Surname Saturday – Ewell

I never ever thought of the Ewell surname being unusual until one of my geneabuds, Amy, A_Cain on Twitter, begin asking me about my Ewell line and commented that it was an unusual surname.


Of my paternal lines, my Ewell ancestors are the only line that I’ve been able to trace back to 1870 and yet for some reason it doesn’t fascinate me nearly the way the my other paternal lines do. That is until now. My Ewell line is as follows:

1. Mavis Jones

2. Earl Jones

3. Iola Luvenia Everett Jones, born abt May 1895 in the Crossroads section of Everetts, Martin County, NC; died 5 Apr 1969 in Shelby, Cleveland County, NC. Internment Evergreen Cemetery, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC

4. Edith / Eadie Ewell Everett, born abt 20 Nov 1865 in Martin County, North Carolina; died 25 July 1917 in Everetts, Martin County, North Carolina. Internment – unknown.

5. Isaac and Pennie Ewell

Isaac was born abt. 1840 in North Carolina, probably Martin County; died between 1870 and 1880 probably in Martin County, North Carolina. Internment unknown.

Pennie was born abt 1840 in North Carolina. Her date of death and interment are unknown at this time.

In searching online for information on the Ewell surname, it appears that the best online information can be found at Ewell Family History and Genealogical Society. (I just discovered this terrific site today.) A great many sites suggest that the name finds it’s origins in Wales; however, the researcher, Paul Jensen, states that during his research of the Ewell name and its various phonetic spellings he didn’t find a single Ewell in Wales. Further research showed that the name most likely derived from the Wales name Llewellyn. It appears that for whatever reason, that upon arrival to the US, the name was shortened to its various spellings.

I also decided to check out the Ewell surname on Public Profiler. The top country for the Ewell surname is the United States at 17.78 FPM, with Utah being the top state, and Virginia Beach, VA being the top US city for the surname. In fact, three of the top five cities for the Ewell surname are located in Virginia. Brief readings on the history of Martin County as well as the eastern part of my home state, have always lead me to believe that not only does my maternal grandmother’s Everett side go back into VA at some point but her Ewell side probably does so as well.

On my paternal side of the family, I’m just now beginning to push into the slavery area on any line, so I’ve not done a lot. I’ve only briefly looked at candidates who possibly could be the last slave owner. In the coming weeks, I plan to explore these possible candidates more in depth. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.



Until Next Time!

Wordless Wednesday - the Jones Family

From the collection of Mavis Jones

Believe or not, at the point in time that this picture was taken, abt. 1973, this is almost all of the descendants of my grandparents. The only ones missing are three of my first cousins, and of course my oldest uncle, who was already deceased. When talking descendants, daddy's side of the family (6 grandchildren) stands in stark contrast to my mother's side of the family (26 grandchildren).

Sentimental Sunday - Reel-to-Reel Tape Recordings

Picture obtained from devicepedia.com

In today’s digital world the reel to reel tape recorder is considered an antiquated piece of technology. But back in the day, that was the way we Joneses kept in touch. More specifically, tape recordings were the way daddy and Aunt Martha stayed in contact with their brother, Uncle Claudius, who lived in Florida.


When I think about all the recordings going back and forth between North Carolina and Florida, the thought of them brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. It always felt like we were right there with Uncle Claudius and my cousins. However, as a shy and sometimes withdrawn child, those reel to reel recordings were pure torture for me, also. Daddy and Aunt Martha always had me talking on them. I can still hear it today, “Come talk to your Uncle.” I never said much, usually only saying “Hi Uncle Claudius. This is Mavis.” Of course daddy and Aunt Martha were always standing there telling me to tell him about this or that (my good grades, playing the piano, whatever else was going on in my young life.) Whatever I said definitely had to be pulled out of me.

Like so many things that would be a treasured piece of the past, I’m afraid that none of those old recordings are left. As we moved from reel-to-reel to cassette tapes, the tapings became less and less frequent. The cassette tapes just weren’t the same and right now, I don’t ever remember us sending any of those back and forth. In addition, we never did keep the recording that was received. It was always taped over when doing the return tape. But wouldn’t it be fun if my cousin LaFrieda and I could figure out who sent the last recording and better yet, discover that it didn’t get taped over.



Until Next Time!

Yele Haiti

Earlier this week when discussing the tragedy in Haiti, I pointed out that donations could be made through Wyclef Jean's orginazation, Yele. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that since that time, there has been information that has come out with regard to Yele's accounting and financial practices. Like others, I do find the timing of the release of this information questionable given that Yele has been around for 12 years. I will also state that wrong is wrong.

So, as in everything else in life, investigate any organization that you plan to make a donation to and through.

Until Next Time!

The Will and Spirit of a People - Haiti Continued

Another Not So Wordless Wednesday - Haiti

Picture from REUTERS

Earthquake, 7.0 on Rector Scale

January 12, 2010

Ever since discovering the significance of my Uncle Toussaint L'Ouverture's name, I've always felt this connection to Haiti. Toussaint L'Ouverture, was the great Haitian revolutionary leader who lead the successful slave revolt, which lead to Haiti becoming a nation. I've often wondered how grandmomma Jones knew about Toussaint L'Ouverture. I've always had this romanticized view that grandmom's line of the family came through Haiti.

As Iyanla Vanzant stated on today's Michael Baisden Show, Haiti has always been treated like the bastard child. I know we are in a recession but I would like to challenge my readers to help in anyway they can, whether prayer, monetarily, or traveling to Haiti to help the victims of this horrific disaster.

For those interested in helping monetarily, you can make contributions through http://www.yele.org/, Yelehaiti, Wyclef Jean's organization. You can also get information by following Wyclef on Twitter.

A Happy 101 Award

We are already a week into 2010, and I definitely needed a push to shake me out of the winter doldrums and post holiday let down. I had been contemplating what I was going to write on in the year when along came a push I needed to get back on track.

The push that I needed came from fellow bloggers and Geneafriends Sandra, I Never Knew My Father, and Renate, Into the Light, who gifted me with the Happy 101 Award. Sandra gifted me not once be twice for both of my blogs. Both ladies have been the greatest of geneafriends and both write terrific blogs that come from the heart and touch one's soul. If you have not had a chance to read either of their blogs, please take the time to check them out. You won't be disappointed.

As a receipient I have to reveal ten things that make me happy, then select ten other bloggers to receive the award.

Ten Things that make me Happy

1. Watching sunrises on early spring mornings when there is still a bit of crispness in the morning air.
2. The smell of honeysuckle
3. Hearing my dad play Rachmaninoff''s Prelude in C Sharp minor
4. A good book
5. Hot showers
6. My momma's rolls.
7. My furbaby, Shelby
8. Birds chirping
9. The occasional splurge of a massage
10. Making things for my family (mom, dad, the aunts, cousins, etc.) and for others (Secret Santa, etc.)

Now to pass the baton. I would like to recognize:

 Taneya's Genealogy Blog
But Now I'm Found
Reclaiming Kin
My NOLA Heritage: Robertson, Robinson, Bryan, Amos, Ancestors of Webster Parrish, Louisiana!!
Find Your Folks
We Tree
Tangled Trees
TJLGenes: Preserving Our Family History
Begin with Craft
Heritage Happens



 Until Next Time!