Martha T Conaway Whaley Sadler

The O'NEAL Times

Sussex County, Delaware Edition

January 29, 2029

Dear Readers,

I found my great grandmother's death certificate online today and it had several details I hadn't been aware of. I figure there may be long lost relatives out there that have so many details surrounding her life I never knew anything about. So I'm hoping this newsletter finds those individuals so I can learn even more. 

Her name was Martha T. (Conaway) Whaley Sadler. She was my mother's grandmother on her mother's side of the family. I had always heard my grandmother (Alberta "Birdie" (Whaley) Mitchell refer to her mom  as Martha Whaley. I do on occasion remember her talking about Frank, my grandmother's step dad. Frank Sadler was Martha's second husband. 

Upon finding this document I realized I hadn't done any research into my side of the family which carries the  name Conaway. Martha was a Conaway prior to marrying William Whaley, her first husband. The record said Thomas J. Conaway was her dad and Sarah J. Messick was her mother. That gave me a little bit of more information to research later.

While I was looking at the document I couldn't help but be curious as to what the letter T stood for as to her middle name. Perhaps I 'll see that in some future documents. I also was fascinated to see her date of birth as well as her place of birth. I didn't have either of those prior to today's find. It said she was born in 1882! I had the date of birth recorded as 1880. She was born in Shortly, Delaware. I don't even know where that was? 

It said she died living on Rd 2 at Hitchens crossroads in Laurel, Delaware, but I thought she was living with my grandmother at 513 Cooper Street, Laurel Delaware.

Martha lived to be 89 years old and died of congestive heart failure. She was a tough old bird just like her daughter, my grandmother. She was evidently laid to rest along side her second husband Frank in the Laurel Hill Cemetery. I have visited her grave but I never recalled paying attention to her dates of birth or death on the stone. I feel it only appropriate to share a link to her death certificate as well as her tombstone for you to see these details with your own eyes. I'd like to draw your attention to my grandmother's name which was listed as the informant on the death certificate. Also, seeing she died in 1971 is why I knew so little about her for she died a year prior to my birth. 

I would love to have a picture of her if anyone has one. My grandmother always said I could have the old black and white photographs up in the attic when she died but I never did get them.

Sincerely,

Editor-N-Chief

Ray A. O'Neal