b. 23 Sep 1836, Mississippi
d. Feb 1918, Durant, Oklahoma
m. abt 1857 to George W. Mason (b. 28 Feb 1837, d. 8 Mar 1902)
Please note that some of the information above is derived from the process detailed in part 1 and part 2 of this post.
Dorothy Ann Brown, my 3rd great-grandmother, has been one of the most challenging individuals to research. Changing names from one census record to the next and a missing (or destroyed) marriage record have created many road blocks in trying to find her true identity, along with her parents. In this post, because of the consistently changing names, I will refer to Dorothy Ann Brown as "our subject."
This is what we know about our subject:
1. She was born in Mississippi. This is evidenced and consistent in each of the census records that we can find for her (1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910).
2. Her parents were both born in either North Carolina (noted in the 1900 census) or Tennessee (noted in both the 1880 and 1910 census).
3. She was married to George W. Mason in 1857.
4. The Mason family lived in Lonoke, Arkansas until abt 1902, when they moved to Durant, Oklahoma.
Record Evidence:
Headstone of DORTHY A MASON
Our subject's headstone, located at Highland Cemetery in Durant, Oklahoma reads "DORTHY A MASON" and cites her birth date as 23 Sep 1836 (this could also be 1838). Her death date is cited as Feb 1918 (again, this could be incorrect since the transcription in the photo of the headstone is difficult to read). She is buried next to George W. Mason and other members of the Mason family.
George W. Mason's Will
George's will from 1902 (filed in Lonoke County, Arkansas from Durant, Oklahoma) names our subject, "Dollie," as his wife. He also names the following children: William J., George, Albert D. (already deceased), John H., and Sallie (Jackson). Two grandchildren are named as well: Albert and Annie George. We know from other sources that these are Albert D.'s children.
1910 Census in Durant, Oklahoma
Dollie A Mason
Widowed
b. abt 1838 in Mississippi
Father: b. Tennessee
Mother: b. Tennessee
We find grandchildren Annie G. Mason and Albert W. Mason living with our subject, "Dollie," in 1910. This is consistent with the story that son, Albert, died shortly after the Mason family moved to Oklahoma around 1902. "Dollie" apparently took the children in as her own.
1900 Census in Lonoke, Arkansas
Anna D Mason
b. Jan 1838 in Mississippi
m. 1857
Father: b. North Carolina
Mother: b. North Carolina
Children (Living/Total): 5/10
George W Mason
b. Mar 1837 in Tennessee
m. 1837
Father: b. Mississippi
Mother: b. Mississippi
This record offers the first major inconsistency in the identity of our subject. "Anna D" is definitely a different name than the "Dollie" we know her by in George's will and in the 1910 census. However, the name of the spouse is consistent and we know the fmaily is living in Lonoke, Oklahoma at the time. And, as evidenced in earlier records, our subject does use the alias "Ann D."
It should be noted that there is another possible record for George W and our subject in the 1900 census in Durant, Oklahoma. However, it is thought that the family did not move from Lonoke, Arkansas to Durant, Oklahoma until around 1902. The identity of George's spouse in the alternative record is "Dorsey." This couple was also married in 1857.
1880 Census in Lonoke, Arkansas
Elizabeth Mason
b. abt 1837 in Mississippi
Father: b. Tennessee
Mother: b. Tennessee
with:
George W. (43), William J. (18), Lula (12), George A. (7), Alfred (6), John H. (4)
We know this is the correct household of the family because of William J. and Lula that appear on the 1870 census record with consistent birth years. No other Lula is found in this area with the age in 1870 and 1880. We also know from the 1900 census record that George and our subject have been married since 1857, so this is not a case of a different marriage.
While it seems odd to say the Elizabeth that appears in this census is the same person as "Dorothy A" and "Dollie" and "Anna D" that we have uncovered so far, evidence mentioned in part 2 of this post may explain where this "Elizabeth" name originated.
1870 Census in Pulaski County, Arkansas
Ann D Mason
b. abt 1837 in Mississippi
With:
G W (34), Sarah J (13), William J (9), Joseph (4), Lula (2), Austin (<1),>
We are back to a name for our subject that is at least fairly consistent with some other records, Ann D. In 1870, the Mason family is living in Pulaski County, a short distance from their 1880 home in Lonoke. It is unknown how Emma Lank and/or Martha Smith are related (if at all) to the Mason family. This is the only record on which they appear.
1860 Census in Prairie County, Arkansas
Dartha Mason
b. abt 1838 in Mississippi
With:
G W (33), Sarah J (3), George A (<1)
Prairie County is also extremely close to the family's location in 1870 and 1880. In fact, because of the Arkansas county lines that were changing during this era, it is possible that the family did not even move in this time.
We find yet another name for our subject in this record: Dartha. One could argue this could be a nickname for Dorothy, but the inconsistencies are starting to add up.
Analysis
So, if we assume that these records all record the same person, then our subject went by the following names during her life:
- Dartha (1860)
- Ann D (1870)
- Elizabeth (1880)
- Anna D (1900)
- Dollie (1910, George's will)
- Dorthy (headstone)
From this, it could be determined that our subject's real name was either Ann Dorothy or Dorothy Ann and that she went by the nickname of "Dollie" later in life (possibly after her grandchildren were born). The "Dartha" in 1860 could also be a nickname for Dorothy. However, this does not explain the "Elizabeth" from 1880. This was the most puzzling inconsistency for me since I could find no other families that matched the Mason family from 1860 and 1870 other than this one. But, the name "Elizabeth" may have originated from a different source, which we explore in part 2 of this post.
In part 2 I will explain how a few other records may direct us to the maiden name of our subject along with the possible identity of her parents.
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