Another clue! .... Another QUESTION!!!!

A big thank you to Georgia Tim ("My Georgia Roots") for the mention in his blog of GEORGIA'S VIRTUAL VAULT 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. 

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.

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 typed in "St. Sincath Island."  So far I can find absolutely nothing with that name.  I also can't find anything on the "DOWGIER" name. 

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!

Cold Case: New Clues

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!!

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). 

Linda had some information which was new to me and included the word DIVORCE.  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. 

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. 

COLD 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). 

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.

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.

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.

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.]

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?  

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.

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.

Focusing

I'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.

Mama Has a Great Nephew

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.


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. 

I'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.

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.   

So computer is being cleaned out and we can soon continue on our ancester-hunting activities.

Looking 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. 

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.

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!!