New Year's Baby Joseph Norman 1955-1987 #52Ancestors #52

Joseph Wilburn Norman was the New Year's Baby in Birmingham, Alabama in 1955. He was the son of John and Dorothy Phillips Norman.

Dorothy almost named him Samuel, but as soon as she found out he was the New Year's Baby, she instantly knew she would name him Joseph.

Joseph was welcomed at home by his older brother, John David. They were inseparable.

Joe was raised in a super clean environment. This was in the 50's when everything was boiled, bleached, or Lysoled. (Much unlike my own home). The first time he was ever put on the floor, he got up and walked.

Joe made up for lost time out in the woods and fields. The two boys were always into something. During the summer they would come in so dirty, Dorothy would have them strip at the back door and wash off with the hosepipe (yeah, this is Alabama, it's a hosepipe).

Joe was once building a treehouse and he managed to hang himself with a rope. David and Dorothy were working in the garden nearby. Dorothy happened to see him hanging and cleared a fence by putting one hand on a post and leaping over, and was able to rescue Joe before it was too late.

When Joe was small, about 1 1/2, he was hospitalized to have his tonsils taken out. David had sympathy pains and laid in bed until his brother came home.

Joe was a prankster and absolutely LOVED firecrackers...maybe it had something to do with being the "New Year's Baby".

Joe was married twice, first to Robin. They divorced after a year.
Joe married Sheree and they had two children, Joey and Melanie. (I'm not using last names here since all parties are still living).

Joe worked in the oil fields, mainly around Zachary, Louisiana.

Sheree and Joe eventually broke up. Joe fully embraced the bachelor life. He liked to party, to put it mildly.

Joe died December 29, 1987 on Interstate 65 in Evergreen, Alabama. He and a friend were on the way to Florida. It was a spur of the minute trip, and both were roaring drunk. Joe was thrown from the car, and died instantly. His friend survived.

Joe had always told us he wanted to donate his body to science, so that's what happened. We donated his body to University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Joe has a marker next to his mother in the Phillips Cemetery, Little River, Baldwin, Alabama.
Rest In Peace Joe.

Relatives With Facial Hair- Saturday Night Genealogy Fun-#52Ancestors #43

Since I'm running behind on my 52Ancestors, I'm going to cheat and combine it with Randy Seaver's
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

From Randy's blog:
Your mission this week, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music!) , is:

1)  This week we're going to look for men's facial hair in our photograph collection.

2)  Find one or more photographs of men in your ancestral families that have facial hair - a mustache and/or a beard.  

3)  Show the photograph if you have it and tell us a bit about the person shown.   If you don't have a digital photograph, please describe the man and his facial hair the best you can.

4)  Write your own blog post, or a comment to this blog post, or a comment on Facebook or Google+.

Here we go!

First off, may I present Thomas Norman born January 31, 1809 in Cullompton, Devonshire. He was the father of 9 children. He was a flax grower and later rented out new fangled threshing machines.

Thomas Norman 1809-1897

His oldest son, Thomas, was born in Devon October 13, 1832. He immigrated to the US in 1852. He first lived in Ohio, and then moved to South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

Thomas Norman 1832-1918

His brother John, who happens to be my husband's great grandfather, went with a mustache. He was born August 13, 1837 in Kentisbeare, Devon and came to the US with his brother Thomas in 1852.

John Norman 1837-1910

Descendants of the above John, still rocking the facial hair:

Deandra Stanley Norman 1981-2014 #52Ancestors #18

My beautiful daughter-in-law Deandra was born April 6, 1981 in Alabama and died in a tragic car accident May 3, 2014 near Calistoga, California. She was on the hospitality staff for Charles Krug Winery in Napa, California and worked in the tasting room at Casa Nuestra Winery and Vineyard.

She married John Dewayne Norman October 9, 2005 at Okaloosa Island, Florida. While they were living in Destin, Deandra worked for +Beach Walk Cafe, +Marina Cafe, and +Cuvee Bistro.

This is the tribute video I made for her.

We love you Deandra. Heaven has a special angel.



Deandra Stanley Norman, 33, of Bessemer, passed away May 3, 2014 in Calistoga, California. Deandra was employed by Casa Nuestra Winery and Vineyard in the tasting room, and was on the event staff at Charles Krug Winery in Napa, California. Deandra was a former resident of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and was employed by Beach Walk Cafe, Marina Cafe, and Cuvee Bistro in Destin.
Deandra's smile and personality lit up the world around her. She was an Alabama football fan, snowboarder, golfer, pool shark, wife, friend, gluten free foodie, and a delight to be around.
Deandra was the daughter of the late Carol Black, and is survived by her husband John, brother David (Emily), fathers Ronald Stanley (Betty) and Jerry Black, grandparents Fred and Dale Thrasher, stepbrother Joe Phelps and stepsister Tamika O'Neal, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law David and Beverly Norman, devoted friends, and her beloved dog Bella and goat Happy. Services will be held Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 with visitation beginning at noon. Burial will be at Patterson Forest Grove. - See more at: http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?n=Deandra-Norman&pid=171034836

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle,and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up , and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised . 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.


Proverbs 31:10-31

Sibling Saturday-George and Martha Allie Walker-Birmingham, Alabama

Martha Allie Walker was born March 31, 1880. Her brother George Milton Walker was born November, 1881 in Pickensville, Pickens, Alabama.

They were orphaned at an early age. Their mother died in April of 1895 in Birmingham, Alabama. Their father had died some time earlier. Martha went to live with her half sister, Elizabeth Carver Sanders, wife of James Monroe Sanders. Oral family history says he was "a sorry, mean man. Martha Allie hated him with a passion". 

Martha married John Henry Norman October 20, 1897 in Birmingham.

George lied about his age, and went to fight in the Spanish-American War. In the 1900 census, he is found in Samar Island, Philippines with the 29th Infantry as a "Musician". He states his date of birth as November, 1881. 

When George was discharged, he came back to Birmingham looking for his sister. The Norman family had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They went there for John to work in the steel mills as he was an iron worker.  George had no idea where they were. George moved to San Francisco, California. He worked as an elevator operator. He met and married Susan Edwards about 1908. Susan died in childbirth with their first child.

There is a happy ending though

Reunion of sister and brother after 28 years

George traveled back to Birmingham 28 years later. Oral history says he knocked on the door and asked if Martha Allie Walker lived there.  She was extremely surprised and glad to see him.

Martha died April 21, 1948 in Birmingham. George died November 30 1955 in Los Angeles, California.

Wednesday's Child- Rolland Fenner Abbott of Wilton, Muscatine, IA

Rolland was the son of Frank Stafford Abbott and Mary Lenoria Norman Abbott. He was born May 26, 1899 and died December 16, 1976. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilton, Muscatine County, Iowa. He was the husband of Zella L. Noble.

WE SHOULD HAVE INHERITED A FORTUNE!

Inspiration came from reading a blog by +James Tanner this morning, http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-more-things-change-more-they-stay.html

The original Norman family story, as told by Ray Norman:
Thomas Norman was wealthy before he died it was reported. He owned a farm referred to as Myrtle Cottage, St. Michael's Apiary, a bee farm, which produced honey for sale. The youngest son William possibly owned it. Thomas Norman (father) was said to also own twenty tenement houses in Tiverton and had 20,000 British pounds at his death. The conversion ratio from 1800's to today would probably be several million USD. 

Thomas Norman

Myrtle Cottage

Sometime before his death, James Norman sued his father Thomas for some unknown reason. James brother Thomas was mad over the matter. Thomas was the oldest son and would ordinarily have been heir to the land which usually went to the oldest son. Before he passed on Thomas (father) wife died. 

Elizabeth Norman,  first wife of Thomas

Oral history has it that old Thomas married again and willed his property to the new wife. Some doubt that old Thomas could will the property to the new wife. This oral history also says that Thomas converted the holdings into cash and turned it all over to the wife at which time she left and never returned. There went the Normans millions legacy to some opportunistic trollop if true.

It is reported that some of the family went to Australia to become sheepherders but we have no information on those people. Since the writer has some expertise in golf we suggest that when the family emigrated in the 1800's the good golfers went to Canada and Mo Norman was one of the descendants. Greg Norman came from the Aussie branch and the hackers came from the following branch .

The following came from family historian Mary Norman Myers notes based on her biblical records and family oral history. She wrote this about 1980:
Sons of Thomas Norman in England-
Thomas Norman - who came to the US
John Henry Norman -who came to the US with Thomas. 

These two brothers lived in Ohio for a while and then moved to South Pittsburgh, TN.  John eventually moved to Birmingham, AL and Thomas as far as we know stayed in TN. 
The other Norman children were Sarah, Lucy and Priscilla who married and remained in England.
James Norman also remained in England and there was a William Norman who was blind and presumably remained in England also. 

Normans remaining in England

Thomas and John Henry had to work in the flax field for their father. One oral story is that the work was so strenuous and the household environment so bad that when the boys got to the end of a workday they laid down in the flax fields to sleep. There was no indication on how they were fed in the fields. 

The heavy work was one reason that they left home.  In 1853 they ran away from home and stowed away on a ship. The departure was to be a secret but when leaving they heard their mother crying.

On the voyage to the US they would have starved except some of the crew slipped scraps of food to them. We do not know where the ship arrived in the US but records may not have been kept for stow away.

Census records did indeed confirm John was from England, and we were able to trace back from Tennessee to Ohio.

The Ohio Genealogy Society provided the arrival of Thomas and John Henry who came from Liverpool to NYC arriving 11 March 1853 (hard to read the year, possibly 1852).Thomas, age 25, Male, Mechanic, from England and planned to become citizen of the US. John age 20, ditto.. (It doesn't seem like correct ages and may have been misstated, they would have been about five years younger.)

The ship is the Steamship Kangaroo, Capt. James Jeffrey.  Their accommodations appear to be the Fore Orlop Deck.
The Orlop deck was the lowest deck of a ship having at least four decks.

So much for the stowaway story.

Off to England: Kentisbeare baptisms
952 – Sep 24th 1837 John s. Thomas and Elisabeth from Aller wood Gate – a roper

Allerwood, Kentisbeare taken by Art Ames, 2008

Devon 1841
HO107/226/2 Folio4 Page3
Allerwood Gate
Kentisbeare

NORMAN Thomas 28 Y (yes born in the County) Rope Maker
NORMAN Elizabeth 30 Y
NORMAN Thomas 8 Y
NORMAN Sarah 5 Y
NORMAN John 3 Y
NORMAN James 1 Y

This is the 1851 census Tiverton, Devon
Thomas Norman abt 1809 Collumpton, Devon, England Head  rope manufacturer
Elizabeth Norman abt 1805 Bradnich, Devon, England Wife
John Norman abt 1838 Kentisbeer, Devon, England Son
James Norman abt 1840 Kentisbeer, Devon, England Son
William H Norman abt 1844 Kentisbeer, Devon, England Son
Priscilla R B Norman abt 1847 Cruwys Morchd, Devon, England Daughter
Lavera A M Norman abt 1850 Tiverton, Devon, England Daughter
Thomas Jr is not living with the family. He would have been about 19.
Sarah is working as a kitchen maid at Collipriest House for the widow Holway Carew, "Lady"

1861 Census      
Piece: RG9/1480 Place: Tiverton -Devon Enumeration District: 0
Civil Parish: Tiverton Ecclesiastical Parish: Clare Portrow
Folio: 64 Page: 1 Schedule: 4
Address: Quirkhill

Quirkhill Photo by David Smith   © Copyright David Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Surname   First name(s)   Rel   Status   Sex   Age   Occupation                      Where Born  
   NORMAN   Thomas   Head   M   M   52   Flax Scutcher Farmer Emp 2m    Devon - Cullompton      
   NORMAN   Elizth.       Wife   M    F   54                                                      Devon - Bradninch      
   NORMAN   Wm. H.     Son    U   M   17   Flax Scutcher                              Devon - Kentisbeare      
   NORMAN   Priscilla A  Dau    -     F    14                                                     Devon - Cruwys Morchard      
   NORMAN   Louisa A   Dau     -     F   11                                                      Devon - Tiverton    

Son James & his wife Sarah also at Quirkhill in 1861.
William is apparently not blind as he is employed as a flax scutcher (one who separated the husk from the flax fibers by holding it against rotating paddles)

Loders Dorset in 1871
Class RG10 Piece 2027 Folio 61 page 24
Civil parish Loders Dorset Reg District Bridport
Address Loders Street
Thomas Norman 62 head Flax merchant born Collumpton
Elizabeth 65 wife born Bradninch
Louisa A M 21 dau unmarried Born Tiverton

Post Office Directory of Hampshire, Wiltshire & Dorset, 1875
Dorset Page 930
Farmers--cont
Norman Thomas, Mangerton Mill, Melplash, Bridport

Page 823 Melplash
Norman Thos. farmer, Mangerton mill

Mangerton Mill
The copyright on this image is owned by ANDY FISH and is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

1881 England Census
Name: Thomas Norman
Age: 73
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1808
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: Cullompon, Devon, England

Civil Parish: Loders
County/Island: Dorset
Country: England
Yondover Street
Condition as to marriage: Married
Occupation: Flax Scutch... Agriculture Machinery

Registration district: Bridport
Sub-registration district: Burton Bradstock
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Norman 76
Thomas Norman 73

So far it looks like Thomas and Elizabeth were living to a ripe old age together. Thomas has progressed from  a rope maker. He was able to get in on the new technology of the steam powered threshing machine. He probably realized a nice income. The machines were rented out, complete with an engine driver (his son William), to thresh the flax directly in the fields. Elizabeth died October 31st 1882.

Then came the shocker: 23rd July 1883 Marriage of Thomas Norman

Thomas Norman full age  widower  machinist  Loders  father John Norman, Farmer
Elizabeth Sansome Pinkard widow Loders father Sydney Smith, Blacksmith
Both signed
Witnesses were William Brown and Charlotte Priscilla Norman {Charlotte is granddaughter of Thomas through his son James}

Could this be the second wife who ran off with all the money? You decide. In 1891 the second Elizabeth is nowhere to be found.
1891 Loders, Bridport, Burton Bradstock
Name: Thomas Norman
Age: 82
Estimated birth year: abt 1809
Relation: Visitor
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England

Civil parish: Loders
Ecclesiastical parish: Loders
Town: Loders
County/Island: Dorset
Country: England
Village Street

William Brown 27  (Possibly the same William Brown who witnessed 2nd marriage)
Julia Brown 35
Florence Adala Brown 6
Walter Stanley Brown 3
Jesse Brown 1
Thomas Norman 82

Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire, 1889
Agricultural Machine Owners
Norman Thomas (implement), Lower Loders, Bridport

Death certificate for Thomas.  Thomas was 88 years old, died of Senile Decay 14 Feb 1897. He died in New Forest, Sub-District of Eling and in the County of Southampton. Informant was his son in law, Edward Peadell Mooreman.

Buried Loders churchyard, the position of the graves now unknown but the stones are against the churchwall.

Limestone headstone - round top
'In loving memory of Elizabeth the beloved wife of Thomas Norman who died October 31st 1882 aged 78 years. Also of the above Thoman Norman who died February 14th 1897 aged 88 years'.

Compare to the original story:
St Michael's Apiary does exist, but is a Benadictine monastery at Buckfast near Buckfastleigh, Devon. 
William was blind in the 1901 census, at age 67, although occupation is Agricultural Machinist, own account. In 1891 he was living at Myrtle Cottage.
To date no tenament houses owned by Thomas have been located.
So far no suit brought by James has been found.
We found an Australian connection, but no sheepherders. Thomas's granddaughter, Mabel Elizabeth Mary Bullock, went to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia as a governess. She married Walter James Wrigley and her descendants are still in Queensland.
No connection to Mo or Greg Norman

All in all the family story provided some great clues. 

Comments and cousin connections always welcome.
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Friday's Faces From the Past-John Henry Norman II

John Henry Norman II

My husband's grandfather, John Henry Norman II, was born in South Pittsburg, Marion, Tennessee, September 23, 1876 to John Henry and Mary Ann Parsons Norman. The family moved to Birmingham, Alabama in 1888.

John Henry married Martha Allie Walker October 20, 1897 in Birmingham, Alabama. They had 9 children. 

John Henry seems to have been quite a character. He held various jobs including butcher, grocer, steel worker, and a tire repair shop. My husband's Aunt Martha told us of a scheme to deliver ice by boat. The boat ended up sinking. 

Another family story is John Henry helped to build the Vulcan statue in Birmingham.  

During the 20’s there is an alleged bootlegging activity by the Norman family. No stills have been found with Norman fingerprints on them. A cousin said that he could take you to the place in Leeds out by Lake Purdy where the moonshine was made. 

John Henry's son Paul Norman, (center) with Slim & Cliff in front of Norman Grocery

(I have no idea who Slim and Cliff are)

John Henry had a grocery store in Birmingham. During the depression John was too kind-hearted to let anyone go hungry and sold his groceries on credit until he didn't have anything left to sell.  He looked around for something else to do and noticed that all those who owed him money were driving cars.  So we went down to a tire re-capping business and hired himself out at no pay for a week so he could learn the tire re-capping business, then opened his own store.

During WWII, tires were in short supply. John and his sons used a process called regrooving. The basic process is this: You take a bald tire and use a heated iron to cut into the remaining rubber to make a new tread. There were different blades that screwed on to the iron to make different tread designs. Sounds a bit dangerous, ESPECIALLY TO THE DRIVER!

Norman Tire Shop, Birmingham, Alabama. John Henry on the right.

Another family story, still unproven, is that John Henry once killed a man, but "got away with it". Some say it was over a woman. Some say it was the lynching of a black man. I am still searching for proof of this crime. From the rumors, it would have been about 1915.

On front is written Norman and his famous Retriever.  JH must have thought a lot of his hunting dogs.  He had one that got rabies and bit him.  He had to travel to Montgomery, Alabama and stay for a month to get shots.  I wonder if this is the dog that is so "famous".

Norman--John Henry Norman, age 63, 6831 Georgia Road, passed away at the residence Monday p.m. Survived by the widow, Mrs. Martha A. Norman; 2 daughters, Miss Martha Norman and Mrs. Alfred Meyer; 6 sons, Henry, Joe, Tom, Paul, Raymond and John Norman; 2 sisters, Miss Louise B. Norman, Mrs. E. E. Matthews. Funeral services from the Brown-Service, Norwood Chapel Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. Rev. Fred Sparks officiating. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery, Brown-Service, Norwood directing. Active pallbearers will be the 6 sons.
Published in the Birmingham News/Age Herald, Tuesday Oct 25, 1938, Deaths, pg. 15

My father in law repeatedly said "Poppa died with a gallon of wine under his bed". I'm guessing this referred to his alcoholism, as he died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Comments and cousins always welcome!