Life History

Notes

• Martha's parents were John Wesley Garrison and Nancy Preston.
  
  In 1850, they are recorded in the census as residents of Sumner County, Tennessee.
  
  1850 Federal Census, Sumner County, Tennessee, 25 October, Civil District 10, page 275 (scan 549), Hse/Fam #88
  John Garrison 70 M Farmer Real Estate $400 b Tennessee
  Nancy Garrison 45 F
  Smith Garrison 18 F
  Tyne Garrison 15 F
  Elizabeth Garrison 12 F
  Harriet Garrison 10 F
  Martha Garrison, 9 F
  
  The only actual entry for state of birth is for John, as is the case for all households on this page, except one where the wife's different birth state is entered.  So it is not clear if the enumerator meant that all the members of this family were born in North Carolina or just did not record anyone else!  The birth of her father in NC matches other reports.  But Martha's mother Nancy Preston was born in Tennessee as were all the children.
  
  In 1860, Martha is living with what appears to be her mother (apparently a widow) and her older sister Harriet.  The female head of the household, however, is listed as W Garrison.  In the 1850 census Martha's mother was listed as Nancy, and Nancy was reported as 45 years old.  Age reports are often off, so this is not definitive.  But one  caution here, since Nancy was 45 in 1850, and W Garrison is reported as only 51 in 1860.  Her sister Harriet age 10 of 1850 matches the H Harriet age 21 of 1860.  But Martha, who was reported as age 9 in 1850, is here only 16 in 1860.  The age in 1860 matches her known birth date in 1844.  Family members researching the family accept both these censuses as the correct reports of our Martha Garrison.
  
  1860 Federal Census, Dyer County, Tennessee, 31 July, Civil District 6, PO Dyersburg, page 95 (scan 348), Hse #44, Fam #46
  W Garrison 51 F Seamstress  No Real Estate  Personal Estate $900 b Tennessee
  H Garrison 21 F Seamstress b Tennessee
  Martha Garrison, 16 F Seamstress b Tennessee
  
  Martha Garrison married Elijah William Garrison a few months after this census.
  
  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002
  Martha Garrison
  Spouse E W Brinkley
  Marriage 13 Dec 1860 Dyer County, Tennessee
  
  I have not been able to find Martha in the 1870 census, not can I find an entry for Elijah William Brinkley.
  
  In 1880, Martha is a widowed head of household, with her son Andrew farming the land.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Dyer County, Tennessee, 5 June, Civil District 6, Enumeration District 15, page 14, Hse #112, Fam #114
  Brinkley, Martha  W F 36 Widow Keeping House TN NC TN
  Brinkley, And[rew] W  W M 18  Son  Farmer TN TN TN
  
  An entry in the 1900 census is considered by some family researchers to refer to Martha.  The husband is reported as J A Brinkley, which matches James Anderson Brinkley, brother of Martha's first husband, Elijah W.  It is reported by one family source that Martha married James in Texas after members of the Brinkley family moved to Texas.  Martha's father Elijah had died in Tennessee before the move.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Texas, 4 June, Justice Precinct 5, District 64, Grandview, page 3B, Hse/Fam #53
  Brinkley, J A  Head W M Aug 1845  54 Married 33 years TN NC NC Farmer Owns
  Brinkley, Martha Wife W F May 1845  55 Married 33 years TN TN TN
  
  In this census record, however, the birth places of Martha's parents are both in Tennessee, whereas in other reports, Martha Garrison's father was born in North Carolina.  This detail is often misreported or misrecorded in censuses.  But in addition, the birthday reported here differs from the known birth date of Martha Garrison.  The Martha here is reported as born in August 1845, while Martha Garrison's birth date is 8 February 1844.  This also could be a misreporting in the census.  But there are other details that make this report uncertain.  I have not found another report for Martha Garrison Brinkley in the 1900 census.
  
  Living next to J A and Martha in this census record are two of James' sons from his first marriage with Maggie Burton.  Next door is RC (Robert) and Bulah [sic] Brinkley and next to them J M (James) and Etta (whose first name is not recorded) with their twins Zelma and Elmer Brinkley.
  
  Helen Brinkley Lopez reports the following details about Martha on her genealogy.
  
  Martha Garrison
  Birth 08 Feb 1844 in Sumner County, Tennessee
  Death 22 May 1928 in Westover, Baylor, Texas
  Parents John Wesley Garrison 1812-1851
  Nancy Preston 1811-1876
  Spouses  Elijah W Brinkley 1841-1870
  James Anderson Brinkley 1845-1903
  --  Williams/Brinkley/Mason/Vaughn, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/49994/person/-2136230073
  
  In 1920, Martha is now living in the household of her son Andrew, near Westover in Baylor County, Texas.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Baylor County, Texas, 8 January, Justice Precinct 3 (near Westover), District 13, page 1B, Hse/Fam #5
  Brinkley, Andrew W Head  Owns M W 57 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Section Foreman, Railroad
  Brinkley, Frances L  Wife F W 56 TX TX TN
  Brinkley, Martha  Mother F W 75 Widow TN US US
  
  Family sources report the death date for Martha is 22 July 1928.  The Texas Death Index, however, reports it a day earlier.
  
  Texas Death Index
  Martha Brinkley
  Death 21 May 1928 Baylor County
  Certificate #19418
  
  Westover Cemetery Register Transcription reports her grave information:
  BRINKLEY MARTHA NA GARRISON  MOTHER-IN-LAW FRANCES HILL BRINKLEY WEST  No dates are shown?

Sources

• 1. Westover Cemetery (Westover, Baylor, Texas) Register
  • Name: Name: http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Baylor/cemetery/Westover.html;;
• 2. 1860 Federal Census, Dyer County, Tennessee
  • 31 July, Civil District 6, PO Dyersburg, page 95 (scan 348), Hse #44, Fam #46
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Baylor County, Texas
  • 8 January, Justice Precinct 3 (near Westover), District 13, page 1B, Hse/Fam #5
• 4. Ancestry Trees
  • Williams/Brinkley/Mason/Vaughn, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/49994/person/-2136230073
• 5. Marion L Mixon, Bearden-Langston Genealogy
• 6. 1880 Federal Census, Dyer County, Tennessee
  • 5 June, Civil District 6, Enumeration District 15, page 14, Hse #112, Fam #114
• 7. 1850 Federal Census, Sumner County, Tennessee
  • 25 October, Civil District 10, page 275 (scan 549), Hse/Fam #88
• 8. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Texas
  • 4 June, Justice Precinct 5, District 64, Grandview, page 3B, Hse/Fam #53
• 9. Mollie Mae Brinkley Alexander Family Notes
• 10. Ancestry Trees
  • Williams/Brinkley/Mason/Vaughn, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/49994/person/-2136232450
• 11. 1910 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas
  • 18 April, Weatherford, District 67, page 4A, 45 Weatherford Street, Hse/Fam #77
• 12. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Texas
  • 4 June, Grandview, District 64, page 4A, Hse/Family #63
• 13. 1930 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas
  • 7 April, Weatherford, District 1, page 17A, 305 Edna Street, Hse #156, Family #165
• 14. Ancestry Trees
  • Williams/Brinkley/Mason/Vaughn, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/49994/person/-2136230072?ftm=1
• 15. Ancestry Trees
  • Marion Mixon, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12166079/person/-321972759?pg=32818
• 16. Helen Brinkley Lopez, email to Marion Mixon, October 2009