Surname Saturday - VAN VREDENBURG

Dear Grandparents,
It's been awhile since I've written a post for Surname Saturday. Today I've selected Van Vredenburg, one of the many surnames of Dutch origin found in our family tree. My 8th great grandfather, Willem Isaacsen Van Vredenburgh arrived in New Netherlands 17 May 1658 on the ship 'de Vergulde Bever' or gilded beaver. The patronymic Isaacesen in Willem's name indicates that he was the son of Isaac Van Vredenburgh.

Vredenburgh family researchers have put together a website that provides additional information about Willem's origin http://vredenburgh.org/vredenburgh/pages/dutch.htm. Kenneth Scott, writing an article "The Vredenburg Family" in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volume 95, no. 2, P. 79 discusses records found in the "Geementearchief in Hague" stating on "July 16, 1634 banns were published in the Groote Kerk in the Hague for Ysack Wilernss Van Vredenburch, young man, and Cornelia Jans, young woman, both living in the Hague and they were married in the Groote Kerk on August 6, 1634, by Comine Eleasear Lotius." Mr. Scott cites his source as City Trouw Boek 742, p. 84, verso and Groote Kerk Boek 32, p. 73.

Most of what I know about Willem Isaacsen Van Vredenburgh comes from an article written by his descendant La Rue Vredenburgh of Sommerville, New Jersey and published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly January 1918. It seems that Willem was a soldier in the service of the Dutch West India Company when he arrived in New Amsterdam (later New York City). It is unclear how long he remained in the service. La Rue states, "He is found later at Fort William Henrick in the City of New Orange (on Manhattan Island), Kingston and finally in New York City."

There is evidence that the Dutch practiced the 'law of eminent domain' as in "New Orange his is mentioned as having a house and lot in 1673, which was ordered to be pulled down because (it was) too near the 'walls and bulwarks' of the fort."

Willem married Appollonia Barents, the daughter of Jacob Barentsen and Marritie Leenderts of Amsterdam, Holland, October 19, 1664.

Our Van Vredenburg connections are on our Hugunin line. So for family members her is the descent,
Betty Werst; daughter of Grace Colby,; daughter of Mamie Elizabeth Hugunin; daughter of Van Eps Hugunin; son of Richard 'Dirick' Hugunin; son of David Huguenin and Baata Huyck; daughter of Dirk Huyck and Sarah Van Deusen; daughter of Isaac Van Deusen and Bata Van Ysselesteyn; daughter of Cornelisse Van Esselsteyne and Cornelia Van Vredenburg; daughter of Willem Issacsen and his wife Appolonia Barents Van Vredenburg.

So many more records to find on my next trip to visit my sister Trude in Amsterdam!
Love,
Cecily

Employment Applications can be a great resource.

Dear Grandparents,
When researching your lives, we would all like to find a complete timeline that explains where you were living and what you were doing each year of your lives. Realistically, we know that we're not going to find that timeline. However, my sister Leslie has found one of the next best things for our Grandmother Grace Colby Werst Branchflower.

On May 13, 1947, (Mrs.) Grace C. Branchflower filled out an application for Federal Employment. All of us who have filled out similar forms, understand that it involves accounting for one's complete employment history, education as well as answering a variety of questions. Scope of jobs, salary, and supervisors are identified, as well as physical characteristics. For example, on the form Grace lists her height as 5' 5" and weight as 113 pounds. This fact was interesting to me as I always thought of her as being taller than my mother who was also 5'5".


1st of 7 pages of Grace's Federal Employment Application









The form answers several questions for the family. How long did she attend Oregon Agricultural College? During the time she was filling out the application, OAC had become Oregon State College. On the form,  she states she attended Oregon State College, Corvallis, Ore. There she majored in HE, presumably Home Economics. There is a mistake in the dates listed. She states she began in 9, 1922 thru 6, 1922. The best guess is that this should read through 6, 1923.

She also writes that she attended Northwestern Business College for 3 months taking a course in something called then Stenotypy. The location and dates of this course are not included. Following that she lists Dickinson's Shorthand School, Seattle, Washington where she took a 3 month class in Shorthand and Business training. There are no dates for that course either. We know that she was employed in Seattle from February 1929 to October 1930.

The years between her leaving Oregon State until she returned, with daughters in tow, to her father's home in Newberg have held the most questions for us. She told us that rather than returning to her home in Newberg, where her new step-mother was ruling the roost, she had gone to her sister's Madge's home in Pendleton. I was under the impression that few unmarried young women of good families worked outside the home in the 1920s so I had not looked for a work record for her before marriage. Page 7 of the application lists her previous employment and there she states that from
"February 1923 to May 1925" she worked for the "Real Silk Hosiery Mills" in "Pendleton, Oregon, Walla Walla, and Spokane, Washington." Her job responsibilities included, "Complete office management, instructing of sales force, general office, account, records and reports." She earned a salary of $175 per month. Someone named "L. A. Baker" was her supervisor and she left to be 'Married."




My impression, from the stories told by my mother and aunt, is that Grace helped Cecil obtain his first job with her company. His brother Clem and wife lived across the street from Grace's sister Madge and dentist husband Hal Massey. Cecil was working as a carpenter for his brother's construction company. I think they both had their sights set on bigger things.

That she left in May of 1925 when she married is interesting because she and Cecil Oscar Werst were married 8 Aug 1924 in Spokane. (As I am typing this, I just realized that today is the 89th anniversary of their marriage. Happy Anniversary Hoo Hoo and Cecil. We hope you are celebrating together today.)

Perhaps, Royal Silk had a policy preventing married couples from working for the company. Maybe, she offered to stay on after their marriage until she could train a replacement.

There is more to be discovered on this page later.

Once again, Happy Anniversary!
Love,
Cecily



Surname Saturday - Potter

Dear Grandparents,
When my friend Donna Potter Phillips suggested friends look for Potters in their family trees mention in her Potter Profiles blog, I decided I should conduct a search. I was fairly certain, that there wasn't a Potter in my direct line but since I've included my in-laws and a few out-laws in my tree, I'm afraid I can not remember every surname and exactly where it fits in. 

I did indeed find some Potters in my tree. They belong in my son-in-law Chris' paternal line. Donna published this information on her Potters' Profiles Blog but I add it here also in an effort to reach additional people.

My son-in-law's 6th great grandfather was Stephen Potter, born about 1744 in England or perhaps Wales. He married, about 1768 in Virginia, Jemima Green. They had at least 8 children among them, Thomas Green Potter. Some researchers report that Stephen served in the South Carolina militia from 24 May 1781 to 14 Jan 1782. Others that he was a mounted soldier in General Pickens' Brigade. He is not listed among in the DAR ancestor database. I have not been able to document this assertion.

 

Their son Thomas Green Potter was born either in Virginia or in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina about 1775 (date calculated from tombstone). He married Elizabeth Holland, daughter of  and William Holland and Ann Wayman, 1 Dec 1814 in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina. Elizabeth died in 1844. There is an obituary for Thomas at www.findagrave.com which lists him as a native of Virginia. It also states that he lived in Spartanburg and Laurens. Deacon Potter "for a period of forty years he was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church."

 

Thomas and Elizabeth had the following children:

     Wayman Henry Potter 1816-1890

     Nancy Holland Potter 1819-1886

     Thomas Coke Potter  1821-1902

     Allen T. Potter 1824-1892

     Francis Asbury Potter 1826- 1900

     George Whitefield Potter 1828 - 1901

     Elizabeth Holland Potter 1830 - 1889

 

The 1820 Census for Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina, enumerated 7 Aug 1820, lists a Thos G Potter with a household including: 2 free white males under 10; 1 free white male 26-44; 1 free white female under 10; 1 free white female 16-25; on male slave 14-25.

 

The 1830 Census for Spartanburg enumerates a Thos G Potter household including: 2 free white males under 5; 2 white males 5-9; 3 free white males 10-14; 1 free white male 40-49; 1 free white female 10-14; 1 free white female 30-39 and 1 male slave 24-35.

 

The 1840 Census for Laurens, South Carolina lists a Thomas Potter in a household with 1 free white male 50-59; 1 free white male 20-20; 2 free white males 15-19; 2 free males 10-14; 1 free white female 10-14; 1 free white female 15-19; 1 free white female 20-29; 1 free white female 50-59; and 1 male slave 36-54.

 

The 1850 Census for Laurens, South Carolina lists a Thomas Potter, age 60, male, farmer, value of real estate 3100, birthplace Virginia. Also living in the household as  Frances A Potter, age 24, Birthplace South Carolina, male; George W. Potter, age 22, male; Elizabeth Potter, age 20 female.

 

My son-in-law's line descends from Wayman Henry Potter, born 17 Oct 1816 in Cross Anchor, Spartanburg, South Carolina. He married Elizabeth Jane Simpson about 1840 in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina.

The family had at least five children all born in South Carolina

     Mary J. Potter 1843

     Nancy Potter   1845

     Thomas Asbury Potter 1846-1919

     Sarah Potter 1849

     Amanda B. Potter 1854-1935

 

The family emigrated to Ouachita County, Arkansas about 1858.

 

Amanda Bailey Potter, my son-in-law's 3rd great grandmother, was born 12 Feb 1854 in South Carolina. She married Robert Weir Copeland (1852-1921) in 1874. The family made their home in Jackson, Nevada County, Arkansas and she lived in the county the rest of her life. The Copelands had six children:

     S. E. Copeland 1876

     Fannie Bailey Copeland 1879-1921

     Edgar W Copeland 1881

     Joe Bell Copeland 1884

     Amry R Copeland 1889

     Lizzie Faye Copeland 1893-1978

 

My son-in-law descends form Fannie Bailey Copeland so I do not have any additional information on Potters. Perhaps, someone will have information on Stephen Potter's Revolutionary War service in the South Carolina militia. 

 

The Potter surname is one of many whose origin can be found in the occupation of those originally named such. In this case, the national origin is undoubtedly from the British Isles but it might well be English, Irish, Welsh or Scots.

 

You, of course, know the answers. Wish you could share them with us....

 

Love,

Cecily

Looking for more information about training at Chanute Field, Illinois circa 1937

Dear Poppy,
How well I remember you showing us photographs that you had taken during your training at Chanute Field in the 1930s. I believe you stopped there when you drove back from attending my wedding in Annapolis in 1971. Peg found a box of old photographs yesterday, some that we never recall seeing before. They have raised lots of questions about the nature of your training.

Kenneth M. Branchflower at Chanute Field, Illinois circa 1937

There is not much information about the training that went on at Chanute Field between World War I and II. If I remember correctly, you were training as a combat photographer. We believe that you are pictured in each of these photographs. We certainly recognize your very precise script on the lower one.

After Chanute, I believe you went to March Field near Riverside, California. I know that you were released for the training to come home and assist your father on the farm. You appear in the photographs to be in uniform. So was there an enlistment in the fledgling Army Air Corps? Were things so bad in the U. S. Army, that they just let people out? This was the middle of the depression and still six years before Pearl Harbor. Did you have to apply for a hardship discharge?

Growing up, I had the impression that you were drafted during World War II, but I have found a record that shows you enlisted on 13 Sep 1943 in Portland, Oregon. Your enlistment papers mention one year of college as well as 'skilled photographic process occupations' but no previous service. The 1943 Portland City Directory lists you as a Machine Operator working for USAE and residing in Newberg. I believe that USAE is an abbreviation for U. S. Army Engineers.

Wishing we could talk to you about your training. Not much has been written about the technical training that went on between the wars.

Love,
Cecily

Charles Shepard and Mary Clarke Newton Obituaries

Dear Grandparents,
In researching your lives, I have learned to explore all leads and to never be surprised at the direction from which they come. Today while reading the weekly online newsletter from the New England Historical Genealogical Society entitled "The Weekly Genealogist", I found a column by Assistant Editor Valerie Beaudrault. Her article, "Spotlight: Various Resources: Wisconsin, Oregon, and Illinois" mentioned that the Wilsonville Public Library in Clackamas County, Oregon has made their Northwest Heritage Index available on its website. The collection contains more that 16,000 obituaries.

I know that several of you already know where this discussion is going. A quick search of their data base revealed obituaries for Chas. S. Newton in 1912 and Mrs. Newton in 1929. As soon as I found those listings, I contacted the library and after sending the information from the Northwest Heritage Index, I promptly received pdf files of the obituaries. Many thanks to Librarian Greg Martin for his help.


Chas. S. Newton Obituary from the
Canby Irrigator, Canby, Oregon
04 Apr 1912
Page 1, column 2

The image is difficult to read so here is the transcription:
"Chas. S. Newton died at the home of his son, John R. Newton, at 9:40 p m, Wednesday. Mr. Newton has been very low for several weeks and but little hope was held for his recovery. He was born in New York and was 70 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, one son, John R. Newton, and two daughters, Mrs. R. N. Cone, of Springfield, Utah and Mrs. H. H. Hart, of Whit(e)s Plains, New York. The funeral will be held from the home of John R. Newton, Friday April 5th at 10:00 a. m.

Previously, I had found an obituary for Great Grandfather Newton in the General Catalog of Officers and Students for the University of Michigan in 1912. Charles Shepard Newton had been at student at the Ann Arbor campus from 1860-1862.

It is interesting that the Canby notice mentions that the funeral would be held from the home of his son John R. Newton. Since Charles Newton had been an elder in the Presbyterian Church, I had expected that your service would have been held at a church. Perhaps, a church in Canby was not available at the time.

Charles S. Newton's Headstone photo courtesy of Sue Barnett and www.findagrave.com



When I requested the obituary listed for Mrs. Newton, I was crossing my fingers that this referred to Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Clarke Newton. The dates seemed to be correct but then Newton is a fairly common surname. I knew I had the right person, when the obituary stated that she had died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Cone of Salem.

Obituary of Mrs. Newton from the Canby Herald, Canby, Oregon
07 Feb 1929, Page 1, Column 2.

Because the image is difficult to read... here is a transcript of the article:

"Former Canby Woman Buried Here Thursday

Mrs. Newton, former resident of Canby, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Cone of Salem, was buried at Canby Thursday, and Interment was in Zion cemetery where her husband was buried some time ago. Mr. and Mrs. Newton formerly owned a place that is now the Fir Lane Poultry farm, property of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson. They made a specialty of strawberry production years ago."

 

Wow.... strawberries! Not what I expected from an Oregon farmer. It will take some additional research to determine where the farm was located.

 

Love,

Cecily

 



Happy Birthday Lawrence Bud Satterwhite

Dear Grandparents,
Today is the 110th anniversary of the birth of Lawrence Bud Satterwhite, my son-in-law Chris' maternal great grandfather. He was the second son of William Dempsey and Fannie Bailey Copeland Satterwhite and was born in Rosston, Nevada County Arkansas. Satterwhites had been living in this area of Arkansas for more than fifty years.

Looking at the 1910 and 1920 census for the Satterwhite family, shows a growing family living on a farm in rural Nevada or Hempstead County Arkansas. The family grew to include four sons and two daughters. The enumerator only reported the type of farm as general, but we can imagine that all members of the family spent a good deal of time helping with the chores around the farm.

When he was only twenty, Lawrence married eighteen year old Rosa Maud Hinkson in Conway Arkansas 18 Feb 1924. Their marriage produced five children, three girls and two boys and lasted fifty years until Rosa's death in 1974.

The family made their home in Little Rock, where Lawrence worked as a carpenter or a mechanic.
I imagine they were renting homes as the Little Rock Directories for 1925,  1928. 1929, 1930 list them at different addresses.  Perhaps, they bought the home at 3710 W. 11th Street as they are listed there from 1930 to 1934. The house is listed on Zillow as having been built in 1930, so perhaps they had the house built for their family.

Perhaps Chris' grandmother could explain why her father moved his family to Longview, Texas about 1935. In the Longview Directory, Lawrence is listed as a carpenter joining his brother C. L. (Copeland) in the community.

Lawrence spent the remainder of his life in Longview. Rosa died in 1974, and he married Walterene R. Rodgers.  He died of prostate cancer 20 Mar 1991 at the advanced age of 87.  He is buried at Memory Park Cemetery in Longview with his first wife Rosa.

Photo courtesy of Danny Grizzle and www.findagrave.com

Happy Birthday Lawrence! or did they call you Larry or Bud?

Cecily Cone Kelly

Happy Independence Day

Dear Grandparents,
Today we will be celebrating the 237th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. Traditionally, we observe the date flying the flag, watching parades, family picnics and ending with fireworks. We will be gathering at my daughter Colby's with 3 generations of family and friends. Ed and I have been marinating chicken, making macaroni salad (wish I could talk him into BBQ salad), angel food cake in preparation for this evenings dinner. Before we go, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the sacrifices you made in establishing this great nation.

I have been able to identify some of you who served in the Revolutionary War. I'm certain there are others who's records I have not discovered yet (all hints) are appreciated.

Evert Van Eps - Captain of Bateaumen on Lake George, wounded at the Battle of Oriskany, captured by the British at the Battle of Johnstown, NY and taken as a prisoner to Canada. Not released until the Treaty of Paris was signed.  (Ancestor of Grace Colby Werst).

Eleazar Warner - Captain in the Connecticut Line, responded to the Alarm at Lexington, fought at the Battle of White Plains. (Ancestor of Charles Newton Cone).

Asa Pratt - Private in Capt. Aaron Steven's Company part of Colonel Samuel Mott's Brigade. He then served in Capt. Martin Kirtland's Company in Colonel William Douglas' Regiment of the Connecticut Line. (Ancestor of  Charles Newton Cone).

Samuel and Richard Hunnewell - Participated in the Boston Tea Party. Richard then served as a private in Capt. Winthrop Baston's Company. (Ancestor of Grace Colby Werst).

John Dye - Served as a Captain in the New Jersey Militia. (Ancestor of Hazel Allen Cone).

Elisha Hopkins - Served in Mansfield, Connecticut Militia. (Ancestor of Charles Newton Cone).

David Huguenin - Served in the 7th Regiment of the Albany County (NY) Militia. (Ancestor of Grace Colby Werst).

Michael Biery -Drummer in Capt. George Knappenbuger's Company, 2nd Battalion, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia. (Ancestor of Cecil Oscar Werst).

Uriah Stephens - Served in Cook's Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. (Ancestor of Helen Brown Newton Cone).

Salmon Champion - Served in the Connecticut Line (ancestor of Helen Brown Newton Cone).

Magdalena Domain Schlechty - As a widow provided monetary support for the cause. (Ancestor of Cecil Oscar Werst).

We salute your sacrifices and hope to learn more about your lives.

Love,
Cecily