Jacob Dilatush

On this day, 13 December 1852, Jacob Dilatush, my 5th great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 24 March 1781, in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Jacob was the son of Henry Dilatush and Geradina Van Wickle. He joined older sisters Syche “Sophie” Dilatush, born on 25 March 1779, and Anne Dilatush, born in 1780.

Lloyd Wilbur Cole

It is Week 29 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge. However, before I present this week’s post, I have to apologize for missing the last two weeks’ writing prompts.

Let me tell you what happened. When I first read Week 27’s writing prompt, Solo, I thought that it was “Sole” and began researching/writing accordingly. (I was going to write my spouse’s Soule predecessors.) It was not until the last day of the challenge that I realized that I had misread the word. Sole was, in fact, solo, so I was S.O.L. with no time to spare and no inspiration to be had.

But instead of frantically scrambling and needlessly fretting in the eleventh hour, I decided to take a “vacation” from writing, especially considering that I was not taking a “real” vacation this year. (Darn you, COVID!). And since I typically take two weeks off, Week 28’s prompt, Multiple, was sacrificed to the staycation god as well.

So here I am, two weeks later, a bit more rested and little less stressed. So, without further adieu, let’s tackle Week 29’s writing prompt: Newsworthy. And boy, do I have a “newsworthy” character for you!

The Wedding That Never Was

It is week 23 in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge. This week’s writing prompt is Wedding. For this week, instead of focusing on a wedding that was, I will discuss one that was not.

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.