It's Back! Who Do You Think You Are?

Photo: TLC.com

Are you as excited as I am?  Is your DVR set?  Our favorite show is back.  The season premiere of Who Do You Think You Are? is tonight at 8/9 central on TLC.com. 

It is hard to believe the last time I saw the show was May, 2012.  It feels like forever.

My kids like to watch the show too.  My son always says, "let's find out who her mama is".  It is great that they are starting with Kelly Clarkson!  I can't tell how many times we have watched her episode on the Reba show.

It appears from clip of the show that Clarkson has a Civil War connection.  I've hit many roadblocks in my family history due to this war. 

After the show I always check my Ancestry.com account.  The show always sparks a new interest in family history research.  I'm part of the Ancestry.com DNA project and I have been surprised by the connections.  I'll let you know and begin another Territory Mom's Who Do You Think You Are?

Talk to you soon.

 

Love,

Territory Mom

To help you on your ancestry journey check out The Raw Feed 




Chuck Norris on Oklahoma 1940 Census - All 1940 Census Images on Ancestry.com Online Today

Oklahoma 1940 census record, Ryan, Jefferson County, OK

From Ancestry.com:

We’re thrilled to announce that we just posted our first 1940 U.S. Census indexes online—two complete states, Nevada and Delaware.

This is only the start. You’ll also find every 1940 U.S Census image, all 3.8 million of them, online tomorrow morning (April 6, 2012). Check Facebook and Twitter @Ancestrydotcom for an announcement to know exactly when. And as we continue to update our collection, you’ll find more tools to help you make discoveries, including an enumeration-district finder and a FREE downloadable guide for locating your family in the 1940 U.S. Census images.

 There’s plenty more to come in the coming weeks and months as we continue to add indexes for more states. So stay tuned and spread the word: Ancestry.com is the home of the 1940 U.S. Census!
Search Delaware and Nevada in the 1940 Census now.

Search 1940 Census
 

While all of the 3.8 million census images are available on online it is a little difficult to find people.  This is why the indexing is so important.  I will let you know when each state index is complete.  That way you can search by name.  Right now you can view the images by state, county, city or town.  I'm been searching for my family.  I found my great great aunt, Mamie Dunn Barnett in Comanche, OK, my great great uncle John Friels in Loco, OK, my husband's great great uncle, Everett Guinn in Morse, OK.  Most importantly I found Chuck Norris on the Oklahoma census.  That is the image above.  He is listed in the 2nd family from the top.  He was born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma on March 10, 1940.  If you notice in the left margin the date "April 17" which I'm guessing was the date the census was taken.  He was born just in time to get his name out there to the world.

from official website of Chuck Norris

My husband and his brothers all have the same photo.  It couldn't have been the same pony, right?

Good luck with your searches.  If you need any help, just hollar.

Love,

Territory Mom 

Who Do You Think You Are? and Finding Your Roots

My great great grandparents, Thomas Jefferson Baker and Malissa Ann Ramsey Baker

(cir 1892, Bowie, Texas)

Have you been watching Who Do You Think You Are?  I've been taping them and watching them with my kids.  I have to admit that one episode was pretty dull (you can probably guess which one) but I continued to watch and so far the rest of the episodes have been very interesting.

Tonight's episode features Rita Wilson.  Don't you just love her?  Did you know she was on an episode of Brady Bunch in 1972?  She is a big fashion icon too.  If you tweet her with a fashion question she will answer you, just ask my sister (so cool).

Anyway, tonight's episode is pretty emotional.  I cried just during the clip.  So tune in tonight at 8/7c on NBC.  My kids enjoy watching too.  It gets my daughter asking questions about her family and history and geography.  Note to self:  get a globe.

Also, last Sunday night was the first and second episodes of a ten part series on PBS, Finding Your Roots with Louis Gates, Jr.  This show is extremely interesting and informative.  You can watch the full episodes at the link above.

While WDTYA uses DNA testing through Ancestry.com Finding Your Roots uses DNA testing through 23andme.com.  I've done a DNA test through 23 and me and it is a little confusing.  Maybe because I'm not a scientist, but on the show it appears that it is easy to understand.  Do your research before buying any DNA test kits.  You don't want to spend a lot of money on something that is too complication to understand.

So there is your genealogy entertainment news for the day.
Have a great weekend.
Love,
Territory Mom

Who Do You Think You Are? Season 3

From:  duckman.pettho.com

Next Friday, Feb. 3rd will be the premiere of season 3 of Who Do You Think You Are? on NBC.  This season we will take a journey with twelve new celebrities, Blair Underwood, Martin Sheen, Marisa Tomei, Rita Wilson, Paula Deen, Helen Hunt, Jerome Bettis, Rashida Jones(she is Quincy's daughter), Edie Falco,

 Jason Sudeikis (so funny), Rob Lowe and Oklahoma's own, Reba McEntire.  According to twitter @reba, our girl's episode will air March 2nd.

I love to hear their stories and see their reaction when they hear about a new discovery in their family.  We all have a very interesting family history and a story to tell.  I have been researching my family for over 10 years now and I'm just glad I'm not famous.  I'll tell my own secrets.

I hope you enjoy the show.  Watch every episode because sometimes the least famous celebrity will have the most interesting story.

Also, last year when I posted about the beginning of season 2 we were in the middle of one of own Oklahoma blizzards.  Not so this year.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

   

Has It Been 35 Years - The Cast of Roots Join Oprah Tonight

It is hard to believe that it has been 35 years since we first saw the miniseries, Roots.  Beginning Sunday, January 23, 1977 through Saturday, January 30, 1977, America was glued to the TV to watch the family of Alex Haley. 

I was 11 years old and in the 6th grade.  It was for me extremely informative yet frightening.  The only thing I knew about slavery was from watching Gone With The Wind.  So, I did my best to understand slavery, but really I couldn't.  How could a little white girl living in the Midwest understand it? 

I remember that my entire family watch together.  It was very violent.  The truth is sometimes violent.  No one wanted to miss any of it.  Back in 1977 we didn't know it would someday be available on DVD, we didn't even have VHS back then.

I think for me Roots was about discovery. I listened to every interview of Alex Haley.  I was so impressed with his family research. I remember the final scenes of the movie where he goes to his ancestral village in Africa and listens to the stories of his family. Sometimes all we have is a story, but sometimes that is all we need to begin our quest for the truth.

Tonight on OWN The cast will join Oprah at 8/7 central.  It will be nice to see familiar faces. 

Happy Martin Luther King Day.   

Love,

Territory Mom

The Joseph In My Family Was Named "Sarah"

Scenic route Pope County, AR

ARVtripeaks.com

Everyone knows I'm addicted to genealogy.  I love to discover stories about my family and hopefully discover some old family photos.  I was talking to a friend not long ago and she told me that she didn't want to research her family tree because of what she might discover.

It is not always easy to find out the truth about your family, but with genealogy it is about the good, the bad and the ugly.

For me it is about breaking generational curses.  Do not be afraid to seek the truth.  Believe me once the family secrets come to light you will begin to understand why this relative or that relative acted the way they did or why there were so many whispers during family gatherings.  Hopefully if there is anything bad in your family history you can come to understand it and prevent it from happening to your children and future generations.  We do not have to keep paying for something someone did 50 or 100 years ago just because we share the same name.

Now there are good things that have been carried down generation to generation.

When God decided to come to earth he chose his human parents, Mary and Joseph.  It was Joseph who had to be convinced that everything was going to be all right with being the adopted parent of Jesus.  He had to understand that he was chosen by God to do God's will.

We all have a "Joseph" in our family.  Someone who was chosen by God to claim and raise someone else's child.  It may to you.

In my family it was Sarah Vaughan Brashear.  She was born in 1817 in Tennesse, married in Arkansas in 1837 and died in Pope County, Arkansas in 1891.  In 1845 she gave birth to her 4th and 5th children, twins.  A boy and a girl.  The little girl, Abay, did not survive. 

While Sarah was raising her children her husband was busy doing other things.  Sarah's maid and friend, Polly also gave birth in 1845 to a son whose father was Sarah's husband.  I don't know if Polly gave the child to Sarah or if Polly died.  Sarah raised Polly's son "A" as her own.  Sarah had six more children with her husband.  On census records "A" is listed as Sarah's son.

Sarah did what she could to raise "A" as her own, but it was a small town and people knew the truth.  Unfortunately "A" could not escape his generational curses and he was murdered in 1905.

However, the good in Sarah continued to her daughter-in-law, Nancy Brewer Brashear who raised some of her grandchildren.  Sarah's granddaugther, Maggie did not live long enough to raise her own children, but Maggie's daughters continued the tradition of raising their grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

Sarah had to be fearless to walk through town hearing the whispers of the town folks.  I can see her holding "A" hand, his skin a different color than hers, holding her head high and calling him, son.

Joseph did the same thing.  He held his head high and took care of Mary and Jesus.  God gave Joseph the strength to be fearless.

Who is the Joseph in your family?

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”   

Matthew 18:20-21 (NIV)

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Territory Mom

Who's Your Mama Update - Step #1 Complete

This is the first follow-up to the Who's Your Mama? post I did in April.  I have been trying to find out who my great grandfather's(William Thomas Spradling) mother was.  It could have been Cynthia or her sister Amanda (we have always thought it was Amanda).  The problem I had was that Will's birthday did not match up to his father's (William Alexander Spradling) and Amanda's wedding date.  You will have to click on the above link for the full story.

There are several steps involved to help solve this mystery.  The first one I have completed which was to order Will's death certificate.

I like it when I receive a death certificate in the mail.  It contains so much information.  This sounds morbid, but to a family historian it is like getting a birthday present in the mail.  I'm such a nerd.

Anyway, I checked the date of birth first.  Will's date of birth is listed as Sept. 15, 1878, which is one year later than I had in my notes or what is on his tombstone according to findagrave.com and to the Oklahoma cemetery records online.  So if his death certificate is correct then Amanda, not Cynthia, was his mother.  Keep in mind that the information on a death certificate is only as good as the person providing it.  So if the mortician is asking questions to someone who is distraught then most likely the information will not be accurate.  I will discuss this later because it can interfere with your research.

This is Will's death certificate.  He was born in Dexter, Texas and his parents were William A. Spradling and Amanda (unknown).  This was common for the mother's last name to be listed as "unknown".  His wife's name is listed as, Mrs. W.T. Spradling, so funny, and she provided the information for his death certificate.  Mrs. W.T. 's real name was Effie Gideon Carter.  Will died of a heart attack at the age of 83.  He had lived at his residence 54 years.  He was retired and had been an engineer which I understand meant that he worked for the railroad.  Now this is what I like.  He  lived at 1416 Pecan Street in Duncan.

from Google maps

The house he lived would have been to the right, but it is an empty lot now.  The building at the end of the block is the old Bethel Assembly of God Church.  Will walked to this church for services.

With Google maps you can see where your ancestors actually lived.

Brothers:  l: John Edgar and r: William Thomas

Anyway, now that step 1 is complete my question is still not answered.  Was Amanda Will's mother?

I need to find out what happened to the first wife, Cynthia (also Amanda's sister).

I'll keep you posted.

Happy Grandma's Day.

Love,

Territory Mom 

Who's Your Mama?

Did you watch Who Do You Think You Are?  The season is over but you can click on the link and view the episodes.  I love it when networks let you watch the entire episode not just a clip.

Anyway, I have my own who do you think you are? mystery.  I thought it would be fun to share it with you.  We can solve this family puzzle together. Here's the background:

This is William Thomas Spradling, my great grandfather.  He was born on September 15, 1877 in Dexter, Cooke County, Texas.  By 1900 he was living in Oklahoma alone working on a farm.  He died on April 20, 1962 in Duncan, Stephens County, OK.  There are a few mysteries surrounding him.  We will try to solve one at a time.  The first mystery is, who was his mama?

His father, William Alexander Spradling born in 1842 in Illinois.  I'm not sure when he moved to Texas but he was in the 22nd Calvary Regiment Texas during the Civil War.  After the war on March 4, 1868 he married his first wife, Cynthia.  He was 26 and Cynthia was 24.  By 1870 Cynthia's parents had died and her brother, James and her sister Amanda were living with her and Will.  

Cynthia does not appear on any other records after 1870.

Amanda, I think.

Now, William Alexander marries Amanda (Cynthia's sister) on December 2, 1877.  She was 21 years old  and William A. was 35 years old.  Have you figured out the mystery yet?

William Thomas Spradling was born Sept 5, 1877, three months before Amanda is married to William A.

Other family historians have Amanda and Will's wedding date as 1875 or 1876.

I have researched it and found my above date on familysearch.org and the Texas marriages records on ancestry.com.  If you are not familiar with Familysearch.org it is a free site powered by the Church of The Latter Day Saints.  I'm pretty sure the Mormons would have the correct information.

So, did Cynthia give birth to William Thomas then die?

Did her sister Amanda promise her that she would take care of her child?

Here is what I need to help solve the mystery:

1.  Order William Thomas Spradling's death certificate from Oklahoma.

  (I have a feeling it will state his mother as "Amanda" or "unknown")

2.  Try and find a birth notice for William T. 

 This will be difficult because Texas did not officiallly record birth and death records until 1903.

3.  Find out what happened to Cynthia.

  I've searched and searched and have not found anything about her death or burial.  Thankfully, I have found members of Cynthia's family that what to know what happened to her too.  Recruit as much help as possible.

4.  Order the marriage license for Amanda and William A.

This may take awhile but I will keep you informed.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Some of My People - The Ramseys of Texas

David Crockett Ramsey, II or Jr. with wife and daughters

Have you been watching Who Do you Think You Are?  We love watching it.  Very interesting how so many family histories are simliar.  After I watch the show I always check my emails to see if I have another family match on ancestry.com. 

Last week I did hear from a Ramsey relative who sent me more information about the family that he received from a relative in Arkansas.  The Ramsey/Ramsay family date back to Scotland.  In my branch the first Ramsey to arrive in America from Scotland was Samuel Ramsey.  He was born in Scotland in 1721 and died in Onslow County, North Carolina in 1768.   So it makes me an 8th generation Scottish immigrant.  Can you hear the bagpipes playing?

Anyway my Ramseys settled in North Carolina, then moved through Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas.  From Texas they scattered like a covey of quail.  The Ramseys have always been a mystery in my family.  Until about 10 years ago when I finally found Malissa Ann Ramsey my great great grandmother.  I got her name from a relative then found her on the 1880 Clay County, Texas census.  She was the oldest daughter of David Crockett Ramsey, Jr./II and Mary Elizabeth Lambert.

Someone sent me the above photo a few years ago of Malissa/Melissa with her parents and her sisters.  She is the one on the right of her father and her mother is on his left.  She looks old to me.  If this photo was taken when one of grandparents died in Texas then she is between the ages of  27 to 32.

I know this is Melissa because I have seen that look at family reunions.  Just kidding, no I'm not.

Before I received this photo I did find Melissa's grave.  The problem I had in finding her was that she had been married twice after my great great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Baker had died.  Surprisely she is buried with the rest of the family in the Dixie Cemetery, near Loco, OK which is on the Stephens County / Jefferson County line.  She just has a marker, "M.A. Baker".  She is buried next to her daughter-in-law's grandparents, the Friels.  Her first husband, Baker who I descend from is buried in the Lindale Cemetery in Bowie, Texas next to Melissa's grandparents, the Ramseys.

I could go on and on about the Ramseys and Bakers so I won't.  I would like to know the names of the sisters and I know someone out there will help me.  One thing about this family David, Jr. named his daughters after his sisters, confusing to say the least.  Also, there is a photo of David, Jr. and his sons which I have lost.  I hate it when computers crash.

Have a great day and if you are in Oklahoma the next 3 days are good fishing days.

Love,

Territory Mom

Happy Birthway Margaret Evelyn

I found this photo in my great grandma's old cigar box and I asked my grandma, "who is this little girl"?  That's Margaret Evelyn.  So, I ask, "who is Margaret Evelyn"?  I wish you could hear my grandma's scratchy voice when she yells, "she's Roscoe's DAUGHter".  Like I was supposed to know this already.

Anyway, she is my grandma's cousin, the daughter of my grandma's uncle Roscoe Blaine Dunn and Esther Jackson Dunn.  She was born in 1931 and over the weekend Margaret Evelyn turned 80 years old.

Isn't she lovely?

She is named after her two grandmas, Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear Dunn and Minnie Evelyn Jackson.  Her mother died when she was very young and she and her brothers were sent to live with Roscoe's sister, Ruth Evelyn Dunn Paddock and her husband Herman in Oklahoma.

Margaret, Lawrence, Aunt Ruth and Harold traveling from Comanche, OK to New Mexico so Ruth could preach the gospel.

(Not pictured: CH and David Dunn)

Margaret's family gave her a surprise birthday party on Sunday.  Her son read this article from an old Ann Landers column to her:

What a legacy: Aging without Complaint

Dear Ann Landers: Here is an old clipping of a prayer from your column. It has yellowed with age, but has enduring wisdom that can help another generation of readers.

 Please run it again. ----F.W. in Worcester, Mass.

Dear Worcester: That piece is at least 25 years old, but it is still filled with insight. Thank you sending it on. Here it is, for "another generation."

Please God

My Children are grown now, and I have wonderful grandchildren. I love them all, but please, God, let me remember that I have lived, loved and enjoyed this life. Do not let me take away from their enjoyment by complaining about every ache and pain. I have earned them all.
Please keep me from mentioning my swollen joints, stiff knees, poor eyesight and anything else that isn't as good as it once was. Let me remember that I have enjoyed a full and wonderful life, and have been blessed in so many ways. Now is not the time for me to begin complaining.

Please let my mouth be closed while my ears are open to hear the fun they are having. Let me remember that I am still setting an example for them, and that if I keep quiet, they will forever think that I never had a single ache or pain in my life, and that I miraculously escaped the ills of old age.

They will, in later years, remember me with pleasure and say, "I wish I had her genes. She never had anything wrong with her!"
That, dear Lord, will be the best legacy I can leave them.

A beautiful legacy began when Margaret Evelyn was born in 1931.  Other historical events from 1931 can be found here.

The Empire State Building was completed in 1931.

Born in 1931:  James Earl Jones, Hope Lange, Larry Hagman, Regis Philbin, Oklahomans, Mickey Mantle and Billy Vessels.

 Also born in 1931:  Angie Dickinson, William Shatner, James Dean, Olympia Dukakis, Leonard Nimoy, and Robert Duvall.

For other famous birthdays from 1931 go here.

If I hadn't started this blog I would have never known Margaret Evelyn.  Her son contacted me after reading this post.  Now we are all friends on Facebook and I can wish Margaret Evelyn a happy birthday.
Happy grandma's day.
Love,
Territory Mom

Who Do You Think You Are? - Season 2 Starts Friday on NBC

Who Do Think You Are? on NBC

The 2nd season of this great show starts this Friday on NBC at 8/7 central.  If you haven't seen it you should.  It is about celebrities searching for their roots.  Very interesting what is uncovered.   If you are stuck in the house and you better stay inside during this Oklahoma blizzard then now is a good time to check out the episodes from season one.  The previous episodes will be available for viewing until Feb. 5th. 

I hope that one day this show will do a follow up.  I wonder what these celebrities do with their new found knowlegde of their family history.  All of the shows from season one were very interesting but I was surprised that my personal favorite was Susan Sarandon's.  Amazing that because of a family secret her grandmother never knew that Ms. Sarandon was her grandaughter.  You have to watch it.

Also, the show along with ancestry.com is having a sweepstakes.  You can enter to win a $20,000 journey to your family's homeland.

If I win I'm taking my children to their ancestral home in Wales:

Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst, North Wales

Photo courtesy of Michelle of Ireland via flickr.com

Where they have wild peacocks roaming the gardens and it's all green and pretty:

Michelle of Ireland

Gwydir Castle has been beautifully restored and is now a B&B.  You can read more about it here.

Thanks to Michelle of Ireland for letting me use her beautiful photos of my children's homeland.  You can click on the above link to view more of her photos and even make a purchase.

  That is my endorsement not hers.

Please stay safe and warm.

Love,

Territory Mom

The Rest of the Story - Part 2

Okay, back to the rest of the story.  For the girls at RHOK's McLinky Monday.

2. One of my grandmothers was traded by her father for a horse.

Charlie and Maggie Dunn & family, cir 1902

Yes, this is true.  It was my great grandmother, Nancy "Pearl" Emily Dunn Barham.  The Dunn family was living in a logging camp in Arkansas where Pearl's father, Charlie Dunn, was a logger.  Pearl's mother, Maggie Brashear Dunn died while living in the camp two weeks after the birth of her ninth child.  She died from pnemonia at the age of 35 on February 27, 1905.  Pearl was only 13 years old at the time.  Two months later, Pearl's older sister, Maudie got married.

The story my grandma tells me is that Charlie went crazy, drinking and everything.  I wish you could hear my grandma say, "drinking".  He traded Pearl to a man in the logging camp for a horse.  Pearl and this man got married, but it was never consumated.  My grandma always made it clear that it was never consumated.  When I was a girl I had to look up "consumated".

Pearl escaped from this man and went to Russellville.  She worked as a typesetter for the newspaper and the owner of the paper let her lived in a back room at the newspaper office.  After Pearl married my great grandfather, John Jackson Barham they left Arkansas and moved to Oklahoma.  Eventually all of the Dunn children left Arkansas and moved to Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.  None of them returned to Arkansas, too sad I guess.

Pearl left a memoir of her life, sadly it was lost years ago.  I bet it was good.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

 

P.S. If you are a family member who wants a copy of the above photo without the names, just email me.

A Little Eery But A Great Source

If you are wanting to start searching for your family roots one of the best ways to start is searching cemeteries.  Sometimes the information from a tombstone is your only source.

You don't have to go to any haunted cemeteries to find your ancestors just check out Find A Grave.

The website was created by Jim Tipton in 1995 because he could not find a site that catered to his hobby of visiting graves of famous people.  Lucky for us who are not famous.  Thousands of volunteers submit obits, photos and family histories to the site.  All you have to do is submit a search with your family name.  If it is a common name include the name of the state where you think your ancestor is buried.

These are some relatives I found, my great grandparents.  The above photo is when they were young and lived in the woods in Briartown, aka Younger's Bend, Oklahoma.

This photo is on their grave marker.  The volunteer who submitted the photo did a great job.

  I like that you can see where the porcelain is chipped, it adds to the authenticity.

I have never seen these photos so I am happy to finally put a face to the names.

I looked up my husband's family and found this photo of one of his relatives:

Laura, isn't she cute or wasn't she cute.

Before you set out on a wild goose chase (I have been on many) go to Find a Grave first.   It will save you  time, gas money, miles on your car, chigger bites, poison ivy and most important you don't have to stop and ask directions.
Have a great day.
Love,
Territory Mom

Two T.V. Shows Of Interest for Family Research Buffs

I received an email from Lisa Kudrow about a new tv show called, Who Do You Think You Are? 

Okay, if you are a member of Ancestry.com then you received a email from her too.  Anyway, NBC and Ancestry.com have partnered for this new show about celebrities and their family histories. If you have been watching the Olympics then you have already seen previews for the show.  It sounds interesting.  It will air on Fridays at 7:00 pm central on NBC, of course, beginning March 5th.

And

Don't forget Troy Dunn's show, The Locator.  The new season begins in March.  The show is usually on Saturday nights, but I'll let you know exact times when available.  Also, you can still enter the show's contest  until March 3rd, go here to enter and maybe you will win a trip to be reunited with a loved one. 

Enjoy!!

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

One Face of America

Nancy "Pearl" Emily Dunn Barham

She is my great grandma and one of the reasons I started searching for my roots

Susan Margaret "Maggie" Brashear Dunn

She is my great great grandma and she is the main reason I started searching for my roots.

They are the faces of America.  We all have a story and yours needs to be told.  You do not have to make it public but it is important to perserve your family history.

There is a new show called Faces of America on PBS where Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "explores the ancestry of 12 talented Americans".  The 2nd episode airs tonight on PBS at 7:00 pm. central.  You can watch the 1st episode online.  The show will on every Wednesday night until March 3rd. 

Enjoy.

Love,

Territory Mom 

Old Family Photos

I have a new cousin in California. He found this blog by searching the Internet for old family names. He has been sending me old family photos that I'll share with you from time to time. Below are my great grandparents, John Jackson Barham and Nancy Pearl Emily Dunn Barham. It was their last formal portrait and everyone in the family should have a copy of it, but this one is unique to all the others.

John & Pearl Barham

On the back of this photo is my great grandma's handwriting. This will make my mom cry.

Have a great day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Interview With An Okie - Troy Dunn, The Locator

Troy Dunn

Photo courtesy WEtv.com

I love the show, The Locator. I'm a family historian searching for my roots so I knew this show was for me. Then I find out that Troy Dunn graduated from Enid High School, well I love it even more, so much that I blogged about it back in March to let everyone know about the beginning of the 2nd season. The Locator's 3rd season begins Saturday, Sept. 12th at 8:00 pm. (central) and because I had blogged about the show I received an email from Katrina who works on the show. WEtv is scheduling a telephone conference with "a few key online voices" for a chat with Troy.

We had our chat this morning. It was me, Erika at Scrapbook Obsession http://scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com/ , Gina at The Clan McLeod http://dewgin.blogspot.com/ and the man himself, Troy Dunn. Oh, Katrina was on the line too. We all had to have two questions prepared and if there was time we could ask more.

Erika goes first. She asked very good questions about scrap booking and photos. Troy said how important it is to do scrapbooks for keeping memories alive. Photos are key and that he uses them to help transition the reunion. For instance if a parent has been separated from a child since they were a baby the parent still sees the child as a baby. He can show them a photo of how they look as an adult and it helps the reunion process. This was Erika and Troy's conversation so please go to her site for her intake.

Now at this point my son has had enough and he keeps asking, is that grandma? I shake my head no, is that grandma? I shake my head no, I want to talk to grandma.

Gina is next. Again great questions. One was about the amount of time Troy spends on a case. He said the shortest time was 6 1/2 minutes. The longest case that was solved was 8 years. Gina ask if Troy's job has brought him closer to his own family. My son starts yelling at this point and all I hear is that every person he has worked with feels like family. Please go Gina's site for a more eloquent version.

Okay, its my turn. Katrina lets him know I'm from Oklahoma.

Troy: Oklahoma! Where are you located?

Me: Near Okemah, the home of Woody Guthrie

Troy: Oh, yeah Woody Guthrie

I told him about my blog and about the fact that I have Dunn relatives he said that we might be related. He said his family is around the Pawnee area now. They had been in and around Talequah.

Me: I know you graduated from Enid H.S. were you born in Oklahoma (this is my first prepared question)

Troy: No, I was born in Topeka, KS. My dad's family is from Oklahoma and that's why we moved back which I'm glad because that's where my wife is from, Enid.

Me: Oh, she's an Okie too

Troy: Yes, her family goes back generations.

I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand because I knew that. I even blogged about his wife being from Oklahoma. Then I wander for a second. I want to know who his wife's people are, I bet they were in the Land Run. There's no time, stay focused.

My next prepared question:

Me: I cry every time I watch your show

Troy: Me, too

Me: Has there ever been a story that got to you emotionally and you thought I can't do this anymore?

Troy: Yes, every month for the last 17 years.

My beautiful son starts yelling at this point to get my attention I apologize and Troy says, "that's okay I have kids."

I think Troy said something about how supportive his wife is and there are times when he comes home and sits down and his wife just knows he was working on a tough case.

Then I sneaked a 3rd question.

Me: I love your mom

Troy: Me, too

Me: Are you ever going to feature your mom's story on the show?

Troy: That's a very good question. I don't know, it doesn't have a happy ending.

Then everyone got to ask one last question, but I didn't hear any of them.

My son was yelling and the more I "shh" him the louder he got. I went out on the back porch and he follows me. Then it finally occurs to me to my thumb over the receiver.

Then it's my turn:

Me: Have you ever been in a situation where you felt uneasy?

Troy: Pause

Me: Fearful?

Troy: You know I rely on my gut feeling. I rely on my wife and my mom. You know that woman's intuition.

At this point my son has thrown my notebook out in the yard. I hear my daughter yell, "Sissy's in the house", I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn't yell, "get that coonhound out of the house".

Then I see a pink cowgirl hat in the mud which would result in tears if I didn't act quickly.

So I think Troy said: You know a lot of the cases involved abuse and you don't want to put someone back in that situation.

I think at some point I did yell at my kids, "y'all be quiet I'm trying to talk on the phone". You know like when you are trying to tell a Bible story and you yell at your kids, "stop fighting so we can talk about Jesus".

I did tell Troy about a Dunn cousin who found my website. She had been kidnapped as a baby by her father and was not reunited with her mother until shortly before her mother died. Her mother had given her the family bible. He said how important a family bible can be, just the little lines in the front of a bible can provide so much information.

Then Troy graciously thanked everyone and told us how much he appreciates us (mommy bloggers) for getting the word out about the show.

I get off the phone and this is what I see sitting on my new chair,

She knows she is in trouble she wouldn't even look at the camera.

This was a great experience. Troy is a very gentle and fair man. It is very clear that he is doing what God put him on this earth to do. Please watch his show, The Locator. You will be blessed.

Love,

Territory Mom

http://www.wetv.com/the-locator/ P.S. Remember God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. I never would have thought I would get to talk to The Locator. We never know what God is up to. Thank you, Lord.

He Made His Peace With God

Charlie Dunn Family

L to R front row: Maggie Brashear Dunn (holding Roscoe), Mamie, Ruth,

Charlie(holding Homer)

L to R back row: Nancy Pearl Emily (my gg grandma) and Maudie Velma

son, Burgess was born later. Sons, C.H. and Chester died in infancy

Charles Henry Dunn was my great great grandfather. His parents were Emily Singleton Dunn Kinder and James Dunn. He has been a mystery and so has his father. Charlie was born in 1867 and he was only 3 years old when his mother married Adam Kinder. The whereabouts of his father remain unknown. I ordered Charlie's death certificate and found that his father was born in Texas. It is our only clue about Charlie's father.

Charlie Dunn's death certificate

Charlie Dunn has always had a bad reputation in my family. According to my grandma, her aunt Mamie (the 1st aunt Mamie, who was my grandma's great aunt but also the same age as her mother) always referred to him as "that no good Charlie Dunn". It could have been that he was blamed for Maggie's early death at age 34. (she died of pnemonia 2 weeks after the birth of her last child ). They were living in a logging camp in Arkansas and after Maggie's death he traded my great grandma to a man for a horse. That doesn't sit too well with your in-laws.

Anyway, I tried to find out more about Charlie's father so I sent a request for information to the Oklahoma Historical Society (excellent source of information). This is what I received:

Page 5 of The Waurika Oklahoma News-Democrat, Friday, April 6, 1923

Death of Charley Dunn

Charley Dunn died at his home near Bethel school house, southeast of Waurika, March 29, 1923, after a long and painful illness of tuberculosis. Mr. Dunn was a man of peace, a good neighbor and a loving husband and father. Before his death, he assured his children that he had made his peace with his God and that Jesus had saved his soul. He requested that all meet him in Heaven where he was going to meet his wife. He leaves seven children, three sons and four daughters, to mourn his loss. He was 56 years, 4 months and 13 days old at the time of his death.

He was laid to rest in the Ryan Cemetery Saturday afternoon, March 31, where funeral services were conducted by Rev. H.H. Bowles of Waurika. The children wish to thank their many friends and neighbors for their kindness to them during the sickness and at the time of the death of their father. Friends extend sympathy to the surviving relatives.

BY A FRIEND.

So, it appears that he didn't leave this world with a bad reputation, even if he had, he made his peace with God and that is all that matters.

Love,

Territory Mom

Royalty Or Just Peasants and Thieves

Have you ever heard someone say "we found out we come from royalty". Well, when you discuss with someone family research they always say that. After researching my family history all I found was peasants and thieves, no royalty.

So, I started researching my husband's side and found that yes, he is a descendant of English royalty(everyone is, you know). I've been working on a post for a couple of weeks now about this royalty connection. It has taken a couple of weeks because I was trying to get permission to use a photo from the photographer in Wales. It is a photo of the beautiful castle that my husband's and children's ancestors built.

The photographer graciously granted permission to use his photo. Thank you dear sir.

I continued my research and found that the founder of this dynasty did not leave a male heir and so the castle went to a sister. Then I find out that there were many cousins went left Wales in a hurry and came to America. You know what that means, yes criminal activity. Therefore, I have decided not the post about my children's royalty until I have further knowledge. This could take some time. Until then, Iechyd dda. That means,' good health' in Welsh. I learned that from my new Welsh photographer friend.

Love, Territory Mom

Getting Closer to Finding Emily

William Meridith "Marady" Singleton and Missouri Margania Brashear

I received a response to a post I did almost a year ago about my gggrandmother, Emily Singleton Dunn Kinder. It was from a dear woman from Arkansas and this is how it went:

Emily T. Singleton was a sister to my ggrandfather William Meridith Singleton. She was born in 1848 in Tennessee (according to the 1850 Greene County, MO US Census). Her parents were: Howell J. Singleton b. 1820 Virginia and Sarah Ann Holton b. abt. 1824 TN. They were married May 31, 1843 in Rutherford County, TN.

Howell and Sarah Singleton children:

John Abel Singleton, b. March 25, 1844 TN

Elvira Singleton, b. 1846 TN

Emily T. Singleton, b. 1848 TN

No name Singleton, b. 1850 MO

William Meridith Singleton b. 1852 MO

Joseph Pinkney Singleton, b. 1854 AR

This family is in the 1860 Scott Cnty AR Census, however Sarah is not listed so is presumed dead. H.J. dies shortly after census taken and children are left alone. By 1867 some or all children are in Pope County, AR where oldest brother John marries Mary Brashear, daughter of Mortimer M. Brashear and Sarah "Sallie" Vaughan. In 1872 William Meridith marries Missouri Margania Brashear (a sister of Mary).

Did Emily refer to her father "Joseph"? All records that I have located are either Howell J. or H.J. Singleton. I have been unable to find any records before his marriage to Sarah. If he used Joseph that might be a clue as to who his parents were.

I have more, if interested please contact me.

Well, of course I contacted her for more information. She did not have any photos of Emily but she did send me the above photo of Emily's brother and his wife, who is my Maggie Brashear Dunn's aunt (married Emily's son Charles Dunn).

Emily oldest brother John was a doctor who also married a Brashear (another one of Maggie's aunts).

Emily's mother was Sarah Ann Holton, daughter of Abel B. Holton and Martha Elizabeth Fortnor.

There is no information about Emily's first husband, James Dunn. I'll find him. Right now I'm happy to have this new found information.

Happy Grandma's Day.

Love,

Territory Mom

Looking for Emily: http://oklahome.blogspot.com/2008/08/looking-for-emily.html