Smyrna times., 1929-08-07
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Walter G. Tatnall, Former State
Archivest and a Well Known
GeneaOIogist, Dies Suddenly


Walter G. Tatnall, Smyrna S
well known genealogist and form
er State Archivest, died suddenly
about four o'clock Friday morning
from an heart attack superinduc-
ed by Indigestion. His sudden
death was a shock to his neighbors
and friends. Mr.. Tatnall was a
native and spent most of his life
in Wilmington, but had been max
ing Smyrna his residence since he
married his second wife, Mrs. Clara
] Rewley Wilds. She died last Sep
tember, since which time he has
been living alone. Walter Tatnall
eged 73, who was a son of the late
Henry Lee and Caroline (Gibbons(
Tatnall was born May %, 1856, in
Wilmington. He was early asso-
ciated with his father in the lum-
ber business and subsequently be-
came general sales agent for
Wetherill & Company, manufac-
turer of Corliss Engines at Ches-
4 ter, Pa, retiring several years ago
and later assuming the duties of
State Archivist, dividing his time
between Wilmington and Dover.
Following upon his second mar
riage to Mrs. Wilds about ten
years ago, he removed to Smyrna
where his wife resided and since
has made his home in this town.
He was one of the organizers of
/ the old Delaware Field Club, and
/ of the Wilmington Cricket Club,
the forbears of the Wilmington
Country Club. Mr.. Tatnalps first
wife, was formerly Miss Hannah
Reynolds Knight, by whom there
was one son Walter G. Tatnall, Jr.
who survives. He is also survived
by one sister, Mrs. Ernest Smith
of Wilmington. Funeral services
took place from his late residence
on Main street, Smyrna, at II
o'clock noon and the remains TAX
en- to Wilmington, where services
were held in the Chapel of the
Wilmington and Brandywine GEM
etery, the Rev. Charles l.. Candee,
officiating.
Mrs. CHI. Burgess, Centreville, Md.
Mrs. Mary Clifton Burgess, age
64, wife of Charles H. Burgess, of
Centreville, Md, and sister of
the late DR.. John w. Clifton, for
years a practising physician of
Smyrna, died suddenly Thursday
at o'clock, at her home in Cen
treville, Md, from heart trouble.
The announcement of her death
was a shock to her relatives and
many friends in Smyrna where in
years gone by she was a frequent
visitor. Mrs. Burgess had been in
failing health for some time, but
until the day before her death, was
as well as usual. The deceased
was born at FELTON,, and was the
only daughter of the late Alfred
o. Clifton and Margaret (Reyn-
olds) Clifton. She spent her girl
hood in Delaware. On October 6,
1896, she married Charles H. Bur
CESS, of Centreville, Md. Since
that time they have resided in
Centreville. The deceased was the
last surviving member of the i'm
mediate family, of which there
were four brothers who live in
Delaware and one sister. Besides
her husband, she leaves four neph-
ews: Commander A. Lee Clifton,
Medical Corps, u. S. NJ, now To-
Gated at Portsmouth, N. H., Naval
Hospital; Alfred o. Clifton and
Jehu Clifton, of Wilmington, and
Robert Clifton, of New York. Fun
eral services were held Saturday
afternoon at 2 o'clock from the
home, and were conducted by the
Rev. Award Chamberlain, rector
Of st. PauPs Church. Interment
was in the family lot in Odd Eel
lows Cemetery, Camden.
Mrs. Catherine Kimble McGinnes
Mrs. Catherine, Kimble McGinnes
27 years old, a cousin of Miss
Mary f. Yeates of Smyrna, died
at the Brandywine Sanitarium
near Marshallton, Saturday, Aug
ust 3, where she had been for three
months for treatment. Before her
marriage she was a nurse, gradu-
ating from the Methodist Hos
pital. She was frequent visitor
in Smyrna and made many friends.
She is survived by her husband,
Marion McGinnes, of FELTON,; faith
er, t. Clayton Kimble, and one
brother, Earl Kimble of Camden.
Funeral services were held Tues
day at Mr. McGinnes' parents, and
interment was in the family lot at
Barratt's Chapel.