Texas Spring Pic

Happy Spring, y’all.

Brick Wall of the Month: Elijah Perry

My brick wall for the month of March is Elijah Perry.

Elijah Perry was born about 1823 in Kentucky. Probably. At least, that’s what is indicated on the 1860 US Census. Maybe he was born somewhere else, and some when else. Whoever reported the information to the census taker didn’t even report his wife’s name (Dinah). She is represented by just a squiggle.

Elijah and Dinah married in Missouri in 1851.

Shortly thereafter, he traveled overland on horseback with a few friends to California to try his hand at mining. Evidently he did okay, because he sent for Dinah and her two children (George and Delia) to join him in California, which they did, sailing from Texas around the Horn of South America to reach San Francisco.

Elijah and Dinah had three other children (Sarah, John, and Tommy) together.

Soon after the 1860 Census was taken, Elijah joined the Union Army (in 1861), traveled with his cavalry regiment to Arizona, where he died of scurvy in 1862, almost exactly a year after he joined up.

Though the history is sketchy, I do know a little of what happened to Elijah between 1851 and 1862, as described above.

But what happened before that?

Where did Elijah come from? Was it really Kentucky? If so, what county?

Who were his parents? Where were they from?

Why was he so eager to join the Army, despite a wife and five kids at home?

Had he already served during the Mexican War? He was the right age, if he was born in 1823, and there was a soldier named Elijah Perry who fought in that war. I just don’t have enough information about either Elijah to know if they are, in fact, the same person.

I welcome any ideas and thoughts about how to discover more regarding Elijah Perry!

Cocke Family Genealogy

This line stems from Travel Buddy’s Dibrell line.

John Lee Dibrell married Ellender Cocke. Ellender’s parents were Charles Cocke and Eleanor Ewing. The Ewing line will be covered in a future post.

Charles Cocke was possibly born in Halifax County, Virginia in 1750. We have not found his parents, yet.

But this past summer in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, we found a book entitled “A History of Halifax County, Virginia,” and in it was a section on the Cocke family from that area.

Specifically, it references a Richard Cocke, Nathaniel Cocke, John Cocke, and Herbert Cocke.

Apparently, Nathaniel and John were the sons of Richard, while Herbert had a brother named John. The same John connected also to Richard and Nathaniel? I have no way of knowing at this point.

But this book has provided us with four possibilities of connections to Charles. With hope, we’ll find more clues, soon.

Erin Go Bragh

Ireland Forever!

On St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s Irish. Those that know their roots proclaim them loudly, and those that don’t, at least manage to wear green so as to avoid getting pinched. I remember back in 4th grade, Gilbert forgot to wear green, and was liberally pinched by many. He was a good sport about it, but I bet he didn’t forget the following year.

The actual day of celebrating is up to the individual household, of course.

We generally celebrate the Week of St. Patrick’s, starting with decorating our front porch (Buck, our animatronic deer always looks dashing), and then culminating the day of with corned beef and cabbage when we can get it, and something equally pleasing when we can’t.

Gotta have Murphy’s, though. There are those rapscallions who will try to convince you that Guinness is the only beer worth having when you’re going Irish. Not so. Murphy’s is equally dark, but not as heavy or bitter, and goes down as smooth as a glass of milk. On second thought, go ahead and stick with Guinness…just means more Murphy’s for the rest of us.

The Wearin’ of the Green is the main thing, though. Whether you claim Irish heritage or not, raise a glass on the 17th for the auld country, all the fair lads and lasses, and most of all: Slàinte!

Random Pic of the Month

Eleven.

Cave Family Genealogy II

This is an update to the post published November 5th, 2012. When I figure out linking I will post the link here.

Not much to add, really.

But Thomas Cave, born 1773, lived in South Carolina. His son, my ancestor John Cave, was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Some folks have Thomas born in Orange County, Virginia. And maybe he was.

But as definitive proof has not emerged yet, I’m feeling free to explore other possibilities.

When I visited the Augusta County Library this past summer, in Staunton, Virginia, I found a wealth of great genealogical sources, including a book citing South Carolina Naturalizations from 1783 to 1850.

A Thomas Cave is listed in this book, admitted as a citizen in the Court of Common Pleas in the year 1798.

Could this be my Thomas Cave at the aged of 25?

If he is from another country rather than Virginia, that would provide an explanation for why I can’t seem to find anything on his parents, or any other details concerning his birth.

If this is your line, please leave a comment. I’d love to compare notes!

Texas Independence Week

Texas Independence Week consists of those days between March 2nd and March 6th.

March 2nd is the anniversary of that date in 1836, when Texas declared her independence from Mexico.
March 6th is the anniversary of that date the same year, 1836, when the Battle of the Alamo was fought.

Some Texas images for this week:

Happy Texas Independence, everybody.