Anna Mary (Robertson) Moses (1860 - 1961)

Anna Mary Robertson in the 1860s

Anna Mary Robertson Moses was born September 7, 1860 in Greenwich, Washington, New York, United States, a daughter of Russell King Robertson and Margaret Shanahan.^[1][2][3]

As a child, Moses attended a one-room school for a short period of time. She was inspired to paint by taking art lessons at school. Moses first painted as a child, using lemon and grape juice to make colors for her "landscapes."

At 12 years of age, she left home and began working for a wealthy neighboring family, performing chores on their farm. She continued to keep house, cook and sew for wealthy families for 15 years. One of the families that she worked for noticed her interest in their Currier and Ives prints and purchased chalk and wax crayons so that she could create her own artwork.

When she was 27, she worked on the same farm with Thomas Salmon Moses, a "hired man." They married in 1887 and established themselves near Staunton, Virginia.^[4] To supplement the family income, Anna made potato chips and churned butter from the milk of a cow that she purchased with her savings. Later, the couple bought a farm.

Checkered House, 1943

Together they had ten children; five of them survived infancy. Although she loved living in the Shenandoah Valley, in 1905 Anna and Robert moved to a farm in Eagle Bridge, New York, at her husband's urging. ^[5][6]

She is often cited as an example of an individual successfully beginning a career in the arts at an advanced age. Her family and friends called her either "Mother Moses" or "Grandma Moses," and although she first exhibited as "Mrs. Moses," the press eagerly dubbed her "Grandma Moses," which stuck. Life magazine celebrated her 100th birthday by featuring her on its September 19, 1960 cover.

Catching the Turkey, 1940

Anna Mary "Grandma" Moses died December 13, 1961 in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer, New York, United States. She was buried at Maple Grove New Cemetery in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York, United States.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ New York State Census, 1865, Anna M Robertson in household of Russel R Robertson, District 01, Easton, Washington, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 21, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
2. ↑ United States Census, 1870, Ann M Robertson in entry for Russell Robertson, 1870; Easton, Washington, New York, United States.
3. ↑ New York State Census, 1875, Anna M Robertson in household of Russel Robertson, Easton, Washington, New York, United States; citing p. 18, line 43, State Library, Albany.
4. ↑ United States Census, 1900, Anna Moses in household of Thomas Moses, Middle River District (Verona, Mr. Sidney & Burk's Mill Precincts) Mt. Sidney town, Augusta, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 24, sheet 23A, family 435.
5. ↑ United States Census, 1910, Anna M Moses in household of Thomas S Moses, White Creek, Washington, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 118, sheet 12A, family 293.
6. ↑ United States Census, 1920, Anna M Moses in household of Thomas A Moses, White Creek, Washington, New York, United States; citing ED 236, sheet 5B, line 60, family 133.
7. ↑ memorial page for Grandma Moses (7 Sep 1860–13 Dec 1961), Find A Grave: Memorial #743, citing Maple Grove New Cemetery, Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York, USA.

See Also:

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4GM-9V3 : accessed 19 June 2020), Anna M Moses, White Creek, Washington, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 43, sheet 7A, line 2, family 164.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQMM-8Y2 : 21 December 2019), Anna Moses in household of Hugh Moses, White Creek Town, Washington, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 58-52, sheet 2B, line 69, family 44, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940.
• Wikipedia contributors, "Grandma Moses," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grandma_Moses&oldid=1214698638 (accessed March 27, 2024).
• Moses: Application #19908 to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, signed by the artist herself, plus primary sources cited therein; Anna M.R. Moses and Otto Kallir, ed;Grandma Moses: My Life's Story(1952 ed.), pp.7-10,and MF6:1-28, 61-71, 94-95, 225-26, 562-563. John King(1730-1808) and his son, Hezekiah King(1755-1823) are listed in DAR Patriot Index, Cententenial Addition; vol. 2(1990)pp.1684-85.
• Notes from the Francis Cooke Society
• Notable Kin vol. 2; Gary Boyd Roberts: pages 28 and 30.
• The Old Hoosick Bridge

Acknowledgments