Fauquier County Tapscotts - Florinda Martin Tapscott

Mrs. Florinda Martin Hough

Born 19 Sep 1847 in Clarke Co, VA, Florinda Martin Tapscott (often called “Flora”), Robert and Lucy's third child, was likely named after her aunt Florinda Wood who married Isaac Martin. On 24 Nov 1869 in Clarke County, Virginia, Florinda Tapscott married Randolph Kounslar Hough, son of Harriet Elizabeth Elliot and Armistead T. M. Hough. Commonly pronounced “how” or “hoff,” the last name is often misspelled in records. Born 25 Oct 1847 in Clarke County, Randolph was probably named after the local physician, Randolph Kownslar.

Randolph and Florinda’s first child, Cecil T, was born in Clarke County on 12 Sep 1870. The remaining six births occurred elsewhere, for Randolph went from farming to railroading, which was more lucrative but required a lot of traveling by him and his family. The family first went to West Virginia, where Randolph was a railroad brakeman and where their next three children, William Ernest (23 May 1873 – 14 Aug 1855), Ada R (12 Sep 1875 – 4 Jul 1951), and Lulu (name was likely “Lula,” 10 Apr 1878 – 16 Dec 1883) were born, presumably in the town of Keyser, Mineral County, where the family was living. By 1886, the Houghs had moved to Texas, where R. K. Hough (the name he was given in most news articles) was working as a conductor for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, a job at which he excelled according to newspapers. In 1900 the family was living in Corsicana, Navarro Co, Texas, though R. K. was often found elsewhere, as expected for a railroad conductor. Everything seemed to be going superbly. But it wasn’t.

First, a child, “Claudie,” born 20 Mar 1881, died at age two on 14 Sep 1883. Then, just three months later, Lulu, who had accompanied her parents from West Virginia, died on 16 Dec 1883. She was only five years old. Could things get worse? Definitely.

On 5 Nov 1887 at age seventeen, Cecil, their first-born who was working as a “boy brakeman,” fell from the top of a freight car at Corsicana and was crushed to death under the wheels. But this story becomes worse. According to a newspaper article published back in West Virginia, Cecil’s body was mangled “in a fearful manner” and

The boy's mother has been ill for some time and it was feared the shock would kill her—and when the news was gently imparted to her by Mr. Rankin she was so affected that she immediately went into spasms, and physicians were called, who spent the greater portion of the night with her.

Our story becomes even sadder. The West Virginia newspaper noted that Cecil’s brother William was present during the accident:

Little Willie, who is only about 13 years old, seemed to be totally unbalanced by the terrible occurrence. He was speaking to his brother when he was killed and picked up his hat and watch. After seeing the body laid upon the planks, he entered the caboose where the dead boy had slept and called repeatedly "Cecile, Cecile!" but Cecile had gone beyond even the reach of the voice of a loving brother-where there would be no lanterns swung and the signal to "back" would be heard never. The white face of that child with bloodless lips and scared look was as sad a picture as the unrecognizable remains that lay upon the lumber.

Things continued to go downhill for Florinda and Randolph. Florinda’s persisting episodes of illness were so severe at times that Randolph had to temporarily quit his job to care for her. On 23 Oct 1902 a seventh, and final child, Ollie May, was born. But she would live less than a year, dying on 30 Aug 1903. On 8 Feb 1905 at age 57, Florinda died of pneumonia in Houston. She did not live long enough to see the 3 Jan 1910 death of her sixth child, Lola W., born 17 Apr 1885 and likely named in memory of her dead sister Lula. Lola died at age 25, leaving behind a husband and just two surviving siblings, William and Ada.

Florinda was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas, where six of her seven children, most having died young, would be buried. Only Ada is buried elsewhere, in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland California.

Florinda (“Flora”), Randolph (“R. K.”), and children Cecil, William (“Will”),
Lula, Claudie, Lola, and Ollie are interred in Oakwood Cemetery

Following Florinda’s death, Randolph married twice more. On 4 Apr 1907, in Deming, New Mexico, he wedded Willie M. Chapman. Willie’s previous marriage to Thomas J. Chapman had ended in divorce on 21 May 1902 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co, Texas. Willie's marriage to Randolph lasted just a little over two years. She died on 22 Jun 1909 and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery, sharing a marker with her husband R. K. and stepdaughter Lola. She left behind three sons from her earlier marriage—Randolph, Baine, and Marvin Chapman. To date, we have been unable to determine Willie’s birth name or parentage.

On 25 Oct 1910 in Ennis, Texas, Randolph married Eugenia Turner. Eugenia (often called “Jennie”) was the widow of John C. Schrader. Born Eugenia Lemmon, she and John had married in Indiana 21 Mar 1881. John had died of Consumption on 2 Dec 1896 in Ennis, Texas, where he and Eugenia had gone in hopes of improving his health. Eugenia had then married Charles Turner, a marriage that ended in divorce on 28 Sep 1908 in Waco, Texas. Eugena died 14 Jul 1929 in Ennis, Texas. Her death certificate gives a date of birth of 13 May 1866; however, she is known to have knocked years off her age as she grew older. A birth year around 1856 is more likely.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Thomas M. Tapscott

Henry and Elizabeth’s last known child, Thomas, was born 20 Nov 1894 in Berryville, VA. His SS card, WW I draft card, and cemetery marker give a birth year of 1894; however, his WWII draft registration card and the 1900 census give a year of birth of 1895.

A possible confusion is that another Thomas Tapscott was also born in Berryville, also in November, and around the same year. Thomas Gold Tapscott was born 14 Nov 1896 (or 1892, or 1893) to William Cabell Reeves Tapscott. Thomas's unusual middle name may have come from a relative since several Clarke County residents had the surname “Gold.” Thomas Gold was a member of the James line of Virginia Tapscotts and was not one of the Fauquier County Tapscotts.

Uncle Tom's Marker

Unlike many of his siblings, Thomas of the Fauquier Co Tapscotts, apparently led a rather boring life. We say apparently because he drops out of sight for twenty-two years, between 1920 and 1942, when he was living in Laurel, MD. Thomas started life working as a cotton mill doffer in 1910 and ended up an automobile mechanic. He never married, dying 19 Aug 1995 and leaving no known descendants. Thomas is buried in Ivy Hill Cemetery, where his mother and several of his siblings were laid to rest. His marker is inscribed with “Uncle Tom” and was probably erected by the family of his sister Lillian, with whom he lived for a while. The family called him “Tommy.”

Fauquier County Tapscotts - Lillian Sowers Tapscott

Lillian was the only offspring of Henry and Elizabeth (Sowers) Tapscott who had known children–eight total from two different marriages, both of which ended in divorce. Born 31 Jan 1890 (later records give 29 Jan 1891) in Clarke County as “Lillie”, Lillian Sowers Tapscott moved to Baltimore, Maryland, with her mother and siblings following her father’s death. It was presumably in Maryland that she married John Edwin (sometimes “Edward”) Whitehead around 1907. The couple settled in Laurel, MD next door to Lillian’s mother Elizabeth. There, the couple had six children, one of whom died shortly after birth: Pearl E. (1908 – 5 May 1940), Mary Ethel (12 Jul 1910 – 4 Apr 1986), unnamed male infant (15 Dec 1012 – 18 Dec 1912), Mildred Lois (25 Aug 1914 – 1 Oct 1981), Raymond Randolph (10 Jun 1917 – 10 Jan 1999), and Dorothy Helen (12 Feb 1920 – 24 Apr 2001).

The marriage did not last. By 1920 John was back in his home county, Anne Arundel, MD, living with his widowed father. and Lillian, claiming to be single, was living with her children in Bowie, MD. When John Edwin Whitehead, who did not marry again, died on 30 Oct 1940, his death certificate stated that he was divorced.

Around 1922, Lillian was married a second time, to John Randolph Chaney. While living in Laurel, the couple had two children, 

Laurel about 1940. Lillian lived on Main Street in 1940.

Phyllis Mae (13 Sep 1922 – 30 Sep 2021) and Thomas Howard (22 Oct 1924 – 21 Apr 1977). But like her first marriage, this one also broke up. By 1940 Lillian was living in Laurel without her husband, John. She claimed to be widowed, but John did not die for another five years, on 17 Mar 1945 in Baltimore, MD. His death certificate stated that he was divorced.

Lillian, who died in February 1976, is interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery in Laurel.

Fauquier County Tapscotts - The Fitzhugh Family

 The Fitzhugh Family

 Once again, I’ve allowed myself to get sidetracked. I received an interesting email yesterday asking “would you happen to know if ... Tapscotts and/or Percifuls are related to the Fitzhugh family of Fauquier County, VA?” Fitzhughs? I didn't remember seeing the Fitzhugh name. But when I looked in my database, Fitzhughs were there and there was a connection to William Doddrige Tapscott and a very remote connection to Mary Frances Tapscott. We have already blogged about Mary Frances  and someday, we will do the same for William Doddridge. Since both Mary Frances and William are descended from Elizabeth Percifull and are therefore related to Elijah and other Lancaster County Percifulls, the Fauquier Fitzhughs have Percifull connections. As we work on the Fauquier Co Tapscott book, it is likely that we will find other Fitzhugh connections.

 The next blog will get back to the Holder line (I hope). Meanwhile, we have Fitzhughs in the family. Welcome aboard!

Fitzhughs in the Family

My Expertise (what little I have) is not with the Fitzhugh family, on which I have apparently spent very little time. (I didn't even remember the name.) Let me know of errors.