I'm Published!

Two years ago I attended a Cousins' Weekend where I presented the Howard (Harward) and the Maddox genealogies. When I had the opportunity to attend Cousins' Weekend again this year, I wanted to share more of our family history.

About who? And how?

The "who" question was obvious - Mattie Maddox Howard.  Mattie is my great grandmother and my cousins' grandmother.  Sadly none of us knew her.

The "how" question proved a little more daunting.  I wanted to write a book.  Never mind I had never done this  and didn't know where to start. I did the only thing I knew to do. I just started writing.

And now I've completed it.
 

My goal has been accomplished.  I am a published author! (My children were impressed at least!)

Excerpt from Mattie's Story:

As a child, I frequently visited my grandfather's attic.  It was always lots of fun to see the Christmas decorations stored away or the knick knacks my grandmother put away for another day.  But always, I studied the portrait of my great grandmother Mattie Howard that was stored up there.  I wondered about her.  Perhaps I thought if I stared at her portrait long enough and concentrated hard enough, she would tell me her secrets.....


Mattie didn't tell me her secrets in that attic, but her portrait did spark a curiosity that years later started my pursuit to discover who my great grandmother really was.


Mattie's Story can be ordered from Lulu.com.

Worship At Moore Union

I had an opportunity this weekend to worship at Moore Union Christian Church in Lee County, NC.

Moore Union is the church where my maternal grandfather Lester Howard attended as a child. Multiple generations of Howards, Letts, and Womacks have worshipped here over the years. Many in the small cemetery beside the church are my ancestors. It was a treat to worship in the same church where four generations before me did the same.

The Moore Union congregation welcomed my cousins and myself warmly and graciously into their midst. We appreciate their hospitality.

(I even met a cousin.)

Impressions

Do you ever get specific impressions of  what your ancestors were like as people?  What their personalities were like?  Were they generally happy people?  Were they honorable? Were sorrow and pain a constant companion?

I get a lot of my impressions about my ancestors from the photographs they left behind.  I think we all do.  I expect that's the reason for the saying  "a picture speaks a thousand words".

That's a picture of my great grandmother Esther Richardson (left), her mother Hattie Elliott Richardson (center) and Esther's best friend Nannie Lee Farson (right).  As in this photo, Esther is almost always smiling in her photographs.  I believe she was generally a very happy person.

This is a portrait of my great-great grandmother Joanna White, wife of Thomas Jefferson White. This is the only photograph I have seen of Joanna and I know little of her life other than the basics. (Don't worry White family cousins, Joanna is high on my list of upcoming research projects.) She looks so stern and has a worried look in her eyes.  Is this how she saw life in general?  Was worry a constant companion?  Perhaps or perhaps not.  She could have been up with a sick child the night before her portrait was taken.

This is a photograph of Martha Jane (Lett) Maddox obviously taken in her later years.  She was only in her mid-60's when this photograph was taken.  My initial impression of her in this photograph is that she was a stern, no nonsense type of woman who lived a hard life.  That may be true to a degree.  She certainly knew the sorrow of losing a spouse and children during her lifetime.  But this is a case where my impression of her just from the photograph is likely not an accurate portrayal.  From her grandson's journal I learned Martha Jane was a woman who taught a young boy how to fish.  Fishing became a life long hobby for my grandfather. From an interview an elderly cousin, I learned how much Martha Jane loved her grandchildren.  It was only her poor health that prevented her from taking in her daughter Mattie's young children when Mattie died.

Here you have a few of my thoughts for a Thursday morning.  I'm off to try to see how the facts support (or not) my impressions of other ancestors.

Treasure Chest Thursday

Moore Union Church, Sanford, NC

Today's treasure is a bit of a departure from the usual Treasure Chest Thursday. Moore Union Church is located in Lee County, NC outside of Sanford. The cemetery at this beautiful little church holds many generations of my family. Family lines include Maddox, Lett, and Howard.

The legacies of faith, family, and community are represented here. For that reason, I consider this little church to be a true family treasure.

In Honor of Our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day 2009. It is a day to honor those who fought (and still fight) for our country's freedom. As I reviewed my tree I was struck by how many veterans are tucked into its branches. I've listed some below. I'm sure this is by no means a complete list and I mean no disrespect to any I have not included. (It's merely an indication I need to do more research.) All Civil War veterans in my list fought for the Confederacy. Those in bold type are my direct ancestors.


David Gwin Talbot (1761-1853)
American Revolution

John B Talbott (1836-1924)
Civil War
Received Civil War Pension

Alvin Thornton Talbott (Grandson of John B Talbott, son of John Robert Talbott)
WWII (Navy)
Died 1942

George Thomas Richardson (1824-1894)
Civil War (Confederate)
Received a Civil War Pension.
Injured by mini ball to thigh

James T Maddox (1844-1892)
Civil War
Musician in 50th North Carolina Infantry, Company F
Wife received Civil War pension

James Lamar Sheppard (1833-1913)
Civil War
Hospital Steward in 50th North Carolina Infantry, Companies F and S

James Harward (1760-1840)
American Revolution
Three tours of duty out of Wake County, NC
Wife received Rev. War pension

Allen Mays Harward (Howard) (Son of George Harward, Grandson of James Harward)
Civil War 48th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry out of Chatham County, NC
Died in Dec 1862 in Lynchburg, VA of disease

James Calvin Harward (Brother of Allen Mays Harward above)
Civil War 48th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry out of Chatham County, NC
Died in Jan 1863 in Richmond, VA of disease

Thank you to all!

Tombstone Tuesday - Leola Maddox

Leola Maddox

25 Apr 1894

2 Jun 1900

This little tombstone is that of Leola Maddox, daughter of Wesley Calvin and Martha Maddox and niece of my great-grandmother Mattie Maddox Howard. It is located at Moore Union Christian Church in Lee County, NC. It is hard to read the words in the photo. The actual tombstone itself was difficult to read. This stone is also broken and lying on its back on top of the base. It was not until I edited the photo and consulted my family tree database, that I was able to determine who's stone this was. Sadly another tombstone of a young child.

A Little of This and a Little of That

I've been having trouble deciding what to post about recently. Genealogically speaking it has been an exciting week. Of course, as we all know, one answer leads to three more questions! So, here's what I've been up to lately....

*I placed an interlibrary loan order for birth and marriage microfilm records of my GG-grandfather William Haley of Halifax County, VA.

Then:

*I found pictures of my GGG-grandparents George Thomas Richardson and Sarah Jane Payne online at www.ancestry.com. I used the member connect feature for the first time and was immediately led to another researcher of the Richardson family of Pittsylvania County, VA. It was there I found the photos. I have since made contact with a new cousin.

*I worked on a different sort of puzzle concerning my Maddox family line. I recently was shown the land where my GG-grandparents' (James T Maddox and Martha Jane Lett)homeplace was located. It is private, gated land and I am wanting to find out who currently owns it. My cousins and I would like to see where the homeplace was and if the family cemetery is still marked.

*I made contact with another Talbott "cousin" through ancestry.com's member connect as well. I've actually talked with him a couple of years ago. At that time I was new to genealogy and still learning the process. (I still am!) What I discovered as we compared notes is that we most likely are not cousins, at least not through my great-great grandfather. There were so many Talbotts in the Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties of VA during my GG-grandfather's time, it would not surprise me if we have a common ancestor further back.

Whew! No wonder I've had trouble focusing on one family line. But what fun it has been! I wonder what the next week holds.

Fishing - Where a Family Legacy Began

Martha Jane Lett Maddox

b. 16 Jan 1851

d. 15 Feb 1935

Anyone who knew my grandfather James Lester Howard knew of his love of fishing. A fishing trip to local ponds (usually located in someone's cow pasture) was always highly coveted event. All the grandchildren (and great grandchildren) at one time or another got to go fishing. Keep in mind that this was cane pole fishing with live worms on the hooks. (And yes, I did bait my own hooks.)

My personal fishing story begins as a very young girl who was angry that her brother got to go fishing with Grandaddy and she did not. Well...when the fishermen got back, I put my hands on my hips, stamped my foot and in no uncertain terms stated "When I get to be a boy, I'll get to go fishing!" I was sitting on the banks of a pond with a fishing pole in my hands the next day. I enjoyed many fishing trips with my grandfather through the years.

It was not until I began researching the family history that I discovered how my grandfather started fishing. His maternal grandmother Martha Jane Lett Maddox would take him fishing on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Lee County, NC. In his journal, he related being a young boy of five or so and proudly carrying the fish they caught home. It was so big (or he was so small) that the fish's tail dragged the ground all the way. Obviously this was a special memory that stayed with him throughout his life.

So, what drew Grandaddy to fishing and made him share his love for it with future generations? Perhaps it was the time spent one on one with his grandmother. Perhaps it was the satisfaction of providing his family's food. Or perhaps it was the quiet time spent with his own thoughts. I suspect it was all three. Whatever the reason, fishing gave him much enjoyment throughout his life.

Tombstone Tuesday: Samantha Buchanon Maddox

Samantha Buchanon Maddox

1820-1892

Samantha Maddox was my great x 3 grandmother. She was the mother of James T Maddox, grandmother of Mattie Maddox, and great-grandmother of James Lester Howard. The above photo was taken at Moore Union Christian Church outside of Sanford, NC.

I have a particular fondness for Samantha, though for exactly what reason I'm not sure. Perhaps it's the mystery I found surrounding her. She was born in 1820 in Chatham County, NC and married Calvin Maddox 10 Feb 1842. Unfortunately, Calvin died before Nov 1848 leaving Samantha with three young children: Julia, James Tarleton, and Mary Frances. Calvin died without a will, thus generating a lot of estate papers including guardianship papers for the children and an inventory of the household. (More on this in a later post.)

I have found other researchers who attribute two other children to Samantha and Calvin. They were Flora Maddox (b.1853) and Sina Jane Maddox (b.1862 d. 1905). Comparing the dates of this family, neither Flora nor Sina Jane could be children of Calvin given he had died several years prior to their births. I have found no evidence that Samantha remarried after her husband's death or that she perhaps took in two nieces/orphans to raise. Indeed, the federal census records list the girls as daughters. So, Flora and Sina Jane were most likely half-sisters to my great x 2 grandfather James T Maddox. The question remains: Who was the father(s)?

Tombstone Tuesday - Viola Maddox

In loving

memory of

VIOLA R.

daughter of J. T. and M. J. Maddox

Born Feb 28, 1889

Died Jun 2 1890

Viola R. Maddox was the youngest sister of my great-grandmother Mattie V. Maddox (1881-1927). She is buried in the church cemetery of Moore Union Christian Church in Lee, County, NC. So few people are even aware of her existence anymore. Viola was born in 1889 and died at the young age of 15 months. Church records of that time period for this small church did not or no longer exist, and the 1890 federal census was lost to fire. That leaves only her weather worn tombstone marking her short life.

Wordless Wednesday

Mattie Maddox Howard

1881-1927

Martha Jane Patsy Womack

Martha Jane Patsy Womack (1810-1872)

I have very exciting news in my world of genealogy this week. I discovered a "new cousin" on the Lett side of the family. She posted a picture of Martha Jane Patsy Womack online. Martha Jane Womack was the wife of Andrew J Lett. She was the grandmother of Mattie Maddox Howard and the mother of Martha Jane Lett.

Introducing James T. Maddox

James T. Maddox

I introduce to you James Tarleton Maddox (1844-1892), wife of Martha Jane Lett and father of Mattie Maddox. He was the son of Calvin Maddox and Semantha Buchannan. Unfortunately Calvin died at a young age, leaving Semantha (Semanthy) alone to support James and his two sisters Julia and Mary Frances. The law at that time considered the children orphans even though Semantha was very much alive. Guadianship papers naming Semantha as their guardian (and protector of their inheritance) provided James' full name as well as the identity of his two sisters. These documents along with the estate papers settling Calvin's estate are on file at the NC Archives. Of an interesting note, James' middle name is after his grandfather Tarleton Maddox.

In Mar 1862, James enlisted as a Confederate soldier in the 50th NC Infantry, Company F. He was a private and listed as a full musician. James was 18 years old. (Dr James Lamar Shepard was also a member of this company.) Later in 1915, his wife Martha applied for and was awarded his Civil War pension. I remember my grandfather telling me about his grandmother receiving that pension.

James was born in Chatham County, NC in 1844 and married Martha Jane Lett (also of Chatham County, NC) on 2 Dec 1866. They had 10 children: Wesley, Thomas, James Arthur, Bertis, Cornie, Mattie, Ira, Pressly Jonas, Viola, and Curley. On the 1860 federal census, he is listed as head of the household and living in the Pittsboro district of Chatham County. In 1870 and 1880, he and his family are listed as being in the Cape Fear township of Chatham County. I do not think the family moved, but that the lines of division for the federal census districts changed. James was a farmer and the family lived on a 275 acre farm on the banks of the Cape Fear River.

Sadly, James died at the age of 47 on 32 Jan 1892 just two days prior to his mother Semantha Maddox. It leads me to speculate a winter illness could have been the culprit. James Maddox is buried at Moore Union Christian Church (now in Lee County, NC) along with other Maddox ancestors.

St Peter's Parish

St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, VA

Today I will introduce you to a place prominent in my (our) family history. St Peter's Parish is located not far from Richmond in New Kent County, VA. It was established on 29 Apr 1679 and continues to be an active parish today. It is also the oldest church in the Diocese of Virginia. It is the church where Martha Dandridge Custis married her second husband George Washington on 6 Jan 1759, thus earning the nickname "The First Church of the First Lady". So, what does all this mean to us? Descendants from both sides of my family are listed in the parish records.

Based on the research by Betty Collie and Robert King in their book The Collie Family, the Richardson family of Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties, VA trace back to Skip Richardson of New Kent County, VA. Skip and his wife Margaret are believed to be the probable great-grandparents of Elijah Richardson (my great x 4 grandfather). The line of descent looks something like this: Esther Lee, Daniel, George, Elijah, Thomas Jr, Thomas Sr, Skip. Richardsons show up in the St Peter's Parish vestry book as early as the 1720's documenting Skip Richardson's children's births. By the time of the 1782 Halifax County census, it appears that Thomas Jr and his family were living in Halifax County, having followed other family members who were already there.

In their book above, Betty Collie and Robert King present very detailed and well documented information about the Richardson family genealogy. The above information is from their research, not my own. If you ever get the opportunity to read their book, I highly recommend it. I have not found any more copies available to purchase, but many historical and/or genealogy libraries have copies. On an interesting note, I found myself listed in their book! I suppose I went so far back I found myself.

The Maddox family are also found among the parish records. Our earliest known ancestor was John Maddox born 1667 in Wales and died 1718 in St Peter's Parish. His wife Margaret's death is also listed in the vestry book. Several of their children's early 1700's births are listed in the parish's vestry book. The Maddoxes left New Kent in the 1720's and moved to Goochland Co, VA and then between 1774/1777, David Maddox moved the family to the Cape Fear River in Chatham County, NC . Descendants still live the area today. Why the family left VA for NC is not known. To give a perspective, the line of descent (maybe ascent?) is Mattie Maddox, James T, Calvin, Tarlton, David, John, John.

Connecting the NC Maddoxes with the VA Maddoxes is circumstantial. Research back that far can be hard to confirm and I would like to have more solid evidence connecting David and John Maddox. Some researchers disagree with the connecting John Sr and John Jr. I suppose that's what makes all this so fun!

I hope you enjoyed this post and I did not just muddy the waters. Walking where your ancestors walked 300 years ago can be humbling.

Back View of St Peter's Parish

The Maddox Sisters

Viola Maddox was the youngest daughter of James T and Martha Jane Maddox. She was born 28 Feb 1889 and died as a toddler on 02 Jun 1890. I found out about Viola quite by accident. You see, no one in the family remembers hearing of her. She appears in no written records. The only possible public record in which she would have been listed was the 1890 federal census. Unfortunately, this census was destroyed by fire. I found her in the Moore Union Christian Chruch cemetery, along side other Maddox family members.

Cornelia Maddox (also known as Aunt Cornie) was the oldest daughter in the Maddox family. She was born 15 Jan 1879. She and her younger sister Mattie were very close often appearing in photos together. Their resemblence is striking! Cornie married Johnston Hughes on 25 Feb 1914 and lived in Florida where their four children (Robert, Florence, Betty, and a young brother) were born. Upon her husband's death, Cornie and the children returned the Lee County area.

Mattie, Cornie and Unknown Man

Johnston Levi Hughes

Meet Mattie Maddox Howard

Meet Mattie Maddox Howard

Mattie Maddox was my great-grandmother and in many very real ways a mystery woman. Mattie was the mother of James Lester Howard and for years he had her portrait propped against the wall in his walk up attic. As a child, I frequenly visited Grandaddy's attic. It was always lots of fun to see the Christmas decorations stored away or the knick knacks Grandmother put away for another day. But always, I studied the portrait of Mattie and wondered about her. Perhaps I thought if I stared long enough, she would tell me her secrets....

Mattie didn't tell me her secrets in that attic, but oral history and photos, along with historical records revealed much about her. She was born in Chatham County, NC 22 Mar 1881. Her mother was Martha Jane Lett (1851-1935) and her father James Tarlton Maddox (1844-1892). She lived on a 275 acre farm known as The Maddox Farm located on the banks of the Cape Fear River. She had two sisters-- Cornelia and Viola (who died as a young child) and 7 brothers--Calvin, Thomas, James Arthur, Bertis, Clenon, Jonah, and Curley. She lost her father at a young age and according to her son Lester Howard, she worked very hard helping her mother on the family farm. She was also close to her sister Cornelia (known as Cornie) and many pictures show Mattie and Cornie together. I guess with 7 brothers, they had to stick together! Lester Howard remembered the family was religious and faithfully attended Moore Union Christian Church along with other Maddox and Lett relatives.

Mattie married Connie Maise Howard on 8 Mar 1914 in Lee County, NC. They had four children: Lester, Walter, Jewel and Clayton. Mattie died at the age of 46 on 30 Jul 1927. My grandfather was 12 years old. Why Mattie died is a bit of a mystery. Oral history, along with children's journal entries offer vague facts. We do know that she was in the hospital in the Sanford area prior to being transferred to what is now Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. When her children were brought to see her before her move to Raleigh, she did not even recognize them. What a sad, confusing time for my grandfather and his siblings. Oral history tells us that Mattie died from "brain surgery". As a child I also heard that it was sinus surgery. No one knows for sure, however about a week before her death, she was moved to the state hospital (what is now known as Dix Hospital) where she died in the early morning hours of July 30th.

As I go over the stories several things stand out to me. First, in 1927 brain surgery would have been in its infancy and was not done often. According to her death certificate, no surgery proceeded her death. Her cause of death is listed as exhaustion with psychosis of unknown origin. During an interview, Otis Kelly (her nephew) has no recollection of "Aunt Matt" having had surgery. He does remember that she could not be left alone just prior to her hospitalization in Sanford. Others in the family remember Big Grandaddy (Connie Howard) as saying she probably had some kind of cancer. Putting all this together it is likely that Mattie had some type of brain tumor or cancer which certainly would account for any mental status changes. Whether she had surgery or not ever be known for certain. Unfortunately, the end result is the same--a young husband lost a wife and four young children lost a mother.

To end on a much lighter note, Mattie is well remembered as a good cook and a wonderful seamstress. Her daughter Jewel proudly reported to me that Mattie made all her own clothes. Otis Kelly remembers her as "a good woman!" Mattie was known to be the first to show up to care for sick family members and doing the cooking, cleaning and whatever was necessary. Mattie was also known to have a beautiful alto singing voice. It was recently discovered that there are many alto choir members in our family!

Enjoy Mattie's story. I'm sure there is more "out there" to discover about her. I'll keep you posted.