Sisters marrying brothers is a theme that runs through several branches of my family tree. Here is one example. Maggie Pitts, my great grandmother (my mom's dad's mom) was born in 1873, probably in Mississippi. I have written about her here and here. Maggie had two full brothers and several older half siblings. Her two full brothers, who married sisters, are the subjects today.
James Macklamore Pitts was born in Laurens County, South Carolina on Feb 18, 1867. He was the oldest son of Elijah Pitts and Lucinda Lewis Johnson Pitts. Robert Drayton Pitts was also born in Laurens County on Nov 18, 1869.
In the 1870 census, taken on Aug 20 in the township of Cross Hills, Laurens County, South Carolina, the following family members are listed:
George, Susan and Etta were Lucinda's children from her marriage to William H Johnson, who died in 1863 in the War Between the States. Elijah and Lucinda were married in Apr 1866, after signing a Marriage Contract protecting the property of Lucinda Johnson that she had at the time of their marriage.
We are not sure exactly when or why Elijah moved his family from South Carolina to Mississippi. We do know that Elijah's oldest son, George Washington Pitts (1831-1898) had moved his family to Lee County, Mississippi about 1866. They are found in the Lee County, Mississippi census in 1870. G W's younger sister, Elizabeth C Pitts, age 34, is living with them as a housekeeper.
James, Robert and their younger sister, Maggie, as well as several of G W's children, are listed in the "Mississippi, Enumeration of Educable Children" in 1878 as living in Ellistown, Union County.
Nine months later, James married Belle Williams on Jun 25, 1893.
Then on Mar 10, 1901, Robert married Mary Etta Williams. I do not have a photo of Bob and Etta, but I did find this one of Bob from a family portrait of Frances Owens Pitts, widow of George Washington Pitts.
James and Belle had 9 children before Belle died Nov 2, 1910.
James remarried to Margaret Louise Howard Jun 1, 1916 and they had 1 son,
Robert and Etta had 6 children:
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
James Macklamore Pitts was born in Laurens County, South Carolina on Feb 18, 1867. He was the oldest son of Elijah Pitts and Lucinda Lewis Johnson Pitts. Robert Drayton Pitts was also born in Laurens County on Nov 18, 1869.
In the 1870 census, taken on Aug 20 in the township of Cross Hills, Laurens County, South Carolina, the following family members are listed:
- Elijah Pitts, age 67
- Lucinda, age 40
- George (Johnson) age 18
- Susan (Johnson) age 12
- Etta (Johnson) age 9
- James (Pitts) age 3
- Roberts (Pitts) age 8/12
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| Source CitationYear: 1870; Census Place: Cross Hill, Laurens, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1501; Page: 12A; Image: 212658; Family History Library Film: 553000Source InformationAncestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data:1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. |
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| Newberry Deed Book LL, p. 55. Familly History Library Roll 24249. Deeds and miscellaneous records, 1785-1884; index to deeds, 1776-1949. Authors: Newberry County (South Carolina). Register of Mesne Conveyance |
We are not sure exactly when or why Elijah moved his family from South Carolina to Mississippi. We do know that Elijah's oldest son, George Washington Pitts (1831-1898) had moved his family to Lee County, Mississippi about 1866. They are found in the Lee County, Mississippi census in 1870. G W's younger sister, Elizabeth C Pitts, age 34, is living with them as a housekeeper.
James, Robert and their younger sister, Maggie, as well as several of G W's children, are listed in the "Mississippi, Enumeration of Educable Children" in 1878 as living in Ellistown, Union County.
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| "Mississippi, Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-14208-39114-66?cc=1856425&wc=M6NC-62Q:167491801,167437302 : accessed 3 July 2015), Union > 1878 > image 100 of 144; Government Records, Jackson. |
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| Same as above, image 101 |
Elijah and his family have not been found in the 1880 Federal census, but we did finally find them in the 1880 Mississippi State Census. In this census, the Males over 21, Females over 21 and Children are all listed separately. But, the children's names are associated with the names of their parents. Here are "Jimmie, Robert and Maggie", to the right of their names is the parent "E Pitts". It also states that Jimmie, Robert and Maggie were all born in Mississippi. We know that James and Robert were actually born in South Carolina, so, I am hesitant to accept that Maggie was also born in Mississippi. But, as yet, there is no "proof" either way.
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| Mississippi State census returns, box 2646, Union County, 1880. Film # 004827061, Image 343 of 396. Printed page 189. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-20950-21192-63?cc=1919687&wc=MMYG-LQQ:1751506539 |
Around 1885 or 1886, Elijah and Lucinda died in Mississippi. Family tradition states they are buried in the Old Poplar Springs Cemetery in Pontotoc County, but no grave markers have been found, as yet. The three youngest Pitts children, James, Robert and Maggie, moved to Ellis County, Texas, to live with their half brother, George Washington Pitts, his wife, Frances Owens Pitts, and their eleven children.
Living not far away, also in Ellis County, was the Samuel Currens Williams family. In 1880, there was Samuel C, Mary A, his wife, and their 4 daughters and 1 son. By the time the Pitts children arrived in Ellis County, there were 3 more Williams daughters. Two of these daughters were Belle Eugenia Williams, born Sep 21, 1871, and Mary Etta Williams, born Oct 22, 1881. These two were destined to become the wives of James and Robert. Incidentally, in that 1880 census, S C Williams was living next door to Zachary Taylor Clark, with his son Tom, who was destined to become the husband of Maggie Pitts! AMAZING!
Maggie, even though she was the youngest, married first, to Tom Clark on Oct 16, 1892.
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| G W and Frances Pitts from a tintype |
Living not far away, also in Ellis County, was the Samuel Currens Williams family. In 1880, there was Samuel C, Mary A, his wife, and their 4 daughters and 1 son. By the time the Pitts children arrived in Ellis County, there were 3 more Williams daughters. Two of these daughters were Belle Eugenia Williams, born Sep 21, 1871, and Mary Etta Williams, born Oct 22, 1881. These two were destined to become the wives of James and Robert. Incidentally, in that 1880 census, S C Williams was living next door to Zachary Taylor Clark, with his son Tom, who was destined to become the husband of Maggie Pitts! AMAZING!
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Maggie, even though she was the youngest, married first, to Tom Clark on Oct 16, 1892.
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| Tom and Maggie Pitts Clark my great grandparents |
Nine months later, James married Belle Williams on Jun 25, 1893.
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| Pitts, James M and Eugenia Belle Williams from Ancestry Leo Byrd |
Then on Mar 10, 1901, Robert married Mary Etta Williams. I do not have a photo of Bob and Etta, but I did find this one of Bob from a family portrait of Frances Owens Pitts, widow of George Washington Pitts.
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| Bob Pitts from Family Portrait. Abt 1918. |
James and Belle had 9 children before Belle died Nov 2, 1910.
- Glen Curren Pitts - died before 1900, about 10 days old
- Karl Samuel Pitts - Sep 21, 1895 - Sep 24, 1919
- Robert Harding Pitts - Sep 7, 1896 - Jun 16, 1950
- Merle May Pitts - abt 1900 - 1980
- Elijah Lewis Pitts - Sep 18, 1902 - Oct 14, 1913
- James Max Pitts - Jun 17, 1904 - Apr 23, 1966
- Walter Ben Pitts - May 6, 1907 - Dec 28, 1967
- Nell E Pitts - Jan 25, 1909 - Sep 30, 1989
- Ellna Frances Pitts - Jan 23, 1910 - Aug 20, 2003
James remarried to Margaret Louise Howard Jun 1, 1916 and they had 1 son,
- Howard Pitts - May 26, 1920 - Aug 26, 2006.
Robert and Etta had 6 children:
- William Elijah Pitts - Oct 8, 1903 - Jun 22, 1922 (2 days after his father)
- Edna Lou Pitts - Aug 27, 1905 - Jul 25, 1961
- James Robert Pitts - Nov 18, 1907 - Dec 16, 1987
- Harry Francis Pitts - Jun 23, 1909 - Nov 6, 1909
- Infant Daughter Pitts - Nov 30, 1910 - Dec 14, 1910
- Mary Ruth Pitts - Mar 20, 1916 - Jul 19, 1990
These children of James and Belle, and Bob and Etta were double cousins. They share both sets of grandparents!
My mother and her parents lived with Aunt Etta for a while. Here is a statement from mother's diary:
We moved then to Aunt Etta’s at 2822 Michigan Street in Dallas. I went to Clinton P. Russell School on Beckley Street. We lived with Aunt Etta Pitts, Edna Lou Payne, Bobby Jack Payne and Mary Ruth Pitts.This was in 1930 during the worst part of the Great Depression. Mother was about 9 years old. From that time, she was very close to Mary Ruth, Bob and Etta's youngest daughter, who was about 5 years older that mother.
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
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