Friday's Photo: Second-Great-Grandparents

William Moore Criswell and Mary Ann Evans Criswell

Second great-grandparents are ideal for genealogy research. Some vital records and census data usually exist for them. I have found marriage licenses, census records, a few birth records, directories, newspaper articles, and so much more! And even though they all were born between 1793 and 1850, I have photos of six of them.  

Julia Harvey Glynn and 
daughter, Carrie

Everyone has 16 second great-grandparents. Each generation back doubles the number of direct ancestors: 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, and 16 second great-grandparents. Of my 16 second great-grandparents, I know the first and last names of eleven. 

Olive Caroline Davis

The names of three of my maternal second great-grandparents are unknown. The remaining are listed below:

Olive Caroline Davis

George Lullen Giddens and Luellen Bradshaw

Joseph Allen Glynn and Julia Harvey

My paternal second great-grandparents include the following, along with one unknown second great-grandmother:

Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Span Regan

William Moore Criswell and Mary Ann Evans

Peter Albritton and Hollon (last name unknown)

John L. Hairston  

 

Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Span Regan Bryan

Five of my second great-grandparents are still a mystery to me. But each blank spot on my tree is a reminder that the search is never really over. How many of your 16 can you name?

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

© 2025

Carrie Glynn and Julia Harvey Glynn, photograph, ca. 1885; scanned image, held in the photo collection of Diana Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025. Location of the original photo is unknown. 

Mary Ann Evans, photograph, no date; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025. 

Olive Caroline Davis, photograph, no date; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Brenda and Mike Parker, 2001.

Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth S. Regan, photograph, abt 1855; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025. 

William M. Criswell, photograph, no date; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Lena Stone Criswell, NM, 2001.

A Tax List for 1831 in Sampson County, North Carolina

Column 1 (click on the photo to enlarge - send me an email for a copy of the photo)

Column 2 (click on the photo to enlarge - send me an email for a copy of the photo)

This is not a complete tax list for Sampson County in 1831, but appears to be the list from an area where my Bradshaw family and later my Giddens family were found. This is the area that, in the 1870s, became known as Giddensville. None of my direct ancestors are found on this list, but I recognize many surnames from my research.  

This came from a huge collection of papers amassed by John L. Clifton found at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University. 

due John L. Clifton for 1830 is written at the bottom
of the list. Was John L. Clifton a collector for the 
neighborhood, or was he paying his neighbors' taxes?

John L. Clifton, a clergyman, businessman/merchant, and possibly attorney, appears to be the person who created this list. He carefully saved and named almost every receipt and document. If your family lived in this area, you will want to see this collection. 

This is the back of the list. The photos below show information written on the back.

Written: Tax list for 1831

Written: This [illegible]  Money Due me 57 cts
August 23 - 1833

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

© 2023 

Clifton, John L., Papers, 1784-1916 (bulk 1830-1889), manuscript collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, accessed 2017 and 2018.

Clippings from The Baylor County Banner - Seymour, Texas - July 5, 1923

My grandparents, Redic E. Bryan and Myrtie Hairston, and my great-grandparents, Phillip A. Hairston and Lodema Criswell, moved to Baylor County in 1905. My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was born in Seymour in 1920. He was the youngest of seven children born to Redic and Myrtie. 

In April 2019, I visited the Texas State Library and Archives to read Baylor County Banner issues that could not be found online or on microfilm. I photographed articles with information about my father's family who lived in Seymour. While sorting through my family finds, I realized I had photos of articles that might interest others looking for family. I have pictures of numerous articles from 1923 and a few from other years. I will post as time allows. 

Note that my Aunt Willa Mae Bryan was Willie Mae as a
young child.
I believe that her name was originally Willie May. 

Thank you to Matt Gwinn at the Baylor County Banner for giving me permission to post these clippings.  

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

© 2022

Sources 

Harrison, O. C. The Baylor County Banner. (Seymour, TX.), Vol. 28*, No. 41, 5 July  1923. Print. Accessed 15 April 2019. 

Friday's Photo: Connections to my Giddens and Bryan Families - Joseph W. McMichael and Willie Marie Bryan

Joseph Walker McMichael and Willie Marie Bryan, ca. 1940 [1]

Yesterday, I posted the obituary of Joseph Walker McMichael.[2] I wanted to add a photo, but checked my digital files and did not find one. It wasn't until after I posted the obituary that I thought to look in my paper files. Julia McMichael Brittain (1942-2018) sent me copies of the above photo and much more in 1999.[3] 

This chart shows the relationship between Willie Marie

and my family. Julia, Willie Marie's grandaughter, was 

my third cousin-once-removed on my father's Bryan

side of the family. [5]

I knew how Willie Marie was connected to my Bryan family; however, until this morning, I had completely forgotten that Joseph Walker McMichael was connected to my Giddens family. 

Julia was my first source of information for both my Giddens and Bryan families when I began my research. She answered my genealogical query on the old Genforum in 1998 after my mother asked me to try to find something on my "new Internet" about her Giddens family. [4] Julia responded and sent me a large envelope containing an indexed descendants report of my Giddens family. 

George Lullen Giddens, a Merchant from North Carolina

According to his Confederate service record, George Lullen Giddens was tall (6'1/2"), earned his living as a merchant, and was born in Wayne County, North Carolina. 

George was born on September 12, 1840.  His parents were Mitchell Giddens and Letisha Britt. The 1840 census places the Mitchell Giddens family as living in the Buck Swamp District of Wayne County. Mitchell was a shoemaker and the son of John Giddens and his wife, Sally. Letisha was the daughter of William C. Britt and Patience Bell. 

In 1850, the Giddens family was living in Duplin County and it was reported that on December 18, 1852, Mitchell Giddens, father of George, died. His burial place is currently unknown. George had siblings John William, Sarah Jane, James Thomas, Patience Elizabeth, Henry Clay, David Crockett, Mary Susan, Bryant Rustus (also seen as Rustus Westly), and Sophia Alice. 

Was Louis D. Giddens' Genealogy Research Preserved?

Charles A. Giddens
1865-1958
Charles was born in Giddensville, 
graduated from Jonesboro High School, 
worked as a postmaster in Giddensville, 
worked as a milkman in NYC, 
and owned stores in Crew VA, 
Phillipsburg NJ, and St. Louis MO. 
Before he retired to Sedalia MO, he
purchased and ran a hotel in Edinburg TX. 

The letter below is a transcription of a letter written in 1952 by my great-grandfather, Charles Allen Giddens. The letter was written to his half-sister, Lena Letisha Giddens Byrd who was looking for family information. The letter was dated June 7, 1952. Lina passed away on August 20 of that same year. 

In the letter, Charles mentions talking to Louis Giddens of Goldsboro, North Carolina several years prior to this letter.  Louis's hobby was genealogy.  

On page 243 of The Heritage of Wayne County, North Carolina, Arthur Fountain Smoot wrote about the Giddens family. His sources were L. D. Giddens Sr.'s diaries, L. D. Giddens family Bible, Goldsboro newspapers and personal interviews. 

Louis D. Giddens, Sr. died in 1909. Where can I find Louis Giddens' Bible, diaries, and other research? 

June 7- 52

Dear Lina your letter of 1 / 2 received    Glad to hear from you and to learn where your Fla residence is located.  My son Charles lives at Hollywood Fla which is not far from your place.  We were down to see him and Louise his wife in 1946. That was before we left St. Louis for Tex.  We were in Florida in 1928 and in 1939 and covered both east and west Fla, but in 46 we went by Deland , Sanford, Orlando Kissin then Okeechobie then around the lake.  Then on down to Hollywood.  We had quite a trip.  Geneology or family tree you wrote about I know a little which I learned from Louis Giddens of Goldsboro several years ago I knew nothing until he mentioned it to me that was his hobby.  The first known to come to this country were from Wales and they came over with lord Baltimore and landed in Baltimore, Md.  One of them drifted down to N.C. Wayne County and married a Miss Taylor I think her first name was Mary.  The next I know anything about was our grandfather Mitchell and his brother which was Louis Giddens' father both married sisters whos names was Britts.  Our grandmother was Laticha or something like that.  This is where you branch off and drop all except the Mitchell branch.  I was born Nov 22nd1865 at Giddensville Sampson Co NC You can get sisters history from Hugh and Pearl she was about two years younger than I.  My children are all dead but two Charles and Edith I do not know where Edith is Charles may be able to tell you if you write him his address is Hollywood Box 1042 Fla. Lucy my first wife was borned in Vermont and about three months younger than I, her last name was Glenn. Our great-grandfather was married when he was quite old and had two sons George Britt one of the boys used to visit us at Giddensville and we went to dances together around the Holliday.  He was about three or four years older than I was, he was a good sport.  Let me hear from you often and come to see us sometime.                           Love and best wishes                                Charles and Stella Giddens                                2005 E. Broadway Sedalia, MO. Charles A. Giddens wrote, "The first known to come to this country were from Wales and they came over with lord Baltimore and landed in Baltimore, Md.  One of them drifted down to N.C. Wayne County and married a Miss Taylor I think her first name was Mary.  The next I know anything about was our grandfather Mitchell and his brother which was Louis Giddens' father both married sisters whos names was Britts." My great-grandfather's story is similar to the one found in The Heritage of Wayne County, North Carolina (1982). Arthur Fountain Smoot wrote, "John Giddens was born in Maryland in 1755 and moved to Dobbs County in 1770 where he married Sarah Taylor."   My research shows that John fought in the American Revolution and received land in Wayne and Duplin Counties. At the time of his death in 1802, John lived in Wayne County. He and his wife had eight children. As described in the letter, two sons married Britt sisters. David married Sophia Britt and Mitchell married Letisha Britt. Louis D. Giddens was the son of David and Charles Giddens was the grandson of Mitchell.  Information about others mentioned in the letter can be found below.  Charles Allen Giddens was the son of Luellen Bradshaw and George L. Giddens and was born in Giddensville, Sampson County, North Carolina. His first wife was Mary Lucy Glynn and his second wife,  Estella Moyer Rosenberger. He mentioned his grandfather, Mitchell Giddens who was married to Letisha Britt (George Britt was her half-brother). Edith Giddens Davis Charles William Giddens His son, Charles William Giddens was living in Hollywood, Florida with his wife, Louise.  His daughter (and my grandmother), Edith Giddens Davis, was living in New York at the time he wrote the letter. Charles mentioned his nephew, Hugh, son of Frances "Frankie" Giddens and Warren Harper. Hugh and his wife, Pearl, lived in Texas.

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

© 2019

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn

“The Heritage of Wayne County, North Carolina, 1982: Wayne County Heritage Book Committee: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive.” https://archive.org/details/WayneCountyHeritageFamilyHistories/page/n249. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

#52ancestors Post Nineteen: Drucilla Rhodes - Learning about my 3rd Great-Grandmother on Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!

I spent a little of today (and yesterday) learning about my 3rd great-grandmother, Drucilla Rhodes. We each have 16 third great-grandmothers and Drucilla is one of eight I am able to identify. 

I am a descendant of Drucilla from my mother's Giddens family, this is how Drucilla is connected to me. 

Drucilla Rhodes married Edmond Bradshaw

Luellen Bradshaw married George Giddens

Charles Giddens married Mary Lucy Glynn

My Grandmother

My Mother

Me

I have seen Drucilla's name written as Drucilla, Drusilla, and Druzilla. And, have seen three different Drusilla Rhodes in the same area of North Carolina. The names may be the same, but the approxmate ages help to sort them into the correct families. 

Sunday's Obituary: Charles Allen Giddens

Found at Newspapers.com - Click here to view. 

Charles A. Giddens was my great-grandfather. The father of my grandmother, Edith. This obituary contains a few errors and didn't tell the whole story.  

Charles was the son of George L. Giddens and Luellen Bradshaw and was born in Giddensville, Sampson County, NC. George L. Giddens married Sarah Rich after the death of his first wife in 1890.  

In North Carolina, Charles worked in his father's store and was once postmaster in Giddensville. 

By 1891, Charles was in New York City where he delivered milk. He married Mary Lucy Glynn, my great-grandmother in Manhattan on March 31, 1891. 

By October of 1891, the Giddens family was living in Crew, Virginia where he owned or co-owned a dry goods and shoe store.

He left Crew, Virginia in 1894 and moved to Phillipsburg, New Jersey where he worked as a laborer in one of the many factories. 

From about 1898 and 1920, he owned a dry goods store in Phillipsburg . Around  1920, he divorced his first wife and in 1922, married Estella Moyer Rosenburger.  They relocated to St. Louis, Missouri where he opened a clothing store. 

Around 1946, Charles Giddens and family left Missouri to settle in Edinburg, Texas where Charles and Estella opened a hotel - The Giddens Hotel. 

By 1952, Charles was retired and living in Sedalia, Missouri where he died at the age of 92. 

Charles was preceded in death by his children Elizabeth, Warren, Florence, John, and Georgie. Edith, my grandmother, was living in New York and his son Charles lived in Florida.  Mrs. Roy Wilhite was his step-daughter - Margarette Rosenburger Wilhite. 

Diana

© 2012

Sunday's Obituary: Frances Giddens Harper

Mission Memorial Park, San Antonio, Texas - Picture taken August 2011

Harper – Died Sunday, October 7, at the home, 410 Mary St., Mrs. Frankie Harper, aged 66 years beloved wife of Warren J. Harper; mother of Hugh E., W. V., and Chas.T. Harper, and Mrs. Lora E. Earney. Funeral services will be held at Riebe Undertaking Co. chapel this (Monday) afternoon, 4 o’clock, by Rev. Baxter D. Greer. Interment in Mission Burial Park.

                                           San Antonio Express – October 9, 1934

Frances "Frankie" Giddens Harper, born in Sampson County, NC, was the daughter of George L. Giddens and his first wife, Luellen Bradshaw. The Harper family left their home in Duplin County, NC between 1900 and 1910 to move to Christine, Texas.  After 1910, Frankie's father, George L. Giddens, left N.C. to live with his daughter's family in Texas. George died in 1914 and the family later settled in San Antonio. 

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn

Sunday's Obituary: James Thomas Giddens

The obituary for James Thomas Giddens, brother to my great-great grandfather, George Lullen Giddens. He was the son of Mitchell Giddens and Letisha Britt of Sampson County, North Carolina.

J. T. Giddens, of Durham

Correspondence of The Observer

Durham, Aug. 19 – Mr. J. T. Giddens, for more than fifteen years clerk of the city market, died suddenly last night between 9 and 10 o’clock at his home on West Main street. Heart trouble was the cause of his sudden end. Mr. Giddens was as well as usual prior to his death. He went home from the market in his usual good humor and cheerfulness.  He at a hearty supper and sat on the front porch with his wife until nearly 9:30.  A few minutes later he was taken with a violent coughing spell and complained that he could not breathe.  He went to the porch again and sat in a chair. Ten minutes later he was a corpse. 

Mr. Giddens was about 70 years of age and came to Durham from Sampson county little more than 20 years ago. Soon after coming here he was appointed market clerk and during the many upheavls and changes in officers he held his position.  He was married twice, his first wife being Mrs. Frances Turner. Of this union there are eight living children, two sons (one in Florida and the other in Georgia) and six daughters. Two of the daughters reside here. His second wife was Miss Mattie Nichols, who survives him.  He has three brothers – George Giddens, of Dunn; Henry Giddens, of Sampson County, and R. Giddens, of Arkansas. Also one sister, Mrs. Sallie Bradsher {Bradshaw}, of Dunn, survives. The funeral and burial took place this afternoon, the funeral service being conducted from the home at 4:30 o’clock by Rev. M. Bradshaw, pastor of Main Street Methodist church, of which Mr. Giddens was a member, assisted by Dr. J. C. Kilgo, President of Trinity College.

                                                             Charlotte Observer August 21, 1908

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn