A Trip to Colorado, Early 1980's. (DelGrossos, Mattsons, and Burrows)

Joseph Mattson with cousin Ashly DelGrosso at the DelGrosso

Home in Frisco, Colorado. Early 1980s

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Happy Easter!
Many members of our family are gathering in San Diego for Easter Vacation. Luella left Charles home alone to fend for himself. She and Jilane are on the road as I type, most likely just outside of Las Vegas. They should be making good time, barring an unplanned stop at a roadside casino so Luella can test the looseness of the local slots. Did you know that the casinos in Wendover Nevada know Luella as "Loose Luella"? Luella and Charles go to Wendover weekly to engage the one arm bandits in mortal combat. Luella says her nickname comes from her ability to loosen up the slots. I guess its true, because she always seems to return from Wendover with a profit in hand. The family tried to twist my arm go with them to San Diego. Sadly, I refused, reminding them that someone had to stay at home and work so others could luxuriate and play. Dad and I play the role of martyr well, don't you think?

I'm guessing nothing of importance will be accomplished by those in attendance at this mini family reunion. However, there will be plenty of family gossip spiced with hours of shopping, visits to beaches and long poolside reminisces. Shucks, and here I am stuck at the Fortress on a bright warm Easter Sunday with nothing much to do but share a few minutes with you and enjoy a ice cold Diet Mt. Dew on the deck. Shouldn't I feel depressed?

Today in our digital family gathering we step into our Way Back Machine and venture back in time 30 years or so to Frisco, Colorado. Kim lived in Frisco with husband JD and kids. Janice lived next door in Dillon, Colorado with husband Steve and kids. I was visiting my two sisters from Utah. Joe and Jake Mattson came along for the ride. I didn't take many pictures. Photography was expensive in the days before computers and digital cameras. You had to buy film, insert it into the camera, take your pictures, removed the film and deposit it at your local drug store for developing. Each roll of film was an easy $10 out of pocket by the time you got the photos back. I'm talking 1980 money, not the inflated stuff we use today.

Left to right, Cabbage Patch Baby of Unknown Origins, Jazmine Burrows (daughter of Janice Williamson and Steve Burrows) and Autumn (daughter of Kim Williamson and John DelGrosso)

Sierra Burrows, Daughter of Janice and Steve. For the longest time we wondered if that
bald spot on the side of her head would grow in. It did - to her mother's great relief.
After that, Sierra was allowed to spent more time indoors.
The reason for the scowl is unknown. It could be because of the shirt she's wearing.
Sierra was not one for girly things. Frills were an absolute No No.

Kim and JD had a trampoline in the backyard - a favorite for the local kids.
Kim is standing the background (black hair). To her right is Jacob Mattson tormenting
Brandon DelGrosso, Kim's second born. Brandon was generally mild mannered until
you pushed him too far, then watch out. People knew to run when Brandon erupted.

The boys tried to out trick each other on the tramp.
Jake is getting ready to stick this landing.

Brandon was second. His attempt failed, leading to an ugly
face plant on the tramp. This is why he was known as BellyFlop Brandon at the local
swimming pool. (I'm teasing. I don't want Brandon's family to
experience an emotional eruption because of me)

Brandon's second attempt. I'm not sure, but I think this was put Brandon in the nearby wood pile.

Joe Mattson's turn on the tramp while Brandon sulks and nurses his wounds.
Joe stuck this. Joe always stuck his flips. Well, I tell a lie. There was that front flip that
failed. It wasn't Joe's fault. Brandon had had enough and moved the tramp while Joe was in mid air.

Another picture of Joe in mid air with Brandon to the side. Notice Brandon is watching me closely.

I kept an eye on him from that point on to ensure Joe's safety.

The three cousins, Left to right: Jake, Brandon and Joseph.

Kim driving us to Denver. We were taking Janice to Denver to visit her therapist.

Janice on the way to Denver. Janice had three small daughters at the time. The stress and
toil of raising three young daughters is bad enough. Now imagine those three
young daughters were Nicole, Jazmine and Sierra. Janice suffered from early onset madness coupled with uncontrollable facial distortions and twitches. I'm happy to say the therapy worked.
Janice is normal today (if one uses the loosest definition of the word normal).

Have a Happy Easter!

Simply,
Victor

Our Williamson Family's Origins Solved! Charles Williamson Proven Wrong. Our Williamson Ancestors didn't Arrive in Virginia by Crashed Flying Saucer

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons.
For three years I've searched high and low for the holy grail of our family's history - the parentage of Mathew Williamson, father our Great Great Grandfather George Mathew Williamson, Grandfather to our Great Grandfather William Jonathan Williamson. Many of you regular reader's have traveled beside me along this path and remember my frustrations at trying to divine facts from nearly silent sources. It's like coercing water from a rock. Everything I've posted to date has been circumstantial - until today.

I believe I've found the missing link. I believe I have the evidence necessary to state without doubt the parentage of our GGG Grandfather Mathew Williamson.
Mathew Williamson was married to Selina Dandridge Jeffries. Their only child was George Mathew Williamson. The Relationship Chart below shows the ancestral line to us:

The Family of George Mathew Williamson and Margaret Ann Willis. Our
GG Grandfather William is first on the left of the back row.

William Jonathan Williamson and Effie Helen Victor's family in Sundance Montana.

My theory on the parents of Matthew Williamson is outlined in this extensive post. You may want to reread it to trace the path of logic I've used to date.

When all was said and done, my theory linking us to Cutbirth Williamson was just that - a theory based on all available evidence - a theory that couldn't be proved.

The Breakthrough

This afternoon I found the last wills and testaments of Susanna White Williamson and Cutbirth Williamson, recorded in the Charlotte County Virginia Courthouse.

I draw your attention to a quote from Susanna's White Williamson's Will.

".... to my Grand Son George M. Williamson the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars..."

And there it is, the tie linking our GG Grandfather George Mathew Williamson to his grandparents Susanna White Williamson and Cutbirth Williamson. I wondered why Susanna White Williamson left $150.00 to our GG Grandfather George M. Williamson (that gift in today's money would be roughly $4000.00). Then I remembered my theory from the "extensive post" mentioned in the paragraph above. I believe Mathew Williamson died when George was a young boy. I believe George and his mother Selina had very little. Susanna knew of their circumstances and left the money to help her grandson find his way to adulthood.

Below you'll see a small section of our family tree taken from my Ancestry.com account. You'll see our Williamson line extending back into the 1600's.




On the same Virginia web site I found the last wills and testaments of other Great Grandparents along the Williamson line (below). Please use the family tree above to see your relation.


I'm hoping you find this information helpful in understanding the rich history of our Williamson name.

I believe I deserve a long rest........

Simply,
Victor

Kim and Janice Visit Utah in the early 1980's

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Yesterday the temperatures climbed up into the upper 70's. I'm sure the weatherman will label it the warmest day of the year so far. A cold front pushed across the mountains this morning bringing the temperatures down 30 degrees. There is talk of snow in the mountains and rain in the valley. It is a treat to sit on the Fortress' decks and watch the storm clouds rise up over the far mountains and then descend to blanket the valley below.

I took Luella grocery shopping. She enjoys it when I introduce her to something new and unusual. She says she is in a culinary rut because she rarely cooks. She doesn't cook for Charles anymore because he eats one meal a day at suppertime. His suppers consist of a regimented menu of microwavable TV dinners from which deviations are considered sinful. Disturbing the routine would lead to a disturbance of the Force. A disturbance in the Force would lead to an explosion of flavor - which in turn could lead to a heart attack, a stroke or death - that final and most dreaded outcome. Charles read somewhere that you could extend your life by decades if you dramatically reduce your caloric input. The study was based on rats. Dad plans on living forever, so if the diet works on rats it should work on humans - according to his reasoning.

"I plan on pissing on all of your graves," he says while smiling and watching for your reaction. Its a joke from his arsenal of off color humor that gets a lot of play time the older he gets.

Several months ago I got Luella addicted to fountain Diet Mt. Dew with one squirt of cherry flavoring. She hasn't been the same since. She still looks like a woman in her mid 70's, but her attitude toward life has improved dramatically. She smiles like she did decades ago when she still had her real teeth.


A few weeks ago I followed up on the Diet Mt. Dew and introduced Luella to Southwest Spicy Mustard, found only at WalMart. She is now officially addicted to Southwest Mustard. It has become her transitional vehicle to a higher plane of existence. She uses it on her lunch meat, toast, veggies, and possibly even her granola. Today I took it one step further and introduced her to Claussen's Hot and Spicy Pickles, found only in the refrigerated section of your favorite higher end market. I'll be curious to see her reaction to the definate kick these pickles deliver after the first couple bites.


I confess I also have a new addition. Two months ago I stumbled across Fiber One with 80 calories per half cup while scouring Winco's cereal aisle for something more tasty and rich in fiber than my previous breakfast cereal tasting of ground twigs and lawn clippings. My delicious daily bowl of Fiber One is one of the few early morning pleasures left to me. It motivates me to get out of bed - well that and the thought of a paycheck at the end of the month. Honestly - I would prefer Capt. Crunch but my doctors say I'm not getting enough fiber in my diet and insist I do something or suffer the consequences. I didn't like the consequences they spelled out so a High Fiber diet it is.

I'm not sure when to introduce Luella to Fiber One with 80 calories. I need to consider the consequences.

Kim, Janice and the Kids Visit Utah in the Early 1980's
(Hows that for a title?)

Jilane, Kevin and I lived at Cove's Point in Orem in the early 1980's. I was fresh out of BYU and teaching 6th Grade at the time. Jilane worked as a waitress at some truck stop in Springville and Kevin worked for Quaker Oats in their warehouse in Salt Lake.

One year Kim and Janice left their husbands at home in Colorado and drove to Utah to pay us a visit. The following few pictures come from their visit.



The two pictures above are of Autumn DelGrosso, third daughter to JD and Kim Delgrosso. Kim is the eldest daughter of Charles and Luella Williamson. This picture was taken in the our condo's kitchen.

Cove Point was a retirement community in north Orem. The condos were built in the early 70's, something all too apparent on first viewing. We rented the condo from Mr. and Mrs. Shreeve, who were out of the state serving a two year LDS mission.

We are back in the kitchen looking at Nikki and Jazmine Burrows, the eldest two daughters of Steven and Janice Burrows. Janice was the second born daughter of Charles and Luella Williamson. Jazmine is in red, Nikki in blue.


This is Sierra Burrows with the bright blue eyes. Sierra is working her way through a tray of Cheerios. She has always been easy to please.

You should download and save this picture. Finding a picture of Sierra as a child in a dress is nearly impossible - and finding a picture of her wearing pink is........ well the odds up until know were astronomical.


This is one worn out mother. Her name is Janice Williamson Burrows. Beside her is her niece Amber Delgrosso. The picture was taken in the condo's lime green kitchen. Food never tasted quite right when eaten in those surroundings.

Janice looks tired, and who wouldn't be. She was the mother of three very young daughters at the time. There was also the additional weight she carried on her head with that unusual amount of hair and the product it took to keep it 'naturally' curly. I never mentioned it at the time. I was a kinder brother back then. She lives 800 miles away now. I'm safe.


Sorrow is the only emotion I have for the animal that gave its life for whatever it is that is sitting on top of Kim's head. You may doubt my theory and insist it is her hair. I'm not so sure.
It seems so tightly wound and black.

Kim Williamson Delgrosso is holding her youngest daughter Autumn. Janice holds Sierra. They are preparing to leave Utah and return to their homes at the polar ice cap of Frisco, Colorado.

Look closely to the far left of the picture. Remind you of someone? Yes, it's Kevin Bodily, husband of Jilane Williamson Bodily. What do we read from his demeanour - slumped over, head in hands? Could it be he was more than ready for his two sister in laws and their offspring to leave? Ah, the picture speaks volumes.



The dashing, debonair and ever so handsome Forrest Delgrosso is on the left, then comes Jazmine, Nikki and Amber.


The girls are showing off their treasure trove of activities designed to keep them busy, quiet and out of their mother's hair during the long drive back to Colorado. Mind you, getting into their mother's hair would be quite the feat in and of itself.
Left to right, Nikki, Jazmine and Ashley.


This is Brandon Cinderfella DelGrosso (Kim's second born son). While everyone else luxuriates with treats, picture books and coloring, Brandon is left to clean the house, take out the luggage, roof it, secure it and organize the expedition home. I felt sorry for my nephew and would have helped had it not be the camera and my responsibility of documenting their departure. My excuse didn't go over too well as seen on Brandon's face.

"Atta boy Brandon, you keep it up. One day your Princess will come!"

Today Brandon is thoroughly taken care of hand and foot by his lovely wife Monica and several industrious sons.



Brandon securing the luggage to the SUV's roof. What couldn't this small 12 year old do?

"Brandon, is this car ready to go!" shouted his mother.
"Yes, Ma'am. Anything else I can do for you Ma'am?" Brandon replied quickly from the rooftop, knowing any delay would result in a dressing down by the sharp edge of Kim's tongue.
"Take the girls in for a potty break, and make it snappy. Ashley looks like she's already gone. Find out! Clean it up if she has."
"Yes Ma'am."

Again, I would have jumped in to help, but felt it more important to snap this awesome picture of Brandon at work.


With the relatives gone, Jilane Williamson Bodily had some time to tend to her new baby boy Chaz. Yes, he was crying - that wasn't anything unusual. Chaz started crying the day he was born and stopped on his sixth birthday. I thought there was something wrong with the kid. Jilane was immune. Kevin kept putting in for overtime at work.

Yes, Chaz was still crying

He howled the loudest before every diaper change. He was at his happiest when Jilane left him naked all day long. That hasn't changed after all these years. (A word of advice, never ever never pop in on Chaz unannounced. A nasty shock awaits if you disregard my advice).

I discovered something early in Chaz's infancy. The only way to gain a moment's peace from the wailing was to give Chaz an absolute and unadulterated shock. Scaring the snot out of the kid made him hyperventilate - and that stopped the crying long enough to get through a short phone call.


Have a Nice Sunday and thanks for reading.

Simply,
Victor

The Mystery of our GGG Grandmother Selina Dandridge Jeffries (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
One of our family's genealogical mysteries is the parentage of our Great Great Great Grandmother, Selina Dandridge Jeffries. Selina married our GGG Grandfather Matthew Williamson. Their son was George Matthew Williamson, our GG Grandfather.

Today I'll update that search. The well is still dry, even after months of searching. There are a few signs of water which I shall share with you today. This new information gives me a new direction to search.

OK, to the business at hand:

It is my assumption that Matthew Williamson was the brother to Susanna Price Williamson (1786 - 1860). Susanna Williamson married Achilles Jeffries (thus making Achilles, Matthew's brother in law). I'm claiming that Susanna and Matthew's parents were Cuthbert Williamson and Susanna White

We know that Susanna Williamson married Achilles Jeffries. Could it also be possible that Matthew Williamson married Achilles' sister? - Was that sister our Selina Dandridge Jeffries? If that is the case, then where does the name Dandridge enter the picture?

Achilles' parents were John Jeffries Sr. and Ann Swepson. Ann was Richard Swepson's sister. Richard Swepson Sr. had considerable business dealing with John Jeffries Sr.

Richard Swepson's wife was Jane / Jean Dandridge or Eldridge. Richard Swepson was born between 1710-30. in Virginia. He died 1787 in Mecklenburg City Virginia. Jean or Jane died before 1779.

It is my current assumption that our GGG Grandmother Selina Dandridge Jeffries ties into this Jeffries family. It is the only known family in Viriginia at that time which ties the names Williamson to Dandridge and Jeffries.

Of course I'll keep you informed of developments.

Simply,
Victor

The Last Sunday in March, A Birthday and More from the Wayback Machine

Here you go Jilane, a picture from your lovey dovey days with Kevin. AH, the innocence of youth. Little did they know what they were about to unleash upon the world. Happy Birthday!

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

This week we celebrate Jilane Williamson Bodily's birthday. Jilane refuses to give her age, preferring we guess instead, using all available visual clues. I've given the matter much thought and hope she doesn't ask my opinion at today's Sunday dinner.

It would be unwise to judge her age by her clothes, considering much of her wardrobe comes from what she finds at Utah's many weekend garage sales (mind you, she did look pretty good in the bell bottom low cut jeans and platform shoes she was wearing when I bumped into her at Walmart last Wednesday).

Jilane preparing to go to her daughter's Parent Teacher Conferences with a little something she found in someone's driveway (I don't think they were having a garage sale. However, they did raise chickens).

Judging her age by her physical appearance would also be a mistake. Remember, she is the mother of Chaz Bodily and Chaz has a tendency to prematurely age anyone who spends a significant amount of time with him.

Kevin, Saved from the Hoes and Wenches of his younger days by the ever innocent and always darling Jilane.

Jilane is also is married to Kevin, and God bless her for that. "I saved him from all those other Hoes and Wenches he was dating at the time and could have married." Jilane says with pride about her greatest single act of charity for this period of mortality.

Luckily Jilane has her new daughter in law to comfort and sustain her.

This is the last Sunday in March and its over 70 degrees here at the Fortress! Our warm spell will be short lived. Tomorrow a cold front plans on disrupting our fun with snow and rain. So until then, we bask in the warmth and enjoy the spring breezes.

Charles was out tending the Fortress' lawn Friday afternoon when my phone rang. It was Luella.
"Your father wants you to go outside and compare your lawn with the neighbor's," she said. "I don't know why, just go out. It will make him happy."

At the time, I was reclining in my favorite chair watching a TV program suffering with purpose. The show centered around a theory held by several UFO enthusiasts that the Big Foot and Yeti were really aliens blessed with the ability of transcending dimensions of space time. I may have been watching Aliens and Big Foot to get me in the mood for that evening's Overnight Camp at the Space Education Center. Regardless, I jumped up and went out onto the deck to see the demonstration. It gave me an excuse to turn off the television.

Take a look for yourself.

Our neighbors directly to the north.
To be perfectly fair, the neighbors lawn on the far north is just as green as Dad's.
I worry about that. Charles has been known to take an occasional midnight stroll through the neighborhood with his Red Ryder Wagon, bag of lawn kill and spreader.

The Fortress' back lawn. A testament to Charles Williamson's tender loving care. It got its first cutting Friday afternoon. It responds well to his touch, not to mention the amount of money he charges me to bring in Turf Care Plus. What does it matter that you can never use your lawn during the summer because of all the toxic chemicals used to give it that beautiful green color?
At least its the envy of the neighborhood (although one day I fear they'll discover the true cause of their children's summer coughs and sore throats).

Finally, our neighbors to the south.
"A barren wasteland." Is that what I heard you just say?

Let me state here and now that it would be thoroughly unchristianlike and unneighbourly to describe it that way. I cannot be faulted, because you are the one who thought it.....
right?

In their defense, they have a home full of children and are the new owners of a dog. Their children play on the lawn, making it a useful piece of real estate and not the museum masterpiece Charles toils over all summer long.

And now, a few pictures from yesteryear using the magic of Peabody and Sherman's Wayback Machine,

I believe Jilane and I were visiting Kim, JD, Janice and Steve in Colorado sometime in the early 1980s. It was near the end of their school year and time for Field Day. I took my camera to record for all time's sake Forest and Brandon's athletic prowess.

Don't be mistaken, that is Brandon DelGrosso in the lead. (I fail to mention this isn't the front of the pack. At least he didn't come in last!) Of course, Brandon's recollection of the day's events differ somewhat from my own. You, kind readers, are left to decide for yourselves.

Another suberp action shot, thank you very much. Not bad using a camera that still used tin plates to capture the image. Brandon is in the lead! I'm wondering if this may be the race reserved for the school's special students?

Run Forest Run!

(from the movie Forest Gump for those of you unfamiliar with Hollywood's greatest achievements in the cinematic arts). That is our very own Forest DelGrosso far ahead of the pack. Forest's rear end was all the other race participants ever saw of our mighty Forest during a race.

While the boys sweated it out on the track, their two sisters found themselves the target of my camera. This is the eldest Amber with Ashley, the youngest at the time.

Ashley with her favorite blanket.

We spent some time with Janice, Steve and Nikki on that same Colorado trip.
This is Nikki on the DelGrosso's backyard tramp.

Nikki with her favorite Aunt Jilane

Another dial turn on the Wayback Machine takes us to the Williamson home at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City South Dakota. Again we have landed in the early 1980's.


Here we are in the Black Hills having a picnic. Left to right, Lisa, Amber, Brandon, Ashley, Annette and Forest.

During that same trip I met Luke Mattson, my newest cousin. He is the eldest son of Uncle Marvin and Aunt Cindy.

Every visit must come to an end. We are standing on the Williamson's driveway saying goodbye to Kim and the kids as they pack up for Colorado. Left to right - Kim, Brandon, Jilane holding Ashley, Amber, Annette and Luella.