Sunday, November 30, 2014

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - #46 Ann Davis

My maternal 4th great grandmother was Ann Davis. I've seen her middle name written as Julia, Julian, and Julan. She was born on June 30, 1768, probably in South Carolina. I don't have parents listed for her, but I have one brother, Francis Davis. Several family trees on ancestry.com have Ann's parents as Zion Davis and Sarah Ann Graves. Another one notes that she is Francis's half sister and that her father was an Evans. I found Francis' Revolutionary War pension record on fold3.com but he didn't mention his parents' names. He said he was born in 1756 in Brittons Neck, Georgetown District, South Carolina, which where he was still living when he enlisted in 1777. This could also be where Ann was born. (Click on the images for a larger view.)

Brittons Neck, South Carolina (from mapquest.com)


When Francis gave his testimony for Ann in 1840 when she applied for her husband John Devane's pension, he said that Ann was a widow when she married John Devane Jr. (my 4th great grandfather) and he gave her name as Ann Julan Evans (see below).

A portion of Francis Davis' testimony for his sister Ann Davis (Devane)

Here is a transcription of the above: "This affiant was present and witnessed the marriage between said John Devane [Junior] and his widow then Ann Julan Evans (a widow) that said Ann Julan has not intermarried since the death of the said John and is still a widow." I added the red boxes to highlight where Ann's name is given as "Ann Julan Evans (a widow)" and Francis's name. However, Francis didn't say if Evans was her maiden name or married name.

Ann married John Devane Jr. on October 25, 1785. I have seven children listed for them: Ann J., John, Rebecca, William, Nancy Ann (b. 1792), Benjamin (b. 1796), and Francis (b. 1798, my 3rd great grandfather). At the time of the 1790 census, they were living in Bladen County, North Carolina, and they had 11 slaves. John's father John Sr. is listed right above John Jr. and Ann's brother Francis is listed one line down from John Jr. indicating they lived in close proximity to each other:


A portion of the 1790 Bladen County, North Carolina, census.
for John Devane Jr. and Francis Davis.
John Devane Sr. is above John Jr.

Bladen County, North Carolina, as of 1789 (Map from randymajors.com)


Military pension records are a wealth of information. They give birth, marriage, and death dates and sometimes names of parents. I also noticed while reading through the Revolutionary War pension records how families tie in to each other. Ann's brother Francis served with James Devane, John's brother. James and John Devane both served under a Thomas Devane. I'm not sure if this is their brother Thomas as I haven't finished reading through the files. They also served under their father John Devane, Sr. In Francis' testimony for his sister Ann about John's Revolutionary War service, he mentions another of John's brothers, William Devane. (Francis was married to John's sister Tobitha Devane.) I saw on Francis Davis' pension record the names George Larkins and Benjamin Evans. I wonder if Benjamin Evans is related to Ann's first husband (if her first husband was an Evans). The name Larkins is familiar, too. John Devane Jr.'s mother was Ann Larkin or Larkins. Unfortunately, several pages of Francis Davis' pension are barely legible.

Ann's husband John died quite young (in my opinion!) at the age of 47 in 1802. Ann lived another 43 years and died on February 13, 1845, at the age of 77 in New Hanover County, North Carolina. She was probably living with one of her children, maybe her daughter Ann Devane (married to J. C. Devane) or daughter Rebecca Devane Holloway. They filed a petition together in New Hanover County in 1856 for money they thought was owned for their father's pension.

Here is my descent from Ann Davis:

Ann Davis and John Devane
Francis Devane and Frances Giddens
Margaret Devane and William Roberts
John Taylor Roberts and Catherine Young
Leona Roberts and William L. Redles
Leona Redles and Albert S. Pendleton Jr.
Catherine Pendleton (me)


Catherine

This post is part of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by genealogist Amy Crow at No Story Too Small.



---
Records consulted:

"Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900," digital images, fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com), entry for John Devane and Ann Julan Devane, Pension Number W3961.

"Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900," digital images, fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com), entry for Francis Davis, Pension Number S8290.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

52 Weeks of Sharing Our Memories - Brothers and Sisters

This post is part of the 52 Weeks of Writing our Memories by Lorine McGinnis Schulze at Olive Tree Genealogy who has challenged us to write our memories for our future generations.

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm the first of five kids. I guess sometimes I felt like I was the boss (and still do) because I was the oldest. Although, I think my oldest brother and I sometimes jostle for the role of family boss. My siblings and I were born about two years apart, on average. My mom says she had babies in diapers for ten years.

Here I am as an only child. My only child status lasted 15 months.




And then there were two. Here I am with my brother Andy. It was just the two of us for over two years.




Then it starts to get crowded. Here comes number three. Andy and I are looking at our new baby brother John, held by our great aunt Edwina Roberts at the J.T. Roberts house in 1958.




Number four was born when I was in first grade. Here I am with my new baby sister Melissa.



Then number five, the caboose, came along. Helen was born when I was in third grade. Here we all are at our lake house.

From left to right: Helen, me (Catherine), Melissa, John, and Andy

I don't remember how I felt when my siblings were born, except for Helen. I felt like I was so "old" when she was born (I was going on nine). I was embarrassed that my parents were having another baby. I thought they were too old (they were only in their 30s). I treated Helen like she was my baby until she was too big for me to pick up.

With so many kids, it seems our house was always noisy. My brothers liked to hide under my bed and scare me. Of course I'd scream when they'd pop out. Then I'd march down the hall to the den to tattle to our parents. My brothers would get fussed at, but they'd do it again. I would fuss at our mom whenever my little sisters got in my room and drew in my books while I was at school. I would shout "Keep them out of my room!" Sometimes we'd play hide-and-seek in the house in the evenings until we were made to stop because of all the noise (and someone was usually crying).

What chaos trying to get five kids fed and ready for school! At one time, our mom had to drive us to three (or was it four) different schools every morning. I'd blame them all for making me late.

It's funny how the age differences between us seemed to disappear when we all became adults!

Catherine

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - #45 Susan Parramore

Susan Parramore was my paternal great grandmother. She was born on June 23, 1861, in Thomas County, Georgia, just before the start of the Civil War. Her parents were Noah Parramore and Susan Dasher. Her maternal grandparents were Christian Herman Dasher and Elizabeth Waldhauer and her paternal grandparents were John Parramore and Nancy Brinson.

Susan's siblings were John (b. 1857), Bessie (b. 1858), Herman D. (b. 1860), and Frank Remington (b. 1864). Her half siblings were Josephine F. (b. 1848), James Nathaniel (b. 1849), Redden West (b. 1851)--who were children of her father's first marriage to Martha Sheffield--and Richard Howell (b. 1854)--her mother's son by her first marriage to Richard Howell.

By 1870, the Parramores were living in Lowndes County, Georgia, where Susan met her future husband Alexander Shaw Pendleton, son of Philip Coleman Pendleton and Catharine Tebeau. They were married on November 10, 1881. Please see my post Andy and Susie Get Married for more information and a copy of their marriage record and newspaper announcement.

Susan Parramore, my paternal great grandmother and wife of Alexander (Andy) Pendleton

Susan gave birth to seven children in Valdosta, Georgia: Philip Coleman (1884-1949), Elizabeth "Bessie" Parramore (1884-1970), Gertrude Adala (1887-1925), Albert Sidney (1888-1965, my paternal grandfather), William Frederick (1889-1958), Francis Key (1891-1911), and Alexis Runette (1894-1967).

The Pendletons lived on Ashley Street in Valdosta.

The home of Susan Parramore and Alexander Pendleton on Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia.
That's my dad on the front steps.

Susan Parramore, my paternal great grandmother and wife of Alexander (Andy) Pendleton

Alexander died on April 13, 1925, almost exactly a month after my dad was born. My dad's parents, Albert and Helen, rushed him over to see his grandfather Alexander shortly after he was born, because they knew Alexander didn't have long to live. Susan lived another 13 years and died on February 26, 1938. Both are buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta.

The graves of Susan Parramore and Alexander Pendleton
 in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta, Georgia


Catherine

This post is part of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by genealogist Amy Crow at No Story Too Small.



52 Weeks of Sharing Our Memories - Porch Swing

This post is part of the 52 Weeks of Writing our Memories by Lorine McGinnis Schulze at Olive Tree Genealogy who has challenged us to write our memories for our future generations.

One of the things we did for fun when we'd visit our great grandparent's house, the J.T. Roberts house (where our mom grew up), was swing on the front porch swing. It was actually my favorite thing to do there after a big Sunday dinner.

I can't tell which cousin that is on the far left, but next is my brother Andy, then me,
and our brother John on the right sitting in the front porch swing at our great grandparents' house.

Our great uncle Big Bubber (Leland Roberts) would admonish us not to swing too high or the swing might fall down because it was so old. Sometimes he'd swing with us. At least three generations sat in that swing.

Catherine

Monday, November 3, 2014

52 Weeks of Sharing Our Memories - Pets

This post is part of the 52 Weeks of Writing our Memories by Lorine McGinnis Schulze at Olive Tree Genealogy who has challenged us to write our memories for our future generations.

One year for Christmas, I got a puppy. My dad suggested I name her Lulu after my Uncle Louis (he was actually my dad's good friend).

I wasn't a real good pet owner. I was fine as long and I was chasing Lulu, but when she chased me, I ran away scared. And like a lot of kids, I didn't take care of her. My parents did. I just played with her.

Here I am with my granddad Albert Pendleton Sr. and my dog Lulu

One day, Lulu disappeared, and I never saw her again. We had other pets over the years, but Lulu was the only one that was mine.

Catherine

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - #43 Mary Gregory

Mary Gregory was my paternal 7th great grandmother. She was born in Essex, Rappahannock County, Virginia, in 1665 to John Gregory and Elizabeth Bishop. I have her siblings as Ann, Elizabeth, John, and Richard.

Mary married James Taylor in 1682. When I noticed that the date for her husband's birth was 1635 on the marriage index record on ancestry.com (see below), making him 30 years older than she, I thought it possible that he may have been married before or maybe the dates are wrong.

Name:Mary Gregory
Gender:Female
Birth Place:VA
Birth Year:1665
Spouse Name:James Taylor
Spouse Birth Year:1635
Marriage
Year:
1682

According to a findagrave.com memorial for James, he was married twice before. His first wife is noted as Elizabeth Underwood and his second wife as Frances (no maiden name given). He had children by all three wives according to his memorial. The children he had with Mary are noted as Ann, Elizabeth, John, Mary Bishop, Edmund, James, and John Powell.

A findagrave.com memorial for Mary says that she died on April 30, 1698. It gives James' birth as 1615 and his arrival in America as 1635. It notes Frances Walker as his only other wife, and the death date for Frances is given as 1680.

The only children I have listed for Mary are Ann, Mary Bishop (1688-1779, my 6th great grandmother), and John (1696-1780).

genealogy on James Taylor lists his children by Mary Gregory as follows:

Anne b. 1685
Elizabeth b. 1685 (died in infancy)
Mary b. 1686 (died in infancy)
Mary Bishop b. 1688
Edmund b. 1690
John b. 1692 (died in infancy)
Elizabeth b. 1694
John b. 1696

The above genealogy notes that Mary's second husband was Rowland Thomas of Caroline County, Virginia.

According to the findagrave memorial noted above for James Taylor, he died on September 22, 1698. I have Mary's death date as 1747 in Bowling Green, Caroline County, Virginia. The findagrave memorial for Mary gives her death as April 30, 1698.

I did a little more research on Mary Gregory but didn't find anything definite. Several records were conflicting. One of these days, I'll get back to researching Mary and her family.

My descent from Mary Gregory:

1. Mary Gregory and James Taylor
2. Mary Bishop Taylor and Henry Pendleton
3. Elizabeth Coleman and James Pendleton
4. Martha Aubrey and Philip Pendleton
5. Martha Gilbert and  Coleman Pendleton
6. Catharine Tebeau and Philip Coleman Pendleton
7. Susan Parramore and Alexander Shaw Pendleton
8. Helen Brown and Albert S. Pendleton Sr
9. Leona Redles and Albert S. Pendleton Jr
10. me

Catherine

This post is part of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by genealogist Amy Crow at No Story Too Small.