Arthur James Terry was born 4 October 1901 in South Carolina, most likely in Richland County. His parents were John TERRY (1868-1942) and Maria MARTIN TERRY (1874-1950). Maria was a sister of my great-grandfather, Adolphus Burdine MARTIN (1687-1917) which makes Arthur my first cousin, twice removed.
Early Life
Arthur’s family lived on the Fort Jackson property in Richland County along with many of my other ancestors. In 1910, Arthur was a wage earner on the family farm along with all of his many older siblings.
By 1920, the building of Fort Jackson, then called Camp Jackson, was well underway and the displaced families scattered. Some stayed in South Carolina, and some went to other states in search of work.
Arthur was working at the Navy Yard in Norfolk as a dredge hand in 1920. I don’t believe he served in the Navy; he was a civilian employee. He lived in Portsmouth. He was 19 at this point.
Arthur, Edna, and Marie
Arthur married Edna HENLEY at some point. I have looked and found next to nothing about her. I only know her name because of two death certificates.
In November 1928 Arthur suffered an abscessed appendix and a lung infarct. He was operated on, but complications set in. He died on 4 December 1928 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia at 27 years of age. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk. According to his death certificate, he was a steamboat engineer.
That’s the first death certificate where I found Edna’s name.
Three weeks later, On Christmas Day, Edna gave birth to Marie Elizabeth TERRY. Marie died on 3 February 1929 from bronchial pneumonia. She was 1 month and 9 days old. She is also buried at Forest Lawn.
That’s the second death certificate with Edna’s name.
Where did Enda go?
I know. My heart went out to Edna when I found all this information. Losing her husband, having a baby, and then losing the baby in just two months’ time. There are no words.
I’ve looked, and I can’t find any more information on Edna. Not a census record or death record even. Now she could have remarried before the 1930 census or just not counted in that census, and then remarried before 1940. There is an Edna Terry that I thought was her at first, but I found she was not my Edna once I did more looking.
Some of Arthur’s brothers have been previously profiled on my website. Here’s the links if you would like to read about them:
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Thank you cousin, this is part of my life too! Thank you for informing me! I will share this with my family! Of course you and I enjoy reading about our forefathers! I enjoy learning more and more about the Martin’s! Since Adolphus Burdine Martin is my great grandfather and his son Adolphus Burdine Martin is my Grandfather and his son Adolphus Burdine Martin is my Uncle! If I am right that are 5 generations Adolphus Burdine Martin but if I am correct if may go back 8 generations! I am so very proud of you! Thank you again! I do have most of the pictures of My grandfathers siblings thanks to you! You have graciously done a splendid job! Love you cuz! Dorothy Lynn Hawkins Rodgers thanks you and since my mother was a Martin this information would be splendid to hand down to my Great Grandson Arlo Martin Tomblin! His mother is McKee and her Grandmother married a Martin who lived in Winchester! Damian Allen Tomblin is my grandson, son of my daughter, Laura Nadine Rodgers-Tomblin! I am not positive but I think Arlo Martin Tomblin’s mom is Miranda McKee Tomblin! Her grandmother being a Martin surprised her when she found out my mother was a Martin! We have no idea about the Martin background! Someday I will find out what her Granddaddy Martin’s name was! He may be a distant far distant cousin! Amazing how life works out! Golly, this information made my day! Love you!
Our Martins didn’t show up in Virginia until the 1920’s, so it might not be the same Martins. I will ask our other Martin cousins who live in Winchester if these names are familiar. Of course, there could be a connection from way further back, too. 🙂 Love you.