THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONNECTION - Gillespie line

My father's surname was GILLESPIE, and I knew very little about his parents' ancestors when I started trying to research our family tree about 8 years ago.  All direct grandparents and parents were deceased by then, and I wasn't very close to my much-older first cousins on that side.

Dad was born in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland  on Sunday April 7, 1907, coming over to Canada with his Mom and 4 siblings in November 1914, following his father who had arrived in Canada in 1911.  Thank heavens for passenger lists with all their details!   remember both his parents having an accent of some sort - maybe it was Scottish, or English - I wasn't even sure! My Dad was nicknamed "Scottie" when he was younger because of his accent - which disappeared in his teens. My grandparents never talked about the old country that I remember.

I assumed we were Scottish, because of his birthplace, and the tossed-off comment that his older siblings remembered playing on Hadrian's Wall.  But I also knew they lived in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, before coming to Canada.  Hmmmm.  Odd that we never questioned them - or maybe it isn't very odd at all.  Children are rather narcissistic by nature and development, so by the time I thought to ask questions, my grandparents and their older children were deceased.

Research now shows that my grandfather GILLESPIE - Jack (William John) - was born in Augher, County Tyrone, Ireland, 23 August 1876.  And I have the birth registration to prove it, showing his father, his mother and her maiden name (ARMSTRONG), the village, and the belated registration of his name in October 1876.  Yeah!! And the person "present at the birth" had the same surname as Grandpa's mother's maiden name: a Margerie Armstrong, living in the same village of Augher. Possibly her mother? A sister? Aunt? Clues galore! Grandpa's younger brother, Jim (James Robert), was born a few miles further north in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland.  Page-by-page-turns through a Family History film found me his birth registration, with same parents' names.  Excellent confirmation.  The entire family - Grandpa, his brother Jim, his parents, and his grandparents with aunt and uncles - all moved from Ireland to Barrow in Furness between 1879-1881, as they are all listed on the England Census 1881.

A few years ago, I finally reached out to a few of my elderly first cousins on my dad's side.  He was the 2nd youngest in the family, and his elder siblings were already married and with teenaged children when he finally got married in 1941. Our first cousins ranged from 15-25 or more years older than us, the youngest grandchildren. June had a lovely large photograph of my Grandpa's siblings and parents, in the mid-1890s (incorrectly labelled as 1890). Grandpa is the young man on the left. What a glorious find! I have also had wonderful conversations with another cousin, Catherine, who is now 87 years old, about our mutual grandparents and stories she remembers.

Now I'm searching diligently through Northern Ireland records, and maintaining a relationship with Catherine, enjoying reminiscing with her, teasing out more possible clues to follow, and enjoying her stories.  She has photographs my parents didn't - which I've scanned, and is also able to give me relatives' names in England, early history of our grandparents in Canada, explanations, and more!

If you have more information on our GILLESPIE-ARMSTRONG family, do please contact me at calewis at telus dot net and I'll be happy to correspond.  Or, leave a comment below.

SURNAME SATURDAY - GILLESPIE plus SMITH

Cousins?  Any cousins out there?  Check the list of children #3... perhaps they are your family!

I'm attempting to fill in the great-grand aunts and uncles of my GILLESPIE father's side, in hopes of finding a few cousins who may have stories or photographs or more to share!  Note that capitalized surnames are my direct line ancestors.

My GreatGrand-Aunt Margaret Gillespie is still quite unknown to me.  Her husband Joseph Smith shows up in 1882 for the first time, marrying her in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England.  This is where the 3 generations of the Gillespie family settled just before 1881, and where Margaret and her husband Joseph raised their 9 children.  The family disappears before the 1911 Census.

In Barrow in Furness, shipbuilding and steel work were the big industries in the mid to late 1800s, but became less so in the early 1900s. Families needed to be able to move to where employment could be found in steel work, ship work, etc.  For example, my grandfather moved his family up to Newmains Scotland for a few years in the early 1900s, and two of his uncles (Andrew and Robert) moved back to Ireland settling in Belfast around the same time.

Joseph Smith was working as a "Shipyard Labourer" on the 1891 Census for Barrow in Furness.  And on the 1901 Census, his occupation is listed as "Fireman Shipyard."

1. James GILLESPIE, b. abt 1821, N Ireland (father, Robert GILLESPIE)
    + Eliza (Elizabeth) MORRISON, b. abt 1823, N Ireland (father, John MORRISON)
    2.  George GILLESPIE, b. 1851 Newton, Tyrone, N Ireland
          + Catherine ARMSTRONG, b. 1853, Clogher, Tyrone, N Ireland
             (4 children)
    2.  Andrew Gillespie, b. abt 1858, N Ireland (no marriage)
    2.  Robert Gillespie, b. abt 1861, N Ireland
         + Mary Jane McGarry, b. 1863, Belfast, Antrim, N Ireland
            (7 children)
 * 2.  Margaret A. Gillespie, b. abt 1863, Northern Ireland
         + Joseph Smith, b. abt 1864, Ireland  (m. December 1882, Barrow)
          9 children, all born in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England:
          3.  Margaret E.  b. Dec 1883
          3.  Mary  b. 1885, d. Sep 1899
          3.  Mabel  b.  Jun 1887
          3.  James  b. Jun 1889
          3.  David  b. Sep 1891  (namesake - Joseph's older brother David)
          3.  Robert  b. Dec 1893
          3.  Joseph  b. Dec 1895
          3.  Sarah Jane  b. Mar 1898
          3.  Elizabeth  b. Dec 1899

Unfortunately I have not been able to track down these children by marriage or residence, mainly because of the Smith surname and relatively common first names.  Note that James & Elizabeth Gillespie, and George & Catherine Gillespie died in Barrow in Furness (often listed as Barrow), Lancashire. However, Andrew Gillespie and brother Robert & Mary Jane Gillespie moved to Belfast area, and died in Northern Ireland.

If any of these are your relatives, do please contact me at calewis at telus dot net -- I'm happy to share whatever I do have with you, and work with you to find more details as well.
       

SURNAME SATURDAY - BUELL, England to CT

The first BUELL immigrant is William BUELL, born possibly before 17 Feb 1604/5 in Chesterton, Huntingdon, England, according to several records.  He arrived in approximately 1630, apparently settling first at Dorchester MA, then moved to Windsor, settling there in about 1635 or shortly after.  In England, the surname was sometimes seen as Bevil(le). Occasionally the Buell family is considered from Wales, but this may well be an error.  In the link about Chesterton in 1870-1872  HERE, the Bevil name shows up as of the surname of early owners of the Manor in the Parish of Chesterton.  And more information for searching in this region of Huntingdon is found HERE.  

One major source for Buell records is Albert Welles' publication in 1881: The History of The BUELL FAMILY in England, From the Remotest Times Ascertainable from Our Ancient Histories, and in America, from Town, Parish, Church and Family Records.  Illustrated with Portraits and Coat Armorial.  This book is available on  Google Play free.  There are apparently some errors and confusion with some of the details in this book, particularly with the earliest statements of ancestry, but as providing a set of clues for early settlers in America, it has been very helpful in my first steps with the Buell families.  

William BUELL & his wife Mary POST married in Windsor, Connecticut, 18 Nov 1640, and eventually had 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls, all born in Windsor. William was apparently a skilled cabinet maker, and general carpenter, excellent skills for the new colonies.  

My line goes as follows - # is generation number:

  1. William BUELL, 17 Feb 1604/5 Chesterton, Huntingdon, Eng;  d. 1681 CT;  Mary POST

  2. Samuel William BUELL, 2 Sep 1641, CT;  d. 1720 CT;  Deborah GRISWOLD

  3. Samuel BUELL, 20 Jul 1663 CT;  d. 1732 CT;  Judith STEVENS

  4. Nathaniel BUELL, 29 Sep 1700 CT;  death date not known;  Deborah HORTON

  5. Grover BUELL, 4 Apr 1732 CT;  d. 1818 NY;  Jerusha BUCK

  6. Grover BUELL, 22 Jan 1759 NY;  d. 1811 NY;  Mehitable [unknown]

  7. Grover BUELL, 24 Dec 1794 NY;  d. 1874 NY;  Charlotte BORTLE

  8. Harriet F. BUELL,  27 Jan 1829 NY;  d. 1911 NJ;  James M. TERWILLIGER

  9. James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER,  27 May 1856 NY;  d. 1929 NJ;  Clara GRAVES

10.  Marguerite Josephine TERWILLIGER,  19 May 1880 NY;  d. 1973 BC Canada; ChasEK

   -  then, my mother;  JnoG

   -  then, ME    

Do you see all those "Grover Buell" individuals?  Some of their siblings named their sons Grover Buell as well, living in the same region, in the same years. Challenging, very challenging!   Because first names were repeated in each generation of each sibling - making a rather confusing mixture of finding same-named individuals in the same geographic setting at the same time - many records need to be followed with local histories, christenings, birth/marriage/death/burial records, land use, and early census records are essential to follow the lines.  

Early BUELL settlers in the first and 2nd generations married into well-known New England families:  Fenner,  Griswold,  Horton,  Palmer,  Parmalee,  Porter [many marriages], and Welles/Wells.  Mary POST, wife of William BUELL, has listed her mother as Mary Porter Mills... and the Porter intermarriages may be cousins of course.  Both the BUELL and POST families were originally from Chesterton; Mary's parents apparently died at sea on the way over from England to the colonies.

Several wives of these BUELL men [#'s 6, 7] are very difficult to research, and continue to be end points in my family tree. Bit by bit by bit, I hope to start filling in more information.  This is by no means the only information I have on the Buell line, but I'm always happy to find out a bit more, see another land grant, or a record of any kind.  

If you have any information on any of these individuals, please feel free to comment below and/or contact me at calewis at telus dot net.  

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - James "Grove" Grover TERWILLIGER

Apparently I'm not the only one in our family to struggle with math...

My great-grandfather, James Grover TERWILLIGER, known as "Grove" in the family. Born 27 May 1856, Syracuse, Onondaga NY, died 17 Mar 1929, Englewood, Bergen, NJ.  He is found in the middle of this page of those students needing to pass a Math exam (again).

From files,1873-1874: from Munroe Collegiate Institute, Williams College, Williamstown, MA

Note the names of fathers are given here, providing another source for parentage.

SURNAME SATURDAY: Joseph WHITEHOUSE 1793-1844

Joseph WHITEHOUSE, my 3rd great-grandfather, was born in the Rowley Regis area, Staffordshire, England.  He was apparently born about 1793, according to various Census records, but no parish register has yet been found for his birth. Joseph's parents are unknown at this time.

A marriage has been tentatively used for him, but has not yet been accepted as proven.  For the purposes of future research, his first child Samuel was christened in St. Thomas church in Dudley, Staffordshire; his mother was listed as Mary.  He apparently married 17 March 1822 to Mary GROVES, in Dudley, where the family apparently settled.  Dudley was a large area, and inhabitants often stated Dudley on forms when they actually lived in Rowley Regis and other small hamlets in the surrounding area.

Joseph worked first as a Nailer (nail-maker) and later as a Miner.  This occupation information shows up on baptism records of his first sons, then on the marriage registration of my direct ancestor Thomas WHITEHOUSE, the 4th son of Joseph and Mary, seen above. You will notice his son's marriage register records Joseph as "Dead" at the time, 1856.

The Black Midlands had many mines, iron foundaries, and steel mills in the region, as it was very rich in coal and iron.  The men and older boys experienced amazingly hard unhealthy work here in the mines and in the nail-making industry (the latter often done as a home based job, and others in the family would also help, in order to supplement the family income).

He and his wife, Mary, had 7 boys for whom I have found christening records (all at St. Thomas Church):  ** indicates my direct ancestor
  - Samuel  b. 23 Oct 1822    m. Johana, at least 2 boys
  - Benjamin  b. 11 Aug 1824   no marr. found to date
  - Henry  b. 5 Jul 1827     m. Jane Price, 3 boys, 1 girl
  - **Thomas  b. 10 Jul 1829   m. twice; Sarah PRICE Shutt (wid), 5 boys, 1 girl
  - Eli   b. 18 Mar 1832    m. Mary Ann Homer,  4 boys, 4 girls
  - John  b. 18 Jun 1834   no marr. found to date
  - Enoch  b. 9 Jul 1836  m. Esther Carter,  4 boys, 1 girl

I have not yet been able to find Joseph WHITEHOUSE on the 1841 UK Census for either Staffordshire or Worcestershire.  So far I've checked with all 7 of the children, and there are several possibilities and more ways of searching of course.  Perhaps I'll find him mistranscribed after I go through more Censuses page by page.

Joseph died 16 Mar 1844 in Dudley, Staffordshire, and was buried 21 Mar 1844 through St. Thomas Church (burial record with death date).  Note that St. Thomas Church is in the parish of Worcestershire due to historical decisions.  His wife Mary is shown with various groupings of the younger boys in the following Censuses, living later with her married sons, Eli and then Enoch, after they were married.

My goal for this year is to continue searching in the WHITEHOUSE line.  My research log has many possible records still to check online, as well as possible correspondence to write for additional details.   Maybe I'll find a snippet or two here and there to fill out our history.  25 grandchildren - that I know of - lived to continue Joseph's heritage in Canada, Washington State, and England.

And if you have any information on any of these people, please do not hesitate to contact me by either leaving a comment below, or emailing me at calewis at telus dot net.  Thanks for dropping by.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Last Day at my desk

Almost Wordless... 

Morning of April 30, 2008

Note the X marks on my calendar - which started several months earlier!

I began planning my retirement 36 months before this final date, in order to be ready physically (knee replacement surgery the first week in May 2008), mentally (began focus on Genealogy, and on Creative Writing), and financially (no pension, so saved & prayed!)  

For the final 10 years, I was one of two Provincial Coordinators for a community/home-based rehabilitation programme for children and teens with recent brain injuries.  I wrote their newsletter, handouts, set up teams of therapists as per parents' goals and preferences, funded, oversaw the work, went to various team meetings of all kinds (medical, educational, and more), provided advocacy and educational information and support.  Satisfying work in many ways.

Retirement is great!  (and I'm 60+ pounds lighter!)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - My Graduation Days...

Photographs taken on my various Graduation Days in Vancouver BC:  from a simple Grade 6 ceremony and banquet at Renfrew Elementary School, more formal Grade 12 from Vancouver Technical Secondary School (Academic) where I was the Valedictorian;  then to University of BC at Vancouver BC where I first received a BScN in 1966, then a MA (CnslgPsy) in 1987 after separation/divorce.

1955  Grade 6  Graduation Day - taken at north side of our home






1961  Grade 12 Graduation Day - cap and all

1966  Bachelor of Science in Nursing

1987  Masters of Arts (Counselling Psychology)

SCANNING FINDS - 1st COUSINS, 1890ish

Yesterday I managed to scan several dozen photographs and their backs (most had some writing on them from either my mother or her mother).  Some of these photographs I had seen long long ago, and popped them away "for safety", with no index or details, not even how I found them.  Note to self: make notes!

One of the last photos in my "to be scanned" folder was this lovely photograph of 1st cousins taken approximately 1890, in a formal portrait studio in Jordan, Onondaga County, New York.  Not a smile or a moving muscle on either of these young girls!  Too bad, as the taller girl had a great dimple on the left cheek when she smiled.

The younger girl seated on the left with light hair is Florence Ethel Wisner (known as Ethel), b. 1883 in New York state, the only daughter and 2nd of 4 children of Lillian Adele Graves (my greatAunt) and Gabriel W. Wisner (a lawyer).  She was named for her mother's youngest sister, Florence Graves. These two sisters were apparently quite close, as Florence named her only daughter, Lillian.

The older girl with dark hair standing on the right, is Marguerite Josephine "Daisy" TERWILLIGER, my maternal grandmother, b. 19 May 1880 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, the only daughter and 1st child of 3 of Charles Giles GRAVES (investor, businessman) and Harriet "Hattie" Philena ORMSBEE.

Notice they are wearing the same style hat and dress, and are mirroring poses.

If you look closely you may be able to see that the girls have some "tattoos" on their fingers on the joints closest to their knuckles.  I'll assume that they are temporary ones, put on by some means or another.

I wish I'd seen this photo when my grandmother was alive - I'd have had many questions about their relationship, and how it was that they were together in Jordan NY at this time.  How did they have the same clothing to wear, and what about those tattoos?? Perhaps there was a family get-together happening.  There doesn't seem to have been any deaths, births, or marriages in the several families represented in the direct and extended lines in the area.

The center "thing" they are both leaning on is remarkably oddly shaped with something poking out in the middle! Some boxes wrapped in a gorgeous throw? Perhaps someone knows these details of late 1800s photographic studios -?   I haven't been able to find a news item about this Dygert or Dugert Portrait Studio as yet, but I'll keep trying over the next few weeks.

If you wish any further information on either of these two girls or their families, or if you have details to share, do please comment below, or email me at calewis at telus dot com.  Thanks for visiting!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Whew!

I never thought I'd get here - one entire year of blogging!  Yeah!!

This is the 37th post I've completed since the first one on May 25, 2012.  Many fewer than I'd originally thought I would do, but I'm happy to have posted that many - a new goal for the coming year of blogging will be to do MORE!  I'm still getting my blogging feet under me, as I ponder the purpose of my blogging - aside from "cousin-fishing".

Thank you to those of you who have been so encouraging to me about blogging:  Bill West, Susan Clark, Moises Garcia, Jill Ball, Albert Riezebos, Tessa Keogh, Leslie Lawson, Carol Stevens, Kathy Reed ... and so many more.  The comments I've received have been very encouraging, or amusing, or helpful, or thoughtful.  Even a "+" makes my day!  Maybe after a few more years I won't be wondering if anyone is reading these blogs.

Cheers to y'all, and I'll be continuing of course.

This year I'll continue working around my dead-ends in my ancestor lines, learning to search through more different databases, and digging through indexes or records page by page, line by line, as necessary. I have lots of time, after all - I just turned 70 a few weeks ago, and I'm determined to hit 100 as several women ancestors did!  One died at 102 (great health until the very end), one at 98 (ditto), one at 96 (a few years of challenges)... but still, I certainly have good genes!

On the right, in 1924 in New York city, a 4-generation photograph of my Mom (2 yrs old) in her mother's (GrandPete) arms (44), GrandPete's mother Gussie (67) on the far right, and her mother Hattie (97) looking at her, talking.  Love this photo of my Grand's with Mom.
On the left, here's  the more recent 4-generation photo:  me (25) on the right in July 1968, on the way home from the nearby hospital with 1st child 5 days old, GrandPete (93) in the middle, my Mom (45) on the left; sitting on the porch of the house where we lived since January 1954.  Note the "G" on our screen door for "Gillespie"!

Hopefully one of my 4 children or grandchildren will be interested in all the genealogy details I've been able to find.  I need to find other 4-generation photos if possible - they're so touching...

From IRELAND -- Edward McCABE 1767-1814

Edward McCABE is my 3rd great-grandfather on my mother's lines: my mother's father's father's mother's father.  I have very little information on him, aside from Census details and gravestone information. As with many Irish ancestors, it can be quite challenging to find details in Ireland.  And, as with many ancestors from the late 1700s, it can be challenging to find any details!!

He apparently was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, and died 1 April 1814 in Maryland, buried in Conewago, Adams County, PA, according to the information on the KUHN obelisk at Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery.  Two carvings give different dates for his birth calculating from death date:  the original stone states he was in his 42nd year when he died, i.e., born in 1772; but the obelisk gives his birth year as A.D. 1767, i.e., he was in his 47th year when he died.  This discrepancy has yet to be resolved... one wonders if the carver of the first small stone heard "42nd" instead of "47th" -?

Edward apparently immigrated to Pennsylvania before 1797, although records have not yet been found for him on a ship record, nor in a settlement.

However, he shows up married on 17th July 1797 in Morgantown, to Rebecca HUDSON, who was b. 18 March 1777 in the area known as Morgan's town (Morgantown, Berks, PA).  Rebecca's mother was Mary MORGAN, daughter of Col. Jacob MORGAN, who fought in the Revolutionary War; her father Jonathan/John HUDSON, was an early Welsh settler family in the region. I am able to continue research through the Welsh ancestors-- Morgan, Hudson, Bowen, and Piersol/Pearsall families in PA -- as land records and other historical details allow.

Edward and Rebecca had 3 children:
  - Maria Cecelia McCabe, b. 1798, Morgantown; m. ?McDivitt, nothing else known at present
  - Edmond Hudson McCabe (Dr.), b. 1800, Morgantown; m. Elizabeth Farrish, 5 children
        - moved family to St. Louis MO
  - Jane Rebecca McCABE, b. 25 Oct 1803, Downington [south of Morgantown]

Their daughter, Jane, married Joseph J. [Jacobus] KUHN 5 Nov 1826, in Conewago, Adams, PA.  The family settled in East Berlin, Adams County, PA, and had 9 children.  My ancestor line goes through the 2nd child, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN.

As you see for Edward McCABE, I have only two questionable birthdates, a marriage date, a death date, children and grandchildren's details.  But nothing really about Edward himself.  What was his occupation?  When did he actually arrive?  Did he come with relatives from Ireland? How was he regarded by his neighbours and family?  Hopefully I can continue to find a bit more information on Edward this year!

If you have any information on any of the names in this post, are a relative, do contact me and I will be happy to share what I details I have.

SURNAME SATURDAY - Charles Giles GRAVES 1824-1902

Charles Giles GRAVES, born 7 March 1824 in Jordan, Onondaga, NY.  This photograph has been tentatively identified as dated in the 1870s.  My great-Uncle Hal Terwilliger [his grandson] looks quite like him, which gives mild support for this identification.

My 2nd great-grandfather was a "Capitalist" according to the 1900 Census in Jordan, NY, and I find this occupation description rather amusing for some reason.  He owned retail businesses and buildings in New York, starting as a merchant.  The 1860 Census shows his real estate value as $3,000, and his personal value as $13,000.

He was the youngest of 8 children, 2 of whom (the 6th and 7th) died young.  The eldest and only living girl was Emeline (b. 21 Jun 1805) who married Henry Allen, b. 1801 in Massachusetts (3 children).  Parents were Cornelius GRAVES & Anna TREAT.

I have a letter from my great-Uncle Hal Terwilliger to my mother, including this excerpt:
"Your Grandfather: Charles Giles Graves born Mar.7, 1824,  son of Cornelius Graves and Anna Treat,  descendent of Robert Treat, Colonial Governor of Connecticut and Founder of Newark New Jersey,  had four brothers:  William Thompson, Stephen Rensselaar,  Edward Seabury  and  Sheldon.

Sheldon went to what later became Chicago, built the first hotel there, the Lake House.   I had heard, though I know nor have any evidence, he built two factories on what was the Chicago River, for pails, chairs, etc. needed by settlers.   Your Mother remembers when she was a little girl her Uncle coming to Jordan with his wife and children in a buckboard, driving all the way from Chicago.   He came to be reequipped with clothes etc. and money and returned to Chicago, as per above."

The first Graves immigrant was John GRAVES, who emigrated in approximately 1635 (See Vol.3, Great Migration Study).  The TREAT line goes back through Robert TREAT, Governor of Connecticut from 1683-1696.  In England, the surname is known as TROTT, by the way, and the ancestor group appears to have originally lived in Taunton area of Somerset, migrating to the colonies between 1635-1640.  The first Treat immigrant, Richard TREAT, is seen settled in Watertown, and is recorded in Wethersfield in 1637.

On 26th of September 1850, Charles Giles GRAVES married Harriet "Hattie" Philena ORMSBEE, whose parents I've discussed in previous posts.  The family settled in Jordan, Onondaga, and had 3 daughters:
 - Lillian Adele, b. 25 Nov 1853, m. Gabriel W. Wisner (lawyer), 4 children
 - *Clara Augusta "Gussie", b. 5 Nov 1857, m. James "Grove" TERWILLIGER, 3 children
 - Florence Estelle "Toto", b. 3 Feb 1860, m. Ernest F. Tyler (jeweller), 1 daughter

My line goes through the middle girl, Gussie; her husband, James Grover "Grove" Terwilliger, is the ancestor who completed the TERWILLIGER SOUVENIR ALBUM (a separate blog of mine).

Charles' obituary follows (found online at Old Fulton Postcards NY free newspaper site):

Marcellus Observer  

Friday, February 7, 1902

Jordan Department 

    (2^nd column lower half)

         Charles G. Graves died at the family residence last Sunday.  Two weeks ago Mr. Graves suffered an attack of pneumonia from which he failed to rally.  He was born in Onondaga County and was 77 years old.  When a young man he went to Syracuse, and during the fifties and sixties was identified with the dry goods trade, being in partnership part of the time with Samuel A. Seager, under the firm name of Seager & Graves.  In this village of late years he had lived in retirement.  For many years the family Homestead was at the corner of West Onondaga and Southwest streets, in Syracuse.   The deceased was a genial, hospitable gentleman, who will be well remembered by the older generation.   Mr. Graves married Miss Harriet Ormsbee, who survives.  He is also survived by three daughters, Mrs. Gabriel W. Wisner of Jordan, Mrs. J. Grove Terwiliger of New Rochelle and Mrs Ernest Tyler  of New York.   The funeral was held at the family home on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock and services were held later in the day at Oak wood chapel.  Mr. Graves was the last of a prominent family who were identified with large enterprises here thirty years ago.

------- ------- ------- 

Charles & his wife, Gussie, were buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga, New York.

If any of these names are familiar or you wish more information, please do not hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below.  

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Lucius Jared ORMSBEE 1825-1911

Lucius Jared Ormsbee, is the only son of my 3rd greatgrandfather, Jacob ORMSBEE (see previous posts), so he is my 2nd granduncle.  Lucius was born 31 Aug 1825 in Manlius, Onondaga, New York, the eldest of 5 children.  My direct ancestor is the second child, Harriet "Hattie" Philena ORMSBEE, b. 28 May 1827.

Lucius married Caroline C. Coombs on 13 May 1847 in Jordan, Onondaga, New York, and they had 3 children:  Lucius "Frank" Ormsbee, Henry Jerome Ormsbee, and Caroline "Carrie" Ormsbee.  Lucius died 29 July 1911, in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York, 9 years after his wife died in 23 Jan 1902.

I'm sharing this photo from the Syracuse Journal, July 29, 1911, the day of his death;  newspaper article found searching through Old Fulton NY Post Cards (& Newspapers).

I have no photo of his father Jacob, or of his mother, Sabra/Sally TOWERS, so this is the closest I can get to an image.


If you are a relative, or know more about his ancestors - father Jacob, and grandfather Arnold - do contact me, I'd love to share any details or information I do have on the Ormsbee family.