I've
been stumped for along time by Caroline Dyer's life and final
resting place, and your cemetery info will go a long way in
helping me put some pieces together. Her daughter. Maggie Gilkey
Williams (born c. 1862/1863) was my great
grandmother. Maggie married Henry W. Williams. son of Samuel Washington
(aka Samuel P.) Williams (1818-1854) and Martha Johnson
(1821-189?)
By
trying to assemble bits and pieces about Caroline Dyer
Gilkey's life, I suspect that she was not altogether well,
perhaps physically, mentally, or both. I'm sure the trauma
of the death of her infant son and first
husband (AR Gilkey) death contributed to
what seemed to be a pattern of lifelong instability. I'm sure that the
effects of the Civil War also took its toll on her and many other
I
know for example that my g-grandmother
Maggie seemed to be taken care of
by close friends or relatives (Sallie Keithley in 1870 Census
and George and Sarah Higginbottom in 1880). In 1870,
Caroline was apparently living with Hattie (Cheely?) Dyer. It's my
guess that Hattie was either her widowed mother or
an Aunt.
In
the mid-1870's, Caroline remarried another Gilkey (William H), who was
nearly 15 years her junior. She apparently had a
couple of children by him, or perhaps they were from an interim
marriage, to a James Smith, but I have not been able to verify
this. I believe William H. Gilkey may have been a relative,
perhaps even a younger half-brother of Caroline's
husband R. A. (I believe his name was Richard Allen, and that he went
by either name). William H's father's name was
Although
I have some guesses, I am still trying to figure out who
Caroline's parents were. Because the Dyers were a large family with
many Caroline's, it's really hard to tell, especially with the census
ages not always being precise, and cousins of the same name often being
of similar age.
In
the event that you know of anyone that may have more info on these or
closely relate lines, I would be much appreciative of any contact info
you might have.