Kate Elizabeth Turnbull (1871 - 1962)

Born 5 Nov 1871 in Algiers, Orleans, Louisiana

Ancestors

Died 3 Mar 1962 at age 90 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana

Biography

Katie was born in Algiers, Orleans, Louisiana on 5 Nov 1871 and christened 15 June 1872, the daughter of Thomas Turnbull and Ellen Brown.^[1] Remaining unmarried all of her adult life, she worked as a seamstress, doing piecework at her lodging.^[2] Apparently, she was satisfied enough with her arrangements that she remained as a "boarder" in the same household for well over 10 yrs.^[3] So embraced by the elder couple she lived with, it appears that upon the demise of both elderly homeowners (a brother and sister) she inherited the home at 431 Pelican St. sometime before 1935 -or- was assisted in its purchase; given that a seamstress wage was not high by any means, this turn of events must have quelled natural worry about how she would fare as a single lady of modest means advancing toward her elder years. Her home ownership also allowed her to extend a welcome to her younger sister Ellen, aka Nellie. Following the death of Ellen's husband in late Dec. 1930, Katie and Nellie lived here together for many years (1940 census includes lookback question indicating both women were residing here in 1935).^[4]

Interestingly, beginning around 1930, Kate began claiming herself as younger by 8-10 yrs than she actually was (based on census reporting), likely for reasons of obtaining seamstress work rather than for vanity sake, as unmarried women of the era were often challenged occupationally by means of age discrimination. Following both her sister's passing and her nephew's loss of his son (to marriage/relocation) and his wife (to sudden illness), all events occurring in 1942, the two relatives stayed near one another and may have resided together in later years. In evidence of James's care for his aunt, Kate shares a burial plot with her nephew, James F. Turnbull, and his wife Pauline.^[5]

At the time of her death, surviving family members misreported Kate's birthdate as 9 Nov 1874, which was apparently placed on death records^[6] and subsequently, on her gravesite marker.^[7] She was actually 89y 6m 3d when she died. Given that she began turning back the clock before her 50's it's a wonder that her birthdate was so nearly accurate in the memory of surviving Turnbulls. It is improbable, though, that Kate would have been displeased to lose a couple years even in death, one would think.

Sources

1. ↑ Louisiana Births and Christenings, 1811-1830; 1854-1934
2. ↑ United States Census, 1920
3. ↑ United States Census, 1930
4. ↑ United States Census, 1940
5. ↑ FindaGrave.com
6. ↑ Louisiana, Orleans Parish Vital Records, 1900-1964
7. ↑ FindaGrave.com

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXK-8MZ : 14 August 2017), K E Turnbull in household of T Turnbull, 10th Ward, Terrebonne, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 193, sheet 377C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0473; FHL microfilm 1,254,473.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-66Y9-79X?cc=1325221&wc=9BW4JWL%3A1030552101%2C1032475601%2C1033247001 : 5 August 2014), Louisiana > Orleans > ED 140 6th Precinct New Orleans city Ward 15 > image 8 of 63; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV7L-93P : accessed 4 September 2018), Catherine Turnbull in household of Eli Degear, New Orleans Ward 15, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing ED 251, sheet 16A, line 41, family 361, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 625; FHL microfilm 1,820,625.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMRN-Z22 : accessed 4 September 2018), Kate B Turnbull in household of Eli H De'Gear, New Orleans (Districts 251-277), Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 254, sheet 7A, line 20, family 130, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 812; FHL microfilm 2,340,547. note: age recorded as 50y, s/b 58y]

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYP1-SGQ : accessed 4 September 2018), Kate Turnbull, Ward 15, New Orleans, New Orleans City, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 36-415, sheet 63A, line 2, family 314, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1434. [note: age recorded as 58y, but s/be 68y]

"Louisiana Births and Christenings, 1811-1830; 1854-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWGX-6HD : 10 February 2018), Kate Elizabeth Turnbull, 05 Nov 1871; citing Mt. Olivet, Algiers, Orleans, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 1,571,986.

"Louisiana, Orleans Parish Vital Records, 1900-1964," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLQX-FXX2 : 18 March 2018), Kate E Turnbull, 3 Mar 1962; citing Death 3 Mar 1962, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States, certificate ; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.

FindaGrave.com: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90037210