Mississippi Trip
THE ROSAMOND GENEALOGY
Plus Related Families of the Web Page Owner
A FAMILY GET TOGETHER IN MISSISSIPPI
Cousins Who Attended . . . . . . . More Pictures . . . . . . . Return to Home Page

(The picture on the left is only about two-thirds of the group. The rest were taking some version of this picture.)

In May of 1999, a group of the Rosamond Cousins researching the history of the family met in Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi. Those attending this gathering and their direct Rosamond descent are shown on the List of Attendees. The reunion had as it�s purpose, a clean up of the Rosamond-Sweeney Cemetery located on the site of one of the Rosamond Plantations in the mid-1800s. This property is now owned by the Buford family. As I understand it, the old cemetery was rediscovered by one of the Bufords who was exploring the wooded portions of their property

The cousins met and toured several local cemeteries and other sites pertinent to the family history. At one point, becoming lost, they stopped to ask directions of an old gentleman and discovered that he was a Rosamond relative. All were overjoyed to meet this cousin unexpectedly. Following the day's excursions the group returned to the hotel in Kosciusko where all were staying and discovered a tragedy. James Morgan, the husband of Barbara Morgan, had stayed at the hotel. At some point during the afternoon James had a severe heart attack and died. James� wife Barbara Smith Morgan, the daughter of June Rosamond Smith, left the gathering and was driven back to her home in Alabama by her son. All the cousins want to once again extend our condolences to Barbara and her family on their loss.

(The picture on the right shows how the cemetery looked on our arrival.)


Another cousin, Ruth Long Menhel, left the group the following day although for a happier reason. She and her husband had purchased a new home and she had to take care of all the various activities that accompany a move from one home to another.

The next day the cousins visited the Rosamond-Sweeney Cemetery. A large stone (pictured at the left), was that of James Rosamond. This stone was sitting alone toward what I will define as the back of the small cemetery. Most of the other stones formed two rows across the front of the cemetery. None of these stones bore the Rosamond name, but all the names were known to be related to the Rosamonds in some manner. The cousins used metal prods to try and find additional stones that might have been buried during the intervening years, but only a few foot stones were found. These were all located by Michelle Smith, the only teenager accompanying the group through all it�s activities. Many of the stones were put back in place, and propped up as well as they could be.

After a picnic lunch was enjoyed by all we got back to work. Prior to leaving the cemetery, wild flower seeds were spread across the entire area in hopes that these would take over from the weeds and other growth that was found there upon arrival.

Later, a group of the cousins visited the library in Kosciusko. The library has a small genealogy section and their holdings contain a fairly significant amount of information on the Rosamond family. One folder has family group sheets tracing the family from South Carolina through it�s move to Mississippi. These were copied, and Tom Rosamond was generous enough to make additional copies of these documents after his return home and mailed copies to the other cousins.

On Sunday, the cousins met for a final breakfast at the restaurant near the hotel, and then all left to return to their respective homes in California, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Maryland. In parting, everyone agreed that a similar trip should be taken to family sites in the Abbeville, South Carolina area. Planning for this trip is underway, and should take place in late September or early October of 2000. Any and all Rosamond cousins are invited to attend. Check the web page regarding the SOUTH CAROLINA TRIP for details.

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Jimmy Rosamond