Matrilineal Monday - Ella Caroline Webb

Ella Caroline Webb is a third-great grandmother on my maternal side. Ella was born November 17, 1864 to Charles and Louisa (Watson) Webb.

I have found no documentation for Ella's birth other than her death certificate and obituary. I can also find no information on her mother, Louisa. The first document I find noting Ella Webb is the 1870 census, which shows her living with her father and his family. It can only be assumed that Louisa died between 1864 and 1870 and that Charles moved in with his mother to help care for the child. Ella was born in Nebraska, but by 1870 she and her father are living in Ray County, Missouri.

 

Charles Webb was a farmer and owned land in Ray County. Ella lived with her father on his farm until she married Henry Clay Hankins in 1885.

Henry and Ella Hankins had two children, both girls. The birthdates of the girls are fairly far apart, but I have found no records to indicate that there were other children.

Ella lived out her life on a farm in Rayville, Missouri.

She died on January 6, 1946 following a five-month battle with stomach cancer. She is buried next to her husband in Crowley Cemetery, Rayville, Missouri.

Due outs for Ella:
1. Post on genealogy boards and reach out to Ray County Historical Society to try to track down photographs of Ella.

Surname Saturday - Marcellus White

Marcellus White is my third-great grandfather on my maternal side. Marcellus was born in Roanoke County, Virginia in 1832 to Edmund and Sarah (McClanahan) White. He was the sixth of nine known children.

I have little to no information about the White family in Roanoke. In fact, I don't have conclusive proof that "Virginia Marcellus" is indeed my "Missouri Marcellus." However, I believe that this line of Whites descends from Samuel White, one-time owner of the Fort Lewis plantation in Roanoke County, Virginia. We first find the family together on the 1850 census.

They are living in Roanoke County, Virginia and Marcellus is listed as a clerk. He father is listed as a retail merchant so it could be that Marcellus worked for his father.

Sarah McClanahan White, Marcellus' mother, died in 1856. I have not found the White family on the 1860 census. I have found one potential match that shows Marcellus, his wife and his father in Ray County, Missouri.

I spoke more about this document here. Sometime around 1860 Marcellus married Mary J. Tosh. I have researched all of the marriage records in Roanoke County, Virginia, but have found no record of their marriage.

Marcellus fought in the Civil War and served with the Salem Flying Artillery, made up of soldiers from Roanoke County, Virginia. He was captured soon after the battle of Gettysburg and spent many months as a POW. He was mustered out of service at Appomattox Court House, where his unit was noted as having fired the last round of the Civil War.

Following the war the White family are found in Ray County, Missouri. Marcellus and Mary had 6 children.

Marcellus was a farmer. There is no documentation showing that he ever owned his own land. The family lived in Grape Grove Township, which is north of present day Hardin, Missouri. Other than his Civil War record and census documents, there is no other paper trail for Marcellus. I know very little about the man. There are no newspaper accounts, no obituaries and no information about his life once he makes it to Missouri. He dies in August 11, 1895 and is buried in Lavelock Cemetery, Ray County, Missouri.

Due outs:
1. Try to locate a birth record for Thomas E. White. It may indicate where the White family was in 1860.
2. Search Virginia newspapers to see if there is information about any business owned by the Whites in the 1850s.
3. Continue to search for definitive documentation that Marcellus is indeed from Roanoke County, Virginia.

Other posts about Marcellus:
A timeline - Marcellus White
Marcellus White, Civil War Prisoner of War
Who is "My" Marcellus?
The search for Marcellus' land
The Civil War remembered - May 14, 1861

Follow Friday - Favorites for September 27, 2013

Favorites is my weekly list of favorite genealogy, history and random finds from across the Net.

Sometimes Heroes don't wear capes (be sure to like this video on YouTube!)

Is this really Abraham Lincoln?

Stunning tribute to D-Day fallen

WWI letters found in a candy tin: their fading words

Grandpa Arthur and his mandolin at Jana's Genealogy

If I was in the show...what would you take to Genealogy Roadshow?

Does the shape of chocolate change it's taste?

Use them incorrectly and hashtags make you sound like a #fool

19 pieces of Bill Murray fan art

The history of the Trapper Keeper

Mystery bride at Jollett, Etc.

Tips for maintaining your textile heirlooms

Early Jim Henson commercials

A case for researching parallel lines at A Family Tapestry

A lovely tribute to a lovely grandmother

 

Sometimes heroes don't wear capes

Check out this great video, produced entirely by Army Reserve Soldiers. The Soldiers are taking part in the "Capture your Hooah" video contest. If you enjoy the clip, please like it on YouTube. The winning team gets a trip to Washington, D.C.! Thanks for your support!

(For those receiving this via a feed, please click here to see the video.)

Matrilineal Monday - Talitha Unknown

Talitha is my third-great grandmother on my paternal side. I have written much about the Creed line, into which Talitha married, but I know little to nothing about Talitha herself. In fact, I do not even have proof of her last name.

Edward and Talitha Creed family on 1850 census, Cherokee County, North Carolina 

This snippet from the 1850 census is the only paper documentation I have found that shows Talitha. According to this record she was born in North Carolina around 1808. I can find no birth or baptism record for her nor can I find a marriage record for Edward and Talitha.

Based on the age of their children, Edward and Talitha were married prior to 1832. Talitha is not listed with Edward on the 1860 census, so I am assuming she died sometime between 1850 and 1860, though I can find no death record or headstone.

I have found other trees online that link Talitha to the Moses Cockerham family of Surry, North Carolina, but there are no documents posted to prove that. I have searched for marriage and death records for "Talitha," "Telitha," and "Tabitha" and have found nothing.

Due outs:
1. Research Surry County baptism records to determine if there is a record of her birth, marriage or death.

Follow Friday - Favorites for September 20, 2013

Favorites is my weekly list of favorite genealogy, history and random finds from across the Net.

11 nouns that only have a plural form

For my parent readers: a grocery-store tantrum does not a bad parent make

11 reasons Agatha Christie was as interesting as her characters

Modern marketing trailer for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Epic.

An attempt to fit the entire Civil War on a single chart

Finding the source title of images at Family Search

Dying of laughter at Cubbage Genealogy

Vintage photo table runner

Darth Vader's family ties

Mystery boy donates $10.03 to local police

Another great obituary remembering "the man, the myth" Freddie McCullough

Genealogy Roadshow premiers next week on PBS

Is your family history archive ready for a disaster?

Cocktail secrets from the Union Army

Uncle Sam: The Man and the Meme

 

 

 

 



Wordless Wednesday - Aghhhhh!

My mom in 1954, 9 months, releasing some Aghhhh!