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Fancy America “Frances” <I>Murphy</I> Smith

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Fancy America “Frances” Murphy Smith

Birth
Hawkins County, Tennessee, USA
Death
30 Jul 1990 (aged 90)
Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, USA
Burial
Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, USA Add to Map
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Frances never made it past the 4th grade. She was needed to help support the family and worked cleaning dishes for a another household using a stool to reach the basin. Regardless, she always showed pose and manners, which she passed on to her only daughter and grandchildren.

Frances used several different birth dates depending on who she was talking to. Although she attested in a Tennessee delayed birth certificate in 1958 that she was born in 1899, she often told friends and acquaintances she was born in 1903. This put her properly younger than her husband who was born in January 1901. In some cases she indicated being born in Dec 1901, still properly younger than her husband. The court house birth records for Frances were destroyed in a fire. Story has it that her husband, James Smith, submitted her Social Security application with a birth date (1901?) that took advantage of a supposed notch in benefits. Frances's daughter, Sirleine Smith (207757123) affirmed that 1899 is the correct date. This is supported with the 1900 and 1910 census records.

The census records also support the conversation with Frances that her real name is Fancy. She did not care for it and began using Frances.

Contributed by Barry Smith, grandson to Frances, based on personal interview with Frances.
Frances never made it past the 4th grade. She was needed to help support the family and worked cleaning dishes for a another household using a stool to reach the basin. Regardless, she always showed pose and manners, which she passed on to her only daughter and grandchildren.

Frances used several different birth dates depending on who she was talking to. Although she attested in a Tennessee delayed birth certificate in 1958 that she was born in 1899, she often told friends and acquaintances she was born in 1903. This put her properly younger than her husband who was born in January 1901. In some cases she indicated being born in Dec 1901, still properly younger than her husband. The court house birth records for Frances were destroyed in a fire. Story has it that her husband, James Smith, submitted her Social Security application with a birth date (1901?) that took advantage of a supposed notch in benefits. Frances's daughter, Sirleine Smith (207757123) affirmed that 1899 is the correct date. This is supported with the 1900 and 1910 census records.

The census records also support the conversation with Frances that her real name is Fancy. She did not care for it and began using Frances.

Contributed by Barry Smith, grandson to Frances, based on personal interview with Frances.

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