Dorothy (Sorrell) Foshee (abt. 1806 - aft. 1881)

Born about 1806 in Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Foshee — married 22 Aug 1824 in Monroe County, Georgia, United States

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Whisenant [send private message]

Biography

Susan was born in 1810. Susan Sorrell ... She passed away after 1824. ^[1]

Dorothy Sorrell (Spelled Sorrels) was married to Joseph Foshee on August 22, 1824 in Monroe County, Georgia by a Justice of the Peace. ^[2]

In the 1850 U. S. Census (November 1, 1850) ^[3] the family was enumerated with the last name Foster. Joseph is listed as a farmer with real estate value of $450. Dorothy was listed as "Dolly" who was forty-four years old. Children in the household included: Elizabeth age 24, Elvira age 18, Mary age 15, Martha age 12, Dorothy age 10, Sarah age 7, Charlotte age 3 and James age 3. Charlotte and James were apparently twins. Elizabeth, Elvira and Mary were born in Georgia. The remainder of the children were born in Alabama. This places the move of the family to Alabama between 1832 and 1835.

On June 9th 1851 the probate judge for Chambers County offered a final decree on the estate of Dorothy's father, Green Sorrell. It included the following order: ^[4]

4th That said executors pay over to Joseph Foshee in right of his wife Dorothy Foshee for the use of the said Dorothy the sum of five hundred and sixty four 04/100 dollars her distributive share of said Estate for which Execution may Issue

In the 1860 U. S. Census (15 August 1860) ^[5] the family was living in Milltown, Chambers County, Alabama (Northern Division). Joseph was a sixty year old farmer with real estate valued at $1600 and personal estate valued at $5000. Dorothy was fifty years old and born in Georgia. There were four children in the family: Dorothy age 20, Sarah age 16, Charlotte age 13, and James age 11.

In the 1870 U. S. Census (July 27, 1870) ^[6] Joseph Forshee was still farming in Chambers County, Alabama. His real estate was valued at $650 and personal estate at $400. Dorothy was listed as "Dolly" age 65. There were no children in the household. The next family was James Foster and his wife "Sallie" who was Sarah the daughter of Joseph and Dorothy.

In the 1880 U. S. Census (5 July 1880) ^[7] Joseph and Dorothy were listed with the spelling Pharshee. Dorothy name was difficult to read but looks like Darthea. Dorothy's age was given as seventy-three.

Joseph passed away days after the census was taken. He died on July 12, 1880 and was buried in the Sorrell-Forshee Cemetery in Shiloh, Chambers County, Alabama. The inscription on his grave marker includes, " Farewell my love is gone home, my husband was my all and all. I hope you are above and I will try to meet you my love."

Research Notes

No primary source for Dorothy's birthdate and place have been found. Based on census records I am estimating the birth year between 1805 and 1807 in Georgia.

The surname of her husband has a variety of spellings. I believe Forshee is the one most often seen in available documents.

No death date is available. I have reset the death to after 1881 because she was still alive in the 1880 census taken in July. The inscription on the headstone of her husband in 1880 indicates that she was still alive.

Name

Dolly Foster - 1850 Census - ^[3]

Dorothy Forshee - 1860 Census - ^[5]

Dolly Forshee - 1870 Census - ^[6]

Dartha (Difficult to Read) Pharshee - 1880 Census ^[6]

Birth

1850 Census - age 44 born 1806 in Georgia ^[3]

1860 Census - age 50 born 1810 in Georgia ^[5]

1870 Census - age 65 born 1805 in Georgia ^[6]

1880 Census - age 73 born 1807 in South Carolina ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Karen Whisenant, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.
2. ↑ Georgia Archives, Morrow, GA; University System of Georgia; Georgia Virtual Vault: [1]; Monroe County Marriage Book, 1824 - 1845; Volume A; Page 5; Marriage Books, Monroe County Ordinary Court, Georgia Archives; 22 August 1824, Joseph Foshee & Dorothy Sorrels
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [2]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. District 19, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M432_2; Page: 314A; Image 625: Dwelling and Family 691, Lines 30-39: JOSEPH FOSTER (SHOULD BE FORSHEE) FAMILY
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [3]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Estate Files and Index, 1832-1915, Chambers County, Alabama; Author: Alabama. Probate Judge (Chambers County); Probate Place: Chambers, Alabama; -Image 1537-1610; GREEN SORRELL 1843-1851; Probate Estate Case Records, Smith, Laurence - Spear, James M Folder 1 of 2, 1832-1915; [4]
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [5]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Northern Division, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M653_4; Page: 799; Family History Library Film 803004; Dwelling 594, Family, Lines 31-36: JOSEPH FORSHEE
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [6]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Beat 4, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: M593_6; Page: 56B; Family History Library Film 545505; Dwelling and Family 145, Lines 10-11; JOSEPH FORSHEE FAMILY
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [7]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Ripville, Chambers, Alabama; Roll: 5; Page: 227C; Enumeration District 165; Joseph Phashee Family

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