Family of James F. Towson and Louisa Barker

Family of James F. Towson and Louisa Barker

James Franklin Towson, born 1822, was the son of Joshua Towson and Mary Ferrel. He married Louisa Barker, daughter of William Barker, on April 6th 1841 or April 8th 1842 at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore.

The couple’s children appear to have been: Edwin Barker (born about 1842), Elizabeth Estelle (born 1845), Mary Louisa (born about 1848), Ruth A (born about 1862), Kate M. (born about 1867), and Nannie C (born about 1870).

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Apr 8, 1842; pg. 2.

James was a merchant tailor, a business he would eventually operate with his son, Edwin. 

 

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Apr 16, 1864; pg. 2.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Nov 19, 1868; pg. 2.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Nov 10, 1868; pg. 2.

In the 1880 Census, Edwin, Kate, Ruth, and Nannie are living with their uncle Evan Thomas Barker. By then, James has died, and Louisa has married.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Jul 5, 1875; pg. 2.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); May 17, 1890; pg. 2.

Only son Edwin Barker appears in the 1900 Census with sisters Ruth (38), Kate (33), Nannie Cutaiar (30) and Estelle T. Watters (47). Four other people in the household are listed as lodgers. Nannie, Ruth and Kate are living together in the 1920 Census.

Source: GenealogyBank.com, Baltimore American; May 5, 1904; pg. 14.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); May 5, 1904; pg. 6.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); May 6, 1904; pg. 4.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); May 6, 1904; pg. 16.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Nov 4, 1903; pg. 4 .

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Jan 5, 1919; pg. 17.

 Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Nov 29, 1921;  pg. 16.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Dec 1, 1921; pg. 5.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Oct 12, 1927; pg. 6.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Oct 12, 1927; pg. 18.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Oct 13, 1927; pg. 21.

Source: ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun (1837-1988); Dec 29, 1931; pg. 15.

When Kate M. Towson died on Christmas Day unmarried at the age of 64 in 1931, it appears all of her siblings had predeceased her, leaving no children, nieces or nephews for whom to leave her estate. A will was submitted to the court which bequeathed $1,000 each to Hester Elizabeth Jones, "who has served me faithfully and well for a long space of time," and two men Kate called "my friend," Howard Nelson Blight and Milton Leonard Blight. To "my friend" Cora Blight, referred to in her obituary as her cousin, Kate left "all my jewelry, silver, furniture and personal effects of which I may be possessed at my death." Finally, she left all the rest of her estate to Cora Blight and Richard B. Pue to be divided equally. The will was witnessed Chas and John Malpass. You can see it here.

While neither Kate nor her siblings had any children, there were other family members to take objection to this will. Before December 30th, a Notice of Caveat was filed on behalf of Joshua J. Towson et. al, though I can't tell if the Caveat itself was actually filed. A letter from a lawyer to the court states that Joshua J. Towson of 1731 West North Avenue was first cousin of Kate M. Towson. It went on to say that "Although my clients have been in touch with the deceased for a number of years, immediately upon her death possession of the body was taken by Mrs. Cora B(?) Blight, who has denied my clients access thereto, and who, although she bears no relationship within knowledge of my clients, claims to have been appointed administrator of the estate of said Kate M. Towson by this Court, although records do not so show, and at the same time denying that Kate M. Towson left a will. In the event that no will has been left, I desire this to be considered as a formal application by my client for the granting of Letters of Administration to him on said Estate." A further letter identified Joshua J. Towson, Virginia Towson, Elizabeth Towson, Rose Tabler and Helen Abell all as first cousins of Kate M. Towson. Although it appears this caveat was withdrawn, the record is valuable as it connects the family of James F. Towson with that of John Philip Towson, meaning that James's parents were Joshua Towson and Mary Ferrel.