Update about blogCa

Monday, June 30, 2014

What I've been reading

Summer days sometimes are hot, or rainy.  Good times for opening a good book.

I enjoyed "Big Stone Gap," by Adriana Trigiani, which was intriguing because 1. Wendy Welch speaks about it in her book, "Little Book Store in Big Stone Gap," and 2. it's being made into a movie, and 3. I've been there.  Thanks to friend Helen Bell who took a day trip with me to Wendy's store, where we had delicious food in the Second Story Cafe' and I sold my pottery!


Look who's in that movie!  Don't know when it's coming out, and I couldn't find a trailer for it.

I did laugh out loud a few times reading the book, which has some great plot twists, but still is somewhat predictable.  Now I just noticed (sorry, late to the table) there's a trilogy.  Since I did fall in love with the characters, I'll be looking for the others.

I also spent a few nights up later than intended reading "A Short Time to Stay Here," by Terry Roberts.  It's set in nearby Hot Springs, NC, and some of the events and settings in which the novel occurs are real, and/or actually happened, like turning a resort hotel into a concentration camp for Germans during WW I.  I am one of the few people who I know in Black Mountain who haven't ever been to Hot Springs.  I liked that the protagonist was not totally upright and had understandable character flaws.  I found the romance somewhat unusual, but because the author wrote in first person, I only felt that the male half was portrayed realistically.  The woman seemed to have some great ideas, but was just never as understandable or passionate as the male.  She could have been a heroine that I would have loved.  I was struck by finding Vicki Lane, a fellow blogger, thanked in the acknowledgements.  (Yes I'm one of those people who look at acknowledgements in books.)


Now I'm about to start reading "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai, the girl who stood up for education for girls and was shot by the Taliban.  I'm aware of her story, and looking forward to learning more about a modern day heroine!

Jerry Pope, a friend, has written a new book "The Elvis Tooth."  Can't wait to put it on my bedside table.  And Shelly Frome has so many books, I don't know where to start.  At the library because my budget doesn't have a book fund at this point.




Sunday, June 29, 2014

VW van-fans!

What a beauty?  I never see them on the highway, but they are frequent visitors to our mountain town, parked along the places tourists like to see. 

I had to take a picture of this one for Tim...who was waxing poetic about one he once owned, and thinking he'd call they guy he sold it to and maybe get it back.  Right!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

The Rogers tree

When you don't really know a thing about where they lived, but their birth and death dates, and names which are spelled anywhich way, looking at a list of names is not all that exciting.

One of the first things I do is check how old mom would have been when she had the next baby in line.  Has to be within certain ages or I figure it's just not likely, right?

And women who had 17 babies were rare, as well as outliving everyone in the family.  I get my eyebrows raised about then.

So the other day I gave you the earliest Rogers ancestor that I know of (from those family records that are free and public.)  The next generation ends up with knighthood, and several documents that may (or may not) be historically accurate.


John Fitz Roger, 1335 – 1386 married Dame Elizabeth deFurneaux, Birth 1329 in Stringham, Sommerset, England, Death 1386 in Abbey, Somerset, England

Their son was Sir John Fitz Rogers, Birth 1386 in Ashington, Somerset, England, Death 4 Oct 1441 in Bryanston, Dorset, England

The Ancestry people (well, other Rogers trees) say several things about Sir John.
Sir John Fitz Roger, the second generation, was born 1386-7. He married Agnes de Mercaunt of Seamer, Suffolk Co. in 1406 when he was just past the age of 19. He was the manager of the vast Furneaux estates and bought 'Benham-Valence' and other properties in Berkshire and Dorset. He received a Knighthood through recognition of military service performed. He was one of the wealthiest people in his section of England. He and Agnes had two sons, John and Thomas. He died 4 October 1441 at his home at Bryanstone. He is buried at St. Martin's Church there. His will was dated 21 September and proved 10 November 1441 and it was at this time the 'Fitz' to the Roger name was dropped and ultimately a terminal 's' added.  (Source:  Rousseau Rogers Family Tree, 2007)






He has a crest of course.

============================
More information:


Rogers Family 
  ROGERS ARMS: Argent, a chevron between three stags sable, attired or. 
CREST: A stag trippant sable, bezantee, ducally gorged and attired or. 
MOTTO: Nil conscire sibi  - To have a conscience free from guilt
Source of the following is:
 History of MF Planters by L.C. Hills: 
The Rogers Family: 
Sir Tancred de Hautville, born c970. died aft 1058, a nobleman of Hautville near Cautauces, Normandy, m. firstly c992 Moriella; m. secondly c1013 Fredistand. There among their sons were Robert, Roger and William.  Robert "Guiscard" born 1015, became a great General, commanding Norman troops in Italy, and was created Duke of Apulia 1059; King of Naples and had other honors, and died in 1085.  His brother Roger became Grand Count Roger I 1089-1102 of Sicily. He was born 1030 and died in 1101/2. Duke Robert and his brother Grand Count Roger were largely responsible for the Norman conquest of Sicily, and the FitzRoger name in South West England is said to have arose from descendants of these brothers. Religious upheaval in Sicily forced Aaron Fitz Rogers, a merchant of Rome, to flee to London where he engaged in business. The Rogers Family were given the right to bear the coat of arms accredited to Grand Count Roger I of Sicily. Aaron Rogers was born in Italy c1260/70. 

1.  Aaron FitzRoger born c1265 of Rome, Italy; died c1330 London, Middlesex, England.  The family business was merchandising after settling in Kent, Gloucestershire and Somersetshire.  

2. John FitzRoger b. 1335 m. Elizabeth de Furneaux b. 1330 son and heir of Sir Symon de Furneaux of Ashington, and other manors in Somersetshire and Devonshire and Alice de Umfraville, widow of Sir John Blount, Constable of the Tower of London.  John FitzRoger was her second husbland.  John was their only son and heir.  John gained great wealth by marrying Elizabeth. With John FitzRoger she was co-founder of 'Rogers House' of South West England.  Sir Symon's only surviving child, and sole heiress, was his daughter, Elizabeth de Furneaux b. c1334. She m. 1351, Sir Blount, Knight and a Constable of the Tower, by whom she (had?) Alice later that year in 1351. Sir  Blount d. 1358, leaving an attractive and wealthy widow, who inherited many large estates.

The Furneaux's were from France, near Coutances, Normandy, the same area as the Sicilian Rogers family.  Odo de Furneaux, b. c1040 in Normandy came to England with William the Conqueror. and his son Sir Alan de Furneaux was born c1075 in Normandy, but settled in Devon and received from King Henry I, a manor house and land near Honiton, Devon. He had four sons: Sir Alan Furneaux, a Justiciary, 1165; Philip Furneaux; William Furneaux, and the eldest, his son and heir Sir Geoffrey Furneaux b. c1117-22.  Sir Geoffrey was appointed Sheriff of Devon.  He was a very influential man; was knighted and married late - about 1155 and had four sons - Geoffrey Furneaux, b. c1158; Sir Robert Furneaux, b. c1160, Sir Alan Furneaux , b. c1162 and his eldest son and heir -Sir Henry Furneaux (b. c1156. He also became Sheriff of Devon. He married, c1180, Johanna, daughter of Robert Fitz William, who brought to her husband the manor of Ashington in Somerset. Having by right of his wife become Lord of the manors in Somerset, he ultimately settled there; and had a least one son, Henry Furneaux, b. c1181-1214. The eldest sons, in the next two generations were called Matthew Furneaux I and Matthew Furneaux II, b. c1220, was a Sheriff of Devon under King Edward I (1276). Matthew II was b. c1245 and, c1270, married Matilda (or Maud), d/o Sir Warren deRaleigh of 'Nettlecombe' in Somerset. Sir Walter Raleigh, becoming famous two centuries later, descended from this Raleigh family. Matthew Furneaux II also had a son, Sir Matthew Furneaux III, ancestor of Thomas Rogers but not the eldest son in this generation, Lord of Ashington, his principal residence, he was knighted then summoned in 1295 into military service against the Welsh, and in 1296-98 and 1300 against the Scots. He was Sheriff of Somerset, Dorset & Devon variously and from 1304-1316, the year of his death. In 1312 he had custody of Devon and the King's Castle of Exeter; and in 1315 was custodian of the counties of Somerset & Dorset, and the Castle of Shireborn. He was a prominent member of the Furneaux family. His son and heir was Sir Symon de Furneaux, b. c1271. Symon married Alice, daughter of Sir Henry de Umfraville of Penarth Point in Glamorgan Wales, and was a principal landowner of his county. He died without surviving male issue as his son William, born 1328, predeceased him. Among the many honors bestowed upon him was a Knighthood of the Shire of Somerset, in the Parliament of Edward III (1328). His recorded arms were: 'Gules, a bend between six crosses-crosslet, or; which are still preserved on some encaustic tiles in 'Cleve Abbey' - where he and his father were benefactors - to which, later heraldic authorities add a crest. The insignia & colors displayed by father & son were practically identical. This Coat of Arms, as well as the many other Coats of Arms of the Furneaux Family, can be seen in Burke's Armory and any other book listing Coat of Arms for England.  

3.  Sir John Fitz Roger, was born 1386-7. He married Agnes de Mercaunt of Seamer, Suffolk Co. in 1406 when he was just past the age of 19. He was the manager of the vast Furneaux estates and bought 'Benham-Valence' and other properties in Berkshire and Dorset. He received a Knighthood through recognition of military service performed. He was one of the wealthiest people in his section of England. He and Agnes had two sons, John and Thomas. He died 4 Oct 1441 at his home at Bryanstone, and is buried at St. Martin's Church there. His will was dated 21 Sep and proved 10 Nov 1441 and it was at this time the 'Fitz' to the Roger name was dropped and ultimately a terminal 's' added.

4.  Thomas Rogers, b. c1408 of Ashington, Somerset, in one of the Roger-Furneaux mansions, residing there until grown, then permanently settled at Bryanstone, Dorset.  He was the Burgess, Mayor and Sheriff of Bristol in 1455, 1458 and 1459 he m.  unknown spouse.  Manor of Oare, Wilcot, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire was held by Thomas Rogers (d. circa 1479) when it passed to his son William Rogers, then to his son Sir Edward Rogers whose son George Rogers married Jane Winter.  (Victoria County History of Wiltshire). He had a son, Thomas, by his first wife who was born in 1435. In his second marriage he had a daughter, Elizabeth. Thomas Rogers (4th generation) never claimed the property of his father so it went to his sister. 

Source for the following: A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, by Barnard Burke: Rogers of Rainscombe, Rogers, Rev. Edward-Henry of Rainscombe, co. Wilts, M.A. &. 1827.  Burke states:

Burke States, “The family of Rogers were seated at Bryanstone, co. Dorset, till the close of the 17th century.  Of that line was Thomas Rogers, Esq., serjeant-at-law, temp. Edward IV, who settled at Bradford.  He m. 1st, one of the daus. and co-heirs of William Besyll, of Bradford, and by her had a son, William, of whom presently.  He m. 2ndly, a dau. of ----Courtenay, of Powderham, and widow of Sir Thomas Pomeroy, and by her had a son, George, of Luppit, co. Dorset, whose son Edward (Sir) was of Cannington.  The son of the 1st marriage, William Rogers, Esq. m. Jone, dau. of John Horton, Esq. of Ilford, and had (with a dau., Cecily, m. to Robert Maten) two sons, I. Anthony, m. Dorothy Erneley, of Cannings, and had issue; and II. Henry, of whose line we treat.  The latter, Henry Rogers, Esq., was father of Henry Rogers, Esq. of Heddington, who m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas Hall, Esq. of Bradford, and had a son Robert Rogers, Esq. of Heddington, who m. Anne, dau. of John Seager, Esq. of Bromham, Wilts, and was a. by his son, Henry Rogers, Esq. of Heddington, who, by Sarah, his wife, dau. of Francis Eagles, Esq. of South Broom, Wilts, was the father of Henry Rogers, Esq. of Heddington and Rainscombe, who m. Ellen, dau. of Henry Pyke, Esq. of Rainscombe, and was a. by his son.  Robert rogers, Esq. of Rainscombe, sho m. Eliza, dau. of Thomas Smith, of Potterne, Wilts, and was father of Elizabeth, dau. of William Johnson, Esq. of Chippenham Hills, and by her had (with a dau., Amella-Eliza, and a son, William) another son.  The Rev. James Rogers, D.D. of Rainscombe, who m. 1788, Catherine, youngest dau. and co-heir of Francis Newman, Esq. of Canbury House, co. Somerset, and by her (who d. 1832) had issue, of whom the last survivor was Q. C., recorder of Exeter, b. 1791.  who m. 29 June 1822, Julia-Eleanora, 3rd dau. of William-Walter Yea, Esq. of Pyrland Hall, co. Somerset, and sister of Sir Henry-Lacy Yea, Bart., and has issue, 1. Francis-Newman, his heir; 2. Edward-Henry, now of Rainscombe; 3.Walter-Lacy.

5. Thomas Rogers, Esq. (1433/34-1489) of Bristol, admitted to Lincolns Inn, London, on the Sunday before Lent , 1454, created Serjeant-at-law 1478, of Bradford on Avon, m. Cecilia Besill d. and co-heir of William Besyll or Besill of Bradford.  He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn at the same time as Walter Hungerford. This was possibly the grandson of the great Walter Lord Hungerford, who had amassed estates in Wiltshire, Somerset , Berkshire and elsewhere and who died in 1449.  Pupil lawyers were about 16 years old giving Thomas a possible date of birth c1438. The Hungerford's were hugely important landowners and allied to the Lancastrian cause of Henry Vl as was most of the West Country. At the time of Thomas's admission his father Thomas of Bristol was a Burgess, then Sheriff in 1455, and Mayor in 1459. In 1460 Pakenham sold Smallbrook to Thomas Rogers of Bradford, serjeant-at-law, who died in possession in 1478. It descended in the same way as Rogers's manor of Bradford to his great grandson Anthony Rogers.

Thomas chose instead to practice law. He went to Oxford University and ultimately settled in Bradford in Wiltshire. He became an honorable and distinguished lawyer. In 1478, when he was 43 years old, under appointment by the Crown he was created "Serviens ad Legem," a life office bestowed because of professional attainments and worth of character. He was a great influence in his community and amassed a considerable fortune. He was appointed Sergeant-at-Law, a little before his first marriage. A son William was born of this marriage. After the death of his first wife, he married Catherine de Courtenay in 1483. She was the daughter of Sir Philip de Courtney, Knight of Powderham Castle in Devon. She and Thomas had two sons, George, the elder and John. Catherine or Katherine (as it was more frequently spelled) was the second daughter and youngest child of Sir Philip, who was born in 1404 and died in 1463. Her mother was Elizabeth Hungerford, daughter of Lord Walter Hungerford and Catherine Peverell. 

Source for the following: Pedigree of Rogers (see below)

6.  William Rogers, Esq. m. Joan Horton, d. of John Horton, Esq. of Iford and Lullington Co. Somerset, Gentleman, granddaughter. of Sir Roger Horton of Catton Co. Derby.  Their daughter Cecily married Robert Maten.

7.  Anthony Rogers m. Dorothy Erneley of Bishops Cannings d. of John Erneley of Erneley (a 1490) m. Anne Darell (dau of Constantyn Darell of Cottingbourne (sb Collingbourne?).  John Erneley was the s. of John Erneley of Erneley m. Joan Best d. of Simon Best of Cannings. Visitation of Wiltshire.

8. Anthony Rogers, Bradford on Avon, died in 1583. He married Ann Wroughton, born 1507, d/o Sir William Wroughton, who died in 1559.  The tomb of Sir William has a canopy and inscription in a fine strapwork cartouche, and is located at the Wiltshire, Bradford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church. Dorothy Wroughton, her sister, married c1566, Sir John Thynne of Longleat. Their daughter and heir was Dorothy Rogers.

9.  Dorothy Rogers, b. c1555, Stratford-upon-Avon, daughter and heir, married John Hall I born c1555 of Bradford on Avon.

10.  John Hall II, b. c1570 Bradford on Avon, England m. Elizabeth Brune c1591 Bradford on Avon, England, d. of Henry Brune and Elizabeth Martin (Martyn).  It is through the lineage of Elizabeth Martin (Martyn), through her father Sir Nicholas Martyn of Athelhampton, Dorsetshire, that this lineage can be connected to the Royal families of Scotland, England and France. 
Source: "Lineage of Rogers Family", Underwood, published in NY in 1911.

===========================================

This posting on Ancestry is a kind of entry into some pedigree document, which is not given credit.  

John FITZROGERS (AFN:LM1C-LM) Pedigree

Husband's Name John FITZROGERS (AFN:LM1C-LM) Pedigree

Born: 1386 Place: , Ashington, Somerset, England
Died: 4 Oct 1441 Place: , Bryanston, Dorsetshire, England

Father: John FITZROGER (AFN:GGCZ-QC) Family
Mother: Elizabeth FURNEAUX (AFN:9BMJ-8J)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wife's Name
Agnes MORDAUNT (MERCAUNT) (AFN:HQVR-9F) Pedigree

Born: Abt 1390 Place: Of Bedfordshire, England

Father: Eustace MORDAUNT (AFN:9G23-ZV) Family
Mother: Alice DANNO (AFN:9RKB-BQ)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Children

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Sex Name
M John ROGERS (AFN:158H-MBL) Pedigree

Born: Abt 1425 Place: Of, Bryanston, Dorsetshire, England
Died: Aug 1450 Place: , Bryanstone, Dorset, England

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Sex Name
M Thomas ROGERS (AFN:GGCZ-JB) Pedigree

Born: 1408 Place: Ashington, Somerset, Eng. 


Friday, June 27, 2014

Earliest ancestor birth?

Another early birthday ancestor, on my grandmother's tree.  First, a review of the generations from my parents back through time:

Here I spoke of Capt. Ebenezer Pulsifer. birth: Dec 26, 1773, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts.  death: 7 Nov 1827 in Newburyport, MA

He was father of Lucy Pulsifer Granger. Birth:  Feb 1, 1807 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts. Death 23 May 1876 in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas.  (I give a lot of details of her husband George Granger's life Here.)

She was mother of  Mary Hull Granger Phillips. Birth May 6, 1829 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts. Death Oct-Dec 1861 in Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas,  (The link is to a blog posted about some of her correspondence before the Civil War.)

She was mother of Zulieka Granger Phillips Swasey. Birth 30 July 1858 in Fort Gaines, Clay, Georgia. Death 21 April 1935 near Rosenberg, Texas,buried in Galveston Texas

She was mother of Ada Phillips Swasey Rogers, Birth: Feb 23, 1886 in San Marcos, Hays, Texas,. Death 2 DEC 1964 in Houston, Texas

She was the mother of my father George Elmore Rogers, Jr. Birth 9 NOV 1914 in Texas. Death 5 JAN 1985 in Houston, Harris, Texas
=========================
Now to look further back
Capt. Ebenezer Pulsifer's father was:
Ebenezer Pulsifer Birth 4 Nov 1744 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, Death 1795 in New York

His father was David Pulsifer, Birth 4 Mar 1716 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, Death 2 Dec 1783 in Bunker Hill, Boston, MA.  And his mother was:  Hannah Brown Pulsifer, Birth 16 Jan 1718 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, Death BEF 1756 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts.  Ancestry is a bit confused about Mrs. Pulsifer, giving 3 different women marriages with David Pulsifer Sr.  (There was a son David Jr. born in 1840 as well.) But since Hannah Brown Pulsifer has three children from her marriage, I'll work with that family for now.  And her family goes back further as well.

Hannah Brown Pulsifer's father was: Benjamin Brown, Birth 1669 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, Death 1733 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

Benjamin Brown's mother was:  Hannah Aslett Brown, Birth 21 Dec 1644 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, Death 1721 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

Hannah Aslett Brown's mother was: Rebecca Ayer Aslett, Birth 1623 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Death 1671 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  Her husband John could have been Aslebee, or Alley, but Hannah is daughter of Aslett, so I'll go with that family name.

Rebecca Ayer Aslett's father was: John Ayer, Birth 1592 in Suffolk, England. Death 1657 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts

John Ayer's father was: Thomas Eyre, Birth 1562 in Bromhan, Wiltshire, England, Death 1628 in England


And John's mother was:  Elizabeth Rogers Eyre, Birth 1549 in Poole, England, Death 1612 in England

Elizabeth Rogers Eyre's father was: John Rogers, Birth 1523 in Poole, England, Death unknown in Bock, Dorset, England.  But he's not the oldest birth record in this line, I only go in this direction because it's another Rogers link perhaps, but I don't know of a connecting link yet.

Back to Thomas Eyre...his father was: Robert Eyre, Birth 1530 in Wiltshire, England, Death 1564 in England

Robert Eyre's father was: John Eyre, Birth 1490 in Wiltshire, England, Death 11 May 1532 in Wiltshire, England

John Eyre's father was: William Eyre, Birth 1444 in England, Death 1507 in England

And ancestry just gave me a new "hint" from other family trees.  So I'll add those names here as well as to my own tree line.

No I won't...I found twenty trees that are so entwined and garbled, I really don't care to weed through the branches and twigs, because they don't all agree.  If I were to find a clearing, I'd probably feel satisfied.  But today it's just giving me a headache. 
 
It's possible William Eyre's father is Thomas Eyre Birth 1399 in Wiltshire, England, Death 1432 in Wolstanton, Wiltshire, England, and his mother is Elizabeth Rogers Eyre, Birth 1403 in Wiltshire, England, Death 1462 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

(NOTE: Upon reading this in edit mode, I note that I just said William's father died in 1432 when William was born in 1444...BIT OF A MISTAKE THERE!)

I think this is far enough back, though there were mothers listed who gave birth to several children in their 50s.  I don't think that happened.  These must have been men listing these families, who didn't think about how old a woman would be when she stopped having children.  Honestly! OK, I just realized that records of women's birth dates also might be the problem here.

So I am happy if this tree should go back to 1399, or just 1444.  That's a long long time ago.  May all these ancestors rest in peace. 




 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Little Church Around the Corner

Church of the Transfiguration
 New York City
around 1900

Interior

West Courtyard

East Courtyard
Photos from Wikipedia.
I bring these photos as an interesting diversion.  Why would my sister tell me my mother thought we were somehow related through our grandfather's mother to the Woolworth Fortune, and this church?  (See my blog about Annie Williams Webb HERE.)

I really don't remember my mother ever telling this story.  So perhaps it was an interesting research my sister instigated.  But my memory is really bad about whatever my mother might have said, and my sister did live with her as an adult.  So I've always figured that someday it would make sense.

But now my sister is caught in a loop of days gone by, so having a conversation with her is not very fruitful.  He choice of days gone by is usually complaining about something I said, because I wasn't able to be in the same city much with any of my family.

So, I offer this musing today.

 Other connections are that my sister was/is Episcopalian.  I think she may have visited the church in hopes of getting some information about some connection to our family.  We don't have any thespians in the family, so that isn't the connection.

Isn't it fun?  I can find out about a piece of Manhattan property, and do lots of research on it.  But I chose not to.  So I'm just going to take a thread of the tapestry of my ancestors and my life, and follow another one tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The earliest ancestor

Well, Adam and Eve (or Lilith perhaps) might be on my tree somewhere.  With the new DNA searches, friends have followed their mitochondrial markers in various ways through tribes of ancestors.

I searched through some local cemeteries for the oldest person buried there.

In AncestryDOT com I've found the earliest ancestor on my father's Rogers line.  

It's Aaron John Roger, Birth 1265 in Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy. Death 1356 in Somerset, England

I have no clue as to who found his data, or how these details of his life survived, not to mention those of his descendents.

Isn't this fun?  His wife's family was from Holland too, at least by the name.  
Elizabeth DeHoland, Birth 1270 in Italy.
  Death 1335 in Bodmin, Cornwall, England

And they both died in England...in different counties.  I'm also struck that he outlived his wife by 20 years or so.  Just a bit unusual. And he certainly was long lived!
 
Since I've never been to England, I wonder if any of my friendly bloggers can clue me in on any more information.
14th century Somerset or Bodmin, Cornwall?
 
I did find a mention of a ruined chapel next to the big church in Bodmin, so that chapel probably was around when my ancestress died in the vicinity.
 
Chapel of St. Thomas a Beckett, Bodmin, Cornwall, England



 


 


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Floating along

Wading and lifting one's skirts...suggested to the viewer by Sepia Saturday this week.  

Dad in the Black River, with no swim suit, 1956 or so.


My first thought upon seeing this photo was "what a relief those women and boys were feeling, to have shucked their hosiery and shoes, and lifted either pants or skirts."  Only one woman took her hat off.   Then (being a bit of a bad girl) I thought, those women didn't shave their legs!  That wouldn't have been necessary with long skirts, now would it?  Ah, such lucky ladies.


I know, encumbered by layers of clothing that went to wrist, neck and ankles, how could they be glad of hairy legs?  I dare say the thought of shaving those legs would have been totally shocking to them.  As would the idea of wearing most of the clothes people go swimming in, or just walk around daily wearing these days.

OK, back to reality of connecting the theme to some of my old photos.

Little sis in front, I may be to the right behind her, because I was wearing, yep, a swim cap!  Unknown other girl in the rear.

The reason for my swim cap is my curls, which probably meant I slept on either brushy wire curlers or maybe pink foam ones.  When suffering that much, I wanted to keep my precious curls, though by the end of a day they usually had straightened out completely. 
Here I come, a relaxed and very thin adolescent!
Our family didn't ever take vacations. This is it, the one time we went and stayed for a week (or so) away from home or any relatives.  Not that great a memory, actually.  We really didn't know how to relax or certainly how to "play together."
Couldn't get Mom into a bathing suit and as usual she's sticking out her tongue at having her picture taken.
 I like the floating along while another tube rider is in a hurry to get downriver.
Apparently the outfit is still around where we stayed.

Online dating joke

Oh I can't resist.
 An Accidental Blog says...
Please join this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.

Warning, adult content.

Dreaming of France?  Well, I did watch a hilarious snippet about online dating in French.

I'll share it with you here. (It has subtitles and is 1:49 min.)

Sorry about that, I'm usually pretty boring.



Monday, June 23, 2014

Happy birthday ancestors

A great aunt, sister of my mother's mother, Rowena.
And a great times how many grandmother, Catherine Clack Rogers.
My grandfather transcribed the Rogers Family Bible and shared carbon copies with the families of his 4 sons...and he spelled her name Catharine Rogers throughout.

Ada and George Rogers with my sis and myself around 1948

There's a man who wrote about the Rogers family in Sevierville, TN, claiming descendendency from them, who gave Catherine another name before hers, namely Beaula.  Not spelled correctly either, "Beulah" is more common.

But June 23 is Rowena Miller Rogers and Catherine Clack Rogers birthday.  Incidentally, I don't know Rowena's husband's ancestry, so she might be related that way to the other cousins.

Eugenia Booth Miller with my mother next to her and 2 friends, 1922

Wait a moment, I'll crank up AncestryDOTcom, ah there, I'm logged on.  Checking in my mother's tree, let's see if I can find out more.  I have a different tree for my father's mother, (Swasey) my father's father, (Rogers) and my mother, (Booth).


Ada Swasey Rogers with first born son, Elmore in 1906

OK, the function of following "hints" has dried up for me.  I followed Aunt Rowena's husband Robert Shelton Rogers line back to a minister in Mississippi, then to Hamilton County, TN, (where they enacted a law against snake handlers by religious groups) and then back to somewhere in VA.  He doesn't appear to be related to my eastern TN group of Rogers.  This meant his family might well have been related to the Rogers of my tree, but it's so far back it doesn't yet connect.  Maybe someone famous will do it, and then post the information.  And if someone infamous should do it, all the better!

I can live with that.  It's fun to do some research and then let it go.  These folks' bones have been in the ground quite a few years, though apparently some were alive when I was born.  But I've got to remember that I'm now one of the elders...so that's now 71 years ago.


Sunday, June 22, 2014

It's summer, so?

I'm spending the rest of the weekend working on my own health.

Notice the spindly look to those pansies now that summer has given them a week of 80s and thunderstorms most afternoons.  This morning very early, I planted the first coleus in with them, and will add the other 3 as soon as their roots are established.

I cut back the mint that was threatening to block entrance to the house.  So the steps are now clear on that side anyway.  Now there's a pile of peppermint on the dining room table.  Since I don't have a dining room, nor a kitchen table...it's the one in the living room (in case you've actually visited me!)

Health issues will not be discussed here.  If I broke a leg.  If I had a gall bladder out (already been there, done that.)  If I had a nervous breakdown (already been there, done that.)  If I was just being checked out without symptoms...ok, you get the message.  For my friends who know and support me going through the Irritible Bowel Syndrome...thanks.  For the rest of you, I'll let you keep your 10-year-old bathroom humor intact.  And I'll just go through what I have to go through.  Aren't you glad?

There are some limits to what I see as acceptable social sharing.  I think that's appropriate.


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Happy Summer Solstice to ALL

for 2014.
Anything I can say differently than in the past?  Well, today is the day Americans call the first day of summer.
It's also the shortest night of the year (the night of the 20th).
Friday morning was half moon

I dip a bowl into glaze, and if I watch it's curved outer surface on the horizon of the wet glaze, that's  how light from the sun is hitting the earth.  I tip it further and further towards it's north pole, and when it can't possibly go any further, that's the summer solstice.  The sun has been still, and as the earth tilts toward it there's one magical moment (6:51 am Saturday, June 21, 2014) when the earth changes it's tilt and starts going back the other direction.

I think I'll meditate on that.  The earth stood still.

Sounds like something from a novel.






Thursday, June 19, 2014

Cousin-making with weddings

Happy ancestor birthday to Annie Elizabeth Williams Webb
born on 20 June, 1862 Columbus, MO,  
Death 8 Jul 1942 in San Antonio, TX
(NOTE: I've edited this post since publishing the link on Sepia Saturday, so the grave photos are now at the end.)

She was the mother of Albert Joe Bud Webb, my grandfather on my mother's side.

I've posted blogs about both Grandma Annie's parents, both born in KY in December, who lived in MO a lot of their lives, then died in Weesatchee, Goliad County, Texas.

Annie Elizabeth Williams married Leroy Frances Webb  at 15 in Weesachee TX.

So a lot of her life is described in my post about him HERE.

I am pretty sure my mother (born in 1917) would have been introduced to this matriarch who lived until the year I was born, actually just a month and a half before.  Surely while her son was alive she saw her granddaughter.  

However I vaguely remember hearing from my mother that she had no contact with her grandmother.  I am pretty sure my grandmother went to her husband's funeral (Bud Webb) and saw her mother-in-law (Annie Williams Webb) there.  My mom's grandfather actually outlived her own father by a couple of years, so the funeral for Bud Webb may have been one of the first in the Webb plot. (Picture at end of this post)

I also remember Mom saying that her grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Williams Webb, had been an heiress to the Woolworth fortune.  And there was some connection with the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City.  I think my mother was bedazzled  by the Barbara Hutton story somehow, the bad girl who got all that money.  She named me Barbara, after all.  Didn't get the qualities of movie star, and certainly never inherited any fortune, but at one time I did have a few men in my life, mmm.


Of little interest to my descendents, unless they somehow find they are cousins to someone named Webb or Cross, Hammerle, Doughty or Meyer, the other children and grandchildren of Annie Webb.


When Grandma Annie's daughter, Marguerite Ellen Webb Carroll (1883-1951) died of a cerebral hemorrhage and hypertension, her sister gave details for the death certificate.  Sister is listed as Mrs. Fred C. Bruce, and her identity was also Clara Bell Webb Bruce (1888-1971).  The Bruces and Carrolls didn't have any children according to Ancestry.

One son outlived Grandma Annie, Thomas Ketch Webb, born 1886 in Weesatche, DeWitt County, Texas, Death 22 Jan 1959, Bexar County, TX.  He married Lenora A. Bilhartz Webb 1896 – 1972 and Ancestry doesn't list any children.

I'm checking Ancestry through all the 6 "surviving to adulthood" Webb children to see if my mother might have had any Webb cousins.  She never talked about them.

Grandma Annie's other children were the three mentioned above and:
James Eugene Webb, who often is listed as J.E. Birth 09 JUN 1878 in Clinton, DeWitt County, Texas Death 10 AUG 1927 in Weesachte, Goliad County Texas. He also died of Cerebral Hemorrhage, and high blood pressure (at age 49), as would his sister Marguerite later.  His death certificate shows he didn't die in Corpus Christi, which is where Ancestry had listed his death.  He was buried in Weesachte Cemetery. He and his wife, Alvina Albrecht Webb (1885-1971) had one daughter, Gladys Webb, b 1908.  Nothing more on Ancestry at this time about Gladys.

John Leroy Webb, Birth 17 MAR 1880 in DeWitt County, Weesatche, TexasDeath 20 FEB 1938


John married Elizabeth Lizzie Hohn Webb (1883-1960), and their children were; Anne Lorraine Webb Cross 1902 – 1949, Hazel Marguerite Webb Doughty Hinds 1908 – 1970, and Pearl Adelle Webb Hammerle 1918 – 2005.  John's death certificate says cause of death was hemorrhage of stomach.  His wife gave the information about him, not knowing where either of his parents had been born.   He was buried in the Mission Burial Park.

L. F. Webb, Jr. 1905-1937. Ancestry doesn't indicate he married or sired any children. (NOTE at the last minute: He did marry, Evelin, and they had a daughter Evelin Webb.)


Pearl Webb married Clarence (Cam) Hamerle (she was daughter of the cowboy John Webb, and she and her husband are buried at Arlington National Cemetery)

So my mother's cousins were Gladys Webb Meyer, Anne Webb Cross, Hazel Webb Doughty Hinds, Evelin Webb and Pearl Webb Hamerle. And it seems most of them were in San Antonio TX also.  And the more I look,  the more information is available about them, their husbands, and their children.   

I'm sharing this post with Sepia Saturday this week HERE.  It may not be exactly on theme of Weddings, but after all, that's how families come together originally and start having a whole new batch of cousins.
a WRONG ratio on this pic made everyone look really fat!

  Webb family, Masonic Garden, Block 2, Lot 105

Webb family plot, Masonic Garden,, Block 2, Lot 105, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX

Webb marker Mission Burial Park South San Antonio

Webb marker Mission Burial Park South San Antonio