Thomas Gassaway Waring (1839-1909) of MD and MS
Would any of you have some thoughts as to why the name "Gassaway" was selected as Thomas' middle name?There must be a family connection, but I've been unable to figure it out!
Here's what I've been able to uncover about this gentleman.
From the journal "Confederate Veteran" Vol. 18, issue 6, June 1910, page 291:
"Thomas G[assaway] Waring, whose death occurred on December 15, 1909, in his seventy-first year, was born in Prince George [sic] County, Md., where he grew to manhood.He enlisted for the Confederacy in Company E, 1st Battalion Maryland Cavalry, in 1862 at Richmond, Va.He was captured May 27, 1864, at Hanover, exchanged March
14, 1865, and paroled May 9.He returned home, and after a few years he went to Virginia and taught several schools.From there he went to Mississippi in 1874,
and spent the rest of his life in Pike and Marion Counties, living a quiet and upright life as a successful farmer, devoted to his family and friends."
Thomas married Susie Brumfield (1856-1941) on October 13, 1880 in Marion, Mississippi and they had eight children:Thomas Gassaway Jr., Albert Leon, Martha, Mary, Emma,
Marcus Brumfield, Lee, and Cyril.
Thomas Gassaway Waring was the son of John Leonidas Waring and Violetta Turton of Prince Georges County, MD who married on August 31, 1838.
His mother's obituary -- Violetta Turton Waring -- from the newspaper "The Prince Georgian" published January 10, 1879 reads as follows:
"Departed this life at her residence in Brandywine District, on Thursday morning the 2d instant at 3 o'clock.Mrs. Waring, relict of the late John L. Waring, in about the 60th year of her age.Her illness was of long duration, which she bore with Christian fortitude and resignation.By her many estimable qualities she endeared
herself to all who knew her.Her son, who has resided in Mississippi for many years, came to comfort her in her last moments."
Here's an excerpt from an undated letter written by his son Albert Leon Waring (living in Hughes, Arkansas) and submitted to the Maryland Historical Society by Richard
D. Mudd, M.D. (Saginaw, Michigan).Albert did not have any children and was the mayor of Hughes, Arkansas.
"My father, Thomas Gassaway Waring, was in the Civil War and a prisoner during the latter part.My mother had a letter written to his mother during time and some member of the family has it.He was born and reared in or near Marlboro [probably Upper Marlboro?], Maryland in Prince George's County.He went to Johns Hopkins and I believe graduated there.In 1878 he left Maryland on his way to Texas.There was a yellow fever epidemic at New Orleans and he was turned back.He came back to Tylertown, Mississippi and stopped at my grandfather's, Albert Brumfield.(His only son was a doctor).The following year he and my mother married and he lived there until he died.During his life he kept in touch with his Maryland relatives and made several trips back to see them.I remember well his telling about your [he's referring to Richard D. Mudd] grandfather, Dr. Mudd.He always spoke of the trial with considerable bitterness.Weren't the Surratts relatives?Or were they just neighbors?He knew them well, too, and talked about them.As long as he lived
he carried on a correspondence with Cousin Mittie Mudd.After his death we lost touch with the Maryland relatives and as he was the only one of the family who came to Mississippi we know practically nothing about his people."
I have yet to figure out who the parents of John Leonidas Waring were who is the father of Thomas Gassaway Waring.They must tie back into one of the main Waring lines, but I just can't figure it out.Looks like the Turton family and this Waring branch attended St. Paul's Parish in Baden, MD.I've looked through the church's index and picked up marriage and baptismal data, but cannot see any Waring references earlier that would give me a clue as to who were John Leonidas Waring's parents. I've been in touch with the descendants in MS, but they don't know -- too many years have passed.
The "closest" connection I've been able to make of this Turton-Waring connection is as follows:
Violetta Turton's mother was Almira Worthington (1790-1872)
Almira's brother was Walter Brooke Cox Worthington (1795-1845)
Walter was married to Henrietta Priscilla Waring (1801-1843)
Henrietta's father was John Waring, Jr. who can be traced back to Marsham Waring
(1680-1732)
Thanks,
Cynthia