Date of Birth: April 24, ______
Date of Death: 1930
Interment Source:
Ward, Charles A. and Brooks Noel. Cemetery Data of Nueces County, Texas.
Corpus Christi: Coastal Bend Genealogical Society, 1990
NO HEADSTONE
Speculation
The information provided on this burial shows no source (such as map, interment or church record, or survey) other than the date compiled by Dr. Charles Ward and Mr. Brooks Noel (see "Cemetery Data of Nueces County, Texas"). However, Dr. Ward and Mr. Noel do not indicate their source for this data so it can only be presumed that they may have seen a stone during their own survey of the cemetery. Because the data is fragmented, this may indicate that they found only part of a marker or one that was not easily readable. They simply record the burial of a Robert Thomas whose birth is "24 Apr" and whose death is given as "1930". This author is a member of the Thomas family, a great-great grandson of Isom H. Thomas who is buried at this same site. The patriarch, Isom H. Thomas, was a caporal on the Laureles Ranch under Capt. M. Kenedy and the subsequent owners of the ranch until his death in 1900. It is recorded by the family that his widow Martha and daughter Aseneath A. Thomas-Downs are buried in the same location. However, he has no son named Robert nor is any descendent named "Robert Thomas" listed on a Thomas family tree compiled by granddaughters Rose Downs-Walshe and Irene Howell-Citty (also buried in Old Bayview next to her father, Ferd C. Howell). This may mean that Robert is an infant who belonged to one of the descendents of Isom and who simply wasn't included on the family tree because of dying at a very young age (maybe even stillborn, but named nevertheless). It is known that at least one grandson of Isom died as a child. This is the son of Arthur J. Thomas, Sr. However, this child is identified as Arthur J. Thomas, Jr. He did die prior to 1933 when his mother's obituary acknowledges that he preceded her in death. The "Roberts" that are reported in the Thomas family tree are from the "Downs" branch (please note that Aseneath A. Thomas-Downs is buried in Old Bayview with a marker next to her father's). It may be that this is a misreading of a marker fragment whose first and middle given name is "Robert Thomas" as it was common practice in this family to use family names as personal names. For example, the uncle of this author died as an infant and was buried in Sunshine Cemetery near the former ranchlands on which the Thomas family lived and worked. His name was William Thomas Howell, but the "Thomas" in his name is for his paternal grandmother's family/maiden name (Minnie J. Thomas) while "William" is for his maternal grandfather's personal given name (William S. Westbrook). Because no marker with information is extant, it is not possible at present to clarify who is intended by the designation "Robert Thomas", born April 24 and died 1930.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell (20 October 2007)