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Ruby Lee Rouse |
It is a fortunate thing when someone touches your life in such a way that memories sustain you throughout your life. For me, that special person was my grandmother, Ruby Rouse Giddens. She was wise, loving, kind and held a quiet strength that carried her through some pretty difficult times. In other words, she was a great role model for her family. I hope this edition will convey how special Ruby was to everyone who knew her.
I wasn't sure what I would uncover for her ancestry. I am happy to report that I have been able to uncover quite a bit. The interesting thing is that of all the loved ones I have researched so far, Ruby's family has the largest number of different families intertwined to create her story. Kind of like a patchwork quilt. How fitting.
Those who knew Ruby, know she was quite the quilter, so why not tell her story as if it were a quilt? The first pieces of this quilt will be items and documents I have found online or in books. The other pieces of the quilt will be photos, conversations, and memories provided by family members . All of these will be sewn together to create a biographical quilt I will call:
"Ruby's Quilt"
A Patchwork of a Life Well-Lived
A Patchwork of a Life Well-Lived
Ruby's Father's Heritage:
Rouse
Rouse Name Meaning
English: nickname for a person with red hair, from Middle English, Old French rous ‘red(-haired)’ (Latin russ(e)us). Americanized spelling of German Raus.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
The Rouse family can be traced back to Ruby's great grandfather, Joseph B. Rouse, Jr. (abt. 1820 - 1888). Joseph married twice. His first wife was Nancy Burton (abt 1824 - abt 1854). The 1850 census shows that they lived in Macon, GA. By that time, they had 5 children: James Joseph, Nancy Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, and Susan. Jessie and Jonathan (Ruby's grandfather) would be born in 1851 and 1853, respectively.
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1850 census. Family of Joseph B. Rouse with first wife Nancy Burton |
By 1860, the Rouse family would live in Sumter, GA with Joseph's 2nd wife, Sarah J. Contin(sp)?. Some family records state that they married around 1856. Sarah would bring 4 children to the marriage, James H., Mary E, William B., and Henry O. Joseph and Sarah then expanded the family with 4 more children: Fannie, Robert, Emma, and Ida. Since Joseph B. was a farmer, I guess he had to keep the farmhands coming!
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1860 census. J.B. would be married to his second wife Sarah J Contin(sp?) |
In 1875, Joseph and Nancy's youngest son, Jonathan, married Mary Elva Pounds. Together, they had 8 children: Claudius, James Joseph (J.J.), Eva, Mela, Masy E, Fannie, Roy and Jonah. The 1900 census shows that the family lived in Dougherty, GA.
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1880 census shows Jonathan and Elva living with her parents James and Nancy Pounds. |
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1900 census shows the Rouse family living in Daugherty, GA. Eldest son Claudius is listed as head of household. It is believed that Jonathan died around 1888. |
Ruby's Mother's Heritage:
Fletcher
Fletcher is a surname of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. The name is an occupational name for an arrowsmith or seller of arrows, derived from the Middle English, Old English "Fulcher" or Old French flech(i)er (in turn from Old French fleche "arrow").
Fletcher (surname) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_(surname)
Fletcher is a surname of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. The name is an occupational name for an arrowsmith or seller of arrows, derived from the Middle English, Old English "Fulcher" or Old French flech(i)er (in turn from Old French fleche "arrow").
Fletcher (surname) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_(surname)
John Fletcher's Ancestry:
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source: History of Irwin County by J.B. Clements pg.418. William was Ruby's great great grandfather |
According to the book, History of Irwin County by J. B. Clements, John
W. Fletcher, Jr. (1861-1942) was born in Irwin county to John W.
Fletcher Sr. and his 2nd wife, Martha Slaughter (1835-1891). They were
descendants of William Fletcher, explained here:
Ruby's grandfather John Fletcher, Jr was a farmer who raised cattle and crops on his farm in Berrien County. John married Catherine Paulk (1862-1940) on April 12, 1883. They had 2 daughters: Sarah and Margaret.
Catherine Paulk's Ancestry:
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1870 census in the household of John W. and Martha Fletcher. I love reading these, especially when they list lots of other family members who lived nearby. |
Ruby's grandfather John Fletcher, Jr was a farmer who raised cattle and crops on his farm in Berrien County. John married Catherine Paulk (1862-1940) on April 12, 1883. They had 2 daughters: Sarah and Margaret.
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Ruby's grandfather, John W. Fletcher, Jr |
Catherine Paulk's Ancestry:
Paulk
Variant spelling of Scottish Polk, a reduced form of Pollock. Shortened form of German Paulke, a pet form Paul.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Pressk's Ancestry:
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Catherine Paulk's grandfather and grandmother were Thomas and Nancy Henderson Paulk |
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source:Irwin County History by J.B. Clements pg 426 |
Catherine was the only living child of Daniel C. Paulk (1837-1862) and Margaret Gaskins (1835-1900). They also had an infant son Daniel, who died at birth on April 15, 1863.
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Gravesite of Infant Son of Daniel C. and Margaret Gaskins Paulk source:findagrave.com |
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Gravesite of Margaret Gaskins Paulk, Catherine's mother. source: findagrave.com |
Daniel C. Paulk served in the 50th GA Regiment of the Confederate Army. He mustered out in August of 1862 and his regiment went to VA. He died of 'disease', possibly measles in Winchester, VA on November 2, 1862, leaving a then pregnant wife with a small daughter, Catherine. He is buried at the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery in Winchester, VA. Unfortunately, his headstone is mismarked as are several from this regiment. One of these days, I hope to visit his gravesite.
Daniel C. Paulk headstone incorrectly spelled at Stonewall Confederate Cemetery, Winchester, VA |
On a separate note, to learn more about Daniel's regiment, I highly recommend the book Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of GA 50th Regiment, CSA by James W. Parrish. It is interesting and eye opening.
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Parents of Daniel Paulk, Thomas and Nancy Henderson Paulk. photo courtesy of Derek Ennis Veal |
Daniel was the son of Thomas Paulk (1812-1894) and Nancy Henderson (1810-1901). One of Thomas and Nancy's children was Mahala Henderson Paulk, Daniel's sister. She would marry my mother's 3rd g greatfather, James Gibbs, Sr. This is the connection of those two families intertwined with ours.
Gaskins and McMillan
Margaret Gaskins' (Catherine's mother) parents were William (1804-1880) and Jane McMillan Gaskins (1816-1894).
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source:findagrave.com |
Jane's parents were Daniel McMillan (1782-1838) and Margaret Smith(1785-1819). They were from N.C. and died in Irwin Co.
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Daniel McMillan gravesite source:findagrave.com |
Ruby's Own Family is Added to the Quilt
Ruby's Parents: James Joseph(JJ) and Sarah Fletcher Rouse
Ruby Lee Rouse was born to Sarah Fletcher (1884- 1912) and James Joseph "J.J." Rouse (1878-1964) on March 15, 1910 in Alapaha GA. Sarah and JJ had 3 children: James Paul 1908-1962, Ruby 1910-2003, baby James Aldine 1912.
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1910 Census of JJ and Sarah Rouse with daughters Ruby and Margaret |
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Ruby's Birthplace in Alapaha GA. Photo courtesy of Gail Giddens Mosely |
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Ruby's mother Sarah Fletcher Rouse photo courtesy of Gail Giddens Mosely |
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Sarah and James are buried in the Jane Gaskins Family Cemetery, Berrien Co. Photo source:findagrave.com |
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J.J. and Lula would have two children, Elva and Joseph.
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1930 Census shows JJ and Lula lived in Ocilla, GA |
J.J. and Lula are buried in Riverside Memorial Cemetery, Jacksonville FL
JJ Rouse grave marker in Jacksonville, FL. photo: findagrave.com |