Nickname - Week 3 2025

 Week 3:

I choose Frankie Davis, my great-grandmother, for the exploration of Nickname.
Many people assume her name was Frances. Almost every valid account I find of her lists her as Frankie. She was born in 1864 so the first census I find her in is 1870.

In 1880, apparently the census taker didn't get all the information and Frankie is listed as a son.

Wat and Frankie were married Feb. 6, 1881 in Ellenburg. 
From The Plattsburgh Sentinel, 11 February 1881


The 1892 NY State census show Frankie married to Watson Merrill and they have five children.

The census in 1900, shows that Frankie had had 9 children and 8 were still living. This census also lists Bess as a son. 


The 1905 NY State census. Previous census records list no occupation but here it shows she took in laundry.



By 1910, Frankie's two oldest daughters, Edith and Sadie, were married and living elsewhere. The other 10 children are listed. The youngest, at five months old, is listed as "unnamed;" she eventually became Florence Gail.  Interesting to note that now Frankie shows she had had 12 children and they were all still living.


Grace May, known as  May got married in 1911. Her parents are listed as Watson Merrill and Frances Davis. May is mistakenly listed as Mary.


Harry's marriage license in 1914 lists Watson P Merrill and Frankie Davis as his parents.

Also in 1914, Bess got married. Her parents are listed as WP Merrill and Frances Davis. 


Ned's marriage license in 1920 also lists Watson P Merrill and Frankie Davis as his parents.

Here is a listing of Frankie's children. Her son, F Clare, was Francis Clare and always went by Clare. The next to last child, a daughter, was named Frances.



Frankie died in May 1918. This is the NYS Death Index listing.



Frankie died in May and Wat died in August of the same year. The family claimed he died of a broken heart. They are buried in the Lakeside Cemetery on Chateaugay Lake. I haven't been able to find an obituary for Frankie.



I am undecided if Frankie was actually named Frances and went by Frankie all her life and after death or if her parents really named her Frankie.

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