Tombstone Tuesday -- Martha J (Coor) Lancaster

Upper Green's Creek Cemetery, Erath Co, Texas
       Martha Jane Coor was born May 10, 1873 in Copiah County, Mississippi to James Madison Coor and Melissa Ann Welch. She was the ninth child of ten and the fourth and last daughter.  She was called “Doll” because she was very beautiful.[1]  Her mother died in 1876 and the family moved to Erath County, Texas sometime in the early 1880's.[2] 
       Not much is known about her early years and she was just 16 when her father died.  When her and her brother, Daniel K, estate was probated, their estate was worth about $400 consisting of land and cattle.[3]  Her brother-in-law, Samuel O. Durham was the executor of the estate and made guardian to her brother, Daniel.
Carl & Doll Lancaster with Lela Nell Johnston in the center, 
Pansy Johnston on the floor, and Carl's son, George Warren 
& Maggie Self to the rear.
       She married William Carl Lancaster on March 19, 1892.[4]  It was interesting to find in the probate record that he was referred to as “Cary.”  My grandmother always said his name was Carl.  In most official records, such as census, he was usually listed as Wm Carl.
       They had six children: George Warren Lancaster (my grandmother’s father), Willie Friend Lancaster, Josephine Hazel Lancaster, Margaret Lancaster, Earl Carrell Lancaster, and his twin Pearl Carl Lancaster.
       Doll and Carl were married 50 years before she became ill and passed away on September 15, 1942.[5]  She is buried in the Upper Green’s Creek Cemetery in Erath County, Texas.[6]
[1] Johnston, Pansy Louise, interview  1 Sep 1988.
[2] “Mrs. Lancaster Dies at Home After Short Illness,” Stephenville (Texas) Empire-Tribune, clipping, 18 Sep 1942.
[3] Erath, Texas, Probate, Bk G, p 462, Doll Coor & D.K. Coor, FHL microfilm 1428413 & 1428414i1
[4] Erath Co, TX, Marriage Record, Book F, page 65;  WC Lancaster and Miss Mattie Coor, 19 Mar 1892; FHL Film  1026025.
[5] Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 39867 (1942), Martha J. Lancaster; digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), origin, Erath County Death Record, Vol 4, pg 532.  FHL 1845916.
[6] Martha J. Lancaster tombstone, Upper Green’s Creek Cemetery , Erath Co, TX, Tombstone photo, taken by author October 7, 1995.

*Caption to photo corrected 6 Sep 2013 - Woman at rear is Maggie Lancaster Self, Warren's sister.
Copyright © 2011 by Lisa Suzanne Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family

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