W. O. Petty

W. O. Petty was the last child born to John R. Petty and Margaret E. Thomas. He appears to have two different birth records with different dates and names. One record is for W. O. Petty born on 5 June 1876.¹“Kentucky, U.S., Birth Records, 1847–1911,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1213 : accessed 4 Sep 2013); 1876, W. O., father J. R. Petty, mother M. E. Thomas, Hopkins Co.; from Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), microfilm rolls #994027-994058, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort. The other is for Osker L. Petty, born on 28 June 1876.²“Kentucky, U.S., Birth Records, 1847–1911,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1213 : accessed 4 Sep 2013); 1876, Osker L., father Jno R. Petty, mother M. E. Thomison, Hopkins Co.; from Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), microfilm rolls #994027-994058, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort. The 5 June entry for W. O. lists his parents as J. R. Petty (born in Tennessee) and M. E. Thomas (born in Georgia).³“Kentucky, U.S., Birth Records, 1847–1911,” 1874, W.O., father J. R. Petty, mother M. E. Thomas, Hopkins Co. The 28 June entry for Osker L. lists parents Jno R. Petty (born in Tennessee) and M. E. Thomison (born in Georgia).⁴“Kentucky, U.S., Birth Records, 1847–1911,” 1874, Osker L., father Jno R. Petty, mother M. E. Thomison, Hopkins Co.

Clearly, Margaret did not give birth to two children twenty-five days apart. Whichever date is correct, the child lived no longer than a few weeks or a few days. He died in Hopkins County on 30 June 1876. His death record gives his age as three weeks, making the 5 June birthdate most likely. It is unclear which name is correct, but the death record also gives his name as W. O.⁵“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1953,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222 : accessed 4 Sep 2013), 1876, W. O. Petty; from microfilm 994027–994058, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort. The cause of his death and his burial location are unknown. Margaret died less than a month later from complications from his birth listed as “woomb disease” on her death record.⁶“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1953,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222 : accessed 4 Sep 2013), 1876, M. E. Petty; from microfilm 994027–994058, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort.