Polly Mathews
Polly
Mathews
died
Oct 6, 1889
aged
14 yrs., 7 mos.
6 days
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
Biography
Unfortunately there is very little information on this young adult because she died at such an early age—only a little over 14 years old. She is buried near other members of the Moore family which gives an indication of her family connection. It seems that Polly is a member of the African-American family that was named "Moore" and who were slaves of John Marks Davenport Moore prior to the Civil War. As such she would be related to other individuals also buried in the Old Bayview Cemetery. Since she died in 1889 at 14 years old, it is natural to expect that she should appear in the 1880 census as about 5 years old and living with either a "Mathews" or a "Moore" family member. There is indeed a person recorded who would fits her identity. This is a 5 year old girl named "Polly Mathis" who is living with the Henry Moore family in the 1880 census (federal census of Nueces County 1880, page 21A). Henry and Sarah Moore have a daughter and son-in-law living with them along with granddaughter Polly "Mathis". It would seem that this spelling of Polly's last name is an error by the census recorder. The marriage of Polly's mother, Ellen Moore, to Isaac "Mathews" is found in the Marriage Records of Nueces County in volume D page 98. They married before a justice of the peace on April 3, 1874. Polly would have been their child, born about February 28, 1875 according to her tombstone. It is unclear whether Isaac Mathews died or left Ellen Mathews nee Moore. However, by the 1880 census Ellen lists herself now as "Ellen Winn" with husband "William Winn" and a daughter "Elizabeth Winn" who is only 1 year old. It would seem that Elizabeth's father William was probably born of slave parents in Virginia who at some point escaped north. He lists his parents as born in Virginia, but he is born in Canada. Both Polly's stepfather, William Winn, and her maternal grandfather, Henry Moore, are supporting the family through work as blacksmiths. This was considered a highly valued skill and would indicate that Henry is probably one of those who had been a slave under John Marks D. Moore. Annie Moore Schwein in her stories regarding early Corpus Christi speaks of how Sammy Moore and other slaves of John Marks Moore were trained by him for industries he established while in Georgia. Polly's stepsister, Elizabeth Winn, is the "Lizzie Winn" who married Henry Branch in September of 1899 (Nueces County Marr. Records Vol. F). In the deed records of Nueces County we find that Henry Moore deeded the Moore homestead to his "oldest granddaughter" Polly Mathews in September of 1884 (volume Q page 244-5). Unfortunately little Polly died only a few years later. Henry also deeded to "Henry and Ellen Wynn" (presumably the same persons called William and Ellen Winn in the 1880 census) his property out near the Branch and Thompson families (in Juan Saens/z community) in September of 1884. However, this was filed later (see Deed Records, volume Y pages 575-7). Polly's stepsister, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Winn/Wynn later married Henry Branch (Nueces County Marriage Records, volume F) on 7 September 1899. It seems most likely that Polly's grandparents Henry and Sarah may also have been buried in Old Bayview Cemetery, but unfortunately no record in paper or on stone remains to verify this. Their obits can be found in the local paper, but they do not indicate in what cemetery they were buried.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell