SURNAME SATURDAY: THE "BROWNS"

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a new "Cousin" through Ancestry.com. Our connection comes from our "Brown" Ancestors.

Here is what I know about the Browns:

My GG Grandmother name was Norah Brown. Born to Maurice and Anna Brown.

She married Orange Granberry and had my Great Grandmother Miranda.

Norah passed away sometime after 1900 and before 1910 because I could not find her in the census after 1900, plus in 1917 Orange married Jennie Hegwood.

My MoM told me that her Father always spoke of being raised by his Grandmother, but I'm pretty sure it was not Norah because in 1910 he was in the household with his MoM and in 1920 he was in the household with Jennie and his Sister Paula because Orange had passed away by then.

Relayed this information to my new "Cousin" and here is her response:

Hello "Cousin" Felicia!

I just stumbled upon Maurice and Anna (referred to as "Anika" in the 1870 census, but could be just a spelling/handwriting error) Brown just recently. My great-great-grandmother Anna is your great-great-grandmother Norah's (spelled "Nora" in the 1880 census) older sister. I also confirm that they have a younger sister named Mary.

I haven't done much research on Maurice/Anna's children and their decendants yet, so you have provided me with more info -- thank you!

So as you can see we both have as much information as the other. I'm also assuming that Anna named a child after her thats how our GG Grandmothers were Sisters.

The question that I have is:

Did my Grandfather know of this side and never talk about them or did Orange keep them away?

I plan to keep in contact with this Cousin and work with her to find out as much information as we can. One answer leads to more questions and even when we find that new found Descedant it always leads to more questions.

This is where the Ancestors have guided me so I will continue my Research along this Family line. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for listening.

FEARLESS FEMALES: HOW MY PARENTS MET....

Thanks to Lisa Alzo of the Accidental Genealogist, for National Women's History Month today March 5th I get to tell how my parents met, so here goes:


The story that I was given was that my mom was friends with my Aunt Mildred first. They met in school and once they became really good friends she decided to introduce my mom to her brother, my dad Allen Mickey Mathis. Here they are on their wedding day July 26, 1964, four months after my brother was born. Hmmmm I'm going to ask my mom about that one, but anyway as they say the rest is history. Thanks for listening.