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

Peter Guerrant, Sr.

My 6th great-grandfather Peter Guerrant, Sr. was born about 1697 in France [1]. He came to America on the ship Nassau as a young child in 1700 with his parents Daniel and Marie Guerin (Guerrant) [1]. Peter married Magdalene Trabue about 1732, probably in Virginia. Magdalene was born on 31 Aug 1715, the daughter of Antoine Trabue, Jr. and Magdalene Verrueil [1, 2]. Peter and Magdalene would have at least 7 children.

Peter was reportedly a Major in the Colonial wars, but I have not tracked down any documentation for this yet. He signed a will on 03 Dec 1749 in Cumberland County, Virginia which identifies his wife and 7 children [3, 4]. His estate is in probate in Cumberland County on 25 Jun 1750 indicating he had died in Dec 1749 or early 1750 [1, 5, 6]. His wife Magdalene reportedly died about 1787.

The Guerin and Trabue families were Huguenot refugees who left France to escape Protestant persecution at the hands of the Catholics.

Children of Peter Guerrant, Sr. and Magdalene Trabue

1) John Guerrant, Sr. [1, 3, 4] was born on 17 Jul 1733 [1]. He married Elizabeth Porter. He died in 1823 [1].

2) Esther Guerrant [1, 3, 4] was born on 02 Oct 1735 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia [1]. She married John Bartholomew DuPuy in 1753. She died between 1760 and 1764.

3) Peter Guerrant, Jr. [1, 3, 4] was born on 17 Oct 1737 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia [1]. He married Mary Perreau on 25 Nov 1756 in Manakin [7]. He died in 1819 in Montgomery County, Kentucky [1, 8].

4) Magdelaine Guerrant [3, 4, 7] was born on 31 Aug 1740 [7]. She married Robert Moseley in 1758 [7]. She died on 19 Mar 1820 [7].

5) Jane Guerrant [3, 4, 7] was born about 1742.

6) Judith Guerrant [3, 4, 7] was born on 17 Mar 1745 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia [7]. She died about 1801.

7) Daniel Guerrant [3, 4, 7] was born on 23 Apr 1747 in Manakin, Goochland, Virginia [7]. He married Mary Porter.

References

[1] The Huguenot, No. 5, The Huguenot Society, 1931. Page 89.

[2] Ibid. Page 93.

[3] Ibid. Page 91.

[4] Minutes of the Probate Court of Cumberland County, Virginia. Will Book 1, pages 13 and 14.

[5] Ibid. Will Book 1, page 15.

[6] Ibid. Will Book 1, pages 24, 25, 26, and 27.

[7] Ibid. Page 90.

[8] Minutes of the Probate Court of Montgomery County, Kentucky. Book B, Pages 325 and 326.

Today in Family History - 31 Aug

My 6th great-grandmother Magdalene Trabue was born on this day in 1715. I do not have any references for her birth date and do not even recall where I found this date for her birth. If you have any documentation about the Trabue or Guerrant families, please leave a comment.

Moses Spencer

My 5th great-grandfather Moses Spencer was born on 03 Jan 1763 in Virginia [1, 2]. Nothing is known of his parentage or ancestry. As a young man he served as a private in the American Revolution in the Captain Charles Patterson Company (4 months) and in the Captain William Anderson Company (3 months) in the Virginia militia [3, 4, 5, 6]. During his second tour he worker as a prison guard.

After the War he returned to Buckingham County, Virginia. He married Judith Ayres there on 05 Jan 1786 [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]. Although the original record has been lost, an affidavit from 11 Oct 1841 in the Revolutionary War Pension file for Moses Spencer contains a direct reading of the marriage record by the clerk of Buckingham County [3].

Judith was born on 01 Oct 1768 in Buckingham County, Virginia to Nathan Ayres, Sr. and Mary Leake [1, 2, 8, 9, 10]. She is the one who applied for a pension on 11 Oct 1841 [3] based on Moses' service in the War after his death on 30 Aug 1834 in Buckingham County [2, 3].

Judith lived in Buckingham County for the remainder of her life [10, 11]. She died about 1853 [2]. The locations of the graves of Moses and Judith are not known.

Children of Moses Spencer and Judith Ayres

1) John Spencer [1] was born on 28 Sep 1786 [1]. He married Elizabeth W. Price on 03 Aug 1809 [7].

2) Nathan Spencer [1] was born on 20 Jun 1788 [1]. He married Judith D. Fuqua on 14 Nov 1815 [7].

3) Mary "Polly" Spencer [1, 8] was born on 24 Mar 1790 in Buckingham County, Virginia [1, 12]. She married Charles Guerrant on 13 Jul 1806 in Buckingham County [7, 8, 13]. She died in 1868 in Walker County, Texas and was buried at Ebenezer Cemetery [12].

4) Barkesdale Spencer [1] was born on 26 Aug 1793 [1]. He married a woman named Polley.

5) Samuel A. Spencer [1] was born on 08 Jan 1797 [1]. He married Mary A. Moseley in May 1819 [7].

6) Elizabeth H. Spencer [1] was born on 18 Nov 1799 [1].

7) James Spencer [1] was born on 18 Apr 1802 [1].

8) Moses Ayres Spencer [1] was born on 21 May 1805 [1]. He married Ann Bradley in Nov 1830 [7].

9) Martha A. Spencer [1] was born on 15 Jun 1808 [1]. She married Isham Gilliam in Dec 1832 [7].

10) Judith H. Spencer [1] was born on 14 Sep 1811 [1]. She married Tandy Holman in Nov 1831 [7].

References

[1] Moses Spencer Family Bible, 1815. Births page.

[2] Mayo, Mary E., Sixteen Hundred Lines To Pilgrims, Lineage Book III, National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Genealogical Publishing Co. Page 631.

[3] Records of the U. S. National Archives and Records Admin: Revolutionary War Pension Files. File #W6155, Moses Spencer. Declaration of Judith Spencer, 11 Oct 1841. Page 1 Page 2

[4] Ibid. Affidavit of William Thombill, 07 Jul 1841.

[5] Ibid. Affidavit of James Falwell, 30 Sep 1841.

[6] Rosen, Carl Coleman, Revolutionary Patriots of Buckingham County, Virginia, Willow Bend Book, Westminster, Maryland, 2002. Pages 142-143.

[7] Moses Spencer Family Bible, 1815. Marriages page.

[8] Kidd, Randy and Jeanne Stinson, Lost Marriages of Buckingham County, Virginia, Iberian Publishing Co., Atlanta, Georgia. Page 84.

[9] Nathan Ayres Family Bible. Partial transcription of Ayres genealogy data, The Library of Virginia, Archives and Manuscripts, Ayres family Bible record, 1768-1814.

[10] 1850 United States Census. Buckingham County, Virginia, Page 387 B.

[11] 1840 United States Census. Buckingham County, Virginia, Page 371 A.

[12] Walker County, Texas Cemeteries, Volume 2, North Walker County, Walker County Genealogical Society, Huntsville, TX, 2004. Page 37, Ebenezer Cemetery.

[13] The Huguenot, No. 5, The Huguenot Society, 1931. Page 90.

Today in Family History - 30 Aug

My 2nd great-grandparents Frank Erickson and Anna Christina Nelson were married on this day in 1874 at the Lebanon Lutheran Church in Whitehall, Muskegon, Michigan [1, 2].

My 5th great-grandfather Moses Spencer died on this day in 1834 in Buckingham County, Virginia [3, 4, 5].  The location of his grave is not known.

References

[1] Marriage Records of Muskegon County, Michigan. Marriage license for Frank E. Erickson and Anna Christina Nelson; Book 2, Page 69.

[2] The Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan. 27 Dec 1943, page 14. Obituary for Anna Christina Erickson.

[3] Records of the U. S. National Archives and Records Admin: Revolutionary War Pension Files. File #W6155, Moses Spencer. Declaration of Judith Spencer, 11 Oct 1841. Page 1 Page 2

[4] Mayo, Mary E., Sixteen Hundred Lines To Pilgrims, Lineage Book III, National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Genealogical Publishing Co. Page 631.

[5] Samuel, Mrs. Opal McAdams, Guerin de Beaumont (Guerrant). Page 6.

Today in Family History - 29 Aug

My 4th great-grandmother Hannah Comfort was born on this day in 1782 in New York [1, 2, 3]. (Note that the transcription of the Coleman Bible record appears to have the incorrect day of her birth.)

References

[1] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Comfort "Bible" Record.  From a piece of paper in a Bible; origin of information uncertain.

[2] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Cemetery Record for Wellsburg or Baptist Church Cemetery, Chemung County, Page 2. 

[3] Tice, Joyce M., Tri-Counties Genealogy and History. Miller-Coleman Bible Record. 

John Demostinie Anders Photographs

I believe it was Norma Carolyn Anders (Fenton), a second cousin twice removed, who sent me a number of Anders family photos a while back. Among them were the two photographs of my 4th great-grandfather John Demostinie Anders shown below.

John Demostinie Anders
and daughter Susan Catherine Anders, Cir 1883

John Demostinie Anders

Austin's Old 300

Around 1820, Moses Austin was given permission by Spain to colonize part of Spanish Texas. Although he would soon die and Mexico's independence from Spain would complicate the original agreement, Moses' son Stephen F. Austin would carry on his efforts. The first group of Anglo settlers brought by Austin to colonize Texas around 1821 numbered 300 families or so. They are now known as Austin's Old 300.

Among these 300 families were two and a half families that appear in my ancestry: the Daniel Gilleland, Sr. family, the Thomas Boatwright, Sr. family, and Nancy Johnson (wife of Thomas Williams), all in the Anders line. Nancy is Daniel's mother, and she remarried to Thomas Williams after the death of her husband William Gilleland.

It should be noted that the difficult parentage of James "Jimmie" Adda Anders lies within the family line to the Gilleland and Boatwright families. This is the reason research of her parentage is so important. With the approval of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and The Descendants of Austin's Old Three Hundred we have a measure of confidence that the research is correct and we are indeed descendants of these early Texas settlers.

Images of the original land grants received by Daniel and Thomas are linked below. Although they arrived in Texas in 1821, their land grants and colony admission were not finalized until 1824.

Daniel Gilleland was granted land on 03 Aug 1824. He (officially) applied to enter Stephen F. Austin's colony in the Town of San Felipe de Austin on 29 Jul 1824. He is granted one labor of land in what would become Austin County, Texas.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Thomas Boatwright, Sr. was granted land on 27 Jul 1824. He (officially) applied to enter Stephen F. Austin's colony in the Town of San Felipe de Austin on 26 Jul 1824. He is granted one labor of land in what would become Austin County, Texas.

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How We Are Related to Chief Justice John Marshall

Arguably the most influential Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States was John Marshall. While this may be partially a result of the time period and length of time he served as Chief Justice, he was responsible for the early formation and definition of the Court and its establishment as the third co-equal branch of government.

Signature of Chief Justice John Marshall

My 5th great-grandfather Robert Rankin (Anders line) was first cousin to John Marshall. Robert's mother was Margaret Masena Marshall (Abt 1733 - ?), brother of Thomas Marshall (02 Apr 1730 - 22 Jun 1802). Margaret and Thomas were two of the children of John Marshall (Abt 1700 - Apr 1752) and Elizabeth Markham (Abt 1704 - Abt 1775).

I can only guess that Robert and John knew each other, at least in their youth. They were both born in Virginia and families usually lived closer together in colonial days. It would be nice to learn how much they interacted throughout their lives.

I have little documentation of Robert Rankin's parents and grandparents. If you have any information or documentation about Robert Rankin and the Marshall family, please leave a comment.