Mary Tomlinson Houston--Tombstone Tuesday

Find A Grave photograph
by Nicholas Laraway 2023

Mary and Purnell Houston
Tombstones back to back
My photograph

Mary
Houston
Born   18--
Departed this life
January 31, 1830 ?

     Mary Houston and her husband Purnell Houston were originally buried in the Old Hill Family Cemetery.  In 1928 their caskets along with the caskets of Robert and Rebecca Caldwell Hill were removed from the Old Hill Family Cemetery to Mt. Union Cemetery.

     There is a controversy surrounding Mary's maiden name.  Tomlinson/Tumlinson and Carey are both shown in various documents.  Was she married to someone else before Purnell?  Did Purnell marry two separate women with the name of Mary?

     One of the clues in determining her possible maiden name is the will of Cary Tumlinson of Kent County, Delaware dated November 18, 1790.  He bequeath one half part of his estate to Mary Houston to be paid annually in the sum of pounds until her amount of the estate is reached.  If she should die before the amount is reached, then the annual amount is to be divided among her living children until then reach the age of twenty-one.

     "and whereas it is the wish of Purnel Houston and the said Mary Houston his wife--that the said Mary Houston should relinquish her claim of twenty pounds per year and that the said bequest should be received in one sum and laid out in lands in the counties of Monongalia or Harrison Commonwealth of Virginia for the benefit of said Mary Houston and that such lands when purchases shall be made the surity to William Candy who was left executor of the will afordsaid.  Provided he should be willing to pay the aforesaid bequest in one sum.  Therefore we Purnel Houston and Mary Houston wife of said Purnel, do by these present constitute and appoint Benjamin Reeder of Morgan Town in the county of Monongalia in the Commonwealth of Virginia our true and lawful attorney"

  Benjamin Reeder was to facilitate the above portion of the will for Mary and Purnell.  The above was signed by both Mary and Purnell on October 3, 1796.

  Mary and Purnell's daughter, Sarah Houston Hill, named a son Alexander Carey Hill, perhaps for her maternal uncle Cary Tumlinson?

 

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