Will of Lewis McCurley

     This is the will of my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Lewis McCurley of Hart County, Georgia. He was kind enough to list of all of his children, even the deceased ones.

State of Georgia, Hart County.                      Last Will and Testament of L.W. McCurley. I L. W. McCurley being of sound and disposing memory, do make this my last Will and Testament. Item 1st       I wish my wife Nancy McCurley immediately or as soon as possible after my death to pay all of my debts out of my personal property, the remainder of my property after my debts are paid I give and bequeath to my wife Nancy McCurley and my entire estate consisting of perishable property and two hundred and thirteen acres of land for her own use and benefit during her natural life. Item 2.      After the death of my wife I will that my property all be sold, equally divided between all my children namely: W.S. McCurley, Nancy Brown, Susie Craft, J.S. McCurley, Lucy Rand, G.W. McCurley (now dead) R. E. McCurley, Sallie Jordan, Ada Evans, Ona Charping and Vannie Shiflet. Any that are now dead or should die between now and the death of my wife I wish the children of deceased to receive the part of the part legally divided between them.      I do will that my daughter Nellie Slaters (now dead) children receive the part of their mother legally divided between them. Item 3.      I do hereby appoint my son J.S. McCurley as executor of this my last well.      In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand that 22n day of July 1908.                                                                        L. W. McCurley Signed and published by L.W. McCurley as his last will and testament in the presence of the undersigned who subscribed our names hereto as witnesses at the instance and request of said testator in his presance and in the presence of each other. This 22nd day of July 1908.                           R.L. Shiflet                                                                        Geo. S. Shiflet                                                                         L.M. Cunningham                   Recorded this August 9th 1910                                                                W.B. McMullan, Ordinary

microfilm copy

Granny & PawPaw's House Deed

     My paternal grandparents lived in a three bedroom house in Liburn for as long as I knew them.  I recently came into possession of their original copy of the deed. From this I learned that they purchased the house and 2.02 acres of land in 1962 for $11,200.  Looking online, I see the house listed on Zillow 1.7 acres and built in 1964.  I'd heard that part of the land had been sold and know that the house had burned down at one time, this deed adds credence to those facts.

Warranty Deed - Form 36 10m-3-60 American Seal & Stamp Company - Atlanta Standard Warranty Deed STATE OF GEORGIA DeKalb  County THIS INDENTURE, made the 6th day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty Two between Luxuria, Inc. of the State of Georgia and County of DeKalb of the first part and Thomas S. Craft of the State of Georgia and the County of Gwinnett of the Second part    WITNESSETH: That the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Ten ($10.00) and other valuable consideration DOLLARS in hand paid at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged has granted, bargained, sold and conveyed and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lot 120 of the 6th District of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at the point of intersection of the Southeast line of Land Lot 120 with the Northeast line of Harmony Grove Road, formerly Harmony Grove Church Road (as widened to an 80 foot right-of-way); running thence Northwesterly along the Northeast line of said Harmony Grove Road, two hundred thirty five (235) feet to an iron pin corner; running thence Northeasterly three hundred seventy five (375) feet to an iron pin corner; running thence Southeasterly two hundred thirty five (235) feet to an iron pin of the Southeast line of said Land Lot 120; running thence Southwesterly along the Southeast line of said Land Lot, three hundred seventy five (375) feet to Harmony Grove Road, at the point of beginning, being more particularly shown by the plat of survey of the property of Luxuria, Inc., as made by B.J. Globe, Jr., Surveyor, dated March 30, 1962, the same being a portion of the 39.5 acre tract, as shown on the plat of the property of H. R. Martin, dated July 25, 1950, and recorded in Plat Book E, Page 188, Gwinnett County Records. Being improved property having located thereon a one-story frame dwelling. Part of the second part agrees to assume and pay a Loan in the amount of $11,200.00 in favor of DeKalb County Federal Savings & Loan Assn. [Stamp] TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said bargained premises, together with all and singular the rights, members and appurtenances thereof, to the same being, belonging or in any wise appertaining, to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of him the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, IN FEE SIMPLE.      And the said parties of the first part, for its (their) heirs, executors and administrators will warrant and forever defend the right and title to the above described property unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The said parties of the first part has hereunto set its hand and affixed its seal, the day and year above written.      Signed, sealed and delivered in teh presence of  Lewis Whittington [signature] |  Luxuria, Inc Manson J Hannah [signature] |  Fred Hannah                         President                                                       [seals]

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The Will of Moses Cash - Amanuensis Monday

     Moses Cash was my 5x-Great Grandfather, said to have been born around 1785 in Amherst County, Virginia. His will was recorded in Elbert County, Georgia in 1856. I located this will on microfilm at the Georgia Archive and I've transcribed his will below as best I can. My 4x-Great Grandmother Elizabeth Cash Alexander is mentioned in Item 4.

Moses Cash's will 1856 State of Georia \ Elberty County /            In the name of God Amen. I, Moses Cash of the state and county aforesaid being of sound mind and disposing memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of mortal existence and that it is appointed once for all men to die have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and testament and First as touching my futural state in a world beyond this I resign my mortal body to its mother earth from whence it came and my immortal soul to God who gave it trusting in the metros of my redeemer for the remission of all my sins and on touching my temporal estate which it hath pleased God in his great goodness to bless me with in this world I gave and bequeath in the manner following, to wit. Item 1st. It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid funeral and burial expences. Item 2nd. It is my will and intention that my beloved wife Nancy Cash have all my estate both real and personal to have and to hold the same during her natural life or widowhood and upon the happening of either her death or intermarriage that it is my will and desire for my three owns to wit James G Cash, Moses R. Cash, and Seborn J. Cash to have the tract of land whereon I now live to be equally divided between them by the said James G. Moses R. and Seborn J. Cash paing to my two daughters to with Nancy F. Cash and Lucy J. Cash the sum of one Hundred and fifty dollars in cash which amount is to be equally divided between them. Item 3rd. It is my will and destire that at the death of my said wife that all of my slaves or negro property to be loted off into five lots as equal as that situation of the property will admit of and to be drawn for by my five children, to wit, James G Cash, Moses R. Cash, Seborn J. Cash, Nancy F. Cash and Lucy J. Cash all to shear and sheare alike. Item 4th. It is my will also at the death of my said wife that all of my said estate not otherwise disposed of to be sold and the proceeds to be disposed of as follows, to wit, Permealey McMullan wife of Thomas McMullan, Elizabeth Alexander, wife of George Alexander, Sarah Craft wife of William Craft, Mary Daniel wife of Allen Daniel and Reuban Cash all to have the sum of one dollar each it being their share together with what they have had heretofore, and the balance to be Equally divided among my five first named children to wit, James G. Cash, Moses R. Cash, Seborn J. Cash, Nancy F. Cash and Lucy J. Cash all to share alike. Item the 5th. It is my will that my three sons to wit James G. Moses R. & Seborn J. Cash have a good Horse saddle and bridle each when they arrive to the age of twenty one years. Item 6th. It is my will that my two daughters Nancy F. Cash and Lucy J. Cash each to have a good Bed and Beding when they become of age. Item 7th. It is my will that my said wife Nancy Cash have full power and authority during her widowhood to sell and dispose of any ?? stock of any kind crops of cotton, corn or any thing she except land or engross or she may ?? for her own use and benefit. Item 8th. I do hereby constitute and appoint my son James G. Cash and Anderston Craft my Executors to this my last will and Testament hereby Ratifying and confirming this and this ?? and renouncing all or any others In Testimony ?? have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of March Eighteen Hundred and Forty Six.   Signed. Sealed and acknowledged   In presents of us and attested at                               Moses Cash (Seal)   the request of the Testator   James M. Cleveland   Lewis R. Shiftlet   Anderson Craft

William Britt's Homestead Exemption - Amanuensis Monday

     I located the homestead exemption for William Britt on microfilm at the GA archive. The following is a transcript, which lists him, his wife, daughter and stepson.

Georgia Emanuel County Schedule of property belonging to William Britt as head of his family consisting your wife Permillia Brit and two minor children both under the age of sixteen years of age to wit Jesse & Rosa and claimed to be exempt from levy and sale under section 2040 of 1882 and the amendments thereto. his William X Brit mark attest E. L. Green Schedule of property one soral mare about 15 years old, head of Hogs and seventy dollars worth of provisions Beds and bedding and ??? bedstand s?? for use of family one spinning wheel one pair cotton ???, one hundred pounds lint cotton one cooking stove and fixture and lot of table crockery Wearing appairel of family one family bible and religious works and school books. Fifty bushels of corn one thousand pounds of fodder one table and set of chairs and one hundred dollars worth of household and kitchen furniture one family sewing machine one one horse waggon of the value of ten dollars. Two trunks two water buckets one looking glass one side Board all of less value than fifteen dollars and one clock Filed in the office a??? and recorded this 12 day of September 1893 John Bell Ordinary.

William Albea's Mortgage - Amanuensis Monday

I had a very difficult time tracing my Albea family line. I knew for certain who my Great-Great Grandfather was (William Anderson Albea), but had no clue as to who his parents were. The 1880 census gave me three possibilities of the approximate age. Even once I had William's death certificate and I "knew" his parents were Thomas and Sarah Albea, I couldn't find any record of this family in census records. Eventually I was able to piece together a family, though I never found William and Thomas on any documents together. The following mortgage record, however, changes that. It is signed by both W. A. Albea and T. T. Albea. And although this is not proof of a relationship, it's still nice to see their names together.

$35 Georgia Lincoln County Lincolnton Ga, May 15th 1899 On Oct 15th after date I promise to pay Jno M. Wright or aider Thrity five and 0/100 Dollars, value received, with interest from maturity at the rate of 8 per cent, per annual, and all costs and attorney's fees incurred in the collection of this debt, and to secure the payment of this note and said costs and attorney's fees, if any incurred in its collective. I herby create and give to said Jno M. Wright, his heirs and assigns, a full and completed mortgage lien on the following property, which is my property and is mine ??. To Wit: one Black & White spotted cow, name "Tena" 2 years old, also all my crop corn & cotton, now planted up and growing on my farm in Lincoln county, GA, under cultivation on ?? belonging to Mrs T. T. Albea, none of this crop is subject to rent except 2 acres, and further to secure this debt, I for my self and family expressly waive and ?? all right, claim or benefit of homestead or exemption of personatly whatever, as against this debt and all costs and attorney's fees incurred in its collections, in any property now owned or heareafter acquired by me. And I direct that all payments made by me to said payee or holder of this note, be applied first to any unsecured debt I may be due & said payee or holder of this note and the balance if any to the debt decured hereby. I agree to pay all costs and attorneys fees incurred in the enforcement of this mortgage costs and fees living made a ?? of the laws and collectible ?? it of this debit is not paid at maturity. I authorize said payees or holder of this note to take possession of said property of said property, by himself or agent and after advertizinging the same, if p??, for two days.. and if realty for twenty eight days, in the papers in which sheriff's sale of said county are advertised, to sell the same at public auction to the highest bidder, make Title? and deliver possessions to the ?? ?? and from proceeds pay himself and all costs and attorney's fees incurred by him and pay ones surplus if any to the person entitled to the same. Witness my hand and seal This 15th day of May 1899. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of J W Carttedge CSC LC W. A. Albea (seal) T. T. Albea (seal) Recorded May 29th 1899 J W Carttedge CSC LC

Ida Leaphart Guardianship Papers - Amanuensis Monday

     My Great-Great Grandmother became an orphan in 1875, after the death of her father in the Civil War and her mother shortly after. The following comes from the estate papers filed for her father, regarding the guardianship of herself and her brothers.

The State of South Carolina  \ Lexington County.                 /  By SP Wingard - Judge of Probate       To W C Jumper  Whereas, Frank E. Leaphart, Late of this county & state deceased, died having Wade, Pierce & Ida Leaphart, minors, entitled to his estate and also to a portion of their grand father David Craps' Estate & the said W. C. Jumper said minors, has applied to me, to appoint the said W. C. Jumper to be their Guardian. For the better securing the said estates for the benefit of the said minors and for their more careful maintenance and education, I do hereby commit the tuition, guardianship and education, of the said Wade, Pierce & Ida Leaphart, minors, to you, the said W. C. Jumper, Guardian, charging you to maintain them in meat, drink, washing, lodging, clothing, and such good education as may be fitting according to the circumstances of the interest of said Wade, Pierce & Ida Leaphart, minors, during their minority, take charge of their estates, do such things as a Guardian should and render a true and faithful account of the said estates and of your management thereof, when thereunto duly required. GIVEN under my Hand and Seal, this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sevety five and in the one hundredth year of the Independence of the United States of America.  Judge of Probate's           office        Recorded       Book: "A"        Page: 583                                                          S. P. Wingard  .                                                                                           judge

Elizabeth Meetze Hyler Obituary - Amanuensis Monday

   The following is the obituary of Elizabeth Meetze Hyler, the wife of Nathan Washington Hyler of Lexington County, South Carolina.  It was published in The State newspaper on 7 June 1910.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hyler Special to The State.     Lexington, June 6 - Mrs. Elizabeth Hyler, widow of Wash Hyler, and one of the oldest residents of this county, died at her home on Hollow Creek this morning at 3 o'clock, having reached the ripe old age of 84 years.     Mrs. Hyler was one of the most loved women of her community and her death has caused much sorrow, she having been widely known throughout her section.      The deceased is survived by three sons, Rufus, John and Henry Hyler, all well known men of the county. She was a member of the Lutheran church and was active in religious af- fairs.      She will be buried tomorrow morn- ing at 10 o'clock in Mt. Pleasant churchyard, with funeral services by her pastor, the Rev. O. C. Peter- son.

     It's interesting to note that she, and many of her family, are actually buried in the Beulah United Methodist Church Cemetery in Gilbert. According to their website, they have been in place since 1896. I've also been unable to verify if the Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in Saluda even has a cemetery. So I'm not entirely sure what happened between the obituary and the burial or after, that provided the incorrect information. 

Thomas Craft in the CCC (Pt 2) - Amanuensis Monday

    I previously posted the first two pages of my Grandfather, Thomas Craft's, Civilian Conservation Camp documents. Below is the next page.

(see how to request this information for your ancestor at http://www.ccclegacy.org/research.htm)

III. REENROLLMENTS Company 1499     Camp NC SP-3, Albemarle, N.C.     Date April 26, 1938 I accept reenrollment in the Civilian Conservation Corps for the period ending at the discretion of the United States between For a period of not less than six months under the same conditions as my previous enrollment. Thomas S. Craft [signature] (Enrollee's signature) Reenrolled this 26th day of April, 1938 Signature Paul Hannah Paul D. Hannah, Capt. 39th. Inf. Res. (Name, grade and organization, typed or stamped) Company Commander. ___[next section, same page]___ Company 1499 Camp NC SP 3 Date Apr 1 1999 [stamp]  accept reenrollment in the Civilian Conservation Corps for the period ending at the discretion of the United States between illegible under the same conditions as my previous enrollment. Thomas S. Craft [signature] (Enrollee's signature) Reenrolled this [illegible] day of [illegible] Alan M Eldridge [signature] Alan M. Eldridge 1st Le. 323d Inf. (Name, grade and organization, typed or stamped) Company Commander. ___[next section]___ IV. RECORD OF SERVICE From 12/18/36 to [??/1?/3?] under [illegible]. Department 1499th Company at Albemarle, N.C. Type of work cook Manner of performance Very satisfactory. [scribble] [marked out] xxx [illegible] per paragraph 2 S.C. 184 Left Company 1499 Sept. 10, 3[?] Last paid [illegble] [illegible] No. F/S, 193[?] accounts of L. [illegible] for clothing and equipment $1.[??] [scribble] for AWOL on [blank] $[blank] ; for AWOL on [blank] , $[blank] ; per R H dated [blank] ; [blank] ; due CCC store [blank] Company, $[blank] Due Company fund [blank] ; Company $[blank] [illegible] , $[blank] I have not [illegible] [illegible signature] [illegible] Co. [illegible] Remarks: [illegible]

Interviewing the Aunts, Pt 1 - Amanuensis Monday

     This is short video from last Friday's interview with my paternal Aunts, June and Charlotte. In this segment, they talk about where the family lived when they were children, as well as some of the amenities they did - and did not - have. If you have any trouble understanding what they're saying, I've posted a transcript below the video.

Charlotte: The reason is, we lived on the line, the county line. 

Valerie: Ok

Charlotte: And I think the house was half and half. And the bedroom half was in Hart County [Georgia]. Somethin' about - like that. So my birth had to be registered in Hart County. 

Valerie: Ok

Charlotte: But we actually lived in the Rock Branch Community down in Elberton. And, always, we lived several different places. Like, we lived - uh, like when I was born it was only a two room house. We lived in several little two room houses that Daddy [Thomas Craft] rented. And then Daddy started renting the farm from Uncle Claude, and then eventually bought it. 

Valerie: Oh, ok.

Charlotte: But he didn't own it long before he sold it and he - we moved to Stone Mountain [Georgia]. When I was seven [1948] And - and it was me and June and Wayne then. And uh, uh... So I remember when we lived in the house with Aunt Frances [Craft Adams].

Valerie: Ok

Charlotte: It was a big house and she - they lived in half and we lived in half. 'Cause I gave everybody measles and chicken pox. 

Valerie: [laughing]

Charlotte: All the kids. And uh, uh... So, lets see, there was at that time - like I said there was three of us and Aunt Frances -  I think she had three at that time.  But yeah, it - you know - And I remember we lived in the house with them and then we moved to what you call a shotgun house. Just a little long house. It was a little bit bigger than two rooms. Um, then we moved from there - I don't remember what  - June won't probably remember what road that was on. We moved there to Huff - what was then Huff Road, which has since been renamed to somethin' else. 

Valerie: Oh, ok.

Charlotte: And, and we lived on Huff Road 'til I was in eighth grade. I was 13 I think. 12 or 13. 13. And we moved to Tucker [Georgia].

Valerie: Ok.

Charlotte: 'Cause Mama and Daddy promised - they - we knew what they were lookin' for a house. I mean, we lived in this house... uh, it... when we moved there we had no water. Daddy had - Daddy would take big trash cans - the big metal cans - and go up to the store and fill 'em up with water. Then Papi [maternal grandfather, Nathan Britt] built-dug a well in between us and the neighbors so we could both use it. And then eventually we got running cold water into the kitchen of the house. But we had no bathrooms.

Valerie: And this is on Huff Road?

Charlotte: Huff Road.

Valerie: Ok

Charlotte: June! What's Huff Road called now?

June: Spring Vally I think it is...

Valerie: Spring Vally?

June: Yeah

Charlotte: And all we had was...

June: Somethin' Vally

Charlotte: All we had was a path up the hill to the outhouse. 

June: Yeah

Charlotte: So I was 13 and June was 11 before we had a house with, with an inside bathroom when we moved to Tucker. 

June: Mama was pregnant with Kenny...

Valerie: Ok, ok.

June: ...when we moved to Tucker.  

Charlotte: Yeah, he was born in - when we lived in Tucker. I think she went back to Stone Mountain to have him though.

June: Yeah, she did.

Valerie: He, he said he was born in a hospital. 

June: Uh-hu

Charlotte: Yeah, the little white hospital up on the hill then. 

June: No, uh - the only time I remember me and Charlotte fussin' about who was goin' to wash dishes was the day we got runnin' water in the kitchen. You remember that? 

Thomas Craft in the CCC - Amanuensis Monday

     My Grandfather was in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a young man. We're lucky to know this because no one ever mentioned it or spoke of it. However, there's a photo of him dressed as a chef with at note about the CCC and North Carolina written on the back. With this information, I was able to send off for his records (see the photo and the from here). If you have an ancestor who participated in this program I recomed you send off for their records ASAP - they are full of info. Here's a transcription of the first two pages.

Certification in lieu of lost or destroyed Certificate of Discharge from Civilian Conservation Corps --.-- To all whom it may concern: Know ye that Thomas S. Craft serial no. CC4-236405 a member of company 1499, Civilian Conservation Corps, at Albemarle, South Carolina [North Carolina] who was enrolled on the Twenty-Sixth day of October One Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Seven at Athens, Georgia was Honorably discharged therefrom on the Tenth  day of September One Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Nine by reason of Expiration of Term of Enrollment. Given under my hand at St. Louis, Missouri this Twenty-Third day of October Two Thousand Eight William D. Bassman [signature] William D. Bassman Chief, Reference Service branch National Archives and Records Administration National Personnel Records Center (CPR), St Louis, Missouri

Individual Record Civilian Conservation Corps ---------------- I. General Information Serial No. CC4-236405 Junior White Georgia (Class) (State) 1. Name: Craft, Thomas Spurgeon 2. Address: Rt. 3, Elberton, Georgia 3. Date of birth: December 26, 1919 4. Birthplace: Elbert Co. Georgia 5. Nearest relative: Bennie Craft, Rt. 3, Elberton, Georgia 6. Citizenship: (Native born); naturalized 7. Color: White 8. Military or naval service: [blank] 9. Height: 70 Weight: 125 Complexion: [illegible] Color of hair: Red      color of eyes: Blue Scars or identifying marks: [illegible] 10. Education (circle highest grade completed: Grammar school 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8; high school, 1 (2) 3 4 11. Occupational qualifications: Occupation: Farm Length of Experience: 8 Years 12. Were you previously a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps? No II. Oath of Enrollment I, Bennie [Thomas] Craft, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that the information given above as to my status is correct. I agree to remain in the Civilian Conservation Corps for the period terminating at the discretion of the United States between Oct 2? 1937 Apr 25 19?? unless [?] released by proper authority, and that I will obey those in authority and observe all the rules and regulations thereof to the best of my ability and will accept such allowances as may be provided pursuant to law and regulations promulgated pursuant therefore. I understand and agree that any injury received or disease contracted by me while a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps cannot be made the basis of any claim against the Government, except such as I may be entitled to under the act of September 7 1916 (39 Stat. 742 [illegible] provide compensation for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in the performance of their duties and for other purposes), and that I shall not be entitled to any allowance upon release from camp, except transportation in kind to the place at which I was accepted for enrollment. I understand further that any articles issued to me by the United States Government for use while a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps are, and remain, property of the United States Government and that willful destruction, loss, sale or disposal of such property renders me financially responsible for the cost thereof and liable to trial in the civil courts. I understand further that any infraction of the rules or regulations of the Civilian Conservation Corps renders me liable to expulsion therefrom. So help me God. Place: Athens, Georgia Signature: [too faint to see] [Illegible] 26th day of October, nineteen hundred and thirty seven Charles A. Hope, 1st L.T. Cavalry-Reserve Enrolling Officer

Ree's WWII Memories Pt2 - Amanuensis Monday

     More of the interview my mom and aunt did with my Great-Aunt Ree, regarding her memories of World War II.

Audio:

Transcript:

"June: Were y'all scared - when you heard it [Pearl Harbor]? Was it scary? You didn't understand what was going - 

Ree: No, I didn't - you know, I, I knew what he was saying, but I wasn't old enough to, you know...

Ruby:  To understand. 

Ree: try to make any, you know...

Ruby: The impact.

Ree: Yeah. You, you know, you heard it and you knew it, but it's just like death. When children - people die. Children, they know it. It's happenin', but they don't understand it. Or they don't - 

June: They don't understand what it means.

Ree: What it means or - you know. I remember, clearly, what happened then, that's never left me. I guess 'cause it was just such a devastating thing for the whole country. But um.... Yeah, we had our little Victory Garden across the street in the field. They give everybody a little piece of land to grow vegetables. [laughter] 

June: [jokingly] So then you wouldn't starve? 

Ree: Oh, yeah, well... It helped too, when they sent all the things to the, to the boys fightin'. And, you know, and we were on rations. We had ration cards for each person in the family got so much. So, you know. And you had to use your stamps out of your book to get certain things. And if you run out of stamps, you couldn't get no more until you got your next book, you know. 

Ruby: So, how often would y'all get a new book? Is it...

Ree: Every month. 

Ruby: Every month?

Ree: Mm hm. 

Ruby: At the beginning of the month? Yeah, that's one of the things she had down here [referring to interview questions]. 

Ree: Mm hm. Yeah, there was um.... I don't know where it is now. I don't know why - it was with Daddy's things, with his billfold things. It wasn't in the billfold, but it was with - with 'em in the box. But it was one of the ration books. It still had a few stamps in it. 

Ruby: Did it?

Ree: Yeah, and I've had it all these years...

Ruby: Did you have any, like, metal drives or rubber drives or anything like that?

Ree: Uh... Well, everything was, uh, rationed. And, people saved their grease. They used the grease for somethin'... for the war. But, everybody, uh, when they fried meat or bacon or anything like that, they had these cans that - well, they took vegetable cans and things and filled 'em up with grease and then turned 'em in. Yeah, they uh... you know everything was rationed. Then, uh... they did say that grease... I'm tryin' to think what it was - what they used it for. It was somethin' durin' the war.

Ruby: I think they used it with the bombs - to make bombs with. 

Ree: Well, everybody saved...

Ruby: To make glycerin or somethin'.

Ree: Yeah, everybody saved their grease, they did.

June: What'd they do, turn it in somewhere?

Ree: Yeah, I don't remember where we turned it in, 'cause see, still I was a little girl and I didn't pay much attention to Mamma and Daddy. Yeah, and I didn't know what they did with it, I just knew they saved it and turned it in somewhere. Everybody did that. And uh... 'cause.... we bought, uh, stamps. The children in school bought war bond stamps. And uh, they called um...

Ruby: Saving stamps? I think they called 'em saving stamps?

Ree: When we got enough stamps in you got a...

June: Savings bond.

Ree: Yeah, after we got - we got, uh, enough stamps, you could get a that size [gesturing] bond. Then you could trade your stamps in bond. Everybody was investing in the country. You know, even the kids were buying the stamps."

Ree's WWII Memories Pt1 - Amanuensis Monday

This past Saturday my mom, Ruby, and her sister, June, went to visit their Aunt Ree. I had to work, but I sent along my audio recorder and some questions about World War II that I wanted to ask my Great Aunt. Here's part one of her response, first in a video and then transcribed below.

Ruby: Well, she [Valerie] was wanting me to ask you about - 'cause you has said somethin' - we had, you know, she had asked you about Daddy [Roy Albea] and not bein' able to get into the, the war. And you had said somethin' about all - all the young boys had… once - once Pearl Harbor, uh, the the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, all the boys were wantin' to go enlist. So she was just wonderin', um, what it was like when you first heard about Pearl Harbor and how you found out.

Ree: Oh well, uh, for a while the, uh, President Roosevelt, came on the radio and, and announced it.

Ruby: So you heard it when he made his announcement?

Ree: Yes. On the radio, 'cause that's all we had back then.

Ruby: Yeah.

Ree: And Daddy [Vernon Albea] didn't go in the service because he had four children. They weren't takin' the men that had, you know, that many children. Daddy's health was fine. He - he, as far as a physical, he passed the physical. But he had a different rating because he had four children.

Ruby: So did he go to volunteer or was he, like part of the ---

Ree: Everybody had to sign up.

Ruby: Everybody had to sign up?

Ree: Mmm hmm. They had to sign up and take a physical. And they had to be graded or, given uh, you know, uh…

June: Classification?

Ree: Yeah.

June: That was your Daddy?

Ree: Yeah. I think it - I think that card's in those things you had. He was healthy enough and everything, it was just the number of children he had. [Pointing to a photo] That's Linda right there. [intelligible] lets see… [looking at Vernon Albea's WWII Draft Card] Local board… I need to go get my glasses.

Ruby: So anybody - an - ev - everybody over a certain age had to al - over a certain age had to go sign up?

Ree: Yeah, they drafted… they drafted people and uh, they said when they got to be 18 they had to sign up. Daddy was already older than 18 and why… but I think everybody had to register under a certain age. And uh, this was in… He was 3AH was his classification. 3AH. And he - that, that told him that he was 3A, but he had children children or somethin'. This, this is it [indicating draft card]. If I go get some glasses I can see.

Ruby: I think that the date it was mailed out. July 8th 1943.

Ree: This is Director of Register. This might be part of that. I think this' prob'ly part part of that. Ella Mallard she was our, uh, school principle. That's uh, I think that and that's was folded over.

Ruby: The registration certificate.

Ree: Mm um. And that part of it… registration

Ruby: Yeah, he was s'posed to keep this with him at all - yeah it's his registration certificate.

Ree: This is where he registered to vote [indicating voter ID card]. That's what that is. Well, lets see. Oh, he's 40 years of age. He was registered to vote at Brandon [Mill].

Ruby: And Brandon was the name of the mill.

Ree: Yes. Brandon Mill.

Ruby: And then - and then she asked, um… She was wonderin' if you remember who you were with whenever you heard.

Ree: I was, uh, in the, uh, bedroom at home. And I don't know how many of 'em were in there with me. Uh, me… I don't know. Well, it was… during the daytime when we heard it.

June: You first heard about it on the radio?

Ree: Yeah.

June: Y'all had the radio on all - uh, a lot?

Ree: Yeah, that's all we had. You know, back then we didn't have no TV, no nothin'. We we didn't have no telephone. You know, we just lived in a little four room house with a little fireplace that you burned coal in to keep warm. And uh, it was - it was just - everything was different. This [Vernon Albea's unemployment card]- well, that when he was outta work, he applied for… for uh, you know

June: Unemployment.

Ree: Unemployment. [laughter] Don't mind me!

Ruby: He wasn't unemployed for long, 'cause he's only got one report date on here.

Ree: Yeah. That - they probably somebody gave him a job to keep him from drawin' it. [laughter]

Ruby: And then she's got um… Now, now when he, when he made that radio broadcast did he, he declare war at the same time? I know I've heard that, that broadcast so many times, but I don't remember… or did they come back later and just whatever-

Ree: I don't know, you know I was 11 years old.

Ruby: You were 11? Yeah, that's young. 

Ree: I say I was 11 then in uh, July. That happened in December. So, um… That um, the speech he made about… somethin'… infamy. That one word stuck with me and - and uh, I know that there was words before that and I couldn't used to remember but I can't remember 'em now but that word's never left me. But uh, yeah he said that, um, the Japs had bombed Pearl Harbor. But I don't remember exactly what he said either, 'cause I was so young. But I remember I was in the front bedroom and the radio - it was one you set on the floor, you know, it was a cabinet radio. We just had a little radio - little speakers. But it, it all was settin' against that wall. [gesturing] well, really it would have been that wall because there was [gesturing left to right] a back bedroom, bedroom, living room and kitchen. But um, yeah, I remember it. I was there in that room when that happened.