Alyssa Finds Her Roots

Exploits of an amateur genealogist

[alyssafindsherroots]

Great-great #5: Patrick Joseph Thomas Handley

Continuing on with the great-great-grandparent series, we come to my maternal grandmother’s section of the family. Grammy’s father’s father was a young man named Patrick Joseph Thomas Handley. Sometimes he went by Patrick J., other times he went by Joseph. Most of his adult life appears to be under the name Joseph, so that is what I’ll call him! 

Joseph was born 21 March 1876 in the borough of Pringle, Kingston Township, Luzerne Co, Pennsylvania. The photo above is a picture of the family home on Pringle Hill, but I’m not actually sure if Joseph is pictured there. His parent John Francis Handley Sr, and Jane Foy, were immigrants from Ireland and had 11 children total. Joseph was the 8th of those for whom I know names. (There is a mystery child reported on the 1900 census # of children born vs. living that I can’t account for.)

The first time we see him in the records, he is recorded at Patrick J. Angley, along with his exact family forenames in the correct order in Kingston. For a while I had Patrick J. as a separate child, but the research all ultimately points to Patrick J. and Joseph being the same person called by different names. 

In 1890, John Francis Handley, Sr, passed away at age 63, when Joseph was just 14. 

Then begins a period of time when I was able to located numerous newspaper clippings reporting Joseph and his siblings social activities. Facebook is nothing new! Parties, recitals, visits, out-of-town guests, all of it is recorded in the pages of the newspaper for all to see. 

Attending a wedding reception: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8227724/?xid=637

Pall bearer at a friend’s funeral: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8792607/record_of_the_times/?xid=637

Giving a piano recital: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8792640/the_wilkesbarre_record/?xid=637

Visiting with friends in Courtdale: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8793133/the_wilkesbarre_record/?xid=637

Attending a party: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8792517/wilkesbarre_times/?xid=637

Assigned jury duty: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8228658/wilkesbarre_semiweekly_record/?xid=637

Very interesting to get a peek in at the life of young adults in a small town like Kingston. 

At age 24 in the 1900 census, he is living at home with his mom Jane, and youngest brother Francis. He is working as a day laborer, and his younger brother (now about 14) is working as a driver boy. 

The next year, Joseph loses his mother, Jane, at the age of 73, in the month of May. 

One month later, 7 June 1901, Joseph marries Lucy Clark. Lucy is the daughter of his older brother John Francis Handley Jr’s second wife Mary Casey Clark. Lucy’s father Peter Clark died in a mine accident in 1891. John Jr is about 12 years older than Joseph, and Lucy is just 18 when she gets married, so it isn’t so weird that the mom and daughter would marry two brothers. I mean, it’s a little weird.  But small towns, etc. 

Joseph and Lucy have a total of 7 children. It is interesting to note that while last names have always been fluid on documents such as census records, this generation seems to have shifted toward Hanley (no “d”) though not ALL of them did!

Joseph Thomas Handley (1903-1966)

George Handley (1906-1968)

Robert Peter Hanley - my great grandfather - (1908-1996)

Lucy Handley (1911-1911)

Thomas Handley (1912-1913)

Edna Frances Hanley (1914-1990)

Edward Walter Handley (1917-2008)

In 1910, Joseph and Lucy are in Pringle with their three eldest children. Joseph is working as a coal runner at the mine. 

Then begins a period of difficulty for Joseph and Lucy. Their daughter Lucy dies at 2 weeks old from pneumonia. Joseph (or possibly Joseph Jr) falls off a fence and breaks his arm, and then little Thomas dies at 18 months from “complications”. (Not sure what they are complications of, but perhaps that is code for consumption or something.) Quite sad to read, knowing how gut wrenching it must have been. 

Lucy’s death:

Joseph’s broken arm:

Thomas’ death:

Although he was a little on the older side (43 years old), Joseph had to register for the draft for World War I. Apparently he was of medium height, slender build, with blue eyes and gray hair. His draft card shows he registered on 12 Sep 1918. Here is what was going on that day -- I wonder if he was worried about the potential for being drafted, or would have been eager to sign up? 

September 12, 1918 - The first stand-alone attack by Americans occurs as the U.S. 1st Army attacks  the southernmost portion of the Western Front in France at St. Mihiel. The offensive is supported by an unprecedented 1,476 Allied aircraft used as part of a coordinated air-ground attack. Within 36 hours, the Americans take 15,000 prisoners and capture over 400 pieces of   artillery as the Germans withdraw. -- The History Place

A few years later, in 1920, the family is found on the census still living in Pringle. He is working as a coal miner, and his oldest son Joseph, age 16, is working as a coal breaker. Interesting side note, his mother (Jane Foy) is reported as being of American birth. This doesn’t match up with what we know of her elsewhere, which is not unusual in and of itself. I don’t know who the informant was on the census, so it could have been a guess on someone’s part. But there 

Now family lore says that Joseph was an alcoholic, a mean drunk, and a cheater. His sons kicked him out of the house after an affair was discovered, or when the sons were big enough to fight back. He moved in with his sister Winnie and lived there, as far as I know. However, there is also information that he may have remarried or had another family with the woman with whom he had an affair. I find it interesting that there is so much information about this particular ancestor... he was so intensely disliked by his children and their children, but he seemed to have such a close relationship with his sister Winnie and once was a piano-playing social butterfly. He worked a soul crushing job in the coal mines, lost two children, and eventually lost his entire family. He hurt his family through his behavior and choices, and that hurt trickled down to his grandchildren. This is why I love genealogy -- seeing the arc of a person’s life, seeing it in context of history -- and why I hope we can learn from the past. 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Great-greats #4: Elcie Plummer Bonyun

It has been a while since my last post, but I was busy gestating another addition to the family tree! :) So I’m finally picking up my hobbies again! 

Elcie Plummer is one of my brick wall family members -- I do not know much about her, including her parents’ names. Here is what I do know:

According to her record in the above manifest, she was born in approximately 1880 in Casties, St. Lucia. At the time she came to Atlanta on the SS Guiana she was 27, married to Henry Bonyun. It is interesting that her last permanent residence listed is Castries, whereas Henry’s last permanent address is Bridgetown Barbados. Since I’ve not been able to locate any marriage records, I don’t know if they’d just married, or what other explanation there might be for the different addresses. From doing some research on Caribbean genealogy in general, I’ve observed that there is a lot of marriage between islands, which makes sense. There are only so many potential partners on your own little island. So perhaps they didn’t even know each other very well! I’m hoping that someday I will get some records of their marriage so I can shed a little light on that situation. 

2 years later, Elsie had her first child, my great-grandmother Kathleen Elizabeth Bonyun. Now, I originally found this information on the Ellis Island website, but searching for it now comes up empty. Very odd. I did, however, find an image on FamilySearch and an interesting tidbit popped up! If you look at who Elsie and Kathleen put as their contact in the country from whence they came, they cite “Mother Elsie Plummer, Barbados” and for Kathleen, “Gdmother, do”. From this I would assume that Elsie is named after her mother, who is now living in Barbados... but assumptions are not worth very much! I wish the name had been different, as that would at least reassure me that they are not simply repeating her own name somehow. That is, at least, a lead, though! Very exciting! 

What I do find interesting is that Elsie and Kathleen are coming back from Barbados. The family does go back and forth quite a bit. The children are mostly raised there. Perhaps she goes back after having Kathleen just for a visit, or stays so that her mom can help her for a while longer. Spoiler alert: Elsie dies fairly young, so I do wonder if she was already having health issues, perhaps needing to have more assistance caring for an infant. So many questions! 

A couple years later, in 1912, Elsie gives birth to her second child, Eric Vaughn Bonyun. 

Sadly, the next fall Elsie passes away after a stay in a private sanitarium. From what I’ve read, it is likely she had tuberculosis, but none of the newspaper clippings give any specific information. I have reached out to Sacred Heart Church where her funeral was held, since this is before Georgia started requiring death certificates. 

So that is the limited information I have - a young woman from the Caribbean with two young children, sharing her time between Atlanta, GA with her husband, and Bridgetown, Barbados with the rest of her family. She died at age 33. 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Great-greats #3: Henry Charles Bonyun (aka ”Harry”)

While preparing to write this blog, I found a DNA connection to a cousin who is also descended from Harry Bonyun, which is pretty neat! It is a family connection that was a bit lost, it seems, as contact between the branches was last in the 1970s. So it is really great to be able to find family out there and share information. 

Henry Charles Bonyun was born 9 August 1882 to Joseph Evanson Bonyun and Agnes Victoria (or Victorine) Griffith. His baptism follows on 12 August 1882. He appears to have been the youngest of 6 children, all born in Speightstown, St. Peter’s Parish, Barbados. I don’t have much information on his younger years on Barbados, but I will add more detail in if I come across it. 

Harry went back and forth between Barbados and the US (via New York) several times in his life. His brothers and sisters also traveled between the two extensively. 

The first trip I have documented is when Harry is 21, 14 December 1903. He arrived in New York on the ship Fontabella, as a single man. I found a mention in the Atlanta newspaper of his departure 20 Mar 1904 that he had been visiting his brother. The only brother i know of is Morgan Evan Bonyun, with whom he lived in Atlanta at a later date. 

The second trip that I have documented is 11 November 1907, when he arrives with his new wife Elcie PLUMMER Bonyun. They left Demerara, Barbados on the S.S. Guiana - a ship that will take many Bonyuns back and forth over the years. 

Harry and Elcie’s daughter, my great-grandmother Kathleen Elizabeth Bonyun, was born in Georgia 4 November 1909. At this time, I cannot find a record either in Georgia or Barbados for her birth, but I will keep digging! 

In the years between Kathleen and Eric’s births, the Atlanta newspaper contains a few interesting notices regarding Harry and Elcie. The first on 2 October 1910 talks about a party they attended. On 14 December 1910, Harry is listed as playing a chorus character in the musical Mikado at the local theater. And in January of 1912, they are again listed as attending an indoor picnic party. (It seems that social media has always been with us -- old newspapers are FULL of who is going where, doing what and with whom, including what they were wearing, and how others felt about it!) 

In the 1910 census, Harry is recorded as Henry C Bonyun, age 27, married, brother of the head-of-household, a clerk with the telephone company. His naturalization status at that time is “Alien” and he has been married for 3 years. Also in the house are his older sister Thalia, his brother Morgan, and his niece Margaret. Not in the household are Elcie and Kathleen. I do show them coming on a ship through NY in January of 1911, so perhaps they went back to Barbados after Kathleen was born and Harry stayed behind to work. 

25 March 1912, Harry’s son Eric Vaughn Bonyun is born. It is not clear from the records I have whether he was born in Atlanta or in Barbados. Per his granddaughter, he was born on the island, and in a later passenger list, he is listed as being West Indian. I didn’t find much in the way of census records on him, so it is hard to know what he indicated earlier on as to his birth location. Our family lore has also always said that Elcie died giving birth to him, but she didn’t die until September 1913, so this is sounding less likely. 

Elsie (sometimes Elcie) Plummer Bonyun, his first wife and my great-great-grandmother (subject of the next blog post) dies 17 September 1913. There are several funeral notices in the Atlanta Constitution announcing the funeral. Harry makes another trip back from Barbados on 5 January 1914, on the ship Vasari and this time is listed as widowed. The children are not listed on the manifest with him, which leads me to believe that he may have taken them back to Barbados to live with family while he returned to Atlanta. 

On 20 March 1915, Harry remarries to a woman named Beatrice Osborn. The stories my great-grandmother told were not pleasant. She reported being stabbed in the hand with a fork if she did not ask for food to be passed, and other “unbalanced” actions on the part of her stepmother. As far as family lore goes, she and Eric spent most of their youth in Barbados. I do not see Kathleen or Eric on a census record, or otherwise living with their father at any point. 

Harry and Beatrice show up in the newspaper again a few times in relation to parties and other social happenings over the next few years. Shortly after their marriage, Beatrice was in the hospital (St. Joseph’s Infirmary) for 2 months, according to another newspaper clipping. During this time, Harry also gave his declaration of intent for naturalization, on 18 June 1917. 

In the 1920 census, he and Beatrice are still living in Atlanta. He is 37, an accountant with the telephone company, and they have two boarders living with them. The next year, a notice with photo of Beatrice announces that these “charming Atlantans” will be moving to Philadelphia, PA. 

In 1930, Harry and Beatrice are living on 42nd Ave in Philadelphia. He is still an accountant for the phone company. To show how confusing census data can be, he reports (or perhaps someone else reports for him -- not sure) that he is born in Georgia, and his parents were born in New York. This gave me pause, as well as his name being written as “Harry E Bonyun”. However, his wife is “Beatrice O Bonyun” which is more convincing than birth locations. From what I have read, other people often reported to the census takers, so the neighbor, or his wife might have mixed up details, or reported what they thought was true, or what seemed most expedient in the case of immigrants. 

Unlike the social life they led in Atlanta, not much is seen in the papers of Philadelphia regarding Harry and Beatrice. In fact, it is unclear what happens to Beatrice after 1930. 

The 1940 census reveals a further mystery. Less than 1 mile from his location in 1930, we find a Harry C. Bonyun, married, general office worker with the phone company, of the correct age, but listed as being born in New York. In addition, while he is listed as “married”, the other person living in his home is Esther Serfass, a widow, aged 50, relationship to head of household “Partner”. My, my, how modern! She is a beautician, and they both report living in the same place in 1935. While some of the details don’t make sense, the address matches what is on his death certificate, so I am fairly confident this is the same guy. I’m curious what happened to Beatrice, but I cannot find her listed in the census anywhere either. 

On the 1940 census, Harry is also recorded as being unable to work due to illness. Per his death certificate, he suffers from hypertensive cardiovascular disease for three years prior to his death from a cerebral hemorrhage on 29 April 1943. His daughter Kathleen is the informant. Of note, on the certificate it includes his marital status (married) and his spouse’s name and age if still living. She lists Beatrice Osborne, age 60. This would lead me to believe that she is still alive at that point. Hence more mystery regarding Ms. Esther Serfass. 

I’m curious if Harry was just unlucky in love, losing his first wife, marrying again to someone who was, perhaps, unstable, and perhaps finding love again on more modern terms? Although his children did not seem to spend much time with him when they were young, they all ended up in Philadelphia in later years -- what were those relationships like? Questions that the records don’t quite tell us. 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Great-greats #2: Catherine Robertson Henderson

This is my 2nd great grandmother Catherine. The photo is from the original passport used by her husband George Meek/s Penman and son Peter Henderson Penman, although notes inside show that she ended up having her own passport. (Hence the red line I guess!) From the vantage point of 2017, it is kind of weird that the whole family would travel on the one passport. I’d be curious to read more about the policies at the time (1923) governing women or children having their own passports, or why they would have a shared one. 

I know very little story-wise about Catherine. My uncle shared that he and my dad once met her and George when they were very little, probably around 1960. He recalled a dish of Hershey’s kisses on a doily-covered end table, and a thick accent. He said she sounded a bit like “Mrs. Doubtfire.” 

Here are the stats I have on Catherine:

Born 10 May 1881 Dunfermline Burgh, Fife, Scotland to Peter Henderson (b 1856) and Agnes Simpson (b 1853). She was a middle child among 6 siblings. Her middle name is her paternal grandmother’s maiden name - Catherine Robertson. I find it interesting that she and George named their only son after her father: Peter Henderson. The Scottish naming conventions are a bit boring even when they’re trying to mix things up! :) 

Census Records:

1891: Daughter, age 9, Scholar, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

1901: Daughter age 19, Card lacer, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

1930:  Wife, age 48, Homemaker, Philadelphia, PA

She married George Meek (or Meeks) Penman on 8 September 1905 at the age of 24, in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. 

The entire family emigrated in 1923 to Philadelphia. As I mentioned in George Meek Penman’s entry I don’t know what specifically prompted them to move, though I would imagine that better opportunities is what drives so many to make a big move like that.

In the 1930 census, 2 nephews and a cousin, all with the last name Lindsey, are living in the home with them, as well as Kathleen Bonyun Penman, their daughter-in-law (Peter’s wife.) The three young men are employed as laborers at the rubber factory where Pete is a hosemaker. I’m guessing this might be National Fire Hose Co., where Pop Pop Pete worked most of his life, I think. The three family members had just immigrated to the US in 1929 as well. I’ve just noticed these three guys, so I don’t know for certain if they are Catherine’s kin or George’s. 

I’d also like to learn more about Catherine’s work as a card lacer at the turn of the century. Fife was a center of the textile industry in Scotland, and damask linen was apparently what a card lacer would do. My Googling has turned up nothing of use, though, so I guess I will save that curiosity for a future post! 

I’d also love to find George and Catherin on the 1911 census. I haven’t yet, but will update when I do! 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Great-greats #1: George Meek Penman

Shortly before my dad passed away (Dec. 3, 2016) I asked him to do a Y-DNA test so we could learn a little more about our Penman line. Sadly, by the time we got the results, he was very close to the end and I don’t know if he understood what I told him. Nothing totally shocking, but he does belong to an unusual haplogroup for western Europeans - G, subgroup M-201. This is more commonly found in Turkey, Iran, and especially Georgia and the Caucasus Mountain region. So we are literally Caucasian! lol. Anyway, I’m trying to do a series on my 2nd great grandparents - the only generation for which I know the names of each forebear. 

So this rather severe looking gent is my great-great grandfather George Meek Penman. I always thought it was a weird middle name, but it is actually a nice story. 

Stats on George: 

Born 27 February 1884 in Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland. He is the youngest of 7 children born to Thomas Penman and Susan Sneddon. 

The story of his middle name is that it is the last name of his father’s step father. Thomas Penman’s dad, William Penman, died in an accident in 1851, when Thomas was just four years old. The intervening years are light on documentation... his mother may have remarried a man named John Armour (possibly having another son names Samuel - its a bit of a mystery.) However, around 1856 she married George Meek, and stayed married to him, having 4 more children with him. Thomas would have been about 10 when they married. I find it sweet that Thomas ended up naming his youngest son after his stepfather. It must have been at least a decent relationship to warrant that. 

Census/Residence: 

1891: Son, age 7, Scholar, Liberton, Midlothian

1901: Son, age 17, Coal Miner, Beath, Fife

1930: Head,  age 46, Tile Setter, Philadelphia, PA

Married Catherine Robertson Henderson on 8 September 1905 at the United Free Church in Dunfermline, Fife. 

George and Catherine had one son - Peter Henderson Penman - my great-grandfather Pop Pop Pete. He was born in 1908. 

George was also a Master Mason in the Scottish Rite Temple. 

In 1923, the entire family emigrated to the United States. I find no record of what prompted the move, so that is a mystery as of yet. On my personal family tree, this is the most recent immigrant family to the US. He finally got his naturalization papers on 9 July 1941 while he was still living in Philadelphia.

At some point he moves across the country to Los Angeles, CA. I need to check with my aunts and uncles to see if they know when or why this happened. I know that my parents moved to California while my mom was pregnant with me (1976) along with my grandparents. Peter and his wife Kathleen (great-grandparents) had already moved out there. I don’t know if this happened at the same time as George and Catherine moving out there.

George and Catherine both died in 1964 in Los Angeles, CA. George was 80 at the time. I’m curious to know exactly how closely they died, and why. Haven’t uncovered that bit yet either. 

So there he is, my great-great grandfather, George Meek Penman. Coal mining child, immigrant, youngest of seven, father of one. 

George Meek Penman --> Peter Henderson Penman --> George Penman --> David Penman --> Me

[alyssafindsherroots]

The elusive Native American ancestor! 

Many Americans have lore that there is some Native American heritage in their family tree. For most, it turns out to be legend. My husband has long told me that he is of Native American descent but had no idea who, or when, or where. In my continuing quest to find someone, anyone who emigrated to the US originally, I have discovered an actual Native American forebear of his! 

If the story attached to this photo on Ancestry is correct, Elizabeth Scatchwah was Cherokee, and when she died, the church elders did not allow her to be buried in the church cemetery because she was not white. They deemed she had to be buried in the swamp! Her sons exhumed her remains though, and placed her next to her husband. Apparently there is a Driggars annual reunion and everyone makes a pilgrimage to the grave. 

So interesting to think of the challenges of living in that time, when some people are marrying interracially, amongst others who are so bigoted that they won’t let someone be buried among their families. Since my family is so rooted in Pennsylvania, there is a lot of the same, same, same. Researching my husbands varied Southern roots is such an interesting change! 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Q&A: Everyone Has Two Family Trees – A Genealogical Tree and a Genetic Tree

I recently received an interesting question from a reader (see this comment) about 23andMe’s Relative Finder, and thought it would be worth sharing the question and my answer with all my read…

So I’m just starting trying to understand genetic genealogy. This article had some great visuals that helped me put it in perspective. 

[alyssafindsherroots]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

According to my DNA test from Ancestry, I am 22% Irish. Considering that I can only currently identify a great-grandmother who is of Irish descent, I’m curiuos where the remaining Irish DNA comes from! 

My Irish immigrant ancestors: John Francis Handley Sr and Jane Foy

These are pictures of the Handley homestead in Pringle, Luzerne, PA, USA. I have been trying to find more info about where they came from in Ireland and who their forebears were, but no luck so far. Possibly John Francis Handley Sr’s parents were Michael and Ann Handley from County Mayo, Ireland. I have no leads on Jane Foy’s parents. They were born in approximately 1835 and 1845 respectively and emigrated to the US separately in the 1850s. They are married with children in the 1870 census. I wish I knew who the people were in these photos! 

John & Jane Handley --> Joseph Handley --> Robert Hanley --> Adeline Hanley --> Dad --> Me

[oglaighnaheireann]

Burial place of St Patrick, Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland

[fickettstgenealogy]

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day !

Patrick died on March 17, 461 in Saul, where he had built his first church.

Some information can be found here: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saint-patrick-dies?cmpid=Social_FBPAGE_HISTORY_20160317_397344207&linkId=22369884

[alyssafindsherroots]

The family business: Coal Mining

On my Williams side, nearly all of the men have been involved in the coal mines from the time they arrived in he United States, until the most recent generations. I was thrilled to discover these records for William Kleinhagen and his three sons that survived to adulthood: Otto, George and Charles. These records of employment show the dominance of this company in their lives, as well as some interesting insights into the men themselves. (Especially George William... sick, dissatisfied, bootlegging?) 

This is the German side of my mom’s family but the story is similar on her Welsh side. Entire families, generation after generation working for pennies in dangerous work. It is so far removed from my life experience, but helps me understand why my grandfather talked about coal so much. 

William Kleinhagen --> Martha Kleinhagen --> Jane Zeplin --> Mom --> Me

[alyssafindsherroots]

Immigrant Ancestor Brick Wall: Wilhelm Kleinhagen

I found an interesting note in the paper (courtesy of the amazing peeps over at the Genealogy sub on Reddit) regarding the golden anniversary of Wilhelm/William Kleinhagen and his wife Anna Snyder. Unfortunately, he is as far as I have been able to push back that line. The last name is very uncommon, with a few current pockets in northern Germany. 

William was taken to the hospital at the time he was supposed to be celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary and died three days later on Christmas. It is unfortunate that on his death certificate, the reporting party didn’t know much detail about his parents -- only that his father was born in Germany. I have not yet found any records from Germany that indicate his birth, or make clear his immigration. 

I’m hoping that one day, the right record will be digitized and I will solve this mystery... but that day isn’t today!

[alyssafindsherroots]

Finally! When I re-read the autobiographical sketches in my 3x-great grandfather William Alexander Davies’ two books of poetry, I gleaned as much information as I could. From the account given by William Alexander, his father (my 4x great-grandfather) had served as a drum major in the Royal Welch Fusiliers 23rd Regiment, and had gone blind due to a condition contracted in the Army. According to the sketch, he was also born in Dover, Kent, although his family was from North Wales. His occupation after the war was making nails, which he was apparently successful as, having several employees.  I did not have a name, though, nor birthdate or any other information. My search on findmypast.com finally yielded a result! The photos are of the discharge papers for Edward Alexander Davies. It describes his dates of entry and discharge, as well as the diagnosis of ophthalmia. It does give his birthplace as Guilsford, but that may be the ancestral home of his f, not where he was actually born. The two census records show Edward in 1851 as disabled due to his visual impairment, but the in 1861 as a Nailor born in Dover. I’ve had a tough time breaking through the wall to this next generation but with these key documents, I think I will eventually find the rest of the Davies and Evans families! Perseverance pay off!

Edward Alexander Davies --> William Alexander Davies --> Mary Elizabeth Davies Williams --> Joseph Alexander Williams, Sr -- > Joseph Alexander Williams, Jr --> Mom -- > Me

[historical-nonfiction]

Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results.

Machiavelli (via historical-nonfiction)

[alyssafindsherroots]

20 Old-Fashioned Baby Names From The 1920s That Are Popular AGAIN!!

They say everything old is new again, so it shouldn’t be all that surprisingly that even old names are back in vogue these days. While you may not have met a Duke or a Beatrice lately, names like Hazel, Mae, Sterling, and Violet seem to be cropping up all over the place in popular culture. From celebrity... View Article

Personal challenge #124 - finding SO many cool names that I want to name my next child. If there is a next child. LOL. 

Favorite names from my family include:

Leona

Adeline (my grandmother, but also others in my family tree)

Clark

The gents in my family are pretty standard: John, Thomas, William, George, Peter, Henry, etc. And there are a TON of Anna's. I count six at least in my direct lines. But those three are my favorite. 

[alyssafindsherroots]

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - #2 Abel Greenwich

Abel Greenwich is the furthest back I have been able to reasonably push on any branch of my family tree... so for that, I am crowning him the "king" of my genealogical research. As far as I know, I have no relationship to any kings; there isn't even anyone named King that I have discovered. :) I'm also late with this post -- getting our new bookstore set up is taking a lot of time! 

All I know about Abel is that he lived in St. Katherine By The Tower around the end of the 16th century. He was named on the manifest for the boat his son took to Barbados in the 1630s. Unfortunately I am relying on work others have done as I do not have access to these documents myself. 

Here is the descent from Abel Greenwich to myself, from Ancestry.com:

Abel Greenwich is your 12th great grandfather

John Greenidge (1614 - 1677)

son of Abel Greenwich

Susanna Greenidge (1653 - 1685)

daughter of John Greenidge

Catherine Ragg (1679 - )

daughter of Susanna Greenidge

Grenada Granado Nightingale (1706 - )

son of Catherine Ragg

Gamaliel Nightingale (1745 - )

son of Grenada Granado Nightingale

Nathaniel Nightingale (1761 - )

son of Gamaliel Nightingale

Elizabeth Jane Nightingale (1790 - )

daughter of Nathaniel Nightingale

Katharine Jane Evanson (1809 - )

daughter of Elizabeth Jane Nightingale

Joseph George Bonyun (1840 - )

son of Katharine Jane Evanson

Henry Charles Bonyun (1882 - 1943)

son of Joseph George Bonyun

Kathleen Elizabeth Bonyun (1909 - 1985)

daughter of Henry Charles Bonyun

George Penman (1931 - 1998)

son of Kathleen Elizabeth Bonyun

David Penman (1954 - )

son of George Penman

ME!

[historical-nonfiction]

History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.

Julian Barnes (1946- ), in his novel The Sense of an Ending (via historical-nonfiction)

[fickettstgenealogy]

Interesting and cool article of examples that it’s truly in the DNA! Scroll through the photos of these lookalikes or twinsies through time. Some are mother/daughter, father/son, different variations of child/parent look alikes.

Read the full article here on Huffington Post: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6193862?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

[alyssafindsherroots]

This is crazy! I wish my son looked more like me. He has my hands... does that count? lol. 

What is funny is that he saw the picture of my maternal grandfather and he thought it was my husband. They do actually have something of a resemblance, which I'm not sure is cool, or creepy. :)