Place of Birth: Wilmington, North Carolina
Age at Death: 70
Date of Death: February 24, 1900
Interment source:
Bay View Cemetery Association, Corpus Christi, Texas. Record of Interments
NO HEADSTONE
Jerry Atkinson is the older brother of Frank Atkinson who is also buried in Old Bayview Cemetery. Jerry was born about 1830 in Wilmington, North Carolina. His given name is actually “Jeremiahâ€. The family is listed in the 1860 census of Nueces County under the name of “Adkinson†(p. 296b) as living at the Motts. Jerry at 31 years old is listed as the head of the house. With him are what appear to be his mother Sophia (60 years old), sister Oma/Anna (26 years old), brother Francis/Frank (21 years old), brother Edward (18 years old), and sisters Ellen (17 years old) and Emily (15 years old). All of the family members are listed as natives of North Carolina. With his brother Frank, Jerry also served in the Confederacy during the Civil War (see Frank Atkinson web site for info on his service). After the war, the brothers worked together as carpenters and builders in the Corpus Christi and San Diego area. Brother Edward is usually listed as a “tinnerâ€. They had their shops on Mesquite Street where they could do quality woodwork with the latest machines available to them here in south Texas. One article mentions their new steam driven planer that could do “tongue-and-groove†work and shape wood “moulding†for a room (Daily Gazette of 15 January 1876, page 4, col. 2). Another article (found on the site under Frank Atkinson) mentions a disaster that befell the downtown area when the steam engine of their new machine blew up. In the 1870 census (Nueces County p. 147A), Jerry is living along with a number of single men in what appears to be a boarding house run by George and Bridget Cassell. The list of single men includes Wm. A. Small who is helping Mr. Cassell (a native of France) run a bakery. However, there are others involved like Jerry in building. Charles Sullivan is a 30 year old carpenter of Arkansas, and Benjamin Phillips is a 50 year old brick mason from Indiana also living in the house. A total of 9 boarders live with the Cassell family who have just had a son Gabriel born in February of that year of 1870. In the same 1870 census of Nueces County the one who appears to be Jerry’s future wife, Catherine, is living nearby (page 168A). She is the daughter of James and Catherine “Golledgeâ€. James too is a painter (another talent of Frank and his brother Jerry). In this census James Golledge and his wife and older daughter Libby are all born in England. In this 1870 census younger daughter Catherine is listed as born in Texas. However, this family is also listed in Nueces County in the 1860 census. In this earlier census, Catherine is listed as 14 years old and born in England. James is listed as 50 as well as his wife (Elizabeth in this listing), and their daughter Elizabeth “Libby†is a native of England aged 23 years old. This seems closer to the truth. In the latter part of 1860 young Catherine M. Golledge of Corpus Christi married Benjamin C. Weinrich of Indianola in that city on November 24, 1860 (Indianola Courier of Nov. 24, 1860 page 3 col. 2). Either Benjamin died or the two divorced because by the 1870 census Catherine is found listed under her maiden name. By the 1880 census Catherine is living with Jerry Atkinson. It seems that their marriage is the one recorded in Nueces County between “J. W/M. Atkinson†and “C. M. Leonard†on March 20, 1879 (volume E page 107). This would mean that Catherine married a second time prior to her marriage to Jerry. In the 1880 census of Duval County Jerry and Catherine are living with their family in San Diego, Texas. In this census Catherine is listed as born in England with a daughter Theodora (born about 1868 in Texas) as well as sister-in-law Elizabeth Golledge (46 year old single female from England and probably the “Libby†who is listed as sister of Catherine in the 1870 census). As in the 1860 census both Elizabeth and Catherine are listed as from England. The ages given in the 1880 census are somewhat confusing as the 1870 census would indicate Catherine is actually older than 30 (she was reported as 25 years old in 1870 and 14 years old in 1860). The older age agrees with the 1900 census in which Catherine says she was born in January of 1846 in England and came to America in 1854. Moreover, the age of the oldest child, Theodora (given as 12 years old), makes it clear that she is not really the daughter of Jerry even though she is listed in the 1880 census and also marries under the name of “Atkinsonâ€. Baptismal records from the First Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi confirm that Theodora is actually Catherine’s daughter by her marriage to Mr. Leonard. Her baptism is recorded under the name “Dora Catherine Leonard†and is listed under children and infants baptized. Her baptismal date is given as January 26, 1874 (records found in volume prepared by Corpus Christi Chapter of the D.A.R. and in library under #CCTx, 929.3, D238t). At any rate, in 1880 Jerry and Catherine are married and living in San Diego, Duval County, Texas (1880 census p. 230B). Jerry died at 70 years old in 1900 and his widow is found in the 1900 census of Nueces County living with their “son†James. In this census (1900 Nueces County p. 123A), Catherine lists herself as born in England in January of 1846. James is listed as born in January of 1888. In this census Catherine says that only one of the two children born to her still lives, but she may mean that only one of them live with her. Her daughter Theodora appears to live next door (1900 census Nueces County, p. 123A). It seems likely that Theodora is the one listed as “Dora C. Atkinson†who married Isaac S. Johnson in Nueces County on May 15, 1895 (volume F page 337). In the 1900 census, I. S. Johnson, his wife “Deliaâ€, and children are listed as living next door to Catherine. However, the census record of 1910 further confuses the data given. In 1910 Catherine is listed as residing on Tiger Street. The 1907-8 city directory of Corpus Christi says that she lives at 1402 Tiger Street. But in this 1910 census she reports herself as a widow with no surviving children. Living with Catherine are two young men who are listed as her “grandsonsâ€. One is listed as James E. Atkinson, 19 years old, a repairer who works on the railroad. The other young man is “Gollidge†(seemingly a variation of “Golledgeâ€) Atkinson who is 16 years old and working as a tinsmith apprentice (maybe with the tinner Edward Atkinson, brother of Frank and Jerry). It is unclear who their parents are since they couldn’t be the sons of the James listed as 12 in 1900 because grandson James E. Atkinson would have been born when his father was 2 years old. In fact the “James Atkinson†listed as Catherine’s 12 year old son in 1900 and the “James E. Atkinson†listed as her 19 year old grandson in 1910 might be the same person. This would seem to mean that the James listed as her son in 1900 is really her grandson whom she is caring for while her actual son is elsewhere or is the one deceased. The other possibility is that the census taker has mistakenly given the boys their grandmother’s name when they are children of Catherine’s daughter Theodora and would have her married name, not maiden name. However, as noted previously, Dora married in 1895 so she would not seem to be the mother of these boys. At any rate Dora Johnson died at her home 1402 Tiger Street (note this is listed as Catherine’s residence in 1907 city directory) in June of 1914 (C. C. Caller of 21 June 1914, page 2A col. 6). While Ward and Noel’s book on Cemetery Data of Nueces County list Dora Johnson as originally buried in Old Bayview and then removed to Rose Hill, her obituary states that she was actually buried directly at Rose Hill Cemetery which was brand new in 1914. The Corpus Christi Caller of July 29, 1919 (the summer prior to the 1919 storm) carries an article that announces that Catherine M. Atkinson is moving to Ogden, Utah after 67 years of making her home in Corpus Christi. It is unclear (at this writing) what happened to the family after that move. Presumably Catherine made that move to be closer to some family member that she could count on for support. The international genealogical registry does include in its listing of social security and genealogical records the birth of a “James Edward Atkinsonâ€. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on 10 September 1890 and died in Monterrey, California 27 December 1976. This may be the descendent of Jerry Atkinson who was living with the widow Catherine M. Atkinson and listed as her 19 year old grandson in 1910 because he has the same name and age. It may be that Catherine was following this branch of the family when she moved out of Corpus Christi just prior to the great storm of 1919.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
Jeremiah M. Atkinson applied for a pension as a Confederate veteran late in his life when he was suffering from complications resulting from old age. On 20 of September 1899, Jerry applied for the pension and gave the following information. He states in his application that he is 70 years old and has resided in Corpus Christi since 1858. He describes his physical condition as very feeble because of rheumatism and sickness due to old age which has left him unable to practice any occupation. He reports that he had been a member of"Co. A" of the 12th Texas Cavalry in which he had served honorably. He says he never deserted and was honorably discharged. He notes that his only real property is a part interest in lot 8 in the court house block of Corpus Christi, used as a homestead. However, he states testifies that the house is very old and dilapidated and almost unfit for use. It is comparatively of no value and the lot is worth about $250. He admits that he is drawing pauper assistance from Nueces County and it on the county's pauper list. W. S. McGregor and Ed Atkinson (Jerry's brother) testify that they know him personally and know of his service in the Confederacy and his inability to support himself by labor of any sort. Dr. King R. Cutler testifies to the medical conditions of Jerry Atkinson. His pension was approved on December 18, 1899. However, he died in 1901 so his widow then applied for a pension because of her indigent conditions. In her initial application made on May 7, 1918 Catherine M. Atkinson testifies that Jeremiah died 24 February 1901. She says that she has not remarried since his death and that she married him March 20, 1879 in Nueces County. She reports that she was born in Cardiff, England and is now 72 years old. She presently resides at 516 Palo Alto Street and only knows that her husband served in Bee's Brigade, Bushell's Regiment. She believes he was in the infantry. Problems resulted from her inability to find any of the old comrades of Jerry to give testimony to his service with them. Most of his comrades are dead or their whereabouts is unknown. Frank Stephenson gives testimony to his knowledge of Catherine and the fact that she has not remarried. Eli T. Merriman also gives testimony to her character. J. C. Bluntzer testifies as state and county assessor for Nueces County that the only property Catherine has is a homestead valued at about $350. In a further testimony on July 10, 1918 Catherine again asserts that as far as she knows Jerry enlisted in Company A of Bee's Brigade This time R. R. Hall gives testimony that Catherine is the widow of Jerry and has not remarried. David M. Picton, Jr. is the county judge of Nueces County who tries to help Catherine fill out all necessary papers to merit the pension, and he personally helps her in his correspondence with state and federal authorities. Included in the reapplication is a long, hand written letter from Mary A. Sutherland pleading for Catherine and testifiing to the service of her husband and Catherine's merit of the pension. Judge Picton also sends a long letter to J. C. Jones, Commissioner of Pensions, to explain anew the circumstances and facts. He repeats much of the facts Catherine had initially given regarding her birthplace and her marriage date. He adds that Edward and Frank Atkinson were both brothers of Jeremiah Atkinson who enlisted and served with him, but they too are deceased now and can't give testimony. He points out that Edward drew a pension, but died about April 25, 1918. He says Frank never drew a pension, but his widow Margaret (Parker) was still drawing a pension. After multiple letters between Corpus Christi and Austin, Catherine's application was finally approved on July 15, 1918 and ordered to be given beginning back at June 1, 1918. In the absence of proof from documents or testimony from other military comrades of Jerry, Catherine had to swear of her own knowledge of his scrvice and its merit as prescribed by law. Shortly after this, Catherine left Corpus Christi in 1919 prior to the great hurricane. She moved to Utah, presumably to be close to some of her relatives who could care for her.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell