My grandmother, Jane Elizabeth Lilly traveled from her home in Beckley, West Virginia to Scranton, Pennsylvania to have a baby out of wedlock (my father). He was born in December of 1935. If you knew of any circumstances surrounding this pregnancy, please contact me. We are trying to discover his birth father. Thank you.
Julie Flack

Is your Jane Elizabeth my cousin Elizabeth Jane Lilly Frantz whose mother was Alabama Lilly Lilly Berryhill Long Spencer? I never heard about this, but my aunt and cousins moved to that area in the mid 1930's.

R White

I still believe your grandmother was my cousin Jane Elizabeth Lilly Frantz. She was born 7 Apr 1914 in that area of WV and died Sep 1980 in Jenkintown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Her mother Theora Alabama Lilly Lilly was my mother's half-sister. She moved with her four children to Scranton in the mid 1930's. I've never heard any stories about Jane, but I know she had one son Jim before having uterine cancer. She later moved to the Philadelphia area and married James Arthur Frantz. They were stockbrokers.

I have at least one photo of her as a teen or young woman; she lived with my grandmother Cynthia Jane Lilly Lilly and my mother and aunt in Spanishburg as a teenager. My grandmother owned the R C Lilly mill on Little Bluestone River.

I don't know if I can reach her son or neices and nephews. I was unsuccessful contacting a nephew a few months ago. ago.

Please check my tree "Eden's Harvest" on ancestry. I'll try to post photos this week.

R White

Yes, You are right. This was my Grandmother. We found out at my grandfather's death (he wrote a letter) that my father was adopted by him and that the family had moved to Scranton because my grandmother was pregnant. I have never been able to find out anything else.

Your response was a surprise. I posted this several years ago. Thank you.

Julie Frantz-Flack

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm glad my info helped confirm the connection. I think I have at least one photo of Jane from the 30's; I'll look through my stash. Will be happy to send original photos of that branch of the family to you. You can email me directly at psalm91rw@yahoo.com.

Rosemary White

I definitely have photos of Jane (or Betty as she was often called) as well as other family members and a copy of the Woman's Almanac with an article on Aunt Bam, Jane's mother. Unfortunately, I still can't locate any of them, but will delve a little deeper for you. I can also send copies of the family pages of my great-grandparents' Bible.

Rosemary

I just realized that your name was Frantz-Flack. That's quite a coincidence. I definitely have photos of Jane and family that I'd like to send you. Your father should at least know what helf the family looks like.

Cousin Julie,

I've been contacted by your father's first cousin, Jane's nephew. He's out of the country at the moment; he's a famous treasure-hunter (Good Morning America, National Geographic, etc.). I emailed him about your dad and asked what he knew; he's not back to me yet, but he is in the middle of the ocean!!

I've been thinking about who was where and doing what in the late winter and early spring of 1935 (11 years BEFORE I was born, but I'm kind of the family historian). I have a sneaky suspicion that I may know who your grandfather was. I remembered a weird remark one of my older sisters made when I was a little squirt and not supposed to hear; it started the wheels turning.

If you could email me photos of your father, yourself and siblings at all ages (I know it's a big job; I'm sorry), I can sort out the Lilly features from the features of the man I believe may be the culprit.

Part of me hopes I'm right, but for your sakes, I hope I'm not. Hate to be so secretive, but this forum is too public for details. If I'm right about your "grandfather", I know how to get in touch with sons of two of his brothers for DNA samples to confirm or deny. Please email me (psalm91rw@yahoo.com).

Rosemary

It's the pesky cousin again. I noticed your maiden name must be Frantz. I thought that was quite a coincidence until I discovered that it's a VERY common name in upstate NY; your father's adoptive family is probably related to his half-brother!!!!

R

Hello everyone. Jane Elizabeth Lilly was my great Aunt! My paternal grandmother, Mary Athelene Lilly Baird, was her older sister. My family was very close to all 3 sisters and all their offspring and their children and remains so to this day. In fact, my mother always claimed that "Aunt Betty" was her best friend. I grew up in Pennsylvania down the street from the 3rd sister (the youngest), Lucille Bam Lilly Bowden. My Aunt Lu is the mother of Tracey - the cousin you spoke of that is the treasure hunter. He currently lives near my parents, who are both still alive and in contact with him frequently. I even have a photo of my Aunt Lu and her Mother, my Great Grandmother Theora, in my shop. Plus, I named one of my miniature horse fillies JANE ELIZABETH (nickname "LIZZIE") after my Aunt Betty. I already owned the filly's older sister, who came with the name of MOLLY, which was Mary Athelene's nickname. Only seemed right to name the sister horses after the real sisters. Contact me if you are interested in more info. Susan