Discovering the Purpose of a Group Photo

Unexpectedly this week I received a small envelope of old photos from my cousin Diane. I am always happy to get any photos I can. As I started looking at the photos I was saddened because there were no names, dates or locations listed on most of the photos. I immediately know that identifying many of the people or the occasion will be impossible. While I may recognize someone in the photo or the location of the photo I will probably never know the reason the picture was taken, unfortunately. What was going on and why did someone want to remember the circumstances around the photo? I always want to know more about my ancestors’ lives and what they did beyond births, marriages and deaths.

One old photo of my paternal grandfather caught my eye. I recognized him and probably one or two of his five brothers but had no idea who the others in this group photo were. I was delighted to turn the photo over and see names written on the back in a handwriting I did not recognize. I still wasn’t sure who the named people were or why the photo was taken.

I started by scanning the photo and the handwriting on the back. When you are scanning photos always remember to scan the backs. Names, locations and even perhaps a photographer’s name (if the picture was done professionally) may be there to offer ideas.

Transcription:

This is most of the boys that were down for the anniversary.  

Olin, Hollis, Albert, Clinton, Wesley and Doris, Erwin, Russ, Milton & Hollis Jr.

I decided I needed to get the help of several 2^nd and 3^rd Warner and Terry cousins to see if they recognized the handwriting and the people. I was confused about the term ‘anniversary’. Was the ‘anniversary’ a remembrance of someone’s death? The photo was dated 1924. My great grandparents John Benjamin Warner and Carrie Terry Warner had died in 1920 and 1910 respectively. My grandfather had a brother Terry Warner who had died tragically in 1921. Was it a remembrance for them? Look for clues in the photo. Oh, the men had overcoats on so it was definitely during colder weather and not June when John & Carrie died. The names of the other people weren’t jumping out at me. Hmm. 1924, what was the significance of that year? I continued to search my family tree database and couldn’t come up with anything of significance for 1924.

I remembered that many important and ordinary events in my paternal family side were memorialized in the local newspaper and that local newspaper is on line. Growing up I remember Mrs. Laura Rogers always calling my grandmother, Agnes King Warner, on Monday mornings to see what our family had done over the past week so it could be recorded in the newspaper. Oh, how important my cousins, siblings and I felt when we found our names in the newspaper. So, I began searching the local newspaper (Suffolk County Historical Newspapers) for one of my great uncles and grandfather for the year 1924 and found 4 items where someone was mentioned. One in particular in The County Review newspaper for 14 March 1924, page 12 seemed most promising. Could this one hold the answers?

This one had four of the brothers mentioned in it. The four brothers were in the picture. They would be wearing overcoats in March on Long Island, New York so that piece also fit. Hollis, Jr. was Hollis and Charlotte Warner’s son who was not quite 3 years old at the time. Hollis Jr. would die before his 11^th birthday and there are few remaining pictures of him, so, this is a treasure for his family.

But who were the other people in the photo? If I could figure that out then perhaps that might verify that the newspaper article fit.

I went back to the article. ‘George Billard of Cutchogue’ I knew was a first cousin to the four brothers. George’s mother was Ella Terry Billard, my great grandmother Carrie’s sister. (See Carrie’s Letters) Perhaps she was incorrectly referred to as ‘Mrs. Terry’ in the newspaper since her maiden name was Terry (Ella was alive in 1924) and to denote the connection between the families? This made perfect sense. Now who were the other people in the photo?

Once I knew the family connection I looked at my Terry family names in my Legacy family tree. Forrest Terry was Ella and Carrie’s brother. Oh, maybe ‘Mrs. Terry’ referred to Mrs. Forrest Terry (Theresa Hambler Terry). They were both living in 1924. Forrest and Theresa had 3 children: Clinton (age 15 at the time), Doris (age 7 at the time) and Erwin (age 20 at the time). Looking at the picture the ages seem right. That was it! This is a family photo of the Warner Terry Family Reunion that happened in March 1924! Now I know the purpose of this photo. This photo was commemorating the get together of the Terry sibling (Carrie, Forrest & Ella) descendants!!

After sharing my findings with my cousins one of them sent me the following photo (thanks Suzanne and Marie):

Wow! This photo was taken the same day as the ‘Terry Reunion’. This added the actual date of the get together. This tells another piece of the story. My cousin who had the photo knew it was of the three brothers but didn’t know the purpose/significance of the photo and now she does.

Thankfully, someone wrote on the back of these photos and they survived and came together to show us that the Terry cousins continued to get together over the years even after Carrie & John were gone. The bond was maintained. Today we would have referred to this gathering as a ‘family reunion’ and not an ‘anniversary’. The term threw off my initial thinking. Newspaper articles can be a real help in helping us determine why a group photo was taken.  No matter how many times I carefully read a document it takes going back multiple times to gather all the information possible from even a small news article. This makes perfect sense that they would photograph the children that were there of siblings Carrie, Ella and Forrest Terry. What an important picture now that we know who is in it and why the picture was taken. I so enjoy working with my cousins to put the pieces together. It frequently takes all of our little bits of information together to make another great story about our ancestors. What a fun journey back in time this was!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Sunday Obituary - Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

There were two different obituaries and a death notice in the local newspapers for my paternal great-great grandmother Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry. (See previous post Celebrating the Life of Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry for information about her life.)

 

23 October 1925, page 3:

Died

Cutchogue, Oct 15, Almeda, widow of Gilbert V. Terry, aged 87 years.

23 October 1925, page 2:

Cutchogue

Mrs. Almeda Terry, widow of Gilbert Terry, died last Thursday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Geo. T. Billard, aged 87 years. She was a woman quiet and retiring and made many friends and will be greatly missed in the village. Her husband was the miller at the old Inlet Mill, Peconic. The mill is gone, but the old residence still remains. Mrs. Terry’s funeral was held at Mrs. Billard’s residence last Saturday. Rev. P. H. Dodd officiating, and the burial was at Mattituck. Besides Mrs. Billard, Mrs. Terry leaves one son, Forrest, who lives at Riverhead with his family.

22 October 1925 page 12:

Mrs. Gilbert Terry

Cutchogue-The death last week of Mrs. Terry removed one of the best known residents of this section. The deceased who was born 87 years ago, had resided in Southold town all her life. She was the widow of Gilbert Terry, who conducted a mill at the inlet. The mill has gone, but the home where Mr. and Mrs. Terry lived still stands. She was a good woman and led a quiet and peaceful life and will be missed by her many friends. She is survived by a son, Forrest Terry, of Riverhead, and a daughter, Mrs. George [Ella] Billard. Mrs. Terry resided with her daughter for some time and her funeral was conducted from the Billard residence on Saturday afternoon, Rev. P. H. Dodd, pastor of the local M. E. church, officiating, and the internment was at Mattituck.

While the two obituaries are basically the same they do tell me a little more about Almeda the ‘woman’ then the facts of her life can tell me. It was an honor to know she was a “good woman”, well known in the area with many friends that would miss her. I also learned the name of the clergy that officiated at her funeral. I wonder if the church would have any additional information about her? More research to do.


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Celebrating the Life of Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

My paternal great-great Grandmother Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry was born 182 years ago today 21 April 1838. Almeda was the fourth of nine children, and the first daughter born to Stephen and Caroline F. (Overton) Robinson probably in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York. Almeda’s father was a farmer, based on census records.

Almeda would marry Gilbert Terry 21 October 1857 when she was 19 years old and Gilbert was 24 years old. Almeda would give birth to 5 children: Carrie (my great-grandmother), an unnamed infant daughter, Ella, Forrest and Millard.

The US Federal Census of 1860 on 30 July would show Almeda as 22 years old, born in New York, Gilbert as 27 years old, an 18 year old farm laborer John Young and Gilbert’s sister 19 year old Josephine V. Terry as living with the young couple in Mattituck, Southold town, Suffolk County, New York. Gilbert and Josephine’s mother Eliza died a year before and their father had remarried. Could this be why she is living with her brother? Josephine would later marry Charles A. Aldrich.

In 1870 Almeda and Gilbert had a daughter who lived only 19 days.

The US Federal Census of 1870 on 2 June shows Almeda as 32 and Keeping House as her occupation, Gilbert as 37 with Miller as his occupation, Carrie as 7 years old living in Southold, Suffolk County, New York. I wonder what is was like to be a Miller’s wife in Peconic in 1870?

The US Federal Census of 1880 on 21 of J shows Almeda as 42 years old, Keeping House, Gilbert as 47 years old and a Miller, Ella as 7 years old, Forrest as 3 years old and Millard as 5 months old living in Peconic, Suffolk County, New York. My great-grandmother Carrie (18 years old) was attending the Normal School for Teacher training in Newark, New Jersey at the time.

Youngest son Millard E. died at the age of 11 in Peconic, New York on 8 August 1891 of cerebral apoplexy. Millard was buried in Greenport. Cerebral apoplexy usually refers to stroke symptoms, with a sudden onset, due to bleeding into the brain. Searching local newspapers doesn’t yield any results or even a mention of Millard’s death. Was there an accident? Did he fall and hit his head and that caused his death? There is a gap in Carrie’s Letters from July 1891 until December 1891. Millard is never mentioned again in her letters.

The US Federal Census of 1900 on 6 June shows Almeda as 62 years old, 42 years married, 5 children with 3 children still living. Almeda was able to read, write and speak English. Gilbert was 67 years old Farm Laborer, and son Forest was 23 years old, Farm Laborer. Their home was Rented and they just had a house. Gilbert’s sister Josephine Petty is next on the census and must have been living next door at the time. Josephine’s first husband Charles died in 1872 and she married David Petty. David died in 1897. Josephine was listed as a Farmer by occupation. She owned her home mortgage free and had a farm. I wonder if Gilbert and Forest worked for her?

On 27 April 1907 Almeda’s husband Gilbert died at the age of 74. Gilbert’s death occurred just six months shy of their 50^th Wedding Anniversary.

The US Federal Census of 1910 in May I am unable to find a listing for Almeda. I am able to find the record for children Carrie, Ella and Forrest but Almeda is not listed with any of them. I wonder if she was with family and they forgot to list her?

In the New York State Census of 1 June 1915 Almeda Terry is 77 years old and living with her daughter and family in the Village of Cutchogue, Southold Town, New York.

The US Federal Census of 1920 on 20 January shows Widow Almeda is 81 years old and living in Southold, New York with her daughter Ella (46 years old), son-in-law George Billard (49 year old Farmer), and their sons Irving (17 years old) and Ellis (15 years old).
Almeda passed away 15 October 1925 in Cutchogue, New York at the home of her daughter Ella Terry Billard. Almeda died from Apoplexy (stroke) at the age of 87 and is buried next to her husband Gilbert and their infant daughter.

I wonder about ‘Vincent’ as Almeda’s middle name. Where did that come from? Was it a typical name for a girl to have in 1838 or is she named for someone I haven’t found yet?

I am very fortunate to have the above picture of Almeda. Maybe from the 1890s?  I wonder how old she was in the picture? When I enlarge the photo (click on photo to enlarge) and look at her I see a woman who had many trials in her life, including burying 3 children and her husband, but still looks very beautiful.

Happy Birthday Almeda!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Searching Through Old Photos Produces An Unusual Find

This Summer while visiting family back East, my father had several boxes of old family photos ready for us to look through when I arrived.  We reminisced about some photos, wondered who some of the people were and why my grandparents had these and I listened to stories my father told about people, the memories sparked by the photos.  A wonderful experience!  I was so grateful he had saved them for us to look at.  Somewhere within one of the boxes was a small note card.



If you are familiar with the northeastern end of Long Island the Plum Gut Lighthouse is a common site.  Then I opened the notecard and saw the following:



I skimmed the note card and realized it was from Ella to my paternal grandparents Agnes (King) and Olin Warner, Sr.  This makes sense.  Ella (Terry) Billard was my grandfather’s maternal aunt.  If you have followed my blog posts about Carrie’s letters (see post Carrie’s Letters) you know that I have over 150 letters written by my paternal great-grandmother Carrie (Terry) Warner.  The majority of the letters were written to her sister Ella.  I was so happy to know that my grandparents were still in touch with my grandfather’s Aunt Ella some 45 years after his mother Carrie had died suddenly in 1910.  Then I carefully started to reread this note card:

                                                                                                                                                                        Oct 23, 1955
Dear Agnes and Olin,
So sorry to have missed you this afternoon.  So long since you had been here, do wish you had come to Natalie’s or if Irv. had called up.  I would have come home, doing nothing in particular but looking at Sunday papers and taking a nap in a big chair.  Eleanor was home with her hubbie and baby who is just as cute as it is possible for a baby to be.  Irving says you are in the chicken and egg business and not to the exclusion of ducks, Eh?  Hope the young folks are fine and getting along nicely with the best and the most beautiful baby ever.  Do try and come again some time, many thanks for the candy. 
Much love,
Aunt Ella

At first read I thought, that’s a nice note.  Sounds like my grandmother Agnes to take a box of candy when she and my grandfather went to visit Ella.  Then I looked at the date.  When I looked it up Oct. 23, 1955 was a Sunday.  Of course it was a Sunday.  My grandparents liked to go for rides on Sunday afternoons, often to no place in particular.  I always enjoyed the times when I was able to go for one of those rides with them.  Ella was 82 years old in 1955.  ‘Irv’ was Ella’s son Irving Billard.  ‘Natalie’ was Ella’s son Ellis’ wife and ‘Eleanor’ was Natalie’s daughter Eleanor Billard Carter.  This all made sense and then I thought about the 2 babies mentioned but no names listed.  Hmm.  Once again I went back to the date…Oct. 23, 1955…  Finally, I realized that the “baby who is just as cute as it is possible for a baby to be” refers to my third, and recently found, cousin Rebecca.  (See post 
The Joy and Blessings of Meeting Cousins) As I looked again at the date and the reference to my grandparents I realized that “the best and most beautiful baby ever” was referring to me, their first grandchild who was just a few months old at the time and the ‘young folks’ referred to my parents.

The genealogical significance:
      there really isn’t any new information here.  I know who the people are and I have their birth, marriage, death dates.  The significance to me is the everyday information that it gives me.  I now know that my grandparents stayed in touch with Ella.  I know they were taking their Sunday drives even back in the mid-1950s and bringing candy.  I know that Ella knew about me and was bragging not only about her great-granddaughter but also about me, her great-grand niece.  For Rebecca and I it showed a family connection way back then. 

I don’t know why my grandmother kept this little note card but I am very glad she did and that it has survived some 63 years.  The significance to me is mainly sentimental.  Taking the time to reread and think about this ‘ordinary’ note was what I needed to do.  We shouldn’t just judge the information by a quick look and by it’s ability to add just facts to our family trees but in the story it helps us tell about our families’ lives. 

I am so happy to have found Rebecca (see post Exciting News: Carrie’s Letters) and look forward to many more tea times and to exploring all those boxes of ‘stuff’ from Ella and Natalie.  What other treasures will we find?  Take the time to investigate those ordinary notes and letters.  Look for the little treasures as well.  What a treasure you may find!

If you have any corrections, additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

P.S. My grandfather never did raise chickens just ducks. (see post Labor Day: Four Generations of Duck Farmers)  Not sure how that was misconstrued.