Bertram Erickson Marriner

On this day, 4 October 1937, Bertram “Bert” Erickson Marriner passed away. He was my 2nd great-grandfather.

Born on 23 July 1873, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Bertram Erickson Marriner was the son of Josiah K. Marriner and Georganna Ida Marks. He joined an older sister, Ida, who was born one year earlier in July 1872.

The Case of the Lost and Found Grandma

A WOMAN OF MYSTERY

Years ago, when I first began documenting my maternal family, I reached out to our matriarch at the time, my Great-Aunt Doris. She spoke for hours, naming the ancestors she knew then sharing stories of their lives.

Although she knew a lot about her mother’s family, my great-aunt was less certain about her father’s family, especially his mother, Alice (Manley) Cole.

What little Aunt Doris knew about her grandma was her name and the fact that she disappeared from her father’s life when he was a child.

Alice was an enigma, a woman of mystery. As a family historian/genealogist, I LOVE following clues and solving puzzles, so off to the records I raced.

Allen Layton

On this day, 20 June 1876, Allen Layton (my 4th great-grandfather) passed away.

Born on 29 September 1806, in Jerseyville, Monmouth County, New Jersey, Allen Layton was the eldest of eight known children of Allen Layton and Annay Foster.

Hannah Anna (Layton) Marriner

On this date, 23 February 1952, Hannah Anna (Layton) Marriner James, passed away. She was my 2nd great-grandmother.

Born on 10 October 1874, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, Hannah was the daughter of Augustus Layton and Rebecca Ann Moore. She joined older brother, George Augustus, who was born earlier that year.

Matryoshkas & My Matrilineal Matriarch

Have you ever seen a set of wooden dolls, each one of decreasing size placed inside another? These nesting dolls are called matryoshkas, which means  “little matrons.”

By now, you might be asking yourself why a family historian with mostly British Isles roots is talking about Russian matryoshkas.

Well, today on Twitter, I saw a new writing prompt, #RussianDollChallenge, inquiring just how far back we genealogists have traced our matrilineal lines. This idea intrigued me, so I took a closer look at my mother’s maternal family. It turns out that on that branch, including me, there are ten generations of women whom I have documented.