Meet May. She is the older sister of my great grandfather, Ashby Turpin. At different times in her life, she was a school teacher and she also ran a boarding house. As evidenced by letters from the collection of Carl J. Turpin housed at the Western History Collection at the Monet Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, May was very involved in the lives of her siblings and parents.

After William Upshur Turpin's wife passed away in 1919, May traveled out to Iowa to keep house for him. One of the daughters of Ashby Turpin also lived with her from time to time. May also raised my great grandmother Mary Virginia Sparks Turpin and Mary's sister, Blanche Sparks Rivenbark, until they married. And, Ellmandia, May's mother lived with her after May's father Thomas James Turpin died.

May Thomas Turpin was born 12 Apr 1859, Somerset County, MD. She passed away 11 Feb 1924. She was the oldest child of Thomas James Turpin and Ellmandia L. Kennerly Turpin. A second wife, May married Thomas B. Moore in April, 1888 after the death of his first wife, Rachel Lowe Moore in July 1887. Thomas B. Moore was 36 years older than May. Together they had one child, Emma Gertrude Moore. Emma Gertrude lived from 1892 to 1913.

From the Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr 1888

"Salisbury, MD., April 12 . . . At Quantico this morning Mr. (Thomas) B. Moore, a merchant of that place and Miss May Turpin, daughter of Magistrate Turpin, of the same town were married at the Episcopal Church by the Rev. Mr. Sweet."

Excerpt from a letter written by Zenophine Disharoon Kennerly Farrington Perry to her nephew, Austin Caleb Turpin, who was a younger brother of May Thomas Turpin Moore:

26 May 1888 Salisbury MD

“May and her husband (Thomas B. Moore) came up for the dedication but I did not see them; they dined elsewhere. She did not tell me of her marage (sic - marriage) til the day before, I received a letter. Your mother (Elmanda Kennerly Turpin, Zenophine's sister and Austin's mother) writes me she seems to be perfectly happy. “

(The original of this letter is from the collection of Carl J. Turpin housed at the Western History Collection at the Monet Library, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)

The above pictures were taken by me during an October 2009 visit to Quantico, Wicomico County, MD. May's and May's daughter Emma Gertrude have their names engraved on the opposite side of the large Turpin monument in the graveyard of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Quantico, MD.

I have also posted these pictures and similar information on www.findagrave.com.