Before I jump into this month’s post, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate a little milestone. This month—November 2025—marks four years since I launched The Fortitude Blog! I’m deeply grateful to my readers and subscribers who have been along for the ride and shared in the stories and history we’ve explored together over these past fourContinue reading “Beneath the Symbols: Meanings Behind Colonial-Era Gravestones”
Category Archives: U.S. History
Anchored in History: Honoring the Navy’s 250 Year Voyage
As a career Naval officer, it’s difficult to put into words what it feels like to witness the United States Navy celebrating its 250th anniversary. That’s two and a half centuries of ships at sea, sailors standing the watch, and generations of Americans answering the call to defend freedom around the world. It’s humbling. It’sContinue reading “Anchored in History: Honoring the Navy’s 250 Year Voyage”
The Enduring Mark: Exploring Ancestral Signatures
Throughout human history, few things have remained as personal and powerful as the signature. Whether written with ink, stamped with a seal, or typed with digital encryption, a signature stands as a testament to identity and agreement. But where did the idea of signing your name come from and how did it evolve? In thisContinue reading “The Enduring Mark: Exploring Ancestral Signatures”
The Arrival Debate
This is the immigration story of my 9th great-grandfather, Edward Spalding (1601-1669), the progenitor of the Massachusetts branch of the Spalding/Spaulding family, and the first to bring the surname from England to the New World.1 Arrival Theories Historical and genealogical research is exhilarating, challenging, and yes at times, frustrating. New evidence is discovered each year,Continue reading “The Arrival Debate”
Combating the Fugitive Slave Act: The Story of Congressman Rufus Spalding
April 9, 2025 marks the 160th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War. That event began a long period of healing and restoration for our Republic. President Lincoln declared an end to slavery by signing the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier in 1863. But it wasn’t until the passing of the 13th Amendment (Abolition ofContinue reading “Combating the Fugitive Slave Act: The Story of Congressman Rufus Spalding”
Holding History: My Visit to the Smithsonian to see Addison Spaulding’s Artificial Leg Model
NOTE from Dale (Fortitude Blogger): I’m excited to introduce my cousin Karen Aumond, our guest blogger for this month. In this post, she chronicles her 2024 journey to Washington D.C. to hold a piece of family history that is 170 years old. It was an opportunity of a lifetime – enjoy the story! I amContinue reading “Holding History: My Visit to the Smithsonian to see Addison Spaulding’s Artificial Leg Model”
Are You Related to a U.S. President?
A cousin of mine recently asked if our family was related to any U.S. Presidents. Great question – right? In this month’s Fortitude post, I share what I discovered when diving deeper into that question and how you can unearth your family connections to former presidents. The 2024 population of United States is over 337 million.1 AccordingContinue reading “Are You Related to a U.S. President?”
Don’t Call That Sailor Mister
I’d like to introduce to you Florence Wilhelmina Momberger (1896-1991), my great-aunt. Florence was a World War I Navy veteran, a deputy sheriff, and a leader in the community of veterans. Here’s the remarkable story of this one tough lady. Florence was born on May 10, 1896 in Hamburg, New York just south of Buffalo inContinue reading “Don’t Call That Sailor Mister”
The Typhus Miracle
Cold and flu season is finally behind us. Did you catch a cold, the flu, or perhaps even COVID 19 or RSV this winter? So many of us did. And when you get sick, the search is on for anything that will help relieve your symptoms and fast-track you to recovery. We are blessed withContinue reading “The Typhus Miracle”
An American Blacksmith
If you could travel back in time to the early 19th century and choose an occupation in your small town, what would it be? Would you espouse to be a farmer, pastor, grocer, teacher, barber, tailor, or perhaps a cobbler? I think I would follow the path of my 2nd great-grandfather, William Sidney Spaulding, andContinue reading “An American Blacksmith”
Fortitude 