Fannie Garza/Carlos
1856 – 1943
Suggested daughter of Carlos de la Garza
Fannie is most likely the female mulatto slave (age 4 – born 1856) listed in the 1860 Slave Census of Victoria County, Texas, as belonging to Carlos de la Garza. It’s my assumption that Betsy is her mother and the other mulatto slave is Fannie’s brother or sister. If Carlos has purchased Betsy before 1855, it’s highly possible that Fannie could be his daughter.
Fannie has moved out of Betsy’s household before 1880 and started families of her own — a child named Tom Holliday was born to her and John J. Holliday (known as Jack) in 1876. In 1881, Fannie has Nellie Carlos/Burns by wealthy (and married) Irish stockraiser, James E. Byrne. In 1883, Fannie has a daughter Ollie Brown with Abraham Brown, a Black cowboy. In 1896, she has united again with James Byrne and they have a son named Jesse Carlos/Burns. Finally, in 1889, Fannie Carlos has a son named Richard H. Williams whose father is not known. (On his WW II Draft registration, Richard is noted to have light brown hair and light blue eyes, which should indicate a white father.)
In 1910, Fanny is living in the home of her daughter, Ollie Brown Terrell. Fannie has always listed her marital status as single. Here she states that the has born eight children, of which six are still alive. She’s not found on the 1880 census records, which is likely where other children would be noted. Only five children have been accounted for.
Conjecture on Richard H. Williams’ Father
A researcher on Ancestry listed Peter Henry Fagan as the father with no evidence or validation. DNA did not match as it should have. At the time of Richard’s conception, Pete Fagan was dealing with the grave sickness and eventual death of his wife. If Fagan blood had indeed been commingled with Fannie Carlos’, it might have been via John Daniel Fagan (1856-1913) who was the son of John and Elen Fox Fagan. He lived in Household #72 and never married. He was Fannie’s age.
HOWEVER … Fannie was rather consistent in the final surnames of her children matching the father’s name. It is unlikely that she would hand out the name of Williams with no reason. Down the road from her (Household #66 in 1900) is the ranch of the late David F. Williams (Household #5). They have purchased land in the Carlos de la Garza grant. Richard would have been conceived in the last year of David’s life (he died in 1891 — but he had two sons about 20 years old at Richard’s birth. Samuel John Williams (1872-1958) and Robert Sidney Williams, Sr. (1874-1936). Sam married Zilpah Stoner (from Household #126) and by 1900 they have moved to Kerrville. Robert lives his whole life on the ranch. It’s possible that one of these boys was father of Richard H. Williams.
Additionally, in Household #64 is Wesley Williams (1843-?) with a wife and children even younger than Richard. It’s highly likely that he could be the father, being in such close proximity. He is 13 years older than Fannie, whereas Samuel and Robert are about 16 years younger. And likely that did not matter.