Person:Mary Taber (17)

m. 7 Oct 1805
  1. Thomas Taber1806 - 1879
  2. Richard Taber1806 - 1806
  3. Susan Taber1809 - 1840
  4. William Taber1811 - 1898
  5. James Taber1812 - 1902
  6. John Taber1814 - Bef 1822
  7. Henry Taber1816 - 1827
  8. Eliza Taber1818 - 1854
  9. Mary Ann Taber1821 - 1914
  10. John Taber1823 - 1858
  11. Alexander Taber1825 - 1873
m. 19 May 1842
Facts and Events
Name Mary Ann Taber
Married Name _____ Shentley
Gender Female
Birth[1] 1 Aug 1821 Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England6 Queen Street, Goswell Street
Christening[1] 3 Mar 1822 St. Bartholomew the Great, City of London, Middlesex, England
Emigration[2][10] 22 Jun 1830 London, EnglandAge 9; Ship: Hibernia
Marriage 19 May 1842 New York City, New York, United StatesBedford Street Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Griffin
to Richard Henry Shentley
Census[7] 30 Jul 1860 Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United StatesAge 27 (correct age 38)
Residence[7] 30 Jul 1860 Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States
Naturalization[4] 9 Nov 1891 Potter, South Dakota, United StatesPotter County Court
Property[9] 17 Mar 1892 Potter, South Dakota, United States160 Acres of Land granted to Mary Ann Shentley under the Homestead Act of 1862
Census[2] 23 Jun 1900 Waukesha, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United StatesAge 71 (actual 77); widow, mother of no children
Residence[2] 23 Jun 1900 Waukesha, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States413 McCall Street
Residence[6] From 1908 to 30 Apr 1910 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United StatesMethodist Episcopal Old Peoples Home, 1417 Foster Ave
Census[6] 30 Apr 1910 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United StatesAge 87; widow, mother of no children
Death[8] 5 Oct 1914 Chicago Heights, Cook, Illinois, United States
Burial[8] Aft 5 Oct 1914 Chicago Heights, Cook, Illinois, United StatesRosehill Cemetary

According to family history, Mary Ann and Richard adopted a child who died. Richard went back to England to settle some affairs having to do with his family's estate. Eventually, Mary Ann received a postcard from Richard's sister informing her that he had died on the ship to England. Mary Ann never accepted this explanation and, for years, would look in the post for a letter from him. Mary Ann went to live with her brother Alexander Taber and Sarah Hall Taber's family, helping raise their children. She moved to Dakota Territory with Sarah Hall Taber, Sarah's children, and Sarah's second husband, James Somerville. After Sarah's children were grown, Mary Ann went to live with Frederick Taber and Family for awhile, with Ida Taber Lufkin and Family in California, then she returned to Dakota to live with Clarence. On 17 March 1892, at the age of 71, she is listed in the Potter County Federal Land Records as having received 160 acres of land to homestead and occupy. There is no information in her family's history as to how this land was used or disposed of. She helped raise Clarence's children. In 1908, Clarence placed her in the Methodist Episcopal Old People's Home, 1415 Foster Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Great Aunt Mildred Taber Clark characterized her in a letter written January 21,1986; "Great credit should be given to her, a forsaken, disappointed little woman destitute of income, dependent upon relatives. She surely must have filled a great mission in my mother's life, for she cared for the three babies, growing children and endless household chores. I recall her care, undressing us at night, hearing our prayers kneeling at her lap, walks, stories innnumerable, reading to the three of us little Sunday School papers we brought home each Sunday. ...uncomplaining little one, never, (I was told) ever asked for anything but "a little senny to make senny tea," on Saturday night." Great Aunt Mildred also said that Aunt May was truly happy in the Methodist Home and that Agnes Taber was at her bedside when she passed away.

Image Gallery
References
  1. 1.0 1.1 Mary Ann Taber, in England. Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Findmypast)
    Pg 71, No 564, 3 Mar 1822.

    name: Mary Ann Taber
    gender: Female
    christening date: 03 Mar 1822
    christening place: ST BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT,LONDON,LONDON,ENGLAND
    birth date: 01 Aug 1821

    Mary Ann Taber Baptism
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Clarence W Tabor family, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    23 Jun 1900.
  3.   New York Herald (New York City, New York)
    Pg. 3, Col. 2, 27 May 1842.

    On Thursday, 19th inst., by the Rev. Mr. Griffin, Mr. RICHARD HENRY SHENTL(E)Y, of Brighton, England, to Miss MARY ANN TABER, of this city.

    Mary Ann Taber Marriage Announcement Bedford Street Methodist Church Marriage Register Mary Ann Taber's Marriage Certificate
  4. Original Naturalization Certificate - partial page
    1891.

    Source: Personal Papers of Clarence Wilbur Taber

    Naturalization Application Final Naturalization Paper Naturalization Certificate
  5.   Breaking Sod on the Prairies and The Business of the Household, Clarence Wilbur Taber, Author
    1927, 1918.

    From: "Breaking Sod on the Prairie" Pages 4-6: "Before I was born, Aunt Mary had come to live with us. She was the Martha of the household, busy long after all the other members of the family had fallen asleep. She had experienced a tragedy against which our own family troubles paled; yet with all her sorrows, grief had left no lines in her face. Because she was always cheerful, always ready to wait on every one, we children naturally learned to love her. We came to depend more and more upon her, and less upon mother, who was so much concered with our spiritual welfare that she could find little time to attend to our physical needs." "My brother, who was constantly in difficulty with Aunt Mary beacuse of his failure to keep his face clean, insisted after every altercation on repeating at family prayers, "and the priest shall pronounce him clean." Despite this assurance, he was not delivered from the wash rag. Indeed, Aunt Mary's vigilant eyes ofter discovered, during prayers, a dirty spot behind brother William's ears." "This, however, (Saturday afternoon) was Aunt Mary's busiest time of the week, for all that was to be eaten on Sunday, must be cooked on Saturday. No fire was allowed in the cookstove on Sunday."
    From: The Business of the Household, Page 279: "System in the Home" "Grandmother's System - Grandmother had a system adapted to her needs, but practically unknown to the present generation. As near as the writer can remember, it was about as follows: Monday, washday; Tuesday, ironing; Wednesday, baking; Thursday, mending; Friday, cleaning: Saturday baking; Sunday, Lord's day."

    Remembrance of Aunt Mary by Clarence Wilbur Taber
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mary N Shentley, inmate, in Cook, Illinois, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T624).

    Chicago, Ward 25, Methodist Episcopal Old People Home, ED 1050, Sheet 3B, Dwelling 35, Family 60, Line 80, NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 267

    1910 U.S. Census Methodist Old People's Home Matthew 25:34-40 Methodist Belief
  7. 7.0 7.1 Alexander Taber family, in Hudson, Jersey, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    30 Jul 1860.

    [1] Internet Archive link, pg 735

    Jersey City, 4th Ward, Pg 161, Dwelling 880, Family 1265, Lines 9-13, NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 693

    1860 U.S. Census
  8. 8.0 8.1 Mary Ann Shentley Death Certificate
  9. Bureau of Land Management Record for Mary Ann Shentley, 17 March 1892
  10. Hibernia Ship's Passenger List