I live in an 1870s farmhouse in California. While gardening one day last year, I espied a glint of gold! I had dug up a thick gold band!

 

I rinsed it off and found that it was inscribed inside, Elinor Aberdeen 1870. I have lived in this house for 38 years and this was by far the most interesting thing I have ever found!

 

I called my friend Sharlene Van Rooy, who is a historical detective buff, and together we spent hours of research finding all the previous owners of the house. Finally, we "struck gold". We discovered that the local postmaster, Llewellyn Thornton, had lived in the house between 1892-1901, and he had a grandmother named Elinor Aberdeen!

 

Elinor was born in Ireland in 1808. She had one daughter with John Aberdeen in 1833. This daughter married and came to California. Elinor stayed in Kentucky. She died on July 1, 1880 at the age of 72 and was buried in Versailles, Kentucky. Elinor's grandson lived in my house after Elinor had died.

 

Logic tells us that the ring was lost by one of his family members here in my yard between 1892-1901. And I found it approximately 122 years later! My friend Sharlene and I were able to find the great great granddaughter of Elinor Aberdeen, Mary Doherty, just a few hours away. We met, had a lovely lunch together, and gave her back her long lost family heirloom!