Skip to main content

Funeral Card Friday: Miriam Wilson McWilliams

The funeral card of Miriam Wilson McWilliams was found among papers I had bought years ago at a family auction at my Aunt Helen's.

The card reveals that Miriam Wilson McWilliams was born on 27 May 1890 in Coatesville. She died on 27 September 1957 in Hephzibah. She was laid to rest in the public non-denominational Fairview Cemetery in Coatesville. Her funeral service, officiated by Rev. Glenn C. Boice, at the S. Paul Roberts Funeral Home in Coatesville.

Miriam was the widow of Horace Norman McWilliams (1888 - 1946). It is, to be honest, the McWilliams name that piqued my interest. He was the son of James Monroe McWilliams and Margaret Ann Carson. Horace had eight siblings.

James Monroe McWilliams (1859 - 1938) was the son of Samuel Russell McWilliams and Catharine Wagoner. James had five siblings. Catherine died in 1863 and Samuel re-married. James also had four half-siblings.

Samuel Russell McWilliams (1823 - 1903) was the son of Robert McWilliams and Ameila Merns. Samuel served during the Civil War. Samuel had nine siblings.

Robert McWilliams (1792 - 1853) served in the War of 1812. He was the son of George and Jane McWilliams.

George McWilliams was born in 1760 in Ireland.

Now my Aunt Helen (Still Webster) knew everyone in and around East Fallowfield. She also knew her family well. Miriam may or may not have been family. McWilliams was the maiden name of my 4th great grandmother Sarah McWilliams. She was born in 1788, married Robert Bing (1781 - 1824), had seven children, and passed away on 13 April 1859. No one matches up exactly but perhaps George had a brother!

Funeral Card Friday is a daily genealogical prompt which features funeral cards.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today.   I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public!      What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis?   52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday!   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015