The Bailey Family
The first public record of the Bailey family was the 1870 census of the Quantico district in Wicomico County, Maryland. There were several Bailey families written in this census. Henry Bailey and his wife Matilda Austin Bailey were among those persons living in the Quantico District. Their children were Morris Bailey, Thaddeus (Fad) Bailey, Pembroke Bailey, Henry Bailey and Hester Bailey. By 1880 the Bailey family had moved to Wetipquin in the Tyaskin district and most of children of Henry Bailey were adults living in their own homes. Henry Bailey was 72 years of age and his wife Matilda Austin Bailey was 50 years of age. The persons living in Henry Bailey’s home in 1880 were his wife Matilda Bailey, Morris Bailey and a grandson David John.
Hester Bailey was born circa 1850 in Quantico District of Somerset County, Maryland. She was living with her parents in 1870 in the Quantico District with a daughter named Georgia Bailey age one. Hester Bailey made her home in Somerset County. The 1890 census of United States Colored Troops in the Civil War listed Hester A Bailey Allen as the widow of Solomon Allen. Solomon Allen was born circa 1819 -1820 in Somerset County, Maryland. He served in the 9th US Colored Infantry from 1863 to 1865. The Government Pension records stated that Solomon Allen was a Private in Company K 9 USC Inf. in Maryland. He became an invalid August 1, 1878 which resulted from the war. Solomon Allen was receiving a pension. He died September 19, 1890. Hester Allen was given a certificate for a pension on her husband’s behalf October 7, 1891.
Her oldest Son was John Gale, born circa 1865. His wife was Anna Stewart Dashiell Gale. The children of this marriage were Samuel Gale, Roy Gale, Charles Gale, Milbourne Gale, Devolia Gale and stepdaughter Ethel Dashiell. John had passed away shortly after the census of 1900. By the time the 1900 census was taken in Somerset County; she had three children and only one was still living. Hester Allen was 50 years of age. She lived in Mt Vernon, Maryland with her son Samuel Gale. Samuel Gale was born November 1873 in Somerset County. His wife Carrie Gale was born September 1874. Their children were Bessie Gale born December 1898; Irving Gale born circa 1902; Hattie Gale born circa 1903; Howard Gale born circa 1906 and Gladys Gale born circa 1910.
She was an ancestor of the Gale family on Polk Road in Princess Anne, Maryland. Hester Bailey Gale Allen passed away September 8, 1911 in Mt Vernon, Maryland and was buried in the Church cemetery on Polk Road. Morris Bailey was born in 1855. and passed May 22, 1929. He was a widower in 1900 and lived with his brother Pembroke Bailey and his family.. His wife name is unknown. Although there was a Sarah Bailey living in Wetipquin attending Friendship Church between 1893 and 1900. She was listed in the Delaware Conference Journals when the members of the churches donated money to the Conference Minute Funds. It is a possibility that she was his wife. Morris Bailey worked on several different farms and saved his money by putting patches on his pants with money in it. Morris Bailey passed May 22, 1929 in Wetipquin and was buried on the Conway farm in Wetipquin located on Royal Oak Road (formerly St Peters Road).
Henry Bailey was born circa 1854. There was only one record of him living in the Tyaskin district in 1880. Thaddeus (Fad) Bailey was born circa 1856 in the Quantico District of Somerset County, Maryland. He lived with the Samuel Church family in Quantico, Maryland working on several different farms. The children in the family called him uncle Fad. Thaddeus Bailey passed away July 20, 1929 in Quantico, Maryland. John Pembrooke Bailey was born a slave March 1857 in Somerset County, Maryland. The most unique thing about him was his talent. He had a melodious voice and could dance. There is no doubt that he was among the slaves who sang in invisible churches in the bush forests. The slaves had to hide in the woods in order to worship and praise God. When he was sold from one plantation to another he would have to display his talents singing and dancing before the slave owners on the auction block. He had a large scar on the front of his body from being whipped by his masters.
By 1880 the census John Pembroke Bailey family was living in Wetipquin, Maryland. Pembroke had married Adaline Allen of Wetipquin. She was born February 1850 on the Alexander Donoho farm and was reared by the Conway’s of Wetipquin. Her parents were Levin Allen and Delilah Donoho. Levin Allen was listed as a free man in 1850; however there were not any more records of him living in Wetipquin after 1850. Adaline and her mother were slaves on the Donoho/Conway farm. Pembrooke Bailey and his wife Adaline had one daughter named Elizabeth Bailey and four sons: Theodore Bailey, Charles Bailey, John Wesley Bailey and James Alexander Bailey.
The family was noted for their singing voices, especially John Wesley Bailey. It was told that he had a beautiful tenor voice and often sang with a quartet. Pembroke Bailey would take his boat from place to place singing at the camp meetings and churches near and far. He could draw crowds of people from all over the peninsula to hear him sing. His wife Adaline Bailey had a beautiful singing voice also, but did not travel with him. She planted her flowers and cooked some of the best meals that you could ever imagine. This was told by one of her granddaughters the late Amelia Bailey Jones of Wetipquin who also had a good singing voice and sang at the Church. Most of the descendants of Pembroke Bailey had the talent of singing and praising God. John Pembroke Bailey passed away May 31, 1928. Adaline Allen Bailey passed away January 11, 1924. They were buried on the Conway farm located on Royal Oak Road in Wetipquin.
Theodore Bailey was born January 1870 in Wetipquin. He married Minta (Minnie) Seldon July 30, 1891 in Friendship M E Church. She was born March 1874 in Wetipquin. Her parents were George Seldon and Matilda Hull Seldon of Wetipquin. The children of this union were Herman George Bailey, Mary Ethel Bailey, Marian Bailey, Victoria Myrella Bailey, Dora Catherine Bailey and Sarah Bailey. John Dashiell of Jesterville, Maryland was the oldest son of Theodore Bailey. He was famous for cooking roast beef in the large iron pots for the church camp meetings. Theodore Bailey passed away in Salisbury, Maryland March 9, 1944. His wife Minta Seldon Bailey passed March 1943 in Wetipquin. They were buried in the Conway farm.
Alexander Bailey was born January 1880. He left home at a very young age and lived Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife was Cornelia Johnson Bailey of Virginia. They were married circa 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The children of this marriage were Clara Bailey born circa 1906; Alexander Bailey Jr. born circa 1911. He had two stepsons William Andrew Johnson born circa 1897 and Edgar W Johnson born circa 1895. Charles R. Bailey was born April 1882 in Wetipquin. He married Ethel Dashiell March 24, 1903. She was born May 1885. Her Parents were Henry Dashiell and Annie Stewart Dashiell Gale. The children of this union were Zola Bailey, Amelia Annie Bailey, Elaine Bailey, Blanche Bailey, John Bailey, Charles Henry Bailey and Albert Bailey. Charles Bailey was the businessman of the family. He operated a small store in his home selling homemade ice cream and lots of goodies to the people in Wetipquin. He was the first black man to own a telephone in the community and operated the fire siren for the Westside Fire department in Bivalve, Maryland whenever there was a fire near by.
John Wesley Bailey was born May 12, 1887. He married Bertha Ellen Lankford February 22, 1917 in Wetipquin. She was born February 1900. Her parents were Levin Thomas Lankford and Mary Wilson Lankford. The children of this marriage were James Bailey and Ella Bailey. Bertha Ellen Lankford passed October 11, 1981 and was buried in Green Acres in Salisbury, Maryland. John Wesley Bailey passed away October 3, 1946 and was buried in the Conway farm in Wetipquin.
Elizabeth Bailey was born July 1888 in Wetipquin. She married James (Turner) Hull October 20, 1908. He was born July 1889 in Wetipquin. His parents were Joseph Albert Hull and Matilda Moore Hull of Wetipquin. They had three daughters Williamana Hull, Myrella Hull and Ella Hull. She was remarried to Joseph Hollis of Dorchester County, Maryland
The Demby Family
Although there were several Demby Families listed in the 1870 & 1880 censuses of Queen Anne County, Maryland. This research focuses on Thomas E Demby and his descendants. The 1900 census of Centreville, Maryland listed the following persons in the home of Thomas E Demby. Thomas E Demby age 38; born January 1862, he was married 20 years to Julia Roberts Demby. She was born August 1862. She had twelve children six were still living. The children were the following: Thomas Demby age 16 born May 1884; Blanche Demby age 12 Born October 1888; William Demby age 9 born July 1891 and Carrie Demby age 3 Born February 1897.
During the 1900 census, two of their daughters were living in Wilmington New Castle, Delaware. Annie Demby age 23, born December 1877 in Maryland. Mary Demby age 19, born March 1881 in Maryland. They lived with an uncle and aunt: William B. Wickes and Henrietta Wickes. Other members of the household were his sister, Carrie Brown; their children: Anna Wickes, Ralph Wickes and Russell Wickes.
By 1910, other members of the Demby family had moved from Centerville, Maryland to Wilmington New Castle County, Delaware. The 1910 census of Wilmington New Castle County, Delaware listed the following members of the family: David Cook age 32 married to Mary Demby Cook age 28. Other persons were Annie Demby, sister in Law age 32; Blanche Demby, sister in Law age 21: William Demby, brother in law age 18 and Carrie Demby, sister in law age 13.
Marriage Record. Herman Bailey age 28 married Carrie Demby age 22 December 25, 1919 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware. Her Parents were Thomas E Demby and Julia A Demby both born in Maryland. The minister was Rev. Henry Y. Arnett. The couple resided at 843 Windsor Street in Wilmington, Delaware. His parents were Dora Bailey and Minta Bailey of Maryland. The witnesses to the marriage license were David Cook and Grant Kenon.
In the 1920 census, Wilmington New Castle, Delaware, the following persons were living in David Cook’s home. David Cook age 42 Born circa 1878 in Maryland; Mary Cook, wife, age 39 Born circa 1882 in Maryland and Ella Cook, Daughter age 9 born circa 1911 in Delaware. 1920 census Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Thomas Demby age 35 born in Maryland Charlotte Demby, wife age 34 born in Delaware; the children of this marriage were Benjamin Demby, son age 16 born in Delaware; Estella Demby, daughter age 10 born in Delaware and Dorothy Demby, daughter age 5 born in Delaware.
1920 census Wilmington. Delaware. Thomas Demby, uncle age 59 born circa 1861, widowed Bessie Rollins, niece age 47, head of the household. William Rollins, her son age 24; Howard Lintinons, her brother age 40. Lucy Johnson, her mother age 60; Katie Simmons, her sister age 13; Her nieces: Sarah Simmons age 13 and Bessie Simons age 14. Morris Rollins, her son age 6. By 1930 Thomas Demby and his family had moved back to Wilmington.
The following were in his household: Thomas E Demby age 45 born in Maryland; Charlotte A Demby, wife age 43 born in Delaware; Estella Demby, daughter age 20 born in Delaware; Dorothy Demby, daughter age 15 born in Delaware; Hattie Demby, Daughter age 5 born in Pennsylvania.
Draft Record of World War 1 (Dated September 12, 1918).Thomas Edward Demby; Born May 14, 1884 in Maryland. Nearest Relative: Charlotte A Demby, wife. His occupation: a barber. The Army’s description of him; 5feet/ 5inches tall; medium built; brown eyes and dark hair. His home address: 801 East 64th Street, Wilmington, Delaware
Draft Record of World 11 (1942). David Smith Cook. Born December 19, 1878. Queen Anne County, Maryland. Lived at 1214 Tatnal Street, Wilmington, Delaware. Closest Relative: Mrs. Louise Moore – Daughter. Occupation: He was a janitor working in different apartments.The Army’s description of him. Medium height; medium built; brown eyes and dark hair
Death Records. Julia A Roberts Demby age 43; Died January 10, 1907 in Centreville, Queen Anne County, Maryland. (There is more than one Annie Demby, not sure if this is the one). Blanche E Smith age 7; Born Boston, Massachusetts. Died March 3, 1904 - buried Mt Hope. Father: Cheloea Smith from Tallahassee, Florida. Mother: Annie Demby from Centreville, Maryland. Their Residence was 41 Notre Dame Street
Boston, Massachusetts
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Blanche Demby, single age 29; Died August 19, 1917 – Wilmington, Delaware; Buried Centerville, Maryland. Parents: Thomas Demby and Julia Roberts
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Mary Cook, born March 27, 1882; Died April 14, 1929. New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware. Husband: David S Cook. They lived at 102 W 12th Street, Wilmington, Delaware. Her Parents: Thomas Demby and Julia Roberts. Buried: Mt Zion Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware. Informer: Carrie Bailey
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Louise Moore, Born October 7, 1911; Died April 5, 1953. Husband: Booker Moore. Her Parents: David and Mary Cook. Buried: Mt Zion Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware
Joyce Burrell
22433 Royal Oak Road
Quantico, MD 21856
November 23, 2015
Ms Julia Birckhead
1218 Lake Overlook Place
Mitchellville, MD 20721
Dear Julia:
I pray that this little note will find you and your family all doing well. I have enclosed some history about the Bailey family and the Demby Family. Some of the search has been done on Family Search and Sailor Heritage Quest. I am also sending you a copy of the Historical Banquet. I really appreciated the reflections you made my day.
Annual Back Home Day was very successful. Our guest preacher was Rev. Thomas Pumphrey of Silver Springs, Maryland. He was one of Ronnie best friends. Our offering was over 7,000.00.
We are in the process of planning for our church anniversary which is Sunday, April 24, 2015. We will be having memorial and business ads. The cost of the ads are $15 for a half page and $30.00 for a full page. All patrons are $2.00 person.
During my research at the NABB Center at Salisbury University; I was fortune enough to find all of the Delaware Conference Journals from 1864 to 1965. It has a wealth of information concerning the ministers who served our church and some of the members of the church. Wetipquin became a Charge in 1901 and was a Charge until 1965. Rev. William H. Hayman was the first pastor of the Charge. We were on the White Haven Charge from 1893 to 1900. We were on the Quantico Circuit from 1865 to 1893. In 1864 we were on the Wicomico Circuit of the Choptank District. Rev. Charles Pullet was the Pastor. You know the other information before 1864.
In Christian Love,
Cousin, Joyce Burrell