[Over the sea, from shore to shore]

Composer: Essie Haynes

Mary Essie Haynes (1893-1962) was born in Georgia to the parents of Francis Marion and Sarah Rebecca (Gurley) Payne. The family moved from Georgia to Texas via covered wagon around 1897 and settled near the town of Bardwell in Ellis County, Texas. The family spent some time on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma before arriving in Texas visiting with her grandmother who was living on the reservation. As a young girl Essie recalled the Indian tribe helping the family get the wagon across the Red River into Texas. Essie married Thomas Grady Haynes. They lived in Van Zandt and Dallas Counties. They had 8 children 3 girls and 5 boys. The two youngest girls (Hope and Dorothy) are still living as of this writing in 2012. Essie… Go to person page >