Mary Ellen (Peoples) Sessoms (1871 - 1928)

Born 15 May 1871 in Wythe, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Clinton Franklin Sessoms — married 4 Jul 1891 in Wythe, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Feb 1928 at age 56 in Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia, United States

Biography

Mary (Peoples) Sessoms is a part of US Black heritage.

Mary Ellen was born on 15 May 1871 in Wythe County, Virginia^[1] She was the daughter of Pharoah Peoples and Susan Monroe.

In the 1880 census "M Ellen" (age 9) was the daughter of Pharo Peoples in Blacklick, Wythe, Virginia, United States.^[2]

Mary Ellen married Clinton Sessom on 4 July 1891 in Wythe County, Virginia to M. E. Peoples.^[3]

On 6 June 1900, Clinton and Mary E. Sessoms and their five children- James R., Lizzie E., John C., Lenard F., and Ida May, as well as a 17-year-old servant Jessie Jackson lived in Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia. Mary reported that she had been the mother of six children, with five living. Clinton worked as a day laborer while Mary was a laundress. They rented their home.^[4]

Sometime between 1908 and 1910, Clinton applied to be enrolled in the Eastern Cherokee nation, for himself and six children. Mary E, Sessoms and her seven children also applied. The result: "Reject. No ancestor every enrolled. No ancestor party to the treaties of 1835-6-46. Shows no connection with the Eastern Cherokee. Ancestors never lived in Cherokee domain."^[5]

On 13 May 1910, Clinton and Mary and their seven children- James R., Elizabeth, John C., Lenard F., Ida M., Clarence, and Dollie- lived in Wytheville. Mary reported that she had had nine children, with seven living. Clinton was a laborer doing odd jobs, Mary was a washer woman at her house, James was a wagon driver, and Elizabeth helped her mother wash clothes.^[6]

On 2 January 1920, Clinton and Mary lived in Wytheville, they owned their home. Four of their children lived with them- Ida D., Lenard F., Clarence W., and Della S. Clinton was a garden laborer, Mary was a private home nurse, Lenard was a meat market butcher, and Clarence was a public roads laborer.^[7]

Mary reportedly died on 18 February 1928 in Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Virginia, U.S., Birth Registers, 1853-1911"
   Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA; Virginia Births, 1853-1911
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62153 #1222213 (accessed 3 July 2022)
   W A Peopils born on 15 May 1871, son of Faro Peopils & F? Peopils, in Wythe, Virginia, USA.
2. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00043; Digital film/folder number: 005162841; FHL microfilm: 1255394; Image number: 703; Sheet number: 389; Sheet letter: C
   FamilySearch Record: MCRD-FXL (accessed 29 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB6-7Z5
   M Ellen Peoples (9), single daughter, in household of Pharo Peoples (50) in Blacklick, Wythe, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia, United States.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, U.S., Marriage Registers, 1853-1935"
   Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA; Virginia Marriages, 1853-1935
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62154 #90460047 (accessed 1 July 2022)
   M C Peoples (22) marriage to Clinton Sersom on 4 Jul 1891 in Virginia, USA.
4. ↑ United States Census, 1900: "United States Census, 1900"
   Image path: United States Census, 1900 > Virginia > Wythe > ED 142 Wythesville Township Wytheville town > image 11 of 61; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6WM3-PNB (accessed 1 July 2022)
5. ↑ "U.S., Records Related to Enrollment of Eastern Cherokee by Guion Miller, 1908-1910"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60555 #43156 (accessed 1 July 2022)
   Name: Clinton Sessoms; Record Date: 18 Apr 1911; Record Place: Wytheville, Virginia.
6. ↑ United States Census, 1910: "United States Census, 1910"
   Image path: United States Census, 1910 > Virginia > Wythe > Wytheville Ward 4 > ED 149 > image 3 of 9; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YB4-9Q7D (accessed 1 July 2022)
7. ↑ United States Census, 1920: "United States Census, 1920"
   Image path: United States Census, 1920 > Virginia > Wythe > Wytheville > ED 196 > image 2 of 25; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRJT-3B6 (accessed 1 July 2022)

Daughter's death record names parents: "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMVQ-QLJ : 11 February 2018), Mary Ella Peoples in entry for Lizzie K. Johnson, 03 May 1962; citing B.P., Blfd., Mercer, W.Va., County Records, v 10 p 85, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 804,481.