Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wordless Wednesday - Love is in the Air #4

Digital image. Original held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS WITHHELD
FOR PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.

Arnold Lee Sherrell and
Sandra L. Svoboda
and their wedding party
(my brother and sister-in-law)
14 February 1959
Los Angeles County, California


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wordless Wednesday - Love is in the Air #3

Digital image. Original held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.
Gloria Jane Spurlock and
Donald Dale Chaney
(my sister and brother-in-law)
20 October 1956
Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, California


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Wordless Wednesday - Love is in the Air #2

Digital image. Original held by Deanna Golden, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Portland, Oregon, 2012.
Gary Arnold Hutchcraft and
Deanna Dale Sherrell
(my brother-in-law and sister)
29 August 1953
Temple City, Los Angeles County, California


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Monday, February 11, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - 1812 Will of William Cook


On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

William Cook, of Surry County, North Carolina, was the brother of Thomas Cook, my 4th great-grandfather. I thought it interesting that William felt that it would be best if his executors rented out his property and the profits therefrom given to his widow; I have not previously seen that provision made in a will.


 “In the name of God Amen. I William Cook, of the County of Surry, and State of North Carolina being weak in body but of sound mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, do this seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord 1812, make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner following, Viz.
First of all, I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to its native dust, to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, at the discretion of my Executors; and as to my worldly goods that it hath been pleased God to bless me with, my will and desire is that they be disposed with as follows,
Item I give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Cook my molatto boy Lewis to be her own property forever. I also lend to her my said wife my negro woman Milley together with the whole of my moveable or perishable property of every discription (negro Bob excepted) also the profits of my land and plantation, dwelling house, out houses, and so forth, where I now live during her natural life or widowhood; and in order that the same may be managed to the best advantage I direct that my Executors rent out continuealy my said land and plantation and return to my said wife the profits of such rent during the above said term. Also I desire that if is should appear to my Executors to be necessary that they should sell such part of my stock and working tools as they may think usless to my said wife and the product of such sale to be equally divided among my children.
After the death or widowhood of my wife Elizabeth Cook, I give and bequest the aforesaid negro woman Milley to my daughter Mary Holeman and my land and plantation where I now live containing three hundred and twenty acres I give unto my sons Wiles [Miles?] and John Cook to be equally divided between them.
Item. I give unto my daughter Lucy Holeman my negro man Bob. I also direct that my two Lotts in the Town of Huntsville be sold and the product of such sale to be equally divided among my children as above saidtioned
I also do nominate and appoint my said wife Elizabeth Cook Executrix and my son John Cook and Thomas Wright Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and disannul all others wills by me made and do acknowledge this only to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I the said William Cook hath set my hand and seal the day and date above written in presents of
Test     Henry Hampton                                  William Cook {seal}
            John Angel

State of North Caroline Surry County May Session AD 1812.
John Angel (one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of William Cook) made oath that he saw the said Cook sign publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory and at the same time he saw Henry Hampton sign the same as a witness thereto which was ordered to be recorded; done accordingly
                                                                        by Jo Williams CC”



[Source: North Carolina, Surry County, Wills, 1792-1827, William Cook, Vol. 03, pg. 100, image 126; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 Jan 2013).]



© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Treasure Chest Thursday - Gram's Wedding Announcement

In her scrapbook, my grandmother Mamie Olive (Martindale) Spurlock pasted the following newspaper announcement regarding her marriage to Jasper Jackson Spurlock in November 1905:

 

I am grateful that Gram saved it because, other than the 1910 federal census on which my grandparents are enumerated as a married couple and an entry in a marriage index for Nacogdoches County, Texas, there is no other record of their marriage.

But why did she save it? My grandfather abandoned her shortly after the birth of their fourth child (my dad) in 1912, and never returned. I have not found a record of a divorce nor a second marriage, but my grandfather was enumerated in 1930 and 1940 with another woman as his wife. He died in 1940.

My oldest sister Jane told me that Gram believed he would return to her one day. Gram never remarried and saved this newspaper clipping for 60+ years. A sad ending to what started as "one of the prettiest weddings of the season."


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Wordless Wednesday - Love is in the Air #1

Digital image. Original held by Denise SPURLOCK, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Lomita, California, 2012.

William L. Yawman and
Myrtle Arminta Snider
(my maternal grandparents)
September 26, 1897
Neosho County, Kansas


© 2013 Denise Spurlock

Monday, February 4, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - A Second Deed from Richard Cook to Thomas Cook


On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.


Last week I published the first of two deeds from Richard Cook to his father Thomas Cook (one of my maternal 4th great-grandfathers). This second deed for 40 acres, also on Brushey Mountain in North Carolina and the land on which Richard was living, was dated 31 March 1818, just two days after the first deed. This deed also was not recorded until 15 July 1819, after Thomas Cook's death.

“Richard Cook to Thos Cook Deed 40 Acres land

This Indenture made the thirty first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen between Richard Cook of the county of Wilkes and State of North Carolina of the one part and Thomas Cook of the County and State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that for an in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to me in hand paid by the said Thomas Cook the receipt whereof is hereby fully acknowledged that the said Richard Cook hath given, granted, bargained, sold and by these presents do give, grant, and sell unto the said Thomas Cook his heirs or assigns to a certain tract or parcel of land containing forty acres be the same more or less it being part of the land whereon the said Richard Cook now lives. Beginning on a White oak, thence nearly West to my North line it being a conditional line made between Richard Cook and Thomas Cook Including all the lands North of said line concluding forty Acres be the same more or less with the appurtenances and all rights titles and priviledges and improvements the same anny ways belonging to him the said Ritchard Cook his heirs or assigns forever and the said Cook himself his heirs do hereby coventent [covenant] and agree to and with the said Thomas Cook that said Cook his heirs or assigns shall and may forever hereafter peaceably and quietly injoy oqupy [occupy] and precess [possess] the aforesaid grant and land without Molistation and the said Ritchard Cook himself his heirs Executors, Administrators or assigns do by these presents warrant and forever defend the right and title of the aforesaid granted lands and primises to him the said Thomas Cook his heirs and assigns forever against the right title or claim or Intrest of anny person or persons whatsoever, In witness whereof I Ritchard Cook hath hereunto set my hand and fixt my seal the day and date first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered  }
I[n] prsents of                        }                                              Richard Cook {seal}
James Clanton
Enos Anderson
W. W. Martin

                        (wrote on the back.)

North Carolina            }
Wilkes County            }          May Term 1819

The within Deed was duly proven in open court by the oath Williams W. Martin in order to be Registered.
                                                                        Test R. Martin, Clk.

Registered       }
15th July 1819  }”



[Source: Wilkes County, North Carolina, Deeds, 1768-1964, 24: 432, indenture, Richard Cook to Thomas Cook, dated 31 March 1818, recorded 15 July 1819; FHL microfilm 392,960.]

© 2013 Denise Spurlock