|
a.
|
Note: "GILLAM or GILLIAM"--death cert reads GILLIAM---All other data, inc l u d ingCensus, reflects Gillam
Ruth, nicknamed "Booshey", was born in Bertie Co., and married "B e n " B allance when she was but 16. Sometime between 1882-1900, she a cc om pani ed Ben when he moved back to Hyde Co., possibly shortly aft e r hi s fath ers death in 1883. Ben died in 1904, thus making Rut h a Wi dow a t the y oung age of 39.
About 1908-09, Ruth moved to Halifax Co., NC to be close to a sis t e r . Halifax Co. was also where two of her daughters went to schoo l ( Li tt leton College, also known as Littleton Academy for Girls). I t i s kn ow n she was still living in Hyde during the period between D ecem ber 2 2 , 1907and January 27, 1908, when she maintained a "charg e acco unt " a t the Marcus Ballance Store in Nebraska, Hyde County. T he item s ch arge d include such things as snuff (5 cents), lard, oatm eal, etc . I p resum e she left Hyde for good by 1909, remaining a Wid ow for th e res t of he r life.
In later years, while spending some time in Perquimans Co., NC wi t h h e r daughter Maude, Ruth lived primarilly in Norfolk, VA with o r n ea r he r son Benjamin Hall Ballance until his death in 1943. Sh e wa s liv ing i n Norfolk in December 1928 when she, along with her s on , attend ed th e funeral of R. B. Thach in Hertford (as per R. B.' s o bituary an d fune ral write-up).
The spelling of Ruth's surname has often been confusing and fou n d o n v arious documents primarilly as Gillam, Gilliam, and Gillu m . I hav e set tled on GILLAM based on the printed spelling of the su rn ame on t he ret urn address of a letter sent to her by brother, Joh n B . Gilla m of Wind sor, NC postmarked 190? (the last numeral is unc lear ).
|
