Speaking of Full Moons, We Were, Weren't We?

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Recently, during a cleaning seige, Man and I pulled a old suitcase out of one of the closets.  And, yes, that is a rope handle.

It was time to rediscover what goodies it was protecting.

Lots of wedding photos, portraits, photos with family significance, almost all of which I had previously scanned and linked to my database.  

Still, what fun we had looking at them all once more.

I frankly did not remember this photo, but, we know it was taken and processed in Man's parent's basement darkroom by his father.  We have no date, but, around 1960ish is close enough for us.  

And, since we just had the February "snow" full moon - - 

I'm not quite sure why all the black around the outside is strangely shaped.  But, when I think of the state of photography equipment in that era, plus his printing in his own darkroom, I'm soooo impressed.

We were speaking of full moons, weren't we??  Of course we were.

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It Was A Bad Summer for the Gray's And Typhoid

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

1876, Sarah Gray dies in Nansemond County Virginia.  I found her death record, recorded in old style book format.  

I did not capture the column headings.  For the most part, they are reasonably obvious.

I did get a surprise when I found it, as two other Gray family members died that summer, Claudia and Putman.  Neither of whom were in my data base.  But, here they are.  The three deaths reported, apparently at the same time by husband and father L. J.

Each line of the written record, as transcribed by Ancestry dot com - - 

Sarah A.C. Gray

Name Sarah A.C. Gray

Gender Female

Death Date 30 Jun 1876

Death Place Nansemond, Virginia

Age 30

Birth Date 1846

Birthplace Nansemond Co., Virginia

Race White

Marital Status Married

Spouse's Name L J Gray

Father's Name   Joseph M Murphy  ?????  Not the same as on marriage  ????

Mother's Name Edith Murphy  ?????

(See the question marks, well, that's a problem I found, as I have her maiden name as Hines and her father as John, her mother as Sarah.  I see lots more follow up research indicated here. Find one answer, ask 10 more.)

L.J. and Sarah's children:

Claudia Gray

Name: Claudia Gray

Birth Date: abt 1872

Birth Place: Nansemond County, Virginia

Death Date: 30 Jul 1876

Death Place: Nansemond, Virginia

Death Age: 4

Race: White

Gender: Male

Father Name: L.J. Gray

Mother Name:  Sarah A.C. Gray

FHL Film Number: 2048578

Putman Gray

Name: Putman Gray

Birth Date: abt 1875

Birth Place: Nansemond County, Virginia

Death Date: 10 Aug 1876

Death Place: Nansemond, Virginia

Death Age: 11 Months 5 Days

Race: White

Gender: Male

Father Name: L.G. Gray

Mother Name:  Sarah A.C. Gray

FHL Film Number: 2048578

What do we learn from the images that was not transcribed by Ancestry dot com?  Cause of death.  Typhoid fever for all three.

It was a bad, sad summer for L.J.

*L. J. is Lubertus J., 1844 - 1896, research continues - - 

** Transcribed records can be found at Ancestry dot com in the Virginia, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917 data set.  The images were located at FamilySearch dot org.

***It will be noted that I have found the surname spelled as Gray and then in later years his descendants use Grey.  

**** Disclaimers - see my disclaimer page and note that I pay for my access to Ancestry dot com and that access to FamilySearch dot org is free.  

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Lookie What I Found, The Marriage Certificate, Chancery Style

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

When the image you have for a marriage is this:

And, you are reviewing a Chancery Case involving the same couple and you find this:

Case in point, one marriage record and one marriage certificate for Henry LeRoy Dews and Katie May Wynn. Sadly, the marriage ended in a flurry of sworn affidavits and divorce.

I have had the image of the book style marriage record for years.  I had reviewed the Chancery Case before, but, missed this "copy" of the marriage until today.

The power of review, it rarely fails me.

The book style record has been digitally edited, to removed a large portion of the page, lines and lines of marriage records that are not my subjects.  Henry and Katie are on almost the last line of the page.

The certificate is marked "A COPY" by the court clerk and was produced to provide evidence in the divorce case.

Gotta say, I thought to myself when I found that certificate, "what fun."  Genie happy dancing may have happened. 

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Annie Viola Holland, She Was Just a Baby

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

In the sport of genie/genealogy, for me, one of the goals is to reunite family members, via my data base and my stories.

Recently I discovered this obituary while reading old newspapers:

From the Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia, published on December 28, 1906:

“FUNERALS

The funeral of Annie Viola, infant daughter of Walter and Elma V. Holland, ages 17 months and 23 days, will take place THIS (Friday) AFTERNOOON at 1 o’clock, from the residence of her grandmother, Mrs. R. A. Gray, 432 South Park avenue. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.”

This small 7 line plus one word funeral notice is important because of the year, 1906.  There are no death records available online for 1906 in Virginia at this point.  We always hope for new discoveries of data bases not uploaded, but, for now, this is all we have for Annie.

Annie does have a Find A Grave memorial, here.  It has been updated with the information found in this 1906 funeral notice.  Linking to her parents was made possible by this discovery.  Digitally reuniting this family.

Annie was not in my data base, but, her parents were.  Annie is now included in the ancestors and family I try to honor with my work.

She was just a baby - - - 

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Solomon B. Eley, The Final Resting Place? 1871

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

During the winter months while waiting for vaccine, I have been reviewing.

Found, rediscovered in my stash, and this time properly processed.

From the Christian Sun, Elon University microfilm, Elon, North Carolina
The Christian sun. : (Suffolk, Va.) 1844-19??
Place of publication: Suffolk, Va.
Publisher: W.B. Wellons
Frequency: Weekly
It is believed this is from the August 15, 1871, Tuesday edition:

“The remains of the late Capt. Solomon B. Eley, who died in Prince George County, will be re-interred at Antioch Church in Isle of Wight County, on next Tuesday the 15th inst., at 2 o’clock, P.M.. the pastor of the church will deliver a discourse to his memory at that time.”

Note:  he did not pass in Prince George County, but rather Sussex.  He does not appear on any list of burials for Antioch that I have found, yet.

P.S.  This wonderful gem was discovered by a newbie researcher/genie angel.  She is related to another one of my fabulous genie angels.  She was searching newspapers on microfilm at Elon University (yes, pre-pandemic).  While many newspapers from Elon are online, it seems there are a number that are not.  This is tiring work, rolling the film, and reading every line, every page.  In her excitement, the sourcing was not perfect.  I'll forgive her, since this is the ONLY news clip I have on Solomon.  

I give thanks, once again, for genie angels.

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