Mary Lafferty, born about 1851 to L.D. and Rachel, is named by Lafferty in his list of children “now being with me” on a ranch near Fort Clark — see Lafferty/Cox agreement of 1862. The next time Mary surfaces (for this writer) is a marriage record in 1868 between her and Robert Embry/Emory/Emery in Uvalde, where she likely lived with her mother. Robert is serving in the military at Fort Duncan.
In 1870, Mary Embry is listed in HH 15 on the Fort Duncan census as age 19, mulatto and a laundress. With her is daughter Sarah is “10/12 months old” (born about November 1869). Also in Mary’s household is Offie Grierson, a 10 year old Black female who listed as born in Mexico.
Husband Robert (age 26 – Black) is listed later in the census (in the barracks) with George Embry (age 23 – Black), both born in Kentucky, who may or may not be related
Jesse Cox, a post guide and with significant attachments to the Lafferty family, lives at Fort Duncan also (HH 13), with wife Hester and daughter Jane.
In HH 14 next door to Jesse and Hester is Sallie Grierson, age 20, Black, and a laundress.
Although General Benjamin Grierson (one time commander of the Buffalo Soldiers) and his wife Alice are prominently at Fort Davis and Fort Concho, and briefly at Fort Duncan, they had not been slaveholders prior to the Civil War. So, it is unlikely that Sallie and Offie Grierson would have been part of their family. So … who are these Griersons?
Note about Robert Embry: The U.S. Register of Deaths in the Regular Army 1860-1889 states that Robert Embry/Emory was shot and killed at Fort Duncan while deserting on 2 July 1872. He was buried in the post cemetery. Note on the original document says “see report” for details of the shooting. No further report could be found.