Category Archives: Smith-Webber

Notes to Self

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Could a blog post function as a lazy person’s research log/research notes?

There wouldn’t be any papers or notebooks to lose.
If I tag well, I could find notes about individuals or places or sources easily.
Somebody reading my notes might have some information I need.

Think I’ll give it a try. I’ve been working on a few things.

* Uncle Don sent me a brief biography Aunt Wilma wrote about Joseph and Mary Harris Coates. One bit of new information I need to research – she said that Mary’s uncle, Matthew Harris, traveled with them from England to the U.S., but he left and went to Australia. Thanks, Uncle Don!  🙂

* Cousin Wilda sent a link to an article about the Hatfield family. We have Hatfields way back on my Webber side. The TV show about the Hatfield and McCoy feud prompted the article here.  Thanks, Wilda!

* Heard from a new cousin – grandson of Joseph Robert Coates. Prompted me to get in touch with the other grandchildren of Eveline’s siblings that I have had contact with in the past. Want to collect death records for all Eveline’s siblings.

* The anniversary of Joseph Coates’ birth is coming soon and I want to do some blog posts about him. Need to email family for any stories they might have.

* Found images online of St. Stephen’s Willington Church in Durham, UK – where Joseph’s parents John Coates and Ellenor Richardson were married.

* Received letter from USCIS stating that my records index search request for Joseph Coates came up with 0 results.  🙁 I was hoping to get info that would lead to date of immigration, ship, etc. Dead end.

* Checked ancestry.com for more records for John Coates. Found 1911 census I had not seen before. Actual image! and it looks like he even signed it – so I have an image of his signature, address, etc. The next image shows that he is living with daughter Nellie (Mary Ellen), her husband and their children. There are separate entries. John has a page to himself and lives in one room. The family is the next image 5 people in 3 rooms (4 crossed out).

* The census find led me to check google maps on a whim and see if I coud get something from their address.  Sure enough, from the street view it looks like the house is still standing. Couldn’t read the house numbers and not sure exactly which was theirs but picked one that looks most like a photo I have. I had assumed that this house was where John Coates lived in Durham, UK, but it isn’t identified. Now I’m pretty sure.

* Looked up a bit more about jobs in mining.  Joiner. Cartwright.  = Carpenter. Cart Maker

* Tried to find John Coates in 1861 England Census. Found a boarder the right age in Gilesgate, St. Giles, Durham, born in Willington, working as a Journeyman Cartwright (at least I think that’s what it says.) Another John Coates the right age living as a boarder in Hartepool, Durham. The one in Gilesgate seems more likely?

* Ellenor Richardson. Where and when was she born?  Who are her parents? From marriage record, her birth would be 1845. Census records confirm that. But location varies with each census. 1881: Fitches, Durham. 1871: Willington, Durham. I also have an IGI record from FamilySearch that has an Ellen Richardson b. 21 Feb. 1845 in Brampton, Cumberland, England, parents William and Jane. Looked up Cumberland and it is adjacent to Durham, so possible. ???

* Google search for Fitches doesn’t come up with much. Finally concluded that it might be Fitches Grange – located near Witton Castle in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Not that far from Willington, I guess. I’m a little confused by the place names in England. Maybe a census that says Fitches and one that says Willington could mean the same general location?

* Christina says I should probably rescan all the old photos I’m wanting to preserve/archive as tif files.

May 21 – American Red Cross Day

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Today is American Red Cross Day, so thought I’d look for some family connections to the Red Cross. This from the Fall 1996 issue of the Strange Webber Connection family newsletter:

From the Strange Webber Connection

 

Susan Nancy Hendrickson Strange

Susan Nancy Hendrickson Strange is my 2nd great grandmother. I do not know who Mrs. C. A. Goodykoontz is, but she addresses Susan as “grandma.”  Hmm…. something else to look into.

I am sure my mother volunteered with the Red Cross and when I can find something in my rather disorganzed family papers to prove it, I may post it later. In the meantime, please leave a comment concerning you or your family and the Red Cross.

 

Transcription of letter:

Lincoln County Chaper American Red Cross
Lincoln, Kansas

Dec. 29 1918

Mrs. Strange:

Dear Grandma:  I am writing to Thank you in behalf of the American Red Cross for your donation. All you have done is greatly appreciated. It is so nice of all the people to do the wonderful work they are doing. Wishing you a

Happy New Year,  as ever

Mrs. C. A. Goodykoontz

 

Memories of Grandma Abbie

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Abbie and Kathy

My Grandma Abbie died February 18, 1999.  At the time, a couple of my Strange-Webber cousins were publishing a family newsletter. The edition after Abbie’s death was to highlight memories of her. I wrote the following for the newsletter, but in my typical procrastinator style, I didn’t get it in on time. So I’ll use it here as a way to introduce Abbie Elizabeth Webber Smith Brender. (Sorry if the beginning sounds a little familiar. I wrote the 1st blog entry and this memory years apart!)

Memories of Grandma Abbie

As a child, I didn’t dream of growing up to be a teacher, a nurse, or a movie star.  I wanted to be a Grandmother. You see, I had two wonderful grandmothers with soft arms for hugging, work for us to do together, time for playing, and infinite love.

I spent many weekends at the Hedrick Y.  Dad, of course, was busy working at the Cycle Ranch during the day.  Grandma and Grandpa were busy working, too, but it was easy to spend most of my time hanging out where the food was!  And that was Grandma’s and Grandpa’s gas station/grocery store/cafe.  In this wonderful place, I could help pump gas, serve customers, wash dishes, listen to the “town talk”, and eat the daily special.  On Saturday mornings, I had a reserved seat for

Saturday morning cartoons at the Hedrick Y

viewing Mighty Mouse and other favorite TV shows.  My seat was on a shelf by the loaves of bread – up close, out of the way, and inconspicuous.  During the busy breakfast and lunch times, Grandma was busy cooking and serving hot coffee and a good meal. She did this while keeping up lively conversations with her friends (customers), always creating a friendly place for neighbors and travelers to eat a meal or take a break.