Anna Eliza Fry (1834 - bef. 1900)

Born 1834 in Cabell, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Stanley Adkins — married 29 May 1856 in Wayne County, Virginia (now West Virginia)

Descendants

Died before 1900 before age 66 in Wayne, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

Anna "Anny" Eliza Fry was born in 1834 in Cabell, Virginia (later West Virginia). She is the daughter of David Fry and Christina Rachel (Adkins) Fry.^[1][2] Anna married Stanley Adkins on May 29, 1856 in Wayne, West Virginia.^[3]Anna was purportedly in a relationship with Thomas Adkins with whom she had a daughter, Mary Ann (Adkins) Watts, in 1859. Anna also had two other daughters -- oldest daughter, Polly Ann Adkins, born in 1854 (father, Stanley Adkins) and youngest daughter, Nancy Fry, born in 1861 (father, Cain Adkins). Anna appears in the 1880 census as widowed at the age of 45.^[4]Anna passed away sometime before 1900.

Research Notes

Anna Fry Adkins had 3 daughters, Polly Ann Adkins, born in 1854, Mary Ann Fry Adkins, born in 1859, and Nancy Fry Adkins, born in 1861. All 3 daughters were believed to be fathered by 3 different Adkins men. So far, it's unclear who the father of my ancestor, Mary Ann Adkins, actually is. It is believed that Anna Fry Adkins had my ancestor, Mary Ann (Adkins) Watts (born in 1859) with either Thomas Adkins or Stanley Adkins. It is not known if she was still married to Stanley Adkins when Mary Ann was born.

Anna married Stanley Adkins on May 29, 1856 -- her eldest daughter, Polly Ann Adkins, was born to she and Stanley Adkins in 1854 -- 2 years prior to their marriage. My ancestor, Mary Ann Adkins, was born in 1859 -- 3 years after her marriage to Stanley. Oral family tradition states that Thomas Adkins was known to be Mary Ann's biological father. However, Stanley Adkins could actually be Mary Ann's father. I'm currently searching for any sources or information that can help to support or refute this claim.

Note that FamilySearch lists a Thomas Adkins as Mary Ann's biological father but there is no supporting evidence nor any sources attached to Thomas Adkins. With no information or sources attached to his profile and none to be found, there's no way to substantiate this claim either way. Anna Fry Adkins first born daughter, Polly Ann Adkins, was born in 1854 -- 2 years before she married Stanley Adkins. She had her youngest daughter, Nancy Fry Adkins, in 1861 with Cain Adkins.

More research needs to be done regarding Thomas Adkins. So far, I haven't been able to find any sources for Thomas Adkins. Also, Anna Fry Adkins' 3 daughters are sometimes listed with the surname "Fry" on several of the federal censuses. Anna Fry Adkins is listed as widowed on the 1880 census.

• The 1880 Census for Stonewall, Wayne County, West Virginia shows Anna as Head of Household, age 45, and widowed. Her 3 daughters appear in the census with her as well as a granddaughter.

• 1850 United States Federal Census, Lawrence, Kentucky. Household of David Fry. His daughter, Anna Fry, appears in the census with her parents and siblings at age 16.

1850 United States Federal Census

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M658-WXH : 19 December 2020), Anny Fry in household of David Fry, Lawrence, Kentucky, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M411-CKH : 18 February 2021), Anna Fry in entry for David Fry, 1860.
3. ↑ West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZX-1HGP : 22 July 2021), Standly Adkins and Anna Fry, 29 May 1856; citing Marriage, Wayne, West Virginia, United States, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6TH-BBV : 20 February 2021), Anna Fry, Stonewall, Wayne, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 140, sheet 260A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,415.

• United States Census, 1850

Name David Fry Event Type Census Event Year 1850 Event Place Lawrence county, part of, Lawrence, Kentucky, United States Gender Male Age 49 Race White Birth Year (Estimated) 1801 Birthplace Virginia House Number 976 David Fry M 49 Virginia Christina Fry F 47 Virginia Andrew Fry M 27 Virginia Anny Fry F 16 Virginia Polly Fry F 13 Virginia Benjamin Fry M 8 Virginia Serilda Fry F 5 Virginia Citing this Record "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M658-WX7 : 12 April 2016), David Fry, Lawrence county, part of, Lawrence, Kentucky, United States; citing family 995, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "West Virginia Marriages, 1853–1970." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008, 2009. Digital images of originals housed in County Courthouses in various counties throughout West Virginia. Marriage records.