Vining Newsletter - June 2005

Dear Vining Researchers,

After two months of not sending a Vining Newsletter, I think it is about time that I get something out, especially with all the information that I have received and want to share with everyone. I apologize for the delay in e-mailing a newsletter, but as soon as the snow level diminished to the point that I could crawl out of most of the second story windows, I found it hard to stay inside in front of my computer.

VINING FAMILY WEB SITE
Welcome to those of you who are receiving this newsletter for the first time. Here is a summary of the web pages that are a part of the Vining Family web site. The Vining web site is composed of the following five web pages (six if you count the home page that contains links to the others):
   1. http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningfamilies.htm - This is the basic genealogy page that records each Vining family and contains links to other Vining families and to documentation when available. I will post images of any birth, marriage, and death certificates, gravestones, and census records that you send me. Also, photographs of people, homesteads, etc., will be gladly added to this web site.
   2. http://www.vfthomas.com/Vining1790census.htm - The first decennial census of the United States took place in 1790. This web page contains most (all?) entries for Vining families in that census. The idea is to complete the 1790 census for Vinings and then move on to the 1800 census.
   3. http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningoldestliving.htm - Here is reported the oldest known/reported living Vining male(s), Vining female(s) (i.e., born with the Vining name), and Vining female descendant(s).
   4. http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningplacesbusinesses.htm - This page contains lists of (and links to) place names and businesses that bear the name Vining as well as schools, libraries, etc., plus Vining individual/family web pages.
   5. http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningnewsletterarchive.htm - Each of the past Vining newsletters can be accessed from this page.
The above pages can be accessed from the Vining home page: http://www.vfthomas.com/Vininghome.htm
I welcome any information you can provide for these web pages.

CONTRIBUTORS to the VINING FAMILY WEB SITES SINCE THE PREVIOUS (=March) NEWSLETTER
Thank you to ...
... Phil Vining for info. about Vining residence complex at Warren Wilson College (see http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningplacesbusinesses.htm )
... Delane Vining Delk for info. about her father, the oldest living male Vining (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningoldestliving.htm )
... Kathy Vining Pecina for info. about her aunt, the second oldest living female born with the Vining surname (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningoldestliving.htm), for additions/corrections to Vining family web site (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningfamilies.htm), and for additions to Vining place names (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningplacesbusinesses.htm)
... Joan Vining McGovern for contributing an article (see below) to this newsletter
... Ed Vining for contributions to Vining place names (Vining Lake and Vining Road) (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningplacesbusinesses.htm)
... Sharon Marvin, Susan Johnson, and Guy C. Vining for additions/corrections to Vining family web site (http://www.vfthomas.com/Viningfamilies.htm)
... Everyone else whose name I forgot to write down. I'll try to do better between now and the next newsletter.

HOW"COUSINS CONNECTED" - Joan Vining McGovern
I live in Georgia and for a long time wondered how "Vining's Georgia" (a suburb of Atlanta) got it's name. My Vinings all came from New England and I was the first of generation to be born outside new England. During the research on my Vining family, we went to the "Marietta Georgia Room" in the Marietta Library. They have a very good collection of Georgia history and genealogy. I asked the librarian and she brought me the file on Vining's, Georgia. There was a lot to read but the only thing I could find on the town name was an article that said just before the Civil War the track between Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta was being built. The land was owned by Hardy Pace who had got it in the Georgia land lottery. In 1836 the Western and Atlantic Railroad chartered by the state to build the Atlanta/ Chattanooga portion. A man named Vining was the engineer who officially received mailbags from the postman every week. He also received the building supplies. The story goes suppliers were told "drop it off at Vining's station" Eventually the "station" part was dropped but the Vinings stuck. No one knows the first name of Vining. I found Lt. Colonel Stephen Harriman Long US Army, who had done the survey of the project, had come from Hopkintown, NH ...so I thought Vining might have come from NH too. I searched and was unsuccessful so I decided to contact a "Southern Vining" to see if he came from the south. I found some lovely Vining who trace their roots to William Vining born Salem, Ma. I follow his path and met descendants and through this process made many new friends! I was invited to the first VINING REUNION at Stone Mountain, Ga Park and enjoyed it immensely! Now I feel my Vining family is much larger than my one Vining line and I love the idea there are many of us researching and keeping the Vining name very much alive! One day we will find out just who Vining's Georgia was named for. I envision a wonderful party as we share this information with the town and the Historical Society!

FAMILY REUNION
In the previous newsletter, I extended an invitation to anyone (particularly those in the Georgia area) to have a family reunion here in Maine next January. I received the following reply:
Dear Cousin Tom, Thank you so much for offering to host our GA Vining Reunion at your Maine property in January 2006. We are truly overwhelmed by your exceedingly generous hospitality. Why, the very idea of slogging through 10 feet of snow sounds like a perfectly planned Winter Wonderland! However, we regret to inform you we may not be able to get there. You see, most all the river, creek and branch crossings in south GA have signs which read "Caution: Bridge May Ice In Winter". Therefore, it is highly doubtful we'd be able to leave these sunny southern parts to enjoy toasting marshmallows in a hollowed out igloo in your backyard. But, I do declare, Cousin Tom! Your Southern Cousins are ever so grateful that you have offered to host our little pea-pickin' hearts! And surely you know that you are always welcome to join in with whatever little ol' reunions we can put together down here in our neck of the woods. We'll have plenty of bug spray, palmetto fans and sweet, iced tea to sip in the shade. Y'all come! ---Cousin Glenda
   Glenda: Somehow, I have a feeling that the best we are going to do is get together via this newsletter. Frankly, my dear, I don't ... think I would mind getting down that way sometime.

VININGS WORLDWIDE
This newsletter now goes to 43 Vining e-mail addresses, one of which is in Australia. I'm not sure how many U.S. states because this information is not usually evident in e-mail addresses. My guess is about a half dozen. If you know anyone who might like to receive these more-or-less monthly Vining newsletters, please let me know.

DNA and GENEALOGY
No article on DNA this time. Is there anyone who would be willing to research and write an article about DNA surname studies? I have seen some information on the Internet but do not have any first-hand experience with them.

I hope to hear from you.

Tom

Thomas F. Vining
V. F. Thomas Co.
Delta Institute of Natural History
219 Dead River Road
Bowdoin, ME 04287
207-266-5748 = 207-BOOKS-4-U
http://www.vfthomas.com