Victoria Sinclair
In memory of
Victoria
wife of
S. Sinclair
Died Feb. 3, 1911
Aged 54 yrs.
Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
Biography
Victoria Sinclair, the wife of Stephen Sinclair, was an early member of the African-American community of Corpus Christi subsequent to the Civil War. According to the 1900 federal census of Nueces County, Victoria was born in June of 1857 and was a native of Texas while her dad was from Louisiana and her mom from Mississippi (Nueces County 1900 federal census, ED 133, sheet 5/160A). The marriage records of Goliad County report that Stephen Sinclair married "Victoria Lott" on 27 June 1877 with Rev. Jackson Johnson as the presiding minister (Goliad Marriage Records, volume 2 page 25). Stephen is listed in the 1870 census as already residing in Corpus Christi with Clara Sinclair (most likely his mother). In that record he is 17 years old, and Clara is 40. It seems he brought his new wife home to Corpus Christi, and Clara moved in with her daughter Belle to help in her work as a laundress to support the family (Nueces County 1880 federal census). Other members of the Sinclair family already in Corpus Christi included Rev. Moses Sinclair with his wife and 3 children (Nueces County 1880 federal census). The older Sinclairs (Clara and Moses) are both listed as natives of Louisiana. Corpus Christi resident Alclair Pleasant, who celebrated her 100th birthday in 2006, is a descendent member of the larger Sinclair family. Stephen and Victoria settled into the community after the marriage and began raising a family. By the 1880 census they have two sons, Perry and Olive (sic). Living with them is also a niece, Nelan (sic) "Stafford". All are listed as "mulatto". Stephen is working as a drayman, and Victoria is keeping house (Nueces County 1880 federal census, ED 116, page 48). Other relatives would presumably have included Jane "Stafford" who married veteran George Owen on 13 September 1874, and then subsequent to his death she married veteran William Warfield on 15 January 1881. She married both George and William in the presence of Rev. Moses H. Sinclair. George and William are also both buried in Old Bayview Cemetery. By the 1900 census record, Victoria had been married to Stephen 23 years and they had 5 surviving children (one had died and may be also buried in Old Bayview along with Stephen and Victoria) living in their home on Winnebago Street. Son Perry (born May 1878) is working as a waiter and son Ollie (born June 1880) is working as a carriage driver. The other children are all in school. These are daughter Ethel (born May 1883), son Thomas (born December 1885), and daughter Maud (born March 1888). Stephen who had been a drayman in 1880 is now listing himself as a farmer. Victoria Lott-Sinclair died on February 3, 1911; but no extant papers have been found that might offer an obituary.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell