I mentioned in an earlier blog that an upcoming issue of the Vick Family Newsletter would cover claims made by 29 descendants of Stephen5 (Jacob4, Isaac3, William2, Joseph1) to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes (Dawes Commission). Pam (Strickland) Vick’s article appears in the July 2010 issue. She details both the descendants’ claim that Stephen5’s father was a full blooded Choctaw, and the history of the commission. One of the problems we know now with the descendants’ claim was that they incorrectly identified who Stephen5’s father was. While the commission did not recognize this error, it still rejected the claims. Since we have four descendants (three females and one male) of Stephen5’s father (Jacob4) who have tested as part of our Vick and Allied Families DNA Project at 23andMe, we took a look at the DNA results to see if they would have supported the claimants’ position that Stephen’s father was a full blooded Choctaw.
One of the tools 23andMe provides is the Native American Ancestry Finder. 23andMe uses “either two or three lines of evidence in assessing a person's likelihood of Native American ancestry (depending on whether a person is male or female).” Men have their Y-DNA tested to look for Native American ancestry in their patrilineal line (father’s father’s father’s…line). Since women do not have a Y-chromosome, they cannot be Y-DNA tested. Both men and women have mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which is passed from a mother to both her sons and her daughters (although only women can pass mtDNA to the next generation). 23andMe uses mtDNA to check the matrilineal line (mother’s mother’s mother’s…line). Finally, both men and women have autosomal DNA, and 23andMe checks autosomal DNA. We inherit autosomal DNA from both of our parents, who inherited it from their parents, who inherited in from their parents…. 23andMe’s assessment of the possibility of a Native American in the patrilineal line of the one male descendant of Jacob4 was that the results were “…inconsistent with Native American ancestry along the paternal (father's father's father's ...) line.” So, we can rule out patrilineal Native American ancestry.
Mary [ ] is not in the matrilineal line of any of our project members, so mtDNA results will not help us evaluate her ancestry. However, autosomal DNA is helpful in evaluating both Mary’s and Jacob’s paternal and maternal ancestry. We have one 2nd great granddaughter, one 4th great granddaughter, one 4th great grandson, and one 5th great granddaughter of Jacob and Mary in our project. The 2nd great granddaughter’s results are the most informative since she is the closest to this couple. This descendant is just four generations removed from Jacob4 and Mary. 23andMe said this descendant “did not have any genetically Native American ancestors in the past five generations.” The results from the other three descendants did not contradict the results from the 2nd great granddaughter.
So, if Stephen5’s descendants had been DNA tested, it is highly likely the DNA evidence would have supported the commission’s conclusions that these descendants did not have Choctaw blood from their VICK line.
Showing posts with label Vick Family Newsletter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vick Family Newsletter. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sister Mary Ruth - A Vick Catholic Nun
I wrote the article below for the January 2009 Vick Family Newsletter.
Prior to reading about Sister Mary Ruth I had no idea that any of the Vicks in my father’s family were anything but Methodists. My father’s brother, Robert Edward Vick, Sr., of Greenville, KY, gave me a copy of an unpublished document titled "Mercer Family That Affects the Vick Family," written by George Del Vick. In the document George Del Vick said Mary Ruth was a Catholic nun who had lived at Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount, KY. Around the summer of 1994 I went to the convent and Sister Emma Cecilia Busam, Order of St. Ursula (O.S.U.), gave me copies of the following documents (that I have transcribed here) proving that we did, in fact, have a Catholic nun in our family.
SISTER MARY RUTH VICK 08-27-1882 - 08-05-1951
Parents: Sebastian and Nancy Whangar Vick
Born: Greenville, Kentucky
Baptized: Blanche October 15, 1904
Entered: April 27, 1914
Received habit: December 30, 1914 No. 109
Final Vows: July 16, 1923
About Sister Mary Ruth we have very little information in the Archives, and very little can be learned from those who remember her, except for the fact that she was a cripple. It is believed that she was not close to her relatives, or that she was a sort of orphan when she came here. She did not enter until she was 31, so much is unknown to us who would like to know why she was a "different" person from the ordinary run of us. There was a lady in Owensboro who was interested in her; she may have been a friend or a relative. Sister Patrice had shown an interest in Sister Mary Ruth, and after Sister's death this lady sent gifts to the Mount and to Sister Patrice to show her appreciation. For example, she paid for the floor tiling on Lourdes II; she sent a film projector for the sick so that they could see novies (sic); she sent a sizeable electric fan and a recliner to Sister Patrice, and she used that recliner to the last of her days, in 1983.
During her 37 years as an Ursuline Sister Mary Ruth was on a mission other than Mt. St. Joseph at St. Joseph, Owensboro, for 16 months; all the remainder of her years were spent at the Mount. She helped take care of the sick on the third floor of St. Angela's building where the tuberculosis patients were cared for. She cooked for them, and made many trips up and down those flights of steps. Later she was in charge of the 'little girls.' She did not spare the hair brush; nor did she spoil the child. She spent a lot of her time piecing quilts on the machine. She lived on the top floor of the Novitiate building (now St. Ursula) on the south side. She had a basket on a rope that she would lower with a note in it for whatever she wanted; she would then 'haul' the basket up.
Sister Amanda Rose wrote this essay “The Beads Whisper From the Sick Room” when she was a postulant in 1950 and had been assigned the job of working in the infirmary with Sister Mary Ruth and others. It seems the essay was especially about Sister Mary Ruth's beads.
I'm a pair of beads and I have a little story to tell you. I'm not just an ordinary rosary. For one thing, I have blessings galore bestowed upon me.
I know, for my owner always mentions that to everyone she meets and then what makes me different from other beads, and what I love most of all is the very comfortable and permanent home I have in a pair of soft wrinkled old hands. They are hands that belong to a Shepherdess of “sheep.” That's nothere (sic) name for a Spouse of Christ. But now she has retired from the field where she personally watched over the flock of Christ's “sheep,” and with me to help her, she's still watching and guarding over them from a distance. I must say she certainly keeps me busy. Perhaps you've guessed we live behind convent walls in a small room equipped with a bed, table or two, and chair. On the wall are several holy pictures and her prized possession, a crucifix. Sometimes she gazes on it quite a long time and almost forgets to keep me jingling.
Now my mistress rises rather early and her first joy is assisting at Mass if she is able; if not, well, the King always manages to come and see her.
After all these years they're pretty good friends by now. After Mass, she settles down and looks forward to the coming day, which is a full one. We two have quite a time together. Don't ask me how, but she can dust, mend and even write letters without making me leave my comfortable home. Yes, I repeat I'm not an ordinary pair of beads. Now in the afternoon we usually go visiting the other shepherdesses, who have tiny rooms just like my mistress. Many of them just come and stay a little while; and after the excellent and loving care of two shepherdess doctors, (who could heal the devil if they ever got hold of him) they go back to the field to continue their watch over the King's “sheep.” Oh, what fun and joy these shepherdesses have when they get together and talk about their years spent in the open field. What things they have seen and they could talk forever about their wonderful experiences. In fact, I guess the day is just about over now. But there will be another day just like this one and another and another until finally one day, my shepherdess will slip off to be forever with the King over Whose flock she watched so faithfully, and will I jingle with joy that day!
Sister Mary Ruth slipped off forever on August 5, 1951. Rev. Gilbert Henniger was chaplain at the time, and he probably said the Mass for her funeral. Sister's grave is in Row 2 No. 13"
Another sheet says the following:
SISTER MARY RUTH VICK August 27, 1882 - August 5, 1951 Sister Mary Ruth was born in Greenville, Ky., the daughter of Sebastian Vick and Nancy Whanger-Vick. She was baptized October 15, 1904, and given the name Blanche. She entered the novitiate April 27, 1914, and received the habit December 30, 1914. She pronounced vows July 16, 1917, 1918, 1920 and 1923.
Her two missions: St. Joseph, Owensboro, Ky. 16 months; Mt. St. Joseph 1921 until her death August 5, 1951. At the Mount she was in charge of the little girls in grade school. (See Sister Amanda Rose Mahoney's poetie (sic) writing on “The Beads of Whisper From the Sick Room” that gives you a small glance into the life of Sister Mary Ruth, and her devotion to the Rosary.
There is also the following information on below the above:
Name Sister Mary Ruth Vick
Entered Novitiate Year 1914 Mar 26, Age 31
Received Habit Dec 30, 1914
Profession July 16 1917
Left Novitiate for First Mission 1919 - 1921
First Mission Place St Josephs School Owensboro, Time Sixteen Months Final Vows July 16 1923
OTHER MISSIONS
Place Time
Mt St. Joseph Motherhouse 1921 1943 -51
The following appeared in The Owensboro Messenger on August 7, 1951, in the obituary section under the title “Sister Mary Ruth Vick”:
Sister Mary Ruth Vick, 68, Maple Mount, died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday after an illness of several months. She was born in Muhlenberg County on Aug. 7, 1882, and is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a. m. today at the Chapel at Maple Mount, conducted by the Msgr. Gilbert Henninger. Burial will be in Maple Mount cemetery.
Do you have an unusual Vicks in your family tree? If so, please tell me their story.
Prior to reading about Sister Mary Ruth I had no idea that any of the Vicks in my father’s family were anything but Methodists. My father’s brother, Robert Edward Vick, Sr., of Greenville, KY, gave me a copy of an unpublished document titled "Mercer Family That Affects the Vick Family," written by George Del Vick. In the document George Del Vick said Mary Ruth was a Catholic nun who had lived at Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount, KY. Around the summer of 1994 I went to the convent and Sister Emma Cecilia Busam, Order of St. Ursula (O.S.U.), gave me copies of the following documents (that I have transcribed here) proving that we did, in fact, have a Catholic nun in our family.
SISTER MARY RUTH VICK 08-27-1882 - 08-05-1951
Parents: Sebastian and Nancy Whangar Vick
Born: Greenville, Kentucky
Baptized: Blanche October 15, 1904
Entered: April 27, 1914
Received habit: December 30, 1914 No. 109
Final Vows: July 16, 1923
About Sister Mary Ruth we have very little information in the Archives, and very little can be learned from those who remember her, except for the fact that she was a cripple. It is believed that she was not close to her relatives, or that she was a sort of orphan when she came here. She did not enter until she was 31, so much is unknown to us who would like to know why she was a "different" person from the ordinary run of us. There was a lady in Owensboro who was interested in her; she may have been a friend or a relative. Sister Patrice had shown an interest in Sister Mary Ruth, and after Sister's death this lady sent gifts to the Mount and to Sister Patrice to show her appreciation. For example, she paid for the floor tiling on Lourdes II; she sent a film projector for the sick so that they could see novies (sic); she sent a sizeable electric fan and a recliner to Sister Patrice, and she used that recliner to the last of her days, in 1983.
During her 37 years as an Ursuline Sister Mary Ruth was on a mission other than Mt. St. Joseph at St. Joseph, Owensboro, for 16 months; all the remainder of her years were spent at the Mount. She helped take care of the sick on the third floor of St. Angela's building where the tuberculosis patients were cared for. She cooked for them, and made many trips up and down those flights of steps. Later she was in charge of the 'little girls.' She did not spare the hair brush; nor did she spoil the child. She spent a lot of her time piecing quilts on the machine. She lived on the top floor of the Novitiate building (now St. Ursula) on the south side. She had a basket on a rope that she would lower with a note in it for whatever she wanted; she would then 'haul' the basket up.
Sister Amanda Rose wrote this essay “The Beads Whisper From the Sick Room” when she was a postulant in 1950 and had been assigned the job of working in the infirmary with Sister Mary Ruth and others. It seems the essay was especially about Sister Mary Ruth's beads.
I'm a pair of beads and I have a little story to tell you. I'm not just an ordinary rosary. For one thing, I have blessings galore bestowed upon me.
I know, for my owner always mentions that to everyone she meets and then what makes me different from other beads, and what I love most of all is the very comfortable and permanent home I have in a pair of soft wrinkled old hands. They are hands that belong to a Shepherdess of “sheep.” That's nothere (sic) name for a Spouse of Christ. But now she has retired from the field where she personally watched over the flock of Christ's “sheep,” and with me to help her, she's still watching and guarding over them from a distance. I must say she certainly keeps me busy. Perhaps you've guessed we live behind convent walls in a small room equipped with a bed, table or two, and chair. On the wall are several holy pictures and her prized possession, a crucifix. Sometimes she gazes on it quite a long time and almost forgets to keep me jingling.
Now my mistress rises rather early and her first joy is assisting at Mass if she is able; if not, well, the King always manages to come and see her.
After all these years they're pretty good friends by now. After Mass, she settles down and looks forward to the coming day, which is a full one. We two have quite a time together. Don't ask me how, but she can dust, mend and even write letters without making me leave my comfortable home. Yes, I repeat I'm not an ordinary pair of beads. Now in the afternoon we usually go visiting the other shepherdesses, who have tiny rooms just like my mistress. Many of them just come and stay a little while; and after the excellent and loving care of two shepherdess doctors, (who could heal the devil if they ever got hold of him) they go back to the field to continue their watch over the King's “sheep.” Oh, what fun and joy these shepherdesses have when they get together and talk about their years spent in the open field. What things they have seen and they could talk forever about their wonderful experiences. In fact, I guess the day is just about over now. But there will be another day just like this one and another and another until finally one day, my shepherdess will slip off to be forever with the King over Whose flock she watched so faithfully, and will I jingle with joy that day!
Sister Mary Ruth slipped off forever on August 5, 1951. Rev. Gilbert Henniger was chaplain at the time, and he probably said the Mass for her funeral. Sister's grave is in Row 2 No. 13"
Another sheet says the following:
SISTER MARY RUTH VICK August 27, 1882 - August 5, 1951 Sister Mary Ruth was born in Greenville, Ky., the daughter of Sebastian Vick and Nancy Whanger-Vick. She was baptized October 15, 1904, and given the name Blanche. She entered the novitiate April 27, 1914, and received the habit December 30, 1914. She pronounced vows July 16, 1917, 1918, 1920 and 1923.
Her two missions: St. Joseph, Owensboro, Ky. 16 months; Mt. St. Joseph 1921 until her death August 5, 1951. At the Mount she was in charge of the little girls in grade school. (See Sister Amanda Rose Mahoney's poetie (sic) writing on “The Beads of Whisper From the Sick Room” that gives you a small glance into the life of Sister Mary Ruth, and her devotion to the Rosary.
There is also the following information on below the above:
Name Sister Mary Ruth Vick
Entered Novitiate Year 1914 Mar 26, Age 31
Received Habit Dec 30, 1914
Profession July 16 1917
Left Novitiate for First Mission 1919 - 1921
First Mission Place St Josephs School Owensboro, Time Sixteen Months Final Vows July 16 1923
OTHER MISSIONS
Place Time
Mt St. Joseph Motherhouse 1921 1943 -51
The following appeared in The Owensboro Messenger on August 7, 1951, in the obituary section under the title “Sister Mary Ruth Vick”:
Sister Mary Ruth Vick, 68, Maple Mount, died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday after an illness of several months. She was born in Muhlenberg County on Aug. 7, 1882, and is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a. m. today at the Chapel at Maple Mount, conducted by the Msgr. Gilbert Henninger. Burial will be in Maple Mount cemetery.
Do you have an unusual Vicks in your family tree? If so, please tell me their story.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Vick Family Newsletter, Volumes I through XXI, Is Now Available on CD
Thanks to Pam Strickland Vick the Vick Family Newsletter, volumes I through XXI, is now available on CD. The order form is below.
The Vick Family Newsletters, Vol. I through XXI, on CD Order Form
Please send CD to:
Name: _______________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________
City: _________________________ State __________ Zip ________________
Email (for confirmation of shipment):___________________________
_____ Vick Family Newsletter on CD @ $10 for JVFOA members $_______
Quantity
_____ Vick Family Newsletter on CD @ $20 for non-members $_______
Quantity
Total amount enclosed $________
Please make checks payable to: Joseph Vick Family of America, Inc.
Mail your order form and check to:
Laura Wikey
Treasurer, JVFOA
874 Lakeknoll Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
The Vick Family Newsletters, Vol. I through XXI, on CD Order Form
Please send CD to:
Name: _______________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________
City: _________________________ State __________ Zip ________________
Email (for confirmation of shipment):___________________________
_____ Vick Family Newsletter on CD @ $10 for JVFOA members $_______
Quantity
_____ Vick Family Newsletter on CD @ $20 for non-members $_______
Quantity
Total amount enclosed $________
Please make checks payable to: Joseph Vick Family of America, Inc.
Mail your order form and check to:
Laura Wikey
Treasurer, JVFOA
874 Lakeknoll Dr.
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Documents from the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes Reveal a Lot of Vick Family History Information
Documents from the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes (authorized under a rider to an Indian Office appropriation bill, March 3, 1893) contain a great deal of family history information. A member of the Joseph Vick Family of America provided many copies of documents from The National Archives to JVFOA about her family’s claims of Choctaw Indian ancestry and their entitlement to land under the 1830 treaty know as the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.
Among other documents in the Commission’s file are summaries of the sworn testimony of family members. The following were some of the questions asked:
What is your name?
How old are you?
How much Choctaw blood do you claim?
What is your post office address?
How long have you lived there
Is your father living?
What was his name?
Is your mother living?
What was her name?
Through which one of your parents do you claim your Choctaw blood?
Then the questions drilled down through each generation until arriving at the ancestor believed to have been a Choctaw. The person testifying was asked where the ancestor was born and when, and if the ancestor was living in 1830. There were further questions about whether the person filing the claim was married (and if so how many times), to whom, and how many children they had from each marriage. Additional questions dealt with whether a spouse had any Choctaw blood.
In an upcoming issue of the Vick Family Newsletter we are going to cover these claims, the lineage of the William6 (Stephen5, Jacob4, Isaac3, William2, Joseph1), and what we learned from testing descendants of Jacob4 at 23andMe about the probability of Jacob4 (or his wife) having Choctaw Indian ancestry as claimed in the testimony.
Among other documents in the Commission’s file are summaries of the sworn testimony of family members. The following were some of the questions asked:
What is your name?
How old are you?
How much Choctaw blood do you claim?
What is your post office address?
How long have you lived there
Is your father living?
What was his name?
Is your mother living?
What was her name?
Through which one of your parents do you claim your Choctaw blood?
Then the questions drilled down through each generation until arriving at the ancestor believed to have been a Choctaw. The person testifying was asked where the ancestor was born and when, and if the ancestor was living in 1830. There were further questions about whether the person filing the claim was married (and if so how many times), to whom, and how many children they had from each marriage. Additional questions dealt with whether a spouse had any Choctaw blood.
In an upcoming issue of the Vick Family Newsletter we are going to cover these claims, the lineage of the William6 (Stephen5, Jacob4, Isaac3, William2, Joseph1), and what we learned from testing descendants of Jacob4 at 23andMe about the probability of Jacob4 (or his wife) having Choctaw Indian ancestry as claimed in the testimony.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Inventorying the Materials of the Late Di Ann Vick
After traveling for a couple of weeks I have started preparing an inventory of the materials Di Ann Vick designated go to the Joseph Vick Family of America. It is like preparing an inventory of a giant treasure chest. The process will take weeks. As I look at the materials I want to read everything, but I also know that would turn the inventory process into one lasting many months.
The inventory will be included in parts in upcoming issues of the Vick Family Newsletter. Hopefully, the inventory will both give those who sent Di Ann material some reassurance that what they sent has not been lost and spark some interest among Vick researchers. While I have only looked at a small portion of the materials I have found items relating not only to the Joseph Vick of Lower Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia line but also to English, Canadian, and German Vick lines.
As I work on the inventory I realize that eventually the material that is not copyrighted should be scanned and placed on the Joseph Vick Family of America website so that all researchers can have access to it. I also realize that all of the material I collect on behalf of the association should be placed in a location accessible to all researchers. I suspect many family associations have lost a lot of material when their newsletter editors have not passed on what they have collected to succeeding editors or other representatives of their associations.
After inventorying the materials I intend to create a database of the information so that it will be easy to search by name or place. That process could take a year or more. This database will include the indexes already prepared for past issues of the Vick Family Newsletter and any additional information I collect.
The inventory will be included in parts in upcoming issues of the Vick Family Newsletter. Hopefully, the inventory will both give those who sent Di Ann material some reassurance that what they sent has not been lost and spark some interest among Vick researchers. While I have only looked at a small portion of the materials I have found items relating not only to the Joseph Vick of Lower Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia line but also to English, Canadian, and German Vick lines.
As I work on the inventory I realize that eventually the material that is not copyrighted should be scanned and placed on the Joseph Vick Family of America website so that all researchers can have access to it. I also realize that all of the material I collect on behalf of the association should be placed in a location accessible to all researchers. I suspect many family associations have lost a lot of material when their newsletter editors have not passed on what they have collected to succeeding editors or other representatives of their associations.
After inventorying the materials I intend to create a database of the information so that it will be easy to search by name or place. That process could take a year or more. This database will include the indexes already prepared for past issues of the Vick Family Newsletter and any additional information I collect.
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