We think.
MYSTERY # 1:
Family trees usually list Mary Drucilla as the daughter of Britta and John. Certainly everyone in my line assumes that she was Britta's daughter, and I've never heard otherwise from anybody. But her death certificate records Georgia Smith as her mother. See here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDFL-N14
A Smith family did live near the McGuires in the 1860 Census. I've spent years investigating whether or not John L. hanky-pankied with their daughter nicknamed Georgia, but so far have found nada.
So...
Let's for the moment assume that Mary is Britta's daughter.
MYSTERY # 2:
Why was she named Mary Drucilla?
The "Mary" part is easy. Britta Green's older sister—or possibly (but not likely) mother—was named Mary. But why the name "Drucilla"?
Three theories make sense:
• "Drucilla" is a family name. It has certainly carried down our family line, even to the current generation.
• Mollie was named for neighbor Drucilla Ragsdale.
• Britta just liked the name.
None of Britta's surviving children are named for people in John L.'s family. This is odd, considering how both the McGuires and the Greens used the same names generation after generation. So I'm guessing that Britta decided to name this child after her good friend, Drucilla, the doctor's wife.
MYSTERY # 3
Why did 12-year-old Drucilla live with the Hayden family as a domestic servant in Randolph, Bibb County, in 1870? Both siblings Ellen and Douglas were living with mother Britta and step-dad Mike Flynn in Randolph. If the family needed money, why didn't Ellen live with another family as domestic help, too?
MYSTERY # 4
Why did Mary Drucilla marry so young? She was born October 22, 1858, and married in January 29, 1874, making her only 15 when she married the widower Simmin. Her sister Ellen married at age 14. Why? Did they want to escape their step-father? Or did they want to escape Britta?
MYSTERY # 3
Why did 12-year-old Drucilla live with the Hayden family as a domestic servant in Randolph, Bibb County, in 1870? Both siblings Ellen and Douglas were living with mother Britta and step-dad Mike Flynn in Randolph. If the family needed money, why didn't Ellen live with another family as domestic help, too?
MYSTERY # 4
Why did Mary Drucilla marry so young? She was born October 22, 1858, and married in January 29, 1874, making her only 15 when she married the widower Simmin. Her sister Ellen married at age 14. Why? Did they want to escape their step-father? Or did they want to escape Britta?
MYSTERY # 5
What in the heck did Mary Drucilla see in Simmin Aaron Edins anyway???? He drank and he shot people. He went to jail for it. I don't see it, but of course, she didn't ask my opinion. I wasn't even born yet. Her early marriage to a tough, tough man eight years her senior suggests that she would have done anything to get out of a bad home situation.
Just sayin'....
What in the heck did Mary Drucilla see in Simmin Aaron Edins anyway???? He drank and he shot people. He went to jail for it. I don't see it, but of course, she didn't ask my opinion. I wasn't even born yet. Her early marriage to a tough, tough man eight years her senior suggests that she would have done anything to get out of a bad home situation.
Just sayin'....
John McDonald Sr./McDaniel/McDanal born 1757/58 Virginia died 1850 Jefferson County, Alabama.
ReplyDeleteI took a Y-DNA test with Familytree.com and matched Joel McDanal 110of 111 markers. Familytree.com said Joel and me are at the most distance 5th cousins. Joel McDanal Y-DNA test results match a Frank E. McDonald from Virginia 109 of 111 markers, and are at the most distance are 7th cousins. Frank E. McDonald has a 43 generation family tree. I count back 7 generation on Frank E. McDonald family tree and there I have Bryan McDonald born 1645 Ireland died 1707 in New Castle County, Pa. or today Delaware. So John McDonald Sr./McDaniel/McDanal born 1757/58 Va. died 1850 Jefferson County, Leeds, Alabama came off Bryan McDonald born 1645-1707.
mcdanieltj21@yahoo.com