Bertha E (Foss) Leighton (1869 - 1925)

Born 23 Dec 1869 in Machias, Washington, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Ralph E Leighton — married 29 Jul 1911 in Maine, United States

Biography

Bertha was born December 23, 1869 in Machias Maine to Israel "Putnam" Foss and Alpha Ellen Knight. Bertha's mother died when she was 6; her dad married second Leonice Kilton who raised her and brothers and sister Linnie, Frank and Merton, plus three more by Leonice: Clifford, Virgil and Mildred. Bertha's siblings moved to Portland when they were grown and Bertha joined them.

In July 1894, Bertha had a baby girl, Catherine G., out of wedlock who was raised by her older sister Linnie (now Burrows) as her own. I have not found a birth record, but birthdate is from 1900 census and the birth was reported to me by Bertha's niece (Frank Foss's youngest daughter). Bertha lived with Linnie and family, and Catherine, in South Portland until the Burrows moved to Southern California. In 1911, at 41, Bertha finally married, to Ralph Layton. No further children. She died in 1925 and is buried with her husband in Freeport, Maine

Sources

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6DW-QZJ : 12 April 2016), Bertha Foss in household of Putnam Foss, Maine, United States; citing p. 23, family 172, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,062.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMLF-KXP : accessed 25 May 2019), Bertha E Foss in household of Fred P Bowers, South Portland town South Portland city (west part) Ward 4-7, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 80, sheet 10B, family 216, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,591.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MR3M-56S : accessed 25 May 2019), Bertha E Foss, Portland Ward 3, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 72, sheet 2A, family 35, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 539; FHL microfilm 1,374,552.

"Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1966, 1977-1996," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCNR-HHS : 27 November 2014), Ralph E Leighton and Bertha E Foss, 29 Jul 1911; citing Marriage, Maine, United States, State Archives, Augusta.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120131212