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 - -

.

Uz Jaquis, A First Look at Your Probate Files

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

More from the consolidation, linking, review, projects ongoing here at Reflections.

Uz Jaquis is a son of Benjamin and Mary, or at least that is how he currently resides in my data base, you may remember.  He is listed as child number 7.

I am now processing his probate file found online at Ancestry dot com.  There is also a file for his wife, Lucy.  I'll work on that soon, possibly next.

I have picked out some points of interest from Uz's probate, they are:

This states, I believe (corrections always appreciated with my fondest thank yous):

Uz Jaquis who died testate at Parishville aforesaid on the 2nd day of June 1876, leaving a will which ....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of interest in this tidbit are the names Julia A. Cady and A.A. McDonald.  Need to determine/discover who these two are. Seems Julia resides at Willmar Minnesota and A. A. McDonald at Cornwall Canada.  In his will (see below) Uz names Julia A Cadby (or is that Carby) as his step-daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, this says Uz's wife has now also passed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucy Jaquis, widow - - check

Bertha Ann M???his ??? on that spelling - - Reported in other documents to be Uz's sister.  Research will be needed here.

Jane Chamberlain - - a sister - - I know her name and have done some research on her - - check.

Almyra Skiff - - who??

Ermma or Emma J. Ormsby - - who??

Julia Ormsby - - who??  

Elizabeth Shaw - - know the name - - check

Elihu Jacquis, always found spelled Jaquis- - oh, yes, know this one - - check

Inbinda (?) known as Icabinda Ann Suttle - - know the name - - check.

Mary Mason - - know the name - - check

Sarah J. Stanton - - that be Sarah J. Stanley I believe, will follow through.

Mary M. Jaquis - - know the name - - check

Benjamin H. Jacquis - - know the name - - check

John E. Jacquis - - know the name - - check

Martha J. Jacquis - - know the name - - check

Daniel E. Jacquis - - know the name - - check

Davy M. Jaquis - - know the name - - check

(Note:  Mary, Benjamin, John, Martha, Daniel and Davy, surname usually found spelled Jaquis.)

Enoch Jacquis - - know the name - - Uz's brother - - check.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few more names to check out, Myrna (?) Jacquis and Wesley R. Howe.  I have seen the name Howe, believe he may be a step son of Uz's.  More research required.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This mentions William N. Jacquis (need to find out who this is).  And, Mary M. Jacquis, Benjamin H. Jacquis, John E. Jacquis, Martha J. Jacquis, Daniel E. Jacquis and Davy M. Jacquis, all minors.  I have researched them, know parents, know some descendants, yep, know them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, last, but, not least, Uz's Last Will and Testament:

Mentions:  Age of 52 in the year 1875, giving approximate year of birth as 1823, my data base has 1826.  I'll take it, so close.

Wife, Lucy;  After her demise, to his sisters, Bertha Ann Meedis (???) and Jane Chamberlain.  I know Jane, I know NOTHING about Bertha, she may be Ann in my data base.  Also names step-daughter Julia A. Cadby or is that Carby or Carlry or what??  Further mentions William N. Jacquis, Myron (?) J. Jacquis and Wesley R. Howe.

And, NOW the work begins.  I am headed for a research deep rabbit hole.

*  Please reference my Disclaimers page for my relationship with Ancestry.com  (hint - - there is none!)

**If you see something that I have messed up, please let me know, it takes a village.

.