Hi everyone!
It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Azure Robinson.
Azure became a Wiki Genealogist in April of 2018. She is one of our Project Leaders and one of the busiest WikiTreers around, as you'll see below!
When and how did you get interested in genealogy?
Being ill during childhood, a lot of time was spent with the adults and listening in to their discussions - hearing family stories and imagining the personalities and lives of ancestors was a favorite pastime. Specifically, my father, paternal aunt, and a maternal great-aunt were the ones who were instrumental in piquing my interest in and love for genealogy.
What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?
Outside of genealogy, some hobbies include being an amateur photographer, road-trip enthusiast, and an avid reader of romance, mystery, and biographies.
What is your genealogical research focus?
Currently focusing on volunteering time helping others with their genealogy through multiple projects: Religion sub-project: Jehovah’s Witnesses, USBH - Family Builders, Scotland - Tartan Trail Guide, Scotland - Clan: Paisley, ONS - Paisley, Peasley, Ihda, OPS - Peaslee Garrison, Bethel House, Andersonia, Dawson, and Raton, Cemeterist - Fairmont Cemetery, Raton, NM
When I first started, my main focus was in researching some of our family brickwalls, one of which was my maternal great-grandfather, George Ferris Anderson, who was Robert Harrison while married to my great-grandmother! After all of her life not knowing for sure who he was, my mother now knows about this man through DNA and genealogical research. Recently, I was able to connect with my mother’s cousins who were very excited by this information as they also had been searching for years. It is still my favorite genealogical story and breakthrough.
Are you are interested in certain surnames or locations?
Currently, the surname focus is on Paisley/Peasley. Another WikiTreer and I are working on an article about our ancestor, Joseph Peasley 1598-1660 a Quaker and one of the main progenitors of the Peasley line in America, for the Clan Paisley Newsletter for this fall.
Location focus genealogically is on my hometown of Raton, New Mexico. Last fall a request for a Facebook group for those interested in the genealogy and history of Raton was created. It now has almost 1k members interested in the work being done on the town OPS and the cemetery study of Fairmont Cemetery. This cemetery has over 6k burials and I’m only about 35% done with adding profiles. The photos are all taken so if anyone is interested in assisting with adding profiles, they would be most welcome!
What is your toughest brick wall currently?
My toughest brickwall is my paternal great-great-grandfather, John Christoper Boushon. So many unknowns with this gentleman. The variations of his name alone is frustrating, Aumen Boushon, Aubuchon, Almond Boushon... Then, we have his birthplace, France, not sure if this is “New France” or really, France. All the evidence we have for him is a brief mention in a book and on his children’s death certificates. He also may be in the 1870 census with his bride’s family prior to their marriage in 1871. The death date we have for him (1879) is from family trees.
(interview continues in comments)
