Our ancestors dealt with wars, economic down turns, losing family members, natural disasters, and on and on just like we do. Neighbors helped neighbors and faith communities reached out, too. They probably had medications, like we do now, but I get the impression a lot of it was alcohol based!
My great-grandparents, Dan and Maggie Thomas
My great-grandmother, Margaret Ann GRANT THOMAS (1870-1948), was a woman of faith. She and my great-grandfather, Jeremiah Daniel THOMAS (1858-1946) lived through World War 1 and 2, and the Great Depression; along with all the ‘regular’ events of life.
Her source of strength
I know one source of Maggie’s strength. I found a list of ‘An Interesting Digest of the Value of the Psalms’ in her handwriting. She recorded the date as Oct 2, 1932. The early years of the Depression and less than two years after her mother died. I expect Maggie used that source of strength daily.
Loved your story about your great grandparents! – Your great grandfather, Jeremiah Daniel THOMAS, you know I have Thomas lineage on my maternal side of my family. Thomasville, NC was named for one of my ancestor’s, may be your lineage?? We may connect at the Joseph Martin/ Johanna Rawlinson, but may also link at the Thomas lineage. They settled around Edgecombe County, NC? Your great-grandfather looks like some of the Thomas men I’ve seen in my family. This is quite interesting as I’ve found a few links back to my maternal ancestry back in the
1700’s from my paternal side.
I haven’t branched out in the Thomas lineage other than from my grandparents to my direct lineage. It’s wonderful how you honor your ancestor’s with your wonderful writing! It reminds everyone what they lived through for us to live in a better place, everyone should be thankful and remember what our ancestor’s sacrificed for future generations.
Suzan Martin
John Thomas Rev., Esquire , Jr. (1705 – 1788)
6th great-grandfather
Theophilus Thomas Major, Esquire (1740 – 1803)
son of John Thomas Rev., Esquire , Jr.
Robert Thomas (1767 – 1810)
son of Theophilus Thomas Major, Esquire
Sarah Thomas (1808 – 1847)
daughter of Robert Thomas
Robert T. Nixon (1827 – 1897)
son of Sarah Thomas
Margaret Henrietta Nixon (1860 – 1958)
daughter of Robert T. Nixon
James Edgar Stephens (1888 – 1962)
son of Margaret Henrietta Nixon
Ruth Gene Stephens (1929 – 2013)
daughter of James Edgar Stephens
Suzan Martin me
You are the daughter of Ruth Gene Stephens
I don’t think we share the same Thomas line. Around 1800, Billy Thomas, Jr. left Maryland to go west. He married along the way. His firstborn, a son named Renatus Thomas, became sick so Billy and his family stopped for awhile in Richland County, SC. Billy, who was a carpenter, found work in Richland County and settled there. That’s how my Thomas’ got to SC. Billy Thomas, Sr, came to Maryland from the UK region via a ship that left from France. That’s as far back as I’ve been able to trace on the Thomas line. I’ll get back to it eventually. Thanks for replying, Suzan. 🙂
Thanks, Nancy, for sharing this.
How wonderful to have such a handwritten list from your great-grandmother! So many questions, unanswered for the moment. 🙂
So many questions, yes. One day I’ll either have all the answers or I won’t care about them anymore. 🙂 Thanks for commenting.