Adding Ancestors to the Database

     I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution for the genealogy - it is a lineage society, after all.  In joining, I utilized their Ancestor Database to find Revolutionary War Patriots to join through.  I also pursued their Descendants Database, which is made up of the other generations of ancestors that have been documented to reach the Patriots.

     Unfortunately, I have very few ancestors in this database; for the most part, no one has joined under my lines in a way that connects to me any closer than the grandchild of the Patriot.  Since the Patriots are mostly between 7th to 9th Great-Grandparents, that's not a close relationship.  It is helpful to find closer relatives of course, because it could help me break down brick walls.  Just think, if I had a brick wall line at 3rd Great-Grandparents and they were in the database... brick wall busted!  For the most part, the DAR database is well documented (and if it's not, there's usually a notation).

     Ultimately, the Ancestor Database and the Descendants Database (which are connected), are one giant family tree, with options to order the documentation used to prove the lineage (see my previous post).

     One of the benefits of joining the DAR and having my application approved is that my ancestors are now in the database!  It takes a while, as each generation has to be indexed, but there're there.  My application resulted in five generations being added to the database, starting with my Great-Grandparents, Bennie Craft and Sally Ruth Evans.  I would be so thrilled if one day these generations helped someone break down a brick wall or join the DAR.

     Go explore the databases on the DAR website - and check back often.  One day a new member's application might help break down your brick wall.

Queen Waters - is she the Key?

     I've written before about my Waters family brick wall. I know my Great-Great Grandfather was Leverett Waters, that he had a brother named Millard, a mother named Mary, and a father possibly named John or James. Recently, I uncovered a sister, Queen Elizabeth Waters.

     I found Queen by searching the FamilySearch database for Georgia Death records (which has more search options than the death certificates at the GA Virtual Vault). I filled in only the father's last name and mother's first name, and Queen's record was the second one. Unfortunately, her father is given as "J B Waters," which doesn't help me much. I have been able to find other records since then linking her to her brother, Leverett.

     I thought that this might be a rather unique name that would help me bust down the wall. Queen was born in 1885 in Georgia, probably in (present day) Cobb/Cherokee/Fulton area. In the 1900 census there is only one match, in Marietta, Cobb, GA:

     I think that this is probably the family I'm looking for, but I don't have any proof of it. Where are Leverett and Millard? I haven't been able to find them in 1900. And who is John T? Is that Queen's brother or a cousin? 

     I'll have to do more research on "Grandmother" Elizabeth Waters to see if I can find a John or James as her son.

Surname Saturday - Waters

The Waters family is one of my "1881 Brick Walls." By this I mean that this is one of many of the families in my tree that I have trouble researching because my ancestor was born in 1881 and had left home by the 1900 census. In the case of this family, I can't even find my ancestor, Leverett Waters, in 1900 - though I have found his mother and step-father.

I've done a great deal of research on Leverett, which I won't go into again since I wrote about it here. I've also done research on his mother (here and here), but cannot find his father, whom I have multiple names for.

So, I decided to see about getting help researching this family. I posted my problem family on Ancestry.com's expert connect and was able to hire a professional genealogist to help me. She's going to evaluate my research and then build off of it. To start with, I've purchased two hours of research and can add more if things look promising. She'll be doing the research today and I should hear back from her in about a week.

Hopefully soon, this family won't be a brick wall - or at least this generation won't be!

Trying Out Ancestry.com's Expert Connect

I'm stuck at a brick wall with my Barfield ancestors. On Tuesday I posted William Barfield's tombstone, along with the information that I know about him. I'd really like to know who William's father was, as well as more about his mother, Sarah.

William was my Great-Great-Great Grandfather. I have his birth and death dates, but no death certificate or obituary. He did not live long enough for a social security application and, though it was required, I cannot locate a death certificate. So, I'm moving on to see if I can locate an obituary. There are numerous other obituaries that I'd like to locate on this family line, and the local newspaper is available on microfilm at the local library in Swainsboro. However, I'm not able to make a trip to Emanuel County right now.

First, I looked on RAoGK, but there were no volunteers in the county. So, I thought I might try out ancestry.com's ExpertConnect for this project. I posted my "project" through the site, which only took about five minutes. My project is a request for five obituaries with death dates known. It was crazy easy and totally free to post a request. After posting my project, I'm just supposed to sit back and let the bids roll in.

Well first off, there are no researchers advertised for the area I'm researching in. If there had been, I could have simply viewed the "expert's" prices and decided whether or not to hire them. As it is, I'm waiting for someone to contact me and see if I like the amount that they "bid" to complete the project.

With no one listed in the area, I wasn't even sure if I'd get a response. Regardless, I had to decide how much I was willing to pay if I did get a bid. The way I figure, it would probably cost about $50 to make the trip myself, so I'd like it to be less than or equal to that price.

To my surprise, I actually received a response within 24 hours. The researcher says that they have three of the obituaries in their possession. For a fee of $45 (my price range!) they will digitize them and send them to me. It's great to hear a response, but it's not quite what I was hoping for - for a couple reasons:

1. They have three obits, but didn't mention the other two. Those two were actually the ones that I really wanted: William's and Sarah's.
2. They already have these obituaries - they're not actually proposing to do any research.

For these reasons, I'm really not sure if this bid is worth it. Is it worth $45 to have someone digitize records they already have in their possession and email them to me? They don't have to really do more than 30 minutes work. And, they aren't even fulfilling my full project request.

But that's not to be-little the offer. This person is in no way required to share their research and I am happy to hear from them. I guess what it really comes down to are the two other obituaries. If the researcher had those, I'd gladly pay the money - the same amount it would cost me for a the trip. But they don't, and their bid does not offer to find them. And really, those two obituaries were the original reason I posted the project.

So I guess for now I'll wait and see if I receive another bid that would complete the full project. If that doesn't happen, I might go ahead and accept the bid.... or not.

Any thoughts?

Tombstone Tuesday - Barfield

William Leander Barfield was my Great-Great Grandfather. He's one of my brick-wall ancestors. He was born in 1872, supposedly in Glascock County, Georgia. I married Frances Boatright in Emanuel County, Georgia in 1902.

William died in 1924 - a time at which death certificates were mandatory. I cannot find a death certificate for him in Georgia, though I have tried multiple indexes. He was a farmer with a large family, working on his "own account" on rented land in 1920. I find it hard to believe that he left the state - but who knows? I just know I'd really like to get a copy of his death certificate!

He's buried at Hawhammock Missionary Baptists Church near Swainsboro, Emanuel, Georgia.

Surname Saturday - Barfield

One of my brickwall families is the Barfield family of Glascock County and Emanuel County, Georgia.

The family line can be traced to Sarah, the mother of my Great-Great Grandfather, William L. Barfield. According to her death certificate, Sarah was born 27 Aug 1851 in Glascock County, GA and died on 22 Dec 1936 in Emanuel County, Georgia. On census records, her name is often spelled as Barefield. Through 1900 to 1930, she is found living with her daughter, Susan Emma Barfield Wells. In 1900, she is also living with another daughter, Amanda.

I cannot find reference to Sarah before 1900. I do not know her parents' names and her death certificate lists her parents as "unknown." I do not know her husband's name.

This photo of Sarah was sent to me by a distant cousin, Mitch Keown, who is also a descendent of William L. Barfield.

--------------------------------------------------

In summery:

Sarah Barfield

- Birth: 27 Aug 1851 , Glascock, GA

- Census: 1900 Sheet 24, District 9, Militia District 1168, Glascock, GA

- Census: 1910 Sheet 14 B, District 10, Militia District 1168, Glascock, Georgia

- Census: 1920 Sheet 3 A, District 23, Militia District 1168, Glascock, GA

- Census: 1930 District 8, Militia District 57, Emanuel, GA

- Death: 22 Dec 1936 , Emanuel, GA

- Children: William "Bill" L (1872-1924)

Emma Susen (~1876-)

Amanda C. (~1888-)

Where Are You?

I cannot find Ruby Water (b. 1911) and Vary "Mack" Huyler (b. 1903) in the 1930 census and it's very frustrating!

Mack's parents are still at home in Lexington Co., SC and Ruby's are in place in Atlanta. But where are their children? In only a few months, Mack and Ruby will be married in Atlanta. But where are they in April of 1930?

There is a Ruby Waters (b. est 1912) listed as an inmate at in the Georgia State Penitentiary. I wonder....

William Albea - A Brick Wall Ancestor

William Albea is my Great-Great Grandfather and one of my younger brick walls. The information I have for him is:

• Born: 15 Apr 1872 in Georgia (death certificate)
• Died: 3 Aug 1936 in Greenwood, Greenwood, SC; Cardio Vascular Disease (death certificate)
• Buried: Edgwood Cemetery, Greenwood, ", SC (cemetery walk)
• Parents: Thomas Albea and Sarah Corley (death certificate)
• Married: 26 Dec 1895 to Nina Frances Sprouse in Lincoln County, GA (Marriage records of Lincoln County, 1806-1955)
• Children: Everlena Sara, Johnny M., Melvin Anderson, Charles Vernon, Martha Louise "Mattie," Henry Paul, Coleman (Interview, Roy V. Sr. & Betty Albea; Photo Album)
• 1900 Census, District 76, Bradley, Greenwood, SC
• 1910 Census, District 39, Sybert, Lincoln, Georgia
• 1920 Census, Sheet No. 5A, District 80, Greenwood, Greenwood
• 1930 Census, Sheet No. 16A, District 13, Greenwood, Greenwood, South Carolina

My main problem is that I cannot find William as a boy. I have a likely record of a Willie of the right age in the right place, but he's listed as a grandson, not a son. I need to look for his parents, but they're playing hard to get. I'd like to send off for his marriage certificate as well. I should also interview my Great-Aunt to see what she knows.

building brick walls higher

It seems like I have a brick wall that is determined to grow higher.  I'm rather frustrated with my Great Great Great Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth UNKNOWN (1855 - 1928, GA).

I've posted about this particular brick wall before.  I'm trying to find the parents of Leveret Waters.  I know that his mother was named Mary and that she was married twice.  Once to John/James/? Waters and then to John B. Whitlock.  I've found her grave and three documents (1, 2, 3) that list her name.  The problem? Each document gives a different maiden name.  

I received the third document today - her death certificate - and hoped that I'd be able to name Mary.  Instead I was given yet another maiden name for her.  She's either Mary Harding, Mary Pilgrim or Mary Bascum.

Mary's death certificate lists her as born in Georgia, her father as John Bascum from Ireland and her mother as Elizabeth Pilgrim from North Carolina.  Though her maiden name is listed different from the the previous two documents, it does show promise.  Her mother's maiden name is given as Pilgrim, which matches the name that Mary's son gave as Mary's on his SS-5.  Also, this death certificate gives her father's name as Bascum.  Mary and her second husband are buried in Bascomb Methodist Church yard in Cherokee County, GA.  Coincidence? Maybe, but it's something to check out.

So, I have yet another name to investigate, but at least it ties in to some of the other names that Mary has been given.  This is a very frustrating brick wall and I want a sledge hammer.

the life & death of Mrs. Mary E. Whitlock

Considering that she's part of my Wat(t)ers brick wall, I should have sent off for the death certificate of Mary Elizabeth _?_ Waters Whitlock a long time ago.  I suppose that since I had her maiden name listed on her son Leverett's death certificate, I thought I knew who she was - Mary Elizabeth Harding.  I couldn't seem to find any information about her though.

Now I have an alternative name for her: Mary Pilgram. I'm inclined to believe that this name is correct, since it was listed by her son, instead of her granddaughter, as the first name was.

Here's what I know about Mary:

• From my Grandmama, I know that she was married twice.  First to the husband of her two sons, Leverett & Millard Waters and second to John Whitlock. This fact is confirmed by the fact that Milton Waters, the son of Leverett, is buried along side his Whitlock cousins in Westview Cemetery.
• According to my Grandamma, Mary and John had a son named John. He married Emma and their children included Martha and Betty. 
• Mary and John appear together in the 1900 & 1910 Census of Marietta, Cobb, Georgia. They are in the 1920 Census of Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia.
• Census records give their children as: Mary (b~ 1888), Lula (b~ 1891), John (b. 4 Mar 1896), and Martha Josephine (b~ 1898).  But John had been married before according to census records.  Perhaps these aren't all her children?
• Each census record gives conflicting information on the years of her marriage.
• They appear together in the 1925 &1927 Atlanta City Directories.  Mary appears alone in the 1928 Directory, her husband having died the prior year.
• Mary Whitlock is listed as the wife of John Whitlock on his death certificate. He is listed as buried in Bascum Church.  I found this cemetery in Cherokee County, where a helpful volunteer at FindaGrave.com obtained tombstone photos for me.  Mary is buried next to John.
• The birth date on her tombstone is 1855.  All census records seem to indicate that she was born in 1966.

This family is a jumbled mess! I need to figure them out.