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Court Family, Seven Drownings
Thomas Court, John Adams Court, Fred Court, Leslie Simpson, Francis Smith, Sr, Jr, and III, living separate lives at different times, but All worked on the river and all met their demise from drowning. (d) |
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- Seventh To Drown (1943)
'Others of the family were the following: his grandfather Francis M. Smith, his uncle Francis M. Smith, his great-grandfather Thomas Court, his great-uncle JOHN COURT, his uncle Fred Court, and his cousin Leslie Earl Simpson."
So who is Fred Court?
Fred was a brother to Thomas! -- I think. At least it all fits. Fred was identified as an uncle in the obit. If he was an uncle to Francis Earl, he would have to be a brother or brother-in-law of Francis Earl's parents, which didn't seem liely. By being a brother to Thomas, that would make him a great-granduncle, perhaps getting a little too detailed for the writer to be so explicit.
There was an article written in the "Yellowed Pages" Vol XIV, No. 2, Summer of 1984. Authors: gg-granddaughter of Rachel, Dianne Y Cottler, and gg-grandson of James, Frank J. Courts of Middleburg, VA -- Frank, is that you??!?
The article states that a granddaughter of Rachel wrote in a letter that Rachel's "father and one brother were lost at sea on a ship coming home from England with the family belongings" ...
Then the article says, "The family story of Thomas' return to England and subsequent loss of life at sea -- some say in Galveston Bay -- could explain why there is no mention of him anywhere (that we have found) after about 1845."
Then the question was posed, "Who was the brother that went to England with Thomas Court on that ill-fated trip? Was he Rachel's brother? Or Thomas' brother? Was there another son? H.C. Smith's list seems to indicate that there was, ah Mrs. King and J. M. Court are allotted an extra portion 'by brothers death' which each of the other children receives a 'whole share.'"
My bet is that this "another son" would be John T and that Fred would be that missing brother and he was a brother to Thomas. All Rachel's brothers are accounted for.
(No record of any Fred or Frederick in the St. Mary the Virgin church records)
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Abt 1803 - Bef 1849 (~ 45 years)
d. Abt 1830, England 