Possible death date for Britta Ann's husband, Mike Flynn

All the facts presented here are true and verifiable. I have strung the facts together to make a theory, but so far I have no primary evidence that definitively proves that the theory is correct.

My theory is that Britta Ann Green McGuire's second husband was John Flynn/Flinn, nicknamed "Mike" for short, and that he died between 1888 and 1900. 

Here's the background:

1. Mike Flynn married Brettie McGuire on December 19, 1868, in Bibb County, AL. Mike Flinn and P(endleton) C. Bean were the bondsmen.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9819-57555-81?cc=1743384&wc=MMLN-K82:n1172654039

2. Mike was a pudler in the iron mills, as proved by the 1870 US. Census for AL.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7163&iid=4257570_00851&fn=Mike&ln=Flynn&st=d&ssrc=&pid=13300726

3. A pudler or puddler is a wrought iron worker.

http://www.birminghamgenealogy.org/research/old_occupations.htm

One of my best and earliest correspondents (JR) said: 

"Mike Flynn would have been about fifty in 1870. He emmigrated from Ireland in 1836 aboard the vessel Harpeth (New York) He lived in Randolph (Bibb County) and worked at the Briarfield Iron works as a "Puddler"I later found him working as a Puddler at the Helena Iron Works in 1880. He had married Brittana Green Mcguire about 1872 and Maggie (Margaret Ann) resulted from the marriage. He was Step_Father to Brittanias other two children Douglas, and Ellen.I know absoultely nothing before or after the dates above. I feel sure thet he would have been married before Brittana." 

4. The family lived in Brierfield P.O., Randolph, Bibb County in 1870 (see above) and in 1880 they lived in Beats 5, 6, & 7, Tylers, Elliotsville, & Helena, in Shelby County. 

http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=6742&path=Alabama.Shelby.Tylers%2c+Helena+And+Elliottsville.124.1&fn=Bellie%20A.&ln=Flyn&st=d&pid=8231847&rc=&zp=75

5. There is no Mike Flynn or variation listed in Alabama in 1860. However, in 1866 there was a Jno Flin listed in Bibb County in the State Census. The male is either 20 - 30 or 30 - 40; Mike would have been about 40. Also in the household was a female 0 - 10 and a female 20 - 30. Obviously a wife and child. 

One page over lives P. Bean. 

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=1576&iid=31075_174426-00611&fn=Jno&ln=Flin&st=d&ssrc=&pid=706183

6. By the 1900 U.S. Census for AL, Brittana A. Flynn is widowed and living with daughter Ellen N. and William Hill in Precinct 8, District 92, in Jefferson County. So obviously Britta moved to Jefferson County before the Census, and Mike died or disappeared before 1900.

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=004119988_00599&fn=Brittana+A&ln=Flynn&st=d&ssrc=&pid=36669134

7. I JUST found a listing in the 1889 Birmingham City Directory that lists "J. Flynn, (works at) Birmingham Rolling Mills," "Occupation: Puddler." If you study directories, you will learn that the material is collected quite a period, up to a year, before, in order to be listed in the year published. So the material for the 1889 Birmingham Directory would/could have been gathered in 1888. 

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&MS_AdvCB=1&db=1890birmal&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn_x=1&gsln=fl*nn&gsln_x=1&dbOnly=_F00027C5%7c_F00027C5_x%2c_F000279A%7c_F000279A_x%2c_F00027C9%7c_F00027C9_x%2c_F00027CA%7c_F00027CA_x&uidh=wy5&pcat=37&fh=5&h=17689&recoff=

8. FYI, Simon Eddins is listed in the 1890 Directory in the Avondale area, indicating that his family had moved to Jefferson County, too, around 1889. 

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&MS_AdvCB=1&db=1890birmal&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn_x=1&gsln=eddins&gsln_x=1&dbOnly=_F00027C5%7c_F00027C5_x%2c_F000279A%7c_F000279A_x%2c_F00027C9%7c_F00027C9_x%2c_F00027CA%7c_F00027CA_x&uidh=wy5&pcat=37&fh=0&h=30743&recoff=

Combining all the material from Items 1 - 7, we come up with a circumstantial case that 

• Mike was actually named John Michael, or Michael John—not surprising, as he came from Catholic Ireland 

• Mike's first wife and child died; or they got a divorce between 1866 and 1868

• Mike and Britta and family moved to Jefferson County so that Mike could work in the Birmingham Rolling Mill

• Mike died or disappeared between 1888 (data gathering for the directory) and 1900 (Britta listed as a widow in the U.S. Census.)

and thus my theory:

My theory is that Britta Ann Green McGuire's second husband was John Flynn/Flinn, nicknamed "Mike" for short, and that he died between 1888 and 1900. 

So, whaddya think????

Clues from Josephine D. McKinney Lyles Humphry's living sisters

In her 1908 Confederate widow's pension application Josephine D. McKinney Lyles/Liles Humphry's was asked:

"Is the person you are now living with a relative? If so, what relation?" Her answer: "Yes; a son."

When asked, "Have you any relations? If so, what relations," she responded, "Sisters in other states."

When asked "Have you any relations or connections whose legal or moral duty it is to provide for you?" she wrote,  "Yes." Then erased it and wrote, "None able."

Aha! A treasure trove of information!

First of all, this material gives us clues about Josephine's character. Josephine was probably basically honest but practical. Honest because she wrote "Yes" first. Practical because she then wrote "None able" afterwards.

Second of all because she wrote, "Sisters in other states."


The second noted entry suggests that her parents were dead. Therefore, probably both John and Mary Ann Green McKinney were dead. The entry also suggests that her brothers were dead. Thus Abraham Early/Early Abraham, Benjamin (?), and John were dead.

Status of sisters in 1908:

• Martha Isabellor McKinney Lawley in AL: alive

• Mary Julia McKinney Whatley in AL: alive

• Nancy Jane McKinney Pearson in MS: unknown, probably dead

ª Sarah Ellen McKinney Lemley: probably died 1885 - 1889

ª Susan McKinney Huckhannon/Buchanon, unknown

• Mahala H. Armetta McKinney Quillan, unknown, probably dead


I'm glad to write it all down. Sad to see what it may mean.

Josphine McKinney Humphrey's Confederate widow's pension applications

Whew! Long title.

Josephine D. McKinney married John Newton Lyles/Liles in 1865 in Shelby County, AL. They moved to Sunflower County, MS, by the 1870 US Census but divorced before 1880 when John was back in Shelby County, AL, with new wife Mary.

In 1896 Josephine married John David or Dwight Humphrey in Yazoo County, MS. He died in September 1898. In 1900 Josephine is living in Yazoo County; I haven't found her in 1910 yet.

However, in 1908 Mrs. Joe Humphrey applied for a Confederate widow's pension in Yazoo County. You'll find that app here:

http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/pensions/show/32484

At the time she had two sons and "sisters living in other states."

She applied again in Yazoo County in 1916. Link is here:

http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/pensions/show/32486

My impression is that both apps were denied because there was no additional paperwork that seemed to accompany the apps that succeeded. 

She died after 1918, when her son Richard listed her as living on his WWI draft registration. 

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=draft&h=854449&indiv=try&o_cvc=Image:OtherRecord

Whew! Productive week: finding new Native American roots AND Josephine's applications. 

Lucky me.