Mystery Monday - George Lake Barrett

My son is named after his 2nd great grandfather, George Lake Barrett.  When I began doing genealogy, the Barrett line stopped with George.  That was extremely disappointing since it is the surname my son will carry on.  I started looking at censuses and they showed a lot of possibilities, but no good leads.  I felt like Lake had to be a maiden name and hoped that it might help me out - it didn't seem like the kind of name someone would have pulled out of the hat randomly but I knew nothing for sure.  Then I located, through a complete fluke, his death certificate!  I don't remember what I did to get it to come up - I have tried since then and it appears to be hidden well.  Thank goodness I remembered to save it!

I finally knew his parents and immediately went to find them in other trees to see if I could get any new information.  That is when the mystery began.  George was not listed as one of John and Frances Lake Barrett's kids on ANY of the other family trees I found.  Why?  Why weren't they acknowledging him as a son?  Then I started looking at their evidence and discovered quickly what had happened.  George Lake Barrett was born in 1876, so he was, obviously, not listed in the 1870 census that was taken for the family.

None of them had the 1880 Census listed.  The 1890 Census is no more (ho, hum), so there is no way to see him with the family in that one!  By 1900, he was married, which meant he was no longer listed with the family.

And there you have it - no wonder the rest of the family knows nothing about him!  Where is the 1880 Census?????  I cannot locate it anywhere.  I have even tried looking through some censuses page by page, but am not 100% what all I have looked through.  I now understand why people keep track of every document they go through, although I have yet to figure out the best way to do it.

So - the mystery continues.  Where do I look?  What do I do?  If you have any ideas, I would love any suggestions you might have.

Our Line of Barretts:

Lake Hawthorne Barrett

Ronald Hawthorne BARRETT (father) - Jenna Aldridge Barrett

Ronald Alan BARRETT (grandfather) - Nancy Susan Beskid

Walter John BARRETT (great grandfather) - Rodgers Elizabeth Dantzler

George Lake BARRETT (2nd great grandfather) - Jeannette Van Zandt/Van Hecke

John BARRETT (3rd great grandfather) - Frances Lake

Walter BARRETT (4th great grandfather) - Hariett Boardman

Sentimental Sunday - My Childhood Town

When I was about 3 years old, my family moved to Batesburg, South Carolina (located a little over an hour away from Columbia).  My dad was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Batesburg, and my mom taught math and science at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School.  I spent the majority of my elementary childhood there.  Looking back, I realize that I was able to experience life in a way that very few people my age were ever able to.  I never had to dial all 6 numbers to make a phone call, locking doors was completely optional, and riding bikes without helmets out of the neighborhood to the corner store to get a glass bottle of coke was completely acceptable.  I grew up around the corner from a family that had multiple acres of land with a small farm on it.  I called them Nana and Papa, climbed hay stacks with their grandchildren, played with puppies that were born there and picked peaches from their trees.  I ate from the 3 pecan trees and 2 plum trees in my backyard without needing to wash off pesticides.  I remember my mom making plum jelly and eating it year round.  I remember going to the store on Main Street with her to pick out my adoption doll.  I remember walking to school with my Dad when I was in Kindergarten.  I remember fishing with him in Mr. Cohn's pond.  I remember lying on my back in the backyard at night and seeing so many stars - WAY more than I could ever imagine seeing in my backyard now!  I loved the people there, especially from my neighborhood and church!  They were like family, and although I rarely have the chance to see them, I treasure every chance I have.

Today, however, my elementary school is no longer used as a school, my childhood house burned down and another, more modern house, was built in its place, and some of my church family and neighbors have passed away.  I don't have many chances to go back, maybe (if i'm lucky), once a year, but I go back whenever I can.  I drive through my old neighborhood.  I drive by the schools.  I drive by the church.  I visit the cemetery.  All the while, I remember - remember a town that has given me memories that I will treasure forever, and I thank God for the time He gave me there.