#52 Ancestor Challenge 2019, Week 37, Marital Mistakes?

#52 Ancestor Challenge 2019, Week 37, Mistakes? 

Mistakes??

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde

  

Rebecca Jarrett McDonald did not have marital success.  Did she make mistakes?  A fifteen-year-old child bride, she married a man thirty-five years older;  eleven short years later he was dead and she was a widowed mother of four.  What was a widow with four children under ten to do but remarry a man old enough to support her?  Sadly, she married a recent widower who lost eight of his twelve children to Yellow Fever only a year earlier.  That second marriage produced my grandfather, but it quickly ended in divorce. Her third marriage brought yet another heartbreaking relationship; she took on the life role of caregiver to a husband with Alzheimer’s Disease.  What else could she do?

Rebecca was born on 24 August 1858, in Montgomery County, Alabama, the second of four children born to Martha Brooks and Elijah McDonald. Her oldest brother died at age two while Elijah was fighting for the Confederate Army in the War Between the States. After the War, when Rebecca was thirteen years old, the family headed west to Texas because Martha’s health was failing. They traveled west by horse and buggy. The family legend tells the tale of riding a raft up the Arkansas River to Fort Smith, Arkansas where  Martha Brooks passed away. Her burial is in the old section of Liberty Cemetery in Sebastian County, Arkansas. The McDonald family was taken in by William Tillman Johnston, and his sister, Martha Elizabeth Johnston. 

Two years later, 11 January 1784, Rebecca McDonald, age 15 years and four months, married Will Johnston, almost 52 years old.  Will and Becky had four children: two boys and two girls. Will died in 1785, leaving Becky a widow with a growing family, 

        Marriage Index: Arkansas, 1850-1900

        McDonald, Rebecca, Spouse: Johnston, William T.

        Marriage Date: January 11, 1874

        County: Sebastian

        Gender: Female

        Microfilm # 1034032-1034044 &1034073-1034075

What was Becky thinking of a year and nine months later? She married William Anderson Miller, a 44-year-old a widower of two years with 4 surviving children out of 12.  Two years later, in 1888, Bill and Becky had a daughter Fannie Retha, and in 1892, a son Coy Clifton Miller.  They lived in Sebastian County, Arkansas on a small farm with a whole passel of children. In 1886, the Johnston Children’s ages: Doscia was 11, Jennie was 10, Frank was 9, and James was 8.  

        Marriage Index: Arkansas, 1850-1900

        Miller, W.A., Spouse: Johnston, Mrs. R.J.

        Marriage Date: December 2, 1886

        County: Sebastian

        Gender: Male

        Source: County Court Records

        Microfilm Number: 1034032-10340444 & 1034073-1034075

Is it any wonder Becky and Bill filed for divorce in 1897? 

W. A. Miller against R. J. Miller

 Decree

September 7, 1897

Now on this day of court, this case comes on to be heard and if approving to the court that defendant, R. J. Miller has been duly served by his said server 20 days before the first day of this term of court and that the allegations in plaintiff complaint had been sufficiently sustained by the endeavor of W. A. Miller, Plaintiff, and J. H. Gardner.

It is therefore ordered by the judge and decreed by the court that plaintiff have judgment for divorce and be restored to all the rights and privileges of a single and unmarried person.

R. J. Miller against W. A. Miller R. J. Miller 

Decree

September 7, 1897

Now on this day of court, this case comes on to be heard and if approving to the court that defendant, R. J. Miller has been duly served by his said server 20 days before the first day of this term of court and that the allegations in plaintiff complaint had been sufficiently sustained by the endeavor of W. A. Miller, Plaintiff, and J. H. Gardner.

It is therefore ordered by the judge and decreed by the court that plaintiff have judgment for divorce and be restored to all the rights and privileges of a single and unmarried person.

W. A. Miller against R. J. Miller 

R. J. Miller against W. A. Miller 

September 7, 1897 Granted

My grandfather, Coy Miller, was born 1892 to Becky and Bill Miller.  The marriage may have been a mistake, but thank God for my grandpa or I wouldn’t be here!

TIMELINE

1858: 24 August: Birth, Pike County (or Montgomery Co), Alabama

1860: U.S. Federal Census Pike County, Alabama, Monticello Beat.

1866: Alabama State Census Montgomery, Alabama, Monticello Beat

1870: U.S. Federal Census Bullock County, Alabama Scotland Beat

1872: Migration to Arkansas (estimate)

1874: 11 January 1874: Rebecca McDonald married William Tillman Johnston, Sebastian, Arkansas, age 15 years, four months, and 18 days. He was 51 years and 8 months old, 35year difference in their ages. 

1874: 12 July 1874: Elijah McDonald (Rebecca's father) married (2) Martha Elizabeth Johnston

1875: Birth of a daughter Eudoscia “Doscia” B Johnston Sebastian Arkansas

1876: Birth of a daughter Jennie D. Johnston Sebastian Arkansas

1878: Birth of a son: Frank Tillman Johnston Sebastian Arkansas

1879: Birth of a son: James William Johnston Sebastian Arkansas

1880: U.S. Federal Census – Greenwood, Sebastian County, Arkansas

1885: February: Rebecca was widowed: Death, William Tillman Johnston

1886: 2 December: Rebecca's second marriage: William Anderson Miller, Sebastian,

Arkansas

1888: Birth of a daughter: Fannie Lou Reatha Miller, Sebastian Arkansas

1892: Birth of a son: Coy Clifton Miller, Greenwood, Sebastian Arkansas

1897: 7 September: Rebecca and William Miller are divorced, Greenwood, Sebastian Arkansas

1900: U.S. Federal Census, Greenwood, Sebastian Arkansas

1900: 18 October: Marriage, Samuel Daniel House, Greenwood, Sebasti

Arkansas

1904: Death: Father Elijah McDonald, Montgomery Co., Arkansas

1910: U.S. Federal Census Greenwood Sebastian Arkansas Center Township.

1915: Move to Sims, Montgomery Arkansas

1920: U.S. Federal Census, Montgomery Arkansas, Sulphur Township

1930: U.S. Federal Census, Montgomery Arkansas, Sulphur Township

1936: 27 September 1836: Death, Samuel D. House, Montgomery Count

Arkansas; Rebecca moved to Retha’s house, Mena, Arkansas

1938: 3 February 1838: Death, Rebecca Jarrett McDonald Johnston Miller

House

 There are discrepancies in Rebecca's reported age: 

24 August 1858 (Obituary)

1860 census: 3 (2 years and 11 days)

1870 12 August (13) - 11 years 11 months and 19 days (12 years old)

Name: Rebecca McDonald

Estimated Birth Year: Abt. 1857

Age in 1870: 13

Birthplace: Alabama

Home in 1870: Scotland, Bullock, Alabama

Family and neighbors: View Results

Race: White

Gender: Female

Value of real estate: View Image

Post Office: Arbarvital

Roll: M593_4

Page: 77

Image: 155

Year: 1870

11 January 1874 (15 years 4 months and 18 days)

Marriage application to William Tillman Johnson

1880 census: 8 &9 June (24) 21 years 9 months and 15 days)

Name: Rebecah J. Johnson

Age: 24

Estimated birth year: <1856>

Birthplace: Alabama

Occupation: Keeping House

Relationship to head-of-household: Wife

Home in 1880: Center, Sebastian, Arkansas

Race: White

Gender: Female

Spouse's name: William T. Johnson

Father's birthplace: North Carolina

Mother's birthplace: Alabama

Image Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Center, Sebastian, Arkansas; Roll: T9_57; Family History Film: 1254057; Page: 583C; Enumeration District: 180; Image: 0026.

1900 census 39

1920 census 59

Tombstone: birth 1859.

Marriage Index: Arkansas, 1850-1900

McDonald, Rebecca, Spouse: Johnston, William T.

Marriage Date: January 11, 1874

County: Sebastian

Gender: Female

Microfilm # 1034032-1034044 &1034073-1034075

1880 Federal Census - Center Township, Sebastian County, Arkansas -

Johnson, William T. Texas Alabama Alabama farmer

Rebecca, 21 Alabama Alabama Alabama

Jennie 05 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas

Doshia 04 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas

William J. 02 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas

(note the spelling of the name, Johnson instead of Johnston.)

Interestingly enough, the Millerdivorce was ignored in Rebecca's 

Marriage Index: Arkansas, 1850-1900

Miller, W.A., Spouse: Johnston, Mrs. R.J.

Marriage Date: December 2, 1886

County: Sebastian

Gender: Male

Source: County Court Records

Microfilm Number: 1034032-10340444 & 1034073-1034075

1900 Federal Census - Sebastian County, Center Township

Miller, Rebecca widow - 39 1860

James T. Johnston - son - 16 - April 9, 1878 (d. January 1968, Ozark, Arkansas)

Franklin T. Johnston - son - March 1882 (d. April 24, 1914- Sebastian County, Arkansas ... not married)

Reatha Miller - daughter - 12 - 1888 ( d. Abt.. 1985 - Tucson, AZ)

Coy C. Miller - son 8 - 1892 (d. 1962 - Mena, Arkansas)

Until very recently, no one in the family realized that Rebecca and Wm A Miller divorced in 1897.

Rebecca married a third time. She met Sam House in Montgomery County, Arkansas; she married him October 18, 1900. She moved to Montgomery County, Arkansas to live with Samuel Daniel House.

1920 Federal Census - Montgomery County, Arkansas; Sulphur Township 118/120

House, Samuel D. 62; Georgiann, Louisiana

Rebecca J. 59, Alabama, Alabama, Alabama (her parents were both born in Georgia)

Samuel D. House became ill with Alzheimer's Disease; Samuel House died on September 27, 1836. As Rebecca's health declined, she moved to Mena to live with her daughter, Retha, where she lived until her death in 1938. Rebecca is buried in Lot B 40 in Liberty Cemetery, Greenwood, Arkansas.

Her gravestone is engraved, "Rebecca Jarrett House, Mother - At Rest. She is buried next to William Tillman Johnston (Father) at peace. (May 1822 - February. 1885.) Rebecca is buried on the other side of her son, Franklin Tillman Johnston, d. April 24, 1914.

Obituary of Rebecca McDonald Johnston Miller House

February 10, 1938, Thursday

Mena Star

Mrs. Rebecca House buried Friday.

Funeral services for Mrs. Rebecca Jarrett House, who died Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Retha Looney, were held Friday afternoon at 1:00 at the Looney residence on Tenth Street, with the Reverend Chris J. Sias, pastor of the First Christian Church, and the Reb. H. H. McGuyre, pastor of the First Methodist Church officiating. The service was brief, following which the body was taken to Greenwood, the former home of the deceased for burial, which took place at the Liberty Center Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Geyer Funeral Home. The pallbearers were Walter E. Jones, Will Alexander, A.H. Betts, Carl Whisenhant, J. I. Hudgins and Paul Sanders.

Rebecca Jarrett McDonald was born August 24, 1858, near Montgomery, Alabama. At the age of 13, she moved with her parents to Greenwood, Arkansas. In 1874, she was married to William T. Johnston. Soon after the marriage, she joined the Methodist Church of which brotherhood she remained a member until her death. Four children were born to the couple, and while they were yet small, Mr. Johnston died.

In 1886, the deceased was married to W.A. Miller. She lived in Polk County for many years. Mr. Miller passed away in 1914. She married Samuel House in later years. His death occurred on September 27, 1936. Since that time, Mrs. House has made her home with her daughter in Mena.

Besides Mrs. Looney, Mrs. House is survived by two sons, James Johnston of Ozark and C. C. Miller of El Paso, Texas. One sister, Mrs. S. Paine, McCurtain, Oklahoma, seventeen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.