Woodfork Genealogy

Woolfolk/Ellis/Turner Connection

September 4, 2006

By Marion Woodfork Simmons

For the past year or so, I have been trying to determine the Woolfolk/Ellis/Turner connection.  As I spoke to several “new found” cousins, they all mentioned they were related somehow, but no one knew how.  Based on my research, here is what I think. I still need to find more documentation to confirm some of the information:

1. Wormley and Nancy Ellis had nine children:

§         Willie Ann  (born about 1862)

§         Olivier (born about 1864)

§         Robert (born about 1866)

§         Lou (daughter) (born about 1868)

§         Nanne (born about 1871)

§         Thornton (born about 1874)

§         Wormley Jr. (born about 1874)

§         Captain (born about 1875)

§         Martha (born about 1877)

§         Josephine (born about1881)

2. William and Louisa Woolfolk had six children:

§         Eliza/Mary Eliza (born 1854)

§         Overton (born 1858)

§         Susan (born 1862)

§         Emma (born 1865)

§         William (born 1873)

§         Lucy Jane (born 1875)

3. Josephine Ellis married William Woodfolk on November 6, 1902. Their children were: Nancy, Louise, Hausey and Armstead.
4. Captain Ellis married Lucy Jane Woolfolk on January 28, 1896.  They had a son named Silas Ellis.
5. Willie Ann Ellis’ last name later became Turner.  (It is possible she may have married William H. Turner but I still need to verify this).  She had five children:

§         Anthony (born about 1884)

§         Steven (born about  1882)

§         Fannie (born about 1886)

§         Augustus (born in DC about 1896)

§         Elizabeth (son) (born in DC about 1899)

1. In the 1900 census, Willie Ann is listed as a widower and is living in Washington DC, on Fries Court with Fannie, Augustus and Elizabeth.  Anthony and Steven are living in Caroline County, VA with their grandparents Wormley and Nancy.
2. Anthony Turner later married Emma Taylor.  They had a son Samuel.  In the 1910 census, they are listed with a son named Cornelius who is 5 years old.  This would make him born about 1905, which corresponds to the birth year for Samuel Turner is later documents. The 1920 census shows Anthony and Emma Turner have a 15 year on son named Samuel.    Therefore, I suspect Cornelius and Samuel may be the same person.

                                                              i.      Emma Taylor was the daughter of Haywood/Haymond (can’t make our writing on the census) and Hannah Taylor. One of her sisters was Mamie Taylor.

                                                            ii.      Mamie Taylor married Elijah Brown.  They had a daughter named Catherine and a son named Burley Brown. Burley had a daughter named Joyce (Judy) who is now Judy Crump.

                                                          iii.      Catherine Brown married Silas Ellis (the son of Lucy Jane Woolfok and Captain Ellis).  They had a son named Hailey Ellis.

3. Fannie Turner married Willie Hawkins in 1909.  Willie Hawkins in is the son of Emma Woolfolk and Barnett Hawkins. Emma Woolfolk is the sister of Lucy Jane Woolfolk (who married Captain Ellis) and William Woodfolk (who married Josephine Ellis). Captain and Josephine and brother and sister.

                                                              i.      In the 1910 census, Willie and Fannie are living with Louisa Woodfolk in Port Royal, Caroline County, VA.  They are listed as her grandson/granddaughter.  Wormley Ellis is also living in the household; he is listed as Louisa’s son-in-law.

                                                            ii.      In the 1920 census, there is a Fannie Turner living in Baltimore, MD on 3301 Barclay Street with Thornton Ellis and his wife Courtney.  Fannie is listed as his niece.  I believe this Fannie is Willie Ann’s daughter, Willie Hawkins wife and Thornton is Willie Ann’s brother.  Also listed in the household are: Mildred Norman (cousin), Blanche Norman (2^nd cousin) and Mary Turner age 4 ½ (niece).

                                                          iii.      I believe this Fannie is Fannie Childs who is the godmother of Gladys Young Roberts. Gladys Young Roberts is the daughter of Louise Woodfolk (the daughter of William and Josephine Woodfolk) and Maxwell Young. I still need to find more documentation to confirm what I think.

In summary: