With the help of a new collaboration feature at Ancestry, I have enrolled several of the most active members of The White Stags of VA/NC into a “Family Group”. Today we began testing the system and one of the results came almost instantly.

The feature allows me to invite them to participate as contributors to the tree. They can now see a more detailed view of the tree and can upload photos and stories as well. Once we get past our learning curve, I hope to bring this to every paying member of the Babb Family Association. Imagine being able to tell the story of your grandparents in only the way YOU can? You’ll also be able to record audio descriptions of items and photos to tell the behind-the-scenes story of the pictures.

Today’s discovery came through my collaborator Travis when he helped me replace one of the many placeholder names that hold this tree together with an actual name of both parents and helped to establish a location for them as well.

Additionally, the discovery exposed something neither of us expected. It shows the family moving from VA to NC and then back. We’ve only thought of them moving from VA to NC, but never envisioned that they also moved in the other direction.

Now, keep in mind that they lived along the border of these two states, so they might have easily crossed the state line looking for their cow that got out of the fence.

So, anyway, we have two new members of our tree James & Polly (Harrell) Babb who lived in Nansemond County, VA at the time of their first son’s birth. They are the parents of James C Babb Sr (who was also a Jr in his youth). James is Person #5 in the report below.

The county no longer exists but it was named after the local Nansemond Native American tribe who resided in the area. The rendering that is the cover image for this post honors the Nansemond people.