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WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 2:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have extensive data on the prison including 1870, 1880, 1900,1910,1920,1930 and 1940 indexed census. I also have the death records of 934 prisoners who died or where excuted plus 248 who are buried at the prison cemetery. If your are seeking information let me know.

Harry Forrester

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 2 Dec 2012 5:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McAfee
Hello! I saw your post and was wondering if you could help me. I have a great grandfather who goes "missing" from census records, but is not dead, around 1920. His name is William McAfee Jr. and he was from the Wheeling WV/Pittsburgh PA area. He married my G-Gma Lena Fawcett McAfee in 1912 and they had two children; Robert and William Jr.(yes it is Jr. AGAIN instead of the II,lol), then by the 1920 census, both boys are in St Johns Home for Boys in Wheeling, and Lena is back with her father in Grafton WV. I was wondering if William McAfee was perhaps put in prison for a time and this could explain the "absence". Thanks for any help!!
Julie Royce

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 2 Dec 2012 6:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
There is no census record for any McAfee in Moundsville prison either 1920 or 1930. Of course with a short sentence between census date one would not appear. Nor is there any death record for William McAfee at this prison.Could he have been in WW1?

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 2 Dec 2012 6:40PM GMT
Classification: Query
I just noticed there was a death certificate for Thelma McAfee daughter of William and Lena in July 1924 Taylor Co. So they most have been together in 1923? I am going to one of the very old funeral homes in Mouodsville tomorrow in search of death records for Moundsville prison inmates and will check to make sure. If he was there in 1925 or so and died before 1930 he would not have showed up in the 1930 census. There marriage index for 1911 is available.

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 6 Dec 2012 1:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you SO much for your help! He indeed returned at some point because they went on to have many other children, but all of these children remained living in Grafton, WV with Lena (the wife) and her father. They all have William listed on the birth certificate, however, and he dies somewhere around 1929, so he is not on the 1930 census. Their last child was born around that time as well, so it would seem he was indeed the father of the others. (For a time, I thought perhaps the other children came from other men and her husband was just listed on the birth certificate to "save face". It would seem, however, that he really was their father, because the timing of her last child being born, and his death, coincides.)I know that on the 1930 census, she is, for the first time, listed as a widow. Also, my mother told me that his children talked about how he wasn't home for a long stretch of time, and then would "come and go". I thought perhaps a prison stint might explain why 2 of their first children ended up in an orphanage. The only child they had at the time who didn't go to the home was a daughter (it was a boys home only) who later died. I thought perhaps after he returned from wherever he was he may have been working out of town, living with relatives, and sending $ back home to her. I am trying to check census records for his many brothers and sisters to see if he is listed in their homes but have found nothing yet. Again, I thank you for your help. I swear I'm gonna figure this out one day! lol My mother who is now 73 has wondered her entire life why her father had to be put in an orphanage at 5 years old, but of course they didn't speak about things like that back then. :/

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 6 Dec 2012 2:45PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have one last place you can try. Call Kathie Sizemore at 304-442-7213 and ask if she has an inmate card for him. She is in records at Mt Olivet State Prison and they have many of old records still on file. Good Luck

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 6 Dec 2012 4:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
Will do! Thank you so mcuh!

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 3 Mar 2013 12:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
Harry- I am looking for information on an inmate named Robert Lee Ellard that was serving a life sentence at Moundsville and died around 1985-1986. Any information on him would be appreciated.

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 3 Mar 2013 6:26PM GMT
Classification: Query
My records state he died from cardiac arrest 7/1/1987 and was claimed by relatives. A death certificate is recorded in Marshall Co Courthouse death book 5 at page 69. His inmate number is 45983 which is helpful when asking for data from the state. An inmate card may be available from Mt Olivet Prison records department. Is there some type of explicate information you are looking for?

Re: WV Prison data - Moundsville, WV

Posted: 5 Mar 2013 7:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
I was hoping for a picture/mugshot of him and also his Mother's maiden name. I have info that her name was Dorothy but left him and his siblings when they were young. The only pic I have found was a very dark,blurry newspaper article online in which you couldn't see him. I am also looking for children etc...Thank you so much for giving me this info on him!!! It's a huge help on helping my friend with her family tree!
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