Lorenzo D. Hooper & wife Bethany Payne Hooper

Dare County Photographs
[Photographs contributed by Lou Ellen Daniels Quinn]

Lorenzo Dowe "Ranzy" Hooper & Bethany Payne Hooper

Lorenzo Dowe "Ranzy" Hooper, last child of William Rowan & Mariah Ann Hooper, was born on Hatteras Banks Dec. 11, 1845 just 3 years before his father died and 5 years before he lost his mother in Nov. 1850. By the 1860 census Lorenzo and his brother, Edward, are living with their older brother, Abraham, where he is teaching them to become mariners. At age 18 Lorenzo enlisted at Hatteras Banks on Jan.21, 1863. Physically he was listed as 5'4" tall, blue eyes, light hair and complexion. After the war he finds himself in the Hyde County Court system for fathering a child out of wedlock. On June 26, 1866 Charlotte (Midgett) Gray, wife/or widow? of Little Cyrus H. Gray, claims that she has a 7 week old child fathered by Lorenzo. Lorenzo and his brothers, Abraham & Edward, posted bonds for $200 each. On Aug. 13, 1866 Lorenzo promises to pay $1.50 a month for 7 years to Charlotte for rearing his illegitimate daughter, Mary Spence Gray who was born May 3, 1866. Charlotte married Little Cyrus H. Gray in Hyde Co. on June 28, 1859 and they did have at least one child, Little Cyrus H. "Elsie" Gray who was born Sept. 30, 1859. From 1870 until her death in 1929 Charlotte remained single and lived with either her elderly mother or one of her married children.
Shortly after the Hyde Co. court proceedings with Charlotte, Lorenzo married Bethany Payne Hooper, daughter of Cyrus K. Hooper & Dorcas Payne, in Hyde Co. on Dec. 6, 1866. Bethany was born on Mar. 4, 1844 & died Mar. 24, 1919 [see obituary]. Lorenzo died Jan. 8, 1908 [see obituary] and both he and Bethany are buried in Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery in Stumpy Point. They had 7 children.

Mary Spence Midgett (seen in some census records as Mary S. Gray) married Jeremiah H. "Jerry" Midgett (1863-1931), son of Little Nichodemus Midgett & Efrica Meekins, in Rodanthe on June 9, 1885. They had 10 children.

   1. Ulysses Simpson "Lish" Midgett - b. Apr. 16, 1886 d. Nov. 11, 1980. Married: Evelyn Gretchen Berry in Manteo on Dec. 2, 1916.
   2. Eugenia L. Midgett - b. July 9, 1888 d. Jan. 8, 1890
   3. Eugenia Hill Midgett - b. Aug. 29, 1890 d. May 5, 1965. Married: John "Johnnie" Wescott in Manteo on May 5, 1910.
   4. Hattie L. Midgett - b. July 7, 1893 d. Jan. 7, 1979. Married: St. Paul Midgett in Manteo on Oct. 9, 1915.
   5. Lonie Loren Midgett - b. Apr. 9, 1895 d. Nov. 12, 1988. Married: Lloyd Melvin Wescott in Manteo on July 26, 1910.
   6. Florence V. Midgett - b. Sept. 27, 1897 d. 1909
   7. John Danzer Midgett - b. July 7, 1900 d. Mar. 6, 1983. Married: Clara Ursula Cox in Manteo on June 27, 1924.
   8. Little Nichodemus "Demus" Midgett - b. Aug. 30, 1902 d. Jan. 15, 1970. Married: Nellie Florence Hamilton c1936.
   9. Elmer Reuben Midgett - b. Jan. 25, 1905 d. Mar. 21, 1988. Married: Mary Ann Elizabeth "Lib" Hasty in Manteo on Sept. 10, 1937.
10. Florence Virginia Midgett - b. Feb. 11, 1907 d. June 3, 1984. Married 1^st: Albert Hayes Daniels in Manteo on July 20, 1929; Married 2^nd: Frank C. Sikora in South Mills, Camden Co., NC on Aug. 19, 1943

Mary Spence Gray / Midgett lead a full life. On Christmas Day 1942 the Dare County Times ran this small article--
     Mrs. Mary S. Midgett, 78, and widow of the late Jerry Midgett of Manteo, has a right to be joyous this Christmastide for not only is she up in a new wheel chair, improved after a long illness which kept her helpless in bed, but all 8 of her children are with her. She is the mother of an outstanding family. Her children are Mrs. John Wescott, wife of a retired Coast Guardsman, Mrs. Paul Midgett who married another Coast Guardsman, John & Demus Midgett who are both Coast Guardsmen, Mrs. Florence Daniels, Mrs. Lloyd Wescott, U.S. Midgett, and Elmer Midgett of the Roanoke Utilities. She is a sister of Uncle Cyrus Gray, a beloved citizen of Salvo.

Mary Spence Midgett with her youngest son, Elmer