Leaves for cousins

Fall has arrived in New Hampshire and trees are losing their beautiful leaves. Joey and Thomas helped me find pretty leaves to add to others I am sending to Michael, Zack, Daniel and John.

Saturday was lots of fun. Matthew brought the children over. They threw the football, played with matchbox cars and Chutes and Ladders, had mac and cheese, threw the football again.

Matt's only opportunity to studay came while Anna took a nap. I asked the boys to help me clean my car. I am sure he needed more study time.

Papa and Mama Ben

. .......................................................................... When we were children, we always called our grandparents Grandmama & Grandaddy Bennett. Our cousins called them Mama & Pappa Ben. We didn't live very close to them; so we missed out on a lot of love and learning. You can’t make up for missed experiences. No matter how you try, it is shared experiences that build relationships.

When we came to visit, the whole family came to see Daddy & his girls. Daddy was the only boy in a family of girls. He always had that twinkle in his eye that made his sisters really love him. It showed.




Grandmama would have several cakes and probably homemade pie for meals. Daddy’s favorite was coconut cake. Umm Umm! Her potatoes had lumps in them. I remember that because Mother’s were always smooth and creamy. Fresh vegetables. Several types of meat. Homemade biscuits and fresh churned butter. Whole milk and butter milk (which I never liked, but my Dad did).

My mother-in-law always had a spread when we ate with her. But Grandmother Bennett would have had twice the food. I’m sure my aunts brought over food from their homes, but I always thought of it as Grandmother’s doing.

How I wanted to feel a part of things when we visited. But it is a little like visiting a club. Everyone tries to make you feel included, but it is still a little foreign or awkward. My cousins were much older or much younger, male (except Paitie) and had very different lives. They shared a familiarity with my Grandparents that we would have enjoyed. We were very formal little girls.

My dad and his sisters always had chores growing up. They were busy feeding the pigs & horses, helping with the garden, helping prepare meals, hanging out laundry. Life was very manual. Daddy told me he walked dinner to his dad at the water works.

Somewhere I recorded a story Aunt Lois told me about how the children all laughed at Grandmama trying to learn to drive their first car. That tells me that they were very familiar with horse & wagons. My parents generation witnessed the transportation transformation from horse & wagon to model T’s to space travel. From listening to radio broadcasts to television to cable to satellite.

When my Dad, Jim Bennett, was a boy, he had an air rifle. This type of gun shoots pellets (I think). A handle was pumped to create a vacuum to provide power. Behind his house the family had a pig pen. He and a buddy put some mud or dirt in the front of the gun & really pumped it. They were shooting the little pigs in the rump. The pigs would squeal and run around the pen. The boys thought that was so funny.

When Pappa Ben heard them, he decided to teach them about fun. He came outside laughing. He told Jim to “Go put that tin can on the fence post. I’ll show you something really funny.”

My dad leaned over to pick up the tin can. When he leaned over, his jeans were really tight across his backside. That’s when it happened. Pappa Ben shot the air rifle at Jim’s bum. Pop! Jim felt a sharp sting right where you sit down.

Pappa Ben said, “Now that’s how it feels. It’s not fun to hurt people. It’s not fun to hurt animals. Don’t shoot the pigs anymore.” And Jim never did.

My dad’s generation lived through the depression. They always had a garden to grow fresh vegetables. They would can food for the winter. Life was certainly not easy for anyone during that time. One thing he mentioned was wearing out the soles on his shoes. His mom would take card board and cut it to fit inside his shoes. She would rub the side facing the holes with lard to “waterproof” them a little bit. At least it kept his feet from actually touching the ground as he walked.

In the summer my dad spent a lot of time out doors playing with his friends. When it was too hot to keep playing, they had to rest for a while. People didn’t have air conditioning. They might take a break and sit in the shade on the lawn or covered porch. They would enjoy a chance to talk while rocking in a rocking chair or porch swing. A good glass of cold well water would taste so good. One of his favorite summer treats was watermelon. His grandpa had a large garden. When it was really, really hot, his grandpa would let him go find a good ripe watermelon. Grandpa Poteat might even let him use his pocket knife to cut it open for all to share. He used to joke with his grandchildren if they swallowed the seeds a watermelon would start growing in their tummies.

My grandmother, Paitie Bennett, was a gifted seamstress. She made all her clothes and all her girls’ clothes. She could see a dress in a store window and come home and make it without a pattern. Like lots of folk, they used floor sacks for fabric.

My dad got his first “store bought” clothes as a teen. He thought he looked really sharp. He was wearing them when some girls drove up a model T. Just before they came up, my dad had lit some fire crackers. He quickly snuffed out the flame on the fire crackers & stuffed them in his back pocket. He was walking over to talk or maybe flirt with the girls when the firecrackers blew up. They blew a hole in the back of his pants.



When I was in elementary school, I was afraid to go out on their side porch. There was a large drop off the side. The big issue for me was her cactus plants. She had a large collection. All I saw were the spikes. I never liked any kind of stickers or thorns. I wonder if cactus seemed exotic to her. Connecting her to places she might never visit. Travel was limited during this time. People might relocate to another area of the country. But travel was limited by the available types of transportation. Interstate highways were just getting developed. Planes were for the very wealthy and adventurous. Trains travel still took multiple days. So her interest in cactus must have come from an interest in the world. Of course she may have been too busy to worry about plants that took too much time.

My earliest memories of my Grandparents home seemed bright and light. But later the house was always dark. My grandmother developed glaucoma. After a visit while we lived in Greenwood, my dad questioned aloud how long my Grandmother Bennett might live. Glare gave her terrible headaches. Perhaps she didn’t have a diagnosis yet and he was afraid because no one could explain what was wrong. When I was in high school, she had more medicine bottles than I had ever seen. My dad was wrong about her dying young; she lived until age 83.

My aunts told me that once my Grandmother became ill. Her hair turned white with a streak of black. Eventually it returned to all black with a white streak.

My dad was an all around athlete. He was captain of the football, baseball, basket ball teams all four years of high school. Of course he attended a very small school. He was also competed and won State high school diving championships.



His dad was the superintendent of the Water Works. He was responsible for making sure the water was pure for the whole county. Daddy grew up swimming at Rainbow Lake was just across the road from his home. He must have spent a lot of time swimming and playing here. At some point he learned a neat trick of cupping his hands together & squirting water. He could aim at someone a good distance away and hit them with a squirt every time. I tried to learn how to do it, but never could.

This wasn’t an ordinary lake. It was a very, very large swimming pool. I will try to insert photos here.

During high school Daddy became a life guard there. A four tier diving tower was positioned in the center of the lake. Each level was closed off on three sides; so divers could only dive off one side. It was designed this way to prevent injuries from someone jumping on swimmers below. It didn’t always work out.

Once a swimmer got into trouble swimming. My dad swam out to bring them back to shore. Unfortunately lifeguards position the person they assist in the crook of their arm. Then they use a side stoke to return to shallow water. A boy on the diving tower took a running leap off and into the water. He landed on my dad jamming his jaw into the head of the person he was rescuing. His front four teeth had to be pulled and he had four false teeth anchored to his jaw. My dad never had a cavity. But later in life he had to have oral surgery to repair damage that resulted from this incident.

My dad was an excellent math student. Mr. Dorman, who later became superintendent of schools for Spartanburg County, was his high school principal and math teacher. He taught my dad math – one-on-one. My dad taught the students in the grades below him. Later when my dad went to Officers’ Candidate School, he and Bob Moore scored perfect math scores. The officials, who were administered the tests, thought they cheated and required them to retake the test with close supervision. They repeated the perfect score.

Perhaps they thought these country boys couldn’t cut the grade. My dad struggled with English in college. The southern dialect that he grew up using was not the Kings English. But it never interfered with his mathematical abilities. Both young men had that southern sound that folks from the north associated with illiterate people. However, Bob Moore ended up at the Pentagon as the youngest general in WWII. My dad retired as a Lt. Col.

My dad had a football scholarship to Wofford College & later to Clemson College. The scholarship paid for books and tuition. In addition to his practice, he had to work to pay for his living expenses. Plus he helped his sister cover her college expenses. To do this he had a variety of jobs. He worked at Floyds Mortuary. Part of his responsibility was to drive the ambulance/hearse. In the winter when folk couldn’t make it to the hospital because of snow, he might be dispatched. He actually delivered several babies when they didn’t make it to the hospital. He also worked in a local mill in the summers. He washed dishes and cleaned in a local boarding house to cover his housing. He said he ate lots of pork and beans during college. Perhaps that was the equivalent of Raman Noodles.

Once dad told me that he might work all week and try to put aside a quarter for a date. He still might not have an extra quarter; so he could ask a girl out. One thing he did that really impressed me. One summer he saved enough to buy a car. Then he rented the car to other students for their dates. Perhaps his was really the first Enterprise Car Rental company.

Study, Practice and Work must have been exhausting. Not many students had the challenge that he had. It was not always appreciated by others. Once while he was attending Wofford, he came late to a class. He had been delayed at one of his jobs. The professor choose to make a snide remark about football players thinking they were so special they could sleep in and come to class late. My dad was embarrassed and offended! He picked up his books, left class, and went directly to the President of the College to complain. He refused to return to class until the professor apologized. This is exactly what happened.

Throughout WWII my dad had half his paycheck sent home. He thought his dad was putting this money aside for his return. After he was discharged, he learned his dad had used the money for the family. He had spent it all. There were no savings. Daddy said he never said anything to Granddaddy. He knew how much his family had needed the money.

While he had been overseas my Granddaddy Bennett’s sister, Candace & her husband, who was my Grandmother’s brother, died. Their minor children lived with my grandparents for a while. Evelyn Seay (married name),my dad’s double first cousin, was one of them. She told me about this when we lived in Spartanburg. She is also a member of the church and we have exchanged some family history.

My dad had hoped to go to medical school after the war. He saw the living quarters for married students. He described them as the size of a nice walk-in-closet. He decided to go back into the army. Even though he came out of the war as a Major, he returned to the army as a Captain. The military would not use his field commission as his status on his return to active duty.

One of the memorable moments after his return from the war must have been when he learned he was engaged. Not that he knew anything about it. He met my mother before the war. He wrote her throughout the war. But his sister Lee had been writing love letters “from him” to a young woman. I don’t remember how the whole thing started. A girl wrote him. Aunt Lee opened a letter and wrote back as if he had written the letter. The girl wrote back and it just snowballed. I can only imagine his reaction when the story came out. Finally Lee had to confess what had happened and write the truth to the girl. Oh what a mess!

Daddy was stationed in England before D-Day. I don’t know if he visited Ireland, but he sent his mother a green Irish linen sheet set with pillowcases. I don’t think she ever used them. She saved them for a special occasion. After she died they were given back to daddy. Eventually Mother gave them to me. Only the top sheet made it to Utah. But it is still like new.

Bullochville

As a girl the only images of stagecoaches were in "wild west" movies. It stands to reason that they were used throughout the country. I never pictured a stagecoach in Warm Springs.

My grandmother, Mabel Bulloch, was born May 12, 1894. Four months later this photograph of a stagecoach filled with people was taken in front of the Meriwether Inn.

The stagecoach was known as the "Tally-Ho" and was used to transport patrons of the inn to and from the railroad station. Meriwether Inn was built ca. 1870 on the site of another hotel that had burned. It closed ca. 1920s due to the decline in the number of visitors wishing to take advantage of the warm springs in the area.
















Warm Springs was a tiny little place with dirt roads. Yet the most influential man in the world chose to retreat here. At one time Warm Springs was described as the Poconos but in the south. But that day came and went with the significance of the Railroads.

Trains brought all these people to vacation in the Inn. They also brought Roosevelt to Warm Springs.

Kilcrease / Gilcrease Family History

I received an email this week from a lady who is tracing her family history. Her ancestors were slaves of William E Gilcrease. William E,a son of John Kilcrease (Gilcrease) and Mary Holmes Kilcrease and brother of Jane/Jincy Gilcrease Glanton, was a large planter and slave owner in Florida. His son, Albert, had an distinguished career and became the governor of Florida. If you read through this part of the document, you will see the family lost contact with William. There is a good bit of interesting information about William and Albert posted on the internet.

Gilchrist, Albert Waller (1858-1926) — also known as Albert W. Gilchrist — of Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Fla. Born in Greenwood, Greenwood County, S.C., January 15, 1858. Son of William E. Gilchrist and Rhoda Elizabeth (Waller) Gilchrist. Democrat. Civil engineer; real estate dealer; orange grower; member of Florida state house of representatives, 1893-96, 1903-06; Speaker of the Florida State House of Representatives, 1905; served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; Governor of Florida, 1909-13; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1912; candidate in primary for U.S. Senator from Florida, 1916. Member, Freemasons. Died in New York City (unknown county), N.Y., May 15, 1926. Interment at Indian Springs Cemetery, Punta Gorda, Fla. Gilchrist County, Fla. is named for him.
See also: National Governors Association biography; Wikipedia article.

This posting is a copy of a Family History written in the 1930's by Grandmother Harry's cousin, Ida Mae Bussey. I have only keyed in part of it. I hope to scan additional information (wills, etc) to send to the lady doing research. I made copies for Matt and Andy a few years ago.

"Kilcrease / Gilcrease Family History compiled by Ida Mae Bussey Brooks

I had been working on my family history for some time, in a more or less haphazard way, until about two years ago, when I realized that my Aunt Julia (Parkman) Bulloch, of Warm Springs, GA, was the only one of the older members of our family living. I then decided to see how complete a record I could obtain, while she was with us. Hoping to finish it during her lifetime. I took the information that I had written down, that was told me by my Grandmother and Grandfather Parkman, came from and showed it to Aunt Julia. She told me more and helped me in many ways. I am sorry that she did not live to see this completed work. She was a noble character and though eighty-three years old, at the time of her death, she retained her full mental faculties and guided her household competently and lovingly, until the last. If we had only listened to our Grandmother Parkman (who was Mary Ann Glanton), we would know all that we are now trying to find out. She was proud of her ancestry, and we find from the records that she had a right to be.
Mary Ann Glanton, whose mother was Jane Gilchrist (Kilcrease), came to Georgia. First going to Cherokee County about 1847. They lived there one year. Because of much sickness there among their family, they decided to move to Meriwether County and settled near Bussey, Georgia. This Post office was discontinued after we had Rural Free Delivery.

This history is written for the descendants of their daughters who were Jane Elizabeth (Barnes), Mary Ann (Bulloch), Julia Cornelia (Bulloch), Sarah Josephine (Bussey), and Alice Ida (Johnson).

I give full credit to my cousin Mrs Mabel Bulloch Harry of Warm Springs, Georgia for her assistance in this work. She arranged with Mrs D.B. Hollingsworth, Genealogist of Edgefield, SC who has completed the records for us. Compiling records from South Carolina courts, such as wills, deeds and other court papers, copies of which you will find attached. The original will is in the possession of Mrs Mable Bulloch Harry or myself and accessible when necessary. This gives us correct and authentic record and gives us the Revolutionary Record of our ancestor John Kilcrease.

Gilchrist is a Scotch name, and we know that Nimrod Gilchrist,the father of John, came from Scotland to America, by 1751, as he was granted land in Georgia, on Fishing Creek near the South Carolina line as early as that date.
After the Scotch insurrection, known as the Rebellion of 1745, a large number of Highlanders, came to America settling in North Carolina and probably Virginia and Georgia. So we think he came with these people.

It is said that there were five brothers who came from Scotland to this country- the three older ones coming south and the two younger going to the north. These two being better educated than the three who came South always spelled their name Gilchrist. While the three brothers in the South being uneducated could not write their names, made their cross and the person who wrote their names for them spelled it like they pronounced it, Kilcrease or Kilchrist, as a few of the early records show it.

I have been told that the Gilchrist's belonged to the Ogilvie Clan in Scotland and we think the three who came South stayed in Virginia a while and later came to Georgia and South Carolina. Tradition says these three were named John, Rob and Nimrod, we only have accurate proof of Nimrod, but I find reference that Robert Gilchrist was a lay member of St. Mary's Virginia and 1785 and 1786. ( From Vol 1-409, page 44. Wise's Index to Bishop Meads' Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, Article 37).

I do not know whether Nimrod ever lived in South Carolina but two of his sons, John, and Abraham B came from Georgia to South Carolina and settled in old Ninety Six District, SC. In March 13, 1785 this District was divided into six counties one of these is Edgefield County. This county has established a record to be proud of having produced nine governors and six lieutenant governors and unequaled by any other county in the United States.

Mrs. Hollingsworth, genealogist, tells us that all the births, and all the deaths, but two, of the children of John Kilcrease (Gilchrist) and his wife Mary Holmes, occurred in Edgefield County, SC. They were married in Stevens Creek Section of Savannah River, where he resided all his life. There is now a large tract of land near Parkeville, SC known as the “Kilcrease Place”, one of its boundaries is Stevens Creak. She says the Gilchrist family of West Edgefield, Co. was a wealthy and influential family, intermarried with old VA families who immigrated to SC before the War of the Revolution.

Notice in court papers, attached that John Kilcrease signs his name to his will, showing by this that he had some education. There were not schools in those days – the wealthy families had private teachers or sent their children to England to school. We often find court papers in those days were signed by the persons making their mark.

In the second clause of John Kilcrease’s will, he mentions giving his wife land on the Main Market road to Augusta. This old road is still in use and parallels the Savannah River, other main branches intersecting this road, and leading on to the main markets, Hamburg, and Augusta. Among these, all still bearing names of the old days, is what is known as the Martin Town Road, famous in Revolutionary history.

Regarding the children of John Kilcrease, landowner, and planter, we find from the settlement of his son, Sampson’s estate, that he died unmarried in Gadsden Co, Fla., Apr 25, 1849 leaving all of his property to his brother, William E. (who had gone to Quincy, Fla. To live) supposedly to be divided among his brothers and sisters. (I do not know whether this division was ever made or not). He left his brother Davis (some time called David), as Executor in his will. I have heard all my life that Wm. E. Gilchrist died in Fla., leaving each of his living nieces and nephews, several thousand dollars. Possibly this was supposed to have been part of Samson’s estate. My Grandmother, Mary Ann (Glanton) Parkman, one of his nieces never received her share, as the War Between the States, begun shortly afterwards.

Abraham, another son of John Kilcreae, married Judith Buress, a daughter of John Buress. His estate was settled in 1857.

Jincy or Jane, our great grandmother, , a daughter of John Gilchrist, was the first wife of Lewis Glanton. She had only two children, Mary Ann, and Martha. After the death of Jane, which occurred in Edgefield Co, SC, Lewis Glanton married agiin, and later a lawsuit accued in regard to their property (see notice among court papers). Lewis Glanton left many children by his second wife, Mary Roper. He was killed in 1846 by a runaway horse and left a very large estate, which decreaed, of course, after the War between the States.

Elizabeth Kilcrease married Mr. Mackay, and secondly, Daniel Prescott in 1845. This date is recorded in the Prescott and Middleton family Bible. Daniel Prescott died Jan 29, 1861. She perhaps died later, as her death is not recorded in the family Bible.

Matilda Gilchrist married Tandy Burkhalter, his will is dated 1871.

Maria, another daughter, married John W Parks. This family settled Parksville, a little town on the Savannah River, now cut off in McCormick Co.

Lucinda, the last daughter, mentioned in her fathers will, married John B. Harrison.

The last three named daughters in the will, were unmarried at their fathers death in 1829. Wm., Abraham and Davis (David), were not of the age of 18 at the death of their father in 1829.

Some of the dates of the children of John Kilcrease, and his wife Mary (Holmes) had to be approximated.

There are many descendants of this family still residing in Edgefield.

The Gilchrist family line:
Children of John Kilcrease (Gilchrist) & wife Mary Holmes
James E., _____ died 1843, married Elizabeth ____.
Samson, _____ died 1849, never married.
Wm. E., died at Quincy Florida. He was a large land owner and slave holder, was a State Senator from Florida. Married Rhoda Elizabeth Waller of SC. They had one child, Albert Waller Gilchrist, born in Greenwood, SC, Jan 15, 1858, while his mother was visiting her people. He never married. Was Grand Master of Masons in Florida in 1911 to 1913. Govenor of Florida 1909 to 1913. Died in New York City, May 17, 1926, where he had gone for treatment. Buried at Punta Gorda, Florida in Indian Springs Cemetery on the bank of the Allapatchee River.
Abraham B, _____ died 1857, married Judith Burress.
David (Davis) J., never married.
Jane (Jincy) born 1795, died 1823, married 1816, Lewis Glanton of Edgefield, SC, born 1785 died Sept 7, 1846.
Elizabeth, died after 1861, married first, --- McKay, second, Daniel Prescott He died Jan 29, 1861.
Matilda, died after 1871, married Tandy Burkhalter, his will dated 1821.
Marie – married John W. Parks.
Lucinda married, John B Harrison.

The Children of Jane (Jincy) Kilcrease, and her husband Lewis Glanton,
Mary Ann, born Oct 22, 1819, in Edgefield Co, SC died in Meriwether Co, GA, Oct 27, 1903, and is buried at Macedonia Cemetery, near Manchester, GA. She was married about 1842, in Edgefield Co, SC to Henry Valentine Parkman, born in the same county and state Feb 14, 1814. (hence the name, Valentine), died July 28, 1892 in Meriwether Co, G. He is also buried in the Macedonia Cemetery. After coming to this settlement at Bussey GA, they lived there until their death. Henry Parkman has deed recorded in Meriwether Co, Dec 3, 1849.
Martha, married S.W.Broadwater.

The children of Mary Ann (Glanton) and Henry V. Parkman
Jane Elizabeth born in Edgefield, SC, May 22, 1844; married Wm. A. Barnes in Meriwether Co, GA. She died in the same county. Both are buried at Macedonia Cemetery.

Mary Ann, born in Cherokee Co, GA, Aug 21, 1848; married Hood Bulloch, born Nov 21, 1841, in Meriwether Co, GA Both buried at family cemetery ***me Place, in Meriwether Co, GA.

Julia Cornelia, born in Meriwether Co, GA, March 21, 1853 died in the same county Sept 16, 1936. She married Cyprian Bulloch, Jr. Oct 7, 1869. He was born Dec 3, 1848, died March 19, 1903. He lived his entire life in Meriwether Co, they are both buried in Warm Springs Cemertery.

Lewis died in childhood.

Sarah Josephine born on Feb 18, 1859, died in the same county Oct 10, 1915; married March 6, 1879 to Wm. Thomas Bussey, who was born March 10, 1846,; died Friday August 6, 1897. He lived his entire life in Merierther Co., GA. They are both buried in Macedonia Cemetery.

Alice Ida (Missie) born Feb 8, 1863, died Dec 31, 1886; married Robt. Johnson. They both lived their entire life in Meriwther Co, GA and are buried in the Macedonia Cemetery.

(Notice in the seventh clause of John Kilcrease’s will, he wills his two grand daughters, Mary and Martha Glanton, an equal share jointly of his estate and three negros, named Barbee, Eaton and Cato. This Cato came to Georgia with my Grand mother, Mary Ann (Glanton) Parkman. We remember our mothers talking about him. His wife was named Usley and their descendants are now living around Warm Springs, GA.) //note added in pencil – Hobson was a butler at the Foundation//


To Whom it may concern:
I hereby certify that the two sections of attached papers are exact copies of wills, deeds and other SC Court papers compiled by Mrs D.B.Hollingsworth of Edgefield, SC and sent to Mrs Mabel Bulloch Harry of Warm Springs, GA.
Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of September, 1937
Ida Mae Bussey Brooks
Witness: Dirbie M Gillis N.P.

Mabel's First Dance with Grady Harry

Grandmother Harry must have been impressed with Granddaddy very early. She saved her dance card and added it to her wedding journal. She danced two dances with "Harry", but only one with other young men.

Joseph Crenshaw - French and Indian War

The papers of his Commanding Officer state that Joseph died in a field near Fort Duquesne (now in the City of Pittsburg) on the night of 14 Sept 1758. A few days later his will was probated in the same courtroom which witnessed (summer of 1757) his swearing-in as a member of the Virginia Brigade. The certificate of his enlistment was with the other papers of his Commanding Officer and are now at the Library of Congress. His Commanding Officer was George Washington. It was not legal to draft Joseph into the British Colonial Army, so a court record exists to show that he was a volunteer and that record was found amid the papers of Washington along with the casualty list on which Joseph is first named. I uploaded a digital copy of this record and attached it to Joseph's record.

*****************************

Legal Records of Joseph Crenshaw:

Joseph Crenshaw, whose Will was entered into Probate October 4, 1758, was the same Joseph Crenshaw killed while serving under George Washington near Fort Duquesne in the French & Indian War. A recent finding in Virginia's Colonial Soldiers by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck has left this researcher convinced it was one and the same man. Bockstruck reports on page 136 a list of enlistments relating to the French & Indian War. Detailed are the names of five men who enlisted in Lunenberg Co, VA on 25 July 1757. That list includes Joseph Crenshaw. So we can deduct with confidence that the man killed while serving under Col. Washington on September 14, 1758 was the same Joseph Crenshaw who enlisted on 25 July 1757 and whose Will was entered into Probate in Lunenberg Co, VA on October 4, 1758.

Early Settlers Mecklenburg County Virginia Volume I, Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill Virginia
1752 Tithe List
Crenshaw, Joseph (& Joseph Crenshaw Jr, James Downing)
Crenshaw, Gideon

Early Settlers Mecklenburg County Virginia Vol II, Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, Virginia
Joseph Crenshaw, Deed Book 4, p. 317
Joseph Crenshaw & Sarah, his wife, to Benjamin Cook...cons 40 pounds...300 acres on north side of Roanoke River and on south side of Butchers Creek. Wit: Fran Bressie, Richd Palmer, Zachariah Baker, Signed: Jos. Crenshaw, Sarah Crenshaw, dated 7 Sept 1756, Recorded 7 Sept 1756. Sarah, wife of Joseph Crenshaw, released her dower.

Lunenburg Co, VA Will Book 1, Page 228. Will. I, Joseph Crenshaw of L and Parish of Cumberland -
To my wife - the liberty of the Plantation during the time of her widowhood. To my eldest son William Crenshaw - 5 £ sterling.
To my son Gedion - 5 £.
To my son Joseph - 30 shillings.
To my daughter Prisilla Duke - 1 feather bed and furniture, being the bed that my son Micajah usually lies on.
To my daughter Hannah Parkman - 1 feather bed and covering, being the bed she now lies on, and 1 horse and side saddle. If said Hannah's husband shall come and entice her away, that which I have lent her, I give to my daughter, Mary Cook. And if the said Hannah is so enticed away, Hannah shall not have any part of my estate.
To my youngest son Micajah - the land whereon I now live, and if he should have no heirs, then to my son Joseph and the heirs of his body. I also give Micajah my young horse colt and saddle and all my wearing clothes. I want my son Micajah to live under the care of his brother Thomas. The rest of my estate is to be equally divided among them all [all the children], except that my son William is to have only as above mentioned. I do not want my estate appraised. To my son Micajah - 1 feather bed and covering.
Executors - my son[s] Thomas and Gedion.
Signed [Blank month and day], 1757 - Jos. Crenshaw.
Witnesses - Gedeon Crenshaw, William Wilkins (W his mark), Ann Wilson (+ her mark).

At Oct 4, 1758 Court, the will of the deceased was exhibited in Court by both executors, and the same was proved by the oaths of 2 of the witnesses, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said executors, who made oath, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of said will (they giving security), whereupon they, together [with] "Joseph Crenshaw Williams, Gentleman, their securities", entered into bond for that purpose.

Lunenburg Co, VA Will Book 1, Page 292. Account Current of the estate of Jos. Crenshaw, deceased. Debits. Includes payment of: William Crenshaw's legacy; Robert Langley, Merchant; David Garland; John Potter; John Bracy; Francis Bracy; Jeremia Claunch; John May; Fr's Wagstaff for ferriages; James Mitchel for ditto; Charles Cook; C. Read for tobacco; Thomas Anderson; Zach. Baker; Gideon Crenshaw's legacy; Jos. Crenshaw's legacy; Micajah Crenshaw's legacy; Hanah Bartman's legacy; Vallentine Mullins for selling the estate; returning the Works of Peace Land; Henry Parkman; Elisha Brooks; Hanah Satterwhite for weaving; Abner Nash for advice on the Will; Thomas Anderson for rum at the funeral; John Humphries; Maj'r Tabb; a bed etc delivered Robert Duk as a legacy; a bed etc delivered Hanah Parkman as a legacy; ditto delivered to Micajah Crenshaw as a ditto. Total: £ 46.10.4. Credits. Includes 1 Negro man, cash in Richd Wilson's hands, cash recd of John Noory, ditto of Richd Wilkins, ditto of Aony Erskine, ditto of Thos. Akin, ditto of ColoErby. Total: £ 79.6.6½. We have examined the accts of Thos. and Gideon Crenshaw, executors of Joseph Crenshaw, deceased, and do find a balance in the executors' hands of £ 27.5.11. Certified [blank month and day], 1759 - Richd Witton, Jos Williams.Recorded Feb 5, 1760

Margaret Lee Harry

Margaret Lee Harry was my Grandfather Harry’s sister. She was small in stature, perhaps five feet tall, but large in heart. She was unique. The actresses portraying the old ladies in Jimmy Stewart's "Arsenic and Old Lace", created a visual image of Aunt Margaret fussing aroung the house. However as a young woman she was ahead of her time.

Aunt Margaret’s brothers attended the University of North Carolina. She graduated from Massachusets General's nursing school in Boston, Massachusetts. She became a Red Cross nurse. In retrospect that must have required great strength of character and independence. Young women of this time period were just moving into careers of service. She began her nursing career riding a horse traveling in the rural parts of North Carolina in the early 1910’s. Once a bear frightened her horse and threw her off. The horse left her and returned to the barn. She spent the night in a tree.




It must have taken a great deal of spunk to attempt to educate the superstitious and distrustful rural folk in the mountains of North Carolina. Her job was to tell proud people that they needed to change practices that had existed for years. She had to persuade families to immunize their children. These people were uneducated and feared shots would harm their children. She had to educate folks about the importance of sanitary conditions for plumbing & outhouses. Asking men to relocate the outhouse because “a woman” thought it would be better must have been a tedious process. But she slowly gained their trust and admiration and made a difference.

Margaret Lee was very generous to these people. She arranged for a number of children to have cleft lips surgically repaired. She even paid for some to have the surgery. She helped others attend school and college. A practice she extended to family when she paid a lady in Woodbury to make most of mothers clothes while she was in college.

I have a magazine article that speaks of Lucinda, a poor mountain girl left to raise her baby sister after her mother died. Local people had a “silver tea” to start a fund to buy Lucinda a cow. Aunt Margaret taught her how to recognize and treat various infant illnesses. Margaret made frequent visits to the home to check on them. After three years of that responsibility, at the age of thirteen, Aunt Margaret took Lucinda to the Children of the Hills school at Tamassee, a school supported by DAR chapters. The baby was turned over to her grandmother’s care.

Aunt Margaret was in New Orleans when my mother was born. Her signature is on the birth announcement in mother’s baby book. She gave her a hand embroidered dress and cap as a baby present. She gave her a Korean embroidered dress which was one of her “first short clothes”. She must have been equally generous through the years to Margaret & Henry and all. I have a little thank you note from my Mom thanking Aunt Margaret for a silver baby cup she gave me when I was born. (I gave the cup to Julie.) I will try to scan the note here.


During the missile crisis (Cuba/Russia - 1961), my Grandfather built a “fall out shelter”. When I look back on it now, the room was really just a feeble excuse for a basement room. It wouldn’t have provided any real protection during a nuclear attack. There was a national hysteria after missiles were discovered in Cuba. The fear of nuclear attack seemed real because Fort Benning was about an hour away. If Benning had been targeted, the nuclear blast would not have impacted us. Radiation dust would have settled according to wind patterns, etc and I doubt that we would have had a very different outcome based on a stay in the shelter. But at least he didn’t sit back and bite his fingernails. He took action.

Eventually Granddaddy extended the side porch and added a room above the fall out shelter for Aunt Margaret to live in after she retired. It is interesting that she choose to live with Granddaddy Harry. She had been away from North Carolina for many years. I don’t know if she considered returning there after she retired. Her parents were gone. Her brothers had a successful textile mill and might have helped her with finances. Aunt Margaret had a lot of pride. I know they were a close family. Aunt Margaret and Granddaddy were both buried with their parents in Grover.

I loved her very corny & funny stories she told me, my sisters, and my cousins. One story that always got giggles was “Wishy, Washy, Wishy, Washy…”. The punch line involved underwear which always got a giggle. Unfortunately today’s children might think the joke was lame. Too bad. It was a good time and children were children.

I loved her & would drive out just to visit her & to listen to her stories. I wish I had recorded her stories; I would love to hear her voice. People talk differently today. She had a gentle “little old lady quality” that reflected a different time. It is something I remember, but can’t put into words.

There were times though that I went to visit my Grandfather and I didn’t take the time to walk back to visit for a moment.

Aunt Margaret gave me a lovey portrait of her in her red cross uniform. The picture was used in a magazine article about her Red Cross work during a flood in Ohio. There are other items (her diploma, the Red Cross article) she wanted me to keep. I think she wanted to be sure she was remembered. Unless the items are in mother’s family history files, the items were lost or thrown away when the family relocated to Spartanburg.

Aunt Margaret worked so hard to be helpful when she moved to Granddaddy’s. She originally moved there as a transition when she retired, but never left. At times she may have been too helpful for Till. Granddaddy Harry had remarried well before she moved in. There seemed to be a competition for his affection between Till & Aunt Margaret. It wasn’t easy on either of them. Granddaddy was caught in the middle. But there wasn’t really any other place for her to live. She became a bit of a recluse. Trying to be pleasant, but not quite feeling she belonged. Perhaps not feeling needed anymore.
Picture of the Lake at Granddaddy's house


I don’t remember when Aunt Margaret stopped driving. I don’t think I even noticed. Probably her car just got too old to operate and she was too old to drive. She never replaced it.

Aunt Margaret probably started the “regifting” trend. She had a small retirement and was frugal with her savings. Her gifts were a handkerchief, a slip, a bottle of perfume or sweet powder someone had given her. One Christmas she gave me a ring and Gay a hairbrush. I was oblivious to the disparity in value. I was in high school; Gay was in elementary school.

Gay quite naturally felt slighted; her feelings were hurt. Peggy, our cousin, and Gay were best friends. They must have talked about this together. Some time later they laughed about the hairbrush. My reaction was to come to Aunt Margarets defense; theirs was to critise me. They felt I was "favored" and that means the other person is not. It is how children (and we were children) think. Maybe I was, but I think Aunt Margaret appreciated my interest in her, her life, and her contribution. Everyone wants to be remembered.

I accepted her gifts were a sweet way to share with us. After all the sweet things she had done through the years, it hurt to hear them laugh about her. I dearly loved her.

One of my favorite gifts was a Hummel figurine of a little boy playing doctor. He had operated on a doll head. Aunt Margaret went into great detail about the friend who purchased it for her while traveling to Germany. She was truly touched they remembered her in such a special way & I was touched she gave it to me.


Because I loved it so much I purchased another Hummel with my hard earned babysitting money. Gaye threw a pillow at me & I skillfully ducked. The pillow missed me, but broke the head on the little doctor & the handle off the basket of the other Hummel. Both were super-glued back. Now I love the figurines even more since they remind me of my sister as well as Aunt Margaret. Amazing how “devastating” events with lots of tears can become sweet in retrospect. But sisters (and brothers) can grow to appreciate one another, not just because everything goes right, but because of the mistakes we make. There were lots of times we chased each other, laughing and giggling, as we ran through the house. Sometimes we might overdo it and end up unhappy. But other times we ran until exhausted and we were still happy. I might not remember those times without this incident or another like it. I still have the Hummel’s, but I also have the memories.

When Aunt Margaret Lee was quite old she had to be in a nursing home. My Aunt Margaret, mother’s sister, rode with her in an ambulance from Columbus Georgia and delivered her to Spartanburg on Gaye’s wedding day. There was already stress with the wedding. Aunt Margaret had been stressed with Margaret Lee’s care for a while & didn’t appreciate that Mother would be doing her part for the next two years. It might have been nice if she had waited one more day, but we humans don’t always do all the right things each and every time. What was important was that she had cared for Margaret Lee. The wedding went on and the world didn’t stop.

Mother visited Margaret Lee every day (literally) to be sure she was well cared for, to pick up her laundry and to feed her evening meal. I believe she was there for two years before her death.