George William Emerson was the son of George Edwin Emerson and Ida Catherine Goode. George Edwin was the son of Alexander Emerson and Elizabeth Wonderly. Alexander was the son of William and Susan Emerson; Elizabeth Wonderly was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Wonderly. George W. Emerson’s mother, Ida Catherine Goode, was the daughter of James T. Goode, the son of John S. Goode and Mary Lewis of Middlesex. Ida Goode’s mother was Mary Catherine Groom, the daughter of Valinda Groom.

Alexander Emerson 1815-1887

Alexander Emerson was born in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, in 1815. [Alexander listed his birthplace as Queen Anne’s County on both of his marriage records Gloucester County. Alexander’s age is listed on various documents, such as marriage and census records, but the age is inconsistent on all of these records. The 1870 census indicates that he was born in 1817; however, his death record states his birthdate as 1815.] [In May of 2016, I discovered Alexander Emerson’s death record in “Virginia deaths and Burials, 1853-1912” which lists his death date as January 15, 1887 and birth date as 1815. This is the most reliable source; therefore, his life span is 1815-1887. — RCE] The only records concerning Alexander’s parents, William and Susan Emerson, is Alex’s naming them on his marriage records and stating his father’s birthplace as Maryland on the 1880 census.

According to entries in Alex’s family Bible, he married Elizabeth Wonderly on April 28, 1846. Their marriage record in Delaware confirms the wedding took place on this date and states it occurred in Kent County, Delaware. It also states that Alex was a resident of Kent County, Maryland. (The two Kent Counties are adjacent to one another.)

Alex Emerson & Elizabeth Wonderly Marriage Record

The only known record of Elizabeth’s parents, William and Elizabeth Wonderly, is their listing as Elizabeth’s parents on her death record at Gloucester Courthouse; this document also lists her birthplace as Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Wonderly

The Alexander Emerson Family Bible list the first five children of this union as follows:
Charles Lewis Edger [sic] Emerson born 15 Feb 1847
John Wm. Wesley the son of A, Emerson & Elizeabeth his wife was born 26 Nov 1848
Mary A Eliza the daughter of A, Emerson & Elizeabeth his wife was born May 6th 1851
Ella C Daughter of A. Emerson & Elizeabeth his wife was borned August 2th 1852
Cassa A. B. daughter was borned Nov 1th [sic] 1854

This list of children abruptly end in 1854 even though Alex and Elizabeth had at least two more children. (This information was transcribed at the Emerson family reunion c.1980 in Gloucester, Virginia from Alex’s Bible at that time in the possession of Leonard Groom.) No other references have been found related to John William Wesley, Ella C. or Cassa A. B.; therefore, it is assumed that they did not live to adulthood. This assumption is verified by the United States 1860 Census Records, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, P.O. Centerville:
Alexander Emmerson age 34
Elizabeth Emmerson 30
Edgar Emmerson 13
Mary 8
George 3

Alex and Elizabeth’s eldest child, Charles Lewis Edgar Emerson, was born on February 15, 1847. He listed his birthplace as Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on his marriage records which may indicate that the family was living there at the time of his birth, or it may mean that Elizabeth had returned to her parents’ home for the birth of her child. The 1870 census, which may be a more reliable source, lists Edgar Emerson’s birthplace as Maryland.

Lewis Edgar Emerson & Family

Mary A. Elizabeth (“Mollie”) Emerson was born on May 6, 1851. Mollie was a part of the original Emerson family that came to Gloucester; however, on April 21, 1875, she married John Rambo in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After her marriage, her connection with the Emersons of Gloucester was confined to occasional visits. Mollie’s return to her mother’s home may have caused some of the later descendants to think that the Emerson family originally came from Pennsylvania. This confusion may be why Edgar Emerson listed his birthplace as Pennsylvania, but the older and more reliable sources firmly place the Emerson family in Maryland prior to coming to Gloucester.

Rambo Photo & Card

On the back of this picture is written: “Frank M. Emerson, from his aunt Mary E. Rambo.” Aunt Molly married John Rambo and had two sons, George, who married Catherine Engle, and Elmer, who married Annie Moore, who had a daughter, Martha Ann.

A card found in George Edwin Emerson’s Bible

Based on the names on this card and Lois Emerson Smith saying that “Aunt Mollie lived in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania,” a letter was addressed to George and Elmer Rambo. The letter was returned saying the Rambo no longer lived there, but the postmaster advised that Mrs. Cecil Lammy might have information about the Rambo family.

The following is the response from Mrs. Lammy:

Letter from Mrs. Cecil E. Lammy