Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Hi Cynthia,
This is such a shot in the dark so I will do my best to give the information I know and hope I hit payday. I have been for 3 years now working to find the parents and the marriage for my daughter-in-law's ggg grandmother Elizabeth Grey/Gray (she went by Bessie as recorded on her death certificate and in an obituary). Her death certificate lists only the surname of her father as GREY.
Elizabeth Grey (Bessie)
Born: 25 Feb 1872 in Louisiana
Died: 19 Feb 1949 in El Paso, El Paso, Texas
Buried: 21 Feb 1949 in South Park Cemetery, Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico
State of Texas Death Certificate
Name: Bessie Grey Smith
Marital Status: Widowed
Date of Birth: 25 Feb 1872
Place of Birth: Louisiana
Date of Death: 19 Feb 1949
Death County: El Paso
Certificate Number: 6452
Father's Name: GREY
Mother's Name: Unknown
Informant: Clifford G. Smith (this is her son and my daughter-in-law's gg grandfather)
South Park Cemetery Records; Block 24 Lot 26; Ballard Funeral Books at Wilson-Cobb Library, NM, E-mail from Susan Bellome 3/17/2009
Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey married Spencer Clifford Smith
Spencer Clifford Smith
Born: 20 Mar 1869 in Ebenezer, Knox, Tennessee
Died: 14 May 1927 in Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico
Burial: 17 May 1927 in South Park Cemetery, Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico
South Park Cemetery Records; Block 24 Lot 26; Ballard Funeral Books at Wilson-Cobb Library, NM, E-mail from Susan Bellome 3/17/2009
Father's Name: Jeremiah S. Smith (went by Jerry; also an buried in South Park Cemetery, Roswell, NM) the 1880; Census Place: District 11, Knox, Tennessee; Roll 1265; Family History Film: 1255265; Page: 354A; Enumeration District: 159; has Jeremiah's name as J. M. Smith. But other records indicate the middle initial "S". It is possible he had 2 middle names…don't want to spend too much time on the Smith Family it is not the problem I am having
Mother's Name: Ellen Jane Rodgers (2nd husband Benjamin Abner Longbottom – buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Waldo, Alachua, Florida). Jeremiah deserted the family (unknown reason other than a published comment made by his mother Cynthia Gambill that she wanted to hear from him before her death and she never did…)
I previously mentioned that Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey married Spencer Clifford Smith. I have searched in vain for a married record, even the state they were married in and have not located anything.
They had 8 children. Their first child, Alfretta "Alfa" Smith b. 25 Dec 1892 in Plainview, Hale County, Texas, 2nd child, Frank Alfred Smith b. 30 Jun 1895 in Plainview, Hale County, Texas and 3rd child, Ellen R. Smith b. 28 Sep 1898 also in Texas. The remaining 5 children; Leda, Clifford Grey, Elizabeth "Betty" Jane, Annie L. and Jerry Darling Smith were all born in Roswell, Chaves, NM
In Spencer Clifford Smith's obituary it does not say where they married only that they were in Roswell, Chaves, NM in 1900.
The Census Records for 1900, 1910, 1920 all reflect the family in Roswell, Chaves, NM
1930 Census for Roswell, Chaves, NM has Bessie Smith and in her household son J D Smith; daughter Annie L., husband and child living with her.
Now for the information I have on Elizabeth Grey or Gray…I have had contact with Doug Corbin on the Louisiana Genealogy Genforum. He has been a great source for me and has found these two census records which I have looked at and worked with to try to find her prior to him also feeling there may be a connection here.
First the 1870 Census Record
Year: 1870; Census Place: Ward 3, Union, Louisiana; Roll M593_534; Page: 66B; Image: 136; Family History Library Film: 552033.
Name: John Gray
Birth Year: abt 1810
Age in 1870: 60 yrs
Birthplace: Georgia
Home in 1870: Ward 3, Union, Louisiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Member:
John Grey, 60 yrs. – born GA
Lilley Grey, 25 yrs. – born AL
Alexander Grey, 17 yrs. – born LA
Julian Grey, 3 yrs. – born LA
Ardonia Grey, 2 yrs. – born LA
1880 Census Record
Year: 1880; Census Place: 3rd Ward, Union, Louisiana; Roll 473; Family History Film: 1254473; Page: 472A; Enumeration District: 87; Image: 0226.
Name: John Gray
Home in 1880: 3rd Ward, Union, Louisiana
Age: 80 yrs.
Birthplace: Georgia
Relationship to Head of Household: Father
Father's birthplace: GA
Mother's birthplace: GA
Marital Status: Widower
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Member:
Alex H. Gray (Head of Household), age 26 yrs – born LA, occupation: farming
John Gray (Father), age 80 yrs. – born GA
Martha Gray, age 9 (sister to head) – born LA
Elizabeth Gray, age 7 (sister to head) – born LA
Adolphus Gray, age 2 (brother to head) – born LA
Land Records have been found for an S.C. Smith and Bessie Smith in TX. Also property next to J. R. Walkup and wife, Martha (Mattie). I have found that a J. R. Walkup married a Martha (Mattie) Grey/Gray
With the Land Record and property adjacent to Walkup, his wives name being Martha and looking at the 1880 & 1870 Census it appears to be a possibility that this is our Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey…however, I still have no concrete PROOF…other than Doug Corbin, another researcher I have made contact with and myself all have hit on these same records as a HINT of something…or nothing.
I have added a couple of notes here and other than that I am crossing my fingers that some of this information rings true to you or that you might have a suggestion of what Grey/Gray Family my mystery woman is from. Thank you, thank you for your recent posting which lead me to write this to you.
NOTE: Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey gives the place of birth for her parents different in census records. So I don't put lots of weight on the place of birth for her parents in the census records 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 where that information is given.
The name does vary, but all name usage in my daughter-in-law's family from her ggg grandmother Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey to her son Clifford Grey Smith and her father Clifford Grey Smith, II, even to her brother spell the name GREY.
My Best in your research and hoping something comes our way in finding Elizabeth (Bessie) Grey, her marriage place, her parents, brother's, sister's, etc.
Debbie Woods
More Replies:
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Frank Paige 9/23/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Debra Woods 9/23/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Robbin Townsend 11/08/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Debra Woods 11/09/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Robbin Townsend 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Debra Woods 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Robbin Townsend 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Debra Woods 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Debra Woods 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
Robbin Townsend 11/10/10
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray
-
Re: Grey/Smith - In Reply to: Gray Family Line 1748-current by Cynthia Gray