Week 27 - Free – Martha J “Doll” (Coor) Lancaster

Martha lost her mother when she was just three years old in 1872. Besides her, she had four siblings under ten: John E, Mary E, James R, and Daniel K., who was just eighteen months old. It is likely that her older sisters, Sarah “Sallie” Coor and Irma Anna Coor, took care of the younger children.

Her father, James Madison Coor, was a farmer. By 1881, he moved from rural Copiah County, Mississippi to rural Erath County, Texas. All eight of his children who lived to adult moved to Texas, too. He died in 1889, leaving two children needing a guardian, which was done by their uncle, Samuel O Durham, husband of their sister, Irma Anna.

S.O. Durham reported annually to the court in his capacity as guardian for DK and Doll Coor. In December 1894, he reported that Doll Coor married Cary Lancaster on 9 March 1892 and that she sold her entire interest in the Coor Estate to A.A. Chapman.[1]

Her husband’s full name was William Carlton Lancaster, son of George W. Lancaster and Martha J. Polly.[2] He was known in records as Carl or Cary. She was called Doll because she was as beautiful as a doll.

Not much is known about Doll’s life. Many articles found in the Dublin Progress listing when she was visiting people or being visited by people. Such notices were helpful in learning approximately where they lived. Here are some examples:

“Mrs. Dollie Lancaster and son Warren spent Wednesday in Dublin shopping.”[3]

“Mrs. W.C. Lancaster and children Miss Pearl and Master Earl, who have been visiting at Eola, Texas, returned home Sunday night. Mr. Lancaster met them in Brownwood.”[4]

“Mrs. Dollie Lancaster and daughter, Miss Maggie, of Hickey were the guests of Mrs. W.W. Barber and daughter, Miss Lorene, Friday.”[5]

Doll and Carl had six children: George Warren, Willie Friend, Josephine Hazel, Margaret, and twins Earl Carrell and Pearl Carl.

She died 15 September 1942 of complications due to diabetes.[6] Her funeral was held at the First Baptist church of Stephenville with the Rev. Lathe Smallwood officiating.[7]

Her husband sold the family farm in 1920 and moved to Stephenville.[8] This home was in the northwest section of Stephenville and in March 1921, was “practically finished, and is classed as one of the best residences of the city, all the working being high class.”[9]

Doll, middle row on right

[1] Annual Account, Guardianship of Doll Coor & D.K. Coor minor, Probate 242, Erath County, Texas, Probate Records, v. I, p. 146-47, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9QS-38HN?i=651), citing digital film 5783024, item 4, image 652. For her marriage, see Erath County, Texas, Marriages, v. F, p 65, W.C. Lancaster & Miss Mattie Coor, 1892, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3B-LT?cc=1803987), citing film 004820345, image 848. For the sale of her interest, see Erath County, Texas, Deeds, v. 38, p. 390-91, Coors Heirs to AA Chapman, 1892, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C371-19DX-B), image 48.

[2] "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBY-9B4H?i=1814), image 1815; citing Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 54649 (1947), William Carl Lancaster. His parents were listed as G.W. Lancaster and Miss Mattie Polly.

[3] “Harbin,” The Dublin Progress, 15 Oct 1912, p. 3, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/).

[4] “Harbin,” Stephenville Empire, 3 Nov 1911, p. 4, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/).

[5] “Harbin,” The Dublin Progress, 8 May 1914, p. 6, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/).

[6] Erath County, Texas, death records, bk 4, p 532, Mrs. Martha Jane Lancaster, Family History Library, film 1845916.

[7] “Mrs. Lancaster Dies at Home after Short Illness," Stephenville Tribune,18 Sep 1942.

[8] “News Briefs,” Stephenville Empire, 3 Dec 1920, p. 11, and “Lone Oak News,” Stephenville Empire, 10 Dec 1920, p. 8, both The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/).

[9] “Local Briefs,” Stephenville Empire, 11 March 1921, p. 4, The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/).



Copyright © 2021 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

Comments

  1. JacquelineJuly 11, 2021 at 11:02 PM

    I love all those little bits of newspaper articles that tell us who and where our ancestors were visiting. Brings them to life for me.

    ReplyDelete

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