Skeletons in the closet

I have to admit to having a few ancestral skeletons in the closet. But then again, who doesn't? Many people that can trace their lines back even a few generations tend to run in to one or two black sheep.

Am I embarrassed? Absolutely not!

You see, I want to know the stories, not just the names, dates, and places. The stories help fit ancestors in to the fabric of history as well as flesh them out in to real people.

One two lines on my father's side, I discovered how two of my ancestors had died. We had had death dates for years in the family group sheets but no places and no sources cited. Thanks to genealogical websites like USGenWeb and Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest, I have found the answers to when, where and how they died. On one line, the (almost) end of line ancestor Anthony Amend ended up being shot to death by his son-in-law over an argument about a child. Various county histories fleshed out the story somewhat. One said he was shot at around noon. They all agree that the son-in-law, John Pierce, fled, was captured and held for trial but lynched before that could happen. Another history said John Pierce was known for his temper and often carried a weapon around with him. John was also the school teacher for the community. John's wife, Ann Amend, ended up a widow with one son and lived with her mother for several years. On another census, however, she has two sons. I guess one skeleton begets other skeletons later on. No one wanted to marry the widow of a patricide (in-law).

The other line ends up in a similar vein. The death date is even more muddled than ever but the death place and why are fairly clear. Around the week of October 1st, 1883, newspapers across the country carried a short paragraph about the stabbing death of the Amite County, Mississippi sheriff by Eugene McElwee. Apparently, they were arguing over politics. Both were Democrats and highly connected. Eugene was shot right after the stabbing by someone in the crowd that gathered. He was dead in under 10 minutes. The death date is in doubt because the newspapers all have slightly different references to the date it happened. One lists the 30th of September (a Sunday). One lists, "the previous Saturday", or the 29th. Because they are quoting another, longer news article, I don't know whether to believe it or not. I am working on a way to get a local article looked up for me to confirm details.

So, a several times great uncle murdered one several times great grandfather and another several times great grandfather was a murderer. Skeletons - yes. Something to hide - no, at least not any more. It is a success story. I now know what happened.

I can also see why we didn't know for so long. Shame, embarrassment, and fear would cause the families to just not talk about it. Eugene's widow moved within two years with her father's family, siblings, etc in a great migration to Waco, Texas. She remarried sometime in there and stayed in Texas the rest of her life.

I hope to be able to flesh more out on my pedigree soon. If I find more skeletons, so be it. It will be fun.