Adele Lawrey Florence Matthews (1890-1960).

Migration into Wilson County from Alabama was relatively unusual. However, Adele Lawrey Florence arrived around the time of World War I (as did Jackson Matthews, whom she would marry in Wilson), and a few years later her mother Lizzie Lofton Lawrey (also spelled Larry), siblings, and grandmother Amanda Lofton also came. The family remained in Wilson for a few decades before migrating further north to Baltimore, Maryland.

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In the 1900 census of Precint 6 Rutledge, Crenshaw County, Alabama: day laborer Dave Lowery, 45; wifee Lizzie, 40; and children Addell, 10, Jeff D., 8, Annie Bell, 7, Claudie, 4, and Thomas, 1.

On 2 May 1904, Adele Lairy married Jink Florence in Crenshaw County, Alabama.

In the 1910 census of Dothan, Houston County, Alabama: washwoman Lizzie Larry, 37, widow, and children Florence A., 15, Jeff, 12, Anna B., 11, Claudie, 9, Thomas, 8, Rosa B., 6, and Minnie B., 3.

On 1 January 1918, Ardella Florence, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Dave and Lizzie Larry of Alabama, married Jackson Matthews, 22, of Wilson, son of Precious and Sarah Matthews of Alabama.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Jackson Matthews, 24, farmer; wife Adelle, 24; daughter Minnie, 12; and brother Adol, 19; all born in Alabama.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 405 Pine Street, laundress Adele Matthews, 45, and lodger Sarah McMullen, 23.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Lee Street, Lizzie Larry, 49, widow; mother Mandy Lofty, 100, widow, born in Virginia; daughter Anabel Larry, 28, laundress; and grandsons John H., 12, and M.C., 13. All the Larrys were born in Alabama. [In the 1920 census of Bradleyton township, Crenshaw County, Alabama: Filbert Lofton, 75, farmer, and wife Mandie, 85, born in Virginia. Mandy Lofton had most likely been carried south during slavery and had made a reverse migration of sorts.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Lee Street, Annabel Larry, 36, laundress, and mother Lizzie, 65, both born in Alabama.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Barnes_PA.