More Whighams Gathering

For those of us who shared such a great time last summer, the news of another Whigham Reunion this year may come as a surprise. However, for many years before our organization was formed, one branch of our family has been holding annual reunions in Mississippi. This year I have asked Coraleigh Whigham Gassen to extend her hospitality to other Whighams who, though related, are not so closely related as her usual guests.

Coraleigh is the granddaughter of John Wilbur Whigham, who was the youngest son of Thomas Marcus Whigham, the third son of Joseph Whigham and Elizabeth Hannah Whigham. Many of our members descend from Joseph and Elizabeth, but a majority of them did not know their Washington County, Alabama Whigham cousins, a number of whom moved into Mississippi along the Alabama line during the 1900's.

Some of us who share Thomas MarcusWhigham as our ancestor remember Uncle Wilbur, as he was called. For a number of years, he and his family lived in Yellow Pine, Alabama, close to the Mississippi state line. So, it is not surprising that a number of his descendants would live in Mississippi. Unfortunately, as the years went by, we lost touch with he and his family - so this will provide us a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with his descendants.

In addition, Uncle Wilbur's brother, Andrew Nathan Whigham, also moved to Mississippi where his children were brought up. They, too, have been invited to the reunion, so we will have an opportunity to meet them as well. Though Thomas Marcus and his wife, Virginia Smith Whigham, had seven sons, only three of them lived to adulthood. My grandfather, William Alexander, was the oldest of the sons who survived, so for those of us descended from him, this reunion offers us a chance to get together with "cousins" we have never met.

A great many of our other Whigham clan members have reason to be interested in this reunion for they too share a common ancestry with our Mississippi brethren. For when Joseph and Elizabeth Hannah Whigham left Barbour County, Alabama, in 1857 to move to Washington County, they left behind a married son, Joseph Jr. and his wife, Jane Walden Whigham, This son and his wife would have six children, and these children had many others - most of whom stayed in Barbour County or moved to Dale or Geneva County.

The three sons who moved to Washington County with their parents were William (the oldest), Thomas Marcus (the 3^rd son) and Richard Nathan, the youngest son. Their progeny, along with Joseph Jr.'s, contributed many of those who currently make up the Whigham Family Association. So, this reunion should hold interest for all of us.

Now, just where and when will this reunion occur? Knew you would be wondering that by now!!

As most of you know, I had back surgery last year - on April 11^th. To say this hhas been one of the worst years of my life is an understatement. So, as the months went by and I did not seem to get any better, I told my husband that we simply had to get away. I wish I could say that he shared by view, but it did take a little convincing. What he needed to hear was that we would do some family research on the way - and there is little that he likes more than visiting archives and libraries in search of more family information.

So, in early November, we set out to visit the State Archives in Jackson, MS, Montgomery, AL and Tallahassee, FL. We did pick up more information along the way but, for me, the high spots of this time were the days spent visiting my only sibling (a sister) in Lake Mary, FL; and Whigham cousins in Alabama - three of them, in fact - Bennie Ray in WWashington County, Myron in Geneva County, and Robert in Mobile County. I also visited briefly with Coraleigh Gassen in Mississippi.

We spent several days with both Bennie Ray and Myron, who were both marvelous hosts. Bennie Ray operates a "picking house" in Millry and, though I didn't get to attend a performance while I was there, I look forward to attending one in June. Bennie Ray invites different blue grass bands to perform each 3^rd Saturday night and anyone who wishes may attend. He also plays guitar and sings which reminds me so much of my own father (Bennie Ray's uncle) who used to hold me on his lap as he played guitar and sang with me as a child.

We had a wonderful visit with Bennie Ray and his wife, Joyce. (By the way, she's an excellent cook!) While there, Bennie Ray, my husband and I drove over to Eucutta, MS and located our great-grandmother, Virginia Smith Whigham's grave. Like other graves we have seen, it was also in need of repair. I hope that along the way our association will develop the resources to aid in repairing our ancestors' gravesites.

Our visit with Myron was tremendous, also. We stayed for several days and had a great time visiting with Myron, his sisters, Pat and Burnell, his brother, Royce - and his cousin, Louis. Sitting on the screen porch visiting in the evening was almost as good as the great breakfasts Myron cooked for us.

The highlight of our visit was a family get-together was on Saturday evening when about 50 family members from the surrounding community came to Myron's to visit. They not only came - they brought great food!! If I started mentioning one of them, I would be in big problems with the others. But, all the food was wonderful, and the visiting even better. David Whigham entertained us with his music and his impersonations.

Roland Whigham, who wasn't well, came also. I am so glad that I was able to visit with him as he passed away three months lately. (See his obituary later in the newsletter.)

Often we have relatives we'd as soon not see often, but the Whighams of Geneva County are an outstanding group. I only hope that the rest of you have an opportunity to come to know them also.

We came home rested, refreshed and reinvigorated - only to walk into a buzz saw. My long-ttime friend and the former Attorney General of Texas, Dan Morales, was running for governor of our state, and Don and I enlisted to help out. It was a tough three and a half month effort which we lost to a man who spent over $20 million (a new record even for Texas!) to our approximately $1 million.

Needless to say, I am glad to return to genealogy. However, look for me at the Mississippi reunion, at Bennie Ray's picking house in June and back visiting in Geneva County about that time as well as a trip to Florida to see my sister. When you only have one sibling and you are getting as old as we are, it is important to see each other as often as time allows.

In the meantime, the wealth of information that you keep sending to me will keep me busy. There are over 9,100 names on our Whigham database now, and I feed it daily. If you have data or pictures to send, please get them in ASAP.

I can hardly wait to see so many of you at the 2003 reunion, so keep your options open to join us.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own,
The car..the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend out dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel..

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a while.

For when your eulogy's being read
With our life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

. . . Author unknown

(Sherrill Dansby sent this to me, and I thought many of you would enjoy it as much as I did.)

More Pieces of the Puzzle

Last week I received a phone call and again found another "piece of the Whigham family puzzle." This time the call came from another of the descendants of Richard Nathan Whigham and his wife, Mary Margaret Whitsett. Our only contacts from this branch thus far were Marvin and Marvin Whigham, Jr., son and grandson of Joseph Nathan, who was the oldest son of Richard Nathan, known as Nathan.

This time the call came from a descendant of Nathan's eighth child, Thomas William (can you believe it - another Thomas!!) It was especially gratifying to hear from Marlena Nichols, the great-granddaughter of "Cousin Tom" - a man I knew as a child. Then, the next day, I received a call from her mother, Carrie Hall, the daughter of Claudine Whigham (Tom's daughter) with whom I had attended church back then. They have both promised to provide us with additional family information to add to our database.

In addition, Keith Whigham, of the Iowa Whighams, visited with me in January bringing me his database of the Iowa Whighams. Now, he is sending me pictures and will be back in San Antonio on April 22^nd with information from the Ohio Whighams who are related to his branch.

The generosity of so many of you in sharing your family history is what really makes our family association work and is invaluable in putting our book on the Whigham family together.

I know that many of you are computer literate - and there must be some who are more literate than I. I purchased a website for the association, located at www.whighamfamilyassn.com. Unfortunately, I do not possess the expertise to put together the kind of website I would like for us to have.

So, if you will help, please contact me at the following address:

Joyce Whigham Dorrycott

6454 Village Park

San Antonio, TX 78250-4053

(210) 680-5701 (phone) (210) 680-5721 (fax)

email: unicornjd@aol.com

From the beginning, Robert Whigham, our family association historian, has been working to put the pieces of our differing Whigham branches together. He has been tireless in his search for how the Whigham family came to America. Now, he and Keith Whigham, have found common connections in Moneyslane, County Down, Northern Ireland - and in working with John and David Whigham in Scotland, Robert is finding new connections there. We look forward to their continuing research for the "ties that bind" us all together.