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. 

Brittan Green

There's a Brittan Green listed in the 1867 Voter Registration at the AL Archives. B. is registered in Precinct 2 of Bibb County. He is colored.

http://www.archives.alabama.gov/voterreg/books/bibbcountyvol1.pdf

Wow....

Wonder if there's a connection?

The children of John P. & Mary Ann Green/e McKinney

I don't promise that this list is completely accurate, but it reflects my best guess about the children of John P. and Mary Ann Green/e. 


John P. McKinney and Mary Ann Green/Greene were married on Thursday, April 8, 1941, in Shelby County AL. (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~alshelby/MarriageIndex1.html) John McKinney was listed in the tax poll list of Bibb County in 1848. By 1850 the McKinneys were back living in Shelby County. The likelihood is that most of their children were born in Bibb or Shelby County. 


In the most likely order of their births, the children are:

• Martha Isabelor McKinney, born November 5, 1842, probably in Shelby County; died November 7, 1911. married John Daily and Jasper Newton Lawley

• Mary Julia McKinney, born February 17, 1843, in Shelby County; died May 12, 1923 in Calera, Shelby County; married W. H. H. Whatley  (from her death and burial information at FamilySearch.org: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDLW-8WY

• Nancy Jain McKinney, born 1846/1847; died after 1880; married William Goodwin??? and Shadrack Pearson

• Josephine, born February 1846 (from the 1900 Census); died after 1918 in MS??; married John Newton Lyles/Liles and J. D. Humphry

• Early Abraham (or Abraham Early), born about 1848/1849; died after 1876; married Rachel Savannah (?) Davis 

• Benjamin ?, born about June 1848; died February 1849 of croup after a sickness of one day (Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~alshelby/mortality1850.html)

• John McKinney, born about 1852; died after 1860

• Sarah Ellen McKinney, born about 1855; died 1885 - 1889 in MS; married James Pinckney Lemley

• Susan McKinney, born September 1856 (from the 1900 Census); died after 1900; married William Buchanan/Buckhannan

• Mahala J. Armetta/Antoinette, born about 1858; died after 1880; married John Quillan

There are a few surprises for some people. I hope to blog about each child soon. 

Ain't no Mary Jane in this McKinney family, with digressions

Several family trees on the web have listed Mary J. McKinney, the daughter of John P. and Mary Ann Green McKinney as Mary Jane McKinney who married Squire Clark Johnson.


Ain't no such person in this McKinney family.


First of all, the McKinney's second daughter is Mary JULIA McKinney who married W. H. H. Whatley as proved by her death and burial notice here:


https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDLW-8WY




Second:


The trees with M.J. married to Squire Clark Johnson have her moving to Mississippi to marry SCJ, then returning to AL to be enumerated as Mary J. McKinney in Bibb in 1860, then having children with SCJ starting in 1861 in Mississippi. Possible, but not logical.


(FYI—The J. P. McKinneys did eventually move to MS in the late 1870's, but without Mary Julia, who stayed with husband W. H. H. Whatley in AL until their deaths.)


More illogically, Iquire (Squire) Johnson is enumerated with wife Mary in 1860 in Fayette County, AL, while at the same time Mary McKinney is enumerated with her parents in Bibb County. Compare these two census listings:


For Squire Johnson and his Mary:


http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7667&iid=4211182_00520&fn=Iquine&ln=Johnson&st=r&ssrc=pt_t5408701_p796435088_kpidz0q3d796435088z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgPLz0q3dpid&pid=17543192


and for Mary McKinney:

http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=7163&path=Alabama.Bibb.Randolph.6&fn=Jno&ln=McKinney&st=d&pid=13217689&rc=&zp=75


Clearly two different Marys. 


(Yes, I have seen the same person listed twice in a census, but it's always been clear who that person was from the other family members consistently surrounding him or her. Here MJM is surrounded by people who were in her household in 1850. There's no such context for Squire Johnson's Mary.)

Third:


The McKinneys did have a daughter with the middle name "Jane," but it was Nancy Jane and not Mary Julia. Nancy's middle name is proved by a note signed by her father J. P. McKinney. You'll find that note here:


https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9819-38900-56?cc=1743384


The middle name looks like "Lain," but if you notice compare the other letters, you'll see that it's plainly "Jain" and not "Lain."


(While I have seen families in which different children have the same middle name, I've not found it to be the case in this family.)




Lastly:


Nancy Jane for sure married Shadrack H. Pearson on November 14, 1872, in Bibb County, as proved by the citation above. The Pearsons followed John P. McKinney and family to LeFlore, MS, by 1880, after the death (?) of Mary Ann Green McKinney. They are listed in the 1880 US Census for Leflore County. After that I have lost track of them and their three children Mary, Thomas, and Jonathon.


(Oh, boy! More research needed! Yay!)

Mary Julia McKinney Whatley

The life of Mary Julia McKinney is pretty straightforward.


Mary Julia McKinney was born February 17, 1843, the second daughter of John P. and Mary Ann (Polly) McKinney. She was probably born in Shelby County, AL, as her parents married in Shelby County in 1841 and were still there in the 1850 U.S. Census. One assumes that her parents gave her the same first name as her mother, but the origin of her middle name is a mystery. Confirmation of her name and parentage comes from FamilySearch.org's AL Death and Burial Index:


https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDLW-8WY


In the 1850 US Census for AL Mary McKinnie, 8, born AL, is living in Shelby County with her parents John and Mary McKinnie.


In the 1860 U.S. Census for AL, Mary McKinney is living in Bibb County with her parents, J.P. and Mary McKinney. She attended school within the year.


On February 10, 1861, Mary J. McKinney married W(illiam) H(enry) H(arrison) Whatley in Shelby County. Minister of the Gospel William Rogers performed the ceremony. The groom was the son of Mavring (Maben or Marvin) A. and Mary Ann Dowis Whatley.


The Whatleys had at least three children who survived childhood, all born AL: Robert Lee Whatley, born about 1867; Daisy Bell Whatley, m. William Henry Pilgreen, born 1876; and Myrtle Bain Whatley m. W. A. Maynard, born about 1888.

In the 1870 US Census for AL, William H. Watley is living in Calera in Shelby County, AL. He is 27, a laborer, born AL, $150. Also in the household is Mary J, 25, born AL, Robt Lee, 3, and Henry Elliott, 19, laborer, born AL. Neighbors include Pilgreen, Harris, Thos Watley, Jasper Green a few pages over, Crim, etc.


http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7163&iid=4257737_00348&fn=Henry&ln=Elliott&st=d&ssrc=&pid=12419738

In the 1880 US Census for AL, Wm  H. H. Whatley is living in Calera in Shelby County. He is 36, born AL, a carpenter, father born GA, mother born SC. Also in the household are Mary J., 30, keeping house, mother born AL, father born AL, Robert E., 14,  at school, born AL, and Daisy V., 5, born AL. Next door seems to be his mother Mary A. Whatley, 54, widowed, keeping house, born SC, father born GA, mother born SC. In her household is a Green A., farmer, and daughter Susan Oldham, 20.

In the 1900 US Census for AL, William H. H. Whatley is living in Precinct 3 of Calera, Shelby County, AL. He is 57, born April 1843, married 37 years, born AL, parents born GA, a carpenter, owns, speaks, reads and writes English. Also in the household is wife Mary J., born Feb. 1845, 55 years, married 37 years, seven children, three now living, born AL, parents born SC, can read, write, speak English; daughter Myrtle (Daisy), 16, born AL in Aug. 1883, parents born AL, attending school; and B. Lee, grandson, born Jul. 1897, 2, born AL, parents born AL.

William Harrison died on 11 August 1909, leaving Mary a widow. 

In the 1910 US Census for AL, Mary Whatley is living in Precinct 3, District 105, Calera, Shelby County, AL. She is 67, widowed, born AL, rents, three children, two still living. She is living in the household of Arch Maynard and daughter Mirtle Manard. Also in household is Lee Bryon (Bryan Lee) Whatley, 12, nephew of Arch.

In the 1920 US Census for AL, Mary Watley is 77 and living in the household of her son-in-law W. A. Maynard and his wife Mirtle in Shelby County.


Mary Julia died on May 12, 1923, and is buried the Salem Cemetery, Calera, Shelby County, AL, with husband W. H. H. Whatley. 


We know her death date from the census of the New Salem Cemetery in Calera, AL; the URL is located here:


http://files.usgwarchives.org/al/shelby/cemeteries/salem.txt


And from Findagrave.com here:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDLW-8WY

Nice of her to leave so much easily found information. If only we could say the same about her aunt Britta Ann Green.   ;-)