Self Seekers Newsletter, v.15, no.1

SELF SEEKERS:

THE SELF FAMILY ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER SUPPLEMENT

Co-Hosts
Tim W. Seawolf Self
Barbara Ann Peck
[email protected]
Volume 15, no. 1 January 2012
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WELCOME

Welcome to volume 15, no. 1 of the quarterly online newsletter supplement to "Self Portraits: The Self Family NetLetter," the Website dedicated to Self family research at http://www.selfroots.com

You are receiving this newsletter because you were kind enough to join "Self Seekers: The Self Family Association." We appreciate all of your contributions, large and small, and we hope you will continue to support our page, our surname list, and this newsletter.

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OBSESSION WITH THE PAST

As always, the TV news programs have been obsessed with the past. Since the middle of this last week, they've been dragging out the events of 2011 that we may or may not wish to remember. The year was chaotic, with extreme weather and all kinds of conflicts from war to crime to politics to protest. We've also passed the milestone of 7 billion people on this planet--good for genealogy but not so good if we're hoping for more agreement between nations, political parties, and next-door neighbors. There seem to be 7 billion ways of looking at various issues and 7 billion individual points of dissatisfaction with government, economy, and the infringement on personal freedoms. It would be so nice if 2012 is the beginning of new understanding and cooperation. If we start with the small things--such as sharing genealogical tidbits with our family members--maybe we can make this wish come true. Please let's all disseminate information, answer e-mail, and keep our addresses current. Your cousins are counting on you!
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SELFS IN ENGLAND
by Barbara Peck
edited by Tim Seawolf-Self

Much has been written about the origins of the surname "Self" and its variations, "Selfe" and "Selph." Most researchers now agree that the name came from the Viking "Sjolfr" and was brought to England by the raiding Norsemen, the "wolves of the sea." We can find other variations of the name before its spelling became standardized: Saulf, Sewlf, and Saewulf are three examples from early times. We also know that the surname spread to America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other locations from its beginnings in England.

Since we began "Self Portraits" over 15 years ago, our goal has been to produce a comprehensive document containing all the Selfs/Selfes/Selphs in the United States starting with the arrival of "Olde" Robert Selfe in Virginia. We've made a lot of progress. Our "big document" of all proven or "best evidence" connected individuals spans 13 Microsoft Word files. This collection is supplemented by a miscellaneous file for each state as well as a few countries, and some specialized files such as birth and death indexes, all of which need to be matched (if possible) to names and dates in the "big document." As our annual greeting reported, we're in the process of revising the "big document," doing in-depth research on each individual to verify names, dates, and descendants.

We now know something about the origins of the American Selfs. Walter Selfe--"Olde" Robert's ancestor--came from Cripplegate, London, England. For many years, we all assumed that whoever came before our Southern progenitor was probably born in Wiltshire. Several clues led to that conclusion. First, "Olde" Robert supposedly sailed from Wiltshire to Virginia (an astounding feat since there is no port in Wiltshire); second, the surname "Self" is a common one in the Wiltshire area; third, parish records indicate that "Robert" was a favored name there. And yet, surprising things turned out to contradict this assumption and pose other questions. What is the connection between Walter Selfe of London and the large Selfe family in Wiltshire? And, the largest mysteries of all: Which of Walter's children was our "Olde" Robert's father/grandfather? What happened to Walter's other children? And how are they all connected to the Selfs/Selfes of Norfolk, Suffolk, and other English counties?

Since we began "Self Portraits" in 1996, we've heard from thousands of cousins from all over the world, many of whom live in England. Some of them have compiled extensive pedigrees while others have progressed only as far as their grandparents or a generation or two beyond that. One of our most important contributors has been Douglas Self, whose interest in the past led him to collect many entries of Selfs in documents from all over the country. These entries range from the sixteenth through the nineteenth century and include parish records, tax records, and other public documents. Douglas has allowed us to copy these entries and make an attempt to fit them together--something we have done with only minor success so far. Most important of all, though, is that one of his fragments is almost certainly the family of "Olde" Robert Selfe. We were so excited to recognize Walter Selfe thanks to the names of his children, similar to those in "Olde" Robert's family and the families of his descendants. Both men had children named "Christian"--a name uncommon in the early Southern states and most probably given to a daughter. Stephen Self even had a son named Walter though it's fairly certain that he never knew his English ancestor.

The race is still on to find out just who "Olde" Robert really was. Twice now, the attempt to look up records and search backward have ended up in big announcements followed by an admission of children who died young. Thanks to Cousin Douglas (credit where credit is due), we knew of Roboham Self many years ago and, frankly, were quite astonished when a claim was made (but not shared with us at first) that this individual was indeed "Olde" Robert Selfe. This premature assumption reminds one of the Robert Selfe in Wiltshire whom some cousins still carry in their gedcoms--a child who also died young and was obviously not our progenitor. We were just fortunate back in 1998 to find the entry for Walter Selfe, thanks again to Cousin Douglas, and to be able to encourage travelers to England to do more research on this family. It has been suggested (though again not yet formally shared with us) that Walter's eldest son, John, could be "Olde" Robert's father or even grandfather. Who knows, maybe so?? But we wouldn't be all that certain that Walter Selfe's children stayed in London. The Selfs seemed to move from place to place quite a bit. One link that looks interesting has no Robert in it, but seems to correlate with Walter Selfe. This is another John Self who has two known children (at least in the Cripplegate, London fragment) named Anne (c. 1582, same year as Walter's son, John) and Christyan (c. 1587). Maybe there is truth in the old legend that three Self brothers came from Wiltshire in the mid 16th century to make their fortune--and perhaps two of them were Walter and John. Cousin Douglas has some very interesting entries on his site, and they can be checked out from your computer without making the journey to England.

Right now, we have three fat files of English Selfs, and a smaller one each for Australia and New Zealand. We've been able to connect a few of the entries. These Selfs, however, seem to have moved around as much if not more than their American counterparts, so establishing a continuous line in one place is never a sure thing. There are still untapped sources on the Web, but those are also brief "trees" or unconnected records that go back only so far and usually concentrate on one particular individual. What we're hoping for someday is a "big document" joining many of the fragments we now have in our files. So far, we haven't seen any attempt by our British cousins to undertake such an endeavor.

We know of three very early Selfs that a researcher might want to start with: Swlf, the minister in King Cnut's court; Saewulf, the landowner at the time of William the Conqueror; and Saewulf, the traveler, who wrote of his journey to the Holy Land. Are there are records extant that name the children of one of these men, if indeed there were any children? The most logical place to look would be in parish records or court records, but there may or may not be other resources. From there, it might be possible to follow leads to find out how the Selfs--under several variations of names--may have moved to other parts of England. If no records can be found for offspring of these men, there is another way to begin. Searching the existing records, if any, for Wiltshire, Norfolk, Suffolk or other counties where early Selfs lived and trying to piece families together would be a good method. We can provide the fragments we have for those locations as a base to build on. Finding the earliest Self in each area and working forward may be a better procedure.

If there is anyone currently living in England or with access to early English records that are not duplicates of Douglas Self's collection who would like to help with this project, please contact us. It's our belief that the name "Christian" holds a key to our mysteries. We're also interested in families in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or elsewhere who have English roots. We'll be happy to add your findings to our records and try to form large, connecting Self branches from "across the pond."

(Next: Through Mountain Mists)

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PLEASE CONTRIBUTE BIOGRAPHIES AND PHOTOS

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DEAD ENDS
part 10
"M"
by Barbara Peck and Tim Seawolf-Self

When we began "SelfSite at RootsWeb," our objective was to present as much unrelated Self data as possible in the hopes that these individuals and families would be recognized by someone out there. Because the Selfs married into many other surnames, it's just possible that a person surfing the Web could come across a Self connection that was previously unknown to them. We divided the entries into two groups: "Loose Ends" and "Dead Ends." The Loose Ends are Selfs for whom we have no ready ancestry. The Dead Ends are marriages of Self descendants for whom we are seeking descendants. We've decided to reprint the "Dead Ends" bit by bit in this netletter to make it easier for you to go through them and to give visitors to our sites one more point of access. Also there have been additions, deletions, and corrections. Please check your records to see if any of these couples are in your database. As always, information you may provide to us is for posterity. Living people will not be put on the Web.

MAHONY, Robert and BEAZLEY, Rosa married Apr 1896 in Caroline County, VA
MAIRS, Chester Sterling and DRAKE, Mary Frances married before 1920 in Muskogee, OK
MANASCO, Emmet David and MANASCO, Leadie married 16 Jul 1916 in Sabine Parish, LA
MANNING, J. T. and SELF, Elzena Mary 10 Dec 1891 in Natchitoches Parish, LA
MANUEL, Harben and SELF, Sarah L. married 27 Mar 1879, probably in Union County, GA
MANWARING, Thomas and SELF, Catherine married 1773 in Norwich, Norfolk, England
MARCH, A. and SELF, Sallie M. married 15 May 1870 in Rusk County, TX
MARJORAM, Robert and SELF, Mary married 1753 (?) in Diss, Norfolk, England
MARKHAM, John W. and YOUNG, Frances married about 1846 possibly in Wayne County, KY
MARPLE, Ed and SELF, Alice W. married about 1995, probably in Blount County, AL or OK
MARRS, Jesse Lawrence and GAY, Genevieve married 24 Dec 1914 in Bourbon County, KS
MARSH, John P. and HEADLEY, Sarah I. married 1884, possibly in VA
MARTIN, Beverly and MARTIN, Lucy married before 1850 probably in Halifax County, VA
MARTIN, John and UNKNOWN, Catherine H. married before 1850 probably in Halifax County, VA
MARTIN, Joseph Frank and PENNINGTON, Mamie L. married about 1912, probably in NC
MARTIN, Thomas R. and UNKNOWN, Bonnie married about 1912 in Sebastian County, AR
MARTIN, Unknown and SELF, Nancy married about 1880 probably in LA
MARTYNE, Robert and SELF, Joan married 1570 in Eye, Suffolk, England
MASSEY, Bennett L. and SELPH, Jessie L. married about 1915 in Brooks County, GA
MASTIN, Lewis Earl and PUTNEY, Mary Betsey married before 1900 in MI
MATHIS, Henry and LOGSDON, Vahin B. married about 1875, probably in KY
MATLOCK, Frank and NIX, Ida Margaret married about 1918, probably in GA
MATTHEWS, Elihu and SELF, Mary E. married 20 Jun 1885 in Newton County, AR
MATTHEWS, John and SELF, Mary married 1740 in Needham, Norfolk, England
MATTHEWS, Ralph Vince and COLEMAN, Lue Annie married 14 Aug 1913, probably in Maricopa County, AZ
MAY, J. G. and SELF, Lottie married 9 Nov 1908 in Jackson County, AR
MAYHEW, Alexander and SNIDER, Carrie (Potts) married 1883
MAYHEW, Bunt W. and WHITE, Ada G. married about 1896, possibly in NC
MAYHEW, Charles T. and UNKNOWN, Maud married about 1898, possibly in NC
MAYHEW, Walter M. and CHESNUT, Muncie married about 1896, probably in Carroll County, TN
MAYHEW, Henry Taylor and SHERRILL, Octavia married about 1879, possibly in NC
MAYHEW, John and UNKNOWN, Sukie married about 1810, probably in Kershaw District, SC
MAYHEW, John Horton and HOWELL, E. E. married about 1893, possibly in NC
MAYHEW, Martin Lester and HARRIS, Johnnie Mae married about 1901, possibly in NC
MAYHEW, William and SELF, Ann married 1769 in Hoxne, Suffolk, England
MAYHEW, William G. and UNKNOWN, Anne married 1884, possibly in NC
MAYO, George and TUNNELL, Lillie married before 1920 in Smith County, TX
MAYS, Unknown and HOWELL, Sabra Ann married about 1875 in GA
McALRETH, James D. and SELF, Maggie E. married 28 Jan 1874 in Mineral County, WV
McCARY, Clark and HOWARD, Delma married before 1920, probably in Catoosa County, GA
McCARY, Fred and HERIN, Netha married before 1920, probably in Catoosa County, GA
McCARY, Marshall and HEITH, Mary married before 1920, probably in Catoosa County, GA
McCARY, William Judson and CAMPBELL, Lolla married before 1920, probably in Catoosa County, GA
McCLARDY, Unknown and BLACK, Lydia married about 1896, probably in TN
McCLENDON, George W. and SELF, Mary married 21 Nov 1888 in Saline County, IL
McCLENDON, Julius and SELF, Hattie married 1 Sep 1896 in Jefferson County, AL
McCLURE, J. B. and SELF, M. J. married before 1920
McCLURE, John and LANGLEY, Julia married about 1837 probably in Forsyth County, GA
McCLURE, Robert and LANGLEY, Martha married about 1833 in Forsyth County, GA
McCLURE, William and SELF, Mary F. married about 1888 in Grayson County, KY
McCLURE, William Green and SELF, Mary married before 1920
McCLURKIN, James Hugh and TAYLOR, Missouri married about 1870
McCOMBS, Walter Parham and SELF, Eva married about 1906, probably in Jefferson County, AL
McCONNAUGHEY, Carey and SELPH, Georgia married before 1920 in Highland County, OH
McCOOL, Elmer W. and MORGAN, Luella married 15 Jun 1893 in Morgan County, IL
McCORMICK, Marion E. and SELF, Malinda married 14 Jan 1886 in Bollinger County, MO
McCOY, Robert and COLLINS, Olive married about 1852 probably in Habersham County, GA
McCULLEY, Oscar Alvin and SELF, Cora married about 1905 in MO
McDANIEL, Aaron Frank and SELF, Lucy married about 1875
McDANIEL, James and SELF, Susannah married 4 Aug 1851 in Greene County, TN
McDANIEL, Thomas Madison and PIERSON, Marquerite Ann married before 1920 in LA
McDONALD, William and WRIGHT, Stella married 1910 in Nicodemus County, AR
McDOWELL, John Shelby and TUNNELL, Florrie Alva married before 1910 in Comanche County, TX
McDUFFIE, J. B. and BUSBY, Bethiah married 22 Oct 1842 in Ashley County, AR
McGINNIS, Willie H. and SELF, Esther Marie married 24 Feb 1917 in Dallas County, MO
McGOWN, Jules and CURTIS, Clare married about 1900, probably in Scott County, IL
McGRIFF/McGUFFIN, Jonathan R. and SELF, Ellen T. married 7 Sep 1856, probably in Greene County, TN
McKENNY, Luther and LEWIS, Manervie married before 1880, probably in Richmond County, VA
McKENZIE, Unknown and SELF, Lydia married before 1920 in St. Clair County, AL
McKINLEY, George and WRIGHT, Bessie married about 1905, probably in Fannin County, TX
McKINNEY, Merritt Beavlo and SELF, Dora married about 1885 in Mitchell County, NC
McLARREN, Oliver W. and SELF, Ettie E. married 17 Sep 1884 in Highland County, OH
McLAUGHLIN, Unknown and LANGLEY, Susan E. married about 1880 probably in Gilmer County, GA
McMILLION, L. F. and BROWN, Emma married about 1912, probably in Fannin County, TX
McMILLION, W. R. and BROWN, Bertha married about 1911, probably in Fannin County, TX
McPHERSON, James and SELF, Millie married 7 Nov 1897, probably in AL
McPHERSON, J. R. and SELF, Martha Jane married 16 Sep 1880 in Newton County, AR
McPHERSON, Sterling and SELF, Emma Frances married about 1916, probably in Johnson County, AR
MEANS, John and SELF, Mary married before 1920
MEELY, Daniel Lampkin and PENSE, Mary Ann married 19 Sep 1878 in Richmond County, VA
MELER, Wy and POGUE, Maggie L. married before 1910
MELVIN, Thomas George and LOVE, Lucinda married 11 Feb 1874 in Blount County, AL
MELVIN, William A. and SELF, Sarah J. married 28 Apr 1883 in Madison County, OH
MENDENHALL, Thomas Peter and CREEK, Ina Ellen married 4 Feb 1909 in Lamar County, CO
MERIWETHER, Sam and SELF, Eady married before 1920
MESSENGER, Frank and STANDRIDGE, Sarenia married about 1891 in GA or AR
METHRIN, Levi and WRIGHT, Zina Catherine married 18 Oct 1853 in Madison County, AL
MIDDLETON, Lee and SELF, Rebecca married 19 May 1829 in Guilford County, NC
MIER, John and SELF, Mary Eleanor married 25 Sep 1872 in Cape Girardeau County, MO
MILES, Floyd Ernest and EUBANKS, Victoria married 20 Mar 1912 in Caroline County, VA
MILLER, Benjamin Dwight and SAXON, Laura married about 1918, probably in Union County, GA
MILLER, Coy and WRIGHT, Viola Pearl married 1910, probably in Benton County, AR
MILLER, Frank and DEAN, Addie married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
MILLER, J. D. and SELF, Dora D. married 24 Sep. 1892, probably in Jefferson County, AL
MILLER, Juan Dupree and NIX, Minnie N. married 26 Feb 1905, probably in Union County, GA
MILLER, Stephen Luther and SIMPSON, Martha Elizabeth married 15 Mar 1917 in Sabine Parish, LA
MILLER, Unknown and SELF, Elizabeth Jane married about 1859, probably in Greene County, TN
MILLER, Unknown and SELF, Mattie married about 1918, probably in LA
MILLER, Unknown and SELF, Sarah married about 1906, probably in Union County, GA
MILLER, Unknown and SMITH, Betsy married about 1850 perhaps in KY
MILLS, Hiram Jenkins and SELF, Ila married unknown in Montgomery County, AL
MINEAR, Sherman Pool and SMITH, Kate Preston married 10 Feb 1904 in WV
MINGS, Walter and BELLAH, Margaret married 16 Feb 1874 in AR
MIRDO, Unknown and JARRETT, Olivia married probably in IN
MIRES, Geter and ELLIS, Nettie Ann married before 1910
MITCHELL, Daniel and SELF, Maria married about 1865 in Pickaway County, OH
MITCHELL, Henry Eugene and SELF, Josephine married 25 Nov 1890, possibly in Blount County, AL
MITCHELL, Unknown and EVANS, Roberta V. married about 1892, probably in TN
MITCHELL, Unknown and SELF, Bessie married before 1910 in LA
MITCHEM, Lem and COOK, Isabel married about 1884 in NC
MIZE, J. S. and SELF, Hannah married 3 Jan 1883 in Floyd County, GA
MOLLETT, Edward and SELF, Elizabeth married 1691 in Onehouse, Suffolk, England
MONCRIEF, Joseph and SELF, Lula married 11 Aug 1888 in Jefferson County, AL
MONDAY, A. L. and SELPH, Ada married 27 Aug 1907 in Dallas County, MO
MONTIETH, Frank and POLAND, Susan S. married 5 May 1916, probably in Morgan County, IL
MOODY, John and SELF, Molly married 31 Oct 1889 in Marion County, AL
MOORE, Bruce and SOUTHER, Emily Catherine married about 1889, probably in Union County, GA
MOORE, Charlie and SARGENT, Martha married before 1920, probably in Jefferson County, AL
MOORE, Daniel and SELF, Mary married about 1810 in Fundenhall, Norfolk, England
MOORE, Edward and SELF, Amy married about 1766 in Letheringham, Suffolk, England
MOORE, James and HILL, Elizabeth married about 1865, probably in Habersham County, GA
MOORE, Jesse and ADCOCK, Minnie married about 1906, probably in Collin County, TX
MOORE, Joseph and SELF, Elizabeth married about 1750 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
MOORE, Thomas and SELF, Margaret married 14 Oct 1829 in Dalham, Suffolk, England
MOORE, Unknown and MONTZINGO, Virgie married before 1920, probably in MO
MOORE, William and SELF, Rachel married 30 Dec 1818 in Dalham, Suffolk, England
MOORE, William Harrison and FORD, Elizabeth Ann married about 1840 probably in Owen County, KY
MOORE, William Perry and BRYANT, Ruth Josephine Elizabeth married 19 Oct 1916 in Lamar County, TX
MOORE, William Vance and BOGGS, Della May married before 1920, probably in NC
MORAN, T. P. and SELF, Delsie married unknown in Clark County, AR
MOREHOUSE, Walter and WEDDLE, Mattie married before 1920, probably in MO
MORGAN, James L. and DANIEL, Nancy Rebecca married 30 Dec 1875 in Union County, GA
MORRIS, Frank and CORLEY, Mary married 21 Dec 1919, probably in Collin County, TX
MORRIS, William Gordon and SHIFFLETT, Nancy Frances married 20 Sep 1872 in Greene County, VA
MORRISON, William Vinson and DANIEL, Mary Rebecca married 22 Jan 1886, probably in Habersham County, GA
MOSER, Lee and DAVIS, Margaret married about 1899, probably in DeKalb County, TN
MOSS, Edward and SWEAZEA, Luvinaia J. married 17 Sep 1876 in MO
MOSS, George W. and CLOSE, Josephine married 22 Oct 1879 in DeKalb County, TN
MOSS, Henry Joseph and BARNES, Minnie May married 5 Jun 1905 in Siloam Springs, AR
MOSS, Jerome R. and GOVERO, Clara Marie married about 1911, probably in AR
MOSS, Phillip Jefferson and JONES, Evelyn Ilene married about 1916 in AR or MO
MOSS, Wiley and STUBBS, Louisa married about 1844 in TN
MOULTON, John and SELF, Martha married 30 Oct, 1701 in Hoxne, Suffolk, England
MULLENGER, James and SELF, Elizabeth married unknown in Norfolk, England
MULLINS, Unknown and SELF, Susan F. married about 1895 in Blount County, AL
MUNCY, Zachariah Elbert and SELF, Molly married about 1880 in TN
MURRAY, Berry Francis and SELF, Carrie Jane married 7 Aug 1902 in Rutherford County, NC
MURRAY, Daniel D. and SELF, Nancy married 23 Feb 1865 in Polk County, MO
MURRAY, John A. and VANWINKLE, Blanche married 1 Sep 1912 in Spencer County, IN
MURRAY, William and SELF, Elmina married 10 Feb 1848 in Rapides Parish, LA
MUTTER, Levi W. and SELF, Jane married 8 Nov 1866 in Hocking County, OH
MYERS, Runnels Paris and BROWN, Dora married 27 Nov 1919, probably in Greene County, TN
MYERS, Senior and EUBANKS, Victoria married about 1904 in Caroline County, VA
MYERS, William Frost and McCRARY, Margaret married 25 Sep 1920, probably in Greene County, TN

(Next: Dead Ends "N-O")

Maybe your ancestors used to tell stories about life in the "old days," stories you remember hearing as a child. Please tell us about them. We will even supply editing and formatting; but we'd all love to know about daily life in the Self families of old--and you may be able to help. Please contact us. And please state that your story is specifically for the newsletter.

LOOSE ENDS

Please go to our "Loose Ends" subsection at our SelfSite at RootsWeb.

DEAD ENDS

Please go to our "Dead Ends" subsection at our SelfSite at RootsWeb.

SELFS IN SPACE

What would you like to see here? This space is reserved for any topic of interest to Self cousins. Express YourSelf!!

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