I’ve written a few blog posts lately about the home of my great-grandparents, Abraham & Martha McNair. Well, here comes another one! However, in this case, I am pleased to have found a new discovery about their home. Namely, their address prior to the home that has been such a beacon for my family history heart.
It comes from a newspaper article that was written about their son (my great-uncle) Lorenza McNair. Lorenza was the first black man from his hometown to volunteer for the Navy so when Lorenza was home for a visit during his service, the newspaper wrote about him. The article goes in-depth about Lorenza’s service and provides additional verification for some information I’ve previously collected about him. A snippet of the article is below; you can see a full-size image of it in my Forever archive.
In the article, in addition to describing his service, there is a statement about where his parents were living at the time; their address is noted as 319 Wilson Street. This is great because the only specific address I had for them is their home I’ve written about before – 502 Wilson Street. Thus, I now know that in 1943 they were living just a couple of blocks away from the address where they would eventually purchase their home. I then was prompted to go back to them in the 1940 census to see where they were living, and I found the address- 149 5th Street in Plymouth.
I am definitely going to make a point to go back to earlier census records and record their addresses as part of my genealogy file so that I can establish their residence history prior to when they bought the home. I have not traditionally recorded specific residential addresses, but I think that practice is about to change. In fact, I need to do this for my immediate family next – we have lived a LOT of places. How many residence event facts are too many – for, I just may be pushing the limits when I get our residences recorded – ha!
Note: This post is for Week 7 of Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” genealogy prompt series; this week’s prompt was “Favorite Discovery.” I have so many discoveries that it is hard to pick a favorite, but finding this address for my great-grandparents is certainly a helpful discovery!
Thanks for sharing, I find this very relate-able! I too get excited when I find a new address, and also wonder how far to take it. Our ancestors were more mobile than we thought…
They definitely were mobile weren’t they. I like to read old newspapers and sometimes I marvel at the extent to which people traveled back in the day.
Congratulations.
I recorded my addresses on Ancestry years ago. I missed a few as I couldn’t find the addresses online. I tried to put about when I lived at each address. My parents lived so many places I don’t know about which makes finding them impossible as they both died decades ago. Waiting on the 1950 census to come out in 2 years to figure where they lived. My guess is Dad was finally living in Portsmouth, VA. Previously, he lived in eastern NC, but was born in Norfolk, VA. Been curious about why as his parents lived in East Lake, NC shortly before he was born. Figure his parents were visiting family when Dad showed up.
It is great that you recorded your own addresses – wonderful! My parents also moved around a lot too. I’m fortunate to have them both around to ask so I’m trying to get all the details now while I can. I hope you find them when the 1950 census comes out! Those 2 years will be here before we know it.
I expect Mom was back in south Mississippi as she bounced between Columbus, Georgia and Mississippi several times. I think Dad joined the Air Force from Portsmouth which is why Mom put it on my birth certificate for his birthplace.
My daughter was born in Mississippi, but has lived most of her life in Kansas. If I asked her, she would likely say she’s a Kansan.
They definitely moved around! And, thanks for the post about my blog over on your blog!
You are welcome. I thought it was a great find and deserved to be shared.
Congratulations! This is amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!!