Finding Joy And Strength In The Pursuit Of Searching

  Welcome to a New Year! Happy 2024!!!

I thank God for the joy and strength He brings, especially when I’m on my journey for new finds. I’m amazed! I’m thankful for those who were before me. They took the time to record what information they were told or knew.

As I’ve been searching through old newspapers, I noticed that some newspapers published church news, mentioning who attended funerals, those who called upon others and those who visited their relatives and friends. What a clever way for searchers to find clues. It takes time to sort through things. But it’s worth it.

It’s so exciting to come across new leads. And I’ve found much joy when I see confirmation. It makes me want to search more. This brings hope.

In the beginning of my search, I didn’t know much about my family connections. I only knew what my parents shared with me. And I wrote down what they shared.

Recently, I started to re read some of what my parents told me. There are things that I have forgotten about. Now, as I look back, my older adult self sees more into what I was recording.

The photo is of one of the first book I purchased on family history. I started filling out my information about my ancestors. The book was printed in 1977. I wrote to the future generation on August 2, 1990.

“Dear future generation,
May you all be proud of who your ancestors were and who you really are in life for you and your children’s children which follows.”





I have found strength through seeing the progress I have made. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2004, when I got hooked up with the internet. This was when my desire for “digging for my roots grew deeper. It was like I had “an exploration of information” coming at me.

I’m thankful that I took the DNA test. I have so many DNA matches. I don’t know how this works. But there were some DNA matches to where I connected the dots and a miracle happened. And through time, I saw the connections. Yes, I thanked God.

I can draw strength and joy from what I know about my family connections. I have come a long way since my beginning during the mid 1970’s. I’m looking forward to the joy and strength that are waiting for me to discover.

I’ve said this before: “We need the want and the desire to want to know about our ancestors, perhaps there will come those clues that will spark the flames that keeps us going. ~ I believe that there is more out there. My joy and strength comes from the LORD.

Thanks for reading.
Finding Joy And Strength: In The Pursuit Of Searching

Blessings,
S.A.Blakley

Here are the January In Remembrance:
 The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

   Posted on August 18, 2023 by Susan Ann Blakley except the In Remembrance 

Week 33 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge 2023

The theme for Week 33 is “Strength.” Strength comes in many forms: physical, emotional, spiritual, just to name a few. What ancestor do you think of when you think of strength?

Great Grandfather Private Isaac Blakey, (1845 – 1917)
Civil War Vet who was wounded during the War. (1863 – 1866)

Overwhelmed By The New Discoveries In 2023

Oh the good that has come out of 2023!!!  I'm thankful that I stumbled across those amazing discoveries. I can't wait to see what I'll come across in 2024. Thank You, LORD!!!

Some of those brick walls that I couldn’t break through have been moved. I believe it was because I  keep consisted in searching. I hope to make some ground in finding out these new discoveries. I thank God for the desire that’s in me, to want to know more about my family connections.

There is something that I see as I'm working on a blog. I come across new things that I didn't see before. And I keep searching for more information in what I plan to post. It’s like a cycle of things coming as I’m reviewing things as I’m working on a blog new things pop up. 

I don't know what's up ahead on the journey to discover. But, I believe that there will be more clues to follow up on. Oh, the mystery , it's interesting to find out more. 

A New New England Tree in 2018

As I look Ahead On My Journey...
I'm hoping to see more new discoveries that are set before the days and years to come. I believe that there are a lot more surprises out there waiting to be discovered. There are DNA cousins out there with the missed clues that we don't know about.

I continue to review what I have discovered from time to time. I'm thankful that new information is released to the public. I hope to see more into what I haven't seen.                                                                     

 In Remembrance of the ... 

 Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections 

Thanks for reading
Overwhelmed By The New Discoveries In 2023

Happy Twenty 24! 

God bless you and protect you and your loved ones. 

 Shalom,
S.A. Blakley

In Memory of Mrs. Anna Janie (Herfard) Wiley Nance

My Newest Discovery

Actually, I have three, no, five new discoveries that began during late July and during the beginning of the first week of August in 2023. And two more came on August 19 – 20, 2023. But, my recent “newest discovery” before yesterday came around August 7, 2023. I was on a hot pursuit after following leads.

Oh, how amazing new discoveries are. I’ve been reviewing this hot pursuit discovery. I’m making sure things match up. There could have been others with the same names living in the same city with my relatives. I’ve come across cases like this lots of times.

What is this discovery?

I was on the hunt, to find something on a Jane White who was the daughter of Martha “Mattie” White from Chariton County Missouri. The only source I had on Jane was on the 1900 Missouri census. She black female at about 11 years old and listed as a washwoman.

According to the 1910 census, her mother, Mattie had 5 children and four children were living. The one child that passed was Mattie’s son, Patrick “Pat” White. He was killed on October 5, 1906.

I’m thankful for others who have helped me on this search. I reached out to two ladies who are sisters in law. They live in the Forest Green, Missouri area. They shared with me that Jane’s sister, Oressia Hereford would visited Jane in Kansas City.

It wasn’t until I started searching African American newspapers, where I made the connections with other relatives. I explored some newspapers from Minnesota and some from Missouri. It was “The Call” publication that shed some light into my new discoveries and to locate Jane.

I tried to search for Jane White. I had no luck. This was like searching for a needle in a haystack. So, I began to search for Oressia Hereford. I did find Oressia who was living in Forest Green. But, no leads on Jane. I believed that Jane was married.

I kept searching, typing in the various ways to spell Aressia / Oresia and the Heriford / Heryford surname. I keep at it. Until one day, when I told myself, I shouldn’t be on my computer this late. I kept going and then I saw something that clicked: And before my see I read….”Mr. and Mrs. Nance of Kansas City visited her sister, Miss Oressia Herriford.” They were in Forest Green, Missouri.

The Discovery:

The Call ~ Kansas City, Missouri • Fri, Nov 2, 1956 on page 17. ( There was a 1955 article mentioning of a “Mrs. James Nance from Kansas City who was a dinner guest of her sister, Miss Oressia Hayward).

This little information was all I needed to discover that this Mrs. Nance was Jane. And she had a son. I began to search for Jane, her husband and their son.

I searched for a death certificate first. Yes, I have found the correct Janie L. Nance. But, as I searched for more records, I wasn’t for sure what her first name was. I was very surprised that she lived in St. Joseph, Missouri. WOW!!

She had two obituaries published in St. Joseph, Missouri paper on the same day of March 30, 1967.
This proves that she was the same person by her husband’s name, relatives and places listed.

She was listed as Mrs. Janie Wiley Nance on page 7 and

She was listed as Mrs. Anna Wiley Nance. on page 2

She was listed as Mrs. Janie Louise Nance in the Kansas City, Missouri’s newspaper
Her obituary appeared in the paper on Tuesday, March 28, 1967 on page 18

Who Was She?

She was born the daughter of Martha “Mattie” White (1862 – ca 1947) and Robert “Bob” Hereford on November 30. 1888 in Forest Green, Missouri. She had one brother Patrick White (1882 -1906). She had three sisters, Alice White (1884 – ?) Mrs. Bob Ella (Bentley) Carr (1884 – 1923) and Miss Oressia Hereford (1904 – 1976).

She married with the name of Miss Anna J. Heffard of St. Joseph, Missouri to Scott O. Wiley of St. Joseph, Missouri on August 21, 1922 in St. Joseph, Missouri. They applied for their marriage license on August 18, 1922.

Scott and Anna had a son named Melvin Wiley born in St. Joseph, Missouri on February 2, 1920. I’m not for sure if Scott moved with Anna to Kansas City, Missouri with their son about 1924. However, Anna carried her maiden name when she remarried. I’m still searching city directories for leads.

She married with the name of Anna Herfard , age 34 to Clarence Nance, age 24 on February 16, 1934 in Jackson County, Missouri in Kansas City. They applied for their marriage license on February 2, 1934.

At some point, Anna’s son, Melvin took the surname Nance. He went by Melvin Wiley Nance and Melvin W. Nance (1920 – 1993). He was an elder to the church.

On the 1920 Missouri census recorded her as Anna Wiley living in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was living with S. O. Wiley as his wife. They both were listed as mulatto.

On the 1940 and 1950 Missouri censuses in Kansas City, Missouri she was listed as Louise Nance . In 1940 she was living with her husband Clarence, son Melvin and Mattie Craig. In 1950, she was listed with her husband, Clarence, son Melvin and daughter in law Catherine and grandchildren: Samuel, Marie and Emanuel Nance.

I’m so happy that Anna / Janie Louise Nance has been located. I have added her names along with what information I have on her and her family. Thank You, Jesus!

R.I.P. cousin Anna / Janie Louise

I’m wondering. How many more long lost relatives are out there? I believe that there are more missing links to our family connections. Where are they?

At the timing of this blog, I found another new discovery. Martha’s daughter Allice or Ollie White. She was alive in 1910. She must have been married. I can’t locate her or Anna / Janie Louise on the 1910 census.

I want to keep searching. Perhaps others are searching for their family connections. And just maybe, we will find one another, some day. Wouldn’t this be something?

Thanks for reading.
In Memory of Mrs. Anna Janie (Herfard) Wiley Nance
 
BLAKEY BLAKLEY WHITE Family Connections

Blessings
S.A. Blakley

This post was posted on August 21, 2023 by Susan Ann Blakley on word press.
The November  Blakey In Memory was added to this bog. 

Week 34 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge 2023

The theme for Week 34 is “Newest Discovery.” What is the newest discovery you’ve made in your family history? Mine was discovering that an ancestor’s brother served in the Civil War.

Images Of My Dad: Ghost Stories, I Think Not

 During the early to mid 1990’s, in the early morning hours, I was sleeping on the couch in the front room in the family home. When all of a sudden I happed to wake up. In my view, I was looking in the direction of the dinning room. That was where I saw a dark image standing by the china cabinet.

Although the dinning room was dark, I was aware of what I was seeing. And even though, I couldn’t see the blotted out face, I knew who the person appeared to be. And I knew that it wasn’t my dad because he had passed years before.

While I was looking at this image, I felt fear come upon me. The first thought that came to me was to say to it, “I know that my dad is died and that you’re not my dad.” then I told whatever this was, to leave in the Name of Jesus! And so it left.

Another Story
I was laying on the couch in the front room. The dinning room was next to the kitchen so, I was able to see a direct view through the kitchen doorway. Again, I was awaken for no reason. I saw my dad standing near a kitchen cabinet.

This time, my dad was in living color. And there was a glow about his appearance. He had a pleasant look on his face. He was wearing his red plaid jacket that he would always wore. He kept motioning and pointing upward at the kitchen cabinet.

I didn’t do anything but, kept looking on as I was laying on the couch. I was aware that this image of my dad, appeared to be trying to tell me something. During this time, I had no fear whatsoever. I was calm and in wonder of what I was seeing. I felt no need to get up to see what “he” wanted me to see.

I can’t recall how long this image was there. But, after a while the image just vanished in thin air before my eyes. There was a night light in the kitchen. And where the image was, that area became darken after the image left. ( The next day I did go and searched in the area of the cabinet. I did find a card from my mother Lula’s sister, “Jenny.”)

After Thoughts:
When these incidents occurred, I was wide awake. I was in my right mind. I can’t explain what caused the images to appear. However, to me, all the incidents appeared very real to me. I was aware that I was aware of what I was witnessing.

Even in the darkness of the stillness of the night, the LORD has been with me. And I’m thankful for that. I wonder about paranormal experiences. I can’t disprove that this phenomena doesn’t existence. I believe that there are unexplained things that are there; crossing over into our realm to where we are allow to see things.

The LAST time I saw my dad, David Sr. alive on the earth.
That day was on Friday, October 6, 1989. That was a long day. He was moved from the hospital to a place where he had to stay until he was better to return home. He wasn’t happy to be there. He wanted to go HOME.

When I was leaving his room, my brother Isaac and his children were there with him. Our dad was sleeping. I went home to rest so I could come back the next day. And so, I thought.

By the end of the day, I was getting ready for bedtime. I had no trouble falling asleep in my room. Some how in the middle of the night, I awaken for no reason. It was dark and in my view this time was in the direction on my closet.

And while I was looking, I saw a glowing orang-ish white figure, like a ball of light, floating in my direction. I said “Oh, my GOD!” in a matter of fear and unbelief. Then, I closed my eyes. That’s all I recall.

I remember hearing the phone ring, in the early morning hours of October 7, 1989. I got up to find out who was calling. My sister, Mary came to tell me. She had to tell me twice because I didn’t get it the first time. She said that our dad didn’t make it.

When I heard ….didn’t make it, it was as though something that was on my shoulders left me. It was like a relief of some sort. Our dad was going through a lot of suffering, And I saw it.

About that glowing ball: I don’t think that was a ghost. I don’t know what it was. It wasn’t my imagination. Yes, it scared me. My goodness.

Eleven days before my dad’s passing: He was laying in his bed at the hospital. I was with him.( Later on,) I came to realize that he was talking out loud to the LORD. My dad said in a calm voice that he was dying.

I thought he was dreaming and talking in his sleep, because his eyes were close. So, I walked over to the other side of his bed to wake him up. But, his eyes opened before I could do so. He had a surprising look and smile on his face, looking above my head. And he was saying with a calm voice, Look at all my people. Look at all my people. Then he closed his eyes. I started crying hard and went in the bathroom. My eyes were blood shot red.

Then when I composed myself, I went back to his bedside. He asked me about the birds flying above his head. I told him that I didn’t see them. He was wanting me to take the jinx out out of him. I knew something was going on. I have never seen my dad like this. (My dad was yelling at the nurses on the day the I saw him last. He told them to get out. )

With all the things that my dad was saying, seeing and doing, this got me to thinking. I asked God, if my dad was dying, prepare us, the family for his passing. (I believe that God hears our prayers.)

Within these eleven days, I manage to go back to see my dad in the hospital. While I was there, with a few of my siblings, our dad asked me if I saw the people walking outside on the roof . And while he was saying this he said, they were gone, now.

I believe that my father was seeing was in the spirit realm. They said it was the medication that he was on. As for the “things” that I saw with those images, I wasn’t on any medication. I was aware of what I saw and what appeared to me. I can’t explain these happenings.

One Final Story
I did see my dad in a vision during the late hour of January 14 or in the early morning of January15, 1994. I was laying in my bed. I had finished praying. I was fully awake but, with my eyes closed. I couldn’t sleep. I was waiting in the silence.

While in the silence, I saw in the colored vision of my dad laying in his coffin as I saw him when he was on the earth. However, suddenly, I saw my dad’s eyes opened. I was asking God, what is this? What is this? Then my vision faded into the darken skies with the stars. Then I drifted off to sleep. I remember the vision.

In Loving Memory of my dad, David W. Blakley Sr.
We shall meet again face to face in person when the time comes.

Thanks for reading.
Images Of My Dad: Ghost Stories, I Think Not ~ Week 45 In 2022
R.I.P. Daddy Dave

Photo of my dad, David

 

  The blog was posted on November 12, 202 by; Susan Ann Blakley ~ expect for the In Memory link

In Memory of some members in  Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections

God Bless
S. A. Blakley

Week 45 (Nov. 8-14): Ghost Story
Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café ~ #52Ancestors 52 Weeks ~ facebook group

This week’s theme is “Ghost Story.” Any haunted houses in the family or an ancestor who is supposed to be haunting one? Let your imagination run with this one!

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!