Tune into this Old Charlestonian!

I have researched a past Charlestonian who made Charleston more in tune! John Zacharias Siegling was born on February 13, 1791, in Erfurt, Germany. He had 16 siblings growing up! When he was 12 years old, he was apprenticed to become a cabinet maker. He became really good at the trade, and when he was 15 he moved to Paris where his life and trade transformed!

John Z. Siegling Sr.
(Courtesy of Find a Grave)

The Unknown Celebrity of Bethel United Methodist Church

A very fascinating thing to do while researching a graveyard is to find out if anyone famous is buried there. At Bethel United Methodist Church we believe Reverend John Mood deserves to be recognized as a famous and prominent member of the graveyard. "Who is Rev. John Mood?", you may ask.

Reverend John Mood (geni.com)

Lights, Camera, Action!

How Many "Greats" Does It Take To Find My Ancestor?

In every graveyard I have walked through or drove past, I am always reminded that the graves of those people are our ancestors. They might not be my personal ancestors, but somebody on the Earth today descended from them. I have researched a personal ancestor of mine, Reverend John Henry Livingston. He is my paternal 9th Great-grandfather. Although I seem to have many relatives with intriguing history, I chose Reverend Livingston because we discuss many ties to religion in my Beyond The Grave course.

The Mysterious Gravestone In The Middle of Campus

What comes to your mind when you're walking to class and pass a gravestone? In Cougar Mall of College of Charleston's campus, you will find the gravestone of Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson. Elizabeth Jackson was the mother of President Andrew Jackson.

Her stone reads, "She gave her life cheerfully for the independence of her country. On an unrecorded date in Nov. 1781, and to her son Andy this advice: 'Andy, never tell a lie, nor take what is not your own, nor sue for slander, settle those cases yourself''."

Our mystery to solve is: Why is her stone located outside of my classroom in the Robert Scott Small Building?

Digging Into The Deeper Meaning of Bethel

Bethel United Methodist Church 

Bethel United Methodist Church has been standing at the corner of Calhoun and Pitt Street since 1797. The church is located at 222 Calhoun Street. The vision for their church is to welcome all people and embrace a diverse community. Bethel church is Charleston's oldest standing Methodist Church and was the only Methodist Church to remain open during the Civil War. I will be exploring the special symbolic meanings on the gravestones located in the churchyard. Source: Bethel United Methodist Church

The Chosen Ancestor

I have chosen my ancestor, Reverend John Henry Livingston for my personal ancestor research project. Rev. John Livingston is my paternal 9th great-grandfather. I chose him because my middle name is Livingston and I have always been curious about that side of my family. The Livingston family also has a lot of fascinating history!