Mary Ann was born 23 Aug 1829 in Tennessee to Richard Scoggins and Margaret Godwin. Her parents moved their family to Marshall County, Mississippi. It is here where she marries Charles W Gathings of NC and TN on 17 Dec 1849. They appear on the 1850 census for Marshall County MS living next door to Richard and Margaret Scoggins.

The first four of 9 children are born to Charles and Mary Ann in Marshall, Mississippi: Margery E b 1851, Sarah J b 1852, John W b 1855, and Richard Milton b 1856. The family moved with Richard and Margaret Scoggins to Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Reviewing birth dates of their children this move would have occurred about 1857 or 1858 . See the 1860 and 1870 census for Sabine Parish, LA. They are living next door to Mary Ann's parents, Richard and Margaret Scoggins.

After their move to LA 5 more children were born to Charles and Mary Ann: Margaret "Maggie) b 1859, Charles Jefferson b 1862, Mary Ann "Annie" b 1864, Henry b 1865, and Leonard James "Jimmy" b 1869.

Mary Ann's parents, Richard and Margaret Scoggins, passed away in 1863 and are buried at Plunkaway Cemetery, Vernon Parish, LA outside the town of Leesville.

The 1880 census lists Mary Ann and most of her children living in Hill County, Texas. Mary Ann is listed as "Head" indicating Charles W Gathings had died. A marriage license was found in Hill County, TX dated 11 Nov 1877 for daughter Margaret C "Maggie" Gathings. She married Henry A Winchester of NC. This indicates that Charles passed away at some point between 1870 and 1877. Then Mary Ann moved her family to Hill County, TX. Probably to Covington a town founded by a relative of Charles Gathings.

Another marriage record was found in Hill County, TX for daughter Margery Gathings dated 26 Nov 1882. She married James Clepper. Margery Gathings Clepper's grave marker is found in the Oak Grove cemetery, Graham, Young County, TX. It is disengrated, however death and funeral home records indicate she passed away due to measles and complications related to child birth. Her death date is listed as 11 Jun 1884.

The previous two family events indicate Mary Ann moved her family from Covington, Hill County, TX to Graham, Young County, TX about 1883. Family stories and notes from obituaries say the family built a ranch house on Loving Hwy just outside of Graham. The family appears on the 1910 and 1920 census in the Young County area.

Daughter Maggie Gathings Winchester is listed on the 1880 census for Collin County, TX. She is listed on No Carolina State census during the 1880's and 1890's. By the 1900 censu she and husband Henry are living in Saline, Hempstead County, AK. Henry passed away in Arkansas 1900 - 1903 and is buried at Columbus Cemetery in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Maggie and her daughters are listed on the 1910 census for Elbert, Throckmorton County, TX. Maggie passed away in 1917 and is buried at Elbert Cemetery.

Richard Gathings is listed on the 1900 census for Throckmorton County, TX. Other than Maggie, Richard and Henry, all of Mary Ann's other children lived and died in the Graham, Young County, TX area and are buried next to her in Oak Grove Cemetery, Graham, Young County, TX.

At Plunkaway Cemetery in Vernon Parish, LA - next to the graves of Mary Ann's parents Richard and Margaret Scoggins are two unknown graves. Both markers have the name "Gathron" The father Charles had passed away and Henry does not appear on the census with the family after 1870. It is believed that the two markers are for Charles W Gathings and Henry their son born about 1865.

Obit: Graham Leader - January 25, 1912
Mrs. Mary A. Gathings died at the home of her son, Charlie Gathings, east of town on Monday, 23 January 1912. She was 83 years old at the time of her death and had lived in Young County for 20 years. Mary was the widow of C. W. Gathings. Survivors: 2 sons Charlie Gathings (other son is not named).