CA917

Explanatory Supplement for source 486

(C. Avis Catalog entry #917)

Commentary on Mattie’s letter from Julia Fuchs 8/06

Explanatory expansion of the letter from Mattie Mooring Hooker to her niece Ross Mooring Hall (C. Avis Catalog entry #486) 

The letter is from Mattie Mooring Hooker (daughter of Sallie & Llewellyn Mooring) to her niece Sarah Ross Mooring Hall (daughter of Charles Gray Mooring, granddaughter of Llewellyn Staton Mooring, wife of J. Thomas Hall)

Mattie Mooring Hooker’s full name was Martha “Mattie” McGown Mooring (b. Oct. 21, 1858, Grimes Co., TX, d. Aug. 28, 1944, Grimes Co,, TX).  Mattie was married to Samuel Elisha Hooker.  Mattie’s brother, Charles Grey Mooring, had daughters Ross, Margaret and Alberta.  Some of these are mentioned in the following letter.

5-10-02 (1902) Prairie Plains
My Dear Ross,
I was very much surprised when I opened your letter, & found the signature of My Dear little Ross, whom I had not heard from in such a long, long time. I do not suppose the information that I can give you will be of much importance. Papa & Mama came to Texas in '42 (1842), from Mobile Ala., but SC (should be North Carolina) was their Birth State, resided in Ala. but a few years.  Mama's (Mama is Sarah “Sallie” Wilkinson, daughter of Charles Wilkinson) Mother was a Mary Little (Mary Penelope Little, daughter of Gray Little and Sylvia Peninah Ann Thigpen), her (“her” is referring to Mary Penelope Little) Mother Thigpen (Sylvia Peninah Ann Thigpen), Grandmother T's Mother was a Bettie Rock. (Grandmother T refers to Sylvia Peninah Ann Thigpen.  At this point, Mattie Mooring Hooker gets confused.  Bettie Rock was Syliva Peninah Ann Thigpen’sMother-in-law, not her Mother.  Sylvia Thigpen’s mother was Lydia Grey Mayo.  See explanation at end of this letter).  Grandmother Mooring's Mother was a Sue Statin (Susannah Staton), her Mother was a Lewellyn (Charlotte Barfield Llewellyn).  The Lewellyns were from VA, to SC (NC?).  I do not know anything of either of my grandfather's parents (see explanation at end of this letter). Mama has a brother in Tarboro, S.C., Uncle Frank Wilkins (Franklin Wilkinson, who was a step-brother instead of a brother, listed in Joshua Wilkinson Family Bible Records), who would prove an interesting correspondent for you.  He was principle of a small College there for a [?] of years.  Papa has one Brother in Mobile, Ala Uncle Grey Mooring (F. Gray Mooring, brother to Llewellyn Staton Mooring), he also has some nephews in Covington, Tenn.  Zack Taylor (Smitha Jane Mooring, sister to Llewellyn Staton Mooring, married Thomas Taylor, so Zack is their son) is a very prominent lawyer there, was US States Senator at one time, but Papa was never proud of him, because he was a republican.  Cousin Guildford Mooring (brother to Llewellyn Staton Mooring who eventually also settled in Grimes CO, TX) was Sheriff of Pitt Co., S.C (NC).  Greenville, his Postoffice, will doubtless remember you, as he was in Tex. when you were a baby.  We have a fine prospect for a crop.  Leslie has 40 acres in cotton.  The same in Corn, has been through chopping cotton for more than a week, which is quite early, & I have a splendid garden.  I would like so much to see you, & your Boy, you never did send me a picture of him.  I have a picture of all Maggie's children (Margaret “Maggie” Gray Mooring, daughter of Charles Gray Mooring, Granddaughter of Llewellyn Staton Mooring, married James Calvin Rudd), & would like so much to have yours.  I had a letter from your Mama (Sarah “Sallie” Wilkinson Mooring, wife of Llewellyn Staton Mooring) last week, also one from Aunt Jennie (Virginia “Jennie” Blake Mooring, daughter of Llewellyn Staton Mooring).  She is coming home in June.  Be sure to write again.
Your loving Aunt Mattie 
 

EXPLANATION: 
Llewellyn Staton Mooring: 
Parents: 

• John Mooring, b. abt. 1787, Pitt Co., NC, d. aft. 1832, and Susannah Staton, b.abt. 1790, Martin Co., NC, d. aft. 1832

Grandparents: 

• William Mooring, b. bef. 1755, Surry Co., VA, d. bet. 1810 and Dec, 1817, Pitt Co., NC, married Elizabeth Unknown 
• Arthur Staton, b. bef. June 1, 1769, NC, d. May 24, 1821, Edgecombe Co., NC married Charlotte Barfield Llewellyn, b. bet. 1761-1770, VA or NC

Great-Grandparents: 

• John Mooring, b.abt. 1736, Surry Co., VA, d. abt. 1800, Pitt Co., NC married Jane Morning Little (first wife of John Mooring.  His second wife was Sarah Elizabeth Harris), b. bet. 1728-1722, Surry Co., VA
• John William Llewellyn, b. abt. 1732, VA, d.abt. 1794, Martin Co., NC married Mary Ball, b. abt. 1730, VA, d. abt. 1808
• Thomas Staton, b. abt. 1722, MD, d. June 1, 1769, Halifax Co., NC married Keziah Fowler, b. abt. 1722, MD

EXPLANATION:
Sarah “Sallie” Wilkinson
Parents:

Grandparents: 

Great-Grandparents:

The following commentary on Mattie Mooring Hooker’s letter dated May 10, 1902, is from Herman I. May, descendant of Alicia Elizabeth LaRoche:

"'Grandmother T's Mother' (referring to the wife of Gray LITTLE, Sylvia Peninah Ann THIGPEN) was not 'Bettie Rock'.  Nevertheless, it is correct that 'Bettie Rock' was Mary Penelope's grandmother.  This is due to the fact that research identifies Alicia Elizabeth LaROCHE, 'Bettie Rock' (see below), as the mother of Sylvia's spouse and Mary's father, Gray LITTLE.  Thus 'Bettie Rock' is Syliva’s mother-in-law; not her mother. "

Some additional facts that may provide some context for you: 
"Gray LITTLE's sister, Sarah E. (LITTLE) THIGPEN, was my GGGGgrandmother. Therefore I am also related to 'Bettie Rock.'  Your documentation seems to corroborate the fact that Sarah (Little) THIGPEN was Mary's double aunt - once by blood (as sibling to her father) and once by marriage (as wife of her mother's brother and her blood uncle, James THIGPEN)."

In the event you are not up on your French, roche is the French word for rock.  (In fact, Little Rock, Arkansas, is also known by the nickname La Petit Roche.)  Of course, it is well known that 'Bettie' is a diminutive for the name Elizabeth.  So, 'Bettie Rock' is apparently a term of endearment to describe Elizabeth (LaROCHE) LITTLE.  

"So, all of these facts serve to justify and reinforce the belief that Alicia Elizabeth LaRoche was indeed the mother of Gray and Sarah Little and one of my ancestors."