Mourning Rings: Have One From Your Ancestor?

 

Have you a mourning ring in an ancestor's memorial box? Have you ever heard of mourning rings? Mourning Rings were (and sometimes still are) jewelry worn to remember someone who has died. Such rings ran the gamut from plain bands to diamond studded. 

Mourning rings of yore were engraved with the person's name and death date and might have contained a hand-painted image or lock of hair. Today, they might have a tiny box for ashes. The tradition of mourning rings dates to ancient times although they gained popularity during the Victorian era. 

The article I was reading gave several examples of metal-detector folks have found such treasures buried in the sand or under a house. 

"If you think one of your ancestors may have had a mourning ring, we recommend searching their last name and the keyword "mourning ring" on the Newspapers.com homepage."

(Found this in the official blog of Newspapers.com; bit penned by Jenny Ashcraft, 8 Oct 2024.)

More Oldie Newspaper Stories

Old newspaper stories sometimes make us laugh and sometimes cry. But they are always so interesting! Bet you have a collection of family newspaper stories....... here's one for you:

 On Friday, the 15th of July, 1921, this little bit was published in The Spokane Daily Chronicle:

"AUNT IS SEEKING THELMA MAY SPRY"

"If Thelma May Spry, aged 17, can be found here, she will have the opportunity of going to the home of her aunt, Mrs. A.C. Seybert, 420 East South Street, Warren, Ohio, to live. A letter asking that the girl be found was received by the police today. According to the information sent by her aunt, the girl was placed in an orphan home here at the age of 12. At one time she stayed with a family named Craig on Fourth Avenue. A good home awaits the girl if she can be found, the letter says."

Well! My interest being piqued, I did some quick looking in our Washington Digital Archives website. 

On the 1910 census, taken 13 May 1910, in Minot, North Dakota, I found Ora Spry, widow, age 26, servant in the household, with children Thelma, age 6, and Sylvester, age 3, both children born in North Dakota. 

On the 1920 census, taken 8 Jan 1920, for Crab Creek, Lincoln County, Washington, Thelma was born in North Dakota (parents in Virginia/New York) and was the "ward" of the Smith family. 

 I learned that Thelma Spry, of Multnomah County, Oregon, married Alfred B. Scott, also of Multnomah County, on December 20, 1922, in Clark County, Washington. 

Poor dear Alfred died on 30 Jun 1930 in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Cause of death?  "Accidently burnt...clothing catching fire, while asleep, from cigar."

Certainly looks like Aunt Mrs. Seybert, of Warren, Ohio, never found her niece. Sad. Never did learn what eventually became of Thelma Spry Scott.  Any descendants out there? 

Is A Name Appearing In The Newspaper Always Spelled Correctly??

 What is the correct name-spelling for "Grandma" Hibben?

Spokesman Review, 21 Mar 1922   ///   Here Since ’55; Dies; Poor Farm

Ox Team Brought “Grandma” Hibben to Washington.

Caroline “Grandma” Hebnier, who came to the Inland Empire 65 years ago and resided in Spokane county for the last 42 years, died Sunday at the county poor farm. She was 87 years old and one of the oldest inmates.

Superintendent J.S. McCormick sent the following report to The Spokesman-Review:

“Mrs. Hebnier was born in Berlin, Germany in 1835 but came to America when she was but 6 years old. They settled in Pennsylvania. She came to Washington in 1855, having crossed the plains with her husband behind an ox team.

“They settled near Clarkston but came to Spokane county in 1879 and settled southwest of the city in the direction of Medical Lake and Cheney.

“Mrs. Hebnier came here 14 years ago with her son, who died her about 12 years ago. She was known as “Grandma” Hebnier and was well liked by all. During the war she knit socks for the Red Cross and did what she could for the United States which she always claimed as her country.”

The funeral will be held from Shepard’s Undertaking company rooms. The aged woman had funds to pay for her burial.

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Just for fun, I did some sleuthing to learn more about "Grandma" Hibben............. no luck, under either spelling. 

Nothing for her in our Washington Digital Archives.

Ditto for Ancestry.

Ditto for FamilySearch.

Ditto for Find-A-Grave

Need newspapers from Washington? How about FREE?

If you're needing news from Washington, have you explored this website:  https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org ???  (Use the left-right scroll bar at the bottom of the image to see the entire image.)