It took awhile to figure out the identities of everyone in the photo, but once I realized this was Margaret Jarvis and her four daughters, it was fairly easy. Identifications were made by a few prompts from my father; looking at photos in George Jarvis and Joseph George DeFriez; and looking at identified photos in my father's digital collection.
Standing, left to right: Annie Jarvis Oveson*, Margaret Jarvis Overson
Sitting, left to right: Lois Jarvis Graham, Margaret Jarvis Jarvis, Stella Jarvis Peterson
*No, this is not a typo. Annie and Margaret were married to brothers, but Annie's husband dropped the additional "r" that had been added to the original Danish Ovesen. (Why didn't he also switch out the "o" for an "e"?)
Here is a more recent picture of the sisters.
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| Back: Annie, Stella, Lois. Front: Margaret. |
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I've been looking at Lois's and Stella's very distinctive oriental-looking eyes (even more striking in other photos) and wondering where those came from. All four grandparents were English. Their uncle Ebenezer Godfrey DeFriez had the same eyes. Now that I'm looking closely at Grandfather Joseph George DeFriez, it looks like he was the source of those distinctive eyes. (More distinct in a different photo than the following, which is what I have already scanned.)
It would be interesting to see a DNA test from a male in the direct DeFriez line to see where the family originally came from. Margaret Overson states in George Jarvis and Joseph George DeFriez:
The tradition in our family is that one Isaac De Friez, a Dutch Jew, was the earliest ancestor who settled in England. So certain was our Uncle, Ebenezer Godfrey Dr Friez, who was the first of our kindred to hear and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (1873) or the correctness of this tradition, that soon after the work for the Dead was begun in the St. George Temple, he and his brother William had Temple ordinances performed for Isaac De Friez, Great, Great Grand-Father. But 'tho' research has continued on our lines both in person and by employed researchers for at least twenty-five years, his name has not been found in the English Records (ii:5-6).
October 18, 2012 -- Here's another picture of George, plus a picture of his son Ebenezer and his granddaughter Lois Jarvis. Lois certainly didn't get her eyes from the Jarvis side of the family!
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| Well, this is actually the same picture! The contrast is greater, though. |
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| Lois's father was a DeFriez, but he took the name Jarvis and married Margaret Jarvis. |
You may have answered a little family mystery for me. Many times when looking at Katie, both Paul and I have commented on her unusual eyes- and wondered how a little blonde, blue eyed cutie could have eyes that look oriental. I can't tell from the pictures if Katie's eyes match, but this may be the key to where Katie's unique eyes come from!
ReplyDeleteI'll send you a picture of Lois when she was young. In fact, if I go to the bother of scanning it, I'll scan the other picture of Joseph DeFriez and add them both to this post.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! Thanks Amy!
DeleteHi Amy:
ReplyDeleteI learned about your blog via Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.
Reading it, it struck me that both the Pettit and DeFriez surname sound very Dutch*. Being Dutch myself, I was very much interested. I also have a blog with many genealogical subjects. One of my posts shows a survey of foreign genealogical blogs/sites showing Dutch origin surnames. The URL is http://www.patmcast.blogspot.com/2012/05/dutch-ancestors.html. The idea is to try and establish contacts between people who have an interest in the same surname. There are numerous cases in The Netherlands where people emigrated centuries ago without leaving a trace in Dutch archives. With my blog I try to bring Dutch and foreign (mainly US/CAN) genealogists together.
Therefore, I like to have your permission to show your site in my a.m. blog.
I look forward to your reaction!
Kind regards,
Peter
*Dutch equivalents could be Petit (single t) and De Vries.
That would be fine. It looks like you have a nice collection. The DeFriez family tradition is that the family was originally from the Netherlands, but moved to England in the 17th or 18th century.
ReplyDeleteThe Pettit family tradition is that the family was Norman or Huguenot. Not sure if either was true. They were in America by 1630.
Thanks for your permission! Your blog has been added to the list.
DeleteIf there is anything you want me to add or change, just let me know.