1940 Census: The Jackpot Find

When I was figuring out EDs to check for family members, I figured I'd have some family in the same area. Yesterday, though, I hit the jackpot. The funny thing is that after I shared my find with family members on our Facebook group, they helped me realize that my jackpot find was even bigger than I initially thought.

1940 US Census, Nashville, Berrien County, GA; ED 10-8, page 9B

Starting at line 51 is my great grandfather Clifford Eugene Sweat. Also in the household is my great grandmother Alice Isabel (Hayes) Sweat, my 2nd great grandmother Addie Mae (Deen) Sweat and cousins Louise Lee, GW Lee, Bessie Lee and Nadine Lee. The mother of the Lee children is Nellie Mae (Sweat) Lee, a sister of my great grandfather. A hired hand, Edgar Griffin, also lives in the household. It's possible this is also a relative because my great grandmother's aunt and my great grandfather's brother both married Griffins.

In the household that directly follows starting on line 59, is a brother of my great grandfather, Osborn Touchton Sweat. As in the household is his wife Evelyn (Griffin) Sweat and their daughter Dorothy.

The next household, which begins on line 62, is also family. J Isom Davis married my great grandfather's sister Gladys (Sweat) Davis. Their son J Isom Davis Jr is also in the household.

Two households down on line 69 is the Steve Spells family. Steve also married a sister of my great grandfather, Stella Mae (Sweat) Spells. Their children Alma, Doris, JW, Gene and Dwayne share the household.

On line 76 begins another household that may have family connections. I'll have to do a little digging to be sure but I suspect that Rena Mae Wilson is in fact Rena Mae Sweat, the oldest daughter of the couple in the previous household.

Last, but not least, on line 78 we find Tom Hayes. This is my 2nd great grandfather, father of Alice Isabel (Hayes) Sweat, who appeared with her husband in the first household I pointed out.

US-Records Study Group: Assignment 2 (Part 2)

Pedigree Analyis

For my pedigree analysis, I chose my maternal 2nd great grandmother Addie Mae (Deen) Sweat. One of my cousins on Facebook started a family group for us to share stories, pictures and research on the Sweat-Deen family. Addie has long been a mystery for those of us researching the family so we've been discussing her a lot lately and she's been on my mind. Specifically I'm looking for the name of her parents and her siblings.

What I know: Addie married James Walter Sweat 1 Nov 1896 in Pierce County, GA.
What this suggests: Addie may have had a connection to Pierce County.

What I know: Addie's death certificate says she was born 5 Oct 1873 in Blackshear, GA to parents Billy Deen and *** Jerdan.
What this suggests: Blackshear is in Pierce County. If the date of birth is accurate, I should be able to find Addie and her family in the 1880 census. The fact that her mother's maiden name is known, but not her given name says that the informant, Addie's son Clifford Eugene Sweat, probably never met his grandmother.


What I know: The SSDI gives Addie's birthdate as 5 Sept 1881.
What this suggests: Either the SSDI or Addie's death certificate has the wrong date of birth. If the 1881 date of birth is correct, it would explain my inability to find Addie in the 1880 census.

What I know: Census records give her age as 17 in 1900, 39 in 1920 and 51 in 1930. All list GA as birthplace of her and her parents. I haven't been able to locate the family in the 1910 census to compare.
What this suggests: Based on census records, Addie was born ca 1879-1882, meaning the 1881 birthdate is probably the right one.

What I know: Family members say that Addie had a sister named Annie.
What this suggests: I should look for census records for Annie Deen as a possible avenue to find Addie's parents.

What I know: Family members say that some of Addie's siblings married siblings of her husband James Walter Sweat. A search of marriage records finds that William Lawton Sweat married Zillo (Doley) Deen, Lonnie Sweat married Annie Deen and Hulda Sweat married John Wesley Deen.
What this suggests: Doley, Annie and John Wesley Deen were probably siblings of Addie. I need to try to locate them in census records prior to their marriages to see if their parents are listed. It might also be worthwhile to check their death certificates.

What I know: An older cousin remembers that a nephew of Addie's named Elbert Deen used to come stay with her family when she was young.
What this suggests: Looking into Elbert Deen may be an option for finding Addie's family. There was an Albert Deen, son of John Wesley Deen and Hulda Sweat Deen, who was born ca 1911 per census records. The cousin was born in 1930 so if this is the same person, he would have been an adult at the time. I asked her if he was older, but she hasn't got back to me yet.

What I know: According to another cousin, Doley Deen Sweat's death certificate lists her parents as Billy Dean and Unknown.
What this suggests: Doley may have been Addie's sister. The cousin is sending me a copy of the death certificate so I can examine it more closely for clues.

What I know: According to the same cousin, Annie Deen Sweat's death certificate lists her parents as Billy Dean and Mary Sweat.
What this suggests: Addie and Annie might have been sisters or half-sisters. It's possible that the mother's name was mixed up. The cousin is also sending me this death certificate as well.

What I know: There is a William Deen, widowed, living in the same area as Addie in the 1900 census. He is listed with children Zillo, Alfred, Lonnie, John, Annie, Maidie and Georgia.
What this suggests: This may be Addie's family. Judging by the ages of the children and William being listed as a widower in 1900, Addie's mother probably passed away between 1896 and 1900.

What I know: There is a William Deen, married to Mary 8 years, in the 1910 census. He is listed with children Alfred, Madie, Georgia, Eddie, Emmit, Minnie and Marie. There is also a grandson Talmage Deen.
What this suggests: This may be Addie's family. Her father may have remarried (marriage record for William Deen and Mary Ann Bolton 1 Mar 1902 in Pierce County was found) and had more children. Since Eddie's age predates the marriage, but he didn't appear with the family in the 1900 census, he was most likely a step-son of William Deen, meaning Mary Ann was probably married before.

What I know: William Deen was not found in the 1920 census.
What this suggests: He probably passed between 1910 and 1920.

What I know: The William Deen I've found in records was born ca 1844.
What this suggests: His age is right for service in the Civil War. I need to look at rosters and pension rolls.

What I know: The 1880 census has a William Deen married to a Mary, living in Pierce County with children Nancy, Jiny, Josephine and Malissa.
What this suggests: Addie's mother may have been named Mary and she may have more siblings. Judging by the age of the children, William and Mary probably married ca 1870 in Pierce or one of the surrounding counties.

Locality Analysis

Since Pierce County seems central to this family, I chose it as my place for locality analysis.

Pierce County was formed 15 Dec 1857 from portions of Appling and Ware Counties. It was named for the 14th US President Franklin Pierce. Blackshear is the county seat. According to Randy Major's US Historical County Boundary Maps, the area that Blackshear lies in was previously part of Ware County.

I located an 1881 railroad map, which shows that at the time of Addie's birth (if the 1881 date is correct), the surrounding counties were Appling, Ware, Charlton and Wayne. Modern day counties that surround Pierce are Appling (parent, formed 1818 from Creek Indian land), Ware (parent, formed 1820 from Appling), Bacon (formed 1914 from Appling, Pierce and Ware), Brantley (formed 1920 from Charlton, Pierce and Wayne) and Wayne (formed 1803 from Creek Indian land).

According to Ancestry's Red Book, Georgia tried to require registration of vital records at a county level starting in 1875, but it was repealed a year later. It was 1919 before statewide registration of vital records was required, although full compliance from all counties wasn't reached until 1928. 

This means I'm not likely to find a birth certificate for Addie or any of her siblings. The one exception might be possible siblings Jiny Deen who census records indicate was born ca 1875. Surviving records are available at the Georgia Archives. I looked at the Archives website to see what counties were available, but neither Pierce, nor its parent counties are listed.

Marriage records for Pierce County are only available from 1875 so finding a marriage record for William and Mary Deen is unlikely. Marriage records for Pierce's parent county Appling are available from 1869 so that might be an option. I have searched them with no success.

Pierce County had a courthouse fire in 1875. Since this pre-dates Addie's birth (provided she was born in 1881), this shouldn't be an issue in tracing her. However, this could make it difficult to trace her parents. If they were married in Pierce County prior to the courthouse fire and records were kept at the time of their marriage, the marriage record may have literally went up in smoke.

The Blackshear Times has been in business since at least 1889 so it might have birth announcements for some of Addie's possible siblings, and maybe death notices for her parents. It is my understanding that these newspapers are available at the UGA Library and not through inter-library loan. I need to contact them to be sure they have the newspapers for the times in question since their site states that not all of the newspapers from a specific time period may be available.

Since the Blackshear Times is still in business, they may have copies in their morgue file. It's worth a call to find out. Another option may be the Blackshear Library. I have added it a call to it to my to-do list as well.

Conversations With My Ancestors

Last night I had a dream. I'm sure it's a common one among genealogists and family historians. Even if they haven't dreamed it, they've thought about it. I dreamed I was talking to my ancestors, asking all the questions that go through my mind while I'm researching them.

To my 2nd great grandfather James Walter Sweat:

Exactly where the heck did you go between 1900 and 1920? I've searched census records using every possible variation I could think of. I couldn't find you in the WWI Draft Registrations even though you should have been there. It's like you, Addie and the kids fell off the face of the Earth and didn't find your way back until 1920.

And while I'm on the subject of things that baffle me, what's the big deal with moving all the time? You were born in Ware County, Georgia; showed up in Pierce County in 1880 and were still there when you married Addie in 1896; appeared in Appling County in 1900; disappeared for twenty years; reappeared in Atkinson County in 1920; popped up in Colquitt County in 1930 and your last appearance was Berrien County where you passed away in 1940.

To my 2nd great grandmother Addie Mae Deen Sweat:

Are my suspicions correct? Were Doley, John Wesley and Annie Deen your siblings? And what was your mother's name? Your death certificate says (blank) Jerdan. I've searched marriage records to try to determine her name and I've come up dry.

To my 3rd great grandfather Thomas Vanzandt:

Why are you listed as widowed in the 1910 census when your wife Ellen was alive and well living with her new husband and four of your children not even 100 miles away? Ellen even admits in the census that Frank Knipe is her second husband and your children are listed as his step-children.

To my 2nd great grandmother Eva Mae Sanders Boling Cooper:

Why is there a family legend that you were married eight times, outliving all your husbands? Were you a victim of genea-skankery or is there something else going on?

To Thomas Smith, father the man I suspect to be my 4th great grandfather, Thomas Smith:

Seriously? As a Thomas Smith yourself, you should realize how common that name is. Why not name your son something more unusual like Zachariah or Ezekiel? Finding the right Thomas Smith in census and other records is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Apparently pairing common given names with a common surname is a family trait seeing as some of your grandchildren were named James, William, Mary and George.

To my 4th great grandfather Oliver Perry Register:

Exactly what happened during the Civil War that led you to be accused of being a Confederate deserter? I've read your pension application and that of your wife Mary, studied your letters and brooded over the petition signed by other Confederate veterans. It must have been a real kick in the teeth to get called a deserter and denied a pension after serving faithfully.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Heritage Pie Chart

16 Great Grandparents

• William Merch Radcliff, born 1 Nov 1881 in Gilmer County, WV, died 15 Sept 1974 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Bessie Ethel Collins 27 May 1910 in Oakland, Garrett County, MD.
• Bessie Ethel Collins, born 10 Nov 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died Oct 1980 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Riley Neal, born 15 May 1887 in Lewis County, WV, died 16 Nov 1968 in Linn, Gilmer County, WV. He married Aulda Jane Messenger 13 Aug 1911 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Aulda Jane Messenger, born 13 Aug 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died 16 Jan 1973 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Francis Scott Carson, born 20 Aug 1878 in Gilmer County, WV, died 23 Dec 1946 in Gilmer County, WV. He married Dora C Grose 29 Mar 1914 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Dora C Grose, born 10 Feb 1894 in Sand Fork, Gilmer County, WV, died ?
• Frank Elman King, Sr, born 19 Dec 1891 in Wetzel County, WV, died 21 Sept 1966 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Alta Edith Smith 6 Jan 1918 in Wetzel County, WV. He married Anna Belle Jones 10 Dec 1921 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Alta Edith Smith, born 31 Mar 1895 in Green District, Wetzel County, WV, died 1919 in WV.
• James Walter Sweat, born 6 Nov 1874 in Ware County, GA, died 18 Feb 1940 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Addie Mae Deen 1 Nov 1896 in Pierce County, GA.
• Addie Mae Deen, born 8 Sept 1881 in Blackshear, Pierce County, GA, died 13 May 1966 in St. Cloud, Osceola County, FL.
• James Thomas Hayes, born 5 Jun 1889 in Valdosta, Lowndes County, GA, died 13 Feb 1960 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Minnie L Rice 27 Oct 1912 in Berrien County, GA. He married Charlotte Jane LNU
• Minnie L Rice, born Nov 1897 in GA, died ca 1931 in GA.
• William Walter Vanzandt, born 30 Jan 1884 in Kentucky, died 19 Jan 1963 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN. He married Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis 20 Oct 1905 in Boonville, Vanderburgh County, IN.
• Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis, born 19 Nov 1881 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN, died 22 Oct 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She was previously married to Thomas Huggins.
• Lora D Boling, born 7 Nov 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 26 Sept 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. He married Eva Mae Sanders ca 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY.
• Eva Mae Sanders, born 13 Jul 1907 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 31 May 1988 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She later married Andrew Cooper.

Searching for Grandma Addie's family: Part 2

This is the second post in a series where I attempt to pinpoint the parents and siblings of my maternal 2nd great grandmother Addie Mae Deen Sweat. If you missed part one, you can read it here.

Since I knew that some of Addie's possible siblings were also linked to the Sweat family by marriage, I decided to explore the rest to see if there were more connections.

Alfred Deen married Janie Riggins 20 Apr 1915 in Pierce County, Georgia. Janie was a sister of Lilla J Riggins, the second wife of Addie's father-in-law, John Franklin Sweat. Lonnie and Janie's marriage ceremony was performed by TN Sweat. This was probably Reverend Thomas Newbern Sweat, the uncle of Addie's husband James Walter Sweat.

Lonnie Deen married Rosella Riggins in Pierce County, Georgia on 14 Jun 1913. Rosella was also a sister of Lilla J Riggins. Their marriage was also performed by TN Sweat. Interestingly, this couple named one of their daughters Stella, which is the name of JW and Addie's oldest daughter.

Again, I've found connections, but still no proof that these Deens are siblings of Addie. Searching the other possible siblings hasn't revealed any additional connections, at least that I've found at this time.

Next steps: In April, I will be traveling to South Georgia where Addie was born and most of the possible siblings passed away. While I'm in the area, I plan to search for the obituaries of these individuals to see if any note the parents' names.

Why Facebook Rocks for Genealogy

In the past, I've used Facebook to search for living people in my family tree, especially younger generations. Checking the person's friends list or looking at their relationships if they are displayed can sometimes yield information on people I wasn't aware of. Occasionally, I will search one of my surname interests through the last area they lived in as well to see if I can find more family.

Recently my mom signed up for Facebook. After adding the people she knew on my friend's list, she started looking for other people she knew, including some of her many cousins. She struck pay dirt when she found her first cousin's profile and called to give me a head's up.

On Friday, he had uploaded a new photo album he titled old pics. At the moment, there are only five pictures in it. I hope he will be uploading more.

The first photo in the collection is of my 2nd great grandmother Addie Mae Deen Sweat, little Granny as she was called by family. I'm guessing she was probably in her 60s or 70s in the picture.

The second photo is my great grandparents Clifford Eugene Sweat and Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat. They were probably in their 50s at the time. Clifford was one of Addie's sons.

The third photo has another of Addie's sons, Osbourne Touchton (OT) Sweat. He looks to be around his 40s. I know he couldn't be too much older than this because he passed away at 55.

The fourth photo has two men, one of which is wearing some sort of uniform. The photo isn't labeled (at least not in the album) and I'm not sure who they are. I'm hoping a little research will shed some light on their identities.

The last photo is a group photo of three men and two women. It is labeled as having my great grandfather Clifford and his brothers and sisters. Apparently, this is only part of his siblings, though, because I know there were more. Clifford and OT are recognizable from their earlier photos in the album. The third man appears to be older than they are so this is probably Ernest Loren Sweat.

One of the women looked familiar so I checked the family photos my mom had given me and determined that she is Gladys Sweat Brunson. I would guess she's probably in her 40s in the picture. The other woman looks older than she is, but there were four girls before Gladys and I'm not sure which one is the one in the photo.

There are two cars in the background of this photo. I'm not much of a car aficionado so I checked with someone who is, my husband. He thought the cars were from the 1960s. I know the cars can't be older than 1972 because one of the men in the picture passed away that year.

These five photographs were amazing finds. I will be waiting (im)patiently to see if my cousin adds more photos to the album. My mom and I have a genealogy road trip planned for the end of April and I'm hoping to talk her into adding this cousin to our itinerary. With the FlipPal I won a while back, I can scan all his photos so I have copies.

Searching for Grandma Addie's family: Part 1

Addie Mae Deen Sweat is my maternal 2nd great grandmother. From her 1896 marriage to her 1966 death, her life is pretty much an open book. Prior to her marriage is a bit of a blank.

Addie was born in Blackshear, Georgia on either 8 Oct 1873 or 8 Sept 1881. According to her death certificate and headstone, the first date is the correct one. Her son, Clifford Eugene Sweat, was the informant on the death certificate and presumably the headstone as well. The Social Security Death Index gives the second date. Since I have not been able to locate Addie in the 1880 census and her approximate date of birth according to census records is 1879-1882, I'm inclined to believe that the 1881 date is the correct one.

Addie married James Walter (JW) Sweat in Pierce County, Georgia on 1 Nov 1896. They had nine known children. Some researchers would disagree as a tenth child, Ruby Sweat, is listed as their daughter in the 1930 census. However, my research, which includes correspondence with Ruby's daughter, found that while they raised Ruby as their child, she was in fact their grandchild.

JW passed away 18 Feb 1940 in Berrien County, Georgia. At some point after this, Addie moved to Florida. This was most likely in 1950 when her son, Clifford Eugene Sweat, moved his family there. She passed away in St. Cloud, Florida on 13 May 1966 and was buried at Mount Peace Cemetery.

According to Addie's death certificate, her parents were Billie Deen and an unknown Jerdan. There was a William Deen (b May 1847) living the same area as Addie during the 1900 census. He is listed as widowed with seven children living with him-Zilla (b Apr 1884), Alfred (b Jun 1886), John (b Sept 1887), Lonnie (b Apr 1890), Annie (b Sept 1892), Maidie (b Nov 1894) and Georgia (b Apr 1896).

In searching message boards for potential clues about Addie, I found two posts, one on Genforum and the other on Ancestry. Both posts were written by the same individual.

In the Genforum post, written 18 Nov 2003, the writer is asking for information on a Billie Dean who first married an unknown Jordan and second married Mary Ann Wilson. The writer gives the children of this Billie as Addie who married James Walter Sweat, Doley who married William L Sweat, Annie who married Lonnie S Sweat, John Wesley who married Hulda Sweat, Georgia, Eddie, Alfred, Minnie, Emmitt and Maggie (or Marie).

In the Ancestry post, written 12 Jun 2007, the writer again asks for information on a Billie Dean who first married an unknown Jordan and second married Mary Varnadore. The children are listed as Addie, John Wesley, James Smith, Annie, Minnie, Doley and others.

A search reveals that the marriages in the first message board post did occur. William Lawton Sweat married a Zillo Deen in Pierce County, Georgia 6 Mar 1901. Lonnie S Sweat married Mary Ann Deen in Pierce County, Georgia 2 Aug 1905. John Wesley Deen married Hulda Sweat in Appling County, Georgia 1908. All three of the Sweats in these marriages were siblings of Addie's husband.

To me, this indicates a link between this Deen family and the Sweat family. Whether these Deens knew the Sweat siblings because of Addie or because of their proximity remains to be seen. Could there be other links yet to be unearthed?

Sources:

1880 US Census, population schedule, District 584, Pierce County, Georgia, ED 80, Sheet 575B, Household 17, Family 17, John F Sweat household, NARA microfilm publication T9, Roll 161

1900 US Census, population schedule, Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia, ED 80, Sheet 13A, Household 235, Family 235, John F Sweat household, NARA microfilm publication T623, Roll 216

1900 US Census, population schedule, Militia District 1383, Appling County, Georgia, ED 103, Sheet 22B, Household 386, Family 388, James W Sweat household, NARA microfilm publication T623, Roll 178

1900 US Census, population schedule, Militia District 1563, Appling County, Georgia, ED 103, Sheet 3B, Household 47, Family 48, William Deen household, NARA microfilm publication T623, Roll 178

Marriage license and certificate, Pierce County Marriage Book, 1899-1912, Marriage Records from Microfilm, Georgia's Virtual Vault, Georgia Archives

Social Security Death Index, Addie Sweat, SSN 264-98-0034, Rootsweb [Database online]

Addie Sweat death certificate, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, certificate number 66-026513

Addie Sweat headstone, Mount Peace Cemetery, St Cloud, Osceola County, Florida, Section D

Sweat, Diane (18 Nov 2003), Deans's in So. Ga. Pierce and Ware Counties, Dean Family Genealogy Forum, Message 5885 <http://genforum.genealogy.com/dean/messages/5885.html>

Sweat, Diane (12 Jun 2007), Dean family from Pierce and Ware Co, Ga., Dean Family History and Genealogy Message Board <http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.dean/4625/mb.ashx>

Sweat, Thomas Walter (deceased). Personal interview. 23 Dec 2009. Interview conducted by and notes in possession of D Radcliff.

January Genealogy Goals

Continuing with my breakdown of my 2011 genealogy goals, there are my goals for January.

Research

• Transcription project-Finish all Radcliff (and variations) vital records for Gilmer County.
• Make list of all individual's who I don't have date of death or parents for.
• Search General Name File on Georgia State Archives website for all Deens.

Organization

• Check all source copies for citations. For those without citations, try to add them.
• Set aside one day to scan in pictures and documents.

Writing

• Write 12 blog posts for each of my blogs.

Education

• Take one of the free genealogy courses offered on Brigham Young University's website.