Memories of my maternal grandparents wouldn’t be complete without grandmother Matilda Thorne.
MY GRANDMOTHER – MATILDA DEXTER (nee Thorne) (1883-1952)
Matilda Thorne, my grandmother, was born 8th October 1883 in Sparkford in the county of Somerset, England.
At the age of 8, she lived in Sparkford in 1891. Matilda was just nine years of age at the time of Edward VII`s Coronation a year later.
Residing in Somerset (Sutton Montis) in 1901 aged 18, records show Matilda was a servant to the ‘Head of the House).
Matilda married Ernest Walter Dexter on the 14th Jan 1911 aged 27. On the following 2nd April 1911, the couple resided in Egham just prior to their daughter and only child Grace Edith (my mother), birth on the 4th April 1911.
Matilda lived in Egham at the time the Women’s Suffrage movement turned militant.
In 1939 records show them living at 52, Claremont Road, Egham.
She died at the age of 68 on the 8th August 1952 at number 52, Claremont Road. Unfortunately I have only a limited recollection of her, as she passed away when I was just 9 years of age.
I made my crazy blessed grand appearance on January 13, 1966 at 4:34pm at Charles E. Still hospital in Jefferson City, Mo.
When my mom got the call that I was born, they asked her if she and my dad still wanted to adopt me. She said absolutely, but they had to hear it from my dad too. At the time he was working survey in the middle of Kansas. This was before cell phones. Due to this, I didn’t get to come home until January 20th.
I like to semi-celebrate the week between the 13th through the 20th as my week. My favorite day and number are Friday the 13th, but Thursday, January 20th, 1966, was the beginning of my wonderful life.
A Blessed Childhood
Mom and Dad didn’t have a lot of information to share. For as long as I can remember I was adopted. My parents, Richard and Jean Byrd were the best! I couldn’t have asked for better parents. They chose to name me Christy Lynn Byrd. As of November 1966, I was no longer Baby Girl Drennan.
My dad worked for the Corps of Engineers and my mom was a stay-at-home mom. From the day I came home, until I was four, we lived in Stockton, MO. At that time, we moved to Warsaw, MO. My family was truly loving and amazing. To say the least, I may have been a little spoiled. I had two sets of wonderful grandparents and many extended family members. To this day, I tell people I am the chosen one. Chosen to be given life and chosen to be adopted.
Growing up in Warsaw, we literally lived on Truman Lake. When I was 7, my parents adopted my brother Tim. He was 4. My Granny & Papa Byrd and my Grandpa Cleo and Irene lived 30 minutes from us, so did my Aunt Flavis and Uncle Joe. Both sides of my family spent holidays together and special events. We spent every weekend visiting them whether it was Saturday or Sunday. So much of my time was spent visiting with my family.
A Quest For Ethnicity Leads To!!!
Several years ago, I took the Ancestry DNA test. I don’t know why it didn’t register with me, what that meant. I was interested in knowing what my ethnicity background was. When I received my results, it not only told me my ethnicity, but it also had a list of DNA matches.
WHAT?!?!
I was so shocked. A couple of matches did contact me. When I told them my story, it was several years before I heard from them again. I did contact a young woman. More on her later.
In April of 2020, I received a phone call from a first cousin. His name is Kevin Gordon. He is from my father’s side of the family. We hit it off immediately. In June of 2020, my husband and I met him and his wife Lori. They have welcomed me with love and open arms. Together, we have worked together trying to put my puzzle together.
In July of 2022, it was verified, that Wayne Steinmetz is my father. Through my DNA matches, I have a half-brother, John Leonard. The young woman I mentioned earlier is his daughter, Justina. Debbie Abel is his sister, my half-sister. Also, I have 6 younger half-brothers. They are Travis, Eric, Greg, Keith, Kevin and James Steinmetz. Who would have thought spitting in a tube, would lead me to 8 siblings?
One day I randomly chose a couple of names from my DNA matches to contact. Diana McGinnis and Connie Dexter Spicer. I was so surprised to hear back from both let alone at all. Not only that, but we’re related through the Steinmetz/Knife line.
Crazy Blessed!
Christy Hunter (Steinmetz)
Side note 1– My mom said I was the best special-order gift her & my dad received from Sears & Roebuck! This was our inside joke.
Side note 2- Diana & I both get our hair done by the same girl.
Side note 3- This led me to Connie & hopefully many more family members.
Christy Steinmetz Hunter family tree Thru-Lines to our common Knife family
Welcome to our newest maternal connection, Christy Hunter. She is going to jump in here shortly and tell you her connection to us and how she found me!
Her story is one we hear over and over, doing this type of thing, but Christy is the first cousin who has agreed to share her story with the world. I find her very brave, and I’m proud to call her my cousin!
MY MOTHER – Grace Edith Whitestone, (nee Rye, nee Dexter) born in 1911 to Ernest and Matilda Dexter.
Grace Edith aged 11
When Grace Edith Dexter was born on 4 April 1911 with the birth being registered in Windsor Berkshire, her father Ernest, was 28 and her mother Matilda 27. She married George Whitestone in 1938 in Brentford, Middlesex. At that time she was a Rye, having been married for a short time, to Edwin Rye who sadly passed away in 1932 at the age of 28.
The Women’s Voluntary Service
Grace Edith lived in the United Kingdom during World War II and would have been aware of the Women’s Voluntary Service effort.
George and Grace had one child, Terence, during their marriage. She died on 1 January 1983 at home in Egham, Surrey, at the age of 71.
Grace, although originally a Methodist, attended the Baptist Chapel in Bridge Street Staines. As a young child I also attended the Chapel on Sunday mornings, in what was called ‘Sunday School’. I sang in the choir (although only 3 of us young lads). I recall baptisements taking place. I think perhaps I enjoyed the walking to and back from the Chapel along ‘The Causeway’, running up and down the sloping concrete side of the pathway. When allowed!
Grace often mentioned to me that she worked for a short while at Freeman, Hardy & Willis shoe shop in Staines. So I always had well fitting shoes.
Grace was a member of Staines Operatic Society. I have a couple of photographs of her and the group which I will include sometime in the future.
I remember, on what seems numerous occasions her mentioning Ted, (Dexter I presume).
She was a great mother and apart from bringing me up, in later life looked after her Mother-in-Law Georgina (lived to 103) for many years, husband George when he became frail and her Father Ernest Walter Dexter. I also recall Uncle Dave Whitestone living with her and George at some time.
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.
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.
