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Family Biographies |
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piecing together the family of William M Thompson Melissa Saloame Thompson Great-grand Aunt of James D Thompson Jr. 1859-1928
Melissa Saloame Thompson was born in 1859, in Echols County, Georgia, the 6th child and 3rd daughter of William M and Mildred Jane (unknown) Thompson. Melissa has been difficult to trace through the years because she is listed in records many times by one of her various nicknames: Sal, Saloam, Lama, Lomos, Salomy and Lommie. For simplicity sake, I will refer to her as Melissa.
Melissa’s siblings were: Emily Elizabeth “Lizzie”, born 1847, GA, married William F Horner William M, born 1848, GA John Andrew, born 1851, GA, married Sallie Carter Sarah, born 1852, GA Wyley, born 1854, GA Nellie, born 1860, GA, md 1st John Isom, md 2nd Green Chambers Rufus Joseph, born 1865, GA, married Mattie Lee Corbitt (my great-grandparents) Martha, born 1866, GA Linton S, born 1868, GA James, born 1870, GA, married Carrie Ozina Horner Mildred Eugenia, born 1873, FL, married William Napolean Davis
Melissa first appears in the census of 1860 (as Salamos), with her parents and family in Echols County, Georgia. She next shows up with her family in Hillsborough County, Florida in the 1870 census (as Melissa S).
On 04 May 1876, Melissa married John R Wilkins in Tampa, Hillsborough County Florida. The marriage record lists her as Saloame. John and Melissa had one daughter, Emma Selina Wilkins, born in May of 1878. John R Wilkins died sometime between 1878 and 1880. Melissa next shows up with daughter Emma, her mother and remaining family members, in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the census of 1880 (listed as “Sal Wilkins”). As of this census, her father, William M Thompson, was also deceased.
On 20 Oct 1889, Melissa (listed as Saloam) married John A Watson, a farmer and Civil War veteran, in Lowndes County, Georgia. John was a widower, first married to Nancy Parramore, who had died in 1888. John had 7 children by Nancy before his marriage to Melissa. Melissa and John had three children, Lola and Lota (twins), born July 24, 1892, and Earl Avin Watson, born 03 Sep 1893, in Lowndes County, Georgia.
On October 24, 1892, Melissa’s daughter, Emma Selenia Wilkins, married John J Carter, son of Isaac W Carter and Rachel Peters, in Lowndes County.
On August 15, 1895, John A Watson applied for a Confederate Pension, as an indigent, suffering from “lung trouble”, chronic diarrhea, and chronic granulated eye lids. He states he has no income, but from that provided by his working son ($10/month). He lists a family of nine living children, including 4 year-old twin daughters (Lola and Lota), and 2 year old son (Earl). His pension was granted by the State of Georgia.
John re-applied in 1896, 1897 and 1898 to continue receiving Confederate pension at an annual rate of $60. His 1900 application cited disease and blindness, leaving him completely unable to work.
In the census of 1900, John and Melissa (listed as Melissa S) show up in Naylor, Lowndes County, Georgia. Children listed are Lola (age 8), Lota (8), Earl (6), and two of John’s children by Nancy Parramore, Bertha L (16), and William M (14). Melissa answered the census question by stating that she had given birth to four children and that four were still living. (Lola, Lota, Earl and Emma).
John A Watson died on March 6, 1901, in Naylor, Lowndes County, Georgia.
In a letter dated October 3, 1902, written by Melissa’s older sister, Emily Elizabeth “Lizzie” Thompson Horner, to her sister Nellie Thompson Isom, Lizzie states “Lama is worrying me. She says she is not able to do anything. She hasn’t done anything this year. John and Emma has moved and left her her children.” This statement coincides with the fact that Lama’s second husband, John Watson had died more than a year earlier, in March of 1901. Melissa was obviously distraught by the death of her second husband in approximately 22 years. The statement that “John and Emma” had left Naylor coincides with the fact that Melissa’s daughter Emma, and her husband John J Carter had recently moved to Berrien County Georgia. The last part of the sentence, stating that Emma had left Melissa with her children, implies that Melissa was so distraught that Emma had been required to care for Lola, Lota and Earl before leaving for Berrien County.
The census of 1910 shows Melissa (Saloamy), a widow, in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, with her three children, Lola, Lota and Earl.
On January 23, 1911, Lola Watson married Willie E Ammons, in Lowndes County, Georgia.
On June 10th, 1911, Lota Watson married Charlie James Ammons in Colquitt County, Georgia. I believe that Willie and Charlie Ammons were brothers, but have not proven this yet.
On June 5, 1917, Melissa’s son, Earl Avin Watson, registered for the WWI draft, while living in Sparks, Cook County, Georgia. He listed his birth date as January 3, 1893 and his place of birth as Naylor, Lowndes County, Georgia. He lists a wife and 1 child as dependents.
The census of 1920 shows Melissa (Lommie) living with Lota and Charles Ammons in Moultrie, Colquitt County, Georgia. Lola and Willie Ammons lived nearby, also in Moultrie. Since Lota had married Charlie in Colquitt County, it seems to indicate that the whole family had moved to Colquitt County sometime between the two marriages. (Jan 23, 1911 to June 10th, 1911.) By this census, Earl Avin and Helen Watson were living in Tifton, Tift County, Georgia, with two daughters, Gladys and Ruth.
Melissa Saloame Thompson Watson died on April 21, 1928, in Selma, Dallas County Alabama, at the age of 68, of influenza. She is listed as Lommie Watson on her death certificate. Information for the certificate was provided by her son-in-law, Willie E Ammons, of Prattville, Alabama. Willie did not have all of the facts correct, but we can get enough information to confirm Melissa’s identify. Her father is listed on the certificate as Jonathon Thompson. Although his name was actually William, both of Melissa’s husbands were named John, which could explain some confusion. Her mother is listed as Annie Wilkins. We do not know her mother’s maiden name, but can again explain Willie’s confusion by the fact that Melissa had first married John Wilkins. Willie knew some of the names, but did not have the correct placement.
Melissa’s funeral arrangements were handled by “Breslin Brothers” funeral home of Selma, Alabama. As best I can tell, Breslin is now Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home. This company may be able to provide the location of Melissa’s burial plot.
Jim Thompson Aurora, Colorado September, 2010
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