Question

What Happened to Mary Jane ?

And her husband Mathew?

Our family could use some help with this family mystery. I am the great granddaughther dau of Mary Jane Morrison b abt. 1877 in NC. She married my great grand father Mathew Alston (b. abt 1880) in Maxton, Robeson Co. NC 1898.

I do not know what happened to Mary Jane Morrison or her husband Mathew Alston/Austin. They seem to fall off the face of the earth.

All but one of their five children can be seen living with their paternal grandmother, (Mathew's mother) Mary Johnson Altson-Taylor aka Mary Taylor in the 1920 Census in Alfordsville, Robeson County, NC. 

About 1905, Mary Johnson's first hunsband (my 2nd great grand father) Nelson Alston Jr. had died and Mary Johnson-Alston/Austin had remarried to a man named John Taylor Sr.  Mary Johnson and her first husband Nelson Alston/Austin Jr had 12-13 childern. She obviously took care of most of Mary Jane and Mathews children after thier deaths. Mary and her second husband John Taylor were an older and did not bare any known children togerther.

I have checked with the Robeson County Recorder of Deeds office and they don't have any record of Mary Jane Morrison and or Mathew Alston dying there, I wonder if they died in another state. This is a huge mystery and I estimate that they died between 1910 and 1915, but can't find any records to substantiate it. Their youngest child Nelson was born about 1910 and thier dau Mary Florence Alston's 1928 Columbus Co, NC marriage license indicated that both her parents were dead at that time.

 

They are very likely buried at Beauty Spot Methodist Cemetery in Robeson Co, NC but I cannot seem to be able to contact anyone to confirm that.

 

Mary Jane Morrison is the daughter of Sandy Alexander Morrison and Mary Ann Buchanan of NC and or SC.

 

Her husband Mathew's parents were Nelson Alston/Austin Jr. and Mary Johnson of NC and or SC,

 

Any assistance would be most appreciated.

 

PHG

Answer 1

First you say Great Grandfather was Mathew Alston,then later in listing have him

as Nelson Alston. Which is correct?? Is this a White or African American Family??

Comments

Mathew was my great grand father. His Parents Were Nelson Alston /Austin Jr. B. abt. 1844 ( Nelson was my 2nd great grandfather) and Mathews mother was Mary Johnson-Alston-Taylor b abt. 1855 or 65. They are listed as Black on the document's I have found thus far but they were clearly Tri-racial according to my DNA. TIA

Answer 2

I need to start over,What was your Grandfather and Grandmother name on your Morrison side. ,Dates

birth and death and where lived.There is much bad information i see,and there are

several Mathew Alston.

Comments

Hi there, In the body of my queries at the top I ask what happen Mary Jane and her husband Mathew. Mary Jane Morrison and Mathew Alston/Austin were from Roberson Co, NC as far as I know and were the parents of my grand mother Mary Florence Alston who got married 1928 in Columbus Co, NC to Jerman Hill of Raleigh, NC. Jerman did not know who his wife Mary Florence parents were because he put her aunt/guardian Lucy Campbell as her mother and someone else as her father on her death certificate. That's another reason I think Mary Florence parents Mary Jane Morrison and Mathew Austin died abt. 1910-15; long before Jerman met his wife Mary Florence Alston.

Answer 3

Sorry but i need you grandfather and grand mother on Alston side of

your family.And all the date birth and where,and whatever else you have.I will

try and get this straightened out for your family.

Comments

My grand parents are Mary Florence Alston b. abt. 1907 in Roberson Co.NC I believe and Jerman Everett Hill b. abt. 1905 in Raleigh, NC

Answer 4

Look at 1910 Census, John Taylor ,Wife Mary Johnson Alston Taylor,with 4 children,

odd it does not say Mary Jane???

Mary Taylor ,Black, Widowed,Died Aug 17 1930  Fork,Wayne,North Carolina, Buried

Wilson North Carolina.Occupation Laundress.On her Death Certificate,does not

show parents names.

There is a Mathew Alston in 1918 living in Philadelphia Pennsylvania,shows wife

living in Durham North Carolina, her name looks like Janie Alston.Off WW1 draft

card.

Comments

Hi, That's interesting about the Mathew you referenced. Where can I find that info? Can you provide a link to that info? I'm sorry the Mary Taylor you mentioned is not my second great grandmother Mary John- Alston-Taylor as she died in Robeson County abt. 1929 according to her death cert.She and my 2nd great grandfather Nelson Alston/Austin were very large land owners there we just learned. So, that is not she and my post Clearly requests information for both of my great grandparents Mary Jane Morrison and her husband Mathew Alston. Thank you very much.