DOLLAR, SYLVESTER

The genealogical researcher is a sleuth, untangling the mystery of a person’s life by looking for clues in the written documents left behind. The task is both rewarding and frustrating; especially when the written record is minimal. Such is the case of Sylvester Dollar, where there are often more questions than answers. To begin, Sylvester’s date of birth is uncertain as three of the four documents discovered provide three different possible dates: 25 February 1881; 1885; and 1894.¹1881: WWI Draft Card: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/16193703:6482 : accessed 9 Oct. 2022. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

1885: Sylvester Dollar marriage registry: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2430308:60548?; accessed 9 Oct. 2022. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

1894: Sylvester Dollar death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/69373:1121 : accessed 9 Oct. 2022. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. Confirming his birth date is hindered by the fact that much of the 1890 census was burned in a fire and Sylvester’s information was more than likely incinerated in the blaze.²https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1890 : accessed 21 Nov 2022. Sylvester was not found in the 1900 or 1910 census, and as he died in 1920, he was not recorded in that year’s census either.³Sylvester Death Certificate. While there are many Dollars listed in the Durham and Raleigh City Directories, Sylvester was not among them. One document that was discovered was Sylvester’s death certificate and it provided many leads, both rewarding and frustrating.

From this document, we learn that he was married and that his wife was Florence Dollar, his parents were Kern Dollar and Jane Howell, and the informant was John Dollar who was residing in Richmond, NC. The record indicates that he “died suddenly” and that no one was present at the time of his passing on 8 July 1920.⁴Sylvester Death Certificate.

A quick search found Sylvester and Florence’s marriage certificate and registry. They were married on 10 August 1913 by Jos. K. Satterwhite, Priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church at 800 Lee’s Lane in Raleigh, NC. Florence’s parents were Henry and Mandy Malone of Louisburg, NC. Sylvester’s father is listed as Kearn Dollar, and his mother is curiously listed as Lucy Dollar. Who is Lucy? As it turns out, Lucy Dollar is Kern’s mother, Sylvester’s grandmother.⁵Federal Census: Year 1870: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35018966:7163 : accessed 10 Oct 2022. Original data:1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

In 1870, Lucy was raising Cherry (21), George (15), Robert (13), Carney (6) and Tiney (1).⁶1870 Federal Census. Where is Kern? Well, Kern is Carney. In fact, the spelling of his name is different in almost every document found; Kern, Kearn, Carney, Kerney, Kearny, Karean, Curran, and Currin. On 6 April 1881, Kern married Jane Howell, Sylvester’s mother.⁷Kern Marriage Certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6283434:60548 : accessed 10 Oct. 2022. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC. By 1892, they were living at 312 E Main Street, where Kern was a laborer and Jane was a washer.⁸Durham City Directory: 1892: Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/604369183:2469 : accessed 10 Oct 2022. Then, on 18 September 1899, Kern married Mattie Fuller of Wake County. But wait! What happened to Jane? All we know is that there is no further documentation of Jane after a final city directory entry in 1897 where she was working at the American Tobacco Factory.⁹Durham City Directory: 1897: Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/600281487:2469 : accessed 10 Oct. 2022. If Jane died, she may not have been given a death certificate as statewide legislation for the issuance of death certificates did not happen in North Carolina until 1913.¹⁰https://ncarchivesstore.com/nc-vital-records-death-certificates-1906-1979/ : accessed 22 Nov 2022. Kern’s paper trail also ends in 1900 with his listing in the Federal Census.¹¹Year: 1900; Census Place: Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina; Roll: 1221; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0136; FHL microfilm: 1241221. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/50505421:7602 : accessed 9 Oct 2022. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. In this instance however, we know that Kern passed away sometime before 1913 as he is listed as deceased on Sylvester’s marriage certificate to Florence.¹²Sylvester Marriage Certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/6284142:60548 : accessed 9 Oct 2022. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

So, who was John Dollar? Apart from being the informant on Sylvester’s death certificate, he was also his brother.¹³John Dollar Marriage License: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2014. Original data: Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4511368:60214 : accessed 31 Oct 2022. Original data: Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. John moved to Richmond, Va. where married Eliza Jones on 1 December 1929.¹⁴John Dollar marriage license. During his time in Richmond he worked as a warehouse man at John S. Martin Co. and as a porter.¹⁵Richmond City Directory: 1937: Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/562931194:2469 : accessed on 31 Oct. 2022. Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. Richmond, Virginia, City Directory, 1937.

Richmond, Virginia, City Directory, 1942: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1079564047:2469 : accessed on 31 Oct 2022. John died from tuberculosis at the Central State Hospital after an almost eight-year stay. He was separated from his wife at the time of his passing.¹⁶John Dollar death certificate: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=9278&h=601422928 : accessed on 10 Oct 2022. Original data: Virginia, Deaths, 1912–2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.

It is during John’s time as a porter that we find our final clue. The Richmond City Directory tells us that John roomed with Joseph Dollar, Sylvester’s youngest brother.¹⁷Richmond, Virginia, City Directory, 1942. Joseph was born to Kern and Jane on 25 Dec 1890.¹⁸Joseph Dollar Social Security Application. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1757679:60901 : accessed on 19 Nov 2022. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. By 1917, he was a driver living in Norfolk, Va. In 1940, he was living in Central Harlem in New York City and worked for the Health Department.¹⁹Joseph Dollar Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02664; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 31-1685. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11873886:2442 : accessed on 19 Nov 2022. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. He never married, and died on 16 June 1962 at the age of 71.²⁰New York State Death Index: https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61668&h=738526 : accessed on 19 Nov 2022.

BORN: 25 February 1881.²²Sylvester Dollar WWI draft card.

DIED: 8 July 1920.²³Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

BIRTH PLACE: North Carolina. ²⁴Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

DEATH PLACE: Durham NC.²⁵Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

SPOUSE: Florence Malone.²⁶Sylvester Dollar marriage certificate.

PARENTS: Kern Dollar and Jane Howell.²⁷Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

CHILDREN: N/A

OTHER FAMILY: John Dollar and Joseph Dollar. ²⁸John: Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

Joseph: Joseph Dollar Social Security Application.

FAMILY BURIED IN GEER CEMETERY: N/A

OCCUPATION: Laborer.²⁹Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

CHURCH: N/A

AFFILIATIONS: N/A

ADDRESS: McMannen Street.³⁰Sylvester Dollar death certificate.

MILITARY SERVICE: N/A