Wordless Wednesday

Okay, so maybe not exactly wordless! This is an unidentified photo found among my great-grandmother Esther Lee (Richardson) Talbott's things. Of course, I'd love to get him identified. I suspect he was from the Halifax/Pittsylvania County, Va area, but don't know for sure.

Winifred Davis Haley Carr

In this post I introduce you to my great-grandmother Winifred (Winnie) Davis Haley Carr. She was born 9 Sep 19891 in Halifax County, VA to William and Clara (Holt) Haley. She was their third child and one of six girls! She married Silas Baker Carr 26 Sep 1909, 100 years ago today. They spent their married lives in Halifax County, VA raising their four children.

I am fortunate that I actually met Winnie as a small child. While I confess to no vivid memories I do have some vague images of her still in mind's eye. I remember visiting her at her eldest daughter's home at a time that must have been near the end of her life. She wore a dark cardigan sweater. I remember dropping a glass and it breaking on the kitchen floor. I also remember being very worried about what she would think! Strange what sticks in the memory of a young child.

I do know that Winnie loved music and was quite talented in that respect. She played the guitar as in the picture and she played the banjo as well. While her banjo is still in the family, unfortunately it has fallen into disrepair. Music was always a part of her household and a love she passed onto her children as well.

One of Winnie's secrets is that she dyed her hair! I hope she forgives me for sharing that with the blogging world! She took great pride in her appearance and would always be found with her hair "done" and her beads in place.

Winnie Haley Carr died 25 Jan 1970 in South Boston, VA.

Success

I am happy to report that I have had some success at the State Library of NC recently. I was researching my White family and trying to learn a little more about Surry County, NC. As I browsed the stacks where the Surry County books are kept, I came across a narrow volume with the title Records of Moody Funeral Services Mount Airy, NC 1903-1914 by Betty Camin and Ann Stewart. Not really expecting to find anything, I perused the index.

There she was--Jonah White, my great-great grandmother. (Her name was actually Joanna, but I have frequently found her listed as Jonah in records.) Her husband T. J. White was listed as next of kin. According to these funeral home records, Joanna died 6 Jun 1910 of heart failure.

You never know where you might find a piece of family history.

Wordless Wednesday

Elma and Crafton Talbott of Halifax Co, VA

Photo was taken about 1923 when Crafton was 7 years old.

Haley Portrait Indentified

Remember this portrait from my last post? I have now been able to identify the two women. (Thanks, Grandmom!) That is Winifred (Winnie) Davis Haley (1891-1970) on the left and her sister Ivy Haley (b. 1894) on the right. Winnie is my great grandmother. I look forward to learning more about her sister.

Remember the Jackpot

Remember that "jackpot" of genealogy information I received over the last month? I have had a great time sifting through all these treasures. Among the pictures were some priceless pictures of my great x 2 grandfather holding my father as a baby. I have also found a picture of my great grandfather getting in on the baby holding act. Wow! Really wonderful pictures.

I also obtained this picture:

This is a portrait of two of the Haley sisters, daughters of William Henry Haley and his wife Clara Holt Haley of the Halifax area of Virginia. I've been told by a family member that one of the women is Ivy Haley, probably the one on the right. The other woman's identity is not known but likely a sister: Carrie, Winnie, Daisy, Ruby, or Mary Madeline. My first thought is this is a picture of Ivy and her sister Daisy. Of the Haley girls, Ivy and Daisy are the closest in age with Ivy being born in 1894 and Daisy in 1896.

So....if any Haley researchers out in blogland can identify these women or have any information on this Haley family, please contact me.

Thomas Jefferson White

Today I introduce to you my great-great grandfather Thomas Jefferson White born 9 Apr 1851 in Surry County, NC. He married Joanna Wilmoth (b. 1852) 20 Sept 1874 in Bryan, Surry, NC. I have been fortunate to trace Thomas back through the federal censuses from 1920 to 1860. Fortunately for me, he did not move around much! In 1860 and 1870 he is listed in the household of his father, Joseph Pearson White. Interestly, Thomas is enumerated as J. J. White. In looking at the original document (online), he is indeed T. J White with all other known information about him being consistent. By 1880, Thomas is married and living in Bryan, Surry County, NC with their children Mary A and Byrd. His parents Joseph and Temperance White are also living with them.

Thomas and Joanna went on to have more children including Columbus, Martha, William Thomas, Nathan, James Abe and Lily.

Thomas spent his life farming in Surry County. In 1920, 2 years before his death, he was living as a widow next door to his youngest son James Abe White and his family. Thomas passed away on 8 Mar 1922 from a stroke.

Wordless Wednesday - My Grandmother

Cecile Clara White

1917-1983

I hold many wonderful memories in my heart of my grandmother.

If I Had the Tardis...

While genealogy is certainly a passion of mine, I do have other interests as well. I do not watch much television, but I do love watching British science fiction series Doctor Who. The Doctor is a Time Lord (the last of his species) who travels throughout space in his spaceship, the Tardis. Tardis stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Not only does the Tardis travel in space, it travels through time. It's a time machine. Now wouldn't that make breaking through some brick walls easier..... I could travel back to the late 1700's and ask my great x5 grandfather James Haward exactly who his father was. Where was he before he came to North Carolina? Oh, the quesions I could get answered. Of course, the documentation format might be a little iffy.

Overwhelmed and Couldn't Be Happier

I am currently overwhelmed in all matters of genealogy and family history. In case you think this is a complaint, it most definitely is not! During the last couple of months, I have come into the possession of many old family photos, land deeds, wills, and family letters and memoribilia from my ancestors. What's more, these items come from four different family lines! It is like winning the genealogical jackpot. I'm looking forward to sorting things out, identifying photos and finding new clues to further my research. I'm giddy just thinking about it all.

Here's a sneak preview of just one of the things I found:

That's my grandfather Crafton Talbott holding me as an infant.

Wordless Wednesday My Great Grandparents

Winnie (Haley), Silas Baker Carr and Lawrence

Just One Big Logic Puzzle

At dinner the other night I related a genealogy puzzle I was working on that day. This particular puzzler involved my great x 3 grandmother Joanna Barrett Wilmoth from Surry County, NC. I am currently trying prove her maiden name by tracking down her marriage record and/or a record of her in the 1850 federal census. My son looked up and asked, "So, genealogy is just one big logic puzzle, huh?"

I could not have said it better.

On the Trail of My Irish Immigrant Ancestor

I'm hoping the luck of the Irish will be with me. As I stated in an earlier post, I have begun research on my White family line. I've gone back to my great x 3 grandparents and have now picked up the trail of my great x 3 grandmother Joanna Barrett Wilmoth. More on her in a bit....

I fortunately have found success in tracing my White ancestors through the federal census records so far. Everyone was where they should be in the right time period. My great grandparents were James Abe and Stella (Holyfield) White of Surry County, NC. I was fortunate as a child to have known my great grandmother. I was fascinated to watch her comb and braid her long hair. Funny, what stays in the memory of a young child.

James Abe White was the son of Thomas Jefferson White (1851-1922) and Joanna Wilmoth (Lyons) White (Abt 1852-1910). Thomas was the son of Joseph Pearson (?spelling) White (1802-1881) and Temperance Wilmoth (1802-~1881). My unproven theory is that John White, Sr. (1770-1852) and Elizabeth Callahan were the parents of Joseph White.

I confess I spent much of my research time today looking for Joanna Barrett Wilmoth. I have her traced back to 1860 in Surry County, NC with her husband William Richard Wilmoth and their daughter Joanna. In 1860 daughter Joanna is listed as age 7, thus setting her birthdate about 1852 or 1853. I cannot find Joanna Barrett prior to this time. In 1850 William Richard Wilmoth is enumerated as Richmond Wilmoth living with his six siblings in Surry County, NC. Thus, I would place his and Joanna's marriage sometime between 1850 and 1852. I have not found their marriage record as of yet, nor have I found where Joanna Barrett was living prior to marriage. Searching for these records will be the focus of my next research session.

Something to consider is what was Joanna Barrett's true surname. I only have her surname based on family stories and what other researchers have online. I confess, I won't feel comfortable with her surname until I find original records on her. According to oral family history, Joanna came to America as a young widow. She may have also come over with children from a previous marriage. So, if she came as a young widow, Barrett may have been a married name and not her maiden name at all. All things to consider as I continue with my research.

Wordless Wednesday

Mattie Maddox Howard

1881-1927