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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Puka on Wednesday 07 February 24 15:49 GMT (UK)
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Hi All,
My first post.
After well over 50 years of searching, last summer we discovered the true identity of our Grandfather.
He was not from the US but from England and Bermuda. Half of his siblings were born in England and half in Bermuda.
I have met many new cousins and have gathered a lot of information.
I am stuck at the early life of my Great Grandmother and Great Great Grandmother.
My Great Great Grandmother was Mary Bushel/Bushell.
I have two Baptism dates for Mary. 3/26/1821 and 3/26/1822 in Bighton.
Parents are William Bushel and Susannah (no last name anywhere).
I have that Mary gave birth to Eliza Bushell on 3/17/1843 in Old Alresford.
Eliza was baptized on 4/16/1843 and the record states that she is the illegitimate daughter of Mary Bushell. On the Baptism record it states that Eliza's name is Eliza North Bushell.
This is the only place that I see reference to North.
It appears Mary was at the Workhouse when Eliza was born.
Eliza was my Great Grandmother.
Mary married James Hamblen on 7/20/1843. They were living in Old Alresford.
Throughout her life, Eliza used both Bushell and Hamblin as a maiden name.
Mary also had a daughter Harriet Hamblin and I do have DNA matches to Harriet's descendants as well.
Mary had a sister Eliza Bushell. She was born to William and Susannah on 5/8/1819 in Bighton and baptized on 7/18/1819.
I have Eliza marrying Robert Earwaker on 11/24/1849 in Cheriton.
My issue with the above Eliza is that I have been tracking her descendants to find DNA matches.
I have been disappointed that I have not found any yet. That said, I have only identified one that I was able to reach out to. He was in fact from the Robert Earwaker line but not a DNA match.
I have spent a lot of time researching this line so beginning to wonder if I have missed something.
Thankful for any help that I can find.
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Puka Welcome to RootsChat
William BUSHEL married Susannah BUDD
9 May 1814 Bighton Hampshire
Both signed with their mark X
Both recorded as from this parish
Children of William and Susannah baptised in Bighton:
• James - 2 May 1815 (father a labourer, abode Bighton)
• Eliza - born 8 May 1819, baptised 18 July (father a labourer, abode Bighton)
• Mary - baptised 26 March 1822 (father a labourer, abode Bighton)
• George - baptised 3 Apr 1828 (father a labourer, abode Bighton)
• Harry - baptised 25 Nov 1829 (father a labourer, abode Bighton)
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Eliza was baptized on 4/16/1843 and the record states that she is the illegitimate daughter of Mary Bushell. On the Baptism record it states that Eliza's name is Eliza North Bushell.
This is the only place that I see reference to North.
Two possibilities -
NORTH is a family surname from an earlier generation on either the Bushel or Budd side.
or
NORTH was Eliza’s father’s surname.
In 1841 census is that your Mary Bushel working as a female servant in Broad Street, New Alresford.
In 1844 there was a marriage in nearby Ovington of a Henry Bunce NORTH to Ann Easton. Only a possibility, but DNA match might be useful here.
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It looks a bit as if William and Susannah Bushel had died before the 1841 census. I can’t see them in 1841 or a burial for them as yet.
George Bushel born 1828 Bighton
He is also in New Alresford in the 1841 census – also in Broad Street working as a servant. Not far from his sister Mary.
Harry Bushel born 1829 Bighton
In 1841 (age 11) he is also in Broad St., New Alresford, living with the family of Charles Collace / Collis.
Charles’ wife is Dinah / Diana nee Budd (a relation to Susannah Budd) – so it looks as if Harry was with his uncle and aunt.
1n 1851 Harry is working as a servant in Southampton
In 1861 census Harry is in Paddington London, working as a servant
By 1911 census Harry is back in Alresford but now age 81, in the workhouse. He is still single.
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WOW, thank you so much Neale1961.
This is incredible information. :) :) :)
It's such a small world. The other day I messaged a woman with a question about her family tree.
She recommended this site.
I thought she lived in England and in fact lives in Australia.
She thought I lived in England and I live in the US.
And I do believe that is my Mary Bushel in the 1941 census.
I will look into all of this.
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Burial – William Bushel age 39
19 July 1833 Bighton
His son James (age 18) was buried on 6th May 1833
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Burial – Susan Bushel age 43
21 Jan 1833 Bighton
Gosh – 1833 was not a good year for this family! :(
So it looks as if the Bushell children lost their parents very early in life, were cared for by a relation of their mother, and probably were sent out as soon as possible to work as servants or labourers.
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The census shows that Mary (Bushell) HAMBLEN also had sons –
John Hamblin born abt 1846 Alresford
William Henry James Hamblen born 1860 in Southampton
Have you looked at either of these for a DNA match?
If you use the REPLY button (top or bottom of page), then it may be possible to know how to help further. :)
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Dear Neale1961,
You are amazing.
Mary also had a daughter Harriet. I have followed her line and have several DNA matches.
I have not checked out the sons yet. I tend to go back and forth between lines because I find that I can get tidbits that way that help me understand the family relationships. I also find it a bit more exciting that way.
This has all been so new. This is an entire family that we did not know even existed.
History repeated itself with Eliza. Her husband died in his 30's and she died in her 40's. They were in Bermuda then as Thomas was in the Royal Engineers.
Thomas was a Loxdale. I have a huge amount of DNA matches to the Loxdales on 3 continents.
Lionel Loxdale is the person we believe to be our Grandfather. We have so much evidence but lack a picture. We had signatures to compare but the hand writing expert said that the sample was not big enough to be conclusive but he could only say there were similarities.
I have pictures of his two sisters, brother and half brother but no one seems to have a picture of Lionel.
Lionel's sister Rosina married a Greenslade in Bermuda. I also have many matches with Greenslades.
His other sister was married twice and I have DNA matches with Rhoda's descendants from both marriages.
I communicate with a cousin in Bermuda who lived with her Grandmother Rosina for many years.
The story that I believe to be true is... We know that after they were orphaned, Lionel and his brother (about 8 and 10) left for Halifax with their half brother (20 or 21 or so) when they were orphaned. Lionel married a woman there who was pregnant at the time. They lied about their age. They were 19 and Canadian law said you had to be 21 to get married without parental consent.
Their marriage certificates say they were 21.
Before their daughter was born, Lionel abandoned them and came down to the Boston area. His other sister lived there at the time. I live outside of Boston.
I found a newspaper article in a Halifax newspaper about how Lionel was suppose to get married but the woman smelled a rat and went to Halifax in search of information. She found the minister who married them so she left and went back to Boston.
Apparently Lionel told her the marriage wasn't valid. That may be true but when his wife remarried, it says divorced on the record.
This all happened in the late 1890's. Then Lionel disappeared.
Rosina told her granddaughter that Lionel was killed in the Boer War and don't go looking under rocks.
He ended up in the Lexington/Bedford area and worked on a farm for a few years. This area is famous for a lot of the Revolutionary War. The Shot Heart Round the World as they say.
We think this is where he changed his identity to Charles Henry Davis from Northfield, Vermont. There are reasons for his choice of name and location.
He ended up in Somerville, Massachusetts and met and married my Grandmother.
Neither my Mother nor her 3 sisters were ever told of or met any family.
There is no mention of any family in Charlie's obit. The only personal thing it said about him prior to meeting my Grandmother was that he worked on a farm in Bedford before moving to Somerville.
Meanwhile, his sister Rhoda who lived in Boston, lost her husband and abandoned her infant son to an Asylum for children. She left and lived in England and Bermuda.
I found a missing person's report from 1926 placed by Rhoda in a Boston newspaper that she was looking for her brother Lionel Loxdale who was last seen in Lexington in 1899.
Charlie showed up in Somerville in 1903. He died in 1924.
There are so many things about this story that make me sad. One of the biggest is his daughter Effie who he abandoned. It sounds like she had a good life except for the fact that even though her Mother remarried, she didn't have more children. Effie lived about 2 weeks past her 100th birthday and next of kin was listed as a neighbor. Effie lived about 40 minutes away from our large Irish (and English) family and we would have embraced her.
So without a picture, I am a bit obsessed with DNA matches and knowing the family that two generations did not know existed.
You have given me much work to do here and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
PUKA
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I have Eliza marrying Robert Earwaker on 11/24/1849 in Cheriton.
That marriage looks correct.
Eliza and Robert had three children;
• James R Earwaker b 1849 Cheriton (who emigrated to Denver, USA) - Married Sarah Creasey - Note - Their son Robert was adopted, so there will not be any DNA link.
• Henry Earwaker b 1851 Cheriton – Married Susan Horlock in 1881 Dorset.
• Mary Earwaker b 1854 Cheriton – Married Harry Pilkington Colebrook in 1876 East Cowes
There is no sign of Eliza (nee Bushell) in the 1861 census. Had she died?
Robert married a second time in 1863 to a widow Eliza SHETTLE (nee LEACH)
So, in theory you might find DNA matches to descendants of Henry Earwaker or Mary (Earwaker) Colebrook.
It will depend on whether their offspring have done DNA tests which they have then posted online with family trees for comparison.
Henry appears to have had 5 children – all living at time of 1911 census
Mary appears to have had 10 children – 7 of whom were still living in 1911.
Who was your grandfather?
Where and when was he born?
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I'm glad I got the Earwaker thing correct. I spent a lot of time on that.
I do have a couple of questions about Henry and James but I need to send that another time as I am working today and will be catching the train into Boston in a bit. I need to organize my thoughts.
I did manage to get the names of all 10 of Mary kids.
There are two in her line who apparently had a terrible tragedy. I found two daughters who both died on 12/26/2015. Patricia Mary who married a Hunter and Susan who married an Emery. I believe they all lived on the Island of Wight. I did not find out what happened but how sad.
Although I haven't finished all of these people, there was one person I reached out to who verified his parents but wasn't a match. Although he did not say if he was tested but if he had a big tree, I imagined he was.
As far as Robert Earwaker's second wife, she was a brief point of discussion with the woman from Australia who recommended this site.
She had her as Leach as well and I can understand why because of the 1851 census.
But on her marriage certificate to Robert, she lists her Father as James Jarvis.
I did not check out her first marriage certificate as I know her line will not be a match.
Also, if you look at the 1861 census, she lived next door to Robert.
So not sure which Grandfather.
Lionel Loxdale was born 11/7/1878 in Bermuda to Eliza and Thomas Loxdale.
Charles Henry Davis said he was born on 11/6/1881. Interesting in that Lionel's sister Rosina was born in 1881 and the date is just one day apart. Keep it simple.
He said his parents were Henry Davis and Josephine Adams from Northfield, Vermont.
Not one iota of proof after 50 years of searching and not one DNA match.
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As far as Robert Earwaker's second wife, she was a brief point of discussion with the woman from Australia who recommended this site.
She had her as Leach as well and I can understand why because of the 1851 census.
But on her marriage certificate to Robert, she lists her Father as James Jarvis.
I did not check out her first marriage certificate as I know her line will not be a match.
Eliza Leach / Shettle / Earwaker was born 1819 Cheriton – illegitimate daughter of Hannah Leach.
It is quite possible she did not know who her father was, and just made up a name for her father on her marriage.
In the 1841 census she is Eliza Leach.
When Eliza Leach married John Shettle in 1845 – her father was James Leach (labourer)
(2 children born. John Shettle died in Nov 1850)
When Eliza Shettle widow married Robert Earwker, - her father was James Jarvis (Labourer)
(I did not post that detail earlier, because, as you say, she is not relevant to your search.)
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Puka, Thanks for your further information. So I now see and understand the connection between the Loxdale family and the Bushell family. It became all very complicated for you, with changes in name. You have done well to get this far!
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In 1859 Eliza HAMBLEN (aka Eliza BUSHELL) married George JERRED, and had a son (George) to him in 1866. Have you sighted that marriage certificate? I don't know yet what became of George her husband.
MARRIAGE
23 Nov 1859 Southampton marriage of Eliza HAMBLEN to George JERRED
George JERRED, age 23, single. Father John JERRED
Eliza HAMBLEN, age 19, single. Father James HAMBLEN
Note 1 : her age is out by a couple of years
Note 2: she is going by her step-father's surname.
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2nd MARRIAGE
15 July 1868 at St Mark, Gillingham, Kent
Bride: Eliza BUSHELL, 26, spinster, abode Beacon Close Lane
Father – Henry Bushell – occupation Smith
Groom: Thomas LOXDALE , 26, bachelor, Sapper, abode Brompton Barracks.
Father – Henry Loxdale - occupation Printer
Witnesses – Harriet HAMBLIN and Robert BRUCE
Note 1 : Harriet Hamblin is a witness, and also Harriett’s soon to be husband Robert Bruce, who was also in the military.
Note 2: Eliza names her father as Henry. (That is worth exploring further, I think)
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Children of Eliza and Thomas LOXDALE
- They had a son named Thomas Henry Loxdale in June 1869 baptised in Gillingham Kent, but that child died (age 5) in Jan 1875 in Dover Kent.
- Daughter Clara Henrietta Eliza Loxdale born 1871 (registered in Elham) – she died age 1, in 1872.
- Daughter Rhoda Alice Loxdale was born Sept 1874 and baptised at the Garrison church at Dover Castle. Thomas was at this time Corporal of the 2nd company Royal Engineers.
After 1875 the Loxdales with army were in Bermuda.
I see three children born in Bermuda – Alfred 1876, Lionel 1878, and Rosina abt 1881.
When Thomas Loxdale was pensioned in Oct 1880, he was a Sergeant with the R. Engineers. He died in Bermuda on 5 Dec 1880, and is buried in the garrison cemetery.
I am assuming you already had this information, but just posted in case.
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Mary (Bushell) HAMBLEN also had another daughter:
Sarah Mary (aka Sarah Martha) HAMBLEN born 1861 (Poplar Middlesex / Kent)
She is with Eliza Loxdale in the 1871 census. – described as Sister-in-law
Her birth registration:
HAMBLEN, SARAH MARY Mother - BUSHELL
GRO Reference: 1861 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 597
She married Henry Alexander GWIN (Quarter master / sergeant with Royal Engineers)
MARRIAGE
10 Oct 1882 Christchurch, Luton, Kent
Sarah Martha HAMBLIN, 21, spinster, abode Luton,
Father – James Hamblin, blacksmith
Henry Alexander GWIN, 26, bachelor, Foreman of Works – military. Abode New Brompton
Father – Alexander GWIN, colonial service
Witnesses: Mary Hamblin and T. Hodges.
1891 census the Gwin family is in Newport, Isle of Wight (Albany Barracks)
1901 census, Sarah/ Mary is a widow, in Portland, Sth Dorset.
1911 census – still in Dorset. Showing she had 8 children, 6 of whom are still living.
(I haven’t looked into any of the children – will leave that to you.)
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Hi Neale,
Sarah is on my list but thank you.
Two things though if you are so inclined. I needed to organize, and this is what I have that is very confusing to me.
So yes, James Earwaker moved to Denver, CO and married Sarah Creasey from Detroit, Michigan on 1/14/1886.
His obituary said he had one son, Robert James Earwaker and one Grandchild, Roberta.
He married Viola Bartow on 7/6/1921.
Robert died on 6/1/1985 in Denver.
(Roberta married Sloan Grover but died in 1947 at ~ 22).
Next up is James' brother Henry, baptized 7/21/1851.
He married Susan Horlock on 8/2/1880.
I have their first born as Robert James Henry Earwaker born Q3 1881 and baptized 9/25/1881.
He married Jean McClean Armstrong on 8/20/1924 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.
He is listed as 43 and she is listed as 20. 43 fits with the 1881 birth date.
The marriage certificate lists him as Henry James Earwaker and Parents are Henry James Earwaker and Susan Horlock.
It also lists both Father and son as being born in Denver.
However, it's Uncle James who relocated to Denver and James' son Robert was born in Denver.
His death certificate dated 3/19/1935, lists him as Harry with Henry Earwaker and Susan Horlock as his parents.
For the rest of Henry's kids I have:
Harry/Henry
Percy
Olive
Mabel
Edward
How did you find out that Robert was adopted and I was trying to figure out if that figured into the above conundrum?
The next question involves Eliza, Mary Bushel's daughter not sister.
Eliza married George Jerred born ~ 1937 in Whiteparish, Wiltshire, England. Parents were John and Mary Jerred.
They married on 11/23/1959. On this marriage certificate, Eliza lists herself as Eliza Hamblen.
In the 1861 census, they are living with Mary and James "Humblen" and Jerred is spelled Jurred.
Eliza and George had Geroge Henry James on 4/6/1866.
One of my other new found, cousins who lives in England, helped me try and find out what happened to George Jerred. He disappeared off the face of the earth.
When, Eliza married Thomas Loxdale, she is listed as Eliza Bushell and a spinster.
Any ideas how to find out what happened to George?
I had mentioned that Lionel Loxdale moved to Halifax with an older half brother and that was George Henry. At some point George Henry changed to Loxdale and most places, even his death, list him as George Henry Loxdale.
George Henry stayed in Haliflax and had 12 children. Of the 12, only 2 had children. Several accidental deaths.
I thank you,
Puka
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[This is just a time line for reference]
Eliza HAMBLEN marriage to George JERRED 23 Nov 1859 - Southampton
Daughter: Mary Ann Eliza JARRED baptised 28 Sept 1862 in Gillingham, Kent. Abode New Brompton (Mary Ann Eliza, age 7, died 14 mar 1870. Burial Grange Rd Cemetery, Gillingham.)
Son: George Henry James JARRED born 6th April 1866. Baptised 23 Sept Chatham. Abode New Brompton.
(It would be usual for him to take his step-father’s surname, as it seems he probably never knew his real father)
Eliza re-married 15 July 1868 at St Mark, Gillingham to Thomas Loxdale.
On her second marriage Eliza claims she is a spinster and uses the surname Bushell. This makes one suspicious, but why do that? If George had died, we would expect to see that she was a widow. She couldn’t hide that fact anyway, as she was bringing her son to the new marriage. Had she recently discovered the truth about her birth name and father?
I cannot find a convincing death for George Jerred, of the right age, in the right location between 1865 and 1868. Nor can I see George in subsequent census records.
I wonder if George died, but his death was not registered, or the name on a burial record has been so poorly written / spelled that it is not easily found.
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How did you find out that Robert was adopted and I was trying to figure out if that figured into the above conundrum?
He is recorded on the 1900 census as "adopted son" -born May 1893 in Colorado; parents’ birthplaces unknown.
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Thank you for trying. You hit the same brick wall that we did.
In the 1871 census, it shows Eliza living with George Loxdale. That seems to be an error as she married Thomas Loxdale.
Young George is 4 and still has the same last name, Jerred. He is listed as a Step Son.
Also is young Thomas who is 1 and subsequently died at a young age.
I've only been doing Genealogy for a year and a half. The 50 years of research I reference was done on foot by my older sister and my cousins.
I have been just amazed at the heart ache suffered by prior generations with both loss of children and challenges faced.
My Irish side of the family was driven to the US by the potato famine.
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Mary (Bushell) HAMBLEN first born son John (sadly no DNA links for you to find there) ...... :(
John HAMBLIN born1846 Alresford
- With his family in 1851 census Southampton, and 1861 census Middlesex
- 7th Dragoon Guards – enlisted 1868
- 1881 census in Aldershot Barracks not married
- 1891 census Lancashire Sergeant major in Yeomanry
- Married 1894 Ormskirk Lancashire - Wife was widow Fanny Dewhurst (nee Percival)
- 1901 census Southport Lancashire, married to Fanny, occupation blacksmith
(Fanny died in 1901 in Stockport)
- 1909 admitted and dischared from Chatham poor house – Army pensioner
- 1911 census Felstead Essex – widower, army pensioner, no children
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Looking for more DNA match opportunities for you, by going back another generation in the BUSHELL family. Of course any DNA link will be weaker, but there were some big families there …..
MARRIAGE 22 Oct 1793 Swarraton, Hampshire.
William BUSHELL (of the parish of Bighton) to Mary WHITE (of the parish of Swarraton)
[Swarraton is 5 miles from Bighton, and a bit less to Old Alresford.]
Baptisms of children of Mary and William BUSHELL
• William BUSHELL 15 June 1794 Swarraton (Hampshire) married in 1814 Bighton to Susannah BUDD
• Betty (Elizabeth) BUSHELL 16 Jan 1797 Bighton (Hampshire) *
• Mary BUSHELL 11 Mar 1799 Bighton **
• Abraham BUSHELL 3 mar 1802 Bighton ***
• Thomas BUSHELL 3 Aug 1804 Bighton
• Charlotte BUSHELL abt 1808 Bighton **** (baptism record not found, but am confident she is of this family, as siblings witness her marriage)
• Sarah BUSHELL 27 Oct 1811 Bighton; died 24 Nov 1811
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* Elizabeth BUSHELL marriage 1821 Bighton to John BENHAM (occupation – labourer & waggoner)
Living in New Alresford in 1841, 1851 1861 census. About 10 children between 1821-1842
** Mary BUSHELL marriage 1828 New Alresford to Thomas NEWMAN (occupation – ag lab.)
1841 living in Broad st, New Alresford. Mary died in 1841, with 2 children.
Her widower Thomas NEWMAN married in 1846 to Caroline BENHAM, the eldest daughter of his sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Bushell) Benham – quite a lot of children born to them.
*** Abraham BUSHELL. Not married, but may have had a child to Ann COLLIS (nee Canon).
Abraham is in Bighton in 1841 and 1851 census.
**** Charlotte BUSHELL marriage 1828 Bighton to Thomas MERRIT / MARET (occupation – ag lab.)
You will find them living in Ropley, & abt 10 children baptised there.
I’m sure it will take you a while to get through all that. Good luck with it all. :)
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Yes, you will keep me very busy.
Plus my newly found cousin in England gave me the Loxdale names going back to the 1600's.
I like to make spreadsheets and add in little tidbits to try and bring some life into it.
I am also making a home made book. In addition to what I have downloaded from sites and newspapers etc, I have sent for birth, marriage and death certificates from all across the US, England, Ireland and Canada.
The thing I like the best is that in these crazy times, I have met so many wonderful people (like yourself).
Not just from sites like these but places like the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (where I learned about dispensations), the military (where I learned about military Cemetaries) the Historical Society in Halifax as well as one of the clerics in the Methodist Church up there who gave me permission to access certain records.
I like to share with others what finds I make.
Puka
That was the nickname my Mother had for me. Got me into a few scrapes circa 1960.
In 1950 there was a movie called Harvey starring Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy played Elwood whose best friend was Harvey, a 6 ft 3 1/3 inch tall invisible white rabbit. Harvey was a puca. I have no idea what the connection was with me!
But it makes me feel that I am signing my name.