Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Awareness Of Some Things

In October of 2009, I was searching for my family history. I was aware of something for the first time. It was like something new to me. But it's been there all along.

I was doing some research on my father's mother's side. A thought come to me. Here's what I came up with.

My Grandma Jennie BARTLETT ( 1883 -1926) had about 6 half siblings born into slavery. Her father, Elais W. BARTLETT Sr. He was born about 1822. He remarried to his second wife, Harriet HOOPER ( 1849 -1909).

They were married for about 25 year and had about 6 children. Elais had other children with his first wife Rachel. All but one was born into slavery.

I was thinking about my great aunts and great uncles. In 1981, I met my Great Aunt Mary. She was my Grandpa John's sister in law. Great Aunt Mary was born in 1894. She was about 89 when we met.

When we think of Grandparents and Great Aunts and Great Uncles, we can get the thought of them being up in age. I mean the type of mind set of an elderly person. How old is old to be an aunt, an uncle, a parent or a grandparent ?

I know of some people who become grandparents in their 40's and some in their 30's. As for being a great aunt, I've been one since I was about 23.

It's in how we look that things. I didn't know how I didn't see that some of my Grandma Jennie's sibling were slaves. Oh, well. I'm glad that it came to my awareness. What more will I come across?

Staying On The Journey
Awareness Of Some Things

It's good to know.
Have A Good Day!

Blessings,
Susan

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Frances Ovington Dade Connection

I've been thinking about some of the family history information that I have found. What can I say about my mother's father's mother's mother, Frances Ovington Dade? After gathering information on her, I think that I can write some things about her.

I came across Frances Dade's name on my Great Grandparents' Charlotta Dade and Lewis ( Robert) Lankford's marriage record dated on Jan 23, 1873. I assume that Frances was my Great Grandma Charlotta's relative. But which one?

It was on July 31, 2008, that the mystery was solved. Who was Frances? Frances was Charlotta's mother. I found that information on Charlotta's death record. That gave me leads to search more.

I've already seen Frances' name on census records. So, I knew where to look. Frances was married to an Isaac Dade. By the way, Isaac's name was on Charlotta's marriage and death records too.

After rechecking census records, I made some new discoveries. I don't know much about Frances' husband Isaac. He was born about 1808 in VA. He was a laborer. He died between 1880 and 1900. His parents were from VA.

On census records Frances, a.k.a Frankie was listed as keeping house. She was listed on the 1900 census as being born in Dec of 1799. Then on the other census records her year of birth was between 1810 to 1813. She and her parents were from in KY.

According to the 1900 census Frances was a widow. She had 14 children. Seven of her children were still living in 1900. I've been trying to figure out who were Francis' children.

I came up with 4 of Frances' children:
1. Mary Ann Dade Madison (1836 - 1921)
2. Louis Newton Dade (1847 - 1937)
3. Isaac Dade (1850 - ca 1880)
4. Charlotta Dade Lankford (1852 -1924)

Where was the connection with Mary Ann Dade Madison?
She was listed with her on the 1900 census as daughter.
She and Isaac listed on Mary's death record.

Where was the connections with Louis Dade?
He was listed with her and Isaac on the 1870 census as son.
He lived near her and Isaac on the 1880 census.
She and Isaac listed on Louis' death record.

Where was the connection with Isaac Dade?
I believe he was one of Frances' son.
Out of 14 children I think that there was an Isaac Jr.
I think there could have been a Francis too.

As for Charlotta Dade Lankford's connection?
Frances was listed on Charlotta's death record.
Frances was listed on Charlotta's marriage record.

I can assume other Dades in Lewis County could have been related.
There was a Francis Dade married on Nov 18, 1871 who married John Williams.
There was Lewis Dade born about 1813 in VA. Parents from VA.

Discoveries While On The Journey
The Frances Ovington Dade Connection

My 2nd Great Grandma Frances
I found a lot about her as I did some re reading.
I think most likely Frances was born into slavery.
She was listed as black on the census records.
She lived to see her freedom from slavery.

So who was Frances Dade Ovington?
She was the mother of Charlotta Dade Lankford.
Charlotta was the mother of Leo Lankford Sr.
Leo was the father of Lula Lankford Blakley
Lula was my mother.

Blessings,
Susan

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Family History: The Surnames

This was written on 15 Nov 2007

"This is the day which the Lord had made; we will be full of joy and delight in it." The Bible In Basic English
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You know that I am on this journey of my family history. I want to share a little bit more on my Great Grandpa Isaac BLAKEY. a.k.a. as Private Isaac BLAKER.
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As I have been sharing some of my family history with you, I have told you that there were name changes through the generations. As I dug deeper into this "quest", I had come across many different spelling of our surname.

In May of 1989 I wrote a letter to a MO library. In June of that year I received a copy of a newspaper clipping that was date on February 25, 1858. I did not know that this existed... A worker at the library found it for me. He was so happy to share it with me.

We all know through American History that slaves were "property". The were bought and sold as merchandise... Well this article was the notice of "Public Sale of Negroes"... the sell of 9 slaves by W.C Harvey. I know that this sounds horrible. It's apart of history.

As I dug a little deeper into my family history, I came across that W.C. Harvey was Francis Blakey's son in law. Frances owned my ancestors. With the HELP from another person on this journey, I found even more information that I did not know.

As I have been re reading some of my old letters from my cousins and others who have came across my path, I am discovering more and more. My mind is wondering...why did not I see that before.

Here is an example... I told you that I thought that our Great Grandpa was John BLAKEY. We found out that his first name was Isaac. Two days ago a revelation hit me. My Great Grandpa had a "full" brother named John. [I believe that they had the same mother and father.]

I knew that my Great Grandpa had a brother named John but I didn't realized something. I thought that John's last name was BLAKEY. His last name was WHITE. That's the other name that is in our family. Our Great Grandpa Isaac was the only known person in his family with the Blakey surname. [His family= parents and siblings]

Here is a bit of our oral history from our family reunion booklets. " The White-Blakey-Blakley Family traces their generations back to the year 1843. After arriving in New Orleans, from Africa on a slave ship, a mother and her three sons and a daughter were sold at a slave auction and given a bill of sale.

Nothing was ever mentioned of the father, but this happened in many slavery cases. The two oldest Isaac 12 and John 10 were sold to a man by the name Blakey and he took them to Forest Green, Mo.

John remained there but Isaac at the age of 16 ran away and joined the Union Army. He fought for three years and nine months until the Civil War ended and the emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and Slavery was abolished.

Isaac then returned to New Orleans to find the rest of his family who had not been sold with him. He was told that his mother and brothers, Spencer and Dick and his sister, Matt had been sold to a slave holder named White and shipped to Natchez, MS.

He went there and located them easily. He convinced them that Forest Green, MO was a better place to live, so they moved there were where John [Blakey] was still living there...."

I came across more discoveries on this leading. That article that I mention...."Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion" took place in the early 1970's in Sioux City Iowa. That article confused me some.
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Cousin Leslie and his mother Willie. Cousin Willie was the oldest and last member of the descendant of Richard White who was my Great Grandpa Isaac's brother. [Willie was one of my 2nd Great Uncle Richard's daughters.]

Both Willie and Leslie are in heaven. I have been re reading some of their letters. They wrote so much about our family history in the letters that they sent me. They were so eagerly wanting to reunite the "family" together with reunions. They had a hunger to learn more about our family history.

The wanted to have a REUNION to JOIN together the Blakeys, the Whites and the Blakleys as one. [Our common ancestors= the father and the mother to the very first generation ---The father and mother from Africa.]

Mrs. Willie was one of the person who had the first reunions in Sioux City Iowa. As I have been re reading her letters. I have been reminded of the "joy" that I had in finding out what I did not know. I believe that God led me to keep searching for more... Others who HELPED me on this journey encouraged me to not give up.
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What am I thankful for ? I am thankful for the covenant blessings of HELP, STRENGTH, and JOY that God has upon my life. I am thankful that God leads my path when I don't know which way to go.

I am thankful that God brings helpers into our daily lives so that they can "lighten" our loads from our troubles. I am thankful that others are encouraging one another. It's an honor to be honored when honor is due. I thank God for honor.

I am thankful for that God leads me to strength to strength as the joy of the Lord is my strength of all my days. I am thankful for the Help that is there from God in times when I am high, higher than a kite or when I am feeling down, way down "lower than dirt". God is so faithful. He knows what I need more than I do. He brings me through whatever.
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Whatever day you are reading is entry, Have An Adventurous Day!
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It's A New Day Dawning! The quest continues...~Susie~
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"Spiritual grit is what we need." Oswald Chambers

Additional information about this story
Description Surname
Date
Location
Attached to Andrew White (1813 - )
Isaac Blakey (1847 - 1917)

Friday, January 1, 2010

It's A New Year

Happy New Year!

My quest for the family history continues. I don't know what I will discover this year. I hope that I will locate my Great Grandma Laura WALTERS and her daughter Mary and step children on the 1900 census.

There is so much out there. I don't know where to look for things. There are some family reunions in the works on my father's side and mother's side this year.

2010 is a census year too. I hope to add more to the family tree. There are so many cousins out there. Long lost relatives.

I have my blog entries set for this year. I hope to add more stories along this journey. Most of what I have are blogs that I've already written. There were some blogs I have updated.

I started this website to combine all of what I have written in one location. I'm recording what I find along the way.

Have A Great 2010!

Happy Searching,
Susan