It was rumored that Maggie had a special beaux but because she was so shy and folks teased her unmericifully about her beaux, she stopped seeing him and never married. Source: Lillian Anna Pigott as told to Lola Pigott. No one seems to know who this fellow was. Wouldn't it be fun if we could find out?
Aunt Maggie was well known for her strawberry patch. It was said that she grew the best tasting strawberries for miles around.
Aunt Maggie's was one of the last remaining houses in Gloucester without indoor plumbing. She had a pump in the kitchen so in a way you might say she had "some" running water indoors! She had a "two-holer" outhouse way out back. It was quite an adventure to make use of these "facilities" in the summer time. One might be sitting minding their own business only to look up and see a black snake crawling across the rafters! (One would have been happy if it was only a black snake. Could just as easily have been a rattler or copperhead.)
Maggie would spend her afternoons visiting with the ladies at Uncle Joe's store. Later, when Twyla had the post office, they would gather at the post office in the afternoons. At that time, the post office was across the road from Maggie's house.
Maggie was somewhat afraid to stay alone at night. So, although she had her own house where she stayed during the days, she always spent the night at someone else's home. For years, she stayed at brother Joe's, which was next door across the field. When sister-in-law Lillian (brother John's widow) moved to Gloucester and built across the road, she stayed with her (they had always been like real sisters to each other). When Lillian sold her house and moved into a mobile home down at Lester's place on the waterfront, she continued to spend the nights with Lillian. Someone would go get her in the evening and take her back to her place in the morning.
She had cold black hair and, although she lived to be 87 years of age, she had very few grey hairs; only a few strands here and there. Some used to accuse her of dying her hair, but she never did.
In 1905, Grandma Emeline deeded 4 acres between Uncle Jimmy Chadwick's and John Nelson's to daughters Maggie and Charlotte Ann. Source: Original deed written by Emeline, witnessed by John A. Whitehurst, JP, and recorded with the Register of Deeds for Carteret County. This appears to be the property across the road from the last house Maggie owned in Gloucester. It fits the description of the property later owned by brother John. However, Twyla wrote a note to the Charleston, SC, Probate Office in 1961 (which for some reason she signed Lester's name to) when they were trying to settle Maggie's estate. She was trying to get information on Aunt Shan's "will" leaving her share of this property to Maggie. Interesting mystery.
1918 finds her living with brother John at #20 (Seventh Street) in Chicora Place, outside the Charleston Navy Yard just north of the city. She is supposedly employed at the Navy Yard. Source: Charleston City Directory for 1918.
By 1919, she and Aunt Shan have purchased their own place, #22 Fourth Street, Chicora Place.
In 1923 she is employed as a "clerk" - presumably this is when she was at Woolworth's Dept. Store in downtown Charleston although Woolworth's is not specifically mentioned until 1927. Source: Charleston City Directory for 1923.
In 1929 she disappears from the Charleston City Directories. She apparently moved back to Gloucester after Aunt Shan's death in 1928.
In 1939 she joined brother John and Lillian on their trip out to California to visit Lillian's brother Gus. This was quite an adventure for those days. They pulled a travel trailer behind the car. Lillian kept a journal of this trip. (This will be posted to Lillian's web site shortly.)
In 1940, the three of them took a trip up into Canada. Lillian kep a journal of that trip also and it will soon be posted to Lillian's web site also.
In the 40s and 50s, Maggie made several trips to the Charleston, SC, area to visit relatives.
In 1959/1960 she suffered a stroke. She was lovingly cared for by her niece Elva in Smyrna until her death. She is buried in Straits Methodist Churchyard.
Grand nephew Earl Davis, Jr, remembers singing hyms from the old Cokesbury Hymnal for Aunt Maggie as he sat by her bed in Elvas downstairs living room. He would sing whatever she requested. Although he was only a young lad of 11 or 12 at the time, he says he can still "practically do the entire hymnal from memory" to this day!
Aunt Maggie was a sweet person. She was loved by all her many relatives and has been deeply missed since her passing.
She didn't have much when she passed away, but what she did have she left to the Straits Methodist Church where she had been a live-long member.
 Shoes brough back from China ca 1910 by brother John and given to Maggie as a gift. Shoes are only 5" long and 2" wide at the heels. |
 Maggie's watch, which was worn pinned to the blouse. There is an engraving on the inside but the watch can not be opened at this time and I can't remember what it says. Was it a gift from her favorite beaux? |