Ahnentafel #217 - Mary Grove

Mary Barbary Grove

Born: 1787 North Carolina

Died: February 18, 1876, Oldham County, Kentucky

Buried: family cemetery behind the Speer family home near Floydsburg, Kentucky.

Married: Dec. 1805 John Speer in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina

General Description:

In physical stature she was above the average size woman; was strong, well built and quite active; had a good, robust, healthy constitution, as any could have.  Never was sick until after she was over sixty years of age.  She was about five feet, eight inches tall, had blue eyes and black hair.  She was a portly good looking woman, with kindness beaming in her noble face.  She was a model mother, wife and friend.  And was not backward in speaking her mind on any and every proper occasion.  It was no matter who, a steamboat captain, congressman or who else, she would have her say and was, nothing daunted neither afraid nor ashamed to converse with anyone. She thought much of her father, and did more for him in his old age than any of his other children, for Father's house was his home for several years, and she knew how to prepare suitable food for him, and did everything for his comfort and welfare.  She was charitable and gave many things to the poor and needy.  I have said in father's will, that all the children were to get an equal portion and so it was; but in that he willed, that mother was to have three hundred dollars to be loaned out and the interest paid to her annually, which she received from the executors and did loan out.   

Mother made a number of visits to Daviess County to see her children and grandchildren who had moved there, and enjoyed those steamboat rides very much.  I have gone with her, and so have others of the family, and all seemed to enjoy these trips very much.  O! she was so good to my little ones, that I left with her when I went to California, and then again after father's death and they were all scattered.  Why should I not love to honor such a mother, and make mention of her?  I did try to do so, and was with her when the summons came, and she fell asleep in trust, in the arms of the dear Savior.  Peace, peace, be to her remains. [Speer, John Grove. Reminiscences of the Speer Family, Lexington, KY: Bluegrass Printing Co., 1900, pp. 50-51].

Records:

1790 – Rowan County, North Carolina census – age 3 living with her parents, two brothers and five sisters

1800 – not found on census

1810 – not found on census

1820 – Jefferson County, Kentucky.  Mary age 34 living with husband John and four sons ages 7 months to 13 and three daughters ages 2 to 9 years old.  The family owned the slaves Thomas & Chany Graves and their six children.

1830 – Oldham County, Kentucky, Mary age 45 living with John and three sons ages 10 to 24 four daughters ages 12 to 17. Thomas & Chany Graves and their twelve children were also in the household.

1840 – Oldham County, Kentucky.  Mary age 55 living with John, son James age 20 and daughters Julia age 12 and Martha age 16.  Her father John Grove aged about 89 is living with the family.  They have 9 slaves, probably members of the Graves family.

1850 – Oldham County, Kentucky. Mary age 63 listed as born in North Carolina. She and John are living with their 17 year old daughter Susan.  They are also caring for their six grandchildren ages 3 to 15, a child Henry Eddings 4 months old and Mary Cadwallader 13 years old.  The family owned seven slaves.

1860 – Oldham County, Kentucky.  Mary age 74 living with her daughter Susan (Speer) Hinkle and her grandchildren Charles and Mary Hinkle and Charles' wife Jane.

1870 – Floydsburg, Oldham Co., Kentucky, Mary is 83 living with her daughter Susan Hinkle.

Children:

Samuel

John

Margaret

Susan

Marquis

Amelia

James

Elizabeth

Martha

Francis 

Julia

Elvira