My ancestors, they hail from . . . the redlands of Texas . . . and the marshes of Maine . . .
the plantations of Georgia . . . and the courts of Spain . . .
and from a hodgepodge of places . . . betwixt and between . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 9th day of July . . . in the year 1889 . . . Wm. P. Henry of Milam County, Texas sold and conveyed the rights to about four acres of his land . . . located about four miles north of Rockdale . . . to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company . . . this William Paschal Henry is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
Know all men by these presents, that I, W.P. Henry of the County of Milam and State aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar to me in hand paid by the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have granted sold and conveyed and by these presents do grant sell convey and deliver unto the said San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company of the County of Bexar and State of Texas that certain tract piece or parcel of land lying and being in the State of Texas and County of Milam and described as follows to wit. A Strip of land ? feet in width and about 1200 feet in length over and across my land on the T. J. Chambers Survey said strip of land to embrace ? feet on each side of the center of track of the S.A.&A.P....on the plans on file in the Office of the Engineer of said Company containing about 4 acres more or less. To have and to hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging unto the said San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company, its successors and assigns forever. And I do hereby bind my heirs executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company its successors and assigns against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand at this 9th day of July A.D. 1889. Signed "Wm. P. Henry"
Original 1891 documents from Volume 27, pages 149 and 150 of the Milam County Records as found in the Milam County Courthouse in Cameron, Milam County, Texas . . . 1891 map from Portal to Texas History . . .
On or about this date in our family history . . . the 7th (or the 17th) day of July . . . in the year 1687 . . . a baby girl is born to Mary Stevens and John Barker . . . they give her the name of Joanna . . . and the birth is recorded as the 7th in the Vital Records of Andover, Massachusetts . . . but . . . the Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine (1909) . . . as well as the Barker Genealogy (1927) by Elizabeth Frye Barker . . . both give Joanna's date of birth as the 17th day of July . . . this Joanna Barker grows up to marry John Farnum . . . and they are 7th great-grandparents of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
On this date in our family history . . . Edward Milliken, eighth son of John [Milliken] and Elizabeth Alger, was baptized at the Brattle Street church, Boston, Mass., July 6, 1706, and settled in Scarborough (District of Maine), on the Dunstan lands, in 1729. . . . this Edward is a 7th great-grandpa of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
History of the families Millingas and Millanges of Saxony and Normandy, comprising genealogies and biographies of their posterity surnamed Milliken, Millikin, Millikan, Millican, Milligan, Mulliken and Mullikin, A.D. 800 - A.D. 1907. Containing names of thirty thousand persons, with copious notes on intermarried and collateral families, and abstracts of early land grants, wills, and other documents. Embellished with portraits, coats-of-arms, and views of family seats. Compiled by Rev. Gideon Tibbetts Ridson, Sr. Kezar Falls, Maine. Author of "Early Settlers of Harrison, Me.," "Burbank Genealogy," "Hamblens of Beech Hill," "The Ancient Ryedales," and "Saco Valley Settlement and Families." Knowledge of an Honorable Ancestry should be an Incentive to Noble Conduct. Journal Press, Lewison, Me. Published by the Author (1907)
One hundred years ago . . . in July of 1913 . . . aging veterans of the war between the states were gathered on a hallowed battlefield in Adams County, Pennsylvania . . . amongst those survivors were representatives of the 5th Maine . . . and one of those regal gentlemen was Peter Brackett, the youngest of thirteen children said to have been born to William Brackett, a veteran of the Revolutionary War . . . the originals of the photos in this collage are from Peter's photos . . . and they were last known to be in the possession of some of his kinfolk in Lynn, Massachusetts . . . In 1913, the State of Maine offered to pay the expenses and arrange transportation to Gettysburg and back for any Maine resident who had participated in the battle in 1863 and who wanted to attend the 50-year reunion . . . it is known that he attended, so mayhaps this veteran of the 5th Maine, Peter Brackett, accepted Maine's assistance in making that sentimental journey . . . In this photo, Peter Brackett (1838-1927) is standing in the yard of the home he shared with the family of Eva Mae Smithnee Brackett (1874-1936) . . . this Eva was known as Grammie Smith to the Mother of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and she was raised as the daughter of Peter and Lizzie (Merrill) Brackett . . . click on Eva's name in this paragraph to read the rest of the story about her connection to this Peter Brackett, who, as it turns out, is also a 3rd great-grandson of the same Anthony Brackett who is the 10th great-grandpa of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
150 years ago today . . . on the 2nd day of July in the year 1863 . . . as a member of the 4th Regiment of the "Texas Brigade" . . . Pvt. J.H. Nettles is wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg . . . this Joseph Helidorah Nettles is a 2nd great-grandpa of the Keeper to this family history blog . . .
The "Texas Brigade" had been organized in 1861 in Richmond, Virginia, and was composed of the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas Infantry regiments, the only Texas troops to fight in the Eastern Theater . . . Col. John Bell Hood had been commander of the Fourth . . . on July 2, 1863, this brigade led the assault at Devils Den and Little Round Top, the crucial action of the second day of the battle . . . a soldier of the First Texas called the assault on Devil's Den "one of the wildest, fiercest struggles of the war." . . .
On the 25th (yesterday) the Keeper of this family history blog was doing some work on Find-A-Grave regarding the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas . . . two of the photos posted on Find-A-Grave during that work session are of the final resting place of a little girl with the name of Hattie R (1873-1875), Dau. of Wm. M. & E.V. Baines. . . .
As far as is currently known, there are no other Baines buried in this cemetery . . . and the parents were not listed as being buried elsewhere in Milam County . . . so, a search was begun for her family members . . .
The 1880 census quickly revealed that amongst the inhabitants of Rockdale as of June of that year were 37-year-old Wm. M. Baines, his 39-year-old wife, Elizabeth V. Baines, and an assortment of children . . . also in the same household were William's 33-year-old brother, Geo. W. Baines, and his 24-year-old wife, Cornelia . . .
Further research led to the fact that these Baines brothers are two of the sons of George Washington Baines, Sr. and his first wife, Melissa Ann Butler . . . this info wound up placing these Baines brothers in the waayyy distant branches of our family tree, where . . .
On this date, the 26th day of June, in the year 1881 . . . a baby girl is born in Collin County, Texas . . . she is the first of three children known to have been born to her parents, Joseph Wilson Baines (1846-1906) and Ruth Ament Huffman (1854-1936) . . . and they give her the name of Rebekah . . . Rebekah's father, Joseph, is a brother to the above named William and George . . . which makes Rebekah a first cousin to the little Hattie who is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Rockdale, Texas . . . Rebekah grows up to marry Samuel Ealy Johnson . . . and they are the parents of the 36th President of the United States . . . who is a 9th cousin twice removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
A faded census page from 1870 bears the heading . . . Inhabitants in Greensburg Precinct, in the County of Green, State of Kentucky, enumerated by me on the 17th day of June, 1870. . . . on Line 15 is enumerated 55-year-old Mary Henry (nee Kirtley) . . . and under the heading "Profession, Occupation, or Trade" it is indicated that she "Sews & Knits" . . . Mary is enumerated in the household of her only daughter, who is listed here as Ann B Owen . . . this "Sewer & Knitter" is known to have had two sons, William and Francis . . . her first-born son, William Paschal Henry (1836-1912), left Kentucky and wound up in Texas sometime before 1860, mayhaps by way of Missouri . . . it is believed that she never saw him again once he left Kentucky . . . This William is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . he had settled in Milam County (in central Texas) before 1880 and remained in that area until his death in 1912, when he was laid to rest beside his wife at the Pleasant Grove (aka Murray) Cemetery . . . The dates of death and burial locations of his parents, Thomas Henry and Mary Kirtley, remain unknown to us at this time . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 28th day of May . . . in the year 1694 . . . Joseph Merrill is born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . his parents are Daniel Merrill (1671-1725) and Esther Chase (1674-1751) . . . and his birth can be found recorded in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 . . . the pages in the collage are from that database . . . this Joseph is a 7th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 14th day of May . . . in the year 1667 . . . Elizabeth Frost marries William Gowen in Kittery, York County, Maine . . . this William Gowen (sometimes called Smith) is one of the Scottish prisoners captured in the Battle of Dunbar and exiled to America . . . and this Elizabeth and Williams are 9th great-grandparents of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
On this date in our extended family history . . . the 12th day of May . . . in the year 1902 . . . the following news items were published in various Texas newspapers . . . the deceased, John H. Connell, is a 1st cousin four times removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
Dallas Morning News, May 12, 1902. Bell County Killing. . . . Special to The News. Belton, Tex., May 11. -- John H. Connell, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this city, died last night from the effects of a knife cut. The knife struck him in the left arm, severing an artery and passing on out almost to the hollow about the heart. His son, John Connell, was arrested, and is now in jail.
JOHN H. CONNELL DEAD
Of wounds Which Were Inflicted by His Son.
Belton, Texas, May 11. -- Mr. John H. Connell died from his wounds last night at 10 o'clock.
This is the most deplorable tragedy that ever occurred in this community. The facts leading to the sad affair as they can be gathered are that the father and son had gotten into a dispute over some trivial matter when the son gave his father the lie, whereupon he slapped him in the face. The son at once drew his knife and cut his father in the arm between the shoulder and elbow, severing the brachial artery which caused so much loss of blood before medical aid could be had that death was inevitable.
Mr. Connell served throughout the war as a Confederate soldier and was conspicuous for his daring and bravery. He leaves a wife, three sons, two daughters, and many relatives to mourn his death. He will be laid to rest at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon in the North Belton cemetery. Funeral services conducted by Dr. H.A. Bouslard.
The Houston Daily Post (Houston, Tex.), Vol. XVIIITH YEAR, No. 38, Ed. 1, Monday, May 12, 1902
On this date in our family history . . . the 8th day of May . . . in the year 1721 . . . Rebekah Eams nee Blake dies in Boxford, Massachusetts . . . and is laid to rest in the Mount Vernon Cemetery . . . In the witchcraft excitement of 1692 Mrs. Rebecca Eames was accused, tried and condemned to death, but after being imprisoned for 7 months in Salem jail she was released and lived some 20 years thereafter. . . . this Rebekah is a 9th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . as well as a 9th great-grand-aunt . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 5th day of May . . . in the year 1572 . . . John Pine / Pyne is laid to rest at East Downe in the Barnstaple district of Devon, England . . . he is about 38 years of age . . . and he is the 13th great-grandpa of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
The above mentioned Catherine . . . aka Kate . . . became the bride of John Wesley Snyder on the 7th day of April 1867 . . . Capt. Snyder, with his brothers, Dudley and Tom Snyder, was in the live stock business in Texas many years, accumulating a large fortune . . . the former site of the J.W. Snyder home is now occupied by Southwestern University's fine-arts building in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas.
This Kate is the daughter of Col. John T. Coffee and his 2nd wife, Catherine Grace Hunt (1827-1844) . . . following the deaths of his first three wives, Col. Coffee married my widowed 1st cousin (four times removed), Eunice Margaret Amelia Vontress nee Allen . . . she had one surviving child (out of three) from her first marriage . . . and he had a total of seven children from his previous marriages . . . and then John and Eunice had (at least) five more children together.
On this date in our family history . . . the 18th day of February . . . in the year 1864 . . . Henry Hobbs dies in Harrison Village, Cumberland County, Maine . . . and is memorialized with a tombstone in the Maple Ridge Cemetery in Cumberland County . . . this Henry is a 4th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 4th day of February . . . in the year 1700 . . . it is said that Sarah Emery was born in Kittery (Berwick) in Maine . . . this Sarah is a 7th great-grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and this info is as recorded in the Brackett Genealogy by H.I. Brackett . . .
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:9-12
Once upon a time . . . back in the 20th century . . . the words printed above were read by a school-age narrator during the annual Christmas pageant in my hometown of Rockdale, Texas . . . this was a pageant traditionally held in the auditorium at Rockdale High School . . . I was an 8th grader (final year of Junior High) when the following excerpt from a full write-up regarding the 1965 Christmas pageant ran in the local newspaper . . . the Beverly and Joe mentioned below were my classmates . . .
The Rockdale Reporter, Rockdale, Texas, December 16, 1965. The Christmas Story will be told at 7:30 p.m. Friday by more than 200 junior-high school students when they stage their Christmas pageant in the high school auditorium. A highlight of the Christmas season in Rockdale in past years, the pageant will this year involve 211 students, according to Ernie Laurence, junior-high principal. The pageant will tell the story of the birth of Christ. Beverly and Joe will portray Mary and Joseph . . . The Rev. Frank Cady, pastor of St. John's Methodist Church and president of the Rockdale Ministerial Alliance, will give the benediction.
In previous years of participating in this pageant, I had portrayed an angel in the stable, kneeling at the manger . . . in 1965, I was a candlebearer . . . we wore white choir robes and were carrying lighted candles as we entered from the back of the auditorium . . . and we were singing Star of the East as we walked down the double aisles to the front of the stage . . .
Star of the East, Oh Bethlehem's star, Guiding us on to Heaven afar!
Sorrow and grief are lull'd by the light. Thou hope of each mortal, in death's lonely night!
Fearless and tranquil, we look up to thee! Knowing thou beam'st thro' eternity!
Help us to follow where Thou still dost guide, Pilgrims of earth so wide.
Star of the East, thou hope of the soul, While round us here the dark billows roll,
Lead us from sin to glory afar, Thou star of the East, thou sweet Bethlehem's star.
Oh star that leads to God above! Whose rays are Peace and Joy and Love!
Watch o'er us still till life hath ceased, Beam on, bright star, sweet Bethlehem star! Star of the East, undim'd by each cloud What tho' the storms of grief gather loud?
Faithful and pure thy rays beam to save, Still bright o'er the cradle, and bright o'er the grave!
Smiles of a Saviour are mirror'd in thee! Glimpses of Heav'n in thy light we see!
Guide us still onward to that blessed shore, After earth's toil is o'er! Star of the East, thou hope of the soul, While round us here the dark billows roll,
Lead us from sin to glory afar, Thou star of the East, thou sweet Bethlehem's star.
Oh star that leads to God above! Whose rays are Peace and Joy and Love!
Watch o'er us still till life hath ceased, Beam on, bright star, sweet Bethlehem star!
The Star Of The East 1918
Music by: Amanda Kennedy
Lyrics by: George Cooper
Website: parlorsongs.com
This song was originally published in 1883 as a piano solo reverie titled the Star Of The Sea. Almost 40 years later, Kennedy dusted the work off and reissued it with this new title with lyrics by George Cooper. Musically this song is identical to the 1883 work. All that is different is the addition of these lyrics and some repeats.
Updates . . . I had no luck in 2010 (when this was first posted on one of my other blogs) finding a decent version of someone singing this song . . . in 2011 I was able to locate a nice fiddle version, which has since been removed by the original contributor . . . so in 2012 I went searching again . . . and was delighted to find the following recording of Judy Garland (1922-1969) singing this classic . . .
I
also found one by Slim Whitman but it was no longer available as of 2014
. . . so I found one done by a granddaughter for her grandma . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of December . . . in the year 1748 . . . a baby boy is born in the household of Timothy Barker (1720-1752) and Mehitable Kimball (1720-1777) . . . he is given the name of Asa . . . and he is a 5th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . this birth is recorded in the Vital Records of Andover, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Google eBook) as published by the Topsfield Historical Society in the year 1912 . . .
On this date in our family history . . . the 5th day of December . . . in the year 1692 . . . Rebecka EAMES petitions Governor Phips as follows . . .
That wheras your Poor and humble petitioner having been here closely confined in Salem Prison neare four monthes and likewise Condemned to die for the crime of witchcraft w'ch the Lord above he knowes I am altogether innocent and ignorant off as will appeare att the great day of Judgment having had no Evidences against me but the Spectre Evidences any my owne confession w'ch the Lord above knowes was altogether false and untrue I being hurried out of my Senses by the Afflicted persons. Abigaill Hobbs and Mary Lacye who both of them cryed out against me charging me with witchcraft the space of four dayes mocking of me and spitting in my face saving they knew me to be an old witch and If I would not confesse it I should very Spedily be hanged for there was some such as my selfe gone before and it would not be long before I should follow them w'ch was the Occasion with my owne wicked heart of my saying what I did say: and the reason of my standing to my confession att my tryall was : That I know not one word w't I said when I was upon my Tryall att what the honoured Majestr'ts said to me but only the Name of Queen Mary: But may it please your Excellencye: when Mr Matther and Mr Brattle were here in Salem they disowned w't they before had said against me and doe still owne and say w't they has sayd against me was Nothing but the Divells delusions and they knew nothing in the least measure of any witchcraft by me: your poor and humble petition'r doe begg and Implore of yo'r Excellencye to Take it into yo'r Pious and Judicious consideration To Graunt me A Pardon of my life Not deserving death by man for wichcraft or any other Sin That my Innocent blood may not be shed and your poor and humble petitioner shall for ever pray as she is bound in duty for yo'r health and happiness in this life and eternal felicity in the world to come So prays.
Your poor and humble petition'r Rebecka Eames from Salem prison Decem the 5th: 1692
This Rebecka is a 9th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
