Monthly Archives: April 2021

Connie Dexter Spicer, Our Researchers

Connie Dexter Spicer, Family History Bio

Connie Dexter Spicer, Family History Bio

Connie Dexter Spicer
Self-portrait 2021

Connie Dexter Spicer is a long-time family history buff.  Her paternal grandmother got her started when she was a young teen.  She took a high school class leading her to collect data and keepsakes over the years.  At family reunions, she was the one that collected the family trees.

She built her family history well past her grandparents and great grandparents on both sides of her family.  Like many amateur historians, she ventured out to courthouses and cemeteries, learned what to look for, collected documents and photos.

At the start, her family tree was just over 80 people.  It soon had proven relatives from the US to England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Turkey, Australia, Germany and even Japan.  It became an international family history project.

A New Family History Goal

Her mother, Karen Dexter, asked whether she had any Revolutionary War Patriots in her lineage.

Her mother, Karen Dexter, asked whether she had any Revolutionary War Patriots in her lineage.  Karen wanted to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) before it was too late.  She views it as a great honor to be part of the society.

That request led Connie to research potential patriots.  Although not familiar with the process, she got help from her cousin, Barb Johns, long involved with the society.  Barb identified Patriot Ensign Mitchell, Pvt., of New York.

So, Connie pulled together the data proving hers and her mother’s lineage to Ensign Mitchell.  Both she and her mother were approved just weeks later.

Now focused on building the stories of her people, she researches their lives through newspapers, Google and DNA sources.   She hopes sharing the stories as part of her blogs encourage the younger folks in her life to take over one day.

Work Life

Connie’s background is in arts/media. She’s been a disc jockey, AV producer and podcaster. She still maintains blogs in multiple family genealogy websites for her and her husband, David’s families.

Between them are 6 grown kids and 8 grandkids.  They enjoy karaoke, photography and hiking together when they can get away.

You can read her blogs at DexterGenealogy.com, OurSpicerFamily.com or hear the first episodes of her podcast “Speaking in Relative Terms” on the DexterGenealogy website.

General Posts

MEMORIES OF MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS (1)

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MY GRANDFATHER – ERNEST WALTER DEXTER (1882-1968)

Ernest was born on the 28th April 1882 in Church Street Staines, to Joseph (a print cutter), and Emma Letitia. He was Baptised at St. Marys Church Staines 13th Aug 1882.  His marriage to Matilda Thorne (Born 1883 in Sparkford Somerset), took place on 14th January 1911. The 1911 Census shows them both living at No.55 New Road Egham.

Ernest was the third eldest of 7, with  Brothers, Edward J, Herbert Henry and Alfred, and 3 Sisters, Emily Victoria, Edith Annie and Charlotte E.

The view below was taken with Staines Bridge, (over the river Thames) behind the camera, and with the pub on the right behind the building that looks like a toilet/washroom block. The Gas Holder in the background could be seen from my own home in WOODHAW, the Egham end of ‘The Causeway’. New Road and indeed Claremont Road are about half a mile down the left hand side of the main road.

The SHIP INN c1960
Granddad’s favourite Pub on the right.

Even in the 1940’s and 50’s ,some homes still had Gas Lighting, which was the case with No.52 Claremont Road. The living room had the Gas Light above the dining table – making a ‘hissing’ noise from the mantle.  At this time, Ernest was employed by the Linoleum Factory of Staines, as a ‘Beltman’.

AN AMUSING STORY (even to the perpetrator, Ernest).

Ernest I recall, often wore a Trilby hat  whilst in the house. He kept his ‘spare’ on a nail behind the scullery (kitchen) door. Quite often during the week Ernest would pay a visit to the Ship Inn for a pint of beer before lunch.  On this particular occasion his arrival at the pub was, probably to accompanied  laughter, asked why he had two hats on?  Yes, he was wearing  one in the house and had simply also put on the one from behind the scullery door before he left. Luckily he had a sense of humour, otherwise we may not have heard about it from him.

Ernest passed away 22nd November 1968 at the home of his daughter Grace Edith, in Egham.