The Montgomery Side

My maternal grandfather was Roscoe Lee Montgomery (he called himself Ross). The origin of the name Montgomery has an interesting history. Back in the days when the Roman Empire covered most of Europe, in the southern part of France in an area called Gaul, there was a mountain known as Gomer's Mountain. In the language of that day it was Mont Gomeri. The Lord in charge of the lands and the villages was eventually known as Lord Montgomeri. The name was later spelled Montgomerie and eventually became Montgomery. When William the Conquere chose men to accompany him and take positions of responsibility in his famous war with England, he chose Roger deMontgomerie who led the center of the invading army at Hastings, and was known as Roger the Great. The Montgomerys spread to Scotland at an early date beginning with Robert deMontgomerie who went there in the early 1100s. One of his successors, John Montgomerie of Eaglesham married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Hugh de Eglintoun, and was a hero in the battle of Otterburn in 1388.
     Some of the original Montgmerie families had remained in France and established themselves in Normandy, where they were the overseers of Mont Saint Michel, the French fortress which protected France for centuries against the invading ships of England. The Montgomery Castle is still standing at Ponterson, near the Normany Coast. The unfortunate story of Montgomery, a Count then occupying the castle at Ponterson is still told and will always be an important part of the history of France.
   On the occasion of the marriage of his sister, Marguerite, with the duke of Savoie, Henry II, King of France, gave a large feast. There were all kinds of sports as entertainment, and after the jousting matches had ceased, King Henry was not quite satisfied. He wanted a chance to joust with Count Montgomery. Queen Catherine and others tried to dissuade him, but the King was obstinate and insisted he have his way. During the joust, the lance of Count Montgomery fatally injured the King, and he died on the 9th of July, seven days after the celebration, in the year 1559.
   Although Montgomery was never held responsible for what obviously was an accident, the Queen never forgave him. She finally got her revenge when Montgomery was captured along with other Protestants, who were called Huegenots. She had him executed. She is the same queen, the infamouis Catherine de Medici, who ordered the Massacre of the Huguenots at St. Bartholomew's Church on Augut 14, 1572. After that time, the Montgomery family, along with other Protestants left France and settled in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. (There were a LOT of Montgomerys.) It was from Ulster in North Ireland that most of the early Montgomery families came to America. (So I AM Irish!)
   The first Montgomery ancester that we know about in America is Robert Montgomery, born about 1780 in Georgia. We don't know much about his life in Georgia other than he was a school teacher and attended the Presbyterian Church. His brother James and sister Martha remained in Georgia, but Robert (who was called Robin) moved to Gibson County, Indiana. Soon several other families from Georgia moved there as well. Among them was the Marvel family with their children, including their daughter Patience. Robin often visited the Marvel family. One of the stories that has been passed down is that one morning Robin followed the girls, Patience and Comfort, to the milking gap, where seated upon a stump, he made himself useful by holding a calf by the ears while Patience milked its mother. Suddenly he said, "Patia, will you milk my cows?" Patience replied curtly, "No, Robin, I will not milk your cows." There was silence for a time while Patience thought the request over. She considered Robin's good qualities and her heart softened. "Say that again, Robin."
   "Say what?"
   "What you said before."
   Robin repeated his question.
   "Yes, Robin, I will milk your cows." And so preparations began for a wedding. They were married April 30, 1813 by the Methodist Curcuit riding minister Rev. Benjamin Edge. This was said to be the first marriage in the Black River Basin in the Indiana Territory. They made their home in Smith Township, Posey County, Indiana.
   Robert fought in the battle of Tippecanoe. He also fought in some of the Indian Wars and was a soldier in the War of 1812. Robert and Patience Marvel Montgomery were the parents of 11 children. (William; Prettyman; John; Elizabeth; Nancy; Samuel; James; Lavina; Robert, Jr.; George; Thomas) We are descended from Samuel who married Phoebe Elizabeth Pruitt. The Pruitt family came to Indiana from Kentucky in 1820. They had lived in the Carolinas previously. Phoebe's grandfather Simon Williams, Jr. served in a civilian capacity during the Revolutionary War and his service has been accredited by the DAR.(in case that kind of thing is important to you. I'm not quite as interested as perhaps I should be. I remember my father [Boppey] saying that ancestors were like potatoes in that they are buried in the ground. But I digress...) Although Samuel had to sign his will with his mark (he was illiterate) he left a sizeable fortune for his children. He was probably dyslexic, as his family was well educated.
   Samuel and Phoebe Elizabeth Pruitt Montgomery were the parents of ten children. The fourth child was Joseph Franklin Montgomery who married Martha Gasaway. They had five children: Roscoe Lee, Walter, Lewis Samuel, Albert, Viola, Joseph Franklin, and Elizabeth.
   Roscoe Lee (who called himself Ross) married Dorothy Christina Danner (check the last blog). They were the parents of: Carl, Marguerite Marie (Nonnie), Irene, Marlowe, Roscoe Henry, Dorothy, Mildred Louise (who died very young), and Selma Juanita who was always known as Juanita. Aunt Neetie (Juanita) never allowed her first name to be spoken aloud!
   Next time I'll write about the Gasaway side--the maternal side.
   No pictures this time. Sorry. Just a lot of names and dates. But our histories are more important than we realize, imprinted in our DNA. I have been drawn to Mont Saint Michel ever since seeing a picture of it when I was in primary school. I finally was able to go a few years ago. Rented a car in Paris and drove through Normandy, arriving at Mont Saint Michel in the last afternoon of Christmas Eve. Went to midnight mass and wept through the entire service. The same was true of St. Bartholomew's in Paris. I had never heard of the church, but while in Paris I found it one day while wandering around. I went in and sat in a pew. Someone was practicing the organ. I wept. Have no explanation for my responses to some of the places I've gone. Like how do you explain Mongolia??? But we were once tribal people, completely dependent upon the land upon which we lived. That may seem strange to us now with all of our technology, but that sophistacated "stuff" is a mighty thin coat. Underneath we are still homeo sapien, surviving and doing what we can to enjoy the process. I'm mighty satisfied with how my process is going. Hope you are too.