I have several brick walls that drive me crazy, but Rossie is the biggest thorn in my side.

She is my great great grandmother, and she married Amos Jenkins in NC and then had my grandfather, McKinley Jenkins. I know her mother's name was Clarissa Taylor, but I don't know her maiden name. I've found a list of marriages in Jones County, and Rossie's and Amos' marriage is on there...and a little further down is a marriage between a Clarissa King and a Jesse Taylor that would have been about the time her parents did get married. I suspect they are her parents, but I don't know for sure and it's maddening!

im confused.....clarissa is your ggg grandmother? and you're looking for HER maiden name?

have you found any birth record for rossie? Im assuming that Clarissa's husbands first name is unknown to you?

You haven't mentioned any years. but I assume they were on a census at some point in time...I'm just not sure exactly how that would help right now....but it would be good to have. If you find Rossie in the household with Clarissa and Jesse, then it is safe to assume that the Clarissa King and Jesse Taylor are your couple.

Steph

This is what I get for posting at work and not having my notes handy....

I don't have a birth record for Rossie, but I have her listed on the 1910 census as being 29, and her mother being 74 and living in Rossie's household. Her mother was listed as Clarissa Taylor, and I'm assuming that Taylor was her married name. I have not found Rossie on any other censuses, and the only census I've found for Jesse and Clarissa Taylor was 1870 or 1880, before Rossie was born. I've looked for marriage and birth records under Rossie, Rosie, and Rose, and haven't found anything indicating her parent's names other than the one census with both of them on it.

*Sigh*

I'm still fairly new to this, so the answer may be right under my nose...

so let me make sure I have some facts straight an then I'll see if I can find something

Rossie Taylor was born about 1881 somewhere in NC
Her mothers name was Clarissa, we arent sure about her father *could be* Jesse
Clarissa was born somewhere around 1836....do you know where?
Rossie was married in Jones Co NC

What county in the 1910 census in?

well I found them in the 1900 census, its not a huge help, but at least you can have a copy of that one. Clarissa was already a widow by then and Amos, Rossie and their daughter Josephine was living with Clarissa. It states Clarissa was born in Feb of 1842 in NC (if that helps anything at all) Rossie has been transcribed as Rossa Jenkens and Clarissa was Clarine Taylor

I wonder if that James Taylor next door was a son of Clarissa's? If so they might have been on the 1880 census together?

Steph

I had that idea too....hes not...he would have been 19 in 1880, he was prob already married. I havent found 1870 yet

Found 1870 and he's not on there either...just not sure what direction to go now.
Any body know where any of these folks are buried. Tombstone might give us a clue..especially if Clarissa is buried with her husband...it's pretty obvious she didn't remarry.

Steph

where did you find it? the only 1870 Taylor I can find gives this info which doesnt really match...is Walter really James? Walter is the only one on 1870 that is the age this James person is supposed to be....and he's walter on the other 1880 taylor listing I found. None of the other names really match cept for Laurie/Laura. Clarra could def be Clarissa, but JB Taylor is Jesse G Taylor? and the other kids are def throwing me, but they are the only taylor family in Tuckahoe

I think all of the info I've found about Rossie and Clarissa so far is in Jones County.
My mom's family is true-blue North Carolinian...I don't think I've found anything so far on her family that is outside of 4 counties in Eastern NC....Jones, Duplin, Lenoir, and Onslow.

BTW...thanks for the help

I think that J.B in 1870 is him....and I traced them on back to 1850. It appears this Jessee had another wife...Nancy, only 7 years younger than him. At that time he only had Martha. Clarissa was a good bit younger. SHe is the daughter of Felix and Catherine King. I don't think that James had anything to do with them..unless he may have been a cousin or something. No other census lists a James and they all list "Walter".
You know the problems you have with the jump between 1880 and 1900...kids grow up and leave home.

Evidently wife one died between 1850 and 1860. Right after 1850 or Frank is the first wife's child. Frank is listed in 1860 as ebing 10 years old and Mary is in the household....aged 4. I think maybe Nancy died in childbirth?? Anyway I'm thinking Clarissa didn't marry Jessee until about 1855??
All that doesn't tell us if this Clarissa and Jessee are Rossie parents.

Ok for the sake of clarification.

1850
Jessey Taylor 27
nancy 20
Martha 1

1860
Jessey Taylor 38
Clarey 20
Frank 10
Mary A. 4

1870
J.B. Taylor 47
Clarra 29 (?)
Frank 18
Alice 13
Walter 8
Tucker 4
Laurie 2

1880
Jesse G. Taylor 58
Clarissa 36
Walter 19
Isaac 14
Laura 12
Oscar 9
Julia 7
Nancy 3

1900
Clarisa Taylor 58



IS that about it? There are a bunch of missing children...nancy's child Martha is never seen again. Isaac and Tucker appear to be the same.
We need to find out if any of those names are remembered as Aunts and Uncles??

1900 census says Clarissa had 8 kids, 7 living if we throw Rossie in there, that gives 7 named kids. Do we know ANY of Rossies siblings?

I think Frank is the first wifes child too

I remember something about Jesse having another wife, so Clarissa being his second wife wouldn't surprise me.

The biggest problem I've had concerning Rossie is my family is very reluctant to talk about her. My mom has asked her only living uncle about her (his name is Walter, btw, perhaps named after HIS uncle?) and he won't talk about her. I've seen Rossie's picture and she is not completely white...and my mother's family is very racist and growing up were very derogatory towards Rossie. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to find out any info about her family.

If you can find her with her family that might tell you her race.
She could be Indian....that was considered pretty bad for a long long time.
We weren't supposed to talk about our Cherokee ancestors back in the 50's and 60's. Remember Cher's song Half Breed?. Not far off the mark.

Steph

Everything I find says she's white

If she was of mixed race - living in a white household - they probably would not have admitted it to the census taker -- or it may have been assumed and not asked.