The Crippen Family. New Clues in the Search for Ancestors.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Our Great Great Great Grandmother Sarah Martha Crippen, who married Levi Dennis is the last of the Crippens on our family line. She was born in 1814 in Knox, County Tennessee. After her the Crippen line comes to an abrupt end.

Today I spent several hours working on this line hoping to make a breakthrough. The result of that work (which isn't much, but in tracing family lines anything to show for a day's work must be considered a victory or you can really become discouraged) is given below.

First, a few explanations.

1. There are no records of Sarah's parents. Period.
2. Without records, one broadens the search for the family name. I found a few Crippens living in Knox County Tennessee in 1814. They are all in the same Crippen line. I'm taking into account that the population of Knox County was relatively small in 1814. Tennessee was considered, the Far West. It was Indian country and not always safe. Here are the population facts from the Census of 1810. Knox County. Population: 10,171. Land area: 526 square miles. The population of the county seat (Knoxville) was 810. That meant the other 9,300 people were spread out over 500+ square miles meaning about 18 people per square mile.
3. Knowing that Tennessee was made a state in 1796, and knowing that back then if you had the same last name as someone else living in your "neck of the woods" then you were related to some degree or another.
4. Therefore, the chances that our Grandmother Sarah Martha Crippen being related to the Crippens showing up on the county records for that time period is likely.

I list other pieces of evidence in the Relationship Chart given below. So, knowing all of this - here is a strongest contender yet for the origin of our Crippen line. Our link to the line comes with with one of not both of the couples colored 'red'.

Proposed Crippen Relationship Chart

John Crippen b. 1720 Conn. married Elizabeth James
John and Elizabeth moved to Knox County, Tennessee. Both died there.
Their Children were:

John Crippen. .

Margaret Crippen

Elizabeth Crippen

James Osborn Crippen. married. Martha Patsy Hall.
Interesting side notes. Our grandmother’s middle name was Martha (Sara Martha Crippen). We also know that Sara Martha named one of her daughters Nancy Jane. James Osborn Crippen and Martha Patsy Hall had a daughter also named Nancy Jane. If our Sara Martha Crippen was not a member of this family, then this Nancy Jane may have been an cousin.

George Crippen b. 1792.
Possible parent of Sarah Martha. We know he married. Spouse unknown

From this line of Crippens, Living in Knox County Tennessee at the time our Great Grandmother Sarah Martha Crippen was born (1814) I believe we can then trace our line.....
to
Sarah Martha Crippen b. 1814 Knox, Tennessee. married Levi Dennis b. 1812. Tenn.
to
John Mayberry Dennis b. 1844 Knox, Tenn. married Isabel McCrilles b. 1851 Vt.
to
Vesta Althea Dennis b. 1892. Hot Springs SD married Walter Edwin Pierce b. 1885 SD.
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
Us

I will continue to search, but until concrete evidence of Sarah's parentage emerges, then this Crippen line, in my opinion, will stand as the strongest possible candidate.

Simply,
Victor

Charles Williamson's Baby Book

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Winter has us in its grasp today. The weather hasn't quite figured out whether it wants to snow or rain so we have a bit of both. The snow on the driveway is heavy with slush making shoveling difficult.

On days like this it is good to be sitting in one's easy chair with a Coke Zero to my right looking out on the cold and wet. The clock above me is ticking away the day. Its 4:44 P.M. and growing dark prematurely. The sun doesn't want to stay up in this dreary sky. Who can blame it?

I'm thinking I should go out and shovel the drive. But the thinking hasn't evolved into action so until I'm feeling more enthusiastic about moving mountains of slush I think I'll finish this project.

A few days ago Charles Williamson (my dad) found his old baby book of pictures. He gave the book to me for the family history blog and today I send it all to you in the form of a slide show.

Some of the people you'll see in the pictures are:

1. Charles Ray Williamson (my dad).
2. Charles Williamson (his dad).
3. Elda Vercellino Williamson (his mother).
4. Uncle Ed Vercellino (Elda's brother).
5. Uncle Maurice (Charles Williamson's brother).
6. Gail is Gail Williamson. She was the oldest daughter of Walt and Francis Williamson. She is one month younger than Charles Ray.
7. Buddy, Hallie and Darleen Williams were neighbors from down the hill.
8. Jimmy Oates was the son of the Sanato's. The Sanato family were friends of the Vercellinos.
9. Jessie was another friend. Dad stayed three weeks with her in Hot Springs on summer.
   

Dad wanted me to point out that the people you see in the pictures were mostly dressed up.

"In the 1930's you never went down town unless you were dressed up," Charles said. "My dad wore 3 piece suits with spats over his shoes. Spats were felt coverings you wore over your shoes to keep the leather from getting dirty. They were a fashion statement of the 30's and 40's. The men always wore a hat when they went downtown also. My dad was always dressed to the 9's. He prided himself in his appearance."

In one of dad's five year old pictures you'll see him standing in front a 1934 Plymouth Coupe. It was the family two door car with no back seat. The roof of the car leaked so they couldn't drive it when it rained. When dad was 5 years old he slammed the door on his pinkie finger as he was getting out of the car. His parents thought his screaming was him goofing off but quickly realized he wasn't. They took him to the Homestake Hospital in Lead. The whole top bone of his finger was smashed so badly all the doctor could do was removed the small section of protruding bone, apply a bandage and sent the family home. Ask him to see the scar the next time you see him.
"We were tough in those days. Not like kids today," Dad said.

And now, the pictures from Dad's baby photo book.

Simply,
Victor

Our 6th Great Grandfather's Signature. Hans Georg Friedrich Phlegar (Pfluger)

The Signature of Hans Georg Pluger
August 17, 1731

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Tonight we see the actual signature of our 6th Great Grandfather Hans Georg Friedrich Phlegar. He was required to sign a register and swear allegiance to the United States when he arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731. This was done when they disembarked from the ship Samuel.

Relationship Chart

Hans George Frederick Pfluger (6th Great Grandparent)
to
George Frederick Plieger
to
Abraham Pfleger married Margaretha Goodykoontz
to
Anabella Phlegar married Jonathan Willis
to
Margaret Ann Willis married George Matthew Williamson
to
William Jonathan Williamson married Effie Helen Victor
to
Vennie, Ima Della, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.
to
Their children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren


The Samuel's Register, dated August 17, 1731. Pennsylvania

Our Grandfather's signature is the last of the passengers on page two.

Simply,
Victor

Christmas 2010. Video and Slides

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
The Fortress is shrouded in fog today. The gazebo's dark wood comes through the white but that's about as far as you can see. What better day than to spend putting together the photos and video shot during Christmas.

We begin with a slide show of the still pictures, followed by all the short video clips I captured with my regular photo camera. I didn't use my video camera because hauling two cameras around is a pain in the neck, leaving you little time to eat massive quantities of delicious holiday cuisine and pepper the air with clever and witty comments. So, the video quality is poor but I'm not bothered. At least it was captured for posterity's sake. Besides, nobody watches those feature length videos people shoot with their expensive video cameras anyway. They sit in a drawer somewhere for decades, unwatched and unloved. Having short 5 to 30 seconds clips, edited together with the latest in iMovie technology (for 2007) with skillful transitions applied between each clip will do the job.

So, enjoy these memories of our latest Christmas past. Or don't enjoy them. I'm really not bothered one way or the other at this point. I'm just glad the editing and uploading are complete so I can move along with other projects.

Yes there was a bit of bah humbug in that last paragraph. I'm in one of those "boy I'm glad Christmas is over" moods. Time to get to work because some of us have to work for a living........

First the slides, accompanied by Libera singing that holiday song some claim to be their favorite. It isn't mine, but it goes well with the slides - so one does what one must do to get the job done.



Secondly, the poor quality video. If you wanted something nicer then you should have brought a camera and done in yourself :)
Oh and pay close attention the Bodily's dancing to their new XBox game. Brock wants you to admire his skill.

And let me be the first to wish you all a Happy New Year 2011 (2012 is next and you know what that means so ....... eat, drink and be merry for next year we may die!)

Simply,
Victor

Come by the Hills to the Land which is Fancy and Free. Family Culture. Celtic

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Today a moment to enjoy a Celtic song about the old country. This is another post to the family history blog which celebrates the culture of the land our ancestors left behind.

I like to think that a bit of that old culture still exists deep within each of us as a shared memory.

Simply,
Victor

Pictures from the 1970's. Rapid City, South Dakota

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove,

Merry Christmas!
A Very Merry Christmas from the Fortress to you. It's a bright, sunny, almost warm Christmas Day in Pleasant Grove. What a blessed relief from the tomb we've existed in for the last week. Gray, thick clouds, drizzle, snow - all in an endless cycle broken only by the blackness of night.

Last night many of us gathered at Jilane and Kevin's home for our yearly white elephant gift exchange and overindulgence of Christmas Confectionery. The thirty or so of us moved in unison from her living room (where the gift exchange took place) to the kitchen to graze on everything from chips and artichoke dip to home made chocolate ice cream to the ever present and never welcomed chocolate covered cherries - the bane of Christmas Celebrations (along with the gift of the unloved - fruit cake).

Today we opened gifts and watched Chaz, Brayden, Brock, Brooklyn and Kennedee contort themselves across the family room floor to the music of their new visual XBox attachment. Its the one that allows you to play without a controller (you use your body to control the game - kind of like the Wii).

I joined Luella and Charles afterwords to help Luella with her "presenting of the gifts" to Charles. Dad never was one much for Christmas, so getting him to stay put long enough to open gifts can be a two man job.

In the end, and about one hour later because of the length it took to open one gift and then the time required to discuss its price, material, size, color and whether or not its collar stood up or layed down) it was decided that he would keep one of the gifts (a baby blue golf shirt) and the others would go back.

This afternoon we will be trekking to Highland to enjoy Kim and JD's company (but mainly to enjoy JD's yearly spaghetti with homemade DelGrosso sauce). Before leaving I'd like to post a few pictures from our time in Rapid City, South Dakota. These were taken in the 1970's.

Lisa Williamson about 1976. This picture was taken from a picture frame which once belonged to Grandma Elda.

The opposite picture in Grandma Elda's frame was this picture of Kim and her first born, Forrest. I found the pictures in the garage while I was looking for a garbage bag. I'm afraid the sun robbed them of their color.

Lisa and Annette in the late 1970's. Halloween. This picture was taken in front of our neighbor's home (the Holtzes).

Annette Williamson

Lisa with our two neighbor boys (Glenn and David) in our living room at 38th Street.

The following pictures were taken in the chapel of the Rapid City Mormon church before the church was remodeled and a new chapel was built (1978). As children, we spent countless hours in Sunday School, Sacrament, Primary, Seminary and Priesthood meetings sitting on those blond benches. Each of us took our turns standing on the pulpit giving our first public speeches. Aw, good and bad memories..........

Have a Great Christmas!

Simply,
Victor

Christmas 1970. The Voices of Christmas Past. Merry Chistmas from Victor.

Home of the Williamsons on 38th Street. Rapid City.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I've spent hours and hours and hours working on a special gift to my Mattson cousins, aunts and uncles. This gift is available online for you to enjoy at the top of the right side bar ----------------->

Recently, I found three tapes made in 1970. The first tape is a recording the Charlies and Luella Williamsons and John and Beverly Mattson families made for our Grandpa Walter Mattson. It's priceless. It contains my dad Charles singing with my Aunt Bev. It has Grandma Violet Mattson singing. We all join in for several songs. Including are the voices of very very young Gina and Kirk Mattson.

The second tape was made by Marvin and Pam Mattson, again for Grandpa Walter in 1970. Included on this tape are their voices along with Shane Mattson babbling and Shelley Mattson singing and talking. Pam mother also has a few words for Walter.

The last recording is Grandpa Walter Mattson reading a story he wrote about something that happened in his life on he plains of Eastern Montana. As far as I know it is the only recording we have of Grandpa. Again, priceless.

All three tapes are on one recording now (about ten hours of work). The hardest part was figuring how to get the recording onto the blog - no easy task. It's 48 minutes long and YouTube won't handle things like this.

Anyway, its done and I'm hoping you all enjoy these voices from 40 years ago. Again, look to the top of the right side bar ----------------->
to see the link. It will say "Christmas 1970. Voices from the Past"

Merry Christmas to All.

Simply,
Victor

Christmas Card Greetings to All for 2010

Relationship Chart for the Bodily Family

Relationship Chart for the Belnap Family

\

Relationship Chart for the Peterson Family

Relationship Chart for the Walker Family

Chaz Williamson Bodily Dances on ABC Television

Chaz Williamson Bodily Performing with LeAnn Rimes on ABC Television
Chaz is second in from the left

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
In yesterday's post we read about the Dancing Delgrosso Sisters. Well, they aren't the only dancers in Our American Dynasty. Jilane and Kevin Bodily have two dancing sons. Brock is a senior at Pleasant Grove High School. He's a good student that will graduate with a High School diploma and an Associates Degree from Utah Valley State University. He plans to study engineering.

Chaz is a student at Utah Valley State, studying sports journalism. Both Chaz and Brock are expected to perform in an upcoming television show (more information to follow as soon as it is available).

Recently Chaz flew to Nashville and danced with LeAnn Rimes on her holiday special broadcast on ABC television. It's hard to pick him out due to the poor quality of the YouTube video so I put a still frame at the top of the post so you could see his face.

The video is posted below the relationship chart.

Great Job Chaz!

Simply,
Victor

Relationship Chart
Click to Enlarge

The Dynasty's Dancing Family. The DelGrossos.

The Cover Page

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Members of our family were highlighted in a recent national dancesport magazine. The DelGrosso sisters danced with their cousins the Bodilys at our last large family reunion in South Dakota a few years back. Since then they've gone on to perform and teach coast to coast. In addition to their dancing, Amber, Ashley and Autumn are mothers, juggling home, family and dance.



I'm sure their dancing Grandpa Charlie Williamson would have been very proud of his Great Granddaughters.

Also, if you'd like to see a short video of the photo shoot click this link:

dancemedia.com :: Behind the Scenes with the DelGrosso Sisters

Simply,
Victor

RELATIONSHIP CHART

The Article

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4