Digging Up Your Family

Roger Dale Ray, aka Robert Jewell Vincent, Undercover 1970

I have been searching for this picture of my birth father, Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent) for the past 4 years and I finally found it!

Beneath the photo is printed:

EXHIBIT A

Roger D. Ray as he appeared on June 11 and 12, 1970.

The story behind the photo is pretty interesting.  He was working at Memphis Catholic High School at the time, and he was on Summer break.  He had been hired by Kelly Girl to go undercover and visit various banks to ensure that protocol to open accounts was being followed correctly.  He had been told to not bathe or shave and to wear dirty, smelly clothes.  He carried around the lunch bag, and he was supposed to try to open an account without I.D. and with only $25 (which, apparently, an account couldn’t be opened with only $25).  My mother thinks that just one person felt bad for him and opened the account.

In Memory

My 2nd great-grandfather Isaac T Vincent

September 23, 1854 – December 31, 1921 

My 2nd great-uncle Acra Archie Cathey

July 24, 1894 – December 31, 1944

Photo courtesy of Tracey M. 

My mother-in-law Elaine Wallace Smith

November 14, 1941 – December 31, 2011

Photo of Emmie Stewart

Months ago I received a copy of Lucy Johnson Breedlove’s Bible from a distant cousin, Linda.  Along with the copy she sent the copy of a photograph of a woman asking if I knew who she was.  I didn’t know and I asked around, but no one seemed to know.  Well, today I found out that the photo is Emmie Stewart (1860-1928), my great-great-grandmother on my father’s paternal side.  Emmie was married to Isaac T Vincent (1854-1921). 

Emmie is the daughter of Lewis Stewart and Rebecca Adkins.

Elbert Tracey “Shorty” Vincent in 1940

I found something interesting when I was searching all of my Vincent family in the 1940 census.  It concerns my grandfather Elbert Tracey “Shorty” Vincent.  Just to note, one thing that made it slightly difficult to find him when I first started searching for the Vincent family was due to his showing up as Albert on census records (my only guess is that when the family said “Elbert” the enumerator thought it was “Albert” with a Southern drawl).  Anyway, the following records (yes, more than one for him) have him listed as Albert.

The first time Shorty appears on the 1940 census is exactly where I expected to find him.  Well, almost.  Though I expected him to be in Kentucky, I had also expected him to have already married Louise Rose, but apparently not.  Nope, instead I find him living in Hanson, Magistrate District 5, Hopkins County, Kentucky.  The census has an enumeration date of April 2, 1940, but the enumerator was nice enough to make a note that this particular part of the census was actually enumerated on April 3, 1940.  The information provided on this census for Shorty is:

Name: Albert (sic) Vincent

Relationship to Head-of-Household: Son

Sex: Male

Race: White

Age: 26

Marital Status: Single

Attended School: No

Grade Completed: 3rd

Birthplace: Kentucky

Place of Residence in 1935: Same Place

Worked for Pay: Yes

Hours Worked: 40

Occupation: Laborer

Industry: Farm

Class of Worker: PW (private worker)

Weeks Worked: 52

Income: 365

Other Income: No

Living in the same household are as listed: Martin Vincent (Martin Riley Vincent, age 58 years, Shorty’s father), Lucy (age 58 years, Shorty’s mother), Everett (age 22 years, Shorty’s brother) and Garland (age 17 years, Shorty’s brother).

Now, you may have noticed that some of the information listed above for Shorty is highlighted in a different color.  This is because the next census he is on has completely different information.  I’m not really sure why.

So, on the census dated April 17, 1940 on Lee Holler Road, District 1, Stewart County, Tennessee the information given for Shorty is:

Name: Albert (sic) Vinson (sic)

Relationship to Head-of-Household: Brother-In-Law

Sex: Male

Race: White

Age: 27

Marital Status: Single

Attended School: No

Grade Completed: 3rd

Birthplace: Tennessee

Place of Residence in 1935: Rent, Stewart County, Tennessee 

Worked for Pay: Yes

Hours Worked: 24

Occupation: Laborer

Industry: Farm

Class of Worker: PW (private worker)

Weeks Worked: 30

Income: 70

Other Income: No

Living in the same household are listed as: Frank Barfield (Charles Franklin Barfield, age 36 years, Shorty’s brother-in-law), Edna (Edna Maye Vincent, age 32 years, Shorty’s sister) and Charles (age 8 years, Frank and Edna’s son, Shorty’s nephew).

So, what’s up with the discrepancies?  Edna, Shorty’s sister, is also listed as having been born in Tennessee, but she wasn’t.  She was born in Kentucky with the rest of the children.  And what about the questions pertaining to work and income in 1939?  I suppose it’s possible that Albert Vincent and Albert Vinson are not the same person, but that would be a pretty big co-inky-dink, don’t you think?

Well, Ain’t That Something!

I found something very interesting today while filling in the blanks on my tree:  my father and his adoptive father are third cousins once removed (I think I have that right!).  Wow!

 

My father’s birth family:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, my father)

Elbert Tracey “Shorty” Vincent (his father)

Lucy Johnson Breedlove (his grandmother)

Margaret Stringer (his great-grandmother)

Gray Stringer (his 2nd great-grandmother)

Lawrence Stringer and Sallie Pitt (his 3rd great-grandparents)

 

My father’s adoptive family:

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, my father)

Omer Ellis Haynes "Buster" Ray (his adoptive father)

John Wilson Ray (his adoptive grandfather)

Margaret Miller (his adoptive great-grandmother)

Anzeline Stringer (his adoptive 2nd great-grandmother)

Lawrence Stringer and Sallie Pitt (his 3rd great-grandparents)

 

This also makes Anzeline Stringer my father’s 2nd great-grand aunt. 

And it makes my father his own 4th cousin through adoption.

It gave me the giggles.  He was adopted into his own family!

Five Years

Today marks five years since my birth father Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent) passed. 

Born March 1, 1946 in Madisonville, Hopkins County, Kentucky.

Died June 23, 2007 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

Vincent Family Bible

My cousin Thelma sent me a letter she had found that had been written to her mother concerning the Martin Riley Vincent and Lucy Johnston Breedlove Family Bible.  She more or less transcribed it, asking questions.  Though I don’t have a copy of the actual pages of the Bible, I am transcribing what she wrote to share with everyone!  I won’t include her notations and questions, but I do want to point out that she asks a question I have asked many times:  what is Lucy’s middle name?  She makes a note that it is shown in the Bible as Johnson and Johnston.  I have seen it several times as Johnson, but I have questioned that since Lucy’s great-great-grandmother was named Lucy Johnston.  Because of this I believe it may actually be Johnston.  Something else to mention, I believe this was copied word for word, misspelling for misspelling, though I can’t be sure until I see the actual pages.  Below is exactly what is written on the pages in front of me.

 

Page One

Family register

Martin Riley Vincent

Lucy Johnston Breedlove

Holy Matrimony

on the 10th day of November

in the year of our Lord 1902

at the home of his parents

Mulingburgh County

Depoy, Kentucky

By

Rev. McClearin

 

Page Two

Births

Martin Riley Vincent

November 17, 1881

Lucy Johnson Breedlove

October 13, 1881

Joe Glover Vincent

June 20, 1903

Flo Ella Vincent

August 22, 1904

Carlos Andrew Vincent

December 24, 1906

Edna Maye Vincent

January 21, 1908

Lillie O Leta Vincent

Jan. 21, 1910

Elbert Tracey Vincent

Sept. 22, 1912

Connie Eloise Vincent

August 22, 1915

Martin Everett Vincent

April 8, 1918

Vernie Lucile Vincent

May 9, 1920

Garland Kenneth Vincent

Jan 3, 1923

 

Page Three

Marriages

Flo Ella Vincent to Herbert Tiney Moore

May 7, 1923

Edna Maye Vincent to Charles Franklin Barfield

Dec. 21, 1928

Lillie Oleta Vincent to Charlie Schindler

Feb, 7, 1930

Connie Elois Vincent to Bobbie Born

Nov. 18, 1939

Elbert Tracey Vincent to Louise Mildred Rose

Dec. 23, 1940

Vernie Lucile Vincent to Richard Robards

Nov. 16, 1940

Martin Everett Vincent to Bessie Loraine Wilkins

Dec. 22, 1945

Garland Kenneth Vincent to Edna Maye Walker

July 14, 1945

 

Page Four

Deaths

Joe Glover Vincent

June 20, 1903

Carlos Andrew Vincent

Dec. 24, 1906

Martin Riley Vincent

Feb. 6, 1953

Lillie Oleta Vincent

Oct. 1, 1949

Tiney Herbert Moore

March 21, 1935

Bobbie Born

Sept. 30, 1951

Agnes Loretta Barfield

April 1930

Laura Jennitte Chandler

Billie Gean Moore

Jan. 30, 1931

Basil Leon Moore

Jan. 7, 1945 in war

Lucy Johnson Breedlove Vincent

Feb. 14, 1971

 

I sure hope I can find the people who sent this letter!  She was a Moore, married a Latham.

Martin Riley Vincent and Lucy Breedlove Marriage Record

Whew!  After searching for a while I was able to find the marriage record for Martin Riley Vincent and Lucy Johnson Breedlove.  I knew at some point it would be available somewhere!  I found it at Family Search.  I have transcribed it below.

There are some questions raised with this record.  The most glaring goes back to information presented to me by family that Martin Riley’s last name was originally “Vinson”.  As you can see below, he signed his named “Martin Riley Vinson”, not “Vincent”.  Another question raised is Lucy’s mother’s name.  By all records her mother is listed as Margaret Stringer.  Below her mother’s name is listed as “Kate”.  I have seen people who have her mother named as “Margaret K Stringer”.  So it’s possible that her mother may have gone by Kate, rather than Margaret or a variation.

Male

1. Date of Marriage-November 10th 1902
2. Name of Groom-Martin Riley Vinson
3. Residence of Groom- Muhlenberg Co. Ky.
4. Age of Groom-20 yr.
5. Number of Marriage of Groom-First
6. Occupation-Farmer
7. Birthplace of Groom-Muhlenberg Co. Ky.
8. Name and Birthplace of Groom’s Father-Iaasac Vincson(ent) Muhlenberg Co. Ky.
9. Name and Birthplace of Groom’s Mother-Emmie Stewart " " "

Bride

1. Name of Bride-Lucy Breedlove
2. Residence of Bride-McLean Co. Ky.
3. Age of Bride-21 yr.
4. Number of Marriage of Bride-First
5. Birthplace of Bride-McLean Co. Ky.
6. Name and Birthplace of Bride’s Father-John Breedlove Mclean Co. Ky.
7. Name and Birthplace of Bride’s Mother-Kate (~) " " "
8. Remarks-

To be married at- Grooms Residence –on the- 10th –day of- November – 190- 2.

I certify that the above is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Witness my hand, this-10th–day of-November–190-2.

Martin Riley Vinson

Attest:

Ed S Wood–Clerk

Muhlenberg–County Court

By Fred Head D.C.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That on the-10–day of-November–190-2, the RITES OF MARRIAGE were legally solemnized by me between-Martin Riley Vinson–AND-Lucy Breedlove–at Isaac Vinson –in the County of-Muhlenberg–in the presence of-E.G. Raigon  Isaac Vinson

Signed,

J.V. McClearn M.G.

Elizabeth Pitt

My relationship to Elizabeth Pitt:

Me

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Lucy Johnson Breedlove (g-grandmother)

Margaret Stringer (gg-grandmother)

Elizabeth Pitt (ggg-grandmother)

 

(note:  I found all of these records on Ancestry)

 

Elizabeth Pitt was born December of 1817 in Kentucky to parents Joseph R Pitt (1762-1836) and Elizabeth Waller (1776-1839).  She more than likely was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky given that in 1810 her parents were living in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and had moved to Lewisburg, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky by 1820. 

 

Elizabeth married Gray Stringer on December 28, 1837 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

 

I can’t find them on the 1840 census, so they may have been living with relatives, possibly Gray’s parents.

 

In 1850 the Stringer family lived in Subdivision 2, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  Gray, age 41 years, was a farmer.  Elizabeth, age 32 years, kept house.  The children in the household were America (age 11 years), Lucy (age 9 years) and Margaret (age 7 years).  There was also a young man named Balis Stringer (age 15 years) listed as a laborer.  I haven’t yet figured out how he is related to the family.  If he were a son he would have been listed before America.  Since he is last on the family list he may be a nephew.

 

Gray died in 1857 leaving Elizabeth a widow.  In 1860 she is found living in McLean County, Kentucky.  Here she is 40 years of age.  The children living in the household with her are Virginia (age 8 years), Sally M (age 6 years) and John S (age 3 years).  Also living with the family are John D Beasley (farmer, age 20 years) and Lucy E Beasley (age 18 years).  I think that Lucy may be Elizabeth’s daughter, but I couldn’t find a marriage record for Lucy Stringer and John Beasley.  I did, however, find a marriage record for America Stringer and Johnson Beasley.  I thought that maybe America had passed and her husband remarried to her sister, but there are several America Beasleys on later census records who are widowed.  Any one of them could be her!

 

The 1870 census shows Elizabeth remarried and living in Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky.  Her husband Joseph C Moore is shown as head of household, a farmer and age 54 years.  Elizabeth is listed as 53 years of age.  The children living in the household are Virginia Stringer (age 18 years), Sallie Stringer (age 16 years), John Stringer (age 13 years) and Benjamin Stringer (age 3 years).  We will find in a later census record that Benjamin Stringer is her grandson.  We will also end up being very confused by Benjamin Stringer.  Also, I haven’t found a marriage record for Elizabeth to Joseph.

 

I assume by 1880 Joseph C Moore has passed.  Elizabeth is shown living in District 19, Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky by herself.  She is listed as Elizabeth W Moore, age 58 years.

 

No census for 1890…of course.

 

In 1900 Elizabeth is head of household in District 98, Sacramento, McLean County, Kentucky.  Her last name is not legible at all, so I don’t know if she remarried after Joseph C Moore died.  She is listed as 82 years of age and widowed.  Living with her is Ben A Moore, her grandson, age 36 years.  Ben A Moore is the same person as Benjamin Stringer listed in the 1870 census.  If we go back and look at the records for Elizabeth’s daughter Margaret then we will see that Benjamin is her son, but I don’t know who his father was.

 

Elizabeth Pitt died sometime after the 1900 census, but I am not sure when.  I cannot find any death or burial records for her.  Her parents are buried in McLean County, Kentucky, but she doesn't appear to be buried in the same cemetery.  Like I said, I don’t know if she ever remarried after Joseph died, nor do I know if she and Joseph were actually married or if they were common law married.  Either way, I haven’t yet found her grave.

Lewis Stewart in the Civil War Part Three

My relationship to Lewis Stewart:

Me

Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)

Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)

Martin Riley Vincent (great-grandfather)

Emmie Stewart (2nd great-grandmother)

Lewis Stewart (3rd great-grandfather)

 

Ok, these are the final records of Lewis Stewart during the Civil War that I found on Fold3.  Remember how he was in the hospital sick, but no reason was previously given?  Well, I know everyone has been dying to know, so here we go!

 

The first page is a Muster Roll that tells us that he was in the hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

 

Next we have his information sheet for that hospital in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

 

Diagnosis?  Acute Diarrhea.  And Small Pox dated January 21, 1865.

 

Treatment?  I don’t know!  It’s blank!

 

The result?  He returned to duty February 20, 1865.

 

On July 10, 1865 Lewis Stewart mustered out, or discharged, from the Union Army in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. 

 

I hope to find the information for Lewis Stewart’s life outside of the military soon.  He apparently had a lot of children, I just can’t track them all down.  As soon as I can I will be back with more about him!