Meet our Members: Tricia Payne

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Tricia Payne.

Tricia became a Wiki Genealogist in April 2021.  She is the Project Coordinator for the Kentucky Project and leads several One-Place Studies.

When and how did you get interested in genealogy?

My lovely Grand Aunt Doris Oschwald gave me the bug. In December 1989, we spent a day at the Kentucky Archives in Frankfort looking for our great grandpa Patrick Hollearn. It was a brick wall.

She passed away, but I did locate the whole family and wrote about them on my blog KY Family Stories. Patrick Hollearn’s was a first-generation American who grew up in Montgomery County, KY. He was just a child when the Civil War was being fought around him. It must have been frightening.

I must give the Kentucky Genealogical Society credit. Through them I have learned more being a good researcher and met other excellent Kentucky researchers. They upped my game more than anyone.

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

True Crime Podcasts, Writing, Adult Coloring books, Volunteering with KYGenWeb, FLGenWeb, and the Kentucky Genealogical Society.

What is your genealogical research focus?

At first it was my bloodlines. But now I’m more interested in One Place Studies, which is what got me more interested in using WikiTree.

All my great-great-grandparents were born in Kentucky. In fact, most of the family has been in Kentucky since the 1810s. Their lives were very similar so studying how they met, and the social structures of their neighborhoods takes on a new level. I read a quote from a woman who lived in Spring Fork (part of Breathitt County, KY) and she said, “I’m related to everyone in this hollow.” After starting my One Place Study, I realized I was also. (My CC7 count exploded!)

Through the One Place Studies, I am meeting and able to collaborate with other genealogists.

OPS: Disputanta (Rockcastle County), Kentucky; Spring Fork (Breathitt County), Kentucky; and Enterprise (Volusia County), Florida)

(Interview continues in comments)

Comments

Do you have a favorite ancestor?

Often it seems like I am just managing data – attaching names to dates and people to places. Frankly, it is boring.

What I love is storytelling and this is where WikiTree shines. 

While researching grampa Patrick’s brother, I learned about his tragic life. Society, the church, and even her family let Marie Richards Hollearn down in the most tragic way. Her story made me cry, it was difficult to write.

What is your toughest brick wall currently?

My brick wall was my great grandfather Benjamin Hudson. However, by coming to WikiTree I was able to meet Cousin Lukas Murphy who had the answer.

Thomas Watkins I suppose will remain a brick wall for a long time. He came to Kentucky from North Carolina – possibly space aliens landed him here because there doesn’t seem to be any other records for him. 

How long have you been on WikiTree? Why did you start getting involved?

I joined and then found the import process overwhelming. My Kentucky Genealogical Society friend Deborah Overland kept bragging about how much she loved it, so I gave it a second chance. Luckily, the YouTube channel showed me all kinds of tricks for using the site. I was hooked.

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Congratulations on editing the new Kentucky Genealogical Society book, "Essential Guide to Kentucky Family Research" - just published! A terrific guide book for folks with ancestors in the Bluegrass State. 

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I have also found the importing of my gedcom files overwhelming. I have just given up because I feel like I have no idea what I am doing. When I think I have it figured out some of the same people show back up in my list. Both sides of my family are from Kentucky but I was however born in Georgia. I did find my way to Kentucky so I guess you can say that I was supposed to be Kentucky girl all along.

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You know Marian - when you are right - you are right.  And you are right.  :-)

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Kentucky is known for it's fast horse and beautiful women. 

Answer 1

HiCousin Tricia! Yes, we are 11th cousins/2xr through MRCA Alice (Kinge) Baldwin! I enjoyed your very interesting interview. Thank you so much for all that you do on the Kentucky Project!

Comments

Nice to meet you cousin!

Thanks for your kind comments and finding our connection.

Answer 2

Loved the Blog, Tricia!  Great story on Patrick and his "scandalous" wife.

And your biographies are wonderful.  I love a life story rather than just BMD's. 

Well done Tricia and keep up the awesome work.

BTW, we're 10C1R through Ursula (Scott) Kimball

Comments

Thank you for the kind comments. These were my tame family members.  ;-)

I agree the stories are what brings these folks to life.

Answer 3

Nice to meet you Tricia! Love the research in the Hollearn story at Kentucky Stories  Such wonderful writing.

But I really envy the discipline of your One Place Studies! 

Comments

Every day I tell myself - just do one family group sheet today. Before you know it - you've got the whole neighborhood and then the whole town. ;-)

Thank you for your kind words.

Answer 4

Hi 13, 2x Cousin,

Thanks for the work you are doing.

As our common ancestors, [[Griffith-3115|Sibyl Griffith (aft.1522-1580)]] and [[Ap_Hugh-11|Owen ap Hugh Esq (1518-1613)]] are from Wales you can add this sticker to your profile - {{Wales Roots}}.

Comments

Very cool - I haven't made my way out of Kentucky yet!  

Answer 5

Great interview!

Also looks like we are 14C1R via Thomas Myles-12 (b. abt. 1536) and Elizabeth Eacre-1 (b. 1540)!

Comments

You are more my cousin than Queen Elizabeth!  :-)

Answer 6

Tricia,  So glad to meet you!  I have been researching my paternal family tree for about 15 years as I have several brick wall on my maternal side.  We are 9th cousins as we share a MRCA in Ursula Scott Kimball.  My favorite discovery was that I descend from Susannah North Martin one of the accused during the Salem Witch Trials.  She was executed 19 JULY 1692 .

Comments

Poor Susannah. Thanks for letting me know that fact.