Sunday's Obituary

Newspapers.com, The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, Monday, November 24, 2014, Page C3

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - How Will You, Or Did You, Celebrate America's 250th Birthday?

 From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  It is the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence today.

2)  How will you celebrate the day? Or, how did you celebrate the day?

Here's mine:

    Our plans for the day fell through... for various crazy reasons. In addition, it has been so hot here in Georgia, that it was just too miserable to go outside for cook outs or anything.  So today ended up being a typical quiet Saturday with chores.  

    However, I have been celebrating the 250th birthday/anniversary of our country in my own way for the past week.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been taking advantage of Fold3 opening up their Revolutionary War records for free through July 6th (this Monday).  I have been furiously searching, downloading, transcribing, and saving as many records of my ancestors as possible.  I am in awe of the records I am finding, and I am so proud of my ancestors, 3rd, 4th, and 5th great-grandfathers who fought for this country.

    Also Mom and I are going to see the movie, "Young Washington" on Tuesday afternoon.  We are really looking forward to that!

Tombstone Tuesday

 

 Gregory Thompson "Greg" Clark

18 Jul 1963 - 11 May 2020

buried at Clark-Joiner Cemetery

Dexter, Laurens County, Georgia, USA

Military Monday

    In honor of the United States of America's 250th birthday coming up, I wanted to take this opportunity to salute the brave souls who fought for our democratic way of life in The Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. 

    For this special occasion, Fold3 is providing their Revolutionary War records for FREE through July 6th!  I immediately cleared my schedule (which was already free) and starting searching.  I have to go back and get all the information, but I did a quick perusal today in order to write this post.  

Name	Relation	State	Unit, Regiment, Other
Samuel Bevier 1740-1826	3rd cousin, 6x removed	New York	Ulster County (NY) Militia, 7th Regiment, Col. John Hardenburgh; Snyder’s Regiment (Ulster County Militia)
Nathaniel Bosworth 1753-1844	Spouse of 2nd cousin, 7x removed	Connecticut	Armorer in Captain Meigs’ Co., Colonel Spencer’s Regiment, Connecticut Troops
John Brainard 1754-1820	Spouse of 6th great aunt		Militia Man; Sgt in Lt. Smith’s Company
John Prescott Bush Sr 1758-1846	Half 6th great uncle	South Carolina	Officer; Regiment Unknown
David Hubbard 1749-1836	1st cousin, 7x removed	Connecticut	Private, 7th Co., 5th Connecticut Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Isaac Sherman
Isaac H Osman 1738-1778	5th Great Grandfather	New York	Private, Orange County (NY) Militia, 1st Regiment; Died as POW
Israel Osman 1736-1778	6th Great Uncle	New York	Private, Orange County (NY) Militia, 1st Regiment; Died as POW (Isaac’s brother)
John Osmun	6th Great Uncle	New York	Sargeant, Lamb’s Artillery (Isaac and Israel Osman’s brother)
Abraham Ozmun 1764-1848	4th Great Grandfather	New York	Private, Collier (one who makes gun powder), Regiment Unknown
Solomon Page Abt 1760-1823	3rd Great Grandfather	North Carolina	Corporal, Bailey’s Company
John Tapley Patterson Abt 1746-?	1st cousin, 6x removed	North Carolina	Unknown Unit or Regiment
Mark Patterson Abt 1739-Abt. 1808	1st cousin, 6x removed	North Carolina	Unknown Unit or Regiment
Comfort Ranney 1759-1859	5th Great Grandfather	Connecticut	Private, Captain Edward Eells’ Company, Col. Samuel Wylleys’ 3rd Regiment; Discharged 29 May 1780
Elijah Ranney 1750/51-1833	2nd cousin, 7x removed	Vermont	Private, Vermont Militia, Major Day’s Command of Westminster on alarm of 17 Oct 1780
Nathaniel Ranney Jr 1735-1800	6th Great Grandfather	Connecticut	Private, Col. Samuel Wylleys’ 3rd Connecticut Regiment
Thomas Erastus Redman 1745-1836	Spouse of 1st cousin, 6x removed	Virginia	Private, Captain James Johnson’s Company in the 6th Virginia Regiment of Continental Forces commanded by Lieut. Col. James Hendricks (Note: His war record indicates he was deceased 07 Feb 1777.)
Jeffrey Smith 1763-1846	Spouse of 6th Great Aunt	Connecticut	Continental Army; Company and Regiment unknown.
Adam Tapley Bet 1760-1770 - 1837	5th Great Uncle		No information on his service located.

   

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- A Revolutionary War Era Ancestor

 From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  We all have ancestors who were alive in 1776, and some of them may have celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence or even served in the military during the war.

2)  Describe one or more of your ancestors who lived in that time or served in the military.

Here's mine:

    I found that I have 19 men in my family tree who served in the Revolutionary War, all on the American side.  To be honest, I have not researched these ancestors and their part in the war.  However, I found one ancestor who had a "notable, if tragic, connection to a critical moment in the American Revolutionary War."

My 5th great-grandfather, Isaac H. Osman (1738-1778), served out of Orange County, New York with the Orange County Militia, First Regiment, a/k/a Colonel Jesse Woodhull's Regiment.  

On October 6, 1777, British forces under General Sir Henry Clinton launched a major assault on the American fortifications guarding the Hudson River, specifically Forts Clinton and Montgomery.  This was The Battle of Fort Montgomery, and it was one of the most significant military engagements in the New York Highlands.

The men of the First Regiment of the Orange County Militia were essential defense of the Hudson River corridor. This region was a primary target for the British because securing the river would have effectively split the American colonies in two.  

Records indicate that Isaac Osman was taken prisoner during this battle. The loss of these forts was a severe blow to the American defense of the Hudson Valley, as it allowed the British to dismantle the defensive chain across the river. However, even though the  British achieved a tactical victory by seizing the forts, the campaign failed to achieve its strategic goal of securing the Hudson Valley.   

Following his capture, Isaac was taken to one of the infamous Sugar House prisons in New York City, which was occupied by the British at the time.  The "Sugar Houses" were sturdy, industrial warehouse buildings. These prisons were notorious for extreme overcrowding, lack of ventilation starvation, and rampant disease.  Prisoners often slept on the floors and were subjected to harsh treatment. The mortality rate there was alarmingly high due to these conditions. 

The British used both sugar houses and decommissioned ships (prison ships) because their traditional jail facilities in New York City became overwhelmed by the thousands of Americans captured in battles like the one at Fort Montgomery. Both types of facilities are remembered for the immense suffering they caused.  While the prison ships are perhaps more famous in American lore, the Sugar House prisons were equally central to the grim reality of life for prisoners of war in occupied New York.

A list of prisoners was supplied to the British Army in New York for the purpose of informing families that they needed to send food and supplies for the prisoners. The Provost Marshall of the Prison, William Cunningham, confessed later to selling the food and supplies that were sent for the prisoners.  He was later found guilty of financial crimes and was executed in London in 1791.  

Issac Osman died in the Sugar House prison of starvation in 1778.  He was 40 years old and left a wife and 8 children between the ages of 2 and 13. 

Google Gemini provided content for this blog post.  

Sympathy Saturday

    Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree. Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none. This week there is someone who actually passed away a few months ago as I got behind on email for while. So I may be doubling up for a few weeks.

Please join me in offering condolences to their families and holding them in the light.

Irene Kniphfer Parrish

Sep 9, 1935 — Mar 19, 2026

North Augusta, SC

Mrs. Irene Kniphfer Parrish, age 90, entered into rest on Thursday March 19, 2026. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Bobby L. Parrish.

She is survived by her loving children, Russ (Myra) Parrish and Becky Parrish Cole; grandchildren, Kevin (Lara) Brown, Claye (Catherine) Mack, Amanda Booth, Ray (Julie) Parrish, Jeff (Lene) Cole, Madison Parrish Holley, Hayley Cole (Cody) Webb, and Collin Parrish; twenty great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and brothers, James (Kelly) Kniphfer and Otis (Mary Ann) Kniphfer.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Parrish was preceded in death by her parents, John E. and Mozelle L. Kniphfer; daughter, Terrie Parrish; infant son, James Cleon Parrish; great granddaughter, Nora Mary Parrish her brother, Fred Kniphfer; her sisters, Sally Kniphfer Portwood, June Kniphfer Ramsey, and Maggie Kniphfer Marsh; and her sister-in-law, Joan Parrish Rhoades.

Mrs. Parrish was a longtime member of Warrenville First Baptist Church. She dedicated her life to caring for others through her career as a nurse, a profession she took great pride in. Prior to nursing, she worked as a seamstress, demonstrating her strong work ethic and attention to detail.

She found great joy in traveling, camping, and fishing alongside her beloved husband. She also enjoyed trips to the beach, gardening, shopping, cooking, and spending time reading her cherished recipe books. Above all, she was a loving and compassionate woman who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A funeral service honoring her life will be held at 11:30 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026, in the chapel of Jackson Memorial Funeral Home, with Rev. Arthur Zawislak, Rev. Dwayne Anderson, and Dr. Walter Pym officiating. The interment will be private.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the funeral home.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Parrish's caregivers; Sha Hall and Tarina Englrum. Also, Dr. Bleakley Chandler for his excellent care through the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Samaritans Purse or The Shriners Hospital.

Jackson Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with these arrangements.

In a cruel twist of fate, Irene's brother passed away less than two weeks later:

James Howard Kniphfer

Aug 21, 1944 — Mar 31, 2026

Hephzibah, GA

James Howard Kniphfer, a man of enduring strength and steadfast faith, passed peacefully Tuesday evening, March 31, 2026, at Wellstar MCG Hospital in Augusta, transitioning into his eternity. Born on August 21, 1944, James lived a rich and full life marked by devotion to family, dedication to his craft, and a deep love for the outdoors.

James began life in Kite before his family moved to Brunswick and later to Graniteville, South Carolina, where he completed his high school education. Soon after, he married and started a family, embarking on a successful career in construction. Known for his adeptness and exceptional talent in his trade, James worked on numerous projects in the area, including the notable Plant Vogtle. His commitment and skill earned him the role of Construction Supervisor, a position he held with pride until his well-earned retirement.

In 1973, James moved his family to the Hephzibah-Blythe-Matthews area, settling on a 14-acre tract that became a haven for his beloved animals—horses, pigs, cows, and goats. An avid outdoorsman, he relished riding horses and trail rides, often participating in The Sheriff's Posse. Fishing and camping were among his pleasures, revealing a man who found joy and peace in nature’s embrace. James also appreciated the simple pleasures of a good meal and warm fellowship with his family and friends, embodying the spirit of hospitality.

Sports, particularly football, held a special place in his heart, as did watching Westerns on television, echoing the values of resilience and honor he esteemed. He was also a past member of the Wrens Optimist Club, contributing his time and heart to his community.

A man of profound faith, James was a former member of Warrenville Baptist Church and faithfully attended Hephzibah Baptist Church until his health declined. His spiritual life was a cornerstone that gave him strength and solace throughout his journey.

James was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Mozelle Lampt Kniphfer and John Edgar Kniphfer, and siblings Sally Portwood, Maggie Marsh, Irene Parrish, June Ramsey, and Fred Kniphfer.

He leaves behind a devoted wife, Kelly Wilson Kniphfer, whose partnership was a source of enduring support and love. Together, they nurtured a cherished family: children Robin Dalton (Derek), Toby Kniphfer, Missy Lamb, Marc Kniphfer (Rolanda), and Cindy Bowen. His legacy extends through thirteen grandchildren—Chris Miller (Jennifer), Laura Gaines (Jeff), Jacob Miller, Kraig Kniphfer (Sarah), Chad Kniphfer (Sky), Alvie Lamb Jr., Georgia Dawn Stephenson, Shekinah Lamb, Marc Kniphfer Jr., Anthony Bowen, Miranda Bowen, Michael Dobson Jr., and Eddie Dobson—and is further enriched by twenty-one great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Otis Kniphfer, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends whose lives he touched deeply.

Visitation will be held on April 6, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at James Funeral Home, immediately followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM officiated by Rev. Tom Kalliokoski. Interment will take place at after the service at Woodland Baptist Church Cemetery. Honored to serve as his pallbearers are his grandsons—Kraig Kniphfer, Chad Kniphfer, Marc Kniphfer Jr, Alvie Lamb Jr, Michael Dobson Jr, and Eddie Dobson.

James Howard Kniphfer’s life was a testament to strength, faith, and love. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him and deeply missed by those who loved him most. His enduring spirit will remain in the hearts of his family and community.