How could anybody out walking (in England) come upon this face and not recognize her? Well, according to a cute story I found said it happened in 2005 and I share it with you for your reading pleasure:
Richard Griffin, a former royal protection officer, shared this anecdote about a time when he and Queen Elizabeth met two American hikers who did not recognize her while walking near the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. The Queen was dressed in typical off-duty attire and was not immediately recognized.
One of the hikers spoke with the Queen, sharing their travel plans. When asked where she lived, the Queen mentioned living in London but having a holiday home “just the other side of the hills.”
Upon learning that she had been visiting the area for over 80 years, the hiker asked if she had ever met the Queen. She responded that she hadn’t, but that “Dick here meets her regularly.”
The tourist then asked Griffin what the Queen was like and Griffin jokingly described her.
The hiker asked the Queen to take a photo of him with Griffin. After she did, they switched and Griffin took a photo of the tourists with the Queen.
As they parted ways, the Queen reportedly expressed her amusement at the thought of the hikers discovering her identity later.
Can you imagine the hikers’ astonishment when they showed off their photos to friends??
Question of the day: Why do so many Americans have such great interest in British royalty?
Ever heard the phrase “Don’t get your knickers in a knot?” I’ve used it myself when a friend is worried over something trivial. What were knickers? In a word, they were old English underpants….. see the image and notice the split in the middle????
I’m not dwelling further in English underwear, but on British slang. Found a fun little book, Dictionary of British Slang, by Jonathan Bernstein, 2006:
bunk off — to play hooky
do a runner — leave a cafe without paying
wobbly — refers to somebody untrustworthy
the trouser department — referring to male genitals
braces — suspenders
glossies — magazines
corker — an enthusiastic opinion
panda car — small police car
gammy — the injured part of the body
twit — idiotic behavior
paddy — catchall term for Irishmen
poxy — most unpleasant
number plate — car license plate
dustman — garbage collector
lollipopman — crossing guard
brolly — umbrella
that takes the biscuit — that beats anything I’ve ever heard
tickety boo — everything’s going great
Please feel free to employ any of these in your daily dialogs.
“Although the famous Yakama chief, Kamiakin (1800-1877) was born near Starbuck, in Columbia County, and lived the largest part of his adult life in the Yakima Valley, he spent his last 17 years in the Palouse. In fact, he is one of Whitman County’s most famous residents, if not THE most famous. Washington schools, streets, parks, a butte and a creek bear his name. Sadly, the desecration of his gravesite near Rock Lake and the theft of his skull are an appalling episode in the final chapter of Kamiakin’s life.”
So began an article in a 2019 edition of the Bunchgrass Historian, publication of the Whitman County Historical Society in Colfax. The rest of the article, the rest of the story, is a grizzly one.
In the 1870’s, fossil and relic hunters plagued the midwest seeking museum specimens to sell. In 1878, some of these rascals were in Eastern Washington and learned that Chief Kamiakin had been buried nearby the previous year. One of these men were later quoted as having said, “the old chief’s head would look good in the Smithsonian.”
“Shortly later, a group of Kamiakin’s relatives discovered that the chief’s grave had been desecrated and that the head and shoulders were missing. His enraged family reburied his remains in a secret location, reportedly on the other side of Rock Lake.”
“For 70 years the culprits’ identities were unknown. In 1948 a son of one of those culprits came forward with details of the crime. Under cover of darkness, the men had ……. unearthed Kamiakin’s body. One then removed the head and placed it in a burlap sack, saying that he needed to ‘make certain measurements.’ It was never seen again, at least not by anyone willing to disclose its whereabouts.”
“In all probability, the skull of Chief Kamiakin will never be found. Meanwhile, the theft of his skull and the desecration of his grave continue to provoke justifiable outrage, particularly among Kamiakin’s descendants and among members of the Colville and Yakama Confederated Tribes.”
I’d be willing to bet that I’m not the only one who loves poking around old abandoned homesites, barns and even thrift shops looking for “treasurers.” I say that in quotes because we are looking for interesting things, not necessarily valuable things. How many of you are with me here?
Recently I found a jar just like this one. Embossed on the bottom were these words: H.J. Heinz Co. 381. WELL! Knowing Grandma Google can find most anything, I asked her about this jar……and here’s what I learned.
“Vintage H.J. Heinz Co. glass jars, often embossed with identification numbers on the base like 305, 381, or others, are collectible condiment containers from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. These jars typically held relish, mustard or pickles, featuring early clear glass to showcase product quality.”
That’s late 1800s to mid-1900s, so perhaps I have a very old jar! What am I going to do with it? Fill it will marbles and set it on a shelf to be admired.
My point with this post is this: when you’re poking around old abandoned homesites, barns, thrift stores and even boxes of “old family things” in your basement or garage, don’t just toss some rather plebian items (like a pickle jar) for it just might have been held by your ancestors’ hands.
Depending on where you live, you may or may not have been able to attend the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar on April 4th, but here are some tips you can still use.
While EWGS furnished to registrants two 4-page handouts from American Ancestors on Researching Patriot Roots and Researching Loyalist Roots, these are/were FREE handouts from the americanancestors.com website for free. (As of March 2026 they were.)
The aim of the day was to discover the stories of our Patriot ancestors in the American Revolution….those who fought for independence, freedom and unity. We learned the remarkable stories of Loyalists …… ancestors who upheld allegiance to the Crown amid turmoil and change. These handouts, offered by American Ancestors (formerly The New England Historic Genealogical Society), will be your printed roadmap to success.
Today’s Priceless Tip: Click to www.revolutionaryroots.AmericanAncestors.org. There you will find a long list of free handouts for researching the various aspects of research in this period of history.
Years ago my father gave a paper bag on which was written many names and dates of ancestors. At the very top of the bag was written “6/5/05 [her birthday – 6/5/1805] Matilda Atwater – father was aid to Geo Washington.” My search began!
Research revealed that there were many Stephen Atwaters. The Atwater family was prominent in colonial Connecticut. After much research, I discovered the following, copied from his pension application 14 Nov 1832:
“Stephen Atwater, Conn, S12014. I was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, New Haven colony, on 13 May 1758. I presume the records of my birth is in Wallingford Connecticut (for Wallingford & Cheshire were then one town) but I have no record of it anywhere – I was 74 years old on the 13 May last [1832].”
Stephen was the last of 7 children born to Stephen Atwater (1720-1806) and Hannah Hotchkiss (1722-1779). There were probably 2 sisters left at home when he enlisted.
Stephen Atwater’s pension application continues:
“In August 1776 [at 18 years old] the 10th Regiment of Connecticut Militia commanded by Cpl Benjamin Baldwin was ordered out, to go to New York – I was a member of Capt. Jesse Moss’s company, belonging to that regiment – & on the 17 August we turned out – we marched to New York [colony]– We were at New York City [Brooklyn was the northernmost area of LongIsland] when Gnl Washingtons army retreated from Long Island – I acted as one of the oarsmen in bringing the army over all night – The night was exceedingly dark & a very thick fog”
The Battle of Long Island was the first major battle to take place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War in terms of both troops deployments and combat.
The British army had nearly 20,000 soldiers and were helped by naval forces. British ships moved the East River toward Staten Island, seen on the bottom left of the map below. There were more than 400 transport ships, protected by 30 warships.
The Americans had about 10,000 soldiers led by General George Washington. He moved his troops to Brooklyn on Long Island, to defend New York. British troops landed and attacked the American troops on three sides.
Rather than surrender, General Washington decide to have the army cross the East River. He ordered every available boat to be taken. The oarsmen wrapped cloth around the oars so they would make as little noise as possible. The men rowed all night, back and forth. Stephen Atwater was one of these oarsmen. By morning there was still many men left on the Brooklyn side of the river. But the very thick fog in the night that Stephen mentioned continued late into the next day, so they were able to complete their mission by the time the fog lifted.
This was the closest Stephen Atwater came to being “Aid to George Washington”, but his story wasn’t over yet. He was under the command later of General Washington, among others.
↓Stephen Atwater rowed north to Manhattan (New York) across
the East River from Brooklyn on Long Island
Stephen Atwater’s pension application continues:
“After the American army was brought over to the city [New York City], our regiment remained there a few days, & were then ordered out to Harlem – there I was taken sick & was Discharged there or somewhere near there.”
“I remained sick till I was carried home. It was called a three months tour – but I think I was not out three months – but two months of more-Then April 1777 our company & regiment was ordered out again when Danbury [Connecticut] was burned “
“We moved to Fairfield[CT]– & then to Compo [CT] – I think the British embarked there. Our men & the British had a considerable battle in that neighborhood there – several of my acquaintances were killed there – Gnl Worster was killed in that battle – I saw him as a corpse – Our company had then got up & was not in that battle”
“After the British had embarked, & went off, we were discharged, & went home – I can’t say how long we were out at that time – probably 8 or 10 days – In October 1777 the same company & regiment were ordered out again – I marched to West Point. We had the same Colonel & same officers as before – The company I belonged to were out scouting the principal part of the time – At a place called Fishkill[NY] our company was divided – a part went to the north & a part went to the south –“
“Esopus [Kingston, NY] was burned at that time – This tour was called a three months tour – but I do not recollect how long we were actually out – our orders were for three months, but we did not stay out so long – Titus Moss was the ensign of our company – During this tour I lost the end of the forefinger of my right hand by a felon which I was not able have taken care of in consequence of our moving about – & my finger healed for several more weeks.”
“In 1780 I was called out again – This was a draught [draft] – Capt Amos Hotchkiss commanded the company – Willis was the Colonel – We were marched to New London & stationed on Winthrop Point. We were employed principally in building breastworks – fachines [fascines –brush and sticks used to reinforce trenches] & the like – That time I was out about two months – I was the orderly sergeant of the Company that tour –“
“I received no written discharge at any of these tours, except the first, when I did receive one – but it has been lost – at least I have looked carefully for it & can’t find it — I was out on a short tour where Genl [Benedict] Arnold attacked New Haven – which I think was in July 1779 – This was in my original company – Capt Jesse Moss – We were out 10 or 12 Days –
”I was out a number of short tours – we were obliged to keep ourselves in constant readiness – The militia was hanged [as in suspension] very much for several years –We would lay out a piece of business at night – & by next morning were called away from it – We kept ourselves ready always to go – to march at a minutes warning – for several years- I can’t tell how long I was out altogether in actual service – but making the best estimate I can, I would say it was about eighteen months but I can’t be positive about it and not less than sixteen months—
After the war I continued to reside at Cheshire til 1811 – I then removed to Granville in the state of New York – remained there till October 1824, when I moved to Oil Creek in Crawford county [PA] & in January 1829 I moved to the farm in which I now live in Troy Township, Crawford county – Pennsylvania.”
My GGG grandparents, Matilda Atwater and Horace Day, may have met in Granville, NY, since both their families lived there. However they didn’t marry until both families were in Pennsylvania. They married 2 Dec 1827 in Crawford County, PA.
I’m very proud of my Revolutionary War ancestor, Stephen Atwater! He wasn’t an “aid” (Aid-de-Camp) to George Washington as stated in the paper my father gave me, but he certainly aided General Washington, and many others in the Revolutionary War.
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