Sarah Melissa Tucker (1843 - 1930)

Born 7 Jan 1843 in Clayton, Jefferson, New York, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas John Theadore Nichol — married 3 Feb 1861 in Carsonville, Sanilac, Michigan, United States

Died 7 May 1930 at age 87 in Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joel Taylor [send private message]

Biography

According to Viola Nichol Young, "When Sarah Tucker's mother died Sarah was taken by a neighbor and his wife. Sarah lived with these people for some years of her childhood. She said the man was a fisherman and that she spent her early girlhood beside a big river. This would be the St. Lawrence River that runs near Clayton, N.Y., where Sarah was born. Sarah said that all she could remember about her mother was seeing a big hole in the ground (grave)." Sarah's obituary says, "coming to Michigan in 1858, she taught school for a number of terms, and on Feb 3, 1861 married Thomas J. Nichol... She resided on the same farm at McGregor for all the time, excepting the few months spent with her daughter [where she died]." According to the Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac Co., Mich. (1884, Chapman Bros.) "Thomas T. Nichol, farmer, section 18, Bridgehampton Twp., is the son of John and Elizabeth (Coulter) Nichol. The parents were natives of Ireland and became residents of the Dominion of Canada, where the son was born, March 24, 1838. He came to Sanilac Co., in May, 1855, his parents removing hither at the same time. He has lived here ever since with the exception of one year, when he was in the service of the United States. He enlisted 3 Oct 1864 in the 22nd Mich Vol. Inf. and was afterwards transferred to the 29th Mich. Vol. Inf. He is the owner of 160 acres, which includes 85 acres of cleared and improved land.. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1865, and has officiated as Twp. Treasurer 7 years, and has discharged the duties of all the school offices successfully..." According to his obituary "for 50 years until a year ago last spring when he solicited a retirement from the office, he had continuously served the township in some capacity as a public official..."

Sarah wrote a letter dated 21 Jan 1872 to her sister, Lucinda Tucker Randall, regarding the smallpox epidemic (also, see notes for her father, John, for further information about the epidemic). The original letter is in possession of a descendant of Lucinda's, Dolores Kaliebe: "Dear Sister, Another week of sorrow is passed and finds us yet in the lands of the living blessed with good health but not so with all since I wrote you last. Five more have been called out of the family to meet their God. I got your letter last week but I thought I would not answer it for a few days. Last Sunday a week ago tonight Mary's little Laura [Laura Bopra, 17 Feb 1871 - 14 Jan 1872] left her world of horrible for a world of joy. Happy Laura J. would we were all as happy as she must be, and Tuesday Mary B. [Roxy Mary Bopra, 18 July 1857 - 15 Jan 1872] was laid beside her sisters. Four sisters [Laura & Roxy Mary above, plus Mary Jane Bopra, 30 Jan 1856 - 27 Dec 1871, and Lillah L. Bopra, 14 June 1866 - Dec 1871] sleep in the graveyard side by side. Oh what a lonely house that must be. Also Jane [Betsy Jane Tucker Smith] has had to lay away one of her little ones. Libbie [Josephine Smith was born in 1868 according to census records and nothing is known of her. Libbie / Josephine are more than likely the same person. She died on 20 Jan 1872] was buried yesterday. The little darling wanted to be buried in the nursery and they buried her there. Ah, Lucinda, it seems sometimes as though my heart must break, to think of Jane and Mary and think there is no one to give them one word of comfort. Thomas or I have not seen one of the girls since their family has been sick. Thomas has gone up to Mr. Wiltons to hear from them, but that is poor comfort. Poor Isaac [husband of Emma Margaret Tucker, Isaac Fountain, 1844-2 Jan 1872] died the next day after I wrote your other letter. He lay until the flesh dropped from his bones before he died and they buried him in the dead of night for fear of teams and people going by. The small pox seems to be a hard master. It has taken four from Mary and one from Jane, one from Lyman besides Mariah sister and two from fathers [Roxy Lodisca Tucker Godfrey, 25 Mar 1856-27 Dec 1871, and who else?] and they are not well yet. Erastus got along better than any of the rest. He was not confined to the house but two days. He and Martha is out to Fathers staying to help take care of them and they go up to Janes to stay some. Richard Godfrey stays to Bopera's all the time. Father got along first rate when he had the small pox. Mother and James never took it at all, neither has Richard Smith or Charley ever taken it. All of Wm. family had the small pox but Martha. She has been away all winter and they won't let her come home yet. Malissa, Willie and Johnny is all that is at home now. Mary was very sick the last time I heard from her but I hope to hear that she is better when Thomas comes. Poor soul, she is in a delicate situation and having the small pox and losing so many of the family it seems as though she could not get well, but we must put our trust in god and hope for the best

"Friday morning Jan the 26 1872. Well, Lucinda, you see almost a week has passed since I commenced this letter but I could not bear to finish it. But I thought you would feel uneasy if you did not get an answer from your letter. I have no glad tidings to send you this morning. Poor sister Mary (Mary Tucker Bopra) was laid in the grave yard last Monday beside her 4 children. I expect she suffered more than anyone can imagine. Only them that saw her. William had to tie her hands to keep her from eating her fingers off. She was in such agony the last thing she knew she wanted to see Jane and Richard Godfrey came up after her. They had just got Libbie buried and Jane went down and stayed until she died and was buried. How I pity them children that is left. Martha does not know that any of them is dead yet but little Mary. It will be a sad blow to her when she finds she has no mother."

Sources

• Source: S-160233251 Repository: #R-795382715 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=79745699&pid=351
• Repository: R-795382715 Name: Ancestry.com

• Source: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City).
• Reference: Year: 1920; Census Place: Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan; Roll: T625_796; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 138; Image: 647

• Source: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• Reference: Year: 1850; Census Place: New Berlin, Chenango, New York; Roll: M432_487; Page: 161B; Image: 325

• Source: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. 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.
• Reference: Year: 1880; Census Place: Saint Clair, St Clair, Michigan; Roll: 605; Family History Film: 1254605; Page: 477B; Enumeration District: 392; Image: 0851

• Source: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
• Reference: Year: 1930; Census Place: Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 1074; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0986; Image: 339.0; FHL microfilm: 2340809

• Source: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
• Reference: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan; Roll: 743; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1240743

• Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

• Source: Ancestry.com. Web: Michigan, Find A Grave Index, 1805-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi: accessed 1 February 2013.

• Source: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.
• Reference: Year: 1910; Census Place: Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan; Roll: T624_674; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0129; FHL microfilm: 1374687

• Source: Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

• Source: Adams Tucker Family Tree shared and researched by Thomas Adams on RootsWeb.com http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=april13&id=I04340