AN INTERESTING AND COMPLEX MYSTERY
Brenda Kellow
March 27, 2011
Sometimes the queries I receive are so interesting and complex that I just have to include sufficient information for the researcher in hopes someone out there can help solve this mystery. This query is certainly complicated enough to meet this criteria.
QUERY: Don Stevenson’s grandmother is a mystery to him. He knows very little about her. His parents’ family bible provided some information about them, which led him on his search. The bible gave his grandmother’s full name as Mary Louisa Magdeline Australia Wadlington, born to Ed Wadlington and Mary Joiner in Caddo Parish, Louisiana on August 12, 1861, and married A. Stevenson on November 25, 1883 at Willis Creek, Williamson County, Texas. Grandmother Mary Wadlington Stevenson usually shows up in records as Mary Stevenson or Mary L. Stevenson.
Grandfather A. Stevenson’s name presented unsuspected problems. His given name was Albanus (possibly John Albanus). His 1937 death certificate says Albanas Stevenson. His Pol-tax exemption of 1935 shows up as A. Stevenson. His name on some deeds is A. Stevenson. Don’s father said that everyone called him “Banny,” but he has not seen this nickname on any documents. On the 1860 Caldwell County Texas census, he is Ablinna. The 1870 census has him as Albina, and a girl! In 1910, he is Albanos. The 1930 census shows Albinas. In addition, his grave marker shows Alabanas. Moreover, the spelling of the surname Stevenson appears in some censuses as Steverson and Sieverson. Two other spellings, found when he hunted for A. Stevenson’s father’s military record, spell his name as Stephenson and Stevenson. Don believes A. Stevenson is John Albanus Stevenson—but he does not have any reliable documentation for the “John” part.
Mary Wadlington Stevenson’s mother Mary Joiner had two other marriages, to Mr. Hamilton and then to Mr. Melton. The Hamilton children were John P. Hamilton and Sara Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton may have other children by another wife. Don thinks John P. Hamilton died in Dublin Texas where he was on the 1910 census. Although the Joiners, the Meltons, and the Hamiltons are mysteries, he is trying to concentrate on the Wadlington line.
If you can help Don Stevenson with his family mysteries please contact him at 972-934-2513, 469-733-2559, or [email protected].
FREE, ARCHIVES.COM: Members of National Genealogical Society (NGS) are getting a free three-month membership to Archives.com. Anyone joining NGS in the next six months will receive a free membership.
The mission of www.Archives.com is to make discovering family history simple and affordable. To date they have amassed more than 1.2 billion historical records including birth, death, marriage, divorce, census, obituary, immigration, military and more. These records are available in a single location and the cost of membership is about 80 percent less than the leading competitor. Archives partners with leading family history websites to provide integrated record collections, discounted memberships, official certificates and other special promotions. It is free to try for seven days for those wanting to explore the benefits of membership. Visit www.Archives.com.
NGS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN: The National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference will be held in Charleston, South Carolina from May 11-14, 2011. A detailed conference registration brochure can be viewed and printed at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info. The exhibit area with over 100 exhibitors is open and free to the public Wednesday through Saturday where you can observe the latest in genealogical software, online research providers, and DNA testing services.
The main conference hotel is the Embassy Suites, which connects to the North Charleston Convention Center via a walkway. An additional six hotels have blocked rooms for NGS participants at the special room rate. Further information is at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/Accommodations.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
QUERY: Don Stevenson’s grandmother is a mystery to him. He knows very little about her. His parents’ family bible provided some information about them, which led him on his search. The bible gave his grandmother’s full name as Mary Louisa Magdeline Australia Wadlington, born to Ed Wadlington and Mary Joiner in Caddo Parish, Louisiana on August 12, 1861, and married A. Stevenson on November 25, 1883 at Willis Creek, Williamson County, Texas. Grandmother Mary Wadlington Stevenson usually shows up in records as Mary Stevenson or Mary L. Stevenson.
Grandfather A. Stevenson’s name presented unsuspected problems. His given name was Albanus (possibly John Albanus). His 1937 death certificate says Albanas Stevenson. His Pol-tax exemption of 1935 shows up as A. Stevenson. His name on some deeds is A. Stevenson. Don’s father said that everyone called him “Banny,” but he has not seen this nickname on any documents. On the 1860 Caldwell County Texas census, he is Ablinna. The 1870 census has him as Albina, and a girl! In 1910, he is Albanos. The 1930 census shows Albinas. In addition, his grave marker shows Alabanas. Moreover, the spelling of the surname Stevenson appears in some censuses as Steverson and Sieverson. Two other spellings, found when he hunted for A. Stevenson’s father’s military record, spell his name as Stephenson and Stevenson. Don believes A. Stevenson is John Albanus Stevenson—but he does not have any reliable documentation for the “John” part.
Mary Wadlington Stevenson’s mother Mary Joiner had two other marriages, to Mr. Hamilton and then to Mr. Melton. The Hamilton children were John P. Hamilton and Sara Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton may have other children by another wife. Don thinks John P. Hamilton died in Dublin Texas where he was on the 1910 census. Although the Joiners, the Meltons, and the Hamiltons are mysteries, he is trying to concentrate on the Wadlington line.
If you can help Don Stevenson with his family mysteries please contact him at 972-934-2513, 469-733-2559, or [email protected].
FREE, ARCHIVES.COM: Members of National Genealogical Society (NGS) are getting a free three-month membership to Archives.com. Anyone joining NGS in the next six months will receive a free membership.
The mission of www.Archives.com is to make discovering family history simple and affordable. To date they have amassed more than 1.2 billion historical records including birth, death, marriage, divorce, census, obituary, immigration, military and more. These records are available in a single location and the cost of membership is about 80 percent less than the leading competitor. Archives partners with leading family history websites to provide integrated record collections, discounted memberships, official certificates and other special promotions. It is free to try for seven days for those wanting to explore the benefits of membership. Visit www.Archives.com.
NGS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN: The National Genealogical Society (NGS) conference will be held in Charleston, South Carolina from May 11-14, 2011. A detailed conference registration brochure can be viewed and printed at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/conference_info. The exhibit area with over 100 exhibitors is open and free to the public Wednesday through Saturday where you can observe the latest in genealogical software, online research providers, and DNA testing services.
The main conference hotel is the Embassy Suites, which connects to the North Charleston Convention Center via a walkway. An additional six hotels have blocked rooms for NGS participants at the special room rate. Further information is at www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/Accommodations.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].