There is a family mystery that I would like to solve. It involves the relationship between my great-grandmother Mary Ann (Sinclair) Kaelber & her mother Susan (Sylvester) Sinclair or [a possible] step-mother Susan (Morse/Morise) Sinclair.
Here is the family lore:
For as long as Grandma Virginia or Dad can remember, my great grandma Mary always said that Susan (or "that woman" as she put it) was not her mom. The legend goes that, as Daniel Sinclair lay dying from blood poisoning c. 1911, he told Mary that "she's not your mom" and that she was to "get out of [there]".
As you can tell from my first paragraph, based upon my research so far, I have come up with two names: Susan Sylvester & Susan Morse (or Morise).
Great Grandma Mary's death certificate (1900-1999) lists her mother as Susan Sinclair. (However, it also lists her occupation as nurse. In searching the Washington State Department of Health's Provider Credential Search, it appears that she was not a licensed nurse or nurse aide.) The death certificate of John Sinclair (1902-1920), Mary's younger brother, lists his mother as Susan Morse. (However, if their older brother Joseph Sinclair [who is listed as "not of sound mind" on his 1917 draft card] were the one who had provided the information, it is possible that it wasn't correct.)
As you can tell from my first paragraph, based upon my research so far, I have come up with two names: Susan Sylvester & Susan Morse (or Morise).
Great Grandma Mary's death certificate (1900-1999) lists her mother as Susan Sinclair. (However, it also lists her occupation as nurse. In searching the Washington State Department of Health's Provider Credential Search, it appears that she was not a licensed nurse or nurse aide.) The death certificate of John Sinclair (1902-1920), Mary's younger brother, lists his mother as Susan Morse. (However, if their older brother Joseph Sinclair [who is listed as "not of sound mind" on his 1917 draft card] were the one who had provided the information, it is possible that it wasn't correct.)
Since John Sinclair was born in 1902, one would assume that the 1910 Washington State census could indicate a different woman than did the 1900 Wisconsin census. However, that's not the case!
In looking at this information, one could wonder if Daniel Sinclair had had an affair - and a child - with a woman named Susan Morse ... and that Daniel's statement had actually been about Susan Sylvester not being John's mom (vs Susan Morse not being Mary's mom).
But then what would I make of this 1915 marriage document (from Spokane County, Washington) which lists the bride as a widow named Susan Morse Sinclair? (And Spokane County does not necessarily seem strange, as this page from the 12 June 1915 edition of The Colville Examiner and the 1920 census' [here & here] suggest that Susan was not living with relatives in Ferry County in 1915 or 1920.)
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In order to shed more light on the situation, I need to get the birth certificates for both Joseph Sinclair and John Sinclair. (Mary's birth certificate lists her mother as Susan Salvesta.) I would also like to get the marriage certificate for Daniel Sinclair and Susan Sylvester and the possible marriage certificate for Daniel Sinclair and Susan Morse (although general online searches have not indicated the existence of such a document).
Well, there's always the possibility that your great grandfather Daniel was lying or his mental status was affected by the disease and he was just raving.
ReplyDeleteJohn's birth certificate is on FHL Film No. 1305136. born in Stiles, Oconto, WI to Dan Sinclair (Canada) and Susan Morris (Waupaca, WI). I could not find Joseph.
ReplyDeleteDid you also find the un-named daughter for Daniel Syncler and Susan Sylvester born on 26 Jul 1889 in Oconto? FHL Film # 1305135.
ReplyDeleteThis was not something I was aware of. Thank you so, so much for sharing (and for the research that you did)!!!
DeleteThis does lead me into another question that I have re: possible genetic disorder(s) in the children of this family. Great Grandma Mary lived to be almost 100. (Sadly, she had wanted to make that goal, but missed it by less than 1-month.) Other than some hearing & vision loss in (& due to) her advanced age, she had always been healthy & "sharp". However, her brothers (& sadly her sister) didn't seem so lucky.
John Sinclair's 1920 death certificate lists the primary cause of death as "epileptic fit" & the secondary (I think) as hemorrhage. Joseph Sinclair's 1917 draft registration lists "physical disability" on the first page & "this man is not of sound mind" on the second. (One of the witnesses listed on said draft card has the surname of Lakin. I went to high school in Kettle Falls w/ possible descendants/relatives of this person, so, when time allows, I'm hoping to seek their elders for any information they might have.)
I guess my questions might be:
1) Was John an epileptic or had he had a one time event (head trauma, stroke)?
2) What was Joe's disability?
3) Could they have had a similar disorder & what could it have been?
4) If there is a disorder, could I be a carrier? (This thought occurs to me because my child had a subdural hematoma at 10-months.)
Daniel Sinclair and Susan Sylvester were married 28 Apr 1886 in Oconto, WI. They are in Vol. 01 page 0309.
ReplyDeleteDo you have Daniel's Naturalization papers?
ReplyDeleteYes. [https://www.dropbox.com/s/pp78643hfurpakw/1909%2C%20naturalization%20record%2C%20Daniel%20Sinclair.jpg] And I had (within the last week) become aware (by pure chance) of there being naturalization paperwork in Wisconsin. But I didn't know what it meant. (What you said about him starting the process there, then finishing it in Washington makes sense.) But how in the world did you come across that (or any of the info) so quickly?!?! That's amazing!!!
DeleteGenealogy funny? If you were my ancestor, I would refer to you as "sharp" (as I most definitely do with some). LOL