LATTA, FANNIE

Fannie Latta’s 92 some-odd years spanned most of the nineteenth century, yet she left little trace in the public record. She was born in Wake County in 1817 to Fannie Hester and an unknown father.¹This according to Fannie Latta’s death certificate: “North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S23-X63?cc=1609799&wc=MJ49-PTL%3A1042556901 : 3 May 2019), 004163098 > image 1180 of 2019; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh.

The 1900 Federal Census, however, gives her birthdate as Jan 1821. “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68FX-55?cc=1325221&wc=9BWW-4WG%3A1030551601%2C1032311101%2C1032325101 : 5 August 2014), North Carolina > Durham > ED 26 Durham Township (excl. Durham city) > image 7 of 70; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).We assume her maiden name was Hester and that she took the surname Latta from her husband, whom we don’t know anything else about.²Fannie Latta death certificate.

Her daughter Lucy was born in August 1844.³Lucy Latta death certificate: “North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-62V3-LCT?cc=1609799&wc=MJWB-N38%3A1042557901 : 3 May 2019), 004163101 > image 2251 of 3029; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh. If Lucy had brothers or sisters, we don’t know about them. The first time either Fannie or Lucy appears in any public document is in 1897, when the Durham city directory lists Lucy as a cook.⁴Mangum’s Directory of Durham and Suburbs 1897 (Durham, N.C.: D. C. Mangum, 1897) p. 137, Latta surname; digital image, “North Carolina City Directories,” DigitalNC (https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/25139 : accessed 9 Feb 2022). Fannie’s first appearance is in the 1900 Federal Census, already aged 79 and living with Lucy in Durham.⁵1900 Federal Census.

We can only speculate as to where Fannie and Lucy were between 1844 and 1897. They are not listed in any Federal Census in the U. S. during that period. If she and Lucy were enslaved, they would not have been recorded in any census before 1870. Most of the 1890 Census was damaged in a fire.⁶Why can’t I find 1890 census records?” United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/history/www/faqs/genealogy_faqs/why_cant_i_find_1890_census_records.html: accessed 11 Feb 2022. That leaves the 1870 and 1880 census, where they should have appeared.

Fannie died on Christmas Day of 1909, and Lucy died two years later. Fannie did leave behind a namesake granddaughter and two other grandchildren.⁷1900 Federal Census.

BORN: 1817.⁸Fannie Latta death certificate.

DIED: 25 Dec 1909.⁹Fannie Latta death certificate.

BIRTH PLACE: Wake County, NC.¹⁰Fannie Latta death certificate.

DEATH PLACE: Durham, NC.¹¹Fannie Latta death certificate.

SPOUSE: Unknown.

PARENTS: Fannie Hester.¹²Fannie Latta death certificate.

CHILDREN: Lucy Latta (b. 1817).¹³1900 Federal Census.

OTHER FAMILY: Granddaughter Fannie Latta (b. 1884).¹⁴1900 Federal Census.

FAMILY BURIED IN GEER CEMETERY: Lucy Latta.

OCCUPATION: N/A

CHURCH: N/A

AFFILIATIONS: N/A

ADDRESS: 906 Arnette.¹⁵Fannie Latta death certificate.

MILITARY SERVICE: N/A