Marshall William Bordeaux & Ellen Ann Johnson

Marshall William Bordeaux

Marshall William Bordeaux was born 14 February, 1855 in the Turnbull Creek region of Bladen County. He was the son of Enoch Bordeaux (ca 1821-1865) and Sallie Cain. Marshall's father died in Elmira, New York in a Confederate prison camp when Marshall was 10 years old. Marshall was the second youngest of the children left behind. His siblings were Daniel R. Bordeaux, Elizabeth Ann Norris, Martha Jane Smith, Emaline Bordeaux, and Mack Lloyd "McLloyd" Bordeaux.

Marshall was a logger. He cut trees and prepared them for loading onto barges on the Cape Fear River.

Marshall married Melissa A. Smith on 21 September, 1871, the daughter of John Washington Smith and Martha Ann Long. They had one son, Onslow Purley Bordeaux, born 8 April, 1874. Onslow was the only one in the family who did not remain in Bladen County. He married Piercy E. Green. They moved and settled in Rocky Mount, NC. Marshall and Melissa may have had other children who did not live to maturity, but this is unknown at the present. Melissa died sometime after Onslow was born, possibly in 1877.

Marshall married again to Ellen Ann Johnson on 12 May, 1878. She was the daughter of Reverend Joshua Johnson (1822-1903) and Nancy Cain (1830-1855). Honoring Ellen's father, Marshall and Ellen named their children after Methodist Ministers. They had four sons:
Tillet Asbury Bordeaux, born 22 June, 1879
Bishop Skidmore Bordeaux, born 5 May, 1882
Julius Joshua Bordeaux, born 4 June, 1885
Edward Jurium Bordeaux, born 7 May, 1888

It appears that Marshall and Ellen were half 1st cousins, one generation removed. Marshall's grandparents were William Bordeaux and Margaret Johnson. Margaret was half sister to Reverend Joshua Johnson.

The homestead of Marshall Bordeaux was said to have been located near White Oak. The description given to me by a granddaughter was to travel across the Cape Fear River bridge from Tarheel. At the intersection (where you usually go right to go to White Oak), turn left and travel for about 1.5 to 2 miles. The old homestead was located on the right side of the road.

Marshall's line of work obviously got the best of him with the wet conditions. He contracted pneumonia and died on 31 March, 1889 at only 34 years of age.

Ellen moved across the Cape Fear River with her sons sometime after the death of Marshall. They settled on land adjacent to the John Owen farm. Ellen lived with her son Bishop until her death on 31 July, 1936. It is said that she was sitting on the front porch eating a biscuit when she died.

Marshall William Bordeaux & Ellen Ann Johnson

Ellen Ann Johnson

Ellen Ann Johnson Bordeaux

Ellen Ann Johnson Bordeaux. In her old age, she was referred to as "old Mrs. Bordeaux".