worthywords

Hello Worthywords, I am new to the group as well. I saw the post about ancestors and thought I would share our journey. My daughter was out of work for a while and dug deep into our ancestry. She gave my wife and I a copy of what she found as her search was from both her family and mine. There was nothing there that would hint to any musical talents. I believe back then music was such a common place for folks that it may not have been an issue. I spent time around Townsend Tenn. and met many folks there that shared family members playing the dulcimer on the "front porch jams". No TV and some, not even a radio, what else could be done than to gather together and sing and play?

Hi Worthywords, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer.  It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.

Ben

It's great to have you on board Worthywords. The culture and history, especially family history around the dulcimer is always exciting. There is a lot of history here and a number of members who are always up to the challenge of finding more connections to the mountain dulcimer. Best wishes as you continue your ancesteral research. Welcome to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer.

Thanks for your reply. Best wishes as you continue to explore your family tree. The sources you mention, newspapers and census data, have provided some information for dulcimer historians. They are good resources. I hope you do learn to play your dulcimer. You can start by picking out simple tunes and work from there. Let us know if we can help you get started.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Welcome to FOTMD Worthywords. It's good to have you aboard. I'm curious to know whether you have genealogical evidence that your ancestors had experience with dulcimers. Or are you just speculating given the areas in which your ancestors lived? As a dulcimer historian this type of genealogical evidence would help us advance knowledge of dulcimer history especially if you can document their dulcimer use in the 1700s as the earliest known examples of true dulcimers do not appear until the early 1800s. South Carolina has virtually no early history of mountain dulcimers while the other places do in small localized areas rather than over the broader territories. Have fun exploring this site. Enter in to the discussions. Please share with us as much as you can about your ancestors and their experience with the mountain dulcimer as you begin yours. I look forward to your participation here.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."