Mary Frances (Burch) Abbott (1849 - 1920)

Ancestors

Wife of John Jacob (Abbot) Abbott — married 20 Dec 1866 (to 1915) in Gordon, Georgia, United States

Died 25 Sep 1920 at age 70 in Cisco, Eastland County, Texas

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Biography

Mary was born in 1849 in Georgia. She died in 1920 in Texas. Mary was the daughter of Abel Burch, 1814 - 1892, and Elizabeth (Whitfield) Burch, 1813 - after1880. She married John Jacob Abbott, 1845 - 1915. They had twelve children:

1. Sarah M. (Abbott) Troxler - 1905
2. Emma E. (Abbott) Fox 1867 - 1942
3. Thomas Alexander Abbott 1869 - 1938
4. Armstead Able Abbott 1872 - 1947
5. John Henry Abbott 1876 - 1942
6. Chester Hawk Abbott 1877 - 1935
7. Flora (Abbott) Owens 1878 - 1953
8. Oscar Monroe Abbott 1882 - 1941
9. Obie Andrew Abbott 1884 - 1967
10. Rufus Black Abbott 1888 - 1951
11. Jessie Abbott 1890 - 1890
12. Katie Frances (Abbott) O'Brien 1892 - 1982.^[1]

PLEASE NOTE: the content of some of these historical records reflect what was going on with slavery in the American South, and in the post Civil War era.

In 1850, the Burch family lived in Gordon County, Georgia. The household included Abel, 36, a farmer with $1000 in real estate; his wife Elizabeth, 37; their six children, James N., 12; Sarah E., 10; Nancy, 7; George W., 5; Thomas, 3; and Mary, 1. All were born in North Carolina, except for the youngest three children, George, Thomas, and Mary, who were born in Georgia. On two neighboring properties were two other Burch families: Arch Burch, 40, b. NC, his wife and four children; and James Burch, 30, b. NC, his wife, daughter, and another person, William Wilburn. Arch and James are possibly brothers of Abel?^[2]

In 1860, Burch family lived in Calhoun, Gordon, Georgia. The household included Abel, 46, b. NC, a farmer with $1000 in real estate and $500 in personal estate. His wife, Elizabeth, 47, b. NC. Nancy, 17, b. NC, in school. William, 16, b. GA, farm laborer, in school. Note: William does not appear with this family on the previous Census. This is probably GEORGE W., who does appear on the previous Census. Thomas, 13, b. GA, in school. Mary, 10, b. GA. Georgia A., 4, b. GA. William M. Owens, 18, b. GA, farm laborer. Sarah E. Owens, 19, b. NC. Note: this is probably Sarah E (Burch), daughter of Abel and Elizabeth, since her age and birthplace fit. Sarah may be the wife of William M. Owens, listed above. Sarah E Owens also appears on the 1870 Census with Abel and Elizabeth Burch in Resaca, Gordon, GA. Living nearby in 1860 was James M. (N.?) Burch, 21, b. NC; his wife Sarah A. R. Burch, 29, b. GA; and Mary Burch, one month old, b. GA. NOTE: This James is probably the son of Abel and Elizabeth Burch, since his age and birthplace fit, and we know that his first wife was named Sarah. ^[3]

John J. Abbott and Miss M.F. Burch were married on 20 December 1866 in Gorgon, Georgia. G.M. Thompson, minister of the Gospel, officiated. ^[4]

In 1870, the Abbott family lived in Resaca, Gordon, Georgia. The family included John J. Abbott, 24, born in North Carolina, a farmer, with $600 in real estate and $500 in personal estate; his wife, Mary F., 20, b. Georgia; their children, both born in Georgia, Emmer, 2; and Alexander, 8 months, born in Sept. 1869. They were white. Also living with them was Sarah Abbott, 65, a black woman, born in North Carolina, who worked the farm. Living nearby, were four other Abbott households, black and white, and one mixed. 1) Anderson Abbott, 23, b. NC; his wife Jane and six children, all black. 2) John J. Abbott, 24, wife Mary, 19, and two children, Emmer and Alexander, all white; and Sarah Abbott, and N. Grimes, black women who worked the farm; and Emely Abbot, 10, a nurse, all black. 3) Elizabeth Abbott, 65, and Alsey Abbott, 30, both white. 4) Raleigh Abbott, 32, wife Sarah, and daughter, white. NOTE: these mixed race households with the same surname illustrates part of what happened after the CivilWar: former slaves, who carried their old master’s last name, were sometimes “employed” by their former owners after the war. ^[5]

In 1880, the Abbott family lived in Plainville, Gordon, Georgia. All were born in Georgia. The household included John Abbott, 35, a farmer; his wife, Mary F., 31; their children, Emma, 13; Alexander T., 11, who worked the farm; Armstead A., 8; Sarah M., 7; John H., 5; Chester, 3; and Flora, 4 months, born in January, 1880. Also living with them was Curtis Fee, 16, who worked the farm. Living nearby was Anderson Abbott, 38, his wife Jane, and five children (a black family). ^[6]

In 1900, the Abbott family lived in Eastland County, Texas. The family included John C. Abbott, 55, born in North Carolina in Jan. 1845, a farmer, who owned their farm without a mortgage; his wife of 34 years, Mary F., 51, born in Georgia in Nov. 1849, who had had twelve children, eleven of whom were living; their children, all born in Georgia, all in school, except for the eldest one, Chester, 23, b. Oct. 1877, farm laborer; Oscar, 18, b. Aug. 1882; Ola A., 16, b. Aug. 1884; Rufus, 12, b. Jan. 1888; and Mary F., 8, b. May 1892. Nearby were two other Abbott households: Alean (?) Abbott, 30, and his wife Julia, 20; and Armistead Abbott, 28, his wife Trionia, and two children. ^[7]

In 1910, the Abbott family lived in Justice Precinct 6, Eastland County, Texas. They owned their farm without a mortgage. All members of the household could read and write. The family included Jno (John) Abbott, 65, born in North Carolina, a farmer; his wife of 44 years, Mary, 62, born in North Carolina, who had had twelve children, ten of whom were living; their children, both born in Georgia, John H., 35, a laborer; and Mary Frances, 17. Also living with them was John’s brother, O.E. Abbott, 21, a laborer. Living nearby was Chester Abbott, 32, his wife and two children. ^[8]

In 1920, the Abbotts lived in Eastland County, Texas. Mary F. Abbott, 71, born in Georgia, a widow, owned her farm. Her son, John H., 45, born in Georgia, was a farmer. Living nearby were two other Abbott households: Alexander Abbott, 51, his wife Julia and a son; and Oscar Abbott, 37, his wife Mollie and their five children. ^[9]

Mary is buried with her husband at Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco, Eastland County, Texas, USA. Her FindAGrave page lists and has links to her spouse and their twelve children.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Mary Frances (Burke) Abbott: FamilySearch. Ancestry.com
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYG-TW1 : 20 December 2020), Mary Burch in household of Abel Burch, Gordon, Georgia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMD-BXJ : 18 February 2021), Mary Burch in entry for Abel Burch, 1860.
4. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVN-3RW : 7 February 2020), John J. Abbott and M. F. Burch, 20 Dec 1866; citing Marriage, Gordon, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 422,563.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC33-1M6 : 28 May 2021), Mary F Abbott in entry for John J Abbott, 1870.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8G9-J6V : 19 February 2021), Mary F Abbott in household of John Abbott, Plainville, Gordon, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 110, sheet 106A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,149.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3LR-QKG : accessed 14 August 2021), Mary F Abbott in household of John C Abbott, Justice Precinct 6 (excl. Cisco town), Eastland, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60, sheet 12A, family 198, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,629.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2M7-QPW : accessed 14 August 2021), Mary Abbott in household of Jno Abbott, Justice Precinct 6, Eastland, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 46, sheet 14A, family 157, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1547; FHL microfilm 1,375,560.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCMH-4VG : 3 February 2021), Mary F Abbott, 1920.
10. ↑ Find A Grave memorial 31857719.