Time to Write: Finished Writing!

 Back in October, I started posting about ‘Time to Write.’ My research about my mother’s family had reached a point where I needed to write it up. Months have passed with many hours devoted to writing, formatting and editing. Several blog posts have reported on my progress along the way. At last the editing is done. My daughter and I printed out the final draft, decided we liked the appearance and saved the book onto a flash drive.

I contacted Troy Book Makers who published ‘The Mark Family Story’ which I wrote a few years ago.  I have an appointment to take my flash drive and talk about printing ‘Remembrances.’  Going to their offices in the old red brick building in historic Troy, NY makes me feel like a ‘real’ author. I am looking forward to the date.

Census Sunday: Sorting out Children

Calvin Smith

1812 – 1881

Son of Jeremiah Smith & Joanne Dillon; 

my 3^rd great grand uncle

&

Sarah Brumfield

 b 1824

Daughter of Willis Brumfield & Nancy Virginia Holmes; 

my 1^st cousin 4x removed

I have been looking at census reports for this couple and it has been difficult to sort out their children. I believe they had 14 children.

In 1850 the oldest girls listed were too old to be the daughters of Sarah. Perhaps Calvin had a previous marriage and they are his daughters. Perhaps they are Smith relatives who were visiting.

Looking across the columns below you can see that names are not consistent. The census takers might not have clearly heard the names of these children or might not have been able to spell the names. Nicknames may have confused the names. For example Caroline is also called Carra.

Wyatt R. Smith is the only child in all four census reports with the same name & appropriate age. It was helpful to look at the children who were older and those who were younger than Wyatt when trying to sort them all out.

I cannot say for sure that I have sorted them out correctly. Are Jeremiah W., James W. and Jerry W. the same person? The ages work out. What about Jackson C. & Jesse C.? Could Cecelia & Courtney be the same girl? I think these are the same people but cannot guarantee it.

To add to the confusion the 1880 Census shows the 6 oldest children are married. Where are the spouses? No one is listed as an in-law. What about children, grandchildren of Calvin & Sarah?

I used a spreadsheet to help sort out these children. Reading across the chart you will see, I believe, the same person in various reports. Take a look & see what you think. I welcome your opinions.

Related Posts:

• Jeremiah Smith
• Martha P. Smith

Vintage Photograph: Hubert Allen Brown

Hubert Allen Brown

PV US Army World War I

1844 MS - 1971 MS

Son of Jasper Pascal Brown & Rose Ella Brumfield 

My Grand Uncle

I have Hubert's WWI draft registration card information &

 a photo of his military headstone but no record of his actual service. If you have details, I'd love to learn more.

6th Anniversary of Leaves & Branches

Hello & thanks for stopping by. 

I wish I could invite you in, offer you a chair & hand you a slice of cake. A blog is nothing without its visitors & followers. I love it when folks stop by, especially when they leave comments. Writing posts can be a lonely procedure but encouraging comments remind us that we are not alone in our interest in our family, our research & our writing.

Thanks very much for your support!

Colleen

Census Sunday: Making Sense of a Census

  

Calvin Smith 

1812 – 1881

 Son of Jeremiah Smith & Joanne Dillon 

my 3^rd great grand uncle

&

Sarah Brumfield

 b 1824 

daughter of Willis Brumfield & Nancy Virginia Holmes 

my 1^st cousin 4x removed

I have been tracking down census records for this couple, both of whom are related to me. The earliest that I have seen is this one from 1850. Unfortunately, the 1850 census does not show relationships to the Head of Household. That item would be a great help here because I do not think all these folks are children of the main couple. Eliza, Martha & Sarah are just too old to be daughters of Sarah. 

Calvin might have been married before & they could be daughters from that marriage. They could be cousins other relatives who were visiting at the time of the census report.

Eliza, Martha & Sarah do not show up in later census reports with this couple. Of course, they could have married and moved away. The rest of the children in the report do show up in one, two or three later reports.

I am still studying this couple, looking at 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 reports & trying to sort out their children.

1850 US Census, MS, Pike; ancestry.com.

Calvin Smith, 38, farmer

Sarah, 26

Eliza E., 18

Martha J. 16

Sarah J., 14

Pernesa E., 10

Salena T., 8

Jeremiah W., 6

Margaret W., 5

Emily M., 3

Cyntha A., 2

Wyatt R., 0

Book Report: Bute Co., NC; an Extinct County

 Bute County, North Carolina: 

Land Grant Plats and Land Entries 

Holcombe, B. H. (2007)

Westminister, MD: Heritage Books

Bute County, NC is an extinct county that had a short life. Therefore records can be difficult to find. This book is filled with land records.

“Bute County was formed in 1764 from Granville County and abolished in 1779 to form Warren and Franklin Counties.” 

All the plats & land entries are included in this book.

Alford

These land records show property owned by sons of James Alford, c 1687 – c 1730 New Kent, VA. Those sons were Julius, Goodrich & Lodwick  Alford. It also shows land owned by John Alford, son of Julius Alford & grandson of James Alford.

E11

Bute Co. Lodwick Alford enters 200 A beginning on Ross’s line, thence to Arnold’s line thence to Wright’s line, south side of Tarr River & on the waters of Crooked Creek including Wm Alford’s Improvements. 16^th March 1778.           [Lodwick Alford, s/o James Alford, 1687 – 1730]

E12

Bute Co. Lodwick enters 200 A on south side of Tarr River, beginning at my own line, upon the Beaver Dam. Lodwick Alford, 16^th March 1778 [Lodwick Alford, s/o James Alford, 1687 – 1730]

E197

William Ferrell eters 640 A on So. Side of Tarr River, adj. Jno Farrell, Jno Cheaves, Julas Alford, Benj. Person & Burrell Perrery’s lines, 18 May 1778; Wm Ferrell [Julius Alford 1717 – 1771, s/o James Alford]

E222

Bridges Freeman enters 620 A on Anders Creek adj. lines of Alford, Jno Mullins, Wm Freeman, Saml Jones, Jno Cooly, Hartsfield, Wright, Wommock. 15 June 1778; Bridges Freeman

E229

Cornelius Taylor enters 280 A on waters of little Turkey Creek adj. Wm Rosses line, Wm Andrews line, Jno Drivers entry, Wm Andreys formerly belonging to Goodridge Alford including his Impt. 15 June 1778; Cors Taylor.[Goodrich Alford, s/o James Alford, 1687 – 1730]

E245

Wm Stiles enters 400 A on waters of Turkey Creek adj. lines of Alford, Jeremiah Stevens, & Thomas Clover’s entry including 2 Improvements. 4 Augt 78; Wm Stiles

E285

Jno Alford enters 640 A on So. Side of Tarr River on both sides of the beaver Dam adj. lines of – Gal Alford, Cheves, Alfords Entry, & Wm Ferrels Entry. 9 Novr 1778; Jno Alford    [John Alford, 1747 Bute NC – 1830 AL, s/o Julius Alford, grandson of James Alford]

E306

Robert Butler enters 450 A on No. side of Tarr River adj. lines of his Own, Jas Hobbs, --- Alford (?), including his Improvement. 19^th Decr 78; Robt Butler

E309

Elizabeth Jones enters 200 A on No. side of Tarr River adj. lines of Capt. Ferrell, Saml Horton, Lod. Alford & Benj. Brown Including her Impt. 19 Decr 1778; Elizabeth Jones. [Lodwick Alford, s/o James Alford, 1687 – 1730]

E312

Robt Melton enters 200 A on waters of Tarr adj. lines of the Widow Alford & including one Impt. 28 Decr 1778; Robert Melton

E320

Jno Alford enters 400 A on waters of little Beaver Dam adj. lines of Lucey Alford including one Impt. 31 Decr. 1778; Jno Alford. [John Alford, 1747 NC – 1830 AL, son of Julius Alford & Lucy Newton, grandson of James Alford]

E331

Jno Rice enters 300 A on the little Beaver Dam Swamp beg. At Alford’s line. 5^th Jany 1779. Jon Rice

Related Posts:

• Edwin Barksdale Alford
• Jacob Alford