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Archiver > PASUSQUE > 2000-01 > 0948492792


From: "Richard Welch" <>
Subject: RE: Saratoga Springs NY family to SUSQ in 1800s
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 17:13:12 -0500


I read with interest the story told abt the Burn's family.
I too, have FISH, KNAPP, BULLOCK families coming to
Susquehanna from Saratoga at that time.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FAMILIES INCLUDED IN THIS
PIONEER GROUP? If so, post your SARATOGA families.
Maybe we can learn from comparing history and stories!
Rich in TAMPA


Visit my WELCH Family Home Page
http://www.parsonstech.com/genealogy/trees/rwelch/welchfam.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: <>
To: <>
Date: Friday, January 21, 2000 2:40 PM
Subject: Lesson Learned from Susquehanna family History


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>From:
>Full-name: MaryG74667
>Message-ID: <>
>Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 14:36:41 EST
>Subject: Unlikely Lesson Learned from Your History
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>This is the 200th anniversary of the Burns family in Northeastern
>Pennsylvania. I just wanted to share a quick story I read a few years back
>before I wrote that family history and one of the many lessons that I have
>learned from it.
>
>Jonathan Burns (Leland Burns' GG Grandpa) and his wife Anna Chase Burns
and
>their young family left Saratoga Springs in the spring of 1800. They
worked
>as a team on the long trip which was extremely difficult. They kept their
>family's spirits high as they blazed trails that others would follow.
They
>were among the very first settlers of Clifford Pa which is near Forest City
>Pa. When they arrived it was summer. While they built their one room
cabin,
>the family slept in their wagon. They took turns watching for wild animals
>that liked to hunt at night.
>
>Anna was a typical pioneer woman whose life was consumed with helping her
>family survive in this new wilderness. Jonathan was the kind of guy who
>didn't want to farm animals for his larder, he wanted to go out and hunt
for
>his meat (my guess was that he was a softy and couldn't kill his pet
animals)
>So one October day that was very warm, he and another unidentified man took
>their rifles and set out hunting in the deep, dark wood on the other side
of
>the Susquehanna River, which then could be forded by foot.
>
> They were thrilled to have killed a bear; it would be 80 pounds of fresh
>meat for each family. They started back toward the river but the weather
>turned quickly, and by the time they reached the river with their heavy
load,
>it was almost dark and the torrential freezing rain made the river swollen
>and too deep and fast to cross. The other man was so distraught, he wanted
>to die right there. Their shirts were frozen to their backs and they had
no
>shelter. Jonathan hit the hysterical man with a branch with such force,
(no,
>this isn't the lesson) that he came to his senses and they did what they
>could to stay warm in the blackness of the wilderness.
>
>Picture Jonathan's family worried back in their one room cabin. Anna and
>their three little children were alone in the dark. For all they knew, the
>hunters had been eaten by wolves. He was supposed to be home before dark.
>Anna was terror struck and the children were aware something was very
wrong.
> She imagined herself a widow in this cold, lonely place. Would they even
>survive without him? She probably spent a sleepless night, listening to
the
>wind and rain. As she cuddled the children, her tears fell.
>
>The morning brought a crisp, clear day but her heart was still heavy. He
is
>gone forever, she thought. Even in the light, this was a lonely place.
Why
>had they come to Pennsylvania? They would have been safe and had lots of
>family back in New York. She was beginning to resign herself to the idea
>that she was now a widow. No one could have survived that torrent last
>night. She started to rehearse what she would say to the children as she
>went about tending the fire, and preparing meals. Winter would come soon.
>
>A familiar voice broke the silence and sent everyone toward the door
>screaming with delight. It was Jonathan. Imagine what that family did
when
>they saw him. They embraced him, they cried, they were thrilled. They
>thanked God. The hunter was home, the provider was safe. They surround
him
>with love and just made him feel like his entire effort was worth this
moment
>of adulation. They fussed over him. He was warmed by the fire and given
>something warm to eat. Tears of joy fell as stories of the harrowing
>experience were exchanged.
>
>Ok..ready for the lesson? Today, although life has changed due mostly to
>technology, it is no less a challenge. The stresses on both sexes is
>unbelievable. The information overload alone is exhausting. But what
has
>technology taken from us? It was much easier back then to appreciate each
>other...like the hunter coming home to the terrified family or the mother
who
>tended the garden, prepared food, sewed clothes and nurtured her family. If
>we could only appreciate each other the way Jonathan and his wife did...if
we
>could just realize that our men are still hunting and providing and our
>women are still helping their families survive (and today women are
providers
>too). If we could only show our spouses how much we love them in a
>demonstrative way-- so we feel it like Jonathan did--our marriages and
>families would be strong enough to endure the hardships.
>
>Happy 200th Anniversary, Burns Family
>
>Love, Mary
>
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