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 

G.D. Spradlin, RIP

G. D. Spradlin

August 31, 1920 to July 24, 2011

Los Angeles Times

G. D. Spradlin died Sunday, July 24, 2011 at the age of 90.  If you are an Okie you know him well.  He was an established attorney and oilman before he became a great charachter actor.

I first wrote about him in my post, Okie Trivia Contest #2. 

His parents were Gervais and Lanora Spradling from Brady, (Garvin County) OK.  His grandparents were Richard and Dora Spradling.  His grandparents moved from Arkansas to Turnbull, (McClain County) OK before 1910.

For more information about his life go to Newsok.com and the LA Tims link above.

Rest in peace Mr. Spradlin.

Oklahoma loves you.

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