The Mattson / Williamson Family Christmas Gathering. 2015. A Decluttered Event Following the Nationwide Trend.

 

The All Wise Elders of the Clan
Bev, Luella, Charles (cleverly photoshopped in. He was at Walmart), and John

  

     The Mattson/Williamson yearly Christmas party was held yesterday at Center Stage Dance Studios in Orem, Utah. There were many absent. I suspect the usual excuses - ill health, out of town, couldn’t be bothered, depression, no longer identifying as a Mattson or Williamson, bored of seeing the same faces, bored of hearing the same stories, adverse to hugs and other public displays of familial relationships, was offended by someone last year and refused to attend to make a public statement of general disagreeableness, dentureslipophobia, fear of group bonding games, and having to ‘work’. The only family members with acceptable excuses were those long dead and buried. 

The holiday reunion was held in a modest venue.

     Which ended up being just the right size for our reserved yet regal gathering

     oops, wrong party...... wrong pictures......

     OK, got that problem solved. I got my party pictures mixed up. I get invited to too many holiday parties. After awhile they all blend together in my brain. 

     Here are the pictures for the Mattson / Williamson family party.   

     The holiday reunion was held in a modest venue, Center Stage Dance Studio in Orem. We were in Studio 4 next to the preschool's toilets. Jilane's preschool was right behind the double doors, which lent itself an excellent far away land to exile the little noise makers.  They ran wild and free while we conversed.  Luckily mom and I had our Hart's Super Big Gulps to sip on during those awkward lulls in conversation :)  

Forrest

     Phones provided another source of distracted when needed.

     Kevin, Brooklyn, and Kenedee sat away from the main table. They were protective of their super deluxe pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni.  I was allowed to join them and indulged in a generous helping of free smells.  

  

      Luella was a bit camera shy at first, but soon warmed up.

     There was a children's table. This was the best I got from them when a "smile for the photo," was requested. They didn't know me from Adam, hence the stranger danger look.  

      It was a BYOP affair with two side tables reserved for sweets. A caesar salad paired with a vegetable tray added a bit of variety to the confections and pastries.  There is an old, well established belief in the Mattson / Williamson family that says the calories eaten from handfuls of cake, fudge, donuts, etc. can be halfed if you first help yourself to a quarter paper plate of cauliflower and / or broccoli, dipped deeply in a heavy dip.  
   

     Kevin and Kristin flew in from Nashville for other reasons AND made time for a fashionably late entrance to the family party. Kevin's thumbs up was his reaction to my wielding an iphone 6s. I was being congratulated for finally adapting to the 21st century. 

     Annette and Thane enjoyed their pizza while Annette tracked her 'Likes'. 

   Brandon and Monica were there along with all but one of their kids. Cameron was absent, using one of the excuses listed at the top of the page. Goose stared at his dad's salad wondering why they had to play the healthy card on that night of all nights. 

     Cheyenne, Val, and Kirk sat with Emily and Bev. I joined them after helping myself to the cauliflower and broccoli followed by an assortment of reduced calorie items. Kirk told tales of his adventures reffing college football. The pictures were great. 
     Camille complained about always being referred to as Kirk Mattson's sister.  "Everyone loves Kirk because he's a PAC 12 football ref," she mumbled. "His name is the one to drop if you're looking for your 5 minutes of relationship fame."
     I personally have no idea what she's talking about....

    By the way, did you know my first cousin is a PAC 12 football ref?   

     I thought I'd drop these couple of photos into the post just for reference......

     Getting back to the party - our medical conditions inevitably floated to the conversation's surface.  We went around the table sharing stories of medical procedures gone right and horribly wrong.  

     Taylar and Jilane.  Kirk was acting a bit weird. It had to be my new iPhone 6s, complete with deluxe protective cover and Verizon 4g nationwide coverage. 

     A good time was had by all.  Linda was on a downer for part of the night having forgotten to start the feast with a quarter paper plate of cauliflower and / or broccoli dipped deeply in a heavy dip. She was not happy with herself.  

     The Delgrossos sat mid table. Monica was exhausted by the end of the evening having to track conversations from both ends.  Brandon didn't seem to care.

The Paper Plate Contest

     

     Besides riveting conversation laced with clever puns and anecdotes, we had a draw the snowman competition. Annette captured several photos of the event which I stole from her Facebook page.

     Emily Mattson won with the best drawn snowman. Mine looked more like 'snowman' written in Chinese. It was the perfect game - fun without a lot of group bonding. 

  

 Executive Summary

     The family party this year was simple, easy, and fun. Let's face it, if we tried to get any more ambitious it just wouldn't happen. That's why I call it a decluttered event.  

     We don't see each other enough. Everyone is busy with their own lives, so having these rare get togethers is a blessing. A Thank you needs to be said to all who put it together. A special thank you to Kim and Jilane for providing the room. We missed all of you who couldn't make it and hope to see you all soon. 

Victor

Pictures from the Mattson Ranch Near Hammond, Montana. 1939-1942

The Walter Mattson Family, Montana 1939.
Violet, Luella, Walter

Hello!
     I'm on Christmas vacation for two weeks. Without the work of 70 sixth graders to keep me busy, I've got time to do a few family history posts in my long neglected blog. 
     In today's virtual family gathering, we'll be travelling back to the old Mattson ranch near Hammond, Montana. The years are 1939 to 1943ish.  Hammond lies nearly halfway between Broadus, Montana and Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The Mattsons lost the ranch in the mid 1950's and moved to Belle Fourche, South Dakota. 

     This is Hammond, Montana.  Not much there today - about the same back in the day.  The one room schoolhouse where the Mattson siblings attended school is still standing though no longer in use.

The one room schoolhouse (right)

This is Luella Mattson at age three or four.  All the pictures in today's post come from Grandma Mattson's ranch photo album.  These are the last pictures to be posted from the album.  The others were posted in previous entries.  

Luella with her doll and cowboy boots.

Luella standing in the doorway.  She is the last of our family to have lived a portion of her life without electricity or indoor plumbing.  

These are the only pictures we have of baby Walter Mattson.  He was born in October 1940 and died of pneumonia in December of that same year.  

Luella holding her younger brother Walter shortly before his death in 1940.

Violet Mattson holding her daughter Luella

Luella with her two grandmothers. Grandma Vesta on the left and Grandma Ida on the right. 

Grandma Vesta with granddaughter Luella.

Luella on a cold Montana winter day.

Luella with her father Walter on the ranch.

Grandma Vesta, mother of Violet, grandmother to Luella.

    Grandma Violet holding her firstborn Luella outside the ranch house in Montana. Walter Mattson's parents are standing in the background.  Both John Albert Mattson and Ida Tornberg immigrated from Sweden in their early years. 
    Our family sprang from very humble origins.   

 

Violet Mattson with Luella

 Violet Mattson and Luella

 Violet Mattson with the family pets

Luella with Grandma Vesta.

Luella Mattson

Luella held by her father Walter Mattson.

Raleigh Crowshaw, Our 9th Great Grandfather. Jamestown Settler, Ancient Planter of Virginia, and Indian Fighter. (Williamson Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today's topic for our digital family reunion is our 9th Great Grandfather Raleigh Croshaw.
Shall we begin with the Relationship Chart?

Relationship Chart

Raleigh Crowshaw (1570 - 1628)

is your 9th great grandfather

Joseph Croshaw (1610 - 1667)

son of Raleigh Crowshaw

Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

daughter of Joseph Croshaw

John White (1661 - 1743)

son of Mary Croshaw

John White (1697 - 1782)

son of John White

Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

daughter of John White

Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

son of Susanna White

George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

son of Mathew Williamson

William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

son of George Matthew Williamson

Charles Williamson (1909 - 1966)

son of William Jonathan Williamson

Charles Williamson (1936 - )

son of Charles Williamson

to

Kim, Victor, Kevin, Janice, Jon, Jilane, Lisa, and Annette Williamson

The information comes from Wikipedia

Captain Raleigh Croshaw (1570 -1624) was an Ancient planter and a representative in the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth City County in the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.

Croshaw is believed to be from the Crashaw family of Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, England; his parentage and date of birth are not known.  He arrived in Jamestown, Virginia on the "Mary & Margrett", with the Second Supply in September 1608. His wife came over on the "Bona Nova" in 1620 but, as she is not mentioned in 1623 Census, she was likely dead by 1623. 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 one of the authors of the complimentary verses prefixed to "The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles" (1624) of John Smith of Jamestown.

Croshaw and his wife had at least two sons, possibly three:

• Joseph Croshaw (1610–1667), married 1. Unknown; 2. Widow Finch ; 3. Widow Anne Hodges; 4. Widow Margaret Tucker; 5. Widow Mary Bromfield
• (possibly) Noah Croshaw (1614–1665), married Elinor 
• Richard Croshaw (1618–1667), married Elizabeth 

Raleigh Croshaw was the local official in the Elizabeth City area. This settlement later became known as the Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg, Virginia. His sons were among the first to take advantage of this new settlement. 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, Virginia.

Croshaw 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 were almost overcome by surprise. This attack was thwarted in part by Raleigh Croshaw's quick reactions. Raleigh Croshaw then made a night trip back to Jamestown which helped to avoid further treachery. He appears to have been a very skilled Indian fighter.

At the time of the massacre in March 1622, he was on a trading cruise on the Potomac. According to Captain John Smith's General History, Croshaw challenged the chief Opchanacanough or any of his warriors to fight him naked (without armor), 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.

Raleigh Croshaw accompanied Claiborne on his explorations and, with just a few men, successfully defended a remote trading outpost up on the Potomac River in the 1622 attack. Captain Raleigh Croshaw was in the Potomac River trading in a small bark, commanded by Captain Spilman. There an Indian stole aboard and told them of the massacre, (1622) and that Opchanacanough had been practicing with his King and Country to betray them, which they refused to do, but that the Indians of Werowocomoco had undertaken it. Captain Spilman went there, but the Indians after seeing that his men were so vigilant and well armed, suspected that they had been discovered, therefore, to delude him, they gave him such good deals in trade, that his vessel was soon nearly overloaded”.

About 1623 a patent was issued to "Captain Raleigh Croshaw, Gentleman, of Kiccoughtan, “An Ancient Planter who hath remained in this country 15 years complete and performed many a worthy service to the Colony," for 500 acres (2 km²) 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 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. The Corporation of Elizabeth City states that “Captain Raleigh Croshaw planted by Patent 500 acres (2 km²) between Fox Hill and the Pamunkey River to establish Elizabeth City.” Captain Raleigh Croshaw was last referred to on November 22, 1624. On December 27, 1624, Captain Francis West was instructed to take an inventory of his estate.

By 1637 the York County settlers had already begun to breach their own palisade and move into Indian land on the other side. The area between Queens Creek and Ware Creek was called the "Indian Fields." It was a series of vast communal fields the Indians used for planting corn. Again, it was Joseph Croshaw and Richard Croshaw who were the first to move into the area. In 1637 and 1638, they each patented a few thousand acres about where the Camp Peary government center is located today. They controlled most of the land in that area for the next 20–25 years.

Hans Georg Gutekunst. Our 5th Great Grandfather. Leaving Germany. Peril on the Sea. Revolutionary Soldier at Valley Forge. An Honorable Death. Williamson Line

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
My 5th Great Grandfather, Hans George Goodykoontz (Gutekunst) fought in the Revolutionary War.
Gutekunst in German means being good at one's trade.  He was born in Germany and immigrated to America early in his life.  This blog has other posts on the life of Hans George Goodykoontz so I won't labor you with a retelling of things you may have already read.  The purpose of today's post is to clarify points in his history from a new source.

Let's start with the Relationship Chart.


Relationship Chart

Hans Georg Goodykoontz (Gutekunst) (1732 - 1784)

is your 5th great grandfather

Anna Margaretha Goodykoontz (Gutekunst) (1775 - 1851)

daughter of Hans Georg Goodykoontz (Gutekunst)

Arabella Phlegar (1809 - 1865)

daughter of Anna Margaretha Goodykoontz (Gutekunst)

Margaret Ann Willis (1835 - 1921)

daughter of Arabella Phlegar

William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

son of Margaret Ann Willis

Charles Williamson (1909 - 1966)

son of William Jonathan Williamson

Charles Williamson (1936 - )

son of Charles Williamson

To Us.

The following information comes from a section of US Congressman Wells Goodykoontz'a "A Historical Sketch of the Goodykoontz Family in Virginia." The manuscript of this book (which was never published) is held by the Virginia Historical Society.

We start with his journey from Germany to America.

George Gutekunst as a Soldier of the Revolution

From the same manuscript we have this information on the death of Hans Georg Gutekunst.

The following Information covers the Battle of Germantown, in which our ancestor fought.

The Battle of Germantown

Battle of Germantown - Date:

Fought less than a month after the British victory at the Battle of the Brandywine (September 11), the Battle of Germantown took place on October 4, 1777, outside the city of Philadelphia.

Battle of Germantown - Background:

Following their victory at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, British forces under General William Howe captured the colonial capital of Philadelphia. Unable to prevent this, General George Washington moved the 11,000-man Continental Army to a position along Perkiomen Creek between Pennypacker's Mills and Trappe, PA, approximately 30 miles northwest of the city. Concerned about the American army, Howe left a garrison of 3,000 men in Philadelphia and moved with 9,000 to Germantown. Five miles from the city, Germantown provided the British with a position to block the approaches to the city.

Battle of Germantown - Washington's Plan:

Alerted to Howe's movement, Washington saw an opportunity to strike a blow against the British while he had numerical superiority. Meeting with his officers, Washington developed a complicated attack plan which called for four columns to hit the British simultaneously. If the assault proceeded as planned, it would lead to the British being caught in a double envelopment. At Germantown, Howe formed his main defensive line along the Schoolhouse and Church Lanes with Hessian Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen commanding the left and Major General James Grant leading the right.

On the evening of October 3, Washington's four columns moved out. The plan called for Major General Nathanael Greene to lead a strong column against the British right, while Washington led a force down the main Germantown Road. These attacks were to be supported by columns of militia which were to strike the British flanks. All of the American forces were to be in position “precisely at 5 o’clock with charged bayonets and without firing.” As at Trenton the previous December, it was Washington's goal to take the British by surprise.

Marching through the darkness, communications quickly broke down between the American columns and two were behind schedule. In the center, Washington's men arrived as scheduled, but hesitated as there was no word from the other columns. This was largely due to the fact that Greene's men and the militia, led by General William Smallwood, had become lost in the darkness and heavy morning fog. Believing that Greene was in position, Washington ordered the attack to commence. Led by Major General John Sullivan's division, Washington's men moved to engage British pickets in the hamlet of Mount Airy.Battle of Germantown - Problems Arise:

Battle of Germantown - American Advance:

In heavy fighting, Sullivan's men forced the British to retreat back towards Germantown. Falling back, six companies (120 men) of the 40th Foot, under Colonel Thomas Musgrave, fortified the stone home of Benjamin Chew, Cliveden, and prepared to make a stand. Fully deploying his men, with Sullivan's division on the right and Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's on the left, Washington bypassed Cliveden and pushed on through the fog towards Germantown. Around this time, the militia column assigned to attack the British left, arrived and briefly engaged von Knyphausen's men before withdrawing.

Reaching the Cliveden with his staff, Washington was convinced by Brigadier General Henry Knox that such a strongpoint could not be left in their rear. As a result, Brigadier General William Maxwell's reserve brigade was brought up to storm the house. Supported by Knox's artillery, Maxwell's men made several futile assaults against Musgrave's position. At the front, Sullivan and Wayne's men were exerting heavy pressure on the British center when Greene's men finally arrived on the field.

Battle of Germantown - The British Recover:

After pushing British pickets out of Luken's Mill, Greene advanced with Major General Adam Stephen's division on the right, his own division in the center, and Brigadier General Alexander McDougall's brigade on the left. Moving through the fog, Greene's men began to roll up the British right. In the fog, and perhaps because he was intoxicated, Stephen and his men erred and veered right, encountering Wayne's flank and rear. Confused in the fog, and thinking that they had found the British, Stephen's men opened fire. Wayne's men, who were in the midst of an attack, turned and returned fire. Having been attacked from the rear and hearing the sound of Maxwell's assault on Cliveden, Wayne's men began to fall back believing they were about to be cut off. With Wayne's men retreating, Sullivan was forced to withdraw as well.

Along Greene's line of advance, his men were making good progress, but soon became unsupported as McDougall's men wandered away to the left. This opened Greene's flank to attacks from the Queen's Rangers. Despite this, the 9th Virginia managed to make it to Market Square in the center of Germantown. Hearing the cheers of the Virginians through the fog, the British quickly counterattacked and captured most of the regiment. This success, coupled with the arrival of reinforcements from Philadelphia led by Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis led to a general counterattack all along the line. Learning that Sullivan had retreated, Greene ordered his men to disengage retreat ending the battle.

Battle of Germantown - Aftermath

The defeat at Germantown cost Washington 1,073 killed, wounded, and captured. British losses were lighter and numbered 521 killed and wounded. The loss ended American hopes of recapturing Philadelphia and forced Washington to fall back and regroup. In the wake of the Philadelphia Campaign, Washington and the army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. Though beaten at Germantown, American fortunes changed later that month with the key victory at the Battle of Saratoga.