April is National Procrastination Month

kickingmyself AND…I don’t even think that’s right, but I’ve put off looking it up. Fitting, right?

Anywho..it’s been a while since I’ve posted. But life gets in the way of pleasure. However, I have purchased (finally!!) the Spencelowry.com domain. It was off limits for a while and I had to settle for the previously owned spence-lowry.com…which I hated. Who knew you could hate a dash so much. But, your domain name is like your internet home and I’m happy to finally have the one I’ve wanted.

In the spirit of procrastination, I’ve been procrastinating a lot lately. As stated early, life has gotten in the way and whenever I get down time, I just don’t want to think about anything. My grandfather contacted me 6 months ago about an event going on at Albermarle Museum. He gave me the name and number of a person attending and hosting part of the event. Well..that was some time in November and I was preparing for my husband’s deployment. I just didn’t have the time to give it my attention. But, I wrote down the info and saved it for a later date.

Well, today was the later date. My dad called me yesterday to tell me to call my grandfather about the museum. I even put off that call. Then my grandfather called me the next day (TODAY!) about it. SOOOOO…I finally fought my procrastination and called the number from 6 MONTHS AGO. and now is the moment in which I kick myself….

This man is related to William Jordan Thornton and has information on my ancestor Cora Alpenia Howard. You know…the same one I’ve been trying to find info on for…idk…a few years now. {insert mind blowing meme here….yeah}. Lets just say…I was just blown away at what he was able to tell me about Cora. Although I may have been relatively small information, just knowing another African American person is researching my county (Pasquotank) was enough to get me excited. I mean..I was excited AM excited (hence the post today).

Just imagine if I would have done this sooner! UGH!

Back up and running.

I’ve been able to get my blog pointing back to http://blog.spence-lowry.com.  I don’t know what I did to my DNS…but I jacked it up.  Now it’s back working..WOOHOO.

So, new developments.  I’ve been asked to be editor of the Family Research Society’s quarterly newsletter.  I’m currently the webmaster for their site.  But, being editor..WHOA.   I know I won’t have the time.  So, the president, Sharon Gable, suggested being co-editor with the current editor.  Hmmm..that could work. 

Family research has been slow lately.  Kind of hit roadblocks with every turn.  I hadn’t blogged about them because I keep hoping for the ‘AH HA’ finding to write about…so sad.

Planning the family reunion is TIME CONSUMING to say the least! I’m doing it alone and there is alot to do!

I know I’ve missed several of the Carnival of African American Genealogy!!! Ugh!! I hate that!  I swear I can’t find time in my day *cries*. 

About Mount Carmel Baptist Church.  My first thought for the church was how upsetting!! That has been the church that many of my ancestors and current family members were raised.  I have uncles and cousins who are deacons at that church. 

Then on the flip side, the family researcher in me just kept thinking..WHAT ABOUT THE RECORDS????? *sigh*.  Unfortunately, when I spoke with the secretary last year, she said that she didn’t know about any records.  I was hoping to find information about Great Great Grandfathers sister, Cora Alphenia Howell.  She got married in that church in 1955 and hoping to find more information about her.  I know she had children and one daughter was named Inez.  *sigh*

Who’s ready for the 2012?? I’m ready to see the 1940 census!!!

Surnames I’m Researching

I know I’m late but I’m trying to catch up. But, a few weeks ago, other blogger began posting the surnames their researching. I believe Geneablogie was the first one (I got a Note from him on Facebook).

For those of you who don’t know, the surnames that I’m researching are listed on the right side. I try and tag my blogs with the surnames I’m writing about.

Pasquotank County, North Carolina

  • Spence
  • Lowry/Laurie/Lowery/Laury/Lowrey
  • Banks
  • Williams
  • Ferebee/Ferbee
  • Howell
  • McPherson

Camden County, North Carolina

  • McCoy
  • Spence (Want to see if the African-American Spence’s of Camden are related to the Pasquotank Spence’s)

Family Profile: William Lowry/Lowery/Laury/Lowrey

For the sake of blogging, I’m only going to use one variation of the last name.

William M. LOWRY was born abt 1871. When I was researching him in the beginning, I only found him on the 1900 Census living with his wife Harriett (BANKS) and their children, Annie P (B: 1892), Maggie (B: 1893), George T. (B: 1894), Rosa J. (B: 1895), Martha A (B: 1899). I knew he had to be on earlier census that listed William. So, I did what any good amateur genealogist would do. I searched Ancestry.com by soundex.

That’s when I came across a William LOWERY and his wife Ann in Newland, Pasquotank, NC on the 1880 Census. This LOWERY was born abt 1820 in VA and I knew he couldn’t be the LOWRY I was looking for. He was much too old. In their home were grandsons of Issaac BOYKIN (B: abt 1868), William BARKER (B: abt 1871) and Alfred FEREBEE (B: abt 1875).

I started researching this William LOWERY and his wife Ann. On the 1870 Census, he’s listed as Wm LOWRY (B: abt 1817). In his home is his wife Annie (B: abt 1816), daughter Martha (B: 1852) and son James L (B: 1854).

With help of FRSNNC, I was able to make some connections. William BARKER listed on the 1880 census with his grandfather William LOWERY, is probably my William LOWRY. They are the same age. Considering that the elder LOWERY had a daughter old enough to have a child of his age. I began to think of the term ‘throw away baby’ and maybe my ancestor was the product of that. It’s possible that by the time he married, he decided to take the last name of his grandparents.

What I have been able to confirm is:

  • My great aunt said that William Lowry (B: 1871) had a younger sister named Cora that married Jordan Thornton. Was able to find a marriage certificate for Cora Alphenia HOWARD age 69 and Jordan THORNTON age 71. Her parents are listed as James HOWELL and Martha LAURY Howell. (NOTE: I did the genealogical happy dance when I got this death certificate!)
  • My aunt also told me that Cora lived in Washington DC when she met her in the 40’s or 50’s.
  • Martha LOWRY married James HOWELL about 1877. I know this b/c in 1880 she’s living with her husband and children. The oldest being 3.

Cora is the link to help with this line of my family. Now, I’m looking for a death certificate.

Happy Sleuthing…..