Mary Anna's Timeline

"Create a timeline for a female ancestor using your favorite software program or an online timeline generator such as OurTimelines.  Post an image of it or link." - From The Accidental Gnealogist, Fearless Females Prompts

In (belated) honor of Women's History Month, here is a timeline of the (very full) life of my great-great-grandmother (and the woman I inherited my mtDNA from), Mary Anna Webb Wellons:

~ 25 January, 1862.  Mary Anna Webb is born in Lawrence County, Indiana (likely somewhere near the Sheeks family's farm, where her father worked as a laborer).  She is the youngest of ten children of Andrew Webb and Priscilla Mason.
~ 17 August, 1862.  Mary's two eldest brothers, John Martin and Samuel Polk Webb enlist in the Union Army.
~ 1863.  Mary's brother, John Martin Webb, dies at age 20.  According to his tombstone, he died 5 April, 1863 but several records state that he received a disability discharge on 3 November, 1863.
~ 16 May, 1863.  Mary's mother, Priscilla, dies at age 41.
~ 22 September, 1864.  Mary's brother, William Newton Webb, enlists in the Union Army.
~ November, 1864.  The Webb family moves to Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois.
~ 4 December, 1864.  Mary's brother, Samuel Polk Webb, is killed in the battle of Overalls Creek.
~ 8 April, 1865.  Mary's father, Andrew, remarries, Rhoda Dandridge.
~ 14 May, 1865.  Mary's brother, Abram Jackson Webb, dies at age 10.
~ 22 January, 1866.  Mary's half-brother, Henry Dow Webb, is born three days before her 4th birthday.
~ September, 1866.  The Webb family moves to Monmouth Twp., Shawnee, Kansas.
~ circa 1869.  The Webb family moves to Crawford County, Kansas.  Mary's half-brother, Walter Edmond, is born here on 4 May.
~ 26 March, 1870.  Mary's half-brother, Henry Dow Webb, dies.
~ 25 April, 1872.  Mary's half- brother, James Ray Webb, is born.
~ circa 1873.  Mary is sent to do housekeeping work for a doctor's family.
~ 14 November, 1873.  James Ray Webb dies.
~ 1875.  Mary's half-sister, Lilly Timberline Webb is born on 2 June while the family is moving to Colorado.  Mary's step-mother, Rhoda, dies not long after.  Family settles in Trinidad, Las Animas, Colorado.
~1876.  The family moves to Animas, La Plata, Colorado.
~ June, 1878.  Mary marries George Washington Wellons.  She is 16, he is 29.
~ 22 November, 1878.  Mary and George's first child is born, Ebben Boulder Wellons.
~ 1 April, 1880.  Mary and George's 2nd child is born, Hermosa Florita "Flo" Wellons.
~ 3 August, 1882.  Mary and George's 3rd child, Edna Mae Wellons, is born.
~ 17 August, 1882.  Mary's father, Andrew, remarries again, to Eliza Unknown.
~ 11 April, 1884.  Mary and George's son, John Chapple Wellons, is born.
~ circa 1886.  The Wellons (and several members of the Webb) family move to Oregon, first Lake County and then Klamath County.
~ 28 September, 1886.  Mary and George's daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Wellons, is born.
~ circa 1890.  Mary and George's daughter, Fleeda Leone Wellons, is born and dies.
~ 29 April 1891.  Mary and George's daughter (my great-grandmother), Georgiana Wellons, is born.
~ April, 1892.  The Wellons family moves to Siskiyou County, California
~ 20 July, 1894.  Mary and George's son, William Andrew Wellons, is born.
~ 2 April, 1898.  Mary's half-brother, Walter Edmond Webb, dies.
~ 20 January, 1902.  Mary's sister, Nancy Ann Webb Wiley, dies.
~ 18 November, 1902.  Mary's father, Andrew J. Webb, dies.
~ 1908.  Mary and George's son, Ebb, graduates from the University of California (at Berkeley).
~ 31 January, 1912.  Mary and George's son, Ebb, dies.
~ 11 July, 1912.  Mary and George's first grandchild, Frank LeRoy Benson, is born.
~ 14 April, 1917.  Mary and George's daughter, Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" Wellons Benson, dies.
~ 2 November, 1913.  Mary's brother, George Washington Webb, dies.
~ 16 July, 1919.  Mary's brother, William Newton Webb, dies.
~ 12 May, 1926.  Mary Anna Webb dies in Yreka, Siskiyou, California.  She suffered a heart attack and died while make a bed in the inn she ran with her husband.  She was 64.

Mary outlived her parents, at least nine of her thirteen siblings (and very likely the other four as well), three of her children, and at least one grandchild.  Her husband of nearly fifty years, George Washington Wellons, outlived her by almost six years.

Another Generation In America?

I have gleefully been exploring the Trumbull Co. records recently added on FamilySearch.  Among the discoveries was the naturalization information of my great-grandfather's brother.  I had never been able to figure out when he arrived in the US before this:

From there, I was able to find him arriving at Ellis Island on 2 April, 1903 on the ship Citta di Napoli.  But, perhaps the best discovery in this saga are what is written by his entry in the manifest:

"Father La Piccirella Matteo at ? NJ."

My great-grandfather's father's name was Matteo.  I had never considered that my great-grandfather and his brother weren't the first in their family to come to America, but apparently their father had also - at least for some period of time.

The only thing I cannot make out is where in America Nicola was headed when he arrived (and by extension, where his father was living).  I cannot decipher the place above, nor elsewhere on the manifest:

I'm leaning towards it being somewhere in New Jersey, though that could just as easily say "NY."  Does anyone have any ideas on what that could say?  Help please!

I did find a Matteo Lapiccirella in Walkill, Orange, New York in 1900, though no communities in that area seemed to match the above.

A Brief Note to Begin the Year

This little blog has certainly been neglected, something I hope to fix in the new year - but not quite yet.

My father passed away unexpectedly on the 9th of November.  Saying it has turned my world upside down would be an understatement.  Honestly, the thought of researching deceased relatives has just been too much for me until fairly recently.  But, I am slowly getting back into what I love (genealogy) and this blog will be updated accordingly.

Since I haven't checked this blog in nearly two months, there were more than a few (okay, many) comments waiting to be moderated.  If you happened to be one of those whose comment never got published or responded to, then I am sorry and I will be getting back to you shortly, I promise!  I especially want to make mention of the fact that a descendant of my great-great-grandmother, Marion Wood Allen, left a comment.  I cannot tell you how excited I was to see that note - however, I have no way of getting back in touch with you.  I hope you are reading this and contact me, because I would dearly love to discuss the family with you!  I also have a lot on the family I would be happy to share if you do contact me.

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope we all have a happy and (genealogically) prosperous 2013!

Surname Saturday: Deviney

My connection to the Deviney family is through Jane S. Shinn, sister of my 3rd great-grandfather.  Jane married Joseph around 1847.  They lived in their native Burlington Co., New Jersey throughout their lives.

Joseph was the son of Clayton Deviney and Charlotte Unknown.  Joseph and Jane had the following children:

• Charles Henry Deviney, 1847-1920.  He lived in the Juliustown area of Springfield Twp., Burlington, New Jersey.  He married Mary G. Mount and they had the following: Jane S. Deviney Harker and Lydia T. Deviney Stevens.
• Sarah Ann "Sadie" Deviney Vansant, 1851-1908.  She married a prominent Camden coffee merchant, James Alpheus Vansant.  They had two children: Amy Rose Vansant Scott and Ada V. Vansant Stoddard.
• Edith Ella Deviney Cliver, 1852-1925.  She married David L. Cliver.  They lived in the Camden area.  They had: Shannon Cliver, Sadie V. Cliver Underwood, Estella Cliver Willett.
• Joseph W. Deviney, 1858-1908.  Died in the New Aveline Hotel fire in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Married Sarah Kirk.  One daughter, Florence J. Deviney.

Surname is often also spelled: Devinney, Devinny or Deviny.

Joseph died in 1863, Jane in 1892.  Their headstones can be seen here.