#52Ancestors: WK 17: WALKER, Elsie Lee

** cross posted from Lass Chronicles **

Granny and Patricia Gayle, c1937

Elsie Lee WALKER was born 03 Jul 1880 in Atascosa, Texas.¹ She was born the fourth child (of six) to James Henry and Margaret Jane (MOSELEY) Walker.² Elsie spent her entire life in three Texas counties: Atascosa, Bexar and Dimmit.^3-7 In 1902, she married James Wheeler MOORE. They had eight children: Gracie (1904 - 1916), Elliot Elice or Elias (c1905 - 1989), Elmer Earl (1906 - 1907), Franklin Wheeler (1908 - 1909), Bertha Beatrice (1909 - 1999), Bertia Mae (1912 - 1990), Dorothy Nadine (1919 - 1974), and Winifred Lee (1924 - 2013).

I know Elsie and James as Granny and Jim Papa. Unfortunately for me, they died in 1959 and 1961, respectively. My father tells stories of Granny and Jim Papa. I've asked him to write about Granny for this post.

Elsie Lee Walker Moore, Granny as we all affectionately called her, was bigger than life as we were growing up as children in late 1940s and 50s.  Granny gave all of her grandchildren a compass to guide us through life.  Your bond was your word and you treated everyone equally.  I said she was “bigger than life” -- that is what she seemed but by the time I was 16, the year of her death (1959), I could hold out my arm, slightly elevated, so she could stand under my arm.

Sunday lunch was always at Granny’s house.  She prepared food from her yard and animals she kept such as chickens.  One of her “tricks” to entertain her grandchildren was to “wring” the chicken’s neck.  One Sunday I recall she did two at once.  Everything was prepared in her kitchen.  I recall she prepared shortbread cookies (my sister says they were tea cakes), pressing the dough in the palm of her hand just before baking.  I can still see the imprint of Granny’s hand on each cookie.

The stories she told us at night when we stayed with her were scary.  She would tell us how the Indians and Comancheros would come at night to steal the cattle and chickens.  To small children, the stories seemed real and we were frightened.  We were expected to behave in a manner that always brought honor to us including our families.

I recall Granny made all of her clothes from flour sacks and other materials she gathered for clothes.  Her “uniform of the day” was a long shirt, to her ankles, an apron, and a handmade bonnet.

I do not know if she ever cut her hair because she always had a braid down her back to below her waist.  Granny married James Wheeler Moore, son of Franklin Wheeler and Martha Deborah Moore.

I could go forever, but I will save more for later. -- James MOORE, 26 Apr 2015

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1. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

2. The Walker children were: Elmer (dates unknown), Evie (dates unknown), Cora (1878 - ?), Elsie Lee (1880 - 1959), William E. (1885 - ?), and Emily A (1897 - ?)

3. Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Atascosa, Texas; Roll: 1608; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0003; FHL microfilm: 1241608

4. Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Dimmit, Texas; Roll: T624_1547; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0036; FHL microfilm: 1375560

5. Year: 1920; Census Place: Justice Precinct 5, Dimmit, Texas; Roll: T625_1796; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 43; Image: 587

6. Year: 1930; Census Place: San Antonio, Bexar, Texas; Roll: 2292; Page: 26A; Enumeration District: 0012; Image: 122.0; FHL microfilm: 2342026

7. Year: 1940; Census Place: San Antonio, Bexar, Texas; Roll: T627_4204; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 259-119

#52Ancestors: WK 11: The Irish Connection

** cross posted from Lass Chronicles **

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

Based on the AncestryDNA test, I am 38% Irish. I could have told you I had Irish roots before I took the test. My 2nd great grandfather was born in County Limerick, Ireland. Michael Henry ROACH (also spelled ROCH, ROCHE or ROACHE) presents some problems for me. Most of the problems have to do with documentation.

Let's start with his headstone and the only census I have found him in, the 1900 U.S. Census.

Davis Headstone, Magnolia Cemetery¹

Michael H. Roach and family, 1900 US Census²

Close up of M.H. Roach, 1900 US Census

His headstone states he was born 24 Dec 1863. The 1900 US Census states he was born Dec 1859. That is a significant difference in years. Next, is a transcribed portion of a Baptism register from the Roman Catholic Parish of Rathkeale in County Limerick. The transcription sates that Michael Henry Roach was baptized 29 April 1857.³

Baptism record: Name - Date of Baptism - Sponsors/Godparents

Finally, I have a passenger list record for one Michael Roach, born about 1856, arriving 29 Oct 1874 in New York.⁴

Transcription of passenger list: Michael Roach (age 18)

Here are my current problems:

I have no idea who provided the info for the headstone or when. You will notice the headstone is marked DAVIS. The most recent death date is 1974. The oldest is 1913. I'm inclined to believe that the stone was not placed until 1971 or 1974. It could have been placed in 1916, but unlikely.

I do not have a copy of Michael Henry's death certificate. I can get it. I just keep putting it off.

The census is notoriously full of errors. There's no indication of who provided the information. How much trust do I put into this document?

I have no provenance for the register transcription. That alone should make the transcription suspect. Gee, I guess I will have to go to Ireland myself. Shucks.

I do not have Michael Henry's naturalization records. In the 1900 US Census, he is enumerated as being naturalized.

He does not show up in the New York Emigrant Savings Bank, 1850-1883.⁵

He doesn't show up in the U.S., Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (Louisiana isn't covered).⁶

He doesn't show up in the U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 (Louisiana isn't covered).⁷

I can't browse for him in the Louisiana, Naturalization Records, 1831-1906 because the digitizing project is only to surname "Jury." ⁸

I have more places to search. I have more records to sort through. Today, though, I'm celebrating my Irish heritage.

Sláinte!

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1. Findagrave.com. 2015. 'Michael Henry "Mike" Roache, Sr (1863 - 1919) - Find A Grave Memorial'. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14824525.
2. Year: 1900; Census Place: Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana; Roll: 560; Page: 27A; Enumeration District: 0016; FHL microfilm: 1240560. http://ancstry.me/1Er3r6n.

3. Catholic Parish Transcript. Attached to other trees controlled by cousins.

4. Year: 1874; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 394; Line: 1; List Number: 1160. http://ancstry.me/1Er31gs.

5. Search.ancestry.com,. 2015. 'New York Emigrant Savings Bank, 1850-1883'. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8760.

6. Search.ancestry.com,. 2015. 'U.S., Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 (World Archives Project)'. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1193.

7. Search.ancestry.com,. 2015. 'U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995'. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1192.

8. Familysearch.org,. 2015. 'Louisiana, Naturalization Records, 1831-1906 — Familysearch.Org'. https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1459894.

#52Ancestors: WK 8: MOORE, Franklin Wheeler

While this blog is Adams family, I'm extending my 52 Ancestors Challenge to include my paternal line. Which means I'm crossing the branches this week!  From my paternal line: Franklin Wheeler Moore.