Women's History - Anna's Story

Peasants from Wikimedia Commons

My entry for Jasia's 103rd Carnival of Genealogy is a composite of recent posts about my grandmother, Anna Pereksta (1895-1982). Her story is not uncommon. She was part of the wave of peasants who left Europe for the factories and mines of the United States. The photo is actually from Finland, but accurately depicts the life she left.

She lived all but eighteen years of her life in Binghamton, NY, but it is impossible to think of her as entirely American. She grew up a 19th century peasant on easternmost edge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She died late in the 20th century, having seen men walk on the moon from her living room couch.

You can read her story on these pages.

• Anna's Story - The first years

• Anna's Story - Family life and later years

• Anna's Story - Memories and Reflections

 There are additional photographs of Anna here and here. And here ...

In search of Rachel's Hamptons, Part 2 - Surname Saturday

Descendants of Rachel HAMPTON

Many generations of family records have named my 4th great-grandmother as Rachel Hampton. I have never been able to firmly tie her to a specific Hampton family. Part 1 of this series covered family legend about her parentage and my concerns with those legends.

Rachel's and her husband Isaac had at least eleven children. Records of the Buffalo Ridge Church suggest there may also have been a pair of twin girls, Manervy and Matildy who died in June 1839.

Birth dates for Philip and Robert Hampton have been handed down in their families. In the 1930s reference was made to a Bible record for Philip's family in a DAR application. Examining early Mulkey DAR applications is one of my to-dos for this spring. Birth dates for the other children are estimated based on census records and family tradition of birth order. All the male children are named in either their father's will or Jesse's will, written in 1848. Sarah, Lucinda and Rachel appear with their parents in the 1850 census. Elizabeth and Nancy's households are enumerated next to their parents in the 1850 census.

As to Rachel's grandchildren, there were very likely other children born who died in childhood and do not appear here. Philip's family includes an infant death, supporting the possibility the information came from a family or Bible Record. The other families are based on census records and some correspondence with researchers.

Should anyone have have further information or questions about any of Rachel's family PLEASE contact me through the email or Facebook links in the right column.

First Generation

First Generation

1.  Rachel HAMPTON was born about 1795 in Tennessee and died after 1880.

Rachel married Isaac MULKEY, son of Jonathan MULKEY and Sarah, between 1808 and 1809 in Washington, Tennesee, USA. Isaac was born on 17 May 1788 in Tennessee and died in 1855 in Washington County, TN at age 67.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          M     i.     Philip MULKEY was born on 14 Jan 1810 in Washington County, TN, died before 1 Oct 1883 in St. Clair, Hawkins , TN, and was buried in St. Clair, Hawkins , TN.

  +          F     ii.     Mary "Polly" MULKEY was born in 1811 in Washington County, TN and died before 1845, probably in Barren County, Kentucky.

  +          M     iii.     Jesse MULKEY was born in 1812 in Washington County, TN and died in 1848 at age 36.

  +          F     iv.     Elizabeth MULKEY was born about 1817 in Washington County, TN and died after 1880 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     v.     Nancy MULKEY was born in 1818 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     vi.     Sarah MULKEY was born about 1818 in Washington County, TN and died before Jul 1865 in Tennessee.

               F     vii.     Lucinda MULKEY was born in 1823 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     viii.     Robert Hampton MULKEY was born on 5 Nov 1824 in Washington County, TN and died on 20 Aug 1889 in  Kentucky at age 64.

              M     ix.     Howard MULKEY was born in 1827 in Washington County, TN and died after 1848.

  +          M     x.     Hiram D. MULKEY was born in 1829 in Washington County, TN and died on 1 Apr 1872 in Washington County, TN at age 43.

              F     xi.     Rachel MULKEY was born in 1833 in Washington County, TN.

Second Generation

Second Generation (Children)

2.  Philip MULKEY was born on 14 Jan 1810 in Washington County, TN, died before 1 Oct 1883 in St. Clair, Hawkins , TN, and was buried in St. Clair, Hawkins , TN.

Philip married Ann DUNCAN a daughter of James and Sarah Duncan on 2 Jun 1831 in Washington County, TN. Ann was born on 23 Oct 1809 in Washington County, TN and died on 12 Dec 1849 in Washington County, TN at age 40.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          M     i.     Isaac Martin MULKEY was born in 1834 in Washington County, TN, died on 10 Sep 1885 at age 51, and was buried in Girard Cemetery, Girard, Macoupin, Illinois.

  +          M     ii.     James Duncan MULKEY was born in Aug 1836 in Washington County, TN and died in 1909 in Johnson City, Washington County, TN at age 73.

  +          F     iii.     Rachel MULKEY was born on 15 Sep 1839 in Washington County, TN, died on 22 Apr 1906 in Johnson City, Washington County, TN at age 66, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Johnson City, TN.

  +          M     iv.     John Robert MULKEY was born in 1842 in Washington County, TN and died about 1843 in Washington County, TN about age 1.

  +          F     v.     Anna Eliza MULKEY was born in 1844 in Washington County, TN and died in 1879 in Johnson City, Washington County, TN at age 35.

  +          F     vi.     Elizabeth MULKEY was born in 1846 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     vii.     Sarah MULKEY was born in 1832 in Washington County, TN and died after 1880 in Tennessee.

Philip next married Matilda SMITH in 1852. Matilda died in 1862.

Philip next married Mary Jane HOPPER on 10 Aug 1865 in Washington County, TN.

The child from this marriage was:

  +          F     i.     Mary J MULKEY was born in 1867 in Hawkins County, TN.

3.  Mary "Polly" MULKEY was born in 1811 in Washington County, TN and died before 1845, perhaps  in Barren County, Kentucky.

Mary married Mark W HALE. Mark was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hale. He was born about 1810 in Tennessee and died in Kentucky.

Known children from this marriage were:

  +          M     i.     Albert HALE was born about 1829 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     ii.     Nelson HALE was born about 1832 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     iii.     James H HALE was born about 1833 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     iv.     Isaac M HALE was born about 1835 in Washington County, TN.

4.  Jesse MULKEY was born in 1812 in Washington County, TN and died in 1848 at age 36.

Jesse married a daughter of Isaac Riggs.

His child was:

  +          F     i.     Sarah Elizabeth MULKEY was born in Washington County, TN.

5.  Elizabeth MULKEY was born about 1817 in Washington County, TN and died after 1880.

Elizabeth married John William PURCELL on 25 Mar 1836 in Washington County, TN. John was born about 1814 in Tennessee, United States and died after 1880.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          F     i.     Rachel E PURCELL was born on 23 Apr 1837 in Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee.

  +          F     ii.     Eliza I PURCELL was born in 1840 in Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee.

  +          F     iii.     Hannah M PURCELL was born in 1842 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     iv.     Sarah E PURCELL was born in 1844 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     v.     Hiram H PURCELL was born in 1846 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     vi.     Issac Mulkey PURCELL was born on 25 Oct 1847 in Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee.

  +          M     vii.     Joseph William PURCELL was born on 18 Mar 1851 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     viii.     Jesse M PURCELL was born in Jun 1854 in Washington County, TN.

6.  Nancy MULKEY was born in 1818 in Washington County, TN.

Nancy married Isaac BAILS a son of David and Rachel Bales or Beals on 20 Oct 1836 in Washington County, TN.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          F     i.     Rachel Ann BALES was born in 1839 in Washington County, TN.  

  +          F     ii.     Mary E BALES was born in 1841 in Washington County, TN.  

  +          F     iii.     Lucinda BALES was born in 1842 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     iv.     Sarah E BALES was born in 1844 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     v.     Nancy E BALES was born in 1846 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     vi.     Isaac Martin BALES was born in in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     vii.     Matilda BALES was born in 1854 in Tennessee.

  +          F     viii.     Amanda J BALES was born in 1857 in Tennessee.

  +          M     ix.     William N BALES was born in 1858 in Tennessee.

7.  Sarah MULKEY was born about 1818 in Washington County, TN and died before Jul 1865 in Tennessee, United States.

Sarah married William DEPEW a son of Isaac Depew on 21 Jul 1853 in Washington County, TN.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          M     i.     Isaac J DEPEW was born about 1855 in Tennessee.

  +          M     ii.     James M DEPEW was born in 1859 in Tennessee.

9.  Robert Hampton MULKEY was born on 5 Nov 1824 in Washington County, TN and died on 20 Aug 1889 in Kentucky at age 64.

Robert married Elizabeth CARUTHERS a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Caruthers on 29 Dec 1845 in Jonesborough, Washington County, TN. Elizabeth was born about 1827 in Tennessee and died after 1880 in Kentucky.

Known children from this marriage were:

  +          F     i.     Mary Elizabeth MULKEY was born in Jan 1847 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     ii.     Martha A MULKEY was born about 1848 in Washington County, TN.

  +          M     iii.     Montgomery MULKEY was born about 1855 in Tennessee.

  +          F     iv.     Sarah Jane MULKEY was born about 1861 in Tennessee.

11.  Hiram D. MULKEY was born in 1829 in Washington County, TN and died on 1 Apr 1872 in Washington County, TN at age 43.

Hiram married Amanda FERGUSON a daughter of John and Jane Ferguson on 16 Feb 1854 in Washington County, TN. Amanda was born in 1829 in Tennessee and died in 1875 in Washington County, TN at age 46.

Children from this marriage were:

  +          M     i.     James B MULKEY was born in 1856 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     ii.     Sarah F MULKEY was born about 1858 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     iii.     Margaret MULKEY was born in 1861 in Washington County, TN.

  +          F     iv.     Cornelia V MULKEY was born in 1868 in Washington County, TN.

411 W. Maple St. - Those Places Thursday

In 1911 my grandmother Iva Williams, who was visiting her uncle in Spencer, NC, sent this off in the morning post to her mother in Johnson City, TN telling her she would be home the next day. Not today's instant communication, to be sure, but pretty fast.

The picture on the front of the card is of the Williams' house in Johnson City - 411 W. Maple Street. After Iva's parents died her older brother Argil and his family lived there. I have vague memories of visiting his widow, my great-aunt Mae there in the 1960s. Aunt Mae died in 1971 and the house was sold out of the family. My parents took the picture below about 1990 on a hunting history trip.

411 W. Maple St., Johnson City, TN c. 1990

A Study in Contrasts - Wordless Wednesday

Flora McAdams and Reese Jackson Williams with their daughter Iva, c. 1918. 

Taken in Washington County, TN. 

"too late to catch the fast train..." - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

My grandfather Bob Sawyer wrote this letter from Portland, Oregon to his mother Catherine Conway Sawyer at home in east Tennessee in the spring of 1927. Bob and his wife, Iva had married in 1925 and had their first child the previous summer.

Sunday
May 8, 1927

Dear Mother,

I thought of writing you so you would get it for Mother's Day, but I decided I would rather it on that day. I know it will be late in getting there, but you will know I was thinking of you anyway. I dont want you to think that I only think of you when I write, for I think of you every day. The older I get the more I love you, and Papa and all the family. Now that we have a Baby of our own I can see how much you have loved all of us. I can also get some idea of how much trouble we all gave you. I am afraid some of us have caused you more trouble than we are worth.

I am glad Iva will get to bring Joan home this summer. I am crazy for all of you to see her. I know you will all love her too death almost. I guess I will get so lonesome this summer while they are away. I wish it was possible for me to come with them. I will bring them back again some day when we can all come together. I can not get off from work now, and would not have the money if I could.

I am going to take a weeks vacation about July if nothing happens. I have been out here for three years now and haven't had any vacation and when I work all on the inside you really need one.

Iva leaves here the 23 of this month only two weeks more. I hope she get along alright. She will get to Knoxville too late to catch the fast train out of there, and will go on to Johnson City on the local train. Why don't you go over to Mohawk and get on the train and ride up as far as Greeneville with her, then you could stay all night with Clevel. She will go on to J_ City and stay up there for about a week to get rested from the long hard trip before she can come down home. I know you will want to see them so you can go up on the train with them. Write and tell us if you can do this. I hope you come back with Iva and Joan this fall.

Much love from your son, Robert.

Notes
Iva's parents, R.J. & Flora Williams, lived in Johnson City. Bob's sister, Clevel Luttrell lived in Greeneville, TN. Catherine did meet the train in Mohawk. She rode with Iva and the baby all the way to Johnson City and then caught a train back to Mohawk. Bob ended up moving back to Tennessee soon after this. He wired his family he had found work and arranged the move home. Iva and their child did not return to Portland but stayed in Tennessee until he arrived. Her daughters told the story that when the telegram from Bob arrived that he was coming home his mother was in the chicken coop collecting eggs. The hens scattered and the eggs went flying as she flung up her arms in celebration.

Iva's trip was lengthy. She traveled from Portland through Denver, St. Louis, and Memphis before arriving at Knoxville to catch the local train home. The local went through Morristown, where they would soon live, Mohawk, Mosheim, Greeneville, Limestone, Jonesboro before stopping at Johnson City.  I wish I knew how many days the trip took, but I'm sure she was more than ready to be home with her family when she finally arrived.