I would love to ask my brick wall ancestors a few questions to get those walls crumbling but for now I'll focus on Susan Lounsbury, my 4th great-grandmother who was married to Charles.
I had written about Charles earlier this year in a post entitled 'Chasing Charles' dated January 9, 2012. I also wrote a bit about Susan on March 13, 2012. Since writing those posts I think I found Susan's final resting place. I was checking Ancestry.com and saw that someone had posted a picture of a headstone for Susan. This stone which is located in the cemetery of the Milton Marlborough United Methodist Church in Milton,NY reads Susan, wife of Charles L. Davis followed by the birth and death dates. I had connected with a distant cousin a while back who told me that Susan had remarried a man named John Mackey after the death of her husband Charles. If this is true and this headstone is for my 4th great-grandmother then why is she listed as the wife of Charles? Why is she not listed as john's wife? Why is she not buried with Charles? Is it because there was no more room where Charles is located? Where is John buried? Is he buried in the same cemetery as Susan? I called the church a few times but there was no answer.
Is this my Susan? Let's see what I've got so far....
1850 U.S. Federal Census has Charles L. Davis and Susan Davis living in Marlborough, NY with their children
1851 Charles L. Davis died - buried in Anning Smith burial ground in Milton, NY
1860 U.S. Census shows Susan Mackey listed as wife of John S. Mackey. Along with John and Susan, there is Ferris and Janette Davis
1865 NY State Census has John and Susan Mackey living with Susan's children Ferris and Janette
1875 NY State Census has John and Susan Mackey living with Ferris Davis and his wife and children
1876 Susan died - buried in Milton Marlborough United Methodist Church cemetery in Milton, NY
It certainly looks like this is my Susan because two of the children that appeared with her in the 1850 census when she was married to Charles are still with her in the 1860, 1865, and 1875 censuses when she was married to John.
Susan, Is this you? Are you my great, great, great, great-grandmother?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Steffano ?
My 2nd great-grandfather arrived in the United States in the late 1800's. Where did he come from? I thought I knew... What year did he arrive? I do not know.
The U.S. Federal Censuses from 1910 and 1920, as well as the 1915 and 1925 NY State Censuses show Stephen Duper's country of birth as Austria. I thought he came from Croatia. I'll have to re-read that letter from my grandmother's cousin. I remember reading that he was from Dalmatia and had a thick accent.
I have conflicting information as far as the year of arrival. The 1910 U.S. census has questions regarding citizenship. It asked for the yer of immigration and whether naturalized or alien. The enumerator who covered the area left those questions blank. The 1910 and 1920 censuses has year of birth as abt. 1873. The 1915 and 1925 NY State Censuses just have his age which was listed as 43 (1915) and 51 (1925). The 1915 census states that he was in this country for 25 years. The 1925 census has him in this country for 35 years. According to both of those censuses the arrival year would have been 1890 yet the 1920 census has an arrival year of 1888. Stephen's death certificate from 1931 states that he was in this country for 44 years which would make the year of arrival 1887. I have three different years of arrival for this man. When did he arrive? I have two different years for naturalization - 1894 according to the 1920 U.S. census and 1892 according to the 1925 NY state census.
I had not found Stephen Duper's name on any ship passenger list until just recently. Well, that is I think I found him. There were quite a few Dupers who came from Austria but none of them were Stephen Duper with a year of birth as 1873 which was the yer I really thought he was born.
The ship passenger list has Steffano Dupper born in 1872 and arriving in New York on 21 March 1889. Could this be my great-great grandfather?
The U.S. Federal Censuses from 1910 and 1920, as well as the 1915 and 1925 NY State Censuses show Stephen Duper's country of birth as Austria. I thought he came from Croatia. I'll have to re-read that letter from my grandmother's cousin. I remember reading that he was from Dalmatia and had a thick accent.
I have conflicting information as far as the year of arrival. The 1910 U.S. census has questions regarding citizenship. It asked for the yer of immigration and whether naturalized or alien. The enumerator who covered the area left those questions blank. The 1910 and 1920 censuses has year of birth as abt. 1873. The 1915 and 1925 NY State Censuses just have his age which was listed as 43 (1915) and 51 (1925). The 1915 census states that he was in this country for 25 years. The 1925 census has him in this country for 35 years. According to both of those censuses the arrival year would have been 1890 yet the 1920 census has an arrival year of 1888. Stephen's death certificate from 1931 states that he was in this country for 44 years which would make the year of arrival 1887. I have three different years of arrival for this man. When did he arrive? I have two different years for naturalization - 1894 according to the 1920 U.S. census and 1892 according to the 1925 NY state census.
I had not found Stephen Duper's name on any ship passenger list until just recently. Well, that is I think I found him. There were quite a few Dupers who came from Austria but none of them were Stephen Duper with a year of birth as 1873 which was the yer I really thought he was born.
The ship passenger list has Steffano Dupper born in 1872 and arriving in New York on 21 March 1889. Could this be my great-great grandfather?
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Davises Divided
1930 ~ a new year, a new president, and the beginning of a new decade.
Eleanor Davis was a 12 year old girl living with her grandmother in Brooklyn,NY according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. Where were her parents? I do not know. I have not found Samuel or Josephine Davis with their sons in the 1930 census. Why was my grandmother separated from her parents and younger brothers?
Samuel Davis, along with his wife and children, was living at his parents address in 1925 and was at the same address though the 1930's. I found Samuel in every Poughkeepsie city directory except the year 1930. His sons Daniel and Samuel were in two of those directories and even his daughter Eleanor appeared in the 1936 city directory.
I cannot believe that my grandmother was listed in the city directory with her father and brothers. I spoke to MaMa's cousin a few years ago and she told me that my grandmother didn't live in Poughkeepsie but sometimes visited on the weekends. I can believe this to be true because she was living with her grandmother in 1930 (according to the census) and was attending St. Leonard's elementary school in Brooklyn. I have MaMa's autograph book from her 8th grade graduation and always thought that the dates didn't make sense. That was before I found out that she was actually born in 1918 and not 1920.
MaMa lived in Brooklyn during the 1930's while the rest of her family lived up in Poughkeepsie. She was still with her grandmother when the 1940 census was taken.
The Davises were divided for over a decade.
Eleanor Davis was a 12 year old girl living with her grandmother in Brooklyn,NY according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. Where were her parents? I do not know. I have not found Samuel or Josephine Davis with their sons in the 1930 census. Why was my grandmother separated from her parents and younger brothers?
Samuel Davis, along with his wife and children, was living at his parents address in 1925 and was at the same address though the 1930's. I found Samuel in every Poughkeepsie city directory except the year 1930. His sons Daniel and Samuel were in two of those directories and even his daughter Eleanor appeared in the 1936 city directory.
I cannot believe that my grandmother was listed in the city directory with her father and brothers. I spoke to MaMa's cousin a few years ago and she told me that my grandmother didn't live in Poughkeepsie but sometimes visited on the weekends. I can believe this to be true because she was living with her grandmother in 1930 (according to the census) and was attending St. Leonard's elementary school in Brooklyn. I have MaMa's autograph book from her 8th grade graduation and always thought that the dates didn't make sense. That was before I found out that she was actually born in 1918 and not 1920.
MaMa lived in Brooklyn during the 1930's while the rest of her family lived up in Poughkeepsie. She was still with her grandmother when the 1940 census was taken.
The Davises were divided for over a decade.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The 1920's in Brooklyn & Beyond
I always thought my maternal grandmother Eleanor was born in 1920. MaMa's death certificate shows 1920 and that's what the family thought but the 1930 census has her listed as 12 years old and living with her grandmother in Brooklyn. At first I thought MaMa's grandmother wasn't sure of her own granddaughter's age but then I checked the 1920 U.S. Federal Census. In 1920, my grandmother was a 2 1/2 year old girl living with her parents, Samuel and Josephine Davis and five month old brother, Daniel in Brooklyn, NY. So, my 2nd great-grandmother was correct and my grandmother was actually born in 1918.
Welcome to the Roaring Twenties. World War I ended two years ago, the year of my grandmother's birth and the times are changing... you are not partaking of any alcoholic beverages unless you know where a speakeasy is located. it is the prohibition era and the ban on brewing and selling alcohol officially began January 16, 14920 when the 18th amendment went into effect. The music these days is jazzy and the women are modern. With their short hair and short dresses, cigarettes and sassiness; the flapper is born.
In 1920, Warren G. Harding was elected president of the United States. A loaf of bread cost 12 cents and a bottle of milk was 33 cents and was delivered by the milkman. A train ride to Coney Island was only a nickel where you could buy a Nathan's Famous hot dog for just 5 cents. Samuel George Davis was a chauffeur for a gas engine factory.
Within the next few years, Calvin Coolidge took over as president following the death of Warren G. Harding in August of 1923 and he served until the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the Davis family moved from their apartment in Brooklyn to Poughkeepsie which in up in Dutchess county, NY. The city directories for 1923, 1924, and 1925 show Samuel living at his parents' address on South Cherry Street and his occupation is listed as auto mechanic.
The 1925 New York State Census has Samuel Davis living with his wife Josephine and four children: my maternal grandmother Eleanor, Daniel, Samuel, and Dorothy. Samuel is head of household yet this home was actually owned by his parents Daniel J. and Flora and their names are last on the list.
Josephine Davis, who was listed with her husband Samuel and living in Poughkeepsie according to the 1925 NY State Census is also listed with her parents and younger siblings in Brooklyn. Why? Was she visiting her parents at the time the census was taken and therefore was included on that household? Was she included with her husband because she was his wife and Poughkeepsie was the primary residence? I had heard that she and her husband had a troubled marriage so was she staying with her parents? I can't imagine her leaving her children behind.
In 1927, Josie was back in Brooklyn. I don't know if she was visiting again or still there but that's where she was when her youngest child, Dorothy died from severe burns caused by the kerosene heater. Dorothy died at the age of 3 in Kingston Avenue Hospital in Brooklyn on the 28th of January and her baby brother, William was born the very next day.
The Davis family was divided by the end of the decade.
Welcome to the Roaring Twenties. World War I ended two years ago, the year of my grandmother's birth and the times are changing... you are not partaking of any alcoholic beverages unless you know where a speakeasy is located. it is the prohibition era and the ban on brewing and selling alcohol officially began January 16, 14920 when the 18th amendment went into effect. The music these days is jazzy and the women are modern. With their short hair and short dresses, cigarettes and sassiness; the flapper is born.
In 1920, Warren G. Harding was elected president of the United States. A loaf of bread cost 12 cents and a bottle of milk was 33 cents and was delivered by the milkman. A train ride to Coney Island was only a nickel where you could buy a Nathan's Famous hot dog for just 5 cents. Samuel George Davis was a chauffeur for a gas engine factory.
Within the next few years, Calvin Coolidge took over as president following the death of Warren G. Harding in August of 1923 and he served until the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the Davis family moved from their apartment in Brooklyn to Poughkeepsie which in up in Dutchess county, NY. The city directories for 1923, 1924, and 1925 show Samuel living at his parents' address on South Cherry Street and his occupation is listed as auto mechanic.
The 1925 New York State Census has Samuel Davis living with his wife Josephine and four children: my maternal grandmother Eleanor, Daniel, Samuel, and Dorothy. Samuel is head of household yet this home was actually owned by his parents Daniel J. and Flora and their names are last on the list.
Josephine Davis, who was listed with her husband Samuel and living in Poughkeepsie according to the 1925 NY State Census is also listed with her parents and younger siblings in Brooklyn. Why? Was she visiting her parents at the time the census was taken and therefore was included on that household? Was she included with her husband because she was his wife and Poughkeepsie was the primary residence? I had heard that she and her husband had a troubled marriage so was she staying with her parents? I can't imagine her leaving her children behind.
In 1927, Josie was back in Brooklyn. I don't know if she was visiting again or still there but that's where she was when her youngest child, Dorothy died from severe burns caused by the kerosene heater. Dorothy died at the age of 3 in Kingston Avenue Hospital in Brooklyn on the 28th of January and her baby brother, William was born the very next day.
The Davis family was divided by the end of the decade.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
MaMa's Kitchen
I just returned from a week long visit with my parents down in South Carolina. My parents are retired and had moved from New York three years ago. Frank and I dropped our son off to spend the summer with his grandparents. Gregory loves my parents but he's not too fond of the heat. It was very hot last week with temperatures reaching 105.
"If you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen" (I know, this doesn't make sense but I like quotes, and I'm talking about heat then Kitchens.....)
Last week, while sitting on the back deck with my father, Aunt Carol (my mother's sister) and frank, the conversation turned to kitchens; my maternal grandmother's kitchen in particular. I don't remember what started the talk about kitchens but I told Frank that my grandmother's kitchen was the same shade of orange as his parents' kitchen. Remember the funky (ugly) colors of the 1970's? Aunt Carol said "it was not!" "MaMa's kitchen was yellow" "she always had yellow kitchens because yellow was her favorite color."
So, the big discussion of MaMa's kitchen had started. I insisted it was orange. I was always at her house, sat at the kitchen table and ate more delicious meals than I can count (when I wasn't being too finicky). I was only 14 when MaMa died. She died six days after my birthday and that was thirty years ago. I'm sure that my aunt remembers her mother's kitchen better than I but I still debated this. My father had nothing to offer. He's color blind so either he didn't know or didn't remember. Then again, he probably just didn't care and was waiting for the conversation to end. Frank never met my grandmother and my mother wasn't home so it was just me and Aunt Carol each talking about the kitchen we last saw so many years ago. I insisted that the kitchen was orange. Aunt Carol said that it was yellow. The walls were yellow with wallpaper going halfway up the wall and the curtains were a yellow/white gingham pattern. I admitted that I didn't remember the curtains. Frank asked what 'gingham' was. Aunt Carol was headed home but before she left head told me to ask my mother what color the kitchen was. She told me again that I was wrong then she went home.
While I was waiting for my mother to return from her book club at the library, I sent a text message on my cellphone to my best friend. My father had gone back inside and it was just Frank and me sitting there. I told Frank that Lillian would know because she lived across the street from my grandparents and was often there for lunch and sometimes dinner. Lillian's reply to my text: "wasn't it like yellow?"
My mother returned and agreed with my aunt. She said that MaMa's kitchen was yellow because that was her favorite color. I told Frank that Lillian's answer doesn't count because she's younger than I am (only 9 months but Still younger) and she really didn't have that many meals there.
I told my mother and Frank that I think I have a picture of a birthday party with me standing on the chair at one end of my grandmother's kitchen table. I think I was 3 years old, maybe 4. I have to look for that photo. I think it's in the album with my baby pictures. I told Frank that a picture is worth a thousand words and I'll show him the orange kitchen. Well now I hope I have a picture.
I write my blog on paper. This is my draft copy then I edit, edit, edit before finally posting to the computer. This morning I sent Lillian another text telling her that I mentioned her in my blog which would be posted later. She replied: "Good stuff I hope." I told her that she, my mother, and my aunt all agree that my grandmother's kitchen was yellow but I thought it was orange. Lillian wrote back "well it was yellow." I asked "how the hell do you remember this? do you remember the curtains? Carol described the curtains, let's see if you agree." Lillian wrote: "Green, yellow and white." Well, people do take their curtains down for washing so MaMa might have had both sets of curtains as described by my aunt and my friend.
Have I gotten desperate for tales to tell that I had to resort to writing about the color of my grandmother's kitchen? So, was it orange or yellow? Does anyone care? Probably not, but now I need to find a picture. I'm curious. I want to revisit her kitchen. I wish I could go back for another meal. I wish I could smell and taste the yumminess that is MaMa's cooking. I miss MaMa and I miss her kitchen.
"If you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen" (I know, this doesn't make sense but I like quotes, and I'm talking about heat then Kitchens.....)
Last week, while sitting on the back deck with my father, Aunt Carol (my mother's sister) and frank, the conversation turned to kitchens; my maternal grandmother's kitchen in particular. I don't remember what started the talk about kitchens but I told Frank that my grandmother's kitchen was the same shade of orange as his parents' kitchen. Remember the funky (ugly) colors of the 1970's? Aunt Carol said "it was not!" "MaMa's kitchen was yellow" "she always had yellow kitchens because yellow was her favorite color."
So, the big discussion of MaMa's kitchen had started. I insisted it was orange. I was always at her house, sat at the kitchen table and ate more delicious meals than I can count (when I wasn't being too finicky). I was only 14 when MaMa died. She died six days after my birthday and that was thirty years ago. I'm sure that my aunt remembers her mother's kitchen better than I but I still debated this. My father had nothing to offer. He's color blind so either he didn't know or didn't remember. Then again, he probably just didn't care and was waiting for the conversation to end. Frank never met my grandmother and my mother wasn't home so it was just me and Aunt Carol each talking about the kitchen we last saw so many years ago. I insisted that the kitchen was orange. Aunt Carol said that it was yellow. The walls were yellow with wallpaper going halfway up the wall and the curtains were a yellow/white gingham pattern. I admitted that I didn't remember the curtains. Frank asked what 'gingham' was. Aunt Carol was headed home but before she left head told me to ask my mother what color the kitchen was. She told me again that I was wrong then she went home.
While I was waiting for my mother to return from her book club at the library, I sent a text message on my cellphone to my best friend. My father had gone back inside and it was just Frank and me sitting there. I told Frank that Lillian would know because she lived across the street from my grandparents and was often there for lunch and sometimes dinner. Lillian's reply to my text: "wasn't it like yellow?"
My mother returned and agreed with my aunt. She said that MaMa's kitchen was yellow because that was her favorite color. I told Frank that Lillian's answer doesn't count because she's younger than I am (only 9 months but Still younger) and she really didn't have that many meals there.
I told my mother and Frank that I think I have a picture of a birthday party with me standing on the chair at one end of my grandmother's kitchen table. I think I was 3 years old, maybe 4. I have to look for that photo. I think it's in the album with my baby pictures. I told Frank that a picture is worth a thousand words and I'll show him the orange kitchen. Well now I hope I have a picture.
I write my blog on paper. This is my draft copy then I edit, edit, edit before finally posting to the computer. This morning I sent Lillian another text telling her that I mentioned her in my blog which would be posted later. She replied: "Good stuff I hope." I told her that she, my mother, and my aunt all agree that my grandmother's kitchen was yellow but I thought it was orange. Lillian wrote back "well it was yellow." I asked "how the hell do you remember this? do you remember the curtains? Carol described the curtains, let's see if you agree." Lillian wrote: "Green, yellow and white." Well, people do take their curtains down for washing so MaMa might have had both sets of curtains as described by my aunt and my friend.
Have I gotten desperate for tales to tell that I had to resort to writing about the color of my grandmother's kitchen? So, was it orange or yellow? Does anyone care? Probably not, but now I need to find a picture. I'm curious. I want to revisit her kitchen. I wish I could go back for another meal. I wish I could smell and taste the yumminess that is MaMa's cooking. I miss MaMa and I miss her kitchen.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Pre-K Grad
It is the last day of school for my little Gregory. He 'graduated' pre-k yesterday and will be starting kindergarten in September. Although I am happy that my son is a big boy now and moving up in the world, it is still a bittersweet day because I will miss his pre-k teacher.
If all of Gregory's future teachers are as wonderful as Mrs. Allen then I have no doubts that my son will be a great success.
At 4 1/2 and 5 years old, my son learned the names of all the planets, the continents, and the oceans. He learned the life cycles of a frog, a butterfly, a ladybug and a plant. He learned about the water cycle, the weather, dinosaurs, and more. He learned about money and even know that the Lincoln Memorial is on the back of the penny.
Is there anything that Mrs. Allen didn't teach the children?
If all of Gregory's future teachers are as wonderful as Mrs. Allen then I have no doubts that my son will be a great success.
At 4 1/2 and 5 years old, my son learned the names of all the planets, the continents, and the oceans. He learned the life cycles of a frog, a butterfly, a ladybug and a plant. He learned about the water cycle, the weather, dinosaurs, and more. He learned about money and even know that the Lincoln Memorial is on the back of the penny.
Is there anything that Mrs. Allen didn't teach the children?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
My Followers are Leaving?
This is not a real blog post, just a filler while I'm writing the post about my grandmother in the 1920's. I wish I could update my blog everyday but I usually write it at work and wait til I get home to look up dates and facts then edit, edit, edit.
Last night I let my five year old sleep in the big bed with us instead of his own bed because he was going to watch a tv show at 8pm. He watched his daddy play a video game in the living room instead so I had the bed and tv all to myself. He'll watch his show tonight.
I was walking back into the bedroom all ready to go to sleep when my son asked me if i did my blog. I told him that I had to do a little research and that I was watching tv instead. He replied "well, you better go do your blog now before you lose followers."
Last night I let my five year old sleep in the big bed with us instead of his own bed because he was going to watch a tv show at 8pm. He watched his daddy play a video game in the living room instead so I had the bed and tv all to myself. He'll watch his show tonight.
I was walking back into the bedroom all ready to go to sleep when my son asked me if i did my blog. I told him that I had to do a little research and that I was watching tv instead. He replied "well, you better go do your blog now before you lose followers."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)