You Named Your Children What?
By Myra Vanderpool Gormley © 2019
While there are dozens of my ancestors I’d like to meet, mostly to quiz them about genealogical matters such as when and where they were born and the women’s maiden names, but I’ve long been intrigued with researching my direct maternal line, the mitochondrial DNA.
As I understand it, everyone inherits mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from their mother — through her mother, her mother, her mother, her mother, and so on. And, while both males and females inherit mitochondrial DNA from their mothers, only females can pass it on to their children.
As opposed to my paternal line, which now extends back 12 known generations, in just five short generations, my maternal paper trail ends with Tabitha Morgan (born 1797 in South Carolina), so I’d like to meet her daughter, Elizabeth Morgan Kirby (1828-1906), and learn more about her and her mom.
I first met Elizabeth Morgan Kirby when I found her marriage record dated 9 July 1850 in DeKalb County, Georgia where she married David Gresham Awtrey. Locating the couple in the 1850 census provided some inconsistent information — first, they were enumerated on 18 October of that year, living with her parents (John Kirby and Tabitha Morgan) in Panthersville, DeKalb County, Georgia and secondly, the bride was four years older than the bridegroom.
Interestingly, David Gresham Awtrey is also enumerated on 16 October 1850 with his parents (Eldridge Awtrey and Margaret George) in Flat Shoals, DeKalb County, Georgia. He was listed as their 18-year-old son, even though his marriage record plainly reveals he and Elizabeth were married in July that year. Don’t you love conflicting data?
The bridegroom’s paternal grandmother was living in Panthersville, DeKalb County, Georgia in 1850 also. She was enumerated on the same day and just one page away from where Elizabeth Morgan Kirby and David Gresham Awtrey are listed with her parents. How well the families knew each other is anyone’s guess, but Panthersville was a small community (and still is) in metro Atlanta.
Elizabeth Morgan Kirby and David Gresham Awtrey lived long lives (she died in 1906; he died in 1902) and produced 11 children. I’d like to know if I have all of their names recorded correctly and then ask Elizabeth what was behind her creativeness in the naming department?
I know my great-grandmother, Araminta — their first child — was named for her paternal grandmother, but why were the two additional names — Rhody Ella — added?
Most of their children were given names with family connections, such as Margaret Ann Tabitha (1856-1943) who evidently was named for David Gresham’s mother (Margaret George) and Elizabeth's mother (Tabitha Morgan), but why did you stick in the Ann?
I am curious as to how you picked the name of David Ella for your seventh child? Obviously, she was named for her father, but whom was the Ella for?
I haven’t figured out the origins or connections to some of the other names bestowed upon the children, such as Clinton Almanzer (1855-1897), Henry Crockett (1869-1901-10), Ophelia (1873-1960), or Wylie Hall (b. ca 1875). And, by the way, what happened to Wylie?
Next, I have some questions about what you and the children were doing during the Civil War. I know David Gresham Awtrey served in the Confederate States Army and his company was captured in July of 1864. After the war, times were obviously difficult for your family, is that why you left the Atlanta area and removed to Saint Clair County Alabama? But why the move to Haralson County, Georgia by 1880? And, where were you hiding in the 1900 census?
Additionally, tell me more about your mom – Tabitha Morgan. Where in South Carolina was she born and when and where did she marry your dad? Oh, never mind, just fill out this Family Group Sheet for me.
Please tell me more about my great-grandmother, Araminta. Family stories call her the “dark and feisty one.” Do tell. I’m all ears.
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