Anniversaries

Today is October 1st. It marks 8 years since my mother passed away. I think it will be a hard day to get through, but maybe not. Even now, I am amazed at how a photo of her can cause joy and laughter as easily as pain. I'm never really sure what emotions will come up. And it's shocking how quickly they can change depending on the memories they evoke. 

Mom and me about 1980

Mom in 1986

October 1st will also mark aother anniversary. It has been 102 years since the death of my 2nd great-grandmother Mary Orange. She was born about 1835 in Virginia. Considering she was living in Nansemond County Virginia when slavery ended, she may have been free. Although I really don't know at this point. Mary was born to parents Billie and Mary Orange. I don't know anything else about them, but I believe they also had a daughter named Amy. Mary married a man named Thomas Harrison. In 1870, they had 6 children living with them, including twins named Mary and Amy, and a woman named Amy Orange. By 1880, Thomas and Mary had only 1 child with them. Three of their children children died by age 2, but oddly I don't know what happened to the children from 1870.

I descend from her 5th (I believe) daughter Martha. Now, Martha was born in 1876, but wasn't with her in 1880. I'm starting to believe someone with very poor knowledge of the family provided information to the census takers. By 1900, Mary is still married, but living with Martha's family without Thomas. . In 1910, Mary is only 65 years old, but she is now a widow and blind. I would love to know who gave the information for her. Ofcourse, she may have decided she was 65.

What really surprised me was the number of children listed 1910. It says Mary had 20 children born to her, and only 3 were living. I've only found 11 of her children and confirmed 3 died before her. I can't imagine 3, much less 17 children dieing. I have a lot of questions about her. And I haven't done the best job of trying to answer them. I hope I can find out more about her and what she endured during her life.