Witches, Bats, Goblins - Oh My!

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 25

1807: My paternal 2^nd great-grandfather Ransom Spurlock was born probably in Washington County, Georgia. His parents are unknown. He died 2 October 1896 and is buried at Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.

Ransom Spurlock, Oct. 25, 1807 - Oct. 2, 1896,
Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.
Digital image by Denise Spurlock, 2009.

The tombstone originally placed at Ransom's grave was badly damaged when I visited there in 2000. I believe it was replaced by my cousin, Ernest Spurlock, a year or two later.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - 1871 Deed, David Snider to Wm. Elliott

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


I'm continuing the transcription of deeds related to the property owned by my 2nd great-grandfather David Snider in Union County, Ohio. The following deed is the first in which he sold part of the parcel purchased from Thomas Jameson in 1853. The quality of the scan is poor and it was difficult to transcribe. On my next visit to Salt Lake City (in January 2012), I need to see if I can get a better copy.

"David Snider   )   Know all men by these Presents That David Snider

To. Deed         )   and Nancy Snider his wife of Union Co. Oo in

W^m Elliott        )   consideration of Two Hundred & Thirty one & 75/100 Dollars

                            to them paid by William Elliott the receipt

whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby Grant Bargain Sell and

Convey to the Said William Elliott his heirs and assigns forever, the

premises described as follows to wit

            Part or Survey No. [3?]691 Beginning at a stake in the center of
Boks Creek NE corner of said Grantors farm, then S 9o [?] 45 W
a Stake in his East line[?] N 11o [?] to the middle of Boks Creek,
thence N 20o E 1 16100 poles to a stake in the middle of said creek then
with said creek N 1o E {/} 40/100 poles to the place of beginning contain
ing 5 15/100 acres of Land.

            [unreadable] Estate, Title and [?] of the said David Snider

and Nancy Snider either in Law or Equity or [?] the said

premises & together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the

same belonging and all the [?] and [?] To have

and to hold the same to the only property of the said William Elliott

his [h]eir and assigns forever and the said David Snider for himself

and for his heirs, executors and administrators does hereby covenant

with the said William Elliott his heirs and assigns that he is

the true and lawful owner of the said premises and has full power

to convey the same, that the title so conveyed, is clear free and unin

cumbered; and further that he will warrant and Defend the same

against all claim or claims of any person whoever.

            It witness Whereof, the said David Snider and Nancy Snider his

wife who [remainder of line undecipherable]

premises have hereunto set their hands and seals this 21St day of June

in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred [unreadable] one.

Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of us

G. W. Freeman)                      David Snider {seal}

C. D. Freeman )                      Nancy X Snider {seal}

                                                         ^{her mark}

            The State of Ohio County of Union, SS

Be it remembered That on the 1st day of June in the year of our

Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seventy one before me

the subscriber George W. Freeman, J.P. Personally came David

Snider and Nancy Snider the Executors in the foregoing Deed and

acknolwedged the signing and sealing thereof to the Their voluntary

act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. And

the said David Snider and acknowledged the signing and sealing of

the within conveyance to be his voluntary act of the said. Nancy Snider

being examined by me in private and apart from her Said husband and

the contents of said Deed [?] by me made known and explained to

her as the statues directs declared that she did voluntarily sign seal

and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied therewith as

[four words undecipherable] for the use and [?] therein mentioned.

            It Witness Where, I have hereunto subscribed my name,

and [two words undecipherable] hand, and seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                                G. W. Freeman [?]

[approximately 7 words undecipherable) the foregoing Deed has fifty

(approximately 5 words undecipherable) cancelled.

                                                Hiram Long[?] Recorder Union Co Ohio"

Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 1819-1877, 35: 239, 

deed, David Snider to Wm. Elliott, 21 Jun 1871; 

FHL microfilm 572,562.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 22

1616: Anne Bishop, my maternal 8^th great-grandmother was baptized in Bridport, Dorsetshire, England. The daughter of Thomas and Avis (Abbott) Bishop. her birthdate is unknown. She died before 4 August 1673. [Source: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1630, Volumes I-III (N.p.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society 2010), II: 974.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Those Places Thursday - David Snider's Farm in Ohio

Earlier this week, I posted a transcription of the 1853 deed for David Snider's purchase of about 219 acres of land in Union County, Ohio, from Culwell Williamson. In 1877, David Snider owned that portion of land shown in pale blue on the map below; a portion of the original parcel was sold to William Elliott.

[Source: Ancestry.com, U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918,
Collection Number: G&M_37, Roll Number: 37,
map of Taylor Township, Union County, Ohio (1877),
accessed 5 Oct 2011; Library of Congress, Washington; citing LOC microfilm.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 19

1609: My maternal 9^th great-grandparents Henry Adams and Edith Squire were married in the parish of Charlton Mackrell in Somersetshire, England. The U.S. presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams are also descended from this couple.  [Source: D. L. Jacobus, "The American Genealogist," database, American Ancestors (www.americanancestors.org : accessed 2 May 2011), "A Hitherto Unnoted Descendant of Henry Adams of Braintree"; 53:18.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day - October 18

1842: Michael Yawman, one of my maternal great-grandfathers, was born in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. He was the son of immigrant Andrew Yawman and his wife Catherine (Sitterly) Yawman. Although his death certificate and tombstone indicate he was born on February 22, 1844, other sources point to an 1842 birth year. [Source: findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Oct 2011), Michael Heman Yawman, Memorial# 21259594, created by Gary A. Yawman, 30 Aug 2007.]

M. Yawman, Feb.22, 1844  -  Jan 8, 1913,
Oakwood Cemetery, Parsons, Kansas
Photo courtesy of Gary A. Yawman.

He died 8 January 1913 and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. [Source: Labette County, Kansas, death certificate no. 13 (1913), Mike Yawman; Kansas Board of Health, Topeka.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - 1853 Deed - Thomas Jameson to David Snider

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

In 1853, my 2nd great-grandfather, David Snider, removed from Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia), to Union County, Ohio, purchasing 219 acres of land from Thomas Jameson and his wife Nancy Jameson. Following is a transcription and image of the deed from the Union County, Ohio, records.

“Thomas Jameson         )

  To             Deed         )

  David   Snider             )

Know all men by these presents that we Thomas

Jameson and Nancy Jameson wife of said Thomas Jameson

of the County of Harrison, and State of Ohio, in consid-

eration of the sum of Fourteen hundred and Seventy Eight

Dollars, in hand paid by David Snider of the county of

Union, and State of Ohio, have bargained and sold, &

do hereby grant bargain, sell and convey unto the said David Snider, his

heirs and assigns forever, the following premises, situate in the county of

Union, and State of Ohio, and in the Virginia Military district, Bounded

and described as follows, Being part of Survey N^o 3691, Beginning at a

stake in centre of Bokes creek, witness a lym[?] on the South Bank of the

creek, and the North west corner of Martin Walters land, thence with the

west line of said Walters land S. 8^o W. 324 poles to a Stake, witness a small

hickory in the original South line of said Survey, and Southwest corner

of said Walters land, then N 85^o 45_' W 48, poles to a Stake, and Stone, thence

N.8^o.E. 80 poles to a Hickory, Elm ash and sugar tree, thence N 85^o 45. W

100. poles to a Stake and Stones, thence S, 8^O, E, 163 ⁵_/10   poles to a Stake in

the centre of the creek, witness a buroak and elm on the North bank of

the creek, thence down the creek with the meanders thereof to the place of

beginning, containing Two Hundred and Nineteen acres, be the same

more or less. To have and to hold said premises with the appurte-

nances unto the said David Snider his heirs and assigns forever, and

the said Thomas Jameson for himself and heirs doth hereby cov=

enant with the said David Snider his heirs and assigns, that he is

lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid, that the premises are free and

clear from all incumbrances whatsoever, and that he will forever war=

rant and defend the same with the appurtenances unto the said David

Snider his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims of all persons

whomsoever. In Testimony whereof the Said Thomas Jameson &

Nancy Jameson, by John Maskil their attorney in fact have here=

unto set their hands and seals this the first day of December, in the year

of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty three.

Executed in presence of )                      Thomas Jamison {seal}

Jared O Jewett             )                      Nancy Jamison {seal}

Adaline Maskill             ) by John Maskill their atty in fact {seal}

            The State of Ohio Union County

Before me Jared O Jewett a Justice of the peace in and for said county, appeared

the above named Thomas Jameson and Nancy Jameson, by their attorney in fact

the above named John Maskill, and acknowledged the signing and

sealing of the above conveyance to be their voluntary act and deed, this

the first day of December A D 1853. Jared O Jewett Justice of the

                                                                                    peace {seal}

            Filed and recorded March 28^th A D 1854

                                                W^m. M.Robinson recorder"

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 17: 361,
Deed, Thomas Jameson to David Snider, 28 March 1854; FHL microfilm 572,552.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Blog Action Day 2011 - Food and Family History

My family has been fortunate. Though certainly there have been hard times, hunger is not something with which we are familiar.

Although many of my ancestors had occupations beyond farming, I am sure that most of them were actively involved in putting food on the dinner table. They likely raised chickens, or perhaps hogs, to provide meat, and surely had gardens in which they grew vegetables to supplement the family diet.

In his homestead documents, Ransom Spurlock, my 2nd great grandfather, stated that he had cultivated cotton, corn, and potatoes on his land. Cotton was his cash crop and would have provided the means to buy food that was not raised on the farm. Corn and potatoes would have been staples. He didn't mention raising cattle, poultry or other animals that would provide meat. Perhaps he bartered with neighbors, exchanging corn and potatoes for other foods.

Most of my more recent ancestors were tradesmen so likely visited the local butcher for meat. They may have grown their own vegetables, but would have purchased flour, sugar and other items from the local grocer.

My parents came of age during the depression. I think some of the meals my mother prepared (think creamed tuna on toast) had their genesis in hard times. My mother raised chickens and rabbits for food. (I remember being horrified when I realized I had just eaten one of our bunnies!)

Not many family recipes have been handed down, but I love to make my mom's macaroni and cheese (baked, not creamy). Most of us relish lemon meringue pie (tart, not sweet). Holiday celebrations are full of food-related memories from sitting around the table making fruit salad to the right way to devour a chocolate-covered cherry!

While my family may not always have an abundance, we believe in helping those who have less than we do. At the holidays, my son and his family take plates of food out to the homeless in our community, and we always participate in local food drives. My desire is that someday there will be no hunger, but until that day comes, I hope that we are always able to help those in need.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 15

1622: Sarah Chandler, one of my 8^th great-grandmothers, was born in Leyden, Holland. She was the daughter of Roger and Isabella (Chilton) Chandler and the granddaughter of Mayflower passenger James Chilton. She died 27 October 1675 in West Bridgewater, now Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Source: Rev. Darrell and Sallyann Joiner, (carver@ime.net), Cary Family History.]


© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Those Places Thursday - Arad Franklin's Property in 1877

Earlier this week, I posted a transcription of the deed for Arad Franklin's original land purchase in Union County, Ohio, in 1828. According to Arad's obituary, he lived on that property until his death in 1897. Below is a land ownership map of Richwood Township, Union County, Ohio, in 1877. Arad's property is marked with a red arrow; it appears that he had sold a portion (or portions) of the original parcel by 1877. I need to research the records for sales.

The blue arrow marks Franklin Street. I wonder if the street was named for Arad, one of the earliest settlers in the area?

Source: Ancestry.com, U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918,
map of Richwood Township, Union County, Ohio (1877),
Ancestry Collection Number: G&M_37, Roll Number: 37, Image 72;
Library of Congress, Washington; citing LOC microfilm. 

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Wednesday's Child - Cora Lee Phillips 1866-1883

Cora Lee

Dau. of

L.M. & Kate

Phillips,

Died

July 14, 1883

Aged

17 Yrs 1 Mo 2 Ds

Just three months after losing their 8-year-old son, William Bushrod Phillips, the Phillips' family lost Cora Lee, the oldest daughter. She is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Denison, Grayson County, Texas.

[Source: findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Aug 2011), Cora Lee Phillips, Memorial #21373341, created by Gary Yawman, 5 Sep 2007.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Tombstone Tuesday - Francis Spurlock Miller - 1831?-1932

Francis Miller Gravesite, Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery,
Bienville Parish, Louisiana.
Digital image. Copyright Denise Spurlock 2007.

Francis Miller

Feb. 1, 1831

July 12, 1932

Francis E. "Fannie" (Spurlock) Miller, one of my great-grandaunts, was the daughter of Ransom and Ellender (Vickers) Spurlock.

I believe Fannie was more likely born in 1837, rather than in 1831 as shown on the marker. On the 1850 census (the first census on which she is named), she is noted as being 13 years old which would put her birth in the 1836-1837 range.

She married John Miller on 23 December 1858 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The couple had two children. Their son, J. R., died before he was two years old; their daughter, Francis Elizabeth, died in 1912. John Miller died of disease during the Civil War. Although there is some evidence that Fannie married again, I have been unable to locate a record of the marriage. She used the Miller surname throughout the latter part of her life.

The grave marker is the only source I have for her death date, but that date is suspect as well. I have been unsuccessful in finding a death certificate in the Louisiana Secretary of State's database. There is some evidence that her death was not reported in a timely manner in order that another family member would continue to receive her widow's pension payments. More on that at another time!


© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Arad Franklin Purchases Land in 1828

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


My maternal 3rd grand-grandfather Arad Franklin purchased a 50-acre tract of land in Union County, Ohio, in 1828, from Culwell Williamson. The purchase price was $100.28. Following is a transcription and image of the deed.

“Calwell Williamson

to

Arad Franklin

This Indenture made and concluded this tenth day

of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and twenty eight by and between Calwell

Williamson of Union County in the State of Ohio of

the first part and Arad Franklin of Union County

in the State of Ohio aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth, that said Culwell

Williamson for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred Dollars

and Seventy five cents to him in hand paid or secured to be paid: the

receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath given, granted, bargained, sold

released, conveyed and confirmed and by these presents doth give, grant,

bargain, sell, release, convey and confirm unto the said Arad Franklin

and unto his heirs and assigns forever. a lot of land lying and being in the

county of Union in the State of aforesaid, on the water of Bokes creek being

part of survey No. 8694. bounded and described as follows to wit.

            Beginning at two beeches northeast corner to Isaac White's land: thence

S. 83 E. forty one poles to a sugar tree beech and ash and thence S 5 40 W two

hundred and eighteen poles to two buckey's and a hackburry on the

bank of Bokes creek. then up the creek with the meanders thereof

S. 82 W. fourteen poles N. 50 W. twelve poles S 30 W. twenty poles and

S. 47 W. ten poles to the southeast corner to said White's land: thence

with said White's line N. 5^o 40' W. two hundred and thirty seven poles

to the beginning Containing fifty acres.

            To Have and to Hold the above described premises

with all the privileges and appurtenances belonging or in any wise

appurtaining unto him the said Arad Franklin and unto his heirs

and assigns forever. And the said Culwell Williamson for himself

and for his heirs executors and administrators covenant and promise

to and with the said Arad Franklin his heirs and assigns, that

he is lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid: that he has good

right and full authority to sell and convey the same in manner

aforesaid: and that the said premises are free from all incumbrances.

            And further that he the said Culwell Williamson himself

his heirs executors and administrator will well warrant and truly

defend the premises aforesaid unto the said Arad Franklin

and unto his heirs and assigns forever. against the lawful claims

of any person or persons whomsoever.

            In Testimony whereof the party of the first part hath

hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written.

                                                                    _his

Signed sealed and delivered                  Culwell x Williamson {seal}

                                                                  ^mark

in presence of

Levi Phelps

Richard Hoskins

State of Ohio Union County ss: Personally came before me the subscriber a

Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Calwell Williamson signer of the

within deed of conveyance and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof

to be his act and deed for the purposes therein expressed. Given under my hand

officially this 25th day of September, 1828.

                                                                              Henry Swartz {seal}

                                                                              Justice of the Peace

Filed June 30 and recorded July 8. 1831.

                                    R. Andrew. Recorder."

           

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Deeds, 3:95, deed, Culwell Williamson to Arad Franklin, recorded 8 Jul 1831; Family History Library microfilm 571796.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Sunday's Obituary - Arad Franklin (1802-1897)

Arad Franklin, one of my maternal 3rd great-grandfathers, died in Union County, Ohio, on 5 November 1897, just a few weeks shy of his 95th birthday. Following is a transcription of one of several obituaries that were printed in local newspapers.

“Again we are admonished that death is abroad and has chosen for its victim our much esteemed and beloved friend, Mr. Arad Franklin. There is a charm in the life of a good man and its triumphant closing that throws its influence back far beyond the number of his earthly days, and like the setting of a golden summer's sun, leaves its rich gild upon the memory of the living long after he has passed away. It is therefore befitting that such a life and death should be given as encouragement and inspiration before the living that they may imitate the example. And the recent death of Arad Franklin impresses this thought with peculiar force just now. He was born in [New] York state December 9, 1802 and in boyhood came with his parents to Ohio and settled near Millville, Delaware county. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary [Nancy] White, of Pharisburg, who died about 17 years ago, and to them were born 11 children, 8 of whom are living to realize the loss of a devoted christian [sic] father. Some time after his marriage he moved to Union county and bought the property in this neighborhood, where he spent the remainder of his days. In early life he united with the Methodist Protestant church at Pharisburg, but when the Christian Union church was organized at Beech Grove 34 years ago he moved his membership to that church where it remained till he died. Mr. Franklin was endowed with a keen perception of the right and a [unreadable] courage to [unreadable] it and he has held official positions in the church [several lines of text unreadable]

morning at 5 o'clock, lacking only one month and 4 days of being 95[?] years old. The remains were conveyed by Undertaker Thomas to Hopewell church where the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. B. Hogan, after which the Masonic order took charge of the services. A large crowd of sorrowing friends followed the remains to the grave where they were laid to rest to await the resurrection morn."

[Source: "Magnetic Springs," Richwood Gazette, 11 Nov 1897, p. 2, col. 2; digital images, NewspaperARCHIVE.com (access by subscription : accessed 3 Jul 1910).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Mrs. O'Leary's Cow and My Yawman Ancestors

In legend, Mrs. O'Leary's cow is blamed for the fire that destroyed Chicago 140 years ago.  Was the bovine also responsible for sending my Yawman ancestors packing back to Minnesota?

In 1860, my 2nd great-grandfather Andrew Yawman and his milliner wife and daughters were in St. Paul, Minnesota; in 1870, the family lived and worked as milliners in Chicago; in 1880, they were farming a homestead in Pipestone County, Minnesota.

Digging a little deeper in the records, I found the Yawman family in Chicago city directories in 1870 and 1871. The family lived at 714 Larrabee; daughters Rebecca Yawman and Kate Phillips were running a millinery and fancy goods shop at 92 State Street. Here is a map of modern-day Chicago showing those two locations (point A is the shop address and point B is the home address):

Following is a map showing the area of Chicago affected by the fire with an orange box around the area roughly matching the map above:

Public domain map of Great Chicago Fire from Wikimedia.

Although I cannot be sure that the Yawmans were in Chicago on October 8, 1871, it appears that the area in which they lived and worked was destroyed. Such a catastrophe certainly could be the reason they were back in Minnesota by the time of the 1880 census.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Is This Man My Grandfather?

While conducting newspaper research this week, I discovered an article from the August 24, 1908, edition of the Palestine Daily Herald which stated

"...and Hon. J. J. Spurlock of Jacksonsville was elected senatorial secretary of the thirteenth senatorial district of Texas for the ensuing two years."

My grandfather J. J. Spurlock, a watchmaker and jeweler, was enumerated in Jacksonville on the 1910 census; I'm not sure when he actually moved there. He was neither an attorney nor a judge. I know of no other Spurlocks in Cherokee County at that time. Historically, was "Hon." used the same way that "Esq." was used?  Is it possible that he was actively involved in the politics of the day?  I would appreciate any suggestions readers may have on how I might pursue this line of research.

To more easily read the article, click here to be taken to the Library of Congress page where the image can be resized.

"Republican Convention," Palestine Daily Herald, 24 Aug 1908, p. 3, col. 1;
digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 7 Oct 2011);
 Persistent link:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86090383/1908-08-24/ed-1/seq-3/ 

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 6

1605: My 8^th great-grandfather, William Ames, the son of John and Cyprian (Brown) Ames was born in Bruton, Somersetshire, England. A farmer and blacksmith, his wife was Hannah (maiden name unknown). He died 1 January 1652/53 in Braintree, now Norfolk County, Massachusetts. 


[Sources: (1) New England Historic Genealogical Society, "Braintree, MA: Vital Records, 1643-1793," database, American Ancestors (www.americanancestors.org : accessed 29 Sep 2011), William Ames; Transcription by Waldo C. Sprague from the original records held at the Randolph Town Hall; (2) Rev. Darrell and Sallyann Joiner (carver@ime.net), Cary Family History.]© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Wednesday's Child - William Bushrod Phillips 1874-1883

Wm. Bushrod

Son of

L.M. & Kate

Phillips

died

Apr. 12, 1883

aged

8 Yrs. 4 Ms. 2 Ds.

My first cousin twice removed, William Bushrod Phillips, the son of Levi M. and Kate (Yawman) Phillips, is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Denison, Grayson County, Texas.

[Source: findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Aug 2011), William Bushrod Phillips, Memorial #21373284, created by Gary Yawman, 5 Sep 2007.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Tombstone Tuesday - Dialtha Owens Spurlock

This is another photo taken while visiting Hurricane Cemetery in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, in 2007. Dialtha Owens Spurlock was my paternal great-grandmother. I believe this marker was placed in the 1930s; late in 1929, my grandfather J. J. Spurlock mentioned paying for it in a letter to his sister Sarah E. (Spurlock) Conville.

Digital image. Original held by
Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY],
Lomita, CA, 2011.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: October 3

1550: William Cary, one of my maternal 10^th great-grandfathers, was born, the son of Richard and Anne (maiden name unknown) Cary. He married Alice Goodall. He was sheriff of Bristol, Somersetshire, England, in 1599 and mayor in 1611. William died 1 March 1631/32. 


[Sources: (1) Henry Grosvenor Cary, The Cary Family in England (Boston, Massachusetts: Rev. Seth Cooley Cary, 1906), 92; Open Library ID OL23284285M; (2) Rev. Darrell and Sallyann Joiner (carver@ime.net), Cary Family History.]


© 2011 Denise Spurlock