The Weeks' line continued, Geoffrey Plantagenet

Geoffrey Plantagenet was born to Fulk and Ermengarde on August 24, 1113 in Anjou, Isere, France.  He was known as the Handsome or the Fair and Plantagenet.  The nickname of Plantagenet came from the yellow sprig of broom blossom (genet or broom shrub) that he wore in his hat.  It was said that he was red-headed, jovial and a great warrior.
   King Henry I heard many good reports about Geoffrey and began negotiations for a wedding between young Geoffrey and his daughter, Empress Matilda.  Both parties gave their consent and on June 10, 1128, he was knighted in Rouen by King Henry.  Their marriage took place in 1128.  Matilda was eleven years older making her around 26 when she married 15-year-old Geoffrey.  It is said that their marriage was not a very happy one with frequent long separations.
  Geoffrey is best known for assisting his wife in reclaiming the throne of England after her father's death.  It was originally given to her cousin, Stephen, but after many years they were able to take it back for their son, Henry.
  On September 7, 1151 Geoffrey died from a fever.  He was buried at St. Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, France.


Henry II of England (Plantagenet), was born on March 5, 1133 in Le Mans, France, to Geoffrey Plantagenet and the Empress Matilda.  Henry was also known as Henry Curtmantle, Henry FitzEmpress or Henry Plantagenet.  Henry became actively involved in the attempt to reclaim the throne of England by the age of 14.  He also became the Duke of Normandy at 17.  He inherited Anjou in 1151 and then married Eleanor of Aquitaine.
  Much of Henry's rule consisted of wars and violence because he wanted to reclaim all that should be rightfully his from his grandfather's rule.  He also entered what is known as the "cold war" with King Louis VII of France, which lasted decades.  At the end of his life many of his sons had been in or started revolts to try to ascertain the kingdom for themselves.  His son, John, would eventually triumph, but bring ruin to the empire that Henry had built.

Louisiana Martin, Perry Watson Cate and Francis Elijah Franklin

Louisiana Martin was born on May 4, 1865 in Bradley, Tennessee to John and Caroline Martin ().  She died on November 9, 1945 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, at the age of 80, and was buried in Sheffield, Alabama.   The first record that I can find of Louisiana is the 1870 census.  From it we are able to see that her father is either no longer alive or lives elsewhere.  Her brother, 21-year-old Samuel, is the main male of the household.  In the 1900 census, Louisiana (Lou) is the head of the household.  She has in her care her son, sister, two nieces and a nephew.  We learn that she did attend school and can read and write.  We are also able to see that she rents a house.  In the 1910 census she is married to Francis Franklin.  It appears that they have been married for five years.  From this we are also able to learn that they own their own farm and are mortgage free.  In the 1930 census we find Louisiana in Alabama with her son John and his second wife Annie.  There we discover that they are renting a farm.

(step-father of John Frank Martin)  Francis Elijah Franklin was born in Sep 1856 in Bradley County Tennessee.  He passed away on March 14, 1925 in Clinton, Anderson, Tennessee. 

I was also able to find several documents on him starting in 1860.  In the 1870, census it says that his occupation at 15, was a farmhand.  In the 1910 census it says that he is a self-employed farmer, that he cannot read or write, he owns his home without a mortgage.  It also says that he is already married to Louisiana and that John Frank Martin is his stepson.   In the 1920 census, he can read and write, he is a farmer and he is self-employed.  The next document that I found was his death certificate.  It says that his cause of death was paralysis and that he was buried in Clinton.

(biological father of John Frank Martin)  Dr. Perry Watson Cate

was born on October 12, 1854, in Polk, Tennessee, his father, Andrew, was 40 and his mother, Nancy, was 36. He had one son with Louisiana Martin in 1888. He died on December 10, 1915, in Cleveland, Tennessee, at the age of 61, and was buried in Bradley, Tennessee.  His only wife, Lillian Ross, died December 23, 1882 at the age of 19.  It was previously believed that Louisiana had had an affair with a married doctor with the last name Brown.  However, through dna analysis, it was discovered the Perry Cate was John Frank Martin's biological father and that he was in fact a widower.  In the 1870 census, Perry is 16-years-old.  At this time it says that he is still attending school along with two of his three siblings.  In the 1880 census it says that he is now a physician, his wife is keeping house and that they have a one-year-old daughter named Pearl.  In the 1900 census, we find that he is widowed.  We also discover that he has another daughter, Inez R Cate, and a son-in-law, Benjamin Hornsby.  All of them are able to both read and write.  We are also able to see that they rent a farm.  In 1910 his occupation has changed from physician to farmer.  He now owns his own farm and works for himself.   Perry Cate passed away five years later from cirrhosis of the liver and complications according to his death records.

Clara and Nettie Matlock

Clara and her daughter Irene

Robert Martin and Clara

William Henry "Cleo" Martin and Sarah Daugherty

I will be back on the Weeks' side as soon as possible.  Until then here is some more of my family tree.  

William Henry "Cleo" Martin was born on March 28, 1911.  The first record that I found for him was the 1920 census.  In it we learn that he is able to both read and write.  In the 1930 census it tells us that he is working at the hosiery mill.   He married Sarah Daugherty on  January 11, 1930 in Campbell, Tennessee.  They had three children during their marriage.  In the 1940 census he is working as a knitter at the hosiery mill.  He works fifty hours a week and makes an income of $1,526.  He died on October 30, 1982 in Clinton, TN.

Sarah Daugherty was born on February 16, 1909 in Anderson, Tennessee.  In the 1920 census her family is living with her aunt and uncle, Daniel  and Emma Scaggs.  In this census we find that she can both read and write.  She married William Henry "Cleo" Martin on January 11, 1930 in Campbell, Tennessee.  They had three children during their marriage.  In the 1940 census we discover that she stays at home where she does the housework.  She died on June 22, 1988 in Clinton, Tennessee.

Clara Ethel Matlock

Clara Ethel Matlock was born on May 13 1890 in Clinton, TN.  The first record that I found with her was the 1900 census.  In it she is ten-years-old.  It says that she can both read and write.  It also says that her father, John, is a farmer and that they own their own farm.  After this I found her marriage license to Herman Madison Yarnell on September 26, 1905. The next record is the 1910 census.  In it she is living with her mother, Martha.  She is 19-years-old, and divorced with one child, Geneva.  A few months later Clara and John Martin marry on June 14, 1910.   The 1920 census tells us that Clara and her four children are living with her mother.  In the 1930 census we find that her sister, Nettie has moved in with them as well after the death of her husband.  I also discovered that out ancestor, Cleo, is working in a hosiery mill.  After her mother's death Clara and Nettie move in with her daughter, Irene, and her husband, Arthur Powell.  It says that as her occupation she does home housework.

My second great-grandfather John Frank Martin

I've been doing more research on my mother's side of the family lately because of the discovery of my 3rd-great-grandfather's true identity.  Because of this I haven't been able to type up more on the Weeks'.  Therefore, in my absence of a post, I'm going to tell you a little about my family until I get the Cate/Martin branch finished up.  I'm going to jump around a bit at times so please bear with me.

John Frank Martin was born on August 10, 1888 in Charleston, Bradley, Tennessee.  He married Clara Ethel Matlock on June 14, 1910.  At some point between 1911-1926 he left Tennessee for Alabama.  There he married Annie Lee Phillips.  He died on March 3, 1954 in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

The first record that I find of him is the 1900 census.  In this we find that John Frank Martin is able to both read and write.  In the 1910 census we discover that he is a laborer in the general farm industry.  It's most likely that he was working on his step-father, Elijah's, farm.  After this I was able to find a two records for his  marriage to Clara.  I was able to go back through records and find the military enlistments from 1798-1914 records.  In that I find that he enlisted in the year 1907.  In this record I learn that John had a ruddy complexion and was 5'5.  He was discharged March 10, 1910.  The next record that I found would be his WWI draft registration card.  In this he has his present trade as an electrician at Western Union Tel. Co.  He is employed by H. Pierce Florida.  It also says that he had three years experience as a trumpeter in the calvary.  I just discovered that this was during what is called the Indian Wars.   I also learned that he was of medium build with blue eyes and brown hair.  The date of registration for this was June 5, 1917.  The next record that I found was the 1930 census.  In this one he and his mother are both living in Alabama.  He is now married to Annie and they have a son and daughter.  It says that they rent their home, that he never attended school, and his occupation is telephone.  In 1940, we find that they are renting a farm, they have four children, that he did go to school until the third grade, he works an average of 45 hours a week for the Bell telephone company, and that his income is $2,080.  I also later discover that the work that he is doing at this time is considered private work.  My final document is the application for his headstone.  We see that it is a flat granite marker without an emblem.  It  says that he was a private in Company C 306th Field Signal Battalion in France during WWI.

Margaret de Bohun part 2/ Fulk King of Jerusalem

When Fulk King of Jerusalem was born on February 19, 1089, in Anjou, Isère, France, his father, Fulk, was 45 and his mother, Bertrade, was 19. He had a son with Ermengarde Countess of Maine in 1113. He died on November 13, 1143, in Hazafon, Israel, at the age of 54.

Fulk V was also known as Fulk the Younger, the Count of Anjou and the King of Jerusalem.   Originally, Fulk was opposed to King Henry I of England and supported King Louis VI of France.  However, sometime between 1118-1119 he changed allegiances.  With this shift his daughter, Matilda would marry Henry's son and heir, William Adelin.   His son Geoffrey of Anjou would then marry Henry's daughter, also named Matilda in 1127 or 1128.

By 1120, Fulk had gone on crusade and had become acquantainted to the Knights Templar (Orderic Vitalis).  By 1127 Fulk was ready to return home when King Baldwin II of Jerusalem sent him word of a possible match to his daughter, Melisende.  Baldwin II did not have a male heir so he had already made it that his daughter would succeed him.  However, Baldwin wanted to make sure that she would be secured in her position and the best way to do that would be to marry her to a powerful man.  Fulk fit the bill in all aspects being that he was a wealthy crusader, experienced military commander, and a widower. 

He did not agree right away because he hoped to become more than the mere consort of the Queen.  Baldwin II knew that Fulk was the best man for the sake of his daughter and kingdom and the terms were changed.  Fulk then gave his title for Anjou and all that came with it to his son, Geoffrey and left for Jerusalem.  He and Melisende married on June 2, 1129.  Baldwin II would later be able to give Melisende more standing by appointing her by the sole guardian of her son by Fulk, Baldwin III.

Upon Baldwin II's death in 1131, Fulk and Melisende became the joint rulers of Jerusalem.  From the very beginning Fulk took control of their government.   He was known to favor his own people, rather than the native nobilty.  Many of the crusader areas north of Jerusalem feared the Fulk would attempt to take control of them as well.  However, the northern territories would then refuse his authority.  Melisende's sister, Alice of Antioch, would then use this chance to take control of Antioch.  She allied with Pons of Tripoli and Joscelin II of Edessa to keep Fulk from trying to invade their lands.  Fulk and Pons fought briefly which then allowed them to make peace again.  Afterwards, Alice was once again exiled. 

Fulk didn't just have to worry about the people of the north lands.  He was resented by the second generation of Jerusalem Christians who had come to adulthood after the First Crusade.  Their loyalties were with Hugh II of Puiset, count of Jaffa, who was Melisende's cousin.  In 1134, Fulk decided to try to discover any proof against Hugh's disloyalty.  In order to do so he accused Hugh of sleeping with Melisende.  Hugh launched a rebellion in protest.  Hugh allied himself with the Muslims of Ascalon.  Eventually, peace was declared and Hugh was given the light sentence of exile for three years.

Not long after, an assassination attempt was made against Hugh.  Although it was believed to be Fulk or his supporters, no proof to support this theory was ever uncovered.  Because of this Melisende and her supporters were able to take control from 1136 onwards.  Fulk and Melisende would reconcile sometime afterwards and their second son was born.

In 1143, Fulk and Melisende went on holiday in Acre.  During their vacation, Fulk decided to go on an hunt.  At some point his horse stumbled, fell, and Fulk's skull was crushed by the saddle.  He was carried back to Acre, where he lay unconscious for three days before he died.  He was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.