Illustrated Memories From the Fortress. 1987/88

Hello All,
Today we celebrate June in April.  While not officially a sanctioned holiday, this weekend's heat wave pushing our April temperatures into the 80's are worthy of celebration.

Today in our digital family reunion I've decided to take out the old dusty albums and show pictures taken in 1987 or thereabouts (that's a quarter of a century if that makes you feel any better).  There is a certain melancholy one gets when perusing old photo albums.  Those of us with sporting age in our resumes marvel at how quickly time has past.  We look at our faces in the photographs and compare them with what answers back in the mirror every mornings.  We curse the passing of time and its ravages on our youth.

"If I could only have those years back," some mutter, wanting to relive those happy days lone gone, forgetting that the passage of years has an effect on memory's reliability.  We forget that time can act like an opium on memory.  The 'bad times' lived through in every decade seem magically erased, leaving only the happiest of memories to hang our hats upon.

Others mutter, "If I could only have those years back," out of regret for poor decisions made and the wish that what was done could somehow be undone and a different path taken.

I remind myself that today is the day I'll look back upon in the future and ask, "If I could only have those years back."  Well, we have those years now.  We are not dead and buried, the sun shines and oxygen moves in and out of our lungs, so never forget the preciousness of the present. Today there are decisions to make and people to love and places to visit - so make every hour count.  Pull up the regret anchor weighing down on your soul. Take the thought that your best years are behind you out with the trash.  These things belong in the past. The past has already been lived.  Its the future that waits to be written.

Grandma Mattson's Funeral.  September 1987

Our beloved Grandma Mattson died in September 1987 in Rapid City, South Dakota.  Violet Pierce Mattson was the mother to Luella, Linda, John and Marvin Mattson.  She was preceeded in death by her husband Walter.  Grandpa Mattson died in February 1973.

Most of the family gathered in Belle Fourche, South Dakota for her funeral and burial. 

Grandma Mattson's grandchildren are pictured above.  Kirk is the tallest.  I'm standing next to Kirk; and thank you for commenting on my distinguished appearance. It is a fact I humbly report to guarentee the historical accuracy of this blog post.  Kim Williamson DelGrosso, Grandma Mattson's eldest grandchild (and my sister), stands next to me.  

I won't labor the length of this paragraph to list the others.  I've mentioned the most important, so let's leave it at that - shall we?

Grandma Mattson's Great Grandchildren at the funeral.  I'll list them for you and let you identify them in the photo based on the descriptions.
Amber, the sweater of many colors.
Autumn, in her calico 'done gone to Sunday Meeting dress'.
Ashly, always so photogenic.
Jazmine Burrows, shy and feeling very embarrassed because of her sister.  Its all she can do to keep from giving Nicole "something to cry about!" She bites her fingers instead.  It is a coping mechanism.
Nicole Burrows giving her best attempt at waking the dead.  I mean, it was a funeral.  You got to give her credit for trying.
Brandon DelGrosso. It's just Brandon.  You know, the kid that was always there looking so innocent.  You always wanted to know where Brandon was. Seen and heard was good a good thing for that boy.
Forest DelGrosso holds Sierra Burrows.  Best Smile of the bunch Forrest, and you managed to pull it off, even with the smell from a very dirty diaper.

Luella Mattson Williamson, Grandpa Emmerson Leissman, Charles Williamson and Grandma Elda Vercellino Leissman at the funeral luncheon.  Emmerson was stepfather to Charles.
Elda was his mother.    

Elda Vercellino Leissman with her grandchildren.  Janice Williamson Burrows, Kim Williamson DelGrosso, Annette Williamson, Lisa Williamson, Victor Williamson and Grandpa Leissman.

Here we are at Grandma Mattson's graveside.  I remember how we struggled with Grandma's coffin from the hearse to the grave through the wet soggy marshland Belle Fourche calls a cemetary.   I was all poor Uncle Ray could do to stand upright.  I struggled behind Uncle Ray, carrying my share of Grandma and his.  I know Grandma took great delight is watching us from the other side.  Her sense of fun was all too present that day! 

Notice the flowers in the Grandchildren's hands?  No, they are not putting them on Grandma's casket.  They are taking them off Grandma's casket and placing them on her neighbor's graves.  Luella gave permission for them to take a few flowers and put them on Walter Mattson's grave.  Well, things got out of hand.  

I suppose it was all good in the end.  Grandma's coffin was flowerless, but at least she made a good first impression on her new long term neighbors.  Wouldn't you agree? 

A picture of Candace and Cheynne at the cementary.

Christmas 1987

These pictures were taken at the Williamson home on 38th Street, Rapid City South Dakota.

Luella Williamson on Christmas Morning.  She is reacting to the sudden appearance of my camera. 

Bless her heart, such modesty and humility.

With a bit of friendly persuation, Luella removed her frock.

Merry Christmas to all.

Then it was off to the kitchen to fix breakfast.

She objected to the ever present paparazzi, hounding her every move.

Annette Williamson with Grandma Elda

Christmas Morning with Lisa Williamson - a regular ball of laughs.  Lisa could do 'teenager' well. You can tell from the wall decorations that there was no expense spared in getting the home ready for the holidays.

By the way, that's Charles Williamson in the background.  I believe he found a bit of lint on the carpet and was questioning who was responsible and who was going to pick it up.  Perhaps that's the cause for Lisa's expression?

Grandma Elda fast asleep.  Grandpa was talking, and we all knew that when Grandpa started reminiscing you were in for a long monologue.  Usually we all found reasons to be elsewhere.  All but dad.  His standing order was NOT to be left alone in the living room if Grandpa started reminiscing.  So what did we do?  We left him alone in the living room with Grandpa.

Annette Williamson, Grandpa Emmerson, Grandma Elda, Charles Williamson and Lisa Williamson.

Grandma and Grandpa were heading back to their motel for the night.  They'd had enough of us and Grandpa had run out of material.

Lake Powell with the DelGrosso's.  I'm thinking 1988??

Forest DelGrosso looking all GQ.  

Forest, you were such a stud!

What was that you just said? 

OK I agree.  You still are.

Amber DelGrosso, and there in the shadow is Autumn, then Ashly DelGrosso. 

We were enjoying a day of boating.

JD DelGrosso at the helm.  We were always in safe hands.

The DelGrosso's enjoying a bit of family time.  Left to right;  Kim, Amber, Autumn, Ashly and JD.

Meal Time!  Forest is on his 12th bowl of cereal.  Brandon is chomping to get back into the water

JD and Kim enjoy a cup of orange juice.

One had to take great care to retire to your tent early when vacationing on Lake Powell with Kim DelGrosso.  Kim loved her late evening swims; you know, being one with nature and all........  

From your smile I know you know what I'm talking about.

Ashly DelGrosso modeling the latest in swimwear design and safety gear.
Only the finest for this young aspiring star.

Autumn Delgrosso gets the last say.

And isn't that always the way it is :)

By the way, Autumn's hair is an original from the Kim DelGrosso Studio of Hair Design.
With scissors and brush its a quick pull pull with a snip snip - all accented with several screams supplied by the poor soul on the stool.  In a matter of minutes you were done.  Then it was up to the closet to select the scarf or baseball cap to wear until your next appointment.

Mattson, DelGrosso, Bodily. Early 1980's. More From the Collections.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I'm slowly working my way through hundreds and hundreds of slides taken between 1972 and 1990. They are posted randomly, and for that I apologize. The thought of organizing my entire collection, then categorizing them by decade, year, time and place would be too much to consider. To be perfectly honest, I would never do it. These pictures would end up lost to time and never appreciated. So, with your permission, I'll continue to post away in a grab bag random sort of way.

That being said, let's take another journey in the Wayback Machine.

Who is this little chubby cherub enjoying a paddle in his raft?
Chaz Bodily is the correct answer.

And in goes mom. Jilane and Chaz. Chaz loved the water. Jilane hoped for a tan. This picture was taken in Provo. Vernell's is a candy company. Kevin got the raft through his job at the Quaker Oats Warehouse. Ah, the life of leisure. Things haven't changed much for Jilane over the years :)

Baby Chaz Bodily once again, a bit older this time and wearing his Sunday Best. Jilane had a strange taste in children's clothing back then. All of this helps us understand the reasons Chaz is the way he is today.

There is one thing about John Mattson everyone should know; Keep him away from a garden hose! The lure of water is temptation he can't resist.

This picture was taken in front of the Mattson home on 510 S. American Fork. John is at the hose. Jake Mattson is in the blue trunks doing his best to land a strike before the full brunt of the garden hose is turned on him.

Joseph Mattson (yellow top), being the good older brother, couldn't stand idly by and let Jacob
battle the Dragon alone. Joseph and a fellow neighbor Knight took up buckets to extinguish the
Dragon's flame restore peace once again to the Kingdom. John, heavily outnumbered
fought bravely on. He succumbed in the end, giving the boys the sweet taste of victory.

Aunt Bev never got involved in anything messy. She was the one who cleaned up
the messes.

While the boys battled in the driveway, Bev enjoyed the lazy late summer afternoon by teaching her youngest daughter Candace to ride a bike.

An action shot taken just before Candace's frightful Crash and Burn. Down she went onto the neighbors lawn. If memory serves me correctly, Uncle John saw her fall and turned the garden hose on her. She had strayed too close. I told you Uncle John and water hoses are a bad combination.

Not to worry, the boys came to their little sister's rescue. Several hundred gallons of water later, the lawns were thoroughly watered and the battle ceased.

And how does one celebrate a courageous victory? Ice Cream of course.
Are you thinking "Poor Bev?".
I agree.

A half gallon container of ice cream didn't go far in the Mattson home. There wasn't much left by the time the four oldest (Kirk, Gina, Angie and Joe ) got their fill. Jake, Camille and Candace were left with the drippings - and those inevitable went to Jake. Grabbing the empty container and running away from the two youngest girls was good sport for him. The little girls cried while he licked the box clean.

You never commented about Jake's uncivilized feral ways if you wanted to keep your face clean. Jake would chase down those who did and use their faces as a towel.

Joseph Mattson's 13th Birthday.

This was a special birthday in the Mattson home. Special not because Joseph was the family's newest teenager. It was special because of what Joseph was given that day as a birthday gift. A gift which marked the family's entrance into the technological age.

Do you see what I mean?

Joseph's 13th Birthday gift was the Mattson's very first video game system, the original Nintendo 64! They played that box morning, noon and night. The Nintendo 64 was the beginning of a new era in computer and gaming history, captured the moment it arrived for the first time in the Mattson home.

How could Joe celebrate his birthday without his favorite cousins? Brandon DelGrosso, Joseph Mattson and Forrest DelGrosso. This may have been their fist exposure to home video gaming as well.

That same summer I took the older cousins to Lagoon.
Angie, Jake and Joe Mattson with Brandon and Forrest DelGrosso.


Jake and Forrest on Lagoon's brand new JetStar II

I'd like to think that Brandon DelGrosso's fascination with climbing may have gotten its start in Lagoon's Fun House. Do you remember the game? For a little extra cash (compliments of Uncle Victor) you got to climb a wobbly rope ladder up a wall to the top. A cheap prize was yours if you made it.

Jake Mattson

I loved roller coasters; however these spin you around rides were not good for me. I let the kids ride the twirl around rides while I indulged in my favorite amusement park concessions. It worked well for my wallet. I only had to buy one treat for me!

Jake Mattson and Brandon DelGrosso on the Jet Star II just before
take off.

The Appleyard Branches in our Williamson Family Tree.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Today we study the Appleyard branch of our family history. The Coat of Arms is illustrated above. We begin with the Relationship Chart.

Relationship Chart

Bartholomew Appleyard (1335 - 1412)

is your 17th great grandfather

William Appleyard (1360 - 1419)

Son of Bartholomew

Sir Nicholas Appleyard (1394 - 1454)

Son of William

John Appleyard (1440 - 1498)

Son of Sir Nicholas

Nicholas Appleyard (1482 - 1511)

Son of John

Roger Appleyard (1502 - 1528)

Son of Nicholas

Frances Appleyard (1530 - 1600)

Daughter of Roger

Anthony FLOWERDEW (1565 - 1610)

Son of Frances

Lady Temperance Flowerdew (1576 - 1628)

Daughter of Anthony

Elizabeth Yeardley (1614 - 1666)

Daughter of Lady Temperance

Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

Daughter of Elizabeth

John White (1661 - 1743)

Son of Mary

John White (1697 - 1782)

Son of John

Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

Daughter of John

Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

Son of Susanna

George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

Son of Mathew

William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

Son of George Matthew
to
Ima Della, Vinnie, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie Elvery, Emmett, Walter, Charles, Maurice
to
Us

In 1066, the Normans invaded from France and were victorious at the Battle of Hastings. In 1070, Duke William took an army of 40,000 north and wasted the northern counties, forcing many rebellious Norman nobles and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under hostile Norman rule, and they also moved northward to the midlands (Lanchashire and Yorkshire), away from the Norman oppression.

Nevertheless, this notable English family name, Appleyard, emerged as an influential name and gained prosperity in and around the county of Yorkshire. The Appleyard family traces their ancestral roots back to Anglo-Saxon origin before the year 1100. Sir Elias Appleyard, knighted under the reign of King Edward I (Longshanks), recorded his estates in Wakefield in 1275, and Sir Nicholas Appleyard recorded his estates in the same year, in Norfolk. Elias and Nicholas were brothers, holding large estates and Manors of a vast area of land. Both were the son of Sir Richard Appleyard and the grandsons of Sir William Appleyard, of Dunham, in Norfolk. Sir William Appleyard served the court of the then King Stephen (1135-1154, nephew of Henry I).

The surname Appleyard flourished during the turbulent middle ages, contributing greatly to the cultural development of England. During the 12th and 13th century, the Appleyard family served England well, in both high and powerful positions. Sir Bartholomew Appleyard, a citizen of Norwich, Lord of several Manors and patron of several Advowsons, was Baliff of the City of Norwich in 1355, 1366 and 1372, and Burgess in Parliament in 1376 and 1412. A benefactor to Saint Andrew's church, in Norwich, where he was eventually buried in a Chantry therein, founded in 1388 for the souls of himself and his son Sir William Appleyard, and their ancestors and successors.

St. Andrews Church, Norwich

Sir William Appleyard was thought of as a man of principal figure and fortune. He was, like his father Sir Bartholomew Appleyard, the Lord and patron of several Manors and Advowsons, respectively. He was eleven times Burgess in Parliment, three times Baliff of Norwich (1386, 1395, 1401), and six times Mayor (1403, 1404, 1405, 1411, 1412 and 1418); he being the first Mayor of Norwich (1403). In 1402, he was Escheator (tax collector) of Norfolk during the reign of Henry IV.

William married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Clere (Esquire)of Ormesby and had three children: Nicholas, Elizabeth (married Sir Robert White of Shotesham) and Katherine (who married Sir John Ward, Esquire). He lived in the Manor built by his father Bartholomew (about 1370) on the south of the church, now known as the Bridwell Museum and was renowned for its exquisite flint-work. He also held the Manor of Intwood and was also the Lord of the Manor of Braconash. He died in 1419, his will being proved at Norwich on October 14, 1419.

Sir Nicholas Appleyard, son of Sir William Appleyard, inherited all of his father's estates and resided in Dunston, briefly. He married Margaret Thornbury of London, daughter of Sir Philip Thornbury of Bygrave, in 1419 (age 25) and upon her father's death (1457), the two moved into his estate, the Manor of Rainthorpe, in Norfolk. Sir Nicholas sold the Manor of Intwood to Thomas Witherby, the rich Alderman of Norwich. He became patron of Bygrave Rectory after Sir Phillip's death in 1461.

Sir John Appleyard, eldest son of Sir Nicholas Appleyard (above) settled into Braken Hall, with his new bride Margaret Braken in 1466. He was Lord of the Manors of Bygrave, Carleton, Hethill, Newton and Rainsthorpe. He died in August of 1498 and bequeathed his body to be buried in Grey Friars Church, Norwich.

The Battle of Flodden Field

Sir Nicholas Appleyard, first son of Sir John Appleyard inherited all of his father's "lands and rights", but was called to service by King Henry VIII to face the Scottish King, James IV and his forces in battle. Henry VIII, in 1513 had led a victorious campaign against the French; in retaliation the Scots declared war on England. Henry's forces repelled the Scots at the Battle of Flodden Field where the King of Scotland, James IV was killed. One of the many slain knights was Sir Nicholas Appleyard. The following is a report made to King Henry VIII and is as follows:

"Knightes made at the battaill on Bramston Moore, otherwise called Flodden Field, which field was faughten the IX day of September, in the yere of our Lord God 1513, being fifte yere of the reign of king Henry the eight betweene the king of Scottes and his people to the number of 60,000 on the one partie, and the erle of Surrey, thresurer and marshall of England and lieutenant generall in the North Partes, and certain nobles and subjectes of the kinge of England to the number of 30,000 on the other partie. At what time the Scottish king and divers of his noblemen were slayne."

Temperance Flowerdew, A 9th Great Grandmother (Williamson Line). Survivor of Jamestown's Starving Time.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons!
A wet and cold Spring day at the Fortress. You'll notice there has been an increase in posts this week thanks to Alpine School District's Spring Vacation. The Space Education Center is closed.
Yesterday I introduced you to George Yeardley and Temperance Flowerdew, 9th Great Grandparents. The post centered around Gov. Yeardley. Today's post highlights the life of his wife Temperance. She was a strong and faithful woman.

Relationship Chart

Governor George Yeardley (1588 - 1627) and Temperance Flowerdew

your 9th great grandparents

to
Elizabeth Yeardley (1614 - 1666)

Daughter of Governor George

to
Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

Daughter of Elizabeth

to
John White (1661 - 1743)

Son of Mary

to
John White (1697 - 1782)

Son of John

to
Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

Daughter of John

to
Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

Son of Susanna

to
George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

Son of Mathew

to
William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

Son of George Matthew

to
to their children
Ima Della, Vinnie, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie Elvery, Emmett, Walter, Charles, Maurice
to
Us

Temperance Flowerdew was the daughter of Anthony Flowerdew of Hethersett County, Norfolk, England and Martha Stanley of Scottow, Norfolk, England. In 1609, she traveled to the New World aboard the Falcon in a convoy of ships destined for Jamestown. Her birth year is uncertain and she may have been anywhere her mid to late teens at the time of her journey, and may have traveled with her parents.
Nearly two months into the trip, the fleet encountered a horrific storm, that many called a hurricane. The flagship, the Sea Venture, with the new leaders for Jamestown was separated and lost from the rest of the convoy of ships. Among those leaders was a young lieutenant, named George Yeardley. While the Sea Venture was grounded on the island of Bermuda, the Falcon with Temperance Flowerdew onboard, limped into Jamestown a few weeks later.
Fearing all were lost on the Sea Venture, the new colonists faced so much death from sickness, disease, hunger, and Indian attacks that over eighty percent of the new settlers did not survive. However, Temperance Flowerdew survived the dreadful Starving Time. She was there to welcome the hardy souls, feared lost at sea, when they finally arrived ten months later in two small ships made from the wreckage of the Sea Venture. George Yeardly was among them. Temperance Flowerdew, however, was soon to return to England.
Three years later in 1613, Temperance married George Yeardley and over the course of the next few years had three children, a daughter Elizabeth (1614-15), and two sons, Argoll (1618) and Francis (1623).
In 1616, Deputy Governor George Yeardly secured a peace with the Chickahominy Indians that enabled the colonists to trade for food and live in peace for two years. His term ended in 1617.
Traveling to England, George Yeardley was knighted in 1618, and given a commission as Governor of Virginia.
In 1619, Governor Yeardley initiated the first legislative assembly by ordering representatives from all parts of the colony to convene at the Jamestown church on July 3), 1619 to determine the laws that would govern them. This later became known as the House of Burgesses.
Governor Yeardley named his patent grant of 1,000 acres of land in honor of his wife: Flowerdew Hundred. Sir Yeardly commissioned the building of America’s first windmill on the plantation in 1621. Notably fifteen of the first twenty Africans brought to the Jamestown colony resided at the plantation. Whether they were there in slavery or indentured servitude, it is not clear. Indentured servitude was common in the early days of the colony. The colony had no institutionalized slavery enacted into law until 1662 when the need for labor in the tobacco-dependent economy intensified.
Temperance survived another harrowing event that occurred in the early morning hours of March 22, 1622, when a carefully orchestrated attack by the Powhatan Indians wiped out twenty-five percent of the colonists. Records note that Flowerdew Hundred lost six of the thirty or so people who lived and worked there.
In 1627, Temperance’s husband died and she remarried his successor, Governor Francis West on March 31, 1628. Unfortunately Temperance died just nine months later in December 1628.

Sir George Yeardley. Governor of Colonial Virginia. (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Today we meet our 9th Great Grandparents, Governor George Yeardley and his wife Temperance Flowerdew (you've got to love that name!).

We begin with the Relationship Chart:

Relationship Chart

Governor George Yeardley (1588 - 1627) and Temperance Flowerdew

your 9th great grandparents

to
Elizabeth Yeardley (1614 - 1666)

Daughter of Governor George

to
Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

Daughter of Elizabeth

to
John White (1661 - 1743)

Son of Mary

to
John White (1697 - 1782)

Son of John

to
Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

Daughter of John

to
Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

Son of Susanna

to
George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

Son of Mathew

to
William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

Son of George Matthew

to
to their children
Ima Della, Vinnie, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie Elvery, Emmett, Walter, Charles, Maurice
to
Us

t

Creating a reputation as a leader and dedicated proponent of the successful colonization in Virginia, George Yeardley served the fledgling colony as Deputy Governor (1618-1621, 1625) and also as Governor (1626-1627), and presided over the convening of the first representative legislative assembly in North America 30 July 1619. The veteran of more than one voyage across the Atlantic, his first arrival in Jamestown was aboard the "Sea Venture." The storm-plagued journey was the basis of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," and while they left England in 1609, they were shipwrecked off Bermuda, and did not reach Jamestown until 1610.

By the time of Yeardley's arrival in Jamestown, his future wife had already beaten him to it. Temperance Flowerdew arrived in Jamestown aboard the "Falcon" in 1609, and is one of the few to survive the difficult "Starving Time" the following winter. Her family name survives in Flowerdew Hundred, one of the original "hundreds" along the James River, and the site of the first windmill on what would become American soil. Today Flowerdew Hundred is open to the public, and has a museum which contains a medallion belonging to Sir George Yeardley.

His connection to the Eastern Shore of Virginia began at least as early as 1620. That year, land there was given to Sir George Yeardley through Thomas Savage from Debedeavon, "The Laughing King." Capt. John Smith wrote that Sir George Yeardley with his company went to Accomack to his new plantation and stayed there for 6 weeks in the summer of 1620. At the time of his death, he owned 3700 acres on the Eastern Shore alone.

Yeardley was designated Deputy Governor in 1616 when Sir Thomas Dale, appointed Governor, returned to England. He returned to England late in 1617 and stayed there until he was appointed to replace Samuel Argoll as Governor and Captain-General of Virginia 18 November 1618. He was knighted 22 Nov 1618 at Newmarket, and he and wife Temperance sailed aboard the "George" 10 January 1619, arriving 19 April 1619 in Jamestown. Declining a second term, he remained in Virginia as a member of Council and served as Deputy Governor in 1625 when Wyatt returned to England. However, Yeardley was commissioned as Governor once again 4 March 1616/7. He died 13 Nov 1627 and was buried at Jamestown. Visitors today to Jamestown Island can see what is acknowledged to be his tomb in the chancel area of the Memorial Church.

His will mentioned his house in James City, his lands and houses within the island of James City and his thousand acres of land at Stanley in Warwicke River, and he owned 3700 acres on the Eastern Shore. By the time his will was written, he had already sold Flowerdew Hundred to Capt. Abraham Piersey.

Raleigh Crowshaw, Jamestown Settler, Skilled Indian Fighter. Our 9th Great Grandfather (Williamson Line)

Wes Studi as Powatans war chief and brother, Opechancanough in New World

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
I'm hoping you are all having a wonderful Easter. I hope you had the chance to read the post I made on Friday concerning the new discovery I made firmly connecting our Williamson line to the Cuthbert Williamson family of Virginia, which originated from Kent, England. Breaching that research wall was one of the goals I've had for the past three years.

Now that our roots are established, I can continue down those Williamson family lines and introduce you to more people in the branches of our family tree. This Easter Sunday I'd like to introduce you to our 9th Great Grandfather (my generation) Raleigh Crowshaw. I begin with our Relationship Chart:

Relationship Chart

Raleigh Crowshaw (1570 - 1628)

is your 9th great grandfather

Joseph Croshaw (1610 - 1667)

Son of Raleigh

Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

Daughter of Joseph

John White (1661 - 1743)

Son of Mary

John White (1697 - 1782)

Son of John

Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

Daughter of John

Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

Son of Susanna

George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

Son of Mathew

William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

Son of George Matthew

Charles Williamson (1909 - 1966)

Son of William Jonathan

Charles Williamson (1936 - )

Son of Charles

Captain Raleigh Croshaw arrived in Jamestown with the Second Supply in September 1608. It is thought that he may be related to the Crashaw family of Crashaw, Lancashire. He was a member of the Virginia Company of London in 1609 and was still listed as an adventurer in the Company in both 1618 and 1620.

He was mentioned as being a member of the group with Captain John Smith in January 1609 who, while attempting to trade for corn with the Indians at Opechancanough's village, was almost overcome by surprise. This attack was thwarted in part by Croshaw's quick reaction. Croshaw then made a night trip back to Jamestown which helped to avoid further treachery.
He appears to have been a skilled Indian fighter.

At the time of the massacre of March 1622 he was on a trading cruise on the Potomac. According to Captain John Smith's General History, Croshaw challenged the chief Opechancanough or any of his warriors to fight him naked, an offer that was not accepted. When Captain John Smith published his General History in 1624, one of the verses in Volume III of the book had been written by Croshaw -- and in his writing, John Smith implies a high opinion of Croshaw's knowledge of Indians and their way of making war.

About 1623 a patent was issued to...

"Captain Rawleigh Crawshaw, Gent., of Kiccoughtan, An Ancient Planter who hath remained in this country 15 years complete and performed many worthy services to the Colony,"

for 500 acres by Old Point Comfort. This was based on his transporting himself, his servant and his wife in addition to adventuring 25 pounds sterling in the Company. By the following year he was a burgess for Elizabeth City. In March of 1624 he was issued a commission to trade with the Indians for corn. On this voyage he purchased a "great canoe" for 10,000 blue beads.

Captain Croshaw was last referred to on 22 November 1624, and then on 27 December 1624 Captain Francis West was instructed to take an inventory of his estate. The name of his wife does not appear, and as neither the census of 1624 nor the muster of 1625 mentions them it seems probable that the wife and children returned to England.

Captain Croshaw appears to have had three sons, Joseph, Noah(possible name), and Richard. While Joseph may have been educated in England, both Joseph and Richard are mentioned many times in the records. Joseph appears to have led a more public life, having been a member of the House of Burgesses from York as well as having served as a justice and as sheriff for York County.

Simply,
Victor

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