Wordless Wednesday - Mother and Sons

Melissa (Blue) Snider (1848-1922), widow of Joseph Snider (c1837-1910), and her six sons:
David, Oscar, Jesse, Howard, Forest and Ellison (placement in photo unknown).
Date - Probably between 1910 and 1920
Location - Probably Union County, Ohio
Original photo in possession of Denise Spurlock.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Where I’m From

Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings offered the following Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge last weekend:
 
1) Write a poem about "Where I'm From" using the template found at the website http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm

2) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a Google Plus or Facebook note.

I know it's Tuesday, but I was with my son's family at the Kern River over the weekend. In addition, poetry has never been my strong suit; even though I knew I would struggle with this challenge, I wanted to do it. So here's "where I'm from"!

I am from the land of sunshine, from Hostess berry pies and Dr. Pepper.

I am from the typical suburban tract house with two dogs and a cat and a doughboy swimming pool in the backyard. 

I am from a magical, green clearing in the Alaskan woods, from the fragrance of Mama’s roses. 

I am from Mayflower passengers and German immigrants, from those who worked with their hands and those who farmed lands, from Spurlocks and Martindales, Sniders and Yawmans. 

I am from book readers and music lovers, from seamstresses and shoemakers. 

From “while you’re up” and “oh, what a beautiful morning.” 

I am from “go to Sunday school” Christianity and now a believer in nature and all things good and beautiful. 

I’m from the Golden State, by way of Texas and Louisiana, Minnesota and Kansas, from sea to shining sea, and from across the Atlantic.

I’m from creamed tuna on toast, lemon meringue pie and divinity. 

From Myrtle and Bea who, when they laughed, laughed all over, and from Ambrose and Jack whose reserve made them a mystery. 

I am from too few treasures saved and so have become the memorykeeper.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Tombstone Tuesday AND Tuesday’s Tip – Two Posts in One!

First, for Tombstone Tuesday, I am posting pictures of the front and back of the tombstone memorializing my parents, Jasper Jackson and Beaulah Belle (Yawman) Spurlock, located in Lone Grove Cemetery, Lone Grove, Carter County, Oklahoma.

Now for Tuesday’s Tip: Don’t accept what you find engraved on a tombstone as your only proof for a genealogical fact. You could be lead astray!

My father is the only person buried in the grave pictured above. My mother died in Bakersfield, Kern County, California; at her request, her body was donated to the University of Southern California for medical research purposes. My siblings and I chose to have a new marker made for my dad’s grave to remember my mom as well.

You might surmise from the listing on the back of the marker that my parents had six children, but they did not. Jane was my father’s daughter from his first marriage to Mattie Lee McBride. Deanna, Arny and Tony are my mother’s children from her first marriage to Archie Sherrell. Jenny and I are the only two children born of my parents’ union.

Perhaps you know of a unintentionally deceptive tombstone in your own family. If you do, make a record of it so that future descendants will not be mislead.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Will of Thomas Cook 1819

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.

This week I am presenting the 1819 will of Thomas Cook of Wilkes County, North Carolina, one of my maternal 4^th great-grandfathers. Thomas identified 17 children by name in his will! Only the five youngest children, those of his second (perhaps third) wife Charlotte, were to benefit from his estate; he said the others had already received their shares. It is probably the longest will I have encountered in my research to date.

 Will of Thomas Cook

 

May Term       )           In the Name of God Amen._I Thomas Cook of

1819           )           the County of Wilkes in the State of North Carolina.

being old and afflicted in body, but being of sound and dispo-

sing mind and Memory, do here think proper to make my last

Will and Testament in manner and form following.. In the

first place I Recommend my Soul to God who gave to be disposed

of at his pleasure, and my Body after Death to be Buried in the

[?] form of entering the Remains of Deceased :Persons in this

Country._ First I give and Bequeath unto Joshua Martin Cook

whom I claim and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the

Body of Charloote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife. and with

whom I have lived as such for a Number of Years; the said Char-
loote Cook have been Married or commonly Reputed to have
bedn Married to one George Anderson previous to my Intermar-
riage with the said Charloote. (to wit.) One Negroe Man Named
Charles, & one Negroe girl Child named Kisiah._Secondly
I give and bequeath unto Calvin Jones Cook whom I claim
and consider to be my own Son begotten upon the Body of Char-
loote Cook whom I consider to be my Wife and with whom I
have lived as such for a Number of Years, the said Charloote hav-
ing been Maried or commonly Reputed to have been Married to
One George Anderson, previous to my Intermarriage with the
said Charloote, (to wit.) one Negroe Woman named Virgin &
one Negro Woman Named Hulda._Thirdly it is my Will
and desire that all my Lands that I now own in Wilkes Coun
-ty & ceded to my and to which I have title in fee or otherwise
Being about four Hundred and foorty acres; shall be equally div
ed between my two Sons Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jon [unreadable]
Cook Heretofore named as above, when the Youngest of my sa [unreadable]
Sons shall arrive at the full age of twenty one Years, which sai [unreadable]
Division shall be made by my Executors herein after Named [unreadable]
which said Division it is my Will shall be so made that the
Lands shall be Equal or as nearly equal in value as it  is po[unreadable]
ble to be made: It is my Will that Charloote Cook whom I clai[unreadable]
to be my Wife heretofore Married to George Anderson, shall ha[unreadable]
hold said Negroes and hold, occupy and enjoy my said Lands bef[unreadable]
mentioned and Described during the Minority of my said Sons Jos[unreadable]
-a Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; and should my Wife Ch[unreadable]
loote Cook die before my said Sons Joshua Martin Cook & Calvi[unreadable]
Jones Cook arrive at the age of twenty one Years, then the sai[unreadable]
Lands before described to be Rented by my Executors for the ben[unreadable]
-fit of my said Sons, and should either of my said Sons Joshua
Martin Cook or Calvin Jones Cook decease before they arrive [unreadable]
the age of twenty one years; it is my Will that the Survivin[unreadable]
Brother have all the said Lands mentioned heretofore in this Will
Fourthly, I give and Bequeath unto Charloote Cook, Sin[unreadable]
Cook and Henna Ritte Cook whom I claim and consider to b[unreadable]
my own Daughters begotten upon the Body of Charloote Coo[unreadable]
whom I claim and consider to be my wife and with whom I ha[unreadable]
lived as such for a Number of Years. the said Charloote havin[unreadable]
been Married or commonly Refuted to have been Married to on[unreadable]
George Anderson previous to my Intermarriage with th[unreadable]
said Charloote. (to wit.) One feather Bed and furniture each; it
is my Will that my three Daughters above named, Charloote
Cook, Sina Cook and Henna Ritte Cook each of them Receive
their Bed and furniture when the said Daughters above menti[unreadable]
oned arrive at the full age of eighteen Years.
Fifthly, It is my Will and desire that my said Wife Charloote
Cook before mentioned have all my Houshold and Kitchen fur
niture to hold and enjoy said furniture during the Minority of
my said Daughters and Sons before Mentioned and it is my Wi[unreadable]
and desire that when my Youngest Son Calvin Jones Cook
arrives at the age of twenty one Years that all of the above
mentioned Household and Kitchen furniture be equally divided
amongst Charloote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook. Joshua
Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; it is my Will and desire
that Charloote Cook whom I claim to be my Wife heretofore
Married to George Anderson shall have hold and enjoy all
my Stock consisting of Horses cattle, Hogs and Sheep and
also to have all my Plantation Utensils and tools and it is
my Will and desire that she the said Charloote Cook before
named keep in possession all the above Mentioned living Stock
and Plantation Utensils to have, hold and enjoy and to make
use of, for her the said Charlootes Support and for the support
and Schooling or Educating of my three Daughters and two
sons Namely Charloote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook
Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook. . and when my
youngest Son Calvin Jones Cook arrives at the full age of
twenty one Yeras that all my living Stock be equally divi-
ded between my three Daughters and two Sons. (to wit.) Char-
loote Cook. Sina Cook. Henna Ritte Cook. Joshua Martin
Cook and Calvin Jones Cook._it is my Will and desire
that my Negroe Man Names Benjamin be sold and the Mo-
ney be Equally divided amongst my said three Daughters and
two Sons above Names as they the said Daughters and said Sons
arrive to the age of twenty one years. my wish is that the
Money that Negro Man Benjamin sells for be disposed of as
follows. (to wit.) when Charloote Cook arrives at the age of twenty
one Years to have her equal part of said Money and when Sina
Cook arrives at the age of twenty one Years to have her Equal part
of said Money. when Henna Ritte Cook arrives at the age
of twenty one Years to have an equal part of said Money. when
Joshua Martin Cook arrives at the age of twenty one years to
have an equal part of said money and when Calvin Jones Cook
arrives at the age of twenty one Years to have an equal part of
said Money: it is my Will and desire that all my Just Debts
be paid, and all the moneys that are owing to me to be collected and
to be disposed of as my Executors hereafter named thinks proper.
Sixthly, it is my Will and desire that all my Elder Children have
no part of my Estate Mentioned in this my last Will and Testame[unreadable]
the Elder Children alluded to, I now proceed to mention their nam[unreadable]
to wit., Elizabeth Jolley. Mary Marlow John Cook. Henry Cook. An[unreadable]
Martin. Martha Ellis. Lucey Milsaps. Thomas Cook. William
Cook. Allen Cook. Richard Coook and Amelia Burton._Be it Re_
membered that I have heretofore given unto two twelve Elder
Children last Mentioned what I conceive to be a Just and ful[unreadable]
Portion of my Estate._it is my Will and desire that if my Wife
Charloote Cook should Marry before my said Sons Joshua Mar[unreadable]
Cook and Calvin Jones Cook arrive at the age of twenty one yea[unreadable]
that the said Charloote is not to hold or have any part of my Esta[unreadable]
mentioned in this my last Will and Testament._And I do hereby
Authorise, Constitute and Appoint Randolph Mabery and Rober[unreadable]
Martin my Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
and that I do hereby Revoke, Disannull and make Void all forms
Wills and Bequeaths whether Written or Nuncupative in the mo[unreadable]
positive and absolute Terms. and do declare and publish this an[unreadable]
this only to be my last Will and Testament by me made here
on Earth. In Testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand
Affixed my Seal the twenty fifth day of March.A.D.1819.
Sign’d, Sealed in                                                                  his
the presents of                                                        Thomas X Cook (seal)
W.W. Martin                                                                         mark
         his                      )
Hicks X Combs           )           North Carolina)
         mark                   )           Wilkes County.)         May Term 1819.
James Marlow.           )           The Execution the foregoing Will
                                                     was duly proven in open court by the oath
                                                     of William W. Martin, Hicks, Combs and
                                                     James Marlow, and Randolph Mabery
                                                     Robert Martin were duly qualified as Ex
                                                     ecutors to said Will.
                                                        Test
                                                               R. Martin. Clk.

[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Wills, 3: 195, Thomas Cook; FHL microfilm 393,950.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 22

1778: One of my maternal 4th great-grandmothers, Nancy Margaret (Woodward) Campbell, was born in Virginia, reportedly the daughter of William Woodard and Mrs. Jane Dayton but this is not confirmed. She died after 1860, and is buried at Chloe Creek Cemetery in Pike County, Kentucky. [Source 1: Annette Potter, William Campbell and Nancy Margaret Woodward; Potter Family and Friends (http://yeahpot.com/campbell/william1768.html : accessed 3 Jul 2011).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Wordless Wednesday - Two of My Great-GrandAunts

Sarah Spurlock Duncan and Frances Spurlock Miller
Photo probably taken in the mid-1920s in northwest Louisiana

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday - Will of William Hamontree 1815

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.

Today I am posting my transcription of the 1815 will of William Hamontree, one of my paternal 5th great grandfathers. William listed all his children in his will by first name only. One child's name was misread when the will was copied into the court records—Harriet should have been Harris! I thought it interesting that William was specific in his bequests of livestock to his sons Jacob and Jesse. Another peculiar bequest was the money due from the county for the care of John Hays; who WAS John Hays?

I William Hamontree of Blount County and State of Tenn-

essee being weak of body but of sound mind and disposing
memory do make and ordain this  my last will and testament
in manner following as to what worldly estate it hath pleased
God to bless me with me with after the discharge of all my just debts
I give and bequeath as follows. first my will is that my wife Patsey
Hamontree be and remain in full possession of the farm and
improvements where I now live and also the household furniture
and that she have her maintainance in the Same during her
natural life and at her decease that my two Sons Jacob and
Jesse Hamontree be the heirs and possessors of said farm
to them and their heirs [page torn] to my wife and above named
Sons after her I give and bequeath a horse called old crop the young
roane mare a colt two years old named to Jacob a last springs
colt named to Jesse, and the milch cows my wagon and gears and a
note on Daniel Best for $77. and as many hogs as my executors may
think proper to leave with them for their Support. 3^d I give and
bequeath to my wife the money due or to become due from the coun-
ty for the Support of John Hays 4^th I give and bequeath to my son
David the young mares colt. 5^th the remainder of my property to be
immediately sold by my executors the proceeds there of together with
the debts due to me to be equally divided amongst the rest of my chil-
dren Viz: James John. Betsy. Nancy. Fanny. Harriet. William and
David Hamontree I hereby nominate and appoint John and Willi-
am Hamontree executors of this my last will and testament.witness
my hand and seal this twenty sixt day of July one thousand
eight hundred and fifteen                               his
            W^m McClung [?]                     William  X  Hamontree (seal)
            James H. Doyle                                 mark

[Source: Blount County, Tennessee, William Hamontree, will dated 26 July 1815, citing Probate Record Books, Blount, Wills 1795-1869, Vol. 01, page 65; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 11 Jul 2011).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 18

1848: David A. Snider, one of my maternal great-grandfathers, was born in that area of Virginia which is now West Virginia, the son of David Snider and Nancy Colwell (perhaps Caldwell). He died on 30 June 1929, in Saint Paul, Neosho County, Kansas, and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. [Source: Neosho County, Kansas, death certificate no. 67 2969 (1929), David A. Snider; Office of Vital Statistics, Topeka.]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 17

1687: Hannah (Waldo) Cary, one of my maternal 6th great-grandmothers, was born. She was the daughters of Daniel Waldo and Susanna Adams. She died 18 October 1777 and is buried at the Old Cemetery, East Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. This photograph of her grave marker was posted by Paul.Connell to findagrave.com on 24 September 2008:

 
[Source 1: Seth C. Cary, John Cary the Plymouth Pilgrim (Boston, Massachusetts: Seth C. Cary, 1911), 73.

Source 2: findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 Jul 2011), Hannah Waldo Cary, Memorial #13532113, created by Treena Jackson, 5 Mar 2006.] 

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Heritage Pie

 Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings has presented the following challenge for this evening:

  

Your mission tonight, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents with their birth, death and marriage data (dates and places).

2) Determine the countries (or states) that these ancestors lived in at their birth and at their death.

3) For extra credit, go make a "Heritage Pie" chart for the country of origin (birth place) for these 16 ancestors. [Hint: you could use the

chart generator from Kid Zone for this.] [Note: Thank you to Sheri Fenley for the "Heritage Pie" chart idea.] 

 

My 16 great-great grandparents are:   

1. Ransom Spurlock, born 25 October 1807, in Washington County, Georgia, married Ellender Vickers 20 April 1836, in Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama, died 2 October 1896, in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana;
2. Ellender Vickers, born 30 December 1820 in Georgia, died 11 November 1906 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana;
3. Houston T. Owens, born 24 March 1816 in Tennessee, married Sherreldia Jane Hammontree 29 December 1841 probably in Alabama, died 15 September 1895, Hurricane, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana;
4. Sherreldia Jane Hammontree, born 10 November 1895 in Tennessee, died 31 December, 1896, Hurricane, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana;
5. Howell Brewer Martindale, born about 1814 in Moore County, North Carolina, married Mary Elizabeth Eaton 9 August 1838, Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri, died about 1866 near Waldron, Scott County, Arkansas;
6. Mary Elizabeth Eaton, born about 1817 in Missouri, died 11 Jan 1873, Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri;
7. James B. Forshee, born 10 December 1810 in Tennessee, married Sarah Ann Parker 15 September 1830 in probably in Monroe County, Tennessee, died 28 June 1878, Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri;
8. Sarah Ann Parker, born 27 January 1816 in Tennessee, died 26 March 1896, Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri;
9. Andrew Yawman, born 29 March 1810 in Schmittviller, Moselle, France; married Catherine Sitterly 24 June 1834 in Schenectady, Albany County, New York, died 24 December 1891, Denison, Grayson County, Texas;
10. Catherine Sitterly, born 13 May 1813 in Guilderland, Albany County, New York, died 3 August 1889, Denison, Grayson County, Texas;
11. James H. Burton, born 1 April 1822, in Virginia, married Margaret Parsons about 1845 probably in Kentucky, died 19 August 1901, Stowe Prairie Township, Todd County, Minnesota;
12. Margaret Parsons, born October 1826 in Kentucky, died after 1901 probably in Minnesota;
13. David Snider, born 12 June 1810, probably in Virginia, married Nancy Colwell/Caldwell date unknown, died 4 April 1892, Taylor Township, Union County, Ohio;
14. Nancy Colwell/Caldwell, born 11 June 1814, in Virginia, died 5 February 1877, in Taylor Township, Union County, Ohio;
15. Joseph Franklin, born 1826 in Ohio, married Rhoda Cary 12 July 1849 in Union County, Ohio, died 12 October 1892, in Jackson, Paulding County, Ohio;
16. Rhoda Cary, born 9 January 1833 in Pharisburg, Union County, Ohio, died after 21 August 1872 probably in Ohio.

Their places of birth are as follows:

  

France – 1

Georgia – 2

Kentucky – 1  

Missouri – 1  

New York – 1  

North Carolina – 1  

Ohio – 2  

Tennessee – 4  

Virginia – 3  

 

I’m not sure whether Alsace-Lorraine was under French or German rule during my Yawman ancestors’ time there. My mother’s family always considered themselves German, but I have heard that Andrew had to renounce his allegiance to the King of France when he naturalized. To date I have not found his naturalization documents.  

 

And, for extra credit, here is my Heritage Pie:

 

Denise's 16 Great-Great Grandparents' Birthplaces

 

  

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Thriller Thursday - Death Threats in Southeast Missouri

During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of Confederate guerilla activity. Bands of guerillas often retaliated against pro-Union citizens when one of their number was killed as a result of the fighting.

The following news article, published in the September 23, 1864, edition of the St. Louis Union[1], reports an incident of such activity and the death threat that was discovered afterward.

BUSHWHACKERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY—UNION MEN SPOTTED

Washington, County, September 20, 1864
To the Editor of the St. Louis Daily Union:

The guerrillas are still at work in Washington county. On last Thursday morning two of these armed villains attacked the house of Mr. Fred Will, whilst he was at breakfast with his family. One of them entered the house by the front door, and stepping, unperceived by the family, to the door of the dining room, asked Mr. Will to step into the hall. This done, he demanded Will's arms, stating that he was a United States detective, and that his captain was at the door waiting for him. Mrs. Will immediately ran into the hall and boldly told Mr. Detective that that game was played out; they succeeded in getting the villain out of the house, when his captain rose from behind a chicken coop with revolver in hand, evidently with the intention of shooting Mr. Will, so soon as they got him to the door, but they were foiled in their attempt at murder, and forthwith made a hasty retreat to their horses, which were tied in the brush, not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the house. They next visited the house of Thos. Blakewell, stole his rifle and put out. The neighborhood was soon aroused and gave chase to them, but owing to the dust in the roads and the woods being so very dry, they were unable to track them successfully. They next went to the house of Mr. Patterson and stole a rifle and revolver, and also some money and jewelry. When they decamped from Patterson's, they went to the house of Mr. M.A. Todd, late Sheriff of Washington county; they robbed him of a shot-gun, a revolver, money and jewelry. From Mr. Todd's they went to the farm of Mr. Nicholson and stole a fine horse belonging to George Towl, of Potosi. The troops in Potosi were soon out in pursuit of the thieves, and pressed them so hard that Mr. Towl's horse and one other were recovered from them; but the rascals made good their escape.

The country is full of bands of guerrillas. No Union man's life or property is safe, while rebels and rebel sympathizers feel perfectly safe and secure from any guerrilla depredation. They are fed and harbored by their friends, and get all the information they want from sneaking sympathisers who are permitted to live in our midst unmolested. Had Order No. 107 been faithfully carried out, and two full companies put into active service, I venture to say that guerrillas would be scarce.

On last Sunday morning a son of Rev. S. Brown found a dropped letter on the road, between Potosi and Hopewell, signed, O.A.K. It was evidently written by these desperadoes with a view to alarm Union men. The contents of the letter was a direct threat to have the lives of thirteen Union men in retaliation for their late chieftain, old John Hiley.

They commenced the work by the killing of Lieutenant H.C. Beckett; Captain Fred Will was to be the next victim, and there is no doubt but they intend to carry out their threat, unless they are speedily arrested in their career. The men whom they have selected as their victims are all unconditional Union men, now and forever. I give you a list of doomed: old John Evans, young John Evans, James Thompson, Elbert Thompson, F.R. Boyd, Captain W.H. Evans, Captain Fred Will, Lieut. John Hewey, old John Forshee, Marshall Ronjey, Captain A.R. Eaton, Captain John Jamison, Lieut. Wesley Yeargan. Lieut. H.C. Beckett, killed.

Signed,

INDEX.

Two of the men on that list—old John Forshee and A. R. Eaton—were members of my paternal ancestral families. Old John was brother to James Forshee, my 2nd great grandfather; A. R. Eaton was the younger brother of Mary Elizabeth (Eaton) Martindale, my 2nd great-grandmother. It must have been a terrifying experience to have received such threats.

[1] Ross, Kirby, "Retaliatory death list for killing of John Highley," posted at The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board, 12 February 2011 (http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/mocwmb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=16501#Responses : accessed 12 July 2011).

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo

Say WHAT? You mean you’ve never heard of this august organization? Frankly, neither had I until this morning.

I followed a link to a description of the Great Missouri Treasure Hunt and while browsing the Missouri Digital Heritage collections, found Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase: The 1904 World’s Fair. My great-grandfather Ambrose B. Martindale, a lumberman and sawmill owner from Cushing, Texas, attended that 1904 fair, so I was curious to learn what exhibits he might have visited while there.

When I entered “lumber” as a search term, I only got one hit: “House of Hoo-Hoo Built Twice”! Apparently the clubhouse of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo had burned down in June 1904 and was rebuilt in under 30 days. Click here to see a copy of the program given to visitors and then on the Next arrow to see an official House of Hoo-Hoo pass and a photograph of the house.

Further research led me to the official Hoo-Hoo International website. Founded in 1892, membership in the fraternal organization is open to individuals in the forest services industry. Their membership brochure states:

The spirit of Hoo-Hoo is expressed in the nine fundamental values that encourage members to be fraternal, helpful, grateful, friendly, tolerant, progressive, industrious, loyal, and ethical. Hoo-Hoo believes that these nine points are the building blocks of the "Golden Rule". Hoo-Hoo members are expected to practice these principles in both their business and personal lives.

This is their logo:

While I never had the opportunity to know my great-grandfather, I have the impression that he was a rather reserved man. I can’t quite imagine him being a card-carrying Hoo-Hoo, but who's to say?

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 12

1849: My maternal 2nd great-grandparents, Joseph Franklin and Rhoda Cary, were married in Union County, Ohio. A copy of the entry in the marriage register follows:

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 2: 207, Franklin-Cary; FHL microfilm 573,776.]

The officiant at the marriage Abijah Gandy, Justice of the Peace, was Rhoda’s uncle, her mother’s brother.

Joseph and Rhoda had five children who lived to adulthood: Ruth (from whom I descend), Nancy, Richard, Fannie, and David.


© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Amanuensis Monday – Will of John Hammontree 1840

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.

Today, I am presenting the will of John Hammontree, one of my paternal 4^th great-grandfathers. John names his children, providing evidence to prove parent-child relationships. His daughters’ married names are given, and, in one instance, the husband’s full name is also included. An image and the source citation follow the transcription:

I John Hammontree Sr. being of Sound and perfect mind and
memory on this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our lord

Savir Jesus Christ Eighteen hundred and forty do make this my last
will and testament_ and first I will my Soul to God who gave it
and my body a christian burial, and 2^d all my just debts be paid
3^d I bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah a good Suporte out of my Mill
and plantation and remain in this my dwelling during her natural
life 4^th I bequeath to my two Sons Phillip and John my my Mills and
plantation equally by them paying my son Hugh one hundred dollars
each and the said phillip and John are to have all my personal
property by them paying my daughters Viz. Elisabeth Rosin Martha Henry
Margaret Phebe McClain and Cintha J. Cathcart Sixty dollars
each as for my daughter Polly Black she has got her part in my pay-
ing H. B. Leeper for Joseph Black her Husband
5^th I bequeath my upper plantation to my son Harvey by him paying
my son Hugh two hundred dollars. 6^th_ I bequeath to my Son
Hugh the two hundred dollars is that he is to get from my two Sons
Phillip and John as above and two hundred dollars from my Son
Harvey as above for his portion. and lastly I apoint my Son Phillip
and Benj Abernathy my executors in order this my last will and
testament my be lawfully executed in witness where of I have here-
unto set my hand and seal in the day and date first above
written in the presents of                                  his
  John McClan Jr                                  John     X   Hammontree (seal)
  David Hammontree                                       mark

Source: Blount County, Tennessee, John Hammontree will dated 18 August 1840, citing Tennessee Probate Court Records, Blount, Wills, 1795-1869, Vol. 01, p. 68; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Jul 2011).

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 9

1818: Ephraim Cary and Matilda Gandy, my maternal 3rd great-grandparents, were married in Madison County, Ohio. This is a copy of the marriage register:

 [Source: "Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1950" FHL microfilm 545132, digital folder number 4016838, image 72, Cory-Gandy, 1818; index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 1 Jul 2011).]

Ephraim and Matilda had nine children: Hiram, George, Abijah, Ruth, Stephen, Henry, Rhoda (from whom I descend), Tamson, and Malinda.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 8

1752: Luther Cary, one of my maternal 4th great-grandfathers, the son of Ezra Cary and Mary Jane Holman, was born in Mendham, Morris County, New Jersey. Luther, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, died on 8 October 1834, and is buried in Plain City, Madison County, Ohio. [Source 1: Joiner, Darrell and Sallyann, Cary Family History. Source 2: Luther Cary, Ancestor #A020239, Member National #320524, Daughters of the American Revolution.]


© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 7

1806: One of my maternal 3rd great-grandmothers, Susannah (Campbell) Parsons, was born in Virginia, the daughter of William Campbell and Nancy Margaret Woodward. Susannah died 13 October 1878 at Dassel, Meeker County, Minnesota. [Source: MaryAnne Herness Cottmeyer; online family tree, "Family Group Sheet - Susannah Campbell," Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Jul 2011).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 5

1809: Henry Harris Gandy, Sr., my maternal 4th great-grandfather, married his second wife Sarah Harris in Trumbull County, Ohio. Here is how their marriage appears in the records:

[Source: Trumbull County, Ohio, "Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1950", FHS microfilm 904,260, Henry H. Gandy-Sarah Harris, 1809; index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 1 Jul 2011).]

Henry and his first wife Tamson Garrison (my 4th great-grandmother) had seven children before Tamson died: Abijah, Mary, Phoebe, Matilda (from whom I descend), George, Ruth, and Tamson. Henry fathered eight more children with Sarah.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

Descended from Revolutionaries

A search of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) patriot database identifies five of my ancestors as patriots during the Revolutionary War:

• Luther Cary (maternal 4^th great-grandfather)
• George Clayton (maternal 5^th great-grandfather)
• Thomas Cook (maternal 4^th great-grandfather)
• William Justice (maternal 5^th great-grandfather)
• James Reeves (paternal 4^th great-grandfather)

Recognition as a patriot by the DAR does not require active military duty. In fact, only one of these five, Luther Cary, served in a military unit. The others provided provisions or supplies for the army.

Only those individuals who have had patriotic service documented by a DAR member are found in the database. There are probably other patriots in our family whose service has not yet been recognized in this way.

Our roots are long and strong in the history of the United States of America. Truly we are descended from revolutionaries!

© 2011 Denise Spurlock

On This Day: July 3

1894: My paternal great-grandfather John Fedrick Spurlock married his second wife Annie Lee Conville in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Here is a copy of their marriage certificate:

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, (Bienville Parish Courthouse, Arcadia), vol. G, p. 111, marriage certificate (1894), J. F. Spurlock-Annie V. Conville; FHL microfilm 266,031.]

John and his first wife, Dialtha Owens, had six children before Dialtha died in 1893; the eldest, Jasper Jackson, was my grandfather. John and Annie had thirteen children, making John the father of nineteen children, eighteen of whom lived to adulthood! John is certainly the top candidate for my most prolific ancestor.


© 2011 Denise Spurlock