Leverta, Is This You?? Maybe??

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Last we chatted about Leverta, just yesterday, I bemoaned that I had after many years, never located her marriage to Harold A. Bates.  And, that, I would continue the search.

Yesterday, I slid down the shiny rabbit hole of research digging around at Ancestry and FamilySearch.  (Be sure to read my Disclaimer page, thanks.)

I still found very few hits, I found one.  One of my genie angels later disproved that hopeful hint.  Rats. 

I revisited hits from prior research ventures.  At Ancestry, I have been having good results using their "Suggested Records" list.  This is to the right of the screen once you have identified a record you are interested in and have clicked thru for further information.  I have found some great stuff with the "Suggested Records".  And, I have found stuff that does not apply.  So, use with caution, but, have a lookie see, you never know.

I also sometimes change from the search name to other names shown in the record.  So, for a census enumeration index I might click on the head of household instead of one of his/her children.  This has also proven to be fruitful.

I did that yesterday, and look what I found - - a marriage for a Harold A. Bates and Mrs. Leverta Wilmer.  I was at the 1930 census index for Leverta, clicked Harold's name and started looking at his "Suggested Records".  Bam!

Who is Mrs. Leverta Wilmer?  Well, I'm just not sure.  I have never found Leverta, with any surname, on the 1900 or 1910, YET!  Those census enumerations may provide me with some hints about her marriages.  I suspect her second hubby, Francis Templeton Shepherd may have died in 1896.  So, she would have been free to marry Mr. Wilmer (?) between that date and 1901.

And, the search carries on - - - because, NO, I am not certain nor fully convinced this is my Leverta.  I feel it is, logically, it can work.  But, it has too many holes and missing information.  Back to the rabbit holes I go.

*  Part of the difficulty is that Leverta and many of her kin lived in and/or around Norfolk Virginia and many of their vital records are difficult to locate.  Norfolk City, Norfolk County, the area and it's records are a hot mess.  I'll just leave it at that for now.  It's difficult.  Just really difficult.

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Never Give up Hope

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I have been looking for more information on Leverta Eley Etheredge (Shepherd??) Bates for years, well over 20 years.  When I first started blogging I shared a photo I have of a mystery lady, whom I believed was Leverta, and in fact, I still do. You can read what facts I knew in 2009 by looking at that post.  I know some more since then, but, not a lot.  I have discovered information and data about her second, or third husband, Harold Bates.

I have been attempting to fill in her life story, and find her final resting place.  I have had some wonderful assistance along the way from a few genie angels.  AM and Susan.  And, probably others.  As I always ask, just where would my research be without the kindness of others??  Answer - - NOT where it is today - - I guarantee you that.

NOW, this morning on a Facebook page for Reclaim the Records, there was an announcement concerning death indexes for the State of New York. They mentioned they were not sure that deaths occurring in institutions were indexed, and if you found one, please let them know.  I decided to give it a whirl and see if there was any chance I could find Leverta.  I started in 1941 (taking a chance that she survived 1940) as I knew she was still alive in the 1940 census, per this index transcription:

Leverta Bates

 in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Name: Leverta Bates

Age: 62

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birthplace: Virginia

Marital Status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Inmate

Home in 1940: Middletown, Orange, New York

Map of Home in 1940: View Map

Inferred Residence in 1935: Middletown, Orange, New York

Residence in 1935: Same Place

Sheet Number: 33B

Institution: Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital

Attended School or College: No

Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year

Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 03

1941 - - nadda

1942 - - nadda

1943 (the year that Reclaim the Records acknowledged was the worst, almost impossible to read - - yea!!)   BINGO!!  

Here is a screen capture, what I can read:  Bates, Leverta, Died Middletown, age 64 years.  Appears death occurred in May, the 8th, the 18th or the 28th.  The certificate number, well, mmmmm, 24881, maybe???

I took this screen capture to Photoshop, but, the improvement is minimal.

I even screen captured just the last 3 columns in a larger format from the web site:

And, again, the digital enhancements, minimal improvement.

Now, despite the disappointment that the index is the least legible of the set, I am thrilled. I know what year and probably what month she passed.  And, I know that she was still at the institution.

The index for this specific entry is here.

There is this blog, which is now inactive that tried to work on burials for institutions in the state of New York.  After a number of years and what appears to be much frustration the writer has moved on.

I'll keep working on this, of course, as her story is still not fully told.

And, I still think that photo, it's her, a wedding photo, if you will.

* And, seriously, how LUCKY was I that Leverta's entry was one that someone enhanced with a marker??  I mean, if you were a betting person - -

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The Naming of Two Husbands - - I Love Death Certificates

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

During the ongoing cleaning, organizing, consolidating work on the computer files and the genie data base, I sometimes find a document that is just a bit more informative than others, like:

Naomi Eley, born to Stephen A. Eley and his wife Anne H. Edwards.  Up until this past weekend, that was about all I knew about Naomi.

I now know she was married twice, check out box 18 on her death certificate.

Naomi's first marriage was to Wallace C. Varner, by whom she had a daughter, Mildred. And, then, Naomi was married to B. H. Lane.  By the way, B. H. stands for Benjamin Harrison.

I now have Naomi's death certificate, and have located her memorial on Find A Grave. 

I have located the date of her marriage to Wallace via the delayed birth registration of her daughter Mildred.

I have Wallace's death certificate.

I have Benjamin's death certificate and I know where he is buried.

I have the delayed birth registration and death certificate of Mildred.

The information is flowing in faster than I can process it.

I'm having a great time.

Yea, I love death certificates.

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Loving Review and Chancery Cases - - Mills Norsworthy Turns 21

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The review, consolidation, linking process with the data base continues.  Tonight, I re-discovered this little tidbit.

This is from the Isle of Wight Virginia Chancery Case, found at the Library of Virginia web site.  It is labeled as case # 1884-010.  It is a case concerning Norsworthy and Pittman, covers 80 some pages and tells us the names of the surviving children of William G. and Sarah Dianna (Pittman) Norwsorthy.  

I had never processed this case, even tho I have downloaded it.  In my quick review tonight I found the married name of one of the sisters, and within minutes I found her death certificate, burial place, name of her husband and a possible list of her children, thanks to the Find A Grave memorial for her.  One of the brothers, Richard Elliard Norsworthy, I discovered his approximate birth date from another affidavit signed by William G.  And, I discovered the approximate birthday of Mills, who was the first hubby of my great-grandmother Lorena.  (Some of you may remember Lorena, she had 5 hubbies and my daddy used to tell me he thought she fed them poisoned mushrooms. NO, she did not, but, you know dad's - - - - )

Rough transcription:

I solemnly swear that my son Mills Norsworthy attained twenty one years of age on the 14th day of March 1882 - - -

(next line looks like it fell along a fold line, and is a bit hard to read)

??? & Wilmoth Pittman the grandmother of said Mills, widow of Thomas H. Pittman died sometime in the year 188?

Signed Wm. G. Nosworthy ( by his mark X)

Yes, I love review and Chancery Cases.

*  Please read my Disclaimer page, just in case you don't remember that I pay for my usage of many web sites and they don't care if I mention them or not.  And, I use a lot of free genealogy web sites too.

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John Eley, Jr., 5th Great-Grandfather, In the News in 1767

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Now and then, when I find something that sparks my interest, I share. Now is then.

From the Virginia Gazette, Publication date November 12, 1767, page 2, column 3. Published by Purdue & Dixon.

ISLE of WIGHT, October 26, 1767

ON Saturday the 24th of this instant I went to the house of Robert Coggen, soon after which came a lusty well made man, who appeared to be 25 years of age, with a lightish coloured coat, black velvet waistcoat, leather breeches, wore a watch, and seemed very fond of gaming; upon which, as no body there knew any thing of him, I told Jethro Gale, one of the Sheriffs of our county, to desire him to come before me, and I would ask him some questions, as I did not think he was there on any good design.  Immediately on the Sheriff's acquainting him of the same he run off without his hat, leaving a bay mare, about 14 hands high, with a large white spot in her forehead, paces well, and branded on the rear buttock (a mark which I cannot reproduce here was in the article, see image above)   saddle and bride, New-market coat, linen wallet, with a linen shirt and a pair of black stockings therein.  He calls himself sometimes William Stevenson, at other times William Stevens; and as the above mare is supported to be stolen, the owner may have her on proving his property, and paying the charge of this advertisement, by applying to    JOHN ELEY, Jun.

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Darden/Eley Advertisement, Suffolk, Virginia, 1878

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The Library of Virginia has some digitized newspapers.  Now and then, I wander over and surf around.

A few years ago, I discovered that they have 4 issues of the publication,  "The Casket", published in Suffolk, Virginia (1878) online.

I found this interesting advertisement.  I have yet to discover who the partners may be.  I descend from both clans, the Dardens and the Eleys.  Most of my research has been in Isle of Wight, Suffolk (was Nansemond), Southampton, and Norfolk Counties.

This particular ad was published in January of 1878.  I see some more snooping going on in my future.  What Darden?  What Eley?

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Redux: April 9, 1865, the Day of Surrender, Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This post originally appeared on Reflections on April 9, 2010.

Solomon B. Eley is my second great grandfather.  He was born around 1836 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Exum Eley and his second wife, Martha (Patsey) Darden Marshall Eley.

Solomon served with the 16th Virginia Infantry, Company D.  He entered the war as a Second Lieutenant, eventually was promoted to a Captain.  For a number of months he actually was the top commanding officer of Company D while his superior officers were indisposed.

On April 9, 1865 he was at Appomattox Courthouse, and signed the surrender papers.  First is part of the first page of several that I receive when I obtained a copy of this document.

The printed portion of this graphic reads:

We, the undersigned Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, having been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S. A., Commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States, do hereby give our solemn parole of honor that we will not hereafter serve in the armies of the Confederate States, or in any military capacity whatever, against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged, in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.

Done at Appomattox Court House, Va., this 9th day of April 1865.

Solomon's signature appears on this graphic, the last signature:

After the war, Solomon married Sarah (Sallie) Anne Darden.

Solomon B. Eley died April 21 1871 in Sussex County, Virginia from consumption, his remains were taken back to Isle of Wight County Virginia for burial, however, his burial place remains undiscovered.

Because the family had a photo (original format unknown) of Solomon and could prove he was at the Courthouse on the day of surrender, his photo has been placed on the Wall of Honor at the Appomattox Courthouse.  This photo was taken a number of years ago, slightly out of focus, but, there he is (lower left corner).

Someday we shall chat about this photo and his uniform.  I wrote about Solomon in my post of September 11, 2009, Ancestor Military Battles, Solomon B. Eley, where I first shared the documents and his story.

Solomon's photo, with that of his wife, Sallie, hang in my home, a constant reminder of my family and their stories.




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Been Waiting 20 Years, Hope I Can Wait a Little Longer

Copyright 2011, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

They always say, the best research you will do or find will be during the last week, or the last day, or even more exciting and stressful, during the last couple of hours you are in a research facility.  And, it looks like what they say is gonna be true one more time.

Yesterday I was plugging along, trying to grab some of the things I had not quite finished, a deed here and there, then saw a note about getting copies of some wills. Actually, burnt wills, which I have seen, but thought I would like to have digital copies anyway.  Along side the information on 2 wills was a cryptic note I left myself to check the surname Marshall in Isle of Wight Virginia, to see if there are any wills there for two John Marshalls, father and maybe son.

So, rather tired, OK, close to dead (oh, ya, there she goes again, sick humor, play on words) tired, I looked at the catalog, found a film that said it was an index to Wills.  Retrieve the film, load it up, start spinning.  I was rather surprised and disappointed to find that there were a LOT of missing pages, per the notes filmed along with the pages they had filmed.  Great, how many pages she wonders, and did the MIA's have my names listed, probably, she sighs.

So, I spin away, skipping by some of the other surnames from Isle of Wight that I am researching, stopping here and there, never did find the Marshalls.  Then one of those serendipity spins happened, I stopped on a page, speed reading it, when I saw names that I recognized, Eley and Pierce.

I have been researching Solomon B. Eley and his wife, Sallie Darden Eley Pierce since about 1991, basically when I started my serious research addiction.  Solomon and Sallie are my great great grandparents on my father's side of the clan.  I have had photos of them for many years, well before 1991.  I have strong emotional ties to them, maybe because of the photos, actually I have stopped trying to figure out why.  I just am connected and emotional about Solomon and Sallie!

Solomon B. Eley and Sallie Darden Eley Pierce.

Solomon served during the Civil war in the 16th Virginia Infantry, Company D.  So did many members of his immediate and extended family.  Solomon was present at Appomattox on April 9th, 1865.  He signed surrender papers as an officer of the 16th.  I have copies of that 4 page (legal sized) document.

After the war Solomon came back to Isle of Wight, married Sallie Darden and on July 4, 1866 they celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter, my great grandmother, Lorena.  They had several more children, the number is a bit in question, I currently show a total of 4 children born to the union, 2 boys, and another daughter. Both sons died young.  In 1871 Solomon himself passed, partially because of health issues that started during the war.  Married about 6 years, Sallie was now a widow.

Every discovery about Solomon has been difficult, just finding him in the 1870 census was a challenge, remember, this was before internet based indexes.  He was found living in a nearby county where he died.  Contacting the county clerk there resulted in some wonderful documents concerning Solomon.  That said, his burial place remains a mystery still.  I am sure Sallie was quite poor, and there just was no money for the purchase of a headstone, none for Solomon, none for her babies, and many many years later, none for Sallie either.

Two years after Solomon died Sallie remarried, her new groom's name was Francis Pierce, and a few more babies came along.  The number is in question, 2 or 3 daughters.

I made several trips to Isle of Wight, researched in the court house, they are wonderful there, very helpful, but let you work away at your own speed.  I was in research courthouse heaven!  I also researched several times in the Library of Virginia, another fine research facility.  I found a few tidbits, but, I always wanted and hoped for more. For some reason, I felt there was more, but, WHAT and WHERE was it??

I think I may have found that 'something more' in that Will Index, Eley, heirs S. A. Pierce, et al.  I think my heart may have stopped beating for a few seconds there.  I read it again, yes, Eley, S. A. Pierce, yes, it is them.  Holy COW!!

Back at the catalog I discover, much to my dismay, that Will books 27 and 28 were filmed by the FHC, but that books 29 and those following, were not.  I need book 30.  And, at that point my heart started, stopped, fluttered, catch your breath Carol.  OH RATS!!!

So close. Almost.  I'm working on getting a copy of those pages.  Some of my genie friends/angels are already helping me figure out the next steps, thank you!!  I am being cautiously optimistic, cause the last time I looked at an index that said "List of heirs" I got the name of one, who signed for all, but, did not list the others.

I can wait a bit longer, well, I am going to have to wait a bit longer.  WOW!  Oh, WOW!  Here is to hope that the pages will be what I have felt was there and that I have finally found it.  WOW!  Oh, WOW!


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April 9, 1865, the Day of Surrender, Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia

Solomon B. Eley is my second great grandfather.  He was born around 1836 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Exum Eley and his second wife, Martha (Patsey) Darden Marshall Eley.

Solomon served with the 16th Virginia Infantry, Company D.  He entered the war as a Second Lieutenant, eventually was promoted to a Captain.  For a number of months he actually was the top commanding officer of Company D while his superior officers were indisposed.

On April 9, 1865 he was at Appomattox Courthouse, and signed the surrender papers.  First is part of the first page of several that I receive when I obtained a copy of this document.

The printed portion of this graphic reads:

We, the undersigned Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, having been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S. A., Commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States, do hereby give our solemn parole of honor that we will not hereafter serve in the armies of the Confederate States, or in any military capacity whatever, against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged, in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.

Done at Appomattox Court House, Va., this 9th day of April 1865.

Solomon's signature appears on this graphic, the last signature:

After the war, Solomon married Sarah (Sallie) Anne Darden.

Solomon B. Eley died April 21 1871 in Sussex County, Virginia from consumption, his remains were taken back to Isle of Wight County Virginia for burial, however, his burial place remains undiscovered.

Because the family had a photo (original format unknown) of Solomon and could prove he was at the Courthouse on the day of surrender, his photo has been placed on the Wall of Honor at the Appomattox Courthouse.  This photo was taken a number of years ago, slightly out of focus, but, there he is (lower left corner).

Someday we shall chat about this photo and his uniform.  I wrote about Solomon in my post of September 11, 2009, Ancestor Military Battles, Solomon B. Eley, where I first shared the documents and his story.

Solomon's photo, with that of his wife, Sallie, hang in my home, a constant reminder of my family and their stories.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.

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Smile For The Camera, "Give Their Face A Place", Sarah Anne Darden

This Smile For The Camera challenge is:  March is Women's History month and you are asked to picture women back into history. The unknown, known and unsung women who are often the foundation of our family history. Give their face a place.  Thank you to footnoteMaven at Shades of The Departed for hosting this carnival.

My choice to give a place to is my GG Grandmother, Sarah Anne Darden Eley Pierce.  Better call her Sallie tho, as I don't think I have ever found her in any document recorded as Sarah.  Sallie was born March 5, 1847 in Isle of Wight County Virginia, her father was Charles Henry Darden, her mother, Nancy Seeds Darden.  Left is the ONLY picture of Sallie that I have ever seen.

Her father built this house, sometime around 1850.  If she was not born in this house, she surely spent many of her formative years here.

This photo was taken sometime in the 1990's. 

At the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana there is a great collection of early maps.  (This map was part of the collection of  maps in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress.)  In that collection I discovered a map of Isle of Wight County, Virginia drawn during the Civil War.  This map had residences indicated, marshes, rivers, areas of heavy forests or woods, plus any military objects of interest.  Charles Darden's home is shown, as "Darden", see it close to the bottom of the map, a little to the right of center.

Here is the home, current mapping courtesy of Google.

Sallie married Solomon B. Eley, on September 13, 1865, just months after the close of the Civil War.  Her husband was a veteran, had been a Captain in the 16th Virginia Infantry, and was at Appomattox Courthouse Virginia on April 9th, 1865 for the final surrender. 

Sallie and Solomon did not wait long to start their family, on July 4, 1866 their first born child, Lorena Estelle Eley was born.  Three more children came along in rapid succession, 2 sons and another daughter.  The two sons did not survive past infancy, one of the sons we do not even have a name for. 

In April of 1871 Solomon died from consumption, very likely, the after effects of his years on the battlefield.  His compiled service record shows he was hospitalized at least once, in Richmond.  He died in Sussex County, Virginia, where we find a Chancery case which included documents where Sallie had arranged to have Solomon's body as well of that of an infant child transported back to Isle of Wight County for burial.  (Burial spot unknown.)

Sallie was left to care for her two daughters.  Her father was in deep financial trouble, times were rough, how did she survive? 

About two years later on April 1, 1873 Sallie took as her second husband Francis Columbus Pierce.  To this union were born two daughters.  The first has been lost to this researcher, the second lived to adulthood, married and had her own family.

By 1900 Sallie and Frank Pierce had moved away from their ancestral county, Isle of Wight Virginia.  But they did not move far, only to Norfolk Virginia.  Frank worked as a sawmill watchman and later as a policeman.

Sallie died May 2, 1914, her three daughters surviving her.  Sallie is buried in a paupers grave in Magnolia Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia.  After experiencing the Civil War, marrying a veteran, losing her husband and 3 children to early deaths, marrying a second time, Sallie's last place is here, under a huge magnolia tree in an unmarked grave. 

My choice to give a place to is my GG Grandmother, Sarah Anne Darden Eley Pierce. Better call her Sallie tho, as I don't think I have ever found her in any document recorded as Sarah. Sallie was born March 5, 1847 in Isle of Wight County Virginia, her father was Charles Henry Darden, her mother, Nancy Seeds Darden. Left is the ONLY picture of Sallie that I have ever seen.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.

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Relatively Speaking, Slave Names & Chancery Cases

If you read cousins Anne's post, Things in Common & Diverse Results, and cousin Karen's post, Names Names Names, you will see that the Wild One's research, though on common ground, is quite, as Anne says, diverse.  We love comparing, we all learn from it, and sometimes we get a good laugh, or cry.

This discussion began, when I found some slave names in early Chancery cases in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.  I believe I have found names before over the years, but have not done much with that information, even though I have had every intention of doing so.  That well meaning intention stated, I really don't think I have had an effective method to do so, but I feel Reflections From the Fence is a great place to start. 

So, lets begin.  My discoveries were made when I was informed that Chancery cases from Isle of Wight County Virginia had been digitized and were available at the Library of Virginia web site.  At the bottom of this page (currently left bottom) you will see a link that says, "Site Index".  Click it and it takes you here.  Now click on "Chancery Records Index" and you find yourself, here.  After reading the intro, click on Search the index, currently the last link of the page, you will find yourself here. 

After a few visits to the site, I found I get the best results from my search requests by using the "Surname" search, and only using one name, even if I know more names that are involved. 

Note:  Not all Virginia counties have been digitized, I am anxiously awaiting Rockingham County, I KNOW I have several cases there involving my great-grandfather Charles Homan Trumbo, but, I digress.

Now that you know where I was searching, I am going to give you links to several Chancery cases in Isle of Wight that concern my ancestors or individuals I am researching.  I have been downloading pages and pages, at least 500 pages over several long days.  I have tried transcribing a few of them, and to say it is laborious is rather an understatement. We all know old handwriting is a tough assignment, and believe me, some of these pages surely live up to that.

Case # 1:  Plaintiff(s) WIDOW OF JOHN MARSHALL, PATSEY MARSHALL WIDOW
Defendant(s) MARTHA MARSHALL &C BY ETC
Index number:  1834-024.  I believe this is the earliest dated case I have found. Case has 9 pages, I would draw your attention to page 2, which names slaves, here is a screen shot.

Even if you open this graphic you can see it is a hard read.  The names appear again on page 8, which is a little easier on the eyes.

Here it is after a bit of photoshop editing:

On page 9 of this Chancery case you will find values of the slaves (note the description of Simon, who seems to be the son of Louis, in one sentence on this page he is referred to as " & Louis's small child Simon").

Case # 2: Plaintiff(s) MARTHA MARSHALL &C BY ETC
Defendant(s) ADMR OF JOHN MARSHALL
Index number: 1835-002
Case has 15 pages, please look at page 7. This page gives specific information on which heir received which slave, hopefully that information would aid researchers.

Another related case is
Case # 3 Plaintiff(s) MARTHA MARSHALL &C BY ETC
Defendant(s) POLLY MARSHALL BY ETC
Index number: 1835-006

Lets take a moment and talk about my ancestors, in hopes that it will assist researchers:

John Marshall was born about 1788, married in 1816 to Martha "Patsey" Darden, and died in December of 1829.

John and Martha had the following children: John Lawson Marshall, Adolphus Marshall, Polly Marshall, Lydia Marshall, Thomas J. Marshall and Martha Marshall.

Martha "Patsey" Darden Marshall, widow married her second husband, Exum Eley in 1832 in Isle of Wight County Virginia.  Exum was a widower having had 7 children with his first wife, Polly B. Moody, they are:  William H. Eley, Exum L. Eley, George W. Eley, James M. Eley, Sally A. Eley, Rebecca (middle initial in question) Eley and Thomas J. Eley. 

Martha "Patsey" Darden Marshall Eley and Exum Eley had 3 children:  Virginia C. Eley, Stephen A. Eley and my direct ancestor, Solomon B. Eley (also found in records as Solomon J. Eley).

All these names appear in the last two cases of the day:

Case # 4: Plaintiff(s) WIDOW OF EXUM ELEY and MARTHA ELEY WIDOW
Defendant(s) EXR OF EXUM ELEY ETC
Index # 1850-001 (Note 14 pages)

Case # 5:  Plaintiff(s) EXR OF EXUM ELEY
Defendant(s) MARTHA ELEY ETC
Index # 1850-010 (Note 101 pages)  Researchers looking for slave names in this Chancery case please start by checking out pages 23 and 32. 

As you can see, I will be very busy for months to come digesting and inputing all this information from Chancery cases.  I still have more cases to investigate.  I will let you know if I find more slave names, in hopes that I can give some leads to those who may be looking. 

It is easy to see, that again, cousins that research, even looking in the same time frames may find totally different kinds of records and have totally different results.

* I also draw you attention to these great posts and blogs where discussions on sharing of slave information is ongoing.  No particular order to my list here, just a few of the great places I have found information and hints, and maybe a bit of  inspiration.  No, this is NOT a comprehensive list, just a jumping off point for you, my readers.

Gini, of Ginisology, wrote about Friend of Friends.  Luckie from Our Georgia Roots, talks about this issue on her Monday Madness post.  Wow, she got a lot of feedback on this one. Sandra Taliaferro, from I Never Knew My Father is writing about this subject as well, including the Friend of Friends project. Mavis from Conversations With My Ancestors gave me some great ideas for sharing my slave names, I need to revisit those suggestions again Mavis, thank you so much.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.
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90th Carnival of Genealogy--Third Annual iGene Awards

Its time for The Third Annual iGene Awards, The Best of The Best!

It's Academy awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and Family History, aka AGFH, to honor their best blog posts of 2009 in the following 5 categories:

Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2009. Tell us which you liked best and why.

Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2009 would make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?

Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2009?

Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2009?

Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video that you shared on your blog in 2009?

The rest of the challenge reads in part: Start digging back into your archives and choose which of your blog posts deserve to be recognized for outstanding achievement. There is no nomination process. You just need to announce your winning blog posts for the 5 categories mentioned above in an article on your blog and submit it to the Carnival of Genealogy.

I have only been blogging since April of 2009, not even a full year and I found this COG to be a REAL challenge. I spent several hours of delightful review of my past posts. I have posts about RVing and Genealogy, but for this challenge I will only consider posts that have to do with family research.

And the awards go to - - -

Best Picture: The Trumbo Foundry. Winner because of the new horizons I visited before this blog was posted. I learned so much and I got permission to use this photo in my blog and my family history. It is a photo that shows history and “a sign of the times”, and it is my grandfather! And, the place is a place I know!

Honorary Mention (not in the challenge, but I gotta go there):  The Darden sibs. Deserves mention because of the strong emotions this photo gets from me every time I see it, it tugs at my heart in so many different ways.  This is a family that loves deep and have no qualms of sharing that love.

Best Screen Play: They Worked Hard, Bowen version.   The movie will have drama (hurricanes and fire), and characters (my grandmother and the other locals of the Outer Banks, you just HAVE to be a character to live there year round and that is a compliment!).  Actors to play the parts, to be determined (which is my cop out way of saying - I have no clue - I don’t follow movies, or actors much these days.)

Honorary mention: The Series, My Best Vacations, by the entire clan.  Gosh I had fun with this. Would  not be a serious heart tugging movie, nor would it be akin to the movie RV, just some great family fare.  My three favorite summer vacations, by Son # 1 and family.   My three favorite summer vacations, by Son # 2 and finacee’.  And, My three favorite summer vacations, by Man and Moi. 

Best Documentary: Ancestor Military Battles, Solomon B. Eley, my award winner, partly because of the emotional attachment I feel to this ancestor, but also because of the documents I have found, documents of a different kind, that surrender document is among my most exciting genie-finds.

Honorary mention: Citizenship vs love, deserving of mention because it discusses a part of citizenship that is not commonly known or understood.

Another Honorary mention:  Richard Bowen, my Thanksgiving ancestor.  Discoveries while researching this direct lineage ancestor gave me a new appreciation of Thanksgiving, and keep on giving.

Best Biography: Pat Lombardini, my Orphan.  There are other biographies I have done that I love, but this one, beyond a doubt, was a heart string tugger. 

Best Comedy: The Switch.   Winner, because it is one of our favorite family funny stories. It may not be that funny to my readers, but since I am the judge and jury here, it wins!

Honorary mentions: Don’t trust your brother, brothers are special, aren’t they?  They even provide a humorous family story now and then.  And, I had the photos to prove it!

Another Honorary mention goes to:  Did he or did he not drink the hydraulic fluid?  Who can explain why something tickles your black humor fancy?  I can't, but I did giggle a lot over this newspaper find.

Well, there they are, my iGene Awards.  Congratulations to the winners and the honorary mentions too.

* Thank you to Creative Gene for sponsoring this carnival and to footnoteMaven for the poster.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence.
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Tombstone Tuesday, Virginia C. Watkins

Virgina Catherine (Jennie) Eley Niblett Watkins, born Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Exum Eley and his second wife, Martha Darden Marshall Eley.  Virginia married first Graves Niblett and second, on December 20, 1868 Meredith Holland Watkins.  Virginia died at Suffolk, Virginia and she is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia.

*Virginia is full sister to my 2nd great grandfather, Solomon B. Eley.
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Ancestor Military Battles, Solomon B. Eley

This challenge is to talk about military battles and your ancestors’ connections to them. Ok, I got war veterans, Revolutionary, War of 1812, Civil War, no Spanish American that I am aware of, World War I, World War II, and probably could snoop around a bit and come up with some Korea. Man served during the Vietnam era, but not in Nam, and in no battles.

I was born in in the south. Most of my research on my lineage is based in the south. Well, before about 1700 I can trace lines to the north, but, a LOT of my research (not Man's - mine), is Southern American. My Civil War soliders were all Confederates.

When I read this challenge, the very first name that came to me was of Solomon B. Eley, Captain of the 16th Virginia Infantry, Company D.

Solomon was the son of Exum Eley and his second wife, Martha (Darden) Marshall Eley (she was a widow when she married Exum). Exum and Martha had 3 children, Solomon being the last born.

The uniform Solomon is wearing is not necessarily the same as he wore during the Civil War. A discussion of this uniform may be done in a future blog. Can we say, "pre-computer era enhanced image"?

Solomon enlisted in the 16th Virginia Infantry during April of 1861. He was "signed up" by M. H. Watkins. Watkins after the war would marry Solomon's widowed sister.

During my research on Solomon, I was fortunate to be able to chat with some reinactors from the 16th Virginia Infantry. They do remarkable research and shared willingly. They provided me with transcripts of some war records that told of Solomon taking command of the 16th Virginia. There were at least 3 dates provided, October 31, 1864, November 28, 1864 and February 28, 1865. The following is a direct copy/paste of the worked shared with me, thanks to the 16th Virginia Reinactors.

"With this report we can see the effect of battle on the regiment; four days before this inspection the brigade was engaged at the Battle of Burgess Mill, October 27, 1864. At Wilderness Colonel Joseph Ham’s 2nd Manassas wound flares up, causing him to leave the regiment until early-October. He is again wounded at Burgess Mill. Days before Burgess Mill, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Whitehead was also wounded, and Major John Woodhouse was still recovering from a wound received at the Crater; leaving command of the regiment to Captain Solomon B. Eley of Company D."

Was Solomon in charge of the unit during the actual battle? Not sure, but he sure had to take command afterwards. (Fess up time here, I don't understsand military stuff real well. I will leave it to others to study this Battle of Burgess Mill.)

However, when I think of Solomon, (and I DO understand this), what I remember is that he signed the Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Each officer of the unit had to sign the surrender papers, Solomon signed on page 2 of this document. And, I have a copy of the document! Here are two parts of the 4 legal sized pages document:






This document was signed at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. At the end of a 4 year long battle, the battle between the North and the South.

After the war, Solomon married, had children, we believe 2 girls and 2 boys, the boys dying young. Solomon himself died in Sussex County, Virginia on April 20, 1871 from consumption. His burial place in Isle of Wight County, Virginia remains undiscovered.

Solomon's picture is featured on the Wall of Honor at the Appomattox Court House because the family could prove he had been at the Court House on the day of Surrender.

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How many ancestors did you "meet" ?

Well Randy Seaver is at it again, challenge time for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

Here is your challenge for tonight (or whenever you read this):

1) Write down which of your ancestors that you have met in person (yes, even if you were too young to remember them).

2) Tell us their names, where they lived, and their relationship to you......

While compiling the list, I realized I had written blogs about most of these people, see links. Cept for Ida’s, hers is, well, maybe, sorta about her.

I have color coded the relationships, Blue for Father's lineage, Red for Mother's lineage.

Father: Donald Eugene Bowen, born Virginia, lived many years in Michigan, died in South Carolina.

Donald’s Father (my grandfather): Hayden Eugene Bowen, born Georgia, lived most of his live around Norfolk Virginia where he died.

Hayden’s Father (my great-grandfather): Joseph Eugene Bowen, born Georgia, lived many years in both Georgia and Virginia, died Georgia. I could have met him, we were both alive at the same time, with just a month or so overlap, I seriously doubt I ever met him. So, I won’t count him.

Donald’s Mother (my grandmother): Florence Ruth Dews Bowen, born Virginia, lived in Virginia and North Carolina, died in North Carolina.

Florence’s Mother (my great-grandmother): Lorena Estelle Eley Norsworthy Dews Harlow Lenahan Collins (ya still with me here???), born, lived and died in Virginia.

Mother’s Father (my grandfather): Leonard Homan Trumbo, born, lived and died in Virginia.

Mother’s Mother (my grandmother): Minnie Agnes Halterman Trumbo, lived most of her life in Virginia, moved to Florida where she died.

Minnie’s Father (my great-grandfather): David Halterman, born West Virginia, lived and died in Virginia

Minnie’s Mother (my great-grandmother): Ida Matilda Whitmer Halterman, born West Virginia, died Ohio.

How many of my ancestors did I meet, 8. Cannot count Joseph. I have written about 7 of these ancestors on my blog since April. Sorta, cause of Ida’s entry.

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Oh, pretty lady, who are you??

The challenge, from We Tree Talk about an orphan picture containing people you do not know. Provide comments on your best guess about date, place, subjects.

Here is the photo:



This photo was found in the collection of photos that came to me from my father. It is in rather pathetic condition. He, and most of his ancestors, lived along the east coast, hurricane country. The original is seriously faded, her image is barely there. Scanning and several of my feeble attempts at digital enhancement got the image this far. That is not saying a lot, but you can see her face and clothing.

Hints to help identify are slim, her hair style and clothing, are the two most obvious. There is something not seen in this presentation, information that the photo was taken in Knoxville Tennessee. After starting this blog I decided to see if I could discover more about the photographer, dug out a hard copy of the photo, and rescanned the corner with the name. With enlarged, enhanced scan and a good ole fashioned magnifying glass I discovered the name of the photographer to be Brakebill-McCoy. A google search found that some of their photos found their way to the University of Tennessee Special Collections Library. Another reference was found at Rootsweb.com, TNKNOX-L Archives, where a researcher with access to Knoxville directories found the photographer listed from at least 1901 to about 1909.

I am not the best at placing clothing and hairstyles in a time frame, so I went to Fashion-Era.com. On the page dealing with 1904 Weddings, we see similarity to the dress in this photo. Another page from Fasion-Era.com deals with hair styles, 1900-1914, see the drawing on the very first row, 1908, again, to me, and my untrained eye, similarity.

I believe this is the sister of my great-grandmother, Laverta or Leverta Eley. She was born between 1870 and 1872 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Family tradition has it that she was institutionalized. Family traditions continue by saying that her husband, may have been a "Yankee" and that she may have suffered a mental breakdown in childbirth.

I have a marriage for her in 1886 in Norfolk County, Virginia to one Joseph Etheridge, who was born in Virginia. I have no idea what happened to Joseph, 1900 census and directories for the area are inconclusive.

I have not found Laverta on the 1910 census. She is referred to as Mrs. H. A. Bates of Nashville Tennessee in her mother's obituary (1914). I did a detailed search of the Nashville Tennessee directories, the first reference to Laverta, is in 1914 for Harold A. (Laberta) Bates. I can find Harold as early as 1907 in Nashville. We can follow Harold and Laverta in the directories till around 1920, but, we have not located them on the 1920 census. By the way, never have found a marriage for Harold and Laverta.

In 1930 I actually find a Leverta Bates on the census two different times, one of those entries, we note, seems to support the family tradition that she was institutionalized.

1930 U.S. Census of Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York: Harold A. Bates, rents home at $100.00 a month, owns radio set, age 54 years, married, age at time of first marriage 22, born New York, both parents born New York, sales manager for soap manufacturer; Leverta W., wife, age 46, age at time of first marriage 20, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia.

And

1930 U.S. Census of Middletwon, Orange County, New York, Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital: Leverta Bates, age 53, married, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia, inmate.

No death record has been found for Laverta.

I have studied my data base over and over, trying to discover other possibilities, could this be Lorena, Laverta's sister? I suppose so, but Lorena was married 5 times, was widowed several times, had 6 children with the first two husbands, ran a boarding house pretty much by herself, supporting herself and her children. Not sure she ever had the time to get to Knoxville. Other females that would be related to my father have also been eliminated (for now) from possible consideration.

Is this photo really Laverta? I believe so, but am not sure I will ever prove it. I have shared this photo with other researchers that are interested in this family/clan. So far, no one knows who this lovely young lady was.

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Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, Genealogy Scavenger Hunt!

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings comes up with some interesting challenges. Tonight it is a scavenger hunt.

Randy's challenge is in 2 parts:

1) Is there someone on your list of 16-great-great-grandparents that you don't have a census record for, and for which one should be available?

2) Tell us about it in your blog........While you're at it, give us a source citation for your census finding too

Ok Randy, this sounded good, as I have not done any significant research in well over a month. I did not participate in the 16 great greats, but, the assignment gave me a great excuse to stop everything else I was doing and RESEARCH!!!

So, I start looking at the list of the great greats, and what research chore I might have indicated on their individual to do list. Maybe I can delete some to do items from the data base, hmmm, that is always a very good thing!

Hezekiah Bowen, 1834-1908, to do list shows I am curious about some Emanuel County Georgia Land records. Hmmmm, lets skip that for the moment.

Martha Sikes, no to do items.

William H. Remley, to do list says, find maps for enumeration areas of Colleton County South Carolina. I want to see if I can figure out where in the county he lived. I love maps. But, lets skip that for the moment too.

Mariah Grant, no to do items.

Edward Dews, 1830 census and some more land records from Princess Anne County Virginia this time. I decide I am not ready to tackle the 1830 with all those tick marks, gonna skip the land records.

Martha Dews (his wife, maiden name unknown), no to do items. Ditto for Solomon Benjamin Eley, Sarah Anne Darden, Zachariah Z. Trumbo or Catherine (Kate) Dove.

Peter Preston Holsinger, Rockingham County Virginia. Oh, yea, here is some census work that needs doing. 1860, oooohhh, realize he is still enumerated in his father’s household, so get to take that off the to do list. Also need the 1900 census. This is when the bottom fell out, so to speak. Had NO trouble locating Peter, but, did have a bucket load of trouble trying to print from Ancestry. I still don’t know if it is my computer or Ancestry. My frustration level jumped through the roof and I decided that the dogs needed grooming more than I needed to deal with Ancestry, my computer and my printer or this challenge. So, I went and groomed. One dog looks a lot better, but I can guarantee, he was not happy with Ancestry, the computer or printer either!

Hour or so later, I returned to the torture chamber of Ancestry and census. Next on my list of 16 great greats was Mary A. Kessler, nothing indicated, ditto for Daniel Halterman and his bride Barbara Delawder, so I skipped on to Sellestine Whitmer.

I needed just about all census reports for Sellestine. In 1860 he is still enumerated with his father. I discovered I did not have the 1860, so, mucked around, figured out a substandard method of printing and filled in the blanks and eliminated another to do item. (The bonus of looking for Sellestine in 1860 is that I got his father’s report, but, I also found on the same page data for Philip Delawder, including 2 additional children not on the data base, correction of birth year on another of his children, birth year and place for his wife.) I hunted down the 1870 census for Sellestine, no surprises there, and again made a substandard printout of the report for my files.

At this point, it is late, I am tired, I am short of temper with printer, computer and Ancestry and the rest of this challenge will have to wait. I still need to locate for Sellestine the 1880, 1900 and 1910 census reports.

That leaves great great number 16, Sarah Bayse, but she has no to do items attached to her.

Yes, Randy, I source. But, I am going to skip this portion of the challenge for now. My views on sourcing may make the purists cringe. I have talked about sourcing* a few times already on my blog, and I know I will again in the future, so stay tuned.

Evening was not quite “Fun”, but it was interesting, and I did find 3 census reports, deleted several to do items from the data base and added some goodies to Philip Delawder’s family, even tho he is not a great great.

Now, I have to find a way to ask Man to have a lookie see at the computer set up and see if the difficulties are on my end.

* See Sourcing? anyone really sourcing?
Sourcing? anyone really sourcing? Post Script
Exact Science - - You’re Kidding, Right??