Mary Elizabeth Crenshaw1

b. 2 February 1845, d. 25 February 1920
Mary Elizabeth (Crenshaw) Moore
photo courtesy Peggy Lester
FatherGeorge Sanders Crenshaw2 b. 20 Jul 1818, d. 10 Mar 1891
MotherMargaret Wilson Buchanan2 b. 20 Mar 1812, d. 27 Aug 1883
Birth2 Feb 1845 Mary Elizabeth Crenshaw was born on 2 Feb 1845 in either Washington or Smyth County Virginia.3,4,5 
Marriage8 Nov 1876 She married William Moore, son of Samuel William Moore and Ann Rebecca George Buchanan, on 8 Nov 1876 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
  They were first cousins, once removed. William was in his early 50s and Mary was in her early 30s at the time of their marriage. 
  Mary and William settled into married life in the home in which William had been raised and in which he had remained with his mother following his father's death. The home, located near Lodi, had been built in the late 1700s and inherited by several generations of Moore descendants.6 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880  By 1880 William and Mary were the parents of 2 year old Annie and 10 month old George. William's 45 year old sister Jane was also a part of the household, as was 35 year old Amelia Jane ("Jennie") McSpadden (William's niece and Mary's second cousin).7 
  Another son would be born to William and Mary a few months after the 1880 census, followed by a daughter named Elizabeth in 1885. 
Widowed19 Sep 1892 Mary was widowed on 19 Sep 1892 when William died of cancer. His will left her the land and personal property for 8 years after which her dower share was to be laid off. Sons George and Samuel were to receive their share when they turned 21.8 
Cens-190023 Jun 1900  Eight years later the 1900 census enumerated Mary with her 4 children: Annie (23), George (20), Samuel (18) and Elizabeth (14).9 
ChildDeathSep 1908  Annie died of typhoid at age 31 in September, 1908. 
Cens-191016 Apr 1910  In 1910 Mary's 3 other children were still single and living at home. George was working the farm and Samuel was working as a salesman in a dry goods store. Also living with Mary, per William's will, was 65 year old Jennie McSpadden.10 
Cens-192013 Jan 1920  In 1920, just a month before she died, Mary was recorded living in Samuel's household. Her son George was recorded as the adjacent household. Jennie McSpadden was now living with George. Samuel's sister Elizabeth, who did not marry until about 1927, was enumerated with Samuel and Mary.11 
Anecdote  Family members recall that Mary smoked a pipe and played cards.12 
Death25 Feb 1920 Mary died on 25 Feb 1920 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 75.3,13,14 
Burial She was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

Photo of Mary Elizabeth with her 4 children (also 3 daughters of her sister America) - taken around 1908. Click on camera icon for larger image then move cursor over faces to see names. Another click will take you to that individual's narrative page, if active.15
Mary in front of the old Moore home at Lodi.15
Mary's headstone (full view and close-up)
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery

Family

William Moore b. 6 Nov 1822 or 6 Nov 1825, d. 19 Sep 1892
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited1 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great niece of Mary Elizabeth (Crenshaw) Moore.
  2. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great granddaughter of George and Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 209. Stone reported to read: Mary E. Moore, w/o William Moore, 2 Feb. 1845 - 25 Feb. 1920.
  4. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 254. Transcription states: William Moore 52y, sgl, b. Smyth Co., res WCV, farmer, son of Wm & Ann Moore AND Mary A. Crenshaw, 33y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o George & Mgt Crenshaw; marr by J.C. Carson 8 Nov. 1876.
  5. [S16] Although Mary (Crenshaw) Moore's marriage record is purported to state that she was born in Washington County, a collection of notes left by her niece Mary (Booth) Smyth state that all 6 of the children of George and Margaret Crenshaw were born in what was known as the Andy Fullen House. Peggy Lester, who shared this information, stated that the Fullen house was at Quarry which is in Smyth County. She also stated that Mary (Booth) Smyth's notes consisted of recollections from conversations with her mother, America (Crenshaw) Booth, youngest daughter of George and Margaret Crenshaw (emails Oct. 11, 2006).
  6. [S928] Peggy Lester, "Smyth and Moore Family," e-mail to D. Powell, 9 Nov. 2006. Peggy also discussed the Moore home in earlier emails.
  7. [S165] William Moore household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, page 245A (stamped), dwelling 69, family 69, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Sept. 2004, image 9 of 54. Enumeration reports: William Moore, 56, farmer, marr; Mary M., 36, wife; Annie, daughter, 2, dau; George, son, 10/12, b. Jul 1879; Jane B., 45, sister; Amelia J. McSpadden, niece, 35 b. Alabama; all others b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  8. [S713] William Moore will (1892), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 24: 237. The will was dated 2 Aug. 1892 and recorded 26 Sept. 1892; wife Mary E. Moore executrix.
  9. [S574] Mary Moore household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 113, sheet 15B, dwelling 278, family 280, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Oct. 2004, image 30 of 73. Enumeration includes: Mary Moore, 55, b. Feb. 1845, wid, mother of 4 children, all living; Annie, dau, 23, b. Jul 1877; George, son, 20, b. Jul 1879; Samuel, son, 18, b. Oct. 1881; Elizabeth, dau, 14, b. Nov. 1885; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  10. [S237] Mary Moore household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 120, sheet 2A (p. 74 printed), dwelling 15, family 15, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 3 of 28. Enumeration includes: Mary Moore, 64, wid, mother of 4 children, 1 living; Geo, son, 30, sgl, farmer; Samuel L., son, 27, sgl, salesman - dry goods; Elizabeth, dau, 22, sgl; Jennie McSpadden, boarder, 65, sgl, b. AL; all others b. VA; all parents b. VA; [Mary appears to have told the census taker how many of her children were deceased, not how many were living].
  11. [S238] Samuel L. Moore household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 155, sheet 9B, dwelling 177, family 177, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 18 of 21. Enumeration includes: Samuel L. Moore, 38, farmer, owns farm, sgl; Mary E., mother, 79, wid; Elizabeth, sister, 34, sgl; Ha__ Grant, boarder, 27, mail carrier; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy cites Mary Virginia Smith (1905-1906), a great niece of Mary (Crenshaw) Moore for this recollection.
  13. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great niece of Mary Elizabeth (Crenshaw) Moore; she viewed Margaret's stone and transcribed the date as Feb. 25, 1920.
  14. [S23] Virginia Crenshaw Moore, "George Sanders Crenshaw" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 123. This source states that Mary Elizabeth died 27 Feb. 1920.
  15. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Peggy Lester 2006.
  16. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great niece of Mary Elizabeth (Crenshaw) and William Moore.
  17. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : Dec. 2006), Data for Samuel L. Moore, Washington Co., VA. (Sept. 12, 1918).