How It All Began

First, let me explain how this all began.

Years ago on a family vacation to Gettysburg we became enamored with the Pennsylvania monument.  If you are not familiar it has the name of all the soldiers who fought for Pennsylvania at Gettysburg in the Civil War.  (Pictures: http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0007000.htm )  We had noticed a Samuel Haws listed.  We knew Samuel was a family name and always wondered if it was a relation.  At the time online records were not easily accessible.  Not to mention the fact that we didn't know much about Dad's side of the family in terms of having enough generations back to make it to the Civil War.

After a trip to Gettysburg last year, my interest was renewed.  I determined that as the internet has grown there must be more access to information to get me back to the Civil War era.  Sure enough I ended up buying a subscription to Ancestry.com.  It was well worth it.

I found that Samuel Haws form the 1st PA Cavalry is indeed related.  Samuel's parents are Frederick S. Haws and Isabella Mason.  They happen to be my Great-great-great Grandparents.  Frederick also served in the Civil War, as a Cavalry officer, along with another son Charles Lewis Haws.

Since then, things have went along swimmingly.