A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Mary (Polly) Faus
Marilyn Knowles Riehl had a middle name of Mae for her, but I don't know where that is from. I have never seen a middle name anywhere else. "Faus Genealogican Data" gave her name as Pauline (Polly); perhaps from someone who didn't know that Polly was usually a nickname for Mary.
The name on her death record (obtained from Marilyn Riehl) is May Whitenight. Possibly this was a typo and should have been Mary, or possibly May was a nickname. Cause of death listed as paralysis. Place of death is listed as Bethel Twp., Branch Co., MI. Occupation listed as farmer. The date of death is given as 17 Nov 1886 at age 74 years, 3 months, 4 days. There is a picture of her gravestone on Find A Grave (listing for Mary Faus Whitenight), which shows that she died on 16 Nov 1886. I don't know which is right, but I suppose the death record is more authoritative. The date of death and age above imply a birth date of 13 Aug 1812; it ia also stated that she was born in Pennsylvania.
The death certificate for daughter Lydia Miller (available from Ancestry.com) lists her parents as Peter Whitenight and Mary Fauss. The death certificate for son Amzie Whitenight (available on Ancestry.com) lists his parents as Peter Whitenight and Sarah Faus. The Sarah is rather mysterious.
Most sources do not give a birth place for her. One (the Dean Andal web site) gives her birth place as Whitehall Twp., Northampton Co., PA, like the earlier children. However, going by the birth place of Henry Jr., they had moved from Northampton County to Northumberland County and Polly was probably also born there. Find A Grave (listing for Mary Fauss Whitenight) says that she was born in Columbia Co., PA; however, Columbia County did not yet exist in 1812, so presumably that means she was born in the part of Northumberland County that became Columbia County. Note that Mary was born after her father's death. At the time of his death, Henry Faus was living in Bloom Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, and this might well be Mary's birthplace as well.
A bit of a mystery -- there is a marriage record for her on Ancestry.com ("Michigan Marriage Records 1867-1952") that says she married Newton G. Cosper on 1 Aug 1875 in Gilead, Branch Co., MI. But then, in the 1880 census she is still listed as Mary Whitenight and living with her son Michael. Newton Cosper is listed living with a different wife in Newaygo Co., MI. Was the marriage anulled, or were they divorced, or what?
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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