Family Group Sheet
NameBenjamin Franklin Pettit
BirthJul 1852, Kentucky
Marriage31 May 1888, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseMary L. Anna Donahue
Birthabt 1843, Morgan Co., Kentucky
Death27 Sep 1913, Rowan Co., Kentucky
FatherAlfred Donohue (~1813->1880)
MotherMariah Rosetta Payne (~1814-)
Other spousesIsaac “Owen” Crosthwaite
Notes for Benjamin Franklin Pettit
For quite some time, I thought the Benjamin Franklin Pettit who married Mary Donahue Crosthwaite was the one born ca 1848 in Bath Co, son of Andrew Pettit and Christina Staton, but then I found the death record for that one, in 1876.
So now I’m at a loss as to who the parents of this one are. I can’t find any other match in the 1860 through 1880 censuses. If his birthdate in the 1900 census is correct, then he is born too early to be another illegitimate son of Elizabeth Pettit (whose half dozen known progeny I also cannot find as children). I get the feeling a lot of the Pettits liked to hide from the censuses.
So now I’m at a loss as to who the parents of this one are. I can’t find any other match in the 1860 through 1880 censuses. If his birthdate in the 1900 census is correct, then he is born too early to be another illegitimate son of Elizabeth Pettit (whose half dozen known progeny I also cannot find as children). I get the feeling a lot of the Pettits liked to hide from the censuses.
Notes for Mary L. Anna Donahue
John Donohew’s online GEDCOM10 shows Mary’s middle name as “Thomas”.
Her death certificate records Mary Donahue Corsthwait, age 57, born in 1856 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 27 Sep 1913 in Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky, marital status “single had been married”, father Alford Donahue, mother’s maiden name Mar(scribbled out y) Donahue, both born in Rowan Co., Ky, cause of death “don’t know, never saw her sent med one or two times”, informant blank, burial info fields blank, with “(no permit granted)” noted in the bottom margin.
Her death certificate records Mary Donahue Corsthwait, age 57, born in 1856 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 27 Sep 1913 in Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky, marital status “single had been married”, father Alford Donahue, mother’s maiden name Mar(scribbled out y) Donahue, both born in Rowan Co., Ky, cause of death “don’t know, never saw her sent med one or two times”, informant blank, burial info fields blank, with “(no permit granted)” noted in the bottom margin.
Census
She was listed as Mary age 7 in 1850 and Mary L. age 17 in 1860, so despite the great variance in later records, the early ones are consistent with a birthdate in late 1842 or early 1843.
In the 1910 census she was recorded as Anna Crosthwait, age 65, mother-in-law, widowed, with her daughter Lou and Lou’s second husband Alex Bradley. She also signed the consent note for Lou’s first marriage, to Davis Turner, as Mrs. Ann Crosthwait. Those are the only two records I know of that show her name as Ann or Anna. It may be that her middle name was Luanna, or that she had three names, such as Mary Anna Louisa.
In the 1910 census she was recorded as Anna Crosthwait, age 65, mother-in-law, widowed, with her daughter Lou and Lou’s second husband Alex Bradley. She also signed the consent note for Lou’s first marriage, to Davis Turner, as Mrs. Ann Crosthwait. Those are the only two records I know of that show her name as Ann or Anna. It may be that her middle name was Luanna, or that she had three names, such as Mary Anna Louisa.
Notes for Benjamin Franklin & Mary L. Anna (Family)
Rowan Co. marriage book 1, p. 173, and Book A, p. 15, record marriage of Ben F. Petitt and Mary Crosthwait on 31 May 1888, at her house by W. W. Phillips, witnesses James W. Evans and James A. Ferand, bond surety John H. Mabry.
From comparing the 1880 and 1900 censuses, Mary's first husband was Owen Crosthwait.
The marriage to Ben probably ended in divorce, since Mary had returned to using the surname Crosthwaite by 1910, and on her death certificate her marital status was given as “single had been married”.
From comparing the 1880 and 1900 censuses, Mary's first husband was Owen Crosthwait.
The marriage to Ben probably ended in divorce, since Mary had returned to using the surname Crosthwaite by 1910, and on her death certificate her marital status was given as “single had been married”.
Census
1900 census of Rowan Co., Pierce prec., family #52, as:
Benj. F. Pettitt, 57, b. July 1852; wife Mary, 52, b. May 1848; married 16 years, Mary the mother of 5 children, 4 living; Onie Crosthwait (male), 22, b. May 1878. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The ages for Mary and Onie are three years less than would be implied by the 1880 census, which listed Mary 35 and Owen 5.
Benj. F. Pettitt, 57, b. July 1852; wife Mary, 52, b. May 1848; married 16 years, Mary the mother of 5 children, 4 living; Onie Crosthwait (male), 22, b. May 1878. All born Ky Ky Ky.
The ages for Mary and Onie are three years less than would be implied by the 1880 census, which listed Mary 35 and Owen 5.
