Orphaned Triplets Seek Family Ancestry

Recently a story about orphaned triplets made the news. In January 1953 Mamie Lee Kelly gave birth to triplets in Adams Hospital near Logan Circle, Washington DC. Mamie died a few days after they were born. Two years later their father Alexander Kelly was shot and killed.

The triplets went to different homes - Dwight and Alexander went to North Carolina, while sister Mamie was sent to Philadelphia. Now that they are adults, the triplets want to know their family ancestry. I've done some research and have found more information which I will be giving to the newspaper.

If any of my readers want to jump in and assist in this search, here are the facts from the newspaper story:

• Mamie Lee Kelly gave birth to triplets on Jan. 18, 1953, at Adams Hospital near Logan Circle, Washington:  Dwight and Alexander David  (went to N. Carolina) and  Mamie ( went to Philly)
• Mother died Jan. 22, 1953
• Father Alexander Kelly shot and killed  Nov. 1955
• older sister to triplets was Linda
• There were 3 Adams Hospital nurses, L.E. Lee, Evelyn Cheffens and Ruth Milberrie. 

Source: Orphaned Triplets Search for their Family's History

Here are my findings: 

 
Date: Monday, January 26, 1953

Paper: Evening Star (Washington (DC), District of Columbia)  Page: 13

From this clipping we know that Mamie's parents were Carl and Lona Mae Jones, and her sister was Mrs. Essie Govan.

Sunday, November 6, 1955  

Paper: Evening Star (Washington (DC), District of Columbia)  Page: 37

From this we find that Alexander Kelly was born circa 1919

The birth of the triplet's sister  (Linda) is mentioned in Saturday, February 17, 1951 newspaper for Washington DC.  

Next I found their mother with her parents and sister in 1930 and 1940 census records.

1930 census Kent, Prince George´S, Maryland; Roll: 878; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0028; Image: 51.0; FHL microfilm: 2340613

Carl Jones, 25 b N. Carolina
Lona, 25 b N. Carolina
Mamie 7 b N. Carolina
Essie M. 5 b Maryland

1940 Census Prince George´S, Maryland; Roll: T627_1557; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 17-41

Carl Jones     37, shop boy, grade 6 education
Lena M Jones     37 never went to school
Mamie E Jones     17 left school after grade 7
Essie M Jones     15 2nd year high school
Joshua P Taylor     47 brother-in-law, busboy, grade 2 education 

 

It appears Mamie's father died in 1969. 

Name:	Carl Jones
SSN:	578-10-8173
Last Residence:	20786 Landover, Prince Georges, Maryland, USA
BORN:	4 Jul 1902
Died:	Jan 1969
State (Year) SSN issued:	District of Columbia (Before 1951

  
His obituary is found Tuesday, January 28, 1969
Evening Star (Washington (DC), District of Columbia) on p. 29

Lona Jones, his wife died in 1973. Her obituary is found January 17, 1973 in the Evening Star (Washington DC) on p 39



I found Essie Mae Govan living in Capitol Heights Maryland from August 1984 to May 2005. Other nams associated with Essie were James Govan, Joe Nathan Govan, Lashawn Michelle Vanhorne, Natalie Govan




UPDATE April 2:  Marian Koalski adds this find of Lona's maiden name:

Carl and Lona's daughter, Essie Mae Jones, was born in Wilson County, NC, in 1924, and her mother's maiden name was listed as Taylor. "North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VC71-6XK : accessed 2 April 2016), Carl Jones in entry for Essie Mae Jones, 1924; from "North Carolina, Birth and Death Indexes, 1800-2000," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing vol. 16, p. 126, Wilson, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.