Rebecca Bailey (1827 - 1918)

Born 25 Apr 1827 in Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 15 Sep 1918 at age 91 in Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cary Richards [send private message]

Biography

Rebecca Bailey was born 25 April 1827^[1] (see research note) in Virginia to Archibald Bailey and Elizabeth Lusk^[2]. In the 1850 Federal Census, Rebecca lived with her parents and siblings in Mercer County, Virginia^[3].

Sometime before 1860 (probably around 1856, based on the age of their first child), Rebecca married Leland Bailey^[2][4]. Leland was born in 1823 in Tazewell County, Virginia to Jonathan Bailey and Elizabeth Thompson^[5] (see research notes on Leland's profile). Rebecca and Leland were first cousins - their fathers were brothers, both children of John Payton Bailey and Nancy Ann (Davidson) Bailey. Leland and Rebecca were also second cousins - his father and her mother were first cousins with common great grandparents Richard Payton Bailey Sr. and Elizabeth Anne (Belcher) Bailey.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Leland and Rebecca lived in Mercer County, Virginia with their first two children^[4]. Leland's occupation was "farmer"^[6]. Also in their household was a 13 year old boy named Patrick Thompson^[6] (relationship unknown, but possibly related to Leland's mother, Elizabeth Thompson).

In the 1870 Federal Census, Leland and Rebecca continued living in Mercer County, now part of West Virginia, and now with five children^[7].

On 14 April 1876, Rebecca's father signed his will^[2]. Both Rebecca and Leland were named within Archibald's will^[2] (see transcription in the research notes on Archibald's profile). The will was accepted in Mercer County, West Virginia court on 12 December 1876^[2].

In the 1880 Federal Census, Leland, Rebecca, and their five children, continued living in Mercer County, West Virginia^[8].

Rebecca was 55 years old when her husband Leland passed away in 1882^[9]. It appears that he died without a will. On 8 August 1882, the Mercer County Court appointed their son, James B. Bailey, as the administrator responsible for settling Leland's estate^[9].

Leland and Rebecca had five children together^[10]:

1. James B. Bailey b.1856 d. 1905^[11]
2. Melissa Catherine (Bailey) Hale b. 1858 d. 1923^[12]
3. John T. Bailey b. 1862 d. 1934^[13]
4. Alexander W. Bailey b. 1864 d. 1911^[14]
5. Albany Virginia (Bailey) (Carr) Meador b. 1866 d. 1944^[15]

In the 1900 Federal Census, Rebecca lived with her son John in Mercer County, West Virginia^[10]. She was enumerated with the name "Rachel", and there was no one else in the household^[10].

Rebecca died of "old age" on 15 September 1918 in Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia^[16]. There is a memorial for Rebecca in Walnut Grove Cemetery, located near Bluefield, Mercer, West Virginia^[1].

Research Notes

Birth Year

A birth record for Rebecca has yet to be located. Other sources provide evidence for when she was born:

• Birth year estimated to be 1828^[3].
• Birth year estimated to be 1827^[4][7].
• Birth year estimated to be 1830^[8].
• Birth month and year indicated to be April 1827^[10].
• Birth date computed to be 24 April 1828 or 25 April 1828. Her death certificate gave her date of death and an age of 90 years, 4 months, and 21 days^[16]. Subtracting those years, months, and days from her death date computes a birth date, but the result depends on the order of subtraction. If you first subtract years, then months, then days, the result is 24 April 1828. However, if you first subtract days, then months, then years, the result is 25 April 1828.
• Her Find-a-Grave profile includes a photo of a (perhaps modern?) grave marker that indicates she was born on 25 April 1827^[1].

1910 Federal Census

Rebecca has not yet been located in the 1910 Federal Census.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 Jan 2022), memorial page for Rebecca Bailey Bailey (25 Apr 1827–15 Sep 1918), Find A Grave: Memorial #17684167, Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Judy Llamas (contributor 46854247).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-FXMS : 12 March 2018), Archibald Bailey, 1876; citing Mercer, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 02 1870-1886, page 164, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 801,900.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DD-5RY : 23 December 2020), Rebecca Bailey in household of Archibald Bailey, Mercer, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M416-2ZV : 18 February 2021), Rebecca Bailey in entry for Leland Bailey, 1860.
5. ↑ "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-F6TF : 12 March 2018), Jonathan Bailey, ; citing Mercer, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 02 1870-1886, page 77, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 801,900.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M416-2ZJ : 18 February 2021), Leland Bailey, 1860.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ45-K48 : 29 May 2021), Rebecca Bailey in entry for Leland Bailey, 1870.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6R1-VXN : 5 January 2022), Rebeca Bailey in household of Eland Bailey, Beaver Pond District, Mercer, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Ancestry.com. West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985 [database on-line, requires paid subscription]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: West Virginia County, District and Probate Courts. Notes: Probate Records, Bonds, Vol 2-3, 1876-1906. Name: Leland Bailey; Probate Date: 8 Aug 1882; Probate Place: Mercer, West Virginia, USA; Image 63 of 565; Top left quarter of the associated image.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9ZM-DYC : accessed 5 January 2022), Rachel Bailey in household of John T Bailey, Beaver Pond district (west side), Mercer, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 77, sheet 5B, family 94, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,766.
11. ↑ West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History; West Virginia Vital Records Search; Line #28, 16 Dec 1856, Birth of James B. Bailey.
12. ↑ West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History; West Virginia Vital Records Search; Line #8, Marriage of Elias Jas Hale and Melissa C. Bailey, Year 1887, no specific date provided.
13. ↑ 22 Sep 1934, Page 3 - Bluefield Daily Telegraph of Bluefield, West Virginia at Newspapers.com. Accessed 5 Jan 2022. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91928877
14. ↑ West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History; West Virginia Vital Records Search; Line #21, Marriage of Alex W. Bailey and Laura F. Calfee, 21 May 1884.
15. ↑ "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRZ-QV5T : 16 August 2019), Albany Virginia Meador, 04 Aug 1944; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Roanoke, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History; West Virginia Vital Records Search; Line #19, Death Record for Rebecca Bailey, 15 Sep 1918.