Frost’s family: Wife and children
Frost Pollitt may or may not have been actually married. There are no records to prove he was such as a marriage license or annotation in a preacher’s book. The only reference to his wife comes from my third great grandfather’s obituary.
Marriages / Wives
Reference: Obituary of James Morris, 1 Nov 1873, Salisbury Advertizer
Salisbury Advertiser from microfilm, Wicomico Free Library, Salisbury, Maryland
“Mr. James Morris, of Nutters District, in this county died yesterday morning in the 93rd year of his age. Mr. Morris was perhaps the oldest man in Wicomico Co. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for about 60 years and a Ruling Elder for over thirty years. He was a large slave holder before emancipation, and his humane treatment of his servants, so firmly attached them to him, that the wife of the Rev’d Frost Pollitt, refused to leave his service when her freedom was offered her.”
My original understanding of his family came from my census search. Although initially it was not clear who were family members, once all the data is viewed collectively along with other information such as death certificates, land records and Frost’s will, the family becomes much clearer.
1850 Census
Reference: 1850 13 Sep, Census, Maryland, Somerset County, Princess Anne Dist, (in HH 1155 of Levin Robertson); age 60, Methodist Episcopal Clergyman
NOTE: It is believed that Levin Robertson here is Frost’s son-in-law.
Census Record
1850 Maryland, Somerset County, Princess Anne Dist.
423b 1155 1155 Robertson Levin 40 1810 M B Farmer 300 MD 423b 1155 1155 Robertson Violet 70 1780 F B MD 423b 1155 1155 Robertson Frost 60 1790 M B Meth Episcopal Minister MD
1860 Census
Reference: 1860 2 Aug, Census, Maryland, Worcester, Nutters Dist., (in HH 1155 with family of Levin Robinson); age 70, Farmer
NOTE: It is believed that Levin Robertson here is Frost’s son-in-law, and Milkey is Milcha, Frost’s daughter. William is their son. The previous Dwelling and family in 1860 is that of James Morris.
Census Record
1860 Maryland, Worcester County, Nutters District
Page Dwlg Fmly Lname Fname Age Yr Brn Sex Race Occupation Real Estate Pers Property St Born 801 2067 2066 Pollitt Frost 70 1790 M B Farmer 200 200 MD 801 2067 2066 Robinson Levin 36 1824 M B MD 801 2067 2066 Robinson Milkey 35 1825 F B MD 801 2067 2066 Robinson William 1 1859 M B MD
1870 Census
Reference: 1870 2 Aug, Census, Maryland, Wicomico, Nutters Dist., (in HH 1155 with family of Ed Christopher); age 90, Minister
NOTE: It is believed that Ed Christopher here is Frost’s son-in-law, and Ann, Frost’s daughter. All of the Christopher children aged 7 to 1/12 are their children. Stephen and Isaac Morris are believed to be Frost’s sons later mentioned in land records.
Census Record
1870 Maryland, Wicomico County, Nutters District
596b 70 70 Christopher Ed 30 1840 M B Farmer 100 MD 596b 70 70 Christopher Ann 29 1841 F B At home MD 596b 70 70 Christopher Lewis 7 1863 M B At home MD 596b 70 70 Christopher Richard 3 1867 M B MD 596b 70 70 Christopher Edward F. 3 1867 M B MD 596b 70 70 Christopher Clay 2 1868 M B MD 596b 70 70 Christopher James 2/12 1870 M B Minister 150 MD 596b 70 70 Pollett Frost 90 1780 M B Minister 150 MD 596b 70 70 Morris Stephen 40 1830 M B MD 596b 70 70 Morris Isaac 38 1832 M B Day Laborer MD
In summary, we can see that Frost had at least seven children and maybe more. Frost would have been about 28 when his son Charles was born. It is highly likely that he fathered children before then. A more thorough study of the average age that male slaves had their first child during the period 1810 to 1830 might give us a better indication if my hypothesis is correct. We do see that George was born in 1822 or five years later. He is followed by Milcah or Milkey in 1825 and was the last child known to have been born while Frost was still a slave. After Frost was manumitted in 1828, Stephen was born in 1830 and Isaac in 1832. Isaac may have been earlier as Mariah was definitely born in 1832. Ann, the youngest child, was born about 1841 when Frost was about 52 years of age. The earlier gaps between the children’s births may be because their siblings died or that Frost was traveling the country side preaching. It is important to note that while Frost’s wife or the mother of his children remained a slave on James Morris’ plantation, they were all born into slavery.
Children:
- Sue, b. unknown – not proven
- Charles Pullett, Methodist Episcopal Minister, Delaware Conference
b. 16 Feb 1817, Salisbury, Somerset Co., MD, d. 13 Jan 1908, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD m. Sarah Ann Huston Census 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 Certificate of Death, 14 Jan 1908, lists both parents, Frost Pollitt and Easter Morris; Widower, Wife: Sarah A. Pullet; Name of person giving information: C. W. Pullett, Son; Occupation: Minister of the Gospel
Will 1906?, Probate 1908 Delaware Conference references to Rev. Charles Pullett, 1908- George Pollitt, b. 15 Jun 1822, Fruitland, Worcester Co., MD, d. 11 Dec 1908, Peninsula General Hospital, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD
Certificate of Death,11 Dec 1908, P.G. Hospital, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., Md.; lists father as Frost Pollitt; Widower: Wife unknown; Occupation: Laborer- Milkey Pollitt, b. 1825, d. Between Jul 1870 and 7 Jul 1893 m. Levin Robinson
- Stephen Pollitt [aka Stephen Morris as a slave], b. Abt. 1830, d. Between 1880 and 7 Jul 1893; listed as Blind in Census 1870
- Isaac Polllit [aka Isaac Morris, as a slave], b. Abt. 1832, d. Between 1870 – 7 Jul 1893
- Mariah Pollitt, b. 20 Feb 1832, d. 13 Apr 1905, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD m. James Leatherbury
- Ann Pollitt, b. abt. 1841 m. Ed Christopher
I was extremely lucky that three of Frost’s children survived into the twentieth century. It was not until after 1897 that Maryland required death certificates. I have found three of them which all list their father as Frost Pollitt. Maria’s death certificate lists her mother as Ester Burris while Charles’ death certificate lists his mother as Esther Morris. We know that the information provided for Maria was by her brother, George, and for Charles, his son, Rev. C. W. Pullett. Given these two reliable sources leads credence to the data provided. Furthermore, Esther is a variation of Easter. Frost’s wife’s maiden name may have been Burris given that his sister married Isaac Burroughs or Burris. I believe that Frost’s grandson, Charles W. Pullett, gave his grandmother’s name as Easter Morris for two reasons. She would most likely have been known by her master’s surname, as she was a slave of James Morris. Secondly, Charles W. Pullett’s other grandmother was Easter Huston, the wife of Levin Huston. Descendants’ of Levin and Esther today still debate at Sunday supper whether Levin’s wife’s name was Easter or Esther.
Reference: Death Certificates of Children of Frost Pollitt, list Esther, most likely married or started having children about 1815
Certificate of Death: Charles Pullett
Died at Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
Date of Death: 1908, January 14. Age 90
Sex Male, Color or Race: Cold., Birthplace: Salisbury, Md
Occupation: Minister of the Gospel
Where Residing if not at place of death: blank
Widower, Wife: Sarah A. Pullet
Father’s Name: Frost Pullet, Father’s Birthplace: Wicomico Co.,, Md
Mother’s Name: Easter Morris, Mother’s Birthplace: Wicomico Co., Md.
Name of person giving information: C. W. Pullett, Son
Causes of Death: Old age
Signature of Physician: W. A. Trader, J.P.Certificate of Death: George Pullett
Died at Salisbury P.G. Hosp., Wicomico County, Maryland
Date of Death: 1908, December 11. Age 86 years, 5 months, 26 days
Sex Male, Color or Race: Colored, Birthplace: Fruitland, Md
Occupation: Laborer
Where residing if not at place of death: In Salisbury, Md.
Widower, Wife: Not Known
Father’s Name: Frost Pullet, Father’s Birthplace: Wicomico Co., Md
Mother’s Name: Not Known, Mother’s Birthplace: Not Known
Name of person giving information: A.J. Morris, Not related
Causes of Death: Enlarged prostate, several months
Signature of Physician: F. M. Slemons, M.D., Salisbury, Md.Death Certificate, Maria Leatherbury
Died at Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
Date of Death: 1905, April 13, Age 72
Sex Female, Color or Race: Black, Birthplace: Maryland
Occupation Housework
Husband James Leatherbury
Father Frost Pullett, born Md.
Mother Ester Burris, born Md.,
Informant, George Pullett, Brother.
NOTE: Given the above information, it can be concluded that the Rev. Frost Pollitt’s wife remained the property of James Morris during her lifetime and either died a slave or was never enumerated on a federal census. As to her name, it is possible that she went by Morris as two of her sons, when by Isaac and Stephen Morris as well as Is by Isaac and Stephen Pollitt. However, it is most likely her first name was Ester or Easter. George Pollitt, her son, lists her name as Burris but given his age he could have been misunderstood for Morris. Or Ester / Easter may have been a Burris as this was a common name in the area. One of Frost’s sisters married Isaac Burroughs and is listed as Tamer Burris on her gravestone.
It is not until 1893 that we can get a clearer picture of the land that Frost willed to his sons Stephen and Isaac as his children Charles, George and Mariah sell it to John W. Hitch presumably after the death of their brothers, Stephen and Isaac. It does give us a collection of relationships and actions to assist us in defining this family.
1893 Deed Children of Frost Pollitt sell land to John W. Hitch
Reference: Deed 7 Jul 1893 Wicomico County, Maryland Land Records, John W Hitch from Charles Pollitt, George Pollitt and Mariah Leatherbury Liber JTT 11, f 396 [This deed identifies five of Frost’s children together.]
Deed John W. Hitch From Charles Pollitt George Pollitt Mariah Leatherbury
This Deed made this Seventh day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety three by Charles Pollitt, George Pollitt and Mariah Leatherbury, of Wicomico County, and State of Maryland, witnesseth that in the consideration of the sum of fifteen Dollars, we the said Charles Pollitt, George Pollitt, and Mariah Leatherbury, do grant unto John W. Hitch, of Wicomico County, and State of Maryland, all that lot or parcel of ground situated in Nutters Election District, Wicomico County, and the State of Maryland, described as follows; lying on the South West side of the Road leading from Ellen R. Wards to Henry Robinsons, and adjoining the lands of W. P. Morris, Levin Robinson, and the said John W. Hitch, it being the same land which was devised to Stephen Pollitt and Isaac Pollitt by the last will and testament of Frost Pollitt, their father, dated September the 23rd 1868, and recorded in Registers Office of Wicomico County, and State of Maryland, we do hereby sell and convey all our right title interest claim and demand in and to the described lot or parcel of ground containing thirty and one fourth acres of land more or less in fee simple.
Witness our hands and seals the day and year above written.
Test. his
Charles x PollittSeal Wm J. Riggin his mark
George x PollittSeal her markMariah x Letherbury
markSeal State of Maryland, Wicomico County to wit:
I hereby do certify that on this 7th day of July in the year 1893, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, of the State of Maryland, in and for the County aforesaid, Charles Pollitt, George Pollitt, and Mariah Letherbury, and did each acknowledge the aforegoing deed to be their respective act. Wm. J. Riggin J. P.Anno Domini 1893, July 8th, There was delivered unto me the subscriber, the aforegoing deed, in order to be enrolled among the Land Records of Wicomico County which said Deed together with the acknowledgement thereof therein endorsed is accordingly enrolled among the same Records, in Liber JTT No. 11, folio 396.
James T. Truitt, Clerk