Bloomingdale Bros & Co - 1847 in North Carolina

Rev. John L. Clifton, guardian for Robert Craddock

Rev. John L. Clifton, guardian for Lorene Strickland

When looking for family in the John L. Clifton Papers found at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University, I copied non-family items that interested me. Seeing Bloomingdale Bros & Co. on these receipts piqued my interest, and I added them to my collection.[1] Did John L. Clifton purchase fabric and other items for the children from Bloomingdales of NYC? 

He did not. Bloomingdales, as we know it, was not established until more than 20 years after these receipts were written.[2] So, who were these Bloomingdale brothers? 

John L. Clifton was found living in the Northern Division of Sampson County in 1850, but no Bloomingdales were found in Sampson County.[3] 

Emmanuel Bloomingdale, a merchant, was living in the North Division of Duplin County on 6 August 1850 when enumerated on the 1850 census.[4] However, he relocated very soon after this enumeration. On 17 September 1850, Emmanuel and his family were enumerated on the 1850 census in the 17th Ward in New York City.[5]

  

No other Bloomingdales were found on the 1850 census of Duplin County, but Jacob Bloomingdale was found as the postmaster in 1847 in the town of Faison Depot in Duplin County - not terribly far from John L. Clifton's home in the Northern Division of Sampson County.[6] 

Emmanuel spent the remainder of his years in New York. At one point, he was a merchant selling "Fancy Paper."[7] I was unable to positively identify Jacob Bloomingdale in any document beyond the postal record. 

Jacob and Emmanuel appear to be the most likely candidates for the Bloomingdale Brothers; however, there may have been others, and there is definitely more to learn. I will leave it up to Bloomingdale researchers to finish this story. 

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 

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

    2. "Our History," Bloomingdales (https://www.bloomingdales.com/b/about-us/history/ : accessed 27 August 2023).

    3. "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BV-8X3 : Tue Jul 18 02:14:59 UTC 2023), Entry for John L Clifton and Anna Clifton, 1850.

    4. "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4B9-MC1 : Mon Jul 17 22:58:57 UTC 2023), Entry for Emanuel Bloomingdale and Francis Bloomingdale, 1850.

    5. "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCBN-4WQ : Tue Jul 18 00:05:03 UTC 2023), Entry for Robert Leggett and Mary A Leggett, 1850.

    6. "North Carolina Postmark Catalog Update," North Carolina Postal History (http://dev.ncpostalhistory.com/resources/north-carolina-postmark-catalog-update/ : accessed 27 August 2023) > Duplin County.

    7. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch 

(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCH7-YPT : Tue Jul 18 01:45:52 UTC 2023), Entry for Emanuel Bloomingdale and Fanny Bloomingdale, 1860. Also, "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WXQ-YH5 : 3 June 2020), Emanuel Bloomingdal, 1899.

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.

Friday's Photo: A Giddens Family Picture - 1914

This photo, probably taken in Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina, is that of some members of the family of Lewis Devereux Giddens Sr. and his wife Margaret Ireland Giddens. The photo was taken in 1914. Lewis died in 1909. 

Lewis Devereux Giddens Sr.
1835-1909

Margaret Louisa Ireland
1841-1915

Above is Dr. Marvin Leroi Smoot Sr., his wife, Margaret Louisa Giddens, and his sons. Marvin Leroi Smoot Jr. is on the bicycle, and James Ross Smoot is the baby. Daughter, Margaret Virginia Smoot is pictured on the right and can be seen sitting next to her grandmother in the photo at the top of the page. Margaret Louisa Giddens was the daughter of Lewis D. and Margaret Ireland Giddens.

Mary Emma Giddens, daughter of Lewis D. and 

Margaret Ireland Giddens

Ross Ireland Giddens, son of Lewis D. and 

Margaret Ireland Giddens

Merle Louise Weaver, daughter of Eliza Newton Giddens and 

Robert E. Weaver and granddaughter of Lewis D. and 

Margaret Ireland Giddens

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 

"Giddens Family Photo," photograph, 1914; scanned image, original photograph from the privately-held collection of Kathryn Ryan, NC, 2022.

kgrijfh, "Ryan,"private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 3 October 2022. 

Friday's Photo: A Sampson County Family

The scans of the above photos were generously shared with me by a Giddens researcher whose family descends from Henry Benjamin Giddens and his wife, Margaret Jane Vann.[1]

Identified were Margaret Jane Vann and Henry Benjamin Giddens, seated on the far right. No other persons were identified. Confirming Margaret and Henry's identity was easy as their photos are attached to their shared cemetery stone.[2] 

The second photo indicates a family relationship. And, the manner of dress for young and old alike shows that this wasn't just any family gathering. I suspect a funeral. 

The group in the photo was thought to be a Giddens or Britt family of Sampson County, North Carolina, but Margaret Jane Vann's large family of Lisbon in Sampson County should not be ruled out as a likely candidate. Margaret Jane Vann was the daughter of Kedar Vann and Louisa Robinson, and according to Kedar Vann's obituary, Margaret had at least eight siblings.[3] 

Left - This man resembles a photo of Preston Stewart Vann. 

Right - This man resembles a photo of Dallas Herring.

Investigation of Margaret's siblings led to the possible identification of two men seen in both photos. Photos of Preston Stewart Vann, Margaret's younger brother, and Dallas Herring, husband of Margaret's sister, Mary, were found by searching Ancestry.com's All Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents. These found photos strongly resemble the two men pictured above. I do not have permission to post the images found at Ancestry, but source number four below this post contains links accessible to those with memberships.[4] 

The young women's clothing and hairstyles date the photo to just after 1900.[5] 

If I am correct in the identification of Dallas Herring, the photo would have to have been taken before his death date of 20 December 1910. If my identification of Dallas Herring is not correct, we know that the last possible date for the photo would be Margaret Vann Giddens' death date of 5 September 1918.[6] 

I have enlarged and cropped portions of the larger photo for better viewing and identification. If you have this photo or can identify others in the image, please contact me by commenting on this page or through my Facebook page. 

Don't Blame Ancestry. Look Carefully at the Facts You Add to Henry Benjamin Giddens' Profile (Or Any Other Profile) in Your Online Family Tree.

Margaret Jane Vann and Henry Benjamin Giddens[1]

My last post, Gathering Giddens: David Giddens and Sophia Britt of Wayne and Sampson Counties in North Carolina, took me down an unexpected path. I spent much time looking at Henry Benjamin Giddens, David and Sophia's son, as so many online family trees and other sites show that he was the son of Mitchell Giddens and Letisha Britt (my third-great-grandparents).[2] 

David and Mitchell Giddens were brothers, and Sophia and Letisha Britt were sisters.[3] Both couples named a son named Henry. And both families lived in close proximity to one another.[4]  

David and Sophia's son was Henry Benjamin Giddens, born in 1833. Mitchell and Letisha's son was Henry Clay Giddens, born about 1844.[5]

The families of the two Henry Giddens as seen in my online family tree.[6]

I knew that Henry Benjamin must be the son of David and probably Sophia, but I wanted to show documentation in my online trees. Wanting to understand why this error occurred, I decided to concentrate on Ancestry's trees as Ancestry is my go-to site and had the largest number of online trees for this family.

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, Another Son Who Moved from North Carolina to Alabama

In my mind, I imagined the Giddens brothers living and working together in Alabama. Knowing that Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob lived in the southern portion of Alabama, I was surprised to find John Giddens in Madison County. John's home, Madison County, is at the top of the state and borders Tennessee. Isaac and Abraham first lived in Conecuh County bordering Florida. Abraham later moved to nearby Monroe County. Jacob lived in Barbour County bordering Georgia and marked by the circle on the right.[1]

John Giddens is another Giddens who is thought to be the son of John Giddens, a planter and early settler, in Wayne County, North Carolina. There is no direct evidence showing John as a son of the senior Giddens, but a few documents do provide some convincing indirect evidence. In 1800, the census showed two males living in the senior John Giddens' home between the ages of 16 and 26. The younger John is thought to be one of those males as he was not named a minor in the senior John's probate file in 1802. This would give young John a birth year of no later than 1784.[2]

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, a Planter in North Carolina

This land transaction shows the only record of John's occupation, a planter. [1]

I first started researching the Giddens family in 1998. My mother's mother, Edith Giddens, was a descendant of Mitchell Giddens, the youngest son of John Giddens and his wife, Sarah.  

Much documented and undocumented information is found when searching for John Giddens on genealogy websites. In this post, I will highlight some of the conflicts and some of the many documents that tell about John and his family.

 

John Giddens vs. John Jacob Giddens

When John died in 1802, he had at least 1000 acres of land and a large inventory of other items, as well as a wife and eight children.[2] John's name can be found in many records both before and after his death. In all records I have seen, his name is written with no middle name or initial. 

Sometime in the last decade, his name began to appear as John Jacob Giddens in family trees at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and other sites. In October 2021, there were 162 trees at Ancestry for this John Giddens, father of Mitchell and other children. John Giddens is his name in 90 trees and John Jacob Giddens in 72 trees. In those 72 trees, there were no documents showing that his name was John Jacob Giddens.[3] 

The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County, North Carolina during the 18th and early 19th centuries - compiled by Dr. Howard V. Jones

In June 2000, my father and I traveled to
Williamston to visit the Martin County
courthouse to view the deed records and get a
few specific records for Dennis and Howard.
This was my first time looking at courthouse
records. I was clueless and thankful the
women working at the courthouse were
so patient.

Reddick Bryan
1793-1864

As I began my search for my great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan, I was assisted by two very experienced, thoughtful genealogists. First, J. Dennis Bryant of Georgia who found Reddick Bryan in Martin County, North Carolina deed records. Second, Dr. Howard V. Jones of Iowa who was a descendant of a Martin County Bryan family. I never met either of these men, but through phone conversations and other correspondence, both showed me the importance of the exhaustive research needed to produce evidence-based conclusions. 

From Howard and Dennis, I also learned the value of land records and other documents found in deed books. And, they encouraged me to take my first genealogy trip to the courthouse in Martin County, North Carolina to find additional deed records.

In early 2000, through correspondence, I introduced Howard and Dennis. They shared documents and the next year, Howard sent me a wonderful 37-page document titled The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This document is a compilation of Howard's research and information shared with him. This is an invaluable tool if you are researching Bryans in North Carolina, especially near Martin, Halifax, and Edgecombe Counties.

Howard Vallance Jones
1922-2013

Using deed records and wills, Howard shows possible relationships of these Bryan families. Howard wrote that there is much speculation in this document and all should not be confused as fact. One example of the speculation is Howard placing Reddick as a son to James Bryan on page 19. This is not proven; however, Howard gives me a good place to begin my research. Look at the land records related to Reddick and his thought-to-be family. Researching these other Bryans, neighbors, or even witnesses on deed records may give me some new family information.

Howard asks questions and makes very helpful comments throughout this document. I use a copy of The Bryan Puzzle to make notes and add information when researching North Carolina Bryans. Download a copy of The Bryan Puzzle by clicking on this link. 

Dr. Howard Vallance Jones, Jr., 91, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died May 17, 2013. Click here to see his obituary. 

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

© 2020

Sources

Family photographs from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn

The Bryan Puzzle, a study of the Bryan families living in Martin County, North Carolina during the 18th and early 19th centuries - compiled by Dr. Howard V. Jones, Jr.  Used with permission. 

The Other Reddick Bryans

My great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan. Born 1793 in North Carolina, he
lived in Georgia before moving to Bienville Parish, Louisiana in 1838.
He remained in Bienville Parish until his death in 1864.
This drawing is copied from an early photo of Reddick Bryan and was
found in the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. The artist is unknown. 

There are two men from North Carolina who are often confused with my great-great-grandfather, Reddick Bryan, in online family trees. The title to my post is a little deceiving as these men weren't actually named Reddick Bryan. 

Redick O'Bryan was said to have come from Chatham County in North Carolina and by 1815, when married to Elizabeth Bourland, he was living in Hopkins County, Kentucky. His parents were said to be Thomas O'Bryan and Sylvania Frances Copeland. Both born about 1760 and said to be from Chatham County. Redick O'Bryan died and was buried in Hopkins County, Kentucky in 1879. 

Riddick Bryan of Northhampton County, North Carolina is sometimes seen as Reddick Bryan, but most documents indicate it was Riddick. He was born about 1810 and can be found living in Northampton County until his death sometime around 1888.  He married Charity Bryan in 1833 and Sarah Bryan in 1864. 

Although I cannot find any documents connecting these three men, it does not mean they were not connected. Very little can be found about my great-grandfather while he lived in North Carolina. From deed records, I know he lived in Martin County before moving to Georgia.  However, I have found no other information as many records were lost in two Martin County Courthouse fires prior to 1900.  

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

© 2017

Sources

Ancestry.com. "Public Member Trees." Web. 14 Jan. 2017. <http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx>.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.


Martin County, North Carolina Genealogy Genealogy - FamilySearch Wiki. Web. 1 Mar. 2017. <https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Martin_County,_North_Carolina_Genealogy>.

Friday's Photo: Edith Giddens

This is my grandmother, Edith Giddens Davis. I assume that this is when she was still single as she looks so young.  Born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Charles A. Giddens from Giddensville, NC and Mary Lucy Glynn from Putney, Vermont. 

Diana

© 2012

Friday's Photo: Honoring Those Who Served

Charles William Giddens 1911

Charlies William Giddens was born on December 2, 1892 in Crew, Virginia. He was my great-uncle, brother to my grandmother, Edith, and the son of Charles Allen Giddens and Mary Lucy Glynn. I met him shortly before he died. We called him Uncle Charlie. During WWI, he served in the Army and was wounded in France. During WWII, he wanted to rejoin the Army, but was to old. The Navy accepted him as a gunnery instructor. My mother remembers Charlie coming to visit her family in New York to tell her mother that he was selling his home and that he and his wife would move from New Jersey to Florida where he was stationed. He remained in Florida until his death on May 20, 1972. 

Charles Giddens at age 18 (left)

American Casualties in Fighting on the French Front
The Washington Post: Wednesday, December 4, 1918

Charles W. Giddens (left) during the 1940s

Charles W. Giddens 1940s

Diana

© 2012, copyright Diana Quinn