The Lost Female Ancestor: A Case of the Double “s”
I am currently working on a project to determine my 4th great-grandfather’s parentage. His name was Aaron Weeks and he was born in South Carolina around 1825 and died in Lafayette County, Florida around 1878. Circumstantial evidence leads me to believe that his father was a man named Thomas Weeks who was born around 1790 in North Carolina and died around 1866 in Lafayette County, Florida. But all of that will be for another blog post – including how I determined Aaron Weeks to be my 4th great-grandfather to begin with!
The circumstantial case for the parentage of Aaron Weeks is strong enough that I would typically turn to DNA at this point to solidify and confirm the relationship between Aaron Weeks and his proposed parents, Thomas and Mary Ann Weeks. But DNA was giving me some mixed-up results and that’s when I realized that my dad’s parents were likely 3rd to 4th cousins. My paternal grandmother descended from Aaron Weeks. My paternal grandfather descended from a woman named Harriet Weeks who was born July 18, 1820, in South Carolina and died on January 25, 1892, in or around Ona, Hardee County, Florida. My DNA matches confirm that Aaron Weeks and Harriet Weeks definitely had a common ancestor.
Gravestone for Harriet C Howard, nee Weeks, located at the New Zion Cemetary in Ona, Hardee County, Florida.
Photo courtesy of Donna McPherson; findagrave.com memorial 27073840
Again, the various lines of research and the theories tested are stories within themselves, and I’m sure that I will be sharing them later, but currently, I’m doing deep research into each Florida pioneer with the surname Weeks. Without a doubt, they are a family unit and if I can just figure out the relationships and lines of descent for each, I will be able to solve this mystery.
I am currently, looking closely at a man named Archibald Weeks who was born about 1790 in North Carolina and died in Marion County, Florida, date currently unknown as of the date this blog post is published. I want to flush out each of his children and do some cursory research on his grandchildren in case their names pop up as witnesses or bondsmen in some of the other collateral lines that I am researching within the Weeks family. Initially, it looks as if his daughters all just fell off the face of the earth which is not atypical of women in the early to mid-1800s.
Happily, it looks like once Archibald Weeks settled in Marion County, Florida and he was there until his death and his family remained there for much of the next generation. This gives me an area to focus on and dig into the records.
The 1850 Federal Census shows Archibald Weeks living in Marion County with his wife, Elizabeth, and three of his presumed children: Archibald H (transcribed as “W”, but further research has determined and confirmed that his middle initial was “H”), Cassa Ann, and Elizabeth.
Archibald Weeks and his presumed wife and children in Marion County, Florida as reported on the 1850 Federal Census. The page has been spliced together for ease of reporting and reading of the pertinent information. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: District 3, Marion, Florida; Roll: 59; Page: 135a Township: District 3 Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database online]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Our focus is going to be on Cassa Ann “Cassy” Weeks. The dreaded double “ss” in the middle of her name! This double ss turned out to be one of the main the reasons that she was lost or “disappeared” in the records (along with a healthy dose of all the “usual” reasons a woman of this time period gets lost). But, I feel like, also the reason that I was able to find her. So, let’s dig in!
My first step is to always look at the “low-hanging fruit” for any leads. First, I looked at other ancestry.com trees that contained Cassy Weeks.
It was a classic case of the child (in this case, “Cassa Ann”) listed under the father and mother with only one source (the above-mentioned 1850 Federal Census) with an approximate year of birth and a classification of “deceased”, but no date of death and no husband or children listed.
A search for family trees containing Cassa Ann Weeks born about 1833 in South Carolina and living in Marion County, Florida in 1850 netted no useful results on ancestry.com.
This screams of the “lost” daughter.
I theorized right away that she must have died young or gotten married and moved away. But if she was married, wouldn’t there be a marriage record? I put it on the list of items to check.
Second, I looked for Archibald Weeks on FamilySearch and there was Casa Ann Weeks, listed as his daughter with only the 1850 Federal Census attached to her. No low-hanging fruit for me!
Casa Ann Weeks (familysearch ID G311-2MJ) on familysearch.org. Her profile has never been updated within the One World Family Tree.
Since the Weeks family had settled and stayed in Marion County, Florida, I decided to do an open-ended marriage record search for the Weeks surname in Marion County.
“Capy Weeks” and “Cassy Weeks” and “Capey Weeks” were listed among the results. And that’s when I knew that we might be dealing with the dreaded double-s situation of the 1800s. The one where the double-ss is written as the symbol that looks like an “f” or a “p” and is easily mistranscribed by folks. This could be why Cassa Ann Weeks has been lost to us. Especially if she died before having any children. There would be no curious descendants trying to push their line backward to find this elusive grandmother. Below is the original, unidexed, document.
Marriage license for Mr. Nelson Sturges and Miss Cassy Weeks. They were united in holy matrimony on December 16, 1850. "Florida Marriages, 1830-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894X-RGDP?cc=1803936&wc=4JHR-WG5%3A1590072947%2C1590072946 : 12 July 2019), Marion County > Marriage licenses, 1844-1872, vol A-C > image 70 of 343; citing multiple County Clerks of Court, Florida.
Now I had the name of a possible spouse, and it was time to start researching him. Cassy Weeks married Nelson Sturges on Dec 16, 1850.
Where was Nelson on the 1860 Federal Census?
Nelson Sturges living with Cassa Sturges and Martha Sturgess in Marion County, Florida. 1860 United States Federal Census; The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Marion, Florida; Roll: M653_108; Page: 267; Family History Library Film: 803108
There he was! Nelson Sturges was living in Marion County, Florida in 1860 with an adult woman whose name appeared to be (and was transcribed as) “Carra Sturges”. The dreaded double "s" in the middle of the name strikes again! Those weren’t r’s. Those were sloppily written s’s! Cassa Ann Weeks was possibly hiding in plain sight this whole time! I needed to have some stronger evidence to be 100% sure. The record showed her place of birth as South Carolina, which matched the placed of birth of Cassa Ann Weeks on the 1850 Census, but she had only aged 5 years instead of 10 years.
Nelson Sturges was born in South Carolina which was a good piece of circumstantial evidence since many of the Weeks pioneers I was researching were also born there. It showed a community and cultural connection.
I couldn’t find Nelson and Cassy Sturges on the 1870 Federal Census. This certainly held with my theory that Cassy had died young. But maybe they had just moved away instead. And I had also previously theorized that she had died childless, but on the 1860 Federal Census, Nelson and Cassa Sturges had a 4-year-old girl living with them named Martha Sturges. Theorizing that Martha is likely their daughter, I needed to find out what happened to her.
Next, I turned to the probate records for Marion County, Florida to see if they could reveal any clues. It turns out that Box 47, Cabinet 1 held the answers.
Probate packet containing the estate of Nelson Sturges as well as the guardianship of the minor heirs of Nelson Sturges. "Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QB-93PH?cc=2046765&wc=QCLN-K6D%3A350475101%2C350528801 : 20 May 2014), Marion > Probate packets 1852-1897 box 47-48 > image 9 of 1345; county courthouses, Florida.
The judge assigned folks to appraise the estate of Nelson Sturges on December 1, 1863. The earliest date that I could find in this probate file is August 4, 1863, so we know he died sometime before then, likely earlier during the year 1863.
The first page of the probate packet for Nelson Sturges. The appraisers were assigned by the judge. "Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QB-935D?cc=2046765&wc=QCLN-K6D%3A350475101%2C350528801 : 20 May 2014), Marion > Probate packets 1852-1897 box 47-48 > image 10 of 1345; county courthouses, Florida.
And then there was the next page in the Probate Packet! Thomas Munroe filed a petition to be the guardian of Martha and Nelson Sturges, the minor heirs of Nelson Sturges. Nelson Sr and Cassy had another child after the 1860 Federal Census was enumerated! And even better? It was stated that “Thomas Munroe is entitled to guardianship of said children having married their mother.” Cassy was becoming clearer and clearer with each record found.
Thomas Munroe’s application for the guardianship of his step-children, Martha and Nelson Sturges, was approved as of August 8, 1866. "Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QB-93PM?cc=2046765&wc=QCLN-K6D%3A350475101%2C350528801 : 20 May 2014), Marion > Probate packets 1852-1897 box 47-48 > image 12 of 1345; county courthouses, Florida.
A search of Marriage records in Marion County between Munroe and Sturges did, in fact, produce the needed results.
Marriage license for T C Monroe and Mrs. C Sturges. They were united in holy matrimony on October 17, 1865. "Florida Marriages, 1830-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94X-RG9F?cc=1803936&wc=4JHR-WG5%3A1590072947%2C1590072946 : 12 July 2019), Marion County > Marriage licenses, 1844-1872, vol A-C > image 178 of 343; citing multiple County Clerks of Court, Florida.
But another record also appeared in the results. It was a marriage between Thomas Munroe and Francis Barnes in 1868. Hmmmm. Was this the same Thomas Munroe? If so, Cassy likely died between 1865 and 1868. A search of the 1870 Federal Census in Marion County showed Thomas Munroe living with an adult woman, Francis Munroe.
These are partial results of a marriage record search for the suranme “Munroe” in Marion County, Florida between 1860 and 1870. https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.marriageLikeDate.from=1860&q.marriageLikeDate.to=1870&q.marriageLikePlace=marion%2C%20florida&q.surname=munroe&f.collectionId=1674804
As I continued through the probate packet of Nelson Sturges, I ran across the following page:
Even though this page was buried within the probate packet for Nelson Sturges, it is marked with the eariest date. Cassie Sturgess and Stephen Barco were appointed the administrators for the estate of Nelson Sturges on August 4, 1863. "Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9QB-93FS?cc=2046765&wc=QCLN-K6D%3A350475101%2C350528801 : 20 May 2014), Marion > Probate packets 1852-1897 box 47-48 > image 26 of 1345; county courthouses, Florida.
Of particular note, on this page of the probabte packet, Cassy is referred to as “Cassie Sturges” twice and then signs her own name as “Casa Sturges”. This pages allows us to correlate and verify that the “Cassa Ann Weeks” in the 1850s Census, the “Cassy Weeks” on the marriage license with Nelson Sturges, and the “Cassa Sturges” on the 1860 Census are all the same person. Note, I do not yet know the relationship between Cassie Sturges and Stephen Barco and his family. More research will be needed.
And then another page of the probate is dated November 7, 1867, and it states that Thomas Munroe has failed in his duty as guardian of the heirs of Nelson Sturges. H W Long and S Agnew are to take over as guardians.
Bondsmen H(enry) W Long and S(amuel) Agnew asking to be released from thier duty as bondsmen for Thomas Munroe, the previously appointed guardian of Marth and Nelson Sturges as of November 9, 1867. "Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QB-93G4?cc=2046765&wc=QCLN-K6D%3A350475101%2C350528801 : 20 May 2014), Marion > Probate packets 1852-1897 box 47-48 > image 28 of 1345; county courthouses, Florida.
Based on this evidence, I would venture that Cassy Munroe likely died before this date and Thomas Munroe washed his hands of her children. So, the marriage record for Thomas Munroe and Francis Barnes is for the same Thomas Munroe that was married to Cassy Weeks. Her children, Martha and Nelson Sturges, were not living with Thomas Munroe as enumerated on the 1870 Census.
Next, I researched Henry W Long and I first focused on the 1870 Federal Census.
Wirah W Long and family on the 1870 Federal Census in Marion County, Florida. Enumerated below his family are Nelson Sturgas, age 25, and Martha Sturgas, age 15. Year: 1870; Census Place: Camp Izard, Marion, Florida; Roll: M593_132; Page: 175B; Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database online]. Lehi, 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.; Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
Lo and behold, but who is listed as living right next to the Long family in Marion County in 1870?
Nelson Sturgas, age 25, and Martha Sturgas, age 15. Honestly, I don’t know where the age of 25 for Nelson Sturges comes from or why it was reported that way. He was younger than Martha. An 1880 Federal census for Nelson Sturges shows him as being age 20, which lines up with an 1860 year of birth, which matches better. (Correlated evidence: he was not enumerated on the 1860 Census and in every page of the probate packet for Nelson Sturges, Sr, the children are listed as “Martha and Nelson Sturges.” In a patriarchal society, the listing of Martha before Nelson, Jr confirms that she was the oldest child.)
The picture is becoming sharper as to why this branch of the family has been lost. In the important enumeration year of 1870, Henry W Long is enumerated as “Wirah W Long”, the Sturges children are enumerated as “Sturgas” and Nelson Sturges (Jr) is enumerated approximately 15 years older than his actual age! That’s 3 misleading items in one source doument that have to be over-looked in order to find them in a search of indexed records. And then all three items have to be correlated with other information and the mistakes addressed and explained.
I also found a marriage record for Martha Sturgess to a J J Bridges on June 18, 1871, in Marion County, Florida. And further reading of the probate packet actually explicitly states that her husband is James J Bridges and that Martha Bridges died on September 8, 1874, leaving one infant daughter, Minnie Eliza, to receive Martha’s portion of her father’s estate.
And some of the later pages of the probate refer to Cassy as “Cassandra Sturges” and even “Elizabeth Sturgess”! It was enough to make my head explode. But I’ll let you scroll through the whole probate and find those mentions for yourself.
More research will need to be done to flush out the children of Cassie Weeks Sturges Munroe, but the ultimate goal of finding out what happened to Cassa Ann Weeks has been achieved. She was lost to time due to the double ss in the middle of her name, two marriages in short succession, and her early death.
But due to some open-ended searches, analyzing a probate record, and correlating the names found within the probate packet, we have been able to locate and name her children and determine that she likely died between the date of her second marriage to Thomas Munroe on October 17, 1865, and the date that the guardianship was protested by Henry W Long on November 9, 1867.
