Marriage and Early Employment 1853-1855
The 1851 Scotland Census lists Thomas living with his father, mother and siblings at Drumbathey House. He is said to be 24 and a laborer. In June 1853, Thomas was married to Mary Jeffrey (or Jeffery or Jeffrie). There are two records of the marriage banns being announced -- one in her parish and one in his. The Old Parish Registry for New Monkland Parish, Lanarkshire (her parish) shows that on the "3rd Sabbath" of June 1853 [i.e. Jun 19 ], six shillings and six pence were collected for the announcement of marriage banns of Thomas Orr of St. Cuthberts in Edinburgh and Mary Jeffrie of "this Parish".The other entry (one of several on 12 Jun 1853) is in the St. Cuthberts' registry and is more interesting.
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| Figure 1: Scotland Old Parish Records Marriages St. Cuthberts pg 657, for 12 June 1853. Transcription: Thomas [Orr,] Miller Residing at Bonnington Mills in this Parish and Mary Jeffrey, Residing at Albert Place Airdrie in the Parish of New Monkland, third daughter of the late James Jeffrey, Miller in Airdrie have been three several times duly and regularly proclaimed to the Parish Church of Saint Cuthberts in order to Marriage and no objections offered. |
"The parties, or one or other of them desiring marriage, usually wait on the session-clerk for license... which they, on paying a fee, obtain without much ceremony, as the ground for proclamation. On the Sunday following, while the congregation is convening for divine service, the Precentor announces from a paper the names and designation of the man and woman purposing to be married, three several times, at short intervals of a few minutes, adding this for the first time -- this for the second time -- and this for the third and final time. Even in some parishes, the announcement, as we are informed, is made without any interval at all, and thereby defeating in a great measure the objects of the various acts and rules before detailed. The session-clerk afterwards certifies the proclamation in writing, for which he receives a fee; and which certificate is held to be a sufficient warrant to the minister to tie the nuptial knot, which he frequently does on any convenient day fixed on, in the course of the ensuing week, without having given his previous consent to the proclamation, or even without any knowledge of the parties, or their circumstances." -- 'A Digest of the Law of Scotland, relating to marriage', 1827 by Peter Halkerston pg 112,113
Mary Jeffrey was born Oct 28, 1829 (according to her grave marker) in Airdrie (according to 1851 and other Censuses). She was the daughter of James and probably Isabella (Johnstone) Jeffery if her entry in the 1851 Census is reasonably interpreted. Mary and Thomas would remain married, in the good times and bad, for 48 years until her death in 1901. I believe they had no children, although there will be a discussion of that later in this article.
Sometime between 1851 and 1853 Thomas became employed as a miller. Since his wife was the daughter of a miller, he may have met her through his work if employed in the Airdrie area but that would only be speculation. As seen from his marriage record he was employed by Bonnington Mills in Edinburgh in 1853. Bonnington Mills was a large industrial complex on Bonnington Road (now Newhaven Road) just south of Water of Leith (i.e. Leith River). The following clip gives some idea of the size and operations of the complex.
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Figure 2: Glasgow Herald: 21 Nov 1853, page 3, col 3.
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Farming Life in Scotland -- 1855-1877
According to his testimony in a court proceeding in 1877 (which we will cover in more depth later) he was "engaged as a miller" for about three years probably from about 1852-1855. In this same source he states his first farm was West Riddell, in the parish of Lilliesleaf, in Roxburghshire" and that he "remained in that farm about 16 1/2 years" when his lease ran out.It is at West Riddle that we find Thomas and Mary in the 1861 Census. The 1858-60 Ordnance Survey Name Book lists Thomas Orr as the occupier and describes the plot as "A good land and Substantial dwelling, having garden and Suitable offices attached, and nearly surrounded by thriving plantations, It is the property of Mark Sprot Esqr of Riddell"
The 1861 Census reveals a few more things about Thomas and Mary. Thomas is said to be a farmer of "230 acres employing 1 Lab [i.e. Laborer] and 1 Boy." Also listed in the household are
- Edward Docharty a 17-year-old ploughman from Ireland
- Robert Wight a 15-year-old farm servant from Roxburghshire
- Betsy McGravie a 20-year-old farm servant from Ireland.
According to the 1877 court testimony mentioned above, he began working another farm around 1867 called Limerigg (or Limerig) which was located in Slamannan Parish, Stirlingshire. Limerigg is described in the 1858-60 Ordnance Survey Name Book as "A Farmsteading, one storey, slated and in good repair. Property of Henry Taylor Esq, Springbank, Parkhead, near Glasgow. This name also includes a row of Colliers dwellinghouses, Situated between Limerig and Knockhappy."
By 1871, the lease on the West Riddell Farm was about to expire if it hadn't already and Thomas was living at Limerigg. The Census of that year shows him in that place farming "300 acres, 120 acres arable." As far as help, he employs "2 men and 2 women." Two women are listed as living with him and his wife -- Hannah McLeary, a 20-year-old dairymaid from Glasgow and Sarah Cowan a 13-year-old "General Servant" from Airdrie.
The two male employees could have been Peter Scott and John Robb, as seen in this snippet less than two years later. The occupation of "bower" appears to be another term for dairyman.
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Figure 3: Falkirk Herald, 18 Jan 1873, page 2, col 6.
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About 1873 he began working another farm, his third, called Dyke. On 20 Oct 1873, the Falkirk Herald advertized a "Displenishing Sale" for Mr. John Shanks who was leaving the Dyke farm in early November. Dyke was only a short distance north of the village of Slamannan (perhaps 2 miles from Limerigg), but since it was on the other side of the river Avon, it was technically in Falkirk Parish but usually identified with Slamannan. The Ordnance Survey Name Book describes it as "A Farmsteading dwelling house and offices one storey, slated and in good repair. property of James T. Rankine Esqr. Mavisbank Airdrie. The same name applies to a row of Colliers houses a little to the east."
As you can see, there were collier houses at both Limerigg and Dyke. Mining was prevalant in the area. In 1874 Thomas brought legal action against "Andrew Aitken, wright and ironmonger in Airdrie". It seems that Thomas' lease permitted him to farm the land, but did not give him mineral rights. Aitken was mining on some portions of the land. Thomas was entitled, via the lease, to compensaton from Aitken if mining caused "surface damages on the farms of Limerigg and West Drumclare." The amount was to be set by a mutually agreed upon arbiter. The action was brought because the arbiter had decreed £62 18s 7d was owed, but Aitken disputed the amount. The case was heard, but apparently settled out of court as seen in Figure 4. Thomas is referred to as the "pursuer" and the "tenant" in this clip.
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Figure 4: Falkirk Herald: 19 Mar 1874, page 2, col 4-5
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Figure 5: Falkirk Herald, 10 Jun 1875, page 4, col 4
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Figure 6: Falkirk Herald, 27 Nov 1875, page 2, col 5.
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Difficult years - 1877-78.
The year 1877 seemed innocent enough in August when an ad appeared for a sale of potatoes and hay at the Dyke farm. |
Figure 7: Falkirk Herald, 23 Aug 1877, page 4, col 1
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Figure 8a: Falkirk Herald, 22 Nov 1877, page 5, col 1
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Bankrupt, having been sworn, deponed -- I have been engaged as a farmer for 22 years. The first farm I occupied was West Riddle, in the parish of Lilliesleaf, in Roxburghshire. For three or four years prior to taking this farm, I was engaged as a miller. When I entered West Riddle I had between three and four hundred pounds. I remained in that farm about 16 ½ years, till my lease expired. About five years before I left West Riddle I had taken the farm of Limeriggs, in the parish of Slamannan. I think that would be in 1867, but the lease will show. At this date I had not much money, but I consider I had stock to the value of £1000 or £1100, and from that date, 1867, my capital began to diminish.An exchange with Mr. Downie shows that Thomas would not admit to being insolvent.
I remained eight years in Limeriggs, and let it at Martinmas, 1875, having left the houses at the previous Whitsunday. I think the rent of Limeriggs was £140, but I am not sure. During the time I was in Limeriggs I frequently got surface damages from the mineral tenant. I could not say how much I got, but I could have given this information before my papers were removed by Mr. Downie, agent in the sequestration. I also gave some of my papers to Mr. Nimmo, my principal creditor.... I could make up a statement of all the compensation I got if I had time....
I think I got a year and a half's rent to relinquish the lease. I did not get the money as I was in arrears with my rent, which had to be met. I was so much disturbed by the opening of pits, makeing of railroads, and building of working men's houses, that the farm proved unprofitable. When I left Limeriggs I do not think I had much clear stock. I did not take stock accurately, but I considered almost all my stock was exhausted. I had no money on which I could lay my hand. My stock was sold, and realised I think about £1000. The roup-roll will show of that sum I think I received from Mr. Neilson, auctioneer, Falkirk, about £800. Having previously made an advance to me of £200, he kept that sum; and the money I got from him I immediately spent in paying my accounts previously incurred....
I owed Mr. Nimmo £400, and I paid him £110. I owed Mr. James Wethersford £100 when I left Limeriggs, and I have got £75 since I left Limeriggs. I also owe Mrs. Beveridge, of Berwick, the sum of £70. I got the money from Mr. Nimmo to pay up a bank credit. I do not remember the special cause for which I received the money from Mr. Wethersford. It was, I hink, to relieve some pressure at the time. I do not know the special purpose for which I received the advance from Mrs. Beveridge. She was a special friend.
Mr. Downie -- £470; do I understand you were insolvent, at least to that extent, when you left Limeriggs, or did you pay them?The testimony continued and got to the crux of the matter, that he had not kept any real record of his finances.
[Mr. Orr --] I was never asked to pay them.
Mr. Downie -- Were you able to pay them -- had you the money?
[Mr. Orr --] If they had asked it ---
Mr. Downie -- Were you insolvent?
[Mr. Orr --] I do not consider I was. I could have got credit from all sides from the people I was dealing with.
[Mr. Orr --]I cannot say if I made a profit out of the Dyke Farm. I took the way-going crop at a valuation and lost £70 upon it. I have had two good years in that farm, namely, last year and the preceding one, but my first year and the present one were both bad. I never kept books at the time, nor did I keep any jotting of my financial matters. I had no cash book.
He indicated that he had bank books for accounts at the Royal Bank of Falkirk and the City of Glasgow Bank with a branch at Slamannan. He also had opened an account at the Bank of Scotland branch in Airdrie, but did not know where the bank book was.
I realised £250 from the crop of my farm in the year 1875. In 1876 all that I realized from my crop was between £60 and £70, the rest being consumed by my cattle. In 1876 I sold cattle to the value of £150. In 1875 and 1876 I also sold some hay and potatoes, but I cannot say what I got for these..... I also see that in 1876 I sold a horse for £50 to Mr. Gardner, my brother-in-law. I have since then sold him a yellow mare and a foal for £86....These horses were delivered to him on about the time I was compelled to suspend payment.... I delivered these animals on a Monday morning, I cannot say whether before or after the meeting of my creditors was called.We wrap up this long article on this first day of the proceedings with the following clip.
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Figure 8a: Falkirk Herald, 22 Nov 1877, page 5, col 2
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There seems to be some discussion of whether he had removed some property from his house (I suppose they were worried about him hiding things from sequestration). He says that "He had not made away with any of his furniture or household effects." And "So far as he knew his furniture was still in the house." There is also some testimony as to who is in possession of "the chests belonging to himself and his wife" and "two carts belonging to him".
An accompanying article raises some questions, but I put it here to show that he was put in prison for his debts.
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Figure 9: Falkirk Herald, 01 Dec 1877, page 2, col 7
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Figure 10: Glasgow Herald, 8 Dec 1877, page 5, col 7
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Figure 11: Falkirk Herald, 20 Dec 1877, page 4, col 1
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Figure 12: Falkirk Herald, 27 Dec 1877, page 4, col 4
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Like the sequestration proceedings, the application for Cessio Bonorum took testimony over two days (Jan 8 and 25) and added little to the picture. There was more testimony showing his lack of record keeping. He had apparently tried to put together more definitive financial records, and set new amounts on what he owed (£940) and his assets (£630) but that just opened up new lines of questioning as to why there were discrepancies. It was clear that specific records on his financial condition were hard for him to produce, so the questioning in both the sequestration and cessio hearings were centered on whether he had misrepresented the facts to his creditors or to the court or concealed any assets from them. Even under adversarial questioning and being broke and recently incarcerated he kept his sense of humor. Here is an excerpt from the final days questioning taken from the Falkirk Herald, 31 Jan 1878, page 2, col 3.
Mr. Downie -- Is it the case that you represented to your creditors recently that you were in a good position?On Feb 7, the Sheriff-Substitute refused Thomas' application for Cessio as seen in Figure 13 below.
[Mr. Orr] -- No, I do not think I did. I have told them at times that I was short of money, and wished that the farm would pay better.
Mr. Downie -- The trustee in your bankruptcy, I think, called at your house the day he was elected?
[Mr. Orr] -- I did not know that he was elected; I think he elected himself. (Laughter)
Mr. Downie -- Did Mr. Burns call about the time of his election?
[Mr. Orr] -- I did not know that he was elected--he was often there. He called at my house on the day of the first meeting of my creditors.
Mr. Downie -- Did you see your wife conceal anything from Mr. Nimmo on that occasion?
[Mr. Orr] -- I know nothing about my wife. (Laughter)
Mr. Downie -- Now, Mr. Orr, be careful. Is it not the case that several silver articles were put under the bed?
[Mr. Orr --] I don't believe that my wife has spent money on silver since she was my wife.
Mr. Downie -- Did she conceal the silver under the bed -- that is the question I put to you?
[Mr. Orr] -- I know nothing about that.
Mr. Downie -- Have you had an application recently to produce several articles you submitted you have?
[Mr. Orr --] Yes, and I think they are in the wife's drawers. They asked things from me and my wife too that I never dreamed they would do.
Mr. Wilson -- Have you given the trustee on your estate all the information in you power both in your examination under the sequestration and at this and your previous examination under your application for cessio?
[Mr. Orr --] Yes, I and my wife have also given any other information in our power as to the articles referred to in Mr. Downie's question.
The examination then closed.
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Figure 13: Fallkirk Herald, 14 Feb 1878, page 2, col 6
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I assume that the act of recalling "the warrant of interim liberation and interim protection" sent Thomas back to prison, although I don't have any direct evidence. About a month later on 15 March he was convicted of the assault of 'a man named Scott' mentioned earlier. I also don't know if he went to prison at this point or paid the fine. It was not a good time for him.
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Figure 14: The Scotsman, 16 Mar 1878, page 6, col 7
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Figure 15: Dundee Advertiser, 26 Jan 1881, page 4, col 5
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Beginning Anew.
The 1881 Census shows that the life of Thomas and Mary had changed. No longer a farmer or even living on a farm, he is now a grocer in Glasgow. |
Figure 16: 1881 Scotland Census, Govan Civil Parish, Glasgow.
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Thomas and Mary did not live in Glasgow for long, but emigrated to the Asheville, North Carolina area. According to the 1900 US Census, both immigrated in 1882. I am 90% sure that the following charts their voyage.
On 10 Nov 1882, the Anchor Line ship, Devonia, left Glasgow. She then stopped by Moville in Lough Foyle on the north coast of Ireland to take on more mail and passengers, leaving there on the afternoon of the 11th. This was the normal route for the fleet of Anchor Line "mail packet" steamers that crossed the Atlantic on a weekly basis. On or about the 18th, she broke a shaft and lost power to her screw and had to proceed under sail. She was due into New York on Wednesday 29 Nov. The following three clips from New York papers tell the tale.
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Figure 17: New York Daily Tribune, 25 Nov 1882, page 2, col 4.
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Figure 18: The New York TImes, 20 Nov 1882, page 8, col 4
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Figure 19: The New York Times, 04 Dec 1882, page 8, col 3.
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Figure 21: The Asheville Weekly CItizen, 20 Dec 1883, page 2, col 6
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Figure 22 : The Asheville Weekly Citizen, 11 Sep 1884, page 3, col 3
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Figure 23: The Semi-Weekly Asheville Citizen, 31 Dec 1885, page 1, col 5
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Figure 24: Asheville Advance: 12 Jun 1886, page 4, col 3
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Figure 25: Asheville Weekly Citizen 15 Jul 1886, page 3, col 1
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In 1889, a reporter from the Asheville Citizen-Times visited the Lusk farm and gave a lengthy article on it. The article (from the Asheville Citizen-Times, 10 Jul 1889, page 1, col 5-6) sang the praises of dairy farming in the area and continued as follows.
One of these dairy farms we visited yesterday -- that of Mr. Thomas Orr, on the Swannanoa river, about two miles south of Asheville. It is a large farm, belonging to Mr. Virgil S. Lusk, and rented by Mr. Orr; partly hilly upland, which is used for open pasturage; the larger, and far more valuable part, low, level land, occupying part of the valley, bounded by the river and intersected by the railroad. This valley is covered with crops grown almost altogether with crops for winter feeding for the cattle; the exception being about three acres in Irish potatoes. There is a field of about fifteen acres in corn to be used in making ensilage, of which Mr. Orr makes one hundred tons. This corn is now in fine growing condition. Adjoining, is a field of 40 acres in rye, now being cut with a McCormick reaper, estimated to produce 30 bushels to the acre. The crop is cut off perfectly clean, and leaves exposed a thick spontaneous growth of red clover, not a seed ever having been intentionally put in the ground. Next to that is a meadow of timothy, very fine, which has renewed itself without reseeding for thirteen years. It is cut twice a year, and at first the cutting gave four tons to the acre; but the yield has been gradually reduced. This is the preparation for the winter supply of food for the time when pasturage or soiling has passed. A well filled silo, cut straw and shorts keep the stock in fine condition. Thirty cows are milked daily, giving from 65 to 75 gallons of rich milk, most of the cows being Jerseys, Ayrshires, and good "grades." Mr. Orr attaches high value to the Ayrshires, rating them higher, we think, than any other breed he has, at least for this section. Of the cattle, we speak more particularly farther on. Mr. Orr has been selling all his milk until recently. Now he converts the most of it into butter, making from 18 to 25 pounds a day, genuine Jersey butter. He uses the Stoddard churn, which is worked by water power through the medium of an overshot wheel. The operation saves all manual labor, and is expeditious, and the results uniform. But he delivers besides a good deal of milk to customers in the city, with ability largely to increase the quantity so delivered. The cattle, besides being well fed, are well housed, each cow as it comes from the pasture taking its own stall; and any beast showing any reluctance to do so, has its movement expedited by one or all of the five very fine shepherd dogs on the premises, who show as much interest in affairs as their owner. The arrangements of the silo, for cutting straw, for storing and giving out shorts are models of convenience and the milch cows live as if they were petted favorites of fortune.... Our interesting inspection closed with a call on the hospitable Mrs. Orr, where we enjoyed on the cool piazza a glass of the richest of milk, and also a glass of that famous elderberry wine which Goldsmith in the Vicar of Wakefield has made familiar as special mark of the kindly feeling of the amiable Mrs. Primrose. Mrs. Orr, being a Scots woman, treasures the recipe as [a] cherished memento of the old country.--- Mr. Orr has a large number of cattle, some forty or fifty head being kept on outlying farms on Bent Creek and other localities. He keeps thirty milch cows at home, nearly all having calves, which are raised by hand and are in good condition. He annually sells a number of the bull calves, but the heifers are generally kept until their promise for the dairy can be ascertained. One of these dairy farms we visited yesterday -- that of Mr. Thomas Orr, on the Swannanoa river, about two miles south of Asheville. It is a large farm, belonging to Mr. Virgil S. Lusk, and rented by Mr. Orr; partly hilly upland, which is used for open pasturage; the larger, and far more valuable part, low, level land, occupying part of the valley, bounded by the river and intersected by the railroad. This valley is covered with crops grown almost altogether with crops for winter feeding for the cattle; the exception being about three acres in Irish potatoes. There is a field of about fifteen acres in corn to be used in making ensilage, of which Mr. Orr makes one hundred tons. This corn is now in fine growing condition. Adjoining, is a field of 40 acres in rye, now being cut with a McCormick reaper, estimated to produce 30 bushels to the acre. The crop is cut off perfectly clean, and leaves exposed a thick spontaneous growth of red clover, not a seed ever having been intentionally put in the ground. Next to that is a meadow of timothy, very fine, which has renewed itself without reseeding for thirteen years. It is cut twice a year, and at first the cutting gave four tons to the acre; but the yield has been gradually reduced. This is the preparation for the winter supply of food for the time when pasturage or soiling has passed. A well filled silo, cut straw and shorts keep the stock in fine condition. Thirty cows are milked daily, giving from 65 to 75 gallons of rich milk, most of the cows being Jerseys, Ayrshires, and good "grades." Mr. Orr attaches high value to the Ayrshires, rating them higher, we think, than any other breed he has, at least for this section. Of the cattle, we speak more particularly farther on. Mr. Orr has been selling all his milk until recently. Now he converts the most of it into butter, making from 18 to 25 pounds a day, genuine Jersey butter. He uses the Stoddard churn, which is worked by water power through the medium of an overshot wheel. The operation saves all manual labor, and is expeditious, and the results uniform. But he delivers besides a good deal of milk to customers in the city, with ability largely to increase the quantity so delivered. The cattle, besides being well fed, are well housed, each cow as it comes from the pasture taking its own stall; and any beast showing any reluctance to do so, has its movement expedited by one or all of the five very fine shepherd dogs on the premises, who show as much interest in affairs as their owner. The arrangements of the silo, for cutting straw, for storing and giving out shorts are models of convenience and the milch cows live as if they were petted favorites of fortune.... Our interesting inspection closed with a call on the hospitable Mrs. Orr, where we enjoyed on the cool piazza a glass of the richest of milk, and also a glass of that famous elderberry wine which Goldsmith in the Vicar of Wakefield has made familiar as special mark of the kindly feeling of the amiable Mrs. Primrose. Mrs. Orr, being a Scots woman, treasures the recipe as [a] cherished memento of the old country.--- Mr. Orr has a large number of cattle, some forty or fifty head being kept on outlying farms on Bent Creek and other localities. He keeps thirty milch cows at home, nearly all having calves, which are raised by hand and are in good condition. He annually sells a number of the bull calves, but the heifers are generally kept until their promise for the dairy can be ascertained.
All indications were that Thomas and Mary were doing well in the new country and that he seemed to have overcome the financial difficulties that had plagued him in Scotland. They remained connected to their native land however. At least two articles show they were active in the local Scottish Patriotic Society. The 6 Jan 1888 issue of the Asheville Citizen-Times give an account of celebratory meeting of the society on 2 Jan. It included mention of "an impressive blessing by Mr. Thomas Orr" and a "song by Mrs. Thomas Orr and Miss Maggie Murdoch -- 'Lassie Gin Ye Lo's Me'"
Another article shows that the society rang in the year 1890 Scottish style and indicates Thomas had been president of the society the past year. It ends with the following clip.
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Figure 26: Asheville Citizen-Times, 1 Jan 1890, page 4, col 3
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An Unexplained Episode.
In all research there will be times when items are unearthed that raise questions and sometimes the questions remain unanswered. Such is the case of the death of William Orr in the next clip. The question concerns the last paragraph. |
Figure 27: Asheville Citizen-Times, 26 Sep 1889, page 1, col 6
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The Biltmore Estate
In the late 1880s George Washington Vanderbilt II began to buy up farms and property around Asheville to build what would become the Biltmore estate. Wikipedia says that he bought 700 parcels of land including 50 farms and at least 5 cemeteries. (Is William Orr mentioned above buried in one of these?) The Lusk farm was apparently one of the farms. Thomas and Mary decided to move and settled near Balsam, NC and started raising cattle. On 4 May 1893 he replaced Robert A. Scott as the Postmaster of Balsam and remained in that post until 26 Feb 1894 when replaced by William Derrick.Thomas maintained some connections with the folks who managed and ran the Biltmore estate at least through the North Carolina Dairymen's Association. The 25 May 1897 Asheville Weekly Citizen had an article on a meeting of this association at Biltmore, specifically at the Hotel Berkeley. Thomas is listed as an attendee (from Balsam) as well as a fellow Scotsman named George S. Arthur.
According to the Biltmore website, George came to Biltmore in 1897 and managed the gardens and greenhouses for a number of years. Not only was George Scottish but had actually been born in Airdrie, although in 1861 after Thomas had left the area.
The report on the Dairymen's Association meeting is long and pretty boring. It includes discussions on pasteurization (they were predominantly against it) and the importation of oleo margarine (not surprisingly they were against that too). However the last sentence caught my eye. It said "Photographer Pope got a picture of the gentlemen at the meeting." I wondered if the photo suvived. After some digging I found it in the "Second Report of the North Carolina State Dairymen's Association - 1896,'7,'8" This book is available online in Google Books. Below is the picture.
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Figure 28: Second Report of the North Carolina State Dairymen's Association - 1896, '7, '8
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The Last Chapters
Around the late 1890s Thomas took a job of overseeing the sheep herd for the Biltmore estate. There was apparently a herd kept in a pasture along the French Broad River. The 1900 Census shows Thomas and Mary living in Avery's Creek Township in Buncombe Co., south of Asheville. Thomas is listed as a shepherd and he was renting the farm.In 1901, Mary Orr passed away. Note that Thomas and Mary had moved to the Pisgah Forest, north of Asheville and that Thomas' friend George Arthur lends a hand.
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Figure 29: Asheville Citizen-Times, 18 Jul 1901, page 1, col 3
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Figure 30: Asheville Citizen-Times, 13 May 1902, page 4, col 4
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Thomas passed away 29 May 1907 in Haywood Co., NC. I cannot find an obituary or grave marker. The following clip from a petition in his probate records will have to suffice. The petitioner is his wife Virginia Orr.
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The probate records also show that the debts against the estate were about $1200 and that some livestock and equipment had sold for $250. Eventually his 80-acre property in Pigeon Township, of Haywood Co. was sold for $200 leaving quite a few debts unpaid. Such is the life of Thomas Orr.
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