Florenda Lee Merrigan

[Tara-Leigh]

Hello Again ~ I can't Thank everyone enough over the years for the help "above and beyond" that I always get when I hit a brick wall.  That is why I'm returning once again with a mystery / brickwall. Recently one of my cousins dropped a bombshell on us stating he was in possession of a birth certificate for a baby born to a 14 year old school girl and that the father listed on certificate was our great grandfather. Oh the stories and our imaginations all ran wild.  After the initial shock wore off I stated researching looking at dates and this certificate.  No one in the family knows who this 14 year old girl is and why our great grandfather would be involved with her while married and them expecting a baby of their own. Knowing our family the stories as well as the skeletons in the closet we've come to the conclusion that this young lady was in trouble either raped or got pregnant some other way and our great grandfather knew her family and offered to put his name on the certificate as a means of assisting the young lady and/or her family...back then we know families were shamed by unwed mothers and also fathers names on certificate were changed to help with the adoption process.  So not having any details of the truth this was the trail we are trying to follow in order to see if we can locate where the baby ended up or to find out if the baby died shortly after birth.  She may have even been sent to live with relatives as their own child and lived a long and happy life and had a family of her own.  Right now other than the birth certificate that's where the story ends. Here's what we do know: My great grandfather is :  Thomas Joseph Merrigan Jr. b. Dec 13 1890 in Butte MT lived in AZ til his death in 1944 married to Ruby McMillen Sept 16 1921 (Just realized it was after the birth of mystery child) they had 3 children  Robert, Alice and Donald. Thomas Merrigan Jr. was married previously to Anna Harrington and they had one child James Ellsworth Merrigan. The birth certificate we are now in possession of for this mystery child states the following: Mother is:  Myrtle Ethel Sanders age 14 (b. Mar 18 1907 Douglas AZ) residence Miami AZ Child is :  Florinda Lee (Merrigan) b. Aug 7 1921 Miami, AZ Father is: Thomas Merrigan - Here's the interesting part of document on this section - someone hand wrote a note that reads (claims to be the father). It also states that his occupation was a crane operator for the copper mines. We'd like to be able to find out who Myrtle Ethel Sanders was. How she knew our great grandfather and why was his name on her baby's birth certificate?  Did they have an affair? Did he just put his name on the certificate to help her out? Was the baby sent to live with relatives? or was the baby adopted out through catholic charities...what happened to her? The birth certificate does not provide what hospital was she born in or if she was even born in a hospital. Maybe she was born at home with midwives...maybe not? If she was adopted out how do we go looking for her to see if she had a family and we can locate more cousins? Florenda Lee (Merrigan) - spelling variations could be Florenda or Florinda. At first I thought Lee was a middle name but it could also be a last name for the true biological father or her mothers maiden. Seeing as my great grandfathers name is in parenthesis as well as the note claiming he's the father Lee could very well be the last name. There's so many variations of who what where and why.... While trying to do the research on my own I did come across a Myrtle Sanders who's mother and father along with a boyfriend and a deputy were all murdered.  This tragedy happened in Minnesota.  I don't believe they are the same 14 year old girl...but you never know.  I think the names of the parents are what had me decide they weren't the same person. Any help with this mystery is so greatly appreciated even just pointing me in the right direction is always helpful. Many thanks again the continued help over the years as well. Sincerely Tara (Merrigan) Doyle PS...I tried to attach a copy of the birth certificate but unable to figure it out...sorry

[amondg]

You have the date of birth for Myrtle Ethel Sanders, so who are her parents?

ADDED the 14 year old in  Minnesota was a foster child not a natural child.

[avm228]

The trouble with tracing the child is that she may still be living.

Myrtle may be the Myrtle Ethel Sanders who married Louis Mortimer Mounce in Gila County, AZ in 1926 (license date 9 November 1926).  Both were resident at Copper Hill.  They went on to have children together. In the 1930 census they have two sons of the marriage with them but not a girl born before the marriage.

[Tara-Leigh]

amondg
Thank you for your reply. How do you know the young lady in Minnesota was a foster child? I read all the articles and nothing I saw said that. That would be and intersting way of connecting things. Can you send me the link to your info?

avm228
Thank you for your reply. Everything you posted is info we already have. The fact that the girl marries and has children roughly 6-10 after having Florinda leads me to think Florinda died following the birth or she was adopted right after birth. We just dont know......

If Florinda is alive shes like 98....so I dont think she is. However if she did have a family we'd love to find them and discover new cousins and to hear about Florinda and Myrtle.

Thanks again for your assistance...look forward to any other finds you may dig up.

Tara

[MaureeninNY]

I'd be a little curious about the Flora Lee DEANE on the 1930 Ancestry in St Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida.
She is with Bridge (Elbridge) and Camille DEANE. They don't seem to know how to give the relationship-she's down as a lodger.

When she dies in 1995 as Flora Lee KING:
Birth Date:
7 Aug 1921
Miami, Arizona

Death Place:
Hillsborough, Florida, United States

Maureen

 

[chempat]

To add to Maureen's comments:
On 1935 census she (Flora Lee Deane) is still with Elbridge and Camille, but described as having no relationship to head of family, just the same surname.

[chempat]

?
Flora Lee Deane
Age:17  Birth Date: about 1922
Marriage Date:14th June 1939
Marriage Place: Pinellas, Florida, USA
Father: E G Deane   Mother:Deane
Spouse: Richard Charles LaPlant
Film Number:  002115490

Flora Lee LaPlant
Marriage Date: 10th April 1945
Marriage Place: Pinellas, Florida, USA
Spouse: Fred W Winters
Film Number: 002115420

Flora-Lee Winters
Marriage Date: 26th December 1950
Marriage Place: Florida, USA
Spouse: Harry Leonard King
Film Number: 002115826

[Jool]

Miami Daily Silver Belt 20 December 1921

SEEKS GUARDIANSHIP
Myrtle Sanders, complaining witness in a recent criminal case against Thos. J. Merrigan, came before Judge Shute this morning for consideration as to the guardianship of her infant child. No disposition of the matter was made.

I tried to upload the image but it wouldn't work, maybe this board doesn't allow it.

Still looking for more in newspapers

[MaureeninNY]

Go Jool! Well done!

And chempat been a while,my friend.

Maureen