My great-grandmother Margaret "Maggie" Shipman was born in northern Alabama on Oct. 11, 1869 and was twice married. She had a son named George from her previous marriage to a Mr. Deary and was widowed when she married my great-grandfather Joseph Black Bush.
Joseph Black Bush was also a widow and had three daughters, Virgie (Virginia), Lizie (Elizabeth) and Tommie Nell (yes, she was a girl!) from his first marriage to a Mary Dunn.
Maggie and Joseph went on to have 6 children together. Maggie died on Jan. 31, 1958 having outlived two husbands and many of those children.
What has baffled me is the "name du jour" that these folks had! In the 1920 US Census, Joe Black and Maggie are shown living with daughter Maggie, and three sons, Samuell, born about 1902; Allis, born about 1907; and Barlow, born about 1910.
No one knows who Sam/Samuel was. Allis' correct name was Alvis, and Barlow is now thought to be the "Bill" mentioned in Maggie's letter. The 1930 US Census shows Joe and Maggie living with a son named Bill born about 1911. I think I would prefer to be called Bill over Barlow myself... so I really can't blame the man...
And so, researching this "blended" family is complicated by both parents being married with children twice and living in at least five states in the meantime.
Joseph Black Bush is the white haired man in the center - this photograph was taken in 1926 during a family reunion.
Joseph Black Bush was a "hell and brimstone" preacher. He moved from Fountain Run, Kentucky to Bonham, Texas which is about 35 miles southeast of Calera, Oklahoma where he would end up with Maggie. Maggie moved from Double Springs, Alabama to Shelbyville, Tennesee to Honey Grove, Texas (a short distance from Bonham, Texas) after failing to find a "nice place to live" in the 1889 Oklahoma Sooner Land Rush.
Joseph's father was Ambrose Barlow Bush, pictured above. He too, was married twice.
Joseph's mother was Jane Elizabeth Barlow Bush, pictured above. These pictures came from distant relative Nancy Bush (who was the mother of Kay Bush that I mentioned in my last entry).
Ambrose Barlow Bush was the son of James Bush and "Betsy" Jane Barlow.
Ambrose Barlow Bush was named after his maternal grandfather, Ambrose Barlow.
Ambrose Barlow was born in July, 1766 in Culpepper, Virgina and served as a Private in the infantry during the American Revolution. He died on August 13, 1839 near Fountain Run, KY.
..and now you see why the Barlow-Bush cemetery in Fountain Run, Kentucky was of great interest to my cousin - she would like to see (or take) some photographs of the gravestones there.
And that leads us to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ambrose Barlow is my mother's great-great-grandfather.
But... the DAR story doesn't end there.
Joseph Black Bush's wife, my great-grandmother Maggie Shipman cames from a family that was in America nearly as long as the Bush family.
Her great-great-grandfather Edward Shipman and his father Daniel Shipman both served during the American Revolution.
Edward Shipman served under Colonel Anderson in the 96 District Militia in South Carolina. His father, Daniel Shipman served in the militia in Wilmington, NC.
Maggie's great-grandfather, Hezikiah Shipman, was married to Hannah Rhodes (born in 1970 in Transylvania, North Carolina). Hannah's father, Peter Rhodes, served as a soldier under Colonel Hambright, in North Carolina. Colonel Frederick Hambright is known for his gallant fight during the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7th, 1780.
And finally, Maggie's mother, Paratine Avery's great-great-grandfather Charles Avery served in Virgina.
I think with at least five ancestors that served during the American Revolution, my mother, cousin, and my niece should have little trouble becoming Daughters of the American Revolution - the hardest part might be picking one of them to put in their applications.
15 comments:
Heavens to Betsy! Well, they certainly could put their names in, that's for sure.
That old preacher looks like a mean'un. I can almost smell the brimstone!
I love hearing about your family. I still am not sure how you keep all of them straight, though. Of course, in the very old days in Sweden the last names changed, too! Like my dad's father was named Eric Johnson so then his name would have been Clarence (Kelly) Ericson. Very confusing. I'm glad it is my sister's problem--LOL! She's our family genealogist. Although, I don't know if she has been working on it much these past years. We seldom are in contact.
Anyways, I hope you find out as much as you can for Your distant relative. I know you like to know, too. ;)
I find this all very intriguing, and for you to be able to research and find all of this information about your family just boggles the mind. (it does mine anyway) :)
With that many family members serving during the Revolutionary War, it shouldn't be difficult to choose one to put on those applications. Good luck!
And Happy Thanksgiving! *hugs*
Wow, Iggy. Totally amazing you can trace back your family to the Revolutionary War! This was so fascinating to read about Maggie and Joseph and how they got together, bringing kids into their marriage from previous marriages and then having six more of their own. She lived a long life too! Just absolutely interesting to read all the research you do, Iggy, plus the stories of your family!
If you don't post between now and Thanksgiving, I hope you have a good one, whatever you do!
betty
Congratulations on verifying your historic roots. What a great story to put me in that historic, Thanksgiving mood! But don't discount the possibility of being recognized as a child of the Revolution, yourself. I believe there are other organizations commemorating those roots besides DAR.
What a remarkable family tree you have, my dear!!! How fun and interesting to learn so much about those who came before you! Great work!!!
Wonderful that you have learned so much! Way to go!:)
History just leaves such a bittersweet taste, doesn't it? I truly understand why you like it so much...yours or anyone else's. I hadn't caught your post with that letter, so I'm glad you linked up to it in this one. Thanks!
I was one day short of being one month old when that letter was written...
funny how all the old people back in the 1800's all looked a like..tired, worn out and mad.
I'm pretty upset. I left a very thought provoking, lengthy, awe-inspiring comment yesterday and it isn't here. Ok, it may not have been that good, but still it is gone!
It was something about family history and the wonderment of why family rifts happen in the first place and how great it is that you've hooked up with a long lost cousin and how neat it is that you have those photos now and.... see, I told you the first comment had to be much better ;)
Oh and I also said something about thinking your mother was already a member of the DAR... and then something about my feeble brain getting things wrong a lot. She should definitely be a shoe-in!
Happy Thanksging Iggs. Hugest of hugs.
Punkn
It's my mother who is already a member of the DAR, Deanna. :)
Great pictures! I wonder why nobody smiled back then?
I love researching family history. I just wish I was able to do more of it back when I was working on it. But now I have some newfound relatives and maybe they can help me out a bit. One did offer, so I'll have to see where that goes. Have a great week Iggy! :)
Interesting post; you have a fascinating family!
What a treasure trove of family history you've uncovered!
We have DAR connection -- but have never applied. We had some Greats who were in the New York Militia (from Putnam Valley NY) Travis was the name. Father and son served. Caught by the British and then escaped. So ... the story goes.
I noted someone mentioned nobody smiled back then. yeah.. they all had bad teeth I think.
This is really fascinating to me. Thank you again for sharing all of your findings, it's truly is remarkable to me.
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