Valena Larkin Coursey

Valena was identified by the surname “Cosey” on her death certificate; however, further research reveals her name was Coursey or Corsey.

She was a Black female, born 14 May 1873 in Milton, Florida. She died at 312 Donelson St., Pensacola Florida on 31 October 1927. She was 54 years old and the widow of Henry Cosey. The death certificate indicated she had lived in Pensacola for 26 years before her death. Her occupation was given as Housewife. Her father was Henry Larkins; her mother’s name was Charlotte. The informant on the death certificate was Henry Larkins of 707 W. Larua St., Pensacola, who apparently did not know the birthplaces of Valena’s parents. [He may have been her brother, or a nephew.] Valena died of lobar pneumonia from which she had suffered for 8 days. The physician, E.S. Cobb,  indicated her pnuemonia was contracted at Government Street, with no further details. She was buried on 3 November by Goldstucker Bros. in the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery.

Henry Larkin appeared in the 1867 state census of Florida for Santa Rosa County, listed under “Colored Inhabitants.” In his household were one male over the age of 21; one female over the age of 21; 2 males under the age of 21, and 3 females under the age of 21.

Henry Larkins appeared in the 1870 census for Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. He was born in Alabama, enumerated as Black; he was 40 years old and worked as a laborer. He could read but not write. Also in the household was Charlotte, a Black woman 32 years of age, also born in Alabama. She was illiterate. Young Henry Larkins was 12, born in Alabama. Willis was 8, born in Alabama. Emma was 5, born in Alabama. Henrietta, 4, and Morris, 2, were born in Florida.

In the 1880 census, the Larkin household was still in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Henry was identified as Black, 40 years old (again), and married. He worked as a Laborer who had experienced 2 months of unemployment in the previous year. He was illiterate and born in Alabama of two parents born in Alabama. His wife, Charlotte, was a Black female, 35 years old (she was 32 in 1870), and born in Florida of two parents born in Florida. Also in the household were their daughter, Henrietta, 14; their son Noshia, 9; daughter Elizabeth, 8; son Montray, 5; son Izele, 3; and daughter, Lillie, 1. All the children were born in Florida. Izele is actually Isaiah; I believe Elizabeth to be Valena, as she is the right age and Elizabeth never appears again. I can only speculate as to whether “Elizabeth” is an error on the part of the census taker or perhaps Valena was a middle name.

The Social Security Index entry for Isaiah Larkins reveals his mother, Charlotte’s maiden name to be Whittaker.

Charlotte appears as head of her own household in the 1900 census for Milton, Florida. Her name was spelled “Charles,” but she is enumerated as a Black woman born in June 1855 (45 years old). She was widowed and had given birth to 7 children, all of whom were still living. She was born in Alabama of two parents born in Alabama. She was illiterate, worked as a washerwoman, and rented her home. The only other member of the household was her daughter, Lillie. The census appears to give a middle name, but it is difficult to read: Allie or Allis. She was a single Black female, born in August 1878 in Florida. The census says her father was born in Georgia, her mother in Alabama. She was literate and worked as a cook.

Valena married Henry Coursey in Santa Rosa County, Florida on 10 December 1893. I have not found the Courseys in the 1900 or the 1910 federal census.

Henry Coursey died on 14 March 1915 at 1225 E. LaRua Street in Pensacola. His date of birth was unknown; his age was estimated at 45. His parents were listed as Asbury Coursey, born in Florida, and Betsy, also born in Florida. The informant on the death certificate was Ab Coursey, at the same address. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis, for which he had been treated for a couple of weeks by A.A. Dixon. He was buried in Milton by F.R. Pou.

In the 1920 federal census for Pensacola, Valena (listed as Velena Cossey) headed her own household at 108 Oliva St., which she rented. She was 45 years old and widowed, born in Florida of two parents born in Florida, and worked as a cook in a private home. Also in her household were two daughters: Louise, 16 and single, who worked as a waitress in a boarding house; and Henrietta, 12, who attended school. All three women were identified as literate. Both daughters were born in Florida to two parents born in Florida.

Valena (spelled Velleina) appeared in the 1927 Pensacola City Directory, still at 108 N. Oliva. Henrietta lived in the household with her, but Louise does not appear.

Charlotte Larkin appears to have died in 1929 in Santa Rosa County. (I have found her only in the Florida Death Index which has only her name, race, year, and county of death.)

In 1931, Louise and Henrietta M. Coursey were sharing a residence at 1816 N. Cevallos. Both worked as cooks.

FAMILY:

Mother: Charlotte Whitaker Larkin

Father: Henry Larkin

Spouse: Henry Coursey

Children: Louise Coursey James; Henrietta Coursey

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SOURCES:

Florida Certificate of Death for Mrs. Valena Casey (No. 15598). Florida Deaths, 1877-1939. Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Household of Henry Larkins. Year: 1870; Census Place: Santa Rosa, Florida; Roll: M593_133; Page: 562B. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.