Today in Family History - 04 Nov

My 10th great-grandfather Francis Doughty, Jr. (Anders line) was reportedly born on this day in 1605. Unfortunately, I have seen no documentation for this date. Francis is the earliest known immigrant to the United States in the Thompson family.

Jacob Anders Photograph

Today we have a photograph of my 3rd (and 4th) great granduncle Jacob Anders. Jacob was a brother of my 4th great-grandfather John Demostinie Anders and my 3rd great-grandfather James A. Anders, Jr. Jacob and his wife Cyrintha E. Rankin never had any children, so there are no descendants of Jacob to enjoy this photograph. But, the extended family still remembers them.

Jacob Anders was born 14 Feb 1827 in Greene County, Alabama [1]. He married Cyrintha Rankin on 02 Dec 1851 in Montgomery County, Texas [2]. He died on 11 Jun 1909 in Montgomery County, Texas [1] and was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Montgomery County, Texas [1].

Jacob and Cyrintha were both Citizens of the Republic of Texas.

References

[1] Mt. Pleasant Community Scrapbook, Cemetery and Church, Montgomery County, Texas, 1870-1979. Page 66.

[2] Marriage Records of Montgomery County, Texas. Volume 1, Page 166. 

Jacob Anders

The R.N. Cornet Band, Fruitland, MI

Today's photograph is of the R.N. Cornet Band in Fruitland, Michigan. My great-grandfather Iver Frank Erickson is standing in the back row, 4th from the left. I can only guess that the date might be circa 1894. Thanks to my father's cousin Judi for sharing this photograph.

Today in Family History - 01 Nov

My 4th great-grandfather William Vandermade, Sr. (Erickson line) died on this day in 1903 in Mooreland Township, Muskegon, Michigan [1]. He was buried at Ravenna Cemetery in Ravenna, Muskegon, Michigan.

My 3rd great-grandmother Mary Dudley Williams (Baldwin line) was born on this day in 1832 in North Carolina [2, 3]. (Note: Mary's grave marker says she was born in 1823 but the 1860 United States Census records indicate about 1834. I believe the grave marker date is incorrect and is transposed from 1832 which would closely match the census record.)

References
[1] Death Records of Muskegon County, Michigan. Death certificate for William Vandermade; Book 2, Page 334.
[2] Autry, Dolores (Dowd; Johnson), Historic Linwood Cemetery of Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, Volume ?. Page 151.
[3] 1860 United States Census. Muscogee County, Georgia, Page 244.

Thomas Pinkney White

My 4th great-grandfather Thomas Pinkney White (Baldwin line) was born on 24 May 1801 in Virginia [1]. Nothing is known of his parentage or ancestry. Indeed, very little is even known of his life.

Thomas married Margaret "Peggy" Hill on 01 May 1823 [3]. Margaret was born on 05 Mar 1804 in Abbeville County, South Carolina to William, Sr. and Anne Hill [1, 4, 5]. The Bible owned by Anne Hill is an invaluable resource for early White and Hill genealogy.

Some time before 1835, the White family moved to Dallas County, Alabama [6]. Thomas died there on 30 Oct 1835 [2] and we see his estate in probate during that year [7, 8, 9]. Margaret is still seen in Dallas County in the 1840 United States census with her 2 young children and living next door to her brother John Hill [10].

By 1850, the White family had moved to Union Parish, Louisiana. We see Margaret living with her son John in the 1850 United States census [11]. She purchased 40+ acres from the U. S. government on 01 Sep 1850 [12].

After the Civil War with conditions in the area very poor, Margaret and John decide to move to Texas with John's father-in-law Dr. John Randolph Traylor, Sr. [13]. After arriving in the Houston area in the late 1860s, Margaret signed a will on 28 Aug 1869 in Harris County, Texas [14]. She may very well have been ill already as she died only 5 months later on 15 Jan 1870 [5]. Her cause of death is written on the 1870 United States census mortality schedule, but it is not readable [4]. The location of her grave is not known, but she is believed to have died in the Lynchburg or Morgan's Point, Texas area as this is where her family is located in the census taken shortly after her death [15]. Her estate was in probate in Harris County, Texas between 13 Apr and 25 Apr 1871 [14, 16] and in Union Parish, Louisiana on 05 Sep 1884 [17]. The latter probate was to settle lands left by the Whites when they left Louisiana.

Children of Thomas Pinkney White and Margaret "Peggy" Hill
1) George Washington White [1, 9] was born on 21 Feb 1824 [1]. He married Susan Fuller. He died before May 1847 in Union Parish Louisiana [18].
2) Ann Drewsila White [1] was born on 07 Mar 1827 [1]. She died before 1835 as she is not mentioned in the probate of her father.
3) Dr. John Allen White [9, 14] was born on 03 Dec 1829 in Washington, Wilkes, Georgia [19, 21]. He married Mary Louise Traylor on 14 Nov 1854 in Union Parish, Louisiana [20, 22]. He died on 03 Apr 1911 in Huntsville, Walker, Texas [19, 20]. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery (Section 2) in Huntsville.

References
[1] Anne Hill Family Bible. Page 678, Family Record, Births.
[2] Robert Hill Family Bible. Page 680.
[3] Anne Hill Family Bible. Page 677, Family Record, Marriages.
[4] 1870 United States Census Mortality Schedule. Harris County, Texas, Page ?.
[5] Anne Hill Family Bible. Page 680, Family Record, Deaths.
[6] Tubbs, Bill and Sue, Dallas County, Alabama Ancestral Homesteads, Jasper, Alabama, May 2001. Page 45 and 46.
[7] Probate Court Records of Dallas County, Alabama. Book C, Page (or Record) 349.
[8] Ibid. Book D, Page 260.
[9] England, Flora, Dallas County, Alabama Genealogical Records, Willo Publishing Company, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Page 12.
[10] 1840 United States Census. Dallas County, Alabama, Page 85 B.
[11] 1850 United States Census. Union Parish, Louisiana, Page 361 A.
[12] United States Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records. Land patent for 40.37 acres to Margaret White, Union Parish Louisiana, 01 Sep 1850, No. 9967, Volume 19, Page 500. Receipt Certificate
[13] Personal correspondence. Letter from Dr. John Randolph Traylor, Sr. to John Hill, 13 Jul 1863. Page 1 Page 2
[14] Probate Court Records of Harris County, Texas. Probate for Margaret Hill, Volume U, Pages 3, 4, and 5.
[15] 1870 United States Census. Harris County, Texas, Page 488 A.
[16] Minutes of the Probate Court of Harris County, Texas. Probate for Margaret Hill, Volume G, Page 50.
[17] Probate Court Records of Union Parish, Louisiana. Book 7 (?), Pages 531-53?, plus copy of Harris County, Texas probate.
[18] Probate Court Records of Union Parish, Louisiana. Succession Records 1847-1851, Page 497.
[19] Walker County, Texas Cemeteries, Volume 3, Walker County Genealogy Society, Huntsville, TX, 2007. Page 51, Oakwood Cemetery - Section 2.
[20] Records of the Texas State Archives, Confederate Pensions. File #24300, Capt. John Allen White.
[21] Personal correspondence. Transcription of letter written by Dr. John Allen White. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
[22] Marriage Records of Union Parish, Louisiana. Book 2, Page 9. Application.

Guerin de Beaumont

While doing genealogy research years ago at the Genealogy Room at the Huntsville Public Library in Huntsville, Texas, I came across a booklet put together by Opal McAdams Samuel. (As I recall, Opal had lived in Madisonville, Texas.) The roughly 40 page booklet was titled "Guerin de Beaumont - Guerrant" and contained the results of Opal's research into her Guerrant ancestors.

I found this particularly helpful in learning about and locating primary Guerrant documentation and in tracing a good portion of the Guerrant family tree (Baldwin line) from Daniel and Marie Guerin downward. It contains transcripts of many very old letters from the 1920s through the 1940s concerning Guerrant family history. I think it is an excellent resource and should be more widely available to Guerrant family researchers. I photocopied the entire booklet and have provided links to the scanned pages below.

I am grateful to people like Opal who have taken the time to organize and publish the results of their genealogy research. It is so very helpful to others who follow in their footsteps. I would hope that she and her kin do not mind this booklet being made available on the internet.

Guerin de Beaumont - Guerrant by Opal McAdams Samuel

Page i - Title Page

Page ii - Author

Page iii - Memoriam

Page iv - References

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12

Page 13

Page 14

Page 15

Page 16

Page 17

Page 18

Page 19

Page 20

Page 21

Page 22

Page 23

Page 24

Page 25

Page 26

Page 27

Page 28

Page 29

Page 30

Page 31

Page 32

Page 33

Page 34

Page 35

Page 36

Page 37

Page 38

Page 39

Today in Family History - 11 Sep

My great-grandfather Austin William Thompson was born on this day in 1886 in Muskegon, Michigan [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

References

[1] Birth Records of Muskegon County, Michigan. Birth certificate for Austin William Thompson; Book 3, Page 260.

[2] Death Records of Muskegon County, Michigan. Death certificate for Austin William Thompson; Local File No. M 383; State File No. 523.

[3] Michigan Birth Records. Muskegon County births, page 159. Section 1 Section 2

[4] Thompson Family Dictionary.

[5] Biblen, Stodholm, Sweden, 1899. Presented to Austin W. Thompson at his confirmation. Inside back cover page.

[6] Social Security Death Index. Entry for Austin William Thompson.

[7] The Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan. 24 May 1967, page 46. Obituary for Austin William Thompson.

Today in Family History - 09 Sep

My 2nd great-grandmother Jennie Vanderklok (or Janna van der Klok) was born on this day in 1860 in Uithuizen, Groningen, Netherlands [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Recent research (discussed here and here) has revealed much more about Jennie's ancestry.

References

[1] Death Records of Muskegon County, Michigan. Death certificate for Jennie Vanderkolk; Book 5, Page 242.

[2] Birth Records of Uithuizen, Netherlands. Record No. 56 (for 1860).

[3] Thompson Family Dictionary.

[4] 1900 United States Census. Muskegon County, Michigan, Page 45 B.

[5] The Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan. 27 Dec 1928, page 2. Death notice for Jennie Vanderkolk.

The Baldwin Car Accident

On this date in 1958 the Baldwin family was in a serious one-car accident near Jasper, Texas. My grandfather George Avner Baldwin was driving when he lost control and hit a tree. Granddaddy, Grandmother, my mother, my uncle Andy, and my great-grandmother Georgia Effie Florene Pegoda were in the car. I believe Mom said at least one person, if not multiple people, were thrown from the car.

George was not injured. Grandmother suffered fractures in her jaw, right arm, and pelvis along with lacerations; she had to have her jaw wired shut for a time. Mother and Andy suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Georgia was most seriously injured with a severe head injury and lacerations. It is believed that this head injury eventually shortened her life.

As I recall my grandfather believed there were ruts or grooves in the road that contributed to his losing control of the car. The newspaper article below, probably from the Huntsville Item about 09 Sep 1958, also indicates the road was wet.

(Thanks to Mom's cousin Nancy for a copy of this article.)

Unknown newspaper article about the accident

Today in Family History - 06 Sep

My grandmother Evelyn Thorst Erickson died on this day in 2007 in Louisville, Boulder, Colorado [1, 2]. She was buried at Memorial Oaks Cemetery (Lot 201, Section 14, Space 8) in Houston, Harris, Texas on 15 Sep 2007 [1, 2].

References

[1] Death Records of Boulder County, Colorado. Death certificate for Evelyn Thorst Erickson.

[2] The Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan. 12 Sep 2007; Obituary for Evelyn Thorst Erickson.

Today in Family History - 05 Sep

My 5th great-grandfather William Hill, Sr. died on this day in 1821 in Abbeville County, South Carolina [1, 2]. The location of his grave is not known.

References

[1] Anne Hill Family Bible. Page 679, Births/Deaths.

[2] Robert Hill Family Bible. Page 679.

Georgia Effie Florene Pegoda Photograph

Today we have a baby picture of my great-grandmother Georgia Effie Florene Pegoda. She was born in Jul 1903, so this picture may date to mid-1904 or so.

Georgia Effie Florene Pegoda, Cir. 1904

Today in Family History - 03 Sep

My grandmother Adda Wanda Anders died on this day in 1996 as the Madisonville Hospital in Madisonville, Madison, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. She was buried in the Adickes Addition of Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, Walker, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7].

References

[1] Death Records of Madison County, Texas. Death certificate for Adda Wanda Anders.

[2] The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, Texas. 06 Sep 1996; Page 3A; Obituary for Adda Wanda Anders.

[3] Unknown Newspaper. Obituary for Adda Wanda Anders, 11 Sep 1996.

[4] Thompson family records and documents. Funeral service program for Adda Wanda Anders. Front Inside

[5] Adda Wanda Anders Funeral Book. Memorial page.

[6] Adda Wanda Anders Funeral Book. Final Resting Place page.

[7] Walker County, Texas Cemeteries, Volume 3, Walker County Genealogy Society, Huntsville, TX, 2007. Page 79, Adickes Addition to Oakwood Cemetery.

Lucinda Gregson and Children Photograph

Today's photograph is of my 2nd great-grandmother Lucinda A. Gregson and her children. The picture dates to 1923 when Lucinda's husband David Wilmot Covell, Sr. had already died. It was sent to me either by my Dad's cousin Judi or Al Covell, first cousin to my grandmother Evelyn Thorst Erickson.

Standing: Maude Emeline; David Wilmot, Jr.; Marvin Leonard;
and Lawrence Gregson Covell
Sitting: Lyman Townsend Covell, Lucinda A. Gregson, Alvin Lee Covell,
Andrew Jackson Covell, and Luella May Covell

Dr. Traylor Letter #7

Date: 27 Apr 1859

Today's letter from Dr. John Randolph Traylor, Sr. to John Hill primarily focuses on the management of Hill's affairs in Louisiana by Dr. Traylor. Although we do see Dr. White mentioned twice, the husband of Dr. Traylor's daughter Mary Louise.

Dr. Traylor also comments about the health of the folks around him and a bit about crops he is planting and hopes for a better harvest than the previous year.

Images:

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Transcription:

Col. John Hill          Marion La. Apr 27 / 59

Waverly, Texas

Dear Sir,

     I have been long expecting to reply to your two last favours [sic] but for causes not very satisfactory have not done so as yet. Not long since I sent a draft of C. T. Powell for the amt, due you & directed F. S. & Co. to credit you with $600.00 on my account. This amt, will not cover the amt, collected for you. If you do not particularly need it I will keep it until next season. I made a very poor crop last year. booked about $3000.00 made rather poor collections & having incured [sic] some liabilities, find myself pretty tite run (?).

     I have collected the debt of Everett Moor nearly all of Singleton, Grisham & $72.80 of E. George. There is yet ten dollars due from him. Esqr Ford paid his little a/c the other day. There was a small mistake in your favour in it. This I beleave [sic] (without refuring [sic] to the books) is all that, I have collected which is unacknowledged. I beleave [sic] that you have been informed that Cooper has paid & that, the funds are in the hands of F. S. & Co.

     Mayo has been over & Quite sick about this. I did not see him but tryed [sic] to do so by going to M. E. Daniel, he told me that Mayo expresed [sic] much regret that, he could not pay yet. He sayed [sic] that he had shortly since returned from the swamp & saw the man that, bought Mayo out. He had been disappointed in getting his money from Miss- & could not pay Mayo so that it made a disappointment all round.

     It does not appear that the swamp is a very money making place. W. A. Daniel has not paid Dr. White & myself yet & it is because he has not been able. Goldsby has paid nothing begs not to be sued, says that he will pay certainly before it can be collected. He has paid Frillsen by procuring a $1000.00 of accommodation drafts, I beleave [sic] that he has paid almost all his other debts except, those not due & what he owes to you. He has sued Cooper for what is due on the Andrews debt with that, & a good crop he will be able to pay all that he owes. Beside this he is offering the place on which he lives for sale, Cooper to retaliate entered the land around him & says that he has taken a good portion of the best part of his farm. That he has been offered $5 cash per acre for it if he could give possession, which he can not do until this crop is gathered. Goldsby says it is not worth 2 [?] per acre so they go.

     The debt of Willingham for 1st note of [Cole?] is still unpaid you have forgotten that transaction. It was in this wise Willingham was owing Cole & promised to pay that debt for him which he did in cash drafts on others & a note of his own. Some of the drafts were returned for non payment, leaving a balance of some seven hundred dollars still unpaid.

     Willingham is a man of considerable property & I am told purfectly [sic] good. I am expecting to here [sic] from him every day. If he does not pay soon I will put it in suit.

     The land trade is again a failure, 10 or 12 days before the time it was to be closed a gentleman caled [sic] & offered to take the place at the price stipulated, but I did not feel justified in selling until the time had expired agreed upon. Since then he has concluded to look about for sometime before the purchaises [sic]. He is a brotherinlaw [sic] of Tod (?) Robinson's. I was in conversation a fiew {sic} days since with Sam Robinson & told him that I intended to write to you & advise you to rise on it that it was worth more. He said that the last person mentioned he thought would buy (?) the Jourdin plase [sic] & if he did he would buy your land for his Brotherin law provided you did not rise too much on it. (?)

     I am planting this year 120 Acres in cotton of my best land & about the same in corn. If I am blessed with seasons I hope to make a better show than last year. I have about 40 acres yet to plant which I plant late from chois [sic]. I shall get over plowing my corn in a fiew [sic] days, tomorrow if it does not rain too much it is now raining. We have had a fine spring but for its being rather cool, we had considerable frost last week which did not damage us much except in putting back our crops.

     The health of our country is generally very good though we have some sickness, L.M. (?), old woman Shortlitt (?) a week after confinement took savier [sic] cold was very sick, had several savier [sic] fits, but is now better & I think will recover. Since I commensed [sic] writing Dr. White informed me that, he had Rec'd a letter from you & that, you had lost another valuable negro. You are certainly having very bad luck [some?] way. Tell Mary she must write to me again & Robert, I beleave [sic] I have an unanswered letter from him, he must not be offended, I will write to him as soon as I can & he must write again. Tell Wm Powell, M.D. that Marion bosts [sic] of having been sent for several times in preferance [sic] to me. That however is no great compliment. I have [booked?] this year, I think some 6 or 800 dollars. Randy had a chill today the rest all well.

     Give my love to All. Yours truly

         John Traylor