Flew, a surname that appears to be primarily of English origin, is the 633,196th most common name in the world. Its origin possibly stems from the Old English “flod(e)”, from “flowan” meaning “to flow”. It was probably attributed to someone who dwelt near a small stream. Another possibility is from the Welsh name Lloyd, meaning a person who dresses in grey or has grey hair.
The earliest recorded variant of Flew in England, Thomas Flue, appears in The Tudor Lay Subsidies list in 1525. The 1542 muster rolls of the Liberty of Portelond (Portland) in Dorset reported a Tho (Thomas) Flewe with a bow and 1/2 sheaf of arrows and Jn (John) Flewe with a bow and 6 arrows. They were most probably father and son.
One of the earliest instances of the name Flew in English church records is the burial record of Alyce Flew on April 14, 1559, in Cannington, Somerset.
On July 4, 1736, the marriage of John Flew and Jone Dunn was recorded in Carhampton, Somerset. The record included the notation “ats Lewellin” (Church shorthand for “also known as Lewellin”). The same notation was included for the marriage of Thomas Flew to Mary Davis on November 27, 1736. It is possible that, with Carhampton lying approximately 15 miles south from Wales across the Bristol Channel, migrants adopted the local name to conceal their Welsh origins.
In the first complete England census, conducted in 1841, 158 Flews were recorded. Of these, 53 were in Devon County, 50 in Dorset County, mainly on the Isle of Portland, 17 in Gloucester County, 11 in Somerset County and 7 in Staffordshire. The Gloucester and Somerset Flews were mainly centered around Bristol and the town of Long Ashton. These made up four separate enclaves of Flews – Devon, Dorset, Gloucester and Somerset, and Staffordshire. So far, I have not found any link between the disparate groups. All of these groups fall in the southwest of England, northeast of Cornwall, south of the Bristol Channel to the English Channel with the exception of Staffordshire which lies in the West Midlands just north of Birmingham. I am somewhat perplexed as to how this latter group came to be.
In the 1921 England Census, the last one publicly released, 256 Flews were recorded spread over 17 counties. The following are the top counties by count - Dorset 51, Hampshire 38, London 35, Devon 29, Gloustershire 25 and Somerset 20. The remainder are spread over Cheshire, Cornwall, Glamorgan, Kent, Lancashire, Middlesex, Monmouthsire (now Gwent), Pembroke, Surrey, Wiltshire and Yorkshire. Two Flews were enlisted in the Royal Navy and weren't included in any county. Move the mouse over the map to see the distribution in the 1921 Census. You will see that the Flews continue to be prominent in southwest England and southern Wales.
Flews in America first appeared in the 1790 U.S. Census in the State of Pennsylvania with a total of 2. They most likely came from England with the early Quakers. By the 1950 Census the total was 47 distributed through the following states and territory - Massachusetts(4), New Jersey(3), Ohio(29), Pennsylvania(28), Puerto Rico(1), Tennessee(4) and Wisconsin(1). There were 111 Flews in the previous 1940 Census. Much of the decrease between 1940 and 1950 can probably be attributed to the fact that 51% of the 111 in 1940 were females, many of whom married during and after WWII.
The naming of children in early England, and subsequently in America, followed a simple formula. The first-born male child was named after his father. If the first-born male did not live long enough (unfortunately a common occurrence in those days), a subsequent male child would be named for the father. The second born male would often be named for his grandsire on his father’s side and the third for his wife’s father.
Similarly, the first-born daughter would be named after her mother, the second after her grandmother and the third after her husband’s mother. This can be very important in investigating family lines. If you know the name of the oldest male sibling, then it is a good assumption that his parent’s would be the same. For this reason the name William is prominent in both the Flew and Stuart lines. Please read carefully any reference to William to avoid confusion.
Dates are given as (birth-death). If either date is unknown, it is left blank with the “-“ used to infer birth or death.
Both the Flews and the Stuarts included a number of railroad men. Here is the key to those railroad's abbreviations: PC&StL - Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis; G&H - Gettysburg and Harrisburg; M&O -Mobile & Ohio; IC - Illinois Central; Y&MV - Yazoo and Mississippi Valley. Of these, only the IC remains in operation as such to this day.
The earliest record of William Flew was his marriage to Elizabeth Dennis on 30 Jul 1749. This was recorded in the "Carhampton, Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812". His birth date is not known though it could have been as early as 1714. He and Elizabeth had four children – William (1752-1777), our 3rd great-grandfather, Elizabeth (1754-), Jenny (1759-) and Ann (1763-).
England during William’s time was a country marked by political stability under a constitutional monarchy. It had a hierarchical social structure, with a growing middle class and a majority of the population belonging to the lower class. The period was characterized by intellectual and cultural advancements, with the Enlightenment movement shaping scientific and philosophical thought, and the arts flourishing. Carhampton was a peaceful and prosperous village, where the community thrived on agriculture and close social ties. The villagers lived simple yet fulfilling lives, deeply connected to the land and each other. The church at the time was The Church of St John the Baptist Anglican church.
Elizabeth Dennis was born in April 1720 in Dunster, Somerset. Her mother, Jane, was probably around 20 years of age at the time. Unfortunately, her father is unknown. She married William Flew on July 30, 1749, in Carhampton, together having four children in 11 years. She died in August 1777 in Carhampton at the age of 57, and was buried there.
Johnathan Barry, Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Exeter in Devon County, in his 2013 book "Raising Spirits: How a Conjuror's Tale Was Transmitted across the Enlightenment", recalls the story of a William Flew who, near Downend, east of Bristol, conjured a magical tree. Berry goes on to state that “…a William Flew was born about 1752, who was married at Long Ashton in 1795 (dying there in 1836)...”. He goes on to state “During the 1762 Lamb Inn case, two of the 'man witches' in Mangotsfield were named as 'William Flew' and 'William Flewellin'.” (I wonder if these might have been the same person.) From the dates given, it is most certainly our William whom we have dubbed William the Conjuror.
William Flew was born in Nov 1752, in Carhampton which lies in the northwest of Somerset,
just 15 miles from the border with Devon County. Since church records at the time did not record births, his exact birth date is not known, but he was baptized on 26 Nov 1752 in Carhampton as recorded in the "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812". His father, William, was 38 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 32.
William’s father died in 1771 and his mother died six years later in 1777.
On 4 Apr 1779, William, age 26, married Jane Davis, age 29 in Carhampton. After less than four years of marriage, Jane died in 1783 and was buried on 26 Jan 1783. They were childless and this, along with the deaths of his parents, probably was a great contributor to his decision to leave Carhampton. We lose track of him for about 12 years until he resurfaces in Long Ashton in 1795.
In that year, on 21 Dec, William, age 43, married Ann Davies, age 31. (Somehow the similarity between the names Jane Davis and Ann Davies seems to be more than coincidental.) They enjoyed just 16 years of marriage until her death in 1812. At the age of 59, William never remarried. They had four children – William (1796-1854), our 2nd great-grandfather, Ann (1798-), Mary (1801-) and Jane (1803-). William died in 1836 living to the old age of 84. He was buried in Long Ashton on 16 Mar 1836.
In 1836 Long Ashton was a small village located in Somerset, about 5 miles southwest of Bristol. With a population of around 1,200 people, it was a predominantly agricultural community, with farming being the main occupation for most of its residents. The village, as today, was surrounded by lush green fields and rolling hills, providing a picturesque backdrop to everyday life and consisted of a few shops, a church, and a school. The church, All Saints Church of England, played a central role in the lives of the villagers, serving as a place of worship and a gathering spot for community events. People lived in modest cottages made of local stone, and their daily lives revolved around tending to their farms and families.
Ann was baptized in Bristol on 25 Nov 1764. It is quite probable that she was born in Bristol. Her baptism record lists her father as Joseph Davies, my 4th great-grandfather. Unfortunately, her mother is not listed in the baptism record and no other information is known regarding Joseph.
After marrying William at the age of 31, she lived just 16 years dying in 1812. She was buried in Long Ashton on 5 Jan 1812.
William was born in Long Ashton on Thursday, 4 Jan 1798 as recorded in the "Somerset Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812" and was baptized three years later on 11 Feb 1799. At the same time his sister, Ann, was baptized at the age of 7 months.
On 13 Oct 1823, he married Sarah Watkins by Banns, an ancient legal tradition. To be married by Banns, the couple must announce their intention and the Bann must be read one Sunday in each of the three months prior to the wedding. This not only provides an opportunity for an objection by a third party, but it also gives the prospective bride and groom an opportunity to have cold feet.
From the registry, we can see that the ceremony was officiated by Vicar J Lewis and was witnessed by George Wood, Bruce Young and Thomas Priddy. While William actually signed the registry, Sarah made her mark. Writing was quite uncommon in those days so it is not surprising that Sarah could not sign her name.
At the time of the wedding, Sarah was living in Wraxall, a small village about 3.5 miles west of Long Ashton. It is quite possible that they both attended and met in All Saints Church in Long Ashton.
From their wedding to William’s death in 1854, he and Sarah had nine children – Mary Ann (1824-1838), William (1826-1868), Caroline (1828-1891), George (1830-1897),
our grandfather, Edward (1832-1834), Elizabeth (1835-1840), James (1837-1855), Mary Ann (1839-1900) and Sara Priscilla (1842-1935). With the death of Mary Ann, their first daughter, in 1838, when a subsequent daughter was born in 1839, she was also given the name of Mary Ann. Mary Ann, the latter, became George’s closest and dearest sibling and in later years moved to America to live out her final days with him.
In the Bristol Archives is a registry showing the daily labor of its workers at the Courts of Lord Ashton for the period of Monday, 4 Aug 1828 through Saturday, 9 Aug 1828. Among the workers working on the Farm is “Wm Flue” who was listed from Monday through Saturday alternating between the tasks of Cutting Weeds and Mowing Weeds,
for which he was paid 10 shillings for the week. The last record we found for William was in 1838 where he was working as a gardener, this time in the Garden, still earning 10 shillings a week. Of course, in those days inflation was not a problem.
William and his household were the first generation to be counted in the census, appearing in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses. In the 1841 census, he was listed as living on Providence in Long Ashton, probably what is today Providence Ln, though it gives no address. In the 1851 census it lists him as living at 17 Arch Grove, which today is a group of attached cottages along what is now a foot path.
Included in the information revealed in the 1851 census was that William still worked as a Gardener. His eldest son, William worked as a “Labourer”, while Mary, aged 11 and Sarah, aged 8, were “day Scholars” probably meaning they attended school. Oddly, their household also included Ann Gallop who was listed as a Servant with the occupation of “Washerwoman”. This seems to be quite extravagant for a large family with only 10-15 shillings coming in each week. Possibly Ann took in wash from neighbors to support the household.
William died on Tuesday, 4 Jul 1854 at the age of 58 and was buried on Sunday, 9 Jul.
When Sarah Watkins was born in August 1799 in Trelleck, Monmouthshire, Wales, her father, William, was 32, and her mother, Sarah, was 17. She married William Flew on October 13, 1823, in Long Ashton at age 24. They had nine children in 18 years. At the time of her wedding, she lived in Wraxall, a small village about 3.5 miles northwest of Long Ashton.
Records from the Bristol Archives show that during the week of 26 Mar 1832, Sarah was employed by Ashton Court where she worked on the Farm. She, along with six other women, spent the week “hacking turnips” and “picking stones”. For this, each of the women was paid five shillings (half of what the men earned).
She died on December 7, 1875, in Bedminster, Somerset, England, having lived a long life of 76 years, and was buried in Long Ashton.
George, the second son of William and Sarah, was born in 1830 in Long Ashton. He was baptized on 16 May 1830 at his mother’s childhood church in Trelleck, Monmouthshire, Wales.
At age 21, the 1851 census showed that he was living in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, as a boarder and working as an iron miner. It would be easy to assume that George’s mother had some influence in his relocation to Wales.
In Oct 1854 George returned to Long Ashton. Unfortunately we learn this from UK Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951, specifically the Taunton Gaol, Calendar of Trials, 1884-1889. The record states that George Flew, along with Edward Every were charged with the commitment of “Stealing four hundred pounds weight of lead fixed to a building, the property of John Greville Smyth, Esq, value 4l, at Long Ashton, on the 12th September 1854”. For this heinous act they were both sentenced to “Imprisonment with hard labor for 3 calendar months in the House of Correction Shepton Mallet”. Sir John was the Lord of Ashton Court where George’s father was employed as a gardener.
Two years later, his criminal career behind him, on 17 Jun 1856, at age 26 he married Mary Ann Martin of Arundel in Sussex at the Saint Nicholas Church in Brighton, Sussex. It may seem a mystery how a young man from Long Ashton would meet and marry a young lady from Arundel, two towns separated by about 75 miles, in those days quite a distance. Perhaps the answer lies in the 1861 census. Here George is listed as a “Stoker Driver”, a coal stoker on a railway train and it would make since if took him that far. Since before 1850, a railway route ran from Bristol to Brighton via London. The census also reveals that his neighbor is Henry Spanks whose occupation is “Engineer” (at that time it would be a railroad engineer). Given George’s experience as a miner and his friendship with Henry, it would be reasonable that he could find work as a train stoker. This would initiate a relationship with the railroad that he would pass to the next two generations.
A further look at the 1861 census reveals additional interesting information. Along with his wife, Mary Ann, it includes a son, Francis, age 2, my grandfather, and Ellen age 6 months. They were living in Bromley, just southeast of London, at 10 Public House, Wicham Terrace. Contrary to the practice of the day, George chose to name his first son Francis. Perhaps this was the name of an undiscovered beloved uncle or a special friend.
Following Ellen, Lawrence was born probably in 1861, with William George born in 1863. Sometime after the birth of William George, the family emigrated to America. We do not know exactly when the move was made; however, William George was born in Brighton in 1863 and the family appeared in the 1870 US census. Knowing that George was not drafted into the Civil War right off of the boat would indicate that they probably arrived after Apr 1865.
The census did not require the person’s immigration and naturalization dates until the 1920 census. Since George died before 1920, we have to look at Francis’ and William George’s census records for 1920.
Francis’ 1920 census states the Year Immigrated as 1860 and Year Naturalized as 1870. William George leaves these columns blank so there is no help here. In the 1930 census, Francis states the Immigration Year as 1870. The Naturalization Year did not appear on the 1930 census. William George died prior to the 1930 census so again no help there. Since their immigration could not have taken place prior to William George’s birth in England in 1863, we can ignore Francis’ report of 1860, especially given that he would have only been one year old.
The Naturalization Act of 1802 set the residency requirement for immigrants at five years. If they were naturalized in 1870, then their arrival would not have been later than 1865. At the time of Francis’ 1920 census, he would be relying on the memory of an 11 year old, or younger, boy. Assuming that he had some record of his naturalization in 1870 to rely on, we can only conclude that they arrived in 1865.
The follow up question to be asked is why did they emigrate? We know that the mid-19th century was a time of economic flux in England. On the other hand, the post-Civil War era in America was a time of economic growth and industrialization. The railroad was key to this growth and was expanding to meet the demand. In 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed from Council Bluffs, IA, to Oakland, CA.
The first record of George and his family in America is the 1870 US Census where they were living in Omaha City, NE. Oddly, there are actually two separate census record for George’s family in 1870. The enumeration dates shown are 30 Jun and 5 Sep. Apparently between the two dates they had moved from the 1st to the 3rd Ward. In the earlier census they are listed with the surname of Flue whereas in the later they are listed as Flew. And while George is listed in as a “Civil Engineer” in the first, he is listed as a “Locomotive Engineer” in the second. Lawrence is listed as a 9 year old male in the second, but is listed as Florence a 9 year old female in the first, obviously an error. Unfortunately, Ellen is not listed in either census and it can only be assumed that she died sometime after the 1861 England Census. Extensive searching of England and US archives do not turn up a record of her death. Possibly she died on the passage to the States and it was not registered on their arrival.
In the 1876 City Directory for Indianapolis, IN, George was shown living at 62 Fletcher Ave. Also shown living at this address is Frank Flew, listed as a “wiper” for the PC&StL Railroad. A wiper is responsible for cleaning, or “wiping”, the machinery. It should also be noted here that Francis gives his name as Frank. Apparently, he did not like the name Francis and chose to be referred to as Frank once he was out from under his father’s control.
In May of 1877, George filed a negligence suit against the PC&StL railroad for the sum of $5000. The suit claimed that, on the night of 4 Feb 1875, the freight train on which he was engineer collided with the caboose of another freight train near Greenville, OH.
The suit claimed that not only did the caboose have no warning lights but also that the conductor on the other train was inexperienced and failed to give a warning signal. The defense claimed that George was “running at a rapid speed, and was under the influence of liquor or opium” and also that “he was incompetent”. The trial consumed an entire week and fifty witnesses were called. In the end, the judge awarded George the sum of $2000. Upon hearing of the verdict, George’s lawyers, Hurd & Hendricks, moved for a new trial.
The case was appealed to the Marion County Superior Court where it was dismissed and judgment made for the railroad company for costs. No reason was given for the reversal of the judgment.
In 1880 George is listed in both the US Census and the City directory as living at 11 Concordia in Indianapolis and occupied as an Engineer. Apparently, he was able to maintain his position with the railroad. Both Francis (now Frank), age 22, listed as a “R. R. Fireman” and William George, age 17, listed as a “News Boy” resided at the same address. Within several nearby houses two other “Engineers” are listed indicating that this was a neighborhood favored by railroad workers. In the 1881 City Directory, George was listed as living at 466 E. Georgia.
The directory has separate boarders Francis (this time not Frank), engineer, and William G, now a printer.
The 13 Jan 1881 edition of the Milan Exchange announced George's return to Jackson, TN. Of particular interest in the brief write up was the statement "Mr. F. is one of the most cultivated and best traveled mechanics ever in Jackson. He ran an engine in South Africa some fifteen years ago, and accompanied the famous Stanly on his African Expedition." Aunt Mae had mentioned to Cissy that George had worked on the railroad in Africa. Unfortunately no additional details of his time in Africa have been found.
Probate Records in Jackson, TN, dated 19 Sep 1891 contains George's Will. In the Will he lays out in detail what each of his heirs will receive, even to enumerating pillows and sheets. Included in his heirs are his wife, of course, Mary Ann (Martin) Flew, his beloved sister, Mary Ann (Flew) Lovell and his sons Frank and W. G.
On 25 Mar 1897 an article appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal titled “A Dose of Mercury”.
With a dateline of Jackson, TN, it read in part ”George Flew, an old and respected citizen of this city [Jackson], took a dose of mercury last night with suicidal intent.” The story concludes “George Flew died today from the overdose of Mercury”. A large overdose of mercury can cause massive blood and fluid loss, kidney failure and, finally, death. His demons exorcised, George was laid to rest in the Flew family plot in Hollywood Cemetery.
Jackson, TN, in the late 19th Century was a bustling city. It was a time of significant growth and change, with a diverse population and a thriving economy. Its economy in 1897 was primarily driven by agriculture, with cotton being the dominant crop. The city served as a major hub for cotton production and trade, attracting farmers from surrounding areas. The city boasted a lively social scene, with theaters, opera houses and social clubs offering entertainment options for residents. Churches and community organizations played a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and providing support to individuals and families. The city had several schools, including public and private institutions, catering to students of different backgrounds. Efforts were made to improve educational opportunities for all residents, regardless of their race or gender. The city also had a public library, providing access to knowledge and promoting literacy. Technological advancements, such as the introduction of electricity and telephones, were gradually transforming the city and improving the quality of life for its residents.
Mary Ann, the first daughter of John, a shoemaker, and Mary Anne (Martin) Martin, was born on 19 Sep 1829 in Arundel, Sussex and baptized 9 Oct at St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch in London.
In 1851, Mary Ann was living in Brighton and working as a Cook for Elizabeth Thompson, a young mother of three. It was probably while living here that she met her future husband, George Flew, who she married in 1856. Mary was living with George in Jackson, TN, in 1897 when George took his life. She remained in Jackson for several years after his death until finally moving to Galveston, TX, around 1903 to be with her son William George. Here she passed on 27 Jul 1905 at the age of 76. Though her death certificate gave the cause of death as Cardiac Failure, it stated that she had been “just gradually declining.” Her remains were returned to Jackson and laid to rest next to George in the family plot in the Hollywood Cemetery
Arundel Castle is a magnificent medieval fortress that dominates Mary Ann's hometown of Arundel. The castle was the ancestral seat of the Duke of Norfolk, one of the most influential noble families in England. Its grandeur attracted visitors from far and wide, offering a glimpse into the region's rich heritage. The River Arun flows through the town, facilitating transportation and trade.
Mary Ann, George’s beloved sister, was born in Long Ashton on 24 Nov 1839 and baptized on 29 Dec of that year. Hers was one of those sorrowful situations that arose too often in that time for she was not the first daughter named Mary Ann born to William and Sarah. Their first daughter was born in 1824 and they named her Mary Ann. Unfortunately, in 1838 at age 13 she died. When the next daughter was born in 1839, she was named Mary Ann. (Why the name Mary Ann was so important I do not know. Perhaps it was a combination of William's mother's and Sarah's grandmother's names.)
Mary Ann first appeared as part of the Flew household in the 1841 Census. In the 1851 Census, at age 11, she was listed as a “day scholar”.
The 1861 Census found her living with the family of Alex and Frances Fownes and their six children as a “Domestic Servant” in the town of Clifton, just a few miles north of Long Ashton.
On Christmas Day in 1864 she wed Samuel Lovell in Long Ashton at All Saints Anglican Church. On 24 Oct 1865, they welcomed Priscilla Caroline to their family. The 1871 Census found the three of them living in Bristol along with James Day, Mary Ann’s nephew from her sister Caroline. Unfortunately, Caroline’s husband, James Day, had died in 1858 at age 31 and Caroline, at 32, was living with another family as a servant. In July of 1875, Priscilla Caroline died at the age of 9 and in Dec of that year, Mary Ann’s mother, Sarah, died.
May Ann and Samuel were living in Birmingham, Warwickshire, in the 1881 Census. Tragically, just a few months later in Oct, Samuel passed away at the age of 41. In Jan 1891, her sister Caroline died and this may have been the cause for her emigration to America for in Mar of that year she boarded the ship the Umbria bound for New York. In Sep, she was living in Jackson, TN, in the house owned by George at 113 Johnson St.
In 1897, her beloved brother George died. The last record of Mary Ann was the City Directory of 1857 which showed her living at 115 Johnson St. Family tradition has it that after her death in Jackson she was laid to rest with George and Mary Ann Flew in the Flew plot in Hollywood Cemetery. This was confirmed many years later by Willie Mae to Cissy. Willie Mae was not alive at the time not being born until 1906. She would have heard it from Frank or Sallie. Mary Ann's death was prior to the 1900 census since that document found George's wife, along with Frank, Sallie and Frances living at 115 Johnson St with a stranger living at 113 Johnson St.
George's will requested that, on Mary Ann's death, Frank and William George were required to pay for all expenses and have her grave marked "With her named marked in a humble but becoming maner [sic]...". There is a marker which cemetery personnel believe is a headstone though it is not marked. Unfortuately, Hollywood Cemetery doesn't have a record her interment though they admit that such is not uncommon. And none of the local newspapers, from 1897 through 1900, carried an announcement of her death or burial despite the prominence of the Flew family in Jackson.
Francis was the first son of George and Mary Ann Flew, born 4 Jan 1859 in Bromley, Middlesex, England, a suburb of London. About 1865, at age 6, George, along with his parents and siblings, Ellen, Lawrence and William George, immigrated to America.
In 1870, they lived in Omaha, Nebraska, where George was working with the PC&StL Railroad. Unfortunately, somewhere in the intervening years Ellen had passed away. Finding no records in either England or America, it can only be assumed that she died on the passage.
In the 1876 City Directory for Indianapolis, IN, Francis, at age 17, was listed as living at the same address as his father, George, and is employed as a “wiper” for the PC&StL Railroad shops. A wiper’s responsibility was to clean, or wipe, equipment. It was in this directory that we first see the name Frank rather than Francis.
The Indianapolis City Directory of 1881 show Francis (not Frank) now employed as a fireman and living as a boarder with his father and brother William George at 466 E Georgia. William George lists his occupation as printer.
In 1891, at age 32, the newspaper the Jackson Dispatch ran an advertisement for “Flew & Co., ARTIFICIAL STONE AND PAVEMENT COMPANY”.
This relocation to Jackson comes after his father, George’s, law suit against PC&StL.
Unfortunately, just six years later, in Nov 1897, George took his own life at age 67. At the time of George’s death, an article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal stated that “He leaves…two sons, young railroad men, in Mississippi and Texas”. This indicates that Francis was at that time living in Mississippi, most assuredly in Jackson.
On 18 Nov 1897, Frank and Sarah Jane “Sallie” Stuart were married at her house in west Jackson, MS. I have given much thought as to how Francis (henceforth Frank) found his way to Jackson, MS, and particularly to the heart of Ms Sallie Stuart. On moving to Jackson, TN, I believe he was employed by the M&O Railroad probably making a regular run between Jackson, TN, and Jackson, MS. There he met John Thomas Stuart, Jr, employed by the Y&MV Railroad (later the IC RR) who then introduced him to his sister, Sallie.
The birth of their first daughter, Lee Frances Flew, was on 17 Feb 1899 in Jackson, TN, the couple having returned there sometime after their wedding. The 1900 census showed Frank, Sally and Frances living with his mother, Mary Ann at 113 Johnson St. His occupation is shown as “Locomotive Engineer”. On 4 Jun 1901, their second daughter, Clara Belle, was born in Jackson.
In 1903, the Galveston, TX, City Directory showed Frank and his family, along with Mary Ann, living at 3619 H now employed as an Engineer with the G&H Railroad. At that time his brother, William George, was living in Dallas, TX, and perhaps the move to Texas was at least partly as a result of his father, George’s, death a few years earlier. However, just two years later, in 1905, his mother, Mary Ann passed.
While still living in Galveston in 1906, their third daughter, Willie Mae, was born. However, by 1908, they had returned to Jackson, TN, where their only male child and my father, Frank Thomas, was born. They had retained their house on Johnson St and so moved back there.
The 1910 census showed them once again moving, this time to Corinth, MS, just 50 odd miles south of Jackson. Here, on 23 Nov 1911, their fifth and final child, a girl Annie Stuart, was born. According to the 1913 Corinth City Directory, they were living at 602 Washington where he was once again employed by the M&O Railroad. This change to the M&O probably happened on his return to Jackson.
.jpg "Click to Enlarge")
The 1920 census showed Frank, now 63 years old, and family back in Jackson, TN, living at 312 Highland Ave, not far from their previous Johnson St home and downtown Jackson. In Jul 1926, his younger brother, William George, died at age 62 in a train wreck near Heidenheimer, TX. Newspapers reported that William was “crushed to death in his cab, which was enveloped in clouds of steam”. His death certificate listed the cause of death as “Scalded”.
In the census of 1930, they resided at 501 McCowat St where they were renting. Perhaps this was due to the number of people living here. Along with Frank, Sallie, Frances, Frank and Anne (now Pearson) was Ann’s husband, Wayne, their new born daughter, Sarah Anne, and brother-in-law, Robert S. Grant. Now age 71, Frank continued to work as an engineer.
On 23 May 1936 at 77, Frank passed away that afternoon in his home following what his obituary described as a “lingering illness”. His death certificate listed his cause of death as “Arteriosclerosis – Cerebral Hemorrhage”. He was buried in the Flew family plot in the Hollywood Cemetery
Sallie was born on 10 Dec 1874 in Jackson, MS, to John Thomas and Clara (Robinson) Stuart. At the time they were living at 14 Sharkey St and her father was an Iron & Brass Worker. At age 6 her mother, Clara, died.
In 1897, as I related above, I believe that her brother, John Thomas Jr, introduced her to Frank Flew and on 18 Nov 1897 they were married in Hinds, MS. They soon moved back to Jackson, TN. Though they lived for a few years in Corinth, MS, from 1910 to 1913, Sallie lived out most of her life as a prominent citizen of Jackson. On 8 Feb 1938, just two years after the death of Frank, she passed away following a long illness. She had been a member of the Lambuth Memorial Methodist Church for many years. She was laid to rest next to her husband in the Flew family plot in the Hollywood Cemetery.
Frank was born in Jackson, TN, on 1 Jul 1908. According to the 1908 Jackson, TN, City Directory the family was living at 113 Johnson St. However, his actual birth name remains a mystery in the Flew family with no official records of his birth or baptism having been found. His father’s legal name was Francis but his preferred name was Frank. Though he named his son after himself, did he name him Francis or Frank? Many years later, my sister remembers hearing his sister Frances tell Frank “Brotha you know when you were born your name was Frank Francis”. And then there is the family tale that he was not born with the middle name of Thomas. Again, according to my sister, his sister Anne said the he told his mother that he wanted to be named after his uncle Thomas (Stuart). And she said “Ok, your name is Tom”. Family lore has it that later when he went into the military, he was asked for his full name and when he replied “Frank Flew” they insisted that he give them his middle name which he gave as “Thomas”. In the 1910-1930 censuses, he was listed by his parent as Frank, as well as the 1940-1950 censuses in which he listed himself as Frank. Though no records have been found that refer to him as Francis it is hard to discount his sister’s statement as the only living witness at his birth.
In 1910, at age 2, they moved to Corinth, MS, where they lived at 1217 Washington St. Here his sister Annie Stuart was born. And in 1920 they were back in Jackson where the census reported that Frank attended school and could read and write.
The 1930 Census does not include his sister, Willie Mae, who had married in 1925. Nor does it indicate that, at age 21, he was employed.
In the 1940 Census, Frank was living at 523 East Baltimore St along with his sisters, Frances and Anne and Anne’s daughter, Sarah Anne. He was occupied as a Repairer with a Radio Company. Later that year on his WWII Draft Card he listed his employer as F. M. Frankland’s. He would work for the auto parts division of the Frankland's Carriage Company for the remainder of his working life.
On 17 Nov 1942, Frank reported for enlistment in the US Army at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. After Basic Training, he was transferred to Champ Chaffee, AR, where he was assigned to the 177th Ordnance Depot Company under Lt. Raymond G. Roy. On 5 Apr 1943, the 177th was activated and attached to the 14th Armored Division, but was subsequently reassigned to the 3rd Army. On 21 Oct 1943 they were transferred to Camp Shelby, MS, and there attached to the 338th Ordnance Battalion. In late Dec Frank, now a Sgt, was granted a furlough to attend the wedding of T/Sgt James E Craig in Corinth, MS, where he served as the groom’s best man. In Jan 1944 they were transferred once again, this time to Camp Stoneman, CA, to prepare for embarkation. Finally on 8 Jan 1944 they departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation aboard the USS Republic.
They arrived in Honolulu, HI, on 16 Jan 1944 where they were assigned to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion. From Dec 1944 to Feb 1946, they moved between Leyte, Philippines, and Luzon until on 10 Feb 1946, with the end of the war, the unit was inactivated. On 6 Nov 1945, The Jackson Sun newspaper, Jackson, TN, reported the return of Tech/4 Frank T. Flew from service in the Pacific. (The only two things that Dad ever mentioned about his military service was that he served in the Philippines and played golf in Hawaii. While he gave up the military career, he continued to play golf for the remainder of his life.)
For his service in the Pacific Theater in World War II, Frank earned the following medals – the World War II Victory Medal and Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Philippines Liberation Ribbon w/Star and the Meritorious Service Medal. Years later after Frank would pass away, his service was honored by a letter from the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
On returning from duty, Frank returned to his job with Frankland’s Auto Parts where he spent the remainder of his career. With employment, he was now able to marry his sweetheart, Patricia Jayne Vawter. They tied the knot in a double ring ceremony on 1 Jul 1948 (coinciding with Frank’s birthday) in Corinth, MS. Shelby Hutcherson, who would be Dad’s life long friend, stood in as his Best Man. After the wedding, they honeymooned in the Pickwick, TN, area. Returning to Jackson, they made their home at 144 West Orleans.
On 20 Jun 1949, their first child was born, a son, which they named Frank Patrick, combining both Frank’s and Patricia’s names. The following year, on 6 Aug, I was born, George Wiley, named after Mom’s adoptive father, Wiley Vawter, and her step-father, George Crosby though I would always be known as "Bubba". And then, on 31 July 1952, May Elizabeth, to be called "Cissy", was born. Cissy was named after mother’s adoptive mother, Goldie May Vawter and her best friend Elizabeth Howell. It was shortly after her birth that the family moved from E. Orleans to 133 Melrose St. which, which at the time, was just outside the northern City Limits.
The house was the last on the in a cul-de-sac at the bottom of a hill that snugged up to a deep sandy bottom ditch. Though we just called it the Ditch, I learned years later that it was officially named Sandy Creek. The Ditch and all of the fields of broom straw sage and the clay wash, that we just called Clay Mounds, north of the Ditch would be our play ground throughout our young lives. We would roam the fields, washes and ditches with little care for snakes or spiders (and there were plenty of both) with our knives, machetes and, later, bb guns. We all grew to our teen years with both eyes and ten fingers and toes. There were a few broken bones and some serious cuts that required stitches, but we survived.
Our family was finally complete with the birth of John Curtis on 24 Jul 1960. For the next twenty years, Frank would spend the years working for Frankland’s and providing a good life for his family. Frank, Jr was the first to leave the fold with a short stint in the Army in 1966. He was medically discharged, missing the Viet Nam War, and shortly after moved to Nashville to begin a career in the optical lens business. In Fall of 1968, after graduating from High School, I left for college and, though I was home periodically during school, my career took me from Memphis to Nashville.
I did return to Jackson from 1976 through 1979. During those years, Dad and I would frequently play golf on the old nine-hole VFW course out on N. Highland. Dad had joined the VFW after returning from the war and remained a member throughout his life. We would pull our golf bags on one of those little three-wheel charts, him using his 4-wood from just about anywhere on the fairway other than the tee and the green. One of us would usually at some point on the course bring up playing golf in Hawaii. Those years remain the best memories I had with Dad.
Dad had been diagnosed with diabetes several years before. While I never knew it to be a major problem, it did finally take its toll. I took a job with my old firm in the Fall of 1979 and moved to Nashville. We returned the following Fall for Thanksgiving. The Friday following Thanksgiving, 28 Nov 1980, I was visiting my wife’s family in Alamo, TN, when we got a call that Dad had been taken to the hospital in Humboldt. We hurried back and stopped at the hospital where we spent a short time with Dad in his room. Mom finally told us to go on to Frank Jr’s house where we were staying for the weekend. When we arrived, we were told that Dad, at age 72, had passed away from a heart attack. For reasons I do not know, Dad was laid to rest in the Highland Memorial Gardens rather than the family plot in Hollywood Cemetery.
The Tennessee Children's Home Society was an orphanage located in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1899 by social worker Georgia Tann. Initially, the organization aimed to provide care and find homes for orphaned and abandoned children. However, it became notorious for its involvement in one of the largest adoption scandals in U.S. history.
Georgia Tann ran the home with ruthless efficiency but also engaged in illegal and unethical practices. She operated a highly profitable adoption ring, where children were often taken from their birth parents through coercion, kidnapping, or falsified paperwork, and then sold to wealthy families across the United States. Tann and her network of accomplices made significant profits from these transactions.
The Tennessee Children's Home Society gained a reputation for its secrecy and lack of oversight, which allowed Tann to operate unchecked for years. However, in the late 1940s, the scandal began to unravel, leading to investigations and legal actions against Tann and her associates.
The exposure of the Tennessee Children's Home Society's corrupt practices led to widespread outrage and reforms in adoption laws and practices in the United States. Georgia Tann died in 1950, and the home was eventually closed down. The legacy of the Tennessee Children's Home Society is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for profit.
The Nashville branch of The Tennessee Children's Home Society was opened in 1922. This branch, like the main headquarters in Memphis, played a role in the organization's activities, including facilitating adoptions and providing care for children in need. However, it was also involved in the scandalous practices associated with Georgia Tann's operation, which ultimately led to the downfall of the organization. It was here that Evelyn and Clemens Taphorn found themselves in 1930.
On 4 Nov 1927, Patricia was born to Clemons Henry and Edna Louis (Curtis) Blunkall in Cook County, Illinois, and given the name of Evelyn Louise Taphorn.
The 1930 Census shows her at age 2 living in Nashville, TN, with Clemens, Edna, her sister, Lillian, age 5, and brother, Clemens, age 1. Also living with them is a boarder named Elizabeth Nichols, age 20. (I only mention this latter because my sister, May Elizabeth, is married to Tom Nichols, making her name Elizabeth Nichols!)
In Aug 1930, Clemens surrendered Evelyn and Clemons, Jr, to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Nashville, TN. Lillian was brought to the Home but was taken by Ada Curtis Mosely, Edna’s sister and Lillian’s aunt who lived in Nashville.
On 11 Jun 1932, Evelyn was adopted by Wiley E. and Goldie Mae (Dedmon) Vawter of Jackson, TN. She was given the name of Patricia Jayne Vawter and her birthdate was changed to 15 Dec 1927. Unfortunately, Clemons, Jr was adopted to another family and though Patricia searched for many years, she was never able to find him. Eventually there were changes in the adoption laws in Tennessee that might have allowed Patricia to find Clemons. However, by this time she had abandoned the effort.
The 1940 Census found Patricia, age 12, living in Jackson with Wiley and Goldie and attending school in the 5th grade. On 3 Jun 1944, Wiley passed with the cause of death given as “Carcinoma of Lung”.
On 9 Jan 1943, at age 15, Patricia married Robert Odell Buckner of Humboldt, TN. While he was stationed at Camp Polk, LA, Goldie sent Patricia off Our Lady of Grace School in Morristown, NJ. Though the reason is unknown, Patricia did state later that she was quite wayward in he youth. During the time that she was in school, Robert obtained a divorce and remarried. Patricia graduated about 1946 and returned to Jackson.
In Dec 1945, at the age of 57, Goldie married George Leonard Crosby, age 70. The 1950 Census found them living on Cartmell St in Jackson. George, my namesake and whom we called Pa George, is the only grandfather figure I have known. Pa George, like the Flew men, had worked as a railroad man, probably with the IC Railroad. However, he had lost one arm, I seem to remember the left one, just above the elbow. I had thought it was due to a work accident but Cissy assures me it was caused by cancer. The only memory that I have of him is the time that Frank Jr was acting up and Pa George told him to behave. Frank, being the onery one, told him that he could not do anything because he only had one arm. At that, Pa George grabbed him by the nape of the neck, tucked him under his left arm and, as they say, “wore him out”!
Meanwhile, on 2 Jul 1948, Patricia, age 20, married Frank Thomas Flew, age 40.
While the age difference is a little odd, Frank’s father, Francis married Sallie when he was 38 and she was 22. The age spread in these generations explains why I never knew any paternal grandparents.
At the time they married, she was working for McCauley’s Studio as a secretary. In the 1950 Census her occupation was shown as Keeping House. The census also included Frank Patrick, 1 year old. Just a few months after the census, I was born. And then on 31 Jul 1952, May Elizabeth (Cissy) was born.
Patricia had always known that she was adopted and in the mid-50s, she tried to locate someone that could help her find her family. She enlisted the aid of Red O’Donnell, a reporter for the Nashville, TN, Banner newspaper. She subsequently received a letter and, on 22 Sep 1957, she was reunited with her Aunt Ada (Curtis) Mosely. From Ada she learned that her birth mother was living in Buffalo, NY. Unfortunately, she did not make an attempt to contact her. However, through Ada she was reunited with several of her kin.
Around 1958, Patricia entered into the Nursing program at Union University where she graduated in 1959 with a Licensed Practical Nurse degree. Her career as a nurse would span 35 years working in area hospitals and nursing homes. In 1994 while working at the Henderson, TN, Nursing Home, she suffered a stroke which ended her career. Her final years were spent at the Humboldt, TN, Nursing Home.
On 2 Jul 2004, at age 78, she passed away peacefully in the Jackson Madison County General Hospital. She was laid to rest in the Highland Memorial Gardens next to Frank.
However, Patricia’s story does not end here. In 2019, Cissy was contacted by a woman from Chicago inquiring as to whether Patricia’s real father might have been, as she put it, “one of the Pisano boys” rather than Clemons Taphorn. At first this seemed to be a ridiculous claim. However, looking at the dates that they lived in Chicago looked quite suspicious. Ancestry.com allows a search of people who have similar DNA and specific names in their family tree. A search of DNA matches with Taphorn in their tree turned up no matches. However, a search with the name Pisano turned up numerous matches. From this analysis, we have come to accept the Patricia’s father was in fact one of the Pisano brothers. Family tradition is that Patricia and her siblings were given up for adoption because Clemons and Edna were unable to provide for them. However, in light of the above, if Clemons had found the truth, would it have contributed to giving them up?
In August of 2018, Cissy noticed that the entry of M. P. in her Ancestry DNA Matches list showed a high probability that she was a 2nd or 3rd cousin. Her second attempt to contact her resulted in a reply from her father, Rob. From Rob, Cissy learned that his father, Fred C. Thompson, was born in Nashville in 1929 and that he had been adopted by Eugene and Virginia Thompson of Old Hickory, TN, in 1930. Given the dates and DNA evidence, Fred could only be the long-sought Clemons Henry Taphorn, Jr. Unfortunately, Fred disappeared in the mid-1960s and was declared deceased in 1968. However, it was good to finally put the search to rest. It was even better to find an entire family of new cousins.