Genealogy and family history on the Lower Delmarva Peninsula
This History was originally published in the November 2019 "More from the Shore" Newsletter
In a note found by Donna Clark at the Nabb Research Center and dated November 16, 1979, “John Jacob was thinking of starting a genealogical society.” The Genealogy Society was actually started in September, 1979. So this September, our Society will be 40 years old.(CA) (PC) [editor note: In September, 2026, it will be 47 years!]
Note: John E. Jacob, Jr. was a Wicomico County lawyer who had a strong interest in history and genealogy. He authored several books, of which his Graveyards and Gravestones of Wicomico County is sold by LDGS.
The first newsletter was sent out (Spring 1982). The editor was Donna Clark of Pocomoke City. In 1982, the President was Robert Hambury, Vice President was Betty Murrell, Secretary was Donna Clark, and Treasurer was Polly Batchelder. LDGS met on the 3rd Thursday of each month except June, July, and August. Meetings were held in the Wicomico County Free Library from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Membership dues were $5 annually. “In the Maryland Room of the Wicomico County Free Library you will find on Thursday LDGS members willing to help you research from 1 to 5 p.m.” (CA)
In the fall of 1983, Betty Murrell became Editor of the newsletter. (CA)
In 1984, it was voted on the dropping of meetings in January and February because of weather conditions. (CA)
During this period several books were sold by LDGS. Several of the books were written by Howard and Louise Adkins of Salisbury, Maryland. They owned the Adkins Historical and Museum Complex in Mardela Springs, Maryland. Another book for sale was John Jacob's Graveyards and Gravestones of Wicomico County. Mr. Jacob's book only goes up to 1900, but, to many researchers, it was a valuable tool in genealogical research. Since then many graveyards have now been put on the internet. (CA)
The LDGS, in co-operation with the Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Easton, sponsored a Genealogical Seminar on September 22, 1986 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library. The seminar was free. (CA)
The meeting night was changed from the 3rd Wednesday to the 4th Wednesday at 7 p.m. to be held at the Wicomico County Free Library. Also the dues were changed from $5 to $10 annually. A newsletter would be sent out in the spring and fall. (CA)
LDGS' first Symposium was held on Saturday, October 3, 1987 at the Days Inn in Pocomoke City Maryland. The cost was $15 per person. The first Symposium was a smashing success. President Ray Thompson welcomed a sellout crowd from all over the United States. (CA)
LDGS' second symposium was October 7, 1989 to celebrate our tenth anniversary. It was held at the Holiday Inn on U.S. Route 13 north of Salisbury from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost was $15, and attendance was limited to 120. This was my first Symposium. (Carolyn Adkins)
The third Symposium was held Saturday April 25, 1992 at the Holiday Inn on north Route 13. The cost was $20 per person. Attendance was limited to 100. (CA)
In 1992, the dues went up to $15 annually. (CA)
The fourth LDGS Symposium was held at the Sheraton Inn on Saturday, May 7, 1994. Lucy Whitehead was President at the time, Vice President was Pat Taylor, and the Recording Secretary was Carolyn Adkins. I enjoyed helping and working with Lucy planning this Symposium. The Treasurer was Pat Hooper. The fee was $20. (Carolyn Adkins)
Lucy and Lloyd Whitehead were instrumental in numbering the pages of the Leslie Dryden Collection, also with volunteers, putting the sheets in protective sleeves and new notebooks. LDGS was happy to sponsor this project. (CA)
The monthly meeting was changed from the Wicomico County Free Library to the SSU Research Center. (CA)
December 20, 1995: The Fair Play Foundation gave SSU Research Center $10,000 through the LDGS. (CA) Many thanks to Mr. Tom Fooks for introducing Fair Play Foundation to LDGS. The Fair Play Foundation has been very generous with their grants to us. Mr. Fooks died December 26, 2013. (CA) (PC)
Note: Fair Play Foundation is a Wilmington-based private charity that gives gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations.
The fifth LDGS Symposium was held at the Sheraton Inn on April 13, 1996. The fee for the symposium was $25 per person. The Symposium was a big success. (CA)
In April, 1996, we contributed $250 to Preservation Trust of Wicomico County for Paul Touart. (PC)
In May, 1996, we contributed $750 to the Wicomico County Library for a reader/printer. (PC)
In December, 1996, the Fair Play Foundation gave another $10,000 because they were so pleased that Polly Batchelder had done A Somerset Sampler: Families of Old Somerset County, Maryland 1700-1776.
A publication account was begun in 1997.
In January, 1997, the Fair Play Foundation gave LDGS $10,000 to share and promote genealogy. It was suggested we have someone do the Townsend line, since Mr. Blaine Phillips was interested in it. Betty Murrell and Pat Taylor had researched that line but said their work did not agree with Mr. Phillips. Pat also suggested we might consider having someone index and redo The Fooks Family. We did in 2001, buying the copyright of this book from Wicomico Historical Society for $500 and having it indexed and reprinted with an index and a separate index for $8,823. We had 300 copies of the book and 100 of the index printed and by May of 2003 half of the books had been sold. (PC)
On January 7, 1998, Fair Play Foundation gave LDGS $7,500. From this LDGS donated $2,700 on April 1, 1998 to have the Worcester County Papers, that had been given to the Nabb Center, microfilmed. Also we gave $1,000 to Rev. Joseph DiPaolo on his book My Business Was To Fight The Devil: Recollections of Rev. Adam Wallace, Peninsula Circuit Rider 1847-1865. I also have copies of thank-you letters I wrote as LDGS President to Mr. Blaine Phillips. (PC)
In September, 1998, we paid $400 for Peg Lauridsen, then our membership chairman, now (2019) internet/email correspondent, for a database access program. (PC)
In January, 1999, we decided not to co-sponsor a graduate student to work at the Nabb Center for a semester (approximately $2,500 ) on a project of David Nutter’s archaeological work done around Nutter’s Neck on the Wicomico River. (PC)
In August, 1999, LDGS contributed $1,500 to the Wicomico County Library for a reader/printer. (PC)
December 30, 1999: Fair Play Foundation $5,000 grant. (PC)
The sixth LDGS symposium was held Saturday, May 13, 2000 at the Asbury Church Fellowship Hall. The cost of the symposium was $25 per person. The symposium was well attended. (CA)
January, 2001: Fair Play Foundation $7,500 grant. (PC)
December 30, 2001: Fair Play Foundation $7,500 grant. (PC)
We became incorporated.
January 24, 2002: I had contacted Wicomico County Council about the possibility of having space in the old courthouse. We signed a contract for one year, to begin August, 2002, for a small room in the courthouse for $783.22. The contract was renewed for 2003. It was a space to store our books but was not handicapped accessible and not open at nights for our meetings. It was a beginning but still not meeting our needs. We decided to keep the books we had to sell at Pat Taylor’s sister’s in Sharptown. (PC)
March 27, 2002, Carolyn Adkins announced that we were incorporated. Jeff Pilchard had worked on this and Carolyn accomplished it, with Hammond, Moore Shockley and Harrison of Wicomico County. (PC)
We donated $2,000 to Pemberton Foundation for an educational project with school students. (PC)
In August, 2003, Pat said all LDGS books are stored at her sister’s in Sharptown and feels they need to be closer to Salisbury and requested anyone who had space to contact her. Our sincere appreciation to her sister. Our Somerset Samplers were stored there for a long time and then the Fooks Family books. Many thanks, Pat and Jim Morris, for getting those large heavy cartons from Sharptown to North Division Street. (PC)
In the spring of 2004, we donated $5,000 to the Nabb Research Center. (PC)
We have purchased a computer, phone, 2 copiers, a camera, a GPS instrument to locate cemeteries, 3 tables, folding chairs, and material for Jim Morris to make us a very nice bookcase. Jim also took care of having a sign over our door done, and making a nice coat rack and having the plaque made in memory of Lucy Whitehead, one of our past Presidents. It also had the names of all past Presidents and dates they were President. A smaller plaque in memory of Lucy was given by her husband, Lloyd, at our brief business meeting in March 2007.
We also bought 2 large book racks for the 107 volume War of the Rebellion books Wicomico County gave us. Before we had a library we donated any books given us to the Wicomico County Library. We have been well repaid with the many books they have given us. The large racks also have space for some of our other collections. Thanks to Jim Morris and Joe Ballou for getting these shelves in and up. We also have a cabinet to store our extra newsletters, etc in. (PC)
We have been very fortunate to be the recipient of many donations: a new office desk from Joe and Carolyn Ballou (thanks Joe for getting that in and up; also the above mentioned storage cabinet) bookcases from Peg Lauridsen and Phyllis Cooper; a lectern and a framed print of Holloway Funeral Home 100th Anniversary from Rob Hall, desk chairs from Jim Morris and Irving Brewington, a computer (through Jim Morris) from someone who contributes computers to Christ United Methodist Church, a reader from Barry Miles, file cabinets, a Family Tree program from J D and Sandy Quillen, a lovely antique coverlet from an anonymous friend, several bibles, a very nice newspaper clipping collection from Emily Briddell, 1960s-1970s scrapbooks from Somerset County Business and Professional Women's Club and many books and other interesting items too numerous, though greatly appreciated, to name them all. Thanks to Virginia and Allen Green for the great library work and getting it on our computer. Also many thanks to Gail Simpkins for keeping our front window nicely decorated and for a chair. (PC)
In July, we signed a contract with the Masonic Lodge for 2 rooms plus storage space for our books plus 2 restrooms at 116-1 North Division Street, Salisbury for $6,000 a year rent. (PC)
On September 13, 2004, the LDGS moved into a building on North Division Street, a dream of having our library, since the Maryland room of the Wicomico County Free Library has been done away with. (PC)
On December 4, 2004, Janet Dise, Peg Lauridsen and Phyllis Cooper participated in a genealogical program at the Wicomico County Library to help them get a grant. We have participated in Pemberton, Salisbury, and Westside Historical Society festivals to try to sell our books. We have had many very good speakers and interesting field trips. (PC)
We have the copyright for John E. Jacob‘s Graveyard and Gravestones of Wicomico County. It was costing us more to have them reprinted than we were charging for them, so a contract was signed with Willow Bend to print them. We get a 10% royalty on the ones they sell and a 40% discount on any of them we buy. This was renewed in February, 2005 for 5 years. (PC)
In October, 2005, Janet, Barry and Phyllis attended a meeting at the Delaware Archives in Dover with several organizations with an interest in Delmarva Peninsula genealogical and historical focus and sold $200 of our books. (PC)
October, 2005: Jim Morris had at 116-1 N. Division. St; a Beginner’s Genealogical Workshop open to the public at no cost. (PC)
Our Treasurer Pat Hooper got us 501(c)3, so we can invest some of our money to draw interest. Many thanks, Pat! Others, including myself, talked about it but you did it! (PC)
In April, a quorum of members at our meeting voted to give the Nabb Research Center $500. (PC)
We closed the 116-1 North Division location and moved our library to Jim Morris’ house at 1220 Johnson Road in Salisbury.
LDGS changed the meeting time from 7 p.m. to 2 p.m.
In September of 1979, a small group of people began the Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society. I am truly glad they did. Thanks to them, I have made many friends and enjoyed being a member for some time now. At one time, I believe, we may have had over 200 members. Now with the internet and so much more interest being shown in genealogy and additional groups springing up, our membership is 105, and our newsletter shared with 20 libraries. Thanks, Betty Murrell, for being More from The Shore editor for 20 years. I have no intention of challenging your record. Thanks, Kaye, for picking up our mail for so many years and the great job of the mail list and getting it all where it needs to go. Thanks, Peg for being my volunteer partner and making up the volunteer list so many years. If I haven’t mentioned your name, it’s not because I don’t know who you are and the good jobs you have done – Thanks. Janet, many thanks for four years of giving your best as President of the Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society. With all the changes, it has not been an easy road . Carolyn and Joe – my very best wishes. I know you will do a great job. (PC)
The officers of the LDGS now are President, John King, Vice President and Membership Chairman, Sharon Levadnuk, Treasurer, Howard Dickerson (also our Past President), and Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary, Kaye Records. Our publicity is handled by Betty Whitehead, the Zoom Master is Jim Adkins. Sharon Levadnuk also serves as our Internet and Email Correspondent, and Jim Morris is our Historian/Librarian/Custodian. (CA)
I want to thank the many editors of the newsletter Donna Clarke, Betty Murrell, Phyllis Cooper, Janet Dise, and Howard Dickerson for wonderful newsletters. Thank you for all the research and many wonderful articles. Thanks to Mrs. Pat Taylor for letting me use her copies of the newsletter from the beginning of the LDGS. (Carolyn Adkins)