The Letter That Waited: How One Ancestry Tree Uncovered a 155-Year Family Story
Have you ever wondered if your ancestors tried to reach across time to find you? What if a letter, written with hope and faith more than 155 years ago, was waiting patiently in an archive, holding the key to your family's story?
"It all started with a tree," reflects Kelley Dixon-Tealer. "A simple family tree on Ancestry." She couldn't have known that this small act would unlock an extraordinary story of perseverance, faith, and family reunion that began with her third great-grandfather, Hawkins Wilson, and his remarkable letters to the Freedmen's Bureau in 1865.
A Story That Had to Be Told
Before diving into this week's podcast episode, I encourage you to watch "A Dream Delivered: The Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson" - a short documentary film that first brought this remarkable story to light. In this moving film, you'll witness the moment Kelley and her mother first learn about Hawkins' letters and see them connect with newfound family members. The film provides beautiful context for the deeper conversations we share in today's episode.
From Lost Letters to Living Legacy
Imagine being torn from your family at age six, sold away from everyone and everything you've ever known. This was Hawkins Wilson's reality - taken from his family in Virginia and sold to Texas. But rather than let this trauma define him, Hawkins chose faith, perseverance, and hope. After Emancipation, he wrote powerful letters to the Freedmen's Bureau, seeking to reconnect with the family he'd lost.
"It was a lot of emotions that I've never felt before," Kelley shares, describing her reaction to discovering Hawkins' story. "And it was strange to have so much emotion for someone that you've never met. But when you listen to the story and hear the story, how could you not?"
The Whole Story
If you haven’t already, take a moment to listen to this powerful episode:
Prefer audio only? Click here to listen on your favorite podcast app.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to discover:
- How a letter written in 1865 finally reached its intended recipients - through their descendants
- The unexpected role Hawkins Wilson played in the first Juneteenth celebrations
- How his legacy of faith continues through generations of ministers in his family
- The power of physically walking in your ancestor's footsteps
- Why starting a family tree can lead to extraordinary discoveries
The Power of One Story
Hawkins Wilson's story reminds us that family connections transcend time and circumstance. His letters, written with such hope and determination, finally fulfilled their purpose - not by reaching his immediate family, but by connecting his descendants generations later. Through his perseverance and faith, he left a legacy that continues to inspire and guide his family today.
Your Story
Before you dismiss those DNA matches or unfinished branches in your family tree, remember Hawkins Wilson. Sometimes the most powerful family stories are waiting to be discovered, hidden in plain sight in historical records, ready to transform how you understand your own journey.
Story Seeds 🌱
Plant these conversation starters and watch your family stories grow.
- Have you ever felt a deep connection to an ancestor you never met? What drew you to their story?
- What family separations exist in your family's history? How have those affected later generations?
- How has faith or perseverance shaped your family's journey through difficult times?
- What places connected to your family history would you like to visit and walk in your ancestors' footsteps?
Story Sparks 🔑
Unlock your family's hidden stories with these research techniques.
- Search the Freedmen's Bureau records on Ancestry for your family surnames - even if you don't think you'll find anything. These records often contain unexpected connections and stories.
- Create MyTreeTags in your Ancestry tree to track religious vocations and leadership roles in your family - they often reveal patterns across generations.
- If you’ve got Ancestry Pro Tools, use the map view of your tree to visualize where your ancestors lived. Sometimes walking where they walked helps you understand their story better.
- When you find a historical document about your ancestor, broaden your perspective. What clues can you find about their faith, perseverance, and connections to major historical events.
As Kelley reminds us, "You can't make these connections if you don't start." Whether it's building your first family tree or responding to that AncestryDNA match message, taking that first step might just lead you to an extraordinary discovery that changes everything.
Ready to uncover more stories like Hawkins Wilson's? Subscribe to Stories That Live In Us wherever you get your podcasts. And if this episode touched your heart, please leave us a rating and review - it helps other family story seekers find us.
You can also visit Kelley's website to learn more about honoring the past, preserving the legacy and forging a brighter future:
Hawkins Wilson Legacy
© 2024 Crista Cowan. All rights reserved.
