Lois Jean Allen, 1911 - 1918

Lois Jean Allen Gravestone

Lois Jean ALLEN, my great aunt, was born on 27 Jan 1911 in the Brassfield area of Granville County, North Carolina. She was the third child of Eugene Narron ALLEN and Elizabeth RAY. 

Lois had seven siblings: Vada Atlas (my maternal grandmother), Mamie, Henrietta, Lacie, Elsie, John Benjamin, and Marvin Eugene. 

Lois was only 6 years old when she died of "exhaustion" brought on by Typhoid Fever on 05 Jan 1918 in Brassville Township.  She is buried at New Light Baptist Church the New Light area of extreme northern Wake County, NC. 

Lois Jean Allen Death Certificate

Lucinda Davis Hall, 1839 - 1922

My great great grandmother, Lucinda Davis Hall, is one of those ancestors who seems to tug at me. I'm not sure why that is, and in spite of all my research, I don't feel I've gotten to know her very well beyond the well documented facts. 

Lucinda was born between 1839 and 1844 in Granville County, NC. She was the daughter of Jonathan Davis and Tildanthe Bailey/Bayley. Her brother was Jonathan was also my great great grand grandfather.

There was a significant age difference between her parents. John would have been 65 if Lucinda was born in 1840, which certainly isn't impossible and it's hard to know precisely when Lucinda was really born. Families often gave conflicting information to census takers or were sometimes confused as to their own ages or birth year. 

Her death certificate indicates she was born in 1840, yet the various censuses give varying years between 1839 and 1844. Her gravestone says she was born in 1844.  Folks in her part of Granville County were generally suspicious of outsiders, and regarded census takers as the next best thing to a thief. They didn't always report the truth when it came around to a stranger asking a lot of questions, particularly if that stranger is associated with the government.

Grandma Lucy shows up in the 1850 Census at age 11 living with her parents, John and Matilda in the Beaver Dam area of southern Granville County along with her siblings Mary, Priscilla, Sally, Allen, Elias and Elizabeth. 

On Jan 5, 1859, Lucinda married John Ruffin Davis in Granville County. She would have been around 17 - 19 years old. A number of family members have told me Lucinda and Ruffin were not married, but clearly their marriage license says otherwise. The snippit below is from North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979:

So it makes sense that in the 1860 census, she is living with John R. Davis, age 35. Lucinda is now age 20, or so she says. Also in the household is Francis Allen, age 30 as well as John and Lucinda’s daughter Indiana, age 6 months. They are living in the Beaver Dam area of southern Granville County. I have no idea who Francis Allen is. Do you?

I cannot find Lucinda on the 1870 census. 

John Ruffin must have died sometime between 1850 and 1880 when Lucinda married Simon Hall. It is possible John Ruffin died of illness from the civil war in 1863, although he died in Granville County. The problem with this theory is that two of Lucinda's children, James Medicus and Charles were born after 1863, so maybe he died later. Still working on that one.

On the 1880 census, Lucinda was 38 years old and living with husband Simon Hall, age 32. Simon was a farmer born in Orange County, NC around 1835. Also living with them was Sidney (age 19), Medicus (age 13), and Charles (age 10) Davis - all sons of Lucinda and Ruffin. The census lists all three of them as “son-in-law” in spite of ages. How can a 10 year old be a son-in-law? Most likely, Simon was providing information for the census taker and he misunderstood that they were Simon's step sons. Or maybe he didn't know the difference between a son-in-law and a step-son.

On the 1910 census, Lucinda says she was born in 1840. She is listed as 70 years old, living in Youngsville with son Medicus, age 42.

Lucinda’s death certificate indicates she died of burns she received in a house fire on July 22, 1922. She was 82 years old. She was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church in Youngsville, NC the same day she died. 

I've scoured the local papers but can't find a news report of the fire. But back in 1922, perhaps the local fire department didn't respond and they just let the house burn itself out.

An elderly family member claims to have Lucinda's wedding ring that was taken from her finger after her death. Although a grisly image, I'd sure love to have that ring, if only we could verify it's origin. You know how family stories go!

Lawrence C. Davis - Death by Gambling

Every family has stories that - while intriguing - are hard to prove.  This one has some meat, however. My great grand uncle, Lawrence Commodore DAVIS, was - as family lore would have it - shot while gambling. How juicy! And how sad.

Born on 24 June 1875 in Granville County, NC, Uncle Lawrence was the 12th child (yes, 12th!) of my great grand parents Jonathan Davis and Cornelia Dillard. 

Lawrence died of a gun shot wound 09 March 1919 in Granville County.  He was 43 years old. The family story is that Lawrence, who never married, was a heavy gambler. Apparently he got into a tiff of sorts with his gambling buddies and one pulled out a gun and shot him dead. You'd think an arrest and court case would have followed, but so far I've been unable to find any evidence of such.

Uncle Lawrence was buried in Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, Youngsville, NC. 

A few other facts...
- Lawrence shows up in the 1900 and 1910 census.
- His mother, Cornelia Dillard Davis, sold him timber rights to 285 and 157 acres on Aug. 20, 1914.
- He is mentioned in his mother's will: Whereas my only son Lawrence has been faithful in taking care of me and looking after the farm, and has in the course of such employment purchased and added to the live stock, machinery, and tools, now therefore in order that there may not be any dispute as to whom these belong, I devise and bequeath to my said son Lawrence Davis all my interest and right, if I have any, in and to the horse, mules, oxen, farming tools and all machinery of whatever nature which are now or may be at the time of my death in use on my said farm lands or on that in which I have a life estate coming from my deceased husband Jonathan F. Davis.
- His mother also named him executor of her estate

So, although Uncle Lawrence had a penchant for gambling and apparently hung out with fellows who wouldn't hesitate to shoot him, he took good care of his mama and his daddy's farm. A good boy.

Miss Meona Davis, 1888 - 1964

Ms. Meona DAVIS was born in the Brassfield area of Granville County, NC April 24, 1888 to parents Sidney and Cordelia DAVIS. She never married but she was an integral part of the family and was always spoken of with love. In fact, her gravestone reads "A true friend to everyone".

She was my maternal grandmother's beloved sister, making her my grand aunt. I recall my mother always speaking of her with great respect. 


Meona worked at Dorthea Dix mental hospital in Raleigh, NC for many years and eventually retired from the State of NC. I've heard stories about her walking many miles to and from work along railroad tracks. She worked for years in the Dix laundry and then as a worker on a ward.

For a single woman from a poor family, it is surprising that she dabbled in Granville County real estate. She purchased 26.75 acres of farm land to re-sell to her brother Earnest DAVIS and his wife Evie ALLEN, because she felt they were the only family members who would work hard enough to farm the land. 

She died from thyriod cancer at age 75 on April 15, 1964. She was a life long member of Good Hope Christian Church which is where she was buried. 

Her obituary from Raleigh's News and Observer:

Miss Meona Davis

Wake Forest. Miss Meona Davis, 76, of Franklinton, Rt. 1 died Wednesday. She was a native of Granville County, North Carolina and was a retired State employee. She was a member of Good Hope Christian Church. Funeral services  will be held Friday at 3:00 pm at Good Hope Christian Church. The Rev. T. N. Daughtery, pastor, will officiate, assisted by the Rev. E. M. Carter of Youngsville. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Surviving are four sisters, Mrs. Mary Allen, Mrs. Cora Finch, Mrs. Ethel Allen, and Ovie Lowery, all of Raleigh; two brothers, Bruce Davis of Wake Forest Rt. 3 and Otis Davis of Youngsville, Route 1.

Good Hope Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC

Allan RAY and Martha Hawkings PEARCE

Allan RAY and Martha Hawkings PEARCE are my great great grandparents. They lived most of their lives right where their ancestors and descendants lived in New Light, Wake County, NC. Just up the road from me. In fact, Ray Road is just two stoplights away. 

Isn't that a great name?  Hawkings. I'm told her nickname was "Hawk Pearce". You know how some folks are called by their first AND last name as though it were their first name? Hawk Pearce. I have to wonder about that name. Hawkings must have been a family name somewhere along the way, but I haven't figured that out yet.  

A family member commented that she wore a lot of rouge. Most of our family has lily white skin, so I can just imagine what that must have looked like!

Grandma Hawk was just 18 years old when she married Grandpa Allan in December of 1885. At 29 years old, he was an "older man". I've wondered if he was married before her, but I can't find any record of such. 

They raised 5 children including my great grandmother, Elizabeth (Sissy) RAY ALLEN. They had been married for 51 years when Grandpa Allan died in 1936. She died 17 years later in 1953. 

Both passed away from heart issues. Maybe it was all that fatback, fried chicken, and lard biscuits. The standard country southern diet.

Introducing Miss Alice C BARBER

Alice C. Barber Johnson

I'd like to introduce you to Miss Alice BARBER, my paternal great grandmother. 

She was born in Feb 1868 in Johnston County, North Carolina, as the first child of Absolom BARBER and Tabitha BYRD. 

She had eight siblings: 

William R.

Banley
Ida F.

Louenza
Etta Florence
Mary Elizabeth
Major
Baldy Denny

 
When she was 17, Alice married William Jarrett JOHNSON on 03 May 1885 in Johnston, North Carolina. Incidentally  May 3 is also my parents anniversary. I just love coincidences like that!

Alice regularly shows up on the US Census:

• 1880: Lived in Elevation, Johnston, North Carolina at age 12.
• 1890:  This census was lost in a fire in 1921, but it's pretty cool that this was the first census tabulated by a machine. 
• 1900: Lived in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina at age 32 married to the head of household, William JOHNSON. 
• 1910: Lived in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina at age 41, married to head of household, William JOHNSON.

William Jarrett JOHNSON and Alice C. BARBER had a slew of children:

1. William Lester JOHNSON was born 06 March 1903 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. He died on 23 Aug 1971 in Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina. My daddy used to take me to "Little Washington" to visit Lester.
2. Robert L. JOHNSON was born in Aug 1889 in Johnston County, North Carolina. He died in Apr 1910 in Johnson County, North Carolina.
3. Elmond JOHNSON was born in Feb 1892 in Johnston County, North Carolina. He died at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. My son was born at Rex. Both of my parents died at Rex. My breast cancer was largely treated at Rex. A lot of family connection there!
4. Almond JOHNSON was born in Dec 1893 in Johnston County, North Carolina. He died in Oct 1949. He married Ila SPENSE on 17 Oct 1915.
5. Ada Lou JOHNSON was born on 16 Nov 1894 in Johnston County, North Carolina. She died on 04 Jan 1963 in Wake County, North Carolina at age 68. She married Jesse Bernard STANCIL on 18 Nov 1917 in Johnston County, North Carolina. These are my grandparents!
6. Mattie Florence JOHNSON was born on 17 Feb 1896 in Granville County, North Carolina. She died on 21 May 1954 in Garner, Johnston County, North Carolina. I wonder what in the world Alice was doing in Granville County when she gave birth to Mattie? 
7. Sister JOHNSON was born in Apr 1900 in Johnston County, North Carolina.

What was Alice and William thinking when they named two of their sons Elmond and Almond? I can't find a family connection to those two names. 

Alice died on 10 Aug 1920 in Johnston County, North Carolina of uremia - the old term for kidney failure. I've always wondered what caused her kidney failure. She was 52 years old. One year younger than me. 

Baldness is Golden

I realize this may seem a bit of a stretch, but I thought we'd celebrate Be Bald and Free Day here on Diggin' for Clues. Walk with me, and I'll explain.

This time last year I was totally bald. I'd just finished treatment for breast cancer and I was marching toward a bi-lateral mastectomy. I can personally attest that baldness is freeing in many ways. Now, a year down the road, I'm recovering quickly and putting the ugliness behind me.

However, I've been struck by how many of my ancestors died from cancer. Talk about running in the family!  If simply having a family history of cancer of any sort put me line for breast AND ovarian cancer, then I came by it honestly.

• My mom, Ann Gladys ALLEN STANCIL, had stomach, lung, liver, and kidney cancer. 
• Her sister, Grace Elizabeth ALLEN LEE, had breast cancer.
• My first cousin, Brenda GLOVER MARCOM, died from ovarian cancer.
• My maternal grandmother, Ethel DAVIS ALLEN, died from pancreatic cancer.
• My paternal grandmother, Ada Lou JOHNSON STANCIL, died from ovarian cancer. 
• My great aunt, Meona DAVIS, died from thyroid cancer.

I am sure there were many more, perhaps undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in the time before modern medical practices. 

An important point here is around genetic testing. BRCA1 gene mutation points toward a ridiculously high opportunity for breast and ovarian cancer. BINGO!  Along with my grandmother's silk nightcap and my dad's Purple Heart, I inherited my breast and ovarian cancer. Gee, thanks, mom and dad.

Along with memories and quirky personality traits, our families can leave us with very serious health issues that - luckily - can be discovered via genetic testing and early diagnosis. I'm sitting here this morning writing this blog post thanks to both. That's genetic testing and early diagnosis, of course. Certainly no quirky personality traits here! Right.

If you have a family history of ANY SORT of cancer, please please consider getting the test to diagnose BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. A BRCA1 mutation leaves you with a whopping 75% chance of developing breast cancer in your lifetime. And a 50% chance of ovarian cancer. If you have a family history, it's likely your insurance company will pay for the test. It's a simple blood test. Better to know than not know to make informed decisions. 

Unlike my great aunt Meona. She could not have known she would develop thyroid cancer in 1964. Good thing we live in the 21st century where we can document our family's story on a computer AND discover if we are next in line for cancer.

So while we are busy doing our DNA tests to determine our ancestry, be sure to do the test that could ensure your future. Your great grandchildren will thank you.