Wedding Wednesday - Ansley & Pressley (1848)

Georgia, Habersham County.

To Any Judge, Justice of the Inferior Court, Justice of the Peace, or Minister of The Gospel -
You are hereby authorized to join in the holy state of Matrimony,  Raiford Ansley and Miss Abigail Pressley according to the Constitution and Laws of this State; and for so doing this shall be your sufficient License.

Given under my hand, this 29th day of January 1848 
s/ Phiip Martin, C.C.O
                               _______________________

Georgia, Habersham County.
I certify that the above named Parties were duly joined in Matrimony, by me, this 3 day of Febrauary 1848
s/ Boling G. Morris J.P.
Recorded 8th March 1848
s/ Philip Martin, C.C.O


*Habersham County, Georgia Marriages Bk B (1841-1874). Pg. 52.  Georgia State Archives, Box 252, Drawer 19

Monday Musings

Happy Monday to everyone!  Hope your weekend was great.  The snow is melting here and temps are on the rise. Maybe winter is on the way out!  One can hope eh?

Spent much of this past week working on linking and naming images.  Seems as though that is a never ending process.  I use it not just for genealogy but for recipes as well.   Once I type them in to my recipe data base I link the scanned images to the recipes.  Works great!

On the genealogy front,  I'm cleaning up my digital files and image folders.  Somehow, there's always a duplicate or two.  So I'm getting rid of some, recropping some and some just linking.

Going to work on some genealogy this morning.  Have more digital images that I want to take care of.  Its nice not having tons of papers laying all over, but the number of images can at times be overwhelming.  In the long run it will all be worth it when I am done.

The next major project is going thru every photo and making sure they are linked as they should be.  I don't anticipate this taking more  than 2 years or so, working an hour or two every day.  But it will be worth it.  Going to start with all the cemetery & headstone images first.

Oh well,  keeps me out of trouble for the most part, and I know when I'm done it will be an awesome thing.   I'm doing a wee bit of research here and there, mainly figuring out the "unknown's" in my file.  I keep a file of the unknown's with the surnames I am working on.  Basically in the area's where I know our lines are, I come across a headstone or a death certificate or obit and I try to figure them out and add them to my regular file.  Love the challenge of figuring those out.

Maybe the luck of the Irish will be with me today while I work on some of those...  one can only hope eh?

Happy Researching!
Karen

Monday Musings

Spent the weekend on identifying some Ligon's I found on the Georgia death records over at Family Search.  I can't say it was easy - but I do love a good challenge. 

Out of the eight I started with I have only one I still can't identify and add to my Ligon data base.  Not bad for a weekend's work! 

I've been working on re-organizing, cleaning,  and rethinking how I do some things.  I'm also STILL working on all the images I had scanned over the past year.  I'm about half way thru, cropping, naming and linking them in my data base as I go. 

This doesn't include the several hundred scanned recipes that I am also typing into my cookbook software, where I have well over 100,000 recipes already typed in.  I've been collecting recipes for well over 30  years.  The newest have images attached as I've found them.  Makes for a nice searchable file.

I inherited a new desk (few months ago) from my daughter.  It was originally my late father in law's desk so its been around a while. But its HUGE.  Lots of room, several drawers and did I say tons of desk top space.  So I have room for my dual monitors and more!  LOVE IT!   One of the best things is the large "file" drawer on the right bottom.  I've turned that into my space for the copies or papers & folders I am currently working on.  As I am going thru folders in my file cabinet and I find things I want to focus on or look at again,  I place them there and I can stay focused without having tons of stuff laying all over my desk.  Important!

It's tax time so of course its been busy with tax clients coming & going alot!  We've also got a new grandson (#5), Joshua Mark Luotonen who was born January 29th.   What a cutie! 

Time to get busy - the daily chores are done, time to get focused and get some stuff done. 

What challenges are you working on in your genealogy??

Happy Researching!
Karen

The Windsor Hotel & The Ansley Mirror

Many moons ago we stumbled into a gem.  No, this isn't a commercial for a hotel but it is very good reason to visit one.  First of all,  I have no ties to this hotel, I'm getting no kick backs or anything BUT,  it is a great place to stay. We stayed there in 1986 or 1987 and it was great!  My interest in this hotel lies in the Ansley Mirror which is in the lobby of this historic hotel, The Windsor.  There are alot of really great images, several of which have the Ansley mirror in them on the link provided.  Below you see the story of the mirror and how it came to stand in the lobby of the Windsor Hotel.  Sorry for the reflections in the photo's. 

Two shots of the mirror, one taken from across the room, the other from a bit closer.  It is a very large mirror with a small marble seat the goes across the front of the mirror.  It is beautiful up close, the images below do not do it justice.  The hotel has quite a business of weddings, many brides come there to be photographed in front of the mirror, as they can see the back of the dress in the large mirror as well.

Wish that while light hanging in the images was not so prominent but it is what it is.  If you want to stop in and see the mirror for yourself (Ansley cousins) feel free, the hotel staff is used to people stopping in to see the mirror.   If you are an Ansley descendant this ranks right up there with the Rock house for ancestral places to visit. 

Happy Researching!
Karen

Throw Back Thursday... 1947-1948

My dad, Clarence Ansley (1939-1967), grade school photo.  

Probably 2nd grade, abt 7 years old.

Wedding Wednesday - Ansley & Lavender (1824)

Judge James Lavendar and Malinda Ansley were married 22 July 1824.  Some sources show it to be Henry County, Georgia, others show it to be Warren County, Georgia. 

Judge Lavendar was born 29 OCT 1802 in Spalding County, Georgia and died 20 JAN 1863. 

Malinda Ansley was the daughter of Thomas Ansley (1767-1837) and his wife, Henrietta Ragland (1777-1837).  She was born 8 JUN 1805 in Warren County, Georgia and died 23 August 1865 in Spalding County, Georgia.

The burial location for Judge James & Malinda Ansley Lavendar is currently unknown to me. 

Judge Lavendar did leave behind a will** in which he does name his wife & children.

In his will he names children - Eliza T., William R., Mary B, Martha J., Carrie M., Griffin F., Melinda H., Adeline E., and Melvina M.

• Elizabeth (1825-1906) marries John Thurman, 12 SEP 1860 Spalding County, Georgia
•  William Robert (1826-1910) marries 13 DEC 1849 Fayette County, Georgia to Elizabeth Edmondson.
• Mary Belle (1828 - ?) marries 13 JAN 1848 Spalding County, Georgia to John A. Dunn (1828-1895)
• Martha Jane (1832-1898)
• Griffin F. (1839-1864) 
• Carrie M. (1840 -?)
• Malinda H. (1840 -1916)
• Adeline "Addie" (1844-1880) marries 1863 to Henry B. Cox
• Melvina M. (1848-?)
• George Thomas (1830-1831) Not named in will, died as an infant. 

**Mary Griffin, Compiler, Abstracts of Will Book A (1852-1880) Spalding County, Georgia, (Unk. Griffin Historical & Preservation Society, 1983), Pg. 9 

Like Father Like Son

Academy Cemetery, Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia

The Jackson Herald,  October 26, 1894 

 Andrew Ansley  

    Little Andrew Ansley, step-son of Mr. R. L. Dean, who lives about three miles above town, died of dropsy on last Sunday and was buried at the Academy burial grounds Monday.

The first time I knew that my ancestor William Ansley had a brother, Andrew, was the 1880 census for Jackson County, Georgia.  I had been searching for William for some time but until now had not been successful in locating him.  In fact I wasn't even sure it was him for quite some time. 

The 1880 Federal census shows the family as - Ansley, Mary, a white female, age 22, keeps house, can't read or write.  She was born in Georgia as were both her parents.  Ansley, William, white male age 3, son, single, born in Georgia and Ansley, Andrew, white male age 1, son, single, born in Georgia.  

Mary E. aka Marietta Waddel had married Joseph Ansley 17 NOV 1875 in Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia.  

However, the newspaper clipping is the ONLY time, besides the marriage record that Joseph & Marietta are EVER together.  He appears on NOTHING, no census, no land records no NOTHING.

When Joseph disappears, sometime between 1879 & 1882, I figured I still had Mary, William & Andrew.  With no census for 1890, I couldn't track the little family during that window of time.  The 1900 census comes and Marietta/Mary has remarried and has been busy having babies with the new husband. William is living next door to his mom & her new family.  Only Andrew is NO WHERE TO BE FOUND!   First thing comes to mind is that possibly he is with Joseph, his father.  For years I search to no avail. 

Then one day Mr. Brown Eyes types Andrew Ansley into a search engine and up  pops the clipping on Andrew.  Telling of his death from dropsy, his burial.  Different circumstances, but still alot like his dad.  We know so much but we know so little.  Andrew's little snippet from the paper tells us he died of dropsy, that he was the step son, no mention of Joseph at all.  He rests in an unmarked grave in the cemetery pictured above.  Perhaps that too is like his father, perhaps Joseph rests somewhere in an unmarked grave?  We may never know. 

Ansley - Norris Wedding (1921)

 Norris - Ansley
  Warrenton, Ga., Dec. 27 -- The marriage of Miss Louise Ansley and Mr. G.C. Norris was quietly solemnized at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, Dec. 24, 1921, at the Baptist pastorium of Thomson, Ga.  There were no attendants nor were there any formal invitations sent out and the only guests present were the immediately[sic] family connections.
  The bride is the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Ansley, living near Camak, she was a member of the senior class of Camak High School, and will be missed by her numerous class mates.  The bride is noted for her loveable and kind disposition.
  The bride wore a brown coat suit and had and carried an arm full of ___ roses.  Immediately after the wedding the bride and groom left for Augusta where they spend Sunday night with relatives, then Sunday morning the happy couple left for Savannah to spend a few days during the Christmas holidays.  After the bridal tour the couple left for Jacksonville, Fla., where they will make their future and happy home.
  After the arrival in Jacksonville on Sunday night, a sumptious wedding supper was ready and waiting for the bride and groom.
  Very best wishes for the new years, and many many happy wishes are extended to this happy couple for their future married life at the home in Jacksonville.

Military Monday - Physicians Affidafits (Civil War)

I love the physicians affidavits I've been finding on Fold3.  With all my civil war ancestors (so far) being Confederates, finding their papers on line has pretty much been a snap using Fold3.  Yes, it does cost a bit, but its still cheaper than other ways of getting the information.   The Physician Affidavits that I have found in the pension files have been informative and a rare look into the "after affects" of the civil war.  The reminders of what these men had to live with day after day long after the war ended. 

This affidavit is for Warren Clay, a great uncle of mine.  The affidavit was signed 6 APR 1895 and reads as follows -

   State of Georgia
   Thomas County
T.S. ____________ and W.W. Bruce, both known to me as reputable physicians of said county, who being severally sworn, say on oath that they have examined carefully Warren Clay, applicant for pension under the act of 1894, and after such personal examination, say that his precise physical condition is as follows:
  Fifty four years old, chronic bronchitis, general physical disability, which renders him partially disable to do any kind of work or labor.
  We further say on oath that the physical condition of applicant renders him unable to labor at any work or calling sufficient to earn a support for himself, and that we have no interest in said pension being allowed.
  Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 6th day of April 1895. 

[The affidavit is signed by both physicians, but true to form the hand writing is not legible.]

Talk About One Stop Shopping!

Coffin order for Martha J. Guest Clay, Wife of David H. Clay.   David H. Clay died 16 DEC 1903 in Decatur County, Georgia and Martha died 10 APR 1927 also in Decatur County, Georgia.  Above paper found in the Confederate Pension file of Martha.   She applied for the pension after the death of David.  

My comment about one stop shopping refers to the header on the casket order form....

If You Have Ansley Ancestors - Have I Got A Deal For You!

Recently word came across the Ansley list that the Ansley book is for sale.  Not just for sale but for sale at a great price.

The book is hardbound, very well done...  All you have to do is pay the shipping, a whole $8 per book.  I have the permission of the Ansley relative who is selling off what is left to post this information here. Once they are gone its a done deal. IF you have questions, email Reyn.

Send $8 to:

Reynolds Leo Ansley Jr.
1314 Magnolia St.
Gainsville, TX  76240

ransleyj AT suddenlink DOT net


He has about 250 copies he'd love to get rid of. 

Tombstone Tuesday - Benevolance Methodist Cemetery, Sumter County, Georgia

Rev. Asa Ansley was born 11 JUL 1804 in Warren County, Georgia and died 23 APR 1883 in Warren County, Georgia.  He was married 2 MAR 1826 in Warren County, Georgia to Rebecca Wade.

Together they were the parents of 8 known children, Elbert O. Ansley (1827-1865), Julia Ann Ansley (1829-1850), James R. Ansley (1834-1912), Mary Frances Ansley (1835-1909), William A. Ansley (1837-1906), Thomas W. Ansley (1839-1882), Charles W. Ansley (1842- ?), and Susan R. Ansley (1846- ?).

Asa was the son of Abel Ansley & his wife, Lydia Harrison Morris Ansley.

He is buried in Benevolance Methodist Church Cemetery, Americus, Sumter County, Georgia

**Headstone photo by Mark Krugman

Military Monday - John T. Nix

John T. Nix was my GGG grandfather. He was born ca 1834 in Georgia and died 14 OCT 1862 in Frederick County, Maryland.   He was married 10 AUG 1856 in Randolph County, Georgia to Amanda Nix.  They were the parents of at least two children, Miles F. Nix and Mary Nix.   John Nix was no the only member of his family to do in the civil war.  He lost three brothers, Clayton, Newton and Monroe Nix, all also died in 1862 of wounds received while fighting in the civil war.

Wedding Wednesday - Ansley & Hardy

Marriage Record - James Franklin Ansley & Ursula Temperance Hardy

  James F. Ansley & Ursula T. Hardy were married 28 FEB 1845 in Dallas County, Alabama.  James, the son of Samuel Ansley (1774-1842) and his wife Celia Watts Ansley (1783-1849), was born ca1817 in Greene County, Georgia and died in 1894 in Shreveport, Louisianna.  Ursula's parents are currently unknown to the compiler.  She was born 1818 in Edgefield County, South Carolina and died in 1900 in Caddo Parish, Louisianna.  The final resting place for the couple is unknown.

 They were the parents of at least three children - William J., Samuel H., and Alice V. Ansley.  If you have more information on this family I'd love to hear from you.

Military Monday - A Pardon

   
  Head-Quarters U.S. Forces
 Thomasville, GA  May 16, 1865.
  I, the undersigned, David A. J. Hesters a Private of the 29th Regiment of Geo. Volunteers do solemnly swear that I will not bear arms against the United States of America, or give any information, or do any military duty whatsoever until regularly exchanged as a prisoner of war.
                                  David (X) A.J. Hesters
                                        his mark
     Description: Height, 6 feet; Hair, Black; Eyes, Black; Complexion, Dark

   I certify that the above parole was given by me on the date above written, on the following conditions:  The above named person is allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the military authorities of the United States as long as he observes this parole and obeys the laws which were in force previous to January 1, 1861, where he resided.
  By order of Brig. Gen. Em.M. McCook.
          /s/Thos L. Scott
           Lieutenant Commanding Post


  David A.J. Hester was my 3rd great grandfather.  He was married 18 DEC 1851 in Thomas County, Georgia to Millie Ann Clay.  They were the parents of four children, Mary Anne, Martha Jane, Hardy and Angeline. 

David died 10 APR 1867 in Thomas County, Georgia of Chronic Diarrhea, probably contracted while in the Confederate service.  His burial location is unknown to the compiler, although it is believed by many that he rests with Millie in the Pine Forest Cemetery in Grady County, Georgia.  This remains unproven. 

Wedding Wednesday - A Week of Thankful

Today's Thankful is about weddings.  More specifically about marriages.  I'm thankful for the couples who married...  and had marriages that set the example for me.  My grandparents on my dad's side married 65 years, my mom's parents, married 51 years!  With generations of marriages in a family tree there are many, and mine is no exception.  But these two, perhaps because of my relationships as a child with these two couples, make them special to me.  What an example they set! 

Top photo - Annie Elizabeth Nix & husband, David Ansley with son Clarence Ansley (my dad!).  David & Annie were married 21 APR 1933 in Grady County, Georgia.

 Lower image, Raymond Phillips and wife, Pauline Kreitzer Phillips with me.  Ray & Pauline were married 11 NOV 1933 in Union County, Indiana. 

Military Monday

Civil War Confederate pensions required a physicians affidavit when a soldier was wounded in the war and claimed that injury as cause for not being able to work to support himself and his family.

Warren Clay enlisted in 1861 in Thomas County, Georgia and was discharged 10 MAY 1865 in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.  His affidavit shows him to be "..fifty four years old, Chronic Bronchitis...". 

Warren was the son of John Clay and his wife, Martha Griffin Clay.  He was born 01 JUN 1841 in Mitchell County, Georgia.  It is not known to the blogger when or where his death occurred or where he is buried.

Jeremiah Thomas Ansley Obituary (1922)

After a continued illness for over two years, the death of Mr. Jerry T. Ansley occurred at his home in McDuffie County July 22nd.  Funeral services were held the following day at Whiteoak Church of which he had been a consistant member for a number of years.  He was the son of the late Elim & Rachel Ansley and was 64 years of age.  In his departure we have lost a kind & loving husband, father and uncle and an honest upright citizen.  He leaves his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Ansley and seven children, Mrs.C. B. Pearson, Messrs. Enos, Seaborn, Watson and Earl Ansley and Mrs. Theodore Ruddock of this county and Mr. E.F. Ansley of Stateboro. **Pulaski County, Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Vol.?, Pg. 98 [On my to do list to get the volume on this obituary...] Jeremiah aka Jerry Ansley was married to Mary Rebecca Ivey on 18 DEC 1883 in Warren County, Georgia.

Biographical - Elum Fletcher Ansley

  Ansley, Elum Fletcher.  Early settler of McDuffie County, born 11/5/1819 in Warren County, Georgia, died August 1883, near Thomson, Georgia.  Attended school at Union Church near his home.  A farmer, Methodist & Democrat.  Son of James Ansley (Jimmie - born abt 1770 in Virginia & came to Warren County, Georgia early in the 19th century.) and Nancy (Nobles) Ansley (died ca 1873).  Mr. Ansley married first Pesy Granade Elam (who died ca 1854); there were four children, James Capers & William, twins born Oct 1851; Virgil, born 1853; Lydia Narcissus, born 23 AUG 1854.   Married 2nd, Rachel Reese, daughter of Uriah Reese (called Hughie) and his wife, Patsy (McGee) both of Warren County, Georgia.  Children of this marriage were Sarah Druellen, born Sept. 1856; Jeremiah Thomas, born April 1858; Mattie luticia, born Aug 1860; Eliza Jane Texas, born 1863.  He had several brothers, Joe, Thomas, William & Abel. **History Of McDuffie County, Georgia, Pgs. 305-306

Tricks & Tips Thursday - Who Said Everything Costs Money?

Usually when I hear people rattle off how ALL genealogy should be free I get a bit scruffy and irate.  After all records do need temp controls and such to stay viable.  Today, another view point for my Tricks & Tips blog...

There is alot of free records available, and not all of them are on free sites.  By using your search engine (google, yahoo or Mocavo) alot of times you'll find things that maybe aren't on free sites.  Many states are putting up their own records on library & state archive sites that maybe you should search out and make use of.

A couple of good examples of what I am talking about would be the Georgia Virtual Vault and the Missouri Archives Vital Records .  The Missouri link has an additional link on that site that leads to death certificates thru the late 1950's.   All for free.  Vital records, military records and more, all free simply by using your brain and your search engine.

Remember the old ad for the telephone books that used to mention something about letting your fingers do the walking?  Well instead of walking thru the phone book maybe its time you let your fingers take a stroll across your keyboard and see just how much free stuff for genealogy is really available out there...