Nancy L (Martin) Sherman (abt. 1861 - 1926) born Georgia died Anderson, South Carolina, looking for parents. Thanks.

Question

added ancestry notes on profile

Answer 1

Here is a birth certificate for son, Francis Patrick, that states Nancy Martin was born in Graham Co. NC.  I hope you can access ancestry:

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/300031494:1239?tid=&pid=&queryId=83ec07581d93cef116b8b08131e98bea&_phsrc=ARR33120&_phstart=successSource

In 1880 Census, she was a cook in Cheoah, Graham, NC.  Same town that she married in:

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19507883:6742?tid=&pid=&queryId=78880fbc9c1ce2081baacb39bc09bf6c&_phsrc=ARR33124&_phstart=successSource

Comments

Thank you.

Answer 2

I think Nancy may be a brick wall.  First, Graham county was formed in 1872 from Cherokee County, so although it looks like Nancy could have been born in Graham County, she could not, based on timing.

In the 1870 census in Cherokee County, there is a Nancy Martin age 10, working as a servant in the household of Margaret Walker. 1870 census Cherokee County Nancy Martin age 10.  In that census (taken in August 1870), Nancy is said to have been born in Georgia.  That 1880 census where she is working as a cook in Graham County also states she cannot read nor write, so that fact that her age is 1 year different would not concern me.  However, are we sure this is the same Nancy Martin?  There are a bunch of Nancy Martins born 1861 ish  and living with parents in different counties in North Carolina in the 1880 census.

-- edited for grammar.

Comments

Should I remove the 1880 census

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I wouldn't.  I think that the Nancy in the 1870 census and the 1880 census may be the same. What I'm worried about is that there doesn't seem to be continuity in the records.  I would be more comfortable if there was a clear marriage document or the 1900 census.  Andrew Sherman, born in Pennsylvania, his parents born and died in Pennsylvania.  He's dead before 1910 but there are no records for him. How does he get to Graham County? How does this family end up in South Carolina? Where are his records? As an outsider, I just don't see the connection, and I worry that the name Nancy Martin is common.

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looks like she had a son before marriage Martin-74086 Fred S Martin (1882-1975) adding sources now 

Source https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/28737792:6482 shows mother 

Mother:	N. L. Sherman Marriage information I added and on the 1920 and 1930 census of children listed Father birth Pennsylvania Mother birth Georgia

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Name:	Nancy Sherman
Age:	59
Birth Year:	abt 1861
Birthplace:	Georgia
Home in 1920:	New Castle Ward 1, Lawrence, Pennsylvania
Street:	South Jefferson
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	Georgia
Mother's Birthplace:	Georgia
Able to Speak English:	no
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Able to Write:	No
Household Members Age Relationship Nancy Sherman 59 Head Arthur Sherman 26 Son Francis E Sherman 24 Son Arthur Johnston 19 Boarder