Friday's Photo: Oscar Lullen Giddens

This photo was found in an album that once belonged to my grandmother, Edith Giddens. Oscar was her
father's half-brother. He visited his half-brother, Charles, and family in Phillipsburg, NJ before 1920.

Timeline - Oscar Lullen Giddens

Date	Event
September 20, 1891	George L. Giddens married Sarah Rich in North Carolina.[i]
April 20, 1893	Oscar Lullen Giddens was born in Faison, Duplin County, North Carolina.[ii]
December 23, 1895	Sister of Oscar, Lina Letisha Giddens was born in Faison Duplin County, North Carolina.[iii]
1896	The family lived in Faison in Duplin, NC where George Giddens was a town magistrate.
July 11, 1897	Sister, Dorothy Mildred Giddens was born in Faison Duplin County, North Carolina. [iv]
June 30, 1900	1900 Census. Oscar's father, George, age 59, lived in Duplin County, North Carolina where he was a Postmaster. He lived with his wife, 24-year-old Sarah and children, 7-year-old Oscar, 4-year-old Lina, and 1-year-old Dorothy. His sister-in-law, Ada Rich, and brother-in-law, Milton Rich, also lived with the family. Ada was 14 years old and her occupation was "house labor." Milton, age 13, was listed as "farm labor." A boarder and dry goods clerk, Bessie Hobbs, age 20, lived in the home. Sarah had four children, but only three were living. She and George had been married for 9 years.  George's daughter, Frances "Frankie" Harper lived nearby with husband Warren Harper and family. His son, Charles, lived in Phillipsburg, NJ.
September 16, 1900	Brother, Mitchell Alonzo Giddens, was born in Faison, Duplin County, North Carolina. [v]
1903	Sister, Sarah Elizabeth Giddens, was born in Faison, Duplin County, North Carolina.[vi]
May 30, 1905	Oscar's mother, Sarah Jane Giddens, died.  She is buried in the Faison Cemetery[vii], Duplin County, North Carolina.
April 22, 1910	1910 Census. Oscar's father, George, age 69, and a widow, lived with children - 17 year old Oscar, 14 year old Lina, and 6 year old Elizabeth. He rented his home in Harnett County, NC adjacent to and southwest of Sampson County in the Averasboro Township.  George owned his own business. He was a retail grocer. Children Dorothy and Mitchell Giddens were living in the Methodist Orphanage in Raleigh, Wake County, NC.  Mitchell, age 9, was working as a house boy at the orphanage and Dorothy, age 12, was working as a waitress at the orphanage.  His older daughter, Frankie, was living in TX and his son, Charles, was living in Phillipsburg, NJ. [viii]
June 9, 1911	At age 18, Oscar enlisted in the US Navy. Location is unknown.[ix]
June 26, 1914	Oscar’s father, George Giddens died in Christine, Atascosa, Texas.  His daughter Frankie Harper lived in Christine so it is assumed that he was living with her and her family. He is buried in the Christine City Cemetery.[x]
June 1, 1915	Oscar was a 22-year-old seaman, stationed on the U.S.S. New York in Brooklyn at the Navy Yard.[xi]
July 14, 1919	Oscar Lullen Giddens married Florence Ethel Muir on July 19, 1919[xii] in Hartford, CT.
January 12, 1920	Oscar Giddens, age 26, was living with his wife, Florence Giddens, age17, in Hartford Connecticut. Oscar was in the U.S. Navy. They lived with her parents James A. Muir (age 50 - a conductor for the Railroad) and his wife, Florence Muir.  James A. Muir owned the house (with a mortgage) at 58 Ranney Street. Also living in the house were children of James and Florence; Russell L. (age 21) who was a clerk for the railroad, Mildred S.(age 16) who worked in a tobacco warehouse as a tobacco sorter, Lester R. (age 9), and Linwood (age 6).  Also living with the family was Florence Muir's mother, a Jennie Stiles. She was 68 years old and a widow. Mrs. Stiles and her parents were born in NJ. Florence Muir was also born in New Jersey. All of the Muir children were born in Connecticut. James A. Muir was a naturalized citizen from Canada. His father was listed as born in Scotland and his mother in Canada. Two boarders, James and Louisa Morgan (both age 65) lived in the home. They both immigrated from England in 1882. James worked as an engineer for the railroad. [xiii]
1928	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were listed in the city directory as living a 58 Ranney Street, East Hartford, Connecticut.  Oscar was in the Navy.[xiv]
April 10, 1930	Oscar and Florence Giddens were living at 616 Caroline Street in Key West, Florida. They were paying $35 monthly for rent and Oscar's occupation was listed as a Water Tender for the U.S. Navy. They had one child, a daughter, Margaret who was nine years old. [xv] Note: The Muir family was still living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford. [xvi]
1935	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT. No occupation was listed.
1936	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT. No occupation was listed.
1939	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT. Oscar was employed at 1285 Main in East Hartford. No occupation was listed.[xvii]
April 12, 1940	Oscar and Florence Giddens were living 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford. Children, Margaret L., George L., and Freda E., were living in the home. Oscar was a mechanic at a local garage.[xviii]
June 30, 1940	Oscar L Giddens was in the United States Fleet Reserve and stationed on the USS Doran.[xix]
September 30, 1940	Oscar L Giddens was in the United States Fleet Reserve and stationed on the USS Doran.[xx]
1941	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT.  Oscar's occupation was listed as "in U.S. Navy" in the local city directory.[xxi]
October 9, 1941	Oscar L Giddens was in the United States Fleet Reserve and transferred from the USS Memphis to the Receiving Station, NOB, Norfolk, VA for retirement. At the time of his retirement he was a Chief Watertender.[xxii]
October 14, 1941	Oscar L. Giddens was at the Receiving Station in New York where he was listed as “leave status.”[xxiii]
1942	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT.  Oscar's occupation was listed as "in U.S. Navy"[xxiv]
1945	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT.  Oscar's occupation was listed as "in U.S. Navy" in the local city directory.[xxv]
1946	Oscar L. and Florence E. Giddens were living at 58 Ranney Street in East Hartford, CT.  Oscar's occupation was listed as an employee of GF&Co in the local city directory.[xxvi]
February 27, 1948	Oscar died on February 27, 1948[xxvii]. His burial place is unknown.

---

[i] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[ii] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[iii] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[iv] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[v] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[vi] Pemberton, Helen Williams. Family Records by Mrs. Lina L. Burd. No Date. Walkerton, VA.

[vii] http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=288311&GRid=58017284&

[viii] 1910 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens. "1910 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens." 1910 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/7884/4450008_00689/152749250>.

[ix] "Page 1003 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3." Page 1003 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3. November 1941. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <https://www.fold3.com/image/310630416/?terms=oscar%20giddens&xid=1945>.

[x] "George Lullen Giddens (1840 - 1914) - Find A Grave Memorial." George Lullen Giddens (1840 - 1914) - Find A Grave Memorial. 2010. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=288311&GRid=55128787&>.

[xi] "New York, State Census, 1915 for Oscar L Giddens." New York, State Census, 1915 for Oscar L Giddens. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2703/32848_B094147-00633/5514961>.

[xii] "Marriage Records Index: 1897-1965 | Connecticut State Library." Marriage Records Index: 1897-1965 | Connecticut State Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://ctstatelibrary.org/marriage-records/>.

[xiii] "1920 United States Federal Census for Oscar L Giddens." 1920 United States Federal Census for Oscar L Giddens. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/6061/4294451-00173/105729187>.

[xiv] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1928.  Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/906056/23583795>.

[xv] "1930 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens." 1930 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/6224/4531946_00801/103224788>.

[xvi] "1930 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens." 1930 United States Federal Census for Oscar Giddens. 1930. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/6224/4531946_00801/103224788>.

[xvii] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1939. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/830017/17957319>.

[xviii] "1940 United States Federal Census for Oscar L. Giddens." 1940 United States Federal Census for Oscar L. Giddens. April 1940. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2442/m-t0627-00502-00766/129586834>.

[xix] "Page 394 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3." Page 394 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3. June1940. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <https://www.fold3.com/image/305802998/?terms=oscar%20giddens&xid=1945>.

[xx] "Page 896 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3." Page 896 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3. Sept1940. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <https://www.fold3.com/image/305803500/?terms=oscar%20giddens&xid=1945>.

[xxi] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1941. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/2326630/1279155656>.

[xxii] "Page 182 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3." Page 182 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3. Oct.1941. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <https://www.fold3.com/image/303019932/?terms=oscar%20giddens&xid=1945>.

[xxiii] "Page 2753 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3." Page 2753 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3. 1941. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <https://www.fold3.com/image/303651647/?terms=oscar%20giddens&xid=1945>.

[xxiv] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1942. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/834475/18633423>.

[xxv] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1945. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/834475/18633423>.

[xxvi] "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens." U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 for Oscar L Giddens. 1946. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/836262/18871122>.

[xxvii] "Death Records Index: 1897-1966 | Connecticut State Library." Death Records Index: 1897-1966 | Connecticut State Library. 1948. Web. 30 Sep. 2016. <http://ctstatelibrary.org/death-records/>.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2016