Matilda (Mattox) Officer (abt. 1818 - abt. 1898)

Born about 1818 in Georgia, United States

Died about 22 Jul 1898 at about age 80 in Adair, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

Matilda Mattox

On James Monroe Cloud's census cards from 1900-1907, his parents are listed as Isaac Cloud and Matilda Cloud, non-citizens and dead. That's the only place so far that her last name shows as Cloud. James was born in 1838, so certainly they could have married before she married Thomas Officer in 1843, despite the marriage record showing her surname as Mattox, but no marriage record has surfaced yet.

Matilda was listed as 31 in the 1850 census, married to Thomas Officer (30), with 3 daughters, living in Murray County, Georgia.

In 1854, as was the practice at the time, the Georgia Legislature passed the following act: (No. 418.) An Act to legitimatize Matilda Officer, the wife of Thomas M. Officer, and for certain other purposes therein mentioned. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That from and after the passage of this Act, Matilda Officer, the wife of Thomas M. Officer, of Murray County, be fully legitimatized and made an heir at law, and entitled to all the rights and privileges she would have enjoyed had she been born in lawful wedlock, and that she be made capable of inheriting the estate, both real and personal, of John Mattox, her reputed father. Officer. Rights. SEC. II. And be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws militating against this Act, be and the same are hereby repealed. Approved, February 11th, 1854.

In 1860, she's listed with a birthdate of 1828 and age of 32, with Thomas Officer aged 40, living in Howell Township, Howell, Missouri with four children, aged 4-10. Since James is listed as 21 and living next door, it's unlikely 1828 is correct. She's likely 42.

Then in 1870, she's living with James Monroe Cloud and his wife Martha, listed with a birth year of 1795, making her 75 years old with those same children now aged 13-20, which makes no sense, either. She'd be 52 with a birth year of 1818, which is logical.

Sources

• The National Archives at Fort Worth; Fort Worth, Texas; Enrollment Cards, 1898-1914; NAI Number: 251747; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Record Group Number: 75, Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, Ancestry.com
• "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950", , FamilySearch : Sat Mar 09 15:06:03 UTC 2024, Entry for Thomas M. Officer and Matilda Mattox, 5 March 1843.

• "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch : Sun Mar 10 22:34:20 UTC 2024, Entry for Thomas Officer and Matilda Officer, 1850.
• Acts of the General Assembly of the state of Georgia, passed in Milledgeville, at a biennial session, in November, December, January, and February. 1853-4. compiled, and notes added, by John Rutherford [volume 1]

[1]

• "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch : Sat Mar 09 10:20:11 UTC 2024, Entry for Thomas W Officer and Matilda Officer, 1860.
• https://www.newspapers.com/clip/135659782/legitimize-matilda-officer/?xid=637] Newspapers.com - Georgia Journal and Messenger - 22 Feb 1854 - Page 2 Macon, Georgia
• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch Tue Mar 05 07:08:23 UTC 2024, Entry for J M Cloud and Martha Cloud, 1870.