This entry is part of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series. This week’s prompt is LOVE. To see other posts in this series, view my 52 Ancestors in 2019 index.
I mostly research my father’s side of the family. But with this week’s prompt being LOVE, it’s time to show my maternal side some love and feature an ancestor with a name that perfectly fits the theme: Elizabeth Loving Smith.
My 3x great-grandmother Elizabeth Loving was born February 28, 1804,¹ to parents Bailey Loving and Nancy Cook,² likely in Georgia.³ She married Lot Smith on June 15, 1820, in Lawrence County, Mississippi.⁴
Researching female ancestors of this time period can be challenging, as their names appear on few records. Unless they are a head of household (typically indicating they are widowed), women aren’t even listed by name on federal censuses until 1850. I only have three records naming Elizabeth: her marriage certificate, obituary, and gravestone. Therefore, the best way to fill in details about her life is through records generated by her father and husband.
Continue reading Elizabeth Loving Smith: Love for 16 Children and Her Church