William Carlton Lancaster’s Nickname for Wife, Martha J. Coor

Martha Jane Coor was born 10 May 1873 in Copiah County, Mississippi, to James Madison Coor and Melissa Ann Welch.[1] After her mother died, she moved to Erath County, Texas, with her father in the early 1880s.[2]

She was nicknamed “Doll.” The story I got from my grandmother, Pansy Louise Lancaster, who was her granddaughter, was her grandfather called her that because she was so beautiful, like a doll.[3]

Another researcher also told a similar story to me: “My dad, Ivey Coor, [nephew of Martha Jane, his father was James Rufus, brother of Martha], talked about Dolly numerous times. He said that the reason her nickname was Dolly was because she was so beautiful and looked like a Doll.”[4]

Did her husband name her Doll or was she already called Doll before they were married?

William Carl Lancaster and Mattie Coor were married on 9 March 1892 by minister, C.G. Kiker.[5] She was not named Doll in this document, but rather “Mattie,” a nickname for Martha. In 1880, she was named Martha on the census enumeration.[6] On the school census, she was also named Martha.[7]

Her father died on 20 March 1889, leaving two children underaged. His brother-in-law, Samuel O. Durham, was appointed administrator of the estate.[8] At the December term 1891, he was appointed guardian of two minor children, Doll aged 17 and D.K. aged 14.[9] When it was time to sell property of the minors, she was also named Doll Coor, even though the sale was in 1893 after her marriage to William Carlton.[10]

It seems she was called “Doll” before her marriage. The same researcher shared a photo of Doll as a young woman and she was beautiful.[11]

#52Ancestors: Week 22 – A Name With Meaning

This is my ninth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’sSouthern Family or MyTrails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

[1] Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Erath Co, death certificate 39867, 1942, Martha J. Lancaster, imaged, “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1983324).

[2] For arrival in Texas, see Stephenville Empire, 6 Jan 1883, p. 3, col. 2.

[3] Pansy Louise Johnston, interview by Lisa Gorrell, 1 Sep 1988.

[4] Ancestry Messages, jwbj712, owner of Ancestry Tree "Coor-Slaughter-Barton-Bell Family Tree," 8 July 2020.

[5] Erath Co, Texas, marriages, v. F, p 65, W.C. Lancaster & Miss Mattie Coor, 1892, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3B-LT : accessed 6 Mar 2026); IGN 004820345, image 848 of 967.

[6] 1880 U.S. census, Copiah Co, Mississippi, Browns Store, ED 27, p. 281d (stamped), family 164, James M. Coor.

[7] "Enumeration of Educable Children," 1878, Copiah County, np, Brown's Store, Coor children, imaged, Mississippi Department of Archives and History (https://da.mdah.ms.gov/series/educablechildren/copiah/1878/detail/694876 : accessed 3 Sep 2025); image 263 of 274.

[8] Erath Co, Texas, probate, v. G, p. 461, estate no. 241, S.O. Durham, oath as administrator James M Coor estate, 1891, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QS-3ZHJ : accessed 27 May 2026), IGN 005783024, item 1, image 145 of 237.

[9] Erath Co, Texas, probate, v. G, p. 462, estate no. 242, application of S. O. Durham, guardian, minor Coor children, 1891, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9QS-3Z7R : accessed 27 May 2026), IGN 005783024, item 1, image 146 of 237.

[10] Erath Co, Texas, deeds, v. , p. 374-76, S.O. Durham, guardian minor Coor children to D.P. Coor, 1893, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WM-S93X-X : accessed 27 May 2026), IGN 008592589, item 2, image 190 of 325.

[11] “Coor-Slaughter-Barton-Bell Family Tree,” owned by jwbj712, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/27334756/person/12153044710/facts : accessed 26 May 2026).

Copyright © 2011-2026 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

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