Bessie A. (Hildreth) Harris (abt. 1900 - abt. 1991)

Born about 1900 in Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Leonard Williams — married about 31 Dec 1916 (to 1946) in Holmes, Florida, United States

Descendants

Died about 1991 at about age 91 in United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nelda Spires [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Hildreth Name Study.

Bessie A. Hildreth was born about 1900 in Alabama. She was the daughter of James Mason Hildreth and Lula Mae Hare.

1910 United States Census, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama:^[1]

She was first married to William Leonard Williams (abt.1895-1946) on 31 Dec 1916 in Holmes County, Florida.^[2] They were the parents of at least seven children. One child, a son, was born and died the same day in 1924. Another child, also a son, was born and died the same day in 1934. Three daughters and two sons are mentioned in the obituary of William Leonard Williams, published in 1946.^[3]

1920 United States Census, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama:^[4]

1930 United States Census, Noblins, Geneva County, Alabama:^[5]

1940 United States Census, Brooklyn, Conecuh County, Alabama:^[6]

Bessie Hildreth married a second time to Leonard Harris on 09 July 1955 in Alabama.^[7]

Known Children:

1. Cecil Ray Williams (1919-1974)^[8]
2. Willie Ruth (Williams) Brooks (1921-1985)
3. Unnamed Infant Williams (1924-1924)^[9]
4. Aubrey Faye Williams (1925-2001)
5. Louise (Williams) Nink (1932-2000)
6. Unnamed Infant Williams (1934-1934)^[10]
7. Possibly Living Daughter Williams (abt. 1940)

Research Notes

According to family trees on other genealogical websites, Bessie's actual date of birth was 5 November 1900 and her date of death was 10 March 1991 in Bastrop County, Texas. There are death records of a Bessie Harris, but what I can see online do not definitively prove they are records for this Bessie Hildreth Harris. In Oak Hill Cemetery in Bastrop County, Texas cemetery where Bessie Harris 5 November 1900 - 10 March 1991 was laid to rest is also buried a man named Leonard Harris, but the parents linked to him on the Find A Grave memorial do not match up to the parents given in the marriage record of the Leonard Harris married to the Bessie (Hildreth) Harris profiled here, nor do the dates of birth match. However, the gravemarkers of Bessie Harris and Leonard Harris are very similar so they might be husband and wife. One thing which does seem to link these two Bessie Hildreth Harrises, though, is that also buried in the same cemetery is a Louise Nink. Supposedly, Bessie Hildreth Williams Harris had a daughter name Louise whose second husband was named Nink. More research definitely needs to be done to find the records which link all these persons together for certain. Gilchrist-1197 19:34, 19 April 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQH-S7C : accessed 19 April 2020), Bessie Hellmut in household of James M Hellmut, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 59, sheet 13B, family 14, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 9; FHL microfilm 1,374,022.
2. ↑ "Florida Marriages, 1837-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWQW-HJL : 11 January 2020), Bessie Hildreth in entry for Leonard Williams, 1916.
3. ↑ "William L. Williams Aged 52, Claimed. By Death On Sunday," Newspapers.com, The Andalusia Star (Andalusia, Alabama), 12 Sep 1946, Page 7, accessed and clipped 19 Apr 2020.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXZZ-NQG : accessed 19 April 2020), Bessie Williams in household of William L Williams, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing ED 65, sheet 12B, line 63, family 193, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 10; FHL microfilm 1,820,010.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3FVV-TT2 : accessed 19 April 2020), Bessie Williams in household of W L Williams, Noblins, Geneva, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 11, sheet 7B, line 64, family 131, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 18; FHL microfilm 2,339,753.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1LP-QCF : 27 July 2019), Bessie A William in household of William L William, Brooklyn, Election Precinct 7, Conecuh, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 18-11, sheet 9A, line 6, family 153, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 18.
7. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q216-5FRQ : 28 November 2018), Leonard Harris and Bessie Williams, 09 Jul 1955; citing Election Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,892,868.
8. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K36B-PHP : 13 March 2018), Bessie Hildreth in entry for Cecil Ray Williams, 30 Jan 1974; citing certificate number 10520, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,243,038.
9. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDNT-3QW : 15 February 2018), Bessie Hildreth in entry for Williams, 24 Jul 1924; citing reference cn 14644, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,261.
10. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD53-FYM : 15 February 2018), Bessie Hildreth in entry for Williams, 26 Oct 1934; citing reference cn 21710, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,523.