Martha Short

Martha Short is listed as the mother of Victoria Short on her marriage record from October 23rd, 1865. [1] Martha was probably married to Jerry Short, one of the sons of Louisa and William Short whom John Tyler sold according to a transcript of Roscius Short’s deposition from 1902 when applying for his pension. [2]

Julia’s description of Victoria Short as “Louisa’s child” rather than “Martha’s” in an 1846 letter also indicates that Martha may have been sold along with Jerry and his brothers, or she may have passed away shortly after Victoria’s birth. [3]

[1] Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, retrieved from FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR4N-SFJ?from=lynx1UIV7.

[2] Anderson, Leslie. “Roshus Shorts, Company H,” 1st Colored Cavalry, https://1stuscoloredcavalry.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/roshus-shorts-company-h/.

[3] Julia Gardiner Tyler to Juliana Gardiner, 28 Dec. 1846, Tyler Family Papers, Group A. Special Collections Research Center, College of William & Mary.