Maybe he was abusive or alcoholic -- I have been told by another researcher that there does seem to be a problem with alcohol in the Whittington line. Sue Hunt Clinton, Miss.

Derrellyn, Mary and Sue: Thanks to all for your answers and insight. I guess any possible scenario could have happened between Elisha and Melina. As far as I know no written record survives of the break up other than the divorce papers that Elisha filed on Melina. Elisha divorced Melina while she was living in Texas and she never appeared in person to answer the charges. Here is my theory of what might have happened (of course this is all conjecture and until evidence comes to light I cannot prove any of this.): Melina probably found life with Elisha unbearable and he may well have been abusive to her. Perhaps she felt that her only escape from her situation was to leave. Because married women had little if any legal rights in those days, she may have been forced to leave her children behind with Elisha. I doubt that she did so willingly. I also doubt that she came to Texas by herself. Melina had Dalton relatives who already lived in Liberty County and one of her brothers migrated to TX from St Landry Parish the same year that Elisha claimed that Melina left him (per the divorce papers.) I suspect Melina left Louisiana with her brother's family so she must have found refuge with her Dalton kin. The divorce papers claimed adultery against Melina as apparently Elisha knew of the existence of her children in Texas by "persons unknown." I'm not sure why it took Elisha 5 years to divorce Melina unless there was a required waiting period or else he was thinking she might someday return. In the interim, Elisha must have found solace in the arms of Mary Milam(based on what other Whittington researchers are turning up about that possible liaison.) before his marriage to Lucinda Futch. Melina's relationship(s) in Texas between the years 1831 and 1840 remain a mystery. She did eventually marry a San Jacinto war veteran named Cyrus Thompson in 1840 as her second husband. Cyrus was not the father of her two children as the timing of his arrival in Texas was too late. Whoever the father was may have died or abandoned Melina prior to 1840. His name has not been preserved in the family. Melina obtained a land grant in Liberty County from the Mexican government under the name Melina Whittington as a "head of a family." Melina may have claimed that she was a widow to obtain this property. The gentlemen who testified on her behalf for her land certificate did not divulge her secret if in fact they actually knew about the circumstances of her removal to Texas. Parts of Melina's original land grant still remain in the ownership of several of her son Bill's descendents. Melina and Cyrus remained together and lived on a farm in Liberty (later to become part of Chambers) County. They raised Melina's two children but had none of their own. Melina died in Galveston in October 1874 and was buried in Potter's Field. Cyrus died two years later, also in Galveston, at the home of his step-daughter Clara, but unlike Melina's ending, he received a proper burial in the City Cemetery. Their graves washed out to sea during the great storm of 1900. There is circumstancial evidence that Melina may in fact have kept in touch with her children by Elisha. One example: In the month and year of her death, there was an Ida Whittington who had been receiving letters at the Galveston post office. When letters weren't picked up the addressee's names were advertised in the local paper. I came across this evidence that Ida Whittington had been in Galveston while scrolling through old Galveston newspapers on microfilm. Ida's name appears on the list of unclaimed letters. I did not know who Ida Whittington was until I connected with Tom Cloud and his web page. Ida was the daughter of Elisha and Melina. Ida must have been in town to be with her mother in her final days. I probably told everyone more than you care to know about my ancestress and I realize that the above account reads like a paperback novel. If I ever uncover more substantial evidence or clues about Melina and Elisha and their ill-fated match, I will be happy to share. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 6:25 PM Subject: Re: Elisha Whittington Census Record > Maybe he was abusive or alcoholic -- I have been told by another researcher > that there does seem to be a problem with alcohol in the Whittington line. > > Sue Hunt > Clinton, Miss. > > > ==== WHITTINGTON Mailing List ==== > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > W H I T T I N G T O N F A M I L Y H I S T O R Y G R O U P > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library >