I'm having a hard time deciding what to write. I have a lot of information, but not complete information about Oliver's children. So for today, I'm going to summarize what I have on each child.
Children of Oliver and Elizabeth Britt
married 28 Jan 1853 in Duplin Co., NC
1. Claudius "Claude" Summerlin, 6 Sep 1859 - 6 Aug 1927. He was born in the Buck Swamp area of Wayne County, and died in Mount Olive, Wayne County, NC. He took over the blacksmith shop and buggy factory in about 1907 and it became Summerlin Brothers Buggy Factory. At some point, Matthew O. Summerlin joined him.
He married Flora Long about 1881. I have discussed their lives in a previous post. Their two living children were William Gains Summerlin, b. 1882 and Arthur King Summerlin, b. 1889.
2. Mary Lavonia Summerlin, 6 Sep 1861 - 1 Sep 1938. Married Edward M. Flowers in 1881. They had ten children, six of whom were living in 1910. They moved to Wilmington between 1910 and 1920. In 1900, Edward was a horse trader; in 1910, a well driller; in 1920, in sales in Wilmington; and in 1930, again trading horses. His son Albert lived with his grandparents, Oliver and Fannie Summerlin, in 1910. In 1920, Albert was living in Wilmington with his parents, and was a bicycle salesman. I have not yet researched their other children.
3. Alice E. Summerlin, 7 Nov 1886 - 8 Jun 1837. Although I can find no evidence of a marriage, Alice did have children. In 1910, she was living in Mount Olive with her children Bessie (17), Fred T. (16) and Jessie E. (13). She was working as a seamstress from her home in 1910, 1920, and 1930. In the 1910 census, she declares she has had four children and four are living. I have not yet looked for the one that is not living with her in 1910. On his NC death certificate, Jim Walker of Duplin Co. is listed as Fred T. Summerlin's father. However, I have not confirmed that Walker is the father of the other children or whether he and Alice were ever married. I cannot locate census records from 1900, and there is a lack of information for 1890. She listed herself as Alice Summerlin, single in the three censuses, 1910-1930. It remains to be seen what the real story is.
4. Margaret Summerlin, b. in 1869. She is a child of one in the 1870 census and fails to appear again. Her mother, Elizabeth, also dies after 1870 and before 1872, when Oliver remarries.
Showing posts with label childbearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childbearing. Show all posts
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Claudius and Flora Long Summerlin
Heard some talk about birth control in the news today. Whatever you believe, here is a story about a couple in the 1880-1900 time frame that illustrates the need for birth control in certain situations.
Claudius Summerlin and Flora Long married about 1881. Their first child was born 19 Aug 1882, named William Gaines. He grew up to marry Maggie - they were living in Mount Olive on Center Street in 1930. The next child was James. He was born in May 1885 and died in Aug the same year. The third child (that I know of) was Arthur K born Aug 1889 and lived until 1961. The next child was Floyd. He was born in June 1891 and lived until August. Next born was Claudius, who lived 15 months, from November 1892 until February 1893. Claudia lived about 1 month, in Jan-Feb 1892. Another little girl was born 30 May 1896. She was Fannie Isabel and lived 3 months. Then came Eugene, who lived almost exactly one month, May - Jun 1904. Flora was 45 years old when Eugene was born. The evidence for the dates of the above children is their headstones in Maplewood Cemetery. They are scattered around the Summerlin plot, probably being fit in between some of the adults.
In the 1900 census, Flora stated that she was the mother of 10 children, with 2 living. In 1910, she was the mother of 13, with 2 living. Since my information only includes 8 children, another five were born who did not live. Since Flora had had 10 children by 1900, she lost another four between her marriage and 1900. She had had three more children by 1910, all three of whom must have died.
My assumption is that there was some genetic or congenital abnormality which kept these children from surviving. Claude and Flora were lucky to have the two boys live to adulthood.
Claude Summerlin is my step-great-granduncle. [He is the son of the first wife of my g-g-grandfather.]
Claudius Summerlin and Flora Long married about 1881. Their first child was born 19 Aug 1882, named William Gaines. He grew up to marry Maggie - they were living in Mount Olive on Center Street in 1930. The next child was James. He was born in May 1885 and died in Aug the same year. The third child (that I know of) was Arthur K born Aug 1889 and lived until 1961. The next child was Floyd. He was born in June 1891 and lived until August. Next born was Claudius, who lived 15 months, from November 1892 until February 1893. Claudia lived about 1 month, in Jan-Feb 1892. Another little girl was born 30 May 1896. She was Fannie Isabel and lived 3 months. Then came Eugene, who lived almost exactly one month, May - Jun 1904. Flora was 45 years old when Eugene was born. The evidence for the dates of the above children is their headstones in Maplewood Cemetery. They are scattered around the Summerlin plot, probably being fit in between some of the adults.
In the 1900 census, Flora stated that she was the mother of 10 children, with 2 living. In 1910, she was the mother of 13, with 2 living. Since my information only includes 8 children, another five were born who did not live. Since Flora had had 10 children by 1900, she lost another four between her marriage and 1900. She had had three more children by 1910, all three of whom must have died.
My assumption is that there was some genetic or congenital abnormality which kept these children from surviving. Claude and Flora were lucky to have the two boys live to adulthood.
Claude Summerlin is my step-great-granduncle. [He is the son of the first wife of my g-g-grandfather.]
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