November 28, 2024
“The Best Lead I Have Found”
“These
were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”
Don’t
forget to look for the title which is embedded in the chronicle.
GRATITUDE
FAMILY ALBUM
This photo relates to
the 2024 – 2028 section and the family
history lesson. It was taken at the farm, with the milk house in the rear centre
and the horse barn in front of the milk house. Floyd Holmes is pushing the cart
with his niece, Lillian (Lil) (Holmes), who is trying to fit into it. Floyd and
Lil were close, as there were only a few years in between them. I believe she
spent her early years at the farm, and it seems that the visits were frequent.
1924 to
1928
Those
are the years that our great or great-great grandparents spent renewing
relationships that had somehow fallen by the wayside but with organization,
letter writing, and challenging travel – by hook or by crook – they managed to
come together again. They reacquainted and rediscovered their family ties. And
then, one by one, they died, and many of those ties died with them.
2024 to 2028
Do
you know what a genealogical brick wall is? It is a person that you can't find
anything about. We, like all families, have some. You might or might not know
their name, or a few details that you cannot prove. AI Overview defines it as “a term
used to describe a difficult research problem or apparent dead-end that seems
to have no answers.” You will never break down all your brick walls. My approach to them
is to research, set them aside, and keep checking them periodically. Someone in
our genealogy group asked when you should give up on them. The reply (I don’t
remember who) was when they become a source of frustration to you. One
of our brick walls is in the Charles R Holmes line. We do not know the father
of Lillian O Holmes Underhill. Her mother is Ella Mae Holmes, who eventually
married Carl Felt Underhill. Carl adopted Lil, giving her his surname. Lil
married Angelo ‘Mac’ Minella, and they had three children: Charles ‘Robert’
Minella, Lillian Holmes ‘Sister’ Minella, and Janet C Minella. Bobby and
Lillian (Sister) left no children. Hence, the lack of comparison ability makes
this brick wall more challenging. I have informed Janet Nolte’s children -
Brett, Celia, Julia and Emily - of my progress. It’s a challenge not to get too
excited. I have found a lead on this
brick wall. I found a name on an Ancestry family tree, but the information was
unsourced. I sent off a message to the tree owner, briefly describing our
situation and asking her if she had any proof. She replied:
“Hi Peggy,
I feel so bad writing this as I know how frustrating
brick walls are, but at one point my computer crashed and my backup saved my
info but not my sources. I wish I could tell you where I discovered that
particular tidbit and I promise I will try to figure it out, but at the moment
I have nothing. The best I can tell you is that it had to be written somewhere
as I am diligent about not taking "family lore" as a source unless I
can verify it in some way. So, it was in writing, but alas I can’t say yet
where!
Thank you for messaging me, and I will
be in touch should I discover my source.
This is both discouraging and
encouraging to me. She does not have the source at her fingertips. That, I
understand. But, by her own admission, she is diligent . . . From her reply, I
believe that, at one time, she saw this written down. It’s the best lead I have
found, ever, on this unknown person. Ever since I found this lead,
I’ve set aside most of my other family research. I have to keep up my media
role and I’ve gone back to regular research as I waited for people to respond
to me, but this is getting most of my research attention. The
name of the lead is William Ellis. William appears on one record only (that I
have found so far). That is the New Brunswick 1901 census. As he was born in
1883, according to that census, he should have been on the 1891 census. He is
not, at least with that family.
I have found a book on the Ellis family, and done some research on PEI
websites. Stella, Bliss, and Claude show up, but not William. Paula
agreed to assist me with this mystery. I started a new family tree for Janet.
At this time, and with what I have found so far, I believe that determining the
accuracy of the statement will depend mostly on DNA research. Paula is giving
me ideas of what to look for with Janet’s matches. I have scoured the matches;
all start with less than one percent. Valley Girl’s is 62 cM over 2 segments. This
gives me hope that either William Ellis or at least a Mr. Ellis is the
grandfather of Janet, based on the sheer number of matches. Interspersed with Janet’s
matches are also known Holmes family matches, of the same distance of
relationships. There are scant but a couple of relationships with Amanda A
Blakney’s family names. She was born and raised by an uncle and aunt (siblings,
not spouses) in Elgin, NB. Not too far from the family. In 1901, this Ellis
branch left PEI and stopped in Salisbury parish for a few years, including
1901, before moving on to Manitoba. The location to the Holmes family is close
enough; William was old enough to father a child; both Charles Holmes and
William T Ellis, father (or guardian) of young William, were involved in the
silver fox business which was big in the area. William Totten Ellis’s youngest
sister also married a man from Elgin, New Brunswick, and died there shortly
thereafter. But,
who was William? Where did he go? Part of the issue is that there were lots of
William Ellises. There are DNA matches, but that doesn’t necessarily prove that
this William fathered the child, only that he was probably an Ellis. This is one way to research a
person, and it’s challenging. I hope I can pin him down, but at least I can pin
down the family name and a bit of their history. In
2014, some of the people who attended the Holmes family reunion, including the
Noltes, travelled to Prince Edward Island. We didn’t go to Bideford or Tyne
Valley, but at least the Noltes trod the red mud of their (alleged but
probable) ancestors. This
mystery is no longer a secret, and I’m sure those of you who descend from Ella
and Carl will be happy to know that it may eventually come to a proven
conclusion; if not, at least it gives a family dynasty of which they can be
proud.
Congratulations to Wes
and Bailey Hamblin Hagman on the arrival of their second son, Dash Daize, on
November 22nd. Dash is a little brother for Wylder. Proud
grandparents are Rick and Michelle (Glammy) Morey and John Hamblin. Dash is in
the William Nelson Holmes line.
Dash Daise Hagman – Wesley and Bailey Hamblin Hagman – John Hamblin and Michelle (Holmes) Morey – Fenwicke ‘Butch’ Holmes and Karla (Lay) – Jerome K and Alma (Vincent) Holmes – Jerome C and Jennie (Edwards) Holmes – William and Anna (Heath) Holmes – Daniel and Charlotte (Hoyt) Holmes.
Dash is a cute baby. Ask for an email if you wish to see his photo.
MUM’S MEMOIRS
We always had a
“Chicken Supper” each fall in Hillgrove.[1]
It was usually at Aunt Nan’s.[2]
We girls while waiting to eat would go up to the bedroom & try on the
ladies hats – very exciting – not wanting to get caught. We couldn’t eat until
all the outsiders had finished.
A Bit of Ketchum History
I found the clipping
on the following page, left side, in “The New Brunswick Courier,” August 27,
1836, page 1. Thought Cliff and Ralph might be interested, perhaps others. I am
not sure which Ketchum was at Hammond River Bridge, but we’d be related. I
don’t know of the Hayes family of Norton. The Cougle name is common in and near
Portage Vale; this Cougle is from Sussex Vale, not too distant. I do not know
of a Walter family from the Portage (Portage Vale). I do know of a Halstead aka
Holstead/Holsted of Petitcodiac. Never can remember, but I think Samuel
Holstead Jr ran the inn/tavern on the Post Road, Petitcodiac, that served the
stage, for a short time.
FAMILY HISTORY LESSON
I have dropped all my research for this, for the time being. Thanks to
Paula for helping me out. Often, when researching someone, you need to go back
in time and place, and put the current event into context. Paula has done this,
and has some questions. I thought I’d do a basic timeline of Ella Mae Holmes
Underhill, up until about 1910. Ella was the daughter of Charles R Holmes and
Phoebe J McMonagle. I believe that Ella’s sister, Emma, was in the same
situation as Ella, but the father of her child was known, unless DNA should
prove otherwise. Her daughter, Josephine, appears also to have been born in
Hill Grove, even though she had been living in Maine. The farmhouse must have
been a busy place. I have not found a birth record for Josephine in Maine or
New Brunswick.
Timeline of Ella Mae Holmes,
until 1910.
Grandmother of Janet Minella Nolte
1881 Ella Mae Holmes was born in Hill Grove
1891 Ella resided with her family in Salisbury Parish, New Brunswick.
1901 Ella resided with her family in Salisbury Parish, New Brunswick.
1903, July 7 Ella gave birth to a daughter in New Brunswick. Father
unknown, alleged William Ellis.
1904 Ella arrived in the US, Boston area. (1910, 1920, 1930 census
records)
1906, June 27 Ella married Carl Felt Underhill in Lynn, Massachusetts.
(Massachusetts Marriage Records)
1907, March 2 Ella gave birth to a son, Edward, in New Brunswick.
1907 Edward arrived in the US. (1910 Census)
1908 Lillian arrived in the US. (1910 Census)
1910 Carl, Ella, Edward, Lora, and Lillian Holmes (called a
sister-in-law of Carl) lived in Massachusetts. (Census)
Questions
Where was Lil between her birth and 1908? Did she remain with her
grandparents? My mother told me that her father, Floyd, was very close to Lil. They
were seven years apart.
Why was Edward born in New Brunswick? It seems he was a few weeks premature. Could it be
that Ella was visiting her parents, expecting to return home to give birth but
had to stay until Edward was strong enough to travel?
Timeline for William Ellis,
alleged son of William Totten Ellis and Amanda A Blakney
and alleged father of Lil.
1883, January 18, William was born in Prince Edward Island.
(1891, there was no mention of William in this family.)
1910 William lived in Salisbury Parish, New Brunswick, with William T
and Amanda Ellis.
The search continues. There are many matches for Janet Nolte and the
Ellis (etc) family. There must be a connection, but we cannot say for certain
it is William.
I am somewhat of a novice with DNA research. I remember when Paula first
got her results, telling me how she researched everybody. Well, couldn’t have
been everybody, I suppose, but she set her mind to figure out how it works, and
she’s been an inspiration to me in this and many aspects of research.
DNA is based on relationships. I looked at mine this morning (the 21st).
The first tier is parent/child: Mum and I show up. The second is full
siblings: there I find my sister. Close family is next: my first
cousins and first cousins once removed (my first cousins’ children): I find
some of you. Then comes extended family: several of you are in
there. Last is distant family.
Janet’s DNA is challenging. That is because she is the only one of her
siblings who had children. Unless her siblings had tested, nothing will ever
show for them. They died too young for testing. Paula and I found nothing for
her alleged grandfather, William Ellis, besides the lead and his notation as an
18-year-old son of William Totten and Amanda Ellis on the 1901 census of New
Brunswick. As far as I know, two other children of William Totten Ellis and Amanda
(Blakney) Ellis, Stella and Bliss, had no children. The way I figure it is, if
William was the brother or half-brother of Claude Parkin Ellis (son of WT and AA
Ellis), I’ll never get any closer to the Ellis connection unless Claude’s
descendants test and share their trees publicly.
I am looking at only Janet’s maternal line. Her paternal line is full of
Italians, as it should be. Janet’s matches start at the Close Family
tier, and includes Scott Underhill as a first cousin once removed. Scott is in
our Facebook group. Extended Family is next, with several Holmes family
members in there. She and my mother are second cousins, and she and I are
second cousins 1 X removed. Then, on to Distant Family, where Ellis
descendants dominate her matches, and people of other surnames are there but
not as common. Most of them are from or associated with Prince County, Prince
Edward Island. There are also a few connections to the
Bleakney/Blakeney/Blakney and Parkin families of New Brunswick. I am going
to put this tree to rest for a while. I’ll refer back to it every so often. I’m
almost confident that Janet, Brett, Celia, Julia, and Emily can say that their
grandfather and great-grandfather has the surname “Ellis.” Whether or not
William is correct, I cannot say without more proof. I can also say with some
confidence that this ship-building family who came to Prince Edward Island to
stay in 1814 are a family to be proud of, albeit it had the usual oopses.
According to “History of the Ellis Family . . .” the first Ellis to come to the
Island was William Ellis and his wife, Hannah Penrose. William was the son of
James Ellis and Mary Totten, and Hannah was the daughter of George Henry
Penrose.”
References:
“The Island Register” is a genealogy compilation of Prince Edward Island
families submitted by families. Always verify anything you take from this type
of compilation. The compiler names Hannah Tawton as the wife of William Ellis,
the immigrant ancestor.
https://www.islandregister.com/ellis2.html
“History of the Ellis Family and The Descendants of William Ellis of
Bideford, Prince Edward Island” was compiled and written by Preston Ellis and
published in May, 1950. It is available at FamilySearch. You need to be a
member to access it, but there is no cost. This author states that Hannah
Penrose, daughter of George Henry Penrose, was the wife of William Ellis. He
gives the parents of William Ellis, the immigrant ancestor, as James Ellis and
Mary Totten. There are many descendants bearing both the names Penrose and
Totten, generally as middle names. Again, if you use this resource, verify what
you find. This makes more sense to me.
I did much research at Ancestry. I found many digitized records, which
are accurate as far as the information written in them is accurate. I also used
the provincial archives of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Manitoba.
Here’s an oops I found. Rachel Lynde (of “Anne of Green Gables” fame)
said, “you’re never safe from surprises until you’re dead.
James Ellis married Eleanor ‘Nellie’ McArthur on 9 September, 1846. He
fathered a son, Alexander McDougald, with Elizabeth McDougald, on 1 December
1846. That must have been an uncomfortable situation. You don’t always find
proof of these things, especially in that era. His first child with his wife,
Nellie, was William Totten Ellis, born ten months later on 5 July, 1847. A
different William Totten Ellis.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, American cousins.
This ends
week forty-nine of our centennial virtual celebration.
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