Ethel Wight Collection – Part 55

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Don Taylor

Hannigan, Hansen/Hanson, Harding, Hare, & Harkins

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Geraldine M. Hare, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Geraline Hare, Childrens Hosp, #379.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Geraldine M. Hare, circa 1935

    The 1930 US Census reports Geroline (Geraline) Hare as the 18-year-old daughter of Arthur and Clara Hare living in Monticello, Aroostook County, Maine.

  • There are no Hare’s listed in the 1934, 1935, 1936, or 1937 Portland City Directories.
  • The 1940 US Census reports Geraldean M Hare as the 28-year-old daughter of Arthur and W Clara S Hare. Geraldean is a private Nurse.

Based upon the photo ID Number (#379), this photo was taken about 1935. I am sure this is Geraldine M. Hare about 1935 when she graduated from nursing school at the Children’s Hospital at 68 High in Portland, ME.

Family Search identifies Geraldine Hare, daughter of Arthur W.and Clara (Sharp) Hare, as ID GQD3-HNT.

Nine Ancestry trees refer to Geraldine May Hare.

I have uploaded two photos of Geraldine to her Family Search Memories. 

Austin Harding, circa 1937.

.This negative envelope says, “Mrs. A. A. Harding, 30 Grafton St. #997.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Austin Harding, circa 1937

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Alfred A and Gladys B Harding living at 30 Grafton.

  • The 1940 US Census finds Alfred and Gladys Harding living in Malden, Middlesex County, They lived in Portland, Maine, in 1935. With them is their eight-year-old son, Austin Harding.

I am sure this is a photo of Austin Harding about 1937 when he was about five years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Austin, son of Alfred and Gladys Harding, nor do Ancestry Trees. However, 10 Ancestry trees refer to Austin’s father, Alfred Austin Harding.

I have added Austin’s photo to Dead Fred. 

Confirmed to be a photo of Austin Harding by a direct descendant. 

John Harkins, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Ethel Harkins, 150 Grafton St #825.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • John Harkins, circa 1936

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Walter P and Ethel M Harkins living at 150 Grafton.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Walter P and Ethyel M Harkings living at 27 Tying in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. Living with them are six children, Lillian (16), Walter P (16), George (14), Frances (11), John (8), Constance (6), and Richard (2).
  • This photo is of a boy, taken about 1936 when George was ten and John was 4. The child in the picture appears to me to be closer to 4 or 5 than 10, so I believe it to be John.

This photo may be of George, but I believe it is John.

John Harkins, son of Walter P and Ethyel M (Trask) Harkins, is found in eight Ancestry trees.  Family Search does not appear to have a profile for John.

I have added John’s photo to Dead Fred. 

Unknown Hansen/Hanson child, about 1936
Update: Confirmed to be Harry A Hansen.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harry Hanson, 129 Oxford St. #605.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Unknown (but probably either Harry A or Milliard Hansen/Hanson), about 1936

    The 1936 Portland City Directory indicates that 129 Oxford Street was at the corner with Wilmot Street; residents included the Oxford Barber Shop, Charles A. Staples, and Mrs. Delia Joyce. There are the following Harry Hanson/Hansen in the 1936 Directory:

    • Harry E – Floorman 883 Cong h 881 do apt 2
    • Harry F – Carp emp 11 St. James, r 12 Exeter*
    • Harry G (Mildred E) – Drugs 345 Cong h 31 Concord*
    • Harry G jr – clerk 345 Cong r 31 Concord*
    • Harry H (Carrie C) – VP 161 Middle h 66 Sherman*
    • Harry J (Grace E) – roadman 184 Read h 137 do
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists the following Hanson/Hansen:
    • Items above marked with an asterisk (*) above were repeated in the 1937 directory.
    • Harry J (Grace E 187 Read h 141 do.
  • All of the Harry Hanson/Hansen’s listed in the 1935 Portland City Directory are repeated in the 1936 Directory.
  • The 1940 US Census indicates:
    • Harry G and Mildred E Hansen live at the same address with their 12-year-old son James and ten-year-old son Milliard.
    • Harry H and Carrie Hanson are in their 70s and have no children living with them.
    • Harry J and Grace Hanson lived in East Providence, Rhode Island, with their nine-year-old son, Harry A Hansen. However, they were living in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, in Harry A. was born in New Jersey, and his parents were born in New York. His parents were born about 1893 and 1897.

I believe this to be a photo of Harry A Hansen, son of Harry J. and Grace E. Hanson, about 1937 before they moved to Rhode Island. However, this could easily be Milliard Hanson, son of Harry G. and Mildred E. Hanson.

Harry A Hansen does not appear in any trees at Ancestry; however, Harry John Hansen, husband of Grace E Gauthier, appears in seven family trees.

Harry G Hansen was born in Maine in about 1891, and his wife Mildred was also born in Maine about 1891. Their son, Millard, was born about 1930 (age 0 during the 1930 Census). There appear to be no trees showing Millard; however, there are 21 Ancestry trees which include Harry Gilbert Hanson, with wife Mildred Edna Cushing, and father of Charles Christian Hanson.

There appear to be no Family Search Trees that include Milliard Hanson.

I have added his photo to my Flickr photostream.

Confirmed to be Harry A Hansen by a cousin.

Margaret & Anna Hannigan, circa 1937

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. John Hannigan, 106 Clark St. #928.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Margaret & Anna Hannigan, circa 1937

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists John T Hannigan living at 106 Clark.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists John T and Anna E Hannigan living at 3 Dermot Court.
  • The 1940 Census lists John T Hannigan, living at 20 Edwards Street. John is 34, divorced, and loving with his two daughters, Margaret A (age 9) and Anna M (age 7). Living with him is 29 year old Anna Dolley, a housekeeper. Both daughters were born in Maine, and John was born in Canada.
  • On 5 September 1937, Ann Elizabeth Hannigan (NĂ©e Elliott) of Portland married Lawrence Nelson Dolly, of Falmouth, in Conway, New Hampshire. It was the second marriage for both of them.

Margaret & Anna Hannigan, circa 1937

This photo appears to be of two girls, about three and six when John and Anna separated in 1937. As such, I am confident these are Margaret and Anna Hannigan about 1937.

Neither Margaret nor Anna appear to have profiles on Family Search, and neither seem to be in Ancestry Family Trees.  John Thomas Hannigan, born 20 August 1906 in New Brunswick, Canada, is identified in ten Ancestry trees and is likely the father of Margaret and Anna.

I have uploaded two photos of Margaret and Anna Hannigan to Dead Fred. (In one image, Margaret is slightly out of focus, in the other, Anna is slightly out of focus.

 Conclusion

  • I identified one individual with a Family Search profile, so I uploaded two of her photos there.
  • I identified four individuals that do not appear to have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded those photos to Dead Fred.
  • I could not differentiate two people sufficiently to determine which was in one of the photos. I am confident of the individual’s name, but not which of two children with the same name and the same name for his parents, this individual is. Consequently, I posted that photo to Dead Fred.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera, and computer software.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Computer History

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Don Taylor

My History, My Memories
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.In his blog, Genea Musings, Randy Seaver suggested that people write about their computer history – basically how we “became slaves” to our computers. I figured, because computers are such a big part of my life, it would be good to share my experience.

High School

Osseo High School, New Wing – Source: 1967 Osseo Yearbook

My first experience with computers was the “computer club” at Osseo High School. Members of the club learned to program in BASIC. We used a teletype with an acoustic coupler using a telephone. If I recall correctly, it ran at 300 bits per second. We did our programming offline and created a perforated tape to send our programs to a mainframe computer. (Again, if I remember correctly and IBM 360.) To send our programs, we would dial up the host and send our perf’ tape info. The computer would then do the work and send back the results of running the program. I was terrible at programming. I remember writing a program to generate the prime numbers from one to 1000. Most of the other kids’ programs took a second or two of computer time to generate the numbers. My program took nearly a minute—very inefficient programming by me.  Anyway, I learned enough BASIC to be dangerous.[i]

Navy Days

I didn’t work with computers directly, but I did work with crypto equipment, which was very computer-like. Some of the equipment I used had perforated tape and used the same Baudot code as my high school teletype terminal. While in the service, I took a college course in COBOL[ii] and learned some more computer skills. I also took a college course in “Introduction to Computer Systems.”

TRW

Woman at a Docuteller 300 – Courtesy Wells Fargo Archives

After my Navy time, I got a job with TRW[iii] Customer Service Division. With them, I repaired cash machines (Docutel Total Teller 300), window teller machines, and terminal processors. The Total Tellers had small minicomputers associated with them. The computers were Lockheed and CAI mini-computers. To load the program into memory, you had to enter code directly into memory to create a bootstrap program. That program then accepted the actual code from a cassette tape using a standard Radio Shack tape recorder.  Occasionally, when repairing equipment, it was necessary to write a simple program that would cause the cash machine to do a simple task, such as to pick up a money packet and deliver it to the money drawer, or pull in a card, read it, and send it back. Simple programs, but they were all done in machine language.

Metropolitan State University

commodore 64 – Photo by the NerdPatrol via Flickr. (CC 2.0)

I wrote about my experience at Metropolitan State University in “Schools I’ve Attended.” The bottom line is that I purchased a Commodore 64 and a word processing program to keep up with the rewrites I needed to do for a Non-fiction Writing class I took. That computer was the start of my using personal computers for home use. I’ve always had a home computer since then.

NAVPRO

For several years I worked for the Navy at the NAVal Plant Representative Office in Fridley, Minnesota. I worked as an Engineering Technician in the Quality Assurance Division. The office installed a Wang 2200. The system has a program called IDEAS, which was an interface to a compiler that compiled BASIC programs. I requested access and was granted access to write some programs to track waivers, deviations, and engineering change proposals. I then wrote a couple of other applications for the Quality Assurance Engineers’ use. Meanwhile, the computer programmer they hired could not get any programs he was working on to work well. The commanding officer (CO) asked if I would be willing to go TAD[iv] to the Computer Team and work on some things. After a 90 day assignment, the CO asked if I wanted to do another 90 days. I agreed. After six months, the CO asked if I’d go there permanently. I agreed and was made a Computer Specialist. There I led the integration of Wang PCs into dual roles of office automation and terminals to the Wang 2200.

DCMC

After the NAVPRO, I got a job with the Defense Contract Management Command as a computer specialist. There I worked with several different computer systems, but most importantly, I set up a Novell Netware system using Ethernet. While working for DCMC, I became Netware Certified. DCMC became its own agency (DCMA), and I continued working for them. I became certified in Microsoft Exchange Server and began working as the Exchange “subject matter expert” for the agency.

Technology Chief

I continued working for DCMA and was selected to be the Technology Chief for the Eastern District. As Chief, I had Computer Specialists in some 25 states reporting to me for technical direction[v].

FBI

After 911, I decided to apply to the FBI. I was selected for a computer specialist position at CJIS Division in Clarksburg, WV. I worked in Requirements for a while. I studied to become a PMP (Project Management Professional). I was then selected to lead the test group where we tested changes to hardware and software to IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System),[vi] NCIC (National Crime Information Center)[vii], and NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System)[viii]

Triple-I

After I retired from the government, I used my Program Management Skills and Technical know-how to put together a NOSC (Network Operations and Security Center) for a Triple-I[ix] and SAIC[x] joint project. While there, besides putting my Project Management skills to use as the site leader, I became a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

Today

Today, I use an iMac for my personal use and have for probably ten years or so. I knew Windows NT very well back in the day, but I get confused and frustrated when I need to use Windows 10 (it works very differently from Mac). That said, I and the “Technology Guy” at the Historical Society where I volunteer. I also help out fellow genealogy folks in several genealogy groups I am a member of, particularly if it relates to online systems (Ancestry, Zoom meetings, etc.) or Mac.

I became interested in computers when I was in high school in the 1960s and began working with them as the key component of my employment in the 1980s. I’m not sure I’d agree I’m a “slave to my computer,” but I do use mine 40 to 50 hours a week, so some people (like my wife) might agree that I am a “slave to my computer.”

ENDNOTES

[i] Good thing BASIC stands for “Beginners’ All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.” I was definitely a beginner.

[ii] COBOL stands for “COmmon Business-Oriented Language,” and was used for data processing in business, finance, and administrative systems.

[iii] TRW stood for Thompson Ramo Wooldrige. It was qcquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002.

[iv] TAD – Temporary Assigned Duty.

[v] At that time the Computer Specialists reported to their local commanding officers for administrative purposes and most command required activities and to me for technical direction.

[vi] IAFIS is the system that law enforcement checks when fingerprints cannot be matched within their own local or state systems.

[vii] NCIC goes back to the 1960s. I remember Harry Morgan tearing off the NCIC printouts from the teletype machine and handing it to Jack Webb in the Dragnet revival.

[viii] NICS is a system used by 22 states to check that a gun purchaser is not prohibited from buying a gun.

[ix] Triple-I is Information Innovators, Inc. The company was acquired by Salient CRGT in 2017.

[x] SAIC is Science Applications International Corporation.

Posted in My Memories, My History, Genealogy Fun | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 54

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Don Taylor

Halling, Hamilton(2), Hamlin, and (NĂ©e Mayo)

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Clara Halling, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Clair Halling, 8 A Brown St, apt 3, #876.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Clara Halling, circa 1935

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Clara Halling, a waitress at 157 High and living at 8a Brown.

  • Clara married Harry L Bonner in 1928 and was living with him in the 1933 Portland City Directory.
  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Clara residing at 92 High and her husband, Harry living at 97 Elm.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harry living at 76 Pearl. The 1935 directory does not list Clara under either Bonner or Halling.
  • Clara married Clifford Will in 1940 in New York. Her marriage license to Clifford indicates she was born in October 1906 in New Sweden, Maine.

Family Search identifies Clara Halling as ID G3NX-Z83. ​​I am confident this is her about 1935, after her separation from Harry Bonner and before she went to New York. Thirteen trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Clara Albertina Halling, daughter of Anders and Martha Andersdotter.

I have uploaded this photo of Clara to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Clara Halling by a great niece or nephew. 

Hortense Margarite Hamilton, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Hortense Hamilton, 23 Saunders St – #900.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Hortense Margarite Hamilton, circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Edward P and Lillian F Hamilton living at 23 Saunders.

  • The 1930 Census lists Hortense M. Hamilton living at 333 Ocean Ave, Portland. She was the 11-year-old daughter of Edward P and Lillian F. Hamilton. She was born in Maine.

Family Search identifies Hortense Margarite Hamilton, the daughter of Edward Payson and Lillian Florence (Mayo) Hamilton, as ID GSB4-GVB. I am sure this is Hortense about 1936.

Fourteen trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Marguerite Hortense “Maggie” Hamilton.

I have uploaded her photos to her Family Search Memories.

George Washington Hamlin, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Geo Hamlin, 13 Mechanic St. #381.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • George Washington Hamlin, circa 1934

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists George W. Hamlin living at 13 Mechanic St. George is a sheet metal worker at 199 Kennebec, and his wife is Bernice E.

  • The 1935 Portland City directory indicates that George W and Bernice E Hamlin moved to Rockland.
  • The 1940 Census lists 36-year-old George Hamlin and his wife Bernice living in Rockland, Knox County, Maine. They also lived in Rockland in 1935.
  • George W Hamlin and Bernice E Leavitt married on 3 September 1927.

Family Search identifies George Washington Hamlin, born in 1903 and married to Bernice E Leavitt as ID G9JT-FD5. This photo is of George about 1934 before they moved to Rockland. Twenty-eight trees at Ancestry refer to George Washington Hamlin, born 24 November 1903.

I have uploaded this photo of George to his Family Search Memories. 

Unknown – (Possibly Ralph Hamilton) circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Ralph Hamilton, 76 Morning St. #412.”

My analysis:

My initial look at finding Ralph Hamilton was not successful. Consequently, I thought I would expand my search methods.

  • Unknown – (Possibly Ralph Hamilton) circa 1935

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Merle A Hamilton living at 80b Morning. It also lists George W (and his wife Cynthia A) Hamilton living at 80b Morning. Additionally, Thelma L Hamilton lived at the same address.

  • The 1935 Portland City directory still shows Merle and Thelma A living at 80b Morning, but George W and his wife Cynthia are reported as living at 76 Morning.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists all four of them living at 76 Morning. Cynthia, George, Merle, and Thelma.
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists George W and wife Cynthia A still at 76 Morning; however, Merle A is living at 48 State with his wife Florence L. Thelma is still listed at 76 Morning.

The person in this photo image appears to be in his teens or possibly early 20s.

  • Unknown – (Possibly Ralph Hamilton) circa 1935

    The 1930 Census reports George W. Hamilton and his wife, Cynthia, living with their two children, Thelma and Merle. George is 49, Cynthia 49, Thelma is 24, and Merle is 18 years old in 1930. No Ralph.

  • The 1920 Census reports George and Cynthia living in Portland with their son Maurice R, daughter Thelma, and son Merle. Maurice is 17. Maurice was born in Massachusetts.
  • Massachusetts Birth Records indicate George and Cynthia (Hatfield) Hamilton had a son on 12 April 1904.
  • In the 1940 Census, 36-year-old Ralph Hamilton lives in Falmouth with his wife, Ruth, and his seven-year-old son, George.
  • I have not been successful in finding George and Cynthia in the 1940 Census. However, the 1940 and 1941 Portland City Directories indicate they are still at 76 Morning.

Based upon the Photo ID number (#412), the photo was taken in 1934 or 1935. I find it difficult to believe the person in this photo is over 30. I suppose this could be Ralph, the son of George and Cynthia Hamilton; however, I think this is a photo of a cousin or other person, and Ralph Hamilton was the person who paid for the picture.

Twenty-eight trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Ralph Maurice Hamilton, the son of George and Cynthia (Hatfield) Hamilton. Hopefully, someone with those trees can identify the person in this photo.

I also uploaded one additional photos of this individual to my Flickr photostream.

Lillian Hamilton (NĂ©e Mayo), circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Lillian Hamilton, 23 Saunders St, #901.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Lillian Hamilton (NĂ©e Mayo), circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Edward P and his wife Lillian F Hamilton living at 23 Saunders.

  • The 1940 Census lists Edward and Lillian still living at 23 Saunders. Maine-born Lillian is 60 years old.
  • The New Hampshire Marriage Records identifies Lillian F Mayo, born in Brewer about 1879, married Edward Hamilton on 4 July 1904 in Dover, New Hampshire. Her parents were Justin and Elizabeth (Powlesland) Mayo.
  • This photo was taken about 1936 when Lillian was about 56 years old. Based upon the photo ID number, the photo was taken the same day as her daughter’s (Hortense Margarite Hamilton) photo.

Family Search identifies Lillian Florence Mayo, the daughter of Justin R Mayo, as ID LC5W-MDS. Lillian Florance Mayo is referred to in 37 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded a photo of Lillian to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I identified four of the five individuals and was able to upload their images to Family Search I was unable to identify one individual; his photos are here and in my Flickr Photostream.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Veteran’s Day 2021

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Don Taylor

Guilford Court House Flag – Reported to have been flown in 1781 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

This year, for Veterans’ Day, I thought I examine the military service of my wife’s direct ancestors. She has seven known Revolutionary War patriots (most in North Carolina) and one ancestor who served during the French and Indian War.

Relationship Name Date Service
Grandfather Robert Harry Darling 1943-1944 World War II
Great-grandfather James Ashley Hobbs 1863-1864 C.S.A.[i]
4th Great-grandfather William Price 1780 Revolutionary War
4th Great-grandfather William Rose 1781 Revolutionary War
4th Great-Grandfather David Swayze 1776-1781 Revolutionary War
4th Great-Grandfather James Walter 1777-1782 Revolutionary War
5th Great-grandfather Robert Bryan 1777 Revolutionary War
5th Great-grandfather William Price 1778 Revolutionary War
5th Great-grandfather William Rose c. 1780 Revolutionary War
6th Great-grandfather Thomas Price c. 1760 French & Indian War

As I looked at the list, I realized it is incomplete. I know her Great-grandfather, Peter Fletcher Howell, also fought for the CSA during the Civil War. That he was missing from my basic filter and sort of ancestors with military service, concerns me. I probably need to go through and determine or confirm military service for her ancestors. (Another “Do-over.” Sigh…)

Besides these ten known individuals who served, she has another 47 uncles, aunts, and cousins who served as well. The most recent was her half-uncle, Robert Harry Darling, who died while serving in Vietnam.

Today, I remember both her’s and my ancestors who served their country,  particularly those who served during wartime.

ENDNOTES

[i] I have mixed feelings regarding ancestors who fought for the CSA and against the Union.

Posted in French and Indian Wars, Civil War, Revolutionary War, World War II, Military | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ancestor Sketch – Tamise Sutherland

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Don Taylor

Roberts-Barnes-Taft-Sutherland Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Overview

Tamise[i] Sutherland[ii] was born on 3 April 1796 in New York, USA as the last child of Reuben Sutherland and Mary Lewis. She had seven siblings: Phineas, David, Lot, Candice, Eliza, Josiah, and Elizabeth. She may have had two additional siblings Justus, and Lewis; however, I have been unable to confirm their relationship. When she was 22, she married Joel Cruff Taft, son of Asa Taft and Sarah Whitney, about 1819 in Triangle, Broome, New York, USA. Joel died in 1849. After his death,  when she was 60, she married Manoah Sullivan on 31 August 1856 in Sullivan County, Indiana, USA (Married by Benjamin Gray, Justice of the Peace.). She died on 24 March 1864 in Fairbanks, Sullivan County, Indiana, USA.

Roberts/Brown – Ancestor #43

List of Grandparents

    • Grandmother: Essie Pansy Barnes(1903-1982)
    • 1st Great-grandfather: Joel Clinton Barnes(1857-1921)
    • 2nd Great-grandmother: Mercy Eliza Taft(1822-1884)
    • 3rd Great-grandmother: Tamise Sutherland (1796-1864)
    • 4th Great-grandfather: Reuben Sutherland (1768-1799)
    • 5th Great-grandfather: William J Sutherland (1741-1815)
    • 6th Great-grandfather: William Sutherland (1715-1768)

Tamise Sutherland (1796-1864)

Birth

Tamise Sutherland was born on 3 April 1796 in New York[iii]. Lisle, Tioga County, New York, was first settled around 1791[iv]; it is unclear to me if Tamise was born there or elsewhere in New York. In 1799, Tamise’s father, Reuben Sutherland, died. Indeed, by 1800 her family was well established in Lisle.[v]

In 1806, Broome county was split off from Tioga County, so most records of her and her family are typically stated as occurring in Broome county. Tamise’s mother died in 1809, and I have been unsuccessful in finding the remaining Sutherland family in the 1810 Census. The children were likely spread among other families.

Marriage #1

In 1819, Tamise married Joel Cruff Taft in Broome County[vi]. They had 11 children:

Children of Joel Cruff and Tamise (Sutherland) Taft

Child Born Married Died
Silas 28 April 1820   (Bef. 1830)
Mercy Eliza 27 March 1822 Nelson Barnes 4 August 1884
(FNU Male) (Bet.1824-1830) n/a TBD
Sarah Emaline 17 May 1824 Henry William Monk 26 November 1904
Amanda J. 14 February 1826 Albert C. Thompson 27 January 1847
Catherine Tammy 25 August 1828 Abraham Lemen 21 August 1851
Candance Irene 25 August 1830 Jesse C. Redmond 1888
Joanna Lucy 7 March 1832 John Riggs 23 April 1888
Lurancy Caroline 11 November 1834 Abraham Lemen 21 February 1879
Platina 19 March 1835 n/a 25 May 1841
William 30 April 1842 Sarah Mayfield 17 October 1908

1820 Census

The 1820 Census found Joel and Tamise living near Joel’s brother, Silas, and his father, Asa, in Lisle, Broome County, New York[vii]. In his household are his wife and his oldest son, Silas.

1830 Census

The 1830 household (See Joel Cruff Taft & the 1830 Census) of Joel Taft suggests tragedy. Silas, who would have been ten years old, isn’t enumerated in the household. However, some researchers indicated that Silas married Lydia Monk in 1843. I haven’t confirmed this. The 1830 Census does show four females in the household that fit the profile for the four youngest daughters of Joel and Tamera.  There was another male child in the household, under the age of 5, who I haven’t been able to name.

1831 – Township created.

In 1831, Lisle was divided into four parts creating Baker, Nanticoke, Triangle, and Lisle[viii].

1840 Census

The 1840 Census (see Joel Cruff Taft & the 1840 Census) finds Joel (and Tamera) in Baker, Broome County, New York. Their known daughters are accounted for.

  • Females – Under 5: 2     Platina (age 4) Lurancy (Age (5)
  • Females – 5 thru 9: 1     Joanna (Age 8)
  • Females – 10 thru 14: 3     Candance (Age 10), Catherine (Age 12) (Amanda (age 14)
  • Females – 15 thru 19: 1     Sarah (Age 16)
  • Females – 40 thru 49: 1     Tamise (age 44)

The 1840 Census also indicates there were two males in the household besides Joel. One was 10 to 14, and one was 20 to 30. Certainly, the one from 10 to 14 is the same unknown male child enumerated in the 1830 Census. But the other, 20 to 30 year old, could be Silas. If so, was he just missed in the 1830 Census? Could this be evidence he lived to marry Lydia Monk?  Possibly.

The 1840s

Sometime during the 1840s, the Taft family moved to Sullivan County, Indiana. Tamies’s daughter, Platina, died on 25 May 1841 at the age of 6. Daughters Sarah and Amanda were married in 1845 and 1846, respectively. Sadly, Amanda died in 1847. Candance married in January 1849. Later that year, Tamise’s husband Joel Cruff Taft died on 19 April 1849 in Fairbanks, Sullivan County, Indiana[ix].

1850 Census

The 1850 Census[x] reports Tamise living in Fairbanks Township, Indiana. The widow is living with her children, Joann (17), Laransa (14), Catherine (21), and William (8).

The 1850s

During the 1850s, Tamise and Joel’s other daughters married – Catherine (1850), Joanna (1851), and Lurancy (1852). Sadly, Catherine died in 1851, about ten months after her marriage.

Marriage #2

On 31 August 1856, the 60-year-old Tamera married 73-year-old Manoah Sullivan.

1860 Census

The 1860 Census reports Manoah and Tamera living in Turman Township, Sullivan County, Indiana. Living with them are three of Manoah’s children, John (15), Simon (12), and Alvera (10)[xi].

The 1860s

The Civil War broke out in 1861, and Indiana contributed about 210,000 military forces to the war effort[xii]. I haven’t determined if any of Tamera’s children participated in the war or if there were any civilian causalities in Fairbanks during 1864.

Tamera (Sutherland) (Taft) Sullivan died on 24 March 1864 in Fairbanks, Sullivan County, Indiana[xiii].

Events by Location

  • Indiana, Sullivan, Fairbanks – 1850, Marriage #2 (1856), 1860, Death (1864)
  • New York                                        – Birth (1796)
  • New York, Broome, Barker[xiv] –  1840
  • New York, Broome[xv], Lisle  – Marriage #1 (1819), 1820, 1830
  • New York, Tioga, Lisle               – 1800

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Determine if Silas Taft died before 1830 or if he married Lydia Monk in 1842. Find clear evidence.
  • Determine the name of the Unknown male born between 1824 and 1830 and when he died.
  • Research if any of Tamera’s sons served in the Civil War. They would have been of age.

Endnotes

[i] Also known as Tammy and Fanny in various records.

[ii] Also “Southerland” in some records.

[iii] Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR, Name Restricted – Nat’l # 887132 – Ancestor #A112392. https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_descendants/?action=list&MyPrimary_Seqn=1001593&MyLineageCount=1.

[iv] Wikipedia – Lisle, New York – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisle,_New_York

[v] Don Taylor Genealogy – “Tamise Sutherland & the Early Censuses.”

[vi] Family Group Record, Family Search, Joel Cruff Taft (K8BN-FDM) – See File: 20170512 Family K8BN-FDM.pdf. Marriage Place:  Triangle, Broome, New York, United States.

[vii] 1820 Census (A), Ancestry.Com, Asa Taft, Asa Taft Jr., Joel C Taft – Lisle, Broome, New York.

[viii] Wikipedia, Wikipedia.org, Lisle, New York. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisle,_New_York.

[ix] Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR – Nat’l # 887132 – Ancestor #A112392. https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_descendants/?action=list&MyPrimary_Seqn=1001593&MyLineageCount=1.

[x] 1850 Census (NARA), 1850 – Fanny Taft – Fairbanks, Sullivan, Indiana – Page 365 (283) Family 183. . Fairbanks Township, District 106 – Page (handwritten 365 printed 283). https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850usfedcenancestry&indiv=try&h=1390830.

[xi] 1860 Census (NARA), 1860 – Manoah Sullivan – Turman Township, Sullivan, Indiana.

[xii] Wikipedia – “Indiana in the American Civil War” –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_in_the_American_Civil_War

[xiii] U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889­-1970, Ancestry.Com, Joel C Taft – Volume: 265. National Number 52981 – State Number 1007 (Indiana). https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=SARMemberApps&h=1149463.

[xiv] Part of Lisle Township until 1831.

[xv]  Part of Tioga County until 1806.

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