The Library of Congress has a new collection of The New York Times Rotogravure from World War I. I was excited to see that the Library of Congress had the same material that I have which meant that I could use it and not need to scan my own collection. The LoC quality was excellent; they had whole pages instead of my partial pages. Then I saw that they don’t have all of the issues. I looked at my collection and the next one I was going to write about was the June 30, 1918, issue. It isn’t available in the Library of Congress Rotogravure collection. My search of the collection showed they have June 2, June 9, June 16, and June 23, but not June 30, 1918.
Top half of the first of six pages included from my 30 June 1918 collection. This half of the page includes: “Jitney Tank;” Lieutenant Aviator Leps; Lieutenant Guerin; Lieutenants Reno, Fonck, and Milton; a Shell-Shelter Village; and a Camouflaged French Road. Click the image or here for the OCRed pages.
Oh my — my collection suddenly became much more important. If I have editions that the Library of Congress does not have, then my collection might be unique. If so, I really need to preserve it digitally. Sadly, in the pages that I have for 30 June 1918, one photo was cut out. It affects that page and the reverse side but not the other pages. I photographed all the pages I have from this June 30th 1918 edition. Then I OCRed (used Optical Character Recognition) the images. There is one page that contains a full-page ad for Tintex, but no war photos, so I did not OCR that page and did not include it in my final product. I assembled the OCRed images into a single Portable Document File. I wish that I had the technology to either photograph the entire image or to be able to adequately stitch the images together; however, I was not happy with the results of my trying to electronically stitch the images.
Here is my attempt with the 30 June 1918 issue. I hope you find the images and stories as interesting and as fascinating as I do.
During my recent “We’re Relate” Famous Friday investigation, I noted that my relationships to Luke Bryan and to Carrie Fisher were both based upon David Blackwell, supposedly the father of my 3rd great-grandmother Elizabeth Blackwell. I had originally intended for her to be #6 in my continuing Roberts, but determining if I might be related to Carrie Fisher enticed me to jump Elizabeth ahead to next to research.
Roberts/Barnes Research – Generation 6: Ancestor #33
List of Grandparents
Grandfather: Bert Allen Roberts
1st Great-grandfather: Hugh Ellis Roberts
2nd Great-grandfather: Asa Ellis Roberts
3rd Great-grandmother:Elizabeth Blackwell
4th Great-grandfather: David Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell Roberts (1796-1867)
Birth
Elizabeth Blackwell was born on 10 September 1796[i] in Surry County, North Carolina[ii]. She was possibly the 11th of 17 children of David Blackwell. An incredible amount of work is still needed to confirm and validate all her siblings.
Childhood
Elizabeth’s father was a revolutionary war veteran. Her mother died while Elizabeth was still young, probably before she was 10-years-old.
Marriage
Elizabeth married John Calvin Roberts on 3 March 1816 in Roane county, Tennessee.[iii]
1820 Census
Family Search Wiki indicates that the 1820 Census for Roane County, TN has been lost.[iv] The Wiki suggests an alternate source in Mary Barnett Curtis, Early East Tennessee Tax Lists…. I have requested a copy through Interlibrary Loan.
1830 Census
The 1830 Census finds the John Roberts household of Roane County, Tennessee with the following household:[v]
1 Male 30 to 39: [John Calvin Roberts – Age 35]
1 Female 30 thru 39: [Elizabeth (Blackwell) Roberts – Age 33]
2 Males under 5: [Frances, Phillip, & John – Ages 4, 2, & 1 respectively]
Only two children were reported as being under 5. Francis married and was living during the war. Both Phillip and John are believed to have died before 1848. One of them must have died before the 1830 Census.
1940 Census
The 1840 Census finds the John Roberts Family in Roane County, Tennessee with the following: [vi]
1 Males – 40 thru 49: [John Calvin Roberts – Age 45]
1 Male – 10 thru 14: [Phillip, John & Francis, Ages 11, 12, & 14 respectively]**
1 Male – 5 thru 9: [Asa & Hugh – Ages 5 & 6 respectively]***
3 Males – Under 5: [Robert and Brazzel – Ages 1 & 3 respectively]***
*Both Calvin and David are believed to have died before 1848. One of them, may have died before 1840. Alternately, one of them may have established their own home by 1840. Further research is needed to determine which two remained in this household.
** This time only one male is reported as age 10 thru 14. Francis married and was living during the war (1860s). Both Phillip and John are believed to have died before 1848. For this census record to be accurate, both of them must have died before the 1840 Census.
*** Two males between 5 and 9 were reported and one male child under 5 was missing. I believe that five-year-old Asa was reported in error.
1 Female – 40 thru 49: [Elizabeth – Age 44]
1 Female – 15 thru 19: [Elizabeth – Age 17
1 Female – 5 thru 9: [Amanda – Age 9]
1850 Census
The 1850 Census names the individuals within the household but does not provide relationships. It indicates that the first ten children had either died or left home. The remaining six children are identified in the census. The John Roberts Household consisted of:[vii]
John Roberts M 55 Tennessee
Elizabeth Roberts F 53 North Carolina
Hughy Roberts M 17 Tennessee
Acy Roberts M 15 Tennessee
Robert S Roberts M 13 Tennessee
Bazel Roberts M 11 Tennessee
Rebecca Roberts F 10 Tennessee
William Roberts M 9 Tennessee
Also in the household was an Elizabeth Nelson, age 23. Her relationship is unknown at this time. John and Elizabeth’s daughter named Elizabeth (born 1823) would have been 26 years old. I do not believe that Elizabeth Nelson is their daughter returned home with a new surname, rather, I believe they were two separate individuals.
1860 Census
The 1860 Census finds the Roberts family still in Roane County, Tennessee. The receive their mail through the Kingston post office.
The only one of the children of John and Elizabeth is their 18-year-old daughter Rebecca.[viii]
Death
Elizabeth Blackwell Roberts died on 5 July 1867 in Roane County, Tennessee. [ix],[x] It does not appear that she has a marker.
Conclusion
The good news is that, at least in my mind, Elizabeth Blackwell’s parents were David and Sarah (Harris) Blackwell provided one more step along the way towards seeing those “We’re Related” relationships are possibly real. The bad news is that several researchers that I trust indicate that David Blackwell’s father was William Blackwell, Not Samuel Blackwell as the Luke Bryan “We’re Related” lineage suggests. Likewise, “We’re Related” suggests that David Blackwell’s mother was Elizabeth Steptoe; however, most other researchers suggest that David Blackwell’s mother was Mary Marshall. So, at this point I don’t believe either Luke Bryan or Carrie Fisher are related through the line that “We’re Related” suggests. I still need to confirm the parents of David Blackwell myself, but the priority of that research has dropped back to normal.
Review: Snyder E. Roberts; Roberts families of Roane County, Tennessee, 1794-1969, 1968 for Roberts Family. WorldCat: https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/114828. (I have requested this book through the Inter-Library Loan system.)
Review: Chris H. Bailey, “Descendants of David Blackwell of Surry County, North Carolina and Roane County, Tennessee,” particularly his footnotes which contain many of his sources.
[v] 1830 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry.Com, 1830 Census – John Roberts – Roane, Tennesee (A). 1830; Census Place: Roane, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 180; Page: 55; Family History Library Film: 0024538.
[vi] 1840 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry.Com, 1840 Census – John Roberts – Roane, Tennessee (A). 1840; Census Place: Roane, Tennessee; Roll: 535; Page: 70; Image: 1022; Family History Library Film: 0024549.
[vii] 1850 Census (FS), Family Search, John Roberts – Roane, Tennessee – House Number 1415. Accessed: 6 August 2016.
[viii] 1860 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry.Com, 1860 Census – John Roberts – 14th District, Roane, TN – Post Office Kingston.
[x] Gregory Vaut, Ancestors of Alexandra Catlin Vaut, Files (Personal), Elizabeth Blackwell #78189. Accessed 13 Feb 2017. https://www.acvancestors.com/g2/p2607.htm#i78189.
My second look at possible relatives using “We’re Related.”
I must have received an upgrade recently as the program wanted me to reconnect with all of my Facebook friends. I was not amused that I could not bypass the requirement. I really don’t want “We’re Related” sending messages to all of my friends asking them to install “We’re Related” on their devices. My grandkids don’t need messages like that from me. Nor do many of my other friends. Luckily, it is possible to uncheck friends from the invites. It is a pain to have to do that to a hundred or more individuals, but I was able to do so and launch the application again. The first three potential ancestors shown were John Kerry, Luck Bryan, and Carrie Fisher.
John Kerry
John Kerry is identified as a possible seventh cousin, four times removed on my Brown line.
Richard Earl Brown
Arthur Durwood Brown
Marian Sanford
Mary Electa Parsons
Deborah Buel Maben
Electra Rowley
Wicks Weeks Rowley
Hannah Phelps – Unknown to me. Needs further research.
Nathaniel Phelps
Nathaniel Phelps
Timothy Phelps – Supposed Common Ancestor.
I do not know who Wicks Weeks Rowley’s mother was. I believe his father was Nathan Rowley, but have no clue regarding his mother. Definitely, this is an area for further research. My relationship with John Kerry is possible.
Luke Bryan (Thomas Luther Bryan)
I’ll admit it, when I saw his name I said, “Who?” I learned he is a country music musician and composer. Then I switched to a genealogical context and thought, Bryan, I have Bryan’s in my family tree, maybe this will be a quick positive match. No such luck.
Luke Bryan is potentially a sixth cousin, twice removed, through
Hugh Eugene Roberts
Bert Allen Roberts
Hugh Ellis Roberts
Asa Ellis Roberts
Elizabeth Blackwell
David Blackwell – Unknown to me. Needs further research.
Samuel Blackwell – Supposed Common Ancestor.
I don’t know Elizabeth Blackwell’s parents nor grandparents, but with only two unknown ancestors involved, this is probably the closest to verification famous person I’ve encounter so far. Cousins with Luke Bryan is likely.
Carrie Fisher
The third famous individual I’m looking at this week is the late Carrie Fisher, a potential eighth cousin, twice removed. “We’re Related” say we are related through Anthony Steptoe on the following tree:
Hugh Eugene Roberts
Bert Allen Roberts
Hugh Ellis Roberts
Asa Ellis Roberts
Elizabeth Blackwell
David Blackwell – Unknown to me. Needs further research.
Elizabeth Steptoe
John Steptoe
Anthony Steptoe – Supposed Common Ancestor.
With two individuals whose possible relationship to me stops at Elizabeth Blackwell, it makes me want to investigate that ancestor more fully, next. In the meantime, it is likely I’m related to Princess Leia, umm, I mean Carrie Fisher.
Blaine Bettinger
Finally, among my Facebook friends, “We’re Related” suggests that I’m related to Blaine Bettinger and that we are ninth cousins along my Brown Line. Blaine is a professional genealogist who specializes in DNA. His blog, The Genetic Genealogist is one of my favorite blogs to follow. He is the author of several Genetic Genealogy books. I met Blaine at the Maine Genealogical Society Spring DNA Workshop last April and was lucky enough to share a table with him and get to know him a little bit.
Richard Earl Brown
Arthur Durwood Brown
Marian Sanford
Mary Electa Parsons
Chester Parsons
John Parsons
John Parsons
Abigail Smith
Jonathan Smith
So, it appears we are very close, only two ancestors away from finding a common ancestor (CA). I just need to find out who the parents and grandparents of John Parsons (1736-1821) are. In the meantime, it is likely that Blaine and I are related.
Updated chart of Relationships to Famous People
Famous Person
Relationship*
To CA
Comments
Luke Bryan
Possible
2
Research Ancestors of Elizabeth Blackwell
Blaine Bettinger
Possible
2
Research Ancestors of John Parsons
John Kerry
Possible
4
Research Ancestors of Wicks Weeks Rowley
Carrie Fisher
Possible
4
Research Ancestors of Elizabeth Blackwell
Walt Disney
Possible
7
Research Ancestors of Mercy Eliza Taft
Stephen King
Unlikely
Not through Max Fisher
Randy Seaver
Unlikely
Not through Henry Mack Brown
Britney Spears
Unlikely
Not through Sarah J. Gavin
“We’re Related” is fun to look at possibilities. It makes me think about key relationships in my tree and has the potential of providing clues into further research. I wonder if Ancestry has improved its algorithms. None of the matches this time were unlikely or impossible.
In my normal research process of my Roberts line, Elizabeth Blackwell is sixth ancestor on my list to research in depth. So, I should get one generation closer on that line in the next few months. Researching her will also bring me one step closer to knowing if I’m related to Carrie Fisher as well.
John Parsons, Sr., is my ancestor #408. I have written about my 3rd great-grandmother, Mary E. Parsons previously, but I still need to document his father Chester Parsons, and his father, John Parsons, Jr., before researching John Parsons, Sr., in depth.
*Relationship Table
Unlikely = There is something in the family tree going up to the common ancestor that I disagree with. There might be another path to a common ancestor; however, according to my research, the path “We’re Related” is suggesting is not possible.
Possible = “We’re Related” has added additional ancestors to my tree to reach a potential common ancestor. I need to do more research to agree with the Common Ancestor.
Probable = “We’re Related” indicates a common ancestor that I agree is an ancestor of mine. I need to research the descendants of that ancestor to assure the connection.
Certain = Well as certain as you can get in Genealogy. “We’re Related” indicates a pathway up to a common ancestor and down to the famous person that I am in agreement with.
Ever since I started volunteering at the Scarborough Historical Society I’ve been hearing stories that all the Libby’s in Maine are descended from one person – John Libby. According to several accounts, John Libby settled in Scarborough about 1630 and was one of the earliest settlers. Naturally, I was excited when I learned that my sister-in-law’s great-grandmother was a Libby. Would I be able to connect her Libby ancestor into the long line of famous Maine Libby’s?
Whitten Project – Ancestor #9
List of Grandparents
Grandfather: Herbert Winfield Whitten
1st Great-grandmother: Martha Angeline Libby
2nd Great-grandfather: Charles G. Libby
Martha Angeline Libby (1863-1938)
Martha Angeline Libby[i] was born in March of 1863[ii], in Limerick, York County, Maine. She was probably the third child of Charles G. and Jane H. Libby.
Childhood
The 1870 Census is key in understanding her childhood. The census shows her father is a farm laborer and her mother is keeping house. Also, living with them is Marietta, a 13-year-old girl who is working in the woolen mill and is also attending school. The 1870 Census does not include relationships, but I’m assuming she is an older sister unless I learn otherwise. Also, is her older sister Harriett, who likewise is attending school. Seven-year-old Martha doesn’t appear to have begun school at that time.[iii]
The 1880 Census finds the 17-year-old Martha still at home in Limerick with her parents and her sister Hattie (Harriett). Her father is still a farm laborer.[iv]
Marriage
In 1882, Martha married Daniel Winfield Whitten[v]. And the family stays in Limerick and they begin to have children.
Adulthood
Martha Libby Whitten lived her entire life in York County, Maine
Herbert Winfield Whitten was born on 3 September 1883 in Limerick.[vi]
Charles Libby Whitten was born in January 1886 in Limerick.[vii]
Muriel Arvella Whitten was born 7 Sep 1890 in Limerick.[viii]
The 1900 Census indicates that Martha had had three children and all three were alive, she and Herbert had been married for 18 years, and were then living about 15 miles south in Shapleigh, ME.
Newsen Whitten was born about 1901
Leland W. Whitten was born about 1904.
The 1910 Census indicates that Martha had had five children and all five were alive. The couple had moved to Kennebunkport and lived on Kennebunk Road. All the kids were living with them and were either working or attending school.[ix]
The 1920 Census shows Daniel and Martha Angeline “Angie” living on Portland Road in Kennebunk[x]. Herbert and Charles had moved on, so Muriel, Newsen, and Leland were the only children remaining at home.
The 1930 Census shows Daniel and Martha still on Portland Road in Kennebunk. Their daughter, Muriel, had moved in with her husband John Hayes.
Death
Marker – Daniel & Martha A Whitten Photo by “Airborne Steve” via Find a Grave.
Martha Angeline (Libby) Whitten died in 1938.[xi] She was survived by her husband, Daniel Winfield Whitten and at least four, if not all five, of her children. She is buried in Highland Grove cemetery in North Shapleigh, York County, Maine.
Libby Family Search
I then just had to look at The Libby Family in America 1602-1881 by Charles T Libby. Would I find Martha Angeline Libby. Yes! She was listed. I now had an entry point into THE Libby family for Martha. The book shows, on page 399, Martha Angeel Libby born on 23 March 1863 in Limerick, whose parents are Charles Gardner Libby and Jane H. Warren. It also shows an older sister, Hattie. Definitely, the right person.
Based upon The Libby Family in America 1602-1881, we learned that Charles’s father was William Libby, born in Limerick, Me., 21 June 1811; married, 28 Nov. 1830, Martha Libby.
Whose father was Joseph Libby, born in that part of Kittery, Me., which is now Eliot, 13 May 1767; married, 1795, Sarah Staples, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Mendum) Staples of Scarborough.
Libby Line followed
Whose father was Azariah Libby, born 1740, in Kittery, now Eliot; Married Dec. 1762, Elizabeth Paul.
Whose father was Matthew Libby, born probably during his father’s stay in Portsmouth, 1690-1700; married 3 Sept. 1730, Mary Nason.
Whose father was Matthew Libby, born in Scarborough, in the year 1663 ; married Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Andew Brown, one of the principal inhabitants of Black Point.
Whose father was John Libby – the Immigrant (1602-1682) and the 8th great-grandfather of my sister-in-law. How fun is that.
UPDATED List of Grandparents
Grandfather: Herbert Winfield Whitten
1st Great-grandmother: Martha Angeline Libby
2nd Great-grandfather: Charles G. Libby
3rd Great-grandfather: William Libby
4th Great-grandfather: Joseph Libby
5th Great-grandfather: Azariah Libby
6th Great-grandfather: Matthew Libby
7th Great-grandfather: Matthew Libby
8th Great-grandfather: John Libby
Endnotes
[i] Martha Angeline Libby is identified as Martha in the 1880 and 1910 Censuses and as Angie M. in the 1900 and 1920 Censuses. Overall, Martha is used more frequently than Angie and is the name on her grave marker, so I prefer Martha in my use.
[xi] Maine, Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1990, Family Search, Maine, Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1990 – Daniel W Whitten. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKM1-WJ33 : United States, Maine State Library, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,787,567.
Roberts-Brown-2017 Research
Roberts-Scott-Haley Line
By Don Taylor
One of the reasons I went back to Family Tree Maker for Mac 3 is the way it handles and sources multiple names for individuals. FTMM3 allows multiple names and allows applying different sources to each name. I find this feature important when an individual’s name is unclear and I want to track where I got each specific name. Rather than an alias or a nickname, I use multiple names as a means to help determine which name is the actual correct name. I want to understand the various potential names and the sources for them until I can decide which name is correct for the individual and if the other names are aliases, nicknames, or mistakes. Such is the case for the father of Amanda Jane Haley whose father I accept as A. J. Haley. The “A.” probably stands for Andrew but it might be Adrico. I will need to do more research to be certain. Such is the way of genealogical research. I’ll take the safe way and say her father was A. H. Haley. I’ll research and sort out his name in a subsequent biography project when I explore his life more.
List of Grandparents
4 Grandfather: Bert Allen Roberts
9 1st Great-grandmother: Clora Dell Scott
19 2nd Great-grandmother: Amanda Jane Haley
38 3rd Great-grandfather: A. J. Haley
Ancestor #19 – Amanda Jane Haley (1861-1889)
Birth
Amanda Jane Haley Scott From the Chris H. Bailey family photo collection.
Amanda Jane Haley was born in Tennessee (probably Coffee County) to A. J. and Martha Malinda (Montgomery) Haley. The date of her birth is somewhat confusing.
The 1870 Census indicates she was 10 years old, suggesting a birth between 2 June 1859 and 1 June 1860.
Her marriage in May of 1879 at the age of 19 also suggests that she was born in 1859 or 1860.
The 1880 census, suggests she was born in March of 1859 by indicating her age as 19 and 2/12.
So, pretty much everything I’ve found suggests her birth to be in 1859 or 1860, except for the 1860 Census. In 1860, her parents were in Coffee County, Tennessee, and the Census record there shows her older sister Mary (May) in the household but not Amanda Jane. If she were born in 1859 or 1860 before the census was taken, I would expect to see her in the record. I do not, so I believe she was born later. Another researcher, whose research I respect, indicates her birthday as being in April, 1861. So, I’m going to accept that date for now and see if I can find out his source.
Childhood
Amanda had a sister, Mary F who was two to three years older. She also had a younger sister, Serena who was about six years younger. She would have been a young child during the Civil War. Sometime between her birth (in 1861) and 1867, the family moved from Tennessee to Franklin County, Illinois.
The 1870 Census finds 10-year-old Amanda living with her parents and an older sister, Mary, in Township 5S, Franklin County, TN.[1]
Her sister Mary married Theodore Edward L. Curry on 26 February 1878 in Franklin County, Illinois.
Marriage
Amanda married Samuel Vaden Scott on 24 May 1879 in Goode Township, Franklin County, Illinois.[2] Samuel was 19 and Amanda was, most likely, 18-years-old.
Adulthood
In December 1879, the first of their four children, Clara Maybelle Scott, was born.[3]
The 1880 Census found the Scott family living in Barren Township, Franklin County, Illinois.[4]
Clora Dell Scott was born on 6 February 1883 in Goode Township and Laura Wells Scott was born on 27 July 1888 In McGlasson.[5] A fourth, unnamed, child was born and died as an infant.
Death
Amanda Jane (Haley) Scott died in 1889. I have been unable to find burial information.
Further Actions / Follow-up
Follow-up with researcher to learn the source of his entry for Amanda Jane Haley’s birth.
