The West Family Line - The Children of Thomas

Thomas West

My 3 times Great Grandfather

The Story Continues

After the Civil War the children of Thomas had to live without their father. They began to build their own families.

Frances P. West

Sadly in July of 1869 Frances died of Typhoid fever in Sassafras Fork at the age of 21.

Found on the Mortality Schedule:

Thomas Spencer West

Thomas Spencer married Mary Ann Riggan in 1867 but I can’t find a record for this.

Thomas Spencer West (1911)

Mary Ann Riggan West

I can not find this couple in the 1870 Census. Wonder where they are or who they are living with???

From the 1880 Census we learn the following:

Thomas age 33 and Ann age 33 had 5 children; Rosa age 12, James age 11, John age 6, Thomas age 4, and Wess age 2 months.

The Federal Census for 1890 was destroyed. There is a 20-year gap that makes some details hard to pinpoint.

From the 1900 Federal Census we discover the following:

Thomas Spencer and his wife Mary are in Sandy Creek, Vance County, North Carolina. Thomas and Mary are both listed as being 52 years old. Mary is listed as having 9 pregnancies and all are still living. In their household are 8 of the children. The page is damaged and makes it hard to read the names of the children. 

In the 1910 Federal Census we discover this information:

Thomas is in Sandy Creek, Vance County. He and Mary have been married 43 years.  Mary has had 10 pregnancies and 9 are living. Annie their daughter is 16 and living in their home. 

This picture of Thomas Spencer and his family was taken in 1911.

The 1920 Federal Census provides the following information:

Thomas and his wife Mary Ann are living in Sandy Creek, Vance County. Thomas is 72 and Mary Ann is now 71.

On February 25^th in 1922 Mary Ann Riggan West passed away. The cause of death is heart disease. She was about 72 years old and died in Sandy Creek, Vance County according to her death certificate. The informant was J.F. West. Mary Ann is buried in the Family Burial Ground.

The 1930 Federal Census has the following information:

Thomas Spencer is living with his grandson Johnnie and his wife Irene in Sandy Creek, Vance County. His son, John F, is living close by. There are four West households living close. 

Thomas Spencer passed away on April 11, 1934. His birth date is given as September 28, 1848. According to this information he was 85 years 6 months and 13 days old. His cause of death was high blood pressure and old age. He is buried in the Family Cemetery.

The family Cemetery:

Tomorrow will be about another of Thomas' children.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie