The Descendants of Robert Owen LOMAX and Elizabeth A. PYE

last updated August 1, 2002

Robert Owen Lomax (August 19, 1844 - May 10, 1921 [18]) and Elizabeth Pye Lomax (September 13, 1846 - January 25, 1923 [19]) lived next door to Robert Sr. in Canadensis, Monroe County, Pennsylvania at the time of the 1870 census [1,2]. Robert O. was the son of Robert LOMAX and Sophia Elizabeth Barnes LOMAX, of Canadensis. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry PYE and Elizabeth Mallatratt PYE, of Philadelphia. The Lomaxes gave the following information to the census taker on August 12 [2].

Lomax, Robert, 25, farmer, $150 personal estate, born in Pa, both parents of foreign birth.
Elizabeth, 23, born in N.Y.
Sarah, 1, born in Pa.
Living next door were Robert's older sister Hannah, and her husband Edward DEUBLER.

In 1880, Robert and Elizabeth were apparently still living under Robert Sr.'s roof as indicated in the census of that year [12], and had a growing family. The census taker recorded the following:

Lomax, Robert O., 35, Farmer, born in PA, parents born in England
Elizabeth, 33, wife, Keeping house, born in NY, parents born in England
Sarah E., 11, daughter, At home, born in PA, father born in PA, mother born in NY
Harry F.A., 9,son,   "     "
Ernest H., 6, son,   "     "
Mary Ann, 4, daughter,    "     "
Bessie P., 10/12, born previous July, daughter   "     "
Bush, Daniel, 26, Employee, laborer, born in PA, parents born in PA.

Robert and Elizabeth Pye LOMAX had eight children.

Sarah E. (October, 1869 [16], or June 18, 1868 [23] - October 29, 1953)

Sarah E. LOMAX, oldest of the surviving five children of Robert O. and Elizabeth Pye LOMAX. Sarah graduated from nursing school at Woman's Hospital in Philadelphia [20]. At the time of the 1900 census she lived at 1939 11th St. [16] Her name appears in a 1907 city directory at 1533 N. 20th St. Sarah was nursing when Pennsylvania began licensing nurses, and she received her nursing license in 1910 [20]. I believe that she lived most of her adult life in Philadelphia, and never married. She was known to her nieces and nephews as "Tanta."

Harry F. A. (January 8, 1871 - October 21, 1947) [17]

Little is known of Harry Lomax. He worked as a carpenter, was a veteran, and apparently never married. His name does not appear in the 1900 census of Monroe County, and he may have been in the service at that time. He does appear in the 1910 census index in Monroe County.

Ernest Herbert (December, 1872 - June 1, 1952) [3].

Continued in The descendants of Ernest H. LOMAX and Flora VANAUKEN

Mary Ann (Born October, 1875) [21]

Mary Ann married Peter H. SEESE [13, 14]. They had two children that I know of:

Elizabeth P. (July, 1879 - d. ca. 1963)

Elizabeth "Bessie" LOMAX was baptised as an adult in 1895 in Mountainhome, PA [7]. The 1900 census found her living with her older sister Sarah in Philadelphia [16]. She gave her occupation as "dressmaker", and indicated that she had not been unemployed during the previous twelve months. She was single at that time. Bessie married William Tunnington (March 10, 1880 - January, 1963) of Philadelphia [4]. They had one daughter, Margaret (May 7, 1916 - December 15, 1987), who married James Lafferty (d. 1994) [5,6]. Margaret and James Lafferty had two daughters, Bonnie and Linda. Margaret Lafferty's obituary stated that she had "eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren" [11].

Agnes R. [Born December ,1884]

Nothing is known of Agnes. She does not appear in the census records until 1900 [21], but she is mentioned in her father's will, made on November 24, 1893 [22].

Russell O. (February 16, 1889 - April 19, 1958) [10, 15]

Russell, the youngest of the surviving siblings, first appears in the census in 1900 [21]. Russell O. Lomax was a machinist at Bethlehem Steel [15], in Bethlehem, PA. He married Pearl ABEL (January 16, 1890 - May 23, 1978), the daughter of Peter ABEL and Alice EMERY, of Stroudsburg, PA [9]. Russell and Pearl were long-time residents of Bethlehem, PA. Russell's father Robert O. died at their home at 736 N. Linden St. on May 10, 1921 [1]. Russell and Pearl LOMAX had no children.

Unknown Child

In the 1900 census [21], Elizabeth Pye LOMAX was asked of how many children she was the mother. She said eight. When asked how many of these were still alive, she answered seven. It is not known when the missing child was born or died.

References

  1. Birth certificate of Robert Owen Lomax.
  2. Ninth Census of the United States, Roll 1376, page 9.
  3. Stroudsburg, PA "Daily Record", June 2, 1952: obituary of Ernest H. Lomax.
  4. Social Security Death Index
  5. Death certificate of Margaret Lafferty.
  6. Letter of Bonnie Lafferty Ralston, April 8, 1997.
  7. Records of Methodist Episcopal Church, Mountainhome, Monroe Co., PA. (Monroe County Historical Association).
  8. Death certificate of Rebecca Seese.
  9. Death certificate of Pearl Lomax.
  10. Bethlehem, PA "Globe-Times", May 24, 1978: obituary of Pearl C. Lomax.
  11. Quakertown, PA "Free Press", December 19, 1987: obituary of Margaret Lafferty.
  12. Tenth census of the United States, Monroe Co., PA, enumeration district 214, page 7.
  13. Stroudsburg, PA "Pocono Record", March 27, 1976: obituary of Chester Seese.
  14. Death certificate of Chester Seese.
  15. Death Certificate of Russel O. Lomax
  16. Twelfth Census of the United States, Philadelphia Co., PA, E.D. 438, sheet 1.
  17. Death certificate of Harry Lomax.
  18. Stroudsburg (PA) Cemetery, Tombstone of Robert O. Lomax.
  19. Stroudsburg (PA) Cemetery, Tombstone of Elizabeth A. Lomax.
  20. Letter from Cathy Rhoades, PA State Board of Nursing, August 27, 1997.
  21. Twelfth Census of the United States, Volume 1376, E.D. 125.
  22. Last Will and Testament of Robert O. Lomax, August 24, 1893.
  23. Death certificate of Sarah E. Lomax.