tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82516752900742043832024-02-07T18:57:03.972-08:00The Canty QuestA Search for my Southern RootsDebbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-90589285261773961322018-04-14T13:58:00.001-07:002018-04-14T13:58:14.033-07:00Clerical Errors do HappenFor years I've been following Grandpa CANTY and his story. A few months back I made a huge discovery - his death certificate. I'd searched everywhere under various names such as Thomas Canty, Thomas W. Canty, T Canty, TW Canty. So where did I find it? Under George Canty. What? Clerical error folks. Someone had drawn a line through T. W. Canty and written in George Canty. He lived and died in Beaufort, South Carolina, but someone had written in Jasper County and yet that was crossed out and Beaufort was written in. One of the Canty family had the date correct, but I could never find it. So I tried once more and I opened up everything I could find and low and behold, it was listed under George. <br />
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I knew it was him because his brother W. A. Canty of Clyo, GA gave the death information. But I also figured out something else. His brother Willy when he gave the names of their parents said Alex Canty. The person writing it down heard Ellie or Ellic. But Great Grandpa was James Alex Canty.</div>
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So, one more challenge. Where is Grandpa Thomas Walter Canty buried? I'm on the hunt. Any suggestions????</div>
<br />Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-12548559284554471952015-12-01T15:54:00.000-08:002015-12-01T15:54:36.854-08:00The Continuing Search Leads to More Answers.I learned an important lesson. Go back and try again. I found from another search of "The Day" which is an old New London, CT newspaper, a very small article but with answers to a couple of important questions I had. Were they married? I had never found any documents confirming it. Well, this little article was about my Grandma suing Grandpa for desertion and requesting custody of their two daughters Leona and Nellie. It listed the date of their marriage (yay). Turns out Grandpa was kind of a rat. He left Grandma in Connecticut and went back to what must have been his much-missed South. Of course, it seems impossible to get all the facts at this point. But I was happy to learn this part of the story and now I can try to get a copy of their marriage certificate. I also need to get his death certificate to verify the information I have, but from knowing nothing to knowing even more than my mother probably knew about her paternal side, I have filled in almost all the blanks.<br />
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So if you did a search once - go back and try again - you might be rewarded with some answers.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-27619461582987471172014-10-19T16:29:00.005-07:002014-10-19T16:29:51.149-07:00A Date of DeathRejoined Ancestry and found an updated Family Tree from another Canty Cousin and low and behold was a date and place of death. 9 Nov 41 in Beaufort, South Carolina. There were no records to back this up but I'm hoping with an actual place and date I can send for a certificate. I feel like I am closer to this grandfather than the ones I had more information about to start with. I have searched, and turned over stones, and been to many many genealogy classes and I feel I now understand the story of his life. I'll never know why he left his original family but I suspect he was homesick for the South. A long history of calling the Low Country home. On the other hand, my Grandma Fanny had an even longer relationship to the North. Of course, there is more to this than we'll ever know, but I feel like I have graduated from the child who lost her mother at 5 years of age and knew very little about her and the extended family, to a woman who knows more than even her mother did about this family. It is a special time we live in to have these answers at our finger tips. I feel at peace and I am glad to share this story with my sons and their family.<br />
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<br />Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-19481003116363712382014-10-19T16:22:00.001-07:002014-10-19T16:22:13.300-07:00Another DivorceContinued searching has led me to another census report showing that Grandpa Canty and Mamie, his second wife, divorced. He ends up back in South Carolina in a place called Bluffton. I wonder if my mother knew anything about him or if they ever connected? I don't suppose I'll find the answer to their personal relationship, but I do know it was a possibility.<br />
<br />Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-5108113258535979132014-06-17T10:48:00.000-07:002014-06-17T10:48:02.453-07:00The Quest and Finding AnswersWow, has it been this long since I've updated my Quest for the Canty family? Amazing. It is also amazing the answers I have found since I last checked in. Yes, I can confirm that my Great Grandfather James Alex CANTY was born on St. Catherine's Island. It took a while to get from "St. Sincath" to St. Catherine's but I did arrive. Evidently Great Grandpa was born on this island back in the 1860 era while his father Thomas H CANTEY (the spelling goes back and forth) was working as an overseer on a plantation owned by Jacob Waldburg, a man with 255 slaves. I was shocked to learn this and dismayed. I am curious to find out more and will continue to search the facts. Isn't it interesting how history becomes so personal when family connections bring it alive?<br />
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In my quest for Grandpa Canty, I have found answers as well. The last information was that he lived in Clyo GA and then I lost him. However, it turns out he remarried and moved to Savannah, GA. Lost him again around 1930 which I think is more than likely when he passed away. I am going to try to get a death certificate.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-19401140558702425462012-05-06T10:39:00.002-07:002012-05-06T10:40:33.754-07:00A Face to Face ConnectionSo I've slowed down a bit searching for my Canty roots but have also made concrete strides. Grandpa Canty and Grandma Fanny had two daughters and one son. My Aunt Leona took some effort to find, but eventually I was able to find that Leona had married Ora Lambert and they had a daughter, my first cousin, whose name was Verna "Val" Lambert. I persevered and found Verna's obituary and from that found that she had married a Frank Lewis and had a daughter named Linda. Well, she had also married again and other children, but the fun part of this search is I have made contact with my first cousin, once removed (hope I have that right). She lives in Texas. I live in Idaho. But she is traveling this way and I am going to get to meet her in person!! So Grandpa we have not forgotten you. The Canty family is still connecting. More later y'all.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-69435516821560186482012-02-04T20:41:00.000-08:002012-02-04T20:41:01.473-08:00SidetripsI have not been able to find out any more about Thomas Walter CANTY. The last piece of information was his WWI registration where he was living either with or near his brother William CANTY in Clyo, Georgia. This was in 1918. So, was there a marriage? a divorce? and what happened after that? <br />
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Since I have not been able to find out any more YET, I have been taking some side trips into explorating the area where my Great Grandfather James Alex CANTY was from. Looks like he might have been born on St. Catherine's Island off the coast of Georgia. Having never been to that part of the country I am finding the barrier islands along the southeastern U.S. to be very interesting.<br />
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St. Catherine's Island is now used for wildlife research, but it had an interesting past. I will share more that next time.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-63702159171562568382011-11-20T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-20T11:30:32.560-08:00Where Does the Time Go?I have not given up looking for clues. But I have been looking, buying and moving. We are now snug as a bug (surrounded by SNOW) and it is time to dust off those genealogical sleuthing skills!<br />
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The last suggestion I received was that St. Sincath was probably St. Catherine's Island! Sounds interesting and if anyone has St. Catherine information from the early 1800's, I'd be mighty happy to hear.<br />
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Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving whether it is a white one or green. Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-34312857411797574712011-04-28T18:11:00.000-07:002011-04-28T18:11:29.024-07:00St. Sincath Island, South CarolinaI CANNOT find a single thing on this. Actually one person suggested it might be the "original" name of one of the islands off of South Carolina. I have wondered if it was a Planation name. But I have not found anything. If you have any ideas, PLEASE make a suggestion. Thank you.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-82536171156169503462011-03-06T10:45:00.000-08:002011-03-06T10:53:35.699-08:00Another clue! .... Another QUESTION!!!!A big thank you to Georgia Tim ("My Georgia Roots") for the mention in his blog of <u>GEORGIA'S VIRTUAL VAULT</u> as I found the death certificate of Grandpa CANTY's sister Jenny. All I had before this was the name Jenny CANTY but over the months of searching I found out that she had married and became Jenny BEARD. Her husband passed away, she re-married, and her actual name was VIRGINIA PAULINE CANTY BEARD HUMPHREY. <br />
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Listed on the death certificate was her (and Grandpa's) mother and father's names and places of birth. Before this I knew that Great Grandpa's name was James A. CANTY. On the death certificate he was listed as Alex CANTY. Evidently he went by his middle name which I know now is Alex or probably Alexander. Great Grandma's name in the census was listed as Sally. On the death certificate her name is listed as Elizabeth DOWGIER. So, was it Sally Elizabeth, Elizabeth Sally? I'm not sure about the correctness of the DOWGIER part either.<br />
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Of course, Great Aunt Jenny didn't fill out her own death certificate. Obviously another family member did. So the spellings are probably off in a couple of items. For example, James Alex CANTY is said to have been born in South Carolina. In handwriting "S.C." was written and later someone <u>typed</u> in "St. Sincath Island." So far I can find absolutely nothing with that name. I also can't find anything on the "DOWGIER" name. <br />
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So......I continue now with these new clues digging up information. It seems like I am getting away from finding what happened to Grandpa CANTY. However, I am getting closer to learning about his (and my) ancestors. And that's a good thing!Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-61561515731447161832011-01-30T15:00:00.000-08:002011-01-30T15:00:47.334-08:00Cold Case: New Clues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JizIH8BupnAk7GqpY_eluWj9wpoZEhp84YSfpyZ6IO7ctvBNqpHjtngJEXHSBpdT7Rn5b_bh4GS8a1LeAANLSnOAuFl37VqkpQoOe-9tXEubAclundjmldSF4b5bEIaC9pAQx6LXbAE/s1600/Divorce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JizIH8BupnAk7GqpY_eluWj9wpoZEhp84YSfpyZ6IO7ctvBNqpHjtngJEXHSBpdT7Rn5b_bh4GS8a1LeAANLSnOAuFl37VqkpQoOe-9tXEubAclundjmldSF4b5bEIaC9pAQx6LXbAE/s320/Divorce.jpg" width="320" /></a>It was just a few weeks ago that I sent a letter - snail mail style - to a first cousin (once removed) that I had never met or corresponded with before. Being the impatient type it didn't look like I would hear back since it wasn't immediately forthcoming. Shows me!!<br />
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My new cousin Dave had sent the letter on to my other new cousin (his older sister) Linda. Well, Linda answered him and then he answered me - this time by e-mail (my favorite kind of mail). <br />
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Linda had some information which was new to me and included the word <strong><span style="color: red;">DIVORCE</span></strong>. According to Linda's late mother (my first cousin), Grandma Fannie and Grandpa Canty got divorced. This was in the early 1900's! Previously - from another source - Grandma Fannie was referred to as 'The Black Widow" since all of her husbands had died. I had never really considered that there had been a divorce. <br />
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So... a new avenue to approach. It still looks like snail mail will be involved as I will have to sit down and write a check and send a letter to the courts to get some definitive answers. Nevertheless, I have learned that there are always new clues to be found if one is PATIENT. </div>Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-7626151672990739012011-01-16T12:06:00.000-08:002011-01-16T12:06:42.336-08:00COLD CASE: A CANTY QUEST MYSTERY (PART I)Fannie BILLINGS ENOS was born abt 1890 in New London, Connecticut where her mother's family line (BRIGGS, COMSTOCK) had been living since before the Revolution. (Proof of this exists.) Her father's family line (ENOS) came over in the early 1800's from the Azore Islands of Portugal (More proof). <br />
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Thomas Walter CANTY was born abt 1885 in Barnwell, South Carolina where his father's family line I'm still investigating but went back to at least the late 1700's. (Proof). His mother is still a brick wall.<br />
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Fannie and Thomas were married (no proof yet) at least by around 1910 and lived in New London where the first of their three children were born (Leona, Nellie and Harold). Harold being the last of their children was born in 1915. So far, I have no evidence of a divorce or a death. I do have proof of Thomas relocating back to the South and living in Clyo, Georgia with/near his brother Willie and his wife in 1918. I also have proof of Thomas being (honorably) discharged from the Army on May 25, 1913 at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.<br />
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Fannie re-married Charles Joseph DURR abt 1918-19 and lived in New York where the first of their two children were born (Anna and Lawrence). In the 1920 Census Leona, Nellie and Harold are listed as "Cantey [sic] Durr" and referred to as the step-children of Charles DURR. Charles died before 1930. Thereafter Harold used only the last name Durr, while Leona and Nellie kept the CANTY name. Harold's family to this day continue to use the surname DURR.<br />
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Fannie went on to marry two other times but that is another story. [A tongue-in-cheek story of Fannie was that she was referred to by later family members as the "black widow" as all of her husbands passed away.]<br />
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THE MYSTERY: Why does Thomas CANTY leave the Army in South Carolina (he was stationed in New London) in 1913? Does he move back to New London since it appears he has another child (Harold) in 1915? Why does he end up back in Clyo, Georgia, working as a salesman and living either with or near his brother Willie? Also, I have found a newspaper clipping of Harold's death saying he was the child of Fannie and Charles? <br />
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THEORIES: Thomas deserted Fannie. She moved to New York, met and married Charles. Harold may really be Charles' son even though he is listed as his step-son in the census. Or, really any number of scenarios which I have not been able to confirm.<br />
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WHY I CARE: Thomas and Fannie are my grandparents. Their second child Nellie Frances CANTY was my mother who passed away when I was 5. I am trying to write their stories and genealogy for the benefit of not only myself but for my children as well.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-53792473887293739852011-01-09T21:10:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:10:08.213-08:00FocusingI'm trying to focus on getting an answer to when and where my Grandpa Canty died. I can't seem to find this information online so I am going to snail mail. Sending in a request to Clyo, Georgia which is the last known residence of Grandpa Canty in 1918. I hope this pans out.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-31582305084410354202011-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:002011-01-08T14:38:22.808-08:00Mama Has a Great Nephew<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, 2011 is looking good so far! My computer is virus-free and I have completed a letter to my Mama's great nephew. I am hoping he will contact me and we can share our common lineage. After all his great grandfather is no other than Thomas Walter CANTY. I'm sure he and his family would like to know more about this mystery man as well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">I have had the fun and excitement recently of looking up old newspaper articles which are on line. It was easy to pull up some information about my New England anscesters and so I'm off to see what the South has to offer. </span>Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-9009033462855165772010-12-28T14:36:00.000-08:002010-12-28T14:36:04.107-08:00I've been FAPed by a Virus! Mercy Me!FAP - Free Access Policy for those who don't know. As an internet satillite user, evidently there is only so much "bandwidth" you can use. For most of us this isn't a problem, less you have several teenagers in the family or like to watch videos day and night through your computer.<br />
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About two months ago, I discovered that we had exceeded our bandwidth. Before that I didn't even know what it was. To make a long story short, turns out we weren't using our computer to download too many items, it was a VIRUS. <br />
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So computer is being cleaned out and we can soon continue on our ancester-hunting activities.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-19244145824254916942010-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:002010-12-13T18:29:31.646-08:00Looking for Clues Among the Living...So I took a little detour to contact a living relative. I found my first cousin - once removed - through clues from an obituary. With the help of Google, I found a telephone number. I made a call and got an answering machine. I left a message, but.... no answer. <br />
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I know I must call again, but I hate to be a nag. Still, persistence, right? A friend of mine suggested to call again, and if I get the answering machine, remember to tell my cousin he can call collect. Maybe that will make a difference. Otherwise, I'll see if I can find the address and send a letter.<br />
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Being a genealogy "detective" keeps taking me on different directions and I need to keep focused. However, in this case I think it is possible that this cousin who is also a direct relative of Thomas Walter CANTY, I might find some good clues. If I'm persistent!!Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-48217822542227808352010-12-04T16:14:00.000-08:002010-12-04T16:14:50.672-08:00Mama had a sister, Leona CANTY LAMBERTMy Mama's sister was Grandpa CANTY's first-born child. In my search for Grandpa CANTY, I have looked into the family of her younger brother, Harold Walter CANTY, and I have chased down relatives of her half-sister Anna Barbara DURR, but I still have yet to find anyone with information on Grandpa CANTY. <br />
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Don't think that if you look information up one time that it will never appear. More and more information is being downloaded and transcribed and made available. I recently found information on Aunt Leona's daughter, Verna LAMBERT. Verna would have been my first cousin. I have one photo of cousin Verna and it just so happens she is with my very own Mama! Unfortunately, the information I obtained was in an obituary, and I was saddened to learn she had passed away in 2004. However, in the obituary I learned that Cousin Verna had a brother (didn't know that one), three sons and a daughter. She died in Texas.<br />
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My next step will be trying to make contact with one of her children, my first cousin's, once removed? I think that's right although correct me if I'm wrong. :) Stay tuned...Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-52900190943644748332010-11-14T16:10:00.000-08:002010-11-14T16:10:08.043-08:00My Mama, Nellie Frances CANTY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NELLIE FRANCES CANTY THOMPSON</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">18 Apr 1912 -- 20 Jul 1957</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Mama was a Yankee. Born and raised in New London, Connecticut. If she remembered her Daddy at all, it wasn't any better than I knew her as he disappeared from her life when she was a small child. I was just 5 when she died of cancer, leaving me a few memories and photos. Fast forward to present and now I have my genealogy, a way to find out more about her and about her parents' families. In any case, this blog isn't about her Yankee side. Its about finding out about what it was to be a CANTY.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Her father lost his mother at a young age, had to live with relatives, ended up in the Army and that put him in Connecticut. I've tried to ascertain what happened next. Divorce? The family says Fannie (my grandma) was widowed 4 times so according to them, he must have died. No one knows anything about the "first" husband. But those records.... They say he was living down is Georgia with his brother around 1918. My mother would have been 6 years old. So why was Thomas Canty living with his brother in Clyo, Georgia when he had a wife and 3 children up in New London, Connecticut? So far, I don't know. I'll need to find marriage/divorce certificates and Thomas' death certificate. Still searching...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhow, back to my Mama. Did she know she had Southern roots? I think she would have liked to learn more about her Canty family. So, next I'm going to see what I can find out about <u>her</u> Grandpa Canty. Again, back we go, heading toward the era of the Civil War.</div>Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-91687687822051308182010-11-07T17:22:00.000-08:002010-11-07T17:22:04.380-08:00The Savannah River<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The <place>Savannah River</place> divides <state><place>South Carolina</place></state> and <country-region><place>Georgia</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><city><place>Augusta, Georgia </place></city>is on the other side of the river and not far from <place><city>Barnwell</city>, <state>South Carolina</state></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfv4d_WWWbDOeSqBs0GrxqK2mS91M72IR2WbxdZZZC3jPeHY7Bw1EelFohl3A_xwTp7A2oDuVN6VduL8c0WE760mr1FMfHmyG5RUZICEcu7mthuBj8BsRNYU_e-2RpPr8Owq5Kj09ABM/s1600/Savannah_River,jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfv4d_WWWbDOeSqBs0GrxqK2mS91M72IR2WbxdZZZC3jPeHY7Bw1EelFohl3A_xwTp7A2oDuVN6VduL8c0WE760mr1FMfHmyG5RUZICEcu7mthuBj8BsRNYU_e-2RpPr8Owq5Kj09ABM/s320/Savannah_River,jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On my mother Nellie Frances Canty's birth certificate (documented many years after her birth), it states that Walter Canty was born in <place><city>Augusta</city>, <country-region>Georgia</country-region></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His army record says he was born in <place><city>Barnwell</city>, <state>South Carolina</state></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By studying the geography of that area, it makes now makes sense. The Cantys crossed over the Savannah River in order to obtain work at the cotton mill. Since this was when he was still a child, Grandpa probably told most people he was from <city><place>Augusta</place></city> rather than <state><place>South Carolina</place></state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Another mystery solved!</span></div>Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-55909981119805877482010-11-01T18:00:00.000-07:002010-11-07T14:35:58.688-08:00The Cotton MillToday I did some research into the cotton mill around the year 1900. What I found gave me further insight into Grandpa Canty's childhood experiences. The U.S. Census is just a beginning. It told me that Thomas Walter Canty, my Grandpa, at the ripe old age of 13, was working in the cotton mill as a sweeper. His father James A. Canty, at this point a widower with four children, age 46, was working also at the cotton mill as a sweeper. So I went to Google Images and found an image which could have been my Canty "boys."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVc9BhmOiBEsBauCwDZ49oqY96IcMFOUt273KODnF2sr8Slt5SpPrPdd2R4tgPU-UfgDQqK1uy3KqAuwHQ6f-9snyHxRlWpTl9LtWum1VOgqRPsGGRY0p1D6Np6LF27ZfNlHnE8utQ9I/s1600/Cotton+Mill+Sweepers+1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVc9BhmOiBEsBauCwDZ49oqY96IcMFOUt273KODnF2sr8Slt5SpPrPdd2R4tgPU-UfgDQqK1uy3KqAuwHQ6f-9snyHxRlWpTl9LtWum1VOgqRPsGGRY0p1D6Np6LF27ZfNlHnE8utQ9I/s320/Cotton+Mill+Sweepers+1900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
At first, the picture looks harsh to me. Most 13-year olds I've been around (and raised) could barely clean their rooms, let alone have to work to make a living.<br />
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However, in looking a little deeper into what was going on at that time, I found that in Augusta, Georgia, the cotton mill business was thriving. The mill worker often lived in what was referred to as "mill villages." These villages were communities of company-owned homes that grew up around the factories. They evidently were places of commraderie and support. Everyone knew each other and they functioned like a large extended family. <br />
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Learning this helped me to picture Great Grandpa Canty getting the help he needed not only in finding employment in tough economic times, but in raising his children without their mother. It was a tough life as mill workers often worked six 12-hour days. However, they relied on each other for support and encouragement and that kept them going.<br />
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If you would like to know more about this era, you can go to <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-260"><span style="color: #333399;">www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-260</span></a>.</span>Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-52461572414298540792010-10-31T18:55:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:55:19.608-07:00Last Records or is it First RecordsSince I'm going backwards at this point, the "last" records I have of my grandfather, he was 13 years old and was living in Augusta, Georgia. The 1900 Census tells me that both he and his father James Canty were sweepers in the cotton mill. Already working at the age of 13. Since his sister Sadie Pearl was 5 years old and born in South Carolina, that tells me that he and his family were born and lived in South Carolina until that time. I am guessing but it seems like their mother might have died in child birth or at least sometime thereafter, leaving Gr. Grandpa with four children to raise on his own. The Census also tells me Gr. Grandpa's mother was born in Georgia so perhaps they had connections there or perhaps working in the cotton mill was an important reason to move.<br />
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So now, the story I have learned is that Grandpa Canty was born in South Carolina, lived there until he was between 8 to 13 and then moved to Augusta, Georgia. Then his father dies, the family is again hit by sorrow and on top of that split up. He ends up with in-laws in Ohio and decides to join the Army. The Army sends him to New London where he meets my grandmother. They have three children. And then it gets confusing, leading up to a brick wall.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-68054887361367634042010-10-24T17:22:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:40:34.865-07:00Middle Name Becomes First NameI recently read somewhere - sorry no citation and bad memory - that in the South, it was the custom to use one's middle name rather than their first name. I certainly found this to be true in the case of my Southern Grandpa and his family. <br />
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I found Thomas Walter Canty listed as "Walter Cantey" in 1900 in Augusta, Georgia. He was living with his father "Jas A Cantey," his brother "Willie Cantey," and his two sisters, "Jennie Cantey" and "Pearl Cantey." With the exception of the father and oldest brother, three of the children were listed by their middle names. By searching online for Barnwell, South Carolina history, I found some information about the Canty (or Cantey as it seemed to be used interchangeably) family from that area. I was blessed to actually find the first and last names of James A. Cantey and his children. Using both the first and middle names, I was able to locate this 1900 Census. <br />
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So Grandpa was 13 years old and living with his father and three siblings, his mother apparently having passed away. Fast forward to 1909 and Grandpa had gone to his sister Jennie's sister-in-law in Ohio and had signed up for the Army. I believe that his father also passed away sometime during this period because I find each child in a different location. Sadie "Pearl" Canty was living with her sister who was now Jenny Beard. Willie was married and on his own.<br />
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In addition to the middle name being used, my experience has also found that nicknames were recorded in census reports as well. So we have first names, middle names, nicknames, misspelllings on last names and marrying, remarrying and name changes. Whew! But it becomes so exciting when a new fact is learned. Just yesterday, I learned that my Grand Aunt Jennie was actually Virginia P. Canty. But that's another story.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-28347512295107993972010-10-21T12:44:00.000-07:002010-10-21T12:44:45.216-07:00Grandpa, Ohio and the U.S. ArmyGrandpa was an adventurous guy. He was born in South Carolina and then met Grandma while in the Army at Fort Wright in New York. Looking more closely at the U.S. Army records, I see that Grandpa joined the Army in Columbus, Ohio. Huh? How did he get to Ohio and why? <br />
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By looking into the Census Reports I found that Grandpa Canty's sister Jennie married one William T. Beard. William T. Beard had a sister named Laura who married Zachariah T. Witt. Can you guess where they moved to? Ohio! Franklin, Ohio close to Columbus, Ohio. By backing up to the 1900 U.S. Census, I find some interesting answers to the circumstances which took my Grandpa on his journey away from the South and toward Ohio.Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-15820990297985018282010-10-18T12:43:00.000-07:002010-10-18T12:43:48.983-07:00New London, Connecticut - City of Romance?A very fascinating town to me. I knew my mother had been from New London but now I know after my genealogy research that my relatives go back for many years and seemed to love New London as they never left. In fact, to this very day, I am finding many living relatives are still in New London.<br />
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Before Grandpa Canty ended up at Fort Moultrie in South Carolina, he was stationed at Fort H.G. Wright at Fisher's Island. This was a fort that's responsibility was to protect the Sound between Long Island and Connecticut. While stationed there, Grandpa Canty met Fannie Enos. Between 1909 and 1915, they had three children: Leona, Nellie and Harold Canty. The 1910 Census has Grandpa at the Fort and Grandma is still with her parents. By 1920 Census, Grandpa is gone and Grandma is remarried to Charles Durr and living in New York.<br />
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Just this weekend I received an e-mail from one of my "found" cousins. She tells me Grandma Fannie had kind of the reputation for being a "black widow." Not in a sense of anything evil, but just that all four of her husbands died during her lifetime. From this, I am thinking Grandpa Canty did, indeed, pass away before 1920. Can't find anything on him. Was he in Georgia with his brother or back up in Connecticut with his children? I have no idea. And all the family has no idea. In the Census report, Leona, Nellie and Harold were even using the name Canty-Durr. <br />
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So how do I find that out? Nothing comes up on ancestry and I am thinking I need to check out what is necessary to do some obituary searching? This is a mystery I am determined to solve.<br />
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However, what I do know is that before Grandpa ended up in Connecticut, he joined the Army in - of all places, OHIO!! And by checking out those census reports, I have an answer. Stay tuned!Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251675290074204383.post-47108146686061373762010-10-12T18:39:00.000-07:002010-10-12T18:39:02.310-07:00One Step [Backwards] at a TimeGrandpa Canty's last known whereabouts was in Clyo, Georgia. His WWI Draft Registration Card said he was a salesman. But before that, Grandpa was a soldier. How do I know that? I go back to 1913 - 5 years earlier. The U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 is full of information. When you go on Ancestry, you will only see the basics unless you click to see the original document. Here is where it gets interesting. This is basically a list of who joined the U.S. Army, when they joined, who signed them up, where they were originally from and then a spot called "Remarks." Now "Remarks" is in abbreviated form, but I've done my best to transcribe. In 1913 Grandpa Canty was on his second enlistment with the U.S. Army. He had reinlisted back at Ft. Slocum, N.Y.; however, he was discharged early in South Carolina. Here is what the "Remarks" say: <br />
<blockquote>"Dis., May 25, 1913 at Ft. Moultrie, S.C. in S.A.(?) 75, Eastern Dept., May 14/13, Lot., Very Good, h.&f."</blockquote>I don't know what some of this means, but I do see that when he left the Army, it was on May 25, 1913 and after that he made his way during the next 5 years to living back in Georgia. [By the way, if anyone reading this has any helpful hints about what "Lot." or "h.&f." mean, please share.]<br />
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So I'll take another step backwards to end up in the New London, Connecticut area. The city of romance...Debbie Goldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08371312279283383884noreply@blogger.com0