Mary (Smith) Grist (abt. 1853 - 1883)

Born about 1853 in Connecticut [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 16 Jul 1883 at about age 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

BIRTH: Mary was born about March 3, 1851. (Refer to Mortuary Notice) Both the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census record her birth about 1854 in Connecticut and the 1880 census has her parents also born in Connecticut. Mary was alive at the time of these two census enumerations so they may be the most accurate. The 1900, 1910 & 1920 Federal Census for son Thomas Grist gives his mother’s birthplace as Maryland. All census records for daughter Emma Brooks show Emma was born in Maryland, with Pennsylvania as Mary’s place of birth.

MAIDEN NAME: Thomas’s 1897 marriage return lists his mother’s maiden name as "Mary Smith", born in the U.S. His 1915 marriage application records his mother’s maiden name as "Mary Smith", born in Maryland. The 1890 marriage return of daughter Emma Grist records her mother's maiden name as "Mary Smith".

MARRIAGE: Mary was the spouse of Richard Grist, most likely married prior to the 1870 Federal Census.

RESIDENCE: The 1870 federal census, enumerations 1 & 2, and the 1880 federal census , show Richard and Mary Grist residing in Philadelphia.

• 1870 Federal Census, Philadelphia, 9th Ward, Sub Div. 25, Family #62: Richard Grist, age 28, Shoe Fitter, value of personal estate $1000, born in England; Mary Grist, age 17, keeping house, born in Connecticut [enumerated June 9, 1870]

• 1870 Federal Census, Philadelphia, 9th Ward, 25th Division, page 42, dwelling no. 23: Richard Grist, 37, male; Mary Grist, 18, female, 23 N. 13th St. [street address written on page 41; 2nd enumeration Nov. 21, 1870]

• 1880 Federal Census: Philadelphia, 9 Wadsworth Place, 9th Ward, Family #125: Head: Richard Christ, 38, b. abt 1842 in England, Shoe Fitter; Mary Christ, wife, 26, b. abt 1854 in Connecticut, parents born in Conn; Emma Christ, daughter, 7, b. abt 1873 in Maryland; Thomas Christ, son, 4, b. abt 1876 in PA; Mable Christ, daughter, born Sept., age 8/12, b. abt 1879 in PA; Lizzie Christ, niece, 16, b. abt 1864 in PA, parents b. England.

CHILDREN: Richard and Mary were the parents of five children born in Philadelphia between 1870 and 1879: Ada, Richard Henry, Emma, Thomas Edwin, and Mabel. Two of these children, Ada and Richard Henry, died in infancy. Mabel, the youngest, was 'taken in' and raised by John & Mary Ellen Hewitson not long after Mary's death.

DEATH: The Physician's Death Certificate states Mary Grist, Age 30, died July 16th, 1883, at 10:15 of Organic Heart disease. This Physicians' Certificate is signed by Geo J. Preston, M.D., Residence: Presbyterian Hospital. She lived at 733 Wood Street, Philadelphia.

Mary Grist - Death Return

Oral information passed down through the family from Mary Ellen Hewitson to Mabel Grist Hewitson was that Mary died in Pennsylvania Hospital of Rheumatic Fever when daughter Mabel was 3 or 4 years old. (Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after an infection with Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever.) The disease can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

Information from the 1886 Marriage Application for Mary's widowed husband Richard Grist shows "that he has once been married before, and the marriage was dissolved by death 16 July/83"

The following mortuary notice is from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Thursday, July 19, 1883, page. 4: “GRIST – On the 16th inst., MARY, wife of Richard Grist born March 3, 1851. Funeral to take place from her husband’s residence, No. 733 Wood street this afternoon, at 3 o’clock. To proceed to K. of P. Cemetery.”

Mary Grist - Mortuary Notice

BURIAL: Remains of Mary Grist were laid to rest in the Grist family plot in Knights of Pythias Greenwood Cemetery, Section L, Division 3, Lot 5, close to her two infant children Ada and Richard Henry Grist.

Burials for L-3-5, Knights of Pythias Greenwood Cemetery

RECORDS: Federal Census: 1870, Enumerations 1 & 2, 1880; Mortuary Notice; Return of Death; Greenwood Cemetery Map, Lot Map, and Burial Card; 1886 Richard Grist Marriage Application; Marriage Records of daughter Emma and son Thomas Edwin.

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