The Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society has been staying busy.

The organization has several ongoing publications for sale as well as fall and spring meetings.

“In 1978, R.S. Spencer, Jr., became the president of the Society and thought that a journal published regularly recording Hyde Co. history would be an important addition to the work of the Society.  That also greatly broadened the reach of the Society and increased the membership to where it is now with over 200 members. The journal focuses on the history of Hyde Co. and its people, as per the mission statement of the Society. There are two editors, R.S. Spencer, Jr. and Betty Mann, who both work very hard to make each issue of interest,” explained Clare Baum, a member of the Society.

The Society’s fall meeting was held on Sunday, October 12, at the Swan Quarter Christian Church.  Over sixty members and guests attended the meeting and were enthralled by the enthusiastic presentation on the Hyde Co. Bridgman family research being done by Mary Baxter and Tom Bridgman.  The couple has been delving into their Hyde Co. roots since about 2009.  Excerpts from Green Bridgman’s 1850 diary are a part of the article they authored for the fall issue of the Society’s journal, High Tides.

 

The other two major articles in the fall journal focused on Governor Thomas Jarvis (ca. 1637-1694), one of the earliest settlers in NC, from an upcoming publication written by Ellen Williams, Betty Mann, and Marilyn Wesner as well as a paper on the life of Alfred Sadler, who lived in the Beulah area of Currituck Township in the early 1800s.  Janet C. Orndorff wrote that article about her ancestor.

 

A brief business meeting was conducted as part of the meeting during which officers and directors were elected for two year terms.  New board members elected are Linda Mayo and Norma Jean Mello, who joined other re-elected board members and Isabelle Homes (President), Marco Gibbs (Vice-President), Sophia Jarvis (Secretary), and Clare Baum (Treasurer).

 

A reception hosted by the Swan Quarter Christian Church followed.

 

The Society  held its spring meeting on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at the Mattamuskeet School Cafeteria, US Hwy 264, Swan Quarter, NC, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

 

The featured speaker was Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, a nationally recognized genealogist, whose research has featured in the records of the National Archives.  He is also the author of several books, and has published articles in National Geographic Society Quarterly, Family Chronicle and other genealogy publications.  Scott has been a faculty member for several years at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University and the Salt Lake City Institute of Genealogy.

 

In addition, longtime Ocracoke resident and journalist, Philip Howard, publisher of Ocracoke Newsletter spoke to the group.  He is also one of the contributors to the current issue of   the Society’s journal.

 

The spring issue of High Tides, the Society’s journal, was available at the meeting.  Editors R.S. Spencer and Betty Mann compiled this issue highlighting  Hyde County’s military involvement in and records from the War of 1812.  Included are muster rolls, payment of services forms, bounty land warrants and pension applications.  There are also abstracts from Hyde Co., Deed Book C in the issue

 

The Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society was formed in 1963 and is now in its 51st year. It’s purpose is to preserve and record the history of Hyde County and its people.  To that end, the Society publishes its journal, High Tides, in the spring and fall and has just completed volume 35 with the fall 2014 issue.  In addition, the Society has a library of resources housed in a special section at the Mattamuskeet Library and available for research.

 

The non-profit, tax-exempt organization of over 200 members is largely supported by annual memberships and other donations.  Annual memberships in the Society are $25 each calendar year.  The membership holds spring and fall meetings in different parts of Hyde County with featured speakers.  In addition, each member receives a copy of the High Tides.

 

The Hyde Co., NC GenWeb Site  www.ncgenweb.us/hyde/HYDE.HTM  has more information on Hyde County (Bible Records, obituaries, wills, etc.  and also has a listing of the Table of Contents from each High Tides