Mary Shoemaker/James Gilbert/Westmoreland Co.
Hi!
I have been helping my in-laws compile their family history.A lot has been done so for the most part, it's just a matter of pulling it all together.But, there is one line that no one seems to be able to find anything on and so I thought I'd see if someone here can help me.This is my mother in-laws grandmother and I would love to find the information for her as a Christmas gift :-)
Mary (Mari) Shoemaker (Shoemaucher) was born in Paris, Seine, France in 1863.She was a stowaway on a ship and she either became pregnant on that ship or she was pregnant when she left France.I think it's possible she was pregnant when she left and that's why she ran away.There is one photo of her with several brothers and judging by her clothing, she was probably from a wealthy family.Rumor has it that she told the illigitimate daughter that she had come from great wealth.
Mary (Mari) gave the child the name of Flora Mcdonald.The family thinks it's possible that the name Mcdonald was afteran actress who was famous at the time (?).Flora was born on 13 Oct 1886 in Scot Haven, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.
Mary (Mari) married James Gilbert on 18 Jul 1887 in Fayette City, Fayette, Pennsylvania.Apparently he adopted Flora but I wonder if he legally adopted her and she just took on his name?Mary and James went on to have several more children, Christina, Willie, Archie, Andrew and Hilda.
In 1897 Mary was murdered.I don't know much about the history of this except that James was apparently a minor and he was hired to cross the picket lines, which he did.Someone came to the house and when Mary opened the door, they shot her in the face.She died in Sewickly Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.
It seems there would have been something written in the newspaper at the time about this murder.I don't know if the family has ever tried to get her death record or not.
I'm not sure what to do from here.If there is someone living in this county of PA who can do lookups for me, I would be happy to do lookups in Salt Lake for them in return.
Thanks for any help you can offer ;-)
Chris