1843 :: A Vanishing out of Bermuda

175 years ago today . . . on the 23rd day of March in the year 1843 . . . the following news clipping appeared in a Louisiana newspaper . . .

One of the passengers on "the French brig Amanda" was Alexander Lemaire, who is a 3rd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . the Amanda was never heard from again after leaving Bermuda . . .

P.S. Please do contact me if you happen across a passenger list for this ship. benotforgot at gmail dot com

1844 :: Report of Missing Ship

On this date in our family history . . . the 25th day of February in the year 1844 . . . the following news clipping was published in a New Orleans newspaper . . .

Missing Vessel. -- Letters have recently been received, stating that the French brig Amanda, which put into Bermuda in distress, last February, on a voyage from Texas to Havre, and sailed thence the same month, for her destined port, has not since been heard of. The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 25, 1844.

One of the passengers on the brig Amanda (which sailed from Galveston, and was never heard from again) was Alexander Lemaire, who is a 3rd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

P.S. Please do contact me if you happen across a passenger list for this ship. benotforgot at gmail dot com

 

1864 :: Nellie miscarries while Sam is in jail

On this date in our family history . . . the 16th day of January . . . in the year 1864 . . . in Houston County, Texas . . . Mary Alexandrien (Nellie) SHARP nee LEMAIRE (my 2nd great-grandma) has a miscarriage while her husband, Sam, is still in jail (see yesterday's post) . . . this is one of those facts of life that would be completely unknown to those of us who are Nellie's descendants were it not for the following entry from the daily Journal of Nellie's husband's step-brother / brother-in-law, James Madison Hall (1819-1866) . . .

Saturday, January 16th, 1864. Today I am still in Crockett and Sam is still in confinement and as I said in yesterday's notes on no charge but mere suspicion that he is liable to conscription. The reign of Military despotican is now complete, and a man not in the Army dares not say that his life is his own or that he owned one dollars worth of property. I left Crockett late in the evening after having failed to obtain Sam's release. upon my arrival at home I found as I have previously expected that Nellie had miscarried. this catastrophy was hastened by the cruel and hostal arrest of her husband.

If the agents of the Government think this is the proper way to make good soldiers for its armies by dragging husbands from wives who are almost at the point of death, I must humbly beg leave to differ with them.

Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] were in attendance upon Nellie. at night Sam came home to see his wife having been released upon his parole to return on Monday night. Dr. Murchison & Mother remained all night. . . .

1871 :: Beale Deed Dated June 10th

On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of June . . . in the year 1871 . . . the name of my 3rd great-grandma, Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring, appears in a deed for 857 acres of land on the banks of the Trinity River in Liberty County, Texas . . .

All that certain lot, tract or parcel of land situated in Liberty County, Texas, and being out of and a part of the James Robeson League, Abstract #100, more particularly described as being 857 acres of land, being part of the upper or Northern half of the league of land, on the Trinity River bounded as follows:

BEGINNING at a corner, which is established south 1 E 625 varas, from the north line of said league, and 2258 varas west from the east line of said league said corner is a stake, from which a red oak 11 in. dia. mkd. X bears south 7 W 4-½ vrs. and a red oak 10 in. dia. mkd. X bears N 59-15 E 8 varas;

THENCE south 1 E 625 varas a stake in Menards prairie, from which an ash 6 in. dia. bears S 31 E 23-½ varas and another 10 in. dia. brs. N 83-45' W 60 varas, both marked X;

THENCE west along through the center of said league to the Trinity River;

THENCE up the river following its meanders to a point on said river at right angles with the first corner of this survey;

THENCE eastwardly parallel with the said lines of said league to the PLACE OF BEGINNING,

and being the same land described in a deed from C. L. Cleveland to Elizabeth A. Beale, deed dated June 10th, 1871, filed February 6th, 1901, and shown of record in Vol. W, page 427, Deed Records of Liberty County, Texas.

I definitely need to make a road-trip to Liberty County, Texas for further research on this Grandma Elizabeth!

Elizabeth Beale in the 1860 Census

On this date in our family history . . . the 8th day of June . . . in the year 1860 . . . Luke Bryan, Ass't. Marshal, is enumerating the citizens of the City of Liberty in Liberty County, Texas . . . and among those citizens are my 2nd great-grandma, Mary A. Lamire (aka Mary Alexandrien "Nellie" Sharp nee Lemaire), and her mother, Elizabeth Beale (aka Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring), as well as Nellie's three half-sisters, Lucy, Kate & Sue . . .

1860 :: Elizabeth Beale, Slave Owner

One hundred fifty years ago today . . . on the 7th day of June . . . in the year 1860 . . . Luke Bryan, Ass't. Marshal, was enumerating Slave Owners in Liberty County, Texas . . . including my 3rd great-grandma, Elizabeth Beale . . . aka Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring . . . who is shown as the Owner of one black female aged 23 and one black male 8 years of age . . . who were presumably living in the "Slave house" in Liberty which is indicated as belonging to Elizabeth . . .

1863 :: Birth of Major Sharp

On this date in our extended family history . . . the 25th day of January . . . in the year 1863 . . . James Hall Sharp is born in Houston County, Texas. The details of his birth were recorded by James Madison Hall (1819-1866) in one of a series of almost daily writings kept by him during the time period of the war between the states. The new parents -- Sam H. Sharp and his wife, Mary A. Sharp familiarly called Nellie -- are 2nd great-grandparents of the Keeper of this geneablog. Mahala aka Mother is the mother of Sam as well as of Hall's wife, Margaret aka the little woman, and is, therefore, my 3rd great-grandma.

Sunday, January 25, 1863. Today at 8 o'clock a.m. Sam H. Sharp's wife Mary A. Sharp familiarly called Nellie, was delivered of a male child, which weighed 7¾ lbs. which said child was by his parents named James Hall Sharp in honor of the writer of this journal, and at said delivery there was present Margaret A. Hall, Mahala L. Hall, Mrs. L. A. Bird, Sam H. Sharp & myself assisted by two negro women both by the name of Louisa. Nellie sustained herself very well under the circumstances and had rather an easy time than otherwise. The child aforesaid by way of nick name we dubbed & created "Major" ... in order to distinguish him from the little woman's child James, alias Jim. Mrs. Bird returned home on the evening, Mother however remained. Weather changeable and warm, with occasional showers of rain, rendering it very disagreeable.

January 2010 marked the sesquicentennial of the date in 1860 when J.M. Hall began the daily writing in his journal. In a project that is scheduled to be completed in 2016, and will cover the entire period of the sesquicentennial of the war between the states, Hall's writings are being posted on a daily basis at . . . benotforgot-journal.blogspot.com . . .

New Year's Day 1861-1866

1861 NEW YEAR'S DAY 1866
as recorded by
James Madison Hall
(1819-1866)
Tuesday January 1st 1861. Today I am still in Galveston, and adjusted my matters of dispute with Nelson Clements. I left Galveston at 3.P.M. on the steamer Ruthven bound for Liberty in company with James Wrigley and had a very pleasant passage. expenses while at Galveston $20. weather clear & cold. [Galveston, Texas]




Wednesday January 1st 1862. To day I am busy in the Warehouse. I assisted however in placing five of the cannon, balls and carriages on the steamer Ruthven to be taken to Galveston. weather changeable & cool. [Liberty County, Texas]





Thursday January 1st 1863. Today Sam Sharp [i.e., Samuel Houston Sharp -- my 2nd great-grandpa] went to Crockett for the purpose of hiring a negro boy, but returned home without doing so. Mother [i.e., Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts -- my 3rd great-grandma] sent Louisa up to assist the little woman [i.e., Margaret A. Hall Stewart nee Sharp -- Sam's sister, & Hall's wife] in preparing and putting up her sausages. as I have now got the entire control and possession of my mill I contemplate jotting down her earnings and out lay for the current year. it is agreed however between Sam Sharp & I that he shall act as the miller, I attending only during his absence. Nellie [i.e., Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire -- my 2nd great-grandma] is still sick but improving. I ground ten bushels of corn. weather cloudy & rather warm on my pork, with a shower of rain at night. [Houston County, Texas]

• Texas. Confederates attack Union forces in Galveston
• Washington. President Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, stating that "all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free." See -- Juneteenth.

Friday January 1st 1864. This being the first day of the current year, I commence my notes of the events that take place immediately around me, and in which I have any interest. The boys are at work chopping and hauling wood, which is very essential during the present cold spell. Sam [Sharp] & I ground 17 bushels of corn and 10 bushels of wheat. Weather clear and bitter cold. I think some what colder than yesterday. I thought I would freeze at night although I kept a fire in my room the whole time. [Houston County, Texas]

In many ways, the events that made news in Galveston in 1864 were not that different from the events that make news today: weather, scandals involving those in authority, and a series of bizarre deaths and crimes. With military attention focused on campaigns and battles in other places, the civilian and military inhabitants of the city concentrated on making the most of their lives in the confines of an occupied city. It was not an easy task. The year started out with one of the coldest winters on record. The western part of Galveston Bay was covered with ice to a depth of as much as an inch-and-a-half in thickness. Snow fell and accumulated on the ground to a depth of one inch, an almost unheard of event in Galveston. The cold weather continued throughout the winter months, with one storm from the North following another. The weather caused much suffering for soldiers and civilians who were without sufficient firewood to keep warm or cook their meals. This problem became so acute that orders were issued allowing vacant houses and unused wharves to be torn apart and used as fuel. . . . from Battle on the Bay by Cotham . . .

Sunday January 1st 1865. Today I commence my notes of daily events that may happen immediately around me during the current year just began. Though they are of no interest to any one safe my own family. Nevertheless I cheerfully enter upon my task. We all left home and rode down to Mother's [Mahala] where we spent an agreeable day, returning home in the evening. A sick soldier stopped with us for the night. Weather clear and rather warm for the season of the year. [Houston County, Texas]





Monday January 1st 1866. Today I commence my notes of events that may daily happen immediately around me during the current year. This notes are not intended to be of any service to any one except myself as a book of reference and to my family as a faithful exposition of my daily transacting. I formed & entered into a copartnership with James Wrigley to carry on in the town of Liberty a general Commission and Warehouse business. The Steamer Kate & sloop Luna left for Galveston. The little woman had a fine new year's dinner, which reflected great credit upon her art as a house keeper. I entered into a contract with negro man Albert to work for the year at 15$ per month with board, he furnishing a negro woman to cook. I also employed my old servant Hicks for the year at 10$ per month. Weather cloudy & cold with incessant rain throughout the entire day. [Liberty County, Texas]

• New Year's Eve 1860-1865
• Christmas Day 1860-1865
• Christmas Eve 1860-1865

New Year's Eve 1860-1865

1860 NEW YEAR'S EVE 1865
as recorded by
James Madison Hall
(1819-1866)
Monday Dec. 31st 1860. Still in Galveston [Texas], and in consequence of the cold which still continues, was unable to transact but little business. I took a few oysters however and at night visited the Theatre, and after which I went to my old friend Archy Ruthven's where I partook of a fine supper, and saw a regular scotch gather, with many fine songs. The meeting was conooked? to drink the old year out & the new one in, but in consequence of my temperence pledge I felt out of place and retired early. Thus I close my chronicles of daily events for the year 1860, now past and gone, and God only knows whether I will be permitted to live to keep one for the incoming year. weather very cold but clear. [Liberty County, Texas]





Tuesday December 31st 1861. To day I am busy in the store acting as salesman. The [rail] cars arrived from Beaumont [Texas] bring 7 more of the long looked for cannon, three of the seven being Columbiads and weighing as follows: 13,224. - 13,226. & 13,228. lbs. weather clear and pleasant. 

Thus I close the records of daily events for the year 1861, and whether God will permit me to live, to keep the records of another year, is more than poor mortal man can know, but trusting in his mercy I shall enter upon the trials of another year, with hopes of future success & prosperity through his goodness & favor. [Liberty County, Texas]

From Google Books -- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series I, Volume 17. Gulf Blockading Squadron from 16 December 1861 to 21 February 1862.

Texas. December 31, 1861.— Steamer Mary Hill returned from San Jacinto at 11 a. m., with 115 cords of firewood for the Government. She was ordered by Colonel Nichols to proceed to Virginia Point and there to discharge the wood. At 11:30 steamer Stell arrived with Captain [Charles M. ?] Mason's company on board from Pelican Spit. Returned to the spit at 3 p. m. Steamer Carr left at daylight, having received orders to tow the dredge boat from Velasco to Virginia Point. The two first guns of fourteen destined for Galveston arrived to-day from Liberty on the steamer Ruthven. The guns left New Orleans in September and have been on the way from New Orleans to Galveston three months. . . .

Wednesday December 31st 1862. Today Sam [i.e., Samuel Houston Sharp -- my 2nd great-grandpa] & I cut up and salted down the pork that we killed yesterday. I paid Cheste & Ann 3.50 for their service in helping to kill & salt down the pork. Dr. Murchison & Mother [i.e., Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts -- my 3rd great-grandma] came to see Nellie [i.e., Sam's wife, Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire -- my 2nd great-grandma] who is still very sick, but they did not remain long. Mr. Pennington's time as Miller having expired he surrendered the mill keys to me and left for his home. weather clear and cool. 

Thus I close my jottings of daily events for the year 1862 now past & gone, and whether God will permit me to live to keep the events around me of the incoming year is more than I can know, but trusting in his mercy I shall enter upon the duty which is pleasing to me and may be profitable to my family and myself hereafter. [Houston County, Texas]





Thursday December 31st 1863. This morning the ground was covered over two inches deep with snow. Father [i.e., J.J. Hall], Mother [Mahala] and Mr. Thomas Sharp [?] all left, the two former for home, and the latter for the wheat region [?]. Sam [Sharp] & I ground 6 bushels of corn & 10 bushels of wheat. In the evening the boys commenced work after their Christmas holliday. Weather clear and bitter cold. the mill pond being frozen entirely over one inch thick, and it continued to freeze all day even in the sunshine. At night it froze all the little woman's [i.e., Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] eggs in my room although I kept a large fire in it throughout the entire night. It is decidedly the coldest spell of weather that I have ever experienced in the State of Texas after a residence of 28 years. 

Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year 1863 just passed and gone and now numbered with the things that were. whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than I know but trusting in Him I shall enter upon the pleasing task, which is useful as a reference and may be profitable to those who have an interest in me. [Houston County, Texas]





Saturday December 31st 1864. To day I paid Dr. Murchison 310 lbs. of flour for 62 lbs. of wool purchased from him last fall. Hick ground 20 bushels of corn and 5 bushels of wheat. Weather clear & cold with a frost & freeze at night. 

Thus I close my jottings for the month of December and for the year 1864 which has just passed & gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than poor mortal man can foresee or know but trusting in his goodness I shall enter upon the pleasing task which is meaningful as a book of reference and may hereafter be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs after I shall have shuffled off this mortal soil and been reaped to the bosom of my ancestors. [Houston County, Texas]





Sunday December 31st 1865. To day I am engaged in making out bills of lading for the Steamer Kate & Sloop Luna, both of said boats are still here. Mrs. Beale [i.e., Nellie's mother, Elizabeth A. Lemaire Beale nee Waring -- my 3rd-great-grandma] came over and spent the day. Jimmy had another chill and fever. Frank is still improving. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain. 

Thus I close my notes for the month of December and for the year 1865 which has just passed and gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the almighty will spare me to record the daily events of things passing around me for the incoming year is more than mortal man can know but trusting his goodness and mercy I shall enter upon the pleasing task which to me is useful as a book of reference and may hereafter be profitable to those who have an interest in my affairs. [Liberty County, Texas]

• New Year's Day 1861-1866
• Christmas Day 1860-1865
• Christmas Eve 1860-1865

1704 Will of Captain Thomas Sprigg of Maryland

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of December . . . in the year 1704 . . . the will of Captain Thomas Sprigg . . . which is dated 09 May 1704 . . . is proved in Prince George's County, Maryland . . . this Captain Sprigg is a 9th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . the exact date of his death is unknown to me at this time.

As of the date of this posting, Volume 8 of the Maryland Historical Magazine -- published in 1913 by Maryland Historical Society -- is available online via Google Books. The following information regarding Captain Sprigg is from that publication.

SPRIGG FAMILY. Christopher Johnston.
Thomas Sprigg, the ancestor of this family, was born in 1630 and died in 1704. In a deposition, made in 1665, "Mr. Thomas Sprigge" gives his age as 35 years (Prov. Court, Lib. FF, fol. 91), and in another deposition, made in 1694, his age is stated as 64 years (ibid., Lib. W. R. C., no. 1, fol. 696). His will was proved 29 Dec. 1704. . . . The following is a brief abstract of his will.

Thomas Sprigg Sen'r. of Prince George's County— will dated 9 May 1704, proved 29 Dec. 1704 (Pr. Geo. Co., Lib. 1, fol. 23).

Mentions daughter Sarah Pearce; son Thomas Sprigg; daughters Martha Prather, Eleanor Nuthall, Elizabeth Wade, and Anne Gittens; Thomas Stockett and my grandson Thomas Stockett; Eleanor Stockett; my son Thomas Sprigg and my sons-in-law James Wade, Philip Gittens, and Thomas Prather executors. The name James Wade is evidently a clerical error for Robert Wade. No James Wade appears in the records, and the following extract is conclusive:

5 January 1704/5, bond of Robert Wade, of Pr. George's County, as one of the executors of Thomas Sprigg, late of said County deceased, in the sum of £600 sterling; sureties Philip Gittings, Thomas Prather, and Samuel Magruder all of Pr. George's County (Test. Proc., Lib. 10, fol. 18). . . . 

Christmas Day 1860-1865

Y'all do realize, don't you, that today is only the 1st of the 12 Days of Christmas? 12th night falls on the 5th of January, and Epiphany marks the end of the season on the 6th (and you just thought Christmas was almost over!). Anyway ...

Here I will share another little historical tidbit from the years of the war between the states . . . as recorded by James Madison Hall (1819-1866) . . . who is the Keeper of The Journal . . . which is the source of the following info . . . this J.M. Hall was the stepson (as well as son-in-law) of my 3rd-great-grandma, Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts (1816-1885) . . . and I first learned of the existence of this journal in January of 2000 from a half second cousin twice removed, Esther Marjorie Biggers nee Hall.

Tuesday Dec. 25th 1860. I am still in Liberty [Texas], and this being Christmas we closed doors, and set in for a regular bender. I took my Christmas dinner with my friend James Wrigley, which by the by was a splendid affair, and reflected credit on his amiable wife. There was a feast of reason and a flow of soul, together with a fine flow of champaigne etc. etc. Many times I toasted the loved ones at home, and thus passed the day very pleasantly, although it was cold, cloudy and drizzling rain during the entire day.

Wednesday December 25th 1861. Today being Christmas, no kind of business was done. The Steamer Ruthven arrived & departed. We had a fine flow of egg nogg to ward off the dullness of the times. weather changeable & very warm for the season of the year. [Liberty, Texas]

Thursday December 25th 1862. Today I remained at home with the little woman [Margaret A. Hall Stewart nee Sharp, Hall's wife as well as his step-sister, & Mahala's daughter] and babies and enjoyed a fine Christmas dinner with several nice egg noggs gotten up in a style as only the little woman knows how to fix them. I contracted with Mr. Thomas Dailey for 1000 lbs. of pork at 14 cents. The drafting of the militia came off in Crockett and Sam Sharp [Hall's step-brother, & Mahala's son, & my 2nd great-grandpa] was drawn to serve under the three months call for the protection of our coast. weather cloudy and warm, with occasional showers of rain. [Houston County, Texas]

Friday December 25th 1863. Today being Christmas all order of business was suspended, and we all went in for a regular jollification. I had with me to partake of our Christmas dinner, Father [Col. Joshua James Hall], Mother [Mahala], Capt. Peacock, Mrs. Bird, Mr. Leaverton, and sundry others besides the home folks. the egg nogg flowed freely and all went off as merry as a marriage bell. . . . Weather changeable & cool. [Houston County, Texas]

Sunday December 25th 1864. Today Sam Sharp & I with the children in the little wagon, Nellie [wife of Sam, & my 2nd-great-grandma] & the little woman in the buggy, all drove down to Mother's [Mahala] where we spent our Christmas. We had a fine dinner & a good eggnogg. We passed the day very pleasantly. Weather cloudy & rather warm. [Houston County, Texas]

Monday December 25th 1865. Today I am very busy at the warehouse loading the steamer Kate & sloop Luna. we put 135 B/c. [bales of cotton*] on them, when they left for Galveston. The only thing I had in way of Christmas festivities was a first rate dinner which was gotten up in the little woman's happy style. Weather variable and warm, for the season, with occasional showers of rain. [Liberty, Texas]

• New Year's Day 1861-1866
• New Year's Eve 1860-1865
• Christmas Eve 1860-1865

Advent Calendar :: Other Celebrations

On this date in our extended family history . . . the 15th day of December . . . in the year 1863 . . . Josephine Martha Hall is born in Houston County, Texas. Little Josephine is the 3rd child, and 2nd daughter, born to James Madison Hall (1819-1866) and his wife, Margaret Annot Sharp (1840-ca.1878). Margaret is the sister of Samuel Houston Sharp (ca.1839-1885), who is a 2nd great-grandpa of the Keeper of this blog about our family history.

Tuesday December 15th 1863. Today Sam and the boys finished the floor in the mill forebay and let down the gates to catch a head of water. The little woman was taken sick and at 11½ o'clock a.m. was delivered of a female child. She may truthfully be said to be a woman of ready conception and easy delivery. there were present Mrs. Bird, Mother [i.e., Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Nellie [i.e., Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and myself, assisted by Rachael a negro woman. I sent for Dr. Murchison, who came but as usual too late to be of any service in his profession, he remained for dinner and then left for home. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain and a hard rain at night. . . . Thursday December 17th 1863. . . . The little woman is doing very well after her confinement. Mother is still here attending to the new responsibility, whom we have this day named Josephine Martha Hall. . . .

The above information about little Josephine's birth is from entries in an 1860-1866 daily Journal kept by her father, J.M. Hall. Regarding the Christmas immediately following the birth of his 2nd daughter, Hall penned the following words :-

Friday December 25th 1863. Today being Christmas all order of business was suspended and we all went in for a regular jollification. I had with me to partake of our Christmas dinner Father [i.e., Col. Joshua James Hall], Mother, Capt. Peacock, Mrs. Bird, Mr. Leaverton, and sundry others besides the home folks. the egg nogg flowed freely and all went off as merry as a marriage bell. To close the scene at night the negroes had a ball in the yard by moon light. they touched the light fantastic ? and were as happy as happy could be. . . .

Even with all the sorrow that hangs,
and will forever hang, over so many households;
even while war still rages;
even while there are serious questions yet to be settled -
ought it not to be, and is it not,
a merry Christmas?
Harper's Weekly, December 26, 1863





I'm dreaming of a White Christmas . . .


This divided back card was made in Germany, and bears a one-cent postage stamp. The card is in the private collection of the Keeper of this family history blog, and sends wishes to the recipient for a Happy New Year in 1915. This collage incorporates further expressions of celebration -- Merry Christmas -- Happy Anniversary -- Birthday Wishes -- which also ties it into the theme for today's entry for the Advent Calendar and the COG (see below). And in keeping with the white theme for the Festival of Postcards, even the recipient's surname -- Frost -- calls to mind the (non)color of white!

Postmark :: Youngstown, Ohio December 31 1030 pm 1914

Addressed to :: Mrs. Wm. Frost, 168 Wooster Ave. Akron, Ohio.

Message :: 12-31-1914. Dear Sister: A Happy New Year to you all. And many choice blessings is the sincere wish of your Sister Yours at hand this a.m. "Emma"

This post incorporates two Season of Christmas collages with supporting information, and was prepared for the following 2009 community events in the geneablogging world :-

• The current topic for Thomas' Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories as well as the 86th edition of a Carnival of Genealogy (hosted by Jasia at Creative Gene) is Other Holiday Happenings, e.g., birthdays that occur during the season of Christmas (see below). Other events in my family tree during the month of December, including birthdates and death dates of deceased family members, and anniversaries of an assortment of our kith 'n kin, are posted > HERE < on a daily basis.
• The topic for the 6th edition of Evelyn Yvonne Theriault's Festival of Postcards is White, which I have illustrated by using a mostly white postcard from the year 1914 (see above).

Her Birthday is Forget-Me-Not Day (for real!)

On an undated page in Berta Mary's autograph album are penned the following words :- 

Dear Berta :-
Think of me when you are happy
Keep for me one little spot
In the depths of thine affection
Plant a sweet forget me not. 
Your loving friend,
May.

The 10th day of November is often designated as Forget-Me-Not Day on various online calendars and websites . . . so here's wishing a Happy Forget-Me-Not Day to all of y'all! And . . .

  Happy Birthday to my maternal great-grandma,
Berta Mary Henry nee Sharp (1873-1955).


On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of November . . . in the year 1873 . . . on the Hall Plantation in Houston County, Texas . . . a baby girl is born to Sam Houston Sharp (1839-1885) and his wife, Mary Alexandrien "Nellie" Sharp nee Lemaire (1843-1876). Given the name Berta Mary, this baby is the 6th of the seven children known to have been born to this couple.

• 1876 :: Death. Houston Co. TX. Little Berta's mother, Nellie, dies exactly one month before Berta's 3rd birthday. Age 33. Is Nellie's mother -- Elizabeth A. Lemaire Beale nee Waring (born ca. 1824 in Maryland) -- still living at this time? 

• 1878 :: Death. Houston Co. TX. Berta's paternal aunt and mother-figure -- Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp -- dies when Berta is 5. Age 38.

• 1880 :: Census. Houston Co. TX. Berta Sharp is enumerated as a 5-year-old [sic] living in the household of her paternal grandma, Mahaley Hall -- aka Mahala Lee Sharp Hall nee Roberts (1816-1885) -- along with her widowed father and all living siblings.

• 1882 :: Marriage. Houston Co. TX. Berta's paternal half-uncle, Horace Oscar Hall (1854-1934), marries Florine Annie Kirkpatrick (1861-1900). Is he now managing the Hall Plantation, or co-managing it with his half-brother (and Berta's father), Sam Sharp?

• 1885 :: Death. Houston Co. TX. It is around this time when Berta Mary loses her father, Sam, and her baby sister, Willie (1876-1885), as well as her paternal grandma, Mahala. Berta is only 12 at the time, and is the baby of the family. Is the Hall Plantation still intact and operating? If so, is H.O. Hall running it? Who does Berta Mary live with now?

• 1889 :: Marriage. Milam Co. TX. Berta's brother, Sam Sharp, Jr. (1867-1921) marries Emma Henry (1872-1944). Emma is the twin sister of Berta's future husband. Berta is 15.

• 1890 :: Marriage. Houston Co. TX. Berta's sister, Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Sharp (1869-1935), marries John Henry McCann (1870-1907).

• 1893 :: Autograph. Berta's sister, Ida Mae Sharp (1871-1964), signs Berta's autograph book on Christmas Day.

• 1893 :: Autographs. Daly's TX. Alice Chiles and John Chiles sign Berta's autograph book on the 28th of December.

• 1894 :: Autograph. Daly's TX. Frank Meriwether signs Berta's autograph book in January.

• 1894 :: Autographs. Elkhart TX. Berta's autograph book is signed on the 4th day of January by Annie Hughes, Ella Hughes, George W. Hughes, Robert A. Hughes, and Etta Weisinger.

• 1894 :: Autographs. Daly's TX. Gail Clinton and G.B. Kent write in Berta's autograph book on January 16th. Mention is made of Berta's pending move to Rockdale TX.

• 1894 :: Autograph. Daly's TX. Ella Kent writes in Berta's autograph book on January 17th.

• 1894 :: Autograph. Rockdale TX. Berta's brothers-in-law, Edgar Henry (1872-1950) and J.B. Henry (1870-1956) write in her autograph book on the 11th day of March. Edgar is Berta's future husband, and is the twin brother of the wife of Berta's brother, Sam Sharp, Jr.

• 1894 :: Photograph. Rockdale TX. In a numbered series of photos taken by John Scott of Rockdale, Berta's portrait is #3985. #3986 is Berta Mary and an unknown woman, perhaps her sister, Maggie. #3987 is Berta's future mother-in-law, Josephine. #3988 is Berta's sister-in-law, Ella, who marries in December of this year. The two photos of Berta mentioned here are featured in the collage shown above (click to enlarge).

• 1894 :: Autograph. Rockdale TX. Berta's sister-in-law, Ella Henry (1875-1967), writes a birthday message in Berta's autograph book on the 10th of November. Berta is 21 years old. This page from the autograph album is also visible in the collage.

• 1894 :: Autographs. Rockdale TX. Berta's brother, S.H. Sharp, and her cousin. L.O. Stewart, write in her autograph book on November 12th.

• 1894 :: Wedding. Bethlehem TX. Berta's sister-in-law, Ella Henry, marries James David Hamilton (1872-1922) on December 20th. The local newspaper features a lengthy write-up about the Christmas wedding and the guests who attend and the gifts they bring.

• 1895 :: Wedding. Houston Co. TX. Berta Mary Sharp becomes the bride of Edgar Henry on January 2nd. Why do they marry in Houston County? Did they marry at the Hall Plantation? Wonder if there might be a write-up in a Crockett newspaper?

• 1895 :: Birth. Milam Co. TX. Berta Mary's first child, Rubie May (1895-1978), is born on the 18th of October.

• 1896 :: Marriage. Berta's sister, Ida May Sharp, marries George W. Halyard on August 27th.

• 1897 :: Birth. Milam Co. TX. Berta's 2nd child, George Rettig (1897-1977), is born on the 21st of August.

• 1899 :: Group Photo. Milam Co. TX. Berta is present in a Henry family photo presumed to have been taken during the winter of 1898-1899.

• 1899 :: Birth. Milam Co. TX. Berta's 3rd child, Frank (1899-1952), is born on July 10th.

• 1899 :: Death. Milam Co. TX. Berta's mother-in-law, Josephine Wingfield Henry nee Davis (1842-1899), is dragged to her death by the hair of her head on the 28th day of October.

Berta's marriage will continue until her husband's death in 1950 . . . and her life, which began shortly before the start of the last quarter of the 19th century, will go on to span more than half of the 20th century . . . the next quarter century of this timeline . . . including the birth of my maternal grandpa, Robert E. Henry (1905-1976) . . . will pick up at a later date . . . 

For more information on Forget Me Not Day, go > HERE < and then click on the link to Shades of the Departed to read the article entitled simply forget me not.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Nellie

   
On this date in our extended family history . . . the 20th day of August . . . in the year 1912 . . . Nellie Josephine Henry is born in Milam County, Texas. This lovely woman I knew as Aunt Nellie was actually my grand-aunt, i.e., she was the youngest sister of my maternal grandpa, Robert E. Henry (1905-1976). 

Nellie was the 8th of eight children known to have been born to my maternal great-grandparents, Edgar and Berta Mary (Sharp) Henry. She was named for both of her grandmothers -- Mary Alexandrien "Nellie" Sharp nee Lemaire (1843-1876) and Josephine Wingfield Henry nee Davis (1842-1899). 

In 1938, Nellie married Alton Brooks Peebles, who happened to be a 3rd cousin once removed to the man Nellie's niece, Roberta, would marry in 1950. (I do not know whether they ever knew they were related!)
 

• Nellie Josephine Peebles nee Henry
  born 20 August 1912 in Milam County, Texas
  died 02 November 1996 in Austin, Travis County, Texas
• Alton Brooks Peebles
  born 17 August 1913 in Lexington, Lee County, Texas
  died 29 July 1991 in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas 

Saturday Night with Randy

It's Saturday Night, time for some Genealogy Fun (with Randy Seaver) after your frustrating week of finding phantom ancestors in online family trees and trying to keep up with everybody on Twitter, Facebook and Genealogy Wise. Here is your assignment for this Saturday Night (if you decide to accept it, of course - you can't have fun if you don't try): (1) Let's go time travelling: Decide what year and what place you would love to visit as a time traveller. Who would you like to see in their environment? If you could ask them one question, what would it be? (2) Tell us about it. Write a blog post, or make a comment to this post, or on Facebook, or in Genealogy Wise.

If I could travel . . . to somewhere else in time . . . I would like to go back . . . to 1843 in Texas . . . where General Sam Houston (President of the Republic of Texas) is said to oppose opening negotations on statehood at this time . . .

• IF John M. Sharp is still alive, he and Mahala Lee Roberts have been married about 5 years, and have two children -- Samuel Houston Sharp (about 4 years of age), and 2-year-old Margaret A Sharp -- and they are presumably living in San Augustine County. I want to know John's birth information -- when and where was he born, and who are his parents. He disappears before 1846 . . . and I have not been able to connect him to ANY of the Sharps living around San Augustine during that time period . . . 



• And meanwhile . . . in Liberty County . . . 4-year-old Sam's future wife, Nellie, is born on the 24th day of May in 1843. She is given the name Mary Alexandrien Lemaire. I want to know if her father is indeed the Alexander Lemaire who was the consular agent of France at Liberty in 1843, and who "embarked at Galveston on the brig Amanda for France to look after his affairs" . . . and who "sailed in the brig Amanda in March 1843, and with his vessel was never heard from" . . . and of whom it is written that . . . 

Upon the death of LEMAIRE, the French consul of the town of Liberty, Cramayel chose not to replace him, declaring: "Liberty is only a hamlet in the interior of a region that has no direct commerce with foreign countries. In the surrounding area there are only about thirty French residents, widely scattered, & living in a situation close to destitution." . . .

1861 :: Marriage of Sam & Nellie

On this date in our family history . . . the 11th day of July . . . in the year 1861 . . . Mary Alexandrien "Nellie" Lemaire becomes the bride of Samuel Houston Sharp in Liberty County, Texas . . . as recorded by James Madison Hall on that hot summer's Thursday . . .

Be it remembered & known that Samuel H. Sharp & Miss Mary Alexandrien Lamier, were united together in the bonds of wedlock, & I rather expect at night there was some very sharp shooting took place, this however is only a surmise. Capt. Wrigley & Ed. Jones came in from their camp to attend said wedding, where all passed off pleasantly & agreeably to all in attendance. Weather clear & warm . . .

This Sam & Nellie are the parents of Berta Mary Henry nee Sharp (1873-1955) . . . who is a great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

• Washington, DC. 11 July 1861. The Senate expells the Senators from Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Texas, plus one from Tennessee. This was a mere formality, since they had already departed for home.
• Manassas, Virginia. 21 July 1861. "Look, there is Jackson standing like a stone wall."
• Washington, DC. 22 July 1861. The House passes the Crittenden Resolution. The same resolution passes the US Senate on the 25th.
• The US Navy begins a blockade of Galveston Harbor in July 1861, but the town remains in Confederate hands for the next 14 months.
• Washington, D.C. July 1861. Mathew Brady and team of 20 aides begin photographic record of Civil War.
• FREE 1861 news from the New York Times

While we have no idea as to whether or not our Sam & Nellie had a wedding cake, the following recipe from an 1841 cookbook is mayhaps similar to one that might have been used if they did indeed have a cake . . .



The American Frugal Housewife
Dedicated to Those who are Not Ashamed of Economy
By Lydia Maria Francis Child: