My Roots in the Soil of Hardship
Donalsonville, southern Georgia, is where I was born in 1936. Poverty hung over us like morning mist over fields. My parents worked seasonally to raise 13 or 14 kids. We had tomatoes in Florida one year and cherries in Michigan the following. These moves taught us resiliency early. Only when we moved to Ruskin, Florida, 20 miles south of Tampa in the early 1940s did we experience brief stability. Under the relentless sun, we worked truck farms and tomato fields. I swam in chilly Lake Michigan waters with my siblings when summer pulls north. Though our clothes were patched and our meals basic, we dreamed grander lives. Family relationships strengthened during the fight. Despite the distance to the following job, we laughed loud and stuck together.
The Full Circle of My Family Tree
I come from a sprawling clan where every name carries its own chapter of grit and memory. Here is each family member introduced with the details that shaped us. I present them in a clear table for easy reference.
| Family Member | Relationship to Me | Key Dates | Personal Introduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Robert Anglin | Father | Early 1900s to late 1900s | Patriarch who led our migrant life from Georgia farms to Florida fields. He instilled hard work in all of us through endless seasons of labor. |
| Rachael Van Miller Anglin | Mother | Died 1973 | Matriarch whose heart held us through every hardship. She received mysterious notes after the escape and kept hope alive until her final days. |
| Alfred Ray Anglin | Older Brother | 1928 to 1964 | Eldest of the trio known for his role in the 1958 bank robbery. He cherished a leather horse figurine possibly crafted by John in prison. |
| John William Anglin | Brother | Born May 2 1930 disappeared June 11 1962 | Creative spirit and escape artist. He and Clarence were inseparable from childhood and dreamed of freedom beyond poverty. |
| Clarence Anglin | Brother | Born May 11 1931 disappeared June 11 1962 | Impulsive swimmer and loyal partner in every scheme. His strength carried them through icy waters and daring plans. |
| Christine Anglin | Sister | Circa 1932 to 2015 | Quiet force in our large sibling group who shared the migrant labor years with steady grace. |
| Carson C. Anglin | Brother | Circa 1934 to 2013 | Steady presence among the brothers who lived through the family upheavals of the 1950s and 1960s. |
| Mearl Anglin Taylor | Sister | Still with us | Loyal companion who joined me on the 2012 Alcatraz visit and spoke publicly about our brothers survival. |
| Robert Anglin | Brother | Dates private | Integral part of the 13 to 14 child household who kept family ties tight through decades. |
| Patsy Anglin | Sister | Dates private | One of the sisters raised in the same rural rhythm of fields and family loyalty. |
| Mary Nell Anglin | Sister | Dates private | Another sibling who grew up amid the seasonal moves and held our collective memories close. |
| Frank Widner | Husband | Married mid 1900s | Steady partner who built a home with me in south Georgia and supported our family through quiet years. |
| Ken Widner | Son | Born after 1962 | Devoted son who preserves prison artifacts photos and stories through books and public talks. |
| David Widner | Son | Born after 1962 | Passionate advocate who continues the family narrative in podcasts and media appearances. |
| Sue Widner | Daughter | Dates private | Possible family member who adds another layer to our immediate circle of love and support. |
Additional unnamed siblings filled out our large household to the reported total. Each one contributed to the unbreakable web that held us together.
The 1962 Escape That Still Echoes in My Heart
June 11 1962 changed everything in one swift current. My brothers John and Clarence slipped away from Alcatraz with Frank Morris under cover of night. They left behind a family desperate for answers. I was in my mid 20s then. News of the daring breakout hit like a thunderclap across our quiet Georgia life. We knew their past included a 1958 bank robbery in Columbia Alabama yet we also knew their hearts never turned truly violent. They simply chased freedom from the grip of poverty. I have held firm to the belief they made it across those cold waters. Family lore speaks of anonymous Christmas notes arriving for my mother until 1973. A leather horse figurine surfaced that carried Johns careful handiwork. Sightings trickled in over the years. These signs kept our hope burning steady like a lantern in a storm.
My Own Path Through Marriage and Motherhood
I built my life away from the spotlight in the Albany Lee County and Colquitt area of south Georgia. Marriage to Frank Widner brought stability after the turbulent 1960s. We raised our children with the same values my parents taught us. Hard work and family came first. Ken and David grew into men who carry the Anglin story forward. They collect mementos and share them with the world. Our possible daughter Sue rounds out the next generation. I focused on preserving photos prison made items and newspaper clippings. These treasures sit in boxes that hold more than paper. They hold the laughter of childhood swims the worry of prison visits and the quiet pride of survival. No grand career pulled me away. My days centered on home and the legacy we protect.
Glimpses of Our Story in Recent Years
Though time passed, the escape remained. My sister Mearl and I visited Alcatraz for its 50th anniversary in 2012. We showed tourists family photos on those concrete coasts. In 2013, we returned to the Columbia, Alabama bank my brothers robbed. We walked the vault and told reporters our certainty. Ever since, my sons Ken and David have kept the torch burning. They published books, conducted podcasts, and gave 2024 interviews. My long-held belief and proof are commonly cited. My name remains linked to those previous moments on social media. While I live my own life in south Georgia, they advocate for the family.
My Extended Timeline of Milestones and Memories
I track our family journey through precise dates and events that still feel fresh.
Circa 1936 I was born into the Anglin household in Donalsonville Georgia as one of 13 or 14 children.
Early 1940s our family relocated to Ruskin Florida for steadier tomato field work while seasonal trips continued to Michigan.
1950s to 1960s my brothers John Clarence and Alfred turned to crime including the 1958 bank robbery then landed in Alcatraz.
June 11 1962 John and Clarence vanished from the island in the most famous escape of the century.
1973 my mother Rachael passed away after years of receiving mysterious notes we believed came from the escapees.
2011 to 2012 at age 75 I spoke publicly about my brothers survival and visited Alcatraz with Mearl and my nephews.
2013 I toured the Columbia Alabama bank and shared childhood stories with journalists.
2014 to 2024 my sons Ken and David expanded the narrative through documentaries books and a podcast titled My Uncles Escaped Alcatraz.
2024 to present the story lives on in media while I continue my quiet life in south Georgia preserving every family artifact.
FAQ
How many siblings shared my childhood home?
Our parents raised 13 or 14 children in total. I grew up surrounded by brothers and sisters who turned seasonal farm work into shared adventures and unbreakable loyalty.
What do I believe really happened to John and Clarence on June 11 1962?
I have never doubted they survived the swim to freedom. Anonymous notes leather gifts and family intuition tell me they reached safety and lived on beyond Alcatraz.
Who keeps the Anglin story alive in public today?
My sons Ken Widner and David Widner carry the torch. They write books host podcasts and appear in interviews while I share private memories from our home in south Georgia.
How did poverty shape our family decisions?
It pushed my brothers toward risky choices yet it also forged the tight bonds that let us support one another through prison sentences escapes and decades of waiting.
What role did my mother play after the escape?
She became the quiet keeper of hope. Mysterious Christmas notes arrived for her until her death in 1973 and she held onto them as proof her sons endured.
