Okay, I will admit it. I am just too lazy to apply to the DAR.
That said, when I started on this genealogical journey. I don't think I gave a thought to the history of my ancestors. I know it never occurred to me that I would have ancestors who fought in the American Revolution.
Over the years, this is a list of my relatives who I have found who have applications among the DAR.
Corliss Hinds Conneticut
David Bent Conneticut
Evans Long Virginia
Ripley Copeland NC/SC
And those who have American Rev records or were in the militia.
Jesse Baker SC
Dauswell Rogers VA
Benjamin Merrill NC
Several of the Brunsons, though I don't know if they are my direct ancestor, and there remains for me the question of Elijah Owens as a soldier.
I also have probable loyalists and/or Tories
Jacob Pyburn VA
William Riddle VA
My Traherns were never in the American Revolution, War of 1812 or the Civil War, whereas my Pyburn's participated in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Over 25 percent of the Brunson and Franklin kinfolk did not return from the Civil War, though I find no records that they fought in the 1812. The McCurdy's fought in the War of 1812, the Florida Indian Wars and the Civil War. And there are many families I just can't find enough data on (all mainly from South Carolina) to determine if they participated or not.
The short story, most of my family history is deeply routed in the history of America. Not that that isn't true for many of us, it was just something I never quite considered.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Autosomal DNA and sharing
In the day and age of identity theft, many find the prospect of sharing their genomes to be frightening. Although I am not sure of the exact nature of their fears, as a genealogist it is frustrating when your second cousin is listed as an anonymous tester and doesn't respond to your contact.
The fear of being able to ascertain medical information from the matches is possible, however, to do so, someone would first have to know exactly where they match, search for the snp's relevant to medical information AND know their exact location on each chromosome, and then cross reference that to a match! Do you have any idea how labor intensive that is? Not to say there isn't some folks who would do that, but really, who wants to spend hours on that? The knowledge that would take on DNA is far above the average user.
I am a self proclaimed genealogy addict. I have tracked down relatives that are living and made contact by telephone, facebook and email. My expectation is never to necessarily forge a personal relationship, or to intrude, but to find information, verify what I have, and most of all, to ensure accuracy in my research. I don't expect most of the people I contact to necessarily be interested, or share my passion for family research. I only hope that they are willing to share their knowledge.
Testing my parents and myself was another step for me in my research. It was a way for me to hopefully breakdown some brick walls, and possibly find my half Uncles. It has been gratifying to confirm by DNA the accuracy of my research with DNA matches. To know that yes, I got it right. So when I see a match, and I reach out to them, my purpose is no different. I just want to figure out the connections. To see which 4th great grandparent this may connect to.
Sometimes we find however, what researchers call a NPE, a non parental event. Meaning that the person you thought was the father or mother, isn't. Is that disappointing, yes, but it is a fact that we as genealogists must face. Sometimes we find information that we don't want to find. Sometimes we find a relative no one knew about with DNA. But in genealogy, sometimes we find out that our great grandfather was in prison for murder. It may be easier to put our head in the sand and ignore it, but the truth is, we are all better for knowing.
I understand that there are many who have tested with 23andme or who have uploaded to gedmatch, who really aren't into genealogy. Maybe they are adopted. Maybe they are curious. That's okay. As someone who may contact them, it would be my wish that they be open to sharing what they do know. As someone who is searching for an adoptee, I truly hope that I can assist those adoptees that I match with. There is nothing more than I would like to do than to help them find some of their roots.
Now that I have been using DNA matches for a few months, I don't anxiously go to every match. Those 10 cM matches are just too hard to find unless they already match a known relative, or have a surname in common. I prefer to focus on the matches with more DNA. The chances are I may find something that way. What I have learned is more often than not, I will contact a match, and we will look at each other's trees, and nothing pops out. We may share a 74 cM match, but we can't find it. It's so frustrating.
Maybe that's why people don't share. I really don't know. Even on gedmatch, people post their genome, but leave no contact info. It makes you wonder why they bothered to put their data on there at all. I mean, yeah, we may be 4th cousins, but since I can't contact you, I will never know how. Maybe people are afraid that we will learn to much about them, however, the truth is, like most genealogists, I am more interested in your distant relative, than you. I want to connect the dots, figure out that great great grandmother's maiden name, or who that great great great Aunt married. It isn't personal, and it may seem selfish, but to be honest, the hundreds of hours I have spent researching is something that you may not understand. I, like so many others, willingly share all the fruits of those labors with anyone who asks. The information I ferret out, isn't mine alone, it is ours. It belongs to all who are my family, whether they are my first cousin, or my sixth cousin.
When I started genealogy, I never wanted a straight lineal family tree. I wanted a giant Redwood of a tree, with as many leaves and branches as I could possibly find. DNA matches, are such a great advantage to this.
So if you have tested, or are considering testing, be more open to the idea of sharing. You don't necessarily have to do anything other than share, and maybe tell the match your grandparents and where they lived. Because if they are any good at genealogy, your grandparents, as long as they were born before 1940 is all the information they will need.
The fear of being able to ascertain medical information from the matches is possible, however, to do so, someone would first have to know exactly where they match, search for the snp's relevant to medical information AND know their exact location on each chromosome, and then cross reference that to a match! Do you have any idea how labor intensive that is? Not to say there isn't some folks who would do that, but really, who wants to spend hours on that? The knowledge that would take on DNA is far above the average user.
I am a self proclaimed genealogy addict. I have tracked down relatives that are living and made contact by telephone, facebook and email. My expectation is never to necessarily forge a personal relationship, or to intrude, but to find information, verify what I have, and most of all, to ensure accuracy in my research. I don't expect most of the people I contact to necessarily be interested, or share my passion for family research. I only hope that they are willing to share their knowledge.
Testing my parents and myself was another step for me in my research. It was a way for me to hopefully breakdown some brick walls, and possibly find my half Uncles. It has been gratifying to confirm by DNA the accuracy of my research with DNA matches. To know that yes, I got it right. So when I see a match, and I reach out to them, my purpose is no different. I just want to figure out the connections. To see which 4th great grandparent this may connect to.
Sometimes we find however, what researchers call a NPE, a non parental event. Meaning that the person you thought was the father or mother, isn't. Is that disappointing, yes, but it is a fact that we as genealogists must face. Sometimes we find information that we don't want to find. Sometimes we find a relative no one knew about with DNA. But in genealogy, sometimes we find out that our great grandfather was in prison for murder. It may be easier to put our head in the sand and ignore it, but the truth is, we are all better for knowing.
I understand that there are many who have tested with 23andme or who have uploaded to gedmatch, who really aren't into genealogy. Maybe they are adopted. Maybe they are curious. That's okay. As someone who may contact them, it would be my wish that they be open to sharing what they do know. As someone who is searching for an adoptee, I truly hope that I can assist those adoptees that I match with. There is nothing more than I would like to do than to help them find some of their roots.
Now that I have been using DNA matches for a few months, I don't anxiously go to every match. Those 10 cM matches are just too hard to find unless they already match a known relative, or have a surname in common. I prefer to focus on the matches with more DNA. The chances are I may find something that way. What I have learned is more often than not, I will contact a match, and we will look at each other's trees, and nothing pops out. We may share a 74 cM match, but we can't find it. It's so frustrating.
Maybe that's why people don't share. I really don't know. Even on gedmatch, people post their genome, but leave no contact info. It makes you wonder why they bothered to put their data on there at all. I mean, yeah, we may be 4th cousins, but since I can't contact you, I will never know how. Maybe people are afraid that we will learn to much about them, however, the truth is, like most genealogists, I am more interested in your distant relative, than you. I want to connect the dots, figure out that great great grandmother's maiden name, or who that great great great Aunt married. It isn't personal, and it may seem selfish, but to be honest, the hundreds of hours I have spent researching is something that you may not understand. I, like so many others, willingly share all the fruits of those labors with anyone who asks. The information I ferret out, isn't mine alone, it is ours. It belongs to all who are my family, whether they are my first cousin, or my sixth cousin.
When I started genealogy, I never wanted a straight lineal family tree. I wanted a giant Redwood of a tree, with as many leaves and branches as I could possibly find. DNA matches, are such a great advantage to this.
So if you have tested, or are considering testing, be more open to the idea of sharing. You don't necessarily have to do anything other than share, and maybe tell the match your grandparents and where they lived. Because if they are any good at genealogy, your grandparents, as long as they were born before 1940 is all the information they will need.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
The Barnes family
For over twenty years, my Aunt Leahmanda and Aunt Patt were stuck on their great grandfather, John Lunsford Barnes. Who were his parents? They knew about two sisters, Harriet and Fanny, and a brother Marshall. As luck would have it, whichever ancestor who chose me to be their genealogical angel, I found John Lunsford's family about 11 years ago, while looking for the wrong thing in the right place.
John Lunsford Barnes was the second son of John W. Sanders Barnes and his wife Sarah "Sally" Owens. The couple were married in Russell County, Alabama in 1841. They were members of a baptist church there, and thanks to her father, Sally owned land and slaves. Sally was a daughter of John J. Owens and Lucinda Long. Her father had purchased land in Russell County after the Cherokee lottery. John J. Owens was a son of Elijah Owens and his wife Nancy Ann Howard, while Lucinda Long was the daughter of Evans Long and Lucy Apperson.
We know nothing of John Sanders Barnes, except according to census records he was born in 1813 or 1814 in North Carolina. In 1850 he has a woman old enough to be his mother, Frances Smith, born about 1785 in Virginia. Also in his home that year, and in 1860 is a Jane Horton, born 1810 in North Carolina. Since the death of Frances Smith is recorded in the family bible, I am sure she was a relative, and given her age, I strongly suspect she is in fact his mother.
The question then must arise is Frances Smith, who likely married a Smith after her Barnes husband died, connected in any way to Abel Smith who resides in Russell County, or his wife Katherine Barnes. I have found no clues to Frances or Jane. There are no probate records for either in the Russell county records on familysearch. Nor is there a marriage record for any Barnes connected to the family.
I know from my father's DNA that his ydna Haplogroup is I1, which matches only two known Barnes lines of that type in the surname group (without the YDNA test though, I can't verify they are of the same line). One I know comes from Virginia.
John Sanders Barnes and his wife Sally Owens children's name may or may not be a clue. The eldest child, a son named Robert Thomas Barnes has no known namesake to Sally's family. The next child was Margaret Elizabeth Barnes, followed by Sarah Lucinda Barnes, who was named for her mother and maternal grandmother. The next child was Mary Olivia "Allie" Barnes followed by Harriet Frances Barnes (named after Frances Smith?), followed by Clara McGeehee Barnes (named after Sarah's sister), followed by John Lunsford Barnes (named after father/grandfather and maternal Uncle), followed by Marshall Johnson Wellborn Barnes (there is a man by this name in a neighboring county) and then lastly by Abbas Sanders Barnes.
The move to Pike county still is puzzling. Though I know some of her Owens relatives lived there, I can see no reason for the move other than the financial losses brought by the Civil War. The probate records for the estate of John Sanders Barnes show that his estate was insolvent. Within two years, Sarah Owens would marry John A. Smith from Georgia.
A family bible lists the births, deaths and marriages of this generation. The deaths of Lucinda Long Owens and Francis Smith are also recorded. After the death of Sarah Owens the bible went to one of her daughters, and the next two generations of handwriting come from them. The family resided in Pike County and attended baptist churches there, if the gravesites are an indication. When Crenshaw county was formed, we see the family residing there, and also later in Opps, in Covington County.
Robert Thomas Barnes married a virginian, Lina Virginia Bowman. The couple moved to Texas. They had two daughters, Grace and J I V Barnes, and one son Charlie Edward Barnes. They had no grandchildren.
Margaret Elizabeth Barnes married William Tompkins. They had one son who was briefly married to his first cousin Lula Benton. Thomas Tompkins disappears from records, and I have not been able to locate more information on him.
Sarah Lucinda Barnes married James Absalom "Ab" Benton. They had several children who were raised in Pike County.
Mary Olivia "Allie" Barnes married Thomas Jefferson Nicholson. They had a large family in Pike County, Alabama. I have corresponded with some of their descendants.
Harriet Frances "Fannie" Barnes married John Wesley Colquit and had a large family. The Colquit family lived in Crenshaw County, Alabama where many of their descendants still reside.
Clara McGeehee Barnes married John Yarborough with whom she had no children and then Hugh Harris Smith, her stepbrother. They had four children and resided in Crenshaw County, Alabama.
John Lunsford Barnes married Epsy Eiland with whom he had one child. After Epsy's death he married Margaret Eleanor Baker and had a large family. In 1910 the family moved from Crenshaw, Alabama to Baker in Okaloosa County, Florida. This is my direct line.
Marshall Johnson Welborn Barnes married Jesse D. Bricken of Pike County, Alabama and had several children. The youngest son, an infant when his wife died, was raised by his Uncle and is often found with the last name Bricken. After his wife's death he remarried Frances Viola Bush with whom he had one child. Marshall and many of his children are buried in Mobile, Alabama.
The only child who died as an infant that is recorded in the bible is Abbas Sanders Barnes.
John Lunsford Barnes was the second son of John W. Sanders Barnes and his wife Sarah "Sally" Owens. The couple were married in Russell County, Alabama in 1841. They were members of a baptist church there, and thanks to her father, Sally owned land and slaves. Sally was a daughter of John J. Owens and Lucinda Long. Her father had purchased land in Russell County after the Cherokee lottery. John J. Owens was a son of Elijah Owens and his wife Nancy Ann Howard, while Lucinda Long was the daughter of Evans Long and Lucy Apperson.
We know nothing of John Sanders Barnes, except according to census records he was born in 1813 or 1814 in North Carolina. In 1850 he has a woman old enough to be his mother, Frances Smith, born about 1785 in Virginia. Also in his home that year, and in 1860 is a Jane Horton, born 1810 in North Carolina. Since the death of Frances Smith is recorded in the family bible, I am sure she was a relative, and given her age, I strongly suspect she is in fact his mother.
The question then must arise is Frances Smith, who likely married a Smith after her Barnes husband died, connected in any way to Abel Smith who resides in Russell County, or his wife Katherine Barnes. I have found no clues to Frances or Jane. There are no probate records for either in the Russell county records on familysearch. Nor is there a marriage record for any Barnes connected to the family.
I know from my father's DNA that his ydna Haplogroup is I1, which matches only two known Barnes lines of that type in the surname group (without the YDNA test though, I can't verify they are of the same line). One I know comes from Virginia.
John Sanders Barnes and his wife Sally Owens children's name may or may not be a clue. The eldest child, a son named Robert Thomas Barnes has no known namesake to Sally's family. The next child was Margaret Elizabeth Barnes, followed by Sarah Lucinda Barnes, who was named for her mother and maternal grandmother. The next child was Mary Olivia "Allie" Barnes followed by Harriet Frances Barnes (named after Frances Smith?), followed by Clara McGeehee Barnes (named after Sarah's sister), followed by John Lunsford Barnes (named after father/grandfather and maternal Uncle), followed by Marshall Johnson Wellborn Barnes (there is a man by this name in a neighboring county) and then lastly by Abbas Sanders Barnes.
The move to Pike county still is puzzling. Though I know some of her Owens relatives lived there, I can see no reason for the move other than the financial losses brought by the Civil War. The probate records for the estate of John Sanders Barnes show that his estate was insolvent. Within two years, Sarah Owens would marry John A. Smith from Georgia.
A family bible lists the births, deaths and marriages of this generation. The deaths of Lucinda Long Owens and Francis Smith are also recorded. After the death of Sarah Owens the bible went to one of her daughters, and the next two generations of handwriting come from them. The family resided in Pike County and attended baptist churches there, if the gravesites are an indication. When Crenshaw county was formed, we see the family residing there, and also later in Opps, in Covington County.
Robert Thomas Barnes married a virginian, Lina Virginia Bowman. The couple moved to Texas. They had two daughters, Grace and J I V Barnes, and one son Charlie Edward Barnes. They had no grandchildren.
Margaret Elizabeth Barnes married William Tompkins. They had one son who was briefly married to his first cousin Lula Benton. Thomas Tompkins disappears from records, and I have not been able to locate more information on him.
Sarah Lucinda Barnes married James Absalom "Ab" Benton. They had several children who were raised in Pike County.
Mary Olivia "Allie" Barnes married Thomas Jefferson Nicholson. They had a large family in Pike County, Alabama. I have corresponded with some of their descendants.
Harriet Frances "Fannie" Barnes married John Wesley Colquit and had a large family. The Colquit family lived in Crenshaw County, Alabama where many of their descendants still reside.
Clara McGeehee Barnes married John Yarborough with whom she had no children and then Hugh Harris Smith, her stepbrother. They had four children and resided in Crenshaw County, Alabama.
John Lunsford Barnes married Epsy Eiland with whom he had one child. After Epsy's death he married Margaret Eleanor Baker and had a large family. In 1910 the family moved from Crenshaw, Alabama to Baker in Okaloosa County, Florida. This is my direct line.
Marshall Johnson Welborn Barnes married Jesse D. Bricken of Pike County, Alabama and had several children. The youngest son, an infant when his wife died, was raised by his Uncle and is often found with the last name Bricken. After his wife's death he remarried Frances Viola Bush with whom he had one child. Marshall and many of his children are buried in Mobile, Alabama.
The only child who died as an infant that is recorded in the bible is Abbas Sanders Barnes.
Thomas Simpson Woodward
Before I knew that he was my first cousin 6 times removed, I had read and relished the "Woodward's Reminiscences of the Creek or Muscogee Indians" available here. His letters, recollections and information on his time among the Creek Indians are invaluable to many who research the lower creek indians. Since I research the Tensaw area, I have often referred to his writings.
Yet Thomas Simpson Woodward is my relative. His grandfather was Nehemiah Howard and his grandmother was Edith Ede Smith, the parents of my 5th great grandmother, Nancy Ann Howard, the wife of Elijah Owens. My 4th great grandfather John J. Owens speculated heavily on the land that opened up with the Cherokee land lotteries, and owned some of the first land in Russell County, where the family soon settled. Nancy Ann Howard Owens is buried there.
Some of the family remained in Columbus, Georgia, and some moved to Dallas County, Alabama where Thomas Simpson Woodward married in 1820 Sarah Ann Dubose, the mother of his three eldest children. By the late 1830's he had started a reputed relationship with Mary, a slave, and alleged mother of three children.
Thomas Woodward wrote of his relatives very little, yet it is the only insight into the family of which I also belong that exists. His cousin Clarissa Owens married James William Boykin, the ambassador of Indian Affairs for Georgia, but I don't recall any mention of him in his letters. What he does write about was his grandfather's prejudice against his father, Thomas Woodward for being a descendant of Indians.
The Howards were among the earliest settlers in Georgia, prominent men, they owned plantations and slaves. Thomas was raised by an Aunt when his mother passed away, and mention of his attempts to obtain his inheritance are in his correspondence, a feat I don't think he ever accomplished.
His correspondence which covers a wonderful period in the history of Alabama was never meant to be published, but thankfully someone saw the value and did. It is from his words, and the words of men like George Strother Gaines, Benjamin Hawkins, and Albert Pickett that we have first hand accounts of an important part of the history of Alabama.
Yet Thomas Simpson Woodward is my relative. His grandfather was Nehemiah Howard and his grandmother was Edith Ede Smith, the parents of my 5th great grandmother, Nancy Ann Howard, the wife of Elijah Owens. My 4th great grandfather John J. Owens speculated heavily on the land that opened up with the Cherokee land lotteries, and owned some of the first land in Russell County, where the family soon settled. Nancy Ann Howard Owens is buried there.
Some of the family remained in Columbus, Georgia, and some moved to Dallas County, Alabama where Thomas Simpson Woodward married in 1820 Sarah Ann Dubose, the mother of his three eldest children. By the late 1830's he had started a reputed relationship with Mary, a slave, and alleged mother of three children.
Thomas Woodward wrote of his relatives very little, yet it is the only insight into the family of which I also belong that exists. His cousin Clarissa Owens married James William Boykin, the ambassador of Indian Affairs for Georgia, but I don't recall any mention of him in his letters. What he does write about was his grandfather's prejudice against his father, Thomas Woodward for being a descendant of Indians.
The Howards were among the earliest settlers in Georgia, prominent men, they owned plantations and slaves. Thomas was raised by an Aunt when his mother passed away, and mention of his attempts to obtain his inheritance are in his correspondence, a feat I don't think he ever accomplished.
His correspondence which covers a wonderful period in the history of Alabama was never meant to be published, but thankfully someone saw the value and did. It is from his words, and the words of men like George Strother Gaines, Benjamin Hawkins, and Albert Pickett that we have first hand accounts of an important part of the history of Alabama.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
An open letter to my Uncle
Dear Uncle,
You do not know me. You may not even know that I am your niece. My grandmother died with you as her secret, and only an accidental slip by her sister led me to knowing you existed, though I always had a suspicion.
You are 66 years old. You were born sometime between February and September in 1948, and given the other facts I know, I suspect you were born July-August of 1948. Given that there was a hospital a few miles from where my grandmother was living at 2310 Alma Street in San Pedro, California, you were probably born at the San Pedro hospital in Los Angeles County, California.
You may not even know you are adopted. I know you were raised Catholic, that whether the adoption was private, or through the Catholic Charities, my grandmother had to agree that you would be raised Catholic.
Your birth mother was Dolores Barbara Hinds, born March 10, 1927 in Syracuse, New York. She was petite with blond hair and blue eyes. She was artistic, and rather fragile. She was prone to what was then called "nervous breakdowns." She worked for your father for a while, though I am not sure how long, I know she didn't graduate high school but went to work during World War 2. From our conversations, I assumed it was with the law firm your father belonged to. She was always proud of that career. She died in 2000.
Your birth father was Saul Kauffman born in 1893 and died in 1975. He spent his life in Syracuse, New York, where he graduated from Syracuse University and became a lawyer. His obituary lists no other children, only his wife and some of his siblings. He was involved in the Jewish community from the newspaper articles I found and he was the child of Russian emigrants. He was 55 when you were born, while your mother was only 21. He was married, and he did pay for her trip to California to have you.
You had two half brothers who died before they were forty, and a half sister who is my mother. You have four nephews and two living nieces, and even a few grand nieces and a grand nephew.
Before I knew about you I was looking for my mother's paternal half brother, now I search for you as well. I realize you are a man full grown, with a lifetime belonging to another family. You may not want to be found, and that I can understand. For myself, I just want to know where your are. Did you have a family? Do I have other cousins? What became of you?
Finding an adoptee from 1948 will be hard, when I don't know the exact date you were born. An average of 3500 males were born in Los Angeles county each month from February to September, so I can only hope that someday you find this, and you ask yourself if this could be me? I have had my mother's DNA tested, for genealogical purposes, but also in the hope that by some miracle, you or a child tests and she matches. To make it easier, I placed her on gedmatch a free service that has matches from more than one company.
Until then, I will continue to search, and hope that eventually I will find you.
Your Niece,
Jennifer
You do not know me. You may not even know that I am your niece. My grandmother died with you as her secret, and only an accidental slip by her sister led me to knowing you existed, though I always had a suspicion.
You are 66 years old. You were born sometime between February and September in 1948, and given the other facts I know, I suspect you were born July-August of 1948. Given that there was a hospital a few miles from where my grandmother was living at 2310 Alma Street in San Pedro, California, you were probably born at the San Pedro hospital in Los Angeles County, California.
You may not even know you are adopted. I know you were raised Catholic, that whether the adoption was private, or through the Catholic Charities, my grandmother had to agree that you would be raised Catholic.
Your birth mother was Dolores Barbara Hinds, born March 10, 1927 in Syracuse, New York. She was petite with blond hair and blue eyes. She was artistic, and rather fragile. She was prone to what was then called "nervous breakdowns." She worked for your father for a while, though I am not sure how long, I know she didn't graduate high school but went to work during World War 2. From our conversations, I assumed it was with the law firm your father belonged to. She was always proud of that career. She died in 2000.
Your birth father was Saul Kauffman born in 1893 and died in 1975. He spent his life in Syracuse, New York, where he graduated from Syracuse University and became a lawyer. His obituary lists no other children, only his wife and some of his siblings. He was involved in the Jewish community from the newspaper articles I found and he was the child of Russian emigrants. He was 55 when you were born, while your mother was only 21. He was married, and he did pay for her trip to California to have you.
You had two half brothers who died before they were forty, and a half sister who is my mother. You have four nephews and two living nieces, and even a few grand nieces and a grand nephew.
Before I knew about you I was looking for my mother's paternal half brother, now I search for you as well. I realize you are a man full grown, with a lifetime belonging to another family. You may not want to be found, and that I can understand. For myself, I just want to know where your are. Did you have a family? Do I have other cousins? What became of you?
Finding an adoptee from 1948 will be hard, when I don't know the exact date you were born. An average of 3500 males were born in Los Angeles county each month from February to September, so I can only hope that someday you find this, and you ask yourself if this could be me? I have had my mother's DNA tested, for genealogical purposes, but also in the hope that by some miracle, you or a child tests and she matches. To make it easier, I placed her on gedmatch a free service that has matches from more than one company.
Until then, I will continue to search, and hope that eventually I will find you.
Your Niece,
Jennifer
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The Hardy Family- Part 4 Shep Jr and his family
William Sheppard Hardy Jr married Talula Johnson. According to my great grandmother, Talula was a "Diamond/Johnson bastard baby." My Aunts took it that she didn't care for her too much. However, I don't quite understand the hatred. Talula died in 1910 when my great grandmother was 15 years old. And while the family may have visited, the Hardy family lived in Baldwin County, Alabama, and she lived in Jay.
Before I discuss the family, I want to give a bit of information on Talula. Talula was born in 1862 to William Washington Johnson. We know that William's parents were William Burton Johnson and Elizabeth Parker from well documented sources. William is always living with his mother, but his wives or relationships leave me scratching my head. In 1850 he is living with a Nancy who has children Sarah, James and Lewis Johnson in Conecuh County. (there is a suggestion that these are mulatto children, but in this census they are white). In 1860 he is living with Elizabeth, and a daughter Elizabeth age 3, also in Conecuh County. In 1870 we find him with Nancy, and children Elizabeth age 11 and Talula age 7. In 1880, he is with a Mary and a son Willie S age 5.
I know that Mary Johnson, William W. Johnson's sister married John Diamond. At her death, John married her sister Matilda. We know that John Diamond is related to the Conecuh county Diamonds even if we aren't sure how. The question then remains, since the Nancy in 1850 is different in age than the Elizabeth in 1860, whose different in age then the Nancy in 1870, who is Talula's mother, and is she also a Diamond? Given their location, I can't rule out that the only connection to the Diamond family is the marriage to John Diamond.
William Sheppard Hardy Jr worked in the logging business. I have yet to find his death date, but his granddaughter told me he didn't die in Alabama or Florida, but in Mississippi, presumably near where all the rest of the family was living and working. When Talula died, Shep Jr married Mary Grice, who according to the granddaughter, didn't treat the younger kids well at all. Mary lived in and died in Brewton, Alabama where she is buried. The couple had no living children.
The children of William Sheppard Hardy Jr and Talula Johnson are
Houston Benjamin Hardy who married a Kinslett and then Lois Lucy Paul.
Houston had a daughter Leila by his first wife, and by his second wife he had Shepard Clyde Hardy, Eldred Morgan Hardy, Mary Hardy, Homer Hardy, and Barbara Tellura Hardy.
One of Houston's granddaughters, Dorothy Faye Hardy is a lovely lady who I spoke with on the phone. I found out that the family did keep in touch back in the 1940's.
Sarah Mattie Hardy who married Bolden Green Taylor. The family lived near Bayminette, Alabama where they are buried. The children of Sarah Mattie and Bolden are Floyd G Taylor, Maurice Jordan Taylor, Thomas T Taylor, Vella Lee "Babe" Taylor, Marie Taylor, Hazel Taylor, Eunice Alice Taylor, Annette Taylor, Bolden Taylor Jr, and Harris Eugene Taylor.
After trial and error, I have been able to make contact with one of Sarah's granddaughters. One of my grandpa's cousins remembered several of the girls, but they lost contact in the 1950's or 1960's.
Lela F. Viola Hardy married Alma Eldridge Chute. The family lived in Mississippi before moving to Georgia. Lela and Alma Chute had the following children Joseph Herman Chute, Sadie Eunice Chute, Vernon James Chute, William Orrin Chute, Gayle Marie Chute, and Woodrow Chute.
I have been able to make contact with a grandchild of Lela Hardy.
Robert Morgan Hardy is my great grandfather. He married Lula Bell Pyburn and had four children, Virgina Evelyne Hardy, Dorothy Gene Hardy, Milton Oliver Hardy and Robert Burns Hardy. Robert Burns Hardy was killed when his ship was bombed during World War 2. His brother Milton, a marine, had just left the ship and watched it happen. Milton and Robert Hardy each had one daughter, and I have been in contact with each. Dorothy Hardy is still living, and I am in contact with her children and grandchildren. Virginia Hardy had 6 children, 3 of them are still living.
Jodie Price Hardy married Aldine Gore. The family moved from Mississippi to Georgia. I was contacted by her grandchildren several years ago. Jodie and Aldine's children are Mildred Ethel Gore, Willie Morgan Gore, Maude Elaine Gore, Verna Aldine Gore, and Cecil Kade Gore.
Willie "Burnzy" Hardy married Vera Agnes Harvison. Like his father he was involved in the logging industry in Mississippi and Alabama. His children were Myrtle Louise Hardy, Myrtis Voncille Hardy, William Sheppard Hardy and Bernice Hardy. I have been in contact with one of his grandchildren.
Iva Lee Hardy was married more than once, but I only know the name of one, Sidney Lamar Summer Sr. I know that they divorced, and that they had two sons, Sidney Lamar Summer Jr, who has one daughter, and Albion Fernando Summer Sr, whose only son died. Albion Fernando Summer Sr, better known as A.F. Summers was the Attorney General for Mississippi during the Civil rights movement. He is the most well known of the family. I asked an attorney friend if he could tell me which side he defended during the Civil Rights movement, and all he could say is "he was a good guy", meaning he was for Civil Rights.
I have been in contact with the granddaughter of Iva Lee Hardy.
Adren Fleming Hardy, sometimes spelled Adrian died in World War 1 in the trenches in France.
Emma Mable Hardy married Melvin West and lived her adult life in Mississippi. I know that my grandmother and her parents visited annually, because for the last few years, I was fortunate enough to have spoken with her daughter before her death, Iva Gray. She was a wonderful lady. The children of Emma Mable and Melvin were Melvin West Jr, Iva Gray West, Peggy West, and Adrian Lamar West.
As far as I know, a few years ago there were 4 or 5 of the cousins (my grandmother's generation) left, but I believe now, we have only my Aunt Dot, and maybe her cousin Annette. I am so grateful that I took the time to call and speak to as many of these ladies (for that's what they were) before they died.
Before I discuss the family, I want to give a bit of information on Talula. Talula was born in 1862 to William Washington Johnson. We know that William's parents were William Burton Johnson and Elizabeth Parker from well documented sources. William is always living with his mother, but his wives or relationships leave me scratching my head. In 1850 he is living with a Nancy who has children Sarah, James and Lewis Johnson in Conecuh County. (there is a suggestion that these are mulatto children, but in this census they are white). In 1860 he is living with Elizabeth, and a daughter Elizabeth age 3, also in Conecuh County. In 1870 we find him with Nancy, and children Elizabeth age 11 and Talula age 7. In 1880, he is with a Mary and a son Willie S age 5.
I know that Mary Johnson, William W. Johnson's sister married John Diamond. At her death, John married her sister Matilda. We know that John Diamond is related to the Conecuh county Diamonds even if we aren't sure how. The question then remains, since the Nancy in 1850 is different in age than the Elizabeth in 1860, whose different in age then the Nancy in 1870, who is Talula's mother, and is she also a Diamond? Given their location, I can't rule out that the only connection to the Diamond family is the marriage to John Diamond.
William Sheppard Hardy Jr worked in the logging business. I have yet to find his death date, but his granddaughter told me he didn't die in Alabama or Florida, but in Mississippi, presumably near where all the rest of the family was living and working. When Talula died, Shep Jr married Mary Grice, who according to the granddaughter, didn't treat the younger kids well at all. Mary lived in and died in Brewton, Alabama where she is buried. The couple had no living children.
The children of William Sheppard Hardy Jr and Talula Johnson are
Houston Benjamin Hardy who married a Kinslett and then Lois Lucy Paul.
Houston had a daughter Leila by his first wife, and by his second wife he had Shepard Clyde Hardy, Eldred Morgan Hardy, Mary Hardy, Homer Hardy, and Barbara Tellura Hardy.
One of Houston's granddaughters, Dorothy Faye Hardy is a lovely lady who I spoke with on the phone. I found out that the family did keep in touch back in the 1940's.
Sarah Mattie Hardy who married Bolden Green Taylor. The family lived near Bayminette, Alabama where they are buried. The children of Sarah Mattie and Bolden are Floyd G Taylor, Maurice Jordan Taylor, Thomas T Taylor, Vella Lee "Babe" Taylor, Marie Taylor, Hazel Taylor, Eunice Alice Taylor, Annette Taylor, Bolden Taylor Jr, and Harris Eugene Taylor.
After trial and error, I have been able to make contact with one of Sarah's granddaughters. One of my grandpa's cousins remembered several of the girls, but they lost contact in the 1950's or 1960's.
Lela F. Viola Hardy married Alma Eldridge Chute. The family lived in Mississippi before moving to Georgia. Lela and Alma Chute had the following children Joseph Herman Chute, Sadie Eunice Chute, Vernon James Chute, William Orrin Chute, Gayle Marie Chute, and Woodrow Chute.
I have been able to make contact with a grandchild of Lela Hardy.
Robert Morgan Hardy is my great grandfather. He married Lula Bell Pyburn and had four children, Virgina Evelyne Hardy, Dorothy Gene Hardy, Milton Oliver Hardy and Robert Burns Hardy. Robert Burns Hardy was killed when his ship was bombed during World War 2. His brother Milton, a marine, had just left the ship and watched it happen. Milton and Robert Hardy each had one daughter, and I have been in contact with each. Dorothy Hardy is still living, and I am in contact with her children and grandchildren. Virginia Hardy had 6 children, 3 of them are still living.
Jodie Price Hardy married Aldine Gore. The family moved from Mississippi to Georgia. I was contacted by her grandchildren several years ago. Jodie and Aldine's children are Mildred Ethel Gore, Willie Morgan Gore, Maude Elaine Gore, Verna Aldine Gore, and Cecil Kade Gore.
Willie "Burnzy" Hardy married Vera Agnes Harvison. Like his father he was involved in the logging industry in Mississippi and Alabama. His children were Myrtle Louise Hardy, Myrtis Voncille Hardy, William Sheppard Hardy and Bernice Hardy. I have been in contact with one of his grandchildren.
Iva Lee Hardy was married more than once, but I only know the name of one, Sidney Lamar Summer Sr. I know that they divorced, and that they had two sons, Sidney Lamar Summer Jr, who has one daughter, and Albion Fernando Summer Sr, whose only son died. Albion Fernando Summer Sr, better known as A.F. Summers was the Attorney General for Mississippi during the Civil rights movement. He is the most well known of the family. I asked an attorney friend if he could tell me which side he defended during the Civil Rights movement, and all he could say is "he was a good guy", meaning he was for Civil Rights.
I have been in contact with the granddaughter of Iva Lee Hardy.
Adren Fleming Hardy, sometimes spelled Adrian died in World War 1 in the trenches in France.
Emma Mable Hardy married Melvin West and lived her adult life in Mississippi. I know that my grandmother and her parents visited annually, because for the last few years, I was fortunate enough to have spoken with her daughter before her death, Iva Gray. She was a wonderful lady. The children of Emma Mable and Melvin were Melvin West Jr, Iva Gray West, Peggy West, and Adrian Lamar West.
As far as I know, a few years ago there were 4 or 5 of the cousins (my grandmother's generation) left, but I believe now, we have only my Aunt Dot, and maybe her cousin Annette. I am so grateful that I took the time to call and speak to as many of these ladies (for that's what they were) before they died.
The Hardy family part 3 -my family line
Shep Hardy Sr's family was previously listed, but now I want to go into a bit more detail on his children.
Harriet Elizabeth Hardy married Edward "Wash" Campbell. Wash was a son of Neil Campbell and Sarah Bowen, and thus Wash is a first cousin to Jane Bowen, the wife of John Wesley Hardin. At one time we thought that Nancy Bowen, the grandmother of Wash was a McCurdy because she is living with Thomas Sunday and Anna McCurdy his wife, and it may still be true, but now we know that Anna is the daughter of Martha "Mattie"Bowen, and that Nancy's husband was most likely her Uncle.
Harriet and Wash Campbell had the following children
Sarah Campbell
Nicey Campbell
Neill Campbell
Edward Charles Campbell
Leon Sheppard Campbell
Caroline Campbell
Bert Tram Campbell
Lawrence Campbell
Hattie Viola Campbell
Hattie Viola Campbell was the third wife of my great great grandfather Archie Bald Pyburn, and had three children, Eulene, Carlton and Claire Ruth Pyburn. As a child I remember going to see Aunt Eulene, who was not just my father's half great Aunt but also a cousin. Dad said that Carlton lived just around the corner and we used to see them too, though I don't remember that.
James T. Hardy married Roseada Little and had one son, Leander Hardy. The family lived in Baldwin county, Alabama.
Robert Henry Hardy married Roseanna Pierce. The family moved from Baldwin County, Alabama to Muscogee, Florida. Their children were Ella Hardy, William Shepard "Will" Hardy, Samuel Tilton Hardy, Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hardy, Nancy Jane Hardy, Virginia "Jennie" Hardy, and Lula Hardy. One of Robert Henry Hardy's granddaughters is among my correspondents.
William Sheppard Hardy Jr I will discuss separately.
Nancy Jane Hardy married John Richard "Dick" Boyington. The family resided in Baldwin County, Alabama. Their children were Cleyton Sheppard Boyington, Johnny Everett "Bye" Boyington, Herbert Hubbard Boyington, Lillie V. "Pat" Boyington, Bamma Boyington, Louis Alto Boyington, Sally Boyington, Nancy Boyington, and Doyle Boyington.
Laura Texana "Ada" Hardy married Christopher Columbus Collins. Their children were James Collins, Mamie Collins, Mary Jane Collins, Emily Margaret Collins, William Edward/Edwin Collins, Eli Augustus Collins, Flora Katherine Collins, Laura Helen Collins, Christopher Columbus Collins, Thomas Collins, Otto Tobias Collins, Sarah Collins and Ella Therese Collins.
Ebenezer "Eb" Hardy married Maggie Hayes but had no children.
Ella Ida Hardy married Phillip Arch Hinote. They resided in Baldwin County, Alabama and had the following children, Kassie McElveries Hinote, Otis Hinote, Gladys Hinote, Robert Mayo Hinote, Laskey A Hinote, Mattie Lee Hinote, Sally Elizabeth Hinote, Alice Hinote, Leskie Hinote, Ada Esther Hinote, and Woodrow Miley "Dub" Hinote.
Harriet Elizabeth Hardy married Edward "Wash" Campbell. Wash was a son of Neil Campbell and Sarah Bowen, and thus Wash is a first cousin to Jane Bowen, the wife of John Wesley Hardin. At one time we thought that Nancy Bowen, the grandmother of Wash was a McCurdy because she is living with Thomas Sunday and Anna McCurdy his wife, and it may still be true, but now we know that Anna is the daughter of Martha "Mattie"Bowen, and that Nancy's husband was most likely her Uncle.
Harriet and Wash Campbell had the following children
Sarah Campbell
Nicey Campbell
Neill Campbell
Edward Charles Campbell
Leon Sheppard Campbell
Caroline Campbell
Bert Tram Campbell
Lawrence Campbell
Hattie Viola Campbell
Hattie Viola Campbell was the third wife of my great great grandfather Archie Bald Pyburn, and had three children, Eulene, Carlton and Claire Ruth Pyburn. As a child I remember going to see Aunt Eulene, who was not just my father's half great Aunt but also a cousin. Dad said that Carlton lived just around the corner and we used to see them too, though I don't remember that.
James T. Hardy married Roseada Little and had one son, Leander Hardy. The family lived in Baldwin county, Alabama.
Robert Henry Hardy married Roseanna Pierce. The family moved from Baldwin County, Alabama to Muscogee, Florida. Their children were Ella Hardy, William Shepard "Will" Hardy, Samuel Tilton Hardy, Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hardy, Nancy Jane Hardy, Virginia "Jennie" Hardy, and Lula Hardy. One of Robert Henry Hardy's granddaughters is among my correspondents.
William Sheppard Hardy Jr I will discuss separately.
Nancy Jane Hardy married John Richard "Dick" Boyington. The family resided in Baldwin County, Alabama. Their children were Cleyton Sheppard Boyington, Johnny Everett "Bye" Boyington, Herbert Hubbard Boyington, Lillie V. "Pat" Boyington, Bamma Boyington, Louis Alto Boyington, Sally Boyington, Nancy Boyington, and Doyle Boyington.
Laura Texana "Ada" Hardy married Christopher Columbus Collins. Their children were James Collins, Mamie Collins, Mary Jane Collins, Emily Margaret Collins, William Edward/Edwin Collins, Eli Augustus Collins, Flora Katherine Collins, Laura Helen Collins, Christopher Columbus Collins, Thomas Collins, Otto Tobias Collins, Sarah Collins and Ella Therese Collins.
Ebenezer "Eb" Hardy married Maggie Hayes but had no children.
Ella Ida Hardy married Phillip Arch Hinote. They resided in Baldwin County, Alabama and had the following children, Kassie McElveries Hinote, Otis Hinote, Gladys Hinote, Robert Mayo Hinote, Laskey A Hinote, Mattie Lee Hinote, Sally Elizabeth Hinote, Alice Hinote, Leskie Hinote, Ada Esther Hinote, and Woodrow Miley "Dub" Hinote.
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