Our Somers Family Heritage

  Mose and Mary Ann Jones have been somewhat of a mystery to me. As you can see in this image of Grandma's Bible, she didn't have much information to record. However, due to today's interest in genealogy and technology, I have found some additional information on her great grandparents. According to Geni.com , Mary Ann's maiden name was Ballard. She was born on July 13, 1839 in Henry, Tennessee  and died December 13, 1929 in Ripley (County?) Missouri . (See also:  Mary A Ballard Jones (1839-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial ) She was the wife of J. Malachi Jones (Mose?) who was born March 26, 1826 in North Carolina and died in Ripley (County?) Missouri August 17, 1897 at 71 years of age. (You can view his gravesite at:  J. Malachi Jones (1826-1897) - Find a Grave Memorial ) Their daughter Nancy E. Wright was my grandmother's grandmother. Nancy's daughter Maggie Leona Weaver was grandma's mother.  I remember as a young child grandma telling me that we were Bla...

As recorded in the Somers Family Bible by Lillian (Weaver) Somers: Daisy Ellen was the third child of William Henry and Lillian Mae Somers, preceded by Cotna Lenoa  (10.18.1920 - 11.17.1920) and Mamie Irene (10.30.1921 - 2.14.2011). Clarence and Daisy Buhler Daisy Somers married Clarence Buhler on August 31, 1940. They had 7 children: Elsie Mae, Clarence, Jimmy, Paulette, Larry, Henry and Joey. Daisy Ellen went to be with the Lord on November 14, 1987 at 64 years of age. She was much loved by her family and is remembered as a godly woman and devout Christian. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fearet...

Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver/Somers Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver/Somers told me as a child our ancestry was "Black Welsh" and "Blackfoot Indian."  I remember asking her what is a "Black Welsh"? And Grandma replied that it simply meant we had dark hair and dark eyes. Here are my notes regarding Grandma's family surnames and their origin: Weaver - English origin. (Father's surname) Wright (Mother's surname) - English or Scottish origin. Casteal or Casteel (paternal Grandmother) - Dutch or Spanish origin. Jones (maternal Grandmother) - Welsh origin. Burdett (paternal Great Grandmother) - French or English origin. The Jones name certainly points to our Welsh ancestry, but what does "Black Welsh" mean?  Wikipedia has a stub article which says: Black Welsh people are inhabitants of Wales who have an African or a Caribbean background. Wales is home to one of the United Kingdom's oldest Afro communities, an...

3rd Great Grandmother Mary Ann Jones, 2nd Great Grandmother Nancy Jones Wright, Great Grandmother Maggie Lenoa Wright Weaver, Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver Somers with oldest daughter Mamie Irene. Taken in the 1920's, Clay Co, Arkansas By Angela Wittman Some of my earliest memories are of my parents talking about our native ancestry, and I grew up with stories of being part Cherokee and how my Grandfather lied about his native ancestry to avoid discrimination. It was always taken for granted by my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. on the Somers side that we are part Native American. So, when a cousin (now deceased) and I began looking for a “paper trail” of the Cherokee ancestry approximately 25 years ago and we couldn’t find documentation, I continued the research. I believe there is evidence that will lead to our native ancestry and I hope to present some of that evidence here. Henry Francis Somers I’ll begin with physical appearance: My Great Grandfather, Hen...

I know very little of my Grandmother Somers family, except what she recorded in her Family Bible and the tidbits of information I've found scouring the internet. But, I am curious to learn more as I believe there might be a Scots Irish connection through the Wright family. From what I've been able to discern, my GG Grandfather is the son of George Washington Wright as documented at:  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ajobebrown/wright/phil/gw.html George Washington Wright Jr.  --b. June 22, 1857 Paragould, Greene Co., AR --d. April 29, 1937 Corning, Clay Co., AR ----buried Williams Cemetery, Corning, Clay Co., Arkansas -- m. Nancy Elizabeth JONES --February 18, 1875 Little Black Twp, Randolph Co., AR ----b. February 7, 1860 Mill Spring, Wayne Co., MO ----d. August 18, 1934 Corning, Clay Co., AR ------buried Williams Cemetery, Corning, Clay Co., Arkansas This is their headstone where they are buried at Williams Cemetery (image courtesy of...

Marsha Lillian (Lawson) Somers A woman of fierce family loyalty. Date of Birth: March 26, 1929 Father: Ace Levi Lawson (Feb. 1894 - Sept. 1972) Mother: Ester Anna Stone (Jan. 1908 - Dec. 1998) Marriage to Jesse C. Somers: March 26, 1957 Mother went to be with the Lord on New Year's Eve, (December 31, 1995) after a brief battle (approximately 6 months) with cancer. She was buried at Millers Chapel in Pettis County, Missouri, on January 5, 1996 during a soft snowfall which was mother's favorite seasonal event. (I can remember being ill in bed as a young child and mother taking a laundry basket outside to catch some snowflakes to bring into me; we both loved the soft snow so much.) Mom's Baby Picture Mother and me June 1958 Mom and Dad 1975 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,...

Alfred Green Chance Weaver (Photo is from the private family collection of Harlen and Janice Buhler) Family Tree Source:  Alfred S. Weaver/Emily Little (ronulrich.com) Husband: Alfred S. Weaver Born: 14 OCT 1809 at: Tennessee Married: 2 OCT 1834 at: Died: 26 FEB 1848 at: Tennessee Father: Mother: Other Spouses: NOTES Wife: Emily Little Born: 19 SEP 1816 at: Rowan Co., North Carolina Died: 17 JUN 1889 at: Tennessee Father: Samuel Little Mother: Elizabeth Boone Other Spouses: Alfred L. Little CHILDREN Name: Winnie Jane Weaver Born: 22 MAY 1839 at: Rover, Bedford Co., Tennessee Married: at: Died: at: Spouses: Name: Margaret Caroline Weaver Born: 16 OCT 1840 at: Tennessee Married: at: Died: 28 NOV 1904 at: Spouses: Name: Alfred Green Chance Weaver Born: 6 MAR 1845 at: Tennessee Married:...

Born September 24, 1903, Randolph Co., AR Went to be with the Lord on August 12, 1977, Poplar Bluff, Butler Co., MO "Our Children" as recorded in the Somers Family Bible Mamie Irene,  10.30.1921, Corning, Ark. Daisy Ellen, 8.27.1923, Corning, Ark. William Henry Jr., 3.22.1925, Corning, Ark. Minnie Lorene, 11.07.1926, Corning, Ark. Daniel Raymond, 6.21.1928, Corning, Ark. Clyde Freeman, 3.06.1931, Corning, Ark. Alfred David, 2.05.1933, Fairdealing, Mo. Jesse Cecil, 7.28.1935, Neelyville, Mo. Harvey Izear, 11.14.1937, Harviel, Mo. Willis Franklin, 7.12.1940, Harviel, Mo. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cotna Lenoa - Born 10.18.1920, Died 11.17.1920 Jesse Mae - Born 3.1.1930, Died 3.17.1930

As recorded in the Somers Family Bible: Mother's Name: Lillian Mae Weaver (Born September 24, 1903, Randolph Co., Arkansas - Passed Away August 12, 1977, Poplar Bluff, Butler Co., Missouri) Her Father: William Izear Weaver Father: A.G.C. Weaver (Alfred Green Chance Weaver - listed as second husband to Patience here: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/a/s/Marjorie-Casteel/PDFODT8.pdf ) Mother: Patican Ang. Casteal (Patience Angeline Casteel) Father: John Casteal Mother:       Burdett (William Casteel and Elizabeth Burdett are listed as Patience's father and mother in this Casteel family tree: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/a/s/Marjorie-Casteel/PDFODT8.pdf ) Her Mother: Maggie Lenoa Wright Father: George Wright (Probably George Washington Wright Jr. as listed here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ajobebrown/wright/phil/gw.html ) Mother: Nancy E. (Elizabeth) Jones Father: Mose J...

As recorded in the Somers Family Bible: Father's Name: William Henry Somers (Born August 2nd, 1894 - Tuckerman, Jackson Co., Arkansas - Passed Away March 7, 1976, Poplar Bluff, Butler Co., Missouri) His Father: Henry Francis Somers (Recorded as Henry Summers in the 1860 Jackson Co. Tennessee Census) His Mother: Cotna (Cotney) Lisbeth (Elizabeth) Cole (also listed as Harris and Tidwell) Henry Francis Somers Family Line Father - Abraham Somers (Birth: Approximately 1820, Jackson County, Tennessee) Mother - Darcus Somers (Birth: Approximately 1824, Listed as both Alabama and North Carolina) Grandfather - John Somers (Birth: Approximately 1782, Caswell County, North Carolina - Death: Approximately 1856, Jackson County, Tennessee) Grandmother - Rebecca Wright (Birth: Before 1786) Great Grandfather - Captain John Somers (Revolutionary War) (Birth: September 7, 1750 - Death: April 1, 1803 Caswell County, NC) Great Grandmother - Catherine Arden (Birt...

Marriage Record: Husband: William Henry Somers Birth Date: August 2nd, 1894 Wife: Lillian Mae Weaver Birth Date: September 24, 1903 Date of Marriage: February 5th, 1920 Performed by: O.A. McKeney, Justice of the Peace at Poplar Bluff, Missouri