Thoughtless Nuttall1

b. 25 August 1873, d. 13 April 1937
FatherJohn Price Nuttall2 b. 1833, d. 2 Oct 1911
Birth25 Aug 1873 Thoughtless Nuttall was born on 25 Aug 1873 in Henry County, Kentucky.1,3,4,5 
  The origin of the name Thoughtless is interesting. According to family tradition, around 1852 Thoughtless's grandfather, Price Brewington Nuttall Jr., became involved in a debate with another family member about the nature of innocence and sin. Price believed that children were innocent, or thoughtless, of sin. He believed in his position so strongly that he named a son born later that year Weston Thoughtless Nuttall. Price had an older son, John, who was 16 at the time of Weston's birth and who was deeply attached to his infant sibling. Weston died in 1855 at the age of 3. Years later John named his own son Thoughtless in memory of his brother Weston.2 
Marriage22 Dec 1897 He married Mary Brandon Withers, daughter of Martin Luther Withers and Sophia Annie Teeter, on 22 Dec 1897 in Washington County, Virginia.5 
  Family tradition states that Thoughtless and Mary met when he came to Virginia from Henry County, Kentucky to deliver horses to Mary's father. Dr. Withers did not approve of the match and is said to have ended contact with his daughter after she married.6 
  Following their marriage Thoughtless and Mary settled in Kentucky where Thoughtless raised horses and grew tobacco.7 
Cens-19009 Jun 1900  In 1900 they were enumerated in Shelby County [just south of Henry County]. Mary stated that she was the mother of 2 children and that only 1 child was living. Enumerated in the home with Thoughtless and Mary was Brandon, age 2 (b. Sept. 1897) and Olive, b. Feb. 1900.4 
  The data recorded for this family on the 1900 census is not consistent with other records. Mary's date of birth was listed as May 1879 (other records use Sept. 1879). Son Brandon's birth was recorded as Sept. 1897 (age 2) whereas his age on later census records is consistent with an 1898 year of birth. And Mary was recorded as the mother of 2 children, only 1 of whom was living, yet 2 are listed on the census (Brandon and Mary) and both are established as her children by other records. Also Mary's place of birth, and that of her parents, was listed as Kentucky. Mary, as well as her parents, were born in Virginia. 
Cens-19105 May 1910  In 1910 Thoughtless and Mary were recorded in neighboring Henry County. This census listed Mary as the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom were living. The household included son Brandon, daughter Olive, son John, and daughters Margaret and Ruth.8 
Milit-Reg12 Sep 1918 On 12 Sep 1918 Thoughtless registered for the World War I draft at the local board for Shelby County. He gave his address as Eminence which is actually just across the county line in Henry County. The registrar described him as tall, of medium build, with brown hair and brown eyes.9 
Cens-19205 Jan 1920  In 1920 they were formally recorded back in Shelby County, residing on the Shelbyville and Eminence Pike.10 
Cens-19304 Apr 1930  There they were again recorded in 1930 by Brandon Nuttall [their son], who served as the enumerator for the district that year. Thoughtless was 56 years old; he had married at age 24. Mary was 49 and had married at 18. The record states that they lived on State Highway #55 [appears to be "new" name for old Shelbyville-Eminence Pike], where Thoughtless owned his own farm. He also owned a radio, one of the questions unique to that years census (many of his neighbors did not). The couple's son John lived at home and worked on the farm as well - he was 28. Daughter Ruth (22, single) was also listed. Son Brandon, his wife and 2 children were recorded in the adjacent residence. Daughter Olive and her family were also close by.11 
Death13 Apr 1937 Thoughtless died on 13 Apr 1937 in Henry County, Kentucky, at age 63.1 
Burial He was buried at Eminence Cemetery in Eminence, Henry County, Kentucky.1 

Related Links and Images:

Thoughtless and Mary's headstone

Family

Mary Brandon Withers b. 17 Sep 1879, d. 23 Jul 1969
Children
Last Edited25 Nov 2010

Citations

  1. [S1662] Brandon Nuttall, "Nuttall Family of Kentucky," e-mail to D. Powell, 6 Jan. 2007. Brandon attached a photo of Thoughtless and Mary's headstone at Eminence Cemetery, Eminence, KY.
  2. [S1662] Brandon Nuttall, "Nuttall Family of Kentucky," e-mail to D. Powell, 6 Jan. 2007.
  3. [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 Thaughtless [or Thoughtless] Nuttall, Shelby Co., Kentucky (12 Sept. 1918); lists date as 23 Aug. 1873 however body of registration was not completed in same handwriting as signature.
  4. [S1351] Thaughtless Nuttall household, 1900 U.S. cens., Shelby Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., Marshalls Precinct, ED 78, sheet 8A (p. 109 stamped), dwelling 141, family 145, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2005, image 1 of 18. Enumeration includes: Thaughtless Nuttall, 27, b. Aug. 1872 KY, marr 2 yrs, parents b. KY, share farmer; Mary, wife, 21, marr 2 yrs, b. May 1879, mother of 2 children, 1 living, b. KY, parents b. KY; Brandon, son, 2, b. Sept. 1897, b. KY, parents b. KY; Olive, dau, 3/12; b. Feb. 1900 KY, parents b. KY.
  5. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 83. Abstract reads: Thaughtless Nuttall, 25, b. Henry Co., KY, living in Eminence KY, s/o John P. & Margaret A. Nuttall, farmer AND Mary B. Withers, 18, d/o Dr. M.L. & Anna Withers; marr 22 Dec. 1897.
  6. [S1617] Amy Bazar, "Descendants of Dr. Martin Luther Withers", report dated 20 Nov. 2006. Amy cites family data collected by she and her mother (a great niece of Mary Withers and Thaughtless Nuttall). This anecdote is credited to Brandon C. Nuttall, Mary and Thaughtless' great-grandson.
  7. [S1662] Brandon Nuttall, "Nuttall Family of KY," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 Jan. 2006.
  8. [S1352] T.A. Nuttall household, 1910 U.S. cens., Henry Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., New Castle and Sulfur District, ED 64, sheet 11A, dwelling 185, family 234, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2005, image 15 of 16. Enumeration includes: T.A. Nuttall, 35, marr #1, marr 11 yrs, b. KY, parents b. KY, farmer; Mary, wife, 29, marr #1, marr 11 yrs, mother of 6 children, 5 living, b. VA, parents b. VA; Brandon, son, 11 ("0" written over first "1" in 11); Olive, dau, 9; John W., son, 8; Margrett, dau, 6; Ruth, dau, 2; all children b. KY, all parents listed as b. VA; Charlie Darte, boarder, Black, 24, b. KY, farm laborer.
  9. [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 Thaughtless [or Thoughtless] Nuttall, Shelby Co., Kentucky (12 Sept. 1918).
  10. [S1353] T. Nuttall household, 1920 U.S. cens., Shelby Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., Marshalls Precinct, ED 132, sheet 2A (p. 71 stamped), dwelling 33, family 36, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2005, image 3 of 15. Enumeration includes: T. Nuttall, 45, owns home, mortgaged, b. KY, parents b. KY, farmer; Mary W., wife, 39, b. VA, parents b. VA; Olive, dau, 18; John W., son, 17; Margaret, dau, 15; Ruth, dau, 11; all children b. KY, father: b. KY, mother: b. VA; resid on Shelbyville and Eminence Pike.
  11. [S1618] Thaughtless Nuttell household, 1930 U.S. cens., Shelby Co., Kentucky, pop. sched., North Shelbyville District 2, ED 106-7, sheet 2A (p. 45 stamped), dwelling 32, family 33, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 3 of 28. Enumeration includes: Thaughtless Nuttell, 56, marr at 24, b. KY, parents b. KY, owns farm, owns radio; Mary W., wife, 49, marr at 18, b. VA, parents b. VA; John W., son, 28, farmer; Ruth S., dau, 22; both children b. KY, father b. KY, mother b. VA; residing on State Highway #55.
  12. [S1916] "Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953", subscription database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : entry for Edwin Brandon Nuttall, 15 Jul 1932, death certificate 17739).
  13. [S1617] Amy Bazar, "Descendants of Dr. Martin Luther Withers", report dated 20 Nov. 2006. Amy cites family data collected by she and her mother (a great niece of Mary Withers and Thaughtless Nuttall).