For the Love of Florence

They say the Grassy Islands area of the Pee Dee River have always been full of danger and mystique. They say the murky waters hold secrets as old as the river itself and paranormal music has lured victims to their death for centuries. They say the early Native Americans held rituals and gatherings there and the earliest trappers returned with warnings if they returned at all. They say a special kind of folk took root there after civilization eventually intruded into the wild grasslands. They say that shine flowed as easily there as the backwater creeks and the men there were as mean and dirty as the wild boars that burrowed into the creek banks. They say the women were easy there, their hair hanging loosely around their waists and that the men wore their hair as long as the women. They say.

Strangers who wandered into the Grassy Islands in search of sin or curiosity, were sometimes never seen again. Wealthy Planters are said to have hidden mistresses there, whose lonely songs, like sirens of old, can still be heard on windy days when a darkling sky threatens to anger the muddy old Pee Dee.This is where we find the Florence's of the Grassy Islands and Pee Dee Hills.

Yes there were two, whose lives were so entangled that persons today, descendants perhaps, have merged them into one. This is where I began to grab a loose string and untangle the twisted mass of confusion.

I began by taking a ride to the Grassy Islands and to the old Bethel Church where John Sheppard and his wife, Anne Eliza Ford Sheppard worshipped with their families and are buried.

Atop what may be the tallest of the Pee Dee Hills sits a beautiful white church, a modern building, yet with a congregation that dates to the earliest arrivals of colonists to the Pee Dee when Christians chose to come together and worship, decades prior to the Revolutionary War.

From this vantage point, one can view the topography for miles and miles in all directions. From the church front, you can catch a glimpse of the river a good distance away through a break in the trees. To the west, the low hills of the Uwharries and to the east only acres upon acres of pines and broomstraw interupted only by  patches of ugly clear cut.

It's quiet here, very rural still, and easy to imagine the characters who lived here once telling their tales. Eben Nelms Ingram and his wife rest here within a weathered, rusty, gated plot, said to have been the richest man in area for years. A purview of the old cemetery shows more graves without stones, or broken pieces of them, their markers succombed to the earth and weather, or just to time. There must lie all of the individuals who just disappear from record, but showed no signs of having left, maybe remaining in the now unmarked graves.

Some have been honored by modern markers by descendants who erected one to replace the time worn ones.

There's one for Bird Sheppard, a Revolutionary War Patriot and ancestor of the Sheppards hear abouts.

The one for Alexander "Sandy" Sheppard is very informative and lists all of his children, as well as his progenitor.

Seeing the church and cemetery in person answered a number of questions  in my head, and may lead to more discoveries of things I've been researching but have not yet posted about. Seeing all these people together, with clearly written names, shines a light on unclearly written names in old documents, of who lived here, and who didn't. Besides Ingrams and Sheppards and Fords, there are Hudsons, of whom I plan to do more research, and Davis's, of whom I know nothing about, and Driggers, Meachums, Kelly's, Terrys, Reynolds, Morse's and Goodwins, among others.

 Some look like the grave itself wants to repell them, others like they were victims of a large upheaval of the earth.

But among the tallest of pentacles in the old ground is that of Florence Simpson, beloved mother, nearby her parents, the Sheppards and her oldest son, E. A. Bittle, who no doubt was the one behind this memorial, with a row of Bittles behind them, grandchidlren, great- grandchildren and in-laws of E. A. Bittle, no doubt. 

So who was this beloved woman, Florence? 

Name:	Flornce Shepard
Age:	23
Birth Date:	Sep 1876
Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900:	Black Jack, Richmond, North Carolina
Sheet Number:	9
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	148
Family Number:	148
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Name:	John Shepard
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother's Name:	Annie E Shepard
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother: number of living children:	2
Mother: How many children:	2
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship John Shepard 50 Head Annie E Shepard 55 Wife Flornce Shepard 23 Daughter John T Shepard 22 Son Eddie A Shepard 3 Grand Son (Grandson) William Shepard 0 Grand Son (Grandson)

Before 1900, Florence, born in September of 1876, is just shown in the home of her parents, John and Anne Eliza Ford Sheppard, as a little girl. It's in 1900 where the confusion begins. Actually, it began before then, as Florence had had a lot going on long before 1900.

So, in 1900, Florence is 23 and living with her parents, as is her younger brother, John Thomas Sheppard. John Thomas married once, to Larcenia Graves, but had no children of his own. He's buried near Florence.

Also in the home in 1900 are two little boys, Eddie A. aged 3 and William, just an infant, listed as Grandsons. Both were listed as Sheppards, but neigther were. These were sons of Florence. It might be interesting to note that Florence is listed as "Single" in the census. I'll discuss this more in a minute.

Eddie A. 'Sheppard' grew up to be Edward Albert Bittle, born December 11, 1896 in Scotland County, NC, which borders Richmond, and died February 2, 1963, in Richmond County, NC and is buried there at Bethel Church. From his own records, Ed Bittle was the son of Edgar A. Bittle. Now, Edgar A. Bittle was born in 1871, 5 years older than Florence. He was probably born in Chesterfield County, South Carolina and is found there in 1880 with his parents, John Franklin "Jack" Bittle and Nancy Jane "Nannie" Rorie Bittle,  in Courthouse'Township.

Name:	Edgar A Biddle
Age:	29
Birth Date:	Feb 1871
Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900:	Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina
Street:	Sec Shippected On Street
Sheet Number:	20
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	370
Family Number:	370
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother's Name:	Nancy J Biddle
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Months Not Employed:	2
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Nancy J Biddle 44 Head Edgar A Biddle 29 Son John F Maness 31 Servant

In 1900, the same census that Florence and her two young sons are shown living with her parents, Edgar is shown living in Lilesville, in Anson County, with his mother, working as farm labor. Edgar is also listed as single.

Edgar is not found in any record after 1900, that I can find. His mother, Nannie, died August 17, 1909 in Anson County, but was buried at the Bittle Family Cemetery in Chesterfield, South Carolina. If  Edgar is buried there, his stone is no longer standing or legible. Family trees give his death as 1902, though without any record.  This is probably correct, as his brother, Alexander "Sandy" Bittle named a son Eddie, for him born that year.

I can't find a marriage or divorce record for Florence and Edgar Bittle. If they got married in Chesterfield County, there may not be one on record, as any before 1915 are not available and possibly destroyed. Or there many not be one at all. Similarily, there are no bastardy bonds for Richmond County after 1876 on record. So the status of the relationship of Florence Sheppard and Edgar A. Bittle remains undocumented. Let it stand that they had a son together in 1896, who carried his father's name, not his mothers. Yet, both claimed to be single in 1900 and were not living together. 

The infant William Sheppard in the 1900 census was actually William Henry "Bill" Melton, born May 16, 1900. in Richmond County, so Florence had a newborn when the census came through a month later. 

Bill Melton as a child.

Bill was the son of  Florence and William M. Melton. Like Edgar Bittle, William Melton was also alive, and not living with Florence in 1900, even though she had just had their son, William.

Name:	William M Melton
Age:	28
Birth Date:	Jul 1871
Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900:	Wolf Pit, Richmond, North Carolina
Sheet Number:	4
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	66
Family Number:	68
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Boarder
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Months Not Employed:	0
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
House Owned or Rented:	Rent
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship William Perkins 33 Head Leanne Perkins 27 Wife Lanie Perkins 7 Son Martha Perkins 4 Daughter Ruth Perkins 2 Daughter William Perkins 3/12 Son William M Melton 28 Boarder Caroline Cole 63 Boarder

Instead, he was boarding with a Perkins family and working as a Farm Laborer. He, like Florence and Edgar Bittle, gave his marital status as single. Yet, his son with Florence, William Henry Melton, went by his father's name and like his half-brother, Ed Bittle, knew exactly who that father was.

Willima M. Melton was born July 15, 1871, in Chesterfield, South Carolina to John and Amanda Melton. Single in 1900, he married around 1904 to a Hallie Cox and had 4 more sons: Burl or Burwell W. Melton (1906-1978), John "Johnnie" James Melton (1907-1983), Thomas B. Melton (1909-1973) and Ervin (1910-1978). William M. Melton lived to be 54, dying on December 1, 1925, and is buried at Zion Methodist Church in Richmond County, the second church, next to Bethel, where a large number of members of the Sheppard/ Ford family are buried. 

No marriage license for William M. Melton is found, not with Florence or with Hallie Cox, either. However, the 1910 census reported that they had been married for 6 years, or about 1904.

Now enter the third man in Florence's life, John Seagraves. Although no marriage license for the two of them can be found, either, it can be reasonably acertained that the did, indeed, get married.

Name:	Florence Segrave
Age in 1910:	35
Birth Date:	1875[1875]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Black Jack, Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	John Segrave
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Industry:	Home Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Wage Earner
Years Married:	7
Number of Children Born:	4
Number of Children Living:	4
Out of Work:	N
Number of Weeks Out of Work:	0
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship John Segrave 54 Head Florence Segrave 35 Wife Will Segrave 7 Son Jno Segrave 6 Son Helen Segrave 1 Daughter

In 1910, Florence is 35,  married, living with her husband, John Seagraves, 54 and three of her now 4 children. They state that they have been married for 7 years. The 3 children are Will, '7' who was actually Will Melton, and should have been about 10; John, 6, which would have been John Fairley Seagraves, born October 23, 1903 and Helen, who would become known as Janie Mae, as an adult, and was born on August 17, 1908.

John Seagraves with wife, Florence Shepherd Seagraves, William Melton in back and John Fairley Seagraves on lap.

John Seagraves had grown up near Mt. Gilead in Montgomery County, NC, not a long streach from the Grassy Island area, the son of Calvin Seagraves and Nancy Jarrell Seagraves. He had married the first time when he was 21, to Mary Helen Liles on August 25, 1877 and to that marriage had been born two children, Minnie, in 1879, who would grow up to marry a Jones and William Thomas Seagraves, born in 1883. Mary Helen Liles Seagraves would leave John a widower in 1900.

 I've seen the Will in the 1910 census attached to John's older son, William Thomas, but in 1910, he was a grown man of  31, who had married Mary Alice Norton in Scotland County about the same time that his father had married Florence, in 1903 and in 1910 was living there with his wife and now three children of his own.

Name:	William Seagraves
Age in 1910:	31
Birth Date:	1879[1879]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina, USA
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Alice Seagraves
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Employer
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Farm or House:	Farm
Able to read:	No
Able to Write:	No
Years Married:	8
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship William Seagraves 31 Head Alice Seagraves 28 Wife Nettie L Seagraves 7 Daughter Charles T Seagraves 3 Son Annie H Seagraves 0 Daughter

There was one child missing in 1910, but not really. On the census page, the listing right above John and Florence Seagraves, was that of her parents, John and Anne Eliza Sheppard. Living with them was Florences' brother, John Thomas Sheppard and a teenaged "Edd Nettles". That was a transcription error, it was actually Edd Bittles.

Name:	John Sheppard
Age in 1910:	60
Birth Date:	1850[1850]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Black Jack, Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Amflera Sheppard
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Own Account
Home Owned or Rented:	Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:	Free
Farm or House:	Farm
Years Married:	38
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship John Sheppard 60 Head Amflera Sheppard 61 Wife John Sheppard Jr. 31 Son Edd Nettles 15 Grandson

So technically, Ed's name was listed on the document one line above that of his stepfather, John Seagraves. They all probably lived on the same farm, just in different houses.

It appears that soon afterwards, John and Florence would move off of her parents farm in the Grassy Island and to the Laurel Hill Community in Scotland County, near Johns's son , William T. Seagraves. 

They would add two more children to the family, Anne Eliza Seagraves, known as "Bessie", in 1911 and Bertha Seagraves, known as "Pete", in September of 1915. So John and Florence had came into the marriage with two children each, Minnie and William Thomas for John and Ed Bittles and William Henry Melton for Florence, and had 4 children together, John Fairley Seagraves, Helen 'Janey Mae' Seagraves, Anne Eliza "Bessie" Seagraves and Bertha "Pete" Seagraves. I stress this, because of the way the names fluctuated from formal to nickname and the way the census records were recorded  and incorrect transcriptions, Family Show Florence with far more children than she really had. 'Ed B. Seagraves' was really Ed Bittle, her oldest son, William Melton is split into 3 children, Will Melton, Will Sheppard and Will Seagraves and gets confused with her much older stepson, William Thomas Seagraves. John Fairley gets listed as two different people, John and Fairley, when he was one and the same. Likewise with Janie Mae, who becomes Helen., separate from Janie Mae, when they were also one and the same. An extra child named "Anelya" is added because in the 1920 census, a child is added of that name, when it's only a transcription error for Anne Eliza, who was named for her grandmother, and nicknamed "Bessie". Bertha is also split into two people, Bertha and Pete.

Name:	John Seagraves
Gender:	Male
Birth Date:	Mar 1853
Birth Place:	Mount Gilead, Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States of America
Death Date:	7 Dec 1915
Death Place:	Scotland County, North Carolina, United States of America
Cemetery:	Saint John United Methodist Church Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:	Gibson, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States of America
Has Bio?:	N
Spouse:	Mary Helen E. Seagraves
Children:	Minnie Jones

Then tragedy strikes, John died in December of 1915 of Lumbar Pneumonia. At the time, the youngest child, Bertha, was only 3 months old. He was buried in Scotland County at Saint Johns United Methodist Church with his first wife, Mary Helen.

That was not the only loss Florence had suffered in those years. The above photo shows her parents, John and Eliza Ford Sheppard sitting with John holding John Fairley Seagraves on his lap. The back row from left to right, is her husband, John Seagraves, next to her brother, John Thomas Sheppard, with her oldest son, Ed Albert Bittles holding on to his dear Uncle, of whom he was very fond, as can be told by the monument Ed placed for him at Bethel. To the far right stands Florence, looking a tad fearful, but perhaps it was just the sun in her eyes. In front of her standes her second son, William Henry Melton.

The year before she was widowed, Florence had lost her mother, Anne Eliza, in 1914. Her father, John, would follow in 1919. I believe he must have spent his last years living with Florence. Florence is found in 1920 as a widow, with all of her children, except Will. Ed and Fairley were helping her run the farm.

Name:	Florence Segraves
Age:	43
Birth Year:	abt 1877
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina
House Number:	Farm
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employment Field:	Employer
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Able to read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Florence Segraves 43 Head Ed B Segraves 24 Son Fairley Segraves 16 Son Helen Segraves 11 Daughter Anelya Segraves 9 Daughter Bertha Segraves 4 Daughter

Will was living in Laurel Hill as well, but at the young age of 18, he had married to Lela 'Lee" Clifton Paul, and the young couple were in their own household.

Name:	William Melton[William Molton]
Age:	19
Birth Year:	abt 1901
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina
House Number:	Farm
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Lee Melton
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employment Field:	Employer
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Able to Write:	No
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship William Melton 19 Head Lee Melton 18 Wife

This coupling was of particular interest, because my study has been the interconnections between three Richmond County families, the Sheppards, the Fords, and the Pauls. Most intensely, The Pauls.

Lela was the daughter of Pleasant V. Paul and wife, Annie Jane 'Jennie' Sheppard. Jennie was the daughter of Stephen Tebe Sheppard and Martha Jane Ford. Tebe Sheppard was the brother of Florence's father, John Sheppard and Martha Jane was the sister of her mother, Anne Eliza Sheppard, meaning Florence and Jennie were double first cousins, who carry the same amount of  DNA as siblings. So, although Will and Lela were technically 2nd cousins, genetically, they were first.

Enter Thomas "Twit" Simpson, and a great deal of confusion. To look at the family of Twit Simpson, we must go back to Stanly County and the little town of Aquadale and the area around Rocky River Springs. We must also dig a little deeper, back to the early settlers of the area around the forks of the Yadkin and Uwharrie Rivers and the birth of the Pee Dee River. At this juncture, I delve into my own family tree.

There arrived into the area of Stanly and Montgomery Counties a Scottish Minister,of the Baptist persuasion named Rev. William McGregor. Today he has thousands upon thousands of descendants, from what I can tell.

Given license to Minister by The Sandy Creek Baptist Association in 1776, in Butte (now Franklin) County, he went forth westward to become the Pastor of The Mouth of the Uwharried Baptist Church, located where the Uwharrie pours into the Yadkin River, and becomes from thence on to the Atlantic, The Great Pee Dee. Rev. McGregor settled on Attaway Hill, in what was then Montgomery County, NC, and would beocme Stanly County after the division of the two in 1841.

Also arriving to this same area from Franklin County, were three brothers, sons of William Solomon and hiswife, Diana Gordon, originally from Isle of Wight, Virginia. These three were William Jr., Goodwin and Bennett. Of the three, Bennett would also go into the ministry, most likely under the tutlage of Rev. McGregor, as he would become the 'Old Scotsman's" son-in-law by marrying his daughter, Ava.

Tombstone of Ava McGregor solomn in Smyrna Cemetery, Warren County, TN

Rev. Bennett Solomon would die in Stanly County, NC and is probably buried in the old McGregor Cemetery, or either in the Solomon Cemetery about a mile to the west. Ava McGregor Solomon would survive her husband by over three decades and would follow several of her children to Warren County, Tennesse, where she wuld be buried in 1857.Oldest son, William Solomon would take over the  ministry that his father and Grandfather left, and preach not only at The Mouth of the Uwharrie, which would become the Stony Hill congregation, and whose old church lie just down the way from the McGregor Cabin and in the old town of Tindallsville, but also at Ebenezer Baptist Church, that would become Badin Baptist and is now within the town of Badin, NC.

Also settling in the shadow of Morrow Mountain were a family from Chatham County, NC, James and Catherine Gunter Marks. They made their home near the area now known as Grovestone below old Clodfelter town, and like Rev. William Solomon, just off an old road we now know as Valley Drive, but whose origins traveled off a road that led from Lowders Ferry down to Swift Island Ferry, just following the River. The Marks' oldest daughter, Tabitha would become the bride of Rev. William Solomon. As James Marks appeared to leave his wife a widow, it seems Rev. Solomon may have helped take care of Catie in her last days. 

Like her mother before her, Tabitha would be left a widow and survive her husband by several decades. She had Rev. Solomon had 9 children together: Martha Ann, Jane Caroline, William Sidney, Henry Thomas, Mary Catherine, Margaret Wincy, Eliza R., Polly Ann and George W. Several of these will be a focus, but first of all, Eliza. Her sister, Margaret, was my Second Great Grandmother, or my Grandma's Grandma.

Several of these children of Rev. William Solomon and Tabitha remained in Stanly County and others would move south to Richmond County. Tabitha would follow them and died in Richmond County in 1891, buried at the Scottish Cemetery in Rockingham, Richmond County.

Eliza R. Solomon, born in 1848, married Hannibal John Wooley Simpson in 1863 in Stanly County. 'There's where the Simpson come in', I'm sure  you are thinking, but we're not done with the Solomons, either.

Name:	Eliza Simpson
Age:	27
Birth Date:	Abt 1853
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1880:	Center, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Dwelling Number:	9
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	John Simpson
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Occupation:	Keeping House
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship John Simpson 23 Self (Head) Eliza Simpson 27 Wife Thomous Simpson 4 Sister Emma Simpson 3 Daughter Lucy T. Simpson 2 Daughter William S. Simpson 1 Son

Elixa and John are shown as a young and growing family in the 1880 ceneus and were living in Center Township, which is the Norwood area. Many of their neighbors were Simpsons, all relatives of John, most notably, his mother, the widowed Lucy Poplin Simpson His father had been Isaac Simpson, who died in 1863 in Richmond , Virginia duritg the Civil War.

John, as he was called, and Eliza, had had 4 children in rapid succession. Thomas was their first born. As a young man, Thomas, who would be nicknamed "Twit", would move to Richmond County, NC. He was not alone, many of the family did likewise. The reason was at this time in local history, many farm families were relocating to towns and villages where textile mills were being built. This was the age of the industiral revolution in the south. Richomnd County boasted many notable factories such as Great Falls, The Pee Dee Manufacturing Companty, Roberdel, Steeles and Midway. Towns and villages would grow up around these factories, child labor was used. In many families, Dad continued to run a farm, and Mom to raise the kids.  Any child over 9 or 10 would be sent to work in the mills to aid in the family income.

A Post Card of one of the many Richomnd County textile Mills

Thomas would marry, at 21, to 20 year old Florence Solomon. Does that name sound familiar?

Name:	Thomas Simpson
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Age:	22
Birth Year:	abt 1872
Marriage Date:	21 Apr 1894
Marriage Place:	Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Father:	Jno W Simpson
Spouse:	Florence Solomon
Spouse Gender:	Female
Spouse Race:	White
Spouse Age:	20
Spouse Father:	Geo Solomon
Event Type:	Marriage

Florence was the daughter of George Solomon and Martha Jane Ussery, also originally of Stanly County. George was the brother of  Thomas' mother, Eliza R. Solomon Simpson, making Thomas and Florence first cousins.  Here is where a great deal of confusion occured. Descendants of Florence Sheppard knew she had died a Simpson and had married Twit. Many have merged the two Florence Simpsons into one. But first came cousin Florence Solomon.

Florence Solomon had a short life, born in 1874, she did not show up in the 1880 census with her family, If she did, she was given another name. . She was 20 years old when on April 21, 1894, she married her 22 year old cousin Twit.

Name:	Florence Solomon
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age:	20
Birth Year:	abt 1874
Marriage Date:	21 Apr 1894
Marriage Place:	Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Father:	Geo Solomon
Spouse:	Thomas Simpson
Spouse Gender:	Male
Spouse Race:	White
Spouse Age:	22
Spouse Father:	Jno W Simpson
Event Type:	Marriage

Her family had the same problem I had came across in the Ford family, when in one crucial year, a bevy of children were listed, never to be seen again, while actual children, like Flornece, who belonged to this couple, were not counted at all. A fact, which leads me to believe that some census taker in Richmond County was just giving random names to the children they saw, or either everyone oddly decide to change their childrens names before adulthood, which is a story on its own.

Name:	Florence Simpson
Age:	25
Birth Date:	Nov 1874
Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Home in 1900:	Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina
Street:	Sec Shippected On Street
Sheet Number:	20
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	363
Family Number:	363
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Thomas Simpson
Marriage Year:	1894
Years Married:	6
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina, USA
Mother: number of living children:	2
Mother: How many children:	3
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Thomas Simpson 26 Head Florence Simpson 25 Wife Flena Simpson 5 Daughter

It was Florence Solomon, not Florence Shepherd who appears in th e1900 census with Twit, and they have had their first child, a gilr named Florence or Flener. Florence reported to be the mother of 3 children with 2 living, but where is the other?

Name:	Florence Simpson
Age in 1910:	36
Birth Date:	1874[1874]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Wolf Pit, Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Wife
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Thomas Simpson
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Able to read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	16
Number of Children Born:	6
Number of Children Living:	3
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Thomas Simpson 39 Head Florence Simpson 36 Wife Fleuer Simpson 13 Daughter Willie V Simpson 9 Daughter Henry L Simpson 3 Son

Ten years later, Florence claims to have been the mother of 6 children, with 3 living and the three are in the home. They lost as many as had survived. Was it genetic or was it just due to the countless maladies that plagued children in this era and lack of medical care?

Name:	Florence Simpson
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age:	39y
Marital Status:	Married
Occupation:	House Keeper
Birth Date:	1880
Residence Date:	14 Jan 1919
Residence Place:	Richardson Co.
Death Date:	14 Jan 1919
Death Place:	Morganton, Burke, North Carolina
Burial Date:	16 Jan 1919
Burial Place:	Richmond Co.
Father:	[No Name]
Mother:	[No Name]
Spouse:	Thomas Simpson
Reference ID:	fn 390 CN 351
FHL Film Number:	4215528

Florence herself, died in 1919 of Pellegra, a common disease of this era, due to lack of good nutrition and a diet high in corn.. She had been taken to the State Hospital in Morganton, NC, as mental disturbance is one of its symptoms, but was returned to Richmond County for burial.

Twit and Florence Solomon Simpson had 3 children:

 1) Florence (Flona, Flener, Flenes, Flueer, Flena) Cornelius Simpson (1897-1957) who married Franklin Bunyun Lovin on June 10, 1911 in Richmond County, NC at the age of 14 - 16.  The marriage certificate stated she was 16, but her authentic date of birth suggests she was actually 14. The couple would raise thier 9 children in Robeson County before moving to Horry County, S.C. where 'Flener' would died in 1957 at the age of 60 of a blockage.

2) Willie Victoria Simpson (1900-1975) who married Edward Albert Bittle. If that name sound familiar, it's because he is mentioned earlier in this post as the oldest son of Florence Sheppard  and was probably the way Florence met Twit Simpson. More on this shortly.

3) Henry Lawson Simpson (1906-1966). Henry never married, and was the one who took care of his stepmother, Florence Sheppard Simpson, late in her life. Born in Wolfpit, Richmond County, NC, he spent many years in Laurel Hill in Scotland County, later moved to Marshville in Union County, before passing away  in Hoke County, NC at the age of 59. Henry spent his life farming, mostly cotton and corn, and died of pneumonia due to cancer.

CLIPPED FROM

The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte, North Carolina

30 Apr 1966, Sat  •  Page 17

Willie Victoria Simpson, the middle child of Twit and Florence solomon Smpson, was born July 14,1900, so she was18 years old when her mother died in January 1919. By the end of that same year, , Willie would marry James McCaskill on December 6, 1919. The marriage was reported in the local newspaper and recorded in the marriage records of Richmond County, but alas, it was short-lived.

CLIPPED FROM

Rockingham Post-Dispatch

Rockingham, North Carolina

11 Dec 1919, Thu  •  Page 1

 By the time the 1920 census rolled around on January 19, 1920, just over amonth later, the couple had parted and Willie was boarding with a Poplin family who also had Stanly County roots, and was supporting herself by working in the Cotton Mill as a spinner. 

Name:	Willie Mccaskill
Age:	18
Birth Year:	abt 1902
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Wolf Pit, Richmond, North Carolina
Street:	South Street
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Boarder
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Spinner
Industry:	Cotton Mill
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Attended School:	No
Able to Write:	No
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Samuel Poplin 37 Head Manda Poplin 36 Wife James Poplin 12 Son Myrtle Poplin 10 Daughter William Poplin 7 Son Willie Mccaskill 18 Boarder

James was back living with his parents and both the bride and groom called themselves 'single', atlhough Willie had changed her last name. I've found no record of an anullment or a divorce.

Name:	Tom Simpson
Age:	46
Birth Year:	abt 1874
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Servant
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Laborer
Industry:	Home Farm
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Able to Write:	No
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Jesse Hopkins 40 Head Annie Hopkins 46 Wife Tom Simpson 46 Servant Henry Simpson 14 Boarder

At this same time, her father, Tom "Twit" Simpson was boarding and working for Jesse and Annie Hopkins. Annie Jane Sheppard Hopkins was the daughter of Tebe and Martha Jane Ford Sheppard, and the double-cousin of Florence "Puss" Sheppard.  It could very well have been Annie Jane who intoroduced the Simpson and the Sheppards. Sometime in these early years of the 1920's Willie Victoria Simpson married Ed Albert Bittle. Thier oldest child, Thomas Edward Bittle, named for both father and Grandfather, was born on March 7, 1924. Also sometime during these early years, Thomas "Twit" Simpsopn married Florence "Puss" Simpson Seagraves.

I've not found marriage licenses for either of these couples, whether the old country preaecher never turned them in, or they were lost in a courthouse fire, or they never got officially married at all, I can't say, but Florence was known as the widow of Twit Simpson for the rest of her days.

Thomas Simpson passed away on November 8, 1927, at the age of 52 of Angina. He was buried at the Old Scotch Cemetery in Rockingham, Richomond County with this parents and grandmother, Tabitha Marks Solomon.

Name:	Florence Simpson
Birth Year:	abt 1878
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age in 1930:	52
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Mother
Homemaker?:	Yes
Home in 1930:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina, USA
Map of Home:
Dwelling Number:	27
Family Number:	27
Age at First Marriage:	20
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Household Members Age Relationship Henry L Simpson 22 Head Florence Simpson 52 Mother Bessie Seagroves 18 Stepsister (Step Sister) Bertha Seagroves 14 Stepsister (Step Sister)

In 1930, Florence is found with Henry Simpson, Twits' son, as the Head of Household and her younger daughters , Bertha and Bessie, living in Laurel Hill in Scotland County.

Name:	Florence Simpson
Respondent:	Yes
Age:	64
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1876
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1940:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina
Map of Home in 1940:
Farm:	Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935:	Rural, Scotland, North Carolina
Residence in 1935:	Rural, Scotland, North Carolina
Resident on farm in 1935:	Yes
Sheet Number:	2B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation:	33
House Owned or Rented:	Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented:	8
Attended School or College:	No
Highest Grade Completed:	Elementary school, 6th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939:	0
Income:	0
Income Other Sources:	No
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship Florence Simpson 64 Head Bessie Seagraves 27 Daughter Bertha Seagraves 24 Daughter Henry Simpson 33 Stepson (Step Son)

Nothing changes for those four in 10 years, except in 1940, Florence is now the Head of the Household.

Name:	Florence Simpson
Age:	73
Birth Date:	abt 1877
Gender:	Female
Birth Place:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Stepmother (Step Mother)
Residence Date:	1950
Home in 1950:	Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina, USA
Household Members Age Relationship Henry Simpson 43 Head Florence Simpson 73 Stepmother (Step Mother)

Name: Bessie Seagraves Age: 38 Birth Date: abt 1912 Gender: Female Birth Place: North Carolina Marital Status: Never Married (Single) Relation to Head of House: Stepsister (Step Sister) Residence Date: 1950 Home in 1950: Laurel Hill, Scotland, North Carolina, USA Household Members Age Relationship Bessie Seagraves 38 Stepsister (Step Sister) Bertha Seagraves 34

The same four are still found together in 1950, despite the transcribers breaking the seagraves sister of of Henry and Florence, they all were living in the same house, if the document is examined.

Name:	Florence Simpson
Birth Date:	22 Sep 1876
Birth Place:	Richmond County, North Carolina, United States of America
Death Date:	17 Mar 1951
Death Place:	Scotland County, North Carolina, United States of America
Cemetery:	Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:	Ellerbe, Richmond County, North Carolina, United States of America
Has Bio?:	Y
URL:	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62667036/florence-simpson

Florence Sheppard Simpson did not live long after the 1950 census, passing away on March 17, 1951. She was lovingly reutrned to the Grassy Islands by her son, Ed Bitlte and buried atop that hill at Bethel. The large stately monument was placed there to mark her existence and stands there proudly sitll. 

She was surived by her children, Edward Albert Bittle, William Henry 'Bill" Melton, John Fairley Seagraves, Helen Janie Mae Seagraves Sessoms, Ann Eliza 'Bessie Seagraves and Bertha "Pete" Seagraves