2019 Year-End Review

Family Sleuther had one goal in 2019. Just one.

My aim was to finish writing and publish my book about my fifth great-grandfather Thomas Kirk.

Yet, here we are, the clock ticking down to the year's end and I've not accomplished that one genealogy endeavor.

Sure, a lot of progress was made on the manuscript. However, the chief complicating factor (aside from limited time) was that I encountered a lot of new research avenues that held the potential to reshape Thomas' origins story. 

It would be ridiculous to publish without thoroughly investigating each new lead. So, the year is drawing to a close and the book remains undone. 

But the prospects for 2020 are quite promising.

Blogging Family History

This year-end recap is my 40th post in 2019. That's seven fewer posts than I wrote last year or the two years prior. Not only did I not achieve my year's goal, but my blogging output dipped. Nonetheless, I'm still celebrating!

In my defense, the 15% decrease in published posts wasn't due to a waning interest in writing family history. My excuse was travel.

On the road again

I traveled a lot. In fact, in 2019 I traveled - for work or pleasure - every month beginning in January. Some of these travels touched on family history.

• In January, I traveled to San Francisco for work and was able to trace the footsteps (and recreate a photo) of my great-grandfather Samuel Kirk who served in the Motor Transport Corps while based at the Presidio during WWI.

• In February, I traveled to Salt Lake City for RootsTech, and met many of my genealogy buddies including the inspiration for the Family Sleuther blog, Amy Johnson Crow.

• In April, I traveled back to Salt Lake City for work, and during a brief escape to the Family History Library, I met long-time genea-friend True Lewis! A small genealogy world.

• In May, work took me to London where I was able to squeeze in some research time at the Society of Genealogists and locate my ancestors in the 1841 census, learning that they had been copper miners before emigrating to America and continuing that profession in the Rocky Mountains.

• In late May and early June, I traveled to Kansas for an annual family reunion where 100 descendants of my second great-grandmother Minnie (Hawks) Lumpkins Barber gathered to commemorate her life and enjoy each other's company.

• In August, I didn't have to go far when I traveled to Washington, DC for the Federation of Genealogical Societies' annual conference. A highlight was meeting famed genealogist extraordinaire Elizabeth Shown Mills.

• In September, I traveled to Potenza, Italy, the hometown of generations of my Italian ancestors before they emigrated to America. I had the good fortune to spend an evening in the small mountaintop old town and wander the streets where my ancestors once strolled.

These are just some of the travel highlights that included family history. Clearly, I covered a lot of ground (and need to get a new wardrobe... apparently I like that red checkered shirt, a lot!).

Did you read it?

This year's top three most-read posts were:

1. The Trials and Tribulations of Triangulation*
2. RootsTech 2019: Daily Recap
3. Family Rumors Beget A Genetic Conundrum

*My most-read post of the year got me into hot water with some genetic genealogists who rightly flagged the challenges inherent with triangulation. I corrected the record in The Limits of Triangulation. 

Those were the most widely read posts, but there were others that told important stories, including:

• The Linchpin Who Links an 18th Century Family Together
• Following Thomas Kirk's FAN Club Across 18th Century Virginia
• Timeline of a Colonial-Era Death

These three posts detail just a few of the research leads I'm pursuing in my Kirk family history, which have necessitated the delay in writing and publishing my book.

A year of accomplishment

There were many research discoveries this year, and although I didn't finish my intended goal, I did make progress which will ensure that the final product is a more thorough and accurate volume.

Here's to a happy and productive 2020 for all of us.

Whatever Happened to James Henry Winkler?

James "Jim" Henry Winkler abandoned his wife and young daughter in the late 19th century.

Over the years, the hunt for my third great-grandfather's final whereabouts has been thwarted by false starts and trails that have run cold leaving him shrouded in mystery.

I suspect he absconded from his family and intentionally sought anonymity. And he did a darn good job of it!

Here's what I know.

Tracing James' record trail: 1862 - 1880

Following James' record trail is a frustrating muddle - fragile clues suggest I'm on the right path, but conflicting facts surface to thumb their nose at me and confound any resolution.

A family bible lists exact birth dates for the nine children born to Samuel and Nancy Mariah (Barron) Winkler. James Henry Winkler was born September 29, 1862.

Winkler family bible - courtesy of  Rosemary Scott

In 1870, the Winkler family was enumerated in the federal census living in Prairie Township in Washington County, Arkansas. James was listed as "J.H." aged eight and born in Arkansas. His father was born in Indiana and his mother was born in Tennessee.

1870 US Federal Census, Washington Co, AR - detail of the Winkler family

Ten years later, in 1880, the Winkler family was still living in Prairie Township, but 18 year-old James was not enumerated in the household. Where did he go?

A broad search for James Winkler - aged 18 - turned up only one match.

An 18 year-old James Winkler was enumerated in the household of D.B. Tipps in Cooke County, Texas - about 300 miles southwest of the Winklers in Washington County, Arkansas.

This Texas-based James was a farm laborer. His birthplace and that of his parents was given as Tennessee (a match for his mother, per the 1870 census, but a discrepancy for himself and his father).

Although the name and age were a match, the birthplace and his current location were complicating facts.

1880 US Federal Census, Cooke Co, TX - detail of James Winkler

Marriage and separation

Three years later, on September 26, 1883, James Henry Winkler and Pauline Brickey applied for a marriage license in Newton County, Missouri. They were married the following day.

The marriage record indicated that both James and Pauline were from Dayton Township in Newton County - about 90 miles northwest of the Winklers in Arkansas.

James H Winkler and Pauline Brickey 1883 marriage record - Newton Co, MO

Nearly nine months later, on June 15, 1884, James and Pauline had a daughter, Annie Charles Winkler. Annie - my second great-grandmother - was born in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas.

According to Annie's delayed birth certificate that was created in 1945, both parents were married at the time of the birth and were residents of Fayetteville.

Delayed birth certificate for Annie Charles Winkler

For unknown reasons, the marriage didn't last. On December 30, 1891, "Mrs. Pauline Winkler" married James Russell Lee in Fayetteville.

Had James H. Winkler died or did he and Pauline divorce?

The Archives for Washington County, Arkansas (where Annie was born and both parents were residents in 1884) had no record of a divorce. Archivist, Tony Wappel, wrote:

"I just checked our Divorce Records for that time period and find no Winklers at all. As with today, the person who filed for the divorce had to file in the county where they lived. I looked at Pauline’s marriage record and it does say Mrs Winkler. My first thought is that she was a widow and not a divorced woman. Of course, you would know better. I looked at our Personal Property Tax Records to see if they appeared in Fayetteville. No Winklers in Fayetteville in 1888. For 1890-1891, I see a W F and Sam Winkler but no Henry or no Mrs Pauline Winkler. I suppose the death or divorce happened before 1891 somewhere other than Washington County."

Furthermore, a review of the Newton County, Missouri digitized court records (where they married), turned up no evidence of a divorce between James and Pauline Winkler. If they had divorced, where would it have occurred?

Photographic evidence

In 2014, I scanned old family photographs that had been in the possession of Annie's daughter. A cabinet card depicted two women and was labeled with an intriguing piece of evidence:

"Grandma Annie Wagnon & half-sister Belle Winkler"

Annie, whose married name was Wagnon, apparently had a half-sibling and, judging by the sister's surname, the shared parent was their father James Winkler.

Who was the mother of Belle? Did Belle ever marry? I haven't located her in the records, but finding her no doubt will help solve this mystery.

I was puzzled by the appearance of a half-sibling, but I began to speculate that another relationship may have prompted the split between James and Pauline. Perhaps he even fled his marriage to be with Belle's mother.

Return to Texas

I lose James Winkler in Arkansas. But several records make me wonder if he returned to the Lone Star state.

On December 24, 1897, a James H. Winkler was appointed postmaster for Pine Valley, Walker County, Texas. The order was rescinded nearly five months later on May 14, 1898. Why did he have such a short tenure?

Appointments of US Postmasters, Walker County, Texas

On November 19, 1899, a J.H. Winkler married Cora (Shelton) Doors in Liberty County, Texas.

In the 1900 US Federal Census, the married couple were enumerated in the Emporia Log Camp in Angelina County, Texas. J.H. Winkler's occupation was given as a logger at a saw mill.

What I love most about the 1900 census is that it provided the birth month and year. J.H. Winkler was born in September 1862 - an exact match to the family bible!

The census also appeared to indicate that the marriage to Cora was his second with a small '2' written beside the 'M' denoting he was married.

His place of birth was given as Missouri, conflicting with the 1870 answer of Arkansas, but his parents matched. The father was born in Indiana and the mother was born in Tennessee.

1900 US Federal Census, Angelina Co, TX - detail of J.H. Winkler

The matching data strongly suggests that J.H. Winkler living in Angelina County, Texas was my third great-grandfather.

Unfortunately, James and Cora's marriage didn't last. On April 30, 1906, "Mrs. Cora Winkler" was united in marriage with W.T. Reed in Jefferson County, Texas.

I ordered a copy of their marriage license to see whether it indicated if Cora was divorced or widowed, but there were no clues.

Mrs. Cora Winkler marriage to W.T. Reed, Jefferson Co, TX 1906

It remains unclear whether Cora remarried as a divorcee or a widow. James slipped away once again and hasn't surfaced in any later records (yet!).

Taking stock

James' mystery remains unsolved, but the wall is crumbling.

Across three states and several decades, I've discovered two marriages and two daughters. The records may be scarce and holding tightly to James' final secrets, but my grasp is tightening and I'm certain I'm close to uncovering his final whereabouts.

Notarial Records of Québec

Although I finally found answers to the questions of when and where my Québécois fourth great-grandfather George Jarvis passed away, I was left with a peculiar name discrepancy that I couldn't explain.

George Felix Gervais (Anglicized to Jarvis) was named in his Vermont obituary as George Philip Jarvis.

The obituary included evidence (namely his surviving children) that helped me confirm that George Philip was indeed my ancestor George Felix, but I was stumped by the name swap.

After reading about my discovery, Diane Tourville, a Québec-based blogger at Genealogy on my Mind, tweeted a possible answer:

"I confirm that men called Félix often anglicized their first name to Philip after migrating to the US."

The phonetic similarity between the two names seemed like an appropriate explanation. I was grateful for Diane's input. But she wasn't done just yet.

With more than 25 years of research experience and an interest in French-Canadians who migrated to the United States, Diane messaged that she found notarial records for George Jarvis.

What are notarial records? 

While I know what a notary public is, I wasn't familiar with the notarial records of Québec. I haven't had much opportunity to properly research my French-Canadian ancestry (too many ancestors, too little time!).

I was intrigued by what the collection may hold for my ancestor and reveal about his life, but I had to brush up on the purpose and significance of the documents for family history.

Billed by Ancestry as "some of the most valuable documents you'll come across in genealogy," Québec's notarial records span nearly 300 years (1637-1935) and have been digitized and made available online at Ancestry.

The Library and Archives of Canada explains that, "A notarial record is a private agreement written by a notary in the form of a contract."

FamilySearch adds that the collection includes, "deeds, wills, marriage contracts, and other records that are important in family history research."

The notary would make two copies of each contract. The original was given to the party involved, and the notary kept the duplicate, which are called minutes. These duplicates are what make up today's archived collections.

Notarial record outlines family relationships

Diane kindly pointed me to the collection and a couple documents that featured George. These records were deeds of sale, which suggested George was a man of sufficient means to purchase property.

I soon landed on a two-page document dating to the autumn of 1907 that underscored the value of the notarial records for family history research.

Henri Girard, the notary, had atrocious penmanship that made deciphering the document a herculean feat. However, I've transcribed enough to determine that George's children were relinquishing inheritance rights following the May 1899 death of their mother - George's wife - Adeline Parmelia (Judd) Jarvis.

George Jarvis Québec notarial record (page 1), recorded October 9, 1907

Page one's transcription (with the fantastic help of Lee Anne, a volunteer with the Facebook group Deciphering Genealogy Script):

9 Oct 1907
No. 1763

Cession
par
Ed. Jarvis & al
à
George. Jarvis

On this twenty ninth day of September nineteen hundred and seven

Before Henri Girard the undersigned notary public for the Provence of Quebec, residing and practicing at Danville, District of St. Francis.

Comes and appeared:

Mr. George Jarvis of Kingsey Falls farmer,

1st Mr. Alfred U. Lebel of Danville, student acting as the attorney of Edward Jarvis and Catherine Jarvis of Bridgewater Vermont, and Ruth Elize Jarvis wife of Alexander Peoples, and Adda E. Jarvis wife of Edward Moore of Taftsville, Vermont in virtue of a power of attorney dated the twenty first of October last part 1907 and deposited with the undersigned notary on the twenty sixth day of September 1907 registered at Drummondville B52 No: 40485

2nd William Jarvis of Richmond, carpenter

3rd Clara Jarvis of Richmond, wife of Frank Boisvert and by her husband duly authorized

Who do hereby convey, transfer and make over unto Mr. George Jarvis of Kingsey Falls their father, all their rights claims and petitions in the estate and succession of their mother Dame Adeline Parmelia Judd who departed this life intestate on the 8th May 1899.

This first page maps out several family relationships - naming surviving children of George Jarvis and their spouses and current cities of residence - and provides a death date for his wife Adeline. That's enough for any genealogist to be sold on the value of notarial records!

The children relinquished to their father their inherited rights to their mother's estate eight years after Adeline's passing.

The second page was also a doozy to transcribe.

George Jarvis Québec notarial record (page 2), recorded October 9, 1907

Page two transcription:

And more particularly their rights and share of lots no: five A and six 3 (5a, 5d and 6 3) of this truthful [illegible] of Kingsey with the buildings [illegible] invalid.

To have and to hold use and enjoy or dispose of the same unto the assigner of his own forever from death hereof.

This transfer and conveyance is thus made under the condition that the said father, the assignee shall pay all shares of the debts of the estate of the late mother if there be any.

Whereof act at Danville under No: seventeen hundred and after [illegible] hereof the parties have signed [illegible] the said assignment witnesses who hath signed with the other parties and the notary [illegible] forty one words [illegible]…

Another assigned not good

Clara J Boisvert
William C Jarvis
Alfred LeBel
Ed McGorreas (?)
P C Hastings
Henri Girard

This second page appeared to get down to brass tacks with the children relinquishing their rights to lots - presumably land - that George owned in Kingsey Falls with the stipulation that their father pay any outstanding debts on Adeline's estate.

The family's black sheep

Curiously, this notarial record named five of George and Adeline's seven surviving children. Two daughters, however, were missing.

Kate Viola Jarvis, was not named. In 1907, she would have been 18 years old. Perhaps she was still considered a minor or lived at home with her father and was excluded from this agreement.

Also not named was Phoebe (aka Phebe) Elizabeth "Lulu" Jarvis who was married to Francis (aka Frank) Stephen Lamb and lived in Colorado by 1907. Phoebe was my third great-grandmother, so I'm particularly curious about her absence.

This wasn't the first time she was kept hidden away. She was also omitted by name from George's 1933 obituary.

Was she the black sheep of the family?

Her husband changed the family surname from Lamb to Stephens. Family lore whispered that this happened after he shot a man in Vermont, but I've never been able to turn up evidence to support that story.

I did, however, find sensational articles published in Denver's newspapers in 1901 detailing the jealous rage that Frank flew into when he suspected Phoebe of adultery and shot and nearly killed an innocent bystander. See Till Jealousy and Bullets Do Us Part.

Perhaps the Jarvis family was trying to distance themselves from the drama.

What, if anything, do Québec's notarial records have to say about Phoebe's relationship with her family? With the value of this record collection now abundantly clear, that search continues in earnest.

Adding Generations of Judds to the Family Tree

Last week I solved a mystery that's had me stumped for the past decade.

When and where did my fourth great-grandfather George Felix Gervais (Anglicized to Jarvis) die? For that answer, see Solving The Mysterious Disappearance of My Québécois Grandfather.

In that post, I blogged only a passing mention of George's wife Adeline Parmelia Judd.

Finding a family connection

Adeline - born on February 1, 1845 in Warwick, Quebec - was the daughter of Levi and Ruth (Young) Judd. Those names caught the eye of Janice Webster Brown, author of Cow Hampshire - New Hampshire's history blog, who immediately recognized a distant family link.

Joking that she was a cousin to everyone, Janice pinpointed our common ancestor as Thomas Judd who was born in England in 1608, emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1634, and died in Northampton, Massachusetts on November 12, 1688. Today, he's credited as a founder of Hartford, Connecticut.

I wasn't familiar with Thomas Judd. He wasn't in my family tree.

In fact, my Judd line stopped with Levi Judd's father, Amon Judd (1771-1847) who was my sixth great-grandfather.

The Judd Tree Blooms

Although my research time and energy had been dedicated elsewhere, my curiosity was sufficiently piqued.

I began sifting through New England's very well-documented genealogy records and quickly climbed five generations beyond Amon to Thomas Judd, my 11th great-grandfather.

All told, I added 13 new direct ancestors to my pedigree (including spouses and their forebears). My Judd line took the following path:

• Adeline Parmelia (Judd) Jarvis: 4th great-grandmother
• Levi Judd: 5th great-grandfather
• Amon Judd: 6th great-grandfather
• Levi Judd: 7th great-grandfather
• Nathan Judd: 8th great-grandfather
• Benjamin Judd Jr.: 9th great-grandfather
• Benjamin Judd: 10th great-grandfather
• Thomas Judd: 11th great-grandfather

A Tangential Connection

I don't often recount my own personal history on this blog, but the Judd connection simply cannot be overlooked.

Growing up, my parents listened to country music. They made it the soundtrack of our lives.

Exposure to the genre sparked a life-long passion for Wynonna Judd whose voice was unlike anything else on the radio. Rising above the monotonous twangy drivel, I appreciated her distinction. There's grit and depth infused into her expansive range that you can really latch onto.

Over the years I've seen her in concert many times, like catching up with an old friend (perhaps my sustained affinity is just an indulged fondness for childhood).

The first time I saw her perform live was April 24, 1993 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. The date is etched in my mind because I had joined her fan club and won a pass to meet her backstage.

My aunt took me to the concert. I was devastated disappointed when venue security confiscated my camera at the entrance. I would have to remember the experience with my mind's eye.

My aunt didn't have a pass, so she sent me backstage alone.

A long line of fans were inching their way to Wynonna for a picture. The woman in line behind me (much more skilled at sneaking her camera into the venue) generously offered to take and mail me a photo (remember, this was before the internet). I scrawled my address on a cocktail napkin.

Finally, it was my moment. Wynonna reached over and hugged me close to her.

"We gonna make some noise tonight?" she growled.

I was star-struck. "Yes!" was all I could muster. We smiled. A photo was snapped. And I was whisked away.

A month later I received an envelope in the mail. Inside there was no note. Just a photograph.

Family Sleuther and Wynonna
April 24, 1993, McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO

While I typically turn my nose up at family historians focused on surfacing links to celebrities, my newly expanded Judd line had me curious whether we shared a distant connection.

I suppose a perk of achieving any kind of fame is that you encounter folks eager to map out your ancestry. Unsurprisingly, the pedigree for Wynonna, her sister actress Ashley, and their mother Naomi Judd is pretty well documented.

As it turns out, Wynonna's eighth great-grandfather, Benjamin Judd Jr., is my ninth great-grandfather.

It appears that we are ninth cousins once removed. Or, when you consider that just centuries ago pedigree collapse meant the world was much more closely related, Wynonna and I are really just strangers and no closer than we were before I wrote this blog.

Nonetheless, this is my new fun fact that I'm keeping in my back pocket along with a particular photo.