It seems no Penney descendant within a 50 mile radius of me is safe from a visit at any given time. A month or so ago Cousin Michael and I were having one of our marathon talk sessions (thank goodness for his free long distance) when Barbara's name came up and he mention she lived in Sevierville. Well, I just happen to go on an annual mother-daughter pilgrimage to Gatlinburg and that was close enough to see if I could try and connect for a visit. On May 7, 2008 everything fell into place for me and my mother to visit Barbara and her husband. All I can say is you know you are in the presence of family when after a couple of minutes of meeting you feel you have known them your whole life and when it is time to leave it makes you sad and you stand at the car and talk so more. That is just how you feel when you meet the Hammocks!Barbara is a Pierce descendant. Her grandmother was Alice, daughter of Margaret and John Piece. Margaret was the daughter of Miles and Sallie Gann Penney. Barbara was rumored to have a trunk load of family photos and some home remedies of the Pierce/Penney families so I just had to check this out for myself, and yes,..............the rumors were correct. When I say trunk, I mean trunk! These trunks were huge. There is no way one person could lift these massive things. Anyway, she was kind enough to dig through her photos and find some treasures for me after she had worked all day. I was thrilled. It was hard from me to sit and watch and not jump in myself I was so excited. She uncovered a couple of great photos that I cannot wait to put on the blog.
She also uncovered her great grandmother, Margaret Pierce's home remedy for salve and other remedies which I have and put on the blog just in case someone would like to try them. Above is a photo of Barbara holding some salve that was mixed up for her when she had pleurisy. She could not remember how long she had the salve but I smelled it and sure enough you could smell the kerosene. I think it has a long shelf live!Below are the home remedies that have been kept in the family for generations. There may at one time have been a handwritten book but it seems the book may have been accidentally thrown away. Keep the family history in mind, Sallie worked for a doctor and was often a midwife around town so this would make sense as to why these would be in the family.
Babara also has some other family treasures such as a quilt, dishes and sideboard.However, the Pièce de résistance was a handwritten letter from a close relative confirming the family possession of a gun owned by Jesse James. Cousin Michael had heard this rumor before but could not really be for sure. Now there is written prove of the gun, possibly the current owner, historical significance and how it ties to the family. We are not sure of the guns exact whereabouts right now or the exact story so I do not want to say too much but we are working it. So stay tuned, I can assure you this story lead will be followed.
You never know what you will find, but it's never what you expect.........but usually something better!
Hopefully, I will get the opportunity to visit again and this time I'm taking her up on her offer of a glass of ice tea and sit on the porch a little longer and star at the spectacular view of the mountains.
