Morris Ray Trafton

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Morris R Trafton
Age in 1910: 3
Birth Year: abt 1907
Birthplace: Maine
Home in 1910: York, York, Maine
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Grandson
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: James J Barr [probably Ernest Guy Trafton]
Father's Birthplace: Maine
Mother's Name: Lizzie M Barr [probably Annie Welch Trafton]
Mother's Birthplace: Maine
Household Members:
Newbury H Welch 65
Melvina M Welch 52
Jamas J Barr 24
Lizzie M Barr 20
Morris R Trafton 3

[Note: Morris was named after Newbury and Melvina's son who later died of cancer. Newbury's daughter from his first wife, Melissa was Annie Welch who married Ernest Guy Trafton. Wonder why he was living with his grandparents and not his parents? And why he was never listed with his mother and father on any of the census?]

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Morris R Welch
Age: 12
Birth Year: abt 1908
Birthplace: Maine
Home in 1920: York, York, Maine
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Maine
Mother's Birthplace: Maine
Household Members:
James J Barr 35
Lizzie M Barr 30
Victor M Barr 9
Doris K Barr 7
Warren J Barr 6
Harold L Barr 4
Nytte E Barr 7 months
Melvina M Welch 62 [step-grandmother]
Morris R Welch 12

[His parents divorced before 1919 when his mother married Ray Hooper. For some reason he remained with Melvina Welch who was actually his step-grandmother. He began using the last name of Welch and continued to do so for the rest of his life.]

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Ray M Welch
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Birth Year: abt 1908
Birthplace: Maine
Race: White
Home in 1930: York, York, Maine
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Gladys Welch
Father's Birthplace: Maine
Mother's Birthplace: Maine
Household Members:
Ray M Welch 22
Gladys Welch 17
Melvina Welch 72 [step-grandmother]

[Evidently he has some feeling of affection or respect for Melvina for she was living with him at this time.]

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Morris Ray Welch
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1908
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Maine
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: York, York, Maine
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: York, York, Maine
Residence in 1935: Same House
Occupation: Caretaker, private home
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: $400
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 24
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 40
Income: $600
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members:
Morris Ray Welch 32
Gladys Welch 27
Edna Plaisted 48 [mother-in-law]

Name:
Adopted the last name of Welch, his mother's maiden name, as he was raised by his grandfather and step-grandmother.

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Welch&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=23&GScnty=1226&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=121&GRid=98490287&df=all&

Died:
Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
Name: Morris Welch
SSN: 004-20-1478
Born: 2 Aug 1907
Died: Aug 1968
State (Year) SSN issued: Maine (Before 1951)

Morris married Gladys Plaisted 27 Nov 1929, Maine. [Group Sheet]