Oh, Edna. If This IS You, Just Too Sad for Words

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The other night the 1921 Canadian Census became available online, thanks to the Library and Archives of Canada.  

I hit up the search engine late in the evening, cause, well, I had to.  Sleep?  Nah.  Search. Ya!

I went first to Nova Scotia to see what I might find on Man's Fenton clan there.  I found the enumeration of William and Ida (Jarvis) Fenton and noted there were 2 adopted sons in the household.  Both with the surname of Sisco.  I dug around, messaged with a Fenton researcher I share with and we identified both.  

My fast and furious searches and clicks and shocked findings are a blur now, so, to tell you the chronological search is just about impossible. Plus the fact that as the night grew cold and old and the new day dawned (meaning I searched until about 2 AM in the morning), and I grew tired, ok, MORE tired, well, the gut kept screaming, this is IT, THIS IS IT!.  But, I was so taken back by the revelations, that I knew I had to try to sleep on it, and redo the research and make better notes, and really give this all some time to seep into my core.

The short of it is, that I went to the Nova Scotia Vital Statistics site and I searched Sisco, and I started looking at just about every Sisco birth, marriage and death available.

Before I go on, I would urge you to read my story about Man's grandmother, Edna May Fenton Stevens.  Pay particular close attention to her MIA years, 1901 to 1918.  Also, note, that we have installed a headstone for Edna and Arthur since I wrote this post in 2010.  I'll be here after you read her story - - 

So, you read it?  From the piece, you saw this right?

"She does not appear on the 1911 census.  In fact, from 1901 until 1918 we have no idea where Edna is or what she is doing."

In all these years, despite many hours of researching, and even a quick trip to Nova Scotia last year, I never found another hint of any kind at what happened to Edna.  Not. One.  Hint!

But, while hunting Sisco, I found this birth record.  Please note, this is only part of the record.  From the top, name of the child, sex, birthday and place, name of father, maiden name of mother, residence of father, occupation of father, place of birth of father and race of father.

Note the name of the mother.  Edna May Fenton. As far as I know, and believe me, in this game, we never assume we know it all, there is only one Edna May Fenton that lives or lived in this area of Nova Scotia.  Man's grandmother.

You know I went looking for a marriage.  And, there is one, sorta. There is no date or place of the marriage.  Her age is not given.  Her name is noted as May Fenton.  There are no parents names. The record does not state where the parties of the marriage were born.  No name of the person that married them.  In other words, we have his name:  Alvin Sisco; her name:  May Fenton; his age is given as 21, he is a bachelor, she is single, and he is a labourer and they both live in Yarmouth.  You can find it on that Nova Scotia site, search for Sisco, marriages, 1908.

OKKK, from here on out, I am going to just list events in time line fashion.  Since I am sure in my own heart, but, feel still a bit shaky at the paper trail, please take this with a grain of salt.  I may have the wrong Edna May Fenton.  (It happens.) My findings so far, all events in or around Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

1908 Alvin Sisco and May Fenton at least file some paper work indicating a marriage between the two.

March 25, 1909, Muriel Sisco is born to Alvin Sisco and Edna May Fenton..

May 15, 1910, Alice May Sisco is born to Alvin Sisco and Edna May Fenton.

May 8, 1911, Bernie Sisco is born to Alvin and Edna May Fenton.  More on Bernie later.

1911 Canadian census we find Alvin born Sept 1887; Edna born March 1890; Muriel born March 1909; Alice born May 1910; Bernard, born May 1911 (he is listed as one month old).  Also in the household are David and Arthur Sisco, whom, I have determined are Alvin's brothers.

Jan 29, 1912, Alice May Sisco dies, father Alvin.

April 13, 1912, William Sisco is born, father Alvin, mother Edna May Fenton.

June 22, 1913, one "Bernard" Sisco dies, father, Alvin.  Age 13 months.  It is my belief that this is actually William Sisco born on April 13, 1912.  Given name in error.  From grief and ongoing health issues of the father, as:

August 14, 1913, Alvin Sisco dies, he had been ill for well over a year.

Now, extra notes I have gathered and am still working on:

That Bernard Sisco born May 8, 1911 is found living with William and Ida Fenton on the 1921 census as an adopted son.  Bernard Fenton dies in 1934.  Birth date of Bernard Fenton is the same as that of Bernie Sisco.  Parents listed on death certificate are William and Ida Fenton.  I know, it is muddy.  Bernard Fenton who died in 1934 is the same as Bernie Sisco born May 8, 1911.

Muriel Sisco marries one Roland Archibold Jacklyn.  The marriage record names her father as Alvin and her mother as Edna Fenton.  

You bet the search continues. And, yep, I am still in a bit of shock.  After 26 years of research, I figured I would never find Edna from 1901 to 1918.  There is still the time period of 1913 to 1918.  How did she get to the greater Detroit area to marry Man's grandfather?  Where is Muriel between 1911 and 1935?

Is this even close to being correct?

If it is, Edna gave birth to 4 children, 2 of whom subsequently died, and her husband died as well.  All of this took place from 1908 to 1913.  Five short years.

Just too sad for words.

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The Headstone, A Photo At Last

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Man and I have been waiting most of the summer to visit the cemetery where his grandparents are buried to see and photo the brand spanking new headstone we ordered and had placed there last year.  The cemetery is in a rather inconvenient place, not in our normal travel areas.  In other words, we have to go out of our way to visit.

We had to have the oil changed on Zoom Zoom the car, and had agreed that on the way back from that (in northern Ohio) we would "swing" by the cemetery.  The weather forecast was 50% chance of rain and maybe severe storms. Figures, the day we will drive 200 miles or more and way out of our way, the forecast was icky.

So, we head out, we stop and have a nice lunch, we drive to the dealer.  They do the oil, also rotate the tires and tighten a lead on the battery that Man was reluctant to tighten too much.  Warranty can handle, eh??

So we know we are fighting Mother Nature. We leave dealer. Make stop at the local Costco which is laid out different than ours.

As we leave there Man is pushing a bit, he is in a hurry due to concerns over weather. We head north on the expressway, lots of construction, and then, it starts raining.  It rains a bit. On. Off. On. Off. OOOOOPS:  The wipers are not working right per man. Sigh.

We are running into the rain which is light, then deluge, then, it starts to slack off. We have hopes by studying the weather on MyRadar app that we might make it to the cemetery before the rain really hits that area.  Man is not happy because of wipers, which he claims are not functioning correctly.  Frankly, I have never figured out those wipers so, I figure they are just on the wrong "setting".  He is convinced the malfunctioning is due to the issue of the battery lead fix. 

The rain slows. We are almost there. It almost stopped raining.  We pulled in. Rain has all but stopped. Get to the back of the cemetery.  Jump out of Zoom Zoom. We take off almost at a run to locate this headstone before the rain starts back up. Get about 4 rows into the search.  4 rows in and it starts pouring.

Back to Zoom Zoom. Man is still screaming about wipers. I am swearing up a storm, err, am very upset, because he wants to leave. After waiting all summer, we are 30 seconds too late??  We stay, even tho he was not thrilled. It stopped raining in about 5 minutes.

While we sat there I looked around and decided I needed to look about 50 yards down further. That little tree, looks familiar, don't you know.  I don't think Man stopped in the correct spot in the cemetery, I seem to remember that little tree being nearby the burial spot.

So I got out leaving Man there to fuss with the wipers. I found the stone. It is covered with wet grass clippings and I did not have my soft cleaning brush. Sigh. I cleaned with my hands best I could and took a number of photos. At least there is no freaking glare from the sun.

Geessh!!!

Wait all summer for this opportunity and the rain hits just as I step out of the car.  Figures eh?

Of course, it is still spitting rain, and you did not hear it here, but, yes, I was out there and there was some thunder, which means, there was lightening near by. I know, don't lecture me. SIGHHHH.

I am reminded tonight as I processed the photos that those double stones are hard to get a good photo of. Or, in other words, I am just too short and have a hard time getting a photo. 

A little grass shows and I note, with a grimace and some of my dark humor, that the edges of this photo have a little bend in them because I am fighting shortness of stature, mine! Looks like a photo done with panoramic settings. OK, I'm giggling, because, I must.

No, I cannot make this stuff up.  OHHHH, and the wipers, they were fine, worked just like they should all the way home, when I drove through sprinkles and hard rains.  Figures.  Really, you just MUST laugh.

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The Sewing Kit, More on the Possible Owner

Late last evening, I posted about a little sewing kit I now believe belonged to Edna May Fenton Stevens.

Our first take was, this was something that Son # 3's grandfather carried during WWII.  But, my late evening research last night made me question this.  You can revisit that entire post here.

Cousin Anne, asked: “could it be a world war I soldier's kit? “

Yes, Anne, maybe it could be, the time frame seems to fit. To discuss this, let's review the relationships, noting Son # 3 assumed this sewing kit belonged to his grandfather, Art.

Art's parents were Edna and Art Stevens, only Art Stevens, the husband of Edna was also known as Archie Lashbrook.  (Full name, Archibald Norman Lashbrook)

I have discussed Edna before here at Reflections.  Edna was the subject of my contribution to the 91st Carnival of Genealogy, A Tribute to Women! The Biography, where I discuss her secretiveness and the years of her life that we have NO information on, her MIA years.  Fact, I have NO idea where Edna was from 1901 to 1918 when she married Art/Archie.

I have briefly mentioned Art/Archie, husband of Edna and father of Art.  I need to write more about Archie, he is interesting to say the least, this name changing stuff, and more secrets!  Fact, I have no idea where Art/Archie was for parts of 1916, 1917 and 1918.  I have some ideas tho.  Before 1916 and after 1918 I know where he was and pretty much, what he was doing.

Most references I have found state that WWI began in 1914, so, time wise, Art/Archie could have served during WWI, but only part of 1916, 1917 and the first months of 1918.  I have nothing that tells me he did, nothing that tells me he did not, except dates, he married Edna in May of 1918, WWI did not end till November of 1918.  Maybe sometime I will turn up a document or something, but, so far, nadda.

So, there are more questions than answers. Art, the WWII solider, could have indeed carried this little sewing kit to war, something we will probably never know (while we are on this side). Maybe his mother, Edna, gave it to him.  Maybe it was really Art/Archie's little sewing kit, as I noted above, it is possible that he served in WWI. 

So, yes, Anne, it could be a WWI issue sewing kit.  Now, I will never profess to understanding all this war stuff, but, unless this sewing kit was a gift from the USO or something akin to that, I have to say, that I seriously doubt that Uncle Sam would issue gear with a private endorsement, everything I have ever seen was clearly government issue with US stamped all over it.

(A quick google tells us that the USO was organized in 1941, well after WWI. )

I still feel the sewing kit belonged to Edna, and her son, Art had kept it as a memento.

The box Son # 3 and I photographed last night also contained a Zippo lighter and a tie tack. These items I know belonged to Art (Son # 3's grandfather) and I know they did not go to war with Art. So, the box contents are not exclusively WWII era items.

Photo, the Zippo, which may very well be the infamous "burned the hand" Zippo.  Another story waiting to be told.

Karen  also addressed the sewing kit, “Interesting find - is that piece below the thread the "lid", perhaps?” Yes, Karen, that is the lid.

*Thanks for the questions Anne and Karen, made me revisit, rethink, contemplate, all good things.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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Making New Family History, Discovering A Small Piece of Old Family History

Been an exhausting day around here, started early, included a LONG shopping trip with my soon to be new daughter-in-law.  Small matter of needing a dress for the upcoming wedding, my hating shopping and to my delight, discovering that she does not like it much either!  We had a grand time, rushing around through the stores, laughing at how we kept finding clothing we might buy if we were not on the "long dress hunt".  Oh, did you know that short, and I mean, MICRO MINI short dresses are all the rage for the prom crowd this year.  Cute, if you are under 20 years of age and petite.  Size 6 and below. But, I digress.

After 4 major stores, I did bring home a dress, which I may or may not wear, that decision will be made later.

Man's mother has been moved to an assisted home facility, and since her sticks and bricks home will be vacant, Man and the boys have been doing the clean out procedure.  So, if something undesireable happens, photos and momentos will not be there to be destroyed, stolen or lost.

Son # 3, the groom, took a small box that he remembered from visits to his grandmother's home when he was a child.  Most of the items in that box were Man's father's, buttons from his WWII uniform, some nasty looking bayonette things, shaving stuff, like razor straps for sharpening single edged shaving blades, some other neat stuff.  I decided I wanted photos, so, since I never leave home without it, I grabbed the camera, and we went through the box, item by item.

One item was a small sewing kit.  We originally thought it was Man's father's, from WWII.  After a bit of review of the photos, I don't believe it.  I think this belonged to Man's grandmother, Edna May Fenton.

Here is a photo of the kit:

And, here is a close up of just the case.  It is inscribed:  J. W. Greene Co., Pianos - Victrolas, 801-5 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, Ohio.

Two flags went up for me, one:  Toledo, Edna and Art (Man's grandparents) were married in Toledo in 1918.  AND, Victrola.  Victrola's were not WWII era.  I did go look up Victrola, and the company seems to have been in business from 1901 - 1929.  I found two references to J.W. Greene Co in books at GoogleBooks, one of the books reports history of the company and the other has a biography and a photo of J. W. Greene himself.

I cannot be sure that this little sewing kit is Edna's, well, not 100% sure.  But, I am comfortable saying, this was not a sewing kit issued to Man's father during WWII.

It is a rare day that you can say you made some new family history and discovered a small piece of some old family history, but, I can today.  And, I am whooped from all this exciting stuff, goodnight!

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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91st Carnival of Genealogy, A Tribute to Women! The Time Line

The 91st Carnival of Genealogy asks us to write a biography of a woman on your family tree, but first you need a time line for her.

I love time lines, I just don't do them.  However, a challenge is a challenge and I usually cannot resist.  So, I start with Google search and see what is out there in Net-Land.  I found three sites that I tried.  Two allowed me to do my own time lines via input of names and dates and such.  The third one was much more detailed, it has a HUGE data base of events tied to dates which result in quite long reports.  You can add your own dates and details to this one as well.  I think this time line builder would be super if you could pick and choose some of the standard events.  However, it is a large graphic if you need to cover a number of years, as in my case 1888 to 1954.  That said, this third one really gives you a great feel for what went on during the years of your ancestor's life.

I built a web page for the three time lines over at my sister site, Reflections On Families Past.  However, in 2015, it was discovered that Webs.com was not a satisfactory place to continue to store the time lines.

This page now has the links and images of the three time lines I built.  They all are interesting, and have aspects I like about them.  I most likely will not do another time line, but if I do, I think that I might use this one from Read Write Think at http://www.readwritethink.org/ .  I can see good possibilities with this time line, as I can add more details, but it is still simple and clearly laid out.

* Thanks to Jasia at Creative Gene for hosting this 91st Carnival of Genealogy.

**If you have trouble remembering historical dates, that HUGE time line builder is for you, for informational purposes that one rules, as they say. Even if it is a bit overwhelming! 

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.
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