Martha Estelle "Mattie" (nee) Norsworthy Willard, Research Report, the As It Is Series.

Copyright 2022, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues what I hope I can turn into a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let's begin - - 

Meet Martha Estelle "Mattie (nee) Norsworthy Willard.

Her notes, some with ** and comments:

She has a Find A Grave memorial, Memorial #: 78604156.

Nothing further was found on Mattie as of July 2017 at Ancestry dot com, but, December 2021, Ta Da!  (My research skills and luck improved from July 2017 to December 2021? )

Mattie Norsworthy

Isle of Wight County, Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1867-1896

No record image

Name: Mattie Norsworthy

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birth Date: 5 Aug 1872

Birth Place: Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA

Father: William Norsworthy

Mother:   Martha Norsworthy

Page: 89

Martha E. Norsworthy

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Martha E. Norsworthy

Age: 7

Birth Date: Abt 1873

Birthplace: Virginia

Home in 1880: Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA

Dwelling Number: 88

Race: White

Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Daughter

Marital Status: Single

Father's Name: Wm. G. W. Norsworthy

Father's Birthplace: VA.

Mother's Name: Amelia F. Norsworthy

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

Attended School: Yes

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members Age Relationship

Wm. G. W. Norsworthy  44 Self (Head)

Amelia F. Norsworthy  29 Wife

Richard E. Norsworthy  21 Son

Mills L. Norsworthy  18 Son

Eva A. Norsworthy  16 Daughter

Diana Norsworthy  14 Daughter

William R. Norsworthy  9 Son

Martha E. Norsworthy 7 Daughter

Mattie E Norsworthy

in the North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011

Name: Mattie E Norsworthy

Gender: Female

Race: White

Age: 19

Birth Year: abt 1872

Marriage Date: 30 Mar 1891

Marriage Place: Pasquotank, North Carolina, USA

Father: Wm Norsworthy  **certificate states he is living.

Mother: Norsworthy **certificate states she is dead

Spouse:   Joseph E Willard

Spouse Gender: Male

Spouse Race: White

Spouse Age: 27

Spouse Father: Frank Willard  **certificate states he is dead

Spouse Mother: Eliz Willard  **certificate states she is dead.

Event Type: Marriage

Mattie Williard

in the 1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Mattie Williard

Age: 27

Birth Date: Jan 1873

Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Home in 1900: Newport, Isle of Wight, Virginia

House Number: 0

Sheet Number: 25

Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 498

Family Number: 510

Race: White

Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Wife

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Joseph E Williard

Marriage Year: 1891

Years Married: 9

Father's Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Mother: number of living children: 2

Mother: How many children: 2

Can Read: Yes

Can Write: Yes

Can Speak English: Yes

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members Age Relationship

Joseph E Williard  41 Head

Mattie Williard  27 Wife

Every D Williard   8 Daughter

Joseph N Williard  4 Son

Nannie Willard

in the 1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Nannie Willard

Age in 1910: 37

Birth Date: 1873

[1873]

Birthplace: Virginia

Home in 1910: Newport, Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA

Race: White

Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Wife

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Joseph Willard

Father's Birthplace: Virginia

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

Native Tongue: English

Able to read: Yes

Able to Write: Yes

Years Married: 20

Number of Children Born: 3

Number of Children Living: 3

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members Age Relationship

Joseph Willard  49 Head

Nannie Willard 37 Wife

Eva Willard  18 Daughter

Milton Willard  13 Son

Leland Willard  2 Son

Mattie Willard

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Mattie Willard

Age: 47

Birth Year: abt 1873

Birthplace: Virginia

Home in 1920: Newport, Isle of Wight, Virginia

Street: Rescue

Residence Date: 1920

Race: White

Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Wife

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Joseph Willard

Father's Birthplace: Virginia

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

Able to Speak English: Yes

Able to read: Yes

Able to Write: Yes

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members Age Relationship

Joseph Willard  59 Head

Mattie Willard 47 Wife

Milton Willard  23 Son

Leland Willard  12 Son

Mattie E Williard

in the 1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Mattie E Williard

Birth Year: abt 1867

Gender: Female

Race: White

Age in 1930: 63

Birthplace: Virginia

Marital Status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Wife

Homemaker?: Yes

Home in 1930: Newport, Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA

Map of Home: Newport, Isle of Wight, Virginia

Street Address: Rescue

Dwelling Number: 73

Family Number: 79

Age at First Marriage: 22

Attended School: No

Able to Read and Write: Yes

Father's Birthplace: Virginia

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia

Able to Speak English: Yes

Household Members Age Relationship

Joseph E Williard  65 Head

Mattie E Williard 63 Wife

Martha Estell Willard

 in the Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014

Name: Martha Estell Willard

[Martha Estell Norsworth] 

Gender: Female

Race: White

Death Age: 56

Birth Date: 16 Aug 1883

Death Date: 2 Aug 1939

Death Place: Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA

Registration Date: 3 Aug 1939

Father: Norsworth

Mother: Allmond

Spouse: Joseph E Willard

Certificate Number: 1939018349

Mattie Nosworthy Willard

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

No record image

Name: Mattie Nosworthy Willard

[Mattie Nosworthy Nosworthy]

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birth Date: 16 Aug 1872

Birth Place: Near Smithfi, Virginia

Father:   William Nosworthy

Mother:   Martha Almond

SSN: 224129380

Notes: Apr 1938: Name listed as MATTIE NOSWORTHY WILLARD

From the Daily Press, Newport News, Virginia, published on August 3, 1939:

     "Deaths

     WILLARD, Mrs. Nannie Norsworthy, died 2 p.m. Aug. 2 at home in Rescue, of which she was lifelong resident, after week's illness.  Survived by husband, Joseph E. Willard; two sons, one daughter, one brother, two sisters.  Body taken to Robert and Johnson Funeral home, Smithfield, to await completion of funeral arrangements.  (Roberts and Johnson in charge.)"

From the Daily Press, Newport News, Virginia, published on August 3, 1939:

     "Mrs. Willard Dies After Illness of Week's Duration.

     RESCUE, Aug 2. - - (Special) - - Mrs. Nannie Norsworthy Willard died at 2 this afternoon at her home here at an advanced age.  Death followed a week's illness.  She was a lifelong resident of Rescue.

     Funeral arrangements had not been completed.  The body was taken to the Roberts and Johnson funeral home at Smithfield pending arrangements.

     Surviving are her husband, Joseph E. Willard; two sons, Milton Willard of Newport News and Leland Willard of Rescue; a daughter, Mrs. Walter Marshall of Rescue; a brother, Arthur Norsworthy of Battery Park; and two sisters, Mrs. Robert Colgin of Norfolk and Mrs. Eva Pierce of Battery Park."

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

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Margaret Lydia Lidia Darden, Research Report, the As It Is Series.

Copyright 2022, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This begins what I hope I can turn into a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let's begin - - 

Meet Margaret Lydia Lidia Darden.  A quick screen shot.  Yes, her name could easily be entered as Lydia Margaret, or any variation, see below.

Now, notes I have made along the way, some with ** and comments, and many with notes to USE CAUTION - - 

No Find A Grave memorial, January 2022.

USE WITH CAUTION, from FamilySearch:

born 24 Jan 1824

of Southampton Co., Virginia

Margaret Darden

Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940

No record image

Name: Margaret Darden

Gender: Female

Age: 21

Birth Date: 1824

Marriage Date: 08 Feb 1845

Marriage Place: Southampton, Virginia

Spouse:   Henry Fowler

FHL Film Number: 33993

Reference ID: p. 544

**NOTE:  Bondsman Joseph Darden, her brother??

Lidia M Fowler

in the 1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Lidia M Fowler

Gender: Female

Age: 27

Birth Year: abt 1823

Birthplace: Virginia

Home in 1850: Nottaway Parish, Southampton, Virginia, USA

Cannot Read, Write: Yes

Line Number: 39

Dwelling Number: 712

Family Number: 712

Household Members Age

Henry Fowler  35  *** Nothing more is found on Henry

Lidia M Fowler 27

Elizabeth Whitfield  27

USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION, not at all convinced this is my gal (sometimes I copy info so I do not forget what I saw, those researchers with leaky memory banks will understand):

M A Fowler

in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name: M A Fowler

Age: 38

Birth Year: abt 1822

Gender: Female

Birth Place: Virginia

Home in 1860: Eastern District, Isle of Wight, Virginia

Post Office: Smithfield

Dwelling Number: 733

Family Number: 733

Occupation: Spinster

Household Members Age

Elisha Fowler, 30 ***NOTHING more found on Elisha

M A Fowler 38

B A Toller  10

Timothy Toller  8

Nercisia Toller  6

Bettie Toller   3

Sally Toller  1

Margaret Fowler  *** NOTE: Marital status not indicated.

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Margaret Fowler

Age in 1870: 46

Birth Date: abt 1824

Birthplace: Virginia

Dwelling Number: 276

Home in 1870: Jerusalem, Southampton, Virginia

Race: White

Gender: Female

Post Office: Jerusalem

Occupation: Keeping House

Household Members Age

Johnathan Darden  56  **  Likely her brother.

Sallie Darden  46

Margaret Fowler 46

Alice A Brown  40

Martha S Brown  9  

Margret L Fowler

in the 1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Margret L Fowler

[Margart L Wybole]

Age: 76

Birth Date: Jan 1824

Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Home in 1900: Franklin, Southampton, Virginia

House Number: 1

Sheet Number: 8

Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 163

Family Number: 163

Race: White

Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Aunt

Marital Status: Widowed

Father's Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, USA

Occupation: Farm Laborer

Months Not Employed: 0

Can Read: No

Can Write: No

Can Speak English: Yes

House Owned or Rented: Rent

Farm or House: H

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members Age Relationship

B Frank Vaughan  30 Head

Josepine Vaughan  53 Mother

I Tomas Vaughan  31 Brother

Ada V Vaughan  28 Sister

Edgar L Vaughan  24 Brother

Margret L Fowler 76 Aunt

See also:

Guardianship transferred to father, circa 1836, Southampton County, Virginia

Transcript, in part says, and spacing added for my comments - - 

Elisha Darden is assigned guardian of Louisa Ann, Matilda C, Joseph J, 

Lydia, *****NOTE FROM CAROL, that comma, may possibly be a spot of dirt and a transcription error - -  Margaret, 

Here is a screen capture, not the best, but, see what looks like a comma?

Continuing - - 

Elizabeth S, Martha J Darden infant children of said Elisha Darden, and thereupon he, together with Jefse Parker and Richard entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of Twelve hundred dollars, conditioned as the Law decrees -- Eliza A Darden, Matilda C Darden, Joseph J Darden, 

Lydia M Darden,   *** Here her name, is in my opinion, is transcribed correctly.

Elizabeth L Darden, and Martha J Darden infants suing by Elisha Darden their next friend 

Court order pertaining to the estate of William Lawrence, decided on 19 December 1836, "Court Order Book 1835-1839;" digitized record collection, Ken Brantley, The Brantley Association of America (https://www.brantleyassociation.com/index.html : accessed 29 July 2021) > Southampton Project > Court Order Book 1835-1839 > images 210-211; citing original court records held by Southampton County, Virginia.

Web address

https://www.brantleyassociation.com/southampton_project/gallery/ct_ob_1835_1839/index3.html

**Note, as of January 2022, this document can be seen online at the URL above, where you can find it in it's entirety, commas, or specks of dirt and all.  Copy/paste the URL.  Thanks.

And, finally:

Listed as survivor of her sister, Mary Darden Eley, on Mary's Find A Grave memorial:

Mary's notes at Find A Grave (Memorial # 203671527) read:

"Widow of James M Eley.

Survived by three sons, L.P. and W.E. Eley of South Norfolk and J.H. Eley of Suffolk, one brother Rufus Darden of Newsoms, Va., two sisters, Mrs. Lydia M. Fowler of Southampton County, Va., Mrs. Esther Old of Pantico, N.C."

The next sibling that dies (that I have been able to verify/search/feel good about/does not totally disappear), is a sister, Malinda Darden Pittman, that dies in 1907 in North Carolina, no obituary found yet to see if Margaret Lydia Lidia Darden Fowler is listed as a survivor.

* Disclaimers, I use Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** This time frame is difficult to research, relationships are not clearly indicated in so many of the sources.  My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** This time frame, 1800-1900, give or take a decade is a challenge to research in this Virginia area, as they had a love of initials for given and middle names. 

**** I hope the usual happens, within hours, sometimes minutes, I do another search and something shows up.  Well, I can hope.

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