Web. The traditional counter resides somewhere on your main page, and updates are visible to you and your visitors alike. There are also counters that password the statistics so that only you can view them. Some of these counters are quite sophisticated, providing a wealth of information that may help you determine how busy and effective your site is and how you might improve it to attract more visitors.

E-MAIL--If you invite visitors to correspond with you, be prepared to read and write a lot of e-mail. The correspondence may consist of requests for reciprocal linking or for placing information on your site. County pages, links pages and large surname-specific sites that offer to post queries, distribute gedcoms, provide links, and so on will get the highest volume of correspondence. Regardless of the amount of mail you get, though, always reply as quickly and courteously as possible. A prompt reply to all e-mail correspondence may account for most of a site's popularity--even moreso than the design or contents of your pages. People will go where they are welcome. As in any dealings with the general public, you will find some people more difficult to deal with than others. But genealogy is naturally a "people-oriented" pursuit, and in our stressful and sometimes angry society, your site can be an oasis for those who seek friends as well as information.

CONCLUSION

You, too, can have a presence on the Web while climbing your ancestral tree. It can be small or large. It can be personal or informational (or both). A genealogy Website facilitates the sharing of family data, puts you in touch with cousins you may never have located through other means, and--if you're as lucky as we are--helps you make friendships that will last a lifetime.

(The above article is solely the opinion of the editors)

(Next month--Basic Copyright)

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COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE

by Barbara Ann Peck

MICROSOFT ACCESS

No matter what program you use to record your family history and genealogy, a relational database is an indispensible tool for those miscellaneous items that don't seem to fit anywhere else. There are several good databases--both flat and relational--on sale at your local software store. You may already use one at work.

Our favorite database program is Microsoft Access. Access is versatile--you can use it as a both a flat and relational database, and you can switch from simple to more complex configurations at any time. It is quite user-friendly, and it is suitable for both novices and experts. Although the package includes the tools and manual for programming in Microsoft Visual Basic, Access is fairly Self-contained. Most users may not have to know much more than how to construct a general query to achieve the desired results.

This brief article is not intended to be a tutorial for Microsoft Access--the manuals and online help are excellent for any version you use--but rather as an overview of some features and a few examples of how they may be used in genealogical research.

DATABASE CONSTRUCTION

Constructing a Microsoft Access database is easy. You just click on FILE and NEW DATABASE, and give your new database a name. Next, you design your database by adding fields. Each field can have various options such as length (up to 255 characters); uniqueness (the ability to warn you of a duplicate entry); data type (text, number, date/time, Yes/No), to name a few. You can even embed photos or other graphics. Once you have constructed your database, you can then design a form for easy entry. The entry form is optional. Some people (like us) prefer working directly with the datasheet, but forms can serve as helpful prompts when several family members take turns entering data.

FLAT DATABASES

You may wish to create simple, flat databases just to store facts. Some examples are: a file of ancestors who served in the military; a directory of relatives or researchers with names, addresses, and phone numbers; and a file of family member data extracted from Ancestry's Social Security Death Index, arranged for easy offline searching.

None of these flat databases are complex. You can search them with the "Find" tool. You can also construct simple queries such as grouping soldiers by the war in which they fought or isolating all people of a given surname who died in Alabama in 1990. You can mail-merge invitations to a family reunion and print out address labels for the envelopes. Queries can be run to find duplicate entries within a table or to find matches or mismatches in two different tables. And a variety of attractive reports can be created for saving or printing information.

RELATIONAL DATABASES

Any database you create in Microsoft Access has the potential to be come relational. This means that you can create "relationships" between tables so that a change or update to one of them will affect the other.

Suppose, for example, you create a database of all cousins with whom you have corresponded. Each time a new cousin writes to you, you enter their name, e-mail address, and the surname they are researching into the database. You then decide that it would be nice to arrange the records in some kind of order. Most of the time, an alphabetical sort by name would be most helpful to you. But sometimes you want to see everyone who is working on a particular line. The temporary sort is frustrating because the arrangement is lost when you close the database. So which sort do you choose, and how can you make it permanent?

The answers are: both--and through the use of a query. To construct simple queries, just click on QUERY and follow the prompts. Sort one query alphabetically by name, and sort the other by surname researched. Save the queries, and you can go back and look at your data anytime in its permanently sorted arrangement. The best part--the "relational" aspect--comes when you enter a new cousin into your original table. The queries--since they are based on (or related) to that table--are automatically updated and the added information is placed correctly within the sort.

Most genealogy databases are ongoing projects. Constructing simple queries to provide permanent sorts is the task you will perform most often in almost all of your files. But Microsoft Access can help you do even more complicated things.

Let's now say that you are the Secretary of your local genealogy club. You maintain a database of club members in Microsoft Access. You list the name of each member, their snail address (making separate fields for each address element so that you can use the mail-merge function), their phone number, and the month/year they joined the club. After a year goes by, you are re-elected to your position, and you decide that you'd like to have one table for the previous year and one for the new year--but you also like your big, ongoing list because you can use it to send mail to all members regardless of when they joined. You can, of course, make a simple query to sort members by year. But you can also use a "Make-Table Query" to extract all members who joined last year and keep them in a separate table. This more complex procedure sorts, extracts, and creates a new table all at once, saving you time. Last year's members won't disappear from the original table, either; but the new table is "closed." Modifications to the original table will, in this case, not be transmitted to the new one--the "relational" concept only works with queries, not with tables created from the "Make-Table Query." However, if for some reason you need to add information to the separate table of last year's members--such as a new address--you can still do it manually.

The new tables can exist in the same database with the original, comprehensive table. Or you can create a new database for each year if you like. This process is helpful when you decide to hand over your position to a new person, or when the club president asks for a list of members who joined last year: you can just attach the requested database to an e-mail message. Finally, you can import data, not only from other Microsoft Access tables but also from text files--and you can export data, too.

CONCLUSION

Microsoft Access is just one of the reliable relational databases on the market today. The others work in a similar way although the procedures may differ. One really good thing about Access is its integration with other Microsoft programs. You can interact with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and even add a "phone-dialer" button to launch calls or faxes from telephone numbers recorded in your Access databases. Other "suites" including WordPerfect and Lotus also integrate their databases with the other applications in the total package. But for now, the Department of Justice notwithstanding, we find Microsoft Access and its "Office" companions perfect for our genealogy needs.

Have you created any Microsoft Access databases you would like to share with your cousins?

Next Month--The Self Surname Listserv. What other computer topics interest you?

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SELF SHELF

Cousin Barry has begun a new publication entitled "Self Family News." Originally created for distribution at the annual family reunion of his own Self branch (descendants of John J. and Lydia Avaline (Waters) Self), the "Self Family News" is also of general interest to those with Self roots in North Georgia and Eastern Tennessee. If you have purchased a copy of Barry's book, The Self Family & Other Related Families: Our Tenn. and Georgia Roots (Madisonville, TN: Barry Self, c1990), you'll find that this new newsletter complements it with updates and further research on this family. We want to thank Cousin Barry for his top story, "Selfs on the Internet," an article about Self Portraits. Would you like to find out which two Selfs went down with the Titanic? You can contact Cousin Barry at Homespun Productions for more information.

In our last (July 1998) issue, Cousin Barry reviewed the popular genealogy software, Family Tree Maker. While its popularity attests to its excellent features, its one greatest problem seems to be its complicated method of creating/exporting gedcoms. Several cousins have been quite frustrated when trying to send us a copy of their gedcom files, and a few have given up entirely. Cousin Carol has generously written down the steps that work for her. We can't verify them as we only use genealogy software (PAF3) to receive gedcoms and do not keep them in such a format because of broken and unverified Self lines. But we hope that they will answer your export questions.

1. Bring up FTM. Under the FILE menu, click on OPEN FAMILY FILE.

2. A box titled Open Family File comes up. On the line that is named "Look in"..pull down that menu and change it to read 31/2 floppy (A:)

3. At the bottom of that box...you have a line that says "Files of Type". Pull down that menu and select "GEDCOM (*.GED)

4. In the big white window...the file named Henry.GED should appear. Click on the file name once to select it...then click the OPEN button on that screen.

5. A box titled "New Family File" comes up. On your "Save In" line, pull down that menu and select (C:). This should bring up the yellow folders on your harddrive. Find the folder named FTW from that list and double click on it to open it. This should open it up and put you directly in the FTW folder.

6. Look at the Filename line at the bottom of that box. The file listed on that line should read: Henry.FTW

7. Click the SAVE button on that screen. A small box comes up saying "Reading Gedcom File" & a percentage bar..telling you how much you have to go for it to download.

8. A box comes up after that, that is titled: "Import from GEDCOM" just click ok. The other buttons listed on there isn't necessary..and when the file gets transferred to your harddrive...this last box will probably tell you there were some errors in transit..but just ignore it...you can click yes to see what they are...but they aren't important... I tried this out on mine...works fine...all the info got through...so I don't know what this error junk is all about. After you get this done...I think the file comes up then for you. If not...or if you are in another file and want to go to this one at a later date...all you have to do is be in FTM...click FILE...OPEN FAMILY FILE. A box comes up from FTM and brings up the FTM directory with your FTM files in it...and this Henry one should now appear with your others..just click on it or the one you want and FTM will bring it up.

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ALFRED BURTON (“BURT”) SELF

Born Dec. 31, 1854. Died June 30, 1936, son of Thomas R. and Nancy (Cook) Self of Union County, GA. He m. (1) Feb. 7, 1875 in Towns County, GA., Mary Ann Woodring, b. Mar. 1857. The family lived in Cherokee County, GA; (2) Ola Kemp, b. 1876 and d. Oct. 4, 1968 in Lumpkin County, GA.

CHILDREN BY FIRST WIFE:

1. Nancy Liotta                    b. Feb. 1875
2. Rufus Paul                        b. Oct. 1880
3. Thomas Henry                  b. 8 Sep. 1884       d. Dec. 1974
4. Martha C. (“Mattie”)        b. Feb. 1888
5. David A.                          b. May 1890
6. William A.                        b. Mar. 1892         d. 10 Mar. 1908
7. Mamie D.                         b. Nov. 1893
8. Ida Mae                           b. Feb. 1897

CHILDREN BY SECOND WIFE:

9. Mary Lou                        b. 13 June 1905     d. 18 Oct. 1997
10.William B.                      b. 1908
11. Estelle                           b. 1910                  d. 1913
12. Joseph Milton                b. 13 Aug. 1913    d. 15 Feb.1988

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GEORGIA SOUNDEX--1900

RICHMOND COUNTY

SELF, Arthur, b. Apr. 1893 in NC Living with Lizzie Parks, his mother

SELPH, Hannah, b. May 1872 in SC
Albert, b. Mar. 1870

SPALDING COUNTY

SELF, J. T., b. Jan. 1878

TELFAIR COUNTY

SELPH, Barry, b. Dec. 1867
Elsy L., b. 1873
John A., b. Aug. 1885
John M., b. July 1888
Jesse P., b. Oct. 1891
Martha J., b., Feb. 1893
Mary J., b. Feb. 1895
Liza J., b. Jan. 189?
Lizzie S., b. Apr. 1899

SELPH, Charnock, b. Oct. 1820, living alone

SELPH, Charnock, b. Aug. 1875
Ida, b. Dec. 1877
Andrew, b. May 1895
Washington, b. June 1897

SELPH, Daniel, b. Oct. 1879 Lodger in the home of John Selph

SELPH, Dennis, b. Sep. 1889 Lodger in the home of Jerry Walker

SELPH, Freeman, b. Oct. 1866
Hattie, b. July 1867
Annie, b. Oct. 1892
Jacob, b. Oct. 1894
Jackson, b. Nov. 1896

SELPH, Freeman W., b. Jan. 1847
Jane Jesse A?., b. Mar. 1885
Viola, b. June 1888
Willie, b. July 1897
Martha, b. Apr. 1899
Viola M., b. Sep. 1892, granddaughter

SELPH, Jack, b. Oct. 1837
Sarah

SELPH, John J., b. Oct. 1858
Louisa Freeman, b. Apr. 1896
Matilda, b. June 1899
Daniel, b. Oct. 1879
Mary (Daniel's wife), b. Jan. 1882

SELPH, Mary, b. June 1882 (wife of John?)

SELPH, Samuel, b. Oct. 1872
Lonie, b. Oct. 1872
Washington, b. Oct. 1878

THOMAS COUNTY

SELPH, Samuel, b. 1837
Isabella, b. 1837
Lana, b. Mar. 1874
Willie, b. Aug. 1876

TOWNS COUNTY

SELF, James, b. Jan. 1844
Caroline, b. May 1840

SELF, James E., b. Oct. 1880
Carrie, b. June 1877
Addie R., b. Nov. 1897
Margaret L., b. Nov. 1899

SELF, John B., b. May 1838
Elizabeth
Thomas M. (son)

TROUP COUNTY

SELF, Howard, b. Mar. 1881 Servant of Lum Mason

SELF, William F., b. in Catoosa, d. at age 6 months, Apr. 1869 or 1870

UNION COUNTY

SELF, Arminda, b. May 1848
James M., b. June 1881
Andrew S., b. Apr. 1885
David E., b. July 1887
Columbus S., b. June 1889

SELF, Calvin A., b. Feb. 1879
Mary E., b. Jan. 1878
William J., b. Aug. 1897
Charles J., b. Nov. 1898

SELF, Catherine, b. Nov. 1837 in NC
Barbara A., b. Apr. 1857
Sarah E., b. Nov. 1862

SELF, Eli G., b. Feb. 1865 in TN
Rutha S., b. Sep. 1875
Pearlie J., b. Sep. 1895
Bessie C., b. Dec. 1898
Job C., b. May, 1837 (father)
Ollie C., b. Oct. 1838

SELF, Frank M., b. Oct. 1845
Sarah A., b. Apr. 1846
Nancy E., b. Mar. 1885

SELF James B., b. Mar. 1868
Margaret William N., b. May 1890
Hattie L., b. Apr. 1892
Ella J., b. Sep. 1893
Josiah C., b. June 1899

SELF, Job M., b. 1848
Mary S., b. Mar. 1850
Joseph W., b. Sep. 1880
Willie E., b. Oct. 1881
Sarah E., b. June 1883

SELF, John J., b. Dec. 1835 in NC
Margaret, b. May 1839

SELF, Joseph M., b. Mar. 1866
Lutha L. (Carter?), b. Mar. 1864
Learey, b. Dec. 1888
Nora E., b. July 1895
John V. A., b. Feb. 1897

SELF, Josiah W., b. July 1870
Ora J. A., b. Aug. 1875
Hugh, b. Apr. 1900

SELF, Manson W., b. May 1869
Susie L., b. Apr. 1872
Willie G., b. Jan. 1889
Butan J., b. Aug. 1893
Martha J., b. Apr. 1894
Oscar S., b. Dec. 1895
Rusie M., b. May 1896
Radey A., b. July 1899

SELF, Monroe living with mother, Martha A. Self and grandmother, Martha Self

SELF, Robert S., b. Mar. 1853
Mary, b. Apr. 1851
Odom, Avery, b. Mar. 1880 (son-in-law)
Odom, Sarah A., b. Apr. 1879

UPSON

SELF, Andrew, b. June 1868
Marie
Mary
Thomas
Lizzie
Lou

SELF, David, b. Oct. 1845
Elizabeth

SELF, Mary, b. Jan. 1837 (mother of James Earls)

SELF, Nathaniel, b. May 1841
Martha, b. July 1846
Smith, Emma, b. Apr. 1872 (daughter)

SELF, Samuel J., May 1856

WHITFIELD

SELF, James, b. Sep. 1858
Mary, b. Apr. 1871?
Judson, b. June 1892
Lena, b. Feb. 1894
S., b. Mar. 1897
Mattie, b. Nov. 1899

WORTH

SELF, Joseph M., b. Mar. 1866
Susan E., b. Sep. 1869
Arthur L., b. Aug. 1890
Mamie L., b. Oct. 1894

NOT ALL SELFS IN THE ABOVE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN LISTED YET
TO BE CONTINUED...

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Second Part of Several
Contributed by Tim Seawolf-Self

State of Georgia County of Towns S.S.

In the matter of the claim for widow’s Pension of Mrs. Avoline Self Widow of William Self late a private in Captain Van Stewarts Company C 5th Regiment Vols: Mar. 1861.

Personally came before me, a Clerk of Court of Ordinary in and for aforesaid County and State, Mangam H. Bryson late of same company a citizen of the County of Towns, State of Georgia, reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid claim, that the[y] date of birth of the child facts of said soldier is as follows: I resided within 2 miles of the said William W. Self and knew him intimately. I saw him after for for Two years before he Enlisted in U.S. Service August 5th 1864. Knew him to be sound and healthy and free from Scurvy or any other disease. And that while he was in the Military Service of the United States as above stated and in the line of his duty as a Soldier and while in Camp at Nashville Tennessee he was attacked with Scurvy on or about the 10th day of July 1865, and when attacked he complained of his mouth looking bad and failing to eat as usual. We went down to Nashville about 1st of July 1865 to be mustered out of service and while in the barracks it was extremely Hot weather. He with others suffered with heat. The water was bad. Rations was strong coffee and fat, meal in oats. Many of the Soldiers was attacked with Scurvy and W. W. Self was one that was attacked with said disease just a few days before we were discharged. I do not now recollect whether he was sent to Hospital or treated by the Surgeon. I knew he was attacked with said disease about the 10th July and was sick and complaining much when discharged on the 12[xx] July 1865 and that he continued sick with said disease until he died of the same August 26 1865. He got so bad about the day he was mustered out that he was not able to walk home and was brought home on Horseback from the Railroad. He got worse with Scurvy, got home about 25th July and the Scurvy went into gangrene and caused his death 26 August 1865. I was with him and knew from personal knowledge the facts above stated.

That I was present at the birth of the same time in the capacity of a Soldier and has personal knowledge of the date as aforesaid and the facts above stated. And make this statement as a Simple act of Justice and nothing further. I further declare that I have no interest in said claim, and am not concerned in its prosecution. [xxx]

Attest--when any affiant signs by mark, (2 persons.)

____________________________ Signature __Mangam H. Bryson____________ of ____________________________ Affiants ______________________________

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME this day by the above named affiants; and I certify that I read said affidavit to said affiants, and acquainted him with its contents before he executed the same. I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said claim, nor am I concerned in its prosecution....the words “date of the birth of the child” was crossed. And the words “he was--time--was--was” before signing.

Witness my hand and official seal this 11th day of Jany, 1878

ADD SEAL HERE Sign here_________M. W. Holman____[L. S.]

Ordinary, Towns County, GA.

Note.--This should be sworn to before a CLERK OF COURT or JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. If before a JUSTICE, then CLERK OF COUNTY COURT must add his certificate of character on the back hereof, and not on a separate slip of paper.

I, __________________ Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, do certify that ____________________ Esq., who hath signed his name to the foregoing affidavit, was at the time of so doing a ____________________________ in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.

Witness my hand and seal of office, _____________ day of _____________, 18

___________________ ______________________ Clerk of the _____________________________

CLAIM FOR

Pension______________ Mrs. Avoline Self widow of William W. Self late pvt Co. C 5th Regt [---]

AFFIDAVIT of

Tilman H. Bryson and John Emberson, pvts. “C” 5th

_____________________________________________

FILED BY

H. H. Walker [xxx] _________[xxx] GA.______

_____________________________________________

Printed and sold by W. H. Moore, 434 11th st., Washington, D.C. _____________________________________________

Key: [xxx] means that the portion is unreadable, possibly in the original, definitely in the copy.

Note: William Washington Self was born in Union County, GA, son of Thomas R. and Nancy (Cook) and lived in Shooting Creek, NC. He married Elizabeth Avoline Loyd, daughter of William and Elizabeth Loyd of Shooting Creek. This was Tim Seawolf-Self's 2nd great grandfather.
TO BE CONTINUED...

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SELFS IN SPACE

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