I’m constantly surprised in my research, finding new stories of family from ages past. My paternal grandmother Marjorie Huston Dexter told many stories that were more myth and fantasy than fact. None have truly been debunked, but some have crossed and blurred lines. Her tales are legend in our family – and perhaps that’s all there is.
But I’ll let you be the judge.
Her first story is about an alleged ancestor she said was named Sam Huston. So far, I haven’t ID’d anyone on her tree named Sam. But, I digress.
This Sam Huston was alleged to be a real hero, she said. She told me that during a massive flood, there were many people stranded on and in homes and yelling for help. Sam immediately jumped on his horse, and crossed the river. He gathered those poor, soggy, trapped folk, and began bringing them back across the river, one at a time.
He got to the last person, and into the water he pushed his horse once again. One more trip. The horse and victim and Sam all went into the river. The horse misstepped, and all went under.
The horse came out.
The victim came out.
Sam drowned.
Well, I have yet to locate this heroic Sam Huston (no relation to the Confederate). But here is where the water hits the wall.
A Family Coincidence?
WH Keesee drowns in Dan River, Feb1893 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In my mother’s paternal family are ancestors named Keesee. One such industrious young man, W.H. Keesee, was a “hack”, essentially a horse and buggy taxi from back in the day.
Young W.H. met and was hired by Tom Washington, a drummer, who wanted to see the countryside. Washington was having a great time and encouraged his driver to keep going.
As darkness fell, it became more difficult to see. The Dan River was now swollen from rains and the bridge – unknown to WH was out.
The hack, in the dark, went into the river.
The horses kicked free of their traces and made it safely up the bank.
Washington suffered himself to get free from the cab, climbed on top and was eventually rescued.
W.H. Keesee’s body was not discovered. At least, as of the date of the last article on the story.
Another time, perhaps, I’ll tell you Gramma’s story about the priest and the beauty…
In 1976, Alex Haley published “Roots“, an autobiographical story about an African American learning who he was through his people. It started a craze in our country, and I was one who got the bug. I took a social studies class about it, and got an A- in my Dexter research for my report along with the genealogy bug.
Connie Dexter Spicer, 2014
It became a life-long passion to learn more about my own history and people. I believe in the importance of knowing where I came from. My dad’s mother was instrumental in creating this “genealogy junkie” by giving me a number of (mostly) unbelievable stories about our family. After high school, however, I mostly put family history away. Other than a few reunions over the years, Dexter research went on the back burner.
Then came home computers.
Passing Brings Rekindled Interest In Dexter Research
In February of 1999, my grandmother, Marjorie E. (Huston) Dexter passed away. No matter whatever else may have happened to her during her lifetime, she gave me this gift – an interest in our heritage that I will never forget. The skeletons and the joys that crop up are what they are — pieces of a history – OUR history – that made us up in one way or another.
Introducing Grandma Marjorie Huston Dexter
Documentation Needed!
Before she died, I did family research using Grandma’s mythology — family stories and anecdotes with no documentation to go along with them. I learned quickly how important validating the information was.
In 1997, 20 years after I started, I got my first computer and discovered FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. I learned Cyndi’s List and other online sites are dedicated to helping people put family documents into their hands to validate connections and eliminate myths.
The ahnentafel I created (the family tree itself) was built to a few hundred individuals. It was primarily my direct family on both sides. I had tons of questions. Brick walls kept coming, because I hadn’t yet made a valid connection across the pond. There were a few primary families I questioned-some in Leicestershire, some in Staines. I just didn’t know which family was the right one.
I didn’t connect with the right person to help me validate those ideas and families – until one day, when I got an email.
Roger Connelly, a Chamberlin Cousin
When Grandma died, I remembered the old research and decided my computer would be a great tool. I issued questions through online bulletin boards and one response to one of my online queries from Roger Connelly came back.
Roger identified himself as a cousin on the Dexter side — his connection was through his mother and my great grandfather’s mother, Mary. They were Dunlap sisters. Roger developed his Chamberlin/Chamberlain family lineage and George James Dexter cropped up as the spouse of one of his aunts.
Obituary of George James Dexter submitted by Roger R. Connolly
He passed on a copy of George James’s obituary and the clues within were invaluable to connecting the families! I discovered his military history – the first time I learned someone in my family served in the Civil War! I learned about his death and burial. The hints about his family’s immigration were not entirely correct but close enough to work with, and his birth location gave me a direct verification to the Staines clan.
Enter Alan King, Noel Bye and Bill Guest
At that point, things really started happening. I quickly connected with Alan King of Shepperton, England. Alan is now a cousin-by-proxy.
Alan and Di KingBill Guest
As a local historian, he conducted walking tours of the area and noticed the Dexter name — and then my inquiries.
Alan corresponded with me and provided more fleshed out details after visiting the local churches that kept cropping up in Dexter stories, specifically the Independent Chapel that the family was so instrumental in building and growing.
Noel Bye (then of Tasmania) and Bill Guest (Karori, NZ) then connected with me – all of which significantly helped put puzzle pieces together and added to my list of cousins and interested Dexter family researchers and historians.
Noel confirmed his connection with the Staines clan and then somewhat fell off the radar. I later found out he has had health issues and moved to mainland Australia to benefit from the weather.
Bill connects to Noel’s same root family lineage. He was able to give me the appropriate 1850 Census records that started bringing more of the Staines clan to reality.
If you haven’t yet, read Bill and his wife Sue’s story put together from the letters of Eric Standring, you should. They are available for Site Members to read.
David Leonard Dexter Group Joins the Fray
David L Dexter family
More details emerged as David Leonard Dexter (Newent, England) and Dave V. Dexter (Neenah, Wisconsin) brought more information out. The ancestral Dexters of Staines remained involved in their community and church. They started the first fire brigade of Staines. The Spelthorne Museum has a dedicated area for the Fire Brigade and contains a great deal of information about Dexter involvement.
David L. was, for much of this particular time frame, serving in Japan with his wife, Esther as part of their christian mission. They found time to correspond and kept in touch, sharing the beautiful countryside and history of Ashiya along with David’s wonderful photography.
Kenneth Dexter Wrote His Own Story
With help from David L., I was soon in touch with Kenneth Dexter. Ken’s family line had a bakery with wonderful reputation – the Dexter Cafe (imagine!). Ken grew up in that environment and wrote his family’s story, (currently available on Amazon.com), “A Fleury Business“.
A Fleury Business, By Kenneth Dexter
More Cousins Add Depth
About this same time, I corresponded with Mary Dexter Heighway, Tony Dexter and Malcolm Robert Dexter – the latter who was living in Turkey. We have since lost Malcolm Robert, but he is with us in spirit, if not in person.
Tony had another first cousin (another Malcolm)– and in short order got me corresponding with the juggernaut of our Dexter family research in the UK, George Dexter.
Juggernaut George Dexter, Researcher Extraordinaire!
George Dexter (not George James, but this generations’ own George) is also a significant gatherer of our family’s history. It was he who got us past George Dexter, the tallow chandler and his son Thomas and Susannah, among the earliest founders of this family line that we have uncovered so far.
George Dexter
Calling All Family Writers and Photographers!
I hope you will come back and read up more on the family. Our collaborative efforts are great fun and full of wonderful information (and occasional surprises). Despite the writing and research, this is part of what helps build the site.
There are many more of you outside of the Dexter direct family that I have not yet mentioned. I apologize – you are not being ignored. We will focus on those family branches too. Where would we be without our mother’s own families, after all?
If your research is outside of the direct Dexter lineage, your stories are still part of the heritage of the family. It should be included! Your information as a group and are invaluable.
Grow your branches here, as well. Rutherford, Keifer, and Huston; Bruer/Brewer, Bye or Standring; Pease, Taylor, Connelly/Conley, Chamberlain and Swan all need representation. Through the richest old stories our own new history unfolds!
Take some time and author your own stories here. If you have questions on how to do it, let me know. All who have joined here can write and submit your articles easily. You retain authorship and copyright remains in your name.
I suggest you each write a brief author’s statement. Include:
Who you are.
Where you are
How long you’ve been researching and
How someone can contact you for more information (if you wish to be contacted). Feel free to include social media @usernames.
For all involved, our site grows richer with every piece of information. Please join in often with articles, photos and comments.
