Another boy's name turns up in the Mordecai rolls. Young Elbert Cheek attended the school for both sessions of 1813. Only local boys attended the school (no boarding room for boys), so we know he was from Warrenton.
As usual with historical lookups, it's easier to find a man--men owned property, men didn't change their surname on marriage, and men used fewer nicknames (no Martha=Patsy problem). So it's quick to find that Elbert Alston Cheek was born on Valentine's Day in 1803, eldest child of Robert Tines (or Tynes) Cheek (1772-1841) and Mary Hinton Alston (1782-1864), according to a family Bible. The Cheeks owned a plantation called "Shady Oaks" outside Warrenton, and Robert T. Cheek ran a hotel in town. By the time he attended the Mordecai school as a ten year old, Elbert had a younger brother and three younger sisters (another younger brother died in infancy). Four more brothers and another sister arrived after Elbert's time at the school. He married Mary Sue Hayes (b. 1803) in 1825, in Warrenton; they had nine children together between 1827 and 1851. Their adult children lived in Mississippi and Kentucky, with a few staying near Warrenton. (Same details given here, with slightly different dates in some instances.) Elbert Cheek is mentioned in the 1924 local history "Glimpses of Old Warrenton," in passing (as the father of a local Civil War veteran, Col. William H. Cheek--more about William here).
(Robert Tynes Cheek pulled a bit of a stunt for genealogists: he left an extra $500 in his will to each grandson named Robert. So there were four grandsons named Robert, including Elbert's oldest son.)
Found an obituary for an Elbert Alston Cheek V, who died young in 2008--must be some kind of kin, because that's not a common set of names.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
91. Mary Cheatham
There's a student named Mary Cheatham in the rolls of the Mordecai school. She was there for one year, 1814 (both sessions), and a William Cheatham is the name associated with her account. William Cheatham appears in the Mordecai ledger, paying for "Miss Mary," in April 1814. (William Cheatham also appears on the page for February 1816, without a child's name attached, possibly meaning he lived near enough to Warrenton or to the Mordecais in other places to have further dealings with them; or perhaps he had a niece who attended after Mary's time there.)
I'm guessing that Mary Cheatham might have been from Chesterfield County, Virginia, only because a lot of Cheathams lived there. But I can't find a William with a daughter Mary the right age. Their names are too ordinary; and Mary might have gone by Molly or Polly or May later in life, and the Cheatham might have been spelled Chatham in some records. The usual story!
Next entry: another boy's name in the school rolls.
I'm guessing that Mary Cheatham might have been from Chesterfield County, Virginia, only because a lot of Cheathams lived there. But I can't find a William with a daughter Mary the right age. Their names are too ordinary; and Mary might have gone by Molly or Polly or May later in life, and the Cheatham might have been spelled Chatham in some records. The usual story!
Next entry: another boy's name in the school rolls.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
90. Sally Cary
There's a student on the rolls for the Mordecai school named Sally Cary. She was at the school for both 1811 sessions. I don't have a hometown or an adult's name attached to the account, and I don't think she got mentioned in any Mordecai correspondence.
Neither part of the name is particularly uncommon. She's obviously not this Sally Cary, but she could be from that Virginia family--as we have seen over and over here, families tended to recycle first-last name combinations across branches and generations. I do find a Sallie Cary (1806-1848), daughter of Captain Miles Cary of Norfolk County, Virginia. She'd be on the young side of the right age, but without more details, I can't say she's the Mordecai student.
Neither part of the name is particularly uncommon. She's obviously not this Sally Cary, but she could be from that Virginia family--as we have seen over and over here, families tended to recycle first-last name combinations across branches and generations. I do find a Sallie Cary (1806-1848), daughter of Captain Miles Cary of Norfolk County, Virginia. She'd be on the young side of the right age, but without more details, I can't say she's the Mordecai student.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
87., 88., 89. E. Ann, Martha, and Mary E. Carter
There were three girls named Carter on the rolls at the Mordecai school:
E. Ann Carter and Mary E. Carter were at the school for the last two sessions, in 1818; they're listed as being from Prince Edward County.
Martha Carter was at the school for four sessions, 1811-1812, also from Prince Edward County.
There are mentions of the Carter girls in the school ledger: In November 1811 money was received from "Andrew Jones of Mr. Williams for Martha Carter." Andrew Jones again brought money for Martha Carter in June 1812. Dr. Gloster was paid on behalf of Miss Carter and other girls in April 1813. Mrs. Gloster was paid for Miss Carter and other girls in September 1813 (looks like they might be boarding with the Glosters?). A Samuel Carter turns up in the ledger in April 1818, paying for "daughters and ward" (so E. Ann and Mary E. might well be sisters).
In the letters, there's a mention in February 1818 by Caroline Mordecai: "we hear of recruits every day, there are three Miss Carters coming from Prince George." (Caroline Mordecai to her sister Ellen, 14 February 1818, in the Jacob Mordecai Papers at Duke University) One of the three may have been the "ward" of Samuel Carter mentioned above, who turned out to have another name, not Carter. And note that they may have been coming from Prince George County, not Prince Edward.
That seems like a lot of information to go on, but... I'm not connecting any of these names up to a firm place, family, tombstone, or record of any kind. Carter's a common name, obviously, but still. Someone out there must know who these Carter sisters were.
E. Ann Carter and Mary E. Carter were at the school for the last two sessions, in 1818; they're listed as being from Prince Edward County.
Martha Carter was at the school for four sessions, 1811-1812, also from Prince Edward County.
There are mentions of the Carter girls in the school ledger: In November 1811 money was received from "Andrew Jones of Mr. Williams for Martha Carter." Andrew Jones again brought money for Martha Carter in June 1812. Dr. Gloster was paid on behalf of Miss Carter and other girls in April 1813. Mrs. Gloster was paid for Miss Carter and other girls in September 1813 (looks like they might be boarding with the Glosters?). A Samuel Carter turns up in the ledger in April 1818, paying for "daughters and ward" (so E. Ann and Mary E. might well be sisters).
In the letters, there's a mention in February 1818 by Caroline Mordecai: "we hear of recruits every day, there are three Miss Carters coming from Prince George." (Caroline Mordecai to her sister Ellen, 14 February 1818, in the Jacob Mordecai Papers at Duke University) One of the three may have been the "ward" of Samuel Carter mentioned above, who turned out to have another name, not Carter. And note that they may have been coming from Prince George County, not Prince Edward.
That seems like a lot of information to go on, but... I'm not connecting any of these names up to a firm place, family, tombstone, or record of any kind. Carter's a common name, obviously, but still. Someone out there must know who these Carter sisters were.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
86. Eliza Carson
There was a student named Eliza Carson at the Mordecai School for three sessions, mid-1813 to the end of 1814. A John Carson paid the Mordecais in July 1813, November 1814, and February 1815; she may be from Chester SC. Not much to go on, but let's see what else there is out there...
This genealogist finds a John Carson born 1747 in Ireland, who was living in Chester SC in the 1760s-1780s, and died in Hardin KY in 1822, who was married to an Elizabeth--might be a candidate for her father, or maybe even grandfather. But I don't think there's a daughter Elizabeth showing in his will. So huh.
This genealogist finds a John Carson born 1747 in Ireland, who was living in Chester SC in the 1760s-1780s, and died in Hardin KY in 1822, who was married to an Elizabeth--might be a candidate for her father, or maybe even grandfather. But I don't think there's a daughter Elizabeth showing in his will. So huh.
Monday, March 26, 2012
83., 84., 85. Esther, Mary, and Winnefred Carr
I have three girls named Carr in my records for the Mordecai school:
Esther Carr of Pitt County, NC, attended the school from early 1813 to mid 1814 (so, three sessions). Elias Carr was the adult associated with her account.
Mary Carr attended the school in early 1815, and then for all of 1817 (so, again, three sessions, but these weren't consecutive).
Winnefred Carr attended the school for two sessions, early 1814 and early 1815 (two non-consecutive sessions). She was also from Pitt County with Elias Carr as the adult on her account.
Elias Carr appears in several places in the school ledger, including a mention in January 1814 of him paying tuition for his "daughters"--so that establishes the relationship between Elias, Esther, and Winnefred Carr, at minimum. He also appears making a payment in January 1817, so he may also be the parent or relative of Mary Carr. (But he's in the ledger again in April 1818, when none of the girls above was enrolled, so I won't assume that. Still, it's a start.) He's clearly not this Elias Carr, though there must be a relationship there, and thus to the girls at the Mordecai school.
And there is. The Governor Elias Carr had among his aunties a Winnefred Carr and an Esther Johnston Carr, and yes, a Mary Carr. Their father was Elias Carr (1775-1822) and their mother was Cecelia (or Celia) Johnston. (Winnefred was named for Elias's mother, and Esther was named for Cecelia's mother.)
Esther Johnston Carr (1798-1864), then, was 15 when she arrived as a student at the Mordecai school, and she stayed till she was 16 in 1814. In 1816, she married a local man, Allen Blount (1789-1828), at her father's house. The couple had six children between 1817 and 1827, five boys and a girl. Esther was widowed in her early 30s, and died in 1864, in the same county where she was born. Here's her tombstone.
Winnefred "Winnie" Williams Carr (1800-1855) followed her older sister to the Mordecai school in 1814, when she was 13. In 1822 she married a Dr. John Thomas Eason (1796-1864). They had ten children together, born between 1822 and 1843. The couple moved to Sumter County, Alabama, before the last two children were born (so, probably in the late 1830s), and Winnefred died there at age 54, having survived at least two of her children (William died at age 17 in 1842, and Elizabeth died at age 20 in 1853).
Mary Carr (1802-1822?) followed her two older sisters to the Mordecai school in 1815, overlapping with Winnefred for one session. She was about 13 when she arrived there. and 15 when she left. In early 1822, she married Josiah E. Fowle (1791-1822?) of Massachusetts, but apparently (according to family tradition) faced her father's "violent opposition" to the marriage, and was disinherited. The story continues that Josiah was killed in September 1822 when he was captured by pirates in the West Indies, while returning from the couple's honeymoon there. She may also have been "lost at sea" in the same incident, as some accounts tell their tale. If so, she was just 20 years old at her death. She doesn't always turn up in lists of Elias Carr's descendants, perhaps because she had no children in her short life, thus no descendants.
(Note that both Winnefred and Mary married in the year their father died.)
Three Mordecai students, solid identifications on all of them. Only the fate of Mary seems even slightly uncertain.
Esther Carr of Pitt County, NC, attended the school from early 1813 to mid 1814 (so, three sessions). Elias Carr was the adult associated with her account.
Mary Carr attended the school in early 1815, and then for all of 1817 (so, again, three sessions, but these weren't consecutive).
Winnefred Carr attended the school for two sessions, early 1814 and early 1815 (two non-consecutive sessions). She was also from Pitt County with Elias Carr as the adult on her account.
Elias Carr appears in several places in the school ledger, including a mention in January 1814 of him paying tuition for his "daughters"--so that establishes the relationship between Elias, Esther, and Winnefred Carr, at minimum. He also appears making a payment in January 1817, so he may also be the parent or relative of Mary Carr. (But he's in the ledger again in April 1818, when none of the girls above was enrolled, so I won't assume that. Still, it's a start.) He's clearly not this Elias Carr, though there must be a relationship there, and thus to the girls at the Mordecai school.
And there is. The Governor Elias Carr had among his aunties a Winnefred Carr and an Esther Johnston Carr, and yes, a Mary Carr. Their father was Elias Carr (1775-1822) and their mother was Cecelia (or Celia) Johnston. (Winnefred was named for Elias's mother, and Esther was named for Cecelia's mother.)
Esther Johnston Carr (1798-1864), then, was 15 when she arrived as a student at the Mordecai school, and she stayed till she was 16 in 1814. In 1816, she married a local man, Allen Blount (1789-1828), at her father's house. The couple had six children between 1817 and 1827, five boys and a girl. Esther was widowed in her early 30s, and died in 1864, in the same county where she was born. Here's her tombstone.
Winnefred "Winnie" Williams Carr (1800-1855) followed her older sister to the Mordecai school in 1814, when she was 13. In 1822 she married a Dr. John Thomas Eason (1796-1864). They had ten children together, born between 1822 and 1843. The couple moved to Sumter County, Alabama, before the last two children were born (so, probably in the late 1830s), and Winnefred died there at age 54, having survived at least two of her children (William died at age 17 in 1842, and Elizabeth died at age 20 in 1853).
Mary Carr (1802-1822?) followed her two older sisters to the Mordecai school in 1815, overlapping with Winnefred for one session. She was about 13 when she arrived there. and 15 when she left. In early 1822, she married Josiah E. Fowle (1791-1822?) of Massachusetts, but apparently (according to family tradition) faced her father's "violent opposition" to the marriage, and was disinherited. The story continues that Josiah was killed in September 1822 when he was captured by pirates in the West Indies, while returning from the couple's honeymoon there. She may also have been "lost at sea" in the same incident, as some accounts tell their tale. If so, she was just 20 years old at her death. She doesn't always turn up in lists of Elias Carr's descendants, perhaps because she had no children in her short life, thus no descendants.
(Note that both Winnefred and Mary married in the year their father died.)
Three Mordecai students, solid identifications on all of them. Only the fate of Mary seems even slightly uncertain.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
82. Mary Ann Campbell
I have a student named Mary Ann Campbell on my rolls for the Mordecai school. She was there for both sessions in 1811. No hometown; but a James Campbell is shown paying tuition during 1811, for music, drawing, and painting (extras taught by non-Mordecai family members).
All of Mary Ann Campbell's name is fairly common; there were a lot of Scottish-American families in Virginia and North Carolina in the 1810s. But wait--there was a Col. James Campbell who heled establish the Leaksville branch of the State Bank of North Carolina in 1818. Many of the other families affiliated with the school were also involved in banking--George Mordecai himself would eventually be a Raleigh-based director of the State Bank. Col. James Campbell of Leaksville (now Eden) married a Sophia Spencer in 1821--but that could be a second wife.
(There's a weird story about a family of Campbells in Leaksville; sometime in the early 19c., "they bought some beef that happened to be unwholesome....the entire family were severely stricken, and the young man David was the only one that lived.")
Well, maybe Mary Ann Campbell was from Leaksville, or not. It's hard to say. But of course I hope she wasn't one of the food-poisoned Campbells there.
All of Mary Ann Campbell's name is fairly common; there were a lot of Scottish-American families in Virginia and North Carolina in the 1810s. But wait--there was a Col. James Campbell who heled establish the Leaksville branch of the State Bank of North Carolina in 1818. Many of the other families affiliated with the school were also involved in banking--George Mordecai himself would eventually be a Raleigh-based director of the State Bank. Col. James Campbell of Leaksville (now Eden) married a Sophia Spencer in 1821--but that could be a second wife.
(There's a weird story about a family of Campbells in Leaksville; sometime in the early 19c., "they bought some beef that happened to be unwholesome....the entire family were severely stricken, and the young man David was the only one that lived.")
Well, maybe Mary Ann Campbell was from Leaksville, or not. It's hard to say. But of course I hope she wasn't one of the food-poisoned Campbells there.
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