Rosa Lee "Pearl" Reed was born in 1868 in Missouri to Jim Reed and May (Shirley) Reed who later was known as "Belle Starr". Her early life was filled with turmoil during the post Civil War years and the death of her father in 1874 during his capture by Marshalls after a crime spree. She spent some time with her paternal grandparents until her mother settled in the Cherokee Nation, IT with then husband Sam Starr.
As a young adult Pearl had a relationship that produced an out of wedlock child. Although she would later marry several times and have other children, during some periods of her life she turned to prostitution, capitalizing on her mother's notoriety to publicize her brothel in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. In later years she moved to Arizona and is buried there.
"Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4F1-49Q : 9 March 2021), Rosie P Reed in entry for Arthur Erbach, 10 Oct 1897; citing Marriage, Washington, Arkansas, United States, county offices, Arkansas; FHL microfilm 1,034,252.
"Arkansas, Sebastian County Births and Deaths, 1877-1963," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZC6-3Y1 : 9 December 2014), Rosa P Reed in entry for E Erback, 24 Aug 1898; citing p 29, Fort Smith Public Library, Fort Smith; FHL microfilm 1,034,198.
"Arkansas, Sebastian County Births and Deaths, 1877-1963," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZH1-WL3 : 9 December 2014), Pearl Erback in entry for Arthur E. Erback, 28 Jul 1899; citing P 87, Fort Smith Public Library, Fort Smith; FHL microfilm 1,034,198.
"Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4F1-STD : 9 March 2021), Rosa Pearl Erbach in entry for Dell Andrews, 5 May 1902; citing Marriage, Washington, Arkansas, United States, county offices, Arkansas; FHL microfilm 1,034,253.
Starr Tracks: Belle and Pearl Starr - Phillip W. Steele, Pelican Pub. Co., 1992. ISBN 0882897233
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Pearl by comparing test results with other carriers of her ancestors' mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Pearl:
Hi! The default text/parameters for the Oklahoma Sticker were recently changed. See Template: Oklahoma Sticker for current information. No need to do anything if you're ok with the sticker's text being "Pearl Reed was an Oklahoman."
Cheers, Liz