Porch Swings, Fireflies, and Jelly Jars: Mary Williams, wife of Robert F Owens

Monday, January 1, 2018

Mary Williams, wife of Robert F Owens

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

Mary Owens, wife of Robert Owens, is listed as a daughter of James and Keziah Williams in their Pike County, Alabama probate settlement. This page from the probate clearly shows that Mary had married Robert F. Owens:

Probate of James Williams

On the 1830 Pike County, Alabama census, the household of Robert Owens is next door to that of David Owens and on the same page as James Williams's household.

Robert Owens 10001-0001:
one male 1 - 4
one male 20 - 29 = Robert Owens
one female 15 - 19 = Mary (Williams) Owens

This appears to the household of newlyweds, and it is reasonable to think that this Robert Owens and wife Mary (Williams) Owens.

The Robert Owens household is still in Pike County, Alabama in 1840

Robert Owens 121001-010001

one male 1 - 4
two males 5 - 9
one male 10 - 14
one male 30 - 39 = Robert Owens
one female 5 - 9
one female 30 - 40 = Mary (Williams) Owens

In 1850, there is no Robert Owens household in Pike County. However, there is a Robert S Owens with wife Mary in Lowndes County, Alabama:

16 Dec 1850, Rocky Mount Dist., Lowndes County, AL:

187-187
Robert S. Owens 45 M $2,000 b. SC
Mary ---- 40 F b. SC
James ---- 18 b. AL
Theodore ---- 15 b. AL
Leander ---- 11 b. AL
Allen ---- 8 b. AL

The eldest son and daughter are no longer in the household.

By 1860, the Robert Owens household had returned to Pike County, Alabama.

15 June 1860, Western Division, Pike County, Alabama, P.O.: New Providence:

134 - 134
Robert F. Owens 59 M Farmer $1,700 - $2,500 b. SC
Mary M. ---- 47 F b. SC
Alvin ---- 18 M b. AL

Other researchers have identified this Robert F. Owens as Robert Fleming Owens, and they have identified the eldest son as Randolph Owens. They have also identified a daughter Theodosia, but that seems to be a misinterpretation of son Theodore Owens.

Robert Owens and wife Mary (Williams) Owens have not been found (yet) on the census after 1860. It seems likely that they returned to Pike County because Keziah was older, and there was an estate to settle.

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About Me:

My favorite memories from childhood include visits to my grandparents in East Texas. At dusk we'd run around my grandparent's yard, catching fireflies and putting them in jelly jars. When darkness descended, we'd return to the porch. It was a special treat to sit in the porch swing. Inevitably, the adults would launch into family stories of Pink Kelley's brush with Sherman's troops, of Great Uncle Hood Brown's tragic death, and of the Kelley family's wagon trip to Texas, among many others. The stars on those nights were magical.

I began my genealogy research in the summer of 1975, less than a month after my high school graduation. When I married in 1983, I started researching my husband's family as well. I was fortunate to start this hobby as a youngster because it gave me an opportunity to correspond with researchers who are long gone; to ask questions of family members -although not enough, never enough; and travel a bit. The result is a lot of information. I've come to the realization that I will probably never be able to afford to publish, so this is my publication.

This blog contains a mixture of information on my husband's family and mine. I've expanded into a second blog called Flimsies and Frippery with the intention of focusing on quilts and dolls, but I have several historical research entries there with more planned, which is why I don't get more quilting done.

Ultimately, genealogy is my passion. This is where I plan to record family stories, research adventures and misadventures, and those serendipitous moments that happen out of the blue. You should be warned that I have a bad habit of going back and adding information and links to individual entries, so it is beneficial to check back often if there is a family of particular interest to you. If you wander in and discover that you are a cousin, please contact me.

Since many younger family members who are new to genealogy are starting to contact me about their ancestors, I've started adding family trees to help them see how everyone is connected. The trees are divided between my family and my husband's. You will find them below under the label's Family Trees - My Husband's Side and Family Trees - My Family's Side.

For better or worse, this blog reflects the research, thinking, and writing of a human.