This is the Birkenbeil side of my family. Google Translate says that “Gut Birken Abstammung” means something like good Birken descent… I was going for “good Birken stock,” but my German skills are non-existent.
For a change of pace from my dad’s side of the family, here we have my Grandma’s father’s side (That’s my mom’s mom’s dad’s side, if you didn’t understand the difference between my Mamaw and my Grandma). Somehow we got from Birkenbeil to Purkey. Both are fun to say, so I’ll take it.
Birkenbeul (pronounced “BURT-EN-BOY-ul” according to Google Translate) is an area of Germany, now in the Rhineland-Palatinate state. It’s up in the mountains. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about Germany’s history (besides WWII, of course). I’ve started reading a condensed history of Germany — so far, I’m in the 1500s.
- Johannes Arnold Birkenbeil — b. abt 1695 in Westerwald, Schaumburg, Niedersachsen, Germany; d. abt 1745.
- Andru Birkenbile (BURT-EN-Beeluh) b. abt 1715 in Birkenbeul/Westerwald, Germany; d. July 1773 in Alesia, Baltimore Co., Maryland (USA USA USA!). Andru married Anna Catharina Cross Katzwinckel. Anna was probably born in Katzwinkel (CATS-VINKLE — cats! vinkle!), Germany. That’s only 20 kilometers from BURT-EN-BOY-ul. Look, Ma, I’m learning German!
- Christian Berckenbeil/Purkeypile (PORKY-pluh according to G Translate). Brother Christian decided to Americanize the name, I guess. Maybe he went for the Purr-key-pile pronunciation? Anyway: b. in Baltimore about 1750; d. in Shenandoah Co., Virginia. He married Catharina Diehlin.
- Michael Purkeypile. b. 7/6/1777 in Baltimore; d 1/34/1845 in Grainger Co., Tennessee. Michael married Elizabeth Nellie Noe.
- Reuben Purkey. b. 1795 in Virginia; d. 6/12/1883 in Hancock Co., Tennessee. He married Sarah Sally Mcghee (b. 1798 in TN)
- Jesse Purkey (Puckey). b. in Tennessee. He married [edited for correction] Almiron or Elmiron Royston — daughter of Benjamin Royston.
- Emily Jane Purkey. (b 9/6/1864 in TN; d. 2/9/1942 in TN). she married George W. Wolfe III (I hope to do a separate post on the Wolfes of Germany eventually. Right now I only have a couple of generations.)
- Robert Taylor Wolfe (b. 4/10/1883 in TN; d. 2/17/1950 in TN). He married Maggie Cook (b 8/10/1892 in TN; d. 4/3/1929). Maggie is buried in Treadway, Tennessee.
- Grandma
- Mom
- Me!
Das ist teil meiner Großmutter der familie aus Deutschland! I don’t think Google Translate got that right, but oh well.
Unfortunately, I’m having lots of trouble trying to find my Grandma’s mother’s family (Maggie Cook). I have found Maggie as a servant in a household, but I can’t find her parents. At all. I’m resigning myself to believe that I may never get that connection past the generation. In reality, I’m sure everyone was too busy working and surviving in the hills of Tennessee to think about future generations. Also, I’m pretty sure the Census Takers took a look at the terrain and said, “Nah!” because the census is not being helpful either. But, I really want to know who the Cooks were, if that was the surname, where are they from. How did they get to that ridge; why did they stop there?
I would like to go to Hancock county someday. I’ve only been to Tennessee to drive through it, if my memory serves correctly.
These genealogy/ancestry posts have slowed down since I’ve been pushing pretty hard on the thesis. Hopefully (*crosses fingers*) after October/November, I’ll have more brain cells for genealogy (and time to sit in the library to use their access to Fancy Expensive Genealogy Website).
Edited 8/19/14: Correction of Emily Jane’s parents. Thanks Mr. Lonnie!
KRISTIN HODGES 