Family Biographies
Mattie Lee Corbitt
(1875 – 1949)
Mattie Lee Corbitt was born in Clinch County, Georgia on February 28, 1875 1. Mattie was the second child, and oldest daughter of Monroe L. Corbitt and Sophronia Summerlin. Between the years 1860 and 1920, the Corbitt family migrated between Coffee County, Clinch County and Atkinson County, Georgia. The apparent move to Atkinson County may actually be explained by the formation of Atkinson County, from portions of Clinch County and Coffee County, in 1917. The Corbitt family, including Mattie, were in Texas, or in transit to Texas during the 1880 census. Mattie's sister Ola Mae was born in Llano County Texas on March 12, 1881. The Corbitt's returned to Georgia after Indians killed their neighbors in Texas, as well as a family pet deer4.
On September 7, 1892 2, Mattie married R. J. Thompson, in Clinch County, at the age of 17. Nothing is known of the early years of the marriage, until 1900, when they appear in the census in Jakin, Early County, Georgia.
In the 1900 Census, Mattie and Rufus are shown with children Lillian, age 5, Harris, age 4 and William, age 1. Rufus is listed as “RJ”, age 26, born January, 1874, in Georgia. The birth year is inconsistent with later information which gives his birth between 1866 and 1869. Both of his parents are listed with a South Carolina birthplace. His occupation is listed as “overseer – hay cutting”. Mattie is shown as age 23, born in February, 1877, which conflicts with later census dates, tombstone and her death certificate. Mattie shows to be born in Georgia. Both parents are listed with Georgia birth, although (we know that) Monroe Corbitt was born in Hamilton County, TN3. Mattie states that 3 of 3 children are living. Both state they have been married for 7 years, which is consistent with a marriage date of 1892.
In the 1910 Census, Mattie and RJ are with children Cora L, age 16, Harris L, age 14, W Bryant, age 12, Henry J, age 9 and Rufus J, Jr, age 2. The census-taker misspelled Rufus as Ruphus in both names. Mattie is shown in the census as age 32 and Rufus as 43. Neither age is consistent with previous census’ or later records. The entire family is shown as born in Georgia, with both parents born in Georgia. For RJ, this is contrary to the 1900 census and for Mattie, the incorrect birthplace of her father remains. Mattie states that 5 of 7 children are alive. Because of the answer to the same question in 1900, we know that the two deceased children were born between 1900 and 1910. The two children were Simlester Thompson (b. July 28, 1903, d. April 7, 1904) and Tom Mackey Thompson (b. June 15, 1905, d. April 23, 1907).4 In 1910, RJ is listed as an “overseer in a brickyard”, which is consistent with our information that he worked for “Bivings and Thomson Brickyard”.4 Mattie and RJ state that they have been married for 18 years, which is consistent with the marriage date of 1892.
On June 5, 1917, children Harris Lee and William Bryant Thompson registered for the World War I draft. Both Harris and William list their mother as a dependent. This causes speculation that RJ died before this date.
In the 1920 Census, Mattie is, indeed, widowed. She is living with children Harris, age 24, Henry, age 19, Rufus, age 13, Edward, age 9, and Evelyn, age 5. The addition of Edward and Evelyn means that Mattie had a total of 9 children, 7 of which were living in 1920. Because of Evelyn’s birth about 1915, we can speculate that RJ died between mid-1914 and June 5, 1917. Mattie’s age is correctly listed as 45. The birthplace of her father is finally correct: Tennessee.
In the 1930 Census, Mattie has re-married and is listed as Mattie Hayes. She married widower Etheldred "Dred" Hayes on January 15, 1922. Dred is not with her in the census, but rather is living nearby with two children from his previous marriage Youngest daughter, Evelyn Thompson is living with her, as are two friends/lodgers, J R Newberry, age 74, and Lizzie Newberry, age 75. I believe these people are Jesse R and Elizabeth Newberry, the parents of Marshal Henry W. Newberry. The names and ages correspond correctly. Henry was married to Mattie's sister Ethyl Corbitt until his death (murder) in 1911. In this census it states that Mattie owns her home and is a “Retail merchant – grocery”. She states that she was age 13 at the time of her first marriage, which is not consistent with records. Her age is shown as 52, when she was actually 55. The difference in age is consistent with the difference in age at marriage, which suggests that at least some of the census information was provided by someone other than Mattie herself. Her father is shown born in Tennessee, which is correct.
Mattie Lee Corbitt (Thompson) (Hayes) died in Jakin, Early County, Georgia, on November 21, 1949. According to the death certificate, she was Mattie Lee Hayes, age 76. This age is consistent with birth in 1875. Her parents were Sophronia Summerlin, born in Georgia, and Monroe Corbitt, born in Tennessee. Her marital status was “married”, but Dred's name is not on the certificate. Dred passed before her, in 1941. The certificate states that Mattie was in Early County for 44 years, which is off by at least 5 years (because of the 1900 Census)Information for the certificate was provided by C. B. Ricks. "C. B. Ricks" is Charles Barrett Ricks, husband of her daughter, Evelyn.
Mattie was buried in Jakin, Early County, Georgia, in the Jakin City Cemetery. Her tombstone lists her as Mattie Lee Corbitt, her maiden name. Use of a maiden name was sometimes done on a tombstone, but I suspect there was a specific reason in this case. Mattie’s death date on the tombstone is November 21, 1950, which is off by exactly one year, according her death certificate. The tombstone also says “Granny”, wife of RJ Thompson. This suggests to me that the tombstone was installed some time after her death, by one of her children or grandchildren, who had an interest in remembering their father/grandfather, and/or to discount her marriage to Dred Hayes.
James D. Thompson, Jr.
Great-grandson
Sources
1. Tombstone birth date, Jakin City Cemetery, Early County, Georgia.
2. Certificate of Marriage.
3. Certificate of death, Mattie Lee Hayes. Georgia certificate number 23846.
4. Information provided by Morris James Thompson, provided to him by Mattie Evelyn Thompson, daughter of RJ and Mattie Thompson.
5. Information provided by Florence Westbrook Strain, daughter of Ethel Corbitt.
Newspaper Clipping:
HOME-COMING AT HOME OF
MRS. THOMPSON IN JAKIN
----------------------
Jakin, Ga.------Mrs. M.L. Thompson
had her children home the past week
end for home-coming. It was a
wonderful time for them, ,some of
the children having been separated
from 10 to 25 years. The children
present were Mr. and Mrs. J. H.
Thompson, Cincinnati, O.; Mr. and
Mrs. W. B. Thompson, St. Andrews,
Fla.; Mrs. S.W. Martin, a sister,
Laurel, Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. R. J.
Thompson and son, Jacksonville,
Fla. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Thompson,
Jacksonville; Mr. and Mrs. C.B.
Ricks and children, Enterprise, Ala.;
Mrs. Burl Gibson, ,a granddaughter,
Dothan; also one great-grandchild,
Alfred Gibson, Dothan.
Mrs. Thompson had just returned
from a visit to Ohio, where she vis-
ited her two oldest sons, J H. and
H. L. Thompson.
(courtesy of Morris J Thompson)
Mattie's Obituary
(click on image for closer view)
