I am sorry to report that there are only two things I can tell you about the Mary Scally who is your ancestor. She is reported in my father’s book of genealogy, THE LYONS FAMILY, to have been born in Longford, Ireland, on November 15, 1838 and to have, at a time unknown, come to the U.S. and become the wife of my great grandfather, Michael Hall. I never knew her myself, as she died, according to that genealogy, on August 20, 1913, and I was not born until December 11, 1921. I assume you have seen that genealogy on the Internet and have read the full page given over to her. That is page 44 of the printed book.

What are those “two things” about her I can tell you?

One is this. Mary Scally’s own personal bible, with much written in it in her own hand, is now safely in our family archive maintained by my daughter Laurie Lyons who lives about four blocks from me here in Shreveport.

Here is how that bible is described in the inventory I made of its holdings:

E. The Family Bible owned by Mary Scally Hall.

27. “THE HOLY BIBLE According To The Douay and Rheimish Versions, with Annotations by the Rev. Dr. Challoner” printed in New York by Thomas Kelly. This is the only “family bible” of whose existence C. H. Lyons, Jr. has ever had any knowledge. Written early in the front matter, and almost certainly in her hand, is the inscription: “Mrs. M. Hall 1882”.

This bible measures 12.5” X 10” X 4.15” and is held together by two brass clasps. Immediately following the “Historical Index” (which concludes at page 909) and in advance of the New Testament is a section titled “Family Register”.

The first entry under “Marriages” is as follows: “Michael Hall and Mary Scally married January 17, 1859.” The first entry under “Births” is as follows: “Mary A Born Palmyra N.Y. December 15, 1859.” The first entry under “Deaths” is as follows: “Joseph T Hall Died June 2 1890”. The final page of the “Family Register” is given over to “Memoranda”, in which have been written in various hands the names and dates of birth of certain direct descendants of Michael and Mary Hall. [End of quotation.]

The other thing I have to tell you is that about five years ago I wrote and published a memoir in which you will find quite a lot written about Mary Scally and the life she lived with Michael Hall in northwestern Wisconsin. There are a number of photos in it too, including one of the handsome farmhouse she and Michael built right after the Civil War and lived in until their old age. As a boy and young man, I saw that house myself but was never in it. It’s now gone forever–nothing left of it. Nothing but that old photo and the ever-bright memory of it I hold close in my heart.

That memoir is still in print and I suggest you get a copy and read it. It’s title is SONGS I HEARD MY MOTHER SING and CHARLTON LYONS is listed as the author. You can buy a copy online at Amazon, or Barnes & Noble or about any other seller of books on the Internet. But I’d suggest you go direct to the publisher. Go to authorhouse.com, or better yet, simply pick up the phone and call the AuthorHouse toll-free number 1 – 800 – 839 – 8640.

I do hope I’ve been of some help here. There’s nothing of any value except family, right?

Happiness to you, Kathrin.

Charlton Lyons, Jr.

There, beside the old plantation house, is an old cemetery called either the “Stafford Cemetery” or the “Stafford Family Cemetery”. Not many graves in it. I have just gone to that Web site, opened it, gone to Rapides Parish, scrolled to the 3rd of 4 “pages” and found two apposite entries, one for “Stafford Cemetery” and the other for the “Stafford Family Cemetery”. “Stafford Cemetery” I can identify as definitely the one beside the plantation house and of which I have pictures myself; it is the place of re-burial of Brig. General Leroy Agustus Stafford and I have in memory pictures I took myself of that cemetery, including the General’s tomb. I think it possible that, although there are two “Stafford” entries, both may in fact relate to the same cemetery. Beside “Stafford Cemetery” is a clickable box which will take you to a detailed account of that cemetery. There is also an aerial photo which may be pulled up from a box for “Stafford Family Cemetery.’