Clarissa's tombstone lists her birthdate as 26 Feb 1842. I have not found a marriage record for Clarissa and Joseph to be able to confirm her maiden name, but Joseph and his parents lived next door to John and Hanna Edwards, who had a daughter named Clarissa of the right age to be Joseph's wife. Clarissa (or her husband) always listed MS as her birthplace in the census records. However, when she was 8, her parents listed her birthplace as SC in the 1850 census. They died when she was still a teenager, so she may not have realized she was born in another state. The correct location is probably SC.
Residence
Spouse/Children
Though I have not been able to find a marriage license that gives a maiden name for Clarissa, the Confederate widow pension application that Clarissa Germany (Mrs. C.H. Germany) filed indicates they married 06 Jun 1858 in Beech Springs in Neshoba County, MS. Census records give the names of their children: Sarah A., Martha E., William P., Mary C., Joseph (John) B., Ellen O., Thomas J., Minnie C., Henry J. and Irvin W. A daughter, Janie (1884-1886), was identified by cemetery records.
Census Records
MS 1850
p. 148, L. 21 (household 462/482), Newton County
head of household: John Edwards
John, 60, SC
Hanna, 55, SC
Sarah, 22, SC
Elizabeth, 16, SC
John, 14, SC
William, 13, SC
Clarissa, 7, SC
MS 1860
p. 99 (791), L. 5, (household 667), Newton County
head of household: Joseph M. Germany
Joseph M., 30, MS
Clansy, 18, MS
Sarah, 1, MS
MS 1870
p. 204, L15 (household 35), Newton County
head of household: J. M. Germany
J.M., 40, MS
Caroline H., 18, MS
Sarah A., 10, MS
Martha E., 8, MS
William P., 6, MS
Mary C., 3, MS
Joseph B., 7/12, MS
MS 1880
v. 14, ED50, sh3, L9, Neshoba County
head of household: Joseph M. Germany
Joseph M. Germany, 50, MS
Clarisa H., 38, MS
Martha E., 18, MS
William R., 15, MS
Mary C., 13, MS
John B., 10, MS
Henry J. 7, MS
Ella O., 5, MS
Thomas J., 2, MS
James Barefoot, 17, MS (boarder)
MS 1900
ED 51, sh 12 (228), L12 (family 201), Newton County
head of household: Joseph Germany
Joseph, 70, MS
Clarissa H., 58, MS
Ellen O., 24, MS
Thomas J., 22, MS
Minnie C., 19, MS
Irvin W., 8, MS
MS 1910
ED 90, p. 19a, L46 (family 299), Newton County
head of household: Joe M. Germany
Joe M., 80, MS
Clarisa H., 68, MS
John B., 40, MS
Tom J., 33, MS
Irvin W., 18, MS
MS 1920
ED96, p. 16A (128), L26, Newton County
head of household: John B. Germany
John B., 50, MS
Clarisa H., 77, MS
Irvin W., 28, MS
Death/Burial
Clarissa "Claricie" Germany died at the age of 87 at her home near Beat Springs in Neshoba County on August 30, 1929. Her obituary says she left 108 descendants (8 children, 48 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren), though her husband and three children preceded her in death. (The 3 children that died before her were Janie, Tom, & Minnie.) She is buried at Beech Springs Cemetery. (Note: The obituary says burial was at Beat Springs but it is now called Beech Springs. Perhaps the location of death was also Beech Springs.) See the GERMANY Page for a transcript of the obituary.
References
A * indicates a book is part of my private collection.
Copies of the Neshoba Democrat are housed at Mississippi Department of Archives in Jackson, MS.
Smith, Bonnie Addy, Jackson Eliot Smith, and Robert Ervin Smith, Newton County Mississippi: A Cemetery Census 1782-1995. 1997, Decatur: EBRS Publishing Company.
This book was privately published and is available from the authors at one of the following addresses:
18970 Highway 14 North
Decatur, MS 39327
phone: (601) 635-2149
100 Woodville Drive
Natchez, MS 39120
phone: (601) 442-3084
Mrs. C.H. Germany (J.M. Germany); Confederate Pension Files.
Confederate pension records are housed at the Mississippi Department of Archives in Jackson, MS.
