WOLVERTONS UNLIMITED
Published bi-monthly (6 times a year)
Glenn Gohr, Editor
1040 E. McCanse St.
Springfield, MO 65803-3613
Ph. 417-833-2814 (Evenings & Weekends)
Covers all Wolvertons/Woolvertons in the U.S., Canada, and England. With
special focus on descendants of Charles Woolverton (c1660-c1746), Andrew
Woolverton (c1750-c1812), Moses Hanks (1743-1831) and allied families (Dodson,
Neville, Littlefield, Harris, etc.).
Vol. 4, Number 6 November/December 1996
Note: This document has been edited from its original form.
It has been adapted and reformatted to text HTML.
__________________________________________
EDITORIAL
This issue of Wolvertons Unlimited brings the total number of pages to 212,
which is equivalent to a good-sized book. It is my intention in the next couple
months to compile and type an index for all of the previous pages of the
newsletter. The index could be added to vols. 1-4 and then bound together if
someone wishes. Starting with the Jan./Feb. 1997 issue I will start over with
page 1 in numbering, and hopefully in 4 more years another index will be done
for those years. I've been quite busy this past year. In addition to printing
this newsletter I have started a second family newsletter on my grandmother
Frieda Quiram Gohr's family. (The Quiram name is German, and I've been able to
find Quirams in Canada, Brazil, and Germany who most likely are related. The
name is also spelled Kwiram and Kwirant.) Along with this I am doing a massive
update on a book that has already been done on this Quiram family. I am also
active in my church and do a lot of writing of historical/religious articles
with my job. And this year I am president of the local chapter of the Sons of
the American Revolution. Plus we have adopted a new baby, Aaron, who is 5 months
old. I contemplated making the newsletter quarterly, but I've decided to
continue with the same format (6 times a year, mailed in a standard envelope).
Each issue will continue to be 10 pages unless an insert is added. A renewal
form is enclosed. This would be a good time to let me know if there is a topic
that you'd like discussed in the newsletter or if you have a query or question
you'd like answered. Bonnie Woolverton also suggests that if you do not have
internet access, "Get on the Net!" [See a copy of the main screen of Bonnie's
Home Page listing on page 207.] If you do not have a personal computer, most
university and college libraries have computer terminals available to users.
Also many companies and offices are getting on the internet. I also understand
that almost 50% of all the public libraries in the nation now offer E-Mail and
internet access to the public. Here in Springfield each of the branch libraries
offers free internet access. Recently, I upgraded to a better computer and
purchased a modem so that I can have internet access at home. It has been a real
eye opener. There are many genealogy and other sites available for doing
research of all kinds, and communication is cheap (or free) when sending E-Mail
versus the old snail mail (U.S. Postal Service). [Note: If you have an E-Mail
address, send it in so we can make a Wolverton/Woolverton E-mail directory.
-ed.] In 1997 I intend to print pedigree charts showing my Woolverton lineage
with connections to the related families of Harris, Littlefield, Hanks, Dodson,
Neville, etc. I also want to list more information on Charles Woolverton the
immigrant and each of his 9 children. Also give a brief outline down to the 3rd
generation at least to show the early generations of Woolvertons in the U.S.
For this I'll be relying primarily on David Macdonald's research which has
tremendously updated what we know about the early generations of the Woolverton
family.
FROM THE BOOKSHELF:
Barcroft Family Records: An Account of the Family in England and the Descendants
of Ambrose Barcroft, the Emigrant of Solebury, Pennsylvania, by Emma Ten Broeck
Runk. 322 p., illus., appendices, and indexes. Originally published in 1910.
Reprinted 1997 in paperback by Heritage Books.
Eight generations of the Barcrofts in America are covered, from the arrival of
Ambrose Barcroft (c1716, probably in Maryland) until the time of this book's
original publication in 1910. Ambrose Barcroft purchased property in Bucks
County, Pennsylvania, in 1723, and the family became firmly established in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the next two centuries. The author has
included many fine pictures of places, people, and relevant documents. There is
an index of Barcroft names and a general index where related names are listed.
Related families mentioned in the book include: Dimond, Fisher, Hill, Little,
Moore, Potter, Rittenhouse, Runk, Smith, WOLVERTON, and others. The Wolverton
connection is through Jonathan Woolverton (1754- ) [son of Dennis
Woolverton2, Charlesl] who married Mary Barcroft. Also through Anna "Nancy"
Wolverton (1794-1883) [daughter of John Woolverton4 (Morris3, Charles2,
Charles1) and Rachel Quimby] who married Ambrose Barcroft (1793-1881) son of
Ambrose Barcroft and Francena Opdycke. The book also includes information on the
Barcroft family in England, which traces back to a Norman nobleman under William
the Conqueror named Gilbert de Berecroft. Emma Ten Broeck Runk also wrote The
Woolvertons: Early Legal Records of the Family in New Jersey and the Descendants
of Charles Woolverton (2) to the Seventh Generation in 1932. This 91-page book
is an excellent treatment of the early history of the Woolvertons in the U.S.
The book focuses on the descendants of Charles Woolverton, son of Charles
Woolverton the immigrant. The Barcroft connection is also mentioned here. [For
anyone interested, I will photocopy Miss Runk's book on the Woolvertons for
$4.60 + $3.00 shipping--ed.] Order the Barcroft book from: Heritage Books, Inc.
1540-E Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie, MD 20716; Order #R854. Prepublication price
until Dec. 31, 1996 is $19.00 + $4.00 postage and handling. After Dec. 31st the
price will be $23.50 + $4.00 shipping. For credit card orders, call
1-800-398-7709. E-Mail: heritagebooks@usa.pipeline.com; Web Site:
http://www.heritagebooks.com.
* * * * * * * *
BONNIE'S HOME PAGE
The first screen of Bonnie Woolverton's Home Page follows. The next issue of
WU will include more information from her Home Page. Her E-Mail address is:
bonniew@e-tex.com, Her web site address is:
http://www.e-tex.com/personal/bonniew/index.htm.
Home Page of Bonnie Woolverton
This house is ruled by the furry two "Nermal" and "Phoebe" [l] [2] {graphics are
shown here--ed.}
PHILOSOPHY
"Life is what happens while you're making other plans." -Bonnie
"No one is completely worthless; they can always be used as a bad example." --Bonnie
PERSONAL
Hi! Glad you could stop by. I live in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas which is
about 15 miles east of the community of Tennessee Colony where my ancestors
settled when they came to Texas in 1846.
After graduating from Palestine High School, I received a BBA from [3] Sam
Houston State University in Huntsville where I was a member of [4] Alpha Chi
Omega social sorority.
I've lived in Dallas, Houston, and College Station, Texas, before moving back to
Palestine. I've taught in two high schools, owned a country store, held
numerous office and administrative jobs, hostessed in a restaurant, worked for
the Palestine Chamber of Commerce, and in the English Dept of Texas A&M
University. Currently I work for Windham School District, the school district
within Texas Department of Criminal Justice. I work with GED and incoming
academic testing of inmates.
As you can see above, I am a Dilbert, Dogbert & Catbert fan.
I am a *Real* Movie buff. My favorite movies are: Hud, In Cold Blood, The Last
Picture Show, Natural Born Killers, Stripes, Slap Shot, The Getaway, Harlan
County USA, The Grifters, Blood Simple, and Body Heat.
I LOVE to read. My house is filled with books. I don't just read them; I collect
them. Favorite Book: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.
Favorite Musician/Singer: the legendary [5] Delbert McClinton
Other Interests: Rock and roll trivia. True Crime (reading it, NOT doing it!!!)
MY FAMILY TREE
Genealogy/history is my hobby, pastime, and passion. I've been researching
almost 15 years with my primary interest the history of [6] Tennessee Colony
and its families. The eighth generation of two of my lines live there (I'm
seventh generation). Other areas of interest are Anderson County, Republic of
Texas, later Texas history, and the Civil War in Texas. I have six direct
Confederate ancestors (five from Texas). I have my own microfilm reader at home.
My latest project has been reading roll after roll of old newspaper microfilm.
I use [7] Family Tree Maker CDRom version genealogy software, but at present I'm
"Gedcom challenged" (I would need help from my techie friend in order to respond
to any gedcom requests). Although not new to computers (I learned on a Mac),
I've had a PC just over 2 years, so I've got more to learn, especially since
upgrading from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95.
The SURNAMES I'm researching are:
Woolverton, Faires, Hanks (2 lines), Hudson (2 lines), Ritchey, Scarbrough,
Tisdale, Tucker, Webb
[8] PEDIGREE CHART {See pedigree chart in next issue -ed}
GENEALOGY AFFILIATIONS
DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS: Current Chairman, Historical Publications
Committee (state committee); current president, Fort Houston Chapter; past
Corresponding Secretary General (state office).
ANDERSON COUNTY GENEALOGY SOCIETY: Current Recording Secretary; past President;
past Publications Editor.
UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY: Former member and chapter officer.
MUSEUM OF EAST TEXAS CULTURE: Former member, Board of Trustees.
TENNESSEE COLONY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION: Current member, Board of Trustees.
SAVE TEXAS CEMETERIES, INC.: Current member.
EAST TEXAS CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE: Charter member.
OTHER: Member or former member of several other historical and genealogical
organizations.
PUBLICATIONS" COLLECTIONS" RESEARCH" PROGRAMS" MISCELLANEOUS
My Publications: Historical Highlights of Tennessee Colony, 1994; Tennessee
Colony Cemetery, 1991; updated 1994 Ancestors and Descendants of Benjamin G.
Woolverton, 1983; various historical articles for local newspapers, numerous
articles for local history books.
My Collections: Extensive collection of family genealogy research, Anderson
County material and sources, genealogy books, Texana, Confederate material,
source books, etc. I also am fortunate to own numerous family artifacts and
mementos such as a series of letters written to my gg-grandfather from his
brother in Alabama during the Civil War, itemized statements from a mercantile
business in a (now) ghost town in Anderson County in 1858, the original
newspaper obituary of my ggg-grandmother in Alabama in 1872, etc.
My Research: I have researched virtually everything available in Anderson
County. I have done research at the Texas State Archives and Library; Clayton
Genealogical Library in Houston, Tx; Confederate Research Center at Hill Junior
College, Hillsboro, Tx; Dallas Public Library Genealogy and Texana Collections;
Tyler Tx Public Library; Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the
Alamo; the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas at Waco; and numerous other libraries
and courthouses.
Programs: I have given numerous programs and presentations to a variety of
organizations. Topics include Texas History; How to research Texas Records; How
to Research Your Confederate Ancestor; How to Research Masonic Records; the
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Organization; Researching in the Palestine
Public Library Genealogy Collection; Anderson County in the Civil War; The
Confederate Exodus to South America & Mexico; and History of Tennessee Colony.
In 1986 I was a guest speaker at the East Texas Historical Association annual
seminar, and was a presenter at the annual conference for the Texas Civil War
Round Table (presentation on John H. Reagan, Confederate Postmaster of
Palestine, TX).
Miscellaneous: Instrumental in obtaining a Texas Historical Marker for the
Tennessee Colony Cemetery (did research and prepared lengthy marker application,
planned and emceed marker dedication with 150 in attendance). Organized and
chaired the Tennessee Colony Homecoming (April 1994) with over 400 attending
(first homecoming in 42 years). Currently updating 1986 Anderson County cemetery
inventory with burials from then to now. Named to Tennessee Colony Wall of
Honor, 1993. Taught six-week course on beginning genealogy, First Methodist
Church, Palestine, 1994.
BONNIE'S FAVORITE SURFING LINKS
{Here Bonnie gives links to several of her friends' home pages, various
genealogy search engines, social security death index, various web sites for
Texas genealogy and Civil War genealogy, and several other very good internet
sources for finding genealogical material. The web sire addresses are given in
the references below #s 9-43-ed.}
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at [44] [45] bonniew@e-tex.com
[46] This page best viewed with NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR GOLD 2.02
This site is designed and maintained by my talented techie friend Sharon
Herrington THE GRAPHICS MONSTER [47] SHARONH@E-TEX.COM
Web Page Copyrighted 1996 by Bonnie Woolverton [48] [49]
References:
1. http://www.stritch.edu/~strehlow/Site.html
2. http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/
3. http://www.shsu.edu/
4. http://www.alphachiomega.org/
5. http://www.delbert.com/
6. http://www.e-tex.com/personal/bonniew/tenncol.htm
7. http://www.familytreemaker.com/
8. http://www.e-tex.com/personal/bonniew/woolped1.html
9. http://longview.rapidramp.com/bhold/index.html
10. http://www.e-tex.com/personal/sharonh/index.htm
11 http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5616/
12. http://www.altavista.digital.com/
13. http://www.infobases.com/ssdi/query01.htm
14. http://www.drtl.org/~drtl/index.html
15. http://www.glo.state.tx.us/central/arc/index.html
16. http://www.chrysalis.org/dgs/txgenweb.htm
17. http://www.rootsweb.comroots-1/USA/tx.html
18. http://link.tsl.state.tx.us/dir/genie.dir
19. http://www.texas-on-line.com/graphic/history.htm
20. http://link.tsl.state.tx.us/c/compt/pension.html
21. http://sparc.hpl.lib.tx.us
22. http://www.e-tex.com/personal/bonniew/acgs/acgs2.htm
23. http://144.96.211.125/cets.html
24. http://www.pcsc.net/e-texas/index.htm
25. http://engserve.tamu.edu
26. http://www.lsjunction.com/
27. http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/tourtex/hillsbor/trv0006.htm
28. http://www.palestinecitizen.com/
29. http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm
30. http://www.erols.com/rjs/links.htm
31. http://www.cets.sfasu.edu/PastPort/History/CivilWar.html
32. http://www.rootscomputing.com/
33. http://inforamp.net/~magazine/webpicks.htm
34. http://ns.gower.net/lee/genea.html
35. http://www.kbyu.byu.edu/ancestors.html
36. http://www.familytreemaker.com/
37. http://nearnet.gnn.com/gnn/wic/index.html
38. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/index2.html/5397-6817496-821632
39. http://www.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/webbook?0
40. http://www.hom.net/~gac/
41. http://www.heritagebooks.com/welcome.htm
42. http://www.shsu.edu/
43. http://www.stritch.edu/~strehlow/Site.Html
44. mailto:bonniew@e-tex.com
45. mailto:bonniew@e-tex.com
46. http://home.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/index.html
47. mailto:sharonh@e-tex.com
48. http://www.e-tex.com/personal/bonniew/index.htm#top
49. http://e-tex.com/
WOOLVERTON INN NEWSLETTER
The Woolverton Inn has started a promotional newsletter. I received Vol. I,
Issue 1, dated October 28, 1996. The newsletter mentions that the Inn has
recently been remodeled. Several specials are listed for the holidays and for
January and February. The newsletter also includes "The Woolverton Inn Recipe
Corner" and a nice article called "Come Explore Bucolic New Jersey" which
mentions that "more than half the land in Hunterdon County is still actively
farmed, offering visitors many wonderful vistas." Also it says the only
surviving covered bridge in New Jersey is in Hunterdon County. Hunterdon County
exhibits rural beauty and urbane sensibility. It is known for its long country
roads flanked by woods, streams and corn fields, and the article says, "Visit
once and your impression of New Jersey will forever change. Woolverton Inn gift
certificates are also available. For reservations or to receive their newsletter
call 1-888-AN INN 4U (1-888-264-6648) or write: Woolverton Inn, 6 Woolverton
Road, Stockton, NJ 08559.
MORE ON VIRGINIA WOLVERTON [???]
After the query listed in the last newsletter (p. 204), subscriber Patricia
Treece responded with answers to this problematic lineage. Patricia Treece is
descended from Andrew Woolverton3, Joel2, Charles1. She sent along pages from
chapter 18 of her book on Sams History which she has recently completed. Chapter
18 deals with "The Huff/Hough Family" which is an allied line to the Sams line
which she has been tracing. There is NO Wolverton/Woolverton connection to the
Huff line. From Patricia's records we find the following: John Shepard, b. ca.
1627 in England, d. June 12, 1707 at Hartford, Connecticut. On October 4, 1649
in Hartford, Connecticut he married Rebecca Greenhill. She was born ca. 1634 in
Staplehurst, Kent, England, and died on December 22, 1689 at Hartford,
Connecticut. The father of John Shepard is Edward Shepard, b. 1600 in England,
who was married in England on December 5, 1620 to VIOLET STANLEY or WOLVE?
Violet is also reported to have been born in 1600, most likely in England.
Notice first of all that Edward Shepard's wife is named Violet and not Virginia.
Also her last name definitely is NOT Wolverton. Instead it appears to be
STANLEY. After concurrence with Jim Mayor, he heartily agrees that her name is
not Virginia Wolverton, but instead is Violet Stanley. Thus this mystery has
been solved and another false lead corrected. Thanks to Patricia Treece for this
valuable information.
SYMPATHY
Sympathy to the family of my aunt, Lucile Elmyra (Harris) Semadeni, b. 27 April
1917 at Charlie, TX. She passed away Wednesday, December 4, 1996 at her home in
Dove Creek, Colorado. Memorial services were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday,
December 7, at the Dove Creek elementary school and burial was at Cedar Point
Cemetery. She was the widow of Jack Semadeni [See his obituary in WU, pp.
121-124]. She was the oldest child of William Earl Harris and Orpha Antonia
Hazel (Garvin) Harris. I hope to print her obituary in the Jan./Feb. issue of
the newsletter.
ACCOLADES
Congratulations to Katherine Littlefield Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who is
descended from John Monroe Littlefield, son of Nancy Artemisia (Woolverton)
Littlefield. During this past year she had supplementals approved for the
Daughters of the American Revolution on the following ancestors: Moses Hanks,
Thomas Dodson III, Thomas Dodson, Jr., and Joseph Neville, Sr. I had supplied
her with information on these about 5 years ago. She also had a supplement
approved on Daniel Merrill on her Carothers/Merrill line, thanks to input from
subscriber Josephine Adams of Danville, California. Katherine made copies of
these 5 supplementals and proofs and mailed them to six of her first cousins who
are all in the DAR. They are Geneva Metzger, Dorotha Sexon, Retha Willis, Gladys
Sellers (daughters of Hardeman Littlefield); Betty Yeager (daughter of George W.
Littlefield); and Lurland Raibourne (daughter of James Elmo Littlefield). If
anyone else needs proofs for sending supplementals to DAR or SAR on the above
individuals, let me know. Any of our subscribers who descend from the HANKS
family are eligible through the first 4 ancestors listed above. My aunt and
uncle, Bill and Norma Harris, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on
December 1, 1996. A reception was held at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Hall at
Novato, California, where they live. Norma's 3 brothers were singers at the
event and entertained the audience with familiar songs from the 40s. Their son,
William Earl Harris, III, was master of ceremonies, and all 7 of their children
had a part in planning the party. The grandchildren decorated the hall and
served food. Both priests came and gave them their blessings. 335 people were in
attendance including their children, with spouses and grandchildren. Bill's
brothers and sisters in attendance included Hazel and Lawrence Gohr (my parents)
of Monte Vista, Colorado; Ruby Jean Barber of Cortez, Colorado; and John P.
Harris of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Also a niece, Aleta and Bob Huck and son
Stephen attended from Clayton, California. And a cousin, Earl Dean Harris (son
of Uncle Willie Harris), also of Novato, was there. In honor of my aunt and
uncle's anniversary, I composed a poem which I am reprinting here. Some
background information follows. William Earl "Bill" Harris, Jr. and Norma
Wakeley (Lopez) Harris were married on December I, 1946 at Star-of-the-Sea
Catholic Church at Sausalito, California, just one week before Norma's 18th
birthday. Bill Harris is the oldest son of William Earl Harris and Orpha Hazel
(Garvin) Harris. The Earl Harris family left Texas and moved near Dove Creek,
Colorado, on the Utah border in the spring of 1935. They raised 8 children. In
the second verse, my mother (Hazel) is the one he probably tried to teach to
drive. [My mother says that actually it was her brothers J. D. & John who tried
to teach her to drive when she was young. But Bill probably also influenced her
as he was just 2 years older than her.] My mother gave up on driving at that
time (late 1930s or 1940s). Finally, with automatic transmissions, etc., she
learned to drive, when she was past 60. She is now 75 years old. Bill and Norma
met while he was stationed in the Philippines during World War II. Norma's
father, Joaquin Lopez, was killed by a bomb in March 1945 when she was just 16.
Soon after this, Norma's family had to flee from the Japanese, traveling through
the mountains at night and sleeping in bushes during the day. Bill lost all
contact with this family. But as providence would have it, Bill was stationed at
a base near San Francisco, and Norma's family also ended up there. Norma's
mother was an American citizen, so the family was able to come to the United
States. It just so happened that Bill ran into Norma and her family at the base,
and soon love blossomed. They married and raised 7 children.
The Ballad of Bill and Norma
by Glenn Gohr
December 1, 1996
Born at Frederick, Oklahoma,
Bill was Earl and Orpha's oldest boy.
Raised in the West Texas plains,
Where it seldom ever rains,
The Wilson Independent school bus
Was his family's pride and joy.
Then on to San Juan County, Utah,
The year was 1935.
A 2-room house became their mansion
At the edge of Bug Point Canyon.
He finished school at Dove Creek,
And tried to teach his sister how to drive
Next on for the cause of freedom,
For Uncle Sam he did his best.
Manila was his port of call,
There he met the Lopez family all.
And by God's plan in San Francisco Bay,
Again he found Norma and all the rest.
Born at Manila, Philippine Islands,
Joaquin and Flora's girl was she.
Norma was born December 8,
The year was 1928.
Extended cousins galore had she,
And Norma's life was simple, carefree.
Norma was 16 when her family fled
From their sweet Filipino home
'Twas mother and grandma,
4 brothers, and Norma.
They trekked through the mountains,
Then by ship they did come.
'Twas love at long last united
For Bill and his Filipino bride.
They were married at Star-of-the-Sea,
And made their home in Marin County.
And nothing could make them happier
Than having each other at their side.
It wasn't long before their home was blest
With seven kids, in-laws, and more--
Billy and Susan, Linda, and Evey,
Phillip, John, and last was Nancy.
Then came the grandkids one after another--
A long, happy life at the Golden Gate shore.
50 years have come and gone,
Years of joys and pleasure.
Now hundreds come to love and greet
This couple that is jolly and sweet
On their joyous Golden Celebration
Full of happiness without measure
Happy Holidays,
Glenn,Marion, Jared, & Aaron Gohr
