Martha Ann (Watkins) Gray (1826 - aft. 1887)

Born 21 Sep 1826 in Barnwell, Barnwell, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Jarrett Gray — married 26 Feb 1851 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Descendants

Died after May 1887 after age 60 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Peter Hiestand [send private message] and Patricia Champion [send private message]

Biography

Martha Ann Watkins was born on 21 Sep 1826^[1] in Alabama.^[2]; she was the daughter of James Walter Watkins and Sarah LNU.^[2]

In 1840,^[3] Martha Watkin's father, Walter Watkins, was enumerated in the federal census, and he was living in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama as head of household, which included (age range in years)[possible names]: a) males - 1 (10 - 15) [Calvin W. Watkins], 1 (15 - 20), 1 (20 - 30), 1 (40 - 50) [Walter Watkins]; b) females - 1 (<5), 1 (10 - 15) [Martha Ann Watkins], 3 (15 - 20), 1 (30 - 40) [Sarah Watkins].

In 1850,^[2] Martha A. Watkins (age 18, born Alabama) was living in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama in the household of her father, Walter Watkins (age 55, born South Carolina), with her mother, Sarah Watkins (age 55, born in North Carolina), and her Watkins siblings, born Alabama (age, sex): i) Calvin W. (21, M), ii) Sarah (20, F). Walter's occupation was a farmer, and he owned real estate valued at $600. Calvin's occupation was also a farmer. [Note - the transcription & indexing of "Walter" Watkins is different on FamilySearch (i.e., "Nathan") versus Ancestry.com (i.e., "Walter"). My opinion is that the Ancestry.com indexing is correct; there are a wealth of data for James Walter Watkins in Tuscaloosa, but none for "Nathan" Watkins, with the exception of the FamilySearch transcription of the 1850 census.Hiestand-529 19:49, 29 September 2021 (UTC)]

On 2 Mar 1851,^{[4] [5]} Martha Ann Watkins married Jarrret Gray.

In 1860,^[6] Martha Gray (age 33, born Alabama) was living in the Western Division, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama in the household of her husband, Garat [sic] Gray (age 34, born Alabama), with their Gray children, born Alabama (age, sex): i) Sarah H. (8, F), ii) Wm. H (6, M), iii) Rufus M. (4, M), iv) Mary J. (1, F). Garat's occupation was a farmer; he owned real estate valued at $1000 and personal estate at $1259.

About 1863, Martha Gray's husband, Jarrett Gray, died while in military service.^[7]

In 1870,^[8] Martha Gray (age 44, born Alabama) was living in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama as head of household with her Gray children, born Alabama (age, sex): i) Sarah (17, F), ii) Walter (15, M), iii) Robert (11, M), iv) Martha J. (9, F). Martha's occupation was keeping house; she owned real estate valued at $300.

In 1880,^[9] Martha Gray (age 54, widow, born Alabama) was living in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama as head of household with her Gray children, born Alabama (age, sex): i) Robert M. (21, M), ii) Martha J. (19, F). Martha's occupation was keeping house; she could not read nor write. Robert's occupation was a farm laborer. Of note, on the same census enumeration sheet,^[9] the next family enumerated was that of J. Thomas Gray, who was likely Martha's brother-in-law.^[5]

On 28 May 1887 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,^[7] Martha A. Gray, as a widow, applied for pension based on the military service of her husband, Garret Gray, who served in Company G, 4th Regiment, Alabama Infantry with the rank of Private, and died while in service. Martha affirmed that she had been a resident of Alabama and that she had not remarried subsequent to the death of her husband.

Martha Ann (Watkins) Gray died on _____, and she was buried in the Bone Camp Cemetery, Northport, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.^[1] The gravestone is inscribed as follows: "MARTHA A, WIFE OF JERRED GRAY, BORN SeP 21, 1826, DIED JAN ___ 18__". Unfortunately, the death date has largely eroded away.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96719793/martha-ann-gray : accessed 27 May 2022), memorial page for Martha Ann Watkins Gray (21 Sep 1826–unknown), Find A Grave: Memorial #96719793 citing Bone Camp Cemetery, Northport, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by Glenn Holemon (contributor 48154891)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PCF-DF?cc=1401638&wc=95RV-N3D%3A1031324201%2C1032368201%2C1032368202 : 9 April 2016), Alabama > Tuscaloosa > Tuscaloosa county > image 198 of 255; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYN-SN3K?cc=1786457&wc=31SV-82S%3A1588665921%2C1588666011%2C1588665902 : 24 August 2015), Alabama > Tuscaloosa > Not Stated > image 107 of 128; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); accessed 28 Sep 2021, entry for Walter Watkins
4. ↑ "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F315-VX6 : 8 July 2015), Jarret Gray and Martha Ann Watkins, 02 Mar 1851; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,290,745.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society, "The Pioneers of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama - Prior to 1830", Herff Jones Division, Montgomery, Alabama, 1981, citing page 93, entry for Martha Ann Watkins
6. ↑ "1860 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4211198_00690); accessed 10 Apr 2022, citing Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.; Census Place: Western Division, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Roll: M653_25; Page: 680; Family History Library Film: 803025
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} " Alabama, Texas and Virginia, U.S., Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1677/images/32719_237168-01360); accessed 10 Apr 2022, citing Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, Alabama; Confederate Pension Applications, 1880-1940; Collection #: Microfilm in the Research Room; Roll Description: Graham, T. D. - Gray, Thomas; entry for Martha A. Gray
8. ↑ "1870 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4257741_00104); accessed 10 Apr 2022, citing Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.; Census Place: Precinct 7, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Roll: M593_43; Page: 270A
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "1880 United States Federal Census ", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4239795-00013); accessed 10 Apr 2022, citing Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Dodsons, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Roll: 34; Page: 605A; Enumeration District: 155