The Name Orbrey Begins With A Vowel

 I was thinking about some of relatives who’s names that begin with a vowel; A. E I. O U. And I searched and found many. I choose the vowel O as in ORBREY. I didn’t know Orbrey was a surname too.

My Uncle ,The Reverend Orbrey Person Blakley (1912 – 1943)
He was the brother of my father, David.

His first and middle name have been spelled many ways. I see way he went by O.P. Blakley.
St. Joseph News-Press , St. Joseph, Missouri on 30 Oct 1940, Wed  •  Page 12

The newspaper had his name as Ordery Pearson Blakley.
He signed his name to the Draft card as Rev Orbrey Pearson Blakley.

His first name was rarely spelled in documents. And his middle name Pearson could have been pronounced as Pierson. The i is missing in Person. On his tombstone Rev O. Person Blakley.

A few other vowel names along with nicknames on my family tree

Add, Addison, Adward, Albert, Alberta, Alias, Alie, Alice,  Alma, Amanda, Amaya, Ana,
Andrew, Anna, Annie, Angelia, Annette,  

Eboni, Ethan, Ethel, Emmanuel, Ed, Eddie, Edgar, Edna, Edward, Edwin,
Eugene, Elias, Elise, Ellen, Ella, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Emma, Erica, Earnest, Earnestine,

Idella, Irene, Irma, Isabella, Iky, Ike, Isaac, Ivy,

Obennatta, Odell, Ollie, Oscar, Ottie, Otto, Otis,

Uldene.

Thanks for reading.
The Name Orbrey: Begins With A Vowel: Week 14 In 2023

R.I.P. Uncle Orbrey

I did a face comparison on Family Search.
My Uncle Orbrey and I have 71% in our face comparison.
He was born on September 17, 1912. and passed on January 3, 1943. 

Blessings,
S.A.Blakley

 In Remembrance: BBW Family Connections
Branches of Spencer, John, Martha, and Richard WHITE

 Branches of Isaac Blakey Sr. 

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Susan Ann Blakley on my word press site. Except for in remembrance.

Week 14 ~ Amy Johnson Crow #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge

The theme for Week 14 is “Begins with a Vowel.” Chances are there is someone in your family tree whose name begins with a vowel… or lived in a place that begins with a vowel…  or had an occupation that begins with a vowel….  You get the idea  Have fun with this week’s prompt!

Mistakes While Searching

 As I’ve been reflecting back over my years of searching my family connections, I’ve been thinking. Am I as interested in my family history now than as I was when I was growing up? I know for sure that I’m more excited about knowing more on my family history now than when I was much younger.

Back than, I didn’t know how to go about searching. Or what to ask my relatives. I was shy. Now, that my curiosity has grown, I have questions. And I ponder them. And I search to discover whatever I can find out from what I was told by relatives.

What are some of my mistakes I’ve made along my family connections journey?

I was assuming that all the information I had was correct but later found out some were false. I was using a few sources and not comparing the evident with documents to back things up. I was not reading the whole documents and didn’t search for more clues. I was not checking all the sources available
.
I was not using a system to compile my information and up dating things. I was adding some of my in laws’ lineage to my tree who aren’t related to me. I was jumped around searching for a lot people and not focusing on one person or family. I accidently deleted people from my tree and had to re add them.

And in all of these mistakes, I wish that I shouldn’t have done them. However, I think that there is some good in making mistakes. We can learn from them.

Yes, I have made lots of mistakes while on my family quest to discover more on my family history. I see that I need to review what I discovered on a regular bases. I see this is a mistake when I don’t look over what I have. This makes me aware that there may be new information waiting to be discovered.

Yes, only if I would have listened more to what my relatives were sharing about the family. I should have recorded the stories while it was fresh in my thoughts. Then should have went back over what was shared.

The cropped photo is of the cover of my Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections ~ Book III. “By Word Of Mouth” journal. I did write down some of what my parents shared with me. I re read this journal from time to time. And I have found some clues to what my parents shared with me. My parents words still speak to me.

I continue to have a notebook recording. My current one is “The Stories We Tell.” When some of my siblings and relatives are sharing some things about back in the days, I jot what they say down. I continue to search newspapers for articles for additional information.



Some Experiences From My Mistakes
There are some things that I have been noticing as I’m spotting my mistakes. I discovered this as I was matching up information. Things didn’t match up. There came a time when I had to re do a person the tree. I’ve learn to check things out and need to review my family connections profiles for updates.

While I was preparing this blog, another theme come to me. I’m working OVERLOOKED; The theme for Week 48 In 2022. These mistakes that I’ve overlooked were on a census. This is on my 2nd Great Grandfather Elias W. Bartlett Sr.’s Family Connections. I’ll post in early December of 2022.

What can we do with our mistakes?

I’ve learned that mistakes can make us better or bitter. We can’t change with we did. Bu, we should learn from them. In some cases, we can improve on what we did wrong and try not do it again. We can see what we did in a new light. We can make our mistakes into something better and positive. And discover something else from the mistakes.

One day, I was on my family tree adding things. I was in a hurry trying to login out. I didn’t login out. I accidently deleted a person from my tree. And when I didn’t that I said OH NO!. I saw all the information that I gathered on that person vanish before me eyes.

My first reaction was not get mad. I took a deep breath. And I started adding the person back on my tree. It took a while. I continue to learn my lessons to slow down and watch what I’m clicking on. Even with the final look at this blog, I made a mistake.

May we learn from our mistakes and see the good in them.
May more ideas to blog come to us as we journal
May we share about our searches and family connections.
Amen.

Thanks for reading.
Mistakes While Searching ~ Week 23 In 2022
God bless

S.A. Blakley

August In Remembrance Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections  

Blog posted on June 11, 2022 by Susan Ann Blakley on word press except the August In Remembrance part. 

Week 23 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café #52Ancestors 52 Weeks ~ facebook

Mistakes. We all make them — and that includes us and our ancestors. What’s a mistake that an ancestor made? What’s a mistake that you’ve made in your research?

Wondering While Stumbling Across Findings: Fast #52Ancestors Week 25 In 2023

 About 15 years ago, someone asked me if I knew that the Missouri Death Certificates were free online. I didn’t know that. So, I googled and found the Missouri Digital Heritage website. Back then, it was at 1910 – 1957. In 2023 the records are at 1910 – 1972. One year is release to the public each year.

My journey began as I typed in surnames and plugged in counties for all my Missouri family connections. And I made a lot new discoveries and continue to do so this day. Indeed, I was excited with my findings on my Blakey Blakley and WHITE Family Connections.

I came across people; I wasn’t for sure if they were connected. For example; there were two Spencer White’s. The older one who passed in 1929. He could have been the brother of my Grandfather, John Blakey Blakley. This Spencer wasn’t living in the area where my other Blakey WHITE family members were living; in Howard / Chariton Counties in Missouri. This Spencer passed in Moberly, Randolph County Missouri.

Oh, how I wanted this Spencer born in 1856 to be my Great Uncle Spencer. On his death certificate, his parents names were listed as Ander WHITE and Julia FINNEY, they were born in Missouri. I believe that he was he correct Spencer. However, a part of me was not sure. The Andrew White and Julia I was searching for were born in Virginia. I kept searching for proof .

I gathered all what I could and compared this Spencer with the other records of Spencer’ White’s findings. I was hoping to find an obituary. This would solve this matter. An so my quest continued. I started searching the newspapers.

It was about eight years ago on July 11, 2015 when I made the discovery of Spencer White’s obituary. This was the confirmation that connected him with the Blakey WHITE Family. His sister Martha “Mattie” WHITE and brother Richard “Dick” WHITE were listed on the obituary.

Moberly Monitor-Index ~ Moberly, Missouri • Thu, May 16, 1929 Page 12

I could have assumed that Spencer White was the correct one 15 years ago. I was looking for verification. And I found it. Note: Spencer White (1852 – 1929) The 1880 census states the Spencer was born in 1852. According to a 1858 enslaved advertisement, he was about 6.

In conclusion. I can assume that the people I come across are my family. However, through further searching, I discovered that it wasn’t the case. So far I have had a number of challenges to were there are people with the same names living in the same city. How to figure out who’s who? The city directories and census records helped out a lot.

Thanks for reading,
Wondering While Stumbling Across Findings: Fast #52Ancestors Week 25 In 2023

Blessings
S.A. Blakley

In Memory The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections. 

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

Isaac BLAKEY Sr.'s Family Connections

This blog is a repost from my blog on word press. 
Idea from Week 25 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge

The theme for Week 25 is “Fast.” I feel the need… the need for speed! (Yeah, the coffee has kicked in.) This theme might make you think of cars or horses, but it could also be an ancestor who didn’t take long to find. Don’t forget about names like Quick and Race! Have fun with this theme!

In Memory Of Martha Scott Blakey

 I wish that there was more information about Martha (Scott) Blakey

Who was Martha? She was my father’s grandmother.

Martha was from Mississippi. Her birth year could have been between 1846 – 1852. Her parents are unknown. Only what’s known about her was found in a few records. Here’s what can be said about her.

It was in Mississippi, where Martha met her future husband, the Civil War veteran Isaac BLAKEY (1845 – 1917. He was also known as Private Isaac BLAKER. They knew each other a few years before they were married on February 13, 1870 in Wilkinson County Mississippi on Hew Davis Plantation. Their names were recorded as Isaac BAKER and Martha SCOTT. (She was Isaac’s first wife.)

Isaac and Martha could have met around 1867 or 1868 on Hew Davis Plantation. This would be the time span of three years that Isaac knew Martha before she passed in 1871. (Isaac’s second wife was Rachel (JACKSON / LEPHRIDGE) BLAKEY (1857 – 1916)

Martha and Isaac had twin sons. Their names were John BLAKEY and Andrew BLAKEY. They were born on June 21, 1871. John BLAKEY (1871 – 1918) was my grandfather. He later changed his surname to BLAKLEY.



According to Isaac’s pension files, Martha passed in Woodville Mississippi. She mostly died due to complications while giving birth to her sons in June of 1871. ~ Martha; gone to soon.

Martha passed at Hew Davis Plantation. (I wonder if the name was Hugh Davis.)



The Mystery of Martha
I can’t locate Isaac or Martha on the 1870 in Mississippi. Nor can I locate Isaac’s mother, Julia WHITE and siblings in Natchez, Mississippi. I continue to search. T. I have tried different surnames. BLAKEY, BLAKER, BAKER, WHITE and SCOTT. Though Martha left to soon, I believe that there is more about her

Thanks for reading. (Repost from word press site)
In Memory Of Martha Scott Blakey: Gone To Soon ~ #52Ancestors Week 9 In 2023

Photos: Documents from Isaac BLAKEY’s pension files.

Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections: In Memory  For June

Thanks for reading

Blessings,
S.A. Blakley 


Week 9 ~ Amy Johnson Crow #52Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge

The theme for Week 9 is “Gone Too Soon.” How much time is enough? Just a little bit more…  This week is a good time to write about someone who you’d like to have a little (or a lot) more time with.

Same Name Isaac Blakey

Isaac Blakey Jr, farmer, dog catcher, hunter

There are a lot of same name relatives in my Blakey WHITE Family connection. When we speak of Isaac Blakey, we have to add more to what we are saying. 

Isaac Blakey,  Sr
(1845 – 1917)
He was a farmer,
Enslaved in Missouri.
Received his freedom.
Civil War Veteran
Private Isaac Blaker

Isaac Blakey  II.
(1874 ca – 1971)
He was a farmer
Dog catcher
Hunter

Isaac Blakey   III
(1916 – 1985)
“He was a salesman extraordinary , raised dogs, and was a coon hunter, manufactured molasses from cane sugar he raised, was a butcher, and a church leader– lay preacher and singer.”

The other Isaac Blakeys are living.

I found some articles on Isaac Blakey, the hunter.

Isaac Blakey Jr. loved hunting.
He would go hunting with Clark Gable.
Mr. Gable was the actor in “Gone With The Wind”.

Thanks for reading.
Same Name: Week 6 

 Same Name; Isaac Blakey #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Susan Ann Blakley on another blog site.

Issac Blakey Sr. was my Great Grandfather.
Here’s a blog of my same name relatives.


May In Remembrance Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connection

God Bless you.
S.A. Blakey

The Old Country And My DNA Connections

 As look back over my family connections journey,  I am amazed. In my early years, I  could only assume that my ancestors came from Africa.  Majority of my ancestors were the enslaved in America.

Oh, how I wish that someone could have past where our people came to generations to generations.   Or perhaps, they didn’t know where their ancestors came from just like me.  The country where my ancestors came from was lost.

On my father’s side, oral history states that a mother and her children came to America on a ship from Africa. They were sold as the enslaved in 1843 in New Orleans. Oral history states that the family came off the coast of Nigeria.

I’m thankful that I took the DNA test.  And I’ve discovered that I’m about  ? % Nigerian.  I’m thankful for that others took their DNA as well. That’s how I’m connecting.


Here's my Living DNA results on August 18, 2022 DNA.
 

• Africa

  87.1%

  • West Africa

    79.3%
  • East Africa

    5.8%
  • South and Central Africa

    2%

• Europe

  12.9%

  • Great Britain and Ireland

    12.9%

Ethnicity estimate from my DNA results from ancestry. com are listed below. 2020

    39%   Nigeria       

   17%   Cameroon, Congo & Southern Bantu Peoples
   12%   Mali   
   10%   England, Wales & Northwestern Europe   
     9%   Ireland & Scotland       
     4%   Senegal     
     3%   Norway     
     3 %  Benin & Togo
     2%   Sweden   
      1%  Eastern Bantu Peoples 

And as of March 2023 ancestry has my DNA as 

28%   Nigeria
23%   Ivory Coast & Ghana
17%    Cameroon, Congo & Western Bantu Peoples
10%   Scotland
 8%    England & Northwestern Europe
 6%    Senegal
 5%    Ireland
 2%    Wales

I have a DNA match with a person who is 99.9 % Nigerian. He says his ancestors are from the Igbo tribe in Africa.  I’ve been trying to learn more about the Igon culture.  This DNA cousins matches other’s who I match. This is awesome.

I hope that you are making discovery on the country where your ancestors came from.
The DNA test is the start for those who don’t have a clue.
Happy  Exploring!

May we  learn more about our ancestors’ culture through DNA.
May we explore, discover and share what we learn about our ancestors.

Thanks for reading.
The Old Country
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Week 30 (July 22-28): The Old Country And My DNA Connections

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Susan Ann Blakley