Finding John Vinson’s Father & John Vinson (c. 1817 – c.1865)

By – Don Taylor

Finding John Vinson/Vincent’s Father
It is my goal to find ancestors in all of the census records that were taken during their lifetime. Based upon the 1870 Census, I’m fairly certain that John died between 1860 and 1870. I would guess most likely during the Civil War. So, I have a lot more research to do there. But, I really wanted to track him back earlier, see where he was in the 1840 Census. Hopefully, that would tell me his father’s name, something I did not have. I knew John’s mother’s name was Elizabeth. She was a widow in the 1850 Census.

Information I had:

Mother: Born abt 1786
Father: Unknown
John: Born abt 1817 in Halifax County, NC
Nancy: Born abt 1825 in Halifax County, NC
Using Ancestry.Com, I used the Card Catalog to select only the 1840 Census.

Knowing that John was born in Halifax County and lived his entire life in Halifax County, I searched for anyone with the surname Vincent in Halifax County, NC and had no hits. Then, I searched for people with the surname Vinson in Halifax County, NC and had 4 hits. I then compared my known information about the family to see if any of them fit the things I thought I knew.

Three of the family units had few to no similarities whatsoever, but the fourth one fit it what I think I knew about John exactly.

1840 Census – Halifax County, North Carolina – Source: Ancestry.Com

Burket Vinson’s household consisted of five individuals:[1]

A male 60-70 years old – Presumed to be Berket
A male 20-30 years old – Fits John who was 23 then.
A male 15-20 years old – Unknown (possibly a brother?)
A female 50 to 60 years old – Fits Elizabeth who would be 54 at the time.
A female 15-20 years old – Fits Nancy who would be 15 at the time.

So, everything in the Burket Vinson household matches up.

Additionally, John named one of his sons, Joseph Burkett, which kept the Burkett name in the family for another generation.

So based upon the 1840 Census record for Burket Vinson, the known birth location for John, the continuation of the given name Burket, I tentatively associate Burket Vinson as John’s father. I will continue researching to see if anything contradicts this assumption. But I’m pretty sure I’ve puzzled through this wall.

John Vinson/Vincent (c. 1817 – 1860-1870)
John Vinson was born about 1817 (Between 2 Jun 1816 and 1 June 1817) in Near Weldon, Halifax County, North Carolina.

In 1840, he appears to be living with his parents, Burket and Elizabeth Vinson, a sister, Nancy, and possibly a brother.[2]

He married Lenora Busbee about 1843, because their first child, Virginia was born between June of 1844 and June of 1845.

A second daughter, Elizabeth, was born between June 1846 and June 1847.

Their third daughter, Susan R Vinson, Mary-Alice’s Great Grandmother, was born 22 August 1848.

The 1850 Census finds the young farmer with a farm worth about $50. Living with John and Lenora was Eliza Beasley, age 30.[3]

Finally, their first son, James W., was born between June 1851 and 1852.

Another son, Benjamin I., was born 1855-1856.

Another son, Joseph Burkett, was born 1857-1858.

In the 1860 Census, the family is still living near Weldon in Halifax county. John is a farmer whose real estate value is $800 (a 1600% increase in value over 10 years) and whose personal estate value is $538.[4] This was a fairly valuable at the time for a farm being worked without slaves, as the Vinsons had no slaves.

As a quick aside — the 1860 Census indicates one of John’s children is “Barkhead.” I thought that was one of the funniest names I had ever encountered. Now, I sure it was Joseph Burkett. But is still interesting to think that maybe he went be “Barkhead” when he was young.

Living with John is Ellenior, a 35 year-old seamstress. The change in name from Lenora to Ellenior and the 7 year change in age made me originally think that Lenora and Ellenior might be two different people and that John remarried between 1850 and 1860. However, finding Lenora in the 1870 census with all the children put that consideration to rest (for now at least), but, it is still an area of concern.

Finally, another daughter, Ellen B. was born 1861-1862.

I cannot find John in the 1870 Census, but found Lenora and the children, which suggests John died before 1870, probably during the Civil War.[5] I need to research and determine if the 45 year-old John served.

Further Actions:

Follow Burket & John in the 1830 and 1820 Censuses.
Determine if John fought during the civil war.
Determine more about the life of Lenora Busbee

List of Greats

Susan R Vinson
John Vinson
Burkett Vinson

Endnotes