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Hart Island: Stopping the Anonymity Clock by Revealing Lives Lost

National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/unclaimed-coronavirus-victims-being-buried-on-hart-island-long-history-as-potters-field/ (Hart Island, 131 Acres)

Hart Island is an island in the Bronx, at the western end of Long Island Sound in New York. During the Civil War, the Union Army used the island as a camp for prisoners. Later, a sanitarium was built on the island to treat and house tuberculosis patients. The island has housed numerous institutions including, a psychiatric hospital, a reform school for boys, and a substance abuse center. The island now serves as a “Potters Field,” a place where the disadvantaged and disconnected end up when they die.

New York City purchased the island from a private party in 1868 and set aside 45 acres as a burial site. There are at least one million people buried on Hart Island. Recently, the average number of burials increased from 25 per week to 25 per day.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/unclaimed-coronavirus-victims-being-buried-on-hart-island-long-history-as-potters-field/

Prisoners from Rikers Island have been responsible for burying the deceased in mass graves. Each grave can hold 1000 infants or 150 adults. Burials during the COVID 19 pandemic, are being done by hired contractors with hazardous material suits. Presently, 150 people each week are buried due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Over one million people buried in these communal graves on this island, some of which died of various epidemics over the years including, yellow fever, the white plague, AIDS, tuberculosis, Spanish Flu, and now, COVID 19.

The Hart Island Project created a searchable database, allowing families to search for their lost loved ones. The burial information on each individual includes a clock, which tracks the amount of time the person has been buried in anonymity. The clock stops when someone (a family member or volunteer) adds information about the person, thus ending their anonymity.

Leroy Clayton, One in a Million (1895-1986) Plot 172

When Leroy Clayton was born on August 22, 1895, in Finleyville, Pennsylvania, his father, Joseph, was 36 and his mother, Frances, was 33. He married Mabel E Spencer on December 22, 1915, in Brooke, West Virginia. He died on August 29, 1986, in New York at the age of 91, and was buried in Bronx County, New York.

Leroy Clayton enlisted in the Army in 1917 when he was 22 years old. He served in Company A of the 317 Engineering Division.

The 317th Engineers was first constituted on 24 October 1917 and organized at Camp Sherman, Ohio, as the 317th Engineer Regiment, 92nd Division. Like the rest of the 92nd Division, the 317th Engineers was an all-black, or “Negro troops” unit, with many of the NCOs coming from the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The 317th Engineers sailed for France in June 1918, and it was the first unit of the 92nd Division to enter the line, completing the relief of the 7th Engineers on 23 August 1918. The unit earned campaign streamers for the Meusse-Argonne and Lorraine campaigns supporting the 92nd Division and the 1st Army Corps. After the war, the 317th was demobilized on 31 March 1919.

Leroy Clayton died on August 29, 1986, at New York, Presbyterian Hospital.

Rest in Peace-Kathleen

Ronald Barbeire, One in a Million (1939-1980) Plot 120

Ronald Barbeire was born on June 9, 1939, in New York City, New York. He married Josephine Davila in Manhattan, New York in 1968. Rest in Peace-Kathleen

The Social Security Administration has the following information, which would allow the family to request information about his parents:

^{Name: Ronald Barbeire Social Security Number: 109-32-8682}
^{Birth Date: 9 Jun 1939 Issue year: 1957-1959 Issue State: New York}
^{Last Residence: 10302, Staten Island, Richmond, New York, USA Death Date: Jul 1980}

Forrest Blake, One in a Million (1937-2004) Plot 319

Forrest Blake was born in Maryland in 1937. He was one of six children born to Russell Blake and Margaret Forrest. Forrest’s grandparents came from St. Inigoes, Maryland. It was a small fishing, farming, and crabbing community. Forrest’s youngest surviving brother died in 2013 and is buried in Garrison Forest Veteran’s Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. Rest in Peace- Lisa & Kathleen

Irwin Gerstner, One in a Million (1934-1980) Plot 120

Irwin Gerstner was born Sept. 21, 1934, in New York City. He was the youngest child born to David Gerstner and Lina Grosin, immigrants from Russia and Romania. His older brother, Bernard, died at the age of 45 while serving in the United States Army Air Forces in WWII. Bernard was a 1st Lt. whose team was shot down during a mission near Yokohama, Japan. The middle child, Murray, died in 1929 at the age of 9.

Bernard is buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri. Irwin’s parents and brother, Murray, are buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, New York. Irwin died on July 21, 1980. Rest in peace, Irwin -Kathleen Hill

Abraham Loorstein, One in a Million (1908-1980) Plot 120

Abraham was born in Poland and was living in New York in 1940. He was living with his cousin and aunt while working as an operator in a suit factory. Rest in Peace, Abraham -Kathleen Hill

Michael Siomkin, Jr., One in a Million (1937-1980) Plot 120

Michael John Siomkin, Jr. was born on October 21st, 1937, in Long Island, New York. He was the first child born to Michael John Siomkin Sr. and Sonia Conshick. Michael’s younger brother was named John Michael Siomkin. John’s grandparents, John, and Mary (Bobb) were immigrants from Russia. John enlisted and served in the Army from 1954 to 1955. Michael died on June 1, 1980. Michael is no longer an anonymous person buried on Hart Island. Rest in Peace, Michael- Kathleen Hill

In December 2019, the New York City Council signed legislation allowing the property to transfer from the Department of Corrections to the Parks and Recreation Department. The full transition is expected by July 2020. Plans are being made to memorialize the island and build a public park for family members and visitors to pay their respects.

U.S. Soldier’s German Child (The Update)

More than 100,000 babies were born to unwed German mothers in the ten years following World War II. Their fathers, from Allied forces, left Germany without ever meeting them.

The children conceived during this time are nearing retirement and are still seeking answers. With the increased popularity of DNA testing, they have an avenue to explore their biological heritage. After all these years, many will learn who their fathers were.

The War Babes Act

According to gitrace.org, “War Babes” was a British-based organization established in the 1980s. They assisted adults born to American service members during World War II (or other relevant periods.) In 1989, they took out a class-action suit against the American Defense Department for refusing to release information about GI fathers. On November 16, 1990, the War Babes organization settled its lawsuit against the U.S. government, allowing them to access military records.

Many children were born to U.S. service members who knew nothing about their fathers. With the advancement of DNA technology and the popularity of DNA testing sites, these individuals will soon identify their fathers. GI Trace has made it possible for those children to obtain military records on their suspected fathers to see if the files match their history.

My Friend, Susanne, A War Babe

Susanne was one of these “war babes.” She was born in Germany in the 1960s. Her biological father was in the Army, and her birth mother was a German woman. The couple had a two-year affair, and Susanne was their second daughter.

Susanne’s biological mother was German, so finding her would be more challenging, so we began with her paternal (American) side. We started researching her DNA on Ancestry, looking for information about her father. Her closest matches lived in the United States and appeared to be Americans; thus, her paternal side. There was a strong presence in Bradley, Tennessee, and somehow she was connected to the Epperson family, which became a possible surname.

As the weeks progressed, I narrowed her tree down quite a bit. I created a family tree and added in her DNA matches (according to their trees), and pieced the family tree puzzle together, one person at a time. Eventually, I confirmed that her paternal grandparents were Alvin Edgar Epperson (1905-1987) and Eva Claire Cook (1907-1994). Her biological father had to be one of their sons. I began researching each of these children and discovered only one had been in the military during the 1960s, Thomas E. Epperson (1926-2003).

Sgt. Thomas Epperson was born in Tennessee in 1926. He was the middle child of three boys, born to Alvin and Eva Epperson. He enlisted in the Army in 1946 and served out of Fort Benning Army Base. Mr. Epperson married Helen Hook and had William “Randy” Epperson (1953-2013), Richard Epperson, born in 1954, and Donna Epperson. Mr. Epperson served in Korea and Vietnam as a Staff sergeant. Mr. Epperson appears to be Susanne’s biological father. Unfortunately, he died in 2003. What was the connection? Was he stationed with Mr. Hall (who adopted Susanne?) Were they buddies?

Coincidences Between Biological and Adoptive Father

Both men were in the Army.
Both men served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Both men were out of Ft. Benning, Georgia.
Both men were serving in Vietnam and stationed in Berlin, Germany

The Adoptive Family

Theodore Crossman Hall (1920-1969) and his wife, Helen “Toni” Carrier (1026-2009), adopted Susanne.

Mr. Hall was one of two sons born to Raymond Hall (`1893-1936) and Mary Loletta Cramer (1895-1978.) He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1920. He had enlisted in the United States Army and served during the Vietnam War. His tour began on August 11, 1968. Hall had the rank of Sergeant First Class. His military occupation or specialty was Light Weapons Infantry. His service number assignment was 16177855. He was attached to MACV, Advisory Team 100. During his service in the Vietnam War, Army Sergeant First Class Hall experienced a traumatic event that ultimately resulted in losing his life on March 6, 1969. The recorded circumstances attributed to Dying through non-hostile action. Theodore is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 30w, Line 55.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Combat Infantryman Badge

★ Marksmanship Badge

★ National Defense Service Medal

★ Vietnam Campaign Medal

★ Vietnam Service Medal

★ Army Presidential Unit Citation

★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross

★ Army Good Conduct Medal

Helen “Toni” Carrier was one of ten children (six girls and four boys) born to

Robert Smith Carrier (1902-1983) and Rosa Ellen Benedict (1900-1964.) She was born in Kentucky, where she later met her husband, Theodore Hall. The two lived in Germany during Vietnam and adopted Susanne in January 1961. Mr. Crossman died in a military accident just eight years later, leaving Helen as her only parent.

Susanne’s German Mother

Susanne’s birth mother, Brigitte Lange, was a beautiful, slender, petit German woman. Brigitte fell in love with a U. S. Soldier stationed in Germany and had a multi-year relationship with him. Their relationship yielded a daughter born in 1960 (Martina) and another in 1961 (Susanne.) Brigitte became pregnant with Susanne, and the relationship ended, leaving her to care for both girls alone. According to the story, the German authorities would not allow a single mother to have two children and receive financial assistance, so Ms. Lange placed Susanne for adoption.

Susanne’s Sister

Susanne knew she had an older sister named Martina. Toni told Susanne that Martina was at the adoption hearing with her mother. She said Brigitte met a soldier, and she wanted to get married and move to the United States. I continued researching and discovered this public record. Could this be Susanne’s sister Marina? Did she leave Stuttgart, Germany, and move to Tennessee? Initially, Susanne’s DNA offered few clues about Brigitte and Martina.

As the weeks passed, there was finally a new DNA match. It listed a woman named Martina Lange as her sister! Did Martina know about Susanne? Did she realize the closeness of the DNA placed her as biological sister to Susanne, sharing the same mother and father?

Imagine having a sister that you didn’t know about. Imagine discovering this by accident on a DNA website. My role changed from researcher to mediator. I had to help Susanne connect with her sister and understand how difficult this new information might be for Martina. I began email conversations with Martina, and ultimately Susanne and Martina connected.

Susanne discovered a rich family history that she had never imagined. Brigitte married that U.S. Soldier, Dickie J. Malott, on January 24, 1963, in Berlin, Germany. The couple moved to the United States and had five more children. Dickie died in September of 2000, and Brigitte died in November of 2016. Susanne retired in 2019 and is getting to know her new family.

“I hope u realize how u changed both of our lives!!!! “

Thank you both, Martina and Susanne, for allowing me the privilege of being part of your lives. It has been an honor. Kathleen Hill, LCSW

Link to the first article: https://www.dnaenthusiast.com/u-s-soldiers-german-child/

U.S. Soldier’s German Child (The Research)

More than 100,000 babies were born to unwed German mothers in the ten years following World War II. Their fathers, from Allied forces, left Germany without ever meeting them.

The War Babes Act

Many children were born to U.S. service members who knew nothing about their father. With the advancement of DNA technology and the popularity of DNA testing sites, these individuals will soon identify men who might be their fathers. GI Trace has made it possible for those children to obtain military records on their suspected fathers to see if the files match their history.

My Friend, A War Babe

My friend was one of these “war babes.” She was born in Germany in the 1960s. Her biological father was in the Army, and her birth mother was a German woman. The couple had a two-year affair, and my friend was their second daughter. Her biological mother could not raise two children alone, so she placed my friend up for adoption.

Her biological mother was German, so it would probably be more challenging to find her. We started researching her DNA on Ancestry.com, looking for information about her father. Her closest matches lived in the United States and appeared to be Americans; thus, her paternal side.

There was a strong presence in Bradley, Tennessee, and somehow she was connected to the Epperson family. Although I was not sure this was her paternal surname, it was indeed a possibility. Many of her DNA matches had links to several generations in the Epperson family.

As the weeks progressed, I narrowed her tree down quite a bit. I created a family tree and added in her DNA matches (according to their trees), and pieced the family tree puzzle together, one person at a time. There was one cousin match I couldn’t figure out. His family was from Roane County, Tennessee, and had the surname Cook. I looked at his tree and could not find the connection. I then searched his Cook tree for the name Epperson, and bingo! One of his aunts had married an Epperson. If he was a Cook and not an Epperson, why did he share DNA with my friend?

His aunt (Daughter Cook) and her husband (Son Epperson) must have been the direct ancestors of my friend. She had DNA from the Cook side and the Epperson side. I needed this hint because my friend matched the Cook side of his tree (his relatives) and the Epperson side of the tree (not his relatives.) This match helped me figure out who my friend’s paternal grandparents were.

After studying her DNA matches and their family trees, she descended from Joseph Thompson and Mary Mercer from the mid-1800s. I was perplexed. On the paternal line, there can only be eight couples who are 2nd great-grandparents. I was confused because this tree already had eight teams who were 2nd great-grandparents. What was I missing?

We have eight couples (16 individuals) who are our 2nd great-grandparents

The next morning I decided to go back to the tree and see what I was missing.

There it was! She had a 2nd great-grandmother named Elizabeth Thompson on the Epperson side, whose parents were unknown. I researched and discovered that Elizabeth Thompson’s brother was Joseph Thompson, who was married to Mary Mercer. His parents must have been Elizabeth Thompson’s parents.

When genealogists reach a dead-end with someone, it can be helpful to research a sibling, especially a brother, because men generally have more historical records available. I studied Joseph and found him in the census as a son of James W. Thompson. James was her 3rd great-grandfather. Not only was this a significant breakthrough for me, but other researchers had gone years without knowing who Elizabeth Thompson’s father was. Adding the Thompson relatives to the existing tree could be done without adding a new branch.

These breakthroughs left me knowing who my friend’s grandparents were. Her biological father had to be one of their sons. I began researching each of these children and discovered only one had been in the military during the 1960s. As I tracked down his information, I learned that he was married at the time and was the father of three children. This gentleman is deceased now (my friend’s father), but his children are living. Their mother is still living, so any “news” could be pretty upsetting to this family.

The man I believe is my friend’s biological father was Mr. Epperson. He was born in Tennessee in the early 1920s and died in Georgia before 2005. He was in the Army (out of Ft. Benning, Georgia) and served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam as a Staff sergeant. He was married and had three children at home.

My Friend’s Adoptive Parents

An American couple in their mid to late 40s adopted my friend. Her (adoptive) father served in the Army (out of Ft. Benning, Georgia) during World War II, in Korea, and in Vietnam. During Vietnam, he was in Berlin, Germany. He served on MACV Team 100 and died at 48 in Gia Dinh, the Hồ Chí Minh Municipality. My friend was only eight years old when her father died.

Her (adoptive) mother was very open and shared many details about her adoption. She impressed upon my friend that her mother wanted to keep her, but finances prohibited it. My friend’s adoptive mother died in 2009.

Coincidences Between Biological and Adoptive Father

Both men were in the Army
Both men served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam
Both men were out of Ft. Benning, Georgia
Both men were serving in Vietnam and stationed in Berlin, Germany

Her German Mother

My friend recounted the stories her adoptive mother shared. Her birth mother, Brigitte Lange, was German, slender, and petite. She was in love with a U. S. Soldier stationed in Germany and had a multi-year relationship with him. Their first daughter was born in 1959, and my friend was born in 1961. When Brigette became pregnant with their second daughter, the relationship ended, leaving Brigette to care for both girls. According to the story, the German authorities would not allow a single mother to have two children and receive financial assistance. Ms. Lange decided to place her second daughter up for adoption.

My friend described the day her parents took her to court for the final adoption. Ms. Lange and her eldest daughter were present. Ms. Lange spoke about meeting another U. S. serviceman and was hoping to marry and move to the United States.

We had no idea what had become of Brigette or her daughter. I searched through many records but was unable to find them. My friend’s DNA matches yielded few clues. All we could do was wait. We knew Susanne’s sister’s name was Martina Lange, but what happened to her? We could only wonder.

My research yielded this interesting document. This child, Martina Lange was the right age, she came over to the United States from Stuttgart, Germany. Had Martina come to the United States with her mother? Now, we wait.

Secrets of the Past Revealed

When researching situations involving unknown parentage, it is important to start with DNA evidence. Look at the DNA and the matches to identify who the grandparents are. Do not concern yourself with their specific offspring who might be the father or mother you are looking for. In order to do this, there must be independent matches on the male side and the female side.

Researching For A Friend

I just finished researching for a friend. Her family has always been curious about her mother, Beverly’s biological father. Her grandmother, Nellie was six months pregnant with Beverly when she married in 1934. Over the years the family speculated that the father of the child was a man born in Italy. After some in the family took DNA tests and discovered no Italian heritage, the speculation continued and evolved to fit several scenarios that might have been possible. I offered to take a look and see what I could find.

Start With The LEEDS Method

The LEEDS method helps researchers group matches and divides them into four separate groups which are likely the four sets of grandparents. I used the LEEDS method to group her matches by the family they descended from. The LEEDS method was developed by Dana Leeds. It helps group DNA matches to determine the four sets of grandparents.

DNA Color Clustering: The Leeds Method for Easily Visualizing Matches

This is the chart I did with my friend’s DNA. She only has (so far) 10 matches who share between 100 and 400 centimorgans (listed here.) Her closest matches (the top two) she shares grandparents with.

Ellis/Marsh was an unknown part of her tree. The Crookshank/Allen part of her tree refers to her great-grandparents on her father’s side.

Research First

My next task was to do as much research on her entire tree. I wanted to build it out as far as I could in every direction. I started with her mother and father and worked back to her grandparents. I filled in the Ellis line as if they were grandparents and researched that line. When I was finished I understood her ethnicity estimate. She had relatives who immigrated from England, Norway, and Germany within the past four generations.

Success

My final step was to try to figure out how Mr. Ellis and Nellie met. I researched every census from 1910 to 1940 for each of them. I couldn’t figure out how they were connected. I looked for yearbook information and census information but could not put the two of them together. Finally, I discovered a 1925 Iowa Census with Mr. Ellis in it. I then began looking for Nellie in the 1925 census. For some reason, I could not find her in the 1925 census in Iowa. I looked more closely at Mr. Ellis’ family and BINGO…he lived next-door to Nellie’s parents. For some reason, Nellie and her bother were not listed but her parents were (they were the last two people on the page.) Perhaps they intended to list the children on the next page and forgot.

I began my research looking at the DNA and narrowed my search down to Mr. Ellis. I ended the journey with the discovery that Mr. Ellis and Nellie were next-door neighbors. Nellie had grown up with the man who fathered her daughter.

Mexico: Reynoso via Ennis

A couple of weeks ago, I received a friend invitation on Facebook from a woman in Mission, Texas. I added her and figured she was interested in reading about my research. Five days ago, she messaged me and asked if I was the Kathleen Hill on her matches list. I don’t use my name on my DNA, so I knew she was referring to someone other than me. She explained that she was looking for her biological father. Her mother had passed and could no longer provide information. This woman had spent the past thirty years wondering who her father was.

Coincidence, perhaps, but I have become adept at solving similar mysteries. I asked her if she would like me to help, and she accepted. I reviewed her DNA matches. The closest match on her father’s side was a man with the last name of Reynoso. She shared 1500 centimorgans of DNA with him. My first guess was; he is her half-brother. I questioned her about him and any communication she has had. She messaged him but never received a response.

One of the frustrating things about DNA research is the fact that many people submit their DNA to discover their ethnicity. They are not researching their family tree, nor do they pay a subscription to Ancestry to use all of the resources offered. Mr. Reynoso likely tested and has not logged back into his account for many months.

I sorted her DNA matches and looked at the few people she matched via her father. I believed her father’s last name was Reynoso, but there wasn’t enough evidence to make any additional connections.

90% Northern European and 9% Central American

My client’s mother, Edna was raised in Tennessee and lived in with her husband and children. Edna became pregnant with another man’s child and her husband raised the child as his own. My client was told that her father was of Peurto Rican descent, however, her ethnicity estimate shows otherwise.

The second closest match on my client’s paternal line was a first cousin, or a first cousin, once removed. Given the closeness of this relationship, I narrowed my focus to the grandparents of this match; Albert Pedin Ennis and Estela Grandison Gastanza.

Albert Ennis was an Engineer. He worked for Electric Bond and Share Company in the early 1900’s. His job required him to travel to Jaimaca, Central & South America, and the West Indies to examine electric properties in various countries. His wife was Estella Grandison Ennis. She was born in Oaxico, Mexico. She and her children traveled with Mr. Ennis for his job.

Two things jumped out at me while researching Mr. Ennis. His wife, Estella was born in Oaxaca, Mexico (note the mention of Oaxaca, Mexico in my client’s Ethnicity Estimate.) Mr. Ennis was born in Illinois. If both great grandparents were from Mexico, my client’s DNA should show 15-20% Central America. Thus, only one of her great-grandparents was from Mexico. Mr. Ennis was from Illinois and his wife was from Mexico.

The next step was to research all of the children of Mr. Ennis and Ms. Grandison Gastanza to see if I could find a connection to the Reynoso line. I found two sons and three daughters. I researched each of these children and their spouses. One daughter, Jean Margareta Elizabeth Ennis y Grandison, “Betty”, married a man named Pedro Reynoso. Pedro’s father was from Vera Cruz, Mexico (another city listed in my client’s DNA Ethnicity results.) Additionally, his grandparents were from the United States; Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Again, supporting my client’s 9% DNA connection to Central America. I believe Betty and Pedro Reynoso are my client’s grandparents. One of their two sons is likely her father.

Mr. Reynoso and Ms. Ennis y Grandison had three girls and two boys. They lived in Browning, Texas where my client’s family lived in when her mother became pregnant.

I have meticulously constructed my client’s family tree on Ancestry.com and have uncovered photographs and documents dating back to the early 1800s. Proudly, I can say she has the most well-established tree on both her Reynoso and Ennis lines. Hopefully, she will be able to establish a relationship with her biological half-siblings and they can discover their rich family history together.

Ba-Da-Bean!

Fred Crawford and I became acquainted several weeks ago. He was referred to me by a friend with whom he shared DNA. Fred was trying to determine who his mother’s family was. His mother, Laurel Geraldine Denmark was born in Atlanta in 1923. Mr. Andrew Denmark and his wife, Bessie Fife, adopted her.

Mr. and Mrs. Denmark grew up in Taylor, Florida. They married in 1912 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Mr. Denmark worked as a repairman for the railroad. Bessie, his wife, worked as a seamstress at a local laundry. The couple adopted Laurel in 1923. Laurel never had any documentation of her adoption and later in life, when she needed a birth certificate, the Denmarks had to present a sworn statement of birth to the local hospital. Fred had very little information to go on and requested my assistance with determining who Laurel’s biological parents were.

Atlanta in the 1920s

“It was during the ’20s, perhaps, that Atlanta reached its height of reconstruction, though its fate was sealed by the depression of the 1930s.”

I began my research on Ancestry.com and looked closely at Fred’s DNA matches. Three of his five closest DNA matches were on his mother’s side. After some time, I identified a woman of interest, Bessie Gladys Bayne.

Bessie was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1900. She was the youngest child of Georgia and Thomas Bayne. Bessie had two older brothers, Macon, and Clarence, and an older sister Mary. Bessie grew up in Atlanta and married Daniel Edgar Morgan on December 29,1919. Bessie and Daniel had a daughter, Jacqueline Morgan, in April of 1921. By September 25th, 1922, Mr. Morgan was serving a 29-month sentence in Futon County, Georgia, for Larceny.

Georgia Central Register of Convicts 1817-1976

Daniel Morgan is listed in the 1930 census in Louisiana at the State Penal Farm at Angola. His marital status is “divorced.” In 1942, Mr. Morgan was back in jail for theft of an automobile, in Fulton County, Georgia. In 1958, he served time for burglary. Unfortunately, Mr. Morgan’s life of crime left his wife and child without a husband and father.

After being abandoned by Mr. Morgan, Bessie and Jacqueline remained in Atlanta until 1930. Sometime in 1922, Bessie became pregnant with Laurel Denmark and placed her for adoption. By 1949, Bessie and her daughter Jaqueline had moved to Chicago, Illinois.

Fred shares 248 cm of DNA with Jacqueline’s grand-daughter and 134 cm of DNA with Bessie’s sister (Mary’s) grand-daughter.

Fred shares DNA with multiple people on both Bessie’s maternal and paternal side, thus making them direct ancestors (his great-grandparents.) Through a process of looking at the shared centimorgans to determine relationships, the DNA supports Bessie being the mother versus her sister or one of her brothers.

Fred had several matches to another family on both the maternal and paternal sides (indicating a direct ancestral connection.) William R. Bean and Alice Buchanan married on November 5th, 1889, in Atlanta Georgia. They had two children, Theodore and Lucille. Fred had DNA matches to both the Buchanan side and the Bean side (above William and Alice.) Thus, William and Alice are Fred’ great-grandparents and his mother’s grandparents.

After determining that William and Alice were likely Laurel’s grandparents, I looked at their two children as possible parents for Laurelle. Lucille (their daughter) was married and had two daughters. Her daughter, Anne was born in 1920, and another daughter, Jean was born about 1924. I thought it unlikely that Lucille would have been Laurel’s mother, given the circumstances. Although it is feasible that Lucille was the mother of Laurel, Fred shared higher centimorgans with the children of Theodore. Fred’s DNA fit with him being a half 1st cousin once removed to Theo’s grandson. If Theo had been an uncle (and Lucille was Laurel’s mother), the DNA centimorgans would have been less. Thus, Theodore Bean was likely Laurel’s biological father.

Theodore Bean was born in Georgia in 1890 and was the son of William Riley Bean and Alice Buchanan. His father, William Bean moved to Atlanta around the 1880s to be closer to his brother. He worked as a mason before he became a partner in a printing business. When his partner died, he started W.R. Bean and Son Printing Company.

W. R. Bean and Son Printing
https://exhibits.library.gsu.edu/current/items/show/925

Another mystery solved! Laurel Geraldine Denmark was the child of Theodore Bean and Bessie Bayne. She was born in 1923, and circumstances at the time led her mother to place her for adoption. Theodore Bean may not have known he had a child. In the 1930 census, Theodore indicates his age was 33 when he married his wife, Clara Bell Cook. That would have been about 1924, suggesting that Theodore was single when Bessie Bayne became pregnant.

I would not have been able to solve his puzzle without the cooperation and active participation of Robert H. Bean. He was Fred’s highest DNA match and it was his DNA which helped us solve this puzzle. Fred and his siblings now have the answer they have been searching for over the years. Ba-Da-Bean!

The Emissary

Dictionary: 1620s, from French émissaire (17c.) or directly from Latin emissarius, literally “that is sent out,” from emissus, past participle of emittere “send forth”

I have been sent forth to search, support, investigate, and connect. As a researcher for adoptees, the journey can be quite an emotional rollercoaster. Two weeks ago, my client had an “immediate family” DNA match. The closer I looked, I realized this was her biological sister (same mother and father.) The two of them shared almost 3000 centimorgans of DNA. A half-sister would have shared about 1500 centimorgans. My client was the second child born to a U.S. Soldier a German woman. She knew her mother’s name and her sister’s name but was never able to find them. I had already determined who her father was but hadn’t had much luck with her German side. I was elated that we had finally found her sister. I reached out and waited, finally a happy reunion in the making.

Imagine the shock with learning you have a “possible” biological sibling and nobody told you. The feelings experienced by children when they learn that their parent(s) did not tell them the whole truth can be complicated. Suddenly, they experience a rush of emotion, negotiating, trying to disprove/prove the possibility, managing their feelings while working to accept/deny the truth. This process can be more complicated when the biological parent is deceased.

As the emissary, my role is not only to go forth and discover, but to support, negotiate, and provide information to both sides. A mediator of sorts to help one party communicate information (without emotion) to the other party. I find myself going back and forth between each party, attempting to support them, provide information, and gain/share information without being pushy.

Several times a day, I check my email, waiting, and hoping for further communication. I am humbled and honored to be part of this journey for my client and her sister. I salute the adoptee as she supports her sister from afar, admitting that she has had more time to accept the facts. I salute the adoptive mother who provided detailed information which is helping the newfound sister with understanding the circumstances that led to her sister’s adoption. I salute the biological mother who made the best decision she could for each of her daughters. She did what she had to to survive. I support the new found sister who is willing to communicate at her pace, as she experiences abundant feelings.

Thank you for allowing me to share these very personal moments with all of you.

First Story: U.S. Soldier’s German Child

Coincidence? Perhaps, or Sheer Luck!

Three weeks ago, I received a Facebook message from a young lady asking if I managed a kit for someone on My Heritage. The person she was looking for shared my name, but It was not me. As we discussed her situation, I learned she had been adopted and was searching for her biological family. Was it a coincidence that she stumbled upon a woman who shared my name and unknowingly emailed me, a DNA enthusiast? Little did she know, her luck would soon pay off.

It took me about a week to research her DNA. She had made many contacts and had communicated with her DNA matches. She had some ideas about how she was related to the people on her list, but I was not familiar enough with her DNA to give an informed opinion.

When I help adoptees, it is more difficult because we don’t have any information about the maternal side or paternal side. When a familial connection is discovered, I am never sure which side of the tree it belongs. The challenge is to figure out how eight people divide into pairs. The next complication becomes figuring out which pair relates to the paternal side and which pair belongs on the maternal side.

I began my research by using the LEEDS method. This method helps to identify the great-grandparents (eight people at the top of the diagram.) Unfortunately, I was only able to identify six of the eight great-grandparents. With this information, I was able to determine one set of grandparents and one more undetermined branch. I narrowed my focus and looked closely at the grandparents. I found they had a daughter but was not sure she was an only child. I began with this woman. She (or a sister or a brother) were likely the parent of the woman I was helping. The woman I was helping took this information and began corresponding with people in search of her biological family.

It has been about a week since we narrowed the possibilities down. My client has been very busy contacting people and asking questions. Tonight we spoke briefly, and she made contact with the daughter of the woman whom I had identified. They corresponded over some time and eventually, she explained that she thought they could be half-sisters or cousins. The woman with whom she was communicating told my client that her mother had placed a child up for adoption when she was young. At last, sisters communicating and my client will soon get to know her mother.

Now that we have identified the maternal line, I know the remainder belongs on her paternal side. Now we must wait for more people to test so we can locate her father. 3/1/19 Update (Her mother told her who her father was.) I was so close, I was looking at his brother. #nailed it

Happy Beginnings Part II: Now Her Father’s Side

Happy Beginnings Part I

Many weeks have passed since I discovered who my client’s mother was. I have been looking at the DNA matches which correlate with her paternal line in order to identify her father.

My research led me to a couple in Hardeman, Tennessee. William T. “Dee” Dunnahoe (1900-1958) and his wife, Vergie Cox (1906-1943.) Together they had nine children, three boys, and six girls. Virgie died in 1943, and Mr. Dunnahoe married Frances Williams (1922-2005.) Frances and Dee had seven children together.

My client was born in 1969, so I had to look closely at the children of Mr. Dunnahoe. Mr. Dunnahoe had two wives so I had to determine which wife I had to foccus on. I began looking at the parents and grandparents of both, Virgie and Frances.

My client had numerous matches to individuals who descended from Thomas Cox and/or Martha Hurst, Virgie’s parents. Thus, Dee Dunnahoe and Virgie Cox were direct ancestors of my client.

My client’s closest match to this line was to a woman named Georgia Dunnahoe. Georgia was the youngest daughter of Virgie and Dee. My client and Georgia had 1969 shared centimorgans.

Georgia’s DNA suggested she could have been a great-grandparent, aunt, or great-aunt.

My client’s next closest match was to a man who is the grandson of Dee and Virgie.

It was the third match which helped me understand that I was looking at the wrong generation. I had been looking at the male children of Dee and Virgie and presumed one of their sons was my client’s father. If I had looked closer, I could have seen that several of their daughters were born in the 1930’s and one of their son’s could have been the father. My client had a match with the same amount of shared centimorgans to Dee’s grandson, yet she was a generation later.

The Key match was Dee and Virgie’s great-granddaughter. Her father/mother would have been my client’s half-uncle/aunt. Thus, her half-uncle is my client’s father.

Now we reach out, hope, and wait!

Happy Beginnings

Finally, my client’s DNA was ready, and we were both excited! She was adopted at birth and was interested in learning about her biological family. I began looking at her DNA matches and immediately discovered her closest matches were to two individuals listed by Ancestry as “Close Match or First Cousin.” I was able to ascertain that the two individuals were not related to one another, so I knew she had close matches on both her maternal and paternal lines. I spent a few minutes and figured out that she was somehow related to a woman with the last name of Greene. I took a break and returned several hours later. After looking closer, I realized the match I thought was a first cousin, was closer. I checked the centimorgans and compared it to the chart. Astoundingly, she was quite possibly, a half-sister because they shared 1600 centimorgans. I never dreamed I would find her half-sister so quickly. We knew her mother had later married and had four children. The match was one child of six, although four were relatively close in age, and then two additional children came later. I began researching the family and found a photograph of the woman from her High School Yearbook. I snapped a copy of the photo and sent it to my client. Her response, “OMG, she looks just like I did when I was younger!”

Fast forward to the next day. I sent an email to this match. I received an immediate response. She was interested in talking to me about her half-sister. She replied, ” I have known about a half-sister all of my life and is why I have taken a DNA test, in hopes of finding her.” This email spurred a rush of emotion. I was holding back tears of joy! My client thought she was never a second thought in her biological family. Not only was she thought about, but her sister was also looking for her. They spoke on the phone for the first time today, apprehension and uncertainty, ended with acceptance, love, and the possibility of a new, extended family.

Every time I take on a new endeavor, I become emotionally attached to the outcome. A purpose in life for me, using technology to help reunite families in a new way. Satisfying. Now, her father’s side. Happy Beginnings Part II

Category: Solved DNA Mysteries

Hart Island: Stopping the Anonymity Clock by Revealing Lives Lost

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