Abraham Alexander Calloway (abt. 1855 - 1927)

Born about 22 Nov 1855 in Watauga, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Lewis) Calloway — married 1874 in Carter, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Mary Jane Franklin — married 19 Sep 1920 in Avery, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1927 at about age 71 in Avery, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Katherine Chapman [send private message] and Ashley Howell [send private message]

Biography

Abraham Calloway was born in 1855, or possibly 1852, either in Tennessee or North Carolina. He was the son of William G. Aldridge (AKA Calloway)(1833-1864) and Mary Polly Eggers (Aldridge/Calloway/Vance/Dyson) (1838-1914). He was recorded with his parents and siblings in 1860 in Watauga, NC. He was then recorded in 1870 with his mother and stepfather, as "Abraham Vance" in Mitchell, NC, with siblings and half-siblings.

He married Hannah Lewis (1858-1920) in 1874 in Carter, Tennessee. They were the parents of the following children, according to FamilySearch:

Mary Ann Calloway 1877-1947

Joseph Lawson Calloway 1878-1928

Albert C Calloway 1883-1954

Lasson Calloway 1884-1928

Lillie Mae Calloway 1885-1952

William Calloway 1887-1956

Martha Jane Calloway 1891-1958

Naomi Calloway 1893-1975

Zilla Calloway 1898-1984

Waits Dewey Calloway 1900-1968

They were recorded in Carter, TN in 1880; A.A. Calaway 24, Hannah 23, Maryann 4, Joseph 1.

They moved to Avery, NC before 1900 and are recorded in North Carolina from 1900 on (Mitchell county in 1900, Avery 1910-1920).

In addition to his wife, he appeared to have a longstanding relationship and multiple children with Mary "Marry" Jane Franklin (1866-1951). All of those children took the surname Franklin:

Ellen Franklin 1889- (not necessarily his)

Edward Franklin 1891- (not believed to be his)

Aden Franklin 1894- (not believed to be his)

George Franklin 1897-

Jess Robert Franklin 1904-

Roosevelt Franklin 1907-

After his first wife Hannah Lewis died, he did marry Mary Franklin in 1920.^[1]

He died in 1927 and is buried in Big Meadow Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Research Notes

Discrepancy in birthdate (1852 or 1855) and birthplace (NC or TN) between FS and FG.

This profile is the final version of three separate profiles which have now been merged. His father is thought to be William Aldridge (1833-1864), who was the son of James Treadway Aldridge (1775-1868) James Aldridge (abt.1775-abt.1850) and Elizabeth Callaway (1802-1900) Elizabeth (Calloway) Aldridge (abt.1800-abt.1880). His firstborn daughter Mary Ann gave her last name as Aldridge on her marriage record. Other children seemingly used Calloway.

He had apparently multiple children with Mary Franklin concurrently with those he had during his marriage to Hannah Lewis. These children were surnamed Franklin, taking the mother's name. However, not all of the children are necessarily his. Ellen, Edward and Aden Franklin were more likely not his children, but Edward Love's who still needs to be researched. Those children have now been detached from him but not from Mary Franklin. A marriage record has been found for Abraham and Mary Franklin for 1920, shortly after his first wife died. Mary lived as a single mother of multiple children, recorded in multiple census records, until 1920.

Is this Abraham's paternal grandfather? James Aldridge (abt.1775-abt.1850) - It begins to seem there was a long heritage of deadbeat dads or perhaps just women forced to raise their children as best they could while the men were elsewhere.

Spelling varies on the records but Calloway is how it appears on his grave and was used by his children with Hannah Lewis. After his death, Mary Franklin reverted to using her birth name and was living with her sister-in-law, also surnamed Franklin, in 1940.

Have now connected to his mother and will work on adding father soon.

Sources

1. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q215-KS38 : Wed Oct 18 06:57:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Abe Callaway and Polly Callaway, 19 Sep 1920.

• FamilySearch A
• FamilySearch B
• "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDD5-BGM : Fri Oct 06 15:51:33 UTC 2023), Entry for William Calaway and Polly Calaway, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW8L-VT7 : Wed Oct 04 11:10:54 UTC 2023), Entry for William Vance and Mary Vance, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQ5-C53 : Tue Oct 03 18:54:44 UTC 2023), Entry for A. A. Calaway and Hannah Calaway, 1880.
• "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSB7-DDC : Thu Oct 05 00:16:49 UTC 2023), Entry for Abram Caloway and Hannah Caloway, 1900.
• "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML3C-SCD : Fri Oct 06 03:48:30 UTC 2023), Entry for Abraham Callaway and Hannah Callaway, 1910.
• "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZKS-CJD : Wed Dec 13 17:24:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Abraham Caloway and Hannah Caloway, 1920.
• Find a Grave