The Road Trip That Led Me Elsewhere

 

 I’ve been thinking about my very first road trip to Yankton, South Dakota. Why, did I go? It will be forty one years this October 31st since that journey. WOW!!

So far, I’ve been to Yankton twice; first in 1981 and the other time was in 1985. We traveled by car both times. The first time was the journey of a lifetime, for me. There’s something about the very first time when I do things. It’s very special. (The photo was taken in the hotel that we were staying in 1985.)

I was re reading some of my journal about that first trip. There were some things I completely forgot all about. It was my sister Mary Ruth who wanted to know more about the family history. Some of our South Dakota cousins are Native American. My sister wanted to know more about our Indian ancestors. And I did too.

My sister Mary contacted our cousin, Mary Jane (Blakey) Lightner who was a Native American Indian. And so was her Grandmother L. Mary (Kinney) Blakey. Mary Jane invited us to come to Yankton, so she and her Grandmother Mary could share some of the family history with us.

The journey was worth looking into. One thing led to another and before we knew it, we were heading to Yankton within a month or so. We traveled to Sioux City Iowa on October 30, 1981. The next day Yankton.

The journey itself was in all and all, in AWE. I was anxious to know more about my father David’s side of the family. My father didn’t know much about his family history. His parents passed when he was about 5 and 12. My father told me that his mother, Jennie told him that he was “a little Indian boy.”

The Family History
What our cousin Mary Jane and Great Aunt Mary said, excited something within me. Mary Jane, told us that our great grandfather was Isaac Blakey. I thought his brother John Blakey was. However, I knew that Isaac served in the Civil War. We were told that Isaac’s second wife, Rachel raised our Grandfather John Blakey Blakley. We saw a photo of Isaac and Rachel.

I’m thankful that Mary Jane reached out to us. I can’t imagine how our Grandfather John made the journey to and fro to Yankton and St. Joseph, Missouri in the teen years in the 1900’s. He was set to bring his family to Yankton, but he passed in July of 1918 in a covered wagon. His widow, Jennie and their children stayed in St. Joseph where Jennie’s siblings were.

Looking Back :
Where am I now since those road trips?
The first road trip and more so the second one were leading me elsewhere. I have gained a lot of information since those road trips. I have written to many relatives. I have searched and found documents on my family connections.

I’ve been compiling information on my ancestors and relatives. It’s been a challenge. I’ve contacted. Some relatives who helped me piece the puzzle together. I have come in contact with a lot more of relatives. I’ve been sharing with family and others some of my discoveries.

About the Native American side in my lineage:
I couldn’t find anything. I even did a DNA test. Still no trace of Native American. I do have 0.08 % of Southern Indian and Sir Lanka heritage according to 23 and Me. My Heritage.

I continue on my journey elsewhere. How interesting it is when we first start out on our family history search. In my case, I didn’t imagine that I would be where I am now. I’m overwhelmed.

In my beginning, I knew very little about my ancestors. I can trace back farther on my mother’s side all do to DNA matches. My father’s side has been match more of a challenge. I’m still searching.

Thanks for reading.
The Road Trip That Led Me Elsewhere ~ Week 39 In 2022

Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections: December In Remembrance
This blog was posted on September 30, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on wordpress. I added the In Remembrance: Family Connections

God bless
S.A.Blakley


Week 39 Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café #52Ancestors 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

The theme for Week 39 is “Road Trip.” I love a good road trip! Have you ever taken an ancestral road trip? What did you discover? Maybe you have stories of an ancestor who took to the open road. Share the stories this week,

Sharing Stories Through Letters

 How interesting it is to re read old letters, especially when it’s address to you. While I was re reading some of my letters, it was as though I was revisiting what the sender was sharing with me. I felt like I missed out on some things. While in those moments, it felt like this was the first time to read the letters. (The letters from my relatives date back to the early 1980’s and 1990’s. )

As I read them again:
I had some thoughts about; How I wish I should have done back then.
Why didn’t I asked more questions?
What held me back on the pursuit to learn more?
Why didn’t I do more?

Now, What can I do?
I know that I can’t change what I didn’t do or what I should have done.
I know that I need to leave this matter be, because the past is in the past.
I can’t change the past. I have to leave room for mysteries.

I can keep moving on and hope for the best.
I can cherries the moments of the past and share some of my letters now.

What I have discovered from my letters, each of them have its own tone .What the sender and I shared is what we wanted to say at that time in our lives. There’s so much in a letter that can say something about us. Here is page two of a letter from my cousin, Willie (White) Winfrey (1904 – 1994) The letter was written on August 16, 1985.

Cousin Willie shared with me about her desire to get the families together and learn more about the family history. And she mentioned about our cousin Ted Blakey. Yes, we make mistakes. But, we can learn from our mistakes and keep moving on. And we learn from one another.




As For My Old Letters:
I compiled them into in a notebook. I’m organizing them according the each person and the time that they sent the letters to me. I can piece together what each was saying and build on from there.

With today’s technology, we can email and text messages. I do keep some of my emails. I print some of them out. I have been putting them into a notebook as well.

May we learn to keep what our relatives send us. May we past on what we learn from our correspondents. May we want to desire to know more about our family history. Amen.

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site 

Thanks for reading.
Sharing Stories Through Letters #52Ancestors
God bless you.
S. A. Blakley

November In Remembrance: Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

I changed the theme and posted Sharing Stories Through Letters

Generations café via facebook Week 44: Voting
Have you ever found your ancestor on a voter list? Any politicians in the family tree? How about someone involved with the women’s suffrage movement? Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments below.

South Dakota BLAKEYs : Transportation

I was thinking about some of my relatives who moved from Missouri to South Dakota between the years of 1905 – the 1920’s. They were the children and in laws of Private Isaac Blakey Sr. Isaac was my Great Grandfather, Isaac (1845 – 1917) who was enslaved in Missouri. He was sold before the Civil War began and ran away to join the Union Army in Natchez Mississippi in 1863.

I found an article on the first Blakey siblings to leave Missouri. And why they left. In 1905, Henry Blakey Sr. (1880 – 1967) * and his brother, Isaac Blakey Jr. ( 1873 – 1971)* and Isaac Jr’s. wife Maggie (Williams) Blakey with their children were the first to make the journey to Yankton.

They became some of the first blacks settlers in Yankton. A man by the named Tom Douglas a.k.a Christopher Columbus Yancey encouraged them to come. He brought them and others to Yankton, South Dakota on a steam boat .

Along the journey to Yankton, Henry Blakey fell in love with his future wife, Mary E. Fristoe. They were married the day they arrived in Yankton in 1905. All they had between them was $4.50.



The full article “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion was published in the Sioux City Journal in Iowa in 1971. This cropped sections mentioned some of the family members who came to South Dakota.

Isaac Blakey Jr. ( 1873 - 1971) and Henry Blakey Sr. (1880 - 1967) were born in Mississippi. * They passed in Yankton. . 

Who were the other siblings and their spouse who journeyed to Yankton?
What year that they arrived?

Jordan Blakey (1878 – 1964)*
He came in 1911. He was the widower of Lizzie Blakey.
In 1915, Jordan married Flora Bentley in Yankton, they later divorced.
Jordan lived in Kennebec, Lyman, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio where he married Rubenia Holt in 1934 and they later moved to Ann Harbor Michigan where he passed. He was born in Mississippi.

Lillie (Blakey) Hayes (1888 – 1934)
She came in 1911 with her husband Edward Hayes.
They later moved to Sioux City, Iowa where Lillie passed in 1934 after an operation.

Spencer Blakey (1887 – 1967)
He came in 1906. And in 1911 he married Lucinda Mary Kinney in Yankton.
They both passed in Yankton.

Mary (Blakey) Green (1874- 1949)*
She came with her husband The Rev Ollie Green in 1912.
They both passed in Yankton. Mary was born in Mississippi.

Martha (Blakey) Hayes (1889 – 1918)
She came with her husband Ernest “Jap” Hayes in 1913.
Martha passed in 1918 due to the Spanish Flu Pandemic.

Edna Mae (Blakey) Bentley (1896 – 1952)
She came in 1916. She was Edna Jackson divorced on the 1925 SD census.
Edna later moved to Sioux City Iowa, then to Sacramento CA where she passed.

John Blakey Blakley (1871 – 1918) *
He came between 1916 – 1918. He was making plans to move his family to Yankton. He passed in 1918 in a covered wagon. His widow, Jennie (Bartlett) Blakley and their children remained in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Deacon Ollie “Deke” Blakey (1895 – 1972)
He was listed on the 1920 census in Yankton with his wife Margaret (Cason)  Blakey and brother, Archie Blakey. . They later moved to Sacramento California. They passed there.

Archie Blakey (1904 – 1943)
He most likely came with Ollie because Ollie was Archie’s guardian after their father Isaac Blakey’s death in 1917. Archie wasn’t listed on the 1925 South Dakota Census with Ollie and Margaret. Archie may have been in California as early 1920’s.

Archie married Flora (Lawrence) Blakey, his ex sister in law about 1927. He was listed on the Sacramento city directory in 1927 with Flora. Archie was burned severely on both legs in an accident while cleaning on his job in June of 1943. He was hospitalized for 5 months and later passed.

Lawhorn “Doc Blakey (1900 – 1977)
Not sure what year he came. He married Mettie Holliday in Yankton in 1924. In 1928 Lawhorn, was married to Evelyn Wilson. He was the last of the siblings to pass. He passed in Sacramento.

Beecher Blakey, (1885 – ? )
Not for sure when he came to Yankton. He moved to Kennebec, Lyman, South Dakota, with Jordan. Beecher is buried in Yankton.

Annie Rebecca Blakey, (1898 – ? )
Not for sure when Annie came or what happened to her.

Source of information from censuses: South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, California, news articles, letters, marriage and death records, oral history.

October In Remembrance: Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections 

Transportation #52Ancestors ~ Week 28

This was Posted on July 18, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley. I added the Octobert In Remembrance in 2022.

Thanks for reading.
Transportation #52Ancestors ~ Week 28
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

 Week 28: Transportation: via Generations Café from facebook

As the daughter of a service station owner, I grew up around cars and developed an appreciation for them. Whether it’s planes, trains, or automobiles (or canal boats, or steamships, or… ), think about transportation and how it affected an ancestor. Did canals open up markets for crops? Did railways offer job opportunities? Explore the transportation theme this week! Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.

Small Towns On The Map

 I was thinking about some of my enslaved ancestors. My Blakey / WHITE Family members lived in Howard and Chariton Counties Missouri areas. I wonder. Where some of them choose to live after they were released from bondage?

My Great Grandfather, Isaac WHITE / Blakey was one of the enslaved in Howard County Missouri during the mid 1840’s and early 1860’s. He later received his freedom and enlisted into the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in Mississippi as Private Isaac BLAKER. He was young when he left Missouri in the early 1860’s.

Oral history states that Isaac ran away at the age of 16 and joined the Civil War. And after the War he searched for his family and found them in Natchez, Mississippi. Isaac convinced his family that Forest Green, Missouri was a better place for them to live.

Here’s the full article. Slavery Descendants Have First Reunion.

Source from Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa 28 Aug 1971, Sat  •  Page 5

Places Where My Relatives Lived
Some of my relatives lived in Forest Green, Missouri, Fayette, Missouri , Glasgow, Missouri, Keysville, Missouri, Salisbury, Missouri and Shannondale, Missouri. I first came across these cities while I was searching for my Blakey Blakley WHITE Family connections. Isaac’s parents, Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE were brought to Missouri from Virginia.

Isaac and most of his siblings were born in Howard County Missouri area. About nine or ten of Isaac’s children were born either in Wilkerson or Adam County in Mississippi. The others were born in Chariton and Howard Counties in Missouri area.

Small Towns On The Map
I haven’t been to these small towns. I may visit the ones in Missouri, someday. I was told that the First Baptist Church where my relatives worship, is still standing in Forest Green. I heard that some of my earlier relatives helped built the original church.

There are relatives who still live in these small towns.. The place where my ancestors and relatives were they choose to lived. I’m thankful that some have left some stories behind for the future generations.
 
 In Remembrance: BBW Family Connections
Branches of Spencer, John, Martha, and Richard WHITE
Branches of Isaac Blakey Sr. 

Thanks for reading.
Small Towns On The Map #52Ancestors ~ Week 38

God bless you
S.A. Blakley

Original blog was posted on September 21, 2020 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site. 
I added the In Remembrance to this blog for September 2022.

Some Conflicting Information : 1971 Article: "Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion"

 The first article that I have read about my Blakey WHITE family history was entitled “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion”. It appeared in the Sioux City Journal in Iowa on Saturday, August 28, 1971. I was fascinated by what I read. And through the years, I  started to re read the article. And then finally, I started to verify what was written in it.

As I've been discovering more about my ancestors, I came across some conflicting information in the article. According to the article, the family arrived in New Orleans in the year 1843. I followed up on other clues. I don’t know if the records of the bill of sale for these slaves still exist. But, we can figure out what year Isaac and John could have been born.

Let’s do the math.

1843 – 12 = 1831 the year about when Isaac was born
1843 – 10 = 1833 the year about when John as born

The article stated that  the year was 1843. This year doesn't match up with the John BLAKEY's birth year nor Isaac BLAKEY’s birth year through other records. I still believe that there may have been another generation with a mother and her 5 children. The children's names  in this article were Isaac Blakey John Blakey , Spencer White , Richard White  and Martha "Mattie" White.  Their names are the same names that are on my family tree.

According to this article, Isaac was the oldest and he served in the Civil War.  I have found records to verify this. Isaac's surname in the War was BLAKER. Isaac was born in Missouri about 1845 – 1847. John was born about 1858 or 1859. I have obtained a copy of  Isaac 's and John's death certificates. I also have a copy of Spencer White and Richard White death certificates as well. 

Who was the enslaver with the BLAKEY surname?  
According to Private Isaac Blakey's aka Blaker’s pension record, his enslaver was Frances Blakey. I later discovered that  Frances' husband was John BLAKEY and Frances’ maiden name was WHITE. The Blakeys moved to Missouri about 1835 from Virginia. They lived in Forest Green, Missouri. Chariton and Howard County Missouri Areas. There is evidenced that the Blakey WHITE Family were enslaved. Here's the 1858 Ad   W.C. Harvey was Frances (WHITE) BLAKEY's son in law.  

Glasgow Weekly Times :
Glasgow, Missouri 25 Feb 1858, Thu  •  Page 2

As I kept searching, I began to make new discoveries. that gave me more leads. 
Those leads led to some more questions. I was surprised by all that I stumbled across.
Oh, I wouldn’t have though of this.

Through time, the question to the mystery began to unfold. I have DNA matches with descendants of Isaac Blakey Sr. and Isaac’s brothers, Richard White. There are more DNA matches with this lineage. However, we don’t know where we connect. (There were other siblings to this enslaved family. )

According to Ed White, the informant on Isaac Blakey’s death certificated , Isaac was an African born in 1845 in Missouri. Isaac's father was Andrew White.

According to Ernest White,  the informant on John WHITE's death certificate, John was born about 1858 in Missouri. John's parents were Andrew White  and Julia White. (I found no other record with John with the Blakey surname.)  

According to Mrs., Fannie White, the informant on  Spencer White's death certificate, his  parents’ names were Andrew White and Julia Finney. They were born in Virginia. Spencer was a sibling to Isaac, John, Mattie and Richard. 

According to Mrs. Belle White, the informant on Richard White's death certificated, his parents were unknown. Richard was born in 1866. I haven't located Mattie White's death corticated. She does have descendants. 

If you want to read my Blog Series in 12 parts about the article” Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion, click Blog Series link above. I wasn’t out to disprove what was in the article. My  aim was to verify what oral history stated. 

I still wonder about the mother and 5 children came to New Orleans on a ship.  I did find a record of a  Julia White listed on record in 1843 on a ship called Orleans from Petersburg to New Orleans. She was 23 years old, born about 1823. This made me wonder. 

This was posted on July 4, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site
I  updated this blog in July of 2022. 

August In Remembrance
Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

Thanks for reading.
Conflict ~  In Information #52Ancestors ~ Week 26
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Week 26: Conflict via Generations Café on facebook

Conflict seems to be part of the human experience. How did it affect your ancestors? It could be through war, legal conflicts, or bad relationships. You could also think about having to resolve conflicting evidence in your research. Feel free to share your posts and stories in the comments below

Power In The Bloodline

 There is power in the family bloodline.

I believe that “We are our ancestors dreams.”
And that they wanted better things for their descendants.  We have to search and keep searching for leads and to make those discoveries that we are dreaming about. We want to learn more about our ancestors through the generations. 

May we see what we discover and learn that  our ancestors were to be an example for us. May we live as we love and learn from how we live our lives; the best way we know how. May each generation keep pressing on with the legacy that our ancestors passed on to us.

May we continue to keep the family history alive for future generations. May we document and write what we know and discover about our ancestors. May we share stories with family and friends so that our ancestors' names be heard. May we remember and honor our ancestors and relatives as much as we can. 

The photo is the cover of the July 2 - 3,  1983 Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Reunion Booklet. The reunion was held in St. Paul Minnesota. This was my first family reunion that I attended.




Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connection
In Remembrance of  

July In Remembrance:
Richard WHITE Sr.'s  Spencer WHITE's and
Martha "Mattie" WHITE's  Family Connections

Isaac BLAKEY Sr.'s Family Connections

Thanks for reading
Power In The Bloodline #52Ancestor ~ Week 8

God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

 This post was on February 28, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley on another website.
I added what's in italics to this blog.

Week 8 (Feb. 22-28): Power ~ Genealogy Café via facebook
“Power.” Does that mean physical strength, political power, power in the family, electrical power? Yes.  It’s a vague theme on purpose  It’s whatever the theme sparks in you. Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father’s Day, Heavenly Father!

Happy Father’s Day Everyone!

I’m thankful for the dad in whom God gave the honor to be my dad.
I’m thankful for the memories of my dad and all the things he shared with me.

I’m so thankful for my family history and all that God has allowed me to discover.
I’m thankful for the lineage that God birthed me into.

Photos of my father, David on the left
He was the son of John Blakey / Blakley and Jennie (Bartlett) Lyles.
David was the father of 19.

My father’s Grandfather, Private Isaac Blakey aka. Isaac White/ Blakey.
Isaac was enslaved in Missouri and later became a free man.
Isaac was a veteran: Civil War 1863 – 1866: Served in Mississippi: Union.
He was the son of Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White.
Isaac was the father of 20.

Thanks for reading.
Father’s Day #52Ancestors ~ Week 24
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Blakey Blakley WHITE In Remembrance June 


Posted on June 20, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley on another blog site. 
Week 24: Father’s Day ~ “In the US, Father’s Day is this coming Sunday (June 20), so what better time to have the theme of “Father’s Day”? Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.” via Generations Café on facebook

 

Visual Text : What Is That Name?

 My Great Uncle John White and his wife Katie were listed on the 1900 United States Federal Census with five of their children.. And for years, I’ve been trying to figure out one of the names on that census. The census taker recorded one of the daughter’s first name in a way its unreadable. But the indexer transcribe the name as LEBURTER.

I couldn’t make that name out for nothing. Indeed, it was a name that the census taker couldn’t spell and the indexer couldn’t figure out the interpretation. However, a name was recorded for whosoever to see. I’m one of those whosoever.

For years, I have tried to see that name. And through the years, I would look at the name on the census. I would wonder. How was the name spelled? And I would write the name as I saw the letters The indexer wrote. Leburter, What about Le bertia / Lebertia , Luberta., Laberta?

The first cropped photo is of the 1900 United States Federal census for Chariton County Missouri. John’s and Kate’s daughter wasn’t listed on the 1910 or 1920 censuses. So, I assumed that she passed.



There were some clues from the relatives listed on the 1910 and 1920 censuses. These clues led me to see how the name on that 1900 census could have been spelled. I stumble across an obituary of one of the relative on the 1910 and 1920 censuses. I believe that the relative’s mother was the same person on the 1900 census.  

The second cropped photo was from the 1910 Untied States Federal Chariton County Missouri census.



On the 1910 census, John and Katherine “Kate” White were listed with daughters Arena / Irene and Erma. There was a grandson listed with the name Leo KAYSON. I thought to myself: Who was Leo’s parents. I started searching for Leo KAYSON or Leo CASON.

The third cropped photo is of the 1920 United States Federal Chariton County Missouri census.




On the 1920 census, Mrs. John White a.k.a. Kate White was listed with her two daughters, Irene WHTIE,, Emma WHITE and, two grandchildren; Leo WHITE and Louise WHITE.

Questions: Who were Katie’s grandchildren’s parents? And what was Leo’s surname?

Note that on the 1910 census Kate White was listed with having 11 children in which 3 were living living at that time.. This narrows it down to who the parent could have been. Which one?

Well, Irene / Arena had no children Alice and Emma / Erma were too young to have children. So, was the parent, Earnest? or Leburter? Or perhaps each had a child?

What Was Leo’s Surname?
I wasn’t for sure if Leo’s surname was KAYSON / CASON or WHITE. I had searched for both surnames. Some years ago, I came up with Leo CASON and Leo CASIN who was born in Missouri but, lived in Illinois. I couldn’t make the connections until the end of the first week of May 2022. And with further searching the newspapers, I see the family connections.

I discovered a Leo CASON on the 1950 Illinois census. He was the same Leo in whom I was searching years ago. And then on Friday, May 6, 2022, I stumbled across his obituary.

Leo’s full name was Leon Moline CASON. He was born on June 1, 1903 in Forest Green, Missouri. His parents were Sidney “Sid” Cason and Lee Berta (WHITE) Cason. Leon passed in April 1979 in Moline Illinois.

I believe that Leo CASON’s mother was Lee Berta (or Leberta) White who was the daughter of John White and Katherine (Estill) White. The WHITEs cared for Leo (and Louise after their mothers passed). When I saw Leo’s mother’s first and maiden name, I saw the connections. The place of birth and the father’s name were other clues.

More Family Connections
Sidney “Sid” Cason had some family connections with the WHITE family. Sidney’s sister Dora (Cason) White Craig and she had d a daughter Obenetta “Benetta” Craig who was the daughter of Spencer WHITE.

Spencer WHITE was Lee Berta’s uncle. Sidney also knew relatives Andrew WHITE and Patrick “Pat” White who was the son of Martha “Matt” White . “Mattie” was the sister of Spencer WHITE.

Sid CASON was shot by Lorman “Lawman” Bentley. ” Lawman” was the father of Bob Ella (BENTLEY) CARR/ Bob Ella was the daughter of Martha “Mattie” WHITE.

NOTE: Spencer and Martha “Mattie” were the brother of John WHITE.
That Andrew WHITE was believe to have been a sibling as well.

It’s a small world when we search for relatives and find more connections while searching. The names that I’ve been seeing in the past are popping up with other people. I say to myself, “I’ve seen that name before.” The family was connected to other families where they resided..

I hope to discover more on my family connections. I have more unsolved mysteries out there. I wonder, whatever happened to Lee Berta’s sisters: Alice, Irene / Arena and Emma? May there be clues to follow up on. I hope so.

Who was Louise White’s Parents?
As I was searching for Louise WHITE, I stumbled across her parents. I believe that her father was Earnest WHITE and Kate (NICHOLS) WHITE. I’m working on that story. It’s an amazing discovery

Blakey Blakley WHITE In Remembrance June 

Thanks for reading.
Visual Text : What Is That Name?
God Bless
S.A. Blakley

I changed the theme from TEXTILE to Visual TEXT.

Week 20 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café ~ #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Week 20’s theme is “Textile.” Clothing, quilts, weaving — there are so many ways to talk about textiles in our family history! Be creative with this week’s theme!

How Do You Spell That? BLAK*** ?

As I was growing up, I learned how to spell my full name. And through time, people began to spell BLAKLEY their way. I choose to correct them. ( I still do.)

It was during the 1970’s when I was told that the family surname was actually BLAKEY. And through farther searching, I discovered that surname before that was WHITE. All these surname changes.

And as I began searching for information on my Grandfather, John, he was the one who changed the surname to BLAKLEY. I wonder why? And why other relatives spelled their surname BLAKEY? And why others carried the WHITE surname?

I acknowledge that my Grandfather John’s surnames was BLAKEY / BLAKLEY. He and his twin Andrew BLAKEY were born on Hew Davis Plantation in Woodville, Mississippi on Wednesday, June 21, 1871. Their parents were Isaac BLAKEY Sr. (1845 – 1917) and Martha Scott BLAKEY ( 1847-1871).

Isaac BLAKEY was also known as. Isaac WHITE. Isaac BLAKEY was enslaved in Missouri. He later received his freedom as a teenager. He severed during the Civil War in Mississippi in the Union Army as Private Isaac BLAKER. (1863 – 1866) I acknowledge Isaac with the surnames of WHITE / BLAKEY.

The family BLAKEY / BLAKLEY surnames: How Do You Spell That?
I thought about the surname change. Why did my Grandfather John change his surname From BLAKEY to BLAKLEY? He added the second L. From KEY to KELY. They sound different.

I was told that there were too many John BLAKEYs. This would be lead to some confusion. John’s father, Isaac married Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) on July 3, 1873 in Mississippi. They had 18 children There must have been a lot of John BLAKEYs in the family. Imagine if they lived in the same city?

I was searching and exploring the many ways how people recorded the spelling of my Grandfather John’s surname through public records. I started out with censuses, city directories, newspapers, marriage record, birth index, death records and so forth.

The oldest record on John’s surname was recorded on the 1880 Missouri census. It was WHITE. The family was living in Chariton County in Missouri. On John’s father’ Isaacs Civil War pension records, John’s surname was spelled BLAKER and BLAKEY.

I don’t know when John moved from Chariton County in Missouri to Carroll County in, Missouri. Perhaps around 1900. He was listed on the 1900 Census in Carrollton, Missouri with the BLAKELY surname.

John married my Grandmother Jennie BARTLETT in Excelsior Springs, Clay, Missouri on July 28, 1902. His surname was recorded as BLAKYE. John moved to St. Joseph, Missouri where Jennie was living. Jennie was from Carrollton, Missouri.

I traced John’s surnames through all records that I have found on him via public records from his children’s birth and death records. His surnames were BLAKELEY, BLAKELY, BLACKE, BLAKEY , BLAKLEY from 1902 to 1918.

Three months before Grandpa John passed on July 10, 1918 in Yankton, South Dakota, his last child had the BLAKLEY surname. The child passed at 11 months old. John was the father of 12 children. Seven children were living at the time of his death. On John’s death record his surname is BLAKEY. He was also known as John BLAKLEY Sr.

I’ve come across many other spelling of the BLAKLEY surname and I googled to see other spelling.
BLAKLI, BLAKY, BLACKLEY, BLACKY, BERKLEY

BLAKLEE, BLAKLEA , BLAKELEE, BLAKLELIE,

BLAKESLEY, BLAKELEIGH,

I ordered a birthday cake and this was how my last name was spelled. (There was a time it was BLAKEY.) How Do You Pronounce This?

How Do You Spell That?

We all have our style in handwriting. And we pronounce words differently.. And what we hear and how we received effects how we write. This makes the difference in how we interrupt things we read.

In some cases, it could have been that ” the writer” had trouble spelling. And more so troubling making out what people were saying, when they were writing. And it’s hard to figure out people’s handwriting.

Some Thoughts: I discovered that BLAKELY is a girls name too.

I’m amazed by what family information I have gathered over the years. And from tine to tine, I go back over what I have . When I do this, I’m rediscovering things that I may have over looked. I am finding more pieces to the puzzle as I’m on my family connection saga.

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site.

In Remembrance Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

Thanks for reading.
How Do You Spell That?
God bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 15 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Cafe ~ #52Ancestors 52 Weeks
One of the things I tell people who are starting out in their family history journey is to not get hung up on a spelling. It’s amazing how many ways a name can be spelled. (Just visit your local Starbucks, and you’ll know what I mean!) Who is an ancestor who might have had trouble with people mangling their name?

 

May In Remembrance: The Blakey / Blakley WHITE Family Connections

 Welcome To The Month Of May!

Some of  The Descendants of Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

In Memory of  Alex MORRIS 
He was  born sometime in May of 1886. He was the husband of Alberta / Bertha (WHITE) MORRIS. She was the daughter of Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane WHITE.

In Memory of Tony Willard HOUSTON
He was born on May 1, 1920.  He was the son of Edward HOUSTON and Rena (WHITE) HOUSTON.

In Memory of   Henry Cliffton Harris Sr.
 He was born on May 1, 1922. Henry was the husband of Claritha " Clarissa" (CRAIG) HARRIS.  ~ Branch of Oscar and Odell (WHITE) CRAIG.

 John WHITE and Katherine (ESTILL) WHITE

In Memory of  Irene WHITE
She was born sometime in May of 1882.
She was the daughter of John WHITE and Katherine (ESTILL) WHITE.

Martha "Mattie" WHITE 
 In Memory of  Martha / Mattie WHITE
She was believed to have been born sometime in May of 1862. 

The Isaac BLAKEY and Martha (SCOTT) BLAKEY Family Connections:
Branch of  John and Jennie BLAKEY / BLAKLEY

  In Memory of    Jennie (BARTLET) BLAKEY /  LYLES.
She was believed to have been born sometime in May of 1883. She was the daughter of Elias and Harriett  BARTLETT. She was the wife of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY Sr.

In Memory of  Bonnie RICHARDSON. She was born on May 1,  1949. She was the daughter of Eugene T. RICHARDSON and Mary Jane (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.

The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

In Memory of Nathaniel BLAKEY.
He passed on May 2,  2001. 


In Memory of  Winona Marie (BLAKEY) MORROW.
She passed on May 4, 2003. 

Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

In Memory of  Robert HEMSLEY Jr. 
 He was killed in an automobile accident on May 5,  2013.

 In Memory of Richard Roosevelt WHITE. 
 He was born on May 6,  1911. ~ 
He was the son of Richard "Dick" WHITE and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE

The Isaac BLAKEY and Martha (SCOTT) BLAKEY Family Connections:
Branch of  John and Jennie BLAKEY / BLAKLEY

In Memory of Lula M. BLAKLEY. She was born on May 7, 1947

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

In Memory of  Otis C. HAYES. He passed on May 8, 2013.

The Isaac BLAKEY and Martha (SCOTT) BLAKEY Family Connections:
Branch of  John and Jennie BLAKEY / BLAKLEY

In Memory of  Mary Kay (RICHARDSON) CUNINGHAM.
She passed on May 10, 2003.

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

In Memory of  Raydell  WHITE. 
He passed on May 11, 1982. 

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

In Memory of Pamela Kaye STOCK.
 She was born on May 11. 1964. ~  Branch of Leroy Sr. and Thelma BLAKEY

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

 In Memory of  Janie (WHITE) SMITH. 
She was born on May 12, 1947. She was the daughter of Moses WHITE Sr. and Etta Mae (WILLIAMS) WHITE.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

Isaac BLAKEY
In Memory of Isaac BLAKEY a.k.a Private Isaac BLAKER.
He was discharged from the army on May 13,  1866. 

In Memory of  Archie BLAKEY. 
He was born on May 13, 1904. He was the son of Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections 

In Memory of  Pinkie / Pinkey Romaine (CARTER) EVANS. 
She passed on May 13,  2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

In Memory of John Clarence LATIMER.
He passed on May 14, 1976. ~  

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

In Memory of Joyce Aliene (HALSEY) WHITE.
She was born on May 16, 1949. She was the wife of Festus Jonathan WHITE.  ~ Branch of Rev Thomas and Mary WHITE.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections
In Memory of Patricia Lynette "Patsy 'LANKFARD She was born on May 16, 1949. She was the daughter of Robert L. LANKFARD and Irene (BLAKEY) KEMP

 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

 In Memory of  Rene (WHITE) HOUSTON 
She was born on May 17, 1900.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

 In Memory of William Russell STARKEY
He born on May 18, 1918 in Iowa. ~  Branch of Henry Sr. and Mary E. BLAKEY.

In Memory of Norma Jean Leonita ( THOMSAS) HANCOCK
 She was born on May 18, 1941. She was the daughter of Leon THOMAS and Carrie BLAKEY THOMAS. 

 In Memory of Elizabeth A. "Baby Doll" ( JACKSON) BLAKEY.
She passed on May 19,  2009.    ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

 In Memory of Catherine Louise "Kate" (KELLY) BLAKEY. 
She was born on May 20, 1921 in Oregon.   ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

 In Memory of  Mary Jane (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.
She passed on May 21, 2001.

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections
 .
 In Memory of  Odell (WHITE) CRAIG. She passed on May 22, 1943

In Memory of  Briant Courtney WHITE. 
He was born on May 25, 1985.  ~ Branch of Otis and Delores (HALL) HAYES.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

Isaac BLAKEY Sr,
In Memory of Isaac BLAKEY a.k.a Private Isaac BLAKER.
He was discharged from the army on May 13,  1866. 
 
The Isaac BLAKEY and Martha (SCOTT) BLAKEY Family Connections:
Branch of  John and Jennie BLAKEY / BLAKLEY

  In Memory of    Jennie (BARTLET) BLAKEY /  LYLES. She was believed to have been born sometime in May of 1883. She was the daughter of Elias and Harriett  BARTLETT. She was the wife of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY Sr.

In Memory of  Bonnie RICHARDSON
 She was born on May 1,  1949. She was the daughter of Eugene T. RICHARDSON and Mary Jane (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.

In Memory of Lula M. BLAKLEY
She was born on May 7, 1947.

In Memory of  Mary Kay (RICHARDSON) CUNINGHAM.
She passed on May 10, 2003.

 In Memory of  Mary Jane (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.
She passed on May 21, 2001.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

In Memory of Edward "Ed"  HAYES.
 He was born on  May 22, 1884 in Keysville, MO. He was the husband of Lillie "Susie" (BLAKEY) HAYES.  
 In Memory of  Maybelle (BLAKEY) GUYTON.
She passed sometime in May of 1963. 

In Memory of Nathaniel BLAKEY.
He passed on May 2,  2001. 

 In Memory of Winona Marie (BLAKEY) MORROW.  She was born on May 11, 1942 and passed on May 4, 2003.

In Memory of Pamela Kaye STOCK
She was born on May 11. 1964. ~  Branch of Leroy Sr. and Thelma BLAKEY

 In Memory of  Archie BLAKEY
He was born on May 13, 1904. He was the son of Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections 

In Memory of  Pinkie / Pinkey Romaine (CARTER) EVANS. 
She passed on May 13,  2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

In Memory of John Clarence LATIMER.
He passed on May 14, 1976. ~  

In Memory of  John Tyler "Johnnie" TOLSON. 
He passed on May 15, 1972.  Branch of Ernest and Martha HAYES.

 In Memory of William Russell STARKEY
 He born on May 18, 1918 in Iowa. ~  Branch of Henry Sr. and Mary E. BLAKEY.

In Memory of Norma Jean Leonita ( THOMSAS) HANCOCK. 
She was born on May 18, 1941. She was the daughter of Leon THOMAS and Carrie BLAKEY THOMAS. 

 In Memory of Elizabeth A. "Baby Doll" ( JACKSON) BLAKEY.
She passed on May 19,  2009.    ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

 In Memory of Catherine Louise "Kate" (KELLY) BLAKEY
 She was born on May 20, 1921 in Oregon.   ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

n Memory of  Briant Courtney WHITE
He was born on May 25, 1985.  ~ Branch of Otis and Delores (HALL) HAYES.

 Richard "Dick" WHITE Sr.
 The Richard WHITE Sr. and Jane (FERGUSON) WHITE Family Connections

 In Memory of  Rochelle KNOWLES
She was born on May 29,  1968 in Sioux City, Iowa.  ~ Branch of Leroy E. Sr. and Thelma BLAKEY. ~ Spencer and L. Mary BLAKEY.

 The Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY Family Connections

In Memory of Mary Lee (TOOLEY) WHITE.
She was born on May 29, 1898 in Fayette, Missouri. She was the wife of the Rev. Thomas A. WHITE.

In Memory of Lorine (BOSTON) HAYES ~ She passed on May 29, 2008 in Sioux City, Iowa.  ~ Branch of  Ernest and Martha (BLAKEY) HAYES.

In Memory of  Cass V. BLAKEY
 He was born on May 31, 1962 in MN.  ~ Branch of Isaac and Maggie BLAKEY.

Updated when available
Compiled and rearranged from the original list by Susan Ann Blakley
February 9, 2023