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mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Nunta, Sun Goddess of the Cherokee

June 14, 2013 — 1 Comment

sunflowers

sunflowers

Nunta, the Cherokee goddess of the sun and health has power to bring healing or illness.  Remedy is remembering in her world.  Health emanates from the same source as pain.  Adversaries carry strong medicine, and sometimes must be faced in order to be free of an affliction. Willingness to meet an adversary for the purpose of healing sounds like fairy tale of fear and loathing.  The struggle is full of possible outcomes, including death.  Intuitively our bodies know which ones of our patterns is the most harmful.  Allowing an accumulation of foggy emotional distraction to cover the truth only leads to more complicated side effects.  The enemy of your good health is denial.  Nunta is the bright sunlight of awareness illuminating the medicine you need to remember.

  • Stop doing the things that make you unhappy
  • Start doing the things that make you happy
  • Remember the difference

Your personal happiness is unique and known only to you.  Taking a big dose of your own medicine is a step towards wholeness and health.

James Sweet of Warwick, Kent, RI

June 13, 2013 — 5 Comments

While studying my tree I noticed that one of the branches had some discrepancies.  The Sweet family of Rhode Island is a favorite of mine now that I have visited the state.  Consulting family written documents, my suspicions were confirmed that I had the wrong Sweet in the wrong spot.  I was sad because I had become attached to these people who would no longer be related to me, which itself is a ridiculous thought.  Now I have spent time to repair the error, and with a bit of luck I did get back to the correct ancestor in just 3 generations. I had listed his brother John in this generation, an erroneous idea I found in other profiles on ancestry.com.  Lucky for me, I do have family written references on this part of my fam.   My new, revised 8th great grandfather is from a Sweet family of famous physicians known as the bonesetters.  They carried on for generations in this capacity. I am now just as happy with the doctors as I was with the fancy politicians I gave up in the process. I have also been informed about Rhode Island history, which is fascinating.

James Sweet (1622 – 1695)
is my 8th great-grandfather
Benoni Sweet (1663 – 1751)
son of James Sweet
Dr. James Sweet (1686 – 1751)
son of Benoni Sweet
Thomas Sweet (1732 – 1813)
son of Dr. James Sweet
Thomas Sweet (1759 – 1844)
son of Thomas Sweet
Valentine Sweet (1791 – 1858)
son of Thomas Sweet
Sarah LaVina Sweet (1840 – 1923)
daughter of Valentine Sweet
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Sarah LaVina Sweet
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

The second son of JOHN & MARY SWEET, James Sweet came with his parents to America in 1632. He worked at a grist mill with his step-father, Ezekiel Holliman. He was an inhabitant of Warwick in 1648, Commissioner in 1653/1658/1659, freeman in 1655, juryman in 1656 and lived at the estate of the late William Congdon at the foot of Ridge Hill. He married MARY GREENE, daughter of JOHN GREENE & JOANE (TATTERSOL) GREENE, about 1654 in Providence, RI. On Sept. 30, 1660, he sold to Thomas Greene, the lot he had received from the town of Warwick along with meadow land. Later, the family moved to Prudence Island in Portsmouth Twp. about four miles soutwest of Bristol in 1664 being one of the first families to live on the island from 1664 to about 1685. Several family members are buried in the old family burying ground in the center of the island.On November 8, 1686, he deeded his land in Providence that he had inherited from his father to eldlest son, Philip of Prudence Island. On the same date, he deeded to son, Benoni, certain land in Mashiantatack, and to son, James of Prudence Island, Valentine of Kingstown, and Samuel & Mary Sweet living with their parents, land in Mashiantatack. In 1695, James deposed and gave his age as 73. He died at age 93 years.All the “bone-setter” family lines originate with James Sweet and his wife, Mary, who learned the art of bone-setting from her surgeon father, JOHN GREENE. James Sweet & his brother, John Sweet were interpreters to the Indians for first settlers and their names can be found on early Indian deeds. James Sweet signed with his mark.

What is a Milagro?

June 10, 2013 — 2 Comments

Milagro means miracle, and it also means a specific symbol used to make an offering.  Offerings have meaning in the context in which they were made.  Churches around the world have tokens left in hope, remembrance, or gratitude.  In Ted DeGrazia’s Virgin of Guadalupe chapel people have left these symbols for many years.  The oldest chapel I have seen like this has many offerings from sailors that include hats.  It is in Cap D’Antibes, France.  The chapel of Notre Dame de Garoupe is enchanting as well as historic. In Tucson we also have shrines known as El Tiradito and the Virgin shrine at San Javier del Bac Mission:

An offering can be made in nature, in a chapel, or in a garden.  Altars exist in every form.  The meaning is in the heart of the person making the offering. Milagros express hope, faith, and dedication. They tell the history of people’s aspirations, tragedies, and triumphs. The spirit of the place is reflected in the objects left on the altar.  The altar assumes a collective consciousness by making space for all the offerings and their symbolic powers.  It becomes an archive of religion.

Plimouth Grist Mill

June 9, 2013 — 2 Comments

One of the most fascinating displays maintained by Plimouth Plantation is the grist mill.  A recent  acquisition, the mill grinds corn to show visitors how water powered mills made life possible in the colonies. Because the space is intimate the employees can be very helpful and informative.  I learned a lot from my brief visit, and was given some good references to lean more. They employees are very well trained and seem to enjoy working with the visiting public.

Thomas Armer and the Confederate Conscription

June 7, 2013 — 1 Comment

During the Civil War Thomas Armer was conscripted to serve in the Iron Works at Shelby, Alabama to make arms for the Confederacy.   After the war his entire family moved to Texas with Lucinda Jane and her husband, William Taylor, a veteran who was wounded in the war.  His widow applied for a Confederate pension, just as her daughter, Lucinda, did.  The state of Texas granted both widows pensions to help them survive at the end of their lives.  Thomas donated the land for the cemetery where they are now buried.

Thomas Armer (1825 – 1900)
is my 2nd great grandfather
Lucinda Jane Armer (1847 – 1939)
daughter of Thomas Armer
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of Lucinda Jane Armer
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor

Slow Food in Tucson

June 5, 2013 — 6 Comments

The Slow Food movement is a worldwide pushback to fast food.  We all know, more or less, what is intended by the phrase fast food, but only after some examination does the core meaning of Slow Food emerge.  As a food hippie from the 1960’s when health food and coops and gardening were a reaction to the available sources and quality of nutrition, I do not need coaching in this matter.  In fact, I eat more convenience foods now than ever because I purchase a bit of fake meat from time to time. I am sometimes now a lazy food hippie at Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle.  My core belief is that we need no packaged or processed foods in our lives unless we do that processing ourselves.  Slow Food is out to change the conditions of farming, eating, and distributing food.  I applaud the whole thing.  They (we) are making strides.

This movement started in Turin, Italy and has fortunately spread as a philosophy and an organization.  I joined this year and my first impression is really good.  We attended tasting held by the Slow Food Southern AZ chapter at Lodge on the Desert.  The event was inspirational and very reasonably priced.  I, for one, loved having the posole deconstructed so I could have it without the pork.  Ryan Clark was one of many chefs showing off their talents for a happy crowd.

Chiltepin, Mother of All Chiles

June 3, 2013 — 4 Comments

Here in the Sonoran Desert the precious chile tepin grows wild.  It has a distinctive flashy flavor that is desired by many on both sides of the border.  It is said to be the mother of all cultivated chiles.  I have recently replanted some in my garden after loosing some old ones in frosts.  They can live for many years when protected in the winter.  This promotional video from Sonora has chosen to use South American Inca pipe flute music, which has nothing to do with Sonora…but the chile is an emblem of life in desert conditions.  Our natural chile forrest south of town in Tucson is still the largest in the US.

All Souls Tradition in Tucson

June 1, 2013 — 3 Comments


The All Souls Procession each year in Tucson is a community event that takes mass coordination and will now cost more.  Our new trolley system will complicate the planning and add to the expense.  The volunteer organizers work all year to make it better all the time.  In November another new and amazing, creative expression of this tradition will take place downtown.

Tucson’s Iron Chef Goes Hog Wild

June 1, 2013

Tucson’s own Iron Chef, Ryan Clark of the Lodge on the Desert ,is committed to sustainability and creativity.  He butchers and cures the meat served at his restaurant.  This very special Berkshire pig has been served recently to guests.  This attention to detail is one reason his cuisine reigns supreme in Tucson.  July 7 he will face a challenger in the cook off competition.  If the secret ingredient is a whole pig, this chef is ready.

Randall Holt, 10th Great-Grandfather

May 31, 2013 — 5 Comments

Seal of Jamestown

Seal of Jamestown

Randall Holt was born in Cheshire, England.  His son John killed himself in Virginia, which made a big fat mess.  Queen Anne stepped in to save his land for his family.
RANDALL HOLT (1607 – 1650)
is my 10th great grandfather
Randolph Holt (1638 – 1679)
son of RANDALL HOLT
John Holt (1664 – 1705)
son of Randolph Holt
David Holt (1685 – 1749)
son of John Holt
Sarah Holt (1740 – 1792)
daughter of David Holt
James Truly (1755 – 1816)
son of Sarah Holt
Elizabeth Betsy Truly Payne Darden (1782 – 1851)
daughter of James Truly
Minerva Truly Darden (1806 – )
daughter of Elizabeth Betsy Truly Payne Darden
Sarah E Hughes (1829 – 1911)
daughter of Minerva Truly Darden
Lucinda Jane Armer (1847 – 1939)
daughter of Sarah E Hughes
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of Lucinda Jane Armer
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor

Randall Holt probably came to the Jamestown Colony in 1621 onboard the ship George as a young teen as a servant to Dr. John Potts.

Randall Holt was born about 1607 in Prestbury, England, the son of Randall/Randolph and Elizabeth (Pott) Holt, who were wed in the Prestbury church. Randall was probably a nephew of Dr. Pott(s), the Virginia Colony physician who later became governor.

Several Holt family christenings, weddings and burials have taken place at St. Peter’s Church in Prestbury. It is about 700 years old. Nearby in the churchyard there is an even older Norman chapel.

The Randall Holt FamilyRandall Holt’s is the first mention of the Holt family found in the American colonies. The court ordered that upon release from his indenture he was to be given “one suit apparel from head to foot and three barrels of corn.”

Read more at Suite101: Line of Descent from Randall Holt of Virginia: Grandson’s Suicide Prompted the Queen’s Intervention http://www.suite101.com/content/line-of-descent-from-randall-holt-of-virginia-a181274#ixzz0xlAZ8icn

Randall was released from his indenture in 1625 and in 1628 he married Mary Bailey, who also may have been from Prestbury. It was a fortunate match. She was the sole heir of John Bailey of Hog Island, one of the richest men in the Virginia Colony.

The Bailey Family LegacyThe Council of Jamestown had appointed Robert Evers as Mary’s guardian at her father’s death and ordered that 490 Hog Island acres be deeded to her. Randall and Mary settled on this island in the James River. He added 400 acres to his wife’s property in 1636 and another 400 acres in 1639.

In 1650, Randall Holt Jr. obtained a grant for 1022 Hog Island acres as “son and lawful heir”. He received a major’s commission in the British Colonial forces and was a member of the governing House of Burgesses. In 1668, Randall Holt Jr. was appointed Justice for Surry County. In 1679, the year he died, he was granted a patent for 1,450 acres on Hog Island.

Queen Intervenes to Help Holt DescendantsJohn Holt inherited all the lands his father, Randall Jr., had owned, was listed in the 1687 Cavalry of Surry County, and was granted the right to operate the ferry between Hog Island and the mainland. By 1704, the Holt family owned 2,768 acres in Surry County. Of this, 1,450 acres were controlled by Elizabeth, the widow of Randall Holt Jr. The remainder was owned by the sons of Randall and Elizabeth.

Read on

  • Line of Descent from John Chew of Virginia
  • Line of Descent from John Fisher of Virginia
  • U. S. Lineage Societies for Men and Women

John Holt committed suicide in 1707. Because suicide was unlawful, his land reverted to the crown. Son David had received a substantial land grant from his grandfather, David Crafford. The other sons—John Jr., Charles, Benjamin and Joseph—attended a court hearing on the matter. The court deposition read that the coroner’s jury found that his estate was forfeited. However, Gov. Edward Nott, representing the Crown, made the finding that “his five surviving children are fit objects of our mercy and compassion” and said Queen Anne had commanded the restoration of their father’s estate to them.

Read more at Suite101: Line of Descent from Randall Holt of Virginia: Grandson’s Suicide Prompted the Queen’s Intervention http://www.suite101.com/content/line-of-descent-from-randall-holt-of-virginia-a181274#ixzz0xlAgYO00

Descendants of Randall Holt are eligible for membership in the Jamestowne Society.