Notes
Charles and Libbie Reddy either didn't have children together or the children didn't survive past about five years of age. According to legal suits filed by Elizabeth Reddy, Charles abandoned their marriage sometime before April 1874. No children are mentioned in any of the suits. Charles and Libbie battled it out in the courts for at least twenty years, from 1874 to 1895.
Elizabeth filed suit April 22, 1874, for alimony only--no divorce. Charles was ordered to pay $100 a month.
In January of 1884, a petition was filed to renew the original alimony judgement. Charles didn't appear in court and the judgment was renewed.
In September of 1889, Charles filed suit to have the alimony judgement overturned. The court found in his favor, ruling that a wife cannot sue a husband for alimony without also suing for divorce.
Another suit can be found in 1895. This suit seeks a reversal of the previous judgement favoring Charles and this time Elizabeth is suing for divorce. Charles' father had died in 1894. Elizabeth claims Charles had inherited about $30,000 and can afford to pay her. Charles countered that he was poor, but would allow her to stay with him if she was in need. Elizabeth is granted a reversal and the case is set for a new trial.
On May 20, 1914, Libbie Reddy Carroll filed a widow's application for pension, claiming Charles enlisted in the Fanner's Battery Unit in Louisiana in 1861. The answer from the war department says the name Charles V Carroll was not found on the rolls of that unit. They did find Charles Carroll in Co. C, Crescent Louisiana Infantry, enlisted May 13 1862 at Natchitoches, and upon consolidation of that regiment he became a private in Co. G, Consolidated Regiment, where his name appeared as Charles V Carroll. He was paroled June 6, 1865 at Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Joan Carroll Cruz says that Charles' granddaughter Una told her Charles and Mary were never married. She said it was because Charles' family did not approve of Mary. I would think the fact that Charles was already married likely factored in, too. In the 1900 census, Charles and Mary have their son Frank, daughter-in-law Levie, and grandson Daniel living with them. They say they have been married 20 years. Frank is 23 in that census. In the 1910 census, the information given is that they have been married 34 years. They again (or still) have their grandson Daniel living with them.
My theory concerning Charles and Mary is this: Charles was married and living in Adams County, which is where Mary McDonald and her family lived. At some point after Charles' marriage, he fell in love with Mary, but could not marry her because he was already married and because his family did not approve of her. Mary became pregnant and I believe she was sent to Philadelphia to have her child quietly. Soon after her return, Charles moved her and her family to New Orleans. He probably didn't stay with them much when Frank was young, but by the time Frank was grown, Charles' father had died and Charles was living openly with Mary. (Again, just my theory.)
Pictures/Memorabilia
None at this time.
Sources
Joan Carroll Cruz, great granddaughter to Charles Carroll
Betty Jo Hussey Carroll, great granddaughter-in-law to Charles Carroll
Sean P Carroll, great great grandson to Charles Carroll
familysearch.org - Jefferson Parish, LA 1850 US Federal Census (image)
heritagequestonline.com - Orleans Parish, LA 1860 US Federal Census (image)
civilwar.nps.gov - Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System - Detailed Soldier Record (transcription)
youngsanders.org - Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers by Andrew B. Booth Vol. 1 (transcription)
adams.msghn.org - Adams County Marriages (transcription)
heritagequestonline.com - Iberville Parish, LA 1880 US Federal Census (image)
books.google.com - Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Louisiana - Mrs. E. R. Carroll Vs. Her Husband, Charles V. Carroll
books.google.com - Louisiana Annual Reports - Elizabeth Reddy, Wife, Vs. Charles V. Carroll, Husband
books.google.com - The Southern Reporter - Reddy v. Carroll
Daniel R Carroll Last Will and Testament, courtesy of Russell B Guerin
books.google.com - Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Louisiana - Leon J Carroll vs. Succession of D. R. Carroll and Charlotte L Carroll
heritagequestonline.com - Orleans Parish, LA 1900 US Federal Census (image)
heritagequestonline.com - Orleans Parish, LA 1910 US Federal Census (image)
sos.louisiana.gov - Confederate Pension Applications Index
familysearch.org - Louisiana Confederate Pensions, 1898-1950 - Carroll, Libbie Reddy, Charles (images)
files.usgwarchives.org - Orleans Parish Death Index (transcription)
sos.louisiana.gov - Louisiana Death Index
files.usgwarchives.net - Metairie Cemetery, Carroll family burial (transcription and image)
Obituary transcription - Mary McDonald Carroll
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