Thrifts in Middlesex Co. VA
In Middlesex, there seems to be several Thrift "families" who claim little, if any, relation to the others.My family centered on the Christ Church--Locust Hill area of the country. Unfortunately, I don't have much family history to share u as most of the people who knew anything have died.Even when they were alive they didn't talk much about the family's history.Maybe they didn't know or they knew too much! I have kept a letter that I received back in 1979 from a great aunt.At that time she was the soul surviving sibling of my grandfather's family.I had asked her to write down any information she had on the Thrifts.She responded by saying, "I cannot tell you any more then is on the paper.They were all dead before I was born."
What she did write on the "paper" was this:
"My granddaddy was from Richmond county and his mother was from Saluda, Virginia. My daddy, Lubbard was born in Middlesex where your daddy lived all his life until he married.Ellen Jane Didlake was born in King and Queen and lived there until she was married to Lubbard.Then she moved to Middlesex."
She goes on to say that the Thrifts were members of Harmony Grove Baptist Church near Topping and Ellen Jane was a member of New Hope Methodist.
Here are some things gleemed from the Middlesex Courthouse:
My G-G-G-grandparents were William H. Thrift & Jane Northan of Richmond County.
My G-G-grandfather was James H. Thrift , 31 yrs. old, sailor, single, married December 1854 to Mary M. Clements, 24 yrs. old, born in Richmond County, daughter of Jas. T. Clements and Mary Mitchell.Then at 45, as a widower he married Frances A. Blake, 27 years old, single, born in Middlesex, daughter of B. R. and S. Blake. (only initials were given)His second marriage was January 16, 1866.
His son, Lubbard Keen Thrift was born on August 12, 1856 and died on June 3, 1909.I have a picture of ol' Lubbard sitting on a racing cart with a beautiful horse in the lead.The family "myth" about him was that he was a real lady's man . . . and he looks the part.He was a merchant and had a store across from what use to be the Christ Church post office which is no longer in existence.Much of his supplies came by steam boat from Baltimore.He is reputed to have said to his wife, Ellen Jean, that is only besetting sin was women.That could be true, as he was rumoured to have died at the home of a woman's whose reputation was a questionable as his!That may explain why he was buried on the family property and not at the church cemetery. But there is another story that he was kicked out of the Baptist church because he like to dance which in those days was a no-no.I always wondered how they find out that he was at the dance.
Ellen Jane Didlake was born on Nov. 4, 1858 and died on June 23, 1941.She married Lubbard on Feb. 3, 1881.They had 9 children (may be that story has some truth to it!).The children were:
James William (Aug 17, 1894- Oct 31, 1944) who married Lena Miller (May 17, 1917) and had one son, John William.
George Ambrose (Oct. 24, 1899- May 2, 1948) who married Ella Mae Blake (Dec. 23, 1922).These are my grandparents.They had two sons: George Ladow and William Alton who is my father.
Mary Frances (Mamie) (b. Jan. 12, 1882)who married Holland Sibley
Laura Gertrude (b. March 2, 1892) who married John Thomas Pierson
Julia Warren (Sept. 2, 1889-Dec 27,1969) who married Clyde Milby
Lubbard Ladow (June 1897- March 23, 1923) I believe he died of some major epidemic at the time.
John Elmo (1902-1917) more about him below
Lucy Ellen (1886-1946) who married Jack Sibley
James Toman (May 25, 1885-Oct 16, 1885) who died in infancy
Going back to John Elmo who died at the age of 15: this is a rather tragic story.He was nicknamed "Chubby."The story goes that the older boys,James and George, went hunting and when it got late decided to stash their guns in a well-known bush.While they started working on their chores, they told Chubby to fetch the guns.Evidently, Chubby found the guns but pulled them out of the bush with the barrels facing him.A branch caught the trigger . . . and the rest is history.He, too, is buried on the home property along with his mother, Ellen Jane, and his father.
Ellen Jane was quite the woman.She kept the farm going for more that 30 years on her own.I have a picture of her, too, but it was taken when she was older and the years show on her face.
My Father, William Alton is known in the county by his nickname, "Tiny."He married Doris Lee Powell of Church View.They had five children: Jennifer Ann, Shirley Marlene, Richard Alton, Shelia Corlynn and Jacqueline Michelle.
I have two daughters and unless they don't go along with convention, it will mean that my branch of the Thrift name will die with me since neither my uncle nor their cousin, J.W. had males.
So,I hoped that I haven't bored you with all this info.If any one else can fill in some gaps it would be much appreciated.
Richard
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Re: Thrifts in Middlesex Co. VA
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Re: Thrifts in Middlesex Co. VA