Florence Minerva Edmondson1

b. between 1842 and 1846
FatherDavid Edmondson2,3 b. abt 1812
MotherMary Mason2 b. abt 1815
Birthbetween 1842 and 1846 Florence Minerva Edmondson was born in Washington County, Virginia, between 1842 and 1846. The 1900 census lists her date of birth as April 1846 but this is not consistent with the age recorded for her on records created earlier in her life (1850 census = 8; 1860 census = 16; married in 1865 at age 21).2,4,5 
Cens-1860Jul 1860  Florence appears to have been enumerated twice in 1860. On July 7th she was listed as a 16 year old in the household of David Edmondson [her father]. Three days later she was recorded as a 16 year old in the household of Nickerson Snead [he was married to Elizabeth Scott, Florence's father's half-sister].4,6 
Marriage11 Jul 1865 She married Robert F. Smith, son of David Smith and Eliza (?), on 11 Jul 1865 in Washington County. Robert was originally from Trimble County, Kentucky.2 
  Florence and Robert lived in the Glade Spring district of Washington County where they raised 6 children. Although the couple's marriage record listed Robert's occupation as "physician", the 1880 census listed him as a carpenter.7 
Legatee6 Apr 1869  Florence must have had a special relationship with her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth (Scott) and Nickerson Snead. When Nickerson died in 1869 he left Florence $300.1 
Legatee  In 1876, when Elizabeth (Scott) Snead wrote her will she left Florence the 10 acres of land upon which Florence was living. Following Florence's death the land was to pass to her children.8 
Legatee1883  Florence's aunt Sarah Edmondson, who for years made her home with Elizabeth and Nickerson Snead, wrote her will in 1883. She left Florence "the enlarged pictures of Dr. Snead, Mrs. Snead and myself", along with other items. Sarah also remembered several of Florence's children, including Mary, Nannie and Belle Smith and Nettie Stedman.9 
Cens-19005 Jun 1900  Robert apparently died prior to the 1900 census. Florence was recorded in June of that year living in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her census entry stated that she was a widow. She owned her own home which was not mortgaged. The only one of her 6 children still at home (the census indicated that all 6 were living) was 23 year old John who worked as a printer. The adjacent household belonged to William and Nettie Stedman [Florence's daughter and son-in-law] and their 7 children, including a 13 year old daughter named Florence. William worked as a RR engineer.5,10 

Family

Robert F. Smith b. abt 1839
Children
  • Vernetta Smith11 (Aug 1866 - )
  • Mary E. Smith11 (circa 1869 - )
  • Homer S. Smith11 (circa 1872 - )
  • Nannie T. Smith11 (circa 1873 - )
  • Elizabeth Smith11 (circa 1875 - )
  • John William Smith11 (circa 1876 - )
Last Edited23 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S829] Nickerson Snead will (recorded 1869), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 28 (C): 95. The will was dated 12 March 1867 and recorded in court 6 Apr 1869; David Stuart and James S. Buchanan named executors.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 342. Robert F. Smith, 26y, sgl, b. Trimble Co., KY, resid WCV, physician s/o David & Eliza Smith AND Florence M. Edmondson, 21y, sgl, b & resid WCV, d/o David & Mary Edmondson; marr 11 Jul 1865.
  3. [S367] David Edmondson household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. following 91 stamped, dwelling 355, family 355, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 48 of 289. Household includes: David Edmondson, 38, farmer; Mary, 35; John, 13; Armstrong, 16; Jas, 11; Florence, 8; Elizabeth, 5; Baby ?/12; all b. VA.
  4. [S234] David Edmondson household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., the Western district, p. 90 (original), dwelling 646, family 631, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 92 of 361. Household includes: David Edmondson, 50 farmer; Mary, 46; John, 21; Jas, 19; Florence, 16; cont. next page: Elizabeth, 17; Steward 10; Mary, 7; Nickerson, 4, William, 2; all b. VA.
  5. [S837] Florence Smith household, 1900 U.S. cens., Knox Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Knoxville, ED 63, sheet 6A (p. 148 stamped), dwelling 102, family 113, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 11 of 38. Household includes: Florence Smith, 54, wid, b. Apr. 1856 VA, mother of 6 children, all living, owns home, no mortgage; John W., 23, son, sgl, b. March 1877 VA, printer.
  6. [S234] Nickerson Snead household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 462 (added script), dwelling 709, family 686, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 100 of 361. Reported data includes: Nickerson Snead, 62, M.D., owns real estate of $15,000 % pers. prop of $14,350; Elizabeth 60, housekeeper; Sallie Edmondson 45, seamstress; Florence Edmondson 16; Fleming Rose 27, farm laborer; all b. VA.
  7. [S163] Robert T. Smith household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring district, ED 94, p. 31C (p. 68 stamped), dwelling 266, family 269. Aug. 2008, image 31 of 54. Household includes: Robert T. Smith, 41, carpenter, b. KY; Florence M., 39, wife; Vernetta B., dau, 13; Mary E., dau, 11; Homer S., 8, son, Nannie T., 7, dau; Elizabeth, 5, dau; John W., 3, son; all b. VA.
  8. [S707] Elizabeth Snead will and codicil (recorded 1876), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 19: 101. The will was dated 19 June 1872 with a codicil added June 25th 1872 and a second codicil added June 15th, 1876. It was recorded in court on June 26, 1876; M. M. Morris, executor.
  9. [S711] Sarah Edmondson will (recorded 1886), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 22: 247. Sarah's will was written in 1883 and recorded in court on 24 May 1886. Since the will did not name an executor, the distributees asked that M.M. Morris be appointed administrator.
  10. [S837] Wm B. Stedman household, 1900 U.S. cens., Knox Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., Knoxville, ED 63, sheet 6A (p. 148 stamped), dwelling 101, family 112, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 11 of 38. Household includes: Wm B. Stedman, 46, marr 20 yrs, b. Dec. 1853 NC, RR engineer, owns home, is mortgaged; Nettie B., wife, 33, marr 20 yrs, b. Aug. 1866 VA, mother of 9 children, 7 are living; Montie F., dau, 17, b. Feb. 1882 VA; Florence, dau, 13, b. Dec. 1886 TN; Fred, son, 10, b. July 1889 TN; Chas, son, 9, b. May 1891 TN; Mary M., dau, 6, b. Sept. 1893 TN; Geo. N., son, 3, b. Oct. 1896 TN; Howard, son, 2, b. May 1898 TN.
  11. [S707] Elizabeth Snead will and codicil (recorded 1876), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 19: 101. Elizabeth's will, written in 1876 left $100 to each of Florence's children who were named as Nettie, Mary and Homer. A codicil added in June 1876 left $100 to additional children Nannie, Bettie and John Wm.