On My 40+ Year Journey: Searching For My Family Connections

Have A Happy Thanksgiving! 

I love discovering my family connections. The more I come across leads, it encourages me to keep searching.  This gives me a good feeling inside. It leaves me to think that I’m on the right track. Oh, the mystery!

I began my journey, well over 39 years. However, the spark of my journey begin around the Summer of 1976 through 1978. It was when I saw photos discovered at my Grandmother, Mary’s home. And the mini series “Roots” was coming on T. V.

As I’m searching through old newspapers, I’m seeing some things that I didn’t realize. I’m thankful for the tool of old newspapers. It has brought out more in my relatives lives.

I’m trying to connect the dots with my new findings. It makes me wonder. I believe that there is more out there. I don’t know where to search.

It was 39 years ago, October 30, 1981, I took a journey to Sioux City Iowa with my sister, Mary and her boyfriend and future husband, Roger. We were heading to Yankton South Dakota on Oct 31 to visit our Great Aunt Mary and some cousins. They were going to share some things about our family history.

Saturday, October 31, 1981 was the day I was told that Isaac Blakey was my Great Grandfather. I thought John Blakey was. Isaac fought in the Civil War. That blew my thinking.

As I reflect back over my 1981 journey, I’m thankful that we went. I’ve come along ways. I have reconnected with some of my Sioux City and South Dakota relatives on facebook and found more long lost relatives.

Then when I started connecting with some DNA relatives, the journey has become more and more interesting. I’ve been contacted by DNA cousins since Oct 24, 2014. There are many we’re trying to discover how we are related.

One surprising note about my journey to discover my family connection, I have a DNA match with my brother in law’s sister, Terri. We stayed at her house in 1981. What a small world we live in. Yes, my brother in law is my distant cousin. We don’t know who our common ancestors are.

My quest continues.
I’m so thankful for all that I have stumbled across on my lineage

In Remembrance November BBW Family Connections. 

Thanks for reading.

My 40+ Year Journey: Searching For My Family Connections

God bless you. 
S.A. Blakley 

Blogger Has Changed

 Welcome to the 4th Quarter!

Things have changed on blogger. I can't blog like I use to. I'm having trouble getting use to the new set up. I can't figure out how to future post or add links. This is sad.

But, I'm getting use to the changes as I play around with things. My old post are still there, thank God.  I have managed to do somethings. 

 Here's the link for October In Remembrance. 

God bless you. 
Thanks for reading.

 S.A.Blakley

Slowing Down On Searching Family Connections

Welcome to September!

We have to keep pressing on during this coronavirus pandemic.
Be safe and please go by the CDC guidelines.

I continue to  blog on my 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks.. I've been slowing down on searching for my family connections.  I'm rereading articles and information that I have come across.

While I'm doing my 52 week challenge of blogging about some of my relatives, I'm having to review some things. It's a task in itself. It's a good think to recheck things.

I received news of some relatives who have passed. I can't locate their death records. I'm checking. It's sad to hear news of loved ones who have passing.

I hope that all is well with you. If not I pray that things will get better. Keep believing God will see us through this pandemic.

In Remembrance: Updated when available.

September  In Remembrance
The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections.

In Loving Memory of Gerald O. "Jerry" Gardner passed in July 2020.
He was the husband of Carolyn Blakey.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you. 
S.A. Blakley

Reviewing Information: Verifying Things As Possible

 Welcome to the month of August!

I hope all are well.
The coronavirus is still with us.
Be safe.

I continue to search over what I have. It's time consuming. I have come across some things I have overlooked.

I keep hoping that I will stumble across some clues. It's been a long trail to follow. I can get weary on the way. There are brick walls. When we can go nowhere.

 Here's my #52Ancestors 52 Weeks on my wordpress site.
I post a blog on Fridays. I'm posting on both my parents' sides. 

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S. A. Blakley

 
In Loving Memory of Branch of BLAKEY BLAKLEY WHITE 
Some Descendants of Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE

In Memory of John Blakey BLAKLEY Sr.

John BLAKEY was born on Hew Davis Plantation in Woodville, Mississippi on Wednesday, June 21, 1871. He was the twin of Andrew Blakey. Andrew passed with their mother, Martha Scott Blakey date unknown. Private Isaac BLAKEY Sr. was the father of the twins. 

Throughout John's lifetime, he worked various jobs as a grader, worked as a hired and perhaps other jobs to support his family. On Monday, July 28, 1902, John married  Jennie Bartlett in Excelsior Spring, Missouri.  Their names were recorded as John BLAKYE and Jennie BARTLE.John and Jennie surname was changed to BLAKLEY  sometime between 1902 - 1910.
 
Some time during the mid 19 teens, John traveled to Yankton South Dakota. John had written to his brothers, Spencer Blakey and Henry Blakey asking them if they could  find a farm for his family could live. The brothers couldn't find a farm but, they found a house.

In the Summer of 1918, John was preparing to return to Missouri and gather his family to return to Yankton. However, he caught a cold  and was sick with tuberculosis / T.B. ( The Spanish Flu pandemic was  during this time.)

John didn't make the journey back to Missouri. At the age of 47, he passed in a covered wagon near his brother, Henry Blakey in Yankton, South Dakota on Wednesday, July 10, 1918

It's recorded that John was buried in Yankton, SD with the Blakey surname. As for his widow Jennie. She was told of his death through a letter. (The source of information was from Raymond Blakey. He could recall if John's body was brought back to Missouri.) Three months before John passed, the last child of Jennie and John passed at 11 months old. John was the father of about 12 children. Seven children were living at the time of his death

Some Thoughts:
I thought about about the journey to Yankton. I made the trip to Yankton, S.D. in October 1981 and July of 1995. I imagined how this journey could have been during the time of my Grandpa John. 

I was wondering; what my grandfather John Blakey / Blakley could have looked like? I wish that there was a photo of him  I was told that John looked like his brother, Spencer.

I believe that a child can looked just like one of  their parents. I wonder which one of  the Blakley children looked like their father.  I see the resemblance in the Blakley siblings. 


Thanks for reading
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Still Searching Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

It's the Second Half of  twenty twenty!

 I'm hoping that things will get better. This virus has us a places we have never been.  Hang in there!

I have been colorizing and enhancing photos.  They are so amazing. This method in technology brings life to the photos. The photo are beautiful.

I've been journaling on #52Ancestors 52 Weeks on my wordpress site.  I have a weekly theme to think about. And I post mine on Fridays.

I hope all  will make the most of  month of July!
Be safe, Wear you face covering, Keep your distance, Wash your hands and Stay CoOL!

The July In Remembrance links are listed below.
I update the Family Connections Information when available.

In Remembrance: July
Some Descendants of Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.

S. A. Blakley

Summer TIme Journaling

Welcome to June!

I hope that you are doing well. The The Summer months are upon us. In times such as the coronavirus, I hope that you are keeping your distance and choosing to wear a mask. I do. Stay safe. 

 I'm in the season to journal. I've been blogging more since April on my other sites. I've been behind on updating and re checking some things on my family connections. 

I hope all will have a Good month of June!
Happy Summer Time!Stay Cool!

Thanks for reading.Peace!
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

I update the Family Connections Information when available.

June In Loving Memory:
Some of the Descendants of Andrew and Julia ( FINNEY)WHITE
Branch John, Mattie and Richard WHITE

June In Loving Memory:
Some of The Descendants of Andrew and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE
Branch of Isaac Blakey, Civil War Vet